The development of a model to estimate the bistatic transmissionloss associated with intersystem interference

This paper presents a new method for evaluating transmission loss, which is a key factor used in determining the impact of interference between terrestrial radio relay systems and Earth-satellite systems operating at the same frequency. The current model used by the CCIR was developed in the early 1970's when system packing density was low and large earth station antennas allowed the consideration of narrow beam approximations, resulting in a small common volume of intersection of the two beams. The recent increase in microwave communications traffic and improvements in technology have meant that smaller earth station antennas, including very small aperture terminals (VSATs), can be employed and hence the model requires revision. Results from the new model proposed are compared with two experimental geometries and good agreement is found     

Thermally and plastically induced residual strains in textured Zircaloy-2 plate

The residual intergranular strains in textured Zircaloy-2 plate samples induced by cooling from 823 K to ambient temperatures, by cold-rolling by 1.5% and 25% and by deforming in tension by 1.5% were measured by neutron diffraction. The strong rolling texture, which gives rise to two ideal orientations, permitted the interpretation of much of the data in terms of strain tensors for the two orientations. The experimental results were compared with calculations based on the elasto-plastic self-consistent model with no adjustable parameters. Close agreement was obtained for samples in the as-cooled state and deformation in tension by 1.5% but the agreement is less satisfactory for cold-rolling.     

RP-HPLC binding domains of proteins

Procedures have been developed to identify the chromatographic binding domains of horse heart cytochrome c (Cyt c) and bovine growth hormone (bGH) during their interaction with reversed-phase sorbent materials. The procedure involves adsorption of the protein solute to the chromatographic sorbent, followed by proteolytic cleavage. Comparison of the proteolytic map obtained for Cyt c and bGH in free solution with the corresponding map obtained when these proteins are adsorbed to the chromatographic sorbent revealed significant differences in the digestion pattern. Following characterization of the peptides generated in both maps, the results indicated that specific regions on the surface of both Cyt c and bGH are inaccessible to tryptic cleavage when adsorbed to the hydrophobic surface of both a C-4 and a C-18 sorbent. Based on the assumption that the region of the protein surface that is in contact with the sorbent remains intact and bound to the sorbent during the digestion step, while the protein surface that is exposed to the solvent is accessible to proteolysis, the regions that were inaccessible to tryptic digestion were found to correspond to hydrophobic domains on the protein surface. These results also suggest that the three-dimensional structures of these proteins remain largely intact upon adsorption to the hydrophobic surface.     

Notch sensitivity of thermoset and thermoplastic laminates loaded in tension

Inplane tensile fracture of unnotched and notched thermoset graphite-epoxy and thermoplastic graphite-PEEK composite laminates is examined. Both fibre-dominated quasi-isotropic and matrix dominated ±45 angle-ply layups were investigated.Classical lamination theory predictions of elastic and strength properties of unnotched specimens are compared with experiments. Several notched geometries, i.e. centre-notched, double-edge notched and open-hole specimens subjected to tensile loading to fracture were examined. The notched strength of the quasi-isotropic laminates was analysed by a damage zone model, where damage around the notch is represented by an equivalent crack with cohesive force acting between the crack surfaces.Good agreement between experimental and calculated strength was observed for the graphite-epoxy laminates which failed in a collinear manner. For the graphite-PEEK laminates discrepancies between predicted and experimental strength are related to observed deviations from collinear crack growth. The angle-ply graphite-PEEK laminates showed larger notch sensitivity than the corresponding graphite-epoxy, probably due to less degree of stress relieving damage formation around the notch.     

Surface polarity and symmetry in semiconducting compounds

The polarity of the crystallographic surfaces of semiconducting compounds with the sphalerite and wurtzite structures results in gross differences in macroscopic chemical, mechanical and crystal growth behaviour which are reviewed. The asymmetry of the orthogonal 1 1 0 directions in {100} surfaces of sphalerite structure materials is manifested in phenomena arising from {1 1 1}A- B differences. To treat these phenomena the surface polarity index and the singular surface polyhedra for sphalerite- and wurtzite-structure semconducting compounds are introduced.     

The diffusion and solubility of oxygen in solid nickel

Solid-state electrochemical measurements using various experimental procedures were made with the double cell: $$ Ni + NiO|ZrO_2 + Y_2 O_3 |Ni + \underline O |ZrO_2 + Y_2 O_3 |Ni + NiO $$ to determine the diffusivity and thermodynamic functions of oxygen dissolved in solid nickel. Non-steady state diffusion of oxygen in the specimen was caused by applying a preselected potential between the reference and specimen electrodes and was monitored by measuring time-dependent potentials and/or currents. The following results were obtained for the diffusivity of oxygen and the solubility of oxygen in nickel in equilibrium with NiO: $$D{\text{ = 4}}{\text{.9 }} \times {\text{ 10}}^{{\text{ - 2}}} {\text{ exp}}\left( {{\text{ - }}\frac{{{\text{164 kJ/mole}}}}{{{\text{R}}T}}} \right){\text{cm}}^{\text{2}} /{\text{sec (850 to 1400 }}{}^{\text{o}}{\text{C)}}$$ $$C_{\text{O}}^s {\text{ = 8}}{\text{.3 exp}}\left( { - \frac{{55{\text{kJ/mole}}}}{{{\text{R}}T}}} \right){\text{at}}{\text{. pct (800 to 1000 }}{}^{\text{o}}{\text{C)}}$$ The thermodynamic and transport behaviors of oxygen in solid nickel were fairly well described by a simple quasi-regular model and an interstitial diffusion model, respectively.     

Thai Tea Seed Oil and Virgin Olive Oil Similarly Reduce Plasma Lipids: A Pilot Study within a Healthy Adult Male Population

The potential cardiovascular benefit of virgin olive oil (VOO) is widely recognized. However, the use of VOO at very high cooking temperatures makes these oils poorly suited for many Asian dishes. The use of tea seed oil (TSO) is increasing in Thailand, with TSO having a higher smoke point than VOO. The current study examines the effects of daily TSO intake in healthy adults. In a randomized, single-blind crossover design, 12 men consumed for 3 weeks 40 g day⁻¹ of food prepared with either TSO or VOO as a cooking oil. Plasma lipids, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and oxidant defense enzyme activities are measured before and after each 3-week intervention period. Gas chromatography analysis of TSO and VOO demonstrates that both oils are equally high in monounsaturated fatty acid. The dietary incorporation of TSO and VOO for three weeks reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations by 15% and 13%, respectively; with total cholesterol (TC) levels lowered by 10% in both groups. No significant changes in TBARS or antioxidant enzyme activity is observed. These results support the concept that Thai TSO can be utilized as a suitable and healthy alternative oil for high-temperature cooking in many Thai and Asian diets. Practical Applications: Tea seed oil from Camellia oleifera grown in Thailand has been recently reported to favorably lower lipid profiles in hamsters fed a high-fat diet in a manner similar to feeding refined olive oil or grapeseed oil. A pilot crossover trial is conducted to compare the effects of three weeks of daily intake of either TSO or VOO in healthy human adults. Consumption of both oils produced significant reductions in TC and LDL-C. Thai TSO leads to favorable lipid profiles and is a reasonable choice for many Thai and Asian food recipes.     

Segregation Neutralised Steels: Microstructural Banding Elimination from Dual-Phase Steel Through Alloy Design Accounting for Inherent Segregation

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Banding in commercial dual-phase steels, such as banded ferrite and pearlite or ferrite and martensite microstructures, is inherited from segregation...     

The role of thermal shock in cyclic oxidation

The effect of thermal shock on the spalling of oxides from the surfaces of several commercial alloys was determined. The average cooling rate was varied from approximately 240°C/sec to less than 1.0°C/sec during cyclic oxidation tests in air. The tests consisted of 100 cycles of 1 hr at the maximimum temperature (1100 or 1200°C). The alloys were HOS-875, TD-Ni, TD-NiCrAl, In-601, In-702, and B-1900 plus Hf. All of these alloys exhibited partial spalling within the oxide rather than total oxide loss down to bare metal. Thermal shock resulted in deformation of the metal, which in turn resulted, in most cases, in change of the oxide failure mode from compressive to tensile. Tensile failures were characterized by cracking of the oxide and little loss, while compressive failures were characterized by explosive loss of platelets of oxide. This behavior was confirmed by examination of mechanically stressed oxide scales. The thermally shocked oxides spalled less than the slow-cooled samples with the exception of TD-NiCrAl. This material failed in a brittle manner rather than by plastic deformation. The HOS-875 and the TD-Ni did not spall during either type of cooling. Thus, the effect of thermal shock on spalling is determined, in large part, by the mechanical properties of the metal.     

The effect of pre-warming on performance during simulated firefighting exercise

This study examined the effect of active pre-warming on speed and quality of performance during simulated firefighting exercise. Twelve male firefighters performed two trials in counterbalanced order. They were either pre-warmed by 20-min cycling at 1.5 Watt kg⁻¹ body mass (WARM) or remained thermoneutral (CON) prior to a simulated firefighting activity. After the pre-warming, gastrointestinal temperature (P < 0.001), skin temperature (P = 0.002), and heart rate (P < 0.001) were higher in WARM than in CON. During the firefighting activity, rating of perceived exertion, thermal sensation and discomfort were higher for WARM than for CON. Finish time of the firefighting activity was similar, but the last task of the activity was completed slower in WARM than in CON (P = 0.04). In WARM, self-reported performance quality was lower than in CON (P = 0.04). It is concluded that pre-warming reduces the speed during the last part of simulated firefighting activity and reduces self-reported quality of performance.