Development of optical anisotropy in vitrains during carbonization

The purpose of this work was to examine the possible significance in the formation of metallurgical coke of the anisotropic spherical mesophase exemplified by that found during the carbonization of pitch-like materials, and to ascertain if the various types of optical anisotropy found in coke could form a basis for the characterization of cokes produced from different coals. Vitrains from a wide range of coals were carbonized at temperatures from 370 to 1000 °C and the types and amounts of optical anisotropy in the resulting semi-cokes and cokes were determined from microscopic examination, the anisotropic components being classified according to grain size of the granular mosaics and appearance. The anisotropy developed directly from the isotropic phase, appearing initially as a fine-grained mosaic. With increasing carbonization temperature, this fine-grained mosaic was transformed into progressively coarser-grained anisotropy, the extent of this transformation depending on the rank of the vitrain. It is therefore concluded that the formation, growth and coalescence of anisotropic spherical bodies, such as occurs during the carbonization of pitch, is not a necessary precursor of the mosaic anisotropy in coke. The type and amount of anisotropy developed provide a quantitative means of characterising different cokes.     

Aging characteristics of high-power lithium-ion cells with LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 and Li4/3Ti5/3O4 electrodes

The impedance rise that results from the accelerated aging of high-power lithium-ion cells containing LiNi_0.8Co_0.15Al_0.05O₂-based positive and graphite-based negative electrodes is dominated by contributions from the positive electrode. Data from various diagnostic experiments have indicated that a general degradation of the ionic pathway, apparently caused by surface film formation on the oxide particles, produces the positive electrode interface rise. One mechanistic hypothesis postulates that these surface films are components of the negative electrode solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer that migrate through the electrolyte and separator and subsequently coat the positive electrode. This hypothesis is examined in this article by subjecting cells with LiNi_0.8Co_0.15Al_0.05O₂-based positive and Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄-based negative electrodes to accelerated aging. The impedance rise in these cells was observed to be almost entirely from the positive electrode. Because reduction products are not expected on the 1.55 V Li_4/3Ti_5/3O₄ electrode, the positive electrode impedance cannot be attributed to the migration of SEI-type fragments from the negative electrode. It follows then that the impedance rise results from mechanisms that are “intrinsic” to the positive electrode.     

Severity of delayed (“secondary”) cerebral energy failure after acute hypoxia-ischemia is related to the time integral of acute ATP depletion

The aim of this study was to reproduce the delayed (secondary) cerebral energy failure previously described in birth-asphyxiated newborn infants and to investigate relationships between primary insult severity and the extent of the delayed energy failure. Phosphorus (³¹P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) at 7 T was used to study the brains of 12 newborn piglets during an acute, reversible, cerebral hypoxic-ischemic episode which continued until nucleotide triphosphates (NTP) were depleted. After reperfusion and reoxygenation, spectroscopy was continued for 48 h. High-energy metabolite concentrations returned to near normal levels after the insult, but later they fell as delayed energy failure developed. The time integral of NTP depletion in the primary insult correlated strongly with the minimum [phosphocreatine (PCr)]/[inorganic orthophosphate (P_i)] observed 24–48 h after the insult. (Linear regression analysis gave slope –8.04 h^–1; ordinate intercept=1.23;r=0.92;P<0.0001.) This model is currently being used to investigate the therapeutic potential of various cerebroprotective strategies including hypothermia.     

Fabry-Perot CCD annular-summing spectroscopy: study and implementation for aeronomy applications

The technique of Fabry-Perot CCD annular-summing spectroscopy, with particular emphasis on applications in aeronomy, is discussed. Parameter choices for optimizing performance by the use of a standard format CCD array are detailed. Spectral calibration methods, techniques for determining the ring pattern center, and effects imposed by limited radial resolution caused by superpixel size, variable by on-chip binning, are demonstrated. The technique is carefully evaluated experimentally relative to the conventional scanning Fabry-Perot that uses a photomultiplier detector. We evaluate three extreme examples typical of aeronomical spectroscopy using calculated signal-to-noise ratios. Predicted sensitivity gains of 10-30 are typical. Of the cases considered, the largest savings in integration time are estimated for the day sky thermospheric O(1)D case, in which the bright sky background dominates the CCD read noise. For profile measurements of faint night sky emission lines, such as exospheric hydrogen Balmer-α, long integration times are required to achieve useful signal-to-noise ratios. In such cases, CCD read noise is largely overcome. Predictions of a factor of 10-15 savings in integration time for night sky Balmer-α observations are supported by field tests. Bright, isolated night sky lines such as thermospheric O(1)D require shorter integration times, and more modest gains dependent on signal level are predicted. For such cases it appears from estimate results that the Fabry-Perot CCD annular-summing technique with a conventional rectangular format may be outperformed by a factor of 2-5 by special CCD formats or by unusual optical coupling configurations that reduce the importance of read noise, based on the ideal transmission for any additional optics used in these configurations.     

Room-temperature lasing operation of GaInNAs-GaAssingle-quantum-well laser diodes

We have succeeded in demonstrating continuous-wave (CW) operation of GaInNAs-GaAs single-quantum-well (SQW) laser diodes at room temperature (RT). The threshold current density was about 1.4 kA/cm², and the operating wavelength was approximately 1.18 μm for a broad-stripe geometry. Evenly spaced multiple longitudinal modes were clearly observed in the lasing spectrum. The full-angle-half-power far-field beam divergence measured parallel and perpendicular to the junction plane was 4.5° and 45°, respectively. A high characteristic temperature (T₀) of 126 K under CW operation and a small wavelength shift per ambient temperature change of 0.48 nm/°C under pulsed operation were obtained. These experimental results indicate the applicability of GaInNAs to long-wavelength laser diodes with excellent high-temperature performance     

Mismatches in Social Support and Psychosocial Adjustment to Breast Cancer.

Emotional support is known to provide psychosocial benefits for women with breast cancer, but women can experience a mismatch between support that is wanted and support that is received from their personal supporter. The role of wanted and unwanted support in psychosocial adjustment was examined in 79 women recovering from breast cancer. Four distinct patterns of desired support actions were found using cluster analysis. Patterns of wanted support were not related to better or worse psychosocial adjustment. However, a misalignment of support between the provider and the receiver significantly influenced psychosocial adjustment, and unwanted but received support (support commission) was uniquely associated with poor psychosocial adjustment. Clinical interventions using the support instrument could help match support providers' actions to receivers' preferences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Validity of the Five-Factor Model Prototypes for Personality Disorders in Two Clinical Samples.

The authors examined the validity of D. R. Lynam and T. A. Widiger's (2001) prototypes for personality disorders (PDs) derived from the facets of the 5-factor model (FFM) of personality in 2 clinical samples. In the 1st sample (N = 94), there was good agreement between the prototypes generated by experts and the profiles reported by patients. These FFM PD similarity scores also demonstrated good convergent and discriminant validity with results from a semistructured interview and a self-report measure of Axis II pathology. In the 2nd sample (N = 132), the FFM PD similarity scores demonstrated excellent longitudinal stability and good predictive validity with regard to consensus ratings of PD features. The implications of these findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)