Effect of SrCO<Subscript>3</Subscript> addition on the dynamic compressive strength of ZTA

Ceramic parts usually experience dynamic load in armor applications. Therefore, studying the dynamic behaviors of ceramics is important. Limited data are available on the dynamic behaviors of ceramics; thus, it is helpful to predict the dynamic strength of ceramics on the basis of their mechanical properties. In this paper, the addition of SrCO₃ into zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) was demonstrated to improve the fracture toughness of ZTA due to the formation of the SrAl₁₂O₁₉ (SA6) phase. The porosity of ZTA was found to be increased by the addition of SrCO₃. These newly formed pores served as the nucleation sites of cracks under dynamic load; these cracks eventually coalesced to form damaged zones in the samples. Although the K IC values of the samples were improved, the dynamic strength was not enhanced because of the increase in porosity; in fact, the dynamic strength of ZTA ceramics decreased with the addition of SrCO₃.     

Performance of GARCH models in forecasting stock market volatility

This paper studies the performance of GARCH model and its modifications, using the rate of returns from the daily stock market indices of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) including Composite Index, Tins Index, Plantations Index, Properties Index, and Finance Index. The models are stationary GARCH, unconstrained GARCH, non‐negative GARCH, GARCH‐M, exponential GARCH and integrated GARCH. The parameters of these models and variance processes are estimated jointly using the maximum likelihood method. The performance of the within‐sample estimation is diagnosed using several goodness‐of‐fit statistics. We observed that, among the models, even though exponential GARCH is not the best model in the goodness‐of‐fit statistics, it performs best in describing the often‐observed skewness in stock market indices and in out‐of‐sample (one‐step‐ahead) forecasting. The integrated GARCH, on the other hand, is the poorest model in both respects. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of deep cryogenic treatment on the properties of 80CrMo12 5 tool steel

The effect of deep cryogenic treatment on the mechanical properties of 80CrMo12 5 tool steel was investigated. Moreover, the effects of stabilization (holding at room temperature for some periods before deep cryogenic treatment) and tempering before deep cryogenic treatment were studied. The results show that deep cryogenic treatment can eliminate the retained austenite, making a better carbide distribution and a higher carbide amount. As a result, a remarkable improvement in wear resistance of cryogenically treated specimens is observed. Moreover, the ultimate tensile strength increases, and the toughness of the sample decreases. It is also found that both stabilization and tempering before deep cryogenic treatment decrease the wear resistance, hardness, and carbides homogeneity compared to the deep cryogenically treated samples. It is concluded that deep cryogenic treatment should be performed without any delay on samples after quenching to reach the highest wear resistance and hardness.     

Analysis of biomarkers for the cross-linkage of formaldehyde with bovine serum albumin peptides

Formaldehyde, a well-known environmental toxic hazard, has been found to produce endogenously via semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase-catalyzed oxidative deamination of methylamine. In diabetes, the activity of SSAO has been found to increase with a subsequent increase in endogenous formaldehyde production. It has been postulated that SSAO-induced production of formaldehyde may be involved in the alteration of protein structure, which may subsequently cause protein deposition associated with chronic pathological disorders. Formaldehyde has also been found to react （cross-link） with amino group of the N-terminal amino acid residue and with the side-chains of arginine, cysteine, histidine and lysine residues. Therefore, formaldehyde may be responsible, at least in part, for protein cross-linkage, oxidative stress and cytotoxicity. The cross-linking of formaldehyde with bovine serum albumin was studied using LC-MS and Mascot database. The peptides sequence for control BSA （untreated） digested with trypsin was matched in the online database search query by exporting the MS/MS data to online MASCOT database. In this way, a total of twenty-seven peptides were matched in the database search query. These twenty-seven peptides were then searched manually in all of the tryptic BSA samples treated with different concentrations of FA that were incubated in different time intervals. Six formaldehyde-treated BSA peptides （FKDLGEEHFK, HLVDEPQNLIK, KVPQVSTPTLVEVSR, RPCFSALTPDETYVPK, LVNELTEFAK, DAFLGSFLYEYSR） were found to be the possible markers for formaldehyde-protein/peptides adducts.     

How New Individuals Behave in a Heterogeneous Community: A Computational Approach to Norm Assimilation Using Agent-Based Systems

Heterogeneous community entails a number of social groups that adopt similar/different social norms. In such community, new individuals who join a new social group should be able to decide with which group they could assimilate based on their capabilities/values/manners. Otherwise, they would be penalized by other members in the group for violating some norms which they cannot comply.Using this approach, software agents would have better reasoning in simulating human society. In this paper, the authors propose a norms assimilation theory, in which a new agent attempts to assimilate with a social group's norms. This theory builds an approach to norm assimilation, analyzes the cases for an agent to decide to assimilate with a social group and develops a mathematical model to measure the assimilation cost and the agent's ability. The approach is developed based on the agent's internal belief about its ability and desire, and its external belief about the cost of assimilating with a number of social groups. The significance of this research is two-fold. Firstly, the study paves the way to future design of intelligent systems, i.e., software agents or robots, to closely mimic human social interactions.Secondly, the norm assimilation using agent-based system could be potentially utilized to simulate some social issues such as immigrants, new students, expatriate etc. The experiments that have been conducted demonstrate that an agent in the domain is able to calculate the assimilation cost and decide which social group to join.     

Genetic studies on gynandromorphism (sgm,gm) inCulex pipiens fatigans

Summary Individuals showing anterior-posterior gynandromorphism or somatic mosaicism of palpi respectively have been found in a laboratory strain ofCulex pipiens fatigans. The origin of the gynanders on the basis of binucleated eggs bearing anm factor and independently fertilized by male gemetes ofM andm genotype respectively has been suggested.This study was supported by the grant (No. 7/112/919/81 EMR-1), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Govt., of India.     

在有限温度下两个比特Heisenberg XX链中的各种量子关联

文章主要研究在有限温度下两个比特海森堡XX自旋链中Z方向的Dzyaloshinskii-Morriya(D-M)相互作用(Dz)和耦合常数(J)对各种量子关联的影响。研究发现在有限温度下不加Dz时经典关联(CC)和量子失协(QD)都随温度的提高而下降,下降速度也比较快。加了Dz时也是随温度的提高而下降,但是下降速度较慢。从计算分析看,在有限温度下Dz和J对QD和CC有积极作用。调整适当的Dz和J参数,可以有效地控制和提高各种量子关联。     

Synthesis of titanium oxycarbonitride by carbothermal reduction and nitridation of ilmenite with recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

An innovative and sustainable carbothermal reduction and nitridation (CTRN) process of ilmenite (FeTiO₃) using a mixture of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and coal as the primary reductant under an H₂-N₂ atmosphere was proposed.The use of PET as an alternative source of carbon not only enhances the porosity of the pellets but also results in the separation of Fe from titanium oxycarbonitride (TiO_xC_yN_z) particles because of the differences in surface tension.The experiments were carried out at 1250℃ for 3 h using four different PET contents ranging from 25wt% to 100wt% in the reductant.X-ray diffraction (XRD),scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in conjunction with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX),and LECO elemental analysis were used to study the phases and microstructures of the reduced samples.In the case of 75wt% PET,iron distinctly separated from the synthesized TiO_xC_yN_z phase.With increasing PET content in the sample,the reduction and nitridation rates substantially increased.The synthesis of an oxycarbonitride with stoichiometry of TiO_0.02C_0.13N_0.85 with minimal intermediate titanium sub-oxides was achieved.The results also showed that the iron particles formed from CTRN of FeTiO₃ exhibited a spherical morphology,which is conducive for Fe removal via the Becher process.     

用三比特海森堡XXZ自旋环实现量子隐形传态

文章主要研究固有退相干对以三比特海森堡XXX自旋链为量子信道进行隐形传态的影响.通过平均保真度的解析表达式分析了不同参数对量子隐形传态的作用,均匀磁场B对隐形传态起积极作用.在这个模型中实现隐形传态的要求不是那么严格,只有B≤J和J取较大的值,AF处在经典情况.B和J取其它数值时,平均保真度符合于我们所期望的结果.