Structural,morphological and electrical properties of Cr2O3 nanoparticles

Chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃) nanoparticles have been prepared by chemical precipitation followed by calcination at high temperatures. The influence of calcination temperature on the particle size, microstructure, surface area and morphology was examined by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms, transmission electron microscopy and thermal analysis techniques. The results indicate the formation of a nanosized single Cr₂O₃ phase. The particles possess high specific surface area and mesoporous structure, and their sizes increase with increasing the calcinations temperature. DC conductivity was measured in the temperatures range of 170–475 K. For the high temperature region, the conduction was found to be due to small polaron hopping of holes. While for the low temperatures region, the conduction was attributed to variable range hopping mechanism of holes. The temperature dependence of the AC conductivity and dielectric constant was investigated in the same temperature range at four test frequencies. In addition, the impedance spectra of these nanoparticles were investigated only at temperatures above 350 K.     

Analysis and simulation of interrupt overhead impact on OS throughput in high‐speed networks

The paper presents analytical and simulation models to study the impact of interrupt overhead on operating system throughput of network elements such as PC‐based routers, servers, and hosts when subjected to high‐speed network traffic. Under such high network traffic, the system throughput will be negatively affected due to interrupt overhead caused by the incoming traffic. We first present an analytical model for the ideal system when interrupt overhead is ignored. We then present two models which describe the impact of high interrupt rate on system throughput. One model is for employing PIO in which network adapters are not equipped with DMA engines, and the other model is for employing DMA in which network adapters are equipped with DMA engines. The paper also describes detailed discrete‐event simulation models for the ideal system and for systems with DMA and PIO. Simulations results as well as reported experimental measurements show that our analytical models are valid and give a good approximation. Our analysis and simulation work can be valuable in providing insight to understand and predict system behaviour, as well as improving and maintaining good host performance. The paper identifies analytically critical design operation points such as that of overload condition. The paper also proposes solutions and recommendations for improving performance. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Throughput and Delay Analysis of IEEE 802.11 DCF in the Presence of Hidden Nodes for Multi-hop Wireless Networks

Hidden node collision in a contention-based medium access control protocol contributes to poor wireless network performance. This paper extended the Bianchi’s study and introduces a mathematical model that can be used to calculate throughput and delay for the IEEE 802.11 distributed coordination function of a multihop wireless network infrastructure assuming the presence of hidden node collision. This research investigates three essential parameters of multi-hop wireless networks. More specifically, this paper aims to analyze the effect of hidden nodes, network size, and maximum backoff stage on the overall system throughput and packet delay. Results clearly reveal the effect of large wireless network size, maximum backoff stage, and collision probability on throughput and packet delay. On one hand, throughput does not depend on the maximum backoff stage (m) for a small network size (e.g., n \(=\) 10). On the other hand, throughput does not strongly depend on the number of nodes when the backoff stage values are high. Comparing our proposed model in case single-hop with the Bianchi model, the analysis results indicate that the throughput values in our model when the numbers of nodes are 10, 50, and 100 are 0.6031, 0.4172 and 0.3433 respectively; whereas the throughput values are respectively 0.8370, 0.8317 and 0.8255 at the same number of nodes for the Bianchi model. The difference can be attributed to several assumptions made in our proposed model that were not considered in the Bianchi model.     

Measurement and modelling of kinetics of hydrogen sorption by LaNi5 and two related pseudobinary compounds

The hydriding/dehydriding rates and the pressure–composition isotherms were measured for LaNi5, LaNi_4.85Al_0.15 and LaNi_4.75Fe_0.25 under quasi-isothermal and variable pressure conditions. Isothermal conditions were obtained by reducing the thermal time constant of the experimental device. Empirical rate equations to describe the sorption reaction kinetics were derived. These rates are expressed as a function of temporal composition, saturated composition, temperature, applied pressure and essentially the initial operating conditions which were not considered in most of all the previous studies related to the reaction kinetics of metal hydrides. Besides, the rate equations presented in this work can be integrated easily in the numerical models that predict dynamic flow and heat and mass transfer within realistic metal–hydrogen devices. This paper also discusses the effects of Fe and Al as substituents for Ni on P–C isotherms and reaction rates of LaNi₅ alloy.     

Study of defect levels in CdTe using thermoelectric effect spectroscopy

We have studied the defect levels in as grown and post growth processed cadmium telluride (CdTe) using thermoelectric effect spectroscopy (TEES) and thermally stimulated current (TSC) techniques. We have extracted the thermal energy (E_th) and trapping cross section (σ_th) for the defect levels using the initial rise and variable heating rate methods. We have identified 10 different defect levels in the crystals. Thermal ionization energy values obtained experimentally were compared to theoretical values of the transition-energy levels of intrinsic and extrinsic defects and defect complexes in CdTe determined by first-principles band-structure calculations. On the basis of this comparison, we have associated the observed ionization levels with various native defects and impurity complexes.     

Numerical study of compact shear (Mode II) type test specimen geometry

The Iosipescu shear test specimen geometry has been investigated by a number of research workers in recent years with conflicting results. The paper describes a numerical study of a compact shear test specimen, based on the Iosipescu geometry, which is proposed to investigate size effects in shear failure. A range of geometries has been studied and the extreme cases are reported. Results are presented for the largest absolute principal stresses together with a detailed study of the stresses between and around the roots of the two notches introduced in the test specimens. The results for the largest absolute principal stresses show that tensile stresses are created at the roots of the two notches. These tensile stresses may result in Mode I failure and probably account for the Mode I or mixed mode fracture observed in tests using the Iosipescu geometry. The results for the distribution of stresses between the roots of the two notches show that deep notches increase the likelihood of shear fracture prior to tensile failure. Shallow notches give a stress distribution similar to that developed in the indirect tensile test and hence tensile failure is likely to precede shear failure in such cases. Further numerical and experimental work is proposed.      

Hardened slag–cement pastes of various porosities. III. Surface area in relation to pore structure

The total surface areas, total pore volumes, and the distribution of pore surface and pore volume in pores of different sizes were determined on the hardened slag-cement pastes. Adsorption isotherms of four different adsorbates, namely water, methanol, nitrogen and cyclohexane, were used for surface area and pore structure determinations. The results obtained indicated that water can penetrate into the total pore system, namely both the micropores and the wide pores; whereas methanol can measure wide pores and some of the micropores; moreover, nitrogen and cyclohexane molecules tend to measure only wider groups of pores. The indication gained from this result is that the molecular sieve property plays the most significant role in surface area and pore structure determinations of the hardened cement pastes. The polarity of the molecules seems to be important at low relative vapour pressures, and at high pressures it causes expansion of the pastes.     

Status of desalination research and technology in the middle east

The need for water in the Middle East has been a challenging problem for industrial development and expansion. The great abundance of high salinity and brackish water resources, the vast population growth and the increasing need for food in the area have enhanced the development of several desalting projects and have initiated long-term plans for irrigation of arid land. The interest in producing fresh water from the sea using different energy sources in the Middle East dates back to a few decades. Currently there is a trend to actively participate in the progress and development of desalination science and technology utilizing available manpower and other resources in research projects, in experiments, and in the construction of prototype plants to examine the feasibility of novel processes especially those suitable for agriculture water production. Present plans involve enhancement of the transfer of technology and the establishment of centers of research and development and international cooperative project to serve local and global interest. Recent developments and the state-of-the-art of the different aspects of desalination research and technology in the Middle East are reviewed including a discussion of current experimental and theoretical activities. Practice in plant operation and the generated experience are assessed. The highlights of future plans are presented.     

The Q sort reevaluated.

Astudy is reported examining movement in psychotherapy using the Butler-Haigh Q Sort, comparing before and after therapy self- and ideal-self ratings of 79 high school and college students. Especially important was the examination of congruence (a concept offered by Rogers) in relation to therapeutic change; data do not support Rogers' findings regarding self moving toward ideal during and after therapy; the general notion of congruence is questioned on the basis of relatively unvarying self-ideal correlations and on the basis of item shifts on a before- and after-therapy basis. (16 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)