The optimum characteristics of a halogen lamp pumped by transverse RF discharge

We report on the optimized characteristics of a small-size bactericidal lamp pumped by transverse RF (f=1.76 MHz) discharge, operating on a system of the molecular emission bands of chlorine in a wavelength range of 195–310 nm. The spectral characteristics of the plasma emission were measured and the intensity of chlorine emission bands were studied as functions of the total pressure and partial composition of a helium-chlorine mixture. Oscillograms of the pumping current and output radiation intensity were measured and the total output radiation power was determined. It is established that the lamp radiates predominantly in a bactericidal wavelength interval on an electron-vibrational transition at 200 nm in Cl₂** molecules. The optimum partial pressures of helium and chlorine are 100–300 and 90–120 Pa, respectively. The maximum output power of UV emission from the side cylindrical surface of the lamp reached 10 W. The lamp can be used in photochemistry, ecology, genetics, and medicine.     

Isotope Exchange of Azidothymidine with Tritium

The following modes of isotope exchange of azidothymidine (3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine) with tritium were studied: solid- and liquid-phase isotope exchange with gaseous tritium and isotope exchange in solution with tritium water. Catalytic reactions of azidothymidine with gaseous tritium in solution result in virtually complete reduction of the azido group to amino group. This reduction also occurs in the course of solid-phase catalytic hydrogenation; the yield of 3'-amino-3'-deoxythymidine ranges from 20 to 70%. The molar radioactivity of tritium-labeled azidothymidine prepared by solid-phase catalytic isotope exchange with gaseous tritium and by isotope exchange in solution with tritium water does not exceed 0.5 Ci mmol^{- 1}.     

Prediction of Undrained Sinkhole Collapse

Sinkholes are surface depressions or shafts resulting from the collapse of a submerged cavity in soil. The cavities that lead to sinkholes form as a result of underlying geology in limestone areas, or as a result of human activity such as mining or leakage from a sewer. The formation of sinkholes is often sudden and can lead to extensive damage and loss of life, especially in urban areas. Much of the literature on the subject of sinkhole formation is empirical in nature, often being associated with specific locations. This paper presents the results of a study, using numerical modeling, of the undrained stability of the submerged cavities that lead to sinkhole formation. Finite-element limit analysis techniques (using programs developed at the University of Newcastle) are used to obtain upper and lower bound values of a suitable load parameter, which bracket the exact solution. The results are compared to analytical solutions, both from literature and derived independently.     

Effect of prior oxidation on the creep behavior of NiAl-hardened austenitic steel

The effect of prior oxidation at 1473 K on the creep behavior of an Fe-Ni-Cr-Al alloy, hardened by ordered NiAl precipitates, has been investigated at 873 K over a stress range of 275 to 450 MPa. The alloy in the as-electroslag remelted (ESR) as well as the ESR-plus-hot-worked conditions was considered. Prior oxidation causes creep strengthening in the Fe-Ni-Cr-Al alloy, resulting in a decrease in minimum creep rate and increase in time to rupture, in contrast to the observations reported on nickel-based superalloys. Creep strengthening is, however, accompanied by a significant reduction in creep ductility. Oxidation-induced creep strengthening in the current alloy can be attributed to the improved adherence of surface oxide caused by the presence of yttrium. An effective stress that incorporates the contributions of load transfer as well as substructural strengthening is used to account for the observed oxidation-induced creep strengthening. While creep strengthening is more pronounced in the ESR cast alloy, the loss in creep ductility is more intense in the ESR wrought alloy. Increasing the oxidation time beyond 1 hour has a minimal effect on creep strengthening of both the alloys, though it lowers significantly the creep ductility of the wrought alloy. The observed differences in creep behavior of the alloy in the two different conditions could be attributed to the differences in grain size as well as morphology and related oxidation-induced damage.     

Nuclear-chemical synthesis of tritium-labeled phenyl-substituted picoline derivatives

Ion-molecule reactions of free phenyl cations with six-membered nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds: α-, β-, and γ-picolines, were studied. Phenyl cations were generated by tritium β-decay in double-labeled benzene. The mechanism of competing reactions of electrophilic addition to the nitrogen heteroatom in the ring and electrophilic substitution of the C-H bond in the pyridine ring was examined. The effect of methyl substituent in the pyridine molecule on the reaction pathway was evaluated. A one-step procedure for nuclear-chemical synthesis of tritium-labeled N-phenylpicolinium salts and phenyl-substituted picolines was developed.     

Solubility of Pu(IV) in Weakly Alkaline Solutions (pH 9-14) Containing Silicate Anions

Behavior of hydrated ^238-242Pu(IV) oxide in 0.09-0.9 M NaOH containing 1 ×10^{- 3} M Na2SiO3 and in 0.1-0.2 M NaClO₄ containing 1×10^{- 3}-0.09 M Na2SiO3 (pH 11 and 9) was studied radiometrically with the aid of a scintillation counter. In alkaline solutions with pH 13.8-11 and high Na₂SiO₃ content, the Pu(IV) solubility increases owing to the reaction Pu(IV) + nSiO₃ ^{2 -} = Pu^{I V}(SiO₃ ^{2 -}) _n . At pH 9, Na₂SiO₃ has virtually no effect on the Pu(IV) solubility.     

Radiation-induced hydrogen yield from silicon bombarded with 710-MeV bismuth ions

The behavior of hydrogen in solids under the action of intense ionizing radiation is of importance in solving numerous problems of materials science for the nuclear and thermonuclear power industry, spacecraft engineering, hydrogen energetics, and microelectronics. Experimental results are presented that provide evidence of the radiation-induced yield of hydrogen from single crystal silicon bombarded with 710-MeV bismuth ions.     

Surface Films on Zinc-Plated Steel Formed on Holding in Aqueous Extracts of Anticorrosion Pigments

The methods of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger spectroscopy are used to study surface films formed on zinc and zinc-plated steel in the process of holding in aqueous extracts of mixtures of phosphate and calcium-containing pigments. It is shown that protective films formed mainly of zinc and calcium phosphates of different chemical structure are deposited in inhibited solutions on specimens of pure zinc and zinc-plated steel. The protective properties of these films are much better than the protective properties of the surface layers formed on the metal in the extracts of a single phosphate (or calcium-containing) pigment. The mixture of these pigments may serve as a promising substitution of chromate inhibitors in anticorrosive organic coatings.     

At least N+1 finite transmission zeros using frequency-variant negative source-load coupling

A second-order cross-coupled combline filter which has three finite transmission zeros is presented. The problem of the frequency-invariant coupling in a real circuit is introduced. To make extra transmission zeros, a top metalized dielectric block is used.