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Olfactory memory dysfunctions were investigated in the triple-transgenic murine model of Alzheimer's disease (3x Tg-AD). In the social transmission of food preference test, 3x Tg-AD mice presented severe deficits in odor-based memory, without gross changes in general odor-ability. Ab and tau immunoreactivity was not observed in the primary processing regions for odor, the olfactory bulbs (OBs), whereas marked immunostaining was present in the piriform, entorhinal, and orbitofrontal cortex, as well as in the hippocampus. Our results suggest that the impairment in olfactory-based information processing might arise from degenerative mechanisms mostly affecting higher cortical regions and limbic areas, such as the hippocampus.

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In Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), the expression of reproductive behavior requires the perception of social odors. The behavioral response to these odors is mediated...Full Text Available

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During the breeding season, male meadow voles prefer female over male odors and females prefer male over female odors. Testosterone control of males' odor preferences and production of odors attractive to females differ. A male meadow vole's preference for female versus male odor was still evident 1 week after castration, but not 1 week later. This preference was reinstated in testosterone-treated male voles 2 weeks after the onset of hormone replacement. The attractiveness of male odors to females did not disappear until 3 weeks after castration. The attractiveness of male odors was reinstated 1 week after castrated males were treated with testosterone. The time course for the androgenic modulation of production of odors attractive to females may facilitate breeding. For example, at the end of the breeding season males ...

International Science & Technology Center (ISTC)

Photochromes for New Generation of Highly Efficient Computers with Three Dimensional (3D) Optical Memory

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The genetic basis of odorant-specific variations in human olfactory thresholds, and in particular of enhanced odorant sensitivity (hyperosmia), remains largely unknown. Olfactory receptor (OR) segregating...Full Text Available

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Odor purification process using bio-function, which is technologically called bio-deodorizing process, utilizes the function of microorganism to convert mal-odor substances to non-odor substances. It attracts attention because the operation cost of a facility is low due to non-use of chemicals and energy, and because it is environmentally friendly without the possibility of generating secondary pollution. It is being used in deodorizing at sewage treatment facilities, fertilizer plants, coating plants, and foundries in Japan, and is more widely used in Europe. The conventional deodorizing technology in Japan mostly focuses on processes of physical chemistry such as activated carbon treatment, chemical scrubbing, combustion, and masking, but bio-deodorizing process tends to replace the conventional processes. This paper explains (1) relation of mal-odor and microorganism, (2) bio-deodorizing system ...

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We have compared the data retention of irradiated commercial NAND flash memories with that of

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The contribution of the parietal cortex to episodic memory is a fascinating scientific puzzle. On one hand, parietal lesions do not normally yield severe episodic memory deficits, but on the...Full Text Available

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Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on procedural and declarative memory encoding in the evening prior to sleep, on memory...Full Text Available

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Recall from visual memory is vulnerable to the influence of task-irrelevant information, including the remembered, prototypical value of stimuli seen previously. Wilken...Full Text Available

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Contents: Ventilated improved pit latrines; (General description, odor control, insect control); Zimbabwean VIP latrine designs; (Latrine entrance, ferrocement spirals, rural spirals, training and education, design transfer).

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... a way to model a munition's terminal effects in a ... following attributes are handled in a stochastic fashion ... be improved by managing a queue of buffers ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The cognitive deficits associated with HIV-1 infection are thought to primarily reflect neuropathophysiology within the fronto-striato-thalamo-cortical circuits. Prospective memory (ProM) is...Full Text Available

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Since its establishment in 1945, the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC) has predominately adhered to a Diversified model of chiropractic technique in the core curriculum; however, many students...Full Text Available

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Critical knowledge is proliferated among different knowledge owners of a corporate system through the individuals lying inside or outside the system. Extraction of such knowledge is a very crucial requirement for all organisations. This paper presents the role of critical knowledge in the proper functioning of a system by representing it in the form of eXtensible Markup Language to develop a corporate memory. In order to demonstrate the role of corporate memory in the organisation, a real-world problem of a global supply chain is considered. The problem utilises the concept of corporate memory for the selection of potential suppliers from a set of available suppliers, and further to select the best route from a set of available alternative routes. The objective deals with the minimisation ...

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The neocortex plays a critical role in the gradual formation and storage of remote declarative memories. Because the circuitry mechanisms of systems-level consolidation are not well understood, the...Full Text Available

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Sleep after learning is often beneficial for memory. Reinstating an environmental context that was present at learning during subsequent retrieval also leads to superior declarative memory performance. This study examined how post-learning sleep, relative to wakefulness, impacts upon context-dependent memory effects. Thirty-two participants encoded word lists in each of two rooms (contexts), which were different in terms of size, odour and background music. Immediately after learning and following a night of sleep or a day of wakefulness, memory for all previously studied words was tested using a category-cued recall task in room one or two alone. Accordingly, a comparison could be made between words retrieved in an environmental context which was the same as, or different to, that of the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

As an engineered barrier system in the geological disposal of high-level waste, multibarrier system is considered. Multibarrier system consists of the vitrified waste, the overpack and the buffer. Bentonite is one of the potential material as the buffer because of its low water permeability, self-sealing properties, radionuclides adsorption and retardation properties, thermal conductivity, chemical buffering properties, overpack supporting properties, stress buffering properties, etc. As the construction technology of the buffer, the block installation method and in-situ compaction method, etc, are being investigated. The block installation method is to emplace the buffer blocks manufactured in advance at the ground facility, and construction processes of the block installation method at the underground will be simplified compared with the in-situ compaction ...

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The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Homoptera: Aphididae), is increasing in importance as a pest worldwide since the introduction of Bt-cotton, which controls lepidopteran but not homopteran pests. The chemical ecology of interactions between cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (Malvaceae), A. gossypii, and the predatory lacewing Chrysoperla lucasina (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), was investigated with a view to providing new pest management strategies. Behavioral tests using a four-arm (Pettersson) olfactometer showed that alate A. gossypii spent significantly more time in the presence of odor from uninfested cotton seedlings compared to clean air, but significantly less time in the presence of odor from A. gossypii infested plants. A. gossypii also spent significantly more time in the presence of heads...

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... 5.12 Terminal Value for Performance Measure P ... As examples, a stochastic communication network containing a buffer queue at each ...

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In this paper, the moisture buffering capacity of spruce plywood is measured by recording the change in mass of a test specimen when the air relative humidity (RH) is changed between 33% RH and 75% RH. The aim is to represent diurnal cycles in indoor humidity with 33% RH maintained for 16 h and 75% RH maintained for 8 h. Measurements are taken using two different apparatuses, which provide different convective transfer coefficients between the air and the plywood, and the results are compared to a numerical model for validation. The validated numerical model is then used to investigate the effect of initial conditions, boundary conditions and thickness on the moisture buffering capacity of plywood. The results show that the buffering capacity of plywood depends on the initial conditions and thickness of the plywood as well as the surface film coefficient and humidity cycle. (author)

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In many rodent species, such as Syrian hamsters, reproductive behavior requires neural integration of chemosensory information and steroid hormone cues. The medial amygdala processes both of...Full Text Available

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The objective of the study was to investigate neuronal processing during the encoding, retention and retrieval phases of a serial visual working memory task. Particularly, we were interested in how these phases are affected by working memory load and how processing is modulated by methylphenidate. Healthy adults were asked to memorize the order of four, five or six pictures under methylphenidate (20mg) and under placebo while brain electrical activity was recorded. On the performance level, the number of correct responses decreased with increasing working memory load. Concerning brain electrical activity, in the encoding phase P3 amplitudes increased at midline electrodes with increasing memory load while load had no effect in the retention and retrieval phase. Medication neither influenced performance nor the different processing stages significantly. Our data provide evidence that during the encoding ...

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Micro-compression specimens, 1O-15{mu}m in diameter by 20-30{mu}m in height, were produced from individual parent grains in a polycrystalline U-13at%Nb shape-memory alloy using the focused ion beam (FIB) technique. The specimens were tested in a nanoindentation instrument with a flat diamond tip to investigate stress-strain behavior as a function of crystallographic orientation. The results are in qualitative agreement with a single-crystal accommodation strain (Bain strain) model of the shape-memory effect for this alloy.

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The immediate early gene Arc is emerging as a versatile, finely tuned system capable of coupling changes in neuronal activity patterns to synaptic plasticity, thereby optimizing information...Full Text Available

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... lasers, model switched optical memory elements ... Optical RS flip flop, Acousto-optic switches. ... FLOP CIRCUITS, OPTICAL SWITCHING, NOR GATES ...

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Nov 13, 2006 ... Indicator Experiment (TIE) consists of a wideband sensor to gather radar, ... November 10 at Shore Memorial. Hospital in Nassawadox, Va. ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A method was proposed and examined to deposit thick cubic boron nitride (cBN)-rich layer of good adhesion to silicon substrate. The method combined (i) the insertion of a thick sp"2 buffer layer, and (ii) the use of an appropriate assist ion beam energy for the growth of the cBN-rich top layer. The sp"2-bonded boron nitride buffer layer was deposited under irradiation of ions with energies in the range of 200-360 eV. The buffer layer was found to contain curled graphitic basal planes, and so was supposed to be relatively deformable, and facilitate the relaxation of stresses in the cBN-rich top layer. The ion assist introduced during the growth of the cBN-rich layer was supposed to both create and annihilate defects, and so resulted in the generation and relaxation of internal stresses. Results showed that the insertion of a 492 nm sp"2 buffer layer, and the use of a beam energy of 450 eV for assisting ...

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BackgroundTwo randomized controlled trials of lung cancer screening initiated in the 1970's, the Johns Hopkins Lung Project and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Lung...Full Text Available

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Digital optical processing (DOP) was conceived to encompass the advantages of both electronic and optical processors, which are parallelism, flexibility, and high accuracy. The authors discuss the concept of parallelism, how it applies to DOP differently than to electronic parallel processing, and other potential advantages in using DOP. A PLZT memory device is described which can perform a series of logic or memory operations. From several of these PLZT devices a DOP is constructed to illustrate some of its programmability features.

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This study was undertaken to determine if a combined treatment (marinating in natural plant extracts or vacuum) with irradiation could have a synergistic effect, in order to prevent the lipid oxidation resulting in the development of undesirable flavours. The fresh chicken legs were irradiated at 0,3 and 5 kGy. The fatty acids composition of lipids was identified using gas liquid chromatography. The effect of irradiation treatment combined with a pre-treatment on the fatty acids composition was followed. The day after irradiation, ten panallists were asked to evaluate, using the instruction scaling, the overall appearance, the odor, the flavor and the overall acceptability of the samples. The major fatty acids identified in lipids were oleic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid and stearic acid. Pre-treatments have a significant effect on linoleic acid (C18:2) and higher fatty acids. The unsaturated fatty acids derived from phospholipids appeared to be more ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In this paper, we study the optical properties of indium sulfide thin films to establish the best conditions to obtain a good solar cell buffer layer. The In2S3 buffer layers have been prepared by chemical bath deposition (CBD) and thermal evaporation (PVD). Optical behavior differences have been found between CBD and PVD In2S3 thin films that have been explained as due to structural, morphological and compositional differences observed in the films prepared by both methods. The resultant refractive index difference has to be attributed to the lower density of the CBD films, which can be related to the presence of oxygen. Its higher refractive index makes PVD film better suited to reduce overall reflectance in a typical CIGS solar cell.

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The main objective of this work was to investigate the biosorption performance of unmodified and Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC)-modified biomass of Penicillium YW 01 for Acid Blue 25 (AB 25). Maximum biosorption capacity of AB 25 onto CPC-modified biosorbent was 118.48mgg^-^1 under phosphoric-phosphate buffer with initial dye concentration of 200mgL^-^1 at 30^oC. The biosorption pattern of AB 25 onto unmodified biosorbent in aqueous solution and phosphoric-phosphate buffer was well fitted with both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. While the equilibrium data of CPC-modified biosorbent in aqueous solution and phosphoric-phosphate buffer failed to fit the Freundlich isotherm model, indicating the monolayer biosorption formed onto CPC-modified biosorbent. The values of initial biosorpt...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Testes of jellyfish Phialidium gregarium were fixed in 2 per cent OsO₄ in Veronal-acetate buffer at pH 7.4. Thin sections showed that in young spermatids the spindle fibers...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Cd-binding protein was extracted from tomato roots and purified on QAE-Sephadex A-25 and on Sephadex G-75 in 1 molar KCl buffer. The protein preparation was light brown and contained predominantly Cd...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Understanding the mechanisms by which climate and predation patterns by top predators co-vary to affect community structure accrues added importance as humans exert growing influence over both climate...Full Text Available

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1. Digital imaging and photometry were used in conjunction with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator, Fura-2, to examine intracellular Ca2+ signals produced by depolarization of single adrenal chromaffin...Full Text Available

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A shear acoustic transducer-lens system in which a shear polarized piezoelectric material excites shear polarized waves at one end of a buffer rod having a lens at the other end which excites longitudinal waves in a coupling medium by mode conversion at selected locations on the lens.

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Resistive switching memory is a very promising technology for emerging nonvolatile memory applications. Generally, the switching behavior is triggered by a sweep or pulse voltage. In this paper, a charged capacitor is proposed to be used as the external electrical source to program a resistive switching element. From theoretical analyses based on a set behavior model, the capacitor approach can program the device efficiently. Compared with sweep or pulse mode, capacitor driving method can greatly reduce over-programming after the set event, and thus improve the resistance uniformity. The experimental results performed on Cu/ZrO2:Cu/Pt device support this conclusion quite well. The proposed methodology has great value for achieving a reliable resistive switching, which is important for high...

Science.gov (United States)

Ni-free shape memory alloys are promising functional materials for medical applications. A newly developed Ti-Mo based shape memory alloy shows superelasticity after thermomechanical treatment. However, the microstructure evolution and precipitation during thermomechanical processes are still not well understood. In the present paper, compressive deformation behavior at a series of temperatures of 298K - 973K and tensile deformation behavior of the alloy after aged at 573K - 973K have been investigated systematically. It is found that the compressive yield stress and ultimate compressive strength change with the deformation temperature. The ultimate tensile strength and yield stress of aged specimens also change with the aging temperature following a non-linear relationship. Microstructures of aged specimens as well as effects of lattice softening and aging-induced precipitates on the deformation behavior have been investigated and discussed.

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We propose and evaluate a memory-based model of Hick's law, the approximately linear increase in choice reaction time with the logarithm of set size (the number of stimulus-response alternatives). According to the model, Hick's law reflects a combination of associative interference during retrieval from declarative memory and occasional savings for stimulus-response repetitions due to non-retrieval. Fits to existing data sets show that the model accounts for the basic set-size effect, changes in the set-size effect with practice, and stimulus-response-repetition effects that challenge the information-theoretic view of Hick's law. We derive the model's prediction of an interaction between set size, stimulus fan (the number of responses associated with a particular stimulus), and stimulus-re...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The changes in microstructure of a specially prepared boron nitride (BN) film as a function of film depth were studied by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and other materials analysis tools. These changes were then correlated to the changes in processing parameters during film growth. The analyzed film was fabricated by the four-step ion-assisted deposition procedure known to be effective in film-stress engineering for the formation and retention of a thick cubic BN (cBN) layer with a three-step buffer-layer deposition. In this deposition, the energy of the ions assisting cBN formation was increased stepwise from 200 to 280, and then to 360 eV [S.F. Wong, C. W. Ong, G.K.H. Pang, K.Z. Baba-Kishi, W. M. Lau, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 22 (2004) 676]. The nominal thickness of the cBN layer was 650 nm and that for each of the three buffer layers was about 160 nm. Both the HRTEM and electron diffraction results confirmed that ...

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YBCO films were fabricated on PLD-CeO{sub 2}/IBAD-Gd{sub 2}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 7}/Hastelloy substrates using the advanced TFA-MOD process. The effective thickness of the CeO{sub 2} buffer layer for obtaining high I{sub c} was investigated in short samples of YBCO films. The CeO{sub 2} buffer layer was epitaxially grown on an IBAD-Gd{sub 2}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 7} template tape with 18 deg. of {delta}{phi} by a reel-to-reel PLD system. The in-plane grain alignment of PLD-CeO{sub 2} buffer layers rapidly improved with the thickness and saturated at a critical thickness of 0.8 {mu}m. The size of CeO{sub 2} grains was about 1 {mu}m at the saturated thickness of {delta}{phi}. YBCO films with the thickness of 1 {mu}m were deposited by the TFA-MOD on the CeO{sub 2} buffer layer with different thickness films. Improvement of the CeO{sub 2} in-plane grain alignment resulted in increase of I{sub c}. The I{sub c} values of ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A critical research priority for our field is to develop treatments that enhance cognitive functioning in schizophrenia and thereby attenuate the functional losses associated with the illness. In this...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The hippocampus is thought to coordinate memory consolidation by reactivating traces from behavioral experience when the brain is not actively processing new input. In fact, during slow-wave...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

RasGRF1 is a Ras-guanine nucleotide exchange factor implicated in a variety of physiological processes including learning and memory and glucose homeostasis. To determine the role of RASGRF1 in aging,...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundThere are no drugs presently available to treat traumatic brain injury (TBI). A variety of single drugs have failed clinical trials suggesting a role for drug combinations....Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Major breakthroughs have recently been reported that can help overcome two inherent drawbacks of NMR: the lack of sensitivity and the limited memory of longitudinal magnetization. Dynamic nuclear polarization...Full Text Available

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BackgroundAlzheimer's disease, known to be associated with the gradual loss of memory, is characterized by low concentration of acetylcholine in the hippocampus and cortex part of...Full Text Available

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In both humans and songbirds, infants learn vocalizations by imitating the sounds of adult tutors with whom they interact during an early sensitive period. Vocal learning occurs in few animal taxa;...Full Text Available

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Naturally acquired immunity to Plasmodium falciparum malaria in malaria holoendemic areas is characterized by the gradual, age-related development of protection against high-density...Full Text Available

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Humanin (HN), a 24-residue peptide, was identified as a novel neuroprotective factor and shows anti-cell death activity against a wide spectrum of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related cytotoxicities, including...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Real-time neutron radiography (RTNR) is rapidly becoming a valuable tool for nondestructive testing and basic research with a wide variety of applications. The Phoenix Memorial Laboratory (PML) at the University of Michigan has developed an RTNR facility and has been using this facility to study several phenomena of interest to researchers in many areas. These phenomena include imaging of the internal fluid flow in gas turbine engine nozzles and coking and debris deposition in several gas turbine nozzles. This paper presents a summary of the technique and facilities involved in these applications.

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Successful interface engineering requires compositional and electronic material characterization as a prerequisite for understanding and intentionally generating interfaces in photovoltaic devices. The paper gives an overview with several examples, all referring to Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se){sub 2} ('CIGSSe')-based solar cells, with an emphasis on characterization using highly specialized methods, such as elastic recoil detection analysis, X-ray emission spectroscopy and photoelectron spectroscopy using synchrotron and ultraviolet light for excitation, inverse photoemission spectroscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy. First, the determination of the depth profile of the band gap energy E{sub g} in the absorber layer is demonstrated. The modification of E{sub g} towards both interfaces is discussed in terms of beneficial electronic effects. Next, the interface between absorber and buffer layers with alternative and promising non-toxic materials is ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract:- An experimental investigation was carried out to evaluate the quality of-taralli-as a function of the type of oil used in their dough formulation. To this end, 4 types of oil (extra virgin olive oil, olive oil, olive-pomace oil, and refined palm oil) were utilized to prepare-taralli-to investigate on the lipid fraction degradation and evaluate the-taralli-acceptability by consumers. The data obtained pointed out that-taralli-manufactured with extra virgin olive oil were significantly more appreciated than those made with refined oils due to their visual appearance and odor. Moreover, with respect to the other kinds of oil, the use of extra virgin olive oil led to significantly lower values (P-< 0.05) of specific absorption at 232 and 270 nm (K232 and K270, respectively) and of t...

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The unburned HC in a direct-injection diesel engine is a cause of exhaust odor and SOF emission. Reduction of HC by changing the injection nozzle specifications was attempted in previous studies. In this study, some experiments in which the mixture formation was varied by using different hole diameters in a multihole nozzle and spray angles to the combustion chamber wall have been conducted. When the diameter of injection holes, which influences the fuel adhering to on the cylinder head walls and the combustion chamber wall, becomes smaller, the HC emission in the idling condition, HC deviation from cylinder to cylinder and HC increase with long idling time are decreased. The same effects were obtained by decreasing the diameter of all holes and by injecting the spray downward to the combustion chamber. 13 refs., 13 figs., 1 tab.

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Semiconductor properties of passive films formed on the Fe-18Cr alloy in a borate buffer solution (pH = 8.4) and 0.1 M H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} solution were examined using a photoelectrochemical spectroscopy and an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Photo current reveals two photo action spectra that derived from outer hydroxide and inner oxide layers. A typical n-type semiconductor behaviour is observed by both photo current and impedance for the passive films formed in the borate buffer solution. On the other hand, a negative photo current generated, the absolute value of which decreased as applied potential increased in the sulfuric acid solution. This indicates that the passive film behaves as a p-type semiconductor. However, Mott-Schottky plot revealed the typical n-type semiconductor property. It is concluded that the passive film on the Fe-18Cr alloy formed in the borate buffer solution is composed of both n-type ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Rapid self-aggregation of Ni nanodots on Si substrate covered with a thin SiO_2 buffered layer is investigated. The Ni nanodots can hardly self-aggregate on highly heat-dissipated Si substrate with a thermal conductivity of 148 W/m K. Adding a 200-A-thick SiO_2 buffer with an ultralow thermal conductivity of 1.35 W/m K prevents the formation of NiSi_2 compounds, enhances the heat accumulation, and releases the adhesion at Ni/Si interface, which greatly accelerates the self-assembly of Ni nanodots. Dense Ni nanodots with size and density of 30 nm and 7x10"1"0 cm"-"2, respectively, can be formatted after rapid thermal annealing at 850 deg. C for 22 s.

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The mechanical stability of diamond-like carbon (DLC) films coated on nitinol vascular stents was investigated under cyclic loading condition by employing a stent crimping system. DLC films were coated on the vascular stent of a three dimensional structure by using a hybrid ion beam system with rotating jig. The cracking or delamination of the DLC coating occurred dominantly near the hinge connecting the V-shaped segments of the stent where the maximum strain was induced by a cyclic loading of contraction and extension. However the failures were significantly suppressed as the amorphous Si (a-Si) buffer layer thickness increased. Interfacial adhesion strength was estimated from the spalled crack size in the DLC coating for various values of the a-Si buffer layer thickness.

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The following is the optimized pulsed laser deposition (PLD) procedure by which we prepared the final samples that were sent to LLNL. These samples are epitaxial multilayer structures of Si/YSZ/CeO/NSMO, where the abbreviations are explained in the following table. In this heterostructure, YSZ serves as a buffer layer to prevent deleterious chemical reactions, and also serves to de-oxygenate the amorphous SiO{sub 2} layer to generate a crystalline template for epitaxy. CeO and BTO serve as template layers to minimize the effects of thermal and lattice mismatch strains, respectively. More details on the buffer and template layer scheme are included in the manuscript [Yong et al., 2008] attached to this report.

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In order to protect food from pathogenic microorganisms as well as to increase its shelf life while keeping sensorial properties (e.g. odor and taste), once the latter are one of the main properties required by spice buyers, it is necessary to analyze volatile formation from irradiation of medicinal and food herbs. The aim of the present study was to analyze volatile formation from Co irradiation of Laurus Cinnamomum, Piper Nigrum, Origanum Vulgare and Myristica Fragans. Possible changes on the odor of these herbs are evaluated by characterizing different radiation doses and effects on sensorial properties in order to allow better application of irradiation technology. l he samples have been irradiated in plastic packages by making use of a {sup 60}Co Gamma irradiator. Irradiation doses of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25kGy have been tested. For the analysis of the samples, SPME has been applied, while for the analysis of volatile compounds, CG/MS. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Recently, the development of shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators, in the forms of wire, thin film and stent have been found increasingly in the fields of materials science and smart structures and engineering. The increase in attraction for using these materials is due to their many unique materials, mechanical, thermal and thermal-mechanical properties, which in turn, evolve their subsequent shape memory, pseudo-elasticity and super-elasticity properties. In this paper, a common type of SMA actuator, Nitinol wires, were embedded into advanced composite structures to modulate the structural dynamic responses, in terms of natural frequency and damping ratio by using its shape memory and pseudo-elastic properties. A simple theoretical model is introduced to estimate the natural frequency of the structures before and after actuating the embedded SMA wires. The damping ratios of different SMA composite beams were measured ...

CERN Document Server

In Internet Routing, the static shortest path (SP) problem has been addressed using well known intelligent optimization techniques like artificial neural networks, genetic algorithms (GAs) and particle swarm optimization. Advancement in wireless communication lead more and more mobile wireless networks, such as mobile networks [mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs)] and wireless sensor networks. Dynamic nature of the network is the main characteristic of MANET. Therefore, the SP routing problem in MANET turns into dynamic optimization problem (DOP). Here the nodes ae made aware of the environmental condition, thereby making it intelligent, which goes as the input for GA. The implementation then uses GAs with immigrants and memory schemes to solve the dynamic SP routing problem (DSPRP) in MANETS. In our paper, once the network topology changes, the optimal solutions in the new environment can be searched using the new immigrants or the useful information stored in the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this work, the silicon oxynitride layer was studied as a tunneling layer for non-volatile memory application by fabricating low temperature polysilicon thin film transistors on glass. Silicon wafers were oxynitrided by only nitrous oxide plasma under different radio frequency powers and plasma treatment times. Plasma oxynitridation was performed in RF plasma using inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition. The X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy was employed to analyze the atomic concentration ratio of nitrogen/oxygen in oxynitride layer. The oxynitrided layer formed under radio frequency power of 150 W and substrate temperature of 623 K was found to contain the atomic concentration ratio of nitrogen/oxygen as high as 1.57. The advantage of high nitrogen concentration in silicon oxide layer formed by using nitrous oxide plasma was investigated by capacitance-voltage measurement. The analysis of capacitance-voltage characteristics demonstrated that ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Acrylonitrile electropolymerization (in an aprotic and anhydrous medium) has been used as a way to build thin, homogeneous and covering polyacrylonitrile layers grafted on the surface of usual metals and specially on copper-based shape memory alloy: Cu-Zn-Al. The results of the study first confirm the possibility of grafting thin and covering polyacrylonitrile layers on Cu-Zn-Al surface. The morphology of the films however is influenced by the geometry of the polycristalline structure of the alloy and its superficial defects. Samples obtained after grafting polyacrylonitrile films were submitted to corrosion tests based on Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) measurements in a NaCl/H{sub 2}O medium. Results show that some post-treatments of the grafted films are necessary to improve their protective role, while preserving the strong interfacial bondings. Actually, thermal and mechanical cycling of the shape memory alloy covered by ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The important role of thyroid hormones in growth and development, maintenance of body temperature, digestion, cardiac function, and normal brain development can be disrupted by environmental contaminants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). Polychlorinated biphenyls are environmental contaminants that are widespread, persistent, lipophilic, and bioaccumulate through food webs, concentrating in adipose tissue. Placental and lactational PCB exposure of offspring causes metabolic and endocrine disruptions including hypothyroxinemia, spatial learning and memory deficits, neurochemical and neurobehavioral alterations, and reproductive problems. Previous studies in our lab using the individual congeners PCB 47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl, ortho-substituted) and PCB 77 (3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl, non-ortho-substituted) have demonstrated alterations in thyroid hormone levels, alterations in brain choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, and spatial learning ...

Science.gov (United States)

A 100-bit slitlike aperture array spatial light modulator has been developed using 8.8/65/35 PLZT for a high-bit-density 1-D hologram memory. The most desirable characteristics, such as distortion-free diffraction-limited Fourier transform patterns and good uniformity of displayed bit patterns over 100 bits, have been realized. The lowest SNR was 86, and rise time and fall time have been 30 microsec and 8 microsec, respectively, at 190-V halfwave voltage. One-dimensional holographic storage experiments have been successfully performed using this PLZT spatial light modulator. PMID:20216813

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A radiation hard low power, low voltage dynamic memory is obtained by the use of a dummy cell concept. Compared to conventional dummy cell concepts, this concept applies a fully sized dummy cell. By optimizing the dummy cell precharge voltage for 5 V and 3 V operation and the timing of the dummy word-line, the overall soft error rate (SER) of the chip is improved by 2 orders of magnitude. An additional improvement of 1 order of magnitude is possible for 3 V operation by adjusting substrate bias and cell plate voltage. The results are verified by an accelerated SER measurement with a radium 226 source and an additional field soft error study.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The values of the second dissociation constant pK₂ and related thermodynamic quantities of the ampholyte 3-(N-morpholino)-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid (MOPSO) have...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Multiple memory systems are involved in parallel processing of spatial information during navigation. A series of studies have distinguished between hippocampus-dependent ‘spatial’ navigation,...Full Text Available

Wastenet

... Westinghouse Electric is already majority owned by Toshiba Corp the maker of flash memory chips, laptops, nuclear reactors and rice cookers and Shaw Group. A deal could erase any U.S. ownership of Westinghouse, the Wall Street Journal said. Shaw partnered with Toshiba, and another Japanese company to buy Westinghouse from British Nuclear Fuels PLC for $5.4 billion five years ago, the paper ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Li shell-model calculation has been made in the isospin formalism in the complete (0 + n)#Planck constant##omega# model space with the assumption of a closed core "4He. The calculation could probably be improved by use of a better effective interaction and increasing shell model space. With the use of faster computer with large memories, the authors are in hope of calculation in spsd shell-model space

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The safe function of a new pipe whip restraint device has been demonstrated in a full scale test. The restraint is based on using a shape memory alloy to protect a pipe and its environment in the event of a double-ended-guillotine-break. The evaluation test has been performed at boiling water reactor (BWR) operating pressure and temperature using a pipe representing BWR primary piping. (orig.) 2 refs.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The most common cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) – mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary Syndrome – are characterised by the presence of clonally expanded, skin-homing helper-memory...Full Text Available

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Synthetic musks are used in many consumer products for their pleasant odor and their binding affinity for fabrics. In the early 1990s, polycyclic musks were reported to occur in air, water, sediment, wildlife, and humans from many European countries. Concentrations of polycyclic musks, particularly 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopenta-[?]-2-benzopyr an (HHCB) and 7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronapthalene (AHTN), have been reported to increase over time in the environment. In this study, concentrations of musks in water, sediment, fish, and mussel were determined from three locations along the upper Hudson River. HHCB and AHTN were detected in water (n?=?5; 3.95?25.8 and 5.09?22.8?ng/L, respectively), sediment (n?=?3; 72.8?388 and 113?544?ng/g, dry weig...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Spices and packaging materials were exposed to gamma irradiation at a dose of 10 KGy. Luncheon was prepared with irradiated or non-irradiated spices. Prepared luncheon was packaged in irradiated or non-irradiated packaging materials. Packaged luncheon was treated with 2 KGy. Treated and untreated packaged luncheon were kept in a refrigerator (1-4 Centigrade) for 12 months. Microbiological, nutritive and chemical characteristics of luncheon were evaluated after processing and during storage; whereas, sensory quality was evaluated only after irradiation. Gamma irradiation decreased the microorganisms counts of spices, packaging materials and packed luncheon and increased the shelf-life of packaged luncheon products. No major differences in moisture, protein, fat, ph value, total acidity, lipid peroxide and volatile basic nitrogen were observed due to irradiation. Sensory evaluation showed that all the combination treated luncheon were acceptable regarding sensory quality. However, the ...

Science.gov (United States)

This study examined the atmospheric pollution created by some waste treatment and disposal facilities in the State of Kuwait. Air monitoring was conducted in a municipal wastewater treatment plant, an industrial wastewater treatment plant established in a petroleum refinery, and at a landfill site used for disposal of solid wastes. Such plants were selected as models for waste treatment and disposal facilities in the Arabian Gulf region and elsewhere. Air measurements were made over a period of 6 months and included levels of gaseous emissions as well as concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Samples of gas and bioaerosols were collected from ambient air surrounding the treatment facilities. The results obtained from this study have indicated the presence of VOCs and other gaseous pollutants such as methane, ammonia, and hydrogen sulphide in air surrounding the waste treatment and disposal facilities. In some cases the levels exceeded the concentration limits specified by ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The influence of small amounts of alloying elements (0.36% Cu and 0.47% Cr) on the semiconducting properties of passive films formed on weathering steels was investigated either in tetraborate/boric acid buffer solution (pH 9.2) or artificial atmospheric environment (SO{sub 2}-containing environment). The electrochemical behaviour was assessed by potentiodynamic polarisation, capacitance measurements and photoelectrochemistry. The chemical characterisation of the films was carried by Auger electron spectroscopy. The polarization results obtained in the buffer solution show that the addition of chromium decreases the passive current density. The capacitance results show that the films behave as an n-type semiconductor with shallow and deep donor levels situated in the forbidden gap. The presence of copper seems to affect the density of the shallow and of the deep donor levels in the forbidden gap, and as chromium, it also decreases the doping ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Thai natural rubber economy is described in the context of the world rubber market. An econometric model is estimated for 15 structural equations; it includes the Thai, US, and rest-of-the-world rubber economies. Several simulation experiments are analyzed for the period from 1984 to 1995. Impact and dynamic multipliers are reported for major endogenous variables in response to changes in US GDP, world crude oil price, Thai replanting cess tax and Thai natural rubber production. A 1%, one-time increase in the US GDP has a positive effect on the Singapore natural rubber price. A world crude oil price decline shock has a negative effect in both the short-run and the long-run. The INRO buffer stock stabilization policy as well as alternative domestic Thai policies of market intervention are analyzed. The simulation results show that buffer stock management which allows a price band of +/-20% around the price target has the most stabilized ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Research highlights: {yields} The polarization curve of 316L SS possesses five turning potentials in passive region. {yields} Films formed at turning potentials perform different electrochemical and semiconductor properties. {yields} Dissolutions and regenerations of passive film at turning potentials are obtained by AAS and XPS. {yields} Turning potentials appearing in passive region are ascribed to the changes of the compositions of the passive films. - Abstract: The passivity of 316L stainless steel in borate buffer solution has been investigated by Mott-Schottky, atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicate that the polarization curve in the passive region possesses several turning potentials (0 V{sub SCE}, 0.2 V{sub SCE}, 0.4 V{sub SCE}, 0.6 V{sub SCE} and 0.85 V{sub SCE}). The passive films formed at turning potentials perform different electrochemical and semiconductor properties. Further, the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A novel Ni and Cu-free Zr-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) system with enhancement of glass-forming ability (GFA) and bio-corrosion resistance was prepared by copper mold casting by the addition of Ag. It was found that the addition of Ag can considerably enhance the glass-forming ability, as indicated by the increase of the critical glass dimension from 3 mm diameter of the ternary system to over 10 mm in the alloy of Zr_5_3Co_1_8_._5Al_2_3_._5Ag_5. The bio-corrosion behaviors of the Zr-based BMGs in phosphate buffered solution (PBS) were investigated by electrochemical polarization at 310 K. It was found that the addition of appropriate amount of Ag can enhance the corrosion resistance of the BMGs. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that the formation of an Al_2O_3-enriched passive film is mainly responsible for the high corrosion resistance of Ag-bearing alloy in phosphate buffered solution.

Science.gov (United States)

The effects of pH on the calcium phosphate phase, of Tris and of amino acids, such as aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and serine on hydroxyapatite formation and morphology, were studied in double diffusion experiments. In this system, hydroxyapatite was only formed when the pH was around 7.4 or higher for the duration of the reaction. A decrease in pH resulted in the transformation of hydroxyapatite to octacalcium phosphate. Amino acids and Tris or the buffering capacity of Tris have an effect on the morphology of the synthetic hydroxyapatite. The presence of the additive results in spheres consisting of needles, blades or plates depending on the reaction system. PMID:12175941

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Object: To provide a tank, which can safely and reliably accommodate high temperature sodium containing radioactive substance in case of occurrence of an accident in a sodium system and thus prevent spread of contamination. Structure: A sodium drain duct inserted into a tank from above the tank is provided at the position of its lower end with a buffer means for preventing direct flow-down of sodium to a bottom plate. A means for preventing the discharge of radioactive substance to the cover gas is provided above the lower end of the sodium drain tube so as to surround the sodium drain tube. (Kamimura, M.).

Science.gov (United States)

We have grown crack-free antiferroelectric (AFE) Pb{sub 0.92}La{sub 0.08}Zr{sub 0.95}Ti{sub 0.05}O{sub 3} (PLZT) films on nickel foils by chemical solution deposition. To eliminate the parasitic effect caused by the formation of a low-permittivity interfacial oxide, we applied a conductive buffer layer of lanthanum nickel oxide (LNO) on the nickel foil by chemical solution deposition prior to the PLZT deposition. Use of the LNO buffer allowed high-quality film-on-foil capacitors to be prepared at high temperatures in air. With the AFE PLZT deposited on LNO-buffered Ni foils, we observed field-induced phase transformations of AFE to ferroelectric (FE). The AFE-to-FE phase transition field, E{sub AF} = 260 kV cm{sup -1}, and the reverse phase transition field, E{sub FA} = 220 kV cm{sup -1}, were measured at room temperature on a {approx}1.15 {micro}m thick PLZT film grown on LNO-buffered Ni foils. The ...

CERN Document Server

In this paper, we present FASE (Faster Asynchronous Systems Evaluation), a tool for evaluating the worst-case efficiency of asynchronous systems. The tool is based on some well-established results in the setting of a timed process algebra (PAFAS: a Process Algebra for Faster Asynchronous Systems). To show the applicability of FASE to concrete meaningful examples, we consider three implementations of a bounded buffer and use FASE to automatically evaluate their worst-case efficiency. We finally contrast our results with previous ones where the efficiency of the same implementations has already been considered.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This executive summary presents the motivation, structure, objectives, methodologies and results of the first stage of the international DECOVALEX project - DECOVALEX I (1992-1995). The acronym stands for Development of Coupled Models and their Validation against Experiment in Nuclear Waste Isolation, and the project is an international effort to develop mathematical models, numerical methods and computer codes for coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes in fractured rocks and buffer materials for geological isolation of spent nuclear fuel and other radioactive wastes, and validate them against laboratory and field experiments. 24 refs.

Science.gov (United States)

A colony PCR technique was applied for both genomic and chloroplast DNA in the green microalgae Chlorella. Of five different lysis buffers, Chelex-100 was superior for DNA extraction, PCR and DNA storage. It also was insensitive to variations in cell density. The conditions established for an improved PCR formulation are applicable for screening of genetically-engineered transformants as well as bioprospecting of natural microalgal isolates. Besides multiple Chlorella species, we also demonstrate the efficacy of Chelex-100 for colony PCR with a number of other microalgal strains, including Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Dunaliella salina, Nannochloropsis sp., Coccomyxa sp., and Thalassiosira pseudonana. PMID:21431847

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The preliminary design of the read-out system for the GEM (Gammas, Electrons, Muons) detector at the Superconducting Super Collider is presented. The system reads all digitized data from the detector data sources at a Level 1 trigger rate of up to 100 kHz. A total read-out bandwidth of 40 GBytes/s is available. Data are stored in buffers that are accessible for further event filtering by an on-line, processor farm. Data are transported to the farm only as they are needed by the higher-level trigger algorithms, leading to a reduced bandwidth requirement in the Data Acquisition System.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Neurodegeneration observed in Alzheimer disease (AD) is believed to be related to the toxicity from reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in the brain by the amyloid-{beta} (A{beta}) protein bound primarily to copper ions. The evidence for an oxidative stress role of A{beta}-Cu redox chemistry is still incomplete. Details of the copper binding site in A{beta} may be critical to the etiology of AD. Here we present the structure determined by combining x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and density functional theory analysis of A{beta} peptides complexed with Cu{sup 2+} in solution under a range of buffer conditions. Phosphate-buffered saline buffer salt (NaCl) concentration does not affect the high-affinity copper binding mode but alters the second coordination sphere. The XAS spectra for truncated and full-length A{beta}-Cu{sup 2+} peptides are similar. The novel distorted six-coordinated (3N3O) geometry around copper in ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tumor imaging using radioiodinated monoclonal antibodies (Mab) suffered from rapid in vivo deiodination. This problem can be circumvented by covalent attachment of a bifunctional chelating group to the Mab followed by chelation with a suitable cationic radionuclide such as In-111. Competition of trace metal contaminants with In-111 for chelating sites, however, is known to lower the labeling yield. Since commercially available reagents may be contaminated with other trace metal ions, the effect of trace metals on Mab-DTPA chelation and the possibility of masking the trace metal effect on the In-111 labeling of Mab-DTPA were, therefore, investigated. Labeling yield of 93% was obtained when 1 mg (20mg/ml) of Mab F(ab')/sub 2/-DTPA (protein to DTPA ratio of --1) was allowed to incubate with 3 mCi In-111 in 2 ml acetate buffer (0.5M, pH 5.5) for 30 min. The yield was drastically decreased to 13-76% when the reactions were carried out with the addition of 1-2 #mu#g of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We have grown ferroelectric Pb{sub 0.92}La{sub 0.08}Zr{sub 0.52}Ti{sub 0.48}O{sub 3} (PLZT) films on platinized silicon and LaNiO{sub 3}-buffered nickel substrates by chemical solution deposition using a sol-gel process based on acetic acid chemistry. The following measurements were obtained under zero-bias field: relative permittivity of {approx}960 and dielectric loss of {approx}0.04 on the PLZT film grown on Pt/Si substrates, and relative permittivity of {approx}820 and dielectric loss of {approx}0.06 on the PLZT film grown on LNO-buffered Ni substrates. In addition, a relative permittivity of 125 and dielectric loss of 0.02 were measured at room temperature under a high bias field of 1 x 10{sup 6} V/cm on PLZT deposited on LNO-buffered nickel substrate. Furthermore, a steady-state leakage current density of {approx}8.1 x 10{sup -9} A/cm{sup 2} and mean breakdown field strength of 1.7 x 10{sup 6} V/cm were measured at ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Discussed in this report is a wavefield simulation in the 3-dimensional seismic survey. With the level of the object of exploration growing deeper and the object more complicated in structure, the survey method is now turning 3-dimensional. There are several modelling methods for numerical calculation of 3-dimensional wavefields, such as the difference method, pseudospectral method, and the like, all of which demand an exorbitantly large memory and long calculation time, and are costly. Such methods have of late become feasible, however, thanks to the advent of the parallel computer. As compared with the difference method, the pseudospectral method requires a smaller computer memory and shorter computation time, and is more flexible in accepting models. It outputs the result in fullwave just like the difference method, and does not cause wavefield numerical variance. As the computation platform, the parallel computer nCUBE-2S is used. The ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Abstract: We report for the selective-area chemical synthesis of semiconductor single-crystal organic nanowires of silver-tetracyanoquinodimethane (Ag-TCNQ). Straight and smooth Ag-TCNQ nanowires can be produced and patterned on micrometer and nanometer scale on silicon substrates covered with a thin layer of Ag film through the reaction of TCNQ and Ag in a simple gas-solid chemical reaction process. Ag-TCNQ nanowires are characterized by UV-vis, IR and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. The Ag-TCNQ nanowires grows preferentially along the [100] direction of strong - stacking of Ag-TCNQ molecules. Nanodevices based on these nanowires are fabricated using focus ion beam (FIB) technique. Electrical properties are characterized and I-V hysteresis is observed, which shows memory effect with electrical switching of three orders on-off ratio. These nanowires could be potential for use in optical storage, ultrahigh-density nanoscale memory and logic ...

CERN Document Server

The statistical properties of the bid-ask spread of a frequently traded Chinese stock listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange are investigated using the limit-order book data. Three different definitions of spread are considered based on the time right before transactions, the time whenever the highest buying price or the lowest selling price changes, and a fixed time interval. The results are qualitatively similar no matter linear prices or logarithmic prices are used. The average spread exhibits evident intraday patterns consisting of a big L-shape in the morning and a small L-shape in the afternoon. The distributions of the spread with different definitions decay as power laws. The tail exponents of spreads at transaction level are well within the interval $(2,3)$ and that of average spreads are well in line with the inverse cubic law for different time intervals. Based on the detrended fluctuation analysis, we find evidence of long memory in the bid-ask spread ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report introduces a microprocessor system composed of a Z-80 single-board computer controlling a gas-carburizing process. The system has 7 analogical input and output signals 24 switch signal-input and 12 switch signal-output signals, which are applicable for temperature, carbon potential, and mechanical-movement control of multipurpose sealed furnaces, or for mutiple-zone temperature, carbon potential, and mechanical-movement control of continuous gas carburizing furnaces; or for distributed control of pit-type carburizing furnaces. The setpoints of variables, such as treating time, temperature, carbon potential of carburizing period, carbon potential of diffusion period, depth of carburizing layer, P.I.D. etc., are entered by keyboard and stored into memories, and actual values are displayed by digital tubes. Furthermore, the fault of thermocouple, oxygen probe, or infrared CO/sub 2/ analyzer; carbon potential, or temperature exceeding the setting value; ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A flexible, steerable tube (distal end) of an endoscope for the application in the laparoscopic surgery has been analyzed by means of the finite-element-method (FEM). The unusual mechanical and thermal features of the used shape memory alloy (SMA) of NiTi were taken in account. The analyses showed that the strains remain in the super-elastic region up to the maximum bending of 90 and no plastic deformations occur. The application of the shape optimization (CAO) made possible finding the optimal structure of the distal end and therefore powerful reducing the maximum strains in the critical regions. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A centralized, automatic monitoring system for coal mines has been developed. The system consists of newly-developed and improved sensors, transmission equipment, a minicomputer designed for scientific and technical calculations, and accompanying software (MOLES). MOLES performs six functions: input, computation, decision, memory, output and correction. Previously, centralized monitoring has been limited to single dimensional monitoring of the 'time and point' type. The present system carries out data analysis and processing with respect to time, space and item. It is also capable of simple automatic diagnosis of abnormalities. (In Japanese)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The problems in computer vision range from edge detection and segmentation at the lowest level to the problem of cognition at the highest level. This correspondence describes the organization and operation of a semantic network array processor (SNAP) as applicable to high level computer vision problems. The architecture consists of an array of identical cells each containing a content addressable memory, microprogram control, and a communication unit. The applications discussed in this paper are the two general techniques, discrete relaxation and dynamic programming. While the discrete relaxation is discussed with reference to scene labeling and edge interpretation, the dynamic programming is tuned for stereo.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to develop pansystems-styled traffics, logistics and knowledge rediscovery. The core logoi are the generalized resources//F* and their circulation//C*. The research presents a new outlook to mathematics, physics, traffic, communication, logistics, KD, internet, computer, translation, simulation, information, life-systems, logic or reasoning, memory or storage, process, transaction, finance, education, inherent, topology, evolution, etc. and then certain mechanism among them and related mutuality can be unveiled. Design/methodology/approach - A flexible combination of philosophy, mathematics and technology is embodied. The paper is an application of pansystems methodology to approach the following topics: pansystems resource, circulation: traffics, log...

CERN Document Server

Using an exactly soluble one-dimensional atomic model we explore the idea that the recently observed high-order nonlinearity in optical filaments is due to virtual transitions involving the continuum states. We show that the model's behavior is qualitatively comparable with the experimentally observed cross-over from self-focusing to de-focusing at high intensities, and only occurs at intensities which result in significant ionization. Based on these observations, we conjecture that this continuum electron nonlinear refraction exhibits strong memory effects, and most importantly, the change of its sign is effectively masked by the de-focusing due to free electrons.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A simple but powerful inter-process communication machine is presented for programming direct shared memory multiprocessor machines in medium and low level application areas and in particular, for the programming of embedded systems such as intelligent instrumentation and online controllers. The primitives are based on hoare's concept of tightly synchronised data transfer to provide mutual exclusion and synchronisation in a single mechanism. The design of these primitives is discussed with reference to a number of criteria considered appropriate to the application area and their implementation in the Cyba-M multi-microprocessor research is described. 10 references.

Science.gov (United States)

A hyperbolic Stefan problem based on the linearized Gurtin-Pipkin heat conduction law is considered. The temperature and free boundary are controlled by a thermostat acting on the boundary. This feedback control is based on temperature measurements performed by real thermal sensors located within the domain containing the two-phase system and/or at its boundary. Three different types of thermostats are analyzed: simple switch, relay switch, and a Preisach hysteresis operator. The resulting models lead to integrodifferential hyperbolic Stefan problems with nonlinear and nonlocal boundary conditions. Existence results are proved in all the cases. Uniqueness is also shown, except in the situation corresponding to the ideal switch.

Science.gov (United States)

The definition of episodic memory includes the concept of mental time travel: the ability to re-experience a previously experienced trajectory through continuous dimensions of space and time, and to recall specific events or stimuli along this trajectory. Lesions of the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex impair human episodic memory function and impair rat performance in tasks that could be solved by retrieval of trajectories. Recent physiological data suggests a novel model for encoding and retrieval of trajectories, and for associating specific stimuli with specific positions along the trajectory. During encoding in the model, external input drives the activity of head direction cells. Entorhinal grid cells integrate the head direction input to update an internal representation of location, and drive hippocampal place cells. Trajectories are encoded by Hebbian modification of excitatory synaptic connections between hippocampal place cells and ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The ultrafast dynamics of the DNA fluorescent dye Sybr Green I (SG) has been studied in buffer, single-stranded (ssDNA), double-stranded (dsDNA) and triple-stranded DNA (tsDNA). The fluorescence quantum yield of SG increases dramatically when bound to DNA (including tsDNA). The fluorescence dynamics of the free SG has shown two decay components with 0.15-0.4ps and 1.3-2.1ps time constants, depending on the fluorescence wavelength. Upon binding to DNA, the dynamics becomes slower exhibiting four decay components. This is mainly due to the restriction of the internal motions of the dye caused by the relatively rigid environment of the dye complexed with DNA.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A study has been made of the passive film remaining over pits on stainless steel using a high resolution transmission electron microscope. Type 305 stainless steel was passivated in a borate buffer solution and pitted in ferric chloride. Passive films formed at 0.2 V relative to a saturated calomel electrode were found to be amorphous. Films formed at higher potentials showed only broad diffraction rings. The passive film was found to cover a remnant lacy structure formed over pits passivated at 0.8 V. The metallic strands of the lace were roughly hemitubular in shape with the curved surface facing the center of the pit.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Terror management theory (TMT) proposes that people who are reminded of their mortality should be motivated to defend their cultural worldview. Studies 1 and 2 examined whether the TMT worldview defence-buffering effect found in Western cultures could be generalized to Asians in Taiwan. No such effect was found in the present studies. This non-significant result was robust when either a stronger distraction task was used (study 1) or when a subliminal manipulation of mortality salience was utilized (study 2). A meta-analysis, including 24 TMT experiments in East Asia, was also conducted (study 3). The average effect size (d = 0.11, r = 0.055) of worldview defence among these experiments was not significantly different from zero. Study 4 found that mortality salience manipulation also did n...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Creation of new multi-composite materials is an essential issue to attain an innovative improvement of the current nuclear technology. In this paper, some highlights are focused on the research of creation of those materials and the relating subjects in NIRIM. (1) The KOH corrosion test method are expected to be efficiently available in the limited cases instead of Na corrosion test one. (2) The preliminary creation of the multi-composite ceramics were achieved by Y- ion implantation into sapphire and the RF sputtering, of which the specified orientation was realized by the existence of the buffer layer. The importance of the defect control are described with the relation to the corrosion resistance improvement. (3) The ion beam induced phenomena have been investigated on the surface change of silica glass and the crystallization of Cu film on SrTiO{sub 3}. (4) The electronic states of the alkali-metal adsorbed surfaces and that of the collision ion have been ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

SnO2/graphene nanocomposites have been fabricated by a simple chemical method. In the fabrication process, the control of surface charge causes echinoid-like SnO2 nanoparticles to be formed and uniformly decorated on the graphene. The electrostatic attraction between a graphene nanosheet (GNS) and the echinoid-like SnO2 particles under controlled pH creates a unique nanostructure in which extremely small SnO2 particles are uniformly dispersed on the GNS. The SnO2/graphene nanocomposite has been shown to perform as a high capacity anode with good cycling behavior in lithium rechargeable batteries. The anode retained a reversible capacity of 634 mA?h?g?1 with a coulombic efficiency of 98% after 50 cycles. The high reversibility can be attributed to the mechanical buffering by the GNS against...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The effect of Al/sup 3 +/, Fe/sup 3 +/, Ca/sup 2 +/, and Mg/sup 2 +/ ions and of pH on the two-dimensional shear modulus of stearic acid spread on a water substrate was determined. A large shear modulus was displayed by the films when the subphase contained Al/sup 3 +/ and Fe/sup 3 +/ ions at the self-buffered pH. With Fe/sup 2 +/ dissolved in the subphase, the film displayed a viscous relaxation when strained but no residual stress was observed. No effect was observed with the Ca/sup 2 +/ or Mg/sup 2 +/. Reducing the pH value in the subphase with the trivalent ions caused the shear modulus to disappear. The observations are interpreted in terms of hydrogen bonding.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Purpose The mangroves of New Caledonia, in the south Pacific, act as a buffer between a lagoon of more than 20,000?km2 and the island, which is characterized by ultramafic rocks and lateritic soils that are exploited for their richness in heavy metals. We will provide a better understanding of the redox conditions, and of heavy metal distributions in mangroves receiving shrimp farm effluents. Materials and methods Samples were collected from four areas defined in terms of vegetation composition: a salt flat, an Avicennia marina forest, in which effluents are released; a Rhizophora stylosa forest, and a dead Rhizophora forest. They were collected during times of maximum effluent release. Some measurements on pore water were also done during a period without effluent. Cores (70?cm deep) were...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The present study was carried out to exploit the feasibility of using polymeric nanosponges as an alternative carrier for targeting econazole nitrate (EN) to the skin through topical hydrogel formulation. Nanosponges prepared by emulsion solvent diffusion method were evaluated for various physicochemical parameters and in vitro drug release. The nanosponges of EN were discrete free flowing nanosized particles with perforated orange peel like morphology as visualized by SEM. The nanosponge formulated using PVA:EC (3:2) displayed highest in vitro release after 12 ?h in phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) that fitted matrix model. Selected nanosponge was formulated as Carbopol 934 NF hydrogel using varying concentrations of permeation enhancers propylene glycol and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The EN nanosp...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Analysis reproducibility and detection sensitivity of capillary electrophoresis (CE) are often questioned by applied scientists, which has hindered its application as a routine method. To address these issues, a simple, precise, and reproducible dynamic coating method was developed by applying carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) dynamic coating on fused silica capillary. The proposed coating was accomplished by simply rinsing the capillary with CMC solution for 1?min in between runs, with no regeneration procedure or buffer additives needed. Electroosmotic flow could be well controlled by adjusting the pH of background electrolyte, and the adsorption of analytes onto the capillary inner wall was effectively eliminated. The main parameters of the coating condition were optimized, and extensive app...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Dispersions of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in various surfactant solutions have been systematically evaluated as additives in MEEKC. The compounds examined were catechins, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. Compared with zwitterionic and neutral surfactants, the addition of anionic dispersion seemed to be better at separating the three types of analytes in microemulsion system. In order to achieve low operating currents, an in situ-synthesized surfactant system based on the combination of a long-chain alkyl acid with an organic base was used in MEEKC. The optimized buffer contained 0.5% (57-mM) ethyl acetate, 0.6% (30-mM) lauric acid, 4.0% (666-mM) propanol, 50-mM Tris solution, and 4.5-mg/L the dispersion of SWNTs. Under optimized conditions, the established method was ap...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The kinetics of passive film formation on iron in borate buffer solution has been studied at different anodic potentials. The process of film growth has been found to occur in four distinct stages. About 80-90% of the total film thickness formed in 1h grows during the initial two stages which last for only 1-3s (depending upon potential). The electric field strength across the film is not constant but decreases with progressing film growth. The thickness of the film determined ellipsometrically is less than that calculated from the electric charge consumed. The process of anodic film formation is accompanied by the dissolution of iron which occurs over the whole range of potentials.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Amino-rich polymeric coatings are widely used in biomedical applications, since they promote adsorption of diverse biomolecules or facilitate cell growth. As a consequence, there is a growing interest in fabrication of such coatings that is focused predominantly on the optimization of the deposition process in terms of high density of primary amino groups. In addition, the nature of biomedical applications requires also sufficient stability of the films in aqueous environments. This aspect is investigated in this contribution. In particular, the effect of water and phosphate buffer saline on the coatings prepared by RF magnetron sputtering of Nylon 6,6 in Ar/N2 and N2/H2 gas mixtures is evaluated. The samples exposed to liquids are characterized by various diagnostic methods and their prop...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Corrosion behavior of deposition coated specimens prepared by the technique proposed by the authors is investigated in salt immersion tests, and also those of pure magnesium, 3N, 4N and 6N grades, and magnesium alloys, AZ31 and AZ91E, are investigated for comparison. Inhomogeneous corrosion occurs in AZ31 and AZ91E alloys when buffered solutions with pH values of 6.5 and 9.0 including 1% NaCl and a conventional 3% NaCl solution are used for immersion tests, while 6N-Mg shows homogeneous corrosion in such solutions. Corrosion behavior of the deposition coated specimen resembles that of 6N-Mg. Purification process included in the deposition coating technique provides homogeneity in microstructural and electrochemical terms, which results in improving corrosion resistance. (orig.)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The chemical composition and the semiconducting properties of passive films formed on nickel based alloy (Alloy 600) in acidic sulphate solution, pH 2.0 at room temperature were studied using Auger analysis, voltammetric techniques and the Mott-Schottky approach. The results obtained revealed that the presence of both chromium and mixed nickel-iron oxides in the films leads to the development of a p-n heterojunction, which controls their electronic structure, similarly manner to the case of stainless steels and Alloy 600 in borate buffer solution. This behavior has been interpreted as representing of an oxide system, which has a duplex character, with an inner p-type semiconducting region, mainly formed by chromium oxide and an outer n-type semiconducting region, containing iron oxide. It could also be observed that the nickel oxide present in the films acts as a barrier layer conferring improved protection.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Methods were developed for the separation of radioactively labeled carbohydrate components of proteoglycans by isocratic ion-moderated partition HPLC. Neutral sugars were separated after hydrolysis in trifluoroacetic acid with baseline separation between glucose, xylose, galactose, fucose, and mannose. N-Acetylneuraminic acid, N-acetylated hexosamines, glucose, galactose, and xylitol were likewise well separated from each other under isocratic elution conditions. Glucuronic acid, iduronic acid, and their lactones were separated after hydrolysis in formic acid and sulfuric acid. Glucosamine, galactosamine, galactosaminitol, and glucosaminitol were separated by HPLC on a cation exchanger with neutral buffer after hydrolysis in hydrochloric acid. THe separation techniques also proved useful in fractionation of exoglycosidase digests of O- and N-linked oligosaccharides. Separations of aldoses, hexosamines, and uronic acids were adapted to sensitive photometric ...

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In 2004, the Southeastern France regional council asked the regional health observatory to conduct an environmental health inventory to i) identify environmental health problems in this area; ii) examine the relations between environmental exposure to pollutants and human health; and iii) help public officials to identify priorities in this area. We collected and validated data from national, regional and local institutions, constructed environmental (levels of emissions and pollutants), health (mortality, incidence, prevalence) and behavioral indicators (e.g., complaints about odors), and compared these over time and between places when possible. For each topic, we summarized current knowledge about the links between environment and health. In southeastern France, as in other French areas, indoor air pollution, home and leisure injuries and other home-related risks are public health issues. Other topics are more significant or particular to southeastern France: ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Radiation sterilization has several merits that it is a positively effective sterilization method, it can be used to sterilize low heat-resistant containers and high gas barrier films, and there is no possibility of residual chemicals being left in the packages. It has been commercially used in 'Bag in a Box' and some food containers. The #gamma# ray and an electron beam are commonly used in radiation sterilization. The #gamma# ray can sterilize large size containers and containers with complex shapes or sealed containers due to its strong transmission capability. However, since the equipment tends to be large and expensive, it is generally used in off production lines. On the other hand, it is possible to install and electron beam system on food production lines since the food can be processed in a short time due to its high beam coefficient and its ease of maintenance, even though an electron beam has limited usage such as sterilizing relatively thin materials and surface ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Studies by the University of Lowell Radiation Laboratory and the US National Marine Fisheries Service N.E. Laboratory in Gloucester, MA on softshelled clams (Mya arenaria) demonstrated the effectiveness of low to medium doses of Cobalt 60 source gamma irradiation in the inactivation of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis. Post-irradiation survival and organoleptic studies when extended to hardshelled clams (Mercinaria mercenaria) and American oysters (Crassostrea virginica) showed no significant decline in consumer qualities or 6 day post irradiation survival in oysters at doses of up to 3.0 kGy. The capacities of the American oyster to sustain relatively high doses of gamma irradiation were demonstrated by 6 day post-exposure survivorship values of greater than 90% for samples receiving 3.0, 5.0 and 7.0 kGy. Initial studies of inactivation of Polio I virus and a simian rotavirus (SA-11) was conducted in both hardshelled clams and ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Difficulty in recalling the names of people is very common in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, it is not known whether the difficulty in naming people in MCI reflects problems associated with lexical access or with semantic access. The aims of the present study were to investigate semantic and phonological access to proper names by use of a Tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) task in individuals with multidomain amnestic MCI, individuals with amnestic MCI, and healthy controls, as well as to study the relationships between TOT production and performance in a free recall verbal memory test. In the individuals with multidomain amnestic MCI, the main process affected was phonological access; failures in phonological access were related to deficits i...

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The ACP Multi-Array Processor System (ACPMAPS) is a highly cost effective, local memory parallel computer designed for floating point intensive grid based problems. The processing nodes of the system are single board array processors based on the FORTRAN and C programmable Weitek XL chip set. The nodes are connected by a network of very high bandwidth 16 port crossbar switches. The architecture is designed to achieve the highest possible cost effectiveness while maintaining a high level of programmability. The primary application of the machine at Fermilab will be lattice gauge theory. The hardware is supported by a transparent site oriented software system called CANOPY which shields theorist users from the underlying node structure. 4 refs., 2 figs.

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The performance requirements of the Advanced Photon Source (APS) challenge the control system in a number of areas. This paper will review a few applications of advanced technology in the control and monitoring of the APS. The application of digital signal processors (DSPs) and techniques will be discussed, both from the perspective of a large distributed multiprocessor system and from that of embedded systems. In particular, two embedded applications will be highlighted, a beam position monitor processor and a DSP-based power supply controller. Fast data distribution is often a requirement. The application of a high-speed network based on reflective memory will also be discussed in the context of the APS global orbit feedback system. Timing systems provide opportunities to apply technologies such as high-speed logic and fiber optics. Examples of the use of these technologies will also be included. Finally, every modern accelerator control system of any size ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Reference failures, and their increase in affectively negative conditions (known as affective reactivity of speech), are more frequently observed in schizophrenia patients than in normal controls, but no information is available comparing schizophrenia with depression, ie, a mental disorder closely linked to the concept of affective reactivity. To address this gap in the literature, the present study compared 24 schizophrenia inpatients, 21 unipolar depression inpatients and 21 normal controls. Two 10-minute conversational speech samples (1 on negative and 1 on positive memories) were collected from each patient. The transcripts of the audiotaped interviews were analyzed blindly for frequencies of 6 types of referential failures, employing the Communication Disturbances Index, adapted for ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Real-time neutron radiography (RTNR) is now proving to be a valuable research tool in the study of hydrogenous fluid flow. One of the most significant advantages of neutron radiography is the ability to image hydrogenous substances (such as lubricants, coolants, and fuels) inside metallic materials such as aluminum and titanium engines. By using RTNR, one can then study dynamic events such as the movement of liquids inside these solids. The Phoenix Memorial Laboratory (PML) at the University of Michigan has recently developed and installed a facility dedicated to RTNR. The work at PML has shown that RTNR of dynamic events can provide information enabling the researcher to follow dynamic events that were previously impossible or impractical. This paper will show the variety of uses of RTNR presently being pursued at PML.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A real time neutron radiography system has been developed at the University of Michigan Phoenix Memorial Laboratory (PML) and has recently been used to test the imaging capabilities of a neutron imaging device developed by Lixi, Inc. of Downers Grove, Ill. This device uses an input phosphor that is high in gadolinium to generate a light image which is then sent through an intensifier stage to provide images that can be viewed by eye, video camera, or standard 35 mm camera. It was determined that this device provides images of much higher resolution and sensitivity than those obtained with the imaging system currently being used at PML. Using computerized image enhancement techniques, the images obtained with the Lixi neutron imaging device can then be further enhanced or processed to obtain quantitative information on the object being imaged. (orig.).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Microprocessor based ''smart'' pressure, level, and flow transmitters were tested to determine the radiation hardness of this class of electronic instrumentation for use in reactor building applications. Commercial grade Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuits used in these transmitters were found to fail at total gamma dose levels between 2500 and 10,000 rad. This results in an unacceptably short lifetime in many reactor building radiation environments. Radiation hardened integrated circuits can, in general, provide satisfactory service life for normal reactor operations when not restricted to the extremely low power budget imposed by standard 4--20 mA two-wire instrument loops. The design of these circuits will require attention to vendor radiation hardness specifications, dose rates, process control with respect to radiation hardness factors, and non-volatile programmable memory technology. 3 refs., 2 figs.

CERN Document Server

Significant research has been carried out in the recent years for generating systems exhibiting intelligence for realizing optimized routing in networks. In this paper, a grade based twolevel based node selection method along with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique is proposed. It assumes that the nodes are intelligent and there exist a knowledge base about the environment in their local memory. There are two levels for approaching the effective route selection process through grading. At the first level, grade based selection is applied and at the second level, the optimum path is explored using PSO. The simulation has been carried out on different topological structures and it is observed that a graded network produces a significant reduction in number of iteration to arrive at the optimal path selection.

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Level set method based segmentation provides an efficient tool for topological and geometrical shape handling. Conventional level set surfaces are only $C^0$ continuous since the level set evolution involves linear interpolation to compute derivatives. Bajaj et al. present a higher order method to evaluate level set surfaces that are $C^2$ continuous, but are slow due to high computational burden. In this paper, we provide a higher order GPU based solver for fast and efficient segmentation of large volumetric images. We also extend the higher order method to multi-domain segmentation. Our streaming solver is efficient in memory usage.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract -Lactoglobulin (-LG) is a lipocalin, which is the major whey protein of cow's milk and the milk of other mammals. However, it is absent from human milk. The biological function of -LG is not clear, but its potential role in carrying fatty acids through the digestive tract has been suggested. -LG has been found in complexes with lipids such as butyric and oleic acids and has a high affinity for a wide variety of compounds. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), an important compound found in animals and plants, has various functions, including the regulation of mood, appetite, sleep, muscle contraction, and some cognitive functions such as memory and learning. In this study, the interaction of serotonin and one of its derivatives, arachidonyl serotonin (AA-5HT), with -LG was invest...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Quinone reductase 2 (QR2), a detoxifying cytosolic flavoenzyme, is thought to play an important role in the acquisition and loss of memory [3]. We determined the amount of QR2 in the hippocampus, amygdala, and superior frontal gyrus of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with dementia by using western blot analysis. The level of QR2 was significantly higher in the hippocampus of AD patients than in that of the control subjects. The relation between QR2 and AD has not yet been determined; however, our results suggest that the increase in hippocampal QR2 might be a cause of AD or might promote the progression of AD by causing an increase in the toxic quinone levels and consequent loss of cognitive function.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Virtualized infrastructure providers demand new methods to increase the accuracy of the accounting models used to charge their customers. Future data centers will be composed of many-core systems that will host a large number of virtual machines (VMs) each. While resource utilization accounting can be achieved with existing system tools, energy accounting is a complex task when per-VM granularity is the goal. In this paper, we propose a methodology that brings new opportunities to energy accounting by adding an unprecedented degree of accuracy on the per-VM measurements. We present a system - which leverages CPU and memory power models based in performance monitoring counters (PMCs) - to perform energy accounting in virtualized systems. The contribution of this paper is threefold. First, w...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Tong Luo Jiu Nao (TLJN) is a modern Chinese formula based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory that has been used to treat ischemic cerebral stroke and vascular dementia. TLJN belongs to the ethnopharmacological family of medicines. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of the TLJN effect on Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aim of the study: To investigate the effect of TLJN on b-amyloid-degrading enzymes and learning and memory in the AD rat brain. Materials and methods: AD rats whose disease was induced by Ab25-35 injection into the bilateral hippocampus CA1 region were subjected to intragastric administration of various preparations. The experimental animals were healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats which were randomly divided into normal, sham, model, TLJN...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Fyn is a Src-family tyrosine kinase that affects long term potentiation (LTP), synapse formation, and learning and memory. Fyn is also implicated in dendritic spine formation both in vitro and in vivo. However, whether Fyn's regulation of dendritic spine formation is brain-region specific and age-dependent is unknown. In the present study, we systematically examined whether Fyn altered dendritic spine density and morphology in the cortex and hippocampus and if these effects were age-dependent. We found that Fyn knockout mice trended toward a decrease in dendritic spine density in cortical layers II/III, but not in the hippocampus, at 1month of age. Additionally, Fyn knockout mice had significantly decreased dendritic spine density in both the cortex and hippocampus at 3months and 1year, an...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This essay reviews key controversies in the history of the Darwinian research tradition: the Wilberforce-Huxley debate in 1860, early twentieth-century debates about the heritability of acquired characteristics and the consistency of Mendelian genetics with natural selection; the 1925 Scopes trial about teaching evolution; tensions about race, culture, and eugenics at the 1959 centenary celebration Darwin?s Origin of Species; adaptationism and its critics in the Sociobiology debate of 1970s and, more recently, Evolutionary Psychology; and current disputes about Intelligent Design. These controversies, I argue, are etched into public memory because they occur at the emotionally charged boundaries between public-political, technical-scientific, and personal-religious spheres of discourse. Ov...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Biodegradable helicoidal stent prototypes made up of layers of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and poly(L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymers were fabricated by temperature conditioning the stents at different stages of fabrication. The process incorporated elastic memory, or self-expandability in the stent, which is desirable to minimize stent recoil. The collapse pressures of such stents were studied, with and without in vitro degradation. The effects of thickness and the composition of each layer on the collapse pressure were modeled using the simple series model. Results of the in vitro studies for over 3 months showed that collapse pressure of the stents depended mainly on the degradation and other side-effects brought about by the degradation of different polymer compositions. General...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

SummaryBackground Persistent Lyme Disease Symptoms (PLDS) have included fatigue, headaches, poor concentration and memory, lightheadedness, joint pain, and mood disturbances. Evidence-based guidelines committees disagree over the severity of PLDS. The 2004 International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) concluded that PLDS are severe. The 2006 Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) guidelines committee concluded that PLDS are nothing more than the "aches and pains of daily living" and an ad hoc International Lyme group concluded that PLDS are "symptoms common in persons who have never had Lyme disease." Hypothesis Clinical trials validate the severity of persistent Lyme disease symptoms. Evaluation of the Hypothesis There are 22 standardized instruments used to measure the...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The first cardiac pacemaker implants occurred in the late 1950s and involved insertion of epicardial or epimyocardial leads and abdominal pulse generators. By the mid 1960s, cardiologists were making attempts to insert transvenous leads into the right ventricle. These early unipolar leads had large, polished, high polarization electrodes, no fixation device, and no lumen in which to place a stylet for lead positioning. The lead implantation procedures were usually long and the irradiation to both patient and operator excessive. Pulse generators were powered by zinc-mercury cells, which were large, unreliable, and prone to sudden output failure. Postoperative complications such as lead dislodgement, exit block, and premature power source failure were very common with most patients requiring...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A phenomenological model based on the multizone method is described. The model requires a relatively low amount of central processing unit (CPU) time and memory for each run and, consequently, is useful for parameter studies. The flame morphology predicted by the model is compared to that recently uncovered in experimental studies. As a demonstration of its utility, the model is used to study the effect of the oxygen content in intake air on the emission of particulate matter (PM) and NO{sub x} from a direct injection diesel engine. A parametric study reveals that while oxygen-enriched intake air is useful for reducing PM, the reduction comes with a large increase in NO{sub x} emission. The PM-NO{sub x} trade-off curve for the oxygenated intake air is worse than that for the baseline air case. (Author)

CERN Multimedia

The New Yorker Richard Feynman, well known to all physicists for his diagrams. Eleven vivid posters have recently been hung along the Theoretical Physics corridor on the first floor of Building 53. They tell the story of a century of physics, between 1900 and the end of the nineteen-nineties, the century that gave us atomic and quantum physics and the great breakthroughs that have rocked our understanding of the world and the universe. The posters are a gift from the American Physical Society to the CERN Library. As they were designed for high school and university book collections in the US, they necessarily have a somewhat American view of the history of science. But it is still instructive to revisit contemporary physics through its great figures, such as Marie Curie, Stephen Hawking, and Richard Feynman, not to mention Albert Einstein and many others. Why not take the time for a little trip down this particular stretch of Memory Lane?

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Optimum analytical conditions of the aluminium ion were established by flow injection analysis. Eriochrome Cyanine R(ECR) dye reacts with the aluminium ion at pH 6.0 form a complex that exhibits maximum absorption at 535 nm. Reaction condition including the mixing and the reaction coil length, the concentration and the pH of the buffer solution, temperature, and injection loop volume were optimized to introduce this reaction into flow injection analysis. The results were as follows. A mixing coil length of 0.5 m and a reaction coil length of 4.0 m, the pH 6.0 and 1M of acetate buffer solution, the ECR concentration of 0.56 mM, the reaction temperature of 40 .deg. C, the injection loop volume of 300 #mu#L were chosen as optimum conditions. Under these conditions the detection limit of the aluminium ion was less than 0.05 mg/L and the repeatability was better than 1%. A sampling frequency of 24 times for an hour was achieved. Interfering ions ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The hypothesis that intracellular Ca/sup 2 +/ is an essential component of the intracellular mechanism of insulin action in the adipocyte was evaluated. Cells were loaded with the Ca/sup 2 +/ chelator quin-2, by preincubating them with quin-2 AM, the tetrakis(acetoxymethyl) ester of quin-2. Quin-2 loading inhibited insulin-stimulated glucose transport without affecting basal activity. The ability of insulin to stimulate glucose uptake in quin-2-loaded cells could be partially restored by preincubating cells with buffer supplemented with 1.2 mM CaCl/sub 2/ and the Ca/sup 2 +/ ionophore A23187. These conditions had no effect on basal activity and omission of CaCl/sub 2/ from the buffer prevented the restoration of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by A23187. Quin-2 loading also inhibited insulin-stimulated glucose oxidation and the ability of insulin to inhibit cAMP-stimulated lipolysis without affecting their basal activities. Incubation of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This manual describes the use of the Xyce Parallel Electronic Simulator. Xyce has been designed as a SPICE-compatible, high-performance analog circuit simulator, and has been written to support the simulation needs of the Sandia National Laboratories electrical designers. This development has focused on improving capability over the current state-of-the-art in the following areas: (1) Capability to solve extremely large circuit problems by supporting large-scale parallel computing platforms (up to thousands of processors). Note that this includes support for most popular parallel and serial computers. (2) Improved performance for all numerical kernels (e.g., time integrator, nonlinear and linear solvers) through state-of-the-art algorithms and novel techniques. (3) Device models which are specifically tailored to meet Sandia's needs, including some radiation-aware devices (for Sandia users only). (4) Object-oriented code design and implementation using modern coding practices ...

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This guide describes the simulator`s governing equations, constitutive functions and numerical solution algorithms of the STOMP (Subsurface Transport Over Multiple Phases) simulator, a scientific tool for analyzing multiple phase subsurface flow and transport. The STOMP simulator`s fundamental purpose is to produce numerical predictions of thermal and hydrologic flow and transport phenomena in variably saturated subsurface environments, which are contaminated with volatile or nonvolatile organic compounds. Auxiliary applications include numerical predictions of solute transport processes including radioactive chain decay processes. In writing these guides for the STOMP simulator, the authors have assumed that the reader comprehends concepts and theories associated with multiple-phase hydrology, heat transfer, thermodynamics, radioactive chain decay, and nonhysteretic relative permeability, saturation-capillary pressure constitutive functions. The authors further assume that the reader ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The gender-specific expression pattern of aromatase and 5alpha-reductases (5alpha-R) during brain development provides neurons the right amount of estradiol and DHT to induce a dimorphic organization of the structure. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are endocrine disruptive pollutants; exposure to PCBs through placental transfer and breast-feeding may adversely affect the organizational action of sex steroid, resulting in long-term alteration of reproductive neuroendocrinology. The study was aimed at: a) evaluating the hypothalamic expression of aromatase, 5alpha-R1 and 5alpha-R2 in fetuses (GD20), infant (PN12), weaning (PN21) and young adult (PN60) male and female rats exposed to PCBs during development; b) correlating these parameters with the time of testicular descent, puberty onset, estrous cyclicity and copulatory behavior; c) evaluating possible alterations of some non reproductive behaviors (locomotion, learning and memory, depression/anxiety behavior). A ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are an important group of pollutants with adverse effects on humans and the environment. Primary air pollution abatement measures aim at prevention or reduction of pollutant production in industrial production processes, e.g. by improved processes but also by other methods (closed cycle processes, different process materials, etc.). If these measures have been implemented and emissions are still too high, an off-air purification unit must be installed. Biological purification is the method of choice for low pollutant concentrations. Biological purification processes are based on the activity of microorganisms which are capable of biochemical oxidation of organic and some inorganic gaseous compounds into non-polluting or non-odorous compounds. These processes have the advantage that they work at ambient conditions and therefore remove relatively low pollutant concentrations at low investment and operating cost. Lately, biological ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

High temperature thermochemistry of thoria-urania fuel for Advanced Heavy Water Reactor was investigated. Oxygen potential development within the matrix and distribution behaviors of the fission products (fps) in different phases were worked out with the help of thermodynamic and transport properties of the fps as well as fission generated oxygen and the detailed balance of the elements. Some of the necessary data for different properties were generated in this laboratory while others were taken from literatures. Noting the behavior of poor transports of gases and volatile species in the thoria rich fuel (thoria-3 mol% urania), the evaluation shows that the fuel will generally bear higher oxygen potential right from early stage of burnup, and Mo will play vital role to buffer the potential through the formation of its oxygen rich chemical states. The problems related to the poor transport and larger retention of fission gases (Xe) and volatiles (I, Te, Cs) are ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Thallium-201 diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) behaves like a chemical microsphere and is trapped by spontaneous decomposition in the brain in proportion to regional perfusion. They have shown that the technetium-99m analog, Tc-99m DDC (1), is unsuitable for cerebral perfusion imaging because it does not decompose rapidly enough to be trapped in the brain. With the goal of turning this greater stability of 1 into an advantage, a series of dithiocarbamates with lipophilic or amine groups designed to enhance cerebral uptake and retention was prepared from the following amines by reaction with carbon disulfide and sodium hydroxide: pyrrolidine (2), piperazine (3), 4-benzylpiperazine (4), and 4-(1-piperidino)piperidine (5). These ligands (5 mg) were labelled with Tc-99m in > 95% efficiency (ITLC-SG, saline) by reduction of pertechnetate at room temperature with formamidine sulfinic acid at alkaline pH. In preliminary studies, 4 and 5 show a trend of increasing oil/buffer ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Optical Isotope shift measurements have been performed for the {sup 240f,242f}Am fission isomers to test the stability of nuclear deformation as function of the neutron number. The method is based on resonance ionization spectroscopy (RIS) in a buffer gas cell with fission detection of the ionization process. The {sup 240f,242f}Am fission isomers have been produced by {sup 242}Pu(p, 3n), {sup 242}Pu(d, 2n) reactions, respectively. Relative isotope shift ratios X{sub exp}{sup 242f}(500 nm)=IS{sup 242f,241}/IS{sup 243,241}=41.4(8) and X{sub exp}{sup 240f}(500 nm)=IS{sup 240f,241}/IS{sup 243,241}=39.2(8) were measured. From these ratios a small difference {delta}{beta}{sub 2}{sup 242f,240f}=0.0076(14) of the deformation parameter {beta}{sub 2} can be deduced assuming that the isotope shift between the reference isotopes {sup 241,243}Am is caused by a pure volume change. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A simple method for regeneration of filaments (clones) from spheroplasts of the cyanobacterium (blue-green alga), Anabaena variabilis, was developed and used to quantify cell growth in the presence of two antibiotics. Cells from exponential phase cultures of ATCC 29413 and M3 were harvested and incubated with lysozyme (0.12% in 0.03M K-phosphate, pH 6.8, 0.55M sorbitol; 37 C) to produce spheroplasts. The spheroplasts were washed with buffer, plated onto soft agar and incubated (18 h light: 6 hr dark, 27 C). Colonies became visible at 7 - 9 days and were monitored for times up to 21 days. The concentration of chloramphenicol which inhibited cell growth by 50% was approximately 1.8 mg ml/sup -1/ medium and the concentrations of ampicillin which inhibited cell growth by 50% were approximately 4 and 15 pg ml/sup -1/ medium for ATCC 29413 and M3, respectively. This method may be useful for genetic manipulation of cells from these and other filamentous, N/sub 2/-fixing ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The PICTURE utility generates user defined pictures with black-and-white or color output, suitable for viewgraphs, slides, report diagrams - in general, any application requiring visual aids. The interactive menu-driven system allows a user to create a picture consisting of text, straight lines, graphs, and assortment of markers, splines and drawings, all in a variety of colors. Commands for manipulating the picture include moving, scaling, rotating, deleting, copying and changing the color of objects. Text strings may be aligned left, right, or centered, and have a vertical or horizontal path. Markers, circles and the large bold font may be filled or unfilled. The user may add or delete one of two overlay grids for help in positioning items. The final product may be saved in a text file for later retrieval. PICTURE currently runs on a VAX 11/780 with the DI-3000 commercial graphics package. Supported graphics devices include Ramtek 9400 and Metheus 440 frame ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In developing new Tc-99m brain perfusion imaging agents for SPECT, a series of BAT (bis-aminoethanethiol) derivatives was prepared. These N/sub 2/S/sub 2/ ligands formed stable and neutral complexes with reduced Tc-99m, either by Sn(II)-PPi or sodium borohydride reduction. The purity of the Tc-99m complexes was >95% (HPLC reverse-phase column, acetonitrile: pH 7.0 buffer, 85:15). The biodistribution in rats was evaluated using I-125 iodoantipyrine (IAP), a free diffusible tracer, as the internal reference. Compounds with a free hydroxyl group (I and IV) showed lower brain uptake, inspite of high P.C.; this may be related to in vivo instability of the complexes. High initial brain uptake was observed for three compounds (II, III and V), however, only compound V (P.C.=384) showed significant brain retention. Planar imaging with compound V in a monkey demonstrated that the compound localized in brain and the retention time was T/sub 1/2/=35 min. Compounds of this ...

Science.gov (United States)

We report the growth and fabrication of midwave infrared InAs/GaSb strain layer superlattice (SLS) detectors. Growth of alternate interfaces leads to a reduced strain between the GaSb buffer and SLS ({delta}a{sub parallel}/a=-5x10{sup -4}), enabling the growth of active regions up to 3 {mu}m (625 periods). The structural, optical, and electrical properties of the active region were characterized using x-ray crystallography and photoluminescence, respectively. p-i-n detectors were grown using 625 periods of 8 ML (monolayer) InAs/8 ML GaSb as the active region. The {lambda}{sub cutoff} for the detectors was 4.6 {mu}m with a conversion efficiency of 32% at V{sub b}=-0.2 V. Detectivity was obtained using noise power spectral density measurements under 300 K 2{pi} field of view illumination and was equal to 5.2x10{sup 10} and 3x10{sup 10} cm Hz{sup 1/2}/W (V{sub b}=-0.02 V, T=80 K) in the white noise and 1/f noise limit (at 50 Hz)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Microsecond pulse radiolysis of oxygenated aqueous solutions containing 0.02 mol dm"-"3 sodium formate and 2 mmol dm"-"3 phosphate buffer at pH 7 was used to generate superoxide anion radicals. The influence of some biologically important compounds upon the rate of O_2"."-"b"a"r decay as monitored spectrophotometrically in the range of 245-300 nm. Hematoporphyrin (HP), hemin C (HC), catalase (Cat), cobalt sulfophthalocyanine (CoTSPc) were studied. Among the investigated compounds only Cat was found to show a high catalytic efficiency towards the self-decay of O_2"."-"b"a"r. A red shift of 0_2"."-"b"a"r absorption band and slowing down of its decay were observed to take place by adding HP or CoTSPc to the solutions containing formate ions in excess. This effect is associated with the formation of a transient superoxo-complex. An appearance of an intermediate species with absorption maxima at 350 nm and half-life of about 2 s was observed to accompany the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Iofetamine HCI {sup 123}I is the generic name for the hydrochloride salt of N-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine labeled with {sup 123}I, commonly called IMP. Iofetamine HCI {sup 123}I is prepared by isotopic exchange with [{sup 123}I]Nal and is formulated in isotonic aqueous NaCl solution containing 1 mCi/ml iofetamine HCI I 123, 0.15 mg/ml iofetamine HCI carrier, and phosphate buffer for pH control. The radiochemical purity is >97%, and the product is stable for more than 24 hours; the commercial product distributed today is prepared with high purity {sup 123}I with >98% radionuclidic purity. Two radioiodinated agents have seen significant clinical application for functional brain imaging: iofetamine HCI (IMP) (1) and N,N,N{prime}-trimethyl-N{prime}-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-5-iodobenzyl)-1,3-propanediamine HIPDM (2). lofetamine HCI {sup 123}I is commercially available in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Although their primary use is for functional brain imaging, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The K0.5 for intracellular sodium of the two forms of (Na ,K )-ATPase which exist in rat adipocytes has been determined by incubating the cells in the absence of potassium in buffers of varying sodium concentration; these conditions shut off the Na pump and allow sodium to equilibrate into the cell. The activity of (Na ,K )-ATPase was then monitored with YWRb /K pumping which was initiated by adding isotope and KCl to 5 mM, followed by a 3-min uptake period. Atomic absorption and SSNa tracer equilibration were used to determine the actual intracellular (Na ) under the different conditions. The K0.5 values thus obtained were 17 mM for alpha and 52 mM for alpha(+). Insulin treatment of rat adipocytes had no effect on the intracellular (Na+) nor on the Vmax of YWRb /K pumping, but did produce a shift in the sodium ion K0.5 values to 14 mM for alpha and 33 mM for alpha(+). This change in affinity can explain the selective stimulation of alpha(+) by insulin under normal ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Electronic properties of passive films formed on Fe at various applied potentials in pH 8.5 buffer solution were examined through the photocurrent measurement and impedance spectroscopy. Passive film formed on Fe at relatively low potentials was found to be r-FeOOH layer and internal r-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} layer. However, the r-FeOOH layer became unstable and disappeared at potentials below 400mV and hence may be an adsorbed layer. An electronic band structure model for the passive film of Fe was suggested on the basis of the spinel band model with involving two types of electronic excitation processes, i. e., the p-d and the d-d transition together. The effects of applied potential on the photocurrent behaviors of the passive film on Fe were explained appropriately by separating the photocurrent spectra depending on the transition type. The Mott-Schottky behavior for the passive film on Fe and the photocurrent variation with applied potential were also analyzed in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The temperature dependence of the spontaneous magnetization of epitaxial iron films with a thickness ranging from d=20 to 200nm has been measured. The films are grown on GaAs (100) substrates which are covered by a 150nm thick silver (100) buffer layer. For three-dimensional BCC iron it was observed already in 1929 that saturation of the spontaneous magnetization for T->0 is perfectly described by a T{sup 2} power law. On the other hand, for thin two-dimensional (2D) iron films a T{sup 3/2} law has been established in many recent experimental investigations. In our iron films grown on diamagnetic silver, this dimensionality change occurs at a thickness between d=100 and 200nm. Comparison of the here-observed T{sup 3/2} coefficients with those on iron films grown on paramagnetic tungsten (110) shows that the 2D interactions are {approx}20 times larger in the films on tungsten. Recent results on Fe films which are grown directly on GaAs (100) confirm that the ...

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Porous SnO{sub 2} nanotubes were prepared via electrospinning followed by calcination in air. As anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the porous nanotubes delivered a high discharge capacity of 807 mAh g{sup -1} after 50 cycles. Even after cycled at high rates, the electrode still retained a high fraction of its theoretical capacity. Such excellent performances of porous SnO{sub 2} nanotubes could be attributed to the porous and hollow structure which facilitated liquid electrolyte diffusion into the bulk materials and buffered large volume changes during lithium ions insertion/extraction. Furthermore, the nanoparticles of nanotubes provided the shorter diffusion length for lithium ions insertion which benefited in retaining the structural stability and good rate performance. Our results demonstrated that this simple method could be extended for the synthesis of porous metal oxide nanotubes with high performances in the applications of lithium ion batteries ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The comprehension of passivity and its protective character against corrosion is closely connected with the electronic properties of passive films. Passive films formed anodically on carbon steel in borate/boric acid solution, pH 9.2, have been characterised by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Mott-Schottky plots and impedance measurements were made on films formed at different potentials and times. The investigation allowed the determination of the semiconductive properties of the films. The results of the capacitance response indicate that the passive films behave like highly doped n-type semiconductors, showing that the passive film properties are dominated by iron. The value of donors density (N {sub D}) for the passive film is of the order of 10{sup 21} cm{sup -3} and decreases with increasing formation time and potential, indicating that defects decrease with increasing film thickness. Based on the information about the physical phenomena, an equivalent circuit is ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

An extremely sensitive stripping voltammetric procedure for ultra-trace determination of iridium(III) is reported. The method is based on the interfacial accumulation of the iridium(III)-CTAB complex onto the glassy carbon electrode, followed by the catalytic reduction of the adsorbed complex in the presence of bromate. 0.3molL^-^1 acetate buffer pH 4.7+6.9x10^-^2molL^-^1 NaBrO3+2.7x10^-^5molL^-^1 cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)+0.2molL^-^1 KCl was employed as the supporting electrolyte. The analytical procedure was verified by the analysis of the standard reference materials: Sea Water BCR-CRM 403 and Fresh Water NIST-SRM 1643d. The accuracy, expressed as relative error e%, was satisfactory, being lower than 6%, while precision as repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviat...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In order to understand the anodic behaviour of Al--Mo and Al--W amorphous alloys in the borate buffer electrolyte, samples of these alloys were polarized galvanostatically. The resultant anodic films were thicker than the passive films formed during potentiodynamic polarization enabling detailed examination of the films and alloy substrates by surface analytical methods. AES investigations suggest that the anodic films formed at low and moderate voltages on Al--Mo or Al--W amorphous alloys consist of Al-oxide, whereas refractory metals remain unoxidized and enriched at the film/substrate interface. Molybdenum and tungsten act as 'dissolution moderators', restraining the substrate dissolution process at the film/substrate interface. However, after anodization at high voltages (50 V), AES revealed the presence of an oxidized refractory metal in the inner part of the anodic film. Based on these results of growth of thick anodic films, the role of Mo ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

High-resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been used to investigate the molecular mechanism of the Bohr effect of human normal adult hemoglobin in the presence of two allosteric effectors, i.e., chloride and inorganic phosphate ions. The individual hydrogen ion equilibria of 22-26 histidyl residues of hemoglobin have been measured in anion-free 0.1 M HEPES buffer and in the presence of 0.18 M chloride or 0.1 M inorganic phosphate ions in both deoxy and carbonmonoxy forms. The results indicate that the #beta#2-histidyl residues are strong binding sites for chloride and inorganic phosphate ions in hemoglobin. The affinity of the #beta#2-histidyl residues for these anions is larger in the deoxy than in the carbonmonoxy form. Nevertheless, the contribution of these histidyl residues to the anion Bohr effect is small due to their low pK value in deoxyhemoglobin in anion-free solvents. The interactions of chloride and inorganic phosphate ions with ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Deposition of hard coatings may influence the mechanical properties of the bulk material and its corrosion resistance. In this work we study the hardness of the coated and the back side of 100Cr6 steel plates. Electrochemical corrosion tests were performed in O{sub 2}-saturated acetate buffer of pH 5.6 at 25degC. Chromium nitride and titanium nitride coatings prepared by different physical vapour deposition processes, such as arc, thermionic arc evaporation, magnetron sputtering and ion-beam-assisted deposition (IBAD) were compared. The results show that, for sufficient corrosion protection, chromium nitride layers have to be thicker than 500 nm. An increased nitrogen partial pressure in the evaporation chamber of the IBAD process improves the corrosion resistance significantly. The hardness of the substrates was reduced in the case of thermoionic arc evaporation only, indicating a deposition temperature of more than 250degC. For this process, however, we obtained ...

Science.gov (United States)

The present conference on U.S. space transportation systems development discusses opportunities for aerospace students in prospective military, civil, industrial, and scientific programs, current strategic conceptualization and program planning for future U.S. space transportation, the DOD space transportation plan, NASA space transportation plans, medium launch vehicle and commercial space launch services, the capabilities and availability of foreign launch vehicles, and the role of commercial space launch systems. Also discussed are available upper stage systems, future space transportation needs for space science and applications, the trajectory analysis of a low lift/drag-aeroassisted orbit transfer vehicle, possible replacements for the Space Shuttle, LEO to GEO with combined electric/beamed-microwave power from earth, the National Aerospace Plane, laser propulsion to earth orbit, and a performance analysis for a laser-powered SSTO vehicle.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Studies on the multivariate autoregressive (MAR) analysis are carried out for the choice of the parameters for modelling the data obtained from various sensors optimally. Accordingly, the roles of the parameters on the analysis results are identified and the related ambiguities are reduced. Experimental investigations are carried out by means of synthesized reactor noise-like data obtained from a digital simulator providing simulated stochastic signals of an operating nuclear reactor so that the simulator constitutes a favourable tool for the present studies aimed. As the system is well defined with its known structure, precise comparison of the MAR analysis results with the true values is performed. With the help of the information gained through the studies carried out, conditions to be taken care of for optimal signal processing in MAR modelling are determined. Although the parameters involved are related among themselves and they have to be given different values suitable for the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Finite element method is one of the bases for numerical solutions to engineering problems. Complex engineering problems using finite element analysis typically imply excessively large computational time. Parallel supercomputers have the potential for significantly increasing calculation speeds in order to meet these computational requirements. This paper predicts parallel NIKE3D performance on the Kendall Square Research (KSR1) system. The first part of the prediction is based on the implementation of parallel Cholesky (U{sup T}DU) matrix decomposition algorithm through actual computations on the KSRI multiprocessor system, with 64 processors, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The other predictions are based on actual computations for parallel element matrix generation, parallel global stiffness matrix assembly, and parallel forward/backward substitution on the BBN TC2000 multiprocessor system at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The preliminary results indicate that parallel ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Current advanced CMOS source/drain engineering involves the use of amorphizing implants with 3D geometry. Upon annealing, the induced transient enhanced diffusion (TED) can only be accurately predicted if the amorphized region is correctly modeled, as well as the formation and evolution of extended defects, particularly 3 1 1's and dislocation loops. In addition to the extended defects, already modeled in the atomistic kinetic Monte-Carlo simulator DADOS, we have developed a physically based modeling approach for the implant-induced damage build-up, amorphization and recrystallization, suitable to handle device-size process simulation. It is based on amorphous pockets (3D, irregular shape agglomerates of an arbitrary number of interstitials and vacancies, plus trapped impurities) with a size-dependent activation energy for recombination. The model is able to reproduce experimental aspects like the crystal-amorphous transition temperature and the super linear increase of damage with ...

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The microstructural development inside the stress induced martensite (SIM) variants in Ti-Ni-Nb alloy with various degrees of deformation have been revealed by electron microscopic observations. The orientation relationship between the SIM and the parent phase has been found: [1{bar 1}0]{sub M}{parallel}[11{bar 1}]{sub B2}, (001){sub M} 5{degree} away from (101){sub B2}. The lattice invariant shear of the SIM variants at the slightly deformed stage is dominantly (11{bar 1}) Type I twin. Besides the ordinary slip, the adjustment and development of the internal secondary twinning from (11{bar 1}) Type I twin to {l_angle}011{r_angle} Type II/ or (011) Type I twin, (001)compound twin and (111) Type I twin happen concurrently or in combination inside the SIM variants with the further deformation. The corresponding deformation mechanisms include stress induced reorientation of SIM substructural bands by the most favorably oriented twin system, stress induced migration of the SIM ...

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[alpha]-Melanocyte stimulating hormone ([alpha]-MSH), a hormone originally named for its ability to regulate pigmentation of melanocytes, is a 13-amino-acid post-translational product of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene. [alpha]-MSH and the other products of POMC processing, which share the core heptapeptide amino acid sequence Met-Glu (Gly)-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly (Asp), the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), [beta]-MSH, and [gamma]-MSH, are collectively referred to as melanocortins. While best known for their effects on the melanocyte (pigmentation) and adrenal cortical cells (steroidogenesis), melanocortins have been postulated to function in diverse activities, including enhancement of learning and memory, control of the cardiovascular system, analgesia, thermoregulation, immunomodulation, parturition, and neurotrophism. To identify the chromosomal band encoding the human melanocortin-1 receptor gene, 1 [mu]g of an EMBL clone coding region of the human MC1R ...

Science.gov (United States)

Recent cognitive psychological research has argued that involuntary mental time travel is an important individual difference variable that has the potential to affect an individual's motivation. However, this issue has not been empirically investigated in educational settings such as teacher education. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the possible effect of involuntary mental time travel on prospective teachers' situational intrinsic motivations in the classrooms during the period of a class hour. A total of 274 prospective teachers voluntarily participated in the study. Results showed that involuntary mental time travel into the past and into the future occurred in the classrooms even during the period of a class hour. The characteristics of the prospective teachers' involuntary memories/future images were evident. Most importantly, results revealed that the teaching-related positive future images significantly and positively affected the prospective ...

CERN Document Server

Aliasing, or sharing, is prominent in many domains, denoting that two differently-named objects are in fact identical: a change in one object (memory cell, circuit terminal, disk block) is instantly reflected in the other. Languages for modelling such domains should let the programmer explicitly define the sharing among objects or expressions. A DSL compiler may find other identical expressions and share them, implicitly. Such common subexpression elimination is crucial to the efficient implementation of DSLs. Sharing is tricky in embedded DSL, since host aliasing may correspond to copying of the underlying objects rather than their sharing. This tutorial summarizes discussions of implementing sharing in Haskell DSLs for automotive embedded systems and hardware description languages. The technique has since been used in a Haskell SAT solver and the DSL for music synthesis. We demonstrate the embedding in pure Haskell of a simple DSL with a language form for ...

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The growth of SrBi{sub 2}Ta{sub 2}O{sub 9} (SBT) films on top of Pt electrode substrates is an important issue for the fabrication of ferroelectric based memories. In a recent publication, SBT thin films grown using seeded and unseeded procedures were studied by PIXE and RBS. Difficulties and misfits found in the comparison of results from both techniques were, at that time, overcome by physical considerations. These, although not rendering interpretation impossible, left out the possibility of understanding the exact nature of the differences between the interface behavior in each case. In the present work it is shown that the reanalysis of the same data using the recently developed RBS-PIXE simultaneous and self-consistent calculation present in NDF leads to stronger conclusions on the solid state reaction occurring during the deposition stage for both types of samples. Allowing for the occurrence of solid state reactions between the deposited film and the Pt ...

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Environmental monitoring at the Hanford Site, located in southeastern Washington State, is conducted by Battelle Memorial Institute, Pacific Northwest Division, as part of its contract to operate the Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) for the US Department of Energy. The data collected provide a historical record of radionuclide and radiation levels attributable to natural causes, worldwide fallout, and Hanford operations. Data are also collected to monitor several chemicals. Pacific Northwest Laboratory publishes an annual environmental report for the Hanford Site each calendar year. The Hanford Site Environmental Report for Calendar Year 1990 is a summary of offsite and onsite environmental monitoring data collected during 1990 by PNL's Environmental Monitoring Program. The data summaries included in the annual report were created from individual surface and river monitoring results. This volume contains the individual results used to create those ...

CERN Document Server

As the twentieth century gropes toward its uncertain conclusion, the pontification quotient increases. We hear that the end of history and science are near; that the questions we face today (in contrast with the end of the 19th century) are no longer soluble or present theories verifiable. These arguments will be examined using two examples. The first, familiar to all physicists, already resides securely in the museum of intellectual achievement. The second is a work in progress : the physiological and/or molecular basis for brain functions such as learning and memory storage. How do these lead to various higher level system properties - in particular, consciousness ? About consciousness, much has been said and written - not all of it illuminating. We discuss some of this, in particular a recent argument of Penrose. We consider whether the nature of consciousness is a (possibly) soluble scientific question. If so, how should it be posed ? Finally, if the end is not ...

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An unmanned aerial vehicle called RAVEN, said to be capable of remote tracking of onshore and offshore oil and gas facilities, has been developed by a group of graduate students from Memorial University of Newfoundland. RAVEN is claimed to be capable of performing a number of tasks under its own control without the need for human intervention, including checking onshore pipelines for damage, or scouting the path of hazardous icebergs offshore. The RAVEN was created to meet the need for real time iceberg tracking and early hazard detection, supplementing or replacing the present method of RADARSAT images and tracking by manned aircraft. The RAVEN can be launched from any platform; it can fly under conditions that would be too dangerous for a manned aircraft. Currently in the prototype stage, the first trial flight for the RAVEN is expected to take place in September 2002. The first flight will consist of five GPS waypoints set relatively close together in a pattern ...

Science.gov (United States)

BACKGROUND: : Skills related to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use by lay responders decay rapidly after training, and efforts are required to maintain competence among trainees. We examined whether repeated viewing of a reminder video on a mobile phone would be an effective means of maintaining CPR and AED skills in lay responders. METHODS: : In a single-blind case-control study, 75 male students received training in CPR and AED use. They were allocated either to the control or to the video-reminded group, who received a memory card containing a video clip about CPR and AED use for their mobile phone, which they were repeatedly encouraged to watch by SMS text message. CPR and AED skills were assessed in scenario format by examiners immediately and 3 months after initial training. RESULTS: : Three months after initial training, the video-reminded group showed more accurate airway opening (PCPR after defibrillation ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tritium, a beta emitting gas at room temperature causes a biological hazard in the locations where it is present beyond acceptable limits. The hazard can be due to inhalation, and absorption by skin. Hence is the necessity of Tritium monitoring instruments/systems for ensuring safety in the PHWRs and the nuclear research plants and laboratories. It is desirable that the instruments address satisfactorily to certain factors like the following: (i) Wide range of Tritium concentrations - 1 to 104 DAC ( Derived Air Concentration) (ii) On-line monitoring features (iii) Small response time (On-spot instantaneous measurements) (iv) Portability (v) Mitigation of memory effects. This paper presents an overview of the Online Tritium in Air Monitoring Systems manufactured by ECIL for Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors at Tarapur, Kaiga, and Rawatbhata. Significant aspects of design, function, testing, limitations of the detectors and electronics and the further development work ...

Science.gov (United States)

Autism is a pervasive developmental condition, characterized by impairments in non-verbal communication, social relationships and stereotypical patterns of behavior. A large body of evidence suggests that several aspects of face processing are impaired in autism, including anomalies in gaze processing, memory for facial identity and recognition of facial expressions of emotion. In search of neural markers of anomalous face processing in autism, much interest has focused on a network of brain regions that are implicated in social cognition and face processing. In this review, we will focus on three such regions, namely the STS for its role in processing gaze and facial movements, the FFA in face detection and identification and the amygdala in processing facial expressions of emotion. Much evidence suggests that a better understanding of the normal development of these specialized regions is essential for discovering the neural bases of face processing anomalies in ...

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The application of the large-bore direct injection high efficiency nebulizer (LB-DIHEN) for the determination of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) in urine by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is described. The LB-DIHEN is compared with the standard method using a concentric pneumatic nebulizer and cyclonic spray chamber. In addition to the toxicological significance of As, Cd, Pb, and Hg, these elements represent a cross-section of analytical issues including spectral interferences (e.g., {sup 40}Ar{sup 35}Cl{sup +} on {sup 75}As{sup +} and {sup 98}Mo{sup 16}O{sup +} on {sup 114}Cd{sup +}) and memory effects (Hg). In this study, the low sample consumption of the LB-DIHEN is used to reduce the volume of urine needed for analysis, and to reduce the volume of final diluted sample required for analysis. Eliminating the spray chamber and reducing the dead volume of the nebulizer reduces memory effects, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Triphenylmethylphosphonium (TPMP+) partitions into the mitochondrial and cytosolic compartments in the rat white adipocyte in a potential-dependent fashion. The relationship between (/sup 3/H)TPMP+ distribution, intracellular cAMP generation and lipolysis in response to hormones and cAMP-mimetic compounds was examined. Half-maximal (/sup 3/H)TPMP+ efflux and glycerol release were produced by 15 and 9 nM adrenocorticotropin, 170 and 110 nM 1-epinephrine, 70 and 27 microM isobutylmethylxanthine and 800 and 750 microM dibutyryl cAMP, respectively. Hormone-stimulated cAMP generation was also correlated with (/sup 3/H)TPMP+ efflux and lipolysis in terms of concentration dependency. In kinetic experiments, glycerol release and (/sup 3/H)TPMP+ efflux in response to adrenocorticotropin or cholera toxin proceeded over a similar time course, whereas an earlier rise in cAMP generation was detected. The depolarizing effect of lipolytic compounds was localized to the mitochondrial compartment. When ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Since 1975 All Volatile Treatment (AVT) has been the preferred method for controlling the secondary system operating environment in Westinghouse PWR plants. However, since AVT provides no buffering action against corrodent species present in the water as trace contaminants, utilities have initiated programs which combine control of contaminant ingress with total steam generator sludge management. The earliest applications of boric acid, to control denting type corrosion, began in 1978 and have continued up to the present time. Boric Acid has also been added as an inhibitor for SCC/IGA type corrosion since 1985. There are now approximately 30 plants operating with boric acid or boric acid/morpholine chemistry in the secondary system, and a growing number of plants where morpholine is being used as an additive to maintain pH and reduce iron transport attributable to erosion/corrosion. The impact of these modifications in the operating chemistry environment are ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Assessment of the roles of the carboxyl-terminal #beta#146 histidyl residues in the alkaline Bohr effect in human and normal adult hemoglobin by high-resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy requires assignment of the resonances corresponding to these residues. By a careful spectroscopic study of human normal adult hemoglobin, enzymatically prepared des(His146#beta#)-hemoglobin, and the mutant hemoglobins Cowtown (#beta#146His #-># Leu) and York (#beta#146His #-># Pro), the authors have resolved some of these conflicting results. By a close incremental variation of pH over a wide range in chloride-free 0.1 M N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid buffer, a single resonance has been found to be consistently missing in the proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of these hemoglobin variants. The results indicate that the contribution of the #beta#146 histidyl residues is 0.52 H"+/hemoglobin tetramer at pH 7.6, markedly less ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) is a potent muscarinic antagonist that binds to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Iodination of QNB is difficult because it contains rings that are deactivated, while phenol rings are activated. The purpose of this research is to develop an appropriate method for the iodination of QNB at no-carrier-added concentrations of /sup 125/I/NaI. Phenol was chose as the test compound for direct iodination by adding chloramine T and nonradioactive sodium iodide to the phenol in a phosphate buffer and methanol system. A simple method to radioiodinate QNB at several concentrations was developed in situ in the presence of QNB, thallic trifluoroacetate /sup 125/I/NaI, /sup 127/I/NaI, and aluminium chloride. Using milligram amounts of QNB (7.12 x 10/sup -6/ moles), three reaction steps were involved: QNB was reacted with thallic trifluoroacetate at 60/sup 0/C for 24 hours, then radioactive /sup 125/I/NaI and aluminium chloride were added to the ...

Science.gov (United States)

The gas-phase reaction of benzene with O(3P) is of considerable interest for modeling of aromatic oxidation, and also because there exist fundamental questions concerning the prominence of intersystem crossing in the reaction. While its overall rate constant has been studied extensively, there are still significant uncertainties in the product distribution. The reaction proceeds mainly through the addition of the O atom to benzene, forming an initial triplet diradical adduct, which can either dissociate to form the phenoxy radical and H atom, or undergo intersystem crossing onto a singlet surface, followed by a multiplicity of internal isomerizations, leading to several possible reaction products. In this work, we examined the product branching ratios of the reaction between benzene and O(3P) over the temperature range of 300 to 1000 K and pressure range of 1 to 10 Torr. The reactions were initiated by pulsed-laser photolysis of NO2 in the presence of benzene and helium ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A comprehensive understanding of dopant activation mechanisms in crystalline Si is required in order to form shallow junctions. In this paper, we will review several experimental assessments on boron clustering and novel methods to form shallow junctions. Boron marker-layer structures have been used to investigate the fundamental aspects of formation and ripening boron-interstitial clusters (BICs) and their influence on the associated transient enhanced diffusion (TED). The samples were damaged by Si implants at different doses in the sub-amorphizing range and annealed at high temperatures. We found that BICs act as a sink for interstitials at supersaturations values S(t)>10{sup 4}. This implies that silicon self-interstitial defects are the primary source of interstitials driving TED, and that BICs act as a secondary 'buffer' for the interstitial supersaturation. These clusters are less sensitive to the ripening process than pure ...

Science.gov (United States)

This study is a contribution to the growing body of work on the influence of changes in the composition of an acrylic bone cement on various properties of the curing and cured material. The focus is on one commercially-available acrylic bone cement brand, Surgical Simplex P, and three variants of it and a series of properties, namely, setting time, maximum exotherm temperature, activation energy and frequency factor for the polymerization reaction, diffusion coefficient for the uptake of phosphate buffered saline, at 37 degrees C, ultimate compressive strength (UCS), plane-strain fracture toughness, fatigue life (under fully-reversed tension-compression stress), hardness (H) and elastic modulus (both determined using quasi-static nanoindentation), and the variation of the storage and loss moduli with frequency of the applied force in a dynamic nanoindentation test. It was found that (a) a 68% reduction in the volume of the activator, N,N dimethyl-4-toluidine, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In situ scanning tunneling microscopy has been used to study the nucleation and growth mechanisms and the structure of passive films formed on Cu(111) surfaces in 0.1 M borate buffer solution (pH 9.3). A surface topography characterized by terraces with monoatomic steps is obtained after potentiodynamic reduction down to {minus}1.12 V/standard hydrogen electrode (SHE), of the electropolished surface exposed to air. The formation of a single Cu{sub 2}O passive layer at 0.03 V/SHE proceeds first by a roughening of the steps assigned to a locally blocked step flow process due to a competition between dissolution and preferential nucleation of the oxide at the steps. The observed oxide nuclei are 2--3 nm wide and about one atomic plane high. This process leads to the complete coverage of the terraces by a grain-like structure of the oxide film. The initial terrace topography is completely altered. Thickening of this oxide layer leads to unstable scanning tunneling ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The long-term stability of pentacene thin-film transistors (TFTs) encapsulated with a transparent SnO{sub 2} thin-film prepared by ion beam-assisted deposition (IBAD) was investigated. After encapsulation process, our organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) showed somewhat degraded field-effect mobility of 0.5 cm{sup 2}/(V s) that was initially 0.62 cm{sup 2}/(V s), when a buffer layer of thermally evaporated 100 nm SnO{sub 2} film had been deposited prior to IBAD process. However, the mobility was surprisingly sustained up to 1 month and then gradually degraded down to 0.35 cm{sup 2}/(V s) which was still three times higher than that of the OTFT without any encapsulation layer after 100 days in air ambient. The encapsulated OTFTs also exhibited superior on/off current ratio of over 10{sup 5} to that of the unprotected devices ({approx}10{sup 4}) which was reduced from {approx}10{sup 6} before aging. Therefore, the enhanced long-term stability of our encapsulated ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Phlorizin is a competitive inhibitor of Na/sup +//glucose symport in animal cells and of H/sup +//3-O-methylglucose (3-O-MeG) symport in liverworts. The effects of this compound on the uptake of (U-/sup 14/C) sucrose and of (/sup 14/C) 3-O-MeG by broadbean (Vicia faba L.) leaf discs were studied. Leaf discs without lower epidermis were preincubated in the dark for 30 min (fresh discs) or for 12 h (aged discs) on a medium buffered at pH 5.0 containing mannitol as an osmoticum. They were then incubated for 30 min in the light on a similar solution added with 1 mM (/sup 14/C) sucrose or (/sup 14/C) 3-O-MeG and 5 mM phlorizin. Phlorizin inhibited uptake of 3-O-MeG by 37 and 50% respectively in fresh and aged discs. Sucrose uptake was more sensitive to the inhibitor than 3-O-MeG uptake and was also more inhibited in aged than in fresh discs (76% inhibition vs 54%). Kinetic studies showed that the inhibition exerted by phlorizin in fresh material is of competitive type ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Naturally-occurring wetlands perform such functions as flood control, pollution filtration, nutrient recycling, sediment accretion, groundwater recharge and water supply, erosion control, and plant and wildlife preservation. A large concentration of wetlands is located in Eastern Europe. A significant amount of Eastern European wetlands has been converted to agricultural use in the past, and remaining wetlands are subject to agricultural drainage. Drained wetlands are used as prime agriculture lands for a variety of food crops. Other agricultural uses of wetlands range from growing Phragmites australis (common reed) for thatch and livestock feed, to collecting peat for heating and cooking fuel. Altered hydrologic regimes due to global climate change could further exacerbate encroachment of agricultural land use into wetlands. The vulnerability and adaptation studies of the US Country Studies Program are used to analyze where climate change impacts to agriculture may likewise impact ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Since antioxidants have been shown to play a major role in preventing some of the effects of aging and photoaging in skin, it is important to study this phenomenon in a controlled manner. This was accomplished by developing a simple and reliable in vitro technique to assay antioxidant efficacy. Inhibition of peroxidation by antioxidants was used as a measure of relative antioxidant potential. Liposomes, high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), were dispersed in buffer and irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light. Irradiated liposomes exhibited a significantly higher amount of hydroperoxides than liposomes containing antioxidants in a dose- and concentration-dependent manner. Lipid peroxidation was determined spectrophotometrically by an increase in thiobarbituric acid reacting substances. To further substantiate the production of lipid peroxides, gas chromatography was used to measure a decrease in PUFA substrate. In order of decreasing antioxidant effectiveness, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We present an efficient parallel algorithm and its implementation for computing the diagonal of $H^-1$ where $H$ is a 2D Kohn-Sham Hamiltonian discretized on a rectangular domain using a standard second order finite difference scheme. This type of calculation can be used to obtain an accurate approximation to the diagonal of a Fermi-Dirac function of $H$ through a recently developed pole-expansion technique \\cite{LinLuYingE2009}. The diagonal elements are needed in electronic structure calculations for quantum mechanical systems \\citeHohenbergKohn1964, KohnSham 1965,DreizlerGross1990. We show how elimination tree is used to organize the parallel computation and how synchronization overhead is reduced by passing data level by level along this tree using the technique of local buffers and relative indices. We analyze the performance of our implementation by examining its load balance and communication overhead. We show that our implementation exhibits an excellent ...

Science.gov (United States)

The field of stem cell research was revolutionized with the advent of induced pluripotent stem cells. By reprogramming somatic cells to pluripotent stem cells, most ethical concerns associated with the use of embryonic stem cells are overcome, such that many hopes from the stem cell field now seem a step closer to reality. Several methods and cell sources have been described to create induced pluripotent stem cells and we discuss their characteristics in terms of feasibility and efficiency. From these cells, cardiac progenitors and cardiomyocytes can be derived by several protocols and most recent advances as well as remaining limitations are being discussed. However in the short time period this technology has been around, evidence emerges that induced pluripotent stem cells may be more prone to genetic defects and maintain an epigenetic memory and thus may not be entirely the same as embryonic stem cells. Despite the lack of a complete fundamental understanding ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper presents the results of the Spatial Signature Analysis (SSA) Electrical-test (e-test) validation study that was conducted between February and June, 1998. SSA is an automated procedure developed by researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory to address the issue of intelligent data reduction while providing feedback on current manufacturing processes. SSA was initially developed to automate the analysis of optical defect data. Optical defects can form groups, or clusters, which may have a distinct shape. These patterns can reveal information about the manufacturing process. Optical defect SSA uses image processing algorithms and a classifier system to interpret and identify these patterns, or signatures. SSA has been extended to analyze and interpret electrical test data. The algorithms used for optical defect SSA have been adapted and applied to e-test binmaps. An image of the binmap is created, and features such as geometric and invariant moments are extracted and ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Technology developments in semiconductor fabrication along with a rapid expansion of the market for portable devices, such as PDAs and mobile phones, make the energy consumption of embedded systems a major problem. Indeed the need to provide an increasing number of computational intensive applications and at the same time to maximize the battery life of portable devices can be seen as incompatible trends. System simulation is a flexible and convenient method for analyzinging and exploring the performance of a system or sub-system. At the same time, the increasing use of computational intensive applications strengthens the need to maximize the battery life of portable devices. As a consequence, the simulation of embedded systems for energy consumption estimation is becoming essential in order to study and explore the influence of system design choices on the system energy consumption. The original publications presented in the second part of this thesis propose several frameworks for ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The corrosion and passivation behaviour of bulk polycrystalline martensite Ni{sub 50}Mn{sub 30}Ga{sub 20} and austenite Ni{sub 48}Mn{sub 30}Ga{sub 22} alloys was compared in electrolytes with different pH values. Linear anodic and cyclic potentiodynamic polarisation methods and anodic current transient measurements have been conducted for the alloys and their constituents to analyze free corrosion, anodic dissolution and passive layer formation processes. Electrochemically treated alloy surfaces were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and angle-resolved x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical response of both alloys is in principal similar and is dominated by the Ni oxidation. In acidic solutions (pH 0.5 and 5) a slightly higher reactivity is detectable for the martensitic alloy which is mainly attributed to enhanced dissolution processes at the multiple twin boundaries. In weakly acidic to strongly alkaline solutions (pH 5-11) both alloys exhibit ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Growth of Ru- and RuO_2-composite (ROC) nanodots on atomic-layer-deposited Al_2O_3 film has been studied for the first time using ion-beam sputtering followed by post-deposition annealing (PDA). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses reveal that RuO_2 and Ru co-exist before annealing, and around 10% RuO_2 is reduced to metallic Ru after PDA at 900 deg. C for 15 s. Scanning electron microscopy measurements show that well-defined spherical ROC nanodots are not formed till the PDA temperature is raised to 900 deg. C. The mean diameter of the nanodots enlarges with increasing PDA temperature whereas the nanodot density decreases, which is attributed to coalescence process between adjacent nanodots. It is further illustrated that the resulting nanodot size and density are weakly dependent on the annealing time, but are markedly influenced by the decomposition of RuO_2. In this article, the ROC nanodots with a high density of 1.6 x 10"1"1 cm"-"2, a mean diameter of 20 nm with a standard ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In abnormal conditions, the operator's ability to deal with a large volume of data, and initiate the most appropriate remedial action is a fundamental concern in the design of energy control centers. Once a severe disruption has occurred in the power network, a series of tasks are required before the operator can make any decisions. Many of these functions involve computational efforts, and require a long period of processing time. The application of a wrong set of information by the operator may result in a catastrophic recovery situation. Also, as the system becomes larger, the required time for these tasks grows significantly and the operator may have very little time to analyze the contingency and issue a proper decision. These facts have led to the conclusion that a computer driven decision making mechanism will help the operator perform duties with minimum flaws and maximum efficiency. The challenge in applying an expert system to a power network is to introduce ...

Science.gov (United States)

Regional cortical thickness was evaluated using CIVET processing of 3D T1-weighted images (i) to compare the variation in cortical thickness between 33 participants with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) aged 6-30 years (mean age 12.3 years) versus 33 age/sex/hand-matched controls, and (ii) to examine developmental changes in cortical thickness with age from children to young adults in both groups. Significant cortical thinning was found in the participants with FASD in large areas of the bilateral middle frontal lobe, pre- and post- central areas, lateral and inferior temporal and occipital lobes compared to controls. No significant cortical thickness increases were observed for the FASD group. Cortical thinning with age in a linear model was observed in both groups, but the locations were different for each group. FASD participants showed thinning with age in the left middle frontal, bilateral precentral, bilateral precuneus and paracingulate, left inferior occipital and ...