Solvation in hydroorganic media—II. Gibbs free energy of transfer for HCl and comparison between Rb+ and H+ ions

A previously derived method for the determination of Gibbs free energies of transfer of alkali chlorides using cationic glass electrodes is applied to the transfer of HCl, and results for the transfer of HCl from water to a large number of water-organic solvent mixtures are reported. The accuracy of the proposed method is critically discussed. Relations for the Gibbs free energies of transfer of RbCl and HCl in various aqueous organic media, based on some classical models, are compared. A basicity scale for the organic cosolvents used was derived, based on the theory of Pleskov[19].     

Photooxidation of Hg(0) in artificial and natural waters

The oxidation of volatile aqueous Hg(0) in aquatic systems may be important in reducing fluxes of Hg out of aquatic systems. Here we report the results of laboratory and field experiments designed to identify the parameters that control the photooxidation of Hg(0)(aq) and to assess the possible importance of this process in aquatic systems. The concentrations of elemental and total Hg were measured as a function of time in both artificial and natural waters irradiated with a UV-B lamp. No change in Hg speciation was observed in dark controls, while a significant decrease in Hg(0) was observed in UV-B irradiated artificial solutions containing both chloride ions and benzoquinone. Significant photooxidation rates were also measured in natural samples spiked with Hg(0)(aq); the photooxidation of Hg(0) then follows pseudo first-order kinetics (k = 0.6 h(-1)). These results indicate that the previously observed Hg(II) photoreduction rates in natural waters could represent a net balance between Hg(0) photoreduction and Hg(0) photooxidation. As calculated from Hg(0) photooxidation rates, the dominant Hg(0) sink is likely to be photooxidation rather than volatilization from the water column during summer days.     

Experimental Analysis of Punch-Through Conditions in Power P-I- N Diodes

Commercial power diodes are optimized to feature punch-through behavior. However, a tradeoff between the width and the doping level of the diode epitaxial layer leads to various levels of optimization. For a given breakdown voltage, a shorter epitaxial layer width leads to better transient performances. Device datasheets do not cover this issue and a simple experimental setup is presented to assess the optimization conditions inside the diode epitaxial layer. Three commercial devices are tested and experimental results are confronted to device simulations. A good agreement is found     

Photoluminescence studies of CdTe films and junctions

Device quality CdTe films and junctions have been studied using low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The behavior of the PL was studied as a function of the measurement temperature and excitation intensity. The CdTe films and junctions were prepared under various deposition conditions to determine the effect of film deposition and solar cell fabrication parameters, such as the effect of oxygen, and chloride treatment. A PL band located at 1.232 eV has been attributed to the presence of oxygen. This band is present only in as-deposited samples excited at the CdTe surface. Samples annealed in the presence of CdCl₂ exhibit a single PL band located at 1.42 eV. A model explaining the behavior of these bands is presented.     

On the validity of the standard SPICE model of the diode forsimulation in power electronics

A systematic study of the standard SPICE model of the diode in the case of simulations of power diodes in power electronic applications shows the limits of accuracy with respect to experiments. Therefore, the interest in such a model in power electronic applications is comparable to the high-low resistance model     

Structural, photoluminescent and electrical properties of CdTe films with different compositions fabricated by CMBD

CdTe films with different compositions (Cd-rich, Te-rich and stoichiometric) were fabricated by a novel and low cost chemical molecular beam deposition method (CMBD) in atmospheric pressure hydrogen flow. Cd and Te granules were used as precursors. The films were deposited on ceramic (SiO₂:Al₂O₃) substrates at 580 °C and 600 °C. The growth rate was varied in the range of 9-30 Å/s. The composition (Cd/Te) of the samples was changed by controlling the molecular beam intensity (MBI) ratio. Three samples fabricated at MBI ratios Cd/Te = 0.5, 1.0 and 1.16 were investigated by XRD, AFM, EDX, SEM, photoluminescence (PL) and Hall methods.     

Personalities and alimentary behaviors in obese patients

The ability of lonidamine (LND), an energolytic derivative of indazole-carboxylic acid, to modulate the cytotoxic activity of cisplatin (CDDP) and epidoxorubicin (EPI), singly or in combination, was investigated in two human breast cancer cell lines (MCF7 and T47D). A 72-hr post-incubation with a non-cytotoxic concentration of LND (75 microM) increased the activity of a 1-hr CDDP treatment as well as that of a 1 to 16-hr EPI treatment. A different pattern of interaction among the drugs and modulator was observed as a function of the sequence of drug treatment. Specifically, supra-additive or additive effects of the combination were obtained in the two cell lines according to the different treatment schemes. In particular, the maximum potentiation was observed in MCF7 cells simultaneously exposed to CDDP, EPI and LND for 1 hr and then post-incubated with LND for 72 hr, and in T47 first exposed to EPI and LND, then to CDDP and LND, and finally post-incubated with LND. Flow cytometric analysis of MCF7 cell distribution in the different cycle phases showed that combined treatment with EPI/CDDP/LND was able to stabilize cell cycle perturbations (mainly G2M accumulation) induced by individual agents. The ability of LND to potentiate CDDP and EPI cytotoxicity, and the consideration that LND causes side effects different from those caused by alkylating agents and anthracyclines, make this compound an attractive candidate for multidrug combination therapy in breast cancer.     

Improvement in phenolic composites for special construction needs

The use of fibre reinforced composites in the construction industry is well established. However, if the proper technology is capable of handling all situations from a mechanical/architectural point of view, it is recognised that the fire hazard required a critical survey to be made of the use of polymer materials. The selection is quickly made today and only retains special engineering thermoplastics and phenolic thermosets. The latter, obviously much cheaper, suffered long from bad opinions due to their brittleness and ugly appearance. Different achievements support the opinion that some phenoli-based glass fibre reinforced plastics lend themselves both, technically and economically, to sound applications in the construction industry.