Advantages of NIR radiation use for optical determination of skin horny layer thickness with embedded TiO2 nanoparticles during tape stripping procedure

The tape stripping technique is an experimental method frequently used for reconstruction of the in-depth distribution of various topically administered substances within the horny layer of human skin, e.g., compounds contained in sunscreens. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (25–200 nm in diameter) are one such compound. Optical techniques which apply blue light are found to be suitable for reconstruction. However, the presence of particles affects the light propagation within the skin and therefore causes incorrect determination of strip thickness, leading to an improper reconstructed distribution of nanoparticle concentration revealed from the experimental data. This study evaluates the errors emerging from the use of blue (400 nm) and NIR (800 nm) radiation and finds the use of longer wavelength light more advantageous. Particles of different diameters are considered, and it is revealed that the application of small particles (25–60 nm) results in the lowest rate of error.     

Spatial structure of acousto-optic phase matching in uniaxial crystals

The spatial structure of Bragg angles and the transfer functions of an acousto-optic cell are calculated for the cases of isotropic and anisotropic light diffraction in a uniaxial crystal. Their change with ultrasound frequency is traced. The possibility of image processing by acousto-optic filtration of the spatial spectrum of an image is considered. The results of experimental visualization of the transfer functions of a calcium molybdate crystal cell are presented.     

Structure of the Solutions of Generalized Kadomtsev–Petviashvili Equations

We consider generalizations of the earlier results, obtained for one-dimensional equations of the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili (KP) class, to two- and three-dimensional KP-class equations with an arbitrary nonlinearity index with allowance for the higher-order dispersion correction and terms describing dissipation and instability. The asymptotics of soliton and nonsoliton solutions are derived. Constructing phase portraits in the 8-dimensional space based on the results of a qualitative analysis of generalized Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equations is discussed.     

Damped waves in a cylinder shadow

The sound field in the region of a deep shadow behind an impedance cylinder is analyzed for the case of plane wave diffraction by the cylinder surface. The main part of the field is represented by a cylindrical wave that has a complex index determined from the boundary conditions and decays with the angular coordinate. An expression for the amplitude of this wave is determined by extracting it from the total field formed in the shadow region. It is demonstrated that this wave approximates more closely the total field behind the cylinder, as compared to the least damped wave in the field representation obtained on the basis of the Watson transform. A way to improve the sound barriers is indicated.     

Noiselike magnetic resonance fine structure for ferromagnetic powders: Dipole-dipole interaction effects

A noiselike fine structure of ferromagnetic resonance spectra in magnetic powders was investigated after ultrasonic treatment. Magnetic interactions between particles are proved to have an influence upon the fine structure formation. After decreasing dipole-dipole magnetic interactions in dilute suspension a special order appears in fine-structure spectra, which is generally the same for different systems.     

A study of formation of solid ionic conductors in the mixed system (CdI2)b[(Ag2O)·(CrO3)]100-b (20≤b≤80)

Using Wagner's polarization technique and EMF method the joinic and silver ionic transport number measurements of various compositions of the mixed system CdI₂-Ag₂O-CrO₃ have been made. The presence of AgI in these materials has been inferred from the typical β → α phase transition of AgI, which is characterized by an endothermic peak at around 420 K in the DSC traces of these specimens. While the structural analysis performed by means of powder X-ray diffraction has revealed the formation of ionic phases involving polycrystalline compounds, the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic results have indicated the presence of ionic species thus confirming the ionic nature of the products. The complex impedance studies carried out in the frequency range 20 Hz - 1 MHz and over the temperature range 294 – 442 K have revealed that the best conducting composition, namely 55%(CdI₂) – 45%(Ag₂O·CrO₃), would exhibit a silver ionic conductivity of 1.3×10⁻⁵Scm⁻¹ at 294 K.     

Portable and Automatic Mössbauer Analysis

A portable Mössbauer spectrometer, developed for extraterrestrial applications, opens up new industrial applications of MBS. But for industrial applications, an available tool for fast data analysis is also required, and it should be easy to handle. The analysis of Mössbauer spectra and their parameters is a barrier for the popularity of this wide-applicable spectroscopic technique in industry. Based on experience, the analysis of a Mössbauer spectrum is time-consuming and requires the dedication of a specialist. However, the analysis of Mössbauer spectra, from the fitting to the identification of the sample phases, can be faster using by genetic algorithms, fuzzy logic and artificial neural networks. Industrial applications are very specific ones and the data analysis can be performed using these algorithms. In combination with an automatic analysis, the Mössbauer spectrometer can be used as a probe instrument which covers the main industrial needs for an on-line monitoring of its products, processes and case studies. Some of these real industrial applications will be discussed.     

Investigations of Solid State Dynamics at the NRSSR Beamline at PETRA II. An Overview

The present status of the new nuclear resonance beamline PETRA 1 at HASYLAB, DESY, Hamburg is described. Besides an overview of the experimental setup some examples of recent experiments are given. Those cover the main applications, i.e., inelastic scattering from iron alloys and quasielastic scattering from glass-forming liquids. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Development and investigation of perovskite (ABO3)-type oxides for power generation

Critical problems of the present approach of electrolytes for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) for commercialization are discussed. Major progress is expected from the development of materials based on the “SEA (Single Element Arrangement)” concept. The galvanic cell consists in this case basically of a single chemically homogeneous compound, which functions as electrodes at high and low activity and as electrolyte at intermediate activities of the electroactive component. In view of the large structural flexibility of the chemical nature of the constitutents, we explored perovskite (ABO₃)-type compounds to be used as SEAs for SOFCs. Results of studies on Pr-substituted LSGM and Fe-substituted SrSnO₃ perovskite-type oxides are presented. For instance, SrSn_1-xFe_xO_3-δ with x=0.1 exhibits p and n-type electronic conduction at the cathode and anode sides of the SOFC, respectively, while oxide ion conduction prevails at intermediate oxygen partial pressures. The SEA concept is also applicable for other devices in the field of Ionics.     

Observation of dielectronic satellites in the K-spectrum of argon ions in plasma produced by femtosecond laser pulses

The satellite structure of 1s2p ^1,3 P ₁-1s ²¹ S ₀ lines of the He-like argon ion in plasma produced by a 45-fs laser pulse in a gas-jet cluster target is measured with a high spectral resolution. Radiation transitions 2p → 1s from autoionizing states (AISs) are detected for ions ranging from Li-like to F-like. The spectrum observed is theoretically simulated with the use of the spectroscopic data for the AISs of multicharged ions obtained within the multiconfiguration relativistic Hartree-Fock method. Good agreement with experimental data is obtained when the main population channels of these states are taken into account for typical values of cluster-target plasma parameters.