Science.gov (United States)

... electrocutaneous stimuli, and the nerve fibres innervating ... layer or at the epidermal-dermal interface. ... 2) Vestibular prosthesis and for limb prosthesis ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A major goal in perceptual neuroscience is to understand how signals from different sensory modalities are combined to produce stable and coherent representations. We previously investigated interactions...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

... Title : Mental Health and Resilience: Soldiers' Perceptions about Psychotherapy, Medications, and Barriers to Care in the United States Military. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The texture influence on tensile tests of AZ31, one of the common Mg alloys, has been studied. Starting material was a rectangular extruded bar, which has a strong texture. Due to the preparation of three tensile samples with 0 , 45 , 90 to the extrusion direction, the initial bar texture influences differently on the mechanical behaviour under tensile load. This results in a variation of the yield strength (90 MPa and 175 MPa) the ultimate tensile strength (250 MPa - 278 MPa) and the final texture. Experimental texture analysis was completed by texture simulations using the VPSC-model (visco plastic self-consistent). The good agreement between experimental and simulated pole figures allows the determination of the activated deformation modes related to the initial texture. (orig.)

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

In this paper, we suggest that perception could be modeled by assuming that sensory input is generated by a hierarchy of attractors in a dynamic system. We describe a mathematical model which exploits...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mg-3%Al-1%Zn (AZ31) alloy was subjected to ECAE processing at 523 and 573 K. Microstructure observation and texture analysis were carried out using optical microscope and SEM-EBSD technique in order to investigate the process of microstructural changes including texture development during ECAE processing. Grain refinement during ECAE processing is enhanced by dynamic continuous recrystallization. The texture of the ECAE-processed AZ31 alloy specimens change with ECAE processing temperature, and the textural changes relate to deformation mechanisms that change with ECAE processing temperature. (orig.)

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

This study examined changes in the degree of positive bias in self-perceptions of previously-diagnosed 8 to 13 year-old children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (n=513)...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A prevailing theory proposes that the brain's two visual pathways, the ventral and dorsal, lead to differing visual processing and world representations for conscious perception than those for action....Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Textured silicon nitride (Si_3N_4) has been intensively studied over the past 15 years because of its use for achieving its superthermal and mechanical properties. In this review we present the fundamental aspects of the processing and anisotropic properties of textured Si_3N_4, with emphasis on the anisotropic and abnormal grain growth of #beta#-Si_3N_4, texture structure and texture analysis, processing methods and anisotropic properties. On the basis of the texturing mechanisms, the processing methods described in this article have been classified into two types: hot-working (HW) and templated grain growth (TGG). The HW method includes the hot-pressing, hot-forging and sinter-forging techniques, and the TGG method includes the cold-pressing, extrusion, tape-casting and strong magnetic field alignment techniques for #beta#-Si_3N_4 seed crystals. Each processing technique is ...

KoreaScience (Korea)

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International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Our work deals with accumulative roll bonding (ARB) of pure Mg sheet (0.9mm thickness) and of Al5052 sheet (0.5mm). A stacking of Al-Mg-Al was firstly rolled to 50% reduction at 400"0C and secondly ARB has been processed up to 3 cycles. In such multilayers as well as highly mixed composites of two-phased system texture development, phase reactions and strain accumulation are of basic interest, which needs a combination of different experimental methods for characterization. The present paper deals with the global texture evolution measured by thermal neutrons to average always over the whole sample thickness, SEM and optical microscopy indicates the macroscopic development of Mg and Al layers. The initial materials show typical and strong basal plane texture of hexagonal Mg (17.9mrd) and a recrystallization texture of cubic Al (8.5mrd). Co-deformation of Al/Mg/Al leads to strong decrease of both ...

KoreaScience (Korea)

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International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Formation of basis type texture at rolling of Ti + 6.0% Al + 1.5% V + 1.0% Mo system alloy with initial prismatic texture is investigated by means of X-ray techniques. Variations of mechanical features in titanium alloy sheets depending on temperature-deformation conditions of rolling are investigated. Main conditions for formation of the intensive basis textute in the investigated alloy sheets which provides for isotropic properties in sheet plane and for increased ductility are determined.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

On the basis of symmetry way of texture description a calculation method of elastic moduli of two-phase titanium alloys with rolling texture has been suggested. Efficiency of the calculation formulas is checked by comparing the calculation results of Young modulus anisotropy in the sheet plane of (#alpha#+#beta#)-titanium alloy VT23 with the experimental data.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A study is made into textures of deformation and primary recrystallization forming in a #beta#-titanium alloy doped with hydrogen in amounts from 0.04 to 0.55 mass. %, on cold rolling with a 70%-reduction and dehydrogenating annealing at 860 deg C. It is shown that a volume fraction of recrystallization texture components is determined by the nature of corresponding deformation texture, in its turn, depending on hydrogen concentration in the alloy. At low hydrogen contents the main texture components are #left brace#111#right brace# and #left brace#001#right brace#. A hydrogen content increase up to 0.09 - 0.18 mass. % results in formation of dominant components of #left brace#111#right brace# and #left brace#112#right brace#

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A questionnaire survey undertaken among 142 schoolteachers in North Staffordshire revealed most of the respondents did not feel confident when teaching children who had epilepsy and a minority considered...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

A growing body of evidence in cognitive science and neuroscience points towards the existence of a deep interconnection between cognition, perception and action. According to this embodied perspective...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

... And those who study cognition select problems (eg, tower of Hanoi, missionaries and cannibals, logic theorems) with minimal perceptual and motor ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

People assess the quality of the air indoors primarily on the basis of its odors and on their perception of associated health risk. The major current contributors to indoor odorants are human occupant...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The crystallite size and orientation in molybdenum films prepared by magnetron sputtering at a low rate of typical 1 (angstrom)s and a pressure of 0.45 Pa was investigated by X-ray diffraction and texture analysis. The surface topography was studied using atomic force microscopy. Increasing the film thickness from 20 nm to 3 microm, the films show a turnover from a (110) fiber texture to a (211) mosaic-like texture. In the early state of growth (20 nm thickness) the development of dome-like structures on the surface is observed. The number of these structures increases with film thickness, whereas their size is weakly influenced. The effect of texture turnover is reduced by increasing the deposition rate by a factor of six, and it is absent for samples mounted above the center of the magnetron source. The effect of texture turnover is related to the bombardment of the films with ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The symposium, Polycrystalline Thin Films - Structure, Texture, Properties, and Applications III, was held at the 1997 Materials Research Society Spring Meeting on March 31--April 4 in San Francisco, California. The topics and investigations were interdisciplinary in nature, and ranged from fundamental to technological. Specifically, the work presented in this volume includes film growth, texture and structural evolution, phase transformation, characterization of grain boundaries and interfaces, stress analysis, and works on polycrystalline Si and SiGe films and devices. Fifty four papers were processed separately for inclusion on the data base.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

To investigate the influence of equal channel angular pressing on the microstructure and texture of the magnesium alloy AZ31, electron backscattering diffraction and well as neutron diffraction experiments were carried out. Through these experiments it was possible to trace the microstructure and texture evolution with strain accumulated with the increasing number of equal channel angular pressing passes. It was further demonstrated by subsequent compression tests that the microstructural changes produced by equal channel angular pressing have a beneficial effect on both the compressive strength and ductility of AZ31. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A full scale experiment was carried out to investigate the texture characteristics of the falling water of free falling and slope failing types. According to the increase of Reynolds number, the texture of falling water was classified into three categories for both types: stability of free surface, transition and whole turbulence. In the first category the stability of the free surface was related to the growth of minute disturbance. Surface tension works as a counter, force to the disturbance in free falling water, and gravity in slope falling water. 14 refs., 15 figs., 3 tabs.

KoreaScience (Korea)

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Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The goal of this study is to estimate the relevance and Influence of the Existing Regulation and the RI-PBR to the institutionalization of the regulatory system. This study reviews the current regulatory system and the status of the RI-PBR implementation of the US NRC and Korea based upon SECY Papers, Risk Informed Regulation Implementation Plan (RIRIP) of the US NRC and other domestic studies. In order to investigate the perceptions, knowledge level, ground for the regulatory change, a survey was performed to Korean nuclear utilities, researchers and regulators on the perception on the RIR. The questionnaire was composed of 50 questions regarding personal details on work experience, level of education and specific field of work ; level of knowledge on the risk informed performance based regulation (RI-PBR); the perception of the current regulation, the effectiveness, level of procedure, flexibility, dependency on the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The authors show that dramatically different in-plane crystallographic textures can be produced in body centered cubic (bcc) metal thin films deposited under different conditions. The orientation distribution of polycrystalline bcc thin films on amorphous substrates often has a strong (110) fiber texture, and an in-plane texture may develop when deposition takes place with an off-normal incidence flux of energetic ions or atoms. Three orientations in Nb films have been observed in which the energetic particle flux coincides with crystal channeling directions. In-plane orientations in Mo films have also been obtained in magnetron sputtering systems. The selected orientations are reviewed, and examples are given in which the in-plane orientation of Mo deposited in two similar magnetron system differs by a 90 deg C rotation. The origins of in-plane texture in rectangular magnetron sputtering systems are ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Individuals with Asperger syndrome (AS) have problems in following conversation, especially in the situations where several people are talking. This might result from impairments in audiovisual speech perception, especially from difficulties in focusing attention to speech-relevant visual information and ignoring distracting information. We studied the effect of visual spatial attention on the audiovisual speech perception of adult individuals with AS and matched control participants. Two faces were presented side by side, one uttering /aka/ and the other /ata/, while an auditory stimulus of /apa/ was played. The participants fixated on a central cross and directed their attention to the face that an arrow pointed to, reporting which consonant they heard. We hypothesized that the adults wi...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Extruded and hot-rolled 200 C {proportional_to} 500 C AZ31B plates were studied their texture using ODFs analysis. The as-extruded specimen has the strongest intensity of (0001)-ND fiber and 300 C and 400 C hot-rolled ones have the next, but the 200 C hot-rolled one has the lowest intensity. Compared with the corresponding tensile properties, this feature evidents that a pronounced (0001) basal texture will reduce ductility of AZ31B alloy. The ODFs results also indicate that (05 anti 52)- and (01 anti 10)-ND fibers are related to the ductility of AZ31B alloy. (orig.)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Microstructure and properties of a Mg AZ31B laser beam weld without filler are studied using electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and mechanical tests. The microstructure of the weld is characterized by a narrow heat affected zone, columnar grains and precipitate coarsening in the fusion zone. Texture in the fusion zone is significantly different from the texture of the base material. The residual stress distribution observed is similar at the top and the bottom of the weld, maximum tensile residual stress values are observed in the fusion zone. Tensile tests reveal differences in the mechanical behavior of the fusion zone and the parent material, which can be related to the differences of texture and the resulting deformation mechanisms.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A study was made into microstructure and texture of cold rolled titanium alloy VT-35 with various hydrogen content aimed to reveal hydrogen influence on the mechanism of cold plastic deformation by rolling. Experiments were carried out using sheets 1.2 mm thick hydrogenated up to hydrogen concentrations from 0.06 to 0.554 mass. %. All specimens constituted a single-phase FCC #beta#-solid solution. It is shown that small hydrogen additions have a plasticizing effect on #beta#-titanium alloys in their cold rolling. The character of texture is dependent on hydrogen concentration and determined by deformation mechanism. 6 refs.; 5 figs.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Sensory neurons in aging mammals undergo changes in anatomy, physiology and gene expression that correlate with reduced sensory perception. In this study we compared young and aged mice to identify...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

ObjectiveTo assess the perceived effectiveness of cigarette health warnings in China, compared with picture and text-only warnings from other countries.Method1169...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The attitude of Nigerian mothers, mainly Yoruba, towards measles vaccine and other aspects of prevention are influenced by different perceptions of the cause of measles. There is a significant correlation...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

An influential neural model of face perception suggests that the posterior superior temporal sulcus (STS) is sensitive to those aspects of faces that produce transient visual changes, including facial...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

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

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The full impact of secondary stigma (stigma directed at family) on an HIV-positive individual is unknown. This qualitative research explores perceptions of secondary stigma in the Vietnamese...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Several studies have demonstrated that telephone use presents a challenge for most cochlear implant (CI) users, and this is attributed mainly to the narrow bandwidth (300–3400 Hz) introduced...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The temporal fine structure (TFS) of sound contributes significantly to the perception of music and speech in noise. The evaluation of new strategies to improve TFS delivery in cochlear implants (CIs)...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Cytokinins are distributed through the vascular system and trigger responses of target cells via receptor-mediated signal transduction. Perception and transduction of the signal can occur at the plasma...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Objective:This study examined the role of cognitive factors—such as expectancies regarding the consequences of not drinking and perceptions of peer drinking—in...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

To investigate the dependence of the local texture of parts of an YBaCuO specimen on the distance of the seed crystal from the position of the part of the specimen, a very good textured YBaCuO specimen was cut into 9 rectangular pieces and into 12 boundary pieces of the cylindric original specimen. From the individual parts of the YBaCuO specimen the texture was measured by neutron diffraction at the Geesthacht reactor with an equal area raster. The grid width was 1 up to 10 deviation from the cylinder axis of the original YBaCuO cylinder and 2 from 10 deviation until 20 deviation. From the sum of the counted neutrons on small circles on the pole sphere the individual values of the distributions of the angular deviations of the c-axes of the crystalline domains from the cylinder axis have been calculated. The mean deviation of the c-axes from the axis of the original cylinder increases from the inner part with the seed ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nine coals from Spanish, British, German and American mining basins were hydrogenated using Fe catalyst precursors (red mud and FeSO{sub 4}), without solvent at 300, 350, and 400 {degree}C and 10 MPa of H{sub 2}. Overall conversion and product distribution are related to the textural characteristics of the original coals and are studies throughout the distinct hydrogenation processes. Results reveal that with FeSO{sub 4} as a catalyst precursor, conversions increase with coal surface area. However, when red mud (RM) is used, conversions are independent of coal textural characteristics. Higher conversions are obtained with FeSO{sub 4} than with RM at 300 and 350 {degree}C whereas at 400 {degree}C higher conversions are obtained with RM. This different catalytic activity is also reflected in the changes of the textural characteristics observed in each case. Up to 350 {degree}C, the residues from FeSO{sub 4}-catalyzed ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A model is presented that describes the development of texture during the production process of bake-hardening steel recrystallized in a batch-annealing furnace. Proper conditions are analyzed to generate a pronounced {gamma}-fiber texture and a pancake microstructure that shows superior deep drawability. The {gamma}-fiber texture is assumed to be caused by the interaction between tertiary precipitating aluminum nitride particles and the recrystallization process during heating in the furnace. Deep drawability is presented in terms of the logarithmic {gamma}- and {alpha}-fiber X-ray intensity ratio. The computer simulation of the coupled aluminum nitride precipitation and recrystallization kinetics is based on an iterative procedure. A comparison between simulation results and available experimental data proves the ability of the model to predict the final deep drawability, taking into account the initial aluminum and ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The macroscopic stress distribution across an annealed Zircaloy-4 gas tungsten arc weld was measured by neutron time-of-flight diffraction at the SMARTS diffractometer at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The stresses after annealing are about 40% lower than those in the same weld prior to heat treatment. The intergranular strains in the reference coupons, which give the macroscopic stress free lattice spacings, are consistent with the difference in cooling the strongly textured plate and the weakly textured weld.

Scientific Electronic Library Online (English)

Abstract in english In the last decade it has been experimentally found a periodic domain pattern arising in smectic C* liquid crystals in surface stabilized bookshelf geometry. Such a periodic texture appears after switching-off an external electric field, even in strong anchoring conditions. It has a static character and can be bidimensional, being dependent on both directions normal to the smectic planes and normal to the cell plates. In the present work an explanation to this phenomenon (more) is proposed. According to our model in the antiferroelectric phase the biperiodic texture is a threshold phenomenon, appearing for values of the spontaneous polarization greater than a critical value, whereas in the ferroelectric phase this type of bidimensional instability is hindered.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Although the public generally hold positive attitudes towards wind energy, proposals for the construction of new wind farms are often met with strong resistance. In New Zealand, where the government has recently introduced ambitious policy targets for renewable energy generation, negative perceptions of wind farms are increasingly evident and have the potential to prevent the achievement of these targets. This research sets out to examine what influences social resistance to wind farms in New Zealand. Drawing from public submissions on three wind farm proposals, a framework developed by Devine-Wright [Devine-Wright, P., 2005a. Beyond NIMBYism: towards an integrated Framework for Understanding Public Perceptions of Wind Energy. Wind Energy 8, 125-139.] was used as the basis for identification of factors affecting public perceptions of wind farms. The research found firstly that there was no apparent relationship between the ...

Science.gov (United States)

The Canadian Soldier Information Requirements Technology Demonstration (SIREQ TD) soldier modernization research and development program has conducted experiments to help determine the types and amount of information needed to support wayfinding across a range of terrain environments, the most effective display modality for providing the information (visual, auditory or tactile) that will minimize conflict with other infantry tasks, and to optimize interface design. In this study, seven different visual helmet-mounted display (HMD) designs were developed based on soldier feedback from previous studies. The displays and an in-service compass condition were contrasted to investigate how the visual HMD interfaces influenced navigation performance. Displays varied with respect to their information content, frame of reference, point of view, and display features. Twelve male infantry soldiers used all eight experimental conditions to locate bearings to waypoints. From a ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Department of Energy`s program for disposing of nuclear High-Level Waste (HLW) and transuranic (TRU) waste has been impeded by overwhelming political opposition fueled by public perceptions of actual risk. Analysis of these perceptions shows them to be deeply rooted in images of fear and dread that have been present since the discovery of radioactivity. The development and use of nuclear weapons linked these images to reality and the mishandling of radioactive waste from the nations military weapons facilities has contributed toward creating a state of distrust that cannot be erased quickly or easily. In addition, the analysis indicates that even the highly educated technical community is not well informed on the latest technology involved with nuclear HLW and TRU waste disposal. It is not surprising then, that the general public feels uncomfortable with DOE`s management plans for with nuclear HLW and TRU waste disposal. Postponing the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A CRC cooperative program was conducted to determine the difference in octane requirements between technical raters and 'customers' (the general driving public). The tests were conducted in two phases, with the second being a repeat of the first to verify the results obtained. The trained raters used the CRC E-15 procedure to determine the octane requirement of the vehicles while the customers' perception and objection to knock were determined through the use of a questionnaire. The customers' responses (perception and objection level) were based upon audible knock, acceleration performance, and after-run on a series of full-boiling-range customer/rater unleaded (FBRCU) reference-fuels. Data were analyzed from 168 1988-1991 model-year vehicles, with 126 of these tested in Phase II. The results showed that the customers, objections and perceptions were overwhelmingly based on knock, rather ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Incongruent auditory and visual stimuli can elicit audiovisual illusions such as the McGurk effect where visual /ka/ and auditory /pa/ fuse into another percept such as/ta/. In the present study, human brain activity was measured with adaptation functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate which brain areas support such audiovisual illusions. Subjects viewed trains of four movies beginning with three congruent /pa/ stimuli to induce adaptation. The fourth stimulus could be (i) another congruent /pa/, (ii) a congruent /ka/, (iii) an incongruent stimulus that evokes the McGurk effect in susceptible individuals (lips /ka/ voice /pa/), or (iv) the converse combination that does not cause the McGurk effect (lips /pa/ voice/ ka/). This paradigm was predicted to show increased release fro...

Science.gov (United States)

This paper is part of a study that assessed the level of commitment of primary schools of remote area dwellers (RADs) to basic education between October 2004 and April 2005. The research question focused on the level of commitment of schools to universal basic education, school-community partnership in school governance and parental involvement in the way the curriculum was delivered. Questionnaire and interviews were used. The results show a significant relationship between teachers' perceptions and variables such as district, qualifications, age, location, and experience. There is consistency between teachers' perceptions and children's academic performance. It has been found that learner achievement in RADs schools is low and that parents are not actively involved in their children's education due to the policy environment and school management practices.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The formation of textured YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-{delta}} (123) from a liquid phase according to the peritectic reaction Y{sub 2}BaCuO{sub 5} (211) + liquid {yields} 123 was analyzed using real-time analysis techniques of high-temperature X-ray diffraction, high-temperature optical microscopy, and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). Results were coupled with conventional ''post-mortem'' SEM analysis of processed samples at various stages of microstructural development. Observations of 123 formation and growth from the peritectic melt permit the conclusion that the presence of crystalline 211 primarily acts as a source of yttrium. The slow dissolution of 211 into the yttrium deficient liquid phase is the rate controlled step in the formation and growth of the textured 123, rather that its acting as a nucleation site for 123 grains as has been widely assumed. (orig.).

CERN Document Server

Within the type-I seesaw framework with three heavy right chiral neutrinos and in the basis where the latter and the charged leptons are mass diagonal, a near `mu-tau' symmetry in the neutrino sector is strongly suggested by the neutrino oscillation data. There is further evidence for a close to the tribimaximal mixing pattern which subsumes `mu-tau' symmetry. On the other hand, the assumption of a (maximally allowed) four zero texture in the Yukawa coupling matrix Y_nu in the same basis leads to a highly constrained and predictive theoretical scheme. We show that the requirement of an exact `mu-tau' symmetry, coupled with observational constraints, reduces the `seventy two' allowed textures in such a `Y_nu' to 'only four' corresponding to just two different forms of the light neutrino mass matrix `m_nu'. The effect of each of these on measurable quantities can be described, apart from an overall factor of the neutrino mass scale, in terms of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this study the results of mathematical simulation and experimental research of texture transition in stress assisted shear phase transformations are discussed. The orientation distribution function (ODF) calculation model to the any type crystalline lattice symmetry materials has been suggested. By crystalline lattice symmetry analysis this computer program determines necessary amount of the initial experimental data. The experimental verification supports this model well. The ODF calculation model after shear phase transformation with equal use of all possible variants of orientation relationship or with various degrees of variant selection worked out. In this study the experimental and calculating data of the direct and reversal shear transformations #alpha# <=> #gamma# in Fe-alloys and B2 <=> B19' in Ti-Ni alloys are discussed. The stress assisted shear phase transformation model and computer program to calculate ODF after transformation have been ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Intrusive degassing and recycling of degassed and dense magma at depth have been proposed for a long time at Stromboli. The brief explosive event that occurred at the summit craters on 9 January 2005 threw out bombs and lapilli that could be good candidates to illustrate recycling of shallow degassed magma at depth. We present an extensive data set on both the textures and the mineral, bulk rock and glassy matrix chemistry of the ?9 Jan? products. The latter have the common shoshonitic?basaltic bulk composition of lavas and scoriae issued from typical strombolian activity. In contrast they differ by the heterogeneous chemistry of their matrix glasses and their crystal textures that testify to crystal dissolution event(s) just prior magma crystallization upon ascent and eruption. Comparison...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The microstructural evolution of a AZ31 Mg alloy during hot rolling has been investigated using optical microscopy and texture (macro and micro) analysis as the main characterization tools. In particular, the differences between the microstructure obtained by unidirectional rolling (UR) and cross rolling (CR) are studied. Significant twinning activity is observed in both cases. Additionally, after cross rolling, a rather heterogeneous microstructure develops, with scattered regions populated by very fine grains. The strong basal fiber texture of the as-received material remains present after both hot rolling schemes. The impossibility to obtain accurate EBSD measurements within the twinned regions suggests that significant localized deformation takes place in those areas. Thus, these regions become preferential sites for the onset of recrystallization due to the increase in the local strain energy. (orig.)

CERN Document Server

We present an update of the most stringent experimental bounds on the trilinear R-parity violating couplings. We then analyse bounds on the R-parity violating couplings at the unification scale by renormalising the weak scale bounds. We derive unification scale upper bounds upon the couplings which are broadly independent of the fermion mass texture assumed. The R-parity violating couplings are factors of two to five more severely bounded at the unification scale than at the electroweak scale. In the presence of quark mixing, a few of the bounds are orders of magnitude stronger than their weak scale counterparts due to new R-parity violating operators being induced in the renormalisation between high and low scales. These induced bounds are fermion mass texture dependent. New bounds upon the weak scale couplings are obtained by the requirement of perturbativity between the weak and unification scales. A comprehensive set of the latest limits is ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The risk perception of the public consists of two components: the objectively factual component and the subjectively irrational component. The two strategies adopted by the German gas supply industry are the internal and the external communication strategy. Concepts and measures of accident precaution, registration and analysis of accident data (installation and operating errors, defects on flue systems, pipelines and valves, subsequent installation of gas appliances) are discussed. (R.P.)

Wastenet

...] Transmission of Exchange Rate Shocks into Domestic Inflation: The Case of the Czech Republic by Oxana Babetskaia-Kukharchuk [Downloadable!] Measuring the Financial Markets' Perception of EMU Enlargement: The Role of Ambiguity Aversion by Martin Cincibuch & Martina Hornikova [Downloadable!] Inflation Targeting and Communication: Should the Public Read Inflation Reports or Tea Leaves? by Ales Bulir & Katerina Smidkova & ...

Science.gov (United States)

A critical element of a retinal prosthesis is the stimulating electrode array, which is placed in close proximity to the retina. It is via this retinal-electrode interface that a retinal prosthesis electrically stimulates nerve cells to produce the perception of light. The impedance load seen by the current driver consists of the tissue resistance and the complex electrode impedance. The results in this paper show that the tissue resistance of the retina is significantly greater than that of the vitreous humor in the eye. Circuit models of the electrode-retina interface are used to parameterize the different contributors to the overall impedance.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

One requirement of a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) radiator is to efficiently emit photons at high temperatures to TPV cells for conversion to electric power. Because many candidate radiator materials with adequate structural properties display low emissivity, coatings or other surface modifications are required for enhancement of emissivity. Six plasma sprayed coatings and one textured surface demonstrated adequate thermal stability and emittance values of 0.8 or greater. Promising attributes of modified surfaces are identified.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We reviewed retrospectively the magnetic resonance (MR) images of 14 soft-tissue lesions of fibromatosis (desmoid tumors) encountered in 11 patients. The lesions were typically inhomogeneous in texture and round to oval in configuration. Margins were well-defined in 78% of the lesions at presentation and were infiltrating in all recurrences. (orig./DG).

CERN Document Server

The "texture zero mass matrices" for the quarks and leptons describe very well the flavor mixing of the quarks and leptons. We can calculate the angles of the unitarity triangle. We expect the angle alpha of the unitarity triangle to be 90 degrees. The masses of the neutrinos can be calculated - they are very small, the largest neutrino mass is 0.05 eV. We calculated the matrix element of the mixing matrix, relevant for the reactor mixing angle. It can be measured in the near future in the DAYA BAY experiment.

Science.gov (United States)

Peer assessment provides a powerful avenue for students to receive feedback on their learning. Although student perceptions of peer assessment have been studied extensively in higher education, little qualitative research has been undertaken with medical students in problem-based learning (PBL) curricula. A qualitative study of students' attitudes to, and perceptions of, peer assessment was undertaken within the framework of a larger study of metacognition with first-year medical students at the University of Queensland. A highly structured format for provision of feedback was utilised in the study design. Many recommendations from the higher education literature on optimal implementation of peer-assessment procedures were put into practice. Results indicated the existence of six main themes: (1) increased responsibility for others, (2) improved learning, (3) lack of relevancy, (4) challenges, (5) discomfort, and (6) effects on the PBL process. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This study examines some radiation accidents occurred in the past. This information has been systematically assessed to get global lessons. The experience feedback shows that the most of accidents happened in certain conditions. These conditions can be distributed in four categories: 1- perception and vigilance in occupation: accidental exposure happened by lack of vigilance in details and lack of vigilance and perception; 2- procedures: accidental exposure happened following a lack of procedures or control that were not enough complete, not enough documented or not completely implemented; 3- training and understanding: accidental exposures happened because the personnel was not enough qualified and educated, did not get the general training nor the the necessary specialized training; 4- liabilities: accidental exposures happened following lacks and ambiguity in the definition of functions of the personnel and in the hierarchy liabilities. In ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Until recent years, those involved in the design, operation and regulation of nuclear power systems devoted more resources to forward movement than to the back end of the fuel cycle. Now, though, concerted thought and international cooperation have been devoted to the question of nuclear waste management. The expert consensus is that sufficient knowledge exists to make e.g. disposal decisions with an acceptable level of confidence. In the first phases of research, decision processes were adapted to the tasks at hand. However, at some point in each nuclearized country, there came a time when waste management implied finding repository sites. At that time management abruptly entered the social sphere - where unfortunate experience has shown time and time again that classical decision processes are not adapted to facilitating societal acceptance of management solutions. This paper recounts the various management frameworks that have been tested in a number of countries in the goal of ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Summary The First Nations people of British Columbia experience reincarnation as a revitalization of their culture. This article documents the perseverance of reincarnation experiences among the Beaver, Witsuwit'en, and Gitxsan peoples of British Columbia, as well as my own growth in understanding such experiences. It recounts examples of rebirth cases. It explains what rebirth experiences mean to the First Nations people. It describes how these experiences are embedded in their perception of this world and embodied in their beliefs of spiritual realms, which include the interconnected and parallel worlds of fish and land animals, on this world and in spiritual dimensions. While the rebirth worldview contrasts with that of the Western scientific world, this is a worldview I have come to en...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This article considers the appeal of cognitive neuroscience research to the general public within the context of the deep puzzles involved in using our minds to understand how our minds work. It offers a few promising examples of findings that illuminate the ways of the mind and reveal these workings to be counter-intuitive with our subjective experience. However, this promise is tempered by the powerful role that perception, attention, and cognition play in how we reason about evidence. It argues that the interplay between what we believe about the nature of our minds and what the findings suggest constitutes a primary challenge in encouraging public understanding of cognitive neuroscience findings.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Visceral hypersensitivity is currently considered a key pathophysiological mechanism involved in pain perception in large subgroups of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In IBS, visceral hypersensitivity has been described in 20%?90% of patients. The contribution of the central nervous system and psychological factors to visceral hypersensitivity in patients with IBS may be significant, although still debated. Peripheral factors have gained increasing attention following the recognition that infectious enteritis may trigger the development of persistent IBS symptoms, and the identification of mucosal immune, neural, endocrine, microbiological, and intestinal permeability abnormalities. Growing evidence suggests that these factors ...

Science.gov (United States)

Synthetic fuels differ in the nature and order of magnitude of the environmental impacts associated with their production. Some types pose much more intractable problems, with oil shale leading the list. Perceptions of the difficulty of these environmental problems will continue to shift over time as more research and experimentation is done. It is critical that the development of synthetic fuels move slowly and deliberately so as not to get ahead of researched solutions nor to create environmental burdens that outweigh the social benefits of increased energy production. The Synthetic Fuels Corporation is taking the opposite approach in dispensing funds to all takers. 65 references.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The authors trace the early history of nuclear power regulation in the US. Focusing on the Atomic Energy Commission, they describe the role of other groups that figured in the development of regulatory policies, including the Congressional Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, other federal agencies, state governments, the nuclear industry, and scientific organizations. They consider changes in public perceptions of and attitudes toward atomic energy and the dangers of radiation exposure. The basic purpose of the book is to provide the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the general public with information on the historical antecedents and background of regulatory issues so that there will be continuity in policy decisions. The book concludes with an annotated bibliography of selected references. 19 figures.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Coal bed natural gas (CBNG) development in the Powder River (PR) Basin produces modestly saline, highly sodic wastewater. This study assessed impacts of wetting four textural groups (0-11%, 12-22%, 23 -33%, and > 33% clay (g clay/100 g soil) x 100%))with simulated PR or CBNG water on water retention. Soils received the following treatments with each water quality: a single wetting event, five wetting and drying events, or five wetting and drying events followed by leaching with salt-free water. Treated samples were then resaturated with the final treatment water and equilibrated to -10, -33, -100, -500, or -1,500 kPa. At all potentials, soil water retention increased significantly with increasing clay content. Drought-prone soils lost water-holding capacity between saturation and field capacity with repeated wetting and drying, whereas finer textured soils withstood this treatment better and had increased water-retention capacity at ...

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This work analyzes the unoptimized prototype triode-sputtered, 150 microns thick tantalum coatings deposited with a 2.5 microns niobium underlayer on the bore of a large-diameter A723 steel cylinder. The coating was deposited for wear and erosion protection by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The phase determination was based on X ray diffraction analysis, wavelength dispersive X ray fluorescence analysis, energy dispersive X ray analysis, and hardness and electrical resistivity measurements. Both X ray diffraction and radius-of- curvature methods were used to determine residual stresses. A locally developed high-resolution pole figure technique was used to perform texture analysis. The post-firing, debonded coating showed alpha-tantalum, preferred 110 orientation, high surface stresses, tantalum oxides, entrapped krypton sputtering gas, interstitial oxygen, and other impurities. The surface and subsurface pole figures revealed broadened poles and ...

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The mobility of metals in ground water is an important consideration for evaluating remedial options at the Asarco smelter site. Tacoma, Washington. One factor in assessing metal mobility is the degree of secondary mineralization in a slag-fill aquifer extending into the intertidal zone along the Puget Sound shoreline. Samples of aquifer material were collected for mineralogical analysis from borehole MW-206 at five-foot intervals within the slag fill from 5 to 25 feet below the ground surface, and in the underlying marine sand and gravel at 27 feet. Grab samples of slag fragments with visually apparent secondary minerals were also collected at five intermediate depths between 12 and 19 feet. Samples were analyzed by a variety of techniques including hydride generation/atomic absorption for arsenic concentration, scanning electron microscopy/electron microprobe for mineralogical texture and microanalysis, powder x-ray diffraction for mineral identification, and ...

CERN Document Server

We point out that the moduli sector of the $(2,2)$ string compactification with its nonperturbatively preserved non-compact symmetries is a fertile framework to study global topological defects, thus providing a natural source for the large scale structure formation. Based on the target space modular invariance of the nonperturbative superpotential of the four-dimensional N=1 supersymmetric string vacua, topologically stable stringy domain walls are found. They are supersymmetric solutions, thus saturating the Bogomolnyi bound. It is also shown that there are moduli sectors that allow for the global monopole-type and texture-type configurations whose radial stability is ensured by higher derivative terms.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Phase transformations occuring during cold deformation in hardened #alpha#+#beta# titanium alloy of the Ti-Al-Mo-Zr-Sn-Si system with 10% summary content of alloying elements are studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. Two stages of trapsformation of metastable #alpha#''-phase are found. A conclusiop is made that ability of the alloy containing #alpha#''-phase to cold deformation is determined by the presence of favourable texture, by high degree of metastability and by volume portion of #alpha#''-phase in the alloy structure.

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Aluminium-lithium extrusions possess high inhomogeneity of properties across the cross section. Mechanical properties such as R{sub p0,2}, R{sub m} and hardness, but also fatigue properties, change their value in dependence with the cross section position where test specimens were taken. Positions, where extreme values of properties are measured, are characteristic for a given extrusion shape. The positions with different properties have different structure and texture. Properties and structure inhomogeneity is affected mainly by extrusion shape and heat treatment parameters. (orig.)

Science.gov (United States)

The anisotropy of H/sub c2/ was measured in a V$sub 3$Si monocrystal and was found to be much larger than in other materials. The max elementary pinning force f/sub p/ is estimated to be approximately 0.01 dyn/cm at the reduced field H/H/sub c/ = 0.25 and 4.2$sup 0$K. Control of texture as well as of grain size is important for improving J/sub c/ in A-15 compounds. (DLC)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Mood in humans is a complex phenomenon that integrates emotion (e.g. happiness and sadness), cognition, perception, ideation, and action in a coherent manner. In bipolar disorder extremes of mood (up or down) occur outside the normal range, in which all the above functions are coherently affected. Mood is controlled by a series of separate but interactive brain circuits that involve much of the brain, but particularly the limbic system. The question addressed in this paper is whether the coordination of all these separate systems into one coherent functional mood is mediated by non-linear dynamics acting between these systems as equal participants; or whether it is affected by a single master regulator controlling the others. The possible roles, as master regulators, of non-linear dynamica...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Purpose - The service-dominant (S-D) logic views supply chains as value co-creation networks. These networks promote knowledge growth amongst network members via resource deployment and coordination. The exchange of knowledge and utilization of operant resources among the network members leads to co-created service offerings and value proposals for the end-users, with the ultimate goal of transforming end-user experiences to perceptions of superior value-in-use. The purpose of this paper is to develop an illustration of the value co-creation concept and use this illustration as guide to examine the research gaps that are yet to be tapped in the area where supply chain networks and S-D logic intersects. Design/methodology/approach - The literature on S-D logic is reviewed and research gaps ...

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Women treated of localised stages of cervix cancer have a very good prognosis. But do health care professionals have a tendency to underestimate the potential need for rehabilitation of this group? To be able to answer this question this study aimed to develop knowledge concerning these women's own perception of their health during a long period after surgical cancer treatment. A total of 398 women who underwent radical hysterectomy in the period from the 1 January 1983 to 31 December 2000 participated in the study at Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby in Denmark 2001-2003. All patients initially filled in an internally validated questionnaire. Subsequently a sample of 100 women filled in the questionnaires Short Form -36 and Sense of Coherence to evaluate their self-reported health. Analy...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Objectives Vietnamese patients? views on healthcare are changing as surgical interventions become more commonplace, but their views on perioperative care have remained largely unstudied during this period of rapid change. This study assesses Vietnamese patients? impression of anesthesia safety and postoperative pain in relation to clinical outcomes with the aim of improving patient-centered perioperative care. Methods The study cohort consisted of 180 hospitalized patients who were followed for 24?h following abdominal surgery. The assessments of these patients on the use of anesthesia and postoperative pain were measured by means of a 5-point Likert scale survey. Perioperative events were recorded on standardized forms by medical staff. The relationship between relevant factors affecting ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This paper reports an investigation of older adults' needs and preferences concerning online social support. We focused our analysis on seven different aspects of online support: Self disclosure, Deep support, Light support, Community building, Information/Facts, Off topic, and Technical issues. For each aspect we were interested in how older adults perceive this aspect of support, what they think are the similarities and differences of this aspect of support in online settings vs offline settings, and what they perceive are the advantages and disadvantages of communicating this aspect of support online. We did this by conducting detailed interviews with three groups of older adults (31 people in total) with different levels of expertise in using the internet and online communication (olde...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The diversity of plant resources in the Brazilian semi-arid region is being compromised by practices related to agriculture, pastures, and forest harvesting, especially in areas containing Caatinga vegetation (xeric shrublands and thorn forests). The impact of these practices constitutes a series of complex factors involving local issues, creating a need for further scientific studies on the social-environmental dynamics of natural resource use. Through participatory methods, the present study analyzed people?s representations about local environmental change processes in the Brazilian semi-arid region, taking into consideration local production systems, natural resources, and their importance. Environmental historical graphs were developed with nine local families to analyze landscape cha...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Perceptions of sensation and pain in healthy people are believed to be the net result of sensory input and descending modulation from brainstem and cortical regions depending on emotional and cognitive factors. Here, the influence of attention on neural activity in the spinal cord during thermal sensory stimulation of the hand was investigated with functional magnetic resonance imaging by systematically varying the participants' attention focus across and within repeated studies. Attention states included (1) attention to the stimulus by rating the sensation and (2) attention away from the stimulus by performing various mental tasks of watching a movie and identifying characters, detecting the direction of coherently moving dots within a randomly moving visual field and answering mentally-...

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Knowledge on environmental variability and how it is affected by disturbances is crucial for understanding patterns of biodiversity and determining adequate conservation strategies. The aim of this study is to assess environmental variability in patches undergoing post-fire vegetation recovery, identifying trends of change and their relevant drivers. We particularly evaluate: the value of three spectral indices derived from Landsat satellite data [Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Wetness Component of the Tasseled Cap Transformation (TCW)] for describing secondary succession; the effectiveness of three metrics (diversity, evenness and richness) as indicators of patch variability; and how thematic resolution can affect the perception of environme...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In this study, a two-stage support-vector-regression optimization model (TSOM) is developed for the planning of municipal solid waste (MSW) management in the urban districts of Beijing, China. It represents a new effort to enhance the analysis accuracy in optimizing the MSW management system through coupling the support-vector-regression (SVR) model with an interval-parameter mixed integer linear programming (IMILP). The developed TSOM can not only predict the city's future waste generation amount, but also reflect dynamic, interactive, and uncertain characteristics of the MSW management system. Four kernel functions such as linear kernel, polynomial kernel, radial basis function, and multi-layer perception kernel are chosen based on three quantitative simulation performance criteria [i.e....

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Constrained least-squares techniques have been used to produce a well known class of image restoration algorithms. These techniques typically involve minimizing a linear operator on a vector representation of an image, subject to a constraint. For cases where an equality constraint is appropriate the method of Lagrange multipliers can be used to produce a restored image. In this work a fractal textural model, fractional Brownian motion, is used to represent images of interest. Using a variance fractal dimension estimator a non-linear operator, that represents the squared difference between the fractal dimension of the restored image and on a priori value is minimized, subject to the constraint that the norm of the residual between the restored image and available measurement equal the norm of the additive noise.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Studies the quality of metallurgical coke produced from a mixture of USA (80%) and Soviet (20%) coking coals. Properties of coal were analyzed according to ICCP and ISO international standards, including mechanical and petrographic tests. Content of the coal mixture included 8.2% moisture, 7.6% ash, 0.98% sulfur, 27.7% volatiles. The swelling index was 6 and dilation index 15%. Properties of coke produced from this coal mixture in the Croatian Bakar coking plant are presented for lump sizes of 25-80 mm, 10-25 mm and 0-10 mm. The produced coke was of favorable quality, having a strength index of 4.70, an ASTM stability factor of 61, and an M40 strength of 73.3%. 9 refs.

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The authors report the fabrication and characterization of a low temperature (200--400 C) thin film gas sensor constructed from a MOCVD-grown yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) layer sandwiched between two platinum thin film electrodes. A reproducible gas-sensing response is produced by applying a cyclic voltage which generates voltammograms with gas-specific current peaks and shapes. Growth conditions are optimized for preparing YSZ films having dense microstructures, low leakage currents, and maximum ion conductivities. In particular, the effect of growth temperature on film morphology and texture is discussed and related to the electrical and gas-sensing properties of the thin film sensor device.

CERN Document Server

We study the renormalization group running of the tri-bimaximal mixing predicted by the two typical $S_4$ flavor models at leading order. Although the textures of the mass matrices are completely different, the evolution of neutrino mass and mixing parameters is found to display approximately the same pattern. For both normal hierarchy and inverted hierarchy spectrum, the quantum corrections to both atmospheric and reactor neutrino mixing angles are so small that can be neglected. The evolution of solar mixing angle $\\theta_{12}$ depends on $\\tan\\beta$ and mass spectrum, the deviation from its tri-bimaximal value could be large. Taking into account the renormalization group running effect, the neutrino spectrum is constrained by experimental data on $\\theta_{12}$ and the inverted hierarchy spectrum is disfavored for large $\\tan\\beta$. The evolution of light neutrino masses is approximately described by a common scaling factor.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

DVR project concerns the creation of a virtual reality OpenGL system for desktop applications in archaeology. The main goal is the creation of a 3D information system using the real time interaction of OpenGL environments. The first case study implemented is the Vettii House, one of the most important and outstanding monuments in Pompei. The virtual reconstruction of these architectural models is based on very detailed photogrammetric surveys and it is connected with information layers and archaeometric data-bases regarding the state of conservation of walls, structures and any type of materials of the monument. A full 3D interface characterizes the system, comprising a high resolution texturing with detailed volumetric and geometric data. Finally, for the future, the project plans to fit the system for scientific and end users through the installation of stations on site.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Data from natural runoff plots at two experimental sites in northern Iraq were used to predict soil erodibility in this semiarid region. The first site has a mean seasonal rainfall of about 400mm with the plots situated on 40% uniform slope; the soil at the site has a loam texture and belongs to the Xerorthent suborder; it has 46% of gravel by weight in its surface layer. The second site has a mean seasonal rainfall of more than 900mm with the plot situated on 17% uniform slope; the soil at the site is silty clay and belongs to the Calcixeroll suborder. At both sites, soil loss and runoff measurements were collected for two rainfall seasons. Results from both experimental sites showed that storm-to-storm variation in soil erodibility is high reflecting the importance of long term measureme...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) with 8 mol% Y was deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering onto oxidized (100) silicon substrates. It was possible to switch film texture from (111) to (200) by applying a strong RF substrate bias. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the film deposited under bias is porous and exhibits nanoscaled grains, whereas the film deposited without bias is dense and columnar. The ionic conductivity as a function of temperature revealed an activation energy of 1.04 eV. The mechanical stress could be tuned to low values by thermal post-annealing. Using the dense (111) film as electrolyte layer, and the porous (200) film as an interlayer to a porous Pt anode, an open circuit voltage of 0.85 V was obtained in a micro machined fuel cell structure.

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The development of a twinned microstructure in hexagonal close-packed rolled magnesium compressed in the in-plane direction has been monitored in situ with neutron diffraction. The continuous conversion of the parent to daughter microstructure is tracked through the variation of diffraction peak intensities corresponding to each. Approximately 80% of the parent microstructure twins by 8% compression. Elastic lattice strain measurements indicate that the stress in the newly formed twins (daughters) is relaxed relative to the stress field in the surrounding matrix. However, since the daughters are in a plastically 'hard' deformation orientation, they quickly accumulate elastic strain as surrounding grains deform plastically. Polycrystal modeling of the deformation process provides insight about the crystallographic deformation mechanism involved.

Science.gov (United States)

Hydrotalcites with different Al/Al+Mg ratios, and prepared at different pH and different aging temperatures of the gel were used as precursors of Mg-Al mixed oxides, and their textural and physicochemical properties were determined. A complete reaction network for the isopropanol decomposition on these catalysts has been established, and it is shown that the concentration of acetone in the products cannot always be used for a direct estimation of the rate of dehydrogenation. The Al/Al+Mg ratio for which the maximum in activity is obtained depends on the base strength needed for each particular reaction. For dehydrogenation of isopropanol, this is found at Al/Al+Mg [approx] 0.25. 36 refs., 10 figs., 2 tabs.

CERN Document Server

We discuss first the flavor mixing of the quarks, using the texture zero mass matrices. Then we study a similar model for the mass matrices of the leptons. We are able to relate the mass eigenvalues of the charged leptons and of the neutrinos to the mixing angles and can predict the masses of the neutrinos. We find a normal hierarchy - the masses are 0.004 eV, 0.01 eV and 0.05 eV. The atmospheric mixing angle is given by the mass ratios of the charged leptons and the neutrinos. we find about 40 degrees, consistent with the experiments. The mixing element, connecting the first neutrino wit the electron, is predicted to be 0.05. This prediction can soon be checked by the Daya Bay experiment.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Material degradation of pressure tubes, which are the most important components in CANDU fuel channel, can only be evaluated by removing and examining them(material surveillance). This study aimed at establishment of overall evaluation technology including the evaluation of the material degradation for the integrity of pressure tubes of Wolsung units. Material tests for pressure tubes were performed as follows; (1) Evaluation on life limiting factors of pressure tubes (2) Review on leak-before-break and integrity maintenance technology of pressure tubes (3) Survey on selection criteria for tubes to be inspected and on related regulations for material surveillance (4) Analysis of material surveillance test procedure (5) Basic examinations of Wolsung unit 1 pressure tube material(TEM, texture, chemical component etc) (6) Manufacture of test equipments and test (DHCV, hydriding, grip and tensile specimen etc). 23 figs, 6 tabs, 59 refs. (Author).

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Functional properties of commercial and membrane processed pea protein isolates (PPI) prepared from yellow peas were investigated. Four protein isolates were prepared from yellow pea flour using water and KCl extractions at 25^oC followed by ultrafiltration and diafiltration (UF and DF) at pHs of 7.5 and 7.5 or 6 respectively. Following assessment of compositional attributes; solubility, foaming, flow and dynamic rheology, emulsification ability and heat-induced textural and rheological properties of prepared PPIs and a commercially available PPI were tested and compared. Membrane purification of proteins resulted in 28% to 68% reduction in phytic acid and enhanced, comparatively, the tested functional properties. Solubility of membrane processed PPIs, at all tested pHs, was superior and t...

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A residue in the production of alumina by the Bayer process is red mud. It contains oxides of Fe and Ti, active as hydrogenation catalyst in sulfided form, and whose catalytic activity can be improved by the activation method proposed by Pratt and Christoverson. The paper describes how the development of its activity and selectivity with reaction time was studied for the hydrogenation of a light fraction of an anthracene oil, and compared with untreated sulfided red mud. Catalyst samples were collected at different reaction times, and their texture, morphology and composition characterized by nitrogen adsorption, SEM and SEM-EDX. The loss of catalytic activity of activated sulfided red mud is slower than for untreated sulfided red mud. The main cause of this decrease in catalytic activity is the loss of surface area and superficial Fe.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The authors present an investigation of structural changes occurring in bilayer stacks with crystalline columnar growth when one of the layers is substituted by layers known to grow amorphous. In Co/Cu multilayers the Co layers were substituted by CoZr layers of varying Zr content and layer thickness. Structural characterization was performed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). They show that the amorphization of the CoZr layers leading to a destruction of the columnar growth depends both on the Zr content and on the thickness of the CoZr layers. Additionally a change to textured growth with a normal to the substrate occurs with increasing Zr content. They explain their observations by a simple picture based on the hard sphere model.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The gliding modes of a duplex Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy were investigated through in situ (scanning electron microscopy) tensile tests. A method based on electron back-scattering diffraction (EBSD) measurements was used to identify activated slip systems. The approach applied to a large number of grains allowed a statistical analysis of the nature (basal, prismatic, pyramidal) and distribution of the slip systems according to the crystallographic texture. A discussion concerning the pertinence of Schmid's law to explain the occurrence and succession of slip events is then proposed. The domain in favor of each type of slip system is finally presented by using inverse pole figures mapped with Schmid's factor iso-curves.

Science.gov (United States)

The growth of the Pd{sub 2}Si thin fllms on Si(111) substrates has been monitored by an {ital in} {ital situ} x-ray diffraction technique in vacuum and in helium atmosphere from 160 to 250 {degree}C. A familiar parabolic growth rate was found, confirming the diffusion-controlled film growth process. The activation energies were found to be 1.34 and 1.37 eV for the measurements performed in vacuum and helium environment, respectively. Stress relaxation in the growing Pd{sub 2}Si fllm was observed when the reaction temperature exceeds 200 {degree}C. The relaxed films showed a higher degree of texture as evidenced by the rocking curve measurements.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper reports on a series of experiments performed to examine the ability of ion beam assisted thermal deposition to produce good adhesion of Au metallization on GaAs left-angle 100 right-angle substrates. A study of the influence of Ar ion-assisted thermal deposition of the Au films as well as in situ pre-sputtering of the GaAs surface with low-energy Ar ions prior to thermal deposition, shows that strong adhesion can be achieved without resorting to chemical cleaning. The substrate temperature and the relative flux of Ar ions to incident Au atoms were varied in order to correlate these parameters with film adhesion. The interfaces of films processed under these various conditions were examined by XTEM, RBS and XPS. Orientation texture was studied by x-ray diffraction (XRD).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The primary objectives of this study were to test two utility analysis models, the Cascio-Ramos Estimate of Performance in Dollars (CREPID) model and Godkewitsch financial utility analysis model and to determine their appropriateness as tools for evaluating training. This study was conducted in conjunction with Philadelphia Electric Company's Nuclear Training Group. Job performance of nuclear maintenance workers was assessed to document the impact of the training program. Assessment of job performance covered six job performance themes. Additionally, front-line nuclear maintenance supervisors were interviewed to determine their perceptions of the nuclear maintenance training. A comparison of supervisor's perceptions and outcomes of the utility analysis models was made to determine the appropriateness of utility analysis as quantitative tools for evaluating the nuclear maintenance training program. Application of the CREPID ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Buffer layers with 100% lattice match with YBa2Cu3O7 - ? (YBCO) were prepared from mixed rare-earth-oxides applying a simple sol-gel process and dip-coating method. Structural analysis of the sol-gel derived powder by X-ray diffraction revealed that the mixing parameter, which eliminates the lattice mismatch with YBCO, is x = 0.2382, 0.1852, 0.1252, 0.0906, 0.0793 and 0.0395 in (Eu1 - xHox)2O3, (Eu1 - xErx)2O3, (Eu1 - xYbx)2O3, (Gd1 - xHox)2O3, (Gd1 - xYx)2O3 and (Gd1 - xYbx)2O3, respectively. Microstructural investigations were carried out for Gd1.819Ho0.181O3 films epitaxially grown on cube-textured Ni (100) substrates by sol-gel dip-coating process. X-ray diffraction of the buffer showed strong out-of-plane orientation on Ni tape. The (Gd1 - xHox)2O3 (222) pole figure indicated a single cube-on-cube textured structure. The omega and phi scans revealed good out-of-plane and in-plane alne alignments. The full-width at half-maximum values of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In order to fabricate high temperature superconducting tapes for power applications, the authors have analyzed different buffer layer architectures grown on textured Ni substrates suitable for YBCO deposition. Due to its optimal lattice matching the studied structures present as top layer a CeO{sub 2} film. The deposition of CeO{sub 2} on Ni substrates was performed by pulsed laser ablation and by e-beam evaporation at different temperatures. The films obtained by the two deposition techniques have not optimal structural properties, having a polycrystalline component. The misorientation of CeO{sub 2} is probably due to the formation of NiO at the interface between the film and the substrate during the deposition process even if no oxygen is introduced. In order to prevent Ni oxidation an intermediate 2000 {angstrom} Pd thick film was deposited by e-beam. Furthermore, the lattice mismatch between Pd and CeO{sub 2} is smaller than that between Ni and CeO{sub 2}. The ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The UNITIL Companies have identified the need to undertake new economic development initiatives and to respond to an increasingly competitive energy marketplace. The economy of UNITIL`s service areas and New England generally have suffered from the perception that energy prices, and electricity prices in particular, are very high and non-competitive. However, opportunities now exist for more competitive priced electricity services to be made available to meet the needs of economic development. The introduction of Energy Bank{trademark} was designed to meet this objective through a competitively priced, market-based option for new or expanding industrial loads. The Energy Bank{trademark} is priced at about 5 cents/kWh, a rate 40% below the regional average industrial rate. As Energy Bank{trademark} grows, it will yield substantial benefits to all customers in UNITIL`s service areas, through increased local economic activity, reduced power costs overall, and cash ...

Science.gov (United States)

College student persistence and dropout have been studied for decades, but little inquiry has focused on community college or private two-year college students. Although about half of first-time postsecondary students enroll in a two-year college, researchers understand little about why only approximately a quarter of these degree-seekers complete any degree five years after entrance (Rosenbaum, Deil-Amen, & Person, 2006). Models that exist have been generated primarily from research on residential, four-year college students. The present analysis uses rich qualitative data to excavate the potential of Tinto's Theory of Student Departure for understanding the dynamics of persistence for a more nontraditional group--two-year college commuting students. To better reflect how these students successfully cultivate feelings of belonging and competence, reinforce goal commitment, and access valuable social capital, a new conceptual fusion of the formerly distinct processes of academic ...

Science.gov (United States)

Increasing economic and recreational opportunities, attractive scenery and a perception of a better quality of life are luring people to the coast. Unfortunately, these activities together with the commensurate increase in population in the area inevitably result in pollution of coastal waters with excessive microorganisms and other pollutants. Microbial pollutants not only contaminate the coastal water but also aquatic food sources, thus posing a health risk to consumers. Fish is a major source of protein in Cameroon, especially in the coastal areas. In this study, we investigated the microbiological quality of fish from the Limbe and Tiko beaches in South West Cameroon from May to October 2007. We isolated human pathogenic bacteria from three anatomic sites (skin, gills, intestine) of 50 fish (150 specimens) and investigated their susceptibility patterns to a battery of antibiotics. Data were analyzed statistically using chi2 with significance set at p South West ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper use data from a pilot study to analyse relationships between type of resettlement (voluntary or involuntary) and individuals' everyday feelings, perceptions of risk, health status and control. The data were collected in 1995, within the Joint Study Project 2, i.e., a collaborative research project of the European Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, 1991/92 - 95/96. The aim of the study was to investigate reactions to change and new life conditions of people who had been resettled due to the Chernobyl accident. Participants from the respective countries included adult individuals sampled from two age groups of less than 45 years and 45 years and older, with approximately the same number of men and women. The questionnaire presented various topics to which responses were indicated on quantitative response scales, as well as in open ended response formats. The results presented here focus on emotional reactions, ...

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

The live outdoor webcam seems inseparable from the mid-1990s' popular proliferation of the Internet. Combining a well-known medium, i.e. the photograph, with a new one, i.e. the Internet, the live outdoor webcam seems in the rear-view mirror to have contributed significantly to the popular perception of the Internet as a globally distended and thus "geographical" medium. Moreover, due to its role in the NASA Triana mission, the never-realised flagship of the Clinton-Gore administration's Digital Earth project, the live webcam seemed to play an important part in the construction of what leading geographers coined a "virtual geography"-the geography of the Internet, and the networked geography-that sought to establish itself as a new field of study during the late 1990s. In order to substantiate for this interpretation, I would like in the first part of this article to identify a number of basic characteristics of the outdoor webcam and, in the second, to analyse and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This booklet outlines the position of Manitoba's heat pump market with the objective of promoting the widespread use of geothermal heat pumps in the province. It makes reference to the size of the market, customer satisfaction with heat pumps, and opinion of key players in the industry regarding the heat pump market. The information in this booklet is drawn on market research and lessons learned in Europe and the United States. In October 2001, a group of key stakeholders in Manitoba's heat pump market attended an industry working meeting to address the issues of market barriers, market enablers and market hot buttons. Market barriers include the high cost of geothermal heat pumps, lack of consumer awareness, lack of consistent standards, and public perception that heat pumps are not reliable. Market enablers include the low and stable operating costs of geothermal heat pumps, high level of comfort, high quality and reliability of geothermal heat pumps, and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A linear induction accelerator that produces a beam of energetic heavy ions (T #approx =# 10 GeV, A #approx =# 200 am#mu#) is a prime candidate as a driver for an inertial fusion power plant. Some early perceptions were that heavy-ion driven fusion would not be cost-competitive with other power sources because of the high cost of the accelerators. However, improved understanding of the physics of heavy-ion transport and acceleration (supported by experimental results), combined with advances in accelerator technology, have resulted in accelerator design costs -- 50% of previous estimates. As a result, heavy-ion driven fusion power plants conceptual fusion power plants. A brief formulation of transport and acceleration physics is presented here, along with a description of the induction Linac cost optimization code LIACEP. Cost trends are presented and discussed, along with specific cost estimates for several accelerator designs matched to specific inertial fusion ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The purpose of this research is to clarify how psychological factor's impact on public acceptance of nuclear energy varies with people's degree of knowledge. For this purpose, we carried out questionnaire survey about nuclear energy at Suginami ward, Tokyo. After collecting data, we applied factor analysis to the data, and found 4 factors: Trust in the Authorities, Superiority of Nuclear Power Generation, Benefit for Nuclear Power Plants' Siting Areas, and Risk Perception about Nuclear Technology. In addition, using multiple regression analysis, we evaluated the impact of the 4 factors on 2 issues: the decision for or against nuclear policy and the reaction to nuclear power plant siting. Consequently, we found the change of impact of all 4 factors on the 2 issues. Especially, the impact of the 4 factors to the reaction to nuclear power plant siting was drastically changed by respondent's degree of knowledge. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In the preparing stage of Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR), the expected inventories of radwaste treatment systems are estimated. The inventory calculation plays an important role in the estimation of environmental radiation as well as nuclear power plant (hereafter referred to NPP) integrity, and further improvement of the public perception for NPP or radiation. The inventory has been accumulated and periodically measured for every NPP during the whole operation in Korea. But, a detailed analysis and database construction for the inventory have not still been carried out. For estimating the inventory change in this study, the radwaste treatment systems of Wolsung (hereafter referred to WS) nuclear power units 3 and 4 were selected as the reference systems. An analysis and prediction of the inventory change were performed for total activity released to environment during the whole operation. The linear regression analysis based on least squares method was ...

Science.gov (United States)

Clinical-HINTS (Health Intelligence System) is a horizontally integrated decision support system (DSS) designed to meet the requirements for intelligent real-time clinical information management in critical care medical environments and to lay the foundation for the development of the next generation of intelligent medical instrumentation. The system presented was developed to refine and complement the information yielded by clinical laboratory investigations, thereby benefiting the management of the intensive care unit (ICU) patient. More specifically, Clinical-HINTS was developed to provide computer-based assistance with the acquisition, organisation and display, storage and retrieval, communication and generation of real-time patient-specific clinical information in an ICU. Clinical-HINTS is an object-oriented system developed in C+2 to run under Microsoft Windows as an embryo intelligent agent. Current generic reasoning skills include perception and reactive ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The formation and breakdown of the passive films on stainless steels are mainly controlled by ionic and electronic transport processes. Both these processes are in part controlled by the electronic properties of the oxide film. Consequently, it is vital to gain a detailed perception of the electronic properties of the passive films together with structural and compositional information for a comprehensive understanding of mechanisms behind passivity and localised corrosion. As a step towards this goal the passive films formed on two main austenitic stainless steels AISI 316L and AISI 304L in borate solution were characterised by in situ Raman spectroscopy and photocurrent spectroscopy coupled with electrochemical measurements. This revealed the formation of an Fe-Cr spinel as the dominant constituent in the passive films with more Cr enrichment in the oxide film on 316L than that of 304L. Bandgap readings and semiconductivities of the two stainless steels suggested ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The intention of this study is to show the high potential of remote sensing data to keep an eye on longterm processes in large regions with widespread tasks and questions. The results of two projects (sponsored by the BMBF - Ministry of Education and Science, Germany and the country of Saxony-Anhalt) are taken into account to give an impression of the chances provided by the application of hyperspectral airborne scanner data and satellite images. So these two projects focus at the applicability of various methods to use remote sensing data for a long- term monitoring of former lignite open-cast mining areas. Apart from the traditional pixelorientated analysis, the application and combination of new object orientated methods (e.g. segmentation, texture analysis) were investigated to distinguish between the following typical vegetation types: Spontaneous revegetation of plant communities; reforestation areas; recultivated grass seeding areas; area patterns of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report presents the status of development of a three-dimensional conceptual model for the unconfined aquifer system at Hanford. A conceptual model is needed to support development of a realistic three-dimensional numerical model for predicting ground-water flow and the transport of contaminants. The report focuses on developing a hydrogeologic framework, assessing available hydraulic property data, describing flow-system boundaries, and evaluating areal recharge and leakage. Geologic descriptions of samples obtained during well drilling were used to prepare cross sections that correlate relatively continuous layers. The layers were defined based on textural differences that are expected to reflect differences in hydraulic properties. Assigning hydraulic properties to the layers is a critical part of the conceptual model. Available hydraulic property data for the study area were compiled and were correlated with the geologic layers where possible. Flow-system ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Material testing of SPF-sheet is usually done with coupon hot tensile testing. The optimum range of strain rates is determined with stepped strain tests. To overcome the problem of very few available testing facilities and time consuming and costly procedure, cone cup testing has been developed since long. This test can be generated directly in the workshop, no machining of samples is necessary and it is very much related to the real SPF-process. The analysis of suitable temperature and strain rate is done by simple measurement of resulting cone height. This paper describes a unique and novel variant of the above mentioned baseline design. It provides on-line data of the actual status of the cone cup forming resulting from the applied, constant pressure. Strain rate variations as a result from texture or from the alloy-related behaviour is detectable. Thinning and ''hardening'' behaviour of different alloys up to maximum failure ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

As a parameter for execution control of confirming a bearing stratum, which is most important in a bored precast pile method, discussions were made on the relativity between the product AT'' of a load current value A'' in an electric motor driving an auger used to drill pit holes with an excavation time T'' and a value N,'' a result of the standard penetration test of the ground. As a result, although the relativity of the N'' value has some variance in the ground of diluvial clay, they correspond well to each other in other kinds of ground. In pile bearing strata in particular, they correspond very well to each other regardless of soil textures of the ground, proving clearly that the AT'' value can be used as an effective parameter for confirmation of and penetration into the bearing stratum. Therefore, tips of all the piles used in one construction site can ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The present work focuses on the transformation of high-purity Ni powder blends of controlled volume fractions (40 and 60 %) of nanometre-sized (100 nm) and micrometre-sized (544 nm) particles into bulk samples as part of a strategy for producing ultrafine-grained materials usefully exhibiting both strength and ductility. The process involved cold isostatic pressing at 1.5 GPa and sintering. The resulting bulk samples had relative densities near 95 %, were texture-free, and exhibited two different grain size distributions with an average value of 600 #+-# 30 nm. The mechanical properties were investigated by compression and microhardness tests, both at room temperature, and compared to the behaviour of a sample processed from micrometre-sized powder only. Samples prepared from the blends exhibited high yield stresses of 440 and 550 MPa after compression, and they did sustain work hardening. Tests conducted before and after compression up to 50 % deformation showed ...

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 ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The influence of high energy electron (23 MeV) irradiation on the electrical characteristics of p-channel polysilicon thin film transistors (PSTFTs) was studied. The channel 220 nm thick LPCVD (low pressure chemical vapor deposition) deposited polysilicon layer was phosphorus doped by ion implantation. A 45 nm thick, thermally grown, SiO_2 layer served as gate dielectric. A self-alignment technology for boron doping of the source and drain regions was used. 200 nm thick polysilicon film was deposited as a gate electrode. The obtained p-channel PSTFTs were irradiated with different high energy electron doses. Leakage currents through the gate oxide and transfer characteristics of the transistors were measured. A software model describing the field enhancement and the non-uniform current distribution at textured polysilicon/oxide interface was developed. In order to assess the irradiation-stimulated changes of gate oxide parameters the gate oxide tunneling conduction ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The effects of anthropogenic (nitrogen fertilization) and natural [soil texture, pH content of humus, ammonium nitrogen (N-NH4), and the available forms of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg)] factors on nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) content and distribution were shown. The dependencies between these factors and the content of NO3-N in soil were estimated in three soil layers: 0-30 cm; 31-60 cm; 61-90 cm. The research was carried out in 2004-2006, and the soil samples were taken from 411 places throughout eastern Poland in two seasons: spring and autumn. The concentration of NO3-N significantly depended on the year of investigation, season of the year, and depth of sampling. Distribution of NO3-N in the soil profile indicates possibility of NO3 leaching during winter and early spring....

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ion bombardment during deposition can significantly modify the film properties. In the partially ionized beam deposition, ions derived from the depositing material, i.e., the self-ions, are used during deposition. Cu films were deposited on SiO{sub 2} substrates at room temperature using 1% Cu self-ions with an energy ranging between 0--4 keV. We studied the microstructures of the Cu films using x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, measured the impurity level inside the films using secondary ion mass spectrometry, and performed the resistivity measurements using a four point probe. The results indicate that there is an optimum ion energy around 2 keV at which, the integrated x-ray intensity ratio {ital I}(111)/{ital I}(200) reaches its maximum value indicating a strong {l angle}111{r angle} texture, while the impurity concentration and resisitivity are minimum. The correlation between the structural, compositional and electrical properties are ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

It is needless to say that one of the most important roles of the condensate demineralizer in Japanese boiling water reactors (BWR) is to eliminate such impurities during accidental occurrence of sea water leakage from condensate cooling system. Ion exchange resins packed in condensate demineralizer have also been expected to decrease crud, or corrosion products (CP) in condensate water in order to finally reduce activated corrosion products (ACP) in the reactor coolant loop. It is perceived that crud removal ability of a condensate demineralizer has been improved year by year. And we call this phenomenon as `Aging Effect`. Typical property changes of aged cation exchange resin consisted of an increase of water retention capacity and a change of surface texture. Based on these findings, we formulated a new concept and developed new gel type ion exchange resins for the better crud removal. The results from column tests using actual condensate water for approximately ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This thesis deals with the evaluation of Solar Grade Silicon (SoG-Si) purified by different techniques, and also the fabrication and characterization of high efficiency and advanced bifacial solar cells. In the beginning of Chapter 1, various SoG-Si production methods relevant for this work are qualitatively described. The three feedstock materials used in this work are from the Fluidized Bed Reactor (FBR) process, metallurgical feedstock-I and feedstock-II process. In metallurgical feedstock-I, the lifetime of the minority charge carriers in multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) samples at the grain boundaries are found to be higher than the grains themselves possibly due to lower resistivities in the grain boundaries. The efficiency of the best solar cell obtained using the mc-Si metallurgical feedstock-I is 16.1%. It has been identified that the fast light induced degradation, whose magnitude is lower than that of a reference cell suggests the formation of a B-metal complex in the SoG-Si ...

Science.gov (United States)

This case study, conducted from an interpretive paradigm, illuminates contextual factors related to the tutor experience when senior undergraduate dental hygiene students served as tutors for beginning undergraduate dental hygiene students, or sophomores, in a 1-semester, 2-hour long problem-based learning (PBL) course in a Baccalaureate Dental Hygiene (BDH) curriculum during the spring semester of 2008. Data were collected using various sources and methods. Six tutors and three administrators were interviewed, tutees completed an anonymous questionnaire, the tutorial process and tutor training sessions were observed, and related documents were examined. Data analysis included open and axial coding, creation of tutor profiles, and identification of patterns. Tutor behaviors varied with respect to the nature of intervention (e.g., telling, asking, clarifying, acknowledging), emphasis (process, content, social), and facilitation style (directive, suggestive, empowering). Patterns in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Background: Despite the fact that adverse health effects are not confirmed for exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RFEMF) levels below the limit values, as defined in the guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, many persons are worried about possible adverse health effects caused by the RF-EMF emitted from mobile phone base stations, or they attribute their unspecific health complaints like headache or sleep disturbances to these fields. Method: In the framework of a cross-sectional study a questionnaire was sent to 4150 persons living in predominantly urban areas. Participants were asked whether base stations affected their health. Health complaints were measured with standardized health questionnaires for sleep disturbances, headache, health complaints and mental and physical health. 3,526 persons responded (85%) to the questionnaire and 1,808 (51%) agreed to dosimetric measurements in their flats. Exposure was measured in 1,500 ...

Science.gov (United States)

The precedence effect (PE) is thought to be beneficial for proper localization and perception of sounds. The majority of recent physiological studies focus on the neural discharges correlated with PE in the inferior colliculus (IC). Pentobarbital anesthesia is widely used in physiological studies. However, little is known of the effect of pentobarbital on the discharge of neurons in PE. Neuronal responses in the IC from 23 male SD rats were recorded by standard extracellular recording techniques following presentation of 4 ms white noise bursts, presented from either or both of two loud speakers, at different interstimulus delays (ISDs). The neural responses were recorded for off-line analysis before or after intraperitoneal administration of pentobarbital at a loading or maintenance dose. Data were assessed by one-way repeated measures analysis of variance and pairwise comparisons. When the ipsilateral stimuli were leading, pentobarbital at a loading dose ...

Science.gov (United States)

The global spread of HIV and AIDS has presented a major threat to development, affecting the health of the poor and many aspects of social and economic development. The greatest impact of the epidemic has been felt in sub-Saharan Africa, and Zambia ranks among the worst hit countries. The Free Basic Education Policy in Zambia upholds the right of all children to a universal basic education. This study explored staff and student perceptions of the impact of the epidemic on access to, and the quality of, basic education for AIDS-affected children, orphans and other vulnerable children (OVCs) in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia, where the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate ranges from 34 to 40%, and life expectancy has dropped to 33 years. Data were collected from education personnel in six districts of the Copperbelt with the highest prevalence of HIV and AIDS and from staff and students in six schools. The data indicated a range of factors that adversely affect the access ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report was prepared in response to a request from the Nuclear Energy Research Advisory Committee (NERAC) subcommittee on ''Long-Term Isotope Research and Production Plans.'' The NERAC subcommittee has asked for a reply to a number of questions regarding (1) ''How well does the Department of Energy (DOE) infrastructure sme the need for commercial and medical isotopes?'' and (2) ''What should be the long-term role of the federal government in providing commercial and medical isotopes?' Our report addresses the questions raised by the NERAC subcommittee, and especially the 10 issues that were raised under the first of the above questions (see Appendix). These issues are related to the isotope products offered by the DOE Isotope Production Sites, the capabilities and condition of the facilities used to produce these products, the management of the isotope production programs at DOE ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

If geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) are to make a significant mark in the market, we believe that it will be through energy service pricing contracts offered by retailcos. The benefits of GHPs are ideally suited to energy service pricing (ESP) contractual arrangements; however, few retailcos are thoroughly familiar with the benefits of GHPs. Many of the same barriers that have prevented GHPs from reaching their full potential in the current market environment remain in place for retailcos. A lack of awareness, concerns over the actual efficiencies of GHPs, perceptions of extremely high first costs, unknown records for maintenance costs, etc. have all contributed to limited adoption of GHP technology. These same factors are of concern to retailcos as they contemplate long term customer contracts. The central focus of this project was the creation of models, using actual GHP operating data and the experience of seasoned professionals, to simulate the financial ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The effects of gamma irradiation at 0.2#approx#0.4 Mrad and condition for processing of buckwheat noodles on sensory quality and physical properties were investigated. The results were as follows: (1) Sensory evaluation of buckwheat noodles, prepared with the 70 % ratio of buckwheat flour, was decreased according to an increase of irradiation dose of buckwheat flour. Hardness and adhesiveness of buckwheat noodles caused by irradiation should be given large effect to the texture. Elasticity of buckwheat noodles was linearly decreased with increasing of irradiation dose of buckwheat flour, and elasticity of buckwheat noodles was decreased about 15 % by an increase of irradiation dose at 0.3 Mrad. (2) Maximum torque in Farinograph test was linearly decreased with increasing of irradiation dose of buckwheat flour, and maximum torque was decreased about 3 % by increasing of irradiation dose with 0.1 Mrad. (3) Sensory evaluation was also decreased by increasing content ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Two families of CeO{sub 2}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} (ACE) catalyst supports, containing 3 and 20 % wt CeO{sub 2} respectively, have been examined and compared with the pure oxides CeO{sub 2} and (transition-phase) Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}. Structural data indicate that, also in the presence of CeO{sub 2}, the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} support undergoes all phase transitions at the usual temperatures. Electron micrographs show that particles morphology and crystals size are mainly imposed by the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} support. The porosimetric texture indicates a more pronounced meso-porosity in the ACE systems than in pure Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, especially in the case of low CeO{sub 2} loadings. FTIR spectra and volumetric/calorimetric data of the adsorption of CO at {approx}300 K show that the surface Lewis acidity of aluminas is severely modified by the presence of CeO{sub 2}: the overall CO uptake is increased, there is the formation of one additional family of Lewis acid sites (Ce{sup 4+} ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The major part of the chapter 'Physical Properties' in concerned with, in addition to nuclear and atomic properties, the properties of the metal molybdenum. Due to the huge number of relevant papers, the present volume comprises only the first part of the metal properties, i.e. the crystallographic properties, the electronic structure, the lattice dynamics, and subsequently the mechanical and thermal properties. There are two small sections where the properties of the molecules, primarily Mo/sub 2/ and Mo/sub 6/, and of the vapor are described. The strength and some other mechanical properties have been frequently investigated to establish the change due to neutron irradiation, because this affects the durability of the fuel containers in nuclear reactors. For that purpose, changes in structure, texture, etc., due to irradiation had to be determined; the structural properties of nonirradiated samples also had to be studied in great detail, the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper reports that grinding and polishing affected the orientation of 90 degrees domains at the surface of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics. This was quantified by using changes in the intensity ratio of the (002) and (200) X-ray reflections. Grinding unpoled PZT with 600-grit SiC paper gave X-ray intensity ratios similar to those of poled material. This implies that 90 degrees domain realignments had occurred in the near surface region probed by the X-rays. Grinding poled samples with 600-grit SiC further increased the X-ray intensity ratio beyond that caused by poling, indicating that additional surface reorientation of 90 degrees domains had occurred. The effects of diamond polishing depended on the size of the diamond particles. The use of 6-#mu#m diamond had no effect on the (002)/(200) intensity ratio of either poled or unpoled samples, while polishing with 15- or 45-#mu#m diamond significantly enhanced the 90 degrees domain rotation. In unpoled samples, the increase ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The poster illustrates how the recent developments in genetic stratigraphy have contributed to constrain reservoir layering and to improve prediction of reservoir quality in the oil-bearing reservoir of N`KOSSA. The mixed lithology deposits formed during Albian times. Thanks to the excellent core coverage of the reservoir (4 cored wells over the entire reservoir interval), continuous sedimentological examination and interpretation of the facies succession have been carried out. The reservoir can be subdivided into composite sequences (50 to 150 in thick) which are made up of stacked metre-scale genetic units. Three different stacking patterns of genetic units have been identified; retrogradation, aggradation and progradation. These patterns reflect a gradual change of depositional regimes through time. Facies variations (texture, bio-association, geometry, spatial distribution) and early diagenetic overprints can be related to each type of stacking pattern. One ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Cassava is cultivated almost all over the world and it is considered one of the most important nutritious sources of calories in the human diet. Cassava is a viable food against starvation in several poor areas of the world because it is an extremely resistant culture and may reach satisfactory economical yield. We utilized vacuum packed industrialized cassava irradiated with 0,1 kGy, 3kGy and 5kGy and stored under refrigeration for 1, 21, 30 and 50 days. Our objective was to analyse the synergistic effect of vacuum packing, irradiation and refrigeration on the preservation of minimally processed cassava. The samples were analyzed for pH, acidity, weight, humidity, texture and color. The irradiation did not affect the chemical characteristics of the cassava. Neither the pH nor the acidity, the most relevant variables to verify deterioration in cassava, presented significant alterations during the period of storage. Comparing the irradiated treatments, the dose of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Superplasticity can be generally achieved by grain boundary sliding (GBS). The GBS in polycrystalline materials sometimes accompanies with intergranular fracture because of stress concentrations at triple points and/or GB irregularities. To develop the superplastic flow, it is necessary to suppress the intergranular cracking. In the present study, therefore, polycrystalline molybdenum with distinct GB microstructures, such as grain boundary character distribution (GBCD), has been employed to clarify the relationship between fracture behaviour and GB microstructures. Microstructures were analyzed using a FE-SEM/EBSP/OIM system prior to 4-points bending tests at 77K, thereafter, crack propagation was observed. The main results obtained are as follows. Stress fluctuations on stress - strain curves were observed for specimens with random oriented grains, whereas such behaviour rarely occurred for ones with textured grains. Difference in the behaviour would result from ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Outcrops of Tertiary coal-bearing units in sea cliffs of the Kenai Peninsula provide an excellent study area for volcanic ash partings in coals. Twenty mid-to late-Miocene, 50-cm to 3-m thick coal seams exposed in the sea cliffs about 10 km west of Homer contain an average of 10 volcanic ash or lapilli tuff partings each. The bedding relationships of the coal with any one parting cannot be predicted, and the contacts of the partings with the coal range from very sharp to predominantly gradational. These bedding relationships provide clues about the surface on which the ashes fell and on which the coal was accumulating. For example, some ashes fell in standing water, others on irregular subaerial surfaces. The partings are in various stages of alteration to kaolinite and bentonite, and vary in thickness from a few millimeters to about 10 cm. The consistency and texture of the partings depend on the degree of alteration; the less altered partings display visible ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Copper coatings deposited on Al-6061 substrates by radio frequency magnetron sputtering, to prevent the retention and permeation of energetically implanted tritium in Al-6061, were evaluated by a variety of characterization techniques. The coatings, weighing in the 0.03 to 0.088 kg/m{sup 2} range, were smooth and had a fine grain structure. They contained the intermetallic phases Cu{sub 9}Al{sub 4} and CuAl{sub 2} as well as copper. The fractions of Al and Cu in any coating increased and decreased, respectively, with increasing depth below the surface. Furthermore, the fractions of Al and Cu on the coating surface decreased and increased, respectively, with increasing coating weight. There was no texture or preferred orientation in the Cu phase of the coatings. A significant amount of oxygen was also detected at the original substrate surface. Residual stress measurements revealed that, in both Cu and CuAl{sub 2}, the stresses in the coating plane were compressive, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Buried soils occur on kettle floors of four Pinedale moraine catenas of the western Wind River Mountains of Wyoming. Radiocarbon ages from bulk samples of Ab horizons indicate the soils were buried during the mid-Holocene. Soils on kettle floors have silty A and Bw horizons that overlie buried A and B horizons that also formed in silt-rich sediments. Crests and backslope soils also have A and Bw horizons of sandy loam formed over 2BCb and 2Cb horizons of stony coarse loamy sand. Recent data show the silty textures of the A and B horizons are due to eolian silt and clay from the Green River Basin just west of the mountains. The buried soils appear to represent alternate periods of erosion and deposition on the moraines during the Holocene. The original soils developed on higher slopes of the moraines were eroded during the mid-Holocene and the 2BC and 2C horizons exposed at the surface. Eroded soil sediments were transported downslope onto the kettle floors. ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Throughout the 1990's to year 2000, energy integration, and particularly natural gas integration, was seen as a major goal in the southern cone of South America. The regional perspective for energy was related to an even more challenging objective - Latin American economic integration, which was quickly moving forward by the constitution of Mercosur, the free trade zone built by Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay, and also having Bolivia and Chile as special partners. Mercosur was getting stronger and becoming a successful political project. Trade conflicts existed, but they were considered normal and nobody would disagree about the viability of Mercosur. By the beginning of the 21. century, the economic integration process in South America was already advancing timidly as compared to the impetus from the beginning of 1990's. Mercosur started facing complex and almost insurmountable challenges after the numerous global financial crises (from 1998 to 2003) had affected the economic ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We use the bulge Sersic index n and bulge-to-total mass ratio (B/T) to explore the fundamental question of how bulges form. We perform two-dimensional bulge-disk-bar decomposition on H-band images of 143 bright, high-mass (M _* #>=# 1.0 x 10"1"0 M _s_u_n) low-to-moderately inclined (i < 70"0) spirals. Our results are as follows. (1) Our H-band bar fraction (#approx#58%) is consistent with that from ellipse fits. (2) 70% of the stellar mass is in disks, 10% in bars, and 20% in bulges. (3) A large fraction (#approx#69%) of bright spirals have B/T#<=# 0.2, and #approx#76% have low n #<=# 2 bulges. These bulges exist in barred and unbarred galaxies across a wide range of Hubble types. (4) About 65% (68%) of bright spirals with n #<=# 2 (B/T #<=# 0.2) bulges host bars, suggesting a possible link between bars and bulges. (5) We compare the results with predictions from a set of #LAMBDA#CDM models. In the models, a high-mass spiral can have a bulge with a present-day low ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Liver paste or foie gras, which is a French term meaning fatty liver, was produced traditionally from goose and duck. Chickens are also used in the making of foie gras. The present study deals with the properties and quality of raw chicken and duck liver in comparison with manufactured liver paste (foie gras). Raw chicken liver contained 24.60% protein, 6.00% fat, 1.40 % ash, and 66.80% moisture. The average mineral values were 83.65, 50.75, 5.29, 1.15, 0.154, 0.683, 0.317 and 0.066 {mu}g/g of Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr, respectively. The processing of liver paste (Foie gras) changed the composition of raw liver due to a loss in moisture, a release of fat and the addition of butter as a fat source. Chicken liver paste contained 27.8% moisture, 10.1% protein, 58.2% fat, and 0.8% ash. Mineral contents were 68.90, 40.50, 1.60, 1.1, 0.08, 0.22, 0.04 and 0.04 {mu}g/g of Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr, respectively. The chemical, microbiological and sensory evaluation of liver ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Full text: The IRSN has been organizing enquiries with the French population about risk and risk perception for a long time. In 2002, a collaboration between the IRSN in France and the SCK.CEN in Belgium has been set-up to simultaneously (November 2002) organise this poll in both countries. In each country, a representative sample of the population (over 1000 participants per country) has been consulted by Computer Aided Personal Interviews of about 30 minutes with the professional help of commercial companies: BVA in France and Research International in Belgium. The enquiry yields a broad spectrum of interesting data; here only the results relevant for the emergency context will be presented. One should be aware that these data were collected in a 'normal' period; important differences in behaviour may occur given a serious crisis. A first finding is that more than half of the respondents are convinced that an accident as severe as the Chernobyl disaster may ...