A portable fiber optic detector that senses the presence of specific target chemicals by electrostatically attracting the target chemical to an aromatic compound coating on an optical fiber. Attaching the target chemical to the coated fiber reduces the fluorescence so that a photon sensing detector records the reduced light level and activates an appropriate alarm or indicator.
The utility of a two-photon optical fiber fluorescence probe (TPOFF) for sensing and quantifying tumor fluorescent signals was tested in vivo. Xenograft tumors were developed in athymic mice using MCA207...Full Text Available
The production of many important commercial materials involves the evolution of a complex fluid through a cooling phase into a hardened product. Textile fibers, high-strength fibers(KEVLAR, VECTRAN), plastics, chopped-fiber compounds, and fiber optical cable are such materials. Industry desires to replace experiments with on-line, real time models of these processes. Solutions to the problems are not just a matter of technology transfer, but require a fundamental description and simulation of the processes. Goals of the project are to develop models that can be used to optimize macroscopic properties of the solid product, to identify sources of undesirable defects, and to seek boundary-temperature and flow-and-material controls to optimize desired properties.
Fiber optic metrology developed at the CEA LIST laboratories involves fiber Bragg grating sensors, distributed Brillouin optical time domain reflectometry and optically stimulated luminescence dosimetry. Recent activities in optical fibersensing are reviewed from laboratory experiments to field trials.
In general, macroscopic material failure is a manifestation of irreversible changes at the microscopic level. Many tissues, which may appear to be macroscopically homogeneous, are, at a fundamental microscopic level, a composite material. For example, cornea is composed of a hyaluronic acid matrix in which layers of collagen fibers are overlaid in a crossing pattern. The points where the collagen fibers intersect are potential nucleation sites for microscopic defects, which under the action of tensile stress, nucleate, grow and coalesce to form macroscopic failure planes, or spall planes. Using a model based on microstructural evolution, this paper examines the failure process during photoablation. Specifically, the paper describes a physically motivated, micromechanical model based on the nucleation and growth of spherical voids. This model is then used to simulate photoablation of ...
An optical fiber methane sensing system utilizing a super-luminescent diode (SLD) in the 1.33-mm band and a fiber Fabry-Perot tunable filter (FFP-TF) is developed. A two-step reference measuring method, which is based on differential absorption technique, is employed; a reference channel is introduced to eliminate the fluctuation of the illuminant spectrum, and the reference wavelength acquired by tuning the FFP-TF is introduced to eliminate the environmental influence. The two-step reference measuring method has improved the reliability and stability of the system. A minimum detectable methane concentration of 0.3% has been experimentally achieved.
A thermal-resistant radiation sensing system using optical fiber has been developed. The system is for monitoring progress of chemical decontamination and able to measure the gamma-ray level in a hot solution of decontamination chemicals in situ. Our sensor head makes use of thermal-resistant NaI (T1) and it is connected to an optical fiber bundle. Scintillation photons pass from the NaI (T1) into the end of the bundle. This part of the system can withstand temperatures of over 100degC. At the far end of the optical fiber bundle, the scintillation photons are converted into fluorescent photons using a wavelength-shifting fiber. These photons are transferred to a distant photomultiplier tube through two thin transparent optical fibers. Furthermore, we propose a self-compensation technique for the dependence of scintillator sensitivity on. This compensation method ...
The emergence of nanoscience has increased the importance of experiments able to probe the very local structure of materials, especially for disordered and heterogeneous systems. This is technologically important; for example, the nanoscale structure of glassy polymers has a direct correlation with their macroscopic physical properties. We have discovered how a local, high frequency dynamic process can be used to monitor and even predict macroscopic behavior in glassy polymers. Polyvinylethylenes vitrified by different chemical and thermodynamic pathways exhibit different densities in the glassy state. We find that the rate and amplitude of a high frequency relaxation mode (the Johari-Goldstein process involving local motion of segments of the chain backbone) can either correlate or anti-correlate with the density. This implies that neither the unoccupied (free) volume nor the configurational entropy governs the local dynamics in any general ...
The application of robotics for repair, refurbishing or dismantling of nuclear installations implies eventually severe radiation resistance requirements on embarked components and subsystems. This is particularly critical when optical sensing is considered. Optoelectronic components and optical fibers are indeed quite sensitive to radiation, and without special design are rapidly out-of-operation in such an environment. This paper reports the results of a series of #gamma# irradiation experiments on such devices, and identify their behavior under radiation. Test results show that carefully selected optical fibers can keep their radiation induced attenuation lower than 0.3 dB/m even up to a total dose of 10 MGy. Temperature annealing can even lower this attenuation down to 0.1 dB/m. On the other hand, commercially available light emitting diodes and photodiodes present attenuations figures up to 15 dB, even after a gamma ...
The accuracy of stabilized, turreted gun systems like the 120mm gun on the M1A2 Abrams tank and the 30mm gun on the Apache helicopter are limited by, among other things, structural flexure of the gun barrel and support structure. An advanced actuation system based on piezoelectric translators and an optical fiber strain sensing system are described in conjunction with a rapid prototyping workstation for the design of distributed parameter control systems to actively minimize the effects of vibrations caused by traversing rough terrain or weapon firing.
hlgh fiber content composites met the minlmum requirements. (1400 O F ) , the hlgher fiber content as-fabricated composites have impact strengths distinctly ...
A common reinforced liner material is a cloth formed of PTFE fibers and fiber of ... and ablation protection provided. All of these methods of thermal ..... The influence of fiber content on the microstructures of the composites is ...
... a Networked Embedded Sensing Toolkit (MSR Sense ... edging due to mis-registration than the ... Langrebe, Signal theory in multisensor remote sensing ...
The volume examines the scientific interfaces and technological applications of physics. Twelve areas are dealt with: biological physics--biophysics, the brain, and theoretical biology; the physics-chemistry interface--instrumentation, surfaces, neutron and synchrotron radiation, polymers, organic electronic materials; materials science; geophysics--tectonics, the atmosphere and oceans, planets, drilling and seismic exploration, and remote sensing; computational physics--complex systems and applications in basic research; mathematics--field theory and chaos; microelectronics--integrated circuits, miniaturization, future trends; optical information technologies--fiber optics and photonics; instrumentation; physics applications to energy needs and the environment; national security--devices, weapons, and arms control; medical physics--radiology, ultrasonics, NMR, and photonics. An executive summary and many chapters contain recommendations ...
We describe a new concept for a MEMS-based active spatial filter for astronomical spectroscopy. The goal of this device is to allow the use of a diffraction-limited spectrometer on a seeing limited observation at improved throughput over a comparable seeing-limited spectrometer, thus reducing the size and cost of the spectrometer by a factor proportional to r0/D (For the case of a 10 meter telescope this size reduction will be approximately a factor of 25 to 50). We use a fiber-based integral field unit (IFU) that incorporates an active MEMS mirror array to feed an astronomical spectrograph. A fast camera is used in parallel to sense speckle images at a spatial resolution of lambda/D and at a temporal frequency greater than that of atmospheric fluctuations. The MEMS mirror-array is used as an active shutter to feed speckle images above a preset intensity threshold to the spectrometer, thereby increasing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the ...
In this article, a continuous stabilization process was used to make flame resistant fibers from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers. The effect of the stabilization time and the stretching process during the stabilization process on the physical properties and flammability of the resultant flame resistant fibers was studied. Increased drawing of PAN fibers during the continuous stabilization process was found to decrease the diameter and increase the tensile strength in the resultant flame resistant fibers. These fibers also had higher density. There were no absolute relationships seen between flame-resistance and the formation of stable ladder polymers, density, and oxygen content. ((orig.))
Ophir Corporation was awarded a contract by the U. S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory under the Project Title ''Airborne, Optical Remote Sensing of Methane and Ethane for Natural Gas Pipeline Leak Detection'' on October 14, 2002. This second six-month technical report summarizes the progress made towards defining, designing, and developing the hardware and software segments of the airborne, optical remote methane and ethane sensor. The most challenging task to date has been to identify a vendor capable of designing and developing a light source with the appropriate output wavelength and power. This report will document the work that has been done to identify design requirements, and potential vendors for the light source. Significant progress has also been made in characterizing the amount of light return available from a remote target at various distances from the light source. A great deal of time ...
Coir fibers received three treatments, namely washing with water, alkali treatment (mercerization) and bleaching. Treated fibers were incorporated in starch/ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers (EVOH) blends. Mechanical and thermal properties of starch/EVOH/coir biocomposites were evaluated. Fiber morphology and the fiber/matrix interface were further characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All treatments produced surface modifications and improved the thermal stability of the fibers and consequently of the composites. The best results were obtained for mercerized fibers where the tensile strength was increased by about 53% as compared to the composites with untreated fibers, and about 33.3% as compared to the composites without fibers. The mercerization improved fiber-matrix adhesion, ...
In this paper structure and mechanical properties of PBZT and PBO fibers are briefly discussed. One limitation of the high-modulus polymeric fibers and ultrahigh-modulus carbon fibers in reinforced composites is their poor compressive strength. Issues related to the compressive strength of polymeric and carbon fibers are considered. 62 references, 7 figures, 4 tables.
The authors describe the development of a four-dimensional atlas and reference system that includes both macroscopic and microscopic information on structure and function of the human brain in persons...Full Text Available
16 papers are presented covering: remote sensing - an aid to environment management; remote sensing application; monitoring environmental changes over iron ore mining areas; monitoring and management of environmental degradation due to geological factors; use of Landsat multispectral scanner data in environmental monitoring; geotechnical engineering problems with abandoned limestone mines; photogrammetric monitoring of mining environment; slope monitoring in open cast mines using close range remote sensing method; geobotanical remote sensing and mineral prospecting; geographical information in study of geo-environment through remote sensing; and alteration mapping in cuprite mining district.
This report presents a brief description of the fabrication and advantages of a composite, carbon-metal fiber material which does not require lubrication.
A new technique to monitor light diffraction patterns electrically is applied to frog semitendinosus muscle fibers at various levels of stretch. The intensity of the diffraction lines, sarcomere length...Full Text Available
... Accession Number : ADD431225. Title : Influence of Fiber Loading on Thermal Ablation of PTFE,. Corporate Author : Personal Author(s) : Letson,KN. ...
Lignocellulosic fibers from date palm trees were employed to reinforce an epoxy matrix. Two fiber sizes were used, with the length and diameter in the range of 20-30 and 1.5-3 mm, respectively, for the so-called long fibers, and in the range of 5-15 and 0.25-0.75 mm, respectively, for the so-called short fibers. The morphologies of the resulting composites, as well as their thermal, mechanical, and water sorption properties were evaluated. Strong interactions between both components and etherification reactions may occur between the hydroxyl groups of the fibers and the epoxy groups of the epoxy-amine reactive mixture. These effects are emphasized when decreasing the size of the fibers.
... In the Proceedings of INTC 2003, we studied charging effects on target coverage during electrospinning (16). ... of Fibers from Electrospinning of ...
The first space photographs were obtained from V-2 rockets fired upwards from the ..... Some fraction of the incoming solar radiation is reflected towards a sensor ...
A comprehensive experimental program on pullout tests of steel fibers from cement based matrices is described. A specially designed single fiber pullout apparatus was used to provide a quantitative determination of interfacial properties that are relevant to toughening brittle materials through fiber reinforcement. The parameters investigated included a specially designed high strength cement based matrix called Densified Small Particles system (DSP), a conventional mortar matrix, fiber embedment length, and the fiber volume fraction. The mediums from which the fiber was pulled included a control mortar mix without fibers, a mortar mix with 3, and 6 percent fibers by volume. The results indicate that: (1) the dense DSP matrix has significantly improved interfacial properties as compared to the conventional mortar matrix. ...
In order to clarify the alkali-resistance of fibers to be utilized as reinforcing materials for concrete, such as glass fiber, Aramid fiber, and carbon fiber, accelerated aging tests in alkaline solution were conducted. In detail, the degree of degradation of the fracture strength and Young's modulus were investigated through static tensile strength tests after soaking in alkaline solution of these fibers and then the mechanism of degradation was examined by observation using a scanning electron microscope. The conclusion obtained was as follows. Glass fiber was easily degraded in the alkaline solution and the progress of degradation was simulated quantitatively by the method proposed in this paper, which was based on a diffusion theory. Both Aramid fiber and carbon fiber showed a significant alkali-resistance ...
The macroscopic behavior of magnetostrictive materials results from domain evolutions occurring at a microscopic scale. The author shows how to compute magnetization and magnetostriction curves by appraising the behavior of the underlying microstructures. The method hinges on an averaging device (Young measures), which allows one to pass from the microscopic to the macroscopic scale. He takes into account the kinematical constraints on the accommodation of elastic effects, and he highlights the role of material symmetry in the selection of energetically optimal microstructures.
BackgroundCotton fiber development undergoes rapid and dynamic changes in a single cell type, from fiber initiation, elongation, primary and secondary wall biosynthesis, to fiber...Full Text Available
The purpose of the work described in this dissertation is to increase the understanding of injection-pultrusion process. Three major substudies related to injection-pultrusion have been completed: measurement of the compressibility of fiber reinforcements, measurement of in-plane and transverse resin flow through fiber reinforcements, and development of a resin flow model. This dissertation also presents results of an experimental and analytical investigation of in-plane and transverse resin flow through fiber reinforcements.
Activities and results are reported of a project to investigate the application of remote sensing technology developed for the LACIE, AgRISTARS, Forestry and other NASA remote sensing projects for the environmental monitoring of strip mining, industrial pollution, and acid rain. Following a remote sensing workshop for EPA personnel, the EOD clustering algorithm CLASSY was selected for evaluation by EPA as a possible candidate technology. LANDSAT data acquired for a North Dakota test sight was clustered in order to compare CLASSY with other algorithms.
The versatile electrospinning technique was used to successfully align and disperse multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in nylon 6,6 matrix to obtain composite fibers. The morphology of the composite fibers and the dispersion of the CNTs within the fibers were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. TEM analysis revealed that the CNTs were well-dispersed, separated and aligned along the fiber axis. The thermal and mechanical properties of the composite fibers were characterized as a function of weight fraction of the CNTs. Incorporation of the CNTs in the fibers resulted in an increase in glass-transition temperature (Tg) by 7degreeC, indicating that the addition of CNTs has restricted the mobility of the polymer chains a...
Considerable interest has focused recently on the use of lignocellulosic fibers as a reinforcement for thermoplastic polymers. The combination of these dissimilar materials, however, is characterized by a widespread incompatibility that leads to a weak fiber/polymer interface and poor performance properties for the composite. In an effort to improve compatibility a number of fiber surface modification approaches have been investigated including plasma, ozone, and polymer grafting treatments. Evaluation of adhesion improvements has been complicated by processing variables that are difficult to control. This paper will discuss the use of the-micro-debond test in quantifying the interfacial shear strength (ISS) in wood fiber/polystyrene composites. Wood fibers were modified to different degrees with styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers that varied in their composition. The effect of ...
This paper presents the results of single-fiber pullout tests for deformed and smooth steel fibers embedded in the newly developed very-high strength concrete (VHSC) matrixes. The pullout test program involved four types of steel fibers, eight compressive strengths of VHSC matrixes, and two normal concrete strengths. Test results have shown that pullout behavior of different steel fiber reinforced VHSC composites is influenced by the matrix strength and fiber end condition (smooth, flat end, or hooked). Results reveal that both maximum pull-out load and total pullout energy increases as matrix strength increases for all deformed fibers that did not rupture. The test results also indicated that the increase in total pullout energy is more significant than that in peak load.
This current work is concerned with the development of polypropylene composites reinforced with cellulose and cellulignin fibers attained from sugarcane bagasse. Moreover, the fibers were chemically modified by acetylating process and its effects on the fiber/matrix interaction were also evaluated. The chemical modification efficiency was verified by FTIR analysis and the fibers morphological aspects of fibers by SEM. Likewise, the influence of modified fibers content in the composites was studied by mechanical (tensile, shear and flexural tests) and thermal analyses (TGA and DSC). After the chemical modification, the FTIR results showed the appearance of acetyl groups and reduction of OH bonds for all fibers. Together with, SEM characterization showed that the acetylation changed the morp...
This paper deals with steel fiber reinforced concrete mechanical static behaviour and with its classification with respect to fibers content and mix-design variations. A number of experimental tests were conducted to investigate uniaxial compressive strength and tensile strength. Different mixtures were prepared varying both mix-design and fiber length. Fibers content in volume was of 1% and 2%. Mechanical characterization was performed by means of uniaxial compression tests with the aim of deriving the ultimate compressive strength of fiber concrete. Four-point bending tests on notched specimens were carried out to derive the first crack strength and the ductility indexes. The tensile strength of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) was obtained both from an experimental procedure and b...
The ultrafine fibers based on the composites of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and a series of fatty acids, lauric acid (LA), myristic acid (MA), palmitic acid (PA), and stearic acid (SA), were prepared successfully via electrospinning as form-stable phase change materials (PCMs). The morphology and thermal properties of the composite fibers were studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. It was found that the average fiber diameter increased generally with the content of fatty acid (LA) in the LA/PET composite fibers. The fibers with the low mass ratio maintained cylindrical shape with smooth surface while the quality became worse when the mass ratio is too high (more than 100/100). Moreover, the latent heat of the composite fibers increased with the increase of LA content and the ...
A large number of fiber optic cables were used in support of a neutron imaging experiment at the Nevada Test Site. This paper describes the quality control testing of fiber components used on this experiment. The principal reason for quality control testing was to ensure reliable, high transmission fibers; a secondary reason was to gain data on a large sample of fiber cables in the field. Also described is the instrumentation developed for carrying out these field measurements. The design of the quality control instrumentation was a compromise between accuracy and simplicity of use.
A fiber optic feedthrough module which comprises a metal sleeve, a fiber optic element extending through the sleeve in spaced relation thereto, and a tandem series of centrally-apertured mating annular sealant bodies of thermoplastic material surrounding the fiber optic element and compressed between it and the sleeve. The module is made by first providing a loose subassembly of a plurality of individual but interfitting sealant bodies on the fiber optic element and then inserting this subassembly into a metal sleeve, following by swaging the whole assembly which eliminates clearances and provides sealed interfaces between the various contacting components. (author).
The contention of this commentary, focused on the vestibulocerebellum (particularly the flocculus), is that the great importance for our understanding of cerebellar organization in terms of climbing fiber zones, begun years ago by Voogd [1969, 2011] and Oscarsson [1969], needs to be matched by coming more to grips with the other fundamental geometrical organization of the cerebellum, the parallel fibers. The central issue is the selection of those parallel fiber signals to be transformed into Purkinje cell activity in the different zones. At present, in comparison to our knowledge of vestibulocerebellar climbing fiber inputs, the deficiencies in our knowledge of the zonal anatomy and physiology of vestibulocerebellar mossy fibers and granule cells are glaring. The recent emphasis on molecu...
The purpose of this study is to determine the suitability of producing agro-fiber reinforced plastic composite (agro-FRPC) from rubber wood fiber blended in polypropylene matrix. The effects of varying fiber dimension and fiber content on the physical and mechanical properties of the composite were evaluated to provide an insight into the fiber matrix adhesion. The effects of reactive additives on the physical and mechanical properties of the composite were evaluated which provides the insight on the reinforcement of the composite. Rubber wood fiber used in this study is currently being used in the manufacturing of medium density fiber (MDF) board. Two sizes of rubber wood fiber were used i.e. 0.5-1.0 mm and 1.0-2.0 mm. Homopolymer polypropylene of MFI 14.0 was used as a matrix. The irradiation work was carried out using ...
A novel method of simultaneous realization of optical carrier-suppression and single-sideband modulation using fiber Fabry-Perot tunable filter is presented. In order to enhance transmission performance of radio over fiber links, we use a fiber Fabry-Perot tunable filter to filter out one sideband as well as suppress the optical carrier power. The results demonstrate 20.5dB and 14.2dB improvement in the signal noise ratios when 18GHz and 10GHz microwave signals carrying 5Mbit/s quadrature-phase-shift-keyed (QPSK) format data is transmitted over 35 km single mode fiber, respectively.
Effect of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber and poly(methyl acrylate) grafted OPEFB on several mechanical properties of poly(vinyl chloride)/epoxidized natural rubber (PVC/ENR) blends were studied. The composites were prepared by mixing the fiber and the PVC/ENR blends using HAKEE Rheomixer at the rotor speed of 50 rpm, mixing temperature 150degreeC, and mixing period of 20 min. The fiber loadings were varied from 0 to 30% and the effect of fiber content in the composites on their ultimate tensile strength (UTS), Youngs modulus, elongation at break, flexural modulus, hardness, and impact strength were determined. An increasing trend was observed in the Youngs modulus, flexural modulus, and hardness with the addition of grafted and ungrafted fiber to the PVC/ENR blends. However the i...
The potential of different multitemporal and multispectral airborne and spaceborne remote sensing methods for assessment and monitoring of the lignite open-cast mining areas are discussed in this chapter. Emphasis is placed on the successful use of different remote sensing data in variable vegetation structures for dumped sediments with different mineralogical and geochemical properties and for hydrochemical properties of the residual lakes. Multiple remote sensing data are a cost and time efficient tool for the assessment of environmental impacts, supervising of reclamation activities as well as for long term monitoring of the mining area. The airborne data are well suited for large scale detailed research and mapping in smaller sites and the satellite data for the overview scale 1:50 000. An integrated remote sensing-GIS-system including all field and lab data, DTM and other graphical data, improve ...
Secreted human bronchial mucins, directly collected from macroscopically healthy bronchial mucosa, were prepared in the presence of six proteinase inhibitors, and analysed by electron microscopy. These...Full Text Available
The macroscopic stress distribution across an annealed Zircaloy-4 gas tungsten arc weld was measured by neutron time-of-flight diffraction at the SMARTS diffractometer at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The stresses after annealing are about 40% lower than those in the same weld prior to heat treatment. The intergranular strains in the reference coupons, which give the macroscopic stress free lattice spacings, are consistent with the difference in cooling the strongly textured plate and the weakly textured weld.
Abstract Simon Saunders and David Wallace have proposed an attractive semantics for interpreting linguistic communities embedded in an Everettian multiverse. It provides a charitable interpretation of our ordinary talk about the future, and allows us to retain a principle of bivalence for propositions and to retain the law of excluded middle in the logic of propositions about the future. But difficulties arise when it comes to providing an appropriate account of the metaphysics of macroscopic objects and events. I evaluate various metaphysical frameworks which might be combined with the Saunders-Wallace semantics. I conclude that the most appropriate metaphysics to underwrite the semantics renders Everettian quantum mechanics a theory of non-overlapping worlds.
Striated muscle fibers from the body and tail myotomes of a fish, the black Mollie, have been examined with particular attention to the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and transverse tubular (or T) system....Full Text Available
PurposeTo present full ophthalmologic examination and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) photographs of autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) patients...Full Text Available
The adenovirus fiber knob causes the first step in the interaction of adenovirus with cell membrane receptors. To obtain information on the receptor binding site(s), the interaction of labeled cell...Full Text Available
Electrospinning, a flexible jet-based fiber, scaffold, and membrane fabrication approach, has been elucidated as having significance to the heath sciences. Its capabilities have been most impressive...Full Text Available
In this study, a miniature fiber-optic radiation detector has been developed using a water-equivalent organic scintillator for electron beam therapy dosimetry. Usually, two kinds of light signals such as fluorescent and Cherenkov lights are generated in a fiber-optic radiation detector when a high-energy electron beam is irradiated. The fluorescent light signal is produced in the scintillator and is transmitted through a plastic optical fiber to a remote light-measuring device such as a PMT or a photodiode. The Cherenkov light could be also produced in the plastic optical fiber itself and be detected by a light-measuring device. Therefore, it could cause problems or limit the accuracy of the detection of a fluorescent light signal that is proportional to dose. The objectives of this study are to measure, characterize and eliminate Cherenkov light generated in a plastic optical fiber ...
The purpose of this study was to determine the thickness of the macula and the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in Japanese subjects by Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT), and to compare the...Full Text Available
Epifluorescence images of Ca2+ transients elicited by electrical stimulation of single skeletal muscle fibers were studied with fast imaging techniques that take advantage of the large fluorescence...Full Text Available
A cartridge case is made by making up an aqueous slurry of cellulosic fibers, forming the fibers into a mat and molding the mat or preform into final shape by use of a die at up to 165 degrees F.
PurposeTo determine the effects of age on global and sectoral peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), macular thicknesses and optic nerve head (ONH) parameters...Full Text Available
BackgroundRecent research highlights the promise of remotely sensed aerosol optical depth (AOD) as a proxy for ground-level particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤...Full Text Available
It was thus actually the fourth stage of the rocket assembly. ... package, and several temperature sensors - was mounted in the cross-lattice frame. ... Earth's geomagnetic field and incoming charged particles from the Sun and extra-solar space. ...
Application to carbon fiber started in this Year. In this paper, a spinning and calcination process are explained. Fiber was obtained by wet spinning of the PAN solution. Ten solvents were tested and the results proved that dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was the best solvent. Glycerine was used as a coagulating bath. The thin fiber (10 to 50 denier) was produced under the conditions of about 20wt% concentration at about 110degC. Heat-treat temperature was about 270 to 275degC. The viscosity-tacticity relationship and T{sub sol} vs. inverse tacticity were shown in the paper. (S.Y.)
We report on measurements of radiation hardness of the plastic scintillating fiber SCSF-81. Fibers were irradiated with "6"0Co #gamma#-rays and fast neutrons up to 105 Gy and up to 5 x 1013 n/cm"2, respectively. Deterioration of the attenuation length of the scintillating fiber was studied. Some significant deterioration was observed at the integrated dose of about 1 x 103 Gy and at the integrated neutron flux (neutron fluence) of about 1 x 1012 n/cm"2 for #gamma#-ray and neutron irradiation, respectively. (author).
This article gives a survey of the history, properties and applications of 'Kevlar' aramide fibers. For example, the 'Kevlar' para-aramide fiber is used in compound materials in ship-, aircraft- and vehicle construction. 'Kevlar' is used as a replacement for asbestos, for example in brakes, clutches and seals or as rubber reinforcement (tyres, conveyor belts, hoses). The aramide fibers also offer manufacturers of ropes, hawsers and cables a near ideal range of properties. (MM).
... concentrated on the construction of switches using fiber ... been chosen for a switch realized in ... of these techniques using acousto-optic modulators or ...
This paper studies the sorption of chlorine complexes of ruthenium (IV) on the graft copolymer of a polyacrylonitrile fiber with poly-2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine (PAN-MVP). The composition of the fiber is illustrated. It is shown that sorption of chlorine complexes of ruthenium (IV) from acid solutions by a pyridine fiber sorbent takes place according to an anion-exchange mechanism and is due to the formation of compounds of the diamine type (Ru(RPy)/sub 2/Cl/sub 4/).
This document contains the Proceedings of the Eleventh Thematic Conference Geologic Remote Sensing (Volume II). The conference was held February 27-29, 1996 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Presentations included in this volume address the following topics: Geologic Remote Sensing and aerial surveying as applied toward mineral exploration, monitoring of geothermal resources, petroleum exploration, the environmental effects of mining, environment and hydrology, detection of geohazards, and the GIS system and data integration. Some information regarding the use of color imagery in remote sensing is also included.
The influence of additionally injected short-wavelength photobleaching light on the radiation hardness of Ge-doped graded index fibers working at 1,300 nm wavelength is investigated. Predictions are complicated by the fact that more efficient shortwave bleaching light experiences higher radiation-induced loss. Promising results are found for low fiber temperatures (approx-lt -50 C) and bleaching light of about 835 nm wavelength.
BackgroundAδ and C fibers are the major pain-conducting nerve fibers, activate only partly the same brain areas, and are differently involved in pain syndromes....Full Text Available
VT6 titanium alloy long-range fibers have been extracted from the suspended melt drop with the following high-rate solidification. Formation of the structure of fibrous porous material prepared from these fibers has been studied. 7 refs.; 5 figs.; 2 tabs.
A filter for extracting solids and liquids from gaseous combustion exhausts comprises a textile filter element formed of polyacrylonitrile fibers oxidized by careful heat treatment and comprising approximately 61% carbon after treatment. The filter may be woven, knitted or formed as a batting of randomly-oriented fibers. Abrasion resistant coatings and lubricants for the fibers are disclosed. The filter material is especially useful as a filter bag.
We present a monolithic, self-starting, all-PM, stabilized Yb-fiber laser, pulse-compressed in a hollow-core PM photonic crystal fiber, providing the 370 fs pulses of 4 nJ energy with high mode quality.
Hamsters breathed, nose-only, for 13 weeks, 5 days/week, 6 hr/day, either man-made vitreous fiber (MMVF)10a, MMVF33, or long amosite asbestos at approximately 300 World Health Organization (WHO) fibers/cc...Full Text Available
Layered carbon fiber mats have been prepared by layer-by-layer (LBL) electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile onto thin natural cellulose paper and subsequent carbonization. The layered carbon fiber mat has been proved to be a promising microbial fuel cell anode for high density layered biofilm propagation and high bioelectrocatalytic anodic current density.
This paper provides a review of current air and spaceborne remote sensing techniques which can be used in land use planning and resource management. Emphasis is placed on the development of geographic information systems (GS). It is expected remote sensing will become the preferred tool for data acquisition, while GIS will be used to manage and distribute georeferenced land information.
The subject of this volume is remote sensing for environmental monitoring and resource management. This session is divided in eight parts. First part is on general topics, methodology and meteorology. Second part is on geology, environment and land cover. Third part is on disaster monitoring. Fourth part is on operational status of remote sensing. Fifth part is on coastal zones and inland waters. Sixth and seventh parts are on forestry and agriculture. Eighth part is on instrumentation and systems. (A.B.). refs., figs., tabs.
An apparatus for sensing chemicals over extended range of concentrations. In particular, first and second sensors each having separate, but overlapping ranges for sensing concentrations of hydrogen are provided. Preferably, the first sensor is a MOS solid state device wherein the metal electrode or gate is a nickel alloy. The second sensor is a chemiresistor comprising a nickel alloy.
Focuses on the application of remote sensing techniques to the study of coal waste mounds. The situation at the coal waste mounds in Fukuoka, Japan is cited. Guidelines on film parameters, photographic keys and tasks required to inventory, monitor and manage coal waste mounds in Japan are addressed. Application of photogrammetry, remote sensing, aerial photography and satellite imagery techniques in monitoring spoil banks is reviewed. Applicability of the techniques is discussed. 24 refs.
DescriptionRemote sensing of the sea surface from satellites in near-polar orbits has contributed greatly to our understanding of the links between physical and biological processes in marine systems. However most of this progress has been made in open oceanic waters or major upwelling areas, and many unresolved problems are encountered in coastal regions and shelf seas. In these optically complex waters, quantitative remote sensing requires a more sophisticated interpretation strategy than that implemente [continued...
We fabricate a low noise erbium-doped fiber ring laser that can be continuously tuned over 102nm by insertion of the fiber Fabry-Perot tunable filter (FFP-TF) in the ring cavity with a novel cavity structure and the optimal gain medium length. As an application of this fiber ring laser, we performed the absorption spectroscopy of acetylene (13C2H2) and hydrogen cyanide (H13C14N) and measure the absorption spectra of more than 50 transition lines of these gases with an excellent signal to noise ratio (SNR). The pressure broadening coefficients of four acetylene transition lines are obtained using this fiber ring laser and an external cavity laser diode.
The influence of the regimes of modification of carbon fibers by an argon ion beam on the change in the angle of their wetting by an epoxy oligomer has been investigated. It has been shown that ion-beam treatment of carbon fibers leads to a considerable decrease in the wetting angles (the difference between the wetting angles for non modified and modified fibers is up to 32.2-38.7). Accordingly, there is also an increase in the value of the equilibrium work of adhesion by 36.2-41.6% in the contact zone. It has been established that ion-beam treatment of carbon fibers by argon ions leads to an increase in the shear strength when microplastics based on them are formed. (authors)
In this study, a novel graphene nanosheets (GNSs) coated solid phase microextraction (SPME) fiber was prepared by immobilizing microwave synthesized GNSs on a stainless steel wire. Microwave synthesized GNSs were verified by X-ray diffraction, field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). GNS-SPME fiber was characterized using FE-SEM and the results showed the GNS coating was homogeneous, porous, and highly adherent to the surface of the stainless steel fiber. The performance and feasibility of the GNS-SPME fiber was evaluated under one-step microwave assisted (MA) headspace (HS) SPME followed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection for five organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in aqueous samples. Parameters influencing the extra...
The commercial solid phase microextraction (SPME) fibers are not stable enough in organic solvent and tend to swell and strip off from the silica fiber in the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) mobile phase, and therefore the application of SPME coupled online with HPLC is limited. In this study, an SPME fiber coated with single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), prepared by means of electrophoretic deposition, was coupled on line to HPLC for the determination of four endocrine-disrupting compounds, i.e. bisphenol A (BPA), estrone (E(1)), 17?-ethynylestradiol (EE(2)) and octylphenol (OP), in aqueous samples. The results showed that the SWCNTs coating on the prepared fiber did not swell and strip off from the platinum fiber throughout the experiment, thus indicating a high resistance to the HPLC mobile phase, the mixture of water and acetonitrile. The SWCNTs ...
The effect of irradiation on the tensile properties of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber reinforced poly(vinyl chloride)/epoxidized natural rubber (PVC/ENR) blends were studied. The composites were prepared by mixing the fiber and the PVC/ENR blend using HAAKE Rheomixer at 150 deg. C. The composites were then irradiated by using a 3.0 MeV electron beam machine at doses ranging from 0 to 100 kGy in air and room temperature. The tensile strength, Young's modulus, elongation at break and gel fraction of the composites were measured. Comparative studies were also made by using poly(methyl acrylate) grafted OPEFB fiber in the similar blend system. An increase in tensile strength, Young's modulus and gel fraction, with a concurrent reduction in the elongation at break (Eb) of the PVC/ENR/OPEFB composites were observed upon electron beam irradiation. Studies revealed that grafting of the OPEFB ...
A new filtration process using acrylic fiber has been developed which has wide applications in water works, sewage water treatment and waste water treatment facilities. Instead of sand, the common filter media in conventional systems, this new system uses long, fine acrylic fibers. Compared with a conventional system, the filtration speed and suspended solids (SS) retention of the new system have been increased 500% from 120--200 m/d to 400--1,200 m/d and from 2--3 kg/m{sup 2} to 5--20 kg/m{sup 2}, respectively. In addition, the backwash time has been decreased 60%, from 20--30 min to 10 min. As SS retention increase, the empty space between the fibers (fiber void) decreases and pressure drops due to the high filtration rate. Thus the pressure decreases rapidly after a certain period of filtration because of the increased SS retention cause fiber compression. This system is ...
The aim of the present study focuses on experimentally demonstrating the efficacy of using angularly-variable fiber geometry to achieve the desired tissue-layer selection and probing depths with the further objective of enhancing the sensitivity and specificity of spectral diagnosis in stratified architectures that resemble human cervical epithelia. The morphological and biochemical features of epithelial tissue vary in accordance with tissue depths; consequently, the accuracy of spectroscopic diagnosis of epithelial dysplasia may be enhanced by probing the optical properties of this tissue. When correlated to cellular dysplasia, layer-specific changes in tissue optical properties may be deciphered by reflectance spectroscopy coupled with angularly-variable fiber geometry. This study addresses the utility of using such angularly-variable fiber geometry for resolving spatially-specific spectral signatures of tissue ...
Favorable reaction channels are searched for in order to obtain the superheavy element "2"9"8114. The interaction energy is supposed to comply with the adiabatic hypothesis. Concerning the deformation energy, a very complete binary macroscopic-microscopic energy method is used to perform calculations. Deformed two-center shell model provides the energy level schemes for shell effects. Yukawa-plus-exponential model gives the macroscopic (liquid drop) part of the total energy. The mass tensor is obtained by the Werner-Wheeler irrotational flow hypothesis. Finally the minimization of the multidimensional action integral produces the highest penetrability values. Kr-projectile reactions provide the best pairs, although generally the presentabilities are very low. (author)
We have constructed a mathematical model that describes the coherent spontaneous radiation of a macroscopically filled exciton mode. We have demonstrated qualitatively ways in which a coherent subsystem of excitons can be formed. When this occurs under the influence of an external coherent source, exciton free induction occurs, while in the case of a spontaneous transition of the excitons to a coherent state through freezing of the reservoir of intermolecular interactions superradiance occurs. We have concluded that superradiance in the system of Frenkel excitons is possible under the influence of the non-Dicke mechanisms of self-induction of correlations, when the dipole transition moments of the individual atoms are coupled into a single macroscopic effective spin through their electrostatic interaction, this being analogous to the ordering of magnetic dipole moments in a ferromagnet.
We propose and demonstrate experimentally a singlelongitudinal-mode (SLM) fiber double-ring laser using an Erbium-doped waveguide amplifier (EDWA), polarization controller (PC), and a fiber Fabry-Perot tunable filter (FFP-TF) into the ring cavity. In addition, the output power, side-mode suppression ratio (SMSR), and the stabilities of power and wavelength of the laser also are investigated. (Copyright 2007 by Astro Ltd., Published exclusively by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA)
We present the synthesis, magnetic and UV spectrometry of NiZn-ferrite nanofiber. The single phase of spinel ferrite was obtained at 600 {sup o}C. The NiZn-ferrite fibers fabricated by an electrospinning process were formed as a polygonal grain growth with firing temperature in fiber matrix. It appeared that the saturation magnetization (M{sub S}) of NiZn-ferrite nanofiber was dependent on Ni/Zn molar ratio which is similar to that of the inverse spinel ferrites. The NiZn-ferrite fibers showed good DNA adsorption efficiency that can be modified and utilized for DNA separation with magnetic nanofiber as a novel material in clinical applications.
The retention of radio-Eu, Go, Cs and Sr, at the tracer level, on raw fibers produced from hemp, linen and Jute plants was investigated. The study was conducted from different media including: sea and tap waters, sodium chloride and nitric acid solutions of different Ph. The percentage retention and elution, on prolonged contact, varied from one element to another depending on conditions. Extraction chromatography columns, using these fibers as supporting material were also experimented. Results were discussed together with possible applications. 7 tabs.
The theme of the conference was recent developments in airborne remote sensing and their applications. The proceedings contain the papers presented at 14 general sessions and 13 interactive sessions covering airborne platforms, sensor systems, airborne/spaceborne synergy, atmospheric and oceanic measurements, land cover/land use, emergency response and reconnaissance, data handling, forestry, agriculture, water resources, geospatial reference, system calibration, environmental monitoring and planning, and information product advancements. Two papers are abstracted separately.
The influence of ablation on stagnation region convective heating for ... and thermal properties of this fiber depend on the fluorination process ... However, these properties are between those of graphite and those of PTFE (Teflon). ...
Quartz fiber calorimetry is a technique the signal generation mechanism of which is based on the Cherenkov effect. In this article we try to give a comprehensive overview of the subject. We start with a general introduction to calorimetry where the basic elements that characterize the development of electromagnetic and hadronic showers are discussed. Then we describe in detail the operation principle and the properties of calorimeters equipped with quartz fibers. The main advantages of this type of calorimeters are the radiation hardness, the fast response and the compact detector dimensions, features that derive from the quartz material and the specific mechanism of operation. A section is devoted to presenting the quartz fiber calorimeters that have been built or planned to in various experiments to operate as centrality detectors, trigger detectors, luminosity monitors or general purpose very forward calorimeters.
Multi-fiber WDM networks are becoming the major telecommunication platforms for transmitting exponentially increasing data traffic. While today's networks are mainly providing circuit-switched connections, optical packet-switching technologies have been investigated for years, aiming at achieving more efficient utilizations of network resources. In this paper, we have evaluated, for the first time, the packet-loss performance of multi-fiber optical packet switches (MOPS). Our main contributions are threefold. Firstly, we have proposed simple and accurate analytical models for analyzing packet-loss performance of (i) the most fundamental MOPS configuration, (ii) MOPS equipped with fiber delay lines (FDLs) and (iii) shared wavelength converters (SWCs). Secondly, we have shown that the MOPS n...
... potential propagation in terminal nerve fibers or at the neuromuscular ... means of prosthesis control (Graupe, et al, 1975). ... parallel interface, a joystick ...
Cfiber/Si3N4 composites were prepared by hot-pressed sintering using a-Si3N4 powders, short carbon fibers and sintering additives as starting materials. The mechanical and dielectric properties of these composites were studied. When the short carbon fiber content of the composites increases from 0 to 1wt.%, the fracture toughness increases from 3.456 to 4.203MPam1/2, and both the real and imaginary part of permittivity increase greatly over the frequency range 8.2-12.4GHz. These effects were due to the anisotropy of short carbon fibers.
Hornification is the loss of fiber wall swelling which is detrimental to subsequent recycling resulting from drying. It is known that dried fibers lose their conformability and swelling capacity. The effect of recycling treatment on the swelling ability of hardwood bleached kraft pulp fibers was determined. Modelling paper recycling, sheets were recycled using heat treatment (23?C, 60?C, 100?C). The results were compared with those for natural fibers from bleached kraft pulp. Swelling kinetics of sheets was measured by a modified method monitoring interactions of pulp with water. Swelling ability decreased during the recycling in comparison with never-recycled pulp at all temperatures. Recycling of sheets caused only small changes in the cupri-ethylene-diamine viscosity, however, the water...
Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fabric (CF) was modified with strong HNO3 oxidation and then introduced into polyimide (PI) composites. The friction and wear properties of the carbon fabric reinforced polyimide composites (CFRP), sliding against GCr15 stainless steel rings, were investigated on an M-2000 model ring-on-block test rig under dry sliding. Experimental results revealed that the carbon fiber surface treatment largely reduced the friction and wear of the CFRP. Compared with the untreated ones, the surface-modified CF can enhance the tribological properties of CFRP efficiently due to the improved adhesion between the CF and the PI matrix. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study of the carbon fiber surface showed that the fiber surfa...
Pitch-based short carbon fibers (CFs) were treated by air oxidation and cryogenic nitrogen, respectively. Thereafter the treated and untreated CFs were incorporated into polyimide (PI) matrix to form composites. The CFs before and after treatment were examined by XPS and SEM.The flexural strength of the specimen was determined in a three-point test machine and the tribological properties of PI composites sliding against GCr15 steel rings were evaluated on an M-2000 model ring-on-block test rig. The results show that the surface of the treated CFs became rougher. Lots of active groups formed on the CF surface after air oxidation.The treatment can effectively improve the mechanical and tribological properties in their PI composites due to the enhanced fiber-matrix interfacial bonding. Copyri...
To investigate the characteristics of a reactor and a neutron generator, a small scintillation detector with an optical fiber with ThO_2 has been developed to measure fast neutrons. However, experimental facilities where "2"3"2Th can be used are limited by regulations, and S/N ratio is low because the background counts of this detector are increase by alpha decay of "2"3"2Th. The purpose of this study is to develop a new optical fiber detector for measuring fast neutrons that does not use nuclear material such as "2"3"2Th. From the measured and calculated results, the new optical fiber detector which uses ZnS(Ag) as a converter material together with a scintillator have the highest detection efficiency among several developed detectors. It is applied for the measurement of reaction rates generated from fast neutrons; furthermore, the absolute detection efficiency of this detector was obtained experimentally.
... The measured elastic modulus was fairly close to the predicted value, but the ultimate compressive strength (UCS) was quite a bit below the MSC ...
... Abstract : The structural features of 25mm combustible cartridge cases, manufactured for this program and having nitrocellulose/resin/fiber ratios of ...
... reliability of fiber optics in preference over space-based systems. ... STC web site at www.aiaa.org/tc ... and improve lethalities of US weapon systems 3 ...
By the turn of the century, American farmers and ranchers will be producing food and fiber through the application of highly sophisticated systems that involve a broad spectrum of relevant factors--from...Full Text Available
The optically stimulated luminescent (OSL) radiation dosimeter technically surveys a wide dynamic measurement range and a high sensitivity. Optical fiber dosimeters provide capability for remote monitoring of the radiation in the locations which are difficult-to-access and hazardous. In addition, optical fiber dosimeters are immune to electrical and radio-frequency interference. In this paper, a novel remote optical fiber radiation dosimeter is described. The optical fiber dosimeter takes advantage of the charge trapping materials CaS:Ce, Sm that exhibit OSL. The measuring range of the dosimeter is from 0.1 to 100 Gy. The equipment is relatively simple and small in size, and has low power consumption. This device is suitable for measuring the space radiation dose and also can be used in high radiation dose condition and other dangerous radiation occasions. (authors)
The influence of ablation on stagnation region convective heating for ... and thermal properties of this fiber depend on the fluorination process ... However, these properties are between those of graphite and those of PTFE (Teflon). ...
Spratly Islands, located in the southern part of the South China Sea (SCS), consist of more than 100 small islands, coral reefs and banks. Remote sensing is the only way to obtain a synoptic view of all of the islands in such a large area. It has been demonstrated that satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery is a very powerful tool for monitoring meso-scale and small-scale ocean processes in a large area. In this study, satellite SAR images were used to study the ocean environment in the area of Spratly Islands. The aim was to understand the capability of satellite remote sensing to monitor ocean processes and provide information for future field studies. Two sets of high-resolution European Remote Sensing satellite (ERS)-2 SAR images over the entire Spratly Islands area were coll...
Coal mining generates a number of significant environmental impacts. Due to its synoptic coverage and repetitive data acquisition capabilities, remote sensing has been extensively used to monitor effects of surface mining. Availability of low cost and high resolution data in recent years has focused increased attention on the use of satellite data for monitoring surface mining activity. This article presents an overview of some of the important studies that have used satellite and airborne remote sensing data to assess environmental impacts of coal mining and to monitor reclamation activities. Detection and delineation of subsurface coal mine fires using remotely-sensed thermal data is also briefly discussed. The utility of interfacing remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems for effective environmental management of mining areas has been emphasized.
metric temperatures has been prepared showing the surface water temper- ... occasion, gray levels show different densities for similar water temper- ...
The symposium reviewed the use of electronics in mining today. Subjects covered include control systems; remote sensing; telemetry; data transmission; microprocessors and transportation systems. 15 papers have been abstracted separately.
Recently there has been considerable interest in the design of efficient carrier sense multiple access(CSMA) protocol for wireless network. The basic assumption underlying recent results is availability of perfect carrier sense information. This allows for design of continuous time algorithm under which collisions are avoided. The primary purpose of this note is to show how these results can be extended in the case when carrier sense information may not be perfect, or equivalently delayed. Specifically, an adaptation of algorithm in Rajagopalan, Shah, Shin (2009) is presented here for time slotted setup with carrier sense information available only at the end of the time slot. To establish its throughput optimality, in additon to method developed in Rajagopalan, Shah, Shin (2009), understanding properties of stationary distribution of a certain non-reversible Markov chain as well as bound on its mixing ...
Acidosis in the gastrointestinal tract can be both a physiological and pathological condition. While gastric acid serves digestion and protection from pathogens, pathological acidosis is associated...Full Text Available
Properties of the multi-species electromagnetic Weibel and electrostatic two-stream instabilities are investigated for an intense ion beam propagating through background plasma. Assuming that the background plasma electrons provide complete charge and current neutralization, detailed linear stability properties are calculated within the framework of a macroscopic cold-fluid model for a wide range of system parameters.
The relativistic motion of an electron is numerically analyzed in a tokamak having macroscopic magnetic turbulence. Stochasticity induced by the relativistic motion overwhelms the phase averaging effect, which provides a tokamak with an effective loss mechanism for the avoidance/suppression of runaway electron generation at a major disruption. On the other hand, electrons in the KAM (Kolmogorov-Arnold-Moser) region will be observed as a runaway snake. (author)
Abstract A diacrylate polysulfone oligomer is synthesized and used as the acrylic oligomer for the in situ synthesis of noble metal/PSU nanocomposites through UV-induced simultaneous radical polymerization of acrylic functionalities and NP formation by reduction of their precursors. Thus, silver or gold NPs are formed in situ during polymer network formation. FESEM analysis of the morphology of the cured systems demonstrates that the nanoparticles of the noble metals are homogeneously distributed in the network without macroscopic agglomeration.
The paper presents results of studies on the effect of heat treatment on strength and pattern of 40Kh steel impact failure. Loading levels corresponding to macroscopic spalling microdamage initiation in the material are determined for three initial states. Metallographic study on the spalling failure pattern for 40Kh steel in different initial states and data on microhardness measurement are presented.
This report focuses on a better understanding of the physical phenomenon related to the enhancement of boiling and non-boiling heat transfer by applying ultrasonic waves. Experimental results obtained both in a pool of water and in a vertically upward water flow proved clearly that macroscopic acoustic steam induced by ultrasonics is a major contribution to heat transfer augmentation. (author).
This report focuses on a better understanding of the physical phenomenon related to the enhancement of boiling and non-boiling heat transfer by applying ultrasonic waves. Experimental results obtained both in a pool of water and in a vertically upward water flow proved clearly that macroscopic acoustic stream induced by ultrasonics is a major contribution to heat transfer augmentation. (author).
A simplified stormwater management model has been developed to provide an inexpensive, flexible tool for planning and preliminary sizing of stormwater facilities. The model was developed to be part of a methodology for use in the management of stormwater that utilizes both simple...
Progress in four research areas on this project are summarized under the following topics: (1) Geminate charge pair recombination in hexane; (2) Fast current measurements resulting from excitation of charge transfer (CT) states; (3) Measurement of the dipole moment of excited states by DC conductivity; and (4) Charge separation at macroscopic interfaces between electron donor and acceptor solids. In a final section, personnel who have contributed to the project during the past budget period are described.
We determine the structure of the total homology groups of exotic Springer fibers as affine Weyl group representations. As applications, we provide single top/socle property of standard modules in the exotic Deligne-Langlands correspondence (except for root of unity case), an analogue of Verma's theorem, the coincidence of analytic/geometric gradings in the $C ^{\\infty}$-realization of anti-spherical modules of graded Hecke algebras of type $\\mathsf{BC}$ with unequal parameters, among others.
The purpose of the present work is to investigate the effects of matrix resin and fiber content on the behavior of fatigue crack propagation in continuous-glass-fiber-mat reinforced CP-resin composites. For this purpose, ductile matrix resin and brittle one are used. These two kinds of resins have the characteristic that the elastic modulus and tensile strength are nearly the same with each other while the elongation is different. The composite specimens are made of these resins and continuous grass fiber mat of 20 wt.% and 60 wt% fiber contents. The fatigue crack propagation test was conducted by using the tapered DCB specimens to control the stress intensity factor range, {delta}K, during the test. The results obtained are as follows; (1) The relation between the crack propagation rate, da/dN, and {delta}K for all the present materials is shown by a straight line in logarithmic representation. (2) For ...
This report deals with the selection of a data communication system for a remote metering system. It covers the following three types of systems: fiber optic, telephone line, and radio packet. It provides a methodology for selecting a communication system for a given remote metering system and a method for comparing costs.
AimTo compare the blood glucose-lowering effect of a highly viscous fiber blend (VFB) added to a starchy snack on postprandial glycemia between healthy participants and participants...Full Text Available
The topics covered at the conference include: mineral exploration; geological mapping/stratigraphy; environmental monitoring and hydrology; petroleum exploration; radar digital elevation mapping; new commercial remote sensing initiatives; geological hazards and engineering; processing and integration techniques; and hyperspectral geology.
Real-time horizon sensing on continuous mining machines is becoming an industry tool. Installation and testing of production-grade Horizon Sensor (HS) systems continued this quarter at Monterey Coal Company (ExxonMobil), Mountain Coal Company West Elk Mine (Arch), and Ohio Valley Coal Company (OVC). Monitoring of system function, user experience, and mining benefits is ongoing. All horizon sensor components have finished MSHA (U.S.) and IEC (International) certification.
This article analyses the role of energy intensity and the relationship between CO{sub 2} emissions and primary energy in order to explain the evolution of CO{sub 2} emissions by unit of real GDP. It also distinguishes two different meanings of CO{sub 2} emissions Kuznets curve hypothesis: the weak and the strong sense. It considers the case of Spain in the period 1972-1997 as an example in which there is not any evidence supporting this hypothesis in either sense. (author)
The Bureau of Mines has two projects in the remote sensing field as it pertains to mining. One of these is a completed contract that studied the use of aircraft mounted cameras and the results of photogrammetry. The second project is an ongoing contract to study the effectiveness of using an instrumentation system wired to remote data collection station to record embankment data. 6 refs.
Nano-sized zinc oxide was synthesized and deposited onto cellulosic fibers using the sol-gel process at ambient temperature. The prepared materials were characterized using several techniques including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. X-ray diffraction studies of the ZnO-coated fiber indicate formation of the hexagonal crystal phase which was satisfactory crystallized on the fiber surface. The electron micrographs show formation of zinc oxide nanoparticles within 10-15 nm in size which have been homogeneously dispersed on the fiber surface. The prepared materials show significant photocatalytic self-cleaning activity, which was monitored by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photoactivity was studied upon measuring the photodegradation of methylene blue and eosin yellowish under UV-Vis ...
Research and development underway since 1982 has led to the development of a method of reinforcing wood and wood composite structural products (WWC) using high-strength fiber-reinforced plastic. This method allows the use of less wood fiber and lower grade wood fiber for a given load capacity. The first WWC in which reinforcement has been marketed is glulam beams. Marketed under the trade name FiRP{trademark} Reinforced glulam, the product has gained code approval and is now being used in the construction of buildings and bridges in the United States, Japan and other countries. The high-strength fiber-reinforced plastic (FiRP{trademark} Reinforced panel (RP)) has specific characteristics that are required to provide for proper use in WWC`s. This paper discusses these characteristics and the testing requirements to develop code approved allowable design values for carbon, aramid and fiberglass RP`s for ...
The germplasm with exotic genomic components especially from Sea Island cotton (Gossypium barbadense L. Gb) is the dominant genetic resources to enhance fiber quality of upland cotton (G. hirsutum L., Gh). Due to low efficiency of phenotypic evaluation and selection on fiber quality, genetic dissection of favorable alleles using molecular markers is essential. Genetic dissection on putative Gb introgressions related to fiber traits were conducted by SSR markers with mapping populations derived from a cross between Luyuan343 (LY343), a superior fiber quality introgression line (IL) with genomic components from Gb, and an elite Upland cotton cv. Lumianyan#22 (LMY22). Among 82 polymorphic loci screened out from 4050 SSRs, 42 were identified as putative introgression alleles. A total of 29 fib...
The oxidation conditions were investigated for obtaining a higher productivity in the production of high strength carbon fiber from polyacrylonitrile (PAN). The effect of incorporation of 2 % comonomer such as methyl acrylate (MA), acrylate containing carboxylate (SA), acrylamide (AAm), and hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) on the oxidation conditions was also investigated. The measurement of DSC and bonded oxygen content revealed that the most effective comonomer for promoting the cyclization of nitril group and the bonding of oxygen was found to be SA, and the second best was AAm. The measurement of tensile strength of carbon fiber showed that the copolymer of SA, HEA, and MA gave a high strength fiber. It took a long time to oxidize the carbon fiber when it was oxidized at a temperature on which double layer structure was not formed. To shorten the production time, a method of combining the upper limit ...
An ASTER (advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer) is one of the image sensors. It is to be installed in an earth survey polar orbit platform satellite, EOS-AM1, which is to be launched in 1998, and it is going to start its operation. Data observed by the thermal infrared remote sensing of ASTER include the spectral emissivity, and the spectral emission reflectivity which is expressed by the function of temperature. It is required to overcome technical problems how to extract the spectral emissivity from the observed data. The spectral emissivity extracted from the remote sensing data by the MMD method, measured for samples collected in Cuprite area, Nevada, and/or measured at sampled points were compared to each other and discussed. The hemisphere spectral reflectivity, which is indirect spectral emissivity, agreed well with the direct spectral emissivity. Data suggesting the establishment of Kirchhoff`s law were ...
The friction and wear properties of glass fiber reinforced composites of nylons (nylon 6, nylon 66 and nylon 46) with different crystallinities due to their molecular structures were investigated by sliding them with alumina ceramics and using a pin-on-disk friction machine. The friction coefficients of the glass fiber reinforced nylons in oil were lower and more stable than those in air from the initial stage of friction. The transfer of nylon matrix to adhere onto the alumina surface in air was so much greater than in oil that the alumina surface could not be recognized. Consequently, a different between the friction and wear properties in air and in oil was resulted. Reinforcement of nylons with glass fiber remarkably improved their friction properties in oil by its lubricating action, while the wears were rather high contrary to what was expected. This tendency was conspicuous for nylon 46 with high crystallinity. ...
Accurate crop growth monitoring and yield forecasting are significant to food security and sustainable development of agriculture. However, regional crop growth simulation faces the difficulties in determining the spatial distribution of some model parameters and initial conditions. In this study, regional biomasses at turn-green stage of winter wheat were re-estimated by linking WOFOST model and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) synthesized from remote sensing data. Moreover, we proposed a way of combining evapotranspiration derived from satellite remote sensing data to crop grow simulation model. Thus, the regional initial available soil water and irrigation at earring stage were re-initialized and re-estimated by using remote sensing data. Those methods were well applied to simulate the growth and development for winter wheat at local site. After regionalizing of weather data, crop model parameters and initial ...
With an increased use of fiber reinforced concrete in structural applications, proper characterization techniques and development of design guides are needed. This dissertation presents a multi-scale modeling approach for fiber and fabric reinforced cement-based composites. A micromechanics-based model of the yarn pullout mechanism due to the failure of the interfacial zone is presented. The effect of mechanical anchorage of transverse yarns is simulated using nonlinear spring elements. The yarn pullout mechanism was used in a meso-scale modeling approach to simulate the yarn bridging force in the crack evolution process. The tensile stress-strain response of a tension specimen that experiences distributed cracking can be simulated using a generalized finite difference approach. The stiffness degradation, tension stiffening, crack spacing evolution, and crack width characteristics of cement composites can be derived using matrix, interface and ...
Recently, sustainable materials have attracted attention because of the need to alleviate environmental problems. Bamboo, in particular, has attracted attention as a sustainable material because it has the fastest natural growth rate among various natural materials. A self-bonding fiberboard using high quality bamboo fiber extracted with a machining center has been enabled to be fabricated by hot press forming. Therefore, we propose a sustainable manufacturing system that focuses on bamboo. An environmental impact of our system was evaluated by life cycle assessment (LCA), comparing with a glass fiber reinforced plastic production. Additionally, based on the LCA result, higher efficient fiber extraction process was proposed by an application of in-situ measurement of uninformed bamboo shape with irregularity.
This is a process for manufacturing a semi-rigid, folding solar generator manufactured from several coated solar cells (Cics), which has at least two folding parts connected together so as to turn by hinges, characterized by the following stages of the process: a) On the back of matrix subsections, in order to cover the connector, carbon fibre strips are glued on, which project over the upper or lower edge of each matrix subsection. b) The projecting ends of adjacent carbon fiber strips are connected with two carbon fibre strips. c) At least two matrix subsections are fixed in separately manufactured carbon fiber frames, and d) the carbon fiber frames, together with the matrix subsections are connected via hinges to a solar generator.
In this paper, we report an optical fiber sensor for measuring temperature based on bimetallic concept. The sensor is designed by following the basic principle of Fabry-Perot interferometer and theoretical detail of the sensor has been outlined here with a numerical study. An important feature of the proposed sensor is that the fabrication will be done on a commercial multimode optical fiber. The Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) based fabrication process could be performed directly on a multimode optical fiber end face which will eliminate the need for adhesive in packaging. The sensor could be fabricated as sensor arrays for micro level applications. The potential application of the proposed optical sensor includes biomedical applications, nano research, microfluidics, and other ME...
Details of the interaction of photons with tissue phantoms are elucidated using Monte Carlo simulations. In particular, photon sampling volumes and photon pathlengths are determined for a variety of scattering and absorption parameters. The Monte Carlo simulations are specifically designed to model light delivery and collection geometries relevant to clinical applications of optical biopsy techniques. The Monte Carlo simulations assume that light is delivered and collected by two, nearly-adjacent optical fibers and take into account the numerical aperture of the fibers as well as reflectance and refraction at interfaces between different media. To determine the validity of the Monte Carlo simulations for modeling the interactions between the photons and the tissue phantom in these geometries, the simulations were compared to measurements of aqueous suspensions of polystyrene microspheres in the wavelength range 450-750 nm.
The percolated or active triple phase boundary (TPB) length per unit volume of Ni-YSZ anode hollow fibers (HFs) containing 60wt.% initial NiO and a spatially varying microstructure were measured using a focused ion beam (FIB)-SEM technique. The measured values of contiguous TPB density were interfaced with a 2-D distributed finite element model of a hollow fiber solid oxide fuel cell. The model was applied to simultaneously solve the ionic and electronic charge balances in the electrodes, which were modelled as overlying continuum materials with effective electronic and ionic conductivities. The model was used to predict the effects of anode microstructure on the distribution of current density, and anode activation polarization. Active TPB lengths of 2.63-8.63 m^-^2 were measured for the ...
Stress chemiluminescence (SCL) is a novel technique for monitoring aging reactions of polymeric materials under stress. A special apparatus for detecting the chemiluminescence of solid polymers has been designed and built. There is a correlation between an enhanced chemiluminescence signal at low levels of applied stress and subsequent premature mechanical failure of samples of tetraglycidyl-4,4'-methylenedianiline (TGMDA) cured with 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS) the most commonly used epoxy in high performance fiber composites. Chemiluminescence data from silicone cushions is used to validate accelerated aging tests and preliminary results from Kevlar fibers are reported. The technique will be extended to other polymeric materials including fiber composites. 22 references, 7 figures, 1 table.
The microstructure of the interphase in semicrystalline polymer matrix composites has a dramatic influence on their mechanical properties. Studies have been performed to alter this region and to correlate various interphase morphologies with changes in fiber-matrix adhesion. A reinforced nylon 66 composite, when subjected to specific thermal histories, contains an interphase composed of transcrystallinity. This region has been altered by coating fibers with a diluent, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), and/or adding the diluent to the matrix material in very small quantities. Interphase morphology was investigated with optical microscopy, and adhesion was measured using a modified fiber pull-out test. It was found that transcrystallinity increases the interfacial shear strength. The effect different interphase morphologies have on the durability of bulk composite samples is currently under investigation.
To predict the fatigue life of fiber reinforced composites, fatigue process of CFRP laminates of [0 /90 ]{sub s} is investigated and the influence of damages occurring at fiber, matrix and fiber/matrix interface on the various critical strengths and the relationship between residual critical strength and failure are discussed. As a result, it was shown that fatigue strength (i.e. fatigue life) consisted of residual critical strength and stresses occurring at each layer (0 and 90 layers) and interlayer. Moreover, the fatigue failure occurred because the residual critical strength of each layer and interlayer decreased with dependence of their microdamage densities, so that the fatigue life can be predicted by evaluating microdamage behavior in fatigue process. (orig.) 14 refs.
Upgrading of potato pulp, a byproduct stream from industrial manufacture of potato starch, is important for the continued economic competitiveness of the potato starch industry. The major part of potato pulp consists of the tuber plant cell wall material which is particularly rich in galactan branched rhamnogalacturonan I type pectin. In the work reported here, the release of high-molecular weight pectinaceous dietary fiber polysaccharides from starch free potato pulp was accomplished by use of a multicomponent pectinase preparation from Aspergillus aculeatus (Viscozyme L). The enzyme reaction conditions for the solubilization were optimized via a surface response design to be addition of 0.27% Viscozyme L by weight of potato pulp substrate dry matter, 1h treatment at pH 3.5, 62.5degreeC. ...
To improve the friction and wear behavior of carbon fabric reinforced polymer composites (CFRP), nano-SiO2 was deposited on the fabric surface. The friction and wear behavior of the resulting composites were investigated on a model ring-on-block test rig. Experimental results revealed that fiber surface treatment contributed to largely improve the tribological properties of the CFRP composites. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigation showed that the worn surface of the surface modified CFRP composite was smoother under given load and sliding rate. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), FTIR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies of the carbon fiber surface showed that nanostructured Sio2 thin film can be obtained by SiO2 sols deposition, which improved th...
The carbon fibers (CF) were pre-treated in two different ways: no pre-treatment, and activation in HNO3 plus application of toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI). Carbon fibers have been introduced into polyurethane (PU) composite coatings. The tribological behaviors of the polyurethane composite coating filled with CF or TDI-modified CF (TDI-CF) were studied using a ring-on-block wear tester under dry sliding, and the worn surfaces of the filled PU coatings and transfer films formed on the surface of the counterpart ring sliding against the PU coating were investigated by SEM and optical microscope (OM), respectively. Owing to the effective improvement of the interfacial adhesion between the CF and polyurethane matrix, compared with the cases of untreated CF, the employment of low content TDI-CF...
Recently, great interest was paid to new technologies dealing with environmental aspect. Preservation of natural resources such as natural fibers forced the composite industry to search and examine "eco-friendly" components. Studies to find alternative reinforcements and resin systems that are environmentally friendly while providing the same performance as their synthetic counterparts are in continuous progress. The aim of this study is to investigate effect of different treatment process on the data palm fiber (DPF). Raw DPF underwent different surface modification methods such as alkali treatment with concentrations 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2.5% and 5%, and acid treatment with 0.3, 0.9 and 1.6N. All treatments were performed at 100degreeC for 1h. The surface morphology, thermal gravimetry analys...
Abstract Acute lung injury (ALI) in sepsis is characterized by an increase in microvascular permeability, resulting in pulmonary edema. Several studies have suggested that angiopoietin-1 and -2 play a contributory role in the pathogenesis of ALI. Polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column hemoperfusion is effective for sepsis-induced ALI. We investigated the angiopoietin levels before and after direct hemoperfusion with polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column (PMX) therapy. Enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to measure the serum angiopoietin-1 and -2 levels in 25 patients with septic shock treated with PMX. Eleven of the 25 patients were diagnosed with ALI. There was a significant positive correlation between the angiopoietin-1 level and the PaO2/FiO2 ratio, but there was a significant inverse corr...
Four questions are posed: (1) Is knowledge utilization a rhetorical evocation? (2) Is the conjunction of knowledge with utility part of a cultural system of common sense? (3) Is utility a normative or a descriptive concept? and (4) How does the concept of knowledge utilization figure in the specialized discourse of social scientists? This paper analyzes the concept of knowledge utilization from the perspective of philosophy of language and philosophy of science. Knowledge utilization is a rhetorical evocation that implies concepts of action and knowledge. It is supported by two conceptual fusions. The fusion of value and utility draws on common sense, but does not exhaust colloquial understandings about knowledge and action. The conceptual fusion of knowledge and truth is consistent with common sense but disregards scientific criticism. Both conceptual fusions are thus problematic. But empirical conditions associated with ...
The coastal ecosystem health assessment is a field of increasing importance. In this paper, a preliminary assessment of ecosystem health in Zhejiang coastal water zone was made, mainly based on remote sensing data and GIS technique. Its spatial and quantitative evaluation was facilitated by the progress of remote sensing and GIS technique development. Firstly, human activities, hydrology and ecosystem problems in the study area were discussed and analyzed. Secondly, from 4 aspects of human stress, physical, chemical and biological responses to anthropogenic activities and natural stress, several indicators such as water transparency (Secchi Disk Depth, SDD), suspended substance concentration, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, active phosphate, chlorophyll, harmful algae bloom, as well as distr...
Remote sensing of total suspended solids (TSS) by satellite techniques in estuaries and bays plays an important role in monitoring water quality over a large area. It is valuable to the management of coastal water environment and ecosystems. In this study, remote sensing mapping of TSS was conducted to investigate the effects of rainstorm events on Apalachicola Bay. A rainstorm event (October 7-8, 2008) was selected for a period when wind speeds were weak and the river inflow was almost steady. TSS mapping of MODIS images before and after the rainstorm event showed substantial increase of TSS induced by the rainstorm. Using an image during low river discharge before the rainstorm as a reference, TSS distribution was mapped by an improved regression model using MODIS image after a rainstorm...
Premature Failure of a Riata Defibrillator Lead. A 63-year-old woman with a St. Jude Medical Riata 1570 right ventricular lead complained of intermittent hiccups 2 months after implant. Interrogation revealed elevated pacing threshold and diaphragmatic stimulation. Pacing and shock lead impedances remained stable. No inappropriate sensing was noted. Fluoroscopic examination of the lead revealed a thin radio-opaque wire seen between the 2 defibrillator coils away from the main body of the lead. After extraction, a tear in the insulation of the lead was noted allowing the inner wire to protrude. This case illustrates a novel mechanism of insulation failure without inappropriate sensing or impedance change.-(J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 22, pp. 1070-1072, September 2011)
Abstract People with a physical disability are a population who for a number of reasons may be vulnerable to social isolation. Research into Internet based support sites has found that social support and an online sense of community can be developed through computer mediated communication channels. This study aims to gain an understanding of the benefits that membership of disability specific online communities may have for people with a physical disability. An online survey was administered to a sample of users of such sites (N = 160). Results indicated that users did receive moral support and personal advice through participating in such online communities. Further, results indicated that online social support and feeling a sense of community online were positively associated with partic...
Within the framework of the MINEO research project assisted by the European Union the Deutsche Steinkohle AG (DSK) has developed methods for the operational use of remote sensing data and geo-information systems for the regular observation, measurement and evaluation of environmental effects in mining areas. Only indirect environmental effects of the mining industry, which may result in particular from subsidence-induced changes in the hydrological situation (ground water level, drainage) and the resulting effects on the vegetation and land utilisation, can be observed for the DSK test area 'Kirchheller Heide' because of the underground mine workings. Hence the evaluations of the remote sensing data were concentrated on the development of methods to measure and analyse the vegetation condition and any changes. MINEO thus constitutes a module for the DSK environmental information system. (orig.)
We present a method for grouping the synonyms of a lemma according to its dictionary senses. The senses are defined by a large machine readable dictionary for French, the TLFi (Tr\\'esor de la langue fran\\c{c}aise informatis\\'e) and the synonyms are given by 5 synonym dictionaries (also for French). To evaluate the proposed method, we manually constructed a gold standard where for each (word, definition) pair and given the set of synonyms defined for that word by the 5 synonym dictionaries, 4 lexicographers specified the set of synonyms they judge adequate. While inter-annotator agreement ranges on that task from 67% to at best 88% depending on the annotator pair and on the synonym dictionary being considered, the automatic procedure we propose scores a precision of 67% and a recall of 71%. The proposed method is compared with related work namely, word sense disambiguation, synonym lexicon acquisition and WordNet ...
Raniganj and Jharia regions together have been for long the single largest coal supplier in India, now contributing about a quarter of the total output in the country. Numerous reasons such as improper mining techniques and policy, as well as unauthorized mining caused surface and subsurface coalfires in these areas. These coalfires burn millions of tonnes of valuable coal resources, creating severe environmental problems and posing enormous operational difficulties of mining. After first use of remote sensing as a tool to identify coalfires in 1960s, with the time, the efficiency of remote sensing to identify and monitoring coalfires has been well established by several researchers. With the knowledge of local geological setting and density sliced surface temperature image the spatial dis...
Luminescent materials are widely used for imaging and sensing owing to their high sensitivity, rapid response and facile detection by many optical technologies. Typically materials must be chemically tailored to achieve intense, photostable fluorescence, oxygen-sensitive phosphorescence or dual emission for ratiometric sensing, often by blending two dyes in a matrix. Dual-emissive materials combining all of these features in one easily tunable molecular platform are desirable, but when fluorescence and phosphorescence originate from the same dye, it can be challenging to vary relative fluorescence/phosphorescence intensities for practical sensing applications. Heavy-atom substitution alone increases phosphorescence by a given, not variable amount. Here, we report a strategy for modulating ...
Theoretical and experimental data which have defined and/or extended the effectiveness of remote sensing operations are explored, with consideration given to both scientific and commercial activities. The remote sensing of soil moisture, the sea surface, and oil slicks is discussed, as are programs using satellites for studying geodynamics and geodesy, currents and waves, and coastal zones. NASA, Canadian, and Japanese radar and microwave passive and active systems are described, together with algorithms and techniques for image processing and classification. The SAR-580 project is outlined, and attention is devoted to satellite applications in investigations of the structure of the atmosphere, agriculture and land use, and geology. Design and performance features of various optical scanner, radar, and multispectral data processing systems and procedures are detailed.
In this article, we describe an approach to model the electromechanical behavior of the skeletal muscle based on the Huxley formulation. We propose a model that complies with a well established macroscopic behavior of striated muscles where force-length, force-velocity, and Mirsky-Parmley properties are taken into account. These properties are introduced at the microscopic scale and related to a tentative explanation of the phenomena. The method used integrates behavior ranging from the microscopic to the macroscopic scale, and allows the computation of the dynamics of the output force and stiffness controlled by EMG or stimulation parameters. The model can thus be used to simulate and carry out research to develop control strategies using electrical stimulation in the context of rehabilitation. Finally, through animal experiments, we estimated model parameters using a Sigma Point Kalman Filtering technique and dedicated experimental protocols ...
We consider a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of N atoms of repulsive interaction #approx# U_0, in an elliptical trap, axially pierced by a Gaussian-intensity laser beam, forming an effective (quasi-2D) toroidal trap with minimum at radial distance #rho# = #rho#_p. The macroscopic angular momentum states #PSI#_l(#rho#,#theta#) #approx# #sq root#N#PHI#_l(#rho#)e"i"l"#theta# for integer l spread up to #rho# > #rho#_p. The spreading lowers rotational energies, so estimated low metastability barriers can support large l < or approx. l_m_a_x #approx# (NU_0)"1"/"4, < or approx. 10 for typical parameters. The l-dependent density profile module #PHI#_l(#rho#)"2 -#PHI#_0(#rho#)"2 is a signature of BEC rotation. Results are insensitive to off-axis laser displacements #rho#_0, for #rho#_0 #rho#_m_a_x << 1. (author).
A fractographic and numerical approach is presented to analyze hydrogen-plasticity interactions in pearlitic steel and to elucidate the main hydrogen transport mechanism in this material under triaxial stress states produced by notches. Fractographic analysis showed that the microdamage produced by the hydrogen was clearly detectable by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), through a specific microscopic topography associated with hydrogen effects (tearing topography surface or TTS). Numerical computations obtained by using an elastic-plastic finite element program gave the progressive spreading of the plastic zone, closely associated with the movement of dislocations. In the majority of cases, the plastic zone (PZ) clearly exceeds the hydrogen affected region (TTS) and has no relation with it. In some tests, however, the hydrogen-induced micro-damage surpasses the only region in which there is dislocation movement, and in this case the net macroscopic transport of ...
Kerf geometry, kerf wall features, and cutting front characteristics of an Abrasive Waterjet (AWJ) machined Graphite/Epoxy (Gr/Ep) laminate were studied. A macroscopic analyses suggests that geometrical features associated with AWJ machining of Gr/Ep laminates are influenced by three macro regions along the cutting depth. The presence of these regions, including initial damage at jet entry, smooth cutting, and rough cutting near the jet exit, depends on the operating conditions. Design of experiments and analysis of variance were used to determine the effect of cutting parameters on kerf characteristics and to develop empirical models for kerf profile and features of the three distinct macroscopic regions. Cutting front analysis revealed that the mechanisms of material removal in AWJ machining of Gr/Ep do not change over the jet penetration depth. In general, high quality uniform cuts may be obtained by minimizing initial damage at the jet ...
Violation of correspondence principle may occur for very macroscopic byt isolated quantum systems on rather short timescales as illustrated by the case of Hyperion, the chaotically tumbling moon of Saturn, for which quantum and classical predictions are expected to diverge on a timescale of approximately 20 years. Motivated by Hyperion, we review salient features of ``quantum chaos`` and show that decoherence is the essential ingredient of the classical limit, as it enables one to solve the apparent paradox caused by the breakdown of the correspondence principle for classically chaotic systems.
We study quantum Darwinism -- the redundant recording of information about a decohering system by its environment -- in zero-temperature quantum Brownian motion. An initially nonlocal quantum state leaves a record whose redundancy increases rapidly with its spatial extent. Significant delocalization (e.g., a Schroedinger's Cat state) causes high redundancy: many observers can measure the system's position without perturbing it. This explains the objective (i.e. classical) existence of einselected, decoherence-resistant pointer states of macroscopic objects.
Periosteal Ewing's sarcoma is an uncommon, but well documented origin of this malignant condition with radiography signs, different from intramedullary growing tumours. Imaging modalities like CT or MRI supply proof of macroscopically intact endosteal cortical surface and free medullary cavity in long bones affected by this periosteal type of malignancy. Definite confirmation is valid after a careful microscopic investigation of the resected specimen. The prognosis of this type of Ewing's sarcoma may be favourable than that of the central type. Early diagnosis and therapy are thus essential. A clinical survey of six observations is given. (orig.).
This paper presents fundamental researches based on the electronic structure calculations and X absorption spectroscopy, allowing the knowledge on nuclear fuels at an atomic scale. They bring a better understanding of these material behavior to accurate the macroscopic simulation. The calculation methods, the experimental techniques of validation and the ab initio calculations results are detailed. (A.L.B.)
Nuclear forensics aims at identifying origin and intended use of nuclear material using information inherent to the nuclear material.The information gathered in nuclear forensics include isotopic composition, elemental composition, impurities and age of the material, macroscopic appearance and microstructure. The information so collected helps to solve criminal cases and put the individuals involved in nuclear trafficking in jails. The information also helps to improve safeguards and physical protection measures at place of theft or diversion to prevent future thefts or diversions.
Carbon nano tubes are easily produced in macroscopic quantities, however their characterisation and possible applications are still rather limited. We have developed a new method to make aligned nano tube films which open new opportunities, not only for basic research but also for eventual applications. With this method the tubes can be aligned either parallel or perpendicular to the surface. We give a short review of the microscopic properties of single tubes and the bulk properties of the aligned films. (author). 24 refs., 6 figs.
This work presents results of investigations on d.c. glow discharge nitriding of #alpha#+#beta# Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy. The treatment was performed at 843 K in nitrogen-hydrogen atmosphere, pressure 300 Pa. Special attention was paid to nitriding mechanism and determination of the role of ion bombarding in nitriding process of titanium alloys. Produced as a result of d.c. plasma nitriding surface layers were subjected to macroscopic observations, microstructure studies, microhardness testing and X-ray analysis. (author)
For several decades, ceramic matrix composite have been attracted attention in advanced structural and tribological applications. Advanced structural ceramics are presently used in diverse tribological applications such as tips for ballpoint pens, precision instrument bearings and cutting tools inserts. Design and selection of ceramics for these applications require reliable data on the effects of temperature, load and environment on the tribological behavior of these ceramics. In the present work, #alpha#-sialon matrix composites reinforced with different amounts of #beta#-sialon fibers were produced with the aim of improving their toughness to increase the industrial applications. The wear properties of #alpha#-sialon matrix composites were evaluated by carried out wear tests using a pin-on-disk tribometer under dry conditions. The #alpha#-sialon matrix composites were manufactured by slip casting and sintered by uniaxial hot pressing. Scanning electron ...
AbstractThe structural integrity of striated muscle is determined by extra-sarcomere cytoskeleton that includes structures that connect the Z-disks and M-bands of a sarcomere to sarcomeres...Full Text Available
Testes of jellyfish Phialidium gregarium were fixed in 2 per cent OsO4 in Veronal-acetate buffer at pH 7.4. Thin sections showed that in young spermatids the spindle fibers...Full Text Available
Following studies on fiber and sheet texture of hexagonal crystal system in 1988, work has been extended to tube texture. Using the zircaloy-4 fuel cladding of Wolsung-type reactor as specimen, six pole figures for different crystallographic planes were m...
The receptive field of a neuron reflects its function. For example, for parallel fiber (PF) inputs in C3 zone the cerebellar cortex, the excitatory and inhibitory receptive fields of a Purkinje cell...Full Text Available
Researches on oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibers and thermoplastic composites have been carried out by many workers in the last decade. The main focus was to enhance the properties of the resultant composites in view of the incompatibility of the two components. Thus, efforts have been made to enhance their properties by using coupling agents, treating the fibers and modifying the matrices. In this study, the effects of electron beam (EB) irradiation and some reactive additives (RAs) on the mechanical properties of EFB-PP (polypropylene) composites were evaluated. Different modes of irradiation were investigated. Mono, di and tri functional of monomers of RAs were used. irradiating PP alone, compared to irradiating the EFB fibers or irradiating both components, gave optimum properties for EFB-PP composites. Further, improvements of the properties of the composites were achieved with the addition of RAs with TMPTA ...
A composite is any combination of two or more resources held together by some type of mastic or matrix. This report will describe several different types of composites with regard to thermoplasticization, improved mechanical properties, and stiffness.
Fiber delivered laser pulses emulsify thrombus by mechanical stresses that include a combination of pressure, tension and shear stress. Laser radiation is delivered to the locality of a thrombus and the radiation is absorbed by blood, blood dot, or other present materials. The combination of a leading pressure wave and subsequent vapor bubble cause efficient, emulsification of thrombus. Operating the laser in a low average power mode alleviates potential thermal complications. The laser is operated in a high repetition rate mode to take advantage of ultrasound frequency effects of thrombus dissolution as well as to decrease the total procedure time. Specific parameter ranges for operation are described. The device includes optical fibers surrounding a lumen intended for flow of a cooling agent. The fibers may be arranged concentrically around the lumen to deliver radiation and heat over as large an area as possible. An ...
Quasi-carbon fibers (QCFs) were prepared from Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor by pyrolysis in the temperature range from 400{degrees}C to 950{degrees}C. The QCF-reinforced composites were fabricated by impregnating the QCFs with the PAN resin. The microstructural changes of both QCFs and their composites were characterized by the X-ray diffraction method. The stacking size and the crystallinity of the QCFs increased with the increasing heat treatment temperature (HTT). The crystallinity of the PAN matrix in a composite was also affected by various QCFs. DSC data indicated that thermal reaction mechanism of the composite could be altered due to the interaction between the fiber and the matrix. DMTA studies showed that good adhesion existed at the interface of the QCF-reinforced composites containing lower HTT fibers. The modulus magnitudes of QCFs and their composites increased with the QCF pyrolysis temperature. Although ...
A $200 million paper mill being built in Hagerstown, Md., is expected to produce 150,000 bone-dry short tons per year of de-inked, market-grade pulp for writing and printing paper. The 1st Urban Fibers facility, the largest capital project in Hagerstown's history, is slated for completion in the spring. Landegger Recycled Fiber Corp. will operate and maintain the 200,000-square-foot recycling mill and 60,000-square-foot water reclamation plant. The wastepaper recycling mill plans to minimize waste and pollution by: reclaiming 635 tons per day of 100 percent post-consumer mixed office waste from the solid waste stream; saving more than 16 million cubic feet of landfill area per year; conserving the fiber equivalent of 6,700 trees per day; using no chlorine; saving about 2,000 gallons of water and 4,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per ton of throughput, compared to virgin fiber mills; reusing ...
Synaptic gain control and information storage in neural networks are mediated by alterations in synaptic transmission, such as in long-term potentiation (LTP). Here, we show using both in...Full Text Available
All ceramic fixed partial dentures (FPD)s exhibit enhanced biocompatibility and esthetics as compared to metal-ceramic restorations. However, framework fractures are frequently reported especially when...Full Text Available
Micron scale silicon nitride (SiNx) microdisk optical resonators fabricated on a silicon wafer are demonstrated with Q = 3.6 x 10^6 (finesse = 5 x 10^4) and an effective mode volume of 15 (\\lambda / n)^3 at wavelengths \\lambda ~ 852 nm resonant with the D2 transition manifold of cesium. A dilute hydrofluoric wet etch is shown to provide sensitive tuning of the microdisk optical resonances, and robust mounting of a fiber taper provides efficient fiber optic coupling to the SiNx microdisk cavities while allowing unfettered optical access for laser cooling and trapping of atoms. Initial measurement of a hybrid atom-cavity chip indicates that cesium adsorption on the surface of the SiNx microdisks results in significant red-detuning of the disk resonances. A technique for parallel integration of multiple (10) microdisks with a single optical fiber taper is also demonstrated.
Mechanisms underlying cold hypersensitivity in neuropathic states are unclear. Recent data indicate both TRPM8 and TRPA1 play a role. In relation to TRPA1, there are reported increases in mRNA....Full Text Available
Nickel cadmium batteries differ greatly in their mechanical design and construction of the electrodes. Using available electrode constructions, batteries are designed which meet the requirements of specific applications and offer optimum performance. Pocket- and tubular cells are basically developed with the technology of the year 1895. Since then some improvements with todays technology have been made. The sintered cells use the technology of the 1930's and they are still limited to high power application. With this knowledge and the technology of today the fiber-structured nickel electrode (FNC) was developed at DAUG laboratory, a subsidiary company of Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen. After ten years of experience in light weight prototype batteries for electric vehicles (1-2), the system was brought into production by a new company, DAUG-HOPPECKE. Characteristics of fiber electrodes: thickness and size can be easily changed; pure active ...
Results of the toxicological studies of working conditions, general and professional morbidity, and complex examinations carried out on workers engaged in the production of polyamides, polyacrylonitrile...Full Text Available
Quantitative probing of heterogeneous regions in muscle is feasible with phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy because of the differentiation of metabolic patterns of glycolytic and oxidative...Full Text Available
BackgroundNew technology allows more precise definition of structural alterations of all retinal layers although it has not been used previously in cases of optic...Full Text Available
The thiadiazinon derivative EMD 57033 has been found previously in cardiac muscle to increase isometric force generation without a proportional increase in fiber ATPase, thus causing a reduction in...Full Text Available
This report documents the collaborative effort between the United States and Canada to investigate the impact of process-induced defects on strength and stiffness under static and fatigue loading and for low-cost composite aircraft structures, in particul...
The effects of temperature on rates of cellulose synthesis, respiration, and long-term glucose uptake were investigated using cultured cotton ovules (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv Acala...Full Text Available
AbstractDendrites of cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) respond to brief excitations from parallel fibers with lasting plateau depolarizations. It is unknown whether these plateaus are local...Full Text Available
Experimental and imaging studies in monkeys have outlined various long association fiber bundles within the temporoparietal region. In the present study the trajectory of the middle longitudinal fascicle...Full Text Available
In a previous study we found that nanofibrous poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) scaffolds mimicking collagen fibers in size were superior to solid-walled scaffolds in promoting osteoblast differentiation...Full Text Available
The structural features of 25mm combustible cartridge cases, manufactured for this program and having nitrocellulose/resin/fiber ratios of 85/10/5, 80/15/5, 75/20/5 and 75/10/15, were characterized through permeability measurements, respectively, about 10...
Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-38mol%-3-hydroxyvalerate) [P(3HB-co-38mol%-3HV)] was produced by Cupriavidus sp. USMAA2-4 in the presence of oleic acid and 1-pentanol. Due to enormous production of empty fruit bunch (EFB) in the oil palm plantation and high production cost of P(3HB-co-3HV), oil palm EFB fibers were used for biocomposites preparation. In this study, maleic anhydride (MA) and benzoyl peroxide (DBPO) were used to improve the miscibility between P(3HB-co-3HV) and EFB fibers. Introduction of MA into P(3HB-co-3HV) backbone reduced the molecular weight and improved the thermal stability of P(3HB-co-3HV). Thermal stability of P(3HB-co-3HV)/EFB composites was shown to be comparable to that of commercial packaging product. Composites with 35% EFB fibers content have the highest tensile st...
A strain of Vibrio sp. isolated from marine sediments produced large quantities of bright red pigments that could be used to dye many fibers including wool, nylon, acrylics,...Full Text Available
BackgroundQuantitative sensory testing (QST) is applied to evaluate somatosensory nerve fiber function in the spinal system. This study uses QST in patients with sensory dysfunctions...Full Text Available
Empty palm fruit bunch fiber (EPFBF), a readily available cellulosic biomass from palm processing facilities, is investigated as a potential carbohydrate source for cellulosic ethanol production. This feedstock was pretreated using ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) and enzymatically hydrolyzed. The best tested AFEX conditions were at 135??C, 45?min retention time, water to dry biomass loading of 1:1 (weight ratio), and ammonia to dry biomass loading of 1:1 (weight ratio). The particle size of the pretreated biomass was reduced post-AFEX. The optimized enzyme formulation consists of Accellerase (84??L/g biomass), Multifect Xylanase (31??L/g biomass), and Multifect Pectinase (24??L/g biomass). This mixture achieved close to 90% of the total maximum yield within 72?h of enzymatic hydrolysis. Fer...
The optically stimulated luminescent (OSL) radiation dosimeter technically surveys a wide dynamic measurement range and a high sensitivity. Optical fiber dosimeters provide capability for remote monitoring of the radiation in the locations which are difficult-to-access and hazardous. In addition, optical fiber dosimeters are immune to electrical and radio-frequency interference. In this paper, a novel remote optical fiber radiation dosimeter is described. The optical fiber dosimeter takes advantage of the charge trapping materials CaS:Ce, Sm that exhibit OSL. The measuring range of the dosimeter is from 0.1 to 100 Gy. The equipment is relatively simple and small in size, and has low power consumption. This device is suitable for measuring the space radiation dose and also can be used in high radiation dose condition and other dangerous radiation occasions. Supported by National Natural Science ...
The extreme strength and elasticity of spider silks originate from the modular nature of their repetitive proteins. To exploit such materials and mimic spider silks, comprehensive strategies...Full Text Available
A high-speed fiber-based network for the transmission and display of digitized full-motion cardiac images has been developed. Based on Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), the network is scaleable, meaning...Full Text Available
Experience with multiwire proportional chambers at high rates at the Argonne Zero Gradient Synchrotron is described. A buildup of silicon on the sense wires was observed where the beam passed through the chamber. Analysis of the chamber gas indicated that the density of silicon was probably less than 10 ppM.
Experience with multiwire proportional chambers at high rates at the Argonne Zero Gradient Synchrotron is described. A buildup of silicon on the sense wires was observed where the beam passed through the chamber. Analysis of the chamber gas indicated that the density of silicon was probably less than 10 ppM.
BackgroundGreen tea consumption has been shown to have cancer preventive qualities. Among the constituents of green tea, (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG)...Full Text Available
Mating signals are often directed at numerous senses and provide information about species identity, gender, receptiveness, individual identity and mate quality. Given the diversity of colourful body...Full Text Available
Temperature sensing is crucial for homeotherms, including human beings, to maintain a stable body core temperature and respond to the ambient environment. A group of exquisitely temperature-sensitive...Full Text Available
SUMMARYIn voltage-gated sodium, potassium, and calcium channels the functions of ion conduction and voltage sensing are performed by two distinct structural units: the pore domain...Full Text Available
Pooling and synthesizing signals across different senses often enhances responses to the event from which they are derived. Here we examine whether multisensory response enhancements are attributable...Full Text Available
This unit presents two basic protocols that offer rapid assessments of anosmia (the absence of a sense of smell) in mice. The buried food test is used to check for the ability to smell volatile...Full Text Available
The extensive membrane network of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is physically juxtaposed to and functionally entwined with essentially all other cellular compartments. Therefore, the ER must sense...Full Text Available
A total of 25 papers were presented at the conference in 6 sessions: illumination and communication; power and safety; knowledge based systems; mine-wide monitoring; instrumentation control and automation; remote sensing and imaging.
SummaryPAS domains sense oxygen, redox potential and light, and are implicated in behavior, circadian rhythmicity, development and metabolic regulation. Although PAS domains are...Full Text Available
The possibility has been explored of using a laser scattering technique to detect the imminent onset of rock activity associated with gas outbursts. The instrument described in this paper provides a sensitive, remote and rapid means of passively monitoring micro-seismic activity at the exposed face.
Integration of solid-state biosensors and lipid bilayer membranes is important for membrane protein research and drug discovery. In these sensors, it is critical that the solid-state sensing...Full Text Available
Within the next 30 years, the proportion of urban dwellers will rise from under half to two thirds of the world’s population. Such a shift will entail massive public health consequences,...Full Text Available
Ten subjects balanced their own body or a mechanically equivalent unstable inverted pendulum by hand, through a compliant spring linkage. Their balancing process was always characterized by repeated...Full Text Available
BackgroundIn the past two decades the east African highlands have experienced several major malaria epidemics. Currently there is a renewed interest in exploring the possibility...Full Text Available
This contribution documents the satellite data archives, data processing methods and temporal Fourier analysis (TFA) techniques used to create the remotely sensed datasets on the DVD distributed...Full Text Available
What happens in the matrix of gender, technology, representation, and culture? This class will explore the theoretical issues raised within this matrix. We will also make sense of the theories through practical experiences with technologies like computers and cameras.
Animals sense changes in ambient temperature irrespective of whether core body temperature is internally maintained (homeotherms) or subject to environmental variation (poikilotherms). Here we show...Full Text Available
Prophylactic knee braces are designed to prevent and reduce the severity of ligamentous injuries to the knee. Conflicting evidence is reported concerning their efficacy. The purpose of this study was...Full Text Available
Mining lakes are of a world-wide challenging problem caused by the well known acid mine drainage (AMD) and the dynamics of it. In the past, there was no possibility to monitor these mining lakes for an investigation of chemical and biological parameters. But, in general, remote sensing methods are suitable for a monitoring of natural lakes, and now, at the first time, those can be used for a distinction of acid mining lakes in central Germany into different types. In acid mining lakes unusual absorption and scattering properties exist due to the water constituents which are quite different in their optical properties to those of natural lakes. The artificial lakes show high concentrations of metal ions and compounds. This fact was used to discriminate the mining lakes into initial stage, early stage, transitional state and late state. The result is a map of the area where the mining lakes are presented at their current stage. The present method is a proven solution ...
In this paper the authors prove a uniqueness theorem for the electric detection of cavities in a three dimensional solid from Cauchy data measured on the surface. The cavities, finite in number, are assumed to be insulating. The surfaces of the cavities are assumed to be smooth on the complement of a set that is, in some sense, negligible. (orig.)
Remote sensing data over North America document the ubiquity of secondary aerosols resulting from a combination of primary biogenic and anthropogenic emissions. The spatial and temporal distribution...Full Text Available
BackgroundOceans are iron-deficient and nutrient-poor environments. These conditions impart limitations on our understanding of and our ability to identify microorganisms from the...Full Text Available
Arsenic is one of the most important global environmental pollutants. Here we show that the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 contains an arsenic and antimony resistance...Full Text Available
A combined ozone and aerosol LIDAR was developed at the Institute of Physics of the Atmosphere at the DLR in Oberpfaffenhofen. It is an airborne version, that, based on the DIAL-principle, permits the recording of two-dimensional ozone profiles. This presentation will focus on the ozone-part; the aerosol subsection will be treated later.
BackgroundThe successful interaction of bacterial pathogens with host tissues requires the sensing of specific chemical and physical cues. The human gut contains a huge number of...Full Text Available
A billet of low-density carbon-bonded carbon fiber (CBCF) composite is machined into a desired attenuator or load element shape (usually tapering). The CBCF composite is used as a free-standing load element or, preferably, brazed to the copper, brass or aluminum components of coaxial transmission lines or microwave waveguides. A novel braze method was developed for the brazing step. The resulting attenuator and/or load devices are robust, relatively inexpensive, more easily fabricated, and have improved performance over conventional graded-coating loads.
The repeated use and limited lifetime of a composite tiring vessel compel a need to survey techniques for monitoring the structural integrity of the vessel in order to determine when it should be retired. Various nondestructive techniques were researched and evaluated based on their applicability to the vessel. The methods were visual inspection, liquid penetrant testing, magnetic particle testing, surface mounted strain gauges, thermal inspection, acoustic emission, ultrasonic testing, radiography, eddy current testing, and embedded fiber optic sensors. It was determined that embedded fiber optic sensor is the most promising technique due to their ability to be embedded within layers of composites and their immunity to electromagnetic interference.
The polymerization of vinyl pyrrolidinone on nylon 66, with the assistance of aqueous phenol and formic acid, was investigated by mutual and post irradiation procedures. Both solvents were found to greatly facilitate the polymerization with the post irradiation procedure, whereas neither presented any advantage with the mutual irradiation procedure. Tensile properties of the modified fibers were affected in similar ways by both the irradiation procedures and solvents in that the only notable changes were the somewhat higher extensions at yield and at break. The moisture regain values of the treated yarns and fabrics were increased up to three-fold. Surface morphology of the modified fibers was revealed by SEM.
Microporous membranes are suitable for the CO{sub 2}-MEA (monoethanolamine) system because the overall mass transfer coefficient K of the membrane is approximately 10 times larger than that of composite membranes consisting of microporous membranes and homogeneous membranes. The overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient K{center_dot} of the hollow-fiber contact is more than 5 times larger than that of a conventional packed bed, which suggests that adorption using the present method has the advantage of making the absorption more compact. 8 refs., 7 figs., 4 tabs.
An apparatus was designed and built for the purpose of exposing samples of solid polymers to varying temperatures, atmospheres and stress levels while quantitatively recording the resulting chemiluminescence. Preliminary data were acquired with this apparatus that show a correlation between an enhanced chemiluminescence signal at a low level of applied stress and a decrease in tensile strength for the most commonly used epoxy resin in high performance fiber composites, TGMDA DDS. The studies with cellular silicone cushions (which are used to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction) have defined the temperature regimes in which accelerated aging tests are valid for extrapolation to ambient temperature. Preliminary data on Kevlar fibers is also discussed.
A variety of engineering and experimental applications require primary support structures which are self-centering. High mechanical strength, low-density, carbon fiber/epoxy matrix composite springs are used in unique planar, cylindrical, conical, and spherical configurations to self-center components. The sinusoidal and triangular-shaped composite springs are readily manufactured and assembled into component hardware. Design considerations, flexural strength properties, load bearing and centering data plus procedures for the manufacture of composite springs are presented.
When in resonance, Raman scattering exhibits strong enhancement ranging from four to six orders of magnitude. This physical phenomenon has been applied to remote sensing of the Earth`s atmosphere. With a 16 inch Cassegrain telescope and spectrometer/ CCD-detector system, 70-150 ppm-m of SO{sub 2} in the atmosphere has been detected at a distance of 0.5 kilometer. This system can be used to detect/monitor chemical effluence in the atmosphere by their unique Raman fingerprints. Experimental result together with detailed resonance Raman and atmospheric laser propagation effects will be discussed.
A review of the literature was undertaken to determine the potential for development of instrumentation for on-board remote sensing of coal quality. This review report acts as an inventory of commercially available techniques being tested or under development, particularly in the areas of the cutting horizon measurement methods associated with longwall mining equipment and coal/waste monitoring techniques in coal handling systems. While technology is available which can discriminate rocks from coal on a conveyor belt, the literature indicates that this hardware has yet to be adapted to continuous surface mining machines. 23 refs., 18 figs.
The phase transition is a performance measure of the sparsity-undersampling tradeoff in compressed sensing (CS). This letter reports, for the first time, the existence of an exact phase transition for the $\\ell_1$ minimization approach to the complex valued CS problem. This discovery is not only a complementary result to the known phase transition of the real valued CS but also shows considerable superiority of the phase transition of complex valued CS over that of the real valued CS. The results are obtained by extending the recently developed ONE-L1 algorithms to complex valued CS and applying their optimal and iterative solutions to empirically evaluate the phase transition.
The present invention is a device for a solar heating system having a solar collector, a storage tank connected to the solar collector, a pump for circulating liquid from the tank to the solar collector, a supply of liquid at a temperature above freezing and a connection from the supply of liquid to the solar collector for replacing any liquid lost from said solar collector. The device comprises a sensor for sensing the temperature of liquid in the solar collector, and a valve for bleeding liquid from the solar collector when the sensed temperature falls below a predetermined minimum whereby cool liquid in the solar collector is automatically replaced by liquid at a temperature above freezing.
Ontologies ? a form of structured and logically related knowledge or classification hierarchy embedded in a computer system ? are regarded by many scientists as having enormous promise for the consistent use and re-use of data. To realise this promise, however, is not straightforward. In this paper, based on ethnographic observation, we argue that the challenges for ontology building are ?social? as much as they are technical. By this we mean the routine work undertaken in the building process and the problems and difficulties entailed can be understood in terms of the practices of knowledge workers and the practical nature of ?sorting things out?. Getting a better sense of how, in practise, this work gets done gives a sense of the main challenges of building successful ontologies and how ...
Subsurface and surface coalfires are a serious problem in many coal-producing countries. Combustion can occur within the coal seams (underground or surface), in piles of stored coal, or in spoil dumps at the surface. While consuming a non renewable energy source, coalfires promote several environmental problems. Among all GHGs that are emitted from coalfires, CO2 is the most significant because of its high quantity. In connection to this environmental problem, the core aim of the present research is to develop a hyperspectral remote sensing and radiative transfer based model that is able to estimate CO2 concentration (ppmv) from coalfires. Since 1960s remote sensing is being used as a tool to detect and monitoring coalfires. With time, remote sensing has proven a reliable tool to identify and monitor coalfires. In the present study multi-temporal, multi-sensor and multi-spectral thermal remote sensing ...
Subsurface and surface coalfires are a serious problem in many coal-producing countries. Combustion can occur within the coal seams (underground or surface), in piles of stored coal, or in spoil dumps at the surface. While consuming a non renewable energy source, coalfires promote several environmental problems. Among all GHGs that are emitted from coalfires, CO2 is the most significant because of its high quantity. In connection to this environmental problem, the core aim of the present research is to develop a hyperspectral remote sensing and radiative transfer based model that is able to estimate CO2 concentration (ppmv) from coalfires. Since 1960s remote sensing is being used as a tool to detect and monitoring coalfires. With time, remote sensing has proven a reliable tool to identify and monitor coalfires. In the present study multi-temporal, multi-sensor and multi-spectral thermal remote sensing ...
This RD&D project is a three year team effort to develop a hybrid solar lighting (HSL) system that transports daylight from a paraboloidal dish concentrator to a luminaire via a bundle of small core or a large core polymer fiber optics. The luminaire can be a device to distribute sunlight into a space for the production of algae or it can be a device that is a combination of daylighting and electric lighting for space/task lighting. In this project, the sunlight is collected using a one-meter paraboloidal concentrator dish with two-axis tracking. For the second generation (alpha) system, the secondary mirror is an ellipsoidal mirror that directs the visible light into a bundle of small-core fibers. The IR spectrum is filtered out to minimize unnecessary heating at the fiber entrance region. This report describes the following investigations of various aspects of the system. Taken as a whole, they confirm significant ...
Streptococcus pneumoniae colonizes the mucosal surface of the human upper respiratory tract. A colonization event is gradually cleared through phagocytosis by monocytes/macrophages that are recruited to the airway lumen. Here, we sought to define the bacterial and host factors that promote monocyte/macrophage influx and S. pneumoniae clearance using intranasal bacterial challenge in mice. We found that the recruitment of monocytes/macrophages required their expression of the chemokine receptor CCR2 and correlated with expression of the CCR2 ligand CCL2. Production of CCL2 and monocyte/macrophage recruitment were deficient in mice lacking digestion of peptidoglycan by lysozyme (LysM) and cytosolic sensing of the products of digestion by Nod2. Ex vivo macrophages produced CCL2 following bacterial uptake, digestion by LysM, and sensing of peptidoglycan by Nod2. Sensing of digested peptidoglycan by Nod2 also required the ...
Full text of publication follows: General simulation objectives of any fire analysis are macroscopic in nature and deals with the grass data in respect of fire/smoke spread, structural behaviour, environmental conditions etc. However, the accuracy of predicting such macroscopic parameters is a strong function of several other microscopic parameters which govern the overall macroscopic behaviour. Some of the microscopic parameters of interesting such analysis could be buoyancy induced stable/unstable flows, relative flame behaviour, baroclinic velocity distribution etc. Only the field based fire modelling approach is capable of calculating several of these by way of detailed CFD based field modelling. One of the best known tool that could be employed for such studies is the Fire Dynamics simulator (FDS) from NIST with its popular LES based fire modelling approach. Advanced LES based fire modelling scores over the ...
This paper reports on the protection of opening that are exposed to the environment in nuclear facilities which presents an almost overwhelming engineering challenge. Intakes and outflows must permit the passage of large volumes of air or water without impeding their flow, and they are often exposed to corrosive salt and chemicals. An intrusion detection sensor that is intended to protect these openings must be capable of operating reliably under environmentally harsh conditions, and at the same time either provide a physical delay barrier or attach to an existing barrier. A new fiber optic sensor technology has now been developed specifically for protecting environmentally exposed openings. This sensor uses a fiber optic cable embedded in a neoprene rubber frame which is reinforced with Kevlar threads or braided steel cable. The sensor is configured in a mesh pattern with openings sufficiently large to permit air or water to flow unimpeded, ...
Control of thermal expansion is often necessary in the design and selection of electronic packages. In some instances, it is desirable to have a coefficient of thermal expansion intermediate between values readily attainable with single or two phase materials. The addition of a third phase in the form of fillers, whiskers, or fibers can be used to attain intermediate expansions. To help design the thermal expansion of multiphase materials for specific applications, a closed form model has been developed that accurately predicts the effective elastic properties of isotropic filled materials and transversely isotropic lamina. Properties of filled matrix materials are used as inputs to the lamina model to obtain the composite elastic properties as a function of the volume fraction of each phase. Hybrid composites with two or more fiber types are easily handled with this model. This paper reports that results for glass, quartz, and Kevlar ...
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was localized by an immunocytochemical technique in the thyroid-parathyroid complexes of rat, guinea pig, rabbit, and in normal human thyroids and parathyroids. Human medullary carcinomas and parathyroid adenomas were also studied. In man and all animal species examined CGRP was present in the parafollicular cell, however, in guinea pigs only in small amounts. Except in rabbits, presence of CGRP was demonstrated in nerves of the thyroid and parathyroid capsule as well as in the nerve fibers of the capsular blood vessels. In the thyroid of guinea pigs CGRP was also noted in nerve fibers and in blood vessel walls between follicles. CGRP was also present in the parathyroid glands of rat and man, in nerve fibers localized between parathyroid cells. In rabbit the parafollicular cells between parathyroid cells also expressed CGRP immunoreactivity. No CGRP was noted in the parathyroids of the ...
Flue gas desulfurizing capacities of active carbon fibers (ACF) made from polyacrylonitrile (PAN-ACF) were studied, the features were clarified and at the same time the factors governing the capacities were studied to get guides for better products. Desulfurization capacities of 17 kinds of ACFs were studied. Two kinds of PAN-ACF, FE-200 and FE-300, especially the latter exhibited the higher desulfurization capacity. The capacity of FE-300 was about 20 times higher than those of fibers other than PAN systems and about 4 times higher than that of active coke for desulfurization. From the influence of reacting conditions on the desulfurizating capacity and the desorption profiles of adsorbed SO {sub 2}, it was concluded that the capacity was determined by the effective adsorption capacity of ACF and SO {sub 2} was retained on ACF as sulfuric acid. It was suggested that main factors governing the adsorption capacity were the large surface area of ...
In the case of total skin electron therapy without the beam guide, the electron beam is scattered just outside the gantry exit, dose uniformity in the field is broken, and dose is spread outside the light field. The aims of this study were to measure the mean energy of the off-axis incident electron beam without the beam guide and to establish a reference for the clinical situation. For the measurement, a 4 MeV electron beam was selected among several energies from the linear accelerator. A scintillating fiber beam energy monitor measured the mean energy of the incident electron beam. This energy monitor is a small, light-weight piece of equipment composed of a wedge absorber, scintillation fiber, and photodiode. We found the relationship between electron energy and the indicated value of the energy monitor by means of the estimation of correction factors for five different kinds of electron energy. The preferable linear correlation of 0.997 of ...
Human hair fibers experience tensile forces during grooming and styling processes. The tensile response of hair is hence of considerable interest to the cosmetics industry. In this study, in situ tensile characterization studies have been carried out in an atomic force microscope (AFM) on different hair under different conditions. A custom-built AFM sample stage allows hair fibers to be loaded in tension. A technique to locate and image the same control area at different strains has been developed to study the changes in morphology that occur with deformation. Virgin Caucasian, Asian and African hair were studied to understand the differences between different ethnic hair types. Also, the tensile response and morphological changes of virgin, chemically damaged and conditioner-treated Caucasian hair after soaking were compared against the corresponding dry tensile response. Finally, virgin, damaged and treated Caucasian hair ...
The effect of Al and Be ions pre-implantation on microstructural change and, the formation and growth of He bubbles in SiC/SiC composite was investigated. Four kinds of ion implanted specimens were prepared with 100 appm Al, 1000 appm Al, 100 appm Be and 1000 appm Be implanted. No microstructural change was observed in the matrices and fibers of SiC/SiC composites implanted with Al or Be ions up to 1000 appm. The un-implanted and Al or Be pre-implanted SiC/SiC composites were simultaneously irradiated to 10 dpa using triple ion-beams (6.0-MeV Si{sup 2+}, 1.0-MeV He{sup +} and 340-keV H{sup +}) at 1000 deg. C. Helium bubbles were formed in every matrix and fiber irradiated by triple ion-beams. The size of He bubbles in the matrix was increased by implanting Al or Be ions and increased with increasing amount of implanted Al or Be ions. The size of He bubbles in the fiber was slightly increased by implanting Al or Be ions. ...
The effect of Al and Be ions pre-implantation on microstructural change and, the formation and growth of He bubbles in SiC/SiC composite was investigated. Four kinds of ion implanted specimens were prepared with 100 appm Al, 1000 appm Al, 100 appm Be and 1000 appm Be implanted. No microstructural change was observed in the matrices and fibers of SiC/SiC composites implanted with Al or Be ions up to 1000 appm. The un-implanted and Al or Be pre-implanted SiC/SiC composites were simultaneously irradiated to 10 dpa using triple ion-beams (6.0-MeV Si"2"+, 1.0-MeV He"+ and 340-keV H"+) at 1000 deg. C. Helium bubbles were formed in every matrix and fiber irradiated by triple ion-beams. The size of He bubbles in the matrix was increased by implanting Al or Be ions and increased with increasing amount of implanted Al or Be ions. The size of He bubbles in the fiber was slightly increased by implanting Al or Be ions. These results ...
A carbon-bonded carbon fiber (CBCF) insulation developed for a radioisotope heat source is made from chopped rayon fiber about 10..mu..m long, which is carbonized and bonded with phenolic resin particles. The CBCF is an excellent lightweight insulating material with a nominal density of 0.2 Mg/m/sup 3/ and a thermal conductivity of 0.24 W/(m-K) in vacuum at 2000/sup 0/C. (Several attributes that make CBCF particularly suitable for the heat source application have been identified.) These include light weight, low thermal conductivity, chemical compatibility, and hightemperature capabilities. The mechanical strength of CBCF insulation is satisfactory for the application. The basic fabrication technique was refined to eliminate undesirable large pores and cracks often present in materials fabricated by earlier techniques. Also, processing was scaled up to increase the fabrication rate by a factor of 10. The specific properties of the CBCF were ...
A carbon-bonded carbon fiber (CBCF) insulation developed for a radioisotope heat source is made from chopped rayon fiber about 10 ..mu..m in diameter and 250 ..mu..m long, which is carbonized and bonded with phenolic resin particles. The CBCF is an excellent lightweight insulating material with a nominal density of 0.2 Mg/m/sup 3/ and a thermal conductivity of 0.24 W/(m-K) in vacuum at 2000/sup 0/C. Several attributes that make CBCF particularly suitable for the heat source application have been identified. These include light weight, low thermal conductivity, chemical compatibility, and high-temperature capabilities. The mechanical strength of CBCF insulation is satisfactory for the application. The basic fabrication technique was refined to eliminate undesirable large pores and cracks often present in materials fabricated by earlier techniques. Also, processing was scaled up to increase the fabrication rate by a factor of 10. The specific ...
A model is presented that describes the development of texture during the production process of bake-hardening steel recrystallized in a batch-annealing furnace. Proper conditions are analyzed to generate a pronounced {gamma}-fiber texture and a pancake microstructure that shows superior deep drawability. The {gamma}-fiber texture is assumed to be caused by the interaction between tertiary precipitating aluminum nitride particles and the recrystallization process during heating in the furnace. Deep drawability is presented in terms of the logarithmic {gamma}- and {alpha}-fiber X-ray intensity ratio. The computer simulation of the coupled aluminum nitride precipitation and recrystallization kinetics is based on an iterative procedure. A comparison between simulation results and available experimental data proves the ability of the model to predict the final deep drawability, taking into account the initial aluminum and ...
Extra-fine powdered activated charcoal has been used as stationary phase (coating layer) in solid-phase microextraction (SPME). The efficiency and reliability of the prepared device have been investigated for the extraction of some volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene isomers (BTEX) from the headspace of water samples. Monitoring of the extracted compounds and further quantitative analysis of the real samples have been performed by capillary GC-FID. Effects of several factors such as temperature, addition of salt, and stirring speed on extraction efficiency and exposure time have been studied. Under optimum conditions, extraction recoveries for these compounds from 50 mL water were >95%. The calibration graphs were linear in the range 5 to 10{sup 4} pg mL{sup -1} and the detection limit for each BTEX compound was 1.5-2 pg mL{sup -1}. The results obtained by use of this porous layer activated charcoal (PLAC)-coated fiber ...
Liquid-liquid wetting failure is investigated in a two-dimensional Couette system with two immiscible fluids of arbitrary viscosity. The problem is solved exactly using a sharp interface treatment of hydrodynamics (lubrication theory) as a function of the capillary number, viscous ratio and separation of scale, i.e. slip length versus macroscopic scale of the system. The existence of critical velocities, above which no stationary solutions are found, is analyzed in detail in terms of the relevant parameters of the system. Comparisons with existing analysis for other geometries are also carried out. A numerical method of analysis is also presented, based on diffuse interface models obtained from multiphase extensions of the lattice Boltzmann equation (LBE). Sharp interface and diffuse interface models are quantitatively compared face to face indicating the correct limit of applicability of the diffuse interface models.
A new method for kinetic experiments with neutrons is described. This method combines the conventional triple-axis neutron spectroscopy with relaxation-type experiments. Whereas the former method yields information about the microscopic dynamics of solids, the latter provides macroscopic relaxation times. The combination of both methods allows to determine the microscopic mechanism of relaxation processes. The time-resolved triple-axis spectroscopy is limited to reversible processes and to time scales from 10"-"3 to 10"4 s. Typical applications are the kinetics of phase transformations (structural and dynamical changes), kinetics of domain distributions, kinetics of (spinodal) decomposition, reversible solid state reactions, time-dependent occupation of phonon states or phonon lifetimes. (orig.).
Upcoming high-intensity laser systems will be able to probe the quantum-induced nonlinear regime of electrodynamics. So far unobserved QED phenomena such as the discovery of a nonlinear response of the quantum vacuum to macroscopic electromagnetic fields can become accessible. In addition, such laser systems provide for a flexible tool for investigating fundamental physics. Primary goals consist in verifying so far unobserved QED phenomena. Moreover, strong-field experiments can search for new light but weakly interacting degrees of freedom and are thus complementary to accelerator-driven experiments. I review recent developments in this field, focusing on photon experiments in strong electromagnetic fields. The interaction of particle-physics candidates with photons and external fields can be parameterized by low-energy effective actions and typically predict characteristic optical signatures. I perform first estimates of the accessible new-physics parameter space ...
The phase diagram of Gdsub(x)Ysub(1-x)Th_4B_4 between the paramagnetic, superconducting and ferromagnetic state is reported. Low temperature dc-magnetization measurements reveal that macroscopic electro-magnetic effects are of minor importance for the suppression of Hsub(2c), which shows a smooth bell-shaped behavior for x >= 0.15 with no indication of an anomaly near Tsub(c2). At low temperature in samples with x >= 0.20 a transition from type II to type I superconductivity seems to occur. The low temperature normal state susceptibility follows a Curie-Weiss law indicating reentrant behavior for x >= 0.10. (orig.).
A macroscopic realization of the strange virtual particles is presented. The classical Helmholtz and the quantum mechanical Schr\\"odinger equations are analogous differential equations. Their imaginary solutions are called evanescent modes in the case of elastic and electromagnetic fields. In the case of non-relativistic quantum mechanical fields they are called tunneling solutions. The imaginary solutions of this differential equation point to strange consequences: They are non local, they are not observable, and they described as virtual particles. During the last two decades QED calculations of the imaginary solutions have been experimentally confirmed for phonons, photons, and for electrons. The experimental proofs of the predictions of the non-relativistic quantum mechanics and of the Wigner phase time approach for the elastic, the electromagnetic and the Schr\\"odinger fields will be presented in this article. The results are zero tunneling time and an ...
It is suggested that the model of a neutrino ball described in terms of the standard model extended by adding right-handed neutrinos and the Majorana scalar field can be presented in order to explain a body of weak interacting neutrinos. Neutrino interaction with the scalar Majorana field violates the lepton number and produces the mass splitting of neutrino due to the sea-saw mechanism. In this model a neutrino ball is an object which appears as a result of a first order cosmological phase transition. It can be regarded as a ball filled with Dirac neutrinos and can be treated as a remnant of the phase transition with unbroken global lepton symmetry. In this paper we study the macroscopic parameters of such a configuration. In the result the mass-radius curve M(R) for this object is obtained. (orig.).
High-energy synchrotron x-ray diffraction (XRD) has been used to quantify load transfer in bovine plexiform bone. By using both wide-angle and small-angle XRD, strains in the mineral as well as the collagen phase of bone were measured as a function of applied compressive stress. We suggest that a greater proportion of the load is borne by the more mineralized woven bone than the lamellar bone as the applied stress increases. With a further increase in stress, load is shed back to the lamellar regions until macroscopic failure occurs. The reported data fit well with reported mechanisms of microdamage accumulation in bovine plexiform bone.
The determination of ratio of neutron over proton matrix elements by inelastic proton scattering, for 0{sup +}{yields}2{sup +} transitions, is investigated via the comparison between experimental data and theoretical calculations. Calculations into the context of a macroscopic and a microscopic description are performed for a wide mass range nuclei: {sup 18}O, {sup 30}Si, {sup 32,34}S, {sup 48}Ca, {sup 88}Sr, for which these ratios were determined previously with an independent technique. At that point the choice of the theoretical model may be very critical. It is thus the purpose of this investigation to point out the most suitable model. It is found that in general both theoretical models can be employed for the reliable determination of neutron over proton matrix element ratios.
The determination of ratio of neutron over proton matrix elements by inelastic proton scattering, for 0"+#->#2"+ transitions, is investigated via the comparison between experimental data and theoretical calculations. Calculations into the context of a macroscopic and a microscopic description are performed for a wide mass range nuclei: "1"8O, "3"0Si, "3"2","3"4S, "4"8Ca, "8"8Sr, for which these ratios were determined previously with an independent technique. At that point the choice of the theoretical model may be very critical. It is thus the purpose of this investigation to point out the most suitable model. It is found that in general both theoretical models can be employed for the reliable determination of neutron over proton matrix element ratios.
Data and functions of the cell burnup calculation of the SRAC system were revised to improve mainly the accuracy of the burnup calculation of high conversion light water reactors (HCLWRs). New burnup chain models were developed in order to treat fission products (FPs) and actinide nuclides in detail. Group cross section library, SRACLIB-JENDL2, was generated based on JENDL-2 nuclear data file. In generating this library, emphasis was placed on FPs and actinides. Also revised were the data such as the average energy release per fission for various actinides. These improved data were verified by performing the burnup analysis of PWR spent fuels. Some new functions were added to the SRAC system for the convenience to yield macroscopic cross sections used in the core burnup process. (author).
Abstract Introduction: Laparoscopic subtotal adrenalectomy (LSA) has emerged as a treatment option in the management of certain adrenal pathologies. After LSA, a satisfactory blood supply to the adrenal remnant is vital to preserve steroid function. The aim of this study was to review the adrenal blood supply with relevance to LSA. Materials and Methods: The adrenal blood supply was examined in three ways: 1) a review of six previous cadaver studies looking at adrenal blood supply; 2) a review of our 164 consecutive laparoscopic adrenalectomies (LAs) (January 1999?January 2009); the details of the main adrenal veins and variants had been prospectively recorded; and 3) dissection of 4 cadaver specimens (macroscopic and histologic examination was performed). Results: The six cadaver studies ...
Structural silicides have important high temperature applications in oxidizing and aggressive environments. Most prominent are MoSi{sub 2}-based materials, which are borderline ceramic-intermetallic compounds. MoSi{sub 2} single crystals exhibit macroscopic compressive ductility at temperatures below room temperature in some orientations. Polycrystalline MoSi{sub 2} possesses elevated temperature creep behavior which is highly sensitive to grain size. MoSi{sub 2}-Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} composites show an important combination of oxidation resistance, creep resistance, and low temperature fracture toughness. Current potential applications of MoSi{sub 2}-based materials include furnace heating elements, molten metal lances, industrial gas burners, aerospace turbine engine components, diesel engine glow plugs, and materials for glass processing.
Objective: : Evaluate expression of inducible negative regulators of JAK/STAT pathway and their target proteins during the course of ligature-induced experimental periodontal disease in rats. Design: : Rats were sacrificed 07, 15 and 30days after disease induction for histological evaluation of periodontal inflammation and macroscopic analysis of alveolar bone loss. SOCS expression and the activation status of STAT1 and STAT3 were evaluated in gingival biopsies by real time PCR and Western blot. Results: : Ligature-induced model presented significant progressive bone loss from 7 to 30days. Inflammation was evident and similar for 07 and 15days; however, a decrease on severity at the end of the experimental period was observed. There was a significant (p<0.05) increase on SOCS1 and SOCS3 ge...
Shadow effect was used for investigating damage of uranium dioxide monocrystal. The dependence of shadow minimum parameters on fluence of "2"2Ne ions with 172 MeV energy was followed when detecting fission fragments. Ion dose responsible for sufficient microdamage of lattice structure, included into the classification of heavy ion damage effect on monocrystals was determined. The problem of radiation intensity effect on the character of occurred damages was studied. It was established that macroscopic sample failure, caused by generation of considerable mechanical stresses in monocrystal under beam effect could be observed along with microdamages of lattice structure at ion flux density >10"1"2 cm"-"2Xs"-"1.
Reduction of the metallic impurity concentration in the TCA plasma has enabled us to correlate the observed heating with the calculated position where the rf energy is deposited. In modelling the measured antenna loading due to the presence of Alfven resonance surfaces, and hence inferring the energy deposition profile, both ion cyclotron effects and the toroidal geometry must be considered. In particular, toroidicity couples energy to resonance surfaces that would not be excited in cylindrical geometry. The increase in electron density during a rf pulse changes the positions of these surfaces so that spectrum-related effects may be observed. The appearance of a new surface at the centre of the plasma is seen as a sharp discontinuity on many of the macroscopic parameters, accompanied by evidence of changes in the current density profile. These results, and the predictions of numerical codes, have imposed new constraints on the optimisation of our antenna system.
We develop a large scale parallel viscous-elastic analysis program incorporating a mesoscopic self-consistent model developed by Laws. In the model, macroscopic elastic constants are treated as variables depending on the shape and statistical properties of pre-existing microscopic pores and change due to neutron irradiation. We apply this program to the visco-elastic analysis of nuclear graphite structures under neutron irradiation environment in High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR), as an example problem. Furthermore the calculated results by this parallel computational program are compared with those by one of commercial finite element analysis codes, FINAS, for validating elastic and thermal stress analysis function. (author)
Background Photopolymerizable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels offer a platform to deliver cells in vivo and support three-dimensional cell culture but should be designed to degrade in sync with neotissue development and endure the physiologic environment. Questions/purposes We asked whether (1) incorporation of degradation into PEG hydrogels facilitates tissue development comprised of essential cartilage macromolecules; (2) with early loading before pericellular matrix formation, the duration of load affects matrix production; and (3) dynamic loading in general influences macroscopic tissue development. Methods Primary bovine chondrocytes were encapsulated in hydrogels (n?=?3 for each condition). The independent variables were hydrogel degradation (nondegrading PEG and degrading olig...
Contrast agent-enhanced CT scans in nine male patients with histologically proved benign lymphoepithelial lesions of the perotid gland were reviewed. All scans showed cystic-appearing masses with peripheral rim enhancement corresponding to the macroscopic appearance of the lesion. Five patients were seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or had infections seen in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Three patients were members of high-risk groups. Only one patient had symptoms of the SICCA syndrome. Once a rare cause of parotid gland enlargement, benign lymphoepithelial lesions have recently been seen with increasing frequency in patients with HIV infection. Although the CT appearance is not pathognomic, correlation results of aspiration cytology and with clinical history can lead to a preoperative diagnosis of a benign lymphoepithelial lesion.
We present results of multiple-time-scale simulations of 5, 10 and 15 keV low temperature ion implantation of arsenic on silicon (100), followed by high temperature anneals. The simulations start with a molecular dynamics (MD) calculation of the primary state of damage after 10ps. The results are then coupled to a kinetic Monte Carlo (MC) simulation of bulk defect diffusion and clustering. Dose accumulation is achieved considering that at low temperatures the damage produced in the lattice is stable. After the desired dose is accumulated, the system is annealed at 800 degrees C for several seconds. The results provide information on the evolution for the damage microstructure over macroscopic length and time scales and affords direct comparison to experimental results. We discuss the database of inputs to the MC model and how it affects the diffusion process.
Precipitation-hardened single crystals of a beta (bcc) Ti--40 at. percent V--1.0 at. percent Si alloy were deformed in compression at 77 and 298"0K. The dependence of the yield stress upon aging time at 843"0K for solution-treated crystals shows two maxima which are caused by silicide precipitates. The orientation dependence of the yield stress and of the active macroscopic slip plane were determined as a function of aging time. The solution-treated as well as aged crystals exhibit an asymmetry of both the yield stress and the plane of slip, the degree of asymmetry being larger at 77 than at 298"0K. The asymmetry of slip and yielding is not affected by the presence of precipitation hardening. Results indicate that the effect of the dislocation core structure on dislocation motion is independent of the presence of precipitates. (auth).
The dependence of the carrier concentrations, of the resistivity and of the Hall coefficient of irradiated silicon on the neutron fluences has been investigated, starting from the supposition that the main phenomena induced by irradiation in the semiconductor bulk are shallow-donor removal and deep-centres creation. The free parameters of the model are initial doping of the starting material, the permitted energy level values of the radiation-induced centres in the semiconductor band gap and their introduction rates. The influence of each parameter on the calculated dependences is studied in detail, for three cases: one deep acceptor-like centre, two deep acceptors and one deep acceptor plus one deep donor-like centre. each of the three cases is discussed in correspondence with different experimental results.
Magnesium fructose-1,6-diphosphate is a novel agent of antimyocardial ischaemia. In the present study, the subchronic toxicity of magnesium fructose-1,6-diphosphate was investigated after 13-week repeated intravenous administration in beagle dogs. The animals received doses of 0, 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg/day (three males and three females for each dose). During the study period, clinical signs, mortality, body weights, food consumption, electrocardiogram, urinalysis, haematology, clinical biochemistry, macroscopic findings, organ weights and histopathology were examined. The administration of magnesium fructose-1,6-diphosphate resulted in increased incidence of clinical signs, including salivation and emesis. These effects were transient and were noted in almost all dogs given 300 mg/kg/day a...
We have studied the correlation between the chemical state and the oxygen-sensing properties of an iron oxide thin film using a setup that allows simultaneous sensor resistance measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data acquisition. The gas exposures were performed at the highest operating pressure of the XPS spectrometer at a controlled sample temperature which allows direct comparison between the sensor response and the chemical state of the surface. The iron oxide film was modified by a sequence of argon ion sputtering steps and the induced changes in the chemical state, resistance, and sensitivity to oxygen were investigated. The sputtering was found to reduce the iron from the Fe"3"+ to the Fe"2"+ state and to decrease the sensor resistance. The measured sensitivity to oxygen first increased by a factor of two but then collapsed to its original level. The mechanism for oxygen sensing was found to be filling of the oxygen ...
The intention of this study is to show the high potential of remote sensing data to keep an eye on longterm processes in large regions with widespread tasks and questions. The results of two projects (sponsored by the BMBF - Ministry of Education and Science, Germany and the country of Saxony-Anhalt) are taken into account to give an impression of the chances provided by the application of hyperspectral airborne scanner data and satellite images. So these two projects focus at the applicability of various methods to use remote sensing data for a long- term monitoring of former lignite open-cast mining areas. Apart from the traditional pixelorientated analysis, the application and combination of new object orientated methods (e.g. segmentation, texture analysis) were investigated to distinguish between the following typical vegetation types: Spontaneous revegetation of plant communities; reforestation areas; recultivated grass seeding areas; ...
This third conference on small-satellite applications has combined a number of significant and timely presentations on the status, in the US and on the international front, of this emerging industry. Presentations by all of the major Department of Defense activities in this field, including an overview of the ARPA CAMEO multispectral remote sensing satellite program, space activities at the Air Force Phillips Laboratory, and a space systems capabilities overview of the Naval Research Laboratory, are complemented by presentations from several international activities on their accomplishments and progress in the development of remote sensing satellite programs. For example: Spar Aerospace of Canada presented an overview of the progress they have made in establishing a space program through the use of small satellites, and the University of Surrey and Spar Aerospace provided an overview of the application of image compression schemes to imagery ...
An ignition timing control apparatus is described for an internal combustion engine having a reference ignition timing comprising: sensing means for sensing vibrations including knocks of the engine; knock signal deriving means for deriving knock signals from the output of the sensing means; correction magnitude determining means for determining from the knock signals derived by the knock signal deriving means of ignition timing correction magnitude for suppressing the occurrence of knock; displacement magnitude determining means for determining from at least one of an output of the knock signal deriving means and an output of the correction magnitude determining means as a displacement magnitude for the reference ignition timing corresponding to the octane rating of a fuel used in the engine; and ignition timing determining means for setting the reference ignition timing at an optimum ignition timing angle for the engine ...
Phenolic resins have made a major breakthrough in the field of high technology in 80's. These are now active participants of "high tech' areas ranging from electronics, computers, communication, outer space, aerospace, advanced materials, bio materials and technology. A phenol - formaldehyde (1:1.5) resin having resin content of 70% synthesized in the laboratory has been applied for wood coating and reinforcing glass fiber. The weatherability and solvent resistance of these items have been studied and results discussed keeping in view the envisaged application for structural materials and chemical equipment. The toxic materials released during contact with solvents for chemical applications and during degradation general have been monitored. The results are discussed with reference to environmental pollution due to these resins and their composites under different conditions. (authors)
Very good friction and wear measurements are reported for MRCC (metal reinforced carbon composites), made from low-wear non-graphitic carbon matrix with metal-fiber reinforcement. Counterfaces include austenitic and martensitic stainless steels, Si nitride, and alumina. Effects of high load, high temperature, and gaseous environments are reported: removal of humidity, atm. oxygen have little effect on friction, wear for MRCC sliding against ceramic or stainless steel. Wear of Al oxide riders on MRCC is very low, not affected by contact load. 260 C temperatures do not degrade performance of 440-C riders on MRCC disks or raise friction. In small or large sizes, MRCC is made in a single-pass process for about the same volume cost as cast iron. It can survive heating in nitrogen above 1600 C without loss of integrity or major change of dimensions.
Extruded and hot-rolled 200 C {proportional_to} 500 C AZ31B plates were studied their texture using ODFs analysis. The as-extruded specimen has the strongest intensity of (0001)-ND fiber and 300 C and 400 C hot-rolled ones have the next, but the 200 C hot-rolled one has the lowest intensity. Compared with the corresponding tensile properties, this feature evidents that a pronounced (0001) basal texture will reduce ductility of AZ31B alloy. The ODFs results also indicate that (05 anti 52)- and (01 anti 10)-ND fibers are related to the ductility of AZ31B alloy. (orig.)
In this study acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) terpolymer was reinforced with HNO3-treated short carbon fibers (HCFs). The effects of HCF concentration on the tensile properties of the composites were examined. Increasing the HCF concentration in the ABS matrix from 10 wt% to 30 wt% resulted in improved tensile strength and tensile modulus. To obtain a strong interaction at the interface, polyamide-6 (PA6) at varying concentrations was introduced into the ABS/10 wt% HCF composite. The incorporation and increasing amount of PA6 in the composites increased tensile properties of the ABS/PA6/HCF systems due to the improved adhesion at the interface, which was confirmed by the ratio of tensile strength as an adhesion parameter. These results were also supported by scanning electron microgr...
This study evaluated surface characteristics and overlaying properties of wood plastic composite (WPC) panels made from dry-blended rubber wood fiber-polypropylene (PP) powder formulations using a conventional flat-press process under laboratory conditions. Three levels of rubberwood fibers (Hevea brasiliensis), 40%, 50%, and 60%, based on the composition by weight, were mixed with the PP powder without and with 3% (based on weight) maleic anhydride grafted PP (MAPP) as a coupling agent. Contact angle measurements on the WPC samples were performed using a goniometer connected with a digital camera which collected one image per second. Roughness measurements, average roughness (R a), mean peak-to-valley height (R z), and maximum roughness (R y), were taken from the sanded samples along and ...
An effective rehabilitation strategy is proposed to enhance the strength and stiffness of the beam-column joint in this study. An analytical model is proposed to predict the column shear of the joints strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). Three full scale interior beam-column joints, including two specimens strengthened with CFRP and one prototype specimen, are tested in this study. The specimens are designed to represent the pre-seismic code design construction in which there is no transverse reinforcement. A new optical non-contact technique, digital image correlation (DIC), which can measure the full strain field of specimen, is used to measure and observe the full strain field of the joint. The experimental results show that the beam-column joints strengthened with ...
A wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer having optical path lengths between a fiber array and a Fourier transform lens, and between a dispersion grating and the lens equal to the focal length of the lens. The optical path lengths reduce losses due to angular acceptance mismatch in the multiplexer. Close orientation of the fiber array about the optical axis and the use of a holographic dispersion grating reduces other losses in the system. Multi-exposure holographic dispersion gratings enable the multiplexer/demultiplexer for extremely broad-band simultaneous transmission and reflection operation. Individual Bragg plane sets recorded in the grating are dedicated to and operate efficiently on discrete wavelength ranges.
The exposure and subsequent undermining of pier/abutment foundations through the scouring action of a flood can result in the structural failure of a bridge. Bridge scour is one of the leading causes of bridge failure. Bridges subject to periods of flood/high flow require monitoring during those times in order to protect the traveling public. In this study, an innovative scour monitoring system using button-like fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors was developed and applied successfully in the field during the Aere typhoon period in 2004. The in situ FBG scour monitoring system has been demonstrated to be robust and reliable for real-time scour-depth measurements, and to be valid for indicating depositional depth at the Dadu Bridge. The field results show that this system can function well and survive a typhoon flood.
Two transition metal ions (Cu^2^+ and Co^2^+) and two rare earth metal ions (Ce^3^+ and La^3^+) were used as the assisted metal ions, respectively to prepare the transition metal and rare metal assisted Fe bimetallic amidoximated polyacrylonitrile (AO-PAN) fiber complexes. And their coordination configuration and visible light adsorption properties were examined by coordination number determination and UV-vis-DRS. Then the catalytic performance of these complexes was evaluated as the heterogeneous Fenton catalysts in Rhodamine B degradation by changing the nature and dosage of the assisted ions added. The results indicated that the incorporation of the assisted metal ions led to Fe bimetallic AO-PAN complexes with the more unsaturated configurations than Fe monometallic AO-PAN complex due ...
New nanofibers containing poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)-iodine complex (PVP-iodine) were obtained by electrospinning in order to prepare materials suitable for wound dressings. Different approaches were used: a one-step method based on electrospinning of PVP-iodine or poly(ethylene oxide)/PVP-iodine solutions and a three-step method based on electrospinning of PVP or poly(ethylene oxide)/PVP mixed solutions followed by photo-mediated crosslinking of the obtained nanofibers and subsequent complexation with iodine. The average diameters of the fibers were in the range 150-470nm depending on the composition and on the applied field strength (AFS) and increased with increasing the amount of PEO in the spinning solutions. Higher AFS resulted in greater fiber diameter and in size distribution broadeni...
The moment analysis of pulse responses was applied to a biological activated carbon (BAC) bed to evaluate the microbial activity. Glucose and activated carbon fiber (ACF) were employed in experiments as a model tracer and an activated carbon respectively. No significant difference in biodegradation rates of glucose by microorganisms attached on different solid supports such as activated carbon inactivated carbon and glass fibers was observed. However, higher microbial activity was obtained from microorganisms supported on the ACF in terms of the apparent degradation of total organic including metabolic byproducts by microorganisms, since part of the metabolic byproducts was irreversibly deposited onto the ACF. 11 refs., 6 figs.
This paper describes the development and testing of a system to provide isolated power to the cathode-subsystem electronics of an x-ray tube. These components are located at the cathode potential of several hundred kilovolts, requiring a supply of power isolated from this high voltage. In this design a fiber-optically connected photonic power system (PPS) is used to recharge a lithium-ion battery pack, which will subsequently supply power to the cathode-subsystem electronics. The suitability of the commercially available JDSU PPS for this application is evaluated. The output of the ppe converter is characterized. The technical aspects of its use for charging a variety of Li-Ion batteries are discussed. Battery charge protection requirements and safety concerns are also addressed.
This paper describes the National Research Council (NRC) Word Sense Disambiguation (WSD) system, as applied to the English Lexical Sample (ELS) task in Senseval-3. The NRC system approaches WSD as a classical supervised machine learning problem, using familiar tools such as the Weka machine learning software and Brill's rule-based part-of-speech tagger. Head words are represented as feature vectors with several hundred features. Approximately half of the features are syntactic and the other half are semantic. The main novelty in the system is the method for generating the semantic features, based on word \\hbox{co-occurrence} probabilities. The probabilities are estimated using the Waterloo MultiText System with a corpus of about one terabyte of unlabeled text, collected by a web crawler.
Government facilities such as the US Department of Energy's Savannah River Plant (SRP) near Aiken, South Carolina, often use remote sensing data to assist in environmental management. Airborne multispectral scanner (MSS) data have been acquired at SRP since 1981. Various types of remote sensing data have been used to map and characterize wetlands. Regional Landsat MSS and TM satellite data have been used for wetlands mapping by various government agencies and private organizations. Furthermore, SPOT MSS data are becoming available and provide opportunities for increased spacial resolution and temporal coverage for wetlands mapping. This paper summarizes the initial results from using five dates of SPOT MSS data from April through October, 1987, as a means to monitor seasonal wetland changes in freshwater wetlands of the SRP. 11 refs., 4 figs.
Coal exploitation inevitably damages the natural ecological environment through large scale underground exploitation which exhausts the surrounding areas and is the cause of surface subsidence and cracks. These types of damage seriously lower the underground water table. Deterioration of the environment has certainly an impact on and limits growth of vegetation, which is a very important indicator of a healthy ecological system. Dynamically monitoring vegetation growth under coal exploitation stress by remote sensing technology provides advantages such as large scale coverage, high accuracy and abundant information. A scatter plot was built by a TM (Thematic Mapper) infrared and red bands. A detailed analysis of the distributional characteristics of vegetation pixels has been carried out. ...
In this article based on extensive ethnographic interviewing of eighty-six Japanese adults, I analyze the different ways in which they understand life after death, and consider the societal implications of their views. I examine senses of life after death as based in communion with departed family members as linked to practices of ancestor veneration and ideologies of Japaneseness. I consider heaven/hell or reincarnation as linked, through the idea of impartial judgment of the individual, to meritocracy and the examination system. I examine agnosticism and relativism in senses of life after death as linked to the idea that individual freedom of choice may exist in the next world if not necessarily within the constraints of this Japanese world. I examine disbelief in any realm beyond the gr...
Describes temperature and humidity sensing devices used in mine rescue operations. Chemical indicators use chemical substances that melt at predetermined temperatures and display the actual temperature in the range of 40-50 C. Electronic temperature monitoring devices release acoustic signals as soon as a temperature of 40 or 45 C has been exceeded. A more recent piece of equipment combines the ULR rescue communication set with remote temperature sensing. A digital meter that measures temperature and humidity in the range of -100 to +200 C and 3 to 98% respectively has also been developed. The Central Mine Rescue Station in Bytom, Poland has developed equipment that permits body temperature and pulse rate of a rescuer to be measured and transmitted by radio over a distance of up to 50 m. Safe threshold values can be set for each individual rescuer.
The authors report the fabrication and characterization of a low temperature (200--400 C) thin film gas sensor constructed from a MOCVD-grown yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) layer sandwiched between two platinum thin film electrodes. A reproducible gas-sensing response is produced by applying a cyclic voltage which generates voltammograms with gas-specific current peaks and shapes. Growth conditions are optimized for preparing YSZ films having dense microstructures, low leakage currents, and maximum ion conductivities. In particular, the effect of growth temperature on film morphology and texture is discussed and related to the electrical and gas-sensing properties of the thin film sensor device.
This Chapter develops a realist information-theoretic interpretation of the nonclassical features of quantum probabilities. On this view, what is fundamental in the transition from classical to quantum physics is the recognition that \\emph{information in the physical sense has new structural features}, just as the transition from classical to relativistic physics rests on the recognition that space-time is structurally different than we thought. Hilbert space, the event space of quantum systems, is interpreted as a kinematic (i.e., pre-dynamic) framework for an indeterministic physics, in the sense that the geometric structure of Hilbert space imposes objective probabilistic or information-theoretic constraints on correlations between events, just as the geometric structure of Minkowski space in special relativity imposes spatio-temporal kinematic constraints on events. The interpretation of quantum probabilities is more subjectivist in spirit ...
Remotely sensed ocean color data and numerical modeling have been used to study the phenology of both spring and fall phytoplankton blooms (FPBs) in the Nova Scotian Shelf (NSS)-Gulf of Maine (GoM) region. The ocean color data reveal a general pattern of westward progression of the spring phytoplankton bloom (SPB), and an eastward progression of the FPB in the NSS-GoM region. The spatial pattern of mean chlorophyll concentration in spring is similar to that in fall, with a lower concentration in the NSS and higher in the GoM. Interannually, there is a weak but significant tendency for years with earlier (delayed) SPBs to be followed by delayed (earlier) FPBs, but the mean chlorophyll concentrations during SPBs are not correlated with those during FPBs. The interannual variability of SPB ti...
In this work, we have investigated the capability of different bimetallic nanoparticle alloy combinations to be used in fibre optic temperature sensing based on the technique of surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The metals considered for the present analysis are silver, gold and aluminium. The analysis is derived mainly from the thermo-optic effect along with some fundamental concepts of metal optics such as surface scattering, phonon-electron scattering and electron-electron scattering. The performance of the sensor with three different bimetallic nanoparticle alloy combinations is evaluated and compared, numerically, in terms of its sensitivity and accuracy. On the basis of the comparison and some logistic criterion, we predict the best possible bimetallic alloy combination along with a requisite alloy composition ratio that simultaneously provides higher values of both sensitivity and accuracy which is not possible with any single metallic nanoparticle layer.
The paper introduces scaled Bregman distances of probability distributions which admit non-uniform contributions of observed events. They are introduced in a general form covering not only the distances of discrete and continuous stochastic observations, but also the distances of random processes and signals. It is shown that the scaled Bregman distances extend not only the classical ones studied in the previous literature, but also the information divergence and the related wider class of convex divergences of probability measures. An information processing theorem is established too, but only in the sense of invariance w.r.t. statistically sufficient transformations and not in the sense of universal monotonicity. Pathological situations where coding can increase the classical Bregman distance are illustrated by a concrete example. In addition to the classical areas of application of the Bregman distances and convex divergences such as ...
Earth degassing specifically of carbon dioxide CO2 is of increasing interest with respect to the global carbon budget, related climate effects, earthquake and volcano eruption mechanisms, as well as plant physiological reactions in gas-rich environments. Investigations in all of these disciplines require the detection of surface CO2 degassing structures and quantification of their emissions. We introduce minimal thermal change detection based on infrared imaging as a new remote sensing tool for the detection of earth surface thermal anomalies suiting among others to discover earth degassing locations of any origin. The method allows for seamless areal search and monitoring of degassing structures in any terrain. As proof of concept infrared imaging measurements were performed at the Bossol...
In order to analyze changes in human settlement in Xuzhou city during the past 20 years, changes in land cover and vegetation were investigated based on multi-temporal remote sensing Landsat TM images. We developed a hierarchical classifier system that uses different feature inputs for specific classes and conducted a classification post-processing approach to improve its accuracy. From our statistical analysis of changes in urban land cover from 1987 to 2007, we conclude that built-up land areas have obviously increased, while farmland has seen in a continuous loss due to urban growth and human activities. A NDVI difference approach was used to extract information on changes in vegetation. A false change information elimination approach was developed based on prior knowledge and statistic...
A micromachined vertical actuator utilizing a levitational force, such as in electrostatic comb drives, provides vertical actuation that is relatively linear in actuation for control, and can be readily combined with parallel plate capacitive position sensing for position control. The micromachined electrostatic vertical actuator provides accurate movement in the sub-micron to micron ranges which is desirable in the phase modulation instrument, such as optical phase shifting. For example, compact, inexpensive, and position controllable micromirrors utilizing an electrostatic vertical actuator can replace the large, expensive, and difficult-to-maintain piezoelectric actuators. A thirty pound piezoelectric actuator with corner cube reflectors, as utilized in a phase shifting diffraction interferometer can be replaced with a micromirror and a lens. For any very precise and small amplitudes of motion` micromachined electrostatic actuation may be used because it is the ...
Remote sensing is the most practical method available to managers of fire-prone forests for quantifying and mapping fire impacts. Differenced Normalised Burn Ratio (?NBR) is among the most widely used spectral indices for the mapping of burn severity but is difficult to interpret in terms of fire-related changes in key biophysical attributes and processes. We propose to quantify burn severity as a change in the leaf area index (?LAI) of a stand. LAI is a key biophysical attribute of forests, and is central to understanding their water and carbon cycles. Previous studies have suggested that changes in canopy LAI may be a major contributor to ?NBR and to the composite burn index (CBI) that is frequently used in combination with the NBR to assess burn severity on the ground. We applied remote...
Land cover change can be caused by human-induced activities and natural forces. Land cover change in watershed level has been a main concern for a long time in the world since watersheds play an important role in our life and environment. This paper is focused on how to apply Landsat Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS) satellite image of 1973 and Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) satellite image of 2001 to determine the land cover changes of coastal watersheds from 1973 to 2001. GIS and remote sensing are integrated to derive land cover information from Landsat satellite images of 1973 and 2001. The land cover classification is based on supervised classification method in remote sensing software ERDAS IMAGINE. Historical GIS data is used to replace the areas covered by clouds or shadows in the image o...
In vibration control field, magneto-rheological (MR) fluid dampers are semi-active control devices that have recently begun to receive more attention. This paper presents a black-box model (BBM) for identification of a MR fluid damper and its application to vibrating control systems using that damper with self-sensing behavior. A model named ''black-box'' is a simple direct modeling method which is designed for a typical MR fluid damper using the self-tuning fuzzy technique. The characteristics of the researched damper are directly estimated through a fuzzy mapping system. In order to improve the accuracy of the proposed model, the back propagation algorithm and gradient descent method were used to train the fuzzy parameters to minimize the model error function. Consequently, the BBM with ...
In this paper, we present an analytic framework for investigating expert mathematical learning as the process of building a network of mathematical resources by establishing relationships between different components and properties of mathematical ideas. We then use this framework to analyze the reasoning of ten mathematicians and mathematics graduate students that were asked to read and make sense of an unfamiliar, but accessible, mathematical proof in the domain of geometric topology. We find that experts are more likely to refer to definitions when questioning or explaining some aspect of the focal mathematical idea and more likely to refer to specific examples or instantiations when making sense of an unknown aspect of that idea. However, in general, they employ a variety of types of m...
Giant magnetoresistance (GMR) has been used with Eddy current testing to detect small defects not only in thin film structures but also in multilayered metallic structures. This work detected small scratches in the thin film under the surface where these defects were unable to be inspected or monitored by regular testing. In addition, rotational GMR magnetic sensor based Eddy current probes were used for detecting buried corner cracks at the edge of holes in metallic structures. The results of this study proved that giant magnetoresistance is very powerful and effective to sense the magnetic field, which is the result from the perturbation of the Eddy currents caused by a defect. This method can be used for quality control of metallization layers on silicon wafer and to detect cracks in thick structures such as cracks in aging aircraft.
In this paper we demonstrate the capabilities of our ArcGIS-based software development that includes an adapted database system and a GIS tool for storage, combined analysis and visualization of leveling data and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) deformation measurements. Preprocessed remote sensing image data are stored with metadata that include all processing routines and parameters. This allows reproduction and traceability of all processing steps. Deformation monitoring is supported through data searching and selection based on a variety of criteria. A methods toolbox allows spatio-temporal analyses for points, lines and areas (e.g. subsidence basins) in a graphical manner.
Extracting mining subsidence land from remote sensing (RS) images is one of important research contents for environment monitoring in mining area. The accuracy of traditional extracting models based on spectral features is low. In order to extract subsidence land from RS images with high accuracy, some domain knowledge should be imported and new models should be proposed. This paper, in terms of the disadvantage of traditional extracting models, imports domain knowledge from practice and experience, converts semantic knowledge into digital information, and proposes a new model for the specific task. By selecting the Luan mining area as a study area, this new model is tested based on GIS and related knowledge. The result shows that the proposed method is more precise than traditional methods and can satisfy the demands of land subsidence monitoring in mining area. 10 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.
The dipteran parasitoids Therobia leonidei and Homotrixa alleni (Tachinidae) use acoustic cues to locate their calling tettigoniid (Ensifera, Orthoptera) hosts. The sexually dimorphic tympanal organs of both fly species are located at the prosternum. For comparison a homologous chordotonal organ in the non-hearing fly Phormia regina, Meigen (Phoridae) is also described. The scolopidial sense organs of the ears have approximately 180 sensory cells in Th. leonidei and 250 cells in H. alleni. Interspecific analysis indicates that the cell number and arrangement might be genus specific in Tachinidae. The mononematic scolopidia, each with one sensory cell, are of different sizes and insert at the tympanal membrane. Large scolopidial units (diameter of sensory cells up to 50??m) extend longitudi...
Seven villages in southeastern Kenya surround Mt. Kasigau and depend on the mountain's cloud forest for their water supply. Five of these villages have regularly experienced water shortages, and all village water supplies were contaminated with Escherichia coli bacteria. There is a need to economically find new sources of fresh ground water. Remote sensing offers a relatively quick and cost-effective way of identifying areas with high potential for ground water development. This study used spectral properties of features on Landsat remote sensing imagery to map linear features, soil types, surface moisture, and vegetation. Linear features represented geologic or geomorphologic features indicating either shallow ground water or areas of increased subsurface hydraulic conductivity. Regarding...
The results of a study on the application of remote sensing and geophysical methods for the detection and monitoring of acid mine drainage (AMD) are summarized, with emphasis on those that appear most suitable. The study consisted of a literature review, an information survey of users and suppliers, and discussions with various experts. Space-borne sensors, airborne sensors, airborne videography and digital frame cameras, spectroradiometers, radar, and photographic data are considered. Geophysical methods are effective for measurement of sulphides, areas of active chemical oxidation, acid mine drainage, and contaminated ground water movement. The popularity and effectiveness of various geophysical methods are rated for AMD applications. 25 refs., 1 fig., 3 tabs.
This paper outlines conceptual framework for safeguards remote sensing, and suggests a strategy for overcoming the challenges to full exploitation of all types of optical satellite imagery. Since the introduction of commercial open-source high-resolution satellite imagery in 1999, it has become an important tool for verification of declarations, baseline mapping, detection and monitoring of changes and investigation of undeclared activities. Its use is still relatively restricted, but there is a growing demand for wider satellite reconnaissance support, and the Satellite Image Analysis Unit (SIAU) has recently been expanded in response. For a number of reasons, IAEA safeguards use of satellite imagery is largely based on visual interpretation by experienced image analysts of high-resolution monochromatic imagery to monitor and characterize buildings and structures on safeguards sites. The very wide range of remote sensing capabilities could be ...
Research highlights: {yields} The use of resonant photoemission in its 'core-hole clock' expression for the study of the dynamical charge transfer across hybrid organic-inorganic interfaces and for the intermolecular charge transfer in the bulk of organic thin films is reviewed. {yields} The electronic coupling to the substrate and the efficiency of charge transport across hybrid interfaces is different for individual electronic subsystems of the molecular adsorbate. {yields} The intermolecular charge transfer in the bulk of discotic liquid crystals occurs on the order of a few femtoseconds and is faster than expected from the macroscopic charge transport characteristics of the material. -- Abstract: The focus of this brief review is the use of resonant photoemission in its 'core-hole clock' expression for the study of two important problems relevant for the field of organic electronics: the dynamical charge transfer across ...
Non-uniform radionuclide distribution in tumours will lead to a non-uniform absorbed dose. The aim of this study was to investigate how tumour control probability (TCP) depends on the radionuclide distribution in the tumour, both macroscopically and at the subcellular level. The absorbed dose in the cell nuclei of tumours was calculated for {sup 90}Y, {sup 177}Lu, {sup 103m}Rh and {sup 211}At. The radionuclides were uniformly distributed within the subcellular compartment and they were uniformly, normally or log-normally distributed among the cells in the tumour. When all cells contain the same amount of activity, the cumulated activities required for TCP = 0.99 (A-tilde{sub TCP=0.99}) were 1.5-2 and 2-3 times higher when the activity was distributed on the cell membrane compared to in the cell nucleus for {sup 103m}Rh and {sup 211}At, respectively. TCP for {sup 90}Y was not affected by different radionuclide distributions, whereas for {sup 177}Lu, it was slightly ...
A numerical study has been performed to investigate the hydrodynamic aspects of the pool boiling on horizontal-, vertical- and downward-facing surfaces. The FlowLab code, which is based on a Lattice-Boltzmann (LB) model of two-phase flows, is employed. Macroscopic properties, such as surface tension ({sigma}) and contact angle ({beta}), are implemented through the fluid-fluid (G{sub {sigma}}) and fluid-solid (G{sub t}) interaction potentials. The model is found to express a linear relation between the macroscopic properties ({sigma}, {beta}) and microscopic parameters (G{sub {sigma}}, G{sub t}). The simulation results on bubble departure diameter appear to have the same parametric dependence as the empirical correlation. Hydrodynamic aspects of two-phase flow regime transition mechanism are investigated for different surface-coolant configurations. Results of the LB simulation clearly demonstrate that not only the bubble nucleation site density ...
This study addresses the modeling of transdermal diffusion of drugs, to better understand the permeation of molecules through the skin, and especially the stratum corneum, which forms the main permeation barrier of the skin. In transdermal delivery of systemic drugs, the drugs diffuse from a patch placed on the skin through the epidermis to the underlying blood vessels. The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin and can be further divided into the stratum corneum (SC) and the viable epidermis layers. The SC consists of keratinous cells (corneocytes) embedded in the lipid multi-bilayers of the intercellular space. It is widely accepted that the barrier properties of the skin mostly arises from the ordered structure of the lipid bilayers. The diffusion path, at least for lipophilic molecules, seems to be mainly through the lipid bilayers. Despite the advantages of transdermal drug delivery compared to other drug delivery routes such as oral dosing and injections, the low ...
We have developed a kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) simulator that links atomic migration and binding energies determined primarily from first principles calculations to macroscopic phenomena and laboratory time scales. Input for the kMC simulation is obtained from a combination of ab initio planewave pseudopotential calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, and experimental data. The simulator is validated against an extensive series of experimental studies of the diffusion of B spikes in self-implanted Si. The implant energy, dose, and dose rate, as well as the detailed thermal history of the sample, are included. Good agreement is obtained with the experimental data for temperatures between 750 and 950 C and times from 15 to 255 s. At 1050o C we predict too little diffusion after 105 s compared to experiment: apparently, some mechanism which is not adequately represented by our model becomes important at this temperature. Below 1050o C, the kMC simulation produces ...
A container experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that uncomposted wool wastes could be used as nutrient source and growth medium constituent for container-grown plants. The treatments were: (1) rate of wool-waste application (0 or unamended control, 20, 40, 80, and 120 g of wool per 8-in. pot), (2) growth medium constituents [(2.1) wool plus perlite, (2.2) wool plus peat, and (2.3) wool plus peat plus perlite], and (3) plant species (basil and Swiss chard). A single addition of 20, 40, 80, or 120 g of wool-waste to Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.) and basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) in pots with growth medium provided four harvests of Swiss chard and five harvests of basil. Total basil yield from the five harvests was 1.6-5 times greater than the total yield from the unamended control, while total Swiss chard yield from the four harvests was 2-5 times greater relative to the respective unamended control. The addition of wool-waste to the growth medium increased Swiss chard and ...
Energy Related Inventions Program Number 613 was a two year program to commercialize a unique new wear material, Metal Reinforced Carbon Composite, MRCC. The program was designed to manufacture sample components of MRCC for evaluation by potential users and manufacturers. As a result of the program Burton Technologies Inc. and Rotary Power International are forming a joint company to manufacture, market and license MRCC materials to a wide range of industries.
Refractive indices of some mixed compound semiconductors below the bandgap are presented on the basis of some fundamental parameters and the effect of lattice mismatch on the refractive index step is also studied. The results help to design a variety of opto-electronic devices for the use in optical fiber communication and heterostructure lasers. The calculated values agree well with available experimental values thus justifying the approach. (author).
This paper focuses on potential effects of solar phenomena on communication systems used by the electric utility industry. It begins with a discussion of solar phenomena fundamentals and discussion of the interaction between solar emissions and the earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere. It continues with a discussion of the resulting impacts on communication systems including radio, satellite, wireline, fiber optic, and powerline systems and concludes with a discussion of mitigation techniques and a call for observers to report suspected solar impact experiencexperiences.
Characteristics of advanced composites are investigated. The fibers considered are Kevlar and carbon. The greatest advantage of composites over metals is emphasized, and lies in their permitting designers to obtain properties in exactly the locations desired. Kevlar replaced S-glass on the Trident 2 missile, saving 800 lbs. and adding 800 miles to its range. Military aircraft builders find that advanced carbon composites more often than not win out over Kevlar.
We investigated the distribution and expression of mutant mtDNAs carrying the A-to-G mutation at position 8344 in the tRNA(Lys) gene in the skeletal muscle of four patients with myoclonus epilepsy and...Full Text Available
The General-Purpose Heat Source (GPHS), an improved radioisotope heat source, employs a unique thermal insulation material, carbon-bonded carbon fiber (CBCF), to protect the fuel capsule and to help achieve the highest possible specific power. The CBCF insulation is made from chopped rayon fiber about 10 ..mu..m in diameter and 250 ..mu..m long, which is carbonized and bonded with phenolic resin particles. The CBCF shapes, both tubes and plates, are formed in a multiple molding facility by vacuum molding a water slurry of the carbonized chopped-rayon fiber (54 wt %) and phenolic resin (46 wt %). The molded shapes are subsequently dried and cured. Final carbonization of the resin is at 1600/sup 0/C. Machining to close tolerances (+-0.08 mm) is accomplished by conventional tooling and fixturing. The resulting material is an excellent lightweight insulation with a nominal density of 0.2 Mg/m/sup 3/ and a thermal conductivity ...
The purpose of this DOE-funded effort is to develop continuous processes for solvent extraction of coal for the production of carbon products. These carbon products include materials used in metals smelting, especially in the aluminum and steel industries, as well as porous carbon structural material referred to as ''carbon foam'' and carbon fibers. During this reporting period, efforts have focused on the facility modifications for continuous hydrotreating, as well as developing improved protocols for producing synthetic pitches.
The non-invasiveness of autofluorescence technology may reduce sampling error and time delay for histopathology diagnosis. We establish biophotonic methods and guidelines to visualize and interpret early epithelial tissue changes that signify disease. Flexible and rigid fiber endomicroscopy instrumentation design parameters feasible for translation towards clinical use are in development.
The objective of this work was to identify methods of improving the performance of gas-fired radiant burners through the use of Continuous Fiber Ceramic Composites (CFCCs). Methods have been identified to improve the price and performance characteristics of the porous surface burner. Results are described.
may be possible to meet those loads with renewable energy systems &mdashachieving zero-net- energy performance.Solar-thermal heating systems, ...p/p Spencer and others argue that renewable energy systems should be considered only after the building envelope ...energy loads are brought low enough, however, a renewable energy system may make sense financially. p
Given a random variable $F$ regular enough in the sense of the Malliavin calculus, we are able to measure the distance between its law and almost any continuous probability law on the real line. The bounds are given in terms of the Malliavin derivative of $F$. Our approach is based on the theory of It\\^o diffusions and the stochastic calculus of variations. Several examples are considered in order to illustrate our general results.
DescriptionAbstract of Research Proposal The root environment has a major effect on crop growth, both directly through the supply of water and nutrients to the shoot, and indirectly through root to shoot signalling. Better management of crop root systems through agronomic and genetic means has the potential to improve the efficiency of water and nutrient uptake, and limit root restrictions to crop growth. However, progress in this area is currently limited by the lack of sensors for in situ estimates of [continued...
A semi-automatic system which considers operation in a face by monitoring technological parameters of an extraction vehicle and a longwall conveyor is examined. The system records in tabular form the location, progress made, operating and down time of an extraction vehicle and operating and down time of the conveyor. A description of the operating principle system and systems for arrangement of the remote sensing and central recording device are presented. (Note: extraction vehicle not identified: LTN)
Inhibition of large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BKCa) channels mediates, in part, oxygen sensing by carotid body type I cells. However, BKCa channels remain active...Full Text Available
The report summarizes five separate Bureau of Mines contract studies on the use of aerial photogrammetry, satellite transmission of in situ instrumentation information, and satellite imagery to monitor and update mine waste embankment data. The equipment used, methods applied, results, recommendations, and cost analyses are presented along with a bibliography of related investigations.
Papers are presented under the following topics: machine control and automation; rock drilling; cutting and fragmentation; rock characterization, remote sensing and interface detection; artificial intelligence and mine monitoring systems; computer applications; mechanical excavators; material handling; surface and underground mining; innovative mining systems; new developments in mechanical miners; ground hazard detection and control; ground support; and extraterrestrial mining.
Papers are presented under the session headings: research in mechanical fragmentation; rock characterization, remote sensing and interface detection; monitoring, data transmission and communications; tunnel boring machines; minewide monitoring and expert systems for ground control; machine guidance; shaft and raise boring; automation of drilling equipment; machine automation and control; new developments in mechanical miners; materials handling; innovative mining systems; general minewide monitoring and expert systems; ground support; human factors; and extraterrestrial mining.
Loss of the sense of smell can be easily confirmed in any physician's office by having the patient try to identify various odors. The etiology of anosmia can be extremely varied, including nasopharyngeal disorders such as rhinitis and tumors; neurologic conditions such as head trauma, neoplasms, vascular lesions and infections of the central nervous system; viral infections; familial and congenital disorders; drugs; industrial exposure; endocrine diseases, and several other disorders. The prognosis of anosmia is guarded, and its treatment depends on the etiology.
A permanental vector is a generalization of a vector with components that are squares of the components of a Gaussian vector, in the sense that the matrix that appears in the Laplace transform of the vector of Gaussian squares is not required to be either symmetric or positive definite. In addition the power of the determinant in the Laplace transform of the vector of Gaussian squares, which is -1/2, is allowed to be any number less than zero. It was not at all clear what vectors are permanental vectors. In this paper we characterize all permanental vectors in $R^{3}_{+}$ and give applications to permanental vectors in $R^{n}_{+}$ and to the study of permanental processes.
A new dirhenium(I) complex fac-[{Re(CO)3(4,7-dinonadecyl-1,10-phenanthro -line)}2 (4,4'-bipyridyl)] (trifluoromethanesulfonate)2 (denoted as D-Re(I) ) is assembled in MCM-41 and SBA-15 type mesoporous silica support. The emission peaks of D-Re(I) in D-Re(I)/MCM-41 and D-Re(I)/SBA-15 are observed at 522 and 517 nm, respectively. Their long excited lifetimes, which are of the order of microseconds, indicate the presence of phosphorescence emission arising from the metal to ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transition. The luminescence intensities of D-Re(I)/MCM-41 and D-Re(I)/SBA-15 decrease remarkably with increase in the oxygen concentration, meaning that they can be used as optical oxygen sensing materials based on luminescence quenching. The ratios I0/I100 of D-Re(I)/MCM-41 and D-Re(I)/SBA-15 are estimated to be 5.6 and 20.1, respectively. The obtained Stern-Volmer oxygen quenching plots of the mesoporous sensing materials could be fitted well to ...
... Beltaos, J. T. Gardner, J. J. Gibson, R. J. Granger, R. Leconte, D. L. Peters, A. Pietroniro, L. A. Romolo and B. Toth Published: Feb 01, 2006 View all Articles from this Magazine »MOST POPULAR RELATED SEARCHES climate change, risk assessments, biodiversity, forestry, remote sensing, natural resource, fisheries, information systems, Environmental - Monitoring, environmental monitoring, exposure assessments, natural resource ...
A method and apparatus is provided for detecting explosives by thermal imaging. The explosive material is subjected to a high energy wave which can be either a sound wave or an electromagnetic wave which will initiate a chemical reaction in the explosive material which chemical reaction will produce heat. The heat is then sensed by a thermal imaging device which will provide a signal to a computing device which will alert a user of the apparatus to the possibility of an explosive device being present.
In recent years there has been a renewed interest in the treatment of quantum mechanics in terms of joint distribution functions, i.e. functions of momentum and position coordinates p and q. The author considers j.d.f. in the sense of classical probability theory of a stochastic variable. The j.d.f. is then interpreted as the probability that the variables p and q have certain values, the variables being considered as a property possessed by the object system. This formalism is used to provide a unified description of bradyons and tachyons. (Auth.).
A numerical calculation procedure applicable to cavity-type receiver configurations and flow conditions was developed. Flow visualization experiments were performed, and experimental measurements of quantities valuable for the development of the numerical calculation procedure were made. The investigation is focussed on a configuration which is strongly two-dimensional in the mean flow structure (but turbulent in a truly three-dimensional sense). (LEW)
The first fully-documented study into the quantitative impact of errors in operational spreadsheets identified an interesting anomaly. One of the five participating organisations involved in the study contributed a set of five spreadsheets of such quality that they set the organisation apart in a statistical sense. This virtuoso performance gave rise to a simple sampling test - The Clean Sheet Test - which can be used to objectively evaluate if an organisation is in control of the spreadsheets it is using in important processes such as financial reporting.
Geoinformatics, of which remote sensing, global positioning system and geographical information system are kernel components, has developed rapidly and become applicable in the last ten years. In this paper, the recent development and advantages of geoinformatics are introduced; some achievements and understanding in applications for environmental protection in mining areas are also described. 7 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.
We report on the fouling of Focused Ion Beam (FIB)-fabricated silicon oxide nanopores after exposure to tap water for two weeks. Pore clogging was monitored by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) on both bare silicon oxide and chemically functionalized nanopores. While fouling occurred on hydrophilic silicon oxide pore walls, the hydrophobic nature of alkane chains prevented clogging on the chemically functionalized pore walls. These results have implications for nanopore sensing platform design.
In this work, porous TiO2 hollow spheres with an average diameter of 100 nm and shell thickness of 20 nm were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method with NH4HCO3...Full Text Available
This book presents the papers given at a symposium on occupational safety in coal mines. Topics considered at the symposium included human factors, causes and prevention of personal injuries, remote sensing for ground control, respirable dust generation by continuous miners, accident analysis, hazard analysis of mining equipment, coal mine blasting accidents, coal mine respirable dust sampling, and noise in the mining industry.
The added incentive to modify electric use under hourly versus monthly market-based pricing is small for most mass market customers in Upstate New York. If the ultimate policy goal of demand-response programs is to reduce peak load, then promoting conservation measures under monthly market-based pricing holds more promise. (author)
Sugarcane yellow leaf caused by Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (ScYLV) does not produce visual symptoms in most susceptible plants until late in the growing season. An experiment was conducted to determine if leaf reflectance and pigment analysis could be used to determine ScYLV infection prior to sym...
1. It is not possible to give a threshold value for the dose - nor for genetic neither for somatic late effects. 2. The linear dose-effect exprapolation is not conservative in the sense of 'fying on the safe side'. 3. There has been found no relative reduction of the effects at chronic radiation exposure in man. 4 The numbers given by authorities and utilities for damage rates per rem received, that are called upper limits, are by far too low. (orig./HP).
The asymptotic functions are a new type of generalized functions. But they are not functionals on some space of test-functions as the distributions of Schwartz. They are mappings of the set denoted by A into A, where A is the set of the asymptotic numbers introduced by Christov. On its part A is a totally-ordered set of generalized numbers including the system of real numbers R as well as infinitesimals and infinitely large numbers. Every two asymptotic functions can be multiplied. On the other hand, the distributions have realizations as asymptotic functions in a certain sense. (author).
The application of airborne sensors for providing environmental assessment and monitoring of a test site in an open cast mining area that is part of a lignite deposit in central Germany is described. Hyperspectral remote sensing data from three different sensors were tested. The hyperspectral scanner data was suitable for classification of different sediments and vegetation types and the water chemistry of residual mining lakes. Summary form only. 1 tab.
During thirty years the techniques used for sensing the environment have changed dramatically. This paper describes the latest generation of sensors available. This new generation of sensors includes those two most critical gas sensors for methane and carbon monoxide and new sensors for airflow and air temperature. When these sensors are combined with the new sensors for machine condition monitoring it forms the heart of the Sentex system. 2 figs.
A new technique is described in this paper for a general active radio frequency (RF) filter trap that can be used for suppressing noise or interference on high voltage (HV) transmission lines. The technique exploits the Miller effect of an RF amplifier in conjunction with a special sensing circuit, and is potentially far more economical to implement than conventional techniques that use passive HV filter components.
With the aid of a DOE grant (No. DE-FC26-01NT41050), Stolar Research Corporation (Stolar) developed the Horizon Sensor (HS) to distinguish between the different layers of a coal seam. Mounted on mining machine cutter drums, HS units can detect or sense the horizon between the coal seam and the roof and floor rock, providing the opportunity to accurately mine the section of the seam most desired. HS also enables accurate cutting of minimum height if that is the operator's objective. Often when cutting is done out-of-seam, the head-positioning function facilitates a fixed mining height to minimize dilution. With this technology, miners can still be at a remote location, yet cut only the clean coal, resulting in a much more efficient overall process. The objectives of this project were to demonstrate the feasibility of horizon sensing on mining machines and demonstrate that Horizon Sensing can allow coal to be cut ...
In this review, we demonstrate the developmental appearance, structural features, and reorganization of transient cerebral zones and structures in the human fetal brain using a correlative histological and MRI analysis. The analysis of postmortem aldehyde-fixed specimens (age range: 10 postovulatory weeks to term) revealed that, at 10 postovulatory weeks, the cerebral wall already has a trilaminar appearance and consists of: (1) a ventricular zone of high cell-packing density; (2) an intermediate zone; (3) the cortical plate (in a stage of primary consolidation) with high MRI signal intensity. The anlage of the hippocampus is present as a prominent bulging in the thin limbic telencephalon. The early fetal telencephalon impar also contains the first commissural fibers and fornix bundles in the septal area. The ganglionic eminence is clearly visible as an expanded continuation of the proliferative ventricular zone. The basal ganglia showed an initial aggregation of ...
In the framework of nuclear waste transmutation studies, the Mini-INCA project has been initiated at CEA/DSM with objectives to determine optimal conditions for transmutation and incineration of minor actinides (MA) in high intensity neutron fluxes. Our experimental tools based on alpha- and gamma-spectroscopy of the samples and the development of micro fission chambers could gather either microscopic information on nuclear reactions (total or partial cross sections for neutron capture and/or fission reactions) or macroscopic information on transmutation and incineration potentials. Neutron capture cross sections of selected actinides ({sup 241}Am, {sup 242}Am, {sup 242}Pu, {sup 237}Np) have already been measured at ILL, showing some discrepancies when compared to evaluated data libraries but in overall good agreement with recent data. The studies and possibilities offer by the MEGAPIE project to assess neutronic performances of a 1 MW spallation target and the ...
In the framework of nuclear waste transmutation studies, the Mini-INCA project has been initiated at CEA/DSM with objectives to determine optimal conditions for transmutation and incineration of minor actinides (MA) in high intensity neutron fluxes. Our experimental tools based on alpha- and gamma-spectroscopy of the samples and the development of micro fission chambers could gather either microscopic information on nuclear reactions (total or partial cross sections for neutron capture and/or fission reactions) or macroscopic information on transmutation and incineration potentials. Neutron capture cross sections of selected actinides ("2"4"1Am, "2"4"2Am, "2"4"2Pu, "2"3"7Np) have already been measured at ILL, showing some discrepancies when compared to evaluated data libraries but in overall good agreement with recent data. The studies and possibilities offer by the MEGAPIE project to assess neutronic performances of a 1 MW spallation target and the incineration of ...
The electromagnetic properties that present hydrogen and other nucleus of agro-alimentary products, have allowed widely use of magnetic resonance (MR) to study the composition and internal structure of these biological materials in a micro and macroscopic scale, in a nondestructive way. In this paper the physical principles, basic equipment to measure the MR signals and the MR imaging of any biological sample, are explained. It is also shown a review of the main agro-alimentary applications, emphasizing in the use of this principle to examine the internal quality of fruits and vegetables. In these products, the MR has been used to detect and follow the evolution of different factors that determine the internal quality after harvesting, during storage and after post harvesting processes. The main studies that have been conducted with MR in harvested products are about physiological disorders that take place during storage and conservation of fruits in controlled and ...
In this work, a comprehensive model including heat transfer, fluid flow and solidification was used to evaluate the performance of a novel delivery system for a single-belt steel casting process. This near-net-shape casting, although still in development, is one of the most promising routes for casting of low-carbon steel in large scale. This paper focuses on the performance of a low-Re {kappa}-{epsilon} model that was employed to simulate the three-dimensional turbulent flows fully-coupled with heat transfer and macroscopic solidification. Simulations were run for the intended conditions of caster operation, and the results obtained with the {kappa}-{epsilon} were compared with the results obtained with an ad hoc viscosity model, where the molecular viscosity was boosted 100 times, uniformly throughout the computational domain. A semi-analytical solution was employed for validating the models and the results showed that the ad hoc viscosity model overestimated the ...
Our work deals with accumulative roll bonding (ARB) of pure Mg sheet (0.9mm thickness) and of Al5052 sheet (0.5mm). A stacking of Al-Mg-Al was firstly rolled to 50% reduction at 400"0C and secondly ARB has been processed up to 3 cycles. In such multilayers as well as highly mixed composites of two-phased system texture development, phase reactions and strain accumulation are of basic interest, which needs a combination of different experimental methods for characterization. The present paper deals with the global texture evolution measured by thermal neutrons to average always over the whole sample thickness, SEM and optical microscopy indicates the macroscopic development of Mg and Al layers. The initial materials show typical and strong basal plane texture of hexagonal Mg (17.9mrd) and a recrystallization texture of cubic Al (8.5mrd). Co-deformation of Al/Mg/Al leads to strong decrease of both textures, whereas Mg has always a much stronger texture than Al5052. ...
Silicon nitride-based ceramics behavior is strongly influenced by microstructural parameters, which, in turn are determined by chosen densification method. Highly covalent Si-N bond hind are the silicon nitride densification. Therefore, metal oxides are used in order to get high density. However, such oxides must be carefully selected, because they affect the general macroscopic properties of sintered bodies. In the present work, the viability of rare earth concentrate use to produce #beta#--Si_6_-_xAl_xO_xN_8_-_x and its effect on mechanical properties of the sintering ceramics are studied. Additive composition, heating rate, soaking time and sintering temperature were took as variables. Hardness, fracture toughness, Young's modulus and flexural strength were investigated. Lattice parameter compositional dependence and secondary phases crystallized after past-sintering heat treatment were also determined. The results show that rare earth concentrate works very ...
When a highly collimated beam of particles is aimed along the atomic rows of an aligned single crystal, the averaging effect of high speed motion results, to the lowest order of approximation, in crystal electric fields which are transverse to the atomic rows. The enormous magnitude of the crystal transverse electric fields is unsurpassed by any other known earth-bound macroscopic sources. For example, the field strengths along the <100> axis of tungsten at 77 K approach 9{center dot}10{sup 13}V/m. Thus quantum electrodynamic (QED) processes in strong fields which are thought to occur only in the extra-terrestrial environment can now be investigated in the laboratory. Here we review the results of measurements performed at the SPS facility in CERN using highly collimated beams of electrons, positrons and photons in the 20-200 GeV range, and germanium crystals cooled to 77 K with thicknesses ranging from 0.07 mm to 1.40 mm. The focus is on the simplest ...
A calculation program (URA 6.F4) was elaborated on FORTRAN IV language, that through finite differences solves the unidimensional scalar Helmholtz equation, assuming only one energy group, in spherical cylindrical or plane geometry. The purpose is the determination of the flow distribution in a reactor of spherical cylindrical or plane geometry and the critical dimensions. Feeding as entrance datas to the program the geometry, diffusion coefficients and macroscopic transversals cross sections of absorption and fission for each region. The differential diffusion equation is converted with its boundary conditions, to one system of homogeneous algebraic linear equations using the box integration technique. The investigation on criticality is converted then in a succession of eigenvalue problems for the critical eigenvalue. In general, only is necessary to solve the first eigenvalue and its corresponding eigenvector, employing the power method. The obtained results by ...
This report of progress and future objectives timetable is based on an included schematic of goals and objectives and the project abstract which is included as Appendix 1. Five matters are summarized in the order of (1) novel methods of calcified bone confocal microscopy and reconstruction image analysis of decalcified beagle and human cortical bone serial sections, (2) macroscopic cross-correlation of beagle and human cortical and cancellous bone fractions with CT analysis, (3) guidance to the most radiobiologically important skeletal regions of interest with the just completed {sup 90}Sr bone tumor map from life time beagle studies, (4) deposition patterns of radioactive agents that participate in apatite crystal nucleation processes in bone and leave radiation-excited electrons trapped in bone mineral, and (5) the budget period timetable. The discovery that beta particles from {sup 166}Ho (T{sub {1/2}} =26 hr, {beta}{sub max} = 1.8 MeV) phosphonic acid bone ...
This introductory text treats thermodynamics as an incomplete description of quantum systems with many degrees of freedom. Its main goal is to show that the approach to equilibrium -with equilibrium characterized by maximum ignorance about the open system of interest- neither requires that many particles nor is the precise way of partitioning, relevant for the salient features of equilibrium and equilibration. Furthermore, the text depicts that it is indeed quantum effects that are at work in bringing about thermodynamic behavior of modest-sized open systems, thus making Von Neumann's concept of entropy appear much more widely useful than sometimes feared, far beyond truly macroscopic systems in equilibrium. This significantly revised and expanded second edition pays more attention to the growing number of applications, especially non-equilibrium phenomena and thermodynamic processes of the nano-domain. In addition, to improve readability and reduce unneeded ...
The plastic flow behavior of a #beta#-titanium alloy (Ti-15% Mo) was investigated over a wide range of temperatures and strain rates covering those conditions where the #omega#-phase forms dynamically. Portevin-Le Chatelier (PLC) effect was observed in this alloy at temperatures between 575 and 775 K at a strain rate of 1.31 x 10"-"4 s"-"1. The serrated flow behavior of this alloy could be suppressed by rendering the matrix #beta#-phase more stable against the #beta# to #omega# transformation. PLC bands formed in this alloy, studied at different levels of magnification using light, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy, showed a high density of deformation bands within the macroscopic PLC band. The following mechanism of serrated flow is proposed; the load drop is ascribed to the sudden flow associated with the formation of deformation bands within which #omega#-particles were destroyed while the subsequent load rise results from pinning of ...
The macroscopic rotation of plasma in a toroidal containment device is an important feature of the equilibrium. Toroidal and polidal rotation in the high-beta tokamak Torus II is measured experimentally by examining the Doppler shift of the 4685.75 A He II line emitted from the plasma. The toroidal flow at an average velocity of 1.6 x 10/sup 6/ cm/sec, a small fraction of the ion thermal speed, moves in the same direction as the toroidal-plasma current. The poloidal flow follows the ion diamagnetic current direction, also at an average speed of 1.6 x 10/sup 6/ cm/sec. In view of certain ordering parameters, the toroidal flow is compared with predictions from neoclassical theory in the collisional, Pfirsch-Schluter regime. The poloidal motion, however, results from an E x B drift in a positive radial electric field, approaching a stable ambipolar state. This radial electric field is determined from theory by using the measured poloidal velocity. Mechanisms for the ...
The macroscopic rotation of plasma in a toroidal containment device is an important feature of the equilibrium. Toroidal and poloidal rotation in the high beta tokamak Torus II is measured experimentally by examining the Doppler shift of the 4685.75 A He II line emitted from the plasma. The toroidal flow at an average velocity of 1.6 x 10/sup 6/ cm/sec, a small fraction of the ion thermal speed, moves in the same direction as the toroidal plasma current. The poloidal flow follows the ion diamagnetic current direction, also at an average speed of 1.6 x 10/sup 6/ cm/sec. In view of certain ordering parameters, the toroidal flow is compared with predictions from neoclassical theory in the collosional, Pfirsch-Schluter regime. The poloidal motion, however results from an E x B drift in a positive radial electric field, approaching a stable ambipolar state. This radial electric field is determined from theory by using the measured poloidal velocity. Mechanisms for the ...
Differential cross sections for 201.5 MeV proton scattering form /sup 88/Sr were measured. From the analysis of the elastic data, no unique optical-model potential could be obtained, but the radial moments are well determined. In a macroscopic analysis of the collective states it turns out that if the optical potential and transition potential are chosen consistently, unambiguous potential deformation lengths can be obtained even though the optical potential is not unique. Taking into account the range and density dependence of the underlying effective interaction reliable neutron deformation lengths can be obtained. For inelastic transitions of various character microscopic distorted-wave calculations with a density-dependent interaction based on the Paris potential were performed. The nuclear structure was taken from one broken-pair calculations in a large model space, calibrated by (e,e') data. In general a good description is obtained for states with ...
Differential cross sections for 201.5 MeV proton scattering form "8"8Sr were measured. From the analysis of the elastic data, no unique optical-model potential could be obtained, but the radial moments are well determined. In a macroscopic analysis of the collective states it turns out that if the optical potential and transition potential are chosen consistently, unambiguous potential deformation lengths can be obtained even though the optical potential is not unique. Taking into account the range and density dependence of the underlying effective interaction reliable neutron deformation lengths can be obtained. For inelastic transitions of various character microscopic distorted-wave calculations with a density-dependent interaction based on the Paris potential were performed. The nuclear structure was taken from one broken-pair calculations in a large model space, calibrated by (e,e') data. In general a good description is obtained for states with spins ranging ...
An axisymmetric unit cell model based on a regular array of second-phase particles arranged on a BCC lattice is used to study deformation mechanisms of ferrite-pearlite structural steels. Microstructural characteristics of the steels were parameterized by the pearlite volume fraction, the aspect ratio of the pearlite particles, and the neighboring factor, which represents the ratio of interparticle spacing in the longitudinal direction to that in the transverse direction. FE analyses were carried out to investigate the macroscopic and microscopic response of unit cells with morphological features based on idealizations of the microstructures of the actual steels. Tensile properties of each constituent phase were obtained experimentally and used in the analyses. As compared to traditional axisymmetric models, the BCC tell model appears to be able to capture more realistically the behavior of the materials, and it accurately estimates the tensile behavior of the ...
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has rapidly attained a major position among the examinations used in the diagnostic approach of multiple sclerosis because it is highly sensitive in demonstrating lesions. However, these lesional images may have several meanings, and there is the problem of distinguishing between oedema, which is said to reflect recent lesions, and gliosis which is thought to betray old lesions. The intrinsic MRI parameters studied (i.e. relaxation times) are unable to make this distinction, whereas it is provided by paramagnetic contrast media such as gadolinium. There is no correlation between the changes observed at MRI and the severity of the disease. Another problem is the accuracy of lesion localization, since visualization is predominantly macroscopic. This raises several questions about the demonstration of correlations between clinical signs and site of the lesion(s). At the moment, several teams of neuroradiologists are trying to find the ...
Calcium (Ca) plays an important role in regulating various cellular processes. In a variety of cell types, Ca signaling occurs within microdomains where channels deliver localized pulses of Ca which activate a nearby collection of Ca-sensitive receptors. The small number of channels involved ensures that the signaling process is stochastic. The aggregate response of several thousand of these microdomains yields a whole-cell response which dictates the cell behavior. Here, we study analytically the statistical properties of a population of these microdomains in response to a trigger signal. We apply these results to understand the relationship between Ca influx and Ca release in cardiac cells. In this context, we use a first passage time approach to show analytically how Ca release in the whole cell depends on the single channel kinetics of Ca channels and the properties of microdomains. Using these results, we explain the underlying mechanism for the graded relationship between Ca ...
There are few studies on coke's micro-pore structure in recent years, however, micro-pore structure of foundry coke determines its macroscopically quality index and reactivity in cupola furnace. Effect of such factors on micro-pore structure were investigated under different carbonization conditions with certain ratio of raw materials and material forming process in this article as charging temperature (A); braised furnace time (B); heating rate of the first stage (C)and the second stage (D) and holding time of ultimate temperature (E). Research showed that charging temperature was the most influential factor on the coke porosity, pore volume, pore size and specific surface area. It is suggested that formation of plastic mass and releasing rate of volatile during carbonization period are two main factors on microstructure of foundry coke while charging temperature contributes most to the above factors. 6 refs., 4 figs., 9 tabs.
Under severe operating conditions, such as starved lubrication, performance, service life, and reliability of rolling element bearings depend on the chemical and physical interactions between the contacting surfaces, the lubricant components, and the atmosphere. The IMKT{sup 1}, PI{sup 2}, and the imt{sup 3} have been cooperating on systematic investigations of interfacial interactions in high speed grease lubricated ball bearings. These include long time tests with complete bearings lubricated with greases of different composition under defined operating conditions, conducted at the IMKT, and chemical and physical characterizations of the running surfaces at the PI and imt. At the PI, in particular the chemical nature of the boundary layers has been investigated with time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). The imt has been involved in the investigations by measuring the physical/mechanical properties of interacting surfaces at the micro/nano-scale after the removal ...
Pressureless-sintered AlN and hot-pressed, pressureless-sintered and reaction-bonded SiC were neutron irradiated at temperatures between 100 and 785degC up to a fluence of 5.2 x 10"2"4 n/m"2. The hardness was increased by up to 51% in AlN and 84% in SiC. The hardness decreased after annealing at temperatures around the irradiation temperature. At the same temperatures, the macroscopic length, which was increased by irradiation, also began to decrease. The hardness and length were almost recovered after 1,200 #approx# 1,400degC annealing. Thus, hardening in irradiated AlN and SiC is controlled by the number of point defects, or, more precisely, by the strain caused by small point defect clusters which pin down dislocation movement. Dislocation loops were still observed in some samples after 1,400degC annealing while the hardness was almost recovered to that in the unirradiated state. Thus, the existence of dislocation loops is not grounds for hardening in irradiated ...
n an early approach, we proposed a kinetic model with multiple translational temperature [K. Xu, H. Liu and J. Jiang, Phys. Fluids {\\bf 19}, 016101 (2007)], to simulate non-equilibrium flows. In this paper, instead of using three temperatures in $x-$, $y-$, and $z$-directions, we are going to further define the translational temperature as a second-order symmetric tensor. Based on a multiple stage BGK-type collision model and the Chapman-Enskog expansion, the corresponding macroscopic gas dynamics equations in three-dimensional space will be derived. The zeroth-order expansion gives the 10 moment closure equations of Levermore [C.D. Levermore, J. Stat. Phys {\\bf 83}, pp.1021 (1996)]. To the 1st-order expansion, the derived gas dynamic equations can be considered as a regularization of Levermore's 10 moments equations. The new gas dynamic equations have the same structure as the Navier-Stokes equations, but the stress strain relationship in the Navier-Stokes ...
In this paper, an investigation was performed on a failure pressure vessel, which was as an anti-freezing heater for General Gas Storage and Distribution (SGZ) system. Evident and serious deformation was observed on the body of the vessel. A metallurgical investigation was conducted to establish the mechanism and cause of deformation of the anti-freezing heater at Daya Bay PWR station in China. The investigation, which was performed on specimens cut from the most serious area deformed of the vessel, included macroscopic examination and microscopy examination. The results of the examinations showed that some lamellar pearlite in the microstructure were already spheroidized. It was confirmed that the vessel was operated at high temperature. Stress analysis for the vessel was conducted. And it was confirmed that, in ideal conditions, the vessel would be deformed at around 420 C. The overall results of the investigation showed that the failure of the protected ...
Soil contamination by liquid organic pollutants represents a serious threat to phreatic ground water. These organic liquids get into the ground and migrate through the porous medium until they finally reach the aquifer. After a critical study of the literature, we listed various existing multiple displacements under three-phase conditions of a disconnected polluting phase that may or not spread over water. The aim of this thesis is to model (at pore scale level) and integrate in the pore network model the various flows that occur when three phases (gas, pollutant and air) are present in a porous medium. The porous medium is supposed completely water-wet. The polluting phase may be connected or not, and the spreading coefficient of the pollutant over water may either be positive or negative. The goal of our study is to obtain macroscopic parameters such as relative permeabilities and capillary pressure. These parameters can be then incorporated in a larger-scale ...
A press formability of magnesium alloy sheet cannot be evaluated by only general characteristics in tensile test; tensile strength, elongation n-value and r-value. For example, AZ31-alloy elongates about 20% in room temperature but breaks easily at shallow stage in deep drawing, which is caused by little local elongation (local necking). Crystallographic restriction of slip deformation in this alloy produces high strength, which almost equal to macroscopic fracture strength. In press forming, the bending under high tension requires a large deformability. A great difference in the deformability between AZ31 magnesium alloy and a strain hardened A1100 Aluminum (only 5% in elongation) is shown by static bending test with V-notch. In a rolled plate of AZ31, a crack is produced by stress concentration and propagates with reduced load at all testing temperature up to 453 K. In contrast, the point of notch in A1100 is dulled by local plastic deformation with held load in ...
Neutron radiography has been put to practical use in foreign countries as one of nondestructive inspection technologies, but in Japan, its application to other scientific fields is mainly researched. The reason is, the neutron radiography apparatuses installed in Japan are hard to be industrially utilized for a number of reasons, but also the characteristics of neutron radiography are not clearly established, and it is not standardized. The part from a collimator through an object to a detector is called ``upstream``, the part of an image detector is called ``midstream``, and the part of image processing is called ``downstream``. The nonparallel property of beam, image distortion and the lack of sharpness, beam quality and the interaction of neutron beam with an object are discussed about the upstream. The intensity of neutron beam, the energy spectra, the effective total macroscopic cross section, the effective energy, the evaluation of scattered beam and ...
The detailed formulation for loop quantum cosmology (LQC) in the Bianchi I model with a scalar massless field has been constructed. In this paper, its effective dynamics is studied in two improved strategies for implementing the LQC discreteness corrections. Both schemes show that the big bang is replaced by the big bounces, which take place up to three times, once in each diagonal direction, when the area or volume scale factor approaches the critical values in the Planck regime measured by the reference of the scalar field momentum. These two strategies give different evolutions: In one scheme, the effective dynamics is independent of the choice of the finite sized cell prescribed to make Hamiltonian finite; in the other, the effective dynamics reacts to the macroscopic scales introduced by the boundary conditions. Both schemes reveal interesting symmetries of scaling, which are reminiscent of the relational interpretation of quantum mechanics and also suggest ...
Deformation mechanisms of Mg-Al-Zn (AZ31) alloys were investigated by performing tensile test at room temperature. In fine grain Mg alloys deformed at room temperature, nonbasal slip systems were found to be active as well as basal slip systems because of grain-boundary compatibility effect. Slip-induced grain-boundary sliding occurred as a complementary deformation mechanism to give rise to c-axis component of strain. With increasing grain size, the activation of the nonbasal slip systems was limited near grain boundaries. Instead of grain-boundary sliding, twinning occurred as a complementary deformation mechanism in large grained samples. Orientation analysis of twins indicated that twinning is induced by stress concentration due to the pile up of basal dislocations. The grain-size dependence on deformation mechanism was found to affect yielding behavior both microscopically and macroscopically which can influence various mechanical properties such as fatigue ...
Various phenomenological theories of wave-type heat transport, which can be interpreted as the models of an isotropic rigid heat conductor with an internal vector state variable, have been proposed in the literature with the objective to describe the second sound propagation in dielectric crystals. The aim of this paper is to analyze the relation between these phenomenological approaches and the phonon gas hydrodynamics. The four-moment phonon gas hydrodynamics based on the maximum entropy closure of the moment equations with nonlinear isotropic phonon dispersion relation is considered for this purpose. We reformulate the equations of this hydrodynamics in terms of energy and quasi-momentum as the primitive fields and subsequently demonstrate that, from the macroscopic point of view, they can be understood as describing the reference model of an isotropic rigid heat conductor with quasi-momentum playing the role of the internal vector state variable. This model is ...
From a macroscopic point of view, corrosion of Zn alloy coated steel sheet occurs by the coating preceding corrosion mechanism; microscopically, however, the coated layer corrosion velocity in the tip of corrosion is different. In order to find the main factors of under-film corrosion of Zn and Zn-Fe alloy coatings in the salt water spray atmospheric exposure test, the correlation between point inflation-exfoliation width and chlorine penetration behavior, point adhesion, and the difference in chlorine penetration behavior due to alloy coating components were investigated. Consequently, the following results were obtained: 1. The better correlation was observed between chlorine penetration distance and point inflation-point exfoliation width. 2. The durability of coating against chlorine penetration improved by increase in point adhesion and Zn content in the coating layer. 3. Zn-Fe (10-20%) alloy coating showed better durability against chlorine penetration than ...
A comprehensive attenuation data of dose equivalent for point isotropic monoenergetic neutron sources up to 400MeV in infinite shields of water, ordinary concrete and iron has been calculated using the ANISN-JR code and a neutron-photon multigroup macroscopic cross section HIL086R. The attenuation factors were fitted to a 4th order polynomial exponent formula, making possible to use easily for point kernel codes. Additional data in finite shielding geometry was also calculated to correct the effect due to infinite medium, giving the maximum correction of 0.23 in the region for more 400 cm distance from neutron source of 400 MeV in iron shield. Effective attenuation length for monoenergetic neutrons have been studied in detail. Subsequently, it was shown that the attenuation length was strongly dependent upon the penetration length and the Moyer`s formula using a single attenuation length brought large error into the dose estimation behind thick shields for the ...
The possibility of improving the cold formability of wrought magnesium alloys is considered in light of their good hot forming characteristics. Magnesium alloy AZ31B sheet is selected as a model system. Parameters affecting formability, such as strain hardening rate, strain rate sensitivity, and the degree of anisotropy are examined systematically by conducting tensile tests over a range of temperatures (room temperature to 250 C) and strain rates (1 x 10{sup -5} to 0.1 s{sup -1}). The plastic anisotropy and deformation texture evolution are examined in samples aligned with the sheet rolling and transverse directions. Polycrystal plasticity simulations using a viscoplastic self-consistent (VPSC) formulation are used to model the observed anisotropy and texture evolution. The adjustable parameters in the model are the relative critical resolved shear stresses of the dislocation mechanisms known to operate within magnesium. The experimental results suggest that an increased strain rate ...
To improve the photocatalytic application performances of TiO2, in this work, firstly CdS modified Degussa P25 TiO2 (CdS/TiO2) composites were prepared by two methods, sol-gel method and precipitation method. Next they, sol-gel-CdS/TiO2 (sg-CdS/TiO2) and precipitation-CdS/TiO2 (pp-CdS/TiO2), were loaded on activated carbon fibers (ACFs) by dip-coating method using the sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as adhesives. The composites were characterized by XRD, UV-vis absorbance spectra, SEM, EDS and BET. The photocatalytic activities under sunlight were investigated by the degradation of methylene blue. The results showed that CdS/TiO2 composites were mainly composed of anatase-TiO2 and little CdS cubic phases. The absorption wavelengths of sg-CdS/TiO2 and pp-CdS/TiO2 composites were extended to ...
The durability of ball bearings, 32-mm- and 45-mm-bore, with a retainer or glass cloth-polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) laminate was tested under a high radial load at a speed of 20,000 rpm in LOX or LN2. The retainers were characterized as good self-lubricators because the abrasive glass-cloth fiber tips exposed on the retainer were chemicaly etched away with hydrofluoric acid (HF). During testing, the bearing-cartridge-acceleration was monitored to detect bearing damage. Testing in LOX for about 2.2 hr showed that excellent lubricating conditions were obtained for all bearings. Testing in LN2 for about 5.1 hr detected that the fatigue life of the bearing was about the same as the calculated B10 fatigue life. The HF chemical treatment resulted in a reacted fluoride-oxide material which remained in the etched part of the glass fiber. Several chemical products, particularly MgO, CaO, and CaCO3, enhanced adhesion of PTFE transfer film to the ...
Current bioartificial extra-corporeal systems are bioreactors where cells are separated from the surrounding media by porous polymeric membranes. The present work focuses on the design of membranes that allow the differential diffusion of plasma metabolites and proteins such as immunoglobulin (IgG). This design will improve catabolites removal and reduce possible immune response and virus infection. We demonstrate the feasibility to synthesize the hydrogels confined to the macroporous structure of membranes by radiation-induced in situ polymerization. The hollow-fiber membranes were soaked in aqueous monomeric solution, rinsed and irradiated while submerged in oil. This procedure confined the hydrogel to the void internal volume of the pores of the membrane. Hydrogels of polyacrylamide and polyHEMA were synthesized this way by irradiation at 10 kGy. Hydraulic permeability and diffusion of glucose, albumin and IgG were measured in these hydrogel-filled membranes. ...
There are three main types of radiation-processed composite material derived from plastics and fibrous natural polymers. The first are the monomer-impregnated, radiation-treated wood-plastic composites (WPC). They became a commercial success in the early 1970s. More recently, work has focused on improving the WPCs by creating in them interpenetrating network (IPN) systems by the use of appropriate multifunctional oligomers and monomers. The main kinetic features of radiation-initiated chain polymerization remain applicable even in impregnated wood. The second type are the plastics filled or reinforced with dispersed wood fiber or other cellulosics (WFRP). In their case, radiation processing offers a new opportunity to apply radiation-reactive adhesion promoters between wood or cellulosic fibers and the thermoplastic matrices. The third type are the laminar composites made by electron beam coating of wood-based agglomerate sheets and boards. ...
In future collider experiments, where a background radiation level is estimated to be very high, e.g. around 10"2 #approx# 10"5 Gy/yr and 10"1"1 #approx# 10"1"4 n/cm"2/yr at SSC, the detectors operating around the collision point in the experiments will encounter a considerable amount of radiation. Therefore, the detectors, especially the calorimeter, are required to be resistive against high radiation levels. From this point of view, it is of great importance to study the effects of radiation damage on the performance of the detectors. The authors report preliminary results of measurements of radiation hardness of the plastic scintillating fiber Kuraray SCSF-81 against irradiation with fast neutrons and "6"0Co #gamma#-rays in the region of the neutron fluence from 1 x 10"1"1 to 5 x 10"1"3 n/cm"2 and the integrated #gamma#-ray dose from 890 to 10"5 Gy, respectively. Deterioration of both intrinsic light yield and light transmittance of the SCSF-81 has been studied.
We consider an admissible fibration $\\pi:X\\to\\mathbb{P}^1$ over a curve over a number field, of which the generic fiber $X_\\eta$ is geometrically rationally connected. We suppose that there exists a generalized Hilbertian subset $\\textsf{Hil}$ of $\\mathbb{P}^1$, such that the Brauer-Manin obstruction is the only obstruction to the Hasse principle (resp. to the weak approximation) for $X_\\theta(\\theta\\in \\textsf{Hil}).$ We prove that the Brauer-Manin obstruction is the only obstruction to the Hasse principle (resp. to the strong approximation) for zero-cycles of degree 1 on $X$ in the following cases: $(B_1)$ the index of the generic fibre $X_\\eta$ is equal to 1; $(B_2)$ all fibers are geometrically integral. Then, we obtain some similar results for certain fibrations over $\\mathbb{P}^n$. As a consequence, we obtain the following result: let $X$ be a smooth projective geometrically rationally connected variety over a number field ...
In this article we describe an optoelectronic sensor for assessing the level of light petrochemical products in technological tanks at the oil refineries. This sensor employs the multi-element vertical array of discrete micro- optical refractometric transducers. The transducers are made of silica glass and have the conical shape. In the air, each transducer operates as a tiny retro-reflector that optically couple together two multimode optical fibers. The optical coupling in the transducer is due to the internal reflection at the conical surface. The amount of the coupling depends on the refractive index of the surrounding media. In a fluid, the total internal reflection vanishes and the coupling becomes negligibly small. The number of immersed transducers is a measure of the fluid level in the reservoir. Because of the significance of the transducer transmission function, it is evaluated in detail under various combinations of the geometrical parameters of the ...
Newly commercialized Fourier transform Raman spectroscopic instrumentation provides a simpler alternative for vibrational spectroscopic analysis. Instrument vendors currently design for laboratory use, but there are many potential process applications of these stable, easy to use instruments. Raman spectroscopy is highly suited to analysis of aqueous samples. Near infrared excitation minimized fluorescence interference and allows for remote operation via fiber optic probes. The Department of Energy has funded research at the Measurement and Control Center to establish the utility of this method for on-line composition analysis in distillation columns. Laboratory evaluation and instrument employs an air-cooled laser and a thermoelectrically cooled detector. The device is mounted on a three by foot cart for convenient location in control rooms. Current fiber optic extension cables allow for analysis in a cell thirty five meters from the ...
Kevlar 49/epoxy laminates often exhibit substantial material nonlinearity when subjected to bending. This is a consequence of the yeild-like behavior of a Kevlar 49/epoxy lamina in fiber-directed compression. In this paper, analyses that utilize a simple idealization of compressive yielding are described and calculated results for Kevlar 49 reinforced beams and rings are compared with available data. First, results of a finite element analysis of a thin, unidirectionally reinforced ring subjected to diametral compression are presented. This analysis uses beam elements that incorporate linear tensile and elastic-perfectly plastic compressive behavior. Then a method used to analyze quasi-isotropic beams tested in four-point bending is discussed. This finite element analysis uses a layered shell element with a lamina constitutive model that permits elastic-perfectly plastic response to fiber-directed compression, but otherwise assumes linear ...
A 19.1 metre wind turbine blade was subjected to static tests. The purpose of the test series was to verify the abilities of different types of sensors to detect damage in wind turbine blades. Prior to each of the static test-series an artificial damage was made on the blade. The damage made for each test-series was surveyed during each series by acoustic emission, fiber optic micro bend displacement transducers and strain gauges. The propagation of the damage was determined by use of ultra sonic and X-ray surveillance during stops in the test series. By use of acoustic emission it was possible to measure damage propagation before the propagation was of visible size. By use of fiber optic micro bend displacement transducers and strain gauges it was possible to measure minor damage propagation. By use of both ultra sonic, and X-ray NDT-equipment it were possible to determine the size of propagated damage. (au)
Electrospun nanofibers composed of biodegradable polymers are attractive candidates for cell culture scaffolds in tissue engineering. Their fine-meshed structures, resembling natural extracellular matrices, effectively interact with cell surfaces and promote cell proliferation. The application of electrospinning, however, is limited to two-dimensional (2D) or single tube-like scaffolds, and the fabrication of arbitrary three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds from electrospun nanofibers is still very difficult due to the fibers' continuous and entangled form. To address this issue, in this paper, we describe the use of phase-separation-assisted electrospray and electrostatic focusing to perform continuous direct 3D patterning of nanofibrous microcapsules of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA). These microcapsules exhibit fiber-particle duality because they are composed of nanofibers suitable for cell attachment while also being easy to handle as ...
The major objective of this work is to seek for new solutions that can lead to significant lifetime improvement of submerse lines which experience severe wear processes on the polymeric layer coating used for protection of the touch down point (TDP) region. Four different materials were selected as possible candidates for the coating layer of this critical region. They are commercially available and posses well known processing technologies. The materials are two polymers: nylon 66 and polyacetal; and two composites: nylon 66 reinforced with 13 or 33% glass fiber. Stress-strain behavior was evaluated using two deformation rates in order to characterize the viscoelastic behavior proper of polymeric materials. It was observed that increasing the amount of glass fiber in the matrix leads to a stronger material and a consequent decrease of elongation to break. Additionally, abrasion tests were carried out using a Taber equipment in three distinct ...
This invention relates to the production method of composite electrode substrate for fuel cell. An impermeable material is used for edge sealant. The sealant is put in the clearance between two electrodes consisting of porous carbon material via thermoplastic resin sheet, and heated while being pressed. This production method increases the adherence between the porous carbon bodies and reduces the contact resistivity at the joint interface. Consequently, it becomes possible to produce the composite electrode for fuel cell without separator, resulting in simplification of assembly work, weight reduction, and downsizing. The preferable porous carbon body is made from shrinkage-treated fiber. After sheet forming, the thermosetting resin is impregnated, and then it is burnt to carbonization. Or mixed sheet of rayon and acrylic fiber is laminated to be heated and pressed without impregnating the resin. The pressed resin is then burnt to ...
The purpose of the trip was to visit Nobel Chemicals in Sweden and to confer with the Department of Transportation personnel in Sweden and in England on the technical and regulatory problems in the bulk shipping of the high explosives RDX and HMX. It is customary in the United States (US) to add isopropyl alcohol to the bulk shipment of water-wet high explosives RDX and HMX. The explosives are packed in cloth bags which are placed in plastic-lined fiber drums. The addition of alcohol presumably prevents mildewing of cloth bags and freezing of the wet explosives in cold weather. In Europe, however, these explosives are shipped in polyethylene-lined fiber drums with not less than 15% water only, even in cold weather. Water-wet frozen explosives have not proved to be any more sensitive than its unfrozen counterpart and no mildew problem has been encountered. It looks promising that the US Department of Transportation regulations can be changed to ...
The thesis describes work undertaken as part of a larger remote sensing based project which aims to detect, measure and monitor coal fires in two test areas in northern China. The first main topic addressed in this thesis is the detection of fires using several different thermal remote sensing data sets. The synergistic use of the different data sets is emphasised. The second major part of the thesis deals with thermal modelling of the coal fires. Three different models are developed, which allow a fire's depth, temperature, extent, total heat output and rate of movement to be determined. The models are tested both in the laboratory and using various field data sets. A model based on the assumption that the fire is a point heat source and that the temperature distribution around it is spherically symmetrical is shown to be the most effective. A simpler, one-dimensional coal fire model and a model based on the finite element method are ...
Human beings are confronted with another grievous disaster - coal fire. The monitoring on underground coal bed combustion relied on drilling supervising in the past, but this method is not good. By taking the coal fire of Gulaben mine in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region as an example, the monitoring methods of underground coal bed combustion were explored based on the hyperspectra and high-resolution remote sensing technology. By employing the OMIS imaging apparatus developed by Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the airborne hyperspectral images and the characteristic spectra of different types were obtained and the temperature was measured synchronously on the ground. Then according to the correlation of DN value of the thermal infrared band and surface temperature, the image information was processed, the spectral features were analyzed, and the surface temperature retrieval model was built. Finally, by hyperspectral imagery ...
One of the most challenging problems in Opportunistic Spectrum Access (OSA) is to design channel sensing-based protocol in multi secondary users (SUs) network. Quality of Service (QoS) requirements for SUs have significant implications on this protocol design. In this paper, we propose a new method to find joint policies for SUs which not only guarantees QoS requirements but also maximizes network throughput. We use Decentralized Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (Dec-POMDP) to formulate interactions between SUs. Meanwhile, a tractable approach for Dec-POMDP is utilized to extract sub-optimum joint policies for large horizons. Among these policies, the joint policy which guarantees QoS requirements is selected as the joint sensing strategy for SUs. To show the efficiency of the proposed method, we consider two SUs trying to access two-channel primary users (PUs) network modeled by discrete Markov chains. Simulations demonstrate three ...
A portable X-ray image system is described comprising: (a) a base assembly including panels and hinges joining the panels together along edges, and compression stops for biasing the hinges to compensate for the weight of payload when mounted on the base assembly, the compression stops being located for interaction with the hinges for biasing the panels to exhibit upward bowing when laid upon a flat surface prior to loading, and to provide resiliency for facilitating the base assembly assuming a substantially flat configuration when a predetermined payload is placed upon the base assembly; (b) an X-ray member; (c) apparatus for detachably mounting a table member to the base assembly to hold the table member at a location above the base; (d) an X-ray source; (e) means for sensing X-rays to form an image; (f) means for mounting the X-ray source and the X-ray sensing means on opposite sides relative to the table member and supported by the base ...
It is shown that the physical interpretation of Elie Cartan three-dimensional space torsion as couple asymmetric stress, has the effect of damping, previously Riemannian unstable Couette planar shear flow, leading to stability of the flow in the Lagrangean sense. Actually, since the flow speed is inversely proportional to torsion, it has the effect of causing a damping in the planar flow atenuating the instability effect. In this sense we may say that Cartan torsion induces shear viscous asymmetric stresses in the fluid, which are able to damp the instability of the flow. The stability of the flow is computed from the sectional curvature in non-Riemannian three-dimensional manifold. Marginal stability is asssumed by making the sectional non-Riemannian curvature zero, which allows us to determine the speeds of flows able to induce this stability. The ideas discussed here show that torsion plays the geometrical role of magnetic field in ...
Herein, we fabricated MWCNT-OH adsorbed electrospun nylon 6,6 nanofibers by electrospinning and dip coating method. The amount of MWCNT-OH adsorbed to the pure electrospun nylon 6,6 nanofibers was 0.056wt%. The electrical conductivity of MWCNT-OH adsorbed electrospun nylon 6,6 nanofibers was 5.24x10^-^3Scm^-^1. We also investigated the sensing properties of MWCNT-OH adsorbed electrospun nylon 6,6 nanofibers by measuring its response upon exposure to low molecular weight alcohol vapours such as methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, and 1-butanol. The changes of the electrical resistance of MWCNT-OH adsorbed electrospun nylon 6,6 nanofibers were demonstrated on the basis of hydrogen bonds among the alcohol vapours and hydroxyl groups (-OH) on MWCNT-OH, and amide groups (-NHCO-) in nylon 6,6. The fa...
This year's Information Technology Resources Assessment (ITRA) is something of a departure from traditional practice. Past assessments have concentrated on developments in fundamental technology, particularly with respect to hardware. They form an impressive chronicle of decreasing cycle times, increasing densities, decreasing costs (or, equivalently, increasing capacity and capability per dollar spent), and new system architectures, with a leavening of operating systems and languages. Past assessments have aimed -- and succeeded -- at putting information technology squarely in the spotlight; by contrast, in the first part of this assessment, we would like to move it to the background, and encourage the reader to reflect less on the continuing technological miracles of miniaturization in space and time and more on the second- and third-order implications of some possible workplace applications of these miracles. This Information Technology Resources Assessment is intended to ...
This year`s Information Technology Resources Assessment (ITRA) is something of a departure from traditional practice. Past assessments have concentrated on developments in fundamental technology, particularly with respect to hardware. They form an impressive chronicle of decreasing cycle times, increasing densities, decreasing costs (or, equivalently, increasing capacity and capability per dollar spent), and new system architectures, with a leavening of operating systems and languages. Past assessments have aimed -- and succeeded -- at putting information technology squarely in the spotlight; by contrast, in the first part of this assessment, we would like to move it to the background, and encourage the reader to reflect less on the continuing technological miracles of miniaturization in space and time and more on the second- and third-order implications of some possible workplace applications of these miracles. This Information Technology Resources Assessment is intended to provide a ...
Size-selected SnO{sub 1.8}:Ag mixed nanoparticle films have been prepared using a gas phase condensation method. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the applied size-selection technique yields well-defined, monodisperse and spherical SnO{sub 1.8} and Ag nanoparticles, both with a fixed diameter of 20 nm. The technique allows an independent variation of the particle size of both materials as well as the concentration of Ag. It allows to assess the influence of these parameters on the gas-sensing properties of the films, here for ethanol vapor in synthetic air. SnO{sub 1.8}:Ag nanoparticle films show optimal values of the sensor signal and response time at a Ag nanoparticle concentration of 5%. Due to the fact that the Ag nanoparticles are clearly distinct from the SnO{sub 1.8} nanoparticles in the film, the most probable mechanism leading to improved sensor properties is chemical sensitization via a spill-over effect.
APEX (ATLAS Positron EXperiment), a collaborative effort of ANL, FSU, MSU/NSCL, Princeton, Queen`s, Rochester, Washington and Yale, is an experiment to study positron and electron production in very heavy ion collisions. The electrons and positrons are detected with two detector arrays, each consisting of 216 1 mm thick Si PIN diodes, and their energy and time-of-flight are measured. The number of detectors and limited space made it necessary to develop a system that could efficiently process and transfer signals from the detectors to the charge sensing ADC`s and data readout electronics as well as monitor the condition of the detectors. The discussion will cover the electronics designed for the Si detectors, including the charge amplifier, ``Mother board`` for the charge amplifiers, 8 channel Shaper, 16 channel Constant Fraction Discriminator (CFD), 16 channel Peak-to-FERA (PTF) and the integration of the CFD and PTF with Charge sensing ADC`s. ...
The Convective and Orographically-induced Precipitation Study (COPS) has the aim to advance the quality of forecasts of orographically-induced precipitation in complex terrain. COPS is a Research and Development Project of the World Weather Research Program and considered to be one of the largest field campaigns on quantitative precipitation forecasting that has been performed so far. A network of state-of-the-art active and passive remote sensing systems was combined with in total 10 airborne platforms, Meteosat rapid scans and dense networks of standard meteorological instruments during the three months long field phase (June-August, 2007) in south-western Germany/eastern France to observe atmospheric variables in the three spatial dimensions and in time. By the University of Hohenheim, two novel ground-based mobile scanning lidar systems were deployed: a scanning rotational Raman lidar which provides combined measurements of the field of atmospheric temperature ...
Because of its high price, the extra virgin olive oil is frequently target for adulteration with lower quality oils. This paper presents an innovative optical technique capable of quantifying the adulteration of extra virgin olive oil caused by lowergrade olive oils. It relies on spectral fingerprinting the test liquid by means of diffuse-light absorption spectroscopy carried out by optical fiber technology in the wide 400-1700 nm spectral range. Then, a smart multivariate processing of spectroscopic data is applied for immediate prediction of adulterant concentration.
The Electromagnetic Calorimeter (ECAL) of the AMS-02 experiment is a lead-scintillating fibers sampling calorimeter characterized by high granularity that allows to image the longitudinal and lateral showers development, a key issue to provide high electron/hadron discrimination. The light collection system and the FE electronics are designed to let the calorimeter operate over a wide energy range from few GeV up to 1 TeV. A full-scale prototype of the e.m. calorimeter was tested at CERN in October 2001 using electrons and pions beams with energy ranging from 3 to 100 GeV. Effective sampling thickness, linearity and energy resolution were measured. (8 refs).
One of the greatest opportunities for using of biomass as a precursor in the production of polymeric materials is the lignocellulose composites that can combine high performance with low costs. This work is a initial study on the production of a lignocellulose reinforced polyethylene composite. A compatibilization made by a induced gamma radiation grafting reaction was used to increase the adhesion between the matrix and the reinforced or filled fibers. The lignocellulose materials were exposed to gamma radiation in order to promote a molecular degradation and increase its reactivity. The polymer, the lignocellulose material and the compatibilization were processed by extrusion and the composite produced by this process were characterized by mechanical tests. (author)
A hysteretic subcritical period-doubling bifurcation is observed in the nonlinear strain dynamics of a magnetostrictive oscillator. The dynamic strain response of the magnetostrictive oscillator was observed with a high-resolution fiber optic interferometer. The effects of low-frequency modulation and band-limited stochastic fluctuations on such a bifurcation are investigated. Power spectral density measurements show that for an optimal value of externally injected noise the signal-to-noise ratio of a low-frequency modulation signal is enhanced by greater than 14 dB, thus indicating the first experimental observation of stochastic resonance near a bistable period-doubling bifurcation. 10 refs., 7 figs.
This dissertation deals with membrane gas absorption in the application of CO{sub 2} removal by aqueous alkanolamines, using microporous PTFE hollow fiber membranes. A new lab-scale apparatus was constructed and an extensive experimental study executed to determine the performance of the membrane gas absorber, with aqueous solutions of monoethanolamine (MEA) and methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) as absorbents. The important operation parameters CO{sub 2} partial pressure, gas velocity, liquid velocity, temperature and liquid CO{sub 2} loading were systematically varied within the range typically experienced in a process for exhaust gas CO{sub 2}-removal
This paper presents the description of methodological procedure specially developed for manufacturing mini turbines. This procedure is used in the design of a Francis type mini turbine with 12.5 kW. The housing volute and the suction tube of this equipment are manufactured with using composed material based on glass fiber and its distributor system is manufactured with stainless steel and brass. At the end it is presented an estimate cost of design / manufacturing of such equipment and a comparison with other equipment in the market.
Energy savings in the synthetic fiber industry could be realized by using autoclave reactor condensate and boiler flue gas heat recovery. The non-cellulose (polyester) production process analysis shows that condensate returning from the reactor to the steam boiler raises inlet temperature, giving a reduced fuel requirement of about 8%. Also, boiler flue gas with a sufficiently high outlet temperature for boiler feed water and combustion air preheating results in further fuel savings. The process with an economizer saves up to 8.44%, and with a combustion air preheater, 6.25%. (Author)
We explore autofluorescence endomicroscopy as a potential tool for real-time visualization of epithelial tissue microstructure and organization in a clinical setting. The design parameters are explored using two experimental systems--an Olympus Medical Systems Corp. stand-alone clinical prototype probe, and a custom built bench-top rigid fiber conduit prototype. Both systems entail ultraviolet excitation at 266 nm and/or 325 nm using compact laser sources. Preliminary results using ex vivo animal and human tissue specimens suggest that this technology can be translated toward in vivo application to address the need for real-time histology.
...it only highlights the different feedstocks used in the production of fiber-based packaging materials or fossil-fuel ones; what about the energy required to convert ...feedstock, is unacceptable in trying to quantify the overall burden a specific packaging material has on the environment. As an aside, the point ... Consequentially, it is difficult to speculate on how much packaging material a company diverts from the landfill by switching from one material to another ...without specifying what geographical region said packaging material resides in. In addition, there is a lot of interest in diverting PET thermoforms from ...
Taconite tailings and their component asbestiform minerals in Lake Superior water had no demonstrable effect on the chronic toxicity of cadmium to the flagfish, Jordanella floridae. Maximum acceptable toxicant concentrations determined in life cycle tests, where effects on survival, growth, reproduction, and bioconcentration were used as endpoints, were between 3.3 to 7.4, 3.0 to 6.5, and 3.4 to 7.3 micrograms cadmium/liter at 0.004, 0.08, and 0.95 mg/liter taconite tailings concentrations, respectively.
The report traces the documented incidences of brittle fracture in composite suspension insulators for use on high voltage transmission lines, and presents the subsequent investigations. It describes the part played by electrical activity, stress corrosion and humidity, and compares similar failures that have taken place in electric traction insulators. It then goes on to review related work on the humidity effects, stress corrosion, fatigue and partial discharges in glass fiber reinforced plastics in general. The final section summarizes the present understanding of the problem and the various measures taken by different manufactures to avoid it in the future. The need for acceptance criteria in this respect is outlined.
This work contains 27 chapters which cover recent advances in fracture mechanics applied to cement-based composites: concrete, reinforced concrete, and fiber reinforced concrete. The book, based on a NATO Advanced Study Institute, is a comprehensive survey of treating nonlinearity associated with crack growth in brittle materials such as cement composites, rocks and ice. The book is divided into 8 major themes: advances in nonlinear fracture mechanics; fracture processes; numerical modelling of fracture; experimental methods of determining fracture parameters; damage and continuum modelling; strain-rate and dynamic effects of crack propagation; stress-corrosion, time and temperature effects on fracture; and implications for concrete structures.
A 3"1/_2-year-old child developed unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis after chest drain insertion. Plain chest X-ray demonstrated paravertebral positioning of the chest-tube tip, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed hematomas in the region of the chest-tube tip and the phrenic nerve fibers. The trauma to the phrenic nerve was apparently secondary to malposition of the chest tube. This is a rare complication and has been reported mainly in neonates. Radiologists should notify the treating physicians that the correct position of a chest drain tip is at least 2 cm distant from the vertebrae. (orig.)
...htmE-Mail: Interests: geodesy; GPS/GNSS technology and applications; navigation; precise positioning algorithms; continuously operating GPS/GNSS reference station infrastructure Published Papers Click here to see a list of 3 papers that have been published in this special issue. Special Issue Information Submission Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. Papers will be published continuously (as soon as ...
Sustainability of irrigated agriculture in arid and semi arid lands depends, mainly on the level of soil salinity and the quality of irrigation water. Remotely sensed data can provide information about the extent of vegetated irrigated areas. Al-Hassa oasis, Saudi Arabia is probably the largest oasis in the world depends mostly on tapped ground water to irrigate mainly date palm groves for its economic survival. This study tried to investigate the extent of soil salinity and the quality of irrigation water and the relationship with vegetation growth, employing NDVI derived from Landsat satellite imagery.