The effect of microwave annealing on the electrical characteristics of lanthanum doped bismuth titanate films obtained by the polymeric precursor method

Lanthanum doped bismuth titanate thin films (Bi3.25La0.75Ti3O12-BLT) were produced by the polymeric precursor method and crystallized in a domestic microwave oven and in conventional furnace. Using platinum coated silicon substrates configuration, ferroelectric properties of the films were determined with remanent polarization P-r and a coercive field E-c of 3.9 mu C/cm(2) and 70 kV/cm for the film annealed in the microwave oven and 20 mu C/cm(2) and 52 kV/cm for the film annealed in conventional furnace, respectively. The films annealed in conventional furnace exhibited excellent retention-free characteristics at low infant periods indicating that BLT thin films can be a promise material for use in nonvolatile memories. on the other hand, the pinning of domains wall causes a strong decay at low infant periods for the films annealed in the microwave furnace which makes undesireable the application for future FeRAMS memories. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Qualitative evaluation of active potential barriers in SnO2-based polycrystalline devices by electrostatic force microscopy

This paper discuss the qualitative use of electrostatic force microscopy to study the grain boundary active potential barrier present in dense SnO2-based polycrystalline semiconductors. The effect of heat treatment under rich- and poor-oxygen atmospheres was evaluated while especially considering the number of active barriers at grain boundary regions. The results show that the number of active barriers decrease after heat treatment in an oxygen-poor atmosphere and increase after heat treatment in oxygen-rich atmospheres. The observed effect was explained by considering the presence of oxidized transition metal elements segregated at grain boundary regions which leads to the p-type character of this region, in agreement with the atomic barrier formation mechanism in metal oxide varistor systems.

A new method for extending the range of conductive polymer sensors for contact force

This paper describes a technique for extending the force range of thin conductive polymer force sensors used for measuring contact force. These sensors are conventionally used for measuring force by changing electrical resistance when they are compressed. The new method involves measuring change in electrical resistance when the flexible sensor, which is sensitive to both compression and bending, is sandwiched between two layers of spring steel, and the structure is supported on a thin metal ring. When external force is applied, the stiffened sensor inside the spring steel is deformed within the annular center of the ring, causing the sensor to bend in proportion to the applied force. This method effectively increases the usable force range, while adding little in the way of thickness and weight. Average error for loads between 10 N and 100 N was 2.2 N (SD = 1.7) for a conventional conductive polymer sensor, and 0.9 N (SD = 0.4) using the new approach. Although this method permits measurement of greater loads with an error less than 1 N, it is limited since the modified sensor is insensitive to loads less than 5 N. These modified sensors are nevertheless useful for directly measuring normal force applied against handles and tools and other situations involving forceful manual work activities, such as grasp, push, pull, or press that could not otherwise be measured in actual work situations.

Ultrastructural and histochemical examination of alveolar bone at the pressure areas of rat molars submitted to continuous orthodontic force

It is usually believed that repair in alveolar bone during orthodontic movement occurs after decreasing of force. However, we have recently observed signs of repair in previously resorbed cementum from human teeth exposed to continuous forces. In order to test the hypothesis that bone resorption and deposition occur concomitantly at the pressure areas, a continuous 15 cN force was applied in a buccal direction to upper first molars from eight 2.5-month-old male Wistar rats for 3 d (n=4) and 7 d (n=4). As a control, two additional rats did not have their molars moved. Maxillae were fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde + 2.5% formaldehyde, under microwave irradiation, decalcified in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and processed for transmission electron microscopy. Specimens from one rat from each group were processed for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) histochemistry. At both the times studied, the alveolar bone surface at the pressure areas showed numerous TRAP-positive osteoclasts, which were apposed to resorption lacunae. In addition, osteoblasts with numerous synthesis organelles were present in the neighboring areas overlying an organic matrix. Thus, this study provides evidence that the application of continuous forces produces concomitant bone resorption and formation at the pressure areas in rat molars.

An analytical and numerical study of plane change maneuvers using aerodynamic force

The goal of the present work is to analyze space missions that use the terrestrial atmosphere to accomplish orbital maneuvers that involve a plane change. A set of analytical solutions is presented for the variation of the orbital elements due to a single passage through the atmosphere, assuming that the interval the spacecraft travels through the atmosphere is not too large. The study considers both the lift influence on the spacecraft orbit as well as drag. The final equations are tested with numerical integration and can be considered in accordance with the numerical results whenever the perigee height is larger than a critical value. Next, a numerical study of the ratio between the velocity increment required to correct the semimajor axis decay due to the atmospheric passage and the velocity variation required to obtain the change in the inclination is also presented. This analysis can be used to decide if a maneuver passing through the atmosphere can decrease the fuel consumption of the mission and, in the cases where this technique can be used, if a multiple passage is more efficient than a single passage.

Comment on Casimir force in compact non-commutative extra dimensions and radius stabilization

We call attention to a series of mistakes in a paper by S. Nam recently published in this journal (J. High Energy Phys. 10 (2000) 044).

Surface effects on moving vortices in superconducting stripes

Size and surface dynamical effects are investigated in thin superconducting stripes with variable width. We perform numerical simulations of the vortex dynamics, with the inclusion of the surface confining potential and a random distribution of pinning centers. To fully characterize the vortex flow, we calculate the differential resistance, the transverse diffusion coefficient, the structure factor and the intensity of the Bragg peaks, as functions of the transport force. We found that surface effects induce a premature ordering of the flux line lattice, and the system displays plastic and smectic behavior only in a very narrow range of forces. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Potential force of infection of human rabies transmitted by vampire bats in the Amazonian region of Brazil

Human rabies tansmitted by bats has acquired greater epidemiologic relevance in various Latin American countries, just when cases transmitted by dogs have decreased. Concern has been heightened by reports of increased rates of bats biting humans in villlages in the Amazonian region of Brazil. The aim of the present work was to estimate the potential force of infection (per capita rate at which susceptible individuals acquire infection) of human rabies transmitted by the common vampire bat if the rabies virus were to be introduced to a colony of bats close to a village with a high rate of human bites. The potential force of infection could be then used to anticipate the size of a rabies outbreak in control programs. We present an estimator of potential incidence, adapted from models for malaria. To obtain some of the parameters for the equation, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in Mina Nova, a village of gold prospectors in the Amazonian region of Brazil with high rates of bates biting humans. Bats were captured near dwellings and sent to the Rabies Diagnostic Laboratory at the Center for Control of Zoonoses (São Paulo, Brazil) to be examined. To estimate the force of infection, a hypothetical rabies outbreak among bats was simulated using the actual data obtained in the study area. of 129 people interviewed, 23.33% had been attacked by a vampire bat during the year prior to the study, with an average of 2.8 bites per attacked person. Males (29.41%) were attacked more often than females (11.36%); also, adults (29.35%) were attacked more often than children (8.33%). None of the 12 bats captured in Mina Nova tested positive for rabies, but the force of infection for a hypothetical outbreak was estimated to be 0.0096 per person per year. This risk represents 0.96 cases per 100 area residents, giving an incidence of 1.54 cases of bat-transimtted buman rabies per year in the village of Mina Nova (160 inhabitants). The estimated risk is comparable with what has been observed in similar Brazilian villages.

Determination of the maximum force due to skull impact in fights between sheep of the Ovis aries species

The present article presents a means of determining the maximum impact force between two bodies from the determination of the involved impulse in the impact and the sound emitted by the shock of the bodies during this impact.It also presents a case study applied to the shock between the skulls of male sheep of the Ovis aries species. These animals do not possess horns and dispute the territorial leadership by fighting, during which the skull is used as a weapon of attack, similar to a battering ram.Initially, a revision of basic physics approaching the theory of impulse is made, which shows that the average force during an impact can be obtained by the quantity of movement of the bodies. In its turn, the quantity of movement is obtained through the average speed of approach and the mass of the bodies. The maximum force is obtained from the average force, using the approach of the Force X Time curve with the Sonorous Intensity X Time Curve.In order to study the case of a shock between two sheep, the mass of the bodies was obtained through direct weighing and the average speed of approach obtained indirectly through filming, thus making possible the calculation of the average force. The Sonorous Intensity X Time Curve was obtained through the recording of the sound of the impact during a filmed fight, with later manipulation through computer programs. With this data the maximum force exercised between the skull of the sheep during the impact was obtained, which will be used in later studies.

Electrostatic force microscopy as a tool to estimate the number of active potential barriers in dense non-Ohmic polycrystalline SnO2 devices

In the present work, electroactive grain boundaries of highly dense metal oxide SnO2-based polycrystalline varistors were determined by electrostatic force microscopy (EFM). The EFM technique was applied to identify electroactive grain boundaries and thus estimate the amount of active grain boundary, which, in the metal oxide SnO2-based varistor, was calculated at around 85%, i.e., much higher than that found in traditional metal oxide ZnO-based varistors. The mean potential barrier height value obtained from the EFM analysis was in complete agreement with the values calculated from the C-V measurements, together with a complex capacitance plane analysis that validates the methodology proposed here. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Dissociated time course recovery between rate of force development and peak torque after eccentric exercise

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Force patterns of hypoxic myocardium applied to oxygenated muscle preparations: Comparison with effects of regional ischemia on the contraction of non-ischemic myocardium

Objective: To examine the basis for local wall motion abnormalities commonly seen in patients with ischemic heart disease, computer-controlled isolated muscle studies were carried out. Methods: Force patterns of physiologically sequenced contractions (PSCs) from rat left ventricular muscle preparations under well-oxygenated conditions and during periods of hypoxia and reoxygenation were recorded and stored in a computer. Force patterns of hypoxic-reoxygenating and oxygenated myocardium were applied to oxygenated and hypoxic-reoxygenating myocardium, respectively. Results: Observed patterns of shortening and lengthening closely resemble those obtained from ischemic and non-ischemic myocardial segments using ultrasonic crystals in intact dog hearts during coronary occlusion and reperfusion, and are similar to findings reported in angiographic studies of humans with coronary artery disease. Conclusion: The current study, demonstrating motions of oxygenated isolated muscle preparations which are similar to those in perfused segments of intact hearts with regional ischemia, supports the concept that the multiple motions of both ischemic and non-ischemic segments seen in regional myocardial disease can be explained by interactions of strongly and weakly contracting muscle during the physiologic cardiac cycle.

Gravitational Lorentz force and the description of the gravitational interaction

In the context of a gauge theory for the translation group, we have obtained, for a spinless particle, a gravitational analogue of the Lorentz force. Then, we have shown that this force equation can be rewritten in terms of magnitudes related to either the teleparallel or the Riemannian structures induced in spacetime by the presence of the gravitational field. In the first case, it gives a force equation, with torsion playing the role of force. In the second, it gives the usual geodesic equation of general relativity. The main conclusion is that scalar matter is able to feel any one of the above spacetime geometries, the teleparallel and the metric ones. Furthermore, both descriptions are found to be completely equivalent in the sense that they give the same physical trajectory for a spinless particle in a gravitational field.