Standardization in the Cultural Heritage in China

China has begun its standardization process in the cultural heritage since 1960.The standards contributed a lot to the development of the heritage conservation practices. In this paper, the author summaries the existing condition of standardization in the cultural heritages and museums field in China, and presents Standards for the Classification of Collected Cultural Heritages. Also this paper points out the problems which exist in the standardization in the cultural heritage, and gives the advice to solve these problems.     

On the Impurity Parameters for Impurities Detected in the Eutectics Co?CC and Pt?CC and Their Role in the Estimate of the Uncertainty in the Eutectic Temperatures

In this paper, impurity parameters m _i and k _i have been calculated for a range of impurities I as detected in the eutectics Co?CC and Pt?CC, by means of the software package Thermo-Calc within the ternary phase spaces Co?CC-I and Pt?CC-I. The choice of the impurities is based upon a selection out of the results of impurity analyses performed for a representative set of samples for each of the eutectics in study. The analyses in question are glow discharge mass spectrometry (GDMS) or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-mass). Tables and plots of the impurity parameters against the atomic number Z _i of the impurities will be presented, as well as plots demonstrating the validity of van??t Hoff??s law, the cornerstone to this study, for both eutectics. For the eutectics in question, the uncertainty u(T _E ? T _liq ) in the correction T _E ? T _liq will be derived, where T _E and T _liq refer to the transition temperature of the pure system and to the liquidus temperature in the limit of zero growth rate of the solid phase during solidification of the actual system, respectively. Uncertainty estimates based upon the current scheme SIE?COME, combining the sum of individual estimates (SIE) and the overall maximum estimate (OME) are compared with two alternative schemes proposed in this paper, designated as IE?CIRE, combining individual estimates (IE) and individual random estimates (IRE), and the hybrid scheme SIE?CIE?CIRE, combining SIE, IE, and IRE.     

On the measurement of electrons in the 5–20 MeV range in liquids

Recent approaches to solve the solar neutrino problem comprise both new theoretical ideas and newly developed techniques for huge underground detectors. The investigation of electrons produced by neutrinos from the ⁸B decay is particularly interesting. Earlier bubble chamber photographs of electron tracks (5–20 MeV) in two liquids, the measurements of their energy and direction, may help to optimize the design of these detectors.     

Estimates of the annual average indoor radon concentration in Telecí in the Czech Republic

Indoor radon concentrations are subject to diurnal and seasonal variations. In order to obtain an unbiased estimate of the annual mean radon concentration, measurements made over periods less than 12 months have to be adjusted accordingly. In this paper, hourly radon measurements from one uninhabited rural house in Telecí in the Czech Republic have been analysed. The data were collected over a period of 1 y. The behaviour of the radon concentration with time and its relationship with the outdoor temperature, wind speed and atmospheric pressure have been studied. Different estimates of the annual mean radon concentration based on short-term continuous measurements have been assessed.     

Isothermal crystallization kinetics of poly(vinylidene fluoride) in the α-phase in the scope of the Avrami equation

Isothermal melt crystallization of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) at different crystallization temperatures was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Analysis by the two different approaches of the Avrami equation was performed: first the classical double logarithmic approximation was used, but a non-linear least squares search showed to clearly improve the fit of the model to the experimental isotherms. The differences found by both methods in the Avrami parameters are discussed. The limitation of the Avrami equation in this polymer has to do not only with the fitting procedure to determine the parameters but also with the lack of a consistent physical interpretation of their temperature evolution. The melting behavior of the samples was analyzed and an equilibrium melting temperature of 190.9 °C was obtained by the Hoffmann–Weeks extrapolation. The samples crystallize in a spherulitic structure, as observed by optical microscopy with polarized light (OMPL). Lauritzen–Hoffmann theory was applied to analyze the crystallization kinetics and the Regime III was found for the crystallization of α-PVDF.     

Whether or Not to Utilize the Proposals in the “Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement?”

An analysis is given of the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (henceforth referred to as the Guide) and of the report EURACHEM: Quantifying Uncertainty in Analytical Measurements, Version 6 which is based on the Guide. Particular attention is devoted to considering the basic proposals of the Guide according to which the idea of error is abandoned and the new idea of uncertainty is introduced in its place. The contradictory nature of a whole range of its provisions is considered. In a number of examples taken from the Guide it is shown that its concept is inapplicable to the system of providing for the unity of measurements which relies on the centralized reproduction of the units of physical quantities and the transfer of their quantitative determination. Spheres of application of this conception following its revision are proposed.     

Precipitation of α Phase in the Massive and Feathery Structures in TiAl Alloys during Aging in the Single α Field

1.IntroductionThemechanicalpropertiesofTiAl-basealloysareverysensitivetotheirmicrostructures,which,inturn,arecontrolledbyheattreatments.Forthecomposi-tionsofengineeringimportance,the7-TiAlalloyscanbesolution-treatedinthesinglea-phasefieldandsub-jectedtothea-7transformationduxingsubsequentcooling.Dependingoncoolingrate,theadecompo-sitioncanoccurinseveralpaths,yieldingalamel-larstructureunderrelativelyslowcooling,afeath-ery7structureunderaircoolingandamassive7structureforwater-quenching.Curren…     

What happened in 1953? The Big Flood in the Netherlands in retrospect

During the weekend of Saturday 31 January to Sunday 1 February 1953, a storm tide raged across the northwest European shelf and flooded the low-lying coastal areas of the countries around the North Sea. The peak high waters occurred during the night and the storm surprised many people in their sleep. The resulting disaster in terms of loss of life and damage to infrastructure was enormous. In the Netherlands, 1836 people fell victim to the flood; in the UK and Belgium, the casualties were 307 and 22, respectively. The large number of fatalities in the Netherlands was related to the fact that much of the affected area is below sea-level.This paper focuses on the case of the Netherlands. It discusses the history of land reclamation, and the fact that living in low-lying areas protected by dykes, often below sea-level, is an accepted fact of life in the Netherlands. The historical approach to dyke maintenance is then outlined, and the state of the dykes in the early twentieth century and after the war is discussed. The characteristics of the storm and the flood are discussed, along with people's experiences of the first hours and days following the flood. The impact of this human stress has often been lasting--many survivors continue to live with daily memories of the flood. Attention is given to the large-scale rescue and relief efforts, the closure of the dykes during the following nine months and the concept of the Delta Plan, designed to prevent such a large-scale disaster ever happening again. Although the 1953 storm was indeed a low probability event leading to very high storm-induced water-levels, and occurred in combination with spring tide, several arguments are presented that explain why this flood turned into a disaster of such a large scale. Equally, the question is raised whether the disaster could have been prevented. The paper concludes by noting the importance of awareness and preparedness in order to prevent a future storm threat of this scale turning into a disaster of the scope of the Big Flood of 1953.     

Real-time measurement of in vitro enamel demineralization in the vicinity of the restoration–tooth interface

An X-ray attenuation method using photon counting (scanning microradiography) is presented for the real-time study of in vitro demineralization of dental tissues in the vicinity of the restoration–tooth interface. By repeated measurement of mineral content profiles during the course of demineralization, the pattern of lesion development and the rate of mineral loss can be studied. The method is illustrated by comparison of enamel demineralization near a polyacid-modified composite resin restoration, near a bis-GMA/TEGMA composite resin restoration, and in an unrestored control. The method has potential for study of the influence of restorative materials on susceptibility of tooth tissue to demineralization. ©©1999©Kluwer Academic Publishers     

Evidence for an intermediate modulated structure in the region of the β – γ transition in lead orthovanadate

Electron diffraction, electron microscopy and differential thermal analysis were used to establish the presence of an intermediate phase γ' in lead orthovanadate. The new phase is stable in the temperature range from 371K to 377K; it is rhombohedral with lattice parameters which are twice as large as those of γ. It is presumably anti-ferroelectric and paraelastic.     

Phases on the “Perovskite Line” in the La-Sr-Cu-O System

Our recent research in the La-Sr-Cu-O system has revealed the existence of two new oxygendeficient compounds. One is (La_1–x Sr _x )₄Cu₄O₁₀ (x=0.135–0.15 4-4-10 phase), which has the same structure as CaMnO_2.5 and transforms to the well-known (La_1–x Sr _x )₈Cu₈O₂₀ (x=0.135–0.30 8-8-20 phase) at higher temperature. The other is (La_1–x Sr _x )₅Cu₅O₁₃ (x=0.125–0.1666 5-5-13 phase), which is synthesized under high oxygen pressure and is isostructural to La₄BaCu₅O₁₃ (4-1-5 phase). We have also studied the strontium-rich compound (La_1–x Sr _x )₈Cu₈O₁₆₊ (x=0.7–0.8 8-8-16+ phase) and isolated the semiconductor-like 8-8-16 phase (0.0) and the metallic 8-8-18 phase (>2.0). Cations (La and Sr) in several of these compounds on the (La+Sr)Cu=11 line, which we call the perovskite line, are distributed in a disordered manner and their crystal structures can be explained by the systematic removal of oxygen atoms from an ideal perovskite structure.     

Is the radon risk overestimated? Neglected doses in the estimation of the risk of lung cancer in uranium underground miners

Only the exposure to inhaled radon decay products is usually taken into account in the determination of the risk of radiogenic lung cancer in uranium miners. However, the elevated lung cancer risk in uranium miners is due to the total dose of radiation received by that organ, not to the dose from inhaled radon-222 decay products (222Rn D.P.) alone. Lung doses from sources other than 222Rn D.P. may reach 25% to 75% of total effective dose, absorbed dose or equivalent lung dose, are correlated to 222Rn D.P. doses and are quite variable between facilities. Therefore, to neglect these doses leads to a systematic overestimation of the risk of lung cancer per unit 222Rn D.P. exposure, both through dose underestimation and dose misclassification. Correction for neglected doses and dose misclassification would pull the risk per unit radon exposure downward by a factor of at least two or three and bring the overall dose-effect relationship towards the no-effect null hypothesis, thereby increasing the likelihood of thresholds for lung cancer risk at indoor and today's uranium mine exposures.     

Exotic quantum effects in the laboratory?

This article provides a brief (non-exhaustive) review of some recent developments regarding the theoretical and possibly experimental study of 'exotic' quantum effects in the laboratory with special emphasis on cosmological particle creation, Hawking radiation and the Unruh effect.