A NOTE ON COMPARISON OF ENGLISH VS. ORTON PYROMETRIC CONES1

The English made pyrometric cones from 10–32 inclusive were compared to Orton cones for fusion values. The results are expressed in Orton cones. The work was done in a pot furnace and the comparison was intended to give values for this type of work. A drawing shows the position of English as to that of Orton cones.     

Furthering the understanding of the non linear response of filler reinforced elastomers

The cyclic deformation of filler reinforced elastomer compounds results in energy losses caused by a partial hysteretic breakup and subsequent reformation of the filler network. This phenomenon has significant socio-economic consequences as it affects the rolling resistance of tires and consequently the fuel economy of cars. The results of experiments with an on line rheometer provide more detail on our earlier reported findings that this filler network does not exist after the elastomer compounds are first mixed but forms on storage by a flocculation process particularly at higher temperatures to which rubber compounds are exposed to during shaping and vulcanization. Additionally they suggest that the formation of a filler network does not only depend on the type and volume fraction of filler but also on the thermodynamic interaction between the host polymer and the polymer chains which attach themselves physically and/or chemically to the filler surface during composite mixing. Since the embedded fillers resemble core/shell nanoparticles we drew on the results of published theoretical studies on the stabilization of colloidal systems to help define key factors contributing to the stability and equilibrium morphology of filler reinforced elastomers. The insight gained offers an explanation on why composites made with end group functionalized polymers have a reduced filler network manifested by a significantly lower excess storage modulus ΔG′.     

Shallow donor generation in ZnO by remote hydrogen plasma

We investigate the effects of a remote hydrogen-plasma treatment on Hall parameters as well as on the bound exciton (BEx) photoluminescence (PL) for a variety of ZnO single crystals: bulk air-annealed, Li-doped, and epitaxially grown on sapphire. We present transport and spectroscopic evidence in favor of the hypothesis that hydrogen behaves as a shallow donor rather than a compensating center in ZnO. Specifically, we show that H-plasma-induced increases in I₄ luminescence (photon energy: ∼3.363 eV at 4 K) correlate with increases in free-carrier concentrations from Hall-effect measurements.     

Owners yet Tenants: The Position of Leaseholders in Flats in England and Wales

The position of flat owners inevitably raises complex issues in terms of the balance of individual and collective rights and responsibilities to be enshrined in housing law. These issues are resolved in various ways according to national policies and market frameworks. This paper examines the unique and unusual position of long leaseholders in privately owned blocks of flats in England and Wales. It outlines the major legal changes which have affected this sector in recent years, and assesses some of the experiences of leaseholders, based on a national study of 870 cases. The paper highlights the confusion surrounding the status of leaseholders as tenants and owners and assesses current proposals for further reform. The analysis is situated in debates about the complexity of 'tenure' as a category, and reveals the extent to which the concept embraces multiple meanings rooted in both legalistic discourse and popular assumption. The paper reflects on the methodological potential of approaching tenure as a construct in order to understand why the leasehold sector in England and Wales has endured and has so far proved relatively immune to attempted legal transformations of its character and function.     

THE DISTRIBUTION OF APTIAN SANDSTONES IN THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN NORTH SEA (UK SECTORS): A LOWSTAND SYSTEMS TRACT "PLAY"

This paper discusses the lithostratigraphy, bio stratigraphy and depositional sequence stratigraphy of the sandstones within the late Aptian Sola Formation in the Central and Northern North Sea (UK sector). The genesis and age of these sandstones are discussed and three depositional models are proposed. These sandstones have reservoir potential, and an exploration strategy is discussed in part two of this paper (referred to hereafter as Crittenden et al., in press).
We interpret these sandstones to be the product of mass-flow sedimentary processes initiated by a tectonically-induced major fall in relative sea-level during the late Aptian. Sediments, including sands, which accumulated on the shelfal and shelf/slope break areas of the North Sea during the early Aptian relative sea-level high were subsequently reworked and eroded; together with the products of erosion of the bedrock geology, they were transported down-slope into deeper-water basinal depocentres during the late Aptian.     

Reduced reflections from multimode interference couplers

A 3 dB multimode interference (MMI) coupler optimised for low reflections is presented. The MMI was designed, fabricated and characterised. For comparison, MMIs with non-optimised layout have been included on the same sample. The measurement results show a reduction in reflectivities of more than 10 dB.     

Primary ciliary dyskinesia: diagnosis and standards of care

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is characterized by disease of the upper and lower respiratory tract, in association with visceral mirror image arrangement in 50% of cases, due to abnormal structure and/or function of cilia. The purpose of this paper is to review the clinical features, diagnosis and management of PCD. Presentations include neonatal respiratory distress, recurrent lower respiratory tract infection, chronic rhinosinusitis and male infertility. PCD enters the differential diagnosis of bronchiectasis, atypical asthma, and unusually severe upper airway disease. Diagnosis is by a cascade of investigations, starting with the saccharin test in patients older than 10 yrs; ciliary beat frequency and pattern on light microscopy; and electron microscopy to assess ciliary morphology and orientation. It is important not to confuse primary and secondary ciliary abnormalities. Nasal nitric oxide is low in PCD, and this measurement shows promise as a screening test for PCD. Diagnosis is important, in order to prevent the development of bronchiectasis and to avoid any unnecessary otorhinolaryngological procedures. Regular follow-up is essential, and management should be multidisciplinary, with input from centres with a special interest in PCD, having access to paediatric and adult chest physicians, otolaryngologists and audiological physicians, physiotherapists, counselling services and fertility clinics. The prognosis is good, but morbidity can be considerable if PCD is incorrectly managed.     

Interstitial He and Ne in Nanotube Bundles

We explore the properties of atoms confined to the interstitial regions within a carbon nanotube bundle. We find that He and Ne atoms are of ideal size for physisorption interactions, so that their binding energies are much greater there than on planar surfaces of any known material. Hence high density phases exist at even small vapor pressure. There can result extraordinary anisotropic liquids or crystalline phases, depending on the magnitude of the corrugation within the interstitial channels.     

Superfluidity of Monolayer Helium Films

The paper gives the results of studies and analysis of the behavior of the thermal expansion coefficient of the Ar–-O ₂ solid solutions containing 0.27, 0.52 and 1.02 mol% of O ₂. Contributions of single oxygen molecules and clusters consisting of 2 and 3 molecules of O ₂ to the thermal expansion have been determined. It has been found that the clusters consisting of two oxygen molecules contribute mainly to the thermal expansion of these solid solutions at temperatures below 5 K. The contribution of single molecules of oxygen becomes negative at temperatures below 5.5 K.