786 research outputs found
Rare earth oxycarbonates as a material class for chemoresistive CO2 gas sensors
AbstractIn this work we compare the CO2 gas sensing properties of two new materials synthesized from rare earth hydroxide (La(OH)3,Pr(OH)3) precursors, with the already reported ones for neodymium oxycarbonate, which was synthesized from the corresponding Nd(OH)3 precursor. In-situ XRD measurements show that by following similar thermal treatment, praseodymium hydroxide is transforming to the metal oxide while lanthanum hydroxide forms an oxycarbonate, like in the case of neodymium. The chemoresistive effects we found for the lanthanum oxycarbonate were even higher than the ones recorded for the neodymium oxycarbonate; for the praseodymium metal oxide we could not find any CO2 sensitivity. Accordingly, we think that the condition for CO2 sensing is the formation of the rare earth oxycarbonate
The ground state of binary systems with a periodic modulation of the linear coupling
We consider a quasi-one-dimensional two-component systm, described by a pair
of Nonlinear Schr\"{o}dinger/Gross-Pitaevskii Equations (NLSEs/GPEs), which are
coupled by the linear mixing, with local strength , and by the
nonlinear incoherent interaction. We assume the self-repulsive nonlinearity in
both components, and include effects of a harmonic trapping potential. The
model may be realized in terms of periodically modulated slab waveguides in
nonlinear optics, and in Bose-Einstein condensates too. Depending on the
strengths of the linear and nonlinear couplings between the components, the
ground states (GSs) in such binary systems may be symmetric or asymmetric. In
this work, we introduce a periodic spatial modulation of the linear coupling,
making an odd, or even function of the coordinate. The sign flips of
strongly modify the structure of the GS in the binary system, as
the relative sign of its components tends to lock to the local sign of . Using a systematic numerical analysis, and an analytical approximation, we
demonstrate that the GS of the trapped system contains one or several kinks
(dark solitons) in one component, while the other component does not change its
sign. Final results are presented in the form of maps showing the number of
kinks in the GS as a function of the system's parameters, with the odd/even
modulation function giving rise to the odd/even number of the kinks. The
modulation of also produces a strong effect on the transition
between states with nearly equal and strongly unequal amplitudes of the two
components.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure
Elastic behaviour of the carotid artery in intact spontaneously hypertensive rats
Intact spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were studied to assess the effect of prolonged antihypertensive treatment on the elastic behaviour of the external carotid artery. Thirty-week-old SHR received the ACE inhibitor captopril, the ateriolar dilator hydralazine or their vehicle for 6 weeks. These rats were compared to normotensive, vehicle treated WKY rats. The internal diameter of the carotid artery was measured continuously in halothane-anaesthetized rats using an echo-tracking device, and intra-arterial pressure was also monitored continuously, on the controlateral side. Captopril- and hydralazinetreated SHR as well as normotensive controls had similar blood pressure values. No significant shift in the distensibility-pressure curves was observed among vehicle-treated SHR and WKY rats or the SHR which had received captopril or hydralazine. Histological examination of the carotid artery fixed ex vivo with paraformaldehyde showed a significant increase in cross-sectional area in vehicle-treated SHR as compared to their normotensive counterparts. These results therefore suggest that the elastic behaviour of elastic arteries is not necessarily altered by the structural changes developing in response to hypertensio
Cholesterol-lowering properties of Ganoderma lucidum in vitro, ex vivo, and in hamsters and minipigs
INTRODUCTION: There has been renewed interest in mushroom medicinal properties. We studied cholesterol lowering properties of Ganoderma lucidum (Gl), a renowned medicinal species. RESULTS: Organic fractions containing oxygenated lanosterol derivatives inhibited cholesterol synthesis in T9A4 hepatocytes. In hamsters, 5% Gl did not effect LDL; but decreased total cholesterol (TC) 9.8%, and HDL 11.2%. Gl (2.5 and 5%) had effects on several fecal neutral sterols and bile acids. Both Gl doses reduced hepatic microsomal ex-vivo HMG-CoA reductase activity. In minipigs, 2.5 Gl decreased TC, LDL- and HDL cholesterol 20, 27, and 18%, respectively (P < 0.05); increased fecal cholestanol and coprostanol; and decreased cholate. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, Gl has potential to reduce LDL cholesterol in vivo through various mechanisms. Next steps are to: fully characterize bioactive components in lipid soluble/insoluble fractions; evaluate bioactivity of isolated fractions; and examine human cholesterol lowering properties. Innovative new cholesterol-lowering foods and medicines containing Gl are envisioned
Transport regimes of cold gases in a two-dimensional anisotropic disorder
We numerically study the dynamics of cold atoms in a two-dimensional
disordered potential. We consider an anisotropic speckle potential and focus on
the classical regime, which is relevant to some recent experiments. First, we
study the behavior of particles with a fixed energy and identify different
transport regimes. For low energy, the particles are classically localized due
to the absence of a percolating cluster. For high energy, the particles undergo
normal diffusion and we show that the diffusion constants scale algebraically
with the particle energy, with an anisotropy factor which significantly differs
from that of the disordered potential. For intermediate energy, we find a
transient sub-diffusive regime, which is relevant to the time scale of typical
experiments. Second, we study the behavior of a cold-atomic gas with an
arbitrary energy distribution, using the above results as a groundwork. We show
that the density profile of the atomic cloud in the diffusion regime is
strongly peaked and, in particular, that it is not Gaussian. Its behavior at
large distances allows us to extract the energy-dependent diffusion constants
from experimental density distributions. For a thermal cloud released into the
disordered potential, we show that our numerical predictions are in agreement
with experimental findings. Not only does this work give insights to recent
experimental results, but it may also serve interpretation of future
experiments searching for deviation from classical diffusion and traces of
Anderson localization.Comment: 19 pages, 16 figure
Poly(phenylene methylene)-based coatings for corrosion protection : replacement of additives by use of copolymers
Poly(phenylene methylene) (PPM) is a thermally stable, hydrophobic, fluorescent hydrocarbon polymer. Recently, blended PPM has been proposed as a valuable anti-corrosion coating material, and, in particular, rheological additives such as external plasticizers resulted crucial to prevent crack formation. Accordingly, to avoid common problems related to the use of external plasticizers, the development of PPM-related copolymer-based coatings containing n-octyloxy side chains and their anti-corrosion behavior were explored in this study. The aluminum alloy AA2024, widely employed for corrosion studies, was selected as a substrate, covered with a thin layer of a polybenzylsiloxane in order to improve adhesion between the underlying hydrophilic substrate and the top hydrophobic coating. Gratifyingly, coatings with those copolymers were free of bubbles and cracks. The n-octyloxy side-chains may be regarded to adopt the role of a bound plasticizer, as the glass transition temperature of the copolymers decreases with increasing content of alkoxy side-chains. Electrochemical corrosion tests on PPM-substituted coatings exhibited good corrosion protection of the metal surface towards a naturally aerated near-neutrally 3.5% wt.% NaCl neutral solution, providing comparable results to blended PPM formulations, previously reported. Hence, the application of rheological additives can be avoided by use of proper design copolymers
Elastic behaviour of the carotid artery in intact spontaneously hypertensive rats
Intact spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were studied to assess the effect of prolonged antihypertensive treatment on the elastic behaviour of the external carotid artery. Thirty-week-old SHR received the ACE inhibitor captopril, the arteriolar dilator hydralazine or their vehicle for 6 weeks. These rats were compared to normotensive, vehicle treated WKY rats. The internal diameter of the carotid artery was measured continuously in halothane-anaesthetized rats using an echo-tracking device, and intra-arterial pressure was also monitored continuously, on the contralateral side. Captopril- and hydralazine-treated SHR as well as normotensive controls had similar blood pressure values. No significant shift in the distensibility-pressure curves was observed among vehicle-treated SHR and WKY rats or the SHR which had received captopril or hydralazine. Histological examination of the carotid artery fixed ex vivo with paraformaldehyde showed a significant increase in cross-sectional area in vehicle-treated SHR as compared to their normotensive counterparts. These results therefore suggest that the elastic behaviour of elastic arteries is not necessarily altered by the structural changes developing in response to hypertension
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