Evolution of the properties of nanomaterials obtained by pulsed laser ablation

The synthesis and application of metal and ceramic nanoparticle are significant subject in science and engineering. The metal nanoparticles such as gold, silver, and copper nanoparticles have more application in material science, nanomedicine, electronic, photonic, and art. One of the green methods for preparation of metal nanoparticles is laser ablation technique that offers a unique tool for nanofabrication of nanoparticles. In this work, gold colloids were prepared by pulsed laser ablation of high purity gold plate immersed in deionized water and 10μM NaCl solution. After ablation process, we study the change in the size distribution of nanoparticles after the ablation process for a month.

Insurance-Based Investment Products: Regulatory Responses and Policy Issues

The chapter aims to analyse the recent reform of the EU regulatory framework as regards insurance-based investment products (IBIPs). The current regime provided for IBIPs offers stronger protection to all customers, regardless of the channel of distribution. In line with the EU plan to provide consistent cross-sectorial investor protection across all Member States, many IDD provisions are based on the corresponding MiFID II rules, even though some differences remain and should be further elaborated in connection with the inconsistencies, overlaps and gaps in the investor protection as far as the distribution of the IBIPs is concerned. Furthermore, several Member States have exercised the discretions recognised by the IDD as regards IBIPs mainly to gold plate investor protection measures. However, such an uncoordinated approach undermines the internal market’s objectives. Therefore, the chapter advises EIOPA to use its powers to coordinate Member States’ measures and ensure transparency about National Competent Authorities’ measures in this respect.

A RARE FIND IN THE EARLY MEDIEVAL FORTIFIED SITE OF VYZHEGSHA

В статье рассмотрены обстоятельства находки золотой накладки на поселении лесной зоны VII–IX вв. н. э. Публикуются данные рентгенофлюоресцентного анализа состава металла, приведены сведения о технике изготовления, а также о некоторых схожих по облику вещах. Высокая проба металла и очевидные античные традиции ювелирной технологии позволяют полагать, что предмет является продукцией позднеантичной – византийской или близкой им по уровню мастерской. The paper reviews circumstances related to discovery of a gold plate at a settlement of the 7th–9th centuries located in the forest belt. It publishes data of the X- ray fluorescence analysis of the metal composition, provides data on the production technique as well as data on some artifacts of similar appearance. The high assay of the metal and clear jewelry traditions of the Classical period suggest that this item was made at a workshop dated to the Late Classical/Byzantine period or a shop of a similar level.

Квантовое трение и трение ван-дер-Ваальса в конфигурациях частица-пластина и пластина-пластина: нелокальные эффекты

Within the nonrelativistic approximation of fluctuation electrodynamics, using the specular reflection model and nonlocal permittivity of the metal, we have obtained simple analytical expressions for friction forces in particle – plate and plate – plate systems at relative motion of bodies at a constant velocity. It has been shown that at distances of about 1–10 nm for an Au nanoparticle (or gold plate) moving near another (identical) plate at rest, dissipative forces prove to be 2–4 orders of magnitude higher than when using the local Drude dielectric function.

PRECIOUS ITEMS FROM THE SHUMEIKO BARROW

The paper deals to the finds from the barrow near the Shumeiko farm in the Sula river basin (now Sumy region of Ukraine) which was excavated by Sergei Mazaraki in 1899. Objects of Scythian culture were found in the mound: weapons, horse bridles, and vessels. Mikhail Rostovtsev mistakenly attributed to these finds the fragment of ancient Greek kylix of the end of the 6th century BC. Modern researchers date the barrow assemblage near the Shumeiko farm to the first half of the 6th century BC (Igor Bruyako, Denis Grechko, Denis Topal, Oleksandr Shelekhan). Sergey Polin attributes it to Early Scythian time. In the paper three precious items from the barrow are described in detail. This is a sword, the handle of which is plaqued with gold. The ancient craftsman used the granulation technique for decoration. Not only the ancient Greek jewelers used this technique. The masters of Urartu applied it as well. It was used in the decoration of the sword from the Kelermes barrow in the Kuban region, as well as on various adornments. The iron sword has an original shape and belongs to the Shumeiko type (according to Denis Topal, Oleksandr Shelekhan). Such swords were most common in the first half of the 6th century BC. The scabbard was decorated by the gold plate with images of animals and the gold tip. The analysis shows that the images of wild goats and predators are made in the early Scythian animal style. The sheath tip also corresponds to the early Scythian tradition and finds analogies in the Pre-Scythian time. On the contrary, at a later time (the end of the 6th — beginning of the 5th century BC), according to other principles (barrow No 6 near the Oleksandrivka village, Gostra Mogyla near the Tomakovka village) the tips of the scabbard were made. Near the sword the gold plate in the form of a running hare was found. It was made in the Scythian animal style. This plate was probably part of the sheath decor and adorned a side leather ledge that helped to attach the scabbard to the belt. A preliminary conclusion is made about the belonging of precious items from the Shumeiko barrow to the Kelermes horizon of antiquities of the Early Scythian culture.

Management of facial paralysis following treatment of neurosurgical tumours

The purpose of this study is to present our experience on improving the quality of life of patients with facial paralysis due to an operated intracranial tumour, by performing minimally invasive static reanimation procedures. We reviewed the clinical information pertaining to neurosurgical patients with facial paralysis that underwent static reanimation. The study included 11 patients with complete facial nerve paralysis of all nerve branches, that reported different primary complaints upon presentation. The performed procedures consisted of gold plate insertion into the superior eyelid, inferior eyelid ectropion correction or suture suspension. The functional results were favourable in all cases and the resulting appearance was acceptable. The choice of the different techniques used is discussed. Good outcomes are possible using static reanimation with an adequate adaptation of the techniques to the main patient complaint.

Geomorphological survey at Padang Candi, Kuantan Singingi Regency, Central Sumatra, Indonesia

Padang Candi site in the Kuantan Singingi Regency of Riau Province, located about 19.3 km southwest of Taluk city, and about 3 km northeast of Lubuk Jambi. In the year 2000s, some archaeological stuff have been found at Padang Candi, among others, various sized of bricks as a raw material for building construction, and some gold plate with scrip. It is presumed those stuffs had a connection with the Sriwijaya Kingdom between AD 800. The goal of the paper is to gain a spectrum of understanding about the assemblages of bricks as a raw material for building construction was found, on three sites that are at Sector-I (sec-I), and the others in small quantities were found at Sector-II (sec-II) and Sector-III (sec-III) on the basis of geomorphological study. This study involves the geomorphological investigation of the area at the scale of 1:2000. In terms of geomorphology, the landscape at Padang Candi consists of two units, namely, the Floodplain Unit formed by Quaternary river alluvium (Qal), and the Low Hilly Unit composed by Tuff Unit as a part of the Miocene Telisa Formation (Tmtu). Sector-I (sec-I) situated on the relatively higher isolated hilly than sec-II and sec-III. The area westward of sec-II might be remains of ancient settlement, and there is trench-like morphology found eastward of sec-I. In the matter of sec-1 which is situated on isolated hilly, evoke a curiosity about the status of building construction at sec-I. The presence of the trench-like morphology also gives arises of curiosity about its function. Those matter should be a consideration by archaeologist when do next excavation and study, including the area which is supposed as an ancient settlement.

Gold Plate Electrodes Functionalized by Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Film for Potentiometric Thallium(I) Detection

Solid-contact potentiometric ion-selective electrodes (SC-ISEs) for thallium determination have been designed using multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as the ion-to-electron transducer. Dispersed MWCNTs were drop-casted over a gold plate electrode. Two different crown ethers were used in the sensing membrane for the recognition of thallium (I). Sensorsbased on dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) as a neutral carrier and NaTPB as an anionic additive exhibited a near Nernstian response of 57.3 mV/decade towards Tl+ ions over the activity range 4.5 × 10−6–7.0 × 10−4 M, with a limit of detection of 3.2 × 10−7 M. The time required to achieve 95% of the steadyequilibrium potential was <10 s. The complex formation constant (log βML) between dibenzo-18-crown-6 and thallium (I) (i.e., 5.99) was measured using the sandwich membrane technique. The potential response was pH independent over the range 3.0–9.5. The introduction of MWCNTs as an electron-ion-transducer layer between gold plate and the sensing membrane lead to a smaller membrane resistance and a large double layer capacitance, which was proven using impedance spectra and chronopotentiometry (i.e., 114.9 ± 12 kΩ, 52.1 ± 3.3 pF, 200 ± 13.2 kΩ, and 50 ± 4.2 µF). Additionally, reduction ofthe water layer between the sensing membrane and the underlying conductor wastested. Thus, it is clear that MWCNTs can be used as a transducing layer in SC-ISEs. The proposed sensor was introduced as an indicator electrode for potentiometric titration of single and ternary mixtures of I−, Br−, and S2− anions.

GRIFFIN AND SNAKE IN SCYTHIAN ART

The note suggests the interpretation of a group of bronze pole-tops with a depiction of a griffin originated from Krasnokut Grave and some other burial mounds as representing the gnawing of a snake. The subject is extremely rare in the Hellenistic-Scythian art, close to him is known only one item — a gold plate of the sheath from the Elizavetovsky burial ground on the Lower Don-river. The reasons for the appearance and the essence of this composition remain unclear, except the most general assumption about the existence of ideas about the opposition of fantastic creatures — some kind of mediators associated with several zones of the Scythian Cosmos (mainly the upper ones), from the one side, to the animals (snakes) of the lower, chthonic and hostile to man zones, from the other.

Effects of Pulse Electroplating Parameters on Return Loss (S11) and Surface Roughness of Silver Coatings

The highly conductive silver is widely used in the electronics industry, especially in microwave systems [1]. A silver-plated part will reduce loss at the highest microwave frequencies. In addition to this, it will carry extremely high current load. Surface roughness which distorts the propagation of electromagnetic waves is known to affect the uniformity of the current distribution of very good conductive metals such as silver [1]. The effects of duty cycle, frequency and average current density, which are pulsed silver-plating parameters, on the surface quality of coating have been investigated in this study. These effects have been examined by comparing the return loss (S11). S11 comparisons were made according to a reference gold plate. When S11 comparisons have been made, increasing return loss appears with increasing surface roughness. These effects have been characterized by SEM and XRD. [1] Balanis, C. A. (1989). Advanced Engineering Electromagnetics. John Wiley &amp; Son 235th ECS Meeting Session: Industrial Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Engineering Division General Session 1Symposium: F01 - Industrial Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Engineering General SessionTechnical Interest Area: F - Electrochemical EngineeringDay: Wednesday, 29 May 2019