Microwave ferrites, part 1: fundamental properties

Ferrimagnets having low RF loss are used in passive microwave components such as isolators, circulators, phase shifters, and miniature antennas operating in a wide range of frequencies (1–100 GHz) and as magnetic recording media owing to their novel physical properties. Frequency tuning of these components has so far been obtained by external magnetic fields provided by a permanent magnet or by passing current through coils. However, for high frequency operation the permanent part of magnetic bias should be as high as possible, which requires large permanent magnets resulting in relatively large size and high cost microwave passive components. A promising approach to circumvent this problem is to use hexaferrites, such as BaFe₁₂O₁₉ and SrFe₁₂O₁₉, which have high effective internal magnetic anisotropy that also contributes to the permanent bias. Such a self-biased material remains magnetized even after removing the external applied magnetic field, and thus, may not even require an external permanent magnet. In garnet and spinel ferrites, such as Y₃Fe₅O₁₂ (YIG) and MgFe₂O₄, however, the uniaxial anisotropy is much smaller, and one would need to apply huge magnetic fields to achieve such high frequencies. In Part 1 of this review of microwave ferrites a brief discussion of fundamentals of magnetism, particularly ferrimagnetism, and chemical, structural, and magnetic properties of ferrites of interest as they pertain to net magnetization, especially to self biasing, are presented. Operational principles of microwave passive components and electrical tuning of magnetization using magnetoelectric coupling are discussed in Part 2.     

The hydration of slag,part 1: reaction models for alkali-activated slag

Reaction models are proposed to quantify the hydration products and to determine the composition of C–S–H from alkali-activated slags (AAS). Products of the slag hydration are first summarized from observations in literature. The main hydration products include C–S–H, hydrotalcite, hydrogarnet, AFm phases (C₄AH₁₃ and C₂ASH₈) and ettringite. Then, three stoichiometric reaction models are established correlating the mineral composition of slag (the glass part) with the hydration products. Using the proposed models, quantities of hydration products and composition of C–S–H are determined. The models are validated with a number of experimental investigations reported in literature, yielding good agreement, i.e., these models can successfully predict the hydration reaction of AAS. The models are furthermore applied to calculate the retained water in the hydration products of AAS in different hydration states and a general hydration equation of AAS is derived. As an illustration to one of the model applications, chemical shrinkage of the AAS cement paste in different hydration states are predicted. The chemical shrinkage of AAS is shown to be remarkably higher than OPC. Furthermore, phase distribution in the hardened AAS paste and the porosity are calculated.     

Interpolation errors in UV-visible spectroscopy for stratospheric sensing: implications for sensitivity, spectral resolution, and spectral range

UV-visible measurements of stratospheric constituents require the ratio of a pair of spectra to be determined. If their wavelength calibrations differ and if an array detector is used, at least one spectrum must be interpolated. This introduces error if the spectrum is undersampled; the error is smaller if wavelength stability is good. Increasing the sampling ratio by making the spectral resolution poorer reduces the optical depths of absorption by constituents. Exact values of interpolation errors from real spectra are a difficult topic, but with a theoretical study with a simulated spectrum we show that the sampling ratio should exceed ~4.5 pixels/FWHM but need not exceed 6.5 pixels/FWHM. To avoid significant reduction in the optical depth of NO(2), the resolution should be smaller than ~1.0 nm FWHM. Hence a spectrometer system that measures both OClO and NO(3) by observing one order from one stationary grating should have more than ~1500 pixels, more than many currently available array detectors.     

Matrix fractography of fibre-reinforced thermoplastics,part 1. peel failures

This paper describes the origins of features found on the fracture surfaces of peel failures of carbon fibre-reinforced polyetheretherketone composites and their significance in the analysis of the failure of structures fabricated from composite material.     

Quantitative analysis of metal impurities in carbon nanotubes: efficacy of different pretreatment protocols for ICPMS spectroscopy

Metal impurities in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are undesirable for their uses in diverse applications, for instance, they may potentially have a negative health impact when using in biomedical fields. However, so far there is a lack of analysis methods able to quantify metallic impurities in CNTs. In this paper, using the neutron activation analysis (NAA) technique as a nondestructive standard quantification method and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) as a practical approach, we established an analytical method for quantitative determination of metallic impurities in CNTs. ICPMS, one of the most sensitive analytical techniques used for coincident multielement measurements, has become a common tool in many laboratory, and thus it is easily available and a good selection for determining the metal impurities in CNTs. However, because of their extremely stable structure and the encapsulated metals in the defect structure, CNTs must undergo special pretreatments before ICPMS. We investigated different sample pretreatment procedures for ICPMS analysis, including dry ashing coupled with acid extraction, wet digestion, and a combination of dry ashing with acid digestion. With the reference data from the nondestructive analytical method of NAA, we found that the quantitative determination of metal impurities in CNTs is highly dependent on the sample pretreatment in which the conditions are largely different from those used for conventional biological samples or environmental materials. This paper not only provides the practical method and analysis conditions for quantifying the metal impurities of CNTs but also the first protocol for pretreatment processes of CNT samples.     

选择不同负荷组合对测试多联机IPLV的影响

指出综合性能系数（IPLV）与部分负荷Q2（75%±10%）,Q3（50%±10%）和Q4（25%±10%）之间的关系,并用实例说明当采用不同的部分负荷组合进行IPLV测试时,有时会得到不同的测试结果.     

Kinematic instabilities in two-layer eccentric annular flows,part 1: Newtonian fluids

Primary-cementing displacement flows occur in long narrow eccentric annuli during the construction of oil and gas wells. A common problem is that the displacing fluid fingers up the upper wide side of the annulus, leaving behind a “mud channel” of displaced fluid on the lower narrow side of the annulus. Tehrani et al. report that the interface between displacing fluid and mud channel can in certain circumstances become unstable, and a similar phenomenon has been observed in our ongoing experiments. Here an explanation for these instabilities is provided via analysis of the stability of two-layer eccentric annular Hele-Shaw flows, using a transient version of the usual Hele-Shaw approach, in which fluid acceleration terms are retained. Two Newtonian fluids are considered, as a simplification of the general case in which the fluids are shear-thinning yield-stress fluids. It is shown that negative azimuthal buoyancy gradients are in general stabilizing in inclined wells, but that buoyancy may also have a destabilizing effect via axial buoyancy forces that influence the base-flow interfacial velocity. In a variety of special cases where buoyancy is not dominant, it is found that instability is suppressed by a positive product of interfacial velocity difference and reduced Reynolds-number difference between fluids. Even a small positive azimuthal buoyancy gradient, (heavy fluid over light fluid), can be stabilized in this way. Eccentricity of the annulus seems to amplify the effect of buoyancy on stability or instability, e.g. stably stratified fluid layers become more stable as the eccentricity is increased.     

Generalized ideal reference cycle for regenerative refrigeration: part 1 isothermal systems

A generalized ideal reference cycle for regenerative refrigeration systems is discussed. The cycle has isothermal processes of compression and expansion for heat addition to and heat rejection from the cycle. The regenerative processes are assumed to be partly constant volume and partly constant pressure processes. Equations are developed for cycle work, heat lifted, coefficient of performance and the pressure ratio: mean effective/maximum cycle pressures. Various special cases are deduced from the generalized analysis including the Stirling and Ericsson cycles.     

Maintaining accuracy of cellular Yule-Nielsen spectral Neugebauer models for different ink cartridges using principal component analysis

The replacement of used-up ink cartridges is unavoidable, but it makes the existing characterization model far from accurate, while recharacterization is labor intensive. In this study, we propose a new correction method for cellular Yule-Nielsen spectral Neugebauer (CYNSN) models based on principal component analysis (PCA). First, a small set of correction samples are predicted, printed using new ink cartridges, and then measured. Second, the link between the predicted and measured reflectance weights, generated by PCA, is determined. The experimental results show that the proposed method provides a significant and robust improvement, since not only the color change between original and new inks but also the systemic error of CYNSN modelsis taken into account in the method.     

Issues on the constitutive formulation at large elastoplastic deformations,part 1: Kinematics

Summary The kinematics at large elastoplastic deformations are analyzed within the framework of a general macroscopic constitutive theory with tensorial structure variables. The key concept is the distinction between the kinematics of the continuum and its underlying substructure. The proper definition of physically plausible corotational and corodeformational rates for the kinematical and state variables, shows the equivalence of the effect that the choice of an unstressed configuration has, on the transformation of these variables and their rates under superposed rigid body rotations. Along these lines, issues debated in the past are given definitive answers, and comparisons of different approaches are presented.With 1 Figure     

Framework for multivariate selectivity analysis, part II: experimental applications

In Part I of this paper, a framework for multivariate selectivity was introduced that is both calculable from first principles and experimentally tractable. In this part, we employ the proposed selectivity framework for analyzing both in vitro and in vivo near-infrared experimental data. Two in vitro data sets are used to compare different methods for estimating selectivity and to demonstrate the benefits obtained from validation data with expanded interferant concentration ranges. The in vitro data also demonstrate that the experimentally estimated selectivities provide insights into the properties of the calibration models that are difficult or impossible to infer by other means. The merits of the proposed selectivity function are further demonstrated using a complex in vivo application: the noninvasive measurement of ethanol in humans. Results indicate that in vivo calibration model sensitivity, selectivity, and concentration correlations can be systematically interrogated using the proposed selectivity framework and judicious use of experimental measurements. These analyses not only provide selectivity and sensitivity information, but also the variance components of the total MSEP, which is invaluable information for both method development and analytical method characterization.     

Sustainability metrics for eco-technologies assessment, part I: preliminary screening

This work presents a preliminary screening of eco-technologies for dimethyl carbonate (DMC) production. Through sustainability metrics, the assessment of six different chemical routes allows comparisons according to economical and environmental criteria, to determine the most sustainable route. CO₂ sequestration potential is also considered. The alternatives are scored according to the adopted metrics, leading to the decision of a suitable route based on economic and environmental grounds, prioritizing pollution-preventing technologies herein referred to as eco-technologies. Casting of technologies was based on alternatives available in the literature: Route 1 production of DMC from methanol and phosgene [Ono in Pure Appl Chem 68(2):367–375, 1996]; Route 2 production of DMC from methyl nitrite and CO [Ono in Pure Appl Chem 68(2):367–375, 1996]; Route 3 production of DMC from CO and methanol [Ono in Pure Appl Chem 68(2):367–375, 1996]; Route 4 production of DMC from urea and methanol (Wang et al. in Ind Eng Chem Res 46:8972–8979, 2007); Route 5 production of DMC from ethylene oxide and CO₂ [Ono in Pure Appl Chem 68(2):367–375, 1996]; Route 6 production of DMC from CO₂ and methanol (Choi et al. in Green Chem 4:230–234, 2002). The analysis shows that Routes 4 and 5 combine intermediate values of the total (sustainability) score, CO₂ sequestration potential and industrial feasibility, therefore entitled as eco-technologies, based on the adopted metrics. Although the two technologies are potentially ecological, they are recommended for a more rigorous analysis on the grounds of process simulation and life cycle analysis.     

Kink, flow and retention properties of urinary catheters part 1: Conventional foley catheters

The treatment for urinary incontinence, a common condition affecting a considerable number of older and disabled members of society, involves the use of a Foley catheter for drainage of the bladder. The basic design of the catheter has remained the same for over seventy years. Despite modifications to the materials used there has been very little research directly comparing the physical properties of the different types of catheter. This study developed a range of tests to enable comparison of the resistance to kinking, flow rate properties and the retention forces of both latex-based and all-silicone catheters. The results indicated that the all-silicone device had superior resistance to kinking and better flow properties when compared to the latex-based catheters. However, greater retention forces were recorded for the all-silicone device, in both the inflated and deflated condition, indicating that much more force would be required to remove the this type of catheter. Author to whom all correspondence should be addressed.     

Investigations into the improvement of the weather protection of unburnt brick masonry,part 1

In June 2006, the Chair of Structural Design at the Technical University of Dresden was commissioned by the Iranian cultural authority ICHHTO and the UNESCO to perform structural design services for the earthquake‐resistant repair and rebuilding of the Sistani House in the historic citadel Arg‐e‐Bam in the south of Iran. The citadel was until its almost complete destruction by an earthquake on 26 Dezember 2003 the largest building of unburnt brick masonry in the world and is listed as a World heritage Site by UNESCO because of its cultural and historical significance. Surveying and documentation work, archaeological rubble clearance and the rebuilding of the Sistani House after its destruction by the earthquake have taken the team from the department to Bam at regular intervals since 2006. In the course of the work, it became apparent that research was needed in the field of the repair of earthquake‐damaged unburnt brick masonry and into the improvement of the shear strength/earthquake resistance and the weather protection of unburnt brick masonry. The article is subdivided in Part 1, Introduction, test performance and assessment of results for additives to loam render as well as Part 2, Assessment of the results for surface treatment to unburnt bricks and the climatic chamber tests.     

Selecting algorithms, sensors, and linear bases for optimum spectral recovery of skylight

In a previous work [Appl. Opt.44, 5688 (2005)] we found the optimum sensors for a planned multispectral system for measuring skylight in the presence of noise by adapting a linear spectral recovery algorithm proposed by Maloney and Wandell [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A3, 29 (1986)]. Here we continue along these lines by simulating the responses of three to five Gaussian sensors and recovering spectral information from noise-affected sensor data by trying out four different estimation algorithms, three different sizes for the training set of spectra, and various linear bases. We attempt to find the optimum combination of sensors, recovery method, linear basis, and matrix size to recover the best skylight spectral power distributions from colorimetric and spectral (in the visible range) points of view. We show how all these parameters play an important role in the practical design of a real multispectral system and how to obtain several relevant conclusions from simulating the behavior of sensors in the presence of noise.     

Concentration quenching,surface and spectral analyses of SrF2:Pr3+ prepared by different synthesis techniques

Pr³⁺ doped strontium fluoride (SrF₂) was prepared by hydrothermal and combustion methods. The phosphors were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. XRD patterns indicated that the samples were completely crystallized with a pure face-centred cubic (space group: Fm3m) structure. SEM images showed different morphologies which is an indication that the morphology of the SrF₂:Pr³⁺ phosphor strongly depends on the synthesis procedure. Both the SrF₂:Pr³⁺ samples exhibit blue–red emission centred at 488 nm under a 439 nm excitation wavelength (λ_exc) at room temperature. The emission intensity of Pr³⁺ was also found to be dependent on the synthesis procedure. The blue–red emission has decreased with an increase in the Pr³⁺ concentration. The optimum Pr³⁺ doping level for maximum emission intensity was 0.4 and 0.2 mol% for the hydrothermal and combustion samples, respectively. The reduction in the intensity for higher concentrations was found to be due to dipole–dipole interaction induced concentration quenching effects.     

Evaluating management of large,complex projects: A framework for analysis

Increasingly owners and managers of large, complex projects are challenged in law suits and regulatory proceedings to justify their decisions. These challenges often question the prudence or reasonableness of management actions on a project costing substantially more than its original estimate. Frequently these attacks criticize decisions made years earlier by project owners or managers. This article describes a framework for evaluating management prudence based on the author's 20 years of research and personal experience with large, complex projects. The framework distinguishes between evaluations to determine prudent/imprudent management, and conventional “lessons learned” management audits. The author concludes that, while hindsight knowledge is a useful ingredient in “lessons learned” audits, it usually provides misleading signals for a management audit to determine prudence or imprudence. He concludes that any finding of management imprudence must meet the eight criteria described in the framework.