Lacustrine records of Holocene flood pulse dynamics in the Upper Paraguay River watershed (Pantanal wetlands, Brazil)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Waveguides and gratings fabrication in zirconium-based organic/inorganic hybrids

Sol-gel derived poly(oxyethylene)/siloxane organic/inorganic di-ureasil hybrids containing different amounts of methacrylic acid (McOH, CH(2)=C(CH(3))COOH)) modified zirconium oxo-clusters (Zr-OMc) were processed as thin films deposited in glassy substrates via spin coating and as transparent and shape controlled monoliths. Channel monomode waveguides and diffraction gratings were UV patterned using the Talbot interferometer and the Lloyd mirror interferometer experimental setups. The time dependence of the diffraction gratings efficiency was studied for hybrids containing different amounts of Zr-OMc. Finally, the number of propagating modes and the refractive index gradient within the waveguide region, determined as a Gaussian section located below the patterned channel, was evaluated and modeled, a maximum index contrast of 2.43 X 10(-5) being estimated.

Measurement of phase differences between the diffracted orders of deep relief gratings

Measurement of the phase difference between the 0th and the 1st transmitted diffraction orders of a symmetrical surface-relief grating recorded on a photoresist film is carried out by replacement of the grating in the same setup with which it was recorded. The measurement does not depend on lateral shifts of the replaced grating relative to the interference pattern, on environmental phase perturbations or on the wave-front quality of the interfering beams. The experimental data agree rather well with theoretical results calculated for sinusoidal profiled gratings. (C) 2003 Optical Society of America.

BARRIER VOLTAGE DEFORMATION OF ZNO VARISTORS BY CURRENT PULSE

The phenomenon of electrical degradation in ZnO varistors was studied by application of high-intensity current pulses. A wave shape of 8 X 20-mu-s and rectangular waves of 1 and 2 ms were used. The degradation was estimated by reference electric-field variation and by Schottky voltage barrier deformation. The results showed that current pulses reduce both the height and the width of the barrier voltage. It was also observed that the donor density N(d) did not change but the surface states density N(s) decreased with degradation.

Phase-locking of superimposed diffractive gratings in photoresists

The superposition of optical interference patterns in a photoresist film can produce a rich variety of diffractive structures. In particular, a periodic non-sinusoidal surface relief profile can be synthesized by adding the Fourier components (sinusoidal gratings) of the desired profile. In order to control the shape of the grooves it is very important an accurate adjustment of the relative spatial shift between the recorded sinusoidal components. We describe the implementation of an opto-electronic feedback loop to select and lock such spatial shift at any desired position, thus allowing the synthesis of structures varying from symmetrical to asymmetrical relief profiles in a continuous range. To demonstrate the feasibility of the technique, the Fourier synthesis of two spatial harmonics is accomplished. The superposed sinusoidal gratings were recorded in positive photoresist films using a holographic setup operating at the line lambda = 457.9 run of an argon-ion laser. A detailed description of the procedure as well as the resulting profiles recorded in the photoresist is presented. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Generalization of the delta-differential autotransformer for 12 and 18-pulse converters

This work proposes a methodology to generalize the A-connections for 12 and 18-pulse autotransformers. A single mathematical expression, obtained through simple trigonometric operations, represents all the connections. The proposed methodology allows choosing any ratio between the input and the output voltages. The converters can operate either as step-up or as step-down voltage. To simplify the design of the windings, graphics are generated to calculate the turn-ratio and the polarity of each secondary winding, with respect to the primary winding. A design example, followed by digital simulations, and experimental results illustrate the presented steps. The results also show that high power factor is an inherent characteristic of multi-pulse converters, without any active or passive power factor pre-regulators needs.

Differential pulse polarographic determination of clotrimazole after derivatization with Procion Red HE-3B

Clotrimazole was shown to react at room temperature in Britton Robinson buffer pH 2 with the reactive dye Procion Red HE-3B. The product exhibited a differential pulse polarographic peak at -0.38 V, which was well separated from the peaks of the reactive dye at -0.08, -0.80 and -0.95 V, and this allowed the indirect determination of clotrimazole in the presence of excess of the reactive dye. The method has been applied satisfactorily to the determination of clotrimazole in pharmaceutical formulations, calibration graphs are rectilinear up to at least 40 mug ml(-1). The detection limit was calculated to be 2.6 mug ml(-1) (3 sigma). (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrochemical study of hydroxychloroquine and its determination in plaquenil by differential pulse voltammetry

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a halogenated aminoquinoline that presents wide biological activity, often being used as an antimalarial drug. The electrochemical reduction of HCQ was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry using glassy carbon electrodes. By cyclic voltammetry, in acid medium, only the cathodic peak was observed. The electrochemical behavior of this peak is dependent on pH and the electrodic process occurs through an ErCi mechanism. The electron number (le) consumed in the reduction of HCQ was obtained by chronoamperometry. A method for the electrochemical determination of HCQ in pharmaceutical tablets was developed using differential pulse voltammetry. The detection limit reached was 11.2 mug ml(-1) of HCQ with a relative standard deviation of 0.46%. A spectrophotometric study of HCQ has been also carried out utilizing a band at 343 nm. The obtained detection limit and the relative standard deviation were 0.1 mug ml(-1) and 0.36%, respectively. The electrochemical methods are sufficiently accurate and precise to be applied for HCQ determination, in laboratorial routine, which can be used to determine the drug at low level. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Strong and fast phase modulation for quantitative analysis of photorefractive gratings

A new approach for studying photorefractive gratings in two-wave mixing experiments by a phase modulation technique is presented. The introduction of a large-amplitude, high-frequency sinusoidal phase modulation in one of the input beams blurs the interference pattern and provides powerful harmonic signals for accurate measurements of the grating diffraction efficiency eta and the output phase shift rho between the transmitted and diffracted waves. The blurring of the light fringes can be used to suppress the higher spatial harmonics of the grating, allowing a space-charge field with sinusoidal profile to be recorded. Although the presence of such a strong phase modulation affects the beam coupling in a rather complicated way, it is shown that for the special case of equal intensity input beams, the effect of the phase modulation on eta and rho is reduced to a weakening of the coupling strength. The potentialities of the technique are illustrated in a study of refractive-index waves excited by running interference patterns in a Bi12TiO20 crystal. Expressions for the diffraction efficiency and the output phase shift are derived and used to match numerically calculated curves to the experimental data. The theoretical model is supported by the very good data fitting and allows the computation of important material parameters.

Simultaneous determination of quinoline and pyridine compounds in gasoline and diesel by differential pulse voltammetry

The presence of trace basic organonitrogen compounds such as quinoline and pyridine in derivative petroleum fuels plays an important role in maintaining the engines of vehicles. However, these substances can contaminate the environment and so must be controlled because most of them are potentially carcinogenic and mutagenic. For these reasons, a reliable and sensitive method was developed for the determination of basic nitrogen compounds in fuel samples such as gasoline and diesel. This method utilizes preconcentration on an ion-exchange resin (Amberlyte IR - 120 H) followed by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) on a glassy carbon electrode. The electrochemical behavior of quinoline and pyridine as studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) suggests that their reduction occurs via a reversible electron transfer followed by an irreversible chemical reaction. Very well resolved diffusion-controlled voltammetric peaks were obtained in dimethylformamide (DMF) with tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TBAF(4) 0.1 mol L-1) for quinoline (-1.95 V) and pyridine (-2.52 V) vs. Ag vertical bar AgCl vertical bar KClsat reference electrode. The proposed DPV method displayed a good linear response from 0.10 to 300 mg L-1 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 5.05 and 0.25 mu g L-1 for quinoline and pyridine, respectively. Using the method of standard additions, the simultaneous determination of quinoline and pyridine in gasoline samples yielded 25.0 +/- 0.3 and 33.0 +/- 0.7 mg L-1 and in diesel samples yielded 80.3 +/- 0.2 and 131 +/- 0.4 mg L-1, respectively. Spike recoveries were 94.4 +/- 0.3% and 10 +/- 0.5% for quinoline and pyridine, respectively, in the fuel determinations. This proposed method was also compared with UV-vis spectrophotometric measurements. Results obtained for the two methods agreed well based on F and t student's tests.

Differential pulse polarographic determination of ceftazidime in urine samples with and without prior extraction

Ceftazidime shows two main polarographic reduction peaks at pH 4.0, that at -0.45 V owing to reduction of the C=N bond in the methylethoxyimino group and that at -1.00 V owing to the reductive elimination of pyridine: the first peak is particularly suitable for the determination of ceftazidime. Ceftazidime can also be determined indirectly using the tensammetric peak at -0.60 V (in Britton-Robinson buffer pH 9.5) of pyridine liberated on hydrolysis. Ceftazidime can be determined in urine using the direct method only after Cls solid phase extraction, but it can be determined directly in the urine by hydrolysing it and using the pyridine peak. (C) 1997 Elsevier B.V. B.V.

Light-induced relief gratings and a mechanism of metastable light-induced expansion in chalcogenide glasses

We report on a metastable light-induced volume expansion in Ge25+xGa10-xS65 glasses under irradiation with band gap (UV) light, which can result in recording of relief gratings on their surface in the case of irradiation with two interfering beams. We propose a mechanism for the expansion, which is based on the light-induced change in the polarizability of secondary (van der Waals type) bonds and the effect of this change on primary (covalent type) bonds of the glass. The effect is suggested to be due to an interference of electrons, which belong to a chalcogen atom and participate in the formation of secondary and primary bonds, respectively. We suggest that a minimum point of the Lennard-Jones potential, which corresponds to the equilibrium position of a chalcogen atom is shifted in the course of irradiation to a larger interatomic distance. This shift causes a volume expansion and allows a diffusion of chalcogen atoms into the irradiated area. We show that light-induced polymerization of the glass network is an important attribute of the light-induced volume expansion.

Thermal conductivity features of ZnO-based varistors using the laser-pulse method

The thermal conductivity of several commercial ZnO-based varistor systems was determined based on the laser-pulse method, a technique that proved extremely useful and easy to apply. Using this technique, the thermal conductivity was found to be dependent on the microstructural features of the devices, involving the mean grain size and phase composition. Among the phases existing in commercial ZnO-based varistors, ZniSb2O12 and Bi2O3 were found to contribute strongly to the thermal conductivity of the devices. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Efficacy and safety of itraconazole pulse therapy: Brazilian multicentric study on toenail onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes

Background Itraconazole is a large spectrum triazole with known efficacy in both continuous and pulse therapy for various mycoses.Objectives Evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of itraconazole pulse therapy for onychomycosis of the toenails due to dermatophytes, in a prospective, open, non-comparative and multicentric investigation.Patients and methods the trial was completed by 72 patients of an initial total of 89. Treatment consisted of four cycles of itraconazole, 200 mg twice a day, for seven consecutive days each month. Patients were evaluated clinically, mycologically and biochemically before, during and at the end of the investigation, and were divided into two groups according to the measure of normal portion of the most affected nail (target nail), as follows: Group 1. 0-5.9 mm; and Group 2: more than 6 mm.Results Improvement was satisfactory and progressive. Results were statistically significant, when comparing the three moments of the study: pre-treatment, end of therapy (fourth month) and follow-up (ninth month) in both groups.Conclusions Itraconazole pulse therapy was efficient and safe for the treatment of onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes, although a much higher daily dosage than the known continuous administration was used. Group 1, with nails initially more extensively affected, had a more evident improvement, by the mean variation in millimeters of normal portion of the target nail. This group showed a very satisfactory response, although not reaching total cure, thus demonstrating the great importance of early treatment of this disease. A residual therapeutic effect is maintained even after suspension of the drug. Group 2 obtained better total cure rates, and four pulses were, in general, sufficient, whereas more cycles would have been beneficial for the Group 1 patients with more extensive involvement. (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.