The location of atomic hydrogen in NiTi alloy: A first principles study

A first principles density functional theory study to investigate the H defect in NiTi alloy is presented. We have determined the interstitial H atom position in bulk B2 phase NiTi alloy. H positions on both the Ti and Ni terminated NiTi surfaces are calculated. Surface adsorptions of H atom on Ni/Ti terminated surfaces are calculated for a low surface coverage of 1.96 × 10¹⁴ cm^?2. We have also calculated the penetration barrier energy for an H atom from the surface site to the bulk lattice site.     

Facile one-step transfer process of graphene

Chemical vapour deposition (CVD) is emerging as a popular method for growing large-area graphene on metal substrates. For transferring graphene to other substrates the technique generally used involves deposition of a polymer support with subsequent etching of the metal substrate. Here we report a simpler one-step transfer process. Few-layer graphene (FLG) grown on a Cu substrate were transferred to a silanized wafer by just pressing them together. Hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl group on FLG and the amine group on silane molecules facilitate the transfer.     

An Adaptive Learning Scheme for Medium Access with Channel Reservation in Wireless Networks

Providing effective medium access for wireless networks is a challenging task. Most of the existing protocols of IEEE 802.11 Medium Access Control (MAC) work towards the goal of achieving effective channel access by developing various backoff procedures. In this paper, we make an attempt to develop a new medium access protocol named Learning Automata (LA) based Wireless Channel Reservation (LAWCR). We use an LA approach to implement reservation for channel access for single hop wireless networks. Also, sequence procedure is used to improve the reservation mechanism. The performance of the proposed LAWCR scheme show significant improvements over the legacy DCF protocol with respect to important criteria such as the average time spent in the buffer and the throughput.     

Psychologists' Attitudes and Therapeutic Approaches Toward Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Issues Continue To Improve: An Update.

Psychologists' attitudes and approaches toward the gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) lifestyle continue to change, on the basis of results from 437 responding members of the American Psychological Association. Psychologists are more likely to view an active GLB lifestyle-identity as acceptable and non-pathological, more likely to support and provide gay-affirmative therapy, and much less likely to support changing sexual orientation through psychotherapy. Female psychologists are significantly more likely to view a GLB lifestyle as accepting and to provide gay-affirmative therapy to GLB clients compared with their male counterparts. Finally, training opportunities for psychologists involving GLB issues appear to be increasing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Formation of part families to design cells with alternative routing considerations

A heuristic algorithm for the formation of part families to design cells with consideration to alternative routing of parts is presented. Most of the existing algorithms in cellular manufacturing systems utilize fixed routings for parts. Consideration of alternative routings in the design of cells is important for improving operational aspects of cellular manufacturing systems. An example problem solved is included in the paper.     

Formulas for calculating the calorific value of coal and coal chars: Development,tests, and uses

A new formula for calculating the calorific value of coal from its ultimate analysis has been obtained by regression analysis of a data bank consisting of data on 775 samples of U.S. coals of all ranks. It yielded zero average difference between observed and calculated values and a standard deviation of 129 Btu/lb (300 kJ/kg). Neither average difference nor standard deviation varied much with rank of the coal. The Dulong, Mott-Spooner, Boie, and Grummel-Davies formulae were also tested with the data but gave substantially poorer results. The new formula has been substantiated with data from other laboratories and with data on chars. The distribution of variance, attributable to variability of mineral matter, variability of coal organic matter not related to rank, and variance of laboratory determinations was estimated. Use of the formula to monitor performance of a laboratory is illustrated, as is modification to obtain maximum precision in heat balance calculations on a coal conversion process.     

A THERMODYNAMIC MODEL OF THE HEAT CAPACITY OF COMPOSITIONALLY COMPLEX MULTICOMPONENT POLYMER SOLUTIONS: KRAFT BLACK LIQUOR

A thermodynamic model of the heat capacity of multicomponent polymer solutions is developed and applied to the prediction of the heat capacity of kraft black liquor. The model is developed using a pseudo-binary solution assumption. The form of the excess heat capacity is expressed as Cp^E = γWⁿW₁Wm₂ where γ, m, and n are model parameters. For the particular system studied γ varies linearly with temperature and indicates the magnitude and degree of temperature dependence of the excess heat capacity. Parameters m and n are independent of temperature. The resulting model is capable of predicting the heat capacity of compositionally complex black liquor to within 1-3% of the experimental data. @KEYWORDS: Heat capacity, Thermodynamics, Kraft black liquor, Polymer solutions     

Three-dimensional elastic finite element study of the skid resistance of grooved pavement

A three-dimensional finite element model has been developed to simulate the sliding of a rubber block over a grooved road surface. The model makes use of the symmetries of the problem to simplify the analysis, so that two-dimensional isoparametric elements of both rectangular and triangular configuration have been extended into the third dimension. A procedure for analysing the behaviour of any one groove to groove unit of the pavement is also developed, and this is extended so that the contact between the sliding rubber block and the leading edge of each raised pavement section is analysed. Preliminary comparisons between theoretical calculations and experimental measurements indicate that the finite element procedure provides an accurate and economical estimate of the behaviour of the rubber slider as it is pressed into a grooved pavement. Elastic predictions of sliding resistance seem reasonable at low sliding speeds, but viscoelastic rubber analysis appears necessary if higher speed skid resistance is to be predicted.     

Pyrolysis–molecular weight chromatography–vapor-phase infrared spectrophotometry: An on-line system for analysis of polymers. III. Thermal decomposition of polysulfones and polystyrene

The thermal decomposition of poly(butene-1 sulfone), poly(pentene-1 sulfone), poly(hexene-1 sulfone), poly(styrene sulfone), and polystyrene was investigated in helium at a heating rate of 20°C/min using an experimental system which consists of a programmable pyrolyzer, a thermal conductivity detector, a mass chromatograph, and a vapor-phase infrared spectrophotometer. Poly(butene-1 sulfone), poly(penetene-1 sulfone), and poly(hexene-1 sulfone) displayed two-step decomposition; the primary products of decomposition at both steps were the comonomers (olefin and SO₂). For poly(styrene sulfone), in addition to styrene and SO₂, products with molecular weights corresponding to dimers of styrene were observed. Decomposition of this polymer was compared with that of polystyrene, which formed mostly monomer.     

Free Radical Polymerisation of Methylmethacrylate Using p-nitrobenzyltriphenyl Phosphonium Ylide as Novel Initiator

p-nitrobenzyl triphenyl phosphonium ylide initiated radical polymerisation of MMA in 1-4 dioxane at 65 ± 1°C for 2 h under a nitrogen blanket, follows ideal kinetics with bimolecular termination. The overall activation energy and average value of k _p ²/k _t are 75.7 kJ mol and 1.14 × 10² l mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. FTIR Spectroscopy confirms a band of 1,729 cm⁻¹ of the ester group. ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR confirms methoxy protons at 3.8 δ ppm and 52 δ ppm, respectively. E.S.R studies confirm a free radical mode of polymerisation. TGDTA analysis confirms the atactic nature of polymer and its thermal stability up to 120°C. Ylide dissociates to give a phenyl radical which is responsible for polymerisation.