Phase composition and transformations in magnetron-sputtered (Al,V)2O3 coatings

Coatings of (Al1-xVx)2O3, with x ranging from 0 to 1, were deposited by pulsed DC reactive sputter deposition on Si(100) at a temperature of 550 {\deg}C. XRD showed three different crystal structures depending on V-metal fraction in the coating: {\alpha}-V2O3 rhombohedral structure for 100 at.% V, a defect spinel structure for the intermediate region, 63 - 42 at.% V. At lower V-content, 18 and 7 at.%, a gamma-alumina-like solid solution was observed, shifted to larger d-spacing compared to pure {\gamma}-Al2O3. The microstructure changes from large columnar faceted grains for {\alpha}-V2O3 to smaller equiaxed grains when lowering the vanadium content toward pure {\gamma}-Al2O3. Annealing in air resulted in formation of V2O5 crystals on the surface of the coating after annealing to 500 {\deg}C for 42 at.% V and 700 {\deg}C for 18 at.% V metal fraction respectively. The highest thermal stability was shown for pure {\gamma}-Al2O3-coating, which transformed to {\alpha}-Al2O3 after annealing to 1100{\deg} C. Highest hardness was observed for the Al-rich oxides, ~24 GPa. The latter decreased with increasing V-content, larger than 7 at.% V metal fraction. The measured hardness after annealing in air decreased in conjunction with the onset of further oxidation of the coatings

The VELO High Voltage System Control Software

This note describes the VELO high voltage control software. The implementation of its structure as a PVSS Finite State Machine is emphasized. The main error conditions that may occur during operation is also discussed. The VELO HV software conforms to the specification of the VELO

The Relationships Among Competitiveness, Age and Ability In Distance Runners

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships suggested by general achievement motivation literature and the popular literature in sport using the Sport Orientation Questionnaire (SOQ). The current study examined if faster runners are more competitive than slower runners, if older athletes were less competitive than younger athletes, and if faster runners were more goal oriented than slower runners. Distance runners (n=80), ranging from 10 to 61 years old completed race packets containing a cover letter, consent forms, the SOQ and a demographic questionnaire. Runners averaged 32.9 years of age and reported levels of competitiveness and goal orientation consistent with previous research. Results indicated that competitiveness and age were negatively related (r = -.44, p \u3c 001) and competitiveness and personal best times for all race distances were positively associated (r = .28, p \u3c .05 to .33, p \u3c .01). Ability and goal orientation were unrelated. In conclusion, both ability and age, in addition to a variety of significant social and cognitive correlates, may contribute to the development and decline of competitiveness. Future research should examine the way that competitiveness and related cognitions develop and wane over the life span

Ti3SiC2-formation during Ti–C–Si multilayer deposition by magnetron sputtering at 650 °C

Titanium Silicon Carbide films were deposited from three separate magnetrons with elemental targets onto Si wafer substrates. The substrate was moved in a circular motion such that the substrate faces each magnetron in turn and only one atomic species (Ti, Si or C) is deposited at a time. This allows layer-by-layer film deposition. Material average composition was determined to Ti0.47Si0.14C0.39 by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to gain insights into thin film atomic structure arrangements. Using this new deposition technique formation of Ti3SiC2 MAX phase was obtained at a deposition temperature of 650 °C, while at lower temperatures only silicides and carbides are formed. Significant sharpening of Raman E2g and Ag peaks associated with Ti3SiC2 formation was observed

Mapping of serum amylase-1 and quantitative trait loci for milk production traits to cattle chromosome 4

The present study was undertaken to confirm and refine the mapping of a quantitative trait locus in cattle for milk fat percentage that had earlier been reported to be linked to the serum amylase-1 locus, AM1. Five half-sib families from the previous study and 7 new ones were genotyped for nine microsatellite markers spanning chromosome 4. AM1 was mapped between the microsatellite markers BMS648 and BR6303. In a granddaughter design, interval mapping based on multiple-marker regression was utilized for an analysis of five milk production traits: milk yield, fat percentage and yield, and protein percentage and yield. In the families reported on previously, significant effects for fat and protein percentages were detected. In the new families, an effect on milk and fat yields was found. The most likely positions of the quantitative trait locus in both groups of families were in the same area of chromosome 4 in the vicinity of the obese locus. Direct effects of the obese locus were tested for using polymorphism in two closely linked microsatellites located 2.5 and 3.6 top downstream of the coding sequence. No firm evidence was found for an association between the obese locus and the tested traits

Psychological and behavioral differences between low back pain populations:a comparative analysis of chiropractic, primary and secondary care patients

BACKGROUND: Psychological, behavioral and social factors have long been considered important in the development of persistent pain. Little is known about how chiropractic low back pain (LBP) patients compare to other LBP patients in terms of psychological/behavioral characteristics. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the aim was to investigate patients with LBP as regards to psychosocial/behavioral characteristics by describing a chiropractic primary care population and comparing this sample to three other populations using the MPI-S instrument. Thus, four different samples were compared. A: Four hundred eighty subjects from chiropractic primary care clinics. B: One hundred twenty-eight subjects from a gainfully employed population (sick listed with high risk of developing chronicity). C: Two hundred seventy-three subjects from a secondary care rehabilitation clinic. D: Two hundred thirty-five subjects from secondary care clinics. The Swedish version of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI-S) was used to collect data. Subjects were classified using a cluster analytic strategy into three pre-defined subgroups (named adaptive copers, dysfunctional and interpersonally distressed). RESULTS: The data show statistically significant overall differences across samples for the subgroups based on psychological and behavioral characteristics. The cluster classifications placed (in terms of the proportions of the adaptive copers and dysfunctional subgroups) sample A between B and the two secondary care samples C and D. CONCLUSIONS: The chiropractic primary care sample was more affected by pain and worse off with regards to psychological and behavioral characteristics compared to the other primary care sample. Based on our findings from the MPI-S instrument the 4 samples may be considered statistically and clinically different. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Sample A comes from an ongoing trial registered at clinical trials.gov; NCT01539863, February 22, 2012