Relativistic Rational Extended Thermodynamics of Polyatomic Gases with a New Hierarchy of Moments.

A relativistic version of the rational extended thermodynamics of polyatomic gases based on a new hierarchy of moments that takes into account the total energy composed by the rest energy and the energy of the molecular internal mode is proposed. The moment equations associated with the Boltzmann-Chernikov equation are derived, and the system for the first 15 equations is closed by the procedure of the maximum entropy principle and by using an appropriate BGK model for the collisional term. The entropy principle with a convex entropy density is proved in a neighborhood of equilibrium state, and, as a consequence, the system is symmetric hyperbolic and the Cauchy problem is well-posed.

Voids and compositional inhomogeneities in Cu(In,Ga)Se thin films: evolution during growth and impact on solar cell performance.

Structural defects such as voids and compositional inhomogeneities may affect the performance of Cu(In,Ga)Se (CIGS) solar cells. We analyzed the morphology and elemental distributions in co-evaporated CIGS thin films at the different stages of the CIGS growth by energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy in a transmission electron microscope. Accumulation of Cu-Se phases was found at crevices and at grain boundaries after the Cu-rich intermediate stage of the CIGS deposition sequence.

Psychopathological and cognitive features in subclinical hypothyroidism.

1. To evaluate effective and cognitive dysfunctions in subjects with a marginal form of thyroid hypofunction the authors studied a population of female goiter patients, divided in two groups on the basis of thyroid function: euthyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). 2.