HRTEM observation of the monoclinic-to-tetragonal m-t) phase transition in nanocrystalline ZrO2

The orientation relations m(100) || t(001), m[001] || t[110]; m(011) || t(100), m[100] || t[001]; m(100) || t(110), m[001] || t[001]; m(013) || t(116), m[001] || t[001] (indices for the primitive tetragonal cell) have been found between the tetragonal (t) and monoclinic (m) domains during the electron irradiation-induced m-t phase transition observed in-situ with HREM within isolated zirconia nanoparticles. Geometric models of the m-t interfaces are proposed.     

Study of phase equilibria in the Al - Pd - Re system

Scanning and transmission electron microscopy have been combined with x-ray diffraction to examine the phase equilibria in the Al - Pd - Re system at 1000°C for compositions from 50 to 100 at.% Al, and the corresponding isothermal section has been constructed. The binary monoclinic Al₃ Re phase has been observed for the first time. It is confirmed that there is a stable icosahedral phase in this system. The boundaries to its homogeneity region have been determined and the phase equilibria in which it participates.     

Potency comparison of peptidomimetic inhibitors against HIV-1 and HIV-2 proteinases: design of equipotent lead compounds

The results of investigation of haptoglobin (Hp) types in 596 donor blood samples in some towns of Ukraine (Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov, Odessa, Kiev, Uzhgorod, Zhitomir) are presented. Three normal Hp types (Hp1-1, Hp2-1 and Hp2-2) have been found. The reliable interpopulation differences in the Hp types frequency were not found. On the whole the Hp types frequency in the type Hp1-1 comprised 12.7%. In the type Hp2-1-48.1% and in the type Hp2-2-36.5%. The frequency of the gene Hp1 is 0.38. The frequency of the Hp types and of the gene Hpl in Ukraine is similar to that in population of Eastern Europe and European Part of Russia.     

Line balancing in a just-in-time production environment: balancing multiple U-lines

The introduction of multiple, independent production lines has helped many firms to increase their production flexibility, provide for redundancy when equipment breaks down, reduce idle time and labor costs, and achieve many other benefits. This paper introduces and formalizes the multiple U-line balancing problem. Optimal solution methodologies are provided for Type I (minimize the number of stations for a given cycle time), Type II (minimize the cycle time for a given number of stations), and cost-minimization line-balancing problems. A branch-and-bound algorithm is also developed for the situation in which equipment requirements are dependent on the line configuration and the task assignment to stations. Computational results indicate that the greatest benefit of exploiting multiple lines occurs for smaller cycle-time problems that require higher output.     

Recruitment strategies in the women's health trial: feasibility study in minority populations. WHT:FSMP Investigators Group. Women's Health Trial:Feasibility Study in Minority Populations

The Women's Health Trial:Feasibility Study in Minority Populations (WHT:FSMP) examined the feasibility of recruiting postmenopausal women from a broad range of racial and socioeconomic backgrounds into a primary prevention trial requiring marked reductions in dietary fat. Postmenopausal women aged 50-79 yr who had no history of cardiovascular disease or cancer and who consumed 36% or more total energy from fat qualified to participate. We randomized the women into dietary intervention (60%) or control (40%) groups; we aimed to randomize 750 women in 18 months in each of the three clinical centers. All centers achieved goals for randomization based on ethnicity, and two centers exceeded overall recruitment goals. The greatest source of randomized participants was mass mailing, followed by items in the media, referrals, and community outreach. Recruitment yields were generally similar for the ethnic groups but lower for less-educated participants. The experience of WHT:FSMP indicates that postmenopausal women from the African-American, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white communities can be recruited into dietary intervention studies for the prevention of disease.     

Microwave surface resistance of epitaxial YBa2Cu3O7 thin films at 18.7 GHz measured by a dielectric resonator technique

We used a dielectric resonator technique for highly sensitive measurements of the temperature dependence of the microwave surface resistanceR _s of 1×1 cm² superconducting films at 18.7 GHz. It consists of a sapphire disc positioned on the film under investigation within a copper cavity which is acting as a radiation shield. In the TE₀₁ oscillation mode the highly reproducible quality factor of about 10⁵ results in a sensitivity of ±50 forR _s measurements. The temperature dependence ofR _s can be measured up to values as high as 1 . We have investigated several YBa₂Cu₃O₇ thin films prepared by high oxygen pressure d.c. sputtering on LaAlO₃ and NdGaO₃. Our best films exhibit a pronounced nonlinear behavior of the d.c. resistivity(T) with(300K)/(100K) values of about 3.7. Those films show, besides the initial fall-off just belowT _c , a further strong decrease ofR _s at low temperatures. This was observed both at 18.7 GHz and 87 GHz, as measured by a conventional cavity end plate replacement technique. ForTT_c/2 these films exhibit an exp (–T _c/T) dependence ofR _s with-values around 0.4. These observations may be explained by a superconducting energy gap with 2/kT _c0.8 for charge carriers localized in the CuO chains for YBa₂Cu₃O₇.     

Preparation of Vanadium and Vanadium Oxide Clusters by Means of Inert Gas Aggregation

Vanadium clusters were prepared by the inert gas aggregation technique by evaporating V of high purity. Structural characterization was performed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Apart from vanadium clusters of bcc structures in different orientations, crystalline VO clusters of NaCl structures were observed, which was attributed to the reaction with free oxygen present on the amorphous carbon substrates. The latter could be detected by electron energy-loss spectroscopy. The exposure of the samples to air caused a change to amorphous structures, which re-crystallized under the electron beam. This effect was interpreted as a reaction with water present in the air.     

Surface and interfacial FTIR spectroscopic studies of latexes. IX. The effect of homopolymer and copolymer structures on surfactant mobility in Sty/BA latices

The effects of homopolymer and copolymer compositions and structures in styrene/n-butyl acrylate (Sty/BA) latices on sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate (SDOSS) surfactant mobility and its preferential concentration at the film–air (F–A) and film–substrate (F–S) interfaces were examined using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR FTIR) spectroscopy. It appears that the SDOSS concentration at the F–S interface is highest when the Sty/BA feed ratio is 50/50, and the excess of Sty results in migration of SDOSS surfactant to the F–A interface. This behavior is attributed to the increased glass transition temperature and diminished compatibility between surfactant molecules and copolymer latex. This study also shows that the primary factors that influence exudation to either F–A or F–S interfaces are surface tension of the substrate, glass transition temperature, water flux during coalescence, and compatibility between latex components. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Investigation on the electrocatalytic characteristics of SnO_2 electrodes with nanocoating prepared by electrodeposition method

SnO2 electrodes have many advantages in the degradation of toxic or bio-refractory organic wastewater,and SnO2 is a kind of anode material which has the potential to be widely used.Electrocatalytic effi-ciency and service life of Ti\SnO2 electrodes are key factors that can influence its applications.In order to enhance the electrocatalytic characteristics of Ti\SnO2 electrodes,a type of electrocatalytic electrode with nanocoating was prepared by direct current(DC)electrodeposition method and thermal oxidati...     

Morphology of melt crystallized polypropylene in the presence of polyimide fibres

Hot stage optical and scanning electron microscopy were used to study isothermal crystallization of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) in the presence of polyimide (Pl) fibres. Under the same crystallization conditions, the occurrence of transcrystallization depends on the type of fibre used. The transcrystalline interphase has a composed structure, with a characteristic layer adjacent to the fibre surface. The layer is about 1 m thick and has a crosshatched lamellar morphology. At the interface between iPP and the Pl fibre which causes transcrystallization, the nuclei from which the transcrystalline zone grows is observed. The nuclei consist of sheaves of closely packed parallel needleshaped lamellae of uniform thickness. The transcrystallization phenomenon can be explained by the epitaxial crystallization of iPP matrix on the surface fragments (domains) formed by extended chains of Pl fibres. Different abilities of Pl fibres to induce transcrystallization are associated with the superficial morphology of the fibres.Presented in part at the 28th Europhysics Conference on Macromolecular Physics, Transitions in Oligomer and Polymer Systems, 27 September–1 October 1993, Ulm, Germany.