Boundary conductance in macroscopic bismuth crystals

The interface between a solid and vacuum can become electronically distinct from the bulk. This feature, encountered in the case of quantum Hall effect, has a manifestation in insulators with topologically protected metallic surface states. Non-trivial Berry curvature of the Bloch waves or periodically driven perturbation are known to generate it. Here, by studying the angle-dependent magnetoresistance in prismatic bismuth crystals of different shapes, we detect a robust surface contribution to electric conductivity when the magnetic field is aligned parallel to a two-dimensional boundary between the three-dimensional crystal and vacuum. The effect is absent in antimony, which has an identical crystal symmetry, a similar Fermi surface structure and equally ballistic carriers, but an inverted band symmetry and a topological invariant of opposite sign. Our observation confirms that the boundary interrupting the cyclotron orbits remains metallic in bismuth, which is in agreement with what was predicted by Azbel decades ago. However, the absence of the effect in antimony indicates an intimate link between band symmetry and this boundary conductance.

Mapping of Beta Distribution for the Study of Dispersed Materials

In the study of polydisperse materials, most of the experimental particle size distributions were obtained on bounded intervals. In these cases, it is also desirable to use bounded models with different shapes to simulate the results of studying polydisperse and powder materials. The beta distribution is often used to approximate results due to the fact that this distribution contains many forms for displaying realizations on a limited interval. With the development of computer technology, there has been an increased interest in the use of beta distribution in the modern practice of analyzing results. Meanwhile, there remains a limitation in the use of the beta distribution that is associated with the choice of distribution shape. The possibilities of using known shape measures for mapping beta distribution in this paper is discusses. On the example of the space of shape measure of kurtosis and skewness, the limited use of only probabilistic measures of shapes is illustrated. It is proposed to use the entropy coefficients as an additional informational parameter of the beta distribution shape. On the base of a features comparison of the entropy coefficients for biased and unbiased beta distributions, recommendations for their application are given. By using the example of beta distributions mapping in the space of asymmetry and the entropy coefficient, it is shown that the synergistic combination of probabilistic and informational measures of the shape allows expanding the possibilities of estimating the shape parameters beta distributions. Two methods to display the positions of realizations of beta distributions is proposed. There are trajectories on a constant ratio of shape and realizations position curve on equal values of one parameter. In particular, the features of the choice of beta distributions with negative skewness are discussed.

Influence of Grain Shape in Grinding Wheels on the Machining Quality of Bearing Rings

The quality of grinding of bearing races is related to their performance and durability. The aim of this work is to establish how the machining quality of bearing rings depends on the characteristics of grinding wheels, in particular, on such a parameter as the shape of abrasive grains. Several batches of experimental grinding wheels were made, containing grains of different shapes (from isometric to lamellar varieties). Quantitatively, the shape of the grains was estimated by the shape factor parameter (SF), which is equal to the ratio of the diameters of inscribed and circumscribed circles in the contours of the used grains. The shape factor was determined using a scanner or a digital microscope and a special computer program. The tests were carried out on circular, plunge, and finishing grinding, using coolant, on a SIW 4E machine in a bearing factory. The machining quality of the bearing rings was assessed by studying the microstructure, microhardness and roughness of their bearing races. The durability of grinding wheels was determined by the number of machined rings before maximum tool wear. It has been established that by a differentiated approach to the choice of grain shapes in the wheel, it is possible to significantly increase its operational capabilities: increase the microhardness of the ground surfaces, reduce the roughness of processing, and increase the durability of grinding wheels.

The Aging Behavior of Polyurethane-based Ureteral Catheters

Ureteral catheters, commonly known as double j stents according to their specific shape, are largely used worldwide with good results to assure proper renal drainage and to overpass ureteral obstacles successfully. This study deals with the aging behavior of polyurethane-based urinary catheters, explanted at different time intervals: 22 days, 29 days, three months, and eight months respectively. TGA (Thermogravimetric analyses) tests showed significant differences in the thermal behavior of polyurethane-based material, especially at eight months, where a higher thermostability was noticed. Also, the DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) curves presented different shapes for the samples of polyurethane-based urinary catheters after three months and eight months. FTIR (Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectrometry) spectra gave a detailed picture of the chemical trans-formation which has occurred within the material at eight months. All the analyses gave an overview of the aging process of polyurethane-based urinary catheters and showed insights into the chemical/ physical transformations that the polymeric material suffers from prolonged usage.

Study Of The Thermal Processes Dynamics In The Feedstuff Disinfection By Electric Contact Heating

The article is dedicated to the study of the heat transfer processes that occur in the feedstuff disinfection chamber that relies upon electric contact heating. The mechanism of the temperature gradient appearance, which is the main cause of the heat losses has been investigated. The basic equations of heat conduction are considered. A method is proposed for determining the key parameters of the heat transfer process. A functional diagram of the experimental setup with a description of the operation of individual units is presented. The dependence for the transient operating mode of the unit on the growth of heat losses has been established. Thermal images of different shapes of the unit dielectric chambers have been provided as well as temperature field distribution through the chamber wall.

Improved Design of Lifting Slide Rail System of Stone Processing Machine

In this research, improved design for the lifting slide rail system on stone processing machine has innovated in a few aspects, including the innovative design of the lifting rail, fixture to fix and connect with the hydraulic tappet, and the sliding block equipped with limit device etc. The improved design has been successfully applied to the stone processing machine to crush and process block and stone flake processing waste of different shapes, it turned out that the needle flake particle content and crushing index of the processed stone are in line with the national standard requirements, i.e. crushing index of 7.2%, reaching the technical requirements of Class I crushed stone. In another words, the improved design has significantly improved the processing efficiency and safety and reduced costs effectively; meanwhile, its handy operation and utilization has made it ready to promote in a wider range.

Exploring the Science of Vhavenda Traditional Architectural Design and Building Technology

Before now, historiographies and archival accounts of African innovations have often been told from mainly a Western and Eurocentric perspective. This chapter aims to expand this argument. It does this through a philosophical appraisal of the trajectory of progression in the traditional architectural designs and building technologies in the pre-colonial Vhavenda communities. This means exploring the scientific bases behind the progression of the different shapes and forms of the architectural designs and the building technology in the traditional Vhavenda communities. What counts is not whether these progressions have followed a Eurocentric notion of science, but rather unearthing the local rationale within which they are justified, and are hence ought to be regarded as “science.” Following these objectives, two questions are very important: (1) What are the major changes in the traditional Vhavenda architectural designs and building infrastructures? (2) How are these changes justified within the Vhavenda indigenous knowledge system?

Serviceability of Post-fire RC Rafters with Openings of Different Sizes and Shapes

This study deals with the serviceability of reinforced concrete solid and perforated rafters with openings of different shapes and sizes based on an experimental study that includes 12 post-fire non-prismatic reinforced concrete beams (solid and perforated). Three groups were formed based on heating temperature (room temperature, 400 °C, and 700 °C), each group consisting of four rafters (solid, rafters with 6 and 8 trapezoidal openings, and rafter with eight circular openings) under static loading. A developed unified calculation technique for deflection and crack widths under static loading at the service stage has been provided, which comprises non-prismatic beams with or without opening exposed to flexure concentrated force. Two approaches were used to compute the deflection: The first attempt was conducted by using the moment of inertia for solid non-prismatic beam and reduced for those with openings by the ratio of residual rafter self-weight. The second was performed by using the moment of inertia of transformed cracked sections depending on the segmental rafter method. The crack width was determined using the ACI code's equation. The analytical and experimental results were evaluated and found to be in good agreement.