Integration of multiple national markets for electricity: The case of Norway and Sweden

During the second part of the 1990s the Nordic (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) countries have created a unique multinational market for electricity. This paper aims to analyse the degree of integration of the different national markets that constitute the Nordic electricity market. In particular the Norwegian and Swedish wholesale and retail electricity markets are analysed. The results suggest that the wholesale markets are well integrated. Thus prices differ significantly only during periods with unusually high or low supply of hydropower. However, the retail markets are not integrated to the same degree. Thus retail prices and trade margins differ significantly. Differences in the national electricity market legislation seem to be a key factor behind these differences.     

The controversy over recovered memories.

Comments on the article by J. L. Alpert et al (see record 2000-13581-002), which presented the report of the American Psychological Association Working Group on Investigation of Memories of Childhood Abuse. The authors discuss 4 issues in this commentary: (a) the assumptions and evidence used to support the case for dissociated and recovered memories (noting that the evidence is weak and the assumptions internally inconsistent as well as contradictory to a mass of experimental evidence about human memory); (b) the process by which dissociated memories are said to be recovered (events that were originally very poorly encoded as fragmentary, kinesthetic memories cannot be recovered with accuracy later); (c) 4 bodies of relevant, but neglected, research on human memory (reminiscence and hypermnesia, effectiveness of retrieval cues, priming in implicit memory tests, and intentional forgetting); and (d) the issue of appropriate research strategies to gain evidence on the thorny issues of long-delayed retrieval of information. Current evidence does not support the conclusion that memories of repeated abuse are dissociated and recovered with accuracy years later. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

电磁搅拌对ZA-27合金凝固组织的影响

研究了保温电磁搅拌和间断性电磁搅拌对ZA27合金组织的影响，在保温凝固过程中进行电磁搅拌时，晶粒细化效果更明显。保湿搅拌温度存在搅拌效果最理想的临界值Tc。间断性电磁搅拌使得枝晶显著粒化，晶粒分布更加均匀。     

Structure and properties of poly(ethylene‐co‐chlorotrifluoroethylene) and polyvinylidene fluoride exposed to water,hydrochloric acid,hydrobromic acid and tetrachloroethylene

The transport of water, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid and tetrachloroethylene in an poly(ethylene‐co‐chlorotrifluoroethylene) and polyvinylidene fluoride were studied at 70°C by the sorption/desorption technique. The effects on the structure and mechanical properties were studied using size‐exclusion chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and tensile testing. Solute concentrations in the polymers indicated that both the water and HCl/HBr components diffused into the polymers on exposure to acid solutions. The calculated water contents of the diffusing acids generally differed from the water content in the solution. The ratio of water content in the diffusing acid to that in the surrounding acid solution was generally a function of the relative vapor activity of water and HCl/HBr. It was possible to describe the 35%HCl and 47%HBr desorption data using a two component model. It was here assumed that the water and HCl/HBr diffused separately, each having its own constant diffusion coefficient. The water diffusivity was obtained from the pure water system, and this allowed the HCl/HBr diffusivity to be calculated. It was found that the diffusivity decreased, in a non‐simple way, as a function of solute size. The exposure to solute did not lower the molar mass of the polyvinylidene fluoride. Differential scanning calorimetry indicated the development of low‐melting point polyvinylidene fluoride crystals during the exposure to all solutes. This seemed to be a consequence of the long‐term exposure (175 to 376 days) at 70°C. The long‐term exposure stiffened several of the polyvinylidene fluoride resins and occasionally made them less ductile. The poly(ethylene‐co‐chlorotrifluoroethylene) also became stiffer, but it was otherwise unaffected as far as observation by the other available techniques was concerned.     

时效态Cu-Fe-P合金组织和性能的研究

利用微合金化法设计了引线框架用Cu-Fe-P合金的成分(Cu-2.5Fe-0.12Zn-0.03P-0.05Mg-0.05Cr-0.05RE),采用金相显微镜(OM)和高分辨电子显微镜(HRTEM)研究了合金的微观组织,测定了合金的抗拉强度、伸长率及电导率等性能.试验结果表明,在其他试验条件相同的情况下,冷轧后的合金板材经550 ℃×4 h时效后处于过时效状态,球形的析出相γ-Fe粗化,尺寸在50～100 nm的范围,合金的强度为482 MPa,显微硬度HV为161,电导率为39.7 MS/m;经450 ℃×4 h时效后处于欠时效状态,呈球形的γ-Fe相尺寸在20 nm以下,抗拉强度为417 MPa,显微硬度HV为139,电导率是30.4 MS/m;经550 ℃×2 h 450 ℃×2 h时效后处于峰值时效状态,球形的γ-Fe相尺寸在20～50 nm的范围,此时合金的抗拉强度为510 MPa,显微硬度HV为168,导电率为40.6 MS/m.     

Mutation analysis of the MEN1 gene in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, familial acromegaly and familial isolated hyperparathyroidism

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by neoplasia of the parathyroid glands, the endocrine pancreas, and the anterior pituitary gland. In addition, families with isolated endocrine neoplasia, notably familial isolated hyperparathyroidism (FIHP) and familial acromegaly, have also been reported. However, whether these families constitute MEN 1 variants or separate entities remains speculative as the genetic bases for these diseases are unclear. The gene for MEN 1 has recently been cloned and characterized. Using single strand conformation analysis (SSCA) and sequencing, we performed mutation analysis in: a) a total of 55 MEN 1 families from 7 countries, b) 13 isolated MEN 1 cases without family history of the disease, c) 8 acromegaly families, and d) 4 FIHP families. Mutations were identified in 27 MEN 1 families and 9 isolated cases. The 22 different mutations spread across most of the 9 translated exons and included frameshift (11), nonsense (6), splice (2), missense mutations (2), and in-frame deletions (1). Among the 19 Finnish MEN 1 probands, a 1466del12 mutation was identified in 6 families with identical 11q13 haplotypes and in 2 isolated cases indicating a common founder. One frameshift mutation caused by 359del4 (GTCT) was found in 1 isolated case and 4 kindreds of different origin and haplotypes; this mutation therefore represents a common "warm" spot in the MEN1 gene. By analyzing the DNA of the parents of an isolated case one mutation was confirmed to be de novo. No mutation was found in any of the acromegaly and small FIHP families, suggesting that genetic defects other than the MEN1 gene might be involved and that additional such families need to be analyzed.     

A new method for diffusion measurement in polymeric films based on a stacked sheet concept

PURPOSE: To develop and evaluate a simple, yet well defined, method to measure diffusion in semi-solids, i.e. polymeric materials. METHODS: The method was based on a concept where equivalent discs of polymeric films were cut and stacked on top of each other. The diffusion process was allowed to proceed unidimensionally through the stack of films perpendicular to the film surface. After an appropriate time, the stack was analysed disc by disc with respect to solute content and from the concentration profile so obtained the diffusion coefficient was calculated. RESULTS: An all-in-one device was developed, manufactured in stainless-steel, that cuts circular discs and stores each one successively in a "stack" in the cell compartment. CONCLUSIONS: Data from a silicone based system shows that the method, although simple, is accurate and reproducible.     

以可编程DSP架构应对TD-SCDMA以及TD-LTE带来的设计挑战

中国作为目前世界上最大的移动市场,对于移动标准的发展,希望制定不同于西方的自己的标准。这就是目前的3G标准TD-SCDMA以及未来的4G标准TD-LTE。在2006年初,中国政府宣布TD-SCDMA正式成为中国的3G移动通信的标准。在2009年,世界最大的移动运营商中国移动宣布将提供基于TD-SCDMA为标准的3G服务;同时,中国联通以及中国电信分别将以WCDMA以及CDMA-2000标准推出3G服务。这就意味着,中国在接下来的时间将会同时存在3种不同的3G网络。显而易见的是,中国的3G服务的启动要远远晚于西方世界。中国移动明白不可能只是依靠TD-SCDMA来确保其目前领先的地位。因此,中国移