Fusion reactions in high-density hydrogen: A fast route to small-scale fusion?

High-density atomic hydrogen, which is believed to be a quantum liquid, can be formed by heterogeneous catalysis at the surface of hydrogen-transfer metal oxide catalysts. Extensive studies have been made of the hydrogen phase named H(1), with interatomic distance of 150 pm found by Coulomb explosion measurements. This bond distance corresponds to a material density of 0.5–0.7 kg dm⁻³. The use of this material as fusion target for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) is proposed in J Fusion Energy 2008;27:296–300. A much denser hydrogen (deuterium) material D(−1) also exists with an interatomic distance of 2.3 pm. This material is probably the inverse of metallic D(1), where nuclei and electrons exchange their roles. The ICF process would be greatly simplified if the intended initial multi-laser compression stage was not necessary. The close-packed density of D(−1) is calculated from the bond distance as >130 kg cm⁻³. This is much higher than that required for “fast ignition” laser-driven fusion (>0.3 kg cm⁻³). It may mean that a method already exists to prepare dense hydrogen fuel for small-scale laser-driven fusion. The high energy particles observed experimentally (up to 150 keV/atomic mass unit in the peak or 10⁹ K) indicate that high energy processes exist at relatively low laser intensities.     

Stress-strain state in the grit-matrix system of a diamond tool under force disturbances

The stress-strain state in the grit-matrix system of carbide-bonded diamond tools has been studied by numerical simulation. A transition layer in contact with a diamond grit is shown to be the most heavily loaded portion of the bond. The behavior of stresses in this region has been clarified for variable cutting force directions, properties of the matrix, and the transition layer. Stresses have been analyzed for various extents of the grit embedding in the matrix; critical loading parameters have been determined for various grit shapes and Poisson ratios of the bond.     

Studying physiochemical changes in a new pasta product containing beef heart by vibrational spectroscopy

A new pasta product was developed by partially replacing durum wheat flour with beef heart to enhance its nutritional value. Physiochemical changes of the pasta were investigated by vibrational spectroscopy, namely Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy. Relationships between pasta texture and the intensity of vibrational spectra were established. Lipid-protein complex formation, β-sheet arrangement, degree of polysaccharide polymerization, and cysteine thiol group were related to hardness and chewiness of pasta. The lipid portion and β-sheet structure were two significant parameters for explaining pasta adhesiveness, while pasta firmness might be related to β-sheet alignment and the polysaccharide network. Pasta cohesiveness might involve the α-helical structures and hydrogen bonding formation in the gluten network. However, no variable met the p < 0.1 significance level for inclusion into the model to explain pasta springiness. These results reveal that FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy could be employed to evaluate the physical chemistry of pasta and showed a potential use for quality assessment in pasta products.     

Evidence that leptin contributes to intestinal cholesterol absorption in obese (ob/ob) mice and wild-type mice

In the present study, the effect of leptin on intestinal cholesterol absorption was investigated in C57 BL/6 OlaHsd Lep^ob/Lep^ob obese (ob/ob) mice and lean C57 BL/6 (wild-type) mice. Animals were treated either with or without recombinant leptin for 2 wk. Cholesterol absorption was measured by the constant isotope feeding method and indirectly by the ratio of campesterol to cholesterol in serum. In ob/ob mice, cholesterol absorption was significantly higher compared to wild-type mice [83.4±2.3% (SD) vs. 77.6±1.5%, P<0.01]. Treatment with leptin significantly reduced cholesterol absorption in both ob/ob and wild-type mice by 8.5 (P<0.001) and 5.2% (P<0.05), respectively. Serum concentrations of campesterol and the ratio of campesterol to cholesterol in ob/ob mice were significantly higher compared to wild-type mice (2.2±0.3 mg/dL vs. 1.2±0.3 mg/dL, P<0.001; and 36.8±2.8 μg/mg vs. 28.0±3.3 μg/mg, P<0.001). After treatment of ob/ob mice with leptin, concentrations of campesterol and its ratio to cholesterol were significantly lower (2.2±0.3 mg/dL vs. 1.0±0.2 μg/mg, P<0.001; and 36.8±2.8 μg/mg vs. 13.2±2.2 μg/mg, P<0.001, respectively). In wild-type mice, the ratio of campesterol to cholesterol in serum was also significantly lower after treatment with leptin (28.0±3.3 μg/mg vs. 22.6±5.0 μg/mg, P<0.05). A significant positive correlation (r=0.701, P<0.01) between cholesterol absorption and the ratio of campesterol to cholesterol, in serum was found. It is concluded that leptin contributes to intestinal cholesterol absorption in ob/ob mice and lean wild-type mice.     

Processing characteristics of PTCR ceramics with low sintering temperature

The processing behavior of PTCR ceramics of (Ba,Sr,Ca,Pb)TiO₃ solid solution composition with additives of lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃) and boron nitride (BN) was studied. The ceramics can be sintered at temperatures as low as 1100 °C and possess rather low room-temperature resistivity with good PTCR effect. The sample ball milled with de-ionized water exhibits a more uniform microstructure compared to the sample ball-milled with alcohol. Particle size of less than 1 m was found to be adequate for preparing the ceramics and the finer particles (0.45 m) do not significantly improve the PTCR behavior. The performance of the PTCR sample is not sensitive to the sintering parameters such as the sintering time and cooling rate. This may be ascribed to the presence of excess BaO in the sample and the low sintering temperature, thereby eliminating the effect of Ba ion vacancies on the properties of the PTCR sample.     

Histomorphological, histomorphometrical and biomechanical analysis of ceramic bone substitutes in a weight-bearing animal model

It was the purpose of this investigation to prove the biomechanical properties, the osteoconductive capacity and the degradation rate of tricalcium phosphate ( TCP), a neutralized glass ceramics (GB9N) and a composite material (GB9N+copolymers). In a weight-bearing animal model six substitutes each were implanted in the medial tibial head of the right lower leg of adult Merino-sheep in a standardized surgical technique. After nine months the implants were harvested and prepared for histomorphological and histomorphometrical investigations (undecalcified Masson Goldner staining). For additional biomechanical testing of the specimens, non-operated bone blocks from the contralateral tibia as well as native implants served as controls. No significant differences for the maximum fracture load as well as for the yield strength were detected between harvested specimens and bone blocks from the contralateral tibia. However there were marked differences to ceramics that were not implanted. All substitutes showed osteoconduction, leading to a continuous ingrowth of new formed bone. However in the composite material soft tissue could be identified within the scaffold and there were signs of ongoing bone remodeling, nine months after implantation. The bone per tissue volume of -TCP in conjunction to new bone (=percentage of trabecular bone volume plus percentage of residual substitute) was higher than for GB9N and the composite material. Nine months after implantation the percentage of residual -TCP was 48%, it was 32% for GB9N and 28% for the composite.The intention of further studies should be to accelerate the degradation rates of substitutes and to improve biomechanical properties of implants by either modifying the chemical composition or combining materials with agents as, e.g. growth factors.     

Fabrication and electroosmotic flow measurements in micro- and nanofluidic channels

An easy method for fabricating micro- and nanofluidic channels, entirely made of a thermally grown silicon dioxide is presented. The nanochannels are up to 1-mm long and have widths and heights down to 200 nm, whereas the microfluidic channels are 20-μm wide and 4.8-μm high. The nanochannels are created at the interface of two silicon wafers. Their fabrication is based on the expansion of growing silicon dioxide and the corresponding reduction in channel cross-section. The embedded silicon dioxide channels were released and are partially freestanding. The transparent and hydrophilic silicon dioxide channel system could be spontaneously filled with aqueous, fluorescent solution. The electrical resistances of the micro- and nanofluidic channel segments were calculated and the found values were confirmed by current measurements. Electrical field strengths up to 600 V/cm were reached within the nanochannels when applying a potential of only 10 V. Electroosmotic flow (EOF) measurements through micro- and nanofluidic channel systems resulted in electroosmotic mobilities in the same order of those encountered in regular, fused silica capillaries.     

混合二极管箝位多电平变换器的拓扑结构研究

二极管箝位多电平变换器在控制功率的双向流动方面有优势．因而在中压变频调速领域和交流柔性供电系统中有着良好的应用前景。将经典二极管箝位多电平变换器中的每个箝位二极管中性点，用1个两电平逆变器桥臂和电容并联单元代替，得到了所谓的混合二极管箝位多电平变换器，在相同电平数的条件下，所使用的箝位二极管的数目有所减少，适用于对波形质量要求较高的中压功率变换场合。分析了电路的工作机理，采用电力电子专用仿真软件PSIM6和特定谐波消除脉宽调制控制策略，对所提的混合二极管箝位多电平变换器进行了仿真研究．仿真结果证明了所提拓扑的有效性。     

隔爆型设备的新型材料--为安全避免火焰传播,采用多孔材料

用于危险场所的电气设备和保护系统按指令94／9／EC要求，必须设计为防爆型。按防爆要求，设备或保护系统，无论是在正常运行时或故障状态下，不能成为点燃源。在防爆技术发展的进程中，研究出了各种各样的保护方式，这些保护方式在欧洲协调标准中都有相应的规定。在一些保护方式中，如浇封型“m”，充砂型“q”，正压型“p”和油浸型“o”，采用适当的设计方法(保护措施)可以阻止可能产生点燃源的电气装置的部件与爆炸性环境接触；在增安型“e”和本安型“i”中，     

From LDPE to XLPE: investigating the change of electrical properties. Part I. space charge, conduction and lifetime

This paper discusses the results of space charge, conduction current and electrical lifetime measurements performed on widely-used materials for electrical insulation, that is, low density polyethylene (LDPE) and cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE). Space charge accumulation profiles were compared in LDPE, low density polyethylene plus antioxidant (LDPE+AO) and XLPE, with consideration of thermal treatment effects in LDPE and XLPE. Significant variation (decrease) of accumulated space charge and apparent mobility, as well as slight decrease of conduction current, can be seen going from LDPE to LDPE+AO and XLPE, which may be associated with formation of deeper trap levels (or an increase of their density). On the contrary, electrical life under AC voltage does not show significant differences from LDPE to XLPE. This latter result underlines that life under high AC electrical stress is mostly determined by defects (weak points) rather than material characteristics associated with charge injection and transport.