Determination of trace elements in bottled water in Greece by instrumental and radiochemical neutron activation analyses

Summary Four different bottled water brands sold in Greece in the winter of 2001-2002 were analyzed for a wide range of chemical elements, using neutron activation analysis (NAA). The elements Na and Br were determined instrumentally (INAA), whereas the other metals and trace elements radiochemically (RNAA). The results indicated that the mean level of all the elements determined in the samples were well within the European Union (EU) directive on drinking water and accomplish the drinking water standards of the World Health Organisation (WHO) as well as of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).     

High-quality hydroxyapatite coating on biocompatible materials by laser-assisted laser ablation method

A new method for high-quality hydroxyapatite (HAp) coating is developed, the laser-assisted laser ablation method. In this method, two lasers are used. One is used for ablation of a HAp target. The other, the assist laser, is used to irradiate a Ti substrate surface. The effects of the assist laser irradiation are to anneal the HAp coating and to improve its adhesive strength to the Ti substrate. The quality of the HAp coating depends on the delay time of the assist-laser irradiation. HAp coatings obtained at a delay time of 10 microseconds or more are more amorphous. It was confirmed that the amorphous part of a coating dissolves in simulated body fluid, while the crystalline part does not. The value of the Ca/P ratio in a coating obtained at a delay time of a few microseconds is close to the stoichiometric value. PACS 81.16.Mk     

Analytic Calculation of B 4 for Hard Spheres in Even Dimensions

We exactly calculate the fourth virial coefficient for hard spheres in even dimensions for D = 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12.     

Nonlinearities in sedimentation: a microscopic study

Effect of temperature and surface tension on surface during sedimentation is studied using atomic force microscopy. Effects of surface tension is incorporated by using ∼1 mm radius water droplets. Surface tension of water droplet directed the deposition of dissolved particles around the perimeter of the droplet; leaving almost hollow circle in the middle with light deposition due to the particles being close to the surface. Evaporating shallow water solutions left random salt structures on the surface. Growth exponents are calculated along with the fractal dimension. For sedimentation process in shallow water (depth of ∼2 mm), a transition is observed from continuum model (1.88±0.2) to KPZ (0.406±0.082) universality class around ∼1 μm at room temperature. For droplets evaporation, turbulent (multi-affine) to self-affine transition is observed. Fractal dimensions (FD) for the droplets are found to be between one and two. The FD values are consistent with the fact that competing nonlinear terms are present in the system.     

Failure of an infinitely compressible composite containing a finite cylindrical crack in axial compression

S. P. Timoshenko Institute of Mechanics, National Academy of Sciences of the Ukraine. Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 31, No. 9, pp. 15–23, September, 1995.