Composition dependent phase transformation of Pt0.5−x Mn0.5+x from A1 to L10 phase

Pt_0.5−x Mn_0.5+x films were prepared by sputtering deposition of Pt foil and Mn target to study the order-disorder transition from a thermodynamic metastable fcc (A1) phase to L1₀ phase. Both Differential Scanning Calorimetry and High Temperature X-Ray Diffraction studies showed the phase transformation from fcc to the L1₀ structure for the Pt_0.50Mn_0.50 and Pt_0.40Mn_0.60 samples but along completely different kinetic paths. A composition dependent phase transformation was observed by comprehensive Differential Scanning Calorimetry studies on a series of Pt_0.5−x Mn_0.5+x samples. The changes of the lattice parameter and the cell volume of L1₀ Pt_0.5−x Mn_0.5+x as a function of composition suggest that the anti-site is not the dominant point defect for L1₀ Pt_0.5−x Mn_0.5+x .     

Physical characteristics of polyimide films for flexible sensors

Physical characteristics of polyimide films, including optical, micro/nano mechanical, and thermophysical characteristics were investigated using a photometric, a nanoindentation, and a thermomechanical analyzer for applications in flexible sensors. Experimental results show that UV light cannot transmit into the polyimide films. The transmittances, with a maximum of about 86%, at VIS and near IR lights decrease with increasing PI film thicknesses. The mechanical characteristics were determined using tensile, bending moment, and nanoindentation testing. The stress–strain curve approximated bilinear characteristics, the load–unload bending moment exhibited hysteresis, and nanoindentation generated elastic energy dissipation in the loading–unloading region. Nanoindentation showed an almost uniform hardness and a reduced Young’s modulus of about 0.181±0.03 and 3.21±0.06 GPa, respectively, when the penetrating depth was more than about 2 μm. Thermophysical characteristics were greatly influenced on 8.3 and 25 μm specimens due to the higher relaxation of thin PI films. The thermal expansion remained steady when the thickness was over 50 μm. The results show that PI films have potential in flexible sensing and higher temperature fabrication.     

Differences in Self-Rated, Perceived, and Acoustic Voice Qualities Between High- and Low-Fatigue Groups

Objectives

The present study was performed to examine which factors among self-rated scales, perceptual evaluations, and acoustic parameters, calculated from sustained vowels, are reliable indicators of physical and mental fatigues.

Methods

A total of 73 volunteers (male:female, 52:21), aged 19–24 years, were enrolled in this study. We defined the high- and low-fatigue groups using the Chalder Fatigue Scale score. For assessment of self-rated symptoms, each subject was asked to complete Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and Voice Rating Scale (VRS). For perceptual evaluations, three clinicians assessed each subject’s vocal quality on the Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, Strain Scale. For acoustic analysis, each subject was asked to produce sustained vowels /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, and /u/ for 3 seconds. Then, the habitual fundamental frequency (F₀), jitter, shimmer, F₀ tremor, mean F₀, standard deviation of F₀, maximum F₀, minimum F₀, normalized noise energy, harmonic-to-noise ratio (HNR), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), amplitude tremor, and ratio within 2–4 kHz were calculated using Dr. Speech software.

Results

In men, VHI, VRS, F₀ tremor, shimmer, HNR, SNR, and amplitude tremor were related to mental fatigue. In women, only VHI was related to physical fatigue, and none of the acoustic parameters was related to the fatigue score. Perceptual evaluations were not related to fatigue in men or women.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that self-rated symptoms and acoustic parameters related to voice quality are indicative of mental fatigue, and these features are prominent in men.     

Neutral Bremsstrahlung radiation of Ne,Ar and O

The neutral Bremsstrahlung cross-sections of Ne, Ar and atomic oxygen around the 3 and 10μ wavelength regions were measured in a high temperature plasma generated in a shock tube. The results were generally a factor of three higher than the theoretical values calculated by Geltman. Agreement with the experimental results of Taylor and Caledonia around 3μ was good except for the case of Ne. The cross-sections around 10μ are the first measurements in this wavelength region. Enhanced radiation due to atomic line emission on top of the Bremsstrahlung continuum, as predicted by Hyman was observed around 7.44μ.     

Load supporting prefabricated wall reinforced by a frame

This load supporting prefabricated wall consists of a thin plate reinforced along its boundaries by a frame. With the loads acting on the frame, the plate has its boundary conditions defined neither by forces nor by displacements. On the basis of satisfying the biharmonic equation of the stress function for the plate, we make the total strain energy to be minimum to ensure the compatibility of displacements for the two elastic bodies. Thus we get a set of infinite simultaneous equations. The results obtained indicate the method of solution is effective.     

The class number one problem for some non-abelian normal CM-fields of degree 48

We prove that there is precisely one normal CM-field of degree 48 with class number one which has a normal CM-subfield of degree 16: the narrow Hilbert class field of with .

     

Surface enhanced Raman scattering of water on an Ag electrode

Surface enhanced Raman scattering of adsorbates on an Ag electrode in various electrolytes (e.g., 0.1–1.0 M KF, KCl, KBr, KI, K₃PO₄, and NaN₃) has been investigated in an effort to elucidate the mechanism of the enhancement of water compared to that for other adsorbates. (It is well known, for example, that pyridine exhibits large enhancement in 0.1 M KCl while SERS from water is not detectable unless the salt concentration is raised to almost 1 M.) Use of an optical multichannel analyzer allowed rapid recording of Raman spectra, and SERS intensities of adsorbates could therefore be monitored simultaneously during a continuous oxidation-reduction cycle. Potential dependencies of SERS intensities when the electrode potential is cycled in a non-faradiac potential range immediately following oxidation and reduction indicate that adatoms are partially responsible for the Raman enhancement. Furthermore, the anions in the electrolyte play an important role in stabilizing these “active sites.” For this reason, the degree of enhancement is influenced by the solubility of the Ag compound formed during oxidation and the specific adsorption of the anions to the Ag surface. Preferential alignment of H₂O molecules with their oxygen ends facing the surface at positive potentials, the tendency of anions in the electrolyte to disrupt hydrogen bonding with the water network, and the weak hydrogen bonding of H₂O with the anions give rise to a SERS lineshape from adsorbed H₂O molecules which is narrower than, and thus distinguishable from, the Raman line of bulk water. Thus, the degree to which the particular anions in the electrolyte disrupt hydrogen bonding among water molecules and reform hydrogen bonding between the anions and H₂O molecules influences the SERS lineshape and the apparent enhancement of the H₂ Raman emission.     

A Mössbauer study on the interaction of active component and support

In order to directly determine and compare the interaction strength between one active component (Fe₂O₃) and six different supports, Mössbauer spectra of the six catalysts under room temperatures 373K, 473K and 573K were recorded. From the temperature dependence of area under the resonance curve and isomer shift (IS) parameter which could be extracted from the resonance spectrum, a lattice vibration related parameter θ_M was calculated._M values can characterize the strength of interaction forces between Mössbauer Fe atoms and its neighbour atoms of supports, hence the order of interaction strength between Fe₂O₃ and various supports is obtained.