Comparison of the analytical performance of electrophoresis microchannels fabricated in PDMS, glass, and polyester-toner

This paper compares the analytical performance of microchannels fabricated in PDMS, glass, and polyester-toner for electrophoretic separations. Glass and PDMS chips were fabricated using well-established photolithographic and replica-molding procedures, respectively. PDMS channels were sealed against three different types of materials: native PDMS, plasma-oxidized PDMS, and glass. Polyester-toner chips were micromachined by a direct-printing process using an office laser printer. All microchannels were fabricated with similar dimensions according to the limitations of the direct-printing process (width/depth 150 mu m/12 mu m). LIF was employed for detection to rule out any losses in separation efficiency due to the detector configuration. Two fluorescent dyes, coumarin and fluorescein, were used as model analytes. Devices were evaluated for the following parameters related to electrophoretic separations: EOF, heat dissipation, injection reproducibility, separation efficiency, and adsorption to channel wall.

"I'm still here. Sort of." : Constructed Identities in Paul Auster's City of Glass

Paul Auster’s City of Glass contains a jumble of identities. In fact, the identities are more numerous than the characters, and consequently, characters have several different identities. Some of these identities are obvious constructs, but with others the degree of construction is less evident. Poststructuralist theory, however, puts forward the idea that these seemingly original identities are in fact constructs to the same level as all others. Thus, this essay argues that there are no original identities; identities are constructed by outer factors. This essay discusses three outer factors contributing to the construction of identities, factors commonly discussed in poststructuralist criticism, these three being language, cultural codes and chance.

Accelerated aging of thick glass second surface silvered reflectors under sandstorm conditions

Concentrated solar power systems are expected to be sited in desert locations where the direct normal irradiation is above 1800 kWh/m2.year. These systems include large solar collector assemblies, which account for a significant share of the investment cost. Solarreflectors are the main components of these solar collector assemblies and dust/sand storms may affect their reflectance properties, either by soiling or by surface abrasion. While soiling can be reverted by cleaning, surface abrasion is a non reversible degradation.The aim of this project was to study the accelerated aging of second surface silvered thickglass solar reflectors under simulated sandstorm conditions and develop a multi-parametric model which relates the specular reflectance loss to dust/sand storm parameters: wind velocity, dust concentration and time of exposure. This project focused on the degradation caused by surface abrasion.Sandstorm conditions were simulated in a prototype environmental test chamber. Material samples (6cm x 6cm) were exposed to Arizona coarse test dust. The dust stream impactedthese material samples at a perpendicular angle. Both wind velocity and dust concentrationwere maintained at a stable level for each accelerated aging test. The total exposure time in the test chamber was limited to 1 hour. Each accelerated aging test was interrupted every 4 minutes to measure the specular reflectance of the material sample after cleaning.The accelerated aging test campaign had to be aborted prematurely due to a contamination of the dust concentration sensor. A robust multi-parametric degradation model could thus not be derived. The experimental data showed that the specular reflectance loss decreasedeither linearly or exponentially with exposure time, so that a degradation rate could be defined as a single modeling parameter. A correlation should be derived to relate this degradation rate to control parameters such as wind velocity and dust/sand concentration.The sandstorm chamber design would have to be updated before performing further accelerated aging test campaigns. The design upgrade should improve both the reliability of the test equipment and the repeatability of accelerated aging tests. An outdoor exposure test campaign should be launched in deserts to learn more about the intensity, frequencyand duration of dust/sand storms. This campaign would also serve to correlate the results of outdoor exposure tests with accelerated exposure tests in order to develop a robust service lifetime prediction model for different types of solar reflector materials.

Foundation Studies: Stained Glass Project

Display of work accomplished by Section 4 and 9 of the 2005 Foundation students. Index to student work filed with the poster.

Estruturas cerâmicas a base de zircônia e alumina utilizadas na confecção de infra - estruturas para coroas e pontes fixas

The continuous advances in ceramic systems for crowns and bridges infrastructure getting researchers and manufacturers looking for a material that has good mechanical properties and aesthetic. The purpose of this study was to verify in which composition and sintering temperature the ceramic system for infrastructure composed of alumina and zirconia would have the best mechanical properties. With this objective we made in UFRN laboratories 45 test bodies in the form of rectangular bars with the following dimensions: 30mm x 8mm x 3mm, where we separated by the sintering temperature: 1200°C, 1300ºC and 1400ºC, and by comp osition: 33% Zirconia + 67% Alumina; 50% Zirconia + 50% Alumina and 25% Zirconia + 75% Alumina, these test bodies were not infiltrated with glass. Also, were made nine test bodies by a technical from a laboratory with a commercial ceramic system: in the Ceram Zircônia (Vita - Zahnfabrik) with the following dimensions: 20mm x 10mm x 0.5mm, these test bodies following all recommendations of the manufacturer and were infiltrated with glass. Were realized optical and electronic microscopy analyses, hardness testing, resistance to bending in three points, porosity and bulk density. After analysis of the results we verified that with the increasing of sintering temperature, increased the value of resistance to bending, but with the same temperature there was no significant difference between the different compositions, samples made with the commercial ceramic that were infiltrated, presented a resistance to bending six times greater than the samples sintered to 1400°C and which have not been infiltra ted. There was no significant difference between the values of apparent porosity for the samples made in UFRN laboratories, but the samples of commercial ceramic obtained 0% in porosity apparent value. In tests of Rockwell Hardness there is an increase in the value of Hardness, with the increase of sintering temperature for the samples not infiltrated. Samples infiltrated showed similar values as the samples sintered in 1400°C. There was no significant difference between the values of apparent density among samples manufactured in UFRN laboratories and samples made with a commercial ceramic

Soybean compressibility and bulk density

The objective of this project was to study the influence of surcharge pressure and moisture content on the compressive behavior and bulk density of soybeans. Three varieties were selected with varying dimensions and shapes. Moisture contents of 10.5, 15.0, and 20% were tested at nine surcharge pressures in the range from 0 to 82.8 kPa. Results indicated that the bulk densities of different soybean varieties have similar behavior with respect to pressure level and moisture content but that the magnitude of bulk density was influenced by variety, Bulk density was influenced by both pressure level and moisture content. The four-element Burger model was found to adequately describe the bulk density of soybeans as a function of pressure for all varieties and moisture levels.

Obtenção de compósitos cerâmicos baseados em Al2O3/TiC através dos precursores poliméricos

The obtaining of ceramic materials from polymeric precursors is subject of numerous studies due to lower energy costs compared to conventional processing. The aim of this study is to investigate and improve the mechanism for obtaining ceramic matrix composite (CMC) based on SiOC/Al2O3/TiC by pyrolysis of polysiloxane in the presence of an active filler and inert filler in the pyrolysis temperature lower than the usually adopted for this technique, with greater strength. It also investigates the influence of pyrolysis temperature, the content of Alas active filler, the presence of infiltrating agents (Al, glass and polymer) after pyrolysis, temperature and infiltration time on some physical and mechanical properties. Alumina is used as inert filler and Al and Ti as active filler in the pyrolysis. Aluminum, glass and polysiloxane are used as agents infiltrating the post-pyrolysis. The results are analyzed with respect to porosity and bulk density by the Archimedes method, the presence of crystalline phases by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and microstructure by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The ceramic pyrolyzed between 850 °C 1400 °C contain porosity 15% to 33%, density 2.34 g/cm3 and flexural strength at 4 points from 30 to 42 MPa. The microstructure features are porous, with an array of Al2O3 reinforced by TiC particles and AlTi3. The infiltration post-pyrolysis reveals decrease in porosity and increase density and strength. The composites have potential applications where thermal stability is the main requirement

A Study of Compost Added to a Casing Technique in Agaricus bisporus Cultivation from Phase III Bulk Compost

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Use of glass transition temperature for stabilization of board's cracks of Eucalyptus grandis

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

Understanding the Crystallization Mechanism of a Wollastonite Base Glass Using Isoconversional, IKP Methods and Master Plots

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

Recycling of glass cullet as aggregate for clays used to produce roof tiles

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

Analysis of the Al-PANI interfaces by complex impedance spectroscopy

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)