Superconducting nanowire quantum interference device based on Nb ultrathin films deposited on self-assembled porous Si templates

Magnetoresistance oscillations were observed on networks of superconducting ultrathin Nb nanowires presenting evidences of either thermal or quantum activated phase slips. The magnetic transport data, discussed in the framework of different scenarios, reveal that the system behaves coherently in the temperature range where the contribution of the fluctuations is important.Comment: accepted for publication on Nanotechnolog

Nonlinear current-voltage characteristics due to quantum tunneling of phase slips in superconducting Nb nanowire networks

We report on the transport properties of an array of N about 30 interconnected Nb nanowires, grown by sputtering on robust porous Si substrates. The analyzed system exhibits a broad resistive transition in zero magnetic field, H, and highly nonlinear V(I) characteristics as a function of H which can be both consistently described by quantum tunneling of phase slips.Comment: accepted for publication on Appl. Phys. Let

Autoactivación de cemento de escorias con polvo de vidrio de descarte

The aim of this study is to evaluate the behavior of glass powder waste as alkaline activator of slag when both are used in blended cement. The slag blended cement was prepared with 70% slag, and then the slag was replaced with 10-20% glass powder by mass. The self-activation concept is here introduced. Ground glass releases alkalis through dissolution in a slow and sustained way over time. This would activate slag. Ground glass improves fluidity of mortars and the compressive strength overcomes dilution and increases with age due to the combined pozzolanic action of slag and glass. The proposed blended cement has better mechanical properties than slag-cement. The proposed blended cement has better mechanical properties than slag-cement and due to less use of slag, it becomes more sustainable and it contributes to waste management.El objetivo del presente trabajo es evaluar el comportamiento de un residuo molido de vidrio como activador interno de la escoria cuando ambos son usados en un cemento mezcla. El cemento de escoria fue preparado con un 70% de escoria y luego la escoria se reemplazó en un 10 y 20% en masa por vidrio molido. Este trabajo introduce el concepto de auto-activación. El vidrio molido libera álcalis por disolución, en forma lenta y sostenida en el tiempo que activarían la escoria. La presencia de vidrio molido mejora la fluidez de los morteros y la resistencia a compresión supera la dilución y crece con la edad por la acción puzolánica combinada de la escoria y el vidrio. El cemento mezcla propuesto tiene mejores propiedades mecánicas que el cemento de escorias pero con menor contenido de escoria por lo que es más sustentable y contribuye al manejo de residuos

Quantum phase slips in superconducting Nb nanowire networks deposited on self-assembled Si templates

Robust porous silicon substrates were employed for generating interconnected networks of superconducting ultrathin Nb nanowires. Scanning electron microscopy analysis was performed to investigate the morphology of the samples, which constitute of polycrystalline single wires with grain size of about 10 nm. The samples exhibit nonzero resistance over a broad temperature range below the critical temperature, fingerprint of phase slippage processes. The transport data are satisfactory reproduced by models describing both thermal and quantum fluctuations of the superconducting order parameter in thin homogeneous superconducting wires.Comment: accepted for publication on Applied Physics Letter

An Add-on Model Predictive Control Strategy for the Energy Management of Hybrid Electric Tractors

The hybridization process has recently touched also the world of agricultural vehicles. Within this context, we develop an Energy Management Strategy (EMS) aiming at optimizing fuel consumption, while maintaining the battery state of charge. A typical feature of agricultural machines is that their internal combustion engine is speed controlled, tracking the reference requested by the driver. In view of avoiding any modification on this original control loop, an add-on EMS strategy is proposed. In particular, we employ a multi-objective Model Predictive Control (MPC), taking into account the fuel consumption minimization and the speed tracking requirement, including the engine speed controller in the predictive model. The proposed MPC is tested in an experimentally-validated simulation environment, representative of an orchard vineyard tractor.Comment: Submitted to IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technolog

Superconducting properties of Nb thin films deposited on porous silicon templates

Porous silicon, obtained by electrochemical etching, has been used as a substrate for the growth of nanoperforated Nb thin films. The films, deposited by UHV magnetron sputtering on the porous Si substrates, inherited their structure made of holes of 5 or 10 nm diameter and of 10 to 40 nm spacing, which provide an artificial pinning structure. The superconducting properties were investigated by transport measurements performed in the presence of magnetic field for different film thickness and substrates with different interpore spacing. Perpendicular upper critical fields measurements present peculiar features such as a change in the H_c2(T) curvature and oscillations in the field dependence of the superconducting resistive transition width at H=1 Tesla. This field value is much higher than typical matching fields in perforated superconductors, as a consequence of the small interpore distance.Comment: accepted for publication on Journal of Applied Physic

Dysfunctional play and dopamine physiology in the Fischer 344 rat

Juvenile Fischer 344 rats are known to be less playful than other inbred strains, although the neurobiological substrate(s) responsible for this phenotype is uncertain. In the present study, Fischer 344 rats were compared to the commonly used outbred Sprague-Dawley strain on several behavioral and physiological parameters in order to ascertain whether the lack of play may be related to compromised activity of brain dopamine (DA) systems. As expected, Fischer 344 rats were far less playful than Sprague-Dawley rats, with Fischer 344 rats less likely to initiate playful contacts with a playful partner and less likely to respond playfully to these contacts. We also found that Fischer 344 rats showed less of a startle response and greater pre-pulse inhibition (PPI), especially at higher prepulse intensities. The increase in PPI seen in the Fischer 344 rat could be due to reduced DA modulation of sensorimotor gating and neurochemical measures were consistent with Fischer 344 rats releasing less DA than Sprague-Dawley rats. Fast scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) revealed Fischer 344 rats had less evoked DA release in dorsal and ventral striatal brain slices and high-performance liquid chromatography revealed Fischer 344 rats to have less DA turnover in the striatum and prefrontal cortex. We also found DA-dependent forms of cortical plasticity were deficient in the striatum and prefrontal cortex of the Fischer 344 rat. Taken together, these data indicate that deficits in play and enhanced PPI of Fischer 344 rats may be due to reduced DA modulation of corticostriatal and mesolimbic/mesocortical circuits critical to the execution of these behaviors

Sedimental Coal Ashes: Its pozzolanic effects in Portland cement clinker

Las centrales termoeléctricas generan una gran cantidad de residuos sólidos como producto de la combustión del carbón, conocidos como cenizas. Existen dos tipos de cenizas: volantes - de tamaño muy fino-, que son arrastradas por la corriente de humos de los sistemas de eliminación de partículas y, -las sedimentadas - más gruesas, que se funden y se aglomeran acumulándose en el fondo del homo o en los tubos de las calderas. Intentando resolver factores técnico-económicos y ecológicos al mismo tiempo, en este trabajo presentamos los resultados obtenidos de la incorporación de un 20% en peso de cenizas sedimentadas (Cs) como adición activa al cemento Portland. Se estudia la potencial puzolanidad de la adición y se muestran resultados de seguimiento de la hidratación a temprana edad, variación de color y resistencia mecánica del material compuesto obtenido por molienda conjunta del clinker portland y el material residual.The power plants generate a large amount of solid waste, known as ash, as a product of combustion of coal. There are two types of ash: fly - very fine in size- which are carried by the flow of smoke removal systems, and sedimentary particles -coarse particles - which are melted and agglomerated accumulated in the bottom of the furnace or in the boiler tubes. Trying to resolve technical-economic and ecologic factors at the same time, this work presents the results of adding a 20% weight of sediment ash (Cs) as an active addition to the Portland cement. The potential pozzolanity of the addition is studied and it is shown proceeding of the hydration at early age, color variation and mechanical strength of the composite material obtained by grinding together Portland clinker with the residual material.Centro de Tecnología de Recursos Minerales y CerámicaFacultad de Ingenierí

Sedimental Coal Ashes: Its pozzolanic effects in Portland cement clinker

Las centrales termoeléctricas generan una gran cantidad de residuos sólidos como producto de la combustión del carbón, conocidos como cenizas. Existen dos tipos de cenizas: volantes - de tamaño muy fino-, que son arrastradas por la corriente de humos de los sistemas de eliminación de partículas y, -las sedimentadas - más gruesas, que se funden y se aglomeran acumulándose en el fondo del homo o en los tubos de las calderas. Intentando resolver factores técnico-económicos y ecológicos al mismo tiempo, en este trabajo presentamos los resultados obtenidos de la incorporación de un 20% en peso de cenizas sedimentadas (Cs) como adición activa al cemento Portland. Se estudia la potencial puzolanidad de la adición y se muestran resultados de seguimiento de la hidratación a temprana edad, variación de color y resistencia mecánica del material compuesto obtenido por molienda conjunta del clinker portland y el material residual.The power plants generate a large amount of solid waste, known as ash, as a product of combustion of coal. There are two types of ash: fly - very fine in size- which are carried by the flow of smoke removal systems, and sedimentary particles -coarse particles - which are melted and agglomerated accumulated in the bottom of the furnace or in the boiler tubes. Trying to resolve technical-economic and ecologic factors at the same time, this work presents the results of adding a 20% weight of sediment ash (Cs) as an active addition to the Portland cement. The potential pozzolanity of the addition is studied and it is shown proceeding of the hydration at early age, color variation and mechanical strength of the composite material obtained by grinding together Portland clinker with the residual material.Centro de Tecnología de Recursos Minerales y CerámicaFacultad de Ingenierí