The process of coprecipitation of biocomposite hydroxyapatite/chitosan from aqueous solution at low temperature in alkali environnement was examined. We have shown that initially we have the formation of amorphous octocalcium phosphates and the transferring from OCP to amorphous calcium phosphate , and then from TCP to calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite and hydroxyapatite . The transformation of ACP to HAP was inhibited in the presence of chitosan. The result suggests that there is an affinity binding between ACP and chitosan and subsequently blocking the active growth site of ACP.

For attaining optimum fatigue resistance of PM steels, high density levels are necessary. In this work, sintered steels Fe-1.5%Mo-0.6%C and Fe-1.5%Cr-0.2%Mo-0.6%C were produced with density levels of 7.1 to . Ultrasonic fatigue testing with 20 kHz was performed in push-pull mode up to 10E9 cycles. It was shown that the fatigue endurance strength is strongly improved by higher density levels, but also higher sintering temperatures are beneficial. The Cr-Mo steels proved to be superior to the plain Mo alloyed, due to a more favourable as-sintered matrix microstructure.

The effect of TiC content on oxidation behavior of the sintered WC-TiC-TaC alloys with 2 mass% TaC and different TiC amounts of 3-45 mass% was investigated through oxidation tests in air at 973K. As a result of the tests, it was revealed that with increasing TiC content in the alloys, mass changes caused by oxidation and thickness of the scale decreased. Thus, it is considered that the main component of the scales changed gradually from to with increasing TiC content in the alloys, and oxygen diffusion through the scale to the alloys was inhibited gradually.

The driving forces and the probable processes of WC-Co grain growth are reanalysed from recent data of interface energy and microstructure. Grain growth is driven by the disappearing of the high energy WC/WC and WC/Co interfaces with habit planes different from {0001}, and facets and by the area decrease of the WC/WC and WC/Co interfaces with {0001} and habit planes. Grain growth mainly results of dissolution-precipitation. Abnormal grains are likely formed by defects assisted nucleation.

The primary aim pursued by the preparation of separation membrane is the preparation of the membrane thin as well as with no defect. The field-flow fractionation deposition is a new molding technology which can overcome the traditional disadvantages such as multi-preparation to the preparation of great area of separation membrane with no defect. Therefor the mainly ingredients which influence the appearance and performance of titanium membrane layer are investigated by scanning electricity mirror (SEM) as well as porous material testing instrument: powder performance prepared and confected; selection of supporting body; sintering system such as temperature and time. It is shown that the membrane thickness can be controlled at or so; the filtration precision mainly rests with powder performance and selection of supporting body and little sintering system

A steel/cemented carbide couple is selected to generate a tough/hard two layers material. Sintering temperature and composition are deduced from phase equilibria, and experimental studies are used to determine optimal conditions. Liquid migration from the hard layer to the tough one is observed. Microstructure evolution during sintering of the tough material (TEM, SEM, image analysis) evidences coupled mechanisms of pore reduction and WC dissolution. Liquid migration, as well as interface crack formation due to differential densification are limited by suitable temperature and time conditions.

3D printing of NiTi alloys has been successfully achieved. A novel printing process has been developed and used, which consists in selective deposition of a solvent on a granule bed. The granules are composed of metal powders and thermoplastic binder, which are mixed and sieved by conventional methods. A sound green strength is obtained after solvent evaporation. Sintered parts exhibit good density, proper phase composition and shape memory behaviour.

Cold spraying is a fairly new coating technique, which within the last decade attracted serious attention of research groups and spray companies. As compared to thermal spraying, the low process temperatures in cold spraying result in unique coating properties, which promise new applications. Since particles impact with high kinetic energy in the solid state, new concepts to describe coating formation are requested to enable the full potential of this new technology. The present contribution gives a brief review of current models concerning bonding, supplying a description of the most influential spray parameters and consequences for new developments. With respect to spray forming by cold cold spraying, microstructures and thick, further machineable structures are presented.

Crack initiation and short crack propagation was studied on the polished notched surfaces of Cr-Mo prealloy sintered steels with 7.35 sintered density. An ultrasonic resonance test system operating in push-pull mode at 20 kHz and R=-1 was used. It showed that crack initiation took place in several places, small cracks growing oriented to the local pore structure rather than to stress orientation. Their growth rate is markedly higher than the corresponding one of long cracks. Finally, several microcracks join to form a dominant crack.

[ ] composite powders were produced by high energy mechanical milling of a mixture of Al and powders followed by a combustion reaction. The powders were subsequently thermally sprayed on H13 steel substrates. Microstructural examination was conducted on the composite powders and thermally sprayed coatings, using X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The performance of the coatings was evaluated in terms of micro-hardness and thermal fatigue. The thermally sprayed coatings performed very well in the preliminary thermal fatigue tests and showed no wetting tendency to molten aluminum.

In this paper, we have made the component-based development of observational software for KASI solar imaging spectrograph (KSIS) that is able to obtain three-dimensional imaging spectrograms by using a scanning mirror in front of the spectrograph slit. Since 2002, the KASI solar spectrograph has been successfully operated to observe solar spectra for a given slit region as well as to inspect the response functions of narrow band filters. To improve its capability, we have developed the KSIS that can perform sequential observations of solar spectra by simultaneously controlling the scanning mirror and the CCD camera via Visual C++. Main task of this paper is to introduce the development of the component-based software for KSIS. Each component of the software is reusable on the level of executable file instead of source code because the software was developed by using CBD (component-based development) methodology. The main advantage of such a component-based software is that key components such as image processing component and display component can be applied to other similar observational software without any modifications. Using this software, we have successfully obtained solar imaging spectra of an active region (AR 10708) including a small sunspot. Finally, we present solar Hα spectra (6562.81 Å) that were obtained at an active region and a quiet region in order to confirm the validity of the developed KSIS and its software.

The inhibition of cell recovery might be proceeded via either the damage of the mechanism of the recovery itself or via the formation of irreversible damage which could not be repaired at all. Both these processes may take place at the same time. Any of t

In traditional Chinese medicine, some herbs are used after toasting or roasting. The process is called "Zhi Tan" in Chinese, which means charring, and the herbs after the treatment is called carbon medicine. Carbon medicine is widely used to arrest bleeding in traditional Chinese medicine. The paper introduces the records, development and applications of carbon medicine in ancient China. The earliest record found about carbon medicine was in the remains of Han dynasty (BC206-A.D.8). The paper also introduces the process of charring herbs and mechanism of carbon medicine in arresting bleeding. Calcium iron and tan released during the charring are believed as main factors for arresting bleeding, helped with porous surface structure of active carbon.

In the United States, the implementation of educational technology is influenced by many factors, but in elementary-secondary and higher education the recent economic recession forced a slowdown in investments.. In higher education, analog media, such as overhead projection, videos, and slides, are still heavily used. Digital media use is growing, but at a slower rate each year. Most instructors exchange e-mail with students, but smaller percentages use more sophisticated applications. Course management systems, now ubiquitous, are prompting the integration of technology into instruction. Over two-thirds of all universities offer distance education, and enrollments grow by about 25 percent per year. In elementary-secondary education, technology integration has been influenced by the “No Child Left Behind” initiative. Hence, the focus has been on the use of computers as a tool for assessment. When at school, students in grades 4-12 use computers predominately in a computer lab, most commonly to find information, visit school websites, and to take tests. K-3 students use technology to play learning games, create pictures, and practice spelling and reading. The student-per-Internet– connected computer ratio was 4.3:1 in 2004. Schools are going wireless fast. Professional development continues to lag behind teachers’ needs. The largest barriers to greater adoption and use of computers are lack of time to prepare and insufficient technical support. Virtual schools continue to proliferate and attract new students. These findings indicate that pervasive access to information technology infrastructure does not guarantee its use. Social and psychological factors impinge on educators’ use of ICT.

Transient luminous events (TLEs; sprites, elves, jets and etc.) are lightning-related optical flashes occurring above thunderstorms. Since the first discovery of sprites in 1989, scientists have learned a great deal about the morphological, spectroscopic and electromagnetic characteristics of TLEs through ground and spacecraft campaigns. However, most of the TLE studies were based on events recorded over US High Plains. To elucidate the possible biasing effects, space-borne observations are needed and have their merits. Imager of sprites and Upper Atmospheric Lightning (ISUAL) on the FORMOSAT-2 satellite is the first instrument to carry out a true global measurement of TLEs from a low- earth orbit. In this short paper, we apply a common astronomical data analysis technique, two-color diagram, on the ISUAL spectrophotometer (SP) data. By choosing appropriated bandpasses and converting the measured flux of TLEs into the unit of magnitude, two-color diagrams of TLEs can be constructed. We demonstrate that two-color diagrams, which were constructed from the narrow-band spectrophotometer data, can be used to classify different types of TLEs and trace their temporal evolution. The amount of reddening due to Earth's atmosphere can also be estimated from two-color diagrams assembled from the broad-band spectrophotometer data.

Sprites, elves and blue jets are collectively denominated as the upper atmospheric transient luminous events (TLEs). They are recently discovered optical flashes between active thunderstorms and the ionosphere. In this report, a brief introduction to the most important characteristics of TLEs is given. Since 2001, scientists from the National Cheng Kung University have been performing yearly summer campaigns from various locations in Taiwan. The main achievements of their yearly campaign are presented.