Transport and fluctuations during electrode biasing on TJ-II

Edge polarization experiments were carried out on TJ-II using an electrode. It has been found that the plasma response is different at densities below and above the threshold value to trigger the spontaneously development of E × B sheared flows. At low densities, the edge plasma potential is fully controlled by external biasing, while at higher densities it is determined not only by external biasing but also by the electric fields spontaneous developed. Although an improvement in particle confinement is observed for both polarities, a larger increase is observed for negative electrode bias. Presented at the Workshop “Electric Fields, Structures and Relaxation in Edge Plasmas”, Tarragona, Spain, July 3–4, 2005.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of 4-keto-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzofurans

The use of TMSCl in methanol under microwave irradiation allows the facile intramolecular condensation of a large panel of triketones, giving rise to 4-keto-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzofurans in good to excellent yields.     

Experimental calibration and field investigation of the oxygen isotopic fractionation between biogenic aragonite and water

Marine molluscs have long been recognised as potential records of palaeoclimate change using the patterns and differences in the stable isotopic composition of the carbonate shells. The aim of this study is to improve the robustness of this approach for aragonitic molluscs by completing the first experimental calibration of the fractionation between water and biogenic aragonite. Fractionation factors were calibrated by growing specimens of the freshwater mollusc Lymnaea peregra under controlled conditions of water temperature and isotopic composition. Fifteen populations of L. peregra were maintained at constant temperature and isotopic conditions for five months (at five different temperatures and using three different water compositions). Water samples and temperature measurements were taken regularly throughout the experiment. The temperature dependence of the fractionation factor, between 8 and 24 degrees C, is given by: 1000 ln alpha=16.74x(1000T(-1))-26.39 (T in Kelvin) and the relationship between temperature (T), delta(18)O(carb) and delta(18)O(wat) is given by: T=21.36-4.83xdelta(+ degrees )O(carb)-delta(+ degrees )O(wat) (T is in degrees C, delta(18)O(carb) is with respect to Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite (PDB), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) replacement standard for PDB, and delta(18)O(wat) is with respect to Vienna standard mean ocean water (VSMOW)) The outcome of the controlled experiment is compared with previous studies on synthetic, and biogenic, calcite and aragonite from field and laboratory investigations. These comparisons suggest that although a vital offset exists between the fractionation of isotopes in synthetic and biogenic aragonite for molluscs in general, there is no vital effect that is specific either to freshwater, or to individual, genera. Therefore, the calibrated relationship may be used for any freshwater or marine mollusc to derive palaeotemperatures providing the isotopic composition of the environmental water can be reliably constrained. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Driven-echo and rotary-echo measurements of the spin coherence in triplet-state benzophenone

A simple theoretical model is presented for the recently reported driven echo. It is shown that driven echoes may be used to measure the spin coherence time in the rotating frame, T_2p. Some features of the model, including its relationship to the rotary echo, are examined experimentally for photoexcited triplet-state benzophenone at 77 K.     

Experimental and theoretical study of the photophysics and structures of europium cryptates incorporating 3,3'-bi-isoquinoline-2,2'-dioxide.

A detailed photophysical study of [Eu within (biqO2.2.2)(CF3SO3)](CF3SO3)2. CH3CN.H2O (Eu within 1) and two other types of cryptates incorporating three 3,3'-biisoquinoline-2,2'-dioxide units has been performed. Structural crystallographic data of Eu within 1, electronic structure calculations and theoretical models were used to obtain the intramolecular energy transfer rates and the appropriate set of rate equations, which was solved numerically. Quantum yields and decay lifetimes were obtained from these results and compared to the experimental data. The role of the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) states was ascertained. A theoretical ligand field and intensity analysis was carried out and the results agree very well with the emission spectra. The molecular structures of the lanthanide cryptates were successfully modelled by the YIII ion using the restricted Hartree-Fock (RHF) method, with the advantage of dealing with closed-shell systems. These molecular structures were used to explain the drastic differences in the photophysics of the three EuIII cryptates.     

Comparison of numerical solvers for cavitating flows

Different computational fluid dynamics (CFD) strategies have been developed to simulate, analyse and better understand cavitating flows. Based on homogeneous models, two numerical approaches using compressible and incompressible codes are applied to capture large density variations and unsteady behaviours of cavitating flows. Simulations are performed on two-dimensional Venturi geometries and compared with experimental data. Local and global analyses are proposed and the necessity to account for compressibility phenomena is discussed.     

Cyclic scheduling for F.M.S.: Modelling and evolutionary solving approach

This paper concerns the domain of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) and focuses on the scheduling problems encountered in these systems. We have chosen the cyclic behaviour to study this problem, to reduce its complexity. This cyclic scheduling problem, whose complexity is NP-hard in the general case, aims to minimise the work in process (WIP) to satisfy economic constraints. We first recall and discuss the best known cyclic scheduling heuristics. Then, we present a two-step resolution approach. In the first step, a performance analysis is carried out; it is based on the Petri net modelling of the production process. This analysis resolves some indeterminism due to the system’s flexibility and allows a lower bound of the WIP to be obtained. In the second step, after a formal model of the scheduling problem has been given, we describe a genetic algorithm approach to find a schedule which can reach the optimal production speed while minimizing the WIP. Finally, our genetic approach is validated and compared with known heuristics on a set of test problems.     

Analytical use of immobilized glucose oxidase

With the aim of immobilizing glucose oxidase (GO) for routine determination of glucose, a covalent bond immobilization method on titanium (IV) chloride activated silica supports was used (1). Several parameters were studied in order to optimize the residual activity upon immobilization and during operation. The immobilized enzyme can be reutilized at 25°C for several h a day alternating with storage (4°C) for at least 3,300 h.