A test of the transiel method on the travale geothermal field

An original electromagnetic method has been applied to geothermal prospecting on the Travale test site. The results show good correlations between observed polarization anomalies and productive zones. It is believed that these anomalies are related to reduction phenomena that occurred in the overburden (such as pyrite formation) caused by thermochemical exchanges between the reservoir and the overburden above those zones where the reservoir permeability is highest.     

Towards a continuous process in heterogeneous coordinated anionic ring opening polymerization

Summary The current article deals with the initial developments of the use of a continuous plug flow reactor using an original heterogeneous catalyst system for the living coordinated anionic polymerization of certain oxygenated rings. This reactor is designed in order to maintain the essential characteristics of the original batch system. One of the pertinent parameters considered here is the residence time of the reactants inside the reactor. The column has been used to investigate ethylene oxide and -caprolactone oligomerization. Initial experiments have pointed out how the molecular weights can depend on the flow rate for a fixed bed length. Some theoretical problems relative to the reactive column are discussed in order to investigate more in depth the properties of this original continuous process and to model it to find the optimal working conditions.     

Modeling of transfer phenomena on heterogeneous ziegler catalysts. II. Experimental investigation of intraparticle mass transfer resistance during the polymerization of ethylene in slurry

An experimental investigation of mass transfer limitations on a single batch of high activity, heterogeneous catalysts used in the slurry polymerization of ethylene is presented. The viscosity of the continuous phase was varied, using trace amounts of inert copolymer in order to reduce the monomer diffusivity, and the activity levels were varied using hexene as an activator. These changes were intended to clearly identify situations in which the polymerization becomes mass-transfer-limited due to diffusion resistance in the pores of the catalyst. Increasing the observed activity of the catalyst from approximately 9000 to 40,000 grams of polymer per gram of catalyst per hour (g/g/h) revealed no evidence of mass transfer resistance, even when the diffusivity of the monomer in solution was reduced by a factor of six. Analysis of the molecular weight as a function of particle size supported this conclusion but did suggest that there might be slight chemical differences between large and small particles. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Manual performance and laterality in twins of known chorion type

Manual performance, direction, and degree of laterality were tested in monozygotic (MZ) twins (8-12 years old) of known chorion type and dizygotic (DZ) twins. Three manual tasks rarely employed in twin studies were used; dot-filling, tapping, and peg-moving tasks. No chorion effect was observed: the monochorionic and dichorionic MZs differed neither for frequency of discordant pairs nor for handedness, laterality measurements, and manual performance. The pooled MZs and DZs were then compared in a classic twin design. The within-pair resemblance was not higher in MZs than in DZs for variables measuring level of manual performance. For laterality scores intraclass correlations were close to zero in MZ and DZ twin groups.     

Genetic susceptibility to head and neck cancer: interaction between nutrition and mutagen sensitivity

The development of head and neck cancer may depend not only on exposure to environmental carcinogens but also on a genetically based susceptibility to carcinogen-induced damage. This thesis presents a case-control study that demonstrates the significance of mutagen sensitivity, a measure of an individual's intrinsic DNA repair capacity against free radical damage, as a risk factor for the disease. As part of the case-control analysis, 167 previously untreated patients and 177 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were assessed for various lifestyle factors including tobacco and alcohol habits, occupational exposures, and diet. Mutagen sensitivity expressed by each individual was determined by quantifying bleomycin-induced chromosomal breaks within peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro. Consistent with our initial observations and those of others, mutagen hypersensitivity was strongly associated with increased risk of head and neck cancer (odds ratio, 4.95; 95% confidence interval, 2.67 to 9.17) after adjusting for age, sex, and race. Low intake of vitamins C and E was also associated with an increased risk of disease and was interactive with mutagen sensitivity in risk estimates. Individuals with both a low intake of various antioxidants and increased chromosomal sensitivity to oxidant-induced DNA damage were at greatest risk. This study supports the concept that the risk of head and neck cancer is determined by a balance of factors that either enhance or protect against free radical oxygen damage, including innate capacities for DNA repair.     

Anomalies in the rheological behavior of polyethylene with very broad molecular weight distribution

The rheological behavior of high density polyethylenes with very broad molecular weight distribution is studied in the molten state starting from freshly synthesized powders. The complex viscosity increases slowly up to a limiting value as a function of ageing of the polymer and faster when the molten polymer is stirred. The phenomena are explained by an heterogeneous distribution of very high molecular weight nodules in the polymer arising from the synthesis and is proved by the preparation and characterization of polymers presenting the opposite heterogeneity and behavior (very low molecular weight nodules).     

Selective surfaces for high temperature solar photothermal conversion

High performance, low cost, selective surfaces which are chemically and thermally stable are a key limiting problem in the development of the thermal applications of solar energy. This review deals with selective coatings that withstand high temperatures. After indicating the comparative advantages of selective over black-body absorbers, the different ways of generating selectivity are briefly investigated. The physicochemical requirements that must be met, in addition to the specific optical properties that are needed, are established, and criteria for the choice of materials are given. Finally several examples of selective surfaces are described and some trends for further research in the field are discussed.