Curing characteristics of a composite matrix

The account describes investigations into the variations of specific volume and viscosity of a typical high-performance epoxy resin during various time-temperature cycles. The work was undertaken primarily to provide additional background information relating to the nature and causes of fibre kinking which has been observed in laminates comprising epoxy-carbon composite. The investigation has quantified certain characteristics of the resin which are presumed to be major contributory factors in the occurrence of fibre kinking. It is concluded that a simple solution to the general problem cannot be identified, although some possibilities are discussed for individual cases.     

A New Longitudinal End Effect Factor for Linear Induction Motors

The longitudinal end effect in a linear induction motor (LIM) is analysed assuming two travelling magnetic flux density waves in the airgap: the wave travelling with synchronous velocity and the wave representing end effect [1]. A simple equation for the end effect factor which modifies the airgap EMF is obtained, and a simple equivalent circuit incorporating the end effect factor is established. Analysis is compared with measurements from two largescale single-sided LIM's. The equation for the end effect factor is sufficiently accurate to be used for design studies of LIMs. Since end effects are negligible at low speeds, the end effect factor has application for medium and high-speed LIMs.     

Standstill frequency response testing and modeling of salient-polesynchronous machines

Standstill frequency response (SSFR) testing and modeling of salient-pole synchronous machines are presented for two machines with integral and nonintegral numbers of stator slots per pole per phase. Frequency responses at different rotor positions have been investigated to explore the effects of rotor position in a machine with a fractional slot winding, as the electromagnetic fields and the armature magnetomotive forces do not precisely repeat every pole. The test results do not show any significant differences for various direct and quadrature axes rotor positions. The authors obtained a negative value of differential leakage inductance as theoretically postulated in the literature. The pertinent features of testing and modeling of salient-pole synchronous machines are described to point out the differences with SSFR testing of round rotor turbogenerators extensively published in the literature     

Performance calculation for single-sided linear induction motors with a double-layer reaction rail under constant current excitation

A method for computing the performance of a single-sided linear induction motor (SLIM) with a double-layer reaction rail, under constant current excitation, is presented. This method takes into account the reaction of secondary eddy currents on the airgap field, transverse edge and longitudinal end effects, together with skin effect, saturation, nonlinear magnetic permeability, and hysteresis in the solid steel core of a reaction rail. In an equivalent circuit of the machine, the mutual and secondary impedances are found from a solution of the two-dimensional electromagnetic field distribution. Modifying factors account for configurations in which the width of the secondary conductive layer is different from that of the steel core, and in which the thickness of the conductive overhand is different from that over the steel core. Good correlation is obtained between analysis and test results from a large-scale linear induction motor (LIM) at Queen's University. The developed expressions are appropriate for small and large LIM's and may also be used for constant voltage excitation conditions.     

The ratio of initial/residual DNA damage predicts intrinsic radiosensitivity in seven cervix carcinoma cell lines

The single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay was used to measure radiation-produced DNA double-strand breaks (dsbs) in a series of seven cervical tumour cell lines (ME180, HT3, C33A, C41, SiHa, MS751 and CaSki). The proportion of DNA dsbs was measured immediately after radiation treatment (initial damage) and 16 h later after incubation at 37 degrees C (residual damage). Linear dose-response curves were seen for initial (slopes 0.23-0.66) and residual (slopes 0.16-0.87) DNA dsbs. Neither of the slopes of the linear regression analysis on the initial and on the residual DNA dsbs dose-response curves (range 0-80 Gy) correlated with SF2 (surviving fraction at 2 Gy) measured after high- (HDR) or low-dose-rate (LDR) irradiation. An association was evident between SF2 after HDR and LDR irradiation and the ratio of the absolute level of initial and residual damage after a single dose of 60 Gy. However, a significant correlation was found between HDR (r= -0.78, P = 0.04) and LDR (r = -0.86, P = 0.03) SF2 values and the ratio of the slopes of the initial and residual DNA dsbs dose-response curves (range 0.47-0.99), representing the fraction of DNA damage remaining. These results indicate that the neutral comet assay can be used to predict radiosensitivity of cervical tumour cell lines by assessing the ratio of initial and residual DNA dsbs.     

Joints in strips for electrodynamic magnetic levitation systems

The force disturbances experienced by the superconducting magnets of an electrodynamically levitated vehicle due to guideway strip thermal expansion joints are studied. The experimental investigation covers the low, intermediate, and high speed ranges, and it is shown that the change in eddy current distribution at a guideway strip discontinuity, i.e., at a simple butt joint, can cause severe transients in the electrodynamic forces. A number of possible joint configurations are examined, and it is shown that the use of an overlap joint or a backing/covering strip can reduce transients to an acceptable level.     

Hole‐Transfer Dependence on Blend Morphology and Energy Level Alignment in Polymer: ITIC Photovoltaic Materials

Bulk‐heterojunction organic photovoltaic materials containing nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) have seen remarkable advances in the past year, finally surpassing fullerenes in performance. Indeed, acceptors based on indacenodithiophene (IDT) have become synonymous with high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs). Nevertheless, NFAs have yet to achieve fill factors (FFs) comparable to those of the highest‐performing fullerene‐based materials. To address this seeming anomaly, this study examines a high efficiency IDT‐based acceptor, ITIC , paired with three donor polymers known to achieve high FFs with fullerenes, PTPD3T , PBTI3T , and PBTSA3T . Excellent PCEs up to 8.43% are achieved from PTPD3T:ITIC blends, reflecting good charge transport, optimal morphology, and efficient ITIC to PTPD3T hole‐transfer, as observed by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Hole‐transfer is observed from ITIC to PBTI3T and PBTSA3T , but less efficiently, reflecting measurably inferior morphology and nonoptimal energy level alignment, resulting in PCEs of 5.34% and 4.65%, respectively. This work demonstrates the importance of proper morphology and kinetics of ITIC → donor polymer hole‐transfer in boosting the performance of polymer: ITIC photovoltaic bulk heterojunction blends.     

Association of p53 mutations with metastatic prostate cancer

In prostate cancer, mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene has been associated with locally advanced disease and hormone-resistant disease that is predominantly localized to bone. However, little is known regarding the status of the p53 gene in metastatic prostate cancer that has not been treated with hormonal manipulation. We evaluated formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded malignant tissues from 86 patients with various stages of prostate cancer, including pathologically confined, locally advanced, and metastatic disease, to detect abnormal p53 nuclear protein accumulation using immunohistochemistry. No abnormal p53 immunostaining was detected in 18 patients with prostate cancer confined to the gland. Two tumors from 21 patients with locally advanced disease (extracapsular extension and/or seminal vesicle invasion) had abnormal nuclear p53 accumulation, and a mutation in exon 7 of the p53 gene was detected in tumor DNA from one patient using single-strand conformation polymorphism-direct sequencing analysis. Of the remaining 47 patients studied in whom tissues from the prostate gland and a metastatic site (44 lymph node, 2 bone, and 1 lung) were available, only 3 had received hormonal therapy prior to obtaining metastatic tissue. In four patients both primary and metastatic tumors demonstrated accumulation of p53 protein, whereas seven additional patients exhibited p53 accumulation only at the metastatic site. In three patients the metastatic tumors harbored missense single-base substitutions in exon 5, as detected using single-strand conformation polymorphism-direct sequencing. These results indicate that p53 abnormalities are associated with lymph node metastases derived from prostate cancer patients that had not undergone hormonal therapy.