Controlling the Er content of porous silicon using the doping current intensity

The results of an investigation on the Er doping of porous silicon are presented. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, optical reflectivity, and spatially resolved energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) coupled to scanning electron microscopy measurements were used to investigate on the transient during the first stages of constant current Er doping. Depending on the applied current intensity, the voltage transient displays two very different behaviors, signature of two different chemical processes. The measurements show that, for equal transferred charge and identical porous silicon (PSi) layers, the applied current intensity also influences the final Er content. An interpretative model is proposed in order to describe the two distinct chemical processes. The results can be useful for a better control over the doping process

Optimization of coupled advanced oxidation processes and activated carbons for purification of salt water

Photocatalysis, ozonation and activated carbons were investigated separately and in combination as tools for the purification of polluted salt water. Coupling different processes enables to overcome many drawbacks related to the use of the single technologies and at the same time to exploit possible synergistic effects. In this work a kinetic analysis was performed for modelling the degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4NP) as a probe pollutant molecule in synthetic seawater. Thus, the optimum synergistic conditions of the three processes acting together were determined and discussed

Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction in Gas-Solid Regime in the Presence of Bare, SiO2 Supported or Cu-Loaded TiO2 Samples

Both commercial and home prepared (HP) TiO2 samples have been tested for the photocatalytic reduction of CO2. (HP) TiO2 powders were prepared by using TiCl4 or Ti(OC4H9)4 as the precursors to obtain HP1 and HP2 samples, respectively. Also HP Cu-loaded and SiO2 supported TiO2 powders were prepared. The HP samples were more active than the commercial ones for the photoreduction of CO2 with and without water vapour. HP1 produced mainly formaldehyde, HP2 principally methane. Acetaldehyde was found to be the primary product obtained when HP1 was supported on SiO2. The addition of Cu increased the photocatalytic reactivity either of bulk and SiO2-supported HP1. In particular, 1 wt % of Cu improved the formaldehyde yield obtained with the bare HP1 by one order of magnitude. Differently, the presence of Cu or SiO2 in the HP2 samples markedly reduced the production of methane

Specificity of weightlifting bench exercises in kayaking sprint performance: A perspective for neuromuscular training

Several studies showed significant differences between bench lift exercises without investigating which is more related, in biomechanical and neuromuscular terms, to improve the sprint flatwater kayak performance. This study aims to compare the power-load and velocity-load neuromuscular parameters performed in prone bench pull (PBP), and bench press (BP) exercises to identify which of them meet the gesture specificity in sprint flatwater kayak performance. Ten elite kayakers participated in this study. Power-load, velocity-load relationships, the maximum dynamic strength, and the kayak sprint performance test were assessed. The power-load and velocity-load relationships showed significant differences between the PBP and BP for each considered load. The kayakers showed a significant correlation between maximum power performed on the PBP and the maximum velocity reached in the kayak sprint (r = 0.80, p < 0.01) and the stroke frequency (r = 0.61, p < 0.05). Conversely, the maximum power performed on the BP did not correlate with the kinematic parameters analyzed. In addition, the maximum dynamic strength in the PBP and BP did not correlate with the maximum velocity and stroke frequency. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed in both the bench exercises for the maximum dynamic strength (p > 0.05). The results of this study suggest that the maximal muscular power expressed in PBP exercise only seems to be more specific in kayak velocity performance compared with maximal dynamic strength and with all dynamic parameters recorded in the BP. This will allow coaches and trainers to use specific bench exercises for specific neuromuscular kayakers’ adaptations during the whole competitive season

Status of the Cylindical-GEM project for the KLOE-2 Inner Tracker

The status of the R&D on the Cylindrical-GEM (CGEM) detector foreseen as Inner Tracker for KLOE-2, the upgrade of the KLOE experiment at the DAFNE phi-factory, will be presented. The R&D includes several activities: i) the construction and complete characterization of the full-size CGEM prototype, equipped with 650 microns pitch 1-D longitudinal strips; ii) the study of the 2-D readout with XV patterned strips and operation in magnetic field (up to 1.5T), performed with small planar prototypes in a dedicated test at the H4-SPS beam facility; iii) the characterization of the single-mask GEM technology for the realization of large-area GEM foils.Comment: 4 pages, 10 figures, Presented at Vienna Conference on Instrumentation (Feb 15-20, 2010, Vienna, Austria). Submitted to the Proceeding

Clinical features and pathophysiology of disorders of arousal in adults: A window into the sleeping brain

Introduction: Disorders of Arousal (DoA) are NREM parasomnias that have been typically regarded as self-limited childhood manifestations. It is now clear that DoA can persist in adults, often presenting with distinctive characteristics. So far, few studies have described the clinical course and characteristics of DoA in adulthood, therefore a large part of their semiology is ignored. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical manifestations of DoA in an adult population and to provide a pathophysiological interpretation of their features. Methods: We screened our database for all 1,600 adult ( 6515 years) patients with sleep-related motor behaviors between 1995 and 2016. We identified 45 patients with typical DoA episodes, of whom a complete history, neurological examination and diagnostic video-polysomnography (VPSG) were available. All patients provided a detailed description of their episodes (with particular regards to semiology, frequency, and association with stressful life events) in different life periods. VPSG recordings were reviewed and DoA episodes were identified and assigned to three different categories according to their complexity. Results: Our population was composed of 45 adult patients ranging between 15 and 76 years. Sleepwalking was reported by 86% of patients, possibly associated with complex interactions with the environment and violent behaviors in 53% of cases; distressing mental contents were reported by 64%. Recall of the episodes was reported in 77% of patients. Non-restorative sleep was reported in 46% of patients. Stress was a potential episode trigger in 80% of patients. VPSG recordings documented 334 DoA episodes. According to our classification of motor patterns, 282 episodes (84%) were Simple Arousal Movements (SAMs), 34 (10%) Rapid Arousal Movements (RAMs) and 18 (5%) Complex Arousal Movements (CAMs). Discussion: Our study confirms that DoA in adulthood present with distinctive characteristics, such as non-restorative sleep, violence and complex, or bizarre behaviors. Alternative classifications of DoA based on motor patterns could be useful to characterize DoA episodes in adults, as different motor patterns often coexist in the same individual and minor episodes are more common but generally underreported by patients. Prospective studies are needed for a definitive characterization of DoA in adulthood throughout the life course

Microwave Spectroscopy Investigation of Carasau Bread Doughs: Effects of Composition up to 8.5 GHz

Carasau bread is a flat bread, typical of Sardinia (Italy). The market of this food product has a large growth potential, and its industry is experiencing a revolution, characterized by digitalization and automation. To monitor the quality of this food product at different manufacturing stages, microwave sensors and devices could be a cost-effective solution. In this framework, knowledge of the microwave response of Carasau dough is required. Thus far, the analysis of the microwave response of Carasau doughs through dielectric spectroscopy has been limited to the dynamics of fermentation. In this work, we aim to perform complex dielectric permittivity measurements up to 8.5 GHz, investigating and modeling the role of water amount, salt and yeast concentrations on the spectra of this food product. A third-order Cole–Cole model was used to interpret the microwave response of the different samples, resulting in a maximum error of 1.58% and 1.60% for the real and imaginary parts of permittivity, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis was also performed to support the microwave spectroscopy investigation. We found that dielectric properties of Carasau bread doughs strongly depend on the water content. The analysis highlighted that an increase in water quantity tends to increase the bounded water fraction at the expense of the free water fraction. In particular, the free water amount in the dough is not related to the broadening parameter (Formula presented.) of the second pole, whereas the bound water weight fraction is more evident in the (Formula presented.) and (Formula presented.) parameters. An increase in electrical conductivity was observed for increasing water content. The microwave spectrum of the real part of the complex permittivity is slightly affected by composition, while large variation in the imaginary part of the complex dielectric permittivity can be identified, especially for frequencies below 4 GHz. The methodology and data proposed and reported in this work can be used to design a microwave sensor for retrieving the composition of Carasau bread doughs through their dielectric signature

Studio multiparametrico dell’arcipelago di Panarea (Isole Eolie): primi risultati dei rilievi geodetici, geofisici e geologici

La recente crisi esalativa di Panarea ha indotto ad effettuare uno studio sistematico dell’area con tecniche GPS, batimetrie ad alta risoluzione, rilievi gravimetrici e di suscettività magnetica, rilievi geologici sottomarini e terrestri. I rilievi batimetrici hanno permesso di individuare la posizione e la estensione dei centri esalativi principali e il campo di fratturazione; quelli gravimetrici e di suscettività magnetica mostrano anomalie nel fianco occidentale di Panarea (formazione Punta Cardosi). I dati GPS, acquisiti sia sulla rete locale che nelle stazioni continue di Lisca Bianca e Panarea, mostrano una deformazione dell’area che è in accordo con il trend del campo di fratturazione attivo stimato dai rilievi geologici sottomarini e terrestri

Geomagnetic survey of Italy. Repeat station network and magnetic maps: a short report

Starting in 1977, two geomagnetic project were undertaken in the frame of the >of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche(Project>of the National Research Council);1)a new national network of repeat stations for total field F, horizontal component H, vertical component Z, declination D.2)a 2nd order network of stations for F,Z,H to produce geomagnetic maps of Italy. The two projects were carried out by a > made up of Operating Units from Institutions to which the authors belong. The field work ended in 1981. The Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica coordinated the operations for both projects. This paper is intended to give a short report to the international scientific community on this work which has so far only appeared in the Italian literature.Published365-3681A. Geomagnetismo e PaleomagnetismoN/A or not JC

Precision measurement of σ(e+e−→π+π−γ)/σ(e+e−→μ+μ−γ)\sigma(e^+e^-\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-\gamma)/\sigma(e^+e^-\rightarrow \mu^+\mu^-\gamma) and determination of the π+π−\pi^+\pi^- contribution to the muon anomaly with the KLOE detector

We have measured the ratio $\sigma(e^+e^-\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-\gamma)/\sigma(e^+e^-\rightarrow \mu^+\mu^-\gamma)$, with the KLOE detector at DA$\Phi$NE for a total integrated luminosity of $\sim$ 240 pb$^{-1}$. From this ratio we obtain the cross section $\sigma(e^+e^-\rightarrow\pi^+\pi^-)$. From the cross section we determine the pion form factor $|F_\pi|^2$ and the two-pion contribution to the muon anomaly $a_\mu$ for $0.592<M_{\pi\pi}<0.975$ GeV, $\Delta^{\pi\pi} a_\mu$= $({\rm 385.1\pm1.1_{stat}\pm2.7_{sys+theo}})\times10^{-10}$. This result confirms the current discrepancy between the Standard Model calculation and the experimental measurement of the muon anomaly.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures, minor text corrections, one table added, version to appear on Physics Letters