Effect of Boronizing on Operating Stability of Steel AISI 304L under Erosion Impact of Hard Particles

Metal Science and Heat Treatment - The effect of solid boronizing at 950°C for 2 and 4 h on the phase composition, microstructure, hardness and abrasive wear of steel AISI 304L is studied...     

Second harmonic generation from a ferroelectric film

We derive an expression for transmittivity (T_SHG) of second harmonic generation (SHG) signals from a ferroelectric (FE) film. Intensities of up and down fields in the medium are investigated in relation to T_SHG. The derivations are made based on undepletion of input fields and nonlinear wave equation derived from the Maxwell equations. We present two cases: film without mirrors and with partial mirrors. Expressions for the newly derived nonlinear susceptibility coefficients of SHG for real crystal symmetry [J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 19 (2002) 2007] are used to get more realistic results. Variations in T_SHG with respect to film thickness are illustrated.     

Synthesis of heterocyclic metal complexes and their evaluation as marine antifoulants

4-Amino-3-thio-1,24-triazolidine (L₁) and 4-amino-5-thio-1,3,4-thiadiazole (L_II) as well as their metal complexes of the general formulae ML_I·2H₂O and ML_IICl (M; Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II)) were prepared. With Sn(II), we obtained Sn(L_I)₂·2H₂O and SnL_IICl, respectively. The structures of the compounds were identified through elemental analysis, and IR and UV spectra measurements, in addition to thermal analysis in case of the metal complexes. The antifouling properties of the compounds were tested by their incorporation into paint formulations which were applied to PVC substrates and tested in water from Alexandria western harbour. When the compounds were added at 17·5% by volume, the coated panels were fouled after 3 months of immersion. The addition of 6·7% by volume of tributyltin oxide to 15·8% of the prepared compounds in one formulation elevated the paint efficiency and prevented fouling for 11 months. Paint containing solely tributyltin oxide at the same concentration was inactive against algae.     

Capacitated Clustering Problems by Hybrid Simulated Annealing and Tabu Search

The capacitated clustering problem (CCP) is the problem in which a given set of weighted objects is to be partitioned into clusters so that the total weight of objects in each cluster is less than a given value (cluster ‘capacity’). The objective is to minimize the total scatter of objects from the ‘centre’ of the cluster to which they have been allocated. A simple constructive heuristic, a R-interchange generation mechanism, a hybrid simulated annealing (SA) and tabu search (TS) algorithm which has computationally desirable features using a new non-monotonic cooling schedule, are developed. A classification of the existing SA cooling schedules is presented. The effects on the final solution quality of the initial solutions, the cooling schedule parameters and the neighbourhood search strategies are investigated. Computational results on randomly generated problems with size ranging from 50 to 100 customers indicate that the hybrid SA/TS algorithm out-performs previous simulated annealing algorithms, a simple tabu search and local descent algorithms.     

Short-term preoperative radiotherapy results in down-staging of rectal cancer: a study of 1316 patients

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of back pain in children in our country is unknown. Several causes can produce this symptom, but it is necessary to rule out pathologies that require specific treatments. The goal of this work was to study the incidence and the etiology of back pain in children in our country. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We present a prospective study done in our Orthopedic Department during a period of 7 months. Twenty-two patients were referred with back pain of at least two months duration. The incidence was 2.9% compared to the total number of patients. The average age ranged from 7 to 17 years. RESULTS: A careful history and a radiological examination diagnosed 50% (11 cases) of the causes of backache in the present study. An idiopathic etiology was the most frequent cause and represented 9 patients (41%). In the remaining 12 cases (59%) pathological causes that required special treatment were identified including 2 cases of Scheuermann disease, 4 cases of painful scoliosis, 3 spondylolysis with spondylolisthesis, 2 cases of discitis, 1 benign neoplasm and 1 psychogenic cause. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend conservative management with the use of medication for relief of pain and physical therapy in the idiopathic cases. In the remaining cases, the specific treatment of the disease can improve the back pain.     

A STOCHASTIC CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MACHINE TOOL WORKPIECE SYSTEM IN BTA OEEP HOLE MACHINING Part I: Mathematical Modelling and Analysis

A three dimensional model of the BTA deep-hole machining system is presented by modelling each of the components separately and later combining to represent the total system. A model for the interaction between the workpiece and the cutting tool is also included. Such a model can determine the response of any component of the machine tool as well as the individual influence on the system performance. Based on this, physical models representing the three working methods in the BTA process can be studied, from which stochastic differential equations are derived to represent the resultant force system on the machine tool

A physical model for the stationary workpiece and rotating cutting tool working method is developed. The assumed modes method along with the Lagrange' equation is used to obtain the stochastic differential equation to represent the influence of axial force and torque, in order to obtain the response of the system under the action of the axial force and torque to predict the stability behaviour.     

Cellular neural network with trapezoidal activation function

This paper presents a cellular neural network (CNN) scheme employing a new non‐linear activation function, called trapezoidal activation function (TAF). The new CNN structure can classify linearly non‐separable data points and realize Boolean operations (including eXclusive OR) by using only a single‐layer CNN. In order to simplify the stability analysis, a feedback matrix W is defined as a function of the feedback template A and 2D equations are converted to 1D equations. The stability conditions of CNN with TAF are investigated and a sufficient condition for the existence of a unique equilibrium and global asymptotic stability is derived. By processing several examples of synthetic images, the analytically derived stability condition is also confirmed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the Locus of Speed-Accuracy Trade-Off in Reaction Time: Inferences From the Lateralized Readiness Potential.

Lateralized readiness potentials (LRPs) were used to determine the stage(s) of reaction time (RT) responsible for speed-accuracy trade-offs (SATs). Speeded decisions based on several types of information were examined in 3 experiments, involving, respectively, a line discrimination task, lexical decisions, and an Erikson flanker task. Three levels of SAT were obtained in each experiment by adjusting response deadlines with an adaptive tracking algorithm. Speed stress affected the duration of RT stages both before and after the start of the LRP in all experiments. The latter effect cannot be explained by guessing strategies, by variations in response force, or as an indirect consequence of the pre-LRP effect. Contrary to most models, it suggests that SAT can occur at a late postdecisional stage. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Use of 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxyglucose as a potential agent in the prediction of graft rejection by positron emission tomography

BACKGROUND: We investigated the potential of predicting allograft rejection by measuring the ability of graft-infiltrating cells to take up 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxyglucose ([18F]FDG). This molecule is a positron emitting glucose analogue that is taken up by metabolically active cells and can be detected using positron emission tomography. METHODS: Uptake of [18F]FDG during an alloresponse was measured both in vitro in mixed lymphocyte cultures and in vivo using allogeneic and syngeneic skin grafts. RESULTS: Uptake of [18F]FDG was seen in a mixed lymphocyte reaction. Using a mouse skin graft model, we found that mean [18F]FDG uptake was 1.5-2 times higher in allografts than in syngeneic grafts; the increase in uptake correlated with the level of T-cell infiltrate seen histologically. CONCLUSION: Assessing the metabolic activity of graft-infiltrating cells with [18F]FDG may be useful in the prediction of graft rejection episodes.     

Study of thermal properties of glass system 77% B2O3-23% PbO doped with ZnO in the temperature range 300 to 700 K

The thermal properties: specific heat capacity (C _p), thermal conductivity (), and thermal diffusivity (a) of the glass system 77% B₂O₃-23% PbO doped with ZnO, were measured in the temperature range 300 to 700 K. It was found that electronic conduction has no significant contribution to the thermal conductivity. The main mechanism of heat transfer is therefore due to both phonons and photons. A discussion of the results is made in view of various theoretical aspects.