Internet use and developmental tasks: Adolescents’ point of view

This study explored adolescents’ opinions about how Internet use supports the achievement of their developmental tasks. Qualitative data were collected in focus groups interviews with 127 Italian Internet users (11–20) attending middle and high schools. Discussions were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using content analysis. Results showed that the Internet plays important functions in identity formation, personal autonomy, and relationships outside the family. It allows teens to develop their own interests, to identify with others and, at the same time, differentiate from others. The Internet is also an arena in which adolescents develop and practice autonomy. The Internet can be a source of conflict with parents, because of parents’ concerns about Internet use. However, the Internet can also be a meeting ground with parents. Finally, participants indicated the Internet is used to form close relationships with peers. Gender and age differences are discussed. Although the study is cross-sectional and relies only on adolescent report, findings illustrate how the conceptual framework of developmental goals may be helpful for understanding how the Internet can affect adolescents’ lives.     

Effect of spatial constraints on the phase evolution of YFeO3-based nanopowders under heat treatment of glycine-nitrate combustion products

Formation and structural transformations of yttrium orthoferrite crystals have been studied using X-ray diffractometry, Mössbauer spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy combined with electron microdiffraction. Said processes have been studied under heat treatment of glycine-nitrate combustion products. There have been identified formations of three structural yttrium orthoferrite modifications – amorphized hexagonal <h₁>-YFeO₃ (P6₃cm) and nanocrystalline hexagonal h₂-YFeO₃ (P6₃/mmc), as well as nanocrystalline orthorhombic o-YFeO₃ (Pbnm), which are selectively formed depending on available three-dimensional confinements. Based on the analysis of changes in the fluid and size composition formulation, it has been proposed mechanism for formation and transformation of YFeO₃ nanocrystals, including growth stage of h₂-YFeO₃ crystals due to amorphized phase of <h₁>-YFeO₃ up to critical size of about 15?nm and their subsequent transformation into orthorhombic form o-YFeO₃.     

Formation and wear mechanism of nickel titanium intermetallics during heat treatment of nickel coating on Ti-6Al-4V substrate

In the present work, inter-diffusion of nickel and titanium and formation of Ni-Ti intermetallic compounds on Ti-6Al-4V substrate have been studied. Initially, nickel was electrodeposited on the alloy using a modified Watts bath solution at a current density of 2 A dm^?2 for 1?h. The coated specimens were then heat treated for different durations at 750, 800 and 850 °C under argon atmosphere. The effects of temperature and time on the characteristics, hardness and wear resistance of intermetallic phases were investigated. The results showed that a multilayer structure was formed after heat treatment, an outer layer of residual nickel, an area of intermetallic layers with different compositions followed by a solid solution of Ni-Ti. It was also observed that an increase in time or temperature at first led to the formation of thicker intermetallic layers; however, after passing a critical point, the intermetallic layers seem to dissolve into the substrate. Furthermore, the wear rates of the diffusion treated samples were four times lower compared to Ti-6Al-4V alloy when sliding against AISI 52100 hardened steel.     

CFD Modeling of Active Volume Creation in a Non‐Newtonian Fluid Agitated by Submerged Recirculating Jets

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models were employed to investigate flow conditions inside a model reactor in which yield stress non‐Newtonian liquid is mobilized using submerged recirculating jets. The simulation results agree well with the experimental results of active volume in the reactor obtained using flow visualization by the authors in a previous study. The models developed are capable of predicting a critical jet velocity (v_c) that determines the extent of active volume obtained due to jet mixing. The v_c values are influenced both by the rheological properties of the liquid and the nozzle orientation. The liquid with higher effective viscosity leads to higher v_c for a downward facing injection nozzle. However, an upward facing injection nozzle along with a downward facing suction nozzle generates enhanced complementary flow fields which overcome the rheological constraints of the liquid and lead to lower v_c.     

Hierarchical micro-nanostructured albite-based glass-ceramic for high dielectric strength insulators

A novel glass-ceramic material based on albite type Na-rich feldspar has been synthesized by conventional ceramic process. High crystallinity, >94%?Vol.% is obtained by fast sintering which allows energy saving processing. Albite is the main crystalline phase and tetragonal SiO₂ is a secondary phase. Electrical properties were examined by complex impedance, DC measurements, and dielectric breakdown test. Dielectric characterization shows a non-Debye type dielectric behavior with low dielectric constant, 4.6 at 1?MHz, low dielectric losses, (～10^?3 at 1?MHz, and a large dielectric strength, ～60?kV/mm), that it is the largest value reported in ceramic insulators. Those dielectric properties are attained by the low glassy phase content in the samples and their unique micro-nanostructure. All these properties make this novel material a very promising candidate in the market of ceramic electrical insulator, highlighting for high-voltage applications.     

Linear friction welding of Ti6Al4V: experiments and modelling

Linear friction welding of the Ti6Al4V alloy is studied. A new definition of the energy input rate is proposed, based on an integration over time of the in-plane force and velocity; a strong correlation with the upset rate is then found. The effective friction coefficient is estimated to be 0·5±0·1 for varying frequencies and amplitudes, with only a weak dependence on the processing conditions displayed. A model is proposed that accounts for both the conditioning and equilibrium stages of the process, which is shown to be in good agreement with the experimental data. The model is used to study the mechanism by which the flash is formed. A criterion is proposed by which the rippled nature of its morphology can be predicted.     

叠合盆地凸起区多期复杂断裂特征及形成机制——以准噶尔盆地车排子凸起为例

以高精度三维地震资料为基础,结合构造演化恢复和区域构造背景,系统研究了准噶尔盆地车排子凸起断裂分布和形成机制。结果表明,车排子凸起发育深部和浅部2套断裂体系,深部断裂体系和浅部断裂体系分别发育3种断裂样式。车排子凸起共经历5个构造演化阶段,其中,晚二叠世挤压-逆冲控制了深部断裂体系的初始形成,晚侏罗世逆冲-走滑控制了深部断裂体系的最终定型,新近纪叠加掀斜、局部伸展控制了浅部断裂体系的形成。不同断裂体系在油气成藏过程中均起到了重要作用。其中:深部断裂体系的红车断裂是重要的油源断裂,低序级断层控制形成了石炭系火山岩优质储集体;浅部断裂体系使得油气向浅部层系运移调整,同时形成了断块圈闭、断鼻圈闭和断层-岩性圈闭等丰富的圈闭类型。     

Effects of structural characteristics on microwave dielectric properties of low-loss (Zn1-xNix)ZrNbTaO8 ceramics

Low-loss (Zn_1-xNi_x)ZrNbTaO₈ (0.02?≤?x?≤?0.10) ceramics possessing single wolframite structure are initiatively synthesized by solid-state route. Based on the results of Rietveld refinement, complex chemical bond theory is used to establish the correlation between structural characteristics and microwave performance in this ceramic system. A small amount of Ni²⁺ (x?=?0.06) in A-site with the fixed substitution of Ta⁵⁺ in B-site can effectually raise the Q?×?f value of ZnZrNb₂O₈ ceramic, embodying a dense microstructure and high lattice energy. The dielectric constant and τ_f are mainly affected by bond ionicity and the average octahedral distortion. The (Zn_0.94Ni_0.06)ZrNbTaO₈ ceramic sample sintered at 1150?°C for 3?h exhibits an outstanding combination of microwave dielectric properties: ε_r =?27.88, Q?×?f?=?128,951?GHz, τ_f =?–39.9?ppm/°C. Thus, it is considered to be a candidate material for the communication device applications at high frequency.     

Detection of correlation characteristics between financial time series based on multi-resolution analysis

Interactions between financial time series are complex and changeable in both time and frequency domains. To reveal the evolution characteristics of the time-varying relations between bivariate time series from a multi-resolution perspective, this study introduces an approach combining wavelet analysis and complex networks. In addition, to reduce the influence the phase lag between the time series has on the correlations, we propose dynamic time-warping (DTW) correlation coefficients to reflect the correlation degree between bivariate time series. Unlike previous studies that symbolized the time series only based on the correlation strength, the second-level symbol is set according to the correlation length during the coarse-graining process. This study presents a novel method to analyze bivariate time series and provides more information for investors and decision makers when investing in the stock market. We choose the closing prices of two stocks in China’s market as the sample and explore the evolutionary behavior of correlation modes from different resolutions. Furthermore, we perform experiments to discover the critical correlation modes between the bull market and the bear market on the high-resolution scale, the clustering effect during the financial crisis on the middle-resolution scale, and the potential pseudo period on the low-resolution scale. The experimental results exactly match reality, which provides powerful evidence to prove that our method is effective in financial time series analysis.     

Isolation of the effect of the hairy layer length on the mechanical properties of waterborne coatings

The effect of the acidic hairy layer length on the interdiffusion of polymer between particles and as a consequence on the mechanical properties of the films produced from waterborne coatings has been studied. In order to isolate this effect, latexes with the same particle diameter and molecular weight but stabilized with poly(acrylic acid)-block-poly(butyl acrylate) (PAA-b-PBA) block copolymers of controlled and different lengths were prepared. Tensile strength measurements showed at the macroscopic level that the presence of AA chains in the particle surface reduced the mechanical properties of the films dried at room temperature, being its effect worse the longer the AA chain length. Higher annealing temperatures erased the negative effect of the acidic hairy layer on mechanical properties. The neutralization with NaOH instead of with NH₄OH also led to worse mechanical properties. These macroscopic results were supported by Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) experiments that showed that at the microscopic level, the extent of interdiffusion occurred slower when the AA chains in the particles surface increased, the annealing temperature was lower and when NaOH was used as neutralizing agent instead of NH₄OH.