The discharge with liquid non-metallic electrodes (DLNME) was investigated. The discharge burnt steadily with a DC power supply between two streams of weakly conducting liquid (tap water) in open air at atmospheric pressure. The metallic current leads were inserted into the streams and were covered by a 5 mm thick water layer. The discharge burnt in volumetric (diffuse) form with fairly high voltage (~3 kV between leads) and low current density (~0.2-0.25 A cm-2). The plasma state in the inter-electrode gap was studied by spectroscopy, microwave sounding and electrical probe technique. The rotational and vibrational temperatures of N2 electronically excited molecules were measured. The absolute radiation values of different species were obtained as a function of position in the gap. The electric field E and the concentration of charged particles were obtained. The value of parameter E/Ng was estimated (Ng being the gas concentration). The density of water vapour in the discharge column was estimated. The results obtained show that DLNME generate molecular plasma at high pressure but out of thermal equilibrium. The properties of DLNME make it promising for various engineering applications, including those in plasma chemistry.

Results are consistent with the shrinking perceptual span hypothesis: reading speed decreases with the average number of letters traversed on each forward saccade, an effect fully mediated by the total number of fixations.

The four effects improve the ability to predict MRS reliably for AMD patients. The wet/dry difference is a major finding that may result from the different time courses of the two types of disease, thus involving different types of visuomotor and attentional adaptation processes.

Rotational and vibrational temperatures are measured by optical emission spectroscopy in a discharge with liquid non-metallic electrodes (DLNME) in air at atmospheric pressure. We used the transition of the second positive system of to determine the two parameters of this discharge. In this paper we describe first the experimental set-up and then the method of determination of rotational and vibrational temperatures by comparison with calculated spectra. We present the results obtained along the discharge's axis.

Increasing interline spacing is advisable only for very slow readers (<20 words/min) who want to read a few words (spot reading). Vertical crowding does not seem to be a major determinant of maximal reading speed for patients with central scotomas.

The discharge established between two liquid non-metallic electrodes (DLNME) is investigated. This d.c. discharge burns between two streams of tap water in open air at atmospheric pressure in diffuse form. In the plasma column two zones are defined: one close to the near-cathode and the other one close to the near-anode regions of the discharge. In each zone, the composition, massic enthalpy, volumetric emissivity of N2(2+) spectral band (376-380 nm), hydrogen spectral line (Hα) and triplet oxygen spectral lines (777 nm) have been calculated in non-equilibrium conditions. The comparison with experimental results allows determining the ratio between translational temperature of electrons and that of heavy species and an upper limit of the air humidity in both zones. This type of calculation describes satisfactorily the previously obtained experimental results.

The NUF factor is a new oculomotor predictor of reading speed. This effect is independent of the effect of L/FS. Reading performance, as well as motivation to read, might be enhanced if new visual aids or automatic text simplification were used to reduce the occurrence of fixation clustering.

An inductively coupled plasma torch, working at atmospheric pressure, is used to create a CO 2 -N 2 Martian-like plasma (97% CO 2 -3% N 2 ). The operating frequency and power are 64 MHz and 3 kW, respectively. Spectral measurements covering the [250-850] nm range have been carried inside the induction coil. Spectral profiles of emitting diatomic species have been measured, intensity calibrated, Abel inverted and fitted with a line-by-line code. This has allowed rebuilding the radial temperature profiles of the plasma. A simplified kinetic model has then been developed in order to confirm that chemical equilibrium is reached in this region of the plasma. Then, the plasma chemical composition has been determined utilizing a calculation code based on the Gibbs free energy minimization method. Overall, a complete characterization for the thermal, chemical and radiative properties of the plasma has been achieved in the induction coils region.