Structural, thermodynamic, and electrochemical properties of TixZr1−x(VNiCrMnCoAl)2 C14 Laves phase alloys

The crystal structure of the monoclinic phase η-Al₁₁Cr₂ of the space group C2/c, a ≈ 1.76 nm, b ≈ 3.05 nm, c ≈ 1.76 nm, β ≈ 90° [L.A. Bendersky, R.S. Roth, J.T. Ramon, D. Shechtman, Metall. Trans. A 22A (1991) 5] has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure model, refined to a final R value of 0.0441, has the composition of Al_83.8Cr_16.2. a = 1.77348(10) nm, b = 3.04555(17) nm, c = 1.77344(10) nm, monoclinic angle β = 91.0520(12)°. There are 80 (66Al + 14Cr) independent atomic positions in a unit cell, of which all Cr atom sites and 8 Al atom sites have icosahedral coordination. These icosahedra are interconnected forming icosahedral chains along , (1 0 1) icosahedral layer blocks as well as a three-dimensional icosahedral structure.     

A method for revising package image colors to express brand perceptions better

Product packaging is an important element for branding that directly affects product sales. We have developed a method for creating package images that better express brand perception as a way to motivate purchasing behavior and increase sales. The method works by replacing a color that gives an impression different from the brand perception with one that better expresses the brand perception and that is appropriate for the target product. Brand perceptions perceived by consumers were identified by administering a questionnaire to 160 participants. We constructed two databases: a color database of the correspondence between colors and typical adjectives representing various inner emotional states and a feature database for target products. Using these databases, we applied appropriate colors to packaging (except for areas providing information or containing the logo) to express brand perceptions more accurately. We evaluated this method by performing two experiments, one with 96 participants to determine how changing a package color changed the viewer's impression of the product and the other with seven design experts to determine how this method could help them simulate package design. The results revealed that displaying an appropriately revised package image reduced the gap between the brand perception and the impression obtained upon viewing the package image and gave design experts new ideas for package design.     

Low temperature—long time,high temperature-short time liquefaction of coal: The Hokudai process

A Japanese cola was hydrogenated in wash oil with fine iron dust and sulphur as catalyst under a reaction pressure of 12–13 MPa at 420 °C for 2 h and then at 500 °C for 0–20 min. The liquid yield boiling up to 600 °C amounted to 55–66 wt%. Pyridine conversion was ≈ 100 wt%, benzene conversion 82–90 wt% and n-hexane conversion 53–70 wt%. Compared with direct hydrogenation at 500 °C for 10 min the low temperature-long time plus high temperature-short time liquefaction process (the Hokudai process) is a very effective method for obtaining high liquid yield under relatively low hydrogen pressure without coking, using disposable catalyst and non-donor solvent.     

The new joint R&D

During the 1980s, a new form of collaborative research and development emerged in Europe, the US, and Japan. In this new form of joint R&D, companies that compete against one another join together for the purpose of creating new process technology in specified domains. This collaboration among competitors is justified for the development of technologies that many companies will ultimately use in a common manner. Such leaky technology typically cannot be effectively protected by patent or other means, and thus will not be developed except through collaborative means, in which those who benefit jointly incur the R&D expense. In Europe and Japan, governments typically provide 50-70% of the cost of such a joint project, while in the United States, government support for joint R&D is just now beginning to become available. The R&D collaboratives are described as being of two types: the secretariat, which is a coordinative body, and the operating entity, which operates its own R&D laboratory facilities. The conditions under which each organizational form appears, as well as the kinds of effort each form typically undertakes, are described     

Effects of daily administration of methamphetamine on multiple active/passive avoidance performance in rats

The effects of daily methamphetamine (M-Amp) treatment with (2 mg/kg/day, i.p.) were examined on multiple active/passive avoidance performance (MAP) in rats. After avoidance training, the animals were given M-Amp every day; on the days of learning sessions, which were on alternate days, the drug was administered at 15 min before the session. Daily administration of M-Amp produced enhancement of the number of respondings (running) as an excitatory dimension of behavior, disruption of immobilities as an inhibitory dimension, and impairment of successes as a discriminatory dimension, when compared with saline-treated rats. Following M-Amp withdrawal, recovery from these damages of learned behavior was observed, except the deterioration in the discriminative dimension. In conclusion, the MAP paradigm is good for assessing the behavioral effects of M-Amp treatment, making it easy to distinct the behavioral effects of M-Amp into excitatory-inhibitory and discriminative dimensions. It is important to distinguish the behavioral components induced by M-Amp, since the damage of learned avoidance performance consists of different dimensions in the M-Amp-treated rats. Impairment of discriminative behavior appears to demonstrate an attentional deficit, which may explain the behavioral disorderliness in M-Amp abusers who display no disturbance of apparent consciousness. These results are discussed with association of brain monoamine alterations.     

Cell cycle-dependent expression of estrogen receptor and effect of estrogen on proliferation of synchronized human osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cells

Dual fluoroimmunohistochemical staining of estrogen receptor (ER) and bromodeoxyuridine was performed in a human osteoblastic osteosarcoma cell line, HOS TE85 cells. ER immunoreactivity was observed preferentially in the nuclei of the cells that were bromodeoxyuridine positive. ER expression at various phases of the cell cycle was investigated in HOS TE85 cells, which were synchronized at the G1/S phase boundary by intermittent exposure to thymidine and hydroxyurea. ER immunoreactivity became detectable in the S phase, decreased in the G2/M and G1 phases, and then reappeared in the S phase of the next cell cycle. Western blot analysis also showed that ER protein exists in these cells and increases in the S phase. Moreover, Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the expression of ER messenger RNA increases in the early S phase, gradually decreases during the progress of the cell cycle, and increases again in the S phase of the subsequent cell cycle. Interestingly, 17 beta-estradiol (10(-8) M) increased cell number and [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA in the synchronized HOS TE85 cells, whereas this effect was not observed in the nonsynchronized HOS TE85 cells. The present studies suggest that the cell cycle-dependent regulation may contribute to the heterogeneity of ER expression in osteoblastic cells.     

The origins of defects in sputtered Co-Cr perpendicular magneticrecording media

The authors examine various causes of contamination and the defects they produce, and they typify some defects that originate at the metal/substrate interface, as nodules or extraordinary particles. They find that these are not caused by dirt or mishandling, but are induced by an exudate from the polymide substrates used. The nodules' characteristic acorn shape can be analyzed mathematically to suggest a possible exudate-induced mechanism for their formation and growth. The authors conclude that most of these defects can be eliminated     

A 3-bit soft-decision IC for powerful forward error correction in 10-Gb/s optical communication systems

We describe the design concept and performance of a 3-bit soft-decision IC, which opens a vista for new terabit-capacity optical communication systems by dramatically improving the capability of forward error correction (FEC). The proposed soft-decision IC is composed of five functional blocks, i.e., a soft-decider, an error filter, a 3-bit encoder, a 3:48 de-multiplexer, and a clock recovery circuit. The biggest challenge was the soft-decision block regenerating the common data using seven deciders with separate thresholds. We employed a novel SiGe BiCMOS process and a custom BGA package made from low-temperature co-fired ceramics to achieve a high sensitivity of 20 mVpp with a wide phase margin of 270/spl deg/ for 12.4-Gb/s nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) data signals. The error filter and the 3-bit encoder, which are incorporated in the IC, prevent the degradation of the FEC performance due to signal noise or fluctuations. The 3:48 de-multiplexer provides an accessible interface with the FEC encoder/decoder LSI. The clock recovery circuit, based on a phase-locked-loop technology, fulfilled the jitter tolerance requirements corresponding to ITU-T G.825, even for 55% duty cycle optical return-to-zero (RZ) signals. The 3-bit soft-decision IC, in cooperation with a block turbo encoder/decoder, achieved a record net coding gain of 10.1 dB with 24.6% redundancy, which is only 0.9 dB away from the Shannon limit for a code rate of 0.8 for a binary symmetric channel.     

Use of plastic bar molded casting in the modification of variably expanding investment to compensate for casting shrinkage of nickel-chromium alloy

Trial plastic bar molded castings were compared for accuracy with cast crowns by means of a nickel-chromium alloy, which was used to establish the liquid density of variably expanding investments. The plastic bars were invested to evaluate the change of expansion rate in a wide range of six liquid densities from 0% to 100%, and the distances between the sections were measured before and after casting. Wax crowns were cast to obtain a more detailed relation around 0% expansion at seven liquid densities, and the gaps between the base of the die and the margin of the crown were measured before and after casting. The expansion rates of both castings were calculated and thus were proportional to the liquid density; both regression curves indicated high correlation coefficients. As a result of the statistics of the Student's t-test, the difference between the two methods was not significant. The trial plastic bar was useful in establishing the variably expanding investment for precise casting of artificial crowns.     

Synthesis of nitrogen-rich B–C–N materials from melamine and boron trichloride

Nitrogen-rich B–C–N materials have been prepared by the reaction between melamine and boron trichloride at different temperatures. The composition of the materials was dependent on the synthesis and annealing temperatures: C6N10.8-11H9.4B1.5-1.7 (for products synthesized and annealed at 673 K), C6N9.3-9.4H3.8-3.9B2.2-2.5 (for those synthesized at 673 K and annealed at 873 K) and C6N9.2H3.6B1.2-1.3 (for those synthesized and annealed at 873 K). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance showed that the s-triazine rings from the melamine molecules were preserved in materials synthesized and annealed at 673 and 873 K. The sample obtained at 873 K had a graphite-like structure as suggested by X-ray and electron diffraction studies. The s-triazine rings were decomposed in the materials synthesized or annealed at 1223 K and the main product obtained was turbostratic boron nitride. © 1998 Chapman & Hall