Resistive and magnetic properties of Y1−x Zr x Ba2Cu3O7−δ and Y1−2x Zr x Eu x Ba2Cu3O7−δ superconductive compounds

The results of X-rays, electrical resistivities and magnetic studies performed on Y_−x Zr _x Ba₂Cu₃O_t7−δ and Y_1−2x Zr _x Eu _x Ba₂Cu₃O_7−δ superconducting compounds, in the temperature range 4.2–500 K and external fields up to 50 kOe are reported. The presence of zirconium decreases the superconducting transition temperatures,T _c. BelowT _c, the hysteresis loops narrow when the zirconium content increases. From the magnetization curves, the critical current densities were determined. A time dependence of the magnetizations of logarithmic form was found. The flux-pinning energy was estimated to beU ≃0.03 eV. Above the transition temperatures, Y_−x Zr _x Ba₂Cu₃O_t7−δ samples show a Pauli-type paramagnetism, while Y_1−2x Zr _x Eu _x Ba₂Cu₃O_7−δ compounds have, in addition, temperature-dependent contributions to the magnetic susceptibilities. The effective europium moments are ∼3.40 μ_B suggesting that the ion is in (+3) valence state.     

Densification of plasma deposited silicon nitride films by hydrogen dilution

The effects of hydrogen dilution on the bonding characteristics, composition, and properties of SiN films deposited from a SiH₄/NH₃ mixture by r.f. plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition were studied. The addition of relatively small amounts of hydrogen increased the Si/N ratio resulting in a corresponding increase in the Si---H/N---H bonding ratio. At higher hydrogen dilutions, the Si/N ratio decreased towards stoichiometric with significant changes in the hydrogen bonding characteristics. Changes in the physical properties are discussed in terms of the measured changes in bonding structure. Changes normally associated with changes in bulk film density were found to be well correlated to the Si---N bond density. The effects of substrate temperature and NH₃/SiH₄ ratio on films deposited under conditions of high hydrogen dilution were similar to those widely reported in the literature for plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition films deposited without hydrogen. Films deposited by remote plasma using hydrogen as the excitation exhibited high Si---N bond densities and low hydrogen. Experiments are planned to clarify the mechanism responsible for the observed changes in film properties.     

A mathematical model for the prediction of temperature in a dry snow layer

A mathematical model for predicting the temperature in a homogeneous layer of dry snow is presented. The model, which is physically based, is capable of predicting diurnal temperature behaviour at the snow surface and at any depth within a snow layer given the variation in a limited set of meteorological parameters over that period. A sensitivity analysis is performed to determine the important parameters in the prediction of snow surface temperatures. These are found to be consistent with simple physical reasoning.     

Influence of thermomechanical and mechanical processing on the fatigue resistance of VT3-1

The influence of the structure and crystallographic texture of VT3-1 alloy formed by thermomechanical processing of a forging and also of the production factors of subsequent production of a gas turbine engine blade from the forging on the fatigue resistance characteristics was investigated. It was established that the reason for the reduction in fatigue limit and the significant spread in test data is nonuniformity of the structure and texture, both in different forgings and within the same forging, caused by variations in such parameters of thermomechanical processing as the temperature and degree of deformation. The nonuniformity plays a determining role in the reduction in fatigue limit as the result of hydrogen absorption during chemical etching. It was shown that such an effect may be eliminated by degassing vacuum annealing and the general level of fatigue resistance characteristics may be increased as the result of thermomechanical processing of forgings with strict observance of the specified forging temperature.Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 6, pp. 12–19, June, 1992.     

Convection in a concentric annulus with heat generating porous media and a permeable inner boundary

The effects of a permeable inner boundary on the maximum temperature and the convective flows were investigated numerically for a two-dimensional horizontal annulus containing a uniformly heat generating porous media. The time-dependent governing equations were nondimensionalized and put into an explicit finite difference numerical form. The finite difference equations were obtained from truncated Taylor series expansions using a central differencing scheme. Nondimensional temperatures and streamlines were obtained for heat generation rates ranging from 20 to 1,500 W/m³ corresponding to a range of modified Rayleigh numbers of 324 to 24,340 and for several combinations of isothermally heated wall conditions for annuli of radius ratio of 2. It was found that multi-cellular flows occur at the highest Rayleigh numbers investigated.     

A problem of pursuit and evasion

A trajectory problem of pursuit and evasion on a plane is considered for the case of equal absolute velocities of the players. Exact solutions are obtained for fixed initial conditions.Translated from Kibernetika i Sistemnyi Analiz, No. 3, pp. 138–143, May–June, 1992.     

Myofibroblast accumulation induced by transforming growth factor-beta is involved in the pathogenesis of nasal polyps

Myofibroblasts that express alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) are detected in many chronic inflammatory diseases. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a potent inducer of myofibroblast accumulation in tissues. In this study, scattered myofibroblasts and TGF-beta were quantified and localized in nasal polyps (NPs) and normal nasal mucosa (NM). NPs were sampled in 16 patients during ethmoidectomy and NM was obtained from 10 control subjects during rhinoplasty. alpha-SMA and TGF-beta were detected using immunohistochemistry and the numbers of labeled cells were quantified (alpha-SMA and TGF-beta indices) and compared between NPs and NM. In eight NPs, in which the pedicle was preserved, alpha-SMA and TGF-beta were evaluated and compared in the pedicle, central, and tip areas. Finally, TGF-beta expression was compared between low (zone 1), moderate (zone 2), and high (zone 3) zones of alpha-SMA positivity. alpha-SMA and TGF-beta indices were significantly higher in NPs than in NM. In the eight selected NPs, alpha-SMA-positive cells were significantly more abundant in the pedicle than in the central and tip areas, whereas TGF-beta-positive cells were significantly more numerous in the pedicle than in the tip area. The number of TGF-beta-positive cells was significantly higher in zone 3 than in zone 1 of alpha-SMA positivity. Myofibroblasts, which are abundant in NPs but rare in NM, could be involved in the growth of NPs by inducing extracellular matrix accumulation. The local development of myofibroblasts in NPs could be controlled by TGF-beta, locally produced by inflammatory cells.