The kinetics of the light-induced defect creation in hydrogenated amorphous silicon – Stretched exponential relaxation

Our model for light-induced defect creation in hydrogenated amorphous silicon is applied to its kinetics, i.e., the growing curve of light-induced dangling bond density as a function of illumination time, which is fitted to a stretched exponential function. Two parameters β and τ involved in the function are estimated as functions of saturated dangling bond density in terms of our model. These are compared with two experimental results, i.e., our results obtained from ESR measurements and Shimakawa et al.’s results obtained from photoconductivity measurements. The saturated dangling bond density is also measured as a function of the generation rate of free carriers. The experimental results are compared with calculated results and discussed.     

Dislocation model of a nanotwin

We propose a dislocation model of a nanotwin, which is used to calculate the stress fields in the nanotwin. We consider the role of these stresses in the process of interdislocation interaction and nanotwin growth.     

A quality criterion for visual tracking during nystagmus

The aim of this study is to construct a quantitative characteristic for the degree of gaze stabilization on a visual target with consideration of physiological constraints. A quality criterion for visual tracking during optokinetic vestibulocervical nystagmus is proposed. The index of imaginary tracking during rotation in the dark allows one to speak of a difference in the image stabilization quality between a healthy person and a patient. Experimental nystagmus data are used to calculate the quality index of visual tracking and the index of imaginary tracking.     

Buckling of a stiff thin film on a compliant substrate in large deformation

A finite-deformation theory is developed to study the mechanics of thin buckled films on compliant substrates. Perturbation analysis is performed for this highly nonlinear system to obtain the analytical solution. The results agree well with experiments and finite element analysis in wavelength and amplitude. In particular, it is found that the wavelength depends on the strain. Based on the accurate wavelength and amplitude, the membrane and peak strains in thin films, and stretchability and compressibility of the system are also obtained analytically.     

Application of the wavelet transform for a channel flow in a mixed convection phenomenon

The aim of this paper is to investigate laminar-turbulent transition in a mixed convection phenomenon occurring in a horizontal rectangular duct. Indeed, laminar-turbulent transition is well known in the case of forced convection but the presence of secondary flow induced by natural convection on this transition is not well highlighted. In this study, we will not be concerned by determining a critical threshold value of a Reynolds number of transition but only to estimate the degree of turbulence in the transition regime, i.e. weak turbulence in the case of a mixed convection phenomenon. This is possible thanks to the application of the wavelet transform. The calculation of the Hölder exponent, associated with the maximum value of the singularity spectrum for various experimental conditions allows the degree of turbulence to be measured. The variation of the Hölder exponent versus heat flux and Reynolds number enables us to show that there are two ways to go towards turbulence: thermal by increasing heat flux and hydrodynamic by increasing fluid velocity.     

New approach to processing of chlorine-containing wastes: Synthesis of 2,3-dichloropropene from 1,2,3-trichloropropane

Possibilities of utilization of by-products formed in manufacture of epichlorohydrin are considered. A promising way to utilize wastes from production of epichlorohydrin by synthesis of 2,3-dichloropropene from 1,2,3-trichloropropane is suggested.     

Closed-form solutions for a rectangular layer with central crack under anti-plane shear stress

We consider the problem of determining the stress distributionin a finite rectangular elastic layer containing a Griffithcrack which is opened by internal shear stress acting alongthe length of the crack. The mode III crack is assumed to belocated in the middle plane of the rectangular layer. The followingtwo problems are considered: (A) the central crack is perpendicularto the two fixed lateral surfaces and parallel to the othertwo stress-free surfaces; (B) all the lateral surfaces of therectangular layer are clamped and the central crack is parallelto the two lateral surfaces. By using Fourier transformations,we reduce the solution of each problem to the solution of dualintegral equations with sine kernels and a weight function whichare solved exactly. Finally, we derive closed-form expressionsfor the stress intensity factor at the tip of the crack andthe numerical values for the stress intensity factor at theedges of the cracks are presented in the form of tables.     

Electrohydrodynamic instability in some nematic cyanobiphenyls in an a.c. electric field

Electrohydrodynamic instability in homeotropically oriented nematic samples of 4'-n-octyl-4-cyano-biphenyl and 4'n-alkyloxy-4-cyanobiphenyl, (n = 8.9) have been studied in an a.c. electric field. The domain patterns during the instability in these compounds in a very low frequency a.c. field are very similar to those in a d.c. field. The domain patterns observed at higher frequencies have been identified as 'maltese crosses' or 'crossed isogyres'. The electro-convective 'isotropic' flows near the electrode play an important role in the observed instability.     

Combined supercritical-fluid chromatography/mass spectrometry in the analysis of diuron in plasma using on-line phase-system switching

On-line sample pretreatment by means of the phase-system switching approach is an interesting technique for the analysis of aqueous samples, e.g., plasma, by means of supercritical-fluid chromatography. In order to analyse plasma samples the following analytical procedure is used. The plasma sample is injected on to a short precolumn, which is washed with water and subsequently dried with nitrogen. Next, the solutes are desorbed with the supercritical mobile phase, analysed with packed-column supercritical-fluid chromatography and detected with either a UV detector or a mass spectrometer, equipped with a moving-belt interface. The herbicide diuron is selected as a test compound to study the feasibility of this approach. Using a selective detector the procedure is sufficiently sensitive to detect diuron in plasma, but not appropriate to detect the diuron metabolites in a post-mortem plasma sample. These have been identified with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The detection limit of diuron in plasma using the procedure described is about 30 ng/mL.