Quantum-cascade laser photoacoustic detection of methane emitted from natural gas powered engines

In this work we present a laser photoacoustic arrangement for the detection of the important greenhouse gas methane. A quantum-cascade laser and a differential photoacoustic cell were employed. A detection limit of 45 ppbv in nitrogen was achieved as well as a great selectivity. The same methodology was also tested in the detection of methane issued from natural gas powered vehicles (VNG) in Brazil, which demonstrates the excellent potential of this arrangement for greenhouse gas detection emitted from real sources.     

A molecule detector: Adsorbate induced conductance gap change of ultra-thin silicon nanowire

Inspired by the work of Lieber and co-workers [F. Patolsky, B.P. Timko, G. Zheng, C.M. Lieber, MRS Bull. 32 (2007) 142], we present a general discussion of the possibility of using atomic-chain scaled Si nanowires to detect molecules. Surface-modified Si nanowires were optimized by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The electronic transport properties of the whole system, including Si nanowires and adsorbed molecules, sandwiched between two gold electrodes are investigated by means of non-equilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) formalism. However, the overall transport properties, including current-voltage (I-V) and conductance-voltage (G-V) characteristics hardly show adsorbate sensitivity. Interestingly, our results show that the conductance gap clearly varies with the different adsorbates. Therefore different molecules can cause differences in the conductance gap compared with the bare Si nanowire. The results provide valuable information regarding the development of atomic-chain scaled molecular detectors.     

Spin polarization in carbon nanostructures with disclinations

We performed ab initio calculations, using density functional theory, to study spin polarization in carbon nanostructures with disclinations. The results indicate that compounds with positive and negative Gaussian curvature may exhibit a net magnetic moment in the ground state. Additionally, we can conclude that, carbon compounds that display an odd number of pentagons and heptagons, present polarization in the ground state.     

Efficiency in the loading of a sodium magneto-optical trap from alkali metal dispensers

We study the loading of sodium atoms into a magneto-optical trap from current-controlled sodium metal dispensers. Contrary to what was previously reported [V. Wippel, C. Binder, W. Huber, L. Windholz, M. Allegrini, F. Fuso, E. Arimondo, Eur. Phys. J. D 17 (2001) 285] we demonstrate a significantly higher number of trapped atoms that make Na dispensers a feasible source of atoms for cold-atom studies. The inherent rise in pressure that naturally arises from metal dispensers as they are heated to release atoms is partially controlled by placing the metal dispensers near the pumping port where an ion pump is connected. We also study the effects of placing the sodium dispensers at different distances from the main vacuum chamber where the atoms are trapped and the effectiveness of using a Zeeman slower to cool the atoms as they emerge from the dispensers. We observe trapping of up to 1.9 × 10⁸ atoms, which is significantly higher by almost three orders of magnitude than previously reported experiments.     

Structural and electrical properties of iron molybdenum phosphate glasses

Summary  Iron molybdenum phosphate glasses [xMoO₃ · (0.6 -x)P₂O₅ · 0.4Li₂O] :yFe₂O₃ with 0 ≤x ≤ 0.6 andy = 0.03 (mol%) prepared in ambient atmosphere using the melt quenching technique were studied by using DC electrical conductivity,⁵⁷Fe M?ssbauer and infrared spectroscopies. The DC conductivity depends on the MoO₃ concentrationx. It was observed that, with increasingx, the ratio Fe²⁺ /(Fe³⁺ + Fe²⁺) and the DC conductivity increase. Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction indicate that a Li₂ MoO₄ crystalline phase is present for high MoO₃ content samples (x = 0.5, 0.6). This work was partly sponsored by FINEP, CNPq (Brazilian agencies) and UECE (Universidade Estadual do Cearà).     

Investigation of the quantitative properties of the quadrupole orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometer with electrospray ionisation using 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine

This paper describes the investigation of the potential of a quadrupole orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometer (Q-TOF) equipped with an atmospheric pressure ionisation interface for quantitative measurements of small molecules separated by reversed phase liquid chromatography. To this end, the detection limits and linear dynamic range in particular were studied in an LC/MS/MS experiment using 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine standards and 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine for internal standardisation. In a second phase, the experiment was repeated with real biological extracts (whole blood, serum, and vitreous humour). A calibration for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and its metabolite 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine was prepared in each of these matrices again using 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine as internal standard. The resulting quantitative data were compared with those obtained by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection for the same extracts. The Q-TOF results revealed excellent sensitivity and a linear dynamic range of nearly four decades (2-10 000 pg on-column, r(2) = 0.9998, 1/x weighting). Furthermore, all the calibration curves prepared in biological material were superimposable, LC/MS/MS and LC-fluorescence, and the quantitative results for actual samples compared very favourably. It was concluded that the Q-TOF achieves a linear dynamic range for quantitative LC/MS/MS work exceeding that of fluorescence detection and at much better absolute sensitivity. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Weighted Multivariate Mean Square Error for processes optimization: A case study on flux-cored arc welding for stainless steel claddings

A mathematical programming technique developed recently that optimizes multiple correlated characteristics is the Multivariate Mean Square Error (MMSE). The MMSE approach has obtained noteworthy results, by avoiding the production of inappropriate optimal points that can occur when a method fails to take into account a correlation structure. Where the MMSE approach is deficient, however, is in cases where the multiple correlated characteristics need to be optimized with varying degrees of importance. The MMSE approach, in treating all responses as having the same importance, is unable to attribute the desired weights. This paper thus introduces a strategy that weights the responses in the MMSE approach. The method, called the Weighted Multivariate Mean Square Error (WMMSE), utilizes a weighting procedure that integrates Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM). In doing so, WMMSE obtains uncorrelated weighted objective functions from the original responses. After being mathematically programmed, these functions are optimized by employing optimization algorithms. We applied WMMSE to optimize a stainless steel cladding application executed via the flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) process. Four input parameters and eight response variables were considered. Stainless steel cladding, which carries potential benefits for a variety of industries, takes low cost materials and deposits over their surfaces materials having anti-corrosive properties. Optimal results were confirmed, which ensured the deposition of claddings with defect-free beads exhibiting the desired geometry and demonstrating good productivity indexes.