Production Technology of Wear-Resistant Magnesian Refractories in the Context of Contemporary Trends in Developing Steel Production and Other Processes,Ecology, Resource Saving,and Computerization

The physicochemical principles of technology and wear-resistance of magnesian refractories are considered in relation to the problems of resource saving, sustainable development, and environmentally safe production. A new concept of resource saving in the framework of the composition-structure-properties-technology-design-service conditions-ecology-computerization system is proposed as the main line of research for the 21st century.     

Intercomparison of scanning probe microscopes

Comparison measurements on reference standards are reported in which 13 partners with different instruments took part. A set of prototype standards which had been produced and calibrated within a European project were used for the measurements. Here, results of measurements on a 240 nm step height standard and a two-dimensional lateral standard with a nominal pitch of 1 μm are reported.     

Synthesis and properties of organotin epoxy polymers from tri-n-butyltin esters of ω - amino acids

Structure-property relationships in a series of thermoset organotin polymers have been investigated. The tri-n-butyltin esters of glycine, 4-aminobutanoic, 6-aminohexanoic, and 11-aminoundecanoic acids were synthesized and reacted with diepoxides to prepare prepolymers carrying epoxide end groups. The prepolymers were crosslinked by diethylenetriamine or metaphenylenediamine. Similar epoxy network polymers were prepared directly from the tributyltin ester of 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid which was also synthesized. The strength, moduli, toughness, glass transition and dynamic mechanical response of the polymers were investigated, and correlated with structural changes introduced in the network. The results establish the utility of the adopted synthesis schemes in exercising considerable control over the bulk polymer properties, and consequently, in modifying the controlled release of organotin groups from the crosslinked network.     

Nitriding of steel parts for machine construction in an endothermic atmosphere

Conclusion To ensure the required characteristics of the diffusion layer in heat-resistant steels, it is recommended to subject them to two-stage nitriding: saturation at 950°C for 2 h in endogas with an addition of 12% natural gas and 4% ammonia, lowering the temperature to 900°C, holding for 5 h in endogas with an addition of 6% natural gas and 4% ammonia; exchange of gas 6 times.Translated from Metallovedenie i Termicheskaya Obrabotka Metallov, No. 4, pp. 34–36, April, 1982.     

Sexual functioning among breast cancer, gynecologic cancer, and healthy women.

Determined the specific type of sexual functioning deficits and the relationship between global sexual satisfaction and adjustment in 2 related life areas (marital relationship and body image) for 2 groups of cancer patients at high risk for sexual difficulties. The 2 groups included 16 27–67 yr old females with Stage 2 breast cancer and 16 31–65 yr old females with gynecologic cancer. These Ss were compared to 16 healthy female outpatients (controls). Measures included the Sexual Activities scale from the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory, a modified version of the Dyadic Assessment Scale (marital adjustment), a global sexual evaluation, and a body-image scale. Analyses revealed that the aspects of sexual functioning for breast-cancer and gynecologic-cancer Ss that differed from those of controls were the frequency of sexual behaviors and the level of sexual arousal. Whereas Ss' evaluations of their current sexual life had no relationship to their marital-adjustment ratings, analyses suggested that body-image disruption may be a prevalent problem for gynecologic cancer patients. Data suggest that cancer diagnosis and treatment are instrumental in producing reductions in sexual activity and arousability. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Parameter extraction on MOSFET transistors using a new optimised fit strategy

Classical parameter-extraction programs rely on the minimisation of the relative current deviation. However, since, especially for analogue applications, the slope of the IDS/VDS curve in the saturation region is at least equally important, a new fit strategy has been developed. This new fit strategy extracts a parameter set which optimises the current residual as well as the slope residual at every point.     

Positional distribution of fatty acids in cardiolipin of mitochondria from 21-day-old rats

Pure cardiolipins (1,3-diphosphatidylglycerol) were prepared from mitochondria of heart, liver and kidney from 21-day-old male Wistar rats and submitted toNaja naja venom phospholipase A₂ (EC 3.1.1.4) action. Incubation conditions were controlled carefully, and a complete hydrolysis of cardiolipin to lysocardiolipin {di [1 (1″) acylsn-glycero-3-phosphoryl] 1′, 3′-sn-glycerol} and fatty acids from positions 2 (2″) was obtained in less than two hr practically without side reactions. Cardiolipins from the three organs contained low levels of saturated fatty acids; stearic acid accounted for 0.4–0.7% and palmitic acid for 1.4–3.5% of total fatty acids. These percentages apparently depended on the organ. In all three cases, linoleic acid was the major component, but its percentage varied from 62–78% of total fatty acids. Acyl chains linked to positions 1 (1″) of all three cardiolipin preparations exhibited a similar pattern; they were composed of linoleic acid for 85–89%. This fatty acid also was the main component esterified at position 2 (2″), but its percentage was much more variable: from 39.8% in heart to 51.2% in kidney and 67.8% in liver mitochondria. The remaining acids comprised octadecenoic and polyunsaturated fatty acids with more than 18 carbon atoms in different proportions. As opposed to other phospholipids,cis-vaccenic acid, and not oleic acid, was the main octadecenoic acid present in cardiolipins. Octadecenoic acids were nine- to 10-fold more concentrated at positions 2 (2″) than at positions 1 (1″). The percentage ofcis-vaccenic acid was four- to five-fold higher than that of oleic acid at positions 2 (2″), whereas oleic acid dominated at positions 1 (1″). From results presented in this study and selected literature data, it may be concluded that fatty acids are asymmetrically distributed in cardiolipins of different origins, with linoleic acid showing a definite preference for position 1 (1″).