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The present study describes the development of a theoretical model for estimating the thickness of homogeneous surface layers on spherical and irregular shaped powder particles using the XPS depth profiling. As opposed to flat surfaces, such an approach for substrates of specific geometry is not straightforward. One needs to consider those geometrical factors associated with the experimental setup and sample's roughness, which impose an angle dependence on the photoelectrons peak intensity, X-ray flux and ion etch rate over the surface in question in order to evaluate it. The novelty of the current model lies in the introduction of geometrical freedom in connection to the experimental arrangement, which can be tailored to match the needs of contemporary instruments. The model was evaluated experimentally by analyzing the surface oxide layers on metal powder grades of different morphology. Complementary analytical techniques such as high resolution (HR) SEM and focused ion beam (FIB) were used in combination to further characterize the surface layers prior to the XPS investigations. The results reveal that the estimation of the oxide/metal interface from the measured relative metal intensity signal as function of etch depth using the model is in extremely good agreement with the corresponding values from direct measurement of HR SEM on FIB cross-sectioned powder samples. The model deviates slightly only for the irregular shaped powder, which can be regarded as means for quantification of surface roughness of the material. The model is used as a basis for a computer software that estimates the thickness of surface layers for powdered materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have made an observation of 45 MeV electron beam bunches using the nondestructive electro-optical (EO) technique. The amplitude of the EO modulation was found to increase linearly with electron beam charge and decrease inversely with the optical beam path distance from the electron beam. The risetime of the signal was bandwidth limited by our detection system to ∼70 ps. An EO signal due to ionization caused by the electrons traversing the EO crystal was also observed. The EO technique may be ideal for the measurement of bunch structure with femtosecond resolution of relativistic charged particle beam bunches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prealloyed Fe 3 Al was successfully manufactured by laser powder bed fusion. The best set of process parameters led to parts with a relative density of 99.5 %, a surface roughness, Sa , of 31.5 ± 5.6 μm and a hardness of 319 ± 14 HV 0.1. Its microstructure as well as its mechanical properties at room and high temperatures were analyzed. The results of the chemical composition showed minor variations in aluminum content oscillating between 21 and 28 at.% along the melt pool. Additionally, elongated grains were observed to grow parallel to the building direction, as well as the development of a weak {001} texture along the building direction. The mechanical properties were influenced by the temperature. Compression tests showed a loss in strength with the increase in temperature, from a yield strength of 621 ± 40 MPa at room temperature to 89 ± 20 MPa at 650 °C. Reciprocating sliding wear tests showed that fragmentation of the intermetallic at room temperature occurs, whereas plastic deformation dominated at higher temperatures. For all temperatures, tribochemical wear was also present due to the oxidation of wear debris. • Iron aluminides were successfully manufactured by laser powder bed fusion. • Compression tests showed a loss in strength with the increase in temperature. • Abrasive wear was significant at room temperature. • Tribochemical wear dominated at higher temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meningiomas are common primary brain tumours frequently presenting with deleted and/or mutated NF2 gene located on 22q.1p has been reported as the second most commonly deleted chromosomal region in these neoplasms. A new member of the INK4 family of CDK inhibitors, the p18INK4c gene, has recently been mapped to this chromosomal arm. By virtue of its structural and functional similarities with the p16 gene, p18 has been implicated as a tumour suppressor gene in a variety of cancers. In this paper 40 human meningiomas were analysed for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the p18 locus, mutations and inactivating methylation of the p18 gene. LOH at D1S193, D1S463 and D1S211 microsatellite marker loci mapped to 1p32 was detected in 13 of 35 (37%), four of 20 (20%), and six of 24 (25%) tumour samples, respectively. One sample presented with homozygous deletion at D1S193. Mutational analysis using single stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) and direct sequencing did not detect any missense mutation but revealed a novel silent mutation, G to T, at coding nucleotide 435. Analysis of HgaI, BsaHI, ScrFI and Eco0109I restriction sites of p18 exon 1 revealed absence of inactivating methylation. Immunohistochemistry with p18 monoclonal antibody detected presence of cytoplasmic p18 staining in 21 of 22 examined samples. One sample did not stain and was shown to carry homozygous deletion at D1S193. Despite the high frequency of LOH at 1p32 microsatellite markers, the lack of genetic and epigenetic aberrations in the p18 gene together with the presence of p18 protein in all but one meningioma samples argues against the role of p18 as a tumour suppressor gene important for meningioma development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have measured the temporal duration of 45 MeV picosecond electron beam bunches using a noninvasive electro-optical (EO) technique. The amplitude of the EO modulation was found to increase linearly with electron beam charge and decrease inversely with distance from the electron beam. The rise time of the temporal signal was limited by our detection system to ∼70 ps. The EO signal due to ionization caused by the electrons traversing the EO crystal was also observed. It has a distinctively long decay time constant and signal polarity opposite to that due to the field induced by the electron beam. The electro-optical technique may be ideal for the measurement of bunch length of femtosecond, relativistic, high energy, charged, particle beams. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study shows that in patients with subtotal (95% to 99%) coronary artery stenosis, the presence of myocardial ischemia is dictated primarily by the presence and degree of coronary collateral flow, with anterograde flow participating little, if at all, in the origin of myocardial ischemia and angina pectoris. Conversely, in patients with severe but not subtotal coronary artery stenosis (70% to 94%), both reduced anterograde flow and coronary collateralization contribute to the evolution of myocardial ischemia and angina pectoris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel type of resistive Micromegas combining a Bulk mesh and a resistive pad board is presented. Readout pads are covered by a thin insulating layer with a top resistive coating segmented into resistive pads. Readout and resistive pads are electrically connected by means of planar resistors embedded in the insulator, enabling fast clearance of the avalanche charge from the resistive surface. The maximum gas gain achieved by these resistive detectors is similar to that of non-resistive Micromegas. A possible saturation of the gain for large energy deposits in the gas was investigated by means of 55Fe quanta and electromagnetic showers in the 30–200 GeV energy range, but no significant deviation from a proportional response was found. With a suitable choice of the resistance, these detectors demonstrate negligible gain drop and no sparking up to X-ray fluxes of ∼ 1 MHz / mm2 which constitutes a major improvement over non-resistive Micromegas. Spark suppression was also verified in a hadron beam for prototypes with a pad resistance as low as 40 k Ω or above. Passive protections of the front-end electronics against sparks (diodes on a printed circuit board) are therefore not required for these resistive detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]