Effect of yttrium and chromium on the recrystallization of Al-Sc alloys

The effect of small chromium and yttrium additions (0.14–1.0 wt%) on the recrystallization of Al-Sc alloys having 0.1–0.4% Sc is studied with polarized light. The microstructure of cold-rolled samples annealed at 100–630°C for 1 h is examined. The chromium and yttrium additions are found to slightly affect the recrystallization temperature of the Al-Sc alloys: they increase or decrease it slightly depending on the scandium content.     

Aqua-Biomant: integrated biological and electrochemical oxidation for industrial wastewater treatment.

An innovative technology for industrial wastewater treatment has been developed. The main focus of the new system is a transformation of persistent organic compounds (biorecalcitrant COD) into a biodegradable fraction, followed by high efficient biological elimination using specialised bacteria's. To fulfill these targets the Aqua-Biomant process integrates two treatment steps: an aerated biological upflow filter and a electrochemical oxidation technique using boron doped-diamond electrodes. The advantages of the process are high efficient COD removal with reduced energy consumption combined with low total residence time.     

Glass ceramics with controllable pore structure for medicine

The conditions for synthesis of porous biocomposite materials based on calcium phosphate for fabricating implants with prescribed pore-structure parameters, and the desired level of physical, chemical, and biological properties for clinical applications are determined. The role of a bimodal pore structure in the substrate materials for cell cultures is shown. __________ Translated from Steklo i Keramika, No. 4, pp. 23–26, April, 2007.     

Optimization of Linearly Equalized QAM

A QAM signal transmitted over a channel with linear distortion and additive white Gaussian noise can be linearly equalized at the receiver to eliminate intersymbol interference. If the QAM signal is power constrained and a given symbol error rate is required, we show that it is possible to maximize the bit rate of this system by optimizing the symbol rate and the number of bits/symbol. Ideal linear equalization is assumed at the receiver to overcome the distortion introduced by the channel. As an example, a Gaussian channel is chosen, and the bit rate is maximized for this channel. The QAM maximization is especially useful for channels with slowly decaying channel attenuation characteristics, e.g., the twisted-pair channel.