Degradation of NiCr/CuNiMn/NiCr films on alumina substrates

This paper addresses the aging behaviour of NiCr/CuNiMn/NiCr triple layers on Al₂O₃ ceramics at temperatures up to 200°C for film thicknesses d0.5 μm. Investigations of the film structure and the increase of resistance and its temperature coefficient during the annealing process and studies of the dependence of this aging drift on both the film thickness and the storage temperature have been carried out. Furthermore, the film stress and the effect of substrate bending on resistance have been measured. The results can be explained by the irregular film structure (columns and small bridges between them), which causes stress and current concentrations as well as local creeping, cracking and oxidation processes in the micro-bridges. They are compared with such for structurally homogeneous films on silicon wafers.     

Tagging of η mesons using the pd → 3Heη reaction near threshold

A zero-degree spectrometer for tagging η mesons on the CELSIUS/WASA facility is described, and its characteristics are presented. Tagging of η mesons is performed by detecting ³He ions produced by reaction pd → ³Heη close to the production threshold. The low background level (<2%) is in good agreement with the data obtained earlier on the SATURNE accelerator.     

Empirical assessment of a threshold model for sylvatic plague.

Plague surveillance programmes established in Kazakhstan, Central Asia, during the previous century, have generated large plague archives that have been used to parameterize an abundance threshold model for sylvatic plague in great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) populations. Here, we assess the model using additional data from the same archives. Throughout the focus, population levels above the threshold were a necessary condition for an epizootic to occur. However, there were large numbers of occasions when an epizootic was not observed even though great gerbils were, and had been, abundant. We examine six hypotheses that could explain the resulting false positive predictions, namely (i) including end-of-outbreak data erroneously lowers the estimated threshold, (ii) too few gerbils were tested, (iii) plague becomes locally extinct, (iv) the abundance of fleas was too low, (v) the climate was unfavourable, and (vi) a high proportion of gerbils were resistant. Of these, separate thresholds, fleas and climate received some support but accounted for few false positives and can be disregarded as serious omissions from the model. Small sample size and local extinction received strong support and can account for most of the false positives. Host resistance received no support here but should be subject to more direct experimental testing.     

Reibungsversuche mit Krypton bei niedrigen Drücken

Tests of a linear Equation on the Evaluation of Krypton Friction Experiments at low Pressures and Connections to Viscosity Effects The coefficient of viskosity is nearly constant in the region with STP conditions and is independent of the pressure. This coefficient decreases with lowering the pressure until the region of molecular flow is reached. There we have free molecular‐ or vacuum viscosity. Experiments with the friction of gas have to take in the gas between surfaces which are movabel and parallel. Reactions of the gas with the moving surface cannot be neglected. We made our lab‐examinations of gas friction effects between two rotating cylinders. Generally there is a linear equation of the reciprocal values of viscosities and pressures. Our experiments show a region, where this linear relation is valid. This region has a low limit with coming to molecular flow and an upper limit if the gas is warmed up by friction at higher pressures.     

A mutational analysis of receptor binding sites of interleukin-1{beta}:differences in binding of human interleukin-1{beta} muteins to human and mouse receptors

The 3-D crystal structure of interleukin-1ß(IL-1ß)has been used to define its receptor binding surface by mutationalanalysis. The surface of IL-1ß was probed by site-directedmutagenesis. A total of 27 different IL-1ß muteinswere constructed, purified and analyzed. Receptor binding measurementson mouse and human cell lines were performed to identify receptoraffinities. IL-1ß muteins with modified receptor affinitywere evaluated for structural integrity by CD spectroscopy orX-ray crystallography. Changes in six surface loops, as wellas in the C- and N-termini, yielded muteins with lower bindingaffinities. Two muteins with intact binding affinities showed10- to 100-fold reduced biological activity. The surface regioninvolved in receptor binding constitutes a discontinuous areaof 1000 Å2 formed by discontinuous polypeptide chain stretches.Based on these results, a subdivision into two distinct localareas is proposed. Differences in receptor binding affinitiesfor human and mouse receptors have been observed for some muteins,but not for wild-type IL-1ß. This is the first timea difference in binding affinity of IL-1ß muteinsto human and mouse receptors has been demonstrated     

Plasma spraying of zircon

Zircon, ZrSiO₄, is a natural mineral used for various applications as a refractory bulk material. It is an excellent feedstock for the plasma spraying of protective coatings and free-standing bodies. Zircon decomposes on spraying into t-ZrO₂ and glassy SiO₂, which can be preserved in deposits by fast cooling. This combination of zirconia and silica exhibits properties such as a high thermal shock resistance, good corrosion resistance, low wettability, etc. The final properties of deposits can be further enhanced by the addition of other materials such as alumina. For instance, alumina-zircon plasma-sprayed free-standing pipes have a low gas permeability. Several technical applications are discussed.     

Modelling and analysis of the dynamics of a tilting three-wheeled vehicle

To understand the handling behaviour of a three-wheeled tilting vehicle, models of the vehicle with different level of detail, corresponding to specific fields of investigation, have been developed. Then the proposed kinematics of the three-wheeler are assessed and optimized with respect to desired dynamic properties by applying a detailed multibody system model. The partially unstable nature of the motion of the vehicle suggests the application of an analytically derived, simplified model, to allow for focusing on stability aspects and steady-state handling properties. These investigations reveal the necessity of employing a steer-by-wire control system to support the driver by stabilizing the motion of the vehicle. Thus, an additional basic vehicle model is derived for control design, and an energy-efficient control strategy is presented. Numerical simulation results demonstrate the dynamic properties of the optimized kinematics and the control system, approved by successful test runs of a prototype.     

The influence of text modality on learning with static and dynamic visualizations

In this study we investigated the influence of text modality on learning with static and dynamic visualizations in a dynamic domain, namely the physical principles underlying fish locomotion. A 2 × 2-design with type of visualization (static vs. dynamic) and text modality (spoken vs. written) as independent variables was used. Concerning learning outcomes, it was hypothesized that (1) learners presented with dynamic visualizations would outperform learners presented with static visualizations, (2) learners presented with spoken text would outperform learners presented with written text, and (3) an interaction between type of visualization and modality would occur: the superiority of dynamic over static visualizations was expected to be more pronounced for spoken compared to written text. Subjective cognitive load measures were assessed and expected to mirror the aforementioned pattern of learning outcomes in accordance with Cognitive Load Theory (i.e., higher extraneous cognitive load (ECL) related to lower learning outcomes). For transfer tasks, the first two hypotheses could be confirmed. However, there was no interaction. Moreover, ECL was rated higher by subjects when learning with static compared to dynamic visualizations, but there were no differences for ECL with respect to the text modality. The results are discussed within the framework of Cognitive Load Theory.