KNbO3 single crystal growth by the radio frequency heating Czochralski method

A radio frequency heating Czochralski technique to obtain single crystal KNbO3 is first presented. The technological parameters of KNbO3 crystal growth by the Czochralski technique and its pulling conditions were studied in detail. The experiments on second harmonic generation using 1.06 micrometer Nd:YAG laser in KNbO3 have been conducted. The second harmonic efficiency for upconversion of KNbO3 is found to be as high as that of NaBa2Nb5O15. An automatic scanning measurement for the optical homogeneity of KNbO crystal is also described. KNbO3 is revealed to be a potentially useful nonlinear material for optical device applications

Polymer Nanocomposites Using Zinc Aluminum and Magnesium Aluminum Oleate Layered Double Hydroxides: Effects of LDH Divalent Metals on Dispersion, Thermal, Mechanical and Fire Performance in Various Polymers

Oleate-containing layered double hydroxides of zinc aluminum (ZnAl) and magnesium aluminum (MgAl) were used to prepare nanocomposites of polyethylene, poly(ethylene-co-butyl acrylate) and poly(methyl methacrylate). The additives and/or their polymer composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, FTIR, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, mechanical testing, and cone calorimetry. The unusual packing of the monounsaturated oleate anions in the gallery of these LDHs facilitates the dispersion of these nanomaterials. The inorganic LDH protects the polymer from thermal oxidation, shown by enhancement of the thermal and fire properties of the corresponding polymer nanocomposites. There is a qualitative difference in the morphology of the two LDHs in PE and PMMA. ZnAl is better dispersed in PE while MgAl is better dispersed in PMMA. The zinc-containing material led to a large reduction in the peak heat release rate in polyethylene, while the magnesium-containing material led to enhancement of the fire properties of the more polar poly(methyl methacrylate). These fire properties are consistent with the morphological differences. Neither of these LDHs shows efficacy with poly(ethylene-co-butyl acrylate), which indicates a selective interaction between the LDH and the various polymers

Identifying the Burdens and Opportunities for Tribes and Communities in Federal Facility Cleanup Activities: Environmental Remediation Technology Assessment Matrix For Tribal and Community Decision-Makers

The cleanup of this country's federal facilities can affect a wide range of tribal and community interests and concerns. The technologies now in use, or being proposed by the Department of Energy, Department of Defense and other federal agencies can affect tribal treaty protected fishing, hunting and other rights, affect air and water quality thereby requiring the tribe to bear the burden of increased environmental regulation. The International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management developed a tribal and community decision-maker's Environmental Remediation Technology Assessment Matrix that will permit tribes and communities to array technical information about environmental remediation technologies against a backdrop of tribal and community environmental, health and safety, cultural, religious, treaty and other concerns and interests. Ultimately, the matrix will allow tribes and communities to assess the impact of proposed technologies on the wide range of tribal and community interests and will promote more informed participation in federal facility cleanup activities

Repellency Assessment of Nepeta cataria Essential Oils and Isolated Nepetalactones on Aedes aegypti.

There is an increased need for improved and affordable insect repellents to reduce transmission of rapidly spreading diseases with high mortality rates. Natural products are often used when DEET cannot be afforded or accessed and when consumers choose not to use a synthetic repellent. The essential oils from two newly bred Nepeta cataria (catnip) plants representing two different chemotypes and their respective isolated nepetalactone isomers were evaluated as mosquito repellents against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmit the Zika and Dengue virus in a one choice landing rate inhibition assay. A dose response curve was generated for each treatment and a time course analysis of repellency was performed over 24 hours with a N. cataria essential oil sample. The results indicate that all essential oil samples and their respective purified nepetalactone isomers were able to achieve greater than 95% repellency. Between two and four hours, the ability to repel more than 95% of the mosquitoes diminished. At the lowest concentrations tested, the nepetalactones and crude essential oil samples were more effective than DEET at reducing the number of mosquito landings

Experimental characterization of the COndensation PArticle counting System for high altitude aircraft-borne application

A characterization of the ultra-fine aerosol particle counter COPAS (COndensation PArticle counting System) for operation on board the Russian high altitude research aircraft M-55 Geophysika is presented. The COPAS instrument consists of an aerosol inlet and two dual-channel continuous flow Condensation Particle Counters (CPCs) operated with the chlorofluorocarbon FC-43. It operates at pressures between 400 and 50 hPa for aerosol detection in the particle diameter (dp) range from 6 nm up to 1 micro m. The aerosol inlet, designed for the M-55, is characterized with respect to aspiration, transmission, and transport losses. The experimental characterization of counting efficiencies of three CPCs yields dp50 (50% detection particle diameter) of 6 nm, 11 nm, and 15 nm at temperature differences (DeltaT) between saturator and condenser of 17°C, 30°C, and 33°C, respectively. Non-volatile particles are quantified with a fourth CPC, with dp50=11 nm. It includes an aerosol heating line (250°C) to evaporate H2SO4-H2O particles of 11 nm<dp<200 nm at pressures between 70 and 300 hPa. An instrumental in-flight inter-comparison of the different COPAS CPCs yields correlation coefficients of 0.996 and 0.985. The particle emission index for the M-55 in the range of 1.4–8.4×10 16 kg -1 fuel burned has been estimated based on measurements of the Geophysika's own exhaust

Working Paper 30: Impact of Forest Restoration Treatments on Southwestern Ponderosa Pine Tree Resistance to Bark Beetles

Insects can have a wide-range of both positive and negative effects on forest ecosystems. Positive impacts include serving as pollinators, creating snags for cavity nesting birds and bats, helping to increase forest heterogeneity, and aiding in decomposition and nutrient cycling. Negative impacts can range from relatively minor impacts at the individual tree level, such as reductions in growth or form defects, to landscape-level tree mortality (Coulson and Witter 1984, Raffa et al. 2008). In the ponderosa pine forests of the southwestern United States, the bark beetle has been the insect most often associated with widespread tree mortality. Restoration efforts in ponderosa pine ecosystems have the overarching goal of making these forests more healthy and resilient by reducing fuel loads and restoring ecosystem functions. Stand restoration in these ecosystems usually involves varying intensities of thinning or prescribed burning treatments or, more often, some combination of both. These same treatments may also alter tree susceptibility to disturbance events, such as insect attacks and wildfire. This working paper will highlight current research about the effects of restoration treatments on ponderosa pine tree resistance/susceptibility to bark beetles

Fireworks and color in the sixteenth and seventeenth century

It has commonly been assumed that there were no colors in fireworks prior to the early nineteenth century. This essay argues that there were a variety of color recipes in early modern manuals on fireworks, though the nature and value of color in displays differed quite significantly from later periods. Color was used in pyrotechny in production practices, and carried alchemical, medical and other associations. Colored fire was not the principal or exclusive location of color in early modern displays which gave much weight to colorfully painted scenery, decorations and costumes. That modern authors place so much emphasis on colored fire is due to the promotion of color in pyrotechny by writers working in the age of the Chemical Revolution

Effect of ZnO, ZrO2 and B2O3 on clinkerization process. Part I. Clinkerization reactions and clinker composition

El empleo de residuos cerámicos como materia prima alternativa en la fabricación del crudo de cemento Portland, aumenta el contenido de ZnO, ZrO2 y B2O3 en el clinker. Estos elementos se encuentran en la capa esmaltada de los residuos cerámicos incorporados al crudo. Por ello el presente trabajo de investigación aborda el estudio del efecto que tiene la adición en el crudo de contenidos del 0,5 y 2% de ZnO, ZrO2 y B2O3 de manera individual y conjunta en los procesos de clinkerización, en la distribución y morfología de las fases mineralógicas del clinker. Los resultados obtenidos han demostrado que el ZnO y ZrO2 permanecen fijados en el clinker, sin embargo el B2O3 se volatiliza parcialmente. El ZnO actúa como fundente, mientras que el ZrO2 y el B2O3 no aumentan el contenido de fase fundida. La adición de estos óxidos al crudo modifica el contenido de las principales fases mineralógicas del clinker. El ZnO disminuye los contenidos de C3S y C3A, el ZrO2 disminuye marcadamente la fase ferrítica y el B2O3 estabiliza el C2S. En los clinkeres obtenidos a partir de la adición del 2% de ZnO y ZrO2 se identifica la presencia de nuevas fases mineralógicas, 3CaO·ZnO·2Al2O3, y CaZrO3The use of clay-based product waste as an alternative prime material in Portland cement raw mixes raises the ZnO, ZrO2 and B2O3 content in the clinker. These compounds are found in the enamelled surface of the tile added to the raw mix. The present study explores the effect of adding 0.5 and 2% ZnO, ZrO2 and B2O3 to the raw mix, separately and jointly, on clinkerization and the distribution and morphology of the mineral phases in the clinker. The findings showed that while ZnO and ZrO2 are fixed in the clinker, B2O3 is partially volatized. Zinc oxide acted as a flux, while neither ZrO2 nor B2O3 increased the molten phase. The addition of the oxides to the raw mix changed the content of the main mineral phases in the clinker. Zinc oxide lowered the C3S and C3A contents, ZrO2 reduced the ferritic phase and B2O3 stabilized C2S. New mineral phases, namely 3CaO·ZnO·2Al2O3 and CaZrO3, were identified in the clinkers obtained when 2% ZnO and ZrO2 were added to the raw mi