Experimental characterization of convective heat transfer with MWCNT based nanofluids under laminar flow conditions

This study describes an investigation on the convective heat transfer performance of aqueous suspensions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes. The results suggested an increase on heat transfer coefficient of 47 % for 0.5 % volume fraction. Moreover, the enhancement observed during thermal conductivity assessment, cannot fully explain the heat transfer intensification. This could be associated to the random movements among the particles through a fluid, caused by the impact of the base fluid molecules.     

Optimisation of laser removal of biological crusts in granites

Laser cleaning of stones is a well established technique in the field of cultural heritage; however, there are few studies concerning its application to granites, though these rocks have been used from the past as structural and ornamental material in public works and buildings. In humid climates granite is almost permanently damp which causes biological colonisation and blackening of exterior surfaces. This work was focussed on the removal of biological black crust in granite by means of a Nd:YVO4 laser at the wavelength of 355 nm. Analysis of the conditions for efficient removal, and evaluation of the morphological/textural changes on the stone surface allowed us to establish safe conditions of irradiation. A number of surface analytical techniques such as optical microscopy (OM), optical profilometry, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM/EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to asses the effects of the laser treatment.     

Electric field controlled g-factor in parabolic well determined by transport measurements

The Shubnikov de Haas oscillations in parabolic well are studied in the tilted magnetic field. The electric field displaces the electron wave function along Z-axis and leads to the strong variation of the average bare g-factor in such system. From the measurements of the filling factor ν_c at which the spin gap collapse occurs, we deduce the total Zeeman energy, which consists of the bare Zeeman energy and exchange-correlation term. By investigating of the variation of ν_c in tilted field we reliably extract the bare g-factor as a function of the gate voltage.     

Aplicación del método level set para modelar el proceso de combustión premezclada en un motor Otto de dos tiempos

In this paper, the numerical method level set has been used to model the combustion process in an Otto two-stroke engine. The level set has been implemented in a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software based in finite volumes. The pressure and temperature fields have been obtained, such as the propagation of the flame front. In order to validate this model, the numerically obtained results have been compared with experimental data, verifying a satisfactory concordance between both of them. Besides, the level set method has been compared with other numerical procedure, showing the difference between both results.     

Emerging Hubs in Plant Light and Temperature Signaling

Due to their nature as sessile organisms, plants must accurately sense their surroundings and then translate this information into efficient acclimation responses to maximize development. Light and temperature are two major stimuli that provide immediate cues regarding energy availability, daylength, proximity of other species and seasonal changes. Both cues are sensed by complex systems and the integration of these signals is of very high value to properly respond to environmental changes without being disguised by random changes. For instance a cold day has a different significance if it occurs during the illuminated phase of the day or during the night, or when days are shortening during the fall instead of a long‐day in spring. Here, we summarize recent advances in the nature of signaling components that operate as connectors of light and temperature signaling, with emphasis on the emerging hubs. Despite the nature of the thermosensors is still in its infancy compared to an important body of knowledge about plant sensory photoreceptors, the interaction of both types of signaling will not only bring clues of how plants integrate environmental information, but also will help in leading research in the nature of the thermosensors themselves.     

Radical alkylphosphanylation of olefins with stannylated or silylated phosphanes and alkyl iodides

Intermolecular conjugate radical addition reactions of secondary and tertiary alkyl radicals derived from the corresponding alkyl iodides to activated olefins such as α,β-unsaturated esters, amides, imides, nitriles, and sulfones are described. The adduct radicals are trapped by either diphenyl(trimethylstannyl)phosphane or the commercially available diphenyl(trimethylsilyl)phosphane as chain transfer reagents to give the corresponding phosphanylated products in moderate to good yields. The overall process comprises a C-C followed by a C-P bond formation.     

Multicomponent analytical methodology to control phthalates, synthetic musks, fragrance allergens and preservatives in perfumes

A simple, fast, robust and reliable multicomponent analytical method applicable in control laboratories with a high throughput level has been developed to analyze commercial brands of perfumes. Contents of 52 cosmetic ingredients belonging to different chemical families can be determined in a single run. Instrumental linearity, precision of the method and recovery studies in real samples showed excellent results, so that quantification by external calibration can be effectively applied. Relevant limits of detection and quantification were obtained for all the targets considered, far below the legal requirements and amply adequate for its accurate analytical control.A survey of 70 commercial perfumes and colognes has been performed, in order to verify whether these products complied with the recent changes in European legislation: regarding the maxima allowed concentrations of the ingredients and/or ingredient labelling. All samples contained some of the target ingredients. Several samples do not comply with the regulations concerning the presence of phthalates. Musks data confirmed the trend about the replacement of nitromusks by polycyclic musks; as well as the noticeable introduction of macrocyclic musks in the perfumes composition. The prohibited musk moskene has been detected in one sample in an appreciable concentration. The average number of fragrance allergens is twelve per sample; their presence must be indicated in the list of ingredients when its concentration exceeds the 0.001%, but values higher than 1% have been found in some samples. Preservatives data show that parabens, although ubiquitous in other cosmetic products, are not widely used in perfumery. In contrast, the presence of BHT is indeed widespread. The degree of compliance with the European Regulation on the labelling has been evaluated in a subset of samples, and only about the 38% of the perfumes were properly labelled for the allergens tested.     

Size distribution effect on the magnetization and magneto-resistance in ferromagnetic nanostructured manganites

We present experimental data of magnetization and magneto-resistance of nanostructured La_2/3B_1/3MnO₃ with B=Ca, Sr, which present difference between the coercive field in the magnetization loop with their corresponding maximum value in the magneto-resistance. This difference is described by a model that include, size distribution of magnetic particles, randomly oriented anisotropy axis and electronic transfer between the particles, which is mediated by spin-polarized tunneling process. Also, the model predicts that the maximum magneto-resistance can be, in the magnetic disorder state, two times larger than the experimental value. The model results can be used to estimate the size dispersion of nanoparticles in similar systems.     

High-sensitivity analysis of specific peptides in complex samples by selected MS/MS ion monitoring and linear ion trap mass spectrometry: application to biological studies

Mass spectrometry (MS) is a technique of paramount importance in Proteomics, and developments in this field have been possible owing to novel MS instrumentation, experimental strategies, and bioinformatics tools. Today it is possible to identify and determine relative expression levels of thousands of proteins in a biological system by MS analysis of peptides produced by proteolytic digestion. In some situations, however, the precise characterization of a particular peptide species in a very complex peptide mixture is needed. While single-fragment ion-based scanning modes such as selected ion reaction monitoring (SIRM) or consecutive reaction monitoring (CRM) may be highly sensitive, they do not produce MS/MS information and their actual specificity must be determined in advance, a prerequisite that is not usually met in a basic research context. In such cases, the MS detector may be programmed to perform continuous MS/MS spectra on the peptide ion of interest in order to obtain structural information. This selected MS/MS ion monitoring (SMIM) mode has a number of advantages that are fully exploited by MS detectors that, like the linear ion trap, are characterized by high scanning speeds. In this work, we show some applications of this technique in the context of biological studies. These results were obtained by selecting an appropriate combination of scans according to the purpose of each one of these research scenarios. They include highly specific identification of proteins present in low amounts, characterization and relative quantification of post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation and S-nitrosylation and species-specific peptide identification.