A kinetic model based on the Mars-vanKrevelenmechanism that allows to describe the microkinetics of the heterogeneously catalysed partial oxidation of {alpha}, {beta}-unsaturated aldehydes is presented. This conversion is represented by a network, composed of the oxidation of the {alpha}, {beta}-unsaturated aldehyde towards the {alpha}, {beta}-unsaturated carboxylic acid and the consecutive oxidation of the acid as well as the parallel reaction of the aldehyde to products of deeper oxidation. The reaction steps of aldehyde respectively acid oxidation and catalyst reoxidation have been investigated separately in transient experiments. The combination of steady state and transient experiments has led to an improved understanding of the interaction of the catalyst with the aldehyde and the carboxylic acids as well as to a support of the kinetic model assumptions. (orig.)
By means of an analogous simulator, which can simulate a power supply system, a method to determine the transfer function of a Power System Stabilizer (PSS) is developed. The purpose of the PSS is to damp unwanted electro-mechanical oscillations. The method is very systematic and there is no need for specified values of the parameters used in the system. It is assumed that the power generator system is linear for small variations. The system can be considered to be a black box. Measurements executed by means of this method are completely controlled by the person who enforces the measurement. By applying this method carefully, irregularities are almost out of the question. The equipment necessary are a PC with two AD-ports and an adjustable sinus-generator. A comparison is made with a more traditional method, in which a spectrum analyzer is used. 4 figs., 7 refs.
The Electric Fuel Limited (EFL) refuelable zinc-air battery system is currently being tested in a number of electric vehicle demonstration projects, the largest of which is a field test of zinc-air postal vans sponsored chiefly by Deutsche Post AG (the German Post Office). The zinc-air battery is not recharged electrically, but rather is refueled through a series of mechanical and electrochemical steps that will require a special infrastructure in commercial application. As part of the German Post Office field test program, Electric Fuel designed and constructed a pilot zinc anode regeneration plant in Bremen, Germany. This plant is capable of servicing up to 100 commercial vans per week, which is adequate for the field test vehicle fleet. This paper will describe the design and operation of each of the areas and devices within the plant.
Several studies on individual control of the thermal indoor climate and indoor air quality are discussed. A distinction is made between the effect on health, the effect on comfort and the effect on performance. The underlying mechanisms are examined more closely, and concrete recommendations are made for future design norms. [Dutch] Een aantal studies op het gebied van beinvloeding van thermisch binnenklimaat en binnenluchtkwaliteit wordt besproken. Hierbij wordt onderscheid gemaakt tussen invloed op gezondheid, comfort en prestaties. Vervolgens wordt dieper ingegaan op achterliggende mechanismen en worden concrete aanbevelingen gedaan voor toekomstige ontwerpen.
Within about 10 years, microelectronic devices will be made with more than a billion (10"9) electronic components per chip. To implement such a sophisticated technology it will be essential to have a fundamental understanding of the solid state interaction between the different materials in thin film semiconductor structures. This is the main purpose of this research program. Characterization and analysis is carried out mainly by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and channelling using accelerated nuclear particles from the Van de Graaff accelerator, while radioactive isotopes provide information about interaction mechanisms. 6 figs., 1 ref.
Electric cars are as unpopular as ever, but the hopes for environmentally sound, quiet vehicles may lie, surprisingly, with the commercial market. Advances in electric vans and lorries are reviewed. (author).
An overview is given of several computer models in use in the Netherlands to determine and analyze the quality of air and the effect of air pollution abatement measures. [Dutch] Voor het vaststellen van de luchtkwaliteit of het bepalen van het effect van emissiereducerende maatregelen op die luchtkwaliteit zijn in ons land meerdere computermodellen beschikbaar. In het kader van het Vooronderzoek Innovatieprogramma Luchtkwaliteit (VIPL) wilde het ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat meer inzicht in de betrouwbaarheid en specifieke eigenschappen van deze modellen. Deze studie geeft daarom een overzicht en analyse van de verschillen, overeenkomsten en voor- en nadelen van de meest gangbare Nederlandse computermodellen om de luchtkwaliteit rond snelwegen te bepalen. Dit zijn: Het Voorspellingssysteem Luchtkwaliteit Wegtraces ...
The Construction of a natural gas-fired combined heat and power plant at the site of the Pernis refinery will further reduce the emission of SO2 and NOx. [mk]. [Dutch] Met de bouw van een aardgasgestookte warmte/kracht-installatie op het terrein van de raffinaderij Pernis wordt de emissie van SO2 en NOx verder gereduceerd.
As a result of a lower value of the energy efficiency coefficient (EPC) for houses and the implementation of the Energy Performance Building Directive (EPBD), both in 2006, the interest in applying renewable energy systems is growing. Therefore, this issue is dedicated to renewable energy and related energy systems. [Dutch] Het begrip 'duurzaam' is van toepassing op twee pijlers: een pijler betreft het gebruik van duurzame materialen, de tweede pijler is duurzame energie. Door verlaging van de Energieprestatiecoefficient (EPC) voor woningen per 2006 en de invoering van de Europese richtlijn Energy Performance Building Directive (EPBD) in 2006, krijgt duurzame energie een nieuwe impuls. Reden voor de redactie van ThemaTech om deze aflevering te wijden aan duurzame energie en verwante ystemen.
Oct 30, 2006 ... Pigment Analysis by HPLC at Horn Point Laboratory. Laurie Van Heukelem. Crystal Thomas. Meg Maddox. University of Maryland Center for ...
... CVn) consisting of a dM3 star and a cool white dwarf that must have evolved through the common-envelope stage of binary star evolution (Else van ...
There's nothing that prevents us from being vigilant. In fact, freedom requires vigilance, and certainly our security in today's world requires vigilance. But one of the...
The main conclusion of the study on the title subject is that the impacts of climatic change in the Netherlands are still limited. However, the impacts will be stronger in the next decades and will be even problematic at the end of this century. In this book an overview is given of probable changes in the climate for the Netherlands, danger for flooding in specific areas of the Netherlands, changes of the nature, impacts for agriculture, tourism and recreation, and industry and businesses, and risks for public health. [Dutch] De effecten van klimaatverandering in Nederland zijn nu nog beperkt. Ze zullen echter de komende decennia toenemen, maar pas tegen het eind van deze eeuw problematisch worden. Dat is de hoofdboodschap van de titelstudie. De studie is opgesteld in samenwerking met een reeks instellingen, die zijn verenigd in het Platform Communicatie Klimaatverandering (PCCC). Het klimaat verandert: de zeespiegel ...
This report focuses on the question whether a further increase in environmental taxes can contribute to achieving a sustainable economy in which depletion and climate risks should be reduced to an acceptable level for 2050. The strategy to achieve this consists of four main elements: (1) Introduction of a new CO2 tax as part of the Energy Tax; (2) Broadening of the Energy Tax to sectors such as agriculture and industry and the cancellation of subsidies and tax rebates; (3) Expansion of new tax bases for import / production of natural resources (wood, fish, meat) and space; and (4) European agenda on 'greening'. [Dutch] In dit rapport staat de vraag centraal of een verdere groei van milieubelastingen een bijdrage kan leveren aan het realiseren van een duurzame economie waarin klimaat- en uitputtingsrisico's tot een aanvaardbaar niveau moeten zijn teruggebracht voor 2050. De strategie om dit te bereiken bestaat uit vier ...
The Netherlands Chemical Industry Association (VNCI) is investigating the potential for expansion of the CHP capacity in the Dutch chemical industry. This report discusses the return on investment for CHP installations and the market conditions. Moreover, scenario results are presented for the CHP potential and the development of CHP in the chemical industry until 2020. [Dutch] De Vereniging van de Nederlandse Chemische Industrie (VNCI) heeft onderzoek laten uitvoeren om vast te stellen welke economische en beleidsmatige voorwaarden er zijn om het WKK-potentieel in de Nederlandse chemie te realiseren. Dit rapport brengt de marktpositie van WKK en de rentabiliteit van investeringen in WKK in beeld. Verder worden resultaten gegeven voor de potentiele energiebesparing en emissiereductie en wordt een scenario gepresenteerd voor het WKK-potentieel in de chemische industrie tot 2020.
In this work, a powerful analytical method, called He's parameter-expanding methods (HPEM) is used to obtain the exact solutions of non-linear modified Van der Pol's oscillator. The classical Van der Pol equation with delayed feedback and a modified equation where a delayed term provides the damping are considered. It is shown that one term in series expansions is sufficient to obtain a highly accurate solution, which is valid for the whole solution domain. Comparison of the obtained solution with those obtained using perturbation method shows that this method is effective and convenient to solve this problem. This method introduces a capable tool to solve this kind of non-linear problems.
A lower energy efficiency standard for buildings (EPC) can have a negative impact on thermal comfort and indoor air quality. Cooperation and integrated design are preconditions for a correct use, installation and maintenance of heating and ventilation systems in buildings. [Dutch] Er komt steeds meer kritiek op de wijze waarop in ons land woningen en gebouwen worden gebouwd. Op dit moment is het vooral woonhuisventilatie waar veel om te doen is. Van beleidsmakers tot aannemers en van Consumentenbond tot gezondheidsdiensten; iedereen vraagt zich af of we met vergaande isolatie onze woningen en gebouwen nog wel leefbaar houden. In dit artikel wordt een pleidooi gehouden voor onderlinge samenwerking en integraal ontwerp als randvoorwaarden voor een goede toepassing, installatie en onderhoud van verwarmings- en ventilatiesystemen in gebouwen.
Robert van Gulik was a respected Dutch sinologist and author who first translated a collection of traditional Chinese detective stories into English and then created additional fictional stories based...Full Text Available
This section of the report is concerned with the study of the metallisation, oxidation and doping of materials which are of importance to the micro-electronics industry. The Van de Graaff accelerator and radioactive tracers are used for studying surface and sub-surface behaviour of these materials.
The results of a comprehensive infrared imaging search for the putative 0.06 M{sub {circle_dot}} astrometric companion to the 4.4 pc white dwarf van Mannen 2 are reported. Adaptive optics images acquired at 3.8 {micro}m reveal a diffraction limited core of 0.09 inch and no direct evidence of a secondary. Models predict that at 5 Gyr, a 50 M{sub J} brown dwarf would be only 1 magnitude fainter than van Maanen 2 at this wavelength and the astrometric analysis suggested a separation of 0.2 inch. In the case of a chance alignment along the line of sight, a 0.4 mag excess should be measured. An independent photometric observation at the same wavelength reveals no excess. In addition, there exist published ISO observations of van Maanen 2 at 6.8 {micro}m and 15.0 {micro}m which are consistent with photospheric flux of a 6750 K white dwarf. If recent brown dwarf models are correct, there is no substellar companion with T{sub eff} ...
Recently, G. C. Van Orden, J. G. Holden, and M. T. Turvey (2003) proposed to abandon the conventional framework of cognitive psychology in favor of the...Full Text Available
A procedure has been developed for judging one-pile foundations for wind turbines. It appears that these foundations are good alternatives for block foundations. It is recommended to develop a program for testing one-pile foundations and to carry out a further research into their dynamic behavior.
This purpose of this paper is to describe the optimizing Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) insertion, revising data collection strategies, estimating workloads, and calculating the financial savings generated by the vascular access nurse (VAN)...
PCR was used with the primer pair VANS1-NS21 to detect the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices (commercial inoculum source) on roots of lettuce, zinnia, leek, pepper, and endive plants....Full Text Available
An overview is given of the interest of the Dutch government, several organizations and consumers in the quality of the indoor environment. Main aspects, sub-aspects and indicators for the indoor environment of dwellings are listed: site selection, thermal comfort, air quality, light, view, privacy, noise, safety, and radiation. [Dutch] In het veld wordt onvoldoende aandacht en prioriteit gegeven aan de kwaliteit van het binnenmilieu. Het ligt voor de hand de kennis over de relatie gezondheid en binnenmilieu bij professionele partijen te vergroten. In dit kader is het Binnenmilieuprofiel voor de kantooromgeving geintroduceerd. Aan de hand hiervan kan de discussie worden gevoerd tussen vrager en aanbieder over de kwaliteit van het binnenmilieu. Het zou de basis kunnen zijn voor een keurmerk Gezond Gebouw. Dezelide binnenmilieuproblematiek doet zich natuurlijk ook voor bij woningen. In dit artikel wordt een introductie gegeven ...
This report gives an overview of Dutch R&D efforts in the field of energy supply. For a wide range of energy carriers and groups of technologies information is gathered on a number of aspects: the current status of relevant technologies, the current and potential application in the Netherlands, the governmental budget and the non-governmental budget for R&D, the parties involved in R&D, the main R&D topics, and environmental and societal aspects of application. 3 tabs., 98 refs.
The school building complex Waterland in The Hague, Netherlands, was built with a hybrid ventilation system. The indoor environment and energy consumption were monitored for one year. Air quality and thermal comfort are of a high quality and the consumption of energy for heating is circa 35% lower than normal. The Waterland project was one of eight demonstration projects, carried out within the framework of the ECBS-Annex 35: Hybrid ventilation in New and retrofitted Office Buildings. ECBS stands for the IEA-program Energy Conservation in Buildings and Community Systems. [Dutch] In ECBCs-annex 35 (ECBS staat voor het IEA-programma Energy Conservation in Buildings and Community Systems) is uitgebreid onderzoek gedaan naar hybride ventilatiesystemen in kantoren en scholen. Dit project heeft geleid tot acht internationale voorbeeldprojecten, waarvan scholencomplex Waterland te Den Haag er een van is. Het scholencomplex is in 2003 opgeleverd met een hybride ...
At the Huizhou oil field in China the FPSO Munin of Bluewater completely relies on five computer controlled propulsion screws to position itself, a so-called Dynamic Positioning (DP) system. In this article report is given of training given to the crew of the FPSO Munin. A floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit is a floating vessel used by the offshore industry for the processing and storage of oil and gas. [Dutch] Op het Huizhou oileveld in China vertrouwt de FPSO (floating production, storage and offloading unit) Munin van Bluewater uitsluitend op een vijftal computergestuurde voorstuwingsschroeven om zichzelf in positie te houden, een zogenaamd Dynamisch Positionering (DP) systeem. In dit artikel wordt verslag gedaan van en uitleg gegeven over trainingen die zijn gegeven aan de bemanning van de FPSO Munin.
A brief overview is given of the developments with regard to the ease of operation of water heaters in houses, in particular the option to use remote control (e.g. the telephone) to adjust the temperature. [Dutch] Woonkwaliteit betekent voor de meeste mensen een combinatie van luxe, comfort en gemak. Vertaald naar ons vakgebied, houdt dat onder andere in: luxe badkamers met bijvoorbeeld massagedouches, waarvoor grote volumestromen warmtapwater benodigd zijn, een comfortabel binnenklimaat en een stuk bedieningsgemak om een en ander te realiseren. Nu is Nederland een uitgesproken combiketel land, waarbij de ketel over het algemeen met behulp van eenvoudige (klok)thermostaten wordt geregeld. Onze Oosterburen kiezen veel vaker voor separate ketel-boilercombinaties voor een groot warmtapwater comfort en uitgebreide regelapparatuur voor de (ruimte)temperatuurregeling. Maar ook in Nederland neernt de vraag naar meer warmwater toe en worden steeds ...
A conceptual design of an advanced sodium/sulfur cell for US electric-van applications has been completed. The important design factors included specific physical and electrical requirements, service life, manufacturability, thermal management, and safety. The capacity of this cell is approximately the same as that for the ``PB`` cell being developed by Silent Power Limited (10 Ah). The new cell offers a 50% improvement in energy capacity and nearly a 100% improvement in peak power over the existing PB cells. A battery constructed with such cells would significantly exceed the USABC`s mid-term performance specifications. In addition, a similar cell and battery design effort was completed for an advanced passenger car application. A battery using the van cell would have nearly 3 times the energy compared to lead-acid batteries, yet weigh 40% less; a present-day battery using a cell specifically designed for this car would provide 50% more energy ...
In the first part of the nineties many office buildings were equipped with indoor climate installations which do not meet present standards. Several options are available to improve such installations for ventilation capacity, cooling capacity, thermal comfort and air quality. One of the options concern the installation of an air conditioner in combination with heat recovery. In this article attention is paid to the renovation of the air conditioning system in the Printer house, an office building in Zwolle, Netherlands. [Dutch] Begin jaren negentig zijn veel kantoorpanden gebouwd waarvan de klimaatinstallatie tegenwoordig niet meer voldoet. De ventilatiecapaciteit is ontoereikend en koeling is mondjesmaat aanwezig, of slechts als topkoeling. Het comfort en de luchtkwaliteit zijn dan ook onder de maat. Er zijn verschillende mogelijkheden om dit te verbeteren. Plaatsing van een nieuwe luchtbehandelingskast met warmteterugwinning is daar een van. ...
This action plan describes the view of the Working Group Decentralized Infrastructure on how grid operators should prepare for the implementation of decentralized applications in the next 4 years. Currently, various parties (among which grid operators) are making preparations for the installation of smart meters in dwellings in the Netherlands. The operation will take up several years. The working group sketches opportunities with the smart meter cupboard and the smart meter in support of the developments under the Energy Transition (ET), identifying several actions in this action plan (Chapter 3). In 2007, the working group set up 'position papers' for the twelve transition paths and ET working groups, anticipating developments for the decentralized infrastructure. From the viewpoint of the grid operator, the working group offers actions that may contribute to realizing a sustainable energy system (Chapter 11). Chapter 12 provides all action items in one ...
We report de Haas--van Alphen measurements of the Fermi surface of lutetium at temperatures down to 0.3 K and in fields up to 150 kG in the (1010) and (1120) planes. Lutetium, having a filled 4f shell, serves as a nonmagnetic prototype of the structurally similar (hcp), trivalent, heavy rare-earth elements from Gd to Tm. The fact that no complete frequency branches were observed indicates that there are no closed pieces of the Fermi surface. We observed all but one orbit predicted by relativistic augmented-plane-wave calculations of Keeton and Loucks and by recent spin-orbit--linearized-augmented-plane-wave calculations of Tibbetts and Harmon. The data support a geometry similar to that of yttrium, and in good qualitative agreement with energy-band theory.
The most important aim of the title program is to investigate the possibility to convert long-lived actinides and mobile fission products in short-lived and stable isotopes by means of nuclear transmutation and recycling. First, an overview is given of the present situation regarding fission material waste, the origin of such waste in light water reactors and the options for interim and ultimate storage. Next, attention is paid to the aim of the the RAS program, the working method and the results so far of national and international research on the transmutation of actinides and fission products. Speculative expectations for the future are briefly outlined. The report also contains four appendices with technical aspects of the title subject: the RAS program of ECN, chemical aspects of reprocessing fission material, transmutation in fission reactors and in accelerators. 12 figs., 7 tabs., 4 appendices, 57 refs.
Monopolar charge disorder effects are studied in the context of fluctuation-induced interactions between neutral dielectric slabs. It is shown that quenched bulk charge disorder gives rise to an additive contribution to the net interaction force which decays as the inverse distance between dielectric surfaces. This effect may thus completely mask the standard Casimir--van der Waals effect. By contrast, annealed (bulk or surface) charge disorder leads to a net interaction force whose large-distance behavior coincides with the universal Casimir force between perfect conductors, which scales as inverse cubic distance, and the dielectric properties enter only in subleading corrections.
To represent a heterogeneous unsaturated fractured rock by its homogeneous equivalent, Monte Carlo simulations are used to obtain upscaled (effective) flow properties. In this study, we present a numerical procedure for upscaling the van Genuchten parameters of unsaturated fractured rocks by conducting Monte Carlo simulations of the unsaturated flow in a domain under gravity-dominated regime. The simulation domain can be chosen as the scale of block size in the field-scale modeling. The effective conductivity is computed from the steady-state flux at the lower boundary and plotted as a function of the averaging pressure head or saturation over the domain. The scatter plot is then fitted using van Genuchten model and three parameters, i.e., the saturated conductivity K{sub s}, the air-entry parameter {alpha}, the pore-size distribution parameter n, corresponding to this model are considered as the effective K{sub s}, effective {alpha}, and ...
Availability of a natural gas-powered van that meets California`s ultra low emission vehicle requirements and has a 300-km range was reported. A similar van with an electric system giving a range of 240 km was also within sight. Regarding the limitations of electric batteries it was suggested that a super capacitor may allow systems to achieve higher energy densities; a refuelable zinc-air battery could be considered for vehicle use. While the prospect for emissions improvement of gasoline vehicles has clearly improved in recent years, the relative costs of infrastructure, vehicle and fuel for the the alternative fuels compared with gasoline demonstrate the difficulty the alternative fuels have in taking market share from gasoline. For the next decade, gasoline, propane and CNG are expected to be the dominant fuels for vehicles. After that, the leading fuel will be the one that has been most extensively researched and developed during the ...
We discuss geochemical and sedimentological characteristics of 12 tephra layers, intercalated within the finely laminated sediments of Lake Van. Within the about 15 kyr long sediment record studied, volcanic activity concentrated in the periods 2.6-7.2 and 11.9-12.9 kyr B.P. Concentrations of 25 elements provide the geochemical fingerprint of each tephra layer and allow comparison to literature values of potential source volcanoes such as Mts. Nemrut and Suephan. The youngest two tephra layers (and probably also the other three ashes from the 2.6-7.2 kyr B.P. eruptions) originate from the Nemrut volcano. The source of the older tephra (11.9-12.9 kyr B.P.), however, remains unidentified.
Abstract- In our reply to M. H. van IJzendoorn and M. J. Bakermans-Kranenburg (this issue) and R. A. Thompson (this issue), we highlight 2 challenges that attachment researchers face today: (a) closing the gap between the developmental and social psychological traditions and (b) connecting attachment theory to the broader field of evolutionary psychology. We contend that an evolutionary life history approach can contribute to both goals and argue that attachment researchers should consider moving beyond some of Bowlby's original formulations in order to permit further advancement of the field. Finally, we review van IJzendoorn and Bakermans-Kranenburg's criticism of the hypothesis that sex differences in attachment arise in middle childhood; we conclude that the claim that the hypothesis h...
In this project attention is paid to possibilities to improve the cost-effectiveness of co-fermentation and thus reduce the dependency of subsidies. A calculation model has been developed by means of which is possible to change relevant parameters and determine the exploitation cost. A sensitivity analysis shows which conditions are required to improve the cost-effectiveness of the energy and CO2, produced by fermentation. [Dutch] In dit project is gezocht naar oplossingen waarmee co-vergisting financieel aantrekkelijk wordt zonder subsidies. Daarvoor is een rekenmodel ontwikkeld waarmee het mogelijk is relevante parameters te wijzigen en vervolgens de exploitatie door te rekenen. De uitgevoerde gevoeligheidsanalyse geeft aan welke randvoorwaarden noodzakelijk zijn om het vermarkten van met behulp van vergisting geproduceerde energie en CO2 rendabel te maken.
The primary of this thesis is the derivation of nonisothermal equations for isotropic viscoelastic materials with the help of the thermodynamics. Because the description of all phenomena would be too ambitious for one thesis, the area of investigation has...
This annual report describes research activities which have been performed with the JAERI tandem accelerator and the Van de Graaff accelerator from April 1, 2000 to March 31, 2001. Summary reports of 46 papers, and lists of publication, personnel and cooperative research with universities are contained. (author)
The book deals with the redistribution of income, a subject which has acquired a lot of attention within the Dutch economic political field. According to Hoogerwerf (1983) it covers one of the few areas in which government action in the Netherlands has be...
The results of a time-resolved study of the avalanche and streamer formation phases leading to breakdown in atmospheric nitrogen and dry air. Results of experiments and two-dimensional simulations are presented. It is shown what processes are responsible for the formation of a streamer. The trends of externally measured quantities correspond with those predicted by our model. 3 figs., 5 refs.
Fermi radii and velocities are determined by deconvoluting de Haas-van Alphen data. Comparison of these data with accurate augmented-plane-wave band-structure results establishes the reliability of the augmented-plane-wave calculations and allows a determination of the anisotropic many-body enhancement factor lambda(k). The Fermi-surface average of 1.33 suggests a large electron-electron contribution. Our anisotropic lambda(k) porvides a detailed test and guide for model calculations of many-body enhancement.
This action plan describes the working group's ideas on how the grid operators should prepare themselves for the implementation of decentralized applications in the next four years. The action plan contains three main lines that reflect the main actions expected from the grid operators by the government and society: knowledge development of grid operators; definition of standard solutions; and realization through investment. Installing smart meters in dwellings in the Netherlands is being prepared and will take several years. The working group sketches the options of the smart meter cupboard and the smart meter to support the developments under the Energy Transition (ET) and assigns actions. In 2007 the working group drafted 'position papers' of the twelve transition paths and Energy Transition working groups which they anticipate will lead to several developments for the decentralized infrastructure. The working group then indicates how these developments ...
A non-linear analysis of a Cerenkov maser is presented. The system consists of a ring configuration of a cylindrical waveguide filled with a dielectric material. A single transverse-magnetic mode is assumed to propagate in the system. A low-density pencil electron beam travels in part of the ring, confined by a strong axial magnetic field. Using the single-particle description for the beam and the wave equation for the field, we obtain a set of two coupled non-linear differential equations describing the slowly varying amplitude and phase of the electromagnetic mode. The gain per path is assumed to be small and the spatial growth of the field is neglected. The resulting time dependent amplitude includes the exponential gain of the linear stage and the saturation to its maximum value. The time dependent frequency is also calculated. The two equations are combined to a single Van Der Pol equation with a non-linear restoring force. This description demonstrates the ...
As the three-year period FY93-FY96 ended, there were six senior investigators on the grant full-time: Bulgac, Henley, Miller, Savage, van Kolck and Wilets. This represents an increase of two members from the previous three-year period, achieved with only a two percent increase over the budget for FY90-FY93. In addition, the permanent staff of the Institute for Nuclear Theory (George Bertsch, Wick Haxton, and David Kaplan) continued to be intimately associated with our physics research efforts. Aurel Bulgac joined the Group in September, 1993 as an assistant professor, with promotion requested by the Department and College of Arts and Sciences by September, 1997. Martin Savage, who was at Carnegie-Mellon University, jointed the Physics Department in September, 1996. U. van Kolck continued as research assistant professor, and we were supporting one postdoctoral research associate, Vesteinn Thorssen, who joined us in September, 1995. Seven ...
An investigation was carried out to determine the significance of a large input of cogeneration units for the electric power generation, next to the input of coal and uranium. Thereto a production plant has been set up to generate heat and electric power. The plant serves as a basis for a number of comparative calculations: basic calculations to investigate the influence of some strategies on the cogeneration input, and sensitivity calculations to determine the influence of a few changes in the starting points. Some variants have been deduced from this plant, which is based on prognosis for the year 2000. By means of the computer calculation program OPINIE (Optimale Inzet en Instelling van Eenheden: Optimal Input and Installation of Units) the minimal variable costs were calculated for different situations. Finally for each considered situation the total annual costs have been calculated. 53 figs., 13 refs., 30 tabs., 3 apps.
An analysis is given of the problems which can be solved by the use of electric-powered vehicles. A detailed comparison is made of the energy consumption and the air polluting emissions of electric and conventional vehicles, taking into account the energy consumption of the vehicles and the primary energy consumption of electric power generation and automotive fuels production. Also the air pollution, as a result of power generation and fuel production are considered. In chapter 1 an outline is given of the traffic and transportation sector in the Netherlands with special attention to data on the energy consumption and the air pollution of this sector. Based on these data the problems can be formulated for which the application of electric vehicles can be a solution. In chapter three a brief description is given of the technical specifications and characteristics of electric vehicles. Special attention is paid to the battery types. The energy and environmental aspects of electric cars ...
The vortex-excited dynamics of a uniform pivoted cylinder in uniform and sheared flow was investigated experimentally. The experiments were numerically simulated using a diffusive Van der Pol oscillator model developed by Balasubramanian & Skop recently. Salient features of the experimental investigations and the numerical simulations are presented here. Comparisons between the experimentally recorded and numerically predicted structural response to vortex-excited vibrations, power spectral density measurements of near-wake velocity fluctuations and lock-in ranges are made. A comparison of the numerical predictions and the experimental data reveals good agreement.
The general usefulness of neutron activation analysis (NAA) for samples containing the platinum group elements (PGE) and Au, either as major or trace constituents, is discussed. Charged particle activation is shown to be a viable or complementary alternative. Proton (6-10 MeV) and alpha particle (9-15 MeV) beams, produced in a tandem Van de Graaff accelerator, have been established to be the most effective choice. By taking advantage of the Coulomb barrier effect and the fact that many charged particle induced reactions have relatively large threshold values, the same instrumental technique can be applied, with minor modifications, to a wide range of materials.
The general usefulness of neutron activation analysis (NAA) for samples containing the platinum group elements and Au, either as major or trace constituents, is discussed. Charged particle activation is shown to be a viable or complementary alternative. Proton (6-10 MeV) and alpha particle (9-15 MeV) beams, produced in a Tandem van de Graaff accelerator, have been established to be the most effective choice. By taking advantage of the Coulomb barrier effect and the fact that many charged particle induced reactions have relatively large threshold values, the same instrumental technique can be applied, with minor modifications, to a wide range of materials.
In the 1988 February issue of this magazine the units olf and decipol were introduced. Olf is a measure for the pollution load and decipol for the indoor air quality. This article discusses a new ventilation theory which is quantified by the new indoor air quality thermal comfort balance based on the units olf and decipol. This balance requires more ventilation air than for the present regulations. It takes into account all pollution sources. 2 figs., 9 refs., 3 tabs.
We report tests of a refuelable zinc/air battery of modular, bipolar-cell design, intended for fleet electric busses and vans. The stack consists of twelve 250-cm{sup 2} cells built of two units: (1) a copper-clad glass-reinforced epoxy board supporting anode and cathode current collectors, and (2) polymer frame providing for air- and electrolyte distribution and zinc fuel storage. The stack was refueled in 4 min. by a hydraulic transfer of zinc particles entrained in solution flow.
We introduce a family of rank functions and related notions of total transcendence for Galois types in abstract elementary classes. We focus, in particular, on abstract elementary classes satisfying the condition know as tameness (currently suspected to be a necessary condition for the development of a reasonable classification theory) where the connections between stability and total transcendence are most evident. As a byproduct, we obtain a partial upward stability transfer result for tame abstract elementary classes stable in a cardinal lambda satisfying lambda^{aleph_0}, a substantial generalization of a result of Baldwin, Kueker, and VanDieren.
Magnetic behavior in three compounds RTa{sub 3}O{sub 9} (R = Nd, Eu and Ho) with defect-perovskite structures has been investigated by DC magnetic susceptibility. The susceptibility of NdTa{sub 3}O{sub 9} shows strong influence of crystal field. For EuTa{sub 3}O{sub 9} a typical Van Vleck paramagnetism has been observed. HoTa{sub 3}O{sub 9} obeys a Curie-Weiss law above 20 K. (orig.) 8 refs.
The two model MP Tandem Van de Graaff accelerators at Brookhaven have been used in a four-stage accel-decel configuration to produce highly stripped low energy heavy ions. The performance in this mode of operation has now been substantially improved by modifications of the second accelerator. The inclined field acceleration tube electrodes at the exit of this accelerator were replaced by straight electrodes, the vacuum was improved and the maximum negative terminal potential was increased. Higher intensity beams of heavier highly stripped ions can now be produced at lower energies than before.
...May 2011, 693-709 On the valuation of fader and discrete barrier options in Heston's stochastic volatility model by Susanne Griebsch & Uwe Wystup [Downloadable!... (restricted)] 863-881 Nonlinearities in stochastic clocks: trades and volume as subordinators of electronic markets by Rafael Velasco-Fuentes & Wing Lon Ng [...and estimation of stock prices and trading volume in Barndorff-Nielsen and Shephard stochastic volatility models by Friedrich Hubalek & Petra Posedel [Downloadable!... (restricted)] 665-691 Generic pricing of FX, inflation and stock options under stochastic interest rates and stochastic volatility by Alexander van Haastrecht & Antoon ...
The compressive and torsional buckling behavior of carbon nanotube bundles at room temperature is examined with classical molecular dynamics simulation. The critical compressive load and stiffness of a single carbon nanotube in the bundle are found to be similar to those of individual carbon nanotubes. However, the critical torsional moment and stiffness of a single carbon nanotube in the bundle are found to be higher than those of individual carbon nanotubes. In addition, this study demonstrates that van der Waals interactions between the nanotubes in the bundle significantly affect the critical compressive load of the nanotube bundle.
Some recent achievements in the field of high pressure vessels and safety devices have offered a concrete chance to the application of compressed hydrogen for fleet commercial vehicles for urban use. Accordingly with this concept, ENEA has modified a Fiat Ducato van with a dual fuel engine, retaining the gasoline tank for long distance travelling and adopting the external mixture formation technique, with hydrogen injectors developed by ENEA, for non-polluting short-range duties in urban traffic. The article deals with the rationale for this choice and gives a general view of the project. (author)
We study a percolation process on the planted binary tree, where clusters freeze as soon as they become larger than some fixed parameter N. We show that as N goes to infinity, the process converges in some sense to the frozen percolation process introduced by Aldous. In particular, our results show that the asymptotic behaviour differs substantially from that on the square lattice, on which a similar process has been studied recently by van den Berg, de Lima and Nolin.
The awareness of health issues related to buildings has heightened past decades. Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) has been addressed in most Green Building Rating Systems nowadays. This article analyses the scope of IEQ (Indoor Environmental Quality) within Rating Systems GPR Gebouw, BREEAM-NL (Dutch version of Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method) and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Each Rating System allocates health aspects. However, none of these Rating Systems addresses a complete set of relevant aspects. High ratings do not guarantee healthy buildings. It is concluded that, in general, credits for energy efficiency do not interfere with credits for enhanced indoor environmental quality. [Dutch] Gezondheidsaspecten van gebouwen hebben afgelopen decennia steeds meer en integraler aandacht gekregen. In de instrumenten GPR Gebouw, BREEAM-NL (Nederlandse versien van ...
The Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation describes nonlinear dispersive waves which travel mainly in one direction, generalizing the Korteweg-de Vries equation for purely uni-directional waves. In this Letter we derive an improved KP-equation that has exact dispersion in the main propagation direction and that is accurate in second order of the wave height. Moreover, different from the KP-equation, this new equation is also valid for waves on deep water. These properties are inherited from the AB-equation (E. van Groesen, Andonowati, 2007 ) which is the unidirectional improvement of the KdV equation. The derivation of the equation uses the variational formulation of surface water waves, and inherits the basic Hamiltonian structure.
The mature spermatozoon of Cricocephalus albus is filiform, tapered at both ends and shows the following features: 2 axonemes of different lengths presenting the 9+''1'' trepaxonematan pattern, 2 bundles of parallel cortical microtubules, a mitochondrion and a nucleus. Nevertheless, the particularity of the spermatozoon of C. albus is its anterior extremity with an apical electron-dense material associated with extramembranar ornamentation, a cytoplasmic dorsolateral expansion and spine-like bodies. To our knowledge, such an anterior extremity of the spermatozoon has not previously been described from a species of the superfamily Pronocephaloidea. Our study provides new data on the mature gamete of C. albus in order to improve our understanding of the pronocephaloidean phylogenetic relatio...
The buckling behaviors of double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) under torsion are investigated by using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The effect of length on the torsional buckling behaviors of DWCNTs is examined for the first time. The simulation results show that the DWCNTs experience gradual or simultaneous buckling deformations depending on their lengths. In addition, the effect of the inner tube in a DWCNT on its torsional buckling behavior is also examined. The presence of the inner tube triggers van der Waals (vdW) interactions between it and the outer tube and thus leads to a stiffening effect of the DWCNT against torsional deformation. Whether the ends of the inner tube are free or fixed and whether it is subject to a torque or not, the critical torque and the critical torsional angle of the outer tube are only marginally affected.
We obtain conformal invariant topological field theories with N = 2 supersymmetry by twisting Sevrin, Troost and Van Proeyen's SU(2) x SU(2) x U(1) extended N = 4 superconformal field theories. We expect that the number of physical states is finite although the original N = 4 theories have continuous spectra. It is shown that the number of physical states is actually finite when the central charge c < 6 in the corresponding N = 4 theories. The physical states inherit the structure of the chiral ring in N = 2 superconformal minimal series which is obtained by the reduction from N = 4 theories. We also show that the algebra contains the topological N = 4 superconformal algebra as subalgebra. Therefore a closed set of a finite number of physical states in the topological N = 1 superconformal algebra can also be obtained. (orig.).
As the ground state potential curve is strongly related to spectral line shapes, the minumum position of the ground state potential is obtained from the experiemental absorption profile k({delta}{nu}, T) at high density of the radiating atoms. The temperature dependence of the absorption processes of Hg and Cd lines 253.65 and 326.1 nm, respectively perturbed by inert gases (Xe, Kr, Ar and Ne) had been carefully studied over a wide spectral range. Using the point of the maximum temperature dependence {delta}{nu} {sub m} in each case, we are able to calculate the position of the ground state potential R {sub m} using a simple formula.
Using gasoline as an example of additives for cold start improvement, fuel vapor composition of methanol-gasoline mixtures, fuel evaporation rate in consideration of temperature drop due to heat of fuel evaporation, air fuel ratio, stoichiometric air fuel ratio and excess air ratio of fuel vapor were calculated. The mixture formation of methanol-gasoline mixtures at low temperature in otto cycle engines was studied. Van Laar's empirical formula was used to estimate the partial pressure of high-percentage methanol blends. It was found that the most part of fuel vapor is occupied by gasoline, even when a small amount of gasoline is added to methanol resulting to an extremely small excess air ratio. It is obvious that this vapor pressure adjustment using gasoline is the dominant factor for improvement in cold startability. (10 figs, 1 tab, 10 refs)
The main purpose of the study on the title subject is to gain insight into the strategic options to optimize energy production from waste processing in the Netherlands in the long term. The developed optimization model will be used by the Dutch Ministry of Public Health, Spatial Planning en Environment (VROM) for scenarios to calculate and determine expectations and uncertainties in the development of waste processing in the Netherlands. Attention is paid to (1) the impact of present and future technology on the costs and energetic efficiency of waste processing, (2) several techniques for the generation of electricity and heat, the production of fuels, and recycling, (3) the impact of scale (capacity) on costs and energetic efficiency of waste processing installations, and (4) the impact of transport and heat distribution. The time frame is the year 2020. 66 refs.
A three-dimensional numerical study is performed to explore the effect of pulsed spanwise-periodic surface thermal perturbation (also denoted as thermal bump) in a Mach 1.5 flat plate laminar boundary layer. A high-resolution upwind-biased Roe method is used with the compressive Van Leer harmonic limiter on a suitably refined mesh. The dependence of flow stability characteristics on the variation of thermal bump geometry (shape and dimension) and pulsing properties (disturbance amplitude and frequency) is assessed. It is shown that the finite-span thermal bumps generate streamwise vortices. When the thermal bump is pulsed, vortex shedding is observed, and the streamwise vorticity grows with the downstream distance. Analysis of the integrated disturbance energy indicates that the streamwise...
Nomographs that calculate the threshold values of surface fire parameters which lead to crown fire initiation were created by linking two separate fire behavior models: Van Wagner?s crown fire ignition criteria and Byram?s surface fire model. The nomographs were also based on the existing surface (fuel load, fuel heat content) and canopy (foliar moisture content, live crown base height) fuel models of Aleppo (Pinus halepensis Mill.) pine forests of Mediterranean Greece. The most important fire parameters for crown fire initiation that are calculated by the nomographs are the critical flame length and the forward spread rate of the surface fire. These parameters are readily observable in the field during fires. The nomographs provide a judicious way to assess whether a crown fire is likely ...
Lifetime observations on a group of 358 rhesus monkeys indicate that life expectancy loss from exposure to protons in the energy range encountered in the Van Allen belts and solar proton events is influenced primarily by the dose rather than the energy of radiation. After 24 years, life expectancy losses from similar surface doses of low-LET (138-2300 MeV) and high-LET (32-55 MeV) protons are not significantly different, but the high-LET protons are associated with more deaths in the early years, while the low-LET protons contribute more to mortality in later years. In males, the most significant cause of life shortening is nonleukemia cancers.
A multivariate logistic regression model, based upon National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS) data for calendar years 1999-2008, was developed to predict the probability that a crash-involved vehicle will contain one or more occupants with serious or incapacitating injuries. These vehicles were defined as containing at least one occupant coded with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of greater than or equal to 15, in planar, non-rollover crash events involving Model Year 2000 and newer cars, light trucks, and vans. The target injury outcome measure was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-led National Expert Panel on Field Triage in their recent revision of the Field Triage Decision Scheme (American College of Surgeons, 2006). The ...
In the international study of IEA Annex 27 `Demonstration and evaluation of domestic ventilation systems` a number of simple tools to gain insight into the characteristics of ventilation systems for dwellings are presented. The assessment is made with respect to e.g. indoor air quality, comfort, noise, energy, costs and reliability. In three articles the results of Annex 27 will be discussed. In the first article background information of IEA Annex 27 was given as well as applications in the Netherlands. In this second article attention is paid to the assessment models (`simplified tools`) for indoor air quality, thermal comfort and noise. 6 refs.
At the 7th Healthy Buildings Conference, which was held in Singapore, 7-11 December 2003, more than 500 articles to improve public health and productivity of workers in buildings and the performance of installations. Special attention is paid to indoor air quality and thermal comfort in relation to energy efficiency. [Dutch] Op de laatste Healthy Buildings conferentie, december 2003 in Singapore, werden meer dan 500 artikelen gepresenteerd over het creeren van gezonde, productiviteit verhogende gebouwen en installaties. Deze keer lag de nadruk op binnenluchtkwaliteit en thermisch binnenklimaat, onder andere op het aspect energiezuinigheid. Opvallend was ook de aandacht die de problemen met binnenluchtkwaliteit in ontwikkelingslanden kreeg.
The Electric Fuel zinc-air battery yielded energy densities from 6.8 to 10.2 times higher than those of the lead-acid batteries. The higher the power and the more difficult the driving cycle, the higher this ratio of energy densities grew. Not only was the Electric Fuel battery capable of extended high-power discharge, the impact of such discharge conditions on energy and driving range was show to be quite small, and was much smaller than the comparable impact on lead-acid traction batteries. At the time of writing this paper, tests are scheduled to continue with the 110-kWh battery in the Mercedes van, and preliminary plans have been made for testing of additional batteries on other vehicle types.
Limiters are nonlinear hybridization techniques that are used to preserve positivity and monotonicity when numerically solving hyperbolic conservation laws. Unfortunately, the original methods suffer from the truncation-error being first-order accurate at all extrema despite the accuracy of the higher-order method. To remedy this problem, higher-order extensions were proposed that relied on elaborate analytic and geometric constructions. Since extremum-preserving limiters are applied only at extrema, additional computational cost is negligible. Therefore, extremum-preserving limiters ensure higher-order spatial accuracy while maintaining simplicity. This report presents higher-order limiting for (i) computing van Leer slopes and (ii) adjusting parabolic profiles. This limiting preserves monotonicity and accuracy at smooth extrema, maintains stability in the presence of discontinuities and under-resolved gradients, and is based on constraining the interpolated ...
The electron-phonon spectral distribution function #alpha#"2(#omega#) F (#omega#) has been calculated for niobium. The electron energy bands and wave functions were obtained from a self-consistent augmented-plane-wave muffin-tin potential, and the electron-phonon matrix elements were evaluated using the so-called rigid-ion approximation. With this approximation it is found that #alpha#"2(#omega#) is constant over the whole energy spectrum. The electron-phonon mass enhancement has also been calculated for local regions of the Fermi surface and found to be anisotropic. The calculated local values of the enhancement do not agree with experimental values available for different orbits from de Haas--van Alphen measurements. The discrepancy seems to arise because the bare-rigid-ion matrix elements are relatively small between states with nearly pure l = 2 character.
The primary charge separation in photosynthetic bacteria generates a dimeric bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) cation and a bacteriopheophytin (BPheo) anion which lie within close proximity of each other (approx. 10 A). The two radicals also lie within van der Waals contact on opposite sides of a lone BChl bridging molecule. Spectral changes in the red (Q/sub y/) band of the bridge BChls have been observed on picosecond time scales following excitation of the reaction center (RC) and have been variously attributed to the formation of a BChl anion, to a charge-transfer state, or to electrochromic effects. They present calculations here which suggest that electrochromic effects caused by the photogenerated cation and/or anion can rationalize the optical changes observed in the flash photolyses as well as in trapping experiments.
Dimensioning of actinides waste packages for long duration storage has to take into account helium production from natural decay and release rates from the material. For the latter, we propose here an improved method for the determination of the helium diffusion coefficient in britholite, to be used for minor actinides storage. This work is based on results we previously published using the classical three steps method: "3He implantation on a Van de Graaff facility, "3He profile determination analysing the protons resulting from the "3He(d,p)"4He reaction in a nuclear microprobe, evolution of the helium profile during annealings. Taking explicitly into account the incident deuterons energy stragglings allows us to show that the implanted helium profiles are bimodal, each component leading to a different helium diffusion coefficient.
By means of a numerical simulation model (PHOENICS) the air flow and the distribution of the air concentration in an operating room of an hospital have been calculated. Comparisons were made for 11 different conditions (m[sup 3]/h air flow, speed of the air supply in the centre, the middle and outside of the room), of which six cases are discussed in this article, in order to optimize the air flow pattern in the room. The calculations were conducted for the so-called Howorth system. It is shown that the inlet velocity profile with a higher inlet velocity in the center zone of the hood gives the best results. The calculated results were validated by some measurements and experiments with smoke. 7 figs., 2 tabs., 8 refs.
A mobile gamma-ray scanning system has been developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory for use in the U.S. Department of Energy's remedial action survey programs. The unit consists of NaI(Tl) detectors housed in a specially equipped van. The system is operator controlled through an on-board minicomputer with data output provided on the computer video screen, strip chart recorders, and an on-line printer. Data storage is provided on floppy disk. Multichannel analysis capabilities are included for qualitative radionuclide identification. A /sup 226/Ra-specific algorithm is currently employed to identify locations containing residual radium-bearing materials.
A mobile gamma-ray scanning system has been developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory for use in the U.S. Department of Energy's remedial action survey programs. The unit consists of NaI(Tl) detectors housed in a specially equipped van. The system is operator controlled through an on-board minicomputer with data output provided on the computer video screen, strip chart recorders, and an on-line printer. Data storage is provided on floppy disk. Multichannel analysis capabilities are included for qualitative radionuclide identification. A "2"2"6Ra-specific algorithm is currently employed to identify locations containing residual radium-bearing materials.
Measurements of gamma-ray spectra, following the thermal neutron fission of "2"3"5U have been made using a high purity germanium detector at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) Van de Graaff facility. The gamma spectra were measured at delay times ranging from 0.2 s to nearly 10000 s following the rapid transfer of the fission fragments with a helium-jet system. On the basis of the known gamma transitions, forty isotopes have been identified and studied. By measuring the relative intensities of these transitions, the relative yields of the various precursor nuclides have been calculated. The results are compared with the recommended values listed in the ENDF/B-VI fission product data base (for the lifetimes and the relative yields) and those published in the Nuclear Data Sheets (for the beta branching ratios). This information is particularly useful for the cases of short-lived fission products with lifetimes of the order of fractions of a second or a few ...
Prompt fission neutron spectrum measurements at the University of Massachusetts Lowell 5.5 MV Van de Graaff accelerator laboratory require that the neutron detector efficiency be well known over a neutron energy range of 100 keV to 20 MeV. The efficiency of the detector, has been determined for energies greater than 5.0 MeV using the Weapons Neutron Research (WNR) white neutron source at the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility (LAMPF) in a pulsed beam, time-of-flight (TOF) experiment. Carbon matched polyethylene and graphite scatterers were used to obtain a hydrogen spectrum. The detector efficiency was determined using the well known H(n,n) scattering cross section. Results are compared to the detector efficiency calculation program SCINFUL available from the Radiation Shielding Information Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The classical theory of collisional broadening and shift parameters (?, ?) of an isolated spectral line was used to obtain simple analytical formulas for calculating both ? and ?. These formulas were obtained on the assumption that the short range interaction is effective only in the broadening while the long range is effective in the shift of the spectral line. These parameters ? and ? depend on the limiting phase shifts responsible for broadening ?b and shift ??. It was found that the values of ?b and ?? are not equal to each other as was proposed by Weisskopf ?b=??=1. The maximum and average values of ?b (?bmax, ?bav) and ?? (??max, ??av) were obtained by numerical evaluation, using different inverse power potentials. By introducing these parameters into the approximated formulas for ? and ? using Van der Waals and Lennard-Jones potential, it was found that the results of calculations for (? and ?) with different atomic transitions perturbed by different inert ...
We study from a critical perspective several quantum-electrodynamic phenomena commonly related to vacuum electromagnetic (EM) fluctuations in complex media. We compute the resonance-shift, the spontaneous emission rate, the local density of states and the van-der-Waals-Casimir pressure in a dielectric medium using a microscopic diagrammatic approach. We find, in agreement with some recent works, that these effects cannot be attributed to variations on the energy of the EM vacuum but to variations of the dielectric self-energy. This energy is the result of the interaction of the bare polarizability of the dielectric constituents with the EM fluctuations of an actually polarized vacuum. We have found an exact expression for the spectrum of these fluctuations in a statistically homogeneous dielectric. Those fluctuations turn out to be different to the ones of normal radiative modes. It is the latter that carry the zero-point-energy (ZPE). Concerning spontaneous ...
Data which have been collected by Los Alamos National Laboratory waste management for the hydrologic characterization of the subsurface at the low level radioactive waste disposal facility, Area G, are reported and discussed briefly. The data includes Unsaturated Flow Apparatus measurements of the unsaturated conductivity in samples from borehole G-5. Analysis compares these values to the predictions from van Genuchten estimates, and the implications for transport and data matching are discussed, especially at the location of the Vapor Phase Notch (VPN). There, evaporation drives a significant vapor flux and the liquid flux cannot be measured accurately by the UFA device. Data also include hydrologic characterization of samples from borehole G-5, Area G surface soils, Los Alamos (Cerros de Rio) basalt, Tsankawi and Cerro-Toledo layers, the Vapor Phase Notch (VPN), and additional new samples from the uppermost tuff layer at Area G. Hydraulic properties from these ...
We propose to investigate the spontaneous emission of radiation arising out of the interaction of a relativistic electron beam with a metallic grating (the Smith-Purcell effect). The work will concentrate, primarily, in the 50-120 #mu#m part of the infrared spectrum and will be an extension of the work begun by the Oxford-Dartmouth-Essex collaboration; one of the early objectives of the project will be to develop a quantitative understanding of the power spectrum of the emitted radiation over a wide range of emission angles. In particular, the limits of relativistic peaking of forward directed emission will be investigated. The electron beam will be produced by laser irradiation of a metallic cathode in the terminal of a small Van de Graff accelerator located in the Technische Universitaet, Muenchen. Beam energies will be in the range of 2 - 4 MeV. Initial tests on photoproduction of electrons have yielded 10 mA pulses with a width of about 20 ns. The electron ...
The solubilities of chlorodifluoromethane(R-22) and dichlorodifluoromethane(R-12) in organic solvents were measured in the range of low pressures and several temperatures(278-338 K). Organic solvents used in this system were olive oil and oleic acid. Henry`s law is applied in the lower temperature range and the solubilities of R-22 show negative deviations from Raoult`s law. In this study temperature and pressure dependence were correlated. The correlation of gas solubility data, using Krichevsky-Kasarnovsky equation and Van`t Hoff expression are obtained. Values of Henry`s constant, Partial enthalpy and partial entropy in organic solvents have been determined for both gases. The solubilities increase with increasing pressure and decreasing temperature and both gases are more soluble in olive oil than in oleic acid. The solubilities of R-22 in organic solvents were higher than those of R-12 because of hydrogen bonding between solvents and solutes. (author). 11 ...
In the 150 kV power system of the Dutch energy utility MEGA Limburg cross-country faults have caused problems in the protection of high voltage transmission lines. A cross-country fault is the simultaneous presence of two single-phase earth connections in different phases and places within the grid. These cross-country faults can lead to the incorrect operation of a number of distance relays, which could result in the faulty disconnection of high voltage transmission lines. To gain an insight into these problems, the transient phenomenon in the power system during cross-country faults were studied. For this purpose, the simulation program EMTP (ElectroMagnetic Transients Program) has been used. Simulation models of the 150 kV power system and the measuring system of a distance relay were developed within EMTP. 7 figs., 1 ill.
Full text: Recent geoarchaeological research in the Erzurum district, north-eastern Anatolia, has revealed an abundance of obsidian at numerous neolithic and Bronze Age sites. Geochemical characterisation using neutron activation analysis indicates that the obsidian was obtained from several sources that are chemically distinct from the major sources already known from Central Anatolia an the Lake Van area. Multiple sources are represented in the samples collected from at least two of the sites, namely the sites of Sos and Pulur. The primary source of some of the obsidian utilised at the site of Sos has been located in the volcanic sequence outcropping tot he north-west of Pasinler. Field survey however has shown that the alluvial deposits along the main rivers and some of their tributaries were the main sources of the obsidian utilised at the sites near Erzurum. Trade or exchange of obsidian with sites outside the Erzurum area seems to have been limited.
Pre-harvest sprays of bavistin (50% carbendazim) at 100, 200 and 400 g a.i/ha were ineffective in the control of Aspergillus niger van Tieghem in onion. The combination of gamma irradiation (0.1 kGy) with bavistin dust (0.33g a.i/kg bulbs) was effective to an extent of about 79% in reducing storage losses due to sprouting and rottage. This combination treatment was better than dust treatment alone and highly cost effective. Bavistin, when used as pre-harvest spray, did not leave any residue in the tissues, whereas the compound was seen to move deep into the tissues, when used as post-harvest dust treatment. Higher concentrations of carbendazim residues (2.1-3.4 mg/kg bulb) were detected in the outer scales of the bulbs, as compared to that of inner scales (0.6-1.6 mg/kg), and the residue decreased slightly with passage of storage time. (author). 19 refs., 2 tabs.
The AC susceptibility of La_xNd_1_-_xF_3 single crystals, for 0#<=#x#<=#0.1, has been measured from 1.5 up to 40 K and their DC susceptibility for 0#<=#x#<=#1 has been measured from 3 up to 300 K in magnetic fields up to 0.2 T. In both susceptibilities the magnetic fields were applied parallel to the crystallographic a-axis (perpendicular to the c-axis). The effective Bohr magneton number p_e_f_f and paramagnetic Curie temperature #theta#_p have been obtained, using the Curie-Weiss law in the temperature range 100-300 K. Also the g-values corresponding to the five Kramers doublets in the "4I_9_/_2 ground multiplet of Nd"3"+ ion in La_xNd_1_-_xF_3 have been determined in the direction perpendicular to the c-axis, using the Van Vleck theory of paramagnetic susceptibility. The effect of the dilution of the paramagnetic Nd"3"+ ions with diamagnetic La"3"+ ions is also discussed. (orig.).
The magnetic properties of a single crystal of SmNiSn with the orthorhombic {epsilon}-TiNiSi-type crystal structure have been investigated by magnetic susceptibility, magnetization and electrical resistivity measurements from 1.5 K to room temperature. Two anomalies have been found in the magnetic susceptibility, indicating an antiferromagnetic phase transition at T{sub N}=9.4 K and a second transition at 4.4 K. A large magnetic anisotropy has been found at low temperatures in the temperature and field dependencies of magnetic susceptibility and magnetization. Below 80 K, the easy axis of the magnetization is the c-axis. At T=2.0 K, the c-axis magnetization curve exhibits metamagnetic-like behavior at H{sub c}=42 kOe and reaches 0.54 emu/g at H=55 kOe, whereas for the a- and b-axis the magnetization is linear and smaller. The paramagnetic susceptibilities do not follow the Curie-Weiss law suggesting a large van Vleck contribution of the Sm ions.
A brief description of a method for producing relatively intense molecular negative ion beams for the difficult Group IIA elements is given which offers considerable improvement in terms of source operation and beam intensity stability over other methods conventionally utilized. It is particularly suited for use in cesium plasma sources such as the Aarhus geometry and axial geometry versions of the source. The method utilizes H/sub 2/ source feed gas for the production of a hydrogen-rich plasma discharge which sputters a negatively biased probe made of elemental or copper alloy material. Negative ion beams of MgH/sub 3//sup -/>=12 ..mu.. A have been realized during routine operation of the 25 MV tandem accelerator. Negative ion beam intensity data, typical source operational parameters, and examples of mass spectra associated with their production are given. Interesting intermetallic molecular negative ion beams consisting of the particular Group IIA element and a Cu alloy atom have ...
The inverse susceptibilities of the monopnictides and monochalcogenides of the light rare earths plotted vs. temperature flatten off at high temperatures. This behaviour is well explained by van Vleck paramagnetism of the excited states of the multiplet. For almost all actinide pnictides and chalcogenides a similar flattening-off is observed. Since spin orbit coupling is much stronger than in the light rare earth compounds an analogous interpretation is not possible. Susceptibility curves for uranium compounds can be fitted by adding a temperature dependent enhanced Pauli paramagnetism to the Curie-Weiss term (modified Curie-Weiss law). The high temperature susceptibility behaviour of neptunium compounds is very similar to uranium compounds i.e. an appreciable deviation from the Curie-Weiss law is only visible for the chalcogenides. The plutonium chalcogenides show a temperature independent paramagnetism, which can be explained either by a model of mixed valency, ...
The data and information collected for the Public Service Electric and Gas Company`s (PSE&G) electric vehicle demonstration program were intended to support and enhance DOE`s Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Site Operator Program. The DOE Site Operator Program is focused on the life cycle and reliability of Electric Vehicles (EVs). Of particular interest are vehicles currently available with features that are likely to be put into production or demonstrate new technology. PSE&G acquired eight GMC Electric G-Vans in 1991, and three TEVans in 1993, and conducted a program plan to test and assess the overall performance of these electric vehicles. To accomplish the objectives of DOE`s Site Operator`s test program, a manual data collection system was implemented. The manual data collection system has provided energy use and mileage data. From September 1991 to October 1994 PSE&G logged 69,368 miles on eleven test vehicles. PSE&G also demonstrated the EVs to ...
The industrial radiation processing using low energy electron beam (EB) accelerators lower than 300 keV offers high speed, safe technologies for the chemical conversion of thin layer coatings. Because of the nonselective mode of initiating chain reaction polymerization involving free radicals in synthetic coating layers and suitable substrates, the EB curing of the coatings on woods and papers has particular advantage. Hungary decided to start an up-to-date EB line to process cement-bound (CB) wood chipboards with pigmented acrylic coatings. The CB wood chipboards contain more than 60 % of portland cement and up to 40 % of wood particles. They are produced as large boads of 6 - 16 mm thickness. In their fireproof character and other aspects, they are similar to asbestos-cement boards without containing carcinagenic asbestos, and are stable against moisture and atmospheric influences. EB-cured acrylate coating improved further those properties, and makes them valuable structural ...
Delayed-neutron (DN) energy spectra following thermal neutron induced fission of /sup 239/Pu as a function of time after fission have been measured, using the beta-neutron time-of-flight (TOF) spectrometer at the University of Lowell. Thermal/epithermal neutrons were produced on the 5.5-MV Van de Graaff accelerator using the /sup 7/Li(p,n)/sup 7/Be reaction. Time spectra over the neutron energy range of 0.01-4.0 MeV were measured for seven different time intervals after fission, each interval containing varying contributions from the six delayed neutrons groups. The DN energy spectra following induced thermal fission of /sup 239/Pu are compared to those resulting from induced thermal fission of /sup 235/U for each of the seven delay time intervals. Decomposition of the measured spectra into six-group DN spectra was accomplished employing an iterative least-squares method, incorporating a constraint requiring all six-group spectra remain positive for all neutron ...
Crystals of a new ternary samarium rhenium oxide, Sm{sub 3}ReO{sub 7} were obtained by subsolidus reaction of samariumsesquioxide and rheniumdioxide (ratio 1.5:1) in sealed Pt-10Rh-tubes at 1673 K. The structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Sm{sub 3}ReO{sub 7} crystallizes in the orthorohombic system with unit cell dimensions a = 10.736(5), b = 7.392(3), and c = 7.519(3) in space group Cmcm (No. 63) with Z = 4. The structure consists of ReO{sub 6} octahedra, distorted SmO{sub 6} octahedra, and SmO{sub 8} prisms that are interconnected to each other to form a three-dimensional network. Rhenium has the formal oxidation state of +5 but no metal-metal bond is observed in this compound. The observed magnetization in the temperature range 4 K < T < 52 K is explained by a Curie-Weiss law modified by a temperature independent Van Vleck paramagnetism of samarium (3+).
In many experiments involving fast neutrons generated in nuclear reactions initiated by accelerator produced charged particle beams, it is important to be able to determine accurately the neutron yield from the target. A detector suitable for such applications should have: a constant efficiency over a large energy range; a fast time response; and the ability to discriminate between gamma rays and neutrons. The authors have constructed a open-quotes black neutron detectorclose quotes based on the design of Poenitz that has these characteristics. At the Lowell Van de Graaff accelerator laboratory neutrons are produced via the "7Li(p,n)"7Be reaction using a pulsed proton beam which impinges on metallic lithium targets. The pulsed beam enables the detector to be used in a time-of-flight spectrometer. Use of BC501 liquid scintillator permits neutron-gamma discrimination. The scintillator is viewed by five RCA 48796 photo tubes. The detector is housed in a massive shield ...
This report surveys the possibilities and restrictions of different construction materials for the purpose of the blades of a small stall regulated turbine. For example scaling up, material saving at decreasing of static or dynamic loads, comparisons of global costs based on prices per unit of weight, etc. For the mutual comparison of construction materials for turbine blades the starting point is a stall regulated horizontal axis turbine with a rotor diameter of 16 m and a tipvane speed of about 64 m/s. Short descriptions are given of the materials and of the applied production methods with the resulting blade geometry. The blade skins are dimensionized for storm loads after the optimalization of the blade geometry, needed for the design wind speed, is recorded. The resulting blade skins are mutually compared as for weight, mass inertia and bending stiffness. Also a comparison took place of the resulting reserve factors against load variations caused by gusts of wind and own weight, ...
A collaboration initiated in 1989 between Judy Lachvayder and Chris Cullis in response to an application for a Christa McCauliffe Fellowship has grown into a substantial program. A one week course in biotechnology, using the Cold Spring Harbor Vector van, was run in 1990. A similar one week summer course was run by Cullis for high school freshmen and sophomores. Both programs (teachers and students) have continued with support from the Edison Biotechnology Center (EBTC), U.S. Biochemical, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and CWRU. A core of teachers from these courses were brought together by the EBTC and the Cleveland Regional Area of Biologists (CRABS) was formed. This group holds regular meetings and develops new classroom exercises. A group of master teachers from the participants have also held their own workshops at local and national meetings. A Science and Society Symposium was held in February 1994 and an equipment loan program for teachers has been ...
We present the latest developments for the radiation laboratory curriculum at the Department of Physics and Astronomy of Western Kentucky University. During the last decade, the Applied Physics Institute (API) at WKU accumulated various equipment for radiation experimentation. This includes various neutron sources (computer controlled d-t and d-d neutron generators, and isotopic 252 Cf and PuBe sources), the set of gamma sources with various intensities, gamma detectors with various energy resolutions (NaI, BGO, GSO, LaBr and HPGe) and the 2.5-MeV Van de Graaff particle accelerator. XRF and XRD apparatuses are also available for students and members at the API. This equipment is currently used in numerous scientific and teaching activities. Members of the API also developed a set of laboratory activities for undergraduate students taking classes from the physics curriculum (Nuclear Physics, Atomic Physics, and Radiation Biophysics). Our goal is to develop a set of ...
Genetic effects on mechanical properties have been demonstrated in rodents, but not confirmed in primates. Our aim was to quantify the proportion of variation in vertebral trabecular bone mechanical...Full Text Available
The mechanical properties of laminated window profiles manufactured using two types of adhesives were determined. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of heat treatment on some mechanical...Full Text Available
SUMMARYHomeostatic synaptic plasticity is a negative feedback mechanism neurons use to offset excessive excitation or inhibition by adjusting their synaptic strengths. Recent...Full Text Available
BackgroundAlternative splicing is an important mechanism mediating the diversified functions of genes in multicellular organisms, and such event occurs in around 40-60% of human...Full Text Available
The mechanism of hyaluronan biosynthesis in vertebrates had been proposed to occur at the reducing end of growing chains. This mechanism was questioned because a recombinant synthase appeared to add...Full Text Available
Thioredoxin reductase, lipoamide dehydrogenase, and glutathione reductase are members of the pyridine nucleotide–disulfide oxidoreductase family of dimeric flavoenzymes. The mechanisms and structures...Full Text Available
In this study, a novel compliant mechanism, ''partially compliant spatial slider-crank (RSSP)'' is proposed. All possible configurations of compliant RSSP mechanisms are classified and discussed. A method is derived to determine deflection of the multiple-axis flexural hinge for all positions of the crank. A design procedure for partially compliant RSSP mechanisms is introduced. In order to prove the feasibility of the proposed mathematical model, a real model is built and it is shown that results are consistent.
Detailed chemical kinetic reaction mechanisms have been developed to describe the pyrolysis and oxidation of the n-alkanes, including n-octane (n-C{sub 8}H{sub 18}), n-nonane (n-C{sub 9}H{sub 20}), n-decane (n-C{sub 10}H{sub 22}), n-undecane (n-C{sub 11}H{sub 24}), n-dodecane (n-C{sub 12}H{sub 26}), n-tridecane (n-C{sub 13}H{sub 28}), n-tetradecane (n-C{sub 14}H{sub 30}), n-pentadecane (n-C{sub 15}H{sub 32}), and n-hexadecane (n-C{sub 16}H{sub 34}). These mechanisms include both high temperature and low temperature reaction pathways. The mechanisms are based on previous mechanisms for n-heptane, using the same reaction class mechanism construction developed initially for n-heptane. Individual reaction class rules are as simple as possible in order to focus on the parallelism between all of the n-alkane fuels included in the mechanisms, and there is an intent to ...
Detailed chemical kinetic reaction mechanisms have been developed to describe the pyrolysis and oxidation of nine n-alkanes larger than n-heptane, including n-octane (n-C{sub 8}H{sub 18}), n-nonane (n-C{sub 9}H{sub 20}), n-decane (n-C{sub 10}H{sub 22}), n-undecane (n-C{sub 11}H{sub 24}), n-dodecane (n-C{sub 12}H{sub 26}), n-tridecane (n-C{sub 13}H{sub 28}), n-tetradecane (n-C{sub 14}H{sub 30}), n-pentadecane (n-C{sub 15}H{sub 32}), and n-hexadecane (n-C{sub 16}H{sub 34}). These mechanisms include both high temperature and low temperature reaction pathways. The mechanisms are based on our previous mechanisms for the primary reference fuels n-heptane and iso-octane, using the reaction class mechanism construction first developed for n-heptane. Individual reaction class rules are as simple as possible in order to focus on the parallelism between all of the n-alkane fuels included in ...
The gas phase high resolution spectroscopic study of weakly bound clusters can provide the information necessary to develop an intermolecular potential energy surface. This surface can then be used to better understand condensed phases. In this work, a tunable far infrared laser spectrometer is used to study weakly bound dimers produced in the newly developed continuous planar supersonic jet expansion apparatus. The water dimer is an extensively studied hydrogen bonded dimer. It undergoes several tunneling motions which result in splittings and perturbations of the rovibrational energy levels. A review is presented of much of the experimental and theoretical work done on water dimer, including a description of the combined fit of all the high resolution spectroscopic results by Coudert and Hougen. Also included is a discussion of the measurement of the K = 1 lower {yields} K = 2 lower band performed using the tunable far infrared laser/planar jet apparatus. The preliminary results from ...
This paper presents an overview of research conducted with the support of the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering, at the University of Melbourne, School of Earth Sciences, Radiochemical Neutron Activation Laboratory. The primary objective of this research is to realize the high potential of the platinum group elements (PGE) and gold to the solution of petrogenetic problems, the study of magma generation and magmatic processes in mafic/ultramafic rock suites, as tracers in hydrothermal ore formation. The PGEs (Os, Ru, Ir, Pt, Pd and Rh) are among the least abundant of all elements on earth with unique properties such as high melting points, high electrical and thermal conductivity, high density, strength and toughness as alloys. They exhibit both siderophile and chalcophile characteristics and are valuable tools in providing information about magmatic processes, in particular S-saturation, as well as crystal fractionation trends. Two distinct groups of PGEs are ...
The study concerns 1984-1991. The wind park consists of 18 three-bladed 300 kW horizontal axis wind turbines of 35 meters height, and a rotor diameter of 30 meters, seven meteorological towers, and three cluster and control buildings. Aspects studied included disturbance of breeding, resting or feeding, and migrating birds, behavior of birds approaching the wind turbines during the day and night, and bird victims due to collision with the wind turbines and the meteorological towers. The flight behavior of birds approaching the wind park system during daylight is also dealt with. For at least a fifth of the observations it was noted whether the birds passing within 100 meters distance of a turbine showed a reaction or not. The proportion of the reactions was related to the wind park in operation or not in operation, and to the distance between the wind turbines, species, flight height, the passing distance, wind direction and wind force. Secondly the flight path of birds approaching the ...
The neutron-capture cross sections of "1"6"8Yb, "1"8"0W, "1"8"4Os, "1"9"0Pt, and "1"9"6Hg have been measured by means of the activation technique. The samples were irradiated in a quasistellar neutron spectrum of kT=25 keV, which was produced at the Karlsruhe 3.7-MV Van de Graaff accelerator via the "7Li(p,n)"7Be reaction. Systematic uncertainties were investigated in repeated activations with different samples and by variation of the experimental parameters, that is, irradiation times, neutron fluxes, and #gamma#-ray counting conditions. The measured data were converted into Maxwellian-averaged cross sections at kT=30 keV, yielding 1214#+-#61, 624#+-#54, 590#+-#43, 511#+-#46, and 201#+-#11 mb for "1"6"8Yb, "1"8"0W, "1"8"4Os, "1"9"0Pt, and "1"9"6Hg, respectively. The present results either represent first experimental data ("1"6"8Yb, "1"8"4Os, and "1"9"6Hg) or could be determined with significantly reduced uncertainties ("1"8"0W and "1"9"0Pt). These measurements ...
This Report of activity displays the work developed at Centre d`Etude Nucleaires de Bordeaux-Gradignan (CENBG) in the period 1995-1996. A number of 68 short progress notes are presented in the fields of Cosmic particles (3), Nuclear Astrophysics (4), High Spins-Large Deformations (8), Basic Interactions (9), Exotic Nuclei (10), Hybrid Systems (4), Theoretical Physics (28), Cellular Microanalysis by means of Nuclear Probes (3) and Technical Development (3). The main problems attacked at CENBG, established as orientations by scientific board of IN2P3 (CENBG is a UMR of Bordeaux-1 Univ. and CNRS-IN2P3) are the following: the research of Majorana/Dirac nature of neutrino (in the framework of NEMO Experiment) in relation with the problem of origin of mass in the Universe and the cosmological puzzle of dark matter, the investigation of the origin of high energy (20 to 200 GeV) cosmic radiation (in the framework of CELESTE Experiment), the study of extreme issues in nuclear structure as high ...
Space particles act on semiconductor devices by creating charges (electrons, holes) in the silicon and the silicon dioxide, and by creating displacement damage. These primary phenomena alter the electrical parameters of MOS and bipolar devices (threshold voltage V_t, mobility #mu#, conductivity #sigma#, current gain #beta#). The dose rate is not important in space (a few rad (Si)/h) but as the durations of space expeditions are on average from seven to twelve years, the total dose is an aggravating factor in the behaviour of the electrical parameters and also in device operation. The total dose effect from the beginning of charge creation (ionization) to the parameter shifts is reviewed. One can note that this effect is permanent because there will almost always be charge creation in space. Another important phenomenon is called the Single Event Upset (S.E.U.) and caused by the heavy ions and the protons which come from the galactic rays. The consequence of S.E.U. is a transient upset ...
Prompt fission neutron energy spectra for "2"3"5U and "2"3"9Pu have been measured for fission neutron energies greater than the energy of the incident neutrons inducing fission. The measurements were undertaken to investigate the shape dependence of the fission neutron spectra upon both the incident neutron energy and the mass of the nucleus undergoing fission. Measurements were made for both nuclides at incident neutron energies of 0.50, 1.50, 2.50 and 3.50 MeV. The data are presented either as relative yields or as ratios of measured spectra to that of "2"3"5U at 0.50 MeV. Incident neutrons were produced by the "7Li(p,n)"7Be reaction using a pulsed, bunched proton beam from the 5.5 MV Van de Graaff accelerator at the University of Massachusetts Lowell Radiation Laboratory. Fission neutrons were detected by a thin liquid scintillator with good time resolution capabilities. Neutron energies were determined by time-of-flight techniques with pulse-shape ...
Four trypsin inhibitor homologs, the first known from Dendroaspis angusticeps venom, were characterized using a combination of gel filtration, cation exchange, reverse-phase liquid chromatography, Edman degradation and mass spectrometry. The four toxins comprise two 57 residue and two 59 residue isoforms. The long toxins possess a Lys-Gln N-terminal extension lacked by the short toxins. The only other structural difference is an Arg/His replacement at position 55. The long Arg55 variant is identical to trypsin inhibitor E from the venom of Dendroaspis polylepis. The name epsilon-dendrotoxin is suggested so as to follow the nomenclature of Benishin, C.G., Sorensen, R.G., Brown, W.E., Krueger, B.K., Blaustein, M.P., 1988. Four polypeptide components of green mamba venom selectively block certain potassium channels in rat brain synaptosomes. Mol. Pharmacol. 34, 152-159. Among snake venom protease inhibitors, the epsilon-dendrotoxins are structurally most like the delta-dendrotoxins, with ...
A recent road test at LLNL underscored the zinc/air battery`s capacity to give electric vehicles some of the attractive features of gas-driven cars: a 400-km range between refueling, 10-minute refueling, and highway-safe acceleration. Developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the battery weights only one-sixth as much as standard lead/acid batteries and occupies one-third the space, yet costs less per mile to operate. What`s more, because the battery is easily refuelable, it promises trouble-free, nearly 24-hour-a-day operation for numerous kinds of electric vehicles, from forklifts to delivery vans and possibly, one day, personal automobiles. The test of a Santa Barbara Municipal Transit bus with a hybrid of zinc/air and lead/acid batteries capped a short development period for the zinc/air battery. The test run indicated the zinc/air battery`s potential savings in vehicle weight from 5.7 to 4.0 metric tons, in battery weight from 2.0 to 0.3 metric ...
From the crystal field analysis of optical absorption spectra on monoclinic S.G. P2{sub 1}/c MgNd(BO{sub 2}){sub 5}, where Nd{sup 3+} occupies a single crystallographic position with no symmetry elements, energy level schemes and an expression of the associated wavefunctions for the 4f{sup 3} configuration of Nd{sup 3+} have been derived, considering approximate C{sub 2v} and C{sub s} (C{sub 2}) symmetries. Despite of the low symmetry of Nd{sup 3+}, resulting rms deviations between calculated and experimental levels are very satisfactory. The composition of the crystal field wavefunctions from both sets of phenomenological free-ion and crystal field parameters has been checked through a calculation of the thermal evolution of the paramagnetic susceptibility {chi}, according to the Van Vleck formula. The same simulation was performed with crystal field parameters (CFPs) resulting from the ab initio simple overlap model (SOM), considering the Nd{sup 3+} real point ...
Neutron reflectometry (NR) was used to measure the concentration profile of a symmetric PEP/dPEP polymer blend with nanometer-scale resolution in the one-phase region. The shape of the profile near the surface was found to differ significantly from mean-field theory predictions for all bulk concentrations and temperatures surveyed. The profile shape is flattened at the surface over a distance about half the bulk correlation length, a length scale far greater than that of the dispersive forces that are the dominant microscopic interaction in such blends. We introduce a new method for extracting the surface energy difference that drives segregation based on the Gibbs adsorption equation (GAE) and compare it to a previous method based on mean-field theory. While both methods produce qualitatively similar results (the surface energy of pure dPEP is {approx}0.21 mJ/m{sup 2} smaller than pure PEP), the GAE method is much less model dependent, requiring knowledge of only the free energy of ...
The magnetic susceptibility of powdered samples of HoH_3, ErH_3, GdH_3 and YbH_3 have been measured in the temperature range from 4.2 to 1.2 K. Two broad, local maxima are observed in the variation of chi versus T for GdH_3, with maxima in (delta chi/delta T) versus T at 1.8 K and 3.3 K. The inverse susceptibilities for HoH_3 and ErH_3 both obey a Curie--Weiss law over a limited range (4.2 to 2.6 K and 4.2 to 2 K, respectively) with values for the Weiss constant of -4.25 K and -1.11 K, and effective moments of 8.6 and 7.7 Bohr magnetons, respectively. The susceptibility of YbH_3 is independent of temperature over the range investigated. High-field magnetization measurements yield extrapolated saturation moments of 7.0 +- 0.25 Bohr magnetons/ion for GdH_3, 6.1 +- 0.2 Bohr magnetons/ion for HoH_3 and 3.74 +- 0.11 Bohr magnetons/ion for ErH_3. In addition, ErH_3 exhibits a van Vleck paramagnetism in the high-field region.
Six intermetallic alloys (CeNi/sub 5/, MmNi/sub 5/, Ca/sub 0/ /sub 2/(Ce/sub 0/ /sub 65/Mm/sub 0/ /sub 35/)/sub 0/ /sub 8/Ni/sub 5/, Ca/sub 0/ /sub 2/Ce/sub 0/ /sub 8/Ni/sub 5/, Ca/sub 0/ /sub 2/Mm/sub 0/ /sub 8/Ni/sub 5/, and a mixed alloy, CeNi/sub 5//MmNi/sub 5/) were investigated with respect to their suitability to provide high hydrogen capacity and their potential for use in providing substantial hydrogen pressure at both low and high temperatures. A second phase of our investigation dealt with ball-milling and hydriding and dehydriding cycles to produce fine particles for use in hydride powder transfer studies. A summary of several Van't Hoff plots is also included for hydride-forming alloys.
Crystals of disamarium rhenium (IV) pentoxide, Sm{sub 2}ReO{sub 5}, were obtained by subsolidus reaction of samariumsesquioxide and rheniumdioxide (ratio 1:1) in sealed Pt 10Rh tubes at 1673 K. The structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Sm{sub 2}ReO{sub 5} crystallizes in the tetragonal system with unit cell dimensions a = 8.646(3) {angstrom} and c = 5.747(2) {angstrom} and space group P4/n (no. 85) with Z = 4. The structure consists of isolated RE{sub 2}O{sub 8} groups and the (Sm{sub 4}O) chains are inter-connected by common oxygen atoms to form a three-dimensional network. Each Re{sub 2}O{sub 8} group is composed of a pair of rhenium each surrounded by four oxygens with a short Re-Re distance of 2.251(1) {angstrom} indicating a metal-metal bond. Rhenium has the formal oxidation state of +4. The observed magnetizations in the temperature range 1.8 < T < 100 K exhibits antiferromagnetic ordering below 2.4(1) K and obey a Curie-Weiss law modified by a ...
Three systems for the heat supply in the built environment have been compared for the costs, the energy consumption and emissions of CO{sub 2}, NO{sub x} and SO{sub 2}. The heating systems compared are based on central heating boilers, district heating systems in combination with combined steam and gas turbine cycles, and heating by means of several gas engines. From the results it appears that the boilers demand the lowest investments. The district heating systems are more expensive. Both heating systems, however, show considerable savings of energy (55 to 70%). The exploitation costs depend strongly on the fuel price scenarios used and the assumptions with regard to interest and inflation. The emissions of CO{sub 2} are also considerably lower for both combined heat and power generating systems. The use of gas engines results in higher acidifying emissions compared to the system with the central heating boilers, and lower acidifying emissions compared to the district heating system. ...
A recently developed neutron diagnostic probe system has the potential to satisfy a significant number of van-mobile and fixed- portal requirements for nondestructive verification of sealed munitions and detection of contraband explosives and drugs. The probe is based on a unique associated-particle sealed-tube neutron generator (APSTNG) that interrogates the object of interest with a low-intensity beam of 14-MeV neutrons generated from the deuterium-tritium reaction and that detects the alpha-particle associated with each neutron. Gamma-ray spectra of resulting neutron inelastic scattering and fission reactions identify nuclides associated with all major chemicals in chemical warfare agents, explosives, and drugs, as well as many pollutants and fissile and fertile special nuclear material. Flight times determined from determined from detection times of the gamma-rays and alpha-particles yield a separate tomographic image of each identified nuclide. The APSTNG also ...
Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a promising binary treatment modality for high-grade primary brain tumors (glioblastoma multiforme, GM) and other cancers. BNCT employs a boron-10 containing compound that preferentially accumulates in the cancer cells in the brain. Upon neutron capture by {sup 10}B energetic alpha particles and triton released at the absorption site kill the cancer cell. In order to gain penetration depth in the brain Fairchild proposed, for this purpose, the use of energetic epithermal neutrons at about 10 keV. Phase I/II clinical trials of BNCT for GM are underway at the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor (BMRR) and at the MIT Reactor, using these nuclear reactors as the source for epithermal neutrons. In light of the limitations of new reactor installations, e.g. cost, safety and licensing, and limited capability for modulating the reactor based neutron beam energy spectra alternative neutron sources are being contemplated for wider implementation of this ...
Car weight corresponds directly to fuel consumption and driving performance. So in order to improve the fuel efficiency and performance of a car the weight has to be reduced. Magnesium as a light metal offers a wide range of weight saving opportunities, especially Magnesium wrought alloys with their improved mechanical properties have a high potential for structural applications. Mechanical properties in terms of their quality and anisotropy are dependent on the microstructure of the material and can be characterized by their degree of inhomogeneity, their grain size distribution and their crystallographic texture. Therefore the orientation distribution of grains, the grain size, its size distribution, the chemical composition (precipitates) itself influence the mechanical parameters and their anisotropy. In this presentation first results of mechanical anisotropy are given: differences in yield stress, ...
This paper examines the feasibility of returning coal mine wastes to the mined-out areas, as encouraged by PL 95-87, the ''Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977'' (SMCRA). Reviews a National Academy of Sciences report which identified alternative backfilling methods. Presents diagram of mechanical backfilling with gravity and mechanical transport, and tables of existing underground mine waste disposal methods and a summary of technical feasibility of alternative disposal systems. Evaluated systems include gravity disposal with mechanical surface transport; gravity disposal with mechanical in-mine transport; complete mechanical disposal; mechanical disposal with gravity surface to underground transport; direct hydraulic disposal; hydraulic disposal with natural head; hydraulic disposal with artificial head; ...
The realization that there existed a G-protein coupled signal transduction mechanism developed gradually and was initially the result of an ill fated quest for uncovering the mechanism of action...Full Text Available
We use a novel normal mode analysis of an elastic network model drawn from configurations generated during microsecond all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to analyze the mechanism of auto-inhibition...Full Text Available
AbstractWe combined atomistic molecular-dynamics simulations with quantum-mechanical calculations to investigate the sequence dependence of the stretching behavior of duplex DNA. Our...Full Text Available
PURPOSEThe purpose of this study was to compare the linear sintering behavior of presintered zirconia blocks of various densities. The mechanical properties of the resulting sintered...Full Text Available
In all mammals, tissue inflammation leads to pain and behavioral sensitization to thermal and mechanical stimuli called hyperalgesia. We studied pain mechanisms in the African naked mole-rat, an unusual...Full Text Available
The reproducibility of pulmonary mechanics measurements in dairy cattle was examined using two study designs. In design A measurements were made with six cows on two days, and in design B measurements...Full Text Available
Using a new approach to quaternion mechanics based on De Broglie waves, it is shown that such a theory describes tachyons and that the quantum theory of tachyons should be a quaternionic one. (U.K.).
Emphasis was put on the comparative quantitative structure-activity approaches to the exploration of action mechanisms of structurally different classes of compounds showing the same type of activity...Full Text Available
The guide describes a method acceptable to the NRC staff for complying with the Commission's regulations with regard to quality assurance requirements for installation, inspection, and testing of mechanical equipment and systems for water-cooled and high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear power plants.
The widespread use of tobacco and alcohol among adolescents might be related to the ability of nicotine and ethanol to facilitate social interactions. To investigate the neurobehavioral mechanisms...Full Text Available
Ion-channels can be activated (gated) by a variety of stimuli including chemicals, voltage, mechanical force or temperature. Whereas molecular mechanisms of ion-channel gating by chemicals and...Full Text Available
Excised sheets of canine myocardium were subjected to cyclic loading and unloading in the predominant fibre and cross-fibre directions to determine passive mechanical properties. Myocardium under biaxial...Full Text Available
Most mechanical forces acting on the skeleton are generated either through impact with the ground (i.e., gravitational loading) or through muscle contractions (i.e., muscle loading). If one...Full Text Available
Bone remodeling is necessary to avoid microdamage accumulation, which could lead to whole-bone failure. Previous studies have shown that this bone-repair mechanism is triggered by osteocyte apoptosis....Full Text Available
Investigation of memory effects in air at 0.7 mbar pressure in the presence of vacuum electrical breakdown mechanism has been performed in this paper. The memory effect has been followed using the time delay method.
The mechanism of chemotherapy-induced acceleration of ovarian aging is not fully understood. We used doxorubicin, a widely used cancer chemotherapeutic, in a variety of in vivo xenograft,...Full Text Available
In this work, coals of various ranks were dissolved in an acid melange. With the use of IR spectroscopy, it was found that the mechanism of coal dissolution consists in the grafting of polar groups to the peripheral benzene rings of graphite-like systems.
Hepatic damage occurs in males and ovariectomized (OVX), not in proestrus (PE), females following trauma-hemorrhage (T-H). The mechanism responsible for hepatoprotection remains unknown. We hypothesized...Full Text Available
DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs) are critical cytotoxic lesions produced by cancer chemotherapeutic agents such as the nitrogen mustards and platinum drugs; however, the exact mechanism of ICL-induced...Full Text Available
The mechanism of influenza virus (INFV)-induced immunosuppression and the mode of inosiplex action against INFV infection were studied. INFV suppressed both anti-lipopolysaccharide and anti-sheep erythrocyte...Full Text Available
Catch is a mechanical state occurring in some invertebrate smooth muscles characterized by high force maintenance and resistance to stretch during extremely slow relaxation. During catch, intracellular...Full Text Available
The guiding mechanism is attached by a hinge (swivel) to the supporting frame, and the frame is equipped by hinges (swivels) with hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders mounted on its ends and is attached by hinges (swivels) to the coke ejector and guide respectively. This increases the productivity and efficiency of operating the system.
1. The mechanical power spent to accelerate the limbs relative to the trunk in level walking and running, Ẇint, has been measured at various `constant' speeds (3-33...Full Text Available
In this paper method of constructing quasi-exactly solvable models of quantum mechanics is proposed. This method is based on the use of infinite-dimensional representations of simple and semi-simple Lie algebras.
This dissertation presents the development of the novel mechanical testing technique of in situ nanoindentation in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). This technique makes it possible to simultaneously observe and quantify the mechanical behavior of nano-scale volumes of solids.
The possibility of rapid heat treatment (RHT) application to titanium castings has been studied. It was shown that such treatment provides a significant improvement of intragrain structure and mechanical properties of cast ({alpha}+{beta})-titanium alloys. ((orig.))
Methylation of the arginine residues of histones by methyltransferases has important consequences for chromatin structure and gene regulation; however, the molecular mechanism(s) of methyltransferase...Full Text Available
Bortezomib/PS-341/Velcade, a proteasome inhibitor, is widely used to treat multiple myeloma. While several mechanisms of the cytotoxicity of the drug were proposed, the actual mechanism remains elusive....Full Text Available
The mechanism by which mechanical force regulates the kinetics of a chemical reaction is unknown. Here, we use single-molecule force–clamp spectroscopy and protein engineering to study the effect...Full Text Available
Female mammals are particularly sensitive to changes in food availability. The mechanisms that affect sexual behavior and food intake are closely related to one another; chief among the mechanisms...Full Text Available
BackgroundNeuropathic pain (NP) is partially mediated by neuroinflammatory mechanisms, and also modulates local neurogenic inflammation. Dietary lipids, in particular the total amount...Full Text Available
The effects of Escherichia coli endotoxin on lung mechanics, hemodynamics, gas exchange, and lung fluid and solute exchange were studied in 12 chronically instrumented unanesthetized sheep. A possible...Full Text Available
Mechanism-based inhibition of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 is characterized by NADPH-, time-, and concentration-dependent enzyme inactivation, occurring when some drugs are converted by CYPs to reactive...Full Text Available
Mechanical forces can regulate various functions in living cells. The cytoskeleton is a crucial element for the transduction of forces in cell-internal signals and subsequent biological responses. Accordingly,...Full Text Available
Understanding the detailed mechanics of these systems and their place in the general picture of binary star evolution are the dual objectives of this ...
we report an ultrafast synchrotron x-ray phase contrast imaging study of the primary breakup mechanism of a coaxial air-assisted water jet. We demonstrate that there exist great similarities in the phenomenology of primary breakup with that of the secondary breakup. Especially, a membrane-mediated breakup mechanism dominates the breakup process for a wide range of air speeds. This finding reveals the intrinsic connections of these two breakup regimes and has deep implications on the unified theoretical approach in treating the breakup mechanism of high speed liquid jet.
Methylmethacrylate polymerisation in the presence of 4 wt% butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber was carried out at fixed dose-rate and temperature. The effect of irradiation was investigated with respect to the mechanical and dynamic-mechanical properties in the solid state. A general increase of the 'compatibilisation' on irradiation is obtained. In fact both rubber and polymethylmethacrylate glass transition temperatures, determined through dynamic-mechanical analysis, reveal the presence of strong interactions between the components. Furthermore an improvement of the mechanical tensile properties of the blends is observed when irradiation is continued after polymerisation, at least until a certain absorbed dose.
High-T/sub c/ superconductivity is due to the action of two mechanisms: (1) plasmon mechanism, i.e., exchange of two-dimensional (2-D) plasmons and (2) strong electron--phonon coupling. The low dimensionality and the small value of the carrier concentration make the plasmon mechanism favorable. The small value of the coherence length leads to a unique opportunity to observe a multigap structure. The proximity effect can be used in order to increase T/sub c/ of A-15 compounds.
Feb 11, 1997 ... Dr. Baldwin's research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of skeletal and cardiac muscle adaptations to hormonal and activity ...
The crack growth behavior and fracture toughness of two laminated metal composites (6090/SiC/25p laminated with 5182 and ultrahigh-carbon steel laminated with brass) have been studied in both ``crack arrester`` and ``crack divider`` orientations. The mechanisms of crack growth were analyzed and extrinsic toughening mechanisms were found to contribute significantly to the toughness. The influence of laminate architecture (layer thickness and component volume function), component material properties and residual stress on these mechanisms and the resulting crack growth resistance are discussed.
Main purpose of mapping observations of the cloud is to make clear the mechanism of star formation and star evolution. Scientific objectives are summarized ...
Polyamide is a modifier which introduces flexibility and toughness to phenolic foam by non reactive approach. Phenol formaldehyde resin was physically modified by the addition of polyamide in different percentages ranging from 0.05% to 0.2% which introduced toughness to modified resole. The resultant polymers were characterized by thermal and mechanical analysis using Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA), Instron machine and Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA). (author)
Some aspects of molecular mechanisms common to radiation and chemical carcinogenesis are discussed, particularly the DNA damage done by these agents. Emphasis is placed on epidemiological considerations and on dose-response models used in risk assessment to extrapolate from experimental data obtained at high doses to the effects from long-term, low-level exposures. 3 references, 6 figures. (ACR)
Papers are presented under the following topics: machine control and automation; rock drilling; cutting and fragmentation; rock characterization, remote sensing and interface detection; artificial intelligence and mine monitoring systems; computer applications; mechanical excavators; material handling; surface and underground mining; innovative mining systems; new developments in mechanical miners; ground hazard detection and control; ground support; and extraterrestrial mining.
Papers are presented under the session headings: research in mechanical fragmentation; rock characterization, remote sensing and interface detection; monitoring, data transmission and communications; tunnel boring machines; minewide monitoring and expert systems for ground control; machine guidance; shaft and raise boring; automation of drilling equipment; machine automation and control; new developments in mechanical miners; materials handling; innovative mining systems; general minewide monitoring and expert systems; ground support; human factors; and extraterrestrial mining.
In this paper some physical mechanisms are described, which determine some new free-electron laser configurations. These mechanisms comprise some physical effects of the radiant emission of an electron beam at the interaction with the medium it is crossing. They are based on the Cherenkov effect, Smith-Purcell effect, optical klystron, Rumakhov effect and limited interaction effect. (Author).
Purpose: To improve the reliability of control rod drive mechanisms for use in BWR type reactors by preventing erroneous insertion of control rods caused by the increase in the coolant pressure. Constitution: A pressure-releaf valve mechanism is provided which opens its valve when a detected difference between the pressure of the coolants flowing through coolant pipeways and the reactor pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure difference. If the coolant pressure increases abnormally, coolants in the coolant pipeway are released to lower the pressure. (Aizawa, K.).
The paper discusses the problem of influence of grain boundaries structure on mechanical properties of aluminium alloys at elevated temperatures. Showed the data amount of grain boundaries close to special and a random of grain boundaries. The results of calculation of contribution of different mechanisms of deformation to the total deformation for alloys with different types of grain boundaries are given. (orig.)
We propose a scheme able to generate stationary continuous variable entanglement between an optical and a microwave cavity mode by means of their common interaction with a micro-mechanical resonator. We show that when both cavities are intensely driven one can generate bipartite entanglement between any pair of the tripartite system, and that, due to entanglement sharing, optical-microwave entanglement is efficiently generated at the expense of microwave-mechanical and opto-mechanical entanglement.
Stress exposure increases the risk of addictive drug use in human and animal models of drug addiction by mechanisms that are not completely understood. Mice subjected to repeated forced swim stress...Full Text Available
We propose an extension of Gaussian mixture models in the statistical-mechanical point of view. The conventional Gaussian mixture models are formulated to divide all points in given data to some kinds of classes. We introduce some quantum states constructed by superposing conventional classes in linear combinations. Our extension can provide a new algorithm in classifications of data by means of linear response formulas in the statistical mechanics.
This paper discusses the mechanisms of gas breakdown at low values of pressure and inter-electrode gap, i.e. in the vicinity of the Paschen minimum. In this area of pressure and inter-electrode gap values, breakdown occurs either through gas or vacuum mechanisms, and also the so called anomalous Paschen effect appears. Electrical breakdown of electropositive, electronegative and noble gases has been investigated theoretically, experimentally and numerically. Based on the results obtained, regions in which particular breakdown mechanisms appear have been demarcated. Special attention has been devoted to the anomalous Paschen effect as well as to the avalanche vacuum breakdown mechanism.
This paper discusses the mechanisms of gas breakdown at low values of pressure and inter-electrode gap, i.e. in the vicinity of the Paschen minimum. In this area of pressure and inter-electrode gap values, breakdown occurs either through gas or vacuum mechanisms, and also the so called anomalous Paschen effect appears. Electrical breakdown of electropositive, electronegative and noble gases has been investigated theoretically, experimentally and numerically. Based on the results obtained, regions in which particular breakdown mechanisms appear have been demarcated. Special attention has been devoted to the anomalous Paschen effect as well as to the avalanche vacuum breakdown mechanism.
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) provides mechanisms for reliable data communications. Although it works well in wired networks, it fails to offer satisfactory performance in lossy and wireless environments. And in the multi-hop wireless infrastructure, packet delivery suffers high cumulative loss rate if traveling over multiple wireless hops. The Selective acknowledgment (SACK) is one header option that might be used to combat segment corruptions in air channels. In this paper, an alternative set of flow control mechanisms is proposed to handle high packet loss rate in a wireless medium. Using a measurement-based mechanism, sustainable segment delivery is achievable through a novel size-reduction method. Multiple segment retransmission mechanisms are introduced to reduce successive tim...
A device is described for transporting loads, especially for moving belt driving stations in open pit mining operations with a propelling mechanism which for lifting a respective load is operable to move into a free space formed by the load with the ground. The device comprises a plurality of lifting mechanisms, by means of which, a lifting platform can be brought into engagement with a supporting surface of the load. The device comprises at least one supporting member which is so designed that it prevents the lifting platform from lifting off lifting mechanisms. Furthermore, means are provided which permit a turning of the lifting platform relative to the lifting mechanisms about a vertical axis which is arranged in a certain relationship to the propelling mechanism.
A detailed chemical kinetic reaction mechanism is developed for primary reference fuel mixtures of n-hexadecane and 2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethyl nonane for diesel cetane ratings. The mechanisms are constructed using existing rules for reaction pathways and rate expressions developed previously for the primary reference fuels for gasoline octane ratings, n-heptane and iso-octane. These reaction mechanisms are validated by comparisons between computed and experimental results for shock tube ignition and for oxidation under jet-stirred reactor conditions. The combined kinetic reaction mechanism contains the submechanisms for the primary reference fuels for diesel cetane ratings and submechanisms for the primary reference fuels for gasoline octane ratings, all in one integrated large kinetic reac...
The mechanism of the IndolPhos-Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral olefins has been investigated by means of X-ray crystal structure determination, kinetic measurements, high-pressure NMR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. The mechanistic study indicates that the reaction follows an unsaturate/dihydride mechanism according to Michaelis-Menten kinetics. A large value of KM (KM=5.01+-0.16 M) is obtained, which indicates that the Rh-solvate complex is the catalyst resting state, which has been observed by high-pressure NMR spectroscopy. DFT calculations on the substrate-catalyst complexes, which are undetectable by experimental means, suggest that the major substrate-catalyst complex leads to the product. Such a mechanism is in accordance with previous studies on the mechanism...
The major degradation mechanisms acting during the aging of selected WWER-440/213 primary circuit facilities were assessed critically. The analysis gave evidence that such mechanisms include radiation and fatigue damage of the reactor pressure vessel (effect of the neutron flow, cyclic fatigue promoted by the corrosive medium, effect of thermal aging), corrosion-mechanical and thermo-mechanical (fatigue) damage of the steam generator (stress corrosion cracking, erosion corrosion, thermal aging, wear), thermal and dynamic aging of the pressurizer, and corrosion-mechanical damage of the primary circuit piping (thermal aging, corrosion). (J.B.). 5 tabs., 1 fig., 62 refs.
Metastable austenitic steels show excellent mechanical properties, such as high strength combined with excellent ductility and toughness due to martensitic transformation under mechanical loading (transformation induced plasticity effect). A good energy consumption, and, in the case of high-alloyed metastable austenitic steels, a high corrosion resistance, increase the potential of these materials for diverse applications, also in regard of safety requirements. Up to now, numerous wrought alloys were investigated concerning mechanical behaviour, TRIP-effect, martensitic transformation behaviour and modelling of transformation kinetics or stress-strain behaviour. New high alloyed cast CrMnNi-steels, developed at Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, provide the chance to reduce processing steps, production time and costs. In order to understand the influence of temperature on the martensitic phase transformation ...
Understanding the influence of interfacial structures on the nanoarchitecture mechanical properties is of particular importance for its mechanical applications. Due to a small size of constituting nanostructural units and a consequently high volume ratio of such interfacial regions, this question becomes crucial for the overall mechanical performance. Boron nitride bamboo-like nanotubes, called hereafter boron nitride nanobamboos (BNNBs), are composed of short BN nanotubular segments with specific interfaces at the bamboo-shaped joints. In this work, the mechanical properties of such structures are investigated by using direct in situ transmission electron microscopy tensile tests and molecular dynamics simulations. The mechanical properties and deformation behaviors are correlated with the interfacial structure under atomic resolution, and a geometry strengthening effect is clearly ...
The fundamental mechanisms underlying the chemical degradation of polymers can change as a function of environmental stress level. When this occurs, it greatly complicates any attempt to use accelerated tests for predicting long-term material degradation behaviors. Understanding how degradation mechanisms can change at different stress levels facilitates both the design and the interpretation of aging tests. Oxidative degradation is a predominant mechanism for many polymers exposed to a variety of different environments in the presence of air, and there are two mechanistic considerations which are widely applicable to material oxidation. One involves a physical process, oxygen diffusion, as a rate-limiting step. This mechanism can predominate at high stress levels. The second is a chemical process, the time-dependent decomposition of peroxide species. This leads to chain branching and can become a ...
The extensive research and development effort was initiated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 2002 at West Virginia University (WVU) in order to investigate practical ways of reducing the structural weight and increasing the durability of heavy vehicles through the judicious use of lightweight composite materials. While this project was initially focused on specific Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) material, namely Aluminum/Silicon Carbide (Al/SiC) commercially referenced as ''LANXIDE'', the current research effort was expanded from the component level to the system level and from MMC to other composite material systems. Broadening the scope of this research is warranted not only by the structural and economical deficiencies of the ''LANXIDE'' MMC material, but also by the strong coupling that exists between the material and the geometric characteristics of the structure. Such coupling requires a truly ...
Delayed neutron energy spectra have been measured for six delay-time intervals following the fast fission of "2"3"8U nuclei. The delay-time intervals span the range 0.17 to 10.2 seconds following initial fission while the measured spectra span neutron energies from 10 keV to 4 MeV. The experiment was performed utilizing the UMass/Lowell 5.5 MV Van de Graff accelerator to produce fast neutrons for inducing fission in a "2"3"8U lined fission chamber. The fission fragments were flushed via a helium jet stream to a well-shielded counting room where they were deposited onto a moving tape (magnetic audio tape) and transferred to a beta-neutron time-of-flight spectrometer. By adjusting the tape speed, composite delayed neutron time-of-flight spectra were measured for several different delay-time intervals. These measurements involved beta-neutron coincidences with "6Li-loaded glass scintillators for neutron energies from 10 keV to 450 keV and Bicron BC 501 liquid ...
This presentation discussed common mechanisms for procuring wind energy in Canada. Mechanisms included renewable portfolio standards (RPSs); offsets; tax subsidies; financial subsidies; command and control mechanisms; and request for proposals (RFPs). A layered approach is required to avoid reliance on any single mechanism. RPSs require a certain minimum percentage of energy to come from renewable sources and aim to encourage the local development of renewable energy. RPSs are market-friendly and often result in the creation of tradable renewable energy credits (RECs) used for compliance purposes. RPSs work in parallel with cap and trade, baseline, and credit and carbon tax systems. RFPs target the lowest price offering, a practice which has often resulted in lower rates of return, high attrition, and a failure to attribute market prices to green attributes. It was concluded that RPSs work with a ...
To understand the effect of heat treatment and mechanical polishing of a Nitinol wire on the chemical composition and physical morphology of the wire surface. Stents with a diameter of 1.0 cm, length of 8-10 cm, and composed of a Nitinol wire, were heat-treated at 500 .deg. C for 30 minutes, and mechanically polished with walnut shell granules. The wire surface morphology was studied with both an optical and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). In addition, an elemental analysis was performed by Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Long microcracks along the wire direction and short microcracks across the wire were observed by SEM from the raw Nitinol wire. Upon heat treatment, the color of the wire turned blue, and Na, K, Cl, Si, Al atoms were seen from the EDX of the heat treated wire, which were absent in the original wire. The microcracks disappeared with the mechanical polishing, and the Na, K, Cl, Si, Al atoms ...
Deformation mechanisms of Mg-Al-Zn (AZ31) alloys were investigated by performing tensile test at room temperature. In fine grain Mg alloys deformed at room temperature, nonbasal slip systems were found to be active as well as basal slip systems because of grain-boundary compatibility effect. Slip-induced grain-boundary sliding occurred as a complementary deformation mechanism to give rise to c-axis component of strain. With increasing grain size, the activation of the nonbasal slip systems was limited near grain boundaries. Instead of grain-boundary sliding, twinning occurred as a complementary deformation mechanism in large grained samples. Orientation analysis of twins indicated that twinning is induced by stress concentration due to the pile up of basal dislocations. The grain-size dependence on deformation mechanism was found to affect yielding behavior both microscopically and macroscopically which ...
On the basis of literary sources and experimental data, the advantages of a monogamous reproductive strategy are analyzed. Monogamous species of Lepidoptera have no postcopulative mechanisms of control over the success of reproductive sperm competition, cryptic female choice, and, probably, the male?s nuptial gift. Selection of the sex partner and of the quality of the future generation is determined by the precopulative and copulative mechanisms of the reproductive behavior, which include chemocommunication and a ?lock-and-key? mechanism. In an experiment with one male and one female, the quota of successful mating can depend on the morphological complication of the genital apparatus of males. Cases are considered of repeated mating for some, usually monogamous, species. In comparison wit...
The most propagated mechanisms of stimulated radiation of electron beam such as Cherenkov one-particle and collective effects, ondulator and magnetic bremsshrahlung radiations, Doppler anomalous effect, Thompson and Raman scattering and radiation are discussed. Relation of spontaneous radiation mechanisms of individual electron and stimulated radiation effects in electron beams has been elucidated, grounds of linear electrodynamics of radiative beam instabilities are stated, and main mechanisms of their nonlinear stabilization are elucidated as well. Various simulated processes in electron beams are considered from the unique point of view using a simple mathematical apparatus and such physical laws as conservation and Newton laws.
We propose a mechanism to explain what occurs when a mixture of grains of different sizes and different shapes (i.e. different repose angles) is poured into a quasi-two-dimensional cell. Specifically, we develop a model that displays spontaneous stratification of the large and small grains in alternating layers. We find that the key requirement for stratification is a difference in the repose angles of the two pure species, a prediction confirmed by experimental findings. We also identify a kink mechanism that appears to describe essential aspects of the dynamics of stratification.
Using U-120 cyclotron in the course of correlation experiment one studied mechanisms of excitation and decay of "1"2C nucleus states resulting from irradiation of deuterium-polyethylene target by 27.2 MeV energy #alpha#-particle beam via recording of #alpha#-#alpha#-coincidence simultaneously with investigations of #alpha# + d-interactions. Production of "1"2C excited states decaying with the escape of #alpha#-particle and "8Be nucleus in the ground and the excited states is the basic mechanism of the studied #alpha# + "1"2C interaction
Some results on mechanical property study of copper and titanium subjected to impact load and next to neutron irradiation are presented. It was shown that shock wave influence involves a substantial shape change of the stress-strain diagram and of respective mechanical characteristics. Yield- and ultimate strength were substantially increased, as well as hardness with a considerable drop of plasticity. Also a heat stability of copper and titanium specimens was studied after being treated with shock-waves and neutron radiation. Results are given of electron microscope study of titanium structure sfter explosion hardening, which caused decomposition of hydride segregations in titanium and increased dislocation density.
Current multi-scale computational models of ventricular electromechanics describe the full process of cardiac contraction on both the micro- and macro- scales including: the depolarization of cardiac cells, the release of calcium from intracellular stores, tension generation by cardiac myofilaments, and mechanical contraction of the whole heart. Such models are used to reveal basic mechanisms of cardiac contraction as well as the mechanisms of cardiac dysfunction in disease conditions. In this paper, we present a methodology to construct finite element electromechanical models of ventricular contraction with anatomically accurate ventricular geometry based on magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging of the heart. The electromechanical model couples detailed repres...
Beta-C trademark is a metastable beta titanium alloy which can be heat treated to achieve a good combination of properties such as tensile strength, fatigue strength, ductility and toughness, such as needed in aircraft fasteners. Variations in hot and cold processing parameters and solution heat treatment can affect the resultant grain structure which in turn affects subsequent aging response and mechanical properties. Several processing/heat treating routes on round bar are explored in this study to determine the effects on microstructure and various mechanical properties.
Alternative mechanisms of electron state excitation in diatomic molecules are examined with reference to CN and C2 molecules forming in chemical reactions behind strong shock wave fronts in a CO(CO2)-N2 gas mixture. The temperature range considered is 4000-8000 K. An effective excitation mechanism is proposed which involves rapid vibration-rotation excitation at all electron states and nonradiative transitions between perturbed electron states induced by collisions with the ambient gas particles.
Many organic compounds can be adsorbed onto the interface of a metal and solution to form a thin film that inhibits the corrosion process according to a blocking and/or negative catalytic effect. Using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique, stearic acid (SA) monolayers were deposited onto the surface of an iron (Fe) electrode to study the inhibition effect and the mechanism of SA in a neutral medium. Molecular orientation and the number of deposited monolayers of SA were shown to have marked effects on inhibition of Fe corrosion. The inhibition mechanism depended mainly on blocking.
Exceptional progress has been made in mathematical algorithm research leading to optimized mesh partitions for the highly unstructured grids occurring in finite element applications in solid mechanics. Today another research challenge presents itself. Research is needed to include boundary conditions into the algorithms for partitioning meshes. We describe below two methods we use currently to accomplish this and propose a more general approach be developed which would apply to our problems today as well as to the coupled models we envision for the future. Finally, we suggest research be considered that would incorporate partitioning methods into parallel mesh generation.
Division of Remote Handling and Robotics (DRHR) at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has been working on design and development of Reactivity Control Mechanisms for Nuclear Research Reactors (Dhruva, KAMINI and recently Critical Facility of Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR)) as well as Power Reactors in India (Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors of 220 MWe at Narora and recently India's first 540 MWe PHWR Unit -1 and 2 at Tarapur). This paper gives a brief account of evolution of reactivity control mechanisms for nuclear research and power reactors in India. (author)
The effect of the rare earth element, yttrium, on the mechanical properties of 9Cr-2WVTa low active martensite steel for fusion reactor was studied and the metallurgical behavior of yttrium in the steel was primarily analyzed. The results show that it is easy for yttrium to aggregate and form the blocky yttrium rich inclusions in the steel, which can dissever the continuity of the matrix and produce micro-cracks for fracture. The yttrium rich inclusions were distributed along the rolling direction, which made the fracture surface delaminated in the tensile and impact samples, and reduced the mechanical properties of the steel. (authors)
The development of detailed chemical kinetic reaction mechanisms for analysis of autoignition and knocking of hydrocarbon fuels is described. In particular, kinetic processes of concern for the oxidation of complex hydrocarbon fuel molecules are emphasized. The wide ranges of temperature and pressure which are encountered by end gases in automobile engine combustion chambers result in extreme demands on reaction mechanisms which are intended to describe knocking conditions and predict rates of combustion and ignition. The reactions and chemical species which are most important in each temperature and pressure regime are discussed, and the validation of these reaction mechanisms through comparison with idealized experimental results is described. 53 refs., 8 figs., 5 tabs.
This work contains 27 chapters which cover recent advances in fracture mechanics applied to cement-based composites: concrete, reinforced concrete, and fiber reinforced concrete. The book, based on a NATO Advanced Study Institute, is a comprehensive survey of treating nonlinearity associated with crack growth in brittle materials such as cement composites, rocks and ice. The book is divided into 8 major themes: advances in nonlinear fracture mechanics; fracture processes; numerical modelling of fracture; experimental methods of determining fracture parameters; damage and continuum modelling; strain-rate and dynamic effects of crack propagation; stress-corrosion, time and temperature effects on fracture; and implications for concrete structures.
An actuating mechanism of a mine combine is proposed. It includes a rotating platform in a vertical plane on which by hinges with the possibility of rotation parallel to the plane of the platform there are handles with cutting drums and a mechanism for extension of the handle which has hydraulic cylinders. With a decrease in load on the hinges of the handles from bending forces, on the platform between the front edge of the platform and the site of attachment of the handle hinges there are openings. Each handle has a support projection which is placed in this opening with the possibility of movement. A clamp plank is installed on it which covers the opening. The distance from the center of the projection support to the axis of the corresponding hinge is greater than the height of embedding of this hinge into the platform.
This paper presents a mathematical model to analyze the solar evaporation in a shallow pond in steady state, when the inlet flow rate, concentration, surface area and solar radiation are given. The simultaneous heat and mass transfer mechanisms are considered for quantifying the amount of evaporated water to the atmosphere and the actual absorbed heat by wastewater is calculated to obtain the bottom temperature of water pond. The heat losses to air by radiation and convection mechanisms are considered and the heat transmission across the water film is evaluated by the forced convection mechanism. 6 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.
Wavy interface morphology is observed in Magnetic Pulse Welding (MPW) similarly to that of the Explosion Welding process (EXW). It is recognized that interfacial waves are formed in a periodic manner and have well defined wavelength and amplitude. The phenomenon of wave formation in EXW has been subjected to extensive investigations in which empirical and numerical models have been published. In the present study, a wave formation mechanism for MPW is presented. This wave-creation mechanism was studied by evaluating the influence of sample geometry on wave morphology using stereoscopic optical microscopy. It was found that interfacial waves are formed in a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability mechanism. Reflected shock waves interact with the welding collision point at the weld interface, where in...
BackgroundOxidative stress has been proposed as a mechanism linking the poor placental perfusion characteristic of preeclampsia with the clinical manifestations of...Full Text Available
Objective:The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between truancy and escalation of substance use during adolescence and to explore potential mechanisms of this relationship.Method:Using...Full Text Available
The interaction between two metals, which can be either synergistic or antagonistic, implies that the behavior of one is changed by the presence of the other. Possible mechanisms of these interactions,...Full Text Available
We present modeling, simulation, and characterization for the dynamic response of clamped-clamped microbeams under mechanical shock. A Galerkin-based reduced-order model is utilized and its results are verified by comparing to finite-element results. The results indicate that the response of a microbeam to mechanical shock is inherently non-linear because of the dominating effect of mid-plane stretching. The effect of the shock pulse shape is investigated. It is concluded that the shape of the shock pulse can result in significant dynamic amplification in the response of the microbeam even in cases where the shock load is considered quasi-static.The combined effect of the electrostatic force and mechanical shock is investigated. The results show that this combined effect can lead to early ...
The cracking of 2-methylpentane on USHY at 300, 400, 450, and 500[degrees]C is interpreted in detail in terms of a chain mechanism. The kinetic equation developed from this mechanism fits the experimental data very well. The contribution of chain processes to the overall rate of conversion depends on the kinetic chain length, which in turn depends on the surface coverage by carbenium ions and their reactivities. Kinetic parameters were obtained at all four temperatures. A detailed examination of the kinetics shows that chain processes are more important at low reaction temperatures, whereas protolytic cracking dominates at higher temperatures. The parameters also show that both competitive inhibition by products and the rate of catalyst decay increase with increasing reaction temperature. Furthermore, they show that carbenium ions formed on Broensted sites are more stable than carbonium ions. 39 refs., 12 figs., 5 tabs.
How do people understand questions about cause and prevent? Some theories propose that people affirm that A causes B if A's occurrence makes a difference to B's occurrence in one way or another. Other theories propose that A causes B if some quantity or symbol gets passed in some way from A to B. The aim of our studies is to compare these theories' ability to explain judgements of causation and prevention. We describe six experiments that compare judgements for causal paths that involve a mechanism, i.e. a continuous process of transmission or exchange from cause to effect, against paths that involve no mechanism yet a change in the cause nevertheless brings about a change in the effect. Our results show that people prefer to attribute cause when a mechanism links cause to effect. In contr...
Despite a complex cascade of cellular events to reconstruct the damaged extracellular matrix, ligament healing results in a mechanically inferior scarred ligament. During normal healing, granulation...Full Text Available
... 500 ppm, boron increases the 0.2% offset strength; results show that boron doping does not appreciably affect ultimate compressive strength; for 0 ...
The Quantum Mechanics Conceptual Survey (QMCS) is a 12-question survey of students' conceptual understanding of quantum mechanics. It is intended to be used to measure the relative effectiveness of different instructional methods in modern physics courses. In this paper we describe the design and validation of the survey, a process that included observations of students, a review of previous literature and textbooks and syllabi, faculty and student interviews, and statistical analysis. We also discuss issues in the development of specific questions, which may be useful both for instructors who wish to use the QMCS in their classes and for researchers who wish to conduct further research of student understanding of quantum mechanics. The QMCS has been most thoroughly tested in, and is most appropriate for assessment of (as a posttest only), sophomore-level modern physics courses. We also describe testing with students in ...
BackgroundUnderstanding the mechanisms that control rates of disease progression in humans and other species is an important area of research relevant to epidemiology and to translating...Full Text Available
Background:Prolonged mechanical ventilation is increasingly common. It is expensive and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Our objective is to comprehensively characterize...Full Text Available
... by the boron doping in most of the alloys except for Al66Mn9Zr25 + 50 ppm B alloy; permanent deformation at ultimate compressive strength is not ...
Cu(II)-ATSM continues to be investigated, both in the laboratory and in the clinic, as a tumor hypoxia imaging agent. However, meaningful interpretation of these images requires a more complete understanding of the mechanism by which the tracer is trapped within the cell. Cu(II)-ATSM is a simple molecule and its biochemical interaction with cells is similarly simple, mainly based upon redox chemistry. Here we suggest that the trapping mechanism is biphasic. The first phase is a reduction/oxidation cycle involving thiols and molecular oxygen. This can be followed by interaction with proteins in the mitochondria leading to more permanent retention of the tracer. The uptake mechanism is complicated by this second step because of the changes in the cell resulting from hypoxia, such as an incre...
Polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear in current knee prosthesis causes prosthesis loosening after no more than 15 years. In this work, a steady state one-dimensional lubrication model with non- Newtonian fluid, porous elastic layer on tibial component, ultra-filtration mechanism of fluid and some features of the surface roughness is studied through a numerical technique based on the Finite Element Method. The results show that the UHMWPE stiffness makes difficult the lubrication mechanism of the artificial joint and promotes abrasive and fatigue wear. Nevertheless, the use of compliant porous materials on the tibial component could reduce friction and wear. Moreover, the ultra-filtration mechanism promotes efficiency on the joint.
Age-related alterations in the cellular composition of the B lineage are a major cause of the poor antibody response to vaccination and to infectious agents among the elderly population. The mechanisms...Full Text Available
The central features of the mechanical cycle that drives the contraction of muscle are two translational steps: the working stroke, whereby an attached myosin crossbridge moves relative to the actin...Full Text Available
A large group of diseases, termed protein misfolding disorders, share the common feature of the accumulation of misfolded proteins. The possibility of a common mechanism underlying either the pathogenesis...Full Text Available
In order to provide a rational basis for the development of new insecticides, a thorough understanding of resistance mechanisms is necessary and this presupposes a detailed knowledge of the normal...Full Text Available
Prematurity is by far the commonest cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The management of premature labour is empirical because little is understood about the mechanism of labour. Effective...Full Text Available
Composite Sandwich Panels under Different Thermal Environments, Composite Structures, Vol. 25,. July 1993, pp. 227239. 11. Ko, William L., Mechanical and ...
Synthetic polymers and nanomaterials display selective phenotypic effects in cells and in the body that affect signal transduction mechanisms involved in inflammation, differentiation, proliferation,...Full Text Available
Interest and research into the mechanisms and treatment of neuropathic pain have increased during recent years, but current treatment is still far from satisfactory (Dworkin...Full Text Available
The temporal synchrony of auditory and visual signals is known to affect the perception of an external event, yet it is unclear what neural mechanisms underlie the influence of temporal synchrony...Full Text Available
... Abstract : Iraqi armored and mechanized divisions crossed the border of ... quick response, the first elements of the 82nd Airborne Division arrived in ...
PURPOSETo examine the mechanisms of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) related to the opening of mitochondrial KATP (mKATP) channels in the retina.Full Text Available
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.
We present a detailed analysis of the self-organization phenomenon in which the stylized facts originate from finite size effects with respect to the number of agents considered and disappear in the limit of an infinite population. By introducing the possibility that agents can enter or leave the market depending on the behavior of the price, it is possible to show that the system self-organizes in a regime with a finite number of agents which corresponds to the stylized facts. The mechanism to enter or leave the market is based on the idea that a too stable market is unappealing for traders while the presence of price movements attracts agents to enter and speculate on the market. We show that this mechanism is also compatible with the idea that agents are scared by a noisy and risky market at shorter time scales. We also show that the mechanism for self-organization is robust with respect to variations of the exit/entry ...
It is shown that plasma viscosity does not influence the magnetic island rotation directly. Nevertheless, it leads to nonstationarity of the plasma velocity. This nonstationarity is the reason of the viscosity effect on island rotation. (author)
Immunomodulatory drugs lenalidomide and pomalidomide are synthetic compounds derived by modifying the chemical structure of thalidomide to improve its potency and reduce its side effects. Lenalidomide...Full Text Available
With the assistance of mechanical activation, yttrium-stabilized #alpha#-SiAlON was prepared by combustion synthesis in air, instead of high-pressure N_2 atmosphere for the first time. The reaction activity of metallic particles was remarkably enhanced by mechanical activation, which conduced the reduction of grain size, increased the total surface area and formation of fresh surface. The formation of #alpha#-SiAlON by combustion synthesis in air was explained by a kinetically induced reaction mechanism, in which both initial formation of #alpha#-SiAlON and following avoidance of oxidation were fulfilled by the retardation of O_2 infiltration owing to the short reaction period and fast cooling rate.
The effect of the coated composite surface of particles on the mechanical properties of the powder bed was investigated. Polyethylene-silica surface composite powder was prepared at several coating ratios with Hybridizer. Various tests on mechanical properties of the powder bed were carried out with the prepared powder, and the following results were obtained: The ultimate tensile strength depends only on the cohesive force between particles, and the contact probability model of composite particles led to good agreement between the experimental and calculated values. The coefficient of internal friction and cohesive shear strength were influenced due to the interlocking effect of the surface roughness of composite particles. The effects of coating particles became small with dynamic properties like angle of repose. It is possible to control the mechanical properties in a step wise fashion by changing the coating ratio of ...
Low power rf measurements, S11, of electro-discharge machined (EDM) diffusion bonded mm-wave traveling wave rf cavities were not in satisfactory agreement with electromagnetic simulations. During subsequent mechanical inspection, the cell-to-cell iris were found to be distorted. This led to a series of systematic experiments to study the mechanical properties of oxygen free high conductivity Copper (OFHC) and Glidcop AL-15. Results of these studies which include cell-to-cell iris distortion, EDM machining accuracies, surface quality, and the results of different bonding techniques are presented. The results of our mechanical studies are used to develop a set of mechanical design constraints for a second series of constant impedance W-Band structures that also used wire EDM and high temperature bonding for their manufacture.
The study of amphibian embryogenesis has provided important insight into the mechanisms of vertebrate development. The frog Xenopus laevis has been an important model of vertebrate...Full Text Available
Lens-induced glaucoma comprises a number of different glaucomatous processes occurring in the elderly that share in common the role of the crystalline lens in the mechanism of increase in intraocular...Full Text Available
Mechanisms, AGARD Conference Proceedings No. 131, 1974, Paper No. 11. ... Olsen, W. and Karchmer, A., Lip Noise Generated by Flow Separation From Nozzle ...
The need for agents designed to modify immune response in the treatment of patients with viral infection, immunodeficiency, or cancer prompted the present study on the mechanisms of action of isoprinosine,...Full Text Available
Commercial polyolefin, such as poly(propylene), are widely used because of their easy processing and their excellent mechanical and thermal properties. Although their recycling is well established, the mechanical and thermal properties of the recycled waste poly(propylene)(WPP) are normally lower than those of the virgin material. The introduction of talc can improve the toughness, without compromising the processability and recycling capabilities. However, the thermal properties of these blends should be assessed to limit degradation during recycling. The effect of gamma radiation on the thermal and mechanical properties of WPP/High Crystallinity Poly(propylene)/Talc was studied. TGA, DSC, and electrical conductivity performed the characterization of WPP composites. Mechanical properties ...
Tetragonal ferroelectric/ferroelectric \\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts}...Full Text Available
Although the cause and development of most inflammatory and fibrotic interstitial lung diseases are unknown, both the antigenic stimuli and the immunopathogenic mechanisms that produce the syndrome...Full Text Available
Durability is a major limitation of current proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Mechanical stress due to hygro-thermal cycling is one failure mechanism of the polymer electrolyte membrane. In previous work the cyclic rate, temperature, and hydration dependent elastic-viscoplastic mechanical behavior of Nafion has been extensively investigated in uniaxial and biaxial tension, serving as a data basis and means of validation for a three-dimensional constitutive model. Here, the important effect of loading via constrained swelling is studied. Specifically, two types of loading are investigated: partially constrained swelling via a bimaterial swelling test and hygro-thermal cycling within a fuel cell. The bimaterial swelling conditions are examined via experiments in conjunction with modeling....
Microcalcifications are an important diagnostic marker for breast cancer on mammograms, yet the mechanism of their formation is poorly understood. Indeed, there is presently no short-latency,...Full Text Available
It is hypothesized that the good performance of Alloy 800 in steam generator service is due to its relative immunity to two distinct mechanisms of stress corrosion cracking; the argument also applies to intergranular corrosion. One mechanism operates in the high-nickel region (Alloy 600 and nearby model alloys) and is due to internal intergranular oxidation. The other operates in the low-nickel (stainless steel) region and is due to de-alloying of Fe and/or Cr. This latter mechanism may, under special conditions, operate in high-Ni, high-Cr alloys such as 690. Some essential features of the de-alloying mechanism are demonstrated using strong caustic solutions, and the prospect of extending this approach to dilute high-temperature environments is discussed. (author)
Cellular senescence is an important mechanism for preventing the proliferation of potential cancer cells. Recently, however, it has become apparent that this process entails more than a simple cessation...Full Text Available
flow separation occurred at the junction of the tip fin and the fuselage. ...... Systems, presented at the AGARD Guidance and Control and Flight Mechanics ...
The rapidly emerging science of epigenetics and epigenomic medicine promises to reveal novel insights into the susceptibility to and the onset and progression of epileptic disorders. Epigenetic...Full Text Available
Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are a class of new chemicals that interfere with maturation and reproduction in insects. Proposed hypotheses on the biochemical mechanism of action are presented herein....Full Text Available
In this work we conducted both in vitro and in vivo experiments to examine the development and mechanisms of erythromycin (Ery) resistance in Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter...Full Text Available
The electrical responses of the neurons associated with the various types of chemosensory hairs of the blowfly, Phormia regina Meigen, following stimulation by chemical and mechanical...Full Text Available
Advances in modern neuroscience require the identification of principles that connect different levels of experimental analysis, from molecular mechanisms to explanations of cellular functions,...Full Text Available
Excessive dietary phosphorus may increase cardiovascular risk in healthy individuals as well as in patients with chronic kidney disease, but the mechanisms underlying this risk are not completely understood....Full Text Available
A detailed chemical kinetic reaction mechanism is developed to describe incineration of the chemical warfare nerve agent sarin (GB), based on commonly used principles of bond additivity and hierarchical reaction mechanisms. The mechanism is based on previous kinetic models of organophosphorus compounds such as TMP, DMMP and DIMP that are often used as surrogates to predict incineration of GB. Kinetic models of the three surrogates and GB are then used to predict their consumption in a perfectly stirred reactor fueled by natural gas to simulate incineration of these chemicals. Computed results indicate that DIMP is the only one of these surrogates that adequately describes combustion of GB under comparable conditions. The kinetic pathways responsible for these differences in reactivity are identified and discussed. The most important reaction in GB and DIMP that makes them more reactive than TMP or DMMP is found to be a ...
The objectives of the Phase-I research address the development of mechanics- based structural integrity analysis methodologies for composite sandwich panels ...
The mechanism of resistance to DDT was investigated in Culex mosquitos to ascertain whether it was associated with detoxication to DDE as in houseflies and Aedes aegypti....Full Text Available
Background:Frozen shoulder (FS) is a debilitating musculoskeletal condition with an uncertain etiology and pathogenic mechanism. The aim of this study was to investigate...Full Text Available
The use of repeated expressions to establish coreference allows an investigation of the relationship between basic processes of word recognition and higher-level...Full Text Available
A modest reduction in body temperature prolongs longevity and possibly retards aging in both poikilotherm and homeotherm animals. Some of the possible mechanisms mediating these effects are...Full Text Available
... Abstract : The structural features of 25mm combustible cartridge cases, manufactured for this program and having nitrocellulose/resin/fiber ratios of ...
The pleiotropic actions of neuromodulators on pre- and postsynaptic targets present challenges to disentangling the mechanisms underlying regulation of synaptic transmission. Within the striatum,...Full Text Available
The combustin of chloroethane is modeled as a stirred reactor so that we can study critical emission characteristics of the reactor as a function of residence time. We examine important operating conditions such as pressure, temperature, and equivalence ratio and their influence on destructive efficiency of chloroethane and production of other chlorinated products. The model uses a detailed chemical kinetic mechanism that we have developed previously for C{sub 3} hydrocarbons. We have added to this mechanism the chemical kinetic mechanism for C{sub 2} chlorinated hydrocarbons developed by Senkan and coworkers. Some reactions have been added to Senkan's mechanism and some of the reaction-rate expressions have been updated to reflect recent developments in the literature. In the modeling calculations, sensitivity coefficients are determined to find which reaction-rate constants have the largest ...
Substances cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) by a variety of mechanisms. These include transmembrane diffusion, saturable transporters, adsorptive endocytosis, and the extracellular pathways. Here,...Full Text Available
Physiological bone remodeling is a highly coordinated process responsible for bone resorption and formation and is necessary to repair damaged bone and to maintain mineral homeostasis. In addition to...Full Text Available
AbstractWe propose a mechanism for the formation of membrane oscillations and traveling waves, which arise due to the coupling between the actin cytoskeleton and the calcium flux through...Full Text Available
BackgroundOsseointegration is crucial for the long-term success of dental implants and depends on the tissue reaction at the tissue-implant interface. Mechanical properties and biocompatibility...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer activity and mechanism of action of Noscapine alone and in combination with Doxorubicin against triple negative...Full Text Available
Background"Nubiotics" are synthetic oligonucleotides and nucleotides with nuclease-resistant backbones, and are fully protonated for enhanced ability to be taken up by bacterial...Full Text Available
Environmental arsenic is a world-wide health issue, making it imperative for us to understand mechanisms of metalloid uptake and detoxification. The predominant intracellular form is the highly mephitic...Full Text Available
Fire-driven deforestation is the major source of carbon emissions from Amazonia. Recent expansion of mechanized agriculture in forested regions of Amazonia ...
BackgroundThe permeabilization of mitochondrial membranes is a decisive event in apoptosis or necrosis culminating in cell death. One fundamental mechanism by which...Full Text Available
The morphology of human leukocytes, the biochemistry of actin polymerization, and the theory of continuum mechanics are used to model the pseudopod protrusion process of leukocytes. In the proposed...Full Text Available
ObjectivesFirst comprehensive evaluation of the mechanical properties of an epoxy adhesive in different environments using a nano-indenter. ~%~~%~Use AFM/SEM and finite element modelling to generate knowledge of the precise mechanism of indentation in the epoxy adhesive. ~%~~%~Develop an improved data reduction algorithm for generating meaningful mechanical property data from indentation tests for adhesive materials.~%~ ~%~Validate the nano-indentation method of generating mechanical property data against [continued...]DescriptionThis project aims to address the problem of insufficient data on adhesive materials for effective modelling of joint behaviour in different environments. The methodology to be used is based on depth sensing indentation tests at different loads and rates and in different environments. Post-indentation deformation and recovery will be monitored ...
Although caloric restriction (CR) has been shown to increase lifespan in various animal models, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon have not yet been revealed. We developed an in vitro...Full Text Available
The results of the thermal dissolution of Barzas sapromyxite coal in benzene under supercritical conditions in a flow system are reported. It was found that the mechanical pretreatment of coal under intense impact bending conditions resulted in an increase in the yield and a change in the group composition of the liquid products: in the high-temperature region of the process, the concentration of high-molecular-weight components (preasphaltenes, asphaltenes, and resins) increased.
A computationally efficient dynamic adaptive chemistry (DAC) scheme is described that permits on-the-fly mechanism reduction during reactive flow calculations. The scheme reduces a globally valid full mechanism to a locally, instantaneously applicable smaller mechanism. Previously we demonstrated its applicability to homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) problems with n-heptane [L. Liang, J.G. Stevens, J.T. Farrell, Proc. Combust. Inst. 32 (2009) 527-534]. In this work we demonstrate the broader utility of the DAC scheme through the simulation of HCCI and shock tube ignition delay times (IDT) for three gasoline surrogates, including two- and three-component blends of primary reference fuels (PRF) and toluene reference fuels (TRF). Both a detailed 1099-species mechanism and a skeletal 150-species mechanism are investigated as the full mechanism to ...
This articles deals with an approach that has given some key information about the mechanisms of the liquid phase oxidation of butane to acetic acid. This procedure has been developed over the last 34 years; however, much of what will be discussed represents a synthesis of previous insights. Many of the observations are relatively recent and have not been previously published. In principle, this approach should be applicable to many oxidation processes. (orig.)
The possible role of space-like objects in elementary particle physics (and in quantum mechanics) is reviewed and discussed, mainly by exploiting the explicit consequences of the peculiar relativistic mechanics of Tachyons. Particular attention is paid: (i) to tachyons as the possible carriers of interactions; (ii) to the possibility of ''vacuum decays'' at the classical level; (iii) to a Lorentz-invariant bootstrap model; (iv) to the apparent shape of the tachyonic elementary particles and its possible connection with the de Broglie wave-particle dualism. (author).
Scheme of theoretical method of molecular configuration definition for small organic molecules in solution has been presented. The method bases on measurements of nuclear Overhauser effects for proton-proton interactions and molecular mechanics calculations. 3 refs, 1 fig.
Pacini (1973) has considered basic theoretical expectations regarding the magnetic dipole radiation and unipolar induction of pulsars, taking into account observational results. The present investigation is concerned with the difference between the two braking mechanisms. Attention is also given to a statistical study involving a comparison of the two braking mechanisms with observations. The study makes use of the observational data for the distribution of apparent beamwidth, and a geometrical method. The obtained results agree with the theory of magnetic dipole radiation.
The relativistic motion of an electron is numerically analyzed in a tokamak having macroscopic magnetic turbulence. Stochasticity induced by the relativistic motion overwhelms the phase averaging effect, which provides a tokamak with an effective loss mechanism for the avoidance/suppression of runaway electron generation at a major disruption. On the other hand, electrons in the KAM (Kolmogorov-Arnold-Moser) region will be observed as a runaway snake. (author)
The inhibitor action of unbranched polyamines on corrosion of low-carbon steel in 0.5 M sulfuric acid is studied through potentiostatic polarization curves. It is shown that the inhibitor efficiency I depends on the polyamine concentration and molecular structure. The quantum-mechanical calculations of molecular properties are accomplished through the MNDO method. Correlation between the measured I and physicochemical properties of the polyamine inhibitors in protonized and nonprotonized form is found with application of the general perturbation theory
Beta C trademark, a metastable beta titanium alloy developed by RMI Titanium Company, continues to be used in new applications due to its excellent mechanical properties and resistance to corrosion. New data in this paper include mechanical properties in large sections, cold drawn bar and welds. Fatigue crack growth and corrosion data are added to supplement previously published data.
The method of production of xAl{sub 2}O{sub 3}-yTiO{sub 2} compositions provides for the depth distribution of coating components and specifies its mechanical properties. In case of the composition obtained by cladding, titanium is mainly concentrated at the substrate. In case of mechanical mixture or composition obtained by sintering the oxides, the depth distribution of coating components is random.
The physics and technology of a new class of efficient composite piezoelectrics are described. This material combines nanostructured and micropiezoelectric matrix composites. They consist of a polymer matrix, an insulating nanodimensional phase, and a microdimensional piezoelectric phase. It is shown that the nanostructuring of the near-surface region of polymer-PZT piezoelectric composites greatly improves their piezoelectric, mechanical, and electromechanical characteristics. A plausible mechanism underlying this effect is suggested.
Biological motors generally fall into two categories: (1) those that convert chemical into mechanical energy via hydrolysis of a nucleoside triphosphate, usually adenosine triphosphate, regarded as life's chemical currency of energy and (2) membrane bound motors driven directly by an ion gradient and/or membrane potential. Here we argue that electrostatic interactions play a vital role for both types of motors and, therefore, the tools of physics can greatly contribute to understanding biological motors.
Inspired by the work of Feynman, Deutsch, We formally propose the theory of physical computability and accordingly, the physical complexity theory. To achieve this, a framework that can evaluate almost all forms of computation using various physical mechanisms is discussed. Here, we focus on using it to review the theory of Quantum Computation. As a preliminary study on more general problems, some examples of other physical mechanism are also given in this paper.
Heart failure goes beyond mechanical dysfunction and involves an interplay of multiple pathophysiologic mechanisms, including inflammation, tissue remodeling, neurohormonal and endocrine signaling, and interactions with the renal and nervous systems. This article highlights some novel biomarkers that may aid in diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of acute heart failure, specifically focusing on ST2, endoglin, galectin-3, cystatin C, neutrophil gelatinase?associated lipocalin, midregional pro-adrenomedullin, chromogranin A, adiponectin, resistin, and leptin and their emerging clinical roles.
We exploit theoretically a class of rectangular cylindrical devices for noise shielding by using acoustic metamaterials. The function of noise shielding is justified by both the far-field and near-field full-wave simulations based on the finite element method. The enlargement of equivalent acoustic scattering cross sections is revealed to be the physical mechanism for this function. This work makes it possible to design a window with both noise shielding and air flow. (electromagnetism, optics, acoustics, heat transfer, classical mechanics, and fluid dynamics)
Exploding bridgewire (EBW) initiation of high explosives (HE) has been used for many years without a clear understanding of the mechanisms involved. Evidence indicates that the shock pressures produced by the EBW may be insufficient for direct initiation and that the electric field about the wire at the time of burst ionizes the surface of the HE. We hypothesize that the ionization pre-sensitizes the HE so that a weak shock can then initiate a detonation wave. 13 refs., 7 figs.
The use of low rank coal leads to a reduction of the coke strength because of the reduction of the caking property of coking coal. The authors have tried to understand this mechanism by extracting and analyzing the caking component of low rank coal and coking coal. It was found that the caking component is decreased by radical attack from the low rank coal, and thus the caking property is reduced. 11 figs., 3 tabs.
Administration of minocycline (MN), a tetracycline antibiotic, produces a black pigment in the thyroids of humans and several species of experimental animals and antithyroid effects in rodents. We have previously shown that these effects appear to be related to interactions of MN with thyroid peroxidase (TPO), the key enzyme in thyroid hormone synthesis. In the present study, the mechanisms for inhibition of TPO-catalyzed iodination and coupling reactions by MN were investigated. 37 refs., 7 figs., 3 tabs.
The mechanical properties of TS 6 (Ti--10 percent Cr--7 percent V--3.5 percent Mo--3 percent Al) alloy were studied. Results are presented in plots showing yield stress vs cold work, notched tensile strength vs unnotched tensile strength, and ultimate tensile strength vs test temperature.
The influence of structure on mechanical properties in the course of tensile tests in a wide range of temperatures was studied, using the VT16 structure thermally strengthened (alpha+beta)-titanium alloy by way of example. It is ascertained that transition from ductile to brittle fracture at the temperature of -196 deg C is observed only in coarse-grain alloy having alpha-eldging of beta grains.
Two aspects of the deformation behavior of magnesium sheets are the subject of this paper. First it will give a mechanical characterization of a commercial magnesium with a focus on the anisotropy and the possible microstructural causes of this behavior. The rolling process will be part of the second aspect. The aim is to show the influence of the parameters on the microstructure and texture and how this could affect the anisotropy in the rolled sheets. (Abstract Copyright [2003], Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)
The relationships of hydrogen alloyed #beta#-titanium alloy deformation behaviour to its microstructure and texture are investigated. It is shown that plasticity increases and strain induced texture changes at low hydrogen contents (0.1-0.2 mass %). Possible mechanisms responsible for specific features of #beta#-Ti alloy deformation are discussed. The study is made using alloy VT35 doped with hydrogen
A model of heterogeneous mechanism of nucleation on impurity particles in a fluid volume is proposed. The particle spectrum is reproduced by solving the ''inverse'' problems on stationary outflow of a boiling parahydrogen with the use of experimental data of authors. A relation for a closure of the equation system describing a non-equilibrium outflow is obtained. It is shown that within the investigated parameter range one manages to calculate the characteristics of a stationary outflow with a satisfactory accuracy.
It has been shown that mechanical milling of iron in water results in formation of nanocrystalline magnetite Fe3O4 with an average particle size of 0.6 ?m, saturation magnetization of 77 Am2/kg and coercivity of ?150 A/cm. Along with magnetite, an antiferromagnetic Fe-O phase (?10 wt%), which is an aggregate of small iron-oxygen clusters forms.
Effect of cooling rates within the wide range (0.003-45 grad/s) on the complex of mechanical properties of (#alpha#-#beta#)-titanium alloy VT3-1 is studied in the process of heat treatment. Cooling conditions of semifinished product made of this alloy with a different structure providing optimum combination of strength, ductility fracture toughness, heat resistance, and endurance are determined.
Dopamine (DA) D3 and D2 receptor mechanisms are implicated in cocaine's abuse-related behavioral effects, but the relative contribution of the two receptor subtypes is only partially characterized....Full Text Available
The mechanism of inactivation of cytochrome P450 2B1 (CYP2B1) by 4-tert-butylphenylacetylene (BPA) has been characterized previously to be caused by the covalent binding of a reactive...Full Text Available
Recently, Faria et al. [Phys. Lett. A 305 (2002) 322] discussed an example in which the Heisenberg and the Schroedinger pictures of quantum mechanics gave different results. We identify the mistake in their reasoning and conclude that the example they discussed does not support the inequivalence of these two pictures.
Comprehensive Structural Integrity is a reference work which covers all activities involved in the assurance of structural integrity. It provides engineers and scientists with an unparalleled depth of knowledge in the disciplines involved. The new online Volume 11 is dedicated to the mechanical characteristics of materials. This paper contains the chapter 11.02 of this volume and is structured as follows: Test techniques; Analysis; Fracture behavior; Fracture toughness tests for nonmetals.
Dialdehyde cellulose (DAC) was prepared by periodate oxidation of various cellulosic materials in the form of sutures and bandages. The suitability of using DAC for making bioabsorbable sutures and antimicrobial wound dressing bandages was studied. The investigations indicated that DAC combines the requisite mechanical strength with an inherent antimicrobial nature. It was found that the oxidation of cellulose to yield DAC also rendered it bioabsorbable. The DAC was coated with different concentrations of urea formaldehyde in order to improve the mechanical properties for making sutures. PMID:3719037
The mechanisms underlying life machinery are still not completely understood. Something is known, something is ?probably? known, other things are still unknown. Scientists all over the world are working very hard to clarify the processes regulating the cell life cycle and bioinformaticians try to support them by developing specialized automated tools. Within the plethora of applications devoted to the study of life mechanisms, tools for the analysis and comparison of biological networks are catching the attention of many researchers. It is interesting to investigate why.
A beta titanium alloy was evaluated for use in orthodontic appliances. Standard mechanical tests and aspecially designed spring test were used. Two particular thermo-mechanical treatments resulted in titanium springs with 1.8 times the extension of comparable stainless steel springs, and a 2.2 fold reduction in force per unit displacement. PMID:283089
The behavior of air flows in complex heat exchanger passages is reviewed with a focus on the heat transfer effects of boundary-layer development, turbulence, spanwise and streamwise vortices, and wake management. Each of these flow features is discussed for the plain, wavy, and interrupted passages found in contemporary compact heat exchanger designs. Results from the literature are used to help explain the role of these mechanisms in heat transfer enhancement strategies.
A previous study described the basic theoretical expectations of the magnetic dipole radiation and unipolar induction of pulsars and presented observational results. This paper further discusses the difference between the two braking mechanisms and analyses the results of a statistical study through observed data of apparent beamwidth's distributions and a geometrical method. The theory of magnetic dipole radiation of pulsars agrees with the observations. Unipolar induction as a braking mechanism is not consistent with the observations.
An 'electron-bridge' mechanism of nuclear reaction in an atom or ion by ultra-intense laser fields is presented. A preliminary estimate of the intensity dependence of the rate of disintegration reaction of deuteron nucleus in deuterium atom is made for 800 nm laser fields. For intensities below 5x1021 W/cm2, the rate of disintegration by the 'electron-bridge' mechanism is found to be small, but it rises sharply and becomes large already for ?1022 W/cm2.
A neutron irradiation test on superplastic ceramic materials at high temperature has been proposed as an innovative basic research on high-temperature engineering using the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR). We investigated mechanical properties, such as the hardness and Young's modulus, of ceramic specimens after superplastic deformation. The tested material was 3Y-TZP (3mol% Yttria stabilized Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystal) which is one of the representative superplastic ceramics. The properties were measured by a microindentation method. We also studied the relationship between crystal microstructures and the mechanical properties of deformed 3Y-TZP by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The indentation test showed that the mechanical properties of the specimens were reduced to about 1/2 by 30% deformation and to about 1/4 by 150% deformation. The SEM images showed that average grain size and ...
Current light water reactor (LWR) steam generators have been affected by a variety of corrosion and mechanical damage degradation mechanisms. Included are wear caused by tube vibration, intergranular corrosion, pitting, and thinning or wastage of the steam generator tubing and accelerated corrosion of carbon steel supports (denting). The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Steam Generator Owners Groups (I, II) have sponsored laboratory and field studies to provide ameliorative actions for the majority of the damage forms experienced to date. Some of the current corrosion mechanisms are aggravated or caused by unique materials choices or materials interactions. New materials have been proposed and at least partially qualified for use in replacement model steam generators, including an advanced LWR design. In so far as possible, the materials choices for the advanced LWR steam generator avoid the corrosion ...
A micro-mechanistic understanding of bone fracture that encompasses how cracks interact with the underlying microstructure and defines their local failure mode is lacking, despite extensive research on the response of bone to a variety of factors like aging, loading, and/or disease. Micro-mechanical models for fracture incorporating such local failure criteria have been widely developed for metallic and ceramic materials systems; however, few such deliberations have been undertaken for the fracture of bone. In fact, although the fracture event in mineralized tissues such as bone is commonly believed to be locally strain controlled, until recently there has been little experimental evidence to support this widely held belief. In the present study, a series of in vitro experiments involving a double-notch bend test geometry are performed in order to shed further light on the nature of the local cracking events that precede catastrophic fracture in bone and to define ...
Electrostatic wave measurements from the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorer Ion Release Module have been used to investigate the wave modes and their possible generation mechanisms in the Earth's bow shock and magnetosheath. It is demonstrated that electrostatic waves are present in the bow shock and magnetosheath with frequencies above the maximum frequency for Doppler-shifted ion acoustic waves, yet below the plasma frequency. Waves in this frequency range are tentatively identified as electron beam mode waves. Data from 45 bow shock crossings are then used to investigate possible correlations between the electrostatic wave properties and the near-shock plasma parameters. The most significant relationships found are anticorrelations with Alfven Mach number and electron beta. Mechanisms which might produce electron beams in the shock and magnetosheath are discussed in terms of the correlation study results. These ...
Issues regarding the development of mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity sector are discussed. Environmental groups have proposed mechanisms such as carbon taxes. Three other mechanisms have also been proposed under the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC). These include the Clean Development Mechanism, Joint Implementation and carbon trading. A pilot emission reduction trading project began in Ontario in 1996 as an initiative to control smog and ozone in the southern provincial airshed. Substances of interest include NO{sub x}, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), SO{sub x}, carbon monoxide and other greenhouse gases. Ontario Hydro alone has conducted 10 trades, five with companies in the U.S., two of those for carbon emissions. An analysis of the pilot trade deals will provide an idea of the value of this mechanism. In addition to details of the ...
We outline basic principles of a canonical formalism for the Nambu mechanics - a generalization of Hamiltonian mechanics proposed by Yoichiro Nambu in 1973. It is based on the notion of a Nambu bracket, which generalizes the Poisson bracket - a 'binary'' operation on classical observables on the phase space - to the 'multiple' operation of higher order n#>=#3. Nambu dynamics is described by the phase flow given by Nambu-Hamilton equations of motion - a system of ODE's which involves n-1 'Hamiltonians'. We introduce the fundamental identity for the Nambu bracket - a generalization of the Jacobi identity - as a consistency condition for the dynamics. We show that Nambu bracket structure defines a hierarchy of infinite families of 'subordinated' structures of lower order, including Poisson bracket structure, which satisfy certain matching conditions. The notion of Nambu bracket enables us to define Nambu-Poisson manifolds - phase spaces for the ...
Two analytical methods were proposed in this research, coupled electro-thermal finite element (FE) analysis and thermal-mechanical FE analysis, to analyze the mechanical behavior of bonding wire of power module under cyclic power loads, and the International Electrotechnical Commission standard is adopted in conducting a power cycling test. The exterior temperature distribution was measured by an infrared thermometer. Moreover, the junction temperature is calculated from the given thermal impedance of the semiconductor chip, chip power loss, and case temperature. Subsequently, the simulated temperature distribution via electro-thermal FE analysis is compared with experimental results to validate the methodology used in the aforementioned analysis. The analysis shows compressive stress at t...
Results from the asymmetric reactions 80 and 100 MeV/uLa + C are presented and compared to earlier work with the same system at 18 and 50 MeV/u. Fragment-fragment correlations, cross sections, and distributions in velocity space indicate the continued dominance of a quasi-binary decay mechanism with increased emission of light charged particles. The distributions in velocity also indicate a progression toward a ''fireball'' type of reaction mechanism. However, the angular distributions of the emitted fragments are incompatible with statistical production mechanisms that have successfully explained the lower energy results, and indicate the dynamical nature of the emission process. Dalitz plots of triple complex fragment coincidences are presented in order to investigate the nature of the multibody decays. 18 refs., 9 figs.
Biosorption of elements is a little understood phenomenon exhibited by some types of even nonliving microbial biomass. A common fungus Rhizopus arrhizus has been reportd to take up uranium from adqueous solutions to the extent of 180 mg U/sup 6 +//g. The mechanism of uranium sequestering by this type of biomass was studied by using experimental techniques such as electron microscopy, x-ray energy dispersion analysis, IR spectroscopy, and supporting evidence was obtained for a biosorption mechanism consisting of at least three processes. Uranium coordination and adsorption in the cell-wall chitin structure occur simultaneously and rapidly whereas precipitation of uranylhdroxide within the chitin microcrystalline cell-wall structure takes place at a lower rate. Interference of Fe/sup 2/ and Zn/sup 2 +/ coions with uranium biosorption is indicated.
Inactive cells of Rhizopus arrhizus have been documented to exhibit a high thorium biosorptive uptake (170 mg/g) from aqueous solutions. The mechanism of thorium sequestering by this biomass type was investigated following the same method as for the uranium biosorption emchanism. The thorium sequestering mechanism appeared somewhat different from that of uranium. Experimental evidence is presented which indicates that, at optimum biosorption pH (4), thorium coordinates with the nitroge of the chitin cell wall network and, in addition, more thorium is adsorbed by the external section of the fungal cell wall. At pH 2 the overall thorium uptake is reduced. The kinetic study of thorium biosorption revealed a very rapid rate of uptake. Unlike uranium at optimum solution pH, Fe/sup 2 +/ and Zn/sup 2 +/ did not interfere significantly with the thorium biosorptive uptake capacity of R. arrhizus.
Woven Kevlar fabrics exhibit a number of beneficial mechanical properties which include strength, flexibility, and relatively low density. The desire to engineer or design Kevlar fabrics for specific applications has stimulated interest in the development of theoretical models which relate their effective mechanical properties to specific aspects of the fabric morphology and microstructure. In this work the author provides a theoretical investigation of the large deformation elastic response of a plane woven Kevlar fabric and compares these theoretical results with experimental data obtained from uniaxially loaded Kevlar fabrics. The theoretical analysis assumes the woven fabric to be a regular network of orthogonal interlaced yarns and the individual yarns are modeled as extensible elastica, thus coupling stretching and bending effects at the outset. This comparison of experiment with theory indicates that the deformation of woven fabric can ...
Two rapidly solidified powders with compositions Al-6.7 wt.% Fe-5.9 wt.% Ce and Al-6.2 wt.% Fe-5.9 wt.% Ce-1.63 wt.% Si were separated into -32 [mu]m and +32 to -63 [mu]m size fractions. Powders from both size fractions were extruded at 500 C. For comparison purposes, extrusion at a lower temperature of 400 C was also performed. In this investigation, tensile property evaluation indicated that processing of finer size fractions at high temperature offers no advantages in terms of the tensile properties but is advantageous in terms of improving the fracture toughness of alloy B. These observations underline the importance of the stability of powder microstructure during thermomechanical processing for the development of optimum mechanical properties. (orig.)
A series of hydrogenation/dehydrogenation cycles have been performed on palladium wire samples, stressed by a constant mechanical tension, in order to investigate the changes in electrical and mechanical properties. A large increase of palladium electrical resistivity has been reported due to the combined effects of the production of defects linked to hydrogen insertion into the host lattice and the stress applied to the sample. An increase of the palladium sample strain due to hydrogenation/dehydrogenation cycles in ????? phase transitions is observed compared to the sample subjected to mechanical tension only. The loss of initial metallurgical properties of the sample occurs already after the first hydrogen cycle, i.e. a displacement from the initial metallic behavior (increase of the resistivity and decrease of thermal coefficient of resistivity) to a worse one occurs already after the first hydrogen cycle. A linear ...
The Steam Generator (SG) tubing degradation caused by corrosion and other age-related mechanisms continues to be a significant safety and cost concern for many Nuclear Power Plants (NPP). The understanding of the steam generator ageing mechanisms is the key to effective management of steam generator ageing and consists of the knowledge of steam generator materials and these one properties, stressors and operating conditions, like degradation sites and wear mechanisms. The principal types of corrosion are presented which can occur in CANDU steam generator. There are also presented the operation conditions, the specifications referring to the water chemistry and the construction materials of Steam Generator, the factors that have a great influence on the corrosion behaviour during the whole exploitation period of this equipment. (R.P.)
This standard provides requirements and guidelines for installation, inspection and testing activities that assure the quality of important mechanical parts of a nuclear power plant not covered by the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section III, during construction. These parts include those mechanical systems and components whose satisfactory performance is required: for the plant to operate reliably; to prevent accidents that could cause undue risk to the health and safety of the public; or to mitigate the consequences of such accidents if they were to occur. The requirements of this standard deal with the protection and control necessary to assure that the requisite quality of those important parts of the plant are preserved from the time items are removed from storage or receiving until they are incorporated into the plant up to but not including fuel loading for PWR plants and the completion of cold functional testing for BWR and ...
Studies at Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (CEA) have been under way for three years in an attempt to find methods for preventing and stopping denting. Tests have been performed in 28 model boilers (Ajax with U tubes and Clarinette with straight tubes). In these boilers, with continous injection and blowdown, and heat flux is about 40 W X cm"-"2 (126900 Btu/ft"2 X h). The kinetics of denting has been studied with different levels of faulting. Some high-temperature electrochemical measurements established the mechanism of denting in the boiler tests. Denting kinetics can be rationalized in terms of three main parameters: faulting level, heat flux, and relative mechanical strength of the tube compared to the support plate.
We present a strong-weak coupling duality for quantum mechanical potentials. Similarly to what happens in quantum field theory, it relates two problems with inverse couplings, leading to a mapping of the strong coupling regime into the weak one, giving information from the nonperturbative region of the parameters space. It can be used to solve exactly power-type potentials and to extract deep information about the energy spectra of polynomial ones. We present a strong-weak coupling duality for quantum mechanical potentials. Similarly to what happens in quantum field theory, it relates two problems with inverse couplings, leading to a mapping of the strong coupling regime into the weak one, giving information from the nonperturbative region of the parameters space. It can be used to solve exactly power-type potentials and to extract deep information about the energy spectra of polynomial ones.
Apart from conventional phase transitions driven by the thermal effects, quantum phase transitions generated by quantum fluctuations have their own mechanisms that are reflected in critical phenomena. Quantum phase transitions have an origin from spontaneous symmetry breaking commonly to thermal phase transitions. Even in this case, inherent quantum fluctuations substantially modify and yield new aspects. Quantum phase transitions have, however, another mechanism caused by topology changes, which gives completely new characters. Recently, a mechanism which connects these two has been found. Proimities from first-order transitions and phase separatins as well as from multiphase coexistence also generate characteristic and unconventional quantum criticalities. Understanding novel quantum criticalities offers a firm basis of recent active researches on fields such as magnetism, ferroelectricity and metal-insulator transitions ...
A significant number of biosorption studies on the removal of heavy metal from aqueous solutions have been conducted worldwide. Nearly all of them have been directed towards optimizing biosorption parameters to obtain the highest removal efficiency while the rest of them are concerned with the biosorption mechanism. Combinations of FTIR, SEM-EDX, TEM as well as classical methods such as titrations are extremely useful in determining the main processes on the surfaces of biosorbents. Diverse functional groups represented by carboxyl, hydroxyl, sulfate and amino groups play significant roles in the biosorption process. Solution pH normally has a large impact on biosorption performance. In brief, ion exchange and complexation can be pointed out as the most prevalent mechanisms for the biosorption of most heavy metals. (Abstract Copyright [2008], Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)
The interaction between molecules and solid surfaces plays important roles in various applications, including catalysis, sensors, nanoelectronics, and solar cells. Surprisingly, a full understanding of molecule-surface interaction at the quantum mechanical level has not been achieved even for very simple molecules, such as water. In this mini-review, we report recent progresses and current status of studies on interaction between representative molecules and surfaces. Taking water/metal, DNA bases/carbon nanotube, and organic dye molecule/oxide as examples, we focus on the understanding on the microstructure, electronic property, and electron-ion dynamics involved in these systems obtained from first-principles quantum mechanical calculations. We find that a quantum mechanical description ...
Ppercase(femaxi-iv) is a computer code for the analysis of thermal and mechanical behavior of light water reactor fuel rods during steady-state and transient conditions. The main purpose of ppercase(femaxi-iv) is to calculate the stress and strain distributions in the fuel and cladding due to the pellet-cladding mechanical interaction, and the fission gas release rate during operations, especially power transients. The capability of ppercase(femaxi-iv) was extensively tested with a number of experimental results obtained in some international fuel irradiation programs. This paper provides a general description of the various models involved in ppercase(femaxi-iv) and some results of applications on the experimental data. ((orig.)).
One of the major concerns during high speed welding of magnesium alloys is the presence of porosity in the weld metal that can deteriorate mechanical properties. This study seeks to analyze the presence method and quantity of pore during hybrid laser-tungsten inert gas arc (TIG) welding of magnesium alloy AZ31B by radiography, optical microscopy and electron probe microanalysis (EMPA). At the same time, it identifies both the mechanism of pore formation and a remedy for this problem. The experimental results indicate that lacking of shielding gas for laser beam is the dominant cause of macroporosity formation during the hybrid of laser-TIG welding of magnesium Alloys AZ31B plate, and hydrogen is not main cause to form large pores. A favorable weld without porosity can be obtained by appending lateral shielding gas for laser beam.
uv irradiation (365 nm) of air-saturated methanol solutions of 20 drugs absorbing in the 300 to 400 nm region gave rise to oxygen uptake, as determined with a polarographic oxygen electrode. The drugs were tested for photosensitizing capability by either a Type I (free radical) or a Type II (single molecular oxygen) mechanism. This testing was done by the inclusion of either acrylamide or 2,5-dimethylfuran in the irradiated drug solution, with observation of the subsequent polymerization or oxidation, respectively. Phenothiazine and thiazide derivatives appear capable of photosensitization by both mechanisms; promethazine, trifluoperazine, and furosemide show relatively high reactivity. Diazepam (weak), hexachlorophene, aminacrine, pyrilamine, tetracycline, demeclocyline, quinine, and anthracene (strong) react only by a Type II mechanism, with a photosensitizing efficiency increasing in the order given. A correlation ...
Repetitively Q-switched operation of an end-pumped Nd:YAG laser over the range of 200 Hz to 3 kHz using an intracavity chopper is demonstrated. Performance is shown to be comparable to that achieved with an acousto-optic Q switch under similar conditions. The advantages and limitations of the mechanical Q switch are described. Parametric variations of output coupling and pump power lead to an extended empirical description of repetitively Q-switched laser operation. The insertion loss as a function of aperture-edge penetration into the resonator is reported, and a definition of the mechanical Q-switch opening time is provided. Q-switched pulsewidths as short as 35 ns were obtained for the Nd:YAG laser, with a peak power-enhancement factor in excess of 300. PMID:20862099
To evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous mechanical declotting. Using a 7-F Desilets-Hoffman sheath and the crossed-catheter technique, we aspirated the intragraft clot and pushed the residual clot into the central circulation with balloon catheters. The success rate, procedure time, complications and patency rates were evaluated. Technical success was achieved in 24 of 32 cases, with a procedure time of 30-240 (average, 111) minutes. In five of eight cases in which technical failure occurred, the guide wire failed to reach the stenotic site and in the other three, there was insufficient luminal dilatation. Complications included vein ruptures (n=2), arterial emboli (n=1) and arterial dissection (1), but there was no evidence of clinical symptoms of pulmonary embolism. The six-month patency rate was 67.8%. Mechanical declotting of thrombosed dialysis graft using a balloon catheter is relatively inexpensive, safe and fast, and is well ...
The large amount of plastic products presently produced necessitates recycling and reuse of these non-biodegradable materials. However, the degradation in the mechanical properties of products made from recycled plastic is a major drawback that limits their use. This study aims to improve the mechanical properties of products made from recycled plastic by utilizing the Taguchi optimization method, instead of coupling the products with additives. By adopting L9 Taguchi OA, products made from various compositions of virgin and recycled plastic are produced by injection moulding. Four controllable factors (i.e., melt temperature, packing pressure, injection time, and packing time), each at three levels, are tested to determine the optimal combination of factors and levels in the manufacturing...
A macroscopic realization of the strange virtual particles is presented. The classical Helmholtz and the quantum mechanical Schr\\"odinger equations are analogous differential equations. Their imaginary solutions are called evanescent modes in the case of elastic and electromagnetic fields. In the case of non-relativistic quantum mechanical fields they are called tunneling solutions. The imaginary solutions of this differential equation point to strange consequences: They are non local, they are not observable, and they described as virtual particles. During the last two decades QED calculations of the imaginary solutions have been experimentally confirmed for phonons, photons, and for electrons. The experimental proofs of the predictions of the non-relativistic quantum mechanics and of the Wigner phase time approach for the elastic, the electromagnetic and the Schr\\"odinger fields will be presented in this article. The ...
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the accuracy of different force calculation methods and their impact on mechanical deformations. For this purpose, a micrometer scaled actuator is considered, which consists of a micro-coil and of a permanent magnet (PM) embedded in a deformable elastomeric layer. Design/methodology/approach - For the magnetic field evaluation a hybrid numerical approach (finite element method/boundary element method (FEM/BEM) coupling and a FEM/BEM/Biot-Savart approach) is used, whereas FEM is implemented for the mechanical deformation analysis. Furthermore, for the magneto-mechanical coupling several force calculation methods, namely the Maxwell stress tensor, the virtual work approach and the equivalent magnetic sources methods, are considered and co...
Nitric oxide (NO) and related molecules such as peroxynitrite, S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), and nitrotyrosine, among others, are involved in physiological processes as well in the mechanisms of response to stress conditions. In sunflower seedlings exposed to five different adverse environmental conditions (low temperature, mechanical wounding, high light intensity, continuous light, and continuous darkness), key components of the metabolism of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), including the enzyme activities L-arginine-dependent nitric oxide synthase (NOS), S-nitrosogluthathione reductase (GSNOR), nitrate reductase (NR), catalase, and superoxide dismutase, the content of lipid hydroperoxide, hydrogen peroxide, S-nitrosothiols (SNOs), the cellular level of N...
Statement of problem Because noble dental casting alloys for metal ceramic restorations have a wide range of mechanical properties, knowledge of these properties is needed for rational alloy selection in different clinical situations where cast metal restorations are indicated. Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare the mechanical properties and examine both the fracture and polished surfaces of 6 noble casting alloys that span many currently marketed systems. Five alloys were designed for metal ceramic restorations, and a sixth Type GPT has Type IV alloy for fixed prosthodontics (Maxigold KF) was included for comparison. Material and methods Specimens (n=6) meeting dimensional requirements for ISO Standards 9693 and 8891 were loaded to failure in tension using a universal testin...
A Y-Mg-Si-Al-O-N glass was submitted to swift heavy-ion bombardment at GANIL (Caen, France) and the influence of irradiation on the mechanical properties was studied. The mechanical properties of the glass were characterized both before and after irradiation. Changes in hardness, elastic modulus and fracture toughness of the near-surface irradiated layer were determined using indentation techniques. SRIM calculations allowed to estimate the ions penetration range and the energy deposition relative to electronic and nuclear interactions, which can be correlated to the experimental damaged depth. Meyer's hardness and Young's modulus decrease by about 30 %, while fracture toughness is increased by more than 40 %. (authors)
Minor addition of B to the Ti-6Al-4V alloy reduces the prior #beta# grain size by more than an order of magnitude. TiB formed in-situ in the process has been noted to decorate the grain boundaries. This microstructural modification influences the mechanical behavior of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy significantly. In this paper, an overview of our current research on tensile properties, fracture toughness as well as notched and un-notched fatigue properties of Ti-6Al-4V-xB with x varying between 0.0 to 0.55 wt.% is presented. A quantitative relationship between the microstructural length scales and the various mechanical properties have been developed. Moreover, the effect of the presence of hard and brittle TiB has also been studied.
Mechanical properties of P-LDHA and V-ROL N steels of the Czech production are compared with other ultra-high strength steels produced in the world. The most important results can be summarized into following points: 1. Optimally heat treated P-LDHA steel exhibits substantially better strength characteristics then the V-ROL N steel. 2. Optimal tempering temperature of the P-LDHA steel is 300 C. 3. Basic mechanical properties of P-LDHA steel belong to the top of the UHS steels ranking and are well comparable with those of American 300 M steel. 4. In the low-cycle fatigue region, the P-LDHA steel exhibits slightly better fatigue resistance then the 300 M steel. On the other hand, the high-cycle fatigue resistance of 300 M steel is slightly better then that of the P-LDHA steel. (orig.)
Scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) was used to map thermal conductivity images in an ultrafine-grained copper surface layer produced by surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT). It is found that the deformed surface layer shows different thermal conductivities that strongly depend on the grain size of the microstructure: the thermal conductivity of the nanostructured surface layer decreases obviously when compared with that of the coarse-grained matrix of the sample. The role of the grain boundaries in thermal conduction is analyzed in correlation with the heat conduction mechanism in pure metal. A theoretical approach, based on this investigation, was used to calculate the heat flow from the probe tip to the sample and then estimate the thermal conductivities at different scanning positions. Experimental results and theoretical calculation demonstrate that SThM can be used as a tool for the thermal property and microstructural analysis of ...
This paper studies the electrical characteristics of hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin-film transistors (a-Si:H TFTs) under flat and bending situations after AC/DC stress at different temperatures. Stress temperature was varied from 77K to 400K, and threshold voltage shifts were extracted to analyze degradation mechanisms. It was found that high temperature and mechanical bending played important roles under AC stress, with an enhanced stress effect resulting in a more serious degradation. This study also discusses the dependence between the accumulated sum of bias rising and falling time and the threshold voltage shifts under AC stress.
In this Letter, we present Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics (QM/MM) calculations on molecules containing a 2-deoxycytidine-3prime-monophosphate moiety (3prime-dCMPH). In particular, we examine the effect that including neighbouring nucleotides at the Molecular Mechanic (MM) level has on the calculated electron affinities and on the energetic barriers of the C3prime-O3prime bond cleavage. Our results demonstrate that the surrounding nucleotides relocate the excess electron from the p* orbital of the base to a diffuse phosphate-centred orbital, leading to the formation of a dipole-bound anion state. Both the electron affinities and the activation energy of C3prime-O3prime bond cleavage are strongly increased.
Following the breakthrough for cast magnesium products, interest is now spreading to wrought applications - triggering a variety of technological questions. A major bottleneck in the manufacture of magnesium sections (profiles) by conventional hot extrusion is the low productivity, with extrusion speeds typically five to ten times lower than for comparable aluminium sections. This paper focuses on the use of hydrostatic extrusion as a means to overcome this problem. On the basis of an analytical model, it is clarified why and how process limits are affected by the process mechanics. Experimental work on the hydrostatic extrusion of the alloys M1A, ZM21 and AZ31 confirms that extrusion speed is indeed multiplied, whereas the resulting mechanical properties are similar to or better than those for conventional extrusions. (orig.)
Growth mechanisms and thermal stability of ion-beam-induced epitaxial Pd/sub 2/Si films are investigated using Rutherford backscattering and channelling techniques. Epitaxial growth of Pd/sub 2/Si films was observed at room temperature by argon ion implantation into as-deposited Pd/Si(111) structures and furnace-annealed Pd/sub 2/Si(polycrystalline)/Pd/sub 2/Si(epitaxial)/Si(111) structures. Some additional experiments to check the growth mechanisms are also presented, in which the implantation energies, substrate orientations and dose rates were changed. Finally, the stability of the ion-beam-induced epitaxial Pd/sub 2/Si films on subsequent furnace annealing is studied.
Google's Android is a comprehensive software framework for mobile communication devices (i.e., smartphones, PDAs). The Android framework includes an operating system, middleware and a set of key applications. The incorporation of integrated access services to the Internet on such mobile devices, however, increases their exposure to damages inflicted by various types of malware. This paper provides a comprehensive security assessment of the Android framework and the security mechanisms incorporated into it. A methodological qualitative risk analysis that we conducted identifies the high-risk threats to the framework and any potential danger to information or to the system resulting from vulnerabilities that have been uncovered and exploited. Our review of current academic and commercial solutions in the area of smartphone security yields a list of applied and recommended defense mechanisms for hardening mobile devices in general and the Android ...
Bargmann's superselection rule, which forbids the existence of superpositions of states with different mass and, therefore, implies the impossibility of describing unstable particles in non-relativistic quantum mechanics, arises as a consequence of demanding Galilean covariance of Schr\\"odinger's equation. However, the usual Galilean transformations inadequately describe the symmetries of non-relativistic quantum mechanics since they fail to take into account relativistic time contraction effects which can produce non-relativistic phases in the wavefunction. In this paper we describe the incompatibility between Bargmann's rule and Lorentz transformations in the low-velocities limit, we analyze its classical origin and we show that the Extended Galilei group characterizes better the symmetries of the theory. Furthermore, we claim that a proper description of non-relativistic quantum mechanics requires a modification of the ...
The flutter control effect and mechanism of central-slotting, which have gradually been adopted in the design and construction of long-span bridges as an effective flutter controlling measure, were investigated with theoretical analysis and wind tunnel test. Five basic girder cross-sections representing five typical aerodynamic configurations were selected and central-slotted with two different slot widths. Then, a series of sectional model tests and theoretical analyses based on the two-dimensional three-degrees-of-freedom coupling flutter analysis method (2 dimension-3 degrees of freedom method, 2d-3DOF method) were carried out to investigate the aerody namic performance, flutter mechanism and flutter modality of the five basic sections and their corresponding central-slotted sections. T...
We review various field theory approaches to the description of neutrino oscillations in vacuum and external fields. First we discuss a relativistic quantum mechanics based approach which involves the temporal evolution of massive neutrinos. To describe the dynamics of the neutrinos system we use exact solutions of wave equations in presence of an external field. It allows one to exactly take into account both the characteristics of neutrinos and the properties of an external field. In particular, we examine flavor oscillations an vacuum and in background matter as well as spin flavor oscillations in matter under the influence of an external electromagnetic field. Moreover we consider the situation of hypothetical nonstandard neutrino interactions with background fermions. In the case of ultrarelativistic particles we reproduce an effective Hamiltonian which is used in the standard quantum mechanical approach for the description of neutrino ...
Femaxi-iv is a computer code for the analysis of thermal and mechanical behavior of light water reactor fuel rods during steady-state and transient conditions. The main purpose of femaxi-iv is to calculate the stress and strain distributions in the fuel and cladding due to the pellet-cladding mechanical interaction, and the fission gas release rate during operations, especially power transients. The capability of femaxi-iv was extensively tested with a number of experimental results obtained in some international fuel irradiation programs. This paper provides a general description of the various models involved in femaxi-iv and some results of applications on the experimental data. ((orig.))
The fast rotating wire scanners installed in the PS and the PS booster are used for the precise transversal profile measurements in horizontal and vertical planes. The scanners may show large position measurement errors if no special treatment is applied to the acquired data. The aim of the calibration is to obtain a correction algorithm for the systematic position measurement error due to mechanical and electronic offsets. A new calibration system has been developed and introduced at CERN for the scanners implementing position feedback control. The calibration method is based on a substitution of a particle beam by a laser one where the laser beam position is well known. According to the previous experience the following crucial requirements to the system have been taking into consideration: heavy and mechanically stable design of the calibration bench to reduce mechanical oscillations of scanner parts; automation of the ...
An analysis system for the long-term mechanical behavior of barrier materials (MACBECE: Mechanical Analysis system considering Chemical transitions of BEntonite-based and CEment-based materials) was developed in order to improve the reliability of the evaluation of the hydraulic field which is one of the important environmental conditions in the safety assessment of the TRU waste disposal. MACBECE is the system that calculates the deformation of barrier materials using their chemical property changes as inputs, and subsequently calculates their hydraulic conductivity taking both their chemical property changes and deformation into consideration. By using MACBECE, the long-term deformation and the transition of hydraulic field for the round-type disposal cavities were evaluated, assuming some sets of chemical evolution data as input. Based on the analysis result, it is considered that the influence of the long-term deformation of the barrier ...
Medium-density polyethylene/multiwall carbon nanotube (MDPE/MWCNT) nanocomposites were produced by a mechanical milling method using a high-energy ball mill. The MDPE and MWCNTs were added to the ball mill at a constant 20:1 weight ratio of ball/powders and milled for 10 h to obtain polyethylene matrix nanocomposites reinforced with 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 weight percent of MWCNTs. To clarify the role of both MWCNT content and milling time on the morphology of MDPE, some nanocomposite samples were investigated by using a scanning electron microscope. To evaluate the role of milling on the microstructure of the nanocomposites, very thin films of MDPE/MWCNTs were prepared and studied by transmission electron microscopy. Thermal behavior of these nanocomposites was investigated by using differenti...
Recent research carried out in laboratories showed that Saddle field neutral fast atom beam source is a promising method for nitriding of stainless steel. In the present work, the effect of treatment time on the microstructural and mechanical properties of plasma-nitrided stainless steel sample was investigated by this new method. Plasma nitriding was carried out at 420 deg. C and at a pressure of 0.1 Pa for a time range of 1 to 12 h. SEM-EDX, microhardness tests, optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to evaluate the mechanical and structural properties of the nitrided layer. It was found that nitriding time has a pronounced effect on the structural and mechanical properties of low-temperature plasma-nitrided samples and produced a precipitation-free thin hard nitrided layer within a short processing time.
An organically modified montmorillonite (MMT) was compounded with polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) in a twin-screw extruder. The organoclay PBT nanocomposites were then injection molded by conventional and microcellular methods. Nitrogen was used as the blowing agent. The effect of organoclay content, organoclay size (8 and 35mm), and speed of the screw (80 and 100rpm) on the mechanical and thermal properties were investigated. The results showed that when the MMT content was 1.0wt.%, the nanocomposites have maximum tensile strength, wear resistance, and cell density. Moreover, the larger the particle size, the greater the tensile strength. The screw speed during compounding also affected the mechanical strength. The higher speed of the screw increased the tensile strength of the nanocompo...
Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is attractive as a substitute for classical polymer packaging material due to its biodegradability and sufficient mechanical and barrier properties. Presented research was focused on the changes of basic mechanical parameters after ionizing irradiation performed with doses in the range of 2.5-25 kGy, commonly used in radiation sterilization and preservation of foods. Two commercial available PLA packaging films were tested. The influence of radiation dose on the mechanical properties - tensile strength and elongation were determined using standardized methods. Radiation resistance of PLA is sufficient for packaging applications. The investigations of gas products of radiolysis of PLA have been made by gas chromatography after electron beam (EB) irradiations. (authors)
Effect of globular structure parameters - size of primary #alpha#-phase particles (bsub(I)), thickness and amount of plates of secondary #alpha#-phase (bsub(II), #gamma#sub(II#alpha# )) - on a complex of mechanical properties (#sigma#sub(#beta#), S, phi, asub(H), asub(T), Ksub(Q), #sigma#sub(-1), #sigma#_1_0_0"4"5"0, #sigma#sub(0.2/100)) of VT3-1 (#alpha#+#beta#)-titanium alloy is studied. The dependences obtained allow one to determine globular structure parameters, providing necessary mechanical properties. In combination with data on the effect of thermal treatment conditions on structure parameters, results obtained in the paper may be used for structure control to increase a level of required characteristics.
The effect of tsub(A) austenitization temperature in heating for quenching as well as in the cycle of high-temperature thermomechanical treatment (HTMT) on structure, mechanical properties and fracture mode of 40KhN2MA structural steel is investigated. It is shown that heating up to 1200 deg C does not affect essentially sigmasub(b) and sigmasub(0.2) of a quenched material but increases fracture toughness of 200 deg C - tempered precracked specimens and is accompanied by a decrease of impact strength and plasticity of vee-notched specimens. The optimum complex of mechanical properties is attained upon combined treatment comprising heating up to 1200 deg C and HTMT with deformation at 850 deg C.
The chemopreventive efficacy of turmeric has been established in experimental systems. However, its mechanism(s) of action are not fully elucidated in vivo. The present study investigates the mechanism of turmeric-mediated chemoprevention in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) carcinogenesis at 2, 4, 6, 10 and 12?weeks. Dietary turmeric (1%) led to decrease in DMBA-induced tumor burden and multiplicity, and enhanced the latency period in parallel, to its modulatory effects on oncogene products and various cellular responses during HBP tumorigenesis. DMBA-induced expression of ras oncogene product, p21 and downstream target, the mitogen-activated protein kinases were significantly decreased by turmeric during HBP carcinogenesis. Turmeric also diminished ...
TAPP-3 and 4 reactors use large number of Self Powered Neutron Detectors (SPNDs) for Neutronic lower measurement and control. To perform in-situ calibration of these detectors in select locations and to validate the reactor physics codes which predict flux at various points in the core, traveling in-core probes (TIP) are required. The TIP assembly consists of a miniature neutron sensitive detector. The detector is driven in and out of core using a mechanism which facilitates positioning of the detector anywhere inside a vertical tube (Central carrier tube of any of the six select Vertical Flux Units) in the core. TIP is driven through retractable feed mechanism for a stroke of 13 m. This paper describes the developmental efforts and the operational feedback of the retractable feed mechanism for the stroke of 13 m used at TAPP 3 and 4 reactor. (author)
The thermal properties (thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, thermoelectric power, thermal dilatation, etc.) and the mechanical properties (Young's modulus, strength, hardness, fracture toughness, etc.) have been measured at low temperatures (4-300K) and under a high magnetic field (0-10T) for about 50 REBaCuO bulks (RE=Y, Gd, Nd, Sm, Dy, etc.). We have constructed the database of these properties and opened it on the Web site (thermal properties: http://ikebehp.mat.iwate-u.ac.jp/database.html and mechanical properties: http://paris.mech.iwate-u.ac.jp/sc-bulk/database.html). The influence of the species of RE ions, the content, size and dispersion of the RE211 (or Nd422) phase and Ag particles and the defects distribution on these properties is characterized.
Summary Although risk assessments are typically conducted on a chemical-by-chemical basis, the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act required the US Environmental Protection Agency to consider cumulative risk of chemicals that act via a common mechanism of toxicity. To this end, we are conducting studies with mixtures of chemicals to elucidate mechanisms of joint action at the systemic level with the goal of providing a framework for assessing the cumulative effects of reproductive toxicants. Previous mixture studies conducted with antiandrogenic chemicals are reviewed briefly and two new studies are described. In all binary mixture studies, rats were dosed during pregnancy with chemicals, singly or in pairs, at dosage levels equivalent to approximately one-half of the ED50 for hypospadias or e...
A red basil cell line (T2b) rich in rosmarinic acid (RA) was selected for the stable production of anthocyanins (ACs) in the dark. Cell suspension cultures were subjected to mechanical stress through increased agitation (switch from 90 to 150rpm) to determine the relationship between AC and RA accumulation. Cell extracts were analyzed by HPLC and LC-MS, and the resulting data were processed with multivariate statistical analysis. MS and MS/MS spectra facilitated the putative annotation of several complex cyanidin-based ACs, which were esterified with coumaric acid and, in some cases, also with malonic acid. It was also possible to identify various RA-related molecules, some caffeic and coumaric acid derivatives and some flavanones. Mechanical stress increased the total AC and RA contents, ...
Abstract The effects of the type of coupling agent and virgin polypropylene (PP) content on the mechanical properties and water absorption behavior of recycled low-density polyethylene/wood flour (WF) composites were investigated. The fractured surfaces of these recycled wood/plastic composites (rWPCs) were examined to gain insight into the distribution and dispersion of WF within the polymer matrix. The results indicate that the use of 100% recycled polymer led to inferior mechanical properties and to a greater degree of moisture absorption and swelling when compared to recycled polymer-virgin PP wood/plastic composites. This could have been related to the poor melt strength and inferior processability of the recycled polymer. The extent of improvement of the mechanical properties depende...
The influence of chemical and solvent extraction compatibilising techniques on the mechanical properties of poly-lactic acid (PLA) and MaterBi-polyester (PEM) based bio-composites are compared. First, fibres were chemically grafted with two fatty chains: stearic anhydride and octadecylisocyanate. Grafted fibres were characterised by FTIR and elemental analyses. Contact angle measurements show the hydrophobisation of the fibres in spite of very low surface grafting. Extracted and non-grafted fibres were prepared to be used as references. PEM and PLA-based composites with 30% w/w were prepared by compression moulding. Their mechanical properties were studied. It was found that chemical and solvent treatment of the fibres improved the reinforcement effect in the case of a PEM matrix and the Y...
In the present work, bulk amorphous and nanocrystalline Al83Fe17 alloys were obtained by consolidation of mechanically alloyed powders. Mechanical alloying of Al-17% Fe powder mixture yielded powder with an amorphous structure. Thermal behaviour of the milling product was examined using differential scanning calorimetry. This investigation revealed that the amorphous phase crystallised above 380^oC. The amorphous powder was compacted under a pressure of 7.7GPa in different conditions: at 380^oC for 600s and at 1000^oC for 180s. Structural investigations of the bulk material revealed that the amorphous structure was retained after consolidation process applied at 380^oC. Compaction under high pressure at 1000^oC caused crystallisation of the amorphous phase and appearance of metastable nano...
The atomic mechanism of a glass-to-liquid transition in a monatomic Lennard-Jones (LJ) glass was studied using the molecular dynamics (MD) method. Glassy models were heated up from low temperature at two different heating rates and a glass-to-liquid transition found to occur at the higher heating rate. The temperature dependence of the potential energy, mean-squared-displacements (MSD) of the atoms and the self-intermediate scattering function indicate clearly that a glass transition occurs in the system. The atomic mechanism of the glass-to-liquid transition was investigated by analyzing the spatio-temporal arrangement of liquid-like atoms in the system upon heating. Liquid-like atoms were detected using the Lindemann-melting-like criterion. Upon heating, liquid-like atoms occur at temper...
This project is concerned with the kinetics and mechanisms of aromatic oxidation and soot and fullerenes formation in flames. The objective of the aromatics oxidation work is to identify and measure the concentration of important intermediates and products in benzene oxidation, and to determine reaction mechanisms and kinetics properties consistent with the behavior seen in flames. The research on soot formation is concerned primarily with the particle inception stages, but the work includes study of soot structure at all stages of growth in order to obtain mechanistic information from evidence of growth steps recorded in the structure of the particles. The ultimate objective is to understand how nascent soot particles are formed from high molecular weight compounds, including the roles of planar and curved PAH and the relationship between soot and fullerenes. The objective of the proposed research on fullerenes is to develop a more ...
The authors examine the relationship of the structure and mechanical properties of similar alloys of tungsten with rhenium produced by the powder metallurgy method by sintering powders. Since the alloys were deformed by rolling, we examine the effect of the resultant anisotropy of the structure on the properties of the metal in various directions. The tests were conducted on an alloy of tungsten with 2 wt.% rhenium and, for comparison purposes, an alloy of tungsten with additions of oxides of yttrium and hafnium. The mechanical properties of the alloys, i.e., strength, cracking resistance, cold shortness temperature, were determined in the bend test. Structural examination was carried out using an optical microscope, electron scanning microscopy, and the method of transmission electron microscopy.
Different semi precious alloys (Pd-Ag, Pd-Au) have been studied after thermal oxidation treatments to analyze the mechanical improvement of the interface between the metal and the ceramic. Using the four point bending test, the authors have analyzed the different steps corresponding to the mechanical evolution of the bi-material : cracking energy on the surface, relaxation energy after first cracking, propagation energy of cracks at the interface zone. It has been shown that some alloys only have a high resistance to the interface cracking and the role played by the interface reactions to improve this property. (orig.).
Wood plastic composites (WPCs) are comprised of wood flour and thermoplastic polymer. The matrix is typically high-density polyethylene, poly (vinyl chloride), or polypropylene. The effect of morphology and micromechanics of wood flour particles on the mechanical performance of the bulk composite is a relatively unexplored area. The knowledge about the in situ properties of wood particles and the interfacial properties between the wood particles and the polymer matrix in the bio-composites is very limited. The objective of this work is to characterize the full-field deformation and strain distribution in and around wood particles embedded in polymer matrix. The mechanical tests are performed in small-scale tensile loading stage on thin composite samples containing 1-3 wood particles orient...
In view of the importance of the material Alloy 800 in high-temperature reactor plants (HTR), a material data bank was established which is used for statistical evaluation of mechanical and physical material behaviour. Based on investigations on the interconnection between the mechanical properties at high temperatures and the metallurgical parameters, different types of Alloy 800 were specified in compliance with the component requirements. In addition, aspects of corrosion and toughness behaviour were taken into consideration. The specifications and strength characteristics for the different variants of Alloy 800 were incorporated into draft DIN standards after discussion and approval in expert committees. Further important characteristics of the mechanical and physical material behaviour were summarized in HTR material data sheets so as to furnish an improved basis for the design and stress analyses of Alloy 800 ...
In view of the importance of the material Alloy 800 in high-temperature reactor plants (HTR), a material data bank was established which is used for statistical evaluation of mechanical and physical material behaviour. Based on investigations on the interconnection between the mechanical properties at high temperatures and the metallurgical parameters, different types of Alloy 800 were specified in compliance with the component requirements. In addition, aspects of corrosion and toughness behaviour were taken into consideration. The specifications and strength characteristics for the different variants of Alloy 800 were incorporated into draft DIN standards after discussion and approval in expert committees. Further important characteristics of the mechanical and physical material behaviour were summarized in HTR material data sheets so as to furnish an improved basis for the design and stress analyses of Alloy 800 ...
This paper presents a patient specific deformable heart model that involves the known electrical and mechanical properties of the cardiac cells and tissue. The whole heart model comprises ten Tusscher's ventricular and Nygren's atrial cell models, the anatomical and electrophysiological model descriptions of the atria (introduced by Harrild et al.) and ventricle (given by Winslow et al.), and the mechanical model of the periodical cardiac contraction and resting phenomena proposed by Moireau et al. During the propagation of the depolarization wave, the kinetic, compositional and rotational anisotropy is handled by the tissue, organ and torso model. The applied patient specific parameters were determined by an evolutionary computation method. An intensive parameter reduction was performed u...
The side effects of cancer therapy on normal tissues limit the success of therapy. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated for numerous chemotherapeutic agents including doxorubicin...Full Text Available
The properties and kinetics of x-ray stars in globular clusters are described. Locations, configurations, star evolution, massive close binary systems, various mechanisms, and the x-ray burster properties are included. (JFP)
The Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses organized and hosted a workshop on ``Rock Mechanics Issues in Repository Design and Performance Assessment`` on behalf its sponsor the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This workshop was held on September 19- 20, 1994 at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, Rockville, Maryland. The objectives of the workshop were to stimulate exchange of technical information among parties actively investigating rock mechanics issues relevant to the proposed high-level waste repository at Yucca Mountain and identify/confirm rock mechanics issues important to repository design and performance assessment The workshop contained three technical sessions and two panel discussions. The participants included technical and research staffs representing the NRC and the Department of Energy and their contractors, as well as researchers from the academic, commercial, and international technical ...
BackgroundModern metal-on-metal hip resurfacing implants are being increasingly used for young and active patients, although the long-term outcome and failure mechanisms of these...Full Text Available
A common property of aging in all animals is that chronologically and genetically identical individuals age at different rates. To unveil mechanisms that influence aging variability, we identified markers...Full Text Available
Iron overload is common in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), but the mechanisms leading to overload are unknown. Here, we determined iron levels and the expression...Full Text Available
A regional analysis of nucleotide substitution rates along human genes and their flanking regions allows us to quantify the effect of mutational mechanisms associated with transcription in germ line...Full Text Available
The interactions between biochemical processes and mechanical signaling play important roles during various cellular processes such as wound healing, embryogenesis, metastasis, and cell migration. While...Full Text Available
Disorders of mitochondrial fat metabolism lead to sudden death in infants and children. Although survival is possible, the underlying molecular mechanisms which enable this outcome have not yet been...Full Text Available
BackgroundThe molecular mechanisms of variations in individual longevity are not well understood, even though longevity can be increased substantially by means of diverse experimental...Full Text Available
This annual review focuses on invertebrate model organisms, which continue to yield fundamental new insights into mechanisms of aging. This year, the budding yeast has been used to understand how asymmetrical...Full Text Available
The erosion phenomena of coastal regions in Italy and in the world is remarkable from the environmental point of view. Are showed activities of mechanical defense and numerical models to solve complex problem.
Progress is reported in the following areas: metallurgy and ceramics (structure of materials, mechanical properties, physical properties), experimental research, and particle-solid interactions (irradiation effects on alloys). (DLC)
The chloromethylation reaction of an asphaltite and styrene graft copolymer followed by the amination of the chloromethylated products was optimized. New strongly basic anion exchangers with an exchange capacity of 2.5 mg-equiv/g and a mechanical strength of 93% were prepared.
The project is currently on schedule. The design review meeting was held on 08/26/97 at the Coastal Systems Station in Panama City, Florida. The mechanical arrangement, performance analysis and design features were presented at the review meeting. A numbe...
This is an informal personal review of the development over time of my ideas about the concentrating mechanism of the mammalian renal papilla. It had been observed that animals with a need to produce...Full Text Available
A model describes the effect of changes to the pore structure on the mechanical properties of semi-coke during coking. The gap tensile experiment makes it possible to determine the mechanical properties of the coke and semi-coke; a theoretical analysis is valid for the deformation of samples in the gap tensile test, by which the gap tensile strength of the coke can be determined, and by which a method for the simultaneous determination of the effective modulus of elasticity was developed. The effect of the pore structure on the mechanical properties is given in semi-empirical equations. The main point here is to check whether a pore in the coke can be regarded as a Griffith crack, and whether the interaction of pores can be neglected. A model which takes the pore distribution into account was also developed and tested. A model for the change of pore structure during coking, which includes the contraction of the semi-coke, ...
Studies have shown that the nervous system may adopt a control scheme in which synergistic muscle groups are controlled by common excitation patters, or modules, to simplify the coordination...Full Text Available
BackgroundCD26 (dipeptidyl peptidase IV, DPPIV) is a 110 kDa surface glycoprotein expressed in most normal tissues, and is a potential novel therapeutic target for selected cancers....Full Text Available
In the production of heavy-sectioned ferritic spheroidal graphite iron castings for such parts as spent fuel shipping container (cask), undesirable structures like abnormal graphite lamella, pearlite or so-called chinese script type of inclusions tend to appear, deteriorating the mechanical properties at the central part of the section where molten iron freezes last. 500 mm thick cylindrical vessels with bottom, weighing 18 tons and 33 tons, were poured as trial products of casks. Solidification structure and mechanical properties were examined at many portions of the castings. By controlling chemical composition, solidification time and inoculation process the structure and the mechanical properties in the last portion of the section to solidify were improved. Sufficiently homogeneous heavy-sectioned ferritic spheroidal graphite iron castings were successfully produced in the as-cast state. In addition, quality assurance ...
Calorie restriction (CR) induces a metabolic shift towards mitochondrial respiration; however, molecular mechanisms underlying CR remain unclear. Recent studies suggest that CR-induced mitochondrial...Full Text Available
BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial changes have been described in muscle tissue in acquired hypothyroidism. Among the molecular mechanisms by which thyroid hormones regulate expression of nuclear genes encoding...Full Text Available
In Lepidoptera, forewings and hindwings are mechanically coupled and flap in synchrony. Flight is anteromotoric, being driven primarily by action of the forewings. Here we report that lepidopterans...Full Text Available
From the gross conservation laws of thermodynamics in a convecting material we derive a bound on the ratio of the rate of production of mechanical or magnetic energy to the rate of internal radioactive...Full Text Available
BackgroundPlaster ingestion forming gastric bezoar is a strange way to attempt suicide and this method has not yet been reported. It may lead to a mechanical obstruction of the gut,...Full Text Available
After some preliminary comments on prevailing attitudes about tachyons, the author discusses superluminal transformations and the electromagnetic properties of tachyons. Their role in quantum mechanics is examined and a relativistically invariant hadron bootstrap model, which appears to account for many hadron states, is presented. (W.D.L).
SUMMARYEstrogen has an important role in the reconstruction of a new vascular network in the endometrium during each menstrual cycle; however, the underlying mechanisms...Full Text Available
The development of detailed chemical kinetic reaction mechanisms for oxidation of n-octane and iso-octane is described, with emphasis on the factors which are specific to many large hydrocarbon fuel molecules. Elements which are of particular importance are found to include site-specific abstraction of H atoms, radical isomerization of alkyl radicals by internal H atom abstraction, and rapid ..beta..-scission of the alkyl radicals. These features, combined with distinctions in the types of intermediate olefin species produced, are used to explain the significant differences in the rate of oxidation between n-octane and iso-octane. Experimental results from the turbulent flow reactor and low pressure laminar flames, using both n-octane and iso-octane as fuels, are used to test the reaction mechanisms and indicate those parts of the total mechanisms which are in greatest need of further development and refinement. It is found ...
A dust extraction system removes the contaminated air at source by means of a hood. The extraction system for dust is essentially a ducted air system that prevents excessive employee exposure to dust in the working zone. The four major mechanisms that remove the contaminants in an extraction system are: - capture of contaminants by hoods - transport of contaminated air in duct network - separation of dust in the collector - exhaust of clean air through stack. The current methods of design are based on empirical relations, multi-variable tables, graphs and nomographs that have been derived from the principle of fluid mechanics and particle dynamics. However, the empirical formulae, tables and graphs are used in different geographical locations of the world having different environmental conditions and geo-characteristics of dust particles. Therefore, it is required to establish a rational design method that will be based on analysis of each ...
BackgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is the endpoint of a complex and still poorly understood process which results in inflammation, demyelination and axonal and neuronal degeneration....Full Text Available
The evolution of sex remains a hotly debated topic in evolutionary biology. In particular, studying the origins of the molecular mechanisms underlying sexual reproduction and gametogenesis (its fundamental...Full Text Available
Functionalizing of single molecules on surfaces has manifested great potential for bottom-up construction of complex devices on a molecular scale. We discuss the growth mechanism for the initial layers...Full Text Available
ObjectiveThis study sought to determine whether differential treatment effects in the targeted mechanisms of change and eating disorder (ED) symptoms are associated...Full Text Available
The 52 papers discuss the following subjects: 1. Preparation and structural development; 2. Structural constitution; 3. Structural formation and phase transition; 4. Structure and mechanical properties; 5. Structural formation of metallic and nonmetallic materials; 6. Quantitative metallography, and 7. Quality assurance.
Biological membranes are lamellar structures composed of two leaflets capable of supporting different mechanical stresses. Stress differences between leaflets were generated during micromechanical experiments...Full Text Available
In many eukaryotic mRNAs one or more short ‘upstream’ open reading frames, uORFs, precede the initiator of the main coding sequence. Upstream ORFs are functionally diverse as illustrated...Full Text Available
The decline in immune function with aging, known as immunosenescence, has been implicated in evolutionarily diverse species, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not understood. During aging...Full Text Available