Probing the origins and control of shrinkage stress in dental resin-composites: I. Shrinkage stress characterization technique*

The accurate and reliable characterization of the polymerization shrinkage stress is becoming increasingly important, as the shrinkage stress still is a major drawback of current dimethacrylate-based dental materials and restricts its range of applications. The purpose of this research is to develop a novel shrinkage stress measurement device to elucidate the shrinkage stress evolution of dental restorative composites while allowing for controlled sample deformation during the polymerization. Furthermore, the device is designed to mimic the clinically relevant cusp-to-cusp displacement by systematically adjusting the instrument compliance, the bonded surface area/unbonded area by sample geometry, and the total bonded area by sample diameter. The stress measurement device based on the cantilever beam deflection theory has been successfully developed and characterized using a commercial dental composite. It was shown that this device is a highly effective, practical and reliable shrinkage stress measurement tool, which enables its facile applications to the investigation of shrinkage stress kinetics of both commercial and experimental composites, as well as for probing various aspects that dictate shrinkage stress development.     

Application of a nonuniform spectral resampling transform in Fourier-transform spectrometry

We describe a nonuniform spectral resampling transform (NUSRT) that resamples a frequency-scaled spectrum that has been measured by a Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS). Frequency scaling of a spectrum can arise from measurements made with off-axis detectors and Doppler shift induced by motion of a spaceborne FTS relative to an input radiation source. In addition, a spectrum may need to be rescaled in frequency to match spectral lines for applications such as the retrieval of atmospheric state parameters. The NUSRT is cast as a linear algebraic expression that relates a nonuniformly sampled interferogram to an input spectrum. A polynomial approximation is applied to this expression that reduces the inverse of the NUSRT to a series of Fourier transforms that can be implemented as fast Fourier transforms (FFTs). We show that this NUSRT algorithm requires on the order of 6N log N flops, which reduces the computational cost of rescaling by more than 1 order of magnitude compared with conventional FFT-based Shannon interpolation techniques while comparable accuracy is maintained.     

Defining Media Enjoyment as the Satisfaction of Intrinsic Needs

This article presents a model of enjoyment rooted in self‐determination theory ( Deci & Ryan, 1985 ) that includes the satisfaction of three needs related to psychological well‐being: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. In an experiment designed to validate this conceptualization of enjoyment, we manipulate video game characteristics related to the satisfaction of these needs and examine their relative effects on enjoyment. The validated model explains 51% of the variance in enjoyment, even without including needs usually studied in relation to enjoyment such as pleasure seeking. Results indicate the utility of defining enjoyment as need satisfaction. These results are discussed in terms of a broader conceptualization of enjoyment represented as the satisfaction of a comprehensive set of functional needs.     

High performance GaAs MESFETs with molecular implanted and optimized lowly-doped drain structure for maximized speed, gain and breakdown performance

GaAs MESFETs with novel lowly-doped drain structures have been developed utilizing molecular implants of silicon trifluoride. Short-channel effects in the 1/4 μm enhancement- and depletion-mode transistors have been suppressed with drain-induced barrier height lowering of less than 70 mV/V and pinch-off voltage shifts of less than 220 mV as the gate length was scaled from 1.0 to 1/4 μm. The 3-terminal breakdown, the transconductance to output conductance ratio, and the unity current gain, cut-off frequency were simultaneously optimized. The E-mode device possessed breakdown of >10 V, G_m · R_ds > 9.5, F_t > 55 GHz, and nominal on-resistance of 2.1 Ω mm while the D-mode device had breakdown >10 V, G_m · R_ds > 6.0, F_t > 45 GHz, and nominal on-resistance of 1.9 Ω mm. These optimized transistors enabled the realization of a variety of low-power digital and high-power mixed signal circuits, using 3-level source-coupled transistor and common-mode logic, such as laser and electro-optic drivers, highly integrated transceivers, multiplexers, demultiplexers, and clock data recover circuits.     

3 μm laser performance of Ho:YAlO3 andNd,Ho:YAlO3

A study of the 3-μm laser transitions in Ho:YAlO₃ and Nd,Ho:YAlO₃ using both flashlamp and laser pumping is discussed. Fluorescence measurements for the Nd,Ho:YAlO₃ rod indicate that the neodymium is effective in quenching the lower holmium laser level and in sensitizing the upper level. Intracavity laser pumping of Ho:YAlO₃ produced laser lines at 2.92 and 2.85 μm and demonstrated high efficiency     

Progress towards the development of hydrogen sorption cryocoolers for space applications

Sorption cryocoolers utilize metal hydride sorbent beds for the closed-cycle circulation of gaseous hydrogen through heat exchangers and a Joule-Thomson (J-T) expansion valve in order to achieve cold-stage temperatures below 30 K. These devices have high potential for satellite missions that require long term reliability, minimal vibrations, and low operating power. Designs for nominal 25 K liquid and 10 K solid hydrogen refrigerators are described. Prototype hydride sorbent beds for breadboard studies of sorption cryocoolers have been fabricated and tested to simulate expected operation. The sorbents contained in the beds are VH_x, LaNi_5−ySn_yH_x, and ZrNiH_x. Some of these hydride beds have been integrated with a hydrogen J-T cold-stage. These experiments confirm that the selected metal hydrides and bed designs satisfy the constraints associated with the proposed liquid and solid hydrogen cryocoolers.     

A review of the electrofusion joining process for polyethylene pipe systems

Electrofusion joining is now an essential and widely used method to assist in the creation of polyethylene pressure pipe systems. The process of electrofusion joining is reviewed by examining the experimental and some computer simulation literature relating to the temperature and melt pressure changes during the fusion process, and on how varying fusion time and pipe/fitting gap influences the strength of electrofusion joints. From this literature review, four key stages in the joining process are identified. First, an incubation period where the joint has no strength. Second, a joint formation and consolidation stage where an increasing joint temperature aids molecular diffusion to both increase the joint strength and promote a more ductile mode of failure. A plateau region then follows where the joint strength, and ductility, remain reasonably constant despite the fusion time increasing. This plateau is thought to allow some welding variables, such as gap, to have only a small influence on joint strength (for gap maintained within reasonable limits). Finally there is a cooling stage where the joint bridging “tie molecules” become locked into either side of the joint. It is these tie molecules that give the joint its ductility and strength. The concluding section of the review notes some of the important on-site practices that, if followed, allow electrofusion joints to acquire their good strength properties, and hence give polyethylene pressure pipe systems of a high integrity.     

The differences in human cumulative irritation responses to positive and negative irritant controls from three geographical locations

A retrospective analysis was conducted to evaluate whether studies from three geographically diverse locations have similar response profiles to the positive and negative controls in a standard 14‐day cumulative irritation study. The positive irritant control (0.1% sodium lauryl sulphate) and the negative control (0.9% sodium chloride, saline) data from seventeen 14‐day cumulative irritation studies were reviewed. The studies were compiled from three locations representing dry/hot, humid/hot, and dry/cold environments (Scottsdale, Arizona; St Petersburg, Florida; and Winnipeg, Manitoba, respectively). Irritation scores were generated by trained skin graders from a total of 442 subjects studied between 1999 and 2005. Cumulative irritation scores were reviewed and compared between study locations. The irritation scores for the positive and negative controls were not significantly different between locations. Temperature and relative humidity variation did not correlate significantly with overall irritation. However, the dryer climate (i.e. negative or low dew point) had a tendency to induce a higher overall irritation level for both positive and negative controls.