Fast optical switching in Sm/sup 3+/-doped fibers

We report an experimental investigation of the fast optical switching in a Sm/sup 3+/-doped fiber. We discovered that this fiber can effect a fast switching speed less than 5 ns. However, the required switching power is 472 W with pulsewidth 10 ns.     

Effect of pressure gradient on MHD boundary layer over a flat plate

Summary The magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) boundary layer flow over a flat plate is examined here for two cases, viz. a uniform free-stream velocity and a uniform hydrostatic pressure. The nonlinear boundary layer equations are solved using a reliable finite-difference method. The boundary layer physical parameters such as skin-friction coefficient, displacement, momentum and energy thicknesses of the boundary layer are determined. It is found that the normal surface velocity gradient decreases with the local magnetic interaction parameter for the cases of a uniform hydrostatic pressure, whereas in the case of a uniform free-stream volocity it increases with the interaction parameter.     

The influence of phosphate on the properties of clay bricks

The fabrication, properties and composition of heated phosphate-bonded clay bricks are reported. The strength of phosphate-bonded clay bodies is shown to be related to the equilibrium pH of the clay mix. The highest strengths were obtained for mixes with equilibrium pH 7 fired at 500°C which gave a modulus of rupture 60% higher than the unmodified clay heated under similar conditions but at 800°C firing temperature. The phosphate-bonded products were also of low porosity and improved dimensional stability. An insight into the probable mechanism of strength development of the heated product has been obtained from XRD, SEM and DSC studies. The results show that the properties of the phosphate-bonded clay bodies are critically affected by new mineral phases resulting from the reactions of phosphates with clay which subsequently undergo physico-chemical changes above 550°C.     

Evaluation of factors influencing platelet aggregation in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN)

Platelets (PLT) play an important role in hemostasis, modulation of immunological and inflammatory processes. There is also evidence that PLT takes part in the development of atherosclerosis and glomerulosclerosis. The aim of presented study was to determine morphological and functional changes of platelets and their relation to the lipid, protein and coagulation factors disturbances in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). The studies were carried out in 60 patients with CGN diagnosed by renal biopsy: 30 patients without nephrotic syndrome (NS)-CGN and 30 patients with NS-CGN+NS. Protein and lipid disturbances, coagulation factors were estimated using routine laboratory methods. Platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV) and modal platelet volume (PLT-Mode) were measured using Technicon H1 hematological autoanalyser. Platelet function was assessed by aggregometry using turbidimetric method (inductors: ADP 1-3 microM, collagen 50g/ml, epinephrine 0.25-5 microM). Spontaneous platelet aggregation (SPA) was measured in platelet rich plasma (PRP) without inductors for 15 min, in 1-2 hours after venesection. SPA was observed in 9 of 30 patients with CGN and in 19 of 30 patients with CGN+NS. MPV and PLT Mode were significantly higher in patient showing SPA compared with those without. Significant correlations between SPA and the concentration of plasma albumin (r = -0,70; p < 0.02) TG and CH-LDL (r = 0,61; p < 0.05) were found in CGN+NS patients. APTT was significantly shorter in patients showing SPA compared with those without and negative significant correlation between SPA and APTT was found. Platelet aggregation to inductors in CGN and CGN+NS patients was diminished compared with control group. Lack of second phase aggregation in response to aggregation inducers was observed in patients with SPA. Conclusions. 1. Platelet hyperaggregation play an important role in hypercoagulation state in CGN patients. 2. SPA in vitro was observed in majority of CGN+NS patients and in some without NS. 3. Pathomechanism of SPA is probably multifactorial (hypoalbuminemia, dyslipidemia, changes in concentration of coagulation parameters).     

WKB近似下的Fourier衍射成象方法

对于介质目标微波衍射成象，本文引入了ＷＫＢ近似来模拟目标内部总场。基于这种近似，我们导出了Ｆｏｕｒｉｅｒ衍射公式，并采用了广义滤波逆传播方法由目标空间谱实现目标特性的重建。计算机模拟结果表明采用ＷＫＢ近似重建目标特性较Ｂｏｒｎ近似有明显改善。     

A BiCMOS dynamic carry lookahead adder circuit for VLSIimplementation of high-speed arithmetic unit

A BiCMOS dynamic carry lookahead circuit that is free from race problems is presented. A 16 b full-adder test circuit, which has been designed based on a 2 μm BiCMOS technology, shows a more than five times improvement in speed as compared to the CMOS Manchester carry lookahead (MCLA) circuit. The speed advantage of the BiCMOS dynamic carry lookahead circuit is even greater in a 32- or 64-b adder     

Crack growth and residual strength characteristics of two grades of glass-reinforced aluminium ‘Glare’

Crack growth and residual strength tests have been conducted on both Glare 3 and Glare 4 material. Results have been compared with those for 2024-T3 monolithic aluminium alloy showing improvements in fatigue life of up to 100 times and improvements in residual strengths of up to 40%. The potential weight savings and general structural performance improvements of the Glare material make it most attractive for future aerospace vehicle design, despite its current higher manufacturing costs.     

Electrical coupling and impulse propagation in anatomically modeledventricular tissue

Computer simulations were used to study the role of resistive couplings on flat-wave action potential propagation through a thin sheet of ventricular tissue. Unlike simulations using continuous or periodic structures, this unique electrical model includes random size cells with random spaced longitudinal and lateral connections to simulate the physiologic structure of the tissue. The resolution of the electrical model is ten microns, thus providing a simulated view at the subcellular level. Flat-wave longitudinal propagation was evaluated with an electrical circuit of over 140,000 circuit elements, modeling a 0.25 mm by 5.0 mm sheet of tissue. An electrical circuit of over 84,000 circuit elements, modeling a 0.5 mm by 1.5 mm sheet was used to study flat-wave transverse propagation. Under normal cellular coupling conditions, at the macrostructure level, electrical conduction through the simulated sheets appeared continuous and directional differences in conduction velocity, action potential amplitude and V˙_max were observed. However, at the subcellular level (10 μm) unequal action potential delays were measured at the longitudinal and lateral gap junctions and irregular wave-shapes were observed in the propagating signal. Furthermore, when the modeled tissue was homogeneously uncoupled at the gap junctions conduction velocities decreased as the action potential delay between modeled cells increased. The variability in the measured action potential was most significant in areas with fewer lateral gap junctions, i.e., lateral gap junctions between fibers were separated by a distance of 100 μm or more