The effects of pressure on the isothermal fluid behavior of bituminous coals

An investigation into the effects of pressure (helium gas) on the isothermal fluid behavior includes: (1) the effect of pressure on the rate of melting and coking as evidenced by the rate constants k(melt) and k(coke); (2) the effect of pressure on the energies of activation of melting and coking; (3) the effects of pressure on the characteristic times; (4) the effects of pressure on the maximum isothermal fluidity. Results from the effects of pressure on k(melt) revealed that it was generally the high total sulfur, low nitrogen, low reactives/mineral matter ratio, medium rank coals which show the greatest increase in k(melt), whereas the highest rank coals show the least decrease in k(coke). The energies of activation of melting and coking were not significantly affected by pressure. The investigation also reveals increases or decreases in the respective times of softening, maximum fluidity, resolidification and total time of fluid behavior under isothermal pressurized conditions. There appears the possibility that these shifts may be rank dependent. Additionally, the lower rank coals show the largest relative increase in their fluidities when subjected to pressure. Empirical relationships were derived in order to quantitatively predict the maximum isothermal fluidity for most (fluid) coals at a given pressure.     

Knowledge, data, and models

The object-oriented approach to integrating knowledge data, and models is examined. Under the object-oriented paradigm, everything is an object, which is itself an encapsulation of data and methods to manipulate and access the data within the object. Thus knowledge, data, and models can be defined as special kinds of objects. Active knowledge/data language (KDL), a functional object-oriented database system is considered, covering the active-KDL-type system and functions, and query-driven simulation     

The greenhouse effect; Impact upon and the role to be played by construction

The authors highlight several possible ways in which the construction industry could lower present emissions of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide. It is an excellent discussion document and is recommended reading.     

Camcorders

The author explains from an engineering standpoint, how some of the camcorder components work. He discusses the solid-state image sensor, the photodetector, scanning, the shutter frame rate, optics, the recording mechanism, the viewfinder, special effects, and automatic features. Motion detection, discrimination, and compensation are also covered. Recommendations as to which features are most useful are made     

Visual insights into high-resolution earthquake Simulations.

This study focuses on the visualization of a series of large earthquake simulations collectively called TeraShake. The simulation series aims to assess the impact of San Andreas Fault earthquake scenarios in Southern California. We discuss the role of visualization in gaining scientific insight and aiding unexpected discoveries.     

Temperature and modulation characteristics of resonant-cavitylight-emitting diodes

Resonant-cavity light-emitting diodes (RCLED) are novel, high-efficiency light-emitting diodes which employ optical microcavities. These diodes have higher intensities and higher spectral purity as compared to conventional LEDs. Analytical formulas are derived for the enhancement of the spontaneous emission along the optical axis of the cavity. The design rules for high-efficiency operation of RCLEDs are established. The temperature dependence of the emission intensity is analyzed in the range 20-80° and it is described by an exponential dependence with a characteristic temperature of 112 K. The modulation characteristics of RCLEDs exhibit 3 dB frequencies of 580 MHz. Eye diagrams at transmission rates of 622 Mb/s are wide open indicating the suitability of RCLEDs for high-speed data transmission     

A 16-Kbit Θ-search associative memory

The design of a high-capacity Θ-search associative memory (Θ∈{<,>,⩽,⩾,=≠}) is presented. PSPICE simulation and layouts show that the proposed Θ-search associative memory chip consisting of 256 words, each 64-b long, can fit on a 13.5-mm×9.5-mm chip. It can perform maskable Θ-search operations over its contents in 110 ns     

Frictional assessment of magnesium stearate and palmitate lubricant powders

A method has been developed for the frictional assessment of powder lubricants using a shear-box tester similar to that employed by Jenike. One commercial magnesium stearate, three high-purity magnesium stearates and three high-purity magnesium palmitates were assessed using this method. Powders with a well-ordered crystal structure and particle shape have a lower initial maximum coefficient of friction μ_a. The difference between μ_a and μ_b, the equilibrium dynamic friction coefficient, gives an indication of lubricant film-forming propensity. The basic friction equation is obeyed by the powders for most of the load range studied but deviates slightly approaching zero normal load.     

Attitudes and beliefs of Canadian infection control decision-makers towards 'borderline' methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

'Borderline' methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains are inhibited by drug concentrations of 2 to 8 micrograms/mL. This type of resistance is usually mediated by 'hyper beta-lactamase' production which is detectable in vitro by susceptibility to combinations of a beta-lactam and a beta-lactamase inhibitor (ie, amoxicillin and clavulanic acid). A survey of Canadian infection control experts was performed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding the containment requirements for borderline MRSA strains in acute health care facilities. Twenty-three of 38 Canadian infection control experts (61%) (members of the Canadian Hospital Epidemiology Committee [CHEC] or the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of American [SHEA]) returned a questionnaire about a fictional patient with a postoperative wound infection with such a strain. Eleven respondents (48%) considered the isolate as an MRSA, 11 did not and one was unsure. All who did not believe the strain to be MRSA would not have isolated or cohorted the patient. Four in the latter group would have isolated the patient if he or she were on a neurosurgery or cardiovascular surgery unit, indicating a desire to restrict spread of this isolate on those units. Seven of the 12 individuals who had managed at least one patient with a borderline MRSA did not advocate patient isolation or cohorting, and five did. This survey has supported the belief that there are discrepancies among infection control decision-makers in Canada regarding the approach, precautions and therapy of patients infected with borderline strains of MRSA. Further data on virulence of and effective therapy for these isolates are needed to assess whether the additional cost is warranted in controlling the nosocomial spread of these isolates.     

Self-aligning planarization and passivation for integration applications in III-V semiconductor devices

This work reports an easy planarization and passivation approach for the integration of III-V semiconductor devices. Vertically etched III-V semiconductor devices typically require sidewall passivation to suppress leakage currents and planarization of the passivation material for metal interconnection and device integration. It is, however, challenging to planarize all devices at once. This technique offers wafer-scale passivation and planarization that is automatically leveled to the device top in the 1-3-/spl mu/m vicinity surrounding each device. In this method, a dielectric hard mask is used to define the device area. An undercut structure is intentionally created below the hard mask, which is retained during the subsequent polymer spinning and anisotropic polymer etch back. The spin-on polymer that fills in the undercut seals the sidewalls for all the devices across the wafer. After the polymer etch back, the dielectric mask is removed leaving the polymer surrounding each device level with its device top to atomic scale flatness. This integration method is robust and is insensitive to spin-on polymer thickness, polymer etch nonuniformity, and device height difference. It prevents the polymer under the hard mask from etch-induced damage and creates a polymer-free device surface for metallization upon removal of the dielectric mask. We applied this integration technique in fabricating an InP-based photonic switch that consists of a mesa photodiode and a quantum-well waveguide modulator using benzocyclobutene (BCB) polymer. We demonstrated functional integrated photonic switches with high process yield of >90%, high breakdown voltage of >25 V, and low ohmic contact resistance of /spl sim/10 /spl Omega/. To the best of our knowledge, such an integration of a surface-normal photodiode and a lumped electroabsorption modulator with the use of BCB is the first to be implemented on a single substrate.