Analyses of sulfonamide antibiotics by a successive anion- and cation-selective injection coupled to microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography.

PubMed

Lin, Yun-Ta; Liu, Yu-Wei; Cheng, Yi-Jie; Huang, Hsi-Ya

2010-07-01

In this study, an MEEKC was used to detect and analyze nine sulfonamide antibiotics. Owing to an insufficient sensitivity of on-column UV detection, a field-amplified sample injection, successive anion- and cation-selective injection, was used for the on-line concentration of the nine antibiotics. In the successive anion- and cation-selective injection mode, a leading water plug was introduced prior to anion injection, and then an acidic plug followed by a terminal water plug had to be used before subsequent cation injection. The results indicated some sulfonamides (sulfamonomethoxine, sulfamethazine, sulfamerazine and sulfadiazine) were determined as split signals in pairs, and this was likely due to the use of a longer acid plug (360 s) which caused the sulfonamide anions and cations to be stacked in two distinct zones of the leading water and acid plugs. Meanwhile, all the sulfonamides that were introduced either by anion or cation injection were stacked within the leading water plug when a shorter acid plug (210 s) was used. As a result, the nine sulfonamides were determined as single and symmetrical peaks with low LODs (0.9-4.2 microg/L). Furthermore, the MEEKC method was successfully applied for the detection of trace sulfonamide residues in several food and water samples.

The Grism Lens-Amplified Survey from Space (GLASS). III. A Census of Lyα Emission at z ≳ 7 from HST Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, K. B.; Treu, T.; Bradač, M.; Vulcani, B.; Huang, K.-H.; Hoag, A.; Maseda, M.; Guaita, L.; Pentericci, L.; Brammer, G. B.; Dijkstra, M.; Dressler, A.; Fontana, A.; Henry, A. L.; Jones, T. A.; Mason, C.; Trenti, M.; Wang, X.

2016-02-01

We present a census of Lyα emission at z≳ 7, utilizing deep near-infrared Hubble Space Telescope grism spectroscopy from the first six completed clusters of the Grism Lens-Amplified Survey from Space (GLASS). In 24/159 photometrically selected galaxies we detect emission lines consistent with Lyα in the GLASS spectra. Based on the distribution of signal-to-noise ratios and on simulations, we expect the completeness and the purity of the sample to be 40%-100% and 60%-90%, respectively. For the objects without detected emission lines we show that the observed (not corrected for lensing magnification) 1σ flux limits reach 5 × 10-18 erg s-1 cm-2 per position angle over the full wavelength range of GLASS (0.8-1.7 μm). Based on the conditional probability of Lyα emission measured from the ground at z˜ 7, we would have expected 12-18 Lyα emitters. This is consistent with the number of detections, within the uncertainties, confirming the drop in Lyα emission with respect to z˜ 6. Deeper follow-up spectroscopy, here exemplified by Keck spectroscopy, is necessary to improve our estimates of completeness and purity and to confirm individual candidates as true Lyα emitters. These candidates include a promising source at z = 8.1. The spatial extent of Lyα in a deep stack of the most convincing Lyα emitters with < z> = 7.2 is consistent with that of the rest-frame UV continuum. Extended Lyα emission, if present, has a surface brightness below our detection limit, consistent with the properties of lower-redshift comparison samples. From the stack we estimate upper limits on rest-frame UV emission line ratios and find {f}{{C}{{IV}}}/{f}{Lyα }≲ 0.32 and {f}{{C}{{III}}]}/{f}{Lyα }≲ 0.23, in good agreement with other values published in the literature.

Analysis of acrylamide in food products by in-line preconcentration capillary zone electrophoresis.

PubMed

Bermudo, Elisabet; Núñez, Oscar; Puignou, Luis; Galceran, Maria Teresa

2006-09-29

Two in-line preconcentration capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) methods (field amplified sample injection (FASI) and stacking with sample matrix removal (LVSS)) have been evaluated for the analysis of acrylamide (AA) in foodstuffs. To allow the determination of AA by CZE, it was derivatized using 2-mercaptobenzoic acid. For FASI, the optimum conditions were water at pH > or = 10 adjusted with NH3 as sample solvent, 35 s hydrodynamic injection (0.5 psi) of a water plug, 35 s of electrokinetic injection (-10 kV) of the sample, and 6s hydrodynamic injection (0.5 psi) of another water plug to prevent AA removal by EOF. In stacking with sample matrix removal, the reversal time was found to be around 3.3 min. A 40 mM phosphate buffer (pH 8.5) was used as carrier electrolyte for CZE separation in both cases. For both FASI and LVSS methods, linear calibration curves over the range studied (10-1000 microg L(-1) and 25-1000 microg L(-1), respectively), limit of detection (LOD) on standards (1 microg L(-1) for FASI and 7 microg L(-1) for LVSS), limit of detection on samples (3 ng g(-1) for FASI and 20 ng g(-1) for LVSS) and both run-to-run (up to 14% for concentration and 0.8% for time values) and day-to-day precisions (up to 16% and 5% for concentration and time values, respectively) were established. Due to the lower detection limits obtained with the FASI-CZE this method was applied to the analysis of AA in different foodstuffs such as biscuits, cereals, crisp bread, snacks and coffee, and the results were compared with those obtained by LC-MS/MS.

Compact piezoelectric tripod manipulator based on a reverse bridge-type amplification mechanism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Na, Tae-Won; Choi, Jun-Ho; Jung, Jin-Young; Kim, Hyeong-Geon; Han, Jae-Hung; Park, Kwang-Chun; Oh, Il-Kwon

2016-09-01

We report a hierarchical piezoelectric tripod manipulator based on a reverse bridge-type displacement amplifier. The reverse bridge-type amplification mechanism is pre-strained by each piezo-stack actuator up to 60 μm and is cross-stacked in a series arrangement to make a compact and high-stroke manipulator having load-bearing characteristics. The designed manipulator with three degrees of freedom is compact with a height of 56.0 mm, a diameter of 48.6 mm and total weight of 115 g. It achieves a translational stroke of up to 880 μm in heaving motion and a tilting angle of up to 2.0° in rotational motion within the operating voltage and power range of the piezoelectric stack actuator. A key feature of the present design is built-in and pre-strained displacement amplification mechanisms integrated with piezoelectric stacked actuators, resulting in a compact tripod manipulator having exceptionally high stroke and load-bearing capacity.

Mathematical modeling of sample stacking methods in microfluidic systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horek, Jon

Gradient focusing methods are a general class of experimental techniques used to simultaneously separate and increase the cross-sectionally averaged concentration of charged particle mixtures. In comparison, Field Amplified Sample Stacking (FASS) techniques first concentrate the collection of molecules before separating them. Together, we denote gradient focusing and FASS methods "sample stacking" and study the dynamics of a specific method, Temperature Gradient Focusing (TGF), in which an axial temperature gradient is applied along a channel filled with weak buffer. Gradients in electroosmotic fluid flow and electrophoretic species velocity create the simultaneous separating and concentrating mechanism mentioned above. In this thesis, we begin with the observation that very little has been done to model the dynamics of gradient focusing, and proceed to solve the fundamental equations of fluid mechanics and scalar transport, assuming the existence of slow axial variations and the Taylor-Aris dispersion coefficient. In doing so, asymptotic methods reduce the equations from 3D to 1D, and we arrive at a simple 1D model which can be used to predict the transient evolution of the cross-sectionally averaged analyte concentration. In the second half of this thesis, we run several numerical focusing experiments with a 3D finite volume code. Comparison of the 1D theory and 3D simulations illustrates not only that the asymptotic theory converges as a certain parameter tends to zero, but also that fairly large axial slip velocity gradients lead to quite small errors in predicted steady variance. Additionally, we observe that the axial asymmetry of the electrophoretic velocity model leads to asymmetric peak shapes, a violation of the symmetric Gaussians predicted by the 1D theory. We conclude with some observations on the effect of Peclet number and gradient strength on the performance of focusing experiments, and describe a method for experimental optimization. Such knowledge is useful for design of lab-on-a-chip devices.

Constant pressure-assisted head-column field-amplified sample injection in combination with in-capillary derivatization for enhancing the sensitivity of capillary electrophoresis.

PubMed

Yan, Na; Zhou, Lei; Zhu, Zaifang; Zhang, Huige; Zhou, Ximin; Chen, Xingguo

2009-05-15

In this work, a novel method combining constant pressure-assisted head-column field-amplified sample injection (PA-HC-FASI) with in-capillary derivatization was developed for enhancing the sensitivity of capillary electrophoresis. PA-HC-FASI uses an appropriate positive pressure to counterbalance the electroosmotic flow in the capillary column during electrokinetic injection, while taking advantage of the field amplification in the sample matrix and the water of the "head column". Accordingly, the analytes were stacked at the stationary boundary between water and background electrolyte. After 600s PA-HC-FASI, 4-fluoro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole as derivatization reagent was injected, followed by an electrokinetic step (5kV, 45s) to enhance the mixing efficiency of analytes and reagent plugs. Standing a specified time of 10min for derivatization reaction under 35 degrees C, then the capillary temperature was cooled to 25 degrees C and the derivatives were immediately separated and determined under 25 degrees C. By investigating the variables of the presented approach in detail, on-line preconcentration, derivatization and separation could be automatically operated in one run and required no modification of current CE commercial instrument. Moreover, the sensitivity enhancement factor of 520 and 800 together with the detection limits of 16.32 and 6.34pg/mL was achieved for model compounds: glufosinate and aminomethylphosphonic acid, demonstrating the high detection sensitivity of the presented method.

Two-stage optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier using sub-nanosecond pump pulse generated by stimulated Brillouin scattering compression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogino, Jumpei; Miyamoto, Sho; Matsuyama, Takahiro; Sueda, Keiichi; Yoshida, Hidetsugu; Tsubakimoto, Koji; Miyanaga, Noriaki

2014-12-01

We demonstrate optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) based on two-beam pumping, using sub-nanosecond pulses generated by stimulated Brillouin scattering compression. Seed pulse energy, duration, and center wavelength were 5 nJ, 220 ps, and ˜1065 nm, respectively. The 532 nm pulse from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser was compressed to ˜400 ps in heavy fluorocarbon FC-40 liquid. Stacking of two time-delayed pump pulses reduced the amplifier gain fluctuation. Using a walk-off-compensated two-stage OPCPA at a pump energy of 34 mJ, a total gain of 1.6 × 105 was obtained, yielding an output energy of 0.8 mJ. The amplified chirped pulse was compressed to 97 fs.

On-site detection of stacked genetically modified soybean based on event-specific TM-LAMP and a DNAzyme-lateral flow biosensor.

PubMed

Cheng, Nan; Shang, Ying; Xu, Yuancong; Zhang, Li; Luo, Yunbo; Huang, Kunlun; Xu, Wentao

2017-05-15

Stacked genetically modified organisms (GMO) are becoming popular for their enhanced production efficiency and improved functional properties, and on-site detection of stacked GMO is an urgent challenge to be solved. In this study, we developed a cascade system combining event-specific tag-labeled multiplex LAMP with a DNAzyme-lateral flow biosensor for reliable detection of stacked events (DP305423× GTS 40-3-2). Three primer sets, both event-specific and soybean species-specific, were newly designed for the tag-labeled multiplex LAMP system. A trident-like lateral flow biosensor displayed amplified products simultaneously without cross contamination, and DNAzyme enhancement improved the sensitivity effectively. After optimization, the limit of detection was approximately 0.1% (w/w) for stacked GM soybean, which is sensitive enough to detect genetically modified content up to a threshold value established by several countries for regulatory compliance. The entire detection process could be shortened to 120min without any large-scale instrumentation. This method may be useful for the in-field detection of DP305423× GTS 40-3-2 soybean on a single kernel basis and on-site screening tests of stacked GM soybean lines and individual parent GM soybean lines in highly processed foods. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Overcoming low-alignment signal contrast induced alignment failure by alignment signal enhancement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Byeong Soo; Kim, Young Ha; Hwang, Hyunwoo; Lee, Jeongjin; Kong, Jeong Heung; Kang, Young Seog; Paarhuis, Bart; Kok, Haico; de Graaf, Roelof; Weichselbaum, Stefan; Droste, Richard; Mason, Christopher; Aarts, Igor; de Boeij, Wim P.

2016-03-01

Overlay is one of the key factors which enables optical lithography extension to 1X node DRAM manufacturing. It is natural that accurate wafer alignment is a prerequisite for good device overlay. However, alignment failures or misalignments are commonly observed in a fab. There are many factors which could induce alignment problems. Low alignment signal contrast is one of the main issues. Alignment signal contrast can be degraded by opaque stack materials or by alignment mark degradation due to processes like CMP. This issue can be compounded by mark sub-segmentation from design rules in combination with double or quadruple spacer process. Alignment signal contrast can be improved by applying new material or process optimization, which sometimes lead to the addition of another process-step with higher costs. If we can amplify the signal components containing the position information and reduce other unwanted signal and background contributions then we can improve alignment performance without process change. In this paper we use ASML's new alignment sensor (as was introduced and released on the NXT:1980Di) and sample wafers with special stacks which can induce poor alignment signal to demonstrate alignment and overlay improvement.

40 CFR 61.44 - Stack sampling.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 8 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Stack sampling. 61.44 Section 61.44 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL... Firing § 61.44 Stack sampling. (a) Sources subject to § 61.42(b) shall be continuously sampled, during...

40 CFR 61.44 - Stack sampling.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 8 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Stack sampling. 61.44 Section 61.44 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL... Firing § 61.44 Stack sampling. (a) Sources subject to § 61.42(b) shall be continuously sampled, during...

Microbial diversity in Cenozoic sediments recovered from the Lomonosov Ridge in the Central Arctic basin.

PubMed

Forschner, Stephanie R; Sheffer, Roberta; Rowley, David C; Smith, David C

2009-03-01

The current understanding of microbes inhabiting deeply buried marine sediments is based largely on samples collected from continental shelves in tropical and temperate latitudes. The geographical range of marine subsurface coring was expanded during the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Arctic Coring Expedition (IODP ACEX). This expedition to the ice-covered central Arctic Ocean successfully cored the entire 428 m sediment stack on the Lomonosov Ridge during August and September 2004. The recovered cores vary from siliciclastic sediment low in organic carbon (< 0.2%) to organic rich ( approximately 3%) black sediments that rapidly accumulated in the early middle Eocene. Three geochemical environments were characterized based on chemical analyses of porewater: an upper ammonium oxidation zone, a carbonate dissolution zone and a deep (> 200 m below sea floor) sulfate reduction zone. The diversity of microbes within each zone was assessed using 16S rRNA phylogenetic markers. Bacterial 16S rRNA genes were successfully amplified from each of the biogeochemical zones, while archaea was only amplified from the deep sulfate reduction zone. The microbial communities at each zone are phylogenetically different and are most closely related to those from other deep subsurface environments.

Multistage Force Amplification of Piezoelectric Stacks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Xu, Tian-Bing (Inventor); Siochi, Emilie J. (Inventor); Zuo, Lei (Inventor); Jiang, Xiaoning (Inventor); Kang, Jin Ho (Inventor)

2015-01-01

Embodiments of the disclosure include an apparatus and methods for using a piezoelectric device, that includes an outer flextensional casing, a first cell and a last cell serially coupled to each other and coupled to the outer flextensional casing such that each cell having a flextensional cell structure and each cell receives an input force and provides an output force that is amplified based on the input force. The apparatus further includes a piezoelectric stack coupled to each cell such that the piezoelectric stack of each cell provides piezoelectric energy based on the output force for each cell. Further, the last cell receives an input force that is the output force from the first cell and the last cell provides an output apparatus force In addition, the piezoelectric energy harvested is based on the output apparatus force. Moreover, the apparatus provides displacement based on the output apparatus force.

Coherent radiation characteristics of modulated electron bunch formed in stack of two plates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gevorgyan, H. L.; Gevorgian, L. A.

2017-07-01

The present article is devoted to the radiation from the electron bunch with modulated density passes through the stack consisting of two plates with different thicknesses and electrodynamic properties. The new elegant expression for the frequency-angular distribution of transition radiation is obtained. Using the existence of resonant frequency at which the longitudinal form-factor of bunch not suppresses radiation coherence and choosing parameters for the stack of plates, one can also avoid suppression of the radiation coherence by transverse form-factor of bunch. The radiation from a bunch with modulated density in the process SASE (self-amplified spontaneous emission) FEL can be partially coherent at a resonant frequency. Then the intense sub monochromatic beam of X-ray photons is formed. On the other hand one can define an important parameter of the bunch density modulation depth which is unknown to this day.

Hydraulically amplified PZT mems actuator

DOEpatents

Miles, Robin R.

2004-11-02

A hydraulically amplified microelectromechanical systems actuator. A piece of piezoelectric material or stacked piezo bimorph is bonded or deposited as a thin film. The piece is operatively connected to a primary membrane. A reservoir is operatively connected to the primary membrane. The reservoir contains a fluid. A membrane is operatively connected to the reservoir. In operation, energizing the piezoelectric material causing the piezoelectric material to bow. Bowing of the piezoelectric material causes movement of the primary membrane. Movement of the primary membrane results in a force in being transmitted to the liquid in the reservoir. The force in the liquid causes movement of the membrane. Movement of the membrane results in an operating actuator.

Potential applications of electron emission membranes in medicine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bilevych, Yevgen; Brunner, Stefan E.; Chan, Hong Wah; Charbon, Edoardo; van der Graaf, Harry; Hagen, Cornelis W.; Nützel, Gert; Pinto, Serge D.; Prodanović, Violeta; Rotman, Daan; Santagata, Fabio; Sarro, Lina; Schaart, Dennis R.; Sinsheimer, John; Smedley, John; Tao, Shuxia; Theulings, Anne M. M. G.

2016-02-01

With a miniaturised stack of transmission dynodes, a noise free amplifier is being developed for the detection of single free electrons, with excellent time- and 2D spatial resolution and efficiency. With this generic technology, a new family of detectors for individual elementary particles may become possible. Potential applications of such electron emission membranes in medicine are discussed.

49 CFR 178.606 - Stacking test.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 49 Transportation 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Stacking test. 178.606 Section 178.606... Packagings and Packages § 178.606 Stacking test. (a) General. All packaging design types other than bags must be subjected to a stacking test. (b) Number of test samples. Three test samples are required for each...

Assessment of the LV-C2 Stack Sampling Probe Location for Compliance with ANSI/HPS N13.1-1999

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Glissmeyer, John A.; Antonio, Ernest J.; Flaherty, Julia E.

2015-09-01

This document reports on a series of tests conducted to assess the proposed air sampling location for the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) Low-Activity Waste (LAW) C2V (LV-C2) exhaust stack with respect to the applicable criteria regarding the placement of an air sampling probe. Federal regulations require that a sampling probe be located in the exhaust stack according to the criteria established by the American National Standards Institute/Health Physics Society (ANSI/HPS) N13.1-1999, Sampling and Monitoring Releases of Airborne Radioactive Substances from the Stack and Ducts of Nuclear Facilities. These criteria address the capability of the sampling probemore » to extract a sample that represents the effluent stream. The tests were conducted on the LV-C2 scale model system. Based on the scale model tests, the location proposed for the air sampling probe in the scale model stack meets the requirements of the ANSI/HPS N13.1-1999 standard for velocity uniformity, flow angle, gas tracer and particle tracer uniformity. Additional velocity uniformity and flow angle tests on the actual stack will be necessary during cold startup to confirm the validity of the scale model results in representing the actual stack.« less

Comparative study on sample stacking by moving reaction boundary formed with weak acid and weak or strong base in capillary electrophoresis: II. Experiments.

PubMed

Zhang, Wei; Fan, Liuyin; Shao, Jing; Li, Si; Li, Shan; Cao, Chengxi

2011-04-15

To demonstrate the theoretic method on the stacking of zwitterion with moving reaction boundary (MRB) in the accompanying paper, the relevant experiments were performed. The experimental results quantitatively show that (1) MRB velocity, including the comparisons between MRB and zwitterionic velocities, possesses key importance to the design of MRB stacking; (2) a much long front alkaline plug without sample should be injected before the sample injection for a complete stacking of zwitterion if sample buffer is prepared with strong base, conversely no such plug is needed if using a weak base as the sample buffer with proper concentration and pH value; (3) the presence of salt in MRB system holds dramatic effect on the MRB stacking if sample solution is a strong base, but has no effect if a weak alkali is used as sample solution; (4) all of the experiments of this paper, including the previous work, quantitatively manifest the theory and predictions shown in the accompanying paper. In addition, the so-called derivative MRB-induced re-stacking and transient FASI-induced re-stacking were also observed during the experiments, and the relevant mechanisms were briefly demonstrated with the results. The theory and its calculation procedures developed in the accompanying paper can be well used for the predictions to the MRB stacking of zwitterion in CE. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultrasonic/Sonic Impacting Penetrators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bao, Xiaoqi; Bar-Cohen, Yoseph; Chang, Zensheu; Sherrit, Stewart; Stark, Randall A.

2008-01-01

Ultrasonic/sonic impacting penetrators (USIPs) are recent additions to the series of apparatuses based on ultrasonic/sonic drill corers (USDCs). A USIP enables a rod probe to penetrate packed soil or another substance of similar consistency, without need to apply a large axial force that could result in buckling of the probe or in damage to some buried objects. USIPs were conceived for use in probing and analyzing soil to depths of tens of centimeters in the vicinity of buried barrels containing toxic waste, without causing rupture of the barrels. USIPs could also be used for other purposes, including, for example, searching for pipes, barrels, or other hard objects buried in soil; and detecting land mines. USDCs and other apparatuses based on USDCs have been described in numerous previous NASA Tech Briefs articles. The ones reported previously were designed, variously, for boring into, and/or acquiring samples of, rock or other hard, brittle materials of geological interest. To recapitulate: A USDC can be characterized as a lightweight, low-power, piezoelectrically driven jackhammer in which ultrasonic and sonic vibrations are generated and coupled to a tool bit. As shown in the figure, a basic USDC includes a piezoelectric stack, a backing and a horn connected to the stack, a free mass (free in the sense that it can slide axially a short distance between the horn and the shoulder of tool bit), and a tool bit, i.e., probe for USIP. The piezoelectric stack is driven at the resonance frequency of the stack/horn/backing assembly to create ultrasonic vibrations that are mechanically amplified by the horn. To prevent fracture during operation, the piezoelectric stack is held in compression by a bolt. The bouncing of the free mass between the horn and the tool bit at sonic frequencies generates hammering actions to the bit that are more effective for drilling than is the microhammering action of ultrasonic vibrations in ordinary ultrasonic drills. The hammering actions are so effective that the axial force needed to make the tool bit advance into the material of interest is much smaller than in ordinary twist drilling, ultrasonic drilling, or ordinary steady pushing.

Amplified fluorescent aptasensor through catalytic recycling for highly sensitive detection of ochratoxin A.

PubMed

Wei, Yin; Zhang, Ji; Wang, Xu; Duan, Yixiang

2015-03-15

This paper describes a novel approach utilizing nano-graphite-aptamer hybrid and DNase I for the amplified detection of ochratoxin A (OTA) for the first time. Nano-graphite can effectively quench the fluorescence of carboxyfluorescein (FAM) labeled OTA specific aptamer due to their strong π-π; stacking interactions; while upon OTA addition, it will bind with aptamer to fold into an OTA-aptamerG-quadruplex structure, which does not adsorb on the surface of nano-graphite and thus retains the dye fluorescence. Meanwhile, the G-quadruplex structure can be cleaved by DNase I, and in such case OTA is delivered from the complex. The released OTA then binds other FAM-labeled aptamers on the nano-graphite surface, and touches off another target recycling, resulting in the successive release of dye-labeled aptamers from the nano-graphite, which leads to significant amplification of the signal. Under the optimized conditions, the present amplified sensing system exhibits high sensitivity toward OTA with a limit of detection of 20nM (practical measurement), which is about 100-fold higher than that of traditional unamplified homogeneous assay. Our developed method also showed high selectivity against other interference molecules and can be applied for the detection of OTA in real red wine samples. The proposed assay is simple, cost-effective, and might open a door for the development of new assays for other biomolecules. This aptasensor is of great practical importance in food safety and could be widely extended to the detection of other toxins by replacing the sequence of the recognition aptamer. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tests of a High Temperature Sample Conditioner for the Waste Treatment Plant LV-S2, LV-S3, HV-S3A and HV-S3B Exhaust Systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Flaherty, Julia E.; Glissmeyer, John A.

2015-03-18

Tests were performed to evaluate a sample conditioning unit for stack monitoring at Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) exhaust stacks with elevated air temperatures. The LV-S2, LV-S3, HV-S3A and HV-S3B exhaust stacks are expected to have elevated air temperature and dew point. At these emission points, exhaust temperatures are too high to deliver the air sample directly to the required stack monitoring equipment. As a result, a sample conditioning system is considered to cool and dry the air prior to its delivery to the stack monitoring system. The method proposed for the sample conditioning is a dilutionmore » system that will introduce cooler, dry air to the air sample stream. This method of sample conditioning is meant to reduce the sample temperature while avoiding condensation of moisture in the sample stream. An additional constraint is that the ANSI/HPS N13.1-1999 standard states that at least 50% of the 10 μm aerodynamic diameter (AD) particles present in the stack free stream must be delivered to the sample collector. In other words, depositional loss of particles should be limited to 50% in the sampling, transport, and conditioning systems. Based on estimates of particle penetration through the LV-S3 sampling system, the diluter should perform with about 80% penetration or better to ensure that the total sampling system passes the 50% or greater penetration criterion.« less

Assessment of the LV-S2 & LV-S3 Stack Sampling Probe Locations for Compliance with ANSI/HPS N13.1-1999

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Glissmeyer, John A.; Antonio, Ernest J.; Flaherty, Julia E.

2014-09-30

This document reports on a series of tests conducted to assess the proposed air sampling locations for the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) Group 1-2A exhaust stacks with respect to the applicable criteria regarding the placement of an air sampling probe. The LV-C2, LV-S2, and LV-S3 exhaust stacks were tested together as a group (Test Group 1-2A). This report only covers the results of LV-S2 and LV-S3; LV-C2 will be reported on separately. Federal regulations1 require that a sampling probe be located in the exhaust stack according to the criteria established by the American National Standards Institute/Healthmore » Physics Society (ANSI/HPS) N13.1-1999, Sampling and Monitoring Releases of Airborne Radioactive Substances from the Stack and Ducts of Nuclear Facilities. 2 These criteria address the capability of the sampling probe to extract a sample that represents the effluent stream.« less

Method for monitoring stack gases for uranium activity

DOEpatents

Beverly, C.R.; Ernstberger, E.G.

1985-07-03

A method for monitoring the stack gases of a purge cascade of gaseous diffusion plant for uranium activity. A sample stream is taken from the stack gases and contacted with a volume of moisture-laden air for converting trace levels of uranium hexafluoride, if any, in the stack gases into particulate uranyl fluoride. A continuous strip of filter paper from a supply roll is passed through this sampling stream to intercept and gather any uranyl fluoride in the sampling stream. This filter paper is then passed by an alpha scintillation counting device where any radioactivity on the filter paper is sensed so as to provide a continuous monitoring of the gas stream for activity indicative of the uranium content in the stack gases. 1 fig.

Method for monitoring stack gases for uranium activity

DOEpatents

Beverly, Claude R.; Ernstberger, Harold G.

1988-01-01

A method for monitoring the stack gases of a purge cascade of a gaseous diffusion plant for uranium activity. A sample stream is taken from the stack gases and contacted with a volume of moisture-laden air for converting trace levels of uranium hexafluoride, if any, in the stack gases into particulate uranyl fluoride. A continuous strip of filter paper from a supply roll is passed through this sampling stream to intercept and gather any uranyl fluoride in the sampling stream. This filter paper is then passed by an alpha scintillation counting device where any radioactivity on the filter paper is sensed so as to provide a continuous monitoring of the gas stream for activity indicative of the uranium content in the stack gases.

Electrophoretic analysis of biomarkers using capillary modification with gold nanoparticles embedded in a polycation and boron doped diamond electrode.

PubMed

Zhou, Lin; Glennon, Jeremy D; Luong, John H T

2010-08-15

Field-amplified sample stacking using a fused silica capillary coated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) embedded in poly(diallyl dimethylammonium) chloride (PDDA) has been investigated for the electrophoretic separation of indoxyl sulfate, homovanillic acid (HVA), and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA). AuNPs (27 nm) exhibit ionic and hydrophobic interactions, as well as hydrogen bonding with the PDDA network to form a stable layer on the internal wall of the capillary. This approach reverses electro-osmotic flow allowing for fast migration of the analytes while retarding other endogenous compounds including ascorbic acid, uric acid, catecholamines, and indoleamines. Notably, the two closely related biomarkers of clinical significance, HVA and VMA, displayed differential interaction with PDDA-AuNPs which enabled the separation of this pair. The detection limit of the three analytes obtained by using a boron doped diamond electrode was approximately 75 nM, which was significantly below their normal physiological levels in biological fluids. This combined separation and detection scheme was applied to the direct analysis of these analytes and other interfering chemicals including uric and ascorbic acids in urine samples without off-line sample treatment or preconcentration.

Study on the potential application of salivary inorganic anions in clinical diagnosis by capillary electrophoresis coupled with contactless conductivity detection.

PubMed

Guo, Lin; Wang, Yu; Zheng, Yiliang; Huang, Zhipeng; Cheng, Yiyuan; Ye, Jiannong; Chu, Qingcui; Huang, Dongping

2016-03-01

A capillary electrophoresis approach with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection method has been developed for the determination of inorganic metabolites (thiocyanate, nitrite and nitrate) in human saliva. Field amplified sample injection, as a simple sample stacking technique, was used in conjunction for online preconcentration of above inorganic anions. A selective separation for the target anions from other coexisting constituents present in saliva could be obtained within 14min in a 10mmol/L His-90mmol/L HAc buffer (pH 3.70) at the separation voltage of -18kV. The limits of detection and limits of quantification of the three analytes were within the range of 3.1-4.9ng/mL (S/N=3) and 10-16ng/mL (S/N=10), respectively. The average recovery data were in the range of 81-108% at three different concentrations. This method provides a simple, rapid and direct approach for metabolite analyses of nitric oxide and cyanide based on noninvasive saliva sample, which presents a potential fast screening tool for clinical test. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Radar interferometry observations of surface displacements during pre- and coeruptive periods at Mount St. Helens, Washington, 1992-2005: Chapter 18 in A volcano rekindled: the renewed eruption of Mount St. Helens, 2004-2006

USGS Publications Warehouse

Poland, Michael; Lu, Zhong; Sherrod, David R.; Scott, William E.; Stauffer, Peter H.

2008-01-01

We analyzed hundreds of interferograms of Mount St. Helens produced from radar images acquired by the ERS-1/2, ENVISAT, and RADARSAT satellites during the 1992-2004 preeruptive and 2004-2005 coeruptive periods for signs of deformation associated with magmatic activity at depth. Individual interferograms were often contaminated by atmospheric delay anomalies; therefore, we employed stacking to amplify any deformation patterns that might exist while minimizing random noise. Preeruptive interferograms show no signs of volcanowide deformation between 1992 and the onset of eruptive activity in 2004. Several patches of subsidence in the 1980 debris-avalanche deposit were identified, however, and are thought to be caused by viscoelastic relaxation of loosely consolidated substrate, consolidation of water-saturated sediment, or melting of buried ice. Coeruptive interferometric stacks are dominated by atmospheric noise, probably because individual interferograms span only short time intervals in 2004 and 2005. Nevertheless, we are confident that at least one of the seven coeruptive stacks we constructed is reliable at about the 1-cm level. This stack suggests deflation of Mount St. Helens driven by contraction of a source beneath the volcano.

Preliminary design of a prototype particulate stack sampler. [For stack gas temperature under 300/sup 0/C

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Elder, J.C.; Littlefield, L.G.; Tillery, M.I.

1978-06-01

A preliminary design of a prototype particulate stack sampler (PPSS) has been prepared, and development of several components is under way. The objective of this Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-sponsored program is to develop and demonstrate a prototype sampler with capabilities similar to EPA Method 5 apparatus but without some of the more troublesome aspects. Features of the new design include higher sampling flow; display (on demand) of all variables and periodic calculation of percent isokinetic, sample volume, and stack velocity; automatic control of probe and filter heaters; stainless steel surfaces in contact with the sample stream; single-point particle size separationmore » in the probe nozzle; null-probe capability in the nozzle; and lower weight in the components of the sampling train. Design considerations will limit use of the PPSS to stack gas temperatures under approximately 300/sup 0/C, which will exclude sampling some high-temperature stacks such as incinerators. Although need for filter weighing has not been eliminated in the new design, introduction of a variable-slit virtual impactor nozzle may eliminate the need for mass analysis of particles washed from the probe. Component development has shown some promise for continuous humidity measurement by an in-line wet-bulb, dry-bulb psychrometer.« less

[Analysis of phthalate esters in plastic-packaging bags on-line sample stacking-microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography].

PubMed

Xiao, Jia; Huang, Ying; Wang, Minyi; Chen, Guonan

2012-09-01

Two convenient, effective, and reproducible methods using microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC)-normal stacking mode (NSM) and reversed electrode polarity stacking mode (REPSM) were developed for the on-line sample stacking of phthalate esters (PAEs). REPSM coupled with MEEKC increased the sensitivity of 937.5 to 7,143 times for four PAEs compared to the conventional MEEKC. The separating conditions in the MEEKC method were studied, and many factors influencing the two sample stacking processes were investigated in detail. The optimum sample matrices for the two stacking methods were as follows: 30 mmol/L sodium cholate (SC) and 30.0 mmol/L borate (pH 8.5). Additionally, sample injections as large as 3.45 kPa x 40 s and 3.45 kPa x 90 s were applied for NSM-MEEKC and REPSM-MEEKC, respectively. The linear relationship and reproducibility were also examined. Under the optimum conditions, the detection limits (S/N = 3) of the PAEs were in the ranges of 0.021 - 0.33 mg/L and 0.7 - 4 microg/L for NSM-MEEKC and REPSM-MEEKC, respectively. The proposed REPSM-MEEKC has been successfully applied to determine PAEs in plastic-packaging bags, and the spiked recoveries were in the range of 89.1% - 105.6% with satisfactory results.

Assessment of the National Research Universal Reactor Proposed New Stack Sampling Probe Location for Compliance with ANSI/HPS N13.1-1999

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Glissmeyer, John A.; Antonio, Ernest J.; Flaherty, Julia E.

2016-02-29

This document reports on a series of tests conducted to assess the proposed air sampling location for the National Research Universal reactor (NRU) complex exhaust stack, located in Chalk River, Ontario, Canada, with respect to the applicable criteria regarding the placement of an air sampling probe. Due to the age of the equipment in the existing monitoring system, and the increasing difficulty in acquiring replacement parts to maintain this equipment, a more up-to-date system is planned to replace the current effluent monitoring system, and a new monitoring location has been proposed. The new sampling probe should be located within themore » exhaust stack according to the criteria established by the American National Standards Institute/Health Physics Society (ANSI/HPS) N13.1-1999, Sampling and Monitoring Releases of Airborne Radioactive Substances from the Stack and Ducts of Nuclear Facilities. These criteria address the capability of the sampling probe to extract a sample that represents the effluent stream. The internal Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) project for this task was 65167, Atomic Energy Canada Ltd. Chalk River Effluent Duct Flow Qualification. The testing described in this document was guided by the Test Plan: Testing of the NRU Stack Air Sampling Position (TP-STMON-032).« less

All solid-state diode pumped Nd:YAG MOPA with stimulated Brillouin phase conjugate mirror

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Offerhaus, H. L.; Godfried, H. P.; Witteman, W. J.

1996-02-01

At the Nederlands Centrum voor Laser Research (NCLR) a 1 kHz diode-pumped Nd:YAG Master Oscillator Power Amplifier (MOPA) chain with a Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS) Phase Conjugate mirror is designed and operated. A small Brewster angle Nd:YAG slab (2 by 2 by 20 mm) is side pumped with 200 μs diode pulses in a stable oscillator. The oscillator is Q-switched and injection seeded with a commercial diode pumped single frequency CW Nd:YAG laser. The output consists of single-transverse, single-longitudinal mode 25 ns FWHM-pulses at 1064 nm. The oscillator slab is imaged on a square aperture that transmits between 3 and 2 mJ (at 100 and 400 Hz, resp.) The aperture is subsequently imaged four times in the amplifier. The amplifier is a 3 by 6 by 60 mm Brewster angle zig-zag slab, pumped by an 80-bar diode stack with pulses up to 250 μs. After the second pass the light is focused in two consecutive cells containing Freon-113 for wave-front reversal in an oscillator/amplifier-setup with a reflectivity of 60%. The light then passes through the amplifier twice more to produce 20 W (at 400 Hz) of output with near diffraction limited beam quality. To increase the output to 50 W at 1 kHz thermal lensing in the oscillator will be reduced.

NASA Tech Briefs, December 2010

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2010-01-01

Topics include: Coherent Frequency Reference System for the NASA Deep Space Network; Diamond Heat-Spreader for Submillimeter-Wave Frequency Multipliers; 180-GHz I-Q Second Harmonic Resistive Mixer MMIC; Ultra-Low-Noise W-Band MMIC Detector Modules; 338-GHz Semiconductor Amplifier Module; Power Amplifier Module with 734-mW Continuous Wave Output Power; Multiple Differential-Amplifier MMICs Embedded in Waveguides; Rapid Corner Detection Using FPGAs; Special Component Designs for Differential-Amplifier MMICs; Multi-Stage System for Automatic Target Recognition; Single-Receiver GPS Phase Bias Resolution; Ultra-Wideband Angle-of-Arrival Tracking Systems; Update on Waveguide-Embedded Differential MMIC Amplifiers; Automation Framework for Flight Dynamics Products Generation; Product Operations Status Summary Metrics; Mars Terrain Generation; Application-Controlled Parallel Asynchronous Input/Output Utility; Planetary Image Geometry Library; Propulsion Design With Freeform Fabrication (PDFF); Economical Fabrication of Thick-Section Ceramic Matrix Composites; Process for Making a Noble Metal on Tin Oxide Catalyst; Stacked Corrugated Horn Rings; Refinements in an Mg/MgH2/H2O-Based Hydrogen Generator; Continuous/Batch Mg/MgH2/H2O-Based Hydrogen Generator; Strain System for the Motion Base Shuttle Mission Simulator; Ko Displacement Theory for Structural Shape Predictions; Pyrotechnic Actuator for Retracting Tubes Between MSL Subsystems; Surface-Enhanced X-Ray Fluorescence; Infrared Sensor on Unmanned Aircraft Transmits Time-Critical Wildfire Data; and Slopes To Prevent Trapping of Bubbles in Microfluidic Channels.

Sampled-time control of a microbial fuel cell stack

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boghani, Hitesh C.; Dinsdale, Richard M.; Guwy, Alan J.; Premier, Giuliano C.

2017-07-01

Research into microbial fuel cells (MFCs) has reached the point where cubic metre-scale systems and stacks are being built and tested. Apart from performance enhancement through catalysis, materials and design, an important research area for industrial applicability is stack control, which can enhance MFCs stack power output. An MFC stack is controlled using a sampled-time digital control strategy, which has the advantage of intermittent operation with consequent power saving, and when used in a hybrid series stack connectivity, can avoid voltage reversals. A MFC stack comprising four tubular MFCs was operated hydraulically in series. Each MFC was connected to an independent controller and the stack was connected electrically in series, creating a hybrid-series connectivity. The voltage of each MFC in the stack was controlled such that the overall series stack voltage generated was the algebraic sum (1.26 V) of the individual MFC voltages (0.32, 0.32, 0.32 and 0.3). The controllers were able to control the individual voltages to the point where 2.52 mA was drawn from the stack at a load of 499.9 Ω (delivering 3.18 mW). The controllers were able to reject the disturbances and perturbations caused by electrical loading, temperature and substrate concentration.

40 CFR 61.53 - Stack sampling.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 8 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Stack sampling. 61.53 Section 61.53 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL... sampling. (a) Mercury ore processing facility. (1) Unless a waiver of emission testing is obtained under...

40 CFR 61.53 - Stack sampling.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 8 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Stack sampling. 61.53 Section 61.53 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL... sampling. (a) Mercury ore processing facility. (1) Unless a waiver of emission testing is obtained under...

The CaGeO3 Ca3Fe2Ge3O12 garnet join: an experimental study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iezzi, Gianluca; Boffa-Ballaran, Tiziana; McCammon, Catherine; Langenhorst, Falko

2005-06-01

Germanate garnets are often used as isostructural analogues of silicate garnets to provide insight into the crystal chemistry and symmetry of the less accessible natural garnet solid solutions. We synthesised two series of germanate garnets at 3 GPa along the joinVIIICa3VI(CaGe)IVGe3O12 VIIICa3VIFe2IVGe3O12 at 900 °C and 1,100 °C. Samples with compositions close to the CaGeO3 end-member consist of tetragonal garnet with a small amount of triclinic CaGe2O5. Samples with nominal compositions between XFe=0.4 and 1.0 consist of a mixture of tetragonal and cubic garnets; whereas, single-phase cubic garnets were obtained for compositions with XFe>1.2 (XFe gives the iron content expressed in atoms per formula unit, and varies between 0 and 2 along the join). Run products which were primarily single-phase garnet were investigated using Mössbauer spectroscopy. Spectra from samples synthesised at 1,100°C consist of one well-resolved doublet that can be assigned to Fe3+ in the octahedral site of the garnet structure. A second doublet, present primarily in samples synthesised at 900°C, can be assigned to Fe2+ at the octahedral sites of the garnet structure. The relative abundance of Fe2+ decreases with increasing iron content. Transmission electron microscopy analyses confirm this tendency and show that the garnets are essentially defect-free. The unit-cell parameters of tetragonal VIIICa3VI(CaGe)IVGe3O3 garnet decrease with increasing synthesis temperature, and the deviation from cubic symmetry becomes smaller. Cubic garnets show a linear decrease of unit-cell parameter with increasing iron content. The results are discussed in the context of iron incorporation into VIIIMg3VI(MgSi)IVSi3O3 majorite.

40 CFR 61.33 - Stack sampling.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 8 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Stack sampling. 61.33 Section 61.33 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL... sampling. (a) Unless a waiver of emission testing is obtained under § 61.13, each owner or operator...

40 CFR 61.33 - Stack sampling.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 8 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Stack sampling. 61.33 Section 61.33 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) AIR PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) NATIONAL... sampling. (a) Unless a waiver of emission testing is obtained under § 61.13, each owner or operator...

Arsenic sulfide layers for dielectric reflection mirrors prepared from solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matějec, Vlastimil; Pedlikova, Jitka; BartoÅ, Ivo; Podrazký, Ondřej

2017-12-01

Chalcogenide materials due to high refractive indices, transparency in the mid-IR spectral region, nonlinear refractive indices, etc, have been employed as fibers and films in different photonic devices such as light amplifiers, optical regenerators, broadband radiation sources. Chalcogenide films can be prepared by physical methods as well as by solution-based techniques in which solutions of chalcogenides in amines are used. This paper presents results on the solution-based fabrication and optical characterization of single arsenic sulfide layers and multilayer stacks containing As2S3 layers together with porous silica layers coated on planar and fiber-optic substrates. Input As2S3 solutions for the layer fabrications were prepared by dissolving As2S3 powder in n-propylamine in a concentration of 0.50 mol/l. These solutions were applied on glass slides by dip-coating method and obtained layers were thermally treated in vacuum at temperatures up to 180 °C. Similar procedure was used for As2S3 layers in multilayer stacks. Such stacks were fabricated by repeating the application of one porous silica layer prepared by the sol-gel method and one As2S3 layer onto glass slides or silica fibers (a diameter of 0.3 mm) by using the dip-coating method. It has been found that the curing process of the applied layers has to be carefully controlled in order to obtain stacks with three pairs of such layers. Single arsenic and porous silica layers were characterized by optical microscopy, and by measuring their transmission spectra in a range of 200-2500 nm. Thicknesses and refractive indices were estimated from the spectra. Transmission spectra of planar multilayer stacks were measured, too. Interference bands have been determined from optical measurements on the multilayer stacks with a minimum transmittance of about 50% which indicates the possibility of using such stacks as reflecting mirrors.

Recovery and Determination of Adsorbed Technetium on Savannah River Site Charcoal Stack Samples

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lahoda, Kristy G.; Engelmann, Mark D.; Farmer, Orville T.

2008-03-01

Experimental results are provided for the sample analyses for technetium (Tc) in charcoal samples placed in-line with a Savannah River Site (SRS) processing stack effluent stream as a part of an environmental surveillance program. The method for Tc removal from charcoal was based on that originally developed with high purity charcoal. Presented is the process that allowed for the quantitative analysis of 99Tc in SRS charcoal stack samples with and without 97Tc as a tracer. The results obtained with the method using the 97Tc tracer quantitatively confirm the results obtained with no tracer added. All samples contain 99Tc at themore » pg g-1 level.« less

Generic particulate-monitoring system for retrofit to Hanford exhaust stacks

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Camman, J.W.; Carbaugh, E.H.

1982-11-01

Evaluations of 72 sampling and monitoring systems were performed at Hanford as the initial phase of a program to upgrade such systems. Each evaluation included determination of theoretical sampling efficiencies for particle sizes ranging from 0.5 to 10 micrometers aerodynamic equivalent diameter, addressing anisokinetic bias, sample transport line losses, and collector device efficiency. Upgrades needed to meet current Department of Energy guidance for effluent sampling and monitoring were identified, and a cost for each upgrade was estimated. A relative priority for each system's upgrade was then established based on evaluation results, current operational status, and future plans for the facilitymore » being exhausted. Common system upgrade requirements lead to the development of a generic design for common components of an exhaust stack sampling and monitoring system for airborne radioactive particulates. The generic design consists of commercially available off-the-shelf components to the extent practical and will simplify future stack sampling and monitoring system design, fabrication, and installation efforts. Evaluation results and their significance to system upgrades are empasized. A brief discussion of the analytical models used and experience to date with the upgrade program is included. Development of the generic stack sampling and monitoring system design is outlined. Generic system design features and limitations are presented. Requirements for generic system retrofitting to existing exhaust stacks are defined and benefits derived from generic system application are discussed.« less

Modified Coaxial Probe Feeds for Layered Antennas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fink, Patrick W.; Chu, Andrew W.; Dobbins, Justin A.; Lin, Greg Y.

2006-01-01

In a modified configuration of a coaxial probe feed for a layered printed-circuit antenna (e.g., a microstrip antenna), the outer conductor of the coaxial cable extends through the thickness of at least one dielectric layer and is connected to both the ground-plane conductor and a radiator-plane conductor. This modified configuration simplifies the incorporation of such radio-frequency integrated circuits as power dividers, filters, and low-noise amplifiers. It also simplifies the design and fabrication of stacked antennas with aperture feeds.

Stack Flow Rate Changes and the ANSI/N13.1-1999 Qualification Criteria: Application to the Hanford Canister Storage Building Stack

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Flaherty, Julia E.; Glissmeyer, John A.

2016-02-29

The Canister Storage Building (CSB), located in the 200-East Area of the Hanford Site, is a 42,000 square foot facility used to store spent nuclear fuel from past activities at the Hanford Site. Because the facility has the potential to emit radionuclides into the environment, its ventilation exhaust stack has been equipped with an air monitoring system. Subpart H of the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants requires that a sampling probe be located in the exhaust stack in accordance with criteria established by the American National Standards Institute/Health Physics Society Standard N13.1-1999, Sampling and Monitoring Releases of Airbornemore » Radioactive Substances from the Stack and Ducts of Nuclear Facilities.« less

Quantum DOT IR Photodetectors

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-07-01

transimpedance amplifier (CTIA), an output sample and hold, and a switched output buffer. Polaris Sensor Technology designed the unit cell that has this...hold, a dual gain, capacitive transimpedance amplifier (CTIA), an output sample and hold, and a switched output buffer. 6 The detector bias... transimpedance amplifier (CTIA) is used to integrate the detector’s photocurrent. It is built around a differential amplifier , X3, shown in Figure 3. The

Microchannel neural interface manufacture by stacking silicone and metal foil laminae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lancashire, Henry T.; Vanhoestenberghe, Anne; Pendegrass, Catherine J.; Ajam, Yazan Al; Magee, Elliot; Donaldson, Nick; Blunn, Gordon W.

2016-06-01

Objective. Microchannel neural interfaces (MNIs) overcome problems with recording from peripheral nerves by amplifying signals independent of node of Ranvier position. Selective recording and stimulation using an MNI requires good insulation between microchannels and a high electrode density. We propose that stacking microchannel laminae will improve selectivity over single layer MNI designs due to the increase in electrode number and an improvement in microchannel sealing. Approach. This paper describes a manufacturing method for creating MNIs which overcomes limitations on electrode connectivity and microchannel sealing. Laser cut silicone—metal foil laminae were stacked using plasma bonding to create an array of microchannels containing tripolar electrodes. Electrodes were DC etched and electrode impedance and cyclic voltammetry were tested. Main results. MNIs with 100 μm and 200 μm diameter microchannels were manufactured. High electrode density MNIs are achievable with electrodes present in every microchannel. Electrode impedances of 27.2 ± 19.8 kΩ at 1 kHz were achieved. Following two months of implantation in Lewis rat sciatic nerve, micro-fascicles were observed regenerating through the MNI microchannels. Significance. Selective MNIs with the peripheral nervous system may allow upper limb amputees to control prostheses intuitively.

Progress and process improvements for multiple electron-beam direct write

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Servin, Isabelle; Pourteau, Marie-Line; Pradelles, Jonathan; Essomba, Philippe; Lattard, Ludovic; Brandt, Pieter; Wieland, Marco

2017-06-01

Massively parallel electron beam direct write (MP-EBDW) lithography is a cost-effective patterning solution, complementary to optical lithography, for a variety of applications ranging from 200 to 14 nm. This paper will present last process/integration results to achieve targets for both 28 and 45 nm nodes. For 28 nm node, we mainly focus on line-width roughness (LWR) mitigation by playing with stack, new resist platform and bias design strategy. The lines roughness was reduced by using thicker spin-on-carbon (SOC) hardmask (-14%) or non-chemically amplified (non-CAR) resist with bias writing strategy implementation (-20%). Etch transfer into trilayer has been demonstrated by preserving pattern fidelity and profiles for both CAR and non-CAR resists. For 45 nm node, we demonstrate the electron-beam process integration within optical CMOS flows. Resists based on KrF platform show a full compatibility with multiple stacks to fit with conventional optical flow used for critical layers. Electron-beam resist performances have been optimized to fit the specifications in terms of resolution, energy latitude, LWR and stack compatibility. The patterning process overview showing the latest achievements is mature enough to enable starting the multi-beam technology pre-production mode.

Simultaneous determination of low-molecular-weight organic acids and chlorinated acid herbicides in environmental water by a portable CE system with contactless conductivity detection.

PubMed

Xu, Yan; Wang, Weilong; Li, Sam Fong Yau

2007-05-01

This report describes a method to simultaneously determine 11 low-molecular-weight (LMW) organic acids and 16 chlorinated acid herbicides within a single run by a portable CE system with contactless conductivity detection (CCD) in a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-coated capillary. Under the optimized condition, the LODs of CE-CCD ranged from 0.056 to 0.270 ppm, which were better than for indirect UV (IUV) detection of the 11 LMW organic acids or UV detection of the 16 chlorinated acid herbicides. Combined with an on-line field-amplified sample stacking (FASS) procedure, sensitivity enhancement of 632- to 1078-fold was achieved, with satisfactory reproducibility (RSDs of migration times less than 2.2%, and RSDs of peak areas less than 5.1%). The FASS-CE-CCD method was successfully applied to determine the two groups of acidic pollutants in two kinds of environmental water samples. The portable CE-CCD system shows advantages such as simplicity, cost effectiveness, and miniaturization. Therefore, the method presented in this report has great potential for onsite analysis of various pollutants at the trace level.

Stack Characterization in CryoSat Level1b SAR/SARin Baseline C

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scagliola, Michele; Fornari, Marco; Di Giacinto, Andrea; Bouffard, Jerome; Féménias, Pierre; Parrinello, Tommaso

2015-04-01

CryoSat was launched on the 8th April 2010 and is the first European ice mission dedicated to the monitoring of precise changes in the thickness of polar ice sheets and floating sea ice. CryoSat is the first altimetry mission operating in SAR mode and it carries an innovative radar altimeter called the Synthetic Aperture Interferometric Altimeter (SIRAL), that transmits pulses at a high pulse repetition frequency thus making the received echoes phase coherent and suitable for azimuth processing. The current CryoSat IPF (Instrument Processing Facility), Baseline B, was released in operation in February 2012. After more than 2 years of development, the release in operations of the Baseline C is expected in the first half of 2015. It is worth recalling here that the CryoSat SAR/SARin IPF1 generates 20Hz waveforms in correspondence of an approximately equally spaced set of ground locations on the Earth surface, i.e. surface samples, and that a surface sample gathers a collection of single-look echoes coming from the processed bursts during the time of visibility. Thus, for a given surface sample, the stack can be defined as the collection of all the single-look echoes pointing to the current surface sample, after applying all the necessary range corrections. The L1B product contains the power average of all the single-look echoes in the stack: the multi-looked L1B waveform. This reduces the data volume, while removing some information contained in the single looks, useful for characterizing the surface and modelling the L1B waveform. To recover such information, a set of parameters has been added to the L1B product: the stack characterization or beam behaviour parameters. The stack characterization, already included in previous Baselines, has been reviewed and expanded in Baseline C. This poster describes all the stack characterization parameters, detailing what they represent and how they have been computed. In details, such parameters can be summarized in: - Stack statistical parameters, such as skewness and kurtosis - Look angle (i.e. the angle at which the surfaces sample is seen with respect to the nadir direction of the satellite) and Doppler angle (i.e. the angle at which the surfaces sample is seen with respect to the normal to the velocity vector) for the first and the last single-look echoes in the stack. - Number of single-looks averaged in the stack (in Baseline C a stack-weighting has been applied that reduces the number of looks). With the correct use of these parameters, users will be able to retrieve some of the 'lost' information contained within the stack and fully exploit the L1B product.

Partition/Ion-Exclusion Chromatographic Ion Stacking for the Analysis of Trace Anions in Water and Salt Samples by Ion Chromatography.

PubMed

Akter, Fouzia; Saito, Shingo; Tasaki-Handa, Yuiko; Shibukawa, Masami

2018-01-01

A new analytical methodology for a simple and efficient on-line preconcentration of trace inorganic anions in water and salt samples prior to ion chromatographic determination is proposed. The preconcentration method is based on partition/ion-exclusion chromatographic ion stacking (PIEC ion stacking) with a hydrophilic polymer gel column containing a small amount of fixed anionic charges. The developed on-line PIEC ion stacking-ion chromatography method was validated by recovery experiments for the determination of nitrate in tap water in terms of both accuracy and precision, and the results showed the reliability of the method. The method proposed was also successfully applied to the determination of trace impurity nitrite and nitrate in reagent-grade salts of sodium sulfate. A low background level can be achieved since pure water is used as the eluant for the PIEC ion stacking. It is possible to reach sensitive detection at sub-μg L -1 levels by on-line PIEC ion stacking-ion chromatography.

Wide modulation bandwidth terahertz detection in 130 nm CMOS technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nahar, Shamsun; Shafee, Marwah; Blin, Stéphane; Pénarier, Annick; Nouvel, Philippe; Coquillat, Dominique; Safwa, Amr M. E.; Knap, Wojciech; Hella, Mona M.

2016-11-01

Design, manufacturing and measurements results for silicon plasma wave transistors based wireless communication wideband receivers operating at 300 GHz carrier frequency are presented. We show the possibility of Si-CMOS based integrated circuits, in which by: (i) specific physics based plasma wave transistor design allowing impedance matching to the antenna and the amplifier, (ii) engineering the shape of the patch antenna through a stacked resonator approach and (iii) applying bandwidth enhancement strategies to the design of integrated broadband amplifier, we achieve an integrated circuit of the 300 GHz carrier frequency receiver for wireless wideband operation up to/over 10 GHz. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first demonstration of low cost 130 nm Si-CMOS technology, plasma wave transistors based fast/wideband integrated receiver operating at 300 GHz atmospheric window. These results pave the way towards future large scale (cost effective) silicon technology based terahertz wireless communication receivers.

A low-noise wide-dynamic-range event-driven detector using SOI pixel technology for high-energy particle imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shrestha, Sumeet; Kamehama, Hiroki; Kawahito, Shoji; Yasutomi, Keita; Kagawa, Keiichiro; Takeda, Ayaki; Tsuru, Takeshi Go; Arai, Yasuo

2015-08-01

This paper presents a low-noise wide-dynamic-range pixel design for a high-energy particle detector in astronomical applications. A silicon on insulator (SOI) based detector is used for the detection of wide energy range of high energy particles (mainly for X-ray). The sensor has a thin layer of SOI CMOS readout circuitry and a thick layer of high-resistivity detector vertically stacked in a single chip. Pixel circuits are divided into two parts; signal sensing circuit and event detection circuit. The event detection circuit consisting of a comparator and logic circuits which detect the incidence of high energy particle categorizes the incident photon it into two energy groups using an appropriate energy threshold and generate a two-bit code for an event and energy level. The code for energy level is then used for selection of the gain of the in-pixel amplifier for the detected signal, providing a function of high-dynamic-range signal measurement. The two-bit code for the event and energy level is scanned in the event scanning block and the signals from the hit pixels only are read out. The variable-gain in-pixel amplifier uses a continuous integrator and integration-time control for the variable gain. The proposed design allows the small signal detection and wide dynamic range due to the adaptive gain technique and capability of correlated double sampling (CDS) technique of kTC noise canceling of the charge detector.

49 CFR 178.606 - Stacking test.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) SPECIFICATIONS FOR PACKAGINGS Testing of Non-bulk.... (c) Test method—(1) Design qualification testing. The test sample must be subjected to a force... might be stacked on it during transport; where the contents of the test sample are non-hazardous liquids...

49 CFR 178.606 - Stacking test.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) SPECIFICATIONS FOR PACKAGINGS Testing of Non-bulk.... (c) Test method—(1) Design qualification testing. The test sample must be subjected to a force... might be stacked on it during transport; where the contents of the test sample are non-hazardous liquids...

49 CFR 178.606 - Stacking test.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) SPECIFICATIONS FOR PACKAGINGS Testing of Non-bulk.... (c) Test method—(1) Design qualification testing. The test sample must be subjected to a force... might be stacked on it during transport; where the contents of the test sample are non-hazardous liquids...

Dry matter losses and quality changes during short rotation coppice willow storage in chip or rod form.

PubMed

Whittaker, Carly; Yates, Nicola E; Powers, Stephen J; Misselbrook, Tom; Shield, Ian

2018-05-01

This study compares dry matter losses and quality changes during the storage of SRC willow as chips and as rods. A wood chip stack consisting of approximately 74 tonnes of fresh biomass, or 31 tonnes dry matter (DM) was built after harvesting in the spring. Three weeks later, four smaller stacks of rods with an average weight of 0.8 tonnes, or 0.4 tonnes DM were built. During the course of the experiment temperature recorders placed in the stacks found that the wood chip pile reached 60 °C within 10 days of construction, but the piles of rods remained mostly at ambient temperatures. Dry matter losses were calculated by using pre-weighed independent samples within the stacks and by weighing the whole stack before and after storage. After 6 months the wood chip stack showed a DM loss of between 19.8 and 22.6%, and mean losses of 23.1% were measured from the 17 independent samples. In comparison, the rod stacks showed an average stack DM loss of between 0 and 9%, and between 1.4% and 10.6% loss from the independent samples. Analysis of the stored material suggests that storing willow in small piles of rods produces a higher quality fuel in terms of lower moisture and ash content; however, it has a higher fine content compared to storage in chip form. Therefore, according to the two storage methods tested here, there may be a compromise between maximising the net dry matter yield from SRC willow and the final fine content of the fuel.

Sample stacking of fast-moving anions in capillary zone electrophoresis with pH-suppressed electroosmotic flow.

PubMed

Quirino, J P; Terabe, S

1999-07-30

On-line sample concentration of fast moving inorganic anions by large volume sample stacking (LVSS) and field enhanced sample injection (FESI) with a water plug under acidic conditions is presented. Detection sensitivity enhancements were around 100 and 1000-fold for LVSS and FESI, respectively. However, reproducibility and linearity of response in the LVSS approach is superior compared to the FESI approach.

A Genetic Linkage Map of Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) Based on Random Amplified Polymorphic DNAs

Treesearch

C.D. Nelson; Thomas L. Kubisiak; M. Stine; W.L. Nance

1994-01-01

Eight megagametophyte DNA samples from a single longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) tree were used to screen 576 oligonucleotide primers for random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fragments. Primers amplifying repeatable polymorphic fragments were further characterized within a sample of 72 megagametophytes from the same tree. Fragments...

Erbium:ytterbium fiber-laser system delivering watt-level femtosecond pulses using divided pulse amplification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herda, Robert; Zach, Armin

2015-03-01

We present an Erbium:Ytterbium codoped fiber-amplifer system based on Divided-Pulses-Amplification (DPA) for ultrashort pulses. The output from a saturable-absorber mode-locked polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber oscillator is amplified in a PM normal-dispersion Erbium-doped fiber. After this stage the pulses are positively chirped and have a duration of 2.0 ps at an average power of 93 mW. A stack of 5 birefringent Yttrium-Vanadate crystals divides these pulses 32 times. We amplify these pulses using a double-clad Erbium:Ytterbium codoped fiber pumped through a multimode fiber combiner. The pulses double pass the amplifier and recombine in the crystals using non-reciprocal polarization 90° rotation by a Faraday rotating mirror. Pulses with a duration of 144 fs are obtained after separation from the input beam using a polarizing beam splitter cube. These pulses have an average power of 1.85 W at a repetition rate of 80 MHz. The generation of femtosecond pulses directly from the amplifier was enabled by a positively chirped seed pulse, normally dispersive Yttrium-Vanadate crystals, and anomalously dispersive amplifier fibers. Efficient frequency doubling to 780 nm with an average power of 725 mW and a pulse duration of 156 fs is demonstrated. In summary we show a DPA setup that enables the generation of femtosecond pulses at watt-level at 1560 nm without the need for further external dechirping and demonstrate a good pulse quality by efficient frequency doubling. Due to the use of PM fiber components and a Faraday rotator the setup is environmentally stable.

Structure of ice crystallized from supercooled water

PubMed Central

Malkin, Tamsin L.; Murray, Benjamin J.; Brukhno, Andrey V.; Anwar, Jamshed; Salzmann, Christoph G.

2012-01-01

The freezing of water to ice is fundamentally important to fields as diverse as cloud formation to cryopreservation. At ambient conditions, ice is considered to exist in two crystalline forms: stable hexagonal ice and metastable cubic ice. Using X-ray diffraction data and Monte Carlo simulations, we show that ice that crystallizes homogeneously from supercooled water is neither of these phases. The resulting ice is disordered in one dimension and therefore possesses neither cubic nor hexagonal symmetry and is instead composed of randomly stacked layers of cubic and hexagonal sequences. We refer to this ice as stacking-disordered ice I. Stacking disorder and stacking faults have been reported earlier for metastable ice I, but only for ice crystallizing in mesopores and in samples recrystallized from high-pressure ice phases rather than in water droplets. Review of the literature reveals that almost all ice that has been identified as cubic ice in previous diffraction studies and generated in a variety of ways was most likely stacking-disordered ice I with varying degrees of stacking disorder. These findings highlight the need to reevaluate the physical and thermodynamic properties of this metastable ice as a function of the nature and extent of stacking disorder using well-characterized samples. PMID:22232652

Structure of ice crystallized from supercooled water.

PubMed

Malkin, Tamsin L; Murray, Benjamin J; Brukhno, Andrey V; Anwar, Jamshed; Salzmann, Christoph G

2012-01-24

The freezing of water to ice is fundamentally important to fields as diverse as cloud formation to cryopreservation. At ambient conditions, ice is considered to exist in two crystalline forms: stable hexagonal ice and metastable cubic ice. Using X-ray diffraction data and Monte Carlo simulations, we show that ice that crystallizes homogeneously from supercooled water is neither of these phases. The resulting ice is disordered in one dimension and therefore possesses neither cubic nor hexagonal symmetry and is instead composed of randomly stacked layers of cubic and hexagonal sequences. We refer to this ice as stacking-disordered ice I. Stacking disorder and stacking faults have been reported earlier for metastable ice I, but only for ice crystallizing in mesopores and in samples recrystallized from high-pressure ice phases rather than in water droplets. Review of the literature reveals that almost all ice that has been identified as cubic ice in previous diffraction studies and generated in a variety of ways was most likely stacking-disordered ice I with varying degrees of stacking disorder. These findings highlight the need to reevaluate the physical and thermodynamic properties of this metastable ice as a function of the nature and extent of stacking disorder using well-characterized samples.

Rapid and Nondestructive Identification of Polytypism and Stacking Sequences in Few-Layer Molybdenum Diselenide by Raman Spectroscopy

DOE PAGES

Lu, Xin; Utama, M. Iqbal Bakti; Lin, Junhao; ...

2015-07-02

Various combinations of interlayer shear modes emerge in few-layer molybdenum diselenide grown by chemical vapor deposition depending on the stacking configuration of the sample. Raman measurements may also reveal polytypism and stacking faults, as supported by first principles calculations and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Thus, Raman spectroscopy is an important tool in probing stacking-dependent properties in few-layer 2D materials.

Analysis of anabolic androgenic steroids in urine by full-capillary sample injection combined with a sweeping CE stacking method.

PubMed

Wang, Chun-Chi; Cheng, Shu-Fang; Cheng, Hui-Ling; Chen, Yen-Ling

2013-02-01

This study describes an on-line stacking CE approach by sweeping with whole capillary sample filling for analyzing five anabolic androgenic steroids in urine samples. The five anabolic steroids for detection were androstenedione, testosterone, epitestosterone, boldenone, and clostebol. Anabolic androgenic steroids are abused in sport doping because they can promote muscle growth. Therefore, a sensitive detection method is imperatively required for monitoring the urine samples of athletes. In this research, an interesting and reliable stacking capillary electrophoresis method was established for analysis of anabolic steroids in urine. After liquid-liquid extraction by n-hexane, the supernatant was dried and reconstituted with 30 mM phosphate buffer (pH 5.00) and loaded into the capillary by hydrodynamic injection (10 psi, 99.9 s). The stacking and separation were simultaneously accomplished at -20 kV in phosphate buffer (30 mM, pH 5.0) containing 100 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate and 40 % methanol. During the method validation, calibration curves were linear (r≥0.990) over a range of 50-1,000 ng/mL for the five analytes. In the evaluation of precision and accuracy for this method, the absolute values of the RSD and the RE in the intra-day (n=3) and inter-day (n=5) analyses were all less than 6.6 %. The limit of detection for the five analytes was 30 ng/mL (S/N=5, sampling 99.9 s at 10 psi). Compared with simple MECK, this stacking method possessed a 108- to 175-fold increase in sensitivity. This simple and sensitive stacking method could be used as a powerful tool for monitoring the illegal use of doping.

Compliance Testing of Grissom AFB Central Heating Plant Coal-Fired Boilers 3, 4, and 5, Grissom AFB, Indiana

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-06-01

to a common breeching and can be routed to the wet -scrubber or to a bypass stack. The scrubber is a double-alkali flue - gas desulfurization system...the ambient air Bw. = proportion by volume of water vapor in F, = a factor representing a ratio of the vol. the stack gas . ume of wet flue gases...Scrubbers and Bypass Stacks 4 3 Flue Gas Flow Diagram 5 4 ORSAT Sampling Train 8 5 ORSAT Apparatus 8 6 Particulate Sampling Train 9 Table 1 Emission

Modular supramolecular approach for co-crystallization of donors and acceptors into ordered networks

DOEpatents

Stupp, Samuel I.; Stoddart, J. Fraser; Shveyd, Alex K.; Tayi, Alok S.; Sue, Andrew C. H.; Narayanan, Ashwin

2016-09-20

Organic charge-transfer (CT) co-crystals in a mixed stack system are disclosed, wherein a donor molecule (D) and an acceptor molecule (A) occupy alternating positions (DADADA) along the CT axis. A platform is provided which amplifies the molecular recognition of donors and acceptors and produces co-crystals at ambient conditions, wherein the platform comprises (i) a molecular design of the first constituent (.alpha.-complement), (ii) a molecular design of the second compound (.beta.-complement), and (iii) a solvent system that promotes co-crystallization.

Modular supramolecular approach for co-crystallization of donors and acceptors into ordered networks

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stupp, Samuel I.; Stoddart, J. Fraser; Shveyd, Alexander K.

Organic charge-transfer (CT) co-crystals in a mixed stack system are disclosed, wherein a donor molecule (D) and an acceptor molecule (A) occupy alternating positions (DADADA) along the CT axis. A platform is provided which amplifies the molecular recognition of donors and acceptors and produces co-crystals at ambient conditions, wherein the platform comprises (i) a molecular design of the first constituent (.alpha.-complement), (ii) a molecular design of the second compound (.beta.-complement), and (iii) a solvent system that promotes co-crystallization.

Extensive radioactive characterization of a phosphogypsum stack in SW Spain: 226Ra, 238U, 210Po concentrations and 222Rn exhalation rate.

PubMed

Abril, José-María; García-Tenorio, Rafael; Manjón, Guillermo

2009-05-30

Phosphogypsum (PG) is a by-product of the phosphate fertilizer industries that contains relatively high concentrations of uranium series radionuclides. The US-EPA regulates the agriculture use of PG, attending to its (226)Ra content and to the (222)Rn exhalation rate from inactive stacks. Measurements of (222)Rn exhalation rates in PG stacks typically show a large and still poorly understood spatial and temporal variability, and the published data are scarce. This work studies an inactive PG stack in SW Spain of about 0.5 km(2) from where PG can be extracted for agriculture uses, and an agriculture soil 75 km apart, being representative of the farms to be amended with PG. Activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (238)U and (210)Po have been measured in 30 PG samples (0-90 cm horizon) allowing for the construction of maps with spatial distributions in the PG stack and for the characterization of the associated PG inputs to agriculture soils. Averaged (226)Ra concentrations for the stack were 730+/-60 Bq kg(-1) (d.w.), over the US-EPA limit of 370 Bq kg(-1). (222)Rn exhalation rate has been measured by the charcoal canister method in 49 sampling points with 3 canisters per sampling point. Values in PG stack were under the US-EPA limit of 2600 Bq m(-2)h(-1), but they were one order of magnitude higher than those found in the agriculture soil. Variability in radon emissions has been studied at different spatial scales. Radon exhalation rates were correlated with (226)Ra concentrations and daily potential evapotranspiration (ETo). They increased with ETo in agriculture soils, but showed an opposite behaviour in the PG stack.

Performance Testing of Tracer Gas and Tracer Aerosol Detectors for use in Radionuclide NESHAP Compliance Testing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fuehne, David Patrick; Lattin, Rebecca Renee

The Rad-NESHAP program, part of the Air Quality Compliance team of LANL’s Compliance Programs group (EPC-CP), and the Radiation Instrumentation & Calibration team, part of the Radiation Protection Services group (RP-SVS), frequently partner on issues relating to characterizing air flow streams. This memo documents the most recent example of this partnership, involving performance testing of sulfur hexafluoride detectors for use in stack gas mixing tests. Additionally, members of the Rad-NESHAP program performed a functional trending test on a pair of optical particle counters, comparing results from a non-calibrated instrument to a calibrated instrument. Prior to commissioning a new stack samplingmore » system, the ANSI Standard for stack sampling requires that the stack sample location must meet several criteria, including uniformity of tracer gas and aerosol mixing in the air stream. For these mix tests, tracer media (sulfur hexafluoride gas or liquid oil aerosol particles) are injected into the stack air stream and the resulting air concentrations are measured across the plane of the stack at the proposed sampling location. The coefficient of variation of these media concentrations must be under 20% when evaluated over the central 2/3 area of the stack or duct. The instruments which measure these air concentrations must be tested prior to the stack tests in order to ensure their linear response to varying air concentrations of either tracer gas or tracer aerosol. The instruments used in tracer gas and aerosol mix testing cannot be calibrated by the LANL Standards and Calibration Laboratory, so they would normally be sent off-site for factory calibration by the vendor. Operational requirements can prevent formal factory calibration of some instruments after they have been used in hazardous settings, e.g., within a radiological facility with potential airborne contamination. The performance tests described in this document are intended to demonstrate the reliable performance of the test instruments for the specific tests used in stack flow characterization.« less

Pollution Measuring System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1980-01-01

Research Ventures, Inc.'s visiplume is a portable, microprocessor-controlled air pollution monitor for measuring sulfur dioxide emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants, and facilities that manufacture sulfuric acid. It observes smokestack plumes at a distance from the stack obviating the expense and difficulty of installing sample collectors in each stack and later analyzing the samples.

Individual detection of genetically modified maize varieties in non-identity-preserved maize samples.

PubMed

Akiyama, Hiroshi; Sakata, Kozue; Kondo, Kazunari; Tanaka, Asako; Liu, Ming S; Oguchi, Taichi; Furui, Satoshi; Kitta, Kazumi; Hino, Akihiro; Teshima, Reiko

2008-03-26

In many countries, the labeling of grains and feed- and foodstuffs is mandatory if the genetically modified organism (GMO) content exceeds a certain level of approved GM varieties. The GMO content in a maize sample containing the combined-trait (stacked) GM maize as determined by the currently available methodology is likely to be overestimated. However, there has been little information in the literature on the mixing level and varieties of stacked GM maize in real sample grains. For the first time, the GMO content of non-identity-preserved (non-IP) maize samples imported from the United States has been successfully determined by using a previously developed individual kernel detection system coupled to a multiplex qualitative PCR method followed by multichannel capillary gel electrophoresis system analysis. To clarify the GMO content in the maize samples imported from the United States, determine how many stacked GM traits are contained therein, and which GM trait varieties frequently appeared in 2005, the GMO content (percent) on a kernel basis and the varieties of the GM kernels in the non-IP maize samples imported from the United States were investigated using the individual kernel analysis system. The average (+/-standard deviation) of the GMO contents on a kernel basis in five non-IP sample lots was determined to be 51.0+/-21.6%, the percentage of a single GM trait grains was 39%, and the percentage of the stacked GM trait grains was 12%. The MON810 grains and NK603 grains were the most frequent varieties in the single GM traits. The most frequent stacked GM traits were the MON810xNK603 grains. In addition, the present study would provide the answer and impact for the quantification of GM maize content in the GM maize kernels on labeling regulation.

Isolated thermocouple amplifier system for stirred fixed-bed gasifier

DOEpatents

Fasching, George E.

1992-01-01

A sensing system is provided for determining the bed temperature profile of the bed of a stirred, fixed-bed gasifier including a plurality of temperature sensors for sensing the bed temperature at different levels, a transmitter for transmitting data based on the outputs of the sensors to a remote operator's station, and a battery-based power supply. The system includes an isolation amplifier system comprising a plurality of isolation amplifier circuits for amplifying the outputs of the individual sensors. The isolation amplifier circuits each comprise an isolation operational amplifier connected to a sensor; a first "flying capacitor" circuit for, in operation, controlling the application of power from the power supply to the isolation amplifier; an output sample and hold circuit connected to the transmitter; a second "flying capacitor" circuit for, in operation, controlling the transfer of the output of the isolation amplifier to the sample and hold circuit; and a timing and control circuit for activating the first and second capacitor circuits in a predetermined timed sequence.

Bidirectional amplifier

DOEpatents

Wright, James T.

1986-01-01

A bilateral circuit is operable for transmitting signals in two directions without generation of ringing due to feedback caused by the insertion of the circuit. The circuit may include gain for each of the signals to provide a bidirectional amplifier. The signals are passed through two separate paths, with a unidirectional amplifier in each path. A controlled sampling device is provided in each path for sampling the two signals. Any feedback loop between the two signals is disrupted by providing a phase displacement between the control signals for the two sampling devices.

Bidirectional amplifier

DOEpatents

Wright, J.T.

1984-02-02

A bilateral circuit is operable for transmitting signals in two directions without generation of ringing due to feedback caused by the insertion of the circuit. The circuit may include gain for each of the signals to provide a bidirectional amplifier. The signals are passed through two separate paths, with a unidirectional amplifier in each path. A controlled sampling device is provided in each path for sampling the two signals. Any feedback loop between the two signals is disrupted by providing a phase displacement between the control signals for the two sampling devices.

Use of an Ultrasonic/Sonic Driller/Corer to Obtain Sample Powder for CHEMIN, a Combined XRD/XRF Instrument

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chipera, S. J.; Bish, D. L.; Vaniman, D. T.; Sherrit, S.; Bar-Cohen, Y.; Sarrazin, P.; Blake, D. F.

2003-01-01

A miniature CHEMIN XRD/XRF (X-Ray Diffraction/X-Ray Fluourescence) instrument is currently being developed for definitive mineralogic analysis of soils and rocks on Mars. One of the technical issues that must be addressed in order to enable XRD analysis on an extraterrestrial body is how best to obtain a representative sample powder for analysis. For XRD powder diffraction analyses, it is beneficial to have a fine-grained sample to reduce preferred orientation effects and to provide a statistically significant number of crystallites to the X-ray beam. Although a 2-dimensional detector as used in the CHEMIN instrument will produce good results with poorly prepared powders, the quality of the data will improve if the sample is fine-grained and randomly oriented. An Ultrasonic/Sonic Driller/Corer (USDC) currently being developed at JPL is an effective mechanism of sampling rock to produce cores and powdered cuttings. It requires low axial load (< 5N) and thus offers significant advantages for operation from lightweight platforms and in low gravity environments. The USDC is lightweight (<0.5kg), and can be driven at low power (<5W) using duty cycling. It consists of an actuator with a piezoelectric stack, ultrasonic horn, free-mass, and drill bit. The stack is driven with a 20 kHz AC voltage at resonance. The strain generated by the piezoelectric is amplified by the horn by a factor of up to 10 times the displacement amplitude. The tip impacts the free-mass and drives it into the drill bit in a hammering action. The free-mass rebounds to interact with the horn tip leading to a cyclic rebound at frequencies in the range of 60-1000 Hz. It does not require lubricants, drilling fluid or bit sharpening and it has the potential to operate at high and low temperatures using a suitable choice of piezoelectric material. To assess whether the powder from an ultrasonic drill would be adequate for analyses by an XRD/XRF spectrometer such as CHEMIN, powders obtained from the JPL ultrasonic drill were analyzed and the results were compared to carefully prepared powders obtained using a laboratory bench scale Retsch mill.

Quasi-CW 110 kW AlGaAs Laser Diode Array Module for Inertial Fusion Energy Laser Driver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawashima, Toshiyuki; Kanzaki, Takeshi; Matsui, Ken; Kato, Yoshinori; Matsui, Hiroki; Kanabe, Tadashi; Yamanaka, Masanobu; Nakatsuka, Masahiro; Izawa, Yasukazu; Nakai, Sadao; Miyamoto, Masahiro; Kan, Hirofumi; Hiruma, Teruo

2001-12-01

We have successfully demonstrated a large aperture 803 nm AlGaAs diode laser module as a pump source for a 1053 nm, 10 J output Nd:glass slab laser amplifier for diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) fusion driver. Detailed performance results of the laser diode module are presented, including bar package and stack configuration, and their thermal design and analysis. A sufficiently low thermal impedance of the stack was realized by combining backplane liquid cooling configuration with modular bar package architecture. Total peak power of 110 kW and electrical to optical conversion efficiency of 46% were obtained from the module consisting of a total of 1000 laser diode bars. A peak intensity of 2.6 kW/cm2 was accomplished across an emitting area of 418 mm× 10 mm. Currently, this laser diode array module with a large two-dimensional aperture is, to our knowledge, the only operational pump source for the high output energy DPSSL.

A flex-compressive-mode piezoelectric transducer for mechanical vibration/strain energy harvesting.

PubMed

Li, Xiaotian; Guo, Mingsen; Dong, Shuxiang

2011-04-01

A piezoelectric transducer for harvesting energy from ambient mechanical vibrations/strains under pressure condition was developed. The proposed transducer was made of two ring-type piezoelectric stacks, one pair of bow-shaped elastic plates, and one shaft that pre-compresses them. This transducer works in flex-compressive (F-C) mode, which is different from a conventional flex-tensional (F-T) one, to transfer a transversely applied force F into an amplified longitudinal force N pressing against the two piezo-stacks via the two bowshaped elastic plates, generating a large electric voltage output via piezoelectric effect. Our experimental results show that without an electric load, an F-C mode piezo-transducer could generate a maximum electric voltage output of up to 110 Vpp, and with an electric load of 40 κΩ, it a maximum power output of 14.6 mW under an acceleration excitation of 1 g peak-peak at the resonance frequency of 87 Hz. © 2011 IEEE

Determination of eight illegal drugs in human urine by combination of magnetic solid-phase extraction with capillary zone electrophoresis.

PubMed

Chen, Ming-Luan; Suo, Li-Li; Gao, Qiang; Feng, Yu-Qi

2011-08-01

Using magnetite/silica/poly(methacrylic acid-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (Fe(3)O(4)/SiO(2)/poly(MAA-co-EDMA)) magnetic microspheres, a rapid and high-throughput magnetic solid-phase extraction coupled with capillary zone electrophoresis (MSPE-CZE) method was developed for the determination of illegal drugs (ketamine, amphetamines, opiates, and metabolites). The MSPE of target analytes could be completed within 2 min, and the eight target analytes could be baseline separated within 15 min by CZE with 30 mM phosphate buffer solution (PBS, pH 2.0) containing 15% v/v ACN as background electrolyte. Furthermore, hydrodynamic injection with field-amplified sample stacking (FASS) was employed to enhance the sensitivity of this MSPE-CZE method. Under such optimal conditions, the limits of detection for the eight target analytes ranged from 0.015 to 0.105 μg/mL. The application feasibility of MSPE-CZE in illegal drugs monitoring was demonstrated by analyzing urine samples, and the recoveries of target drugs for the spiked sample ranging from 85.4 to 110.1%. The method reproducibility was tested by evaluating the intra- and interday precisions, and relative standard deviations of <10.3 and 12.4%, respectively, were obtained. To increase throughput of the analysis, a home-made MSPE array that has potential application to the treatment of 96 samples simultaneously was used. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Layer Number and Stacking Order Imaging of Few-layer Graphenes by Transmission Electron Microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ping, Jinglei; Fuhrer, Michael

2012-02-01

A method using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns and dark field (DF) images is developed to identify graphene layer number and stacking order by comparing intensity ratios of SAED spots with theory. Graphene samples are synthesized by ambient pressure chemical vapor depostion and then etched by hydrogen in high temperature to produce samples with crystalline stacking but varying layer number on the nanometer scale. Combined DF images from first- and second-order diffraction spots are used to produce images with layer-number and stacking-order contrast with few-nanometer resolution. This method is proved to be accurate enough for quantative stacking-order-identification of graphenes up to at least four layers. This work was partially supported by Science of Precision Multifunctional Nanostructures for Elecrical Energy Storage, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. DOE, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences under Award Number DESC0001160.

Single-step CE for miniaturized and easy-to-use system.

PubMed

Ono, Koichi; Kaneda, Shohei; Fujii, Teruo

2013-03-01

We developed a novel single-step capillary electrophoresis (SSCE) scheme for miniaturized and easy to use system by using a microchannel chip, which was made from the hydrophilic material polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), equipped with a capillary stop valve. Taking the surface tension property of liquids into consideration, the capillary effect was used to introduce liquids and control capillary stop valves in a partial barrier structure in the wall of the microchannel. Through the combined action of stop valves and air vents, both sample plug formation for electrophoresis and sample injection into a separation channel were successfully performed in a single step. To optimize SSCE, different stop valve structures were evaluated using actual microchannel chips and the finite element method with the level set method. A partial barrier structure at the bottom of the channel functioned efficiently as a stop valve. The stability of stop valve was confirmed by a shock test, which was performed by dropping the microchannel chip to a floor. Sample plug deformation could be reduced by minimizing the size of the side partial barrier. By dissolving hydroxyl ethyl cellulose and using it as the sample solution, the EOF and adsorption of the sample into the PMMA microchannel were successfully reduced. Using this method, a 100-bp DNA ladder was concentrated; good separation was observed within 1 min. At a separation length of 5 mm, the signal was approximately 20-fold higher than a signal of original sample solution by field-amplified sample stacking effect. All operations, including liquid introduction and sample separation, can be completed within 2 min by using the SSCE scheme. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Stacking and determination of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid with low pKa in soil via moving reaction boundary formed by alkaline and double acidic buffers in capillary electrophoresis.

PubMed

Sun, Chong; Yang, Xiao-Di; Fan, Liu-Yin; Zhang, Wei; Xu, Yu-Quan; Cao, Cheng-Xi

2011-04-01

As shown herein, a normal moving reaction boundary (MRB) formed by an alkaline buffer and a single acidic buffer had poor stacking to the new important plant growth promoter of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) in soil due to the leak induced by its low pK(a). To stack the PCA with low pK(a) efficiently, a novel stacking system of MRB was developed, which was formed by an alkaline buffer and double acidic buffers (viz., acidic sample and blank buffers). With the novel system, the PCA leaking into the blank buffer from the sample buffer could be well stacked by the prolonged MRB formed between the alkaline buffer and blank buffer. The relevant mechanism of stacking was discussed briefly. The stacking system, coupled with sample pretreatment, could achieve a 214-fold increase of PCA sensitivity under the optimal conditions (15 mM (pH 11.5) Gly-NaOH as the alkaline buffer, 15 mM (pH 3.0) Gly-HCl-acetonitrile (20%, v/v) as the acidic sample buffer, 15 mM (pH 3.0) Gly-HCl as the blank buffer, 3 min 13 mbar injection of double acidic buffers, benzoic acid as the internal standard, 75 μm i.d. × 53 cm (44 cm effective length) capillary, 25 kV and 248 nm). The limit of detection of PCA in soil was decreased to 17 ng/g, the intra-day and inter-day precision values (expressed as relative standard deviations) were 3.17-4.24% and 4.17-4.87%, respectively, and the recoveries of PCA at three concentration levels changed from 52.20% to 102.61%. The developed method could be used for the detection of PCA in soil at trace level.

Temperature characteristics of winter roost-sites for birds and mammals: tree cavities and anthropogenic alternatives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grüebler, Martin U.; Widmer, Silv; Korner-Nievergelt, Fränzi; Naef-Daenzer, Beat

2014-07-01

The microclimate of potential roost-sites is likely to be a crucial determinant in the optimal roost-site selection of endotherms, in particular during the winter season of temperate zones. Available roost-sites for birds and mammals in European high trunk orchards are mainly tree cavities, wood stacks and artificial nest boxes. However, little is known about the microclimatic patterns inside cavities and thermal advantages of using these winter roost-sites. Here, we simultaneously investigate the thermal patterns of winter roost-sites in relation to winter ambient temperature and their insulation capacity. While tree cavities and wood stacks strongly buffered the daily cycle of temperature changes, nest boxes showed low buffering capacity. The buffering effect of tree cavities was stronger at extreme ambient temperatures compared to temperatures around zero. Heat sources inside roosts amplified Δ T (i.e., the difference between inside and outside temperatures), particularly in the closed roosts of nest boxes and tree cavities, and less in the open wood stacks with stronger circulation of air. Positive Δ T due to the installation of a heat source increased in cold ambient temperatures. These results suggest that orchard habitats in winter show a spatiotemporal mosaic of sites providing different thermal benefits varying over time and in relation to ambient temperatures. At cold temperatures tree cavities provide significantly higher thermal benefits than nest boxes or wood stacks. Thus, in winter ecology of hole-using endotherms, the availability of tree cavities may be an important characteristic of winter habitat quality.

High-efficiency cyrogenic-cooled diode-pumped amplifier with relay imaging for nanosecond pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Körner, J.; Hein, J.; Kahle, M.; Liebetrau, H.; Kaluza, M.; Siebold, M.; Loeser, M.

2011-06-01

We present temperature dependent gain measurements with different Ytterbium doped laser media, such as Yb:YAG, Yb:FP15-glass and Yb:CaF2 in a multi-pass amplifier setup. The temperature of these materials was adjusted arbitrarily between 100K and 300K, while heat removal was realized by transverse cooling. In order to obtain a good beam profile throughout the amplification process, we used an all-mirror based relay imaging setup consisting of a telescope accomplishing a 4f-imaging with a plane mirror in each image plane. The amplification beam is then coupled into the cavity and doing several round trips wandering over the surface of the spherical mirrors. Hence the laser material is placed in one of the image planes, the beam quality of the amplifier was ruled by the intensity profile of the pumping laser diodes consisting of two stacks with 2.5kW peak output power each. Due to the given damage threshold fluence, the output energy of the amplifier was limited to about 1J at a beam diameter of 4.5 mm (FWHM). The seed pulses with a duration of 6 ns were generated in a Yb:FP15-glass cavity dumped oscillator with further amplification up to the 100mJ level by a room temperature Yb:YAG multi pass amplifier. The 1 Hz repetition rate of the system was limited by the repetition rate of the front-end. With Yb:YAG for instance an output energy of 1.1 J with an record high optical to optical efficiency of more than 35% was achieved, which was further increased to 45% for 500 mJ output energy.

Planning studies for measurement of chemical emissions in stack gases of coal-fired power plants. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barrett, W.J.; Gooch, J.P.; Dahlin, R.S.

1983-03-01

Airborne emissions from coal-fired power plants consist of sulfur, nitrogen, and carbon oxides, as well as traces of certain metals or elements, radionuclides, and organic compounds that have the potential of producing adverse health effects if inhaled. To assess this potential toxicity, samples must be obtained and characterized on the basis of quantity, their chemistry, and toxicity. Sample representativeness and use of proper chemical-biological procedures are the critical for providing input into current research directed toward source apportionment and inhalation toxicology. Obtaining a valid stack sample (gases and particles) from each of more than 1500 US coal-fired power plant ismore » not practical; consequently 33 plants have been selected, taking into account plant design and operating parameters that can affect the characteristics of stack chemical emissions. Since such a program has an estimated cost of $20 million over many years, it is recommended that the initial program consists of sampling only six of the 33 units, selected with EPRI guidance, at an estimated cost of $3.5 million over a 30 month period. The plan is directed at in-stack sampling, plume and atmospheric transformations being beyond the project scope. Various stack sampling methods are considered. For particles, a modified SASS train seems best, and for gases, either resin traps or impingers are probably best. Artifact formation must be minimized. Chemical analysis procedures are to be guided by the known toxicity of species present. Procedures are outlined for organics (volatile and nonvolatile), trace elements, inorganics, and gases. Bioassay methods are restricted to in vitro, subdivided into those assays that detect genetic and direct cellular toxicity.« less

Feedback Augmented Sub-Ranging (FASR) Quantizer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Guilligan, Gerard

2012-01-01

This innovation is intended to reduce the size, power, and complexity of pipeline analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) that require high resolution and speed along with low power. Digitizers are important components in any application where analog signals (such as light, sound, temperature, etc.) need to be digitally processed. The innovation implements amplification of a sampled residual voltage in a switched capacitor amplifier stage that does not depend on charge redistribution. The result is less sensitive to capacitor mismatches that cause gain errors, which are the main limitation of such amplifiers in pipeline ADCs. The residual errors due to mismatch are reduced by at least a factor of 16, which is equivalent to at least 4 bits of improvement. The settling time is also faster because of a higher feedback factor. In traditional switched capacitor residue amplifiers, closed-loop amplification of a sampled and held residue signal is achieved by redistributing sampled charge onto a feedback capacitor around a high-gain transconductance amplifier. The residual charge that was sampled during the acquisition or sampling phase is stored on two or more capacitors, often equal in value or integral multiples of each other. During the hold or amplification phase, all of the charge is redistributed onto one capacitor in the feedback loop of the amplifier to produce an amplified voltage. The key error source is the non-ideal ratios of feedback and input capacitors caused by manufacturing tolerances, called mismatches. The mismatches cause non-ideal closed-loop gain, leading to higher differential non-linearity. Traditional solutions to the mismatch errors are to use larger capacitor values (than dictated by thermal noise requirements) and/or complex calibration schemes, both of which increase the die size and power dissipation. The key features of this innovation are (1) the elimination of the need for charge redistribution to achieve an accurate closed-loop gain of two, (2) a higher feedback factor in the amplifier stage giving a higher closed-loop bandwidth compared to the prior art, and (3) reduced requirement for calibration. The accuracy of the new amplifier is mainly limited by the sampling networks parasitic capacitances, which should be minimized in relation to the sampling capacitors.

LoCuSS: THE MASS DENSITY PROFILE OF MASSIVE GALAXY CLUSTERS AT z = 0.2 {sup ,}

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Okabe, Nobuhiro; Umetsu, Keiichi; Smith, Graham P.

We present a stacked weak-lensing analysis of an approximately mass-selected sample of 50 galaxy clusters at 0.15 < z < 0.3, based on observations with Suprime-Cam on the Subaru Telescope. We develop a new method for selecting lensed background galaxies from which we estimate that our sample of red background galaxies suffers just 1% contamination. We detect the stacked tangential shear signal from the full sample of 50 clusters, based on this red sample of background galaxies, at a total signal-to-noise ratio of 32.7. The Navarro-Frenk-White model is an excellent fit to the data, yielding sub-10% statistical precision on massmore » and concentration: M{sub vir}=7.19{sup +0.53}{sub -0.50} Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 14} h{sup -1} M{sub sun}, c{sub vir}=5.41{sup +0.49}{sub -0.45} (c{sub 200}=4.22{sup +0.40}{sub -0.36}). Tests of a range of possible systematic errors, including shear calibration and stacking-related issues, indicate that they are subdominant to the statistical errors. The concentration parameter obtained from stacking our approximately mass-selected cluster sample is broadly in line with theoretical predictions. Moreover, the uncertainty on our measurement is comparable with the differences between the different predictions in the literature. Overall, our results highlight the potential for stacked weak-lensing methods to probe the mean mass density profile of cluster-scale dark matter halos with upcoming surveys, including Hyper-Suprime-Cam, Dark Energy Survey, and KIDS.« less

Identification of indicator congeners and evaluation of emission pattern of polychlorinated naphthalenes in industrial stack gas emissions by statistical analyses.

PubMed

Liu, Guorui; Cai, Zongwei; Zheng, Minghui; Jiang, Xiaoxu; Nie, Zhiqiang; Wang, Mei

2015-01-01

Identifying marker congeners of unintentionally produced polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) from industrial thermal sources might be useful for predicting total PCN (∑2-8PCN) emissions by the determination of only indicator congeners. In this study, potential indicator congeners were identified based on the PCN data in 122 stack gas samples from over 60 plants involved in more than ten industrial thermal sources reported in our previous case studies. Linear regression analyses identified that the concentrations of CN27/30, CN52/60, and CN66/67 correlated significantly with ∑2-8PCN (R(2)=0.77, 0.80, and 0.58, respectively; n=122, p<0.05), which might be good candidates for indicator congeners. Equations describing relationships between indicators and ∑2-8PCN were established. The linear regression analyses involving 122 samples showed that the relationships between the indicator congeners and ∑2-8PCN were not significantly affected by factors such as industry types, raw materials used, or operating conditions. Hierarchical cluster analysis and similarity calculations for the 122 stack gas samples were adopted to group those samples and evaluating their similarity and difference based on the PCN homolog distributions from different industrial thermal sources. Generally, the fractions of less chlorinated homologs comprised of di-, tri-, and tetra-homologs were much higher than that of more chlorinated homologs for up to 111 stack gas samples contained in group 1 and 2, which indicating the dominance of lower chlorinated homologs in stack gas from industrial thermal sources. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Visual offline sample stacking via moving neutralization boundary electrophoresis for analysis of heavy metal ion.

PubMed

Fan, Yinping; Li, Shan; Fan, Liuyin; Cao, Chengxi

2012-06-15

In this paper, a moving neutralization boundary (MNB) electrophoresis is developed as a novel model of visual offline sample stacking for the trace analysis of heavy metal ions (HMIs). In the stacking system, the cathodic-direction motion MNB is designed with 1.95-2.8mM HCl+98 mM KCl in phase alfa and 4.0mM NaOH+96 mM KCl in phase beta. If a little of HMI is present in phase alfa, the metal ion electrically migrates towards the MNB and react with hydroxyl ion, producing precipitation and moving precipitation boundary (MPB). The alkaline precipitation is neutralized by hydrogen ion, leading to a moving eluting boundary (MEB), release of HMI from its precipitation, circle of HMI from the MEB to the MPB, and highly efficient visual stacking. As a proof of concept, a set of metal ions (Cu(II), Co(II), Mn(II), Pb(II) and Cr(III)) were chosen as the model HMIs and capillary electrophoresis (CE) was selected as an analytical tool for the experiments demonstrating the feasibility of MNB-based stacking. As shown in this paper, (i) the visual stacking model was manifested by the experiments; (ii) there was a controllable stacking of HMI in the MNB system; (iii) the offline stacking could achieve higher than 123 fold preconcentration; and (iv) the five HMIs were simultaneously stacked via the developed stacking technique for the trace analyses with the limits of detection (LOD): 3.67×10(-3) (Cu(II)), 1.67×10(-3) (Co(II), 4.17×10(-3) (Mn(II)), 4.6×10(-4) (Pb(II)) and 8.40×10(-4)mM (Cr(III)). Even the off-line stacking was demonstrated for the use of CE-based HMI analysis, it has potential applications in atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and ion chromatography (IC) etc. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Application of particle size distributions to total particulate stack samples to estimate PM2.5 and PM10 emission factors for agricultural sources

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Particle size distributions (PSD) have long been used to more accurately estimate the PM10 fraction of total particulate matter (PM) stack samples taken from agricultural sources. These PSD analyses were typically conducted using a Coulter Counter with 50 micrometer aperture tube. With recent increa...

A 0.1-1.4 GHz inductorless low-noise amplifier with 13 dBm IIP3 and 24 dBm IIP2 in 180 nm CMOS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Benqing; Chen, Jun; Chen, Hongpeng; Wang, Xuebing

2018-01-01

An inductorless noise-canceling CMOS low-noise amplifier (LNA) with wideband linearization technique is proposed. The complementary configuration by stacked NMOS/PMOS is employed to compensate second-order nonlinearity of the circuit. The third-order distortion of the auxiliary stage is also mitigated by that of the weak inversion transistors in the main path. The bias and scaling size combined by digital control words are further tuned to obtain enhanced linearity over the desired band. Implemented in a 0.18 μm CMOS process, simulated results show that the proposed LNA provides a voltage gain of 16.1 dB and a NF of 2.8-3.4 dB from 0.1 GHz to 1.4 GHz. The IIP3 and IIP2 of 13-18.9 and 24-40 dBm are obtained, respectively. The circuit core consumes 19 mW from a 1.8 V supply.

Mechanical Amplifier for a Piezoelectric Transducer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moore, James; Swain, Mark; Lawson, Peter; Calvet, Robert

2003-01-01

A mechanical amplifier has been devised to multiply the stroke of a piezoelectric transducer (PZT) intended for use at liquid helium temperatures. Interferometry holds the key to high angular resolution imaging and astrometry in space. Future space missions that will detect planets around other solar systems and perform detailed studies of the evolution of stars and galaxies will use new interferometers that observe at mid- and far-infrared wavelengths. Phase-measurement interferometry is key to many aspects of astronomical interferometry, and PZTs are ideal modulators for most methods of phase measurement, but primarily at visible wavelengths. At far infrared wavelengths of 150 to 300 m, background noise is a severe problem and all optics must be cooled to about 4 K. Under these conditions, piezos are ill-suited as modulators, because their throw is reduced by as much as a factor of 2, and even a wavelength or two of modulation is beyond their capability. The largest commercially available piezo stacks are about 5 in. (12.7 cm) long and have a throw of about 180 m at room temperature and only 90 m at 4 K. It would seem difficult or impossible to use PZTs for phase measurements in the far infrared were it not for the new mechanical amplifier that was designed and built.

A position sensitive microchannel photomultiplier for ultraviolet space astronomy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lampton, M.; Siegmund, O. H. W.; Bixler, J.; Bowyer, S.

1986-01-01

The 25-mm microchannel-plate, position-sensitive UV astronomy photomultiplier tube presented is intended for the EOM-1 Spacelab Mission's FAUST payload and conducts wide-field imaging surveys in the VUV over the 1400-1800-A range. The sealed detector encompasses a CsI photocathode deposited on the inner surface of a MgF2 window, a stack of microchannel plates, and a wedge-and-strip two-dimensional position-sensing anode. Since the wedge-and-strip principle requires only three anode signals, flight electronics can be reduced to three charge amplifiers and three analog-to-digital converters.

Compliance Testing of Grissom AFB Central Heating Plant Coal-Fired Boilers 3 and 5, Grissom AFB, Indiana

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-06-01

common breeching and can be routed to the wet-scrubber or to a bypass stack. The scrubber is a double-alkali flue - gas desulfurization system using soda...Illustrations Figure Title Page 1 View of Scrubber and Bypass Stacks 3 2 Scrubber Stacks 4 3 Bypass Stack 5 4 Flue Gas Flow Diagram 6 5 ORSAT Sampling...of gases and to provide a positive static pressure at flue gas exhaust discharge points. The ash system pneumatically removes ash from bottom-ash

Determination of finasteride and its metabolite in urine by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with field-enhanced sample stacking and sweeping.

PubMed

Chen, Chun-Hsien; Chao, Yu-Ying; Lin, Yi-Hui; Chen, Yen-Ling

2018-04-27

The on-line preconcentration technique of field-enhanced sample stacking and sweeping (FESS-sweeping) are combined with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) to monitor the concentrations of finasteride, which is used in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, and its metabolite, finasteride carboxylic acid (M3), in urine samples. DLLME is used to concentrate and eliminate the interferences of urine samples and uses chloroform as an extracting solvent and acetonitrile as a disperser solvent. A high conductivity buffer (HCB) was introduced into capillary and then sample plug (90.7% capillary length) was injected into capillary. After applying voltage, the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) swept the analytes from the low conductivity sample solution into HCB. The analytes were concentrated on the field-enhanced sample stacking boundary. The limit of detection for the analytes is 20 ng mL -1 . The sensitivity enrichment of finasteride and M3 are 362-fold and 480-fold, respectively, compared with the conventional MEKC method. The on-line preconcentration technique of field-enhanced sample stacking and sweeping possess good selectivity because the endogenous steroid did not interfere the detection of finasteride and M3. The analytical technique is applied to investigate the concentrations in urine samples from patients who have been administered finasteride for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia; the amount of M3 detected in 12 h was 72.69 ± 4.18 μg. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Anionic microemulsion to solvent stacking for on-line sample concentration of cationic analytes in capillary electrophoresis.

PubMed

Kukusamude, Chunyapuk; Srijaranai, Supalax; Quirino, Joselito P

2014-05-01

The common SDS microemulsion (i.e. 3.3% SDS, 0.8% octane, and 6.6% butanol) and organic solvents were investigated for the stacking of cationic drugs in capillary zone electrophoresis using a low pH separation electrolyte. The sample was prepared in the acidic microemulsion and a high percentage of organic solvent was included in the electrolyte at anodic end of capillary. The stacking mechanism was similar to micelle to solvent stacking where the micelles were replaced by the microemulsion for the transport of analytes to the organic solvent rich boundary. This boundary is found between the microemulsion and anodic electrolyte. The effective electrophoretic mobility of the cations reversed from the direction of the anode in the microemulsion to the cathode in the boundary. Microemulsion to solvent stacking was successfully achieved with 40% ACN in the anodic electrolyte and hydrodynamic sample injection of 21 s at 1000 mbar (equivalent to 30% of the effective length). The sensitivity enhancement factors in terms of peak height and corrected peak area were 15 to 35 and 21 to 47, respectively. The linearity R(2) in terms of corrected peak area were >0.999. Interday precisions (%RSD, n = 6) were 3.3-4.0% for corrected peak area and 2.0-3.0% for migration time. Application to spiked real sample is also presented. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Whole genome amplification and real-time PCR in forensic casework

PubMed Central

Giardina, Emiliano; Pietrangeli, Ilenia; Martone, Claudia; Zampatti, Stefania; Marsala, Patrizio; Gabriele, Luciano; Ricci, Omero; Solla, Gianluca; Asili, Paola; Arcudi, Giovanni; Spinella, Aldo; Novelli, Giuseppe

2009-01-01

Background WGA (Whole Genome Amplification) in forensic genetics can eliminate the technical limitations arising from low amounts of genomic DNA (gDNA). However, it has not been used to date because any amplification bias generated may complicate the interpretation of results. Our aim in this paper was to assess the applicability of MDA to forensic SNP genotyping by performing a comparative analysis of genomic and amplified DNA samples. A 26-SNPs TaqMan panel specifically designed for low copy number (LCN) and/or severely degraded genomic DNA was typed on 100 genomic as well as amplified DNA samples. Results Aliquots containing 1, 0.1 and 0.01 ng each of 100 DNA samples were typed for a 26-SNPs panel. Similar aliquots of the same DNA samples underwent multiple displacement amplification (MDA) before being typed for the same panel. Genomic DNA samples showed 0% PCR failure rate for all three dilutions, whilst the PCR failure rate of the amplified DNA samples was 0% for the 1 ng and 0.1 ng dilutions and 0.077% for the 0.01 ng dilution. The genotyping results of both the amplified and genomic DNA samples were also compared with reference genotypes of the same samples obtained by direct sequencing. The genomic DNA samples showed genotype concordance rates of 100% for all three dilutions while the concordance rates of the amplified DNA samples were 100% for the 1 ng and 0.1 ng dilutions and 99.923% for the 0.01 ng dilution. Moreover, ten artificially-degraded DNA samples, which gave no results when analyzed by current forensic methods, were also amplified by MDA and genotyped with 100% concordance. Conclusion We investigated the suitability of MDA material for forensic SNP typing. Comparative analysis of amplified and genomic DNA samples showed that a large number of SNPs could be accurately typed starting from just 0.01 ng of template. We found that the MDA genotyping call and accuracy rates were only slightly lower than those for genomic DNA. Indeed, when 10 pg of input DNA was used in MDA, we obtained 99.923% concordance, indicating a genotyping error rate of 1/1299 (7.7 × 10-4). This is quite similar to the genotyping error rate of STRs used in current forensic analysis. Such efficiency and accuracy of SNP typing of amplified DNA suggest that MDA can also generate large amounts of genome-equivalent DNA from a minimal amount of input DNA. These results show for the first time that MDA material is suitable for SNP-based forensic protocols and in general when samples fail to give interpretable STR results. PMID:19366436

A simplified digital lock-in amplifier for the scanning grating spectrometer.

PubMed

Wang, Jingru; Wang, Zhihong; Ji, Xufei; Liu, Jie; Liu, Guangda

2017-02-01

For the common measurement and control system of a scanning grating spectrometer, the use of an analog lock-in amplifier requires complex circuitry and sophisticated debugging, whereas the use of a digital lock-in amplifier places a high demand on the calculation capability and storage space. In this paper, a simplified digital lock-in amplifier based on averaging the absolute values within a complete period is presented and applied to a scanning grating spectrometer. The simplified digital lock-in amplifier was implemented on a low-cost microcontroller without multipliers, and got rid of the reference signal and specific configuration of the sampling frequency. Two positive zero-crossing detections were used to lock the phase of the measured signal. However, measurement method errors were introduced by the following factors: frequency fluctuation, sampling interval, and integer restriction of the sampling number. The theoretical calculation and experimental results of the signal-to-noise ratio of the proposed measurement method were 2055 and 2403, respectively.

A rapid sample screening method for authenticity control of whiskey using capillary electrophoresis with online preconcentration.

PubMed

Heller, Melina; Vitali, Luciano; Oliveira, Marcone Augusto Leal; Costa, Ana Carolina O; Micke, Gustavo Amadeu

2011-07-13

The present study aimed to develop a methodology using capillary electrophoresis for the determination of sinapaldehyde, syringaldehyde, coniferaldehyde, and vanillin in whiskey samples. The main objective was to obtain a screening method to differentiate authentic samples from seized samples suspected of being false using the phenolic aldehydes as chemical markers. The optimized background electrolyte was composed of 20 mmol L(-1) sodium tetraborate with 10% MeOH at pH 9.3. The study examined two kinds of sample stacking, using a long-end injection mode: normal sample stacking (NSM) and sample stacking with matrix removal (SWMR). In SWMR, the optimized injection time of the samples was 42 s (SWMR42); at this time, no matrix effects were observed. Values of r were >0.99 for the both methods. The LOD and LOQ were better than 100 and 330 mg mL(-1) for NSM and better than 22 and 73 mg L(-1) for SWMR. The CE-UV reliability in the aldehyde analysis in the real sample was compared statistically with LC-MS/MS methodology, and no significant differences were found, with a 95% confidence interval between the methodologies.

Electrochemical Detection in Stacked Paper Networks.

PubMed

Liu, Xiyuan; Lillehoj, Peter B

2015-08-01

Paper-based electrochemical biosensors are a promising technology that enables rapid, quantitative measurements on an inexpensive platform. However, the control of liquids in paper networks is generally limited to a single sample delivery step. Here, we propose a simple method to automate the loading and delivery of liquid samples to sensing electrodes on paper networks by stacking multiple layers of paper. Using these stacked paper devices (SPDs), we demonstrate a unique strategy to fully immerse planar electrodes by aqueous liquids via capillary flow. Amperometric measurements of xanthine oxidase revealed that electrochemical sensors on four-layer SPDs generated detection signals up to 75% higher compared with those on single-layer paper devices. Furthermore, measurements could be performed with minimal user involvement and completed within 30 min. Due to its simplicity, enhanced automation, and capability for quantitative measurements, stacked paper electrochemical biosensors can be useful tools for point-of-care testing in resource-limited settings. © 2015 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening.

[Analysis on Mechanism of Rainout Carried by Wet Stack of Thermal Power Plant].

PubMed

Ouyang, Li-hua; Zhuang, Ye; Liu, Ke-wei; Chen, Zhen-yu; Gu, Peng

2015-06-01

Rainout from wet-stack took placed in many thermal power plants with WFGD system. Research on causes of the rainout is important to solve the problem. The objective of this research is to analyze the mechanism of rainout. Field study was performed to collect experimental data in one thermal power plant, including the amount of desulfurization slurry carried by wet flue gas, liquor condensate from wet duct, and droplets from the wet stack. Source apportionment analysis was carried out based on physical and chemical data of liquid sample and solid sample. The result showed that mist eliminator operated well, which met the performance guarantee value. But the total amount of desulfurization slurry in flue gas and the sulfate concentration in liquid condensate discharge from the wet duct/stack increased. The liquid condensate accumulated in the wet duct/stack led to liquid re-entrainment. In conclusion, the rainout in this power plant was caused by the short of wet ductwork or liquid discharge system, the droplets caused by re-entrainment carried by the saturated gas released from the stack. The main undissolved components of the rainout were composite carbonate and aluminosilicate. Although ash concentration in this WFGD met the regulation criteria, source apportionment analysis showed that fly ash contributed to rainout was accounted for 60%. This percentage value was same as the data of solid particles in the condensate. It is important to optimize the wet ductwork, wet stack liner, liquid collectors and drainage. Avoiding the accumulation from saturated vapor thermal condensation is an effective way to solve the wet stack rainout.

Mass amplifying probe for sensitive fluorescence anisotropy detection of small molecules in complex biological samples.

PubMed

Cui, Liang; Zou, Yuan; Lin, Ninghang; Zhu, Zhi; Jenkins, Gareth; Yang, Chaoyong James

2012-07-03

Fluorescence anisotropy (FA) is a reliable and excellent choice for fluorescence sensing. One of the key factors influencing the FA value for any molecule is the molar mass of the molecule being measured. As a result, the FA method with functional nucleic acid aptamers has been limited to macromolecules such as proteins and is generally not applicable for the analysis of small molecules because their molecular masses are relatively too small to produce observable FA value changes. We report here a molecular mass amplifying strategy to construct anisotropy aptamer probes for small molecules. The probe is designed in such a way that only when a target molecule binds to the probe does it activate its binding ability to an anisotropy amplifier (a high molecular mass molecule such as protein), thus significantly increasing the molecular mass and FA value of the probe/target complex. Specifically, a mass amplifying probe (MAP) consists of a targeting aptamer domain against a target molecule and molecular mass amplifying aptamer domain for the amplifier protein. The probe is initially rendered inactive by a small blocking strand partially complementary to both target aptamer and amplifier protein aptamer so that the mass amplifying aptamer domain would not bind to the amplifier protein unless the probe has been activated by the target. In this way, we prepared two probes that constitute a target (ATP and cocaine respectively) aptamer, a thrombin (as the mass amplifier) aptamer, and a fluorophore. Both probes worked well against their corresponding small molecule targets, and the detection limits for ATP and cocaine were 0.5 μM and 0.8 μM, respectively. More importantly, because FA is less affected by environmental interferences, ATP in cell media and cocaine in urine were directly detected without any tedious sample pretreatment. Our results established that our molecular mass amplifying strategy can be used to design aptamer probes for rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of small molecules by means of FA in complex biological samples.

Unbiased roughness measurements: the key to better etch performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Andrew; Mack, Chris; Sirard, Stephen; Liang, Chen-wei; Yang, Liu; Jiang, Justin; Shamma, Nader; Wise, Rich; Yu, Jengyi; Hymes, Diane

2018-03-01

Edge placement error (EPE) has become an increasingly critical metric to enable Moore's Law scaling. Stochastic variations, as characterized for lines by line width roughness (LWR) and line edge roughness (LER), are dominant factors in EPE and known to increase with the introduction of EUV lithography. However, despite recommendations from ITRS, NIST, and SEMI standards, the industry has not agreed upon a methodology to quantify these properties. Thus, differing methodologies applied to the same image often result in different roughness measurements and conclusions. To standardize LWR and LER measurements, Fractilia has developed an unbiased measurement that uses a raw unfiltered line scan to subtract out image noise and distortions. By using Fractilia's inverse linescan model (FILM) to guide development, we will highlight the key influences of roughness metrology on plasma-based resist smoothing processes. Test wafers were deposited to represent a 5 nm node EUV logic stack. The patterning stack consists of a core Si target layer with spin-on carbon (SOC) as the hardmask and spin-on glass (SOG) as the cap. Next, these wafers were exposed through an ASML NXE 3350B EUV scanner with an advanced chemically amplified resist (CAR). Afterwards, these wafers were etched through a variety of plasma-based resist smoothing techniques using a Lam Kiyo conductor etch system. Dense line and space patterns on the etched samples were imaged through advanced Hitachi CDSEMs and the LER and LWR were measured through both Fractilia and an industry standard roughness measurement software. By employing Fractilia to guide plasma-based etch development, we demonstrate that Fractilia produces accurate roughness measurements on resist in contrast to an industry standard measurement software. These results highlight the importance of subtracting out SEM image noise to obtain quicker developmental cycle times and lower target layer roughness.

Variable density randomized stack of spirals (VDR-SoS) for compressive sensing MRI.

PubMed

Valvano, Giuseppe; Martini, Nicola; Landini, Luigi; Santarelli, Maria Filomena

2016-07-01

To develop a 3D sampling strategy based on a stack of variable density spirals for compressive sensing MRI. A random sampling pattern was obtained by rotating each spiral by a random angle and by delaying for few time steps the gradient waveforms of the different interleaves. A three-dimensional (3D) variable sampling density was obtained by designing different variable density spirals for each slice encoding. The proposed approach was tested with phantom simulations up to a five-fold undersampling factor. Fully sampled 3D dataset of a human knee, and of a human brain, were obtained from a healthy volunteer. The proposed approach was tested with off-line reconstructions of the knee dataset up to a four-fold acceleration and compared with other noncoherent trajectories. The proposed approach outperformed the standard stack of spirals for various undersampling factors. The level of coherence and the reconstruction quality of the proposed approach were similar to those of other trajectories that, however, require 3D gridding for the reconstruction. The variable density randomized stack of spirals (VDR-SoS) is an easily implementable trajectory that could represent a valid sampling strategy for 3D compressive sensing MRI. It guarantees low levels of coherence without requiring 3D gridding. Magn Reson Med 76:59-69, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Polar-solvent-free colloidal synthesis of highly luminescent alkylammonium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vybornyi, Oleh; Yakunin, Sergii; Kovalenko, Maksym V.

2016-03-01

A novel synthesis of hybrid organic-inorganic lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (CH3NH3PbX3, X = Br or I) that does not involve the use of dimethylformamide or other polar solvents is presented. The reaction between methylamine and PbX2 salts is conducted in a high-boiling nonpolar solvent (1-octadecene) in the presence of oleylamine and oleic acid as coordinating ligands. The resulting nanocrystals are characterized by high photoluminescence quantum efficiencies of 15-50%, outstanding phase purity and tunable shapes (nanocubes, nanowires, and nanoplatelets). Nanoplatelets spontaneously assemble into micrometer-length wires by face-to-face stacking. In addition, we demonstrate amplified spontaneous emission from thin films of green-emitting CH3NH3PbBr3 nanowires with low pumping thresholds of 3 μJ cm-2.A novel synthesis of hybrid organic-inorganic lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (CH3NH3PbX3, X = Br or I) that does not involve the use of dimethylformamide or other polar solvents is presented. The reaction between methylamine and PbX2 salts is conducted in a high-boiling nonpolar solvent (1-octadecene) in the presence of oleylamine and oleic acid as coordinating ligands. The resulting nanocrystals are characterized by high photoluminescence quantum efficiencies of 15-50%, outstanding phase purity and tunable shapes (nanocubes, nanowires, and nanoplatelets). Nanoplatelets spontaneously assemble into micrometer-length wires by face-to-face stacking. In addition, we demonstrate amplified spontaneous emission from thin films of green-emitting CH3NH3PbBr3 nanowires with low pumping thresholds of 3 μJ cm-2. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Materials and methods, additional figures. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr06890h

Single point aerosol sampling: evaluation of mixing and probe performance in a nuclear stack.

PubMed

Rodgers, J C; Fairchild, C I; Wood, G O; Ortiz, C A; Muyshondt, A; McFarland, A R

1996-01-01

Alternative reference methodologies have been developed for sampling of radionuclides from stacks and ducts, which differ from the methods previously required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. These alternative reference methodologies have recently been approved by the U.S. EPA for use in lieu of the current standard techniques. The standard EPA methods are prescriptive in selection of sampling locations and in design of sampling probes whereas the alternative reference methodologies are performance driven. Tests were conducted in a stack at Los Alamos National Laboratory to demonstrate the efficacy of some aspects of the alternative reference methodologies. Coefficients of variation of velocity, tracer gas, and aerosol particle profiles were determined at three sampling locations. Results showed that numerical criteria placed upon the coefficients of variation by the alternative reference methodologies were met at sampling stations located 9 and 14 stack diameters from the flow entrance, but not at a location that was 1.5 diameters downstream from the inlet. Experiments were conducted to characterize the transmission of 10 microns aerodynamic diameter liquid aerosol particles through three types of sampling probes. The transmission ratio (ratio of aerosol concentration at the probe exit plane to the concentration in the free stream) was 107% for a 113 L min-1 (4-cfm) anisokinetic shrouded probe, but only 20% for an isokinetic probe that follows the existing EPA standard requirements. A specially designed isokinetic probe showed a transmission ratio of 63%. The shrouded probe performance would conform to the alternative reference methodologies criteria; however, the isokinetic probes would not.

Stacking fault density and bond orientational order of fcc ruthenium nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seo, Okkyun; Sakata, Osami; Kim, Jae Myung; Hiroi, Satoshi; Song, Chulho; Kumara, Loku Singgappulige Rosantha; Ohara, Koji; Dekura, Shun; Kusada, Kohei; Kobayashi, Hirokazu; Kitagawa, Hiroshi

2017-12-01

We investigated crystal structure deviations of catalytic nanoparticles (NPs) using synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction. The samples were fcc ruthenium (Ru) NPs with diameters of 2.4, 3.5, 3.9, and 5.4 nm. We analyzed average crystal structures by applying the line profile method to a stacking fault model and local crystal structures using bond orientational order (BOO) parameters. The reflection peaks shifted depending on rules that apply to each stacking fault. We evaluated the quantitative stacking faults densities for fcc Ru NPs, and the stacking fault per number of layers was 2-4, which is quite large. Our analysis shows that the fcc Ru 2.4 nm-diameter NPs have a considerably high stacking fault density. The B factor tends to increase with the increasing stacking fault density. A structural parameter that we define from the BOO parameters exhibits a significant difference from the ideal value of the fcc structure. This indicates that the fcc Ru NPs are highly disordered.

Optical Amplifier for Space Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fork, Richard L.; Cole, Spencer T.; Gamble, Lisa J.; Diffey, William M.; Keys, Andrew S.

1999-01-01

We describe an optical amplifier designed to amplify a spatially sampled component of an optical wavefront to kilowatt average power. The goal is means for implementing a strategy of spatially segmenting a large aperture wavefront, amplifying the individual segments, maintaining the phase coherence of the segments by active means, and imaging the resultant amplified coherent field. Applications of interest are the transmission of space solar power over multi-megameter distances, as to distant spacecraft, or to remote sites with no preexisting power grid.

A dc amplifier for nuclear particle measurement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Macnee, A. B.; Masnari, N. A.

1978-01-01

A monolithic preamplifier-postamplifier combination has been developed for use with solid state particle detectors. The direct coupled amplifiers employ interdigitated n-channel JFET's, diodes, and diffused resistors. The circuits developed demonstrate the feasibility of matching the performance of existing discrete component designs. The fabrication procedures for the monolithic amplifier fabrication are presented and the results of measurements on a limited number of sample amplifiers are given.

Analysis of high-k spacer on symmetric underlap DG-MOSFET with Gate Stack architecture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Rahul; Chakraborty, Shramana; Dasgupta, Arpan; Dutta, Arka; Kundu, Atanu; Sarkar, Chandan K.

2016-09-01

This paper shows the systematic study of underlap double gate (U-DG) NMOSFETs with Gate Stack (GS) under the influence of high-k spacers. In highly scaled devices, underlap is used at the Source and Drain side so as to reduce the short channel effects (SCE's), however, it significantly reduces the on current due to the increased channel resistance. To overcome these drawbacks, the use of high-k spacers is projected as one of the remedies. In this paper, the analog performance of the devices is studied on the basis of parameters like transconductance (gm), transconductance generation factor (gm/Id) and intrinsic gain (gmro). The RF performance is analyzed on the merits of intrinsic capacitance (Cgd, Cgs), resistance (Rgd, Rgs), transport delay (τm), inductance (Lsd), cutoff frequency (fT), and the maximum frequency of oscillation (fmax). The circuit performance of the devices are studied by implementing the device as the driver MOSFET in a Single Stage Common Source Amplifier. The Gain Bandwidth Product (GBW) has been analyzed from the frequency response of the circuit.

Room temperature 1040fps, 1 megapixel photon-counting image sensor with 1.1um pixel pitch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masoodian, S.; Ma, J.; Starkey, D.; Wang, T. J.; Yamashita, Y.; Fossum, E. R.

2017-05-01

A 1Mjot single-bit quanta image sensor (QIS) implemented in a stacked backside-illuminated (BSI) process is presented. This is the first work to report a megapixel photon-counting CMOS-type image sensor to the best of our knowledge. A QIS with 1.1μm pitch tapered-pump-gate jots is implemented with cluster-parallel readout, where each cluster of jots is associated with its own dedicated readout electronics stacked under the cluster. Power dissipation is reduced with this cluster readout because of the reduced column bus parasitic capacitance, which is important for the development of 1Gjot arrays. The QIS functions at 1040fps with binary readout and dissipates only 17.6mW, including I/O pads. The readout signal chain uses a fully differential charge-transfer amplifier (CTA) gain stage before a 1b-ADC to achieve an energy/bit FOM of 16.1pJ/b and 6.9pJ/b for the whole sensor and gain stage+ADC, respectively. Analog outputs with on-chip gain are implemented for pixel characterization purposes.

Assessment of the Revised 3410 Building Filtered Exhaust Stack Sampling Probe Location

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yu, Xiao-Ying; Recknagle, Kurtis P.; Glissmeyer, John A.

2013-12-01

In order to support the air emissions permit for the 3410 Building, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory performed a series of tests in the exhaust air discharge from the reconfigured 3410 Building Filtered Exhaust Stack. The objective was to determine whether the location of the air sampling probe for emissions monitoring meets the applicable regulatory criteria governing such effluent monitoring systems. In particular, the capability of the air sampling probe location to meet the acceptance criteria of ANSI/HPS N13.1-2011 , Sampling and Monitoring Releases of Airborne Radioactive Substances from the Stack and Ducts of Nuclear Facilities was determined. The qualification criteriamore » for these types of stacks address 1) uniformity of air velocity, 2) sufficiently small flow angle with respect to the axis of the duct, 3) uniformity of tracer gas concentration, and 4) uniformity of tracer particle concentration. Testing was performed to conform to the quality requirements of NQA-1-2000. Fan configurations tested included all fan combinations of any two fans at a time. Most of the tests were conducted at the normal flow rate, while a small subset of tests was performed at a slightly higher flow rate achieved with the laboratory hood sashes fully open. The qualification criteria for an air monitoring probe location are taken from ANSI/HPS N13.1-2011 and are paraphrased as follows with key results summarized: 1. Angular Flow—The average air velocity angle must not deviate from the axis of the stack or duct by more than 20°. Our test results show that the mean angular flow angles at the center two-thirds of the ducts are smaller than 4.5% for all testing conditions. 2. Uniform Air Velocity—The acceptance criterion is that the COV of the air velocity must be ≤ 20% across the center two thirds of the area of the stack. Our results show that the COVs of the air velocity across the center two-thirds of the stack are smaller than 2.9% for all testing conditions. 3. Uniform Concentration of Tracer Gases—The uniformity of the concentration of potential contaminants is first tested using a tracer gas to represent gaseous effluents. The tracer is injected downstream of the fan outlets and at the junction downstream fan discharges meet. The acceptance criteria are that 1) the COV of the measured tracer gas concentration is ≤20% across the center two-thirds of the sampling plane and 2) at no point in the sampling plane does the concentration vary from the mean by >30%. Our test results show that 1) the COV of the measured tracer gas concentration is < 2.9% for all test conditions and 2) at no point in the sampling plane does the concentration vary from the mean by >6.5%. 4. Uniform Concentration of Tracer Particles—Tracer particles of 10-μm aerodynamic diameter are used for the second demonstration of concentration uniformity. The acceptance criterion is that the COV of particle concentration is ≤ 20% across the center two thirds of the sampling plane. Our test results indicate that the COV of particle concentration is <9.9% across the center two-thirds of the sampling plane among all testing conditions. Thus, the reconfigured 3410 Building Filtered Exhaust Stack was determined to meet the qualification criteria given in the ANSI/HPS N13.1-2011 standard. Changes to the system configuration or operations outside the bounds described in this report (e.g., exhaust stack velocity changes, relocation of sampling probe, and addition of fans) may require re-testing or re-evaluation to determine compliance.« less

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-containing soils from coal gangue stacking areas contribute to epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) modulation on cancer cell metastasis.

PubMed

Yun, Yang; Gao, Rui; Yue, Huifeng; Liu, Xiaofang; Li, Guangke; Sang, Nan

2017-02-15

The total accumulative stockpiles of gangue in China comprise 4.5billion metric tons, and approximately 659million tons of additional gangue are generated per year. Considering the stacking characteristics are highly heterogeneous, the potential cancer risks from the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) remain elusive. This study aimed to determine whether PAH-containing soil around coal gangue stacking areas poses a potential cancer risk and contributes to cancer cell metastasis. The results indicate that eighteen PAHs, primarily originated from coal gangue, exhibited distance variations from the coal gangues to the downstream villages, and the abandoned colliery posed increased potential carcinogenic risks for humans as a result of long-term stacking of coal gangue. Furthermore, soil samples stimulated HepG2 cell migration and invasion in a PAH-dependent manner, and the action was involved in PPARγ-mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) modulation. These findings highlight the potential cancer risk of PAH-containing soil samples around coal gangue stacking areas, and identify important biomarkers underlying the risk and targets preventing the outcomes in polluted areas. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Post-Fragmentation Whole Genome Amplification-Based Method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Benardini, James; LaDuc, Myron T.; Langmore, John

2011-01-01

This innovation is derived from a proprietary amplification scheme that is based upon random fragmentation of the genome into a series of short, overlapping templates. The resulting shorter DNA strands (<400 bp) constitute a library of DNA fragments with defined 3 and 5 termini. Specific primers to these termini are then used to isothermally amplify this library into potentially unlimited quantities that can be used immediately for multiple downstream applications including gel eletrophoresis, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR), comparative genomic hybridization microarray, SNP analysis, and sequencing. The standard reaction can be performed with minimal hands-on time, and can produce amplified DNA in as little as three hours. Post-fragmentation whole genome amplification-based technology provides a robust and accurate method of amplifying femtogram levels of starting material into microgram yields with no detectable allele bias. The amplified DNA also facilitates the preservation of samples (spacecraft samples) by amplifying scarce amounts of template DNA into microgram concentrations in just a few hours. Based on further optimization of this technology, this could be a feasible technology to use in sample preservation for potential future sample return missions. The research and technology development described here can be pivotal in dealing with backward/forward biological contamination from planetary missions. Such efforts rely heavily on an increasing understanding of the burden and diversity of microorganisms present on spacecraft surfaces throughout assembly and testing. The development and implementation of these technologies could significantly improve the comprehensiveness and resolving power of spacecraft-associated microbial population censuses, and are important to the continued evolution and advancement of planetary protection capabilities. Current molecular procedures for assaying spacecraft-associated microbial burden and diversity have inherent sample loss issues at practically every step, particularly nucleic acid extraction. In engineering a molecular means of amplifying nucleic acids directly from single cells in their native state within the sample matrix, this innovation has circumvented entirely the need for DNA extraction regimes in the sample processing scheme.

The Development of a 30-125 Micron Array for Airborne Astronomy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mason, C. G.; Dotson, J. L.; Erickson, E. F.; Farhoomand, J.; Haas, M. R.; Koerber, C. T.; Prasad, A.; Sisson, D.; Witteborn, F. C.; DeVincenzi, Donald (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

The development of a 30-125 micron Ge:Sb photoconductor array for AIRES (Airborne Infra-Red Echelle Spectrometer) is described. The prototype array is a 2x24 module which can be close-stacked to provide larger two-dimensional formats. Light is focused onto each detector using a collecting cone with a 2 mm pitch. The array is read out by two Raytheon SBRC-190 cryogenic multiplexers that also provide a CTIA (capacitive transimpedance amplifier) unit cell for each detector. We discuss our results from a test series conducted to measure the array performance and to evaluate its suitability for airborne astronomy.

Manufacturable Tri-Stack AlSb/InAs HEMT Low-Noise Amplifiers Using Wafer-Level-Packaging Technology for Light-Weight and Ultralow-Power Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-05-01

shown in Fig. 1 was grown by molecular - beam epitaxy (MBE) on 3-inch semi-insulating GaAs substrates. AlGaSb was used as a buffer. AlSb was used as... beam epitaxy for low-power applications,” J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B. 24, pp. 2581-2585, 2006. [12] Y. C. Chou, L. J. Lee, J. M. Yang, M. D. Lange, P...passivation AlGaSb buffer Figure 1: Cross section of an AlSb/InAs HEMT device on a 3-inch GaAs substrate. The interface region between the

The multi-scattering model for calculations of positron spatial distribution in the multilayer stacks, useful for conventional positron measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dryzek, Jerzy; Siemek, Krzysztof

2013-08-01

The spatial distribution of positrons emitted from radioactive isotopes into stacks or layered samples is a subject of the presented report. It was found that Monte Carlo (MC) simulations using GEANT4 code are not able to describe correctly the experimental data of the positron fractions in stacks. The mathematical model was proposed for calculations of the implantation profile or positron fractions in separated layers or foils being components of a stack. The model takes into account only two processes, i.e., the positron absorption and backscattering at interfaces. The mathematical formulas were applied in the computer program called LYS-1 (layers profile analysis). The theoretical predictions of the model were in the good agreement with the results of the MC simulations for the semi infinite sample. The experimental verifications of the model were performed on the symmetrical and non-symmetrical stacks of different foils. The good agreement between the experimental and calculated fractions of positrons in components of a stack was achieved. Also the experimental implantation profile obtained using the depth scanning of positron implantation technique is very well described by the theoretical profile obtained within the proposed model. The LYS-1 program allows us also to calculate the fraction of positrons which annihilate in the source, which can be useful in the positron spectroscopy.

Ultrasensitive analysis of lysergic acid diethylamide and its C-8 isomer in hair by capillary zone electrophoresis in combination with a stacking technique and laser induced fluorescence detection.

PubMed

Airado-Rodríguez, Diego; Cruces-Blanco, Carmen; García-Campaña, Ana M

2015-03-25

This article deals with the development and validation of a novel capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with laser induced fluorescence detection method for the analysis of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and its isomer iso-LSD in hair samples. The separation of both analytes has been achieved in less than 13 min in a 72-cm effective length capillary with 75-μm internal diameter. As running buffer 25 mM citrate, pH 6.0 has been employed and separation temperature and voltage of 20 °C and 13 kV respectively, were applied. Field amplified sample injection (FASI) has been employed for on-line sample preconcentration, using ultrapure water containing 117 μM H3PO4 as optimum injection medium. Injection voltage and time have been optimized by means of experimental design, obtaining values of 7 kV and 15s, respectively. Methylergonovine has been employed as internal standard in order to compensate irreproducibility from electrokinetic injection. The analytical method has been applied to hair samples, previous extraction of the target analytes by ultrasound assisted solid-liquid extraction at 40 °C for 2.5 h, employing acetonitrile as extracting solvent. Linear responses were found for LSD and iso-LSD in matrix-matched calibrations from around 0.400 up to 50.0 pg mg(-1). LODs (3 S/N) in the order of 0.100 pg mg(-1) were calculated for both analytes, obtaining satisfactory recovery percentages for this kind of sample. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Reflection Amplifiers in Online Courses: A Classification Framework

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Verpoorten, Dominique; Westera, Wim; Specht, Marcus

2011-01-01

This paper provides a theoretical framework for "reflection amplifiers" that are used in online courses. Such reflection amplifiers are intervention techniques that aim at provoking reflective practices in learning, in order to enhance the quality and effectiveness of learning and promote meta-cognition. A literature survey identified a sample of…

Identification, genetic localization, and allelic diversity of selectively amplified microsatellite polymorphic loci in lettuce and wild relatives (Lactuca spp.).

PubMed

Witsenboer, H; Michelmore, R W; Vogel, J

1997-12-01

Selectively amplified microsatellite polymorphic locus (SAMPL) analysis is a method of amplifying microsatellite loci using generic PCR primers. SAMPL analysis uses one AFLP primer in combination with a primer complementary to microsatellite sequences. SAMPL primers based on compound microsatellite sequences provided the clearest amplification patterns. We explored the potential of SAMPL analysis in lettuce to detect PCR-based codominant microsatellite markers. Fifty-eight SAMPLs were identified and placed on the genetic map. Seventeen were codominant. SAMPLs were dispersed with RFLP markers on 11 of the 12 main linkage groups in lettuce, indicating that they have a similar genomic distribution. Some but not all fragments amplified by SAMPL analysis were confirmed to contain microsatellite sequences by Southern hybridization. Forty-five cultivars of lettuce and five wild species of Lactuca were analyzed to determine the allelic diversity for codominant SAMPLs. From 3 to 11 putative alleles were found for each SAMPL; 2-6 alleles were found within Lactuca sativa and 1-3 alleles were found among the crisphead genotypes, the most genetically homogeneous plant type of L. sativa. This allelic diversity is greater than that found for RFLP markers. Numerous new alleles were observed in the wild species; however, there were frequent null alleles. Therefore, SAMPL analysis is more applicable to intraspecific than to interspecific comparisons. A phenetic analysis based on SAMPLs resulted in a dendrogram similar to those based on RFLP and AFLP markers.

Seismic data enhancement and regularization using finite offset Common Diffraction Surface (CDS) stack

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garabito, German; Cruz, João Carlos Ribeiro; Oliva, Pedro Andrés Chira; Söllner, Walter

2017-01-01

The Common Reflection Surface stack is a robust method for simulating zero-offset and common-offset sections with high accuracy from multi-coverage seismic data. For simulating common-offset sections, the Common-Reflection-Surface stack method uses a hyperbolic traveltime approximation that depends on five kinematic parameters for each selected sample point of the common-offset section to be simulated. The main challenge of this method is to find a computationally efficient data-driven optimization strategy for accurately determining the five kinematic stacking parameters on which each sample of the stacked common-offset section depends. Several authors have applied multi-step strategies to obtain the optimal parameters by combining different pre-stack data configurations. Recently, other authors used one-step data-driven strategies based on a global optimization for estimating simultaneously the five parameters from multi-midpoint and multi-offset gathers. In order to increase the computational efficiency of the global optimization process, we use in this paper a reduced form of the Common-Reflection-Surface traveltime approximation that depends on only four parameters, the so-called Common Diffraction Surface traveltime approximation. By analyzing the convergence of both objective functions and the data enhancement effect after applying the two traveltime approximations to the Marmousi synthetic dataset and a real land dataset, we conclude that the Common-Diffraction-Surface approximation is more efficient within certain aperture limits and preserves at the same time a high image accuracy. The preserved image quality is also observed in a direct comparison after applying both approximations for simulating common-offset sections on noisy pre-stack data.

Practical Considerations of Moisture in Baled Biomass Feedstocks

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

William A. Smith; Ian J. Bonner; Kevin L. Kenney

2013-01-01

Agricultural residues make up a large portion of the immediately available biomass feedstock for renewable energy markets. Current collection and storage methods rely on existing feed and forage practices designed to preserve nutrients and properties of digestibility. Low-cost collection and storage practices that preserve carbohydrates across a range of inbound moisture contents are needed to assure the economic and technical success of the emerging biomass industry. This study examines the movement of moisture in storage and identifies patterns of migration resulting from several on-farm storage systems and their impacts on moisture measurement and dry matter recovery. Baled corn stover andmore » energy sorghum were stored outdoors in uncovered, tarp-covered, or wrapped stacks and sampled periodically to measure moisture and dry matter losses. Interpolation between discrete sampling locations in the stack improved bulk moisture content estimates and showed clear patterns of accumulation and re-deposition. Atmospheric exposure, orientation, and contact with barriers (i.e., soil, tarp, and wrap surfaces) were found to cause the greatest amount of moisture heterogeneity within stacks. Although the bulk moisture content of many stacks remained in the range suitable for aerobic stability, regions of high moisture were sufficient to support microbial activity, thus support dry matter loss. Stack configuration, orientation, and coverage methods are discussed relative to impact on moisture management and dry matter preservation. Additionally, sample collection and data analysis are discussed relative to assessment at the biorefinery as it pertains to stability in storage, queuing, and moisture carried into processing.« less

A stacking method and its applications to Lanzarote tide gauge records

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Ping; van Ruymbeke, Michel; Cadicheanu, Nicoleta

2009-12-01

A time-period analysis tool based on stacking is introduced in this paper. The original idea comes from the classical tidal analysis method. It is assumed that the period of each major tidal component is precisely determined based on the astronomical constants and it is unchangeable with time at a given point in the Earth. We sum the tidal records at a fixed tidal component center period T then take the mean of it. The stacking could significantly increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) if a certain number of stacking circles is reached. The stacking results were fitted using a sinusoidal function, the amplitude and phase of the fitting curve is computed by the least squares methods. The advantage of the method is that: (1) an individual periodical signal could be isolated by stacking; (2) one can construct a linear Stacking-Spectrum (SSP) by changing the stacking period Ts; (3) the time-period distribution of the singularity component could be approximated by a Sliding-Stacking approach. The shortcoming of the method is that in order to isolate a low energy frequency or separate the nearby frequencies, we need a long enough series with high sampling rate. The method was tested with a numeric series and then it was applied to 1788 days Lanzarote tide gauge records as an example.

Stacking-dependent interlayer coupling in trilayer MoS 2 with broken inversion symmetry

DOE PAGES

Yan, Jiaxu; Wang, Xingli; Tay, Beng Kang; ...

2015-11-13

The stacking configuration in few-layer two-dimensional (2D) materials results in different structural symmetries and layer-to-layer interactions, and hence it provides a very useful parameter for tuning their electronic properties. For example, ABA-stacking trilayer graphene remains semimetallic similar to that of monolayer, while ABC-stacking is predicted to be a tunable band gap semiconductor under an external electric field. Such stacking dependence resulting from many-body interactions has recently been the focus of intense research activities. Here we demonstrate that few-layer MoS 2 samples grown by chemical vapor deposition with different stacking configurations (AA, AB for bilayer; AAB, ABB, ABA, AAA for trilayer)more » exhibit distinct coupling phenomena in both photoluminescence and Raman spectra. By means of ultralow-frequency (ULF) Raman spectroscopy, we demonstrate that the evolution of interlayer interaction with various stacking configurations correlates strongly with layer-breathing mode (LBM) vibrations. Our ab initio calculations reveal that the layer-dependent properties arise from both the spin–orbit coupling (SOC) and interlayer coupling in different structural symmetries. Lastly, such detailed understanding provides useful guidance for future spintronics fabrication using various stacked few-layer MoS 2 blocks.« less

Stacking-dependent interlayer coupling in trilayer MoS 2 with broken inversion symmetry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yan, Jiaxu; Wang, Xingli; Tay, Beng Kang

The stacking configuration in few-layer two-dimensional (2D) materials results in different structural symmetries and layer-to-layer interactions, and hence it provides a very useful parameter for tuning their electronic properties. For example, ABA-stacking trilayer graphene remains semimetallic similar to that of monolayer, while ABC-stacking is predicted to be a tunable band gap semiconductor under an external electric field. Such stacking dependence resulting from many-body interactions has recently been the focus of intense research activities. Here we demonstrate that few-layer MoS 2 samples grown by chemical vapor deposition with different stacking configurations (AA, AB for bilayer; AAB, ABB, ABA, AAA for trilayer)more » exhibit distinct coupling phenomena in both photoluminescence and Raman spectra. By means of ultralow-frequency (ULF) Raman spectroscopy, we demonstrate that the evolution of interlayer interaction with various stacking configurations correlates strongly with layer-breathing mode (LBM) vibrations. Our ab initio calculations reveal that the layer-dependent properties arise from both the spin–orbit coupling (SOC) and interlayer coupling in different structural symmetries. Lastly, such detailed understanding provides useful guidance for future spintronics fabrication using various stacked few-layer MoS 2 blocks.« less

DNA profiles from clothing fibers using direct PCR.

PubMed

Blackie, Renée; Taylor, Duncan; Linacre, Adrian

2016-09-01

We report on the successful use of direct PCR amplification of single fibers from items of worn clothing. Items of clothing were worn throughout the course of a day, with the individual commencing regular activities. Single fibers were taken from the cuff of the clothing at regular intervals and amplified directly. The same areas were subjected to tape-lifting, and also amplified directly for comparison. The NGM™ kit that amplifies 15 STR loci plus amelogenin was used. A total of 35 single fiber samples were processed and analyzed from five items of clothing, with 81 % of samples returning a profile of 14 alleles or more. All tape-lift samples amplified directly produced DNA profiles of 15 alleles or more. The aim was to develop a simple, operational method that could be used routinely in forensic science casework and that has the potential to generate more complete profiles, which would not be detected using standard extraction methods on this type of sample. For ease of implementation, the process also adheres to standard methods with no increase in the cycle number.

Optimization and evaluation of T7 based RNA linear amplification protocols for cDNA microarray analysis

PubMed Central

Zhao, Hongjuan; Hastie, Trevor; Whitfield, Michael L; Børresen-Dale, Anne-Lise; Jeffrey, Stefanie S

2002-01-01

Background T7 based linear amplification of RNA is used to obtain sufficient antisense RNA for microarray expression profiling. We optimized and systematically evaluated the fidelity and reproducibility of different amplification protocols using total RNA obtained from primary human breast carcinomas and high-density cDNA microarrays. Results Using an optimized protocol, the average correlation coefficient of gene expression of 11,123 cDNA clones between amplified and unamplified samples is 0.82 (0.85 when a virtual array was created using repeatedly amplified samples to minimize experimental variation). Less than 4% of genes show changes in expression level by 2-fold or greater after amplification compared to unamplified samples. Most changes due to amplification are not systematic both within one tumor sample and between different tumors. Amplification appears to dampen the variation of gene expression for some genes when compared to unamplified poly(A)+ RNA. The reproducibility between repeatedly amplified samples is 0.97 when performed on the same day, but drops to 0.90 when performed weeks apart. The fidelity and reproducibility of amplification is not affected by decreasing the amount of input total RNA in the 0.3–3 micrograms range. Adding template-switching primer, DNA ligase, or column purification of double-stranded cDNA does not improve the fidelity of amplification. The correlation coefficient between amplified and unamplified samples is higher when total RNA is used as template for both experimental and reference RNA amplification. Conclusion T7 based linear amplification reproducibly generates amplified RNA that closely approximates original sample for gene expression profiling using cDNA microarrays. PMID:12445333

Stacked Average Far-infrared Spectrum of Dusty Star-forming Galaxies from the Herschel/SPIRE Fourier Transform Spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, Derek; Cooray, Asantha; Nayyeri, Hooshang; Bonato, Matteo; Bradford, Charles M.; Clements, David L.; De Zotti, Gianfranco; Díaz-Santos, Tanio; Farrah, Duncan; Magdis, Georgios; Michałowski, Michał J.; Pearson, Chris; Rigopoulou, Dimitra; Valtchanov, Ivan; Wang, Lingyu; Wardlow, Julie

2017-10-01

We present stacked average far-infrared spectra of a sample of 197 dusty star-forming galaxies (DSFGs) at 0.005< z< 4 using about 90% of the Herschel Space Observatory SPIRE Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) extragalactic data archive based on 3.5 years of science operations. These spectra explore an observed-frame 447-1568 GHz frequency range, allowing us to observe the main atomic and molecular lines emitted by gas in the interstellar medium. The sample is subdivided into redshift bins, and a subset of the bins are stacked by infrared luminosity as well. These stacked spectra are used to determine the average gas density and radiation field strength in the photodissociation regions (PDRs) of DSFGs. For the low-redshift sample, we present the average spectral line energy distributions of CO and H2O rotational transitions and consider PDR conditions based on observed [C I] 370 and 609 μm, and CO (7-6) lines. For the high-z (0.8< z< 4) sample, PDR models suggest a molecular gas distribution in the presence of a radiation field that is at least a factor of 103 larger than the Milky Way and with a neutral gas density of roughly {10}4.5-{10}5.5 cm-3. The corresponding PDR models for the low-z sample suggest a UV radiation field and gas density comparable to those at high-z. Given the challenges in obtaining adequate far-infrared observations, the stacked average spectra we present here will remain the measurements with the highest signal-to-noise ratio for at least a decade and a half until the launch of the next far-infrared facility. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.

Searching for the 3.5 keV Line in the Stacked Suzaku Observations of Galaxy Clusters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bulbul, Esra; Markevitch, Maxim; Foster, Adam; Miller, Eric; Bautz, Mark; Lowenstein, Mike; Randall, Scott W.; Smith, Randall K.

2016-01-01

We perform a detailed study of the stacked Suzaku observations of 47 galaxy clusters, spanning a redshift range of 0.01-0.45, to search for the unidentified 3.5 keV line. This sample provides an independent test for the previously detected line. We detect a 2sigma-significant spectral feature at 3.5 keV in the spectrum of the full sample. When the sample is divided into two subsamples (cool-core and non-cool core clusters), the cool-core subsample shows no statistically significant positive residuals at the line energy. A very weak (approx. 2sigma confidence) spectral feature at 3.5 keV is permitted by the data from the non-cool-core clusters sample. The upper limit on a neutrino decay mixing angle of sin(sup 2)(2theta) = 6.1 x 10(exp -11) from the full Suzaku sample is consistent with the previous detections in the stacked XMM-Newton sample of galaxy clusters (which had a higher statistical sensitivity to faint lines), M31, and Galactic center, at a 90% confidence level. However, the constraint from the present sample, which does not include the Perseus cluster, is in tension with previously reported line flux observed in the core of the Perseus cluster with XMM-Newton and Suzaku.

40 CFR 63.11466 - What are the performance test requirements for new and existing sources?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... (Appendix A-1) to select sampling port locations and the number of traverse points in each stack or duct... of the stack gas. (iii) Method 3, 3A, or 3B (Appendix A-2) to determine the dry molecular weight of...

49 CFR 178.606 - Stacking test.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Testing of Non-bulk Packagings and Packages § 178.606 Stacking test. (a) General. All packaging design... subjected to a force applied to the top surface of the test sample equivalent to the total weight of... non-hazardous liquids with specific gravities different from that of the liquid to be transported, the...

High Frequency Design Considerations for the Large Detector Number and Small Form Factor Dual Electron Spectrometer of the Fast Plasma Investigation on NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kujawski, Joseph T.; Gliese, Ulrik B.; Cao, N. T.; Zeuch, M. A.; White, D.; Chornay, D. J; Lobell, J. V.; Avanov, L. A.; Barrie, A. C.; Mariano, A. J.;

A new approach for biological online testing of stack gas condensate from municipal waste incinerators.

PubMed

Elsner, Dorothea; Fomin, Anette

2002-01-01

A biological testing system for the monitoring of stack gas condensates of municipal waste incinerators has been developed using Euglena gracilis as a test organism. The motility, velocity and cellular form of the organisms were the endpoints, calculated by an image analysis system. All endpoints showed statistically significant changes in a short time when organisms were exposed to samples collected during combustion situations with increased pollutant concentrations. The velocity of the organisms proved to be the most appropriate endpoint. A semi-continuous system with E. gracilis for monitoring stack gas condensate is proposed, which could result in an online system for testing stack gas condensates in the future.

Temperature dependent photoluminescence and micromapping of multiple stacks InAs quantum dots

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xu, Ming, E-mail: ming.xu@lgep.supelec.fr; Jaffré, Alexandre, E-mail: ming.xu@lgep.supelec.fr; Alvarez, José, E-mail: ming.xu@lgep.supelec.fr

2015-02-27

We utilized temperature dependent photoluminescence (PL) techniques to investigate 1, 3 and 5 stack InGaAs quantum dots (QDs) grown on cross-hatch patterns. PL mapping can well reproduce the QDs distribution as AFM and position dependency of QD growth. It is possible to observe crystallographic dependent PL. The temperature dependent spectra exhibit the QDs energy distribution which reflects the size and shape. The inter-dot carrier coupling effect is observed and translated as a red shift of 120mV on the [1–10] direction peak is observed at 30K on 1 stack with regards to 3 stacks samples, which is assigned to lateral coupling.

A High Volume Stack Sampler

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boubel, Richard W.

1971-01-01

The stack sampler described in this paper has been developed to overcome the difficulties of particulate sampling with presently available equipment. Its use on emissions from hog fuel fired boilers, back-fired incinerators, wigwam burners, asphalt plants, and seed cleaning cyclones is reported. The results indicate that the sampler is rapid and reliable in its use. It is relatively simple and inexpensive to operate. For most sources it should be considered over the more complicated and expensive sampling trains being used and specified.

Miniature Low-Mass Drill Actuated by Flextensional Piezo Stack

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sherrit, Stewart; Badescu, Mircea; Bar-Cohen, Yoseph

2010-01-01

Recent experiments with a flextensional piezoelectric actuator have led to the development of a sampler with a bit that is designed to produce and capture a full set of sample forms including volatiles, powdered cuttings, and core fragments. The flextensional piezoelectric actuator is a part of a series of devices used to amplify the generated strain from piezoelectric actuators. Other examples include stacks, bimorphs, benders, and cantilevers. These devices combine geometric and resonance amplifications to produce large stroke at high power density. The operation of this sampler/drill was demonstrated using a 3x2x1-cm actuator weighing 12 g using power of about 10-W and a preload of about 10 N. A limestone block was drilled to a depth of about 1 cm in five minutes to produce powdered cuttings. It is generally hard to collect volatiles from random surface profiles found in rocks and sediment, powdered cuttings, and core fragments. Toward the end of collecting volatiles, the actuator and the bit are covered with bellows-shaped shrouds to prevent fines and other debris from reaching the analyzer. A tube with a miniature bellows (to provide flexibility) is connected to the bit and directs the flow of the volatiles to the analyzer. Another modality was conceived where the hose is connected to the bellows wall directly to allow the capture of volatiles generated both inside and outside the bit. A wide variety of commercial bellows used in the vacuum and microwave industries can be used to design the volatiles capture mechanism. The piezoelectric drilling mechanism can potentially be operated in a broad temperature range from about-200 to less than 450 C. The actuators used here are similar to the actuators that are currently baselined to fly as part of the inlet funnel shaking mechanism design of MSL (Mars Science Laboratory). The space qualification of these parts gives this drill a higher potential for inclusion in a future mission, especially when considering its characteristics of low mass, small size, low power, and low axial loads for sampling.

Oxidation precursor dependence of atomic layer deposited Al2O3 films in a-Si:H(i)/Al2O3 surface passivation stacks.

PubMed

Xiang, Yuren; Zhou, Chunlan; Jia, Endong; Wang, Wenjing

2015-01-01

In order to obtain a good passivation of a silicon surface, more and more stack passivation schemes have been used in high-efficiency silicon solar cell fabrication. In this work, we prepared a-Si:H(i)/Al2O3 stacks on KOH solution-polished n-type solar grade mono-silicon(100) wafers. For the Al2O3 film deposition, both thermal atomic layer deposition (T-ALD) and plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD) were used. Interface trap density spectra were obtained for Si passivation with a-Si films and a-Si:H(i)/Al2O3 stacks by a non-contact corona C-V technique. After the fabrication of a-Si:H(i)/Al2O3 stacks, the minimum interface trap density was reduced from original 3 × 10(12) to 1 × 10(12) cm(-2) eV(-1), the surface total charge density increased by nearly one order of magnitude for PE-ALD samples and about 0.4 × 10(12) cm(-2) for a T-ALD sample, and the carrier lifetimes increased by a factor of three (from about 10 μs to about 30 μs). Combining these results with an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, we discussed the influence of an oxidation precursor for ALD Al2O3 deposition on Al2O3 single layers and a-Si:H(i)/Al2O3 stack surface passivation from field-effect passivation and chemical passivation perspectives. In addition, the influence of the stack fabrication process on the a-Si film structure was also discussed in this study.

Comparisons of molecular karyotype and RAPD patterns of anuran trypanosome isolates during long-term in vitro cultivation.

PubMed

Lun, Z R; Desser, S S

1996-01-01

The patterns of random amplified fragments and molecular karyotypes of 12 isolates of anuran trypanosomes continuously cultured in vitro were compared by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis and pulsed field gradient gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The time interval between preparation of two series of samples was one year. Changes were not observed in the number and size of sharp, amplified fragments of DNA samples from both series examined with the ten primers used. Likewise, changes in the molecular karyotypes were not detected between the two samples of these isolates. These results suggest that the molecular karyotype and the RAPD patterns of the anuran trypanosomes remain stable after being cultured continuously in vitro for one year.

Genetic Stability of Streptomyces Lividans pIJ702 in Response to Spaceflight

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, K. S.; Goins, T. L.; Voeikova, T. A.; Pyle, B. H.

2008-06-01

Streptomyces lividans carrying plasmid pIJ702 encoding genes for thiostrepton resistance (tsr-) and melanin production (mel+) was plated on agar and flown on the Russian satellite Foton-M3 for 16 days. The percentage loss of plasmid expression in flight samples was lower than that in ground samples when both samples were grown in enriched (ISP) media. Differences in media content also affect plasmid expression rate; ISP media have a higher loss of plasmid expression than samples in minimum media when both were grown on ground conditions. Results suggest that stress resulted in the increased expression of plasmid pIJ702 by S. lividans. Screening of thiostrepton resistant white (tsr+ mel-) mutants showed similar proportions of variants in ground samples and flight samples. To determine if there are mutations in the mel gene, DNA extracted from flight and control white mutants was amplified and gel electrophoresis of amplified products show no major mutation in the products. Sequencing of amplified products is required to identify mutations resulting in loss of pigmentation.

Three-Dimensional Electron Optics Model Developed for Traveling-Wave Tubes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kory, Carol L.

2000-01-01

A three-dimensional traveling-wave tube (TWT) electron beam optics model including periodic permanent magnet (PPM) focusing has been developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field. This accurate model allows a TWT designer to develop a focusing structure while reducing the expensive and time-consuming task of building the TWT and hot-testing it (with the electron beam). In addition, the model allows, for the first time, an investigation of the effect on TWT operation of the important azimuthally asymmetric features of the focusing stack. The TWT is a vacuum device that amplifies signals by transferring energy from an electron beam to a radiofrequency (RF) signal. A critically important component is the focusing structure, which keeps the electron beam from diverging and intercepting the RF slow wave circuit. Such an interception can result in excessive circuit heating and decreased efficiency, whereas excessive growth in the beam diameter can lead to backward wave oscillations and premature saturation, indicating a serious reduction in tube performance. The most commonly used focusing structure is the PPM stack, which consists of a sequence of cylindrical iron pole pieces and opposite-polarity magnets. Typically, two-dimensional electron optics codes are used in the design of magnetic focusing devices. In general, these codes track the beam from the gun downstream by solving equations of motion for the electron beam in static-electric and magnetic fields in an azimuthally symmetric structure. Because these two-dimensional codes cannot adequately simulate a number of important effects, the simulation code MAFIA (solution of Maxwell's equations by the Finite-Integration-Algorithm) was used at Glenn to develop a three-dimensional electron optics model. First, a PPM stack was modeled in three dimensions. Then, the fields obtained using the magnetostatic solver were loaded into a particle-in-cell solver where the fully three-dimensional behavior of the beam was simulated in the magnetic focusing field. For the first time, the effects of azimuthally asymmetric designs and critical azimuthally asymmetric characteristics of the focusing stack (such as shunts, C-magnets, or magnet misalignment) on electron beam behavior have been investigated. A cutaway portion of a simulated electron beam focused by a PPM stack is illustrated.

Developments in Sampling and Analysis Instrumentation for Stationary Sources

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nader, John S.

1973-01-01

Instrumentation for the measurement of pollutant emissions is considered including sample-site selection, sample transport, sample treatment, sample analysis, and data reduction, display, and interpretation. Measurement approaches discussed involve sample extraction from within the stack and electro-optical methods. (BL)

Effect of number of stack on the thermal escape and non-radiative and radiative recombinations of photoexcited carriers in strain-balanced InGaAs/GaAsP multiple quantum-well-inserted solar cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aihara, Taketo; Fukuyama, Atsuhiko; Ikari, Tetsuo

2015-02-28

Three non-destructive methodologies, namely, surface photovoltage (SPV), photoluminescence, and piezoelectric photothermal (PPT) spectroscopies, were adopted to detect the thermal carrier escape from quantum well (QW) and radiative and non-radiative carrier recombinations, respectively, in strain-balanced InGaAs/GaAsP multiple-quantum-well (MQW)-inserted GaAs p-i-n solar cell structure samples. Although the optical absorbance signal intensity was proportional to the number of QW stack, the signal intensities of the SPV and PPT methods decreased at high number of stack. To explain the temperature dependency of these signal intensities, we proposed a model that considers the three carrier dynamics: the thermal escape from the QW, and the non-radiativemore » and radiative carrier recombinations within the QW. From the fitting procedures, it was estimated that the activation energies of the thermal escape ΔE{sub barr} and non-radiative recombination ΔE{sub NR} were 68 and 29 meV, respectively, for a 30-stacked MQW sample. The estimated ΔE{sub barr} value agreed well with the difference between the first electron subband and the top of the potential barrier in the conduction band. We found that ΔE{sub barr} remained constant at approximately 70 meV even with increasing QW stack number. However, the ΔE{sub NR} value monotonically increased with the increase in the number of stack. Since this implies that non-radiative recombination becomes improbable as the number of stack increases, we found that the radiative recombination probability for electrons photoexcited within the QW increased at a large number of QW stack. Additional processes of escaping and recapturing of carriers at neighboring QW were discussed. As a result, the combination of the three non-destructive methodologies provided us new insights for optimizing the MQW components to further improve the cell performance.« less

Determination of lipoic acid in human urine by capillary zone electrophoresis.

PubMed

Kubalczyk, Paweł; Głowacki, Rafał

2017-07-01

Fast, simple, and accurate CE method enabling determination of lipoic acid (LA) in human urine has been developed and validated. LA is a disulfide-containing natural compound absorbed from the organism's diet. Due to powerful antioxidant activity, LA has been used for prevention and treatment of various diseases and disorders, e.g. cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. The proposed analytical procedure consists of liquid-liquid sample extraction, reduction of LA with tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine, derivatization with 1-benzyl-2-chloropyridinium bromide (BCPB) followed by field amplified sample injection stacking, capillary zone electrophoresis separation, and ultraviolet-absorbance detection of LA-BCPB derivative at 322 nm. Effective baseline electrophoretic separation was achieved within 6 min under the separation voltage of 20 kV (∼80 μA) using a standard fused-silica capillary (effective length 51.5 cm, 75 μm id) and BGE consisted of 0.05 mol/L borate buffer adjusted to pH 9. The experimentally determined limit of detection for LA in urine was 1.2 μmol/L. The calibration curve obtained for LA in urine showed linearity in the range 2.5-80 μmol/L, with R 2 0.9998. The relative standard deviation of the points of the calibration curve was lower than 10%. The analytical procedure was successfully applied to analysis of real urine samples from seven healthy volunteers who received single 100 mg dose of LA. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Nucleic acid amplification of HIV-1 integrase sequence subtypes CRF01_AE and B for development of HIV anti-integrase drug resistance genotyping assay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adlar, F. R.; Bela, B.

2017-08-01

To anticipate the potential use of anti-integrase drugs in Indonesia for treatment of HIV-1 infection, the development of a drug resistance genotyping assay for anti-integrase is crucial in identifying the genetic drug resistance profile of Indonesian HIV-1 strains. This experiment aimed to amplify a target region in the integrase gene of Indonesian HIV-1 subtypes CRF01_AE and B that contain genetic mutations known to confer resistance to anti-integrase drug. Eleven archived plasma samples from individuals living with HIV-1 were obtained from the Virology and Cancer Pathobiology Research Center for Health Service (VCPRC FKUI-RSCM) laboratory. One of the plasma samples contained HIV-1 subtype B, and the remaining plasma samples contained subtype CRF01_AE. The target regions for all samples were amplified through RT-PCR, with an annealing temperature of 55 °C, using the primer pair AE_POL 4086F and AE_POL 5232R that were designed by VCPRC FKUI-RSCM. The results of this experiment show that 18.2% (2/11) of the samples were successfully amplified using the one-step RT-PCR. While the primer pair was effective in amplifying the target region in the integrase gene sequence for subtype B (100%; 1/1), it had a low efficacy (10%, 1/10) for subtype CRF01_AE. In conclusion, the primer pair can be used to amplify the target region in Indonesian HIV-1 strain subtypes CRF01_AE and B. However, optimization of the PCR condition and an increased number of samples would help to determine an accurate representation of the efficacy of the primer pair.

Compliance Testing of Grissom AFB, Central Heating Plant Coal-Fired Boilers 3, 4 and 5 Grissom AFB, Indiana.

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-03-01

common breeching and can be routed to the wet -scrubber or to a bypass stack. The scrubber is a double-alkali flue - gas desulfurization system using...air. B,,., = proportion by volume of water vapor in F, = a factor representing a ratio of the vol- the stack gas . ume of wet flue gases generated to...1 s- .- - Dtstr’, . iii i Illustrations Figure Title Page 1 View of Scrubbers and Bypass Stack 3 2 Flue Gas Flow Diagram 4 3 ORSAT Sampling Train

Sex identification of polar bears from blood and tissue samples

USGS Publications Warehouse

Amstrup, Steven C.; Garner, G.W.; Cronin, M.A.; Patton, J.C.

1993-01-01

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) can be adversely affected by hunting and other human perturbations because of low population densities and low reproduction rates. The sustainable take of adult females may be as low as 1.5% of the population. Females and accompanying young are most vulnerable to hunting, and hunters have not consistently reported the sex composition of the harvest, therefore a method to confirm the sexes of polar bears harvested in Alaska is needed. Evidence of the sex of harvested animals is often not available, but blood or other tissue samples often are. We extracted DNA from tissue and blood samples, and amplified segments of zinc finger (ZFX and ZFY) genes from both X and Y chromosomes with the polymerase chain reaction. Digestion of amplified portions of the X chromosome with the restriction enzyme HaeIII resulted in subdivision of the original amplified segment into four smaller fragments. Digestion with HaeIII did not subdivide the original segment amplified from the Y chromosome. The differing fragment sizes produced patterns in gel electrophoresis that distinguished samples from male and female bears 100% of the time. This technique is applicable to the investigation of many wildlife management and research questions.

Validation of a reaction volume reduction protocol for analysis of Y chromosome haplotypes targeting DNA databases.

PubMed

Souza, C A; Oliveira, T C; Crovella, S; Santos, S M; Rabêlo, K C N; Soriano, E P; Carvalho, M V D; Junior, A F Caldas; Porto, G G; Campello, R I C; Antunes, A A; Queiroz, R A; Souza, S M

2017-04-28

The use of Y chromosome haplotypes, important for the detection of sexual crimes in forensics, has gained prominence with the use of databases that incorporate these genetic profiles in their system. Here, we optimized and validated an amplification protocol for Y chromosome profile retrieval in reference samples using lesser materials than those in commercial kits. FTA ® cards (Flinders Technology Associates) were used to support the oral cells of male individuals, which were amplified directly using the SwabSolution reagent (Promega). First, we optimized and validated the process to define the volume and cycling conditions. Three reference samples and nineteen 1.2 mm-diameter perforated discs were used per sample. Amplification of one or two discs (samples) with the PowerPlex ® Y23 kit (Promega) was performed using 25, 26, and 27 thermal cycles. Twenty percent, 32%, and 100% reagent volumes, one disc, and 26 cycles were used for the control per sample. Thereafter, all samples (N = 270) were amplified using 27 cycles, one disc, and 32% reagents (optimized conditions). Data was analyzed using a study of equilibrium values between fluorophore colors. In the samples analyzed with 20% volume, an imbalance was observed in peak heights, both inside and in-between each dye. In samples amplified with 32% reagents, the values obtained for the intra-color and inter-color standard balance calculations for verification of the quality of the analyzed peaks were similar to those of samples amplified with 100% of the recommended volume. The quality of the profiles obtained with 32% reagents was suitable for insertion into databases.

Application of 1013 ohm Faraday cup current amplifiers for boron isotopic analyses by solution mode and laser ablation multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Lloyd, Nicholas S; Sadekov, Aleksey Yu; Misra, Sambuddha

2018-01-15

Boron isotope ratios (δ 11 B values) are used as a proxy for seawater paleo-pH, amongst several other applications. The analytical precision can be limited by the detection of low intensity ion beams from limited sample amounts. High-gain amplifiers offer improvements in signal/noise ratio and can be used to increase measurement precision and reduce sample amounts. 10 13 ohm amplifier technology has previously been applied to several radiogenic systems, but has thus far not been applied to non-traditional stable isotopes. Here we apply 10 13 ohm amplifier technology for the measurement of boron isotope ratios using solution mode MC-ICP-MS and laser ablation mode (LA-)MC-ICP-MS techniques. Precision is shown for reference materials as well as for low-volume foraminifera samples. The baseline uncertainty for a 0.1 pA 10 B + ion beam is reduced to <0.1 ‰ for a typical measurement period. The external precision is better than 0.2 ‰ (2SD) for δ 11 B measurements for solution samples containing as little as 0.8 ng total boron. For in situ microanalyses with LA-MC-ICP-MS, the external precision of 11 B/ 10 B from an in-house calcite standard was 1 ‰ (2SD) for individual spot analyses, and 0.3 ‰ for the mean of ≥10 replicate spot analyses. 10 13 ohm amplifier technology is demonstrated to offer advantages for the determination of δ 11 B values by both MC-ICP-MS and LA-MC-ICP-MS for small samples of biogenic carbonates, such as foraminifera shells. 10 13 ohm amplifier technology will also be of benefit to other non-traditional stable isotope measurements. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Non-CAR resists and advanced materials for Massively Parallel E-Beam Direct Write process integration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pourteau, Marie-Line; Servin, Isabelle; Lepinay, Kévin; Essomba, Cyrille; Dal'Zotto, Bernard; Pradelles, Jonathan; Lattard, Ludovic; Brandt, Pieter; Wieland, Marco

2016-03-01

The emerging Massively Parallel-Electron Beam Direct Write (MP-EBDW) is an attractive high resolution high throughput lithography technology. As previously shown, Chemically Amplified Resists (CARs) meet process/integration specifications in terms of dose-to-size, resolution, contrast, and energy latitude. However, they are still limited by their line width roughness. To overcome this issue, we tested an alternative advanced non-CAR and showed it brings a substantial gain in sensitivity compared to CAR. We also implemented and assessed in-line post-lithographic treatments for roughness mitigation. For outgassing-reduction purpose, a top-coat layer is added to the total process stack. A new generation top-coat was tested and showed improved printing performances compared to the previous product, especially avoiding dark erosion: SEM cross-section showed a straight pattern profile. A spin-coatable charge dissipation layer based on conductive polyaniline has also been tested for conductivity and lithographic performances, and compatibility experiments revealed that the underlying resist type has to be carefully chosen when using this product. Finally, the Process Of Reference (POR) trilayer stack defined for 5 kV multi-e-beam lithography was successfully etched with well opened and straight patterns, and no lithography-etch bias.

DC superconducting quantum interference device usable in nuclear quadrupole resonance and zero field nuclear magnetic spectrometers

DOEpatents

Fan, N.Q.; Clarke, J.

1993-10-19

A spectrometer for measuring the nuclear quadrupole resonance spectra or the zero-field nuclear magnetic resonance spectra generated by a sample is disclosed. The spectrometer uses an amplifier having a dc SQUID operating in a flux-locked loop for generating an amplified output as a function of the intensity of the signal generated by the sample. The flux-locked loop circuit includes an integrator. The amplifier also includes means for preventing the integrator from being driven into saturation. As a result, the time for the flux-locked loop to recover from the excitation pulses generated by the spectrometer is reduced. 7 figures.

DC superconducting quantum interference device usable in nuclear quadrupole resonance and zero field nuclear magnetic spectrometers

DOEpatents

Fan, Non Q.; Clarke, John

1993-01-01

A spectrometer for measuring the nuclear quadrupole resonance spectra or the zero-field nuclear magnetic resonance spectra generated by a sample is disclosed. The spectrometer uses an amplifier having a dc SQUID operating in a flux-locked loop for generating an amplified output as a function of the intensity of the signal generated by the sample. The flux-locked loop circuit includes an integrator. The amplifier also includes means for preventing the integrator from being driven into saturation. As a result, the time for the flux-locked loop to recover from the excitation pulses generated by the spectrometer is reduced.

DNA extraction from coral reef sediment bacteria for the polymerase chain reaction.

PubMed

Guthrie, J N; Moriarty, D J; Blackall, L L

2000-12-15

A rapid and effective method for the direct extraction of high molecular weight amplifiable DNA from two coral reef sediments was developed. DNA was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using 16S rDNA specific primers. The amplicons were digested with HaeIII, HinP1I and MspI and separated using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining. The resulting amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) patterns were used as a fingerprint to discern differences between the coral reef sediment samples. Results indicated that ARDRA is an effective method for determining differences within the bacterial community amongst different environmental samples.

Music Preference, Depression, Suicidal Preoccupation, and Personality: Comment on Stack and Gundlach's Papers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lester, David; Whipple, Melissa

1996-01-01

In a sample of students (n=93), preference for country and western music was not associated with depression or suicidal preoccupation as has been suggested by Stack and Gundlach. However, preference for heavy metal music was associated with prior suicidal ideation. Stronger associations were found between music preferences and measures of…

Music preference, depression, suicidal preoccupation, and personality: comment on Stack and Gundlach's papers.

PubMed

Lester, D; Whipple, M

1996-01-01

In a sample of students, preference for country and western music was not associated with depression or suicidal preoccupation as has been suggested by Stack and Gundlach. However, preference for heavy metal music was associated with prior suicidal ideation. Stronger associations were found between music preferences and measures of psychoticism and extraversion.

40 CFR 75.15 - Special provisions for measuring Hg mass emissions using the excepted sorbent trap monitoring...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... the excepted sorbent trap monitoring methodology. For an affected coal-fired unit under a State or...; (c) A certified flow monitoring system is required; (d) Correction for stack gas moisture content is... proportional to the stack gas volumetric flow rate. (f) At the beginning and end of each sample collection...

Nondestructive cell evaluation techniques in SOFC stack manufacturing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wunderlich, C.

2016-04-01

Independent from the specifics of the application, a cost efficient manufacturing of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), its electrolyte membranes and other stack components, leading to reliable long-life stacks is the key for the commercial viability of this fuel cell technology. Tensile and shear stresses are most critical for ceramic components and especially for thin electrolyte membranes as used in SOFC cells. Although stack developers try to reduce tensile stresses acting on the electrolyte by either matching CTE of interconnects and electrolytes or by putting SOFC cells under some pressure - at least during transient operation of SOFC stacks ceramic cells will experience some tensile stresses. Electrolytes are required to have a high Weibull characteristic fracture strength. Practical experiences in stack manufacturing have shown that statistical fracture strength data generated by tests of electrolyte samples give limited information on electrolyte or cell quality. In addition, the cutting process of SOFC electrolytes has a major influence on crack initiation. Typically, any single crack in one the 30 to 80 cells in series connection will lead to a premature stack failure drastically reducing stack service life. Thus, for statistical reasons only 100% defect free SOFC cells must be assembled in stacks. This underlines the need for an automated inspection. So far, only manual processes of visual or mechanical electrolyte inspection are established. Fraunhofer IKTS has qualified the method of optical coherence tomography for an automated high throughput inspection. Alternatives like laser speckle photometry and acoustical methods are still under investigation.

NRL (Naval Research Laboratory) Review

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-07-01

newmatrial. Vriou difracion The division has recently developed the 475-ftto invent new materials. Various diffraction e-hdel(S- 5 noa dacdfr...study sample between 4 and 400 K without breaking the fabrication methods by using new and/or unusual vacuum. The facility is currently used for...combine the output of multiaperture HF laser amplifiers. 24 . 4 Relativistic Klystron Amplifier New , high-power RF klystron-like amplifiers have been

Improved amplification results following episodes of failure to amplify at the Amelogenin Locus using PowerPlex® ESI 16 Fast System.

PubMed

Berlyne, Sigal; Oz, Carla; Einot, Naftaly; Avraham, Shlomit; Ram, Tanya; Goldberg, Miri D; Gafny, Ron

2017-07-01

In 2012 the Israel Police DNA Casework laboratory adopted the 16 STR PowerPlex ® ESI kit for routine use. The Promega Company updated this kit and developed the PowerPlex ® ESI 16 Fast System in which all autosomal primer pairs remained identical to the original set, except at the amelogenin site. The master mix was improved and optimized which allowed for direct, faster and more robust amplification. Prior to implementing the PowerPlex ® ESI 16 Fast System in our lab, we conducted a preliminary assay where 213 casework samples were amplified using the new kit. These samples had previously been extracted by one of two extraction kits employed by our lab. (the PrepFiler ExpressTM and PrepFiler BTATM Forensic DNA Extraction Kits). The amplification results from these samples were compared to samples amplified using the original PowerPlex ® ESI 16 kit. Multiple incidents of failure to amplify at the amelogenin locus were noted using the new system with the recommended protocol at a rate of 13% (28 of 213 samples). Experiments were performed to understand whether these amplification failures could be a result of primer binding site mutations, extraction method reagents and/or inhibitors. The conclusions reached following these experiments, in conjunction with consultation with the manufacturer, led to the trial of a modified amplification protocol where the suggested annealing temperature was reduced by 2 degrees. To evaluate the efficiency of this altered protocol, a comparison study was undertaken where 88 additional casework samples were chosen and amplified using both the modified 58°C and the recommended 60°C annealing temperatures. We concluded that the most effective method in our laboratory for achieving a consistent and balanced amplification at the amelogenin locus was to reduce the annealing temperature from the manufacturer's recommended 60°C to 58°C. This modification resulted in a reduction of the failure to amplify at the amelogenin locus from 13% (28/213) to 1.1% (1/88) without any observed changes to the autosomal STR amplification results. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Colorimetric stack pad immunoassay for bacterial identification.

PubMed

Eltzov, Evgeni; Marks, Robert S

2017-01-15

A new colorimetric immunoassay concept, utilizing conventional lateral flow membranes (e.g., conjugation, sample, absorption and nitrocellulose), were placed in a different configuration in a stacking manner, where the liquid sample that may contain the analyte diffuses from the bottom to the upper-most layer. The key element of this proprietary technology is a capture layer, where a nitrocellulose membrane is modified with the target analyte of interest, namely in this study target Escherichia coli. During the immunoassay operation, samples contaminated with the target bacteria will conjugate to their corresponding HRP-antibodies laying in wait and the immune-target measurand complex flows by capillarity towards the upper-most layer to generate a colorimetric signal (positive answer) through an enzymatic reaction. In target-free samples, previously immobilized target bacteria on the capture layer will prevent the HRP-labeled anti-target antibodies from migrating to the upper-most layer, where the enzymatic substrate lays in wait. After optimization, the sensitivity of this approach was found to be 1,000 folds higher than ELISAs (10 2 cellsmL -1 ). The advantages of the stacked pad assay include: miniaturization, operational simplicity, fast response time (less than 5min), useful sensitivity. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Imaging Organ of Corti Vibration Using Fourier-Domain OCT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choudhury, Niloy; Chen, Fangyi; Fridberger, Anders; Zha, Dingjun; Jacques, Steven L.; Wang, Ruikang K.; Nuttall, Alfred L.

2011-11-01

Measuring the sound stimulated vibration from various structures in the organ of Corti is important in understanding how the small vibrations are amplified and detected. In this study we examine the feasibility of using phase-sensitive Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (PSFD-OCT) to measure vibration of the cellular structures of the organ of Corti. PSFD-OCT is a low coherence interferrometry system where the interferrogram is detected as a function of wavelength. The phase of the Fourier transformation of the detected spectra contains path deference (between the sample arm and the reference arm) information of the interferometer. In PSFD-OCT this phase is measured as a function of time and thus any time dependent change in the path difference between the sample arm and the reference arm can be detected. In the experiment, we used an in vitro preparation of the guinea pig cochlea and made a surgical opening at the apical end to access the organ of Corti. By applying tones with different frequencies via the intact middle ear, we recorded the structural vibration inside the organ of Corti. Vibration amplitude and phase of different substructures were mapped on a cross-section view of the organ of Corti. Although the measurements were made at the apical turn of the cochlea, it will be possible to make vibration measurement from various turns of the cochlea. The noise floor of the system was 0.3 nm, calibrated using a piezo stack as a calibrator.

Evaluations of sampling methods for darkling beetles (Alphitobius diaperinus) in the litter of turkey and broiler houses.

PubMed

Safrit, R D; Axtell, R C

1984-12-01

Materials placed on the litter in turkey and broiler houses were evaluated as sampling devices for the larvae and adults of Alphitobius diaperinus (lesser mealworm or darkling beetle). Insects harbored in, on, and between pieces of the materials were counted after 1-week exposure. Pan traps consisting of two stacked pieces of 1.3-cm thick foil-covered polyisocyanurate insulation (Celotex) placed under a protective metal pan staked to the litter surface was a more effective sampling device than pan traps using thicker (5 cm) Celotex, 3.8 cm thick polystyrene (Styrofoam), or two stacked pieces of wood. A tube trap consisting of rolled fluted corrugated cardboard inserted in a section of polyvinyl chloride pipe was as effective a sampling device as the two pieces of Celotex in a pan trap and was more convenient to use. Six pieces of corrugated cardboard stacked under a pan caught larger numbers of beetle larvae and adults but was awkward to handle and impractical. Placement of sampling devices in the major subhabitats (open center, near walls, near feeders, and near waterers) in turkey and broiler houses affected catches of beetle larvae and adults. The open center area was satisfactory and most convenient.

Integrated approach to improving local CD uniformity in EUV patterning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Andrew; Hermans, Jan; Tran, Timothy; Viatkina, Katja; Liang, Chen-Wei; Ward, Brandon; Chuang, Steven; Yu, Jengyi; Harm, Greg; Vandereyken, Jelle; Rio, David; Kubis, Michael; Tan, Samantha; Dusa, Mircea; Singhal, Akhil; van Schravendijk, Bart; Dixit, Girish; Shamma, Nader

2017-03-01

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is crucial to enabling technology scaling in pitch and critical dimension (CD). Currently, one of the key challenges of introducing EUV lithography to high volume manufacturing (HVM) is throughput, which requires high source power and high sensitivity chemically amplified photoresists. Important limiters of high sensitivity chemically amplified resists (CAR) are the effects of photon shot noise and resist blur on the number of photons received and of photoacids generated per feature, especially at the pitches required for 7 nm and 5 nm advanced technology nodes. These stochastic effects are reflected in via structures as hole-to-hole CD variation or local CD uniformity (LCDU). Here, we demonstrate a synergy of film stack deposition, EUV lithography, and plasma etch techniques to improve LCDU, which allows the use of high sensitivity resists required for the introduction of EUV HVM. Thus, to improve LCDU to a level required by 5 nm node and beyond, film stack deposition, EUV lithography, and plasma etch processes were combined and co-optimized to enhance LCDU reduction from synergies. Test wafers were created by depositing a pattern transfer stack on a substrate representative of a 5 nm node target layer. The pattern transfer stack consisted of an atomically smooth adhesion layer and two hardmasks and was deposited using the Lam VECTOR PECVD product family. These layers were designed to mitigate hole roughness, absorb out-of-band radiation, and provide additional outlets for etch to improve LCDU and control hole CD. These wafers were then exposed through an ASML NXE3350B EUV scanner using a variety of advanced positive tone EUV CAR. They were finally etched to the target substrate using Lam Flex dielectric etch and Kiyo conductor etch systems. Metrology methodologies to assess dimensional metrics as well as chip performance and defectivity were investigated to enable repeatable patterning process development. Illumination conditions in EUV lithography were optimized to improve normalized image log slope (NILS), which is expected to reduce shot noise related effects. It can be seen that the EUV imaging contrast improvement can further reduce post-develop LCDU from 4.1 nm to 3.9 nm and from 2.8 nm to 2.6 nm. In parallel, etch processes were developed to further reduce LCDU, to control CD, and to transfer these improvements into the final target substrate. We also demonstrate that increasing post-develop CD through dose adjustment can enhance the LCDU reduction from etch. Similar trends were also observed in different pitches down to 40 nm. The solutions demonstrated here are critical to the introduction of EUV lithography in high volume manufacturing. It can be seen that through a synergistic deposition, lithography, and etch optimization, LCDU at a 40 nm pitch can be improved to 1.6 nm (3-sigma) in a target oxide layer and to 1.4 nm (3-sigma) at the photoresist layer.

Characterization of biomass burning aerosols produced in the laboratory with a light-scattering aerosol mass spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Middlebrook, A. M.; Adler, G. A.; Coggon, M.; De Gouw, J. A.; Franchin, A.; Gilman, J.; Koss, A.; Krechmer, J. E.; Lamb, K.; Manfred, K.; Roberts, J. M.; Schwarz, J. P.; Sekimoto, K.; Selimovic, V.; Stockwell, C.; Wagner, N.; Warneke, C.; Washenfelder, R. A.; Womack, C.; Yokelson, R. J.; Yuan, B.

2017-12-01

During the 2016 NOAA FIREX project at the Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory, small fires of known fuel type and properties were ignited to characterize their direct emissions with a large variety of new sampling methods. Two types of experiments were employed: sampling smoke directly from the exhaust stack throughout the lifecycle of the fires (stack burns) or sampling when the exhaust vent was closed to fill the room with smoke (room burns). For both types of burns, photo-oxidation chambers were at times used to mimic aging in the atmosphere. During all these experiments, we measured the non-refractory components of the smoke particles using an Aerodyne compact time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) with a light scattering module and diluted the sample line as little as possible (usually by a factor of 10) without overwhelming our instrument. For the stack burns, our AMS was placed near the top of the exhaust stack to capture the composition and size distribution during the rapidly changing stages of the fires. We found that the chemical composition of the aerosols varied with fuel type and combustion conditions on time scales of a few minutes as the fuels went through different stages of heating and combustion. For the room burns, we obtained additional measurements with the light-scattering module aimed at understanding how well smoke particles are measured with the AMS, along with characterization of their physical properties. We will present a summary of our results, with connections to their relevance for constraining model treatments of fire emissions on the atmosphere.

40 CFR 61.44 - Stack sampling.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS National Emission Standard for Beryllium Rocket Motor... within 30 days after samples are taken and before any subsequent rocket motor firing or propellant...

40 CFR 61.44 - Stack sampling.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS National Emission Standard for Beryllium Rocket Motor... within 30 days after samples are taken and before any subsequent rocket motor firing or propellant...

40 CFR 61.44 - Stack sampling.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS National Emission Standard for Beryllium Rocket Motor... within 30 days after samples are taken and before any subsequent rocket motor firing or propellant...

Two-level bulk microfabrication of a mechanical broadband vibration amplitude-amplifier with ten coupled resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Müller, Michelle; Maiwald, Verena; Thiele, Lothar; Beutel, Jan; Roman, Cosmin; Hierold, Christofer

2018-04-01

A micromechanical broadband vibration amplitude-amplifier for low power detection of acoustic emission signals is presented. It is based on a coupled mass-spring system and was fabricated in a two-level bulk microfabrication process. The device consists of ten resonators coupled in series, which decrease in mass by a factor of three each, to achieve a high amplification over a broad bandwidth. The fabrication process for this multiscale device is based on front- and backside etching of a silicon-on-insulator wafer. It enables coupling MEMS resonators of two different thicknesses with a weight ratio from largest to smallest mass of 26’244 and reduces die size by resonator stacking. The first ten eigenmodes of the device are in-plane and unidirectional. Steady-state and transient response of the device in comparison to a 1D lumped element model is presented. An average amplitude amplification of 295 over a bandwidth of 10.7 kHz (4.4-15.1 kHz) is achieved and can be reached in less than 1 ms. Applications are low-power detection of short broadband vibration signals e.g. for structural health monitoring (cliffs, pipelines, bridges).

Domain wall pinning on strain relaxation defects (stacking faults) in nanoscale FePd (001)/MgO thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hsiao, C. H.; Ouyang, Chuenhou, E-mail: wei0208@gmail.com, E-mail: houyang@mx.nthu.edu.tw; Yao, Y. D.

FePd (001) films, prepared by an electron beam deposition system on MgO(100), exhibit a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (1.7 × 10{sup 7 }erg/cc) with a high order parameter (0.92). The relation between stacking faults induced by the strain relaxation, which act as strong domain wall pinning sites, and the perpendicular coercivity of (001) oriented L1{sub 0} FePd films prepared at different temperatures have been investigated. Perpendicular coercivity can be apparently enhanced by raising the stacking fault densities, which can be elevated by climbing dissociation of total dislocation. The increased stacking fault densities (1.22 nm{sup −2}) with large perpendicular coercivity (6000 Oe) are obtained for samples preparedmore » at 650 °C. This present work shows through controlling stacking fault density in FePd film, the coercivity can be manipulated, which can be applied in future magnetic devices.« less

Computer Simulations to Study Diffraction Effects of Stacking Faults in Beta-SiC: II. Experimental Verification. 2; Experimental Verification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pujar, Vijay V.; Cawley, James D.; Levine, S. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

Earlier results from computer simulation studies suggest a correlation between the spatial distribution of stacking errors in the Beta-SiC structure and features observed in X-ray diffraction patterns of the material. Reported here are experimental results obtained from two types of nominally Beta-SiC specimens, which yield distinct XRD data. These samples were analyzed using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and the stacking error distribution was directly determined. The HRTEM results compare well to those deduced by matching the XRD data with simulated spectra, confirming the hypothesis that the XRD data is indicative not only of the presence and density of stacking errors, but also that it can yield information regarding their distribution. In addition, the stacking error population in both specimens is related to their synthesis conditions and it appears that it is similar to the relation developed by others to explain the formation of the corresponding polytypes.

Improvement in the breakdown endurance of high-κ dielectric by utilizing stacking technology and adding sufficient interfacial layer.

PubMed

Pang, Chin-Sheng; Hwu, Jenn-Gwo

2014-01-01

Improvement in the time-zero dielectric breakdown (TZDB) endurance of metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor with stacking structure of Al/HfO2/SiO2/Si is demonstrated in this work. The misalignment of the conduction paths between two stacking layers is believed to be effective to increase the breakdown field of the devices. Meanwhile, the resistance of the dielectric after breakdown for device with stacking structure would be less than that of without stacking structure due to a higher breakdown field and larger breakdown power. In addition, the role of interfacial layer (IL) in the control of the interface trap density (D it) and device reliability is also analyzed. Device with a thicker IL introduces a higher breakdown field and also a lower D it. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) of the samples with different IL thicknesses is provided to confirm that IL is needed for good interfacial property.

Low-Frequency Interlayer Raman Modes to Probe Interface of Twisted Bilayer MoS 2

DOE PAGES

Huang, Shengxi; Liang, Liangbo; Ling, Xi; ...

2016-02-21

A variety of van der Waals homo- and hetero- structures assembled by stamping monolayers together present optoelectronic properties suitable for diverse applications. Understanding the details of the interlayer stacking and resulting coupling is crucial for tuning these properties. Twisted bilayer transition metal dichalcogenides offer a great platform for developing a precise understanding of the structure/property relationship. Here, we study the low-frequency interlayer shear and breathing Raman modes (<50 cm-1) in twisted bilayer MoS 2 by Raman spectroscopy and first-principles modeling. Twisting introduces both rotational and translational shifts and significantly alters the interlayer stacking and coupling, leading to notable frequency andmore » intensity changes of low-frequency modes. The frequency variation can be up to 8 cm-1 and the intensity can vary by a factor of ~5 for twisting near 0 and 60 , where the stacking is a mixture of multiple high-symmetry stacking patterns and is thus especially sensitive to twisting. Moreover, for twisting angles between 20 and 40 , the interlayer coupling is nearly constant since the stacking results in mismatched lattices over the entire sample. It follows that the Raman signature is relatively uniform. Interestingly, unlike the breathing mode, the shear mode is extremely sensitive to twisting: it disappears between 20 and 40 as its frequency drops to almost zero due to the stacking-induced mismatch. Note that for some samples, multiple breathing mode peaks appear, indicating non-uniform coupling across the interface. In contrast to the low-frequency interlayer modes, high-frequency intralayer Raman modes are much less sensitive to interlayer stacking and coupling, showing negligible changes upon twisting. Our research demonstrates the effectiveness of low-frequency Raman modes for probing the interfacial coupling and environment of twisted bilayer MoS2, and potentially other two-dimensional materials and heterostructures.« less

Hyperspectral Signatures (400 to 2500 nm) of Vegetation, Minerals, Soils, Rocks, and Cultural Features: Laboratory and Field Measurements

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-12-01

nadir radiometer viewing angle. The reference standard was a 25.4 cm x 25.4 cm x 1.0 cm pressed Halon "Spectralon" plate that was backed by a 0.5 cm...against the sphere’s sample port. Light transmitted through the leaf was trapped in the sample chamber and did not pass back into the integrating sphere...leaf layers. The leaves were added to the back of the stack, so leaf #1 was always the first leaf in the stack. Each spectrum was taken in the lower 1

Efficient optical pulse stacker system

DOEpatents

Seppala, Lynn G.; Haas, Roger A.

1982-01-01

Method and apparatus for spreading and angle-encoding each pulse of a multiplicity of small area, short pulses into several temporally staggered pulses by use of appropriate beam splitters, with the optical elements being arranged so that each staggered pulse is contiguous with one or two other such pulses, and the entire sequence of stacked pulses comprising a single, continuous long pulse. The single long pulse is expanded in area, and then doubly passed through a nonstorage laser amplifier such as KrF. After amplification, the physically separated, angle-encoded and temporally staggered pulses are recombined into a single pulse of short duration. This high intensity output beam is well collimated and may be propagated over long distance, or used for irradiating inertial confinement fusion targets.

Coherent infrared imaging camera (CIRIC)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hutchinson, D.P.; Simpson, M.L.; Bennett, C.A.

1995-07-01

New developments in 2-D, wide-bandwidth HgCdTe (MCT) and GaAs quantum-well infrared photodetectors (QWIP) coupled with Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) technology are now making focal plane array coherent infrared (IR) cameras viable. Unlike conventional IR cameras which provide only thermal data about a scene or target, a coherent camera based on optical heterodyne interferometry will also provide spectral and range information. Each pixel of the camera, consisting of a single photo-sensitive heterodyne mixer followed by an intermediate frequency amplifier and illuminated by a separate local oscillator beam, constitutes a complete optical heterodyne receiver. Applications of coherent IR cameras are numerousmore » and include target surveillance, range detection, chemical plume evolution, monitoring stack plume emissions, and wind shear detection.« less

Characterization of stacked-crystal PET detector designs for measurement of both TOF and DOI.

PubMed

Schmall, Jeffrey P; Surti, Suleman; Karp, Joel S

2015-05-07

A PET detector with good timing resolution and two-level depth-of-interaction (DOI) discrimination can be constructed using a single-ended readout of scintillator stacks of Lanthanum Bromide (LaBr3), with various Cerium dopant concentrations, including pure Cerium Bromide (CeBr3). The stacked crystal geometry creates a unique signal shape for interactions occurring in each layer, which can be used to identify the DOI, while retaining the inherently good timing properties of LaBr3 and CeBr3. In this work, single pixel elements are used to optimize the choice of scintillator, coupling of layers, and type of photodetector, evaluating the performance using a fast, single-channel photomultiplier tube (PMT) and a single 4 × 4 mm(2) silicon photomultiplier (SiPM). We also introduce a method to quantify and evaluate the DOI discrimination accuracy. From signal shape measurements using fast waveform sampling, we found that in addition to differences in signal rise times, between crystal layers, there were also differences in the signal fall times. A DOI accuracy of 98% was achieved using our classification method for a stacked crystal pair, consisting of a 15 mm long LaBr3(Ce:20%) crystal on top of a 15 mm long CeBr3 crystal, readout using a PMT. A DOI accuracy of 95% was measured with a stack of two, identical, 12 mm long, CeBr3 crystals. The DOI accuracy of this crystal pair was reduced to 91% when using a SiPM for readout. For the stack of two, 12 mm long, CeBr3 crystals, a coincidence timing resolution (average of timing results from the top and bottom layer) of 199 ps was measured using a PMT, and this was improved to 153 ps when using a SiPM. These results show that with stacked LaBr3/CeBr3 scintillators and fast waveform sampling nearly perfect DOI accuracy can be achieved with excellent timing resolution-timing resolution that is only minimally degraded compared to results from a single CeBr3 crystal of comparable length to the stacked crystals. The interface in the stacked crystal geometry itself plays a major role in creating the differences in signal shape and this can be used to construct stacked DOI detectors using the same scintillator type, thereby simplifying and broadening the application of this technique.

Characterization of stacked-crystal PET detector designs for measurement of both TOF and DOI

PubMed Central

Schmall, Jeffrey P; Surti, Suleman; Karp, Joel S

2015-01-01

A PET detector with good timing resolution and two-level depth-of-interaction (DOI) discrimination can be constructed using a single-ended readout of scintillator stacks of Lanthanum Bromide (LaBr3), with various Cerium dopant concentrations, including pure Cerium Bromide (CeBr3). The stacked crystal geometry creates a unique signal shape for interactions occurring in each layer, which can be used to identify the DOI, while retaining the inherently good timing properties of LaBr3 and CeBr3. In this work, single pixel elements are used to optimize the choice of scintillator, coupling of layers, and type of photodetector, evaluating the performance using a fast, single-channel photomultiplier tube (PMT) and a single 4×4 mm2 silicon photomultiplier (SiPM). We also introduce a method to quantify and evaluate the DOI discrimination accuracy. From signal shape measurements using fast waveform sampling, we found that in addition to differences in signal rise times, between crystal layers, there were also differences in the signal fall times. A DOI accuracy of 98% was achieved using our classification method for a stacked crystal pair, consisting of a 15-mm long LaBr3(Ce:20%) crystal on top of a 15-mm long CeBr3 crystal, readout using a PMT. A DOI accuracy of 95% was measured with a stack of two, identical, 12-mm long, CeBr3 crystals. The DOI accuracy of this crystal pair was reduced to 91% when using a SiPM for readout. For the stack of two, 12-mm long, CeBr3 crystals, a coincidence timing resolution (average of timing results from the top and bottom layer) of 199 ps was measured using a PMT, and this was improved to 153 ps when using a SiPM. These results show that with stacked LaBr3/CeBr3 scintillators and fast waveform sampling nearly perfect DOI accuracy can be achieved with excellent timing resolution—timing resolution that is only minimally degraded compared to results from a single CeBr3 crystal of comparable length to the stacked crystals. The interface in the stacked crystal geometry itself plays a major role in creating the differences in signal shape and this can be used to construct stacked DOI detectors using the same scintillator type, thereby simplifying and broadening the application of this technique. PMID:25860172

Improvement in trapped fields by stacking bulk superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suzuki, A.; Wongsatanawarid, A.; Seki, H.; Murakami, M.

2009-10-01

We studied the effects of stacking several bulk superconductor blocks on the field trapping properties. In order to avoid the detrimental effects of the bottom deteriorated parts, bulk Dy-Ba-Cu-O superconductors 45 mm in diameter and 10 mm in thickness were cut from the top parts of as-grown bulk blocks of 25 mm diameter. We stacked the superconductors and measured the field distribution as a function of the gap. The trapped field measurements were performed by field-cooling the samples inserted in between two permanent magnets with liquid nitrogen. It was found that the trapped field values are almost doubled when the number of stacked bulk superconductors increased from two to three. The present results clearly show that one can expect beneficial effects of increasing the ratio of the height to the diameter even in bulk high temperature superconductors.

Period meter for reactors

DOEpatents

Rusch, Gordon K.

1976-01-06

An improved log N amplifier type nuclear reactor period meter with reduced probability for noise-induced scrams is provided. With the reactor at low power levels a sampling circuit is provided to determine the reactor period by measuring the finite change in the amplitude of the log N amplifier output signal for a predetermined time period, while at high power levels, differentiation of the log N amplifier output signal provides an additional measure of the reactor period.

Emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from batch hot mix asphalt plants.

PubMed

Lee, Wen-Jhy; Chao, Wen-Hui; Shih, Minliang; Tsai, Cheng-Hsien; Chen, Thomas Jeng-Ho; Tsai, Perng-Jy

2004-10-15

This study was set out to assess the characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emissions from batch hot mix asphalt (HMA) plants and PAH removal efficiencies associated with their installed air pollution control devices. Field samplings were conducted on six randomly selected batch HMA plants. For each selected plant, stack flue gas samples were collected from both stacks of the batch mixer (n = 5) and the preheating boiler (n = 5), respectively. PAH samples were also collected from the field to assess PAHs that were directly emitted from the discharging chute (n = 3). To assess PAH removal efficiencies of the installed air pollution control devices, PAH contents in both cyclone fly ash (n=3) and bag filter fly ash (n = 3) were analyzed. Results show that the total PAH concentration (mean; RSD) in the stack flue gas of the batch mixer (354 microg/Nm3; 78.5%) was higher than that emitted from the discharging chute (107 microg/Nm3; 70.1%) and that in the stack flue gas of the preheating boiler (83.7 microg/Nm3; 77.6%). But the total BaPeq concentration of that emitted from the discharging chute (0.950 microg/Nm3; 84.4%) was higher than contained in the stack flue gas of the batch mixer (0.629 microg/Nm3; 86.8%) and the stack flue gas of the preheating boiler (= 0.112 microg/Nm3; 80.3%). The mean total PAH emission factor for all selected batch mix plants (= 139 mg/ton x product) was much higher than that reported by U.S. EPA for the drum mix asphalt plant (range = 11.8-79.0 mg/ton x product). We found the overall removal efficiency of the installed air pollution control devices (i.e., cyclone + bag filter) on total PAHs and total BaPeq were 22.1% and 93.7%, respectively. This implies that the installed air pollution control devices, although they have a very limited effect on the removal of total PAHs, do significantly reduce the carcinogenic potencies associated with PAH emissions from batch HMA plants.

Design and Evaluation of PCR Primers for Analysis of Bacterial Populations in Wine by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis

PubMed Central

Lopez, Isabel; Ruiz-Larrea, Fernanda; Cocolin, Luca; Orr, Erica; Phister, Trevor; Marshall, Megan; VanderGheynst, Jean; Mills, David A.

2003-01-01

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of PCR-amplified ribosomal DNA (rDNA) is routinely used to compare levels of diversity of microbial communities and to monitor population dynamics. While using PCR-DGGE to examine the bacteria in wine fermentations, we noted that several commonly used PCR primers for amplifying bacterial 16S rDNA also coamplified yeast, fungal, or plant DNA present in samples. Unfortunately, amplification of nonbacterial DNA can result in a masking of bacterial populations in DGGE profiles. To surmount this problem, we developed two new primer sets for specific amplification of bacterial 16S rDNA in wine fermentation samples without amplification of eukaryotic DNA. One primer set, termed WLAB1 and WLAB2, amplified lactic acid bacteria, while another, termed WBAC1 and WBAC2, amplified both lactic acid bacterial and acetic acid bacterial populations found in wine. Primer specificity and efficacy were examined with DNA isolated from numerous bacterial, yeast, and fungal species commonly found in wine and must samples. Importantly, both primer sets effectively distinguished bacterial species in wine containing mixtures of yeast and bacteria. PMID:14602643

Automatic control and detector for three-terminal resistance measurement

DOEpatents

Fasching, George E.

1976-10-26

A device is provided for automatic control and detection in a three-terminal resistance measuring instrument. The invention is useful for the rapid measurement of the resistivity of various bulk material with a three-terminal electrode system. The device maintains the current through the sample at a fixed level while measuring the voltage across the sample to detect the sample resistance. The three-electrode system contacts the bulk material and the current through the sample is held constant by means of a control circuit connected to a first of the three electrodes and works in conjunction with a feedback controlled amplifier to null the voltage between the first electrode and a second electrode connected to the controlled amplifier output. An A.C. oscillator provides a source of sinusoidal reference voltage of the frequency at which the measurement is to be executed. Synchronous reference pulses for synchronous detectors in the control circuit and an output detector circuit are provided by a synchronous pulse generator. The output of the controlled amplifier circuit is sampled by an output detector circuit to develop at an output terminal thereof a D.C. voltage which is proportional to the sample resistance R. The sample resistance is that segment of the sample between the area of the first electrode and the third electrode, which is connected to ground potential.

Automated in-chamber specimen coating for serial block-face electron microscopy.

PubMed

Titze, B; Denk, W

2013-05-01

When imaging insulating specimens in a scanning electron microscope, negative charge accumulates locally ('sample charging'). The resulting electric fields distort signal amplitude, focus and image geometry, which can be avoided by coating the specimen with a conductive film prior to introducing it into the microscope chamber. This, however, is incompatible with serial block-face electron microscopy (SBEM), where imaging and surface removal cycles (by diamond knife or focused ion beam) alternate, with the sample remaining in place. Here we show that coating the sample after each cutting cycle with a 1-2 nm metallic film, using an electron beam evaporator that is integrated into the microscope chamber, eliminates charging effects for both backscattered (BSE) and secondary electron (SE) imaging. The reduction in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) caused by the film is smaller than that caused by the widely used low-vacuum method. Sample surfaces as large as 12 mm across were coated and imaged without charging effects at beam currents as high as 25 nA. The coatings also enabled the use of beam deceleration for non-conducting samples, leading to substantial SNR gains for BSE contrast. We modified and automated the evaporator to enable the acquisition of SBEM stacks, and demonstrated the acquisition of stacks of over 1000 successive cut/coat/image cycles and of stacks using beam deceleration or SE contrast. © 2013 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2013 Royal Microscopical Society.

Effect of dislocation pile-up on size-dependent yield strength in finite single-crystal micro-samples

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pan, Bo; Shibutani, Yoji, E-mail: sibutani@mech.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp; Zhang, Xu

2015-07-07

Recent research has explained that the steeply increasing yield strength in metals depends on decreasing sample size. In this work, we derive a statistical physical model of the yield strength of finite single-crystal micro-pillars that depends on single-ended dislocation pile-up inside the micro-pillars. We show that this size effect can be explained almost completely by considering the stochastic lengths of the dislocation source and the dislocation pile-up length in the single-crystal micro-pillars. The Hall–Petch-type relation holds even in a microscale single-crystal, which is characterized by its dislocation source lengths. Our quantitative conclusions suggest that the number of dislocation sources andmore » pile-ups are significant factors for the size effect. They also indicate that starvation of dislocation sources is another reason for the size effect. Moreover, we investigated the explicit relationship between the stacking fault energy and the dislocation “pile-up” effect inside the sample: materials with low stacking fault energy exhibit an obvious dislocation pile-up effect. Our proposed physical model predicts a sample strength that agrees well with experimental data, and our model can give a more precise prediction than the current single arm source model, especially for materials with low stacking fault energy.« less

Interface adjustment and exchange coupling in the IrMn/NiFe system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spizzo, F.; Tamisari, M.; Chinni, F.; Bonfiglioli, E.; Del Bianco, L.

2017-01-01

The exchange bias effect was investigated, in the 5-300 K temperature range, in samples of IrMn [100 Å]/NiFe [50 Å] (set A) and in samples with inverted layer-stacking sequence (set B), produced at room temperature by DC magnetron sputtering in a static magnetic field of 400 Oe. The samples of each set differ for the nominal thickness (tCu) of a Cu spacer, grown at the interface between the antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic layers, which was varied between 0 and 2 Å. It has been found out that the Cu insertion reduces the values of the exchange field and of the coercivity and can also affect their thermal evolution, depending on the stack configuration. Indeed, the latter also determines a peculiar variation of the exchange bias properties with time, shown and discussed with reference to the samples without Cu of the two sets. The results have been explained considering that, in this system, the exchange coupling mechanism is ruled by the glassy magnetic behavior of the IrMn spins located at the interface with the NiFe layer. Varying the stack configuration and tCu results in a modulation of the structural and magnetic features of the interface, which ultimately affects the spins dynamics of the glassy IrMn interfacial component.

Building Extraction Based on an Optimized Stacked Sparse Autoencoder of Structure and Training Samples Using LIDAR DSM and Optical Images.

PubMed

Yan, Yiming; Tan, Zhichao; Su, Nan; Zhao, Chunhui

2017-08-24

In this paper, a building extraction method is proposed based on a stacked sparse autoencoder with an optimized structure and training samples. Building extraction plays an important role in urban construction and planning. However, some negative effects will reduce the accuracy of extraction, such as exceeding resolution, bad correction and terrain influence. Data collected by multiple sensors, as light detection and ranging (LIDAR), optical sensor etc., are used to improve the extraction. Using digital surface model (DSM) obtained from LIDAR data and optical images, traditional method can improve the extraction effect to a certain extent, but there are some defects in feature extraction. Since stacked sparse autoencoder (SSAE) neural network can learn the essential characteristics of the data in depth, SSAE was employed to extract buildings from the combined DSM data and optical image. A better setting strategy of SSAE network structure is given, and an idea of setting the number and proportion of training samples for better training of SSAE was presented. The optical data and DSM were combined as input of the optimized SSAE, and after training by an optimized samples, the appropriate network structure can extract buildings with great accuracy and has good robustness.

Annual, orbital, and enigmatic variations in tropical oceanography recorded by the Equatorial Atlantic amplifier

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcintyre, Andrew

1992-01-01

Equatorial Atlantic surface waters respond directly to changes in zonal and meridional lower tropospheric winds forced by annual insolation. This mechanism has its maximum effect along the equatorial wave guide centered on 10 deg W. The result is to amplify even subtle tropical climate changes such that they are recorded by marked amplitude changes in the proxy signals. Model realizations, NCAR AGCM and OGCM for 0 Ka and 126 Ka (January and July), and paleoceanographic proxy data show that these winds are also forced by insolation changes at the orbital periods of precession and obliquity. Perhelion in boreal summer produces a strengthened monsoon, e.g., increase meridional and decrease zonal wind stress. This reduces oceanic Ekman divergence and thermocline/nutricline shallowing. The result, in the equatorial Atlantic, is reduced primary productivity and higher euphotic zone temperatures; vice versa for perihelion in boreal winter. Perihelion is controlled by precession. Thus, the dominant period in spectra from a stacked SST record (0-252 Ka BP) at the site of the equatorial Atlantic amplifier is 23 Ky (53 percent of the total variance). This precessional period is coherent (k = 0.920) and in phase with boreal summer insolation. Oscillations of shorter period are present in records from cores sited beneath the amplifier region. These occur between 12.5 and 74.5 Ka BP, when eccentricity modulation of precession is at a minimum. Within this time interval there are 21 cycles with mean periods of 3.0 plus or minus 0.5 Ky. Similar periods have been documented from high latitude regions, e.g., Greenland ice cores from Camp Century. The Camp Century signal in this same time interval contains 21 cycles. A subjective correlation was made between the Camp Century and the equatorial records; the signals were statistically similar, r = 0.722 and k = 0.960.

Mechanical sieve for screening mineral samples

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Otto, W. P.

1970-01-01

Mechanical sieve consists of three horizontal screens mounted in a vertical stack. A combination of rotation and tapping produces an even flow across the screens, dislodges trapped particles, an ensures rapid segregation of the sample.

Is there a role for amplifiers in sexual selection?

PubMed

Gualla, Filippo; Cermelli, Paolo; Castellano, Sergio

2008-05-21

The amplifier hypothesis states that selection could favour the evolution of traits in signallers that improve the ability of receivers to extract honest information from other signals or cues. We provide a formal definition of amplifiers based on the receiver's mechanisms of signal perception and we present a game-theoretical model in which males advertise their quality and females use sequential-sampling tactics to choose among prospective mates. The main effect of an amplifier on the female mating strategy is to increase her mating threshold, making the female more selective as the effectiveness of the amplifier increases. The effects of the amplifier on male advertising strategy depends both on the context and on the types of the amplifier involved. We consider two different contexts for the evolution of amplifiers (when the effect of amplifiers is on signals and when it is on cues) and two types of amplifiers (the 'neutral amplifier', when it improves quality assessment without altering male attractiveness, and the 'attractive amplifier', when it improves both quality assessment and male attractiveness). The game-theoretical model provides two main results. First, neutral and attractive amplifiers represent, respectively, a conditional and an unconditional signalling strategy. In fact, at the equilibrium, neutral amplifiers are displayed only by males whose advertising level lays above the female acceptance threshold, whereas attractive amplifiers are displayed by all signalling males, independent of their quality. Second, amplifiers of signals increase the differences in advertising levels between amplifying and not-amplifying males, but they decrease the differences within each group, so that the system converges towards an 'all-or-nothing' signalling strategy. By applying concepts from information theory, we show that the increase in information transfer at the perception level due to the amplifier of signals is contrasted by a decrease in information transfer at the emitter level due to the increased stereotypy of male advertising strategy.

Analysis of ploidy and the patterns of amplified fragment length polymorphism and methylation sensitive amplified polymorphism in strawberry plants recovered from cryopreservation.

PubMed

Hao, Yu-Jin; You, Chun-Xiang; Deng, Xui-Xin

2002-01-01

Shoot-tips of 10 strawberry genotypes were successfully cryopreserved using a modified encapsulation-dehydration method. All genotypes survived cryopreservation with high survival and regeneration rates. Eight Joho single-bud sibling lines were established as a model system for genetic analysis. Although cytological examination found chromosomal variation in both non-cryopreserved and cryopreserved samples, the ploidy constitution remained relatively stable after cryopreservation. DNA samples digested with MseI and PstI were used for amplified fragmentation length polymorphism (AFLP) assay. In 16 primer combinations, only one, namely, PCCA-MCAG, detected one site where band pattern changed after cryopreservation, which might be contributed to the change in DNA methylation status at PstI recognition site. Methylation sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) assay was carried out for further investigation on the influence of cryopreservation on DNA methylation status. It was found that cryopreservation induced a significant change in DNA methylation status.

40 CFR 270.62 - Hazardous waste incinerator permits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...) Stack gas monitoring and pollution control equipment. (H) Nozzle and burner design. (I) Construction.... (iii) A detailed description of sampling and monitoring procedures, including sampling and monitoring locations in the system, the equipment to be used, sampling and monitoring frequency, and planned analytical...

Data acquisition channel apparatus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Higgins, C. H.; Skipper, J. D.

1985-10-01

Dicussed is a hybrid integrated circuit data acquisition channel apparatus employing an operational amplifier fed by a low current differential bipolar transistor preamplifier having separate feedback gain and signal gain determining elements and providing an amplified signal output to a sample and hold and analog-to-digital converter circuits. The disclosed apparatus operates with low energy and small space requirements and is capable of operations without the sample and hold circuit where the nature of the applied input signal permits.

Structural Effects of Gating Poly(3-hexylthiophene) through an Ionic Liquid

DOE PAGES

Guardado, Jesus O.; Salleo, Alberto

2017-07-17

Ionic liquids are increasingly employed as dielectrics to generate high charge densities and enable low-voltage operation with organic semiconductors. But, effects on structure and morphology of the active material are not fully known, particularly for permeable semiconductors such as conjugated polymers, in which ions from the ionic liquid can enter and electrochemically dope the semicrystalline film. In order to understand when ions enter, where they go, and how they affect the film, thin films of the archetypal semiconducting polymer, poly(3-hexylthiophene), are electrochemically doped with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, the archetypal ionic liquid. High-resolution, ex situ X-ray diffraction measurements and complete pole figuresmore » reveal changes with applied voltage, cycling, and frequency in lattice spacing, crystallite orientation, and crystallinity in the bulk and at the buried interface. Dopant ions penetrate the film and enter the crystallites at sufficiently high voltages and low frequencies. Upon infiltrating crystallites, ions permanently expand lamellar stacking and contract pi-stacking. Cycling amplifies these effects, but higher frequencies mitigate the expansion of bulk crystallites as ions are hindered from entering crystallites. Furthermore, this mechanistic understanding of the structural effects of ion penetration will help develop models of the frequency and voltage impedance response of electrochemically doped conjugated polymers and advance electronic applications.« less

Structural Effects of Gating Poly(3-hexylthiophene) through an Ionic Liquid

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guardado, Jesus O.; Salleo, Alberto

Ionic liquids are increasingly employed as dielectrics to generate high charge densities and enable low-voltage operation with organic semiconductors. But, effects on structure and morphology of the active material are not fully known, particularly for permeable semiconductors such as conjugated polymers, in which ions from the ionic liquid can enter and electrochemically dope the semicrystalline film. In order to understand when ions enter, where they go, and how they affect the film, thin films of the archetypal semiconducting polymer, poly(3-hexylthiophene), are electrochemically doped with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, the archetypal ionic liquid. High-resolution, ex situ X-ray diffraction measurements and complete pole figuresmore » reveal changes with applied voltage, cycling, and frequency in lattice spacing, crystallite orientation, and crystallinity in the bulk and at the buried interface. Dopant ions penetrate the film and enter the crystallites at sufficiently high voltages and low frequencies. Upon infiltrating crystallites, ions permanently expand lamellar stacking and contract pi-stacking. Cycling amplifies these effects, but higher frequencies mitigate the expansion of bulk crystallites as ions are hindered from entering crystallites. Furthermore, this mechanistic understanding of the structural effects of ion penetration will help develop models of the frequency and voltage impedance response of electrochemically doped conjugated polymers and advance electronic applications.« less

Wideband pulse amplifiers for the NECTAr chip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanuy, A.; Delagnes, E.; Gascon, D.; Sieiro, X.; Bolmont, J.; Corona, P.; Feinstein, F.; Glicenstein, J.-F.; Naumann, C. L.; Nayman, P.; Ribó, M.; Tavernet, J.-P.; Toussenel, F.; Vincent, P.; Vorobiov, S.

2012-12-01

The NECTAr collaboration's FE option for the camera of the CTA is a 16 bits and 1-3 GS/s sampling chip based on analog memories including most of the readout functions. This works describes the input amplifiers of the NECTAr ASIC. A fully differential wideband amplifier, with voltage gain up to 20 V/V and a BW of 400 MHz. As it is impossible to design a fully differential OpAmp with an 8 GHz GBW product in a 0.35 CMOS technology, an alternative implementation based on HF linearized transconductors is explored. The output buffer is a class AB miller operational amplifier, with special non-linear current boost.

Herschel Far Infrared Spectra of Dusty Star-Forming Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, Derek; Cooray, Asantha R.; Nayyeri, Hooshang

2017-01-01

We stack archival spectra from the Herschel Space Observatory's SPIRE Spectrometer in three redshift bins from low redshifts (z < 0.2), through intermediate redshifts (0.2 < z < 1), and up to high redshifts (z > 1) in order to determine the average properties of the gas and dust in dusty, star-forming galaxies and (U)LIRGs. In the lower-redshift stack, we detect a host of water and carbon monoxide rotational transition lines, as well as some fine structure lines such as [NII]. At intermediate redshifts, only a [CII] line appears. The high-redshift stack displays strong [CII] emission, as well as faint emission from [OI] and [OIII]. The observed emission lines are used to model the average number density and radiation field strength in the photodissociation regions of our high-redshift sample, and the spectral line energy distributions of CO rotational transitions from the low-redshift stack are presented.

Prolonged incubation and stacked film exposure improve sensitivity in western blotting.

PubMed

Luo, Haitao; Rankin, Gary O; Straley, Shannon; Chen, Yi Charlie

2011-01-01

Western blotting is a basic technique for protein detection. For proteins of less abundance or antibodies of poorer quality, an increased sensitivity is often desired. Although it is commonly known that higher concentrations of antibodies and prolonged film exposure times will help improve sensitivity in western blots, both measures come with their own risks, and it is often unclear to which extent these measures should be applied. We conducted time-course studies to investigate protein-antibody interactions and primary antibody-secondary antibody interactions in western blotting. We also propose a protocol of stacked film exposure and have tested it in standard curves and cancer cell samples. Our study found that protein-primary antibody interactions and primary antibody-secondary antibody interactions could take a longer time than commonly used "one hour" or "overnight", and in some cases longer than 48h, to reach its maximum binding. We also show that the modified protocol of stacked film exposure works well for both standard curves and biological samples, reaching a maximum sensitivity in western blots without blurring target signals or increasing backgrounds. In addition to regular optimization of antibody concentrations and film exposure time, a prolonged incubation with antibodies and stacked film exposure will also help improve sensitivity and reduce background in western blotting. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Impacts of Annealing Conditions on the Flat Band Voltage of Alternate La2O3/Al2O3 Multilayer Stack Structures.

PubMed

Feng, Xing-Yao; Liu, Hong-Xia; Wang, Xing; Zhao, Lu; Fei, Chen-Xi; Liu, He-Lei

2016-12-01

The mechanism of flat band voltage (VFB) shift for alternate La2O3/Al2O3 multilayer stack structures in different annealing condition is investigated. The samples were prepared for alternate multilayer structures, which were annealed in different conditions. The capacitance-voltage (C-V) measuring results indicate that the VFB of samples shift negatively for thinner bottom Al2O3 layer, increasing annealing temperature or longer annealing duration. Simultaneously, the diffusion of high-k material to interfaces in different multilayer structures and annealing conditions is observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Based on the dipole theory, a correlation between the diffusion effect of La towards bottom Al2O3/Si interface and VFB shift is found. Without changing the dielectric constant k of films, VFB shift can be manipulated by controlling the single-layer cycles and annealing conditions of alternate high-k multilayer stack.

MICROPROCESSOR-BASED DATA-ACQUISITION SYSTEM FOR A BOREHOLE RADAR.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bradley, Jerry A.; Wright, David L.

1987-01-01

An efficient microprocessor-based system is described that permits real-time acquisition, stacking, and digital recording of data generated by a borehole radar system. Although the system digitizes, stacks, and records independently of a computer, it is interfaced to a desktop computer for program control over system parameters such as sampling interval, number of samples, number of times the data are stacked prior to recording on nine-track tape, and for graphics display of the digitized data. The data can be transferred to the desktop computer during recording, or it can be played back from a tape at a latter time. Using the desktop computer, the operator observes results while recording data and generates hard-copy graphics in the field. Thus, the radar operator can immediately evaluate the quality of data being obtained, modify system parameters, study the radar logs before leaving the field, and rerun borehole logs if necessary. The system has proven to be reliable in the field and has increased productivity both in the field and in the laboratory.

A Urea Biosensor from Stacked Sol-Gel Films with Immobilized Nile Blue Chromoionophore and Urease Enzyme.

PubMed

Alqasaimeh, Muawia Salameh; Heng, Lee Yook; Ahmad, Musa

2007-10-11

An optical urea biosensor was fabricated by stacking several layers of sol-gelfilms. The stacking of the sol-gel films allowed the immobilization of a Nile Bluechromoionophore (ETH 5294) and urease enzyme separately without the need of anychemical attachment procedure. The absorbance response of the biosensor was monitoredat 550 nm, i.e. the deprotonation of the chromoionophore. This multi-layer sol-gel filmformat enabled higher enzyme loading in the biosensor to be achieved. The urea opticalbiosensor constructed from three layers of sol-gel films that contained urease demonstrateda much wider linear response range of up to 100 mM urea when compared with biosensorsthat constructed from 1-2 layers of films. Analysis of urea in urine samples with thisoptical urea biosensor yielded results similar to that determined by a spectrophotometricmethod using the reagent p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (R² = 0.982, n = 6). The averagerecovery of urea from urine samples using this urea biosensor is approximately 103%.

Direct observation of a stacking fault in Si(1 - x)Ge(x) semiconductors by spherical aberration-corrected TEM and conventional ADF-STEM.

PubMed

Yamasaki, Jun; Kawai, Tomoyuki; Tanaka, Nobuo

2004-01-01

Spherical aberration (C(S))-corrected transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and annular dark-field scanning TEM (ADF-STEM) are applied to high-resolution observation of stacking faults in Si(1 - x)Ge(x) alloy films prepared on a Si(100) buffer layer by the chemical vapor deposition method. Both of the images clarify the individual nature of stacking faults from their directly interpretable image contrast and also by using image simulation in the case of the C(S)-corrected TEM. Positions of the atomic columns obtained in the ADF-STEM images almost agree with a projection of the theoretical model studied by Chou et al. (Phys. Rev. B 32(1985): 7979). Comparison between the C(S)-corrected TEM and ADF-STEM images shows that their resolution is at a similar level, but directly interpretable image contrast is obtained in ultrathin samples for C(S)-corrected TEM and in slightly thicker samples for ADF-STEM.

A Urea Biosensor from Stacked Sol-Gel Films with Immobilized Nile Blue Chromoionophore and Urease Enzyme

PubMed Central

Alqasaimeh, Muawia Salameh; Heng, Lee Yook; Ahmad, Musa

2007-01-01

An optical urea biosensor was fabricated by stacking several layers of sol-gel films. The stacking of the sol-gel films allowed the immobilization of a Nile Blue chromoionophore (ETH 5294) and urease enzyme separately without the need of any chemical attachment procedure. The absorbance response of the biosensor was monitored at 550 nm, i.e. the deprotonation of the chromoionophore. This multi-layer sol-gel film format enabled higher enzyme loading in the biosensor to be achieved. The urea optical biosensor constructed from three layers of sol-gel films that contained urease demonstrated a much wider linear response range of up to 100 mM urea when compared with biosensors that constructed from 1-2 layers of films. Analysis of urea in urine samples with this optical urea biosensor yielded results similar to that determined by a spectrophotometric method using the reagent p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (R2 = 0.982, n = 6). The average recovery of urea from urine samples using this urea biosensor is approximately 103%.

Sampling for Air Chemical Emissions from the Life Sciences Laboratory II

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ballinger, Marcel Y.; Lindberg, Michael J.

Sampling for air chemical emissions from the Life Science Laboratory II (LSL-II) ventilation stack was performed in an effort to determine potential exposure of maintenance staff to laboratory exhaust on the building roof. The concern about worker exposure was raised in December 2015 and several activities were performed to assist in estimating exposure concentrations. Data quality objectives were developed to determine the need for and scope and parameters of a sampling campaign to measure chemical emissions from research and development activities to the outside air. The activities provided data on temporal variation of air chemical concentrations and a basis formore » evaluating calculated emissions. Sampling for air chemical emissions was performed in the LSL-II ventilation stack over the 6-week period from July 26 to September 1, 2016. A total of 12 sampling events were carried out using 16 sample media. Resulting analysis provided concentration data on 49 analytes. All results were below occupational exposure limits and most results were below detection limits. When compared to calculated emissions, only 5 of the 49 chemicals had measured concentrations greater than predicted. This sampling effort will inform other study components to develop a more complete picture of a worker’s potential exposure from LSL-II rooftop activities. Mixing studies were conducted to inform spatial variation in concentrations at other rooftop locations and can be used in conjunction with these results to provide temporal variations in concentrations for estimating the potential exposure to workers working in and around the LSL-II stack.« less

Usefulness of molecular markers in the diagnosis of occupational and recreational histoplasmosis outbreaks.

PubMed

Frías-De-León, María Guadalupe; Ramírez-Bárcenas, José Antonio; Rodríguez-Arellanes, Gabriela; Velasco-Castrejón, Oscar; Taylor, Maria Lucia; Reyes-Montes, María Del Rocío

2017-03-01

Histoplasmosis is considered the most important systemic mycosis in Mexico, and its diagnosis requires fast and reliable methodologies. The present study evaluated the usefulness of PCR using Hcp100 and 1281-1283 (220) molecular markers in detecting Histoplasma capsulatum in occupational and recreational outbreaks. Seven clinical serum samples of infected individuals from three different histoplasmosis outbreaks were processed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to titre anti-H. capsulatum antibodies and to extract DNA. Fourteen environmental samples were also processed for H. capsulatum isolation and DNA extraction. Both clinical and environmental DNA samples were analysed by PCR with Hcp100 and 1281-1283 (220) markers. Antibodies to H. capsulatum were detected by ELISA in all serum samples using specific antigens, and in six of these samples, the PCR products of both molecular markers were amplified. Four environmental samples amplified one of the two markers, but only one sample amplified both markers and an isolate of H. capsulatum was cultured from this sample. All PCR products were sequenced, and the sequences for each marker were analysed using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLASTn), which revealed 95-98 and 98-100 % similarities with the reference sequences deposited in the GenBank for Hcp100 and 1281-1283 (220) , respectively. Both molecular markers proved to be useful in studying histoplasmosis outbreaks because they are matched for pathogen detection in either clinical or environmental samples.

Correlation of plume opacity with particles and sulfates from boilers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lou, J.C.; Lee, M.; Chen, K.S.

1997-07-01

The effects of emission concentrations of particulate matters and sulfates on plume opacity are investigated by in situ measurements. The studies are conducted for three processes of two coal-fired plants and one oil-fired that are all equipped with electrostatic precipitators. Flue-gas sampling and analysis include the concentrations of particles and total water soluble sulfates, particle size distribution, and flue-gas composition; while in-stack and out-of-stack opacities are determined by a transmissometer and certified smoke inspectors, respectively. Experimental results show that plume opacity outside the stack linearly correlates well with the in-stack opacity. The mixing of hot flue gas with cold ambientmore » air would result in the condensation of hygroscopic sulfuric acid aerosols and an increase about 1.6% out of typical 15--25% measured opacity. An empirical equation similar to the Beer-Lambert-Bouger form is derived for predicting the plume opacity in terms of the stack diameter and the concentrations of particles and total water soluble sulfates. Good comparisons are achieved between predictions by the empirical equation and other available field data.« less

Analog pulse processor

DOEpatents

Wessendorf, Kurt O.; Kemper, Dale A.

2003-06-03

A very low power analog pulse processing system implemented as an ASIC useful for processing signals from radiation detectors, among other things. The system incorporates the functions of a charge sensitive amplifier, a shaping amplifier, a peak sample and hold circuit, and, optionally, an analog to digital converter and associated drivers.

Thousand-fold fluorescent signal amplification for mHealth diagnostics

PubMed Central

Balsam, Joshua; Rasooly, Reuven; Bruck, Hugh Alan; Rasooly, Avraham

2013-01-01

The low sensitivity of Mobile Health (mHealth) optical detectors, such as those found on mobile phones, is a limiting factor for many mHealth clinical applications. To improve sensitivity, we have combined two approaches for optical signal amplification: (1) a computational approach based on an image stacking algorithm to decrease the image noise and enhance weak signals, and (2) an optical signal amplifier utilizing a capillary tube array. These approaches were used in a detection system which includes a multi-wavelength LEDs capable of exciting many fluorophores in multiple wavelengths, a mobile phone or a webcam as a detector, and capillary tube array configured with 36 capillary tubes for signal enhancement. The capillary array enables a ~100X increase in signal sensitivity for fluorescein, reducing the limit of detection (LOD) for mobile phones and webcams from 1000 nM to 10 nM. Computational image stacking enables another ~10X increase in signal sensitivity, further reducing the LOD for webcam from 10 nM to 1 nM. To demonstrate the feasibility of the device for the detection of disease-related biomarkers, Adenovirus DNA labeled with SYBR Green or fluorescein was analyzed by both our capillary array and a commercial plate reader. The LOD for the capillary array was 5ug/mL, and that of the plate reader was 1 ug/mL. Similar results were obtained using DNA stained with fluorescein. The combination of the two signal amplification approaches enables a ~1000X increase in LOD for the webcam platform. This brings it into the range of a conventional plate reader while using a smaller sample volume (10ul) than the plate reader requires (100 ul). This suggests that such a device could be suitable for biosensing applications where up to 10 fold smaller sample sizes are needed. The simple optical configuration for mHealth described in this paper employing the combined capillary and image processing signal amplification is capable of measuring weak fluorescent signals without the need of dedicated laboratories. It has the potential to be used to increase sensitivity of other optically based mHealth technologies, and may increase mHealth’s clinical utility, especially for telemedicine and for resource-poor settings and global health applications. PMID:23928092

Thousand-fold fluorescent signal amplification for mHealth diagnostics.

PubMed

Balsam, Joshua; Rasooly, Reuven; Bruck, Hugh Alan; Rasooly, Avraham

2014-01-15

The low sensitivity of Mobile Health (mHealth) optical detectors, such as those found on mobile phones, is a limiting factor for many mHealth clinical applications. To improve sensitivity, we have combined two approaches for optical signal amplification: (1) a computational approach based on an image stacking algorithm to decrease the image noise and enhance weak signals, and (2) an optical signal amplifier utilizing a capillary tube array. These approaches were used in a detection system which includes multi-wavelength LEDs capable of exciting many fluorophores in multiple wavelengths, a mobile phone or a webcam as a detector, and capillary tube array configured with 36 capillary tubes for signal enhancement. The capillary array enables a ~100× increase in signal sensitivity for fluorescein, reducing the limit of detection (LOD) for mobile phones and webcams from 1000 nM to 10nM. Computational image stacking enables another ~10× increase in signal sensitivity, further reducing the LOD for webcam from 10nM to 1 nM. To demonstrate the feasibility of the device for the detection of disease-related biomarkers, adenovirus DNA labeled with SYBR green or fluorescein was analyzed by both our capillary array and a commercial plate reader. The LOD for the capillary array was 5 ug/mL, and that of the plate reader was 1 ug/mL. Similar results were obtained using DNA stained with fluorescein. The combination of the two signal amplification approaches enables a ~1000× increase in LOD for the webcam platform. This brings it into the range of a conventional plate reader while using a smaller sample volume (10 ul) than the plate reader requires (100 ul). This suggests that such a device could be suitable for biosensing applications where up to 10 fold smaller sample sizes are needed. The simple optical configuration for mHealth described in this paper employing the combined capillary and image processing signal amplification is capable of measuring weak fluorescent signals without the need of dedicated laboratories. It has the potential to be used to increase sensitivity of other optically based mHealth technologies, and may increase mHealth's clinical utility, especially for telemedicine and for resource-poor settings and global health applications. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Three-Point Bending Fracture Behavior of Single Oriented Crossed-Lamellar Structure in Scapharca broughtonii Shell

PubMed Central

Ji, Hong-Mei; Zhang, Wen-Qian; Wang, Xu; Li, Xiao-Wu

2015-01-01

The three-point bending strength and fracture behavior of single oriented crossed-lamellar structure in Scapharca broughtonii shell were investigated. The samples for bending tests were prepared with two different orientations perpendicular and parallel to the radial ribs of the shell, which corresponds to the tiled and stacked directions of the first-order lamellae, respectively. The bending strength in the tiled direction is approximately 60% higher than that in the stacked direction, primarily because the regularly staggered arrangement of the second-order lamellae in the tiled direction can effectively hinder the crack propagation, whereas the cracks can easily propagate along the interfaces between lamellae in the stacked direction. PMID:28793557

Glass transition dynamics of stacked thin polymer films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fukao, Koji; Terasawa, Takehide; Oda, Yuto; Nakamura, Kenji; Tahara, Daisuke

2011-10-01

The glass transition dynamics of stacked thin films of polystyrene and poly(2-chlorostyrene) were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. The glass transition temperature Tg of as-stacked thin polystyrene films has a strong depression from that of the bulk samples. However, after annealing at high temperatures above Tg, the stacked thin films exhibit glass transition at a temperature almost equal to the Tg of the bulk system. The α-process dynamics of stacked thin films of poly(2-chlorostyrene) show a time evolution from single-thin-film-like dynamics to bulk-like dynamics during the isothermal annealing process. The relaxation rate of the α process becomes smaller with increase in the annealing time. The time scale for the evolution of the α dynamics during the annealing process is very long compared with that for the reptation dynamics. At the same time, the temperature dependence of the relaxation time for the α process changes from Arrhenius-like to Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann dependence with increase of the annealing time. The fragility index increases and the distribution of the α-relaxation times becomes smaller with increase in the annealing time for isothermal annealing. The observed change in the α process is discussed with respect to the interfacial interaction between the thin layers of stacked thin polymer films.

Large volume sample stacking of positively chargeable analytes in capillary zone electrophoresis without polarity switching: use of low reversed electroosmotic flow induced by a cationic surfactant at acidic pH.

PubMed

Quirino, J P; Terabe, S

2000-01-01

A simple and effective way to improve detection sensitivity of positively chargeable analytes in capillary zone electrophoresis more than 100-fold is described. Cationic species were made to migrate toward the cathode even under reversed electroosmotic flow caused by a cationic surfactant by using a low pH run buffer. For the first time, with such a configuration, large volume sample stacking of cationic analytes is achieved without a polarity-switching step and loss of efficiency. Samples are prepared in water or aqueous acetonitrile. Aromatic amines and a variety of drugs were concentrated using background solutions containing phosphoric acid and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. Qualitative and quantitative aspects are also investigated.

Differential polarization laser scanning microscopy: biological applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steinbach, G.; Besson, F.; Pomozi, I.; Garab, G.

2005-09-01

With the aid of a differential polarization (DP) apparatus, developed in our laboratory and attached to our laser scanning confocal microscope, we can measure the magnitude and spatial distribution of 8 different DP quantities: linear and circular dichroism (LD&CD), linear and circular anisotropy of the emission (R and CPL, confocal), fluorescence detected dichroisms (FDLD&FDCD, confocal), linear birefringence (LB), and the degree of polarization of fluorescence emission (P, confocal). The attachment uses high frequency modulation and subsequent demodulation, via lock-in amplifier, of the detected intensity values, and records and displays pixel-by-pixel the measured DP quantity. These microscopic DP data carry important physical information on the molecular architecture of anisotropically organized samples. Microscopic DP measurements are thought to be of particular importance in biology. In most biological samples anisotropy is difficult to determine with conventional, macroscopic DP measurements and microscopic variations are of special significance. In this paper, we describe the method of LB imaging. Using magnetically oriented isolated chloroplasts trapped in polyacrylamide gel, we demonstrate that LB can be determined with high sensitivity and good spatial resolution. Granal thylakoid membranes in edge-aligned orientation exhibited strong LB, with large variations in its sign and magnitude. In face-aligned position LB was considerably weaker, and tended to vanish when averaged for the whole image. The strong local variations are attributed to the inherent heterogeneity of the membranes, i.e. to their internal differentiation into multilamellar, stacked membranes (grana), and single thylakoids (stroma membranes). Further details and applications of our DP-LSM will be published elsewhere.

Optimization of throughput in semipreparative chiral liquid chromatography using stacked injection.

PubMed

Taheri, Mohammadreza; Fotovati, Mohsen; Hosseini, Seyed-Kiumars; Ghassempour, Alireza

2017-10-01

An interesting mode of chromatography for preparation of pure enantiomers from pure samples is the method of stacked injection as a pseudocontinuous procedure. Maximum throughput and minimal production costs can be achieved by the use of total chiral column length in this mode of chromatography. To maximize sample loading, often touching bands of the two enantiomers is automatically achieved. Conventional equations show direct correlation between touching-band loadability and the selectivity factor of two enantiomers. The important question for one who wants to obtain the highest throughput is "How to optimize different factors including selectivity, resolution, run time, and loading of the sample in order to save time without missing the touching-band resolution?" To answer this question, tramadol and propranolol were separated on cellulose 3,5-dimethyl phenyl carbamate, as two pure racemic mixtures with low and high solubilities in mobile phase, respectively. The mobile phase composition consisted of n-hexane solvent with alcohol modifier and diethylamine as the additive. A response surface methodology based on central composite design was used to optimize separation factors against the main responses. According to the stacked injection properties, two processes were investigated for maximizing throughput: one with a poorly soluble and another with a highly soluble racemic mixture. For each case, different optimization possibilities were inspected. It was revealed that resolution is a crucial response for separations of this kind. Peak area and run time are two critical parameters in optimization of stacked injection for binary mixtures which have low solubility in the mobile phase. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Development of Specific Sequence-Characterized Amplified Region Markers for Detecting Histoplasma capsulatum in Clinical and Environmental Samples

PubMed Central

Frías De León, María Guadalupe; Arenas López, Gabina; Taylor, Maria Lucia; Acosta Altamirano, Gustavo

2012-01-01

Sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers, generated by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR, were developed to detect Histoplasma capsulatum selectively in clinical and environmental samples. A 1,200-bp RAPD-PCR-specific band produced with the 1281-1283 primers was cloned, sequenced, and used to design two SCAR markers, 1281-1283220 and 1281-1283230. The specificity of these markers was confirmed by Southern hybridization. To evaluate the relevance of the SCAR markers for the diagnosis of histoplasmosis, another molecular marker (M antigen probe) was used for comparison. To validate 1281-1283220 and 1281-1283230 as new tools for the identification of H. capsulatum, the specificity and sensitivity of these markers were assessed for the detection of the pathogen in 36 clinical (17 humans, as well as 9 experimentally and 10 naturally infected nonhuman mammals) and 20 environmental (10 contaminated soil and 10 guano) samples. Although the two SCAR markers and the M antigen probe identified H. capsulatum isolates from different geographic origins in America, the 1281-1283220 SCAR marker was the most specific and detected the pathogen in all samples tested. In contrast, the 1281-1283230 SCAR marker and the M antigen probe also amplified DNA from Aspergillus niger and Cryptococcus neoformans, respectively. Both SCAR markers detected as little as 0.001 ng of H. capsulatum DNA, while the M antigen probe detected 0.5 ng of fungal DNA. The SCAR markers revealed the fungal presence better than the M antigen probe in contaminated soil and guano samples. Based on our results, the 1281-1283220 marker can be used to detect and identify H. capsulatum in samples from different sources. PMID:22189121

Remaining Sites Verification Package for the 100-F-46, 119-F Stack Sampling French Drain, Waste Site Reclassification Form 2008-021

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

J. M. Capron

2008-08-08

The 100-F-46 french drain consisted of a 1.5 to 3 m long, vertically buried, gravel-filled pipe that was approximately 1 m in diameter. Also included in this waste site was a 5 cm cast-iron pipeline that drained condensate from the 119-F Stack Sampling Building into the 100-F-46 french drain. In accordance with this evaluation, the confirmatory sampling results support a reclassification of this site to No Action. The current site conditions achieve the remedial action objectives and the corresponding remedial action goals established in the Remaining Sites ROD. The results of confirmatory sampling show that residual contaminant concentrations do notmore » preclude any future uses and allow for unrestricted use of shallow zone soils. The results also demonstrate that residual contaminant concentrations are protective of groundwater and the Columbia River.« less

Detection of Theileria annulata in blood samples of carrier cattle by PCR.

PubMed Central

d'Oliveira, C; van der Weide, M; Habela, M A; Jacquiet, P; Jongejan, F

1995-01-01

We report the detection of Theileria annulata, the causative agent of tropical theileriosis, by PCR in blood samples obtained from carrier cattle. The assay employs primers specific for the gene encoding the 30-kDa major merozoite surface antigen of T. annulata. A 721-bp fragment was amplified from blood samples taken monthly from calves experimentally infected with one of four different stocks of T. annulata originating in either Mauritania, Portugal, Spain, or Turkey. At the end of the experiment, five animals carried the infection for 12 months and two animals remained infected for 15 months. DNAs from six other Theileria species, T. parva, T. mutans, T. sergenti, T. buffeli, T. velifera, and T. taurotragi, were not amplified. Moreover, DNAs from four other hemoparasites (Anaplasma centrale, Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bovis, and Babesia bigemina) were also not amplified. As a control, primers derived from the small subunit rRNA gene of Theileria spp. amplified a 1.1-kb DNA fragment from all Theileria species examined but not from the other four hemoparasites. As few as two to three parasites per microliter of infected blood in a 50-microliters sample volume were detected by Southern or microplate hybridization with a T. annulata-specific cDNA probe. In addition, 92 field samples obtained from cattle in Spain were tested; 22% were positive in blood smears, 40% were positive by immunofluorescent antibody test, and 75% were positive for T. annulata by PCR. The method provides a useful diagnostic tool for detecting T. annulata carrier cattle. PMID:8567902

Nd3+-doped soft glass double-clad fibers with a hexagonal inner cladding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Longfei; He, Dongbing; Hu, Lili; Chen, Danping

2015-04-01

The stack-and-draw technique was used to fabricate Nd3+-doped silicate and phosphate glass double-clad step-index fibers with a non-circular inner cladding. For the silicate fiber, a maximum output power of 7.7 W was obtained from a 94 cm fiber. An output power of 1.25 W was also realized with a short length fiber of 8 cm, confirming the application potential of this fiber in single frequency lasers and pulsed amplifiers where an efficient rare-earth-doped fiber with short length is desirable. For the phosphate fiber, a maximum output power of 2.78 W was obtained from a single-mode fiber with a core diameter of up to 35 μm.

Isoschizomers and amplified fragment length polymorphism for the detection of specific cytosine methylation changes.

PubMed

Ruiz-García, Leonor; Cabezas, Jose Antonio; de María, Nuria; Cervera, María-Teresa

2010-01-01

Different molecular techniques have been developed to study either the global level of methylated cytosines or methylation at specific gene sequences. One of them is a modification of the Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) technique that has been used to study methylation of anonymous CCGG sequences in different fungi, plant and animal species. The main variation of this technique is based on the use of isoschizomers with different methylation sensitivity (such as HpaII and MspI) as a frequent cutter restriction enzyme. For each sample, AFLP analysis is performed using both EcoRI/HpaII and EcoRI/MspI digested samples. Comparative analysis between EcoRI/HpaII and EcoRI/MspI fragment patterns allows the identification of two types of polymorphisms: (1) "Methylation-insensitive polymorphisms" that show common EcoRI/HpaII and EcoRI/MspI patterns but are detected as polymorphic amplified fragments among samples; and (2) "Methylation-sensitive polymorphisms" that are associated with amplified fragments differing in their presence or absence or in their intensity between EcoRI/HpaII and EcoRI/MspI patterns. This chapter describes a detailed protocol of this technique and discusses modifications that can be applied to adjust the technology to different species of interest.

Analysis of DNA Cytosine Methylation Patterns Using Methylation-Sensitive Amplification Polymorphism (MSAP).

PubMed

Guevara, María Ángeles; de María, Nuria; Sáez-Laguna, Enrique; Vélez, María Dolores; Cervera, María Teresa; Cabezas, José Antonio

2017-01-01

Different molecular techniques have been developed to study either the global level of methylated cytosines or methylation at specific gene sequences. One of them is the methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism technique (MSAP) which is a modification of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). It has been used to study methylation of anonymous CCGG sequences in different fungi, plants, and animal species. The main variation of this technique resides on the use of isoschizomers with different methylation sensitivity (such as HpaII and MspI) as a frequent-cutter restriction enzyme. For each sample, MSAP analysis is performed using both EcoRI/HpaII- and EcoRI/MspI-digested samples. A comparative analysis between EcoRI/HpaII and EcoRI/MspI fragment patterns allows the identification of two types of polymorphisms: (1) methylation-insensitive polymorphisms that show common EcoRI/HpaII and EcoRI/MspI patterns but are detected as polymorphic amplified fragments among samples and (2) methylation-sensitive polymorphisms which are associated with the amplified fragments that differ in their presence or absence or in their intensity between EcoRI/HpaII and EcoRI/MspI patterns. This chapter describes a detailed protocol of this technique and discusses the modifications that can be applied to adjust the technology to different species of interest.

Genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays demonstrate high fidelity of multiple displacement-based whole-genome amplification.

PubMed

Tzvetkov, Mladen V; Becker, Christian; Kulle, Bettina; Nürnberg, Peter; Brockmöller, Jürgen; Wojnowski, Leszek

2005-02-01

Whole-genome DNA amplification by multiple displacement (MD-WGA) is a promising tool to obtain sufficient DNA amounts from samples of limited quantity. Using Affymetrix' GeneChip Human Mapping 10K Arrays, we investigated the accuracy and allele amplification bias in DNA samples subjected to MD-WGA. We observed an excellent concordance (99.95%) between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) called both in the nonamplified and the corresponding amplified DNA. This concordance was only 0.01% lower than the intra-assay reproducibility of the genotyping technique used. However, MD-WGA failed to amplify an estimated 7% of polymorphic loci. Due to the algorithm used to call genotypes, this was detected only for heterozygous loci. We achieved a 4.3-fold reduction of noncalled SNPs by combining the results from two independent MD-WGA reactions. This indicated that inter-reaction variations rather than specific chromosomal loci reduced the efficiency of MD-WGA. Consistently, we detected no regions of reduced amplification, with the exception of several SNPs located near chromosomal ends. Altogether, despite a substantial loss of polymorphic sites, MD-WGA appears to be the current method of choice to amplify genomic DNA for array-based SNP analyses. The number of nonamplified loci can be substantially reduced by amplifying each DNA sample in duplicate.

Analysis of plant hormones by microemulsion electrokinetic capillary chromatography coupled with on-line large volume sample stacking.

PubMed

Chen, Zongbao; Lin, Zian; Zhang, Lin; Cai, Yan; Zhang, Lan

2012-04-07

A novel method of microemulsion electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEEKC) coupled with on-line large volume sample stacking was developed for the analysis of six plant hormones including indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid, indole-3-propionic acid, 1-naphthaleneacetic acid, abscisic acid and salicylic acid. Baseline separation of six plant hormones was achieved within 10 min by using the microemulsion background electrolyte containing a 97.2% (w/w) 10 mM borate buffer at pH 9.2, 1.0% (w/w) ethyl acetate as oil droplets, 0.6% (w/w) sodium dodecyl sulphate as surfactant and 1.2% (w/w) 1-butanol as cosurfactant. In addition, an on-line concentration method based on a large volume sample stacking technique and multiple wavelength detection was adopted for improving the detection sensitivity in order to determine trace level hormones in a real sample. The optimal method provided about 50-100 fold increase in detection sensitivity compared with a single MEEKC method, and the detection limits (S/N = 3) were between 0.005 and 0.02 μg mL(-1). The proposed method was simple, rapid and sensitive and could be applied to the determination of six plant hormones in spiked water samples, tobacco leaves and 1-naphthylacetic acid in leaf fertilizer. The recoveries ranged from 76.0% to 119.1%, and good reproducibilities were obtained with relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 6.6%.

Use of Multiple Displacement Amplification as Pre-polymerase Chain Reaction (Pre-PCR) to amplify genomic DNA of siphonapterids preserved for long periods in scientific collections.

PubMed

Avelar, Daniel M; Linardi, Pedro M

2010-09-15

The recently developed Multiple Displacement Amplification technique (MDA) allows for the production of a large quantity of high quality genomic DNA from low amounts of the original DNA. The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of the MDA technique to amplify genomic DNA of siphonapterids that have been stored for long periods in 70% ethanol at room temperature. We subjected each DNA sample to two different methodologies: (1) amplification of mitochondrial 16S sequences without MDA; (2) amplification of 16S after MDA. All the samples obtained from these procedures were then sequenced. Only 4 samples (15.4%) subjected to method 1 showed amplification. In contrast, the application of MDA (method 2) improved the performance substantially, with 24 samples (92.3%) showing amplification, with significant difference. Interestingly, one of the samples successfully amplified with this method was originally collected in 1909. All of the sequenced samples displayed satisfactory results in quality evaluations (Phred ≥ 20) and good similarities, as identified with the BLASTn tool. Our results demonstrate that the use of MDA may be an effective tool in molecular studies involving specimens of fleas that have traditionally been considered inadequately preserved for such purposes.

Use of Multiple Displacement Amplification as Pre-polymerase Chain Reaction (Pre-PCR) to amplify genomic DNA of siphonapterids preserved for long periods in scientific collections

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

The recently developed Multiple Displacement Amplification technique (MDA) allows for the production of a large quantity of high quality genomic DNA from low amounts of the original DNA. The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of the MDA technique to amplify genomic DNA of siphonapterids that have been stored for long periods in 70% ethanol at room temperature. We subjected each DNA sample to two different methodologies: (1) amplification of mitochondrial 16S sequences without MDA; (2) amplification of 16S after MDA. All the samples obtained from these procedures were then sequenced. Only 4 samples (15.4%) subjected to method 1 showed amplification. In contrast, the application of MDA (method 2) improved the performance substantially, with 24 samples (92.3%) showing amplification, with significant difference. Interestingly, one of the samples successfully amplified with this method was originally collected in 1909. All of the sequenced samples displayed satisfactory results in quality evaluations (Phred ≥ 20) and good similarities, as identified with the BLASTn tool. Our results demonstrate that the use of MDA may be an effective tool in molecular studies involving specimens of fleas that have traditionally been considered inadequately preserved for such purposes. PMID:20840790

Compact 1 mJ fiber MOPA for space-based laser-ablation resonant ionization mass spectrometry (LARIMS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mu, Xiaodong; Crain, William; Nguyen, Can; Ionov, Pavel; Steinvurzel, Paul; Dotan, Yaniv; Karuza, Petras; Lotshaw, William; Rose, Todd; Beck, Steven; Anderson, F. Scott

2018-02-01

A 1064 nm, 1 mJ pulsed fiber MOPA module, housed in 16"x14"x2.5" package for application in a lunar and planetary in-situ surface dating instrument is demonstrated. The module is based on a three-stage MOPA with a 60 μm core tapered fiber terminal amplifier. The master oscillator and first two preamplifier stages, which generate 20 μJ pulses, are all contained on a 13"x11"x1" board. Several improvements to the electronic signal control were instrumental to the laser development, including bipolar drive of the phase modulator for SBS suppression, shaping of the seed pulse to compensate pulse steepening, and pulsed operation of the power amplifier pump to reduce spontaneous emission at low pulse repetition frequency. The packaged laser runs at a repetition rate of 10 kHz and generates 10 ns pulses at 1 mJ with a 40 GHz linewidth, an M2 1.2 beam quality, and an 18 dB polarization extinction ratio. The modular design enables seven independent lasers to be stacked in a 20"x18"x16.25" enclosure, supporting a path towards a fiber laser based LARIMS for advanced materials characterization and chronological dating in harsh and remote environments.

Synthesis of O-serogroup specific positive controls and real-time PCR standards for nine clinically relevant non-O157 STECs.

PubMed

Conrad, Cheyenne C; Gilroyed, Brandon H; McAllister, Tim A; Reuter, Tim

2012-10-01

Non-O157 Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are gaining recognition as human pathogens, but no standardized method exists to identify them. Sequence analysis revealed that STEC can be classified on the base of variable O antigen regions into different O serotypes. Polymerase chain reaction is a powerful technique for thorough screening and complex diagnosis for these pathogens, but requires a positive control to verify qualitative and/or quantitative DNA-fragment amplification. Due to the pathogenic nature of STEC, controls are not readily available and cell culturing of STEC reference strains requires biosafety conditions of level 2 or higher. In order to bypass this limitation, controls of stacked O-type specific DNA-fragments coding for primer recognition sites were designed to screen for nine STEC serotypes frequently associated with human infection. The synthetic controls were amplified by PCR, cloned into a plasmid vector and transferred into bacteria host cells. Plasmids amplified by bacterial expression were purified, serially diluted and tested as standards for real-time PCR using SYBR Green and TaqMan assays. Utility of synthetic DNA controls was demonstrated in conventional and real-time PCR assays and validated with DNA from natural STEC strains. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Monitoring AIDS patients for the development of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease using multiplex PCR].

PubMed

Terra, A P; Silva-Vergara, M L; Gomes, R A; Pereira, C L; Simpson, A J; Caballero, O L

2000-01-01

The human cytomegalovirus is an important pathogen in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The CMV viral load seems to be predictor of the development of the CMV disease in these patients. We used a multiplex PCR protocol that also provides quantitative information in those samples from which a single band is amplified and contains fewer viral genomes than those from which both targets are amplified. Monthly blood samples were collected from 270 AIDS patients. From twenty patients, two CMV targets were amplified three or more consecutive times and these patients developed CMV related disease during the study. In contrast, patients who did not result positive for both viral targets, for three or more consecutive times, or who had alternating positive and negative samples during the follow up did not present CMV related disease. The results suggest that the PCR multiplex can be used for the identification of HIV positive patients with higher risk of development of CMV disease.

Process for analyzing CO.sub.2 in seawater

DOEpatents

Atwater, James E.; Akse, James R.; DeHart, Jeffrey

1997-01-01

The process of this invention comprises providing a membrane for separating CO.sub.2 into a first CO.sub.2 sample phase and a second CO.sub.2 analyte phase. CO.sub.2 is then transported through the membrane thereby separating the CO.sub.2 with the membrane into a first CO.sub.2 sample phase and a second CO.sub.2 analyte liquid phase including an ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species. Next, the concentration of the ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species in the second CO.sub.2 analyte liquid phase is chemically amplified using a water-soluble chemical reagent which reversibly reacts with undissociated CO.sub.2 to produce conductivity changes therein corresponding to fluctuations in the partial pressure of CO.sub.2 in the first CO.sub.2 sample phase. Finally, the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species is introduced to a conductivity measuring instrument. Conductivity changes in the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species are detected using the conductivity measuring instrument.

Modified midi- and mini-multiplex PCR systems for mitochondrial DNA control region sequence analysis in degraded samples.

PubMed

Kim, Na Young; Lee, Hwan Young; Park, Sun Joo; Yang, Woo Ick; Shin, Kyoung-Jin

2013-05-01

Two multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) systems (Midiplex and Miniplex) were developed for the amplification of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region, and the efficiencies of the multiplexes for amplifying degraded DNA were validated using old skeletal remains. The Midiplex system consisted of two multiplex PCRs to amplify six overlapping amplicons ranging in length from 227 to 267 bp. The Miniplex system consisted of three multiplex PCRs to amplify 10 overlapping short amplicons ranging in length from 142 to 185 bp. Most mtDNA control region sequences of several 60-year-old and 400-500-year-old skeletal remains were successfully obtained using both PCR systems and consistent with those previously obtained by monoplex amplification. The multiplex system consisting of smaller amplicons is effective for mtDNA sequence analyses of ancient and forensic degraded samples, saving time, cost, and the amount of DNA sample consumed during analysis. © 2013 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Microstructural study of Mg-doped p-type GaN: Correlation between high-resolution electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsen, S.-C. Y.; Smith, David J.; Tsen, K. T.; Kim, W.; Morkoç, H.

1997-12-01

A series of Mg-doped GaN films (˜1-1.3 μm) grown by reactive molecular beam epitaxy at substrate temperatures of 750 and 800 °C has been studied by high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) and Raman spectroscopy. Stacking defects parallel to the substrate surface were observed in samples grown on sapphire substrates at 750 °C with AlN buffer layers (60-70 nm) at low Mg concentration. A transition region with mixed zinc-blende cubic (c) and wurtzite hexagonal (h) phases having the relative orientations of (111)c//(00.1)h and (11¯0)c//(10.0)h was observed for increased Mg concentration. The top surfaces of highly doped samples were rough and assumed a completely zinc-blende phase with some inclined stacking faults. Samples grown with a Mg cell temperature of 350 °C and high doping levels were highly disordered with many small crystals having inclined stacking faults, microtwins, and defective wurtzite and zinc-blende phases. Correlation between HREM and Raman scattering results points towards the presence of compressive lattice distortion along the growth direction which might be attributable to structural defects. The films grown at 800 °C had better quality with less observable defects and less yellow luminescence than samples grown at 750 °C.

Concentrations and patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls at different process stages of cement kilns co-processing waste incinerator fly ash.

PubMed

Liu, Guorui; Yang, Lili; Zhan, Jiayu; Zheng, Minghui; Li, Li; Jin, Rong; Zhao, Yuyang; Wang, Mei

2016-12-01

Cement kilns can be used to co-process fly ash from municipal solid waste incinerators. However, this might increase emission of organic pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Knowledge of PCB concentrations and homolog and congener patterns at different stages in this process could be used to assess the possibility of simultaneously controlling emissions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and "dioxin-like" compounds. To date, emissions from cement kilns co-processing fly ash from municipal solid waste incinerators have not been analyzed for PCBs. In this study, stack gas and particulate samples from two cement kilns co-processing waste incinerator fly ash were analyzed for PCBs. The average total tri- to deca-chlorinated biphenyl (∑ 3-10 PCB) concentration in the stack gas samples was 10.15ngm -3 . The ∑ 3-10 PCB concentration ranges in particulate samples from different stages were 0.83-41.79ngg -1 for cement kiln 1and0.13-1.69ngg -1 for cement kiln 2. The ∑ 3-10 PCB concentrations were much higher in particulate samples from the suspension pre-heater boiler, humidifier tower, and kiln back-end bag filters than in particulate samples from other stages. For these three stages, PCBs contributed to 15-18% of the total PCB, PCDD/F, and polychlorinated naphthalene toxic equivalents in stack gases and particulate matter. The PCB distributions were similar to those found in other studies for PCDD/Fs and polychlorinated naphthalenes, which suggest that it may be possible to simultaneously control emissions of multiple organic pollutants from cement kilns. Homolog patterns in the particulate samples were dominated by the pentachlorobiphenyls. CB-105, CB-118, and CB-123 were the dominant dioxin-like PCB congeners that formed at the back-end of the cement kiln. A mass balance of PCBs in the cement kilns indicated that the total mass of PCBs in the stack gases and clinker was about half the mass of PCBs in the raw materials. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Biologically relevant effects of mRNA amplification on gene expression profiles.

PubMed

van Haaften, Rachel I M; Schroen, Blanche; Janssen, Ben J A; van Erk, Arie; Debets, Jacques J M; Smeets, Hubert J M; Smits, Jos F M; van den Wijngaard, Arthur; Pinto, Yigal M; Evelo, Chris T A

2006-04-11

Gene expression microarray technology permits the analysis of global gene expression profiles. The amount of sample needed limits the use of small excision biopsies and/or needle biopsies from human or animal tissues. Linear amplification techniques have been developed to increase the amount of sample derived cDNA. These amplified samples can be hybridised on microarrays. However, little information is available whether microarrays based on amplified and unamplified material yield comparable results. In the present study we compared microarray data obtained from amplified mRNA derived from biopsies of rat cardiac left ventricle and non-amplified mRNA derived from the same organ. Biopsies were linearly amplified to acquire enough material for a microarray experiment. Both amplified and unamplified samples were hybridized to the Rat Expression Set 230 Array of Affymetrix. Analysis of the microarray data showed that unamplified material of two different left ventricles had 99.6% identical gene expression. Gene expression patterns of two biopsies obtained from the same parental organ were 96.3% identical. Similarly, gene expression pattern of two biopsies from dissimilar organs were 92.8% identical to each other.Twenty-one percent of reporters called present in parental left ventricular tissue disappeared after amplification in the biopsies. Those reporters were predominantly seen in the low intensity range. Sequence analysis showed that reporters that disappeared after amplification had a GC-content of 53.7+/-4.0%, while reporters called present in biopsy- and whole LV-samples had an average GC content of 47.8+/-5.5% (P <0.001). Those reporters were also predicted to form significantly more (0.76+/-0.07 versus 0.38+/-0.1) and longer (9.4+/-0.3 versus 8.4+/-0.4) hairpins as compared to representative control reporters present before and after amplification. This study establishes that the gene expression profile obtained after amplification of mRNA of left ventricular biopsies is representative for the whole left ventricle of the rat heart. However, specific gene transcripts present in parental tissues were undetectable in the minute left ventricular biopsies. Transcripts that were lost due to the amplification process were not randomly distributed, but had higher GC-content and hairpins in the sequence and were mainly found in the lower intensity range which includes many transcription factors from specific signalling pathways.

Biologically relevant effects of mRNA amplification on gene expression profiles

PubMed Central

van Haaften, Rachel IM; Schroen, Blanche; Janssen, Ben JA; van Erk, Arie; Debets, Jacques JM; Smeets, Hubert JM; Smits, Jos FM; van den Wijngaard, Arthur; Pinto, Yigal M; Evelo, Chris TA

2006-01-01

Background Gene expression microarray technology permits the analysis of global gene expression profiles. The amount of sample needed limits the use of small excision biopsies and/or needle biopsies from human or animal tissues. Linear amplification techniques have been developed to increase the amount of sample derived cDNA. These amplified samples can be hybridised on microarrays. However, little information is available whether microarrays based on amplified and unamplified material yield comparable results. In the present study we compared microarray data obtained from amplified mRNA derived from biopsies of rat cardiac left ventricle and non-amplified mRNA derived from the same organ. Biopsies were linearly amplified to acquire enough material for a microarray experiment. Both amplified and unamplified samples were hybridized to the Rat Expression Set 230 Array of Affymetrix. Results Analysis of the microarray data showed that unamplified material of two different left ventricles had 99.6% identical gene expression. Gene expression patterns of two biopsies obtained from the same parental organ were 96.3% identical. Similarly, gene expression pattern of two biopsies from dissimilar organs were 92.8% identical to each other. Twenty-one percent of reporters called present in parental left ventricular tissue disappeared after amplification in the biopsies. Those reporters were predominantly seen in the low intensity range. Sequence analysis showed that reporters that disappeared after amplification had a GC-content of 53.7+/-4.0%, while reporters called present in biopsy- and whole LV-samples had an average GC content of 47.8+/-5.5% (P <0.001). Those reporters were also predicted to form significantly more (0.76+/-0.07 versus 0.38+/-0.1) and longer (9.4+/-0.3 versus 8.4+/-0.4) hairpins as compared to representative control reporters present before and after amplification. Conclusion This study establishes that the gene expression profile obtained after amplification of mRNA of left ventricular biopsies is representative for the whole left ventricle of the rat heart. However, specific gene transcripts present in parental tissues were undetectable in the minute left ventricular biopsies. Transcripts that were lost due to the amplification process were not randomly distributed, but had higher GC-content and hairpins in the sequence and were mainly found in the lower intensity range which includes many transcription factors from specific signalling pathways. PMID:16608515

40 CFR 60.74 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... select the sampling site, and the sampling point shall be the centroid of the stack or duct or at a point... the production rate (P) of 100 percent nitric acid for each run. Material balance over the production...

Microchip electrophoresis of oligosaccharides using large-volume sample stacking with an electroosmotic flow pump in a single channel.

PubMed

Kawai, Takayuki; Sueyoshi, Kenji; Kitagawa, Fumihiko; Otsuka, Koji

2010-08-01

The applicability of an online preconcentration technique, large-volume sample stacking with an electroosmotic flow pump (LVSEP), to microchip zone electrophoresis (MCZE) for the analysis of oligosaccharides was investigated. Since the sample stacking and separation proceeded continuously without polarity switching in LVSEP, a single "straight" channel microchip could be employed. In the MCZE analysis of oligosaccharides, sample adsorption onto the channel surface should be suppressed, so the straight microchannel was modified with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). So far, the mechanism of LVSEP in the polymer-coated capillary or microchannel has not been reported, and thus, the LVSEP process in the PVA-coated channel was investigated by fluorescence imaging. Although it is well-known that the PVA coating can suppress the electroosmotic flow (EOF), an enhanced EOF with a mobility of 4.4 x 10(-4) cm(2)/(V x s) was observed in a low ionic strength sample solution. It was revealed that such temporarily enhanced EOF in the sample zone worked as the driving force to remove the sample matrix in LVSEP. To evaluate the analytical performance of LVSEP-MCZE, oligosaccharides were analyzed in the PVA-coated straight channel. As a result, both the glucose ladder and oligosaccharides obtained from bovine ribonuclease B were well enriched and separated with up to 2200-2900-fold sensitivity enhancement compared to those in a conventional MCZE analysis. The run-to-run repeatabilities of the migration time and peak height were good with relative standard deviations of 1.1% and 7.2%, respectively, which were better than those of normal MCZE. By applying the LVSEP technique to MCZE, a complicated voltage program for fluidic control could be simplified from four channels for two steps to two channels for one step.

Multi-kW coherent combining of fiber lasers seeded with pseudo random phase modulated light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flores, Angel; Ehrehreich, Thomas; Holten, Roger; Anderson, Brian; Dajani, Iyad

2016-03-01

We report efficient coherent beam combining of five kilowatt-class fiber amplifiers with a diffractive optical element (DOE). Based on a master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) configuration, the amplifiers were seeded with pseudo random phase modulated light. Each non-polarization maintaining fiber amplifier was optically path length matched and provides approximately 1.2 kW of near diffraction-limited output power (measured M2<1.1). Consequently, a low power sample of each laser was utilized for active linear polarization control. A low power sample of the combined beam after the DOE provided an error signal for active phase locking which was performed via Locking of Optical Coherence by Single-Detector Electronic-Frequency Tagging (LOCSET). After phase stabilization, the beams were coherently combined via the 1x5 DOE. A total combined output power of 4.9 kW was achieved with 82% combining efficiency and excellent beam quality (M2<1.1). The intrinsic DOE splitter loss was 5%. Similarly, losses due in part to non-ideal polarization, ASE content, uncorrelated wavefront errors, and misalignment errors contributed to the efficiency reduction.

40 CFR 1065.145 - Gaseous and PM probes, transfer lines, and sampling system components.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... measuring sample flows by designing a passive sampling system that meets the following requirements: (A) The... number of bends, and have no filters. (B) If probes are designed such that they are sensitive to stack... design and construction. Use sample probes with inside surfaces of 300 series stainless steel or, for raw...

40 CFR 1065.145 - Gaseous and PM probes, transfer lines, and sampling system components.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... measuring sample flows by designing a passive sampling system that meets the following requirements: (A) The... number of bends, and have no filters. (B) If probes are designed such that they are sensitive to stack... design and construction. Use sample probes with inside surfaces of 300 series stainless steel or, for raw...

40 CFR 1065.145 - Gaseous and PM probes, transfer lines, and sampling system components.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... measuring sample flows by designing a passive sampling system that meets the following requirements: (A) The... number of bends, and have no filters. (B) If probes are designed such that they are sensitive to stack... design and construction. Use sample probes with inside surfaces of 300 series stainless steel or, for raw...

40 CFR 1065.145 - Gaseous and PM probes, transfer lines, and sampling system components.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... measuring sample flows by designing a passive sampling system that meets the following requirements: (A) The... number of bends, and have no filters. (B) If probes are designed such that they are sensitive to stack... design and construction. Use sample probes with inside surfaces of 300 series stainless steel or, for raw...

40 CFR 1065.145 - Gaseous and PM probes, transfer lines, and sampling system components.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... measuring sample flows by designing a passive sampling system that meets the following requirements: (A) The... number of bends, and have no filters. (B) If probes are designed such that they are sensitive to stack... design and construction. Use sample probes with inside surfaces of 300 series stainless steel or, for raw...

Low Cost Mars Sample Return Utilizing Dragon Lander Project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stoker, Carol R.

2014-01-01

We studied a Mars sample return (MSR) mission that lands a SpaceX Dragon Capsule on Mars carrying sample collection hardware (an arm, drill, or small rover) and a spacecraft stack consisting of a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) and Earth Return Vehicle (ERV) that collectively carry the sample container from Mars back to Earth orbit.

Golden-ratio rotated stack-of-stars acquisition for improved volumetric MRI.

PubMed

Zhou, Ziwu; Han, Fei; Yan, Lirong; Wang, Danny J J; Hu, Peng

2017-12-01

To develop and evaluate an improved stack-of-stars radial sampling strategy for reducing streaking artifacts. The conventional stack-of-stars sampling strategy collects the same radial angle for every partition (slice) encoding. In an undersampled acquisition, such an aligned acquisition generates coherent aliasing patterns and introduces strong streaking artifacts. We show that by rotating the radial spokes in a golden-angle manner along the partition-encoding direction, the aliasing pattern is modified, resulting in improved image quality for gridding and more advanced reconstruction methods. Computer simulations were performed and phantom as well as in vivo images for three different applications were acquired. Simulation, phantom, and in vivo experiments confirmed that the proposed method was able to generate images with less streaking artifact and sharper structures based on undersampled acquisitions in comparison with the conventional aligned approach at the same acceleration factors. By combining parallel imaging and compressed sensing in the reconstruction, streaking artifacts were mostly removed with improved delineation of fine structures using the proposed strategy. We present a simple method to reduce streaking artifacts and improve image quality in 3D stack-of-stars acquisitions by re-arranging the radial spoke angles in the 3D partition direction, which can be used for rapid volumetric imaging. Magn Reson Med 78:2290-2298, 2017. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Cryogenic transimpedance amplifier for micromechanical capacitive sensors.

PubMed

Antonio, D; Pastoriza, H; Julián, P; Mandolesi, P

2008-08-01

We developed a cryogenic transimpedance amplifier that works at a broad range of temperatures, from room temperature down to 4 K. The device was realized with a standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor 1.5 mum process. Measurements of current-voltage characteristics, open-loop gain, input referred noise current, and power consumption are presented as a function of temperature. The transimpedance amplifier has been successfully applied to sense the motion of a polysilicon micromechanical oscillator at low temperatures. The whole device is intended to serve as a magnetometer for microscopic superconducting samples.

Characterization of fine-grain piezoceramic stack actuators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, Christopher L.; Morris, Donald G.; Calkins, Frederick T.

2001-07-01

Samples of fine grain piezoelectric ceramics (less than or equal to 1 micrometers ) exhibit increased mechanical strength and improved machinability over conventional materials, which should result in actuators which have increased reliability with fewer rejected parts. The focus of the work presented here is to compare the properties of several fine grain and conventional actuators provided by TRS Ceramics. Specimens are constructed of TRS200 (a PZT-5A or DOD Type II equivalent material) and TRS600 (a PZT-5H or DOD Type VI equivalent material). All of the actuators consist of ceramic wafers bonded together with electrodes between them to form a stack. Several actuator overall dimensions and two wafer thicknesses (250 micrometers and 500 micrometers ) are investigated as well as material which has been subjected to hot isopress. The two main figures of merit in the stack actuator comparisons are free strain and blocked stress. Strain and stress loops are measured under a variety of field levels, including negative fields up to the coercive limit (full butterfly loops were not performed). Also compared are values of energy density and hysteresis in the strain, stress and electric displacement vs. field loops. Stack longevity is addressed through duration tests in which stacks are used to drive representative mechanical impedance for an extended period. Results show that fine grain stacks completed 109 continuous actuation cycles with no sign of performance degradation.

A Late Pleistocene sea level stack

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spratt, Rachel M.; Lisiecki, Lorraine E.

2016-04-01

Late Pleistocene sea level has been reconstructed from ocean sediment core data using a wide variety of proxies and models. However, the accuracy of individual reconstructions is limited by measurement error, local variations in salinity and temperature, and assumptions particular to each technique. Here we present a sea level stack (average) which increases the signal-to-noise ratio of individual reconstructions. Specifically, we perform principal component analysis (PCA) on seven records from 0 to 430 ka and five records from 0 to 798 ka. The first principal component, which we use as the stack, describes ˜ 80 % of the variance in the data and is similar using either five or seven records. After scaling the stack based on Holocene and Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) sea level estimates, the stack agrees to within 5 m with isostatically adjusted coral sea level estimates for Marine Isotope Stages 5e and 11 (125 and 400 ka, respectively). Bootstrapping and random sampling yield mean uncertainty estimates of 9-12 m (1σ) for the scaled stack. Sea level change accounts for about 45 % of the total orbital-band variance in benthic δ18O, compared to a 65 % contribution during the LGM-to-Holocene transition. Additionally, the second and third principal components of our analyses reflect differences between proxy records associated with spatial variations in the δ18O of seawater.

Almost twenty years' search of transuranium isotopes in effluents discharged to air from nuclear power plants with VVER reactors.

PubMed

Hölgye, Z; Filgas, R

2006-04-01

Airborne effluents of 5 stacks (stacks 1-5) of three nuclear power plants, with 9 pressurized water reactors VVER of 4,520 MWe total power, were searched for transuranium isotopes in different time periods. The search started in 1985. The subject of this work is a presentation of discharge data for the period of 1998-2003 and a final evaluation. It was found that 238Pu, 239,240Pu, 241Am, 242Cm, and 244Cm can be present in airborne effluents. Transuranium isotope contents in most of the quarterly effluent samples from stacks 2, 4 and 5 were not measurable. Transuranium isotopes were present in the effluents from stack l during all 9 years of the study and from stack 3 since the 3rd quarter of 1996 as a result of a defect in the fuel cladding. A relatively high increase of transuranium isotopes in effluents from stack 3 occurred in the 3rd quarter of 1999, and a smaller increase occurred in the 3rd quarter of 2003. In each instance 242Cm prevailed in the transuranium isotope mixtures. 238Pu/239,240Pu, 241Am/239,240Pu, 242Cm/239,240Pu, and 244Cm/239,240Pu ratios in fuel for different burn-up were calculated, and comparison of these ratios in fuel and effluents was performed.

Asynchronous data acquisition and on-the-fly analysis of dose fractionated cryoEM images by UCSFImage

PubMed Central

Li, Xueming; Zheng, Shawn; Agard, David A.; Cheng, Yifan

2015-01-01

Newly developed direct electron detection cameras have a high image output frame rate that enables recording dose fractionated image stacks of frozen hydrated biological samples by electron cryomicroscopy (cryoEM). Such novel image acquisition schemes provide opportunities to analyze cryoEM data in ways that were previously impossible. The file size of a dose fractionated image stack is 20 ~ 60 times larger than that of a single image. Thus, efficient data acquisition and on-the-fly analysis of a large number of dose-fractionated image stacks become a serious challenge to any cryoEM data acquisition system. We have developed a computer-assisted system, named UCSFImage4, for semi-automated cryo-EM image acquisition that implements an asynchronous data acquisition scheme. This facilitates efficient acquisition, on-the-fly motion correction, and CTF analysis of dose fractionated image stacks with a total time of ~60 seconds/exposure. Here we report the technical details and configuration of this system. PMID:26370395

Study of Thermomechanical Properties of The Epoxy-Impregnated Cable Composite for a 15 T Nb3Sn Dipole Demonstrator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Pei; Krave, Steve; Zlobin, Alexander

2017-12-01

The knowledge of the thermomechanical properties of the composite of cable/insulation/epoxy impregnation are important for the design, fabrication and operation of superconducting accelerator magnets. As a part of the 15 T dipole magnet development at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), we studied the thermomechanical properties of cable stack that represents the cable composites in the 15 T dipole. The measurements include thermal contraction and strain-stress characterization under compressive load along the principal directions. The cable stack samples show hysteresis behaviour in loading-unloading cycles, which is found to be most dramatic along the azimuthal direction. Also, the choice of insulation material/procedure is found to strongly impact the bonding between cables and epoxy/cable layers. The cable stacks measured in this study use E-glass tape wrapping insulation and show weaker bonding to cables than similar cable stacks using S-2 glass sleeves insulation previously studied.

Justification of rapid prototyping in the development cycle of thermoplastic-based lab-on-a-chip.

PubMed

Preywisch, Regina; Ritzi-Lehnert, Marion; Drese, Klaus S; Röser, Tina

2011-11-01

During the developmental cycle of lab-on-a-chip devices, various microstructuring techniques are required. While in the designing and assay implementation phase direct structuring or so-called rapid-prototyping methods such as milling or laser ablation are applied, replication methods like hot embossing or injection moulding are favourable for large quantity manufacturing. This work investigated the applicability of rapid-prototyping techniques for thermoplastic chip development in general, and the reproducibility of performances in dependency of the structuring technique. A previously published chip for prenatal diagnosis that preconcentrates DNA via electrokinetic trapping and field-amplified-sample-stacking and afterwards separates it in CGE was chosen as a model. The impact of structuring, sealing, and the integration of membranes on the mobility of the EOF, DNA preconcentration, and DNA separation was studied. Structuring methods were found to significantly change the location where preconcentration of DNA occurs. However, effects on the mobility of the EOF and the separation quality of DNA were not observed. Exchange of the membrane has no effect on the chip performance, whereas the sealing method impairs the separation of DNA within the chip. The overall assay performance is not significantly influenced by different structuring methods; thus, the application of rapid-prototyping methods during a chip development cycle is well justified. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Impact face influence on low velocity impact performance of interply laminated plates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manikandan, Periyasamy; Chai, Gin Boay

2015-03-01

Fibre Metal Laminate (FML), a metal sandwiched hybrid composite material is well-known for its enhanced impact properties and better damage tolerance and it has been successfully implemented in diverse engineering applications in aviation industry. With heterogeneous constituents, the stacking sequence of FML is believe to play a critical role to govern its overall energy absorption capability by means of controlling delamination of metal composite interface and plastic deformation of metal layers. As a precursor, low velocity impact experiments were conducted on interply configured transparent plastic plates in order to extract the significance of stacking sequence and realize the characteristics of each layer through naked eye which is not possible in FML due to opacity of metal layer. The stack configuration constitute hard acrylic (brittle) and soft polycarbonate (ductile) plates analogous to composite (brittle) and metal (ductile) layers on FML laminate and the impact event is performed on either hard or soft facing sides separately. Hard side samples resemble more protective than soft side impact sample, with large peak resistant force and expose smaller damage growth in all experimented cases.

An inverter-based capacitive trans-impedance amplifier readout with offset cancellation and temporal noise reduction for IR focal plane array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Hsin-Han; Hsieh, Chih-Cheng

2013-09-01

This paper presents a readout integrated circuit (ROIC) with inverter-based capacitive trans-impedance amplifier (CTIA) and pseudo-multiple sampling technique for infrared focal plane array (IRFPA). The proposed inverter-based CTIA with a coupling capacitor [1], executing auto-zeroing technique to cancel out the varied offset voltage from process variation, is used to substitute differential amplifier in conventional CTIA. The tunable detector bias is applied from a global external bias before exposure. This scheme not only retains stable detector bias voltage and signal injection efficiency, but also reduces the pixel area as well. Pseudo-multiple sampling technique [2] is adopted to reduce the temporal noise of readout circuit. The noise reduction performance is comparable to the conventional multiple sampling operation without need of longer readout time proportional to the number of samples. A CMOS image sensor chip with 55×65 pixel array has been fabricated in 0.18um CMOS technology. It achieves a 12um×12um pixel size, a frame rate of 72 fps, a power-per-pixel of 0.66uW/pixel, and a readout temporal noise of 1.06mVrms (16 times of pseudo-multiple sampling), respectively.

40 CFR 60.496 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Surface Coating Industry § 60.496 Test methods and procedures. (a) The reference methods in appendix A to...) Method 4 for stack gas moisture. (b) For Method 24, the coating sample must be a 1-litre sample collected... volume must be 0.003 dscm except that shorter sampling times or smaller volumes, when necessitated by...

40 CFR 60.496 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Surface Coating Industry § 60.496 Test methods and procedures. (a) The reference methods in appendix A to...) Method 4 for stack gas moisture. (b) For Method 24, the coating sample must be a 1-litre sample collected... volume must be 0.003 dscm except that shorter sampling times or smaller volumes, when necessitated by...

40 CFR 60.496 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Surface Coating Industry § 60.496 Test methods and procedures. (a) The reference methods in appendix A to...) Method 4 for stack gas moisture. (b) For Method 24, the coating sample must be a 1-litre sample collected... volume must be 0.003 dscm except that shorter sampling times or smaller volumes, when necessitated by...

40 CFR 60.496 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Surface Coating Industry § 60.496 Test methods and procedures. (a) The reference methods in appendix A to...) Method 4 for stack gas moisture. (b) For Method 24, the coating sample must be a 1-litre sample collected... volume must be 0.003 dscm except that shorter sampling times or smaller volumes, when necessitated by...

40 CFR 60.496 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Surface Coating Industry § 60.496 Test methods and procedures. (a) The reference methods in appendix A to...) Method 4 for stack gas moisture. (b) For Method 24, the coating sample must be a 1-litre sample collected... volume must be 0.003 dscm except that shorter sampling times or smaller volumes, when necessitated by...

An Experimental Study of Upward Burning Over Long Solid Fuels: Facility Development and Comparison

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kleinhenz, Julie; Yuan, Zeng-Guang

2011-01-01

As NASA's mission evolves, new spacecraft and habitat environments necessitate expanded study of materials flammability. Most of the upward burning tests to date, including the NASA standard material screening method NASA-STD-6001, have been conducted in small chambers where the flame often terminates before a steady state flame is established. In real environments, the same limitations may not be present. The use of long fuel samples would allow the flames to proceed in an unhindered manner. In order to explore sample size and chamber size effects, two large chambers were developed at NASA GRC under the Flame Prevention, Detection and Suppression (FPDS) project. The first was an existing vacuum facility, VF-13, located at NASA John Glenn Research Center. This 6350 liter chamber could accommodate fuels sample lengths up to 2 m. However, operational costs and restricted accessibility limited the test program, so a second laboratory scale facility was developed in parallel. By stacking additional two chambers on top of an existing combustion chamber facility, this 81 liter Stacked-chamber facility could accommodate a 1.5 m sample length. The larger volume, more ideal environment of VF-13 was used to obtain baseline data for comparison with the stacked chamber facility. In this way, the stacked chamber facility was intended for long term testing, with VF-13 as the proving ground. Four different solid fuels (adding machine paper, poster paper, PMMA plates, and Nomex fabric) were tested with fuel sample lengths up to 2 m. For thin samples (papers) with widths up to 5 cm, the flame reached a steady state length, which demonstrates that flame length may be stabilized even when the edge effects are reduced. For the thick PMMA plates, flames reached lengths up to 70 cm but were highly energetic and restricted by oxygen depletion. Tests with the Nomex fabric confirmed that the cyclic flame phenomena, observed in small facility tests, continued over longer sample. New features were also observed at the higher oxygen/pressure conditions available in the large chamber. Comparison of flame behavior between the two facilities under identical conditions revealed disparities, both qualitative and quantitative. This suggests that, in certain ranges of controlling parameters, chamber size and shape could be one of the parameters that affect the material flammability. If this proves to be true, it may limit the applicability of existing flammability data.

BZ Disposal Facility Development and Design. Task 4, Incineration of Pyrotechnic Munitions in a Deactivation Furnace

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-07-01

up to 5 percent. Normally the plume completely dissapated in less than 200 feet from the stack. 37 fo r^. -^ d. o !>. "^ .^ 0) O ON...each of the sampling points for particulate loading was analyzed for metals and organic content. The particulate analysis was combined with analysis...ducting from the mist eliminator to the ID fan and the stack can be constructed of FRP. The ID fan can be FRP, or epoxy coated steel or a combination

Capillary sample introduction of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products separated in ultrathin slab gels.

PubMed

Bullard, K M; Hietpas, P B; Ewing, A G

1998-01-01

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified short tandem repeat (STR) samples from the HUMVWF locus have been analyzed using a unique sample introduction and separation technique. A single capillary is used to transfer samples onto an ultrathin slab gel (57 microm thin). This ultrathin nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel is used to separate the amplified fragments, and laser-induced fluorescence with ethidium bromide is used for detection. The feasibility of performing STR analysis using this system has been investigated by examining the reproducibility for repeated samples. Reproducibility is examined by comparing the migration of the 14 and 17 HUMVWF alleles on three consecutive separations on the ultrathin slab gel. Using one locus, separations match in migration time with the two alleles 42 s apart for each of the three consecutive separations. This technique shows potential to increase sample throughput in STR analysis techniques although separation resolution still needs to be improved.

Improved Signal Chains for Readout of CMOS Imagers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pain, Bedabrata; Hancock, Bruce; Cunningham, Thomas

2009-01-01

An improved generic design has been devised for implementing signal chains involved in readout from complementary metal oxide/semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors and for other readout integrated circuits (ICs) that perform equivalent functions. The design applies to any such IC in which output signal charges from the pixels in a given row are transferred simultaneously into sampling capacitors at the bottoms of the columns, then voltages representing individual pixel charges are read out in sequence by sequentially turning on column-selecting field-effect transistors (FETs) in synchronism with source-follower- or operational-amplifier-based amplifier circuits. The improved design affords the best features of prior source-follower-and operational- amplifier-based designs while overcoming the major limitations of those designs. The limitations can be summarized as follows: a) For a source-follower-based signal chain, the ohmic voltage drop associated with DC bias current flowing through the column-selection FET causes unacceptable voltage offset, nonlinearity, and reduced small-signal gain. b) For an operational-amplifier-based signal chain, the required bias current and the output noise increase superlinearly with size of the pixel array because of a corresponding increase in the effective capacitance of the row bus used to couple the sampled column charges to the operational amplifier. The effect of the bus capacitance is to simultaneously slow down the readout circuit and increase noise through the Miller effect.

A New, Scalable and Low Cost Multi-Channel Monitoring System for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells.

PubMed

Calderón, Antonio José; González, Isaías; Calderón, Manuel; Segura, Francisca; Andújar, José Manuel

2016-03-09

In this work a new, scalable and low cost multi-channel monitoring system for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (PEFCs) has been designed, constructed and experimentally validated. This developed monitoring system performs non-intrusive voltage measurement of each individual cell of a PEFC stack and it is scalable, in the sense that it is capable to carry out measurements in stacks from 1 to 120 cells (from watts to kilowatts). The developed system comprises two main subsystems: hardware devoted to data acquisition (DAQ) and software devoted to real-time monitoring. The DAQ subsystem is based on the low-cost open-source platform Arduino and the real-time monitoring subsystem has been developed using the high-level graphical language NI LabVIEW. Such integration can be considered a novelty in scientific literature for PEFC monitoring systems. An original amplifying and multiplexing board has been designed to increase the Arduino input port availability. Data storage and real-time monitoring have been performed with an easy-to-use interface. Graphical and numerical visualization allows a continuous tracking of cell voltage. Scalability, flexibility, easy-to-use, versatility and low cost are the main features of the proposed approach. The system is described and experimental results are presented. These results demonstrate its suitability to monitor the voltage in a PEFC at cell level.

A New, Scalable and Low Cost Multi-Channel Monitoring System for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

PubMed Central

Calderón, Antonio José; González, Isaías; Calderón, Manuel; Segura, Francisca; Andújar, José Manuel

2016-01-01

In this work a new, scalable and low cost multi-channel monitoring system for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (PEFCs) has been designed, constructed and experimentally validated. This developed monitoring system performs non-intrusive voltage measurement of each individual cell of a PEFC stack and it is scalable, in the sense that it is capable to carry out measurements in stacks from 1 to 120 cells (from watts to kilowatts). The developed system comprises two main subsystems: hardware devoted to data acquisition (DAQ) and software devoted to real-time monitoring. The DAQ subsystem is based on the low-cost open-source platform Arduino and the real-time monitoring subsystem has been developed using the high-level graphical language NI LabVIEW. Such integration can be considered a novelty in scientific literature for PEFC monitoring systems. An original amplifying and multiplexing board has been designed to increase the Arduino input port availability. Data storage and real-time monitoring have been performed with an easy-to-use interface. Graphical and numerical visualization allows a continuous tracking of cell voltage. Scalability, flexibility, easy-to-use, versatility and low cost are the main features of the proposed approach. The system is described and experimental results are presented. These results demonstrate its suitability to monitor the voltage in a PEFC at cell level. PMID:27005630

Diaphragm Pump With Resonant Piezoelectric Drive

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Izenson, Michael G.; Kline-Schoder, Robert J.; Shimko, Martin A.

2007-01-01

A diaphragm pump driven by a piezoelectric actuator is undergoing development. This pump is intended to be a prototype of lightweight, highly reliable pumps for circulating cooling liquids in protective garments and high-power electronic circuits, and perhaps for some medical applications. The pump would be highly reliable because it would contain no sliding seals or bearings that could wear, the only parts subject to wear would be two check valves, and the diaphragm and other flexing parts could be designed, by use of proven methods, for extremely long life. Because the pump would be capable of a large volumetric flow rate and would have only a small dead volume, its operation would not be disrupted by ingestion of gas, and it could be started reliably under all conditions. The prior art includes a number piezoelectrically actuated diaphragm pumps. Because of the smallness of the motions of piezoelectric actuators (typical maximum strains only about 0.001), the volumetric flow rates of those pumps are much too small for typical cooling applications. In the pump now undergoing development, mechanical resonance would be utilized to amplify the motion generated by the piezoelectric actuator and thereby multiply the volumetric flow rate. The prime mover in this pump would be a stack of piezoelectric ceramic actuators, one end of which would be connected to a spring that would be part of a spring-and-mass resonator structure. The mass part of the resonator structure would include the pump diaphragm (see Figure 1). Contraction of the spring would draw the diaphragm to the left, causing the volume of the fluid chamber to increase and thereby causing fluid to flow into the chamber. Subsequent expansion of the spring would push the diaphragm to the right, causing the volume of the fluid chamber to decrease, and thereby expelling fluid from the chamber. The fluid would enter and leave the chamber through check valves. The piezoelectric stack would be driven electrically to make it oscillate at the resonance frequency of the spring and- mass structure. This frequency could be made high enough (of the order of 400 Hz) that the masses of all components could be made conveniently small. The resonance would amplify the relatively small motion of the piezoelectric stack (a stroke of the order of 10 m) to a diaphragm stroke of the order of 0.5 mm. The exact amplification factor would depend on the rate of damping of oscillations; this, in turn, would depend on details of design and operation, including (but not limited to) the desired pressure rise and volumetric flow rate. In order to obtain resonance with large displacement, the damping rate must be low enough that the energy imparted to the pumped fluid on each stroke is much less than the kinetic and potential energy exchanged between the mass and spring during each cycle of oscillation. To minimize the power demand of the pump, a highly efficient drive circuit would be used to excite the piezoelectric stack. This circuit (see Figure 2) would amount to a special-purpose regenerative, switching power supply that would operate in a power-source mode during the part of an oscillation cycle when the excitation waveform was positive and in a power-recovery mode during the part of the cycle when the excitation waveform was negative. The circuit would include a voltage-boosting dc-to-dc converter that would convert between a supply potential of 24 Vdc and the high voltage needed to drive the piezoelectric stack. Because of the power-recovery feature, the circuit would consume little power. It should be possible to build the circuit as a compact unit, using readily available components.

Selective Phylogenetic Analysis Targeted at 16S rRNA Genes of Thermophiles and Hyperthermophiles in Deep-Subsurface Geothermal Environments

PubMed Central

Kimura, Hiroyuki; Sugihara, Maki; Kato, Kenji; Hanada, Satoshi

2006-01-01

Deep-subsurface samples obtained by deep drilling are likely to be contaminated with mesophilic microorganisms in the drilling fluid, and this could affect determination of the community structure of the geothermal microflora using 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis. To eliminate possible contamination by PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes from mesophiles, a combined thermal denaturation and enzyme digestion method, based on a strong correlation between the G+C content of the 16S rRNA gene and the optimum growth temperatures of most known prokaryotic cultures, was used prior to clone library construction. To validate this technique, hot spring fluid (76°C) and river water (14°C) were used to mimic a deep-subsurface sample contaminated with drilling fluid. After DNA extraction and PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA genes from individual samples separately, the amplified products from river water were observed to be denatured at 82°C and completely digested by exonuclease I (Exo I), while the amplified products from hot spring fluid remained intact after denaturation at 84°C and enzyme digestion with Exo I. DNAs extracted from the two samples were mixed and used as a template for amplification of the 16S rRNA genes. The amplified rRNA genes were denatured at 84°C and digested with Exo I before clone library construction. The results indicated that the 16S rRNA gene sequences from the river water were almost completely eliminated, whereas those from the hot spring fluid remained. PMID:16391020

Estimation of the Relative Abundance of Different Bacteroides and Prevotella Ribotypes in Gut Samples by Restriction Enzyme Profiling of PCR-Amplified 16S rRNA Gene Sequences

PubMed Central

Wood, Jacqueline; Scott, Karen P.; Avguštin, Gorazd; Newbold, C. James; Flint, Harry J.

1998-01-01

We describe an approach for determining the genetic composition of Bacteroides and Prevotella populations in gut contents based on selective amplification of 16S rRNA gene sequences (rDNA) followed by cleavage of the amplified material with restriction enzymes. The relative contributions of different ribotypes to total Bacteroides and Prevotella 16S rDNA are estimated after end labelling of one of the PCR primers, and the contribution of Bacteroides and Prevotella sequences to total eubacterial 16S rDNA is estimated by measuring the binding of oligonucleotide probes to amplified DNA. Bacteroides and Prevotella 16S rDNA accounted for between 12 and 62% of total eubacterial 16S rDNA in samples of ruminal contents from six sheep and a cow. Ribotypes 4, 5, 6, and 7, which include most cultivated rumen Prevotella strains, together accounted for between 20 and 86% of the total amplified Bacteroides and Prevotella rDNA in these samples. The most abundant Bacteroides or Prevotella ribotype in four animals, however, was ribotype 8, for which there is only one known cultured isolate, while ribotypes 1 and 2, which include many colonic Bacteroides spp., were the most abundant in two animals. This indicates that some abundant Bacteroides and Prevotella groups in the rumen are underrepresented among cultured rumen Prevotella isolates. The approach described here provides a rapid, convenient, and widely applicable method for comparing the genotypic composition of bacterial populations in gut samples. PMID:9758785

An efficient and cost-effective microchannel plate detector for slow neutron radiography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiggins, B. B.; Vadas, J.; Bancroft, D.; deSouza, Z. O.; Huston, J.; Hudan, S.; Baxter, D. V.; deSouza, R. T.

2018-05-01

A novel approach for efficiently imaging objects with slow neutrons in two dimensions is realized. Neutron sensitivity is achieved by use of a boron doped microchannel plate (MCP). The resulting electron avalanche is further amplified with a Z-stack MCP before being sensed by two orthogonally oriented wire planes. Coupling of the wire planes to delay lines efficiently encodes the position information as a time difference. To determine the position resolution, slow neutrons were used to illuminate a Cd-mask placed directly in front of the detector. Peaks in the resulting spectrum exhibited an average peak width of 329 μm FWHM, corresponding to an average intrinsic resolution of 216 μm. The center region of the detector exhibits a significantly better spatial resolution with an intrinsic resolution of <100 μm observed.

Method and algorithm for image processing

DOEpatents

He, George G.; Moon, Brain D.

2003-12-16

The present invention is a modified Radon transform. It is similar to the traditional Radon transform for the extraction of line parameters and similar to traditional slant stack for the intensity summation of pixels away from a given pixel, for example ray paths that spans 360 degree at a given grid in the time and offset domain. However, the present invention differs from these methods in that the intensity and direction of a composite intensity for each pixel are maintained separately instead of combined after the transformation. An advantage of this approach is elimination of the work required to extract the line parameters in the transformed domain. The advantage of the modified Radon Transform method is amplified when many lines are present in the imagery or when the lines are just short segments which both occur in actual imagery.

A DNA-Based Procedure for In Planta Detection of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli.

PubMed

Alves-Santos, Fernando M; Ramos, Brisa; García-Sánchez, M Asunción; Eslava, Arturo P; Díaz-Mínguez, José María

2002-03-01

ABSTRACT We have characterized strains of Fusarium oxysporum from common bean fields in Spain that were nonpathogenic on common bean, as well as F. oxysporum strains (F. oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli) pathogenic to common bean by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. We identified a RAPD marker (RAPD 4.12) specific for the highly virulent pathogenic strains of the seven races of F. oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli. Sequence analysis of RAPD 4.12 allowed the design of oligonucleotides that amplify a 609-bp sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker (SCAR-B310A280). Under controlled environmental and greenhouse conditions, detection of the pathogen by polymerase chain reaction was 100% successful in root samples of infected but still symptomless plants and in stem samples of plants with disease severity of >/=4 in the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT; Cali, Colombia) scale. The diagnostic procedure can be completed in 5 h and allows the detection of all known races of the pathogen in plant samples at early stages of the disease with no visible symptoms.

Process for analyzing CO[sub 2] in air and in water

DOEpatents

Atwater, J.E.; Akse, J.R.; DeHart, J.

1999-06-08

The process of this invention comprises providing a membrane for separating CO[sub 2] into a first CO[sub 2] sample phase and a second CO[sub 2] analyte phase. CO[sub 2] is then transported through the membrane thereby separating the CO[sub 2] with the membrane into a first CO[sub 2] sample phase and a second CO[sub 2] analyte liquid phase including an ionized, conductive, dissociated CO[sub 2] species. Next, the concentration of the ionized, conductive, dissociated CO[sub 2] species in the second CO[sub 2] analyte liquid phase is chemically amplified using a water-soluble chemical reagent which reversibly reacts with undissociated CO[sub 2] to produce conductivity changes therein corresponding to fluctuations in the partial pressure of CO[sub 2] in the first CO[sub 2] sample phase. Finally, the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO[sub 2] species is introduced to a conductivity measuring instrument. Conductivity changes in the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO[sub 2] species are detected using the conductivity measuring instrument. 43 figs.

Process for analyzing CO.sub.2 in air and in water

DOEpatents

Atwater, James E.; Akse, James R.; DeHart, Jeffrey

1999-01-01

The process of this invention comprises providing a membrane for separating CO.sub.2 into a first CO.sub.2 sample phase and a second CO.sub.2 analyte phase. CO.sub.2 is then transported through the membrane thereby separating the CO.sub.2 with the membrane into a first CO.sub.2 sample phase and a second CO.sub.2 analyte liquid phase including an ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species. Next, the concentration of the ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species in the second CO.sub.2 analyte liquid phase is chemically amplified using a water-soluble chemical reagent which reversibly reacts with undissociated CO.sub.2 to produce conductivity changes therein corresponding to fluctuations in the partial pressure of CO.sub.2 in the first CO.sub.2 sample phase. Finally, the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species is introduced to a conductivity measuring instrument. Conductivity changes in the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO.sub.2 species are detected using the conductivity measuring instrument.

Process for analyzing CO{sub 2} in seawater

DOEpatents

Atwater, J.E.; Akse, J.R.; DeHart, J.

1997-07-01

The process of this invention comprises providing a membrane for separating CO{sub 2} into a first CO{sub 2} sample phase and a second CO{sub 2} analyte phase. CO{sub 2} is then transported through the membrane thereby separating the CO{sub 2} with the membrane into a first CO{sub 2} sample phase and a second CO{sub 2} analyte liquid phase including an ionized, conductive, dissociated CO{sub 2} species. Next, the concentration of the ionized, conductive, dissociated CO{sub 2} species in the second CO{sub 2} analyte liquid phase is chemically amplified using a water-soluble chemical reagent which reversibly reacts with undissociated CO{sub 2} to produce conductivity changes therein corresponding to fluctuations in the partial pressure of CO{sub 2} in the first CO{sub 2} sample phase. Finally, the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO{sub 2} species is introduced to a conductivity measuring instrument. Conductivity changes in the chemically amplified, ionized, conductive, dissociated CO{sub 2} species are detected using the conductivity measuring instrument. 43 figs.

Coherent amplification of X-ray scattering from meso-structures

DOE PAGES

Lhermitte, Julien R.; Stein, Aaron; Tian, Cheng; ...

2017-07-10

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) often includes an unwanted background, which increases the required measurement time to resolve the sample structure. This is undesirable in all experiments, and may make measurement of dynamic or radiation-sensitive samples impossible. Here, we demonstrate a new technique, applicable when the scattering signal is background-dominated, which reduces the requisite exposure time. Our method consists of exploiting coherent interference between a sample with a designed strongly scattering `amplifier'. A modified angular correlation function is used to extract the symmetry of the interference term; that is, the scattering arising from the interference between the amplifier and the sample.more » This enables reconstruction of the sample's symmetry, despite the sample scattering itself being well below the intensity of background scattering. Thus, coherent amplification is used to generate a strong scattering term (well above background), from which sample scattering is inferred. We validate this method using lithographically defined test samples.« less

[Detection of Cryptospordium spp. in environmental water samples by FTA-PCR].

PubMed

Zhang, Xiao-Ping; Zhu, Qian; He, Yan-Yan; Jiang, Li; Jiang, Shou-Fu

2011-02-01

To establish a FTA-polymeras chain reaction (FTA-PCR) method in detection of Cryptospordium spp. in different sources of water. The semi automated immunomagnetic separation (IMS) of Cryptospordium oocysts in environmental water samples was performed firstly, and then genomic DNA of Cryptospordium oocysts was extracted by FTA filters disk. Oligonucleotide primers were designed based on the DNA fragment of the 18 S rRNA gene from C. parvum. Plate DNA was amplified with primers in PCR. The control DNA samples from Toxoplasma gondii,Sarcocystis suihominis, Echinococcus granulosus, and Clonorchis sinensis were amplified simultaneously. All PCR products were detected by agar electrophoresis dyed with ethidium bromide. The 446 bp fragment of DNA was detected in all samples of C. parvum, C. andersoni, and C. baileyi, while it was not detected in control groups in laboratory. No positive samples were found from 10 samples collected from tape water in 5 districts of Shanghai City by FTA-PCR. Nine positive samples were detected totally from 70 different environmental water samples, there were 0 out of 15 samples from the source of tape water, 2 out of 25 from the Huangpu River, 5 out of 15 from rivers around the animal farmers, 1 out of 9 from output water of contaminating water treatment factory, 1 out of 6 from the out gate of living contaminating water. The 446 bp fragment was detected from all the amplified positive water samples. FTA-PCR is an efficient method for gene detection of Cryptospordium oocysts, which could be used in detection of environmental water samples. The contamination degree of Cryptospordium oocysts in the river water around animal farms is high.

Analog CMOS design for optical coherence tomography signal detection and processing.

PubMed

Xu, Wei; Mathine, David L; Barton, Jennifer K

2008-02-01

A CMOS circuit was designed and fabricated for optical coherence tomography (OCT) signal detection and processing. The circuit includes a photoreceiver, differential gain stage and lock-in amplifier based demodulator. The photoreceiver consists of a CMOS photodetector and low noise differential transimpedance amplifier which converts the optical interference signal into a voltage. The differential gain stage further amplifies the signal. The in-phase and quadrature channels of the lock-in amplifier each include an analog mixer and switched-capacitor low-pass filter with an external mixer reference signal. The interferogram envelope and phase can be extracted with this configuration, enabling Doppler OCT measurements. A sensitivity of -80 dB is achieved with faithful reproduction of the interferometric signal envelope. A sample image of finger tip is presented.

High-Power, High-Efficiency Ka-Band Space Traveling-Wave Tube

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krawczyk, Richard; Wilson, Jeffrey; Simons, Rainee; Williams, Wallace; Bhasin, Kul; Robbins, Neal; Dibb, Daniel; Menninger, William; Zhai, Xiaoling; Benton, Robert;

An efficient and reliable DNA-based sex identification method for archaeological Pacific salmonid (Oncorhynchus spp.) remains.

PubMed

Royle, Thomas C A; Sakhrani, Dionne; Speller, Camilla F; Butler, Virginia L; Devlin, Robert H; Cannon, Aubrey; Yang, Dongya Y

2018-01-01

Pacific salmonid (Oncorhynchus spp.) remains are routinely recovered from archaeological sites in northwestern North America but typically lack sexually dimorphic features, precluding the sex identification of these remains through morphological approaches. Consequently, little is known about the deep history of the sex-selective salmonid fishing strategies practiced by some of the region's Indigenous peoples. Here, we present a DNA-based method for the sex identification of archaeological Pacific salmonid remains that integrates two PCR assays that each co-amplify fragments of the sexually dimorphic on the Y chromosome (sdY) gene and an internal positive control (Clock1a or D-loop). The first assay co-amplifies a 95 bp fragment of sdY and a 108 bp fragment of the autosomal Clock1a gene, whereas the second assay co-amplifies the same sdY fragment and a 249 bp fragment of the mitochondrial D-loop region. This method's reliability, sensitivity, and efficiency, were evaluated by applying it to 72 modern Pacific salmonids from five species and 75 archaeological remains from six Pacific salmonids. The sex identities assigned to each of the modern samples were concordant with their known phenotypic sex, highlighting the method's reliability. Applications of the method to dilutions of modern DNA samples indicate it can correctly identify the sex of samples with as little as ~39 pg of total genomic DNA. The successful sex identification of 70 of the 75 (93%) archaeological samples further demonstrates the method's sensitivity. The method's reliance on two co-amplifications that preferentially amplify sdY helps validate the sex identities assigned to samples and reduce erroneous identifications caused by allelic dropout and contamination. Furthermore, by sequencing the D-loop fragment used as a positive control, species-level and sex identifications can be simultaneously assigned to samples. Overall, our results indicate the DNA-based method reported in this study is a sensitive and reliable sex identification method for ancient salmonid remains.

NBIT Program Phase I (2007-2010). Part 1, Chapters 1 Through 4

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-08-27

2 schematically shows the sample prepared before hydrothermal synthesis . The thin layer of Zn was convered to ZnO nanowires during hydrothermal ... Nanoparticle -Based Magnetically Amplified Surface Plasmon Resonance (Mag-SPR) Techniques; Jinwoo Cheon (Yonsei University, Korea) and A. Paul...Ion; Chapter 3 ? Ultra-Sensitive Biological Detection via Nanoparticle -Based Magnetically Amplified Surface Plasmon Resonance (Mag-SPR) Techniques

Genetic diversity study of Chromobacterium violaceum isolated from Kolli Hills by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD).

PubMed

Ponnusamy, K; Jose, S; Savarimuthu, I; Michael, G P; Redenbach, M

2011-09-01

Chromobacterium are saprophytes that cause highly fatal opportunistic infections. Identification and strain differentiation were performed to identify the strain variability among the environmental samples. We have evaluated the suitability of individual and combined methods to detect the strain variations of the samples collected in different seasons. Amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles were obtained using four different restriction enzyme digestions (AluI, HaeIII, MspI and RsaI) and five random primers. A matrix of dice similarity coefficients was calculated and used to compare these restriction patterns. ARDRA showed rapid differentiation of strains based on 16S rDNA, but the combined RAPD and ARDRA gave a more reliable differentiation than when either of them was analysed individually. A high level of genetic diversity was observed, which indicates that the Kolli Hills' C. violaceum isolates would fall into at least three new clusters. Results showed a noteworthy bacterial variation and genetic diversity of C. violaceum in the unexplored, virgin forest area. © 2011 The Authors. Letters in Applied Microbiology © 2011 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

Development and Validation of a Fluorescent Multiplexed Immunoassay for Measurement of Transgenic Proteins in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum).

PubMed

Yeaman, Grant R; Paul, Sudakshina; Nahirna, Iryna; Wang, Yongcheng; Deffenbaugh, Andrew E; Liu, Zi Lucy; Glenn, Kevin C

2016-06-22

In order to provide farmers with better and more customized alternatives to improve yields, combining multiple genetically modified (GM) traits into a single product (called stacked trait crops) is becoming prevalent. Trait protein expression levels are used to characterize new GM products and establish exposure limits, two important components of safety assessment. Developing a multiplexed immunoassay capable of measuring all trait proteins in the same sample allows for higher sample throughput and savings in both time and expense. Fluorescent (bead-based) multiplexed immunoassays (FMI) have gained wide acceptance in mammalian research and in clinical applications. In order to facilitate the measurement of stacked GM traits, we have developed and validated an FMI assay that can measure five different proteins (β-glucuronidase, neomycin phosphotransferase II, Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab2, and CP4 5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthase) present in cotton leaf from a stacked trait product. Expression levels of the five proteins determined by FMI in cotton leaf tissues have been evaluated relative to expression levels determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) of the individual proteins and shown to be comparable. The FMI met characterization requirements similar to those used for ELISA. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that FMI results are equivalent to those determined by conventional individual ELISAs to measure GM protein expression levels in stacked trait products but with significantly higher throughput, reduced time, and more efficient use of resources.

Evaluation of nitrous oxide as a substitute for sulfur hexafluoride to reduce global warming impacts of ANSI/HPS N13.1 gaseous uniformity testing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Xiao-Ying; Barnett, J. Matthew; Amidan, Brett G.; Recknagle, Kurtis P.; Flaherty, Julia E.; Antonio, Ernest J.; Glissmeyer, John A.

2018-03-01

The ANSI/HPS N13.1-2011 standard requires gaseous tracer uniformity testing for sampling associated with stacks used in radioactive air emissions. Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), a greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential, has long been the gas tracer used in such testing. To reduce the impact of gas tracer tests on the environment, nitrous oxide (N2O) was evaluated as a potential replacement to SF6. The physical evaluation included the development of a test plan to record percent coefficient of variance and the percent maximum deviation between the two gases while considering variables such as fan configuration, injection position, and flow rate. Statistical power was calculated to determine how many sample sets were needed, and computational fluid dynamic modeling was utilized to estimate overall mixing in stacks. Results show there are no significant differences between the behaviors of the two gases, and SF6 modeling corroborated N2O test results. Although, in principle, all tracer gases should behave in an identical manner for measuring mixing within a stack, the series of physical tests guided by statistics was performed to demonstrate the equivalence of N2O testing to SF6 testing in the context of stack qualification tests. The results demonstrate that N2O is a viable choice leading to a four times reduction in global warming impacts for future similar compliance driven testing.

Evaluation of different sources of DNA for use in genome wide studies and forensic application.

PubMed

Al Safar, Habiba S; Abidi, Fatima H; Khazanehdari, Kamal A; Dadour, Ian R; Tay, Guan K

2011-02-01

In the field of epidemiology, Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) are commonly used to identify genetic predispositions of many human diseases. Large repositories housing biological specimens for clinical and genetic investigations have been established to store material and data for these studies. The logistics of specimen collection and sample storage can be onerous, and new strategies have to be explored. This study examines three different DNA sources (namely, degraded genomic DNA, amplified degraded genomic DNA and amplified extracted DNA from FTA card) for GWAS using the Illumina platform. No significant difference in call rate was detected between amplified degraded genomic DNA extracted from whole blood and amplified DNA retrieved from FTA™ cards. However, using unamplified-degraded genomic DNA reduced the call rate to a mean of 42.6% compared to amplified DNA extracted from FTA card (mean of 96.6%). This study establishes the utility of FTA™ cards as a viable storage matrix for cells from which DNA can be extracted to perform GWAS analysis.

Sampling and data handling methods for inhalable particulate sampling. Final report nov 78-dec 80

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Smith, W.B.; Cushing, K.M.; Johnson, J.W.

1982-05-01

The report reviews the objectives of a research program on sampling and measuring particles in the inhalable particulate (IP) size range in emissions from stationary sources, and describes methods and equipment required. A computer technique was developed to analyze data on particle-size distributions of samples taken with cascade impactors from industrial process streams. Research in sampling systems for IP matter included concepts for maintaining isokinetic sampling conditions, necessary for representative sampling of the larger particles, while flowrates in the particle-sizing device were constant. Laboratory studies were conducted to develop suitable IP sampling systems with overall cut diameters of 15 micrometersmore » and conforming to a specified collection efficiency curve. Collection efficiencies were similarly measured for a horizontal elutriator. Design parameters were calculated for horizontal elutriators to be used with impactors, the EPA SASS train, and the EPA FAS train. Two cyclone systems were designed and evaluated. Tests on an Andersen Size Selective Inlet, a 15-micrometer precollector for high-volume samplers, showed its performance to be with the proposed limits for IP samplers. A stack sampling system was designed in which the aerosol is diluted in flow patterns and with mixing times simulating those in stack plumes.« less

A 9-Bit 50 MSPS Quadrature Parallel Pipeline ADC for Communication Receiver Application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roy, Sounak; Banerjee, Swapna

2018-03-01

This paper presents the design and implementation of a pipeline Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for superheterodyne receiver application. Several enhancement techniques have been applied in implementing the ADC, in order to relax the target specifications of its building blocks. The concepts of time interleaving and double sampling have been used simultaneously to enhance the sampling speed and to reduce the number of amplifiers used in the ADC. Removal of a front end sample-and-hold amplifier is possible by employing dynamic comparators with switched capacitor based comparison of input signal and reference voltage. Each module of the ADC comprises two 2.5-bit stages followed by two 1.5-bit stages and a 3-bit flash stage. Four such pipeline ADC modules are time interleaved using two pairs of non-overlapping clock signals. These two pairs of clock signals are in phase quadrature with each other. Hence the term quadrature parallel pipeline ADC has been used. These configurations ensure that the entire ADC contains only eight operational-trans-conductance amplifiers. The ADC is implemented in a 0.18-μm CMOS process and supply voltage of 1.8 V. The proto-type is tested at sampling frequencies of 50 and 75 MSPS producing an Effective Number of Bits (ENOB) of 6.86- and 6.11-bits respectively. At peak sampling speed, the core ADC consumes only 65 mW of power.

A 9-Bit 50 MSPS Quadrature Parallel Pipeline ADC for Communication Receiver Application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roy, Sounak; Banerjee, Swapna

2018-06-01

This paper presents the design and implementation of a pipeline Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for superheterodyne receiver application. Several enhancement techniques have been applied in implementing the ADC, in order to relax the target specifications of its building blocks. The concepts of time interleaving and double sampling have been used simultaneously to enhance the sampling speed and to reduce the number of amplifiers used in the ADC. Removal of a front end sample-and-hold amplifier is possible by employing dynamic comparators with switched capacitor based comparison of input signal and reference voltage. Each module of the ADC comprises two 2.5-bit stages followed by two 1.5-bit stages and a 3-bit flash stage. Four such pipeline ADC modules are time interleaved using two pairs of non-overlapping clock signals. These two pairs of clock signals are in phase quadrature with each other. Hence the term quadrature parallel pipeline ADC has been used. These configurations ensure that the entire ADC contains only eight operational-trans-conductance amplifiers. The ADC is implemented in a 0.18-μm CMOS process and supply voltage of 1.8 V. The proto-type is tested at sampling frequencies of 50 and 75 MSPS producing an Effective Number of Bits (ENOB) of 6.86- and 6.11-bits respectively. At peak sampling speed, the core ADC consumes only 65 mW of power.

Development of a real-time PCR to detect Demodex canis DNA in different tissue samples.

PubMed

Ravera, Ivan; Altet, Laura; Francino, Olga; Bardagí, Mar; Sánchez, Armand; Ferrer, Lluís

2011-02-01

The present study reports the development of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect Demodex canis DNA on different tissue samples. The technique amplifies a 166 bp of D. canis chitin synthase gene (AB 080667) and it has been successfully tested on hairs extracted with their roots and on formalin-fixed paraffin embedded skin biopsies. The real-time PCR amplified on the hairs of all 14 dogs with a firm diagnosis of demodicosis and consistently failed to amplify on negative controls. Eleven of 12 skin biopsies with a morphologic diagnosis of canine demodicosis were also positive. Sampling hairs on two skin points (lateral face and interdigital skin), D. canis DNA was detected on nine of 51 healthy dogs (17.6%) a much higher percentage than previously reported with microscopic studies. Furthermore, it is foreseen that if the number of samples were increased, the percentage of positive dogs would probably also grow. Moreover, in four of the six dogs with demodicosis, the samples taken from non-lesioned skin were positive. This finding, if confirmed in further studies, suggests that demodicosis is a generalized phenomenon in canine skin, due to proliferation of local mite populations, even though macroscopic lesions only appear in certain areas. The real-time PCR technique to detect D. canis DNA described in this work is a useful tool to advance our understanding of canine demodicosis.

Simultaneous chiral separation of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphet- amine, 3-4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyethylam- phetamine, ephedrine, amphetamine and methamphetamine by capillary electrophoresis in uncoated and coated capillaries with native beta-cyclodextrin as the chiral selector: preliminary application to the analysis of urine and hair.

PubMed

Tagliaro, F; Manetto, G; Bellini, S; Scarcella, D; Smith, F P; Marigo, M

1998-01-01

The importance of the chiral analysis of amphetamine-related substances in both clandestine preparations and biological samples is widely recognized. For this purpose, capillary electrophoresis was successfully applied by several authors, but only few reports concerned ring-substituted amphetamines, which represent the main components of "ecstasy", a widely abused "recreational" substance. In the present work, the simultaneous chiral analysis of ephedrine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3-4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) and 3,4-methalenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDE) is reported, by using capillary electrophoresis with native beta-cyclodextrin (15 mM) as the chiral selector. After preliminary tests at different pH values (phosphate buffer 100 mM, pH 2.5-9.0) and with bare or coated fused-silica capillaries, the optimized conditions were: pH 2.5 phosphate, uncoated capillary (45 cm x 50 microm inner diameter), potential 10 kV. Detection was either by fixed wavelength (200 nm) or multiwavelength (190-400 nm) UV absorbance. Under these conditions, good resolution was obtained for all the analytes, with excellent chiral selectivity and efficiency. The sensitivity for the individual enantiomers was better than 0.2 microg/mL, analytical precision was characterized by relative standard deviation values < 0.8% (< or = 0.15% with internal standardization) for migration times intra-day and < 2.0% (< or = 0.54% with internal standardization) day-to-day; linearity, in the range 0.156-40 microg/mL, and accuracy were also satisfactory. After a simple liquid-liquid extraction, urine samples could be analyzed with a sensitivity well below the recommended NIDA cut-off of 500 ng/mL. For hair samples, it was necessary to increase the sensitivity by applying a field-amplified sample stacking procedure, which allowed the chiral determination of MDA, MDMA and MDE at concentrations occurring in real samples from ecstasy users, with the possibility of recording UV spectra of the peaks.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kornberg, H.A.; Cline, J.F.

Twenty-four sputum samples were taken from persons working in the vicinity of separation stacks from which radioactive particles are discharged. No evidence of specs'' were sound by radioautography of the sputum plates. Six samples were reset for longer exposure times in an attempt to detect particles of very low activity. Negative results were obtained. 1 tab.

RECOMMENDED OPERATING PROCEDURE NO. 51: GLASS SOURCE ASSESSMENT SAMPLING SYSTEM (GLASS SASS)

EPA Science Inventory

The report is a recommended operating procedure (ROP), prepared for use in research activities conducted by EPA's Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory (AEERL). he method described is applicable to the stack sampling of flue gas from a rotary kiln and to associated equip...

Process test plan, phase II: waste retrieval sluicing system emissions collection

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

POWERS, R.L.

1999-06-01

This Process Test Plan is prepared to continue from HNF-3733 which was Phase I of the test. Supplemental operational controls and sampling requirements are defined to safely obtain gas samples from the 296-C-006 ventilation system stack during active operation of the sluicing equipment.

40 CFR 63.457 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... port locations and gas stream properties. For purposes of selecting vent sampling port locations and... sampling line into the stack and secure it with the tip slightly lower than the port height. Start the pump... ketone, and propionaldehyde mass flow rates (kg/Mg ODP) entering the biological treatment system...

40 CFR 63.457 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... port locations and gas stream properties. For purposes of selecting vent sampling port locations and... sampling line into the stack and secure it with the tip slightly lower than the port height. Start the pump... ketone, and propionaldehyde mass flow rates (kg/Mg ODP) entering the biological treatment system...

Schrodinger's scat: a critical review of the currently available tiger (Panthera Tigris) and leopard (Panthera pardus) specific primers in India, and a novel leopard specific primer.

PubMed

Maroju, Pranay Amruth; Yadav, Sonu; Kolipakam, Vishnupriya; Singh, Shweta; Qureshi, Qamar; Jhala, Yadvendradev

2016-02-09

Non-invasive sampling has opened avenues for the genetic study of elusive species, which has contributed significantly to their conservation. Where field based identity of non-invasive sample is ambiguous (e.g. carnivore scats), it is essential to establish identity of the species through molecular approaches. A cost effective procedure to ascertain species identity is to use species specific primers (SSP) for PCR amplification and subsequent resolution through agarose gel electrophoresis. However, SSPs if ill designed can often cross amplify non-target sympatric species. Herein we report the problem of cross amplification with currently published SSPs, which have been used in several recent scientific articles on tigers (Panthera tigris) and leopards (Panthera pardus) in India. Since these papers form pioneering research on which future work will be based, an early rectification is required so as to not propagate this error further. We conclusively show cross amplification of three of the four SSPs, in sympatric non-target species like tiger SSP amplifying leopard and striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), and leopard SSP amplifying tiger, lion (Panthera leo persica) and clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), with the same product size. We develop and test a non-cross-amplifying leopard specific primer pair within the mitochondrial cytochrome b region. We also standardize a duplex PCR method to screen tiger and leopard samples simultaneously in one PCR reaction to reduce cost and time. These findings suggest the importance of an often overlooked preliminary protocol of conclusive identification of species from non-invasive samples. The cross amplification of published primers in conspecifics suggests the need to revisit inferences drawn by earlier work.

Clinical Evaluation of the Gen-Probe Amplified Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Direct Test for Rapid Diagnosis of Tuberculosis Lymphadenitis

PubMed Central

Kerleguer, A.; Fabre, M.; Bernatas, J. J.; Gerome, P.; Nicand, E.; Herve, V.; Koeck, J. L.

2004-01-01

This prospective study evaluated the performance of the Amplified Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Direct Test (MTD) for the diagnosis of lymph node tuberculosis in Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti. Of 197 specimens sampled from 153 patients, 123 were from 95 tuberculous patients. The sensitivity and specificity of MTD were 93 and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity of culture was 89%. PMID:15583341

Reconstruction of vessel structures from serial whole slide sections of murine liver samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schwier, Michael; Hahn, Horst K.; Dahmen, Uta; Dirsch, Olaf

2013-03-01

Image-based analysis of the vascular structures of murine liver samples is an important tool for scientists to understand liver physiology and morphology. Typical assessment methods are MicroCT, which allows for acquiring images of the whole organ while lacking resolution for fine details, and confocal laser scanning microscopy, which allows detailed insights into fine structures while lacking the broader context. Imaging of histological serial whole slide sections is a recent technology able to fill this gap, since it provides a fine resolution up to the cellular level, but on a whole organ scale. However, whole slide imaging is a modality providing only 2D images. Therefore the challenge is to use stacks of serial sections from which to reconstruct the 3D vessel structures. In this paper we present a semi-automatic procedure to achieve this goal. We employ an automatic method that detects vessel structures based on continuity and shape characteristics. Furthermore it supports the user to perform manual corrections where required. With our methods we were able to successfully extract and reconstruct vessel structures from a stack of 100 and a stack of 397 serial sections of a mouse liver lobe, thus proving the potential of our approach.

Reducing the layer number of AB stacked multilayer graphene grown on nickel by annealing at low temperature.

PubMed

Velasco, J Marquez; Giamini, S A; Kelaidis, N; Tsipas, P; Tsoutsou, D; Kordas, G; Raptis, Y S; Boukos, N; Dimoulas, A

2015-10-09

Controlling the number of layers of graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition is crucial for large scale graphene application. We propose here an etching process of graphene which can be applied immediately after growth to control the number of layers. We use nickel (Ni) foil at high temperature (T = 900 °C) to produce multilayer-AB-stacked-graphene (MLG). The etching process is based on annealing the samples in a hydrogen/argon atmosphere at a relatively low temperature (T = 450 °C) inside the growth chamber. The extent of etching is mainly controlled by the annealing process duration. Using Raman spectroscopy we demonstrate that the number of layers was reduced, changing from MLG to few-layer-AB-stacked-graphene and in some cases to randomly oriented few layer graphene near the substrate. Furthermore, our method offers the significant advantage that it does not introduce defects in the samples, maintaining their original high quality. This fact and the low temperature our method uses make it a good candidate for controlling the layer number of already grown graphene in processes with a low thermal budget.

Effect of Na presence during CuInSe{sub 2} growth on stacking fault annihilation and electronic properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stange, H., E-mail: helena.stange@helmholtz-berlin.de; Brunken, S.; Hempel, H.

While presence of Na is essential for the performance of high-efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se{sub 2} thin film solar cells, the reasons why addition of Na by post-deposition treatment is superior to pre-deposition Na supply—particularly at low growth temperatures—are not yet fully understood. Here, we show by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy that Na impedes annihilation of stacking faults during the Cu-poor/Cu-rich transition of low temperature 3-stage co-evaporation and prevents Cu homogeneity on a microscopic level. Lower charge carrier mobilities are found by optical pump terahertz probe spectroscopy for samples with remaining high stacking fault density, indicating a detrimental effect on electronic propertiesmore » if Na is present during growth.« less

Contemporary sample stacking in analytical electrophoresis.

PubMed

Malá, Zdena; Gebauer, Petr; Boček, Petr

2011-01-01

Sample stacking is of vital importance for analytical CE since it may bring the required sensitivity of analyses. A lot of new relevant papers are published every year and regular surveys seem to be very helpful for experts and practitioners. The contribution presented here is a continuation of a series of regularly published reviews on the topic and covers the last two years. It brings a survey of related literature organized, in accord with the main principle used in the procedure published, in the following mainstream sections: Kohlrausch adjustment of concentrations, pH step, micellar systems and combined techniques. Each part covers literature sorted according to the field of application as, e.g. clinical, pharmaceutical, food, environmental, etc. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Research and development of a field-ready protocol for sampling of phosgene from stationary source emissions: Diethylamine reagent studies. Research report, 11 July 1995--30 September 1996

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Steger, J.L.; Bursey, J.T.; Merrill, R.G.

1999-03-01

This report presents the results of laboratory studies to develop and evaluate a method for the sampling and analysis of phosgene from stationary sources of air emissions using diethylamine (DEA) in toluene as the collection media. The method extracts stack gas from emission sources and stabilizes the reactive gas for subsequent analysis. DEA was evaluated both in a benchtop study and in a laboratory train spiking study. This report includes results for both the benchtop study and the train spiking study. Benchtop studies to evaluate the suitability of DEA for collecting and analyzing phosgene investigated five variables: storage time, DEAmore » concentration, moisture/pH, phosgene concentration, and sample storage temperature. Prototype sampling train studies were performed to determine if the benchtop chemical studies were transferable to a Modified Method 5 sampling train collecting phosgene in the presence of clean air mixed with typical stack gas components. Four conditions, which varied the moisture and phosgene spike were evaluated in triplicate. In addition to research results, the report includes a detailed draft method for sampling and analysis of phosgene from stationary source emissions.« less

55-mW, 1.2-V, 12-bit, 100-MSPS Pipeline ADCs for Wireless Receivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ito, Tomohiko; Kurose, Daisuke; Ueno, Takeshi; Yamaji, Takafumi; Itakura, Tetsuro

For wireless receivers, low-power 1.2-V 12-bit 100-MSPS pipeline ADCs are fabricated in 90-nm CMOS technology. To achieve low-power dissipation at 1.2V without the degradation of SNR, the configuration of 2.5bit/stage is employed with an I/Q amplifier sharing technique. Furthermore, single-stage pseudo-differential amplifiers are used in a Sample-and-Hold (S/H) circuit and a 1st Multiplying Digital-to-Analog Converter (MDAC). The pseudo-differential amplifier with two-gain-stage transimpedance gain-boosting amplifiers realizes high DC gain of more than 90dB with low power. The measured SNR of the 100-MSPS ADC is 66.7dB at 1.2-V supply. Under that condition, each ADC dissipates only 55mW.

Simple and portable low frequency lock-in amplifier designed for photoacoustic measurements and its application to thermal effusivity determination in liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ortega-Robles, Emmanuel; Cruz-Orea, Alfredo; Elías-Viñas, David

2018-03-01

The lock-in amplifier is a very useful instrument for observing very small signals under adverse signal-to-noise conditions. In this work, we describe a simple and portable lock-in amplifier designed to be used in photoacoustic measurements. The device was used to measure the thermal effusivity of eight different liquid samples (distilled water, glycerol, acetone, ethanol, 2-propanol, chloroform, hexane, and methanol), as well as the effusivity of acetone in aqueous solution at distinct concentrations, giving good results. The instrument has a bandwidth of 10 Hz-10 kHz and a sensitivity of 1 μV.

Analysis of cytokinin nucleotides in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) water using capillary zone electrophoresis-tandem mass spectrometry after solid-phase extraction.

PubMed

Ge, Liya; Yong, Jean Wan Hong; Tan, Swee Ngin; Yang, Xin Hao; Ong, Eng Shi

2006-11-10

A method based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) and capillary zone electrophoresis-tandem mass spectrometry (CZE-MS/MS) is described for the separation and determination of six cytokinin nucleotides in coconut water. The best CZE separation for the six cytokinin nucleotide standards was achieved using a 25 mM ammonium formate/formic acid buffer (pH 3.8) and 2% (v/v) methanol with an applied gradient separation voltage (25 kV for 32 min, and then a linear gradient to 30 kV in 5 min, finally 30 kV to the end of separation) in less than 60 min. MS/MS with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) detection was carried out to obtain sufficient selectivity and sensitivity for the cytokinin nucleotides. The combined use of on-line sample stacking and CZE-MS/MS achieved limits of detection (LODs) in the range of 0.06-0.19 microM for the six cytokinin nucleotides at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Furthermore, a novel dual-step SPE procedure was developed for the pre-concentration and purification of cytokinin nucleotides using Oasis HLB and Oasis MAX cartridges. The recoveries of the cytokinin nucleotides after the dual-step SPE were in the range of 44-71%. The combination of off-line SPE, on-line sample stacking and CZE-MS/MS approach was successfully applied to screen for endogenous cytokinin nucleotides present in coconut water sample. trans-Zeatin riboside-5'-monophosphate (ZMP) was detected and quantified in coconut water by CZE-MS/MS after SPE and on-line sample stacking.

Multiplex picoliter-droplet digital PCR for quantitative assessment of DNA integrity in clinical samples.

PubMed

Didelot, Audrey; Kotsopoulos, Steve K; Lupo, Audrey; Pekin, Deniz; Li, Xinyu; Atochin, Ivan; Srinivasan, Preethi; Zhong, Qun; Olson, Jeff; Link, Darren R; Laurent-Puig, Pierre; Blons, Hélène; Hutchison, J Brian; Taly, Valerie

2013-05-01

Assessment of DNA integrity and quantity remains a bottleneck for high-throughput molecular genotyping technologies, including next-generation sequencing. In particular, DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded tissues, a major potential source of tumor DNA, varies widely in quality, leading to unpredictable sequencing data. We describe a picoliter droplet-based digital PCR method that enables simultaneous detection of DNA integrity and the quantity of amplifiable DNA. Using a multiplex assay, we detected 4 different target lengths (78, 159, 197, and 550 bp). Assays were validated with human genomic DNA fragmented to sizes of 170 bp to 3000 bp. The technique was validated with DNA quantities as low as 1 ng. We evaluated 12 DNA samples extracted from paraffin-embedded lung adenocarcinoma tissues. One sample contained no amplifiable DNA. The fractions of amplifiable DNA for the 11 other samples were between 0.05% and 10.1% for 78-bp fragments and ≤1% for longer fragments. Four samples were chosen for enrichment and next-generation sequencing. The quality of the sequencing data was in agreement with the results of the DNA-integrity test. Specifically, DNA with low integrity yielded sequencing results with lower levels of coverage and uniformity and had higher levels of false-positive variants. The development of DNA-quality assays will enable researchers to downselect samples or process more DNA to achieve reliable genome sequencing with the highest possible efficiency of cost and effort, as well as minimize the waste of precious samples. © 2013 American Association for Clinical Chemistry.

A fosmid cloning strategy for detecting the widest possible spectrum of microbes from the international space station drinking water system.

PubMed

Choi, Sangdun; Chang, Mi Sook; Stuecker, Tara; Chung, Christine; Newcombe, David A; Venkateswaran, Kasthuri

2012-12-01

In this study, fosmid cloning strategies were used to assess the microbial populations in water from the International Space Station (ISS) drinking water system (henceforth referred to as Prebiocide and Tank A water samples). The goals of this study were: to compare the sensitivity of the fosmid cloning strategy with that of traditional culture-based and 16S rRNA-based approaches and to detect the widest possible spectrum of microbial populations during the water purification process. Initially, microbes could not be cultivated, and conventional PCR failed to amplify 16S rDNA fragments from these low biomass samples. Therefore, randomly primed rolling-circle amplification was used to amplify any DNA that might be present in the samples, followed by size selection by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The amplified high-molecular-weight DNA from both samples was cloned into fosmid vectors. Several hundred clones were randomly selected for sequencing, followed by Blastn/Blastx searches. Sequences encoding specific genes from Burkholderia, a species abundant in the soil and groundwater, were found in both samples. Bradyrhizobium and Mesorhizobium, which belong to rhizobia, a large community of nitrogen fixers often found in association with plant roots, were present in the Prebiocide samples. Ralstonia, which is prevalent in soils with a high heavy metal content, was detected in the Tank A samples. The detection of many unidentified sequences suggests the presence of potentially novel microbial fingerprints. The bacterial diversity detected in this pilot study using a fosmid vector approach was higher than that detected by conventional 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Size-amplified acoustofluidic separation of circulating tumor cells with removable microbeads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Huiqin; Ao, Zheng; Cai, Bo; Shu, Xi; Chen, Keke; Rao, Lang; Luo, Changliang; Wang, Fu-Bin; Liu, Wei; Bondesson, Maria; Guo, Shishang; Guo, Feng

2018-06-01

Isolation and analysis of rare circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is of great interest in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment efficacy evaluation. Acoustofluidic cell separation becomes an attractive method due to its contactless, noninvasive, simple, and versatile features. However, the indistinctive physical difference between CTCs and normal blood cells limits the purity of CTCs using current acoustic methods. Herein, we demonstrate a size-amplified acoustic separation and release of CTCs with removable microbeads. CTCs selectively bound to size-amplifiers (40 μm-diameter anti-EpCAM/gelatin-coated SiO2 microbeads) have significant physical differences (size and mechanics) compared to normal blood cells, resulting in an amplification of acoustic radiation force approximately a hundredfold over that of bare CTCs or normal blood cells. Therefore, CTCs can be efficiently sorted out with size-amplifiers in a traveling surface acoustic wave microfluidic device and released from size-amplifiers by enzymatic degradation for further purification or downstream analysis. We demonstrate a cell separation from blood samples with a total efficiency (E total) of ∼ 77%, purity (P) of ∼ 96%, and viability (V) of ∼83% after releasing cells from size-amplifiers. Our method substantially improves the emerging application of rare cell purification for translational medicine.

Recent Developments in MC-ICP-MS for Uranium Isotopic Determination from Small Samples.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Field, P.; Lloyd, N. S.

2016-12-01

V002: Advances in approaches and instruments for isotope studies Session ID#: 12653 Recent Developments in MC-ICP-MS for Uranium Isotopic Determination from small samples.M. Paul Field 1 & Nicholas S. Lloyd. 1 Elemental Scientific Inc., Omaha, Nebraska, USA. field@icpms.com 2 Thermo Fisher Scientific, Hanna-Kunath-Str. 11, 28199 Bremen, Germany. nicholas.lloyd@thermofisher.com Uranium isotope ratio determination for nuclear, nuclear safeguards and for environmental applications can be challenging due to, 1) the large isotopic differences between samples and 2) low abundance of 234U and 236U. For some applications the total uranium quantities can be limited, or it is desirable to run at lower concentrations for radiological protection. Recent developments in inlet systems and detector technologies allow small samples to be analyzed at higher precisions using MC-ICP-MS. Here we evaluate the combination of Elemental Scientific apex omega desolvation system and microFAST-MC dual loop-loading flow-injection system with the Thermo Scientific NEPTUNE Plus MC-ICP-MS. The inlet systems allow for the automated syringe loading and injecting handling of small sample volumes with efficient desolvation to minimize the hydride interference on 236U. The highest ICP ion sampling efficiency is realized using the Thermo Scientific Jet Interface. Thermo Scientific 1013 ohm amplifier technology allows small ion beams to be measured at higher precision, offering the highest signal/noise ratio with a linear and stable response that covers a wide dynamic range (ca. 1 kcps - 30 Mcps). For nanogram quantities of low enriched and depleted uranium standards the 235U was measured with 1013 ohm amplifier technology. The minor isotopes (234U and 236U) were measured by SEM ion counters with RPQ lens filters, which offer the lowest detection limits. For sample amounts ca. 20 ng the minor isotopes can be moved onto 1013 ohm amplifiers and the 235U onto standard 1011 ohm amplifier. To illustrate the application a set of solutions from environmental particles [1] were analyzed, the use of precise three isotope ratio plots allows for source attribution with increased confidence. [1] Lloyd et al. 2009, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 24(6), 752-758.

Transformation diffusion reconstruction of three-dimensional histology volumes from two-dimensional image stacks.

PubMed

Casero, Ramón; Siedlecka, Urszula; Jones, Elizabeth S; Gruscheski, Lena; Gibb, Matthew; Schneider, Jürgen E; Kohl, Peter; Grau, Vicente

2017-05-01

Traditional histology is the gold standard for tissue studies, but it is intrinsically reliant on two-dimensional (2D) images. Study of volumetric tissue samples such as whole hearts produces a stack of misaligned and distorted 2D images that need to be reconstructed to recover a congruent volume with the original sample's shape. In this paper, we develop a mathematical framework called Transformation Diffusion (TD) for stack alignment refinement as a solution to the heat diffusion equation. This general framework does not require contour segmentation, is independent of the registration method used, and is trivially parallelizable. After the first stack sweep, we also replace registration operations by operations in the space of transformations, several orders of magnitude faster and less memory-consuming. Implementing TD with operations in the space of transformations produces our Transformation Diffusion Reconstruction (TDR) algorithm, applicable to general transformations that are closed under inversion and composition. In particular, we provide formulas for translation and affine transformations. We also propose an Approximated TDR (ATDR) algorithm that extends the same principles to tensor-product B-spline transformations. Using TDR and ATDR, we reconstruct a full mouse heart at pixel size 0.92µm×0.92µm, cut 10µm thick, spaced 20µm (84G). Our algorithms employ only local information from transformations between neighboring slices, but the TD framework allows theoretical analysis of the refinement as applying a global Gaussian low-pass filter to the unknown stack misalignments. We also show that reconstruction without an external reference produces large shape artifacts in a cardiac specimen while still optimizing slice-to-slice alignment. To overcome this problem, we use a pre-cutting blockface imaging process previously developed by our group that takes advantage of Brewster's angle and a polarizer to capture the outline of only the topmost layer of wax in the block containing embedded tissue for histological sectioning. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Traceability of Plant Diet Contents in Raw Cow Milk Samples

PubMed Central

Ponzoni, Elena; Mastromauro, Francesco; Gianì, Silvia; Breviario, Diego

2009-01-01

The use of molecular marker in the dairy sector is gaining large acceptance as a reliable diagnostic approach for food authenticity and traceability. Using a PCR approach, the rbcL marker, a chloroplast-based gene, was selected to amplify plant DNA fragments in raw cow milk samples collected from stock farms or bought on the Italian market. rbcL-specific DNA fragments could be found in total milk, as well as in the skimmed and the cream fractions. When the PCR amplified fragments were sent to sequence, the nucleotide composition of the chromatogram reflected the multiple contents of the polyphytic diet. PMID:22253982

The system of high accuracy UV spectral radiation system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Guan-yu; Yu, Lei; Xu, Dian; Cao, Dian-sheng; Yu, Yu-Xiang

2016-10-01

UV spectral radiation detecting and visible observation telescope is designed by the coaxial optical. In order to decrease due to the incident light polarization effect, and improve the detection precision, polarizer need to be used in the light path. Four pieces of quartz of high Precision UV radiation depolarizer retarder stack together is placed in front of Seya namioka dispersion unit. The coherent detection principle of modulation of light signal and the reference signal multiplied processing, increase the phase sensitive detector can be adjustment function, ensure the UV spectral radiation detection stability. A lock-in amplifier is used in the electrical system to advance the accuracy of measurement. To ensure the precision measurement detected, the phase-sensitive detector function can be adjustable. the output value is not more than 10mV before each measurement, so it can be ensured that the stability of the measured radiation spectrum is less than 1 percent.

A design multifunctional plasmonic optical device by micro ring system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pornsuwancharoen, N.; Youplao, P.; Amiri, I. S.; Ali, J.; Yupapin, P.

2018-03-01

A multi-function electronic device based on the plasmonic circuit is designed and simulated by using the micro-ring system. From which a nonlinear micro-ring resonator is employed and the selected electronic devices such as rectifier, amplifier, regulator and filter are investigated. A system consists of a nonlinear micro-ring resonator, which is known as a modified add-drop filter and made of an InGaAsP/InP material. The stacked waveguide of an InGaAsP/InP - graphene -gold/silver is formed as a part of the device, the required output signals are formed by the specific control of input signals via the input and add ports. The material and device aspects are reviewed. The simulation results are obtained using the Opti-wave and MATLAB software programs, all device parameters are based on the fabrication technology capability.

Uranium chemistry in stack solutions and leachates of phosphogypsum disposed at a coastal area in Cyprus.

PubMed

Lysandrou, M; Pashalidis, I

2008-02-01

The effect of the matrix composition (main constituents) on the concentration and chemical behavior of uranium in phosphogypsum stack solutions and leachates has been investigated. Solid and aqueous samples were taken from three different sub-areas of a phosphogypsum stack at a coastal area in Vasilikos (Cyprus). The sub-areas are characterized whether by their acidity (e.g. "aged" and "non-aged" phosphogypsum) or by their salt content, originating from pulping water during wet stacking or (after deposition) from the adjacent sea. Measurements in stack solutions and leachates showed that phosphogypsum characteristics affect both, the concentration and the chemical behavior of uranium in solution. Uranium concentration in solutions of increased salinity is up to three orders of magnitude higher than in solutions of low salinity and this is attributed to the effect of ionic strength on the solubility of phosphogypsum. Modelling showed that uranium in stack solutions is predominantly present in the form of uranium(VI) phosphate complexes (e.g. UO(2)(H(2)PO(4))(2), UO(2)HPO(4)), whereas in leachates uranium(VI) fluoro complexes (e.g. UO(2)F(2), UO(2)F(3)(-)) are predominant in solution. The latter indicates that elution of uranium from phosphogypsum takes places most probably in the form of fluoro complexes. Both, effective elution by saline water and direct migration of uranium to the sea, where it forms very stable uranium(VI) carbonato complexes, indicate that the adjacent sea will be the final receptor of uranium released from Vasilikos phosphogypsum.

Phase noise in RF and microwave amplifiers.

PubMed

Boudot, Rodolphe; Rubiola, Enrico

2012-12-01

Understanding amplifier phase noise is a critical issue in many fields of engineering and physics, such as oscillators, frequency synthesis, telecommunication, radar, and spectroscopy; in the emerging domain of microwave photonics; and in exotic fields, such as radio astronomy, particle accelerators, etc. Focusing on the two main types of base noise in amplifiers, white and flicker, the power spectral density of the random phase φ(t) is Sφ(f) = b(0) + b(-1)/f. White phase noise results from adding white noise to the RF spectrum in the carrier region. For a given RF noise level, b(0) is proportional to the reciprocal of the carrier power P(0). By contrast, flicker results from a near-dc 1/f noise-present in all electronic devices-which modulates the carrier through some parametric effect in the semiconductor. Thus, b(-1) is a parameter of the amplifier, constant in a wide range of P(0). The consequences are the following: Connecting m equal amplifiers in parallel, b(-1) is 1/m times that of one device. Cascading m equal amplifiers, b(-1) is m times that of one amplifier. Recirculating the signal in an amplifier so that the gain increases by a power of m (a factor of m in decibels) as a result of positive feedback (regeneration), we find that b(-1) is m(2) times that of the amplifier alone. The feedforward amplifier exhibits extremely low b(-1) because the carrier is ideally nulled at the input of its internal error amplifier. Starting with an extensive review of the literature, this article introduces a system-oriented model which describes the phase flickering. Several amplifier architectures (cascaded, parallel, etc.) are analyzed systematically, deriving the phase noise from the general model. There follow numerous measurements of amplifiers using different technologies, including some old samples, and in a wide frequency range (HF to microwaves), which validate the theory. In turn, theory and results provide design guidelines and give suggestions for CAD and simulation. To conclude, this article is intended as a tutorial, a review, and a systematic treatise on the subject, supported by extensive experiments.

Pulse-excited, auto-zeroing multiple channel data transmission system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fasching, G. E.

1985-02-01

A multiple channel data transmission system is provided in which signals from a plurality of pulse operated transducers and a corresponding plurality of pulse operated signal processor channels are multiplexed for single channel FM transmission to a receiving station. The transducers and corresponding channel amplifiers are powered by pulsing the dc battery power to these devices to conserve energy and battery size for long-term data transmission from remote or inaccessible locations. Auto zeroing of the signal channel amplifiers to compensate for drift associated with temperature changes, battery decay, component aging, etc., in each channel is accomplished by means of a unique auto zero feature which between signal pulses holds a zero correction voltage on an integrating capacitor coupled to the corresponding channel amplifier output. Pseudo-continuous outputs for each channel are achieved by pulsed sample-and-hold circuits which are updated at the pulsed operation rate. The sample-and-hold outputs are multiplexed into an FM/FM transmitter for transmission to an FM receiver station for demultiplexing and storage in separate channel recorders.

Pulse-excited, auto-zeroing multiple channel data transmission system

DOEpatents

Fasching, G.E.

1985-02-22

A multiple channel data transmission system is provided in which signals from a plurality of pulse operated transducers and a corresponding plurality of pulse operated signal processor channels are multiplexed for single channel FM transmission to a receiving station. The transducers and corresponding channel amplifiers are powered by pulsing the dc battery power to these devices to conserve energy and battery size for long-term data transmission from remote or inaccessible locations. Auto zeroing of the signal channel amplifiers to compensate for drift associated with temperature changes, battery decay, component aging, etc., in each channel is accomplished by means of a unique auto zero feature which between signal pulses holds a zero correction voltage on an integrating capacitor coupled to the corresponding channel amplifier output. Pseudo-continuous outputs for each channel are achieved by pulsed sample-and-hold circuits which are updated at the pulsed operation rate. The sample-and-hold outputs are multiplexed into an FM/FM transmitter for transmission to an FM receiver station for demultiplexing and storage in separate channel recorders.

Pulse-excited, auto-zeroing multiple channel data transmission system

DOEpatents

Fasching, George E.

1987-01-01

A multiple channel data transmission system is provided in which signals from a plurality of pulse operated transducers and a corresponding plurality of pulse operated signal processor channels are multiplexed for single channel FM transmission to a receiving station. The transducers and corresponding channel amplifiers are powered by pulsing the dc battery power to these devices to conserve energy and battery size for long-term data transmission from remote or inaccessible locations. Auto zeroing of the signal channel amplifiers to compensate for drift associated with temperature changes, battery decay, component aging, etc., in each channel is accomplished by means of a unique auto zero feature which between signal pulses holds a zero correction voltage on an integrating capacitor coupled to the corresponding channel amplifier output. Pseudo-continuous outputs for each channel are achieved by pulsed sample-and-hold circuits which are updated at the pulsed operation rate. The sample-and-hold outputs are multiplexed into an FM/FM transmitter for transmission to an FM receiver station for demultiplexing and storage in separate channel recorders.

Identification and validation of sex-linked SCAR markers in dioecious Hippophae rhamnoides L. (Elaeagnaceae).

PubMed

Korekar, Girish; Sharma, Ram Kumar; Kumar, Rahul; Meenu; Bisht, Naveen C; Srivastava, Ravi B; Ahuja, Paramvir Singh; Stobdan, Tsering

2012-05-01

The actinorhizal plant seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L., Elaeagnaceae) is a wind pollinated dioecious crop. To distinguish male genotypes from female genotypes early in the vegetative growth phase, we have developed robust PCR-based marker(s). DNA bulk samples from 20 male and 20 female plants each were screened with 60 RAPD primers. Two primers, OPA-04 and OPT-06 consistently amplified female-specific (FS) polymorphic fragments of 1,164 and 868 bp, respectively, that were absent in the male samples. DNA sequence of the two markers did not exhibit significant similarity to previously characterized sequences. A sequence-characterized amplified region marker HrX1 (JQ284019) and HrX2 (JQ284020) designed for the two fragments, continued to amplify the FS allele in 120 female plants but not in 100 male plants tested in the current study. Thus, HrX1 and HrX2 are FS markers that can determine the sex of seabuckthorn plants in an early stage and expedite cultivations for industrial applications.

PCR tools for the verification of the specific identity of ascaridoid nematodes from dogs and cats.

PubMed

Li, M W; Lin, R Q; Chen, H H; Sani, R A; Song, H Q; Zhu, X Q

2007-01-01

Based on the sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1 and ITS-2) of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati, Toxocara malaysiensis and Toxascaris leonina, specific forward primers were designed in the ITS-1 or ITS-2 for each of the four ascaridoid species of dogs and cats. These primers were used individually together with a conserved primer in the large subunit of rDNA to amplify partial ITS-1 and/or ITS-2 of rDNA from 107 DNA samples from ascaridoids from dogs and cats in China, Australia, Malaysia, England and the Netherlands. This approach allowed their specific identification, with no amplicons being amplified from heterogeneous DNA samples, and sequencing confirmed the identity of the sequences amplified. The minimum amounts of DNA detectable using the PCR assays were 0.13-0.54ng. These PCR assays should provide useful tools for the diagnosis and molecular epidemiological investigations of toxocariasis in humans and animals.

Detection and Heterogeneity of Herpesviruses Causing Pacheco's Disease in Parrots

PubMed Central

Tomaszewski, Elizabeth; Wilson, Van G.; Wigle, William L.; Phalen, David N.

2001-01-01

Pacheco's disease (PD) is a common, often fatal, disease of parrots. We cloned a virus isolate from a parrot that had characteristic lesions of PD. Three viral clones were partially sequenced, demonstrating that this virus was an alphaherpesvirus most closely related to the gallid herpesvirus 1. Five primer sets were developed from these sequences. The primer sets were used with PCR to screen tissues or tissue culture media suspected to contain viruses from 54 outbreaks of PD. The primer sets amplified DNA from all but one sample. Ten amplification patterns were detected, indicating that PD is caused by a genetically heterogeneous population of viruses. A single genetic variant (psittacid herpesvirus variant 1) amplified with all primer sets and was the most common virus variant (62.7%). A single primer set (23F) amplified DNA from all of the positive samples, suggesting that PCR could be used as a rapid postmortem assay for these viruses. PCR was found to be significantly more sensitive than tissue culture for the detection of psittacid herpesviruses. PMID:11158102

Sensitivity enhancement of remotely coupled NMR detectors using wirelessly powered parametric amplification.

PubMed

Qian, Chunqi; Murphy-Boesch, Joseph; Dodd, Stephen; Koretsky, Alan

2012-09-01

A completely wireless detection coil with an integrated parametric amplifier has been constructed to provide local amplification and transmission of MR signals. The sample coil is one element of a parametric amplifier using a zero-bias diode that mixes the weak MR signal with a strong pump signal that is obtained from an inductively coupled external loop. The NMR sample coil develops current gain via reduction in the effective coil resistance. Higher gain can be obtained by adjusting the level of the pumping power closer to the oscillation threshold, but the gain is ultimately constrained by the bandwidth requirement of MRI experiments. A feasibility study here shows that on a NaCl/D(2) O phantom, (23) Na signals with 20 dB of gain can be readily obtained with a concomitant bandwidth of 144 kHz. This gain is high enough that the integrated coil with parametric amplifier, which is coupled inductively to external loops, can provide sensitivity approaching that of direct wire connection. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Evaluation of nitrous oxide as a substitute for sulfur hexafluoride to reduce global warming impacts of ANSI/HPS N13.1 gaseous uniformity testing

DOE PAGES

Yu, Xiao-Ying; Barnett, J. Matthew; Amidan, Brett G.; ...

2017-12-12

The ANSI/HPS N13.1–2011 standard requires gaseous tracer uniformity testing for sampling associated with stacks used in radioactive air emissions. Sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6), a greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential, has long been the gas tracer used in such testing. To reduce the impact of gas tracer tests on the environment, nitrous oxide (N 2O) was evaluated as a potential replacement to SF 6. The physical evaluation included the development of a test plan to record percent coefficient of variance and the percent maximum deviation between the two gases while considering variables such as fan configuration, injection position,more » and flow rate. Statistical power was calculated to determine how many sample sets were needed, and computational fluid dynamic modeling was utilized to estimate overall mixing in stacks. Results show there are no significant differences between the behaviors of the two gases, and SF 6 modeling corroborated N 2O test results. Although, in principle, all tracer gases should behave in an identical manner for measuring mixing within a stack, the series of physical tests guided by statistics was performed to demonstrate the equivalence of N 2O testing to SF 6 testing in the context of stack qualification tests. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that N 2O is a viable choice leading to a four times reduction in global warming impacts for future similar compliance driven testing.« less

Evaluation of nitrous oxide as a substitute for sulfur hexafluoride to reduce global warming impacts of ANSI/HPS N13.1 gaseous uniformity testing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yu, Xiao-Ying; Barnett, J. Matthew; Amidan, Brett G.

The ANSI/HPS N13.1–2011 standard requires gaseous tracer uniformity testing for sampling associated with stacks used in radioactive air emissions. Sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6), a greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential, has long been the gas tracer used in such testing. To reduce the impact of gas tracer tests on the environment, nitrous oxide (N 2O) was evaluated as a potential replacement to SF 6. The physical evaluation included the development of a test plan to record percent coefficient of variance and the percent maximum deviation between the two gases while considering variables such as fan configuration, injection position,more » and flow rate. Statistical power was calculated to determine how many sample sets were needed, and computational fluid dynamic modeling was utilized to estimate overall mixing in stacks. Results show there are no significant differences between the behaviors of the two gases, and SF 6 modeling corroborated N 2O test results. Although, in principle, all tracer gases should behave in an identical manner for measuring mixing within a stack, the series of physical tests guided by statistics was performed to demonstrate the equivalence of N 2O testing to SF 6 testing in the context of stack qualification tests. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that N 2O is a viable choice leading to a four times reduction in global warming impacts for future similar compliance driven testing.« less

Determination of herbicides in mineral and stagnant waters at ng/L levels using capillary electrophoresis and UV detection combined with solid-phase extraction and sample stacking.

PubMed

Hernández-Borges, Javier; García-Montelongo, Francisco J; Cifuentes, Alejandro; Rodríguez-Delgado, Miguel Angel

2005-04-08

In this work, the combined use of solid-phase extraction (SPE) and on-line preconcentration strategies as normal stacking mode (NSM) and stacking with matrix removal (SWMR) for the ultrasensitive and simultaneous capillary electrophoresis-ultraviolet analysis (CE-UV) of five triazolopyrimidine sulfonanilide pesticides (i.e., diclosulam, cloransulam-methyl, flumetsulam, metosulam and florasulam) in different types of water is investigated. An adequate separation electrolyte for the separation and stacking of these pesticides was obtained, considering also its compatibility with MS detection, which consisted of 24 mM formic acid and 16 mM ammonium carbonate at pH 6.4. It was observed that the use of this running buffer together with the SWMR preconcentration method provided the best results in terms of sensitivity (between 6.54 and 11.9 microg/L) and peak efficiency (up to 550000 theoretical plates per meter, NTP/m). When this on-line preconcentration procedure was combined with an off-line sample preconcentration step as SPE using C18 cartridges, the selected herbicides could be detected in the ng/L range. The optimized SPE-SWMR-CE-UV method was applied to the determination of the selected group of pesticides in spiked and non-spiked mineral and stagnant waters. Recoveries ranged between 55 and 110% and limits of detection between 131 and 342 ng/L. This work shows the great possibilities of the combined use of SPE-SWMR-CE-UV to overcome the sensitivity problems usually linked to CE analysis.

Star formation rate and extinction in faint z ∼ 4 Lyman break galaxies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

To, Chun-Hao; Wang, Wei-Hao; Owen, Frazer N.

We present a statistical detection of 1.5 GHz radio continuum emission from a sample of faint z ∼ 4 Lyman break galaxies (LBGs). To constrain their extinction and intrinsic star formation rate (SFR), we combine the latest ultradeep Very Large Array 1.5 GHz radio image and the Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) optical images in the GOODS-N. We select a large sample of 1771 z ∼ 4 LBGs from the ACS catalog using B {sub F435W}-dropout color criteria. Our LBG samples have I {sub F775W} ∼ 25-28 (AB), ∼0-3 mag fainter than M{sub UV}{sup ⋆} at zmore » ∼ 4. In our stacked radio images, we find the LBGs to be point-like under our 2'' angular resolution. We measure their mean 1.5 GHz flux by stacking the measurements on the individual objects. We achieve a statistical detection of S {sub 1.5} {sub GHz} = 0.210 ± 0.075 μJy at ∼3σ for the first time on such a faint LBG population at z ∼ 4. The measurement takes into account the effects of source size and blending of multiple objects. The detection is visually confirmed by stacking the radio images of the LBGs, and the uncertainty is quantified with Monte Carlo simulations on the radio image. The stacked radio flux corresponds to an obscured SFR of 16.0 ± 5.7 M {sub ☉} yr{sup –1}, and implies a rest-frame UV extinction correction factor of 3.8. This extinction correction is in excellent agreement with that derived from the observed UV continuum spectral slope, using the local calibration of Meurer et al. This result supports the use of the local calibration on high-redshift LBGs to derive the extinction correction and SFR, and also disfavors a steep reddening curve such as that of the Small Magellanic Cloud.« less

Low Masses and High Redshifts: The Evolution of the Mass-Metallicity Relation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Henry, Alaina; Scarlata, Claudia; Dominguez, Alberto; Malkan, Matthew; Martin, Crystal L.; Siana, Brian; Atek, Hakim; Bedregal, Alejandro G.; Colbert, James W.; Rafelski, Marc;

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Andrews, V.E.

Naturally occurring radioactivity was measured in the atmospheric emissions and process materials of a thermal phosphate (elemental phosphorus) plant. Representative exhaust stack samples were collected from each process in the plant. The phosphate ore contained 12 to 20 parts per million uranium. Processes, emission points, and emission controls are described. Radioactivity concentrations and emission rates from the sources sampled are given.

Application of dual-energy x-ray techniques for automated food container inspection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shashishekhar, N.; Veselitza, D.

2016-02-01

Manufacturing for plastic food containers often results in small metal particles getting into the containers during the production process. Metal detectors are usually not sensitive enough to detect these metal particles (0.5 mm or lesser), especially when the containers are stacked in large sealed shipping packages; X-ray inspection of these packages provides a viable alternative. This paper presents the results of an investigation into dual-energy X-ray techniques for automated detection of small metal particles in plastic food container packages. The sample packages consist of sealed cardboard boxes containing stacks of food containers: plastic cups for food, and Styrofoam cups for noodles. The primary goal of the investigation was to automatically identify small metal particles down to 0.5 mm diameter in size or less, randomly located within the containers. The multiple container stacks in each box make it virtually impossible to reliably detect the particles with single-energy X-ray techniques either visually or with image processing. The stacks get overlaid in the X-ray image and create many indications almost identical in contrast and size to real metal particles. Dual-energy X-ray techniques were investigated and found to result in a clear separation of the metal particles from the food container stack-ups. Automated image analysis of the resulting images provides reliable detection of the small metal particles.

Polyfluorophore Labels on DNA: Dramatic Sequence Dependence of Quenching

PubMed Central

Teo, Yin Nah; Wilson, James N.

2010-01-01

We describe studies carried out in the DNA context to test how a common fluorescence quencher, dabcyl, interacts with oligodeoxynu-cleoside fluorophores (ODFs)—a system of stacked, electronically interacting fluorophores built on a DNA scaffold. We tested twenty different tetrameric ODF sequences containing varied combinations and orderings of pyrene (Y), benzopyrene (B), perylene (E), dimethylaminostilbene (D), and spacer (S) monomers conjugated to the 3′ end of a DNA oligomer. Hybridization of this probe sequence to a dabcyl-labeled complementary strand resulted in strong quenching of fluorescence in 85% of the twenty ODF sequences. The high efficiency of quenching was also established by their large Stern–Volmer constants (KSV) of between 2.1 × 104 and 4.3 × 105M−1, measured with a free dabcyl quencher. Interestingly, quenching of ODFs displayed strong sequence dependence. This was particularly evident in anagrams of ODF sequences; for example, the sequence BYDS had a KSV that was approximately two orders of magnitude greater than that of BSDY, which has the same dye composition. Other anagrams, for example EDSY and ESYD, also displayed different responses upon quenching by dabcyl. Analysis of spectra showed that apparent excimer and exciplex emission bands were quenched with much greater efficiency compared to monomer emission bands by at least an order of magnitude. This suggests an important role played by delocalized excited states of the π stack of fluorophores in the amplified quenching of fluorescence. PMID:19780115

Single shot spin readout using a cryogenic high-electron-mobility transistor amplifier at sub-Kelvin temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tracy, L. A.; Luhman, D. R.; Carr, S. M.; Bishop, N. C.; Ten Eyck, G. A.; Pluym, T.; Wendt, J. R.; Lilly, M. P.; Carroll, M. S.

2016-02-01

We use a cryogenic high-electron-mobility transistor circuit to amplify the current from a single electron transistor, allowing for demonstration of single shot readout of an electron spin on a single P donor in Si with 100 kHz bandwidth and a signal to noise ratio of ˜9. In order to reduce the impact of cable capacitance, the amplifier is located adjacent to the Si sample, at the mixing chamber stage of a dilution refrigerator. For a current gain of ˜ 2.7 × 10 3 , the power dissipation of the amplifier is 13 μW, the bandwidth is ˜ 1.3 MHz, and for frequencies above 300 kHz the current noise referred to input is ≤ 70 fA/ √{ Hz } . With this amplification scheme, we are able to observe coherent oscillations of a P donor electron spin in isotopically enriched 28Si with 96% visibility.

Total ionizing dose effect and damage mechanism on saturation output voltage of charge coupled device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen, Lin; Li, Yu-dong; Guo, Qi; Wang, Chao-min

2018-02-01

Total ionizing dose effect is a major threat to space applications of CCD, which leads to the decrease of CCD saturation output voltage and the increase of dark signal. This paper investigated CCD and its readout circuit for experimental samples of different channel width to length ratio of MOSFET, and readout circuit amplifier, and CCD. The irradiation source was 60Co- gamma ray. through testing the parameters degradation of MOSFET and amplifier degradation, the generation and annealing law of irradiation induced defects in MOS single tube are analyzed. Combined with the radiation effect of amplifier and CCD, The correlation of radiation damage of the MOSFET and the readout circuit amplifier and CCD parameter degradation is established. Finally, this paper reveals the physical mechanism of ionizing radiation damage of the readout circuit. The research results provide a scientific basis for the selection of anti-radiation technology and structure optimization of domestic CCD.

Molecular organization in MAPLE-deposited conjugated polymer thin films and the implications for carrier transport characteristics

DOE PAGES

Dong, Ban Xuan; Li, Anton; Strzalka, Joseph; ...

2016-09-18

The morphological structure of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) thin films deposited by both Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation (MAPLE) and solution spin-casting methods are investigated. We found that the MAPLE samples possessed a higher degree of disorder, with random orientations of polymer crystallites along the side-chain stacking, π-π stacking, and conjugated backbone directions. Furthermore, the average molecular orientations and relative degrees of crystallinity of MAPLE-deposited polymer films are insensitive to the chemistries of the substrates onto which they were deposited; this is in stark contrast to the films prepared by the conventional spin-casting technique. In spite of the seemingly unfavorable molecular orientations andmore » the highly disordered morphologies, the in-plane charge carrier transport characteristics of the MAPLE samples are comparable to those of spin-cast samples, exhibiting similar transport activation energies (56 meV versus 54 meV) to those reported in the literature for high mobility polymers.« less

Molecular organization in MAPLE-deposited conjugated polymer thin films and the implications for carrier transport characteristics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dong, Ban Xuan; Li, Anton; Strzalka, Joseph

The morphological structure of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) thin films deposited by both Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation (MAPLE) and solution spin-casting methods are investigated. We found that the MAPLE samples possessed a higher degree of disorder, with random orientations of polymer crystallites along the side-chain stacking, π-π stacking, and conjugated backbone directions. Furthermore, the average molecular orientations and relative degrees of crystallinity of MAPLE-deposited polymer films are insensitive to the chemistries of the substrates onto which they were deposited; this is in stark contrast to the films prepared by the conventional spin-casting technique. In spite of the seemingly unfavorable molecular orientations andmore » the highly disordered morphologies, the in-plane charge carrier transport characteristics of the MAPLE samples are comparable to those of spin-cast samples, exhibiting similar transport activation energies (56 meV versus 54 meV) to those reported in the literature for high mobility polymers.« less

Practicable group testing method to evaluate weight/weight GMO content in maize grains.

PubMed

Mano, Junichi; Yanaka, Yuka; Ikezu, Yoko; Onishi, Mari; Futo, Satoshi; Minegishi, Yasutaka; Ninomiya, Kenji; Yotsuyanagi, Yuichi; Spiegelhalter, Frank; Akiyama, Hiroshi; Teshima, Reiko; Hino, Akihiro; Naito, Shigehiro; Koiwa, Tomohiro; Takabatake, Reona; Furui, Satoshi; Kitta, Kazumi

2011-07-13

Because of the increasing use of maize hybrids with genetically modified (GM) stacked events, the established and commonly used bulk sample methods for PCR quantification of GM maize in non-GM maize are prone to overestimate the GM organism (GMO) content, compared to the actual weight/weight percentage of GM maize in the grain sample. As an alternative method, we designed and assessed a group testing strategy in which the GMO content is statistically evaluated based on qualitative analyses of multiple small pools, consisting of 20 maize kernels each. This approach enables the GMO content evaluation on a weight/weight basis, irrespective of the presence of stacked-event kernels. To enhance the method's user-friendliness in routine application, we devised an easy-to-use PCR-based qualitative analytical method comprising a sample preparation step in which 20 maize kernels are ground in a lysis buffer and a subsequent PCR assay in which the lysate is directly used as a DNA template. This method was validated in a multilaboratory collaborative trial.

van der Waals Heterostructures with High Accuracy Rotational Alignment.

PubMed

Kim, Kyounghwan; Yankowitz, Matthew; Fallahazad, Babak; Kang, Sangwoo; Movva, Hema C P; Huang, Shengqiang; Larentis, Stefano; Corbet, Chris M; Taniguchi, Takashi; Watanabe, Kenji; Banerjee, Sanjay K; LeRoy, Brian J; Tutuc, Emanuel

2016-03-09

We describe the realization of van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures with accurate rotational alignment of individual layer crystal axes. We illustrate the approach by demonstrating a Bernal-stacked bilayer graphene formed using successive transfers of monolayer graphene flakes. The Raman spectra of this artificial bilayer graphene possess a wide 2D band, which is best fit by four Lorentzians, consistent with Bernal stacking. Scanning tunneling microscopy reveals no moiré pattern on the artificial bilayer graphene, and tunneling spectroscopy as a function of gate voltage reveals a constant density of states, also in agreement with Bernal stacking. In addition, electron transport probed in dual-gated samples reveals a band gap opening as a function of transverse electric field. To illustrate the applicability of this technique to realize vdW heterostructuctures in which the functionality is critically dependent on rotational alignment, we demonstrate resonant tunneling double bilayer graphene heterostructures separated by hexagonal boron-nitride dielectric.

Ostwald ripening and interparticle-diffraction effects for illite crystals

USGS Publications Warehouse

Eberl, D.D.; Srodon, J.

1988-01-01

The Warren-Averbach method, an X-ray diffraction (XRD) method used to measure mean particle thickness and particle-thickness distribution, is used to restudy sericite from the Silverton caldera. Apparent particle-thickness distributions indicate that the clays may have undergone Ostwald ripening and that this process has modified the K-Ar ages of the samples. The mechanism of Ostwald ripening can account for many of the features found for the hydrothermal alteration of illite. Expandabilities measured by the XRD peak-position method for illite/smectites (I/S) from various locations are smaller than expandabilities measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by the Warren-Averbach (W-A) method. This disparity is interpreted as being related to the presence of nonswelling basal surfaces that form the ends of stacks of illite particles (short-stack effect), stacks that, according to the theory of interparticle diffraction, diffract as coherent X-ray scattering domains. -from Authors

Primary esophageal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma diagnosed by using stacked forceps biopsy.

PubMed

Lee, D S; Ahn, Y C; Eom, D W; Lee, S J

2016-10-01

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma involving the esophagus is very rare. Only a few cases have been reported in the English literature to date, and it accounts for less than 1% of all cases of gastrointestinal lymphoma. As this malignancy manifests as a submucosal tumor, pathological diagnosis by using a simple endoscopic biopsy alone is difficult. Therefore, surgical biopsy, endoscopic mucosal resection, and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration have been used in most cases. Herein, we report a case of esophageal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in a 49-year-old man, which involved the use of a stacked forceps biopsy to obtain adequate samples for pathological analysis; the use of the stacked forceps biopsy method is unlike those used in previous cases. The patient received cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone chemotherapy; he achieved a complete response. In addition, we review the literature relevant to this case. © 2015 International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus.

Diffusion welding of Cassegrainian concentrator cell stack assemblies. M.S. Thesis Final Report, Jun. 1983 - Sep. 1985

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gangl, K. J.

1985-01-01

Development of a procedure to join the components of the Cassegrainian concentrator photovoltaic cell stack assembly was studied. Diffusion welding was selected as the most promising process, and was concentrated on exclusively. All faying surfaces were coated with silver to promote welding. The first phase of the study consisted of developing the relationship between process parameters and joint strength using silver plated steel samples and an isostatic pressure system. In the second phase, mockups of the cell stack assembly were welded in a hot isostatic press. Excellent joint strength was achieved with parameters of 350 C and 10 ksi, but the delicate GaAs component could not survive the welding cycle without cracking. The tendency towards cracking was found to be affected by both temperature and pressure. Further work will be required in the future to solve this problem.

Amplification of Mitochondrial DNA for detection of Plasmodiumvivax in Balochistan.

PubMed

Shahwani, Muhammad Naeem; Nisar, Samia; Aleem, Abdul; Panezai, Marina; Afridi, Sarwat; Malik, Shaukat Iqbal

2017-05-01

To access a new step using PCR to amplify the targeted mtDNA sequence for detecting specifically Plasmodium vivax and its co-infections, false positive and false negative results with Plasmodium falciparum. In this study we have standardized a new technical approach in which the target mitochondrial DNA sequence (mtDNA) was amplified by using a PCR technique as a tool to detect Plasmodium spp. Species specific primers were designed to hybridize with cytochrome c oxidase gene of P. vivax (cox I) and P. falciparum (cox III). Two hundred blood samples were collected on the basis of clinical symptoms which were initially examined through microscopic analysis after preparing Giemsa stained thick and thin blood smears. Afterwards genomic DNA was extracted from all samples and was then subjected to PCR amplification by using species specific primers and amplified segments were sequenced for confirmation of results. One-hundred and thirty-two blood samples were detected as positive for malaria by PCR, out of which 64 were found to be positive by PCR and 53 by both microscopy and PCR for P.vivax infection. Nine samples were found to be false negative, one P.vivax mono infection was declared as co infection by PCR and 3 samples identified as having P.falciparum gametes were confirmed as P.vivax by PCR amplification. Sensitivity and specificity were found to be 85% and 92% respectively. Results obtained through PCR method were comparatively better and reliable than microscopy.

The effects of stacking sequence and thermal cycling on the flexural properties of laminate composites of aluminium-epoxy/basalt-glass fibres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdollahi Azghan, Mehdi; Eslami-Farsani, Reza

2018-02-01

The current study aimed at investigating the effects of different stacking sequences and thermal cycling on the flexural properties of fibre metal laminates (FMLs). FMLs were composed of two aluminium alloy 2024-T3 sheets and epoxy polymer-matrix composites that have four layers of basalt and/or glass fibres with five different stacking sequences. For FML samples the thermal cycle time was about 6 min for temperature cycles from 25 °C to 115 °C. Flexural properties of samples evaluated after 55 thermal cycles and compared to non-exposed samples. Surface modification of aluminium performed by electrochemical treatment (anodizing) method and aluminium surfaces have been examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Also, the flexural failure mechanisms investigated by the optical microscope study of fractured surfaces. SEM images indicated that the porosity of the aluminium surface increased after anodizing process. The findings of the present study showed that flexural modulus were maximum for basalt fibres based FML, minimum for glass fibres based FML while basalt/glass fibres based FML lies between them. Due to change in the failure mechanism of basalt/glass fibres based FMLs that have glass fibres at outer layer of the polymer composite, the flexural strength of this FML is lower than glass and basalt fibres based FML. After thermal cycling, due to the good thermal properties of basalt fibres, flexural properties of basalt fibres based FML structures decreased less than other composites.

[Study on once sampling quantitation based on information entropy of ISSR amplified bands of Houttuynia cordata].

PubMed

Wang, Haiqin; Liu, Wenlong; He, Fuyuan; Chen, Zuohong; Zhang, Xili; Xie, Xianggui; Zeng, Jiaoli; Duan, Xiaopeng

2012-02-01

To explore the once sampling quantitation of Houttuynia cordata through its DNA polymorphic bands that carried information entropy, from other form that the expression of traditional Chinese medicine polymorphism, genetic polymorphism, of traditional Chinese medicine. The technique of inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) was applied to analyze genetic polymorphism of H. cordata samples from the same GAP producing area, the DNA genetic bands were transformed its into the information entropy, and the minimum once sampling quantitation with the mathematical mode was measured. One hundred and thirty-four DNA bands were obtained by using 9 screened ISSR primers to amplify from 46 strains DNA samples of H. cordata from the same GAP, the information entropy was H=0.365 6-0.978 6, and RSD was 14.75%. The once sampling quantitation was W=11.22 kg (863 strains). The "once minimum sampling quantitation" were calculated from the angle of the genetic polymorphism of H. cordata, and a great differences between this volume and the amount from the angle of fingerprint were found.

External amplification of OCT swept-sources for challenging applications: from 10 mW to more than 120 mW

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivard, Maxime; Villeneuve, Alain; Lamouche, Guy

2017-02-01

For bioimaging applications, commercial swept-sources currently provide enough power (tens of milliwatts) insuring good imaging condition without damaging the tissues. For industrial applications, more power is needed since the amount of light collected can be very low due to challenging measurement conditions or due to poor sample reflectivity. To address this challenge, we explore three different setups to externally amplify the output of a commercial swept-source: a booster semiconductor optical amplifier (BOA), an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) and a combination of both. These external amplification setups allow the exploration of emerging OCT applications without the need to develop new hardware.

[Association of phytoplasma with Bermuda grass white-leaf disease].

PubMed

Tan, Weijun; Chen, Yong; Zhang, Wu; Han, Chengchou; Tan, Zhiyuan; Zhang, Juming

2008-10-01

Bermuda grass white leaf is an important disease on Bermuda grass all over the world. The aim of this research is to identify the pathogen which leads to Bermuda grass white leaf occurring on the Chinese mainland. PCR amplification technique, sequence analysis and Southern hybridization were used. A 1.3 kb fragment was amplified by PCR phytoplasma universal primers and total DNA sample extracted from ill Bermuda grass as the amplified template. Sequence analysis of the amplified fragment indicated it clustered into Candidatus Phytoplasm Cynodontis. Southern hybridization analysis showed differential cingulums. The pathogen of Bermuda grass white leaf on the Chinese mainland contains phytoplasma, which provides a scientific basis for further identification, prevention and control of the disease.

Fluorescent Random Amplified Microsatellites (F-RAMS) analysis of mushrooms as a forensic investigative tool.

PubMed

Kallifatidis, Beatrice; Borovička, Jan; Stránská, Jana; Drábek, Jiří; Mills, Deetta K

2014-03-01

The capability of Fluorescent Random Amplified Microsatellites (F-RAMS) to profile hallucinogenic mushrooms to species and sub-species level was assessed. Fifteen samples of Amanita rubescens and 22 samples of other hallucinogenic and non-hallucinogenic mushrooms of the genera Amanita and Psilocybe were profiled using two fluorescently-labeled, 5'degenerate primers, 5'-6FAM-SpC3-DD (CCA)5 and 5'-6FAM-SpC3-DHB (CGA)5, which target different microsatellite repeat regions. Among the two primers, 5'-6FAM-SpC3-DHB (CGA)5 provided more reliable data for identification purposes, by grouping samples of the same species and clustering closely related species together in a dendrogram based on amplicon similarities. A high degree of intra-specific variation between the 15 A. rubescens samples was shown with both primers and the amplicons generated for all A. rubescens samples were organized into three classes of amplicons (discriminant, private, and marker) based on their individualizing potential. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pulse Height Analyzer Interfacing and Computer Programming in the Environmental Laser Propagation Project

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-06-01

United States Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey , California, 1974. 6. Anton , H., Elementary Linear Algebra , John Wiley & Sons, 1973. 7. Parrat, L. G...CONVERTER ln(laser & bias) PULSE HEIGHT ANALYZER © LINEAR AMPLIFIER SAMPLE TRIGGER OSCILLATOR early ln(laser & bias) SCINTILLOMETERS recent BACKGROUND...DEMODULATOR LASER CALIBRATION BOX LASER OR CAL VOLTAGE LOG CONVERTER LN (LASER OR CAL VOLT) LINEAR AMPLIFIER uLN (LASER OR CAL VOLT) PULSE HEIGHTEN ANALYZER V

A Fosmid Cloning Strategy for Detecting the Widest Possible Spectrum of Microbes from the International Space Station Drinking Water System

PubMed Central

Choi, Sangdun; Chang, Mi Sook; Stuecker, Tara; Chung, Christine; Newcombe, David A.; Venkateswaran, Kasthuri

2012-01-01

In this study, fosmid cloning strategies were used to assess the microbial populations in water from the International Space Station (ISS) drinking water system (henceforth referred to as Prebiocide and Tank A water samples). The goals of this study were: to compare the sensitivity of the fosmid cloning strategy with that of traditional culture-based and 16S rRNA-based approaches and to detect the widest possible spectrum of microbial populations during the water purification process. Initially, microbes could not be cultivated, and conventional PCR failed to amplify 16S rDNA fragments from these low biomass samples. Therefore, randomly primed rolling-circle amplification was used to amplify any DNA that might be present in the samples, followed by size selection by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The amplified high-molecular-weight DNA from both samples was cloned into fosmid vectors. Several hundred clones were randomly selected for sequencing, followed by Blastn/Blastx searches. Sequences encoding specific genes from Burkholderia, a species abundant in the soil and groundwater, were found in both samples. Bradyrhizobium and Mesorhizobium, which belong to rhizobia, a large community of nitrogen fixers often found in association with plant roots, were present in the Prebiocide samples. Ralstonia, which is prevalent in soils with a high heavy metal content, was detected in the Tank A samples. The detection of many unidentified sequences suggests the presence of potentially novel microbial fingerprints. The bacterial diversity detected in this pilot study using a fosmid vector approach was higher than that detected by conventional 16S rRNA gene sequencing. PMID:23346038

Real-time polymerase chain reaction detection of cauliflower mosaic virus to complement the 35S screening assay for genetically modified organisms.

PubMed

Cankar, Katarina; Ravnikar, Maja; Zel, Jana; Gruden, Kristina; Toplak, Natasa

2005-01-01

Labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is now in place in many countries, including the European Union, in order to guarantee the consumer's choice between GM and non-GM products. Screening of samples is performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of regulatory sequences frequently introduced into genetically modified plants. Primers for the 35S promoter from Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) are those most frequently used. In virus-infected plants or in samples contaminated with plant material carrying the virus, false-positive results can consequently occur. A system for real-time PCR using a TaqMan minor groove binder probe was designed that allows recognition of virus coat protein in the sample, thus allowing differentiation between transgenic and virus-infected samples. We measured the efficiency of PCR amplification, limits of detection and quantification, range of linearity, and repeatability of the assay in order to assess the applicability of the assay for routine analysis. The specificity of the detection system was tested on various virus isolates and plant species. All 8 CaMV isolates were successfully amplified using the designed system. No cross-reactivity was detected with DNA from 3 isolates of the closely related Carnation etched ring virus. Primers do not amplify plant DNA from available genetically modified maize and soybean lines or from different species of Brassicaceae or Solanaceae that are natural hosts for CaMV. We evaluated the assay for different food matrixes by spiking CaMV DNA into DNA from food samples and have successfully amplified CaMV from all samples. The assay was tested on rapeseed samples from routine GMO testing that were positive in the 35S screening assay, and the presence of the virus was confirmed.

The Chandra Source Catalog 2.0: Interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Abrusco, Raffaele; Zografou, Panagoula; Tibbetts, Michael; Allen, Christopher E.; Anderson, Craig S.; Budynkiewicz, Jamie A.; Burke, Douglas; Chen, Judy C.; Civano, Francesca Maria; Doe, Stephen M.; Evans, Ian N.; Evans, Janet D.; Fabbiano, Giuseppina; Gibbs, Danny G., II; Glotfelty, Kenny J.; Graessle, Dale E.; Grier, John D.; Hain, Roger; Hall, Diane M.; Harbo, Peter N.; Houck, John C.; Lauer, Jennifer L.; Laurino, Omar; Lee, Nicholas P.; Martínez-Galarza, Rafael; McCollough, Michael L.; McDowell, Jonathan C.; Miller, Joseph; McLaughlin, Warren; Morgan, Douglas L.; Mossman, Amy E.; Nguyen, Dan T.; Nichols, Joy S.; Nowak, Michael A.; Paxson, Charles; Plummer, David A.; Primini, Francis Anthony; Rots, Arnold H.; Siemiginowska, Aneta; Sundheim, Beth A.; Van Stone, David W.

2018-01-01

Easy-to-use, powerful public interfaces to access the wealth of information contained in any modern, complex astronomical catalog are fundamental to encourage its usage. In this poster,I present the public interfaces of the second Chandra Source Catalog (CSC2). CSC2 is the most comprehensive catalog of X-ray sources detected by Chandra, thanks to the inclusion of Chandra observations public through the end of 2014 and to methodological advancements. CSC2 provides measured properties for a large number of sources that sample the X-ray sky at fainter levels than the previous versions of the CSC, thanks to the stacking of single overlapping observations within 1’ before source detection. Sources from stacks are then crossmatched, if multiple stacks cover the same area of the sky, to create a list of unique, optimal CSC2 sources. The properties of sources detected in each single stack and each single observation are also measured. The layered structure of the CSC2 catalog is mirrored in the organization of the CSC2 database, consisting of three tables containing all properties for the unique stacked sources (“Master Source”), single stack sources (“Stack Source”) and sources in any single observation (“Observation Source”). These tables contain estimates of the position, flags, extent, significances, fluxes, spectral properties and variability (and associated errors) for all classes of sources. The CSC2 also includes source region and full-field data products for all master sources, stack sources and observation sources: images, photon event lists, light curves and spectra.CSCview, the main interface to the CSC2 source properties and data products, is a GUI tool that allows to build queries based on the values of all properties contained in CSC2 tables, query the catalog, inspect the returned table of source properties, browse and download the associated data products. I will also introduce the suite of command-line interfaces to CSC2 that can be used in alternative to CSCview, and will present the concept for an additional planned cone-search web-based interface.This work has been supported by NASA under contract NAS 8-03060 to the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory for operation of the Chandra X-ray Center.

Macromolecular differentiation of Golgi stacks in root tips of Arabidopsis and Nicotiana seedlings as visualized in high pressure frozen and freeze-substituted samples

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Staehelin, L. A.; Giddings, T. H. Jr; Kiss, J. Z.; Sack, F. D.

1990-01-01

The plant root tip represents a fascinating model system for studying changes in Golgi stack architecture associated with the developmental progression of meristematic cells to gravity sensing columella cells, and finally to "young" and "old", polysaccharide-slime secreting peripheral cells. To this end we have used high pressure freezing in conjunction with freeze-substitution techniques to follow developmental changes in the macromolecular organization of Golgi stacks in root tips of Arabidopsis and Nicotiana. Due to the much improved structural preservation of all cells under investigation, our electron micrographs reveal both several novel structural features common to all Golgi stacks, as well as characteristic differences in morphology between Golgi stacks of different cell types. Common to all Golgi stacks are clear and discrete differences in staining patterns and width of cis, medial and trans cisternae. Cis cisternae have the widest lumina (approximately 30 nm) and are the least stained. Medial cisternae are narrower (approximately 20 nm) and filled with more darkly staining products. Most trans cisternae possess a completely collapsed lumen in their central domain, giving rise to a 4-6 nm wide dark line in cross-sectional views. Numerous vesicles associated with the cisternal margins carry a non-clathrin type of coat. A trans Golgi network with clathrin coated vesicles is associated with all Golgi stacks except those of old peripheral cells. It is easily distinguished from trans cisternae by its blebbing morphology and staining pattern. The zone of ribosome exclusion includes both the Golgi stack and the trans Golgi network. Intercisternal elements are located exclusively between trans cisternae of columella and peripheral cells, but not meristematic cells. In older peripheral cells only trans cisternae exhibit slime-related staining. Golgi stacks possessing intercisternal elements also contain parallel rows of freeze-fracture particles in their trans cisternal membranes. We propose that intercisternal elements serve as anchors of enzyme complexes involved in the synthesis of polysaccharide slime molecules to prevent the complexes from being dragged into the forming secretory vesicles by the very large slime molecules. In addition, we draw attention to the similarities in composition and apparent site of synthesis of xyloglucans and slime molecules.

Atmospheric occurrence and health risks of PCDD/Fs, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polychlorinated naphthalenes by air inhalation in metallurgical plants.

PubMed

Yang, Lili; Liu, Guorui; Zheng, Minghui; Jin, Rong; Zhu, Qingqing; Zhao, Yuyang; Zhang, Xian; Xu, Yang

2017-02-15

Metallurgical plants are important sources of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs). It is significant to evaluate the air levels and human risks of PCDD/Fs, PCBs and PCNs in metallurgical plants considering their adverse effects on human health and thousands of metallurgical plants being in operation in China. The estimated inhalation intakes of PCDD/Fs, PCBs, and PCNs together in eight iron ore sintering plants, three secondary copper plants, four secondary aluminum plants, and one secondary lead plant were 4.9-213.4, 21.4-4026.4, 28.7-630, and 11.7fgTEQkg -1 day -1 , respectively, and the corresponding cancer risks were estimated to be 8.7×10 -7 to 3.8×10 -5 , 5.1×10 -6 to 1.1×10 -4 , 3.8×10 -6 to 7.1×10 -4 , and 2.1×10 -6 , respectively. The estimated cancer risk were higher than 100 per million people for three secondary aluminum and copper smelters among the sixteen metallurgical plants, indicating high cancer risks. Stack gas samples from metallurgical plants were also collected and analyzed for comparing their emission profiles with that of air samples. The comparison of PCDD/F, PCB and PCN profiles between air samples and stack gas samples by similarity calculation and principal component analysis suggested the influence of stack gas emissions from metallurgical plants on surrounding air. These results are helpful for understanding the exposure risk to PCDD/Fs, PCBs and PCNs in numerous metallurgical plants being operation in China. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quantitative analysis of in vivo mucosal bacterial biofilms.

PubMed

Singhal, Deepti; Boase, Sam; Field, John; Jardeleza, Camille; Foreman, Andrew; Wormald, Peter-John

2012-01-01

Quantitative assays of mucosal biofilms on ex vivo samples are challenging using the currently applied specialized microscopic techniques to identify them. The COMSTAT2 computer program has been applied to in vitro biofilm models for quantifying biofilm structures seen on confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM). The aim of this study was to quantify Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) biofilms seen via CSLM on ex situ samples of sinonasal mucosa, using the COMSTAT2 program. S. aureus biofilms were grown in frontal sinuses of 4 merino sheep as per a previously standardized sheep sinusitis model for biofilms. Two sinonasal mucosal samples, 10 mm × 10 mm in size, from each of the 2 sinuses of the 4 sheep were analyzed for biofilm presence with Baclight stain and CSLM. Two random image stacks of mucosa with S. aureus biofilm were recorded from each sample, and analyzed using COMSTAT2 software that translates image stacks into a simplified 3-dimensional matrix of biofilm mass by eliminating surrounding host tissue. Three independent observers analyzed images using COMSTAT2 and 3 repeated rounds of analyses were done to calculate biofilm biomass. The COMSTAT2 application uses an observer-dependent threshold setting to translate CSLM biofilm images into a simplified 3-dimensional output for quantitative analysis. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between thresholds set by the 3 observers for each image stacks was 0.59 (p = 0.0003). Threshold values set at different points of time by a single observer also showed significant correlation as seen by ICC of 0.80 (p < 0.001). COMSTAT2 can be applied to quantify and study the complex 3-dimensional biofilm structures that are recorded via CSLM on mucosal tissue like the sinonasal mucosa. Copyright © 2011 American Rhinologic Society-American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, LLC.

Semiconductor Laser Diode Pumps for Inertial Fusion Energy Lasers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Deri, R J

2011-01-03

Solid-state lasers have been demonstrated as attractive drivers for inertial confinement fusion on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and at the Omega Facility at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) in Rochester, NY. For power plant applications, these lasers must be pumped by semiconductor diode lasers to achieve the required laser system efficiency, repetition rate, and lifetime. Inertial fusion energy (IFE) power plants will require approximately 40-to-80 GW of peak pump power, and must operate efficiently and with high system availability for decades. These considerations lead to requirements on the efficiency, price, and productionmore » capacity of the semiconductor pump sources. This document provides a brief summary of these requirements, and how they can be met by a natural evolution of the current semiconductor laser industry. The detailed technical requirements described in this document flow down from a laser ampl9ifier design described elsewhere. In brief, laser amplifiers comprising multiple Nd:glass gain slabs are face-pumped by two planar diode arrays, each delivering 30 to 40 MW of peak power at 872 nm during a {approx} 200 {micro}s quasi-CW (QCW) pulse with a repetition rate in the range of 10 to 20 Hz. The baseline design of the diode array employs a 2D mosaic of submodules to facilitate manufacturing. As a baseline, they envision that each submodule is an array of vertically stacked, 1 cm wide, edge-emitting diode bars, an industry standard form factor. These stacks are mounted on a common backplane providing cooling and current drive. Stacks are conductively cooled to the backplane, to minimize both diode package cost and the number of fluid interconnects for improved reliability. While the baseline assessment in this document is based on edge-emitting devices, the amplifier design does not preclude future use of surface emitting diodes, which may offer appreciable future cost reductions and increased reliability. The high-level requirements on the semiconductor lasers involve reliability, price points on a price-per-Watt basis, and a set of technical requirements. The technical requirements for the amplifier design in reference 1 are discussed in detail and are summarized in Table 1. These values are still subject to changes as the overall laser system continues to be optimized. Since pump costs can be a significant fraction of the overall laser system cost, it is important to achieve sufficiently low price points for these components. At this time, the price target for tenth-of-akind IFE plant is $0.007/Watt for packaged devices. At this target level, the pumps account for approximately one third of the laser cost. The pump lasers should last for the life of the power plant, leading to a target component lifetime requirement of roughly 14 Ghosts, corresponding to a 30 year plant life and 15 Hz repetition rate. An attractive path forward involes pump operation at high output power levels, on a Watts-per-bar (Watts/chip) basis. This reduces the cost of pump power (price-per-Watt), since to first order the unit price does not increase with power/bar. The industry has seen a continual improvement in power output, with current 1 cm-wide bars emitting up to 500 W QCW (quasi-continuous wave). Increased power/bar also facilitates achieving high irradiance in the array plane. On the other hand, increased power implies greater heat loads and (possibly) higher current drive, which will require increased attention to thermal management and parasitic series resistance. Diode chips containing multiple p-n junctions and quantum wells (also called nanostack structures) may provide an additional approach to reduce the peak current.« less

Spontaneous stacking of purple membranes during immobilization with physical cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel with retaining native-like functionality of bacteriorhodopsin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yokoyama, Yasunori; Tanaka, Hikaru; Yano, Shunsuke; Takahashi, Hiroshi; Kikukawa, Takashi; Sonoyama, Masashi; Takenaka, Koshi

2017-05-01

We previously discovered the correlation between light-induced chromophore color change of a photo-receptor membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin (bR) and its two-dimensional crystalline state in the membrane. To apply this phenomenon to a novel optical memory device, it is necessary that bR molecules are immobilized as maintaining their structure and functional properties. In this work, a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel with physical cross-linkages (hydrogen bonds between PVA chains) that resulted from repeated freezing-and-thawing (FT) cycles was used as an immobilization medium. To investigate the effects of physically cross-linked PVA gelation on the structure and function of bR in purple membranes (PMs), spectroscopic techniques were employed against PM/PVA immobilized samples prepared with different FT cycle numbers. Visible circular dichroism spectroscopy strongly suggested PM stacking during gelation. X-ray diffraction data also indicated the PM stacking as well as its native-like crystalline lattice even after gelation. Time-resolved absorption spectroscopy showed that bR photocycle behaviors in PM/PVA immobilized samples were almost identical to that in suspension. These results suggested that a physically cross-linked PVA hydrogel is appropriate for immobilizing membrane proteins in terms of maintaining their structure and functionality.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

M. L. Abbott; K. N. Keck; R. E. Schindler

This screening level risk assessment evaluates potential adverse human health and ecological impacts resulting from continued operations of the calciner at the New Waste Calcining Facility (NWCF) at the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC), Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). The assessment was conducted in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report, Guidance for Performing Screening Level Risk Analyses at Combustion Facilities Burning Hazardous Waste. This screening guidance is intended to give a conservative estimate of the potential risks to determine whether a more refined assessment is warranted. The NWCF uses a fluidized-bed combustor to solidifymore » (calcine) liquid radioactive mixed waste from the INTEC Tank Farm facility. Calciner off volatilized metal species, trace organic compounds, and low-levels of radionuclides. Conservative stack emission rates were calculated based on maximum waste solution feed samples, conservative assumptions for off gas partitioning of metals and organics, stack gas sampling for mercury, and conservative measurements of contaminant removal (decontamination factors) in the off gas treatment system. Stack emissions were modeled using the ISC3 air dispersion model to predict maximum particulate and vapor air concentrations and ground deposition rates. Results demonstrate that NWCF emissions calculated from best-available process knowledge would result in maximum onsite and offsite health and ecological impacts that are less then EPA-established criteria for operation of a combustion facility.« less

The magnetic ground state and relationship to Kitaev physics in α-RuCl3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banerjee, Arnab

The 2D Kitaev candidate alpha-RuCl3 consists of stacked honeycomb layers weakly coupled by Van der Waals interactions. Here we report the measurements of bulk properties and neutron diffraction in both powder and single crystal samples. Our results show that the full three dimensional magnetic ground state is highly pliable with at least two dominant phases corresponding to two different out-of-plane magnetic orders. They have different Neel temperatures dependent on the stacking of the 2D layers, such as a broad magnetic transition at TN = 14 K as observed in phase-pure powder samples, or a sharp magnetic transition at a lower TN = 7 K as observed in homogeneous single crystals with no evidence for stacking faults. The magnetic refinements of the neutron scattering data will be discussed, which in all cases shows the in-plane magnetic ground state is the zigzag phase common in Kitaev related materials including the honeycomb lattice Iridates. Inelastic neutron scattering in all cases shows that this material consistently exhibit strong two-dimensional magnetic fluctuations leading to a break-down of the classical spin-wave picture. Work performed at ORNL is supported by U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences and Office of User Facilities Division.

Measurement of heat conduction through stacked screens

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lewis, M. A.; Kuriyama, T.; Kuriyama, F.; Radebaugh, R.

1998-01-01

This paper describes the experimental apparatus for the measurement of heat conduction through stacked screens as well as some experimental results taken with the apparatus. Screens are stacked in a fiberglass-epoxy cylinder, which is 24.4 mm in diameter and 55 mm in length. The cold end of the stacked screens is cooled by a Gifford-McMahon (GM) cryocooler at cryogenic temperature, and the hot end is maintained at room temperature. Heat conduction through the screens is determined from the temperature gradient in a calibrated heat flow sensor mounted between the cold end of the stacked screens and the GM cryocooler. The samples used for these experiments consisted of 400-mesh stainless steel screens, 400-mesh phosphor bronze screens, and two different porosities of 325-mesh stainless steel screens. The wire diameter of the 400-mesh stainless steel and phosphor bronze screens was 25.4 micrometers and the 325-mesh stainless steel screen wire diameters were 22.9 micrometers and 27.9 micrometers. Standard porosity values were used for the experimental data with additional porosity values used on selected experiments. The experimental results showed that the helium gas between each screen enhanced the heat conduction through the stacked screens by several orders of magnitude compared to that in vacuum. The conduction degradation factor is the ratio of actual heat conduction to the heat conduction where the regenerator material is assumed to be a solid rod of the same cross sectional area as the metal fraction of the screen. This factor was about 0.1 for the stainless steel and 0.022 for the phosphor bronze, and almost constant for the temperature range of 40 to 80 K at the cold end.

Measurement of heat conduction through stacked screens.

PubMed

Lewis, M A; Kuriyama, T; Kuriyama, F; Radebaugh, R

1998-01-01

This paper describes the experimental apparatus for the measurement of heat conduction through stacked screens as well as some experimental results taken with the apparatus. Screens are stacked in a fiberglass-epoxy cylinder, which is 24.4 mm in diameter and 55 mm in length. The cold end of the stacked screens is cooled by a Gifford-McMahon (GM) cryocooler at cryogenic temperature, and the hot end is maintained at room temperature. Heat conduction through the screens is determined from the temperature gradient in a calibrated heat flow sensor mounted between the cold end of the stacked screens and the GM cryocooler. The samples used for these experiments consisted of 400-mesh stainless steel screens, 400-mesh phosphor bronze screens, and two different porosities of 325-mesh stainless steel screens. The wire diameter of the 400-mesh stainless steel and phosphor bronze screens was 25.4 micrometers and the 325-mesh stainless steel screen wire diameters were 22.9 micrometers and 27.9 micrometers. Standard porosity values were used for the experimental data with additional porosity values used on selected experiments. The experimental results showed that the helium gas between each screen enhanced the heat conduction through the stacked screens by several orders of magnitude compared to that in vacuum. The conduction degradation factor is the ratio of actual heat conduction to the heat conduction where the regenerator material is assumed to be a solid rod of the same cross sectional area as the metal fraction of the screen. This factor was about 0.1 for the stainless steel and 0.022 for the phosphor bronze, and almost constant for the temperature range of 40 to 80 K at the cold end.

gbpA as a Novel qPCR Target for the Species-Specific Detection of Vibrio cholerae O1, O139, Non-O1/Non-O139 in Environmental, Stool, and Historical Continuous Plankton Recorder Samples

PubMed Central

Vezzulli, Luigi; Stauder, Monica; Grande, Chiara; Pezzati, Elisabetta; Verheye, Hans M.; Owens, Nicholas J. P.; Pruzzo, Carla

2015-01-01

The Vibrio cholerae N-acetyl glucosamine-binding protein A (GbpA) is a chitin-binding protein involved in V. cholerae attachment to environmental chitin surfaces and human intestinal cells. We previously investigated the distribution and genetic variations of gbpA in a large collection of V. cholerae strains and found that the gene is consistently present and highly conserved in this species. Primers and probe were designed from the gbpA sequence of V. cholerae and a new Taq-based qPCR protocol was developed for diagnostic detection and quantification of the bacterium in environmental and stool samples. In addition, the positions of primers targeting the gbpA gene region were selected to obtain a short amplified fragment of 206 bp and the protocol was optimized for the analysis of formalin-fixed samples, such as historical Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) samples. Overall, the method is sensitive (50 gene copies), highly specific for V. cholerae and failed to amplify strains of the closely-related species Vibrio mimicus. The sensitivity of the assay applied to environmental and stool samples spiked with V. cholerae ATCC 39315 was comparable to that of pure cultures and was of 102 genomic units/l for drinking and seawater samples, 101 genomic units/g for sediment and 102 genomic units/g for bivalve and stool samples. The method also performs well when tested on artificially formalin-fixed and degraded genomic samples and was able to amplify V. cholerae DNA in historical CPR samples, the earliest of which date back to August 1966. The detection of V. cholerae in CPR samples collected in cholera endemic areas such as the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) is of particular significance and represents a proof of concept for the possible use of the CPR technology and the developed qPCR assay in cholera studies. PMID:25915771

gbpA as a Novel qPCR Target for the Species-Specific Detection of Vibrio cholerae O1, O139, Non-O1/Non-O139 in Environmental, Stool, and Historical Continuous Plankton Recorder Samples.

PubMed

Vezzulli, Luigi; Stauder, Monica; Grande, Chiara; Pezzati, Elisabetta; Verheye, Hans M; Owens, Nicholas J P; Pruzzo, Carla

2015-01-01

The Vibrio cholerae N-acetyl glucosamine-binding protein A (GbpA) is a chitin-binding protein involved in V. cholerae attachment to environmental chitin surfaces and human intestinal cells. We previously investigated the distribution and genetic variations of gbpA in a large collection of V. cholerae strains and found that the gene is consistently present and highly conserved in this species. Primers and probe were designed from the gbpA sequence of V. cholerae and a new Taq-based qPCR protocol was developed for diagnostic detection and quantification of the bacterium in environmental and stool samples. In addition, the positions of primers targeting the gbpA gene region were selected to obtain a short amplified fragment of 206 bp and the protocol was optimized for the analysis of formalin-fixed samples, such as historical Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) samples. Overall, the method is sensitive (50 gene copies), highly specific for V. cholerae and failed to amplify strains of the closely-related species Vibrio mimicus. The sensitivity of the assay applied to environmental and stool samples spiked with V. cholerae ATCC 39315 was comparable to that of pure cultures and was of 102 genomic units/l for drinking and seawater samples, 101 genomic units/g for sediment and 102 genomic units/g for bivalve and stool samples. The method also performs well when tested on artificially formalin-fixed and degraded genomic samples and was able to amplify V. cholerae DNA in historical CPR samples, the earliest of which date back to August 1966. The detection of V. cholerae in CPR samples collected in cholera endemic areas such as the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) is of particular significance and represents a proof of concept for the possible use of the CPR technology and the developed qPCR assay in cholera studies.

A primer set to determine sex in the small Indian mongoose, Herpestes auropunctatus.

PubMed

Murata, C; Ogura, G; Kuroiwa, A

2011-03-01

To enable the accurate sexing of individuals of introduced populations of the small Indian mongoose, Herpestes auropunctatus, we designed a primer set for the amplification of the sex-specific fragments EIF2S3Y and EIF2S3X. Using this primer set, the expected amplification products were obtained for all samples of genomic DNA tested: males yielded two bands and females a single band. Sequencing of each PCR product confirmed that the 769-bp fragment amplified from DNA samples of both sexes was derived from EIF2S3X, whereas the 546-bp fragment amplified only from male DNA samples was derived from EIF2S3Y. The results indicated that this primer set is useful for sex identification in this species. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Measurements of amplified spontaneous emission in π-conjugated polymer films with different morphology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yuchen; Yang, Xiao; Wang, Ruizhi; Sheng, Chuanxiang

2014-09-01

π-conjugated polymers (PCPs) are attractive candidates as gain media in laser applications due to their high photoluminescence quantum efficiency in broad spectral range. However, the self-absorption of long-lived excited states was considered to be a limitation for achieving more effective organic lasers. Moreover, the morphology of films is found to be crucial to their optical and electrical properties recently. In this work, we studied amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) of a typical PCP, namely, Poly [2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1, 4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) films with a 10 ns 532 nm pulse laser focused by a cylindrical lens for obtaining an excitation area in the form of a 100 μm wide and 1 cm long stripe. In an as cast MEH-PPV film, the thresholds increase with the temperatures increase due to the thermal torsion and vibration mode shorten the conjugation chain. On the other hand, a MEH-PPV film which is annealed in Nitrogen at 350 K of half hour, the ASE is not observed at both 300 K and 77 K, for annealing will form π- stacks which increase the interchain interaction. Further analysis suggests that interchain excimers instead of intrachain excitons may be more primary to optical properties in annealed MEH-PPV film. Our measurements suggest that the morphology of the film instead of long lived photoexcitation with lifetime sensitive to the temperature is more crucial to threshold of ASE, as well as, to PCPs lasers.

Investigations of stacking fault density in perpendicular recording media

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Piramanayagam, S. N., E-mail: prem-SN@dsi.a-star.edu.sg; Varghese, Binni; Yang, Yi

In magnetic recording media, the grains or clusters reverse their magnetization over a range of reversal field, resulting in a switching field distribution. In order to achieve high areal densities, it is desirable to understand and minimize such a distribution. Clusters of grains which contain stacking faults (SF) or fcc phase have lower anisotropy, an order lower than those without them. It is believed that such low anisotropy regions reverse their magnetization at a much lower reversal field than the rest of the material with a larger anisotropy. Such clusters/grains cause recording performance deterioration, such as adjacent track erasure andmore » dc noise. Therefore, the observation of clusters that reverse at very low reversal fields (nucleation sites, NS) could give information on the noise and the adjacent track erasure. Potentially, the observed clusters could also provide information on the SF. In this paper, we study the reversal of nucleation sites in granular perpendicular media based on a magnetic force microscope (MFM) methodology and validate the observations with high resolution cross-section transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) measurements. Samples, wherein a high anisotropy CoPt layer was introduced to control the NS or SF in a systematic way, were evaluated by MFM, TEM, and magnetometry. The magnetic properties indicated that the thickness of the CoPt layer results in an increase of nucleation sites. TEM measurements indicated a correlation between the thickness of CoPt layer and the stacking fault density. A clear correlation was also observed between the MFM results, TEM observations, and the coercivity and nucleation field of the samples, validating the effectiveness of the proposed method in evaluating the nucleation sites which potentially arise from stacking faults.« less

Portable, universal, and visual ion sensing platform based on the light emitting diode-based self-referencing-ion selective field-effect transistor.

PubMed

Zhang, Xiaowei; Han, Yanchao; Li, Jing; Zhang, Libing; Jia, Xiaofang; Wang, Erkang

2014-02-04

In this work, a novel and universal ion sensing platform was presented, which enables the visual detection of various ions with high sensitivity and selectivity. Coaxial potential signals (millivolt-scale) of the sample from the self-referencing (SR) ion selective chip can be transferred into the ad620-based amplifier with an output of volt-scale potentials. The amplified voltage is high enough to drive a light emitting diode (LED), which can be used as an amplifier and indicator to report the sample information. With this double amplification device (light emitting diode-based self-referencing-ion selective field-effect transistor, LED-SR-ISFET), a tiny change of the sample concentration can be observed with a distinguishable variation of LED brightness by visual inspection. This LED-based luminescent platform provided a facile, low-cost, and rapid sensing strategy without the need of additional expensive chemiluminescence reagent and instruments. Moreover, the SR mode also endows this device excellent stability and reliability. With this innovative design, sensitive determination of K(+), H(+), and Cl(-) by the naked eye was achieved. It should also be noticed that this sensing strategy can easily be extended to other ions (or molecules) by simply integrating the corresponding ion (or molecule) selective electrode.

Application of SCAR (sequence characterized amplified region) analysis to authenticate Lycium barbarum (wolfberry) and its adulterants.

PubMed

Sze, Stephen Cho-Wing; Song, Ju-Xian; Wong, Ricky Ngok-Shun; Feng, Yi-Bin; Ng, Tzi-Bun; Tong, Yao; Zhang, Kalin Yan-Bo

2008-09-01

Fructus Lycii (Gouqizi) is well known in Chinese herbal medicine for its restorative function of benefiting the liver and kidney, replenishing vital essence and improving eyesight. However, ten species and varieties of Lycium have benn found to be substitutes or adulterants of Lycium barbarum (wolfberry) in commercial markets in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and in China generally. L. barbarum cv. 'Tianjinense' and Lycium chinense var. potaninii are the most common examples. It is difficult to differentiate among the Lycium species by traditional morphological and histological analyses. An easy and reliable approach based on SCAR (sequence characterized amplified region) analysis was developed in the present study to differentiate L. barbarum from other Lycium species. Two characteristic bands of approx. 700 and 650 bp were detected on the RAPD (random amplification of polymorphic DNA) profiles generated from samples of L. barbarum and L. chinense var. potaninii using the primer OPC-7. They were isolated and sequenced. Two primer sets, based on the sequences, could amplify a single specific band in samples of L. barbarum respectively, whereas no bands were detected in samples of L. chinense var. potaninii. The results confirmed that the SCAR technique can be employed for authenticating L. barbarum and its adulterants.

Hybrid composite laminates reinforced with Kevlar/carbon/glass woven fabrics for ballistic impact testing.

PubMed

Randjbaran, Elias; Zahari, Rizal; Jalil, Nawal Aswan Abdul; Majid, Dayang Laila Abang Abdul

2014-01-01

Current study reported a facile method to investigate the effects of stacking sequence layers of hybrid composite materials on ballistic energy absorption by running the ballistic test at the high velocity ballistic impact conditions. The velocity and absorbed energy were accordingly calculated as well. The specimens were fabricated from Kevlar, carbon, and glass woven fabrics and resin and were experimentally investigated under impact conditions. All the specimens possessed equal mass, shape, and density; nevertheless, the layers were ordered in different stacking sequence. After running the ballistic test at the same conditions, the final velocities of the cylindrical AISI 4340 Steel pellet showed how much energy was absorbed by the samples. The energy absorption of each sample through the ballistic impact was calculated; accordingly, the proper ballistic impact resistance materials could be found by conducting the test. This paper can be further studied in order to characterise the material properties for the different layers.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Walters, William; Hyde, Embriette R.; Berg-Lyons, Donna

ABSTRACT Designing primers for PCR-based taxonomic surveys that amplify a broad range of phylotypes in varied community samples is a difficult challenge, and the comparability of data sets amplified with varied primers requires attention. Here, we examined the performance of modified 16S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) primers for archaea/bacteria and fungi, respectively, with nonaquatic samples. We moved primer bar codes to the 5′ end, allowing for a range of different 3′ primer pairings, such as the 515f/926r primer pair, which amplifies variable regions 4 and 5 of the 16S rRNA gene. We additionally demonstrated that modifications tomore » the 515f/806r (variable region 4) 16S primer pair, which improves detection ofThaumarchaeotaand clade SAR11 in marine samples, do not degrade performance on taxa already amplified effectively by the original primer set. Alterations to the fungal ITS primers did result in differential but overall improved performance compared to the original primers. In both cases, the improved primers should be widely adopted for amplicon studies. ImportanceWe continue to uncover a wealth of information connecting microbes in important ways to human and environmental ecology. As our scientific knowledge and technical abilities improve, the tools used for microbiome surveys can be modified to improve the accuracy of our techniques, ensuring that we can continue to identify groundbreaking connections between microbes and the ecosystems they populate, from ice caps to the human body. It is important to confirm that modifications to these tools do not cause new, detrimental biases that would inhibit the field rather than continue to move it forward. We therefore demonstrated that two recently modified primer pairs that target taxonomically discriminatory regions of bacterial and fungal genomic DNA do not introduce new biases when used on a variety of sample types, from soil to human skin. This confirms the utility of these primers for maintaining currently recommended microbiome research techniques as the state of the art.« less

Tumor Content Chart-Assisted HER2/CEP17 Digital PCR Analysis of Gastric Cancer Biopsy Specimens.

PubMed

Matsusaka, Keisuke; Ishikawa, Shumpei; Nakayama, Atsuhito; Ushiku, Tetsuo; Nishimoto, Aiko; Urabe, Masayuki; Kaneko, Nobuyuki; Kunita, Akiko; Kaneda, Atsushi; Aburatani, Hiroyuki; Fujishiro, Mitsuhiro; Seto, Yasuyuki; Fukayama, Masashi

2016-01-01

Evaluating HER2 gene amplification is an essential component of therapeutic decision-making for advanced or metastatic gastric cancer. A simple method that is applicable to small, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens is desirable as an adjunct to or as a substitute for currently used HER2 immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization protocols. In this study, we developed a microfluidics-based digital PCR method for determining HER2 and chromosome 17 centromere (CEP17) copy numbers and estimating tumor content ratio (TCR). The HER2/CEP17 ratio is determined by three variables-TCR and absolute copy numbers of HER2 and CEP17-by examining tumor cells; only the ratio of the latter two can be obtained by digital PCR using the whole specimen without purifying tumor cells. TCR was determined by semi-automatic image analysis. We developed a Tumor Content chart, which is a plane of rectangular coordinates consisting of HER2/CEP17 digital PCR data and TCR that delineates amplified, non-amplified, and equivocal areas. By applying this method, 44 clinical gastric cancer biopsy samples were classified as amplified (n = 13), non-amplified (n = 25), or equivocal (n = 6). By comparison, 11 samples were positive, 11 were negative, and 22 were equivocally immunohistochemistry. Thus, our novel method reduced the number of equivocal samples from 22 to 6, thereby obviating the need for confirmation by fluorescence or dual-probe in situ hybridization to < 30% of cases. Tumor content chart-assisted digital PCR analysis is also applicable to multiple sites in surgically resected tissues. These results indicate that this analysis is a useful alternative to HER2 immunohistochemistry in gastric cancers that can serve as a basis for the automated evaluation of HER2 status.

Tumor Content Chart-Assisted HER2/CEP17 Digital PCR Analysis of Gastric Cancer Biopsy Specimens

PubMed Central

Matsusaka, Keisuke; Ishikawa, Shumpei; Nakayama, Atsuhito; Ushiku, Tetsuo; Nishimoto, Aiko; Urabe, Masayuki; Kaneko, Nobuyuki; Kunita, Akiko; Kaneda, Atsushi; Aburatani, Hiroyuki; Fujishiro, Mitsuhiro; Seto, Yasuyuki; Fukayama, Masashi

2016-01-01

Evaluating HER2 gene amplification is an essential component of therapeutic decision-making for advanced or metastatic gastric cancer. A simple method that is applicable to small, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens is desirable as an adjunct to or as a substitute for currently used HER2 immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization protocols. In this study, we developed a microfluidics-based digital PCR method for determining HER2 and chromosome 17 centromere (CEP17) copy numbers and estimating tumor content ratio (TCR). The HER2/CEP17 ratio is determined by three variables—TCR and absolute copy numbers of HER2 and CEP17—by examining tumor cells; only the ratio of the latter two can be obtained by digital PCR using the whole specimen without purifying tumor cells. TCR was determined by semi-automatic image analysis. We developed a Tumor Content chart, which is a plane of rectangular coordinates consisting of HER2/CEP17 digital PCR data and TCR that delineates amplified, non-amplified, and equivocal areas. By applying this method, 44 clinical gastric cancer biopsy samples were classified as amplified (n = 13), non-amplified (n = 25), or equivocal (n = 6). By comparison, 11 samples were positive, 11 were negative, and 22 were equivocally immunohistochemistry. Thus, our novel method reduced the number of equivocal samples from 22 to 6, thereby obviating the need for confirmation by fluorescence or dual-probe in situ hybridization to < 30% of cases. Tumor content chart-assisted digital PCR analysis is also applicable to multiple sites in surgically resected tissues. These results indicate that this analysis is a useful alternative to HER2 immunohistochemistry in gastric cancers that can serve as a basis for the automated evaluation of HER2 status. PMID:27119558

Nanoparticle sensor for label free detection of swine DNA in mixed biological samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, M. E.; Hashim, U.; Mustafa, S.; Che Man, Y. B.; Yusop, M. H. M.; Bari, M. F.; Islam, Kh N.; Hasan, M. F.

2011-05-01

We used 40 ± 5 nm gold nanoparticles (GNPs) as colorimetric sensor to visually detect swine-specific conserved sequence and nucleotide mismatch in PCR-amplified and non-amplified mitochondrial DNA mixtures to authenticate species. Colloidal GNPs changed color from pinkish-red to gray-purple in 2 mM PBS. Visually observed results were clearly reflected by the dramatic reduction of surface plasmon resonance peak at 530 nm and the appearance of new features in the 620-800 nm regions in their absorption spectra. The particles were stabilized against salt-induced aggregation upon the adsorption of single-stranded DNA. The PCR products, without any additional processing, were hybridized with a 17-base probe prior to exposure to GNPs. At a critical annealing temperature (55 °C) that differentiated matched and mismatched base pairing, the probe was hybridized to pig PCR product and dehybridized from the deer product. The dehybridized probe stuck to GNPs to prevent them from salt-induced aggregation and retained their characteristic red color. Hybridization of a 27-nucleotide probe to swine mitochondrial DNA identified them in pork-venison, pork-shad and venison-shad binary admixtures, eliminating the need of PCR amplification. Thus the assay was applied to authenticate species both in PCR-amplified and non-amplified heterogeneous biological samples. The results were determined visually and validated by absorption spectroscopy. The entire assay (hybridization plus visual detection) was performed in less than 10 min. The LOD (for genomic DNA) of the assay was 6 µg ml - 1 swine DNA in mixed meat samples. We believe the assay can be applied for species assignment in food analysis, mismatch detection in genetic screening and homology studies between closely related species.

High resolution melting curve analysis as a new tool for rapid identification of canine parvovirus type 2 strains.

PubMed

Bingga, Gali; Liu, Zhicheng; Zhang, Jianfeng; Zhu, Yujun; Lin, Lifeng; Ding, Shuangyang; Guo, Pengju

2014-01-01

A high resolution melting (HRM) curve method was developed to identify canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) strains by nested PCR. Two sets of primers, CPV-426F/426R and CPV-87R/87F, were designed that amplified a 52 bp and 53 bp product from the viral VP2 capsid gene. The region amplified by CPV-426F/426R included the A4062G and T4064A mutations in CPV-2a, CPV-2b and CPV-2c. The region amplified by CPV-87F/87R included the A3045T mutation in the vaccine strains of CPV-2 and CPV-2a, CPV-2b and CPV-2c. Faecal samples were obtained from 30 dogs that were CPV antigen-positive. The DNA was isolated from the faecal samples and PCR-amplified using the two sets of primers, and genotyped by HRM curve analysis. The PCR-HRM assay was able to distinguish single nucleotide polymorphisms between CPV-2a, CPV-2b and CPV-2c using CPV-426F/426R. CPV-2a was distinguished from CPV-2b and CPV-2c by differences in the melting temperature. CPV-2b and CPV-2c could be distinguished based on the shape of the melting curve after generating heteroduplexes using a CPV-2b reference sample. The vaccine strains of CPV-2 were identified using CPV-87F/87R. Conventional methods for genotyping CPV strains are labor intensive, expensive or time consuming; the present PCR-based HRM assay might be an attractive alternative. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Felis catus papillomavirus types 1 and 4 are rarely present in neoplastic and inflammatory oral lesions of cats.

PubMed

Munday, John S; French, Adrienne F

2015-06-01

Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) are common feline cancers. Why OSCCs are so common in cats is unknown; however, 25% of human OSCCs are caused by papillomaviruses (PVs). Two feline oral PVs (FcaPV-1 and 4) are recognized. As PVs are highly host and location specific, if PVs do cause feline OSCCs, FcaPV-1 and 4 are the most likely etiological agents. PCR primers specific for FcaPV-1 amplified DNA from 1 of 36 feline OSCCs and 1 of 16 inflammatory oral lesions. No DNA was amplified by primers specific for FcaPV-4. PV DNA was not amplified from any additional sample using consensus primers. No PV cytopathology was visible in the OSCC that contained FcaPV-1 DNA, but viral cytopathology was present in a focus of epithelial hyperplasia in the non-neoplastic sample. This study does not support a PV etiology of feline OSCCs, but shows that FcaPV-1 can asymptomatically infect the mouth of cats. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A molecular survey of bovine Theileria parasites among apparently healthy cattle and with a note on the distribution of ticks in eastern Turkey.

PubMed

Aktas, Munir; Altay, Kursat; Dumanli, Nazir

2006-06-15

A survey of Theileria parasites in cattle in eastern Turkey was carried out using specific polymerase chain reaction. A total of 252 blood samples were collected from clinically healthy cattle between June and July 2004. Of 252 blood samples examined, 41 (16%) were positive for piroplasms by microscopy, whereas 114 (45%) were positive for the presence of at least one species of Theileria by PCR. The percentages of positive animals for Theileria annulata and benign Theileria species (Theileria sergenti/buffeli/orientalis) were 39% (99/252) and 7% (18/252), respectively. By allele-specific PCR examination of 18 field isolates which were positive for benign Theileria parasites, 8 samples were only amplified by B-type specific primers and 10 samples were amplified by both of the B and C-type specific primers, indicating a mixed infection with B and C-type of the parasite. None of the field isolates was amplified by I-type specific primers. Three samples were co-infected with T. annulata and benign Theileria parasites. Two of them which were infected with B-type parasite were also infected with T. annulata, the other sample which was infected both of B and C-type parasites was also infected with T. annulata. A total of 724 ixodid ticks were collected from the cattle. Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum was the dominant species with 32% (230/724) in the region. H. a. excavatum, Boophylus annulatus and Rhipicephalus bursa represented 25% (183/724), 19% (140/724) and 15% (112/724) of the total number of ticks, respectively. R. sanguineus was the minor species and represented 8% (59/724) of the tick population.

Detection of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica in foods and water by immunomagnetic separation, nested polymerase chain reactions, and colorimetric detection of amplified DNA.

PubMed Central

Kapperud, G; Vardund, T; Skjerve, E; Hornes, E; Michaelsen, T E

1993-01-01

A two-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure with two nested pairs of primers specific for the yadA gene of Yersinia enterocolitica was developed. The PCR assay identified all common pathogenic serogroups (O:3, O:5,27, O:8, O:9, O:13, and O:21) from three continents and differentiated pathogenic Y. enterocolitica from Y. pseudotuberculosis and from a variety of nonpathogenic yersiniae representing 25 serogroups and four species. The performance of the method was evaluated with seeded food and water samples. We compared two procedures for sample preparation prior to PCR: one was based on immunomagnetic separation of the target bacteria from the sample, using magnetic particles coated with immunoglobulin antibodies to Y. enterocolitica serogroup O:3, and the other method consisted of a series of centrifugation steps combined with proteinase treatment. Regardless of the method used, the PCR assay was capable of detecting 10 to 30 CFU/g of meat in 10(6)-fold excess of indigenous bacteria. When the samples were enriched overnight in a nonselective medium, the sensitivity was increased to approximately 2 CFU/g, except for samples with an extremely high background flora (> 10(7) CFU/g). We compared gel electrophoretic detection of PCR products with a colorimetric detection method designated DIANA (detection of immobilized amplified nucleic acids), which enabled easy visualization of amplified fragments in a microtiter plate format with an optical density reader. DIANA and gel electrophoresis showed complete concordance in their discrimination between positive and negative samples. The combination of immunomagnetic separation, nested PCR, and DIANA makes possible the development of a fully automated analytic process which requires a minimum of laboratory manipulations. Images PMID:8215366

Microarray-based comparison of three amplification methods for nanogram amounts of total RNA

PubMed Central

Singh, Ruchira; Maganti, Rajanikanth J.; Jabba, Sairam V.; Wang, Martin; Deng, Glenn; Heath, Joe Don; Kurn, Nurith; Wangemann, Philine

2007-01-01

Gene expression profiling using microarrays requires microgram amounts of RNA, which limits its direct application for the study of nanogram RNA samples obtained using microdissection, laser capture microscopy, or needle biopsy. A novel system based on Ribo-SPIA technology (RS, Ovation-Biotin amplification and labeling system) was recently introduced. The utility of the RS system, an optimized prototype system for picogram RNA samples (pRS), and two T7-based systems involving one or two rounds of amplification (OneRA, Standard Protocol, or TwoRA, Small Sample Prototcol, version II) were evaluated in the present study. Mouse kidney (MK) and mouse universal reference (MUR) RNA samples, 0.3 ng to 10 μg, were analyzed using high-density Affymetrix Mouse Genome 430 2.0 GeneChip arrays. Call concordance between replicates, correlations of signal intensity, signal intensity ratios, and minimal fold increase necessary for significance were determined. All systems amplified partially overlapping sets of genes with similar signal intensity correlations. pRS amplified the highest number of genes from 10-ng RNA samples. We detected 24 of 26 genes verified by RT-PCR in samples prepared using pRS. TwoRA yielded somewhat higher call concordances than did RS and pRS (91.8% vs. 89.3% and 88.1%, respectively). Although all target preparation methods were suitable, pRS amplified the highest number of targets and was found to be suitable for amplification of as little as 0.3 ng of total RNA. In addition, RS and pRS were faster and simpler to use than the T7-based methods and resulted in the generation of cDNA, which is more stable than cRNA. PMID:15613496

Quantification of Honeycomb Number-Type Stacking Faults: Application to Na 3Ni 2BiO 6 Cathodes for Na-Ion Batteries

DOE PAGES

Liu, Jue; Yin, Liang; Wu, Lijun; ...

2016-08-17

Here, ordered and disordered samples of honeycomb-lattice Na 3Ni 2BiO 6 were investigated as cathodes for Na-ion batteries, and it was determined that the ordered sample exhibits better electrochemical performance, with a specific capacity of 104 mA h/g delivered at plateaus of 3.5 and 3.2 V (vs Na +/Na) with minimal capacity fade during extended cycling. Advanced imaging and diffraction investigations showed that the primary difference between the ordered and disordered samples is the amount of number-type stacking faults associated with the three possible centering choices for each honeycomb layer. A labeling scheme for assigning the number position of honeycombmore » layers is described, and it is shown that the translational shift vectors between layers provide the simplest method for classifying different repeat patterns. We demonstrate that the number position of honeycomb layers can be directly determined in high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM-HAADF) imaging studies. By the use of fault models derived from STEM studies, it is shown that both the sharp, symmetric subcell peaks and the broad, asymmetric superstructure peaks in powder diffraction patterns can be quantitatively modeled. About 20% of the layers in the ordered monoclinic sample are faulted in a nonrandom manner, while the disordered sample stacking is not fully random but instead contains about 4% monoclinic order. Furthermore, it is shown that the ordered sample has a series of higher-order superstructure peaks associated with 6-, 9-, 12-, and 15-layer periods whose existence is transiently driven by the presence of long-range strain that is an inherent consequence of the synthesis mechanism revealed through the present diffraction and imaging studies. This strain is closely associated with a monoclinic shear that can be directly calculated from cell lattice parameters and is strongly correlated with the degree of ordering in the samples. The present results are broadly applicable to other honeycomb-lattice systems, including Li 2MnO 3 and related Li-excess cathode compositions.« less

Quantification of Honeycomb Number-Type Stacking Faults: Application to Na 3Ni 2BiO 6 Cathodes for Na-Ion Batteries

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Jue; Yin, Liang; Wu, Lijun

Here, ordered and disordered samples of honeycomb-lattice Na 3Ni 2BiO 6 were investigated as cathodes for Na-ion batteries, and it was determined that the ordered sample exhibits better electrochemical performance, with a specific capacity of 104 mA h/g delivered at plateaus of 3.5 and 3.2 V (vs Na +/Na) with minimal capacity fade during extended cycling. Advanced imaging and diffraction investigations showed that the primary difference between the ordered and disordered samples is the amount of number-type stacking faults associated with the three possible centering choices for each honeycomb layer. A labeling scheme for assigning the number position of honeycombmore » layers is described, and it is shown that the translational shift vectors between layers provide the simplest method for classifying different repeat patterns. We demonstrate that the number position of honeycomb layers can be directly determined in high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM-HAADF) imaging studies. By the use of fault models derived from STEM studies, it is shown that both the sharp, symmetric subcell peaks and the broad, asymmetric superstructure peaks in powder diffraction patterns can be quantitatively modeled. About 20% of the layers in the ordered monoclinic sample are faulted in a nonrandom manner, while the disordered sample stacking is not fully random but instead contains about 4% monoclinic order. Furthermore, it is shown that the ordered sample has a series of higher-order superstructure peaks associated with 6-, 9-, 12-, and 15-layer periods whose existence is transiently driven by the presence of long-range strain that is an inherent consequence of the synthesis mechanism revealed through the present diffraction and imaging studies. This strain is closely associated with a monoclinic shear that can be directly calculated from cell lattice parameters and is strongly correlated with the degree of ordering in the samples. The present results are broadly applicable to other honeycomb-lattice systems, including Li 2MnO 3 and related Li-excess cathode compositions.« less

Development and characterization of 79 nuclear markers amplifying in viviparous and oviparous clades of the European common lizard.

PubMed

Horreo, J L; Peláez, M L; Suárez, T; Fitze, P S

2018-02-01

The European common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) is a widely distributed species across Europe and Asia exhibiting two reproductive modes (oviparity/viviparity), six major lineages and several sublineages. It has been used to tackle a large variety of research questions, nevertheless, few nuclear DNA sequence markers have been developed for this species. Here we developed 79 new nuclear DNA sequence markers using a clonation protocol. These markers were amplified in several oviparous and viviparous specimens including samples of all extant clades, to test the amplification success and their diversity. 49.4% of the markers were polymorphic and of those, 51.3% amplified in all and 94.9% amplified in 5-7 of the extant Z. vivipara clades. These new markers will be very useful for the study of the population structure, population dynamics, and micro/macro evolution of Z. vivipara. Cross-species amplification in four lizard species (Psammodromus edwardsianus, Podarcis muralis, Lacerta bilineata, and Takydromus sexlineatus) was positive in several of the markers, and six makers amplified in all five species. The large genetic distance between P. edwardsianus and Z. vivipara further suggests that these markers may as well be employed in many other species.

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography and capillary electrochromatography of nitroaromatic explosives in seawater.

PubMed

Giordano, Braden C; Copper, Christine L; Collins, Greg E

2006-02-01

The ability to separate nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives in seawater sample matrices is demonstrated using both MEKC and CEC. While several capillary-based separations exist for explosives, none address direct sampling from seawater, a sample matrix of particular interest in the detection of undersea mines. Direct comparisons are made between MEKC and CEC in terms of sensitivity and separation efficiency for the analysis of 14 explosives and explosive degradation products in seawater and diluted seawater. The use of high-salt stacking with MEKC results, on average, in a three-fold increase in the number of theoretical plates, and nearly double resolution for samples prepared in 25% seawater. By taking advantage of long injection times in conjunction with stacking, detection limits down to sub mg/L levels are attainable; however, resolution is sacrificed. CEC of explosive mixtures using sol-gels prepared from methyltrimethoxysilane does not perform as well as MEKC in terms of resolving power, but does permit extended injection times for concentrating analyte onto the head of the separation column with little or no subsequent loss in resolution. Electrokinetic injections of 8 min at high voltage allow for detection limits of explosives below 100 microg/L.

Rapid and direct determination of glyphosate, glufosinate, and aminophosphonic acid by online preconcentration CE with contactless conductivity detection.

PubMed

See, Hong Heng; Hauser, Peter C; Ibrahim, Wan Aini Wan; Sanagi, Mohd Marsin

2010-01-01

Rapid and direct online preconcentration followed by CE with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (CE-C(4)D) is evaluated as a new approach for the determination of glyphosate, glufosinate (GLUF), and aminophosphonic acid (AMPA) in drinking water. Two online preconcentration techniques, namely large volume sample stacking without polarity switching and field-enhanced sample injection, coupled with CE-C(4)D were successfully developed and optimized. Under optimized conditions, LODs in the range of 0.01-0.1 microM (1.7-11.1 microg/L) and sensitivity enhancements of 48- to 53-fold were achieved with the large volume sample stacking-CE-C(4)D method. By performing the field-enhanced sample injection-CE-C(4)D procedure, excellent LODs down to 0.0005-0.02 microM (0.1-2.2 microg/L) as well as sensitivity enhancements of up to 245- to 1002-fold were obtained. Both techniques showed satisfactory reproducibility with RSDs of peak height of better than 10%. The newly established approaches were successfully applied to the analysis of glyphosate, glufosinate, and aminophosphonic acid in spiked tap drinking water.

Design and Implementation of an Operations Module for the ARGOS paperless Ship System

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-06-01

A. OPERATIONS STACK SCRIPTS SCRIPTS FOR STACK: operations * BACKGROUND #1: Operations * on openStack hide message box show menuBar pass openStack end... openStack ** CARD #1, BUTTON #1: Up ***** on mouseUp visual effect zoom out go to card id 10931 of stack argos end mouseUp ** CARD #1, BUTTON #2...STACK SCRIPTS SCRIPTS FOR STACK: Reports ** BACKGROUND #1: Operations * on openStack hie message box show menuBar pass openStack end openStack ** CARD #1

Single shot spin readout with a cryogenic high-electron-mobility transistor amplifier at sub-Kelvin temperatures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tracy, Lisa A.; Luhman, Dwight R.; Carr, Stephen M.

We use a cryogenic high-electron-mobility transistor circuit to amplify the current from a single electron transistor, allowing for demonstration of single shot readout of an electron spin on a single P donor in Si with 100 kHz bandwidth and a signal to noise ratio of ~9. In order to reduce the impact of cable capacitance, the amplifier is located adjacent to the Si sample, at the mixing chamber stage of a dilution refrigerator. For a current gain of ~2.7 x 10 3 the power dissipation of the amplifier is 13 μW, the bandwidth is ~1.3 MHz, and for frequencies abovemore » 300 kHz the current noise referred to input is ≤ 70 fA/√Hz. Furthermore, with this amplification scheme, we are able to observe coherent oscillations of a P donor electron spin in isotopically enriched 28Si with 96% visibility.« less

Single shot spin readout with a cryogenic high-electron-mobility transistor amplifier at sub-Kelvin temperatures

DOE PAGES

Tracy, Lisa A.; Luhman, Dwight R.; Carr, Stephen M.; ...

2016-02-08

We use a cryogenic high-electron-mobility transistor circuit to amplify the current from a single electron transistor, allowing for demonstration of single shot readout of an electron spin on a single P donor in Si with 100 kHz bandwidth and a signal to noise ratio of ~9. In order to reduce the impact of cable capacitance, the amplifier is located adjacent to the Si sample, at the mixing chamber stage of a dilution refrigerator. For a current gain of ~2.7 x 10 3 the power dissipation of the amplifier is 13 μW, the bandwidth is ~1.3 MHz, and for frequencies abovemore » 300 kHz the current noise referred to input is ≤ 70 fA/√Hz. Furthermore, with this amplification scheme, we are able to observe coherent oscillations of a P donor electron spin in isotopically enriched 28Si with 96% visibility.« less

Defects in paramagnetic Co-doped ZnO films studied by transmission electron microscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kovacs, Andras; Ney, A.; Duchamp, Martial

2013-12-23

We have studied planar defects in epitaxial Co:ZnO dilute magnetic semiconductor thin films deposited on c-plane sapphire (Al2O3) and the Co:ZnO/Al2O3 interface structure at atomic resolution using aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). Comparing Co:ZnO samples deposited by pulsed laser deposition and reactive magnetron sputtering, both exhibit extrinsic stacking faults, incoherent interface structures, and compositional variations within the first 3-4 Co:ZnO layers at the interface.. In addition, we have measured the local strain which reveals the lattice distortion around the stacking faults.

Genetic structure of Pilosocereus gounellei (Cactaceae) as revealed by AFLP marker to guide proposals for improvement and restoration of degraded areas in Caatinga biome.

PubMed

Monteiro, E R; Strioto, D K; Meirelles, A C S; Mangolin, C A; Machado, M F P S

2015-12-15

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis was used to evaluate DNA polymorphism in Pilosocereus gounellei with the aim of differentiating samples grown in different Brazilian semiarid regions. Seven primer pairs were used to amplify 703 AFLP markers, of which 700 (99.21%) markers were polymorphic. The percentage of polymorphic markers ranged from 95.3% for the primer combination E-AAG/M-CTT to 100% for E-ACC/M-CAT, E-ACC/M-CAA, E-AGC/M-CAG, E-ACT/M-CTA, and E-AGG/M-CTG. The largest number of informative markers (126) was detected using the primer combination E-AAC/M-CTA. Polymorphism of the amplified DNA fragments ranged from 72.55% (in sample from Piauí State) to 82.79% (in samples from Rio Grande Norte State), with an average of 75.39%. Despite the high genetic diversity of AFLP markers in xiquexique, analysis using the STRUCTURE software identified relatively homogeneous clusters of xiquexique from the same location, indicating a differentiation at the molecular level, among the plant samples from different regions of the Caatinga biome. The AFLP methodology identified genetically homogeneous and contrasting plants, as well as plants from different regions with common DNA markers. Seeds from such plants can be used for further propagation of plants for establishment of biodiversity conservation units and restoration of degraded areas of the Caatinga biome.

Discriminator Stabilized Superconductor/Ferroelectric Thin Film Local Oscillator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Romanofsky, Robert R. (Inventor); Miranda, Felix A. (Inventor)

2000-01-01

A tunable local oscillator with a tunable circuit that includes a resonator and a transistor as an active element for oscillation. Tuning of the circuit is achieved with an externally applied dc bias across coupled lines on the resonator. Preferably the resonator is a high temperature superconductor microstrip ring resonator with integral coupled lines formed over a thin film ferroelectric material. A directional coupler samples the output of the oscillator which is fed into a diplexer for determining whether the oscillator is performing at a desired frequency. The high-pass and lowpass outputs of the diplexer are connected to diodes respectively for inputting the sampled signals into a differential operational amplifier. The amplifier compares the sampled signals and emits an output signal if there is a difference between the resonant and crossover frequencies. Based on the sampled signal, a bias supplied to the ring resonator is either increased or decreased for raising or lowering the resonant frequency by decreasing or increasing, respectively, the dielectric constant of the ferroelectric.

Resonant ultrasound spectrometer

DOEpatents

Migliori, Albert; Visscher, William M.; Fisk, Zachary

1990-01-01

An ultrasound resonant spectrometer determines the resonant frequency spectrum of a rectangular parallelepiped sample of a high dissipation material over an expected resonant response frequency range. A sample holder structure grips corners of the sample between piezoelectric drive and receive transducers. Each transducer is mounted on a membrane for only weakly coupling the transducer to the holder structure and operatively contacts a material effective to remove system resonant responses at the transducer from the expected response range. i.e., either a material such as diamond to move the response frequencies above the range or a damping powder to preclude response within the range. A square-law detector amplifier receives the response signal and retransmits the signal on an isolated shield of connecting cabling to remove cabling capacitive effects. The amplifier also provides a substantially frequency independently voltage divider with the receive transducer. The spectrometer is extremely sensitive to enable low amplitude resonance to be detected for use in calculating the elastic constants of the high dissipation sample.

Epizootology and experimental infection of Yokose virus in bats.

PubMed

Watanabe, Shumpei; Omatsu, Tsutomu; Miranda, Mary E G; Masangkay, Joseph S; Ueda, Naoya; Endo, Maiko; Kato, Kentaro; Tohya, Yukinobu; Yoshikawa, Yasuhiro; Akashi, Hiroomi

2010-01-01

To reveal whether bats serve as an amplifying host for Yokose virus (YOKV), we conducted a serological survey and experimentally infected fruit bats with YOKV isolated from microbats in Japan. YOKV belongs to the Entebbe bat virus group of vector unknown group within the genus Flavivirus and family Flaviviridae. To detect antibodies against YOKV, we developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using biotinylated anti-bat IgG rabbit sera. Serological surveillance was conducted with samples collected in the Philippines and the sera supplied from Malaysia. One of the 36 samples from the Philippines (2.7%) and 5 of the 26 samples from Malaysia (19%) had detectable ELISA antibodies. In the experimental infections, no clinical signs of disease were observed. Moreover, no significant viral genome amplification was detected. These findings revealed that YOKV replicates poorly in the fruit bat, suggesting that fruit bats do not seem to serve as an amplifying host for YOKV.

Evaluation of Cytokine Synthesis in Human Whole Blood by Enzyme Linked Immunoassay (ELISA), Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), and Flow Cytometry

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-05-08

deoxynucleotide triphosphates, from Sigma. Sequences for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase ( G3PDH ), IL-8,and TNF-a were amplified with primer...This was accomplished by normalizing all samples to the mRNA for the moderately expressed housekeeping function glyceraldehyde-3 -phosphate...without and with isolation of cells before reverse transcription and PCR. G3PDH mRNA target amplifies at 983 base pairs. The 630 base pair band is the

Analysis of pesticides in soy milk combining solid-phase extraction and capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Hernández-Borges, Javier; Rodriguez-Delgado, Miguel Angel; García-Montelongo, Francisco J; Cifuentes, Alejandro

2005-06-01

In this work, the determination of a group of triazolopyrimidine sulfoanilide herbicides (cloransulam-methyl, metosulam, flumetsulam, florasulam, and diclosulam) in soy milk by capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) is presented. The main electrospray interface (ESI) parameters (nebulizer pressure, dry gas flow rate, dry gas temperature, and composition of the sheath liquid) are optimized using a central composite design. To increase the sensitivity of the CE-MS method, an off-line sample preconcentration procedure based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) is combined with an on-line stacking procedure (i.e. normal stacking mode, NSM). Samples could be injected for up to 100 s, providing limits of detection (LODs) down to 74 microg/L, i.e., at the low ppb level, with relative standard deviation values (RSD,%) between 3.8% and 6.4% for peak areas on the same day, and between 6.5% and 8.1% on three different days. The usefulness of the optimized SPE-NSM-CE-MS procedure is demonstrated through the sensitive quantification of the selected pesticides in soy milk samples.

Fabrication of multiwall carbon nanotube sheet based hydrogen sensor on a stacking multi-layer structure.

PubMed

Yan, Keyi; Toku, Yuhki; Morita, Yasuyuki; Ju, Yang

2018-06-22

In this research, we propose a new simple method to fabricate hydrogen gas sensor by stacking the multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) sheets. MWCNT sheet offers a larger surface area and more CNT contacts, which are key factors for gas sensing, because of its super-high alignment and end-to-end structure comparing to the traditional CNT film. Besides, MWCNT sheet can be directly drawn from the spinnable CNT array in large scales. Therefore, this method is a potential answer for the mass production and commercialization of CNT based sensor with high response. By stacking different layers of sheet, microstructure and CNT interactions in the layers were changed and their influences towards gas sensing were investigated. It was observed that the sample with 3 layers of sheet and functionalized with 3 nm-thick Pd showed the best gas sensing performance with a response of 12.31% at 4% H2 and response time below 200 s. © 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Combining a multi deposition multi annealing technique with a scavenging (Ti) to improve the high-k/metal gate stack performance for a gate-last process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

ShuXiang, Zhang; Hong, Yang; Bo, Tang; Zhaoyun, Tang; Yefeng, Xu; Jing, Xu; Jiang, Yan

2014-10-01

ALD HfO2 films fabricated by a novel multi deposition multi annealing (MDMA) technique are investigated, we have included samples both with and without a Ti scavenging layer. As compared to the reference gate stack treated by conventional one-time deposition and annealing (D&A), devices receiving MDMA show a significant reduction in leakage current. Meanwhile, EOT growth is effectively controlled by the Ti scavenging layer. This improvement strongly correlates with the cycle number of D&A (while keeping the total annealing time and total dielectrics thickness the same). Transmission electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis suggests that oxygen incorporation into both the high-k film and the interfacial layer is likely to be responsible for the improvement of the device. This novel MDMA is promising for the development of gate stack technology in a gate last integration scheme.

Incommensurate Graphene Foam as a High Capacity Lithium Intercalation Anode

PubMed Central

Paronyan, Tereza M.; Thapa, Arjun Kumar; Sherehiy, Andriy; Jasinski, Jacek B.; Jangam, John Samuel Dilip

2017-01-01

Graphite’s capacity of intercalating lithium in rechargeable batteries is limited (theoretically, 372 mAh g−1) due to low diffusion within commensurately-stacked graphene layers. Graphene foam with highly enriched incommensurately-stacked layers was grown and applied as an active electrode in rechargeable batteries. A 93% incommensurate graphene foam demonstrated a reversible specific capacity of 1,540 mAh g−1 with a 75% coulombic efficiency, and an 86% incommensurate sample achieves above 99% coulombic efficiency exhibiting 930 mAh g−1 specific capacity. The structural and binding analysis of graphene show that lithium atoms highly intercalate within weakly interacting incommensurately-stacked graphene network, followed by a further flexible rearrangement of layers for a long-term stable cycling. We consider lithium intercalation model for multilayer graphene where capacity varies with N number of layers resulting LiN+1C2N stoichiometry. The effective capacity of commonly used carbon-based rechargeable batteries can be significantly improved using incommensurate graphene as an anode material. PMID:28059110

Determination of lateral size distribution of type-II ZnTe/ZnSe stacked submonolayer quantum dots via spectral analysis of optical signature of the Aharanov-Bohm excitons

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ji, Haojie; Dhomkar, Siddharth; Roy, Bidisha

2014-10-28

For submonolayer quantum dot (QD) based photonic devices, size and density of QDs are critical parameters, the probing of which requires indirect methods. We report the determination of lateral size distribution of type-II ZnTe/ZnSe stacked submonolayer QDs, based on spectral analysis of the optical signature of Aharanov-Bohm (AB) excitons, complemented by photoluminescence studies, secondary-ion mass spectroscopy, and numerical calculations. Numerical calculations are employed to determine the AB transition magnetic field as a function of the type-II QD radius. The study of four samples grown with different tellurium fluxes shows that the lateral size of QDs increases by just 50%, evenmore » though tellurium concentration increases 25-fold. Detailed spectral analysis of the emission of the AB exciton shows that the QD radii take on only certain values due to vertical correlation and the stacked nature of the QDs.« less

Integration of Multi-Modal Biomedical Data to Predict Cancer Grade and Patient Survival.

PubMed

Phan, John H; Hoffman, Ryan; Kothari, Sonal; Wu, Po-Yen; Wang, May D

2016-02-01

The Big Data era in Biomedical research has resulted in large-cohort data repositories such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). These repositories routinely contain hundreds of matched patient samples for genomic, proteomic, imaging, and clinical data modalities, enabling holistic and multi-modal integrative analysis of human disease. Using TCGA renal and ovarian cancer data, we conducted a novel investigation of multi-modal data integration by combining histopathological image and RNA-seq data. We compared the performances of two integrative prediction methods: majority vote and stacked generalization. Results indicate that integration of multiple data modalities improves prediction of cancer grade and outcome. Specifically, stacked generalization, a method that integrates multiple data modalities to produce a single prediction result, outperforms both single-data-modality prediction and majority vote. Moreover, stacked generalization reveals the contribution of each data modality (and specific features within each data modality) to the final prediction result and may provide biological insights to explain prediction performance.

Glue-Free Stacked Luminescent Nanosheets Enable High-Resolution Ratiometric Temperature Mapping in Living Small Animals.

PubMed

Miyagawa, Takuya; Fujie, Toshinori; Ferdinandus; Vo Doan, Tat Thang; Sato, Hirotaka; Takeoka, Shinji

2016-12-14

In this paper, a microthermograph, temperature mapping with high spatial resolution, was established using luminescent molecules embedded ultrathin polymeric films (nanosheets), and demonstrated in a living small animal to map out and visualize temperature shift due to animal's muscular activity. Herein, we report super flexible and self-adhesive (no need of glue) nanothermosensor consisting of stacked two different polymeric nanosheets with thermosensitive (Eu-tris (dinaphthoylmethane)-bis-trioctylphosphine oxide: EuDT) and insensitive (Rhodamine 800) dyes being embedded. Such stacked nanosheets allow for the ratiometric thermometry, with which the undesired luminescence intensity shift due to focal drift or animal's z-axis displacement is eliminated and the desired intensity shift solely due to the temperature shift of the sample (living muscle) can be acquired. With the stacked luminescent nanosheets, we achieved the first-ever demonstration of video filming of chronologically changing temperature-shift distribution from the rest state to the active state of the muscles in the living animal. The polymer nanosheet engineering and in vivo microthermography presented in the paper are promising technologies to microscopically explore the heat production and heat transfer in living cells, tissues, and organisms with high spatial resolution beyond what existing thermometric technologies such as infrared thermography have ever achieved.

The in-capillary DPPH-capillary electrophoresis-the diode array detector combined with reversed-electrode polarity stacking mode for screening and quantifying major antioxidants in Cuscuta chinensis Lam.

PubMed

Liu, Jiao; Tian, Ji; Li, Jin; Azietaku, John Teye; Zhang, Bo-Li; Gao, Xiu-Mei; Chang, Yan-Xu

2016-07-01

An in-capillary 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-CE-the DAD (in-capillary DPPH-CE-DAD) combined with reversed-electrode polarity stacking mode has been developed to screen and quantify the active antioxidant components of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. The operation parameters were optimized with regard to the pH and concentration of buffer solution, SDS, β-CDs, organic modifier, as well as separation voltage and temperature. Six antioxidants including chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, rutin, hyperin, isoquercitrin, and astragalin were screened and the total antioxidant activity of the complex matrix was successfully evaluated based on the decreased peak area of DPPH by the established DPPH-CE-DAD method. Sensitivity was enhanced under reversed-electrode polarity stacking mode and 10- to 31-fold of magnitude improvement in detection sensitivity for each analyte was attained. The results demonstrated that the newly established in-capillary DPPH-CE-DAD method combined with reversed-electrode polarity stacking mode could integrate sample concentration, the oxidizing reaction, separation, and detection into one capillary to fully automate the system. It was considered a suitable technique for the separation, screening, and determination of trace antioxidants in natural products. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Advanced Cu chemical displacement technique for SiO2-based electrochemical metallization ReRAM application.

PubMed

Chin, Fun-Tat; Lin, Yu-Hsien; You, Hsin-Chiang; Yang, Wen-Luh; Lin, Li-Min; Hsiao, Yu-Ping; Ko, Chum-Min; Chao, Tien-Sheng

2014-01-01

This study investigates an advanced copper (Cu) chemical displacement technique (CDT) with varying the chemical displacement time for fabricating Cu/SiO2-stacked resistive random-access memory (ReRAM). Compared with other Cu deposition methods, this CDT easily controls the interface of the Cu-insulator, the switching layer thickness, and the immunity of the Cu etching process, assisting the 1-transistor-1-ReRAM (1T-1R) structure and system-on-chip integration. The modulated shape of the Cu-SiO2 interface and the thickness of the SiO2 layer obtained by CDT-based Cu deposition on SiO2 were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The CDT-fabricated Cu/SiO2-stacked ReRAM exhibited lower operation voltages and more stable data retention characteristics than the control Cu/SiO2-stacked sample. As the Cu CDT processing time increased, the forming and set voltages of the CDT-fabricated Cu/SiO2-stacked ReRAM decreased. Conversely, decreasing the processing time reduced the on-state current and reset voltage while increasing the endurance switching cycle time. Therefore, the switching characteristics were easily modulated by Cu CDT, yielding a high performance electrochemical metallization (ECM)-type ReRAM.

Role of SiC substrate surface on local tarnishing of deposited silver mirror stacks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Limam, Emna; Maurice, Vincent; Seyeux, Antoine; Zanna, Sandrine; Klein, Lorena H.; Chauveau, Grégory; Grèzes-Besset, Catherine; Savin De Larclause, Isabelle; Marcus, Philippe

2018-04-01

The role of the SiC substrate surface on the resistance to the local initiation of tarnishing of thin-layered silver stacks for demanding space mirror applications was studied by combined surface and interface analysis on model stack samples deposited by cathodic magnetron sputtering and submitted to accelerated aging in gaseous H2S. It is shown that suppressing the surface pores resulting from the bulk SiC material production process by surface pretreatment eliminates the high aspect ratio surface sites that are imperfectly protected by the SiO2 overcoat after the deposition of silver. The formation of channels connecting the silver layer to its environment through the failing protection layer at the surface pores and locally enabling H2S entry and Ag2S growth as columns until emergence at the stack surface is suppressed, which markedly delays tarnishing initiation and thereby preserves the optical performance. The results revealed that residual tarnishing initiation proceeds by a mechanism essentially identical in nature but involving different pathways short circuiting the protection layer and enabling H2S ingress until the silver layer. These permeation pathways are suggested to be of microstructural origin and could correspond to the incompletely coalesced intergranular boundaries of the SiO2 layer.

Searching for the best real-time RT-PCRs to detect Zika virus infections: the importance of comparing several protocols.

PubMed

de Moraes, F M; Espósito, D L A; Klein, T M; da Fonseca, B A L

2018-01-01

Clinical manifestations of Zika, dengue, and chikungunya virus infections are very similar, making it difficult to reach a diagnosis based only on clinical grounds. In addition, there is an intense cross-reactivity between antibodies directed to Zika virus and other flaviviruses, and an accurate Zika diagnosis is best achieved by real-time RT-PCR. However, some real-time RT-PCR show better performance than others. To reach the best possible Zika diagnosis, the analytic sensitivity of some probe-based real-time RT-PCR amplifying Zika virus RNA was evaluated in spiked and clinical samples. We evaluated primers and probes to detect Zika virus, which had been published before, and tested sensitivity using serum spiked and patient samples by real-time RT-PCR. When tested against spiked samples, the previously described primers showed different sensitivity, with very similar results when samples from patients (serum and urine) were analyzed. Real-time RT-PCR designed to amplify Zika virus NS1 showed the best analytical sensitivity for all samples.

THE USE OF MULTIPLE DISPLACEMENT AMPLIFICATION TO INCREASE THE DETECTION AND GENOTYPING OF TRYPANOSOMA SPECIES SAMPLES IMMOBILISED ON FTA FILTERS

PubMed Central

MORRISON, LIAM J.; McCORMACK, GILLIAN; SWEENEY, LINDSAY; LIKEUFACK, ANNE C. L.; TRUC, PHILIPPE; TURNER, C. MICHAEL; TAIT, ANDY; MacLEOD, ANNETTE

2007-01-01

Whole genome amplification methods are a recently developed tool for amplifying DNA from limited template. We report its application in trypanosome infections, characterised by low parasitaemias. Multiple Displacement Amplification (MDA) amplifies DNA with a simple in vitro step, and was evaluated on mouse blood samples on FTA filter cards with known numbers of Trypanosoma brucei parasites. The data showed a twenty-fold increase in the number of PCRs possible per sample, using primers diagnostic for the multi-copy ribosomal ITS region or 177 bp repeats, and a twenty-fold increase in sensitivity over nested PCR against a single copy microsatellite. Using MDA for microsatellite genotyping caused allele dropout at low DNA concentrations, which was overcome by pooling multiple MDA reactions. The validity of using MDA was established with samples from Human African Trypanosomiasis patients. The use of MDA allows maximal use of finite DNA samples and may prove a valuable tool in studies where multiple reactions are necessary, such as population genetic analyses. PMID:17556624

Probing Reionization at z >~ 7 with HST's Near-Infrared Grisms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, Kasper B.

The epoch of reionization, i.e. the phase transition of the inter-galactic medium from neutral to fully ionized, is essential for our understanding of the evolution of the Universe and the formation of the first stars and galaxies. The Grism Lens-Amplified Survey from Space (GLASS) has obtained spectra of ten thousands of objects in and behind 10 massive galaxy clusters, including the six Hubble Frontier Fields. The grism spectroscopy from GLASS results in hundreds of spectra of z >~ 7 galaxy candidates. Taking advantage of the lensing magnification from the foreground clusters, the GLASS spectra reaches unprecedented depths in the near-infrared with observed flux limits of ~ 5 × 10-18erg/s/cm2 before correcting for the lens magnification. This has resulted in several Lyα detections at z ~ 7 and tight limits on the emission line fluxes for non-detections. From an ensemble of different photometric selections, we have assembled more than 150 z >~ 7 galaxy candidates from six of the ten GLASS clusters. Among these more than 20 objects show emission lines consistent with being Lyα at z >~ 7. The spatial extent of Lyα estimated from a stack of the most promising Lyα emitters at = 7.2 is consistent with the spatial extent of the UV continuum emission. From the stack we obtain upper limits on the emission line ratios between prominent rest-frame UV emission lines, finding that f CIV/f Lyα <~ 0.32 and f CIII]/f Lyα <~ 0.23 in good agreement with values published in the literature.

The impact of stack geometry and mean pressure on cold end temperature of stack in thermoacoustic refrigeration systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wantha, Channarong

2018-02-01

This paper reports on the experimental and simulation studies of the influence of stack geometries and different mean pressures on the cold end temperature of the stack in the thermoacoustic refrigeration system. The stack geometry was tested, including spiral stack, circular pore stack and pin array stack. The results of this study show that the mean pressure of the gas in the system has a significant impact on the cold end temperature of the stack. The mean pressure of the gas in the system corresponds to thermal penetration depth, which results in a better cold end temperature of the stack. The results also show that the cold end temperature of the pin array stack decreases more than that of the spiral stack and circular pore stack geometry by approximately 63% and 70%, respectively. In addition, the thermal area and viscous area of the stack are analyzed to explain the results of such temperatures of thermoacoustic stacks.

PCDD/F TEQ INDICATORS AND THEIR MECHANISTIC IMPLICATIONS

EPA Science Inventory

Stack gas samples from two incinerator facilities with different operating conditions were investigated to find polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/furan (PCDD/F) toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) indicators from amongst the 210 PCDD/F isomers. Similarities in isomer patterns were als...

40 CFR 60.715 - Test methods and procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... base film (i.e., the sample shall include any dilution solvent or other VOC added during the... for gas analysis. (f) Method 4 is used for stack gas moisture. (g) Methods 2, 2A, 2C, 2D, 3, and 4...

MONITORING OF INCINERATOR EMISSIONS

EPA Science Inventory

Monitoring of Incinerator Emissions is a chapter to be included in a book entitled Hazardous Waste Incineration, edited by A. Sarofim and D. Pershing, and published by John Wiley and Sons. he chapter describes stack sampling and analysis procedures in use on hazardous waste incin...

Molecular analysis of partial VP-2 gene amplified from rectal swab samples of diarrheic dogs in Pakistan confirms the circulation of canine parvovirus genetic variant CPV-2a and detects sequences of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV).

PubMed

Ahmed, Nisar; Riaz, Adeel; Zubair, Zahra; Saqib, Muhammad; Ijaz, Sehrish; Nawaz-Ul-Rehman, Muhammad Shah; Al-Qahtani, Ahmed; Mubin, Muhammad

2018-03-15

The infection in dogs due to canine parvovirus (CPV), is a highly contagious one with high mortality rate. The present study was undertaken for a detailed genetic analysis of partial VP2 gene i.e., 630 bp isolated from rectal swab samples of infected domestic and stray dogs from all areas of district Faisalabad. Monitoring of viruses is important, as continuous prevalence of viral infection might be associated with emergence of new virulent strains. In the present study, 40 rectal swab samples were collected from diarrheic dogs from different areas of district Faisalabad, Pakistan, in 2014-15 and screened for the presence of CPV by immunochromatography. Most of these dogs were stray dogs showing symptoms of diarrhea. Viral DNA was isolated and partial VP2 gene was amplified using gene specific primer pair Hfor/Hrev through PCR. Amplified fragments were cloned in pTZ57R/T (Fermentas) and completely sequenced. Sequences were analyzed and assembled by the Lasergene DNA analysis package (v8; DNAStar Inc., Madison, WI, USA). The results with immunochromatography showed that 33/40 (82%) of dogs were positive for CPV. We were able to amplify a fragment of 630 bp from 25 samples. In 25 samples the sequences of CPV-2a were detected showing the amino acid substitution Ser297Ala and presence of amino acid (426-Asn) in partial VP2 protein. Interestingly the BLAST analysis showed the of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) sequences in 3 samples which were already positive for new CPV-2a, with 99% sequence homology to other FPV sequences present in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis showed clustering of partial CPV-VP-2 gene with viruses from China, India, Japan and Uruguay identifying a new variant, whereas the 3 FPV sequences showed immediate ancestral relationship with viruses from Portugal, South Africa and USA. Interesting observation was that CPV are clustering away from the commercial vaccine strains. In this work we provide a better understanding of CPV prevailing in Pakistan at molecular level. The detection of FPV could be a case of real co-infection or a case of dual presence, due to ingestion of contaminated food.

A Method for the Evaluation of Thousands of Automated 3D Stem Cell Segmentations

PubMed Central

Bajcsy, Peter; Simon, Mylene; Florczyk, Stephen; Simon, Carl G.; Juba, Derek; Brady, Mary

2016-01-01

There is no segmentation method that performs perfectly with any data set in comparison to human segmentation. Evaluation procedures for segmentation algorithms become critical for their selection. The problems associated with segmentation performance evaluations and visual verification of segmentation results are exaggerated when dealing with thousands of 3D image volumes because of the amount of computation and manual inputs needed. We address the problem of evaluating 3D segmentation performance when segmentation is applied to thousands of confocal microscopy images (z-stacks). Our approach is to incorporate experimental imaging and geometrical criteria, and map them into computationally efficient segmentation algorithms that can be applied to a very large number of z-stacks. This is an alternative approach to considering existing segmentation methods and evaluating most state-of-the-art algorithms. We designed a methodology for 3D segmentation performance characterization that consists of design, evaluation and verification steps. The characterization integrates manual inputs from projected surrogate “ground truth” of statistically representative samples and from visual inspection into the evaluation. The novelty of the methodology lies in (1) designing candidate segmentation algorithms by mapping imaging and geometrical criteria into algorithmic steps, and constructing plausible segmentation algorithms with respect to the order of algorithmic steps and their parameters, (2) evaluating segmentation accuracy using samples drawn from probability distribution estimates of candidate segmentations, and (3) minimizing human labor needed to create surrogate “truth” by approximating z-stack segmentations with 2D contours from three orthogonal z-stack projections and by developing visual verification tools. We demonstrate the methodology by applying it to a dataset of 1253 mesenchymal stem cells. The cells reside on 10 different types of biomaterial scaffolds, and are stained for actin and nucleus yielding 128 460 image frames (on average 125 cells/scaffold × 10 scaffold types × 2 stains × 51 frames/cell). After constructing and evaluating six candidates of 3D segmentation algorithms, the most accurate 3D segmentation algorithm achieved an average precision of 0.82 and an accuracy of 0.84 as measured by the Dice similarity index where values greater than 0.7 indicate a good spatial overlap. A probability of segmentation success was 0.85 based on visual verification, and a computation time was 42.3 h to process all z-stacks. While the most accurate segmentation technique was 4.2 times slower than the second most accurate algorithm, it consumed on average 9.65 times less memory per z-stack segmentation. PMID:26268699

THE DETERMINATION OF MERCURY SPECIES AND MULTIPLE METALS IN COAL COMBUSTION EMISSIONS USING IODINE-BASED IMPINGERS AND DIRECT INJECTION NEBULIZATION - INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA MASS SPECTROMETRY ANALYSIS

EPA Science Inventory

Mercury (Hg) emissions from coal utilities are difficult to control. Hg eludes capture by most air pollution control devices (APCDs). To determine the gaseous Hg species in stack gases, U.S. EPA Method 5 type sampling is used. In this type of sampling a hole is drilled into th...

Establishing conditions for the storage and elution of rabies virus RNA using FTA® cards

PubMed Central

SAKAI, Takeo; ISHII, Ayako; SEGAWA, Takao; TAKAGI, Yukihiko; KOBAYASHI, Yuki; ITOU, Takuya

2014-01-01

The Flinders Technology Associates filter paper cards (FTA® cards) can be used to store nucleic acid from various samples and are easily portable. However, RNA is physicochemically unstable compared with DNA, and appropriate methods have not been established for storage and extraction of RNA from FTA® cards. The present study investigated the optimum conditions for storage and elution of viral RNA (vRNA) using rabies virus (RABV) applied to FTA® cards. When TE buffer was used, the elution rates of vRNA increased with the length of the elution time. When the cards were stored at −80°C or −20°C, vRNA was stable over 3 months. Degradation of vRNAs occurred following storage at 4°C and room temperature, suggesting that RNA should be extracted from cards as soon as possible if no freezer is available. When we tried to amplify vRNA from RABV-infected animal brains applied to FTA® cards and stored at −80°C for 6 months, we did not detect any amplified products with the primer set for 964 bp of RABV N gene. However, we were able to detect amplified products by increasing the elution time of vRNA from FTA® cards from 30 min to 24 hr or by changing the primer sets to amplify 290 bp of N gene. Thus, we recommend extending the elution time for damaged or low concentration samples in FTA® cards. PMID:25648208

Establishing conditions for the storage and elution of rabies virus RNA using FTA(®) cards.

PubMed

Sakai, Takeo; Ishii, Ayako; Segawa, Takao; Takagi, Yukihiko; Kobayashi, Yuki; Itou, Takuya

2015-04-01

The Flinders Technology Associates filter paper cards (FTA(®) cards) can be used to store nucleic acid from various samples and are easily portable. However, RNA is physicochemically unstable compared with DNA, and appropriate methods have not been established for storage and extraction of RNA from FTA(®) cards. The present study investigated the optimum conditions for storage and elution of viral RNA (vRNA) using rabies virus (RABV) applied to FTA(®) cards. When TE buffer was used, the elution rates of vRNA increased with the length of the elution time. When the cards were stored at -80 °C or -20 °C, vRNA was stable over 3 months. Degradation of vRNAs occurred following storage at 4 °C and room temperature, suggesting that RNA should be extracted from cards as soon as possible if no freezer is available. When we tried to amplify vRNA from RABV-infected animal brains applied to FTA(®) cards and stored at -80 °C for 6 months, we did not detect any amplified products with the primer set for 964 bp of RABV N gene. However, we were able to detect amplified products by increasing the elution time of vRNA from FTA(®) cards from 30 min to 24 hr or by changing the primer sets to amplify 290 bp of N gene. Thus, we recommend extending the elution time for damaged or low concentration samples in FTA(®) cards.

Prevalence and Multilocus Genotyping Analysis of Cryptosporidium and Giardia Isolates from Dogs in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

PubMed

Tangtrongsup, Sahatchai; Scorza, A Valeria; Reif, John S; Ballweber, Lora R; Lappin, Michael R; Salman, Mo D

2017-05-10

The occurrence and zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis isolated from dogs in Chiang Mai, Thailand were determined. Fecal samples were collected from 109 dogs between July and August 2008. Cryptosporidium spp. infection was determined by immunofluorescent assay (IFA), PCR assays that amplify Cryptosporidium heat-shock protein 70 kDa (hsp70), and two PCR assays that amplify a small subunit-ribosomal RNA (SSU-rRNA). Giardia duodenalis infection was identified using zinc sulfate centrifugal flotation, IFA, and four PCR assays that amplify the Giardia glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), beta-giardin (bg), and generic and dog-specific assays of triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) genes. Overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis was 31.2% and 45.9%, respectively. Sequence analysis of 22 Cryptosporidium -positive samples and 21 Giardia -positive samples revealed the presence of C. canis in 15, and C. parvum in 7, G. duodenalis Assemblage C in 8, D in 11, and mixed of C and D in 2 dogs. Dogs in Chiang Mai were commonly exposed to Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis . Cryptosporidium parvum can be isolated from the feces of dogs, and all G. duodenalis assemblages were dog-specific. Dogs could be a reservoir for a zoonotic Cryptosporidium infection in humans, but further studies will be required to determine the clinical and zoonotic importance.

Prevalence and Multilocus Genotyping Analysis of Cryptosporidium and Giardia Isolates from Dogs in Chiang Mai, Thailand

PubMed Central

Tangtrongsup, Sahatchai; Scorza, A. Valeria; Reif, John S.; Ballweber, Lora R.; Lappin, Michael R.; Salman, Mo D.

2017-01-01

The occurrence and zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis isolated from dogs in Chiang Mai, Thailand were determined. Fecal samples were collected from 109 dogs between July and August 2008. Cryptosporidium spp. infection was determined by immunofluorescent assay (IFA), PCR assays that amplify Cryptosporidium heat-shock protein 70 kDa (hsp70), and two PCR assays that amplify a small subunit-ribosomal RNA (SSU-rRNA). Giardia duodenalis infection was identified using zinc sulfate centrifugal flotation, IFA, and four PCR assays that amplify the Giardia glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), beta-giardin (bg), and generic and dog-specific assays of triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) genes. Overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis was 31.2% and 45.9%, respectively. Sequence analysis of 22 Cryptosporidium-positive samples and 21 Giardia-positive samples revealed the presence of C. canis in 15, and C. parvum in 7, G. duodenalis Assemblage C in 8, D in 11, and mixed of C and D in 2 dogs. Dogs in Chiang Mai were commonly exposed to Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis. Cryptosporidium parvum can be isolated from the feces of dogs, and all G. duodenalis assemblages were dog-specific. Dogs could be a reservoir for a zoonotic Cryptosporidium infection in humans, but further studies will be required to determine the clinical and zoonotic importance. PMID:29056685

From milk to diet: feed recognition for milk authenticity.

PubMed

Ponzoni, E; Gianì, S; Mastromauro, F; Breviario, D

2009-11-01

The presence of plastidial DNA fragments of plant origin in animal milk samples has been confirmed. An experimental plan was arranged with 4 groups of goats, each provided with a different monophytic diet: 3 fresh forages (oats, ryegrass, and X-triticosecale) and one 2-wk-old silage (X-triticosecale). Feed-derived rubisco (ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase, rbcL) DNA fragments were detected in 100% of the analyzed goat milk samples, and the nucleotide sequence of the PCR-amplified fragments was found to be 100% identical to the corresponding fragments amplified from the plant species consumed in the diet. Two additional chloroplast-based molecular markers were used to set up an assay for distinctiveness, conveniently based on a simple PCR. In one case, differences in single nucleotides occurring within the gene encoding for plant maturase K (matK) were exploited. In the other, plant species recognition was based on the difference in the length of the intron present within the transfer RNA leucine (trnL) gene. The presence of plastidial plant DNA, ascertained by the PCR-based amplification of the rbcL fragment, was also assessed in raw cow milk samples collected directly from stock farms or taken from milk sold on the commercial market. In this case, the nucleotide sequence of the amplified DNA fragments reflected the multiple forages present in the diet fed to the animals.

Implementation of serial amplifying fluorescent polymer arrays for enhanced chemical vapor sensing of landmines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fisher, Mark E.; la Grone, Marcus; Sikes, John

2003-09-01

A sensor (known as Fido) that utilizes amplification of fluorescence quenching as the transduction mechanism for ultra-trace detection of nitroaromatic compounds associated with landmines has been described previously. Previous sensor prototypes utilized a single band of amplifying polymer deployed inside a capillary waveguide to form the sensing element of the detector. A new prototype has been developed that incorporates multiple, discrete bands of different amplifying polymers deployed in a linear array inside the capillary. Vapor-phase samples are introduced into the sensor as a sharp pulse via a gated inlet. As the vapor pulse is swept through the capillary by flow of a carrier gas, the pulse of analyte encounters the bands of polymer sequentially. If the sample contains nitroaromatic explosives, the bands of polymer will respond with a reduction in emission intensity proportional to the mass of analyte in the sample. Because the polymer bands are deployed serially, the analyte pulse does not reach the bands of polymer simultaneously. Hence, a temporal response pattern will be observed as the analyte pulse traverses the length of the capillary. In addition, the intensity of response for each band will vary, producing a ratiometric response. The temporal and ratiometric responses are characteristic of a given analyte, enhancing discrimination of target analytes from potential interferents. This should translate into a reduction in sensor false alarm rates.

Ultrafast optomechanical pulse picking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lilienfein, Nikolai; Holzberger, Simon; Pupeza, Ioachim

2017-01-01

State-of-the-art optical switches for coupling pulses into and/or out of resonators are based on either the electro-optic or the acousto-optic effect in transmissive elements. In high-power applications, the damage threshold and other nonlinear and thermal effects in these elements impede further improvements in pulse energy, duration, and average power. We propose a new optomechanical switching concept which is based solely on reflective elements and is suitable for switching times down to the ten-nanosecond range. To this end, an isolated section of a beam path is moved in a system comprising mirrors rotating at a high angular velocity and stationary imaging mirrors, without affecting the propagation of the beam thereafter. We discuss three variants of the concept and exemplify practical parameters for its application in regenerative amplifiers and stack-and-dump enhancement cavities. We find that optomechanical pulse picking has the potential to achieve switching rates of up to a few tens of kilohertz while supporting pulse energies of up to several joules.

Energy harvesting with stacked dielectric elastomer transducers: Nonlinear theory, optimization, and linearized scaling law

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tutcuoglu, A.; Majidi, C.

2014-12-01

Using principles of damped harmonic oscillation with continuous media, we examine electrostatic energy harvesting with a "soft-matter" array of dielectric elastomer (DE) transducers. The array is composed of infinitely thin and deformable electrodes separated by layers of insulating elastomer. During vibration, it deforms longitudinally, resulting in a change in the capacitance and electrical enthalpy of the charged electrodes. Depending on the phase of electrostatic loading, the DE array can function as either an actuator that amplifies small vibrations or a generator that converts these external excitations into electrical power. Both cases are addressed with a comprehensive theory that accounts for the influence of viscoelasticity, dielectric breakdown, and electromechanical coupling induced by Maxwell stress. In the case of a linearized Kelvin-Voigt model of the dielectric, we obtain a closed-form estimate for the electrical power output and a scaling law for DE generator design. For the complete nonlinear model, we obtain the optimal electrostatic voltage input for maximum electrical power output.

Bio-inspired piezoelectric linear motor driven by a single-phase harmonic wave with an asymmetric stator.

PubMed

Pan, Qiaosheng; Miao, Enming; Wu, Bingxuan; Chen, Weikang; Lei, Xiujun; He, Liangguo

2017-07-01

A novel, bio-inspired, single-phase driven piezoelectric linear motor (PLM) using an asymmetric stator was designed, fabricated, and tested to avoid mode degeneracy and to simplify the drive mechanism of a piezoelectric motor. A piezoelectric transducer composed of two piezoelectric stacks and a displacement amplifier was used as the driving element of the PLM. Two simple and specially designed claws performed elliptical motion. A numerical simulation was performed to design the stator and determine the feasibility of the design mechanism of the PLM. Moreover, an experimental setup was built to validate the working principles, as well as to evaluate the performance, of the PLM. The prototype motor outputs a no-load speed of 233.7 mm/s at a voltage of 180 V p-p and a maximum thrust force of 2.3 N under a preload of 10 N. This study verified the feasibility of the proposed design and provided a method to simplify the driving harmonic signal and structure of PLMs.

REDUCTION OF COAL-BASED METAL EMISSIONS BY FURNACE SORBENT INJECTION

EPA Science Inventory

The ability of sorbent injection technology to reduce the potential for trace metal emissions from coal combustion was researched. Pilot scale tests of high-temperature furnace sorbent injection were accompanied by stack sampling for coal-based, metallic air toxics. Tested sorben...

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

Under contract with the US Department of Energy (DE-AC22-92PCO0367), Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center, Radian Corporation has conducted a test program to collect and analyze size-fractionated stack gas particulate samples for selected inorganic hazardous air pollutants (HAPS). Specific goals of the program are (1) the collection of one-gram quantities of size-fractionated stack gas particulate matter for bulk (total) and surface chemical charactization, and (2) the determination of the relationship between particle size, bulk and surface (leachable) composition, and unit load. The information obtained from this program identifies the effects of unit load, particle size, and wet FGD system operation on themore » relative toxicological effects of exposure to particulate emissions.« less

Analysis and Simple Circuit Design of Double Differential EMG Active Electrode.

PubMed

Guerrero, Federico Nicolás; Spinelli, Enrique Mario; Haberman, Marcelo Alejandro

2016-06-01

In this paper we present an analysis of the voltage amplifier needed for double differential (DD) sEMG measurements and a novel, very simple circuit for implementing DD active electrodes. The three-input amplifier that standalone DD active electrodes require is inherently different from a differential amplifier, and general knowledge about its design is scarce in the literature. First, the figures of merit of the amplifier are defined through a decomposition of its input signal into three orthogonal modes. This analysis reveals a mode containing EMG crosstalk components that the DD electrode should reject. Then, the effect of finite input impedance is analyzed. Because there are three terminals, minimum bounds for interference rejection ratios due to electrode and input impedance unbalances with two degrees of freedom are obtained. Finally, a novel circuit design is presented, including only a quadruple operational amplifier and a few passive components. This design is nearly as simple as the branched electrode and much simpler than the three instrumentation amplifier design, while providing robust EMG crosstalk rejection and better input impedance using unity gain buffers for each electrode input. The interference rejection limits of this input stage are analyzed. An easily replicable implementation of the proposed circuit is described, together with a parameter design guideline to adjust it to specific needs. The electrode is compared with the established alternatives, and sample sEMG signals are obtained, acquired on different body locations with dry contacts, successfully rejecting interference sources.

The Diversity of Diffuse Ly α Nebulae around Star-forming Galaxies at High Redshift

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xue, Rui; Lee, Kyoung-Soo; Dey, Arjun

2017-03-10

We report the detection of diffuse Ly α emission, or Ly α halos (LAHs), around star-forming galaxies at z ≈ 3.78 and 2.66 in the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey Boötes field. Our samples consist of a total of ∼1400 galaxies, within two separate regions containing spectroscopically confirmed galaxy overdensities. They provide a unique opportunity to investigate how the LAH characteristics vary with host galaxy large-scale environment and physical properties. We stack Ly α images of different samples defined by these properties and measure their median LAH sizes by decomposing the stacked Ly α radial profile into a compact galaxy-like andmore » an extended halo-like component. We find that the exponential scale-length of LAHs depends on UV continuum and Ly α luminosities, but not on Ly α equivalent widths or galaxy overdensity parameters. The full samples, which are dominated by low UV-continuum luminosity Ly α emitters ( M {sub UV} ≳ −21), exhibit LAH sizes of 5–6 kpc. However, the most UV- or Ly α- luminous galaxies have more extended halos with scale-lengths of 7–9 kpc. The stacked Ly α radial profiles decline more steeply than recent theoretical predictions that include the contributions from gravitational cooling of infalling gas and from low-level star formation in satellites. However, the LAH extent matches what one would expect for photons produced in the galaxy and then resonantly scattered by gas in an outflowing envelope. The observed trends of LAH sizes with host galaxy properties suggest that the physical conditions of the circumgalactic medium (covering fraction, H i column density, and outflow velocity) change with halo mass and/or star formation rates.« less

The Diversity of Diffuse Lyα Nebulae around Star-forming Galaxies at High Redshift

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xue, Rui; Lee, Kyoung-Soo; Dey, Arjun; Reddy, Naveen; Hong, Sungryong; Prescott, Moire K. M.; Inami, Hanae; Jannuzi, Buell T.; Gonzalez, Anthony H.

2017-03-01

We report the detection of diffuse Lyα emission, or Lyα halos (LAHs), around star-forming galaxies at z ≈ 3.78 and 2.66 in the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey Boötes field. Our samples consist of a total of ˜1400 galaxies, within two separate regions containing spectroscopically confirmed galaxy overdensities. They provide a unique opportunity to investigate how the LAH characteristics vary with host galaxy large-scale environment and physical properties. We stack Lyα images of different samples defined by these properties and measure their median LAH sizes by decomposing the stacked Lyα radial profile into a compact galaxy-like and an extended halo-like component. We find that the exponential scale-length of LAHs depends on UV continuum and Lyα luminosities, but not on Lyα equivalent widths or galaxy overdensity parameters. The full samples, which are dominated by low UV-continuum luminosity Lyα emitters (M UV ≳ -21), exhibit LAH sizes of 5-6 kpc. However, the most UV- or Lyα-luminous galaxies have more extended halos with scale-lengths of 7-9 kpc. The stacked Lyα radial profiles decline more steeply than recent theoretical predictions that include the contributions from gravitational cooling of infalling gas and from low-level star formation in satellites. However, the LAH extent matches what one would expect for photons produced in the galaxy and then resonantly scattered by gas in an outflowing envelope. The observed trends of LAH sizes with host galaxy properties suggest that the physical conditions of the circumgalactic medium (covering fraction, H I column density, and outflow velocity) change with halo mass and/or star formation rates.

Structure Effects of 2D Materials on α-Nickel Hydroxide for Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

PubMed

Luan, Chenglong; Liu, Guangli; Liu, Yujie; Yu, Lei; Wang, Yao; Xiao, Yun; Qiao, Hongyan; Dai, Xiaoping; Zhang, Xin

2018-04-24

To engineer low-cost, high-efficiency, and stable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts, structure effects should be primarily understood. Focusing on this, we systematically investigated the relationship between structures of materials and their OER performances by taking four 2D α-Ni(OH) 2 as model materials, including layer-stacked bud-like Ni(OH) 2 -NB, flower-like Ni(OH) 2 -NF, and petal-like Ni(OH) 2 -NP as well as the ultralarge sheet-like Ni(OH) 2 -NS. For the first three (layer-stacking) catalysts, with the decrease of stacked layers, their accessible surface areas, abilities to adsorb OH - , diffusion properties, and the intrinsic activities of active sites increase, which accounts for their steadily enhanced activity. As expected, Ni(OH) 2 -NP shows the lowest overpotential (260 mV at 10 mA cm -2 ) and Tafel slope (78.6 mV dec -1 ) with a robust stability over 10 h among the samples, which also outperforms the benchmark IrO 2 (360 mV and 115.8 mV dec -1 ) catalyst. Interestingly, Ni(OH) 2 -NS relative to Ni(OH) 2 -NP exhibits even faster substance diffusion due to the sheet-like structure, but shows inferior OER activity, which is mainly because the Ni(OH) 2 -NP with a smaller size possesses more active boundary sites (higher reactivity of active sites) than Ni(OH) 2 -NS, considering the adsorption properties and accessible surface areas of the two samples are quite similar. By comparing the different structures and their OER behaviors of four α-Ni(OH) 2 samples, our work may shed some light on the structure effect of 2D materials and accelerate the development of efficient OER catalysts.

High preservation of DNA standards diluted in 50% glycerol.

PubMed

Schaudien, Dirk; Baumgärtner, Wolfgang; Herden, Christiane

2007-09-01

Standard curves are important tools in real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to precisely analyze gene expression patterns under physiologic and pathologic conditions. Handling of DNA standards often implies multiple cycles of freezing and thawing that might affect DNA stability and integrity. This in turn might influence the reliability and reproducibility of quantitative measurements in real-time PCR assays. In this study, 3 DNA standards such as murine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, interferon (IFN) gamma, and kainat-1 receptor were diluted in 50% glycerol or water after 1, 4, and 16 cycles of freezing and thawing and amplified copy numbers after real-time PCR were compared. The standards diluted in water showed a reduction to 83%, 55%, and 50% after 4 cycles, to 24%, 5%, and 4% after 16 cycles for kainat-1 receptor, TNFalpha, and IFNgamma standards, respectively, when compared with a single cycle of freezing and thawing. Interestingly, all cDNA samples diluted in 50% glycerol were amplified in comparable copy numbers even after 16 cycles of freezing and thawing. The effect of the standards undergoing different cycles of freezing and thawing on sample values was demonstrated by amplifying cDNA obtained from Borna disease virus infected and noninfected TNF-transgenic mice brain. This revealed significant differences of measured cDNA copy numbers using water-diluted DNA standards. In contrast, sample values did not vary using glycerol-diluted standards that were frozen and thawed for 16 times. In conclusion, glycerol storage of DNA standards represents a suitable tool for the accurate and reproducible quantification of cDNA samples in real-time PCR analysis.

Upgrade of BPM Electronics for the SPring-8 Storage Ring

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sasaki, Shigeki; Fujita, Takahiro; Shoji, Masazumi

2006-11-20

SPring-8, a 3rd generation synchrotron light source, has operated since 1997. Improvement of BPM performance is required as a part of upgrading activities of the storage ring as a light source. We have developed new electronics circuits for signal processing of the storage ring BPM, with target performance of sub-{mu}m range resolution with sufficiently fast measurement speed and good long-term stability. A set of the new circuits consists of multiplexers, an RF amplifier, a mixer, an IF amplifier, and a local oscillator for analog signal processing. The IF amplifier outputs are sampled with 16-bit 2-MSPS ADC on ADC boards andmore » the data are sent to a DSP board. The sampled data are processed and converted to position information in the DSP. A multiplexing method was employed to have a better stability of the performance by cancellation of variation common to each channel. Evaluation of the performance by using a prototype shows that position resolution well into the sub-{mu}m range has been achieved with a bandwidth of 1 kHz, and long-term stability of within 1 {mu}m has also been achieved.« less

Recognition of Y Fragment Deletion by Genotyping Graphs after Amplified by PowerPlex® 21 Detection Kit.

PubMed

Wang, S C; Ding, M M; Wei, X L; Zhang, T; Yao, F

2016-06-01

To recognize the possibility of Y fragment deletion of Amelogenin gene intuitively and simply according to the genotyping graphs. By calculating the ratio of total peak height of genotyping graphs, the statistics of equilibrium distribution between Amelogenin and D3S1358 loci, Amelogenin X-gene and Amelogenin Y-gene, and different alleles of D3S1358 loci from 1 968 individuals was analyzed after amplified by PowerPlex ® 21 detection kit. Sum of peak height of Amelogenin X allele was not less than 60% that of D3S1358 loci alleles in 90.8% female samples, and sum of peak height of Amelogenin X allele was not higher than 70% that of D3S1358 loci alleles in 94.9% male samples. The result of genotyping after amplified by PowerPlex ® 21 detection kit shows that the possibility of Y fragment deletion should be considered when only Amelogenin X-gene of Amelogenin is detected and the peak height of Amelogenin X-gene is not higher than 70% of the total peak height of D3S1358 loci. Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Forensic Medicine

Jitter compensation circuit

DOEpatents

Sullivan, James S.; Ball, Don G.

1997-01-01

The instantaneous V.sub.co signal on a charging capacitor is sampled and the charge voltage on capacitor C.sub.o is captured just prior to its discharge into the first stage of magnetic modulator. The captured signal is applied to an averaging circuit with a long time constant and to the positive input terminal of a differential amplifier. The averaged V.sub. co signal is split between a gain stage (G=0.975) and a feedback stage that determines the slope of the voltage ramp applied to the high speed comparator. The 97.5% portion of the averaged V.sub.co signal is applied to the negative input of a differential amplifier gain stage (G=10). The differential amplifier produces an error signal by subtracting 97.5% of the averaged V.sub.co signal from the instantaneous value of sampled V.sub.co signal and multiplying the difference by ten. The resulting error signal is applied to the positive input of a high speed comparator. The error signal is then compared to a voltage ramp that is proportional to the averaged V.sub.co values squared divided by the total volt-second product of the magnetic compression circuit.

Jitter compensation circuit

DOEpatents

Sullivan, J.S.; Ball, D.G.

1997-09-09

The instantaneous V{sub co} signal on a charging capacitor is sampled and the charge voltage on capacitor C{sub o} is captured just prior to its discharge into the first stage of magnetic modulator. The captured signal is applied to an averaging circuit with a long time constant and to the positive input terminal of a differential amplifier. The averaged V{sub co} signal is split between a gain stage (G = 0.975) and a feedback stage that determines the slope of the voltage ramp applied to the high speed comparator. The 97.5% portion of the averaged V{sub co} signal is applied to the negative input of a differential amplifier gain stage (G = 10). The differential amplifier produces an error signal by subtracting 97.5% of the averaged V{sub co} signal from the instantaneous value of sampled V{sub co} signal and multiplying the difference by ten. The resulting error signal is applied to the positive input of a high speed comparator. The error signal is then compared to a voltage ramp that is proportional to the averaged V{sub co} values squared divided by the total volt-second product of the magnetic compression circuit. 11 figs.

Multiprimer PCR system for differential identification of mycobacteria in clinical samples.

PubMed Central

Del Portillo, P; Thomas, M C; Martínez, E; Marañón, C; Valladares, B; Patarroyo, M E; Carlos López, M

1996-01-01

A novel multiprimer PCR method with the potential to identify mycobacteria in clinical samples is presented. The assay relies on the simultaneous amplification of three bacterial DNA genomic fragments by using different sets of oligonucleotide primers. The first set of primers amplifies a 506-bp fragment from the gene for the 32-kDa antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is present in most of the species belonging to the genus Mycobacterium. The second set of primers amplifies a 984-bp fragment from the IS6110 insertion sequence of the bacteria belonging to the M. tuberculosis complex. The third set of primers, derived from an M. tuberculosis species-specific sequence named MTP40, amplifies a 396-bp genomic fragment. Thus, while the multiprimer system would render three amplification fragments from the M. tuberculosis genome and two fragments from the Mycobacterium bovis genome, a unique amplification fragment would be obtained from nontuberculous mycobacteria. The results obtained, using reference mycobacterial strains and typed clinical isolates, show that the multiprimer PCR method may be a rapid, sensitive, and specific tool for the differential identification of various mycobacterial strains in a single-step assay. PMID:8789008

Towards an 100 Hz X-Ray Laser Station

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tümmler, J.; Stiel, H.; Jung, R.; Janulewicz, K. A.; Nickles, P. V.; Sandner, W.

During the last few years the optimization of pumping schemes of X-ray lasers (XRL) has reached a level where the required pump power could be provided by table-top or even by commercially available laser systems. But the stability of the XRL output signal is limited by that of the pumping lasers and also the repetition rate is at maximum about 10 Hz. Many envisioned applications would however benefit from an improvement of these crucial parameters. A way to overcome this situation could be the use of diode pumped solid state lasers (DPSSL) as drivers. Therefore we are developing a new 100 Hz DPSSL based on Yb:YAG thin disk and CPA technology. This system is based on newly developed efficient diode stacks for 100 Hz repetition rate. According to the common requirements of a transient collisional XRL (here in a grazing incidence pumping scheme -GRIP) the new laser driver has a double beam structure with one beam for plasma performing, delivering an energy at the target in the range of 200 mJ in 200 ps and a second one with > 500 mJ and < 5 ps to heat the plasma. The amplifier system consists of 4 amplifiers of different sizes. For the following XRL operation a water cooled Ag or Mo tape as target for 13.9 nm or 18.9 nm XRL emission was developed. The target speed can be adjusted to the driver laser repetition rate. Parallel to the commissioning the XRL station and first application experiments an upgrade of the driver laser is planned.

Fast and sensitive method to determine parabens by capillary electrophoresis using automatic reverse electrode polarity stacking mode: application to hair samples.

PubMed

Sako, Alysson V F; Dolzan, Maressa D; Micke, Gustavo Amadeu

2015-09-01

This paper describes a fast and sensitive method for the determination of methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butylparaben in hair samples by capillary electrophoresis using automatic reverse electrode polarity stacking mode. In the proposed method, solutions are injected using the flush command of the analysis software (940 mbar) and the polarity switching is carried out automatically immediately after the sample injection. The advantages compared with conventional stacking methods are the increased analytical frequency, repeatability, and inter-day precision. All analyses were performed in a fused silica capillary (50 cm, 41.5 cm in effective length, 50 μm i.d.), and the background electrolyte was composed of 20 mmol L(-1) sodium tetraborate in 10 % of methanol, pH 9.3. For the reverse polarity, -25 kV/35 s was applied followed by application of +30 kV for the electrophoretic run. Temperature was set at 20 °C, and all analytes were monitored at 297 nm. The method showed acceptable linearity (r (2) > 0.997) in the studied range of 0.1-5.0 mg L(-1), limits of detection below 0.017 mg L(-1), and inter-day, intra-day, and instrumental precision better than 6.2, 3.6, and 4.6 %, respectively. Considering parabens is widely used as a preservative in many products and the reported possibility of damage to the hair and also to human health caused by these compounds, the proposed method was applied to evaluate the adsorption of parabens in hair samples. The results indicate that there is a greater adsorption of methylparaben compared to the other parabens tested and also dyed hairs had a greater adsorption capacity for parabens than natural hairs.

Health-care waste incineration and related dangers to public health: case study of the two teaching and referral hospitals in Kenya.

PubMed

Njagi, Nkonge A; Oloo, Mayabi A; Kithinji, J; Kithinji, Magambo J

2012-12-01

There are practically no low cost, environmentally friendly options in practice whether incineration, autoclaving, chemical treatment or microwaving (World Health Organisation in Health-care waste management training at national level, [2006] for treatment of health-care waste. In Kenya, incineration is the most popular treatment option for hazardous health-care waste from health-care facilities. It is the choice practiced at both Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret. A study was done on the possible public health risks posed by incineration of the segregated hazardous health-care waste in one of the incinerators in each of the two hospitals. Gaseous emissions were sampled and analyzed for specific gases the equipment was designed and the incinerators Combustion efficiency (CE) established. Combustion temperatures were also recorded. A flue gas analyzer (Model-Testos-350 XL) was used to sample flue gases in an incinerator under study at Kenyatta National Hospital--Nairobi and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital--Eldoret to assess their incineration efficiency. Flue emissions were sampled when the incinerators were fully operational. However the flue gases sampled in the study, by use of the integrated pump were, oxygen, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide and No(x). The incinerator at KNH operated at a mean stack temperature of 746 °C and achieved a CE of 48.1 %. The incinerator at MTRH operated at a mean stack temperature of 811 °C and attained a CE of 60.8 %. The two health-care waste incinerators achieved CE below the specified minimum National limit of 99 %. At the detected stack temperatures, there was a possibility that other than the emissions identified, it was possible that the two incinerators tested released dioxins, furans and antineoplastic (cytotoxic drugs) fumes should the drugs be subjected to incineration in the two units.

TESTING FOR CPT VIOLATION IN B^{0_{s SEMILEPTONIC DECAYS}}

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kooten, R. Van

2014-01-01

A DØ analysis measuring the charge asymmetry A^{b_{sl of like-sign dimuon events due to semileptonic b-hadron decays at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider has shown indications of possible anomalous CP violation in the mixing of neutral B mesons. This result has been used to extract the first senstivity to CPT violation in the B0s system. An analysis to explore further this anomaly by specifically measuring the semileptonic charge asymmetry, assl, in B0s decays is described, as well as how a variant of this analysis can be used to explore a larger set of CPT-violating parameters in the B0s system for the first time.}}

X-ray versus infrared selection of distant galaxy clusters: A case study using the XMM-LSS and SpARCS cluster samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Willis, J. P.; Ramos-Ceja, M. E.; Muzzin, A.; Pacaud, F.; Yee, H. K. C.; Wilson, G.

2018-04-01

We present a comparison of two samples of z > 0.8 galaxy clusters selected using different wavelength-dependent techniques and examine the physical differences between them. We consider 18 clusters from the X-ray selected XMM-LSS distant cluster survey and 92 clusters from the optical-MIR selected SpARCS cluster survey. Both samples are selected from the same approximately 9 square degree sky area and we examine them using common XMM-Newton, Spitzer-SWIRE and CFHT Legacy Survey data. Clusters from each sample are compared employing aperture measures of X-ray and MIR emission. We divide the SpARCS distant cluster sample into three sub-samples: a) X-ray bright, b) X-ray faint, MIR bright, and c) X-ray faint, MIR faint clusters. We determine that X-ray and MIR selected clusters display very similar surface brightness distributions of galaxy MIR light. In addition, the average location and amplitude of the galaxy red sequence as measured from stacked colour histograms is very similar in the X-ray and MIR-selected samples. The sub-sample of X-ray faint, MIR bright clusters displays a distribution of BCG-barycentre position offsets which extends to higher values than all other samples. This observation indicates that such clusters may exist in a more disturbed state compared to the majority of the distant cluster population sampled by XMM-LSS and SpARCS. This conclusion is supported by stacked X-ray images for the X-ray faint, MIR bright cluster sub-sample that display weak, centrally-concentrated X-ray emission, consistent with a population of growing clusters accreting from an extended envelope of material.

Improved sensitivity via layered-double-hydroxide-uniformity-dependent chemiluminescence.

PubMed

Li, Zenghe; Wang, Dan; Yuan, Zhiqin; Lu, Chao

2016-12-01

In the last two decades nanoparticles have been widely applied to enhance chemiluminescence (CL). The morphology of nanoparticles has an important influence on nanoparticle-amplified CL. However, studies of nanoparticle-amplified CL focus mainly on the size and shape effects, and no attempt has been made to explore the influence of uniformity in nanoparticle-amplified CL processes. In this study we have investigated nanoparticle uniformity in the luminol-H 2 O 2 CL system using layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as a model material. The results demonstrated that the uniformity of LDHs played a key role in CL amplification. A possible mechanism is that LDHs with high uniformity possess abundant catalytic active sites, which results in high CL intensity. Meanwhile, the sensitivity for H 2 O 2 detection was increased by one order of magnitude (1.0 nM). Moreover, the uniform-LDH-amplified luminol CL could be applied to selective detection of glucose in human plasma samples. Furthermore, such a uniformity-dependent CL enhancement effect could adapted to other redox CL systems-for example, the peroxynitrous acid (ONOOH) CL system.

Ce(III, IV)-MOF electrocatalyst as signal-amplifying tag for sensitive electrochemical aptasensing.

PubMed

Yu, Hua; Han, Jing; An, Shangjie; Xie, Gang; Chen, Sanping

2018-06-30

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as a new class of porous materials have attracted increasing attention in the field of biomimetic catalysis. This study firstly reports a mixed valence state Ce-MOF possessing intrinsic catalytic activity towards thionine (Thi), and its application in constructing an amplified electrochemical aptasensor for thrombin detection. As noticed, the novel catalytic process combines the advantages of 3D infinite extension of the Ce(III, IV)-MOF skeleton containing large amounts of catalytic sites and spontaneous recycling of the Ce(III)/Ce(IV) for electrochemical reduction of Thi, thereby presenting amplified electrochemical signals. To further improve the aptasensor performance, the high selectivity of proximity binding-induced DNA strand displacement and high efficiency of exonuclease III-assisted recycling amplification were incorporated into the assay. The aptasensor was employed to detect thrombin in complex serum samples, which shows high sensitivity, specificity, stability and reproducibility. This work offers an opportunity to develop MOF-based electrocatalyst as signal-amplifying tag for versatile bioassays and catalytic applications. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Determination of nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates in wastewater using MEKC.

PubMed

Núñez, Laura; Wiedmer, Susanne K; Parshintsev, Jevgeni; Hartonen, Kari; Riekkola, Marja-Liisa; Tadeo, José L; Turiel, Esther

2009-06-01

Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEO(x)) are surfactants which are used worldwide and can be transformed in the environment by microorganisms to form nonylphenol (NP). Analysis of these compounds was carried out with micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC). Different parameters such as background electrolyte (BGE) solution, pH, type of surfactant, and sample stacking were optimized. The use of CHES (20 mM, pH 9.1) in combination with 50 mM sodium cholate as a surfactant as BGE solution, together with sample stacking using 50 mM NaCl in the sample and an injection time of 20 s, provided the best separation of the compounds studied. The method was applied to the determination of target analytes in two types of sludge water coming from two steps of a wastewater treatment plant. Liquid-liquid extraction was carried out using toluene as solvent, resulting in recoveries around 100% for all studied analytes. The presence of NPEO(x) was observed in the first step of the sludge water treatment, based on migration time and UV spectra. Identification was confirmed using tandem MS. LOQs of the studied compounds were in the range of 12.7 to 30.8 ng/mL, which is satisfactory for the analysis of real wastewater samples.

40 CFR 61.53 - Stack sampling.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... operator employing mercury chlor-alkali cell(s) shall test emissions from hydrogen streams according to... the Administrator, for a minimum of 2 years. (b) Mercury chlor-alkali plant—hydrogen and end-box.... (c) Mercury chlor-alkali plants—cell room ventilation system. (1) Stationary sources using mercury...

40 CFR 61.53 - Stack sampling.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... operator employing mercury chlor-alkali cell(s) shall test emissions from hydrogen streams according to... the Administrator, for a minimum of 2 years. (b) Mercury chlor-alkali plant—hydrogen and end-box.... (c) Mercury chlor-alkali plants—cell room ventilation system. (1) Stationary sources using mercury...

40 CFR 61.53 - Stack sampling.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... operator employing mercury chlor-alkali cell(s) shall test emissions from hydrogen streams according to... the Administrator, for a minimum of 2 years. (b) Mercury chlor-alkali plant—hydrogen and end-box.... (c) Mercury chlor-alkali plants—cell room ventilation system. (1) Stationary sources using mercury...

Physical and chemical characterization of residual oil-fired power plant emissions

EPA Science Inventory

Although the toxicity of oil combustion emissions is a significant public health concern, few studies characterize the emissions from plant-scale utility boilers firing residual oil. This study remedies that deficiency by sampling and monitoring stack emissions from a 432 Giga Jo...

40 CFR 63.11551 - What are my initial compliance requirements?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...: (i) Method 1 or 1A (40 CFR part 60, appendix A-1) to select sampling port locations and the number of... part 60, appendix A-2) to determine the dry molecular weight of the stack gas. You may use ANSI/ASME...

High power continuous operation of a widely tunable quantum cascade laser with an integrated amplifier

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Slivken, S.; Sengupta, S.; Razeghi, M., E-mail: razeghi@eecs.northwestern.edu

2015-12-21

Wide electrical tuning and high continuous output power is demonstrated from a single mode quantum cascade laser emitting at a wavelength near 4.8 μm. This is achieved in a space efficient manner by integrating an asymmetric sampled grating distributed feedback tunable laser with an optical amplifier. An initial demonstration of high peak power operation in pulsed mode is demonstrated first, with >5 W output over a 270 nm (113 cm{sup −1}) spectral range. Refinement of the geometry leads to continuous operation with a single mode spectral coverage of 300 nm (120 cm{sup −1}) and a maximum continuous power of 1.25 W. The output beam is shown tomore » be nearly diffraction-limited, even at high amplifier current.« less

Performance of alumina-supported Pt catalysts in an electron-beam-sustained CO2 laser amplifier

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cunningham, D. L.; Jones, P. L.; Miyake, C. I.; Moody, S. E.

1990-01-01

The performance of an alumina-supported Pt catalyst system used to maintain the gas purity in an electron-beam-sustained (636) isotope CO2 laser amplifier has been tested. The system characteristics using the two-zone, parallel flow reactor were determined for both continuous- and end-of-day reactor operation using on-line mass spectrometric sampling. The laser amplifier was run with an energy loading of typically 110 J-l/atm and an electron-beam current of 4 mA/sq cm. With these conditions and a pulse repetition frequency of 10 Hz for up to 10,000 shots, increases on the order of 100 ppm O2 were observed with the purifier on and 150 ppm with it off. The 1/e time recovery time was found to be approximately 75 minutes.

Study of Cr/Sc-based multilayer reflecting mirrors using soft x-ray reflectivity and standing wave-enhanced x-ray fluorescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Meiyi; Burcklen, Catherine; André, Jean-Michel; Guen, Karine Le; Giglia, Angelo; Koshmak, Konstantin; Nannarone, Stefano; Bridou, Françoise; Meltchakov, Evgueni; Rossi, Sébastien de; Delmotte, Franck; Jonnard, Philippe

2017-11-01

We study Cr/Sc-based multilayer mirrors designed to work in the water window range using hard and soft x-ray reflectivity as well as x-ray fluorescence enhanced by standing waves. Samples differ by the elemental composition of the stack, the thickness of each layer, and the order of deposition. This paper mainly consists of two parts. In the first part, the optical performances of different Cr/Sc-based multilayers are reported, and in the second part, we extend further the characterization of the structural parameters of the multilayers, which can be extracted by comparing the experimental data with simulations. The methodology is detailed in the case of Cr/B4C/Sc sample for which a three-layer model is used. Structural parameters determined by fitting reflectivity curve are then introduced as fixed parameters to plot the x-ray standing wave curve, to compare with the experiment, and confirm the determined structure of the stack.

Effect of forming gas annealing on the degradation properties of Ge-based MOS stacks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aguirre, F.; Pazos, S.; Palumbo, F. R. M.; Fadida, S.; Winter, R.; Eizenberg, M.

2018-04-01

The influence of forming gas annealing on the degradation at a constant stress voltage of multi-layered germanium-based Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor capacitors (p-Ge/GeOx/Al2O3/High-K/Metal Gate) has been analyzed in terms of the C-V hysteresis and flat band voltage as a function of both negative and positive stress fields. Significant differences were found for the case of negative voltage stress between the annealed and non-annealed samples, independently of the stressing time. It was found that the hole trapping effect decreases in the case of the forming gas annealed samples, indicating strong passivation of defects with energies close to the valence band existing in the oxide-semiconductor interface during the forming gas annealing. Finally, a comparison between the degradation dynamics of Germanium and III-V (n-InGaAs) MOS stacks is presented to summarize the main challenges in the integration of reliable Ge-III-V hybrid devices.

Hybrid Composite Laminates Reinforced with Kevlar/Carbon/Glass Woven Fabrics for Ballistic Impact Testing

PubMed Central

Randjbaran, Elias; Zahari, Rizal; Abdul Jalil, Nawal Aswan; Abang Abdul Majid, Dayang Laila

2014-01-01

Current study reported a facile method to investigate the effects of stacking sequence layers of hybrid composite materials on ballistic energy absorption by running the ballistic test at the high velocity ballistic impact conditions. The velocity and absorbed energy were accordingly calculated as well. The specimens were fabricated from Kevlar, carbon, and glass woven fabrics and resin and were experimentally investigated under impact conditions. All the specimens possessed equal mass, shape, and density; nevertheless, the layers were ordered in different stacking sequence. After running the ballistic test at the same conditions, the final velocities of the cylindrical AISI 4340 Steel pellet showed how much energy was absorbed by the samples. The energy absorption of each sample through the ballistic impact was calculated; accordingly, the proper ballistic impact resistance materials could be found by conducting the test. This paper can be further studied in order to characterise the material properties for the different layers. PMID:24955400

The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: Detection or Sunyaev-Zel'Dovich Decrement in Groups and Clusters Associated with Luminous Red Galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hand, Nick; Appel, John William; Battaglia, Nick; Bond, J. Richard; Das, Sudeep; Devlin, Mark J.; Dunkley, Joanna; Dunner, Rolando; Essinger-Hileman, Thomas; Fowler, Joseph W.;

Modeling and Qualification of a Modified Emission Unit for Radioactive Air Emissions Stack Sampling Compliance.

PubMed

Barnett, J Matthew; Yu, Xiao-Ying; Recknagle, Kurtis P; Glissmeyer, John A

2016-11-01

A planned laboratory space and exhaust system modification to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Material Science and Technology Building indicated that a new evaluation of the mixing at the air sampling system location would be required for compliance to ANSI/HPS N13.1-2011. The modified exhaust system would add a third fan, thereby increasing the overall exhaust rate out the stack, thus voiding the previous mixing study. Prior to modifying the radioactive air emissions exhaust system, a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics computer model was used to evaluate the mixing at the sampling system location. Modeling of the original three-fan system indicated that not all mixing criteria could be met. A second modeling effort was conducted with the addition of an air blender downstream of the confluence of the three fans, which then showed satisfactory mixing results. The final installation included an air blender, and the exhaust system underwent full-scale tests to verify velocity, cyclonic flow, gas, and particulate uniformity. The modeling results and those of the full-scale tests show agreement between each of the evaluated criteria. The use of a computational fluid dynamics code was an effective aid in the design process and allowed the sampling system to remain in its original location while still meeting the requirements for sampling at a well mixed location.

Method for genetic identification of unknown organisms

DOEpatents

Colston, Jr., Billy W.; Fitch, Joseph P.; Hindson, Benjamin J.; Carter, Chance J.; Beer, Neil Reginald

2016-08-23

A method of rapid, genome and proteome based identification of unknown pathogenic or non-pathogenic organisms in a complex sample. The entire sample is analyzed by creating millions of emulsion encapsulated microdroplets, each containing a single pathogenic or non-pathogenic organism sized particle and appropriate reagents for amplification. Following amplification, the amplified product is analyzed.

Phylogenetic analysis of Bolivian bat trypanosomes of the subgenus schizotrypanum based on cytochrome B sequence and minicircle analyses.

PubMed

García, Lineth; Ortiz, Sylvia; Osorio, Gonzalo; Torrico, Mary Cruz; Torrico, Faustino; Solari, Aldo

2012-01-01

The aim of this study was to establish the phylogenetic relationships of trypanosomes present in blood samples of Bolivian Carollia bats. Eighteen cloned stocks were isolated from 115 bats belonging to Carollia perspicillata (Phyllostomidae) from three Amazonian areas of the Chapare Province of Bolivia and studied by xenodiagnosis using the vectors Rhodnius robustus and Triatoma infestans (Trypanosoma cruzi marenkellei) or haemoculture (Trypanosoma dionisii). The PCR DNA amplified was analyzed by nucleotide sequences of maxicircles encoding cytochrome b and by means of the molecular size of hyper variable regions of minicircles. Ten samples were classified as Trypanosoma cruzi marinkellei and 8 samples as Trypanosoma dionisii. The two species have a different molecular size profile with respect to the amplified regions of minicircles and also with respect to Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli used for comparative purpose. We conclude the presence of two species of bat trypanosomes in these samples, which can clearly be identified by the methods used in this study. The presence of these trypanosomes in Amazonian bats is discussed.

Phylogenetic Analysis of Bolivian Bat Trypanosomes of the Subgenus Schizotrypanum Based on Cytochrome b Sequence and Minicircle Analyses

PubMed Central

García, Lineth; Ortiz, Sylvia; Osorio, Gonzalo; Torrico, Mary Cruz; Torrico, Faustino; Solari, Aldo

2012-01-01

The aim of this study was to establish the phylogenetic relationships of trypanosomes present in blood samples of Bolivian Carollia bats. Eighteen cloned stocks were isolated from 115 bats belonging to Carollia perspicillata (Phyllostomidae) from three Amazonian areas of the Chapare Province of Bolivia and studied by xenodiagnosis using the vectors Rhodnius robustus and Triatoma infestans (Trypanosoma cruzi marenkellei) or haemoculture (Trypanosoma dionisii). The PCR DNA amplified was analyzed by nucleotide sequences of maxicircles encoding cytochrome b and by means of the molecular size of hyper variable regions of minicircles. Ten samples were classified as Trypanosoma cruzi marinkellei and 8 samples as Trypanosoma dionisii. The two species have a different molecular size profile with respect to the amplified regions of minicircles and also with respect to Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli used for comparative purpose. We conclude the presence of two species of bat trypanosomes in these samples, which can clearly be identified by the methods used in this study. The presence of these trypanosomes in Amazonian bats is discussed. PMID:22590570

Molecular identification of Giardia duodenalis in Ecuador by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism

PubMed Central

Atherton, Richard; Bhavnani, Darlene; Calvopiña, Manuel; Vicuña, Yosselin; Cevallos, William; Eisenberg, Joseph

2013-01-01

The aim of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of Giardia duodenalis present in a human population living in a northern Ecuadorian rain forest. All Giardia positive samples (based on an ELISA assay) were analysed using a semi-nested polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay that targets the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) gene; those amplified were subsequently genotyped using NlaIV and RsaI enzymes. The gdh gene was successfully amplified in 74 of 154 ELISA positive samples; 69 of the 74 samples were subsequently genotyped. Of these 69 samples, 42 (61%) were classified as assemblage B (26 as BIII and 16 as BIV), 22 (32%) as assemblage A (3 as AI and 19 as AII) and five (7%) as mixed AII and BIII types. In this study site we observe similar diversity in genotypes to other regions in Latin America, though in contrast to some previous studies, we found similar levels of diarrheal symptoms in those individuals infected with assemblage B compared with those infected with assemblage A. PMID:23827993

The first study of molecular prevalence and species characterization of Cryptosporidium in free-range chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) from Brazil.

PubMed

Ewald, Maria Paula de Carvalho; Martins, Felippe Danyel Cardoso; Caldart, Eloiza Teles; Vieira, Fernando Emmanuel Gonçalves; Yamamura, Milton Hissashi; Sasse, João Pedro; Barros, Luiz Daniel de; Freire, Roberta Lemos; Navarro, Italmar Teodorico; Garcia, João Luis

2017-01-01

Rearing free-range chicken is based on grazing feeding patterns, and these animals could be potential environmental contaminants of Cryptosporidium oocysts for humans and other animals. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the molecular prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in free-range chickens from Brazil. A total of 351 fecal samples from chickens were examined from 20 farms. For detection of Cryptosporidium spp., 18S rRNA gene fragments were amplified using a nested PCR reaction. Positive samples were sent for sequencing. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium was 25.6% (95% CI = 21.2% - 30.6%). Sequencing of the amplified fragments allowed for the identification of three species: C. meleagridis in 57 (62.6%), C. baileyi in 15 (16.4%), C. parvum in 3 (3.2%) samples, and a new Cryptosporidium genotype (C. genotype BrPR1) in 3 (3.2%) samples. Cryptosporidium genotype BrPR1 has not yet been classified as a species, and its host spectrum is not known. Cryptosporidium, including zoonotic species, exists at a high prevalence in free-range chickens within the region studied.

Fuel cell stack arrangements

DOEpatents

Kothmann, Richard E.; Somers, Edward V.

1982-01-01

Arrangements of stacks of fuel cells and ducts, for fuel cells operating with separate fuel, oxidant and coolant streams. An even number of stacks are arranged generally end-to-end in a loop. Ducts located at the juncture of consecutive stacks of the loop feed oxidant or fuel to or from the two consecutive stacks, each individual duct communicating with two stacks. A coolant fluid flows from outside the loop, into and through cooling channels of the stack, and is discharged into an enclosure duct formed within the loop by the stacks and seals at the junctures at the stacks.

TECHNICAL BRIEF: Isolation of total DNA from postmortem human eye tissues and quality comparison between iris and retina

PubMed Central

Wang, Jay Ching Chieh; Wang, Aikun; Gao, Jiangyuan; Cao, Sijia; Samad, Idris; Zhang, Dean; Ritland, Carol; Cui, Jing Z.

2012-01-01

Background Recent genomic technologies have propelled our understanding of the mechanisms underlying complex eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Genotyping postmortem eye tissues for known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with AMD may prove valuable, especially when combined with information obtained through other methods such as immunohistochemistry, western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and proteomics. Initially intending to genotype postmortem eye tissues for AMD-related SNPs, our group became interested in isolating and comparing the quality of DNA from the iris and retina of postmortem donor eyes. Since there is no previously published protocol in the literature on this topic, we present a protocol suitable for isolating high-quality DNA from postmortem eye tissues for genomic studies. Methods DNA from 33 retinal samples and 35 iris samples was extracted using the phenol-chloroform-isoamyl method from postmortem donor eye tissues. The quantity of DNA was measured with a spectrophotometer while the quality was checked using gel electrophoresis. The DNA samples were then amplified with PCR for the complement factor H (CFH) gene. The purified amplified products were then genotyped for the SNPs in the CFH gene. Results Regarding concentration, the retina yielded 936 ng/μl of DNA, while the iris yielded 78 ng/μl of DNA. Retinal DNA was also purer than iris DNA (260/280=1.78 vs. 1.46, respectively), and produced superior PCR results. Retinal tissue yielded significantly more DNA than the iris tissue per mg of sample (21.7 ng/μl/mg vs. 7.42 ng/μl/mg). Retinal DNA can be readily amplified with PCR, while iris DNA can also be amplified by adding bovine serum albumin. Overall, retinal tissues yielded DNA of superior quality, quantity, and suitability for genotyping and genomic studies. Conclusions The protocol presented here provides a clear and reliable method for isolating total DNA from postmortem eye tissues. Retinal tissue provides DNA of excellent quantity and quality for genotyping and downstream genomic studies. However, DNA isolated from iris tissues, and treated with bovine serum albumin, may also be a valuable source of DNA for genotyping and genomic studies. PMID:23288996

A Fast Method for the Segmentation of Synaptic Junctions and Mitochondria in Serial Electron Microscopic Images of the Brain.

PubMed

Márquez Neila, Pablo; Baumela, Luis; González-Soriano, Juncal; Rodríguez, Jose-Rodrigo; DeFelipe, Javier; Merchán-Pérez, Ángel

2016-04-01

Recent electron microscopy (EM) imaging techniques permit the automatic acquisition of a large number of serial sections from brain samples. Manual segmentation of these images is tedious, time-consuming and requires a high degree of user expertise. Therefore, there is considerable interest in developing automatic segmentation methods. However, currently available methods are computationally demanding in terms of computer time and memory usage, and to work properly many of them require image stacks to be isotropic, that is, voxels must have the same size in the X, Y and Z axes. We present a method that works with anisotropic voxels and that is computationally efficient allowing the segmentation of large image stacks. Our approach involves anisotropy-aware regularization via conditional random field inference and surface smoothing techniques to improve the segmentation and visualization. We have focused on the segmentation of mitochondria and synaptic junctions in EM stacks from the cerebral cortex, and have compared the results to those obtained by other methods. Our method is faster than other methods with similar segmentation results. Our image regularization procedure introduces high-level knowledge about the structure of labels. We have also reduced memory requirements with the introduction of energy optimization in overlapping partitions, which permits the regularization of very large image stacks. Finally, the surface smoothing step improves the appearance of three-dimensional renderings of the segmented volumes.

Porous Structures in Stacked, Crumpled and Pillared Graphene-Based 3D Materials.

PubMed

Guo, Fei; Creighton, Megan; Chen, Yantao; Hurt, Robert; Külaots, Indrek

2014-01-01

Graphene, an atomically thin material with the theoretical surface area of 2600 m 2 g -1 , has great potential in the fields of catalysis, separation, and gas storage if properly assembled into functional 3D materials at large scale. In ideal non-interacting ensembles of non-porous multilayer graphene plates, the surface area can be adequately estimated using the simple geometric law ~ 2600 m 2 g -1 /N, where N is the number of graphene sheets per plate. Some processing operations, however, lead to secondary plate-plate stacking, folding, crumpling or pillaring, which give rise to more complex structures. Here we show that bulk samples of multilayer graphene plates stack in an irregular fashion that preserves the 2600/N surface area and creates regular slot-like pores with sizes that are multiples of the unit plate thickness. In contrast, graphene oxide deposits into films with massive area loss (2600 to 40 m 2 g -1 ) due to nearly perfect alignment and stacking during the drying process. Pillaring graphene oxide sheets by co-deposition of colloidal-phase particle-based spacers has the potential to partially restore the large monolayer surface. Surface areas as high as 1000 m 2 g -1 are demonstrated here through colloidal-phase deposition of graphene oxide with water-dispersible aryl-sulfonated ultrafine carbon black as a pillaring agent.

Heterogeneity and dynamics of the ligand recognition mode in purine-sensing riboswitches.

PubMed

Jain, Niyati; Zhao, Liang; Liu, John D; Xia, Tianbing

2010-05-04

High-resolution crystal structures and biophysical analyses of purine-sensing riboswitches have revealed that a network of hydrogen bonding interactions appear to be largey responsible for discrimination of cognate ligands against structurally related compounds. Here we report that by using femtosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy to capture the ultrafast decay dynamics of the 2-aminopurine base as the ligand, we have detected the presence of multiple conformations of the ligand within the binding pockets of one guanine-sensing and two adenine-sensing riboswitches. All three riboswitches have similar conformational distributions of the ligand-bound state. The known crystal structures represent the global minimum that accounts for 50-60% of the population, where there is no significant stacking interaction between the ligand and bases of the binding pocket, but the hydrogen-bonding cage collectively provides an electronic environment that promotes an ultrafast ( approximately 1 ps) charge transfer pathway. The ligand also samples multiple conformations in which it significantly stacks with either the adenine or the uracil bases of the A21-U75 and A52-U22 base pairs that form the ceiling and floor of the binding pocket, respectively, but favors the larger adenine bases. These alternative conformations with well-defined base stacking interactions are approximately 1-1.5 kcal/mol higher in DeltaG degrees than the global minimum and have distinct charge transfer dynamics within the picosecond to nanosecond time regime. Inside the pocket, the purine ligand undergoes dynamic motion on the low nanosecond time scale, sampling the multiple conformations based on time-resolved anisotropy decay dynamics. These results allowed a description of the energy landscape of the bound ligand with intricate details and demonstrated the elastic nature of the ligand recognition mode by the purine-sensing riboswitches, where there is a dynamic balance between hydrogen bonding and base stacking interactions, yielding the high affinity and specificity by the aptamer domain.

International challenge to predict the impact of radioxenon releases from medical isotope production on a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty sampling station.

PubMed

Eslinger, Paul W; Bowyer, Ted W; Achim, Pascal; Chai, Tianfeng; Deconninck, Benoit; Freeman, Katie; Generoso, Sylvia; Hayes, Philip; Heidmann, Verena; Hoffman, Ian; Kijima, Yuichi; Krysta, Monika; Malo, Alain; Maurer, Christian; Ngan, Fantine; Robins, Peter; Ross, J Ole; Saunier, Olivier; Schlosser, Clemens; Schöppner, Michael; Schrom, Brian T; Seibert, Petra; Stein, Ariel F; Ungar, Kurt; Yi, Jing

2016-06-01

The International Monitoring System (IMS) is part of the verification regime for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty Organization (CTBTO). At entry-into-force, half of the 80 radionuclide stations will be able to measure concentrations of several radioactive xenon isotopes produced in nuclear explosions, and then the full network may be populated with xenon monitoring afterward. An understanding of natural and man-made radionuclide backgrounds can be used in accordance with the provisions of the treaty (such as event screening criteria in Annex 2 to the Protocol of the Treaty) for the effective implementation of the verification regime. Fission-based production of (99)Mo for medical purposes also generates nuisance radioxenon isotopes that are usually vented to the atmosphere. One of the ways to account for the effect emissions from medical isotope production has on radionuclide samples from the IMS is to use stack monitoring data, if they are available, and atmospheric transport modeling. Recently, individuals from seven nations participated in a challenge exercise that used atmospheric transport modeling to predict the time-history of (133)Xe concentration measurements at the IMS radionuclide station in Germany using stack monitoring data from a medical isotope production facility in Belgium. Participants received only stack monitoring data and used the atmospheric transport model and meteorological data of their choice. Some of the models predicted the highest measured concentrations quite well. A model comparison rank and ensemble analysis suggests that combining multiple models may provide more accurate predicted concentrations than any single model. None of the submissions based only on the stack monitoring data predicted the small measured concentrations very well. Modeling of sources by other nuclear facilities with smaller releases than medical isotope production facilities may be important in understanding how to discriminate those releases from releases from a nuclear explosion. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Improved 3D seismic attribute mapping by CRS stacking instead of NMO stacking: Application to a geothermal reservoir in the Polish Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pussak, Marcin; Bauer, Klaus; Stiller, Manfred; Bujakowski, Wieslaw

2014-04-01

Within a seismic reflection processing work flow, the common-reflection-surface (CRS) stack can be applied as an alternative for the conventional normal moveout (NMO) or the dip moveout (DMO) stack. The advantages of the CRS stack include (1) data-driven automatic determination of stacking operator parameters, (2) imaging of arbitrarily curved geological boundaries, and (3) significant increase in signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio by stacking far more traces than used in a conventional stack. In this paper we applied both NMO and CRS stackings to process a sparse 3D seismic data set acquired within a geothermal exploration study in the Polish Basin. The stacked images show clear enhancements in quality achieved by the CRS stack in comparison with the conventional stack. While this was expected from previous studies, we also found remarkable improvements in the quality of seismic attributes when the CRS stack was applied instead of the conventional stack. For the major geothermal target reservoir (Lower Jurassic horizon Ja1), we present a comparison between both stacking methods for a number of common attributes, including root-mean-square (RMS) amplitudes, instantaneous frequencies, coherency, and spectral decomposition attributes derived from the continuous wavelet transform. The attribute maps appear noisy and highly fluctuating after the conventional stack, and are clearly structured after the CRS stack. A seismic facies analysis was finally carried out for the Ja1 horizon using the attributes derived from the CRS stack by using self-organizing map clustering techniques. A corridor parallel to a fault system was identified, which is characterized by decreased RMS amplitudes and decreased instantaneous frequencies. In our interpretation, this region represents a fractured, fluid-bearing compartment within the sandstone reservoir, which indicates favorable conditions for geothermal exploitation.

Role of stacking disorder in ice nucleation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lupi, Laura; Hudait, Arpa; Peters, Baron; Grünwald, Michael; Gotchy Mullen, Ryan; Nguyen, Andrew H.; Molinero, Valeria

2017-11-01

The freezing of water affects the processes that determine Earth’s climate. Therefore, accurate weather and climate forecasts hinge on good predictions of ice nucleation rates. Such rate predictions are based on extrapolations using classical nucleation theory, which assumes that the structure of nanometre-sized ice crystallites corresponds to that of hexagonal ice, the thermodynamically stable form of bulk ice. However, simulations with various water models find that ice nucleated and grown under atmospheric temperatures is at all sizes stacking-disordered, consisting of random sequences of cubic and hexagonal ice layers. This implies that stacking-disordered ice crystallites either are more stable than hexagonal ice crystallites or form because of non-equilibrium dynamical effects. Both scenarios challenge central tenets of classical nucleation theory. Here we use rare-event sampling and free energy calculations with the mW water model to show that the entropy of mixing cubic and hexagonal layers makes stacking-disordered ice the stable phase for crystallites up to a size of at least 100,000 molecules. We find that stacking-disordered critical crystallites at 230 kelvin are about 14 kilojoules per mole of crystallite more stable than hexagonal crystallites, making their ice nucleation rates more than three orders of magnitude higher than predicted by classical nucleation theory. This effect on nucleation rates is temperature dependent, being the most pronounced at the warmest conditions, and should affect the modelling of cloud formation and ice particle numbers, which are very sensitive to the temperature dependence of ice nucleation rates. We conclude that classical nucleation theory needs to be corrected to include the dependence of the crystallization driving force on the size of the ice crystallite when interpreting and extrapolating ice nucleation rates from experimental laboratory conditions to the temperatures that occur in clouds.

Effects of stacked wedge pads and chains applied to the forefeet of Tennessee Walking Horses for a five-day period on behavioral and biochemical indicators of pain, stress, and inflammation.

PubMed

Everett, James B; Schumacher, Jim; Doherty, Thomas J; Black, Randi A; Amelse, Lisa L; Krawczel, Peter; Coetzee, Johann F; Whitlock, Brian K

2018-01-01

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of stacked wedge pads and chains applied to the forefeet of Tennessee Walking Horses on behavioral and biochemical indicators of pain, stress, and inflamation. ANIMALS 20 Tennessee Walking Horses. PROCEDURES Horses were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups: keg shoes (control; n = 10) or stacked wedge pads and exercise with chains (10). Ten days before treatment application, an accelerometer was attached at the left metatarsus of each horse to record daily activity. Horses were exercised for 20 minutes daily, beginning on day -7. On day 0, exercise ceased, the forefeet were trimmed, and the assigned treatment was applied. From days 1 through 5, horses were exercised as before. Blood samples for measurement of plasma cortisol, substance P, and fibrinogen concentrations were collected on days -5, 1, and 5 before and after exercise and every 30 minutes thereafter for 6 hours. RESULTS No significant differences in plasma concentrations of cortisol, substance P, and fibrinogen were detected between groups. Although lying behaviors changed after shoes were applied, these behaviors did not differ significantly between groups. Shoeing appeared to have altered behavior to a greater extent than did the type of treatment applied. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Application of stacked wedge pads and chains to the forefeet of horses for a 5-day period as performed in this study evoked no acute or subacute stress or nociceptive response as measured. Although these findings should not be extrapolated to the long-term use of such devices in Tennessee Walking Horses performing the running walk, the data should be considered when making evidence-based decisions relating to animal welfare and the use of stacked wedge pads and chains.

A CANDELS WFC3 Grism Study of Emission-Line Galaxies at Z approximates 2: A mix of Nuclear Activity and Low-Metallicity Star Formation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Trump, Jonathan R.; Weiner, Benjamin J.; Scarlata, Claudia; Kocevski, Dale D.; Bell, Eric F.; McGrath, Elizabeth J.; Koo, David C.; Faber, S. M.; Laird, Elise S.; Mozena, Mark;

Role of stacking disorder in ice nucleation.

PubMed

Lupi, Laura; Hudait, Arpa; Peters, Baron; Grünwald, Michael; Gotchy Mullen, Ryan; Nguyen, Andrew H; Molinero, Valeria

2017-11-08

The freezing of water affects the processes that determine Earth's climate. Therefore, accurate weather and climate forecasts hinge on good predictions of ice nucleation rates. Such rate predictions are based on extrapolations using classical nucleation theory, which assumes that the structure of nanometre-sized ice crystallites corresponds to that of hexagonal ice, the thermodynamically stable form of bulk ice. However, simulations with various water models find that ice nucleated and grown under atmospheric temperatures is at all sizes stacking-disordered, consisting of random sequences of cubic and hexagonal ice layers. This implies that stacking-disordered ice crystallites either are more stable than hexagonal ice crystallites or form because of non-equilibrium dynamical effects. Both scenarios challenge central tenets of classical nucleation theory. Here we use rare-event sampling and free energy calculations with the mW water model to show that the entropy of mixing cubic and hexagonal layers makes stacking-disordered ice the stable phase for crystallites up to a size of at least 100,000 molecules. We find that stacking-disordered critical crystallites at 230 kelvin are about 14 kilojoules per mole of crystallite more stable than hexagonal crystallites, making their ice nucleation rates more than three orders of magnitude higher than predicted by classical nucleation theory. This effect on nucleation rates is temperature dependent, being the most pronounced at the warmest conditions, and should affect the modelling of cloud formation and ice particle numbers, which are very sensitive to the temperature dependence of ice nucleation rates. We conclude that classical nucleation theory needs to be corrected to include the dependence of the crystallization driving force on the size of the ice crystallite when interpreting and extrapolating ice nucleation rates from experimental laboratory conditions to the temperatures that occur in clouds.

High Efficiency Stacked Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Employing Li2O as a Connecting Layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanno, Hiroshi; Hamada, Yuji; Nishimura, Kazuki; Okumoto, Kenji; Saito, Nobuo; Ishida, Hiroki; Takahashi, Hisakazu; Shibata, Kenichi; Mameno, Kazunobu

2006-12-01

We demonstrate the high-efficiency stacked organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) introducing new connecting layers. In the green stacked OLEDs, the external efficiencies increase proportionally to the number of the stacked units without suffering the decrease in power efficiency. The current, power and external efficiencies at 0.5 mA/cm2 of the stacked OLED with six stacked units (6-stacked OLED) have reached 235 cd/A, 46.6 lm/W, and 65.8%, respectively. Furthermore, we have applied the connecting layers to a white stacked OLED and fabricated an active-matrix full-color display with a low temperature polysilicon thin film transistor backplane. In the device, the current efficiency of the white 2-stacked OLED is enhanced by a factor of 2.2. The initial luminance drop is significantly suppressed for the white 2-stacked OLED compared to 1-stacked OLED. The proposed white stacked OLED technology can be applied to a full-color display for a practical use.

Highly sensitive oligosaccharide analysis in capillary electrophoresis using large-volume sample stacking with an electroosmotic flow pump.

PubMed

Kawai, Takayuki; Watanabe, Masato; Sueyoshi, Kenji; Kitagawa, Fumihiko; Otsuka, Koji

2012-04-06

To obtain high sensitivity in capillary electrophoresis of oligosaccharide without reducing the high resolution with an easy experimental procedure, large-volume sample stacking with an electroosmotic flow pump (LVSEP) was investigated. As a fundamental study, effect of the conductivity of a sample solution in LVSEP was examined. It was revealed that LVSEP was successfully carried out even in using a sample solution with the ionic strength of 150 μM and the conductivity ratio of 20, indicating a good applicability of LVSEP to the analysis of real samples containing salts. When glucose oligomer was analyzed as a model sample in LVSEP-capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), all peaks were well resolved with decreasing only 5% of the peak-to-peak distance, which suggested 95% of the whole capillary could be used for the effective separation. In the analysis of maltoheptaose, a good calibration line with correlation coefficient of 0.9995 was obtained. The limit of detection was estimated as 2 pM, which was 500-fold lower than that in the conventional CZE. N-linked glycans released from three glycoproteins, bovine ribonuclease B, bovine fetuin, and human α(1)-acid glycoprotein were also analyzed by LVSEP-CZE. By the sample purification with a gel filtration column, further sample dilution to reduce the sample conductivity for LVSEP was not needed. All glycan samples were well concentrated and separated with up to a 770-fold sensitivity increase. The run-to-run repeatabilities of the migration time, peak height, and peak area were good with relative standard deviations of 0.1-1.3%, 1.2-1.7%, and 2.8-4.9%, respectively. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Determination of Hair Shafts by InnoTyper® 21 Kit].

PubMed

Li, F; Zhang, M; Wang, Y X; Shui, J J; Yan, M; Jin, X P; Zhu, X J

2017-12-01

To explore the application value of InnoTyper® 21 kit in forensic practice. Samples of hair shafts and saliva were collected from 8 unrelated individuals. Template DNA was extracted by AutoMate Express™ forensic DNA automatic extraction system. DNA was amplified by InnoTyper® 21 kit and AmpFℓSTR™ Identifiler™ Plus kit, respectively, and then the results were compared. After the amplification by InnoTyper® 21 kit, complete specific genotyping could be detected from the saliva samples, and the peak value of genotyping profiles of hair shafts without sheath cells was 57-1 219 RFU. Allelic gene deletion could be found sometimes. When amplified by AmpFℓSTR™ Identifiler™ Plus kit, complete specific genotyping could be detected from the saliva samples, and the specific fragment was not detected in hair shafts without sheath cells. The InnoTyper® 21 kit has certain application value in the cases of hair shafts without sheath cells. Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Forensic Medicine

Characterization of a Track-and-Hold Amplifier for Application to a High Performance SAR

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

DUBBERT, DALE F.; HARDIN, TERRY LYNN; DELAPLAIN, GILBERT G.

2002-07-01

A Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) which employs direct IF sampling can significantly reduce the complexity of the analog electronics prior to the analog-to-digital converter (ADC). For relatively high frequency IF bands, a wide-bandwidth track-and-hold amplifier (THA) is required prior to the ADC. The THA functions primarily as a means of converting, through bandpass sampling, the IF signal to a baseband signal which can be sampled by the ADC. For a wide-band, high dynamic-range receiver system, such as a SAR receiver, stringent performance requirements are placed on the THA. We first measure the THA parameters such as gain, gain compression, third-ordermore » intercept (TOI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), spurious-free dynamic-range (SFDR), noise figure (NF), and phase noise. The results are then analyzed in terms of their respective impact on the overall performance of the SAR. The specific THA under consideration is the Rockwell Scientific RTH010.« less

HIV-1 low copy viral sequencing-A prototype assay.

PubMed

Mellberg, Tomas; Krabbe, Jon; Gisslén, Magnus; Svennerholm, Bo

2016-01-01

In HIV-1 patients with low viral burden, sequencing is often problematic, yet important. This study presents a sensitive, sub-type independent system for sequencing of low level viremia. Sequencing data from 32 HIV-1 infected patients with low level viremia were collected longitudinally. A combination of ViroSeq® HIV-1 Genotyping System and an in-house nesting protocol was used. Eight sub-types were represented. The success-rate of amplification of both PR and RT in the same sample was 100% in samples with viral loads above 100 copies/ml. Below 100 copies/ml, this study managed to amplify both regions in 7/13 (54%) samples. The assays were able to amplify either PR or RT in all sub-types included but one sub-type A specimen. In conclusion, this study presents a promising, simple assay to increase the ability to perform HIV-1 resistance testing at low level viremia. This is a prototype assay and the method needs further testing to evaluate clinical performance.

Genotyping of Campylobacter jejuni from broiler carcasses and slaughterhouse environment by amplified fragment length polymorphism.

PubMed

Johnsen, G; Kruse, H; Hofshagen, M

2006-12-01

We examined the occurrence and diversity of Campylobacter jejuni on broiler carcasses during slaughter of an infected flock and in the slaughterhouse environment during slaughter and postdisinfection before a new production run. During the slaughter of a known C. jejuni infected broiler flock, samples were taken from broiler carcasses at 7 different stages during the process. Thirty-seven sites in the slaughterhouse environment were sampled both during process and postdisinfection. The samples were analyzed for C. jejuni, and genetic fingerprinting was performed using amplified fragment length polymorphism. All carcass samples were positive. Of the environmental samples collected during slaughter, 89% were positive; 100% of those from the arrival, stunning, scalding, defeathering, and evisceration facilities and 67% of those from the cooling and sorting facilities. Postdisinfection, 41% of the samples were positive; 71% of those from the arrival and stunning area, 60% of those from the scalding and defeathering area, and 20% of those from the evisceration, cooling, and sorting area. The C. jejuni isolates (n = 60) recovered were grouped into 4 different amplified fragment length polymorphism clones with a similarity index of 95% or greater. All isolates obtained from the flock and 94% of the isolates obtained from the environment during slaughtering belonged to clone A, whereas 1 environmental isolate belonged to each of the clones B and C. Isolates from clones A, B, and D were present postdisinfection. Only clone B was detected on flocks slaughtered during the previous week. The high level and continuous presence of Campylobacter in the environment constitutes a risk for transmission to negative carcasses. In Norway, where above 96% of the broiler flocks are Campylobacter-negative, this aspect is of special importance. The ability of Campylobacter to remain in the slaughterhouse environment through washing and disinfection is associated with constructional conditions of equipment and buildings, complicating cleaning and providing sufficient moisture. To reduce the probability of the workers acquiring campylobacteriosis, precautions should be taken when slaughtering Campylobacter-positive flocks.

Guanine base stacking in G-quadruplex nucleic acids

PubMed Central

Lech, Christopher Jacques; Heddi, Brahim; Phan, Anh Tuân

2013-01-01

G-quadruplexes constitute a class of nucleic acid structures defined by stacked guanine tetrads (or G-tetrads) with guanine bases from neighboring tetrads stacking with one another within the G-tetrad core. Individual G-quadruplexes can also stack with one another at their G-tetrad interface leading to higher-order structures as observed in telomeric repeat-containing DNA and RNA. In this study, we investigate how guanine base stacking influences the stability of G-quadruplexes and their stacked higher-order structures. A structural survey of the Protein Data Bank is conducted to characterize experimentally observed guanine base stacking geometries within the core of G-quadruplexes and at the interface between stacked G-quadruplex structures. We couple this survey with a systematic computational examination of stacked G-tetrad energy landscapes using quantum mechanical computations. Energy calculations of stacked G-tetrads reveal large energy differences of up to 12 kcal/mol between experimentally observed geometries at the interface of stacked G-quadruplexes. Energy landscapes are also computed using an AMBER molecular mechanics description of stacking energy and are shown to agree quite well with quantum mechanical calculated landscapes. Molecular dynamics simulations provide a structural explanation for the experimentally observed preference of parallel G-quadruplexes to stack in a 5′–5′ manner based on different accessible tetrad stacking modes at the stacking interfaces of 5′–5′ and 3′–3′ stacked G-quadruplexes. PMID:23268444

Search for correlations between the arrival directions of IceCube neutrino events and ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays detected by the Pierre Auger Observatory and the Telescope Array

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

IceCube Collaboration; Pierre Auger Collaboration; Telescope Array Collaboration

2016-01-01

This paper presents the results of different searches for correlations between very high-energy neutrino candidates detected by IceCube and the highest-energy cosmic rays measured by the Pierre Auger Observatory and the Telescope Array. We first consider samples of cascade neutrino events and of high-energy neutrino-induced muon tracks, which provided evidence for a neutrino flux of astrophysical origin, and study their cross-correlation with the ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray (UHECR) samples as a function of angular separation. We also study their possible directional correlations using a likelihood method stacking the neutrino arrival directions and adopting different assumptions on the size of the UHECRmore » magnetic deflections. Finally, we perform another likelihood analysis stacking the UHECR directions and using a sample of through-going muon tracks optimized for neutrino point-source searches with sub-degree angular resolution. No indications of correlations at discovery level are obtained for any of the searches performed. The smallest of the p-values comes from the search for correlation between UHECRs with IceCube high-energy cascades, a result that should continue to be monitored.« less

Search for correlations between the arrival directions of IceCube neutrino events and ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays detected by the Pierre Auger Observatory and the Telescope Array

DOE PAGES

Aartsen, M. G.

2016-01-20

This study presents the results of different searches for correlations between very high-energy neutrino candidates detected by IceCube and the highest-energy cosmic rays measured by the Pierre Auger Observatory and the Telescope Array. We first consider samples of cascade neutrino events and of high-energy neutrino-induced muon tracks, which provided evidence for a neutrino flux of astrophysical origin, and study their cross-correlation with the ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray (UHECR) samples as a function of angular separation. We also study their possible directional correlations using a likelihood method stacking the neutrino arrival directions and adopting different assumptions on the size of the UHECRmore » magnetic deflections. Finally, we perform another likelihood analysis stacking the UHECR directions and using a sample of through-going muon tracks optimized for neutrino point-source searches with sub-degree angular resolution. No indications of correlations at discovery level are obtained for any of the searches performed. The smallest of the p-values comes from the search for correlation between UHECRs with IceCube high-energy cascades, a result that should continue to be monitored.« less

Conductivity tomography based on pulsed eddy current with SQUID magnetometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panaitov, G. I.; Krause, H.-J.; Zhang, Y.

2002-05-01

Pulsed eddy current (EC) techniques have the advantage of potentially covering a broader depth range than standard single frequency EC testing. We developed a novel pulsed EC technique using a liquid-nitrogen cooled SQUID magnetometer. For two reasons, SQUID magnetometers are particularly well suited as sensors: first they constitute an extremely sensitive magnetic field sensor, second they measure the field directly which decays more slowly than its time derivative picked up by induction coils. A square waveform transmitter signal was used, with alternating slopes in order to eliminate drift effect, and stacking synchronous to the power line frequency in order to improve signal-to-noise. The early time (high frequency) data of the recorded transient correspond to the upper layers of the conducting medium, while late time data or low frequencies deliver information on deep layers. Measurements of cracks at different depths in a stacked aluminum sample are presented. From the measured data, the apparent conductivity of the sample was calculated for each position and depth by applying a technique known from geophysical data interpretation. Thus, the position and depth of the crack was determined from the tomographic conductivity image of the sample.

Chirality of the 1,4-phenylene-silica nanoribbons at the nano and angstrom levels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yi; Wang, Sibing; Xiao, Min; Wang, Mingliang; Huang, Zhibin; Li, Baozong; Yang, Yonggang

2013-01-01

We reported the preparation of chiral 1,4-phenylene-silicas, using a sol-gel transcription approach, by self-assembly using low-molecular-weight gelators as templates. The silicas exhibited chirality at both the nano and angstrom levels. However, the relation between the chirality at the nano level and that at the angstrom levels has not been well studied. In this study, chiral 1,4-phenylene-silica nanoribbons were prepared by the self-assemblies of three chiral cationic gelators derived from amino acids as templates. These samples were characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and circular dichroism. The results indicated that the handedness of the nanoribbons and the stacking of the aromatic rings were controllable. Although the nanoribbons exhibited left-handedness at the nano level, the stacking of the aromatic rings could exhibit left- or right-handedness. The handedness of the nanoribbons at the nano level was controlled by the organic self-assembly of the gelator. However, the stacking of the aromatic rings seemed to be controlled by the gelator itself.

Organic doping of rotated double layer graphene

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

George, Lijin; Jaiswal, Manu, E-mail: manu.jaiswal@iitm.ac.in

2016-05-06

Charge transfer techniques have been extensively used as knobs to tune electronic properties of two- dimensional systems, such as, for the modulation of conductivity \\ mobility of single layer graphene and for opening the bandgap in bilayer graphene. The charge injected into the graphene layer shifts the Fermi level away from the minimum density of states point (Dirac point). In this work, we study charge transfer in rotated double-layer graphene achieved by the use of organic dopant, Tetracyanoquinodimethane. Naturally occurring bilayer graphene has a well-defined A-B stacking whereas in rotated double-layer the two graphene layers are randomly stacked with differentmore » rotational angles. This rotation is expected to significantly alter the interlayer interaction. Double-layer samples are prepared using layer-by-layer assembly of chemical vapor deposited single-layer graphene and they are identified by characteristic resonance in the Raman spectrum. The charge transfer and distribution of charges between the two graphene layers is studied using Raman spectroscopy and the results are compared with that for single-layer and A-B stacked bilayer graphene doped under identical conditions.« less

Cascading and Parallelising Curvilinear Inertial Focusing Systems for High Volume, Wide Size Distribution, Separation and Concentration of Particles

PubMed Central

Miller, B.; Jimenez, M.; Bridle, H.

2016-01-01

Inertial focusing is a microfluidic based separation and concentration technology that has expanded rapidly in the last few years. Throughput is high compared to other microfluidic approaches although sample volumes have typically remained in the millilitre range. Here we present a strategy for achieving rapid high volume processing with stacked and cascaded inertial focusing systems, allowing for separation and concentration of particles with a large size range, demonstrated here from 30 μm–300 μm. The system is based on curved channels, in a novel toroidal configuration and a stack of 20 devices has been shown to operate at 1 L/min. Recirculation allows for efficient removal of large particles whereas a cascading strategy enables sequential removal of particles down to a final stage where the target particle size can be concentrated. The demonstration of curved stacked channels operating in a cascaded manner allows for high throughput applications, potentially replacing filtration in applications such as environmental monitoring, industrial cleaning processes, biomedical and bioprocessing and many more. PMID:27808244

Effect of stacking sequence on mechanical properties neem wood veneer plastic composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagamadhu, M.; Kumar, G. C. Mohan; Jeyaraj, P.

2018-04-01

This study investigates the effect of wood veneer stacking sequence on mechanical properties of neem wood polymer composite (WPC) experimentally. Wood laminated samples were fabricated by conventional hand layup technique in a mold and cured under pressure at room temperature and then post cured at elevated temperature. Initially, the tensile, flexural, and impact test were conducted to understand the effect of weight fraction of fiber on mechanical properties. The mechanical properties have increased with the weight fraction of fiber. Moreover the stacking sequence of neem wood plays an important role. As it has a significant impact on the mechanical properties. The results indicated that 0°/0° WPC shows highest mechanical properties as compared to other sequences (90°/90°, 0°/90°, 45°/90°, 45°/45°). The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) Analysis were carried out to identify chemical compounds both in raw neem wood and neem wood epoxy composite. The microstructure raw/neat neem wood and the interfacial bonding characteristics of neem wood composite investigated using Scanning electron microscopy images.

Tuning of polarization sensitivity in closely stacked trilayer InAs/GaAs quantum dots induced by overgrowth dynamics.

PubMed

Tasco, Vittorianna; Usman, Muhammad; De Giorgi, Milena; Passaseo, Adriana

2014-02-07

Tailoring of electronic and optical properties of self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) is a critical limit for the design of several QD-based optoelectronic devices operating in the telecom frequency range. We describe how fine control of the strain-induced surface kinetics during the growth of vertically stacked multiple layers of QDs allows for the engineering of their self-organization process. Most noticeably, this study shows that the underlying strain field induced along a QD stack can be modulated and controlled by time-dependent intermixing and segregation effects occurring after capping with a GaAs spacer. This leads to a drastic increase of the TM/TE polarization ratio of emitted light, not accessible from conventional growth parameters. Our detailed experimental measurements, supported by comprehensive multi-million atom simulations of strain, electronic and optical properties, provide in-depth analysis of the grown QD samples allowing us to give a clear picture of the atomic scale phenomena affecting the proposed growth dynamics and consequent QD polarization response.

Photochemical degradation of polymeric coatings on mirrors as studied in situ using FT-IR reflection-absorbance spectroscopy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Webb, J.D.; Schissel, P.; Czanderna, A.W.

1981-12-01

Reflection-absorbance spectroscopy has been used to obtain analytical information on samples of polymer/metal multilayer stacks subjected to degradative factors. The capabilities of the apparatus are summarized and representative data from initial studies are presented. (LEW)

The Direct FuelCell™ stack engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doyon, J.; Farooque, M.; Maru, H.

FuelCell Energy (FCE) has developed power plants in the size range of 300 kW to 3 MW for distributed power generation. Field-testing of the sub-megawatt plants is underway. The FCE power plants are based on its Direct FuelCell™ (DFC) technology. This is so named because of its ability to generate electricity directly from a hydrocarbon fuel, such as natural gas, by reforming it inside the fuel cell stack itself. All FCE products use identical 8000 cm 2 cell design, approximately 350-400 cells per stack, external gas manifolds, and similar stack compression systems. The difference lies in the packaging of the stacks inside the stack module. The sub-megawatt system stack module contains a single horizontal stack whereas the MW-class stack module houses four identical vertical stacks. The commonality of the design, internal reforming features, and atmospheric operation simplify the system design, reduce cost, improve efficiency, increase reliability and maintainability. The product building-block stack design has been advanced through three full-size stack operations at company's headquarters in Danbury, CT. The initial proof-of-concept of the full-size stack design was verified in 1999, followed by a 1.5 year of endurance verification in 2000-2001, and currently a value-engineered stack version is in operation. This paper discusses the design features, important engineering solutions implemented, and test results of FCE's full-size DFC stacks.

Chemical, dimensional and morphological ultrafine particle characterization from a waste-to-energy plant

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Buonanno, Giorgio, E-mail: buonanno@unicas.it; Stabile, Luca; Avino, Pasquale

2011-11-15

Highlights: > Particle size distributions and total concentrations measurement at the stack and before the fabric filter of an incinerator. > Chemical characterization of UFPs in terms of heavy metal concentration through a nuclear method. > Mineralogical investigation through a Transmission Electron Microscope equipped with an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer. > Heavy metal concentrations on UFPs as function of the boiling temperature. > Different mineralogical and morphological composition amongst samples collected before the fabric filter and at the stack. - Abstract: Waste combustion processes are responsible of particles and gaseous emissions. Referring to the particle emission, in the last years specificmore » attention was paid to ultrafine particles (UFPs, diameter less than 0.1 {mu}m), mainly emitted by combustion processes. In fact, recent findings of toxicological and epidemiological studies indicate that fine and ultrafine particles could represent a risk for health and environment. Therefore, it is necessary to quantify particle emissions from incinerators also to perform an exposure assessment for the human populations living in their surrounding areas. To these purposes, in the present work an experimental campaign aimed to monitor UFPs was carried out at the incineration plant in San Vittore del Lazio (Italy). Particle size distributions and total concentrations were measured both at the stack and before the fabric filter inlet in order to evaluate the removal efficiency of the filter in terms of UFPs. A chemical characterization of UFPs in terms of heavy metal concentration was performed through a nuclear method, i.e. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA), as well as a mineralogical investigation was carried out through a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) equipped with an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) in order to evaluate shape, crystalline state and mineral compound of sampled particles. Maximum values of 2.7 x 10{sup 7} part. cm{sup -3} and 2.0 x 10{sup 3} part. cm{sup -3} were found, respectively, for number concentration before and after the fabric filter showing a very high efficiency in particle removing by the fabric filter. With regard to heavy metal concentrations, the elements with higher boiling temperature present higher concentrations at lower diameters showing a not complete evaporation in the combustion section and the consequent condensation of semi-volatile compounds on solid nuclei. In terms of mineralogical and morphological analysis, the most abundant compounds found in samples collected before the fabric filter are Na-K-Pb oxides followed by phyllosilicates, otherwise, different oxides of comparable abundance were detected in the samples collected at the stack.« less

Acute Tick-borne Rickettsiosis Caused by Rickettsia sibirica in the Russian Far East

PubMed Central

Sidelnikov, Yuri; Ivanov, Leonid; Mokretsova, Eugenia; Fournier, Pierre-Edouard; Tarasevich, Irina; Raoult, Didier

2004-01-01

An acute tick-borne rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia heilongjiangensis was diagnosed in 13 patients from the Russian Far East in 2002. We amplified and sequenced four portions of three rickettsial genes from the patients’ skin biopsy results and blood samples and showed that the amplified rickettsial genes belong to R. heilongjiangensis, which was recently isolated from Dermacentor sylvarum ticks in nearby regions of China. This rickettsia, belonging to subgroup of R. japonica, was previously suggested to be pathogenic for humans on the basis of serologic findings. We tested serum samples with different rickettsial antigens from 11 patients and confirmed increasing titers of immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM to spotted fever group rickettsiae, including R. heilongjiangensis. Clinical and epidemiologic data on these patients shows that this disease is similar to other tick-borne rickettsioses. PMID:15200813

A microcontroller-based lock-in amplifier for sub-milliohm resistance measurements.

PubMed

Bengtsson, Lars E

2012-07-01

This paper presents a novel approach to the design of a digital ohmmeter with a resolution of <60 μΩ based on a general-purpose microcontroller and a high-impedance instrumentation amplifier only. The design uses two digital I/O-pins to alternate the current through the sample resistor and combined with a proper firmware routine, the design is a lock-in detector that discriminates any signal that is out of phase/frequency with the reference signal. This makes it possible to selectively detect the μV drop across sample resistors down to 55.6 μΩ using only the current that can be supplied by the digital output pins of a microcontroller. This is achieved without the need for an external reference signal generator and does not rely on the computing processing power of a digital signal processor.

No detection of SV40 DNA in mesothelioma tissues from a high incidence area in Sweden.

PubMed

Lundstig, Annika; Dejmek, Annika; Eklund, Carina; Filinic, Ivo; Dillner, Joakim

2007-01-01

Simian virus 40 (SV40), a polyoma virus of the rhesus macaque was discovered in 1960 as a contaminant of human polio vaccines produced in monkey cells. A number of studies have reported the detection of SV40 nucleotide sequences in human tumors, mainly mesotheliomas, but the reports have not been consistent. The presence of SV40 in 26 consecutive cases of malignant mesothelioma of biphasic type was investigated using a SV40 quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a sensitivity of 10 copies of viral DNA per sample. All the samples were also tested for amplifiability using a real-time PCR for the beta-globin gene. Eighteen tumors were amplifiable, but none contained SV40 DNA. The results do not support an association between mesothelioma and SV40.