An analysis method of the vortex-induced vibrations of a tethered sphere

Meccanica - Vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) in systems with more than one degree of freedom often present complex synchronization among the motion components, also hidden by the randomness that...     

Highly sintered nickel oxide: surface morphology and FTIR investigation of CO adsorbed at low temperature

The monolayer of CO molecules adsorbed at low temperature on highly sintered nickel oxide, gives rise to a very symmetric IR absorption band at 2136 cm⁻¹ (θ_max) with a full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 3.7 cm⁻¹. This band shifts to higher frequenc upon decreasing the coverage, reaching the 2152 cm⁻¹ value for θ→0. The observed shift is due to changes in the lateral interactions (dynamic and static) among the adsorbed molecules. The observed spectral simplicity implies that most of the adsorbed CO molecules occupy crystallographically identical sites with a similar environment. Moreover, the remarkably small half-width indicates that inhomogeneous broadening effects, due to surface defects, are very small and that NiO microcrystals behave as single crystals. The morphology of microcrystals has been studied by SEM, AFM and HRTEM techniques: it was concluded that the surface termination of the sample is mainly represented by the (100) and (111) faces.     

Assembling process of charged nonanuclear cationic lanthanide(III) clusters assisted by dichromium decacarbonyl hydride

The reaction of Ln(acac)(3).3H(2)O (Ln = Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Yb) with K[Cr(2)(CO)(10)(micro-H)] at different molar ratios and solvents leads to the formation of nonanuclear lanthanide hydroxo acetylacetonate complexes of general formula [Ln(9)(OH)(10)(acac)(16)][HCr(2)(CO)(10)]. The compounds are isomorphous, and the common cationic cluster core consists of a novel square antiprismatic arrangement of nine Ln atoms connected by micro(3), micro(4) hydroxo bridges and/or by acetylacetonate ligands as it results from the single-crystal X-ray analysis of the Sm derivative for which the most suitable crystals were obtained.     

TV-holography in artwork diagnostics

TV-holography can hold a great potential in non-destructive diagnostics of the state of conservation and preservation of artworks. Its use in revealing debonds, cracks, voids, delaminations or residual stress in both ancient paintings on wooden panels, statuaries and mural supports has been proven. The method is easy to apply and very functional for the basic objectives of conservation; its compactness enables detection of microdisplacements even in non laboratory environments. Measurements in field of microcracks and subsurface detachments on ancient frescoes and panel paintings are reported.     

An XPS investigation on glucose oxidase and Ni/Al hydrotalcite interaction

In this work, a Ni/Al hydrotalcite (HT) was used as glucose oxidase (GOx) immobilizer. Small‐area and angle‐resolved X‐ray photoelectron spectra were recorded on HTs electrosynthesized on Pt in the absence and in the presence of GOx, and compared with those obtained for a Pt surface, modified with the electrosynthesized HT, on which a drop of GOx solution was deposited. The simultaneous electrodeposition of HT + GOx resulted in a compact deposit, thicker than the XPS sampling depth (>10 nm), that is not homogeneous in the lateral and in‐depth composition. The presence of GOx can be deduced comparing the N1s spectra of HT and HT + GOx: in the latter, the N1s component at 400 eV binding energy (BE) is predominant whilst, depending on the analyzed point, a small or no contribution from the component at 407.2 eV, due to nitrate, is revealed. Angle‐resolved XPS provides evidence on the in‐depth composition of anions, cations and GOx. The results highlight the crucial role played by nickel in GOx immobilization. On the basis of the results, it can be suggested that enzyme activity is unevenly distributed and is localized in small areas, where Ni concentration is higher. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Monitoring of water quality in South Paris district by clustering and SIMCA classification

With the aim of obtaining a monitoring tool to assess the quality of water, a multivariate statistical procedure based on cluster analysis (CA) coupled with soft independent modelling class analogy (SIMCA) algorithm, providing an effective classification method, is proposed. The experimental data set, carried out throughout the year 2004, was composed of analytical parameters from 68 water sources in a vast southwest area of Paris. Nine variables carrying the most useful information were selected and investigated (nitrate, sulphate, chloride, turbidity, conductivity, hardness, alkalinity, coliforms and Escherichia coli). Principal component analysis provided considerable data reduction, gathering in the first two principal components the majority of information representing about 92.2% of the total variance. CA grouped samples belonging to different sites, distinctly correlating them with chemical variables, and a classification model was built by SIMCA. This model was optimised and validated and then applied to a new data matrix, consisting of the parameters measured during the year 2005 from the same objects, providing a fast and accurate classification of all the samples. The most of the examined sources appeared unchanged during the 2-year period, but five sources resulted distributed in different classes, due to statistical significant changes of some characteristic analytical parameters.     

Unexpected Carbon–Carbon Bond Cleavage in the Reactions of the Pentagonal Bipyramidal Cluster Fe3(CO)6(μ-CO)2[μ3-η4-{RCC(Et)C(Et)CR}] with Styrene. Synthesis and X-ray Structure of Fe3(CO)6[μ3-η4-{EtC2CR}]2 (R = CH3(=CH2))

The thermal reactions of 2-methyl-1-hexen-3-yne [CH₃CH₂C≡CC(=CH₂)CH₃, metey] with Fe₃(CO)₁₂ have been studied: cluster opening or fragmentation and alkyne dimerization occur. Main products are the open triangular isomers [Fe₃(CO)₆(μ-CO)₂{CH₃(=CH₂)CC(Et)C(Et)C(=CH₂)CH₃}] (complex 3a) and [Fe₃(CO)₆(μ-CO)₂{C(Et)CCH₃(=CH₂)C(Et)CCH₃(=CH₂)}] (complex 3b). The structure and isomerism of the complexes has been confirmed by X-ray studies. The minor products of the reaction have been characterized by spectroscopic techniques. An attempt at exploiting the reactivity of the “free” C=C bonds of the coordinated ene-yne was made: complex 3a was reacted with styrene under thermal conditions. Unexpectedly considerable yields of the closed triangular cluster [Fe₃(CO)₆{EtC₂C(=CH₂)CH₃}₂] (complex 5) have been obtained. This behaviour had not been previously observed. The unprecedented structure of complex 5 has been confirmed with an X-ray study.