Instructions for Authors

International Journal of Minerals,Metallurgy and Materials is dedicated to the publication and the dissemination of original research articles(and occasional invited reviews)in the fields of Minerals,Metallurgy and Materials.It is covered by EI Compendex,SCI Expanded,Chemical Abstract,etc.

Synchronization of Unified Chaotic System Using Occasional Driving

The synchronization of the unified chaotic systems using occasional driving technique is studied. The relation among interim period T , sampling interval 2 ε , feedback gain r and the parameter α of the system is thoroughly investigated. Numerical results show that smaller interim period T and properly larger sampling interval 2 ε can accelerate the synchronizing pace. Furthermore, for a unified chaotic system in which α is given, we can achieve satisfying synchronizing results as long as T,ε and r are appropriately chosen. As we adopt the occasional driving method, we greatly reduce the control cost. Therefore with this method we can obtain the expecting goals with little control cost.

Polyethylene glycol 3350 in occasional constipation: A one-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial

AIM:to evaluate the efficacy and safety of polyethylene glycol(PEG)3350 in subjects with self-reported occasional constipation.METHODS:Eligible subjects≥17 years of age were randomized to receive either placebo or PEG 335017 g once daily in this multicenter,double-blind trial.Evaluations were conducted before(baseline)and after a 7-d treatment period.The primary efficacy variable was the proportion of subjects reporting complete resolution of straining and hard or lumpy stools.Secondary efficacy variables assessed the severity of the subjects’daily bowel movement(BM)symptoms,and preference of laxatives based on diary entries,visual analog scale scores,and questionnaires.RESULTS:Of the 203 subjects enrolled in the study,11had major protocol violations.Complete resolution was noted by 36/98(36.7%)subjects in the PEG 3350 group and 23/94(24.5%)in the placebo group(P=0.0595).The number of complete BMs without straining or lumpy stools was similar between both groups.Subjects receiving PEG 3350 experienced significant relief in straining and reduction in hardness of stools over a7-d period(P<0.0001).Subjects reported that PEG3350 had a better effect on their daily lives,provided better control over a BM,better relief from constipation,cramping,and bloating,and was their preferred laxative.Adverse events(AEs)were balanced between the PEG3350 and the placebo groups.No deaths,serious AEs,or discontinuations due to AEs were reported.This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00770432.CONCLUSION:Oral administration of 17 g PEG3350 once daily for a week is effective,safe,and well tolerated in subjects with occasional constipation.

Predictors of Daily and Occasional Smoking and Quitting in Irish University Students

Knowledge of student smoking behaviors and attitudes was sought to inform a proposal to implement a smoke-free university campus. This study assessed prevalence of student smoking and quitting behaviors and associated demographic, contextual and attitudinal factors. A cross-sectional design using a convenience sample on a single university site was utilized. Data were collected by anonymous self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using bivariate and multivariable logistic models comparing smokers and non-smokers (Model 1) and daily with occasional smokers Model 2. Of 739 respondents, 19% of students smoked;12% occasional (non-daily) and 7% daily smokers. Smokers were more likely to be ≥22 years and to allow smoking inside their accommodation (Model 1). They were less likely to agree that tobacco was addictive and to consider those who smoked at parties and weekends to be regular smokers. In Model 2, daily smokers were older and nine times more likely to report increased difficulty in handling stress if they quit smoking. Forty-four percent of all smokers had attempted to quit in the past year, 35% of smokers intended to quit in the next 30 days and 53% in the next six months. Forty percent did not use quitting supports. Occasional rather than daily smoking was more prevalent in university students. Smokers differed from non-smokers in their perception of smoking-related health risks. Increasing age was the best predictor of regular and occasional smoking. Intentions to quit smoking and quit attempts were high among all smokers although use of on-site cessation supports was less than the optimal. These combined factors indicate a need for better targeting of our prevention strategies and the need to promote greater awareness of cessation supports for successful implementation of a smoke-free campus.

Occasional Forces and Displacements of Longitudinally Coupled Ballastless Jointless Turnout on Bridges

For the longitudinally coupled baUastless turnout on Leida bridge on Wuhan-Guangzhou passenger dedicated line （PDL） in China, a turnout （cross over）-track slab-bridge deck-pier integrated finite element model was established, in which two No. 18 jointless turnouts with movable frogs in form of crossover, longitudinally coupled ballastless track, bridges and piers were regarded as one system. Based on this model, the additional forces and displacement regularities of turnouts, track slab, bridges and piers under occasional loading were analyzed, and the effect of occasional loading position was researched. The results show that slab breaking is more influential on the longitudinal force and deformation of the whole system than rail breaking, that slab breaking on one line could deteriorate both the slab force on another line and the forces exerted on the piers and fastener components, and that a great slab force at the left end of the continuous bridge expansion joint should be particularly avoided in design.

Common Fixed Point Results for Occasionally Weakly Compatible Maps in G-Symmetric Spaces

The notion of a G-symmetric space is introduced and the common fixed points for some pairs of occasionally weakly compatible maps satisfying some contractive conditions in a G-symmetric space are proved. The results extend and improve some results in literature.

Congratulationsto Professor He Binglin on the Occasion of His 80th Birthday——Biographic Sketch of Professor He Binglin

He Binglin was born on August 24, 1918 in Fanyu County, Guangdong Province.He graduated from the Chemistry Department of Southwest Associated Universityin 1942. After graduation he worked in Chongqing Central Institute of Industry forone year as an assistant engineer and then returned to his Alma Mater University

Congratulation to Professor Renynyuan Qian on the Occasion of His 80th Birthday——Biographic Sketch of Professor Renyuan Qian

Renyuan Qian was born on September 19, 1917 in Changshu, Jiangsu province.He graduated from the Chemistry Department of Zhejiang University in 1939. Inthe year of 1943, he went to the United States to take postgraduate studies mainlyin the University of Wisconsin. In 1948, he returned to China and associated with Xiamen University and Zhe-