Initial Stages in the Metal-dusting Process on Alloy 800

The initial stages of the metal-dusting process on Alloy 800 at 620 °C were investigated by light optical microscopy, RAMAN spectroscopy, atomic-force microscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, transmission-electron microscopy and electron back-scatter diffraction. As it turned out the incubation period for metal-dusting is characterized by simultaneous formation of a heterogeneously growing oxide scale and deposition of carbon. The material surface shows different tarnish colors depending on the substrate-grain orientation with different susceptibility to the beginning of metal-dusting attack. “Low-index” grains were not attacked within the times investigated while the other grain orientations showed pitting. Carbon is evidently incorporated into the oxide scale from the very beginning of exposure with different intensities depending on the underlying substrate-grain orientation leading to differences in the tarnish colors. As a consequence carbides are formed even underneath “dense” oxide layers. Evidently metal-dusting attack starts at positions of the oxide scale where “higher carbon concentrations” are present.     

Physical degradation of genomic DNA of soybean flours does not impair relative quantification of its transgenic content

In this paper, four different physical treatments (microwaves, heating by conduction, sonication and pressure autoclaving) were performed to degrade a pure DNA extract, and their influence on GMO quantification was studied. The aim was to check the hypothesis that processing of agrofood products results in a similar degradation rate for both the transgenic target and the specific target. Indeed we could observe that even if the used physical treatments could lead to a significant increase of C _t values for both transgenic and specific targets, the resulting ΔC _t remained stable. So, the main conclusion of the study is that the aforementioned hypothesis seems valid and thus a physical degradation of DNA will not affect the relative quantitation of the GMO content, provided that both the specific and transgenic targets have very similar size. A second important issue of the experiments performed was that DNA is a very robust molecule as it is extremely difficult to reach a mean size below 100 bp. The study also gives evidence of the importance of using small targets.     

Intelligenz von Hochspannungs-Leistungsschaltern — Mode oder Erfordernis?

It is discussed to what extent tools, provided by modern information technology, reasonably improve the performance of high voltage circuit breakers in transmission systems of electric power. Controlled switching, properly applied, has a high potential to increase life expectancy of the breaker itself and of the adjacent equipment. Power quality can also be improved. The technical advantage of controlled switching is beyond doubt, although the economic benefits are not easily quantified. In terms of breaker intelligence, another very important aspect is condition diagnosis. In particular a model based diagnosis seems to point to the future. Condition diagnosis giving maintainance requirements and pre-warning of impending failures should facilitate the tasks of the operating personnel. As a conclusion it can be stated that more intelligence of circuit breakers would be useful.     

MRT of experimental liver abscesses: a comparison of a new blood pool contrast medium with gadolinium-DTPA in animal experiments

PURPOSE: In an experimental pyogenic liver abscess model, the signal intensities were compared intraindividually and interindividually after the application of a new blood pool contrast agent, 24-gadolinium-DTPA (diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid) cascade polymer, and after the application of gadopentetate dimeglumine. METHODS: In 20 rabbits with experimentally induced liver abscesses, the relative signal intensities of the liver, abscess centre, abscess wall and portal vein were assessed before and between 30 seconds and 60 minutes after injection of a 25 mumol/kg dose of gadolinium polymer and of 100 mumol/kg of gadolinium-DTPA, respectively. Measurements were performed at 1.5 Tesla, using a head coil and a Flash-2-D sequence. RESULTS: The interindividual comparison (unpaired T-test, p < 0.05) yielded significant differences of the relative signal intensities of the abscess centre (at any time point after contrast-media application), abscess wall (between 15 and 60 minutes after contrast media application), and portal vein (between 30 seconds and 7.5 minutes after contrast media application). The interindividual comparison showed a significantly higher abscess centre-liver contrast (between 30 seconds and 12.5 minutes after contrast media application) and a significantly higher abscess wall-centre contrast (between two and 7.5 minutes after contrast media application) after the application of gadolinium polymer compared with gadopentetate dimeglumine. CONCLUSION: In this animal model, the higher abscess centre-liver contrast after the application of gadolinium polymer was the basis for a better and prolonged visibility of the abscesses, as compared with images acquired after injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine.     

Does a regional accent perturb speech processing?

The processing costs involved in regional accent normalization were evaluated by measuring differences in lexical decision latencies for targets placed at the end of sentences with different French regional accents. Over a series of 6 experiments, the authors examined the time course of comprehension disruption by manipulating the duration and presentation conditions of accented speech. Taken together, the findings of these experiments indicate that regional accent normalization involves a short-term adjustment mechanism that develops as a certain amount of accented signal is available, resulting in a temporary perturbation in speech processing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Formation of droplets on Si surfaces bombarded by In from a capillary type liquid metal ion source

Droplet formation on Si surfaces bombarded by 10 keV beams from a liquid metal indium ion source has been observed. It has been verified that excess indium is transported in the ion beam, probably in the form of charged droplets. SIMS, SEM and RBS techniques have been used to study the distribution of droplets at the surface. At the specified ion source operating conditions, equilibrium droplet coverage is of the order of 25%. Individual droplets have an average diameter of 0.35 ωm and an average height of 2.2 nm. At a bombardment current density of 0.1 mA cm^?2, equilibrium coverage is reached in about 1 s.     

Windenergieausbau als Teil der Ökostromentwicklung

The new law for the support of electricity produced by renewable sources in Austria (Ökostromgesetz) which came into force with the beginning of 2003, shows its impacts already after the first months. Investments into wind power have increased considerably. These will be accompanied by activities for electricity production by biomass and biogas. The 4%-target quota will probably be reached earlier than the 2008 target period of the law.     

Assessing and interpreting personality change and continuity in patients treated for major depression.

Structural, mean- and individual-level, differential, and ipsative personality continuity were examined in 599 patients treated for major depression assigned to 1 of 6 forms of a 6-month pharmaco-psychotherapy program. Covariation among traits from the Five Factor model remained invariant across treatment, and patients described themselves as slightly more extraverted, open to experience, agreeable and conscientious, and substantially more emotional stable after treatment. Trait changes were only to a small extent explained by changes in depression severity. There was evidence for differential, individual-level, and ipsative stability, with stable personality profiles in terms of shape and to a lesser extent in terms of scatter and elevation. Traits remain relatively stable, except for emotional stability, despite the depressive state and the psychopharmacological interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Schätzung der modalen Parameter unter Berücksichtigung systematischer Fehler der Frequenzgänge

Zusammenfassung Aufgrund von Eingangs- und Ausgangsst?rungen des Me?systems sowie einer endlichen Frequenzaufl?sung treten stets systematische (Bias-) und zuf?llige Fehler bei gemessenen Frequenzg?ngen und deren Varianzen auf. Auf solchen Frequenzg?ngen und Varianzen beruhende Sch?tzungen der modalen Parameter sind damit ebenfalls systematisch verzerrt. Um die Genauigkeit und Sicherheit der modalen Parameter zu erh?hen, wird ein Sch?tzverfahren vorgestellt, in dem der Einflu? der Biasfehler auf die Sch?tzung n?herungsweise in einer diagonalen Wichtungsmatrix berücksichtigt wird. Es wird gezeigt, da? die systematischen Fehler Einflu? auf die Absch?tzung der statistischen Sicherheit der modalen Parameter haben. Anhand zweier Beispiele wird die Wirksamkeit des Sch?tzverfahrens demonstriert. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr.-Ing. E.h.H.K. T?nshoff: Dipl.-Ing.Z. Liu, Institut für Fertigungstechnik und Spanende Werkzeugmaschinen (IFW), Universit?t Hannover.