A review of the role of DSC analysis in the design of fluorozirconate glasses for fibre optic applications

The relatively poor thermal stability of fluorozirconate glasses is a major factor preventing the realisation of their true potential for fibre optic applications. A range of methods based on both isothermal and non-isothermal DSC techniques, which can be employed to evaluate the thermal stability of fluorozirconate glasses, are described. The relevance of these thermal stability criteria to the design of fluorozirconate compositions capable of yielding high quality optical fibres is discussed.     

On the relations of intensity jnd's to loudness and neural noise

It is shown experimentally that, in contradiction of the fundamental concept of Fechner's law, the intensity jnd for auditory sinusoidal signals follows loudness, rather than its derivative with respect to sound intensity. The evidence is obtained by comparing the jnd's of a population with normal hearing to those of a population with hearing loss accompanied by loudness recruitment. Although the recruitment increases the slope of the loudness function, the jnd's of both populations were found to be practically equal when the loudness were equal. The phenomenon is accounted for mathematically by assuming that psychophysically relevant neural noise depends not only on the magnitude of loudness, but also on its derivative with respect to sound intensity. A related derivation accounts for the near miss to Weber's law.     

Suspension plasma sprayed composite coating using amorphous powder feedstock

Al₂O₃-ZrO₂ composite coatings were deposited by the suspension plasma spray process using molecularly mixed amorphous powders. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that the as-sprayed coating is composed of α-Al₂O₃ and tetragonal ZrO₂ phases with grain sizes of 26 nm and 18 nm, respectively. The as-sprayed coating has 93% density with a hardness of 9.9 GPa. Heat treatment of the as-sprayed coating reveals that the Al₂O₃ and ZrO₂ phases are homogeneously distributed in the composite coating.     

Pairs of F centres and CN− molecules in KCl: An ENDOR analysis

Abstract

Pair defects consisting of F centres and CN^? molecules as substitutional impurity anions (F_H(CN^?) centres) exhibit a strong coupling between the F centres and the CN^? molecules. This leads to an optical pumping of the CN^? vibrations via the F centre absorption band. We performed an Electron Nuclear Double Resonance (ENDOR) investigation in order to analyse the microscopic structure of these aggregate centres. The CN^? molecule occupies a [110] nearest anion position with respect to the F centre in two dynamic dipole orientations even at low temperature.     

Comparing nanoparticle risk perceptions to other known EHS risks

Over the last decade social scientific researchers have examined how the public perceives risks associated with nanotechnology. The body of literature that has emerged has been methodologically diverse. The findings have confirmed that some publics perceive nanotechnology as riskier than others, experts feel nanotechnology is less risky than the public does, and despite risks the public is optimistic about nanotechnology development. However, the extant literature on nanotechnology and risk suffers from sometimes widely divergent findings and has failed to provide a detailed picture of how the public actually feels about nanotechnology risks when compared to other risks. This study addresses the deficiencies in the literature by providing a comparative approach to gauging nanotechnology risks. The findings show that the public does not fear nanotechnology compared to other risks. Out of 24 risks presented to the participants, nanotechnology ranked 19th in terms of overall risk and 20th in terms of “high risk.”     

Republication of: Exact solutions of the field equations of the general theory of relativity

This is an English translation of a paper by Pascual Jordan, Jürgen Ehlers and Wolfgang Kundt, first published in 1960. The original paper was part 1 of a five-part series of articles containing the first summary of knowledge about exact solutions of Einstein’s equations found until then. (The other parts of the series will be printed as Golden Oldies in the future.) The paper has been selected by the Editors of General Relativity and Gravitation for re-publication in the Golden Oldies series of the journal. It is accompanied by an editorial note written by G. F. R. Ellis, and by the biographies of the authors: P. Jordan (written by A. Krasiński) and W. Kundt (written by himself). The biography of J. Ehlers is contained elsewhere in the same issue of GRG, which is devoted to his memory. An editorial note to this paper and a biography can be found in this issue preceding this Golden Oldie and online via doi:. Original paper: Pascual Jordan, Jürgen Ehlers, Wolfgang Kundt, Strenge L?sungen der Feldgleichungen der Allgemeinen Relativit?tstheorie. Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur, Abhandlungen der Mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche Klasse Nr 2S (1960), pp. 21–105. Reprinted with the kind permission of the Academy of Sciences and Literature, Mainz, and of the authors: Jürgen Ehlers and Wolfgang Kundt. Translated by Anita Ehlers, Anita.Ehlers@t-online.de, and by Manfred Trümper, manfred@truemper.fr, with ample help from Wolfgang Kundt. P. Jordan (Deceased July 31, 1980) J. Ehlers (Deceased May 20, 2008)

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Active noise control of a diesel generator in a luxury yacht

Active noise control has been applied to a variety of systems in order to improve performance without the increases in size and weight that would otherwise be required by traditional passive noise control treatments. This paper investigates the application of an active noise control system to the control of generator noise in the master cabin of a luxury yacht. A multichannel, multi-tonal active noise control system employing loudspeakers and microphones in the master cabin of the yacht is investigated. It is shown that, due to the high number of engine orders produced by the generator, in order to achieve significantly perceptible levels of noise attenuation it is necessary to control at least 7 individual orders. A controller is investigated which targets 19 engine orders and it is shown to achieve in excess of 5 dB broadband attenuation, whilst achieving up to 23 dB attenuation in individual orders. This corresponds to a 23% reduction in the Zwicker loudness.     

Hawaiian plant studies. XIV. Alkaloids of Ochrosia sandwicensis A. Gray

Two quaternary alkaloids were isolated from Ochrosia sandwicensis A. Gray. One was shown to be hunterburnine -methochloride (I), while the other has been named ochrosandwine and its probable structure is 10-hydroxydihydrocorynantheol methochloride (II). The stereochemistry of the related alkaloid huntrabrine methochloride (IV) is elaborated. Two previously isolated yellow Ochrosia bases were shown to be ellipticine hydrochloride and methoxyellipticine for which the structure-8-methoxyellipticine (V) is suggested. A rapid separation of alkaloids from plant material is described, which involves extraction with hot dilute acetic acid, precipitation with Mayer's reagent and conversion of the complex to the chlorides by anion exchange.