Poly(sulphopropylbetaines): 1. Synthesis and characterization

The synthesis of aromatic and aliphatic poly(sulphopropylbetaines) is described within the series of vinylpyridines and tertiary amino-methacrylates. Two complementary strategies were used: (a) preparation and free radical polymerization in aqueous solution (60°C, 4,4'-azobiscyanovaleric acid) of the monomers; (b) heterogeneous quaternization of preformed poly(vinylpyridines) and poly(tertiary amino-methacrylates) by 1,3-propanesultone in propylene carbonate or tetramethylene sulphone solution (120°C). The high molecular weight poly (zwitterions) ($\text{10}{}^5\text{<}\text{M}\text{?}{}_{\mathrm{W}}\text{< 5 × 10}{}^6$) were characterized by ultra-violet and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and their water affinity at 20°C was estimated by water vapour absorption measurements.     

Determination of the optical depth of a DI diesel spray

The optical depth is responsible of limiting the optical diagnostic using visible wavelength in the sprays. This paper proposes to measure the optical depth directly in a real Diesel spray through line-of-sight laser extinction measurements. This easily reproducible method which does not require expensive or complex optical techniques is detailed and the measurement procedure is presented in this paper. As diesel sprays are mostly optically thick, the measurements in the denser region are not reliable and a fuel concentration model has been used to derive the results to the entire spray. This work provides values of SMD at different distance from the nozzle tip depending on the specific parameters like injection pressure or discharge density. The values extracted from a combined experimental/computational approach have been compared to PDPA measurements under the same testing conditions. The results have shown that the maximum optical depth was higher than 10 and that an increase of the injection pressure led to higher τ values. The SMD values appeared to be below the results measured by the PDPA and the droplet diameter showed to be the main responsible of the optical depth of the jet under the tested conditions.     

Influence of the growth conditions on the defect density of single-walled carbon nanotubes

The influence of the temperature and precursor pressure on the defect density of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) grown by catalytic chemical vapor deposition was studied for several catalyst–precursor couples. The SWCNT defect density was assessed by studying the Raman D band. In situ Raman monitoring was used to determine experimental conditions allowing the preparation of samples free of pyrolytic carbon and not altered by air exposure. The most striking feature is that the Arrhenius plots of the I_G/I_D ratio systematically display a convex shape, i.e. the apparent activation energy decreases with increasing temperature. From HRTEM observations and oxidation experiments, this evolution of the D band features is ascribed to the catalytic growth of long SWCNTs with few defects at high temperature and of short and defective SWCNTs and carbon structures at low temperature. The convex Arrhenius behavior is well accounted by two kinetic models: (i) a model considering a change of intermediate states as a function of the temperature (for instance due to a phase transition of the catalyst particle or a change of intermediate carbon species) and (ii) a model considering a high-temperature process of defect creation (for instance by reaction with reactive gas species).     

Hybrid RSOA and fibre Raman amplified long reach feeder link for WiMAX-on-fibre

A distributed fibre Raman amplified long reach optical access feeder link using a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier in the remote base station is experimentally demonstrated for supporting WiMAX-over-fibre transmission. The measured values for the error vector magnitude for quadrature phase shift keying and 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation after 40 km of fibre transmission meet the IEEE 820.16 standard requirements.     

Corrosion behavior of thermoelectric clathrates α- and β-Eu8Ga16−xGe30+x in air

The corrosion of thermoelectric clathrates α- and β-Eu₈Ga_16−xGe_30+x is studied under static air (DSC/TG) up to 650 °C. Oxidation product layers with thicknesses of 10.5 μm (α-Eu₈Ga_16−xGe_30+x) and 4.5 μm (β-Eu₈Ga_16−xGe_30+x) are formed. The oxidation begins at 360 and 380 °C, respectively. XRD pattern of the β-Eu₈Ga_16−xGe_30+x oxidized layer shows Ge and four Eu₂O₃ reflections; while α-Eu₈Ga_16−xGe_30+x data (sample crushed and grinded) shows α-Eu₈Ga_16−xGe_30+x reflections (majority phase), two EuGa_2±xGe_4?x strongest reflections and Ge (minority phases). These results indicate the amount of oxides is very small or they are amorphous. High temperature powder XRD measurements on α-Eu₈Ga_16−xGe_30+x under air confirm the oxidation onset temperature determined in DSC studies.     

Biofuels in Spain: Market penetration analysis and competitiveness in the automotive fuel market

For several years the European Union (E.U.) has been promoting the use of biofuels due to their potential benefits such as the reduction of dependence on foreign energy imports (the raw materials can be produced within the E.U.), the more stable fossil fuel prices (they can replace fossil fuels on the market), the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction (biofuels’ raw materials fix CO₂ from the atmosphere) and the fact that they can represent an additional source of income for the primary sector (biofuels’ raw materials are vegetables that can be grown and harvested).Despite the public aids (direct and indirect), biofuels are not competitive with fossil fuels at present, but it is possible that in the future the environment conditions change and biofuels might become competitive. It is difficult to assess whether this will happen or not, but it is possible to make an assessment of a future situation.This article presents two analyses with one objective: to determine if biofuels might become competitive in the future. The first analysis examines the dependencies of two quotations which have a strong relationship with fuels: the crude oil quotation and the CO₂ bond quotation. The analysis of these relationships may help to forecast the future competitiveness of biofuels. For instance, biofuels’ future competitiveness will be higher if their raw material costs are not related to crude oil quotations or if they are related in a negative way (the higher the crude oil quotations the lower the raw material biofuels’ cost). The second analysis focuses on the market penetration of biofuels in the Spanish market. There are data related to biofuels monthly consumption in Spain since 2007 and it is possible to know if biofuels are gaining market quota since then.     

商用车涂料为水性聚氨酯涂料拓展更广泛的应用领域

随着环保重要性的不断增加以及法规压力的不断加大,西欧地区形成了各种低排放交通工具涂料的概念.本文着重介绍了双组分水性聚氨酯体系的应用情况,以及相关的原材料、技术和原理.     

A microscopic interpretation of the RF noise performance of fabricated FDSOI MOSFETs

In this paper, a detailed research of the high-frequency noise sources and figures of merit (FOMs) of fabricated deep-submicrometer n-channel fully depleted silicon-on-insulator MOSFETs is carried out. Special care is given to reproduce the main topology parameters, together with the most relevant parasitic elements of real devices in order to accomplish an accurate and reliable simulation. The information provided by the Monte Carlo (MC) tool allows getting a physical insight of the relationship between internal quantities and the main noise sources inside the device; moreover, the spectral density of velocity fluctuations has been analyzed spatially in order to determine the local current noise source in the gradual channel and velocity overshoot sections of the effective channel. Together with the calculation of intrinsic noise sources, the MC simulator is able to reproduce the measurements for the main noise FOMs in the RF and microwave frequency ranges. Moreover, the whole simulation framework allows addressing the importance of parasitic elements in the final value of these FOMs.     

Cultural diversity and the cultural and epistemological structure of psychoanalysis: Implications for psychotherapy with Latinos and other minorities.

This article offers a critique of assumptions made by both the majority psychoanalytic culture and minority groups regarding the suitability of psychoanalysis for Latinos and other underserved ethnic groups. Both sides of the aforementioned controversy are rooted in the larger conflict between modern and traditional paradigms as well as in the epistemological and political contradictions of the "master's discourse" prevailing within educational institutions. The proposed theory articulates intrapsychic and extrapsychic dimensions into a single theoretical framework. The proposed reconceptualization includes a redefinition of the psychoanalytic concept of insight more in keeping both with the concept of the unconscious and with the conception of knowledge found in traditional cultures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)