A study of some complexometric titrations in nonaqueous solvents

Complexometric titrations of calcium, zinc and lead with polyaminocarboxylic acids: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), 1,2-diaminocyclohexanetetraacetic acid (DCTA), ethyleneglycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and tetraethylenepentamine (tetren) have been investigated and compared in the following organic solvents: methanol, dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide and methyl ethyl ketone. Various end point detection methods have been used: direct visual titration with metallochromic indicators and instrumental detection by photometry, potentiometry (mercury electrode and lead ion selective electrode) and amperometry. Calcium, zinc and lead can be determined up to trace levels (ppm) under specific conditions. A concrete application of this thesis is the determination of zinc or calcium in a sample of polystyrene within a few minutes while the classical methods will necessitate several hours --Abstract, page ii

Lorentz TEM characterisation of magnetic and physical structure of nanostructure magnetic thin films

The work presented in this thesis is an investigation which aims to quantitatively characterise the physical microstructure, magnetic structure and micromagnetic behaviour of nanostructured thin films for magnetic recording and spintronics application. The nanostructures in the present work involve continuous and patterned thin films. Chapters 1, 2, and 3 present the overview backgrounds directly relevant to the work. Chapter 4 focuses on vortex structure in magnetic nanodots. The results confirm that the behaviour of the vortex can be modified by changing the edge geometry of the dots. It is demonstrated a practical method to determine the out-of-plane component of the vortex core with high accuracy and speed. Additionally in-plane curling magnetisation of the vortex is also mapped by reconstructing the electron phase using the transport-of-intensity equation. However this method is susceptible to spurious low spatial frequency and this aspect is explored to show limitations of the method. Chapter 5 deals with the characterisation of magnetic structure in nanoconstrictions intended to trap domain walls (DWs) in the nanoconstrictions. A structure was fabricated with two micron-sized pads as the sources for creation of DWs. A DW can be driven to be pinned at the nanoconstriction resulting in a change of magnetoresistance due to the contribution of the DW to the resistance of the device. The magnetisation configuration around the constriction is studied during the reversal process. It is apparent that that understanding the magnetisation rotation around the constriction and into the pads is the key to the magnetoresistance measurements and the DW resistance is part of this process. Evidences of DW compression at the nanoconstriction were noted. In Chapter 6 the investigation of the physical structure and micromagnetism of CoIr film is described. A hexagonal crystal structure with a [0001] texture normal to the film plane was characterised. Weak anisotropy is observed in the film denoted by a complex reversal on the hard axis due to incoherent rotation of magnetic moments. The film exhibits typical soft magnetic behaviour it merits compared to other soft materials are discussed in light of the results obtained here. Chapter 7 concludes with a discussion of the outcomes of the present thesis. Additionally possible directions for future research in topics discussed in this thesis are proposed

Analysis of the Impact of Urbanization and Enhanced Incomes on Demand for Food Quality in Hanoi

This study relates the demand for quality foods in Hanoi in terms of its nutritional composition, diversity, price, processing stage, source, and extent eaten outside home with urbanization and enhanced incomes. The vast differences in these foods quality parameters across different socioeconomic groups and regions in and around Hanoi city suggest the changing nature of the food quality with increased income and urbanization. One lesson learned from this analysis is that urbanization and increased income may not necessarily bring all positive changes in food quality. While the diet becomes more balanced in terms of micronutrient, the increased demand for fat-based calories, processed and restaurant foods, and drift away from fresh sources of farm and home-garden foods raised alarm for food quality and safety. These trends provide a space for government policies to intervene for the purpose of maintaining hygiene standards of food and public health.Demand and Price Analysis, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Modulation of domain wall dynamics in TbFeCo single layer nanowire

We demonstrate the possibility to write and modulate the magnetic domain walls in a TbFeCo single layer nanowire (300 nm width, 150 $\mu$m length). To realize this, a tiny magnetic domain was nucleated by an Oersted field produced by a 1.6 MHz pulse current (35 mA in amplitude, 5-40 ns in length) crossed the wire. To write the wall to the wire, a DC current was used to drive the nucleated domain (with two walls in two sides) to the wire in accordance with spin-transfer torque mechanism. A critical current density of $J_c = 3.5\times10^{10} Am^{-2}$ was required to control the motion of the walls in the wire. It was found that the size of the domain moving in the wire could be adjusted by either external field or the length of the nucleated pulse current. This could be considered as an important note for writing process in domain wall spin-torque devices, especially, memory elements.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure