Easy direction coercive force associated with domain wall motion in nickel-iron films

The origin of domain coercive force in thin nickel-iron films is of considerable scientific and technological interest. Three principal causes of domain coercive force have been suggested. These are surface roughness, inclusions, and the presence of magnetisation ripple in the films. The current theories of these contributions are outlined, and the results obtained experimentally are compared with those expected theoretically. On the basis of this comparison, it appears that all three contributions can be important. However, it is not clear how the components due to the various causes should be combined.     

Un schema regional des gravieres selon l'article 109.1 du code minier français

The extraction of aggregates in the alluvial Plain of Alsace has grown rapidly since 1962. The production of these aggregates, half of which are exported, has certainly had positive effects on the local economy, but the untidy sprawl of extraction sites had had a damaging impact on the local environment (effects on water table, rural landscape and land prices). To deal with this situation, the regional authorities have decided to define a regional policy on gravel pits, with three objectives: maximum economic return on deposits, protection of the environment and recovering of worked-out pits. Under Article 109-1 of the French Mining Code, the Region of Alsace has embarked on the operational phase of this new policy on gravel pits by commissioning studies of 7 “Zones.... Gravières” or “Coordinated Gravel Extraction and Site Revovering Zones” (ZERC). Within these zones, 16 potential gravel extraction areas have been defined. Detailed studies will make it possible to establish the economic, geological, geotechnical, hydrogeological and agricultural criteria which will determine the siting of future gravel pits to meet production requirements for the next 30 years. Apart from these studies, consultation between the industry, elected representatives and local government bodies is necessary in working out such a scheme, whose purpose is to ensure that gravel extraction can exist in harmony side by side with agriculture or any other industrial or leisure activity in the region.     

Toward sustainable material usage: evaluating the importance of market motivated agency in modeling material flows

Increasing recycling will be a key strategy for moving toward sustainable materials usage. There are many barriers to increasing recycling, including quality issues in the scrap stream. Repeated recycling can compound this problem through the accumulation of tramp elements over time. This paper explores the importance of capturing recycler decision-making in accurately modeling accumulation and the value of technologies intended to mitigate it. A method was developed combining dynamic material flow analysis with allocation of those materials into production portfolios using blending models. Using this methodology, three scrap allocation methods were explored in the context of a case study of aluminum use: scrap pooling, pseudoclosed loop, and market-based. Results from this case analysis suggest that market-driven decisions and upgrading technologies can partially mitigate the negative impact of accumulation on scrap utilization, thereby increasing scrap use and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A market-based allocation method for modeling material flows suggests a higher value for upgrading strategies compared to a pseudoclosed loop or pooling allocation method for the scenarios explored.     

The role of psychology and social influences in energy efficiency adoption

Current energy efficiency policy and incentive programs tend to target economic motivations, which may misalign with other potentially important motivations arising from situational factors, individual differences, and social context. Thus, in this research, we review areas of work that have focused on psychological and social influences to energy efficiency adoption in commercial buildings. We then conduct an empirical scoping study interviewing 10 commercial building owners/managers (decision makers) and 10 experts/consultants (decision influencers) regarding perceived motives and barriers to energy efficient investments, decision-maker attributes, and the social context of the decision. Potential factors that emerge from the interviews, which are not yet extensively discussed in the energy efficiency literature, include owners/managers’ resistance to change and the influence of investment funding origins on the decision. Our results also suggest potential heterogeneity in energy efficiency decision-making philosophies between the two groups. Interviewed owners/managers prioritize corporate social responsibility (CSR) and prefer internal consulting (e.g., building engineers). Conversely, experts/consultants do not emphasize CSR and are more concerned with external policies. These findings suggest that accounting for the decision maker and the social context in which decisions are made could enhance the design of commercial sector energy efficiency programs.     

The effect of sociodemographic diversity of residential customers on the financial risk experienced in the retail electricity market

The sociodemographic diversity of residential customers can affect the level of financial risk that an electricity provider experiences in the retail market. To demonstrate the relationship between sociodemographic diversity and financial risk, electricity consumption data drawn from the United Kingdom Power Networks ‘Low Carbon London’ project was analyzed to explore the relationship between sociodemographic diversity and financial risk experienced by electricity retailers. The results show that when increasing the sociodemographic diversity amongst a group of residential customers the effect on financial risk depends on the electricity consumption patterns of individual customers and the relationship of consumption patterns between residential customers. Increasing sociodemographic diversity amongst residential customers with very distinct energy consumption patterns can decrease the overall financial risk associated with the aggregated revenue received from these customers. However, the results showed that adding customers to a customer base without consideration for their sociodemographic background can cause the overall financial risk associated with the aggregated revenue received to change erratically. Whilst previous studies have considered customer diversity and its influence on peak electricity demand, this research advances the state-of-the-art by showing the importance of customer diversity to the financial quantity risk experienced by electricity retailers. This finding has serious implications for electricity providers seeking to mitigate financial risk in the retail electricity market.     

Microstructural Evolution during the Sintering of Nanostructured Ceramic Oxides

Using small-angle scattering, together with density measurements, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption, and both transmission and scanning electron microscopy, the microstructural evolution during sintering in nanostructured ceramic oxides has been studied. The availability of samples with sufficient size and uniformity has permitted absolute calibration of the scattering data and made possible determinations of microstructural parameters and surface areas that are statistically representative of the undisturbed nanophase morphologies. A fully quantitative microstructural model has been developed, and the effects of varying processing parameters during powder synthesis and sintering have been assessed. Predictions are made regarding the achievable sintered full-density microstructures.     

Optimisation of sulphate reduction in a methanol-fed thermophilic bioreactor

Several methods were tested to optimise sulphate reduction and minimise methane formation in thermophilic (65 degrees) expanded granular sludge bed reactors fed with a medium containing sulphate and methanol. Lowering the pH from 7.5 to 6.75 resulted in a rapid decrease of methane formation and a concomitant increase in sulphate reduction. The inhibition of methane formation was irreversible on the short-term. Lowering the COD/SO4(2-) ratio (COD: chemical oxygen demand) from 6 to 0.34 (g/g) rapidly favoured sulphate reduction over methanogenesis. Continuous addition of 2 g L(-1) 2-bromoethanesulphonate was ineffective as complete inhibition of methanogenesis was obtained only for two days. Inhibition of methanogens by sulphide at pH 7.5 was only effective when the total sulphide concentration was above 1200 mg S L(-1). For practical applications, a relatively short exposure to a slightly acidic pH in combination with operating the reactor at a volumetric methanol-COD loading rate close to the maximum volumetric sulphide-COD formation rate.     

Hereditary neuralgic amyotrophy and hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies: two distinct clinical, electrophysiologic, and genetic entities

Fistulas secondary to Crohn's disease occur in about 33% of patients. A colobronchial fistula complicating Crohn's disease is very rare, having been reported only twice previously. We present an unusual fistula secondary to Crohn's colitis that originated from the splenic flexure and crossed the diaphragm to involve the bronchial tree.     

Ionoluminescence decay measured with single ions

A new ion beam analysis-based, single ion technique called the time to first photon has been developed to measure the decay of the luminescence signal of phosphors. Such measurements are currently needed to study luminescence decay mechanisms following high-density excitations and to identify strongly luminescent phosphor coatings with short lifetimes for ion photon emission microscopy (IPEM). The samples for this technique consist of thin phosphor layers placed or coated on the surface of PIN diodes. Single ions from an accelerator strike this sample and simultaneously create ion beam induced luminescence (IBIL) from the phosphor that is measured by a single-photon-detector, and an ion beam induced charge collection (IBICC) signal in the PIN diode. In this case, the IBICC signal provides the start pulse and the IBIL signal the stop pulse to a time to amplitude converter. It is straightforward to show that this approach also measures a signal proportional to activity versus time with an accuracy of 5% as long as the number of detected photons per ion is less than 0.1, which usually requires the use of absorbers for the IBIL detector or electronic discrimination for the IBIL signals. Details of the new analysis are given together with examples of luminescence decay measurements of several ceramic phosphors being considered to coat IPEM samples. IPEM is currently being developed at Sandia National Laboratory (SNL), the University of North Texas in Denton, and the Universities and INFN of Padova and Torino.