The a.c. susceptibility third harmonic component of NdO1−0.14F0.14FeAs: A flux dynamic magnetic analysis

In this contribution we present the analysis of the third harmonic susceptibility data of the new superconductor NdFeAs_1−0.14F_0.14. ‘Cole-Cole’ polar plots respect to the magnetic frequency of the exciting field are presented and discussed. Data show that NdFeAs_1−0.14F_0.14 exhibit a ‘bulk pinning’ with a 3D flux dynamic character. A comparison of the responses of high T_c materials and an evaluation of theoretical critical states is also presented.     

An original perspective on variable-order fractional operators for viscoelastic materials

Meccanica - This work deals with viscoelastic constitutive models involving variable-order fractional operators. There exist two main fractional models in the literature representing the...     

An unified formulation of strong non-local elasticity with fractional order calculus

Meccanica - The research of a formulation to model non-local interactions in the mechanical behavior of matter is currently an open problem. In this context, a strong non-local formulation based on...     

Biosynthesis of Cd-bound phytochelatins by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaeodactylum tricornutum</Emphasis> and their speciation by size-exclusion chromatography and ion-pair chromatography coupled to ICP–MS

Cd-bound phytochelatins (Cd–PCs) have been synthesised by incubation of Phaeodactylum tricornutum cell cultures with Cd and purified by size-exclusion chromatography–UV–Vis. These complexes, which were identified in previous work, have now been used as model substances to develop and optimise ion-pair chromatography (IPC) coupled to inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) for analysis of Cd–PCs. Subsequent analysis of samples taken from Silene vulgaris plants cultivated under heavy metal stress conditions revealed Cd signals but no Cd–PC signals. By use of isotopically enriched ¹¹⁶Cd–PCs the sample preparation steps were verified to determine the stability of the analytes. We observed species transformation between Cd–PCs and other unidentified Cd complexes. Consequently, the kinetic and thermodynamic lability of Cd–PCs are decisive factors in their detection.     

X-ray microtomography for studying localized deformation in fine-grained geomaterials under triaxial compressionUtilisation de la microtomographie rayon X pour l'étude de la localisation des déformations dans les géomatériaux argileux sous sollicitation axisymétrique.

This Note presents a few selected results of an experimental testing program carried out at the ESRF in Grenoble, France. X-ray microtomography (with a spatial resolution of 14 μm) has been used to evaluate the onset and evolution of shear banding in a fine-grained stiff soil under deviatoric loading. It allowed detailed observations of strain localization in a specimen during the test, including the presence of more than one shear zone and a varying degree of dilatancy and/or crack opening. To cite this article: G. Viggiani et al., C. R. Mecanique 332 (2004).     

Evidence of mechanisms occurring in thermally induced phase separation of polymeric systems

Thermally induced phase separation is a fabrication technique for porous polymeric structures. By means of easy‐to‐tune processing parameters, such as system composition and demixing temperature, a vast latitude of average pore dimensions, pore size distributions, and morphologies can be obtained. The relation between demixing temperature and morphology was demonstrated via cloud point curve measurement and foams fabrication with controlled thermal protocols, for the model system poly‐l ‐lactide–dioxane–water. The morphologies obtained at a temperature lower than cloud point showed a closed‐pore architecture, suggesting a “nucleation‐and‐growth” separation mechanism, which produced larger pores at higher holding times. Conversely, the porous structures attained when holding the sample above the cloud point exhibited open pores with dimensions independent of time, denoting a phase separation occurring during sample freezing. Finally, the influence of the cooling rate on final morphology was investigated, showing a clear correlation with microstructure and pore size. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 979–983     

Thermally stimulated current investigation of copper octaethylporphyrin dimer Langmuir-Blodgett films

Langmuir-Blodgett films containing meso,meso'-buta-1,3-diyne-bridge Cu(II) octaethylporphyrin dimer have been deposited with the aim of carrying out a thermally stimulated current (TSC) investigation. This characterization was obtained upon cooling samples irradiated by light and others without irradiation: in this way TSC curves have been registered in the temperature range of 100-300 K. Analysis of experimental data has been performed through the application of three different approaches: the initial rate, the heating rate, and Chen's methods. In particular, a trap center at about 0.38 eV has been evidenced and the three different methods have given results in close accordance.