Cherenkov and Scintillation Light Measurements with Scintillating Glass, SCG1C

We have been able to observe and measure both the direct Cherenkov (C) and the Scintillation (S) light components from scintillating glass, distinctly separated in time. This has important implications for hadron calorimetry, electron/hadron separation and low energy particle identification.     

Wear of high-fired periclase-spinel refractories in the roof of a double-bath steel-melting furnace

Conclusions Periclase-spinel products prepared from magnesite powders which are pure in chemical composition and beneficiated Kempirsaisk chromite possess an increased resistance (30% higher than in ordinary periclase-spinel brick) during service in the roof of a double-bath steel-melting furnace, operating with oxygen blow in the bath. Their wear in general occurs as a result of the fusion of the working surface. The mechanism of this wear is explained by the metasomatic processes which lead almost to complete replacement of the periclase and chrome-spinel by ferritic spinels.The increase in the resistance of the experimental periclase—spinel refractories is helped by the structure with the direct bond between the grains which retards the access of silicates and slags inside the textural elements. This exerts a favorable influence on the change in structure of the refractory during service, especially in the transition zone in which additional sintering and crack formation leading to scaling of the experimental refractory hardly develops.On the basis of the results of the research we recommend that refractory enterprises set up various technological production lines for making periclase-spinel products from pure Satkinsk magnesite powders (94–96% magnesium oxide) and beneficiated Kempirsaisk chromite (59–60% chromium oxide) using high-temperature firing in a tunnel klin. The use of high fired periclase-spinel products with a direct bond between the grains would increase the resistance of the roofs of metallurgical furnaces operating with the use of oxygen and increasing their outputs.Translated from Ogneupory, No. 5, pp. 28–33, May, 1973.     

Investigating technical and non-technical factors influencing modern code review

When submitting patches for code review, individual developers are primarily interested in maximizing the chances of their patch being accepted in the least time possible. In principle, code review is a transparent process in which reviewers aim to assess the qualities of the patch on its technical merits in a timely manner; however, in practice the execution of this process can be affected by a variety of factors, some of which are external to the technical content of the patch itself. In this paper, we describe empirical studies of the code review processes for large, open source projects such as WebKit and Google Blink. We first consider factors that have been examined in previous studies — patch size, priority, and component — and then extend our enquiries to explore the effects of organization (which company is involved) and developer profile (review load and activity, patch writer experience) on code review response time and eventual outcome. Our approach uses a reverse engineered model of the patch submission process, and extracts key information from the issue-tracking and code review systems. Our findings suggest that these non-technical factors can significantly impact code review outcomes.     

Games with forbidden situations. Models with soft constraints

The methods of modeling conflict situations are systematized and illustrated, in which the possibilities of each of the sides can depend on the actions of partners. Conflicts are considered in which the disturbance of constraints is possible, but undesirable for one or a few players.     

4-Keto-bacteriorhodopsin films as a promising photochromic and electrochromic biological material

Photochromic and electrochromic spectral properties of 4-keto-bacteriorhodopsin (4-keto-BR) embedded in a polymer matrix were studied. The light-induced spectral changes were found to be similar to those for 4-keto-BR in suspension, but the duration of the photocycle is substantially longer (up to ten of h). Application of a constant electric field induces a bathochromic shift of the main absorption band, the amplitude of the field-induced spectral changes, showing a quadratic dependence on the field strength. Polymer films containing bacteriorhodopsin analogs show promise as new spectrally-selective photochromic and electrochromic materials.     

On the kinetics of oriented growth of two-phase colonies of platelet grains in the presence of second-phase particles phase

Specific features of the formation of lamellar (columnar) two-phase structures have been considered in the process of the decomposition of the matrix in the presence of (1) immobile disperse second-phase particles and (2) mobile disperse second-phase inclusions. It has been shown that the approaches to the derivation of initial differential equations of growth should be based on the change in the behavior of particles of the second phase upon the potential propagation of the growth front. To retain the invariance of the driving force along the entire composite growth front of the colony-wise structure, equations of balance of interphase surface tensions in ternary junctions of the normal sections of matrix grains with lamellar grains of the two-phase colony-wise mixture have been taken into account.     

New approach to the characterization of ion-exchange membranes using a set of model parameters

An extended three-wire model of the conductivity of ion-exchange membranes is proposed. The model includes a set of three-wire model equations supplemented with coupling equations between three-wire model parameters and the parameters of a microheterogeneous model. To calculate the complete set of parameters for evaluating the structural inhomogeneity of a membrane and calculating its effective electrotransport properties, it is necessary and sufficient to get only the concentration dependence of the specific conductivity of the membrane, which simplifies the characterization procedure. The model was verified based on independent experimental data and the calculations of transport-structural parameters with the use of the microheterogeneous model. It was found that the proposed model approach makes it possible to obtain a reliable combination of structural parameters to characterize the volume fractions of conductive phases and their mutual arrangement in the ion exchange material peculiar to the membrane test sample.     

Estimation of state of paper electric insulation based on results of measuring recovered voltage

Based on the multicomponent analysis of the recovery voltage curve, a new approach to assessing the condition of electrical insulation has been justified that allows one to monitor changes in the volume charge state and electric conductivity of insulation using the results of one measurement. For cables with impregnated paper insulation, this approach enables one to monitor typical defects in operation, such as drying out the impregnation compound and humidifying the insulation along the entire trajectory of its aging from unfailing up to marginal state.