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Abstract The requirements of low resistivity and small magnetic permeability in the high-frequency signal delivery applications have driven the development of Ni-free surface finishes, such as Au/Pd (EPIG) or Au/Pd/Au (IGEPIG), over the Cu conducting lines. The compatibility of these newly developed surface finish techniques with microelectronic packages and their long-term, high temperature reliability still require investigations in the current state. We conducted a solderability evaluation on the Au/Pd/Cu and Au/Pd/Au/Cu multilayers and found no noticeable differences of the intermetallic compound species (i.e., (Cu,Pd) 6 Sn 5 and Cu 3 Sn) in the joint interfaces between the two examined cases. However, numerous bump voids might be formed in the vicinity of the solder/Cu interface of the EPIG case, degrading the shear resistance of solder joints. The formation mechanism of the bump voids and the evolution kinetics were proposed in this study. Highlights • A comparative study between Au/Pd/Cu (EPIG) and Au/Pd/Au/Cu (IGEPIG). • Au nanolayer (10 nm) inhibited the bump void formation. • Bump voids merged as larger ones upon soldering. • Bump voids degraded the LSBS resistance of solder joints. • IGEPIG surface finish possesses better solderability than EPIG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Comparative study between Au/Pd (EPIG) and Au/Pd/Au (IGEPIG) surface finishes. • Modification of Pd (EP) via replacement of Pd catalysts by a Au nanolayer. • Pd (EP) of IGEPIG possessed larger grains with limited nanovoids and nanochannels. • A dense Pd film significantly enhanced the thermal reliability and corrosion resistance of Cu. • IGEPIG surface finish has better thermal/corrosion properties than EPIG. Abstract The thermal reliability and electrochemical corrosion of Au/Pd (electroless palladium/immersion gold, EPIG) and Au/Pd/Au (immersion gold/electroless palladium/immersion gold, IGEPIG) surface finishes over Cu traces were characterized in this study. The predeposition of a Au nanolayer over Cu (i.e., IGEPIG case) served as the catalysts for the electroless reduction of Pd2+ ions and modified the polycrystalline Pd structure (EP) into a dense Pd film with limited grain boundaries and nanochannels/nanovoids. This phenomenon greatly improved the thermal reliability and corrosion resistance of the Au/Pd/Cu structure (EPIG case), even though the predeposited Au film was only 10 nm thick. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence on whether patients with psoriasis have a higher risk for staphylococcal colonization than healthy controls remains controversial. To synthesize the current literature, we performed a systematic review on the prevalence and relative risk ( RR) of Staphylococcus aureus colonization in patients with psoriasis. We modified the QUADAS-2 instrument to assess the reporting quality of individual studies and applied random-effects models in meta-analysis. Overall we identified 21 eligible studies, of which 15 enrolled one or more comparison groups. The pooled prevalence of staphylococcal colonization in patients with psoriasis was 35·3% [95% confidence interval ( CI) 25·0-45·6] on lesional skin and 39·2% (95% CI 33·7-44·8) in the nares. Patients with psoriasis were 4·5 times more likely to be colonized by S. aureus than healthy controls were on the skin ( RR 5·54, 95% CI 3·21-9·57) and 60% more in the nares ( RR 1·60, 95% CI 1·11-2·32). Cutaneous and nasal colonization by meticillin-resistant S. aureus also appeared higher in patients with psoriasis (pooled prevalence 8·6%) than in healthy controls (2·6%), yet the difference was not statistically significant ( P = 0·74). In contrast, despite of a similar risk for nasal staphylococcal colonization ( RR 0·67, 95% CI 0·38-1·18), patients with psoriasis were less likely to carry S. aureus on lesional skin than atopic patients ( RR 0·64, 95% CI 0·40-1·02). In summarizing the current literature, we found that patients with psoriasis were at an increased risk for staphylococcal colonization compared with healthy individuals. Prospective studies on how bacterial loads correlate with disease activity can guide the clinical management of bacterial colonization while preventing the emergence of drug-resistant strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryogenic propellant storage on orbit is a crucial part of future space exploration. Efficient and reliable thermal insulation is one of the dominant technologies for the long-duration missions. This paper presents theoretical and experimental investigation on the thermal performance of variable density multilayer insulation (VDMLI) with different configurations and spacers. A practical method for optimizing the configuration of VDMLI was proposed by iteratively predicting the internal temperature profiles and maximizing the thermal resistance based on the basic layer by layer model. A cryogen boil-off calorimeter system was designed and fabricated to measure the temperature profile and effective heat transfer coefficient of the VDMLI samples over a wide range of temperature (77–353 K). The experimental data confirm that the optimized sample as predicted does have the minimum effective heat transfer coefficient in the control group. The results indicated that the insulation performance of MLI could be improved by 45.5% after replacing the regular uniform configuration with the optimized variable density configuration. For the same optimized configuration, the performance was further improved by 54% by changing the spacing material from none-woven fiber cloth to Dacron net. It was also found that the effective heat transfer coefficient will be much less sensitive to the MLI thickness when it exceeds 30 mm for on-orbit thermal environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this work, a comprehensive model is established to predict the surface roughness achieved by single point diamond turning. In addition to the calculation of the roughness components in relation to the kinematics and minimum undeformed chip thickness, the newly developed model also takes the effects of plastic side flow and elastic recovery of materials as machined into account. Moreover, the ‘size effect’ has also been successfully integrated into the model, i.e. an inflection point appears in the trend line of predicted surface roughness as the ratio of maximal undeformed chip thickness to cutting edge radius (h Dmax/r n) is equal to one unit. Face turning experiments validate that the maximal prediction error is only 13.35%. As the ratio of h Dmax/r n is higher than one unit, both the prediction and experiments reveal that a conservation law exists in diamond turned surface roughness, owing to the competitive effects of kinematics, minimum undeformed chip thickness, plastic side flow and elastic recovery of materials on surface formation. Under the conservation law, the freedom control for an invariable surface roughness can be fulfilled in response to a quantitative ratio of h Dmax/r n, either through an accurate configuration of feed rate and depth of cut with fixed tool nose radius and cutting edge radius, or by a reasonable selection of tool nose radius and controlled cutting edge radius with designed feed rate and depth of cut. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Fractions of Ti(C, N) precipitates were increased during GBE process. [•] Fraction of twins appeared to affect the formation of non-twin type Σ3. [•] The internal oxidation was interrupted by special boundaries. [•] A model has been developed to relate creep behaviour to special boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Molecular dynamics simulation was performed to study the deformation behaviors of Zigzag Graphene Nano-Ribbons (ZGNRs). [•] The “phase transformation” from hexagonal to quasi-rectangular and the subsequent second elastic deformation were observed. [•] Related thermal effects model was built to predict fracture strain of ZGNRs, and was consistent with simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A meshless shell method for large deformation and a linear relation between the Cauchy stress tensor and the Almansi strain tensor based on the corrective smoothed particle method (CSPM) is presented in this paper. Due to the use of the shell theory, only one layer of particles in the reference plane is required to discretize the shell model. The CSPM combining the kernel estimate with the Taylor series expansion is adopted, which resolves the general problems of low precision and particle deficiency in standard smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). The discrete governing equations of the shell in the strong form are derived using the conservation condition and the CSPM interpolation function. Aiming at the sore point of the free boundary in the meshless method, the developed model enables the modified governing equations to automatically satisfy the free boundary condition without additional treatment. Moreover, the total Lagrangian kernel function and stress points are employed to eliminate tensile instability and instability induced by the rank deficiency. Finally, several numerical examples are used to verify the validity and accuracy of the meshless shell model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Canna edulis ker is a potential feedstock for ethanol production because of its low nutrition requirements and the high starch content of its tubers. The processing of C. edulis is limited by the high viscosity of the biomass. In this study, cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs) containing acid xylanase and β-glucanase were successful in reducing the viscosity (from 167.30 Pa s to 8.66 Pa s) at 50 °C for 120 min. The effect of CWDEs on simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) was investigated. Addition of CWDEs before SSF, resulted in an increase in total sugar and fermentable sugar. Meanwhile, the viscosity decreased sharply from approximately 200.00 Pa s to 2.98 Pa s, thereby improving the fermentation parameters and the mass fraction of the theoretical ethanol yield was 94.5%. Only special demand of nutritional ingredients was nitrogen, urea at 750 mg kg−1 was found to be suitable for this purpose. In the verification experiments, the mass fraction of the theoretical ethanol yield in a 5 L fermentor was 98.3%. In conclusion, the pretreatment with CWDEs has significant effect on high level ethanol production using roots and tubers on an industrial scale from the biomass utilization efficiency and economic standpoint. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) has become a central tool for label-free characterization of biomolecular interactions. Based on monitoring of amplitude characteristics, conventional SPR sensors have been extensively explored, commercialized and applied for studies of many important interactions (antigen-antibody, protein-ligand etc), but this technology still lacks of sensitivity for the detection of relatively small and low copy number compounds. Phase-sensitive SPR has recently emerged as an upgrade of this technology to resolve the sensitivity issue. Profiting from a sharp phase jump under SPR and ultra-sensitive tools of its control, this technology offers up to 100-time improvement of the detection limit, giving access to the detection of trace amounts of small molecular weight analytes (drugs etc). This paper intends to provide a tutorial on basic concepts of phase detection in SPR sensing, compare the performance of phase- and amplitude-sensitive sensors, review recent progress in the development and applications of phase-sensitive SPR sensors, and outline future prospects and trends of this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Magnetic properties and high frequency characteristics of obliquely sputtered Co100− x M x (M=V and Nb) films were investigated. All studied films exhibited strong induced in-plane uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. Less content of Nb (x =7) than V (x =16) is sufficient for Co100− x M x films to become fully amorphous which exhibit the maximum magnetic anisotropy filed, reduced coercivity and the increased resistivity. The optimal properties of 4πM s =11.3kG, H k =350Oe and f FMR =5.6GHz are attained for Co93Nb7 film, which are suitable for up to 5GHz applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The rapid progress of modern manufacturing and inspection technologies has posed stringent requirements on optical techniques for vibration characterization and dynamic testing. Due to its simplicity, accuracy and whole-field characters, laser speckle interferometry has served as one of the major techniques for dynamic measurement. In this paper, a two-step phase shifting method is developed for quantitative speckle phase measurement, which helps to eliminate the specklegrams needed for phase evaluation and facilitate dynamic measurement. Unlike previously reported two-step methods using fringe patterns with known phase shift of π/2, a small unknown phase shift is employed instead in the proposed method, which eliminates the need for phase shifting devices. Further investigation shows that small phase shifts are preferable over large phase shifts in this method. Shearographic experiments conducted have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed technique. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the field of Civil Engineering, the evaluation of concrete elasticity modulus relies heavily on traditional strain gauges like electric resistance strain gauge, demec mechanical strain and compressometer. These strain gauges work pretty well but the sample surface preparation and the strain gauge adhesion are tedious and time-consuming. On the other hand, convenient non-destructive testing methods like rebound hammer and ultrasonic pulse velocity have the disadvantage of large data scattering and low reliability. In this paper, we aim to develop a handy, reliable and cost-effective method for concrete property evaluation based on an optical technique called automatic digital image correlation (ADIC), which acts as an optical strain gauge. By incorporating an automatic searching approach, the proposed ADIC greatly expands the convergence range of normal digital image correlation (DIC) algorithms and is able to automatically determine concrete strain in real time without human interaction. After the optical strain gauge is set up, the axial concrete strain as well as the stress–strain curve is plotted in real time when the concrete sample under testing is loaded. The concrete elasticity modulus is then determined from the curve. A series of experiments have been conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed optical strain gauge. Comparisons are also carried out between the proposed optical strain gauge and traditional strain gauges such as electronic strain gauge, compressometer and demec mechanical strain gauge, which further confirm the accuracy, convenience and reliability of the proposed technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Infrared thermography is a rapid, non-invasive and full-field technique for non-destructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E). With all the achievements on IR instrumentation and image processing techniques attained, it has been extended far beyond simple hot-spot detection and becomes one of the most promising NDT&E techniques in the last decades. It has achieved increasing acceptance in different sectors include medical imaging, manufacturing component fault detection and buildings diagnostic. However, one limitation of IR thermography is that the testing results are greatly affected by object surface emissivity. Surface with various emissivities may lead to difficult discrimination between area of defect and area with different emissivity. Therefore, many studies have been carried out on eliminating emissivity, for example, the time derivative approach, lock-in processing and differential contrast measurements. In these methods, sequence of themo-data/images are recorded and being processed in order to eliminate differences of emissivity. Another problem of IR thermography is that any obstruction may limit stimulations and imaging which leads to the observation of unclear defect image. To solve this problem, this paper proposes an algorithm based on the principle of computerized tomography which permits the reconstruction of unavailable/partially available temperature distribution of the affected area using the measured surrounding temperature field. In the process, a set of imaginary rays are projected from many different directions across the area. For each ray, integration of the temperature derivatives along the ray is equals to the temperature difference between the boundary points intercepted by the ray. Therefore, a set of linear equations can be established by considering the multiple rays. Each equation expresses the unknown temperature derivatives in the affected area in terms of the measured boundary temperature data. Solution of the set of simultaneous equations yields unknown thermal distribution in the area which needs to be reconstructed. Based on the proposed computerized tomography reconstruction (CTR) technique, deviated temperature data due to missing temperature data hidden by obstacle can be reconstructed. With further development, this technique may have the potential to be applied in the reconstruction of any smooth physical fields like phase information in optical techniques. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Shearography has been widely adopted for nondestructive testing and evaluation of various materials, especially in the rubber industry and aerospace industry. It detects flaws and defects by identifying deformation anomalies when the specimen is stressed by a certain means. Conventional stressing methods for shearography include pressurization, mechanical or acoustic loading and vibration excitation. These stressing techniques are favorably applied in various applications. In this study, we propose a novel impulsive thermal stressing method using high-power flash lamps for convenient nondestructive testing and evaluation in both laboratory and industrial environment. The proposed technique employs a high-energy heat flux to excite the specimen and detects the thermal deformation anomaly using a shearographic setup. By incorporating a novel clustering phase extraction method, the movement of the continuously deforming object is obtained using only one single deformed speckle image at each deformed stage, thus enabling both qualitative and quantitative measurement. Experiments conducted on various samples with cracks and debonds demonstrate the practicability of proposed technique for both laboratory and industrial applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Bolts are widely used in industry for joining members together. The behavior and service life of bolted joints depend on several factors including bolt material, dimensions, surface finish, surface coating and thread tolerances. However, the uppermost factor affecting the reliability and durability is the correctness of the clamping force exerted by the bolt. Thus it is very important to monitor the bolt clamping force to ensure a proper preload during assembly process. Each of the available monitoring techniques including torque control, torque-angle control, strain gauged bolt and ultrasound suffers one or more limitations which affect the reliability of measurement. In this paper, we propose an alternative method for direct tension measurement, which utilizes a washer with a white light speckle pattern on its face as an optical force transducer. By measuring the strain of the washer using automatic digital image correlation, the clamping force can be determined. This method, which enables real-time monitoring of clamping force during fastening, has a potential of being used for mass measurement of clamping force in a production environment. Experiments conducted on bolted structures with washers of different sizes have demonstrated the reliability and usefulness of this new approach. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this work, the magnetic and microstructural properties of CoPt nanowires are presented as a function of the electrolyte pH and current density during electrodeposition into anodized alumina templates. CoPt nanowires of high aspect ratio have been prepared using electrolyte pH values in the range from 2 to 6. The as-made samples exhibit a face centered cubic (fcc) structure with soft magnetic properties which transform into the face centered tetragonal (fct) L10 phase after thermal treatment. Different pH values of the electrolyte during electrodeposition lead to significantly different microstructures and, therefore, different magnetic properties. The CoPt nanowires prepared at high pH value are composed of fcc nanorods of about 25nm in length. Thermal annealing of these samples leads to a preferred (001) orientation (along the direction perpendicular to the direction of nanowires) which increases with annealing time. On the other hand, the CoPt nanowires prepared at lower pH value are composed of uniform fcc nanograins with the size ∼2−3nm. Magnetization curves for the later sample are virtually identical in both directions indicating an isotropic behavior. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents a meshless model for quasi-static and dynamic analysis of a three-dimensional Timoshenko beam with geometric nonlinearity. A general mathematical formulation is constructed based on the corrective smoothed particle method (CSPM), which can correct the low precision and completeness deficiency of the standard smoothed particle hydrodynamics(SPH) method. The discrete governing equations as well as the boundary conditions in strong form for the three-dimensional beam are then derived by using the conservation conditions and the CSPM interpolation function. The developed model enables one to expediently discretize the geometric nonlinear beam with only a row of particles at the central axis and to automatically satisfy the free boundary condition without any additional treatment. Moreover, Lagrangian kernel function and stress points are adopted to eliminate tensile instability and instability induced by the rank deficiency within the particle methods. Finally, comparisons with several results obtained from the existing literature are provided to demonstrate the validity and potential of the present procedure. • A three-dimensional meshless beam model with geometric nonlinearity is presented. • The beam formulation is constructed using the corrective smoothed particle method. • A free boundary treatment method is proposed for the meshless beam formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Results are presented for a simulation carried out to test the precision with which a detector design (HERON) based on a superfluid helium target material should be able to measure the solar pp and 7Be fluxes. It is found that precisions of ±1.68% and ±2.97% for pp and 7Be fluxes, respectively, should be achievable in a 5-year data sample. The physics motivation to aim for these precisions is outlined as are the detector design, the methods used in the simulation and sensitivity to solar orbit eccentricity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A practical oxidizing technique with ozone has been developed for the passivation of porous silicon (PS) at room temperature. The fundamental role of ozonization may be attributed to the strong oxidizing process for the Si–Hx species and dangling bonds. The subsequent 158 days’ aging effect with the presence of absorbed ozone molecules is very effective for the oxidizing process. At last we achieve a complete replacing Si–Hx coverage with Si-Ox film and Si–alkyl film. The steady increase of photoluminescence (PL) intensity is assigned to the increase in the barrier’s height efficiency and the increase in quantum confinement effect for the silicon nanocrystallites. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In Taiwan, having implemented some incentive measures and subsidies, some progress of renewable energy in Taiwan has occurred; however, comparing the medium and long-term target reveals a wide gap. This paper (taking the solar photovoltaic (PV) for example), applies the ‘technological system’ framework to analyze the evolution of PV in Taiwan. Here, a comparative analysis is made of the development of PV between Germany and Taiwan to understand what issues that policy makers should focus on PV utilization in Taiwan. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The ability to non-invasively monitor cell biology in vivo is one of the most important goals of molecular imaging. Imaging procedures could be inter-subject performed repeatedly at different investigating stages; thereby need not sacrifice small animals during the entire study period. Thus, the ultimate goal of this study was to design a stereotactic image-guided system for small animals and integrated it with an automatic robot arm for in vivo tissue biopsy analysis. The system was composed of three main parts, including one small animal stereotactic frame, one imaging-fusion software and an automatic robot arm system. The system has been thoroughly evaluated with three components; the robot position accuracy was 0.05±0.02mm, the image registration accuracy was 0.37±0.18mm and the system integration was satisfactorily within 1.20±0.39mm of error. From these results, the system demonstrated sufficient accuracy to guide the micro-injector from the planned delivery routes into practice. The entire system accuracy was limited by the image fusion and orientation procedures, due to its nature of the blurred PET imaging obtained from the small objects. The primary improvement is to acquire as higher resolution as possible the fused imaging for localizing the targets in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A saturation vapor pressure equation, p(T), is an essential component in the 3He state equation currently under development. The state equation is valid over the range 0.01–20K with pressures from 0 to the melting pressure or 15MPa. The vapor pressure equation consequently must be valid from 0.01K to the critical temperature. This paper surveys available 3He critical temperature and pressure measurements, leading to new recommended critical values of 3.3157K and 114603.91Pa. The ITS-90 temperature scale is defined by the 3He vapor pressure from 0.65 to 3.2K. A new vapor pressure equation is developed for the interval from the upper end of the T 90 scale to this newly defined critical point, employing a mathematical form in which the second derivative d2 p/dT 2 diverges in agreement with scaling laws at the critical point. Below 0.65K, an empirical vapor pressure expression is adopted, consistent with a theoretical expression valid in the limit T →0. These two new components are fitted to be piecewise continuous with the EPT-76 p(T) scale rather than the ITS-90 T(p) scale between 0.65 and 3.2K. Probable deviations between this vapor pressure scale and PLTS-2000 melting pressure–temperature scale are recognized, but not reconciled. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The use and development of renewable energy has become a major policy incentive in Taiwan. Some measures, promoting renewable energy, were previously instituted, but many legal and institutional barriers, hampering the development of renewable energy, remain; thus, it is necessary to encourage discussion to eliminate barriers and implement support mechanisms. This article reviews current measures and addresses the perspectives and support mechanisms of renewable energy in Taiwan. Basically, Taiwan''s short, medium and long-term development progress and strategies for renewable energy sources can be seen to correspond to current international initiatives; in practice, however, many issues (such as establishing domestic renewable energy technologies and inter-departmental coordination mechanisms) must still be addressed, in order to actively promote the utilization of renewable energy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Rana grylio virus (RGV), a Ranavirus belonging to the family Iridoviridae, assembles in the viromatrix which is a factory for viral genome replication and particle assembly. Ultrastructural studies of the viromatrix will clarify the pathway of assembly. The viromatrix and quantitative changes in RGV infected epithelipma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells, one of fish cell lines, were studied by electron microscopy. It was shown that viromatrices were adjacent to the nucleus, and the electron density was lower than that of the surrounding cytoplasm. The viromatrix contained virus particles with different forms, electron-dense materials and amorphous structures which included tubules and membranous materials. Tubules were often observed in direct continuity with empty capsids. Several bundles of intermediate filaments were seen alongside the viromatrix and crystalline aggregates. Large clusters of mitochondria occurred in proximity to viromatrix. A total of 990 cells profiles were examined. The results showed that 394 cells contained viromatrix: 89.3% contained one, and 10.7% contained two to four viromatrices. The number of viromatrices increased gradually and reached a peak at 16h p.i. The viromatrix area at 24h p.i. increased up to 7.4±0.69μm2 which was three-times lower than that at 6h p.i. The number of empty capsids within viromatrix was generally more than that of “full” particles at different time points, and there was a strong positive correlation between them. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel activated alumina-supported iron oxide-composite (denoted as FeAA-500) was prepared by so-called fluidized-bed reactor (FBR) crystallization. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption/desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used to characterize the FeAA-500. The photo-catalytic activity of the FeAA-500 was evaluated in the photooxidative degradation of 0.1mM azo-dye reactive black 5 (RB5) in the presence of H2O2 and UVA light (λ =365nm) in a solution with a pH of 2.5. Complete decolorization of the model pollutant RB5 was achieved; the total organic carbon (TOC) removal ratio was 95%, and a trace amount of leached ferric ion was detected following 75min of reaction when 2.0g/L FeAA-500 was used as a catalyst. FeAA-500 has high photo-catalytic activity; it is therefore a promising heterogeneous photocatalysis of the degradation of organic compounds. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Based on the collected experimental and smoothed p–ρ–T data, isochoric and isobaric specific heat capacity data, etc., p–H and T–S diagrams of 3He are plotted in the range of temperatures from 0.2K to 20K and pressures from 0.0001MPa to 20MPa, with data calculated numerically instead of using an equation of state. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: FePt nanoparticles with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy embedded in non-magnetic matrices M (M=Ag, C) have been fabricated by sputtering FePt/M multilayer films onto single crystal MgO [001] at temperatures above 300°C. Particles with controlled particle size down to a few nanometers and tailored microstructure and magnetic properties can be obtained by varying the bilayer thicknesses, the substrate temperature, the type of substrate material and the post-annealing conditions. Ordered FePt nanoparticles have also been prepared directly by gas phase condensation techniques (cluster gun).The cluster gun allows a better control of particle size and distribution, and enables an in situ heat treatment of the particles to transform their structure into the desired phase before they are deposited onto the substrate, thus avoiding the undesirable effects of alloying and oxidation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study investigated Fenton and Fenton-like reactions at low iron concentration (≦10mgl−1) to oxidize three commercial azo dyes, namely Red MX-5B, Reactive Black 5 and Orange G. In some local cases in Taiwan, wastewater color was found to be the only problem in meeting local effluent standards. This investigation reveals that both of these methods can remove the color of these dyes completely. Moreover they only produce little sludge in wastewater that meet local effluent standards and do not need to further treat. The effects of Fe2+, Fe3+, H2O2 and solution pH on dye decolorization are demonstrated in detail. The optimum pH for both Fenton and Fenton-like reactions in this study are about pH 2.5–3.0. Increasing the dose of ferric nitrate enhances the dye decolorization. The optimal levels of H2O2 required for the process are also examined. High levels of H2O2 appear to reduce dye decolorization. In addition, it is also found that decolorization of azo dyes undergoes a faster reaction rate than mineralization of azo dyes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: YBa2Cu4O8/La2/3Ca1/3MnO3/YBa2Cu4O8 (Y-124/LCMO/Y-124) heterostructures were prepared by facing-target sputtering technique. The oscillatory behavior of superconducting transition temperature (TC) with the thickness of LCMO (dL) has been observed. The strongest nonmonotonic information in TC–dL curves appears clearly when dL is larger than the critical thickness . The metal-insulator transition temperature (TMI) can only be detected at dL>. For LCMO/Y-124/LCMO trilayer films, the TMI has also shown an oscillation with decreasing spacer layer thickness. These kinds of symmetric dependence on the spacer layer in LCMO/Y-124 systems suggest strongly the interplay of ferromagnetic and superconducting couplings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, we demonstrated the controllable fabrication of periodic arrays of vertically well-aligned, fully-silicided NiSi 2 nanoneedles with sharp nanotips on (100)Si substrates. The new approach proposed here eliminates the need for complicated and costly photolithographic processes and the use of toxic chemicals. All the produced vertical Si and NiSi 2 nanoneedles were identified to be single crystalline and with the same geometric morphology and the same axial orientation of [100]. Additionally, the produced tapered NiSi 2 nanoneedle array possessed excellent electron emission properties with a very low turn-on field of 0.85 V/μm, which is superior to many reported one-dimensional metal silicide nanostructures. Such an enhancement in the field emission can be attributed to the lower effective work function, sharp nanotips, single-crystalline structure, and good vertical alignment. The combination of the facile approach proposed here and superior electron emission performances make the well-ordered vertical NiSi 2 nanoneedles promising candidates for vacuum nanoelectronics and field emission display applications. • A new approach was proposed to fabricate periodic NiSi 2 nanoneedle arrays. • The new method eliminates the need for complicated photolithographic processes. • Fully-silicided NiSi 2 nanoneedles had single-crystalline structure with axial direction [100]. • Tapered NiSi 2 nanoneedle array had superior electron emission properties with very low turn-on field of 0.85 V/μm. • Has potential for making various tapered silicide-based field emission nanodevices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which investigated the tunneling magnetoresistance effect (TMR) of iron-lead-oxygen (Fe-Pb-O) granular films from different annealing time. Experimental details; Results of the study.

Investigates the magneto-transport properties of the granular solids with various film thickness. Experiments on the granular films; Findings and analysis of results; Conclusions.

Ultrafine Gd particles in a Cu metallic matrix have been obtained by post-annealing of as-sputtered metastable Gd/sub x/Cu/sub 1-x/ alloys at temperatures higher than 250/spl deg/C. The results of resistivity measurements show that the resistivities of as-sputtered metastable Gd/sub 0.2/Cu/sub 0.8/ and Gd/sub 0.3/Cu/sub 0.7/ alloys exhibit a resistivity minimum at low temperatures, an indication of the Kondo effect. In addition the temperature of the resistivity minimum rises with the increasing Gd content. Conversely, the resistivity of films after formation of Gd granules levels off at low temperatures. The magnetic results indicate that the metastable GdCu alloys are essentially a spin-glass at low temperature with the transition temperatures at around 3.5/spl sim/5 K. However, magnetization data at 80 K shows that the as-sputtered samples contain some small Gd ferromagnetic clusters in the paramagnetic matrix. The magnetic particles of granular films begin to be thermally blocked at T/sub B/ and become magnetically ordered below T/sub B/. Due to larger grain sizes, T/sub B/ is much higher for x=0.3 than for 0.2. The variation of transport and magnetic properties for samples with different annealing processes are described in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Highlights • Insulation performance of Foam/VCS/VD-MLI combination are investigated for LH 2 , LN 2 , LO 2 and LCH 4 tanks. • VCS promotes heat flux reduction of cryogenic tanks. • The optimal position of VCS locates at middle of the VD-MLI's thickness. • VCS is particularly suitable for LH2 tanks. Abstract The long-term storage of cryogenic propellants on orbit under thermal and pressure control is a promising enabling technology for future space exploration. Composite insulation composed of polyurethane foam (Foam), variable density multilayer insulation (VD-MLI), and a vapor-cooled shield (VCS) is considered as an effective passive thermal control method for such missions. This paper presents a theoretical model that considers three heat transfer mechanisms simultaneously within the VD-MLI and convective heat transfer inside the VCS, to predict and optimize the thermal performance of the insulation combination. The model is validated by experimental data. The influences of VCS position and warm boundary temperature (heat flux) on the thermal insulation performance are investigated for LH 2 , LN 2 , LO 2 , and LCH 4 tanks. The temperature profiles within the insulation material with or without VCS are compared. In addition, the contributions from the VCS to reduce the heat flux into the tank are evaluated. The conclusions are valuable for the optimal design of future composite insulation with Foam/VCS/VD-MLI for cryogenic storage tanks on orbit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • CFD model for simulating LN2 in a tank with baffle under microgravity is developed. • Effect of gravity, fill level, distance, angle and gap on pressure rise is discussed. • A 2nd order correlation between liquid fraction and pressure rise is proposed. • A structure is proposed to achieve high performance of pressure suppression. Abstract Researches on the impact of baffles on sloshing suppression of two-phase fluids in storage tanks have been widely conducted in literature, particularly at normal gravity. However, few studies focused on the effect of the baffles on self-pressurization and thermal stratification of the fluids in containers. This paper uses Volume of Fluid (VOF) method to simulate thermal behavior of cryogenics in tanks with different baffle structures in microgravity environment. Groups of gravity levels, fill levels and baffle configurations (distances, angles and gaps) are investigated. Up to 54% reduction in pressurization rate was observed by optimizing the baffle settings, which is an attractive improvement for missions of long term storage of cryogen on orbit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Fetal heart navigator (FHN): a novel method to get key diagnostic fetal echocardiographic views and initial application in diagnosis of fetal conotruncal heart defects" by B.W. Zhao and others, is presented.

We present a novel method to quantify the ecophysiological effects of changes in CO 2 concentration during the reconstruction of climate changes from fossil pollen assemblages. The method does not depend on any particular vegetation model. Instead, it makes use of general equations from ecophysiology and hydrology that link moisture index (MI) to transpiration and the ratio of leaf-internal to ambient CO 2 ( χ ). Statistically reconstructed MI values are corrected post facto for effects of CO 2 concentration. The correction is based on the principle that e , the rate of water loss per unit carbon gain, should be inversely related to effective moisture availability as sensed by plants. The method involves solving a non-linear equation that relates e to MI, temperature and CO 2 concentration via the Fu-Zhang relation between evapotranspiration and MI, Monteith's empirical relationship between vapour pressure deficit and evapotranspiration, and recently developed theory that predicts the response of χ to vapour pressure deficit and temperature. The solution to this equation provides a correction term for MI. The numerical value of the correction depends on the reconstructed MI. It is slightly sensitive to temperature, but primarily sensitive to CO 2 concentration. Under low LGM CO 2 concentration the correction is always positive, implying that LGM climate was wetter than it would seem from vegetation composition. A statistical reconstruction of last glacial maximum (LGM, 21±1 kyr BP) palaeoclimates, based on a new compilation of modern and LGM pollen assemblage data from Australia, is used to illustrate the method in practice. Applying the correction brings pollen-reconstructed LGM moisture availability in southeastern Australia better into line with palaeohydrological estimates of LGM climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The relative sensitivity factor (RSF) plays a critical role in the quantification of nitrogen concentration in oxynitride gate oxide measured using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The RSF depends primarily on the matrixes where the nitrogen resides under conditions in which the parametric settings of the SIMS equipment remain unchanged. In this article, different types of oxynitride dielectric films have been prepared under several different fabrication processes including decoupled plasma nitridation, thermal nitridation by nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N2O), which resulted in the formation of significantly different chemical bonding and micro-structures for the oxynitride. The nitrogen RSF values of these oxynitride films were determined using the ratio of the species SiN− and 30Si− from the Time-of-Flight SIMS. It was found that the overall RSF values from the point-by-point algorithm ranged from 1.15×1021 to 2.41×1021 atoms/cm3. These account for about 2 times the difference in the RSF values. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The temperature dependence of the crystal structure for Bi1−2.5 x Pr1.5 x Ba x FeO3 (x =0.05, 0.1) polycrystallines is studied by X-ray powder diffraction with Rietveld refinements in the temperature range of 25–800°C. A structural phase transition of Rhombohedral-to-Cubic occurs for Bi0.875Pr0.075Ba0.05FeO3 sample in the temperature of 600–700°C, which may relate to its unstable rhombohedra distorted structure with the space group R3c. The rarely decomposition of these samples indicates that the Pr, Ba co-doped make the BiFeO3 ceramics more stable. The thermal expansion determined by the temperature dependence of the unit-cell lattice parameters and volumes for Bi1−2.5 x Pr1.5 x Ba x FeO3 samples is also investigated, which shows an isotropic and positive behavior. The average thermal expansion coefficient decreases with the increasing x. We argue that the Cubic crystal structure with the high symmetrical of the space group Pm3m may be more stable for Bi0.75Pr0.15Ba0.1FeO3 sample, which may explain the reason why no phase transition occurs and its lower thermal expansion efficiencies. An obvious change in the slope of the linear fitted lines between 300°C and 400°C suggests a possible antiferromagnetic–paramagnetic transition, which occurs around the Néel temperature of the Bi1−2.5 x Pr1.5 x Ba x FeO3 samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have investigated a series of double-perovskite oxides Sr2 MMoO6− δ (M=Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn) for redox stability, oxygen content and crystal structure. Phases with M=Co, Ni and Zn were found to be oxygen-stoichiometric and stable under oxidizing conditions, whereas those with M=Mn and Fe were oxygen-deficient and stable under reducing conditions. The M=Mg phase is stable both under reducing and oxidizing conditions, showing variable oxygen contents within 0.00≤δ≤0.04 depending on the annealing conditions. Structural data indicate somewhat depressed values for the degree of M/Mo cation order and also evidence of electron transfer from M II to MoVI for M=Mn, Fe and Co. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents a hybrid holographic-numerical method for modal analysis of complex structures. A continuous structure is first lumped into a number of discrete elements to form an elastically connected lumped linear system. The matrix of influence coefficients of the lumped linear system are then determined by exerting a static load to the element centers and measuring the corresponding whole-field displacement using digital holographic interferometry. The eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the influence coefficients, which in a physical sense represent the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the structure, are then calculated using the numerical method. A major advantage of the proposed hybrid method is that it is not necessary to know the Young''s modulus, the Poisson''s ratio of the material and the boundary conditions, as the displacement field measured by the optical method has automatically reflected the real boundary conditions and the material properties, which makes this method particularly useful for studying objects made from anisotropic materials such as composites. Another advantage of the proposed method is that structures of any complex and irregular shape will not increase the complexity of the characterization process. The proposed is also suitable for experimentally validating the modal analysis results from finite element method models. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Roughness development is one of the most often addressed issues in the secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) ultra-shallow depth profiling. The effect of oxygen flooding pressure on the roughness development has been investigated under the bombardment of 500eV O2 + beam with simultaneous sample rotation. Oxygen flooding had two competing effects on the surface roughening, i.e., enhancement of initiating roughening and suppression of roughening development, which were suggested to be described by the onset depth z on and transient width w tr of surface roughening. Both z on and w tr decreased as oxygen flooding pressure increased. As the result, surface roughening was most pronounced at the intermediate pressure from 4.4E−5Pa to 5.8E−5Pa. The surface roughening is negligible while without flooding or with flooding at the saturated pressure. No flooding is preferable for depth profiling ultra-shallow B implantation because of the better B profile shape and short analysis time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Based on the ideal gas state equation and the saturated vapor pressure equation of helium-3, a saturated vapor density equation is proposed, which can be applied for calculating the saturated vapor density of helium-3 from 0.01K to the critical temperature. Above 1.4K, the average deviation between the results by this equation and experimental data is about 0.66% and the maximum is 2%. Below 1.4K, the results of this work show a comfortable agreement with those by virial state equation (the deviations are generally within 0.1%). Based on this new vapor density equation, the compressibility factor of saturated vapor is determined and the vaporization heat is calculated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Digital image correlation (DIC) using a single camera has been widely used for in-plane displacement and strain measurement. However, in order to obtain out-of-plane displacement, one should employ stereo vision systems which enable multiple directions detection. In this paper, we develop a simple method for whole field out-of-plane displacement measurement using only one camera. The proposed method employs digital image correlation to calculate an apparent in-plane displacement field which is introduced by magnification change due to an unknown out-of-plane displacement. The unknown out-of-plane displacement is subsequently determined from a pinhole camera model and the apparent in-plane displacement. Experiments conducted on a plate, a cantilever beam and a surface with height variation demonstrate that the method is simple, accurate and suitable for measurement of non-structured objects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]