Preparation and Use of a Boron Nitride Precursor as Binder for the Densification of Boron Nitride

A precursor of boron nitride was prepared through the partial condensation of 2,4,6-trichloroborazine and bis-(trimethylsilyl)acetylene. This reaction was conducted at 100°C and is catalyzed by AlCl₃. The condensation product pyrolyzed at 800°C, producing trimethylsilyl chloride as a volatile product and a boron nitride rich residue containing 54 wt% of the initial weight. Mixtures of the precursor and commercial boron nitride were made and hot-pressed at 800°C and 27.6 MPa. A maximum density of 1.84 g/cm³ is reached at a loading corresponding to the deposition of 13 wt% residue derived from the precursor. Examination by analytical electron microscopy, including X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy analyses, revealed the location of material derived from the precursor in BN-binder composites through the presence of residual aluminum, silicon, and carbon. Crystallization of boron nitride from the precursor appears to have taken place, as deduced from the morphology of the phases observed and association with residual elements present in the binder.     

Electrical and mechanical behaviors of carbon nanotube‐filled polymer blends

Four carbon nanotube (CNT)‐filled polymer blends, i.e., CNT‐filled polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/polyvinylidene fluoride, PET/nylon 6,6, PET/polypropylene, and PET/high‐density polyethylene blends, have been injection‐molded and characterized in terms of their microstructures, electrical conductivities, and mechanical properties. The distribution of CNTs in the polymer blends has been examined based on their wetting coefficients and minimization of the interfacial energy. The electrical conductivity and mechanical properties have been related to the cocontinuous polymer blends, the conductive path formed by CNTs, the CNT distribution, and the intrinsic properties of the constituent polymers. It is found that to obtain a CNT‐filled polymer composite with both high electrical conductivity and good mechanical properties, it is preferred that most CNTs distribute in one polymer phase, while the other polymer phase(s) remain neat. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 477–488, 2006     

Liver lipids of the polar bear,Thalarctos maritimus

The distribution of total and free fatty acids as well as the acids from the glycerides, sterol esters and phospholipids of polar bear liver lipids was ascertained and found to contain somewhat higher levels of unsaturated components as compared to those of such mammals as the pig. Saponification of the liver lipids yielded the hydrocarbons, alcohols and sterols which were analyzed by GLC. The hydrocarbons occurred at an overall level of 55 mg/kg liver or 57.9 mg/100 g total lipids, of which pristane and other saturated hydrocarbons, mainly normal homologs, comprised 2.6 and 5.3 mg/100 g, respectively; the remainder contained squalene (37.7 mg/100 g) and other unsaturated types (12.3 mg/100 g). As based on the total lipids, the levels of fatty alcohols, sterol and glyceryl ethers amounted to 1.65%, 5.9% and 0.03%, respectively. The fatty alcohols displayed about 31 peaks of C₁₂ to C₃₀, of which the hexadecanol and a branched C₂₀ component were prominent.     

Synthesis and Biological Activity of Manganese (II) Complexes of Phthalic and Isophthalic Acid: X-Ray Crystal Structures of [Mn(ph)(Phen)(2)(H(2)O)]. 4H(2)O, [Mn(Phen)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](2)(Isoph)(2)(Phen). 12H(2)O and {[Mn(Isoph)(bipy)](4). 2.75biby}(n)(phH(2) = Phthalic Acid; isoph = Isophthalic Acid; phen = 1,10-Phenanthroline; bipy = 2,2-Bipyridine)

Manganese(II) acetate reacts with phthalic acid (phH(2)) to give [Mn(ph)].0.5H(2)O (1). Reaction of 1 with 1,10-phenanthroline produces [Mn(ph)(phen)].2H(2)O (2) and [Mn(ph)(phen)(2)(H(2)O)].4H(2)O (3). Reaction of isophthalic acid (isophH(2)) with manganese(II) acetate results in the formation of [Mn(isoph)].2H(2)O (4). The addition of the N,N-donor ligands 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2'-bipyridine to 4 leads to the formation of [Mn(2) (isoph)(2)(phen)(3))].4H(2)O (5), [(Mn(phen)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](2)(isoph)(2)(phen).12H(2)O (6) and {[Mn(isoph)(bipy)](4).2.75 biby}(n) (7), respectively. Molecular structures of 3, 6 and 7 were determined crystallographically. In 3 the phthalate ligand is bound to the manganese via just one of its carboxylate groups in a monodentate mode with the remaining coordination sites filled by four phenanthroline nitrogen and one water oxygen atoms. In 6 the isophthalates are uncoordinated with the octahedral manganese center ligated by two phenanthrolines and two waters. In 7 the Isophthalate ligands act as bridges resulting in a polymeric structure. One of the carboxylate groups is chelating a single manganese with the other binding two metal centres in a bridging bidentate mode. The phthalate and isophthalate complexes, the metal free ligands and a number of simple manganes salts were each tested for their ability, to inhibit the growth of Candida albicans. Only the "metal free" 1,10-phenanthroline and its manganese complexes were found to be active.     

Light scattering and viscoelasticity study of poly(vinyl alcohol)-borax aqueous solutions and gels

Poly(vinyl alcohol)-borate (PVA-borate) aqueous solutions properties with PVA concentrations ranging from 2 to 60 g/L and borax concentrations of 0.0 and 0.2 M were investigated at room temperature using static and dynamic light scattering (SLS and DLS), and dynamic viscoelasticity measurements. Light scattering and viscoelasticity data revealed that all the PVA-borate aqueous systems, except those with [PVA]≥40 g/L and [borax]=0.2 M, behaved as solutions. For PVA-borate aqueous systems with [PVA]≥40 g/L and [borax]=0.2 M, light scattering data revealed that these systems behaved like gels, but viscoelasticity data showed that these systems were in flow states. The experimental data suggest that PVA-borate aqueous systems with [PVA]≥40 g/L and [borax]=0.2 M are thermoreversible gels with finite equilibrium life time of thermoreversible borate-PVA di-diol crosslinks. The thermoreversible crosslinks can be observed by the non-perturbing light scattering technique but not by the pertubing rheometric method. These results indicate the advantage of light scattering relative to rheometers for studying the physical or reversible crosslink gels.     

Increased liver and lupus mortalities in 24-year follow-up of the Taiwanese people highly exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls and dibenzofurans

BACKGROUND: A follow-up study was designed to compare the 24-year overall and disease-specific mortality in Yucheng people who were highly exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls/dibenzofurans (PCBs/PCDFs) to that in the background population in Taiwan. In 1979, the Yucheng (oil-disease in Chinese) incident occurred in central Taiwan involving approximately 2000 victims due to ingestion of rice oil contaminated with PCBs/PCDFs. Long-term follow-up of these people has been continued for 24 years. METHODS: Standardized mortality ratios were calculated using the Taiwan population as comparison group. Overall and disease-specific mortality was compared between Yucheng and background populations. RESULTS: Mortality from chronic liver disease and cirrhoses was increased in the Yucheng men, but not in women, in the early period after exposure. Cancer mortality was not increased in the Yucheng population up to 24 years after exposure. SLE in females was highly increased in the later period after PCB/PCDF exposure. Mortality from disease in any other organ system was not significantly different between Yucheng and background populations. CONCLUSIONS: The study provided a long-term mortality picture after the Taiwanese PCB/PCDF exposure incident. In addition to re-confirming the increase in liver mortality, we found high mortality of SLE among exposed population. This finding highlights the importance of further investigating the immunological effects associated with PCB/PCDF exposure.     

A method for rapid vulnerability assessment of structures loaded by outside blasts

The blast loads have in most cases not been assumed as design basis loads of nuclear power plant buildings and structures. Recent developments however stimulated a number of analyses quantifying the potential effects of such loads.An effort was therefore made by the authors to revisit simple and robust structural analysis methods and to propose their use in the vulnerability assessment of blast-loaded structures. The leading idea is to break the structure into a set of typical structural elements, for which the response is estimated by the use of slightly modified handbook formulas. The proposed method includes provisions to predict the inelastic response and failure. Simplicity and versatility of the method facilitate its use in structural reliability calculations.The most important aspects of the proposed method are presented along with illustrative sample applications demonstrating:

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results comparable to full scale dynamic simulations using explicit finite element codes and

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the performance of the method in screening the existing structures and providing the structural reliability information for the vulnerability analysis.

     

BANQ餐厅 美国波士顿

正Banq餐厅位是一家新型餐厅,位于便士储蓄银行(Penny Savings Bank)旧大楼以前用来经营银行业务的大厅内。餐厅分成两个部分,前面区域面向华盛顿大街,设计成酒吧,后面的大厅则作为用餐区。然而,这个空间在z轴上以天花板和地面之间的另一个分区为中心进行设计。如果由于餐厅空间活动的多变性而需要保持灵活性——包括两个座位、四个座位和六个座位,以及与聚会和其他活动有关的座位     

A Design-Based Structural Test Method for a Switched-Resistor DAC

In this paper, a design-based structural testing method is presented to enable a fast, low cost test for a switched-resistor digital-to-analogue converter (DAC). A 24-bit stereo DAC is used to demonstrate this. After schematic-level simulations and experimental verification, it is found that the dynamic parameter THD can be predicted by the static test. Practical production wafer test and final test results evaluate this structural test method by comparing it with the traditional THD test method. In this paper the simulation results, the relevant measurement results, and the testing results are discussed. Finally, the application recommendations are given.