Microwave induced plasma processing of nuclear waste calcines

Microwave induced plasma processing was used to sinter synthetic Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP) alumina and zirconia based high level nuclear waste calcines in a nitrogen atmosphere. The microwave densification behaviour of these nuclear waste calcines was observed parallel with identification of the phases formed after sintering. Sintered densities of > 3.20 g cm^–3 were obtained within 10 min of microwave sintering of pure calcines. Glass frit containing calcines showed lower sintering densities (< 2.0 g cm^–3) due to reactions between the frit and volatile substances in both zirconia based and alumina based calcines; prior removal of frit volatiles increased the sintered density. Phases formed in the microwave sintered calcines were identified by X-ray diffraction.     

Elimination of vector parasites in finite element Maxwell solutions

The vector parasite problem is studied in the context of finite-element solutions of Maxwell's equations for driven boundary-value problems. An expanded weak form which combines the divergence equation with the conventional weak form of the double-curl equation is introduced. This form is related to penalty methods where the penalty or weighting factor varies with the dielectric constant. The resulting algebraic system is identical to the Galerkin-Helmholtz operator on homogeneous subregions. Normal and tangential boundary conditions arise in terms of the divergence and curl of the field on the boundary which can be reexpressed as equivalent charges and currents. Computational results show the occurrence of two distinct types of parasitic modes in driven problems and their elimination with the formulation presented. Practical observations concerning the conditions which provoke spurious modes in these problems are reported. Spurious solutions arise from improper or unphysical boundary conditions, and the importance of careful specification of boundary-value problems is illustrated. Most conceptual difficulties with boundary conditions per se are removed when hybrid methods are used to couple the interior finite-element solution to the exterior problem. which focuses attention on the physics of the source distribution     

Self-image resilience and dissonance: The role of affirmational resources.

Predicted that high self-esteem Ss (HSEs) would rationalize an esteem-threatening decision less than low self-esteem Ss (LSEs), because HSEs presumably had more favorable self-concepts with which to affirm, and thus repair, their overall sense of self-integrity. This prediction was supported in 2 experiments within the "free-choice" dissonance paradigm: one that manipulated self-esteem through personality feedback and the other that varied it through selection of HSEs and LSEs, but only when Ss were made to focus on their self-concepts. A 3rd experiment countered an alternative explanation of the results in terms of mood effects that may have accompanied the experimental manipulations. Results were discussed in terms of the following: (1) their support for a resources theory of individual differences in resilience to self-image threats—an extension of self-affirmation theory, (2) their implications for self-esteem functioning, and (3) their implications for the continuing debate over self-enhancement vs self-consistency motivation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Abdominal wall hematoma]

We describe three case reports of hematomas in the abdominal wall muscles and discuss etiology, diagnostic findings and treatment. Abdominal wall hematomas are uncommon, and the condition is often misdiagnosed. One of our patients was laparotomised owing to suspected appendicitis, and one patient presented a tuberculous abscess that may have been an infected hematoma. Ultrasonographic examination or CT gives the correct diagnose. Conservative management is the treatment of choice unless bleeding is severe or the course is complicated by infection.     

Correlation of vibrational intensity with fluorescence lifetimes in π conjugated polymers

A series of novel pi (π) conjugated polymers, originating from the archetypical Polyphenylene vinylene, in which the phenyl units are successively replaced by the larger naphthyl and anthryl acene units, were previously found to have a well-defined relationship between their relative fluorescence yields and their vibrational characteristics, as determined by Raman spectroscopy. In this study the Strickler-Berg equation is used to probe the influence of continual substitution of higher order acene units into the conjugated backbone in terms of the variation of the radiative and non-radiative rates. The deconvolution of the radiative and non-radiative rates enables the correlation of the reduction of the Raman intensity and concomitant increase in the fluorescence yield with the reduction of the non-radiative rate. This confirms that the reduction of the non-radiative rate is the dominant process introduced by the vibrational confinement originating from systematic substitution of higher order acene units into the polymer backbone.