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Cobalt oxide thin films were prepared by using the dipping sol-gel process. The films were deposited onto glass slides, starting from methanolic solution of cobalt acetate Co(CH3COO)2 · 4H2O. The effects of film thickness and sol concentration on structural and optical properties were studied. Structural analyses of Co3O4 films were performed by X-ray diffraction. The film thickness was varied by using different withdrawal speeds and the number of dipping-heating cycles. It was found that the grain size increases with the number of dipping N. The results point out to some compacting effect that increases with the number of dippings: the films exhibit direct and indirect optical transition, absorption coefficients are of the order of 104 cm-1, and upon annealing the absorption coefficient increases. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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Total electronic correlation corrections to the binding energies of the isoelectronic series of beryllium, neon, magnesium and argon, are calculated in the framework of relativistic multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock method. Convergence of the correlation energies is studied as the active set of orbitals is increased. The Breit interaction is treated fully self-consistently. The final results can be used in the accurately determination of atomic masses from highly charged ions data obtained in Penning-trap experiments.

Total electronic correlation corrections to the binding energies of the isoelectronic series of beryllium, neon, magnesium and argon, are calculated in the framework of relativistic multiconfiguration Dirac-Fock method. Convergence of the correlation energies is studied as the active set of orbitals is increased. The Breit interaction is treated fully self-consistently. The final results can be used in the accurately determination of atomic masses from highly charged ions data obtained in Penning-trap experiments.

Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) peelings from aged power cables from three different sources were studied using a combined procedure of isothermal and thermo-stimulated current measurements. Different parameters, such as electric field, temperature, charging/discharging times, can be selected in order to make an analysis of the space charge characteristics (such as, relaxation times and activation energies). Three different cables peelings were analyzed: A - electrically aged in the laboratory at high temperature, B - service aged for 18 years and C - thermally aged in the laboratory at high temperature. The results were compared for the different types of samples and also with previous results on laboratory aged and produced films of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and XLPE.

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Ethylcellulose/methylcellulose blends were produced using different precipitation techniques and impregnated with naproxen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Solvent-evaporation technique was used not only for the preparation of ethylcellulose/methylcellulose microspheres but also to encapsulate naproxen. Supercritical fluid (SCF) impregnation was also performed to prepare naproxen loaded microspheres. The microspheres, impregnated by the SCF technique, were prepared both by solvent-evaporation and by a supercritical antisolvent (SAS) process. In vitro release profiles at pH 7.4 and 1.2, of naproxen-loaded microspheres were evaluated and the results were modelled Fick's law of diffusion and Power law. Miscrospheres prepared by supercritical antisolvent have a higher loading capacity and present a slower release profile. The systems studied present a release mechanism controlled by drug diffusion which complies Fick's law of diffusion. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The supercritical antisolvent (SAS) technique was used to prepare ethyl cellulose/methyl cellulose blends, two biocompatible polymers commonly used as drug carriers in controlled delivery systems. Ethyl cellulose is widely used as a drug carrier. The drug release of the delivery devices can be controlled to some extent by addition of a water-soluble or water swellable polymer, such as methyl cellulose. This leads to the solubility enhancement of poorly water-soluble molecules. SAS experiments were carried out at different operational conditions and microspheres with mean diameters ranging from 5 to 30 $μ$m were obtained. The effect of CO2 and liquid flow, temperature and pressure on particle size and particle size distribution was evaluated. The microspheres were precipitated from a mixture of dichloromethane (DCM) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) (4:1 ratio). The best process conditions for this mixture were according to our study 40°C and 80 bar. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mass sorption and diffusion coefficients in one acrylate biocompatible copolymer contacted with supercritical (sc) carbon dioxide are reported. Equilibrium solubility of dense carbon dioxide in poly(methylmethacrylate-co-ethylhexylacrylate-co-ethyleneglycoldimethacr ylate) (P(MMA-EHA-EGDMA)) was studied by a gravimetric method in a temperature range from 308 to 323 K and a pressure range from 10.0 to 20.0 MPa. The cross-linked copolymer presented Fickian behavior and Fick's diffusion model was applied to determine the amount of carbon dioxide present and the diffusion coefficients. Diffusion coefficients for the sorption under supercritical conditions and desorption at ambient conditions were determined and compared. Samples of P(MMA-EHA-EGDMA) with different thickness were used for comparison of the maximum sorption degree. Polymerization conditions were also varied in order to evaluate the influence of the molecular weight of the copolymer in the CO2 sorption process. To investigate the possibility of impregnating this acrylate copolymer with an anti-inflammatory drug, a preliminary experiment was performed. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Herein the preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) using supercritical fluid technology is evaluated. Poly(diethylene glycol dimethacrylate), polyDEGDMA, was synthesised in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) using a carboxylic acid end-capped perfluoropolyether oil as stabiliser. Polymerisations were carried out in the presence of different concentrations of two different template drug molecules, salicylic acid and acetylsalicylic acid. Results suggest that molecular imprinted polymers were successfully prepared by supercritical polymerisation and then impregnated with the template in order to prepare controlled release systems. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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The notion of the Abelian kernel of a finite monoid is a generalization of that of the derived subgroup of a finite group. A monoid $M$ is then called solvable if its chain of Abelian kernels terminates with the submonoid of $M$ generated by its idempotents. The main result of this paper is that the finite idempotent commuting monoids bearing this property are precisely those whose subgroups are solvable. In particular any finite aperiodic monoid is Abelian-solvable in this sense. A generalization of the main result of this paper has been published [in Int. J. Algebra Comput. 14, No. 5-6, 655-665 (2004; Zbl 1081.20067)] by the authors and ıt S. Margolis and ıt B. Steinberg.

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An understanding of space charge build-up in the polymeric insulation of power cables is important in determining how aging occurs and progresses and, also in predicting cable lifetime. In this investigation electric-field induced space charge in peelings from XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) cables was measured using two different methods: the pulsed electro-acoustic technique (PEA) and the combined procedure of isothermal and non-isothermal charging/discharging currents (FTSDC). These two methods allow the study of space charge in highly insulating materials. Also, since electric fields of different orders of magnitude are applied to the sample in the two methods, it is possible to analyze different characteristics of the space charge traps. Prior to the measurements the samples were subjected to conditioning to remove volatiles. Cable peelings from various brands aged under different conditions (including field aged and thermally aged samples) were studied as received from the manufacturers. Some of the samples have undergone further ageing in AC electric field (50Hz) for 1000h to see the influence of further ageing on space charge build-up. The results for the different types of samples are compared in an attempt to correlate different ageing parameters.

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