The importance of coastal geomorphological setting as a controlling factor on microtextural signatures of the 2010 Maule (Chile) tsunami deposit

Quartz grains collected from Arauco and Mataquito (central Chile) after the 2010 Maule tsunami presented an overwhelming dominance of dissolution textures. The analysis of superficial imprints proved that some grains were mechanically impacted before deposition. However, the percentage of grains with fresh surfaces and percussion marks was significantly lower than average values from other tsunami deposits elsewhere in the world. In this work, we discuss the reasons for such results in the context of the geomorphological setting of the areas analyzed and its influence on the microtextural signatures observed. The data presented in this study evidences a geographic dependence in the type of microtextures in the areas analyzed. For example, in Arauco the abundance of dissolution textures decreases rapidly towards the center of the embayment and increases towards the rocky headlands of its westernmost sector. By contrast, an increase of mechanical marks (e.g. fresh surfaces) is observed in the central region of the Arauco’s embayment. Similarly, in Mataquito, dissolution features are more abundant in the headlands or small capes, while there is a higher presence of mechanical marks in sandy embayments. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of the geomorphological context as a controlling factor in the intensity of mechanical imprints on the surface of quartz grains transported by tsunamis and deposited in the inner shelf and coastal areas. Therefore, our results suggest that without a detailed geomorphological contextualization microtextural discrimination can lead to misleading interpretations. Hence, there is a need for more microtextural analysis on tsunami deposits in order to assess the variability in the geographic distribution and intensity of microtextures imprinted on the surface of quartz grains deposited during a tsunami event

Critical fluctuations and random-anisotropy glass transition in nematic elastomers

We carry out a detailed deuterium NMR study of local nematic ordering in polydomain nematic elastomers. This system has a close analogy to the random-anisotropy spin glass. We find that, in spite of the quadrupolar nematic symmetry in 3-dimensions requiring a first-order transition, the order parameter in the quenched ``nematic glass'' emerges via a continuous phase transition. In addition, by a careful analysis of the NMR line shape, we deduce that the local director fluctuations grow in a critical manner around the transition point. This could be the experimental evidence for the Aizenman-Wehr theorem about the quenched impurities changing the order of discontinuous transition

The importance of coastal geomorphological setting as a controlling factor on microtextural signatures of the 2010 Maule (Chile) tsunami deposit

Quartz grains collected from Arauco and Mataquito (central Chile) after the 2010 Maule tsunami presented an overwhelming dominance of dissolution textures. The analysis of superficial imprints proved that some grains were mechanically impacted before deposition. However, the percentage of grains with fresh surfaces and percussion marks was significantly lower than average values from other tsunami deposits elsewhere in the world. In this work, we discuss the reasons for such results in the context of the geomorphological setting of the areas analyzed and its influence on the microtextural signatures observed. The data presented in this study evidences a geographic dependence in the type of microtextures in the areas analyzed. For example, in Arauco the abundance of dissolution textures decreases rapidly towards the center of the embayment and increases towards the rocky headlands of its westernmost sector. By contrast, an increase of mechanical marks (e.g. fresh surfaces) is observed in the central region of the Arauco's embayment. Similarly, in Mataquito, dissolution features are more abundant in the headlands or small capes, while there is a higher presence of mechanical marks in sandy embayments. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of the geomorphological context as a controlling factor in the intensity of mechanical imprints on the surface of quartz grains transported by tsunamis and deposited in the inner shelf and coastal areas. Therefore, our results suggest that without a detailed geomorphological contextualization microtextural discrimination can lead to misleading interpretations. Hence, there is a need for more microtextural analysis on tsunami deposits in order to assess the variability in the geographic distribution and intensity of microtextures imprinted on the surface of quartz grains deposited during a tsunami even

Impact of nanoconfinement on the physical state and conductivity mechanisms of a 2-picolinium ionic liquid crystal

Funding Information: This work was supported by the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry LAQV ( UID/QUI/50006/2019 ), i3N (UID/ CTM / 50025/2019 ) and CeFEMA (UID/ CTM / 04540/2019 ), which are financed by national funds from FCT- MCTES and by FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 Program. The authors also thank the National Funds through FCT- MCTES and POR Lisboa 2020, under the project numbers PTDC/EAM - AMB / 2023/2021 ( SUSTECH4H2O ), POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007688 and European Interdisciplinary Action ( COST Action CA21159 , PhoBioS). A. F. M. Santos also acknowledges FCT- MCTES for the PhD Grant ( SFRH/BD/132551/2017 ) and I. Matos for the contract CEECIND/004431/2022 . Funding Information: This work was supported by the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry LAQV, Portugal, (LA/P/0008/2020, UIDB/50006/2020, UIDP/50006/2020), i3N, Portugal, (LA/P/0037/2020, UIDB/50025/2020, UIDP/50025/2020), CQE, Portugal, (UIDB/00100/2020, UIDP/00100/2020) and CeFEMA, Portugal, (UIDB/04540/2020, UIDP/04540/2020), which are financed by national funds from FCT-MCTES, Portugal, and by FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020, Portugal, Program. The authors also thank the National Funds through FCT-MCTES, Portugal and POR Lisboa 2020, under the project numbers PTDC/EAM-AMB/2023/2021 (SUSTECH4H2O), POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007688 and European Interdisciplinary Action (COST Action, Belgium, CA21159, PhoBioS). A. F. M. Santos also acknowledges FCT-MCTES, Portugal, for the PhD Grant (SFRH/BD/132551/2017) and I. Matos for the contract CEECIND/004431/2022. Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s)Hybrid solid-like materials prepared from the incorporation of liquid-like ionic conductors into nanoporous matrices could represent an advantage for a variety of electronic applications. Aiming to obtain such materials, three composites of the polymorphic ionic liquid crystal (ILC) 1-hexadecyl-2-methylpyridinium bromide ([C16-2-Pic][Br]), loaded in the mesoporous inorganic silica SBA-15 (∼6.8 nm in pore diameter), were prepared at guest–host weight fractions of ∼ 40, 60 and 80% (w/w) and investigated by different techniques: ATR-FTIR, BET, TGA, XRD and DSC. Complete amorphisation was achieved for the 40 and 60% composites, while the 80% preparation was stabilised in the low-T morph of native C16, being in the liquid state at room temperature. Furthermore, through Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy, the ionic conductivity of the three hybrid materials was characterised, allowing to deconvolute this property in a pure ohmic contribution (conductivity I) and the overlapping of ac − dc transition with interfacial polarisation resulting from the coexistence of the ionic liquid and the quasi-insulating inorganic matrix (conductivity II). From –20 to 20 °C, the conductivity and the corresponding charge migration are faster in all composites relative to the neat ILC, as deduced from the inferior radii of Nyquist arcs. The 60% preparation stood out from the other materials, exhibiting direct conductivity unaffected by electrode polarisation over a larger T-range, leading to the assumption of a nearly continuous silica-mediated charge migration pathway, which is never reached for the 40% composite, while, in the 80% preparation, some C16 deposits on the outer surface of the pores. Incorporation into the silica matrix proved to be a good strategy for the production of cost-efficient materials with long-term stabilisation of the ionic liquid in a single phase over a large range of temperatures, enabling the prediction of flow and conductive properties.publishersversionpublishe

Tuneable micro- and nano-periodic structures in urethane/urea networks

Micro- and nano-patterned materials are of great importance for the design of new nanoscale electronic, optical and mechanical devices, ranging from sensors to displays. A prospective system that can support a designed functionality is elastomeric polyurethane thin films with nano- or micromodulated surface structures ("wrinkles"). These wrinkles can be induced on different lengthscales by mechanically stretching the films, without the need for any sophisticated lithographic techniques. In the present article we focus on the experimental control of the wrinkling process. A simple model for wrinkle formation is also discussed, and some preliminary results reported. Hierarchical assembly of these tunable structures paves the way for the development of a new class of materials with a wide range of applications, from electronics to biomedicine

Experimental study of the director pattern dynamics in the vicinity of the Fréedericksz twist geometry

We present an experimental study of the transient periodic structures appearing in the nematic director field in the magnetically induced reorientation of the director in the vicinity of the twist Fréedericksz geometry. Thin nematic samples (50 mm thick) were exposed to magnetic fields of variable intensity and orientation relative to the surface aligning direction of the sample. The director reorientation was induced by a rapid rotation of the sample in the static magnetic field producing a misalignment between the director and the magnetic field. The director field was optically monitored during the reorientation process and the transient periodic structures were characterized. Two types of periodic structures could be identified, namely bands and walls. Walls grow from bands close to the twist Fréedericksz geometry. The time dependence of the wave length and inclination of the periodic structures was obtained as a function of the magnetic field intensity and orientation relative to the surface aligning direction of the sample. The results for the bands are compared with the predictions of a model that we specifically developed to account for the non-orthogonal field orientations. It is seen that our model can account rather well for the experimental results considering that it uses only the field rotation time as adjustable parameter. All other model parameters are known

The importance of coastal geomorphological setting as a controlling factor on microtextural signatures of the 2010 Maule (Chile) tsunami deposit

Quartz grains collected from Arauco and Mataquito (central Chile) after the 2010 Maule tsunami presented an overwhelming dominance of dissolution textures. The analysis of superficial imprints proved that some grains were mechanically impacted before deposition. However, the percentage of grains with fresh surfaces and percussion marks was significantly lower than average values from other tsunami deposits elsewhere in the world. In this work, we discuss the reasons for such results in the context of the geomorphological setting of the areas analyzed and its influence on the microtextural signatures observed. The data presented in this study evidences a geographic dependence in the type of microtextures in the areas analyzed. For example, in Arauco the abundance of dissolution textures decreases rapidly towards the center of the embayment and increases towards the rocky headlands of its westernmost sector. By contrast, an increase of mechanical marks (e.g. fresh surfaces) is observed in the central region of the Arauco's embayment. Similarly, in Mataquito, dissolution features are more abundant in the headlands or small capes, while there is a higher presence of mechanical marks in sandy embayments. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of the geomorphological context as a controlling factor in the intensity of mechanical imprints on the surface of quartz grains transported by tsunamis and deposited in the inner shelf and coastal areas. Therefore, our results suggest that without a detailed geomorphological contextualization microtextural discrimination can lead to misleading interpretations. Hence, there is a need for more microtextural analysis on tsunami deposits in order to assess the variability in the geographic distribution and intensity of microtextures imprinted on the surface of quartz grains deposited during a tsunami even

Sjögren's Syndrome

O presente trabalho consta de duas partes estando incluída na primeira a revisão teórica e conceitos actuais sobre o tema e na segunda, a casuística do serviço de Estomatologia do Hospital Pulido Valente. De Abril de 1989 a 1991 (2 anos) vem sendo realizado um estudo sobre o Síndrome de SJÖGREN (Primário e Secundário) de carácter multidisciplinar tendo tido a particular colaboração do Instituto Português de Reumatologia. Com este trabalho pretendemos demonstrar a importância da avaliação oral no estudo das doenças multissistémicas bem como estabelecer critérios de diagnóstico para a população portuguesa. Avaliámos 80 casos suspeitos de Síndrome Sjögren, 66 completamente estudados e cujo motivo da consulta foram a Xerostomia/Xeroftalmia/Hipertrofia das Glândulas parótidas, sintomas estes isolados ou em associação com outras patologias e após terem sido eliminadas outras causas dos mesmos. Tivemos que estabelecer os valores de referência salivares para a população portuguesa em 21 indivíduos voluntários e saudáveis (grupo de controle). A Xerostomia foi avaliada pela Sialoquímica, Sialografia, Cintigrafia e Biópsias do lábio inferior e da glândula sublingual. O exame oftalmológico foi efectuado no serviço de Oftalmologia do Hospital de Santo António dos Capuchos pelos testes de Schirmer, Rosa de Bengala e Ruptura Lacrimal. Apesar do Síndrome de Sjögren, até à presente data, estar muito pouco definido em relação à terapêutica, estes doentes necessitam de cuidados médicos e a Estomatologia tem um papel fundamental sob ponto de vista diagnóstico e terapêutico. Fica-se assim com a noção de que este síndrome não é tão infrequente como se poderia pensar e a avaliação da vertente oral é importante para o estabelecimento do grau da doença e seu tratamento