Surface foam film waves studied with high-speed linescan camera

Dynamic foam films have been investigated using an improved experimental set-up with a CCD high-speed linescan camera in conjunction with the Scheludko micro-interferometric cell for studying the drainage and rupture of liquid foam films. The improved experimental set-up increased the sensibility of detection of the local thickness heterogeneities and domains during the film evolution. The evolution of the foam films up to the formation of black spots was recorded in the time intervals of 50ms. The wavelengths of the propagating surface waves and their frequencies were determined experimentally. The experimental results show that the current quasi-static hydrodynamic theory does not properly describe the wave dynamics with inter-domain channels. However, the thermodynamic condition for formation of black spots in the foam films was met by the experimental results. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The secondary passive film for type 304 stainless steel in 0.5 M H2SO4

An examination has been carried out of the secondary passive film on Type 304 stainless steel in 0.5 M H2SO4. The characterization techniques used were electrochemical (potentiodynamic; potentiostatic, and film reduction experiments) and surface analytical. A bilayer model for the secondary passive film is proposed. It appears that next to the metal, there is a modified passive film which controls the electrochemical response; i.e., governs the current for any applied potential. On top of this modified passive film, the experimental data are consistent with a ''porous'' corrosion-product film which adds to the total film thickness but has little influence on the electrochemical response. The composition of the secondary passive film corresponds most probably to a mixed Fe/Cr oxide/hydroxide enriched in Cr3+, With a composition similar to a primary passive film.

Don't talk about me . . . like I'm not here: Disability in Australian national cinema

The article analyzes the representation of disability in Australian national cinema. Disability has been an enduring topic in Australian films and it has got occasional mentions in film and cultural criticism. An important pioneering treatment in this field is film critic Elizabeth Ferrier's examination of the trope of creative disabilities. Ferrier draws attention to disability in Australian film. She provides a stimulating and nuanced reading in light of the thematics of Australian cultural anxieties. "My One Legged Dream Lover," is one of the few productions that features a disabled lead character, Kath Duncan, played by disabled performer, Kath Duncan.

Hydrothermal Stability of Modified Silica Membranes for Gas Separation

A new class of hybrid molecular sieve silica (MSS) membranes is developed and tested against standard and organic templated membranes. The hybrid membrane is synthesized by the standard sol-gel process, integrating a template (methyltriethoxysilane - MTES) and a C6 surfactant (triethylhexylammonium bromide) into the silica film matrix. After hydro treatment under a relative humidity of 96% for 50h, the hybrid membrane shows no changes in its gas separation capabilities or energy of mobility. The structural characteristics and integrity of the hybrid membrane are retained due to a high concentration of organophilic functional groups and alkoxides observed using 29 Si NMR. In contrast, the structural integrity of the membranes prepared with non-templated films deteriorated during the hydro treatment due to a large percentage of silanol groups (Si-OH) which react with water. The hybrid membranes underwent a decrease in the H2/CO2 selectivity of only 1% whereas for the non-templated membrane a 21% decrease was observed. The transport mechanism of the hybrid membranes is activated as permeation increased with temperature. The activation energy for the permeation of H2 is positive while negative for CO2. The H2 permeation obtained was 3x 10 -8 mol.m -2 .s -1 .Pa -1 and permselectivities for H2/CO2 and H2/N2 varied between 1-7 and 31-34, respectively.

Quantum noise in optical fibers. I. Stochastic equations

We analyze the quantum dynamics of radiation propagating in a single-mode optical fiber with dispersion, nonlinearity, and Raman coupling to thermal phonons. We start from a fundamental Hamiltonian that includes the principal known nonlinear effects and quantum-noise sources, including linear gain and loss. Both Markovian and frequency-dependent, non-Markovian reservoirs are treated. This treatment allows quantum Langevin equations, which have a classical form except for additional quantum-noise terms, to be calculated. In practical calculations, it is more useful to transform to Wigner or 1P quasi-probability operator representations. These transformations result in stochastic equations that can be analyzed by use of perturbation theory or exact numerical techniques. The results have applications to fiber-optics communications, networking, and sensor technology.

Emotion in organizations: A neglected topic in I/O psychology, But with a bright future

In this chapter we present a review of some of the main threads of research on the role played by emotion and affect in organizations. In this respect, we refute the notion that organizations are totally rational., where the role of emotion is something that can be discounted or 'managed' out of existence.