Convolution by membrane waves

Convolution in the frequency range of hundreds of kilohertz has been produced by using the nonlinear relationship between longitudinal strain and transversal displacement associated with the membrane wave. The transversal piezoelectric effect of PVF2 film has been used to detect convolution.     

L-malic acid production by entrappedSaccharomyces cerevisiae into polyacrylamide gel beads

The yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae was entrapped within polyacrylamide gel beads by employing a procedure that uses sodium dodecylsulfate as a detergent to improve the spherical configuration of the beads. The resulting preparation showed a rate of fumarate bioconversion to L-malic acid about 60 times higher than that found for the free cells. Almost all fumarate was converted in 30 min of incubation. The thermal stability of the immobilized cells did not significantly differ from the free cells. An optimal pH of 5.7 was found for the immobilized preparation and no succinic acid was detected as a by-product in the incubation mixture.     

J-integral analysis of ductile fracture of PP/EP rubber blends

The use of J-analysis to describe the ductile behaviour of PP/EP rubber blends is investigated. Two fundamental approaches are discussed and tested at low and high strain rate as a function of temperature.The results are presented with particular emphasis on the sensitivity of the parameters obtained by J-analysis to rubber content and particle size.     

Heavy metal in sediments and bioaccumulation in the bivalve Corbula gibba in a drilling discharge area

The longterm bioavailability of heavy metals in sediments of a Northern Adriatic Sea shelf area affected by drilling mud and cutting discharges was discussed. Levels of Mn, Cu, Cr, Zn and Pb in different geochemical phases of the sediment and in soft tissues of the bivalve Corbula gibba were recorded and the relationships between biological and geochemical metal investigated. Total metal content, acetic acid extractable-, exchangeable-, carbonate-, easily reducible-, moderately reducible-, oxidable- and residual-fractions were determined on sediment samples. Corbula gibba was collected from wet sediments at the same times and sites, and the soft-tissue metal contents were determined. Correlations show that the fractions with greatest bioavailability are the exchangeable and carbonate for Cr and the exchangeable, carbonate, easily and moderately reducible fractions for Zn. Data also show a possible bioavailability of Pb only from the residual fraction, consisting of very resistant matter of more recent anthropogenic origin. Near the platform, total Mn content in sediments and in C. gibba tissues show a strong correlation suggesting that this organism is sensitive to variations of the Mn-oxi-hydroxides superficial film. No relationships were found between biological and sediment-bound Cu, however the discharged muds did not cause Cu enrichment. The metal fraction determined by weak acetic acid extraction at no point seems related to metal levels in Corbula gibba.     

The ad hoc return channel: a low-cost solution for Brazilian interactive digital TV

The upcoming terrestrial digital television technology brings a new class of services to traditional TV sets. A set-top box may, for example, access the Internet and send email. The interactive return channel makes these new services possible. This channel allows TV viewers to interact by sending data back to the TV broadcaster. In this article we analyze the viability of a wireless ad hoc network to implement the return channel. For this purpose, an ad hoc network is a low-cost and flexible solution. We evaluate the performance of an ad hoc return channel using the IEEE 802.11 wireless technology for different Brazilian geographical scenarios. The results show that ad hoc networking is a promising solution for the return channel of Brazilian interactive digital TV     

Is it feasible to reconstruct body segment 3-D position and orientation using accelerometric data?

The analysis of the mechanics of the musculo-skeletal system during the execution of a motor task requires the determination of the instantaneous position and orientation of the body segments involved in relation to an inertial system of reference. By using adequately assembled uniaxial accelerometric sensors, an easy-to-manage measurement system can be obtained that estimates the three-dimensional position and orientation (P&O) of a body segment through an appropriate analytical model. However, the extent to which experimental errors, in particular accelerometers (ACs) assembly inaccuracies, affect such estimation has never been systematically investigated. This paper systematically analyzes the sensitivity of analytical models of body segment P&O reconstruction through a six-AC system and a nine-AC system to different sources of experimental error. We simulated and statistically assessed the performance of these models in the case of body segment motions typical of movements under muscular control. The results obtained indicated that the inaccuracy in the orientation of the individual AC's active axes and the offset error in the AC responses were the major sources of P&O estimation errors. In particular, no accurate estimation of position was possible with the analytical models analyzed. Under the motion conditions simulated in this study, no substantial advantages were found in using a nine-AC system rather than a six-AC system. Considering that the magnitudes of the simulated experimental errors were quite low (< or = 0.1 deg: AC's orientation; < or = 10(-4) m: uncertainty of the distance between two ACs; < or = 10(-2) ms(-2): random error; 0.5 x 10(-2) ms(-2): offset error), the results indicate that none of the two ACs systems analyzed is suitable for body segment P&O estimation in routine biomechanical applications.     

Monodisperse N‐Doped Graphene Nanoribbons Reaching 7.7 Nanometers in Length

The properties of graphene nanoribbons are highly dependent on structural variables such as width, length, edge structure, and heteroatom doping. Therefore, atomic precision over all these variables is necessary for establishing their fundamental properties and exploring their potential applications. An iterative approach is presented that assembles a small and carefully designed molecular building block into monodisperse N‐doped graphene nanoribbons with different lengths. To showcase this approach, the synthesis and characterisation of a series of nanoribbons constituted of 10, 20 and 30 conjugated linearly‐fused rings (2.9, 5.3, and 7.7 nm in length, respectively) is presented.     

Two dimension selective coherent population trapping controlled by a phase shift

Two-dimensional laser cooling based on velocity-selective coherent population trapping is investigated theoretically for the J _g=1J _e=0 atomic transition. Wavevectors and polarizations of three laser beams are chosen to realize a coherent superposition of three degenerate ground states. For the first time in laser cooling, use is made of the electric field phases to realize coherent population trapping selective in two dimensions. Numerical solutions and analytic estimates are presented for laser cooling of helium atoms.     

Vanadyl phosphate dihydrate,a solid acid: the role of water in VOPO4·2H2O and its sodium derivatives Na x (VIV x VV 1−x O)PO4·(2−x)H2O

Sodium-containing intercalates having as general formula Na _x VOPOP₄·(2–x)H₂O (0.25x<0.50) have been obtained and characterized. Orthorhombic phases, which essentially maintain the structure of the layered oxide hydrate VOPO₄·2H₂O result. Intercalated sodium ions act as pillars. The presence of H₃O⁺ ions in the parent VOPO₄·2H₂O and also in some reduced phases, is detected. The understanding of the structural role of the water molecules is advanced and the topotactic dehydration/rehydration processes are studied. The formation of a new metastable VOPO₄·H₂O phase is established.     

Liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry of bioactive terpenoids in Ginkgo biloba L

Standardized extracts of Ginkgo biloba leaves are mainly used in the treatment of peripheral and celebral circulation disorders, and also as a remedy against asthma, coughs, bladder inflammation, blenorrhagia and alcohol abuse. The leaf extracts contain biflavones, flavonol glycosides and terpene lactones. This paper reports a method based on liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray mass spectrometry for the analysis of terpenoids in G. biloba extracts. This method allows the rapid isocratic separation of underivatized ginkgolides (GA, GB, GC and GJ) and bilobalide at very low levels (10 pg on the column) and their quantitative detection by external standardization with relative standard deviations of 3 and 5% for intra- and inter-day analyses, respectively.