Silver electrodeposition from air and water-stable ionic liquid: An environmentally friendly alternative to cyanide baths

The influence of temperature on the kinetics and the morphology of silver deposits obtained from an air and water-stable ionic liquid (the 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate) was studied by means of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The nucleation and growth mechanisms have been investigated and the effect of temperature evaluated up to 200 °C. Dense, pure and very thin (about 0.3 μm) silver coatings, with decorative properties, have been obtained on commercial copper electrodes at different temperatures. The characterization of the deposits morphology has been performed by visual investigation and SEM microscopy. Data about thickness were acquired by Calotest® measurements. The deposits result constituted by pure silver as determined by combination of EDX microanalysis and Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES). The deposition method promises to be a new, environmentally friendly, method for silver electrodeposition which is the reason for the absence of cyanide and volatile toxic solvents in the electroplating bath.     

Cytogenetic abnormalities and clonal evolution in an adult hepatoblastoma

Hepatoblastomas usually occur in children < 3 years of age, and only occasional adult cases have been described. To date, 20 cytogenetically abnormal childhood hepatoblastomas have been reported. Karyotypic investigations have shown that most hepatoblastomas are diploid or hyperdiploid, often displaying trisomies for chromosomes 2 and 20. We have cytogenetically investigated an adult hepatoblastoma for which no previous karyotypic data exist. A hypertriploid stemline with multiple numerical and structural chromosomal aberrations, including +2 and +20, was found. In addition, the tumor displayed extensive clonal evolution with 11 subclones. Although the tumor thus displayed some chromosomal abnormalities commonly observed in childhood tumors, providing further support for the importance of these abnormalities in the development of hepatoblastoma, the level of genomic complexity seen in the present case has never been described in childhood hepatoblastomas and may suggest a different etiology or pathogenesis.     

Oxidative post-treatments for enhanced corrosion resistance of aluminium electrodeposited from ionic liquids

In this paper we report the results of a study on the corrosion properties of carbon steel (UNI Fe360B) coated with a thin aluminium layer electrodeposited from ionic liquids and subsequently post-treated in an oxidizing environment. Two different types of treatments were investigated: thermal oxidation in air and electrochemical anodization. We found that heat treatments provided only a modest improvement of the anticorrosion properties while the electrochemical treatment produced a significant improvement.     

Ionic liquids as diathermic fluids for solar trough collectors’ technology: A corrosion study

The AISI 304 and AISI 1018 steels (frequently used in solar collectors’ plants) in contact with four different ionic liquids (ILs) suitable as diathermic fluids, were studied. Immersion tests were performed at 220 °C (the working temperature in such plants) for 10 days. The corrosion morphologies of the steels were investigated by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis and the content of metals in the solution were detected via ICP-OES. The tests showed that the most performing IL is the ethyl-dimethyl-propyl-ammonium-bis(trifluoromethylsulphonyl)imide. The corrosion properties of the two alloys in contact with such IL were investigated by means of Tafel plots and resistance polarization at room temperature in open-to-air vessels.     

Calculation of the eddy current distribution in the disk of single-phase kilowatt-hour meter by variational method

A method based on variational principles has been developed for the computation of the eddy current distribution and hence the driving torque of single-phase kilowatt-hour meters. The airgap field due to the voltage and current coils in the absence of the disk is presumed to be given, and the resultant air-gap field, as well as the eddy currents induced by it, are determined. The reaction field of the eddy currents is taken into account approximately. Global approximation is employed to yield the field quantities as expansions in terms of suitable analytical functions. A comparison is made between computed and measured torques.     

Different finite element formulations of 3D magnetostatic fields

Several finite-element formulations of three-dimensional magnetostatic fields are reviewed. Both nodal and edge elements are considered. The aim is to suggest remedies to some shortcomings of widely used methods. Various formulations are compared based on results for Problem No. 13 of the TEAM Workshops, a nonlinear magnetostatic problem involving thin iron plates     

Effect of high temperature reduction in hydrogen on Pt deposited on the TiO2(100) surface: An angle resolved x-ray photoemission study

The effect of high temperature reduction in hydrogen was studied by angle resolved XPS in a system formed of platinum deposited on the (100) surface of a TiO₂ single crystal sample. The analysis of the variation of the Pt/Ti XPS signal ratio as a function of the electron collection angle showed that partially reduced titanium oxide is present on the Pt film after the reduction treatment. The amount of oxide on the Pt surface is of the order of one monolayer equivalent.     

Influence of thyroid hormone on Sertoli cell protein metabolism in the prepubertal pig

In order to better understand the role of thyroid hormones in testis development, the influence of tri-iodothyronine on protein metabolism of immature pig Sertoli cells has been investigated. Sertoli cells were isolated enzymatically from 2- to 3-week-old piglet testes and cultured in the presence or absence of tri-iodothyronine. Protein labelling was evaluated in Sertoli cell monolayers incubated in medium containing a tracer dose of [3H]leucine. The results demonstrate that thyroid hormone can directly stimulate the process of protein synthesis in immature porcine Sertoli cells, without significantly affecting the protein degradation rate; moreover thyroid hormone exposure results in a significant decrease of intracellular ATP level. The evidence that tri-iodothyronine can increase Sertoli cell protein synthesis, supplies additional evidence about the fundamental role of thyroid hormone in the regulation of growth and differentiation of the mammalian testis through a direct action on the Sertoli cells.