Following a brief overview of the terrestrial distribution of boron in rocks, soil, and water, the history of the discovery, early utilization, and geologic origin of borate minerals is summarized. Modern uses of borate-mineral concentrates, borax, boric acid, and other refined products include glass, fiberglass, washing products, alloys and metals, fertilizers, wood treatments, insecticides, a...

In this work we report on the application of a higher order statistics based method that can be used to improve passive signature estimation over the conventional bispectrum methods. The method employs the biphase for extraction of frequency triplets with possible quadratic phase coupling. We demonstrate the method using data recorded by bottom mounted hydrophones during a sea trial in the Balt...

The recent attack on the World Trade Center, in addition to direct injury and psychological trauma, has exposed a vast population to dioxins, dibenzofurans, related endocrine disruptors, and a multitude of other physiologically active chemicals arising from the decomposition of the massive quantities of halogenated hydrocarbons and other plastics within the affected buildings. The impacts of th...

In many papers, the good behavior in operation and benefits offered by a certain type of insulator, classic (toughened glass or porcelain) or composite (fiberglass core and silicone rubber) for overhead lines, is often exaggerated and compared only with the disadvantageous characteristics of the other type of insulator. This paper present both the advantages and disadvantages of each of the two...

Precise quantitative addition of multiple reagents into droplets in sequence is still a bottleneck in droplet-based analysis. To address this issue, we presented a simple and robust glass fiber-induced droplet coalescence method. The hydrophilic glass fiber embedded in the microchannels can induce the deformation of droplets and trigger the coalescence. Serial addition of reagents with controll...

An Alsynite cylinder trap and three different Williams cross-configuration traps with three adhesives were compared to determine their relative attraction to stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), adults. Williams traps coated with Olson Sticky Stuff performed as well as Williams traps coated with Tack Trap, thus allowing fly samples collected with either adhesive to be compared. The cylinder tr...

Fiber-reinforced composite (FRP) materials have gained an increasing success, mostly for strengthening, retrofitting and repair of existing historic masonry structures and may cause a significant enhancement of the mechanical properties of the reinforced members. This article summarizes the results of previous experimental activities aimed at investigating the effectiveness of GFRP (Glass Fiber...

This is a delightful book, and in some ways an alarming one. It deals with the special entertainment films for children, produced by Mary Field for the J. Arthur Rank Organisation between 1944 and 1950. She called the book "Good Company", because her aim was to see that for a few hours each week, children should have an opportunity of "intimacy with good example", believing that "the friends yo...