Influence of the deposition parameters on the texture of pyrolytic carbon layers deposited on planar substrates

Pyrolytic carbon layers were deposited from methane on planar substrates (pyrolytic boron nitride) at various residence times, methane pressures and deposition temperatures. The depositions were performed in a cavity oriented perpendicular to the gas flow. The small surface area/reactor volume ratio of the reactor geometry allows depositions in the growth and nucleation mechanism. Transmission electron microscopy was applied to study the texture and microstructure of the carbon layers. A texture transition from medium- to high-textured pyrolytic carbon occurs as a result of increasing residence times, methane pressures and temperatures. Improved textures are generally correlated with increasing deposition rates, which are not necessarily constant during long-term depositions. Lower textures are observed in the vicinity of the substrate interface that are attributed to the influence of the substrate morphology and microstructure.     

Decomposition of Variability in the Execution of Goal-Oriented Tasks: Three Components of Skill Improvement.

A central ability of the motor system is to achieve goals with great reliability, although never with zero variability. It is argued that variability is reduced with practice by 3 separate means: reduction of stochastic noise (N), exploitation of task tolerance (T), and covariation (C) between central variables. A method is presented that decomposes variability into these components in relation to task space that is defined by the execution variables. Successful variable combinations form the solution manifold. In a virtual skittles task, it is demonstrated that participants' improvement over repetitions, indicated by increasing accuracy, is accounted for by N, T, and, to a lesser degree, C. The relative contribution of these components changes over the course of practice and task variations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Current-voltage characteristics and capacitance of single grain boundaries in semiconducting BaTiO3 ceramics

Specimens were prepared of doped ceramic barium titanate in the form of bars which, between their metallized ends, contained only one high-resistance grain boundary running across the entire cross-section. The measurements covered the differential capacitance of these individual grain boundaries, under bias, and their d.c. current-voltage characteristics. The results can be described quite well by a model in which a layer of a second phase present between the barium titanate grains is assumed to possess, firstly, acceptor character and, secondly, a dependence of its permittivity on the temperature and the electric field strength.     

Zusammenhang zwischen Kornzerfallanfälligkeit und Nitridausscheidungen bei dem Stahl X 2 CrNiN 19 9

Quantitative Erfassung der Nitride im austenitischen Stahl X 2 CrNiN 19 9 zur Beschreibung des Ausscheidungsverhaltens durch chemische und elektrochemische sowie Röntgenfeinstruktur- und elektronenoptische Untersuchungen. Ermittlung der Kornzerfallanfälligkeit durch Korrosionsprüfungen nach Strauß und Huey. Vergleich des Verhaltens gegenüber Kornzerfall mit den Nitridausscheidungen.     

Effectiveness of GFRP Sheets for Shear Strengthening of Timber

The objective of this study was to develop a cost-effective shear-strengthening technique for timber stringers that is environmentally friendly and leads to a durable structure. Testing was performed on creosote-treated Douglas fir beams, with dimensions of 100×400×3,650?mm, removed from a 40 year old bridge. Two strengthening schemes were investigated; incorporating vertical and diagonal glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) sheets applied to both shear spans. The diagonal scheme proved effective in increasing the average ultimate load, flexural stiffness, and deformability of the beams. Performance of the members reinforced using the vertical scheme, however, was poor compared to diagonally reinforced beams. The contribution of the diagonal sheets to the shear capacity of the stringers was around 12% at service loads and 40% at ultimate load. In conclusion, this study has shown that diagonal GFRP sheets are more effective than vertical sheets in shear-strengthening timber stringers with horizontal splits at their ends.     

Bouncing a ball: Tuning into dynamic stability.

Rhythmically bouncing a ball with a racket was investigated and modeled with a nonlinear map. Model analyses provided a variable defining a dynamically stable solution that obviates computationally expensive corrections. Three experiments evaluated whether dynamic stability is optimized and what perceptual support is necessary for stable behavior. Two hypotheses were tested: (a) Performance is stable if racket acceleration is negative at impact, and (b) variability is lowest at an impact acceleration between -4 and -1 m/s2. In Experiment 1 participants performed the task, eyes open or closed, bouncing a ball confined to a 1-dimensional trajectory. Experiment 2 eliminated constraints on racket and ball trajectory. Experiment 3 excluded visual or haptic information. Movements were performed with negative racket accelerations in the range of highest stability. Performance with eyes closed was more variable, leaving acceleration unaffected. With haptic information, performance was more stable than with visual information alone. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lasing in the vertical direction in InGaN/GaN/AlGaN structures with InGaN quantum dots

InGaN/GaN structures with dense arrays of InGaN nanodomains were grown by metallorganic chemical vapor deposition. Lasing in vertical direction occurs at low temperatures, indicating ultrahigh gains (～ 10⁵ cm^?1) in the active region. Fabrication of an effective AlGaN/GaN distributed Bragg reflector with reflectivity exceeding 90% enables vertical lasing at room temperature in structures with a bottom distributed Bragg reflector, despite the absence of a well-reflecting upper mirror. The lasing wavelength is 401 nm, and the threshold excitation density is 400 kW/cm².     

Editorial: Smart Solutions with Focus on Innovations from Various Perspectives

Mobile Networks and Applications -     

Characterization of ALBA Family Expression and Localization in Arabidopsis thaliana Generative Organs

ALBA DNA/RNA-binding proteins form an ancient family, which in eukaryotes diversified into two Rpp25-like and Rpp20-like subfamilies. In most studied model organisms, their function remains unclear, but they are usually associated with RNA metabolism, mRNA translatability and stress response. In plants, the enriched number of ALBA family members remains poorly understood. Here, we studied ALBA dynamics during reproductive development in Arabidopsis at the levels of gene expression and protein localization, both under standard conditions and following heat stress. In generative tissues, ALBA proteins showed the strongest signal in mature pollen where they localized predominantly in cytoplasmic foci, particularly in regions surrounding the vegetative nucleus and sperm cells. Finally, we demonstrated the involvement of two Rpp25-like subfamily members ALBA4 and ALBA6 in RNA metabolism in mature pollen supported by their co-localization with poly(A)-binding protein 3 (PABP3). Collectively, we demonstrated the engagement of ALBA proteins in male reproductive development and the heat stress response, highlighting the involvement of ALBA4 and ALBA6 in RNA metabolism, storage and/or translational control in pollen upon heat stress. Such dynamic re-localization of ALBA proteins in a controlled, developmentally and environmentally regulated manner, likely reflects not only their redundancy but also their possible functional diversification in plants.     

The impact of pulsed electric fields on quality parameters of freeze-dried red beets and pineapples

The effect of pulsed electric fields (PEF) on the cell disintegration index (Zp), the freeze-drying process and the final product quality of red beet and pineapple tissue was studied. Red beets and pineapples were PEF-treated at an electric field strength of 1.07 kV/cm and specific energy inputs of 1 kJ/kg and 4 kJ/kg (PEF₁ and PEF₂, respectively). Freeze-drying was performed at a pressure of 1 mbar and heating plate temperature of 50 °C for red beet and 40 °C for pineapple. The quality of freeze-dried tissue was evaluated by the analysis of residual moisture content, macrostructure, texture, colour and rehydration properties. For freeze-dried red beets, the betalain content from extracts was studied. It could be stated that PEF pre-treatment had no significant influence on drying time reduction, however significantly improved the final quality of freeze-dried product. Moreover, the effect of PEF was strongly depending on type of plant material used.