Structural Modifications to Polystyrene via Self‐Assembling Molecules

We have previously reported that small quantities of self‐assembling molecules known as dendron rodcoils (DRCs) can be used as supramolecular additives to modify the properties of polystyrene (PS). These molecules spontaneously assemble into supramolecular nanoribbons that can be incorporated into bulk PS in such a way that the orientation of the polymer is significantly enhanced when mechanically drawn above the glass‐transition temperature. In the current study, we more closely evaluate the structural role of the DRC nanoribbons in PS by investigating the mechanical properties and deformation microstructures of polymers modified by self‐assembly. In comparision to PS homopolymer, PS containing small amounts (≤ 1.0 wt.‐%) of self‐assembling DRC molecules exhibit greater Charpy impact strengths in double‐notch four‐point bending and significantly greater elongations to failure in uniaxial tension at 250 % prestrain. Although the DRC‐modified polymer shows significantly smaller elongations to failure at 1000 % prestrain, both low‐ and high‐prestrain specimens maintain tensile strengths that are comparable to those of the homopolymer. The improved toughness and ductility of DRC‐modified PS appears to be related to the increased stress whitening and craze density that was observed near fracture surfaces. However, the mechanism by which the self‐assembling DRC molecules toughen PS is different from that of conventional additives. These molecules assemble into supramolecular nanoribbons that enhance polymer orientation, which in turn modifies crazing patterns and improves impact strength and ductility.     

Moisture absorption studies of fluorocarbon films deposited from pentafluoroethane and octafluorocyclobutane plasmas

The moisture absorption and diffusion characteristics of fluorocarbon films deposited from pentafluoroethane (PFE) and octafluorocyclobutane C₄F₈ plasmas are presented. The moisture absorption studies were carried out using a quartz crystal microbalance in a controlled environment. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (IR) spectroscopy were used to monitor the changes in bulk and surface chemical structure and composition of the deposited films. The equilibrium moisture uptake at relative humidity >90% was lower than 0.13 wt.% for films deposited from PFE or C₄F₈ monomers. Humidity cycling measurements showed no moisture chemisorption in the deposited films. Attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) spectra of the deposited films indicated negligible change in the bulk composition of the deposited films. The estimated diffusivities of water in the deposited fluorocarbon films were of the order of 10⁻¹⁰ cm²/sec, and films deposited from C₄F₈ monomer showed higher diffusivity as compared to films deposited from PFE monomer. The equilibrium moisture uptake is affected by the presence of polar groups, the F/C ratio, and the O/C ratio. The relatively high diffusivity of water in the fluorocarbon films is attributed to the lack of polar groups in the deposited films. Adsorption onto the surface followed by diffusion into the bulk is proposed as the mechanism for moisture absorption in the fluorocarbon films. Finally, the moisture uptake of the fluorocarbon and hydrofluorocarbon films is compared to that of a conventionally used microelectronic polymer, polyimide (PI 2611), in order to evaluate the effect of polar groups and fluorine content on diffusion and equilibrium moisture uptake.     

Fracture behaviour of liquid crystal epoxy resin systems based on the diglycidyl ether of 4,4′-dihydroxy-α-methylstilbene and sulphanilamide: Part I Effects of curing variations

The fracture behaviours of the pour-cast, unoriented diglycidyl ether of 4,4′-dihydroxy-α-methylstilbene/sulphanilamide liquid crystalline epoxies (LCE) cured at various temperature steps are investigated. It is found that, depending on how the LCE is cured, the liquid crystalline (LC) domain size varies dramatically. These, in turn, affect how the LCEs fracture. The operative toughening mechanisms in the toughest LCE are studied in detail and found to include the formation of numerous segmented, unlinked microcracks in front of the main crack. When the crack opens up, the matrix material between the segmented microcracks acts as a bridge between the opening crack planes. Furthermore, crack bifurcation appears to take place when the segmented cracks are eventually linked with the main crack. This entire fracture process accounts for the high fracture toughness (GIC=580 J m-2) of this particular LCE with respect to conventional epoxies (GIC=180 J m-2). The relationship between the LCE morphology and the corresponding fracture mechanisms is discussed. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Psychosocial sequelae of violent victimization in a national youth sample.

In a national telephone sample of youths aged 10–16 years, over one third reported having been the victims of an assault. Victimized respondents displayed significantly more psychological and behavioral symptomatology than did non victimized respondents (more symptomatology related to post traumatic stress disorder, more sadness, and more school difficulties), even after controlling for some other possible sources of distress. Sexual assault was associated with particularly high levels of symptomatology. However, victims of other forms of assault—nonfamily assaults involving weapons or physical injury (aggravated assaults), assaults by parents, violence to genitals, and attempted kidnappings—also evidenced levels of distress that were not statistically lower than those suffered by victims of sexual assault. The findings suggest that substantial mental health morbidity in the general child and adolescent population is associated with victimization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

One-step pointer forwarding strategy for location tracking indistributed HLR environment

One of the main challenges in personal communication service (PCS) is to locate many mobiles that may move frequently from place to place. Such a system operation is called location tracking. Many network signals flow, and database queries are required to achieve such a task. In addition to the two-level hierarchical strategy in IS-41 and GSM, several strategies have been proposed to improve the efficiency of location tracking. Pointer forwarding was used to reduce the expensive home location register (HLR) accesses. Previously, the distributed HLR scheme was proposed to prevent the HLR from becoming a bottleneck in the signaling network. However, the length of a forwarding pointer chain may be lengthened in a distributed HLR environment. We propose a more efficient strategy to overcome this potential problem. This strategy attempts to migrate the locating chains in a distributed HLR system when a mobile issues a registration operation. As a consequence, the length of any forwarding pointer chain does not exceed one in our strategy. Simulation results indicate that our strategy significantly decreases the locating cost. In fact, this strategy provides an upper bound of location tracking time owing to the fact that the length of any locating path does not exceed one. Furthermore, obsolete entries in local databases visitor location registers can be reclaimed in this strategy     

Synthesis of Solid Phosphate Compounds of Ti(III) and Ti(IV)

Several new methods for the synthesis of TiPO₄ are described. Crystalline phosphate compounds containing boron and titanium in a single III or mixed (III, IV) oxidation states have been synthesized and identified by X-ray diffraction. An additional family of phosphate compounds containing only Ti(III, IV) has also been synthesized and identified. All the compounds exhibit attractive colors, e.g., bright green, blue, purple, and black, and are stable at room temperature in air and in boiling water.     

Ethnocultural identity and eating disorders in women of color.

A review of the literature on ethnocultural identity and eating disorders indicates a relationship between conflicted identity and eating disturbance. This article discusses that relationship by suggesting that eating disorders represent internalized means of oppression for women of color. Difficulties in diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders in women of color are identified. Suggestions for ways in which diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of eating disorders may become more culturally relevant and effective are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Improved Hardfacing for Drill Bits and Drilling Tools

New flame spray hardfacing, DSH (DuraShell^® Steel Hardfacing, US patent pending), was developed to improve thermal conductivity, abrasion wear, and erosion resistance for subterranean drilling application. The materials consisted of spherical cast WC/W₂C and Ni-Si-B alloy powders. The hardfacing compositions were tailored for various processes such as flame spray and laser cladding. Typically, the hardfacing comprised hard tungsten carbide particles being uniformly distributed in a tough Ni-alloy matrix. The hardness of WC/W₂C exceeded 2300 Hv_.3 and that of Ni-alloy matrix varied from about 400 to 700 Hv_.3. High- and low-stress abrasion resistances of these hardfacing materials were characterized and compared to the conventional hard coatings of cast WC/W₂C and Ni-Cr-Si-B-Fe. The increase in thermal, wear, and erosion resistances of the hardfacing improved the durability of PDC (polycrystalline diamond compact) steel body bit and drilling tools and their cost-effective performance. Several case studies of DSH hardfacings on drill bits were described.     

Impact of sensor characteristics on source characterization for dispersion modeling

An accidental or intentional release of hazardous chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear material into the atmosphere obligates responsible agencies to model its transport and dispersion in order to mitigate the effects. This modeling requires input parameters that may not be known and must therefore be estimated from sensor measurements of the resulting concentration field. The genetic algorithm (GA) method used here has been successful at back-calculating not only these source characteristics but also the meteorological parameters necessary to predict the contaminants subsequent transport and dispersion. This study assesses the impact of sensor thresholds, i.e. the sensor minimum detection limit and saturation level, on the ability of the algorithm to back-calculate modeling variables. The sensitivity of the back-calculation to these sensor constraints is analyzed in the context of an identical twin approach, where the data is simulated using the same Gaussian Puff model that is used in the back-calculation algorithm in order to analyze sensitivity in a controlled environment. The solution is optimized by the GA and further tuned with the Nelder-Mead downhill simplex algorithm. For this back-calculation to be successful, it is important that the sensor capture the maximum concentrations.