Thin films of the organic superconductor α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3

α-(BEDT-TTF)₂I₃ is a quasi-two-dimensiona1 organic metal with a metal-insulator phase transition at 135 K. Thermal treatment at about 80°C leads to the metallic system α₁-(BEDT-TTF)₂I₃ which becomes superconducting below 8 K. Thin films of the α-phase (between 500 and 3000 A thick) have been evaporated in high vacuum onto several substrates and characterised by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and a low field microwave absorption technique. Depending on the temperature of the substrate and the evaporation rate, the films exhibit different degrees of microcristallinity, which under certain conditions can be strongly reduced and a completely covering film can be obtained. X-ray diffraction spectra reveal a high orientation with the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate and as well the successful conversion into the α₁- phase by tempering. SEM and AFM investigations prove that the conversion takes place without reducing the mechanical quality of the films. Low-field microwave-absorption experiments show that the α₁-films become superconducting with an onset at 9 K.     

Divertor IR thermography on Alcator C-Mod

Alcator C-Mod is a particularly challenging environment for thermography. It presents issues that will similarly face ITER, including low-emissivity metal targets, low-Z surface films, and closed divertor geometry. In order to make measurements of the incident divertor heat flux using IR thermography, the C-Mod divertor has been modified and instrumented. A 6° toroidal sector has been given a 2° toroidal ramp in order to eliminate magnetic field-line shadowing by imperfectly aligned divertor tiles. This sector is viewed from above by a toroidally displaced IR camera and is instrumented with thermocouples and calorimeters. The camera provides time histories of surface temperatures that are used to compute incident heat-flux profiles. The camera sensitivity is calibrated in situ using the embedded thermocouples, thus correcting for changes and nonuniformities in surface emissivity due to surface coatings.     

"聪明的药丸"智能、可连网的药物分配机

本文介绍俄"聪明的药丸"可帮助解决许多错误用药的问题。它是一个具备数据库构件、网页连接、计时功能以及I/O设备控制等功能的小型嵌入式计算机。     

Determination of the geographical origin of processed spice using multielement and isotopic pattern on the example of Szegedi paprika

This case study presents a fast and reliable method of combining strontium isotope ratios (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) with a multielement pattern (Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo, Cd, Ba, Pb, Th, U, Mg, Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As and rare earth elements) by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to establish a unique fingerprint of authentic Szegedi Fűszerpaprika (PDO) and classify authentic and purchased paprika from different known, declared and unknown geographical origin using multivariate statistical tools (principal component and canonical discriminant analysis). Since paprika represents a processed spice, alterations in element and Sr isotopic composition throughout the production process were investigated. The Sr source in the final product was identified to stem from bioavailable Sr sources in soil. Therefore, the ammonium nitrate extract of a soil is sufficient to establish a Sr fingerprint for agricultural products of a region. As a consequence, the spice paprika can be traced back to its geographical origin even after processing.     

Flooding of municipal solid waste landfills — An environmental hazard?

Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills pose a long-lasting risk for humans and the environment. While landfill emissions under regular operating conditions are well investigated, landfill behaviour and associated emissions in case of flooding are widely unknown, although damages have been documented. This paper aims at developing a methodology for determining the proportion of MSW landfills endangered by flooding, and at evaluating the impact flooded landfills might have on the environment during a flood event.The risk of flooding of MSW landfills is assessed by using information about flood risk zones. Out of 1064 landfills investigated in Austria, 312 sites or about 30% are located in or next to areas flooded on average once in 200 years. Around 5% of these landfills are equipped with flood protection facilities. Material inventories of 147 landfill sites endangered by flooding are established, and potential emissions during a flood event are estimated by assuming the worst case of complete landfill leaching and erosion. The environmental relevance of emissions during flooding is discussed on the basis of a case study in the western part of Austria. Although environmental hazards need to be assessed on a site- and event-specific basis, the results indicate that flooded MSW landfills represent in general small environmental risks for the period of flooding. The longer term consequences of flooding are discussed in a next paper.     

In vitro cytotoxicity of oxide nanoparticles: comparison to asbestos, silica, and the effect of particle solubility

Early indicators for nanoparticle-derived adverse health effects should provide a relative measure for cytotoxicity of nanomaterials in comparison to existing toxicological data. We have therefore evaluated a human mesothelioma and a rodent fibroblast cell line for in vitro cytotoxicity tests using seven industrially important nanoparticles. Their response in terms of metabolic activity and cell proliferation of cultures exposed to 0-30 ppm nanoparticles (microg g(-1)) was compared to the effects of nontoxic amorphous silica and toxic crocidolite asbestos. Solubility was found to strongly influence the cytotoxic response. The results further revealed a nanoparticle-specific cytotoxic mechanism for uncoated iron oxide and partial detoxification or recovery after treatment with zirconia, ceria, or titania. While in vitro experiments may never replace in vivo studies, the relatively simple cytotoxic tests provide a readily available pre-screening method.     

Development of a pressure control system for brace treatment of scoliosis

Bracing is a common nonsurgical treatment for scoliosis, but its effectiveness has been debated. Some clinical studies have shown efficacy of brace treatment is correlated to how the brace has been worn. The more often the patients wear their braces to the prescribed tightness as well as the prescribed length of wear each day, the better the treatment outcome. A system of four wireless pressure control devices was developed to understand brace wear-time and regulate a target pressure range at the brace-body interface. Each pressure control device could function independently and be embedded in the brace at key pressure areas. Such a system could improve the quality of brace wear-making the treatment more effective and refining our understanding of the three-pressure-point brace treatment concept during daily activities. This paper reports the system development and validation. The system was tested on four healthy subjects for 2 h without pressure regulation and 2 h with regulation. The results show that the pressure regulation doubled the time spent in a desired pressure range on average (from 31% to 62%). Brace-wear time was logged correctly. The system was also validated through a seven-day continuous test, and a fully charged battery could run for 30 days without requiring recharge.     

高级电视中的灵巧集成技术

接要:介绍了典型的LCDTV为系统集成提供的模拟接口、数字接口,减少了内部连线,分析了“灵巧集成”的复杂度问题。采用在单芯片上集成多种接口和控制器功能的大规模集成电路可减少元器件的数量并且提高生产能力,但是有一定的风险。     

Organic Phenolic Configurationally Locked Polyene Single Crystals for Electro‐optic and Terahertz Wave Applications

We investigate a configurationally locked polyene (CLP) crystal 2‐(3‐(4‐hydroxystyryl)‐5,5‐dimethylcyclohex‐2‐enylidene)malononitrile (OH1) containing a phenolic electron donor, which also acts as a hydrogen bond donor. The OH1 crystals with orthorhombic space group Pna2₁ (point group mm2) exhibit large second‐order nonlinear optical figures of merit, high thermal stability and very favorable crystal growth characteristics. Higher solubility in methanol and a larger temperature difference between the melting temperature and the decomposition temperature of OH1 compared to analogous CLP crystals, are of advantage for solution and melt crystal growth, respectively. Acentric bulk OH1 crystals of large sizes with side lengths of up to 1 cm with excellent optical quality have been successfully grown from methanol solution. The microscopic and macroscopic nonlinearities of the OH1 crystals are investigated theoretically and experimentally. The OH1 crystals exhibit a large macroscopic nonlinearity with four times larger powder second harmonic generation efficiency than that of analogous CLP crystals containing dimethylamino electron donor. A very high potential of OH1 crystals for broadband THz wave emitters in the full frequency range of 0.1–3 THz by optical rectification of 160 fs pulses has been demonstrated.     

设计直接转换I／Q解调器接收器时对IP2和IP3的考虑

与传统超外差式接收器架构相比,直接转换接收器架构有许多优点.因为直接转换接收器不容易受镜频信号干扰,所以它降低了对RF前端带通滤波的要求.RF带通滤波器仅需要衰减较强的带外信号,以防止它们使前端过载.另外,直接转换接收器无须IF放大器和带通滤波器.RF输入信号直接转换成基带信号,在这种情况下,放大和滤波都容易了许多.这种接收器的总体复杂性降低了,器件数目也减少了.