Statistical shape and appearance models of bones.

Science.gov (United States)

Sarkalkan, Nazli; Weinans, Harrie; Zadpoor, Amir A

2014-03-01

When applied to bones, statistical shape models (SSM) and statistical appearance models (SAM) respectively describe the mean shape and mean density distribution of bones within a certain population as well as the main modes of variations of shape and density distribution from their mean values. The availability of this quantitative information regarding the detailed anatomy of bones provides new opportunities for diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of skeletal diseases. The potential of SSM and SAM has been recently recognized within the bone research community. For example, these models have been applied for studying the effects of bone shape on the etiology of osteoarthritis, improving the accuracy of clinical osteoporotic fracture prediction techniques, design of orthopedic implants, and surgery planning. This paper reviews the main concepts, methods, and applications of SSM and SAM as applied to bone. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Core losses of ring-shaped (Fe{sub 0.75}B{sub 0.20}Si{sub 0.05}){sub 96}Nb{sub 4} bulk metallic glasses

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Bitoh, T; Ishikawa, T; Okumura, H, E-mail: teruo_bitoh@akita-pu.ac.jp [Department of Machine Intelligence and Systems Engineering, Faculty of Systems Science and Technology, Akita Prefectural University, Yurihonjo, 015-0055 (Japan)

2011-01-01

The soft magnetic properties of ring-shaped (Fe{sub 0.75}B{sub 0.20}Si{sub 0.05}){sub 96}Nb{sub 4} cast bulk metallic glass (BMG) with thickness of 0.3-1.0 mm have been investigated. The BMG specimens exhibit high relative permeability of (9-29)x10{sup 3} at 0.40 A/m and 50 Hz and low coercivity of 4.0 A/m. The core losses of the 0.3 mm thick BMG specimen are lower than those of commercial Fe-6.5 mass% Si steel (6.5Si) with the same thickness, and are comparable to those of the 0.10 mm thick 6.5Si. The low core losses of the BMG originate from the low coercivity and high electrical resistivity.

Deposition of fan-shaped ZnMoO{sub 4} on ZnCo{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanowire arrays for high electrochemical performance

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Fan, Zihao; Zhang, Xiaojun [Anhui Normal University, Key Laboratory for Functional Molecular Solids of the Education Ministry of China, Center for Nano Science and Technology, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Wuhu (China)

2017-04-15

In this research, fan-shaped ZnMoO{sub 4} is deposited on flower-like ZnCo{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanowire arrays by two-step hydrothermal method. ZnCo{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanowire is synthesized first and used as the backbone to support ZnMoO{sub 4}. The flower-like ZnCo{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanowire arrays are fully overspread by ZnMoO{sub 4}. And this unique structure shows a high capacitance of 1506 F g{sup -1} when used as electrode for supercapacitor at a current density of 1 A g{sup -1} and a good cycling ability (5000 cycles). (orig.)

Hierarchical Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}@OPC composites with octahedral shape for rechargeable nonaqueous lithium-oxygen batteries

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Gan, Yongqing; Lai, Yanqing; Zhang, Zhian, E-mail: zhangzhian@csu.edu.cn; Chen, Wei; Du, Ke; Li, Jie

2016-04-25

The development of catalyst materials is the most significant issue that hinders the practical applications of Li-O{sub 2} batteries. Herein we show the design and synthesis of the hierarchical chromic oxide-octahedral porous carbon (Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}@OPC) composites catalyst with octahedral shape that derived from Cr-based metal-organic frameworks (MIL-101(Cr)) precursor. When applied as cathode catalysts in rechargeable Li-O{sub 2} batteries, the electrode with Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}@OPC composites catalyst exhibits a low charge and discharge over-potential, high discharge capacity and excellent cycling stability. What's more, the electrode with Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}@OPC composite shows a discharge capacity up to ∼4800 mAh g{sub (catalyst} {sub +} {sub carbon)}{sup −1} at a current density of 0.1 mA cm{sup −2}, and exhibits a very stable discharge voltage plateau of 2.7 V and a charge voltage plateau of ∼3.9 V. With the addition of Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}@OPC composite, the Li-O{sub 2} batteries can obtain good cycle performance over 50 cycles at a fixed capacity of 800 mAh g{sub (catalyst} {sub +} {sub carbon)}{sup −1}. These results indicating that the Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}@OPC composite derived from MIL-101(Cr) would be a promising catalyst for Li-O{sub 2} batteries. - Highlights: • The Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}@C composites were prepared by the pyrolysis of Cr-MIL-101. • The Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}@C composites possess octahedral shape consisted of Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}@C nanoparticle. • The Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}@C composites have mesoporous structure with large specific area. • The Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}@C composites have an excellent intrinsic electrocatalytic activity. • The Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}@C electrode exhibits great cycling performance.

Modeling the variability of shapes of a human placenta.

Science.gov (United States)

Yampolsky, M; Salafia, C M; Shlakhter, O; Haas, D; Eucker, B; Thorp, J

2008-09-01

Placentas are generally round/oval in shape, but "irregular" shapes are common. In the Collaborative Perinatal Project data, irregular shapes were associated with lower birth weight for placental weight, suggesting variably shaped placentas have altered function. (I) Using a 3D one-parameter model of placental vascular growth based on Diffusion Limited Aggregation (an accepted model for generating highly branched fractals), models were run with a branching density growth parameter either fixed or perturbed at either 5-7% or 50% of model growth. (II) In a data set with detailed measures of 1207 placental perimeters, radial standard deviations of placental shapes were calculated from the umbilical cord insertion, and from the centroid of the shape (a biologically arbitrary point). These two were compared to the difference between the observed scaling exponent and the Kleiber scaling exponent (0.75), considered optimal for vascular fractal transport systems. Spearman's rank correlation considered pcentroid) was associated with differences from the Kleiber exponent (p=0.006). A dynamical DLA model recapitulates multilobate and "star" placental shapes via changing fractal branching density. We suggest that (1) irregular placental outlines reflect deformation of the underlying placental fractal vascular network, (2) such irregularities in placental outline indicate sub-optimal branching structure of the vascular tree, and (3) this accounts for the lower birth weight observed in non-round/oval placentas in the Collaborative Perinatal Project.

Study on Digital Pulse Shape Discrimination System in BF{sub 3} Detector

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kim, Jinhyeong; Kim, J. H.; Choi, H. D. [Seoul National Univ., Seoul (Korea, Republic of)

2013-10-15

In this study, we develop the digital PSD system and discriminate the background signal of BF{sub 3}. Spectrum shapes are different according to the t{sub start} setting method, and it is favorable to set it as the certain ratio of maximum height. In future, it will be performed to vary t{sub start} point to optimize the pulse discrimination. To quantify the performance, Figure Of Merit (FOM) will be determined. For the nuclear non-proliferation and safeguards, an accurate and reliable measurement of nuclear material is essential. The nuclear material emits neutron and γ-ray, simultaneously. For the accurate detection of the nuclear material, neutron should be discriminated from γ-ray or background radiation. In previous study, N. S. Jung developed pulse shape analysis method based on NIM and CAMAC system. However, applications of other discrimination methods based on different detection modules or changing parameters are time-and-money consuming procedures in analogue systems. Today, the performance of digitizers is improved and it replaces some radiation measurement systems which require simple and portable equipment. Digital Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) method by using a digital oscilloscope is developed and applied to a neutron detection system by using BF{sub 3} detector in this study.

Rhodium Catalysts in the Oxidation of CO by O<sub>2sub> and NO: Shape, Composition, and Hot Electron Generation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Renzas, James R. [Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)

2010-03-08

It is well known that the activity, selectivity, and deactivation behavior of heterogeneous catalysts are strongly affected by a wide variety of parameters, including but not limited to nanoparticle size, shape, composition, support, pretreatment conditions, oxidation state, and electronic state. Enormous effort has been expended in an attempt to understand the role of these factors on catalytic behavior, but much still remains to be discovered. In this work, we have focused on deepening the present understanding of the role of nanoparticle shape, nanoparticle composition, and hot electrons on heterogeneous catalysis in the oxidation of carbon monoxide by molecular oxygen and nitric oxide. These reactions were chosen because they are important for environmental applications, such as in the catalytic converter, and because there is a wide range of experimental and theoretical insight from previous single crystal work as well as experimental data on nanoparticles obtained using new state-of-the-art techniques that aid greatly in the interpretation of results on complex nanoparticle systems. In particular, the studies presented in this work involve three types of samples: ~ 6.5 nm Rh nanoparticles of different shapes, ~ 15 nm Rh<sub>1-xsub>Pd<sub>x> core-shell bimetallic polyhedra nanoparticles, and Rh ultra-thin film (~ 5 nm) catalytic nanodiodes. The colloidal nanoparticle samples were synthesized using a co-reduction of metal salts in alcohol and supported on silicon wafers using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. This synthetic strategy enables tremendous control of nanoparticle size, shape, and composition. Nanoparticle shape was controlled through the use of different organic polymer capping layers. Bimetallic core-shell nanoparticles were synthesized by careful choice of metal salt precursors. Rh/TiO_{x> and Rh/GaN catalytic nanodiodes were fabricated using a variety of thin film device fabrication techniques, including reactive DC magnetron}

Effects of C{sub 60} nanoparticle exposure on earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus) and implications for population dynamics

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ploeg, M.J.C. van der, E-mail: merel.vanderploeg@wur.n [Alterra, Wageningen UR, Droevendaalssesteeg 3, 6700 AA, Wageningen (Netherlands); Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University, Tuinlaan 5, 6703 HE, Wageningen (Netherlands); Baveco, J.M.; Hout, A. van der [Alterra, Wageningen UR, Droevendaalssesteeg 3, 6700 AA, Wageningen (Netherlands); Bakker, R. [RIKILT, Wageningen UR, Akkermaalsbos 2, 6708 WB, Wageningen (Netherlands); Rietjens, I.M.C.M. [Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University, Tuinlaan 5, 6703 HE, Wageningen (Netherlands); Brink, N.W. van den [Alterra, Wageningen UR, Droevendaalssesteeg 3, 6700 AA, Wageningen (Netherlands)

2011-01-15

Effects of C{sub 60} nanoparticles (nominal concentrations 0, 15.4 and 154 mg/kg soil) on mortality, growth and reproduction of Lumbricus rubellus earthworms were assessed. C{sub 60} exposure had a significant effect on cocoon production, juvenile growth rate and mortality. These endpoints were used to model effects on the population level. This demonstrated reduced population growth rate with increasing C{sub 60} concentrations. Furthermore, a shift in stage structure was shown for C{sub 60} exposed populations, i.e. a larger proportion of juveniles. This result implies that the lower juvenile growth rate due to exposure to C{sub 60} resulted in a larger proportion of juveniles, despite increased mortality among juveniles. Overall, this study indicates that C{sub 60} exposure may seriously affect earthworm populations. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that juveniles were more sensitive to C{sub 60} exposure than adults. - C{sub 60} nanoparticle exposure can affect Lumbricus rubellus populations.

Co-{alpha}Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-Cu as shaped catalyst in NaBH{sub 4} hydrolysis

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Chamoun, R. [Universite Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5615, Laboratoire des Multimateriaux et Interfaces, 43 boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, F-69622 Villeurbanne (France); Universite Libanaise, Faculte des Sciences II, Laboratoire de physique appliquee, 90656 Jdeidet El Metn (Lebanon); Demirci, U.B.; Miele, P. [Universite Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5615, Laboratoire des Multimateriaux et Interfaces, 43 boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, F-69622 Villeurbanne (France); Zaatar, Y.; Khoury, A. [Universite Libanaise, Faculte des Sciences II, Laboratoire de physique appliquee, 90656 Jdeidet El Metn (Lebanon)

2010-07-15

A study about catalytic films of Co-supported-over-{alpha}Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} fabricated by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is reported, the as-prepared shaped catalysts being intended to catalyze NaBH{sub 4} hydrolysis. Co-{alpha}Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} supported over Cu substrate can be prepared by a 2-step route: (i) preparation of the supported catalyst Co-{alpha}Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} (in powder form) by wet impregnation of CoCl{sub 2} over {alpha}Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, followed by a reduction, and (ii) fabrication of Co-{alpha}Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-Cu (thin film over Cu) by EPD. Both types of catalysts, whatever their form, are highly efficient in hydrolyzing NaBH{sub 4}, conversions of 100% and HGRs of tens of mL(H{sub 2}) min{sup -1} being achieved at 60-80 C. The Co-{alpha}Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-Cu catalysts are even more reactive than the Co-{alpha}Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalysts because the surface of the former materials becomes much more acid than that of the latter ones in the course of the EPD process. The respective rate laws and reaction kinetics have been determined. Independently on the catalyst form, apparent activation energies of about 52 kJ mol{sup -1} and positive reaction orders versus the initial NaBH{sub 4} concentration (i.e. 0.3-0.7) were calculated, suggesting that the EPD does not affect the reaction mechanisms. Besides, it is showed that the hydrolysis is really catalytic as well as typical of a heterogeneous process. For example, an apparent reaction order versus the Co content of 0.9 was calculated. All of these results among others are reported and discussed in the present article. (author)

Identification of geographically distributed sub-populations of Leishmania (Leishmania major by microsatellite analysis

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Schwenkenbecher Jan

2008-06-01

Full Text Available Abstract Background Leishmania (Leishmania major, one of the agents causing cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL in humans, is widely distributed in the Old World where different species of wild rodent and phlebotomine sand fly serve as animal reservoir hosts and vectors, respectively. Despite this, strains of L. (L. major isolated from many different sources over many years have proved to be relatively uniform. To investigate the population structure of the species highly polymorphic microsatellite markers were employed for greater discrimination among it's otherwise closely related strains, an approach applied successfully to other species of Leishmania. Results Multilocus Microsatellite Typing (MLMT based on 10 different microsatellite markers was applied to 106 strains of L. (L. major from different regions where it is endemic. On applying a Bayesian model-based approach, three main populations were identified, corresponding to three separate geographical regions: Central Asia (CA; the Middle East (ME; and Africa (AF. This was congruent with phylogenetic reconstructions based on genetic distances. Re-analysis separated each of the populations into two sub-populations. The two African sub-populations did not correlate well with strains' geographical origin. Strains falling into the sub-populations CA and ME did mostly group according to their place of isolation although some anomalies were seen, probably, owing to human migration. Conclusion The model- and distance-based analyses of the microsatellite data exposed three main populations of L. (L. major, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa, each of which separated into two sub-populations. This probably correlates with the different species of rodent host.

Synthesis of spindle-shaped AgI/TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic performance

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Yang, Liu; Gao, Minggang; Dai, Bin; Guo, Xuhong; Liu, Zhiyong; Peng, Banghua, E-mail: banghuapeng@hotmail.com

2016-11-15

Highlights: • Nanoporous spindle-shaped AgI/TiO{sub 2} was synthesized by the solvothermal approach. • The spindle-shaped TiO{sub 2} was an excellent support for loading nanoparticles, such as AgI, transferring electrons quickly from AgI, which is beneficial for stabilizing the AgI. • AgI/TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles showed enhanced absorption intensity in the visible region and exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity. - Abstract: A novel synthetic route has been developed to prepare silver iodide (AgI) loaded spindle-shaped TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles (NPs). The morphology and crystallinity characterization revealed that small AgI NPs, with an average diameter of 15 nm were dispersed on the surface and interior of nanoporous anatase TiO{sub 2} support. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to identify the nanoporous structure of TiO{sub 2} and the existence of AgI NPs. Diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) showed that AgI/TiO{sub 2} composite exhibited a remarkable enhancement of visible light absorption, which is ascribed to the addition of AgI. For illustrating the superior property of this hybrid as photocatalyst, the degradation experiments were carried out for processing rhodamine B (RhB) solution under visible light irradiation and it was found that the photocatalytic activity was dramatically improved for AgI/TiO{sub 2} compared with nanoporous TiO{sub 2} and commercial P25 TiO{sub 2}. The enhanced photocatalytic properties could be attributed to the large surface area of porous TiO{sub 2}, good stability of AgI particles, and the effective charge separation due to the synergetic effect between AgI and TiO{sub 2} that can facilitate the separation of electron-hole pairs. Our novel composite based on nanoporous spindle-shaped TiO{sub 2} represents a promising new pathway for the design of high-performance photocatalysts for environmental

A study on the polymer precursor formation and microstructure evolution of square-shaped (La{sub 0.5}Ba{sub 0.5})(Mn{sub 0.5}Fe{sub 0.5})O{sub 3} ceramic nanoparticles

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Romero, M.; Pardo, H.; Faccio, R.; Suescun, L.; Fernandez-Werner, L.; Mombru, A.W. [Univ. de la Republica, Montevideo (Uruguay). Cryssmat-Lab/Centro NanoMat; Univ. de la Republica, Montevideo (Uruguay). Centro Interdisciplinario de Nanotecnologia, Quimica y Fisica de Materiales; Vazquez, S.; Laborda, I. [Univ. de la Republica, Montevideo (Uruguay). Cryssmat-Lab/Centro NanoMat; Acosta, A. [Univ. de la Republica, Montevideo (Uruguay). Catedra de Quimica Inorganica; Castiglioni, J. [Univ. de la Republica, Montevideo (Uruguay). Catedra de Fisicoquimica

2015-07-01

The polymer precursor formation and the growth mechanism of (La{sub 0.5}Ba{sub 0.5})(Mn{sub 0.5}Fe{sub 0.5})O{sub 3} ceramic nanoparticles have been studied. First, we focused on the influence of isolated metals (La, Ba, Mn, Fe) on the polymer precursor formation by means of Raman, FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, showing that the presence of metal ions, especially iron, increases the oxidation rate of the polymer precursor, while the presence of barium leads to a higher degree of polymerization, preventing partial oxidation of the polymer at low temperatures and allowing the presence of nitrates at the combustion stage. Nevertheless, when all metals are present, the polymer precursor showed a largely homogeneous microstructure with a global average influence from all cations. Finally,we studied the microstructure evolution of nanoparticles obtained after calcination above 700 C. SAXS and TEM analysis suggests that the formation of square-shaped nanoparticles below 900 C and coalescence leads to the formation of larger-sized and round-shaped nanoparticles at 900 C.

Rapid de novo shape encoding: a challenge to connectionist modeling

OpenAIRE

Greene, Ernest

2018-01-01

Neural network (connectionist) models are designed to encode image features and provide the building blocks for object and shape recognition. These models generally call for: a) initial diffuse connections from one neuron population to another, and b) training to bring about a functional change in those connections so that one or more high-tier neurons will selectively respond to a specific shape stimulus. Advanced models provide for translation, size, and rotation invariance. The present dis...

Equilibrium Crystal Shape of BaZrO{sub 3} and Space Charge Formation in the (011) Surface by Using Ab-Initio Thermodynamics

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kim, Ji-Su; Kim, Yeong-Cheol [Korea University of Technology and Education, Cheonan (Korea, Republic of)

2017-01-15

We investigated the equilibrium crystal shape of BaZrO{sub 3} and the space charge formation in an O-terminated (011) surface by using ab-initio thermodynamics. Twenty-two low-indexed (001), (011), and (111) surfaces were calculated to analyze their surface Gibbs-free energy under the stable condition of BaZrO{sub 3}. Based on the Gibbs-Wulff theorem, the equilibrium crystal shape of BaZrO{sub 3} changed from cubic to decaoctahedral with decreasing Ba chemical potential. The dominant facets of BaZrO{sub 3} were {001} and {011}, which were well consistent with experimental observations. The space charge formation in the (011) surface was evaluated using the space-charge model. We found that the (011) surface was even more resistive than the (001) surface.

The population genomics of begomoviruses: global scale population structure and gene flow

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Prasanna HC

2010-09-01

Full Text Available Abstract Background The rapidly growing availability of diverse full genome sequences from across the world is increasing the feasibility of studying the large-scale population processes that underly observable pattern of virus diversity. In particular, characterizing the genetic structure of virus populations could potentially reveal much about how factors such as geographical distributions, host ranges and gene flow between populations combine to produce the discontinuous patterns of genetic diversity that we perceive as distinct virus species. Among the richest and most diverse full genome datasets that are available is that for the dicotyledonous plant infecting genus, Begomovirus, in the Family Geminiviridae. The begomoviruses all share the same whitefly vector, are highly recombinogenic and are distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions where they seriously threaten the food security of the world's poorest people. Results We focus here on using a model-based population genetic approach to identify the genetically distinct sub-populations within the global begomovirus meta-population. We demonstrate the existence of at least seven major sub-populations that can further be sub-divided into as many as thirty four significantly differentiated and genetically cohesive minor sub-populations. Using the population structure framework revealed in the present study, we further explored the extent of gene flow and recombination between genetic populations. Conclusions Although geographical barriers are apparently the most significant underlying cause of the seven major population sub-divisions, within the framework of these sub-divisions, we explore patterns of gene flow to reveal that both host range differences and genetic barriers to recombination have probably been major contributors to the minor population sub-divisions that we have identified. We believe that the global Begomovirus population structure revealed here could

The role of river drainages in shaping the genetic structure of capybara populations.

Science.gov (United States)

Byrne, María Soledad; Quintana, Rubén Darío; Bolkovic, María Luisa; Cassini, Marcelo H; Túnez, Juan Ignacio

2015-12-01

The capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, is an herbivorous rodent widely distributed throughout most of South American wetlands that lives closely associated with aquatic environments. In this work, we studied the genetic structure of the capybara throughout part of its geographic range in Argentina using a DNA fragment of the mitochondrial control region. Haplotypes obtained were compared with those available for populations from Paraguay and Venezuela. We found 22 haplotypes in 303 individuals. Hierarchical AMOVAs were performed to evaluate the role of river drainages in shaping the genetic structure of capybara populations at the regional and basin scales. In addition, two landscape genetic models, isolation by distance and isolation by resistance, were used to test whether genetic distance was associated with Euclidean distance (i.e. isolation by distance) or river corridor distance (i.e. isolation by resistance) at the basin scale. At the regional scale, the results of the AMOVA grouping populations by mayor river basins showed significant differences between them. At the basin scale, we also found significant differences between sub-basins in Paraguay, together with a significant correlation between genetic and river corridor distance. For Argentina and Venezuela, results were not significant. These results suggest that in Paraguay, the current genetic structure of capybaras is associated with the lack of dispersion corridors through permanent rivers. In contrast, limited structuring in Argentina and Venezuela is likely the result of periodic flooding facilitating dispersion.

Sub-Saharan Africa: population pressures on development.

Science.gov (United States)

Goliber, T J

1985-02-01

The population of sub-Saharan Africa, estimated at 434 million in 1984, is expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2025. The birth rate, currently 48/1000 population, continues to increase, and the death rate, 17/1000, is declining. Rapid population growth has curtailed government efforts to provide adequate nutrition, preserve the land base essential for future development, meet the demand for jobs, education, and health services, and address overcrowding in urban areas. Low education, rural residence, and low incomes are key contributors to the area's high fertility. Other factors include women's restricted roles, early age at marriage, a need for children as a source of security and support in old age, and limited knowledge of and access to modern methods of contraception. Average desired family size, which is higher than actual family size in most countries, is 6-9 children. Although government leaders have expressed ambivalence toward development of population policies and family planning programs as a result of the identification of such programs with Western aid donors, the policy climat is gradually changing. By mid-1984, at least 13 of the 42 countries in the region had indicated that they consider current fertility rates too high and support government and/or private family planning programs to reduce fertility. In addition, 26 countries in the region provide some government family planning services, usually integrated with maternal and child health programs. However, 10 countries in the region do not support family planning services for any reason. Unfortunately, sub-Saharan Africa has not yet produced a family planning program with a measurable effect on fertility that could serve as a model for other countries in the region. Social and economic change is central to any hope of fertility reduction in sub-Saharan Africa. Lower infant and child mortality rates, rising incomes, higher education, greater economic and social opportunities for women, and increased

Shaping the Role of sub-Saharan African Nurses and Midwives ...

African Journals Online (AJOL)

To explore the role expectations of different stakeholders in the health care system on the roles and tasks that nurses and midwives perform, in order to clarify and strengthen these roles and shape the future of nursing education and practice in sub-Saharan Africa. Qualitative focus group discussions were held with different ...

A boomerang-shaped reduction in interlayer phase coherence in Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}0{sub 8+y} with splayed columnar defects

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kato, T; Shibauchi, T; Matsuda, Y [Department of Physics, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502 (Japan); Thompson, J R [Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996 (United States); Krusin-Elbaum, L, E-mail: katou@scphys.kyoto-u.ac.j [IBM T. J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598 (United States)

2009-03-01

We present evidence for entangled solid vortex matter in a glassy state in a layered superconductor Bi{sub 2}Sr{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 8+y} containing randomly splayed linear defects. The interlayer phase coherence(IPC)-probed by the Josephson plasma resonance-is enhanced at high temperatures, reflecting the recoupling of vortex liquid by the defects. At low temperatures in the vortex solid state, the interlayer coherence follows a boomerang-shaped reentrant temperature path with an unusual low field decrease in coherence, indicative of meandering vortices. This behavior suggests strongly suppressed IPC in this system, which may be explained by the vortex entanglement induced by the columnar defects in the 'splayed-glass' state.

Autophagy capacity and sub-mitochondrial heterogeneity shape Bnip3-induced mitophagy regulation of apoptosis.

Science.gov (United States)

Choe, Sehyo Charley; Hamacher-Brady, Anne; Brady, Nathan Ryan

2015-08-08

Mitochondria are key regulators of apoptosis. In response to stress, BH3-only proteins activate pro-apoptotic Bcl2 family proteins Bax and Bak, which induce mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP). While the large-scale mitochondrial release of pro-apoptotic proteins activates caspase-dependent cell death, a limited release results in sub-lethal caspase activation which promotes tumorigenesis. Mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy) targets dysfunctional mitochondria for degradation by lysosomes, and undergoes extensive crosstalk with apoptosis signaling, but its influence on apoptosis remains undetermined. The BH3-only protein Bnip3 integrates apoptosis and mitophagy signaling at different signaling domains. Bnip3 inhibits pro-survival Bcl2 members via its BH3 domain and activates mitophagy through its LC3 Interacting Region (LIR), which is responsible for binding to autophagosomes. Previously, we have shown that Bnip3-activated mitophagy prior to apoptosis induction can reduce mitochondrial activation of caspases, suggesting that a reduction to mitochondrial levels may be pro-survival. An outstanding question is whether organelle dynamics and/or recently discovered subcellular variations of protein levels responsible for both MOMP sensitivity and crosstalk between apoptosis and mitophagy can influence the cellular apoptosis decision event. To that end, here we undertook a systems biology analysis of mitophagy-apoptosis crosstalk at the level of cellular mitochondrial populations. Based on experimental findings, we developed a multi-scale, hybrid model with an individually adaptive mitochondrial population, whose actions are determined by protein levels, embedded in an agent-based model (ABM) for simulating subcellular dynamics and local feedback via reactive oxygen species signaling. Our model, supported by experimental evidence, identified an emergent regulatory structure within canonical apoptosis signaling. We show that the extent of mitophagy is

Dysprosium doping induced shape and magnetic anisotropy of Fe{sub 3−x}Dy{sub x}O{sub 4} (x=0.01–0.1) nanoparticles

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Jain, Richa [School of Sciences, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 110068 (India); Department of Physics, ARSD college, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110021 (India); Luthra, Vandna [Department of Physics, Gargi College, Siri Fort Road, New Delhi 110049 (India); Gokhale, Shubha, E-mail: sgokhale@ignou.ac.in [School of Sciences, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 110068 (India)

2016-09-15

The effect of dysprosium doping on evolution of structural and magnetic properties of magnetite (Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}) nanoparticles is reported. A standard route of co-precipitation was used for the synthesis of undoped and doped magnetite nanoparticles Fe{sub 3−x}Dy{sub x}O{sub 4} (x=0.0–0.1). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows formation of round shaped particles with diameter in the range of 8–14 nm for undoped sample. On doping beyond x=0.01, the formation of rod like structures is initiated along with the round shaped particles. The number of rods is found to increase with increasing doping concentration. Magnetic characterization using Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) revealed doping dependent magnetic properties which can be correlated with the crystallite size as determined from X-ray diffraction (XRD). Enhancement in the saturation magnetization in the initial stages of doping can be explained on the basis of incorporation of Dy{sup 3+} ions in the inverse spinel structure at the octahedral site in place of Fe{sup 3+} ions. Subsequent decrease in saturation magnetization observed beyond x=0.03 could be attributed to precipitation of excess Dy in form of dysprosium ferrite phase. - Highlights: • Report on formation of nanorods in magnetite prompted by Dy doping. • Observation of anisotropic magnetic behaviour emanating from the shape anisotropy. • Evidence of Dy{sup 3+} ions occupying octahedral site in place of Fe{sup 3+} ions. • Nanorods envisaged to be useful as catalysts and in biomedical applications.

Martensitic transition, inverse magnetocaloric effect and shape memory characteristics in Mn{sub 48−x}Cu{sub x}Ni{sub 42}Sn{sub 10} Heusler alloys

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Liu, Changqin [Department of Physics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444 (China); Li, Zhe [Reasearch center for magnetic materials and devices & Key Laboratory for Advanced Functional and Low Dimensional Materials of Yunnan Higher Education Institute, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011 (China); Zhang, Yuanlei [Department of Physics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444 (China); Reasearch center for magnetic materials and devices & Key Laboratory for Advanced Functional and Low Dimensional Materials of Yunnan Higher Education Institute, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011 (China); Liu, Yang; Sun, Junkun; Huang, Yinsheng; Kang, Baojuan [Department of Physics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444 (China); Xu, Kun [Reasearch center for magnetic materials and devices & Key Laboratory for Advanced Functional and Low Dimensional Materials of Yunnan Higher Education Institute, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011 (China); Deng, Dongmei [Department of Physics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444 (China); Jing, Chao, E-mail: cjing@staff.shu.edu.cn [Department of Physics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444 (China)

2017-03-01

In this paper, we have systematically prepared a serials of polycrystalline Mn{sub 48−x}Cu{sub x}Ni{sub 42}Sn{sub 10} alloys (x=0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12) and investigated the influence of the Cu doping on martensitic transition (MT) as well as magnetic properties. Experimental results indicate that the MT temperature and the martensite Curie temperature (T{sub c}{sup M}) shift to high temperature with increasing the substitution of Cu (from Mn rich alloy to Ni rich alloy), while the austenite Curie temperature (T{sub c}{sup A}) is almost unchanged. It was found that the structures undergo L2{sub 1} and 4O with the increasing of Cu concentration near room temperature. Therefore, the magnetostructural transition can be tuned by appropriate Cu doping in these alloys. Moreover, we mainly studied the multiple functional properties for inverse magnetocaloric effect and shape memory characteristics associated with the martensitic transition. A large positive isothermal entropy change of Mn{sub 48}Ni{sub 42}Sn{sub 10} was obtained, and the maximum transition entropy change achieves about 48 J/kg K as x=8. In addition, a considerable temperature-induced spontaneous strain with the value of 0.16% was obtained for Mn{sub 48}Ni{sub 42}Sn{sub 10} alloys.

Population genetic structure of peninsular Malaysia Malay sub-ethnic groups.

Science.gov (United States)

Hatin, Wan Isa; Nur-Shafawati, Ab Rajab; Zahri, Mohd-Khairi; Xu, Shuhua; Jin, Li; Tan, Soon-Guan; Rizman-Idid, Mohammed; Zilfalil, Bin Alwi

2011-04-05

Patterns of modern human population structure are helpful in understanding the history of human migration and admixture. We conducted a study on genetic structure of the Malay population in Malaysia, using 54,794 genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism genotype data generated in four Malay sub-ethnic groups in peninsular Malaysia (Melayu Kelantan, Melayu Minang, Melayu Jawa and Melayu Bugis). To the best of our knowledge this is the first study conducted on these four Malay sub-ethnic groups and the analysis of genotype data of these four groups were compiled together with 11 other populations' genotype data from Indonesia, China, India, Africa and indigenous populations in Peninsular Malaysia obtained from the Pan-Asian SNP database. The phylogeny of populations showed that all of the four Malay sub-ethnic groups are separated into at least three different clusters. The Melayu Jawa, Melayu Bugis and Melayu Minang have a very close genetic relationship with Indonesian populations indicating a common ancestral history, while the Melayu Kelantan formed a distinct group on the tree indicating that they are genetically different from the other Malay sub-ethnic groups. We have detected genetic structuring among the Malay populations and this could possibly be accounted for by their different historical origins. Our results provide information of the genetic differentiation between these populations and a valuable insight into the origins of the Malay sub-ethnic groups in Peninsular Malaysia.

Thermomechanical behavior and microstructural evolution of a Ni(Pd)-rich Ni{sub 24.3}Ti{sub 49.7}Pd{sub 26} high temperature shape memory alloy

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Benafan, O., E-mail: othmane.benafan@nasa.gov [NASA Glenn Research Center, Structures and Materials Division, Cleveland, OH 44135 (United States); Garg, A. [University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606 (United States); NASA Glenn Research Center, Structures and Materials Division, Cleveland, OH 44135 (United States); Noebe, R.D.; Bigelow, G.S.; Padula, S.A. [NASA Glenn Research Center, Structures and Materials Division, Cleveland, OH 44135 (United States); Gaydosh, D.J. [Ohio Aerospace Institute, Cleveland, OH 44142 (United States); NASA Glenn Research Center, Structures and Materials Division, Cleveland, OH 44135 (United States); Vaidyanathan, R. [Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center, Materials Science and Engineering Department, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816 (United States); Clausen, B.; Vogel, S.C. [Materials Science and Technology Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545 (United States)

2015-09-15

Highlights: • A Ni(Pd)-rich Ni{sub 24.3}Ti{sub 49.7}Pd{sub 26} high temperature shape memory alloy was characterized. • Aging resulted in fine dispersion of nano-sized precipitates. • Thermomechanical cycling resulted in dimensional instabilities due to lattice defects. • A two-way shape memory effect strain of 2% strain was obtained after cycling. - Abstract: The effect of thermomechanical cycling on a slightly Ni(Pd)-rich Ni{sub 24.3}Ti{sub 49.7}Pd{sub 26} (near stochiometric Ni–Ti basis with Pd replacing Ni) high temperature shape memory alloy was investigated. Aged tensile specimens (400 °C/24 h/furnace cooled) were subjected to constant-stress thermal cycling in conjunction with microstructural assessment via in situ neutron diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), before and after testing. It was shown that in spite of the slightly Ni(Pd)-rich composition and heat treatment used to precipitation harden the alloy, the material exhibited dimensional instabilities with residual strain accumulation reaching 1.5% over 10 thermomechanical cycles. This was attributed to insufficient strengthening of the material (insufficient volume fraction of precipitate phase) to prevent plasticity from occurring concomitant with the martensitic transformation. In situ neutron diffraction revealed the presence of retained martensite while cycling under 300 MPa stress, which was also confirmed by transmission electron microscopy of post-cycled samples. Neutron diffraction analysis of the post-thermally-cycled samples under no-load revealed residual lattice strains in the martensite and austenite phases, remnant texture in the martensite phase, and peak broadening of the austenite phase. Texture developed in the martensite phase was composed mainly of those martensitic tensile variants observed during thermomechanical cycling. Presence of a high density of dislocations, deformation twins, and retained martensite was revealed in the austenite state via in

Pulse shape discrimination properties of Gd{sub 3}Ga{sub 3}Al{sub 2}O{sub 12}:Ce,B single crystal in comparison with CsI:Tl

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Rawat, S. [Technical Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085 (India); Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee 247667 (India); Tyagi, Mohit [Technical Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085 (India); Netrakanti, P.K.; Kashyap, V.K.S.; Mitra, A. [Nuclear Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085 (India); Singh, A.K.; Desai, D.G. [Technical Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085 (India); Kumar, G. Anil [Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee 247667 (India); Gadkari, S.C. [Technical Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400085 (India)

2016-12-21

Single crystals of Gd{sub 3}Ga{sub 3}Al{sub 2}O{sub 12}:Ce,B and CsI:Tl were grown by Czochralski and Bridgman techniques, respectively. While both the crystals exhibited similar emission at about 550 nm, their scintillation decay times showed significantly different characteristics. The average scintillation decay time of Gd{sub 3}Ga{sub 3}Al{sub 2}O{sub 12}:Ce,B crystal was found to be about 284 ns for alpha excitation compared to 108 ns measured for a gamma source. On the other hand in CsI:Tl crystals, the alpha excitation resulted in a lower average decay time of 600 ns compared to 1200 ns with gamma excitation. Their pulse shape discrimination (PSD) for gamma and alpha radiations were studied by coupling the scintillators with photomultiplier tube or SiPM and employing an advanced digitizer as well as a conventional zero-crossing setup. In spite of having a poor α/γ light yield ratio, the PSD figure of merit and the difference of zero-crossing time in Gd{sub 3}Ga{sub 3}Al{sub 2}O{sub 12}:Ce,B crystals were found to be superior in comparison to CsI:Tl crystals.

Evolutionary forces shaping genomic islands of population differentiation in humans

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Hofer Tamara

2012-03-01

Full Text Available Abstract Background Levels of differentiation among populations depend both on demographic and selective factors: genetic drift and local adaptation increase population differentiation, which is eroded by gene flow and balancing selection. We describe here the genomic distribution and the properties of genomic regions with unusually high and low levels of population differentiation in humans to assess the influence of selective and neutral processes on human genetic structure. Methods Individual SNPs of the Human Genome Diversity Panel (HGDP showing significantly high or low levels of population differentiation were detected under a hierarchical-island model (HIM. A Hidden Markov Model allowed us to detect genomic regions or islands of high or low population differentiation. Results Under the HIM, only 1.5% of all SNPs are significant at the 1% level, but their genomic spatial distribution is significantly non-random. We find evidence that local adaptation shaped high-differentiation islands, as they are enriched for non-synonymous SNPs and overlap with previously identified candidate regions for positive selection. Moreover there is a negative relationship between the size of islands and recombination rate, which is stronger for islands overlapping with genes. Gene ontology analysis supports the role of diet as a major selective pressure in those highly differentiated islands. Low-differentiation islands are also enriched for non-synonymous SNPs, and contain an overly high proportion of genes belonging to the 'Oncogenesis' biological process. Conclusions Even though selection seems to be acting in shaping islands of high population differentiation, neutral demographic processes might have promoted the appearance of some genomic islands since i as much as 20% of islands are in non-genic regions ii these non-genic islands are on average two times shorter than genic islands, suggesting a more rapid erosion by recombination, and iii most loci are

Population Genetic Structure of Peninsular Malaysia Malay Sub-Ethnic Groups

Science.gov (United States)

Hatin, Wan Isa; Nur-Shafawati, Ab Rajab; Zahri, Mohd-Khairi; Xu, Shuhua; Jin, Li; Tan, Soon-Guan; Rizman-Idid, Mohammed; Zilfalil, Bin Alwi

2011-01-01

Patterns of modern human population structure are helpful in understanding the history of human migration and admixture. We conducted a study on genetic structure of the Malay population in Malaysia, using 54,794 genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism genotype data generated in four Malay sub-ethnic groups in peninsular Malaysia (Melayu Kelantan, Melayu Minang, Melayu Jawa and Melayu Bugis). To the best of our knowledge this is the first study conducted on these four Malay sub-ethnic groups and the analysis of genotype data of these four groups were compiled together with 11 other populations' genotype data from Indonesia, China, India, Africa and indigenous populations in Peninsular Malaysia obtained from the Pan-Asian SNP database. The phylogeny of populations showed that all of the four Malay sub-ethnic groups are separated into at least three different clusters. The Melayu Jawa, Melayu Bugis and Melayu Minang have a very close genetic relationship with Indonesian populations indicating a common ancestral history, while the Melayu Kelantan formed a distinct group on the tree indicating that they are genetically different from the other Malay sub-ethnic groups. We have detected genetic structuring among the Malay populations and this could possibly be accounted for by their different historical origins. Our results provide information of the genetic differentiation between these populations and a valuable insight into the origins of the Malay sub-ethnic groups in Peninsular Malaysia. PMID:21483678

Influence of titanium precursor on photoluminescent emission of micro-cube-shaped CaTiO{sub 3}

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mazzo, Tatiana Martelli, E-mail: tatimazzo@gmail.com [Departamento de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Avenida Almameda Saldanha da Gama, 89, Ponta da Praia, CEP 11030-400 Santos, SP (Brazil); Santilli do Nascimento Libanori, Gabriela [Departamento de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Avenida Almameda Saldanha da Gama, 89, Ponta da Praia, CEP 11030-400 Santos, SP (Brazil); Moreira, Mario Lucio [Instituto de Física e Matemática, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, P.O. Box 354, Campus do Capão do Leão, 96001-970 Pelotas, RS (Brazil); Avansi Jr, Waldir [Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Jardim Guanabara, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP (Brazil); Mastelaro, Valmor Roberto [Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador São Carlense, 400, Arnold Schimidt, 13566-590 São Carlos, SP (Brazil); Varela, José Arana; Longo, Elson [INCTMN/LIEC, Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual Paulista, P.O. Box 355, R. Francisco Degni, 55, Bairro Quitandinha, 14801-907 Araraquara, SP (Brazil)

2015-09-15

For this research, we studied the influence of titanium tetrachloride (TC) and titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTP) precursors on CaTiO{sub 3} (CTO) synthesis by employing a microwave-assisted hydrothermal (MAH) method regarding their respective short-, medium- and long-range features to determine if the use of different titanium precursors enhances the structural evolution of the material. The growth mechanism for the formation of the micro-cube-shaped CTO is proposed to obtain nanoparticle aggregation of self-assembly nanoplates. The disorder coupled to the oxygen vacancies of [TiO{sub 5}]–[TiO{sub 6}] in complex clusters in the CTO 1 powder and twists in bonding between the [TiO{sub 6}]–[TiO{sub 6}] complex clusters in the CTO 2 powder were mainly responsible for photoluminescent (PL) emission. - Highlights: • Different titanium precursors enhance the structural evolution of the material. • [TiO{sub 5}]–[TiO{sub 6}] and twists in bonding [TiO{sub 6}]–[TiO{sub 6}] were responsible for PL emission. • Micro-cube shaped was formed by nanoparticle aggregation of self-assembly nanoplates.

Issues in Biological Shape Modelling

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Hilger, Klaus Baggesen

This talk reflects parts of the current research at informatics and Mathematical Modelling at the Technical University of Denmark within biological shape modelling. We illustrate a series of generalizations, modifications, and applications of the elements of constructing models of shape or appear......This talk reflects parts of the current research at informatics and Mathematical Modelling at the Technical University of Denmark within biological shape modelling. We illustrate a series of generalizations, modifications, and applications of the elements of constructing models of shape...

Microemulsion mediated synthesis of triangular shape SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles: Luminescence application

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Luwang, Meitram Niraj, E-mail: mn.luwang@ncl.res.in

2014-01-30

The triangular prism shapes of SnO{sub 2}·xH{sub 2}O nanoparticles are prepared using microemulsion route. The effect of variation of water pool value on the formation of SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles was studied. There is the quantum size effect in absorption study of SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles. With the increase of the water pool value, there is a decrease in the band edge absorption energy suggesting the weak quantum confinement effect (QCE) in SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles. Quenching effect increases with increase of water to surfactant ratio in luminescence. There is no significant effect in lifetime values for SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles in both microemulsion and powder form. SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles show green emission due to oxygen vacancy. SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles when doped with Eu{sup 3+} ions give the enhanced luminescence of Eu{sup 3+} due to the surface mediated energy transfer from SnO{sub 2} to Eu{sup 3+} ion.

Population genetics models of local ancestry.

Science.gov (United States)

Gravel, Simon

2012-06-01

Migrations have played an important role in shaping the genetic diversity of human populations. Understanding genomic data thus requires careful modeling of historical gene flow. Here we consider the effect of relatively recent population structure and gene flow and interpret genomes of individuals that have ancestry from multiple source populations as mosaics of segments originating from each population. This article describes general and tractable models for local ancestry patterns with a focus on the length distribution of continuous ancestry tracts and the variance in total ancestry proportions among individuals. The models offer improved agreement with Wright-Fisher simulation data when compared to the state-of-the art and can be used to infer time-dependent migration rates from multiple populations. Considering HapMap African-American (ASW) data, we find that a model with two distinct phases of "European" gene flow significantly improves the modeling of both tract lengths and ancestry variances.

A model independent determination of the B{yields}X{sub s}{gamma} decay rate

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Bernlochner, Florian U. [Victoria Univ., BC (Canada); Lacker, Heiko [Humboldt-Universitaet, Berlin (Germany); Ligeti, Zoltan [California Univ., Berkeley, CA (United States). Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Stewart, Iain W. [Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (United States). Center for Theoretical Physics; Tackmann, Frank J.; Tackmann, Kerstin [Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg (Germany)

2013-03-15

The goal of the SIMBA collaboration is to provide a global fit to the available measurements of inclusive B{yields}X{sub s}{gamma} and B{yields}X{sub u}l{nu} decays. By performing a global fit one is able to simultaneously determine the relevant normalizations, i.e. the total B{yields}X{sub s}{gamma} rate and the CKM-matrix element vertical stroke Vub vertical stroke, together with the required hadronic parameters, most importantly the b-quark mass and the b-quark distribution function in the B-meson, called the shape function. In this talk, the current status on the model-independent determination of the shape function and vertical stroke C{sub 7}{sup incl}V{sub tb}V{sub ts}{sup *} vertical stroke, which parametrizes the total B{yields}X{sub s}{gamma} rate, from a global fit to the available B{yields}X{sub s}{gamma} measurements from Babar and Belle is presented. In particular, the theoretical uncertainties originating from variations of the different factorization scales are evaluated.

Particle shape inhomogeneity and plasmon-band broadening of solar-control LaB{sub 6} nanoparticles

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Machida, Keisuke; Adachi, Kenji, E-mail: kenji-adachi@ni.smm.co.jp [Ichikawa Research Laboratories, Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd., Ichikawa 272-8588 (Japan)

2015-07-07

An ensemble inhomogeneity of non-spherical LaB{sub 6} nanoparticles dispersion has been analyzed with Mie theory to account for the observed broad plasmon band. LaB{sub 6} particle shape has been characterized using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and electron tomography (ET). SAXS scattering intensity is found to vary exponentially with exponent −3.10, indicating the particle shape of disk toward sphere. ET analysis disclosed dually grouped distribution of nanoparticle dispersion; one is large-sized at small aspect ratio and the other is small-sized with scattered high aspect ratio, reflecting the dual fragmentation modes during the milling process. Mie extinction calculations have been integrated for 100 000 particles of varying aspect ratio, which were produced randomly by using the Box-Muller method. The Mie integration method has produced a broad and smooth absorption band expanded towards low energy, in remarkable agreement with experimental profiles by assuming a SAXS- and ET-derived shape distribution, i.e., a majority of disks with a little incorporation of rods and spheres for the ensemble. The analysis envisages a high potential of LaB{sub 6} with further-increased visible transparency and plasmon peak upon controlled particle-shape and its distribution.

A combined experimental and computational study of water-gas shift reaction over rod-shaped Ce<sub>0.75sub> M<sub>0.25sub>O>2sub> (M=Ti, Zr, and Mn) supported Cu catalysts

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ren, Zhibo; Peng, Fei; Chen, Biaohua; Mei, Donghai; Li, Jianwei

2017-11-02

Water-gas shift (WGS) reaction over a series of ceria-based mixed oxides supported Cu catalysts was investigated using a combined experimental and theoretical method. The mixed rod-shaped Ce<sub>0.75sub>M>0.25sub>O>2sub> (M = Ti⁴⁺, Zr⁴⁺, Mn⁴⁺) solid solutions, which majorly expose the (110) and (100) facets, are synthesized by hydrothermal method and used to prepare supported Cu catalysts. We found that the Cu/Ce0.75Ti<sub>0.25sub>O>2sub> (Cu-CT) exhibits the highest CO conversion in the temperature range of 150-250 °C among all supported Cu catalysts. This is mainly attributed to (i) good dispersion of Cu; (ii) largest amount of moderate copper oxide; and (iii) strongest Cu-support interaction of Cu-CT. And compared to other mixed metals, periodic density functional theory calculations performed, this work further suggest that the introduction of Ti into CeO<sub>2sub> not only promotes oxygen vacancy formation and CO adsorption, but also facilitates the carboxyl (COOH) formation at the interface of the Cu cluster and the support, which leads to the enhanced catalytic activity of the Cu-CT toward WGS reaction.

The dependence of the interface and shape on the constrained growth of nc-Si in a-SiN sub x /a-Si:H/a-SiN sub x structures

CERN Document Server

Zhang Li; Wang Li; Li Wei; Xu Jun; Huang Xin Fan; Chen Kun Ji

2002-01-01

Size-controlled nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) has been prepared from a-SiN sub x /a-Si:H/a-SiN sub x ('a' standing for amorphous) structures by thermal annealing. Transmission electron microscope analyses show that the lateral size of the nc-Si is controlled by the annealing conditions and the a-Si sublayer thickness. The deviation of the nc-Si grain size distribution decreases with the a-Si sublayer thickness, so thinner a-Si sublayers are favourable for obtaining uniform nc-Si grains. In the a-Si:H (10 nm) sample annealed at 1000 deg. C for 30 min, an obvious bi-modal size distribution of nc-Si grains appears, but no obvious bi-modal size distribution is found in other samples with thinner a-Si:H sublayers. On the basis of the experimental results, we discuss the process of transition from the sphere-like shape to the disc-like shape in the growth model of the nc-Si crystallization. The critical thickness of the a-Si sublayer for the constrained crystallization can be determined by the present model. More...

Magnetic field-induced elastic bending in bilayers of Tb{sub 1−x}Dy{sub x}Fe{sub 2−y} and Pb(Zr{sub 1−z}Ti{sub z})O{sub 3}

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Jin, Tao; Qichao, Wu; Ning, Zhang, E-mail: zhangning@njnu.edu.cn

2014-09-01

Magnetic field-induced strain in the magnetoelectric bilayers of Tb{sub 1−x}Dy{sub x}Fe{sub 2−y} and Pb(Zr{sub 1−z}Ti{sub z})O{sub 3} was studied. A butterfly shaped strain curve was observed on the surface of Pb(Zr{sub 1−z}Ti{sub z})O{sub 3}. The shape of the strain curve was found to be related to the sample thickness and the volume fraction occupied by the ferroelectrics in the bilayer. Theoretical analysis and experimental results showed that magnetoelastic bending in the bilayer composites was largely responsible for the butterfly strain curve. - Highlights: • Butterfly strain curves were observed on the PZT surface for bilayers of TDF and PZT. • The strain curve is related to the sample thickness and the volume fraction of the PZT. • A physics model depicting the field-controlled bending of the bilayers was developed. • The magnetoelastic bending was found to account for the butterfly strain curve.

Non-enzymatic hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on rose-shaped FeMoO{sub 4} nanostructures produced by convenient microwave-hydrothermal method

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Liu, Hongying, E-mail: liuhongying@hdu.edu.cn [College of Life Information Science & Instrument Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Zhejiang, Hangzhou 310018 (China); Gu, Chunchuan [Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Zhejiang, Hangzhou 310002 (China); Li, Dujuan; Zhang, Mingzhen [College of Life Information Science & Instrument Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Zhejiang, Hangzhou 310018 (China)

2015-04-15

Graphical abstract: A non-enzymatic H{sub 2}O{sub 2} sensor with high selectivity and sensitivity based on rose-shaped FeMoO{sub 4} synthesized by the convenient microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, was fabricated. - Highlights: • Rose-shaped FeMoO{sub 4} is synthesized within 10 min via microwave-assisted hydrothermal approach. • Non-enzymatic hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on FeMoO{sub 4} nanomaterials is fabricated. • The biosensor exhibits good performance. - Abstract: In this work, we demonstrated a simple, rapid and reliable microwave-assisted hydrothermal approach to synthesize the uniform rose-shaped FeMoO{sub 4} within 10 min. The morphologies of the synthesized materials were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, a non-enzymatic amperometric sensor for the detection of hydrogen peroxide (H{sub 2}O{sub 2}) was fabricated on the basis of the FeMoO{sub 4} as electrocatalysis. The resulting FeMoO{sub 4} exhibited high sensitivity and good stability for the detection of H{sub 2}O{sub 2}, which may be attributed to the rose-shaped structure of the material and the catalytic property of FeMoO{sub 4}. Amperometric response showed that the modified electrode had a good response for H{sub 2}O{sub 2} with a linear range from 1 μM to 1.6 mM, a detection limit of 0.5 μM (S/N = 3), high selectivity and short response time. Additionally, good recoveries of analytes in real milk samples confirm the reliability of the prepared sensor in practical applications.

Magnetocaloric properties of as-quenched Ni{sub 50.4}Mn{sub 34.9}In{sub 14.7} ferromagnetic shape memory alloy ribbons

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sanchez Llamazares, J.L. [Instituto Potosino de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica (IPICYT), San Luis Potosi, S.L.P. (Mexico); Garcia, C. [MIT, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts (United States); Hernando, B.; Prida, V.M. [Universidad de Oviedo, Departamento de Fisica, Facultad de Ciencias, Oviedo (Spain); Baldomir, D.; Serantes, D. [Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Departamento de Fisica Aplicada, Facultad de Fisica, Santiago de Compostela (Spain); Gonzalez, J. [UPV, Departamento Fisica de Materiales, Facultad de Quimica, San Sebastian (Spain)

2011-06-15

The temperature dependences of magnetic entropy change and refrigerant capacity have been calculated for a maximum field change of {delta} H=30 kOe in as-quenched ribbons of the ferromagnetic shape memory alloy Ni{sub 50.4}Mn{sub 34.9}In{sub 14.7} around the structural reverse martensitic transformation and magnetic transition of austenite. The ribbons crystallize into a single-phase austenite with the L2{sub 1}-type crystal structure and Curie point of 284 K. At 262 K austenite starts its transformation into a 10-layered structurally modulated monoclinic martensite. The first- and second-order character of the structural and magnetic transitions was confirmed by the Arrott plot method. Despite the superior absolute value of the maximum magnetic entropy change obtained in the temperature interval where the reverse martensitic transformation occurs ({delta}S{sub M} {sup max}=7.2 Jkg{sup -1}K{sup -1}) with respect to that obtained around the ferromagnetic transition of austenite ({delta} S{sub M} {sup max}=2.6 Jkg{sup -1}K{sup -1}), the large average hysteretic losses due to the effect of the magnetic field on the phase transformation as well as the narrow thermal dependence of the magnetic entropy change make the temperature interval around the ferromagnetic transition of austenite of a higher effective refrigerant capacity (RC{sup magn}{sub eff}=95Jkg{sup -1} versus RC{sup struct}{sub eff}=60Jkg{sup -1}). (orig.)

PRIMUS: AN OBSERVATIONALLY MOTIVATED MODEL TO CONNECT THE EVOLUTION OF THE ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEUS AND GALAXY POPULATIONS OUT TO z ∼ 1

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Aird, James [Department of Physics, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE (United Kingdom); Coil, Alison L.; Diamond-Stanic, Aleksandar M. [Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, Department of Physics, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093 (United States); Moustakas, John [Department of Physics and Astronomy, Siena College, 515 Loudon Road, Loudonville, NY 12211 (United States); Blanton, Michael R. [Center for Cosmology and Particle Physics, Department of Physics, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, NY 10003 (United States); Cool, Richard J. [MMT Observatory, 1540 E Second Street, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 (United States); Eisenstein, Daniel J. [Harvard College Observatory, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 (United States); Wong, Kenneth C. [Steward Observatory, The University of Arizona, 933 N. Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721 (United States); Zhu, Guangtun, E-mail: j.a.aird@durham.ac.uk [Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 (United States)

2013-09-20

We present an observationally motivated model to connect the active galactic nucleus (AGN) and galaxy populations at 0.2 < z < 1.0 and predict the AGN X-ray luminosity function (XLF). We start with measurements of the stellar mass function of galaxies (from the Prism Multi-object Survey) and populate galaxies with AGNs using models for the probability of a galaxy hosting an AGN as a function of specific accretion rate. Our model is based on measurements indicating that the specific accretion rate distribution is a universal function across a wide range of host stellar masses with slope γ{sub 1} ≈ –0.65 and an overall normalization that evolves with redshift. We test several simple assumptions to extend this model to high specific accretion rates (beyond the measurements) and compare the predictions for the XLF with the observed data. We find good agreement with a model that allows for a break in the specific accretion rate distribution at a point corresponding to the Eddington limit, a steep power-law tail to super-Eddington ratios with slope γ{sub 2}=-2.1{sup +0.3}{sub -0.5}, and a scatter of 0.38 dex in the scaling between black hole and host stellar mass. Our results show that samples of low luminosity AGNs are dominated by moderately massive galaxies (M{sub *} ∼ 10{sup 10}-10{sup 11} M{sub ☉}) growing with a wide range of accretion rates due to the shape of the galaxy stellar mass function rather than a preference for AGN activity at a particular stellar mass. Luminous AGNs may be a severely skewed population with elevated black hole masses relative to their host galaxies and in rare phases of rapid accretion.

Heterotic studies and inbreeding depression in f/sub 2/populations of upland cotton

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Panni, M.K.

2012-01-01

To study the genetic potential, heterotic effects and inbreeding depression, 8 X 8 F/sub 2/diallel populations with parental lines of upland cotton were grown during crop season 2010 in a randomized complete block design at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan. Highly significant ( p = 0.01 ) variations were noticed among parental lines and F/sub 2/ populations for all the traits. According to genotypes mean performance for various traits, plant height varied from 101.60 to 126.30 cm and 98.60 to 140.60 cm, bolls plant/sup -1/ (12.87 to 19.53; 12.13 to 22.60), boll weight (3.80 to 5.01 g; 3.04 to 5.38 g) and seed cotton yield plant/sup -1/ varied from 55.74 to 85.47 g and 45.57 to 96.05 g in parental cultivars and their F/sub 2/ populations, respectively. However, 12 and 7 F/sub 2/ populations manifested significant heterosis over mid and better parents for plant height, 7 and 3 for bolls plant/sup -1/, 13 and 9 for boll weight and 13 and 5 F/sub 2/ populations for seed cotton yield plant/sup -1/, respectively. F/sub 2/ populations i.e. CIM-554 X CIM-473, CIM-554 X CIM-499, CIM-496 X SLH-284, CIM-473 X CIM-446 and CIM-554 X SLH-284 with low mean values for plant height performed better and manifested highly significant heterotic values over mid and better parents for bolls per plant, boll weight and seed cotton yield. By comparing F/sub 2/ mean values with F/sub 1/s, inbreeding depression was observed for plant height (0.66 to 23. 99%), bolls per plant (5.00 to 63.16%), boll weight (0.20 to 23.24%) and seed cotton yield (0.44 to 75.52%). However, 62% of F/sub 2/ populations revealed negative values for inbreeding depression, 14% for bolls per plant, 77% for boll weight and 21% for yield, revealed that these F/sub 2/ populations were more stable and performed better than F/sub 1/s even after segregation. Although, F/sub 2/ populations may display less heterosis as compared to F/sub 1/, but still better than high parents and can be used as

The value of some Corsican sub-populations for genetic association studies

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Vona Giuseppe

2008-07-01

Full Text Available Abstract Background Genetic isolates with a history of a small founder population, long-lasting isolation and population bottlenecks represent exceptional resources in the identification of disease genes. In these populations the disease allele reveals Linkage Disequilibrium (LD with markers over significant genetic intervals, therefore facilitating disease locus identification. In a previous study we examined the LD extension on the Xq13 region in three Corsican sub-populations from the inner mountainous region of the island. On the basis of those previous results we have proposed a multistep procedure to carry out studies aimed at the identification of genes involved in complex diseases in Corsica. A prerequisite to carry out the proposed multi-step procedure was the presence of different degrees of LD on the island and a common genetic derivation of the different Corsican sub-populations. In order to evaluate the existence of these conditions in the present paper we extended the analysis to the Corsican coastal populations. Methods Samples were analyzed using seven dinucleotide microsatellite markers on chromosome Xq13-21: DXS983, DXS986, DXS8092, DXS8082, DXS1225, DXS8037 and DXS995 spanning approximately 4.0 cM (13.3 Mb. We have also investigated the distribution of the DXS1225-DXS8082 haplotype which has been recently proposed as a good marker of population genetic history due to its low recombination rate. Results the results obtained indicate a decrease of LD on the island from the central mountainous toward the coastal sub-populations. In addition the analysis of the DXS1225-DXS8082 haplotype revealed: 1 the presence of a particular haplotype with high frequency; 2 the derivation from a common genetic pool of the sub-populations examined in the present study. Conclusion These results indicate the Corsican sub-populations useful for the fine mapping of genes contributing to complex diseases.

Interband coupling and transport interband scattering in s<sub>±> superconductors

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kogan, Vladimir [Ames Lab., Ames, IA (United States); Prozorov, Ruslan [Ames Lab., Ames, IA (United States); Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)

2016-04-04

A two-band model with repulsive interband coupling and interband transport (potential) scattering is considered to elucidate their effects on material properties. In agreement with previous work, we find that the bands order parameters Δ<sub>1,2sub> differ and the large is at the band with a smaller normal density of states (DOS), N<sub>n2sub> < N<sub>n1sub>. However, the bands energy gaps, as determined by the energy dependence of the DOS, are equal due to scattering. For each temperature, the gaps turn zero at a certain critical interband scattering rate, i.e. for strong enough scattering the model material becomes gappless. In the gapless state, the DOS at the band 2 is close to the normal state value, whereas at the band 1 it has a V-shape with non-zero minimum. When the normal bands DOS' are mismatched, N<sub>n1sub> 6= N<sub>n2sub>, the critical temperature T<sub>c> is suppressed even in the absence of interband scattering, T<sub>c(N>n1sub>) has a dome-like shape. With increasing interband scattering, the London penetration depth at low temperatures evolves from being exponentially at to the powerlaw and even to near linear behavior in the gapless state, the latter being easily misinterpreted as caused by order parameter nodes.

CARR-CNS with crescent-shape moderator cell and sub-cooling helium jacket surrounding cell

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Yu, Qingfeng; Feng, Quanke; Kawai, Takeshi; Shen, Feng; Yuan, Luzheng

2005-01-01

The new type of the moderator cell was developed for the Cold Neutron Source (CNS) of the China Advanced Research Reactor (CARR) which is now constructing at the China Institute of Atomic Energy in Beijing. A crescent-shape moderator cell covered by the sub-cooling helium jacket is adopted. A crescent-shape would help to increase the volume of the moderator cell for corresponding it to the 4 cold neutron guide tubes, even if liquid hydrogen not liquid deuterium were used as a cold moderator. The sub-cooling helium jacket covering the moderator cell removes the nuclear heating of the outer shell wall of the cell. It contributes to reduce the void fraction of liquid hydrogen in the inner shell. Such a type of a moderator cell is suitable for the CNS with higher nuclear heating. The cold helium gas flows down firstly into the sub-cooling helium jacket and then flows up to the condenser. Therefore, the theory of the self-regulation for the thermo-siphon type of the CNS is also applicable

CARR-CNS with crescent-shape moderator cell and sub-cooling helium jacket around cell

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Yu, Qingfeng; Feng, Quanke; Kawai, Takeshi; Cheng, Liang; Shen, Feng; Yuan, Luzheng

2005-01-01

The new type of the moderator cell was developed for the Cold Neutron Source (CNS) of the China Advanced Research Reactor (CARR) which is now constructing at the China Institute of Atomic Energy in Beijing. A crescent-shape moderator cell covered by the sub-cooling helium jacket is adopted. A crescent-shape would help to increase the volume of the moderator cell for corresponding it to the 4 cold neutron guide tubes, even if liquid hydrogen not liquid deuterium were used as a cold moderator. The sub-cooling helium jacket covering the moderator cell removes the nuclear heating of the outer shell wall of the cell. It contributes to reduce the void fraction of liquid hydrogen in the inner shell. Such a type of a moderator cell is suitable for the CNS with higher nuclear heating. The cold helium gas flows down firstly into the sub-cooling helium jacket and then flows up to the condenser. Therefore, the theory of the self-regulation for the thermo-siphon type of the CNS is also applicable

Two disjunct Pleistocene populations and anisotropic postglacial expansion shaped the current genetic structure of the relict plant Amborella trichopoda.

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Rémi Tournebize

Full Text Available Past climate fluctuations shaped the population dynamics of organisms in space and time, and have impacted their present intra-specific genetic structure. Demo-genetic modelling allows inferring the way past demographic and migration dynamics have determined this structure. Amborella trichopoda is an emblematic relict plant endemic to New Caledonia, widely distributed in the understory of non-ultramafic rainforests. We assessed the influence of the last glacial climates on the demographic history and the paleo-distribution of 12 Amborella populations covering the whole current distribution. We performed coalescent genetic modelling of these dynamics, based on both whole-genome resequencing and microsatellite genotyping data. We found that the two main genetic groups of Amborella were shaped by the divergence of two ancestral populations during the last glacial maximum. From 12,800 years BP, the South ancestral population has expanded 6.3-fold while the size of the North population has remained stable. Recent asymmetric gene flow between the groups further contributed to the phylogeographical pattern. Spatially explicit coalescent modelling allowed us to estimate the location of ancestral populations with good accuracy (< 22 km and provided indications regarding the mid-elevation pathways that facilitated post-glacial expansion.

Women in Shape Modeling Workshop

CERN Document Server

Tari, Sibel

2015-01-01

Presenting the latest research from the growing field of mathematical shape analysis, this volume is comprised of the collaborations of participants of the Women in Shape Modeling (WiSh) workshop, held at UCLA's Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics in July 2013. Topics include: Simultaneous spectral and spatial analysis of shape Dimensionality reduction and visualization of data in tree-spaces, such as classes of anatomical trees like airways and blood vessels Geometric shape segmentation, exploring shape segmentation from a Gestalt perspective, using information from the Blum medial axis of edge fragments in an image Representing and editing self-similar details on 3D shapes, studying shape deformation and editing techniques Several chapters in the book directly address the problem of continuous measures of context-dependent nearness and right shape models. Medical and biological applications have been a major source of motivation in shape research, and key topics are examined here in detail. All...

Synthesis of highly monodispersed teardrop-shaped core–shell SiO{sub 2}/TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles and their photocatalytic activities

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wu, Lihong; Zhou, Yifeng, E-mail: yifengzhou@126.com; Nie, Wangyan; Song, Linyong; Chen, Pengpeng, E-mail: chenpp@ahu.edu.cn

2015-10-01

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Uniform chitosan coated magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (CMMSNs) were successfully synthesized. • The CMMSNs were applied to highly efficient methylene blue (MB) dyes removal, and the saturated adsorption capacity of MB was 43.03 mg/g. • The MB adsorption kinetic and adsorption isotherm analysis were studied. • The CMMSNs had a saturation magnetization of 12.6 emu/g and could be easily separated by a magnet after dye adsorption. - Abstract: In this study, teardrop-shaped SiO{sub 2}/TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles (TST-NPs) with core–shell structure were fabricated from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and tetrabutyl titanate (TBT) by sol–gel method. And these nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV–vis spectroscopy. Photocatalytic activity of teardrop-shaped SiO{sub 2}/TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles after calcination (CST-NPs) was studied towards degradation of methylene blue under sunlight irradiation. The result showed that CST-NPs possessed good photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic mechanism was also studied by adding different capture agent. Results showed that addition of 0.003 M of I{sup −} decreased the degradation of MB more than same amount of Ag{sup +}, indicating that the photogenerated holes may play a more essential role than photoinjected electrons in the oxidation of MB.

Mesostructure parameters of the dilute alloy (Pd{sub 0.984}Fe{sub 0.016}){sub 0.95}Mn{sub 0.05} observed with neutron polarimetry

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Gordeev, G.; Axelrod, L.; Grigoriev, S.; Lazebnik, I.; Zabenkin, V.; Wagner, V.; Eckerlebe, H

2004-07-15

The ratio of longitudinal (R{sub ||}) to transverse (R{sub perpendicular}) inhomogeneity sizes, where perpendicular and perpendicular refer to the applied magnetic field direction, and the product {chi}{sub 0}R{sub perpendicular}, where {chi}{sub 0} is the isotropic susceptibility, have been extracted from neutron-depolarization data using two models for the description of anisotropic magnetic inhomogeneities. The analysis of the parameter dependence on temperature and magnetic history leads to conclusions regarding the effects of shape anisotropy. The dynamical excitations are not similar to spin waves.

Population prospects for Sub-Saharan Africa: determinants, consequences and policy.

Science.gov (United States)

Huth, M J

1986-01-01

Population projections for nine Sub-Saharan African countries (excluding southern Africa) are reviewed for the period to the year 2020. Consideration is given to the determinants of fertility and to the consequences of rapid population growth. Suggestions for population policies that will resolve population-related development problems are discussed.

Synergistic effect of carbon nanofiber and sub-micro filamentary nickel nanostrand on the shape memory polymer nanocomposite

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lu, Haibao; Leng, Jinsong; Du, Shanyi; Gou, Jihua

2011-01-01

This work studies the synergistic effect of carbon nanofiber (CNF) and sub-micro filamentary nickel nanostrand on the thermal and electrical properties, as well as the electro-active shape memory behavior, of a shape memory polymer (SMP) nanocomposite. The combination of electrical CNF and electromagnetic nickel nanostrand is used to render insulating thermo-responsive SMPs conductive. Subsequently, the shape memory behavior of the SMP can be activated by the electrical resistive heating. It is shown that sub-micro filamentary nickel-coated nanostrands significantly improved the electrical conductivity to facilitate the actuation of the SMP nanocomposite despite the low nanostrand volume content and low electrical voltage. Also the CNFs are blended with the SMP resin to facilitate the dispersion of nanostrands and improve the thermal conductivity to accelerate the electro- and thermo-active responses

The population crisis in sub-Saharan Africa.

Science.gov (United States)

Meerman, J; Cochrane, S H

1982-01-01

The authors argue that sub-Saharan Africa, given its present institutions and endowments of capital and technology, is already dangerously close to overpopulation. Specifically, they suggest that projected rapid population growth will have disastrous effects on the region's ability to increase exports and provide people with goods.

Comparing spatial diversification and meta-population models in the Indo-Australian Archipelago.

Science.gov (United States)

Chalmandrier, Loïc; Albouy, Camille; Descombes, Patrice; Sandel, Brody; Faurby, Soren; Svenning, Jens-Christian; Zimmermann, Niklaus E; Pellissier, Loïc

2018-03-01

Reconstructing the processes that have shaped the emergence of biodiversity gradients is critical to understand the dynamics of diversification of life on Earth. Islands have traditionally been used as model systems to unravel the processes shaping biological diversity. MacArthur and Wilson's island biogeographic model predicts diversity to be based on dynamic interactions between colonization and extinction rates, while treating islands themselves as geologically static entities. The current spatial configuration of islands should influence meta-population dynamics, but long-term geological changes within archipelagos are also expected to have shaped island biodiversity, in part by driving diversification. Here, we compare two mechanistic models providing inferences on species richness at a biogeographic scale: a mechanistic spatial-temporal model of species diversification and a spatial meta-population model. While the meta-population model operates over a static landscape, the diversification model is driven by changes in the size and spatial configuration of islands through time. We compare the inferences of both models to floristic diversity patterns among land patches of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Simulation results from the diversification model better matched observed diversity than a meta-population model constrained only by the contemporary landscape. The diversification model suggests that the dynamic re-positioning of islands promoting land disconnection and reconnection induced an accumulation of particularly high species diversity on Borneo, which is central within the island network. By contrast, the meta-population model predicts a higher diversity on the mainlands, which is less compatible with empirical data. Our analyses highlight that, by comparing models with contrasting assumptions, we can pinpoint the processes that are most compatible with extant biodiversity patterns.

Comparing spatial diversification and meta-population models in the Indo-Australian Archipelago

Science.gov (United States)

Chalmandrier, Loïc; Albouy, Camille; Descombes, Patrice; Sandel, Brody; Faurby, Soren; Svenning, Jens-Christian; Zimmermann, Niklaus E.

2018-01-01

Reconstructing the processes that have shaped the emergence of biodiversity gradients is critical to understand the dynamics of diversification of life on Earth. Islands have traditionally been used as model systems to unravel the processes shaping biological diversity. MacArthur and Wilson's island biogeographic model predicts diversity to be based on dynamic interactions between colonization and extinction rates, while treating islands themselves as geologically static entities. The current spatial configuration of islands should influence meta-population dynamics, but long-term geological changes within archipelagos are also expected to have shaped island biodiversity, in part by driving diversification. Here, we compare two mechanistic models providing inferences on species richness at a biogeographic scale: a mechanistic spatial-temporal model of species diversification and a spatial meta-population model. While the meta-population model operates over a static landscape, the diversification model is driven by changes in the size and spatial configuration of islands through time. We compare the inferences of both models to floristic diversity patterns among land patches of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Simulation results from the diversification model better matched observed diversity than a meta-population model constrained only by the contemporary landscape. The diversification model suggests that the dynamic re-positioning of islands promoting land disconnection and reconnection induced an accumulation of particularly high species diversity on Borneo, which is central within the island network. By contrast, the meta-population model predicts a higher diversity on the mainlands, which is less compatible with empirical data. Our analyses highlight that, by comparing models with contrasting assumptions, we can pinpoint the processes that are most compatible with extant biodiversity patterns. PMID:29657753

Fortune favours the brave: Movement responses shape demographic dynamics in strongly competing populations.

Science.gov (United States)

Potts, Jonathan R; Petrovskii, Sergei V

2017-05-07

Animal movement is a key mechanism for shaping population dynamics. The effect of interactions between competing animals on a population's survival has been studied for many decades. However, interactions also affect an animal's subsequent movement decisions. Despite this, the indirect effect of these decisions on animal survival is much less well-understood. Here, we incorporate movement responses to foreign animals into a model of two competing populations, where inter-specific competition is greater than intra-specific competition. When movement is diffusive, the travelling wave moves from the stronger population to the weaker. However, by incorporating behaviourally induced directed movement towards the stronger population, the weaker one can slow the travelling wave down, even reversing its direction. Hence movement responses can switch the predictions of traditional mechanistic models. Furthermore, when environmental heterogeneity is combined with aggressive movement strategies, it is possible for spatially segregated co-existence to emerge. In this situation, the spatial patterns of the competing populations have the unusual feature that they are slightly out-of-phase with the environmental patterns. Finally, incorporating dynamic movement responses can also enable stable co-existence in a homogeneous environment, giving a new mechanism for spatially segregated co-existence. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Latitudinal Gradient in Otolith Shape among Local Populations of Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus L.) in Norway.

Science.gov (United States)

Libungan, Lísa Anne; Slotte, Aril; Husebø, Åse; Godiksen, Jane A; Pálsson, Snæbjörn

2015-01-01

Otolith shape analysis of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) in Norwegian waters shows significant differentiation among fjords and a latitudinal gradient along the coast where neighbouring populations are more similar to each other than to those sampled at larger distances. The otolith shape was obtained using quantitative shape analysis, the outlines were transformed with Wavelet and analysed with multivariate methods. The observed morphological differences are likely to reflect environmental differences but indicate low dispersal among the local herring populations. Otolith shape variation suggests also limited exchange between the local populations and their oceanic counterparts, which could be due to differences in spawning behaviour. Herring from the most northerly location (69°N) in Balsfjord, which is genetically more similar to Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii), differed in otolith shape from all the other populations. Our results suggest that the semi-enclosed systems, where the local populations live and breed, are efficient barriers for dispersal. Otolith shape can thus serve as a marker to identify the origin of herring along the coast of Norway.

Latitudinal Gradient in Otolith Shape among Local Populations of Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus L.) in Norway

Science.gov (United States)

Libungan, Lísa Anne; Slotte, Aril; Husebø, Åse; Godiksen, Jane A.; Pálsson, Snæbjörn

2015-01-01

Otolith shape analysis of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) in Norwegian waters shows significant differentiation among fjords and a latitudinal gradient along the coast where neighbouring populations are more similar to each other than to those sampled at larger distances. The otolith shape was obtained using quantitative shape analysis, the outlines were transformed with Wavelet and analysed with multivariate methods. The observed morphological differences are likely to reflect environmental differences but indicate low dispersal among the local herring populations. Otolith shape variation suggests also limited exchange between the local populations and their oceanic counterparts, which could be due to differences in spawning behaviour. Herring from the most northerly location (69°N) in Balsfjord, which is genetically more similar to Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii), differed in otolith shape from all the other populations. Our results suggest that the semi-enclosed systems, where the local populations live and breed, are efficient barriers for dispersal. Otolith shape can thus serve as a marker to identify the origin of herring along the coast of Norway. PMID:26101885

Population growth and food supply in sub-Saharan Africa.

Science.gov (United States)

Meerman, J; Cochrane, S H

1982-09-01

It is argued in this article that sub-Saharan Africa, given its present institutions and endowments of capital and technology, is already dangerously close to overpopulation. The rapid growth of its population projected for the next decades will greatly increase human misery and depress economic development. Specifically, rapid population growth will have disastrous effects on the region's ability to increase exports and provide people with food. There must be a search for new ways in which these effects could be mitigated. In sub-Saharan Africa fertility either continues to be very high or is increasing, in part due to some decline in traditional practices that reduce fertility, such as prolonged breastfeeding. This situation and the expectation of declining mortality imply that African population growth may increase further. Currently, population in sub-Saharan Africa is about half that of India and a third of China. There are 2 main reasons why reduced fertility in the next few decades is unlikely in sub-Saharan Africa as a whole: Africa has low literacy, high infant and child mortality, and low urbanization; and average African fertility rates may even increase for the next 20 years or so. The question that arises is what are the implications of continuing and rapid population growth for the African food supply. The region's cereal production is largely restricted to 4 grains, i.e., millet, sorghum, maize, and rice. The volume of grain production is less, by weight, than 60% of the production of roots and tubers. There are 2 main differences between the output of these crops in sub-Saharan Africa and the rest of the world: yields/hectare are lower in Africa than in elsewhere; and yields have generally been decreasing or largely constant in Africa. The low productivity has several causes. Today, population pressure has brought diminishing returns to traditional agriculture in much of the Sahel and the savanna, in parts of East Africa, Southern Africa, and parts

Populational Growth Models Proportional to Beta Densities with Allee Effect

Science.gov (United States)

Aleixo, Sandra M.; Rocha, J. Leonel; Pestana, Dinis D.

2009-05-01

We consider populations growth models with Allee effect, proportional to beta densities with shape parameters p and 2, where the dynamical complexity is related with the Malthusian parameter r. For p>2, these models exhibit a population dynamics with natural Allee effect. However, in the case of 1models do not include this effect. In order to inforce it, we present some alternative models and investigate their dynamics, presenting some important results.

A statistical shape modelling framework to extract 3D shape biomarkers from medical imaging data: assessing arch morphology of repaired coarctation of the aorta.

Science.gov (United States)

Bruse, Jan L; McLeod, Kristin; Biglino, Giovanni; Ntsinjana, Hopewell N; Capelli, Claudio; Hsia, Tain-Yen; Sermesant, Maxime; Pennec, Xavier; Taylor, Andrew M; Schievano, Silvia

2016-05-31

Medical image analysis in clinical practice is commonly carried out on 2D image data, without fully exploiting the detailed 3D anatomical information that is provided by modern non-invasive medical imaging techniques. In this paper, a statistical shape analysis method is presented, which enables the extraction of 3D anatomical shape features from cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) image data, with no need for manual landmarking. The method was applied to repaired aortic coarctation arches that present complex shapes, with the aim of capturing shape features as biomarkers of potential functional relevance. The method is presented from the user-perspective and is evaluated by comparing results with traditional morphometric measurements. Steps required to set up the statistical shape modelling analyses, from pre-processing of the CMR images to parameter setting and strategies to account for size differences and outliers, are described in detail. The anatomical mean shape of 20 aortic arches post-aortic coarctation repair (CoA) was computed based on surface models reconstructed from CMR data. By analysing transformations that deform the mean shape towards each of the individual patient's anatomy, shape patterns related to differences in body surface area (BSA) and ejection fraction (EF) were extracted. The resulting shape vectors, describing shape features in 3D, were compared with traditionally measured 2D and 3D morphometric parameters. The computed 3D mean shape was close to population mean values of geometric shape descriptors and visually integrated characteristic shape features associated with our population of CoA shapes. After removing size effects due to differences in body surface area (BSA) between patients, distinct 3D shape features of the aortic arch correlated significantly with EF (r = 0.521, p = .022) and were well in agreement with trends as shown by traditional shape descriptors. The suggested method has the potential to discover

A unified spray forming model for the prediction of billet shape geometry

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hattel, J.H.; Pryds, N.H.

2004-01-01

In the present work a unified model for simulating the spray forming process has been developed. Models for the atomization and the deposition processes have been coupled together in order to obtain a new unified description of the spray forming process. The model is able to predict the shape and the temperatures of a spray-formed billet and takes into account the thermal coupling between the gas and the droplets, the change in droplet size distribution along the r-axis in the spray cone and the shading effect. The deposition describes the evolution of the preform with time. For this stage a novel 3D model, which allows the atomizer to be placed asymmetrically over the substrate and also includes the withdrawal of the deposit, was developed. This makes it possible to model not only the growth of a Gaussian shaped preform in which case the spray axis and the rotation axis coincide, but also the surface evolution during billet growth. For this purpose, shading must be taken into account as a core part of the surface evolution algorithm. The unified model involves coupling of three sub models for the atomization, the deposition and the shape of the billet. This coupling, which is a central part of the present work, is also described. Results from the integrated model are presented and the potential for better process understanding as well as process optimization is evident

A statistical model for mapping morphological shape

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Li Jiahan

2010-07-01

Full Text Available Abstract Background Living things come in all shapes and sizes, from bacteria, plants, and animals to humans. Knowledge about the genetic mechanisms for biological shape has far-reaching implications for a range spectrum of scientific disciplines including anthropology, agriculture, developmental biology, evolution and biomedicine. Results We derived a statistical model for mapping specific genes or quantitative trait loci (QTLs that control morphological shape. The model was formulated within the mixture framework, in which different types of shape are thought to result from genotypic discrepancies at a QTL. The EM algorithm was implemented to estimate QTL genotype-specific shapes based on a shape correspondence analysis. Computer simulation was used to investigate the statistical property of the model. Conclusion By identifying specific QTLs for morphological shape, the model developed will help to ask, disseminate and address many major integrative biological and genetic questions and challenges in the genetic control of biological shape and function.

A self-consistent model of cosmic-ray fluxes and positron excess: roles of nearby pulsars and a sub-dominant source population

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Joshi, Jagdish C.; Razzaque, Soebur, E-mail: jjagdish@uj.ac.za, E-mail: srazzaque@uj.ac.za [Department of Physics, University of Johannesburg, P. O. Box 524, Auckland Park 2006 (South Africa)

2017-09-01

The cosmic-ray positron flux calculated using the cosmic-ray nuclei interactions in our Galaxy cannot explain observed data above 10 GeV. An excess in the measured positron flux is therefore open to interpretation. Nearby pulsars, located within sub-kiloparsec range of the Solar system, are often invoked as plausible sources contributing to the excess. We show that an additional, sub-dominant population of sources together with the contributions from a few nearby pulsars can explain the latest positron excess data from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS). We simultaneously model, using the DRAGON code, propagation of cosmic-ray proton, Helium, electron and positron and fit their respective flux data. Our fit to the Boron to Carbon ratio data gives a diffusion spectral index of 0.45, which is close to the Kraichnan turbulent spectrum.

Modeling of silicon etching in CF sub 4 /O sub 2 and CF sub 4 /H sub 2 plasmas

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Trachtenberg, I.; Edgar, T.F. (Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (US)); Venkatesan, S.P. (Morgantown Energy Technology Center, Morgantown, WV (US))

1990-07-01

A one-dimensional radial flow reactor model that includes fairly detailed free radical gas-phase chemistry has been developed for the etching of silicon in CF{sub 4}/O{sub 2} and CF{sub 4}/H{sub 2} plasmas. Attention has been restricted to transport and reaction of neutral species. The model equations were solved by orthogonal collocation. The sensitivities of the model predictions to flow rate, inlet gas composition, electron density, silicon loading, and other factors have been examined. The major loss path for fluorine atoms is different in CF{sub 4}/O{sub 2} and CF{sub 4}/H{sub 2} systems, and this results in significant qualitative differences in the parametric sensitivities of the two systems.

Shape and catalytic mechanism of RuO{sub 2} particles at CO oxidation reaction conditions. First-principles based multi-scale modeling

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Reuter, Karsten [TU Muenchen (Germany). Lehrstuhl fuer Theoretische Chemie

2016-11-01

For model catalyst studies on low-index single-crystal surfaces close agreement between detailed measurements and quantitative microkinetic modeling can increasingly be achieved. However, for 'real' catalyst particles, such structure-morphology-activity relationships are only scarcely established. This is prototypically reflected by the situation for RuO{sub 2}, as a most active catalyst for CO oxidation. Here, existing first-principles kinetic modeling is restricted to just one facet, namely the RuO{sub 2}(110) surface, which is not able to fully account for activity data obtained from polycrystalline RuO{sub 2} powder catalysts. The overarching objective of this project was correspondingly to close this gap and demonstrate that similarly close agreement as for individual single-crystal model catalysts can also be achieved for catalyst particles. Specifically, we addressed experiments where an intact RuO{sub 2} bulk structure is conserved, and establish the atomic-scale structure and reactivity of other RuO{sub 2} low-index facets under the gas-phase conditions characteristic for catalytic CO oxidation.

Interplay of structural instability and lattice dynamics in Ni{sub 2}MnAl shape memory alloys

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mehaddene, T.

2007-02-12

The work presented here is devoted to investigate the interplay of lattice dynamics and structural instability in Ni{sub 2}MnAl shape memory alloys. Inelastic neutron scattering is used to get more insight on the dynamic precursors of structural instability in Ni{sub 2}MnAl. Differential Scanning Calorimetry was used to characterise the martensitic transition in Ni{sub 2}MnAl alloys. Effects of composition and heat treatments have been investigated. The measured martensitic transition temperature in Ni-Mn-Al alloys depends linearly on the valence electron concentration. Two single crystals with different compositions have been succesfully grown using the Czochralski technique. Acoustic and optical phonon modes have been measured at room temperature in the high symmetry directions of the cubic B2 phase. The force constants have been fitted to the measured data using the Born-von Karman model. The character of the phonon softening measured in Ni{sub 2}MnAl corresponds to the pattern of atomic displacements of the modulations 2M, 10M, 12M and 14M observed in bulk and thin-films of Ni{sub 2}MnAl. The effect of the composition on the lattice instability has been investigated by measuring normal modes of vibration in two different crystals, Ni{sub 51}Mn{sub 18}Al{sub 31} and Ni{sub 53}Mn{sub 22}Al{sub 25}, with e/a ratios of 7.29 and 7.59 respectively. The stabilisation of a single L2{sub 1} phase in Ni{sub 2}MnAl by annealing a Ni{sub 51}Mn{sub 18}Al{sub 31} single crystal at 673 K during 45 days has been attempted. Despite of the long-time annealing, a single L2{sub 1} phase could not be stabilised because of either a slow diffusion kinetics or the establishment of an equilibrium between the L2{sub 1} and the B2 phases. Phonon measurements of the TA{sub 2}[{xi}{xi}0] branch in the annealed sample revealed a substantial effect. The wiggle, associated with the anomalous softening, is still present but the degree of softening is smaller below 673 K and changes

Modeling tracers of young stellar population age in star-forming galaxies

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Levesque, Emily M. [CASA, Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado 389-UCB, Boulder, CO 80309 (United States); Leitherer, Claus, E-mail: Emily.Levesque@colorado.edu [Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218 (United States)

2013-12-20

The young stellar population of a star-forming galaxy is the primary engine driving its radiative properties. As a result, the age of a galaxy's youngest generation of stars is critical for a detailed understanding of its star formation history, stellar content, and evolutionary state. Here we present predicted equivalent widths for the Hβ, Hα, and Brγ recombination lines as a function of stellar population age. The equivalent widths are produced by the latest generations of stellar evolutionary tracks and the Starburst99 stellar population synthesis code, and are the first to fully account for the combined effects of both nebular emission and continuum absorption produced by the synthetic stellar population. Our grid of model stellar populations spans six metallicities (0.001 < Z < 0.04), two treatments of star formation history (a 10{sup 6} M {sub ☉} instantaneous burst and a continuous star formation rate of 1 M {sub ☉} yr{sup –1}), and two different treatments of initial rotation rate (v {sub rot} = 0.0v {sub crit} and 0.4v {sub crit}). We also investigate the effects of varying the initial mass function. Given constraints on galaxy metallicity, our predicted equivalent widths can be applied to observations of star-forming galaxies to approximate the age of their young stellar populations.

Statistical models of shape optimisation and evaluation

CERN Document Server

Davies, Rhodri; Taylor, Chris

2014-01-01

Deformable shape models have wide application in computer vision and biomedical image analysis. This book addresses a key issue in shape modelling: establishment of a meaningful correspondence between a set of shapes. Full implementation details are provided.

Morphological evolution of TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays with lotus-root-shaped nanostructure

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Yu, Dongliang; Song, Ye; Zhu, Xufei, E-mail: zhuxufei.njust@163.com; Yang, Ruiquan; Han, Aijun

2013-07-01

TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays (TNAs) with lotus-root-shaped nanostructure have been fabricated by a modified two-step electrochemical anodization method. In the present work, different morphologies formed under different anodizing voltages are investigated in detail by field-emission scanning electron microscope. The results show that the concaves left by the first-step anodization can guide the uniform growth of TNAs in some degree as the second-step anodizing voltage is the same with that in the first step, however, when lower voltages are adopted in the second-step anodization, no guidance can be achieved, and different morphological TNAs with lotus-root-shaped nanostructure are fabricated. And we find that the nanotube diameters are directly proportional to the applied voltage in the second-step anodization. Furthermore, a possible mechanism for the growth of the TiO{sub 2} nanotubes with the special morphology is proposed for the first time, which depends on both the oxygen bubble mold and the viscous flow of the barrier oxide from the pore base to the pore wall.

Characterization of Ni{sub 5}3.5-Fe{sub 1}9.5-Ga{sub 2}7 Ni{sub 5}3.5 ferromagnetic shape memory alloy produced by powder metallurgy; Caracterizacion de la aleacion Ni{sub 5}3.5-Fe{sub 1}9.5-Ga{sub 2}7 con memoria de forma ferromagnetica producida por metalurgia de polvos

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Olmos, L.; Alvarado-Hernandez, F.; Omar Jimenez, H.; Vergara-Hernandez, J.; Arroyo Albiter, M.; Ochoa-Gamboa, R. A.

2015-07-01

The main drawback of ferromagnetic shape memory alloys fabricated through casting methods are its brittleness. In order to overcome this disadvantage, powder metallurgy is an ideal technique for the consolidation of many engineering parts. This paper is focused on the study of the milling and sintering effects of metallic powders over the evolution of the crystalline phases responsibly for the shape memory effect of these materials. To achieve this objective, ferromagnetic shape memory alloy powders (Ni{sub 5}3.5-Fe{sub 1}9.5-Ga{sub 2}7) were prepared from a cast ingot by mechanical milling at two different times of 30 and 60 minutes. The evolution of the phases was investigated through high temperature X-ray diffraction (HTXRD), whereas sintering was analyzed with dilatometry tests. X-ray studies showed that four different phases can be present depending on the particle size and temperature at which the heat treatment was performed. Coarser powders showed a B2 structure along with a γ phase while the finer showed a L21 structure when treated below 1173 K. Furthermore, finer powders had a modulated M14 martensitic structure after sintering at temperatures above 1273 K. The sintering of powders was slow and a mass diffusion mechanism was not clearly observed. (Author)

Modeling population dynamics of mitochondria in mammalian cells

Science.gov (United States)

Kornick, Kellianne; Das, Moumita

Mitochondria are organelles located inside eukaryotic cells and are essential for several key cellular processes such as energy (ATP) production, cell signaling, differentiation, and apoptosis. All organisms are believed to have low levels of variation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and alterations in mtDNA are connected to a range of human health conditions, including epilepsy, heart failure, Parkinsons disease, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. Therefore, understanding how changes in mtDNA accumulate over time and are correlated to changes in mitochondrial function and cell properties can have a profound impact on our understanding of cell physiology and the origins of some diseases. Motivated by this, we develop and study a mathematical model to determine which cellular parameters have the largest impact on mtDNA population dynamics. The model consists of coupled ODEs to describe subpopulations of healthy and dysfunctional mitochondria subject to mitochondrial fission, fusion, autophagy, and mutation. We study the time evolution and stability of each sub-population under specific selection biases and pressures by tuning specific terms in our model. Our results may provide insights into how sub-populations of mitochondria survive and evolve under different selection pressures. This work was supported by a Grant from the Moore Foundation.

Magnetization and ESR studies of La{sub 0.67}(Ca{sub 1−x}Mg{sub x}){sub 0.33}MnO{sub 3} systems

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sendil Kumar, A., E-mail: sendilphy@gmail.com [School of Physics, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500 046 (India); Ravinder Reddy, K [School of Engineering Sciences & Technology, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500 046 (India); Bhatnagar, Anil K. [School of Physics, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500 046 (India); School of Engineering Sciences & Technology, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500 046 (India)

2015-08-05

Highlights: • Mg substitution reduces the ferromagnetic strength. • Inhomogeneous broadening is due to phase separation. • Griffiths phase existence is probed. - Abstract: Magnetization studies and line shape analysis on Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectra of La{sub 0.67}(Ca{sub 1−x}Mg{sub x}){sub 0.33}MnO{sub 3} are carried out. In paramagnetic phase well above T{sub c}, the ESR spectra are single Lorentzian but below and near T{sup ∗}{sub ΔHPP}, (T{sup ∗}{sub ΔHPP} is temperature at which line width is minimum) inhomogeneous broadening with asymmetry in the signal is observed due to phase separation. The resonance field below T{sup ∗}{sub ΔHPP} decreases with decreasing temperature. Above T{sub c} the intensity of the ESR spectra obeys the thermally activated model (Arrhenius behavior). Substitution of Mg weakens the ferromagnetic interaction and evolution of change in lineshape near T{sub c} is an evidence of Griffiths phase (coexistence of paramagnetic and ferromagnetic) in Mg doped LCMO system.

Effects of aging on the shape memory and superelasticity behavior of ultra-high strength Ni{sub 54}Ti{sub 46} alloys under compression

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kaya, I., E-mail: irfan_kaya@anadolu.edu.tr [Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Anadolu University, Eskisehir TR 26555 (Turkey); Tobe, H.; Karaca, H.E. [Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506 (United States); Basaran, B. [Department of Engineering Technology, College of Technology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204 (United States); Nagasako, M. [Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577 (Japan); Kainuma, R. [Department of Material Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8579 (Japan); Chumlyakov, Y. [Siberian Physical-Technical Institute at Tomsk State University, Tomsk 634050 (Russian Federation)

2016-12-15

This study investigates the effects of aging on the shape memory and superelasticity behavior of a Ni-rich Ni{sub 54}Ti{sub 46} (at%) alloy. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and compression test (thermal cycling under stress and superelasticity) were carried out after 3 h agin;g from 450 °C to 600 °C. The alloys show recoverable shape memory effect with transformation strains of about 1% and narrow hysteresis under high stress levels. The work output of 14.1 Jg{sup −1} was observed at an ultra-high stress level of 1500 MPa after 600 °C 3 h aging. 450 °C 3 h aging resulted in a very narrow temperature hysteresis of 8°C under an ultra-high stress level of 1500 MPa. At room temperature, the superelastic response with 4% total strain was obtained even when high stress level of 2000 MPa is applied after 550 °C 3 h aging.

A statistical shape modelling framework to extract 3D shape biomarkers from medical imaging data: assessing arch morphology of repaired coarctation of the aorta

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Bruse, Jan L.; McLeod, Kristin; Biglino, Giovanni; Ntsinjana, Hopewell N.; Capelli, Claudio

2016-01-01

Medical image analysis in clinical practice is commonly carried out on 2D image data, without fully exploiting the detailed 3D anatomical information that is provided by modern non-invasive medical imaging techniques. In this paper, a statistical shape analysis method is presented, which enables the extraction of 3D anatomical shape features from cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) image data, with no need for manual landmarking. The method was applied to repaired aortic coarctation arches that present complex shapes, with the aim of capturing shape features as biomarkers of potential functional relevance. The method is presented from the user-perspective and is evaluated by comparing results with traditional morphometric measurements. Steps required to set up the statistical shape modelling analyses, from pre-processing of the CMR images to parameter setting and strategies to account for size differences and outliers, are described in detail. The anatomical mean shape of 20 aortic arches post-aortic coarctation repair (CoA) was computed based on surface models reconstructed from CMR data. By analysing transformations that deform the mean shape towards each of the individual patient’s anatomy, shape patterns related to differences in body surface area (BSA) and ejection fraction (EF) were extracted. The resulting shape vectors, describing shape features in 3D, were compared with traditionally measured 2D and 3D morphometric parameters. The computed 3D mean shape was close to population mean values of geometric shape descriptors and visually integrated characteristic shape features associated with our population of CoA shapes. After removing size effects due to differences in body surface area (BSA) between patients, distinct 3D shape features of the aortic arch correlated significantly with EF (r = 0.521, p = .022) and were well in agreement with trends as shown by traditional shape descriptors. The suggested method has the potential to discover previously

The influence of oxidation process on exchange bias in egg-shaped FeO/Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} core/shell nanoparticles

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Leszczyński, Błażej, E-mail: b.leszczynski@amu.edu.pl [NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań (Poland); Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań (Poland); Hadjipanayis, George C.; El-Gendy, Ahmed A. [Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, 217 Sharp Lab, Newark, DE 19716 (United States); Załęski, Karol [NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań (Poland); Śniadecki, Zbigniew [Institute of Molecular Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, M. Smoluchowskiego 17, 60-179 Poznań (Poland); Musiał, Andrzej [NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań (Poland); Institute of Molecular Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, M. Smoluchowskiego 17, 60-179 Poznań (Poland); Jarek, Marcin [NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań (Poland); Jurga, Stefan [NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań (Poland); Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań (Poland); Skumiel, Andrzej [Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań (Poland)

2016-10-15

Egg-shaped nanoparticles with a core–shell morphology were synthesized by thermal decomposition of an iron oleate complex. XRD and M(T) magnetic measurements confirmed the presence of FeO (wustite) and Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} (magnetite) phases in the nanoparticles. Oxidation of FeO to Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} was found to be the mechanism for the shell formation. As-made nanoparticles exhibited high values of exchange bias at 2 K. Oxidation led to decrease of exchange field from 2880 Oe (in as-made sample) to 330 Oe (in oxidized sample). At temperatures higher than the Néel temperature of FeO (200 K) there was no exchange bias. An interesting observation was made showing the exchange field to be higher than the coercive field at temperatures close to magnetite's Verwey transition. - Highlights: • Synthesis of monodispersed FeO nanoparticles is shown. • As-made FeO nanoparticle is antiferromagnetically ordered, when it is oxidized to Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}, the FeO core becomes small and disordered. • Exchange bias in well-ordered and disordered core is different.

A probabilistic model for component-based shape synthesis

KAUST Repository

Kalogerakis, Evangelos

2012-07-01

We present an approach to synthesizing shapes from complex domains, by identifying new plausible combinations of components from existing shapes. Our primary contribution is a new generative model of component-based shape structure. The model represents probabilistic relationships between properties of shape components, and relates them to learned underlying causes of structural variability within the domain. These causes are treated as latent variables, leading to a compact representation that can be effectively learned without supervision from a set of compatibly segmented shapes. We evaluate the model on a number of shape datasets with complex structural variability and demonstrate its application to amplification of shape databases and to interactive shape synthesis. © 2012 ACM 0730-0301/2012/08-ART55.

Objective models of compressed breast shapes undergoing mammography

Science.gov (United States)

Feng, Steve Si Jia; Patel, Bhavika; Sechopoulos, Ioannis

2013-01-01

Purpose: To develop models of compressed breasts undergoing mammography based on objective analysis, that are capable of accurately representing breast shapes in acquired clinical images and generating new, clinically realistic shapes. Methods: An automated edge detection algorithm was used to catalogue the breast shapes of clinically acquired cranio-caudal (CC) and medio-lateral oblique (MLO) view mammograms from a large database of digital mammography images. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on these shapes to reduce the information contained within the shapes to a small number of linearly independent variables. The breast shape models, one of each view, were developed from the identified principal components, and their ability to reproduce the shape of breasts from an independent set of mammograms not used in the PCA, was assessed both visually and quantitatively by calculating the average distance error (ADE). Results: The PCA breast shape models of the CC and MLO mammographic views based on six principal components, in which 99.2% and 98.0%, respectively, of the total variance of the dataset is contained, were found to be able to reproduce breast shapes with strong fidelity (CC view mean ADE = 0.90 mm, MLO view mean ADE = 1.43 mm) and to generate new clinically realistic shapes. The PCA models based on fewer principal components were also successful, but to a lesser degree, as the two-component model exhibited a mean ADE = 2.99 mm for the CC view, and a mean ADE = 4.63 mm for the MLO view. The four-component models exhibited a mean ADE = 1.47 mm for the CC view and a mean ADE = 2.14 mm for the MLO view. Paired t-tests of the ADE values of each image between models showed that these differences were statistically significant (max p-value = 0.0247). Visual examination of modeled breast shapes confirmed these results. Histograms of the PCA parameters associated with the six principal components were fitted with Gaussian distributions. The six

Objective models of compressed breast shapes undergoing mammography

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Feng, Steve Si Jia [Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University and Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, 1701 Uppergate Drive Northeast, Suite 5018, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 (United States); Patel, Bhavika [Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, 1701 Uppergate Drive Northeast, Suite 5018, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 (United States); Sechopoulos, Ioannis [Departments of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Hematology and Medical Oncology and Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, 1701 Uppergate Drive Northeast, Suite 5018, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 (United States)

2013-03-15

Purpose: To develop models of compressed breasts undergoing mammography based on objective analysis, that are capable of accurately representing breast shapes in acquired clinical images and generating new, clinically realistic shapes. Methods: An automated edge detection algorithm was used to catalogue the breast shapes of clinically acquired cranio-caudal (CC) and medio-lateral oblique (MLO) view mammograms from a large database of digital mammography images. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on these shapes to reduce the information contained within the shapes to a small number of linearly independent variables. The breast shape models, one of each view, were developed from the identified principal components, and their ability to reproduce the shape of breasts from an independent set of mammograms not used in the PCA, was assessed both visually and quantitatively by calculating the average distance error (ADE). Results: The PCA breast shape models of the CC and MLO mammographic views based on six principal components, in which 99.2% and 98.0%, respectively, of the total variance of the dataset is contained, were found to be able to reproduce breast shapes with strong fidelity (CC view mean ADE = 0.90 mm, MLO view mean ADE = 1.43 mm) and to generate new clinically realistic shapes. The PCA models based on fewer principal components were also successful, but to a lesser degree, as the two-component model exhibited a mean ADE = 2.99 mm for the CC view, and a mean ADE = 4.63 mm for the MLO view. The four-component models exhibited a mean ADE = 1.47 mm for the CC view and a mean ADE = 2.14 mm for the MLO view. Paired t-tests of the ADE values of each image between models showed that these differences were statistically significant (max p-value = 0.0247). Visual examination of modeled breast shapes confirmed these results. Histograms of the PCA parameters associated with the six principal components were fitted with Gaussian distributions. The six

Objective models of compressed breast shapes undergoing mammography

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Feng, Steve Si Jia; Patel, Bhavika; Sechopoulos, Ioannis

2013-01-01

Purpose: To develop models of compressed breasts undergoing mammography based on objective analysis, that are capable of accurately representing breast shapes in acquired clinical images and generating new, clinically realistic shapes. Methods: An automated edge detection algorithm was used to catalogue the breast shapes of clinically acquired cranio-caudal (CC) and medio-lateral oblique (MLO) view mammograms from a large database of digital mammography images. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on these shapes to reduce the information contained within the shapes to a small number of linearly independent variables. The breast shape models, one of each view, were developed from the identified principal components, and their ability to reproduce the shape of breasts from an independent set of mammograms not used in the PCA, was assessed both visually and quantitatively by calculating the average distance error (ADE). Results: The PCA breast shape models of the CC and MLO mammographic views based on six principal components, in which 99.2% and 98.0%, respectively, of the total variance of the dataset is contained, were found to be able to reproduce breast shapes with strong fidelity (CC view mean ADE = 0.90 mm, MLO view mean ADE = 1.43 mm) and to generate new clinically realistic shapes. The PCA models based on fewer principal components were also successful, but to a lesser degree, as the two-component model exhibited a mean ADE = 2.99 mm for the CC view, and a mean ADE = 4.63 mm for the MLO view. The four-component models exhibited a mean ADE = 1.47 mm for the CC view and a mean ADE = 2.14 mm for the MLO view. Paired t-tests of the ADE values of each image between models showed that these differences were statistically significant (max p-value = 0.0247). Visual examination of modeled breast shapes confirmed these results. Histograms of the PCA parameters associated with the six principal components were fitted with Gaussian distributions. The six

Demographic models reveal the shape of density dependence for a specialist insect herbivore on variable host plants.

Science.gov (United States)

Miller, Tom E X

2007-07-01

1. It is widely accepted that density-dependent processes play an important role in most natural populations. However, persistent challenges in our understanding of density-dependent population dynamics include evaluating the shape of the relationship between density and demographic rates (linear, concave, convex), and identifying extrinsic factors that can mediate this relationship. 2. I studied the population dynamics of the cactus bug Narnia pallidicornis on host plants (Opuntia imbricata) that varied naturally in relative reproductive effort (RRE, the proportion of meristems allocated to reproduction), an important plant quality trait. I manipulated per-plant cactus bug densities, quantified subsequent dynamics, and fit stage-structured models to the experimental data to ask if and how density influences demographic parameters. 3. In the field experiment, I found that populations with variable starting densities quickly converged upon similar growth trajectories. In the model-fitting analyses, the data strongly supported a model that defined the juvenile cactus bug retention parameter (joint probability of surviving and not dispersing) as a nonlinear decreasing function of density. The estimated shape of this relationship shifted from concave to convex with increasing host-plant RRE. 4. The results demonstrate that host-plant traits are critical sources of variation in the strength and shape of density dependence in insects, and highlight the utility of integrated experimental-theoretical approaches for identifying processes underlying patterns of change in natural populations.

Microwave properties of sphere-, flake-, and disc-shaped BaFe{sub 12}O{sub 19} nanoparticle inks for high-frequency applications on printed electronics

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Myllymäki, S. [Microelectronics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu 90014 (Finland); Maček Kržmanc, M. [Josef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana (Slovenia); Sloma, M. [Institute of Electronic Materials Technology (ITME) Department of Silicon Technology, 133 Wolczynska Street, 01-919 Warsaw (Poland); Juuti, J.; Nelo, M.; Teirikangas, M. [Microelectronics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu 90014 (Finland); Jakubowska, M. [Institute of Electronic Materials Technology (ITME) Department of Silicon Technology, 133 Wolczynska Street, 01-919 Warsaw (Poland); Suvorov, D. [Josef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana (Slovenia); Jantunen, H. [Microelectronics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu 90014 (Finland)

2016-12-01

Spherical (diameter 50–200 nm), flake- (diameter 40–200 nm), and disc-shaped (diameter 10–20 nm) BaFe{sub 12}O{sub 19} nanoparticles were synthesized with a wet chemical method, and their permittivity, electric loss tangent, permeability, and magnetic loss tangent were measured in the 0.045–10 GHz range. The materials were prepared using a solution of 12% PMMA resin in a butyldiglycol solvent for 10–50 wt% filling content. Microstrip transmission-line perturbation was used to measure complex permeability and the split post dielectric resonator method was employed to measure dielectric properties. The frequency dependence of the permeability and permittivity spectra of the composites was affected by their shape and filling fraction. The composites made with spherical particles had higher permeability values (1.4–1.75) at 1 GHz than the composites made with flake (1.25–1.6) or disc particles (1.1–1.3), but the spherical particles caused more losses. The flake particle composite provided permeability and magnetic loss characteristics at both 1 GHz and 7 GHz superior to those of the sphere particle composite in low-loss RF applications. The magnetic loss tangent of PMMA/BaFe{sub 12}O{sub 19} was 0.2–0.3 at 1 GHz, being lower than that of state-of-the-art PANI/BaFe{sub 12}O{sub 19} composites. The sphere composite inks showed permeability values less than 1 at 1–4 GHz ferromagnetic resonance (FMR); they could be used as a tunable material in microwave applications. The sphere and flake composite inks also had sufficient printing quality for the screen-printing fabrication method.

Estimation of stature from the foot and its segments in a sub-adult female population of North India

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Krishan Kewal

2011-11-01

Full Text Available Abstract Background Establishing personal identity is one of the main concerns in forensic investigations. Estimation of stature forms a basic domain of the investigation process in unknown and co-mingled human remains in forensic anthropology case work. The objective of the present study was to set up standards for estimation of stature from the foot and its segments in a sub-adult female population. Methods The sample for the study constituted 149 young females from the Northern part of India. The participants were aged between 13 and 18 years. Besides stature, seven anthropometric measurements that included length of the foot from each toe (T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 respectively, foot breadth at ball (BBAL and foot breadth at heel (BHEL were measured on both feet in each participant using standard methods and techniques. Results The results indicated that statistically significant differences (p p-value Conclusions The present study concluded that foot measurements have a strong relationship with stature in the sub-adult female population of North India. Hence, the stature of an individual can be successfully estimated from the foot and its segments using different regression models derived in the study. The regression models derived in the study may be applied successfully for the estimation of stature in sub-adult females, whenever foot remains are brought for forensic examination. Stepwise multiple regression models tend to estimate stature more accurately than linear regression models in female sub-adults.

Introducing a rainfall compound distribution model based on weather patterns sub-sampling

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

F. Garavaglia

2010-06-01

Full Text Available This paper presents a probabilistic model for daily rainfall, using sub-sampling based on meteorological circulation. We classified eight typical but contrasted synoptic situations (weather patterns for France and surrounding areas, using a "bottom-up" approach, i.e. from the shape of the rain field to the synoptic situations described by geopotential fields. These weather patterns (WP provide a discriminating variable that is consistent with French climatology, and allows seasonal rainfall records to be split into more homogeneous sub-samples, in term of meteorological genesis.

First results show how the combination of seasonal and WP sub-sampling strongly influences the identification of the asymptotic behaviour of rainfall probabilistic models. Furthermore, with this level of stratification, an asymptotic exponential behaviour of each sub-sample appears as a reasonable hypothesis. This first part is illustrated with two daily rainfall records from SE of France.

The distribution of the multi-exponential weather patterns (MEWP is then defined as the composition, for a given season, of all WP sub-sample marginal distributions, weighted by the relative frequency of occurrence of each WP. This model is finally compared to Exponential and Generalized Pareto distributions, showing good features in terms of robustness and accuracy. These final statistical results are computed from a wide dataset of 478 rainfall chronicles spread on the southern half of France. All these data cover the 1953–2005 period.

Visualising the demographic factors which shape population age structure

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Tom Wilson

2016-09-01

Full Text Available Background: The population pyramid is one of the most popular tools for visualising population age structure. However, it is difficult to discern from the diagram the relative effects of different demographic components on the size of age-specific populations, making it hard to understand exactly how a population's age structure is formed. Objective: The aim of this paper is to introduce a type of population pyramid which shows how births, deaths, and migration have shaped a population's age structure. Methods: Births, deaths, and population data were obtained from the Human Mortality Database and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. A variation on the conventional population pyramid, termed here a components-of-change pyramid, was created. Based on cohort population accounts, it illustrates how births, deaths, and net migration have created the population of each age group. A simple measure which summarises the impact of net migration on age structure is also suggested. Results: Example components-of-change pyramids for several countries and subnational regions are presented, which illustrate how births, deaths, and net migration have fashioned current population age structures. The influence of migration is shown to vary greatly between populations. Conclusions: The new type of pyramid aids interpretation of a population's age structure and helps to understand its demographic history over the last century.

Theory of the orthogonal dimer Heisenberg spin model for SrCu sub 2 (BO sub 3) sub 2

CERN Document Server

Miyahara, S

2003-01-01

The magnetic properties of SrCu sub 2 (BO sub 3) sub 2 are reviewed from a theoretical point of view. SrCu sub 2 (BO sub 3) sub 2 is a new two-dimensional spin gap system and its magnetic properties are well described by a spin-1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model of the orthogonal dimer lattice. The model has a dimer singlet ground state whose exactness was proven by Shastry and Sutherland for a topologically equivalent model more than 20 years ago. The exactness of the ground state is maintained even if interlayer couplings are introduced for SrCu sub 2 (BO sub 3) sub 2. In the two-dimensional model, quantum phase transitions take place between different ground states for which three phases are expected: a gapped dimer singlet state, a plaquette resonating valence bond state and a gapless magnetic ordered state. Analysis of the experimental data shows that the dimer singlet ground state is realized in SrCu sub 2 (BO sub 3) sub 2. The orthogonality of the dimer bonds, which is the underlying symmetry of th...

Effect of heat treatment on the crystal structure, martensitic transformation and magnetic properties of Mn{sub 53}Ni{sub 25}Ga{sub 22} ferromagnetic shape memory alloy

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Dong, G.F., E-mail: dgfu0451@sina.com [Department of mechanics Dalian University, Dalian 116622 (China); Gao, Z.Y. [National Key Laboratory Precision Hot Processing of Metals, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 405, Harbin 150001 (China)

2016-02-01

In this study, the effect of heat treatment on crystal structure, martensitic transformation, thermodynamic behavior and magnetic properties of polycrystalline Mn{sub 53}Ni{sub 25}Ga{sub 22} ferromagnetic shape memory alloy was systematically investigated. The results show that the heat treatment has obvious effect on martensitic transformation temperatures, crystal structure and hysteresis loops. Heat treatment greatly effects on transformation temperatures due to modified composition of the matrix. Martensitic transformation temperature, saturation magnetization decreased with the increase heat treatment temperature, reaching their minimum values at the heat treatment temperature of 1173 K for 12 h. Curie temperature of maximum values obtained at solution-treated of 1173 K for 12 h. In other word, increasing heat treatment temperature and time has an effect on Curie temperature. In addition, the annealed alloy Mn{sub 53}Ni{sub 25}Ga{sub 22} may completely dissolve in vacuum tubes at 1173 K for 12 h. It is found that the studied alloys have some (Mn,Ni){sub 4} Ga-type compound precipitates, which can be seen dispersing both in grain interiors and on grain boundaries at other heat treatment process. Lastly, Rietveld analysis shows the good agreement between experiment and calculated data of XRD patterns. - Highlights: • Heat treatment has obvious effect on transformation, structure and hysteresis. • Transformation temperature decreased with increase heat treatment temperature. • Magnetization decreased with increase heat treatment temperature. • Annealed alloy completely dissolve in vacuum tubes at 1123 K for 24 h.

The population debate in relation to development: the case of sub-Saharan Africa.

Science.gov (United States)

Abou-stait, F

1994-12-02

A complex relationship exists between population growth and economic development. The historical quantitative evidence is also ambiguous. Many social scientists consider rapid population growth in developing countries to be a major obstacle to development. There are, however, many ways in which population growth can foster development. There are also several rational reasons why families in developing countries may decide to bear many children. Theories on population and development are discussed. Using sub-Saharan Africa as its reference region, the paper describes how rapid population growth can impede development. Current demographic and economic trends in sub-Saharan Africa and the consequences of rapid population growth in terms of economic, environmental, and sociopolitical change, capital widening, the labor force, and trade are presented.

Probabilistic models for neural populations that naturally capture global coupling and criticality.

Science.gov (United States)

Humplik, Jan; Tkačik, Gašper

2017-09-01

Advances in multi-unit recordings pave the way for statistical modeling of activity patterns in large neural populations. Recent studies have shown that the summed activity of all neurons strongly shapes the population response. A separate recent finding has been that neural populations also exhibit criticality, an anomalously large dynamic range for the probabilities of different population activity patterns. Motivated by these two observations, we introduce a class of probabilistic models which takes into account the prior knowledge that the neural population could be globally coupled and close to critical. These models consist of an energy function which parametrizes interactions between small groups of neurons, and an arbitrary positive, strictly increasing, and twice differentiable function which maps the energy of a population pattern to its probability. We show that: 1) augmenting a pairwise Ising model with a nonlinearity yields an accurate description of the activity of retinal ganglion cells which outperforms previous models based on the summed activity of neurons; 2) prior knowledge that the population is critical translates to prior expectations about the shape of the nonlinearity; 3) the nonlinearity admits an interpretation in terms of a continuous latent variable globally coupling the system whose distribution we can infer from data. Our method is independent of the underlying system's state space; hence, it can be applied to other systems such as natural scenes or amino acid sequences of proteins which are also known to exhibit criticality.

Population Stabilization in India: A Sub-State level Analysis

OpenAIRE

Purohit C, Dr Brijesh

2007-01-01

The study aims at analyzing economic and policy factors impinging upon population stabilization measures at the district (sub-state level) in India. It reflects upon popularly debated notions, namely, that development is the best contraceptive or whether contraceptive is the best development. In order to reflect upon this notion, we hypothesize that the factors determining the success of population stabilization measures are likely to be different across rich and poor states. It is more likel...

Modeling self-occlusions in dynamic shape and appearance tracking

KAUST Repository

Yang, Yanchao

2013-12-01

We present a method to track the precise shape of a dynamic object in video. Joint dynamic shape and appearance models, in which a template of the object is propagated to match the object shape and radiance in the next frame, are advantageous over methods employing global image statistics in cases of complex object radiance and cluttered background. In cases of complex 3D object motion and relative viewpoint change, self-occlusions and disocclusions of the object are prominent, and current methods employing joint shape and appearance models are unable to accurately adapt to new shape and appearance information, leading to inaccurate shape detection. In this work, we model self-occlusions and dis-occlusions in a joint shape and appearance tracking framework. Experiments on video exhibiting occlusion/dis-occlusion, complex radiance and background show that occlusion/dis-occlusion modeling leads to superior shape accuracy compared to recent methods employing joint shape/appearance models or employing global statistics. © 2013 IEEE.

Modeling mechanical interactions in growing populations of rod-shaped bacteria

Science.gov (United States)

Winkle, James J.; Igoshin, Oleg A.; Bennett, Matthew R.; Josić, Krešimir; Ott, William

2017-10-01

Advances in synthetic biology allow us to engineer bacterial collectives with pre-specified characteristics. However, the behavior of these collectives is difficult to understand, as cellular growth and division as well as extra-cellular fluid flow lead to complex, changing arrangements of cells within the population. To rationally engineer and control the behavior of cell collectives we need theoretical and computational tools to understand their emergent spatiotemporal dynamics. Here, we present an agent-based model that allows growing cells to detect and respond to mechanical interactions. Crucially, our model couples the dynamics of cell growth to the cell’s environment: Mechanical constraints can affect cellular growth rate and a cell may alter its behavior in response to these constraints. This coupling links the mechanical forces that influence cell growth and emergent behaviors in cell assemblies. We illustrate our approach by showing how mechanical interactions can impact the dynamics of bacterial collectives growing in microfluidic traps.

Lipid vesicle shape analysis from populations using light video microscopy and computer vision.

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Jernej Zupanc

Full Text Available We present a method for giant lipid vesicle shape analysis that combines manually guided large-scale video microscopy and computer vision algorithms to enable analyzing vesicle populations. The method retains the benefits of light microscopy and enables non-destructive analysis of vesicles from suspensions containing up to several thousands of lipid vesicles (1-50 µm in diameter. For each sample, image analysis was employed to extract data on vesicle quantity and size distributions of their projected diameters and isoperimetric quotients (measure of contour roundness. This process enables a comparison of samples from the same population over time, or the comparison of a treated population to a control. Although vesicles in suspensions are heterogeneous in sizes and shapes and have distinctively non-homogeneous distribution throughout the suspension, this method allows for the capture and analysis of repeatable vesicle samples that are representative of the population inspected.

3D shape decomposition and comparison for gallbladder modeling

Science.gov (United States)

Huang, Weimin; Zhou, Jiayin; Liu, Jiang; Zhang, Jing; Yang, Tao; Su, Yi; Law, Gim Han; Chui, Chee Kong; Chang, Stephen

2011-03-01

This paper presents an approach to gallbladder shape comparison by using 3D shape modeling and decomposition. The gallbladder models can be used for shape anomaly analysis and model comparison and selection in image guided robotic surgical training, especially for laparoscopic cholecystectomy simulation. The 3D shape of a gallbladder is first represented as a surface model, reconstructed from the contours segmented in CT data by a scheme of propagation based voxel learning and classification. To better extract the shape feature, the surface mesh is further down-sampled by a decimation filter and smoothed by a Taubin algorithm, followed by applying an advancing front algorithm to further enhance the regularity of the mesh. Multi-scale curvatures are then computed on the regularized mesh for the robust saliency landmark localization on the surface. The shape decomposition is proposed based on the saliency landmarks and the concavity, measured by the distance from the surface point to the convex hull. With a given tolerance the 3D shape can be decomposed and represented as 3D ellipsoids, which reveal the shape topology and anomaly of a gallbladder. The features based on the decomposed shape model are proposed for gallbladder shape comparison, which can be used for new model selection. We have collected 19 sets of abdominal CT scan data with gallbladders, some shown in normal shape and some in abnormal shapes. The experiments have shown that the decomposed shapes reveal important topology features.

Water-assisted size and shape control of CsPbBr{sub 3} perovskite nanocrystals

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Zhang, Xiaoyu [State Key Laboratory on Integrated Optoelectronics and College of Electronic Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun (China); Department of Materials Science, Key Laboratory of Mobile Materials MOE, State Key Laboratory of Automotive Simulation and Control, Jilin University, Changchun (China); Bai, Xue; Wu, Hua; Zhang, Xiangtong; Sun, Chun; Zhang, Yu [State Key Laboratory on Integrated Optoelectronics and College of Electronic Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun (China); Zhang, Wei; Zheng, Weitao [Department of Materials Science, Key Laboratory of Mobile Materials MOE, State Key Laboratory of Automotive Simulation and Control, Jilin University, Changchun (China); Yu, William W. [State Key Laboratory on Integrated Optoelectronics and College of Electronic Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun (China); Department of Chemistry and Physics, Louisiana State University, Shreveport, LA (United States); Rogach, Andrey L. [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Centre for Functional Photonics (CFP), City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon (China)

2018-03-19

Lead-halide perovskites are well known to decompose rapidly when exposed to polar solvents, such as water. Contrary to this common-place observation, we have found that through introducing a suitable minor amount of water into the reaction mixture, we can synthesize stable CsPbBr{sub 3} nanocrystals. The size and the crystallinity, and as a result the band gap tunability of the strongly emitting CsPbBr{sub 3} nanocrystals correlate with the water content. Suitable amounts of water change the crystallization environment, inducing the formation of differently shaped perovskites, namely spherical NCs, rectangular nanoplatelets, or nanowires. Bright CsPbBr{sub 3} nanocrystals with the photoluminescence quantum yield reaching 90 % were employed for fabrication of inverted hybrid inorganic/organic light-emitting devices, with the peak luminance of 4428 cd m{sup -2} and external quantum yield of 1.7 %. (copyright 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Strength analysis of CARR-CNS with crescent-shape moderator cell and helium sub-cooling jacket covering cell

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Yu Qingfeng; Feng Quanke; Kawai Takeshi; Shen Feng; Yuan Luzheng; Cheng Liang

2005-01-01

The new type of the moderator cell was developed for the cold neutron source (CNS) of the China Advanced Research Reactor (CARR) which is now being constructed at the China Institute of Atomic Energy in Beijing. A crescent-shape moderator cell covered by the helium sub-cooling jacket is adopted. The structure of the moderator cell is optimized by the stress FEM analysis. A crescent-shape would help to increase the volume of the moderator cell for fitting it to the four cold neutron guide tubes, even if liquid hydrogen, not liquid deuterium, was used as a cold moderator. The helium sub-cooling jacket covering the moderator cell removes the nuclear heating of the outer shell wall of the cell. It contributes to reduce the void fraction of liquid hydrogen in the outer shell of the moderator cell. Such a type of a moderator cell is suitable for the CNS with higher nuclear heating. The cold helium gas flows down first into the helium sub-cooling jacket and then flows up to the condenser. The theory of the self-regulation suitable to the thermo-siphon type of the CNS is also applicable and validated

Thermomechanical macroscopic model of shape memory alloys

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Volkov, A.E.; Sakharov, V.Yu.

2003-01-01

The phenomenological macroscopic model of the mechanical behaviour of the titanium nickelide-type shape memory alloys is proposed. The model contains as a parameter the average phase shear deformation accompanying the martensite formation. It makes i possible to describe correctly a number of functional properties of the shape memory alloys, in particular, the pseudoelasticity ferroplasticity, plasticity transformation and shape memory effects in the stressed and unstressed samples [ru

Models for wet scrubbing of SO{sub 2} and NO{sub x}

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Brogren, C

1997-02-01

Combustion of fossil fuels is the main source for emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Emission regulations and the growing environmental awareness will make great demands upon cost-effective deSO{sub 2} and deNO{sub x} techniques in the future. To be able to optimize existing techniques it is crucial to increase the understanding of the processes taking place within the scrubber, i.e. chemistry, mass transfer and fluid dynamics. Mathematical modeling is an important tool for increasing the understanding. This research work was divided into two different parts: the first part focused on identifying suitable absorbents for wet NO{sub x} removal and the second part focused on deriving a model for absorption of SO{sub 2} into a limestone slurry, wet flue gas desulfurization. The ability to absorb NO{sub x} were tested in a bubbler for the most common oxidizing agents and EDTA. Further experiments were done with the most promising absorbents, NaClO{sub 2} and KMnO{sub 4}, in a packed column where the chemistry was studied in more detail. The absorption process was modeled and rate constants describing the absorption were estimated. A model based on the penetration theory was derived to calculate the absorption of SO{sub 2} into a limestone slurry droplet. The model includes instantaneous acid-base reactions as well as reactions with finite rates, e.g. limestone dissolution, CO{sub 2} hydrolysis, etc. The model was used to quantify the extent of spatial variations in mass transfer within a spray scrubber and the impact of the reactions with finite rate on SO{sub 2} mass transfer. Due to the significance of limestone dissolution a separate model taking into account the impact of the residence time distribution of a continuous system on the particle size distribution was derived. The model was verified by dissolution experiments in a continuous stirred tank reactor. 81 refs, 34 figs, 10 tabs

Quasibound levels and shape resonances of 39K2(B 1Pi/sub u/) crossed laser-molecular beam studies and analytical interpretation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Heinze, J.; Kowalczyk, P.; Engelke, F.

1988-01-01

Quasibound levels and shape resonances in the (B 1 Pi/sub u/ -X 1 Σ + /sub g/) band system of 39 K 2 have been recorded by crossed laser-molecular beam techniques. Using optical--optical double resonance, individual rovibrational levels (v'' = 15--18, J'' = 3--25) of the K 2 state are prepared by Franck--Condon pumping (FCP) in a supersonic nozzle beam. Excitation into quasibound levels below and above the (B 1 Pi/sub u/) state barrier is detected as molecular and atomic (K4 2 P 3 /sub // 2 →4 2 S 1 /sub // 2 only) fluorescence. The resonance transition frequencies and shapes are measured and the results are used (a) to determine the scattering resonance energies, widths, and lifetimes; (b) to compare them with values obtained by a ''maximum internal amplitude'' approach [R. J. LeRoy and R. B. Bernstein, J. Chem. Phys. 54, 5114 (1971)]; and (c) to check the agreement with exact calculations of the B state potential using the ''inverted perturbation approach (IPA).'' The bound and quasibound part of the B 1 Pi/sub u/ state including the locus (R = 8.08 +- 0.05 A) of the barrier maximum (298 +- 8 cm -1 above the adiabatic dissociation limit) is found in excellent agreement with previous results. The shape resonances are not highly sensitive to the long-range interatomic forces, here the repulsive dipole--dipole resonance interaction

Plasma shape experiments for an optimized tokamak

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hyatt, A.W.; Osborne, T.H. [General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States); Lazarus, E.A. [Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)

1994-12-31

In this paper we present results from recent experiments at DIII-D which measured the plasma stability and confinement performance product, {beta}{sub {tau}E}, in one previously studied and three new plasma shapes. One important goal of these experiments was to identify performance vs shape trends which would identify a shape compatible with both high performance and the planned effort to decrease the power flux to the divertor floor using a closed `slot` divertor geometry. The closed divertor hardware must be designed for a reduced set of plasma shapes, so care must be taken to choose the shape that optimizes {beta}{sub {tau}E} and divertor performance. The four shapes studied form a matrix of moderate and high elongations ({kappa} {approx_equal} 1.8 and 2.1) and low and high triangularities ({delta} {approx_equal} 0.3 and 0.9). All configurations were double-null diverted (DND), held fixed during a shot, with neutral beam heating. The shapes span a range of X-point locations compatible with the envisioned closed divertor. We find that from shape to shape, a shot`s transient normalized performance, {beta}{sub N}H, where {beta}{sub N} = {beta}/(I{sub p}/aB{sub T}) and H = {tau}{sub E}/{tau}{sub E}{sup ITER-89P}, increases strongly with triangularity, but depends only weakly on elongation. However, the normalized performance during quasi stationary ELMing H-mode, to which these discharges eventually relax, is insensitive to both triangularity and elongation. The moderate elongation, high triangularity DND shape is shown to be near optimum for future studies on DIII-D. (author) 7 refs., 7 figs.

STEREOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF SHAPE

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Asger Hobolth

2011-05-01

Full Text Available This paper concerns the problem of making stereological inference about the shape variability in a population of spatial particles. Under rotational invariance the shape variability can be estimated from central planar sections through the particles. A simple, but flexible, parametric model for rotation invariant spatial particles is suggested. It is shown how the parameters of the model can be estimated from observations on central sections. The corresponding model for planar particles is also discussed in some detail.

Characteristics of sub-daily precipitation extremes in observed data and regional climate model simulations

Science.gov (United States)

Beranová, Romana; Kyselý, Jan; Hanel, Martin

2018-04-01

The study compares characteristics of observed sub-daily precipitation extremes in the Czech Republic with those simulated by Hadley Centre Regional Model version 3 (HadRM3) and Rossby Centre Regional Atmospheric Model version 4 (RCA4) regional climate models (RCMs) driven by reanalyses and examines diurnal cycles of hourly precipitation and their dependence on intensity and surface temperature. The observed warm-season (May-September) maxima of short-duration (1, 2 and 3 h) amounts show one diurnal peak in the afternoon, which is simulated reasonably well by RCA4, although the peak occurs too early in the model. HadRM3 provides an unrealistic diurnal cycle with a nighttime peak and an afternoon minimum coinciding with the observed maximum for all three ensemble members, which suggests that convection is not captured realistically. Distorted relationships of the diurnal cycles of hourly precipitation to daily maximum temperature in HadRM3 further evidence that underlying physical mechanisms are misrepresented in this RCM. Goodness-of-fit tests indicate that generalised extreme value distribution is an applicable model for both observed and RCM-simulated precipitation maxima. However, the RCMs are not able to capture the range of the shape parameter estimates of distributions of short-duration precipitation maxima realistically, leading to either too many (nearly all for HadRM3) or too few (RCA4) grid boxes in which the shape parameter corresponds to a heavy tail. This means that the distributions of maxima of sub-daily amounts are distorted in the RCM-simulated data and do not match reality well. Therefore, projected changes of sub-daily precipitation extremes in climate change scenarios based on RCMs not resolving convection need to be interpreted with caution.

NNLO corrections to anti B {yields} X{sub u}l anti {nu} in the shape-function region

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Asatrian, H.M. [Erevanskij Fizicheskij Inst., Erevan (Armenia); Greub, C. [Bern Univ. (Switzerland). Inst. for Theoretical Physics; Pecjak, B.D. [Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg (Germany)

2008-10-15

The inclusive decay anti B {yields} X{sub u}l anti {nu} is of much interest because of its potential to constrain the CKM element vertical stroke V{sub ub} vertical stroke. Experimental cuts required to suppress charm background restrict measurements of this decay to the shape-function region, where the hadronic final state carries a large energy but only a moderate invariant mass. In this kinematic region, the differential decay distributions satisfy a factorization formula of the form H.J x S, where S is the non-perturbative shape function, and the object H.J is a perturbatively calculable hard-scattering kernel. In this paper we present the calculation of the hard function H at next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) in perturbation theory. Combined with the known NNLO result for the jet function J, this completes the perturbative part of the NNLO calculation for this process. (orig.)

Heritability of audiometric shape parameters and familial aggregation of presbycusis in an elderly Flemish population.

Science.gov (United States)

Demeester, Kelly; van Wieringen, Astrid; Hendrickx, Jan-jaap; Topsakal, Vedat; Huyghe, Jeroen; Fransen, Erik; Van Laer, Lut; Van Camp, Guy; Van de Heyning, Paul

2010-06-14

This study describes the heritability of audiometric shape parameters and the familial aggregation of different types of presbycusis in a healthy, otologically screened population between 50 and 75 years old. About 342 siblings of 64 families (average family-size: 5.3) were recruited through population registries. Audiometric shape was mathematically quantified by objective parameters developed to measure size, slope, concavity, percentage of frequency-dependent and frequency-independent hearing loss and Bulge Depth. The heritability of each parameter was calculated using a variance components model. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs). Estimates of sibling recurrence risk ratios (lambda(s)) are also provided. Heritability estimates were generally higher compared to previous studies. ORs and lambda(s) for the parameters Total Hearing Loss (size), Uniform Hearing Loss (percentage of frequency-dependent hearing loss) and Bulge Depth suggest a higher heredity for severe types of presbycusis compared to moderate or mild types. Our results suggest that the separation of the parameter 'Total Hearing Loss' into the two parameters 'Uniform Hearing Loss' and 'Non-uniform Hearing Loss' could lead to the discovery of different genetic subtypes of presbycusis. The parameter 'Bulge Depth', instead of 'Concavity', seemed to be an important parameter for classifying subjects into 'susceptible' or 'resistant' to societal or intensive environmental exposure. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sample size and classification error for Bayesian change-point models with unlabelled sub-groups and incomplete follow-up.

Science.gov (United States)

White, Simon R; Muniz-Terrera, Graciela; Matthews, Fiona E

2018-05-01

Many medical (and ecological) processes involve the change of shape, whereby one trajectory changes into another trajectory at a specific time point. There has been little investigation into the study design needed to investigate these models. We consider the class of fixed effect change-point models with an underlying shape comprised two joined linear segments, also known as broken-stick models. We extend this model to include two sub-groups with different trajectories at the change-point, a change and no change class, and also include a missingness model to account for individuals with incomplete follow-up. Through a simulation study, we consider the relationship of sample size to the estimates of the underlying shape, the existence of a change-point, and the classification-error of sub-group labels. We use a Bayesian framework to account for the missing labels, and the analysis of each simulation is performed using standard Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques. Our simulation study is inspired by cognitive decline as measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination, where our extended model is appropriate due to the commonly observed mixture of individuals within studies who do or do not exhibit accelerated decline. We find that even for studies of modest size ( n = 500, with 50 individuals observed past the change-point) in the fixed effect setting, a change-point can be detected and reliably estimated across a range of observation-errors.

Superconductivity, carrier concentration, and the ionic model of Sn/sub 4/P/sub 3/ and Sn/sub 4/As/sub 3/

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Van Maaren, M H

1969-06-01

Superconductivity is reported for Sn/sub 4/P/sub 2.65/ at T/sub c/ 1.2/sup 0/K. Hall constant and reflectivity measurements indicate a mixed type of conduction for Sn/sub 4/P/sub 2.65/ and Sn/sub 3.80/ As/sub 3/. The ionic model of Geller and Hull is not applicable.

Determination of edge plasma parameters by a genetic algorithm analysis of spectral line shapes

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Marandet, Y.; Genesio, P.; Godbert-Mouret, L.; Koubiti, M.; Stamm, R. [Universite de Provence (PIIM), Centre de Saint-Jerome, 13 - Marseille (France); Capes, H.; Guirlet, R. [Association Euratom-CEA Cadarache, 13 - Saint-Paul-lez-Durance (France). Dept. de Recherches sur la Fusion Controlee

2003-07-01

Comparing an experimental and a theoretical line shape can be achieved by a genetic algorithm (GA) based on an analogy to the mechanisms of natural selection. Such an algorithm is able to deal with complex non-linear models, and can avoid local minima. We have used this optimization tool in the context of edge plasma spectroscopy, for a determination of the temperatures and fractions of the various populations of neutral deuterium emitting the D{sub {alpha}} line in 2 configurations of Tore-Supra: ergodic divertor and toroidal pumped limiter. Using the GA fit, the neutral emitters are separated into up to 4 populations which can be identified as resulting from molecular dissociation reactions, charge exchange, or reflection. In all the edge plasmas studied, a significant fraction of neutrals emit in the line wings, leading to neutrals with a temperature up to a few hundreds eV if a Gaussian line shape is assumed. This conclusion could be modified if the line wing exhibits a non Gaussian behavior.

A method to calculate fission-fragment yields Y(Z,N) versus proton and neutron number in the Brownian shape-motion model. Application to calculations of U and Pu charge yields

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Moeller, Peter [Los Alamos National Laboratory, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos, NM (United States); Ichikawa, Takatoshi [Kyoto University, Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto (Japan)

2015-12-15

We propose a method to calculate the two-dimensional (2D) fission-fragment yield Y(Z,N) versus both proton and neutron number, with inclusion of odd-even staggering effects in both variables. The approach is to use the Brownian shape-motion on a macroscopic-microscopic potential-energy surface which, for a particular compound system is calculated versus four shape variables: elongation (quadrupole moment Q{sub 2}), neck d, left nascent fragment spheroidal deformation ε{sub f1}, right nascent fragment deformation ε{sub f2} and two asymmetry variables, namely proton and neutron numbers in each of the two fragments. The extension of previous models 1) introduces a method to calculate this generalized potential-energy function and 2) allows the correlated transfer of nucleon pairs in one step, in addition to sequential transfer. In the previous version the potential energy was calculated as a function of Z and N of the compound system and its shape, including the asymmetry of the shape. We outline here how to generalize the model from the ''compound-system'' model to a model where the emerging fragment proton and neutron numbers also enter, over and above the compound system composition. (orig.)

Towards the large scale production of (La{sub 1-z}Ce{sub z})(Fe{sub 1-x-y}Mn{sub y}Si{sub x}){sub 13}H{sub n} products for room temperature refrigeration

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mayer, Charlotte; Dubrez, Alexandra; Pierronnet, Michel; Vikner, Peter [Erasteel SAS, Tour Maine Montparnasse, Paris (France)

2014-05-15

In this paper, we present a novel process based on gas atomization and powder metallurgy techniques to produce reliable and stable (La{sub 1-z}Ce{sub z})(Fe{sub 1-x-y}Mn{sub y}Si{sub x}){sub 13}H{sub n} materials, with 0.08 ≤ x ≤ 0.15, 0 ≤ y ≤ 0.05, 0 ≤ z ≤ 0.3 and 1.5 ≤ n ≤ 3. With this process, shaped pieces ready-to-use into refrigeration devices can be produced. Gas atomisation is a rapid solidification technique that prevents the La-Fe-Si-type alloy from forming very large α-Fe dendrites during cooling, allowing to easily and efficiently heat treat the obtained powder to form the magnetocaloric NaZn{sub 13}-type intermetallic. In this process, a batch of 500 kg of alloy was first gas atomized into powder. The powder was then annealed at 1373 K under Ar for one hour to reach around 95% of magnetocaloric phase, and subsequently hydrogenated. Finally, the powder was shaped into composite shaped products containing 91.5 wt.% of powder, by extrusion. This process induces no loss of matter and allows producing non fragile pieces comprising thin portions. Our first results on the stability of partially hydrogenated (La,Ce)(Fe,Mn,Si){sub 13} materials are shown and we discuss on the possible existence of conditions of instability liked to both the composition of the magnetocaloric phase and the level of hydrogenation. (copyright 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim) (orig.)

Application of statistical shape analysis for the estimation of bone and forensic age using the shapes of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th cervical vertebrae in a young Japanese population.

Science.gov (United States)

Rhee, Chang-Hoon; Shin, Sang Min; Choi, Yong-Seok; Yamaguchi, Tetsutaro; Maki, Koutaro; Kim, Yong-Il; Kim, Seong-Sik; Park, Soo-Byung; Son, Woo-Sung

2015-12-01

From computed tomographic images, the dentocentral synchondrosis can be identified in the second cervical vertebra. This can demarcate the border between the odontoid process and the body of the 2nd cervical vertebra and serve as a good model for the prediction of bone and forensic age. Nevertheless, until now, there has been no application of the 2nd cervical vertebra based on the dentocentral synchondrosis. In this study, statistical shape analysis was used to build bone and forensic age estimation regression models. Following the principles of statistical shape analysis and principal components analysis, we used cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to evaluate a Japanese population (35 males and 45 females, from 5 to 19 years old). The narrowest prediction intervals among the multivariate regression models were 19.63 for bone age and 2.99 for forensic age. There was no significant difference between form space and shape space in the bone and forensic age estimation models. However, for gender comparison, the bone and forensic age estimation models for males had the higher explanatory power. This study derived an improved objective and quantitative method for bone and forensic age estimation based on only the 2nd, 3rd and 4th cervical vertebral shapes. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Some Issues of Biological Shape Modelling with Applications

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Larsen, Rasmus; Hilger, Klaus Baggesen; Skoglund, Karl

2003-01-01

This paper illustrates current research at Informatics and Mathematical Modelling at the Technical University of Denmark within biological shape modelling. We illustrate a series of generalizations to, modifications to, and applications of the elements of constructing models of shape or appearance...

Modeling tritium behavior in Li{sub 2}ZrO{sub 3}

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Billone, M C [Argonne National Lab., IL (United States). Fusion Power Program

1998-03-01

Lithium metazirconate (Li{sub 2}ZrO{sub 3}) is a promising tritium breeder material for fusion reactors because of its excellent tritium release characteristics. In particular, for water-cooled breeding blankets (e.g., ITER), Li{sub 2}ZrO{sub 3} is appealing from a design perspective because of its good tritium release at low operating temperatures. The steady-state and transient tritium release/retention database for Li{sub 2}ZrO{sub 3} is reviewed, along with conventional diffusion and first-order surface desorption models which have been used to match the database. A first-order surface desorption model is recommended in the current work both for best-estimate and conservative (i.e., inventory upper-bound) predictions. Model parameters are determined and validated for both types of predictions, although emphasis is placed on conservative design predictions. The effects on tritium retention of ceramic microstructure, protium partial pressure in the purge gas and purge gas flow rate are discussed, along with other mechanisms for tritium retention which may not be dominant in the experiments, but may be important in blanket design analyses. The proposed tritium retention/release model can be incorporated into a transient thermal performance code to enable whole-blanket predictions of tritium retention/release during cyclic reactor operation. Parameters for the ITER driver breeding blanket are used to generate a numerical set of model predictions for steady-state operation. (author)

Table sugar as preparation and carbon coating reagent for facile synthesis and coating of rod-shaped MnO{sub 2}

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hashem, Ahmed M., E-mail: ahmedh242@yahoo.co [National Research Centre, Inorganic Chemistry Department, Behoes St., Dokki, Cairo (Egypt); Abuzeid, Hanaa M. [National Research Centre, Inorganic Chemistry Department, Behoes St., Dokki, Cairo (Egypt); Nikolowski, Kristian; Ehrenberg, Helmut [Institute for Complex Materials, IFW Dresden, Helmholtzstr. 20, D-01069 Dresden (Germany)

2010-05-14

Rod-shaped {alpha}-MnO{sub 2} has been synthesized by a novel and facile wet chemical method using simple sugar and potassium permanganate. Redox reaction between KMnO{sub 4} and sucrose is carried out in an acidic medium. Acidic medium provides a reducing character to sucrose through its decomposition to elemental carbon. Carbon coating process was done using simple sugar also as a source for carbon in an absolute ethanol with heating the mixture of {alpha}-MnO{sub 2} and sugar at 350 {sup o}C for an hour in an ambient atmosphere. A single phase of cryptomelane-like phase MnO{sub 2} was observed from XRD patterns for bare and carbon coated samples. TGA analysis shows the presence of carbon layer through more weight loss percent of carbon coated sample in comparison with that of carbon free MnO{sub 2}. Both virgin and carbon coated MnO{sub 2} have high thermal stability due to high percent of K inside the tunnel determined from ICP analysis. Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) showed a rod-shaped crystal for both the parent and carbon coated {alpha}-MnO{sub 2} and confirmed the presence of a thin film of carbon around MnO{sub 2} particles. Both XRD and TEM investigations show that the prepared powders are in nano-scale. Initial capacity of about 140 mAh/g was obtained for the parent and carbon coated samples. The results show also that carbon coating process improves the capacity retention and the efficiency of {alpha}-MnO{sub 2} in comparison with that carbon free sample.

Sub-optimal birth weight in newborns of a high socioeconomic status population

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Conceição Aparecida de Mattos Segre

2008-09-01

Full Text Available Objective: To compare sub-optimal birth weight (2,500 to 2,999 g term newborns to appropriate for gestational age (birth weight ≥ 3,000 g term newborns, regarding maternal data and newborn morbidity and mortality. Methods: Single term newborns, appropriate for gestational age from a high socioeconomic population (n = 1,242 with birth weight ranging from 2,500 to 2,999 g (Group I were compared to 4,907 newborns with birth weight ≥ than 3,000 g (Group II. Maternal and newborn characteristics were compared between the groups. The Mann-Whitney test, χ2 test and multivariate analysis were used. The significance level adopted was p < 0.05. Rresults: The frequency of sub-optimal birth weight newborns in the population studied was 20.2%. There was a significant association between sub-optimal birth weight and maternal weight before pregnancy and body mass index, maternal weight gain, height, smoking habit and hypertension. Newborns’ 1-minute Apgar score, neonatal hypoglycemia, jaundice, transient tachypnea, congenital pneumonia and hospital stay were significantly different between the groups (p < 0.05. A significant relationship could not be established with the 5-minute Apgar score and pulmonary hypertension in both groups. Neonatal mortality did not differ between the groups. Cconclusions: Socioeconomic status was not a risk factor for sub-optimal birth weight in the studied population. Genetic and environmental factors were associated to sub-optimal weight and neonatal diseases. According to these data, this group of newborns should receive special attention from the health team.

X-linked MTMR8 diversity and evolutionary history of sub-Saharan populations.

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Damian Labuda

Full Text Available The genetic diversity within an 11 kb segment of the MTMR8 gene in a sample of 111 sub-Saharan and 49 non-African X chromosomes was investigated to assess the early evolutionary history of sub-Saharan Africans and the out-of-Africa expansion. The analyses revealed a complex genetic structure of the Africans that contributed to the emergence of modern humans. We observed partitioning of two thirds of old lineages among southern, west/central and east African populations indicating ancient population stratification predating the out of Africa migration. Age estimates of these lineages, older than coalescence times of uniparentally inherited markers, raise the question whether contemporary humans originated from a single population or as an amalgamation of different populations separated by years of independent evolution, thus suggesting a greater antiquity of our species than generally assumed. While the oldest sub-Saharan lineages, ~500 thousand years, are found among Khoe-San from southern-Africa, a distinct haplotype found among Biaka is likely due to admixture from an even older population. An East African population that gave rise to non-Africans underwent a selective sweep affecting the subcentromeric region where MTMR8 is located. This and similar sweeps in four other regions of the X chromosome, documented in the literature, effectively reduced genetic diversity of non-African chromosomes and therefore may have exacerbated the effect of the demographic bottleneck usually ascribed to the out of Africa migration. Our data is suggestive, however, that a bottleneck, occurred in Africa before range expansion.

X-linked MTMR8 diversity and evolutionary history of sub-Saharan populations.

Science.gov (United States)

Labuda, Damian; Yotova, Vania; Lefebvre, Jean-François; Moreau, Claudia; Utermann, Gerd; Williams, Scott M

2013-01-01

The genetic diversity within an 11 kb segment of the MTMR8 gene in a sample of 111 sub-Saharan and 49 non-African X chromosomes was investigated to assess the early evolutionary history of sub-Saharan Africans and the out-of-Africa expansion. The analyses revealed a complex genetic structure of the Africans that contributed to the emergence of modern humans. We observed partitioning of two thirds of old lineages among southern, west/central and east African populations indicating ancient population stratification predating the out of Africa migration. Age estimates of these lineages, older than coalescence times of uniparentally inherited markers, raise the question whether contemporary humans originated from a single population or as an amalgamation of different populations separated by years of independent evolution, thus suggesting a greater antiquity of our species than generally assumed. While the oldest sub-Saharan lineages, ~500 thousand years, are found among Khoe-San from southern-Africa, a distinct haplotype found among Biaka is likely due to admixture from an even older population. An East African population that gave rise to non-Africans underwent a selective sweep affecting the subcentromeric region where MTMR8 is located. This and similar sweeps in four other regions of the X chromosome, documented in the literature, effectively reduced genetic diversity of non-African chromosomes and therefore may have exacerbated the effect of the demographic bottleneck usually ascribed to the out of Africa migration. Our data is suggestive, however, that a bottleneck, occurred in Africa before range expansion.

Microstructural morphologies of slag based glass-ceramics nucleated with 5 wt% Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} and 5 wt% Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} + 5 wt% TiO{sub 2}

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Oevecoglu, M.L.; Oezkal, B. [Istanbul Technical Univ. (Turkey). Dept. of Metallurgical and Materials Enginering; Catakli, E. [Mimar Sinan Univ., Istanbul (Turkey). Faculty of Science and Literature; Erkmen, Z.E. [Istnabul Univ. (Turkey). Dept. of Metallurgical Engineering

2002-07-01

Glass-ceramic materials were developed from the blast-furnace slags by mixing 5 wt% Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} and 5 wt% Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} + 5 wt% TiO{sub 2}. The samples were nucleated for 18 h at 780 C and crystallized for 20 min. at 905 C, respectively. SEM and SEM/EDS investigations revealed the presence of clover-shaped TiO{sub 2} particles in the glassy matrix of the sample nucleated with 5 wt% Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} + 5 wt% TiO{sub 2} and polygonal-shaped Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3} platelets for both samples. XRD scans revealed the presence of akermanite (2CaO.MgO.2SiO{sub 2}) and gehlenite (2CaO.Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}.SiO{sub 2}) peaks indicating the existence of the mellilite solid solution for the crystallized glass-ceramic samples. (orig.)

Rotational loss of a ring-shaped flywheel supported by high T{sub c} superconducting levitation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Teshima, Hidekazu [Nippon Steel Corp., Kawasaki, Kanagawa (Japan). Advanced Materials and Technology Research Labs.; Tawara, Taichi; Shimada, Ryuichi

1997-08-01

This paper describes the experimental results for the rotational loss of a ring-shaped flywheel supported by high T{sub c} superconducting levitation. Superconducting levitation is appropriate for rotating a ring-shaped flywheel which has neither shaft nor hub because it is a non-contact and automatically stable levitation without any control systems. The rotational loss has been investigated using a small-scaled experimental machine consisting of 16 bulk superconductors 46 mm in diameter and a ring-shaped flywheel about 300 mm in diameter. The rotational loss decreased as the levitation gap height increased. In low-speed rotational regions, the rotational loss was in proportion to the rotation speed and depended more on the levitation gap. In high-speed rotational regions, the rotational loss was in proportion to the third power of the rotation speed and depended less on the levitation gap. The cubic rotational loss in He was reduced to one-fifth of that in air. The magnetic field pinned in bulk superconductors induces a loss in the materials composing the ring-shaped flywheel. The rotational loss of a ring-shaped flywheel supported by superconducting levitation can be reduced by improving the uniformity of the magnetic fields along the ring, enlargement of the bulk superconductor(s), and densely arranging the bulk superconductors. (author)

What lies beneath: sub-articular long bone shape scaling in eutherian mammals and saurischian dinosaurs suggests different locomotor adaptations for gigantism.

Science.gov (United States)

Bonnan, Matthew F; Wilhite, D Ray; Masters, Simon L; Yates, Adam M; Gardner, Christine K; Aguiar, Adam

2013-01-01

Eutherian mammals and saurischian dinosaurs both evolved lineages of huge terrestrial herbivores. Although significantly more saurischian dinosaurs were giants than eutherians, the long bones of both taxa scale similarly and suggest that locomotion was dynamically similar. However, articular cartilage is thin in eutherian mammals but thick in saurischian dinosaurs, differences that could have contributed to, or limited, how frequently gigantism evolved. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that sub-articular bone, which supports the articular cartilage, changes shape in different ways between terrestrial mammals and dinosaurs with increasing size. Our sample consisted of giant mammal and reptile taxa (i.e., elephants, rhinos, sauropods) plus erect and non-erect outgroups with thin and thick articular cartilage. Our results show that eutherian mammal sub-articular shape becomes narrow with well-defined surface features as size increases. In contrast, this region in saurischian dinosaurs expands and remains gently convex with increasing size. Similar trends were observed in non-erect outgroup taxa (monotremes, alligators), showing that the trends we report are posture-independent. These differences support our hypothesis that sub-articular shape scales differently between eutherian mammals and saurischian dinosaurs. Our results show that articular cartilage thickness and sub-articular shape are correlated. In mammals, joints become ever more congruent and thinner with increasing size, whereas archosaur joints remained both congruent and thick, especially in sauropods. We suggest that gigantism occurs less frequently in mammals, in part, because joints composed of thin articular cartilage can only become so congruent before stress cannot be effectively alleviated. In contrast, frequent gigantism in saurischian dinosaurs may be explained, in part, by joints with thick articular cartilage that can deform across large areas with increasing load.

Population and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.

Science.gov (United States)

Wolfson, M

1985-01-01

The intricate interrelationships between population and development in sub-Saharan Africa are examined and the prospects are considered for converting the abundant human resources into an effective development asset. The demographic trends that characterize the sub-Saharan region at this time differ markedly from what is happening in other parts of the developing world. In Africa, death rates have come down slightly (17/1000 in 1980-85 in contrast to 20/1000 in 1970-75); there has been practically no change in the birthrate. Consequently, population growth rates are on the rise throughout Africa although there are differences within the regions. The various factors responsible for high fertility in African societies and the consequences of the continuing high fertility often are mutually reinforcing. For example, low health and educational standards are likely to lead women to have large numbers of children, but these conditions are themselves the result of the population growth, which requires an expansion of health care and educational facilities that hard-pressed national budgets cannot provide. In Africa, the growth rate of the youth population is increasing even faster than that of the population as a whole -- from 3.1% in 1980-85 to an estimated 3.4% in 1990-95. The most critical problem posed by such growth rates is an increased demand for food. Countries which cannot adequately feed their growing populations are unlikely to be significantly more successful in satisfying their other basic needs. Whether educated or healthy or not, Africa's growing numbers of children represent major economic problems for countries with a low level of economic growth. There is little hope of effectively absorbing all the new entrants who swell the labor market each year, and the indirect consequences for the economy of rapid demographic growth are no less serious. Presently, Africa is the scene of major and particularly distressing movements of population as the drought has

Shape and size controlled synthesis of Au nanorods: H{sub 2}S gas-sensing characterizations and antibacterial application

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lanh, Le Thi [College of Sciences, Hue University, 77 Nguyen Hue, Hue City (Viet Nam); Hoa, Tran Thai, E-mail: trthaihoa@yahoo.com [College of Sciences, Hue University, 77 Nguyen Hue, Hue City (Viet Nam); Cuong, Nguyen Duc [College of Sciences, Hue University, 77 Nguyen Hue, Hue City (Viet Nam); Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism, Hue University, 22 Lam Hoang, Hue City (Viet Nam); Khieu, Dinh Quang [College of Sciences, Hue University, 77 Nguyen Hue, Hue City (Viet Nam); Quang, Duong Tuan [College of Education, Hue University, 34 Le Loi, Hue City (Viet Nam); Van Duy, Nguyen; Hoa, Nguyen Duc [International Training Institute for Materials Science, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Hanoi (Viet Nam); Van Hieu, Nguyen, E-mail: hieu@itims.edu.vn [International Training Institute for Materials Science, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Hanoi (Viet Nam)

2015-06-25

Highlights: • We have demonstrated a facile method to prepare colloid Au nanorods. • The size and shape of Au nanorods can be controlled via seed-mediated growth method. • The H{sub 2}S gas-sensing properties have been investigated. • The antibacterial application has been conducted. - Abstract: Controlling their size and shape is one of the important issues in the fundamental study and application of colloidal metal nanoparticles. In the current study, different sizes and shapes of Au nanorods were fabricated using a seed-mediated growth method. Material characterization by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the obtained products were made of single-crystal Au nanorods with an average diameter and length of 10 nm and 40 nm, respectively. The Au nanorod-based sensor exhibited significantly high sensitivity and fast response/recovery time to low concentrations (2.5–10 ppm) of H{sub 2}S at temperatures ranging from 300 °C to 400 °C. Additionally, they exhibited antibacterial effect at low concentration. These results suggested that the fabricated Au nanorods have excellent potential for practical application in air pollution monitoring and biomedicine.

Concentration distribution of NO{sub 2}, PM{sub 10} and PM{sub 2,5} in severe pollution episodes in Oslo, Drammen, Bergen and Trondheim; Konsentrasjonsfordelingen av NO{sub 2}, PM{sub 10} og PM{sub 2,5} i sterke forurensningsepisoder i Oslo, Drammen, Bergen og Trondheim

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Sloerdal, Leiv Haavard; Toennesen, Dag

1999-04-01

Based on hourly model calculations of NO{sub 2}, PM{sub 1}0 and PM{sub 2},5 through a 6 months winter season in the cities of Oslo, Drammen, Bergen and Trondheim, the 10 most severe pollution episodes have been analysed. Concentration distributions, calculated as the average of these episodes have been combined with the population distribution in order to reveal the exposure levels in such episodes. The model calculations have only been performed for the city background, i.e. on a km{sub 2} grid system. (author)

Lifetime measurements in shape transition nucleus {sup 188}Pt

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Rohilla, Aman; Gupta, C.K.; Chamoli, S.K. [University of Delhi, Department of Physics and Astrophysics, New Delhi (India); Singh, R.P.; Muralithar, S. [Inter University Accelerator Centre, New Delhi (India); Chakraborty, S.; Sharma, H.P. [Banaras Hindu University, Department of Physics, Varanasi (India); Kumar, A.; Govil, I.M. [Panjab University, Department of Physics, Chandigarh (India); Biswas, D.C. [Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Nuclear Physics Division, Trombay, Mumbai (India)

2017-04-15

Nuclear level lifetimes of high spin states in yrast and non-yrast bands of {sup 188}Pt nucleus have been measured using recoil distance plunger setup present at IUAC, Delhi. In the experiment nuclear states of interest were populated via {sup 174}Yb({sup 18}O,4n){sup 188}Pt reaction at a beam energy of 79MeV provided by 15 UD Pelletron accelerator. The extracted B(E2 ↓) values show an initial rise up to 4{sup +} state and then a nearly constant behavior with spin along yrast band, indicating change of nuclear structure in {sup 188}Pt at low spins. The good agreement between experimental and TPSM model B(E2 ↓) values up to 4{sup +} state suggests an increase in axial deformation of the nucleus. The average absolute β{sub 2} = 0.20 (3) obtained from measured B(E2 ↓) values matches well the values predicted by CHFB and IBM calculations for oblate (β{sub 2} ∝ -0.19) and prolate (β{sub 2} ∝ 0.22) shapes. As the lifetime measurements do not yield the sign of β{sub 2}, no definite conclusion can be drawn on the prolate or oblate collectivity of {sup 188}Pt on the basis of present measurements. (orig.)

Magnetic properties and inhomogeneous phase transition in (Fe sub x Co sub 0 sub . sub 5 sub - sub x)Pt sub 0 sub . sub 5 films

CERN Document Server

Jang, P W; Na, J G; Lee, S R

1999-01-01

(Fe sub x Co sub 0 sub . sub 5 sub - sub x)Pt sub 0 sub . sub 5 ternary thin films were deposited on glass substrates by using a dc sputtering method at room temperature and were subsequently annealed at 700 .deg. C in a high vacuum. A high degree of the (111) preferred orientation could be obtained in all the as-deposited films and was not destroyed, even though post annealing. The CoPt and the FePt binary alloys were completely mixed and had a L1 sub o -type ordered structure, as confirmed by single (222) peaks and by the linear variation of the lattice constant a sub o. The ordered structure of the FePt alloy was thought to have formed from the disordered structure by an inhomogeneous process, which was confirmed by the asymmetric peak shapes. The lattice parameter a sub o varied linearly with the Fe content while the coercivity showed a minimum value at the equiatomic composition of the Fe and the Co atoms.

Oriented active shape models.

Science.gov (United States)

Liu, Jiamin; Udupa, Jayaram K

2009-04-01

Active shape models (ASM) are widely employed for recognizing anatomic structures and for delineating them in medical images. In this paper, a novel strategy called oriented active shape models (OASM) is presented in an attempt to overcome the following five limitations of ASM: 1) lower delineation accuracy, 2) the requirement of a large number of landmarks, 3) sensitivity to search range, 4) sensitivity to initialization, and 5) inability to fully exploit the specific information present in the given image to be segmented. OASM effectively combines the rich statistical shape information embodied in ASM with the boundary orientedness property and the globally optimal delineation capability of the live wire methodology of boundary segmentation. The latter characteristics allow live wire to effectively separate an object boundary from other nonobject boundaries with similar properties especially when they come very close in the image domain. The approach leads to a two-level dynamic programming method, wherein the first level corresponds to boundary recognition and the second level corresponds to boundary delineation, and to an effective automatic initialization method. The method outputs a globally optimal boundary that agrees with the shape model if the recognition step is successful in bringing the model close to the boundary in the image. Extensive evaluation experiments have been conducted by utilizing 40 image (magnetic resonance and computed tomography) data sets in each of five different application areas for segmenting breast, liver, bones of the foot, and cervical vertebrae of the spine. Comparisons are made between OASM and ASM based on precision, accuracy, and efficiency of segmentation. Accuracy is assessed using both region-based false positive and false negative measures and boundary-based distance measures. The results indicate the following: 1) The accuracy of segmentation via OASM is considerably better than that of ASM; 2) The number of landmarks

Using a Shape Model in the Design of Hearing Aids

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Paulsen, Rasmus Reinhold; Nielsen, Claus; Laugesen, Søren

2004-01-01

shapes by a skilled operator. These faceplate planes are aligned to the average shape from the shape model and an average faceplate plane is calculated. Given a surface representation of a new ear canal, the shape model is fitted using a combination of the iterative closest point algorithm and the active...... shape model approach. The average faceplate from the training set can now be placed on the new ear canal using the position of the fitted shape model. A leave-one-out study shows that the algorithm is able to produce results comparable to a human operator....

Synthesize and microstructure characterization of Ni{sub 43}Mn{sub 41}Co{sub 5}Sn{sub 11} Heusler alloy

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Elwindari, Nastiti; Manaf, Azwar, E-mail: azwar@ui.ac.id [Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424 (Indonesia)

2016-06-17

The ferromagnetic heusler alloys are promising materials in many technical applications due to their multifunctional properties such as shape memory effect, magnetocaloric effect, giant magnetoresistance, etc. In this work, synthesize and characterization of polycrystalline Ni{sub 43}Mn{sub 41}Co{sub 5}Sn{sub 11} (NMCS) alloy are reported. Alloy preparation was conducted by melting the constitute elements under an innert Argon (Ar) atmosphere in a vacuum mini arc-melting furnace. Homogenization of the microstructure of the as-cast ingot was obtained after annealing process at 750°C for 48 hours. It is shown that the dendrites structure has changed to equaixed grains morphology after homogenization. Microstructure characteristics of material by x-ray diffraction revealed that the alloy has a L{sub 21}-type cubic crystal structure as the main phase at room temperature. In order to induce the shape anisotropy, a forging treatment was applied to show the shape orientation of material. Various enhancements of magnetic properties in a longitudinal direction were observed at various degree of anisotropy. The microstructure changes of as-cast NMCS and effects of homogenization treatments as studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) are discussed in details.

Low genetic diversity and strong population structure shaped by anthropogenic habitat fragmentation in a critically endangered primate, Trachypithecus leucocephalus.

Science.gov (United States)

Wang, W; Qiao, Y; Li, S; Pan, W; Yao, M

2017-06-01

Habitat fragmentation may strongly impact population genetic structure and reduce the genetic diversity and viability of small and isolated populations. The white-headed langur (Trachypithecus leucocephalus) is a critically endangered primate species living in a highly fragmented and human-modified habitat in southern China. We examined the population genetic structure and genetic diversity of the species and investigated the environmental and anthropogenic factors that may have shaped its population structure. We used 214 unique multi-locus genotypes from 41 social groups across the main distribution area of T. leucocephalus, and found strong genetic structure and significant genetic differentiation among local populations. Our landscape genetic analyses using a causal modelling framework suggest that a large habitat gap and geographical distance represent the primary landscape elements shaping genetic structure, yet high levels of genetic differentiation also exist between patches separated by a small habitat gap or road. This is the first comprehensive study that has evaluated the population genetic structure and diversity of T. leucocephalus using nuclear markers. Our results indicate strong negative impacts of anthropogenic land modifications and habitat fragmentation on primate genetic connectivity between forest patches. Our analyses suggest that two management units of the species could be defined, and indicate that habitat continuity should be enforced and restored to reduce genetic isolation and enhance population viability.

Population Health Science: A Core Element of Health Science Education in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Science.gov (United States)

Hiatt, Robert A; Engmann, Natalie J; Ahmed, Mushtaq; Amarsi, Yasmin; Macharia, William M; Macfarlane, Sarah B; Ngugi, Anthony K; Rabbani, Fauziah; Walraven, Gijs; Armstrong, Robert W

2017-04-01

Sub-Saharan Africa suffers an inordinate burden of disease and does not have the numbers of suitably trained health care workers to address this challenge. New concepts in health sciences education are needed to offer alternatives to current training approaches.A perspective of integrated training in population health for undergraduate medical and nursing education is advanced, rather than continuing to take separate approaches for clinical and public health education. Population health science educates students in the social and environmental origins of disease, thus complementing disease-specific training and providing opportunities for learners to take the perspective of the community as a critical part of their education.Many of the recent initiatives in health science education in sub-Saharan Africa are reviewed, and two case studies of innovative change in undergraduate medical education are presented that begin to incorporate such population health thinking. The focus is on East Africa, one of the most rapidly growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa where opportunities for change in health science education are opening. The authors conclude that a focus on population health is a timely and effective way for enhancing training of health care professionals to reduce the burden of disease in sub-Saharan Africa.

Intraspecific phytochemical variation shapes community and population structure for specialist caterpillars.

Science.gov (United States)

Glassmire, Andrea E; Jeffrey, Christopher S; Forister, Matthew L; Parchman, Thomas L; Nice, Chris C; Jahner, Joshua P; Wilson, Joseph S; Walla, Thomas R; Richards, Lora A; Smilanich, Angela M; Leonard, Michael D; Morrison, Colin R; Simbaña, Wilmer; Salagaje, Luis A; Dodson, Craig D; Miller, Jim S; Tepe, Eric J; Villamarin-Cortez, Santiago; Dyer, Lee A

2016-10-01

Chemically mediated plant-herbivore interactions contribute to the diversity of terrestrial communities and the diversification of plants and insects. While our understanding of the processes affecting community structure and evolutionary diversification has grown, few studies have investigated how trait variation shapes genetic and species diversity simultaneously in a tropical ecosystem. We investigated secondary metabolite variation among subpopulations of a single plant species, Piper kelleyi (Piperaceae), using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), to understand associations between plant phytochemistry and host-specialized caterpillars in the genus Eois (Geometridae: Larentiinae) and associated parasitoid wasps and flies. In addition, we used a genotyping-by-sequencing approach to examine the genetic structure of one abundant caterpillar species, Eois encina, in relation to host phytochemical variation. We found substantive concentration differences among three major secondary metabolites, and these differences in chemistry predicted caterpillar and parasitoid community structure among host plant populations. Furthermore, E. encina populations located at high elevations were genetically different from other populations. They fed on plants containing high concentrations of prenylated benzoic acid. Thus, phytochemistry potentially shapes caterpillar and wasp community composition and geographic variation in species interactions, both of which can contribute to diversification of plants and insects. © 2016 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2016 New Phytologist Trust.

Colloidal processing and rapid prototyping of Si{sub 3}N{sub 4}

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Liwu Wang

1998-12-01

Some progresses have been made in the wet shaping of Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} based on a better understanding of the colloidal behavior of suspensions and by improved pressure casting with porous polystyrene (PS) molds. This work illustrated that the combination of proper colloidal processing and rapid prototyping is an effective way to fabricate high-performance ceramics with complex shapes. In colloidal processing the packing density and microstructure of green bodies can be controlled if the interaction between ceramic particles in suspensions and the conditions under which the suspensions are consolidated are understood. Therefore, detailed studies on the surface chemistry of the Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} powder, the dispersing behavior of Si{sub 3}N{sub 4} suspensions, the influence of dispersants and the mechanism during powder consolidation into complex-shaped green bodies are performed. (orig.)

Predictions for the neutrino parameters in the minimal gauged U(1){sub L{sub μ-L{sub τ}}} model

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Asai, Kento; Nagata, Natsumi [University of Tokyo, Department of Physics, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo (Japan); Hamaguchi, Koichi [University of Tokyo, Department of Physics, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo (Japan); University of Tokyo, Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU), Kashiwa (Japan)

2017-11-15

We study the structure of the neutrino-mass matrix in the minimal gauged U(1){sub L{sub μ-L{sub τ}}} model, where three right-handed neutrinos are added to the Standard Model in order to obtain non-zero masses for the active neutrinos. Because of the U(1){sub L{sub μ-L{sub τ}}} gauge symmetry, the structure of both Dirac and Majorana mass terms of neutrinos is tightly restricted. In particular, the inverse of the neutrino-mass matrix has zeros in the (μ,μ) and (τ,τ) components, namely, this model offers a symmetric realization of the so-called two-zero-minor structure in the neutrino-mass matrix. Due to these constraints, all the CP phases - the Dirac CP phase δ and the Majorana CP phases α{sub 2} and α{sub 3} - as well as the mass eigenvalues of the light neutrinos m{sub i} are uniquely determined as functions of the neutrino mixing angles θ{sub 12}, θ{sub 23}, and θ{sub 13}, and the squared mass differences Δm{sub 21}{sup 2} and Δm{sub 31}{sup 2}. We find that this model predicts the Dirac CP phase δ to be δ ≅ 1.59π-1.70π (1.54π-1.78π), the sum of the neutrino masses to be sum {sub i}m{sub i} ≅ 0.14-0.22 eV (0.12-0.40 eV), and the effective mass for the neutrinoless double-beta decay to be left angle m{sub ββ} right angle ≅ 0.024-0.055 eV (0.017-0.12 eV) at 1σ (2σ) level, which are totally consistent with the current experimental limits. These predictions can soon be tested in future neutrino experiments. Implications for leptogenesis are also discussed. (orig.)

Modeling Self-Occlusions/Disocclusions in Dynamic Shape and Appearance Tracking for Obtaining Precise Shape

KAUST Repository

Yang, Yanchao

2013-05-01

We present a method to determine the precise shape of a dynamic object from video. This problem is fundamental to computer vision, and has a number of applications, for example, 3D video/cinema post-production, activity recognition and augmented reality. Current tracking algorithms that determine precise shape can be roughly divided into two categories: 1) Global statistics partitioning methods, where the shape of the object is determined by discriminating global image statistics, and 2) Joint shape and appearance matching methods, where a template of the object from the previous frame is matched to the next image. The former is limited in cases of complex object appearance and cluttered background, where global statistics cannot distinguish between the object and background. The latter is able to cope with complex appearance and a cluttered background, but is limited in cases of camera viewpoint change and object articulation, which induce self-occlusions and self-disocclusions of the object of interest. The purpose of this thesis is to model self-occlusion/disocclusion phenomena in a joint shape and appearance tracking framework. We derive a non-linear dynamic model of the object shape and appearance taking into account occlusion phenomena, which is then used to infer self-occlusions/disocclusions, shape and appearance of the object in a variational optimization framework. To ensure robustness to other unmodeled phenomena that are present in real-video sequences, the Kalman filter is used for appearance updating. Experiments show that our method, which incorporates the modeling of self-occlusion/disocclusion, increases the accuracy of shape estimation in situations of viewpoint change and articulation, and out-performs current state-of-the-art methods for shape tracking.

Scanning electron microscope measurement of width and shape of 10 nm patterned lines using a JMONSEL-modeled library

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Villarrubia, J.S., E-mail: john.villarrubia@nist.gov [Semiconductor and Dimensional Metrology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 (United States); Vladár, A.E.; Ming, B. [Semiconductor and Dimensional Metrology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 (United States); Kline, R.J.; Sunday, D.F. [Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 (United States); Chawla, J.S.; List, S. [Intel Corporation, RA3-252, 5200 NE Elam Young Pkwy, Hillsboro, OR 97124 (United States)

2015-07-15

The width and shape of 10 nm to 12 nm wide lithographically patterned SiO{sub 2} lines were measured in the scanning electron microscope by fitting the measured intensity vs. position to a physics-based model in which the lines' widths and shapes are parameters. The approximately 32 nm pitch sample was patterned at Intel using a state-of-the-art pitch quartering process. Their narrow widths and asymmetrical shapes are representative of near-future generation transistor gates. These pose a challenge: the narrowness because electrons landing near one edge may scatter out of the other, so that the intensity profile at each edge becomes width-dependent, and the asymmetry because the shape requires more parameters to describe and measure. Modeling was performed by JMONSEL (Java Monte Carlo Simulation of Secondary Electrons), which produces a predicted yield vs. position for a given sample shape and composition. The simulator produces a library of predicted profiles for varying sample geometry. Shape parameter values are adjusted until interpolation of the library with those values best matches the measured image. Profiles thereby determined agreed with those determined by transmission electron microscopy and critical dimension small-angle x-ray scattering to better than 1 nm.

Self assembly of rectangular shapes on concentration programming and probabilistic tile assembly models.

Science.gov (United States)

Kundeti, Vamsi; Rajasekaran, Sanguthevar

2012-06-01

Efficient tile sets for self assembling rectilinear shapes is of critical importance in algorithmic self assembly. A lower bound on the tile complexity of any deterministic self assembly system for an n × n square is [Formula: see text] (inferred from the Kolmogrov complexity). Deterministic self assembly systems with an optimal tile complexity have been designed for squares and related shapes in the past. However designing [Formula: see text] unique tiles specific to a shape is still an intensive task in the laboratory. On the other hand copies of a tile can be made rapidly using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) experiments. This led to the study of self assembly on tile concentration programming models. We present two major results in this paper on the concentration programming model. First we show how to self assemble rectangles with a fixed aspect ratio ( α:β ), with high probability, using Θ( α + β ) tiles. This result is much stronger than the existing results by Kao et al. (Randomized self-assembly for approximate shapes, LNCS, vol 5125. Springer, Heidelberg, 2008) and Doty (Randomized self-assembly for exact shapes. In: proceedings of the 50th annual IEEE symposium on foundations of computer science (FOCS), IEEE, Atlanta. pp 85-94, 2009)-which can only self assembly squares and rely on tiles which perform binary arithmetic. On the other hand, our result is based on a technique called staircase sampling . This technique eliminates the need for sub-tiles which perform binary arithmetic, reduces the constant in the asymptotic bound, and eliminates the need for approximate frames (Kao et al. Randomized self-assembly for approximate shapes, LNCS, vol 5125. Springer, Heidelberg, 2008). Our second result applies staircase sampling on the equimolar concentration programming model (The tile complexity of linear assemblies. In: proceedings of the 36th international colloquium automata, languages and programming: Part I on ICALP '09, Springer-Verlag, pp 235

Attention Effects on Neural Population Representations for Shape and Location Are Stronger in the Ventral than Dorsal Stream

Science.gov (United States)

2018-01-01

Abstract We examined how attention causes neural population representations of shape and location to change in ventral stream (AIT) and dorsal stream (LIP). Monkeys performed two identical delayed-match-to-sample (DMTS) tasks, attending either to shape or location. In AIT, shapes were more discriminable when directing attention to shape rather than location, measured by an increase in mean distance between population response vectors. In LIP, attending to location rather than shape did not increase the discriminability of different stimulus locations. Even when factoring out the change in mean vector response distance, multidimensional scaling (MDS) still showed a significant task difference in AIT, but not LIP, indicating that beyond increasing discriminability, attention also causes a nonlinear warping of representation space in AIT. Despite single-cell attentional modulations in both areas, our data show that attentional modulations of population representations are weaker in LIP, likely due to a need to maintain veridical representations for visuomotor control. PMID:29876521

What lies beneath: sub-articular long bone shape scaling in eutherian mammals and saurischian dinosaurs suggests different locomotor adaptations for gigantism.

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Matthew F Bonnan

Full Text Available Eutherian mammals and saurischian dinosaurs both evolved lineages of huge terrestrial herbivores. Although significantly more saurischian dinosaurs were giants than eutherians, the long bones of both taxa scale similarly and suggest that locomotion was dynamically similar. However, articular cartilage is thin in eutherian mammals but thick in saurischian dinosaurs, differences that could have contributed to, or limited, how frequently gigantism evolved. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that sub-articular bone, which supports the articular cartilage, changes shape in different ways between terrestrial mammals and dinosaurs with increasing size. Our sample consisted of giant mammal and reptile taxa (i.e., elephants, rhinos, sauropods plus erect and non-erect outgroups with thin and thick articular cartilage. Our results show that eutherian mammal sub-articular shape becomes narrow with well-defined surface features as size increases. In contrast, this region in saurischian dinosaurs expands and remains gently convex with increasing size. Similar trends were observed in non-erect outgroup taxa (monotremes, alligators, showing that the trends we report are posture-independent. These differences support our hypothesis that sub-articular shape scales differently between eutherian mammals and saurischian dinosaurs. Our results show that articular cartilage thickness and sub-articular shape are correlated. In mammals, joints become ever more congruent and thinner with increasing size, whereas archosaur joints remained both congruent and thick, especially in sauropods. We suggest that gigantism occurs less frequently in mammals, in part, because joints composed of thin articular cartilage can only become so congruent before stress cannot be effectively alleviated. In contrast, frequent gigantism in saurischian dinosaurs may be explained, in part, by joints with thick articular cartilage that can deform across large areas with increasing load.

Summary report on UO<sub>2sub> thermal conductivity model refinement and assessment studies

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Liu, Xiang-Yang [Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Cooper, Michael William Donald [Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Mcclellan, Kenneth James [Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Lashley, Jason Charles [Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Byler, Darrin David [Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Bell, B. D.C. [Imperial College, London (United Kingdom); Grimes, R. W. [Imperial College, London (United Kingdom); Stanek, Christopher Richard [Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Andersson, David Ragnar [Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

2017-02-03

Uranium dioxide (UO<sub>2sub>) is the most commonly used fuel in light water nuclear reactors and thermal conductivity controls the removal of heat produced by fission, therefore, governing fuel temperature during normal and accident conditions. The use of fuel performance codes by the industry to predict operational behavior is widespread. A primary source of uncertainty in these codes is thermal conductivity, and optimized fuel utilization may be possible if existing empirical models were replaced with models that incorporate explicit thermal conductivity degradation mechanisms during fuel burn-up. This approach is able to represent the degradation of thermal conductivity due to each individual defect type, rather than the overall burn-up measure typically used which is not an accurate representation of the chemical or microstructure state of the fuel that actually governs thermal conductivity and other properties. To generate a mechanistic thermal conductivity model, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of UO<sub>2sub> thermal conductivity including representative uranium and oxygen defects and fission products are carried out. These calculations employ a standard Buckingham type interatomic potential and a potential that combines the many-body embedded atom method potential with Morse-Buckingham pair potentials. Potential parameters for UO<sub>2+xsub> and ZrO<sub>2sub> are developed for the latter potential. Physical insights from the resonant phonon-spin scattering mechanism due to spins on the magnetic uranium ions have been introduced into the treatment of the MD results, with the corresponding relaxation time derived from existing experimental data. High defect scattering is predicted for Xe atoms compared to that of La and Zr ions. Uranium defects reduce the thermal conductivity more than oxygen defects. For each defect and fission product, scattering parameters are derived for application in both a Callaway model and the corresponding high

Microkinetic Modeling of Lean NO<sub>x> Trap Sulfation and Desulfation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Larson, Richard S. [Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)

2011-08-01

A microkinetic reaction sub-mechanism designed to account for the sulfation and desulfation of a commercial lean NO<sub>x> trap (LNT) is presented. This set of reactions is appended to a previously developed mechanism for the normal storage and regeneration processes in an LNT in order to provide a comprehensive modeling tool. The reactions describing the storage, release, and reduction of sulfur oxides are patterned after those involving NO<sub>x>, but the number of reactions is kept to the minimum necessary to give an adequate simulation of the experimental observations. Values for the kinetic constants are estimated by fitting semi-quantitatively the somewhat limited experimental data, using a transient plug flow reactor code to model the processes occurring in a single monolith channel. Rigorous thermodynamic constraints are imposed in order to ensure that the overall mechanism is consistent both internally and with the known properties of all gas-phase species. The final mechanism is shown to be capable of reproducing the principal aspects of sulfation/desulfation behavior, most notably (a) the essentially complete trapping of SO<sub>2sub> during normal cycling; (b) the preferential sulfation of NO<sub>x> storage sites over oxygen storage sites and the consequent plug-like and diffuse sulfation profiles; (c) the degradation of NO<sub>x> storage and reduction (NSR) capability with increasing sulfation level; and (d) the mix of H<sub>2sub>S and SO<sub>2sub> evolved during desulfation by temperature-programmed reduction.

Explosive magnetic reconnection caused by an X-shaped current-vortex layer in a collisionless plasma

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hirota, M.; Hattori, Y. [Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8677 (Japan); Morrison, P. J. [Department of Physics and Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712 (United States)

2015-05-15

A mechanism for explosive magnetic reconnection is investigated by analyzing the nonlinear evolution of a collisionless tearing mode in a two-fluid model that includes the effects of electron inertia and temperature. These effects cooperatively enable a fast reconnection by forming an X-shaped current-vortex layer centered at the reconnection point. A high-resolution simulation of this model for an unprecedentedly small electron skin depth d{sub e} and ion-sound gyroradius ρ{sub s}, satisfying d{sub e}=ρ{sub s}, shows an explosive tendency for nonlinear growth of the tearing mode, where it is newly found that the explosive widening of the X-shaped layer occurs locally around the reconnection point with the length of the X shape being shorter than the domain length and the wavelength of the linear tearing mode. The reason for the onset of this locally enhanced reconnection is explained theoretically by developing a novel nonlinear and nonequilibrium inner solution that models the local X-shaped layer, and then matching it to an outer solution that is approximated by a linear tearing eigenmode with a shorter wavelength than the domain length. This theoretical model proves that the local reconnection can release the magnetic energy more efficiently than the global one and the estimated scaling of the explosive growth rate agrees well with the simulation results.

In vivo behaviors of Ca(OH){sub 2} activated nano SiO{sub 2} (n{sub Ca}/n{sub Si} = 3) cement in rabbit model

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lin, Qing, E-mail: lnqing@yahoo.com [School of Material Engineering, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing 211169 (China); Zhang, Xiaojuan [School of Material Engineering, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing 211169 (China); Lu, Chunhua; Lan, Xianghui [State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing 210009 (China); Hou, Guihua [Key Laboratory for Advanced Technology in Environmental Protection of Jiangsu Province, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051 (China); Xu, Zhongzi [State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing 210009 (China)

2016-01-01

In vivo behaviors of Ca(OH){sub 2} activated nano SiO{sub 2} (n{sub Ca}/n{sub Si} = 3, TCS) cement were investigated in the rabbit femoral defects using the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as control. The deposited apatite and CaCO{sub 3} layers round TCS paste surfaces were completely used to construct the new bone tissue. TCS paste could stimulate the formation of new bone tissue in marrow tissue. The osteostimulation was mainly attributed to the proliferation and differentiation effects of Ca and Si ions released from TCS paste on the osteoprogenitor cells. However, Calcium–Silicate–Hydrate (C–S–H) gel in TCS paste was harder to degradate than Ca(OH){sub 2}. TCS paste kept the original shape during implantation, and could not provide the pores or spaces for further formation of bone tissue. Osteolytic defects induced by wear particles from TCS paste surface could not be completely avoided, because of the interfacial strain and the extensive micromotion between TCS paste surface and new bone tissue. Overall, our results indicated that Ca(OH){sub 2} activated nano SiO{sub 2} cement was bioactivity and osteostimulation. The further improvements of Ca(OH){sub 2} activated nano SiO{sub 2} cement should be done by achieving a balance between biological properties and mechanical performances. - Highlights: • Ca(OH){sub 2} activated nano SiO{sub 2} (n{sub Ca}/n{sub Si} = 3, TCS) cement was in vivo bioactivity. • Deposited apatite and CaCO{sub 3} particles round TCS paste were utilized to restructure new bone tissue. • TCS paste was able to induce osteogenesis in marrow tissue. • Wear particle could induced osteolytic defect between TCS paste and bone tissue.

Foveal shape and structure in a normal population.

Science.gov (United States)

Tick, Sarah; Rossant, Florence; Ghorbel, Itebeddine; Gaudric, Alain; Sahel, José-Alain; Chaumet-Riffaud, Philippe; Paques, Michel

2011-07-29

The shape of the human fovea presents important but still poorly characterized variations. In this study, the variability of the shape and structure of normal foveae were examined. In a group of 110 eyes of 57 healthy adults, the shape and structure of the fovea were analyzed by automated segmentation of retinal layer on high-resolution optical coherence tomography scans. In an additional group of 10 normal eyes of 10 patients undergoing fluorescein angiography, the size of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) was correlated to foveal shape. From the thickest to the thinnest fovea, there was a structural continuum ranging from a shallow pit with continuity of the inner nuclear layer (INL) over the center (seven eyes; 6.7%), to a complete separation of inner layers overlying a flat and thinner central outer nuclear layer (ONL; eight eyes; 7.3%). Central foveal thickness correlated inversely to the degree of inner layer separation and to the surface of the FAZ. Foveal structure strongly correlates with its neurovascular organization. The findings support a developmental model in which the size of the FAZ determines the extent of centrifugal migration of inner retinal layers, which counteracts in some way the centripetal packing of cone photoreceptors.

Laser beam shaping design based on micromirror array

Science.gov (United States)

Fang, Han; Su, Bida; Liu, Jiaguo; Fan, Xiaoli; Jing, Wang

2017-10-01

In the practical application of the laser, it is necessary to use the laser beam shaping technology to shape the output beam of laser device to the uniform light intensity distribution. The shaping divergent optical system of compound eye integrator way is composed of beam expanding mirror group and lens array. Its working principle is to expand the output laser to a certain size of caliber, and then divide the beam with lens array into multiple sub beam, where the lens unit of lens array can control the divergence angle of sub beam through the design of focal length, with mutual superposition of the sub beam in far field, to make up for the nonuniformity of beam, so that the radiant exitance on the radiated surface may become uniform. In this paper, we use a reflective microlens array to realize the laser beam shaping. By through of the practical optical path model established, the ray tracing is carried out and the simulation results for single-mode Gaussian beam with noise circumstance is provided. The analysis results show that the laser beam shaping under different inputs can be effectively realized by use of microlens array. All the energy is within the signal window, with a high energy efficiency of more than 90%; The measured surface has a better uniformity, and the uniformity is better than 99.5% at 150m.

Shape prior modeling using sparse representation and online dictionary learning.

Science.gov (United States)

Zhang, Shaoting; Zhan, Yiqiang; Zhou, Yan; Uzunbas, Mustafa; Metaxas, Dimitris N

2012-01-01

The recently proposed sparse shape composition (SSC) opens a new avenue for shape prior modeling. Instead of assuming any parametric model of shape statistics, SSC incorporates shape priors on-the-fly by approximating a shape instance (usually derived from appearance cues) by a sparse combination of shapes in a training repository. Theoretically, one can increase the modeling capability of SSC by including as many training shapes in the repository. However, this strategy confronts two limitations in practice. First, since SSC involves an iterative sparse optimization at run-time, the more shape instances contained in the repository, the less run-time efficiency SSC has. Therefore, a compact and informative shape dictionary is preferred to a large shape repository. Second, in medical imaging applications, training shapes seldom come in one batch. It is very time consuming and sometimes infeasible to reconstruct the shape dictionary every time new training shapes appear. In this paper, we propose an online learning method to address these two limitations. Our method starts from constructing an initial shape dictionary using the K-SVD algorithm. When new training shapes come, instead of re-constructing the dictionary from the ground up, we update the existing one using a block-coordinates descent approach. Using the dynamically updated dictionary, sparse shape composition can be gracefully scaled up to model shape priors from a large number of training shapes without sacrificing run-time efficiency. Our method is validated on lung localization in X-Ray and cardiac segmentation in MRI time series. Compared to the original SSC, it shows comparable performance while being significantly more efficient.

An evaluation of nasal bone and aperture shape among three South African populations.

Science.gov (United States)

McDowell, Jennifer L; Kenyhercz, Michael W; L'Abbé, Ericka N

2015-07-01

Reliable and valid population specific standards are necessary to accurately develop a biological profile, which includes an estimation of peer-reported social identification (Hefner, 2009). During the last 300 years, colonialism, slavery and apartheid created geographic, physical and social divisions of population groups in South Africa. The purpose of this study was to evaluate variation in nasal bone and aperture shape in a modern population of black, white, and coloured South Africans using standard craniometric variables and geometric morphometrics, namely general Procrustes and elliptical Fourier analyses. Fourteen standard landmarks were digitally recorded or computationally derived from 310 crania using a 3D coordinate digitizer for discriminant function, principal components and generalized Procrustes analyses. For elliptical Fourier analysis, outlines of the nasal aperture were generated from standardized photographs. All classification accuracies were better than chance; the lowest accuracies were for coloured and the highest accuracies were for white South Africans. Most difficulties arose in distinguishing coloured and black South African groups from each other. Generally, misclassifications were noted between the sexes within each group rather than among groups, which suggests that sex has less influence on nasal bone and aperture shape than ancestry. Quantifiable variation in shape of the nasal aperture region between white and non-white South African groups was observed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Modelling of the solid state electrochromic system WO/sub 3//HSbO/sub 3/ x 2H/sub 2/O/Ni(OH)/sub 2/

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lagzdons, J L; Bajars, G E; Lusis, A R [AN Litovskoj SSR, Vilnyus. Inst. Fiziki Poluprovodnikov

1984-08-16

The problem of compatibility of electrochromic materials (ECM) with the solid electrolyte and the selection of solid electrolytes has been studied by means of modelling. The model electrochromic system (ECS) containing cathodically coloring ECM (WO/sub 3/), anodically coloring ECM (Ni(OH)/sub 2/), and a solid proton electrolyte (HSbO/sub 3/ x 2H/sub 2/O), as well as ECS containing H/sub x/WO/sub 3/ as counterelectrode has been investigated by the aid of cyclic voltammograms. Results show the compatibility of both the cathodic (WO/sub 3/) and anodic (Ni(OH)/sub 2/) ECM with solid proton electrolyte. Effective electrochromic devices can be worked out on their basis.

Modeling the shape hierarchy for visually guided grasping

CSIR Research Space (South Africa)

Rezai, O

2014-10-01

Full Text Available The monkey anterior intraparietal area (AIP) encodes visual information about three-dimensional object shape that is used to shape the hand for grasping. We modeled shape tuning in visual AIP neurons and its relationship with curvature and gradient...

Structure of S-shaped growth in innovation diffusion

Science.gov (United States)

Shimogawa, Shinsuke; Shinno, Miyuki; Saito, Hiroshi

2012-05-01

A basic question on innovation diffusion is why the growth curve of the adopter population in a large society is often S shaped. From macroscopic, microscopic, and mesoscopic viewpoints, the growth of the adopter population is observed as the growth curve, individual adoptions, and differences among individual adoptions, respectively. The S shape can be explained if an empirical model of the growth curve can be deduced from models of microscopic and mesoscopic structures. However, even the structure of growth curve has not been revealed yet because long-term extrapolations by proposed models of S-shaped curves are unstable and it has been very difficult to predict the long-term growth and final adopter population. This paper studies the S-shaped growth from the viewpoint of social regularities. Simple methods to analyze power laws enable us to extract the structure of the growth curve directly from the growth data of recent basic telecommunication services. This empirical model of growth curve is singular at the inflection point and a logarithmic function of time after this point, which explains the unstable extrapolations obtained using previously proposed models and the difficulty in predicting the final adopter population. Because the empirical S curve can be expressed in terms of two power laws of the regularity found in social performances of individuals, we propose the hypothesis that the S shape represents the heterogeneity of the adopter population, and the heterogeneity parameter is distributed under the regularity in social performances of individuals. This hypothesis is so powerful as to yield models of microscopic and mesoscopic structures. In the microscopic model, each potential adopter adopts the innovation when the information accumulated by the learning about the innovation exceeds a threshold. The accumulation rate of information is heterogeneous among the adopter population, whereas the threshold is a constant, which is the opposite of previously

FIMP and muon (g−2) in a U(1){sub L{sub μ−L{sub τ}}} model

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Biswas, Anirban [Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Chhatnag Road, Jhunsi, Allahabad 211 019 (India); Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094 (India); Choubey, Sandhya [Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Chhatnag Road, Jhunsi, Allahabad 211 019 (India); Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094 (India); Department of Theoretical Physics, School of Engineering Sciences, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm (Sweden); Khan, Sarif [Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Chhatnag Road, Jhunsi, Allahabad 211 019 (India); Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094 (India)

2017-02-23

The tightening of the constraints on the standard thermal WIMP scenario has forced physicists to propose alternative dark matter (DM) models. One of the most popular alternate explanations of the origin of DM is the non-thermal production of DM via freeze-in. In this scenario the DM never attains thermal equilibrium with the thermal soup because of its feeble coupling strength (∼ 10{sup −12}) with the other particles in the thermal bath and is generally called the Feebly Interacting Massive Particle (FIMP). In this work, we present a gauged U(1){sub L{sub μ−L{sub τ}}} extension of the Standard Model (SM) which has a scalar FIMP DM candidate and can consistently explain the DM relic density bound. In addition, the spontaneous breaking of the U(1){sub L{sub μ−L{sub τ}}} gauge symmetry gives an extra massive neutral gauge boson Z{sub μτ} which can explain the muon (g−2) data through its additional one-loop contribution to the process. Lastly, presence of three right-handed neutrinos enable the model to successfully explain the small neutrino masses via the Type-I seesaw mechanism. The presence of the spontaneously broken U(1){sub L{sub μ−L{sub τ}}} gives a particular structure to the light neutrino mass matrix which can explain the peculiar mixing pattern of the light neutrinos.

Event shapes in deep inelastic scattering at HERA

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Chekanov, S.; Derrick, M.; Magill, S. [Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL (US)] (and others)

2006-04-15

Mean values and differential distributions of event-shape variables have been studied in neutral current deep inelastic scattering using an integrated luminosity of 82.2 pb{sup -1} collected with the ZEUS detector at HERA. The kinematic range was 80model based on a combination of next-to-leading-order QCD calculations with next-to-leading-logarithm corrections and the Dokshitzer-Webber non-perturbative power corrections. The power-correction method provides a reasonable description of the data for all event-shape variables studied. Nevertheless, the lack of consistency of the determination of {alpha}{sub s} and of the non-perturbative parameter of the model, anti {alpha}{sub 0}, suggests the importance of higher-order processes that are not yet included in the model. (orig.)

Modelling the shape hierarchy for visually guided grasping

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Omid eRezai

2014-10-01

Full Text Available The monkey anterior intraparietal area (AIP encodes visual information about three-dimensional object shape that is used to shape the hand for grasping. We modelled shape tuning in visual AIP neurons and its relationship with curvature and gradient information from the caudal intraparietal area (CIP. The main goal was to gain insight into the kinds of shape parameterizations that can account for AIP tuning and that are consistent with both the inputs to AIP and the role of AIP in grasping. We first experimented with superquadric shape parameters. We considered superquadrics because they occupy a role in robotics that is similar to AIP, in that superquadric fits are derived from visual input and used for grasp planning. We also experimented with an alternative shape parameterization that was based on an Isomap dimension reduction of spatial derivatives of depth (i.e. distance from the observer to the object surface. We considered an Isomap-based model because its parameters lacked discontinuities between similar shapes. When we matched the dimension of the Isomap to the number of superquadric parameters, the superquadric model fit the AIP data somewhat more closely. However, higher-dimensional Isomaps provided excellent fits. Also, we found that the Isomap parameters could be approximated much more accurately than superquadric parameters by feedforward neural networks with CIP-like inputs. We conclude that Isomaps, or perhaps alternative dimension reductions of visual inputs to AIP, provide a promising model of AIP electrophysiology data. However (in contrast with superquadrics further work is needed to test whether such shape parameterizations actually provide an effective basis for grasp control.

Yonsei Evolutionary Population Synthesis (YEPS). II. Spectro-photometric Evolution of Helium-enhanced Stellar Populations

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Chung, Chul; Yoon, Suk-Jin; Lee, Young-Wook, E-mail: chulchung@yonsei.ac.kr, E-mail: sjyoon0691@yonsei.ac.kr [Center for Galaxy Evolution Research, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722 (Korea, Republic of)

2017-06-20

The discovery of multiple stellar populations in Milky Way globular clusters (GCs) has stimulated various follow-up studies on helium-enhanced stellar populations. Here we present the evolutionary population synthesis models for the spectro-photometric evolution of simple stellar populations (SSPs) with varying initial helium abundance ( Y {sub ini}). We show that Y {sub ini} brings about dramatic changes in spectro-photometric properties of SSPs. Like the normal-helium SSPs, the integrated spectro-photometric evolution of helium-enhanced SSPs is also dependent on metallicity and age for a given Y {sub ini}. We discuss the implications and prospects for the helium-enhanced populations in relation to the second-generation populations found in the Milky Way GCs. All of the models are available at http://web.yonsei.ac.kr/cosmic/data/YEPS.htm.

Two ternary mixed-anion chlorides with divalent europium: Eu{sub 2}H{sub 3}Cl and Eu{sub 7}F{sub 12}Cl{sub 2}

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Reckeweg, Olaf [Baker Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-1301 (United States); Institut fuer Anorganische Chemie, Universitaet Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, 70569 Stuttgart (Germany); DiSalvo, Francis J. [Baker Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-1301 (United States); Wolf, Sarah; Schleid, Thomas [Institut fuer Anorganische Chemie, Universitaet Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, 70569 Stuttgart (Germany)

2014-06-15

Dark ruby-red, transparent, triangular plate-shaped single crystals of Eu{sub 2}H{sub 3}Cl and colorless, transparent, needle-shaped single crystals of Eu{sub 7}F{sub 12}Cl{sub 2} were obtained by solid-state reactions of Eu, NaH, NaCl, and Na (2:4:1:2 molar ratio) or Eu, EuCl{sub 3}, and LiF (1:1:4 molar ratio), respectively, in silica-jacketed tantalum ampoules at 900 C for 13 h. Eu{sub 2}H{sub 3}Cl crystallizes isotypically to Ba{sub 2}H{sub 3}X (X = Cl, Br, I) in the trigonal space group P anti 3m1 (no. 164) with lattice parameters a = 409.67(4) and c = 696.18(7) pm, whereas Eu{sub 7}F{sub 12}Cl{sub 2} crystallizes isotypically to Ba{sub 7}F{sub 12}Cl{sub 2} or Sr{sub 7}H{sub 12}Cl{sub 2} in the hexagonal space group P anti 6 (no. 174) with lattice parameters a = 1002.31(5) and c = 392.54(2) pm. Both compounds contain Eu{sup 2+} cations with coordination numbers as high as nine (Eu{sub 7}F{sub 12}Cl{sub 2}) and ten (Eu{sub 2}H{sub 3}Cl) with respect to the halide anions (F{sup -} or H{sup -} and Cl{sup -}). The structural results are corroborated by EUTAX and MAPLE calculations on both ternary mixed-anion europium(II) chlorides in comparison to these for related binary and ternary compounds with divalent europium. (Copyright copyright 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Stimulated Emission Pumping Enablling Sub-Diffraction-Limited Spatial Resolution in CARS Microscopy

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Cleff, C.; Gross, P.; Fallnich, C.; Offerhaus, Herman L.; Herek, Jennifer Lynn; Kruse, K.; Beeker, W.P; Beeker, W.P.; Lee, Christopher James; Boller, Klaus J.; Dobner, S.

2012-01-01

Suppression of CARS signal generation is demonstrated by equalization of the ground and Raman states via a control state in a theoretical investigation. Using donut-shaped control light fields for population transfer results in sub-diffraction-limited spatial resolution CARS microscopy.

Detecting global and local hippocampal shape changes in Alzheimer's disease using statistical shape models

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Shen, Kai-kai; Fripp, Jurgen; Mériaudeau, Fabrice; Chételat, Gaël; Salvado, Olivier; Bourgeat, Pierrick; Saradha, A.; Abdi, Hervé; Abdulkadir, Ahmed; Acharya, Deepa; Achuthan, Anusha; Adluru, Nagesh; Aghajanian, Jania; Agrusti, Antonella; Agyemang, Alex; Ahdidan, Jamila; Ahmad, Duaa; Ahmed, Shiek; Aisen, Paul; Akhondi-Asl, Alireza; Aksu, Yaman; Alberca, Roman; Alcauter, Sarael; Alexander, Daniel; Alin, Aylin; Almeida, Fabio; Alvarez-Lineara, Juan; Amlien, Inge; Anand, Shyam; Anderson, Dallas; Ang, Amma; Angersbach, Steve; Ansarian, Reza; Aoyama, Eiji; Appannah, Arti; Arfanakis, Konstantinos; Armor, Tom; Arrighi, Michael; Arumughababu, S. Vethanayaki; Arunagiri, Vidhya; Ashe-McNalley, Cody; Ashford, Wes; Le Page, Aurelie; Avants, Brian; Aviv, Richard; Awasthi, Sukrati; Ayache, Nicholas; Chen, Wei; Richard, Edo; Schmand, Ben

2012-01-01

The hippocampus is affected at an early stage in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). With the use of structural magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, we can investigate the effect of AD on the morphology of the hippocampus. The hippocampal shape variations among a population can be usually

Coherent-potential approximation for vibrations in Ga/sub 1-x/In/sub x/Sb and Ga/sub 1-x/In/sub x/As mixed crystals

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kleinert, P.

1982-01-01

The vibrational properties of the mixed crystals Ga/sub 1-x/In/sub x/As and Ga/sub 1-x/In/sub x/Sb are investigated using the coherent-potential approximation (CPA). These III-V systems switch from one-mode to two-mode behaviour as the composition is changed. Results are obtained for a one-dimensional model including self-consistently mass defects and force constant changes. The calculated density of states and the dielectric susceptibility are compared with results of the mass CPA. In addition, a three-dimensional CPA Bethe lattice treatment is carried out to calculate the optical properties of these disordered systems showing mixed-mode behaviour. The force-constant change is included by a virtual-crystal interpolation. The theory explains the mode switching behaviour and agrees fairly well with experimental peak positions and line shapes of the response function. (author)

Temperature and depth dependence of positron annihilation parameters in YBa2Cu3O/sub 7-x/ and La/sub 1.85/Sr/sub 0.15/CuO4

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lynn, K.G.; Usmar, S.G.; Nielsen, B.; van der Kolk, G.; Kanazawa, I.; Sferlazzo, P.; Moodenbaugh, A.R.

1988-01-01

The temperature dependence of the positron annihilation parameters for YBa 2 Cu 3 O/sub 7-//sub x/ x = 0.7, 0.4 and 0.0 and La/sub 1.85/Sr/sub 0.15/CuO 4 were measured. The depth dependence of the YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 was studied using a variable-energy positron beam showing a strong depth dependence in the Doppler line-shape extending up to an average depth of ∼5.0 μm. It was found that a transition in the Doppler line-shape parameter, ''S'', was associated with the superconducting transition temperature (T/sub c/) in YBa 2 Cu 3 O/sub 7-x/ x = 0.4 and 0.0 while no transition was observed in the nonsuperconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O/sub 6.3/. Positron lifetime parameters in YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 were found to be consistent with positrons localized at open volume regions (probably unoccupied crystallographic sites) in this material with a lifetime of 210 psec at 300 K. These results indicate that the electron density at these unoccupied sites increases, using a free electron model, approximately 9% between 100 and 12 K

K{sub 2}MnF{sub 5}·H{sub 2}O as reactant for synthesizing highly efficient red emitting K{sub 2}TiF{sub 6}:Mn{sup 4+} phosphors by a modified cation exchange approach

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Han, Tao, E-mail: danbaiht@126.com; Wang, Jun; Lang, Tianchun; Tu, Mingjing; Peng, Lingling

2016-11-01

As reactant for synthesizing K{sub 2}TiF{sub 6}:Mn{sup 4+} phosphors, the cross-shaped and cuboid-shaped K{sub 2}MnF{sub 5}·H{sub 2}O powders were prepared by the simple chemical method. Based on the reaction mechanism, oxidizing K{sub 2}MnF{sub 5}·H{sub 2}O (Mn{sup 3+}) to Mn{sup 4+} by KMnO{sub 4} (Mn{sup 7+}), a modified cation exchange approach for synthesizing highly efficient red emitting K{sub 2}TiF{sub 6}:Mn{sup 4+} phosphor was proposed. The obtained K{sub 2}TiF{sub 6}:Mn{sup 4+} (2.7–5.3 at.%) phosphors have the size of 30–80 μm with a rough surface, their emission spectra consist of five narrow bands extending from 580 to 660 nm with the strongest peak at 634.8 nm, whose relative emitting intensity depends on the molar ratio of KMnO{sub 4} to K{sub 2}MnF{sub 5}·H{sub 2}O (the platform value = 3.2), and two broad excitation bands are peaking at ∼365 nm and ∼460 nm. The internal quantum yield of our synthesized K{sub 2}TiF{sub 6}:Mn{sup 4+} phosphors is up to 82.5%, which is higher than the commercial CaAlSiN{sub 3}:Eu{sup 2+} value, their excitation bands peak at ∼460 and ∼365 nm are consistent with those of Y{sub 3}A{sub 5}O{sub 12}:Ce{sup 3+} phosphors and their emission bands are more suitable for the sensitivity curve of photopic human vision. In addition, our synthesized phosphors show better thermal quenching properties. These findings show a large potential of the synthesized K{sub 2}TiF{sub 6}:Mn{sup 4+} phosphors for commercialization. - Highlights: • We synthesize the cross-shaped and cuboid-shaped K{sub 2}MnF{sub 5}·H{sub 2}O. • K{sub 2}MnF{sub 5}·H{sub 2}O is as a reactant for synthesizing K{sub 2}TiF{sub 6}:Mn{sup 4+} phosphors. • K{sub 2}TiF{sub 6}:Mn{sup 4+} will improve the current white LED with high CRI for indoor lighting.

Wind conditions and geography shape the first outbound migration of juvenile honey buzzards and their distribution across sub-Saharan Africa.

Science.gov (United States)

Vansteelant, W M G; Kekkonen, J; Byholm, P

2017-05-31

Contemporary tracking studies reveal that low migratory connectivity between breeding and non-breeding ranges is common in migrant landbirds. It is unclear, however, how internal factors and early-life experiences of individual migrants shape the development of their migration routes and concomitant population-level non-breeding distributions. Stochastic wind conditions and geography may determine whether and where migrants end up by the end of their journey. We tested this hypothesis by satellite-tagging 31 fledgling honey buzzards Pernis apivorus from southern Finland and used a global atmospheric reanalysis model to estimate the wind conditions they encountered on their first outbound migration. Migration routes diverged rapidly upon departure and the birds eventually spread out across 3340 km of longitude. Using linear regression models, we show that the birds' longitudinal speeds were strongly affected by zonal wind speed, and negatively affected by latitudinal wind, with significant but minor differences between individuals. Eventually, 49% of variability in the birds' total longitudinal displacements was accounted for by wind conditions on migration. Some birds circumvented the Baltic Sea via Scandinavia or engaged in unusual downwind movements over the Mediterranean, which also affected the longitude at which these individuals arrived in sub-Saharan Africa. To understand why adult migrants use the migration routes and non-breeding sites they use, we must take into account the way in which wind conditions moulded their very first journeys. Our results present some of the first evidence into the mechanisms through which low migratory connectivity emerges. © 2017 The Authors.

Wind conditions and geography shape the first outbound migration of juvenile honey buzzards and their distribution across sub-Saharan Africa

Science.gov (United States)

Kekkonen, J.; Byholm, P.

2017-01-01

Contemporary tracking studies reveal that low migratory connectivity between breeding and non-breeding ranges is common in migrant landbirds. It is unclear, however, how internal factors and early-life experiences of individual migrants shape the development of their migration routes and concomitant population-level non-breeding distributions. Stochastic wind conditions and geography may determine whether and where migrants end up by the end of their journey. We tested this hypothesis by satellite-tagging 31 fledgling honey buzzards Pernis apivorus from southern Finland and used a global atmospheric reanalysis model to estimate the wind conditions they encountered on their first outbound migration. Migration routes diverged rapidly upon departure and the birds eventually spread out across 3340 km of longitude. Using linear regression models, we show that the birds' longitudinal speeds were strongly affected by zonal wind speed, and negatively affected by latitudinal wind, with significant but minor differences between individuals. Eventually, 49% of variability in the birds' total longitudinal displacements was accounted for by wind conditions on migration. Some birds circumvented the Baltic Sea via Scandinavia or engaged in unusual downwind movements over the Mediterranean, which also affected the longitude at which these individuals arrived in sub-Saharan Africa. To understand why adult migrants use the migration routes and non-breeding sites they use, we must take into account the way in which wind conditions moulded their very first journeys. Our results present some of the first evidence into the mechanisms through which low migratory connectivity emerges. PMID:28539514

Predictions for m{sub t} and M{sub W} in minimal supersymmetric models

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Buchmueller, O. [Imperial College, London (United Kingdom). High Energy Physics Group; Cavanaugh, R. [Fermi National Accelerator Lab., Batavia, IL (United States); Illinois Univ., Chicago, IL (United States). Dept. of Physics; Roeck, A. de [European Lab. for Particle Physics (CERN), Geneva (Switzerland); Universitaire Instelling Antwerpen, Wilrijk (Belgium); Ellis, J.R. [European Lab. for Particle Physics (CERN), Geneva (Switzerland); Flaecher, H. [Rochester Univ., NY (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy; Heinemeyer, S. [Instituto de Fisica de Cantabria, Santander (Spain); Isidori, G. [INFN, Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati (Italy); Technische Univ. Muenchen (Germany). Inst. for Advanced Study; Olive, K.A. [Minnesota Univ., Minnesota, MN (United States). William I. Fine Theoretical Physics Institute; Ronga, F.J. [ETH Zuerich (Switzerland). Institute for Particle Physics; Weiglein, G. [Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg (Germany)

2009-12-15

Using a frequentist analysis of experimental constraints within two versions of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model, we derive the predictions for the top quark mass, m{sub t}, and the W boson mass, m{sub W}. We find that the supersymmetric predictions for both m{sub t} and m{sub W}, obtained by incorporating all the relevant experimental information and state-of-the-art theoretical predictions, are highly compatible with the experimental values with small remaining uncertainties, yielding an improvement compared to the case of the Standard Model. (orig.)

Spin-phonon coupling in rod-shaped half-metallic CrO sub 2 ultrafine particles: a magnetic Raman scattering study

CERN Document Server

Yu, T; Sun, W X; Lin, J Y; Ding, J

2003-01-01

Half-metallic CrO sub 2 powder compact with rod-shaped nanoparticles was studied by micro-Raman scattering in the presence of an external magnetic field at room temperature (300 K). In the low-field region (H <= 250 mT), the frequency and intensity of the E sub g mode, an internal phonon mode of CrO sub 2 , increase dramatically with increase in the magnetic field, while the corresponding linewidth decreases. The above parameters become constant when the CrO sub 2 powder enters the saturation state at higher magnetic field. The pronounced anomalies of the Raman phonon parameters under a low magnetic field are attributed to the spin-phonon coupling enhanced by the magnetic ordering, which is induced by the external magnetic field. (letter to the editor)

Fabrication of hematite (α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}) nanoparticles using electrochemical deposition

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Meng, Qingling; Wang, Zuobin, E-mail: wangz@cust.edu.cn; Chai, Xiangyu; Weng, Zhankun; Ding, Ran; Dong, Litong

2016-04-15

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Cathodic electrochemical deposition proposed to fabricate hematite nanoparticles. • Hematite nanoparticles were fabricated on indium-tin-oxide coated glass substrates. • The size and shape of nanoparticles were determined by deposition conditions. • The nanoparticles were well decentralized for different potential applications. • Electrochemical deposition is a useful approach in fabricating nanoparticles. - Abstract: In this work, cathodic electrochemical deposition was proposed to fabricate reproducible and homogeneous hematite (α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}) nanoparticles on indium-tin-oxide (ITO) films. The α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles, which were quasi-hexagonally shaped, were deposited in an aqueous mixture of FeCl{sub 2} and FeCl{sub 3} at the temperatures 16.5 °C, 40 °C and 60 °C. The electrochemically deposited α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles showed excellent stability and good crystallinity. The α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles were characterized by Raman spectroscope and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to measure the size and shape of the nanoparticles. The experiment results have shown that the size and shape of nanoparticles were determined by electrochemical deposition conditions including the deposition time, current density, reaction temperature and solution concentration. The proposed electrochemical deposition method has been proven to be a cost-effective, environment friendly and highly efficient approach in fabricating well decentralized α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles for different potential applications.

Population Policy Adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Interplay of Global and Local Forces

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Robinson Rachel Sullivan

2016-08-01

Full Text Available Sub-Saharan African countries have the highest population growth rates in the world, and are also the poorest. In response to a variety of global and local forces, during the 1980s and 1990s two thirds of sub- Saharan African countries adopted national population policies to reduce population growth. Drawing from existing research and using the texts of population policies to illustrate key points, this article summarises the factors that drove population policy adoption in the region. Globally, powerful donors with significant leverage promoted population policies as a solution to lagging socioeconomic development while international organizations spread norms about women’s rights and reproductive health. Locally, technocrats working within relevant ministries backed efforts to increase contraceptive prevalence, and population policies furthered political projects unrelated to population. The interplay of global and local forces led to governments adopting population policies. Ultimately, continued high desired fertility and limited implementation capacity have prevented population policies from significantly lowering fertility, but these policies have likely increased the availability of contraception, created important discursive space related to gender and sexuality, and provided countries with an opportunity to test procedures and approaches for policy-making on sensitive issues.

Thermodynamic modelling of shape memory behaviour: some examples

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Stalmans, R.; Humbeeck, J. van; Delaey, L.

1995-01-01

This paper gives a general view of a recently developed thermodynamic model of the thermoelastic martensitic transformation. Unlike existing empirical, mathematical or thermodynamic models, this generalised thermodynamic model can be used to understand and describe quantitatively the overall thermomechanical behaviour of polycrystalline shape memory alloys. Important points of difference between this and previous thermodynamic models are that the contributions of the stored elastic energy and of the crystal defects are also included. In addition, the mathematical approach and the assumptions in this model are selected in such a way that the calculations yield close approximations of the real behaviour and that the final mathematical equations are relatively simple. Several illustrations indicate that this model, in contrast to other models, can be used to understand the shape memory behaviour of complex cases. As an example of quantitative calculations, it is shown that this modelling can be an effective tool in the ''design'' of multifunctional materials consisting of shape memory elements embedded in matrix materials. (orig.)

Dynamic shape transitions in the sdg boson model

Science.gov (United States)

Kuyucak, S.

The dynamic evolution of shapes in the sdg interacting boson model is investigated using the angular momentum projected mean field theory. Deformed nuclei are found to be quite stable against shape changes but transitional nuclei could exhibit dynamic shape transitions in the region L = 10-20. Conditions of existence and experimental signatures for dynamic shape transitions are discussed together with a likely candidate, 192Os.

Dynamic shape transitions in the sdg boson model

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kuyucak, S. (Melbourne Univ., Parkville (Australia). School of Physics)

1992-01-01

The dynamic evolution of shapes in the sdg interacting bosun model is investigated using the angular momentum projected mean field theory. Deformed nuclei are found to be quite stable against shape changes but transitional nuclei could exhibit dynamic shape transitions in the region L = 10-20. Conditions of existence and experimental signatures for dynamic shape transitions are discussed together with a likely candidate, {sup 192}Os. (author).

Microstructural, magnetic and transport properties of La{sub 0.5}Pr{sub 0.2}Pb{sub 0.3-x}Sr{sub x}MnO{sub 3} manganites

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Craus, M.-L., E-mail: kraus@nf.jinr.ru [Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna (Russian Federation); National Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics, Iasi (Romania); Islamov, A.Kh., E-mail: islamov@nf.jinr.ru [Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna (Russian Federation); Laboratory of Advanced Research of Membrane Proteins, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudniy (Russian Federation); Anitas, E.M., E-mail: anitas@theor.jinr.ru [Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna (Russian Federation); Horia Hulubei National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Bucharest-Magurele (Romania); Cornei, N., E-mail: ncornei@uaic.ro [“Al. I. Cuza” University, Chemistry Department, Iasi (Romania); Luca, D., E-mail: dluca@tuiasi.ro [“Gh. Asachi” Technical University, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Iasi (Romania)

2014-04-01

Highlights: • We synthesized a series of pure La{sub 0.5}Pr{sub 0.2}Pb{sub 0.3−x}Sr{sub x}MnO{sub 3} manganites using ceramic technology. • The crystalline structure depends on the Sr concentration. • Small-angle neutron scattering reveals the presence of magnetic nanodomains at temperatures higher than Curie temperature. • The crystalline structure, the shape and the concentration of magnetic nanodomains are correlated with transport phenomena. - Abstract: The most interesting and studied materials for practical applications of colossal magnetorsistance effect are rare earth manganites with general formula RMnO{sub 3} (where R is a rare/alkaline earth element). The coexisting of competing phases in manganites, such as metallic ferromagnetic, charge ordered, antiferromagnetic insulating and ferromagnetic insulating phases, determines an important change of magnetic and transport properties with the microstructure. In this paper, we report on the correlations between microstructural, magnetic and transport properties at temperatures ranging from 263 to 343 K of La{sub 0.5}Pr{sub 0.2}Pb{sub 0.3-x}Sr{sub x}MnO{sub 3} manganites synthesized by ceramic technology. The microstructure is studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) at Sr concentrations x=0.00,0.05,0.15 and 0.20. SAXS and SANS data show the formation of magnetic nanodomains in the mosaic blocks, at temperatures higher than Curie temperature T{sub C}. SANS data reveal the shape and concentration of magnetic nanodomains, and their dependency on temperature. The La{sub 0.5}Pr{sub 0.2}Pb{sub 0.3-x}Sr{sub x}MnO{sub 3} manganites crystallize as cubic structure Pm3{sup ¯}m (x=0.00 and x=0.05) or as rhombohedral structure R3{sup ¯}c (x=0.15 and x=0.20). We found that transport phenomena at temperatures higher than T{sub C} are greatly influenced by nanodomains concentration and their shape. We show that about room temperature

Modeling study of vibrational photochemical isotope enrichment. [HBr + Cl/sub 2/; HCl + Br/sub 2/

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Badcock, C.C.; Hwang, W.C.; Kalsch, J.F.

1978-09-29

Chemical kinetic modeling studies of vibrational-photochemical isotope enrichment have been performed on two systems: Model (I), H/sup 79/Br(H/sup 81/Br) + Cl/sub 2/ and, Model (II), H/sup 37/Cl(H/sup 35/Cl) + Br. Pulsed laser excitation was modeled to the first excited vibrational level of H/sup 79/Br in Model I and the first and second excited vibrational levels of both HCl isotopes in Model II. These are prototype systems of exoergic (Model I) and endoergic (Model II) reactions. The effects on enrichment of varying the external parameters (pressure, laser intensity) and the internal parameters (rate constants for V-V exchange and excited-state reactions) were examined. Studies of these prototype systems indicate that a favorable reaction for enrichment, with isotopically-specific excitation and a significantly accelerated vibrationally-excited-state reaction should have the following properties: the reaction from v = 0 should be only moderately exoergic, and the most favorable coreactant should be a polyatomic species, such as alkyl radical. Direct excitation of the reacting vibrational level is at least an order of magnitude more favorable for enrichment than is population by energy transfer. Enrichment of the minor isotope by these processes is more effective than is major isotope enrichment. Within limits, increased laser intensity is beneficial. However, for sequential excitation of a second vibrational level, major isotope enrichment can be diminished by high populations of the first vibrational level.

Experimental determination and modeling of the solubility phase diagram of the ternary system (Li{sub 2}SO{sub 4} + K{sub 2}SO{sub 4} + H{sub 2}O) at 288.15 K

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wang, Shiqiang, E-mail: wangshiqiang@tust.edu.cn [Tianjin Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Chemistry, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457 (China); Guo, Yafei [Tianjin Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Chemistry, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457 (China); Li, Dongchan [Engineering Research Center of Seawater Utilization Technology of Ministry of Education, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130 (China); Tang, Peng; Deng, Tianlong [Tianjin Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Chemistry, College of Marine Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457 (China)

2015-02-10

Highlights: • Solubility of the ternary system Li{sub 2}SO{sub 4} + K{sub 2}SO{sub 4} + H{sub 2}O at 288.15 K has been measured. • Phase diagram of this system was simulated and calculated by a thermodynamic model. • Li{sub 2}SO{sub 4}·K{sub 2}SO{sub 4} belongs to the incongruent double salt in this system. • Solution density was calculated using empirical equation. - Abstract: The solubility and density in the thermodynamic phase equilibria ternary system (Li{sub 2}SO{sub 4} + K{sub 2}SO{sub 4} + H{sub 2}O) at 288.15 K and 0.1 MPa were investigated experimentally with the method of isothermal dissolution equilibrium. This system at 288.15 K consists of two invariant points, three univariant isothermal dissolution curves; and three crystallization regions. The salt Li{sub 2}SO{sub 4}·K{sub 2}SO{sub 4} belongs to the incongruent double salt, and no solid solution was found. Based on the Pitzer model and its extended Harvie–Weare (HW) model, the mixing ion-interaction parameters of θ{sub Li,K}, ψ{sub Li,K,SO4} at 288.15 K and the solubility equilibrium constants K{sub sp} of solid phases Li{sub 2}SO{sub 4}·H{sub 2}O and Li{sub 2}SO{sub 4}·K{sub 2}SO{sub 4}, which are not reported in the literature were acquired. A comparison between the calculated and experimental results at 288.15 K for the ternary system shows that the calculated solubilities obtained with the extended HW model agree well with experimental data.

Cluster model calculation for X-ray magnetic circular dichroism at rare-earth (R) L sub 2 sub , sub 3 absorption edges in R sub 2 Fe sub 1 sub 4 B

CERN Document Server

Asakura, K; Harada, I; Ogasawara, H; Fukui, K; Kotani, A

2002-01-01

X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) at the L sub 2 sub , sub 3 absorption edges for the entire series of rare-earth (RE) elements in R sub 2 Fe sub 1 sub 4 B (R=RE) is studied based on a cluster model including 10 RE and 16 Fe atoms. The cluster model takes into account band effects of RE 5d states, to which the electric dipole transition occurs from the core 2p states, as well as spin polarization of the 5d states due to the interatomic hybridization with the spin polarized Fe 3d states. We also take into account spin and orbital polarization of the 5d states due to the 5d-4f intra-atomic exchange interaction, and the 2p to 4f quadrupole transition. The calculated results are in satisfactory agreement with experimental ones, suggesting that the cluster model calculation provides a new method to calculate quantitatively MCD spectra of RE systems with complicated atomic arrangements. (author)

Shape Memory Characteristics of Ti(sub 49.5)Ni(sub 25)Pd(sub 25)Sc(sub 0.5) High-Temperature Shape Memory Alloy After Severe Plastic Deformation

Science.gov (United States)

Atli, K. C.; Karaman, I.; Noebe, R. D.; Garg, A.; Chumlyakov, Y. I.; Kireeva, I. V.

2011-01-01

A Ti(49.5)Ni25Pd25Sc(0.5) high-temperature shape memory alloy is thermomechanically processed to obtain enhanced shape-memory characteristics: in particular, dimensional stability upon repeated thermal cycles under constant loads. This is accomplished using severe plastic deformation via equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE) and post-processing annealing heat treatments. The results of the thermomechanical experiments reveal that the processed materials display enhanced shape memory response, exhibiting higher recoverable transformation and reduced irrecoverable strain levels upon thermal cycling compared with the unprocessed material. This improvement is attributed to the increased strength and resistance of the material against defect generation upon phase transformation as a result of the microstructural refinement due to the ECAE process, as supported by the electron microscopy observations.

Exciton-related nonlinear optical response and photoluminescence in dilute nitrogen In{sub x}Ga{sub 1−x}N{sub y}As{sub 1−y}/GaAs cylindrically shaped quantum dots

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Duque, C.M.; Morales, A.L. [Grupo de Materia Condensada-UdeA, Instituto de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín (Colombia); Mora-Ramos, M.E. [Grupo de Materia Condensada-UdeA, Instituto de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín (Colombia); Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, CP 62209 Cuernavaca, Morelos (Mexico); Duque, C.A. [Grupo de Materia Condensada-UdeA, Instituto de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín (Colombia)

2014-10-15

An investigation of the effects of the dilute nitrogen contents in the exciton states of cylindrical In{sub x}Ga{sub 1−x}N{sub y}As{sub 1−y}/GaAs quantum dots is presented. The exciton states in the system are obtained within the effective mass theory and the band anti-crossing model. Exciton-related nonlinear optical absorption and refractive index change, as well as excitonic photoluminescence are studied with the help of the calculated exciton states. - Highlights: • Theoretical study of excitons in cylindrical In{sub x}Ga{sub 1−x}N{sub y}As{sub 1−y}/GaAs quantum dots. • Calculations of binding energy for different configurations of electron-hole pairs. • Nonlinear optical absorption and refractive index changes. • Dependence of photoluminescence energy transitions with several inputs.

Development of mathematical model of H{sub 2}O-HNO{sub 3}-UO{sub 2}(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}-TBP-Diluent System

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ochkin, A.; Gladilov, D.; Nekhaevskiy, S.; Merkushkin, A. [D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, 9 Miusskay Sqr., Moscow, 125047 (Russian Federation)

2016-07-01

The nuclear fuel reprocessing is based on the PUREX process. Usually 30% TBP in hydrocarbon diluents is applied, then the composition of the organic phase can be expressed as H{sub 2}O-HNO{sub 3}-UO{sub 2}(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}-Pu(NO{sub 3}){sub 4}-TBP-diluent. The mathematical model of H{sub 2}O-HNO{sub 3}-UO{sub 2}(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}-TBP-dodecane system has been elaborated. Mole fractions and volume ones and rational activity coefficients have been used in order to create the system of equations on the base of mass action law. The method for calculating activity coefficients was provided. The formation constants of uranyl nitrate di-solvate and mono-solvate and di-solvate of acid have been determined. Interaction between uranyl nitrate di-solvate and dodecane and between TBP and dodecane was taken into account. Activity coefficients of nitric acid and uranyl nitrate in mixed solutions were considered. Errors of adequacy have been determined for the systems containing 30% and 12% TBP concentrations.

Analytical modeling of pulse-pileup distortion using the true pulse shape; applications to Fermi-GBM

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chaplin, Vandiver; Bhat, Narayana; Briggs, Michael S.; Connaughton, Valerie

2013-01-01

Pulse-pileup affects most photon counting systems and occurs when photon detections occur faster than the detector's shaping and recovery time. At high input rates, shaped pulses interfere and the source spectrum, as well as intensity information, get distorted. For instruments using bipolar pulse shaping there are two aspects to consider: ‘peak’ and ‘tail’ pileup effects, which raise and lower the measured energy, respectively. Peak effects have been extensively modeled in the past. Tail effects have garnered less attention due to increased complexity. We leverage previous work to derive an accurate, semi-analytical prediction for peak and tail pileup including high order effects. We use the pulse shape of the detectors of the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor. The measured spectrum is calculated by expressing exposure time with a state-space expansion of overlapping pileup states and is valid up to very high rates. The model correctly predicts deadtime and pileup losses, and energy-dependent losses due to tail subtraction (sub-threshold) effects. We discuss total losses in terms of the true rate of photon detections versus the recorded count rate. -- Highlights: • A derivation of pulse-pileup spectral and intensity distortion is presented. • Applies to bipolar shaping instruments in general, but is calculated for Fermi-GBM. • Exposure time is partitioned with pulse widths as states of a Poisson process. • Each state has an associated energy distribution function for peak and tail pileup. • The total spectrum is the union of pulse states and their associated spectra

Adding Curvature to Minimum Description Length Shape Models

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Thodberg, Hans Henrik; Ólafsdóttir, Hildur

2003-01-01

The Minimum Description Length (MDL) approach to shape modelling seeks a compact description of a set of shapes in terms of the coordinates of marks on the shapes. It has been shown that the mark positions resulting from this optimisation to a large extent solve the so-called point correspondence...

Automated robust generation of compact 3D statistical shape models

Science.gov (United States)

Vrtovec, Tomaz; Likar, Bostjan; Tomazevic, Dejan; Pernus, Franjo

2004-05-01

Ascertaining the detailed shape and spatial arrangement of anatomical structures is important not only within diagnostic settings but also in the areas of planning, simulation, intraoperative navigation, and tracking of pathology. Robust, accurate and efficient automated segmentation of anatomical structures is difficult because of their complexity and inter-patient variability. Furthermore, the position of the patient during image acquisition, the imaging device and protocol, image resolution, and other factors induce additional variations in shape and appearance. Statistical shape models (SSMs) have proven quite successful in capturing structural variability. A possible approach to obtain a 3D SSM is to extract reference voxels by precisely segmenting the structure in one, reference image. The corresponding voxels in other images are determined by registering the reference image to each other image. The SSM obtained in this way describes statistically plausible shape variations over the given population as well as variations due to imperfect registration. In this paper, we present a completely automated method that significantly reduces shape variations induced by imperfect registration, thus allowing a more accurate description of variations. At each iteration, the derived SSM is used for coarse registration, which is further improved by describing finer variations of the structure. The method was tested on 64 lumbar spinal column CT scans, from which 23, 38, 45, 46 and 42 volumes of interest containing vertebra L1, L2, L3, L4 and L5, respectively, were extracted. Separate SSMs were generated for each vertebra. The results show that the method is capable of reducing the variations induced by registration errors.

Dynamic shape transitions in the sdg boson model

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kuyucak, S.

1992-01-01

The dynamic evolution of shapes in the sdg interacting boson model is investigated using the angular momentum projected mean field theory. Deformed nuclei are found to be quite stable against shape changes but transitional nuclei could exhibit dynamic shape transitions in the region L = 10-20. Conditions of existence and experimental signatures for dynamic shape transitions are discussed together with a likely candidate, 192 Os. 13 refs., 3 figs

Liquid-drop model description of heavy ion fusion at sub-barrier energies

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Aguiar, C E; Barbosa, V C; Canto, L F; Donangelo, R

1987-10-05

The enhancement of the heavy ion fusion cross section at sub-barrier energies is studied in the liquid-drop model approach. The shape of the system is described by two spheres smoothly connected by a neck, and the kinetic and potential energies are calculated within this parametrization. Underbarrier fusion cross sections for symmetric projectile-target combinations are calculated in the WKB approximation and a comparison with the available data is made. The agreement is quite satisfactory, except for those systems in which the reaction is strongly affected by the details of the nuclear structure of the collision partners.

Shape Isomer in 236U Populated by Thermal Neutron Capture

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Andersen, Verner; Christensen, Carl Jørgen; Borggreen, J.

1976-01-01

The 116 ns shape isomer in 236U was populated by thermal neutron capture. Conversion electrons and X-rays were detected simultaneously in delayed coincidence with fission. The ratio of delayed to prompt fission was measured with the result, σIIf/σf = (1.0±0.2) × 10−5. A branching of the isomeric ...... decay σIIγ/σIIf = 7±2 was deduced from this number. No definite electron line structure was observed....

Minimum Description Length Shape and Appearance Models

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Thodberg, Hans Henrik

2003-01-01

The Minimum Description Length (MDL) approach to shape modelling is reviewed. It solves the point correspondence problem of selecting points on shapes defined as curves so that the points correspond across a data set. An efficient numerical implementation is presented and made available as open s...

An individual-based probabilistic model for simulating fisheries population dynamics

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Jie Cao

2016-12-01

Full Text Available The purpose of stock assessment is to support managers to provide intelligent decisions regarding removal from fish populations. Errors in assessment models may have devastating impacts on the population fitness and negative impacts on the economy of the resource users. Thus, accuracte estimations of population size, growth rates are critical for success. Evaluating and testing the behavior and performance of stock assessment models and assessing the consequences of model mis-specification and the impact of management strategies requires an operating model that accurately describe the dynamics of the target species, and can resolve spatial and seasonal changes. In addition, the most thorough evaluations of assessment models use an operating model that takes a different form than the assessment model. This paper presents an individual-based probabilistic model used to simulate the complex dynamics of populations and their associated fisheries. Various components of population dynamics are expressed as random Bernoulli trials in the model and detailed life and fishery histories of each individual are tracked over their life span. The simulation model is designed to be flexible so it can be used for different species and fisheries. It can simulate mixing among multiple stocks and link stock-recruit relationships to environmental factors. Furthermore, the model allows for flexibility in sub-models (e.g., growth and recruitment and model assumptions (e.g., age- or size-dependent selectivity. This model enables the user to conduct various simulation studies, including testing the performance of assessment models under different assumptions, assessing the impacts of model mis-specification and evaluating management strategies.

Fighting the Population/Agriculture/Environment Nexus in Sub-Saharan Africa

OpenAIRE

Cleaver, Kevin; Schreiber, Gotz

1994-01-01

Over the past thirty years, most of Sub-Saharan Africa has seen rapid population growth, poor agricultural performance, and increasing environmental degradation. Why do these problems seem so intractable? Are they connected? Do they reinforce each other? If so, what are the critical links? This book tests the hypothesis that these phenomena are strongly interrelated. The finding - that thi...

Shaping Policy Change in Population Health: Policy Entrepreneurs, Ideas, and Institutions.

Science.gov (United States)

Béland, Daniel; Katapally, Tarun R

2018-01-14

Political realities and institutional structures are often ignored when gathering evidence to influence population health policies. If these policies are to be successful, social science literature on policy change should be integrated into the population health approach. In this contribution, drawing on the work of John W. Kingdon and related scholarship, we set out to examine how key components of the policy change literature could contribute towards the effective development of population health policies. Shaping policy change would require a realignment of the existing school of thought, where the contribution of population health seems to end at knowledge translation. Through our critical analysis of selected literature, we extend recommendations to advance a burgeoning discussion in adopting new approaches to successfully implement evidence-informed population health policies. © 2018 The Author(s); Published by Kerman University of Medical Sciences. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Evaluation of the effective thermal conductivity of UO{sub 2} fuel by combining Potts model and finite difference method

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Oh, Jae-Yong, E-mail: tylor@kaeri.re.kr [Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daedeok-daero 1045, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-353 (Korea, Republic of); Koo, Yang-Hyun; Lee, Byung-Ho; Tahk, Young-Wook [Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Daedeok-daero 1045, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-353 (Korea, Republic of)

2011-07-15

This paper evaluated the effects of porosity on the effective thermal conductivity of UO{sub 2} fuel by combining the Potts model and the finite difference method (FDM). Two types of microstructures representing irradiated UO{sub 2} microstructures were simulated by the Potts model in the three dimensional cubic system. One represented very small intragranular bubbles and a few intergranular bubbles under a low temperature condition. The other represented large intergranular bubbles under a high temperature or annealing condition. For the simulated microstructures, the effective thermal conductivities were determined by FDM calculation of the temperature distributions under steady state condition. They were compared with an experimental equation and the effect of bubble morphology was investigated by fitting a porosity shape factor in the Maxwell-Eucken equation. The simulation results showed a good agreement with an experimental equation and demonstrated the capability of the Potts model to provide information on microstructure for calculating the effective thermal conductivity of UO{sub 2} fuel.

Learning with Admixture: Modeling, Optimization, and Applications in Population Genetics

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Cheng, Jade Yu

2016-01-01

the foundation for both CoalHMM and Ohana. Optimization modeling has been the main theme throughout my PhD, and it will continue to shape my work for the years to come. The algorithms and software I developed to study historical admixture and population evolution fall into a larger family of machine learning...... geneticists strive to establish working solutions to extract information from massive volumes of biological data. The steep increase in the quantity and quality of genomic data during the past decades provides a unique opportunity but also calls for new and improved algorithms and software to cope...... including population splits, effective population sizes, gene flow, etc. Since joining the CoalHMM development team in 2014, I have mainly contributed in two directions: 1) improving optimizations through heuristic-based evolutionary algorithms and 2) modeling of historical admixture events. Ohana, meaning...

Molecular characterization of six sub population Indonesian local goats based on mitochondrial DNA D-loop

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Aron Batubara

2013-03-01

Full Text Available Indonesian local goats were spread in some region, but there was still limited data’s known about the characteristics of its genetic diversity and origin. The Mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequences were used to study the genetic diversity and relationships of six sub population Indonesian local goats, namely, Kacang, Marica, Samosir, Jawarandu, Muara and Bengali goats. From 539 blood samples and DNA extraction collections were selected about 60 samples (10 samples each sub populations analyzed by PCR-RFLP methods, followed sequence analyzed about 5 PCR products each sub population. The results of the sequence analyses were edited and acquired about 957 bp of nucleotides length. After the alignment analyses were found 50 polymorphic sites which divided into 19 haplotype groups of mtDNA D-loop region. The value of nucleotide diversity was 0.014 ± 0.002. Analysis of Neighbour Joining with Kimura 2 Parameter methods and bootstrap test with 1000 replication indicated that each sub population groups was significantly different between one groups to the others. The maternal lineages origin of six breeds of Indonesian local goats was included to the group of lineage B. The Lineage B was the maternal origin of the haplogroup of goats in the region of East Asia, South Asia, China, Mongolia, North and South Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan and India.

Olefins metathesis, synthesis and properties of homogeneous models of the Re{sub 2}O{sub 7}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalyst; Methathese des olefines, synthese et proprietes des modeles homogenes du catalyseur Re{sub 2}O{sub 7}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Doledec, G.

1999-10-05

The aim of this work was to synthesize and to study homogeneous models of the rhenium oxide on alumina catalyst in order to better understand the influence of the alumina environment over the activity in olefin metathesis. A series of aluminium complexes (ArO){sub 2}Al-Y have been synthesised, where ArO is a 4-substituted-2,6-di-tert-butyl-phenoxy, or (ArO){sub 2} is a CH{sub 2{sup -}} or S-ortho bridged-4,4'-di-tert-butyl-di-phenoxy, and Y is an alkyl or chlorine ligand. The reaction of (ArO){sub 2}Al-Cl with AgReO{sub 4} led to new complexes (ArO){sub 2}Al-OReO{sub 3} (A). These complexes exhibit a low to moderate activity in metathesis of 2-pentene (TOF = 0,5 min{sup -1} at 25 deg. C in a toluene solution). Complexes (ArO){sub 2}Al-R (R = iBu, Et) react with Re{sub 2}O{sub 7} in THF or dioxane giving type B complexes including oligomeric linkages like O{sub 3}Re-[Al(OAr)-O){sub 2}-ReO{sub 3}. They show a fairly high activity in the metathesis of 2-pentene, with TOF values as high as 100 min{sup -1}. As far as we know, these are the most active rhenium-based homogeneous metathesis catalysts. Complexes type A may be converted into type B complexes upon reaction with (ArO){sub 2}Al-R in an ether solvent. The high activity of B complexes is tentatively related to the Al-O-Al linkages that are molecular in the homogeneous models or present at the surface of the alumina in the heterogeneous catalyst. These results bear out again the role of the Lewis acidity in these catalysts. We used (ArO){sub 2}Al-R complexes to modify the heterogenous catalyst. It appears that it is an excellent way to reduce the rhenium loading without any loss of activity. (author)

Visualization of the variability of 3D statistical shape models by animation.

Science.gov (United States)

Lamecker, Hans; Seebass, Martin; Lange, Thomas; Hege, Hans-Christian; Deuflhard, Peter

2004-01-01

Models of the 3D shape of anatomical objects and the knowledge about their statistical variability are of great benefit in many computer assisted medical applications like images analysis, therapy or surgery planning. Statistical model of shapes have successfully been applied to automate the task of image segmentation. The generation of 3D statistical shape models requires the identification of corresponding points on two shapes. This remains a difficult problem, especially for shapes of complicated topology. In order to interpret and validate variations encoded in a statistical shape model, visual inspection is of great importance. This work describes the generation and interpretation of statistical shape models of the liver and the pelvic bone.

Crystal field effect in the uranium compounds - model calculations for CsUF/sub 6/, Cs/sub 2/UCl/sub 6/ and UCl/sub 4/

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Gajek, Z.; Mulak, J.; Faucher, M.

1987-01-01

A practical crystal field model allowing one to estimate the crystal field parameters from first principles is presented and applied to the actinide compounds. The model results directly from the renormalization (and reduction) procedure of the true Schroedinger equation for an effective Hamiltonian acting on the 5f spin-orbitals only. In practice this approach becomes convergent with the ab initio model of Newman. Three ionic uranium compounds: CsUF/sub 6/, Cs/sub 2/UCl/sub 6/ and UCl/sub 4/ have served as examples of the application. The results obtained, particularly for the first two compounds, are in good agreement with the experimental data. The contributions of different mechanisms responsible for the crystal field effect are discussed.

Digital Modeling and Shaping of Design Practices

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Reijonen, Satu

This paper focuses on the role of digital modeling in shaping coordinative practices between architects and energy engineers in construction design. The paper presents a case study of the use of an energy performance calculation programme, a numeric digital modeling tool, that not only enables...... coordination between the two communities but also shapes coordinative practices around the emerging building. The paper draws on two interlinked strands of literature that have engaged in the role of material artefacts in the social: the entanglement of technology in organizing and management (Orlikowski 2000......, 2010), and the socio-material constructivist studies of technology (Akrich 1992, Akrich et al. 2000, Latour 1991). The programme influences the coordinative practices in following ways: it shapes the modus of interaction between energy engineers and architects and enforces particular jurisdictional...

Semi-empirical device model for Cu{sub 2}ZnSn(S,Se){sub 4} solar cells

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Gokmen, Tayfun; Gunawan, Oki; Mitzi, David B. [IBM T. J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598 (United States)

2014-07-21

We present a device model for the hydrazine processed kesterite Cu{sub 2}ZnSn(S,Se){sub 4} (CZTSSe) solar cell with a world record efficiency of ∼12.6%. Detailed comparison of the simulation results, performed using wxAMPS software, to the measured device parameters shows that our model captures the vast majority of experimental observations, including V{sub OC}, J{sub SC}, FF, and efficiency under normal operating conditions, and temperature vs. V{sub OC}, sun intensity vs. V{sub OC}, and quantum efficiency. Moreover, our model is consistent with material properties derived from various techniques. Interestingly, this model does not have any interface defects/states, suggesting that all the experimentally observed features can be accounted for by the bulk properties of CZTSSe. An electrical (mobility) gap that is smaller than the optical gap is critical to fit the V{sub OC} data. These findings point to the importance of tail states in CZTSSe solar cells.

Photoluminescence and optical absorption spectra of {gamma}{sub 1}-(Ga{sub x}In{sub 1-x}){sub 2}Se{sub 3} mixed crystals

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kranjcec, M. [Department of Geotechnics, University of Zagreb, 7 Hallerova Aleja, Varazdin, 42000 (Croatia); Ruder Boskovic Institute, 54 Bijenicka Cesta, Zagreb, 10000 (Croatia); Studenyak, I.P. [Uzhhorod National University, 46 Pidhirna Str., Uzhhorod, 88000 (Ukraine); Azhniuk, Yu. M. [Institute of Electron Physics, Ukr. Nat. Acad. Sci., 21 Universytetska Str., Uzhhorod, 88000 (Ukraine)

2005-08-01

Temperature and compositional studies of photoluminescence and optical absorption edge spectra of {gamma}{sub 1}-(Ga{sub x}In{sub 1-x}){sub 2}Se{sub 3} mixed crystals with x=0.1-0.4 are performed. Exciton and impurity-related photoluminescence bands are revealed at low temperatures and Urbach shape of the absorption edge is observed in the temperature range 77-300 K. Temperature and compositional dependences of the photoluminescence band spectral positions and halfwidths as well as optical pseudogap and absorption edge energy width are investigated. Mechanisms of radiative recombination and optical absorption as well as crystal lattice disordering processes in {gamma}{sub 1}-(Ga{sub x}In{sub 1-x}){sub 2}Se{sub 3} solid solutions are studied. (copyright 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim) (orig.)

Constrained minimization problems for the reproduction number in meta-population models.

Science.gov (United States)

Poghotanyan, Gayane; Feng, Zhilan; Glasser, John W; Hill, Andrew N

2018-02-14

The basic reproduction number ([Formula: see text]) can be considerably higher in an SIR model with heterogeneous mixing compared to that from a corresponding model with homogeneous mixing. For example, in the case of measles, mumps and rubella in San Diego, CA, Glasser et al. (Lancet Infect Dis 16(5):599-605, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(16)00004-9 ), reported an increase of 70% in [Formula: see text] when heterogeneity was accounted for. Meta-population models with simple heterogeneous mixing functions, e.g., proportionate mixing, have been employed to identify optimal vaccination strategies using an approach based on the gradient of the effective reproduction number ([Formula: see text]), which consists of partial derivatives of [Formula: see text] with respect to the proportions immune [Formula: see text] in sub-groups i (Feng et al. in J Theor Biol 386:177-187, 2015.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.09.006 ; Math Biosci 287:93-104, 2017.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mbs.2016.09.013 ). These papers consider cases in which an optimal vaccination strategy exists. However, in general, the optimal solution identified using the gradient may not be feasible for some parameter values (i.e., vaccination coverages outside the unit interval). In this paper, we derive the analytic conditions under which the optimal solution is feasible. Explicit expressions for the optimal solutions in the case of [Formula: see text] sub-populations are obtained, and the bounds for optimal solutions are derived for [Formula: see text] sub-populations. This is done for general mixing functions and examples of proportionate and preferential mixing are presented. Of special significance is the result that for general mixing schemes, both [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are bounded below and above by their corresponding expressions when mixing is proportionate and isolated, respectively.

Confinement and surface effects on the physical properties of rhombohedral-shape hematite (α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}) nanocrystals

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Luna, Carlos, E-mail: carlos.lunacd@uanl.edu.mx [Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), Av. Universidad S/N, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León 66455 (Mexico); Cuan-Guerra, Aída D. [Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), Av. Universidad S/N, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León 66455 (Mexico); Barriga-Castro, Enrique D. [Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada (CIQA), Blvd. Enrique Reyna Hermosillo No. 140, Saltillo, 25294 Coahuila (Mexico); Núñez, Nuria O. [Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Sevilla (ICMS), CSIC-US, Avda. Americo Vespucio n° 49, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092 Sevilla (Spain); Mendoza-Reséndez, Raquel [Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), Av. Universidad S/N, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León 66455 (Mexico)

2016-08-15

Highlights: • Uniform rhombohedral hematite nanocrystals (RHNCs) have been obtained. • A detailed formation mechanism of these HNCS has been proposed. • Phonon confinement effects were revealed in the RHNCS vibrational bands. • Quantum confinement effects on the optical and electronic properties were found. - Abstract: Morphological, microstructural and vibrational properties of hematite (α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}) nanocrystals with a rhombohedral shape and rounded edges, obtained by forced hydrolysis of iron(III) solutions under a fast nucleation, have been investigated in detail as a function of aging time. These studies allowed us to propose a detailed formation mechanism and revealed that these nanocrystals are composed of four {104} side facets, two {110} faces at the edges of the long diagonal of the nanocrystals and two {−441} facets as the top and bottom faces. Also, the presence of nanoscopic pores and fissures was evidenced. The vibrational bands of such nanocrystals were shifted to lower frequencies in comparison with bulk hematite ones as the nanocrystal size was reduced due to phonon confinement effects. Also, the indirect and direct transition band gaps displayed interesting dependences on the aging time arising from quantum confinement and surface effects.

Results from the first single cell Nb<sub>3sub>Sn cavity coatings at JLab

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Eremeev, Grigory [Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF), Newport News, VA (United States)

2015-09-01

Nb<sub>3sub>Sn is a promising superconducting material for SRF applications and has the potential to exceed the limitations of niobium. We have used the recently commissioned Nb<sub>3sub>Sn coating system to investigate Nb<sub>3sub>Sn coatings on several single cell cavities by applying the same coating procedure on several different single cells with different history and pre-coating surface preparation. We report on our findings with four 1.5 GHz CEBAF-shape single cell and one 1.3 GHz ILC-shape single cavities that were coated, inspected, and tested.

Population variability in biological adaptive responses to DNA damage and the shapes of carcinogen dose-response curves

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Conolly, Rory B.; Gaylor, David W.; Lutz, Werner K.

2005-01-01

Carcinogen dose-response curves for both ionizing radiation and chemicals are typically assumed to be linear at environmentally relevant doses. This assumption is used to ensure protection of the public health in the absence of relevant dose-response data. A theoretical justification for the assumption has been provided by the argument that low dose linearity is expected when an exogenous agent adds to an ongoing endogenous process. Here, we use computational modeling to evaluate (1) how two biological adaptive processes, induction of DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoint control, may affect the shapes of dose-response curves for DNA-damaging carcinogens and (2) how the resulting dose-response behaviors may vary within a population. Each model incorporating an adaptive process was capable of generating not only monotonic dose-responses but also nonmonotonic (J-shaped) and threshold responses. Monte Carlo analysis suggested that all these dose-response behaviors could coexist within a population, as the spectrum of qualitative differences arose from quantitative changes in parameter values. While this analysis is largely theoretical, it suggests that (a) accurate prediction of the qualitative form of the dose-response requires a quantitative understanding of the mechanism (b) significant uncertainty is associated with human health risk prediction in the absence of such quantitative understanding and (c) a stronger experimental and regulatory focus on biological mechanisms and interindividual variability would allow flexibility in regulatory treatment of environmental carcinogens without compromising human health

Pycnometric and Spectroscopic Studies of Red Phosphors Ca{sub (1-1.5x)}{sup 2+} WO{sub 4}:Eu{sub x}{sup 3+} Ca{sub (1}-{sub 2x)}{sup 2+} WO{sub 4}:Eu{sub x}{sup 3+},Na{sub x}{sup +}

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Cho, Seonwoog [Silla Univ., Busan (Korea, Republic of)

2013-09-15

Red phosphors Ca{sub (1-1.5x)}Eu{sub x}WO{sub 4} and Ca{sub (1-2x)}Eu{sub x}Na{sub x}WO{sub 4} were synthesized with various concentrations x of Eu{sup 3+} ions by using a solid-state reaction method. The crystal structure of the red phosphors were found to be a tetragonal scheelite structure with space group I4{sub 1}/a. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show the (112) main diffraction peak centered at 2θ = 28.71 .deg., and indicate that there is no basic structural deformation caused by the vacancies V{sub Ca}'' or the Eu{sup 3+} (and Na{sup +}) ions in the host crystals. Densities of Ca{sub (1.1.5x)}Eu{sub x}WO{sub 4} were measured on a (helium) gas pycnometer. Comparative results between the experimental and theoretical densities reveal that Eu{sup 3+} (and Na{sup +}) ions replace the Ca{sup 2+} ions in the host CaWO{sub 4}. Also, the photoluminescence (PL) emission and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra show the optical properties of trivalent Eu{sup 3+} ions, not of divalent Eu{sup 2+}. Raman spectra exhibit that, without showing any difference before and after the doping of activators to the host material CaWO{sub 4}, all the gerade normal modes occur at the identical frequencies with the same shapes and weaker intensities after the substitution. However, the FT-IR spectra show that some of the ungerade normal modes have shifted positions and different shapes, caused by different masses of Eu{sup 3+} ions (or Na{sup +} ions, or V{sub Ca}'' vacancies) from Ca2{sup +}.

Modelling the wedge shape for the virtual wedge

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Chang Liyun; Ho Shengyow; Chen, Helen H W

2003-01-01

We present a method to model the virtual wedge shape in a 3D treatment planning system as a physical wedge. The virtual wedge shape was determined using the measured dose profile of the virtual wedge at a chosen reference depth. The differences between the calculated and the measured dose profiles for the virtual wedge were within 0.5% at the reference depth, and within 2.5% at other depths. This method provides a fast and accurate way to implement the virtual wedge into our planning system for any wedge angles. This method is also applicable to model the physical wedge shapes with comparable good results

Confidence of model based shape reconstruction from sparse data

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Baka, N.; de Bruijne, Marleen; Reiber, J. H. C.

2010-01-01

Statistical shape models (SSM) are commonly applied for plausible interpolation of missing data in medical imaging. However, when fitting a shape model to sparse information, many solutions may fit the available data. In this paper we derive a constrained SSM to fit noisy sparse input landmarks...

The line shape of the Ortho-II superstructure reflection in YBa<sub>2sub>Cu>3sub>O>6sub>_.>5sub>

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Schleger, P.; Hadfield, R.; Casalta, H.

1994-01-01

Neutron and synchrotron x-ray measurements of the Ortho-II superstructure reflections on a high quality single crystal of YBa2Cu3O6.5 revealed that the intrinsic line shape is a Lorentzian to the power 5/2. It is argued that such a line shape implies late-stage domain coarsening of a quenched...... system ordering in three dimensions (d=3) with a two component order parameter (n=2)....

Modelling foot height and foot shape-related dimensions.

Science.gov (United States)

Xiong, Shuping; Goonetilleke, Ravindra S; Witana, Channa P; Lee Au, Emily Yim

2008-08-01

The application of foot anthropometry to design good-fitting footwear has been difficult due to the lack of generalised models. This study seeks to model foot dimensions so that the characteristic shapes of feet, especially in the midfoot region, can be understood. Fifty Hong Kong Chinese adults (26 males and 24 females) participated in this study. Their foot lengths, foot widths, ball girths and foot heights were measured and then evaluated using mathematical models. The results showed that there were no significant allometry (p > 0.05) effects of foot length on ball girth and foot width. Foot height showed no direct relationship with foot length. However, a normalisation with respect to foot length and foot height resulted in a significant relationship for both males and females with R(2) greater than 0.97. Due to the lack of a direct relationship between foot height and foot length, the current practice of grading shoes with a constant increase in height or proportionate scaling in response to foot length is less than ideal. The results when validated with other populations can be a significant way forward in the design of footwear that has an improved fit in the height dimension.

Statistical Shape Modelling and Markov Random Field Restoration (invited tutorial and exercise)

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Hilger, Klaus Baggesen

This tutorial focuses on statistical shape analysis using point distribution models (PDM) which is widely used in modelling biological shape variability over a set of annotated training data. Furthermore, Active Shape Models (ASM) and Active Appearance Models (AAM) are based on PDMs and have proven...... deformation field between shapes. The tutorial demonstrates both generative active shape and appearance models, and MRF restoration on 3D polygonized surfaces. ''Exercise: Spectral-Spatial classification of multivariate images'' From annotated training data this exercise applies spatial image restoration...... using Markov random field relaxation of a spectral classifier. Keywords: the Ising model, the Potts model, stochastic sampling, discriminant analysis, expectation maximization....

Differential Item Functioning in the SF-36 Physical Functioning and Mental Health Sub-Scales: A Population-Based Investigation in the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study.

Science.gov (United States)

Lix, Lisa M; Wu, Xiuyun; Hopman, Wilma; Mayo, Nancy; Sajobi, Tolulope T; Liu, Juxin; Prior, Jerilynn C; Papaioannou, Alexandra; Josse, Robert G; Towheed, Tanveer E; Davison, K Shawn; Sawatzky, Richard

2016-01-01

Self-reported health status measures, like the Short Form 36-item Health Survey (SF-36), can provide rich information about the overall health of a population and its components, such as physical, mental, and social health. However, differential item functioning (DIF), which arises when population sub-groups with the same underlying (i.e., latent) level of health have different measured item response probabilities, may compromise the comparability of these measures. The purpose of this study was to test for DIF on the SF-36 physical functioning (PF) and mental health (MH) sub-scale items in a Canadian population-based sample. Study data were from the prospective Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos), which collected baseline data in 1996-1997. DIF was tested using a multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) method. Confirmatory factor analysis defined the latent variable measurement model for the item responses and latent variable regression with demographic and health status covariates (i.e., sex, age group, body weight, self-perceived general health) produced estimates of the magnitude of DIF effects. The CaMos cohort consisted of 9423 respondents; 69.4% were female and 51.7% were less than 65 years. Eight of 10 items on the PF sub-scale and four of five items on the MH sub-scale exhibited DIF. Large DIF effects were observed on PF sub-scale items about vigorous and moderate activities, lifting and carrying groceries, walking one block, and bathing or dressing. On the MH sub-scale items, all DIF effects were small or moderate in size. SF-36 PF and MH sub-scale scores were not comparable across population sub-groups defined by demographic and health status variables due to the effects of DIF, although the magnitude of this bias was not large for most items. We recommend testing and adjusting for DIF to ensure comparability of the SF-36 in population-based investigations.

Differential Item Functioning in the SF-36 Physical Functioning and Mental Health Sub-Scales: A Population-Based Investigation in the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study.

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Lisa M Lix

Full Text Available Self-reported health status measures, like the Short Form 36-item Health Survey (SF-36, can provide rich information about the overall health of a population and its components, such as physical, mental, and social health. However, differential item functioning (DIF, which arises when population sub-groups with the same underlying (i.e., latent level of health have different measured item response probabilities, may compromise the comparability of these measures. The purpose of this study was to test for DIF on the SF-36 physical functioning (PF and mental health (MH sub-scale items in a Canadian population-based sample.Study data were from the prospective Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos, which collected baseline data in 1996-1997. DIF was tested using a multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC method. Confirmatory factor analysis defined the latent variable measurement model for the item responses and latent variable regression with demographic and health status covariates (i.e., sex, age group, body weight, self-perceived general health produced estimates of the magnitude of DIF effects.The CaMos cohort consisted of 9423 respondents; 69.4% were female and 51.7% were less than 65 years. Eight of 10 items on the PF sub-scale and four of five items on the MH sub-scale exhibited DIF. Large DIF effects were observed on PF sub-scale items about vigorous and moderate activities, lifting and carrying groceries, walking one block, and bathing or dressing. On the MH sub-scale items, all DIF effects were small or moderate in size.SF-36 PF and MH sub-scale scores were not comparable across population sub-groups defined by demographic and health status variables due to the effects of DIF, although the magnitude of this bias was not large for most items. We recommend testing and adjusting for DIF to ensure comparability of the SF-36 in population-based investigations.

Modeling self-occlusions in dynamic shape and appearance tracking

KAUST Repository

Yang, Yanchao; Sundaramoorthi, Ganesh

2013-01-01

We present a method to track the precise shape of a dynamic object in video. Joint dynamic shape and appearance models, in which a template of the object is propagated to match the object shape and radiance in the next frame, are advantageous over

Multi-morphological growth of nano-structured In{sub 2}Se{sub 3} by ambient pressure triethylene glycol based solution syntheses

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Li, Tongfei; Wang, Jian; Lai, Junyun; Zheng, Xuerong; Liu, Weiyan; Ji, Junna [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory for Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072 (China); Liu, Hui [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401 (China); Jin, Zhengguo, E-mail: zhgjin@tju.edu.cn [School of Materials Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory for Advanced Ceramics and Machining Technology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072 (China)

2015-10-15

In{sub 2}Se{sub 3} nanoparticles, flower-like shaped and sheet-shaped nanocrystals were synthesized by a new, facile, ambient pressure triethylene glycol based solution chemical route using indium(III) chloride and selenium powder as precursors. The growing morphology, crystallization, chemical stoichiometry and light absorption property of the In{sub 2}Se{sub 3} products synthesized were characterized by TEM, HRTEM, FESEM, XRD, EDX and UV–vis–NIR measurements. Multi-morphological growth of the nano-structured In{sub 2}Se{sub 3} in triethylene glycol based solution syntheses with changed assisting agents and reaction styles was demonstrated. - Highlights: • Multimorphological growth of In{sub 2}Se{sub 3} was demonstrated based on solution chemistry. • A new, facile, low cost and fast air pressure TEG based solution process was used. • Nanoparticles, flower-like shaped and sheet-shaped nanocrystals were synthesized. • Morphology, crystallization, stoichiometry and light absorption was characterized. • Solution growth of β-In{sub 2}Se{sub 3} nanosheets was firstly reported by this submission.

Shape determinative slice localization for patient-specific masseter modeling using shape-based interpolation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ng, H.P. [NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering (Singapore); Biomedical Imaging Lab., Agency for Science Technology and Research (Singapore); Foong, K.W.C. [NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering (Singapore); Dept. of Preventive Dentistry, National Univ. of Singapore (Singapore); Ong, S.H. [Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Univ. of Singapore (Singapore); Div. of Bioengineering, National Univ. of Singapore (Singapore); Liu, J.; Nowinski, W.L. [Biomedical Imaging Lab., Agency for Science Technology and Research (Singapore); Goh, P.S. [Dept. of Diagnostic Radiology, National Univ. of Singapore (Singapore)

2007-06-15

The masseter plays a critical role in the mastication system. A hybrid method to shape-based interpolation is used to build the masseter model from magnetic resonance (MR) data sets. The main contribution here is the localizing of determinative slices in the data sets where clinicians are required to perform manual segmentations in order for an accurate model to be built. Shape-based criteria were used to locate the candidates for determinative slices and fuzzy-c-means (FCM) clustering technique was used to establish the determinative slices. Five masseter models were built in our work and the average overlap indices ({kappa}) achieved is 85.2%. This indicates that there is good agreement between the models and the manual contour tracings. In addition, the time taken, as compared to manually segmenting all the slices, is significantly lesser. (orig.)

Shape determinative slice localization for patient-specific masseter modeling using shape-based interpolation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ng, H.P.; Foong, K.W.C.; Ong, S.H.; Liu, J.; Nowinski, W.L.; Goh, P.S.

2007-01-01

The masseter plays a critical role in the mastication system. A hybrid method to shape-based interpolation is used to build the masseter model from magnetic resonance (MR) data sets. The main contribution here is the localizing of determinative slices in the data sets where clinicians are required to perform manual segmentations in order for an accurate model to be built. Shape-based criteria were used to locate the candidates for determinative slices and fuzzy-c-means (FCM) clustering technique was used to establish the determinative slices. Five masseter models were built in our work and the average overlap indices (κ) achieved is 85.2%. This indicates that there is good agreement between the models and the manual contour tracings. In addition, the time taken, as compared to manually segmenting all the slices, is significantly lesser. (orig.)

Effect of phase interaction on catalytic CO oxidation over the SnO{sub 2}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} model catalyst

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Chai, Shujing [Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science & Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Applied Catalysis Science & Technology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354 (China); The Institute of Seawater Desalination and Miltipurpose Utilization, State Oceanic Administration, Tianjin 300192 (China); Bai, Xueqin; Li, Jing; Liu, Cheng; Ding, Tong; Tian, Ye; Liu, Chang [Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science & Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Applied Catalysis Science & Technology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354 (China); Xian, Hui [Tianjin Polytechnic University, School of Computer Science & Software Engineering, Tianjin 300387 (China); Mi, Wenbo [Tianjin Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Materials Physics and Preparation Technology, Faculty of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354 (China); Li, Xingang, E-mail: xingang_li@tju.edu.cn [Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science & Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Applied Catalysis Science & Technology, School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354 (China)

2017-04-30

Highlights: • Activity for CO oxidation is greatly enhanced by interaction between SnO{sub 2} and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}. • Interaction between SnO{sub 2} and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} phases can generate oxygen vacancies. • Oxygen vacancies play an import role for catalytic CO oxidation. • Sn{sup 4+} cations are the effective sites for catalytic CO oxidation. • Langmuir-Hinshelwood model is preferred for catalytic CO oxidation. - Abstract: We investigated the catalytic CO oxidation over the SnO{sub 2}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} model catalysts. Our results show that interaction between the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and SnO{sub 2} phases results in the significantly improved catalytic activity because of the formation of the oxygen vacancies. The oxygen storage capacity of the SnO{sub 2}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalyst prepared by the physically mixed method is nearly two times higher than that of the SnO{sub 2}, which probably results from the change of electron concentration on the interface of the SnO{sub 2} and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} phases. Introducing water vapor to the feeding gas would a little decrease the activity of the catalysts, but the reaction rate could completely recover after removal of water vapor. The kinetics results suggest that the surface Sn{sup 4+} cations are effective CO adsorptive sites, and the surface adsorbed oxygen plays an important role upon CO oxidation. The reaction pathways upon the SnO{sub 2}-based catalysts for CO oxidation follow the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model.

Microscopic theory of magnetization processes in Y (Co sub 1 sub - sub x Al sub x) sub 2

CERN Document Server

Khmelevskyi, S; Mohn, P

2002-01-01

Employing ab initio electronic structure calculations we study the development of the magnetic properties in Y (Co sub 1 sub - sub x Al sub x) sub 2 for varying Al concentration. The effect of substitutional disorder is treated in the coherent-potential approximation implemented within a tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital method. The experimentally observed reduction of the critical field of the itinerant electron metamagnetic phase transition with increasing content of non-magnetic Al is explained. It is shown, on the basis of a T = 0 K Stoner type itinerant magnetism theory, that the alloying-induced changes in the shape of the calculated density of states, caused by the Al substitution, lead to (i) a stabilization of the magnetic state, (ii) a smoothening of the first-order metamagnetic transition and (iii) a subsequent suppression of the metamagnetic transition around x 0.15. Analysing the magnetization processes in Y (Co sub 1 sub - sub x Al sub x) sub 2 by varying the strength of the exchange inter...

A general modeling framework for describing spatially structured population dynamics

Science.gov (United States)

Sample, Christine; Fryxell, John; Bieri, Joanna; Federico, Paula; Earl, Julia; Wiederholt, Ruscena; Mattsson, Brady; Flockhart, Tyler; Nicol, Sam; Diffendorfer, James E.; Thogmartin, Wayne E.; Erickson, Richard A.; Norris, D. Ryan

2017-01-01

Variation in movement across time and space fundamentally shapes the abundance and distribution of populations. Although a variety of approaches model structured population dynamics, they are limited to specific types of spatially structured populations and lack a unifying framework. Here, we propose a unified network-based framework sufficiently novel in its flexibility to capture a wide variety of spatiotemporal processes including metapopulations and a range of migratory patterns. It can accommodate different kinds of age structures, forms of population growth, dispersal, nomadism and migration, and alternative life-history strategies. Our objective was to link three general elements common to all spatially structured populations (space, time and movement) under a single mathematical framework. To do this, we adopt a network modeling approach. The spatial structure of a population is represented by a weighted and directed network. Each node and each edge has a set of attributes which vary through time. The dynamics of our network-based population is modeled with discrete time steps. Using both theoretical and real-world examples, we show how common elements recur across species with disparate movement strategies and how they can be combined under a unified mathematical framework. We illustrate how metapopulations, various migratory patterns, and nomadism can be represented with this modeling approach. We also apply our network-based framework to four organisms spanning a wide range of life histories, movement patterns, and carrying capacities. General computer code to implement our framework is provided, which can be applied to almost any spatially structured population. This framework contributes to our theoretical understanding of population dynamics and has practical management applications, including understanding the impact of perturbations on population size, distribution, and movement patterns. By working within a common framework, there is less chance

3D active shape modeling for cardiac MR and CT image segmentation

NARCIS (Netherlands)

Assen, Hans Christiaan van

2006-01-01

3D Active Shape Modeling is a technique to capture shape information from a training set containing characteristic shapes of, e.g., a heart. The description contains a mean shape, and shape variations (e.g. eigen deformations and eigen values). Many models based on these statistics, and used for

Magnetron sputtered Cu{sub 3}N/NiTiCu shape memory thin film heterostructures for MEMS applications

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kaur, Navjot; Choudhary, Nitin [Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Functional Nanomaterials Research Lab, Department of Physics and Centre of Nanotechnology (India); Goyal, Rajendra N. [Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Department of Chemistry (India); Viladkar, S. [Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Functional Nanomaterials Research Lab, Department of Physics and Centre of Nanotechnology (India); Matai, I.; Gopinath, P. [Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Centre for Nanotechnology (India); Chockalingam, S. [Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Department of Biotechnology (India); Kaur, Davinder, E-mail: dkaurfph@iitr.ernet.in [Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Functional Nanomaterials Research Lab, Department of Physics and Centre of Nanotechnology (India)

2013-03-15

In the present study, for the first time, Cu{sub 3}N/NiTiCu/Si heterostructures were successfully grown using magnetron sputtering technique. Nanocrystalline copper nitride (Cu{sub 3}N with thickness {approx}200 nm) thin films and copper nanodots were subsequently deposited on the surface of 2-{mu}m-thick NiTiCu shape memory thin films in order to improve the surface corrosion and nickel release properties of NiTiCu thin films. Interestingly, the phase transformation from martensite phase to austenite phase has been observed in Cu{sub 3}N/NiTiCu heterostructures with corresponding change in texture and surface morphology of top Cu{sub 3}N films. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscope images of the heterostructures reveals the formation of 20-nm-sized copper nanodots on NiTiCu surface at higher deposition temperature (450 Degree-Sign C) of Cu{sub 3}N. Cu{sub 3}N passivated NiTiCu films possess low corrosion current density with higher corrosion potential and, therefore, better corrosion resistance as compared to pure NiTiCu films. The concentration of Ni released from the Cu{sub 3}N/NiTiCu samples was observed to be much less than that of pure NiTiCu film. It can be reduced to the factor of about one-ninth after the surface passivation resulting in smooth, homogeneous and highly corrosion resistant surface. The antibacterial and cytotoxicity of pure and Cu{sub 3}N coated NiTiCu thin films were investigated through green fluorescent protein expressing E. coli bacteria and human embryonic kidney cells. The results show the strong antibacterial property and non cytotoxicity of Cu{sub 3}N/NiTiCu heterostructure. This work is of immense technological importance due to variety of BioMEMS applications.

Isopiestic determination of the osmotic coefficients and Pitzer model representation for Li{sub 2}B{sub 4}O{sub 7}(aq) at T=298.15 K

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Zhang Aiyun [Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008 (China); Hei Long Jiang Science and Technology College, Ha' erbin (China); Yao Yan [Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008 (China)]. E-mail: yanyao@pub.xaonline.com; Li Lijuan [Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008 (China); Song Pengsheng [Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008 (China)

2005-02-01

Isopiestic molalities and water activities have been measured for aqueous Li{sub 2}B{sub 4}O{sub 7} solutions from (0.0275 to 2.9397) mol.kg{sup -1} at T=298.15 K by isopiestic method, using an improved apparatus. These measurements have extended into the very dilute and the supersaturated molality region. Two types of osmotic coefficients of {phi}{sub S} and {phi}{sub E} were determined. {phi}{sub S} is based on the stoichiometric molalities of the solute Li{sub 2}B{sub 4}O{sub 7}(aq), and {phi}{sub E} is based on equilibrium molalities based on consideration of the equilibrium speciation of H3BO3,B(OH)4-,B3O3(OH)4-,andB4O5(OH)42- in the Li{sub 2}B{sub 4}O{sub 7}(aq) solutions. The stoichiometric equilibrium constants K{sub mi} for the aqueous speciation reactions were estimated. Three types of representations of the osmotic coefficients for the (Li{sub 2}B{sub 4}O{sub 7}+H{sub 2}O) system with the ion-interaction models based on Pitzer's equations of osmotic coefficients with minor modifications were presented: the model (I) for representation of the data of {phi}{sub S} with four parameters based on considering the ion-interactions between two ionic species of Li+andB4O72-, the model (II) for representation of the data of {phi}{sub E} based on considering the equilibrium speciation with 18 parameters, and the model (III) simplified from model (II) with six ion-interaction parameters estimated. The reasonable agreements between the experimental osmotic coefficient data and those calculated using the models above were obtained with the standard deviations of 0.0215, 0.0055, and 0.0150 for the three models, respectively. The thermodynamic osmotic coefficient properties for the complex system containing polymetric boron anions and lithium may be explained by use of the Pitzer ion-interaction model with minor modifications in combination with speciation reaction equilibria.

Patch-based generative shape model and MDL model selection for statistical analysis of archipelagos

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Ganz, Melanie; Nielsen, Mads; Brandt, Sami

2010-01-01

We propose a statistical generative shape model for archipelago-like structures. These kind of structures occur, for instance, in medical images, where our intention is to model the appearance and shapes of calcifications in x-ray radio graphs. The generative model is constructed by (1) learning ...

Tensegrity Models and Shape Control of Vehicle Formations

OpenAIRE

Nabet, Benjamin; Leonard, Naomi Ehrich

2009-01-01

Using dynamic models of tensegrity structures, we derive provable, distributed control laws for stabilizing and changing the shape of a formation of vehicles in the plane. Tensegrity models define the desired, controlled, multi-vehicle system dynamics, where each node in the tensegrity structure maps to a vehicle and each interconnecting strut or cable in the structure maps to a virtual interconnection between vehicles. Our method provides a smooth map from any desired planar formation shape ...

Development of a General Form CO<sub>2sub> and Brine Flux Input Model

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mansoor, K. [Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Sun, Y. [Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Carroll, S. [Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

2014-08-01

The National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP) project is developing a science-based toolset for the quantitative analysis of the potential risks associated with changes in groundwater chemistry from CO<sub>2sub> injection. In order to address uncertainty probabilistically, NRAP is developing efficient, reduced-order models (ROMs) as part of its approach. These ROMs are built from detailed, physics-based process models to provide confidence in the predictions over a range of conditions. The ROMs are designed to reproduce accurately the predictions from the computationally intensive process models at a fraction of the computational time, thereby allowing the utilization of Monte Carlo methods to probe variability in key parameters. This report presents the procedures used to develop a generalized model for CO<sub>2sub> and brine leakage fluxes based on the output of a numerical wellbore simulation. The resulting generalized parameters and ranges reported here will be used for the development of third-generation groundwater ROMs.

SnO{sub 2} foam grain-shaped nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization and UVA light induced photocatalysis

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Abdelkader, Elaziouti, E-mail: elaziouti_a@yahoo.com [Laboratory of Electronic Microscope and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of Oran (USTO M. B), BP 1505 El M' naouar, 31000 Oran (Algeria); Nadjia, Laouedj, E-mail: nlaouedj@yahoo.fr [Laboratory of Inorganic Materials Chemistry and Application, University of Science and Technology of Oran (USTO M. B), BP 1505 El M' naouar, 31000 Oran (Algeria); Naceur, Benhadria, E-mail: nacer1974@yahoo.fr [Laboratory of Inorganic Materials Chemistry and Application, University of Science and Technology of Oran (USTO M. B), BP 1505 El M' naouar, 31000 Oran (Algeria); Noureddine, Bettahar, E-mail: nbettahar2001@yahoo.fr [Laboratory of Inorganic Materials Chemistry and Application, University of Science and Technology of Oran (USTO M. B), BP 1505 El M' naouar, 31000 Oran (Algeria)

2016-09-15

Cassiterite (tin oxide; SnO{sub 2}) nanoparticles (NPs), has been successfully synthesized via a sol-gel method. The obtained compounds are subsequently calcined at 80, 450 and 650 °C for 4 h and are assigned as SnO{sub 2}-80, SnO{sub 2}-450 NPs and SnO{sub 2}-650 NPs, respectively. All prepared samples were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectroscopy (TG-SM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS). The XRD results confirmed the aggregated cassiterite SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles (NPs) with a size ranging from 13 to 23 nm. The absorption edge of the SnO{sub 2} NPs samples calcined at higher temperatures showed 25 nm (SnO{sub 2}-450 NPs) and 10 nm (SnO{sub 2}-650 NPs) red shifted compared with that of commercial SnO{sub 2}-com NPs sample. The photodegradation efficiency of SnO{sub 2} NPs was investigated using Congo red (CR) dye, as model organic pollutant. The effect of environmental factors (e.g., reaction time and calcination temperature) on the photocatalysis process of CR on SnO{sub 2} NPs was investigated in photocatalysis process under UVA light irradiation. We found that the SnO{sub 2}-650 NPs with 23 nm particle size and about 3.49 eV band gap was higher than that of the SnO{sub 2}-450 as well as the commercial SnO{sub 2}-com NPs. Pseudo-first-order kinetic model gave the best fit, with highest correlation coefficients (R{sup 2} ≥ 0.95). On the basis of the energy band diagram positions, the enhanced photodegradation efficiency SnO{sub 2} NPs catalyst could be proceeded via direct reactions with (O{sub 2}·{sup -} and ·OH), as active oxidative species involved in the photocatalysis process of CR dye under UVA-light irradiation. - Highlights: • SnO{sub 2} NPs photocatalysts were synthesized using a facile sol–gel route. • As-prepared SnO{sub 2} NPs were characterized by XRD, SEM and UV–vis-DRS techniques. • Noticeably UVA

Thermomechanical model for NiTi shape memory wires

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Frost, M; Sedlák, P; Sippola, M; Šittner, P

2010-01-01

A simple one-dimensional rate-independent model is proposed. It is able to capture responses of a NiTi shape memory alloy wire element to mechanical and thermal loadings. Since the model takes into account martensitic phase transformation as well as deformation processes in the martensite, both shape memory effects and pseudoelasticity can be simulated. The model introduces non-hysteretic transformation strain. Particular attention was paid to description of partial loading cycles. By changing the input parameters the model can be adapted to various types of NiTi-based materials. The model was implemented in the finite element code Abaqus as a User routine and several simulations were performed to validate the implementation

Evolution of body shape in differently coloured sympatric congeners and allopatric populations of Lake Malawi's rock-dwelling cichlids.

Science.gov (United States)

Husemann, M; Tobler, M; McCauley, C; Ding, B; Danley, P D

2014-05-01

The cichlid fishes of Lake Malawi represent one of the most diverse adaptive radiations of vertebrates known. Among the rock-dwelling cichlids (mbuna), closely related sympatric congeners possess similar trophic morphologies (i.e. cranial and jaw structures), defend overlapping or adjacent territories, but can be easily distinguished based on male nuptial coloration. The apparent morphological similarity of congeners, however, leads to an ecological conundrum: theory predicts that ecological competition should lead to competitive exclusion. Hence, we hypothesized that slight, yet significant, ecological differences accompanied the divergence in sexual signals and that the divergence of ecological and sexual traits is correlated. To evaluate this hypothesis, we quantified body shape, a trait of known ecological importance, in populations of Maylandia zebra, a barred, widespread mbuna, and several sympatric nonbarred congeners. We found that the barred populations differ in body shape from their nonbarred sympatric congeners and that the direction of shape differences was consistent across all barred vs. nonbarred comparisons. Barred populations are generally deeper bodied which may be an adaptation to the structurally complex habitat they prefer, whereas the nonbarred species have a more fusiform body shape, which may be adaptive in their more open microhabitat. Furthermore, M. zebra populations sympatric with nonbarred congeners differ from populations where the nonbarred phenotype is absent and occupy less morphospace, indicating potential ecological character displacement. Mitochondrial DNA as well as published AFLP data indicated that the nonbarred populations are not monophyletic and therefore may have evolved multiple times independently. Overall our data suggest that the evolution of coloration and body shape may be coupled as a result of correlational selection. We hypothesize that correlated evolution of sexually selected and ecological traits may have

General quadrupole shapes in the Interacting Boson Model

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Leviatan, A.

1990-01-01

Characteristic attributes of nuclear quadrupole shapes are investigated within the algebraic framework of the Interacting Boson Model. For each shape the Hamiltonian is resolved into intrinsic and collective parts, normal modes are identified and intrinsic states are constructed and used to estimate transition matrix elements. Special emphasis is paid to new features (e.g. rigid triaxiality and coexisting deformed shapes) that emerge in the presence of the three-body interactions. 27 refs

2D-3D shape reconstruction of the distal femur from stereo X-Ray imaging using statistical shape models

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Baka, N.; Kaptein, B. L.; de Bruijne, Marleen

2011-01-01

Three-dimensional patient specific bone models are required in a range of medical applications, such as pre-operative surgery planning and improved guidance during surgery, modeling and simulation, and in vivo bone motion tracking. Shape reconstruction from a small number of X-ray images is desired...... as it lowers both the acquisition costs and the radiation dose compared to CT. We propose a method for pose estimation and shape reconstruction of 3D bone surfaces from two (or more) calibrated X-ray images using a statistical shape model (SSM). User interaction is limited to manual initialization of the mean...... pose estimation of ground truth shapes as well as 3D shape estimation using a SSM of the whole femur, from stereo cadaver X-rays, in vivo biplane fluoroscopy image-pairs, and an in vivo biplane fluoroscopic sequence. Ground truth shapes for all experiments were available in the form of CT segmentations...

Shovel-shaped incisors and associated invagination in some Asian and African populations.

Science.gov (United States)

Kharat, D U; Saini, T S; Mokeem, S

1990-08-01

Shovelling of the incisors is considered to be a polygenic inheritable trait. Shovelling differs considerably between groups of racial populations but is relatively stable within each group. Presence or absence of shovelling helps in racial identification and in exploration of ancestry. Periapical radiographs of patients of several nationalities from Asian and African continents were obtained. Shovelling and invaginations associated with the shovel-shaped incisors was studied according to nationality. Results indicated that the incidence of shovelling in Syrians, Jordanians, Palestinians and Filipinos was 5-6 per cent. In Saudi Arabians, Pakistanis and Indians, the incidence of shovelling was 10-12 per cent. Among Yemenis, Sudanese and Egyptians, the incidence of shovelling was 20-25 percent. The occurrence of invaginations in shovel-shaped incisors was 11 per cent.

Characterization of γ- Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanopowders synthesized by Co-precipitation method

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Jbara, Ahmed S., E-mail: ahmedsbhe@yahoo.com [Center for Sustainable Nanomaterials, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai - 81310, Johor Bahru (Malaysia); Physics Department, Science College, Al-Muthanna University, Samawah - 66001 (Iraq); Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai - 81310, Johor Bahru (Malaysia); Othaman, Zulkafli [Center for Sustainable Nanomaterials, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai - 81310, Johor Bahru (Malaysia); Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai - 81310, Johor Bahru (Malaysia); Ati, Ali A. [Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai - 81310, Johor Bahru (Malaysia); Saeed, M.A., E-mail: moalsd@gmail.com [Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai - 81310, Johor Bahru (Malaysia); Division of Science and Technology, University of Education, Township, Lahore - 54770 (Pakistan)

2017-02-15

Co-precipitation technique has been used to synthesize gamma-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} (γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}) nanopowders under annealing temperature effect. The crystalline phase and purity for the prepared powder were characterized by different spectroscopy techniques. XRD analysis confirms the gamma phase of alumina nanopowders with particle diameter ranging from 6 to 24 nm, which confirms the quantum dots formation, which is also supported by the BET measurement. The surface area of the prepared nanopowders is in the range of 109–367 m{sup 2}/g. Morphology analysis indicates that γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanopowders are consisted of grains almost spherical in shape. Some agglomeration of nanoparticles occurs, which become more regular hexagonal shaped with the increasing annealing temperature. The small nanoparticles size and the high surface area from a simple procedure for preparing γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} may make it more suitable for use as an adsorbent for malachite green. - Highlights: • Co-precipitation technique is used to synthesize gamma- Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanopowders. • Pure gamma- Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} phase was obtained having maximum nanoparticle size is 24 nm. • The quantum dots were formed inside powder. • High surface area of nanopowders at the low annealing temperature. • Increasing annealing temperature causes the hexagonal agglomeration shape.

Ω{sub c} excited states within a SU(6){sub lsf} x HQSS model

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nieves, J.; Pavao, R. [Instituto de Fisica Corpuscular (Centro mixto CSIC-UV), Institutos de Investigacion de Paterna, Valencia (Spain); Tolos, L. [University of Frankfurt, Institut fuer Theoretische Physik, Frankfurt am Main (Germany); University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Frankfurt am Main (Germany); Institute of Space Sciences (ICE, CSIC), Campus UAB, Carrer de Can Magrans, Barcelona (Spain); Institut d' Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC), Barcelona (Spain)

2018-02-15

We have reviewed the renormalization procedure used in the unitarized coupled-channel model of Romanets et al. (Phys Rev D 85:114032, 2012), and its impact in the C = 1, S = -2, and I = 0 sector, where five Ω{sub c}{sup (*)} states have been recently observed by the LHCb Collaboration. The meson-baryon interactions used in the model are consistent with both chiral and heavy-quark spin symmetries, and lead to a successful description of the observed lowest-lying odd parity resonances Λ{sub c}(2595) and Λ{sub c}(2625), and Λ{sub b}(5912) and Λ{sub b}(5920) resonances. We show that some (probably at least three) of the states observed by LHCb will also have odd parity and J = 1/2 or J = 3/2, belonging two of them to the same SU(6){sub light-spin-flavor} x HQSS multiplets as the latter charmed and beauty Λ baryons. (orig.)

Determination of the CKM matrix element vertical stroke V{sub cb} vertical stroke, the B {yields} X{sub s}{gamma} decay rate, and the b-quark mass

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Bernlochner, Florian Urs

2011-09-15

In this work, the preliminary measurements of two fundamental parameters of the Standard Model of particles physics are presented: the CKM matrix element vertical stroke V{sub cb} vertical stroke, and the b-quark mass. The measurement of the absolute value of the CKM matrix element V{sub cb} uses the full set of recorded data of 429.06 fb{sup -1} of B anti B mesons of the BABAR experiment. The CKM matrix element is obtained by measuring the branching fractions and non-perturbative shape parameters of the two transitions into the charmed 1S ground states, B {yields} Dl{nu}{sub l} and B {yields} D{sup *}l {nu}{sub l}, respectively. The kinematic of the produced lepton is measured and the kinematics of the short-lived charmed mesons is reconstructed from kaon and pion candidates. By combining the reconstructed three-momenta of both particles with the angular information of the decay, three independent variables can be obtained. The measured distributions in these variables are analyzed in a three-dimensional global fit, which simultaneously extracts the decay parameters and branching fractions of both charmed transitions. We find that B {yields} Dl {nu}{sub l}: vertical stroke V{sub cb} vertical stroke =(36.14{+-}0.57{sub stat.}{+-}1.30{sub sys.}{+-}0.80{sub theo.}) x 10{sup -3}, B {yields} D{sup *}l {nu}{sub l}: vertical stroke V{sub cb} vertical stroke =(39.71{+-}0.26{sub stat.}{+-}0.73{sub sys.}{+-}0.74{sub theo.}) x 10{sup -3}, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and theoretical, respectively. In the Standard Model, both measured values of vertical stroke V{sub cb} vertical stroke can be averaged to further minimize the uncertainties. We find Combined: vertical stroke V{sub cb} vertical stroke =(38.29{+-}0.26{sub stat.}{+-}0.64{sub sys.}{+-}0.52{sub theo.}) x 10{sup -3}. Furthermore, several scenarios are explored how possible future unquenched lattice QCD points can be incorporated into the measurement, to further reduce the uncertainty on

Accurate thermodynamic relations of the melting temperature of nanocrystals with different shapes and pure theoretical calculation

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Zhu, Jinhua; Fu, Qingshan; Xue, Yongqiang, E-mail: xyqlw@126.com; Cui, Zixiang

2017-05-01

Based on the surface pre-melting model, accurate thermodynamic relations of the melting temperature of nanocrystals with different shapes (tetrahedron, cube, octahedron, dodecahedron, icosahedron, nanowire) were derived. The theoretically calculated melting temperatures are in relative good agreements with experimental, molecular dynamic simulation and other theoretical results for nanometer Au, Ag, Al, In and Pb. It is found that the particle size and shape have notable effects on the melting temperature of nanocrystals, and the smaller the particle size, the greater the effect of shape. Furthermore, at the same equivalent radius, the more the shape deviates from sphere, the lower the melting temperature is. The value of melting temperature depression of cylindrical nanowire is just half of that of spherical nanoparticle with an identical radius. The theoretical relations enable one to quantitatively describe the influence regularities of size and shape on the melting temperature and to provide an effective way to predict and interpret the melting temperature of nanocrystals with different sizes and shapes. - Highlights: • Accurate relations of T{sub m} of nanocrystals with various shapes are derived. • Calculated T{sub m} agree with literature results for nano Au, Ag, Al, In and Pb. • ΔT{sub m} (nanowire) = 0.5ΔT{sub m} (spherical nanocrystal). • The relations apply to predict and interpret the melting behaviors of nanocrystals.

Engineering models for low-NO{sub x} burners

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Storm Pedersen, Lars

1997-08-01

The present Ph.D. thesis describes a theoretical investigation of NO formation in pulverised coal combustion and an experimental investigation of co-combustion of straw and pulverised coal. The theoretical work has resulted in a simplified mathematical model of a swirling pulverised coal flame able to predict the NO emission and the burnout of coal. In order to simplify the flow pattern of a confined swirling flame, the residence time distribution (RTD) in a swirling pulverised coal flame was determined. This was done by using the solution of a detailed fluid dynamic mathematical model for a 2.2 MW{sub th} and a 12 MW{sub th} pulverised coal flame. From the mathematical solution the RTD was simulated by tracing a number of fluid particles or inert particles. The RTD in the near burner zone was investigated by use of the mathematical model for the 2.2 MW{sub th} and 12 MW{sub th} flame. Results showed that the gas phase in the near burner zone may be approximated as a CSTR and that the mean residence time increased with particle size. In pulverised coal flames, the most important volatile nitrogen component forming NO{sub x} is HCN. To be able to model the nitrogen chemistry in coal flames it is necessary to have an adequate model for HCN oxidation. In order to develop a model for HCN/NH{sub 3}/NO conversion, a systematic reduction of a detailed chemical kinetic model was performed. Based on the simplification of the flow pattern for a swirling flame and the reduced chemistry developed, a chemical engineering model of pulverised coal flame was established. The objectives were to predict the NO emission, the CO emission, and the burnout of char. The effects of co-firing straw and pulverised coal was investigated in a 2.5 MW{sub th} pilot-scale burner and a 250 MW{sub e} utility boiler. In the 2.5 MW{sub th} trial the straw was chopped and fed separately to the burner, whereas in the full-scale experiment the straw was pre-processed as pellets and pulverised with the

Shape Modeling of a Concentric-tube Continuum Robot

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Bai, Shaoping; Xing, Charles Chuhao

2012-01-01

Concentric-tube continuum robots feature with simple and compact structures and have a great potential in medical applications. The paper is concerned with the shape modeling of a type of concentric-tube continuum robot built with a collection of super-elastic NiTiNol tubes. The mechanics...... is modeled on the basis of energy approach for both the in-plane and out-plane cases. The torsional influences on the shape of the concentric-tube robots are considered. An experimental device was build for the model validation. The results of simulation and experiments are included and analyzed....

Shape descriptors for mode-shape recognition and model updating

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Wang, W; Mottershead, J E; Mares, C

2009-01-01

The most widely used method for comparing mode shapes from finite elements and experimental measurements is the Modal Assurance Criterion (MAC), which returns a single numerical value and carries no explicit information on shape features. New techniques, based on image processing (IP) and pattern recognition (PR) are described in this paper. The Zernike moment descriptor (ZMD), Fourier descriptor (FD), and wavelet descriptor (WD), presented in this article, are the most popular shape descriptors having properties that include efficiency of expression, robustness to noise, invariance to geometric transformation and rotation, separation of local and global shape features and computational efficiency. The comparison of mode shapes is readily achieved by assembling the shape features of each mode shape into multi-dimensional shape feature vectors (SFVs) and determining the distances separating them.

Lattice strain estimation for CoAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} nano particles using Williamson-Hall analysis

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Aly, Kamal A., E-mail: kamalaly2001@gmail.com [Physics Department, Faculty of Science & Arts, Khulais, University of Jeddah, Jiddah (Saudi Arabia); Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut Branch, Assiut (Egypt); Khalil, N.M. [Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science & Arts, Khulais, University of Jeddah, Jiddah (Saudi Arabia); Refractories, Ceramics and Building Materials Department, National Research Centre, 12311 Cairo (Egypt); Algamal, Yousif [Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science & Arts, Khulais, University of Jeddah, Jiddah (Saudi Arabia); Saleem, Qaid M.A. [Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science & Arts, Khulais, University of Jeddah, Jiddah (Saudi Arabia); Chemistry Department, Faculty of Education, Aden University, Sabwa (Yemen)

2016-08-15

CoAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanoparticles were prepared via coprecipitation technique through mixing 1:1 M ratio of cobalt nitrate and aluminium nitrate solutions at pH 10. CoAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} crystalline phase was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) result reveals that the particles of CoAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} fired at 900 °C were relatively small (21 nm) and uniform. Increased temperature to 1200 °C gives rise to blocky particles and changes in the powders shape, that because of agglomeration came from the calcination of CoAl{sub 2}O{sub 4}. Furthermore, the particle size increase with increasing the calcinated temperature. The crystalline sizes were evaluated by using X-ray peak broadening analysis suggested by Williamson-Hall (W-H) analysis. It was successfully applied for lattice strain and to calculate mechanical stress and energy density values using different three models namely uniform deformation model (UDM), uniform deformation stress model (UDSM) and uniform deformation energy density model (UDEDM). Also, the root mean square strain was determined. These models gave a different strain values which suggested an isotropic nature of the nanoparticles. Besides, the obtained results W-H analysis are in good agreement with that deduced from SEM analysis and Scherrer's formula. - Highlights: • CoAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanoparticles were prepared via coprecipitation technique. • CoAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanoparticles were characterized by SEM and XRD. • the lattice size and strain were investigated according to W-H analysis. • The latic size were investigated by W-H analysis, SEM and Sherrar's method. • The root mean square strain was determined.

CFD Wake Modelling with a BEM Wind Turbine Sub-Model

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Anders Hallanger

2013-01-01

Full Text Available Modelling of wind farms using computational fluid dynamics (CFD resolving the flow field around each wind turbine's blades on a moving computational grid is still too costly and time consuming in terms of computational capacity and effort. One strategy is to use sub-models for the wind turbines, and sub-grid models for turbulence production and dissipation to model the turbulent viscosity accurately enough to handle interaction of wakes in wind farms. A wind turbine sub-model, based on the Blade Momentum Theory, see Hansen (2008, has been implemented in an in-house CFD code, see Hallanger et al. (2002. The tangential and normal reaction forces from the wind turbine blades are distributed on the control volumes (CVs at the wind turbine rotor location as sources in the conservation equations of momentum. The classical k-epsilon turbulence model of Launder and Spalding (1972 is implemented with sub-grid turbulence (SGT model, see Sha and Launder (1979 and Sand and Salvesen (1994. Steady state CFD simulations were compared with flow and turbulence measurements in the wake of a model scale wind turbine, see Krogstad and Eriksen (2011. The simulated results compared best with experiments when stalling (boundary layer separation on the wind turbine blades did not occur. The SGT model did improve turbulence level in the wake but seems to smear the wake flow structure. It should be noted that the simulations are carried out steady state not including flow oscillations caused by vortex shedding from tower and blades as they were in the experiments. Further improvement of the simulated velocity defect and turbulence level seems to rely on better parameter estimation to the SGT model, improvements to the SGT model, and possibly transient- instead of steady state simulations.

The oxidation of ReCl{sub 5} with oleum: synthesis and crystal structure of Re{sub 2}O{sub 4}Cl{sub 4}(SO{sub 4})

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Betke, Ulf; Wickleder, Mathias S. [Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry (Germany)

2012-01-15

The reaction of ReCl{sub 5} and fuming sulfuric acid (25 % SO{sub 3}) in a sealed glass tube at 200 C led to red, needle shaped single crystals of Re{sub 2}O{sub 4}Cl{sub 4}(SO{sub 4}) (monoclinic, C2/c, a = 1501.8(2) pm, b = 1545.9(2) pm, c = 945.18(8) pm, β = 98.761(9) , Z = 8). In the crystal structure the [ReO{sub 2}] moieties are linked by [SO{sub 4}]{sup 2-} tetrahedra to chains along the [101] direction. Each sulfate ion connects four rhenium atoms, additional two chloride ions complete the octahedral coordination sphere of each rhenium atom according to {sup 1}{sub ∞}[ReO{sub 2/1}Cl{sub 2/1}(SO{sub 4}){sub 2/4}]. (Copyright copyright 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Shape fabric development in rigid clast populations under pure shear: The influence of no-slip versus slip boundary conditions

Science.gov (United States)

Mulchrone, Kieran F.; Meere, Patrick A.

2015-09-01

Shape fabrics of elliptical objects in rocks are usually assumed to develop by passive behavior of inclusions with respect to the surrounding material leading to shape-based strain analysis methods belonging to the Rf/ϕ family. A probability density function is derived for the orientational characteristics of populations of rigid ellipses deforming in a pure shear 2D deformation with both no-slip and slip boundary conditions. Using maximum likelihood a numerical method is developed for estimating finite strain in natural populations deforming for both mechanisms. Application to a natural example indicates the importance of the slip mechanism in explaining clast shape fabrics in deformed sediments.

Time series modeling of live-cell shape dynamics for image-based phenotypic profiling.

Science.gov (United States)

Gordonov, Simon; Hwang, Mun Kyung; Wells, Alan; Gertler, Frank B; Lauffenburger, Douglas A; Bathe, Mark

2016-01-01

Live-cell imaging can be used to capture spatio-temporal aspects of cellular responses that are not accessible to fixed-cell imaging. As the use of live-cell imaging continues to increase, new computational procedures are needed to characterize and classify the temporal dynamics of individual cells. For this purpose, here we present the general experimental-computational framework SAPHIRE (Stochastic Annotation of Phenotypic Individual-cell Responses) to characterize phenotypic cellular responses from time series imaging datasets. Hidden Markov modeling is used to infer and annotate morphological state and state-switching properties from image-derived cell shape measurements. Time series modeling is performed on each cell individually, making the approach broadly useful for analyzing asynchronous cell populations. Two-color fluorescent cells simultaneously expressing actin and nuclear reporters enabled us to profile temporal changes in cell shape following pharmacological inhibition of cytoskeleton-regulatory signaling pathways. Results are compared with existing approaches conventionally applied to fixed-cell imaging datasets, and indicate that time series modeling captures heterogeneous dynamic cellular responses that can improve drug classification and offer additional important insight into mechanisms of drug action. The software is available at http://saphire-hcs.org.

EFFECT OF PROFILES AND SHAPE ON IDEAL STABILITY OF ADVANCED TOKAMAK EQUILIBRIA

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

MAKOWSKI,MA; CASPER,TA; FERRON,JR; TAYLOR,TS; TURNBULL,AD

2003-08-01

OAK-B135 The pressure profile and plasma shape, parameterized by elongation ({kappa}), triangularity ({delta}), and squareness ({zeta}), strongly influence stability. In this study, ideal stability of single null and symmetric, double-null, advanced tokamak (AT) configurations is examined. All the various shapes are bounded by a common envelope and can be realized in the DIII-D tokamak. The calculated AT equilibria are characterized by P{sub 0}/

{approx} 2.0-4.5, weak negative central shear, high q{sub min} (> 2.0), high bootstrap fraction, an H-mode pedestal, and varying shape parameters. The pressure profile is modeled by various polynomials together with a hyperbolic tangent pedestal, consistent with experimental observations. Stability is calculated with the DCON code and the resulting stability boundary is corroborated by GATO runs.

Nanostructure investigation of magnetic nanomaterial Ni{sub 0.5}Zn{sub 0.3}Cu{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} synthesized by sol-gel method

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Pransisco, Prengki, E-mail: prengkipransisco@gmail.com [Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, 31750 Tronoh, Perak (Malaysia); Badan Lingkungan Hidup Derah Kabupaten Empat Lawang South of Sumatera (Indonesia); Shafie, Afza, E-mail: afza@petronas.com.my; Guan, Beh Hoe, E-mail: beh.hoeguan@petronas.com.my [Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, 31750 Tronoh, Perak (Malaysia)

2015-07-22

Magnetic nanomaterial Ni{sub 0.5}Zn{sub 0.3}Cu{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} was successfully prepared by using sol-gel method. Heat treatment on material is always giving defect on properties of material. This paper investigates the effect of heat treatment on nanostructure of magnetic nanomaterial Ni{sub 0.5}Zn{sub 0.3}Cu{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4}. According to thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) that after 600°C there is no more weight loss detected and it was decided as minimum calcination temperature. Intensity, crystallite size, structure, lattice parameter and d-spacing of the material were investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD). High resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) was used to examine nanostructure, nanosize, shape and distribution particle of magnetic material Ni{sub 0.5}Zn{sub 0.3}Cu{sub 0.2}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} and variable pressure field emission scanning electron microscope (VP-FESEM) was used to investigate the surface morphology and topography of the material. The XRD result shows single-phase cubic spinel structure with average crystallite size in the range of 25.6-95.9 nm, the value of the intensity of the material was increased with increasing temperature, and followed by lattice parameter was increased with increasing calcination temperature, value of d-spacing was relatively decreased with accompanied increasing temperature. From HRTEM result the distribution of particles was tend to be agglomerates with particle size of 7.8-17.68 nm. VP-FESEM result shows that grain size of the material increases with increasing calcination temperature and the surface morphology shows that the material is in hexagonal shape and it was also proved by mapping result which showing the presence each of constituents inside the compound.

Fabrication and magnetic characterization of Co{sub x}Pt{sub 1-x} nanowire arrays

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Shamaila, S. [Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Magnetism, Institute of Physics, Beijing (China); University of Engineering and Technology, Advanced Physics Laboratory, Lahore (Pakistan); Sharif, R.; Riaz, S.; Han, X.F. [Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Magnetism, Institute of Physics, Beijing (China); Khaleeq-ur-Rahman, M. [University of Engineering and Technology, Advanced Physics Laboratory, Lahore (Pakistan)

2008-08-15

Co{sub x}Pt{sub 1-x}(x{>=}0.7) alloy nanowires are grown into self-synthesized anodic alumina templates by electrodeposition. Magnetic and magnetization properties of Co{sub x}Pt{sub 1-x} alloy nanowires are measured as functions of wire length, temperature, and field orientation. X-ray diffraction shows that as-prepared CoPt nanowires are of fcc polycrystalline structure. A crossover of easy axis of magnetization is observed from parallel to perpendicular of the nanowire axis as a function of length. The coercivity (H{sub c}) and remanent squareness (SQ) of Co{sub x}Pt{sub 1-x} nanowire arrays are derived from hysteresis loops measured at various angles ({theta}) between the field and wire axis. H{sub c}({theta}) and SQ({theta}) curves show bell-shaped or otherwise bell-shaped behavior corresponding to the easy axis of their magnetization. (orig.)

Thickness dependence of magnetoelectric response for composites of Pb(Zr{sub 0.52}Ti{sub 0.48})O{sub 3} films on CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} ceramic substrates

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wang, Jing, E-mail: wang-jing@nuaa.edu.cn; Zhu, Kongjun [State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control of Mechanical Structures, College of Aerospace Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016 (China); Wu, Xia; Deng, Chaoyong [School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025 (China); Peng, Renci; Wang, Jianjun [School of Materials Science and Engineering, and State Key Lab of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084 (China)

2014-08-15

Using chemical solution spin-coating we grew Pb(Zr{sub 0.52}Ti{sub 0.48})O{sub 3} films of different thicknesses on highly dense CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} ceramics. X-ray diffraction revealed no other phases except Pb(Zr{sub 0.52}Ti{sub 0.48})O{sub 3} and CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4}. In many of these samples we observed typical ferroelectric hysteresis loops, butterfly-shaped piezoelectric strains, and the magnetic-field-dependent magnetostriction. These behaviors caused appreciable magnetoelectric responses based on magnetic-mechanical-electric coupling. Our results indicated that the thickness of the Pb(Zr{sub 0.52}Ti{sub 0.48})O{sub 3} film was important in obtaining strong magnetoelectric coupling.

Anisotropic superconductivity in {beta}-(BDA-TTP){sub 2}SbF{sub 6}: STM spectroscopy

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nomura, K. [Department of Physics, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810 (Japan)], E-mail: knmr@phys.sci.hokudai.ac.jp; Muraoka, R.; Matsunaga, N. [Department of Physics, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810 (Japan); Ichimura, K. [Division of Applied Physics, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628 (Japan); Yamada, J. [Division of Material Science, University of Hyogo, Hyogo 678-1297 (Japan)

2009-03-01

We have investigated the gap symmetry in the superconducting phase of {beta}-(BDA-TTP){sub 2}SbF{sub 6} with use of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The tunneling spectra obtained on the conducting surface show a clear superconducting gap structure. Its functional form is of V-shaped similarly to {kappa}-(BEDT-TTF){sub 2}X and suggests the anisotropic superconducting gap with line nodes. For lateral surfaces the shape of tunneling spectra varies from the U-shape with relatively large gap to the V-shape with small gap depending on the tunneling direction alternately twice between directional angle 0 and {pi}. From the analysis of conductance curve taking the k dependence of the tunneling probability into account, it is found that the gap has maximum near the a* and c* axes and the nodes appear along near a*+c* and the a-c* directions. These indicate that the d{sub x{sup 2}-y{sup 2}} like superconducting pair is formed in this system as the case of {kappa}-(BEDT-TTF){sub 2}X. This node direction is consistent with the theoretical prediction based on the spin fluctuation mechanism. However, the zero-bias conductance peak has not been observed yet.

Nd{sub 2}Fe{sub 14}B and Pr{sub 2}Fe{sub 14}B magnets characterisation and modelling for cryogenic permanent magnet undulator applications

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Benabderrahmane, C., E-mail: chamseddine.benabderrahmane@synchrotron-soleil.fr [Synchrotron SOLEIL, St Aubin (France); Berteaud, P.; Valleau, M.; Kitegi, C.; Tavakoli, K.; Bechu, N.; Mary, A.; Filhol, J.M.; Couprie, M.E. [Synchrotron SOLEIL, St Aubin (France)

2012-03-21

Cryogenic permanent magnet undulators take benefit from improved magnetic properties of RE{sub 2}Fe{sub 14}B (Rare Earth based magnets) at cryogenic temperatures for achieving short period high magnetic field. In particular, using Praseodymium instead of Neodymium generally employed for insertion devices avoids limitation due to Spin Reorientation Transition phenomenon. Magnetic properties of magnet samples (Nd{sub 2}Fe{sub 14}B and Pr{sub 2}Fe{sub 14}B) versus temperature have been investigated and applied to a 20 mm period Nd{sub 2}Fe{sub 14}B (BH50) and to a 18 mm period Pr{sub 2}Fe{sub 14}B (CR53) systems. Four period undulators have been built, characterised and compared to the models.

Controlled synthesis of different multilayer architectures of GdBO{sub 3}:Eu{sup 3+} phosphors and shape-dependent luminescence properties

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Leng, Zhihua; Zhang, Nannan; Liu, Yali; Li, Linlin; Gan, Shucai, E-mail: gansc@jlu.edu.cn

2015-03-01

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Pancake-like/flower-like/leaf-like GdBO{sub 3} were obtained via a hydrothermal method. • Gd(OH){sub 3} nanorods and borates were used as the precursors for the first time. • A dissolution and recrystallization process was happened induced by the excess borax. • Three products have the similar stacked arrangements to reduce the surface energy. • The luminescence properties of GdBO{sub 3}:Eu{sup 3+} are related to shape and crystallinity. - Abstract: Monodisperse pancake-like/flower-like/leaf-like GdBO{sub 3} samples have been successfully synthesized via a designed hydrothermal conversion method using H{sub 3}BO{sub 3}, Na{sub 2}B{sub 4}O{sub 7}·10H{sub 2}O, or NaBO{sub 2}·4H{sub 2}O as boron sources, respectively. It was found that different boron sources have crucial influences on the formation and morphology of the products. The Gd(OH){sub 3} nanorods precursors were prepared through a simple hydrothermal process, which then served as sacrificial templates for the fabrication of GdBO{sub 3} micropancakes/microflowers/microleaves via a hydrothermal conversion process. FT-IR spectra confirm that vaterite-type GdBO{sub 3} can be synthesized by this method. The possible formation mechanisms for different microstructures were put forward on the basis of a series of time-dependent control experiments. The products have similar stacked arrangements driven by the minimization of the interfacial and surface energy of the hydrothermal system. An investigation on the photoluminescence (PL) properties of GdBO{sub 3}:Eu{sup 3+} samples with different morphologies indicates that the PL properties of as-obtained GdBO{sub 3}:Eu{sup 3+} phosphors are strongly dependent on their morphology and crystallinity. The flower-like structure exhibits the strongest red emission.

[POPULATION MONITORING OF THE HEALTH SHAPING ENVIRONMENT OF THE STUDENTS OF NAGORNO KARABAKH].

Science.gov (United States)

Galstyan, H

2016-10-01

The study of the health shaping environment of students is one of the actual biomedical tasks, it is also the scientific founding for conducting health-preventive and health-preserving measures. Despite the importance of the proposed problem, this study is a pioneering attempt in Nagorno Karabakh. The objective of the work is the scientific grounding of regional peculiarities and the contemporary level of health shaping environment of students on the basis of population monitoring system. The results of the study prove that the studied health criteria are within limits of physiological norm. The most wide-spead risk factors are lack of physical activity, in the group of young boys - also tobacco use and alcohol consumption. The analysis of daily diet of examinees attests ''fat'' nutrition model. The data on the impact of physical effort reveal high tension in the cardiac activity in the group of physically untrained students. The study of the impact of educational and mental strain on the functional state of the organism of the students revealed that daily academic leads to fatigue. The examination session is characterized by strongly expressed sympatotonia sympathicotonia, mental strain - by parasympatotonia. The obtained results point to the necessity of the enhanced control in preserving and strengthening the health of the younger generation considering the above-brought regional peculiarities.

Spin model of volborthite Cu{sub 3}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}(OH){sub 2}.2H{sub 2}O revisited. Coupled trimers instead of zigzag chains

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Janson, Oleg; Held, Karsten [IFP, TU Wien (Austria); Furukawa, Shunsuke [University of Tokyo (Japan); Momoi, Tsutomu [Condensed Matter Theory Laboratory, RIKEN (Japan); RIKEN Center for Emergent Material Science (Japan); Sindzingre, Philippe [Universite Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris (France); Richter, Johannes [University of Magdeburg (Germany)

2016-07-01

Motivated by recent experiments on volborthite single crystals showing a wide (1)/(3)-magnetization plateau, we adopt the structural data and perform microscopic modeling by means of density functional theory (DFT). Using DFT+U, we find four leading magnetic exchanges: antiferromagnetic J and J{sub 2}, as well as ferromagnetic J{sup '} and J{sub 1}. Simulations of the spin Hamiltonian show good agreement with the experiment for J:J{sup '}:J{sub 1}:J{sub 2} = 1: -0.2: -0.5: 0.2 with J ≅ 252 K. The (1)/(3)-plateau phase pertains to polarized magnetic trimers formed by strong J bonds. An effective J → ∞ model shows a tendency towards condensation of magnon bound states preceding the plateau phase.

Population viability analysis: using a modeling tool to assess the viability of tapir populations in fragmented landscapes.

Science.gov (United States)

Medici, Emília Patrícia; Desbiez, Arnaud Leonard Jean

2012-12-01

A population viability analysis (PVA) was conducted of the lowland tapir populations in the Atlantic Forest of the Pontal do Paranapanema region, Brazil, including Morro do Diabo State Park (MDSP) and surrounding forest fragments. Results from the model projected that the population of 126 tapirs in MDSP is likely to persist over the next 100 years; however, 200 tapirs would be required to maintain a viable population. Sensitivity analysis showed that sub-adult mortality and adult mortality have the strongest influence on the dynamics of lowland tapir populations. High road-kill has a major impact on the MDSP tapir population and can lead to population extinction. Metapopulation modeling showed that dispersal of tapirs from MDSP to the surrounding fragments can be detrimental to the overall metapopulation, as fragments act as sinks. Nevertheless, the model showed that under certain conditions the maintenance of the metapopulation dynamics might be determinant for the persistence of tapirs in the region, particularly in the smaller fragments. The establishment of corridors connecting MDSP to the forest fragments models resulted in an increase in the stochastic growth rate, making tapirs more resilient to threats and catastrophes, but only if rates of mortality were not increased when using corridors. The PVA showed that the conservation of tapirs in the Pontal region depends on: the effective protection of MDSP; maintenance and, whenever possible, enhancement of the functional connectivity of the landscape, reducing mortality during dispersal and threats in the unprotected forest fragments; and neutralization of all threats affecting tapirs in the smaller forest fragments. © 2012 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd, ISZS and IOZ/CAS.

The size and shape of the foramen magnum in man

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Matthew J Zdilla

2017-01-01

Results and Conclusions: The study demonstrates that, within each distinct population, the size of the FM is significantly larger in males than in females; however, there are no significant differences in the shapes of the foramina between sexes. However, when comparing different populations to one another, there are significant differences with regard to both the size and shape of the FM. This study also presents a new model of FM ontogeny. Specifically, the growth occurring between the anterior and posterior foraminal boundaries before 5 years of age predicts the ultimate shape of the adult FM.

Calculation of the characteristics of a photoionization TEA CO/sub 2/ laser

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Aver' yanov, N E; Baloshin, Yu A

1979-01-01

Energy and time characteristics have been studied for molecular lasers with active mixture pressures up to atmospheric or high levels. According to the model employed, which was developed for lasers with low active mixture pressure, the basic kinetic equations describing the dynamics of populations of carbon dioxide molecules in a high pressure laser are not written for discrete levels, but for energies stored in each type of oscillation: rate constants of the primary processes of excitation and deexcitation of molecules, relaxation time of different channels of relaxation, and the distribution function of electrons will have a different relationship as a function of partial gas pressures. Earlier equations were used to compute characteristics of lasing pulses of TEA CO/sub 2/ lasers operating under conditions of a semi-self-maintained discharge with preionization of the main volume by uv emission. A new model had to be devised to handle high pressure lasers. Helium was found to be the main supplier of photoelectrons, in spite of the highest ionization potential: addition of nitrogen shapes a uv spectrum optimum for photoionization of helium. CO/sub 2/ is the lasing molecule and also absorbs uv emission. Consideration of CO/sub 2/ molecule dissociation makes the theoretical concept more reliable in comparison with experiment.

Improved statistical power with a sparse shape model in detecting an aging effect in the hippocampus and amygdala

Science.gov (United States)

Chung, Moo K.; Kim, Seung-Goo; Schaefer, Stacey M.; van Reekum, Carien M.; Peschke-Schmitz, Lara; Sutterer, Matthew J.; Davidson, Richard J.

2014-03-01

The sparse regression framework has been widely used in medical image processing and analysis. However, it has been rarely used in anatomical studies. We present a sparse shape modeling framework using the Laplace- Beltrami (LB) eigenfunctions of the underlying shape and show its improvement of statistical power. Tradition- ally, the LB-eigenfunctions are used as a basis for intrinsically representing surface shapes as a form of Fourier descriptors. To reduce high frequency noise, only the first few terms are used in the expansion and higher frequency terms are simply thrown away. However, some lower frequency terms may not necessarily contribute significantly in reconstructing the surfaces. Motivated by this idea, we present a LB-based method to filter out only the significant eigenfunctions by imposing a sparse penalty. For dense anatomical data such as deformation fields on a surface mesh, the sparse regression behaves like a smoothing process, which will reduce the error of incorrectly detecting false negatives. Hence the statistical power improves. The sparse shape model is then applied in investigating the influence of age on amygdala and hippocampus shapes in the normal population. The advantage of the LB sparse framework is demonstrated by showing the increased statistical power.

A unique distortion in K{sub 1/3}Ba{sub 2/3}AgTe{sub 2}: X-ray diffraction determination and electronic band structure analysis of its incommensurately modulated structure

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Gourdon, O; Hanko, J; Boucher, F; Petricek, V; Whangbo, M H; Kanatzidis, M G; Evain, M

2000-04-03

The incommensurately modulated structure of a square Te-net, namely that of K{sub 1/3}Ba{sub 2/3}AgTe{sub 2}, is determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data within a (3+1)D higher dimension formalism. The phase is shown to crystallize in the monoclinic symmetry, P2{sub 1}({alpha}0{gamma}) superspace group with the following lattice parameters: a = 4.6441(10) {angstrom}, b = 4.6292(12) {angstrom}, c = 23.765(9) {angstrom}, and {beta} = 101.28(2){degree} with q = 0.3248(6)a* {minus}0.07(8)c*, that is, in a symmetry different from that reported for the average structure (tetragonal) or that assumed from electron diffraction measurements (orthorhombic). After the introduction of a crenel function for the Te displacive description, the refinement converged to a residual factor R = 0.033 for 2583 observed reflections and 115 parameters (R = 0.024 and 0.101 for 1925 main reflections and 658 first-order satellites, respectively). The [Ag{sub 2}-Te{sub 2}] and the Ba/K layers are found to be only weakly modulated. The modulation of the square Te-net is, however, both substantial and unique. Namely, it results in two different units: a V-shaped Te{sub 3} trimer and a W-shaped Te{sub 5} pentamer. To examine both unit types, which are segregated in domains that aperiodically alternate within the Te layers, first principles electronic band structure calculations were carried out for three model commensurate structures using the tight-binding linear-muffin-tin-orbital method (LMTO). The calculations show that the distorted structures of V-pattern (model 2) and W-pattern (model 3) are more stable than the average structure (model 1) and that the V-pattern distortion provides a slightly larger stabilization than does the W-pattern distortion. The Fermi surface calculated for the average structure shows nesting vectors that are consistent with the occurrence of the V- and W-pattern distortions in the Te layers. However, these vectors do not predict the observed modulation

Local state probabilities for solvable restricted solid-on-solid models: A/sub n/, D/sub n/, D/sub n//sup (1)/, and A/sub n//sup (1)/

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Kuniba, A.; Yajima, T.

1988-01-01

The local state probabilities (LSPs) are exactly computed for four hierarchies of solvable lattice models. They are restricted solid-on-solid (RSOS) models whose local states and their adjacent conditions are specified by Dinkin diagrams of types A/sub n/, D/sub n/, D/sub n//sup (1)/ and A/sub n//sup (1)/. The LSPs are expressed in terms of modular functions characterized by branching identities among the theta functions. Their automorphic properties are used to study the critical behaviors. Some fine structures are found in the spectrum of the critical exponents

Constitutive Models for Shape Memory Alloy Polycrystals

Science.gov (United States)

Comstock, R. J., Jr.; Somerday, M.; Wert, J. A.

1996-01-01

Shape memory alloys (SMA) exhibiting the superelastic or one-way effects can produce large recoverable strains upon application of a stress. In single crystals this stress and resulting strain are very orientation dependent. We show experimental stress/strain curves for a Ni-Al single crystal for various loading orientations. Also shown are model predictions; the open and closed circles indicate recoverable strains obtained at various stages in the transformation process. Because of the strong orientation dependence of shape memory properties, crystallographic texture can be expected to play an important role in the mechanical behavior of polycrystalline SMA. It is desirable to formulate a constitutive model to better understand and exploit the unique properties of SMA.

Comparative analysis of the shape of the perch from Techa river and Miass river

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Osipov, D.; Pryakhin, E. [Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine - URCRM (Russian Federation); Rudolfsen, G. [Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA) and University of Tromsoe (Norway); Yegoreichenkov, E. [Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine (Russian Federation)

2014-07-01

The adaptation to environmental conditions can be accompanied by morphological changes. Description of morphological differences in animal populations could reveal differences habitat, both abiotic and biotic factors. In our study we examined if fish habituating river with different activity concentration of radionuclides differ in geometric morphometry. Geometric morphometry makes it possible to identify morphological differences between objects on the basis of the form, without influence of the 'size factor'. The approach is based on a multivariate analysis of the coordinates of marks, placed on the surface of the morphological object in accordance with certain rules. We used perch (Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758) as a study species as it is a common, and widespread species of freshwater fish in moderate and subarctic latitudes of Eurasia and North America. Perch is characterized by high flexibility of morphology in relation to environmental differences. We investigated body shape and its changes with the growth in perch that live in Techa River under chronic radiation exposure and perch in the control river Miass. The alignment of digital image tags that characterize the shape of the fish's body, was implemented in the program TPSdig. Further analysis was performed using the package geomorph for R statistical software. The study showed statistically significant (F{sub 1,95}=12.69, p=0.01) differences in body shape of perch from Techa river and Miass river. Perch living in the Techa River are relatively shorter and higher. Further, perch in Techa is characterized by a smaller size of the eyes. For both populations the contribution of allometric component to shape change was observed: smaller animals have a shape similar to the Miass river perch population. With increase of body size, shape of the perch becomes similar to that of the Techa's perch population. Significant differences were observed only for young animals from the two rivers

Fabrication of hexagonal star-shaped and ring-shaped patterns arrays by Mie resonance sphere-lens-lithography

Science.gov (United States)

Liu, Xianchao; Wang, Jun; Li, Ling; Gou, Jun; Zheng, Jie; Huang, Zehua; Pan, Rui

2018-05-01

Mie resonance sphere-lens-lithography has proved to be a good candidate for fabrication of large-area tunable surface nanopattern arrays. Different patterns on photoresist surface are obtained theoretically by adjusting optical coupling among neighboring spheres with different gap sizes. The effect of light reflection from the substrate on the pattern produced on the photoresist with a thin thickness is also discussed. Sub-micron hexagonal star-shaped and ring-shaped patterns arrays are achieved with close-packed spheres arrays and spheres arrays with big gaps, respectively. Changing of star-shaped vertices is induced by different polarization of illumination. Experimental results agree well with the simulation. By using smaller resonance spheres, sub-400 nm star-shaped and ring-shaped patterns can be realized. These tunable patterns are different from results of previous reports and have enriched pattern morphology fabricated by sphere-lens-lithography, which can find application in biosensor and optic devices.

Asteroid 16 Psyche: Radar Observations and Shape Model

Science.gov (United States)

Shepard, Michael K.; Richardson, James E.; Taylor, Patrick A.; Rodriguez-Ford, Linda A.; Conrad, Al; de Pater, Imke; Adamkovics, Mate; de Kleer, Katherine R.; Males, Jared; Morzinski, Kathleen M.; Miller Close, Laird; Kaasalainen, Mikko; Viikinkoski, Matti; Timerson, Bradley; Reddy, Vishnu; Magri, Christopher; Nolan, Michael C.; Howell, Ellen S.; Warner, Brian D.; Harris, Alan W.

2016-10-01

We observed 16 Psyche, the largest M-class asteroid in the main belt, using the S-band radar at Arecibo Observatory. We obtained 18 radar imaging and 6 continuous wave runs in November and December 2015, and combined these with 16 continuous wave runs from 2005 and 6 recent adaptive-optics (AO) images to generate a three-dimensional shape model of Psyche. Our model is consistent with a previously published AO image [Hanus et al. Icarus 226, 1045-1057, 2013] and three multi-chord occultations. Our shape model has dimensions 279 x 232 x 189 km (±10%), Deff = 226 ± 23 km, and is 6% larger than, but within the uncertainties of, the most recently published size and shape model generated from the inversion of lightcurves [Hanus et al., 2013]. Psyche is roughly ellipsoidal but displays a mass-deficit over a region spanning 90° of longitude. There is also evidence for two ~50-70 km wide depressions near its south pole. Our size and published masses lead to an overall bulk density estimate of 4500 ± 1400 kg m-3. Psyche's mean radar albedo of 0.37 ± 0.09 is consistent with a near-surface regolith composed largely of iron-nickel and ~40% porosity. Its radar reflectivity varies by a factor of 1.6 as the asteroid rotates, suggesting global variations in metal abundance or bulk density in the near surface. The variations in radar albedo appear to correlate with large and small-scale shape features. Our size and Psyche's published absolute magnitude lead to an optical albedo of pv = 0.15 ± 0.03, and there is evidence for albedo variegations that correlate with shape features.

Cylindrical-shaped nanotube field effect transistor

KAUST Repository

Hussain, Muhammad Mustafa; Fahad, Hossain M.; Smith, Casey E.; Rojas, Jhonathan Prieto

2015-01-01

A cylindrical-shaped nanotube FET may be manufactured on silicon (Si) substrates as a ring etched into a gate stack and filled with semiconductor material. An inner gate electrode couples to a region of the gate stack inside the inner circumference of the ring. An outer gate electrode couples to a region of the gate stack outside the outer circumference of the ring. The multi-gate cylindrical-shaped nanotube FET operates in volume inversion for ring widths below 15 nanometers. The cylindrical-shaped nanotube FET demonstrates better short channel effect (SCE) mitigation and higher performance (I.sub.on/I.sub.off) than conventional transistor devices. The cylindrical-shaped nanotube FET may also be manufactured with higher yields and cheaper costs than conventional transistors.

Cylindrical-shaped nanotube field effect transistor

KAUST Repository

Hussain, Muhammad Mustafa

2015-12-29

A cylindrical-shaped nanotube FET may be manufactured on silicon (Si) substrates as a ring etched into a gate stack and filled with semiconductor material. An inner gate electrode couples to a region of the gate stack inside the inner circumference of the ring. An outer gate electrode couples to a region of the gate stack outside the outer circumference of the ring. The multi-gate cylindrical-shaped nanotube FET operates in volume inversion for ring widths below 15 nanometers. The cylindrical-shaped nanotube FET demonstrates better short channel effect (SCE) mitigation and higher performance (I.sub.on/I.sub.off) than conventional transistor devices. The cylindrical-shaped nanotube FET may also be manufactured with higher yields and cheaper costs than conventional transistors.

Rapid population growth and fragile environments: the sub-Saharan African and south Asian experience.

Science.gov (United States)

Caldwell, J C; Caldwell, P

1994-02-18

Case studies of the world's two poorest regions, sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, were used to illustrate the compromised standard of living of the poor and environmental damage due to continued rapid population growth. The conclusion was that the livelihoods of the poor should not be endangered for preserving the living standards of richer people. Nations must not ignore the challenges of reducing population growth as fast as can be achieved. The transitional period over the next 50 years is the main concern, because population growth rates will be slowing. Rural population growth is expected to decline from 60% of total population growth in South Asia to 7% between 2000 and 2025; similarly the decline in sub-Saharan Africa would be from 50% to 15%. Over the past 30 years, food production in South Asia has kept pace with population growth. Sub-Saharan Africa has adopted food importation to meet demand. African problems are a low resource base, faster population growth, and the fact that governments and individuals are too poor to maintain soil fertility. Long-term studies of how much soil depletion will occur are not available for these regions, and local area studies are not as pessimistic. Transition policies are needed to put "people first in terms of engineered or directed population and ecological change." The six main issues are the following: 1) the Brundtland Commission appropriately identified poverty as the main cause and effect of environmental degradation because of the threat to survival; 2) the verdict is still out about whether food production will keep pace with population growth through economic growth and investment in agriculture; 3) empirical research is needed to examine local social and regulatory institutions and the possibility of reinforcing these mechanisms rather than instituting central controls; 4) central coercion or modernizing economic policies can destroy local level controls; 5) famine is a complex ecological phenomenon and the

Resolving three-dimensional shape of sub-50 nm wide lines with nanometer-scale sensitivity using conventional optical microscopes

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Attota, Ravikiran; Dixson, Ronald G.

2014-01-01

We experimentally demonstrate that the three-dimensional (3-D) shape variations of nanometer-scale objects can be resolved and measured with sub-nanometer scale sensitivity using conventional optical microscopes by analyzing 4-D optical data using the through-focus scanning optical microscopy (TSOM) method. These initial results show that TSOM-determined cross-sectional (3-D) shape differences of 30 nm–40 nm wide lines agree well with critical-dimension atomic force microscope measurements. The TSOM method showed a linewidth uncertainty of 1.22 nm (k = 2). Complex optical simulations are not needed for analysis using the TSOM method, making the process simple, economical, fast, and ideally suited for high volume nanomanufacturing process monitoring.

Surface desorption and bulk diffusion models of tritium release from Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} and Li{sub 2}ZrO{sub 3} pebbles

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Avila, R.E., E-mail: ravila@cchen.c [Departamento de Materiales Nucleares, Comision Chilena de Energia Nuclear, Cas. 188-D, Santiago (Chile); Pena, L.A.; Jimenez, J.C. [Departamento de Produccion y Servicios, Comision Chilena de Energia Nuclear, Cas. 188-D, Santiago (Chile)

2010-10-30

The release of tritium from Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} and Li{sub 2}ZrO{sub 3} pebbles, in batch experiments, is studied by means of temperature programmed desorption. Data reduction focuses on the analysis of the non-oxidized and oxidized tritium components in terms of release limited by diffusion from the bulk of ceramic grains, or by first or second order surface desorption. By analytical and numerical methods the in-furnace tritium release is deconvoluted from the ionization chamber transfer functions, for which a semi-empirical form is established. The release from Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} follows second order desorption kinetics, requiring a temperature for a residence time of 1 day (T{sub 1dRes}) of 620 K, and 603 K, of the non-oxidized, and the oxidized components, respectively. The release from Li{sub 2}ZrO{sub 3} appears as limited by either diffusion from the bulk of the ceramic grains, or by first order surface desorption, the first possibility being the more probable. The respective values of T{sub 1dRes} for the non-oxidized component are 661 K, according to the first order surface desorption model, and 735 K within the bulk diffusion limited model.

Shape transition of endotaxial islands growth from kinetically constrained to equilibrium regimes

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Li, Zhi-Peng, E-mail: LI.Zhipeng@nims.go.jp [Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 3, S117542 Singapore (Singapore); Global Research Center for Environment and Energy based on Nanomaterials Science, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044 (Japan); Tok, Engsoon [Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 2 Science Drive 3, S117542 Singapore (Singapore); Foo, Yonglim [Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, 3 Research Link, S117602 Singapore (Singapore)

2013-09-01

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • All Fe{sub 13}Ge{sub 8} islands will grow into Ge(0 0 1) substrate at temperatures from 350 to 675 °C. • Shape transition occurred from kinetically constrained to equilibrium regime. • All endotaxial islands can be clarified into two types. • The mechanisms of endotaxial growth and shape transition have been rationalized. - Abstract: A comprehensive study of Fe grown on Ge(0 0 1) substrates has been conducted at elevated temperatures, ranging from 350 to 675 °C. All iron germinide islands, with the same Fe{sub 13}Ge{sub 8} phase, grow into the Ge substrate with the same epitaxial relationship. Shape transition occurs from small square islands (low temperatures), to elongated orthogonal islands or orthogonal nanowires (intermediate temperatures), and then finally to large square orthogonal islands (high temperatures). According to both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigations, all islands can be defined as either type-I or type-II. Type-I islands usually form at kinetically constrained growth regimes, like truncated pyramids. Type-II islands usually appear at equilibrium growth regimes forming a dome-like shape. Based on a simple semi-quantitative model, type-II islands have a lower total energy per volume than type-I, which is considered as the dominant mechanism for this type of shape transition. Moreover, this study not only elucidates details of endotaxial growth in the Fe–Ge system, but also suggests the possibility of controlled fabrication of temperature-dependent nanostructures, especially in materials with dissimilar crystal structures.

Transition to intermediate valence state and x-ray photoemission in Sm/sub 1-x/Gd/sub x/S

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Campagna, M.; Chui, S.T.; Wertheim, G.K.; Tosatti, E.

1976-01-01

We report a systematic x-ray photoemission study of the alloys Sm 1 /sub -//subx/Gd/subx/S for 0 2+ → Sm 3+ photoemission line shape using a model which has some similarities with the Jaccarino-Walker model for magnetic alloys. It assumes the existence of only two different kinds of Sm 2+ ions in Sm 1 /sub -//subx/Gd/subx/S for x approximately-less-than 16%. We discuss possible reasons for the fact that Gd does not show the usual clustering effects known to occur in many substitutional rare-earth alloys. Lattice-constant measurements for various substituents further illustrate the importance of electronic effects in the phase transition

The evolutionary reserve cell concept and model of cellular response induced by low doses of radiation

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Spitkovsky, D.M.; Talyzina, T.A.

1995-01-01

The model is based on the concept of programmed initiation of genetic damage in sub-populations of specific evolutionary reserve cells (ERC). The model quantitatively predicts a dose response of genetic lesions at low dose range and furnishes an explanation of the minimum observed in the dose-response curve at doses corresponding to one (on the average) event of energy deposition per ERC. The complex shape of the dose-response curve is demonstrated to result from superposition of processes in different sub-populations within the exposed cell population (at low doses mainly in ERC). Programmed initiation of genetic lesions in ERC requires two hits to cell membrane and probably, at the same time, to the cell nucleus. The equation for dicentric yield in human lymphocytes as a function of dose describes the experimental observations rather well. (Author)

Conditional shape models for cardiac motion estimation

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Metz, Coert; Baka, Nora; Kirisli, Hortense

2010-01-01

We propose a conditional statistical shape model to predict patient specific cardiac motion from the 3D end-diastolic CTA scan. The model is built from 4D CTA sequences by combining atlas based segmentation and 4D registration. Cardiac motion estimation is, for example, relevant in the dynamic...

Experimental and theoretical investigations for site preference and anisotropic size change of RE{sub 11}Ge{sub 4}In{sub 6−x}M{sub x} (RE = La, Ce; M = Li, Ge; x = 1, 1.96)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Jeon, Beom-Yong; Jeon, Jieun [Department of Chemistry, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763 (Korea, Republic of); Lee, Junseong [Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Chonnam 500-757 (Korea, Republic of); Kim, Jongsik [Department of Chemistry, Dong-A University, Pusan 604-714 (Korea, Republic of); You, Tae-Soo [Department of Chemistry, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763 (Korea, Republic of)

2015-01-25

Graphical abstract: Reported is experimental and theoretical studies to understand the site-preference between anionic elements and the anisotropic size-change of the 3-D anionic frameworks of two polar intermetallic compounds in the RE{sub 11}Ge{sub 4}In{sub 6−x}M{sub x} (RE = La, Ce; M = Li, Ge; x = 1, 1.96) phase. Indium atoms with a smaller electronegativity prefer to occupy the “dumbbell-site” having the smaller QVAL value, and the anisotropic size-change of the anionic framework in La{sub 11}Ge{sub 4}In{sub 5.00(1)}Li{sub 1.00} is rationalized by using various COHP curves analyses. - Highlights: • Site-preference between anions was elucidated by the QVAL value of each site. • Ten models with different atomic orderings were examined by coloring problems. • COHP curves explained the anisotropic size-change of La{sub 11}Ge{sub 4}In{sub 5.00(1)}Li{sub 1.00}. - Abstract: Two polar intermetallic compounds in the RE{sub 11}Ge{sub 4}In{sub 6−x}M{sub x} (RE = La, Ce; M = Li, Ge; x = 1, 1.96) series have been synthesized by conventional high-temperature reactions and characterized by both single-crystal and powder X-ray diffractions. Both compounds crystallized in the tetragonal crystal system (space group I4/mmm, Z = 4, Pearson symbol tI84) with nine crystallographically independent atomic positions in the asymmetric unit and adopted the Sm{sub 11}Ge{sub 4}In{sub 6}-type structure, which can be considered as an ordered version of the Ho{sub 11}Ge{sub 10}-type. The lattice parameters are a = 11.8370(4) Å and c = 17.2308(7) Å for La{sub 11}Ge{sub 4}In{sub 5.00(1)}Li{sub 1.00}; a = 11.8892(4) Å, c = 16.5736(7) Å for Ce{sub 11}Ge{sub 5.96(3)}In{sub 4.04}. The overall crystal structures of two isotypic compounds can be described as a combination of the cage-shaped 3-dimensional (3-D) anionic framework and three different types of cationic polyhedra filling the inside of the 3-D frameworks. Anionic elements consisting of the frameworks indicate the

Population connectivity among geographic variants within the Lutjanidae (Pisces of the Mexican Pacific coast through fish scale shape recognition

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Ana L. Ibáñez

2012-11-01

Full Text Available Fish scale shape was used to identify geographic variants among Lutjanidae (Lutjanus argentiventris, L. guttatus and L. peru. Specimens were collected from three different geographic areas, north to south of the tropical Pacific coast of Mexico: Puerto Vallarta (PV, Manzanillo (MA and Caleta de Campos (CC. Configuration of landmark coordinates of fish scales were scaled, translated and rotated using generalized procrustes analysis, followed by principal components analysis of resulting shape coordinates. Principal component scores were submitted to cross-validated discriminant analysis to determine the efficacy of scale landmarks for discrimination by geographic variants. This was done with shape and form (shape plus size. PV and MA were recognized as one population different from the CC sampling area. Using only shape (without size, identification rates predicted geographic variant membership much better than chance (91.3%, 70.6% and 85.4% for L. argentiventris, L. guttatus and L. peru, respectively, and taking size into account, classification is somewhat improved (90.6%, 80.1% and 87.5% for L. argentiventris, L. guttatus and L. peru, respectively. Consistency of the two populations for the three species shows non-fortuitous events. Population discrimination confirmed previous genetic studies that show a zoogeographic barrier between the North Equatorial Current and the California Current. The method is non-destructive, fast and less expensive than genetic analysis, thus allowing screening of many individuals for traceability of fish.

Symmetric metamaterials based on flower-shaped structure

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Tuong, P.V.; Park, J.W.; Rhee, J.Y.; Kim, K.W.; Cheong, H.; Jang, W.H.; Lee, Y.P.

2013-01-01

We proposed new models of metamaterials (MMs) based on a flower-shaped structure (FSS), whose “meta-atoms” consist of two flower-shaped metallic parts separated by a dielectric layer. Like the non-symmetric MMs based on cut-wire-pairs or electric ring resonators, the symmetrical FSS demonstrates the negative permeability at GHz frequencies. Employing the results, we designed a symmetric negative-refractive-index MM [a symmetric combined structure (SCS)], which is composed of FSSs and cross continuous wires. The MM properties of the FSS and the SCS are presented numerically and experimentally. - Highlights: • A new designed of sub-wavelength metamaterial, flower-shaped structure was proposed. • Flower-shaped meta-atom illustrated effective negative permeability. • Based on the meta-atom, negative refractive index was conventionally gained. • Negative refractive index was demonstrated with symmetric properties for electromagnetic wave. • Dimensional parameters were studied under normal electromagnetic wave

3D Shape Modeling Using High Level Descriptors

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Andersen, Vedrana

features like thorns, bark and scales. Presented here is a simple method for easy modeling, transferring and editing that kind of texture. The method is an extension of the height-field texture, but incorporates an additional tilt of the height field. Related to modeling non-heightfield textures, a part...... of my work involved developing feature-aware resizing of models with complex surfaces consisting of underlying shape and a distinctive texture detail. The aim was to deform an object while preserving the shape and size of the features.......The goal of this Ph.D. project is to investigate and improve the methods for describing the surface of 3D objects, with focus on modeling geometric texture on surfaces. Surface modeling being a large field of research, the work done during this project concentrated around a few smaller areas...

A three-dimensional constitutive model for shape memory alloy

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zhou, Bo; Yoon, Sung-Ho; Leng, Jin-Song

2009-01-01

Shape memory alloy (SMA) has a wide variety of practical applications due to its unique super-elasticity and shape memory effect. It is of practical interest to establish a constitutive model which predicts its phase transformation and mechanical behaviors. In this paper, a new three-dimensional phase transformation equation, which predicts the phase transformation behaviors of SMA, is developed based on the results of a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) test. It overcomes both limitations: that Zhou's phase transformation equations fail to describe the phase transformation from twinned martensite to detwinned martensite of SMA and Brinson's phase transformation equation fails to express the influences of phase transformation peak temperatures on the phase transformation behaviors of SMA. A new three-dimensional constitutive equation, which predicts the mechanical behaviors associated with the super-elasticity and shape memory effect of SMA, is developed on the basis of thermodynamics and solid mechanics. Results of numerical simulations show that the new constitutive model, which includes the new phase transformation equation and constitutive equation, can predict the phase transformation and mechanical behaviors associated with the super-elasticity and shape memory effect of SMA precisely and comprehensively. It is proved that Brinson's constitutive model of SMA can be considered as one special case of the new constitutive model

Coherent 3D nanostructure of γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}: Simulation of whole X-ray powder diffraction pattern

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Pakharukova, V.P., E-mail: verapakh@catalysis.ru [Boreskov Institute of Catalysis SB RAS, Pr. Lavrentieva 5, 630090 Novosibirsk (Russian Federation); Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova Street 2, 630090 Novosibirsk (Russian Federation); Research and Educational Center for Energy Efficient Catalysis, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090 (Russian Federation); Yatsenko, D.A. [Boreskov Institute of Catalysis SB RAS, Pr. Lavrentieva 5, 630090 Novosibirsk (Russian Federation); Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova Street 2, 630090 Novosibirsk (Russian Federation); Gerasimov, E. Yu.; Shalygin, A.S.; Martyanov, O.N.; Tsybulya, S.V. [Boreskov Institute of Catalysis SB RAS, Pr. Lavrentieva 5, 630090 Novosibirsk (Russian Federation); Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova Street 2, 630090 Novosibirsk (Russian Federation); Research and Educational Center for Energy Efficient Catalysis, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090 (Russian Federation)

2017-02-15

The structure and nanostructure features of nanocrystalline γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} obtained by dehydration of boehmite with anisotropic platelet-shaped particles were investigated. The original models of 3D coherent nanostructure of γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} were constructed. The models of nanostructured γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles were first confirmed by a direct simulation of powder X–Ray diffraction (XRD) patterns using the Debye Scattering Equation (DSE) with assistance of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) study. The average crystal structure of γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} was shown to be tetragonally distorted. The experimental results revealed that thin γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} platelets were heterogeneous on a nanometer scale and nanometer-sized building blocks were separated by partially coherent interfaces. The XRD simulation results showed that a specific packing of the primary crystalline blocks in the nanostructured γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles with formation of planar defects on (001), (100), and (101) planes nicely accounted for pronounced diffuse scattering, anisotropic peak broadening and peak shifts in the experimental XRD pattern. The identified planar defects in cation sublattice seem to be described as filling cation non-spinel sites in existing crystallographic models of γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} structure. The overall findings provided an insight into the complex nanostructure, which is intrinsic to the metastable γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} oxide. - Highlights: • Thin plate-like crystallites of γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} were obtained. • Models of 3D coherent nanostructure of γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} were constructed. • Models were verified by simulating XRD patterns using the Debye Scattering Equation. • Specific broadening of XRD peaks was explained in terms of planar defects. • Primary crystalline blocks in γ-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} are separated by partially coherent interfaces.

Interactive Shape Modeling using a Skeleton-Mesh Co-Representation

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Bærentzen, Jacob Andreas; Abdrashitov, Rinat; Singh, Karan

2014-01-01

We introduce the Polar-Annular Mesh representation (PAM). A PAM is a mesh-skeleton co-representation designed for the modeling of 3D organic, articulated shapes. A PAM represents a manifold mesh as a partition of polar (triangle fans) and annular (rings of quads) regions. The skeletal topology of...... a PAM to a quad-only mesh. We further present a PAM-based multi-touch sculpting application in order to demonstrate its utility as a shape representation for the interactive modeling of organic, articulated figures as well as for editing and posing of pre-existing models....

A one-dimensional Fickian model to predict the Ga depth profiles in three-stage Cu(In,Ga)Se{sub 2}

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Rodriguez-Alvarez, H., E-mail: humberto.rodriguez@helmholtz-berlin.de [International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Avenida Mestre Jose Veiga s/n, 4715-330 Braga (Portugal); Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Hahn-Meitner Platz 1, 14109 Berlin (Germany); Mainz, R. [Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Hahn-Meitner Platz 1, 14109 Berlin (Germany); Sadewasser, S. [International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Avenida Mestre Jose Veiga s/n, 4715-330 Braga (Portugal)

2014-05-28

We present a one-dimensional Fickian model that predicts the formation of a double Ga gradient during the fabrication of Cu(In,Ga)Se{sub 2} thin films by three-stage thermal co-evaporation. The model is based on chemical reaction equations, structural data, and effective Ga diffusivities. In the model, the Cu(In,Ga)Se{sub 2} surface is depleted from Ga during the deposition of Cu-Se in the second deposition stage, leading to an accumulation of Ga near the back contact. During the third deposition stage, where In-Ga-Se is deposited at the surface, the atomic fluxes within the growing layer are inverted. This results in the formation of a double Ga gradient within the Cu(In,Ga)Se{sub 2} layer and reproduces experimentally observed Ga distributions. The final shape of the Ga depth profile strongly depends on the temperatures, times and deposition rates used. The model is used to evaluate possible paths to flatten the marked Ga depth profile that is obtained when depositing at low substrate temperatures. We conclude that inserting Ga during the second deposition stage is an effective way to achieve this.

Nonlinear Model of Pseudoelastic Shape Memory Alloy Damper Considering Residual Martensite Strain Effect

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Y. M. Parulekar

2012-01-01

Full Text Available Recently, there has been increasing interest in using superelastic shape memory alloys for applications in seismic resistant-design. Shape memory alloys (SMAs have a unique property by which they can recover their original shape after experiencing large strains up to 8% either by heating (shape memory effect or removing stress (pseudoelastic effect. Many simplified shape memory alloy models are suggested in the past literature for capturing the pseudoelastic response of SMAs in passive vibration control of structures. Most of these models do not consider the cyclic effects of SMA's and resulting residual martensite deformation. Therefore, a suitable constitutive model of shape memory alloy damper which represents the nonlinear hysterical dynamic system appropriately is essential. In this paper a multilinear hysteretic model incorporating residual martensite strain effect of pseudoelastic shape memory alloy damper is developed and experimentally validated using SMA wire, based damper device. A sensitivity analysis is done using the proposed model along with three other simplified SMA models. The models are implemented on a steel frame representing an SDOF system and the comparison of seismic response of structure with all the models is made in the numerical study.

Hybrid model of atmospheric pressure Ar/O{sub 2}/TiCl{sub 4} radio-frequency capacitive discharge for TiO{sub 2} deposition

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Leblanc, A. [ENS Cachan, UPMC, Paris (France); Ding, Ke [College of Science, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620 (China); Lieberman, M. A., E-mail: lieber@eecs.berkeley.edu [Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States); Wang, De Xin; Zhang, Jing; Jun Shi, Jian [College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620 (China)

2014-05-14

A hybrid global-analytical model of an atmospheric pressure radio-frequency driven capacitive discharge is applied to determine the plasma conditions for TiO{sub 2} film deposition. The feed gas is mainly argon with a small fraction of O{sub 2} and a smaller fraction of TiCl{sub 4}. Variations of the discharge parameters and species densities with O{sub 2} concentration, discharge power, and flow rate are determined. A simplified chemistry model is developed and compared with the simulation results, showing good agreement. For a base case with Ar/O{sub 2}/TiCl{sub 4} flow rates of 203/30/0.17 sccm, the results indicate that a minimum O{sub 2} fraction of 7.3 × 10{sup −4} is required for pure (un-chlorinated) TiO{sub 2} film deposition that the active precursor species is TiO{sub 2}Cl{sub 3}, with subsequent abstraction of Cl atoms by dissociative electron attachment and that the deposition rates are around 1 nm/s.

Effects of Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}/CeO{sub 2} co-doping on microwave dielectric properties of Ba(Co{sub 0.6}Zn{sub 38}){sub 1/3}Nb{sub 2/3}O{sub 3} ceramics

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Zhang, Yuqin; Zhou, Xiaohua, E-mail: 1250590698@qq.com; Yang, Xinshi; Sun, Chengli; Yang, Fan; Chen, Hetuo

2016-09-15

The effects of CeO{sub 2}/Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} co-doping on the microstructure and microwave dielectric properties of Ba(Co{sub 0.6}Zn{sub 0.38}){sub 1/3}Nb{sub 2/3}O{sub 3}-xA-xB (x = 0,1,2,3,4,6; A = 0.1204 wt%Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}; B = 0.1 wt%CeO{sub 2}) ceramics prepared by the conventional solid-state route technique were investigated. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results presented that all the well sintered samples exhibited the main phase BaZn{sub 0.33}Nb{sub 0.67}O{sub 3}−Ba{sub 3}CoNb{sub 2}O{sub 9}. A certain amount of Ba{sub 8}CoNb{sub 6}O{sub 24} surface secondary phase and minority phase of Ba{sub 5}Nb{sub 4}O{sub 15} were also observed in all sintered ceramics. The 1:2 B-site cation ordering degree was found to influenced by the substitution of Y{sup 3+} and Ce{sup 4+} in the crystal lattice, especially for x = 0.02. Then the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) picture of the optimally well-sintered (1350 °C for 20 h) ceramic has shown a dense microstructure. Although the ε{sub r} almost kept unchanged, appropriate doping content would greatly improve the Q × f value. Meanwhile, the τ{sub f} value first declined and then increased with increasing x. At last, the excellent microwave dielectric properties of ε{sub r} = 36.09, Q × f = 72006 GHz, τ{sub f} = 3.35 ppm/ºC were obtained for the ceramic with x = 0.02 sintered in air at 1350 °C for 20 h. - Graphical abstract: Fig. SEM images of as-sintered Ba(Co{sub 0.6}Zn{sub 0.38}){sub 1/3}Nb{sub 2/3}O{sub 3}-xA-Xb (A = 0.1204 wt%Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}; B = 0.1 wt%CeO{sub 2)}ceramics: (a) x = 0,(b) x = 0.01,(c) x = 0.02,(d) x = 0.03, (e) x = 0.04,(f) x = 0.06. The images confirmed the presences of two phases on the surface of the ceramics, plate-shaped grains (Ba{sub 8}(C{sub O},Zn){sub 1}Nb{sub 6}O{sub 24}phase) and needle-shaped grains (Ba{sub 3}(Co{sub 0.6}Zn{sub 0.38}){sub 1}Nb{sub 2}O{sub 9} phase). As a small content of CeO{sub 2}/Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} (x = 0.01–0.04) was codoped into the BCZN ceramics, the

Irregular Shaped Building Design Optimization with Building Information Modelling

Directory of Open Access Journals (Sweden)

Lee Xia Sheng

2016-01-01

Full Text Available This research is to recognise the function of Building Information Modelling (BIM in design optimization for irregular shaped buildings. The study focuses on a conceptual irregular shaped “twisted” building design similar to some existing sculpture-like architectures. Form and function are the two most important aspects of new buildings, which are becoming more sophisticated as parts of equally sophisticated “systems” that we are living in. Nowadays, it is common to have irregular shaped or sculpture-like buildings which are very different when compared to regular buildings. Construction industry stakeholders are facing stiff challenges in many aspects such as buildability, cost effectiveness, delivery time and facility management when dealing with irregular shaped building projects. Building Information Modelling (BIM is being utilized to enable architects, engineers and constructors to gain improved visualization for irregular shaped buildings; this has a purpose of identifying critical issues before initiating physical construction work. In this study, three variations of design options differing in rotating angle: 30 degrees, 60 degrees and 90 degrees are created to conduct quantifiable comparisons. Discussions are focused on three major aspects including structural planning, usable building space, and structural constructability. This research concludes that Building Information Modelling is instrumental in facilitating design optimization for irregular shaped building. In the process of comparing different design variations, instead of just giving “yes or no” type of response, stakeholders can now easily visualize, evaluate and decide to achieve the right balance based on their own criteria. Therefore, construction project stakeholders are empowered with superior evaluation and decision making capability.

Hot-forging of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub y/ powder

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nishida, Toshihiko; Shiono, Takeshi; Fujioka, Hideaki; Nishikawa, Tomozo

1988-07-25

Ceramic superconductor of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub y/ with a unidirectionally oriented (00l) face of crystal was prepared by sintering for decreasing the intergranular effect on the conducting channel. It was expected that the current density of the superconductor would be high. The effect of the short compression molding process or the particle orientation of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub y/ was examined by the high-temperature uniaxial compression test. Powder of rhombic YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub y/ ceramic alone was put in a metallic mold and uniaxially compressed at 950/sup 0/C for approximately eight minutes. The sectional areas of the material sintered in a disk shape in the mold perpendicular and parallel to the compression axis were measured by X-ray refractometry. The result indicates that the (00l) face of crystal is remarkably oriented to the direction perpendicular to the compression axis. (4 figs, 1 tab, 2 photos, 9 refs)

On SU(8)sub(L)xSU(8)sub(R) grand unified model

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Pirogov, Yu.F.

1981-01-01

A set of general propositions is considered which ground the choice of the SU(8)sub(L)xSU(8)sub(R) group as a unified symmetry group. According to these propositions the group SU(8)sub(L)xSU(8)sub(R) is the most natural unified group, it is the maximal symmetry group of the kinetic term of the lagrangian single family which conserves the fermion number. A new principle is introduced. According to this principle, the mirror doubling of the fermion spectrum, necessary for renormalizability of the given unified model is, on the other hand, a manifestation of the extended conformal invariance at short distances [ru

Electronic structure, magnetic and transport properties of the Heusler shape memory alloy Mn{sub 2}NiGa

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Blum, C.G.F. [Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg - University, Mainz (Germany); Institute of Solid State Research, IFW Dresden, D-01171 Dresden (Germany); Ouardi, S.; Fecher, G.H.; Balke, B.; Felser, C. [Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg - University, Mainz (Germany); Wurmehl, S.; Buechner, B. [Institute of Solid State Research, IFW Dresden, D-01171 Dresden (Germany); Ueda, S.; Kobayashi, K. [NIMS Beamline Station, National Institute for Materials Science, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan. (Germany)

2011-07-01

Magnetic shape memory based on Heusler compounds have received increasing interest, due their potential use for actuator and sensor applications. The single crystals Mn{sub 2}NiGa were grown by the optical floating zone method using a image furnace with vertical setup under a purified argon atmosphere. The both cubic (austenite) and tetragonal (martensite) phases of the sample were determined using temperature dependence powder x-ray diffraction XRD. The effect of martensitic transitions on the magnetic and transport properties of the compound was investigated by measuring the saturation magnetization, electrical resistivity {rho}(T), the Seebeck coefficient S(T) and magnetoresistance R{sub M}. All measurements detect clear signatures of the martensitic transition around room temperature with a thermal hysteresis up to 30 K. The electronic structures of the martensitic as well the austenitic phase were investigated using bulk-sensitive hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES).

Model complexity and choice of model approaches for practical simulations of CO<sub>2sub> injection, migration, leakage and long-term fate

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Celia, Michael A. [Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)

2016-12-30

This report documents the accomplishments achieved during the project titled “Model complexity and choice of model approaches for practical simulations of CO<sub>2sub> injection,migration, leakage and long-term fate” funded by the US Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy. The objective of the project was to investigate modeling approaches of various levels of complexity relevant to geologic carbon storage (GCS) modeling with the goal to establish guidelines on choice of modeling approach.

Model of iodine metabolism in a T<sub>3sub>-thyrotoxic patient undergoing I-131 therapy

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Ahuja, S.; Price, R.; Brill, A. B.; Dobyns, B. M.; Berman, M.

1975-06-01

Data on radioactivity in the thyroid, urine, serum, butanol-extractable iodine (BEI) and chromatographic fractionations of BEI, obtained during four I-131 therapeutic treatments of a T<sub>3sub>-thyrotoxic patient, have been analyzed and simulated with the help of a 7-compartment model. Good fits to most of the data can be obtained with both the dose-independent and dose-dependent models. A model with 3 or 4 compartments, which provides adequate fits to iodine kinetic data in most euthyroid and hyperthyroid patients is not satisfactory in the case of this patient. Thus, to represent iodine metabolism during T<sub>3sub>-thyrotoxicosis therapy, we find that it is necessary to provide for separate biochemical pathways for the BEI components as well as the butanol-insoluble compounds released by the thyroid gland. (auth)

Simultaneous explanation of the R{sub K} and R{sub D{sup (}{sup ∗}{sup )}} puzzles: a model analysis

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Bhattacharya, Bhubanjyoti [Physique des Particules, Université de Montréal,C.P. 6128, succ. centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7 (Canada); Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University,Detroit, MI 48201 (United States); Datta, Alakabha [Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Mississippi,108 Lewis Hall, Oxford, MS 38677-1848 (United States); Guévin, Jean-Pascal; London, David [Physique des Particules, Université de Montréal,C.P. 6128, succ. centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7 (Canada); Watanabe, Ryoutaro [Physique des Particules, Université de Montréal,C.P. 6128, succ. centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7 (Canada); Center for Theoretical Physics of the Universe, Institute for Basic Science (IBS),Daejeon 305-811 (Korea, Republic of)

2017-01-04

R{sub K} and R{sub D{sup (}{sup ∗}{sup )}} are two B-decay measurements that presently exhibit discrepancies with the SM. Recently, using an effective field theory approach, it was demonstrated that a new-physics model can simultaneously explain both the R{sub K} and R{sub D{sup (}{sup ∗}{sup )}} puzzles. There are two UV completions that can give rise to the effective Lagrangian: (i) VB: a vector boson that transforms as an SU(2){sub L} triplet, as in the SM, (ii) U{sub 1}: an SU(2){sub L}-singlet vector leptoquark. In this paper, we examine these models individually. A key point is that VB contributes to B{sub s}{sup 0}-B̄{sub s}{sup 0} mixing and τ→3μ, while U{sub 1} does not. We show that, when constraints from these processes are taken into account, the VB model is just barely viable. It predicts B(τ{sup −}→μ{sup −}μ{sup +}μ{sup −})≃2.1×10{sup −8}. This is measurable at Belle II and LHCb, and therefore constitutes a smoking-gun signal of VB. For U{sub 1}, there are several observables that may point to this model. Perhaps the most interesting is the lepton-flavor-violating decay υ(3S)→μτ, which has previously been overlooked in the literature. U{sub 1} predicts B(υ(3S)→μτ)|{sub max}=8.0×10{sup −7}. Thus, if a large value of B(υ(3S)→μτ) is observed — and this should be measurable at Belle II — the U{sub 1} model would be indicated.

Evaluation of granulated BGO, GSO:Ce, YAG:Ce, CaF sub 2 :Eu and ZnS:Ag for alpha/beta pulse shape discrimination in a flow-cell radiation detector

CERN Document Server

Devol, T A; Fjeld, R A

1999-01-01

Granulated BGO, GSO:Ce, YAG:Ce, and CaF sub 2 :Eu; CaF sub 2 :Eu coated with a fluorescent polymer, and combinations of coated and uncoated CaF sub 2 :Eu with ZnS:Ag were evaluated for their ability to discriminate between alpha and beta particles in a flow-cell radiation detector. The evaluations were based on the analysis of pulse shape spectra. Various granulated scintillators were packed into flow cell detectors that were coils of 3.0 mm ODx1.5 mm ID fluorinated ethylene propylene Teflon[reg] tubing positioned between dual photomultiplier tubes for analysis. The best pulse shape discrimination was obtained for a combination of equal masses of uncoated CaF sub 2 :Eu (63-90 mu m) and ZnS:Ag (10 mu m), which had a 9% spillover. Additional research is needed to reduce the spillover.

Electrical evaluation of crack generation in SiN{sub x} and SiO{sub x}N{sub y} thin-film encapsulation layers for OLED displays

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Park, Eun Kil [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744 (Korea, Republic of); Display Research Center, Samsung Display Co., Ltd., Yongin-City, Gyeonggi-Do 446-711 (Korea, Republic of); Kim, Sungmin [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744 (Korea, Republic of); Heo, Jaeyeong, E-mail: jheo@jnu.ac.kr [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and the Optoelectronics Convergence Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 500-757 (Korea, Republic of); Kim, Hyeong Joon, E-mail: thinfilm@snu.ac.kr [Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-744 (Korea, Republic of)

2016-05-01

Highlights: • Crack generation in encapsulation layers were detected by leakage current. • Atomic concentration of SiO{sub x}N{sub y} films affected the bending reliability. • The shapes of the crack tips were affected by the stoichiometry of the SiO{sub x}N{sub y} films. - Abstract: By measuring leakage current density, we detected crack generation in silicon nitride (SiN{sub x}) and silicon oxynitride (SiO{sub x}N{sub y}) thin-film encapsulation layers, and correlated with the films’ water vapor permeability characteristics. After repeated bending cycles, both the changes in water vapor transmission rate and leakage current density were directly proportional to the crack density. Thick SiN{sub x} films had better water vapor barrier characteristics in their pristine state, but cyclic loading led to fast failure. Varying the atomic concentration of the SiO{sub x}N{sub y} films affected their bending reliability. We attribute these differences to changes in the shape of the crack tip as the oxygen content varies.

Growth behavior of LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} particles formed by solid-state reactions in air and water vapor

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kozawa, Takahiro, E-mail: t-kozawa@jwri.osaka-u.ac.jp [Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University, 11–1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047 (Japan); Yanagisawa, Kazumichi [Research Laboratory of Hydrothermal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kochi University, 2–5-1 Akebono-cho, Kochi 780-8520 (Japan); Murakami, Takeshi; Naito, Makio [Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University, 11–1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047 (Japan)

2016-11-15

Morphology control of particles formed during conventional solid-state reactions without any additives is a challenging task. Here, we propose a new strategy to control the morphology of LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} particles based on water vapor-induced growth of particles during solid-state reactions. We have investigated the synthesis and microstructural evolution of LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} particles in air and water vapor atmospheres as model reactions; LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} is used as a low-cost cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. By using spherical MnCO{sub 3} precursor impregnated with LiOH, LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} spheres with a hollow structure were obtained in air, while angulated particles with micrometer sizes were formed in water vapor. The pore structure of the particles synthesized in water vapor was found to be affected at temperatures below 700 °C. We also show that the solid-state reaction in water vapor is a simple and valuable method for the large-scale production of particles, where the shape, size, and microstructure can be controlled. - Graphical abstract: This study has demonstrated a new strategy towards achieving morphology control without the use of additives during conventional solid-state reactions by exploiting water vapor-induced particle growth. - Highlights: • A new strategy to control the morphology of LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} particles is proposed. • Water vapor-induced particle growth is exploited in solid-state reactions. • The microstructural evolution of LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} particles is investigated. • The shape, size and microstructure can be controlled by solid-state reactions.

A thermodynamic model for the solubility of HfO{sub 2}(am) in the aqueous K{sup +} - HCO{sub 3}{sup -} - CO{sub 3}{sup 2-} - OH{sup -} - H{sub 2}O system

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Rai, Dhanpat [Rai Enviro-Chem, LLC, Yachats, OR (United States); Kitamura, Akira [Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Tokai (Japan); Rosso, Kevin M. [Pacific National Laboratory, Richland, WA (United States)

2017-10-01

Solubility of HfO{sub 2}(am) was determined as a function of KHCO{sub 3} concentrations ranging from 0.001 mol.kg{sup -1} to 0.1 mol.kg{sup -1}. The solubility of HfO{sub 2}(am) increased dramatically with the increase in KHCO{sub 3} concentrations, indicating that Hf(IV) makes strong complexes with carbonate. Thermodynamic equilibrium constants for the formation of Hf-carbonate complexes were determined using both the Pitzer and SIT models. The dramatic increase in Hf concentrations with the increase in KHCO{sub 3} concentrations can best be described by the formation of Hf(OH{sup -}){sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 2}{sup 2-} and Hf(CO{sub 3}){sub 5}{sup 6-}. The log{sub 10} K{sup 0} values for the reactions [Hf{sup 4+}+2CO{sub 3}{sup 2-}+2OH{sup -}↔Hf(OH){sub 2}(CO{sub 3}){sub 2}{sup 2-}] and [Hf{sup 4+}+5CO{sub 3}{sup 2-}↔Hf(CO{sub 3}){sub 5}{sup 6-}], based on the SIT model, were determined to be 44.53±0.46 and 41.53±0.46, respectively, and based on the Pitzer model they were 44.56±0.48 and 40.20±0.48, respectively.

Modeling Li-ion conductivity in LiLa(PO{sub 3}){sub 4} powder

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mounir, Ferhi, E-mail: ferhi.mounir@gmail.com [Laboratoire de Physicochimie des Materiaux Mineraux et leurs Applications, Centre National des Recherches en Sciences des Materiaux, BP No. 73, 8027 Soliman (Tunisia); Karima, Horchani-Naifer [Laboratoire de Physicochimie des Materiaux Mineraux et leurs Applications, Centre National des Recherches en Sciences des Materiaux, BP No. 73, 8027 Soliman (Tunisia); Khaled, Ben Saad [Laboratoire de Photovoltaieque, Centre des Recherches et des Technologies de l' Energie, Technopole Borj Cedria, BP No. 95, 2050 Hammam Lif (Tunisia); Mokhtar, Ferid [Laboratoire de Physicochimie des Materiaux Mineraux et leurs Applications, Centre National des Recherches en Sciences des Materiaux, BP No. 73, 8027 Soliman (Tunisia)

2012-07-01

Polycrystalline powder and single-crystal of LiLa(PO{sub 3}){sub 4} are synthesized by solid state reaction and flux technique, respectively. A morphological description of the obtained product was made based on scanning electron microscopy micrographs. The obtained powder was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, FTIR and Raman spectroscopies. Ionic conductivity of the LiLa(PO{sub 3}){sub 4} powder was measured and evaluated over a temperature range from 553 to 913 K. Single crystals of LiLa(PO{sub 3}){sub 4} are characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The LiLa(PO{sub 3}){sub 4} structure was found to be isotypic with LiNd(PO{sub 3}){sub 4}. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system with space group C2/c and cell parameters: a=16.635(6) A, b=7.130(3) A, c=9.913(3) A, {beta}=126.37(4) Degree-Sign , V=946.72(6) A{sup 3} and Z=4. The LiLa(PO{sub 3}){sub 4} structure was described as an alternation between spiraling chains (PO{sub 3}){sub n} and (La{sup 3+}, Li{sup +}) cations along the b direction. The small Li{sup +} ions, coordinated to four oxygen atoms, were located in the large connected cavities created between the LaO{sub 8} polyhedra and the polyphosphate chains. The jumping of Li{sup +} through tunnels of the crystalline network was investigated using complex impedance spectroscopy. The close value of the activation energies calculated through the analysis of conductivity data and loss spectra indicate that the transport in the investigated system is through hopping mechanism. The correlation between ionic conductivity of LiLa(PO{sub 3}){sub 4} and its crystallographic structure was investigated and the most probably transport pathway model was determined.

Monodisperse Ni{sub x}Fe{sub 3-x}O{sub 4} nanospheres: Metal-ion-steered size/composition control mechanism, static magnetic and enhanced microwave absorbing properties

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Jiang, Kedan, E-mail: 17858961652@163.com [College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004 (China); Liu, Yun, E-mail: liuyun650403@163.com [State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070 (China); Pan, Yefei, E-mail: 3083780256@qq.com [College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004 (China); Wang, Ru, E-mail: 631081137@qq.com [College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004 (China); Hu, Panbing, E-mail: 1036855954@qq.com [College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004 (China); He, Rujia, E-mail: 634185782@qq.com [College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004 (China); Zhang, Lingli, E-mail: 786510121@qq.com [College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004 (China); Tong, Guoxiu, E-mail: tonggx@zjnu.cn [College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004 (China)

2017-05-15

Highlights: • A metal-ion-steered solvothermal method for synthesizing Ni{sub x}Fe{sub 3-x}O{sub 4} nanospheres. • Proposing an in situ-reduction, coordination-precipitation transformation mechanism. • Investigating size- and composition-dependent static magnetic properties. • Investigating size- and composition-dependent microwave absorbing properties. - Abstract: An easy metal-ion-steered solvothermal method was developed for the one-step synthesis of monodisperse, uniform Ni{sub x}Fe{sub 3-x}O{sub 4} polycrystalline nanospheres with tunable sphere diameter (40–400 nm) and composition (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.245) via changing just Ni{sup 2+}/Fe{sup 3+} molar ratio (γ). With g increased from 0:1 to 2:1, sphere diameter gradually decreased and crystal size exhibited an inversed U-shaped change tendency, followed by increased Ni/Fe atom ratio from 0% to 0.0888%. An in situ-reduction, coordination-precipitation transformation mechanism was proposed to interpret the metal-ion-steered growth. Size- and composition-dependent static magnetic and microwave absorbing properties were systematically investigated. Saturation magnetization declines with g in a Boltzmann model due to the changes of crystal size, sphere diameter, and Ni content. The coercivity reaches a maximum at γ = 0.75:1 because of the critical size of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} single domain (25 nm). Studies on microwave absorption reveal that 150–400 nm Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanospheres mainly obey the quarter-wavelength cancellation model with the single-band absorption; 40–135 nm Ni{sub x}Fe{sub 3-x}O{sub 4} nanospheres (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.245) obey the one and three quarter-wavelength cancellation model with the multi-band absorption. 150 nm Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanospheres exhibit the optimal EM wave-absorbing property with an absorbing band of 8.94 GHz and the maximum R{sub L} of −50.11 dB.

Mixing of ν/sub e/ and ν/sub μ/ in SO(10) models

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Milton, K.; Nandi, S.; Tanaka, K.

1982-01-01

We found previously in SO(10) grand unified theories that if the neutrinos have a Dirac mass and a right-handed Majorana mass (approx.10 15 GeV) but no left-handed Majorana mass, there is small ν/sub e/ mixing but ν/sub μ/-ν/sub tau/ mixing can be substantial. We reexamine this problem on the basis of a formalism that assumes that the up, down, lepton, and neutrino mass matrices arise from a single complex 10 and a single 126 Higgs boson. This formalism determines the Majorana mass matrix in terms of quark mass matrices. Adopting three different sets of quark mass matrices that produce acceptable fermion mass ratios and Cabbibo mixing, we obtain results consistent with the above; however, in the optimum case, ν/sub e/-ν/sub μ/ mixing can be of the order of the Cabbibo angle. In an extension of this model wherein the Witten mechanism generates the Majorana mass, we illustrate quantitatively how the parameter characterizing the Majorana sector must be tuned in order to achieve large ν/sub e/-ν/sub μ/ mixing

Non-minimal flavored S{sub 3} x Z{sub 2} left-right symmetric model

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Gomez-Izquierdo, Juan Carlos [Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Estado de Mexico, Estado de Mexico, Estado de Mexico (Mexico); Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico, D.F. (Mexico); Instituto de Fisica, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico, D.F. (Mexico)

2017-08-15

We propose a non-minimal left-right symmetric model with parity symmetry where the fermion mixings arise as a result of imposing an S{sub 3} x Z{sub 2} flavor symmetry, and an extra Z{sup e}{sub 2} symmetry is considered in the lepton sector. Then the neutrino mass matrix possesses approximately the μ-τ symmetry. The breaking of the μ-τ symmetry induces sizable non-zero θ{sub 13}, and the deviation of θ{sub 23} from 45 {sup circle} is strongly controlled by an ε free parameter and the neutrino masses. So, an analytic study of the CP parities in the neutrino masses is carried out to constrain the ε parameter and the lightest neutrino mass that accommodate the mixing angles. The results are: (a) the normal hierarchy is ruled out for any values of the Majorana phases; (b) for the inverted hierarchy the values of the reactor and atmospheric angles are compatible up to 2, 3 σ C.L.; (c) the degenerate ordering is the most favorable such that the reactor and atmospheric angle are compatible with the experimental data for a large set of values of the free parameters. The model predicts defined regions for the effective neutrino mass, the neutrino mass scale and the sum of the neutrino masses for the favored cases. Therefore, this model may be testable by the future experiments. (orig.)

Low-temperature conducting channel switching in hybrid Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}/SiO{sub 2}/n-Si structures

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Vikulov, V.A., E-mail: vikulov@iacp.dvo.ru [Institute of Automation and Control Processes, FEB RAS, 5 Radio Street, 690041 Vladivostok (Russian Federation); Dimitriev, A.A.; Balashev, V.V.; Pisarenko, T.A.; Korobtsov, V.V. [Institute of Automation and Control Processes, FEB RAS, 5 Radio Street, 690041 Vladivostok (Russian Federation); School of Natural Sciences, Far Eastern Federal University, 690950 Vladivostok (Russian Federation)

2016-09-15

Highlights: • Conducting channel switching between the polycrystalline Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} film and the n-Si substrate takes place in the Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}/SiO{sub 2}/n-Si structure at temperature below 125 K. • This effect occurs via the field-assisted tunneling through the composite insulating layer that consists of the highly resistive Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} and the tunnel SiO{sub 2}. • The switching is attended by a change in the shape of the current-voltage characteristics from the linear at 300 K to the S-type at 80 K. - Abstract: The carrier transport properties of the polycrystalline magnetite (Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}) films grown on an n-type Si substrate with 5 nm-thick SiO{sub 2} have been investigated between 80 and 300 K in current-in-plane geometry. It was established that at temperature decrease to about 120 K, the resistivity of thin Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} films increases up to a peak value and then abruptly drops. This process is attended by a change in the shape of the current-voltage characteristics from the linear at 300 K to the S-type at 80 K. The observed peculiarities are explained by conducting channel switching from the Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} film to the Si substrate via the field-assisted tunneling of carriers through the composite insulating layer consisting of highly resistive Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} and tunnel SiO{sub 2}.

Experimental Determination of Solubilities of Tri-calcium Di-Citrate Tetrahydrate [Ca<sub>3sub>[C>3sub>H>5sub>O(COO)>3sub>]>2sub>•4H<sub>2sub>O] Earlandite in NaCl and MgCl<sub>2sub> Solutions to High Ionic Strengths and Its Pitzer Model: Applications to Nuclear Waste Isolation and Other Low Temperature Environments

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Xiong, Yongliang [Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Carlsbad Programs Group; Kirkes, Leslie Dawn [Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Carlsbad Programs Group; Westfall, Terry [Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Carlsbad Programs Group; Marrs, Cassandra [Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Carlsbad Programs Group; Knox, Jandi [Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Carlsbad Programs Group; Burton, Heather Lynn [Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Carlsbad Programs Group

2017-09-01

In this study, solubility measurements on tri-calcium di-citrate tetrahydrate [Ca<sub>3sub>[C>3sub>H>5sub>O(COO)>3sub>]2•4H<sub>2sub>O, abbreviated as Ca<sub>3sub>[Citrate]>2sub>•4H<sub>2sub>O] as a function of ionic strength are conducted in NaCl solutions up to I = 5.0 mol•kg^–1 and in MgCl<sub>2sub> solutions up to I = 7.5 mol•kg^–1, at room temperature (22.5 ± 0.5°C). The solubility constant (log K$0\\atop{sp}$) for Ca<sub>3sub>[Citrate]>2sub>•4H<sub>2sub>O and formation constant (logβ$0\\atop{1}$) for Ca[C<sub>3sub>H>5sub>O(COO)>3sub>]^–Ca>3sub>[C>3sub>H>5sub>O(COO)>3sub>]>2sub>•4H<sub>2sub>O (earlandite) = 3Ca²⁺ + 2[C<sub>3sub>H>5sub>O(COO)>3sub>]^3– + 4H<sub>2sub>O (1) Ca²⁺ + [C<sub>3sub>H>5sub>O(COO)>3sub>]^3– = Ca[C<sub>3sub>H>5sub>O(COO)>3sub>]^– (2) are determined as –18.11 ± 0.05 and 4.97 ± 0.05, respectively, based on the Pitzer model with a set of Pitzer parameters describing the specific interactions in NaCl and M<sub>gCl>2sub> media.

The trouble with H {sub 0}

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Bernal, José Luis; Verde, Licia [ICC, University of Barcelona, IEEC-UB, Martí i Franquès, 1, E08028 Barcelona (Spain); Riess, Adam G., E-mail: joseluis.bernal@icc.ub.edu, E-mail: liciaverde@icc.ub.edu, E-mail: ariess@stsci.edu [Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218 (United States)

2016-10-01

We perform a comprehensive cosmological study of the H {sub 0} tension between the direct local measurement and the model-dependent value inferred from the Cosmic Microwave Background. With the recent measurement of H {sub 0} this tension has raised to more than 3 σ. We consider changes in the early time physics without modifying the late time cosmology. We also reconstruct the late time expansion history in a model independent way with minimal assumptions using distance measurements from Baryon Acoustic Oscillations and Type Ia Supernovae, finding that at z < 0.6 the recovered shape of the expansion history is less than 5% different than that of a standard ΛCDM model. These probes also provide a model insensitive constraint on the low-redshift standard ruler, measuring directly the combination r {sub s} h where H {sub 0} = h × 100 Mpc{sup −1}km/s and r {sub s} is the sound horizon at radiation drag (the standard ruler), traditionally constrained by CMB observations. Thus r {sub s} and H {sub 0} provide absolute scales for distance measurements (anchors) at opposite ends of the observable Universe. We calibrate the cosmic distance ladder and obtain a model-independent determination of the standard ruler for acoustic scale, r {sub s}. The tension in H {sub 0} reflects a mismatch between our determination of r {sub s} and its standard, CMB-inferred value. Without including high-ℓ Planck CMB polarization data (i.e., only considering the ''recommended baseline' low-ℓ polarisation and temperature and the high ℓ temperature data), a modification of the early-time physics to include a component of dark radiation with an effective number of species around 0.4 would reconcile the CMB-inferred constraints, and the local H {sub 0} and standard ruler determinations. The inclusion of the ''preliminary' high-ℓ Planck CMB polarisation data disfavours this solution.

Modelling population-level consequences of chronic external gamma irradiation in aquatic invertebrates under laboratory conditions

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Lance, Emilie [Laboratoire de modelisation pour l' expertise environnementale (LM2E) Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV, SERIS, Cadarache (France); Alonzo, Frederic, E-mail: frederic.alonzo@irsn.fr [Laboratoire d' ecotoxicologie des radionucleides (LECO) Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV, SERIS, Cadarache (France); Garcia-Sanchez, Laurent [Laboratoire de biogeochimie, biodisponibilite et transferts des radionucleides (L2BT) Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV, SERIS, Cadarache (France); Beaugelin-Seiller, Karine; Garnier-Laplace, Jacqueline [Laboratoire de modelisation pour l' expertise environnementale (LM2E) Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire (IRSN), PRP-ENV, SERIS, Cadarache (France)

2012-07-01

We modelled population-level consequences of chronic external gamma irradiation in aquatic invertebrates under laboratory conditions. We used Leslie matrices to combine life-history characteristics (duration of life stages, survival and fecundity rates) and dose rate-response curves for hatching, survival and reproduction fitted on effect data from the FREDERICA database. Changes in net reproductive rate R{sub 0} (offspring per individual) and asymptotic population growth rate {lambda} (dimensionless) were calculated over a range of dose rates in two marine polychaetes (Neanthes arenaceodentata and Ophryotrocha diadema) and a freshwater gastropod (Physa heterostropha). Sensitivities in R{sub 0} and {lambda} to changes in life-history traits were analysed in each species. Results showed that fecundity has the strongest influence on R{sub 0}. A delay in age at first reproduction is most critical for {lambda} independent of the species. Fast growing species were proportionally more sensitive to changes in individual endpoints than slow growing species. Reduction of 10% in population {lambda} were predicted at dose rates of 6918, 5012 and 74,131 {mu}Gy{center_dot}h{sup -1} in N. arenaceodentata, O. diadema and P. heterostropha respectively, resulting from a combination of strong effects on several individual endpoints in each species. These observations made 10%-reduction in {lambda} a poor criterion for population protection. The lowest significant changes in R{sub 0} and {lambda} were respectively predicted at a same dose rate of 1412 {mu}Gy h{sup -1} in N. arenaceodentata, at 760 and 716 {mu}Gy h{sup -1} in O. diadema and at 12,767 and 13,759 {mu}Gy h{sup -1} in P. heterostropha. These values resulted from a combination of slight but significant changes in several measured endpoints and were lower than effective dose rates calculated for the individual level in O. diadema and P. heterostropha. The relevance of the experimental dataset (external irradiation rather

Transport properties of Na doped La sub 1 sub - sub x Ca sub x sub - sub y Na sub y MnO sub 3 measured in a pulsed magnetic field

CERN Document Server

Bhattacharya, S; Pal, S; Chatterjee, P; Mukherjee, R K; Chaudhuri, B K

2002-01-01

Temperature-dependent magnetization and magnetoresistance of the Na doped La sub 1 sub - sub x Ca sub x sub sub - sub y Na sub y MnO sub 3 type samples with x=0.3 and 0 T sub p up to 320 K) conductivity data satisfy the variable range hopping (VRH) model. For T > 320 the small polaron hopping model is more appropriate than the VRH model. Even with a very small change of y, the density of states at the Fermi level N(E sub F) changes considerably. The resistivity of these materials measured under pulsed and continuous DC magnetic fields behaves in an identical fashion. The relaxation time (decay time of the magnetic pulse within the sample) varies with field strength, which indicates that, with a change of magnetic field, the ordering of spin in the ferromagnetic regime changes.

Analysis of lithium deinsertion/insertion in Li{sub y}FePO{sub 4} with a simple mathematical model

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Delacourt, C., E-mail: charles.delacourt@u-picardie.fr [Laboratoire de Reactivite et de Chimie des Solides, CNRS UMR 6007, Universite de Picardie Jules Verne (France); Safari, M. [Laboratoire de Reactivite et de Chimie des Solides, CNRS UMR 6007, Universite de Picardie Jules Verne (France)

2011-05-30

Highlights: > An analysis of the onsets of charge/discharge curves of Li{sub y}FePO{sub 4} is performed by means of a mathematical model. > It reveals a dependence of the apparent 'particle radius' on the current density. > The mosaic model, introduced some years ago for lithium insertion/deinsertion in Li{sub y}FePO{sub 4}, is invoked to account for this unusual dependence. - Abstract: The onset of experimental galvanostatic charge/discharge data of Li{sub y}FePO{sub 4} at low current density and at room temperature is analyzed using a single-particle mathematical model. The model contains only two adjustable parameters, namely one related to solid-state diffusion in the active particle and another one related to the surface resistance of the particle. The analysis reveals that these two parameters depend on the current density in a similar manner, meaning that there exists a correlation between them. An immediate consequence is that the onset of the experimental charge/discharge curves is properly modeled with the particle radius as a unique parameter depending on the current density. Hypotheses are made to shed light on this unusual dependence.

On grand unified SU(8)sub(L)xSU(8)sub(R) model

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Pirogov, Yu.F.

1980-01-01

A set of general prjnciples justifying the choice of the group SU(N)sub(L)xSU(N)sub(R) with N=8 as the grand unified symmetry group is considered. Accordjng to these principles the group SU(N)sub(L)xSU(N)sub(R) is one of the most natural unified groups. Namely this group is maximum symmetry group of kinetic term of the Lagrangian of one family, which conserves fermion number. A new principle has been introduced according to which one of the manifestations of extended conformal invariance at small distances is mirror doubling of set of fermions, which is necessary on the other hand for renormalizability of the given unified model

A quasi-model-independent search for new high p<sub>T> physics at D0

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Knuteson, Bruce Owen [Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)

2000-12-05

We present a new quasi-model-independent strategy (''Sleuth'') for searching for physics beyond the standard model. We define final states to be studied, and construct a rule that identifies a set of relevant variables for any particular final state. A novel algorithm searches for regions of excess in those variables and quantifies the significance of any detected excess. This strategy is applied to search for new high p<sub>T> physics in approximately 100 pb^-1 of proton-anti-proton collisions a √s = 1.8 TeV collected by the D0 experiment during 1992-1996 at the Fermilab Tevatron. We systematically analyze many exclusive final states, and demonstrate sensitivity to a variety of models predicting new phenomena at the electroweak scale. No evidence of new high p<sub>T> physics is observed.

The walk is never random: subtle landscape effects shape gene flow in a continuous white-tailed deer population in the Midwestern United States

Science.gov (United States)

Robinson, Stacie J.; Samuel, Michael D.; Lopez, Davin L.; Shelton, Paul

2012-01-01

One of the pervasive challenges in landscape genetics is detecting gene flow patterns within continuous populations of highly mobile wildlife. Understanding population genetic structure within a continuous population can give insights into social structure, movement across the landscape and contact between populations, which influence ecological interactions, reproductive dynamics or pathogen transmission. We investigated the genetic structure of a large population of deer spanning the area of Wisconsin and Illinois, USA, affected by chronic wasting disease. We combined multiscale investigation, landscape genetic techniques and spatial statistical modelling to address the complex questions of landscape factors influencing population structure. We sampled over 2000 deer and used spatial autocorrelation and a spatial principal components analysis to describe the population genetic structure. We evaluated landscape effects on this pattern using a spatial autoregressive model within a model selection framework to test alternative hypotheses about gene flow. We found high levels of genetic connectivity, with gradients of variation across the large continuous population of white-tailed deer. At the fine scale, spatial clustering of related animals was correlated with the amount and arrangement of forested habitat. At the broader scale, impediments to dispersal were important to shaping genetic connectivity within the population. We found significant barrier effects of individual state and interstate highways and rivers. Our results offer an important understanding of deer biology and movement that will help inform the management of this species in an area where overabundance and disease spread are primary concerns.

Influence of size and shape of sub-micrometer light scattering centers in ZnO-assisted TiO2 photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cells

Science.gov (United States)

Pham, Trang T. T.; Mathews, Nripan; Lam, Yeng-Ming; Mhaisalkar, Subodh

2018-03-01

Sub-micrometer cavities have been incorporated in the TiO2 photoanode of dye-sensitized solar cell to enhance its optical property with light scattering effect. These are large pores of several hundred nanometers in size and scatter incident light due to the difference refraction index between the scattering center and the surrounding materials, according to Mie theory. The pores are created using polystyrene (PS) or zinc oxide (ZnO) templates reported previously which resulted in ellipsoidal and spherical shapes, respectively. The effect of size and shape of scattering center was modeled using a numerical analysis finite-difference time-domain (FDTD). The scattering cross-section was not affected significantly with different shapes if the total displacement volume of the scattering center is comparable. Experiments were carried out to evaluate the optical property with varying size of ZnO templates. Photovoltaic effect of dye-sensitized solar cells made from these ZnO-assisted films were investigated with incident-photon-to-current efficiency to understand the effect of scattering center size on the enhancement of absorption. With 380 nm macropores incorporated, the power conversion efficiency has increased by 11% mostly thanks to the improved current density, while 170 nm and 500 nm macropores samples did not have increment in sufficiently wide range of absorbing wavelengths.

Gallbladder shape extraction from ultrasound images using active contour models.

Science.gov (United States)

Ciecholewski, Marcin; Chochołowicz, Jakub

2013-12-01

Gallbladder function is routinely assessed using ultrasonographic (USG) examinations. In clinical practice, doctors very often analyse the gallbladder shape when diagnosing selected disorders, e.g. if there are turns or folds of the gallbladder, so extracting its shape from USG images using supporting software can simplify a diagnosis that is often difficult to make. The paper describes two active contour models: the edge-based model and the region-based model making use of a morphological approach, both designed for extracting the gallbladder shape from USG images. The active contour models were applied to USG images without lesions and to those showing specific disease units, namely, anatomical changes like folds and turns of the gallbladder as well as polyps and gallstones. This paper also presents modifications of the edge-based model, such as the method for removing self-crossings and loops or the method of dampening the inflation force which moves nodes if they approach the edge being determined. The user is also able to add a fragment of the approximated edge beyond which neither active contour model will move if this edge is incomplete in the USG image. The modifications of the edge-based model presented here allow more precise results to be obtained when extracting the shape of the gallbladder from USG images than if the morphological model is used. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of stellar population model predictions using optical and infrared spectroscopy

Science.gov (United States)

Baldwin, C.; McDermid, R. M.; Kuntschner, H.; Maraston, C.; Conroy, C.

2018-02-01

We present Gemini/GNIRS cross-dispersed near-infrared spectra of 12 nearby early-type galaxies, with the aim of testing commonly used stellar population synthesis models. We select a subset of galaxies from the ATLAS3D sample which span a wide range of ages (single stellar population equivalent ages of 1-15 Gyr) at approximately solar metallicity. We derive star formation histories using four different stellar population synthesis models, namely those of Bruzual & Charlot, Conroy, Gunn & White, Maraston & Strömbäck and Vazdekis et al. We compare star formation histories derived from near-infrared spectra with those derived from optical spectra using the same models. We find that while all models agree in the optical, the derived star formation histories vary dramatically from model to model in the near-infrared. We find that this variation is largely driven by the choice of stellar spectral library, such that models including high-quality spectral libraries provide the best fits to the data, and are the most self-consistent when comparing optically derived properties with near-infrared ones. We also find the impact of age variation in the near-infrared to be subtle, and largely encoded in the shape of the continuum, meaning that the common approach of removing continuum information with a high-order polynomial greatly reduces our ability to constrain ages in the near-infrared.

Estimating Divergence Time and Ancestral Effective Population Size of Bornean and Sumatran Orangutan Subspecies Using a Coalescent Hidden Markov Model

DEFF Research Database (Denmark)

Mailund, Thomas; Dutheil, Julien; Hobolth, Asger

2011-01-01

event has occurred to split them apart. The size of these segments of constant divergence depends on the recombination rate, but also on the speciation time, the effective population size of the ancestral population, as well as demographic effects and selection. Thus, inference of these parameters may......, and the ancestral effective population size. The model is efficient enough to allow inference on whole-genome data sets. We first investigate the power and consistency of the model with coalescent simulations and then apply it to the whole-genome sequences of the two orangutan sub-species, Bornean (P. p. pygmaeus......) and Sumatran (P. p. abelii) orangutans from the Orangutan Genome Project. We estimate the speciation time between the two sub-species to be thousand years ago and the effective population size of the ancestral orangutan species to be , consistent with recent results based on smaller data sets. We also report...

Additive Manufacturing of Near-net Shaped Permanent Magnets

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Paranthaman, M Parans [ORNL

2016-07-26

The technical objective of this technical collaboration phase I proposal is to fabricate near net-shaped permanent magnets using alloy powders utilizing direct metal deposition technologies at the ORNL MDF. Direct Manufacturing using the POM laser system was used to consolidate Nd<sub>2sub>Fe>14sub>B (NdFeB) magnet powders into near net-shape parts efficiently and with virtually no wasted material as part of the feasibility study. We fabricated builds based on spherical NdFeB magnet particles. The results show that despite the ability to fabricate highly reactive materials in the laser deposition process, the magnetic coercivity and remanence of the NdFeB hard magnets is significantly reduced. X-ray powder diffraction in conjunction with electron microscopy showed that the material experienced a primary Nd<sub>2sub>Fe>17sub>B_x> solidification due to the undercooling effect (>60K). Consequently the presence of alpha iron phase resulted in deterioration of the build properties. Further optimization of the processing parameters is needed to maintain the Nd<sub>2sub>Fe>14sub>B phase during fabrication.

Synthesis and self-assembly of dumbbell shaped ZnO sub-micron structures using low temperature chemical bath deposition technique

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Borade, P. [National Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus, Santacruz (E), Mumbai 400098 (India); Joshi, K.U. [Anton-Paar India Pvt. Ltd., Thane (W), 400607 (India); Gokarna, A.; Lerondel, G. [Laboratoire de Nanotechnologie et D' Instrumentation Optique, Institut Charles Delaunay, CNRS UMR 6281, Université de Technologie de Troyes, 12 Rue Marie Curie, BP 2060, 10010 Troyes (France); Walke, P. [National Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus, Santacruz (E), Mumbai 400098 (India); Late, D. [National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune 400027 (India); Jejurikar, S.M., E-mail: jejusuhas@gmail.com [National Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Mumbai, Kalina Campus, Santacruz (E), Mumbai 400098 (India)

2016-02-01

We report well dispersed horizontal growth of ZnO sub-micron structures using simplest technique ever known i.e. chemical bath deposition (CBD). A set of samples were prepared under two different cases A) dumbbell shaped ZnO grown in CBD bath and B) tubular ZnO structures evolved from dumbbell shaped structures by dissolution mechanism. Single phase wurtzite ZnO formation is confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique in both cases. From the morphological investigations performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), sample prepared under case A indicate formation of hex bit tool (HBT) shaped ZnO crystals, which observed to self-organize to form dumbbell structures. Further these microstructures are then converted into tubular structures as a fragment of post CBD process. The possible mechanism responsible for the self-assembly of HBT units to form dumbbell structures is discussed. Observed free excitonic peak located at 370 nm in photoluminescence (PL) spectra recorded at 18 K indicate that the micro/nanostructures synthesized using CBD are of high optical quality. - Highlights: • Controlled growth of Dumbbell shaped ZnO using Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD). • Growth mechanism of dumbbell shaped ZnO by self-assembling was discussed. • Quick Transformation of ZnO dumbbell structures in to tubular structures by dissolution. • Sharp UV Emission at 370 nm from both dumbbell and tubular structures.

Synthesis and structure of bis[(2E)-3-(2-furyl)prop-2-enoato]triphenylantimony Ph{sub 3}Sb[O{sub 2}CCH=CH(C{sub 4}H{sub 3}O)]{sub 2}

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kalistratova, O. S., E-mail: Olga.Kalistratova@yandex.ru; Andreev, P. V.; Gushchin, A. V.; Somov, N. V.; Chuprunov, E. V. [Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod (Russian Federation)

2016-05-15

Bis[(2E)-3-(2-furyl)prop-2-enoato]triphenylantimony Ph{sub 3}Sb[O{sub 2}CCH=CH(C{sub 4}H{sub 3}O)]{sub 2} is obtained for the first time by the reaction of triphenylantimony, hydrogen peroxide, and 2-furylpropene acid. The X-ray diffraction data show that the central atom of antimony is coordinated in the shape of a distorted trigonal bipyramid. The base of the bipyramid is formed by carbon atoms of phenyl ligands, and the apical vertices are occupied by acid residues. The IR and NMR spectra agree with the composition and structure of the compound.

Radiation induced synthesis of In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles - Part II: Synthesis of In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles by thermal decomposition of un-irradiated and γ-irradiated indium acetylacetonate

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Al-Resheedi, Ajayb Saud; Alhokbany, Norah Saad [Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, KSU, (Saudi Arabia); Mahfouz, Refaat Mohammed, E-mail: rmhfouz@science.au.edu.eg [Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, AUN, (Egypt)

2015-09-15

Pure cubic phase, In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles with porous structure were synthesized by solid state thermal oxidation of un-irradiated and γ-irradiated indium acetyl acetonate in presence and absence of sodium dodecyl sulphate as surfactant. The as- synthesized In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transition electron microscopy (TEM) and thermogravimetry (TG). The shapes and morphologies of as- synthesized In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles were highly affected by γ-irradiation of indium acetyl acetonate precursor and by addition of sodium dodecyl sulphate as surfactant. Calcination of un-irradiated indium acetyl acetonate precursor to 4 hours of 600 °C leads to the formation of spherical- shaped accumulative and merged In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles with porous structure, whereas irregular porous architectures composed of pure In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles were obtained by using γ-irradiated indium acetylacetonate precursor. The as- prepared In{sub 2}O{sub 3} nano products exhibit photoluminescence emission (PL) property and display thermal stability in a wide range of temperature (25-800 °C) which suggest possible applications in nanoscale optoelectronic devices. (author)

Statistical physics modeling of hydrogen desorption from LaNi{sub 4.75}Fe{sub 0.25}: Stereographic and energetic interpretations

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Wjihi, Sarra [Unité de Recherche de Physique Quantique, 11 ES 54, Faculté des Science de Monastir (Tunisia); Dhaou, Houcine [Laboratoire des Etudes des Systèmes Thermiques et Energétiques (LESTE), ENIM, Route de Kairouan, 5019 Monastir (Tunisia); Yahia, Manel Ben; Knani, Salah [Unité de Recherche de Physique Quantique, 11 ES 54, Faculté des Science de Monastir (Tunisia); Jemni, Abdelmajid [Laboratoire des Etudes des Systèmes Thermiques et Energétiques (LESTE), ENIM, Route de Kairouan, 5019 Monastir (Tunisia); Lamine, Abdelmottaleb Ben, E-mail: abdelmottaleb.benlamine@gmail.com [Unité de Recherche de Physique Quantique, 11 ES 54, Faculté des Science de Monastir (Tunisia)

2015-12-15

Statistical physics treatment is used to study the desorption of hydrogen on LaNi{sub 4.75}Fe{sub 0.25}, in order to obtain new physicochemical interpretations at the molecular level. Experimental desorption isotherms of hydrogen on LaNi{sub 4.75}Fe{sub 0.25} are fitted at three temperatures (293 K, 303 K and 313 K), using a monolayer desorption model. Six parameters of the model are fitted, namely the number of molecules per site n{sub α} and n{sub β}, the receptor site densities N{sub αM} and N{sub βM}, and the energetic parameters P{sub α} and P{sub β}. The behaviors of these parameters are discussed in relationship with desorption process. A dynamic study of the α and β phases in the desorption process was then carried out. Finally, the different thermodynamical potential functions are derived by statistical physics calculations from our adopted model.

Generation of high-intensity sub-30 as pulses by inhomogeneous polarization gating technology in bowtie-shaped nanostructure

Science.gov (United States)

Feng, Liqiang; Feng, A. Yuanzi

2018-04-01

The generation of high-order harmonics and single attosecond pulses (SAPs) from He atom driven by the inhomogeneous polarization gating technology in a bowtie-shaped nanostructure is theoretically investigated. The results show that by the proper addition of bowtie-shaped nanostructure along the driven laser polarization direction, the harmonic emission becomes sensitive to the position of the laser field, and the harmonics emitted at the maximum orders that generate SAPs occur only at one side of the region inside the nanostructure. As a result, not only the harmonic cutoff can be extended, but also the modulations of the harmonics can be decreased, showing a carrier envelope phase independent harmonic cutoff with a bandwidth of 310 eV. Further, with the proper introduction of an ultraviolet pulse, the harmonic yield can be enhanced by 2 orders of magnitude. Finally, by the Fourier transformation of the selected harmonics, some SAPs with a full width at half maximum of sub-30 as can be obtained.

An integrated numerical model for the prediction of Gaussian and billet shapes

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Hattel, J.H.; Pryds, N.H.; Pedersen, T.B.

2004-01-01

Separate models for the atomisation and the deposition stages were recently integrated by the authors to form a unified model describing the entire spray-forming process. In the present paper, the focus is on describing the shape of the deposited material during the spray-forming process, obtained by this model. After a short review of the models and their coupling, the important factors which influence the resulting shape, i.e. Gaussian or billet, are addressed. The key parameters, which are utilized to predict the geometry and dimension of the deposited material, are the sticking efficiency and the shading effect for Gaussian and billet shape, respectively. From the obtained results, the effect of these parameters on the final shape is illustrated

Estimation of stature from the foot and its segments in a sub-adult female population of North India

Science.gov (United States)

2011-01-01

Background Establishing personal identity is one of the main concerns in forensic investigations. Estimation of stature forms a basic domain of the investigation process in unknown and co-mingled human remains in forensic anthropology case work. The objective of the present study was to set up standards for estimation of stature from the foot and its segments in a sub-adult female population. Methods The sample for the study constituted 149 young females from the Northern part of India. The participants were aged between 13 and 18 years. Besides stature, seven anthropometric measurements that included length of the foot from each toe (T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5 respectively), foot breadth at ball (BBAL) and foot breadth at heel (BHEL) were measured on both feet in each participant using standard methods and techniques. Results The results indicated that statistically significant differences (p forensic examination. Stepwise multiple regression models tend to estimate stature more accurately than linear regression models in female sub-adults. PMID:22104433

ESR, thermoelectrical and positron annihilation Doppler broadening studies of CuZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4}-BaTiO{sub 3} composite

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Hemeda, O.M. [Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta (Egypt); Mahmoud, K.R. [Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh (Egypt); Sharshar, T. [Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh (Egypt); Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Taif University, Al-Hawiah, Taif, P.O. Box 888 Zip Code 21974 (Saudi Arabia); Elsheshtawy, M. [Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta (Egypt); Hamad, Mahmoud A., E-mail: m_hamad76@yahoo.com [Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta (Egypt); King Marriott Academy for Engineering & Technology, Alexandria (Egypt)

2017-05-01

Composite materials of Cu{sub 0.6}Zn{sub 0.4}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} (CZF) and barium titanate (BT) with different concentrations were prepared by high energy ball milling method. The composite samples of CZF and BT were studied using Infrared, ESR and positron annihilation Doppler broadening (PADB) spectroscopy techniques as well as thermo-electric power measurements. The results confirm formation of the composite, and presence of two ferrimagnetic and ferroelectric phases, simultaneously. In addition, Fe–O bond for both tetrahedral and octahedral sites, population and distribution of cations at A and B sites are varied with BT content. The values of resonance field, line width of ESR spectrum and charge carrier concentration increase by increasing BT content. The value of the g factor for our samples with low BT content is greater than g-factor value of the isolated free electron. On the contrary, the g-factor values for samples with high BT content are smaller than the free isolated electron. PADB line-shape S-parameter suggests that there are increases of the density of the delocalized electrons, defect size and concentration caused by highly adding BT phase. In addition, PADB results confirm the homogeneity of composite phases and same structure of defects in BT-CZF composite samples. - Highlights: • Composite materials of Cu{sub 0.6}Zn{sub 0.4}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} (CZF) and barium titanate (BT) were prepared. • The resonance field and charge carrier concentration increase by increasing BT. • there is increase of the density of delocalized electrons by highly adding BT. • In addition, PADB results confirm the homogeneity of composite phases.