TRIPS Agreement, International Technology Transfer and Least Developed Countries

The author examines the role of the trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS Agreement) in facilitation the international technology transfer to least developed countries (LDCs). The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the new conditions of technology development of LDCs connected with TRIPS adoption. Special attention is paid to the potentials of Article 66.2 for solving the problem of LDCs capacity building. The article presents detailed analysis of the discussions on the impact of the TRIPS provisions concerning the strengthening of the intellectual property rights (IPRs) and the protection of technology transfer to LDCs. An important finding of this study is the recognition of the need to take urgent measures for the transition unto a new model of partnership between developed countries and LDCs in area of technology transfer and IPRs protection. The study concluded that a new model needed to be elaborated at the international level should be based on the effective implementation of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement

Modernization of cathode assemblies of electron sources based on low pressure arc discharge

The paper presents modified cathode assemblies, including their main characteristics, for plasma electron sources based on a constricted low-pressure arc initiated by a discharge in crossed electric and magnetic fields. One of the modified cathode assemblies allows the electrode system of the auxiliary discharge to operate at a pressure of≈0.3 Pa, as against ≈ 10 Pa before the modification, provides a larger diameter constriction of the pulsed (up to [tau]=250 [mu]s) arc, and thus extends the range of operating currents for the plasma-cathode discharge system up to I[d]=300 A. The other modified assembly operates at widely varying discharge currents I[d]=5-100 A, provides lesser amounts of cathode microdroplets at the discharge electrodes, and allows the arc to operate at comparatively low voltages. The use of cathode assemblies adapted for specific discharge systems extends the capabilities of plasma- emitter electron sources as well as the range of their applications in scientific and technological fields

The effect of femtosecond laser treatment on the tribological properties of titanium nitride

The influence of femtosecond laser (fs-laser) processing on the structural-phase state of titanium nitride (TiN) coatings have been studied. It has been revealed using scanning electron microscopy and scanning probe microscopy that laser-induced periodic surface structures form on TiN coating surfaces. Depending on the laser scanning direction, two types of surface structures - parallel and cross-like ones have been obtained. Tribological tests showed that cross-like structures demonstrates better wear resistance properties in a dry friction, while parallel ones in a friction with lubricant

Frequency characteristics of human pharynx hums in normal and diseased state

Досліджено шуми горлянки при спробах створити “білий шум” у нормі та при патології. Для отримання частотного спектра зареєстровані звуки піддавали перетворенню Фур’є. Показано, що спектр такого шуму представлений піками, що відображають індивідуальні особливості горлянки людини. Як правило, у чоловіків кількість піків більша (2–8), ніж у жінок (2–6), вони мають нижчу частоту. Захворювання горлянки призводять до зміни амплітуди піків, зсуву їх максимумів (збільшення або зменшення частоти), їх “розмивання” за спектром або навіть повного зникнення. Дані свідчать про те, що можна ідентифікувати людину за спектром шумів горлянки або об’єктивно діагностувати хворобу чи процес одужання.Исследована шумы глотки при попытках создать "белый шум" в норме и при патологии. Для получения частотного спектра зарегистрированы звуки подвергали преобразованию Фурье. Показано, что спектр такого шума представлен пиками, отражающие индивидуальные особенности глотки человека. Как правило, у мужчин количество пиков больше (2-8), чем у женщин (2-6), они имеют более низкую частоту. Заболевания глотки приводят к изменению амплитуды пиков, смещения их максимумов (увеличение или уменьшение частоты), их "размыванию" по спектру или даже полного исчезновения. Данные свидетельствуют о том, что можно идентифицировать человека по спектру шумов глотки или объективно диагностировать болезнь или процесс выздоровления.The hums of a pharynx, which were originated in the attempt to make "a white noise", were explored in health and disease. To obtain the frequency spectrum the registered sounds were subjected to Fourier’s transformation. It has been shown that the noise spectrum was submitted by peaks reflecting the individual singularities of a human pharynx. On the average men have low-frequency 2−8 peaks, which is more than women (2-6 peaks of higher frequency). Diseases of the throat change peaks’ amplitude, alter its maximums (increasing or decreasing of frequency). It has been also observed the "spreading" of peaks on a spectrum or even complete depressing. The data argue for the possibility to identify a person by a spectrum of hums of the throat or to diagnose illness or process of convalescence objectively

Investigation of the stability of the electron source with a multi-aperture plasma emitter generating a large cross-section electron beam

An experiment was performed to investigate the electric strength of the high-voltage acceleration gap of an electron source with a multi-aperture plasma emitter generating a beam of large cross section (750•150 mm{2}) extracted into the atmosphere through a thin metal foil. It has been shown that the use of a mask in the plasma emitter which partitions the overall emission region to produce a plurality of small-cross-section beamlets, so that the extracted beam is a superposition of beamlets formed by individual emission units whose plasma boundary is stabilized by a fine metal grid, increases the electric strength of the high-voltage acceleration gap. This is of critical importance in cases where the electron source is operated in a repetitive pulse mode at high average power of the beam. In addition, an increase in the electric strength of the acceleration gap is promoted by that the modernized cathode assemblies of the plasma emitter are arranged normal to the axis along which electrons are extracted into the acceleration gap

Improving the Mechanical Properties of SiC-ceramics by means of Vacuum Electron-ion-plasma Alloying with Titanium

The investigation results of elemental and phase composition, state of defective substructure and microhardness of the surface layer of "film (Ti)/substrate (SiC-ceramics)" system (Ti film 0.5 [mu]m thick was deposited on the surface of SiC-ceramics) subjected to treatment with an intense pulsed low-energy electron beam (15 J/cm{2}, 200 [mu]s, 0.3 s{-1}, 20 pulses) are presented. It is shown that irradiation of the "film (Ti)/substrate (SiC-ceramics)" system with an electron beam is accompanied by the formation of multielement multiphase (SiC; TiC; Ti5Si[3]) surface layer having submicro- and nanocrystalline structure. Microhardness of the irradiated surface layer reaches a value of 74 GPa, that is twice the value of microhardness of SiC-ceramics (36 GPa)

Modernization of electron accelerator with a large cross section beam for radiation effects on materials

The results of the work on the creation of an automated wide-aperture electron accelerator with a grid plasma cathode based on the low-pressure arc discharge and outputting of a large section beam (750X150 mm) in the atmosphere through a outlet foil window. The distinctive feature of such electron accelerator is a weak correlation of beam parameters, as well as a high current beam extraction efficiency to air, reaching ≈ (80 -: 90)% of the current in the accelerating gap at an accelerating voltage of 200 kV, beam current amplitude in the atmosphere up to 30A, frequency and pulse duration up to 50 s-1 and 100 mus, respectively. The electron source provides a stable continuous operation for tens of hours in a repetitively pulsed modes at the maximum average beam power in the atmosphere is ≈ 5 kW. Examples of applications of such accelerator in the radiation-stimulated technology are given, showing the prospects of its using in scientific and technological purposes

Aluminum surface layer strengthening using intense pulsedbeam radiation of substrate film system

The paper presents formation of the substrate film system (Zr-Ti-Cu/Al) by electric arc spraying of cathode having the appropriate composition. It is shown that the intense beam radiation of the substrate film system is accompanied by formation of the multi-phase state, the microhardness of which exceeds the one of pure A7 aluminum by = 4.5 times

Improving the Mechanical Properties of SiC-ceramics by means of Vacuum Electron-ion-plasma Alloying with Titanium

The investigation results of elemental and phase composition, state of defective substructure and microhardness of the surface layer of "film (Ti)/substrate (SiC-ceramics)" system (Ti film 0.5 [mu]m thick was deposited on the surface of SiC-ceramics) subjected to treatment with an intense pulsed low-energy electron beam (15 J/cm{2}, 200 [mu]s, 0.3 s{-1}, 20 pulses) are presented. It is shown that irradiation of the "film (Ti)/substrate (SiC-ceramics)" system with an electron beam is accompanied by the formation of multielement multiphase (SiC; TiC; Ti5Si[3]) surface layer having submicro- and nanocrystalline structure. Microhardness of the irradiated surface layer reaches a value of 74 GPa, that is twice the value of microhardness of SiC-ceramics (36 GPa)