Intermetallic compounds (IMCs) including transition metals and p-block metals exhibit high resistance to corrosion and oxidation, low density, high conductivity, and magnetic polarizability. In this study, the first-principles calculations method based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) has been used to investigate the structural and electronic properties, charge density distribution, spin polarizability, and magnetic behavior of Cu(3–x)MnxAl (x = 0, 1) intermetallic compounds. Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) was employed with Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) exchange-correlation. Calculation of metallic and conductive nature and structural properties was performed simultaneously for all crystal lattices of Cu(3–x)MnxAl (L12, D03, and Heusler L21) with 221-Pm3m, 225-Fm3m space groups. Notably, the study clarifies the stoichiometric similarity and difference between L12 and D03 type structures by presenting a detailed discussion of the D03 structure and its targeted properties for the first time. The lattice constant values obtained by performing various optimizations are in excellent agreement with previously reported experimental and theoretical data. The electron density distribution and population analysis are consistent and reveal the dominant bonding type in each IMC. Furthermore, Spin Polarizability analysis has been carried out to demonstrate the magnetic nature of the Cu2MnAl (L21) Full Heusler alloy upon the addition of the Mn atom.

A thermal resistance characterization of semiconductor quantum-well heterolasers in the AlGaInAs-AlGaAs system (λst ≈ 0.8 μm), GaSb-based laser diodes (λst ≈ 2 μm), and power GaN light-emitting diodes (visible spectral region) was performed. The characterization consists in investigations of transient electrical processes in the diode sources under heating by direct current. The time dependence of the heating temperature of the active region of a source ΔT(t), calculated from direct bias change, is analyzed using a thermal RTCT equivalent circuit (the Foster and Cauer models), where RT is the thermal resistance and CT is the heat capacity of the source elements and external heat sink. By the developed method, thermal resistances of internal elements of the heterolasers and light-emitting diodes are determined. The dominant contribution of a die attach layer to the internal thermal resistance of both heterolaser sources and light-emitting diodes is observed. Based on the performed thermal characterization, the dependence of the optical power efficiency on current for the laser diodes is determined.

In the paper the influence of moisture content of wood on the heat losses and thermal efficiency of a boiler is analysed. The moisture content of wood has a negative effect, especially on flue gas loss. The mathematical dependence of the thermal efficiency of a boiler is presented for the following boundary conditions: the moisture content of wood 10–60%, range of temperatures of emitted flue gases from the boiler into the atmosphere 120–200 C, the emissions meeting the emission standards: carbon monoxide 250 mgm-3, fly ash 50 mgm-3and the heat power range 30–100%.

Manuscript number 888 of the Collection of Arabic manuscripts of the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo of El Escorial (Spain) contains a small treatise composed by physician and pharmacologist ʿĪsā b. Māssah al-Baṣrī (9th century). This work offers a detailed description of different causal agents that originate the sexual impulse and its culmination, the coitus. The treatise enumerates and interprets the physical factors that conform man’s sexual response, which is viewed as a purely physiological process, as well as the cultural and psychological factors that shape and modulate the sexual preferences of each individual.

A commercially available ASPEN PLUS simulation using a pipe model was employed to determine the maximum safe pipeline distances to subsequent booster stations as a function of carbon dioxide (CO2) inlet pressure, ambient temperature and ground level heat flux parameters under three conditions: isothermal, adiabatic and with account of heat transfer. In the paper, the CO2working area was assumed to be either in the liquid or in the supercritical state and results for these two states were compared. The following power station data were used: a 900 MW pulverized coal-fired power plant with 90% of CO2recovered (156.43 kg/s) and the monothanolamine absorption method for separating CO2from flue gases. The results show that a subcooled liquid transport maximizes energy efficiency and minimizes the cost of CO2transport over long distances under isothermal, adiabatic and heat transfer conditions. After CO2is compressed and boosted to above 9 MPa, its temperature is usually higher than ambient temperature. The thermal insulation layer slows down the CO2temperature decrease process, increasing the pressure drop in the pipeline. Therefore in Poland, considering the atmospheric conditions, the thermal insulation layer should not be laid on the external surface of the pipeline.

The paper summarises results of measurements of remelting area geometry, thermal efficiency and melting efficiency characterising the surface remelting process applied to castings of MAR-M-509 cobalt alloy. The remelting process was carried out with the use of GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) method in protective atmosphere of helium, at the electric current intensity in the range from 100 A to 300 A, and the electric arc scanning velocity vs in the range from 200 mm/min to 800 mm/min. The effect of current intensity and electric arc scanning velocity on geometrical parameters of remeltings, thermal efficiency, and melting efficiency characterising the remelting process has been determined.

The perovskites XBiO3 (X = Al, Ga, In) have been studied in terms of mechanical, optical and thermoelectric behavior for energy harvesting application. Density functional theory is applied to study electronic, optical and thermoelectric properties of the studied materials. Structural, mechanical and thermodynamic stabilities are confirmed from the tolerance factor, Born mechanical stability and formation energy/specific heat capacity. Poisson and Plough ratios show the studied materials are ductile and have ability to withstand pressure. Band structure analysis shows the indirect band gap 3.0/2.1/1.0 eV for ABO/GBO/IBO. A complete set of optical spectra is reported by dielectric constants, refractive index, optical conduction, absorption of light and optical loss energy. Shifting of maximum absorption band to visible region increases the potential of perovskites XBiO3. Transport characteristics are also investigated by electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient and figure of merit.

The Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences: Technical Sciences (Bull.Pol. Ac.: Tech.) is published bimonthly by the Division IV Engineering Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences, since the beginning of the existence of the PAS in 1952. The journal is peer‐reviewed and is published both in printed and electronic form. It is established for the publication of original high quality papers from multidisciplinary Engineering sciences with the following topics preferred: Artificial and Computational Intelligence, Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, Civil Engineering, Control, Informatics and Robotics, Electronics, Telecommunication and Optoelectronics, Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Thermodynamics, Material Science and Nanotechnology, Power Systems and Power Electronics. Journal Metrics: JCR Impact Factor 2018: 1.361, 5 Year Impact Factor: 1.323, SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) 2017: 0.319, Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP) 2017: 1.005, CiteScore 2017: 1.27, The Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education 2017: 25 points. Abbreviations/Acronym: Journal citation: Bull. Pol. Ac.: Tech., ISO: Bull. Pol. Acad. Sci.-Tech. Sci., JCR Abbrev: B POL ACAD SCI-TECH Acronym in the Editorial System: BPASTS.