Size-Dependent Materials Properties Toward a Universal Equation

Due to the lack of experimental values concerning some material properties at the nanoscale, it is interesting to evaluate this theoretically. Through a “top–down” approach, a universal equation is developed here which is particularly helpful when experiments are difficult to lead on a specific material property. It only requires the knowledge of the surface area to volume ratio of the nanomaterial, its size as well as the statistic (Fermi–Dirac or Bose–Einstein) followed by the particles involved in the considered material property. Comparison between different existing theoretical models and the proposed equation is done

Hemangiopericytomas of the spine: case report and review of the literature

We describe a rare case of a primary intracranial meningeal hemangiopericytoma (HPC) with late metastasis to the cervical spine. A 36-year-old woman had a left occipital lesion that was histopathologically identified as HPC. Fourteen years after resection, the tumor recurred and was treated with radiotherapy. Three years later, CT imaging showed a large mass in the liver consistent with metastatic HPC, and MRI of the cervical spine showed an extensive lesion of the C3 vertebral body. The patient underwent C3 corpectomy with en-bloc tumor removal and follow-up radiation with no local recurrence or other spinal metastasis for the following 4 years. Regardless of the subtype of spinal HPC, complete surgical removal and radiotherapy appear to be treatment of choice

Drought Impact Is Alleviated in Sugar Beets (Beta vulgaris L.) by Foliar Application of Fullerenol Nanoparticles

Over the past few years, significant efforts have been made to decrease the effects of drought stress on plant productivity and quality. We propose that fullerenol nanoparticles (FNPs, molecular formula C-60(OH)(24)) may help alleviate drought stress by serving as an additional intercellular water supply. Specifically, FNPs are able to penetrate plant leaf and root tissues, where they bind water in various cell compartments. This hydroscopic activity suggests that FNPs could be beneficial in plants. The aim of the present study was to analyse the influence of FNPs on sugar beet plants exposed to drought stress. Our results indicate that intracellular water metabolism can be modified by foliar application of FNPs in drought exposed plants. Drought stress induced a significant increase in the compatible osmolyte proline in both the leaves and roots of control plants, but not in FNP treated plants. These results indicate that FNPs could act as intracellular binders of water, creating an additional water reserve, and enabling adaptation to drought stress. Moreover, analysis of plant antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, APx and GPx), MDA and GSH content indicate that fullerenol foliar application could have some beneficial effect on alleviating oxidative effects of drought stress, depending on the concentration of nanoparticles applied. Although further studies are necessary to elucidate the biochemical impact of FNPs on plants; the present results could directly impact agricultural practice, where available water supplies are often a limiting factor in plant bioproductivity

Sourcing Technological Knowledge Through Foreign Inward Licensing to Boost the Performance of Indian Firms: The Contingent Effects of Internal R&D and Business Group Affiliation

Sourcing technological knowledge from abroad is becoming a popular strategy among emerging market firms (EMFs). Combining the Knowledge-Based View and the Resource Dependence Theory, we argue that augmenting technological knowledge through foreign licensing enables EMFs to access state-of-the-art technological knowledge, reduce operational costs and risks associated to the innovation process, and develop a knowledge-based competitive advantage, ultimately boosting their financial performance. Using data about Indian firms observed from 2001 to 2013, we find that firms with a higher share of foreign inward technology licenses report better financial performance. However, the positive impact of technological knowledge accessed through inward licensing on firm performance is contingent upon: (1) the internal knowledge developed through R&D activity, and (2) the affiliation with business groups. While Indian firms with higher level of internal R&D are able to better leverage the value of foreign technological knowledge, thus reaching higher performance, firms affiliated to business groups gain fewer benefits from licensed foreign technological knowledge than non-business-group affiliated firms

The strength of hybrid composites.

The strength of carbon fibres in unidirectional hybrid composites of glass and carbon fibres have been investigated. It has been shown that the strength distributions of bundles of carbon fibres impregnated with resin, both unsupported and in a hybrid, may be described by the Weibull model confirming earlier reports. The primary objective of this work has been to investigate the strength and the state of dispersion of the carbon component. Hybrid composites consisting of accurately aligned arrays of bundles in two and three dimensions have been fabricated and tested. It has been shown that the strength decreases when the bundle spacing is less than a critical distance but at very low spacings the strength begins to increase again. This observation is explained with reference to the fracture behaviour and the implications for practical composites are discussed. The hybrid composites exhibit a greater strength over impregnated bundles. An hypothesis is proposed to explain this phenomena which combines thermal effects with the constraining influence of the glass and the differences in the severity of flaws in hybrid bundles. The last two arguments result in a larger critical group of failed fibres being required in the hybrid before catastrophic failure occurs. The type of hybrid specimen tested in this work enables the fracture process in the composite to be followed closely. The investigation has in principle supported the model for composite strength proposed by Batdorf, the "critical i-plet" model. However, experimental evidence indicated that a slightly different fracture process to that proposed by Batdorf was operating. The significance of this fracture process with respect to the strength and the size effect in composites is discussed

NATURAL DUALITIES FOR SEMILATTICE-BASED ALGEBRAS

Abstract. While every finite lattice-based algebra is dualisable, the same is not true of semilattice-based algebras. We show that a finite semilattice-based algebra is dualisable if all its operations are compatible with the semilattice operation. We also give examples of infinite semilattice-based algebras that are dualisable. In contrast, we present a general condition that guarantees the inherent non-dualisability of a finite semilattice-based algebra. We combine our results to characterise dualisability amongst the finite algebras in the classes of flat extensions of partial algebras and closure semilattices. Throughout, we emphasise the apparent connection between the dualisability of an algebra and the residual character of the variety it generates. 1