Recent studies reveal that at large friction Reynolds number $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}^{+}$ the inertially dominated region of the turbulent boundary layer is composed of large-scale zones of nearly uniform momentum segregated by narrow fissures of concentrated vorticity. Experiments show that, when scaled by the boundary-layer thickness, the fissure thickness is $\mathit{O}(1/\sqrt{\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}^{+}})$, while the dimensional jump in streamwise velocity across each fissure scales in proportion to the friction velocity $u_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}$. A simple model that exploits these essential elements of the turbulent boundary-layer structure at large $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}^{+}$ is developed. First, a master wall-normal profile of streamwise velocity is constructed by placing a discrete number of fissures across the boundary layer. The number of fissures and their wall-normal locations follow scalings informed by analysis of the mean momentum equation. The fissures are then randomly displaced in the wall-normal direction, exchanging momentum as they move, to create an instantaneous velocity profile. This process is repeated to generate ensembles of streamwise velocity profiles from which statistical moments are computed. The modelled statistical profiles are shown to agree remarkably well with those acquired from direct numerical simulations of turbulent channel flow at large $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FF}^{+}$. In particular, the model robustly reproduces the empirically observed sub-Gaussian behaviour for the skewness and kurtosis profiles over a large range of input parameters.

TiO2 nanotubular structures were fabricated on Ti polished and unpolished foils exposed to H2O-Glycerol (50-50Vol.%)+0.27 M NH4F at 20V. The obtained TiO2 nanostructures were analyzed by SEM obtaining the morphological characterization, from which the roughness factors were calculated. Crystalline phases of both TiO2 nanotubular films were obtained by XRD after annealing at 450 °C and 600 °C for 2 h. The electrochemical stability of the TiO2 nanotubular films was obtained from the potentiodynamic polarization curves (PC) and the linear polarization resistance (Lpr) techniques, exposing the samples in 1M Na2SO4 + H2SO4 solution (pH = 3.2), such pH is in accordance with the acidic wastewater containing sulfur compounds coming from the industries or acid waters of the aquifers, which have been contaminated from the volcanoes nearby. It was concluded that the electrochemical stability of the crystallized nanotubular films is improved with the increase of the annealing temperature of the amorphous TiO2 arrays, which is associated to the higher composition of anatase and rutile, observing that the major amount of rutile improved the corrosion performance. The photoelectrochemical measurements were carried out in 0.5 M Na2SO4 solution using an 8 W UV lamp at a λ= 365 nm, whose results were recorded at zero bias during 10 min under darkness and illumination intervals of 1 min each. The obtained results were in agreement with the necessary features for being used in photocatalytic water remediation.

TiO2 nanotubular structures were formed on titanium foils through anodic oxidation using an electrolyte of Ethyleneglycol-H2O (97:3 Vol %)+0.25 M NH4F at a constant voltage of 60V. The anodized samples were analyzed in a FE-SEM obtaining the geometric parameters of the nanotubular arrays. The diameter and the length of the nanotubes were 112 nm and 65µm |respectively, whereas the wall thickness was 44 nm. Crystalline phase of TiO2 nanotubular films (TNTF) were determined by XRD after annealing at 500°C for 2 h, resulting high intensity peaks of anatase and low intensity peaks of rutile. Then, the crystallized samples were characterized from an optical, photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic point of view. The photoelectrochemical measurements were carried out in 0.5 M Na2SO4 solution using an 8 W UV lamp at a λ= 365 nm, which results were recorded at 0 bias during 10 min under darkness and illumination intervals of 1 min each. Photocatalytic performance of the TNTF was explored with a 10 mg/L methyl orange solution using an UV light at a wavelength of 365 nm. The changes in the concentration of the MO solution was determined from the calibration curve determined from the absorption spectra at different concentrations of MO (from 0.1 mg/L to 20 mg/L). It was observed an efficiency yield of 99.8% in the photocatalytic performance in presence of the TNTF.

The array of the TiO2 nanotubular films, also called one-dimensional nanostructures is carried out by electrochemical anodization tests, for which, titanium sheets were used with a high purity (99.7% and 0.25 mm thickness) in a solution of deionized water and glycerol (50:50 vol.%) + 0.27M NH4F applying a voltage of 20V. Electrochemical tests were performed at an anodization time of 2:30 hours and 3:30 hours. For the tests mirror polished foils and unpolished foils with flat surfaces to achieve better uniform arrays during the anodic growth of nanotubes were used. After anodizing, samples were observed in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) to determine the geometry and morphology of the films. Also, potentiodynamic polarization curves were performed for samples crystallized at 600 °C and 450 °C (polished and unpolished) to determine the electrochemical stability of the films, which were presented at two aqueous solutions: 1M of Na2SO4 (pH= 6.7) and 1M Na2SO4 + H2SO4 (pH= 3.2). Mechanical characterization was also performed by nanoindentation technique through the application of loading/unloaings of: (1, 2.5, 5, 10 mN). Chemical characterization was performed using XRD analysis, with the aim to determine the crystalline phases formed in the films crystallized at 450 °C and 600 °C. The electrochemical characterization showed that the TiO2 nanotubular film obtained by mirror polished and crystallized at 600 °C showed better electrochemical stability. Nanoindentation tests showed deformation curves, and the parameters such as hardness, Vickers hardness, elastic modulus and the maximum penetration depth were determined as mechanical parameters.

Poor maternal nutrition predisposes offspring to metabolic disease. This predisposition is modified by various postnatal factors. We hypothesised that coupled to the initial effects of developmental programming due to a maternal low-protein diet, a second hit resulting from increased offspring postnatal sugar consumption would lead to additional changes in metabolism and adipose tissue function. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of sugared water consumption (5 % sucrose in the drinking-water) on adult offspring adiposity as a ‘second hit’ following exposure to maternal protein restriction during pregnancy. We studied four offspring groups: (1) offspring of mothers fed the control diet (C); (2) offspring of mothers fed the restricted protein diet (R); (3) offspring of control mothers that drank sugared water (C-S); (4) offspring of restricted mothers that drank sugared water (R-S). Maternal diet in pregnancy was considered the first factor and sugared water consumption as the second factor – the second hit. Body weight and total energy consumption, before and after sugared water consumption, were similar in all the groups. Sugared water consumption increased TAG, insulin and cholesterol concentrations in both the sexes of the C-S and R-S offspring. Sugared water consumption increased leptin concentrations in the R-S females and males but not in the R offspring. There was also an interaction between sugared water and maternal diet in males. Sugared water consumption increased adipocyte size and adiposity index in both females and males, but the interaction with maternal diet was observed only in females. Adiposity index and plasma leptin concentrations were positively correlated in both the sexes. The present study shows that a second hit during adulthood can amplify the effects of higher adiposity arising due to poor maternal pregnancy diet in an offspring sex dependent fashion.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, August 4 – August 8, 2013.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, August 4 – August 8, 2013.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, August 4 – August 8, 2013.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, July 29 – August 2, 2012.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, August 7–August 11, 2011.

This is an unusual but good and sensible book. I write that it is unusual because The Idea of the Theater in Latin Christian Thought does not follow the predictable pattern of looking at the “materiality of medieval theater practices and historiography” (2). It instead looks at theatre as it appears in medieval thought and as “moments in European intellectual history” (4). Dox leads the reader through a thorough and erudite survey of the writings of some of the Latin Christian authors. She begins with Saint Augustine of Hippo and ends with Bartholomew of Bruges. The text has three major goals. First, the author examines what different postclassical, Christian authors knew about or thought of Greco-Roman theatre as a function of written discourse. The second goal is to keep the discussion of the late-antique and medieval understanding of ancient classical theatre in the intellectual contexts in which the texts were used. Lastly, Latin Christian views on classical theatre are examined in detail. The conclusion of this analysis demonstrates that the idea of “truth” as different from “falsehood” in the writings by the Latin Christian authors was the focus of their texts, rather than any actual interest in classical tragedy and comedy as genres in their own right.

In this brief but concentrated text, Rush Rehm attempts to go back to the “radical nature of Greek tragedy” (9), by which he means that he wants to go back to the roots, foundations, and sources of this ancient genre. Rehm carries out his plan in an unusual yet personal way: Dispersed throughout his study of the genre are his personal observations on such matters as the involvement of the United States government in Nicaragua, Haiti, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Chile, Granada, Panama, East Timor, Israel, and Cuba. The events of 9/11 are also central to the later chapters. These political statements and forays aside, the author makes clear in his “Introduction: Timely Thoughts” that the “stage per se—understood as a place for artistic enactments like Greek tragedy—has lost much of its power and significance” (13). Rehm has an equally negative disposition to performance study, performance theory, and a modern stage that has departed from the challenges posed by the “original form of ancient tragedy” (17). Radical Theatre: Greek Tragedy and the Modern World is a stimulating read and worthy of note.

Marianne McDonald's book provides a solid introduction to ancient tragedy and theatre. The author examines the works by the three major ancient Greek tragedians, Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, and supplies for each playwright biographies, synopses of their works, and modern and ancient translations and adaptations of their plays. The listing of the translations and adaptations is selective and spans from the classical period up to the twentieth century.

The knowledge of pore water chemistry in the clay barrier is essential for performance assessment purposes in a nuclear waste repository, since the pore water composition controls the processes involved in the release and transport of the radionuclides. The methodology followed to define the representative composition of the FEBEX bentonite pore water is presented in this paper.

A series of bentonite-water interaction tests have been performed with the aim of providing a database on the main chemical parameters of the bentonite. These tests were carried out both with high solid to liquid (s:l) ratios (squeezing tests) and low s:l ratios (aqueous extracts tests). The exchangeable cations have also been analyzed to determine the selectivity coefficient of the exchange reactions. To complete the data set, a physical and mineralogical characterization of the bentonite was made.

The most significant bentonite-water interaction processes controlling the chemistry of the system was identified. The ion concentrations basically depend on the s:l ratio of the system, and the pore water composition is controlled by the dissolution of chlorides, dissolution/precipitation of carbonates and sulphates and the cation exchange reactions in the smectite.

The bentonite/water system was modelled with the PHREEQC2 program to obtain the best possible estimation of the pore water composition for initial conditions of water content (≍14%), after checking the conceptual model with the experimental results. The model predictions fitted satisfactorily with the experimental data at low s:l ratios. At high s:l ratios, the modelled results agree adequately, except for the sulphate content, which could be affected by the effective porosity, anion exclusion or stagnant zones not taken into account in the model. According to the model, the FEBEX bentonite pore water at 14% moisture is a sodium-chloride type, with an ionic strength of 0.25 M and pH of 7.78.