Precipitation of an ordered intermetallic phase in WC-10% Ni

The cause of the variability of the intensity of magnetization of the nickel binder phase in cemented carbides was sought by electron diffraction and dark-field microscopy studies of fractured specimens, one of which was partially magnetic and the other almost non-magnetic. A coherent phase in the nickel binder having either a b c c or a CsCI-type structure was found on the boundaries of crack paths. A coherent non-randomly arranged CsCI-type phase was found in an epitaxial relationship with (12.0) planes of WC. The lattice parametera=0.295 nm for both coherent phases. This phase or phases occurs more frequently in non-magnetic than in magnetic nickel binders of hardmetals. When seen near WC grains the ordered phase is often accompanied by randomly arranged tungsten trioxide particles. The implication is that the ordered phase occurs more readily in carbon-deficient surroundings. The phase is postulated to be NiW because large quantities of tungsten are known to form solid solutions with nickel.     

Current and current density limitations in existing electron storage rings

Storage rings dedicated for synchrotron light sources must show good beam performances in order to obtain high flux and brilliance. In particular bunch length, energy spread, beam intensity and transverse emittances have to satisfy special requirements.We intend here to briefly overview twenty years of experience obtained with small and medium size storage rings which were initially built as high energy physics facilities. The limiting effects will be extensively discussed by comparing theoretical models with systematic experimental studies.The possible means to remedy the inconveniences are also mentioned.     

Al0.3Ga0.7As-GaAs microwave resonant tunneling oscillator

We describe the design of a microwave oscillator using resonant tunneling diodes. The devices are fabricated from Al_0.3Ga_0.7As-GaAs double barrier hetero-structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Design criteria improving current drivability are established from a theoretical study of tunneling transmission probabilities. Very high peak current densities up to 3.10⁴ A/cm², favorable for high frequency operation as an oscillator, have been achieved experimentally. The devices exhibit stable oscillations at liquid nitrogen temperature and at room temperature when the tunnel diode oscillator is constructed with a stabilizing network.     

Online analysis of in vitro resistance to antimalarial drugs through nonlinear regression

Malaria remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide which is partly due to the emergence of the parasite resistance to antimalarial drugs. In vitro testing of drugs allows an early detection of resistance. The common parameter used for the monitoring of resistance is the concentration that inhibits 50% of the parasite's activity (IC₅₀). Various methods of calculation are already used but none of them consider new available tools nor display the precision of IC₅₀ estimation. We proposed an approach based on the inhibitory sigmoid E_max model, which is often used in pharmacology, with estimation of IC₅₀ through nonlinear regression using a standard function of the R software. To facilitate the usage of that tool we have developed an online version available on the website ICEstimator (ICEstimator website http://www.antimalarial-icestimator.net/, 2009) [1]. This website is used by various teams in the world and the user can do the analysis without knowing R using the GUI. This article describes version 2.1 of this website and shows illustration on five different real examples.     

Electrochemical surface nanopatterning by selective reductive desorption from mixed metal surfaces

We report on a novel strategy to the functionalisation of electrode surfaces based on the preparation and patterning of mixed metal electrodes using metal selective electrodesorption of a sacrificial alkanethiol. Plain palladium (Pd) and plain polycrystalline gold (poly-Au) electrodes were used initially to determine metal specific potential windows within which electrodesorption of the short alkanethiol mercaptoethanol could be achieved. We found that stripping of mercaptoethanol from gold was achieved at potentials lower than −0.800 V, whilst stripping from palladium was achieved at more positive potentials i.e. around −0.650 V. Mixed metal electrodes were prepared by electroplating for short period of times palladium onto poly-Au electrodes. The resulting surfaces were characterised electrochemically in 1 M H₂SO₄ and clearly exhibited reduction peaks for both gold and palladium oxide formation. The mixed metal electrodes were coated with mercaptoethanol, which was further selectively removed from Pd by cyclic voltammetry in NaOH in the Pd-specific potential window. The presence of bare Pd domains revealed following electrodesorption was confirmed by subsequently adsorbing the electroactive alkanethiol 6-ferrocenylhexanethiol onto the freshly revealed Pd. Cyclic voltamogramms exhibited sharp redox peaks that could only be attributed to the successful immobilisation of 6-ferrocenylhexanethiol onto fresh Pd domains. Control surfaces, i.e. MCE fully coated Pd/Poly-Au electrode, exposed to 6-ferrocenylhexanethiol did not exhibit significant voltammetric features, attesting to the efficient patterning of the mixed metal electrode by employing metal specific reductive desorption of short alkanethiols. The possibility to pattern electrode surfaces in such way will find application in the field of diagnostics, and also in heterogeneous catalysis where Pd-Au alloys have received an increased interest in the recent years.     

Experimental validation of the linear drive train for a total artificial heart system

In industrialized countries cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of death. Beside heart transplants, which are a limited option due to the limited number of available human donor hearts, Total Artificial Hearts (TAHs) are the only therapy available for some patients with terminal heart diseases. For various reasons a total implantable artificial heart is desirable, but also sets restrictions in terms of weight and dimensions due to the limited space in the human thorax. Therefore a precise requirement profile is needed for the drive design to provide sufficient force for the blood pump and to avoid oversizing of the drive and to prevent blood damage by overheating.     

学分制学籍管理存在的问题及对策

介绍了重庆科技学院实行学分制的做法和在学籍管理方面采取的相应措施,分析了学分制学籍管理中存在的问题,提出了改善学分制学籍管理工作的建议.     

Thermal and economic evaluation of heat recovery measures for indoor ice rinks

A comparative study of three ventilation systems supplying air to a typical Canadian indoor ice rink illustrates the power, energy and operating cost savings which can be achieved by using the relatively warm air from the air cooled condensers of the refrigeration system. The direct use of this warm air for ventilation results in a reduction of energy consumption during the winter amounting to 24.2% of the yearly consumption of the heating system. On the other hand, the use of a heat exchanger to heat the ventilation air results in energy consumption reductions throughout the year. Depending on the size of the heat exchanger these gains can be as high as 60.8% of the heating energy consumption by the existing system. Based on actual prices of electricity and the heat exchanger it is established that the cost savings over the life of the equipment are at least three times higher than the cost of the heat exchanger.