Viscous flow of the Cu47-Ti34-Zr11-Ni8 glass forming alloy

The viscosity of the Cu47-Ti34-Zr11-Ni8 glass forming alloy was determined by beam bending experiments and by a noncontact oscillating drop technique. These viscosity data can be described with the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann relation. Using the strong/fragile classification of glasses, Cu47-Ti34-Zr11-Ni8 is more fragile than the strong Zr-Ti-Cu-Ni-Be metallic glass formers

Thermodynamics of Cu47Ti34Zr11Ni8, Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5 and Zr57Cu15.4Ni12.6Al10Nb5 bulk metallic glass forming alloys

The differences in the thermodynamic functions between the liquid and the crystalline states of three bulk metallic glass forming alloys, Cu47Ti34Zr11Ni8, Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5, and Zr57Cu15.4Ni12.6Al10Nb5, were calculated. The heat capacity was measured in the crystalline solid, the amorphous solid, the supercooled liquid, and the equilibrium liquid. Using these heat capacity data and the heats of fusion of the alloys, the differences in the thermodynamic functions between the liquid and the crystalline states were determined. The Gibbs free energy difference between the liquid and the crystalline states gives a qualitative measure of the glass forming ability of these alloys. Using the derived entropy difference, the Kauzmann temperatures for these alloys were determined

Long-term drought sensitivity of trees in second-growth forests in a humid region

Classical field methods of reconstructing drought using tree rings in humid, temperate regions typically target old trees from drought-prone sites. This approach limits investigators to a handful of species and excludes large amounts of data that might be useful, especially for coverage gaps in large-scale networks. By sampling in more “typical” forests, network density and species diversity would increase in ways that could potentially improve reconstructions. Ten nonclassical tree-ring chronologies derived from randomly selected trees, trees from logged forests, or both were compared to more classical chronologies and an independent regional drought reconstruction to determine their usefulness for dendrohydroclimatic research. We find that nonclassical chronologies are significantly correlated to classical chronologies and reconstructed drought over the last 2–3 centuries. While nonclassical chronologies have spectral properties similar to those from classical dendroclimatic collections, they do lack spectral power at lower frequencies that are present in the drought reconstruction. Importantly, our results show that tree growth is strongly dependent on moisture availability, even for small, randomly selected trees in cut forests. These results indicate that there could be more data available in areas with few current tree-ring collections for studying climate history and that drought plays an important role in humid forests

Hyperspectral Mapping of the Invasive Species Pepperweed and the Development of a Habitat Suitability Model

Mapping and predicting the spatial distribution of invasive plant species is central to habitat management, however difficult to implement at landscape and regional scales. Remote sensing techniques can reduce the impact field campaigns have on these ecologically sensitive areas and can provide a regional and multi-temporal view of invasive species spread. Invasive perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) is now widespread in fragmented estuaries of the South San Francisco Bay, and is shown to degrade native vegetation in estuaries and adjacent habitats, thereby reducing forage and shelter for wildlife. The purpose of this study is to map the present distribution of pepperweed in estuarine areas of the South San Francisco Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project (Alviso, CA), and create a habitat suitability model to predict future spread. Pepperweed reflectance data were collected in-situ with a GER 1500 spectroradiometer along with 88 corresponding pepperweed presence and absence points used for building the statistical models. The spectral angle mapper (SAM) classification algorithm was used to distinguish the reflectance spectrum of pepperweed and map its distribution using an image from EO-1 Hyperion. To map pepperweed, we performed a supervised classification on an ASTER image with a resulting classification accuracy of 71.8%. We generated a weighted overlay analysis model within a geographic information system (GIS) framework to predict areas in the study site most susceptible to pepperweed colonization. Variables for the model included propensity for disturbance, status of pond restoration, proximity to water channels, and terrain curvature. A Generalized Additive Model (GAM) was also used to generate a probability map and investigate the statistical probability that each variable contributed to predict pepperweed spread. Results from the GAM revealed distance to channels, distance to ponds and curvature were statistically significant (p < 0.01) in determining the locations of suitable pepperweed habitats

Crystallization of amorphous Cu47-Ti34-Zr11-Ni8

The results of a study on the crystallization of amorphous Cu47-Ti34-Zr11-Ni8 with the use of differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction, field ion microscopy, atom probe tomography (APT), and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) are presented. These experimental techniques were used to characterize as-prepared samples and specimens heat treated at different temperatures around the glass transition temperature. APT and SANS show that the alloy decomposes into copper-enriched and titanium-enriched regions prior to nucleation and growth of a crystalline phase. TEM shows that the primary nucleating phase has a face centered cubic structure

Oxidation of uranium nanoparticles produced via pulsed laser ablation

An experimental apparatus designed for the synthesis, via pulsed laser deposition, and analysis of metallic nanoparticles and thin films of plutonium and other actinides was tested on depleted uranium samples. Five nanosecond pulses from a Nd:YAG laser produced films of {approx}1600 {angstrom} thickness that were deposited showing an angular distribution typical thermal ablation. The films remained contiguous for many months in vacuum but blistered due to induced tensile stresses several days after exposure to air. The films were allowed to oxidize from the residual water vapor within the chamber (2 x 10{sup -10} Torr base pressure). The oxidation was monitored by in-situ analysis techniques including x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and followed Langmuir kinetics

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Das Landesarchiv Schleswig-Holstein hat die Landesgartenschau 2009 in Schleswig mit der zu diesem Anlass konzipierten Ausstellung "Die Ordnung der Natur. Historische Gärten und Parks in Schleswig-Holstein" begleitet. Ergänzt wurde diese mit einer Vortragsreihe, die auf große Resonanz stieß. Die Vorträge werden in diesem Band veröffentlicht. Thematisch gliedert sich der Band in zwei Teile: Die ersten vier Beiträge setzen sich mit historischen Gärten und Parks in Schleswig-Holstein auseinander. Der zweite Teil des Bandes weist über die Grenzen Schleswig-Holsteins hinaus. So geht es um Gartenbauschulen als Berufsausbildung für "höhere Töchter" im Kaiserreich, Gärten und Natur im Kontext demokratiefeindlicher, völkischer Ideologie, die Bedeutung von Gärten und Parks im Film sowie Gärten in Entenhausen.The Landesarchiv Schleswig-Holstein opened the Landesgartenschau 2009 in Schleswig with the exhibition "Die Ordnung der Natur. Historical Gardens and Parks in Schleswig-Holstein ". This exhibition was complemented by a series of lectures which met with a great response. The lectures are published in this volume. Thematically, the volume is divided into two parts: The first four contributions deal with historical gardens and parks in Schleswig-Holstein. The second part of the volume points beyond the borders of Schleswig-Holstein. It deals with horticultural schools as vocational training for "higher daughters" in the Empire, gardens and nature in the context of democratically anti-democratic, folk ideology, the importance of gardens and parks in film and gardens in Duckburg

Combination Early-Phase Trials of Anticancer Agents in Children and Adolescents

PURPOSEThere is an increasing need to evaluate innovative drugs for childhood cancer using combination strategies. Strong biological rationale and clinical experience suggest that multiple agents will be more efficacious than monotherapy for most diseases and may overcome resistance mechanisms and increase synergy. The process to evaluate these combination trials needs to maximize efficiency and should be agreed by all stakeholders.METHODSAfter a review of existing combination trial methodologies, regulatory requirements, and current results, a consensus among stakeholders was achieved.RESULTSCombinations of anticancer therapies should be developed on the basis of mechanism of action and robust preclinical evaluation, and may include data from adult clinical trials. The general principle for combination early-phase studies is that, when possible, clinical trials should be dose- and schedule-confirmatory rather than dose-exploratory, and every effort should be made to optimize doses early. Efficient early-phase combination trials should be seamless, including dose confirmation and randomized expansion. Dose evaluation designs for combinations depend on the extent of previous knowledge. If not previously evaluated, limited evaluation of monotherapy should be included in the same clinical trial as the combination. Randomized evaluation of a new agent plus standard therapy versus standard therapy is the most effective approach to isolate the effect and toxicity of the novel agent. Platform trials may be valuable in the evaluation of combination studies. Patient advocates and regulators should be engaged with investigators early in a proposed clinical development pathway and trial design must consider regulatory requirements.CONCLUSIONAn optimized, agreed approach to the design and evaluation of early-phase pediatric combination trials will accelerate drug development and benefit all stakeholders, most importantly children and adolescents with cancer.</p