Sample records for buried metallic objects

  1. Buried nonmetallic object detection using bistatic ground penetrating radar with variable antenna elevation angle and height

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Yu; Orfeo, Dan; Burns, Dylan; Miller, Jonathan; Huston, Dryver; Xia, Tian

    2017-04-01

    Ground penetrating radar (GPR) has been shown to be an effective device for detecting buried objects that have little or no metal content, such as plastic, ceramic, and concrete pipes. In this paper, buried non-metallic object detection is evaluated for different antenna elevation angles and heights using a bistatic air-launched GPR. Due to the large standoff distance between antennas and the ground surface, the air-launched GPR has larger spreading loss than the hand-held GPR and vehicle-mounted GPR. Moreover, nonmetallic objects may have similar dielectric property to the buried medium, which results in further difficulty for accurate detection using air-launched GPR. To study such effects, both GPR simulations and GPR laboratory experiments are performed with various setups where antennas are placed at different heights and angles. In the experiments, the test surface areas are configured with and without rocks in order to examine surface clutter effect. The experimental results evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of bistatic air-launched GPR for detecting buried nonmetallic objects, which provide valuable insights for subsurface scanning with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) mounted GPR.

  2. Mechanical Energy Propagation and Backscattering in Nominally Dry Soil: Imaging Buried Land Mines

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sen, Surajit

    2003-04-01

    The imaging of shallow buried objects in a complex medium, e.g., nominally dry sand, is an outstanding challenge. Such imaging is of relevance in connection with the detection and subsequent imaging of buried non-metallic anti-personnel land mines and in other applications. It has been shown that gentle mechanical impulses and low frequency sound waves with frequencies roughly between 150-350 Hz or so can penetrate distances of up to a foot in sand. Hence, such signals can potentially be useful in the detection and perhaps in the imaging of shallow buried objects. It is presently unclear whether high frequency signals can be effectively used to image shallow buried objects. Impulses can typically penetrate larger distances into sand and soil. Both impulses and continuous sound waves can be used for imaging shallow buried objects. The talk shall briefly review the state-of-the-art in low frequency sound propagation in soil and shall discuss the current understanding of impulse propagation and backscattering in nominally dry sand beds. It will be argued that impulse based imaging may have the potential to be a simple and fast way to detect and image small non-metallic mines. Research supported by the National Science Foundation Grant No. NSF-CMS 0070055.

  3. Development of dual sensor hand-held detector

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sezgin, Mehmet

    2010-04-01

    In this paper hand-held dual sensor detector development requirements are considered dedicated to buried object detection. Design characteristics of such a system are categorized and listed. Hardware and software structures, ergonomics, user interface, environmental and EMC/EMI tests to be applied and performance test issues are studied. Main properties of the developed system (SEZER) are presented, which contains Metal Detector (MD) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). The realized system has ergonomic structure and can detect both metallic and non-metallic buried objects. Moreover classification of target is possible if it was defined to the signal processing software in learning phase.

  4. Evaluation of the use of shredded tires around buried pipes : technical assistance report.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1999-05-01

    The objective of this project was to assess the potential of placement and compaction of shredded tire chips and soil-tire mix in confined trenches around buried pipes and to evaluate the stability and deformation of metal pipes in such systems. The ...

  5. Standardized Analysis for UXO Demonstration Sites

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-04-01

    is a time-domain electromagnetic instrument designed to detect shallow ferrous and nonferrous metallic objects. The applicability of the EM61 for UXO...or spots show EMI field anomalies caused by buried metal objects, both UXO and clutter. Anomaly maps for APG are shown in Figure 5. The Blind Grid

  6. Identification of Buried Objects in GPR Using Amplitude Modulated Signals Extracted from Multiresolution Monogenic Signal Analysis

    PubMed Central

    Qiao, Lihong; Qin, Yao; Ren, Xiaozhen; Wang, Qifu

    2015-01-01

    It is necessary to detect the target reflections in ground penetrating radar (GPR) images, so that surface metal targets can be identified successfully. In order to accurately locate buried metal objects, a novel method called the Multiresolution Monogenic Signal Analysis (MMSA) system is applied in ground penetrating radar (GPR) images. This process includes four steps. First the image is decomposed by the MMSA to extract the amplitude component of the B-scan image. The amplitude component enhances the target reflection and suppresses the direct wave and reflective wave to a large extent. Then we use the region of interest extraction method to locate the genuine target reflections from spurious reflections by calculating the normalized variance of the amplitude component. To find the apexes of the targets, a Hough transform is used in the restricted area. Finally, we estimate the horizontal and vertical position of the target. In terms of buried object detection, the proposed system exhibits promising performance, as shown in the experimental results. PMID:26690146

  7. Radiation and Electromagnetic Induction Data Fusion for Detection of Buried Radioactive Metal Waste - 12282

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

    Long, Zhiling; Wei, Wei; Turlapaty, Anish

    2012-07-01

    At the United States Army's test sites, fired penetrators made of Depleted Uranium (DU) have been buried under ground and become hazardous waste. Previously, we developed techniques for detecting buried radioactive targets. We also developed approaches for locating buried paramagnetic metal objects by utilizing the electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensor data. In this paper, we apply data fusion techniques to combine results from both the radiation detection and the EMI detection, so that we can further distinguish among DU penetrators, DU oxide, and non- DU metal debris. We develop a two-step fusion approach for the task, and test it with surveymore » data collected on simulation targets. In this work, we explored radiation and EMI data fusion for detecting DU, oxides, and non-DU metals. We developed a two-step fusion approach based on majority voting and a set of decision rules. With this approach, we fuse results from radiation detection based on the RX algorithm and EMI detection based on a 3-step analysis. Our fusion approach has been tested successfully with data collected on simulation targets. In the future, we will need to further verify the effectiveness of this fusion approach with field data. (authors)« less

  8. Laser-induced acoustic imaging of underground objects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Wen; DiMarzio, Charles A.; McKnight, Stephen W.; Sauermann, Gerhard O.; Miller, Eric L.

    1999-02-01

    This paper introduces a new demining technique based on the photo-acoustic interaction, together with results from photo- acoustic experiments. We have buried different types of targets (metal, rubber and plastic) in different media (sand, soil and water) and imaged them by measuring reflection of acoustic waves generated by irradiation with a CO2 laser. Research has been focused on the signal acquisition and signal processing. A deconvolution method using Wiener filters is utilized in data processing. Using a uniform spatial distribution of laser pulses at the ground's surface, we obtained 3D images of buried objects. The images give us a clear representation of the shapes of the underground objects. The quality of the images depends on the mismatch of acoustic impedance of the buried objects, the bandwidth and center frequency of the acoustic sensors and the selection of filter functions.

  9. Investigation of an EMI sensor for detection of large metallic objects in the presence of metallic clutter

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Black, Christopher; McMichael, Ian; Riggs, Lloyd

    2005-06-01

    Electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensors and magnetometers have successfully detected surface laid, buried, and visually obscured metallic objects. Potential military activities could require detection of these objects at some distance from a moving vehicle in the presence of metallic clutter. Results show that existing EMI sensors have limited range capabilities and suffer from false alarms due to clutter. This paper presents results of an investigation of an EMI sensor designed for detecting large metallic objects on a moving platform in a high clutter environment. The sensor was developed by the U.S. Army RDECOM CERDEC NVESD in conjunction with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

  10. In situ vitrification application to buried waste: Final report of intermediate field tests at Idaho National Engineering Laboratory

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

    Callow, R.A.; Weidner, J.R.; Loehr, C.A.

    This report describes two in situ vitrification field tests conducted on simulated buried waste pits during June and July 1990 at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. In situ vitrification, an emerging technology for in place conversion of contaminated soils into a durable glass and crystalline waste form, is being investigated as a potential remediation technology for buried waste. The overall objective of the two tests was to access the general suitability of the process to remediate waste structures representative of buried waste found at Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. In particular, these tests, as part of a treatability study, were designedmore » to provide essential information on the field performance of the process under conditions of significant combustible and metal wastes and to test a newly developed electrode feed technology. The tests were successfully completed, and the electrode feed technology successfully processed the high metal content waste. Test results indicate the process is a feasible technology for application to buried waste. 33 refs., 109 figs., 39 tabs.« less

  11. Preprocessing of A-scan GPR data based on energy features

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dogan, Mesut; Turhan-Sayan, Gonul

    2016-05-01

    There is an increasing demand for noninvasive real-time detection and classification of buried objects in various civil and military applications. The problem of detection and annihilation of landmines is particularly important due to strong safety concerns. The requirement for a fast real-time decision process is as important as the requirements for high detection rates and low false alarm rates. In this paper, we introduce and demonstrate a computationally simple, timeefficient, energy-based preprocessing approach that can be used in ground penetrating radar (GPR) applications to eliminate reflections from the air-ground boundary and to locate the buried objects, simultaneously, at one easy step. The instantaneous power signals, the total energy values and the cumulative energy curves are extracted from the A-scan GPR data. The cumulative energy curves, in particular, are shown to be useful to detect the presence and location of buried objects in a fast and simple way while preserving the spectral content of the original A-scan data for further steps of physics-based target classification. The proposed method is demonstrated using the GPR data collected at the facilities of IPA Defense, Ankara at outdoor test lanes. Cylindrically shaped plastic containers were buried in fine-medium sand to simulate buried landmines. These plastic containers were half-filled by ammonium nitrate including metal pins. Results of this pilot study are demonstrated to be highly promising to motivate further research for the use of energy-based preprocessing features in landmine detection problem.

  12. Finding buried metallic pipes using a non-destructive approach based on 3D time-domain induced polarization data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shao, Zhenlu; Revil, André; Mao, Deqiang; Wang, Deming

    2018-04-01

    The location of buried utility pipes is often unknown. We use the time-domain induced polarization method to non-intrusively localize metallic pipes. A new approach, based on injecting a primary electrical current between a pair of electrodes and measuring the time-lapse voltage response on a set of potential electrodes after shutting down this primary current is used. The secondary voltage is measured on all the electrodes with respect to a single electrode used as a reference for the electrical potential, in a way similar to a self-potential time lapse survey. This secondary voltage is due to the formation of a secondary current density in the ground associated with the polarization of the metallic pipes. An algorithm is designed to localize the metallic object using the secondary voltage distribution by performing a tomography of the secondary source current density associated with the polarization of the pipes. This algorithm is first benchmarked on a synthetic case. Then, two laboratory sandbox experiments are performed with buried metallic pipes located in a sandbox filled with some clean sand. In Experiment #1, we use a horizontal copper pipe while in Experiment #2 we use an inclined stainless steel pipe. The result shows that the method is effective in localizing these two pipes. At the opposite, electrical resistivity tomography is not effective in localizing the pipes because they may appear resistive at low frequencies. This is due to the polarization of the metallic pipes which blocks the charge carriers at its external boundaries.

  13. Detection of disturbed earth using hyperspectral LWIR imaging data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hubbard, Wendy; Bishop, Gary; Gagnon, Jean-Philippe; Lagueux, Philippe; Hannuna, Sion; Campbell, Neill

    2010-10-01

    The Reststrahlen effect has been investigated for detecting regions of recently disturbed earth, by taking images where metallic objects had been buried in a sandy soil and comparing with images of undisturbed soil. The images were taken with a Long wave Infrared (LWIR) Hyperspectral Sensor, the Hyper-Cam.

  14. Aeromagnetic investigations of hazardous waste sites

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    ,

    1995-01-01

    Aeromagnetic survey data collected by helicopter over hazardous waste sites can be used to map the distribution of buried metallic (ferrous) objects at these sites, including drums and scrap metal. Thorough knowledge of the locations and nature of hazardous waste containers and contaminated objects is needed prior to the start of remediation efforts. Non-invasive geophysical techniques such as the aeromagnetic method provide the best way to obtain this knowledge. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) not only has experience in processing and interpreting aeromagnetic surveys of this type but also offers aid in the design and monitoring of contracts for such surveys.

  15. Controlled research utilizing a basic all-metal detector in the search for buried firearms and miscellaneous weapons.

    PubMed

    Rezos, Mary M; Schultz, John J; Murdock, Ronald A; Smith, Stephen A

    2010-02-25

    Incorporating geophysical technologies into forensic investigations has become a growing practice. Oftentimes, forensic professionals rely on basic metal detectors to assist their efforts during metallic weapons searches. This has created a need for controlled research in the area of weapons searches, specifically to formulate guidelines for geophysical methods that may be appropriate for locating weapons that have been discarded or buried by criminals attempting to conceal their involvement in a crime. Controlled research allows not only for testing of geophysical equipment, but also for updating search methodologies. This research project was designed to demonstrate the utility of an all-metal detector for locating a buried metallic weapon through detecting and identifying specific types of buried metal targets. Controlled testing of 32 buried targets which represented a variety of sizes and metallic compositions included 16 decommissioned street-level firearms, 6 pieces of assorted scrap metals, and 10 blunt or bladed weapons. While all forensic targets included in the project were detected with the basic all-metal detector, the size of the weapon and surface area were the two variables that affected maximum depth of detection, particularly with the firearm sample. For example, when using a High setting the largest firearms were detected at a maximum depth of 55 cm, but the majority of the remaining targets were only detected at a maximum depth of 40 cm or less. Overall, the all-metal detector proved to be a very good general purpose metal detector best suited for detecting metallic items at shallow depths. 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. Sensing a buried resonant object by single-channel time reversal.

    PubMed

    Waters, Zachary J; Dzikowicz, Benjamin R; Holt, R Glynn; Roy, Ronald A

    2009-07-01

    Scaled laboratory experiments are conducted to assess the efficacy of iterative, single-channel time reversal for enhancement of monostatic returns from resonant spheres in the free field and buried in a sediment phantom. Experiments are performed in a water tank using a broad-band piston transducer operating between 0.4 and 1.5 MHz and calibrated using free surface reflections. Solid and hollow metallic spheres, 6.35 mm in diameter, are buried in a consolidation of 128-microm-mean- diameter spherical glass beads. The procedure consists of exciting the target object with a broadband pulse, sampling the return using a finite time window, reversing the signal in time, and using this reversed signal as the source waveform for the next interrogation. Results indicate that the spectrum of the returns rapidly converges to the dominant mode in the backscattering response of the target. Signal-to-noise enhancement of the target echo is demonstrated for a target at several burial depths. Images generated by scanning the transducer over the location of multiple buried targets demonstrate the ability of the technique to distinguish between targets of differing type and to yield an enhancement of different modes within the response of a single target as a function of transducer position and processing bandwidth.

  17. Establishing a design procedure for buried steel-reinforced high density polyethylene (SRHDPE) pipes.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2013-11-01

    Metal and plastic pipes have been used extensively as storm sewers and buried drainage structures in transportation projects. Metal pipes have : high strength and stiffness but are susceptible to corrosion from wastewaters containing acid, and from a...

  18. Theoretical investigation of metal magnetic memory testing technique for detection of magnetic flux leakage signals from buried defect

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xu, Kunshan; Qiu, Xingqi; Tian, Xiaoshuai

    2018-01-01

    The metal magnetic memory testing (MMMT) technique has been extensively applied in various fields because of its unique advantages of easy operation, low cost and high efficiency. However, very limited theoretical research has been conducted on application of MMMT to buried defects. To promote study in this area, the equivalent magnetic charge method is employed to establish a self-magnetic flux leakage (SMFL) model of a buried defect. Theoretical results based on the established model successfully capture basic characteristics of the SMFL signals of buried defects, as confirmed via experiment. In particular, the newly developed model can calculate the buried depth of a defect based on the SMFL signals obtained via testing. The results show that the new model can successfully assess the characteristics of buried defects, which is valuable in the application of MMMT in non-destructive testing.

  19. Establishing a design procedure for buried steel-reinforced high density polyethylene (SRHDPE) pipes : [technical summary].

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2013-11-01

    Metal and plastic pipes have been used extensively as storm sewers and buried drainage structures in transportation projects. Metal pipes have high strength and stiffness but are susceptible to corrosion from wastewaters containing acid, and from agg...

  20. Detection of shallow buried objects using an autoregressive model on the ground penetrating radar signal

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nabelek, Daniel P.; Ho, K. C.

    2013-06-01

    The detection of shallow buried low-metal content objects using ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a challenging task. This is because these targets are right underneath the ground and the ground bounce reflection interferes with their detections. They do not create distinctive hyperbolic signatures as required by most existing GPR detection algorithms due to their special geometric shapes and low metal content. This paper proposes the use of the Autoregressive (AR) modeling method for the detection of these targets. We fit an A-scan of the GPR data to an AR model. It is found that the fitting error will be small when such a target is present and large when it is absent. The ratio of the energy in an Ascan before and after AR model fitting is used as the confidence value for detection. We also apply AR model fitting over scans and utilize the fitting residual energies over several scans to form a feature vector for improving the detections. Using the data collected from a government test site, the proposed method can improve the detection of this kind of targets by 30% compared to the pre-screener, at a false alarm rate of 0.002/m2.

  1. System and method for removal of buried objects

    DOEpatents

    Alexander, Robert G [Richland, WA; Crass, Dennis [Kennewick, WA; Grams, William [Kennewick, WA; Phillips, Steven J [Sunnyside, WA; Riess, Mark [Kennewick, WA

    2008-06-03

    The present invention is a system and method for removal of buried objects. According to one embodiment of the invention, a crane with a vibrator casing driver is used to lift and suspend a large diameter steel casing over the buried object. Then the casing is driven into the ground by the vibratory driver until the casing surrounds the buried object. Then the open bottom of the casing is sealed shut by injecting grout into the ground within the casing near its bottom. When the seal has cured and hardened, the top of the casing is lifted to retrieve the casing, with the buried object inside, from the ground.

  2. Acoustic and electromagnetic wave interaction in the detection and identification of buried objects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lawrence, Daniel Edward

    2002-09-01

    In order to facilitate the development of a hybrid acoustic and electromagnetic (EM) system for buried object detection, a number of analytical solutions and a novel numerical technique are developed to analyze the complex interaction between acoustic and EM scattering. The essence of the interaction lies in the fact that identifiable acoustic properties of an object, such as acoustic resonances, can be observed in the scattered EM Doppler spectrum. Using a perturbation approach, analytical solutions are derived for the EM scattering from infinitely long circular cylinders, both metallic and dielectric, under acoustic vibration in a homogeneous background medium. Results indicate that both the shape variation and dielectric constant contribute to the scattered EM Doppler spectrum. To model the effect of a cylinder beneath an acoustically excited half-space, a new analytical solution is presented for EM scattering from a cylinder beneath a slightly rough surface. The solution is achieved by using plane-wave expansion of the fields and an iterative technique to account for the multiple interactions between the cylinder and rough surface. Following a similar procedure, a novel solution for elastic-wave scattering from a solid cylinder embedded in a solid half-space is developed and used to calculate the surface displacement. Simulations indicate that only a finite range of spatial surface frequencies, corresponding to surface roughness on the order of the EM wavelength; affect the EM scattering from buried objects and suggest that object detection can be improved if the acoustic excitation induces surface roughness outside this range. To extend the study to non-canonical scenarios, a novel numerical approach is introduced in which time-varying impedance boundary conditions (IBCs) are used in conjunction with the method of moments (MoM) to model the EM scattering from vibrating metallic objects of arbitrary shape. It is shown that the standard IBC provides a first order solution for TM polarization, but a second order IBC is needed for TE polarization. The crucial factor in the calculation of the potentially small Doppler components is that the time-varying nature of the cylinder boundary, contained within the surface impedance expressions, can be isolated from the unperturbed terms in the scattered field.

  3. Time-domain Response of a Metal Detector to a Target Buried in Soil with Frequency-dependent Magnetic Susceptibility

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-07-06

    The work reported in this paper is a part of on-going studies to clarify how and to what extent soil electromagnetic properties affect the...metallic sphere buried in a non-conducting soil half-space with frequency-dependent complex magnetic susceptibility. The sphere is chosen as a simple...prototype for the small metal parts in low-metal landmines, while soil with dispersive magnetic susceptibility is a good model for some soils that are

  4. Handheld Sensor for UXO Discrimination:

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-06-01

    between buried UXO and clutter. This project demonstrated the use of commercially available technology (Geonics EM61-HH handheld metal detector ) for...determine whether each target was UXO or clutter. The Geonics EM61-HH handheld metal detector is a pulsed electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensor. The...processing, the EM61-HH handheld metal detector can 2 be used in a cued identification mode to reliably discriminate between buried UXO and clutter

  5. Frequency-domain preprocessing and directional correlation-based feature extraction for classification of the buried objects using GPR B-scan data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bahadirlar, Yildirim; Kaplan, Gulay B.

    2004-09-01

    A new preprocessing and feature extracting approach for classification of non-metallic buried objects are aimed using GPR B-scan data. A frequency-domain adaptive filter without a reference channel effectively removes the background signal resulting mostly from the discontinuity on the air-to-ground path of the electromagnetic waves. The filter only needs average of the first five A-scans as the reference signal for this elimination, and also serves for masking of the B-scan in the frequency-domain. A preprocessed GPR data with significantly suppressed clutter is then obtained by precisely positioning the Hanning window in the frequency-domain. A directional correlation function defined over a B-scan frame gives distinctive curves of buried objects. The main axis of directional correlation, on which the pivotal correlating pixels and short lines of pixels being correlated are considered, makes an angle to the scanning direction of the B-scan. This form of correlation is applied to the frame from the left-hand and the right-hand side and two over-plotted curves are obtained. Nine measures as features emphasizing directional signatures are extracted from these curves. Nine-element feature vectors are applied to the two-layer Artificial Neural Network and preliminary results over test set are promising to continue to comprehensive training and testing processes.

  6. Robotic Range Clearance Competition (R2C2)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-10-01

    unexploded ordnance (UXO). A large part of the debris field consists of ferrous metal objects that magnetic 39 Distribution A: Approved for public...was set at 7 degrees above horizontal based on terrain around the Base station. We used the BSUBR file for all fields except the Subsurface...and subsurface clearance test areas had numerous pieces of simulated unexploded ordinance (SUXO) buried at random locations around the field . These

  7. Finite Element Modeling and Long Wave Infrared Imaging for Detection and Identification of Buried Objects

    DTIC Science & Technology

    surface temperature profile of a sandbox containing buried objects using a long-wave infrared camera. Images were recorded for several days under ambient...time of day . Best detection of buried objects corresponded to shallow depths for observed intervals where maxima/minima ambient temperatures coincided

  8. Buried Object Detection Method Using Optimum Frequency Range in Extremely Shallow Underground

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sugimoto, Tsuneyoshi; Abe, Touma

    2011-07-01

    We propose a new detection method for buried objects using the optimum frequency response range of the corresponding vibration velocity. Flat speakers and a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (SLDV) are used for noncontact acoustic imaging in the extremely shallow underground. The exploration depth depends on the sound pressure, but it is usually less than 10 cm. Styrofoam, wood (silver fir), and acrylic boards of the same size, different size styrofoam boards, a hollow toy duck, a hollow plastic container, a plastic container filled with sand, a hollow steel can and an unglazed pot are used as buried objects which are buried in sand to about 2 cm depth. The imaging procedure of buried objects using the optimum frequency range is given below. First, the standardized difference from the average vibration velocity is calculated for all scan points. Next, using this result, underground images are made using a constant frequency width to search for the frequency response range of the buried object. After choosing an approximate frequency response range, the difference between the average vibration velocity for all points and that for several points that showed a clear response is calculated for the final confirmation of the optimum frequency range. Using this optimum frequency range, we can obtain the clearest image of the buried object. From the experimental results, we confirmed the effectiveness of our proposed method. In particular, a clear image of the buried object was obtained when the SLDV image was unclear.

  9. Detection and quantification of hydrocarbons in sediments

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Wynn, Jeff; Williamson, Mike; Frank, Jeff

    2016-01-01

    A new technology developed by the US Geological Survey now allows for fast, direct detection of hydrocarbon plumes both in rivers and drifting in the deep ocean. Recent experiments show that the method can also detect and quantify hydrocarbons buried in river sediments and estuaries. This approach uses a variant of induced polarization, a surface-sensitive physical property of certain polarizable materials immersed in an electrolyte that can accept and adsorb charge under an inducing voltage. Known polarizable materials include most sulfides, ilmenite (FeTiO3), metallic objects such as buried wrecks and pipelines, and now hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbon-in-water response to induced polarization is in fact nearly two orders of magnitude greater than the IP response of any of the hard minerals. The oil:water detection limit for hydrocarbons so far is down to 0.0002% in the laboratory.

  10. Distinguishing Buried Objects in Extremely Shallow Underground by Frequency Response Using Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abe, Touma; Sugimoto, Tsuneyoshi

    2010-07-01

    A sound wave vibration using a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer are used as a method of exploring and imaging an extremely shallow underground. Flat speakers are used as a vibration source. We propose a method of distinguishing a buried object using a response range of a frequencies corresponding to a vibration velocities. Buried objects (plastic containers, a hollow steel can, an unglazed pot, and a stone) are distinguished using a response range of frequencies. Standardization and brightness imaging are used as methods of discrimination. As a result, it was found that the buried objects show different response ranges of frequencies. From the experimental results, we confirmed the effectiveness of our proposed method.

  11. Road detection and buried object detection in elevated EO/IR imagery

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kennedy, Levi; Kolba, Mark P.; Walters, Joshua R.

    2012-06-01

    To assist the warfighter in visually identifying potentially dangerous roadside objects, the U.S. Army RDECOM CERDEC Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) has developed an elevated video sensor system testbed for data collection. This system provides color and mid-wave infrared (MWIR) imagery. Signal Innovations Group (SIG) has developed an automated processing capability that detects the road within the sensor field of view and identifies potentially threatening buried objects within the detected road. The road detection algorithm leverages system metadata to project the collected imagery onto a flat ground plane, allowing for more accurate detection of the road as well as the direct specification of realistic physical constraints in the shape of the detected road. Once the road has been detected in an image frame, a buried object detection algorithm is applied to search for threatening objects within the detected road space. The buried object detection algorithm leverages textural and pixel intensity-based features to detect potential anomalies and then classifies them as threatening or non-threatening objects. Both the road detection and the buried object detection algorithms have been developed to facilitate their implementation in real-time in the NVESD system.

  12. Sensor feature fusion for detecting buried objects

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

    Clark, G.A.; Sengupta, S.K.; Sherwood, R.J.

    1993-04-01

    Given multiple registered images of the earth`s surface from dual-band sensors, our system fuses information from the sensors to reduce the effects of clutter and improve the ability to detect buried or surface target sites. The sensor suite currently includes two sensors (5 micron and 10 micron wavelengths) and one ground penetrating radar (GPR) of the wide-band pulsed synthetic aperture type. We use a supervised teaming pattern recognition approach to detect metal and plastic land mines buried in soil. The overall process consists of four main parts: Preprocessing, feature extraction, feature selection, and classification. These parts are used in amore » two step process to classify a subimage. Thee first step, referred to as feature selection, determines the features of sub-images which result in the greatest separability among the classes. The second step, image labeling, uses the selected features and the decisions from a pattern classifier to label the regions in the image which are likely to correspond to buried mines. We extract features from the images, and use feature selection algorithms to select only the most important features according to their contribution to correct detections. This allows us to save computational complexity and determine which of the sensors add value to the detection system. The most important features from the various sensors are fused using supervised teaming pattern classifiers (including neural networks). We present results of experiments to detect buried land mines from real data, and evaluate the usefulness of fusing feature information from multiple sensor types, including dual-band infrared and ground penetrating radar. The novelty of the work lies mostly in the combination of the algorithms and their application to the very important and currently unsolved operational problem of detecting buried land mines from an airborne standoff platform.« less

  13. Accurate modeling and inversion of electrical resistivity data in the presence of metallic infrastructure with known location and dimension

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

    Johnson, Timothy C.; Wellman, Dawn M.

    2015-06-26

    Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) has been widely used in environmental applications to study processes associated with subsurface contaminants and contaminant remediation. Anthropogenic alterations in subsurface electrical conductivity associated with contamination often originate from highly industrialized areas with significant amounts of buried metallic infrastructure. The deleterious influence of such infrastructure on imaging results generally limits the utility of ERT where it might otherwise prove useful for subsurface investigation and monitoring. In this manuscript we present a method of accurately modeling the effects of buried conductive infrastructure within the forward modeling algorithm, thereby removing them from the inversion results. The method ismore » implemented in parallel using immersed interface boundary conditions, whereby the global solution is reconstructed from a series of well-conditioned partial solutions. Forward modeling accuracy is demonstrated by comparison with analytic solutions. Synthetic imaging examples are used to investigate imaging capabilities within a subsurface containing electrically conductive buried tanks, transfer piping, and well casing, using both well casings and vertical electrode arrays as current sources and potential measurement electrodes. Results show that, although accurate infrastructure modeling removes the dominating influence of buried metallic features, the presence of metallic infrastructure degrades imaging resolution compared to standard ERT imaging. However, accurate imaging results may be obtained if electrodes are appropriately located.« less

  14. Characterization of buried metal-molecule-metal junctions using Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Babayco, Christopher B.; Land, Donald P.; Parikh, Atul N.; Kiehl, Richard A.

    2014-09-01

    We have devised an infrared spectromicroscopy based experimental configuration to enable structural characterization of buried molecular junctions. Our design utilizes a small mercury drop at the focal point of an infrared microscope to act as a mirror in studying metal-molecule-metal (MmM) junctions. An organic molecular monolayer is formed either directly on the mercury drop or on a thin, infrared (IR) semi-transparent layer of Au deposited onto an IR transparent, undoped silicon substrate. Following the formation of the monolayer, films on either metal can be examined independently using specular reflection spectroscopy. Furthermore, by bringing together the two monolayers, a buried molecular bilayer within the MmM junction can be characterized. Independent examination of each half of the junction prior to junction formation also allows probing any structural and/or conformational changes that occur as a result of forming the bilayer. Because our approach allows assembling and disassembling microscopic junctions by forming and withdrawing Hg drops onto the monolayer covered metal, spatial mapping of junctions can be performed simply by translating the location of the derivatized silicon wafer. Finally, the applicability of this technique for the longer-term studies of changes in molecular structure in the presence of electrical bias is discussed.

  15. Formation of multiple levels of porous silicon for buried insulators and conductors in silicon device technologies

    DOEpatents

    Blewer, Robert S.; Gullinger, Terry R.; Kelly, Michael J.; Tsao, Sylvia S.

    1991-01-01

    A method of forming a multiple level porous silicon substrate for semiconductor integrated circuits including anodizing non-porous silicon layers of a multi-layer silicon substrate to form multiple levels of porous silicon. At least one porous silicon layer is then oxidized to form an insulating layer and at least one other layer of porous silicon beneath the insulating layer is metallized to form a buried conductive layer. Preferably the insulating layer and conductive layer are separated by an anodization barrier formed of non-porous silicon. By etching through the anodization barrier and subsequently forming a metallized conductive layer, a fully or partially insulated buried conductor may be fabricated under single crystal silicon.

  16. ADHESION AND DE-ADHESION MECHANISMS AT POLYMER/METAL INTERFACES: Mechanistic Understanding Based on In Situ Studies of Buried Interfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Grundmeier, G.; Stratmann, M.

    2005-08-01

    The review highlights the state-of-the-art research regarding the application of modern in situ spectroscopic, microscopic, and electrochemical techniques to improve the understanding of the interaction of organic molecules with metal surfaces. We also consider the chemical and electrochemical processes that lead to a de-adhesion of polymers from metal surfaces. Spectroscopic techniques such as surface-enhanced infrared or Raman spectroscopy provide molecular understanding of organic molecules and water at buried metal surfaces. This information is complementary to adhesion studies by means of atomic force microscopy and de-adhesion studies of polymer layers from metals by means of a scanning Kelvin probe. Adhesion and de-adhesion mechanisms are discussed, especially those involving humid and corrosive environments, which are the predominant and most important for metal/polymer composites in engineering applications.

  17. Spectral analysis of ground penetrating radar signals in concrete, metallic and plastic targets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Santos, Vinicius Rafael N. dos; Al-Nuaimy, Waleed; Porsani, Jorge Luís; Hirata, Nina S. Tomita; Alzubi, Hamzah S.

    2014-01-01

    The accuracy of detecting buried targets using ground penetrating radar (GPR) depends mainly on features that are extracted from the data. The objective of this study is to test three spectral features and evaluate the quality to provide a good discrimination among three types of materials (concrete, metallic and plastic) using the 200 MHz GPR system. The spectral features which were selected to check the interaction of the electromagnetic wave with the type of material are: the power spectral density (PSD), short-time Fourier transform (STFT) and the Wigner-Ville distribution (WVD). The analyses were performed with simulated data varying the sizes of the targets and the electrical properties (relative dielectric permittivity and electrical conductivity) of the soil. To check if the simulated data are in accordance with the real data, the same approach was applied on the data obtained in the IAG/USP test site. A noticeable difference was found in the amplitude of the studies' features in the frequency domain and these results show the strength of the signal processing to try to differentiate buried materials using GPR, and so can be used in urban planning and geotechnical studies.

  18. Inside-the-wall detection of objects with low metal content using the GPR sensor: effects of different wall structures on the detection performance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dogan, Mesut; Yesilyurt, Omer; Turhan-Sayan, Gonul

    2018-04-01

    Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is an ultra-wideband electromagnetic sensor used not only for subsurface sensing but also for the detection of objects which may be hidden behind a wall or inserted within the wall. Such applications of the GPR technology are used in both military and civilian operations such as mine or IED (improvised explosive device) detection, rescue missions after earthquakes and investigation of archeological sites. Detection of concealed objects with low metal content is known to be a challenging problem in general. Use of A-scan, B-scan and C-scan GPR data in combination provides valuable information for target recognition in such applications. In this paper, we study the problem of target detection for potentially explosive objects embedded inside a wall. GPR data is numerically simulated by using an FDTD-based numerical computation tool when dielectric targets and targets with low metal content are inserted into different types of walls. A small size plastic bottle filled with trinitrotoluene (TNT) is used as the target with and without a metal fuse in it. The targets are buried into two different types of wall; a homogeneous brick wall and an inhomogeneous wall constructed by bricks having periodically located air holes in it. Effects of using an inhomogeneous wall structure with internal boundaries are investigated as a challenging scenario, paying special attention to preprocessing.

  19. Detection of Buried Objects by Means of a SAP Technique: Comparing MUSIC- and SVR-Based Approaches

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Meschino, S.; Pajewski, L.; Pastorino, M.; Randazzo, A.; Schettini, G.

    2012-04-01

    This work is focused on the application of a Sub-Array Processing (SAP) technique to the detection of metallic cylindrical objects embedded in a dielectric half-space. The identification of buried cables, pipes, conduits, and other cylindrical utilities, is an important problem that has been extensively studied in the last years. Most commonly used approaches are based on the use of electromagnetic sensing: a set of antennas illuminates the ground and the collected echo is analyzed in order to extract information about the scenario and to localize the sought objects [1]. In a SAP approach, algorithms for the estimation of Directions of Arrival (DOAs) are employed [2]: they assume that the sources (in this paper, currents induced on buried targets) are in the far-field region of the receiving array, so that the received wavefront can be considered as planar, and the main angular direction of the field can be estimated. However, in electromagnetic sensing of buried objects, the scatterers are usually quite near to the antennas. Nevertheless, by dividing the whole receiving array in a suitable number of sub-arrays, and by finding a dominant DOA for each one, it is possible to localize objects that are in the far-field of the sub-array, although being in the near-field of the array. The DOAs found by the sub-arrays can be triangulated, obtaining a set of crossings with intersections condensed around object locations. In this work, the performances of two different DOA algorithms are compared. In particular, a MUltiple SIgnal Classification (MUSIC)-type method [3] and Support Vector Regression (SVR) based approach [4] are employed. The results of a Cylindrical-Wave Approach forward solver are used as input data of the detection procedure [5]. To process the crossing pattern, the region of interest is divided in small windows, and a Poisson model is adopted for the statistical distribution of intersections in the windows. Hypothesis testing procedures are used (imposing a suitable threshold from a desired false-alarm rate), to ascribe each window to the ground or to the sought objects. Numerical results are presented, for a test scenario with a circular-section cylinder in a dielectric half-space. Different values of the ground permittivity, target size, and its position with respect to the receiving array, are considered. Preliminary results on the application of MUSIC and SVR to multiple-object localization are reported. [1] H. Jol, Ground Penetrating Radar: Theory and Applications, Elsevier, Amsterdam, NL, 2009. [2] Gross F.B., Smart Antennas for Wireless Communications, McGraw-Hill, New York 2005. [3] S. Meschino, L. Pajewski, G. Schettini, "Use of a Sub-Array Statistical Approach for the Detection of a Buried Object", Near Surface Geophysics, vol. 8(5), pp. 365-375, 2010. [4] M. Pastorino, A. Randazzo, "A Smart Antenna System for Direction of Arrival Estimation based on a Support Vector Regression," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat., vol. 53(7), pp. 2161-2168, 2005. [5] M. Di Vico, F. Frezza, L. Pajewski, G. Schettini, "Scattering by a Finite Set of Perfectly Conducting Cylinders Buried in a Dielectric Half-Space: a Spectral-Domain Solution," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagat., vol. 53(2), pp. 719-727, 2005.

  20. Non-destructive investigation of a time capsule using neutron radiography and X-ray fluorescence

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    MacDonald, B. L.; Vanderstelt, J.; O'Meara, J.; McNeill, F. E.

    2016-01-01

    Non-destructive analytical techniques are becoming increasingly important for the study of objects of cultural heritage interest. This study applied two techniques: X-ray fluorescence and neutron radiography, for the investigation of a capped, tubular metal object recovered from an urban construction site in Gore Park, Hamilton, Canada. The site is an urban park containing a World War I commemorative monument that underwent renovation and relocation. Historical documentation suggested that the object buried underneath the monument was a time capsule containing a paper document listing the names of 1800 Canadians who died during WWI. The purpose of this study was to assess the condition of the object, and to verify if it was what the historical records purported. XRF analysis was used to characterize the elemental composition of the metal artifact, while neutron radiography revealed that its contents were congruent with historical records and remained intact after being interred for 91 years. Results of this study demonstrate the value of non-destructive techniques for the analysis and preservation of cultural heritage.

  1. Baseline tests for arc melter vitrification of INEL buried wastes. Volume II: Baseline test data appendices

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

    Oden, L.L.; O`Conner, W.K.; Turner, P.C.

    1993-11-19

    This report presents field results and raw data from the Buried Waste Integrated Demonstration (BWID) Arc Melter Vitrification Project Phase 1 baseline test series conducted by the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM). The baseline test series was conducted using the electric arc melter facility at the USBM Albany Research Center in Albany, Oregon. Five different surrogate waste feed mixtures were tested that simulated thermally-oxidized, buried, TRU-contaminated, mixed wastes and soils present at the INEL. The USBM Arc Furnace Integrated Waste Processing Test Facility includes a continuous feed system, the arc meltingmore » furnace, an offgas control system, and utilities. The melter is a sealed, 3-phase alternating current (ac) furnace approximately 2 m high and 1.3 m wide. The furnace has a capacity of 1 metric ton of steel and can process as much as 1,500 lb/h of soil-type waste materials. The surrogate feed materials included five mixtures designed to simulate incinerated TRU-contaminated buried waste materials mixed with INEL soil. Process samples, melter system operations data and offgas composition data were obtained during the baseline tests to evaluate the melter performance and meet test objectives. Samples and data gathered during this program included (a) automatically and manually logged melter systems operations data, (b) process samples of slag, metal and fume solids, and (c) offgas composition, temperature, velocity, flowrate, moisture content, particulate loading and metals content. This report consists of 2 volumes: Volume I summarizes the baseline test operations. It includes an executive summary, system and facility description, review of the surrogate waste mixtures, and a description of the baseline test activities, measurements, and sample collection. Volume II contains the raw test data and sample analyses from samples collected during the baseline tests.« less

  2. Baseline tests for arc melter vitrification of INEL buried wastes. Volume 1: Facility description and summary data report

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

    Oden, L.L.; O`Connor, W.K.; Turner, P.C.

    1993-11-19

    This report presents field results and raw data from the Buried Waste Integrated Demonstration (BWID) Arc Melter Vitrification Project Phase 1 baseline test series conducted by the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM). The baseline test series was conducted using the electric arc melter facility at the USBM Albany Research Center in Albany, Oregon. Five different surrogate waste feed mixtures were tested that simulated thermally-oxidized, buried, TRU-contaminated, mixed wastes and soils present at the INEL. The USBM Arc Furnace Integrated Waste Processing Test Facility includes a continuous feed system, the arc meltingmore » furnace, an offgas control system, and utilities. The melter is a sealed, 3-phase alternating current (ac) furnace approximately 2 m high and 1.3 m wide. The furnace has a capacity of 1 metric ton of steel and can process as much as 1,500 lb/h of soil-type waste materials. The surrogate feed materials included five mixtures designed to simulate incinerated TRU-contaminated buried waste materials mixed with INEL soil. Process samples, melter system operations data and offgas composition data were obtained during the baseline tests to evaluate the melter performance and meet test objectives. Samples and data gathered during this program included (a) automatically and manually logged melter systems operations data, (b) process samples of slag, metal and fume solids, and (c) offgas composition, temperature, velocity, flowrate, moisture content, particulate loading and metals content. This report consists of 2 volumes: Volume I summarizes the baseline test operations. It includes an executive summary, system and facility description, review of the surrogate waste mixtures, and a description of the baseline test activities, measurements, and sample collection. Volume II contains the raw test data and sample analyses from samples collected during the baseline tests.« less

  3. 78 FR 73821 - Publication of Depreciation Rates

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-12-09

    .... Buried cable--metal 5.05 g. Buried cable--fiber 5.00 h. Conduit systems 3.74 i. Other 5.40 John Charles... INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith B. Adams, Assistant Administrator, Telecommunications Program, Rural Utilities...) 720-9556. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 7 CFR part 1737, Pre-Loan Policies and Procedures Common to...

  4. Comparison of experimental three-band IR detection of buried objects and multiphysics simulations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rabelo, Renato C.; Tilley, Heather P.; Catterlin, Jeffrey K.; Karunasiri, Gamani; Alves, Fabio D. P.

    2018-04-01

    A buried-object detection system composed of a LWIR, a MWIR and a SWIR camera, along with a set of ground and ambient temperature sensors was constructed and tested. The objects were buried in a 1.2x1x0.3 m3 sandbox and surface temperature (using LWIR and MWIR cameras) and reflection (using SWIR camera) were recoded throughout the day. Two objects (aluminum and Teflon) with volume of about 2.5x10-4 m3 , were placed at varying depths during the measurements. Ground temperature sensors buried at three different depths measured the vertical temperature profile within the sandbox, while the weather station recorded the ambient temperature and solar radiation intensity. Images from the three cameras were simultaneously acquired in five-minute intervals throughout many days. An algorithm to postprocess and combine the images was developed in order to maximize the probability of detection by identifying thermal anomalies (temperature contrast) resulting from the presence of the buried object in an otherwise homogeneous medium. A simplified detection metric based on contrast differences was established to allow the evaluation of the image processing method. Finite element simulations were performed, reproducing the experiment conditions and, when possible, incorporated with data coming from actual measurements. Comparisons between experiment and simulation results were performed and the simulation parameters were adjusted until images generated from both methods are matched, aiming at obtaining insights of the buried material properties. Preliminary results show a great potential for detection of shallowburied objects such as land mines and IEDs and possible identification using finite element generated maps fitting measured surface maps.

  5. Buried object remote detection technology for law enforcement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    del Grande, Nancy K.; Clark, Gregory A.; Durbin, Philip F.; Fields, David J.; Hernandez, Jose E.; Sherwood, Robert J.

    1991-08-01

    A precise airborne temperature-sensing technology to detect buried objects for use by law enforcement is developed. Demonstrations have imaged the sites of buried foundations, walls and trenches; mapped underground waterways and aquifers; and been used to locate underground military objects. The methodology is incorporated in a commercially available, high signal-to-noise, dual-band infrared scanner with real-time, 12-bit digital image processing software and display. The method creates color-coded images based on surface temperature variations of 0.2 degree(s)C. Unlike other less-sensitive methods, it maps true (corrected) temperatures by removing the (decoupled) surface emissivity mask equivalent to 1 degree(s)C or 2 degree(s)C; this mask hinders interpretation of apparent (blackbody) temperatures. Once removed, it is possible to identify surface temperature patterns from small diffusivity changes at buried object sites which heat and cool differently from their surroundings. Objects made of different materials and buried at different depths are identified by their unique spectral, spatial, thermal, temporal, emissivity and diffusivity signatures. The authors have successfully located the sites of buried (inert) simulated land mines 0.1 to 0.2 m deep; sod-covered rock pathways alongside dry ditches, deeper than 0.2 m; pavement covered burial trenches and cemetery structures as deep as 0.8 m; and aquifers more than 6 m and less than 60 m deep. The technology could be adapted for drug interdiction and pollution control. For the former, buried tunnels, underground structures built beneath typical surface structures, roof-tops disguised by jungle canopies, and covered containers used for contraband would be located. For the latter, buried waste containers, sludge migration pathways from faulty containers, and the juxtaposition of groundwater channels, if present, nearby, would be depicted. The precise airborne temperature-sensing technology has a promising potential to detect underground epicenters of smuggling and pollution.

  6. Buried object remote detection technology for law enforcement

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

    Del Grande, N.K.; Clark, G.A.; Durbin, P.F.

    1991-03-01

    We have developed a precise airborne temperature-sensing technology to detect buried objects for use by law enforcement. Demonstrations have imaged the sites of buried foundations, walls and trenches; mapped underground waterways and aquifers; and been used to locate underground military objects. Our patented methodology is incorporated in a commercially available, high signal-to-noise, dual-band infrared scanner with real-time, 12-bit digital image processing software and display. Our method creates color-coded images based on surface temperature variations of 0.2 {degrees}C. Unlike other less-sensitive methods, it maps true (corrected) temperatures by removing the (decoupled) surface emissivity mask equivalent to 1{degrees}C or 2{degrees}C; this maskmore » hinders interpretation of apparent (blackbody) temperatures. Once removed, were are able to identify surface temperature patterns from small diffusivity changes at buried object sites which heat and cool differently from their surroundings. Objects made of different materials and buried at different depths are identified by their unique spectra, spatial, thermal, temporal, emissivity and diffusivity signatures. We have successfully located the sites of buried (inert) simulated land mines 0.1 to 0.2 m deep; sod-covered rock pathways alongside dry ditches, deeper than 0.2 m; pavement covered burial trenches and cemetery structures as deep as 0.8 m; and aquifers more than 6 m and less 60 m deep. Our technology could be adapted for drug interdiction and pollution control. 16 refs., 14 figs.« less

  7. Fabrication of Buried Nanochannels From Nanowire Patterns

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Choi, Daniel; Yang, Eui-Hyeok

    2007-01-01

    A method of fabricating channels having widths of tens of nanometers in silicon substrates and burying the channels under overlying layers of dielectric materials has been demonstrated. With further refinement, the method might be useful for fabricating nanochannels for manipulation and analysis of large biomolecules at single-molecule resolution. Unlike in prior methods, burying the channels does not involve bonding of flat wafers to the silicon substrates to cover exposed channels in the substrates. Instead, the formation and burying of the channels are accomplished in a more sophisticated process that is less vulnerable to defects in the substrates and less likely to result in clogging of, or leakage from, the channels. In this method, the first step is to establish the channel pattern by forming an array of sacrificial metal nanowires on an SiO2-on-Si substrate. In particular, the wire pattern is made by use of focused-ion-beam (FIB) lithography and a subsequent metallization/lift-off process. The pattern of metal nanowires is then transferred onto the SiO2 layer by reactive-ion etching, which yields sacrificial SiO2 nanowires covered by metal. After removal of the metal covering the SiO2 nanowires, what remains are SiO2 nanowires on an Si substrate. Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) is used to form a layer of a dielectric material over the Si substrate and over the SiO2 wires on the surface of the substrate. FIB milling is then performed to form trenches at both ends of each SiO2 wire. The trenches serve as openings for the entry of chemicals that etch SiO2 much faster than they etch Si. Provided that the nanowires are not so long that the diffusion of the etching chemicals is blocked, the sacrificial SiO2 nanowires become etched out from between the dielectric material and the Si substrate, leaving buried channels. At the time of reporting the information for this article, channels 3 m long, 20 nm deep, and 80 nm wide (see figure) had been fabricated by this method.

  8. Shallow-Water Mud Acoustics

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-09-30

    1 DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Shallow- Water Mud Acoustics William L. Siegmann...shallow water over mud sediments and of acoustic detection, localization, and classification of objects buried in mud. OBJECTIVES • Develop...including long-range conveyance of information; detection, localization, and classification of objects buried in mud; and improvement of shallow water

  9. Biomining goes underground

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Johnson, D. Barrie

    2015-03-01

    Ore bodies buried deep in Earth's crust could meet increasing global demands for metals, but mining them would be costly and could damage the environment. Reinventing an ancient technology for bioleaching metals could provide a solution.

  10. Imaging and controlling plasmonic interference fields at buried interfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lummen, Tom T. A.; Lamb, Raymond J.; Berruto, Gabriele; Lagrange, Thomas; Dal Negro, Luca; García de Abajo, F. Javier; McGrouther, Damien; Barwick, B.; Carbone, F.

    2016-10-01

    Capturing and controlling plasmons at buried interfaces with nanometre and femtosecond resolution has yet to be achieved and is critical for next generation plasmonic devices. Here we use light to excite plasmonic interference patterns at a buried metal-dielectric interface in a nanostructured thin film. Plasmons are launched from a photoexcited array of nanocavities and their propagation is followed via photon-induced near-field electron microscopy (PINEM). The resulting movie directly captures the plasmon dynamics, allowing quantification of their group velocity at ~0.3 times the speed of light, consistent with our theoretical predictions. Furthermore, we show that the light polarization and nanocavity design can be tailored to shape transient plasmonic gratings at the nanoscale. This work, demonstrating dynamical imaging with PINEM, paves the way for the femtosecond and nanometre visualization and control of plasmonic fields in advanced heterostructures based on novel two-dimensional materials such as graphene, MoS2, and ultrathin metal films.

  11. Evaluation of corrosion of metallic reinforcements and connections in MSE retaining walls.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2008-05-01

    Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) retaining walls have become the dominant retained wall system on ODOT projects. The permanent MSE walls constructed on ODOT projects, in recent years, use metallic reinforcements and facing connections buried direc...

  12. The influences of soil and nearby structures on dispersion characteristics of wave propagating along buried plastic pipes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Shuyong; Jiang, J.; Parr, Nicola

    2016-09-01

    Water loss in distribution systems is a global problem for the water industry and governments. According to the international water supply association (IWSA), as a result of leaks from distribution pipes, 20% to 30% of water is lost while in transit from treatment plants to consumers. Although governments have tried to push the water industry to reduce the water leaks, a lot of experts have pointed out that a wide use of plastic pipes instead of metal pipes in recent years has caused difficulties in the detection of leaks using current acoustic technology. Leaks from plastic pipes are much quieter than traditional metal pipes and comparing to metal pipes the plastic pipes have very different coupling characteristics with soil, water and surrounding structures, such as other pipes, road surface and building foundations. The dispersion characteristics of wave propagating along buried plastic pipes are investigated in this paper using finite element and boundary element based models. Both empty and water- filled pipes were considered. Influences from nearby pipes and building foundations were carefully studied. The results showed that soil condition and nearby structures have significant influences on the dispersion characteristics of wave propagating along buried plastic pipes.

  13. Petamenophis (Padiamenemipet), an Egyptian Child Mummy Protected for Eternity: Revelation by Multidetector Computed Tomography.

    PubMed

    Martina, Maria Cristina; Cesarani, Federico; Boano, Rosa; Fiore Marochetti, Elisa; Gandini, Giovanni

    The objective of our work was to report the most recent findings obtained with multidetector computed tomography of a child mummy from the Roman period (119-123 CE) housed at the Egyptian Museum in Turin, Italy. Multidetector computed tomography and postprocessing were applied to understand the embalming techniques, the nature of a foreign object, and anthropometrical values. The information was compared with that from other mummies that were buried in the same tomb, but today housed in different museums. New information regarding the embalming technique was revealed. Multidetector computed tomography allowed the identification of a knife-like metallic object, probably an amulet for the child's protection in the afterlife. Multidetector computed tomography and image postprocessing confirm their valuable role in noninvasive studies in ancient mummies and provided evidence of a unique cultural practice in the late history of Ancient Egypt such as placing a knife possibly as an amulet.

  14. Buried MoO x/Ag Electrode Enables High-Efficiency Organic/Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells with a High Fill Factor.

    PubMed

    Xia, Zhouhui; Gao, Peng; Sun, Teng; Wu, Haihua; Tan, Yeshu; Song, Tao; Lee, Shuit-Tong; Sun, Baoquan

    2018-04-25

    Silicon (Si)/organic heterojunction solar cells based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and n-type Si have attracted wide interests because they promise cost-effectiveness and high-efficiency. However, the limited conductivity of PEDOT:PSS leads to an inefficient hole transport efficiency for the heterojunction device. Therefore, a high dense top-contact metal grid electrode is required to assure the efficient charge collection efficiency. Unfortunately, the large metal grid coverage ratio electrode would lead to undesirable optical loss. Here, we develop a strategy to balance PEDOT:PSS conductivity and grid optical transmittance via a buried molybdenum oxide/silver grid electrode. In addition, the grid electrode coverage ratio is optimized to reduce its light shading effect. The buried electrode dramatically reduces the device series resistance, which leads to a higher fill factor (FF). With the optimized buried electrode, a record FF of 80% is achieved for flat Si/PEDOT:PSS heterojunction devices. With further enhancement adhesion between the PEDOT:PSS film and Si substrate by a chemical cross-linkable silance, a power conversion efficiency of 16.3% for organic/textured Si heterojunction devices is achieved. Our results provide a path to overcome the inferior organic semiconductor property to enhance the organic/Si heterojunction solar cell.

  15. Numerical study of the polarization effect of GPR systems on the detection of buried objects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sagnard, Florence

    2017-04-01

    This work is in line with the studies carried out in our department over the last few years on object detection in civil engineering structures and soils. In parallel to building of the second version of the Sense-City test site where several pipeline networks will be buried [1], we are developing numerical models using the FIT and the FDTD approaches to study more precisely the contribution of the polarization diversity in the detection of conductive and dielectric buried objects using the GPR technique. The simulations developed are based on a ultra-wide band SFCW GPR system that have been designed and evaluated in our laboratory. A parametric study is proposed to evaluate the influence of the antenna configurations and the antenna geometry when considering the polarization diversity in the detection and characterization of canonical objects. [1] http://www.sense-city.univ-paris-est.fr/index.php

  16. Enzyme leaching of surficial geochemical samples for detecting hydromorphic trace-element anomalies associated with precious-metal mineralized bedrock buried beneath glacial overburden in northern Minnesota

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Clark, Robert J.; Meier, A.L.; Riddle, G.; ,

    1990-01-01

    One objective of the International Falls and Roseau, Minnesota, CUSMAP projects was to develop a means of conducting regional-scale geochemical surveys in areas where bedrock is buried beneath complex glacially derived overburden. Partial analysis of B-horizon soils offered hope for detecting subtle hydromorphic trace-element dispersion patterns. An enzyme-based partial leach selectively removes metals from oxide coatings on the surfaces of soil materials without attacking their matrix. Most trace-element concentrations in the resulting solutions are in the part-per-trillion to low part-per-billion range, necessitating determinations by inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry. The resulting data show greater contrasts for many trace elements than with other techniques tested. Spatially, many trace metal anomalies are locally discontinuous, but anomalous trends within larger areas are apparent. In many instances, the source for an anomaly seems to be either basal till or bedrock. Ground water flow is probably the most important mechanism for transporting metals toward the surface, although ionic diffusion, electrochemical gradients, and capillary action may play a role in anomaly dispersal. Sample sites near the Rainy Lake-Seine River fault zone, a regional shear zone, often have anomalous concentrations of a variety of metals, commonly including Zn and/or one or more metals which substitute for Zn in sphalerite (Cd, Ge, Ga, and Sn). Shifts in background concentrations of Bi, Sb, and As show a trend across the area indicating a possible regional zoning of lode-Au mineralization. Soil anomalies of Ag, Co, and Tl parallel basement structures, suggesting areas that may have potential for Cobalt/Thunder Baytype silver viens. An area around Baudette, Minnesota, which is underlain by quartz-chlorite-carbonate-altered shear zones, is anomalous in Ag, As, Bi, Co, Mo, Te, Tl, and W. Anomalies of Ag, As, Bi, Te, and W tend to follow the fault zones, suggesting potential for lode-Au deposits. Soil anomalies of Co, Mo, and Tl appear to follow northwest-striking structures that cross the shear zones, suggesting that Thunder Bay-type mineralization may have overprinted earlier mineralization along the shear zones.

  17. Demonstration of geophysical methods for burial ground geophysical characterization study at the DOE Savannah River site

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

    Hasbrouck, J.C.; MacLean, H.D.; Geotech, R.

    1996-11-01

    Rust Geotech, operating contractor at the U.S. Department of Energy Grand Junction Projects Office (DOE-GJPO), conducted a demonstration of the trench boundary and large-object location capabilities of five nonintrusive geophysical methods in the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility (LLRWDF) at the DOE Savannah River Site (SRS). The plan for Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) closure of the SRS LLRWDF specifies inplace compaction of {open_quotes}B-25{close_quotes} metal boxes containing low-level radioactive wastes. The boxes are buried in Engineered Low-Level Trenches (ELLTs) at the facility. To properly guide and control the compaction operation, the coordinates of the trench boundaries must be determinedmore » to an accuracy within 5 feet and the outer edges of the metal boxes in the trenches must be determined to within 2 feet.« less

  18. Numerical modeling of magnetic moments for UXO applications

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Sanchez, V.; Li, Y.; Nabighian, M.; Wright, D.

    2006-01-01

    The surface magnetic anomaly observed in UXO clearance is mainly dipolar and, consequently, the dipole is the only magnetic moment regularly recovered in UXO applications. The dipole moment contains information about intensity of magnetization but lacks information about shape. In contrast, higher-order moments, such as quadrupole and octupole, encode asymmetry properties of the magnetization distribution within the buried targets. In order to improve our understanding of magnetization distribution within UXO and non-UXO objects and its potential utility in UXO clearance, we present a 3D numerical modeling study for highly susceptible metallic objects. The basis for the modeling is the solution of a nonlinear integral equation describing magnetization within isolated objects. A solution for magnetization distribution then allows us to compute magnetic moments of the object, analyze their relationships, and provide a depiction of the surface anomaly produced by different moments within the object. Our modeling results show significant high-order moments for more asymmetric objects situated at depths typical of UXO burial, and suggest that the increased relative contribution to magnetic gradient data from these higher-order moments may provide a practical tool for improved UXO discrimination.

  19. Relative importance of magnetic moments in UXO clearance applications

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Sanchez, V.; Li, Y.; Nabighian, M.; Wright, D.

    2006-01-01

    Surface magnetic anomaly observed in UXO clearance is mainly dipolar and, as a result, the dipole is the only moment used regularly in UXO applications. The dipole moment contains intensity of magnetization information but lacks shape information. Unlike dipole, higher-order moments, such as quadrupole and octupole, encode asymmetry properties of magnetization distribution within buried targets. In order to improve our understanding of magnetization distribution within UXO and non-UXO objects and its potential utility in UXO clearance, we present results of a 3D numerical modeling study for highly susceptible metallic objects. The basis for modeling is the solution of a nonlinear integral equation, describing magnetization within isolated objects, allowing us to compute magnetic moments of the object, analyze their relationships, and provide a depiction of the surface anomaly produced by the different moments within the object. Our modeling results show significant high-order moments for more asymmetric objects situated at typical UXO burial depths, and suggest that the increased relative contribution to magnetic gradient data from these higher-order moments may provide a practical tool for improved UXO discrimination. ?? 2005 Society of Exploration Geophysicists.

  20. Electrically tunable infrared metamaterial devices

    DOEpatents

    Brener, Igal; Jun, Young Chul

    2015-07-21

    A wavelength-tunable, depletion-type infrared metamaterial optical device is provided. The device includes a thin, highly doped epilayer whose electrical permittivity can become negative at some infrared wavelengths. This highly-doped buried layer optically couples with a metamaterial layer. Changes in the transmission spectrum of the device can be induced via the electrical control of this optical coupling. An embodiment includes a contact layer of semiconductor material that is sufficiently doped for operation as a contact layer and that is effectively transparent to an operating range of infrared wavelengths, a thin, highly doped buried layer of epitaxially grown semiconductor material that overlies the contact layer, and a metallized layer overlying the buried layer and patterned as a resonant metamaterial.

  1. Three-Dimensional Characterization of Buried Metallic Targets via a Tomographic Algorithm Applied to GPR Synthetic Data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Comite, Davide; Galli, Alessandro; Catapano, Ilaria; Soldovieri, Francesco; Pettinelli, Elena

    2013-04-01

    This work is focused on the three-dimensional (3-D) imaging of buried metallic targets achievable by processing GPR (ground penetrating radar) simulation data via a tomographic inversion algorithm. The direct scattering problem has been analysed by means of a recently-developed numerical setup based on an electromagnetic time-domain CAD tool (CST Microwave Studio), which enables us to efficiently explore different GPR scenarios of interest [1]. The investigated 3D domain considers here two media, representing, e.g., an air/soil environment in which variously-shaped metallic (PEC) scatterers can be buried. The GPR system is simulated with Tx/Rx antennas placed in a bistatic configuration at the soil interface. In the implementation, the characteristics of the antennas may suitably be chosen in terms of topology, offset, radiative features, frequency ranges, etc. Arbitrary time-domain waveforms can be used as the input GPR signal (e.g., a Gaussian-like pulse having the frequency spectrum in the microwave range). The gathered signal at the output port includes the backscattered wave from the objects to be reconstructed, and the relevant data may be displayed in canonical radargram forms [1]. The GPR system sweeps along one main rectilinear direction, and the scanning process is here repeated along different close parallel lines to acquire data for a full 3-D analysis. Starting from the processing of the synthetic GPR data, a microwave tomographic approach is used to tackle the imaging, which is based on the Kirchhoff approximation to linearize the inverse scattering problem [2]. The target reconstruction is given in terms of the amplitude of the 'object function' (normalized with respect to its maximum inside the 3-D investigation domain). The data of the scattered field are collected considering a multi-frequency step process inside the fixed range of the signal spectrum, under a multi-bistatic configuration where the Tx and Rx antennas are separated by an offset distance and move at the interface over rectilinear observation domains. Analyses have been performed for some canonical scatterer shapes (e.g., sphere and cylinder, cube and parallelepiped, cone and wedge) in order to specifically highlight the influence of all the three dimensions (length, depth, and width) in the reconstruction of the targets. The roles of both size and location of the objects are also addressed in terms of the probing signal wavelengths and of the antenna offset. The results show to what extent it is possible to achieve a correct spatial localization of the targets, in conjunction with a generally satisfactory prediction of their 3-D size and shape. It should anyway be noted that the tomographic reconstructions here manage challenging cases of non-penetrable objects with data gathered under a reflection configuration, hence most of the information achievable is expected relating to the upper illuminated parts of the reflectors that give rise to the main scattering effects. The limits in the identification of fine geometrical details are discussed further in connection with the critical aspects of GPR operation, which include the adopted detection configuration and the frequency spectrum of the employed signals. [1] G. Valerio, A. Galli, P. M. Barone, S. E. Lauro, E. Mattei, and E. Pettinelli, "GPR detectability of rocks in a Martian-like shallow subsoil: a numerical approach," Planet. Space Sci., Vol. 62, pp. 31-40, 2012. [2] R. Solimene, A. Buonanno, F. Soldovieri, and R. Pierri, "Physical optics imaging of 3D PEC objects: vector and multipolarized approaches," IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens., Vol. 48, pp. 1799-1808, Apr. 2010.

  2. Handheld Broadband Electromagnetic UXO Sensor

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-12-01

    metal pipes of various sizes, some ferrous (steel) and some nonferrous (3 aluminum, 2 copper), have been buried at depths ranging from 10 to 110cm...Cart- or Sled-Mounted, and Pushed or Towed ......4 Figure 4. Example of Metallic Target Spectra for Sensor Axis...1 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 BACKGROUND Detection of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and discrimination between UXO and metallic clutter pose challenges

  3. Identification and Description of Geophysical Techniques.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1980-11-01

    electrodes are used for voltage measurements with the potentiometer. Current elec- trodes may be stainless-steel or copper rods, buried copper screens, drill...steel in a borehole, or buried metal culverts. Potential elec- trodes may be stainless steel rods or porous containers filled with copper sulfate...Granite 28-2,700 Diorite 47 Gabbro 68-2,370 Porphyry 47 Diabase 78-1,050 Basalt 680 Olivine-Diabase 2,000 1. Peridotite 12,500 I (1)Adapted from C. A

  4. Automated Hand-Held UXO Detection, Classification & Discrimination Sensor

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

    Bell, Thomas H.

    2000-06-12

    The research focused on procedures for target discrimination and classification using hand-held EMI sensors. The idea is to have a small, portable sensor that can be operated in a sweep or similar pattern in front of the operator, and that is capable of distinguishing between buried UXO and clutter on the spot. Curing Phase 1, we developed the processing techniques for distinguishing between buried UXO and clutter using the EM61-HH hand-held metal detector.

  5. Continued Investigation of the Acoustics of Marine Sediments Using Impedance Tube and Acoustic Resonator Techniques

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-09-30

    seagrass , which in turn benefits buried object detection, sonar operation and acoustic communications in shallow water. Another goal for the out years...bottom sediments, including multiphase materials such as gas- bearing sediments and seagrass . These measurements are conducted using an acoustic...such as gas-bearing sediments and seagrass , which in turn benefits buried object detection, sonar operation and acoustic communications in shallow

  6. Acoustic-based Technology to Detect Buried Pipes

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2011-07-29

    The objective of this project is to build a pre-commercial device, improve its performance to detect multiple buried pipes, and evaluate the pre-commercial device at utility sites. In the past, Gas Technology Institute (GTI) and SoniVerse Inc. (SVI) ...

  7. Activating "Invisible" Glue: Using Electron Beam for Enhancement of Interfacial Properties of Graphene-Metal Contact.

    PubMed

    Kim, Songkil; Russell, Michael; Kulkarni, Dhaval D; Henry, Mathias; Kim, Steve; Naik, Rajesh R; Voevodin, Andrey A; Jang, Seung Soon; Tsukruk, Vladimir V; Fedorov, Andrei G

    2016-01-26

    Interfacial contact of two-dimensional graphene with three-dimensional metal electrodes is crucial to engineering high-performance graphene-based nanodevices with superior performance. Here, we report on the development of a rapid "nanowelding" method for enhancing properties of interface to graphene buried under metal electrodes using a focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID). High energy electron irradiation activates two-dimensional graphene structure by generation of structural defects at the interface to metal contacts with subsequent strong bonding via FEBID of an atomically thin graphitic interlayer formed by low energy secondary electron-assisted dissociation of entrapped hydrocarbon contaminants. Comprehensive investigation is conducted to demonstrate formation of the FEBID graphitic interlayer and its impact on contact properties of graphene devices achieved via strong electromechanical coupling at graphene-metal interfaces. Reduction of the device electrical resistance by ∼50% at a Dirac point and by ∼30% at the gate voltage far from the Dirac point is obtained with concurrent improvement in thermomechanical reliability of the contact interface. Importantly, the process is rapid and has an excellent insertion potential into a conventional fabrication workflow of graphene-based nanodevices through single-step postprocessing modification of interfacial properties at the buried heterogeneous contact.

  8. Radiochronological Age of a Uranium Metal Sample from an Abandoned Facility

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

    Meyers, L A; Williams, R W; Glover, S E

    2012-03-16

    A piece of scrap uranium metal bar buried in the dirt floor of an old, abandoned metal rolling mill was analyzed using multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (MC-ICP-MS). The mill rolled uranium rods in the 1940s and 1950s. Samples of the contaminated dirt in which the bar was buried were also analyzed. The isotopic composition of uranium in the bar and dirt samples were both the same as natural uranium, though a few samples of dirt also contained recycled uranium; likely a result of contamination with other material rolled at the mill. The time elapsed since the uranium metalmore » bar was last purified can be determined by the in-growth of the isotope {sup 230}Th from the decay of {sup 234}U, assuming that only uranium isotopes were present in the bar after purification. The age of the metal bar was determined to be 61 years at the time of this analysis and corresponds to a purification date of July 1950 {+-} 1.5 years.« less

  9. MUSIC-characterization of small scatterers for normal measurement data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Griesmaier, Roland; Hanke, Martin

    2009-07-01

    We investigate the reconstruction of the positions of a collection of small metallic objects buried beneath the ground from measurements of the vertical component of scattered fields corresponding to vertically polarized dipole excitations on a horizontal two-dimensional measurement device above the surface of the ground. A MUSIC reconstruction method for this problem has recently been proposed by Iakovleva et al (2007 IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag. 55 2598). In this paper, we give a rigorous theoretical justification of this method. To that end we prove a characterization of the positions of the scatterers in terms of the measurement data, applying an asymptotic analysis of the scattered fields. We present numerical results to illustrate our theoretical findings.

  10. Installation Restoration Program. Phase II. Confirmation/Quantification. Stage 1 Report for Williams Air Force Base, Chandler, Arizona.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1986-01-24

    at F7PTA, 3) old AVGAS distribution system at LFSA, and 4) southwest drainage system. Magnetic anomalies (buried drums) were identified at the...identified magnetic anomalies (buried metals) and determine whether any are pesticide drums or cans - Dispose of excavated material in an appropriate...intervals. The survey was hindered by the presence of three large iron warning signs at the site. These signs created a large magnetic anomaly in the

  11. Buried Object Detection

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1988-01-22

    Final Report 19 January 1987 Army Research OfficeM Contract No. DAAL03..87-K-0052 National Center for Physical Acoustics D T ! C " Naioal P. 0. Box 847...black . umberJ FIELO I GROUP I SU9GROU-p Acoustic , Seismic, Acoustic seismic coupling, porefluid, pulse echo, propagation, soils, sound speed...seismic transfer function. /’An acoustic scheme for buried object detection is thought to involve a sound source above the ground and a microphone as a

  12. Sequential feature selection for detecting buried objects using forward looking ground penetrating radar

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shaw, Darren; Stone, Kevin; Ho, K. C.; Keller, James M.; Luke, Robert H.; Burns, Brian P.

    2016-05-01

    Forward looking ground penetrating radar (FLGPR) has the benefit of detecting objects at a significant standoff distance. The FLGPR signal is radiated over a large surface area and the radar signal return is often weak. Improving detection, especially for buried in road targets, while maintaining an acceptable false alarm rate remains to be a challenging task. Various kinds of features have been developed over the years to increase the FLGPR detection performance. This paper focuses on investigating the use of as many features as possible for detecting buried targets and uses the sequential feature selection technique to automatically choose the features that contribute most for improving performance. Experimental results using data collected at a government test site are presented.

  13. Minefield reconnaissance and detector system

    DOEpatents

    Butler, M.T.; Cave, S.P.; Creager, J.D.; Johnson, C.M.; Mathes, J.B.; Smith, K.J.

    1994-04-26

    A multi-sensor system is described for detecting the presence of objects on the surface of the ground or buried just under the surface, such as anti-personnel or anti-tank mines or the like. A remote sensor platform has a plurality of metal detector sensors and a plurality of short pulse radar sensors. The remote sensor platform is remotely controlled from a processing and control unit and signals from the remote sensor platform are sent to the processing and control unit where they are individually evaluated in separate data analysis subprocess steps to obtain a probability score for each of the pluralities of sensors. These probability scores are combined in a fusion subprocess step by comparing score sets to a probability table which is derived based upon the historical incidence of object present conditions given that score set. A decision making rule is applied to provide an output which is optionally provided to a marker subprocess for controlling a marker device to mark the location of found objects. 7 figures.

  14. Geoarchaeological results from geophysical prospections at the Roman city of Urbs Salvia, central Italy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schettino, Antonio; Perna, Roberto; Pierantoni, Pietro Paolo; Ghezzi, Annalisa; Tassi, Luca; Cingolani, Sofia

    2017-04-01

    We report on a combined magnetic-GPR survey performed in 2015 and 2016 at the ancient Roman city of Urbs Salvia, located in central Italy. The main objective of this survey was to reconstruct the urban organization of the city forum and determine possible sites of future excavations. We found a complex pattern of buried structures, possibly resulting from the coexistence of republican and imperial artifacts and burned structures. A test excavation at the location where we detected a long linear structure characterized by strong magnetic signal revealed the presence of thermal baths. GPR data were acquired in areas characterized by high magnetic noise induced by metallic infrastructures (e.g., fences), which prevented a correct acquisition of archaeological anomalies. These data not only allowed to overcome the magnetic noise, but provided interesting 3D reconstructions of the buried structures. A detailed GPR survey in the theatre area was also performed, with the aim to investigate the plan of the porticus post scaenam. This survey allowed to identify some interesting structures related to different chronological phases and confirms the epigraphic data related to the development of the monument.

  15. Magnetic sensor technology for detecting mines, UXO, and other concealed security threats

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Czipott, Peter V.; Iwanowski, Mark D.

    1997-01-01

    Magnetic sensors have been the sensor of choice in the detection and classification of buried mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO), both on land and underwater, Quantum Magnetics (QM), together with its research partner IBM, have developed a variety of advanced, very high sensitivity superconducting and room temperature magnetic sensors to meet military needs. This work has led to the development and utilization of a three-sensor gradiometer (TSG) patented by IBM, which cannot only detect, but also localize mines and ordnance. QM is also working with IBM and the U.S. Navy to develop an advanced superconducting gradiometer for buried underwater mine detection. The ability to both detect and classify buried non-metallic mines is virtually impossible with existing magnetic sensors. To solve this problem, Quantum Magnetics, building on work of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), is pioneering work in the development of quadrupole resonance (QR) methods which can be used to detect the explosive material directly. Based on recent laboratory work done at QM and previous work done in the U.S., Russia and the United Kingdom, we are confident that QR can be effectively applied to the non-metallic mine identification problem.

  16. Ratiometric, filter-free optical sensor based on a complementary metal oxide semiconductor buried double junction photodiode.

    PubMed

    Yung, Ka Yi; Zhan, Zhiyong; Titus, Albert H; Baker, Gary A; Bright, Frank V

    2015-07-16

    We report a complementary metal oxide semiconductor integrated circuit (CMOS IC) with a buried double junction (BDJ) photodiode that (i) provides a real-time output signal that is related to the intensity ratio at two emission wavelengths and (ii) simultaneously eliminates the need for an optical filter to block Rayleigh scatter. We demonstrate the BDJ platform performance for gaseous NH3 and aqueous pH detection. We also compare the BDJ performance to parallel results obtained by using a slew scanned fluorimeter (SSF). The BDJ results are functionally equivalent to the SSF results without the need for any wavelength filtering or monochromators and the BDJ platform is not prone to errors associated with source intensity fluctuations or sensor signal drift. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. Ultra-Wideband EMI Sensing: Non-Metallic Target Detection and Automatic Classification of Unexploded Ordnance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sigman, John Brevard

    Buried explosive hazards present a pressing problem worldwide. Millions of acres and thousands of sites are contaminated in the United States alone [1, 2]. There are three categories of explosive hazards: metallic, intermediate-electrical conducting (IEC), and non-conducting targets. Metallic target detection and classification by electromagnetic (EM) signature has been the subject of research for many years. Key to the success of this research is modern multi-static Electromagnetic Induction (EMI) sensors, which are able to measure the wideband EMI response from metallic buried targets. However, no hardware solutions exist which can characterize IEC and non-conducting targets. While high-conducting metallic targets exhibit a quadrature peak response for frequencies in a traditional EMI regime under 100 kHz, the response of intermediate-conducting objects manifests at higher frequencies, between 100 kHz and 15 MHz. In addition to high-quality electromagnetic sensor data and robust electromagnetic models, a classification procedure is required to discriminate Targets of Interest (TOI) from clutter. Currently, costly human experts are used for this task. This expense and effort can be spared by using statistical signal processing and machine learning. This thesis has two main parts. In the first part, we explore using the high frequency EMI (HFEMI) band (100 kHz-15 MHz) for detection of carbon fiber UXO, voids, and of materials with characteristics that may be associated with improvised explosive devices (IED). We constructed an HFEMI sensing instrument, and apply the techniques of metal detection to sensing in a band of frequencies which are the transition between the induction and radar bands. In this transition domain, physical considerations and technological issues arise that cannot be solved via the approaches used in either of the bracketing lower and higher frequency ranges. In the second half of this thesis, we present a procedure for automatic classification of UXO. For maximum generality, our algorithm is robust and can handle sparse training examples of multi-class data. This procedure uses an unsupervised starter, semi-supervised techniques to gather training data, and concludes with supervised learning until all TOI are found. Additionally, an inference method for estimating the number of remaining true positives from a partial Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve is presented and applied to live-site dig histories.

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

    Carter, E.

    A new class of grout material based on molten wax offers a dramatic improvement in permeation grouting performance. This new material makes a perfect in situ containment of buried radioactive waste both feasible and cost effective. This paper describes various ways the material can be used to isolate buried waste in situ. Potential applications described in the paper include buried radioactive waste in deep trenches, deep shafts, Infiltration trenches, and large buried objects. Use of molten wax for retrieval of waste is also discussed. Wax can also be used for retrieval of air sensitive materials or drummed waste. This papermore » provides an analysis of the methods of application and the expected performance and cost of several potential projects. (authors)« less

  19. Ballistic-Electron-Emission Microscope

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kaiser, William J.; Bell, L. Douglas

    1990-01-01

    Ballistic-electron-emission microscope (BEEM) employs scanning tunneling-microscopy (STM) methods for nondestructive, direct electrical investigation of buried interfaces, such as interface between semiconductor and thin metal film. In BEEM, there are at least three electrodes: emitting tip, biasing electrode, and collecting electrode, receiving current crossing interface under investigation. Signal-processing device amplifies electrode signals and converts them into form usable by computer. Produces spatial images of surface by scanning tip; in addition, provides high-resolution images of buried interface under investigation. Spectroscopic information extracted by measuring collecting-electrode current as function of one of interelectrode voltages.

  20. The acute and long-term neurotoxic effects of MDMA on marble burying behaviour in mice.

    PubMed

    Saadat, Kathryn S; Elliott, J Martin; Colado, M Isabel; Green, A Richard

    2006-03-01

    When mice are exposed to harmless objects such as marbles in their cage they bury them, a behaviour sometimes known as defensive burying. We investigated the effect of an acute dose of MDMA (èecstasy') and other psychoactive drugs on marble burying and also examined the effect of a prior neurotoxic dose of MDMA or p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) on burying. Acute administration of MDMA produced dose-dependent inhibition of marble burying (EC50: 7.6 micro mol/kg). Other drugs that enhance monoamine function also produced dose-dependent inhibition: methamphetamine PCA paroxetine MDMA GBR 12909 methylphenidate. None of these drugs altered locomotor activity at a dose that inhibited burying. A prior neurotoxic dose of MDMA, which decreased striatal dopamine content by 60%, but left striatal 5-HT content unaltered, did not alter spontaneous marble burying 18 or 40 days later. However, a neurotoxic dose of PCA which decreased striatal dopamine by 60% and striatal 5-HT by 70% attenuated marble burying 28 days later. Overall, these data suggest that MDMA, primarily by acutely increasing 5-HT function, acts like several anxiolytic drugs in this behavioural model. Long-term loss of cerebral 5-HT content also produced a similar effect. Since this change was observed only after 28 days, it is probably due to an adaptive response in the brain.

  1. Using a metal detector to determine lead sinker abundance in waterbird habitat

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Duerr, A.E.; DeStefano, S.

    2000-01-01

    Waterbirds have died of lead poisoning from ingesting lead fishing sinkers in the United States and Europe. Estimating abundance and distribution of sinkers in the environment will help researchers to understand the potential effects of lead poisoning from sinker ingestion. We used a metal detector to test how environmental conditions and sinker characteristics affected detection of sinkers. Odds of detecting a lead sinker depended on the interaction of sinker mass and depth where it was buried (P=0.002). The odds of detecting a sinker increased with mass and decreased with depth buried. Lead split-shot sinkers were less detectable than tin, brass, and stainless steel sinkers. Detecting lead sinkers was not influenced by sinker shape, substrate type, or whether we searched underwater or on land. We developed a model to determine the proportion of sinkers detected when this detector is used to search for sinkers, so sinker abundance can be estimated. The log odds (Logit) of detecting a lead sinker with mass M g buried D cm below the surface was Logit Y= -1.63 + 4.20 M - 0.45 D - 0.27 MD + 0.0002 D2. The probability of detecting a lead sinker was e(Logit Y)/(1 + e(Logit Y)). At the surface, 90% of sinkers with mass 0.9 g will be detected.

  2. Micromorphological and ultramicroscopic aspects of buried remains: Time-dependent markers of decomposition and permanence in soil in experimental burial.

    PubMed

    Zangarini, Sara; Trombino, Luca; Cattaneo, Cristina

    2016-06-01

    A buried body not only determines an environmental response at the deposition site but it is also affected by the soil. The experiment was performed using eleven swine carcasses buried in an open site (Northern Italy). Changes occurring in bone tissue at different post-burial intervals were evaluated observing thin sections of bones through micromorphological and ultramicroscopic (SEM-EDS) techniques. These methods allowed the identification of: (a) magnesium phosphate (Mg3(PO4)2) crystallizations, probably linked to decomposition of bones and soft tissues; (b) significant sulphur levels which seem to be related to hydrogen sulphide (H2S) fixation in bone tissue; (c) metal oxide concentrations in the form of unusual violet-blue colorations, which probably are evidence of the soil's action and penetration in bones, also testified by (d) the presence of mineral grains enclosed in the osseous tissue. The results underline the possibility of identifying both time-dependent markers of decomposition and indicators of permanence in soil in buried bones. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Numerical modeling of an enhanced very early time electromagnetic (VETEM) prototype system

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Cui, T.J.; Chew, W.C.; Aydiner, A.A.; Wright, D.L.; Smith, D.V.; Abraham, J.D.

    2000-01-01

    In this paper, two numerical models are presented to simulate an enhanced very early time electromagnetic (VETEM) prototype system, which is used for buried-object detection and environmental problems. Usually, the VETEM system contains a transmitting loop antenna and a receiving loop antenna, which run on a lossy ground to detect buried objects. In the first numerical model, the loop antennas are accurately analyzed using the Method of Moments (MoM) for wire antennas above or buried in lossy ground. Then, Conjugate Gradient (CG) methods, with the use of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) or MoM, are applied to investigate the scattering from buried objects. Reflected and scattered magnetic fields are evaluated at the receiving loop to calculate the output electric current. However, the working frequency for the VETEM system is usually low and, hence, two magnetic dipoles are used to replace the transmitter and receiver in the second numerical model. Comparing these two models, the second one is simple, but only valid for low frequency or small loops, while the first modeling is more general. In this paper, all computations are performed in the frequency domain, and the FFT is used to obtain the time-domain responses. Numerical examples show that simulation results from these two models fit very well when the frequency ranges from 10 kHz to 10 MHz, and both results are close to the measured data.

  4. NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING (NDT) TECHNIQUES TO DETECT CONTAINED SUBSURFACE HAZARDOUS WASTE

    EPA Science Inventory

    The project involves the detection of buried containers with NDT (remote-sensing) techniques. Seventeen techniques were considered and four were ultimately decided upon. They were: electromagnetic induction (EMI); metal detection (MD); magnetometer (MAG); and ground penetrating r...

  5. ENGINEERING BULLETIN: IN SITU VITRIFICATION TREATMENT

    EPA Science Inventory

    In situ vitrification (ISV) uses electrical power to heat and melt soil, sludge, mine tailings, buried wastes, and sediments contaminated with organic, inorganic, and metal-bearing hazardous wastes. The molten material cools to form a hard, monolithic, chemically inert, stable...

  6. Minefield reconnaissance and detector system

    DOEpatents

    Butler, Millard T.; Cave, Steven P.; Creager, James D.; Johnson, Charles M.; Mathes, John B.; Smith, Kirk J.

    1994-01-01

    A multi-sensor system (10) for detecting the presence of objects on the surface of the ground or buried just under the surface, such as anti-personnel or anti-tank mines or the like. A remote sensor platform (12) has a plurality of metal detector sensors (22) and a plurality of short pulse radar sensors (24). The remote sensor platform (12) is remotely controlled from a processing and control unit (14) and signals from the remote sensor platform (12) are sent to the processing and control unit (14) where they are individually evaluated in separate data analysis subprocess steps (34, 36) to obtain a probability "score" for each of the pluralities of sensors (22, 24). These probability scores are combined in a fusion subprocess step (38) by comparing score sets to a probability table (130) which is derived based upon the historical incidence of object present conditions given that score set. A decision making rule is applied to provide an output which is optionally provided to a marker subprocess (40) for controlling a marker device (76) to mark the location of found objects.

  7. Buried structure for increasing fabrication performance of micromaterial by electromigration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kimura, Yasuhiro; Saka, Masumi

    2016-06-01

    The electromigration (EM) technique is a physical synthetic growth method for micro/nanomaterials. EM causes atomic diffusion in a metal line by high-density electron flows. The intentional control of accumulation and relaxation of atoms by EM can lead to the fabrication of a micro/nanomaterial. TiN passivation has been utilized as a component of sample in the EM technique. Although TiN passivation can simplify the cumbersome processes for preparing the sample, the leakage of current naturally occurs because of the conductivity of TiN as a side effect and decreases the performance of micro/nanomaterial fabrication. In the present work, we propose a buried structure, which contributes to significantly decreasing the current for fabricating an Al micromaterial by confining the current flow in the EM technique. The fabrication performance was evaluated based on the threshold current for fabricating an Al micromaterial using the buried structure and the previous structure with the leakage of current.

  8. Imaging and controlling plasmonic interference fields at buried interfaces

    PubMed Central

    Lummen, Tom T. A.; Lamb, Raymond J.; Berruto, Gabriele; LaGrange, Thomas; Dal Negro, Luca; García de Abajo, F. Javier; McGrouther, Damien; Barwick, B.; Carbone, F.

    2016-01-01

    Capturing and controlling plasmons at buried interfaces with nanometre and femtosecond resolution has yet to be achieved and is critical for next generation plasmonic devices. Here we use light to excite plasmonic interference patterns at a buried metal–dielectric interface in a nanostructured thin film. Plasmons are launched from a photoexcited array of nanocavities and their propagation is followed via photon-induced near-field electron microscopy (PINEM). The resulting movie directly captures the plasmon dynamics, allowing quantification of their group velocity at ∼0.3 times the speed of light, consistent with our theoretical predictions. Furthermore, we show that the light polarization and nanocavity design can be tailored to shape transient plasmonic gratings at the nanoscale. This work, demonstrating dynamical imaging with PINEM, paves the way for the femtosecond and nanometre visualization and control of plasmonic fields in advanced heterostructures based on novel two-dimensional materials such as graphene, MoS2, and ultrathin metal films. PMID:27725670

  9. Three-dimensional imaging of buried objects in very lossy earth by inversion of VETEM data

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Cui, T.J.; Aydiner, A.A.; Chew, W.C.; Wright, D.L.; Smith, D.V.

    2003-01-01

    The very early time electromagnetic system (VETEM) is an efficient tool for the detection of buried objects in very lossy earth, which allows a deeper penetration depth compared to the ground-penetrating radar. In this paper, the inversion of VETEM data is investigated using three-dimensional (3-D) inverse scattering techniques, where multiple frequencies are applied in the frequency range from 0-5 MHz. For small and moderately sized problems, the Born approximation and/or the Born iterative method have been used with the aid of the singular value decomposition and/or the conjugate gradient method in solving the linearized integral equations. For large-scale problems, a localized 3-D inversion method based on the Born approximation has been proposed for the inversion of VETEM data over a large measurement domain. Ways to process and to calibrate the experimental VETEM data are discussed to capture the real physics of buried objects. Reconstruction examples using synthesized VETEM data and real-world VETEM data are given to test the validity and efficiency of the proposed approach.

  10. 40 CFR 280.12 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... a minimum, such persons must have education and experience in soil resistivity, stray current, structure-to-soil potential, and component electrical isolation measurements of buried metal piping and tank... reason of thorough knowledge of the physical sciences and the principles of engineering and mathematics...

  11. 40 CFR 280.12 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... a minimum, such persons must have education and experience in soil resistivity, stray current, structure-to-soil potential, and component electrical isolation measurements of buried metal piping and tank... reason of thorough knowledge of the physical sciences and the principles of engineering and mathematics...

  12. 40 CFR 280.12 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... a minimum, such persons must have education and experience in soil resistivity, stray current, structure-to-soil potential, and component electrical isolation measurements of buried metal piping and tank... reason of thorough knowledge of the physical sciences and the principles of engineering and mathematics...

  13. Numerical modeling of higher order magnetic moments in UXO discrimination

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Sanchez, V.; Yaoguo, L.; Nabighian, M.N.; Wright, D.L.

    2008-01-01

    The surface magnetic anomaly observed in unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance is mainly dipolar, and consequently, the dipole is the only magnetic moment regularly recovered in UXO discrimination. The dipole moment contains information about the intensity of magnetization but lacks information about the shape of the target. In contrast, higher order moments, such as quadrupole and octupole, encode asymmetry properties of the magnetization distribution within the buried targets. In order to improve our understanding of magnetization distribution within UXO and non-UXO objects and to show its potential utility in UXO clearance, we present a numerical modeling study of UXO and related metallic objects. The tool for the modeling is a nonlinear integral equation describing magnetization within isolated compact objects of high susceptibility. A solution for magnetization distribution then allows us to compute the magnetic multipole moments of the object, analyze their relationships, and provide a depiction of the anomaly produced by different moments within the object. Our modeling results show the presence of significant higher order moments for more asymmetric objects, and the fields of these higher order moments are well above the noise level of magnetic gradient data. The contribution from higher order moments may provide a practical tool for improved UXO discrimination. ?? 2008 IEEE.

  14. HERCULES GLADES WILDERNESS, MISSOURI.

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Miller, Mary H.; Ryan, George S.

    1984-01-01

    Based on geologic, geochemical, geophysical, and mine and claim surveys, Hercules Glades Wilderness, Missouri has little promise for the occurrence of metallic-mineral or energy resources in formations exposed at and near the surface. Upper Cambrian formations, known to contain major deposits of lead, zinc, silver, copper, nickel, and cobalt in the Viburnum Trend and Southeast Missouri mining districts, occur in the subsurface within the wilderness. Deep drilling to test the buried Cambrian formations for lithologic character and trace metals would be needed in order to permit apprasial of the potential of these formations for base-metal deposits.

  15. Establishing a design procedure for buried steel-reinforced high-density polyethylene pipes : a field study, [technical summary].

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2015-11-01

    Several national standards and specification have been developed for design, installation, : and materials for precast concrete pipe, corrugated metal pipe, and HDPE pipes. However, : no national accepted installation standard or design method is ava...

  16. Commercially developed mixed-signal CMOS process features for application in advanced ROICs in 0.18μm technology node

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kar-Roy, Arjun; Hurwitz, Paul; Mann, Richard; Qamar, Yasir; Chaudhry, Samir; Zwingman, Robert; Howard, David; Racanelli, Marco

    2012-06-01

    Increasingly complex specifications for next-generation focal plane arrays (FPAs) require smaller pixels, larger array sizes, reduced power consumption and lower cost. We have previously reported on the favorable features available in the commercially available TowerJazz CA18 0.18μm mixed-signal CMOS technology platform for advanced read-out integrated circuit (ROIC) applications. In his paper, new devices in development for commercial purposes and which may have applications in advanced ROICs are reported. First, results of buried-channel 3.3V field effect transistors (FETs) are detailed. The buried-channel pFETs show flicker (1/f) noise reductions of ~5X in comparison to surface-channel pFETs along with a significant reduction of the body constant parameter. The buried-channel nFETs show ~2X reduction of 1/f noise versus surface-channel nFETs. Additional reduced threshold voltage nFETs and pFETs are also described. Second, a high-density capacitor solution with a four-stacked linear (metal-insulator-metal) MIM capacitor having capacitance density of 8fF/μm2 is reported. Additional stacking with MOS capacitor in a 5V tolerant process results in >50fC/μm2 charge density. Finally, one-time programmable (OTP) and multi-time programmable (MTP) non-volatile memory options in the CA18 technology platform are outlined.

  17. Ultrawideband radar echoes of land mine targets measured at oblique incidence using a 250-kW impulse radar system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chant, Ian J.; Staines, Geoff

    1997-07-01

    United Nations Peacekeeping forces around the world need to transport food, personnel and medical supplies through disputed regions were land mines are in active use as road blocks and terror weapons. A method of fast, effective land mine detection is needed to combat this threat to road transport. The technique must operate from a vehicle travelling at a reasonable velocity and give warning far enough ahead for the vehicle to stop in time to avoid the land mine. There is particular interest in detecting low- metallic content land mines. One possible solutionis the use of ultra-wide-band (UWB) radar. The Australian Defence Department is investigating the feasibility of using UWB radar for land mine detection from a vehicle. A 3 GHz UWB system has been used to collect target response from a series of inert land mines and mine-like objects placed on the ground and buried in the ground. The targets measured were a subset of those in the target set described in Wong et al. with the addition of inert land mines corresponding to some of the surrogate targets in this set. The results are encouraging for the detection of metallic land mines and the larger non-metallic land mines. Smaller low-metallic- content anti-personnel land mines are less likely to be detected.

  18. Study of time-reversal-based signal processing applied to polarimetric GPR detection of elongated targets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Santos, Vinicius Rafael N.; Teixeira, Fernando L.

    2017-04-01

    Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a useful sensing modality for mapping and identification of underground infrastructure networks, such as metal and concrete pipes (gas, water or sewer), phone conduits or cables, and other buried objects. Due to the polarization-dependent response of typical targets, it is of interest to investigate the optimum antenna arrangement and/or combination of arrangements that maximize the detection and classification capabilities of polarimetric GPR imaging systems. Here, we provide a preliminary study of time-reversal-based techniques applied to target detection by GPR utilizing different relative orientations of linear-polarized antenna elements (with respect to each other, as well as to the targets). We modeled three different pipe materials (metallic, plastic and concrete) and GPR systems operating at center frequencies of 100 MHz and 200 MHz. Full-wave numerical simulations are adopted to account for mutual coupling between targets. This type of assessment study may contribute to the improvement of GPR data interpretation of infrastructure networks in urban area surveys and in other engineering studies.

  19. InGaAsP/InP buried-heterostructure lasers /lambda = 1.5 microns/ with chemically etched mirrors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Adachi, S.; Kawaguchi, H.; Takahei, K.; Noguchi, Y.

    1981-09-01

    The monolithic fabrication of buried heterostructure InGaAsP/InP lasers operating at a wavelength of 1.5 microns with chemically etched mirrors is reported. The buried heterostructure lasers were prepared from InGaAsP/InP DH wafers reverse-mesa etched with a Br2:CH3OH solution, with the reverse-mesa walls buried by subsequent LPE growth. To fabricate the etched mirror laser, Au-Zn metal was evaporated onto the epitaxial-layer side of the wafer and an Au-Zn contact was defined by photolithography; photolithographic techniques were used to define a SiO2 mask directly over the Au-Zn contact for etched mirror definition using either 0.3 vol % Br2:CH3OH or HCl:CH3COOH:H2O2 1:2:1 solutions. A threshold current of 50 mA is obtained from lasers thus produced, which is nearly the same as that of conventionally fabricated cleaved-mirror lasers. The procedure presented thus allows low threshold-current devices to be obtained with a much greater flexibility in design and fabrication than previously attained.

  20. Nanoparticle-Seeding Approach to Buried (Semi) Metal Film Growth

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-05-20

    semimetals that can be grown epitaxially on zinc-blende III-V substrates, with thermodynamically stable interfaces. However, the rotational symmetry...epitaxially on zinc-blende III-V substrates, with thermodynamically stable interfaces. However, the rotational symmetry mismatch between the III-V and ErAs

  1. Comprehensive Review and Case Study on the Management of Buried Penis Syndrome and Related Panniculectomy

    PubMed Central

    Burns, Hadley; Chowdhry, Saeed; Lee, Thomas; Schulz, Steven; Wilhelmi, Bradon J.

    2018-01-01

    Objective: This paper discusses the various surgical techniques and outcomes associated with management of buried penis syndrome. Methods: Presented is the case of a 49-year-old man with morbid obesity, leading to massive panniculus and buried penis. We review our technique for reconstruction of the buried penis and treatment of the overlying large panniculus. Literature search was conducted to review current techniques in correcting buried penis syndrome. Results: The patient underwent a successful panniculectomy with removal of all excess skin and tissue. Thoughtful planning and coordination between plastic surgery and urology were paramount to externalize the penis for an excellent functional and cosmetic result. Conclusions: Management of a buried, hidden penis is complex and difficult. Patients are often obese and have poor hygiene due to the inability to cleanse areas that are entrapped by excessive fat. Following removal of the overhanging panniculus, satisfactory reconstruction of a hidden penis is possible when proper care is taken to adhere the base of the penis to the pubis. Split-thickness skin grafts are often necessary but depend on the viability of the penile skin and whether it is restricting penile length. Complications with wound dehiscence and infection are not uncommon; however, patients generally recover well, are satisfied with results, and are reported to have fully regained urinary and sexual functions following surgical correction of the buried penis. PMID:29467914

  2. Standardized UXO Technology Demonstration Site Blind Grid Scoring Record Number 909 (Sky Research, Inc.)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-09-01

    heading north from the southern end point, and then returning south from the northern end point. 2) A metallic pin-flag is placed over the midpoint...test involves traverses across a known point located away from buried UXO or other metallic debris. A 5-meter- length of line is walked in eight...ferrous and nonferrous anomalies. Due to limitations of the magnetometer, the nonferrous items cannot be detected. Therefore, the ROC curves

  3. Standardized UXO Technology Demonstration Site Woods Scoring Record Number 902 (Sky Research, Inc.)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-08-01

    endpoint. 8 2) A metallic pin-flag is placed over the midpoint. 3) The operator logs data along the same path, first traveling north, and then...data and after completion of data collection. This test involves traverses across a known point located away from buried UXO or other metallic ...areas, dips, ruts and obstructions that challenge platform systems or hand held detectors . The challenges include a gravel road, wet areas and trees

  4. Buried mine detection using fractal geometry analysis to the LWIR successive line scan data image

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Araki, Kan

    2012-06-01

    We have engaged in research on buried mine/IED detection by remote sensing method using LWIR camera. A IR image of a ground, containing buried objects can be assumed as a superimposed pattern including thermal scattering which may depend on the ground surface roughness, vegetation canopy, and effect of the sun light, and radiation due to various heat interaction caused by differences in specific heat, size, and buried depth of the objects and local temperature of their surrounding environment. In this cumbersome environment, we introduce fractal geometry for analyzing from an IR image. Clutter patterns due to these complex elements have oftentimes low ordered fractal dimension of Hausdorff Dimension. On the other hand, the target patterns have its tendency of obtaining higher ordered fractal dimension in terms of Information Dimension. Random Shuffle Surrogate method or Fourier Transform Surrogate method is used to evaluate fractional statistics by applying shuffle of time sequence data or phase of spectrum. Fractal interpolation to each line scan was also applied to improve the signal processing performance in order to evade zero division and enhance information of data. Some results of target extraction by using relationship between low and high ordered fractal dimension are to be presented.

  5. Detection of buried magnetic objects by a SQUID gradiometer system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Meyer, Hans-Georg; Hartung, Konrad; Linzen, Sven; Schneider, Michael; Stolz, Ronny; Fried, Wolfgang; Hauspurg, Sebastian

    2009-05-01

    We present a magnetic detection system based on superconducting gradiometric sensors (SQUID gradiometers). The system provides a unique fast mapping of large areas with a high resolution of the magnetic field gradient as well as the local position. A main part of this work is the localization and classification of magnetic objects in the ground by automatic interpretation of geomagnetic field gradients, measured by the SQUID system. In accordance with specific features the field is decomposed into segments, which allow inferences to possible objects in the ground. The global consideration of object describing properties and their optimization using error minimization methods allows the reconstruction of superimposed features and detection of buried objects. The analysis system of measured geomagnetic fields works fully automatically. By a given surface of area-measured gradients the algorithm determines within numerical limits the absolute position of objects including depth with sub-pixel accuracy and allows an arbitrary position and attitude of sources. Several SQUID gradiometer data sets were used to show the applicability of the analysis algorithm.

  6. Three-Dimensional Steerable Magnetic Field (3DSMF)Sensor System for Classification of Buried Metal Targets

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-07-01

    technical approach overview .............................................................................. 4 Figure 2 Magnetic field lines around a loop ...11 Figure 10 HMF (Bx) and loop (Bz) antenna comparison .............................................................. 12...Figure 26 Top view of one proposed receiver loop arrangement. ................................................ 25 Figure 27 Receiver response modeling

  7. Three-Dimensional Steerable Magnetic Field (3DSMF) Sensor System for Classification of Buried Metal Targets

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-07-01

    technical approach overview .............................................................................. 4 Figure 2 Magnetic field lines around a loop ...11 Figure 10 HMF (Bx) and loop (Bz) antenna comparison .............................................................. 12 Figure...26 Top view of one proposed receiver loop arrangement. ................................................ 25 Figure 27 Receiver response modeling

  8. MOUNT NAOMI ROADLESS AREA, UTAH AND IDAHO.

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Dover, James H.; Bigsby, Philip R.

    1984-01-01

    Geologic, geophysical, and geochemical surveys, and an examination of mines and prospects were made in the Mount Naomi Roadless Area, Utah and Idaho. No significant precious-metal, base-metal, other trace-metal, or uranium anomalies are apparent in the geochemical data from the Mount Naomi Roadless Area, and no exploration targets were detected. However, a belt of probable resource potential for stratabound copper, lead, and zinc occurrences exists on the west side of the area in limestone and shale. The possibility that oil and gas concentration lie deeply buried beneath the roadless area cannot be evaluated from available data.

  9. Object Locating System

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Arndt, G. Dickey (Inventor); Carl, James R. (Inventor)

    2000-01-01

    A portable system is provided that is operational for determining, with three dimensional resolution, the position of a buried object or approximately positioned object that may move in space or air or gas. The system has a plurality of receivers for detecting the signal front a target antenna and measuring the phase thereof with respect to a reference signal. The relative permittivity and conductivity of the medium in which the object is located is used along with the measured phase signal to determine a distance between the object and each of the plurality of receivers. Knowing these distances. an iteration technique is provided for solving equations simultaneously to provide position coordinates. The system may also be used for tracking movement of an object within close range of the system by sampling and recording subsequent position of the object. A dipole target antenna. when positioned adjacent to a buried object, may be energized using a separate transmitter which couples energy to the target antenna through the medium. The target antenna then preferably resonates at a different frequency, such as a second harmonic of the transmitter frequency.

  10. 76 FR 72672 - Publication of Depreciation Rates

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-11-25

    ... cable--metal 5.10 g. Buried cable--fiber 5.00 h. Conduit systems 3.50 i. Other 5.50 Dated: November 19... ending December 31, 2011. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan P. Claffey, Deputy Assistant... Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-1590. Telephone: (202) 720-9556. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 7 CFR...

  11. UXO Engineering Design. Technical Specification and ConceptualDesign

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

    Beche, J-F.; Doolittle, L.; Greer, J.

    2005-04-23

    The design and fabrication of the UXO detector has numerous challenges and is an important component to the success of this study. This section describes the overall engineering approach, as well as some of the technical details that brought us to the present design. In general, an array of sensor coils is measuring the signal generated by the UXO object in response to a stimulation provided by the driver coil. The information related to the location, shape and properties of the object is derived from the analysis of the measured data. Each sensor coil is instrumented with a waveform digitizermore » operating at a nominal digitization rate of 100 kSamples per second. The sensor coils record both the large transient pulse of the driver coil and the UXO object response pulse. The latter is smaller in amplitude and must be extracted from the large transient signal. The resolution required is 16 bits over a dynamic range of at least 140 dB. The useful signal bandwidth of the application extends from DC to 40 kHz. The low distortion of each component is crucial in order to maintain an excellent linearity over the full dynamic range and to minimize the calibration procedure. The electronics must be made as compact as possible so that the response of its metallic parts has a minimum signature response. Also because of a field system portability requirement, the power consumption of the instrument must be kept as low as possible. The theory and results of numerical and experimental studies that led to the proof-of-principle multitransmitter-multireceiver Active ElectroMagnetic (AEM) system, that can not only accurately detect but also characterize and discriminate UXO targets, are summarized in LBNL report-53962: ''Detection and Classification of Buried Metallic Objects, UX-1225''.« less

  12. Remote detection of buried explosives by fluorescent and bioluminescent microbial sensors (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Belkin, Shimshon; Yagur-Kroll, Sharon; Zohar, Cheinat; Rabinovitz, Zahi; Nussinovitch, Amos; Kabessa, Yossi; Agranat, Aharon J.

    2017-06-01

    Current landmine detection methodologies are not much different in principle from those employed 75 years ago, in that they require actual presence in the minefield, with obvious risks to personnel and equipment. Other limitations include an extremely large ratio of false positives, as well as a very limited ability to detect non-metallic landmines. In this lecture a microbial-based solution for the remote detection of buried landmines described. The small size requirements, rapid responses and sensing versatility of bacterial bioreporters allow their integration into diverse types of devices, for laboratory as well as field applications. The relative ease by which molecular sensing and reporting elements can be fused together to generate dose-dependent quantifiable physical (luminescent, fluorescent, colorimetric, electrochemical) responses to pre-determined conditions allows the construction of diverse classes of sensors. Over the last two decades we and others have employed this principle to design and construct microbial bioreporter strains for the sensitive detection of (a) specific chemicals of environmental concern (heavy metals, halogenated organics etc.) or (b) their deleterious biological effects on living systems (such as toxicity or genotoxicity). In many of these cases, additional molecular manipulations beyond the initial sensor-reporter fusion may be highly beneficial for enhancing the performance of the engineered sensor systems. This presentation highlights several of the approaches we have adopted over the years to achieve this aim, while focusing on the application of live cell microbeads for the remote detection of buried landmines and other explosive devices.

  13. Design of a 1200-V ultra-thin partial SOI LDMOS with n-type buried layer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qiao, Ming; Wang, Yuru; Li, Yanfei; Zhang, Bo; Li, Zhaoji

    2014-11-01

    A novel 1200-V ultra-thin partial silicon-on-insulator (PSOI) lateral double-diffusion metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) with n-type buried (n-buried) layer (NBL PSOI LDMOS) is proposed in this paper. The new PSOI LDMOS features an n-buried layer underneath the n-type drift (n-drift) region close to the source side, providing a large conduction region for majority carriers and a silicon window to improve self-heating effect (SHE). A combination of uniform and linear variable doping (ULVD) profile is utilized in the n-drift region, which alleviates the inherent tradeoff between specific on-resistance (Ron,sp) and breakdown voltage (BV). With the n-drift region length of 80 μm, the NBL PSOI LDMOS obtains a high BV of 1243 V which is improved by around 105 V in comparison to the conventional SOI LDMOS with linear variable doping (LVD) profile for the n-drift region (LVD SOI LDMOS). Besides, the 1200-V NBL PSOI LDMOS has a lower maximum temperature (Tmax) of 333 K at a power (P) of 1 mW/μm which is reduced by around 61 K. Meanwhile, Ron,sp and Tmax of the NBL PSOI LDMOS are lower than those of the conventional LVD SOI LDMOS for a wide range of BV.

  14. Using Mechanical Energy as a Probe for the Detection and Imaging of Shallow Buried Inclusions in Dry Granular Beds

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sen, Surajit; Krishna Mohan, T. R.; Visco, Donald P.; Swaminathan, Saravanan; Sokolow, Adam; Avalos, Edgar; Nakagawa, Masami

    Mechanical energy, such as sound waves and impulses, have been used to detect shallow buried objects for more than half a century. Yet, very little is understood about how mechanical energy propagates into one of the simplest kinds of soil, namely, a granular bed. Here we present an overview of the state of the art in our understanding of mechanical energy propagation in granular beds.

  15. Measurements and modeling of acoustic scattering from partially and completely buried spherical shells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tesei, A.; Maguer, A.; Fox, W. L. J.; Lim, R.; Schmidt, H.

    2002-11-01

    The use of low-frequency sonars (2-15 kHz) is explored to better exploit scattering features of buried targets that can contribute to their detection and classification. Compared to conventional mine countermeasure sonars, sound penetrates better into the sediment at these frequencies, and the excitation of structural waves in the targets is enhanced. The main contributions to target echo are the specular reflection, geometric diffraction effects, and the structural response, with the latter being particularly important for man-made elastic objects possessing particular symmetries such as bodies of revolution. The resonance response derives from elastic periodic phenomena such as surface circumferential waves revolving around the target. The GOATS'98 experiment, conducted jointly by SACLANTCEN and MIT off the island of Elba, involved controlled monostatic measurements of scattering by spherical shells which were partially and completely buried in sand, and suspended in the water column. The analysis mainly addresses a study of the effect of burial on the dynamics of backscattered elastic waves, which can be clearly identified in the target responses, and is based on the comparison of measurements with appropriate scattering models. Data interpretation results are in good agreement with theory. This positive result demonstrates the applicability of low-frequency methodologies based on resonance analysis to the classification of buried objects. copyright 2002 Acoustical Society of America.

  16. Detection of buried objects by fusing dual-band infrared images

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

    Clark, G.A.; Sengupta, S.K.; Sherwood, R.J.

    1993-11-01

    We have conducted experiments to demonstrate the enhanced detectability of buried land mines using sensor fusion techniques. Multiple sensors, including visible imagery, infrared imagery, and ground penetrating radar (GPR), have been used to acquire data on a number of buried mines and mine surrogates. Because the visible wavelength and GPR data are currently incomplete. This paper focuses on the fusion of two-band infrared images. We use feature-level fusion and supervised learning with the probabilistic neural network (PNN) to evaluate detection performance. The novelty of the work lies in the application of advanced target recognition algorithms, the fusion of dual-band infraredmore » images and evaluation of the techniques using two real data sets.« less

  17. Managing previously disposed waste to today's standards

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

    Not Available

    1990-01-01

    A Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC) was established at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) in 1952 for controlled disposal of radioactive waste generated at the INEL. Between 1954 and 1970 waste characterized by long lived, alpha emitting radionuclides from the Rocky Flats Plant was also buried at this site. Migration of radionuclides and other hazardous substances from the buried Migration of radionuclides and other hazardous substances from the buried waste has recently been detected. A Buried Waste Program (BWP) was established to manage cleanup of the buried waste. This program has four objectives: (1) determine contaminant sources, (2) determinemore » extent of contamination, (3) mitigate migration, and (4) recommend an alternative for long term management of the waste. Activities designed to meet these objectives have been under way since the inception of the program. The regulatory environment governing these activities is evolving. Pursuant to permitting activities under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) entered into a Consent Order Compliance Agreement (COCA) for cleanup of past practice disposal units at the INEL. Subsequent to identification of the RWMC as a release site, cleanup activities proceeded under dual regulatory coverage of RCRA and the Atomic Energy Act. DOE, EPA, and the State of Idaho are negotiating a RCRA/Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Interagency Agreement (IAG) for management of waste disposal sites at the INEL as a result of the November 1989 listing of the INEL on the National Priority List (NPL). Decision making for selection of cleanup technology will be conducted under the CERCLA process supplemented as required to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 7 figs.« less

  18. Buried Man-made Structure Imaging using 2-D Resistivity Inversion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Anderson Bery, Andy; Nordiana, M. M.; El Hidayah Ismail, Noer; Jinmin, M.; Nur Amalina, M. K. A.

    2018-04-01

    This study is carried out with the objective to determine the suitable resistivity inversion method for buried man-made structure (bunker). This study was carried out with two stages. The first stage is suitable array determination using 2-D computerized modeling method. One suitable array is used for the infield resistivity survey to determine the dimension and location of the target. The 2-D resistivity inversion results showed that robust inversion method is suitable to resolve the top and bottom part of the buried bunker as target. In addition, the dimension of the buried bunker is successfully determined with height of 7 m and length of 20 m. The location of this target is located at -10 m until 10 m of the infield resistivity survey line. The 2-D resistivity inversion results obtained in this study showed that the parameters selection is important in order to give the optimum results. These parameters are array type, survey geometry and inversion method used in data processing.

  19. Experiments on rehabilitation of radioactive metallic waste (RMW) of reactor stainless steels of Siberian chemical plant

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kolpakov, G. N.; Zakusilov, V. V.; Demyanenko, N. V.; Mishin, A. S.

    2016-06-01

    Stainless steel pipes, used to cool a reactor plant, have a high cost, and after taking a reactor out of service they must be buried together with other radioactive waste. Therefore, the relevant problem is the rinse of pipes from contamination, followed by returning to operation.

  20. Students investigate environmental restoration site in New Mexico

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ferguson, John F.; Baldridge, W. Scott; Jiracek, George R.; Gonzalez, Victor; Pope, Paul A.

    Investigations conducted during the 1997 Summer of Applied Geophysical Experience (SAGE) field course at one site at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) successfully delineated a waste disposal trench dug in the 1940s. The survey, which was popular with the students, provided them with important experience in “real world” geophysical problems and demonstrated that students can obtain useful and important results during a short field exercise.The utility of the magnetic, seismic refraction, and ground-penetrating radar methods will be demonstrated on a profile through one of the major waste trenches at the site. The magnetic and radar methods are sensitive to the presence of metallic objects buried within the trenches. A low-velocity trench structure is defined by the seismic refraction data. Models of the trench structure are both accurate (linear dimensions are probably good to within a few meters) and somewhat different from prior expectations.

  1. AT on Buried LPG Tanks Over 13 m3: An Innovative and Practical Solution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Di Fratta, Crescenzo; Ferraro, Antonio; Tscheliesnig, Peter; Lackner, Gerald; Correggia, Vincenzo; Altamura, Nicola

    In Italy, since 2005, techniques based on Acoustic Emission have been introduced for testing of underground LPG tanks up to 13 m3, according to the European standard EN 12818:2004. The testing procedure for these tanks plans to install one or more pairs of sensors inside the "dome" suited for the access to the valves and fittings of the tank, directly on the accessible metal shell. This methodology is not applicable for the underground LPG buried tanks, where it is necessary to install a larger number of AE sensors, in order to cover at 100% the whole tank shell, even at very deep positions. Already in 2004, the European standard EN 12820 (Appendix C - Informative)give the possibility to use Acoustic Emission testing of LPG underground or buried tanks with a capacity exceeding 13 m3, but no technique was specified for the application. In 2008, TÜV AUSTRIA ITALIA - BLU SOLUTIONS srl - Italian company of TÜV AUSTRIA Group - has developed a technique to get access at tank shell, where tank capacity is greater than 13 m3 and its' diameter greater than 3,5 m. This methodology was fully in comply with the provisions of the European Standard EN 12819:2010, becoming an innovative solution widely appreciated and is used in Italy since this time. Currently, large companies and petrochemical plants, at the occurrence of the tank's requalification, have engaged TÜV AUSTRIA ITALIA - BLU SOLUTIONS to install such permanent predispositions, which allow access to the tank shell - test object - with diameters from 4 to 8 m. Through this access, you can install the AE sensors needed to cover at 100% the tank surface and then to perform AE test. In an economic crisis period, this technique is proving a valid and practically applicable answer, in order to reduce inspection costs and downtime by offering a technically advanced solution (AT), increasing the safety of the involved operators, protecting natural resources and the environment.

  2. Tracking ion irradiation effects using buried interface devices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cutshall, D. B.; Kulkarni, D. D.; Miller, A. J.; Harriss, J. E.; Harrell, W. R.; Sosolik, C. E.

    2018-05-01

    We discuss how a buried interface device, specifically a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitor, can be utilized to track effects of ion irradiation on insulators. We show that the exposure of oxides within unfinished capacitor devices to ions can lead to significant changes in the capacitance of the finished devices. For multicharged ions, these capacitive effects can be traced to defect production within the oxide and ultimately point to a role for charge-dependent energy loss. In particular, we attribute the stretchout of the capacitance-voltage curves of MOS devices that include an irradiated oxide to the ion irradiation. The stretchout shows a power law dependence on the multicharged ion charge state (Q) that is similar to that observed for multicharged ion energy loss in other systems.

  3. High Resolution Marine Magnetic Survey of Shallow Water Littoral Area

    PubMed Central

    Ginzburg, Boris; Cohen, Tsuriel Ram; Zafrir, Hovav; Alimi, Roger; Salomonski, Nizan; Sharvit, Jacob

    2007-01-01

    The purpose of this paper is to present a system developed for detection and accurate mapping of ferro-metallic objects buried below the seabed in shallow waters. The system comprises a precise magnetic gradiometer and navigation subsystem, both installed on a non-magnetic catamaran towed by a low-magnetic interfering boat. In addition we present the results of a marine survey of a near-shore area in the vicinity of Atlit, a town situated on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, about 15 km south of Haifa. The primary purpose of the survey was to search for a Harvard airplane that crashed into the sea in 1960. A magnetic map of the survey area (3.5 km2 on a 0.5 m grid) was created revealing the anomalies at sub-meter accuracy. For each investigated target location a corresponding ferro-metallic item was dug out, one of which turned to be very similar to a part of the crashed airplane. The accuracy of location was confirmed by matching the position of the actual dug artifacts with the magnetic map within a range of ± 1 m, in a water depth of 9 m. PMID:28903191

  4. Vertical distribution of heavy metals associated with the coarse and medium sand fraction in the forest soils of European Russia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Samonova, Olga; Aseyeva, Elena

    2015-04-01

    To accurately model metal behavior in soils, studies on possible geochemical changes occurring within a specific grain-size fraction during pedogenesis are needed. In the present study we analyze concentrations and vertical distributions of heavy metals associated with the coarse and medium sand fraction (1-0.25mm) for soils in the middle Protva basin, situated in the mixed forest zone of European Russia. Two soil types were analyzed: well-differentiated sod-podzolic soils (podzoluvisols) with AEBtC-profile, the major soil type in the study area occupying the interfluve's sub-horizontal surfaces and gentle slopes; and poorly differentiated soddy soils of subordinate positions: soddy soils, soddy gleyic soils and soddy soils with buried fluvial soil horizons. In total 27 samples, collected from 4 soil profiles, were analyzed for Fe, Ti, Mn, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Zn, Pb and Zr contents in the partitioned coarse and medium sand fraction. The median concentrations calculated are for Fe - 4%, for Mn - 760 ppm; for Ti - 980 ppm; for Zr - 130 ppm; for Zn - 30 ppm; and for Cu, Pb, Co, Cr, Ni - 67, 13, 11, 38, 33 ppm, respectively. The metal concentrations in total sample population vary differently, with the variation coefficients diminishing from Mn (171%) and Fe (112%) to Zr, Ni and Pb (53%). Comparing the chemical composition of coarse and medium sand fractions in the vertical sequence of horizons within a soil profile showed that in the sod-podzolic soil developed on mantle loam metals are enriched in the sand fraction of the upper A and AE horizons. The second but less distinct maximum levels for Cu, Ni, Fe, Cr, Mn and Co were found in the subsoil with gleyic features (Cg horizon). In soddy soils developed on diluvium on the steep section of the slope the studied sand fraction generally showed larger amounts of metals in A and AC horizons. In similar soils with gleyic features the concentrations of Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu are the highest in the uppermost horizon, while the levels of Mn, Pb, Ti, Zr are higher in the ACg horizon. In the genetically heterogeneous soil profile combining horizons typical for contemporary soddy soils and buried fluvial soils the metal concentrations depend on the genesis of the sand fraction, with higher concentrations found in the contemporary soil horizons and lower concentrations in the buried fluvial soils. Thus, our results imply that during soil formation, under the influence of soil and geochemical processes conditioned by a humid temperate climate, the composition of the sand fraction in relation to metal contents changes. In most cases the enrichment of the sand fraction with a wide spectrum of metals was found in upper soil horizons of the studied soil types where humus accumulation, active biogeochemical processes and sand grain weathering takes place. Periodic saturation of the soils with water might also have contributed to metal accumulation in the sand fraction through the formation of iron and manganese compounds which can serve as sinks for metals.

  5. Standardized UXO Technology Demonstration Site Moguls Scoring Record Number 912 (Sky Research, Inc.)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-09-01

    south from the northern end point. 8 2) A metallic pin-flag is placed over the midpoint. 3) The operator logs data along the same path...buried UXO or other metallic debris. A 5-meter-length of line is walked in eight cardinal directions (N-S, S-N, E-W, W-E, SE-NW, NW-SE, SW-NE, NE-SW...points have been rounded to protect the ground truth. The overall ground truth is composed of ferrous and nonferrous anomalies. Due to limitations

  6. Standardized UXO Technology Demonstration Site Moguls Scoring No. 903 (Sky Research, Inc.)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-08-01

    endpoint, and then returning south from the northern endpoint. 8 2) A metallic pin-flag is placed over the midpoint. 3) The operator logs data...point located away from buried UXO or other metallic debris. A 5-meter-length of line is walked in eight cardinal directions (N-S, S-N, E-W, W-E, SE-NW...systems or handheld detectors . The challenges include a gravel road, wet areas and trees. The vegetation height varies from 15 to 25 cm. Moguls A 1.30

  7. Lower San Fernando corrugated metal pipe failure

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

    Bardet, J.P.; Davis, C.A.

    1995-12-31

    During the January 17, 1994, Northridge earthquake, a 2.4 m diameter corrugated metal pipe was subjected to 90 m of extensive lateral crushing failure at the Lower San Fernando Dam. The dam and outlet works were reconstructed after the 1971 San Fernando Earthquake. In 1994, the dam underwent liquefaction upstream of the reconstructed berm. The pipe collapsed on the west side of the liquefied zone and a large sinkhole formed over the drain line. The failure of this drain line provides a unique opportunity to study the seismic response of buried drains and culverts.

  8. Fusion of Local Statistical Parameters for Buried Underwater Mine Detection in Sonar Imaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maussang, F.; Rombaut, M.; Chanussot, J.; Hétet, A.; Amate, M.

    2008-12-01

    Detection of buried underwater objects, and especially mines, is a current crucial strategic task. Images provided by sonar systems allowing to penetrate in the sea floor, such as the synthetic aperture sonars (SASs), are of great interest for the detection and classification of such objects. However, the signal-to-noise ratio is fairly low and advanced information processing is required for a correct and reliable detection of the echoes generated by the objects. The detection method proposed in this paper is based on a data-fusion architecture using the belief theory. The input data of this architecture are local statistical characteristics extracted from SAS data corresponding to the first-, second-, third-, and fourth-order statistical properties of the sonar images, respectively. The interest of these parameters is derived from a statistical model of the sonar data. Numerical criteria are also proposed to estimate the detection performances and to validate the method.

  9. Effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens on Buried Steel Pipeline Corrosion.

    PubMed

    Spark, Amy J; Law, David W; Ward, Liam P; Cole, Ivan S; Best, Adam S

    2017-08-01

    Buried steel infrastructure can be a source of iron ions for bacterial species, leading to microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). Localized corrosion of pipelines due to MIC is one of the key failure mechanisms of buried steel pipelines. In order to better understand the mechanisms of localized corrosion in soil, semisolid agar has been developed as an analogue for soil. Here, Pseudomonas fluorescens has been introduced to the system to understand how bacteria interact with steel. Through electrochemical testing including open circuit potentials, potentiodynamic scans, anodic potential holds, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy it has been shown that P. fluorescens increases the rate of corrosion. Time for oxide and biofilms to develop was shown to not impact on the rate of corrosion but did alter the consistency of biofilm present and the viability of P. fluorescens following electrochemical testing. The proposed mechanism for increased corrosion rates of carbon steel involves the interactions of pyoverdine with the steel, preventing the formation of a cohesive passive layer, after initial cell attachment, followed by the formation of a metal concentration gradient on the steel surface.

  10. Discrimination Report ESTCP Project #MM-0437

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

    Gasperikova, Erika

    2008-10-01

    The FY06 Defense Appropriation contains funding for the 'Development of Advanced, Sophisticated, and Discrimination Technologies for UXO Cleanup' in the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program. In 2003, the Defense Science Board observed: 'The...problem is that instruments that can detect the buried UXOs also detect numerous scrap metal objects and other artifacts, which leads to an enormous amount of expensive digging. Typically 100 holes may be dug before a real UXO is unearthed. The Task Force assessment is that much of this wasteful digging can be eliminated by the use of more advanced technology instruments that exploit modern digital processing andmore » advanced multi-mode sensors to achieve an improved level of discrimination of scrap from UXOs'. Significant progress has been made in discrimination technology. To date, testing of these approaches has been primarily limited to test sites with only limited application at live sites. Acceptance of discrimination technologies requires demonstration of system capabilities at UXO sites under real world conditions. FE Warren Air Force Base (AFB) in Cheyenne, WY is one such site. The demonstration objective was to determine the discrimination capabilities, cost and reliability of the Berkeley UXO Discriminator (BUD) in discrimination of UXO from scrap metal in real life conditions. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory performed a detection and discrimination survey of the Priority 1 area ({approx}5 acres) of the FE Warren AFB. The data included a system characterization with the emplaced calibration items and targets in the Geophysical Prove Out (GPO) area.« less

  11. Ferromagnetic Objects Magnetovision Detection System.

    PubMed

    Nowicki, Michał; Szewczyk, Roman

    2013-12-02

    This paper presents the application of a weak magnetic fields magnetovision scanning system for detection of dangerous ferromagnetic objects. A measurement system was developed and built to study the magnetic field vector distributions. The measurements of the Earth's field distortions caused by various ferromagnetic objects were carried out. The ability for passive detection of hidden or buried dangerous objects and the determination of their location was demonstrated.

  12. Back to basics: A methodological perspective on marble-burying behavior as a screening test for psychiatric illness.

    PubMed

    de Brouwer, Geoffrey; Wolmarans, De Wet

    2018-04-22

    Animal models of human psychiatric illness are valuable frameworks to investigate the etiology and neurobiology underlying the human conditions. Accurate behavioral measures that can be used to characterize animal behavior, thereby contributing to a model's validity, are crucial. One such measure, i.e. the rodent marble-burying test (MBT), is often applied as a measure of anxiety- and compulsive-like behaviors. However, the test is characterized by noteworthy between-laboratory methodological differences and demonstrates positive treatment responses to an array of pharmacotherapies that are often of little translational value. Therefore, using a naturalistic animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder, i.e. the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii), the current investigation attempted to illuminate the discrepancies reported in literature by means of a methodological approach to the MBT. Five key aspects of the test that vary between laboratories, viz. observer/scoring, burying substrate, optional avoidance, the use of repeated testing, and determinations of locomotor activity, have been investigated. Following repeated MB tests in four different burying substrates and in two zone configurations, we have demonstrated that 1) observer bias may contribute to the significant differences in findings reported, 2) MB seems to be a natural exploratory response to a novel environment, rather than being triggered by aberrant cognition, 3) burying substrates with a small particle size and higher density deliver the most accurate results with respect to the burying phenotype, and 4) to exclude the influence of normal exploratory behavior on the number of marbles being covered, assessments of marble-burying should be based on pre-occupation with the objects itself. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. System and Method for Fabricating Super Conducting Circuitry on Both Sides of an Ultra-Thin Layer

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Brown, Ari D. (Inventor); Mikula, Vilem (Inventor)

    2017-01-01

    A method of fabricating circuitry in a wafer includes depositing a superconducting metal on a silicon on insulator wafer having a handle wafer, coating the wafer with a sacrificial layer and bonding the wafer to a thermally oxide silicon wafer with a first epoxy. The method includes flipping the wafer, thinning the flipped wafer by removing a handle wafer, etching a buried oxide layer, depositing a superconducting layer, bonding the wafer to a thermally oxidized silicon wafer having a handle wafer using an epoxy, flipping the wafer again, thinning the flipped wafer, etching a buried oxide layer from the wafer and etching the sacrificial layer from the wafer. The result is a wafer having superconductive circuitry on both sides of an ultra-thin silicon layer.

  14. A novel SOI LDMOS with substrate field plate and variable-k dielectric buried layer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Qi; Wen, Yi; Zhang, Fabi; Li, Haiou; Xiao, Gongli; Chen, Yonghe; Fu, Tao

    2018-09-01

    A novel silicon-on-insulator (SOI) lateral double-diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) structure has been proposed. The new structure features a substrate field plate (SFP) and a variable-k dielectric buried layer (VKBL). The SFP and VKBL improve the breakdown voltage by introducing new electric field peaks in the surface electric field distribution. Moreover, the SFP reduces the specific ON-resistance through an enhanced auxiliary depletion effect on the drift region. The simulation results indicate that compared to the conventional SOI LDMOS structure, the breakdown voltage is improved from 118 V to 221 V, the specific ON-resistance is decreased from 7.15 mΩ·cm2 to 3.81 mΩ·cm2, the peak value of surface temperature is declined by 38 K.

  15. Non-destructive spatial characterization of buried interfaces in multilayer stacks via two color picosecond acoustics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Faria, Jorge C. D.; Garnier, Philippe; Devos, Arnaud

    2017-12-01

    We demonstrate the ability to construct wide-area spatial mappings of buried interfaces in thin film stacks in a non-destructive manner using two color picosecond acoustics. Along with the extraction of layer thicknesses and sound velocities from acoustic signals, the morphological information presented is a powerful demonstration of phonon imaging as a metrological tool. For a series of heterogeneous (polymer, metal, and semiconductor) thin film stacks that have been treated with a chemical procedure known to alter layer properties, the spatial mappings reveal changes to interior thicknesses and chemically modified surface features without the need to remove uppermost layers. These results compare well to atomic force microscopy scans showing that the technique provides a significant advantage to current characterization methods for industrially important device stacks.

  16. Very-high-resolution seismic and magnetic investigations of a chemical munition dumpsite in the Baltic Sea

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Missiaen, Tine; Feller, Pascal

    2008-09-01

    Very-high-resolution (VHR) seismic and magnetic investigations were carried out over a chemical munition dumpsite in the Bornholm Basin, south-western Baltic Sea. The main goal of the investigations was to image the shallow internal structure of the dumpsite and to map the lateral and vertical distribution of the dumped war material. The shallow geology was imaged in great detail on the seismic data. Seven seismic-stratigraphic units were identified, related to different stages in the Holocene and late-glacial history. A large number of diapir-like features were observed that most likely represent fluid expulsion phenomena. Four shipwrecks were identified in the dumpsite area. The wrecks have partly sunk into the soft upper sediments, their height above the sea floor reaching no more than 2 m. Seismic and magnetic data indicate the presence of a large number of buried objects. In most cases there is a good correlation between the seismic and magnetic data sets. The objects are generally buried no deeper than 1 to 2 m. Their size varies between 1.5 and 5 m, occasionally up to 10 m. Shallow pits in the sea bed are likely due to the impact of dumping. The data confirm the wide variety of dumped war material ranging from bombs and shells to encasements and containers. The distribution of the buried objects seems rather heterogeneous, with locally high object concentrations surrounded by areas of lower object density. The results of this case study demonstrate the benefit of complementary, concurrent geophysical investigations for munition dumpsite research. Finally this will yield a better assessment of the current status of the dumpsite and the possible ecological risks related to the dumped war material.

  17. Electrogeochemical sampling with NEOCHIM - results of tests over buried gold deposits

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Leinz, R.W.; Hoover, D.B.; Fey, D.L.; Smith, D.B.; Patterson, T.

    1998-01-01

    Electrogeochemical extraction methods are based on the migration of ions in an electric field. Ions present in soil moisture are transported by an applied current into fluids contained in special electrodes placed on the soil. The fluids are then collected and analyzed. Extractions are governed by Faraday's and Ohm's laws and are modeled by the operation of a simple Hittord transference apparatus. Calculations show that the volume of soil sampled in an ideal electrogeochemical extraction can be orders of magnitude greater than the volumes used in more popular geochemical extraction methods, although this has not been verified experimentally. CHIM is a method of in-situ electrogeochemical extraction that was developed in the former Soviet Union and has been tested and applied internationally to exploration for buried mineral deposits. Tests carried out at the US Geological Survey (USGS) indicated that there were problems inherent in the use of CHIM technology. The cause of the problems was determined to be the diffusion of acid from the conventional electrode into the soil. The NEOCHIM electrode incorporates two compartments and a salt bridge in a design that inhibits diffusion of acid and enables the collection of anions or cations. Tests over a gold-enriched vein in Colorado and over buried, Carlin-type, disseminated gold deposits in northern Nevada show that there are similarities and differences between NEOCHIM results and those by partial extractions of soils which include simple extractions with water, dilute acids and solutions of salts used as collector fluids in the electrodes. Results of both differ from the results obtained by total chemical digestion. The results indicate that NEOCHIM responds to mineralized faults associated with disseminated gold deposits whereas partial and total chemical extraction methods do not. This suggests that faults are favored channels for the upward migration of metals and that NEOCHIM may be more effective in exploration for the deposits. It defines anomalies that are often narrow and intense, an observation previously made by CHIM researchers. The field tests show that NEOCHIM is less affected by surface contamination. A test over the Mike disseminated gold deposit indicates that the method may not be effective for locating deposits with impermeable cover. Faradaic extraction efficiencies of 20-30%, or more, are frequently achieved with NEOCHIM and the method generally shows good reproducibility, especially in extraction of major cations. However, ions of other metals that are useful in exploration, including Au and As, may be collected in low and temporally variable concentrations. The reason for this variability is unclear and requires further investigation.CHIM is a method of in-situ electrogeochemical extraction developed for the exploration of buried mineral deposits. However, electrode problems like diffusion of acid into the soil were encountered during the use of CHIM. The NEOCHIM electrode was developed to inhibit the diffusion of acid and enable collection of anions or cations. Tests over buried gold deposits showed that NEOCHIM responds to mineralized faults associated with disseminated gold deposits whereas partial and total chemical extraction methods do not. This suggests that faults are favored channels for the upward migration of metals and NEOCHIM may be effective in exploration for the deposits. But ions of metals may be collected in low and variable concentration.

  18. 47 CFR 15.503 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... the images of buried objects or determining the physical properties within the ground. The energy from... dense enough to absorb the transmitted signal. (j) Surveillance system. A field disturbance sensor used...

  19. 47 CFR 15.503 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... the images of buried objects or determining the physical properties within the ground. The energy from... dense enough to absorb the transmitted signal. (j) Surveillance system. A field disturbance sensor used...

  20. 47 CFR 15.503 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... the images of buried objects or determining the physical properties within the ground. The energy from... dense enough to absorb the transmitted signal. (j) Surveillance system. A field disturbance sensor used...

  1. 47 CFR 15.503 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... the images of buried objects or determining the physical properties within the ground. The energy from... dense enough to absorb the transmitted signal. (j) Surveillance system. A field disturbance sensor used...

  2. 47 CFR 15.503 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... the images of buried objects or determining the physical properties within the ground. The energy from... dense enough to absorb the transmitted signal. (j) Surveillance system. A field disturbance sensor used...

  3. The Mars Express - NASA Project at JPL

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Thompson, Thomas W.; Horttor, Richard L.; Acton, C. H., Jr.; Zamani, P.; Johnson, W. T. K.; Plaut, J. J.; Holmes, D. P.; No, S.; Asmar, S. W.; Goltz, G.

    2006-01-01

    This viewgraph presentation gives a general overview of the Mars Express NASA Project at JPL. The contents include: 1) Mars Express/NASA Project Overview; 2) Experiment-Investigator Matrix; 3) Mars Express Support of NASA's Mars Exploration Objectives; 4) U.S./NASA Support of Mars Express; 5) Mars Express Schedule (2003-2007); 6) Mars Express Data Rates; 7) MARSIS Overview Results; 8) MARSIS with Antennas Deployed; 9) MARSIS Science Objectives; 10) Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) Experiment Overview; 11) Mars Express Orbit Evolution; 12) MARSIS Science - Subsurface Sounding; 13) MARSIS-North Polar Ice Cap; 14) MARSIS Data-Buried Basin; 15) MARSIS over a Crater Basin; 16) MARSIS-Buried Basin; 17) Ionogram - Orbit 2032 (example from Science paper); 18) Ionogram-Orbit 2018 (example from Science paper); and 19) Recent MARSIS Results ESA Press Releases.

  4. Long-term adequacy of metal resources

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Singer, D.A.

    1977-01-01

    Although the earth's crust contains vast quantities of metals, extraction technologies and associated costs are inextricably bound to three fundamental geological factors - the amount of metal available in the earth's crust in each range of grades, the mineralogical form and chemical state of the metal, and the spatial distribution of the metal. The energy required to recover a given amount of metal increases substantially as grade declines. Most metal is produced from sulphide or oxide minerals, whereas most metal in the crust may be locked in the structures of the more refractory silicates. Recovery from silicate minerals could require orders of magnitude more energy than that used at present as also could exploitation of small, widely scattered or thin, deeply buried deposits. Although specific information on the fundamental factors is not available, each factor must in turn tend to further restrict exploitation. Independence of average grade and tonnage for many deposit types further reduces the availability of rock as a source of metal. In the long term, effects of these factors will be large increases in price for many metals. ?? 1977.

  5. The influence of buried nodules on the mobility of metals in deep sea sediments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Heller, Christina; Kuhn, Thomas

    2017-04-01

    Hydrothermal fluids can extract significant amounts of heat from oceanic lithosphere by lateral fluid flow through permeable basaltic crust of an age of up to 65 Ma. Fluid recharge and discharge occur at basement outcrops in between impermeable pelagic deep sea sediments. Recharge of oxic seawater causes upward oxygen diffusion into sediments overlying the permeable basalt in areas proximal to recharge sites. It is suggested that this oxygen has a strong impact on sediments and Mn-nodules during fluid exposure time. The aim of this study is to investigate if/how fluid flow through oceanic crust influence the distribution and element budget of Mn-nodules. Nodules occur widespread at the seafloor of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) in the equatorial North Pacific and were analyzed in many studies worldwide. Nodules buried in the deep sea sediments could be found only rarely (von Stackelberg, 1997, Geol. Soc. Spec. Publ., 119: 153-176). High resolution side-scan sonar recordings (unpublished Data BGR Hannover) indicate that there exist a coherent layer of nodules buried in the sediments of the working area. During the expedition SO 240/FLUM nodules were found on the sediment surface in 4200 to 4300 m water depth as well as in the sediment down to 985 cm below seafloor. In general, nodules consist of different nm- to µm-thick, dense and porous layers. The geochemical composition of bulk nodules and single nodule layers were determined by XRF, ICP-MS/OES, XRD and by high resolution analyses with electron microprobe and LA-ICP-MS. Dense layers have low Mn/Fe ratios (<4) and high concentrations of Co, Zr and REY, while porous layers are characterized by high Mn/Fe ratios (> 10) and high Ni+Cu and Li concentrations. The different compositions depend on different formation processes of the layers. They were formed by metal precipitation from oxic (hydrogenetic) and suboxic (diagenetic) bottom-near seawater and/or pore water (Wegorzewski and Kuhn, 2014, Mar. Geol. 357, 123-138). Preliminary results show that there are significant differences between the geochemical composition of nodules grown at sediment surface and those found within sediments. Compared to surface nodules, buried nodules are enriched in Co and W, but have lower concentration of Mo, Ba, Zn and Li. The distribution of Rare Earth Elements and Y(REY) is also different. Furthermore, the locations of the buried manganese nodules correlates with increased contents of Mn, Co and other elements in the suboxic pore water. It seems that the hydrogenetic layers of the buried nodules were dissolved and/ or recrystallized due to diagenetic processes in the sediment. As a result, a new Fe-rich layer type was formed, with Mn being released into the pore water and/or being used to form todorokite in the nodules. The mineralogical analyses of surface and buried nodules support this assumption. Until now, it couldńt be proven that the hydrothermal fluid flow in the basalts underneath the sediments has an influence on the nodule geochemistry.

  6. Micromorphological aspects of forensic geopedology: time-dependent markers of decomposition and permanence in soil in experimental burials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zangarini, Sara; Cattaneo, Cristina; Trombino, Luca

    2014-05-01

    The importance of the role played by soil scientists grows up in the modern forensic sciences, in particular when buried human remains strongly decomposed or skeletonized are found in different environment situations. An interdisciplinary team, formed by earth and legal medicine researchers from the University of Milan is working on several sets of experimental burial of pigs in different soil types and for different times of burial, in order to get new evidences on environmental responses to the burial, focusing specifically on geopedological and micropedological aspects. The present work is aimed at the micromorphological (petrographic microscope) and ultramicroscopic (SEM) cross characterization of bone tissue in buried remains, in order to describe bone alteration pathways due both to decomposition and to permanence in soil. These methods allow identifying in the tissues of analysed bones: - Unusual concentrations of metal oxides (i.e. Fe, Mn), in the form of violet-blue colorations (in XPL), which seem to be related to chemical conditions in the burial area; their presence could be a method to discriminate permanence in soil rather than a different environment of decomposition. - Magnesium phosphate (i.e. Mg3(PO4)2 ) crystallizations, usually noticed in bones buried from 7 to 103 weeks; their presence seems to be related to the decomposition both of the bones themselves and of soft tissues. - The presence of significant sulphur levels (i.e. SO3) in bones buried for over 7 weeks, which seem to be related to the transport and fixation of soft tissues decomposition fluids. These results point out that micromorphological techniques coupled with spatially resolved chemical analyses allow identifying both indicators of the permanence of the remains into the soil (i.e. metal oxides concentrations) and time-dependent markers of decomposition (i.e. significant sulphur levels and magnesium phosphate) in order to determine PMI (post-mortem-interval) and TSB (time-since-burial). Further studies and new experiments are in progress in order to better clarify the bone alteration pathways on different skeletal districts and in different kind of soils.

  7. Buried Object Classification using a Sediment Volume Imaging SAS and Electromagnetic Gradiometer

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-09-01

    field data with simulated RTG data using AST’s in-house magnetic modeling tool EMAGINE . Given a set of input dipole moments, or pa- rameters to...approximate a moment by assuming the object is a prolate ellipsoid shell, EMAGINE uses Green’s func- tion formulations to generate three-component

  8. The Instructional Quality Inventory. I. Introduction and Overview

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1978-11-01

    level objectives, "hands-on" performance tests are usually most appropriate. T IS PAQ IS BEST QUA After a test item is consistent with its objective, the...idea. When the statement is separated, the key points stand out, and are not buried in the presentation. There are several ways to accomplish this goal

  9. Dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical water oxidation through a buried junction.

    PubMed

    Xu, Pengtao; Huang, Tian; Huang, Jianbin; Yan, Yun; Mallouk, Thomas E

    2018-06-18

    Water oxidation has long been a challenge in artificial photosynthetic devices that convert solar energy into fuels. Water-splitting dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (WS-DSPECs) provide a modular approach for integrating light-harvesting molecules with water-oxidation catalysts on metal-oxide electrodes. Despite recent progress in improving the efficiency of these devices by introducing good molecular water-oxidation catalysts, WS-DSPECs have poor stability, owing to the oxidation of molecular components at very positive electrode potentials. Here we demonstrate that a solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell (ss-DSSC) can be used as a buried junction for stable photoelectrochemical water splitting. A thin protecting layer of TiO 2 grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) stabilizes the operation of the photoanode in aqueous solution, although as a solar cell there is a performance loss due to increased series resistance after the coating. With an electrodeposited iridium oxide layer, a photocurrent density of 1.43 mA cm -2 was observed in 0.1 M pH 6.7 phosphate solution at 1.23 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, with good stability over 1 h. We measured an incident photon-to-current efficiency of 22% at 540 nm and a Faradaic efficiency of 43% for oxygen evolution. While the potential profile of the catalyst layer suggested otherwise, we confirmed the formation of a buried junction in the as-prepared photoelectrode. The buried junction design of ss-DSSs adds to our understanding of semiconductor-electrocatalyst junction behaviors in the presence of a poor semiconducting material.

  10. Probing the electronic and spintronic properties of buried interfaces by extremely low energy photoemission spectroscopy

    PubMed Central

    Fetzer, Roman; Stadtmüller, Benjamin; Ohdaira, Yusuke; Naganuma, Hiroshi; Oogane, Mikihiko; Ando, Yasuo; Taira, Tomoyuki; Uemura, Tetsuya; Yamamoto, Masafumi; Aeschlimann, Martin; Cinchetti, Mirko

    2015-01-01

    Ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) is a powerful tool to study the electronic spin and symmetry features at both surfaces and interfaces to ultrathin top layers. However, the very low mean free path of the photoelectrons usually prevents a direct access to the properties of buried interfaces. The latter are of particular interest since they crucially influence the performance of spintronic devices like magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). Here, we introduce spin-resolved extremely low energy photoemission spectroscopy (ELEPS) to provide a powerful way for overcoming this limitation. We apply ELEPS to the interface formed between the half-metallic Heusler compound Co2MnSi and the insulator MgO, prepared as in state-of-the-art Co2MnSi/MgO-based MTJs. The high accordance between the spintronic fingerprint of the free Co2MnSi surface and the Co2MnSi/MgO interface buried below up to 4 nm MgO provides clear evidence for the high interface sensitivity of ELEPS to buried interfaces. Although the absolute values of the interface spin polarization are well below 100%, the now accessible spin- and symmetry-resolved wave functions are in line with the predicted existence of non-collinear spin moments at the Co2MnSi/MgO interface, one of the mechanisms evoked to explain the controversially discussed performance loss of Heusler-based MTJs at room temperature. PMID:25702631

  11. Simple Anchoring of the Penopubic Skin to the Prepubic Deep Fascia in Surgical Correction of Buried Penis

    PubMed Central

    Jung, Eun-hong; Jang, Seok-heun; Lee, Jae-won

    2011-01-01

    Purpose The aim of this study was to categorize concealed penis and buried penis by preoperative physical examination including the manual prepubic compression test and to describe a simple surgical technique to correct buried penis that was based on surgical experience and comprehension of the anatomical components. Materials and Methods From March 2007 to November 2010, 17 patients were diagnosed with buried penis after differentiation of this condition from concealed penis. The described surgical technique consisted of a minimal incision and simple fixation of the penile shaft skin and superficial fascia to the prepubic deep fascia, without degloving the penile skin. Results The mean age of the patients was 10.2 years, ranging from 8 years to 15 years. The median follow-up was 19 months (range, 5 to 49 months). The mean penile lengths were 1.8 cm (range, 1.1 to 2.5 cm) preoperatively and 4.5 cm (range, 3.3 to 5.8 cm) postoperatively. The median difference between preoperative and postoperative penile lengths was 2.7 cm (range, 2.1 to 3.9 cm). There were no serious intra- or postoperative complications. Conclusions With the simple anchoring of the penopubic skin to the prepubic deep fascia, we obtained successful subjective and objective outcomes without complications. We suggest that this is a promising surgical method for selected patients with buried penis. PMID:22195270

  12. Archaeology and public perception of a trans-scientific problem; disposal of toxic wastes in the unsaturated zone

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Winograd, Isaac Judah

    1986-01-01

    Predicting the effects of toxic-waste disposal on the environment over periods of millenia to hundreds of millenia is a transscientific problem; that is, one not fully addressed by quantitative scientific and engineering endeavors. Archaeology is a pertinent adjunct to such predictions in several ways. First, and foremost, archaeological records demonstrate that delicate, as well as durable, objects buried in thick unsaturated zones of arid and semiarid environments may survive intact for millenia to tens of millenia. This successful preservation of Late Paleolithic to Iron Age artifacts provides independent support for the tentative favorable conclusions of earth scientists regarding the general utility of thick unsaturated zones for toxic-waste isolation. By analogy with the archaeological record, solidified toxic wastes of low solubility that are buried in arid unsaturated zones should remain isolated from the environment indefinitely; modern man presumably should be able to improve upon the techniques used by his ancestors to isolate and preserve their sacred and utilitarian objects. Second, archaeological evidence pertinent to the fate of objects buried in unsaturated zones-although qualitative in nature and subject to the limitations of arguments by analogy-is meaningful to the public and to the courts who, with some scientists and engineers, are reluctant to rely exclusively on computer-generated predictions of the effects of buried toxic wastes on the environment. Third, the archaeological record issues a warning that our descendants may intrude into our waste disposal sites and that we must therefore take special measures to minimize such entry and, if it occurs, to warn of the dangers by a variety of symbols. And fourth, archaeology provides a record of durable natural and manmade materials that may prove to be suitable for encapsulation of our wastes and from which we can construct warning markers that will last for millenia. For these four reasons, archaeologists must join with earth scientists, and other scientists and engineers, in addressing the likely fate of solidfied toxic wastes buried in the thick (200-600 m) unsaturated zones of arid and semiarid regions. Indeed, the input of archaeology might be crucial to public acceptance of even the most carefully chosen and technically sound waste repository.

  13. A novel design of the high-precision magnetic locator with three-dimension measurement capability applying dynamically sensing mechanism

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, Wen-Nan; Chen, Po-Shen; Chen, Mu-Ping; Teng, Ching-Cheng

    2006-09-01

    A novel design of the magnetic locator, for obtaining the high-precision measurement information of variety of the buried metal pipes, is presented in this paper. The concept of dynamically sensing mechanism, including the vibrating and moving devices, proposed herein is a simple and effective way to improve the precision of three-dimension location sensing for the underground utilities. Based on the primary magnetism of Lenz's law and Faraday's law, the functions of the amplifying effect for the sensing magnetic signals, as well as the distinguishing effect by the simple filtering algorithms embedded in processing programs, are achieved while the relatively strong noise exists. The verification results of these integration designs demonstrate the effectiveness both by precise locating for the buried utility, and accurate measurement for the depth.

  14. Charge-coupled device image sensor study

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1973-01-01

    The design specifications and predicted performance characteristics of a Charge-Coupled Device Area Imager and a Charge-Coupled Device Linear Imager are presented. The Imagers recommended are intended for use in space-borne imaging systems and therefore would meet the requirements for the intended application. A unique overlapping metal electrode structure and a buried channel structure are described. Reasons for the particular imager designs are discussed.

  15. Sensing resonant objects in the presence of noise and clutter using iterative, single-channel acoustic time reversal

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Waters, Zachary John

    The presence of noise and coherent returns from clutter often confounds efforts to acoustically detect and identify target objects buried in inhomogeneous media. Using iterative time reversal with a single channel transducer, returns from resonant targets are enhanced, yielding convergence to a narrowband waveform characteristic of the dominant mode in a target's elastic scattering response. The procedure consists of exciting the target with a broadband acoustic pulse, sampling the return using a finite time window, reversing the signal in time, and using this reversed signal as the source waveform for the next interrogation. Scaled laboratory experiments (0.4-2 MHz) are performed employing a piston transducer and spherical targets suspended in the free field and buried in a sediment phantom. In conjunction with numerical simulations, these experiments provide an inexpensive and highly controlled means with which to examine the efficacy of the technique. Signal-to-noise enhancement of target echoes is demonstrated. The methodology reported provides a means to extract both time and frequency information for surface waves that propagate on an elastic target. Methods developed in the laboratory are then applied in medium scale (20-200 kHz) pond experiments for the detection of a steel shell buried in sandy sediment.

  16. LLNL electro-optical mine detection program

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

    Anderson, C.; Aimonetti, W.; Barth, M.

    1994-09-30

    Under funding from the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) and the US Marine Corps (USMC), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has directed a program aimed at improving detection capabilities against buried mines and munitions. The program has provided a national test facility for buried mines in arid environments, compiled and distributed an extensive data base of infrared (IR), ground penetrating radar (GPR), and other measurements made at that site, served as a host for other organizations wishing to make measurements, made considerable progress in the use of ground penetrating radar for mine detection, and worked on the difficult problem ofmore » sensor fusion as applied to buried mine detection. While the majority of our effort has been concentrated on the buried mine problem, LLNL has worked with the U.S.M.C. on surface mine problems as well, providing data and analysis to support the COBRA (Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis) program. The original aim of the experimental aspect of the program was the utilization of multiband infrared approaches for the detection of buried mines. Later the work was extended to a multisensor investigation, including sensors other than infrared imagers. After an early series of measurements, it was determined that further progress would require a larger test facility in a natural environment, so the Buried Object Test Facility (BOTF) was constructed at the Nevada Test Site. After extensive testing, with sensors spanning the electromagnetic spectrum from the near ultraviolet to radio frequencies, possible paths for improvement were: improved spatial resolution providing better ground texture discrimination; analysis which involves more complicated spatial queueing and filtering; additional IR bands using imaging spectroscopy; the use of additional sensors other than IR and the use of data fusion techniques with multi-sensor data; and utilizing time dependent observables like temperature.« less

  17. Dyadic contrast function and quadratic forward model for radio frequency tomography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Picco, Vittorio

    Radio Frequency Tomography is an underground imaging technology that aims to reconstruct extended, deeply buried objects such as tunnels or Underground Facilities (UGF). A network of sensors collects scattered electromagnetic field samples, which are processed to obtain 2D or 3D images of the complex dielectric permittivity profile of the volume under investigation. Unlike systems such as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) or Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) which normally employ wide-band pulses, RF Tomography uses Continuous Wave (CW) signals to illuminate the scene. The information about the target is not retrieved by relying on bandwidth but by exploiting spatial, frequency and/or polarization diversity. Interestingly, RF Tomography can be readily adapted to obtain images of targets in free space. In this context, in the Andrew Electromagnetics Laboratory of the University of Illinois at Chicago, a measurement system aimed to validate experimentally the performance of RF Tomography has been designed and built. Experimental data have been used to validate its forward model, different inversion algorithms, its performance in terms of resolution and the ability of the system to distinguish between metallic and non-metallic targets. In the specific case of imaging of metallic targets, this thesis proposes to extend the capabilities of RF Tomography by introducing a dyadic permittivity contrast. Electromagnetic scattering from a thin, wire-like object placed in free space with its main axis at an angle with respect to the incident electric field is studied. It is possible to show that for this configuration a fundamental difference exists between a metallic and a dielectric object. This phenomenon can be modeled into Maxwell's equations by using a dyadic permittivity contrast, as it is commonly done when studying crystals. As a result a new formulation of the RF Tomography forward model is obtained, based on a dyadic contrast function. Reconstruction of this dyad allows to estimate not only the location and shape, but also the spatial orientation of the target. In addition, this dissertation proposes an alternative modification of the forward model which removes some limitations caused by the Born approximation. Traditionally, the Born approximation is used to linearize the inherently non-linear forward model. This approximation is valid if the scatterer is small and does not interact strongly with other objects. A quadratic forward model represents a more correct formulation of the scattering phenomenon, and it allows to attempt quantitative reconstruction. Numerical results are presented to highlight the advantages that such a formulation provides over the Born approximation.

  18. Buried particulate organic carbon stimulates denitrification and nitrate retention in stream sediments at the groundwater-surface water interface

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Stelzer, Robert S.; Scott, J. Thad; Bartsch, Lynn

    2015-01-01

    The interface between ground water and surface water in streams is a hotspot for N processing. However, the role of buried organic C in N transformation at this interface is not well understood, and inferences have been based largely on descriptive studies. Our main objective was to determine how buried particulate organic C (POC) affected denitrification and NO3− retention in the sediments of an upwelling reach in a sand-plains stream in Wisconsin. We manipulated POC in mesocosms inserted in the sediments. Treatments included low and high quantities of conditioned red maple leaves (buried beneath combusted sand), ambient sediment (sand containing background levels of POC), and a control (combusted sand). We measured denitrification rates in sediments by acetylene-block assays in the laboratory and by changes in N2 concentrations in the field using membrane inlet mass spectrometry. We measured NO3−, NH4+, and dissolved organic N (DON) retention as changes in concentrations and fluxes along groundwater flow paths in the mesocosms. POC addition drove oxic ground water to severe hypoxia, led to large increases in dissolved organic C (DOC), and strongly increased denitrification rates and N (NO3− and total dissolved N) retention relative to the control. In situ denitrification accounted for 30 to 60% of NO3− retention. Our results suggest that buried POC stimulated denitrification and NO3− retention by producing DOC and by creating favorable redox conditions for denitrification.

  19. Monolithic echo-less photoconductive switches as a high-resolution detector for terahertz time-domain spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maussang, K.; Palomo, J.; Manceau, J.-M.; Colombelli, R.; Sagnes, I.; Li, L. H.; Linfield, E. H.; Davies, A. G.; Mangeney, J.; Tignon, J.; Dhillon, S. S.

    2017-04-01

    Interdigitated photoconductive (iPC) switches are powerful and convenient devices for time-resolved spectroscopy, with the ability to operate both as sources and detectors of terahertz (THz) frequency pulses. However, reflection of the emitted or detected radiation within the device substrate itself can lead to echoes that inherently limit the spectroscopic resolution achievable for their use in time-domain spectroscopy (TDS) systems. In this work, we demonstrate a design of low-temperature-grown-GaAs (LT-GaAs) iPC switches for THz pulse detection that suppresses such unwanted echoes. This is realized through the growth of a buried multilayer LT-GaAs structure that retains its ultrafast properties, which, after wafer bonding to a metal-coated host substrate, results in an iPC switch with a metal plane buried at a subwavelength depth below the LT-GaAs surface. Using this device as a detector, and coupling it to an echo-less iPC source, enables echo-free THz-TDS and high-resolution spectroscopy, with a resolution limited only by the temporal length of the measurement governed by the mechanical delay line used. As a proof-of-principle, the 212-221 and the 101-212 rotational lines of water vapor have been spectrally resolved, demonstrating a spectral resolution below 10 GHz.

  20. Addendum to `numerical modeling of an enhanced very early time electromagnetic (VETEM) prototype system'

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Cui, T.J.; Chew, W.C.; Aydiner, A.A.; Wright, D.L.; Smith, D.V.; Abraham, J.D.

    2000-01-01

    Two numerical models to simulate an enhanced very early time electromagnetic (VETEM) prototype system that is used for buried-object detection and environmental problems are presented. In the first model, the transmitting and receiving loop antennas accurately analyzed using the method of moments (MoM), and then conjugate gradient (CG) methods with the fast Fourier transform (FFT) are utilized to investigate the scattering from buried conducting plates. In the second model, two magnetic dipoles are used to replace the transmitter and receiver. Both the theory and formulation are correct and the simulation results for the primary magnetic field and the reflected magnetic field are accurate.

  1. Digital Mapping of Buried Pipelines with a Dual Array System

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2003-06-06

    The objective of this research is to develop a non-invasive system for detecting, mapping, and inspecting ferrous and plastic pipelines in place using technology that combines and interprets measurements from ground penetrating radar and electromagne...

  2. Design of Low-Noise Output Amplifiers for P-channel Charge-Coupled Devices Fabricated on High-Resistivity Silicon

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

    Haque, S; Frost, F Dion R.; Groulx, R

    2011-12-22

    We describe the design and optimization of low-noise, single-stage output amplifiers for p-channel charge-coupled devices (CCDs) used for scientific applications in astronomy and other fields. The CCDs are fabricated on high-resistivity, 4000–5000 -cm, n-type silicon substrates. Single-stage amplifiers with different output structure designs and technologies have been characterized. The standard output amplifier is designed with an n{sup +} polysilicon gate that has a metal connection to the sense node. In an effort to lower the output amplifier readout noise by minimizing the capacitance seen at the sense node, buried-contact technology has been investigated. In this case, the output transistor hasmore » a p{sup +} polysilicon gate that connects directly to the p{sup +} sense node. Output structures with buried-contact areas as small as 2 μm × 2 μm are characterized. In addition, the geometry of the source-follower transistor was varied, and we report test results on the conversion gain and noise of the various amplifier structures. By use of buried-contact technology, better amplifier geometry, optimization of the amplifier biases and improvements in the test electronics design, we obtain a 45% reduction in noise, corresponding to 1.7 e{sup -} rms at 70 kpixels/sec.« less

  3. Health assessment for Cemetery Industrial Waste Dump, Rose Township, Michigan, Region 5. CERCLIS No. MID980794663. Preliminary report

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

    Not Available

    1988-06-24

    The Cemetery Industrial Waste Dump National Priorities List Site is located in Rose Township, Oakland County, Michigan. Contamination at the site consists of an unknown quantity of buried drums which, when sampled, indicated the presence of metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and halogenated organic compounds. The site is approximately 2-4 acres. In the late 1960s 300 to 600 drums, which contained unknown industrial waste, were illegally buried at the site. Sampling of the drums on-site indicated the presence of several contaminants including: benzene, chlorobenzene, PCBs, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and others. Lead was detected in one monitoring well at 96 micro g/Lmore » and one residential well at a concentration of 61 micro g/L, both are above the Maximum Contaminant Level of 50 micro g/L. Arsenic was detected in the soil at a concentration of 12 mg/Kg. The site is of potential public health concern because of the risk to human health that could result from possible exposure to hazardous substances at levels that may result in adverse health effects. Potential human exposure pathways include direct dermal contact with the soil, the buried drums, and/or ground water; and ingestion of ground water.« less

  4. Importance of microscopy in durability studies of solidified and stabilized contaminated soils

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Klich, I.; Wilding, L.P.; Drees, L.R.; Landa, E.R.

    1999-01-01

    Solidification/stabilization (S/S) is recognized by the U.S. EPA as a best demonstrated available technology for the containment of contaminated soils and other hazardous wastes that cannot be destroyed by chemical, thermal, or biological means. Despite the increased use of S/S technologies, little research has been conducted on the weathering and degradation of solidified and stabilized wastes once the treated materials have been buried. Published data to verify the performance and durability of landfilled treated wastes over time are rare. In this preliminary study, optical and electron microscopy (scanning electron microscopy [SEM], transmission electron microscopy [TEM] and electron probe microanalyses [EPMA]) were used to evaluate weathering features associated with metal-bearing contaminated soil that had been solidified and stabilized with Portland cement and subsequently buried on site, stored outdoors aboveground, or achieved in a laboratory warehouse for up to 6 yr. Physical and chemical alteration processes identified include: freeze-thaw cracking, cracking caused by the formation of expansive minerals such as ettringite, carbonation, and the movement of metals from waste aggregates into the cement micromass. Although the extent of degradation after 6 yr is considered slight to moderate, results of this study show that the same environmental concerns that affect the durability of concrete must be considered when evaluating the durability and permanence of the solidification and stabilization of contaminated soils with cement. In addition, such evaluations cannot be based on leaching and chemical analyses alone. The use of all levels of microscopic analyses must be incorporated into studies of the long-term performance of S/S technologies.Solidification/stabilization (S/S) is recognized by the U.S. EPA as a best demonstrated available technology for the containment of contaminated soils and other hazardous wastes that cannot be destroyed by chemical, thermal, or biological means. Despite the increased use of S/S technologies, little research has been conducted on the weathering and degradation of solidified and stabilized wastes once the treated materials have been buried. Published data to verify the performance and durability of landfilled treated wastes over time are rare. In this preliminary study, optical and electron microscopy (scanning electron microscopy [SEM], transmission electron microscopy [TEM] and electron probe microanalyses [EPMA]) were used to evaluate weathering features associated with metal-bearing contaminated soil that had been solidified and stabilized with Portland cement and subsequently buried on site, stored outdoors aboveground, or archived in a laboratory, warehouse for up to 6 yr. Physical and chemical alteration processes identified include: freeze-thaw cracking, cracking caused by the formation of expansive minerals such as ettringite, carbonation, and the movement of metals from waste aggregates into the cement micromass. Although the extent of degradation after 6 yr is considered slight to moderate, results of this study show that the same environmental concerns that affect the durability of concrete must be considered when evaluating the durability and permanence of the solidification and stabilization of contaminated soils with cement. In addition, such evaluations cannot be based on leaching and chemical analyses alone. The use of all levels of microscopic analyses must be incorporated into studies of the long-term performance of S/S technologies.

  5. Littoral assessment of mine burial signatures (LAMBS): buried landmine/background spectral-signature analyses

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kenton, Arthur C.; Geci, Duane M.; Ray, Kristofer J.; Thomas, Clayton M.; Salisbury, John W.; Mars, John C.; Crowley, James K.; Witherspoon, Ned H.; Holloway, John H., Jr.

    2004-09-01

    The objective of the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Rapid Overt Reconnaissance (ROR) program and the Airborne Littoral Reconnaissance Technologies (ALRT) project's LAMBS effort is to determine if electro-optical spectral discriminants exist that are useful for the detection of land mines in littoral regions. Statistically significant buried mine overburden and background signature data were collected over a wide spectral range (0.35 to 14 μm) to identify robust spectral features that might serve as discriminants for new airborne sensor concepts. LAMBS has expanded previously collected databases to littoral areas - primarily dry and wet sandy soils - where tidal, surf, and wind conditions can severely modify spectral signatures. At AeroSense 2003, we reported completion of three buried mine collections at an inland bay, Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico beach sites. We now report LAMBS spectral database analyses results using metrics which characterize the detection performance of general types of spectral detection algorithms. These metrics include mean contrast, spectral signal-to-clutter, covariance, information content, and spectral matched filter analyses. Detection performance of the buried land mines was analyzed with regard to burial age, background type, and environmental conditions. These analyses considered features observed due to particle size differences, surface roughness, surface moisture, and compositional differences.

  6. Littoral Assessment of Mine Burial Signatures (LAMBS) buried land mine/background spectral signature analyses

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Kenton, A.C.; Geci, D.M.; Ray, K.J.; Thomas, C.M.; Salisbury, J.W.; Mars, J.C.; Crowley, J.K.; Witherspoon, N.H.; Holloway, J.H.; Harmon R.S.Broach J.T.Holloway, Jr. J.H.

    2004-01-01

    The objective of the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Rapid Overt Reconnaissance (ROR) program and the Airborne Littoral Reconnaissance Technologies (ALRT) project's LAMBS effort is to determine if electro-optical spectral discriminants exist that are useful for the detection of land mines in littoral regions. Statistically significant buried mine overburden and background signature data were collected over a wide spectral range (0.35 to 14 ??m) to identify robust spectral features that might serve as discriminants for new airborne sensor concepts. LAMBS has expanded previously collected databases to littoral areas - primarily dry and wet sandy soils - where tidal, surf, and wind conditions can severely modify spectral signatures. At AeroSense 2003, we reported completion of three buried mine collections at an inland bay, Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico beach sites.1 We now report LAMBS spectral database analyses results using metrics which characterize the detection performance of general types of spectral detection algorithms. These metrics include mean contrast, spectral signal-to-clutter, covariance, information content, and spectral matched filter analyses. Detection performance of the buried land mines was analyzed with regard to burial age, background type, and environmental conditions. These analyses considered features observed due to particle size differences, surface roughness, surface moisture, and compositional differences.

  7. Wire-grid electromagnetic modelling of metallic cylindrical objects with arbitrary section, for Ground Penetrating Radar applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Adabi, Saba; Pajewski, Lara

    2014-05-01

    This work deals with the electromagnetic wire-grid modelling of metallic cylindrical objects, buried in the ground or embedded in a structure, for example in a wall or in a concrete slab. Wire-grid modelling of conducting objects was introduced by Richmond in 1966 [1] and, since then, this method has been extensively used over the years to simulate arbitrarily-shaped objects and compute radiation patterns of antennas, as well as the electromagnetic field scattered by targets. For any wire-grid model, a fundamental question is the choice of the optimum wire radius and grid spacing. The most widely used criterion to fix the wire size is the so-called same-area rule [2], coming from empirical observation: the total surface area of the wires has to be equal to the surface area of the object being modelled. However, just few authors have investigated the validity of this criterion. Ludwig [3] studied the reliability of the rule by examining the canonical radiation problem of a transverse magnetic field by a circular cylinder fed with a uniform surface current, compared with a wire-grid model; he concluded that the same-area rule is optimum and that too thin wires are just as bad as too thick ones. Paknys [4] investigated the accuracy of the same-area rule for the modelling of a circular cylinder with a uniform current on it, continuing the study initiated in [3], or illuminated by a transverse magnetic monochromatic plane wave; he deduced that the same-area rule is optimal and that the field inside the cylinder is most sensitive to the wire radius than the field outside the object, so being a good error indicator. In [5], a circular cylinder was considered, embedded in a dielectric half-space and illuminated by a transverse magnetic monochromatic plane wave; the scattered near field was calculated by using the Cylindrical-Wave Approach and numerical results, obtained for different wire-grid models in the spectral domain, were compared with the exact solution. The Authors demonstrated that the well-known same-area criterion yields affordable results but is quite far from being the optimum: better results can be obtained with a wire radius shorter than what is suggested by the rule. In utility detection, quality controls of reinforced concrete, and other civil-engineering applications, many sought targets are long and thin: in these cases, two-dimensional scattering methods can be employed for the electromagnetic modelling of scenarios. In the present work, the freeware tool GPRMAX2D [6], implementing the Finite-Difference Time-Domain method, is used to implement the wire-grid modelling of buried two-dimensional objects. The source is a line of current, with Ricker waveform. Results obtained in [5] are confirmed in the time domain and for different geometries. The highest accuracy is obtained by shortening the radius of about 10%. It seems that fewer (and larger) wires need minor shortening; however, more detailed investigations are required. We suggest to use at least 8 - 10 wires per wavelength if the field scattered by the structure has to be evaluated. The internal field is much more sensitive to the modelling configuration than the external one, and more wires should be employed when shielding effects are concerned. We plan to conduct a more comprehensive analysis, in order to extract guidelines for wire sizing, to be validated on different shapes. We also look forward to verifying the possibility of using the wire-grid modelling method for the simulation of slotted objects. This work is a contribution to COST Action TU1208 "Civil Engineering Applications of Ground Penetrating Radar". The Authors thanks COST for funding COST Action TU1208. References [1] J.H. Richmond, A wire grid model for scattering by conducting bodies, IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagation AP-14 (1966), pp. 782-786. [2] S.M. Rao, D.R. Wilton, A.W. Glisson, Electromagnetic scattering by surfaces of arbitrary shape, IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagation AP-30 (1982), pp. 409-418. [3] A.C. Ludwig, Wire grid modeling of surfaces, IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagation AP-35 (1987), pp. 1045-1048. [4] R.J. Paknys, The near field of a wire grid model, IEEE Trans. Antennas Propagation 39 (1991), pp. 994-999. [5] F. Frezza, L. Pajewski, C. Ponti, G. Schettini, Accurate wire-grid modelling of buried conducting cylindrical scatterers, Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation (2012), 27, pp. 199-207. [6] A. Giannopoulos, Modelling ground penetrating radar by GPRMAX. Construction and Building Materials (2005), 19, pp. 755-762.

  8. Structure and Spectroscopy of Buried Interfaces in Organic Thin Films and Colloids

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-03-01

    A systematic study of adsorption of linear acenes, from benzene to pentacene , on metal surfaces has been conducted using Temperature Programmed...inter- adsorbate repulsive interaction resulted from local dipole moment at the adsorption site induced by the adsorbate-surface charge transfer...adsorbate interactions resulting from a local dipole moment of 4.3 D at the adsorbate-substrate complex. The interface dipole of naphthalene on Ag is 51

  9. Monte Carlo Simulations for the Detection of Buried Objects Using Single Sided Backscattered Radiation.

    PubMed

    Yip, Mary; Saripan, M Iqbal; Wells, Kevin; Bradley, David A

    2015-01-01

    Detection of buried improvised explosive devices (IEDs) is a delicate task, leading to a need to develop sensitive stand-off detection technology. The shape, composition and size of the IEDs can be expected to be revised over time in an effort to overcome increasingly sophisticated detection methods. As an example, for the most part, landmines are found through metal detection which has led to increasing use of non-ferrous materials such as wood or plastic containers for chemical based explosives being developed. Monte Carlo simulations have been undertaken considering three different commercially available detector materials (hyperpure-Ge (HPGe), lanthanum(III) bromide (LaBr) and thallium activated sodium iodide (NaI(Tl)), applied at a stand-off distance of 50 cm from the surface and burial depths of 0, 5 and 10 cm, with sand as the obfuscating medium. Target materials representing medium density wood and mild steel have been considered. Each detector has been modelled as a 10 cm thick cylinder with a 20 cm diameter. It appears that HPGe represents the most promising detector for this application. Although it was not the highest density material studied, its excellent energy resolving capability leads to the highest quality spectra from which detection decisions can be inferred. The simulation work undertaken here suggests that a vehicle-born threat detection system could be envisaged using a single betatron and a series of detectors operating in parallel observing the space directly in front of the vehicle path. Furthermore, results show that non-ferrous materials such as wood can be effectively discerned in such remote-operated detection system, with the potential to apply a signature analysis template matching technique for real-time analysis of such data.

  10. Surface geophysical investigation of the areal and vertical extent of metallic waste at the former Tyson Valley Powder Farm near Eureka, Missouri, Spring 2004

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Ball, Lyndsay B.; Kress, Wade H.; Anderson, Eric D.; Teeple, Andrew; Ferguson, James W.; Colbert, Charles R.

    2004-01-01

    The former Tyson Valley Powder Farm near Eureka, Missouri, was used primarily as a storage facility for the production of small arms ammunition during 1941?47 and 1951?61. A secondary use of the site was for munitions testing and disposal. Surface exposures of small arms waste, characterized by brass shell casings and fragments, as well as other miscellaneous scrap metal are remnants of disposal practices that took place during U.S. Army operation and can be found throughout the site. Little historical information exists describing disposal practices, and more debris is believed to be buried in the subsurface. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has identified several areas of concern throughout the former Tyson Valley Powder Farm. A surface-geophysical investigation was performed by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to evaluate the areal and vertical extent of metallic debris in the subsurface within three of these areas of concern. Electromagnetic and magnetic methods were used to locate anomalies indicating relatively large concentrations of buried metallic debris within the selected areas of concern. Maps were created identifying twelve anomalous zones in the three areas of concern, and three of these zones were selected for further investigation. The extent and depth of the anomalies within these zones were explored using two-dimensional direct-current resistivity methods. Resistivity and time-domain induced polarization data were compared to the anomalous locations of the electromagnetic and magnetic surveys. The geophysical methods selected for this study were useful in determining the areal and vertical extent of metallic waste within the former Tyson Valley Powder Farm. However, electromagnetic and magnetic methods were not able to differentiate magnetic scrap metal from non-magnetic metallic small arms waste, most likely due to the small size and scattered distribution of the small arms waste, in addition to the mixing of both types of debris in the subsurface. Electromagnetic and magnetic data showed some zones of concentrated anomalies, while there was a general scattering of small anomalies throughout the site. Inverted resistivity sections, as well as induced polarization sections, showed the debris to have a maximum depth of approximately 1 to 2 meters below the surface.

  11. Installation Restoration Program. Phase II. Confirmation/Quantification Stage 1 for George Air Force Base, California.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1985-08-30

    technology for objective assessment of adverse effects. A Phase III requirement can be identified at any time during the program. 4. Phase IV - Operations...earth’s field can be asso- ciated with naturally occurring materials, or buried iron objects and remnant cultural features associated with man’s...for as * adequately as that of its own personnel.I 2. Obviously, such objectives can be attained only by the cooperation of all concerned. Therefore, it

  12. A Continuous False Belief Task Reveals Egocentric Biases in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Begeer, Sander; Bernstein, Daniel M.; van Wijhe, Jonas; Scheeren, Anke M.; Koot, Hans M.

    2012-01-01

    This study reports on a new false belief measure in a sample of 124 children and adolescents with or without high functioning autism (HFASD). In the classic paradigm, a participant predicts in which of two discrete locations a deceived protagonist will look for an object. In the current Sandbox task, the object is buried and reburied in a sandbox,…

  13. GPR Imaging for Deeply Buried Objects: A Comparative Study Based on FDTD Models and Field Experiments

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tilley, roger; Dowla, Farid; Nekoogar, Faranak; Sadjadpour, Hamid

    2012-01-01

    Conventional use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is hampered by variations in background environmental conditions, such as water content in soil, resulting in poor repeatability of results over long periods of time when the radar pulse characteristics are kept the same. Target objects types might include voids, tunnels, unexploded ordinance, etc. The long-term objective of this work is to develop methods that would extend the use of GPR under various environmental and soil conditions provided an optimal set of radar parameters (such as frequency, bandwidth, and sensor configuration) are adaptively employed based on the ground conditions. Towards that objective, developing Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) GPR models, verified by experimental results, would allow us to develop analytical and experimental techniques to control radar parameters to obtain consistent GPR images with changing ground conditions. Reported here is an attempt at developing 20 and 3D FDTD models of buried targets verified by two different radar systems capable of operating over different soil conditions. Experimental radar data employed were from a custom designed high-frequency (200 MHz) multi-static sensor platform capable of producing 3-D images, and longer wavelength (25 MHz) COTS radar (Pulse EKKO 100) capable of producing 2-D images. Our results indicate different types of radar can produce consistent images.

  14. Study, Design and Fabricate a Cold Crucible System

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1975-03-31

    Fritz iuettinger Blektronik GmbH, Freiburg, Germany) tuned to operate at approximately 4 megahertz. Using kilogram charges of zirconia powder , densification...ut’. rho skull was filled with stabilized zirconia powder and approximate’Iy 10 grams of zirconium metal chips (1/8" diameter) were buried In the...show the results of Run M-tO. A 700 gram zirconia powder charge (Johnson Matthey Chemicals, Ltd., 99.992 purity) was used with 10 wt % yttria (Rare Earth

  15. Responses of buried corrugated metal pipes to earthquakes

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

    Davis, C.A.; Bardet, J.P.

    2000-01-01

    This study describes the results of field investigations and analyses carried out on 61 corrugated metal pipes (CMP) that were shaken by the 1994 Northridge earthquake. These CMPs, which include 29 small-diameter (below 107 cm) CMPs and 32 large-diameter (above 107 cm) CMPs, are located within a 10 km{sup 2} area encompassing the Van Normal Complex in the Northern San Fernando Valley, in Los Angeles, California. During the Northridge earthquake, ground movements were extensively recorded within the study area. Twenty-eight of the small-diameter CMPs performed well while the 32 large-diameter CMPs underwent performances ranging from no damage to complete collapse.more » The main cause of damage to the large-diameter CMPs was found to be the large ground strains. Based on this unprecedented data set, the factors controlling the seismic performance of the 32 large-diameter CMPs were identified and framed into a pseudostatic analysis method for evaluating the response of large diameter flexible underground pipes subjected to ground strain. The proposed analysis, which is applicable to transient and permanent strains, is capable of describing the observed performance of large-diameter CMPs during the 1994 Northridge earthquake. It indicates that peak ground velocity is a more reliable parameter for analyzing pipe damage than is peak ground acceleration. Results of this field investigation and analysis are useful for the seismic design and strengthening of flexible buried conduits.« less

  16. Integrated magnetic, gravity, and GPR surveys to locate the probable source of hydrocarbon contamination in Sharm El-Sheikh area, south Sinai, Egypt

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Morsy, Mona; Rashed, Mohamed

    2013-01-01

    Sharm El-Sheikh waters were suddenly hit by hydrocarbon spills which created a serious threat to the prosperous tourism industry in and around the city. Analysis of soil samples, water samples, and seabed samples collected in and around the contaminated bay area showed anomalous levels of hydrocarbons. An integrated geophysical investigation, using magnetic, gravity, and ground penetrating radar geophysical tools, was conducted in the headland overlooking the contaminated bay in order to delineate the possible subsurface source of contamination. The results of the geophysical investigations revealed three underground manmade reinforced concrete tanks and a complicated network of buried steel pipes in addition to other unidentified buried objects. The depths and dimensions of the discovered objects were determined. Geophysical investigations also revealed the presence of a north-south oblique slip fault running through the eastern part of the studied area. Excavations, conducted later on, confirmed the presence of one of the tanks delineated by the geophysical surveys.

  17. Littoral assessment of mine burial signatures (LAMBS): buried-landmine hyperspectral data collections

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kenton, Arthur C.; Geci, Duane M.; McDonald, James A.; Ray, Kristofer J.; Thomas, Clayton M.; Holloway, John H., Jr.; Petee, Danny A.; Witherspoon, Ned H.

    2003-09-01

    The objective of the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Rapid Overt Reconnaissance (ROR) program and the Airborne Littoral Reconnaissance Technologies project's Littoral Assessment of Mine Burial Signatures (LAMBS) contract is to determine if electro-optical spectral discriminants exist that are useful for the detection of land mines located in littoral regions. Statistically significant buried mine overburden and background signature data were collected over a wide spectral range (0.35 to 14 μm) to identify robust spectral features that might serve as discriminants for new airborne sensor concepts. The LAMBS program further expands the hyperspectral database previously collected and analyzed on the U.S. Army's Hyperspectral Mine Detection Phenomenology program [see "Detection of Land Mines with Hyperspectral Data," and "Hyperspectral Mine Detection Phenomenology Program," Proc. SPIE Vol. 3710, pp 917-928 and 819-829, AeroSense April 1999] to littoral areas where tidal, surf, and wind action can additionally modify spectral signatures. This work summarizes the LAMBS buried mine collections conducted at three beach sites - an inland bay beach site (Eglin AFB, FL, Site A-22), an Atlantic beach site (Duck, NC), and a Gulf beach site (Eglin AFB, FL, Site A-15). Characteristics of the spectral signatures of the various dry and damp beach sands are presented. These are then compared to buried land mine signatures observed for the tested background types, burial ages, and environmental conditions experienced.

  18. Nuclear Containment Inspection Using AN Array of Guided Wave Sensors for Damage Localization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cobb, A. C.; Fisher, J. L.

    2010-02-01

    Nuclear power plant containments are typically both the last line of defense against the release of radioactivity to the environment and the first line of defense to protect against intrusion from external objects. As such, it is important to be able to locate any damage that would limit the integrity of the containment itself. Typically, a portion of the containment consists of a metallic pressure boundary that encloses the reactor primary circuit. It is made of thick steel plates welded together, lined with concrete and partially buried, limiting areas that can be visually inspected for corrosion damage. This study presents a strategy using low frequency (<50 kHz) guided waves to find corrosion-like damage several meters from the probe in a mock-up of the containment vessel. A magnetostrictive sensor (MsS) is scanned across the width of the vessel, acquiring waveforms at a fixed interval. A beam forming strategy is used to localize the defects. Experimental results are presented for a variety of damage configurations, demonstrating the efficacy of this technique for detecting damage smaller than the ultrasonic wavelength.

  19. Contaminated Coastal Sediments in the Northeastern United States: Changing Sources Over Time

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Buchholtz ten Brink, M. R.; Bothner, M. H.; Mecray, E. L.

    2001-05-01

    Regional studies of coastal sediments in the northeastern United States, conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, show that trace metal contamination from land-based activities has occurred near all major urban centers. Concentrations of metals, such as Cu, Pb, Zn, Hg, and Ag, are 2-5 times background levels in sediments of Boston Harbor, Long Island Sound (LIS), offshore of Gulf of Maine coastal cities, and in the New York Bight (NYB). Contaminant accumulations are strongly influenced by sediment lithology and sediment transport properties in local areas, in addition to proximity to pollutant sources. Inventories are greatest in muddy depo-centers of the NYB, western LIS, and Boston Harbor. Based on sediment cores, the onset of metal contamination in the northeast occurs in the mid-1800s, with inputs increasing in the mid-1900s and decreasing (20-50%) from the 1970s to present. The increases correlate with local population growth and abundance of a bacterial sewage indicator, Clostridium perfringens. Increases of N and Corg in cores also reflect population growth and changing wastewater treatment practices. Corg values reach a high of 6% in buried sediments near the NYB disposal sites. Cores from western LIS have increasing values of C, N, and P in the most recently deposited sediments, in contrast to metal concentrations that have decreased in recent years. Cessation of sludge disposal and reduction of chemical discharges have been effective at reducing inputs; however, contaminated sediment deposits remain in rivers (e.g., the Charles), floodplains (e.g., the Housatonic), and coastal sediments. In the future, high concentrations of metal contaminants stored in buried sediments of marine and fluvial systems are likely to be a lingering and significant source of pollution to coastal environments. Until more effective source-reduction occurs, land-use and industrial practices associated with population growth in the northeast will remain dominant factors for nutrient loading. A multi-disciplinary approach, including predictive models that include changing sources and physical, chemical, and biological transport processes, is required to estimate the long-term fate and effect of pollutants currently in coastal sediments.

  20. Proteins as templates for complex synthetic metalloclusters: towards biologically programmed heterogeneous catalysis

    PubMed Central

    Fehl, Charlie

    2016-01-01

    Despite nature’s prevalent use of metals as prosthetics to adapt or enhance the behaviour of proteins, our ability to programme such architectural organization remains underdeveloped. Multi-metal clusters buried in proteins underpin the most remarkable chemical transformations in nature, but we are not yet in a position to fully mimic or exploit such systems. With the advent of copious, relevant structural information, judicious mechanistic studies and the use of accessible computational methods in protein design coupled with new synthetic methods for building biomacromolecules, we can envisage a ‘new dawn’ that will allow us to build de novo metalloenzymes that move beyond mono-metal centres. In particular, we highlight the need for systems that approach the multi-centred clusters that have evolved to couple electron shuttling with catalysis. Such hybrids may be viewed as exciting mid-points between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts which also exploit the primary benefits of biocatalysis. PMID:27279776

  1. Biological Observations on Aedes Seatoi Huang in Thailand with Notes on Rural Aedes Aegypti (L.) and Other Stegomyia Populations

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1972-03-15

    distribution is herein extended by 6 provinces : Ang Thong, Chiang Mai , Lop Buri, Nakhon Sawan, Prachin Buri and Sara Buri (FIG. 1). These new...of Thailand : 1. Ang Thong. 2. Chiang Mai . 3. Chon Buri. 4. Kanchanaburi. 5. Lop Buri. 6. Nakhon Sawan. 7. Prachin Buri. 8. Sara Buri. Provinces

  2. Electromagnetic sensing for deterministic finishing gridded domes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Galbraith, Stephen L.

    2013-06-01

    Electromagnetic sensing is a promising technology for precisely locating conductive grid structures that are buried in optical ceramic domes. Burying grid structures directly in the ceramic makes gridded dome construction easier, but a practical sensing technology is required to locate the grid relative to the dome surfaces. This paper presents a novel approach being developed for locating mesh grids that are physically thin, on the order of a mil, curved, and 75% to 90% open space. Non-contact location sensing takes place over a distance of 1/2 inch. A non-contact approach was required because the presence of the ceramic material precludes touching the grid with a measurement tool. Furthermore, the ceramic which may be opaque or transparent is invisible to the sensing technology which is advantageous for calibration. The paper first details the physical principles being exploited. Next, sensor impedance response is discussed for thin, open mesh, grids versus thick, solid, metal conductors. Finally, the technology approach is incorporated into a practical field tool for use in inspecting gridded domes.

  3. Buried landmine detection using multivariate normal clustering

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Duston, Brian M.

    2001-10-01

    A Bayesian classification algorithm is presented for discriminating buried land mines from buried and surface clutter in Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) signals. This algorithm is based on multivariate normal (MVN) clustering, where feature vectors are used to identify populations (clusters) of mines and clutter objects. The features are extracted from two-dimensional images created from ground penetrating radar scans. MVN clustering is used to determine the number of clusters in the data and to create probability density models for target and clutter populations, producing the MVN clustering classifier (MVNCC). The Bayesian Information Criteria (BIC) is used to evaluate each model to determine the number of clusters in the data. An extension of the MVNCC allows the model to adapt to local clutter distributions by treating each of the MVN cluster components as a Poisson process and adaptively estimating the intensity parameters. The algorithm is developed using data collected by the Mine Hunter/Killer Close-In Detector (MH/K CID) at prepared mine lanes. The Mine Hunter/Killer is a prototype mine detecting and neutralizing vehicle developed for the U.S. Army to clear roads of anti-tank mines.

  4. Modelling a real-world buried valley system with vertical non-stationarity using multiple-point statistics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    He, Xiulan; Sonnenborg, Torben O.; Jørgensen, Flemming; Jensen, Karsten H.

    2017-03-01

    Stationarity has traditionally been a requirement of geostatistical simulations. A common way to deal with non-stationarity is to divide the system into stationary sub-regions and subsequently merge the realizations for each region. Recently, the so-called partition approach that has the flexibility to model non-stationary systems directly was developed for multiple-point statistics simulation (MPS). The objective of this study is to apply the MPS partition method with conventional borehole logs and high-resolution airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data, for simulation of a real-world non-stationary geological system characterized by a network of connected buried valleys that incise deeply into layered Miocene sediments (case study in Denmark). The results show that, based on fragmented information of the formation boundaries, the MPS partition method is able to simulate a non-stationary system including valley structures embedded in a layered Miocene sequence in a single run. Besides, statistical information retrieved from the AEM data improved the simulation of the geology significantly, especially for the deep-seated buried valley sediments where borehole information is sparse.

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

    Rioux, Robert M.

    In this work, we have primarily utilized isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and complimentary catalyst characterization techniques to study and assess the impact of solution conditions (i.e., solid-liquid) interface on the synthesis of heterogeneous and electro-catalysts. Isothermal titration calorimetry is well-known technique from biochemistry/physics, but has been applied to a far lesser extent to characterize buried solid-liquid interfaces in materials science. We demonstrate the utility and unique information provided by ITC for two distinct catalytic systems. We explored the thermodynamics associated catalyst synthesis for two systems: (i) ion-exchange or strong electrostatic adsorption for Pt and Pd salts on silica and aluminamore » materials (ii) adsorption to provide covalent attachment of metal and metal-oxo clusters to Dion-Jacobsen perovskite materials.« less

  6. EVALUATION OF ULTRASONIC PHASED-ARRAY FOR DETECTION OF PLANAR FLAWS IN HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (HDPE) BUTT-FUSION JOINTS

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

    Prowant, Matthew S.; Denslow, Kayte M.; Moran, Traci L.

    2016-09-21

    The desire to use high-density polyethylene (HDPE) piping in buried Class 3 service and cooling water systems in nuclear power plants is primarily motivated by the material’s high resistance to corrosion relative to that of steel and metal alloys. The rules for construction of Class 3 HDPE pressure piping systems were originally published in Code Case N-755 and were recently incorporated into the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME BPVC) Section III as Mandatory Appendix XXVI (2015 Edition). The requirements for HDPE examination are guided by criteria developed for metal pipe and are based onmore » industry-led HDPE research or conservative calculations.« less

  7. Suggested Methods and Standards for Testing and Verification of Electromagnetic Buried Object Detectors

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-03-01

    System .. ........................ 6-(Bl) vi LIST OF TAB.ES Pag e Table 4.1 Copper Test Objects ........ ..................... 4-3 Table 4.2...discriminate b hwtneri worthless aluminum or iron scraps and more valuable copper or silver 3-1 It is customary to analyze the reactions of search...or magnetite sand). Likewise, phase information can be used to discriminate (with the proper electronics) between aluminum alloy targets and copper

  8. Examination of the mGluR mTOR Pathway for the Identification of Potential Therapeutic Targets To Treat Fragile X

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-11-01

    Introduction Fragile X syndrome is the leading cause of intellectual disability resulting from a single gene mutation...performance, which measures motor learning and coordination. Treatment with metformin did not significantly affect performance in the rotarod task (Fig 5...marble burying, novel object recognition, object place memory, and reversal learning in the water Y maze (data not shown). It has been previously

  9. Final Technical Report for ELF/VLF Electromagnetic Detection and Characterization of Deeply Buried Targets

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1998-06-22

    remote (e.g. HAARP /HIPAS), and natural sources (e.g. external noise); b) model the perturbed fields due to the specified underground structures...examined in this study are of three types • Remote man-made sources, e.g. HAARP /HIPAS • Local sources, e.g. metal-detector loop • Natural sources, e.g...The High Power Auroral Stimulation Observatory (HIPAS) and the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program ( HAARP ) are capable of exciting plasma

  10. InxGa1-xSb Channel p-Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors: Effect of Strain and Heterostructure Design

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-07-06

    biaxial compressive strain is known to split the light- and heavy-hole bands, reducing the interband scattering and causing the light hole band to move up...and heterostructure design are presented. In Section V, we use temperature- dependent measurements and pulsed I-V measurements to analyze the results...minimal in our devices. The temperature dependence of hole mobility was stud- ied for both the surface and buried channel devices, as plot- ted in Fig

  11. The propagation and backscattering of soliton-like pulses in a chain of quartz beads and related problems. (II). Backscattering

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Manciu, Marian; Sen, Surajit; Hurd, Alan J.

    1999-12-01

    We demonstrate that the propagation of solitons, soliton-like excitations and acoustic pulses discussed in the preceding article (M. Manciu, S. Sen and A.J. Hurd, Physica A, preceding article) can be used to detect buried impurities in a chain of elastic grains with Hertzian contacts. We also present preliminary data for 3D granular beds, where soliton-like objects can form and can be used to probe for buried impurities, thus suggesting that soliton-pulse spectroscopy has the potential to become a valuable tool for probing the structural properties of granular assemblies. The effects of restitution are briefly discussed. We refer to available experiments which support our contention.

  12. Test and evaluation of Japanese GPR-EMI dual sensor systems at Benkovac test site in Croatia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ishikawa, J.; Furuta, K.; Pavković, Nikola

    2007-04-01

    This paper presents an experimental design and the evaluation result of a trial that were carried out from 1 February to 9 March 2006 using real PMA-1A and PMA-2 landmines at the Benkovac test site in Croatia. The objective of the Croatia- Japan joint trial is to evaluate dual sensor systems, which use both ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic inductive (EMI) sensors. A comparative trial was also carried out by Croatian deminers using an existing EMI sensor, i.e., a metal detector (MD). The trial aims at evaluating differences in performance between dual sensors and MDs, especially in terms of discrimination of landmines from metal fragments and extension of detectable range in the depth direction. Devices evaluated here are 4 prototypes of anti-personnel landmine detection systems developed under a project of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), the supervising authority of which is the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). The prototypes provide operators with subsurface images, and final decision whether a shadow in the image is a real landmine or not is left to the operator. This is similar to the way that medical doctors find cancer by reading CT images. Since operators' pre-knowledge of locations of buried targets significantly influences the test result, three test lanes, which have 3 different kinds of soils, have been designed to be suitable for blind tests. The result showed that the dual sensor systems have a potential to discriminate landmines from metal fragments and that probability of detection for small targets in mineralized soils can be improved by using GPR.

  13. 78 FR 72706 - Notice of Inventory Completion: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2013-12-03

    ... bone beads buried with the adult female remains. Sometime during 1975, human remains representing, at... were identified. No associated funerary objects are present, although animal bone and a projectile.... Case 65 represents one partial individual mixed with bison bone. No known individuals were identified...

  14. Palmer amaranth seed mortality in response to burial depth and time

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Glyphosate resistant Palmer amaranth infests millions of arable acres in the SE US. One proposed method of reducing population numbers is to bury surface seeds deeply, below their optimal emergence zone. The objective of this study was to determine how burial longevity and depth impact Palmer amaran...

  15. Scattering of Acoustic Waves from Ocean Boundaries

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-09-30

    of buried mines and improve SONAR performance in shallow water. OBJECTIVES 1) Determination of the correct physical model of acoustic propagation...Nicholas Chotiros, particularly for theoretical development of bulk acoustic /sediment modeling and laser roughness measurements. REFERENCES C...PUBLICATIONS 1. M. Isakson, and N. Chotiros. Finite Element Modeling of Acoustic

  16. Development and application of biotechnologies in the metal mining industry.

    PubMed

    Johnson, D Barrie

    2013-11-01

    Metal mining faces a number of significant economic and environmental challenges in the twenty-first century for which established and emerging biotechnologies may, at least in part, provide the answers. Bioprocessing of mineral ores and concentrates is already used in variously engineered formats to extract base (e.g., copper, cobalt, and nickel) and precious (gold and silver) metals in mines throughout the world, though it remains a niche technology. However, current projections of an increasing future need to use low-grade primary metal ores, to reprocess mine wastes, and to develop in situ leaching technologies to extract metals from deep-buried ore bodies, all of which are economically more amenable to bioprocessing than conventional approaches (e.g., pyrometallurgy), would suggest that biomining will become more extensively utilized in the future. Recent research has also shown that bioleaching could be used to process a far wider range of metal ores (e.g., oxidized ores) than has previously been the case. Biotechnologies are also being developed to control mine-related pollution, including securing mine wastes (rocks and tailings) by using "ecological engineering" approaches, and also to remediate and recover metals from waste waters, such as acid mine drainage. This article reviews the current status of biotechnologies within the mining sector and considers how these may be developed and applied in future years.

  17. High-Frequency Sound Interaction with Ocean Sediments and with Objects in the Vicinity of the Water/Sediment Interface and Mid-Frequency Shallow Water Propagation and Scattering

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-09-30

    combined with measured sediment properties, to test the validity of sediment acoustic models , and in particular the poroelastic (Biot) model . Addressing...TERM GOALS 1. Development of accurate models for acoustic scattering from, penetration into, and propagation within shallow water ocean sediments...2. Development of reliable methods for modeling acoustic detection of buried objects at subcritical grazing angles. 3. Improving our

  18. Shallow water imaging sonar system for environmental surveying. Final report

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

    NONE

    1998-05-01

    The scope of this research is to develop a shallow water sonar system designed to detect and map the location of objects such as hazardous wastes or discarded ordnance in coastal waters. The system will use high frequency wide-bandwidth imaging sonar, mounted on a moving platform towed behind a boat, to detect and identify objects on the sea bottom. Resolved images can be obtained even if the targets are buried in an overlayer of silt. The specific technical objective of this research was to develop and test a prototype system that is capable of (1) scan at high speeds (upmore » to 10m/s), even in shallow water (depth to ten meters), without motion blurring or loss of resolution; (2) produce images of the bottom structure that are detailed enough for unambiguous detection of objects as small as 15cm, even if they are buried up to 30cm deep in silt or sand. The critical technology involved uses an linear FM (LFM) or similar complex waveform, which has a high bandwidth for good range resolution, with a long pulse length for similar Dopper resolution. The lone duration signal deposits more energy on target than a narrower pulse, which increases the signal-to-noise ratio and signal-to-clutter ratio. This in turn allows the use of cheap, lightweight, low power, piezoelectric transducers at the 30--500 kHz range.« less

  19. 3D modeling of seismic waves propagation in the Israeli continental shelf: soft sediments, buried canyons and their effects.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tsesarsky, M.; Volk, O.; Shani-Kadmiel, S.; Gvirtzman, Z.

    2016-12-01

    Sedimentary wedges underlay many coastal areas, specifically along passive continental margins. Although a large portion of the world`s population is concentrated along coastal areas, relatively few studies investigated the seismic hazard related to internal structure of these wedges. This is particularly important, when the passive margin is located in proximity to active plate boundaries. Sedimentry wedges have low angles compared to fault bounded basins, hence commonly treated using 1D methods. In various locations the sedimentary wedges are transected by deep buried canyons typically filled with sediments softer than their surrounding bedrock. Such structures are found is the Mediterranean coast of Israel. Here, a sedimentary wedge and buried canyons underlay some of the country's most densely populated regions. Seismic sources can be found both at sea and on land at epicentral distances ranging from 50 to 200 km. Although this region has a proven seismic record, it has, like many other parts of the world, limited instrumental coverage and long return periods. This makes assessment of ground motions in a future earthquake difficult and highlights the importance of non-instrumental methods. We employ numerical modeling (SW4 FD code) to study seismic ground motions and their amplification atop the sedimentary wedge and canyons. This goal is a part of a larger objective aiming at developing a systematic approach for distinction between individual contributions of basin structures to the highly complex overall basin response. We show that the sedimentary wedge and buried canyon both exhibit a unique response and modeling them as one-dimensional structures could significantly underestimate seismic hazard. The sedimentary wedge exhibit amplification ratios, relative to a horizontally layered model, up to a factor of 2. This is mainly due to the amplification of Rayleigh waves traveling into the wedge from its thin side. The buried canyon structure shows a simple, "easy to use" response with considerably high PGV values and amplification ratios of up to 3 along its axis. This response is due to a geometrical focusing effect caused by the convex shape of the canyon's floor. The canyon's response is significant even where the canyon is buried deep under the surface.

  20. Feasibility of Using Dredged Mud for Prepared the Permeable Brick

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhou, Chaoqun; Cheng, Xiaosu; Zeng, Lingke; Wang, Hui; Chen, Jing

    2017-10-01

    Through experimental analysis found that the chemical composition of the dredged mud is similar to clay and the dredged mud does not leach heavy metals. Using the dredged mud in the preparation of permeable bricks reduced the quantity of incineration dredged mud buried in landfills, and the exploitation and consumption of natural sandstone. The dredged mud needs to be checked by the validation criteria when the second use, so we used the TCLP test to identify hazardous materials. Its leaching of heavy metals was in line with industry standard. And the basic formula of permeable brick were prepared, its performance was in line with national standards. The use of dredged mud preparing eco-friendly permeable bricks, not only solves the problem of environmental pollution, but also gets some economic and social profit.

  1. (Ar-39)-(Ar-40) dating of mesosiderites - Evidence for major parent body disruption less than 4 Ga ago

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bogard, D. D.; Jordan, J. L.; Garrison, D. H.; Mittlefehldt, D.

    1990-01-01

    The (Ar-39) (Ar-40) chronologies were determined for 14 different mesosiderites representing the full range of classification according to recrystallization, and these chronologies were compared with analogous data for other meteorite types and for lunar highland rocks. Results of Ar-Ar chronologies indicate the history of a degassing of Ar due to a major thermal event that occurred less than 3.9 Ga ago; this event is not the metal-silicate mixing event, which is known to have occurred earlier than 4.4 Ga ago. It is suggested that a major collisional disruption-reassembly event less than 3.9 Ga ago took place, leaving the metal-silicate breccias buried under tens of kilometers of rubble, where they cooled slowly through the Ar closure temperatures.

  2. Solid state television camera (CCD-buried channel)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1976-01-01

    The development of an all solid state television camera, which uses a buried channel charge coupled device (CCD) as the image sensor, was undertaken. A 380 x 488 element CCD array is utilized to ensure compatibility with 525 line transmission and display monitor equipment. Specific camera design approaches selected for study and analysis included (a) optional clocking modes for either fast (1/60 second) or normal (1/30 second) frame readout, (b) techniques for the elimination or suppression of CCD blemish effects, and (c) automatic light control and video gain control (i.e., ALC and AGC) techniques to eliminate or minimize sensor overload due to bright objects in the scene. Preferred approaches were determined and integrated into a deliverable solid state TV camera which addressed the program requirements for a prototype qualifiable to space environment conditions.

  3. Solid state television camera (CCD-buried channel), revision 1

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1977-01-01

    An all solid state television camera was designed which uses a buried channel charge coupled device (CCD) as the image sensor. A 380 x 488 element CCD array is utilized to ensure compatibility with 525-line transmission and display monitor equipment. Specific camera design approaches selected for study and analysis included (1) optional clocking modes for either fast (1/60 second) or normal (1/30 second) frame readout, (2) techniques for the elimination or suppression of CCD blemish effects, and (3) automatic light control and video gain control techniques to eliminate or minimize sensor overload due to bright objects in the scene. Preferred approaches were determined and integrated into a deliverable solid state TV camera which addressed the program requirements for a prototype qualifiable to space environment conditions.

  4. Solid state, CCD-buried channel, television camera study and design

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hoagland, K. A.; Balopole, H.

    1976-01-01

    An investigation of an all solid state television camera design, which uses a buried channel charge-coupled device (CCD) as the image sensor, was undertaken. A 380 x 488 element CCD array was utilized to ensure compatibility with 525 line transmission and display monitor equipment. Specific camera design approaches selected for study and analysis included (a) optional clocking modes for either fast (1/60 second) or normal (1/30 second) frame readout, (b) techniques for the elimination or suppression of CCD blemish effects, and (c) automatic light control and video gain control techniques to eliminate or minimize sensor overload due to bright objects in the scene. Preferred approaches were determined and integrated into a design which addresses the program requirements for a deliverable solid state TV camera.

  5. Nanoscale doping heterogeneity in few-layer WSe2 exfoliated onto noble metals revealed by correlated SPM and TERS imaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jariwala, Deep; Krayev, Andrey; Wong, Joeson; Robinson, A. Edward; Sherrott, Michelle C.; Wang, Shuo; Liu, Gang-Yu; Terrones, Mauricio; Atwater, Harry A.

    2018-07-01

    While extensive research effort has been devoted to the study of the 2D semiconductor–insulator interfaces in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), there is little knowledge about the electronic quality of the semiconductor–metal interface in the atomically thin limit. Here, we present the first correlated nanoscale mapping of the interface of atomically thin WSe2 with noble metals using co-localized scanning probe microscopy and tip-enhanced optical spectroscopy (TEOS), such as tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS). Nanoscale maps of the topography, surface potential, Raman spectra, and the photocurrent amplitude of the WSe2/metal interfaces reveal striking results. Specifically, correlations between surface potential, resonant Raman signatures and photocurrents that indicate the presence of inhomogeneities within interfacial electronic properties, which we attribute to variations in the local doping of the WSe2 likely caused by intrinsic compositional fluctuations or defects. Our results suggest that local electrostatic variations at a lateral scale of 10–100 nm are present even in the highest quality of TMDC crystals and must be considered towards understanding of all interfacial phenomena, particularly in device applications that rely on the buried metal–semiconductor junction interface.

  6. SRS stainless steel beneficial reuse program

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

    Boettinger, W.L.

    1997-02-01

    The US Department of Energy`s (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) has thousands of tons of stainless steel radioactive scrap metal (RSNI). Much of the metal is volumetrically contaminated. There is no {open_quotes}de minimis{close_quotes} free release level for volumetric material, and therefore no way to recycle the metal into the normal commercial market. If declared waste, the metal would qualify as low level radioactive waste (LLW) and ultimately be dispositioned through shallow land buried at a cost of millions of dollars. The metal however could be recycled in a {open_quotes}controlled release{close_quote} manner, in the form of containers to hold other typesmore » of radioactive waste. This form of recycle is generally referred to as {open_quotes}Beneficial Reuse{close_quotes}. Beneficial reuse reduces the amount of disposal space needed and reduces the need for virgin containers which would themselves become contaminated. Stainless steel is particularly suited for long term storage because of its resistance to corrosion. To assess the practicality of stainless steel RSM recycle the SRS Benficial Reuse Program began a demonstration in 1994, funded by the DOE Office of Science and Technology. This paper discusses the experiences gained in this program.« less

  7. Parameterisation of non-homogeneities in buried object detection by means of thermography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stepanić, Josip; Malinovec, Marina; Švaić, Srećko; Krstelj, Vjera

    2004-05-01

    Landmines and their natural environment form a system of complex dynamics with variable characteristics. A manifestation of that complexity within the context of thermography-based landmines detection is excessive noise in thermograms. That has severely suppressed application of thermography in landmines detection for the purposes of humanitarian demining. (To be differentiated from military demining and demining for military operations other than war [Land Mine Detection DOD's Research Program Needs a Comprehensive Evaluation Strategy, US GAO Report, GAO-01 239, 2001; International Mine Action Standards, Chapter 4.--Glossary. Available at: < http://www.mineactionstandards.org/IMAS_archive/Final/04.10.pdf>].) The discrepancy between the existing role and the actual potential of thermography in humanitarian demining motivated systematic approach to sources of noise in thermograms of buried objects. These sources are variations in mine orientation relative to soil normal, which modify the shape of mine signature on thermograms, as well as non-homogeneities in soil and vegetation layer above the mine, which modify the overall quality of thermograms. This paper analyses the influence of variable mines, and more generally the influence of axially symmetric buried object orientation on the quality of its signature on thermograms. The following two angles have been extracted to serve as parameters describing variation in orientation: (i) θ--angle between the local vertical axis and mine symmetry axis and (ii) ψ--angle between local vertical axis and soil surface normal. Their influence is compared to the influence of (iii) d--the object depth change, which serves as control parameter. The influences are quantified and ranked within a statistically planned experiment. The analysis has proved that among the parameters listed, the most influential one is statistical interaction dψ, followed with the statistical interaction dθ. According to statistical tests, these two combinations are considered the most significant influences. The results show that the currently applied analysis of thermography in humanitarian demining must be broadened by the inclusion of the variations in mine orientation, otherwise a decrease in the probability of mine detection, due to the presence of a systematic error, occurs.

  8. GPR detectability of rocks in a Martian-like shallow subsoil: A numerical approach

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Valerio, Guido; Galli, Alessandro; Matteo Barone, Pier; Lauro, Sebastian E.; Mattei, Elisabetta; Pettinelli, Elena

    2012-03-01

    In this work, the ability of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to detect rocks buried in composite soil is studied in connection with the planned ExoMars mission, as GPR will be used during this mission to scan the Martian subsurface to help define feasible sites for shallow drilling. A realistic model of the operating environment is implemented through a full-wave electromagnetic simulator, taking into account the antenna system and the signal features. The flexibility and efficiency of this numerical approach has allowed for the analysis of a great variety of configurations. The regolith is modeled based on data from recent explorations, while various kinds of embedded rocks are considered that have different geometrical and physical characteristics. The simulated results are compared with ad hoc GPR measurements performed on basalts buried in a mixture of glass beads, as an analogue of a dry sandy Martian soil. A very good agreement between theoretical and experimental results is found, thus validating the proposed numerical approach. This research has defined useful and reliable information concerning the prediction of scattering effects from buried objects in the environment where the ExoMars rover will operate.

  9. Near-specular acoustic scattering from a buried submarine mud volcano.

    PubMed

    Gerig, Anthony L; Holland, Charles W

    2007-12-01

    Submarine mud volcanoes are objects that form on the seafloor due to the emission of gas and fluidized sediment from the Earth's interior. They vary widely in size, can be exposed or buried, and are of interest to the underwater acoustics community as potential sources of active sonar clutter. Coincident seismic reflection data and low frequency bistatic scattering data were gathered from one such buried mud volcano located in the Straits of Sicily. The bistatic data were generated using a pulsed piston source and a 64-element horizontal array, both towed over the top of the volcano. The purpose of this work was to appropriately model low frequency scattering from the volcano using the bistatic returns, seismic bathymetry, and knowledge of the general geoacoustic properties of the area's seabed to guide understanding and model development. Ray theory, with some approximations, was used to model acoustic propagation through overlying layers. Due to the volcano's size, scattering was modeled using geometric acoustics and a simple representation of volcano shape. Modeled bistatic data compared relatively well with experimental data, although some features remain unexplained. Results of an inversion for the volcano's reflection coefficient indicate that it may be acoustically softer than expected.

  10. Behavioral Characteristics of Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 46-Deficient Mice

    PubMed Central

    Imai, Saki; Kano, Makoto; Nonoyama, Keiko; Ebihara, Shizufumi

    2013-01-01

    We have previously identified Usp46, which encodes for ubiquitin-specific peptidase 46, as a quantitative trait gene affecting the immobility time of mice in the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test. The mutation that we identified was a 3-bp deletion coding for lysine (Lys 92), and mice with this mutation (MT mice), as well as Usp46 KO mice exhibited shorter TST immobility times. Behavioral pharmacology suggests that the gamma aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptor is involved in regulating TST immobility time. In order to understand how far Usp46 controls behavioral phenotypes, which could be related to mental disorders in humans, we subjected Usp46 MT and KO mice to multiple behavioral tests, including the open field test, ethanol preference test, ethanol-induced loss of righting reflex test, sucrose preference test, novelty-suppressed feeding test, marble burying test, and novel object recognition test. Although behavioral phenotypes of the Usp46 MT and KO mice were not always identical, deficiency of Usp46 significantly affected performance in all these tests. In the open field test, activity levels were lower in Usp46 KO mice than wild type (WT) or MT mice. Both MT and KO mice showed lower ethanol preference and shorter recovery times after ethanol administration. Compared to WT mice, Usp46 MT and KO mice exhibited decreased sucrose preference, took longer latency periods to bite pellets, and buried more marbles in the sucrose preference test, novelty-suppressed feeding test, and marble burying test, respectively. In the novel object recognition test, neither MT nor KO mice showed an increase in exploration of a new object 24 hours after training. These findings indicate that Usp46 regulates a wide range of behavioral phenotypes that might be related to human mental disorders and provides insight into the function of USP46 deubiquitinating enzyme in the neural system. PMID:23472206

  11. Initial Parameters of Neutron Stars

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Popov, S. B.; Turolla, R.

    2012-12-01

    A subpopulation of neutron stars (NSs), known as central compact objects (CCOs) in supernova remnants, are suspected to be low-field objects basing on P - ṗ measurements for three of them. The birth rate of low-field NSs is probably comparable with the birth rate of normal radio pulsars. However, among compact objects in High-Mass X-ray Binaries (HMXBs) we do not see robust candidates for low-field NSs. We propose that this contradiction can be solved if magnetic fields of CCOs was buried due to strong fall-back, and then the field emerges on the time scale 104 -105 yrs.

  12. Comparison of organic geochemistry and metal enrichment in two black shales: Cambrian Alum Shale of Sweden and Devonian Chattanooga Shale of United States

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Leventhal, J.S.

    1991-01-01

    In most black shales, such as the Chattanooga Shale and related shales of the eastern interior United States, increased metal and metalloid contents are generally related to increased organic carbon content, decreased sedimentation rate, organic matter type, or position in the basin. In areas where the stratigraphic equivalents of the Chattanooga Shale are deeply buried and and the organic material is thermally mature, metal contents are essentially the same as in unheated areas and correlate with organic C or S contents. This paradigm does not hold for the Cambrian Alum Shale Formation of Sweden where increased metal content does not necessarily correlate with organic matter content nor is metal enrichment necessarily related to land derived humic material because this organic matter is all of marine source. In southcentral Sweden the elements U, Mo, V, Ni, Zn, Cd and Pb are all enriched relative to average black shales but only U and Mo correlate to organic matter content. Tectonically disturbed and metamorphosed allochthonous samples of Alum Shale on the Caledonian front in western Sweden have even higher amounts for some metals (V, Ni, Zn and Ba) relative to the autochthonous shales in this area and those in southern Sweden. ?? 1991 Springer-Verlag.

  13. Chemical gating of epitaxial graphene through ultrathin oxide layers.

    PubMed

    Larciprete, Rosanna; Lacovig, Paolo; Orlando, Fabrizio; Dalmiglio, Matteo; Omiciuolo, Luca; Baraldi, Alessandro; Lizzit, Silvano

    2015-08-07

    We achieved a controllable chemical gating of epitaxial graphene grown on metal substrates by exploiting the electrostatic polarization of ultrathin SiO2 layers synthesized below it. Intercalated oxygen diffusing through the SiO2 layer modifies the metal-oxide work function and hole dopes graphene. The graphene/oxide/metal heterostructure behaves as a gated plane capacitor with the in situ grown SiO2 layer acting as a homogeneous dielectric spacer, whose high capacity allows the Fermi level of graphene to be shifted by a few hundreds of meV when the oxygen coverage at the metal substrate is of the order of 0.5 monolayers. The hole doping can be finely tuned by controlling the amount of interfacial oxygen, as well as by adjusting the thickness of the oxide layer. After complete thermal desorption of oxygen the intrinsic doping of SiO2 supported graphene is evaluated in the absence of contaminants and adventitious adsorbates. The demonstration that the charge state of graphene can be changed by chemically modifying the buried oxide/metal interface hints at the possibility of tuning the level and sign of doping by the use of other intercalants capable of diffusing through the ultrathin porous dielectric and reach the interface with the metal.

  14. Combat Leaders’ Guide (CLG) Leader Handbook 2003

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2004-02-01

    and spare equipment; shield with metal 4 Use highest frequency possible; never use commercial power. Keep cable and wire short; bury 18" 5 Use...support nonmilitary programs 11-511 11 INTEGRATION MATRIX- INDIVIDUAL WEAPONS AN/ PAQ -4B/C AN/PAS-13,TWS AN/PEQ-2A AN/PVS-4(A) AN/PVS-10,SNS AN/PVS-14...the AN/ PAQ -4B/C to the M203 the grenadier must first have the Quadrant Sight Removed. CCO - Close Combat Optic MGO- Machinegun Optic BIS - Back-up

  15. ELLICOTT ROCK WILDERNESS AND ADDITIONS, SOUTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA, AND GEORGIA.

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Bell, Henry; Gazdik, Gertrude C.

    1984-01-01

    A mineral survey was made of the Ellicott Rock Wilderness and additions located in the common corner of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Surveys along the rivers, streams, and ridges indicated that there is little promise for the occurrence of metallic mineral or energy resources. Deeply buried sedimentary rocks have an unknown potential for hydrocarbons, probably gas. Until some deep drilling is done to test these deep sedimentary rocks no reasonable estimate of gas potential can be made, but it cannot be totally discounted.

  16. Geochemistry of soils from the San Rafael Valley, Santa Cruz County, Arizona

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Folger, Helen W.; Gray, Floyd

    2013-01-01

    This study was conducted to determine whether surficial geochemical methods can be used to identify subsurface mineraldeposits covered by alluvium derived from surrounding areas. The geochemical investigation focused on an anomalous geo-physical magnetic high located in the San Rafael Valley in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. The magnetic high, inferred to be asso-ciated with a buried granite intrusion, occurs beneath Quaternary alluvial and terrace deposits. Soil samples were collected at a depth of 10 to 30 centimeters below land surface along transects that traverse the inferred granite. The samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and by the partial-leach Mobile Metal Ion™ method. Principal component and factor analyses showed a strong correlation between the soils and source rocks hosting base-metal replacement deposits in the Harshaw and Patagonia Mining Districts. Factor analysis also indicated areas of high metal concentrations associated with the Meadow Valley Flat. Although no definitive geochemical signature was identified for the inferred granite, concentrations otungsten and iron in the surrounding area were slightly elevated.

  17. Nanoscale Imaging of Light-Matter Coupling Inside Metal-Coated Cavities with a Pulsed Electron Beam.

    PubMed

    Moerland, Robert J; Weppelman, I Gerward C; Scotuzzi, Marijke; Hoogenboom, Jacob P

    2018-05-02

    Many applications in (quantum) nanophotonics rely on controlling light-matter interaction through strong, nanoscale modification of the local density of states (LDOS). All-optical techniques probing emission dynamics in active media are commonly used to measure the LDOS and benchmark experimental performance against theoretical predictions. However, metal coatings needed to obtain strong LDOS modifications in, for instance, nanocavities, are incompatible with all-optical characterization. So far, no reliable method exists to validate theoretical predictions. Here, we use subnanosecond pulses of focused electrons to penetrate the metal and excite a buried active medium at precisely defined locations inside subwavelength resonant nanocavities. We reveal the spatial layout of the spontaneous-emission decay dynamics inside the cavities with deep-subwavelength detail, directly mapping the LDOS. We show that emission enhancement converts to inhibition despite an increased number of modes, emphasizing the critical role of optimal emitter location. Our approach yields fundamental insight in dynamics at deep-subwavelength scales for a wide range of nano-optical systems.

  18. 3D mapping of buried rocks by the GPR WISDOM/ExoMars 2020

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Herve, Yann; Ciarletti, Valerie; Le Gall, Alice; Quantin, Cathy; Guiffaut, Christophe; Plettemeier, Dirk

    2017-04-01

    The main objective of ExoMars 2020 is to search for signs of past and/or present life on Mars. Because these signs may be beneath the inhospitable surface of Mars, the ExoMars Rover has on board a suite of instruments aiming at characterizing the subsurface. In particular, the Rover payload includes WISDOM (Water Ice Subsurface Deposits Observation on Mars), a polarimetric ground penetrating radar designed to investigate the shallow subsurface. WISDOM is able to probe down to a depth of few meters with a resolution of few centimeters; its main objective is to provide insights into the geological context of the investigated Martian sites and to determine the most promising location to collect samples for the ExoMars drill. In this paper, we demonstrate the ability of WISDOM to locate buried rocks and to estimate their size distribution. Indeed, the rock distribution is related to the geological processes at play in the past or currently and thus provides clues to understand the geological context of the investigated site. Rocks also represent a hazard for drilling operations that WISDOM is to guide. We use a 3D FDTD code called TEMSI-FD (which takes into account the radiation pattern of the antenna system) to simulate WISDOM operations on a realistic (both in terms of dielectric properties and structure) ground. More specifically, our geoelectrical models of the Martian subsurface take into account realistic values of the complex permittivity relying on published measurements performed in laboratory on Martian analogues. Further, different distributions of buried rocks are considered based on the size-frequency distribution observed at the Mars Pathfinder landing site and on Oxia Planum, the landing site currently selected for ExoMars 2020. We will describe the algorithm we developed to automatically detect the signature of the buried rocks on radargrams. The radargrams are obtained simulating WISDOM operations along parallel and perpendicular profiles as planned for the ExoMars mission. Our ultimate goal is to show that WISDOM observations can be used to build a 3D map of the subsurface. We will also present experimental data obtained with a prototype of WISDOM to test our method.

  19. Use of XPS to clarify the Hall coefficient sign variation in thin niobium layers buried in silicon

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Demchenko, Iraida N.; Lisowski, Wojciech; Syryanyy, Yevgen; Melikhov, Yevgen; Zaytseva, Iryna; Konstantynov, Pavlo; Chernyshova, Maryna; Cieplak, Marta Z.

    2017-03-01

    Si/Nb/Si trilayers formed with 9.5 and 1.3 nm thick niobium layer buried in amorphous silicon were prepared by magnetron sputtering and studied using XPS depth-profile techniques in order to investigate the change of Hall coefficient sign with thickness. The analysis of high-resolution (HR) XPS spectra revealed that the thicker layer sample has sharp top interface and metallic phase of niobium, thus holes dominate the transport. In contrast, the analysis indicates that the thinner layer sample has a Nb-rich mixed alloy formation at the top interface. The authors suggest that the main effect leading to a change of sign of the Hall coefficient for the thinner layer sample (which is negative contrary to the positive sign for the thicker layer sample) may be related to strong boundary scattering enhanced by the presence of silicon ions in the layer close to the interface/s. The depth-profile reconstruction was performed by SESSA software tool confirming that it can be reliably used for quantitative analysis/interpretation of experimental XPS data.

  20. Background adaptive division filtering for hand-held ground penetrating radar

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, Matthew A.; Anderson, Derek T.; Ball, John E.; White, Julie L.

    2016-05-01

    The challenge in detecting explosive hazards is that there are multiple types of targets buried at different depths in a highlycluttered environment. A wide array of target and clutter signatures exist, which makes detection algorithm design difficult. Such explosive hazards are typically deployed in past and present war zones and they pose a grave threat to the safety of civilians and soldiers alike. This paper focuses on a new image enhancement technique for hand-held ground penetrating radar (GPR). Advantages of the proposed technique is it runs in real-time and it does not require the radar to remain at a constant distance from the ground. Herein, we evaluate the performance of the proposed technique using data collected from a U.S. Army test site, which includes targets with varying amounts of metal content, placement depths, clutter and times of day. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve-based results are presented for the detection of shallow, medium and deeply buried targets. Preliminary results are very encouraging and they demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed filtering technique.

  1. SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY: Influence of nitrogen dose on the charge density of nitrogen-implanted buried oxide in SOI wafers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhongshan, Zheng; Zhongli, Liu; Ning, Li; Guohua, Li; Enxia, Zhang

    2010-02-01

    To harden silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers fabricated using separation by implanted oxygen (SIMOX) to total-dose irradiation, the technique of nitrogen implantation into the buried oxide (BOX) layer of SIMOX wafers can be used. However, in this work, it has been found that all the nitrogen-implanted BOX layers reveal greater initial positive charge densities, which increased with increasing nitrogen implantation dose. Also, the results indicate that excessively large nitrogen implantation dose reduced the radiation tolerance of BOX for its high initial positive charge density. The bigger initial positive charge densities can be ascribed to the accumulation of implanted nitrogen near the Si-BOX interface after annealing. On the other hand, in our work, it has also been observed that, unlike nitrogen-implanted BOX, all the fluorine-implanted BOX layers show a negative charge density. To obtain the initial charge densities of the BOX layers, the tested samples were fabricated with a metal-BOX-silicon (MBS) structure based on SIMOX wafers for high-frequency capacitance-voltage (C-V) analysis.

  2. Modified Oxygen Defect Chemistry at Transition Metal Oxide Heterostructures Probed by Hard X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction

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

    Chen, Yan; Fong, Dillon D.; Herbert, F. William

    Transition metal oxide hetero-structures are interesting due to the distinctly different properties that can arise from their interfaces, such as superconductivity, high catalytic activity and magnetism. Oxygen point defects can play an important role at these interfaces in inducing potentially novel properties. The design of oxide hetero-structures in which the oxygen defects are manipulated to attain specific functionalities requires the ability to resolve the state and concentration of local oxygen defects across buried interfaces. In this work, we utilized a novel combination of hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) and high resolution xray diffraction (HRXRD) to probe the local oxygen defectmore » distribution across the buried interfaces of oxide heterolayers. This approach provides a non-destructive way to qualitatively probe locally the oxygen defects in transition metal oxide hetero-structures. We studied two trilayer structures as model systems - the La 0.8Sr 0.2CoO 3-δ/(La 0.5Sr 0.5) 2CoO 4/La 0.8Sr 0.2CoO 3-δ (LSC 113/LSC 214) and the La 0.8Sr 0.2CoO 3-δ/La 2NiO 4+δ/La 0.8Sr 0.2CoO 3-δ (LSC 113/LNO 214) on SrTiO 3(001) single crystal substrates. We found that the oxygen defect chemistry of these transition metal oxides was strongly impacted by the presence of interfaces and the properties of the adjacent phases. Under reducing conditions, the LSC 113 in the LSC 113/LNO 214 tri-layer had less oxygen vacancies than the LSC 113 in the LSC 113/LSC 214 tri-layer and the LSC 113 single phase film. On the other hand, LSC 214 and LNO 214 were more reduced in the two tri-layer structures when in contact with the LSC 113 layer compared to their single phase counterparts. Furthermore, the results point out a potential way to modify the local oxygen defect states at oxide hetero-interfaces.« less

  3. Modified Oxygen Defect Chemistry at Transition Metal Oxide Heterostructures Probed by Hard X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction

    DOE PAGES

    Chen, Yan; Fong, Dillon D.; Herbert, F. William; ...

    2018-04-17

    Transition metal oxide hetero-structures are interesting due to the distinctly different properties that can arise from their interfaces, such as superconductivity, high catalytic activity and magnetism. Oxygen point defects can play an important role at these interfaces in inducing potentially novel properties. The design of oxide hetero-structures in which the oxygen defects are manipulated to attain specific functionalities requires the ability to resolve the state and concentration of local oxygen defects across buried interfaces. In this work, we utilized a novel combination of hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) and high resolution xray diffraction (HRXRD) to probe the local oxygen defectmore » distribution across the buried interfaces of oxide heterolayers. This approach provides a non-destructive way to qualitatively probe locally the oxygen defects in transition metal oxide hetero-structures. We studied two trilayer structures as model systems - the La 0.8Sr 0.2CoO 3-δ/(La 0.5Sr 0.5) 2CoO 4/La 0.8Sr 0.2CoO 3-δ (LSC 113/LSC 214) and the La 0.8Sr 0.2CoO 3-δ/La 2NiO 4+δ/La 0.8Sr 0.2CoO 3-δ (LSC 113/LNO 214) on SrTiO 3(001) single crystal substrates. We found that the oxygen defect chemistry of these transition metal oxides was strongly impacted by the presence of interfaces and the properties of the adjacent phases. Under reducing conditions, the LSC 113 in the LSC 113/LNO 214 tri-layer had less oxygen vacancies than the LSC 113 in the LSC 113/LSC 214 tri-layer and the LSC 113 single phase film. On the other hand, LSC 214 and LNO 214 were more reduced in the two tri-layer structures when in contact with the LSC 113 layer compared to their single phase counterparts. Furthermore, the results point out a potential way to modify the local oxygen defect states at oxide hetero-interfaces.« less

  4. Closure Report for CAU No. 430: Buried Depleted Uraniuim Artillery Round No. 1, Tonopah Test Range, Revision 0

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

    None

    1997-02-25

    1.1 Purpose This Closure Report presents the information obtained from investigative actions performed to justify the decision for clean closure of CAU 430 through "No Further Action." The investigative actions were performed per the Streamlined Approach for Environmental Restoration Plan, CA UNO. 430: Buried Depleted Uranium Artille~ Round No. 1, Tonopah Test Range (DOE/NV, 1996a) (hereafter referred to as the SAFER Plan). The Buried DU Artillery Round No. 1 is located approximately 1.1 kilometers (km) (0.7 mile [mi]) south of Avenue 13 in the test area south of Area 9 (Figure 1-2). The site was thought to consist of amore » potentially unexploded W-79 Joint Test Assembly (JTA) test artillery projectile with high explosives (HE) and DU. The DU was substituted for Special Nuclear Material to prevent a nuclear explosion and yet retain the physical characteristics of uranium for ballistic and other mechanical tests. The projectile was reportedly buried in one pit, approximately 5 to 10 feet (ft) deep (Smith, 1993; Smith, 1996; Quas, 1996). The exact location of the burial pit is unknown; however, three disturbed areas (Sites A, B, and C) were identified through geophysical surveys, site visits, and employee interviews as possible locations of the test projectile (Figure 1-3). Results of the investigation are summarized within this Closure Report. Additional information about the site and investigation activities may be found in the SAFER Plan (DOE/NV, 1996a). 1.2 Scope The objectives of the SAFER Plan (DOE/NV, 1996a) activities were to prepare the site for closure through locating and identi~ing the projectile (Buried DU Artillery Round No. 1), destroying the projectile and any remaining components, collecting soil samples to detect residual contamination resulting from projectile destruction, and finally, remediating residual contamination.« less

  5. Longevity of shallow subsurface drip irrigation tubing under three tillage practices

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Shallow Sub-Surface drip irrigation (S3DI) has drip tubing buried about 2-in below the soil surface. It is unknown how long drip tubing would be viable at this shallow soil depth using strip- or no-tillage systems. The objectives were to determine drip tube longevity, resultant crop yield, and parti...

  6. Environmental behaviors and potential ecological risks of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in multimedia in an oilfield in China.

    PubMed

    Hu, Yan; Wang, Dazhou; Li, Yu

    2016-07-01

    The environmental behaviors of five heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in a Chinese oilfield were investigated using a steady-state multimedia aquivalence (SMA) model. The modeling results showed good agreement with the actual measured values, with average residual errors of 0.69, 0.83, 0.35, 0.16, and 0.54 logarithmic units for air, water, soil, sediment, and vegetation compartments, respectively. Model results indicated that most heavy metals were buried in sediment, and that transfers between adjacent compartments were mainly deposition from the water to the sediment compartment (48.59 %) and from the air to the soil compartment (47.74 %) via atmospheric dry/wet deposition. Sediment and soil were the dominant sinks, accounting for 68.80 and 25.26 % of all the heavy metals in the multimedia system, respectively. The potential ecological risks from the five heavy metals in the sediment and soil compartments were assessed by the potential ecological risk index (PERI). The assessment results demonstrate that the heavy metals presented low levels of ecological risk in the sediment compartment, and that Cd was the most significant contributor to the integrated potential ecological risk in the oilfield. The SMA model provided useful simulations of the transport and fate of heavy metals and is a useful tool for ecological risk assessment and contaminated site management.

  7. Anthropogenic impacts on deep submarine canyons of the western Mediterranean Sea

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sanchez-Vidal, A.; Tubau, X.; Llorca, M.; Woodall, L.; Canals, M.; Farré, M.; Barceló, D.; Thompson, R.

    2016-02-01

    Submarine canyons are seafloor geomorphic features connecting the shallow coastal ocean to the deep continental margin and basin. Often considered biodiversity hotspots, submarine canyons have been identified as preferential pathways for water, sediment, pollutant and litter transfers from the coastal to the deep ocean. Here we provide insights on the presence of some of the most insidious man-made debris and substances in submarine canyons of the western Mediterranean Sea, which are relevant to achieve a "Good Environmental Status" by 2020 as outlined in the European Union's ambitious Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Ranked by size on a decreasing basis, we review the origin, distribution and transport mechanisms of i) marine litter, including plastic, lost fishing gear and metallic objects; ii) microplastics in the form of fibers of rayon, polyester, polyamide and acetates; and iii) persistent organic pollutants including the toxic and persistent perfluoroalkyl substances. This integrated analysis allows us to understand the pivotal role of atmospheric driven oceanographic processes occurring in Mediterranean deep canyons (dense shelf water cascading, coastal storms) in spreading any type of man-made compound to the deep sea, where they sink and accumulate before getting buried.

  8. Delineation of voided and hydrocarbon contaminated regions with REDEM and STI

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

    Whiteley, B.

    1997-10-01

    Undetected voids and cavernous regions at shallow depth are a significant geotechnical and environmental hazard if they are filled or act as conduits for pollutants, particularly for LNAPL and DNAPL contaminants. Such features are often difficult to locate with drilling and conventional geophysical methods including resistivity, electromagnetics, microgravity, seismic and ground penetrating radar when they occur in industrial or urban areas where electrical and vibrational interference can combine with subsurface complexity due to human action to severely degrade geophysical data quality. A new geophysical method called Radiowave Diffraction Electromagnetics (RDEM) has proved successful for rapid screening of difficult sites andmore » for the delineation of buried sinkholes, cavities and hydrocarbon plumes. RDEM operates with a null coupled coil configuration at about 1.6 MHZ and is relatively insensitive to electrical interference and surrounding metal objects. It responds to subsurface variations in both conductivity and dielectric constant. Voided and contaminated regions can be more fully detailed when RDEM is combined with Seismic Tomographic Imaging (STI) from follow-up boreholes. Case studies from sites in Australia and South East Asia demonstrate the application of RDEM and STI and the value in combining both methods.« less

  9. Sensor fusion approaches for EMI and GPR-based subsurface threat identification

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Torrione, Peter; Morton, Kenneth, Jr.; Besaw, Lance E.

    2011-06-01

    Despite advances in both electromagnetic induction (EMI) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) sensing and related signal processing, neither sensor alone provides a perfect tool for detecting the myriad of possible buried objects that threaten the lives of Soldiers and civilians. However, while neither GPR nor EMI sensing alone can provide optimal detection across all target types, the two approaches are highly complementary. As a result, many landmine systems seek to make use of both sensing modalities simultaneously and fuse the results from both sensors to improve detection performance for targets with widely varying metal content and GPR responses. Despite this, little work has focused on large-scale comparisons of different approaches to sensor fusion and machine learning for combining data from these highly orthogonal phenomenologies. In this work we explore a wide array of pattern recognition techniques for algorithm development and sensor fusion. Results with the ARA Nemesis landmine detection system suggest that nonlinear and non-parametric classification algorithms provide significant performance benefits for single-sensor algorithm development, and that fusion of multiple algorithms can be performed satisfactorily using basic parametric approaches, such as logistic discriminant classification, for the targets under consideration in our data sets.

  10. Ground-water data for the alluvial, buried channel, Basel Pleistocene and Dakota aquifer in West-Central Iowa

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Hunt, Pamela K.B.; Runkle, Donna L.

    1985-01-01

    The purpose of this investigation was to determine the availability, quantity and quality of groundwater from three principal aquifers in West-Central Iowa, the alluvial, buried channel, Basal Pleistocene and the Dakota aquifers. Specific objectives were to: (1) determine the location, extent and the nature of these aquifers; (2) evaluate the occurrence and movement of groundwater, including the sources of recharge and discharge; (3) estimate the quantities of water stored in the aquifers; (4) estimate the potential yields of wells tapping the aquifers; (5) estimate the water use; and (6) describe the chemical quality of the groundwater. This report is the compilation of the data collected during the investigation and has the purpose of providing a reference for an interpretive report describing groundwater resources and a bedrock topography map of the study area.

  11. Burying by rats in response to aversive and nonaversive stimuli

    PubMed Central

    Poling, Alan; Cleary, James; Monaghan, Michael

    1981-01-01

    Previous investigations have shown that rats bury a variety of conditioned and unconditioned aversive stimuli. Such burying has been considered as a species-typical defensive reaction. In the present studies, rats buried spouts filled with Tabasco sauce, or condensed milk to which a taste aversion was conditioned, but did not bury water-filled spouts or spouts filled with a palatable novel food (apple juice) to which a taste aversion was not conditioned. However, in other experiments rats consistently and repeatedly buried Purina Rat Chow, Purina Rat Chow coated with quinine, and glass marbles. This indicates that a variety of stimuli, not all aversive or novel, evoke burying by rats. Whereas the behavior may reasonably be considered as a species-typical defensive behavior in some situations, the wide range of conditions that occasion burying suggests that the behavior has no single biological function. PMID:16812198

  12. The effects of hydrogen embrittlement by cathodic protection on the CTOD of buried natural gas pipeline

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Cheol-man; Kim, Woo-sik; Kho, Young-tai

    2002-04-01

    For the corrosion protection of natural gas transmission pipelines, two methods are used, cathodic protection and a coating technique. In the case of cathodic protection, defects are embrittled by hydrogen occurring at crack tips or surfaces of materials. It is, however, very important to evaluate whether cracks in the embrittled area can grow or not, especially in weld metal. In this work, on the basis of elastic plastic fracture mechanics, we performed CTOD testing under various test conditions, such as potential and current density. The CTOD of the base steel and weld metal showed a strong dependence on the test conditions. The CTOD decreased with increasing cathodic potential and current density. The morphology of the fracture surface showed quasi-cleavage. Cathodic overprotection results in hydrogen embrittlement at the crack tip.

  13. Burying Dogs in Ancient Cis-Baikal, Siberia: Temporal Trends and Relationships with Human Diet and Subsistence Practices

    PubMed Central

    Losey, Robert J.; Garvie-Lok, Sandra; Leonard, Jennifer A.; Katzenberg, M. Anne; Germonpré, Mietje; Nomokonova, Tatiana; Sablin, Mikhail V.; Goriunova, Olga I.; Berdnikova, Natalia E.; Savel’ev, Nikolai A.

    2013-01-01

    The first objective of this study is to examine temporal patterns in ancient dog burials in the Lake Baikal region of Eastern Siberia. The second objective is to determine if the practice of dog burial here can be correlated with patterns in human subsistence practices, in particular a reliance on terrestrial mammals. Direct radiocarbon dating of a suite of the region’s dog remains indicates that these animals were given burial only during periods in which human burials were common. Dog burials of any kind were most common during the Early Neolithic (∼7–8000 B.P.), and rare during all other time periods. Further, only foraging groups seem to have buried canids in this region, as pastoralist habitation sites and cemeteries generally lack dog interments, with the exception of sacrificed animals. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope data indicate that dogs were only buried where and when human diets were relatively rich in aquatic foods, which here most likely included river and lake fish and Baikal seal (Phoca sibirica). Generally, human and dog diets appear to have been similar across the study subregions, and this is important for interpreting their radiocarbon dates, and comparing them to those obtained on the region’s human remains, both of which likely carry a freshwater old carbon bias. Slight offsets were observed in the isotope values of dogs and humans in our samples, particularly where both have diets rich in aquatic fauna. This may result from dietary differences between people and their dogs, perhaps due to consuming fish of different sizes, or even different tissues from the same aquatic fauna. This paper also provides a first glimpse of the DNA of ancient canids in Northeast Asia. PMID:23696851

  14. SOI CMOS Imager with Suppression of Cross-Talk

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Pain, Bedabrata; Zheng, Xingyu; Cunningham, Thomas J.; Seshadri, Suresh; Sun, Chao

    2009-01-01

    A monolithic silicon-on-insulator (SOI) complementary metal oxide/semiconductor (CMOS) image-detecting integrated circuit of the active-pixel-sensor type, now undergoing development, is designed to operate at visible and near-infrared wavelengths and to offer a combination of high quantum efficiency and low diffusion and capacitive cross-talk among pixels. The imager is designed to be especially suitable for astronomical and astrophysical applications. The imager design could also readily be adapted to general scientific, biological, medical, and spectroscopic applications. One of the conditions needed to ensure both high quantum efficiency and low diffusion cross-talk is a relatively high reverse bias potential (between about 20 and about 50 V) on the photodiode in each pixel. Heretofore, a major obstacle to realization of this condition in a monolithic integrated circuit has been posed by the fact that the required high reverse bias on the photodiode is incompatible with metal oxide/semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) in the CMOS pixel readout circuitry. In the imager now being developed, the SOI structure is utilized to overcome this obstacle: The handle wafer is retained and the photodiode is formed in the handle wafer. The MOSFETs are formed on the SOI layer, which is separated from the handle wafer by a buried oxide layer. The electrical isolation provided by the buried oxide layer makes it possible to bias the MOSFETs at CMOS-compatible potentials (between 0 and 3 V), while biasing the photodiode at the required higher potential, and enables independent optimization of the sensory and readout portions of the imager.

  15. Effect of Adhesive Strips and Dermal Sutures vs Dermal Sutures Only on Wound Closure

    PubMed Central

    Custis, Trenton; Armstrong, April W.; King, Thomas H.; Sharon, Victoria R.; Eisen, Daniel B.

    2016-01-01

    IMPORTANCE Although applying adhesive strips to a wound closure has been shown to have outcomes equivalent to those with cuticular suturing, it is unknown whether adhesive strips provide additional benefit compared with dermal suturing alone. OBJECTIVE To determine whether the addition of adhesive strips to a wound closed with buried interrupted subcuticular sutures improves outcomes following wound closure. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A prospective, randomized split-wound intervention was conducted between November 14, 2013, and May 16, 2014, in patients who underwent cutaneous surgical procedures at the University of California, Davis, outpatient dermatology clinic. Fifty-seven patients 18 years or older with postoperative defects of at least 3 cm, resulting from either Mohs micrographic surgical procedures or surgical excision, were screened for participation. Nine patients were excluded and 48 were enrolled. INTERVENTIONS Half of each wound was randomized to receive buried interrupted subcuticular sutures and overlying adhesive strips and the other half received buried interrupted subcuticular sutures only. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES At 3 months’ follow-up, each patient and 2 blinded observers evaluated the wound using the Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale. RESULTS The total mean (SD) Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale score for observers for the side that received a combination of adhesive strips and buried interrupted subcuticular suturing (12.3 [4.8]) and the side that received sutures only (12.9 [6.3]) did not differ significantly at 3 months (P = .32). There was no significant difference in the total patient assessment scale score between the combination closure (14.0 [7.6]) and sutures only (14.7 [7.6]) sides at 3 months (P = .39). There was also no significant difference between the 2 closure methods in terms of mean (SD) scar width (both methods: 1.1 [0.8] mm, P = .89) at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Combination closure with adhesive strips and buried interrupted subcuticular suturing was not significantly associated with improved overall scar assessment compared with buried interrupted subcuticular suturing alone when evaluated by blinded observers or the patients themselves. Our results do not support the use of adhesive strips as a means to improve cosmetic outcomes or reduce scar width. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01979497 PMID:25875131

  16. Behavioral and pharmacological phenotypes of brain-specific diacylglycerol kinase δ-knockout mice.

    PubMed

    Usuki, Takako; Takato, Tamae; Lu, Qiang; Sakai, Hiromichi; Bando, Kana; Kiyonari, Hiroshi; Sakane, Fumio

    2016-10-01

    Diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) is a lipid-metabolizing enzyme that phosphorylates diacylglycerol to produce phosphatidic acid. Previously, we reported that the δ isozyme of DGK was abundantly expressed in the mouse brain. However, the functions of DGKδ in the brain are still unclear. Because conventional DGKδ-knockout (KO) mice die within 24h after birth, we have generated brain-specific conditional DGKδ-KO mice to circumvent the lethality. In the novel object recognition test, the number of contacts in the DGKδ-KO mice to novel and familiar objects was greatly increased compared to the control mice, indicating that the DGKδ-KO mice showed irrational contacts with objects such as compulsive checking. In the marble burying test, which is used for analyzing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)-like phenotypes, the DGKδ-KO mice buried more marbles than the control mice. Additionally, these phenotypes were significantly alleviated by the administration of an OCD remedy, fluoxetine. These results indicate that the DGKδ-KO mice showed OCD-like behaviors. Moreover, the number of long axon/neurites increased in both DGKδ-KO primary cortical neurons and DGKδ-knockdown neuroblastoma Neuro-2a cells compared to control cells. Conversely, overexpression of DGKδ decreased the number of long axon/neurites of Neuro-2a cells. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that a deficiency of DGKδ induces OCD-like behavior through enhancing axon/neurite outgrowth. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. Scattering of Acoustic Waves from Ocean Boundaries

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-09-30

    of buried mines and improve SONAR performance in shallow water. OBJECTIVES 1) Determination of the correct physical model of acoustic propagation... acoustic parameters in the ocean. APPROACH 1) Finite Element Modeling for Range Dependent Waveguides: Finite element modeling is applied to a...roughness measurements for reverberation modeling . GLISTEN data provide insight into the role of biology on acoustic propagation and scattering

  18. The Objective Force Soldier/Soldier Team. Volume II - The Science and Technology Challenges

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2001-11-01

    processing for buried mines Chemical sniffing to detect explosives • UGV/Robotic systems to carry sensors into risk areas • Specialized electronic...CLOSE COMBAT OPTIC 1.4 THERMAL WEAPONS SIGHT 4.9 AN/ PAQ -4C AIMING LIGHT 0.6 DAYLIGHT VIDEO SIGHT 0.2 IMPROVED HELMET 3.2 HELMET MOUNTED DISPLAY 1.5 w

  19. Using evolutionary computation to optimize an SVM used in detecting buried objects in FLIR imagery

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Paino, Alex; Popescu, Mihail; Keller, James M.; Stone, Kevin

    2013-06-01

    In this paper we describe an approach for optimizing the parameters of a Support Vector Machine (SVM) as part of an algorithm used to detect buried objects in forward looking infrared (FLIR) imagery captured by a camera installed on a moving vehicle. The overall algorithm consists of a spot-finding procedure (to look for potential targets) followed by the extraction of several features from the neighborhood of each spot. The features include local binary pattern (LBP) and histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) as these are good at detecting texture classes. Finally, we project and sum each hit into UTM space along with its confidence value (obtained from the SVM), producing a confidence map for ROC analysis. In this work, we use an Evolutionary Computation Algorithm (ECA) to optimize various parameters involved in the system, such as the combination of features used, parameters on the Canny edge detector, the SVM kernel, and various HOG and LBP parameters. To validate our approach, we compare results obtained from an SVM using parameters obtained through our ECA technique with those previously selected by hand through several iterations of "guess and check".

  20. Do manganese nodules grow or dissolve after burial? Results from the Central Indian Ocean Basin

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pattan, J. N.; Parthiban, G.

    2007-07-01

    Fifty buried manganese nodules at different depth intervals were recovered in 12 sediment cores from the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB). A maximum of 15 buried nodules were encountered in one sediment core (AAS-22/GC-07) and the deepest nodule was recovered at 5.50 m below seafloor in core AAS-04/GC-5A. Approximately 80% of the buried nodules are small in size (˜2 cm diameter) in contrast to the Atlantic Ocean and Peru Basin (Pacific Ocean) where the majority of the buried nodules are large, ˜8 cm and >6 cm, respectively. Buried nodule size decreases with core depth and this distribution appears to be similar to the phenomenon of "Brazil Nut Effect". Buried nodules exhibit both smooth and rough surface textures and are ellipsoidal, elongated, rounded, sub rounded, irregular and polynucleated. Buried nodules from siliceous ooze are enriched in Mn, Cu, Ni, Zn, Mo, Ga, V and Rb whereas those from red clay are enriched in Fe, Co, Ti, U, Th, Y, Cr, Nb and Rare Earth Elements (REE). Buried nodules from siliceous ooze suggest their formation under hydrogenetic, early digenetic and diagenetic processes whereas those from red clay are of hydrogenetic origin. REE are enriched more than 1.5 times in buried nodules from red clay compared to siliceous ooze. However, the mode of incorporation of REE into buried nodules from both sedimentary environments is by a single authigenic phase consisting of Fe-Ti-P. Shale-normalized REE patterns and Ce anomalies suggest that nodules from siliceous ooze formed under more oxidizing conditions than those from red clay. Nodules buried at depths between 1.5 and 2.5 m are diagenetic (Mn/Fe ratio 10-15), formed in highly oxic environments (large positive Ce anomalies) and record aeolian dust (high Eu anomalies). Chemical composition, surface texture and morphology of buried nodules are similar to those of surface nodules from the same basin. Furthermore, buried nodule compositions do not exhibit any distinct patterns within the core depth, suggesting that buried nodules neither grow nor dissolve after their burial in the sediment column.

  1. Buried transuranic wastes at ORNL: Review of past estimates and reconciliation with current data

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

    Trabalka, J.R.

    1997-09-01

    Inventories of buried (generally meaning disposed of) transuranic (TRU) wastes at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have been estimated for site remediation and waste management planning over a period of about two decades. Estimates were required because of inadequate waste characterization and incomplete disposal records. For a variety of reasons, including changing definitions of TRU wastes, differing objectives for the estimates, and poor historical data, the published results have sometimes been in conflict. The purpose of this review was (1) to attempt to explain both the rationale for and differences among the various estimates, and (2) to update the estimatesmore » based on more recent information obtained from waste characterization and from evaluations of ORNL waste data bases and historical records. The latter included information obtained from an expert panel`s review and reconciliation of inconsistencies in data identified during preparation of the ORNL input for the third revision of the Baseline Inventory Report for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. The results summarize current understanding of the relationship between past estimates of buried TRU wastes and provide the most up-to-date information on recorded burials thereafter. The limitations of available information on the latter and thus the need for improved waste characterization are highlighted.« less

  2. Retrieval of Shape Characteristics for Buried Objects with GPR Monitoring

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Soldovieri, F.; Comite, D.; Galli, A.; Valerio, G.; Barone, P. M.; Lauro, S. E.; Mattei, E.; Pettinelli, E.

    2012-04-01

    Information retrieval on the location and the geometrical features (dimensions and shape) of buried objects is of fundamental importance in geosciences areas involving environmental protection, mine clearance, archaeological investigations, space and planetary exploration, and so forth. Among the different non-invasive sensing techniques usually employed to achieve this kind of information, those based on ground-penetrating-radar (GPR) instruments are well-established and suitable to the mentioned purposes [1]. In this context, our interest in the present work is specifically focused on testing the potential performance of typical GPR instruments by means of appropriate data processing. It will be shown in particular to what extent the use of a suitable "microwave tomographic approach" [2] is able to furnish a shape estimation of the targets, possibly recognizing different kinds of canonical geometries, even having reduced cross sections and in critical conditions, where the scatterer size is comparable with resolution limits imposed by the usual measurement configurations. Our study starts by obtaining the typical "direct" information from the GPR techniques that is the scattered field in subsurface environments under the form of radargrams. In order to get a wide variety of scenarios for the operating conditions, this goal is achieved by means of two different and independent approaches [3]. One approach is based on direct measurements through an experimental laboratory setup: commercial GPR instruments (typically bistatic configurations operating around 1 GHz frequency range) are used to collect radargram profiles by investigating an artificial basin filled of liquid and/or granular materials (sand, etc.), in which targets (having different constitutive parameters, shape, and dimensions) can be buried. The other approach is based on numerical GPR simulations by means of a commercial CAD electromagnetic tool (CST), whose suitable implementation and data processing allow us to retrieve results again in the form of radargrams for the scattering features of arbitrarily-composed subsurfaces. Once these types of "direct" (measured and/or simulated) radargram data are obtained, the "inverse" problem is then handled, based on a Born approximation to linearize the scattering problem. The targets are represented in terms of anomalies ("contrast function") of dielectric permittivity and conductivity with respect to the properties of a background environment. The analysis of the relevant results for the spatial distribution of the magnitude of the contrast function shows that, in various even-challenging practical cases, this kind of approach is able to properly locate buried objects, also identifying the relevant shape features. [1] D. J. Daniels (Ed.), Ground penetrating radar. IEE Press, 2004. [2] E. Pettinelli, A. Di Matteo, E. Mattei, L. Crocco, F. Soldovieri, J. D. Redman, and A. P. Annan, "GPR response from buried pipes: measurement on field site and tomographic reconstructions," IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sensing, vol. 47, pp. 2639-2645, Aug. 2009. [3] G. Valerio, A. Galli, P. M. Barone, S. E. Lauro, E. Mattei, and E. Pettinelli, "GPR detectability of rocks in a Martian-like shallow subsoil: a numerical approach," Planet. Space Sci., 10 pp., doi: 10.1016/j.pss.2011.12.003, 2011.

  3. 49 CFR 193.2629 - External corrosion control: buried or submerged components.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false External corrosion control: buried or submerged... corrosion control: buried or submerged components. (a) Each buried or submerged component that is subject to external corrosive attack must be protected from external corrosion by— (1) Material that has been designed...

  4. 49 CFR 193.2629 - External corrosion control: buried or submerged components.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false External corrosion control: buried or submerged... corrosion control: buried or submerged components. (a) Each buried or submerged component that is subject to external corrosive attack must be protected from external corrosion by— (1) Material that has been designed...

  5. 49 CFR 193.2629 - External corrosion control: buried or submerged components.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false External corrosion control: buried or submerged... corrosion control: buried or submerged components. (a) Each buried or submerged component that is subject to external corrosive attack must be protected from external corrosion by— (1) Material that has been designed...

  6. 49 CFR 193.2629 - External corrosion control: buried or submerged components.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false External corrosion control: buried or submerged... corrosion control: buried or submerged components. (a) Each buried or submerged component that is subject to external corrosive attack must be protected from external corrosion by— (1) Material that has been designed...

  7. Study of digital charge coupled devices

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wilson, D. D.; Young, V. F.

    1980-01-01

    Charge coupled devices represent unique usage of the metal oxide semiconductor concept. These devices can sample an AC signal at the input, transfer charge proportional to this signal through the CCD shift register and then provide an output of the same frequency and shape as the input. The delay time between input and output is controlled by the CCD operating frequency and the number of stages in the shift resistor. This work is a reliability evaluation of the buried channel and surface channel CCD technologies. The constructions are analyzed, failure modes are described, and test results are reported.

  8. Energy transfer dynamics in strongly inhomogeneous hot-dense-matter systems

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

    Stillman, C. R.; Nilson, P. M.; Sefkow, A. B.

    Direct measurements of energy transfer across steep density and temperature gradients in a hot-dense-matter system are presented. Hot dense plasma conditions were generated by high-intensity laser irradiation of a thin-foil target containing a buried metal layer. Energy transfer to the layer was measured using picosecond time-resolved x-ray emission spectroscopy. Here, the data show two x-ray flashes in time. Fully explicit, coupled particle-in-cell and collisional-radiative atomic kinetics model predictions reproduce these observations, connecting the two x-ray flashes with staged radial energy transfer within the target.

  9. Energy transfer dynamics in strongly inhomogeneous hot-dense-matter systems

    DOE PAGES

    Stillman, C. R.; Nilson, P. M.; Sefkow, A. B.; ...

    2018-06-25

    Direct measurements of energy transfer across steep density and temperature gradients in a hot-dense-matter system are presented. Hot dense plasma conditions were generated by high-intensity laser irradiation of a thin-foil target containing a buried metal layer. Energy transfer to the layer was measured using picosecond time-resolved x-ray emission spectroscopy. Here, the data show two x-ray flashes in time. Fully explicit, coupled particle-in-cell and collisional-radiative atomic kinetics model predictions reproduce these observations, connecting the two x-ray flashes with staged radial energy transfer within the target.

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

    Park, J.; Ahn, Y.; Tilka, J. A.

    Disorder in the potential-energy landscape presents a major obstacle to the more rapid development of semiconductor quantum device technologies. We report a large-magnitude source of disorder, beyond commonly considered unintentional background doping or fixed charge in oxide layers: nanoscale strain fields induced by residual stresses in nanopatterned metal gates. Quantitative analysis of synchrotron coherent hard x-ray nanobeam diffraction patterns reveals gate-induced curvature and strains up to 0.03% in a buried Si quantum well within a Si/SiGe heterostructure. Furthermore, electrode stress presents both challenges to the design of devices and opportunities associated with the lateral manipulation of electronic energy levels.

  11. Neuronal nicotinic receptor antagonist reduces anxiety-like behavior in mice.

    PubMed

    Roni, Monzurul Amin; Rahman, Shafiqur

    2011-10-31

    Brain cholinergic neurotransmission has been implicated in the modulation of anxiety in humans and evidence suggests that drugs targeting neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) could have potential for the treatment of anxiety. The objective of present study was to examine anxiolytic effects of lobeline (0.04 or 0.1 mg/kg), a nAChR antagonist, in C57BL/6J mice using elevated plus-maze (EPM) and marble-burying test. Lobeline (0.04 mg/kg) significantly increased open arm time on EPM and reduced number of marbles buried. Similarly, mecamylamine (0.3 mg/kg) produced anxiolytic effects, while peripherally acting hexamethonium (0.3 mg/kg) failed to produce any response. These results provide evidence that lobeline has anxiolytic potential and nAChR antagonists may represent a new class of anxiolytics in humans. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Sexual and Overall Quality of Life Improvements After Surgical Correction of "Buried Penis".

    PubMed

    Hughes, Duncan B; Perez, Edgar; Garcia, Ryan M; Aragón, Oriana R; Erdmann, Detlev

    2016-05-01

    "Buried penis" is an increasing burden in our population with many possible etiologies. Although surgical correction of buried penis can be rewarding and successful for the surgeon, the psychological and functional impact of buried penis on the patient is less understood. The study's aim was to evaluate the sexual satisfaction and overall quality of life before and after buried penis surgery in a single-surgeon's patient population using a validated questionnaire (Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire short-form). Using Likert scales generated from the questionnaire and 1-tailed paired t test analysis, we found that there was significantly improved sexual function after correction of a buried penis. Variables individually showed that there was significant improvement with sexual pleasure, urinating, and with genital hygiene postoperatively. There were no significant differences concerning frequency of pain with orgasms. Surgical correction of buried penis significantly improves the functional, sexual, and psychological aspects of patient's lives.

  13. Investigation of historical metal objects using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technique

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

    Abdel-Kareem, O.; Ghoneim, M.; Harith, M. A.

    2011-09-22

    Analysis of metal objects is a necessary step for establishing an appropriate conservation treatment of an object or to follow up the application's result of the suggested treatments. The main considerations on selecting a method that can be used in investigation and analysis of metal objects are based on the diagnostic power, representative sampling, reproducibility, destructive nature/invasiveness of analysis and accessibility to the appropriate instrument. This study aims at evaluating the usefulness of the use of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Technique for analysis of historical metal objects. In this study various historical metal objects collected from different museums andmore » excavations in Egypt were investigated using (LIBS) technique. For evaluating usefulness of the suggested analytical protocol of this technique, the same investigated metal objects were investigated by other methods such as Scanning Electron Microscope with energy-dispersive x-ray analyzer (SEM-EDX) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). This study confirms that Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Technique is considered very useful technique that can be used safely for investigating historical metal objects. LIBS analysis can quickly provide information on the qualitative and semi-quantitative elemental content of different metal objects and their characterization and classification. It is practically non-destructive technique with the critical advantage of being applicable in situ, thereby avoiding sampling and sample preparations. It is can be dependable, satisfactory and effective method for low cost study of archaeological and historical metals. But we have to take into consideration that the corrosion of metal leads to material alteration and possible loss of certain metals in the form of soluble salts. Certain corrosion products are known to leach out of the object and therefore, their low content does not necessarily reflect the composition of the metal at the time of the object manufacture. Another point should be taken into consideration that the heterogeneity of a metal alloy object that often result from poor mixing of the different metal alloy composition.There is a necessity to carry out further research to investigate and determine the most appropriate and effective approaches and methods for conservation of these metal objects.« less

  14. Apparatus and method for imaging metallic objects using an array of giant magnetoresistive sensors

    DOEpatents

    Chaiken, Alison

    2000-01-01

    A portable, low-power, metallic object detector and method for providing an image of a detected metallic object. In one embodiment, the present portable low-power metallic object detector an array of giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensors. The array of GMR sensors is adapted for detecting the presence of and compiling image data of a metallic object. In the embodiment, the array of GMR sensors is arranged in a checkerboard configuration such that axes of sensitivity of alternate GMR sensors are orthogonally oriented. An electronics portion is coupled to the array of GMR sensors. The electronics portion is adapted to receive and process the image data of the metallic object compiled by the array of GMR sensors. The embodiment also includes a display unit which is coupled to the electronics portion. The display unit is adapted to display a graphical representation of the metallic object detected by the array of GMR sensors. In so doing, a graphical representation of the detected metallic object is provided.

  15. Instability of buried hydration sites increases protein subdomains fluctuations in the human prion protein by the pathogenic mutation T188R

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tomobe, Katsufumi; Yamamoto, Eiji; Akimoto, Takuma; Yasui, Masato; Yasuoka, Kenji

    2016-05-01

    The conformational change from the cellular prion protein (PrPc) to scrapie prion protein (PrPsc) is a key process in prion diseases. The prion protein has buried water molecules which significantly contribute to the stability of the protein; however, there has been no report investigating the influence on the buried hydration sites by a pathogenic mutation not adjacent to the buried hydration sites. Here, we perform molecular dynamics simulations of wild type (WT) PrPc and pathogenic point mutant T188R to investigate conformational changes and the buried hydration sites. In WT-PrPc, four buried hydration sites are identified by residence time and rotational relaxation analysis. However, there are no stable buried hydration sites in one of T188R simulations, which indicates that T188R sometimes makes the buried hydration sites fragile. We also find that fluctuations of subdomains S1-H1-S2 and H1-H2 increase in T188R when the buried hydration sites become unstable. Since the side chain of arginine which is replaced from threonine in T188R is larger than of threonine, the side chain cannot be embedded in the protein, which is one of the causes of the instability of subdomains. These results show correlations between the buried hydration sites and the mutation which is far from them, and provide a possible explanation for the instability by mutation.

  16. Full wave two-dimensional modeling of scattering and inverse scattering for layered rough surfaces with buried objects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kuo, Chih-Hao

    Efficient and accurate modeling of electromagnetic scattering from layered rough surfaces with buried objects finds applications ranging from detection of landmines to remote sensing of subsurface soil moisture. The formulation of a hybrid numerical/analytical solution to electromagnetic scattering from layered rough surfaces is first presented in this dissertation. The solution to scattering from each rough interface is sought independently based on the extended boundary condition method (EBCM), where the scattered fields of each rough interface are expressed as a summation of plane waves and then cast into reflection/transmission matrices. To account for interactions between multiple rough boundaries, the scattering matrix method (SMM) is applied to recursively cascade reflection and transmission matrices of each rough interface and obtain the composite reflection matrix from the overall scattering medium. The validation of this method against the Method of Moments (MoM) and Small Perturbation Method (SPM) is addressed and the numerical results which investigate the potential of low frequency radar systems in estimating deep soil moisture are presented. Computational efficiency of the proposed method is also discussed. In order to demonstrate the capability of this method in modeling coherent multiple scattering phenomena, the proposed method has been employed to analyze backscattering enhancement and satellite peaks due to surface plasmon waves from layered rough surfaces. Numerical results which show the appearance of enhanced backscattered peaks and satellite peaks are presented. Following the development of the EBCM/SMM technique, a technique which incorporates a buried object in layered rough surfaces by employing the T-matrix method and the cylindrical-to-spatial harmonics transformation is proposed. Validation and numerical results are provided. Finally, a multi-frequency polarimetric inversion algorithm for the retrieval of subsurface soil properties using VHF/UHF band radar measurements is devised. The top soil dielectric constant is first determined using an L-band inversion algorithm. For the retrieval of subsurface properties, a time-domain inversion technique is employed together with a parameter optimization for the pulse shape of time delay echoes from VHF/UHF band radar observations. Numerical studies to investigate the accuracy of the proposed inversion technique in presence of errors are addressed.

  17. Transmission mode acoustic time-reversal imaging for nondestructive evaluation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lehman, Sean K.; Devaney, Anthony J.

    2002-11-01

    In previous ASA meetings and JASA papers, the extended and formalized theory of transmission mode time reversal in which the transceivers are noncoincident was presented. When combined with the subspace concepts of a generalized MUltiple SIgnal Classification (MUSIC) algorithm, this theory is used to form super-resolution images of scatterers buried in a medium. These techniques are now applied to ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of parts, and shallow subsurface seismic imaging. Results are presented of NDE experiments on metal and epoxy blocks using data collected from an adaptive ultrasonic array, that is, a ''time-reversal machine,'' at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Also presented are the results of seismo-acoustic subsurface probing of buried hazardous waste pits at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. [Work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by University of California Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract No. W-7405-Eng-48.] [Work supported in part by CenSSIS, the Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging Systems, under the Engineering Research Centers Program of the NSF (award number EEC-9986821) as well as from Air Force Contracts No. F41624-99-D6002 and No. F49620-99-C0013.

  18. An affordable modular vehicle radar for landmine and IED detection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Daniels, David; Curtis, Paul; Dittmer, Jon; Hunt, Nigel; Graham, Blair; Allan, Robert

    2009-05-01

    This paper describes a vehicle mounted 8-channel radar system suitable for buried landmine and IED detection. The system is designed to find Anti Tank (AT) landmines and buried Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The radar uses field-proven ground penetrating radar sub-system modules and is scalable to 16, 32 or 64 channels, for covering greater swathe widths and for providing higher cross track resolution. This offers the capability of detecting smaller targets down to a minimum dimension of 100mm. The current rate of advance of the technology demonstrator is 10 kph; this can be increased to 20 kph where required. The data output is triggered via shaft encoder or via GPS and, for each forward increment; the data output is variable from a single byte per channel through to the 512 samples per channel. Trials using an autonomous vehicle, combined with a COFDM wireless link for data and telemetry back to a base station, have proven successful and the system architecture is described in this paper. The GPR array can be used as a standalone sensor or can be integrated with off-the-shelf software and a metal detection array.

  19. Tilt angle dependence of backscattering enhancements from organ pipe modes of open water-filled cylinders: Measurements and models

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Osterhoudt, Curtis F.; Marston, Philip L.

    2003-04-01

    A simple target for simulating narrow low-frequency resonances of cylinders is an open metal pipe completely filled with water. We have previously described how the high-Q organ-pipe modes having a pressure node near each end are easily observed in backscattering experiments with small cylinders [C. F. Osterhoudt and P. L. Marston, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 110, 2773 (2001)]. The resonance occurs because of the strong reflection of internal acoustic waves from the open ends of the pipe [H. Levine and J. Schwinger, Phys. Rev. 73, 383-406 (1948)]. In the present research, the dependence of the backscattering amplitude on the orientation of the cylinder is measured and modeled. The tilt angle dependence is affected by the symmetry of the organ pipe mode. An approximation was also developed for the backscattering amplitude at high Q resonances based on energy conservation, reciprocity, and the optical theorem. While this analysis applies to cylinders suspended in water away from boundaries, the organ-pipe modes studied may be useful for investigating scattering processes for buried or partially buried cylinders. [Research supported in part by ONR.

  20. High-energy electron beams for ceramic joining

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Turman, Bob N.; Glass, S. J.; Halbleib, J. A.; Helmich, D. R.; Loehman, Ron E.; Clifford, Jerome R.

    1995-03-01

    Joining of structural ceramics is possible using high melting point metals such as Mo and Pt that are heated with a high energy electron beam, with the potential for high temperature joining. A 10 MeV electron beam can penetrate through 1 cm of ceramic, offering the possibility of buried interface joining. Because of transient heating and the lower heat capacity of the metal relative to the ceramic, a pulsed high power beam has the potential for melting the metal without decomposing or melting the ceramic. We have demonstrated the feasibility of the process with a series of 10 MeV, 1 kW electron beam experiments. Shear strengths up to 28 MPa have been measured. This strength is comparable to that reported in the literature for bonding silicon nitride (Si3N4) to molybdenum with copper-silver-titanium braze, but weaker than that reported for Si3N4 - Si3N4 with gold-nickel braze. The bonding mechanism appears to be formation of a thin silicide layer. Beam damage to the Si3N4 was also assessed.

  1. Rare earth elements and critical metal content of extracted landfilled material and potential recovery opportunities.

    PubMed

    Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez, Silvia C; Coulon, Frédéric; Jiang, Ying; Wagland, Stuart

    2015-08-01

    Rare earth elements (REEs), Platinum group metals (PGMs) and other critical metals currently attract significant interest due to the high risks of supply shortage and substantial impact on the economy. Their uses in many applications have made them present in municipal solid waste (MSW) and in commercial and industrial waste (C&I), since several industrial processes produce by-products with high content of these metals. With over 4000 landfills in the UK alone, the aim of this study was to assess the existence of these critical metals within landfills. Samples collected from four closed landfills in UK were subjected to a two-step acid digestion to extract 27 metals of interest. Concentrations across the four landfill sites were 58±6mgkg(-1) for REEs comprising 44±8mgkg(-1) for light REEs, 11±2mgkg(-1) for heavy REEs and 3±1mgkg(-1) for Scandium (Sc) and 3±1.0mgkg(-1) of PGMs. Compared to the typical concentration in ores, these concentrations are too low to achieve a commercially viable extraction. However, content of other highly valuable metals (Al and Cu) was found in concentrations equating to a combined value across the four landfills of around $400 million, which increases the economic viability of landfill mining. Presence of critical metals will mainly depend on the type of waste that was buried but the recovery of these metals through landfill mining is possible and is economically feasible only if additional materials (plastics, paper, metallic items and other) are also recovered for reprocessing. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Buried topography of Utopia, Mars - Persistence of a giant impact depression

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Mcgill, George E.

    1989-01-01

    Knobs, partially buried craters, ring fractures, and some mesas permit a qualitative determination of the topography buried beneath younger northern plains materials. These features are widely distributed in the Utopia area but are absent in a large, roughly circular region centered at about 48 deg N, 240 deg W. This implies the existence of a circular depression about 3300 km in diameter buried beneath Utopia Planitia that is interpreted to represent the central part of a very large impact basin. The presence of buried curved massifs around part of this depression, and a roughly coincident mascon, lend further support. Present topography, areal geology, and paleotopography of buried surfaces all point to the persistence of this major depression for almost the entire history of Mars.

  3. Magnetic Gradient Horizontal Operator (MHGO) useful for detecting objects buried at shallow depth: cultural heritage (Villa degli Antonini, Rota Rio)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Di Filippo, Michele; Di Nezza, Maria

    2016-04-01

    Several factors were taken into consideration in order to appropriately tailor the geophysical explorations at the cultural heritage. Given the fact that each site has been neglected for a long time and in recent times used as an illegal dumping area, we thoroughly evaluated for this investigation the advantages and limitations of each specific technique, and the general conditions and history of the site. We took into account the extension of the areas to be investigated and the need for rapid data acquisition and processing. Furthermore, the survey required instrumentation with sensitivity to small background contrasts and as little as possible affected by background noise sources. In order to ascertain the existence and location of underground buried walls, a magnetic gradiometer survey (MAG) was planned. The map of the magnetic anomalies is not computed to reduction at the pole (RTP), but with a magnetic horizontal gradient operator (MHGO). The magnetic horizontal gradient operator (MHGO) generates from a grid of vertical gradient a grid of steepest slopes (i.e. the magnitude of the gradient) at any point on the surface. The MHGO is reported as a number (rise over run) rather than degrees, and the direction is opposite to that of the slope. The MHGO is zero for a horizontal surface, and approaches infinity as the slope approaches the vertical. The gradient data are especially useful for detecting objects buried at shallow depth. The map reveals some details of the anomalies of the geomagnetic field. Magnetic anomalies due to walls are more evident than in the total intensity map, whereas anomalies due to concentrations of debris are very weak. In this work we describe the results of an investigation obtained with magnetometry investigation for two archaeological sites: "Villa degli Antonini" (Genzano, Rome) and Rota Ria (Mugnano in Teverina, Viterbo). Since the main goal of the investigation was to understand the nature of magnetic anomalies with cost-effective method, we have also detection and location of underground buried structures using different instruments and techniques geophysical were carried out (EMI, GPR and microgravity) and so far excavated only in a targeted sector of the area of the anomaly labeled in order to test the validity of the geophysical survey.

  4. Subsurface characterization by the ground penetrating radar WISDOM/ExoMars 2020

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hervé, Y.; Ciarletti, V.; Le Gall, A. A.; Oudart, N.; Loizeau, D.; Guiffaut, C.; Dorizon, S.

    2017-12-01

    The main objective of the ExoMars 2020 mission is to search for signs of past and/or present life on Mars. Toward this goal, a rover was designed to investigate the shallow subsurface which is the most likely place where signs of life may be preserved, beneath the hostile surface of Mars. The rover of the ExoMars 2020 mission has on board a polarimetric ground penetrating radar called WISDOM (Water Ice Subsurface Deposits Observation on Mars). Thanks to its large frequency bandwidth of 2.5 GHz, WISDOM is able to probe down to a depth of approximately 3 m on sedimentary rock with a vertical resolution of a few centimeters.The main scientific objectives of WISDOM are to characterize the shallow subsurface of Mars, to help understand the local geological context and to identify the most promising location for drilling. The WISDOM team is currently working on the preparation of the scientific return of the ExoMars 2020 mission. In particular, tools are developed to interpret WISDOM experimental data and, more specifically, to extract information from the radar signatures of expected buried reflectors. Insights into the composition of the ground (through the retrieval of its permittivity) and the geological context of the site can be inferred from the radar signature of buried rocks since the shape and the density of rocks in the subsurface is related to the geological processes that have shaped and placed them there (impact, fluvial processes, volcanism). This paper presents results obtained by automatic detection of structures of interest on a radargram, especially radar signature of buried rocks. The algorithm we developed uses a neural network to identify the position of buried rocks/blocs and then a Hough transform to characterize each signature and to estimate the local permittivity of the medium. Firstly, we will test the performances of the algorithm on simulated data constructed with a 3D FDTD code. This code allows us to simulate radar operation in realistic environments. Secondly, we will test our algorithm on experimental data acquired in a semi-controlled environment. Lastly, we will present experimental data acquired during a recent field campaign (July 2017) in the south of France and we will validate our method and illustrate the ability of WISDOM to provide clues about the geological context of a site.

  5. Building America Case Study: Compact Buried Ducts in a Hot-Humid Climate House, Lady's Island, South Carolina

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

    2016-02-01

    A system of compact, buried ducts provides a high-performance and cost-effective solution for delivering conditioned air throughout the building. This report outlines research activities that are expected to facilitate adoption of compact buried duct systems by builders. The results of this research would be scalable to many new house designs in most climates and markets, leading to wider industry acceptance and building code and energy program approval. The primary research question with buried ducts is potential condensation at the outer jacket of the duct insulation in humid climates during the cooling season. Current best practices for buried ducts rely onmore » encapsulating the insulated ducts with closed-cell spray polyurethane foam insulation to control condensation and improve air sealing. The encapsulated buried duct concept has been analyzed and shown to be effective in hot-humid climates. The purpose of this project is to develop an alternative buried duct system that performs effectively as ducts in conditioned space - durable, energy efficient, and cost-effective - in a hot-humid climate (IECC warm-humid climate zone 3A) with three goals that distinguish this project: 1) Evaluation of design criteria for buried ducts that use common materials and do not rely on encapsulation using spray foam or disrupt traditional work sequences, 2) Establishing design criteria for compact ducts and incorporate those with the buried duct criteria to further reduce energy losses and control installed costs, and 3) Developing HVAC design guidance for performing accurate heating and cooling load calculations for compact buried ducts.« less

  6. Compact Buried Ducts in a Hot-Humid Climate House

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

    Mallay, Dave

    2016-01-07

    "9A system of compact, buried ducts provides a high-performance and cost-effective solution for delivering conditioned air throughout the building. This report outlines research activities that are expected to facilitate adoption of compact buried duct systems by builders. The results of this research would be scalable to many new house designs in most climates and markets, leading to wider industry acceptance and building code and energy program approval. The primary research question with buried ducts is potential condensation at the outer jacket of the duct insulation in humid climates during the cooling season. Current best practices for buried ducts rely onmore » encapsulating the insulated ducts with closed-cell spray polyurethane foam insulation to control condensation and improve air sealing. The encapsulated buried duct concept has been analyzed and shown to be effective in hot-humid climates. The purpose of this project is to develop an alternative buried duct system that performs effectively as ducts in conditioned space - durable, energy efficient, and cost-effective - in a hot-humid climate (IECC warm-humid climate zone 3A) with three goals that distinguish this project: 1) Evaluation of design criteria for buried ducts that use common materials and do not rely on encapsulation using spray foam or disrupt traditional work sequences; 2) Establishing design criteria for compact ducts and incorporate those with the buried duct criteria to further reduce energy losses and control installed costs; 3) Developing HVAC design guidance for performing accurate heating and cooling load calculations for compact buried ducts.« less

  7. Attic Dust Analysis Approach for Evaluation of Heavy Metal Deposition on the El Paso Del Norte Region

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shekhter, E. G.; van Pelt, S.; Pannell, K.; Gill, T. E.; Barnes, M. A.

    2010-12-01

    The El Paso del Norte region in the United States is a region of complex topography that is the home to more than 2 million people who share the same air. A large non-ferrous smelter (primary lead-copper smelter),owned by the American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO), was functioning in the Rio Grande River valley on the west side of the Franklin Mountains that divide the city of El Paso and across the river from Juarez, Mexico’s largest city on the United States border. During the more than 100 years of operation, beginning in 1887, the ASARCO smelter emissions considerably deteriorated the already complex environmental condition on the US-Mexican border. In order to identify the sources and patterns of heavy metal dispersion, we used an attic dust analyses approach which has not been previously been applied in this area. Undisturbed attic dust can provide an integrated history of atmospheric loading of particulates emanating from geological, biological and anthropogenic sources and can help to reconstruct the air pollution history on a local scale. We sampled attic dust and dust from undisturbed surfaces in 15 buildings of varying ages from three neighborhoods in the cities of El Paso and Juarez. The dust samples and samples of unpolluted buried soil horizons in the area were extracted with aqua regia and analyzed by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. Enrichment ratios (ER) were calculated by dividing the concentration of a trace metal in the attic dust by the mean concentration of the same element in the buried soil horizons. Mean ER for Pb were 263.3, 95.4, and 70.2 for dust collected in a neighborhood near the smelter, downtown Juarez, and an El Paso neighborhood on the other side of the Franklin Mountains from the smelter. Greater ER for As, Cd, Zn, Sb, and Cu followed the same trends, by neighborhood, noted for Pb. In addition, dust collected from attics surfaces (pipes, ducts, storage containers) post-dating smelter disclosure had lower ER for the trace metals than samples collected on adjacent surfaces that were present during the period of smelter operation. Based on the evidence provided by dust chemistry, we conclude that heavy metal contamination was predominantly from smelter stack emissions, was preferentially deposited on the near field, and generally followed the lower path provided by Rio Grande valley rather than mixing to heights that could result in movement over the Franklin Mountains and deposition on the east side of El Paso.

  8. Review on analog/radio frequency performance of advanced silicon MOSFETs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Passi, Vikram; Raskin, Jean-Pierre

    2017-12-01

    Aggressive gate-length downscaling of the metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) has been the main stimulus for the growth of the integrated circuit industry. This downscaling, which has proved beneficial to digital circuits, is primarily the result of the need for improved circuit performance and cost reduction and has resulted in tremendous reduction of the carrier transit time across the channel, thereby resulting in very high cut-off frequencies. It is only in recent decades that complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) field-effect transistor (FET) has been considered as the radio frequency (RF) technology of choice. In this review, the status of the digital, analog and RF figures of merit (FoM) of silicon-based FETs is presented. State-of-the-art devices with very good performance showing low values of drain-induced barrier lowering, sub-threshold swing, high values of gate transconductance, Early voltage, cut-off frequencies, and low minimum noise figure, and good low-frequency noise characteristic values are reported. The dependence of these FoM on the device gate length is also shown, helping the readers to understand the trends and challenges faced by shorter CMOS nodes. Device performance boosters including silicon-on-insulator substrates, multiple-gate architectures, strain engineering, ultra-thin body and buried-oxide and also III-V and 2D materials are discussed, highlighting the transistor characteristics that are influenced by these boosters. A brief comparison of the two main contenders in continuing Moore’s law, ultra-thin body buried-oxide and fin field-effect transistors are also presented. The authors would like to mention that despite extensive research carried out in the semiconductor industry, silicon-based MOSFET will continue to be the driving force in the foreseeable future.

  9. Numerical Modeling of Mechanical Behavior for Buried Steel Pipelines Crossing Subsidence Strata

    PubMed Central

    Han, C. J.

    2015-01-01

    This paper addresses the mechanical behavior of buried steel pipeline crossing subsidence strata. The investigation is based on numerical simulation of the nonlinear response of the pipeline-soil system through finite element method, considering large strain and displacement, inelastic material behavior of buried pipeline and the surrounding soil, as well as contact and friction on the pipeline-soil interface. Effects of key parameters on the mechanical behavior of buried pipeline were investigated, such as strata subsidence, diameter-thickness ratio, buried depth, internal pressure, friction coefficient and soil properties. The results show that the maximum strain appears on the outer transition subsidence section of the pipeline, and its cross section is concave shaped. With the increasing of strata subsidence and diameter-thickness ratio, the out of roundness, longitudinal strain and equivalent plastic strain increase gradually. With the buried depth increasing, the deflection, out of roundness and strain of the pipeline decrease. Internal pressure and friction coefficient have little effect on the deflection of buried pipeline. Out of roundness is reduced and the strain is increased gradually with the increasing of internal pressure. The physical properties of soil have a great influence on the mechanical properties of buried pipeline. The results from the present study can be used for the development of optimization design and preventive maintenance for buried steel pipelines. PMID:26103460

  10. Buried Oxide Densification for Low Power, Low Voltage CMOS Applications

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Allen, L. P.; Anc, M. J.; Dolan, B.; Jiao, J.; Guss, B.; Seraphin, S.; Liu, S. T.; Jenkins, W.

    1998-01-01

    Special technology and circuit architecture are of growing interest for implementation of circuits which operate at low supply voltages and consume low power levels without sacrificing performance[1]. Use of thin buried oxide SOI substrates is a primary approach to simultaneously achieve these goals. A significant aspect regarding SIMOX SOI for low voltage, low power applications is the reliability and performance of the thin buried oxide. In addition, when subjected to high total dose irradiation, the silicon islands within the BOX layer of SIMOX can store charges and significantly effect the back channel threshold voltages of devices. Thus, elimination of the islands within the buried oxide (BOX) layer is preferred in order to prevent leakage through these conductive islands and charge build-up within the buried oxide layer. A differential (2-step) ramp rate as applied to full and 100 nm BOX SIMOX was previously reported to play a significant role in the stoichiometry and island formation within the buried layer[2]. This paper focus is on the properties of a thin (120nm) buried oxide as a function of the anneal ramp rate and the temperature of anneal. In this research, we have found an improvement in the buried oxide stoichiometry with the use of a slower, singular ramp rate for specified thin buried oxides, with slower ramp rates and higher temperatures of anneal suggested for reducing the presence of Si islands within the BOX layer.

  11. Buried aquifers in the Brooten-Belgrade and Lake Emily areas, west-central Minnesota--Factors related to developing water for irrigation

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Wolf, R.J.

    1976-01-01

    Potential water problems include slow rate of recharge to buried aquifers, and head loss caused by screening of the surficial and buried aquifers in the same well, and by allowing well to flow unabated. Another potential problem is possible pollution of the buried aquifers through the boreholes of multiaquifer wells.

  12. Systems and Methods for Fabricating Objects Including Amorphous Metal Using Techniques Akin to Additive Manufacturing

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hofmann, Douglas (Inventor)

    2017-01-01

    Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention fabricate objects including amorphous metals using techniques akin to additive manufacturing. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating an object that includes an amorphous metal includes: applying a first layer of molten metallic alloy to a surface; cooling the first layer of molten metallic alloy such that it solidifies and thereby forms a first layer including amorphous metal; subsequently applying at least one layer of molten metallic alloy onto a layer including amorphous metal; cooling each subsequently applied layer of molten metallic alloy such that it solidifies and thereby forms a layer including amorphous metal prior to the application of any adjacent layer of molten metallic alloy; where the aggregate of the solidified layers including amorphous metal forms a desired shape in the object to be fabricated; and removing at least the first layer including amorphous metal from the surface.

  13. Shallow Water Imaging Sonar System for Environmental Surveying Final Report CRADA No. TC-1130-95

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

    Ng, L. C.; Rosenbaum, H.

    The scope of this research is to develop a shallow water sonar system designed to detect and map the location of objects such as hazardous wastes or discarded ordnance in coastal waters. The system will use high frequency wide-bandwidth imaging sonar, mounted on a moving platform towed behind a boat, to detect and identify objects on the sea bottom. Resolved images can be obtained even if the targets are buried in an overlayer of silt. Reference 1 ( also attached) summarized the statement of work and the scope of collaboration.

  14. Anomalous metal concentrations in soil and till at the Ballinalack Zn-Pb deposit, Ireland

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kalveram, Ann-Kristin; McClenaghan, Seán H.; Kamber, Balz S.

    2017-04-01

    Metals such as zinc, iron, arsenic and lead are commonly found in low concentrations within soils. These signatures may occur as a result of natural dispersion from metal-bearing geological formations and (or) from anthropogenic sources. Prior to investigating any high or anomalous concentrations of metals in the surficial environment, it is important to reconcile potential sources of metals and verify whether element anomalies are in response to buried mineralization. Here we show how to distinguish true elevated concentrations from naturally occurring variations within a soil system. The research area is situated above the limestone-hosted Ballinalack Zn-Pb deposit in the central Irish Midlands. To investigate the pedogenesis and its related geochemical signature, top of the till and the BC soil horizon were sampled. Although the area can be described as pasture land, it does not preclude previous anthropogenic influences from former agricultural use and local small scale peat harvesting. For the soil BC horizon as well as in the top of the till, aqua regia-digestible element concentrations vary significantly and locally reach anomalous levels: Zn (median: 104 ppm; range: 27 - 13150 ppm), Pb (median: 16 ppm; range: 2 - 6430 ppm), As (median: 7.7 ppm; range: 1.4 - 362 ppm), Ag (median: 0.12 ppm; range: 0.04 - 19.9 ppm), Ba (median: 40 ppm; range: 10 - 1230 ppm), Cd (median: 1.5 ppm; range: 0.2 - 68 ppm), Co (median: 7.3 ppm; range: 0.5 - 22 ppm), Ni (median: 37 ppm; range: 3 - 134 ppm), Fe (median: 17900 ppm; range: 5000 - 52300 ppm), Ga (median: 2.4 ppm; range: 0.3 - 7.6 ppm), Sb (median: 1.2 ppm; range: 0.1 - 197 ppm) and Tl (median: 0.3 ppm; range: 0.02 - 8.6 ppm). Comparison with background levels from the area and grouped according to underlying geology, enrichment factor calculations (against Nb and Zr) indicate an elemental response to metalliferous-bearing bedrock. These results confirm that soil anomalies of Zn, Pb, As, Ag, Ba, Cd, Ni, Sb and Tl, are consistent with the characteristics of buried Waulsortian-hosted sulphide mineralization; furthermore, Mo, Se, Sn and V are anomalous. Principal component analysis reveals a strong geochemical relationship between Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Pb, Sb, Tl and Zn in soils, representing metal dispersion from a shallow sulphide lens underneath till and soil horizons. Results of laser ablation ICP-MS analyses of pyrite and sphalerite from the Ballinalack deposit confirm this geochemical relationship. These outcomes have helped to distinguish between true geological anomalies and possible anthropogenic inputs, an important consideration for any mineral exploration activities on cultivated land.

  15. Image-based overlay and alignment metrology through optically opaque media with sub-surface probe microscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    van Es, Maarten H.; Mohtashami, Abbas; Piras, Daniele; Sadeghian, Hamed

    2018-03-01

    Nondestructive subsurface nanoimaging through optically opaque media is considered to be extremely challenging and is essential for several semiconductor metrology applications including overlay and alignment and buried void and defect characterization. The current key challenge in overlay and alignment is the measurement of targets that are covered by optically opaque layers. Moreover, with the device dimensions moving to the smaller nodes and the issue of the so-called loading effect causing offsets between between targets and product features, it is increasingly desirable to perform alignment and overlay on product features or so-called on-cell overlay, which requires higher lateral resolution than optical methods can provide. Our recently developed technique known as SubSurface Ultrasonic Resonance Force Microscopy (SSURFM) has shown the capability for high-resolution imaging of structures below a surface based on (visco-)elasticity of the constituent materials and as such is a promising technique to perform overlay and alignment with high resolution in upcoming production nodes. In this paper, we describe the developed SSURFM technique and the experimental results on imaging buried features through various layers and the ability to detect objects with resolution below 10 nm. In summary, the experimental results show that the SSURFM is a potential solution for on-cell overlay and alignment as well as detecting buried defects or voids and generally metrology through optically opaque layers.

  16. Buried object detection in GPR images

    DOEpatents

    Paglieroni, David W; Chambers, David H; Bond, Steven W; Beer, W. Reginald

    2014-04-29

    A method and system for detecting the presence of subsurface objects within a medium is provided. In some embodiments, the imaging and detection system operates in a multistatic mode to collect radar return signals generated by an array of transceiver antenna pairs that is positioned across the surface and that travels down the surface. The imaging and detection system pre-processes the return signal to suppress certain undesirable effects. The imaging and detection system then generates synthetic aperture radar images from real aperture radar images generated from the pre-processed return signal. The imaging and detection system then post-processes the synthetic aperture radar images to improve detection of subsurface objects. The imaging and detection system identifies peaks in the energy levels of the post-processed image frame, which indicates the presence of a subsurface object.

  17. Discrimination Report: ESTCP UXO Discrimination Study, ESTCPProject #MM-0437

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

    Gasperikova, Erika; Smith, J. Torquil; Morrison, H. Frank

    2007-12-21

    The FY06 Defense Appropriation contains funding for the 'Development of Advanced, Sophisticated, Discrimination Technologies for UXO Cleanup' in the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program. In 2003, the Defense Science Board observed: 'The problem is that instruments that can detect the buried UXOs also detect numerous scrap metal objects and other artifacts, which leads to an enormous amount of expensive digging. Typically 100 holes may be dug before a real UXO is unearthed! The Task Force assessment is that much of this wasteful digging can be eliminated by the use of more advanced technology instruments that exploit modern digital processing andmore » advanced multi-mode sensors to achieve an improved level of discrimination of scrap from UXOs.' Significant progress has been made in discrimination technology. To date, testing of these approaches has been primarily limited to test sites with only limited application at live sites. Acceptance of discrimination technologies requires demonstration of system capabilities at real UXO sites under real world conditions. Any attempt to declare detected anomalies to be harmless and requiring no further investigation require demonstration to regulators of not only individual technologies, but of an entire decision making process. This discrimination study was be the first phase in what is expected to be a continuing effort that will span several years.« less

  18. A teleoperated system for remote site characterization

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sandness, Gerald A.; Richardson, Bradley S.; Pence, Jon

    1994-01-01

    The detection and characterization of buried objects and materials is an important step in the restoration of burial sites containing chemical and radioactive waste materials at Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Defense (DOD) facilities. By performing these tasks with remotely controlled sensors, it is possible to obtain improved data quality and consistency as well as enhanced safety for on-site workers. Therefore, the DOE Office of Technology Development and the US Army Environmental Center have jointly supported the development of the Remote Characterization System (RCS). One of the main components of the RCS is a small remotely driven survey vehicle that can transport various combinations of geophysical and radiological sensors. Currently implemented sensors include ground-penetrating radar, magnetometers, an electromagnetic induction sensor, and a sodium iodide radiation detector. The survey vehicle was constructed predominantly of non-metallic materials to minimize its effect on the operation of its geophysical sensors. The system operator controls the vehicle from a remote, truck-mounted, base station. Video images are transmitted to the base station by a radio link to give the operator necessary visual information. Vehicle control commands, tracking information, and sensor data are transmitted between the survey vehicle and the base station by means of a radio ethernet link. Precise vehicle tracking coordinates are provided by a differential Global Positioning System (GPS).

  19. Elastic Bottom Propagation Mechanisms Investigated by Parabolic Equation Methods

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-09-30

    channel propagation of oceanic T waves from seismic sources in the presence of intervening seamounts or coral reef barriers is established using elastic PE...environments in the form of scattering at an elastic interface, oceanic T - waves , and Scholte waves . OBJECTIVES To implement explosive and earthquake...oceanic T - waves , which are acoustic waves that result from earthquake or buried explosive sources, and Rayleigh-type waves along the ocean floor, whose

  20. A Spatial Display for Ground-Penetrating Radar Change Detection

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-09-01

    rights reserved. Author ............................ Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science September 1, 2013 Certified by...a new member of the Lincoln community. Thank you, Rebecca, for being you and being here with me at MIT. I would like to thank my parents for their...alteration in the height of dirt under it. This capability will raise the chance of detecting a place where someone buried an object by detecting the

  1. Chromium oxide as a metal diffusion barrier layer: An x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ahamad Mohiddon, Md.; Lakshun Naidu, K.; Ghanashyam Krishna, M.; Dalba, G.; Ahmed, S. I.; Rocca, F.

    2014-01-01

    The interaction at the interface between chromium and amorphous Silicon (a-Si) films in the presence of a sandwich layer of chromium oxide is investigated using X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy. The oxidized interface was created, in situ, prior to the deposition of a 400 nm tick a-Si layer over a 50 nm tick Cr layer. The entire stack of substrate/metallic Cr/Cr2O3/a-Si was then annealed at temperatures from 300 up to 700 °C. Analysis of the near edge and extended regions of each XAFS spectrum shows that only a small fraction of Cr is able to diffuse through the oxide layer up to 500 °C, while the remaining fraction is buried under the oxide layer in the form of metallic Cr. At higher temperatures, diffusion through the oxide layer is enhanced and the diffused metallic Cr reacts with a-Si to form CrSi2. At 700 °C, the film contains Cr2O3 and CrSi2 without evidence of unreacted metallic Cr. The activation energy and diffusion coefficient of Cr are quantitatively determined in the two temperature regions, one where the oxide acts as diffusion barrier and another where it is transparent to Cr diffusion. It is thus demonstrated that chromium oxide can be used as a diffusion barrier to prevent metal diffusion into a-Si.

  2. A comparison of robust principal component analysis techniques for buried object detection in downward looking GPR sensor data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pinar, Anthony; Havens, Timothy C.; Rice, Joseph; Masarik, Matthew; Burns, Joseph; Thelen, Brian

    2016-05-01

    Explosive hazards are a deadly threat in modern conflicts; hence, detecting them before they cause injury or death is of paramount importance. One method of buried explosive hazard discovery relies on data collected from ground penetrating radar (GPR) sensors. Threat detection with downward looking GPR is challenging due to large returns from non-target objects and clutter. This leads to a large number of false alarms (FAs), and since the responses of clutter and targets can form very similar signatures, classifier design is not trivial. One approach to combat these issues uses robust principal component analysis (RPCA) to enhance target signatures while suppressing clutter and background responses, though there are many versions of RPCA. This work applies some of these RPCA techniques to GPR sensor data and evaluates their merit using the peak signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR) of the RPCA-processed B-scans. Experimental results on government furnished data show that while some of the RPCA methods yield similar results, there are indeed some methods that outperform others. Furthermore, we show that the computation time required by the different RPCA methods varies widely, and the selection of tuning parameters in the RPCA algorithms has a major effect on the peak SCR.

  3. Surface Instabilities From Buried Explosives

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-07-21

    interface between soil and air during buried explosions. The purpose of understanding this instability is to determine its effect on local vehicle loading...Except when the target is on the surface, e.g., a tank track, the most important loading mechanism from a buried charge is the impact of soil propelled...rising soil and the air. This unstable 15. SUBJECT TERMS Buried Explosions, Richtmyer-Meshkov Instability, Target Loading, Jetting, 16 SECURITY

  4. Influence of contaminant burial depth on the bioaccumulation of PCBs and PBDEs by two benthic invertebrates (Monoporeia affinis and Marenzelleria spp.).

    PubMed

    Josefsson, Sarah; Leonardsson, Kjell; Gunnarsson, Jonas S; Wiberg, Karin

    2011-11-01

    The bioaccumulation of buried polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) added to specific depths in sediment (2.0-2.5, 5.0-5.5 and 10.0-10.5cm) was studied in two infaunal species with similar feeding habits (surface deposit-feeders) but different bioturbation modes. The deep-burrowing polychaetes Marenzelleria spp. (Mz) displayed up to 36 times higher tissue concentrations of buried (spiked) contaminants than the surface-dwelling biodiffusing amphipod Monoporeia affinis. The differences in bioaccumulation were most pronounced for less hydrophobic contaminants due to the bioirrigating activity of Mz. Contaminants buried at shallow depths displayed higher accumulation than more deeply buried contaminants. In contrast, the bioaccumulation of unspiked (native) contaminants with a uniform vertical distribution in the sediment was similar between the species. For Mz, the BSAFs increased with increased K(OW) for the uniformly distributed contaminants, but decreased for the buried contaminants, which indicates that the dominant uptake routes of the buried contaminants can differ from the uniformly distributed contaminants. The surface sediment concentration of buried contaminants increased in Mz treatments, showing that Mz bioturbation can remobilize historically buried contaminants to the biologically active surface layer and increase the exposure for surface-dwelling species. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Structural and thermodynamic consequences of burial of an artificial ion pair in the hydrophobic interior of a protein.

    PubMed

    Robinson, Aaron C; Castañeda, Carlos A; Schlessman, Jamie L; García-Moreno, E Bertrand

    2014-08-12

    An artificial charge pair buried in the hydrophobic core of staphylococcal nuclease was engineered by making the V23E and L36K substitutions. Buried individually, Glu-23 and Lys-36 both titrate with pKa values near 7. When buried together their pKa values appear to be normal. The ionizable moieties of the buried Glu-Lys pair are 2.6 Å apart. The interaction between them at pH 7 is worth 5 kcal/mol. Despite this strong interaction, the buried Glu-Lys pair destabilizes the protein significantly because the apparent Coulomb interaction is sufficient to offset the dehydration of only one of the two buried charges. Save for minor reorganization of dipoles and water penetration consistent with the relatively high dielectric constant reported by the buried ion pair, there is no evidence that the presence of two charges in the hydrophobic interior of the protein induces any significant structural reorganization. The successful engineering of an artificial ion pair in a highly hydrophobic environment suggests that buried Glu-Lys pairs in dehydrated environments can be charged and that it is possible to engineer charge clusters that loosely resemble catalytic sites in a scaffold protein with high thermodynamic stability, without the need for specialized structural adaptations.

  6. Structural and thermodynamic consequences of burial of an artificial ion pair in the hydrophobic interior of a protein

    PubMed Central

    Robinson, Aaron C.; Castañeda, Carlos A.; Schlessman, Jamie L.; García-Moreno E., Bertrand

    2014-01-01

    An artificial charge pair buried in the hydrophobic core of staphylococcal nuclease was engineered by making the V23E and L36K substitutions. Buried individually, Glu-23 and Lys-36 both titrate with pKa values near 7. When buried together their pKa values appear to be normal. The ionizable moieties of the buried Glu–Lys pair are 2.6 Å apart. The interaction between them at pH 7 is worth 5 kcal/mol. Despite this strong interaction, the buried Glu–Lys pair destabilizes the protein significantly because the apparent Coulomb interaction is sufficient to offset the dehydration of only one of the two buried charges. Save for minor reorganization of dipoles and water penetration consistent with the relatively high dielectric constant reported by the buried ion pair, there is no evidence that the presence of two charges in the hydrophobic interior of the protein induces any significant structural reorganization. The successful engineering of an artificial ion pair in a highly hydrophobic environment suggests that buried Glu–Lys pairs in dehydrated environments can be charged and that it is possible to engineer charge clusters that loosely resemble catalytic sites in a scaffold protein with high thermodynamic stability, without the need for specialized structural adaptations. PMID:25074910

  7. Method and apparatus for increasing resistance of bipolar buried layer integrated circuit devices to single-event upsets

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Zoutendyk, John A. (Inventor)

    1991-01-01

    Bipolar transistors fabricated in separate buried layers of an integrated circuit chip are electrically isolated with a built-in potential barrier established by doping the buried layer with a polarity opposite doping in the chip substrate. To increase the resistance of the bipolar transistors to single-event upsets due to ionized particle radiation, the substrate is biased relative to the buried layer with an external bias voltage selected to offset the built-in potential just enough (typically between about +0.1 to +0.2 volt) to prevent an accumulation of charge in the buried-layer-substrate junction.

  8. Plasmon-enhanced scattering and charge transfer in few-layer graphene interacting with buried printed 2D-pattern of silver nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Carles, R.; Bayle, M.; Bonafos, C.

    2018-04-01

    Hybrid structures combing silver nanoparticles and few-layer graphene have been synthetized by combining low-energy ion beam synthesis and stencil techniques. A single plane of metallic nanoparticles plays the role of an embedded plasmonic enhancer located in dedicated areas at a controlled nanometer distance from deposited graphene layers. Optical imaging, reflectance and Raman scattering mapping are used to measure the enhancement of electronic and vibrational properties of these layers. In particular electronic Raman scattering is shown as notably efficient to analyze the optical transfer of charge carriers between the systems and the presence of intrinsic and extrinsic defects.

  9. RYAN HILL ROADLESS AREA, NEW MEXICO.

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Maxwell, C.H.; Ellis, C.E.

    1984-01-01

    On the basis of a geochemical survey, the Ryan Hill Roadless Area, now the Langmuir Research Site in New Mexico has both probable and substantiated resource potential for manganese deposits. The nature of the geologic terrane holds little likelihood for the occurrence of organic fuels. Additional geochemical studies of the manganese vein systems are desirable to better delineate the resource potential; mineralogical and metallurgical studies are needed to determine recoverability of potentially important byproducts, including tungsten and cobalt. Drilling into the vein system at depth would be required to test the continuity of the manganese deposits and evaluate the resource potential of the area for deeply buried base- and precious-metal resources.

  10. Plasmon-enhanced scattering and charge transfer in few-layer graphene interacting with buried printed 2D-pattern of silver nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Carles, R; Bayle, M; Bonafos, C

    2018-04-27

    Hybrid structures combing silver nanoparticles and few-layer graphene have been synthetized by combining low-energy ion beam synthesis and stencil techniques. A single plane of metallic nanoparticles plays the role of an embedded plasmonic enhancer located in dedicated areas at a controlled nanometer distance from deposited graphene layers. Optical imaging, reflectance and Raman scattering mapping are used to measure the enhancement of electronic and vibrational properties of these layers. In particular electronic Raman scattering is shown as notably efficient to analyze the optical transfer of charge carriers between the systems and the presence of intrinsic and extrinsic defects.

  11. Electrode-stress-induced nanoscale disorder in Si quantum electronic devices

    DOE PAGES

    Park, J.; Ahn, Y.; Tilka, J. A.; ...

    2016-06-20

    Disorder in the potential-energy landscape presents a major obstacle to the more rapid development of semiconductor quantum device technologies. We report a large-magnitude source of disorder, beyond commonly considered unintentional background doping or fixed charge in oxide layers: nanoscale strain fields induced by residual stresses in nanopatterned metal gates. Quantitative analysis of synchrotron coherent hard x-ray nanobeam diffraction patterns reveals gate-induced curvature and strains up to 0.03% in a buried Si quantum well within a Si/SiGe heterostructure. Furthermore, electrode stress presents both challenges to the design of devices and opportunities associated with the lateral manipulation of electronic energy levels.

  12. Dependence of the Carrier Transport Characteristics on the Buried Layer Thickness in Ambipolar Double-Layer Organic Field-Effect Transistors Investigated by Electrical and Optical Measurements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Le; Taguchi, Dai; Manaka, Takaaki; Iwamoto, Mitsumasa

    2013-05-01

    By using current-voltage (I-V) measurements and optical modulation spectroscopy, we investigated the dependence of the carrier behaviour on the film thickness of the buried pentacene layer in C60/pentacene ambipolar double-layer organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). It was found that the buried pentacene layer not only acted as a hole transport layer, but also accounted for the properties of the C60/pentacene interface. The hole and electron behaviour exhibited different thickness dependence on the buried pentacene layer, implying the presence of the spatially separated conduction paths. It was suggested that the injected holes transported along the pentacene/gate dielectric interface, which were little affected by the buried pentacene layer thickness or the upper C60 layer; while, the injected electrons accumulated at the C60/pentacene interface, which were sensitive to the interfacial conditions or the buried pentacene layer. Furthermore, it was suggested that the enhanced surface roughness of the buried pentacene layer was responsible for the observed electron behaviour, especially when dpent>10 nm.

  13. Application of morphological associative memories and Fourier descriptors for classification of noisy subsurface signatures

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ortiz, Jorge L.; Parsiani, Hamed; Tolstoy, Leonid

    2004-02-01

    This paper presents a method for recognition of Noisy Subsurface Images using Morphological Associative Memories (MAM). MAM are type of associative memories that use a new kind of neural networks based in the algebra system known as semi-ring. The operations performed in this algebraic system are highly nonlinear providing additional strength when compared to other transformations. Morphological associative memories are a new kind of neural networks that provide a robust performance with noisy inputs. Two representations of morphological associative memories are used called M and W matrices. M associative memory provides a robust association with input patterns corrupted by dilative random noise, while the W associative matrix performs a robust recognition in patterns corrupted with erosive random noise. The robust performance of MAM is used in combination of the Fourier descriptors for the recognition of underground objects in Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) images. Multiple 2-D GPR images of a site are made available by NASA-SSC center. The buried objects in these images appear in the form of hyperbolas which are the results of radar backscatter from the artifacts or objects. The Fourier descriptors of the prototype hyperbola-like and shapes from non-hyperbola shapes in the sub-surface images are used to make these shapes scale-, shift-, and rotation-invariant. Typical hyperbola-like and non-hyperbola shapes are used to calculate the morphological associative memories. The trained MAMs are used to process other noisy images to detect the presence of these underground objects. The outputs from the MAM using the noisy patterns may be equal to the training prototypes, providing a positive identification of the artifacts. The results are images with recognized hyperbolas which indicate the presence of buried artifacts. A model using MATLAB has been developed and results are presented.

  14. Electrochemical method for synthesizing metal-containing particles and other objects

    DOEpatents

    Rondinone, Adam Justin; Ivanov, Ilia N.; Smith, Sean Campbell; Liang, Chengdu; Hensley, Dale K.; Moon, Ji-Won; Phelps, Tommy Joe

    2017-05-02

    The invention is directed to a method for producing metal-containing (e.g., non-oxide, oxide, or elemental) nano-objects, which may be nanoparticles or nanowires, the method comprising contacting an aqueous solution comprising a metal salt and water with an electrically powered electrode to form said metal-containing nano-objects dislodged from the electrode, wherein said electrode possesses a nanotextured surface that functions to confine the particle growth process to form said metal-containing nano-objects. The invention is also directed to the resulting metal-containing compositions as well as devices in which they are incorporated.

  15. High-performance a-IGZO thin-film transistor with conductive indium-tin-oxide buried layer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ahn, Min-Ju; Cho, Won-Ju

    2017-10-01

    In this study, we fabricated top-contact top-gate (TCTG) structure of amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) with a thin buried conductive indium-tin oxide (ITO) layer. The electrical performance of a-IGZO TFTs was improved by inserting an ITO buried layer under the IGZO channel. Also, the effect of the buried layer's length on the electrical characteristics of a-IGZO TFTs was investigated. The electrical performance of the transistors improved with increasing the buried layer's length: a large on/off current ratio of 1.1×107, a high field-effect mobility of 35.6 cm2/Vs, a small subthreshold slope of 116.1 mV/dec, and a low interface trap density of 4.2×1011 cm-2eV-1 were obtained. The buried layer a-IGZO TFTs exhibited enhanced transistor performance and excellent stability against the gate bias stress.

  16. Metals. Industrial Arts. Performance Objectives, Junior High School.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bunch, Edwood; And Others

    Several intermediate performance objectives and corresponding criterion measures are listed for a metals course for seventh, eighth, and ninth grade students. The seventh grade section includes 13 terminal objectives for a 9-week course and provides exploratory units in bench metals and sheet metals. Industrial materials and processes receive…

  17. A comparison between decomposition rates of buried and surface remains in a temperate region of South Africa.

    PubMed

    Marais-Werner, Anátulie; Myburgh, J; Becker, P J; Steyn, M

    2018-01-01

    Several studies have been conducted on decomposition patterns and rates of surface remains; however, much less are known about this process for buried remains. Understanding the process of decomposition in buried remains is extremely important and aids in criminal investigations, especially when attempting to estimate the post mortem interval (PMI). The aim of this study was to compare the rates of decomposition between buried and surface remains. For this purpose, 25 pigs (Sus scrofa; 45-80 kg) were buried and excavated at different post mortem intervals (7, 14, 33, 92, and 183 days). The observed total body scores were then compared to those of surface remains decomposing at the same location. Stages of decomposition were scored according to separate categories for different anatomical regions based on standardised methods. Variation in the degree of decomposition was considerable especially with the buried 7-day interval pigs that displayed different degrees of discolouration in the lower abdomen and trunk. At 14 and 33 days, buried pigs displayed features commonly associated with the early stages of decomposition, but with less variation. A state of advanced decomposition was reached where little change was observed in the next ±90-183 days after interment. Although the patterns of decomposition for buried and surface remains were very similar, the rates differed considerably. Based on the observations made in this study, guidelines for the estimation of PMI are proposed. This pertains to buried remains found at a depth of approximately 0.75 m in the Central Highveld of South Africa.

  18. The role of dung beetles as a secondary seed disperser after dispersal by frugivore mammals in a temperate deciduous forest

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Koike, Shinsuke; Morimoto, Hideto; Kozakai, Chinatsu; Arimoto, Isao; Soga, Masashi; Yamazaki, Koji; Koganezawa, Masaaki

    2012-05-01

    We studied the effects of dung beetles on the fates of endozoochorous seeds of five species (Prunus jamasakura, Prunus verecunda, Prunus grayana, Swida controversa, and Vitis coignetiae) in a temperate deciduous forest in Japan during 2004-2006. In field experiments using dung of the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), we investigated the depths that dung beetles (Onthophagus atripennis, Onthophagus lenzii, and Phelotrupes auratus) buried seeds (4.8-6.8 mm diameter) and plastic markers (2 or 5 mm diameter), the levels of predation on buried and unburied seeds, and germination rates of seeds buried to different depths. All three species buried the 2-mm markers, but only P. auratus buried the seeds and 5-mm markers. There were seasonal differences in mean seed burial rates (range, 27-51%) and depths (range, 1-27 mm). Significantly more seeds were buried in June, July, and September than in August or October, and the mean burial depth was significantly deeper in June and July. Most seeds and markers were buried to a 3-6 cm depth. Germination of seeds that were positioned at depths of 1-4 cm was significantly greater than that of seeds left on the surface or buried at greater depths. Buried seeds were less likely to disappear than seeds at the surface, which may reflect differential predation. These results suggested that dung beetles, especially P. auratus, acted as a secondary seed disperser that affected the survival and distribution of seeds dispersed by a frugivore.

  19. The burial of headwater streams in drainage pipes reduces in-stream nitrate retention: results from two US metropolitan areas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Beaulieu, J. J.; Mayer, P. M.; Kaushal, S.; Pennino, M. J.; Arango, C. P.; Balz, D. A.; Fritz, K. M.; Golden, H. E.; Knightes, C. D.

    2012-12-01

    Nitrogen (N) retention in stream networks is an important ecosystem service that may be affected by the widespread burial of headwater streams in urban watersheds. Stream burial occurs when segments of a channel are encased in drainage pipe and buried beneath the land surface to facilitate above ground development or stormwater runoff. We predicted that burial suppresses the capacity of streams to retain and transform nitrate, the dominate form of bioavailable N in urban streams, by eliminating primary production, reducing respiration rates, and decreasing water residence time. We tested these predictions by measuring whole-stream nitrate (NO3-) removal rates using 15NO3- isotope tracer releases in reaches that were buried and open to the sunlight in three streams in Cincinnati, Ohio and three streams in Baltimore, Maryland during four seasons. Nitrate uptake lengths in buried reaches (range: 560 - 43,650 m) were 2-98 times greater than open reaches exposed to daylight (range: 85 - 7195 m), indicating that buried reaches were substantially less effective at retaining NO3- than open reaches. Nitrate retention in buried reaches was suppressed by a combination of hydrological and biological processes. High water velocities in buried reaches (buried= 5.8 m/s, open=1.48 m/s) rapidly exported NO3- from the channel, reducing the potential for in-stream NO3- retention. Uptake lengths in the buried reaches were lengthened further by low in-stream biological NO3- demand, as indicated by NO3- uptake velocities 16-fold lower than that of the open reaches. Similarly, buried reaches had lower ecosystem respiration rates than open reaches (buried=1.5g O2/m2/hr, open=4.5g O2/m2/hr), likely due to lower organic matter standing stocks (buried=12 gAFMD/m2, open=48 gAFDM/m2). Biological activity in the buried reaches was further suppressed by the absence of light which precluded photosynthetic activity and the associated assimilative N demand. Overall, our results demonstrate that the combined effects of elevated water velocity and reduced biological activity as a result of stream burial inhibits NO3- retention, exacerbating the export of excess N to downstream water bodies. Future work will scale these results to a river network to assess the cumulative effect of stream burial on watershed NO3- export.

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

    Weiss, Paul

    Spectroscopic imaging tools and methods, based on scanning tunneling microscopes (STMs), are being developed and applied to examine buried layers and interfaces with ultrahigh resolution. These new methods measure buried contacts, molecule-substrate bonds, buried dipoles in molecular layers, and key structural aspects of adsorbed molecules, such as tilt angles. We are developing the ability to locate lateral projections of molecular parts as a means of determining the structures of molecular layers. We are developing the ability to measure the orientation of buried functionality.

  1. Centrifugal and Numerical Modeling of Buried Structures. Volume 2. Dynamic Soil-Structure Interaction.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1987-07-14

    RD-RISE 368 CENTRIFUGAL AND NUMERICAL MODELING OF BURIED STRUCTURES 1/3 VOLUME 2 DYNAMIC..(U) COLORADO UNIV AT BOULDER DEPT OF CIVIL ENVIRONMENTAL...20332-6448 ELEMENT NO NO. NO ACCESSION NO 61102F 2302 Cl 11 TITLE (Include Security Classification) (U) Centrifugal and Numerical Modeling of Buried ...were buried in a dry sand and tested in the centrifuge to simulate the effects of gravity-induced overburden stresses which played a major role in

  2. A Label Propagation Approach for Detecting Buried Objects in Handheld GPR Data

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-04-17

    regions of interest that correspond to locations with anomalous signatures. Second, a classifier (or an ensemble of classifiers ) is used to assign a...investigated for almost two decades and several classifiers have been developed. Most of these methods are based on the supervised learning paradigm where...labeled target and clutter signatures are needed to train a classifier to discriminate between the two classes. Typically, large and diverse labeled

  3. Method of installing subsurface barrier

    DOEpatents

    Nickelson, Reva A.; Richardson, John G.; Kostelnik, Kevin M.; Sloan, Paul A.

    2007-10-09

    Systems, components, and methods relating to subterranean containment barriers. Laterally adjacent tubular casings having male interlock structures and multiple female interlock structures defining recesses for receiving a male interlock structure are used to create subterranean barriers for containing and treating buried waste and its effluents. The multiple female interlock structures enable the barriers to be varied around subsurface objects and to form barrier sidewalls. The barrier may be used for treating and monitoring a zone of interest.

  4. Subsurface materials management and containment system

    DOEpatents

    Nickelson, Reva A.; Richardson, John G.; Kosteinik, Kevin M.; Sloan, Paul A.

    2004-07-06

    Systems, components, and methods relating to subterranean containment barriers. Laterally adjacent tubular casings having male interlock structures and multiple female interlock structures defining recesses for receiving a male interlock structure are used to create subterranean barriers for containing and treating buried waste and its effluents. The multiple female interlock structures enable the barriers to be varied around subsurface objects and to form barrier sidewalls. The barrier may be used for treating and monitoring a zone of interest.

  5. Subsurface materials management and containment system

    DOEpatents

    Nickelson, Reva A.; Richardson, John G.; Kostelnik, Kevin M.; Sloan, Paul A.

    2006-10-17

    Systems, components, and methods relating to subterranean containment barriers. Laterally adjacent tubular casings having male interlock structures and multiple female interlock structures defining recesses for receiving a male interlock structure are used to create subterranean barriers for containing and treating buried waste and its effluents. The multiple female interlock structures enable the barriers to be varied around subsurface objects and to form barrier sidewalls. The barrier may be used for treating and monitoring a zone of interest.

  6. Volume-labeled nanoparticles and methods of preparation

    DOEpatents

    Wang, Wei; Gu, Baohua; Retterer, Scott T; Doktycz, Mitchel J

    2015-04-21

    Compositions comprising nanosized objects (i.e., nanoparticles) in which at least one observable marker, such as a radioisotope or fluorophore, is incorporated within the nanosized object. The nanosized objects include, for example, metal or semi-metal oxide (e.g., silica), quantum dot, noble metal, magnetic metal oxide, organic polymer, metal salt, and core-shell nanoparticles, wherein the label is incorporated within the nanoparticle or selectively in a metal oxide shell of a core-shell nanoparticle. Methods of preparing the volume-labeled nanoparticles are also described.

  7. Bedrock mapping of buried valley networks using seismic reflection and airborne electromagnetic data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oldenborger, G. A.; Logan, C. E.; Hinton, M. J.; Pugin, A. J.-M.; Sapia, V.; Sharpe, D. R.; Russell, H. A. J.

    2016-05-01

    In glaciated terrain, buried valleys often host aquifers that are significant groundwater resources. However, given the range of scales, spatial complexity and depth of burial, buried valleys often remain undetected or insufficiently mapped. Accurate and thorough mapping of bedrock topography is a crucial step in detecting and delineating buried valleys and understanding formative valley processes. We develop a bedrock mapping procedure supported by the combination of seismic reflection data and helicopter time-domain electromagnetic data with water well records for the Spiritwood buried valley aquifer system in Manitoba, Canada. The limited spatial density of water well bedrock observations precludes complete depiction of the buried valley bedrock topography and renders the water well records alone inadequate for accurate hydrogeological model building. Instead, we leverage the complementary strengths of seismic reflection and airborne electromagnetic data for accurate local detection of the sediment-bedrock interface and for spatially extensive coverage, respectively. Seismic reflection data are used to define buried valley morphology in cross-section beneath survey lines distributed over a regional area. A 3D model of electrical conductivity is derived from inversion of the airborne electromagnetic data and used to extrapolate buried valley morphology over the entire survey area. A spatially variable assignment of the electrical conductivity at the bedrock surface is applied to different features of the buried valley morphology identified in the seismic cross-sections. Electrical conductivity is then used to guide construction of buried valley shapes between seismic sections. The 3D locus of points defining each morphological valley feature is constructed using a path optimization routine that utilizes deviation from the assigned electrical conductivities as the cost function. Our resulting map represents a bedrock surface of unprecedented detail with more complexity than has been suggested by previous investigations. Our procedure is largely data-driven with an adaptable degree of expert user input that provides a clear protocol for incorporating different types of geophysical data into the bedrock mapping procedure.

  8. Elevated Building Lift Systems on Permanent Snowfields: A Report on the Elevated Building Lift Systems in Polar Environments Workshop

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-09-18

    the power plant and mechanical systems, the “Noisy” building, and the “Quiet” building...6040 m² Garage (buried): 835 m² Cargo Arch (buried) : 1640 m² Power Plant (buried) : 600 m² Fuel Arch (buried) : 1325 m² Habitat: 1640 m...Laboratory: 210 m² Garage: 2623 m² Total: 4473 m² Main Bldgs.: 1612 m² Power plant : 188 m² Population Summer: 52 Winter: 16 Summer (3 mo.): 150

  9. A comprehensive inventory of radiological and nonradiological contaminants in waste buried or projected to be buried in the subsurface disposal area of the INEL RWMC during the years 1984-2003, Volume 3

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

    NONE

    1995-05-01

    This is the third volume of this comprehensive report of the inventory of radiological and nonradiological contaminants in waste buried or projected to be buried in the subsurface disposal area of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. Appendix B contains a complete printout of contaminant inventory and other information from the CIDRA Database and is presented in volumes 2 and 3 of the report.

  10. Soils of the Summer Garden (Saint Petersburg)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Matinyan, N. N.; Bakhmatova, K. A.; Korentsvit, V. A.

    2017-06-01

    Soils of the Summer Garden—the first regular (French-style) garden in Russia—are characterized on the basis of the materials of field study performed during reconstruction of the garden in 2005-2011. Most of these soils are filled soils—urbostratozems—underlain by the loamy sands deposited in the Littorina Sea or by the buried gray-humus gleyic and gleyed soils. Urbostratozems are characterized by the slightly acid reaction in the topsoil horizons and slightly alkaline reaction in the middle-profile and lower horizons. The humus content in them varies from 0.2 to 6.8%; in the buried gray-humus soils, it is within 1.3-2.6%. The soils of the garden are characterized by the high and extremely high content of available phosphorus and the predominantly low content of available potassium as determined by Machigin's method. The bulk content of Pb in the surface soil horizons during the period of our study exceeded the maximum permissible concentration by 3-20 times; the bulk contents of Cu and Zn exceeded the tentative permissible concentrations for coarse-textured soils by 2-6 and 4-20 times, respectively. The main sources of the soil contamination by the heavy metals are the nearby highways. Local contaminated area was also found near the household yard.

  11. Terrorism/Criminalogy/Sociology via Magnetism-Hamiltonian ``Models''?!: Black Swans; What Secrets Lie Buried in Magnetism?; ``Magnetism Will Conquer the Universe?''(Charles Middleton, aka ``His Imperial Majesty The Emperior Ming `The Merciless!!!''

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Carrott, Anthony; Siegel, Edward Carl-Ludwig; Hoover, John-Edgar; Ness, Elliott

    2013-03-01

    Terrorism/Criminalogy//Sociology : non-Linear applied-mathematician (``nose-to-the grindstone / ``gearheadism'') ''modelers'': Worden,, Short, ...criminologists/counter-terrorists/sociologists confront [SIAM Conf. on Nonlinearity, Seattle(12); Canadian Sociology Conf,. Burnaby(12)]. ``The `Sins' of the Fathers Visited Upon the Sons'': Zeno vs Ising vs Heisenberg vs Stoner vs Hubbard vs Siegel ''SODHM''(But NO Y!!!) vs ...??? Magntism and it turn are themselves confronted BY MAGNETISM,via relatively magnetism/metal-insulator conductivity / percolation-phase-transitions critical-phenomena -illiterate non-linear applied-mathematician (nose-to-the-grindstone/ ``gearheadism'')''modelers''. What Secrets Lie Buried in Magnetism?; ``Magnetism Will Conquer the Universe!!!''[Charles Middleton, aka ``His Imperial Majesty The Emperior Ming `The Merciless!!!']'' magnetism-Hamiltonian phase-transitions percolation-``models''!: Zeno(~2350 BCE) to Peter the Pilgrim(1150) to Gilbert(1600) to Faraday(1815-1820) to Tate (1870-1880) to Ewing(1882) hysteresis to Barkhausen(1885) to Curie(1895)-Weiss(1895) to Ising-Lenz(r-space/Localized-Scalar/ Discrete/1911) to Heisenberg(r-space/localized-vector/discrete/1927) to Priesich(1935) to Stoner (electron/k-space/ itinerant-vector/discrete/39) to Stoner-Wohlfarth (technical-magnetism hysteresis /r-space/ itinerant-vector/ discrete/48) to Hubbard-Longuet-Higgins (k-space versus r-space/

  12. Integrated GPR and ERT as Enhanced Detection for Subsurface Historical Structures Inside Babylonian Houses Site, Uruk City, Southern Iraq

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Al-Khersan, Emad H.; Al-Ani, Jassim M. T.; Abrahem, Salah N.

    2016-03-01

    Uruk archaeological site, which located in Al-Muthanna Governorate southern Iraq, was investigated by integrated geophysical methods, ground penetration radar (GPR) and electric resistivity tomography (ERT) to image the historical buried structures. The GPR images show large radar attributes characterized by its continuous reflections having different widths. GPR attributes at shallower depth are mainly representing the upper part of Babylonian Houses that can often be found throughout the study area. In addition, radargrams characterized objects such as buried items, buried trenches and pits which were mainly concentrated near the surface. The ERT results show the presence of several anomalies at different depths generally having low resistivities. It is clear that the first upper zone can be found throughout the whole area and it may represent the top zone of the Babylonian houses. This zone is characterized by its dry clay and sandy soil containing surface broken bricks and slag mixed with core boulders. The second one underneath the top shows a prominent lower resistivity zone. It is probably caused by the moisture content that reduces the resistivity. The thickness of this zone is not equal at all parts of the site. The third deeper zone typically represents the archaeological walls. Most of the main anomalies perhaps referred to the buried clay brick walls. The map of the archaeological anomalies distribution and 3D view of the foundations at the study area using GPR and ERT techniques clearly show the characteristics of the Babylonian remains. A contour map and 3D view of Uruk show that the archaeological anomalies are concentrated mainly at the NE part of the district with higher values of wall height that range between 6 and 8 m and reach to more than 10 m. At the other directions, there are fewer walls with lower heights of 4-6 m and reach in some places the wall foot.

  13. Seasonal Variations in Resistivity at a Police Forensic Site and the Effectiveness of Unconventional Array Types

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Edwards, S.; Bank, C. G.

    2016-12-01

    Geophysical studies involving the detection of buried organic material can be affected by the passage of time and environmental changes such as temperature and, in more importantly, water content in the ground. These effects can be of particular concern for police forensic investigations. This study involved conducting multiple resistivity surveys across 4 months to determine how time and environmental variations affected the detection of porcine carcasses buried four years previous at a provincial police training and research site. Our research also explored survey results of non-conventional grid and square arrays versus traditional linear arrays. The study site is located in Bolton, Ontario, and measures 16 m by 30 m. It contains 18 graves plus other buried objects. Studies were conducted approximately every other week. The resistivity lines used Wenner arrays of 24 m (0.5 m electrode spacing) and 48 m (1 m spacing) in length. Environmental data was obtained from Environment Canada and through simple observations. Preliminary findings indicated that time and environmental changes affected the detection of the porcine bodies by either being too dry and having too high a resistivity to survey effectively, or too wet and having the site flushed with water making the surrounding ground similar in resistivity to the bodies. Future research is needed to further explore how best to minimize environmental changes from resistivity results to enable reliable detection of buried organic material such as human remains In regard to array configurations, the square array in particular shows promise in that it can be set up and executed in less time than running several linear arrays over the same area. The application of such unconventional arrays to police forensic work may prove valuable if the area of interest is off-limits for resistivity surveys due to physical obstructions.

  14. Synthetic fluorescent probes for studying copper in biological systems

    PubMed Central

    Cotruvo, Joseph A.; Aron, Allegra T.; Ramos-Torres, Karla M.; Chang, Christopher J.

    2015-01-01

    The potent redox activity of copper is required for sustaining life. Mismanagement of its cellular pools, however, can result in oxidative stress and damage connected to aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic disorders. Therefore, copper homeostasis is tightly regulated by cells and tissues. Whereas copper and other transition metal ions are commonly thought of as static cofactors buried within protein active sites, emerging data points to the presence of additional loosely bound, labile pools that can participate in dynamic signalling pathways. Against this backdrop, we review advances in sensing labile copper pools and understanding their functions using synthetic fluorescent indicators. Following brief introductions to cellular copper homeostasis and considerations in sensor design, we survey available fluorescent copper probes and evaluate their properties in the context of their utility as effective biological screening tools. We emphasize the need for combined chemical and biological evaluation of these reagents, as well as the value of complementing probe data with other techniques for characterizing the different pools of metal ions in biological systems. This holistic approach will maximize the exciting opportunities for these and related chemical technologies in the study and discovery of novel biology of metals. PMID:25692243

  15. Synthetic fluorescent probes for studying copper in biological systems.

    PubMed

    Cotruvo, Joseph A; Aron, Allegra T; Ramos-Torres, Karla M; Chang, Christopher J

    2015-07-07

    The potent redox activity of copper is required for sustaining life. Mismanagement of its cellular pools, however, can result in oxidative stress and damage connected to aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic disorders. Therefore, copper homeostasis is tightly regulated by cells and tissues. Whereas copper and other transition metal ions are commonly thought of as static cofactors buried within protein active sites, emerging data points to the presence of additional loosely bound, labile pools that can participate in dynamic signalling pathways. Against this backdrop, we review advances in sensing labile copper pools and understanding their functions using synthetic fluorescent indicators. Following brief introductions to cellular copper homeostasis and considerations in sensor design, we survey available fluorescent copper probes and evaluate their properties in the context of their utility as effective biological screening tools. We emphasize the need for combined chemical and biological evaluation of these reagents, as well as the value of complementing probe data with other techniques for characterizing the different pools of metal ions in biological systems. This holistic approach will maximize the exciting opportunities for these and related chemical technologies in the study and discovery of novel biology of metals.

  16. The Nova-Dwarf Nova Connection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    De Marco, Orsola

    The extraordinary discovery that thermonuclear runaway (TNR) processed material lives on the white dwarf (WD) surface in the dwarf nova (DN) system VW Hyi is in direct conflict with the currently accepted model for DNe. The WD in VW Hyi should be continuously buried in solar-abundance material accreted from its fully-convective, low-mass main sequence companion. IT ISNT. There are either subtle metallicity-varying forces at work, or the current theory of DNe is completely wrong. Only by monitoring the abundances of key elements throughout an entire dwarf nova cycle will we be able to observe the rate of change of key abundance ratios by accretion and mixing processes, and hence deduce the relative importance of diffusion (in removing metals), accretion (in adding metals) and (non-party line but possible) local nuclear burning. FUSE is ideal for this task, because its spectral range contains key lines of important elements, because of its high temperature sensitivity and because in its wavelength range, the VW Hyi spectrum is totally dominated by the WD. VW Hyi is the obvious candidate for this project, because we already know that its abundances are indicative of recent TNR processing.

  17. SERS+MEF of the anti-tumoral drug emodin adsorbed on silver nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sevilla, Paz; De Llanos, Raquel; Domingo, Concepción; Sánchez-Cortés, Santiago; García-Ramos, José V.

    2010-02-01

    Metal nanostructures are known to amplify the spontaneous emission of fluorescent molecules by resonant coupling to external electromagnetic fields. We have used spectroscopy to characterize the structural properties of emodin molecules, a natural anthraquinone dye, and bovine serum albumin, the most abundant protein in plasma, in the presence of silver nanoparticles. Aggregation of emodin at pH=10 and pH=6 gives rise to SERS and MEF effects in silver colloid. We have obtained MEF spectra at acidic pH=2.9 using two different silver nanostructures. We have also studied the change in the secondary structure of bovine serum albumin adsorbed on metal nanoparticles surface. Circular dichroism, fluorescence emission and fluorescence lifetime measurements indicate an increase in the alfa-helical content of the protein and a change in the environment of the tryptophan residues that bury in the interior of the biomolecule. This variation on the secondary structure could have further influence in the binding of the drug to form transport and regulatory complexes.

  18. Electron irradiation induced amorphous SiO2 formation at metal oxide/Si interface at room temperature; electron beam writing on interfaces.

    PubMed

    Gurbán, S; Petrik, P; Serényi, M; Sulyok, A; Menyhárd, M; Baradács, E; Parditka, B; Cserháti, C; Langer, G A; Erdélyi, Z

    2018-02-01

    Al 2 O 3 (5 nm)/Si (bulk) sample was subjected to irradiation of 5 keV electrons at room temperature, in a vacuum chamber (pressure 1 × 10 -9 mbar) and formation of amorphous SiO 2 around the interface was observed. The oxygen for the silicon dioxide growth was provided by the electron bombardment induced bond breaking in Al 2 O 3 and the subsequent production of neutral and/or charged oxygen. The amorphous SiO 2 rich layer has grown into the Al 2 O 3 layer showing that oxygen as well as silicon transport occurred during irradiation at room temperature. We propose that both transports are mediated by local electric field and charged and/or uncharged defects created by the electron irradiation. The direct modification of metal oxide/silicon interface by electron-beam irradiation is a promising method of accomplishing direct write electron-beam lithography at buried interfaces.

  19. Controllable positive exchange bias via redox-driven oxygen migration

    DOE PAGES

    Gilbert, Dustin A.; Olamit, Justin; Dumas, Randy K.; ...

    2016-03-21

    We report that ionic transport in metal/oxide heterostructures offers a highly effective means to tailor material properties via modification of the interfacial characteristics. However, direct observation of ionic motion under buried interfaces and demonstration of its correlation with physical properties has been challenging. Using the strong oxygen affinity of gadolinium, we design a model system of Gd xFe 1-x/NiCoO bilayer films, where the oxygen migration is observed and manifested in a controlled positive exchange bias over a relatively small cooling field range. The exchange bias characteristics are shown to be the result of an interfacial layer of elemental nickel andmore » cobalt, a few nanometres in thickness, whose moments are larger than expected from uncompensated NiCoO moments. This interface layer is attributed to a redox-driven oxygen migration from NiCoO to the gadolinium, during growth or soon after. Ultimately, these results demonstrate an effective path to tailoring the interfacial characteristics and interlayer exchange coupling in metal/oxide heterostructures.« less

  20. Crystal structure of Yersinia pestis virulence factor YfeA reveals two polyspecific metal-binding sites

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

    Radka, Christopher D.; DeLucas, Lawrence J.; Wilson, Landon S.

    2017-06-30

    Gram-negative bacteria use siderophores, outer membrane receptors, inner membrane transporters and substrate-binding proteins (SBPs) to transport transition metals through the periplasm. The SBPs share a similar protein fold that has undergone significant structural evolution to communicate with a variety of differentially regulated transporters in the cell. InYersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, YfeA (YPO2439, y1897), an SBP, is important for full virulence during mammalian infection. To better understand the role of YfeA in infection, crystal structures were determined under several environmental conditions with respect to transition-metal levels. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and anomalous X-ray scattering data show that YfeA ismore » polyspecific and can alter its substrate specificity. In minimal-media experiments, YfeA crystals grown after iron supplementation showed a threefold increase in iron fluorescence emission over the iron fluorescence emission from YfeA crystals grown from nutrient-rich conditions, and YfeA crystals grown after manganese supplementation during overexpression showed a fivefold increase in manganese fluorescence emission over the manganese fluorescence emission from YfeA crystals grown from nutrient-rich conditions. In all experiments, the YfeA crystals produced the strongest fluorescence emission from zinc and could not be manipulated otherwise. Additionally, this report documents the discovery of a novel surface metal-binding site that prefers to chelate zinc but can also bind manganese. Flexibility across YfeA crystal forms in three loops and a helix near the buried metal-binding site suggest that a structural rearrangement is required for metal loading and unloading.« less

  1. Exploring the molecular mechanisms of electron shuttling across the microbe/metal space

    PubMed Central

    Paquete, Catarina M.; Fonseca, Bruno M.; Cruz, Davide R.; Pereira, Tiago M.; Pacheco, Isabel; Soares, Cláudio M.; Louro, Ricardo O.

    2014-01-01

    Dissimilatory metal reducing organisms play key roles in the biogeochemical cycle of metals as well as in the durability of submerged and buried metallic structures. The molecular mechanisms that support electron transfer across the microbe-metal interface in these organisms remain poorly explored. It is known that outer membrane proteins, in particular multiheme cytochromes, are essential for this type of metabolism, being responsible for direct and indirect, via electron shuttles, interaction with the insoluble electron acceptors. Soluble electron shuttles such as flavins, phenazines, and humic acids are known to enhance extracellular electron transfer. In this work, this phenomenon was explored. All known outer membrane decaheme cytochromes from Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 with known metal terminal reductase activity and a undecaheme cytochrome from Shewanella sp. HRCR-6 were expressed and purified. Their interactions with soluble electron shuttles were studied using stopped-flow kinetics, NMR spectroscopy, and molecular simulations. The results show that despite the structural similarities, expected from the available structural data and sequence homology, the detailed characteristics of their interactions with soluble electron shuttles are different. MtrC and OmcA appear to interact with a variety of different electron shuttles in the close vicinity of some of their hemes, and with affinities that are biologically relevant for the concentrations typical found in the medium for this type of compounds. All data support a view of a distant interaction between the hemes of MtrF and the electron shuttles. For UndA a clear structural characterization was achieved for the interaction with AQDS a humic acid analog. These results provide guidance for future work of the manipulation of these proteins toward modulation of their role in metal attachment and reduction. PMID:25018753

  2. Surface modification by metal ion implantation forming metallic nanoparticles in an insulating matrix

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Salvadori, M. C.; Teixeira, F. S.; Sgubin, L. G.; Cattani, M.; Brown, I. G.

    2014-08-01

    There is special interest in the incorporation of metallic nanoparticles in a surrounding dielectric matrix for obtaining composites with desirable characteristics such as for surface plasmon resonance, which can be used in photonics and sensing, and controlled surface electrical conductivity. We have investigated nanocomposites produced by metal ion implantation into insulating substrates, where the implanted metal self-assembles into nanoparticles. The nanoparticles nucleate near the maximum of the implantation depth profile (projected range), which can be estimated by computer simulation using the TRIDYN code. TRIDYN is a Monte Carlo simulation program based on the TRIM (Transport and Range of Ions in Matter) code that takes into account compositional changes in the substrate due to two factors: previously implanted dopant atoms, and sputtering of the substrate surface. Our study show that the nanoparticles form a bidimentional array buried a few nanometers below the substrate surface. We have studied Au/PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate), Pt/PMMA, Ti/alumina and Au/alumina systems. Transmission electron microscopy of the implanted samples show that metallic nanoparticles form in the insulating matrix. These nanocomposites have been characterized by measuring the resistivity of the composite layer as a function of the implantation dose. The experimental results are compared with a model based on percolation theory, in which electron transport through the composite is explained by conduction through a random resistor network formed by the metallic nanoparticles. Excellent agreement is found between the experimental results and the predictions of the theory. We conclude in that the conductivity process is due only to percolation (when the conducting elements are in geometric contact) and that the contribution from tunneling conduction is negligible.

  3. 75 FR 59933 - Specifications and Drawings for Construction of Direct Buried Plant

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-09-29

    ... for Construction of Direct Buried Plant AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. ACTION: Final rule..., Specifications and Drawings for Construction of Direct Buried Plant (Form 515a). The revised specifications will include new construction units for Fiber-to-the-Home, remove redundant or outdated requirements, and...

  4. Sensor Phenomenology and Feature Development for Improved Sonar-based Detection & Classification of Underwater UXO

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-12-01

    the validity of approximating poroelastic media with acoustic or acoustic /elastic models , and to characterize how scattering physics will differ for...elastic buried object (yellow rectangle in the figure) in three types of environments: • (1) Model 1: acoustic layer on top of a poroelastic medium with a...porosity gradient and no viscous damping. • (2) Model 2: acoustic layer on top of a poroelastic medium with a porosity gradient and viscous damping

  5. Method of sealing casings of subsurface materials management system

    DOEpatents

    Nickelson, Reva A.; Richardson, John G.; Kostelnik, Kevin M.; Sloan, Paul A.

    2007-02-06

    Systems, components, and methods relating to subterranean containment barriers. Laterally adjacent tubular casings having male interlock structures and multiple female interlock structures defining recesses for receiving a male interlock structure are used to create subterranean barriers for containing and treating buried waste and its effluents. The multiple female interlock structures enable the barriers to be varied around subsurface objects and to form barrier sidewalls. The barrier may be used for treating and monitoring a zone of interest.

  6. Structural Acoustic UXO Detection and Identification in Marine Environments

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-05-01

    BOSS Buried Object Scanning Sonar DVL Doppler Velocity Log EW East/West IMU Inertial Measurement Unit NRL Naval Research Laboratory NSWC-PCD... Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to time-delay and coherently sum matched-filtered phase histories from subsurface focal points over a large number of... Measurement Unit (IMU) systems. In our imaging algorithm, the 2D depth image of a target, i.e. one mapped over x and z or y and z, presents the

  7. Buried Target Imaging: A Comparative Study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ghaderi Aram, Morteza; Dehmollaian, Mojtaba; Khaleghi, Ali

    2017-12-01

    A wide variety of qualitative methods have been proposed for microwave imaging. It is difficult to select only one of these methods based on a priori information and measurement equipment to achieve a reliable reconstruction. Various arrangements for antennas to be used in, for instance, have been proposed which have direct impacts on the complexity of inverse methods as well as the quality of output images. In this study, four qualitative methods of the linear sampling method (LSM), time reversal (TR), diffraction tomography (DT), and back-projection (BP) have been reviewed in a 2D scenario; the performance of the methods is compared within the same framework of a multi-static configuration. The goal is to compare their resolutions and determine their advantages and drawbacks. It is shown that LSM provides the best azimuth resolution but the worst range resolution. It is almost invariant to dielectric contrast and is appropriate for a wide range of dielectric contrasts and relatively large objects. It is also shown that at relatively low dielectric contrasts, TR images are most similar to the true object, show fewer artifacts, and offer high immunity to noise. While suffering from more artifacts due to the presence of some ghost images, DT offers the best range resolution. The results also show that BP has the worst azimuth resolution when reconstructing deeply-buried targets, although its implementation is straightforward and not computationally complex.

  8. Buried treasure: evolutionary perspectives on microbial iron piracy

    PubMed Central

    Barber, Matthew F.; Elde, Nels C.

    2015-01-01

    Host-pathogen interactions provide valuable systems for the study of evolutionary genetics and natural selection. The sequestration of essential iron has emerged as a critical innate defense system termed nutritional immunity, leading pathogens to evolve mechanisms of `iron piracy' to scavenge this metal from host proteins. This battle for iron carries numerous consequences not only for host-pathogen evolution, but also microbial community interactions. Here we highlight recent and potential future areas of investigation on the evolutionary implications of microbial iron piracy in relation to molecular arms races, host range, competition, and virulence. Applying evolutionary genetic approaches to the study of microbial iron acquisition could also provide new inroads for understanding and combating infectious disease. PMID:26431675

  9. Original structures, and fragmentation and reassembly histories of asteroids - Evidence from meteorites

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Taylor, G. Jeffrey; Maggiore, Peter; Scott, Edward R. D.; Rubin, Alan E.; Keil, Klaus

    1987-01-01

    The validity of an onion shell model (OSM) for chondrite parent asteroids was assessed using metallographic cooling rates (MCR) derived from the compositions of metallic Fe-Ni grains. The hypothesis evaluated was that the hottest materials in chondrites would have been buried the deepest and cooled the slowest. The survey covered breccia from regolith and 13 different chondrites. The MCRs agreed well with cooling rates predicted by fission-track thermometry and Ar-40/Ar-39 ages. The OSM predicts an inverse correlation between the cooling rate and the petrographic type. Low correlations found between the MCRs and petrographic type indicate that chondrite parent asteroids were not assembled with onion shell structures.

  10. Superfund Record of Decision (EPA Region 7): Vogel Paint and Wax, Maurice, IA. (First remedial action), September 1989. Final report

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

    Not Available

    1989-09-20

    The Vogel Paint and Wax (VPW) site is an approximately two-acre disposal area two miles southwest of the town of Maurice, in Sioux County, Iowa. Adjacent land uses are primarily agricultural; however, several private residences are within one-quarter mile of the site. A surficial sand and gravel aquifer underlies the site and supplies nearby private wells and the Southern Sioux County Rural Water System, located a mile and one half southeast of the site. Paint sludge, resins, solvents, and other paint-manufacturing wastes were disposed of at the site between 1971 and 1979. VPW records indicate that approximately 43,000 gallons ofmore » aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and 6,000 pounds of metals waste were buried at the site. The primary contaminants of concern affecting the soil and ground water are VOCs including benzene, toluene, and xylenes; and metals including chromium and lead. The selected remedial action for this site includes excavation of contaminated soil and separation of solid and liquid wastes; onsite bioremediation of 3,000 cubic yards of the contaminated soil in a fully contained surface impoundment unit, or onsite thermal treatment if soil contains high metal content; and stabilization of treated soil, if necessary to prevent leaching of metals, followed by disposal in the excavated area.« less

  11. The application of induced polarization techniques to detect metal-bearing offshore anthropogenic waste and unexploded ordnance

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Wynn, Jeff; Roberts, William

    2009-01-01

    Raw sewage and industrial waste have been dumped into sensitive estuaries, bays, and sounds for centuries. The full extents of the resulting sludge deposits are largely unknown, because they move in response to tidal and long‐shore currents, and because they are often buried by younger inert sediments. USGS field and laboratory measurements of toxic mine waste and organic effluent samples suggest that anthropogenic wastes typically contain finely‐divided metal and metal‐sulfide particles. The anoxic environment provided by anthropogenic wastes promotes the growth of anaerobic bacteria, creating a self‐reducing environment. We suggest that the finely‐divided metal and metal‐sulfide particles are the products of bacterial reduction and precipitation. The fine‐grained metallic precipitates are ideal targets for a surface‐effect electrochemical detection methodology called Induced Polarization (IP). A USGS‐patented (1998/2001) marine IP streamer technology has recently been commercialized and used to map “black smoker” sulfide deposits and their disseminated halos in the Bismarck Sea (2005), and titanium‐sand deposits offshore of South Africa (2007). The marine induced polarization system can do this mapping in three dimensions, more rapidly (it is towed at 3 knots), and with far higher resolution that land‐based measurements or vibracoring. Laboratory‐scale studies at the USGS suggest that anthropogenic wastes may display a specific multi‐frequency IP spectral signature that may be applicable to waste‐deposit mapping.

  12. Parallel Infrastructure Modeling and Inversion Module for E4D

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

    2014-10-09

    Electrical resistivity tomography ERT is a method of imaging the electrical conductivity of the subsurface. Electrical conductivity is a useful metric for understanding the subsurface because it is governed by geomechanical and geochemical properties that drive subsurface systems. ERT works by injecting current into the subsurface across a pair of electrodes, and measuring the corresponding electrical potential response across another pair of electrodes. Many such measurements are strategically taken across an array of electrodes to produce an ERT data set. These data are then processed through a computationally demanding process known as inversion to produce an image of the subsurfacemore » conductivity structure that gave rise to the measurements. Data can be inverted to provide 2D images, 3D images, or in the case of time-lapse 3D imaging, 4D images. ERT is generally not well suited for environments with buried electrically conductive infrastructure such as pipes, tanks, or well casings, because these features tend to dominate and degrade ERT images. This reduces or eliminates the utility of ERT imaging where it would otherwise be highly useful for, for example, imaging fluid migration from leaking pipes, imaging soil contamination beneath leaking subusurface tanks, and monitoring contaminant migration in locations with dense network of metal cased monitoring wells. The location and dimension of buried metallic infrastructure is often known. If so, then the effects of the infrastructure can be explicitly modeled within the ERT imaging algorithm, and thereby removed from the corresponding ERT image. However,there are a number of obstacles limiting this application. 1) Metallic infrastructure cannot be accurately modeled with standard codes because of the large contrast in conductivity between the metal and host material. 2) Modeling infrastructure in true dimension requires the computational mesh to be highly refined near the metal inclusions, which increases computational demands. 3) The ERT imaging algorithm requires specialized modifications to accomodate high conductivty inclusions within the computational mesh. The solution to each of these challenges was implemented within E4D (formerly FERM3D), which is a parallel ERT imaging code developed at PNNL (IPID #30249). The infrastructure modeling module implement in E4D uses a method of decoupling the model at the metallic interface(s) boundaries, into several well posed sub-problems (one for each distinct metallicinclusion) that are subsequently solved and recombined to form the global solution. The approach is based on the immersed interface method, with has been applied for similar problems in other fields (e.g. semiconductor industry). Comparisons to analytic solutions have shown the results to be very accurate, addressing item 1 above. The solution is implemented about an unstructured mesh, which enables arbitrary shapes to be efficiently modelled, thereby addressing item 2 above. In addition, the algorithm is written in parallel and shows excellent scalability, which also addresses equation 2 above. Finally, because only the boundaries of metallic inclusions are modeled, there are no high conductivity cells within the modeling mesh, and the problem described by item 3 above is no longer applicable.« less

  13. An opposite view data replacement approach for reducing artifacts due to metallic dental objects

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

    Yazdi, Mehran; Lari, Meghdad Asadi; Bernier, Gaston

    Purpose: To present a conceptually new method for metal artifact reduction (MAR) that can be used on patients with multiple objects within the scan plane that are also of small sized along the longitudinal (scanning) direction, such as dental fillings. Methods: The proposed algorithm, named opposite view replacement, achieves MAR by first detecting the projection data affected by metal objects and then replacing the affected projections by the corresponding opposite view projections, which are not affected by metal objects. The authors also applied a fading process to avoid producing any discontinuities in the boundary of the affected projection areas inmore » the sinogram. A skull phantom with and without a variety of dental metal inserts was made to extract the performance metric of the algorithm. A head and neck case, typical of IMRT planning, was also tested. Results: The reconstructed CT images based on this new replacement scheme show a significant improvement in image quality for patients with metallic dental objects compared to the MAR algorithms based on the interpolation scheme. For the phantom, the authors showed that the artifact reduction algorithm can efficiently recover the CT numbers in the area next to the metallic objects. Conclusions: The authors presented a new and efficient method for artifact reduction due to multiple small metallic objects. The obtained results from phantoms and clinical cases fully validate the proposed approach.« less

  14. 49 CFR 192.455 - External corrosion control: Buried or submerged pipelines installed after July 31, 1971.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false External corrosion control: Buried or submerged... SAFETY STANDARDS Requirements for Corrosion Control § 192.455 External corrosion control: Buried or... against external corrosion, including the following: (1) It must have an external protective coating...

  15. 49 CFR 192.457 - External corrosion control: Buried or submerged pipelines installed before August 1, 1971.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false External corrosion control: Buried or submerged... SAFETY STANDARDS Requirements for Corrosion Control § 192.457 External corrosion control: Buried or... areas in which active corrosion is found: (1) Bare or ineffectively coated transmission lines. (2) Bare...

  16. 49 CFR 192.457 - External corrosion control: Buried or submerged pipelines installed before August 1, 1971.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false External corrosion control: Buried or submerged... SAFETY STANDARDS Requirements for Corrosion Control § 192.457 External corrosion control: Buried or... areas in which active corrosion is found: (1) Bare or ineffectively coated transmission lines. (2) Bare...

  17. 49 CFR 192.459 - External corrosion control: Examination of buried pipeline when exposed.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false External corrosion control: Examination of buried... Requirements for Corrosion Control § 192.459 External corrosion control: Examination of buried pipeline when... portion must be examined for evidence of external corrosion if the pipe is bare, or if the coating is...

  18. 49 CFR 192.459 - External corrosion control: Examination of buried pipeline when exposed.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false External corrosion control: Examination of buried... Requirements for Corrosion Control § 192.459 External corrosion control: Examination of buried pipeline when... portion must be examined for evidence of external corrosion if the pipe is bare, or if the coating is...

  19. 49 CFR 192.457 - External corrosion control: Buried or submerged pipelines installed before August 1, 1971.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false External corrosion control: Buried or submerged... SAFETY STANDARDS Requirements for Corrosion Control § 192.457 External corrosion control: Buried or... areas in which active corrosion is found: (1) Bare or ineffectively coated transmission lines. (2) Bare...

  20. 49 CFR 192.455 - External corrosion control: Buried or submerged pipelines installed after July 31, 1971.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false External corrosion control: Buried or submerged... SAFETY STANDARDS Requirements for Corrosion Control § 192.455 External corrosion control: Buried or... against external corrosion, including the following: (1) It must have an external protective coating...

  1. 49 CFR 192.455 - External corrosion control: Buried or submerged pipelines installed after July 31, 1971.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false External corrosion control: Buried or submerged... SAFETY STANDARDS Requirements for Corrosion Control § 192.455 External corrosion control: Buried or... against external corrosion, including the following: (1) It must have an external protective coating...

  2. 49 CFR 192.459 - External corrosion control: Examination of buried pipeline when exposed.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false External corrosion control: Examination of buried... Requirements for Corrosion Control § 192.459 External corrosion control: Examination of buried pipeline when... portion must be examined for evidence of external corrosion if the pipe is bare, or if the coating is...

  3. 49 CFR 192.455 - External corrosion control: Buried or submerged pipelines installed after July 31, 1971.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false External corrosion control: Buried or submerged... SAFETY STANDARDS Requirements for Corrosion Control § 192.455 External corrosion control: Buried or... against external corrosion, including the following: (1) It must have an external protective coating...

  4. 49 CFR 192.459 - External corrosion control: Examination of buried pipeline when exposed.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false External corrosion control: Examination of buried... Requirements for Corrosion Control § 192.459 External corrosion control: Examination of buried pipeline when... portion must be examined for evidence of external corrosion if the pipe is bare, or if the coating is...

  5. 49 CFR 192.457 - External corrosion control: Buried or submerged pipelines installed before August 1, 1971.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false External corrosion control: Buried or submerged... SAFETY STANDARDS Requirements for Corrosion Control § 192.457 External corrosion control: Buried or... areas in which active corrosion is found: (1) Bare or ineffectively coated transmission lines. (2) Bare...

  6. 49 CFR 192.457 - External corrosion control: Buried or submerged pipelines installed before August 1, 1971.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false External corrosion control: Buried or submerged... SAFETY STANDARDS Requirements for Corrosion Control § 192.457 External corrosion control: Buried or... areas in which active corrosion is found: (1) Bare or ineffectively coated transmission lines. (2) Bare...

  7. 49 CFR 192.459 - External corrosion control: Examination of buried pipeline when exposed.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... 49 Transportation 3 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false External corrosion control: Examination of buried... Requirements for Corrosion Control § 192.459 External corrosion control: Examination of buried pipeline when... portion must be examined for evidence of external corrosion if the pipe is bare, or if the coating is...

  8. INSTALLATION OF A 10-ELEMENT SHALLOW-BURIED ARRAY AT THE UINTA BASIN SEISMOLOGICAL OBSERVATORY, VERNAL, UTAH

    DTIC Science & Technology

    the array are buried to a depth of approximately 200 feet. This report outlines, in some detail, the installation of a buried array at the Uinta ... Basin Seismological Observatory. Major considerations in such an undertaking included the selection of the most effective array pattern and the most

  9. Standardized Curriculum for Metal Trades.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Mississippi State Dept. of Education, Jackson. Office of Vocational, Technical and Adult Education.

    This curriculum guide for the metal trades was developed by the state of Mississippi to standardize vocational education course titles and core contents. The objectives contained in this document are common to all metal trades programs in the state. The guide contains objectives for Metal Trades I and II courses. Units in Metal Trades I cover the…

  10. Guided wave attenuation in coated pipes buried in sand

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Leinov, Eli; Cawley, Peter; Lowe, Michael J. S.

    2016-02-01

    Long-range guided wave testing (GWT) is routinely used for the monitoring and detection of corrosion defects in above ground pipelines in various industries. The GWT test range in buried, coated pipelines is greatly reduced compared to aboveground pipelines due to energy leakage into the embedding soil. In this study, we aim to increase test ranges for buried pipelines. The effect of pipe coatings on the T(0,1) and L(0,2) guided wave attenuation is investigated using a full-scale experimental apparatus and model predictions. Tests are performed on a fusion-bonded epoxy (FBE)-coated 8" pipe, buried in loose and compacted sand over a frequency range of 10-35 kHz. The application of a low impedance coating is shown to effectively decouple the influence of the sand on the ultrasound leakage from the buried pipe. We demonstrate ultrasonic isolation of a buried pipe by coating the pipe with a Polyethylene (PE)-foam layer that has a smaller impedance than both pipe and sand and the ability to withstand the overburden load from the sand. The measured attenuation in the buried PE-foam-FBE-coated pipe is substantially reduced, in the range of 0.3-1.2 dBm-1 for loose and compacted sand conditions, compared to buried FBE-coated pipe without the PE-foam, where the measured attenuation is in the range of 1.7-4.7 dBm-1. The acoustic properties of the PE-foam are measured independently using ultrasonic interferometry technique and used in model predictions of guided wave propagation in a buried coated pipe. Good agreement is found between the attenuation measurements and model predictions. The attenuation exhibits periodic peaks in the frequency domain corresponding to the through-thickness resonance frequencies of the coating layer. The large reduction in guided wave attenuation for PE-coated pipes would lead to greatly increased GWT test ranges, so such coatings would be attractive for new pipeline installations.

  11. An evaluation of methods for identifying and interpreting buried soils in late Quaternary loess in Alaska: A section in Geologic studies in Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1998

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Muhs, Daniel R.; Ager, Thomas A.; Been, Josh M.; Rosenbaum, Joseph G.; Reynolds, Richard J.

    2000-01-01

    The presence of buried soils in Alaskan loess is controversial, and therefore criteria for identifying buried soils in these deposits need to be evaluated. In this paper, morphologic and chemical criteria for identifying buried soils are evaluated by studying modern soils developed mostly in Holocene loess under tundra, boreal forest, and transitional coastal-boreal forest vegetation in different parts of Alaska. Data from modern Alaskan soils that developed under vegetation similar to that of the present indicate that soil morphology, organic-matter concentrations, and P concentrations can be useful diagnostic tools for identifying buried soils. Soil morphologic criteria, particularly horizon colors and horizon sequences, are essential for identifying buried soils, but some minimally developed soils may resemble organic-rich alluvial, colluvial, or lacustrine deposits. Organic matter and total P contents and distributions can aid in such studies because in well-drained soils these constituents show rapid declines with depth. However, neither of these techniques may work if the upper genetic horizons of buried soils are eroded.If buried soils are present in Alaskan loess, it would also be desirable to have techniques for determining the dominant vegetation under which the soils formed. Such techniques could then be used to reconstruct former vegetation types and paleoclimates in Alaska. A previous study suggested that tundra and boreal forest vegetation have distinctive carbon isotopic compositions, although both are dominated by C3 plants. If this is the case, then the carbon isotopic composition of organic matter in buried soils could be used to reconstruct former vegetation types. A larger suite of modern soils from Alaskan tundra and forest were analyzed to test this hypothesis. Results indicate that modern soil O horizons in these two biomes have the same range of δ13C values, and therefore carbon isotope compositions cannot be used to reconstruct former tundra or boreal forest.

  12. DBAC: A simple prediction method for protein binding hot spots based on burial levels and deeply buried atomic contacts

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background A protein binding hot spot is a cluster of residues in the interface that are energetically important for the binding of the protein with its interaction partner. Identifying protein binding hot spots can give useful information to protein engineering and drug design, and can also deepen our understanding of protein-protein interaction. These residues are usually buried inside the interface with very low solvent accessible surface area (SASA). Thus SASA is widely used as an outstanding feature in hot spot prediction by many computational methods. However, SASA is not capable of distinguishing slightly buried residues, of which most are non hot spots, and deeply buried ones that are usually inside a hot spot. Results We propose a new descriptor called “burial level” for characterizing residues, atoms and atomic contacts. Specifically, burial level captures the depth the residues are buried. We identify different kinds of deeply buried atomic contacts (DBAC) at different burial levels that are directly broken in alanine substitution. We use their numbers as input for SVM to classify between hot spot or non hot spot residues. We achieve F measure of 0.6237 under the leave-one-out cross-validation on a data set containing 258 mutations. This performance is better than other computational methods. Conclusions Our results show that hot spot residues tend to be deeply buried in the interface, not just having a low SASA value. This indicates that a high burial level is not only a necessary but also a more sufficient condition than a low SASA for a residue to be a hot spot residue. We find that those deeply buried atoms become increasingly more important when their burial levels rise up. This work also confirms the contribution of deeply buried interfacial atomic contacts to the energy of protein binding hot spot. PMID:21689480

  13. Forging of metallic nano-objects for the fabrication of submicron-size components

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rösler, J.; Mukherji, D.; Schock, K.; Kleindiek, S.

    2007-03-01

    In recent years, nanoscale fabrication has developed considerably, but the fabrication of free-standing nanosize components is still a great challenge. The fabrication of metallic nanocomponents utilizing three basic steps is demonstrated here. First, metallic alloys are used as factories to produce a metallic raw stock of nano-objects/nanoparticles in large numbers. These objects are then isolated from the powder containing thousands of such objects inside a scanning electron microscope using manipulators, and placed on a micro-anvil or a die. Finally, the shape of the individual nano-object is changed by nanoforging using a microhammer. In this way free-standing, high-strength, metallic nano-objects may be shaped into components with dimensions in the 100 nm range. By assembling such nanocomponents, high-performance microsystems can be fabricated, which are truly in the micrometre scale (the size ratio of a system to its component is typically 10:1).

  14. ESTCP Pilot Program - Classification Approaches in Munitions Response

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-11-17

    Electromagnetic induction sensors detect ferrous and 57 nonferrous metallic objects and can be effective in geology that challenges magnetometers. EM...harmless metallic objects or geology. Application of technology to separate the munitions from other objects, known as classification, offers the potential...detectable signals are excavated. Many of these detections do not correspond to munitions, but rather to other harmless metallic objects or geology, termed

  15. SEM based overlay measurement between resist and buried patterns

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Inoue, Osamu; Okagawa, Yutaka; Hasumi, Kazuhisa; Shao, Chuanyu; Leray, Philippe; Lorusso, Gian; Baudemprez, Bart

    2016-03-01

    With the continuous shrink in pattern size and increased density, overlay control has become one of the most critical issues in semiconductor manufacturing. Recently, SEM based overlay of AEI (After Etch Inspection) wafer has been used for reference and optimization of optical overlay (both Image Based Overlay (IBO) and Diffraction Based Overlay (DBO)). Overlay measurement at AEI stage contributes monitor and forecast the yield after formation by etch and calibrate optical measurement tools. however those overlay value seems difficult directly for feedback to a scanner. Therefore, there is a clear need to have SEM based overlay measurements of ADI (After Develop Inspection) wafers in order to serve as reference for optical overlay and make necessary corrections before wafers go to etch. Furthermore, to make the corrections as accurate as possible, actual device like feature dimensions need to be measured post ADI. This device size measurement is very unique feature of CDSEM , which can be measured with smaller area. This is currently possible only with the CD-SEM. This device size measurement is very unique feature of CD-SEM , which can be measured with smaller area. In this study, we assess SEM based overlay measurement of ADI and AEI wafer by using a sample from an N10 process flow. First, we demonstrate SEM based overlay performance at AEI by using dual damascene process for Via 0 (V0) and metal 1 (M1) layer. We also discuss the overlay measurements between litho-etch-litho stages of a triple patterned M1 layer and double pattern V0. Second, to illustrate the complexities in image acquisition and measurement we will measure overlay between M1B resist and buried M1A-Hard mask trench. Finally, we will show how high accelerating voltage can detect buried pattern information by BSE (Back Scattering Electron). In this paper we discuss the merits of this method versus standard optical metrology based corrections.

  16. Deep convolutional neural networks for classifying GPR B-scans

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Besaw, Lance E.; Stimac, Philip J.

    2015-05-01

    Symmetric and asymmetric buried explosive hazards (BEHs) present real, persistent, deadly threats on the modern battlefield. Current approaches to mitigate these threats rely on highly trained operatives to reliably detect BEHs with reasonable false alarm rates using handheld Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and metal detectors. As computers become smaller, faster and more efficient, there exists greater potential for automated threat detection based on state-of-the-art machine learning approaches, reducing the burden on the field operatives. Recent advancements in machine learning, specifically deep learning artificial neural networks, have led to significantly improved performance in pattern recognition tasks, such as object classification in digital images. Deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are used in this work to extract meaningful signatures from 2-dimensional (2-D) GPR B-scans and classify threats. The CNNs skip the traditional "feature engineering" step often associated with machine learning, and instead learn the feature representations directly from the 2-D data. A multi-antennae, handheld GPR with centimeter-accurate positioning data was used to collect shallow subsurface data over prepared lanes containing a wide range of BEHs. Several heuristics were used to prevent over-training, including cross validation, network weight regularization, and "dropout." Our results show that CNNs can extract meaningful features and accurately classify complex signatures contained in GPR B-scans, complementing existing GPR feature extraction and classification techniques.

  17. Sound Science: Taking Action with Acoustics

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

    Sinha, Dipen

    2014-07-16

    From tin whistles to sonic booms, sound waves interact with each other and with the medium through which they travel. By observing these interactions, we can identify substances that are hidden in sealed containers and obtain images of buried objects. By manipulating the ability of sound to push matter around, we can create novel structures and unique materials. Join the Lab's own sound hound, Dipen Sinha, as he describes how he uses fundamental research in acoustics for solving problems in industry, security and health.

  18. Non-traditional Physics-based Inverse Approaches for Determining a Buried Object’s Location

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-09-01

    parameterization of its time-decay curve) in dipole models ( Pasion and Oldenburg, 2001) or the amplitudes of responding magnetic sources in the NSMS...commonly in use. According to the simple dipole model ( Pasion and Oldenburg, 2001), the secondary magnetic field due to the dipole m is 3 0 1 ˆ ˆ(3...Forum, St. Louis, MO. L. R. Pasion and D. W. Oldenburg (2001), “A discrimination algorithm for UXO using time domain electromagnetics.” J. Environ

  19. Sound Science: Taking Action with Acoustics

    ScienceCinema

    Sinha, Dipen

    2018-01-16

    From tin whistles to sonic booms, sound waves interact with each other and with the medium through which they travel. By observing these interactions, we can identify substances that are hidden in sealed containers and obtain images of buried objects. By manipulating the ability of sound to push matter around, we can create novel structures and unique materials. Join the Lab's own sound hound, Dipen Sinha, as he describes how he uses fundamental research in acoustics for solving problems in industry, security and health.

  20. Subsurface materials management and containment system, components thereof and methods relating thereto

    DOEpatents

    Nickelson, Reva A.; Richardson, John G.; Kostelnik, Kevin M.; Sloan, Paul A.

    2006-04-18

    Systems, components, and methods relating to subterranean containment barriers. Laterally adjacent tubular casings having male interlock structures and multiple female interlock structures defining recesses for receiving a male interlock structure are used to create subterranean barriers for containing and treating buried waste and its effluents. The multiple female interlock structures enable the barriers to be varied around subsurface objects and to form barrier sidewalls. The barrier may be used for treating and monitoring a zone of interest.

  1. Modelling the buried human body environment in upland climes using three contrasting field sites.

    PubMed

    Wilson, Andrew S; Janaway, Robert C; Holland, Andrew D; Dodson, Hilary I; Baran, Eve; Pollard, A Mark; Tobin, Desmond J

    2007-06-14

    Despite an increasing literature on the decomposition of human remains, whether buried or exposed, it is important to recognise the role of specific microenvironments which can either trigger or delay the rate of decomposition. Recent casework in Northern England involving buried and partially buried human remains has demonstrated a need for a more detailed understanding of the effect of contrasting site conditions on cadaver decomposition and on the microenvironment created within the grave itself. Pigs (Sus scrofa) were used as body analogues in three inter-related taphonomy experiments to examine differential decomposition of buried human remains. They were buried at three contrasting field sites (pasture, moorland, and deciduous woodland) within a 15 km radius of the University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK. Changes to the buried body and the effect of these changes on hair and associated death-scene textile materials were monitored as was the microenvironment of the grave. At recovery, 6, 12 and 24 months post-burial, the extent of soft tissue decomposition was recorded and samples of fat and soil were collected for gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) analysis. The results of these studies demonstrated that (1) soil conditions at these three burial sites has a marked effect on the condition of the buried body but even within a single site variation can occur; (2) the process of soft tissue decomposition modifies the localised burial microenvironment in terms of microbiological load, pH, moisture and changes in redox status. These observations have widespread application for the investigation of clandestine burial and time since deposition, and in understanding changes within the burial microenvironment that may impact on biomaterials such as hair and other associated death scene materials.

  2. Martian Buried Basins and Implications for Characteristics of the Burial Layer and Underlying Surface

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sarid, A. R.; Frey, H. V.; Roark, J. H.

    2003-01-01

    Deciphering the cratering record on Mars has been challenging because it may reflect the changes in both the population of impactors and in the resurfacing processes on Mars. However, it is possible to determine the breadth of impactors captured in the cratering record. Extensive areas of resurfacing are of particular interest because they likely contain material from various ages in Martian history. By deducing the impact populations in both surface and underlying layers of terrain, it is possible to determine the age of the layers and constrain theories on the development of the Martian surface. However, to do so requires a method of seeing impact features which are no longer visible. Topographic data of Mars, taken by the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA), has revealed impact features buried by resurfacing processes. These features are often indistinguishable on Viking images of the Martian surface. In this study, gridded MOLA data was analyzed in order to locate buried impact features, also called buried basins, in Syria, Solis, and Sinai Planum just south of Valles Marineris. The population statistics of buried features can be compared to those of visible features in order to determine the age of the underlying material and characteristics of the surface cover. Specifically, if the buried population in the Hesperian terrain is similar to the population of visible features in the Noachian, it would suggest that the underlying terrain is Noachian in age. The buried craters can then be compared to visible Noachian craters to reveal the amount of deterioration of the buried features. These comparisons allow us to explore the morphology of the terrain in the Hesperian region to determine if topographic variations are due to differences in the thickness of the overlying material or are a characteristic of the underlying terrain.

  3. Fabrication of SOI structures with buried cavities using Si wafer direct bonding and electrochemical etch-stop

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chung, Gwiy-Sang

    2003-10-01

    This paper describes the fabrication of SOI structures with buried cavities using SDB and electrochemical etch-stop. These methods are suitable for thick membrane fabrication with accurate thickness, uniformity, and flatness. After a feed-through hole for supplied voltage and buried cavities was formed on a handle Si wafer with p-type, the handle wafer was bonded to an active Si wafer consisting of a p-type substrate with an n-type epitaxial layer corresponding to membrane thickness. The bonded pair was then thinned until electrochemical etch-stop occurred at the pn junction during electrochemical etchback. By using the SDB SOI structure with buried cavities, active membranes, which have a free standing structure with a dimension of 900×900 μm2, were fabricated. It is confirmed that the fabrication process of the SDB SOI structure with buried cavities is a powerful and versatile technology for new MEMS applications.

  4. ESTCP Pilot Program. Classification Approaches in Munitions Response, San Luis Obispo, California

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-05-01

    geology. Electromagnetic induction sensors detect ferrous and nonferrous metallic objects and can be effective in geology that challenges...34  5.3  Metal Mapper...correspond to munitions, but rather to other harmless metallic objects or geology: field experience indicates that often in excess of 90% of objects

  5. Realtime automatic metal extraction of medical x-ray images for contrast improvement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Prangl, Martin; Hellwagner, Hermann; Spielvogel, Christian; Bischof, Horst; Szkaliczki, Tibor

    2006-03-01

    This paper focuses on an approach for real-time metal extraction of x-ray images taken from modern x-ray machines like C-arms. Such machines are used for vessel diagnostics, surgical interventions, as well as cardiology, neurology and orthopedic examinations. They are very fast in taking images from different angles. For this reason, manual adjustment of contrast is infeasible and automatic adjustment algorithms have been applied to try to select the optimal radiation dose for contrast adjustment. Problems occur when metallic objects, e.g., a prosthesis or a screw, are in the absorption area of interest. In this case, the automatic adjustment mostly fails because the dark, metallic objects lead the algorithm to overdose the x-ray tube. This outshining effect results in overexposed images and bad contrast. To overcome this limitation, metallic objects have to be detected and extracted from images that are taken as input for the adjustment algorithm. In this paper, we present a real-time solution for extracting metallic objects of x-ray images. We will explore the characteristic features of metallic objects in x-ray images and their distinction from bone fragments which form the basis to find a successful way for object segmentation and classification. Subsequently, we will present our edge based real-time approach for successful and fast automatic segmentation and classification of metallic objects. Finally, experimental results on the effectiveness and performance of our approach based on a vast amount of input image data sets will be presented.

  6. IODP Expedition 337: Deep Coalbed Biosphere off Shimokita - Microbial processes and hydrocarbon system associated with deeply buried coalbed in the ocean

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Inagaki, Fumio; Hinrichs, Kai-Uwe; Kubo, Yusuke; IODP Expedition 337 Scientists

    2016-06-01

    The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 337 was the first expedition dedicated to subseafloor microbiology that used riser-drilling technology with the drilling vessel Chikyu. The drilling Site C0020 is located in a forearc basin formed by the subduction of the Pacific Plate off the Shimokita Peninsula, Japan, at a water depth of 1180 m. Primary scientific objectives during Expedition 337 were to study the relationship between the deep microbial biosphere and a series of ˜ 2 km deep subseafloor coalbeds and to explore the limits of life in the deepest horizons ever probed by scientific ocean drilling. To address these scientific objectives, we penetrated a 2.466 km deep sedimentary sequence with a series of lignite layers buried around 2 km below the seafloor. The cored sediments, as well as cuttings and logging data, showed a record of dynamically changing depositional environments in the former forearc basin off the Shimokita Peninsula during the late Oligocene and Miocene, ranging from warm-temperate coastal backswamps to a cool water continental shelf. The occurrence of small microbial populations and their methanogenic activity were confirmed down to the bottom of the hole by microbiological and biogeochemical analyses. The factors controlling the size and viability of ultra-deep microbial communities in those warm sedimentary habitats could be the increase in demand of energy and water expended on the enzymatic repair of biomolecules as a function of the burial depth. Expedition 337 provided a test ground for the use of riser-drilling technology to address geobiological and biogeochemical objectives and was therefore a crucial step toward the next phase of deep scientific ocean drilling.

  7. Scattering properties of electromagnetic waves from metal object in the lower terahertz region

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Gang; Dang, H. X.; Hu, T. Y.; Su, Xiang; Lv, R. C.; Li, Hao; Tan, X. M.; Cui, T. J.

    2018-01-01

    An efficient hybrid algorithm is proposed to analyze the electromagnetic scattering properties of metal objects in the lower terahertz (THz) frequency. The metal object can be viewed as perfectly electrical conducting object with a slightly rough surface in the lower THz region. Hence the THz scattered field from metal object can be divided into coherent and incoherent parts. The physical optics and truncated-wedge incremental-length diffraction coefficients methods are combined to compute the coherent part; while the small perturbation method is used for the incoherent part. With the MonteCarlo method, the radar cross section of the rough metal surface is computed by the multilevel fast multipole algorithm and the proposed hybrid algorithm, respectively. The numerical results show that the proposed algorithm has good accuracy to simulate the scattering properties rapidly in the lower THz region.

  8. Whole-field digital vibrometer system for buried landmine detection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lal, Amit; Hess, Cecil; Scott, Eddie; Dang, Michael; Nichols, Robert

    2005-06-01

    Previous results have shown the potential of acoustic-to-seismic coupling with Laser Doppler Vibrometry for the detection of buried landmines. An important objective of the present technology is to improve the spatial resolution and the speed of the measurement. In this paper, MetroLaser reports on a whole-field digital vibrometer (WDV) that measures an entire one meter area with sub-centimeter spatial resolution in just a few seconds. The WDV is based on a dual-pulsed laser such that each pulse illuminates a one meter area on the ground, and the temporal separation between the two laser pulses can be adjusted to match the ground excitation frequency. By sweeping this excitation frequency, a displacement map of the ground at each frequency can be quickly generated. In addition, an innovative speckle repositioning strategy allows for movement of the measurement platform at reasonable speeds while still obtaining measurements with interferometric precision. This paper describes the WDV instrument and presents preliminary experimental results obtained with this system. This research is being supported by the U.S. Army RDECOM CERDEC NVESD under Contract W909MY04-C-0004.

  9. Estimation of Gravity Parameters Related to Simple Geometrical Structures by Developing an Approach Based on Deconvolution and Linear Optimization Techniques

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Asfahani, J.; Tlas, M.

    2015-10-01

    An easy and practical method for interpreting residual gravity anomalies due to simple geometrically shaped models such as cylinders and spheres has been proposed in this paper. This proposed method is based on both the deconvolution technique and the simplex algorithm for linear optimization to most effectively estimate the model parameters, e.g., the depth from the surface to the center of a buried structure (sphere or horizontal cylinder) or the depth from the surface to the top of a buried object (vertical cylinder), and the amplitude coefficient from the residual gravity anomaly profile. The method was tested on synthetic data sets corrupted by different white Gaussian random noise levels to demonstrate the capability and reliability of the method. The results acquired show that the estimated parameter values derived by this proposed method are close to the assumed true parameter values. The validity of this method is also demonstrated using real field residual gravity anomalies from Cuba and Sweden. Comparable and acceptable agreement is shown between the results derived by this method and those derived from real field data.

  10. The study of buried drift aquifers in Minnesota by seismic geophysical methods

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Woodward, D. G.

    1984-01-01

    Buried-drift aquifers are stratified sand and (or) gravel aquifers in glacial deposits that cannot be seen or inferred at the land surface. During the Pleistocene Epoch, four continental glaciations advanced and retreated across Minnesota, blanketing the bedrock surface with drift as much as 700 feet thick (fig. 1). Most of the drift consists of till, an unsorted, un-stratified mixture of clay silt, sand, and gravel that usually is not considered to be an aquifer. Permeable, stratified sand and gravel, deposited as outwash, alluvium, and (or) ice-contact deposits usually during an earlier glacial episode and subsequently covered (buried) with till, form the buried-drift aquifers.

  11. Viking Lander's Buried Footpad #3

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1976-01-01

    One of Viking l's three feet, which should be visible in this view, lies buried beneath a cover of loose Martian soil. This picture, taken Sunday (August 1), is the first to show the buried footpad #3. If not buried, the edge of the foot would be seen extending across the picture about midway between top and bottom. The foot sank about five inches, and fine-grained soil slumped into the depression and over the foot. The cracked nature of the surface near the slump area and the small, steep cliff at left indicates that the material is weakly cohesive. The surface material here is very similar mechanically to lunar soil.

  12. Concealed epispadias associated with a buried penis.

    PubMed

    Sol Melgar, Ricardo; Gorduza, Daniela; Demède, Delphine; Mouriquand, Pierre

    2016-12-01

    The aim was to describe the clinical presentation and the surgical management of penile epispadias associated with a buried penis in five children. This is a 5-year retrospective review of patients presenting with a buried penis, a congenital defect of the penile skin shaft associated with an unretractable foreskin for whom a penile epispadias was found at the time of surgery. All had undergone surgery combining a Cantwell-Ransley procedure and refashioning of the penile skin following the authors' technique. Three children had a glanular epispadias and two had a midshaft epispadias. Four had a satisfactory outcome, and one required a complementary urethroplasty for glanular dehiscence. Buried penis and epispadias are usually isolated congenital anomalies, although they can be associated. It is therefore recommended to warn parents about the possibility of underlying penile anomaly in children with buried penises and unretractable foreskin. Careful palpation of the dorsum of the glans through the foreskin looking for a dorsal cleft could indicate an associated epispadiac urethra. Surgical correction of both anomalies can be done at the same time. Parents of boys with buried penises should be warned that underlying penile anomaly may exist. Copyright © 2016 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Problems of Military Cemeteries Greenery - Case Study of the Military Cemetery in Zvolen

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Halajová, Denisa; Petreková, Denisa; Bihuňová, Mária

    2017-10-01

    The intention of this work is to highlight the importance of understanding military cemeteries as objects of cultural and historical heritage and as a part of garden design history. The design and maintenance of cemeteries and graves is a manifestation of the national culture. This is even more evident in military cemeteries, the maintenance of which is regulated by international agreements. Objects of military cemeteries are important places not only from the historical and architectural point of view, but also as green space. Most military cemeteries in Slovakia originated from World War I and II. In Slovakia, 160,000 soldiers were buried, 75,206 of them lost their lives in World War I and 93,000 in World War II. 32,495 war graves are registered by The Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic - 23,316 war graves from World War I and 9,179 from World War II. From the period of World War II, there are 22 cemeteries and graveyards in Slovakia, established for soldiers of the Soviet, German, Romanian and Czechoslovak army. Military cemeteries and memorials are mostly high quality works of architecture and art. This paper focuses on the current situation and restoration issues of military cemeteries by examining the Military Cemetery in Zvolen. In the context of its planned reconstruction, a comprehensive tree assessment has been started in 2016. The Military Cemetery in Zvolen, being one of the largest military cemeteries in Slovakia, consists of The Cemetery of the Soviet Army with 17,628 buried soldiers and The Romanian Cemetery with 11,000 buried soldiers. The Romanian Cemetery is one of the largest cemeteries of the Romanian Army in Europe. Both cemeteries were declared national cultural monuments in 1963. In the cemetery, dendrometrical parameters and the health condition of trees were evaluated. In total, there are 825 woody plants. In both cemeteries, coniferous trees prevail, mainly individuals of the genus Thuja (49.4 %). Moreover, the maintenance of greenery and the aesthetics of the landscape composition were assessed. Based on the assessment of woody plant species composition, health condition of trees and their aesthetic qualities, necessary changes in the cemetery landscape composition were designed.

  14. Detection capability of a pulsed Ground Penetrating Radar utilizing an oscilloscope and Radargram Fusion Approach for optimal signal quality

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Seyfried, Daniel; Schoebel, Joerg

    2015-07-01

    In scientific research pulsed radars often employ a digital oscilloscope as sampling unit. The sensitivity of an oscilloscope is determined in general by means of the number of digits of its analog-to-digital converter and the selected full scale vertical setting, i.e., the maximal voltage range displayed. Furthermore oversampling or averaging of the input signal may increase the effective number of digits, hence the sensitivity. Especially for Ground Penetrating Radar applications high sensitivity of the radar system is demanded since reflection amplitudes of buried objects are strongly attenuated in ground. Hence, in order to achieve high detection capability this parameter is one of the most crucial ones. In this paper we analyze the detection capability of our pulsed radar system utilizing a Rohde & Schwarz RTO 1024 oscilloscope as sampling unit for Ground Penetrating Radar applications, such as detection of pipes and cables in the ground. Also effects of averaging and low-noise amplification of the received signal prior to sampling are investigated by means of an appropriate laboratory setup. To underline our findings we then present real-world radar measurements performed on our GPR test site, where we have buried pipes and cables of different types and materials in different depths. The results illustrate the requirement for proper choice of the settings of the oscilloscope for optimal data recording. However, as we show, displaying both strong signal contributions due to e.g., antenna cross-talk and direct ground bounce reflection as well as weak reflections from objects buried deeper in ground requires opposing trends for the oscilloscope's settings. We therefore present our Radargram Fusion Approach. By means of this approach multiple radargrams recorded in parallel, each with an individual optimized setting for a certain type of contribution, can be fused in an appropriate way in order to finally achieve a single radargram which displays all contributions occurring originally at different strengths in an equalized and normalized way by means of appropriate digital signal post-processing.

  15. 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.

  16. The visual perception of metal.

    PubMed

    Todd, James T; Norman, J Farley

    2018-03-01

    The present research was designed to examine how the presence or absence of ambient light influences the appearance of metal. The stimuli depicted three possible objects that were illuminated by three possible patterns of illumination. These were generated by a single point light source, two rectangular area lights, or projecting light onto a translucent white box that contained the object (and the camera) so that the object would be illuminated by ambient light in all directions. The materials were simulated using measured parameters of chrome with four different levels of roughness. Observers rated the metallic appearance and shininess of each depicted object using two sliders. The highest rated appearance of metal and shininess occurred for the surfaces with the lowest roughness in the ambient illumination condition, and these ratings dropped systematically as the roughness was increased. For the objects illuminated by point or area lights, the appearance of metal and shininess were significantly less than in the ambient conditions for the lowest roughness value, and significantly greater than in the ambient condition for intermediate values of roughness. We also included a control condition depicting objects with a shiny plastic reflectance function that had both diffuse and specular components. These objects were rated as highly shiny but they did not appear metallic. A theoretical hypothesis is proposed that the defining characteristic of metal (as opposed to black plastic) is the presence of specular sheen over most of the visible surface area.

  17. Method of microbially producing metal gallate spinel nano-objects, and compositions produced thereby

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

    Duty, Chad E.; Jellison, Jr., Gerald E.; Love, Lonnie J.

    A method of forming a metal gallate spinel structure that includes mixing a divalent metal-containing salt and a gallium-containing salt in solution with fermentative or thermophilic bacteria. In the process, the bacteria nucleate metal gallate spinel nano-objects from the divalent metal-containing salt and the gallium-containing salt without requiring reduction of a metal in the solution. The metal gallate spinel structures, as well as light-emitting structures in which they are incorporated, are also described.

  18. Incidence of Treatment for Infection of Buried Versus Exposed Kirschner Wires in Phalangeal, Metacarpal, and Distal Radial Fractures.

    PubMed

    Ridley, Taylor J; Freking, Will; Erickson, Lauren O; Ward, Christina Marie

    2017-07-01

    To determine whether there is a difference in the incidence of infection between exposed and buried K-wires when used to treat phalangeal, metacarpal, and distal radius fractures. We conducted a retrospective review identifying all patients aged greater than 16 years who underwent fixation of phalangeal, metacarpal, or distal radius fractures with K-wires between 2007 and 2015. We recorded patient demographic data, fracture location, number of K-wires used, whether K-wires were buried or left exposed, and duration of K-wire placement. A total of 695 patients met inclusion criteria. Surgeons buried K-wires in 207 patients and left K-wires exposed in 488. Infections occurred more frequently in exposed K-wire cases than in buried K-wire ones. Subgroup analysis based on fracture location revealed a significantly increased risk of being treated for infection when exposed K-wires were used for metacarpal fractures. Patients with exposed K-wires for fixation of phalangeal, metacarpal, or distal radius fractures were more likely to be treated for a pin-site infection than those with K-wires buried beneath the skin. Metacarpal fractures treated with exposed K-wires were 2 times more likely to be treated for a pin-site infection (17.6% of exposed K wire cases vs 8.7% of buried K wire cases). Therapeutic IV. Copyright © 2017 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  19. Buried nanoantenna arrays: versatile antireflection coating.

    PubMed

    Kabiri, Ali; Girgis, Emad; Capasso, Federico

    2013-01-01

    Reflection is usually a detrimental phenomenon in many applications such as flat-panel-displays, solar cells, photodetectors, infrared sensors, and lenses. Thus far, to control and suppress the reflection from a substrate, numerous techniques including dielectric interference coatings, surface texturing, adiabatic index matching, and scattering from plasmonic nanoparticles have been investigated. A new technique is demonstrated to manage and suppress reflection from lossless and lossy substrates. It provides a wider flexibility in design versus previous methods. Reflection from a surface can be suppressed over a narrowband, wideband, or multiband frequency range. The antireflection can be dependent or independent of the incident wave polarization. Moreover, antireflection at a very wide incidence angle can be attained. The reflection from a substrate is controlled by a buried nanoantenna array, a structure composed of (1) a subwavelength metallic array and (2) a dielectric cover layer referred to as a superstrate. The material properties and thickness of the superstrate and nanoantennas' geometry and periodicity control the phase and intensity of the wave circulating inside the superstrate cavity. A minimum reflectance of 0.02% is achieved in various experiments in the mid-infrared from a silicon substrate. The design can be integrated in straightforward way in optical devices. The proposed structure is a versatile AR coating to optically impedance matches any substrate to free space in selected any narrow and broadband spectral response across the entire visible and infrared spectrum.

  20. Columnar and subsurface silicide growth with novel molecular beam epitaxy techniques

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Fathauer, R. W.; George, T.; Pike, W. T.

    1992-01-01

    We have found novel growth modes for epitaxial CoSi2 at high temperatures coupled with Si-rich flux ratios or low deposition rates. In the first of these modes, codeposition of metal and Si at 600-800 C with excess Si leads to the formation of epitaxial silicide columns surrounded by single-crystal Si. During the initial stages of the deposition, the excess Si grows homoepitaxially in between the silicide, which forms islands, so that the lateral growth of the islands is confined. Once a template layer is established by this process, columns of silicide form as a result of selective epitaxy of silicide on silicide and Si on Si. This growth process allows nanometer control over silicide particles in three dimensions. In the second of these modes, a columnar silicide seed layer is used as a template to nucleate subsurface growth of CoSi2. With a 100 nm Si layer covering CoSi2 seeds, Co deposited at 800C and 0.01 nm/s diffuses down to grow on the buried seeds rather than nucleating surface silicide islands. For thicker Si caps or higher deposition rates, the surface concentration of Co exceeds the critical concentration for nucleation of islands, preventing this subsurface growth mode from occurring. Using this technique, single-crystal layers of CoSi2 buried under single-crystal Si caps have been grown.

  1. Factors governing the substitution of La3+ for Ca2+ and Mg2+ in metalloproteins: a DFT/CDM study.

    PubMed

    Dudev, Todor; Chang, Li-Ying; Lim, Carmay

    2005-03-23

    Trivalent lanthanide cations are extensively being used in biochemical experiments to probe various dication-binding sites in proteins; however, the factors governing the binding specificity of lanthanide cations for these binding sites remain unclear. Hence, we have performed systematic studies to evaluate the interactions between La3+ and model Ca2+ - and Mg2+ -binding sites using density functional theory combined with continuum dielectric methods. The calculations reveal the key factors and corresponding physical bases favoring the substitution of trivalent lanthanides for divalent Ca2+ and Mg2+ in holoproteins. Replacing Ca2+ or Mg2+ with La3+ is facilitated by (1) minimizing the solvent exposure and the flexibility of the metal-binding cavity, (2) freeing both carboxylate oxygen atoms of Asp/Glu side chains in the metal-binding site so that they could bind bidentately to La3+, (3) maximizing the number of metal-bound carboxylate groups in buried sites, but minimizing the number of metal-bound carboxylate groups in solvent-exposed sites, and (4) including an Asn/Gln side chain for sites lined with four Asp/Glu side chains. In proteins bound to both Mg2+ and Ca2+, La3+ would prefer to replace Ca2+, as compared to Mg2+. A second Mg2+-binding site with a net positive charge would hamper the Mg2+ --> La3+ exchange, as compared to the respective mononuclear site, although the La3+ substitution of the first native metal is more favorable than the second one. The findings of this work are in accord with available experimental data.

  2. Electrochemistry of 1,1'-bis(2,4-dialkylphosphetanyl)ferrocene and 1,1'-bis(2,5-dialkylphospholanyl)ferrocene ligands: free phosphines, metal complexes, and chalcogenides.

    PubMed

    Mandell, Chelsea L; Kleinbach, Shannon S; Dougherty, William G; Kassel, W Scott; Nataro, Chip

    2010-10-18

    The oxidative electrochemistries of a series of chiral bisphosphinoferrocene ligands, 1,1'-bis(2,4-dialkylphosphetanyl)ferrocene (FerroTANE) and 1,1'-bis(2,5-dialkylphospholanyl)ferrocene (FerroLANE), were examined. The reversibility of the oxidation is sensitive to the steric bulk of the alkyl groups. New transition metal compounds and phosphine chalcogenides of these ligands were prepared and characterized. X-ray crystal structures of 10 of these compounds are reported. The percent buried volume (%V(bur)) is a recently developed measurement based on crystallographic data that examines the steric bulk of N-heterocyclic carbene and phosphine ligands. The %V(bur) for the FerroTANE and FerroLANE structures with methyl or ethyl substituents suggests these ligands are similar in steric properties to 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf). In addition the %V(bur) has been found to correlate well with the Tolman cone angle for phosphine chalcogenides. The oxidative electrochemistries of the transition metal complexes occur at more positive potentials than the free ligands. While a similar positive shift is seen for the oxidative electrochemistries of the phosphine chalcogenides, the oxidation of the phosphine selenides does not occur at the iron center, but rather oxidation occurs at the selenium atoms.

  3. Cytochrome c Oxidase Biogenesis and Metallochaperone Interactions: Steps in the Assembly Pathway of a Bacterial Complex

    PubMed Central

    Ludwig, Bernd

    2017-01-01

    Biogenesis of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COX) is a complex process involving the coordinate expression and assembly of numerous subunits (SU) of dual genetic origin. Moreover, several auxiliary factors are required to recruit and insert the redox-active metal compounds, which in most cases are buried in their protein scaffold deep inside the membrane. Here we used a combination of gel electrophoresis and pull-down assay techniques in conjunction with immunostaining as well as complexome profiling to identify and analyze the composition of assembly intermediates in solubilized membranes of the bacterium Paracoccus denitrificans. Our results show that the central SUI passes through at least three intermediate complexes with distinct subunit and cofactor composition before formation of the holoenzyme and its subsequent integration into supercomplexes. We propose a model for COX biogenesis in which maturation of newly translated COX SUI is initially assisted by CtaG, a chaperone implicated in CuB site metallation, followed by the interaction with the heme chaperone Surf1c to populate the redox-active metal-heme centers in SUI. Only then the remaining smaller subunits are recruited to form the mature enzyme which ultimately associates with respiratory complexes I and III into supercomplexes. PMID:28107462

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

    Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez, Silvia C.; Coulon, Frédéric; Jiang, Ying

    Highlights: • Samples from multiple core drills were obtained from 4× landfill sites in the UK. • Each sample analysed for rare earth elements, critical metals and valuable metals. • Two stage microwave digestion method ensuring high yield. • High quantities of copper and aluminium were observed in the soil layers of landfill. • Across 4× landfills aluminium and copper present has a value of aroundmore » $$400 million. - Abstract: Rare earth elements (REEs), Platinum group metals (PGMs) and other critical metals currently attract significant interest due to the high risks of supply shortage and substantial impact on the economy. Their uses in many applications have made them present in municipal solid waste (MSW) and in commercial and industrial waste (C&I), since several industrial processes produce by-products with high content of these metals. With over 4000 landfills in the UK alone, the aim of this study was to assess the existence of these critical metals within landfills. Samples collected from four closed landfills in UK were subjected to a two-step acid digestion to extract 27 metals of interest. Concentrations across the four landfill sites were 58 ± 6 mg kg{sup −1} for REEs comprising 44 ± 8 mg kg{sup −1} for light REEs, 11 ± 2 mg kg{sup −1} for heavy REEs and 3 ± 1 mg kg{sup −1} for Scandium (Sc) and 3 ± 1.0 mg kg{sup −1} of PGMs. Compared to the typical concentration in ores, these concentrations are too low to achieve a commercially viable extraction. However, content of other highly valuable metals (Al and Cu) was found in concentrations equating to a combined value across the four landfills of around $$400 million, which increases the economic viability of landfill mining. Presence of critical metals will mainly depend on the type of waste that was buried but the recovery of these metals through landfill mining is possible and is economically feasible only if additional materials (plastics, paper, metallic items and other) are also recovered for reprocessing.« less

  5. Effects of Psilocybe argentipes on marble-burying behavior in mice.

    PubMed

    Matsushima, Yoshihiro; Shirota, Osamu; Kikura-Hanajiri, Ruri; Goda, Yukihiro; Eguchi, Fumio

    2009-08-01

    Psilocybe argentipes is a hallucinogenic mushroom. The present study examined the effects of P. argentipes on marble-burying behavior, which is considered an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder. P. argentipes significantly inhibited marble-burying behavior without affecting locomotor activity as compared with the same dose of authentic psilocybin. These findings suggest that P. argentipes would be efficient in clinical obsessive-compulsive disorder therapy.

  6. Exposed versus buried intramedullary implants for pediatric forearm fractures: a comparison of complications.

    PubMed

    Kelly, Brian A; Miller, Patricia; Shore, Benjamin J; Waters, Peter M; Bae, Donald S

    2014-12-01

    The purpose of this study was to compare the rate of complications between buried and exposed intramedullary implants after fixation of pediatric forearm fractures. A retrospective comparative cohort study of 339 children treated with intramedullary fixation for displaced forearm fractures between 2004 and 2009 was performed. Implants were left exposed in 128 patients (37.8%) and buried beneath the skin in 208 patients (61.4%); 3 patients had buried and exposed hardware (0.9%). Data on demographics, injury, surgical technique, and complications were analyzed. The buried implant group was older (mean 10.3 vs. 8.5 y; P < 0.001), heavier (mean 38.6 vs. 31.9 kg; P < 0.001), and had fewer open injuries (23% vs. 41%; P < 0.001) than the exposed implant group. The buried group had their implants removed later than the exposed group (median 3.5 vs. 1.2 mo; P < 0.001). There was no difference between time to removal for patients with refracture and those without (median 1.3 vs. 2.0 mo; P = 0.78). A total of 36.2% of exposed implants were successfully removed in the office. Complications were seen in 56 patients (16.5%). There were 16 patients (4.7%) with refracture and 12 patients (3.5%) with infection. The buried and exposed implant groups did not differ significantly with respect to refracture (3.1% vs. 7.0%; P = 0.20), infection (3.5% vs. 2.3%; P = 0.66), or overall complications (14.5% vs. 17.2%; P = 0.87). There was also no difference between groups with respect to loss of reduction, nondelayed or delayed union, loss of motion, hypertrophic granuloma, or tendon rupture. Buried implants were also associated with penetration through the skin (3.9%). Injury to the dominant arm and need for open reduction were significant predictors of complication (OR = 1.01; 95% CI, 1.001-1.012; P = 0.02 and OR = 0.51; 95% CI, 0.264-0.974; P = 0.04, respectively). There were no significant differences seen in number of infections, refractures, or overall complications based on whether implants were left exposed or buried beneath the skin after surgery. Level III, therapeutic.

  7. Ultrasonic isolation of buried pipes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Leinov, Eli; Lowe, Michael J. S.; Cawley, Peter

    2016-02-01

    Long-range guided wave testing (GWT) is used routinely for the monitoring and detection of corrosion defects in above ground pipelines. The GWT test range in buried, coated pipelines is greatly reduced compared to above ground configurations due to energy leakage into the embedding soil. In this paper, the effect of pipe coatings on the guided wave attenuation is investigated with the aim of increasing test ranges for buried pipelines. The attenuation of the T(0,1) and L(0,2) guided wave modes is measured using a full-scale experimental apparatus in a fusion-bonded epoxy (FBE)-coated 8 in. pipe, buried in loose and compacted sand. Tests are performed over a frequency range typically used in GWT of 10-35 kHz and compared with model predictions. It is shown that the application of a low impedance coating between the FBE layer and the sand effectively decouples the influence of the sand on the ultrasound leakage from the buried pipe. Ultrasonic isolation of a buried pipe is demonstrated by coating the pipe with a Polyethylene (PE)-foam layer that has a smaller impedance than both the pipe and sand, and has the ability to withstand the overburden load from the sand. The measured attenuation in the buried PE-foam-FBE-coated pipe is found to be substantially reduced, in the range of 0.3-1.2 dB m-1 for loose and compacted sand conditions, compared to measured attenuation of 1.7-4.7 dB m-1 in the buried FBE-coated pipe without the PE-foam. The acoustic properties of the PE-foam are measured independently using ultrasonic interferometry and incorporated into model predictions of guided wave propagation in buried coated pipe. Good agreement is found between the experimental measurements and model predictions. The attenuation exhibits periodic peaks in the frequency domain corresponding to the through-thickness resonance frequencies of the coating layer. The large reduction in guided wave attenuation for PE-coated pipes would lead to greatly increased GWT test ranges; such coatings would be attractive for new pipeline installations.

  8. Method and Apparatus for Non-Destructive Evaluation of Materials

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Washabaugh, Andrew P. (Inventor); Lyons, Robert (Inventor); Thomas, Zachary (Inventor); Martin, Christopher (Inventor); Goldfine, Neil J. (Inventor)

    2017-01-01

    Methods and apparatus for characterizing composite materials for manufacturing quality assurance (QA), periodic inspection during the useful life, or for forensic analysis/material testing. System are provided that relate eddy-current sensor responses to the fiber layup of a composite structure, the presence of impact damage on a composite structure with or without a metal liner, volumetric stress within the composite, fiber tow density, and other NDE inspection requirements. Also provided are systems that determine electromagnetic material properties and material dimensions of composite materials from capacitive sensor inspection measurements. These properties are related to the presence of buried defects in non-conductive composite materials, moisture ingress, aging of the material due to service or environmental/thermal exposure, or changes in manufacturing quality.

  9. Method and Apparatus for Non-Destructive Evaluation of Materials

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lyons, Robert (Inventor); Martin, Christopher (Inventor); Washabaugh, Andrew P. (Inventor); Goldfine, Neil J. (Inventor); Thomas, Zachary (Inventor); Jablonski, David A. (Inventor)

    2015-01-01

    Methods and apparatus for characterizing composite materials for manufacturing quality assurance (QA), periodic inspection during the useful life, or for forensic analysis/material testing. System are provided that relate eddy-current sensor responses to the fiber layup of a composite structure, the presence of impact damage on a composite structure with or without a metal liner, volumetric stress within the composite, fiber tow density, and other NDE inspection requirements. Also provided are systems that determine electromagnetic material properties and material dimensions of composite materials from capacitive sensor inspection measurements. These properties are related to the presence of buried defects in non-conductive composite materials, moisture ingress, aging of the material due to service or environmental/thermal exposure, or changes in manufacturing quality.

  10. Computer simulation of explosion crater in dams with different buried depths of explosive

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Zhichao; Ye, Longzhen

    2018-04-01

    Based on multi-material ALE method, this paper conducted a computer simulation on the explosion crater in dams with different buried depths of explosive using LS-DYNA program. The results turn out that the crater size increases with the increase of buried depth of explosive at first, but closed explosion cavity rather than a visible crater is formed when the buried depth of explosive increases to some extent. The soil in the explosion cavity is taken away by the explosion products and the soil under the explosion cavity is compressed with its density increased. The research can provide some reference for the anti-explosion design of dams in the future.

  11. Superior broadband antireflection from buried Mie resonator arrays for high-efficiency photovoltaics

    PubMed Central

    Zhong, Sihua; Zeng, Yang; Huang, Zengguang; Shen, Wenzhong

    2015-01-01

    Establishing reliable and efficient antireflection structures is of crucial importance for realizing high-performance optoelectronic devices such as solar cells. In this study, we provide a design guideline for buried Mie resonator arrays, which is composed of silicon nanostructures atop a silicon substrate and buried by a dielectric film, to attain a superior antireflection effect over a broadband spectral range by gaining entirely new discoveries of their antireflection behaviors. We find that the buried Mie resonator arrays mainly play a role as a transparent antireflection structure and their antireflection effect is insensitive to the nanostructure height when higher than 150 nm, which are of prominent significance for photovoltaic applications in the reduction of photoexcited carrier recombination. We further optimally combine the buried Mie resonator arrays with micron-scale textures to maximize the utilization of photons, and thus have successfully achieved an independently certified efficiency of 18.47% for the nanostructured silicon solar cells on a large-size wafer (156 mm × 156 mm). PMID:25746848

  12. Detection and characterization of buried lunar craters with GRAIL data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sood, Rohan; Chappaz, Loic; Melosh, Henry J.; Howell, Kathleen C.; Milbury, Colleen; Blair, David M.; Zuber, Maria T.

    2017-06-01

    We used gravity mapping observations from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) to detect, characterize and validate the presence of large impact craters buried beneath the lunar maria. In this paper we focus on two prominent anomalies detected in the GRAIL data using the gravity gradiometry technique. Our detection strategy is applied to both free-air and Bouguer gravity field observations to identify gravitational signatures that are similar to those observed over buried craters. The presence of buried craters is further supported by individual analysis of regional free-air gravity anomalies, Bouguer gravity anomaly maps, and forward modeling. Our best candidate, for which we propose the informal name of Earhart Crater, is approximately 200 km in diameter and forms part of the northwestern rim of Lacus Somniorum, The other candidate, for which we propose the informal name of Ashoka Anomaly, is approximately 160 km in diameter and lies completely buried beneath Mare Tranquillitatis. Other large, still unrecognized, craters undoubtedly underlie other portions of the Moon's vast mare lavas.

  13. Kirschner wire pin tract infection rates between percutaneous and buried wires in treating metacarpal and phalangeal fractures.

    PubMed

    Rafique, Atif; Ghani, Shahab; Sadiq, Moiz; Siddiqui, Intisar Ahmed

    2006-08-01

    To compare pin tract infection rate between percutaneous and buried placement of Kirschner (K-) wiring for hand fractures. Quasi--experimental study. Plastic, Reconstructive, Hand and Burn Surgery Unit, Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, from September 2005--February 2006. Patients with fractures of metacarpals and phalanges of hand were selected by non-probability purposive method. Assessment of pin tract infection by clinical examination and pin tract scoring was done by modification of Oppenheim classification. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square test. Ten out of 55 percutaneous and 2 out of 45 buried wires were infected. The difference in infection rates of two groups was statistically significant at p<0.05. Three percutaneous, but not buried Kirschner wires, had to be removed before 4 weeks because of failure to respond to local wound care and oral antibiotics. Percutaneous K- wires had significantly greater infection rate than wires which were buried deep to the skin.

  14. Exhuming Crater in Northeast Arabia

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2003-01-01

    MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-563, 3 December 2003

    The upper crust of Mars is layered, and interbedded with these layers are old, filled and buried meteor impact craters. In a few places on Mars, such as Arabia Terra, erosion has re-exposed some of the filled and buried craters. This October 2003 Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows an example. The larger circular feature was once a meteor crater. It was filled with sediment, then buried beneath younger rocks. The smaller circular feature is a younger impact crater that formed in the surface above the rocks that buried the large crater. Later, erosion removed all of the material that covered the larger, buried crater, except in the location of the small crater. This pair of martian landforms is located near 17.6oN, 312.8oW. The image covers an area 3 km (1.9 mi) wide and is illuminated from the lower left.

  15. Compact Buried Ducts in a Hot-Humid Climate House

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

    Mallay, D.

    2016-01-01

    A system of compact, buried ducts provides a high-performance and cost-effective solution for delivering conditioned air throughout the building. This report outlines research activities that are expected to facilitate adoption of compact buried duct systems by builders. The results of this research would be scalable to many new house designs in most climates and markets, leading to wider industry acceptance and building code and energy program approval.

  16. Dental disease and dietary isotopes of individuals from St Gertrude Church cemetery, Riga, Latvia.

    PubMed

    Petersone-Gordina, Elina; Roberts, Charlotte; Millard, Andrew R; Montgomery, Janet; Gerhards, Guntis

    2018-01-01

    This research explores oral health indicators and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope data to explore diet, and differences in diet, between people buried in the four different contexts of the St Gertrude Church cemetery (15th- 17th centuries AD): the general cemetery, two mass graves, and a collective mass burial pit within the general cemetery. The main aim is to assess whether people buried in the mass graves were rural immigrants, or if they were more likely to be the victims of plague (or another epidemic) who lived in Riga and its suburbs. The data produced (from dental disease assessments and isotope analyses) were compared within, as well as between, the contexts. Most differences emerged when comparing the prevalence rates of dental diseases and other oral health indicators in males and females between the contexts, while isotope analysis revealed more individual, rather than context-specific, differences. The data suggested that the populations buried in the mass graves were different from those buried in the general cemetery, and support the theory that rural immigrants were buried in both mass graves. Significant differences were observed in some aspects of the data between the mass graves, however, possibly indicating that the people buried in them do not represent the same community.

  17. Dental disease and dietary isotopes of individuals from St Gertrude Church cemetery, Riga, Latvia

    PubMed Central

    Roberts, Charlotte; Millard, Andrew R.; Montgomery, Janet; Gerhards, Guntis

    2018-01-01

    This research explores oral health indicators and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope data to explore diet, and differences in diet, between people buried in the four different contexts of the St Gertrude Church cemetery (15th– 17th centuries AD): the general cemetery, two mass graves, and a collective mass burial pit within the general cemetery. The main aim is to assess whether people buried in the mass graves were rural immigrants, or if they were more likely to be the victims of plague (or another epidemic) who lived in Riga and its suburbs. The data produced (from dental disease assessments and isotope analyses) were compared within, as well as between, the contexts. Most differences emerged when comparing the prevalence rates of dental diseases and other oral health indicators in males and females between the contexts, while isotope analysis revealed more individual, rather than context-specific, differences. The data suggested that the populations buried in the mass graves were different from those buried in the general cemetery, and support the theory that rural immigrants were buried in both mass graves. Significant differences were observed in some aspects of the data between the mass graves, however, possibly indicating that the people buried in them do not represent the same community. PMID:29364968

  18. Electrode systems for in situ vitrification

    DOEpatents

    Buelt, James L.; Carter, John G.; Eschbach, Eugene A.; FitzPatrick, Vincent F.; Koehmstedt, Paul L.; Morgan, William C.; Oma, Kenton H.; Timmerman, Craig L.

    1990-01-01

    An electrode comprising a molybdenum rod is received within a conductive collar formed of graphite. The molybdenum rod and the graphite collar may be physically joined at the bottom. A pair of such electrodes are placed in soil containing buried waste material and an electric current is passed therebetween for vitrifying the soil. The graphite collar enhances the thermal conductivity of the combination, bringing heat to the surface, and preventing formation of a cold cap of material above the ground surface. The annulus between the molybdenum rod electrode and the graphite collar is suitably filled with a conductive ceramic powder that sinters upon the molybdenum rod, protecting the same from oxidation as graphite material is consumed, or a metal powder which liquefies at operating temperatures. The center of the molybdenum rod, used with a collar of separately, can be hollow and filled with a powdered metal, such as copper, which liquefies at operating temperatures. Connection to electrodes can be provided below ground level to avoid open circuit due to electrode deterioration, or sacrificial electrodes may be employed when operation is started. Outboard electrodes cna be utilized to square up a vitrified area.

  19. In situ atomic-scale imaging of the metal/oxide interfacial transformation

    DOE PAGES

    Zou, Lianfeng; Li, Jonathan; Zakharov, Dmitri; ...

    2017-08-21

    Directly probing structure dynamics at metal/oxide interfaces has been a major challenge due to their buried nature.Using environmental transmission electron microscopy,here we report observations of the in-place formation of Cu 2O/Cu interfaces via the oxidation of Cu, and subsequently probe the atomic mechanisms by which interfacial transformation and grain rotation occur at the interfaces during reduction in an H 2 gas environment. The Cu 2O→Cu transformation is observed to occur initially along the Cu 2O/Cu interface in a layer-by-layer manner.The accumulation of oxygen vacancies at the Cu 2O/Cu interface drives the collapse of the Cu 2O lattice near the interfacemore » region, which results in a tilted Cu 2O/Cu interface with concomitant Cu 2O island rotation. Lastly, these results provide unprecedented microscopic detail regarding the redox reactions of supported oxides,which differs fundamentally from the reduction of bulk or isolated oxides that requires the formation of new interfaces between the parent oxide and the reduced phase.« less

  20. Aerostat-based sampling of emissions from open burning and open detonation of military ordnance.

    PubMed

    Aurell, Johanna; Gullett, Brian K; Tabor, Dennis; Williams, Ryan K; Mitchell, William; Kemme, Michael R

    2015-03-02

    Emissions from open detonation (OD), open burning (OB), and static firing (SF) of obsolete military munitions were collected using an aerostat-lofted sampling instrument maneuvered into the plumes with remotely controlled tether winches. PM2.5, PM10, metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), energetics, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were characterized from 121 trials of three different munitions (Composition B (hereafter, "Comp B"), V453, V548), 152 trials of five different propellants (M31A1E1, M26, SPCF, Arc 451, 452A), and 12 trials with static firing of ammonium perchlorate-containing Sparrow rocket motors. Sampling was conducted with operational charge sizes and under open area conditions to determine emission levels representative of actual disposal practices. The successful application of the tethered aerostat and sampling instruments demonstrated the ability to sample for and determine the first ever emission factors for static firing of rocket motors and buried and metal-cased OD, as well as the first measurements of PM2.5 for OB and for surface OD. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  1. Study of SiO2-Si and metal-oxide-semiconductor structures using positrons

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Leung, T. C.; Asoka-Kumar, P.; Nielsen, B.; Lynn, K. G.

    1993-01-01

    Studies of SiO2-Si and metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) structures using positrons are summarized and a concise picture of the present understanding of positrons in these systems is provided. Positron annihilation line-shape S data are presented as a function of the positron incident energy, gate voltage, and annealing, and are described with a diffusion-annihilation equation for positrons. The data are compared with electrical measurements. Distinct annihilation characteristics were observed at the SiO2-Si interface and have been studied as a function of bias voltage and annealing conditions. The shift of the centroid (peak) of γ-ray energy distributions in the depletion region of the MOS structures was studied as a function of positron energy and gate voltage, and the shifts are explained by the corresponding variations in the strength of the electric field and thickness of the depletion layer. The potential role of the positron annihilation technique as a noncontact, nondestructive, and depth-sensitive characterization tool for the technologically important, deeply buried interface is shown.

  2. IP Subsurface Imaging in the Presence of Buried Steel Infrastructure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Smart, N. H.; Everett, M. E.

    2017-12-01

    The purpose of this research is to explore the use of induced polarization to image closely-spaced steel columns at a controlled test site. Texas A&M University's Riverside Campus (RELLIS) was used as a control test site to examine the difference between actual and remotely-sensed observed depths. Known borehole depths and soil composition made this site ideal. The subsurface metal structures were assessed using a combination of ER (Electrical Resistivity) and IP (Induced Polarization), and later processed using data inversion. Surveying was set up in reference to known locations and depths of steel structures in order to maximize control data quality. In comparing of known and remotely-sensed foundation depths a series of questions is raised regarding how percent error between imaged and actual depths can be lowered. We are able to draw questions from the results of our survey, as we compare them with the known depth and width of the metal beams. As RELLIS offers a control for us to conduct research, ideal survey geometry and inversion parameters can be met to achieve optimal results and resolution

  3. Quantitative 3D model of light transmittance through translucent rocks applied to the hypolithic microbial community.

    PubMed

    Jolitz, Rebecca D; McKay, Christopher P

    2013-07-01

    In extreme desert environments, photosynthetic microorganisms often live on the buried undersides of translucent rocks. Computing the light level reaching these locations requires 3D modeling of a finite rock. We report on Monte Carlo calculations of skylight and sunlight transmission through a partially buried flat cylindrical rock using one billion photons per simulation. Transmitted light level drops inversely with increasing rock opacity, as expected for purely scattering media. For a half-buried rock with an extinction coefficient of 0.1 cm(-1) (opacity of 0.2), transmission at the bottom is 64 % for sunlight at a solar zenith angle of 60° and 82 % for skylight. Transmitted light level increases slowly with increasing scattering asymmetry factor of the rock independent of illumination or depth buried. Transmitted sunlight at zenith through a thick half-buried rock (opacity of 0.6) is six times brighter at the bottom than the subsurface sides. Skylight transmits equally to the subsurface sides and bottom. When the sun is not straight overhead, the sunward side of the rock is brighter than the underside of the rock. Compared to the sunlight transmitted to the bottom, transmitted sunlight inclined at 60° is 24 times brighter at the subsurface side towards the sun and 14 times brighter at the subsurface side 70° away from the sun. Transmitted sunlight emitted from zenith and skylight is uniformly bright at the bottom regardless of how deeply the rock is buried. Sunlight not at zenith transmits preferentially to the sunward bottom edge depending on the depth the rock is buried.

  4. Distinct microbial communities associated with buried soils in the Siberian tundra

    PubMed Central

    Gittel, Antje; Bárta, Jiří; Kohoutová, Iva; Mikutta, Robert; Owens, Sarah; Gilbert, Jack; Schnecker, Jörg; Wild, Birgit; Hannisdal, Bjarte; Maerz, Joeran; Lashchinskiy, Nikolay; Čapek, Petr; Šantrůčková, Hana; Gentsch, Norman; Shibistova, Olga; Guggenberger, Georg; Richter, Andreas; Torsvik, Vigdis L; Schleper, Christa; Urich, Tim

    2014-01-01

    Cryoturbation, the burial of topsoil material into deeper soil horizons by repeated freeze–thaw events, is an important storage mechanism for soil organic matter (SOM) in permafrost-affected soils. Besides abiotic conditions, microbial community structure and the accessibility of SOM to the decomposer community are hypothesized to control SOM decomposition and thus have a crucial role in SOM accumulation in buried soils. We surveyed the microbial community structure in cryoturbated soils from nine soil profiles in the northeastern Siberian tundra using high-throughput sequencing and quantification of bacterial, archaeal and fungal marker genes. We found that bacterial abundances in buried topsoils were as high as in unburied topsoils. In contrast, fungal abundances decreased with depth and were significantly lower in buried than in unburied topsoils resulting in remarkably low fungal to bacterial ratios in buried topsoils. Fungal community profiling revealed an associated decrease in presumably ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. The abiotic conditions (low to subzero temperatures, anoxia) and the reduced abundance of fungi likely provide a niche for bacterial, facultative anaerobic decomposers of SOM such as members of the Actinobacteria, which were found in significantly higher relative abundances in buried than in unburied topsoils. Our study expands the knowledge on the microbial community structure in soils of Northern latitude permafrost regions, and attributes the delayed decomposition of SOM in buried soils to specific microbial taxa, and particularly to a decrease in abundance and activity of ECM fungi, and to the extent to which bacterial decomposers are able to act as their functional substitutes. PMID:24335828

  5. Buried penis after newborn circumcision.

    PubMed

    Eroğlu, Egemen; Bastian, Okan W; Ozkan, Hilda C; Yorukalp, Ozlem E; Goksel, Ayla K

    2009-04-01

    Buried penis may develop after circumcision, mostly during infancy, presumably due to peripubic fat. A surgical approach may be recommended for psychological benefits to patients and parents, and because it is believed that this condition will not improve on its own with time. The aim of this study was to assess the natural history of buried penis after newborn circumcision. During a routine visit to the pediatrician infants with buried penis were assessed by a single pediatric surgeon between January 2004 and June 2007. In December 2007 all of these children were reexamined by the same pediatric surgeon and the natural growth of the genitalia was analyzed. A total of 88 infants were enrolled in the study. When they were first examined they were 3 to 6 months old (mean 3.3). In December 2007, after reexamination, patients were divided into groups based on age, including those younger than 1 year (14 patients), 1 to 3 years (59) and older than 3 years (15). The aspect of the genitalia was evaluated by the same pediatric surgeon for each patient. Buried penis was noted in 14 of 14 patients younger than 1 year (100%), 19 of 59 patients 1 to 3 years old (32.2%) and 1 of 15 patients older than 3 years (6.7%). Buried penis after newborn circumcision is not permanent. As infants get older, and after beginning to walk, the appearance usually turns out to be normal. This resolution may be due to growth and/or maturation alone. Based on our results, we do not recommend surgery for buried penis in children younger than 3 years.

  6. Is electroconvulsive therapy safe in the presence of an intracranial metallic object?: case report and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Mortier, Philippe; Sienaert, Pascal; Bouckaert, Filip

    2013-09-01

    Little is known about the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in patients with intracranial metallic objects. Theoretically, electric current might cause heating of the metal and damage of the surrounding brain tissue. Moreover, intracranial foreign objects increase the risk for epileptic phenomena and could thus complicate the treatment course. The case of a man with intracranial bullet fragments as a result of a headshot, treated with ECT for mania, is presented. We conducted a PubMed literature search for other relevant cases. In our patient, ECT was completed without complication. Electroconvulsive therapy was safely administered in 22 published cases of patients with intracranial metallic objects. After carefully weighing benefits and risks in each individual case, psychiatrists should not be reluctant to use ECT in patients with intracranial metallic objects. Apart from avoiding empirical dosage titration to minimize the exposure to current, positioning the electrodes to avoid the electric current of heating the metal, and continuing antiepileptic agents in high-risk patients, no precautions need to be considered.

  7. Displaced humeral lateral condyle fractures in children: should we bury the pins?

    PubMed

    Das De, Soumen; Bae, Donald S; Waters, Peter M

    2012-09-01

    The purpose of this investigation was to determine if leaving Kirschner wires exposed is more cost-effective than burying them subcutaneously after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of humeral lateral condyle fractures. A retrospective cohort study of all lateral condyle fractures treated over a 10-year period at a single institution was performed. Data on surgical technique, fracture healing, and complications were analyzed, as well as treatment costs. A decision analysis model was then constructed to compare the strategies of leaving the pins exposed versus buried. Finally, sensitivity analyses were performed, assessing cost-effectiveness when infection rates and costs of treating deep infections were varied. A total of 235 children with displaced fractures were treated with ORIF using Kirschner wires. Pins were left exposed in 41 cases (17.4%) and buried in 194 cases (82.6%); the age, sex, injury mechanisms, and fracture patterns were similar in both the groups. The median time to removal of implants was shorter with exposed versus buried pins (4 vs. 6 wk, P<0.001), although there was no difference in fracture union or loss of reduction rates. The rate of superficial infection was higher with exposed pins (9.8% vs. 3.1%), but this was not statistically significant (P=0.076). There were no deep infections with exposed pins, whereas the rate of deep infection was 0.5% with buried pins (P=1.00). Buried pins were associated with additional complications, including symptomatic implants (7.2%); pins protruding through the skin (16%); internal pin migration necessitating additional surgery (1%); and skin necrosis (1%). The decision analysis revealed that leaving pins exposed resulted in an average cost savings of $3442 per patient. This strategy remained cost-effective even when infection rates with exposed pins approached 40%. Leaving the pins exposed after ORIF of lateral condyle fractures is safe and more cost-effective than burying the pins subcutaneously. Retrospective cohort study (level III).

  8. Progress on determining the vapor signature of a buried land mine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    George, Vivian; Jenkins, Thomas F.; Leggett, Daniel C.; Cragin, James H.; Phelan, James M.; Oxley, Jimmie C.; Pennington, Judy

    1999-08-01

    The goal of the DARPA 'Dog's Nose' program is to develop a sensor capable of detecting explosives contained in all buried landmines. In support of the DARPA program, the purpose of the Explosives Fate and Transport experiments is to define in detail the accessible trace chemical signature produced by the explosives contained in buried landmines. We intend to determine the partitioning, composition, and quantity of explosive related chemicals which emanate from different kinds of landmines buried in multiple soil types and exposed to various climatic events. We are also developing a computer model that will enable us to predict the composition and quantity of ERC under a much wider range of environmental conditions than we are able to test experimentally.

  9. Brief description as of April, 1968, of the geology and hydrology of the Lake Minnequa area, Pueblo, Colorado, and suggested solutions for trouble caused by a high water table

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Scott, Glenn R.

    1972-01-01

    Lake Minnequa lies in a poorly drained broad upland buried valley west of the valley of Salt Creek. Immediately north of Lake Minnequa the buried valley is sharply constricted in sees. 11 and 12, T. 21 S., R. 65 W., where it is entrenched in a buried ridge of bedrock (see geologic map).  The bedrock throughout the buried valley is composed of calcareous shale, limestone, and chalk of the Smoky Hill Shale Member of the Niobrara Formation.  These beds are relatively impermeable to the flow of ground water, but contribute large quantities of sodium sulfate to both the surface and ground water.

  10. Instrumenting free-swimming dolphins echolocating in open water.

    PubMed

    Martin, Stephen W; Phillips, Michael; Bauer, Eric J; Moore, Patrick W; Houser, Dorian S

    2005-04-01

    Dolphins within the Navy Marine Mammal Program use echolocation to effectively locate underwater mines. They currently outperform manmade systems at similar tasks, particularly in cluttered environments and on buried targets. In hopes of improving manmade mine-hunting sonar systems, two instrumentation packages were developed to monitor free-swimming dolphin motion and echolocation during open-water target detection tasks. The biosonar measurement tool (BMT) is carried by a dolphin and monitors underwater position and attitude while simultaneously recording echolocation clicks and returning echoes through high-gain binaural receivers. The instrumented mine simulator (IMS) is a modified bottom target that monitors echolocation signals arriving at the target during ensonification. Dolphin subjects were trained to carry the BMT in open-bay bottom-object target searches in which the IMS could serve as a bottom object. The instrumentation provides detailed data that reveal hereto-unavailable information on the search strategies of free-swimming dolphins conducting open-water, bottom-object search tasks with echolocation.

  11. Instrumenting free-swimming dolphins echolocating in open water

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Martin, Stephen W.; Phillips, Michael; Bauer, Eric J.; Moore, Patrick W.; Houser, Dorian S.

    2005-04-01

    Dolphins within the Navy Marine Mammal Program use echolocation to effectively locate underwater mines. They currently outperform manmade systems at similar tasks, particularly in cluttered environments and on buried targets. In hopes of improving manmade mine-hunting sonar systems, two instrumentation packages were developed to monitor free-swimming dolphin motion and echolocation during open-water target detection tasks. The biosonar measurement tool (BMT) is carried by a dolphin and monitors underwater position and attitude while simultaneously recording echolocation clicks and returning echoes through high-gain binaural receivers. The instrumented mine simulator (IMS) is a modified bottom target that monitors echolocation signals arriving at the target during ensonification. Dolphin subjects were trained to carry the BMT in open-bay bottom-object target searches in which the IMS could serve as a bottom object. The instrumentation provides detailed data that reveal hereto-unavailable information on the search strategies of free-swimming dolphins conducting open-water, bottom-object search tasks with echolocation. .

  12. Laying Futility to Rest

    PubMed Central

    Nair-Collins, Michael

    2015-01-01

    In this essay I examine the formal structure of the concept of futility, enabling identification of the appropriate roles played by patient, professional, and society. I argue that the concept of futility does not justify unilateral decisions to forego life-sustaining medical treatment over patient or legitimate surrogate objection, even when futility is determined by a process or subject to ethics committee review. Furthermore, I argue for a limited positive ethical obligation on the part of health care professionals to assist patients in achieving certain restricted goals, including the preservation of life, even in circumstances in which most would agree that that life is of no benefit to the patient. Finally, I address the objection that professional integrity overrides this limited obligation and find the objection unconvincing. In short, my aim in this essay is to see the concept of futility finally buried, once and for all. PMID:26232595

  13. Detection of explosive remnants of war by neutron thermalisation.

    PubMed

    Brooks, F D; Drosg, M; Smit, F D; Wikner, C

    2012-01-01

    The HYDAD-D landmine detector (Brooks and Drosg, 2005) has been modified and field-tested for 17 months in a variety of soil conditions. Test objects containing about the same mass of hydrogen (20g) as small explosive remnants of war, such as antipersonnel landmines, were detected with efficiency 100% when buried at cover depths up to 10cm. The false alarm rate under the same conditions was 9%. Plots of detection efficiency versus false alarm rate are presented. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Detection of leaks in buried rural water pipelines using thermal infrared images

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Eidenshink, Jeffery C.

    1985-01-01

    Leakage is a major problem in many pipelines. Minor leaks called 'seeper leaks', which generally range from 2 to 10 m3 per day, are common and are difficult to detect using conventional ground surveys. The objective of this research was to determine whether airborne thermal-infrared remote sensing could be used in detecting leaks and monitoring rural water pipelines. This study indicates that such leaks can be detected using low-altitude 8.7- to 11.5. micrometer wavelength, thermal infrared images collected under proper conditions.

  15. Metal artifact reduction in CT, a phantom study: subjective and objective evaluation of four commercial metal artifact reduction algorithms when used on three different orthopedic metal implants.

    PubMed

    Bolstad, Kirsten; Flatabø, Silje; Aadnevik, Daniel; Dalehaug, Ingvild; Vetti, Nils

    2018-01-01

    Background Metal implants may introduce severe artifacts in computed tomography (CT) images. Over the last few years dedicated algorithms have been developed in order to reduce metal artifacts in CT images. Purpose To investigate and compare metal artifact reduction algorithms (MARs) from four different CT vendors when imaging three different orthopedic metal implants. Material and Methods Three clinical metal implants were attached to the leg of an anthropomorphic phantom: cobalt-chrome; stainless steel; and titanium. Four commercial MARs were investigated: SmartMAR (GE); O-MAR (Philips); iMAR (Siemens); and SEMAR (Toshiba). The images were evaluated subjectively by three observers and analyzed objectively by calculating the fraction of pixels with CT number above 500 HU in a region of interest around the metal. The average CT number and image noise were also measured. Results Both subjective evaluation and objective analysis showed that MARs reduced metal artifacts and improved the image quality for CT images containing metal implants of steel and cobalt-chrome. When using MARs on titanium, all MARs introduced new visible artifacts. Conclusion The effect of MARs varied between CT vendors and different metal implants used in orthopedic surgery. Both in subjective evaluation and objective analysis the effect of applying MARs was most obvious on steel and cobalt-chrome implants when using SEMAR from Toshiba followed by SmartMAR from GE. However, MARs may also introduce new image artifacts especially when used on titanium implants. Therefore, it is important to reconstruct all CT images containing metal with and without MARs.

  16. Mobility, bioavailability and speciation of potentially toxic metals in a sludges-polluted agricultural soil under remediation with poplar trees and native grasses

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Adamo, Paola; Agrelli, Diana; Giandonato Caporale, Antonio; Fiorentino, Nunzio; Duri, Luigi; Fagnano, Massimo

    2017-04-01

    For the assessment of health and environmental risks deriving from the pollution of agricultural soils, it is critical the identification and the chemical characterization of the contaminants and of the polluted soil, because these characteristics influence the mobility and bioavailability of the contaminants and therefore their transfer from soil to other environmental compartments and to the food chain. In addition, these information are crucial to assess the effectiveness of remediation and management actions. Our study site is an agricultural area of 6 ha, currently under sequestration, located in the province of Naples (Campania Region), interested by past illegal dumping of industrial wastes, mainly tannery sludges. In the area, after an intense phase of soil characterization by geophysical and geochemical surveys, it is realizing an environmental remediation project with poplar trees and native grass species, also with the aim of analyzing the possible absorption and accumulation of contaminants in the vegetables. The soil sampling was carried out by taking punctual samples of soil according to a grid of 20 x 20 m, at three depths (0-20; 30-60; 70-90 cm). Furthermore, materials attributable to the buried sludges were sampled from pedological profiles opened in the field. All the samples were analyzed for the content of potentially toxic metals and of heavy hydrocarbons (C>12). On selected samples were determined the main chemical and physical characteristics, mobile and bioavailable fractions of the major metal contaminants and their distribution in the soil geochemical fractions, with water (solid/liquid partition coefficient), 1 M NH4NO3 and 0.05 M EDTA pH 7 extractions, and EU-BCR sequential fractionation. The data showed a significant, widespread and disorderly contamination by chromium, zinc and heavy hydrocarbons (up to values of: 4500 mg/kg for Cr, 1850 mg/kg for Zn 1250 mg/kg for hydrocarbons C>12). In certain sub-areas it has also been observed a punctual contamination by lead, copper, cadmium, and arsenic. Chromium was always found poorly mobile and bioavailable, unlike zinc, that was extracted in significant amounts in EDTA and NH4NO3 and was found mainly distributed among the HOAc-extractable and reducible fraction of the soil. Chromium, instead, was found principally associated with the oxidizable and to a lesser extent the reducible fractions of the soil, presumably bound to organic matter and iron oxides, as also highlighted by SEM-EDS analysis. Given the high chromium content of the soil and buried materials, on selected samples was also determined the content of Cr(VI) and assessed the oxidizing potential of the soil in respect to the Cr(III). Keywords: chromium, zinc, metal speciation, bioavailability, polluted site.

  17. Casimir repulsion between metallic objects in vacuum.

    PubMed

    Levin, Michael; McCauley, Alexander P; Rodriguez, Alejandro W; Reid, M T Homer; Johnson, Steven G

    2010-08-27

    We give an example of a geometry in which two metallic objects in vacuum experience a repulsive Casimir force. The geometry consists of an elongated metal particle centered above a metal plate with a hole. We prove that this geometry has a repulsive regime using a symmetry argument and confirm it with numerical calculations for both perfect and realistic metals. The system does not support stable levitation, as the particle is unstable to displacements away from the symmetry axis.

  18. The Vertical Distribution of Buried Volatiles at the Moon revealed by Thermal and Epithermal Neutron Fluxes from LEND Observations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chin, G.; Sagdeev, R.; Su, J. J.; Murray, J.; Livengood, T. A.

    2015-12-01

    Determining the quantity and vertical distribution of volatile species on and below the surface of planetary bodies is vital to understand the primordial chemical inventory and subsequent evolution of planets. Volatiles may provide resources to support future human exploration. This is particularly true for the Moon, which is well observed by many methods from ground-based, lunar orbit, and in situ, and is an accessible destination or way station for human exploration. We present Geant4 models of relative fluxes of Fast, Epithermal, and Thermal neutron emission generated in a planetary regolith by galactic cosmic rays to reveal the first 1-2 meters vertical structure of embedded hydrogen or water. Varying ratios of Thermal versus Epithermal, low-energy-Epithermal versus high-energy-Epithermal, and Thermal versus Fast neutron emissions are diagnostics of the depth in which hydrogen/water layers are buried within the top 1-2 meters of the regolith. In addition, we apply model calculations to Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector (LEND) thermal and epithermal data, acquired on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), in specific regions of the Moon to retrieve the vertical distribution of buried ice from the remote sensing information. GEANT4 is a set of particle physics transport simulation codes that exploits object-oriented software methods to deliver a comprehensive and flexible toolkit that is modular and extensible, based on a free open-source development model. GEANT4 has become a standard tool to simulate applications as diverse as particle telescope and detector response, space radiation shielding and optimization, total ionizing dose in spacecraft components, and biological effects of radiation.

  19. Distribution of ancient carbon in buried soils in an eroding loess landscape

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Szymanski, L. M.; Mason, J. A.; De Graaff, M. A.; Berhe, A. A.; Marin-Spiotta, E.

    2017-12-01

    Understanding the processes that contribute to the accumulation and loss of carbon in soils and the implications for land management is vital for mitigating climate change. Buried soils or paleosols that represent former surface horizons can store more organic carbon than mineral horizons at equivalent depths due to burial restricting microbial decomposition. The presence of buried soils defies modeled expectations of exponential declines in carbon concentrations with depth, especially in locations where successive depositional events lead to multiple buried soil layers. Buried soils are found in a diversity of depositional environments across latitudes and without accounting for their presence can lead to underestimates of regional carbon reservoirs. Here we present data on the spatial distribution of carbon in a paleosol loess sequence in Nebraska, focusing on one prominent paleosol, the Brady soil. The Brady soil has been identified throughout the Central Great Plains and began developing at the end of the Pleistocene and was subsequently buried by loess in the early Holocene (Mason et al. 2003). Preliminary analyses of the Brady soil at its deepest, 6-m below the surface, reveal large differences in the composition and degree of decomposition of organic matter from the modern soil. We sampled along burial and erosional transects to characterize spatial variability in the depth of Brady soil from the modern landscape surface and to determine how these differences may alter the amount and composition of organic carbon. A more accurate determination of the spatial extent and heterogeneity of buried soil carbon will improve regional estimates of carbon reservoirs. This assessment of its variability across the landscape will inform future planned work on the vulnerability of ancient carbon to disturbance.

  20. A synthetic mimic of protein inner space: buried polar interactions in a deep water-soluble host.

    PubMed

    Butterfield, Sara M; Rebek, Julius

    2006-12-06

    A deep water-soluble cavitand was functionalized with a carboxylic acid directed toward the hydrophobic interior of the host. The buried salt-bridge interaction formed with a quinuclidium cationic guest was determined to be worth -3 kcal/mol using a free energy cycle. The strength of the interaction correlates well with buried salt bridges in proteins, indicating that the cavitand interior mimics the hydrophobic inner space of proteins.

  1. Effect of antimony incorporation on the density, shape, and luminescence of InAs quantum dots

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, J. F.; Chiang, C. H.; Wu, Y. H.; Chang, L.; Chi, J. Y.

    2008-07-01

    This work investigates the surfactant effect on exposed and buried InAs quantum dots (QDs) by incorporating Sb into the QD layers with various Sb beam equivalent pressures (BEPs). Secondary ion mass spectroscopy shows the presence of Sb in the exposed and buried QD layers with the Sb intensity in the exposed layer substantially exceeding that in the buried layer. Incorporating Sb can reduce the density of the exposed QDs by more than two orders of magnitude. However, a high Sb BEP yields a surface morphology with a regular periodic structure of ellipsoid terraces. A good room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) at ˜1600 nm from the exposed QDs is observed, suggesting that the Sb incorporation probably improves the emission efficiency by reducing the surface recombination velocity at the surface of the exposed QDs. Increasing Sb BEP causes a blueshift of the emission from the exposed QDs due to a reduction in the dot height as suggested by atomic force microscopy. Increasing Sb BEP can also blueshift the ˜1300 nm emission from the buried QDs by decreasing the dot height. However, a high Sb BEP yields a quantum well-like PL feature formed by the clustering of the buried QDs into an undulated planar layer. These results indicate a marked Sb surfactant effect that can be used to control the density, shape, and luminescence of the exposed and buried QDs.

  2. Interfacial stability of CoSi2/Si structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    George, T.; Fathauer, R. W.

    1992-01-01

    The stability of CoSi2/Si interfaces was examined in this study using columnar silicide structures grown on (111) Si substrates. In the first set of experiments, Co and Si were codeposited using MBE at 800 C and the resulting columnar silicide layer was capped by epitaxial Si. Deposition of Co on the surface of the Si capping layer at 800 C results in the growth of the buried silicide columns. The buried columns grow by subsurface diffusion of the deposited Co, suppressing the formation of surface islands of CoSi2. The column sidewalls appear to be less stable than the top and bottom interfaces, resulting in preferential lateral growth and ultimately in the coalescence of the columns to form a continuous buried CoSi2 layer. In the second set of experiments, annealing of a 250 nm-thick buried columnar layer at 1000 C under a 100 nm-thick Si capping layer results in the formation of a surface layer of CoSi2 with a reduction in the sizes of the CoSi2 columns. For a sample having a thicker Si capping layer the annealing leads to Ostwald ripening producing buried equiaxed columns. The high CoSi2/Si interfacial strain could provide the driving force for the observed behavior of the buried columns under high-temperature annealing.

  3. Post-weaning social isolation increases activity in a novel environment but decreases defensive burying and subchronic MK-801 enhances the activity but not the burying effect in rats.

    PubMed

    Simpson, Sarah M; Menard, Janet L; Reynolds, James N; Beninger, Richard J

    2010-03-01

    Subchronic treatment with a non-competitive glutamate NMDA-receptor antagonist [e.g., MK-801 or phencyclidine] or social isolation (SI) from weaning (age 21 days) to adulthood (age 56 days) produce deficits similar to some of the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Few studies have evaluated the effects of these treatments on emotional behavior. We hypothesized that subchronic MK-801, post-weaning SI or the two in combination would alter activity in a novel environment, anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus-maze, coping responses in the defensive burying paradigm and social behavior. In experiment 1, SI rats (n=17) showed increased locomotor activity when exposed to a novel environment, no change in plus-maze behavior and decreased defensive burying when compared to group housed rats (n=16). Subchronic MK-801 enhanced the increase in activity but not the decrease in burying in SI rats. Experiment 2 evaluated the effects on social behavior of post-weaning SI. The locomotor and burying results of experiment 1 were replicated and SI rats (n=9) were found to decrease orientation towards a novel conspecific social target when compared to group housed rats (n=8). The behavioral abnormalities of SI rats may be a manifestation of GABAergic dysfunction that has recently become evident in schizophrenia. (c) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. a Uav Based 3-D Positioning Framework for Detecting Locations of Buried Persons in Collapsed Disaster Area

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moon, H.; Kim, C.; Lee, W.

    2016-06-01

    Regarding spatial location positioning, indoor location positioning theories based on wireless communication techniques such as Wi-Fi, beacon, UWB and Bluetooth has widely been developing across the world. These techniques are mainly focusing on spatial location detection of customers using fixed wireless APs and unique Tags in the indoor environment. Besides, since existing detection equipment and techniques using ultrasound or sound etc. to detect buried persons and identify survival status for them cause 2nd damages on the collapsed debris for rescuers. In addition, it might take time to check the buried persons. However, the collapsed disaster sites should consider both outdoor and indoor environments because empty spaces under collapsed debris exists. In order to detect buried persons from the empty spaces, we should collect wireless signals with Wi-Fi from their mobile phone. Basically, the Wi-Fi signal measure 2-D location. However, since the buried persons have Z value with burial depth, we also should collect barometer sensor data from their mobile phones in order to measure Z values according to weather conditions. Specially, for quick accessibility to the disaster area, a drone (UAV; Unmanned Arial Vehicle) system, which is equipped with a wireless detection module, was introduced. Using these framework, this study aims to provide the rescuers with effective rescue information by calculating 3-D location for buried persons based on the wireless and barometer sensor fusion.

  5. Revealing the semiconductor–catalyst interface in buried platinum black silicon photocathodes

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

    Aguiar, Jeffery A.; Anderson, Nicholas C.; Neale, Nathan R.

    2016-01-01

    Nanoporous 'black' silicon semiconductors interfaced with buried platinum nanoparticle catalysts have exhibited stable activity for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution even after months of exposure to ambient conditions. The mechanism behind this stability has not been explained in detail, but is thought to involve a Pt/Si interface free from SiOx layer that would adversely affect interfacial charge transfer kinetics. In this paper, we resolve the chemical composition and structure of buried Pt/Si interfaces in black silicon photocathodes from a micron to sub-nanometer level using aberration corrected analytical scanning transmission electron microscopy. Through a controlled electrodeposition of copper on samples aged for onemore » month in ambient conditions, we demonstrate that the main active catalytic sites are the buried Pt nanoparticles located below the 400-800 nm thick nanoporous SiOx layer. Though hydrogen production performance degrades over 100 h under photoelectrochemical operating conditions, this burying strategy preserves an atomically clean catalyst/Si interface free of oxide or other phases under air exposure and provides an example of a potential method for stabilizing silicon photoelectrodes from oxidative degradation in photoelectrochemical applications.« less

  6. Feasibility of fast neutron analysis for the detection of explosives buried in soil

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Faust, A. A.; McFee, J. E.; Bowman, C. L.; Mosquera, C.; Andrews, H. R.; Kovaltchouk, V. D.; Ing, H.

    2011-12-01

    A commercialized thermal neutron analysis (TNA) sensor has been developed to confirm the presence of buried bulk explosives as part of a multi-sensor anti-tank landmine detection system. Continuing improvements to the TNA system have included the use of an electronic pulsed neutron generator that offers the possibility of applying fast neutron analysis (FNA) methods to improve the system's detection capability. This paper describes an investigation into the use of FNA as a complementary component in such a TNA system. The results of a modeling study using simple geometries and a full model of the TNA sensor head are presented, as well as preliminary results from an experimental associated particle imaging (API) system that supports the modeling study results. The investigation has concluded that the pulsed beam FNA approach would not improve the detection performance of a TNA system for landmine or buried IED detection in a confirmation role, and could not be made into a practical stand-alone detection system for buried anti-tank landmines. Detection of buried landmines and IEDs by FNA remains a possibility, however, through the use of the API technique.

  7. Carbide-reinforced metal matrix composite by direct metal deposition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Novichenko, D.; Thivillon, L.; Bertrand, Ph.; Smurov, I.

    Direct metal deposition (DMD) is an automated 3D laser cladding technology with co-axial powder injection for industrial applications. The actual objective is to demonstrate the possibility to produce metal matrix composite objects in a single-step process. Powders of Fe-based alloy (16NCD13) and titanium carbide (TiC) are premixed before cladding. Volume content of the carbide-reinforced phase is varied. Relationships between the main laser cladding parameters and the geometry of the built-up objects (single track, 2D coating) are discussed. On the base of parametric study, a laser cladding process map for the deposition of individual tracks was established. Microstructure and composition of the laser-fabricated metal matrix composite objects are examined. Two different types of structures: (a) with the presence of undissolved and (b) precipitated titanium carbides are observed. Mechanism of formation of diverse precipitated titanium carbides is studied.

  8. 47 CFR 32.2423 - Buried cable.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES Instructions for Balance Sheet Accounts § 32.2423 Buried cable. (a... of cleaning manholes and ducts in connection with construction work and the cost of permits and...

  9. Distribution of Large Visible and Buried Impact Basins on Mars: Comparison with Free-Air Gravity, Crustal Thickness and Magnetization Models

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Frey, H. V.

    2004-01-01

    A comparison of the distribution of visible and buried impact basins (Quasi-Circular Depressions or QCDs) on Mars > 200 km in diameter with free air gravity, crustal thickness and magnetization models shows some QCDs have coincident gravity anomalies but most do not. Very few QCDs have closely coincident magnetization anomalies, and only the oldest of the very large impact basins have strong magnetic anomalies within their main rings. Crustal thickness data show a large number of Circular Thinned Areas (CTAs). Some of these correspond to known impact basins, while others may represent buried impact basins not always recognized as QCDs in topography data alone. If true, the buried lowlands may be even older than we have previously estimated.

  10. Lateral uniformity in chemical composition along a buried reaction front in polymers using off-specular reflectivity.

    PubMed

    Lavery, Kristopher A; Prabhu, Vivek M; Satija, Sushil; Wu, Wen-Li

    2010-12-01

    Off-specular neutron reflectometry was applied to characterize the form and amplitude of lateral compositional variations at a buried reaction-diffusion front. In this work, off-specular neutron measurements were first calibrated using off-specular x-ray reflectivity and atomic force microscopy via a roughened glass surface, both as a free surface and as a buried interface that was prepared by spin coating thin polymer films upon the glass surface. All three methods provided consistent roughness values despite the difference in their detection mechanism. Our neutron results demonstrated, for the first time, that the compositional heterogeneity at a buried reaction front can be measured; the model system used in this study mimics the deprotection reaction that occurs during the photolithographic process necessary for manufacturing integrated circuits.

  11. Visualization of Buried Marte Vallis Channels

    NASA Image and Video Library

    2013-03-07

    This illustration schematically shows where the Shallow Radar instrument on NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter detected flood channels that had been buried by lava flows in the Elysium Planitia region of Mars.

  12. Investigation of an Electromagnetic Induction Sensor

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-12-01

    c) (f) Figure 5. Respose plotted on an Argand diagram over the center of a) TS-50 anti-personnel landmines buried 0 to...5 cm deep, b) MAI-75 anti- personnel landmines buried 0 to 5 cm deep, and c) patio stones buried 2.5 to 11 cm deep. Magnitude of the respose at the 21...Figure 6. Respose plotted on an Argand diagram over the center of empty grid locations. II - 377 a) b) c) d) Figure 5. Response of four mines

  13. Monolithic integration of a GaAlAs buried-heterostructure laser and a bipolar phototransistor

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bar-Chaim, N.; Harder, CH.; Margalit, S.; Yariv, A.; Katz, J.; Ury, I.

    1982-01-01

    A GaAlAs buried-heterostructure laser has been monolithically integrated with a bipolar phototransistor. The heterojunction transistor was formed by the regrowth of the burying layers of the laser. Typical threshold current values for the lasers were 30 mA. Common-emitter current gains for the phototransistor of 100-400 and light responsitivity of 75 A/W (for wavelengths of 0.82 micron) at collector current levels of 15 mA were obtained.

  14. Discrimination Report: A Multisensor system for detection andcharacterization of UXO, ESTCP Project MM-0437,

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

    Gasperikova, Erika; Smith, J. Torquil; Morrison, H.Frank

    2008-01-14

    The Berkeley UXO Discriminator (BUD) is an optimally designed active electromagnetic system that not only detects but also characterizes UXO. The performance of the system is governed by a target size-depth curve. BUD was designed to detect UXO in the 20 mm to 155 mm size range for depths between 0 and 1.5 m, and to characterize them in a depth range from 0 to 1.1 m. The system incorporates three orthogonal transmitters and eight pairs of differenced receivers. Eight receiver coils are placed horizontally along the two diagonals of the upper and lower planes of the two horizontal transmittermore » loops. These receiver coil pairs are located on symmetry lines through the center of the system and each pair sees identical fields during the on-time of the pulse in all of the transmitter coils. They are wired in opposition to produce zero output during the on-time of the pulses in three orthogonal transmitters. Moreover, this configuration dramatically reduces noise in the measurements by canceling the background electromagnetic fields (these fields are uniform over the scale of the receiver array and are consequently nulled by the differencing operation), and by canceling the noise contributed by the tilt motion of the receivers in the Earth's magnetic field, and greatly enhances receiver sensitivity to the gradients of the target response. BUD is mounted on a small cart to assure system mobility. System positioning is provided by a Real Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS receiver. The system has two modes of operation: (1) the search mode, in which BUD moves along a profile and exclusively detects targets in its vicinity providing target depth and horizontal location, and (2) the discrimination mode, in which BUD is stationary above a target, and determines three discriminating polarizability responses together with the object location and orientation from a single position of the system. The detection performance of the system is governed by a size-depth curve shown in Figure 2. This curve was calculated for BUD assuming that the receiver plane is 0.2 m above the ground. Figure 2 shows that, for example, BUD can detect an object with 0.1 m diameter down to the depth of 0.9 m with a depth uncertainty of 10%. Any objects buried at a depth of more than 1.3 m will have a low probability of detection. The discrimination performance of the system is governed by a size-depth curve shown in Figure 3. Again, this curve was calculated for BUD assuming that the receiver plane is 0.2 m above the ground. Figure 3 shows that, for example, BUD can determine the polarizability of an object with 0.1 m diameter down to the depth of 0.63 m with polarizability uncertainty of 10%. Any objects buried at the depth more than 0.9 m will have a low discrimination probability. Object orientation estimates and equivalent dipole polarizability estimates used for large and shallow UXO/scrap discrimination are more problematic as they are affected by higher order (non-dipole) terms induced in objects due to source field gradients along the length of the objects. For example, a vertical 0.4 m object directly below the system needs to be about 0.90 m deep for perturbations due to gradients along the length of the object to be of the order of 20% of the uniform field object response. Similarly, vertical objects 0.5 m, and 0.6 m long need to be 1.15 m, and 1.42 m, respectively, below the system. For horizontal objects the effect of gradients across the object diameter are much smaller. For example, 155 mm and 105 mm projectiles need to be only 0.30 m, and 0.19 m, respectively, below the system. A polarizability index (in cm{sup 3}), which is an average value of the product of time (in seconds) and polarizability rate (in m{sup 3}/s) over the 34 sample times logarithmically spaced from 143 to 1300 {micro}s, and three polarizabilities, can be calculated for any object. We used this polarizability index to decide when the object is in a uniform source field. Objects with the polarizability index smaller than 600 cm{sup 3} and deeper than 1.8 m below BUD, or smaller than 200 cm{sup 3} and deeper than 1.35 m, or smaller than 80 cm{sup 3} and deeper than 0.90 m, or smaller than 9 cm{sup 3} and deeper than 0.20 m below BUD are sufficiently deep that the effects of vertical source field gradients should be less than 15%. All other objects are considered large and shallow objects. At the moment, interpretation software is available for a single object only. In case of multiple objects the software indicates the possible presence of metallic objects but is unable to provide characteristics of each individual object.« less

  15. Corrective action investigation plan: Cactus Spring Waste Trenches. Revision 2

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

    NONE

    This Correction Action Investigation Plan (CAIP) contains environmental sample collection objectives and logic for the Corrective Action Unit No. 426, which includes the Cactus Spring Waste Trenches, located at the Tonopah Test Range. The purpose of this investigation is to generate sufficient data to establish the types of waste buried in the trenches, identify the presence and nature of contamination, determine the vertical extent of contaminant migration below the Cactus Spring Waste Trenches, and determine the appropriate course of action for the site. The potential courses of action for the site are clean closure, closure in place (with or withoutmore » remediation), or no further action. The scope of this investigation will include drilling and collecting subsurface samples from within and below the trenches. Sampling locations will be biased toward the areas most likely to be contaminated. The Cactus Spring Waste Trenches Site is identified as one of three potential locations for buried, radioactively contaminated materials from the Double Tracks Test. This test was the first of four storage-transportation tests conducted in 1963 as part of Operation Roller Coaster. The experiment involved the use of live animals to assess the inhalation intake of a plutonium aerosol.« less

  16. Buried Mesozoic rift basins of Moroccan Atlantic continental margin

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

    Mohamed, N.; Jabour, H.; El Mostaine, M.

    1995-08-01

    The Atlantic continental margin is the largest frontier area for oil and gas exploration in Morocco. Most of the activity has been concentrated where Upper Jurassic carbonate rocks have been the drilling objectives, with only one significant but non commercial oil discovery. Recent exploration activities have focused on early Mesozoic Rift basins buried beneath the post-rift sediments of the Middle Atlantic coastal plain. Many of these basins are of interest because they contain fine-grained lacustrine rocks that have sufficient organic richness to be classified as efficient oil prone source rock. Location of inferred rift basins beneath the Atlantic coastal plainmore » were determined by analysis of drilled-hole data in combination with gravity anomaly and aeromagnetic maps. These rift basins are characterized by several half graben filled by synrift sediments of Triassic age probably deposited in lacustrine environment. Coeval rift basins are known to be present in the U.S. Atlantic continental margin. Basin modeling suggested that many of the less deeply bored rift basins beneath the coastal plain are still within the oil window and present the most attractive exploration targets in the area.« less

  17. Late Quaternary environments of the Waco Mammoth site, Texas USA

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nordt, Lee; Bongino, John; Forman, Steven; Esker, Don; Benedict, Anita

    2015-11-01

    The Waco Mammoth Site (WMS) in central Texas contains the remains of the largest mammoth herd (Mammuthus columbi) in North America that died in a single catastrophic event. Most mammoths at the site died on a gravel bar of the ancient Bosque River adjacent to a collapsing tributary wall. However, the timing and cause of death of the 26 mammoths documented to date are controversial. The objectives of this research are to: describe and interpret the alluvial stratigraphy and infer the cause of death, employ optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating to determine the timing of death, and analyze stable C isotopes of pedogenic carbonate to infer local plant communities, dietary habits, and summer temperatures. Dating of quartz from seven sediment samples by OSL places the death event to a weighted mean of 66.8 ± 5.0 ka. The site is coeval with Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 4, consistent with our reconstructed mean July temperatures 4°C cooler than today based on a buried soil isotopic transfer function. Our buried soil isotopic interpretation of a dominance of C3 plants is contrary to previous studies of mammoth tooth enamel at the site suggesting a dietary preference for warm season grasses (C4).

  18. Mineral resources of the Raymond Mountain Wilderness Study Area, Lincoln county, Wyoming

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

    Lund, K.; Evans, J.P.; Hill, R.H.

    1990-01-01

    The paper reports on the Raymond Mountain Wilderness Study Area which encompasses most of the Sublette Range of western Lincoln County, Wyo. The study area consists of upper Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks that form part of the Idaho-Wyoming-Utah overthrust belt. There are no identified mineral or energy resources in the wilderness study area. The study area has moderate energy resource potential for oil and gas. Mineral resource potential for vanadium and phosphate is low because the Phosphoria Formation is deeply buried beneath the wilderness study area and contains unweathered units having low P{sub 2}O{sub 5} values. The mineral resourcemore » potential for coal, other metals, including uranium, high-purity limestone or dolostone, and geothermal energy is low.« less

  19. Mechatronic description of a laser autoguided vehicle for greenhouse operations.

    PubMed

    Sánchez-Hermosilla, Julián; González, Ramón; Rodríguez, Francisco; Donaire, Julián G

    2013-01-08

    This paper presents a novel approach for guiding mobile robots inside greenhouses demonstrated by promising preliminary physical experiments. It represents a comprehensive attempt to use the successful principles of AGVs (auto-guided vehicles) inside greenhouses, but avoiding the necessity of modifying the crop layout, and avoiding having to bury metallic pipes in the greenhouse floor. The designed vehicle can operate different tools, e.g., a spray system for applying plant-protection product, a lifting platform to reach the top part of the plants to perform pruning and harvesting tasks, and a trailer to transport fruits, plants, and crop waste. Regarding autonomous navigation, it follows the idea of AGVs, but now laser emitters are used to mark the desired route. The vehicle development is analyzed from a mechatronic standpoint (mechanics, electronics, and autonomous control).

  20. Maps showing geology, structure, and geophysics of the central Black Hills, South Dakota

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Redden, Jack A.; DeWitt, Ed

    2008-01-01

    This 1:100,000-scale digital geologic map details the complex Early Proterozoic granitic rocks, Early Proterozoic supracrustal metamorphic rocks, and Archean crystalline basement of the Black Hills. The granitic rocks host pegmatite deposits renowned for their feldspar, mica, spodumene, and beryl. The supracrustal rocks host the Homestake gold mine, which produced more than 40 million ounces of gold over a 125-year lifetime. The map documents the Laramide deformation of Paleozoic and Mesozoic cover rocks; and shows the distribution of Laramide plutonic rocks associated with precious-metals deposits. Four 1:300,000-scale maps summarize Laramide structures; Early Proterozoic structures; aeromagnetic anomalies; and gravity anomalies. Three 1:500,000-scale maps show geophysical interpretations of buried Early Proterozoic to Archean rocks in western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming.

  1. Anomalous gold, antimony, arsenic, and tungsten in ground water and alluvium around disseminated gold deposits along the Getchell Trend, Humboldt County, Nevada

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Grimes, D.J.; Ficklin, W.H.; Meier, A.L.; McHugh, J.B.

    1995-01-01

    Ground-water, alluvium, and bedrock samples were collected from drill holes near the Chimney Creek, Preble, Summer Camp, and Rabbit Creek disseminated gold deposits in northern Nevada. Results of chemical analyses of drill-hole water samples show the presence of hydromorphic dispersion anomalies of Au, As, Sb, and W in the local ground-water systems associated with these deposits. In addition, analysis of sequential dissolution and extraction solutions of drill cuttings of alluvium and bedrock indicate geochemical anomalies of gold and ore-related metals in the overburden at depths corresponding to the location of the present-day water table. This relationship suggests that water-rock reactions around these buried deposits are active. -from Authors

  2. ALLTEM UXO detection and discrimination

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Asch, T.H.; Wright, D.L.; Moulton, C.W.; Irons, T.P.; Nabighian, M.N.

    2008-01-01

    ALLTEM is a multi-axis electromagnetic induction system designed for unexploded ordnance (UXO) applications. It uses a continuous triangle-wave excitation and provides good late-time signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) especially for ferrous targets. Multi-axis transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) systems such as ALLTEM provide a richer data set from which to invert for the target parameters required to distinguish between clutter and UXO. Inversions of field data over the Army's UXO Calibration Grid and Blind Test Grid at the Yuma Proving Ground (YPG), Arizona in 2006 produced polarizability moment values for many buried UXO items that were reasonable and generally repeatable for targets of the same type buried at different orientations and depths. In 2007 a test stand was constructed that allows for collection of data with varying spatial data density and accurate automated position control. The behavior of inverted ALLTEM test stand data as a function of spatial data density, sensor SNR, and position error has been investigated. The results indicate that the ALLTEM inversion algorithm is more tolerant of sensor noise and position error than has been reported for single-axis systems. A high confidence level in inversion-derived target parameters is required when a target is declared to be harmless scrap metal that may safely be left in the ground. Unless high confidence can be demonstrated, state regulators will likely require that targets be dug regardless of any "no-dig" classifications produced from inversions, in which case remediation costs would not be decreased.

  3. Stress evolution of GaN/AlN heterostructure grown on 6H-SiC substrate by plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Agrawal, M.; Ravikiran, L.; Dharmarasu, N.; Radhakrishnan, K.; Karthikeyan, G. S.; Zheng, Y.

    2017-01-01

    The stress evolution of GaN/AlN heterostructure grown on 6H-SiC substrate by plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PA-MBE) has been studied. AlN nucleation layer and GaN layer were grown as a function of III/V ratio. GaN/AlN structure is found to form buried cracks when AlN is grown in the intermediate growth regime(III/V˜1)and GaN is grown under N-rich growth regime (III/V<1). The III/V ratio determines the growth mode of the layers that influences the lattice mismatch at the GaN/AlN interface. The lattice mismatch induced interfacial stress at the GaN/AlN interface relaxes by the formation of buried cracks in the structure. Additionally, the stress also relaxes by misorienting the AlN resulting in two misorientations with different tilts. Crack-free layers were obtained when AlN and GaN were grown in the N-rich growth regime (III/V<1) and metal rich growth regime (III/V≥1), respectively. AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) heterostructure was demonstrated on 2-inch SiC that showed good two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) properties with a sheet resistance of 480 Ω/sq, mobility of 1280 cm2/V.s and sheet carrier density of 1×1013 cm-2.

  4. A method of evolving novel feature extraction algorithms for detecting buried objects in FLIR imagery using genetic programming

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Paino, A.; Keller, J.; Popescu, M.; Stone, K.

    2014-06-01

    In this paper we present an approach that uses Genetic Programming (GP) to evolve novel feature extraction algorithms for greyscale images. Our motivation is to create an automated method of building new feature extraction algorithms for images that are competitive with commonly used human-engineered features, such as Local Binary Pattern (LBP) and Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG). The evolved feature extraction algorithms are functions defined over the image space, and each produces a real-valued feature vector of variable length. Each evolved feature extractor breaks up the given image into a set of cells centered on every pixel, performs evolved operations on each cell, and then combines the results of those operations for every cell using an evolved operator. Using this method, the algorithm is flexible enough to reproduce both LBP and HOG features. The dataset we use to train and test our approach consists of a large number of pre-segmented image "chips" taken from a Forward Looking Infrared Imagery (FLIR) camera mounted on the hood of a moving vehicle. The goal is to classify each image chip as either containing or not containing a buried object. To this end, we define the fitness of a candidate solution as the cross-fold validation accuracy of the features generated by said candidate solution when used in conjunction with a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier. In order to validate our approach, we compare the classification accuracy of an SVM trained using our evolved features with the accuracy of an SVM trained using mainstream feature extraction algorithms, including LBP and HOG.

  5. STRIPPING PROCESS FOR PLUTONIUM

    DOEpatents

    Kolodney, M.

    1959-10-01

    A method for removing silver, nickel, cadmium, zinc, and indium coatings from plutonium objects while simultaneously rendering the plutonium object passive is described. The coated plutonium object is immersed as the anode in an electrolyte in which the plutonium is passive and the coating metal is not passive, using as a cathode a metal which does not dissolve rapidly in the electrolyte. and passing an electrical current through the electrolyte until the coating metal is removed from the plutonium body.

  6. Three-Dimensional (3D) Printing of Polymer-Metal Hybrid Materials by Fused Deposition Modeling.

    PubMed

    Fafenrot, Susanna; Grimmelsmann, Nils; Wortmann, Martin; Ehrmann, Andrea

    2017-10-19

    Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a three-dimensional (3D) printing technology that is usually performed with polymers that are molten in a printer nozzle and placed line by line on the printing bed or the previous layer, respectively. Nowadays, hybrid materials combining polymers with functional materials are also commercially available. Especially combinations of polymers with metal particles result in printed objects with interesting optical and mechanical properties. The mechanical properties of objects printed with two of these metal-polymer blends were compared to common poly (lactide acid) (PLA) printed objects. Tensile tests and bending tests show that hybrid materials mostly containing bronze have significantly reduced mechanical properties. Tensile strengths of the 3D-printed objects were unexpectedly nearly identical with those of the original filaments, indicating sufficient quality of the printing process. Our investigations show that while FDM printing allows for producing objects with mechanical properties similar to the original materials, metal-polymer blends cannot be used for the rapid manufacturing of objects necessitating mechanical strength.

  7. Three-Dimensional (3D) Printing of Polymer-Metal Hybrid Materials by Fused Deposition Modeling

    PubMed Central

    Fafenrot, Susanna; Grimmelsmann, Nils; Wortmann, Martin

    2017-01-01

    Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a three-dimensional (3D) printing technology that is usually performed with polymers that are molten in a printer nozzle and placed line by line on the printing bed or the previous layer, respectively. Nowadays, hybrid materials combining polymers with functional materials are also commercially available. Especially combinations of polymers with metal particles result in printed objects with interesting optical and mechanical properties. The mechanical properties of objects printed with two of these metal-polymer blends were compared to common poly (lactide acid) (PLA) printed objects. Tensile tests and bending tests show that hybrid materials mostly containing bronze have significantly reduced mechanical properties. Tensile strengths of the 3D-printed objects were unexpectedly nearly identical with those of the original filaments, indicating sufficient quality of the printing process. Our investigations show that while FDM printing allows for producing objects with mechanical properties similar to the original materials, metal-polymer blends cannot be used for the rapid manufacturing of objects necessitating mechanical strength. PMID:29048347

  8. Regional geochemical studies in the Patagonia Mountains, Santa Cruz County, Arizona

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Chaffee, M.A.; Hill, R.H.; Sutley, S.J.; Watterson, J.R.

    1981-01-01

    The Patagonia Mountains in southern Arizona contain the deeply buried porphyry copper system at Red Mountain as well as a number of other base- and precious-metal mines and prospects. The range contains complex Basin and Range geology with units ranging in age from Precambrian to Holocene. Rock types present include igneous intrusive and extrusive units as well as sedimentary and metamorphic units, most of which have been tectonically disturbed. A total of 264 stream-sediment samples were collected and analyzed for 32 elements. Geochemical maps for Sb, Ag, Pb, Te, B, Mn, Au, Zn, Cu (total), Cu (cold-extractable), and Mo, as well as for Cu (cold-extractable)/Cu (total) and Fe/Mn, are presented. Anomaly patterns for these elements generally occur over the Red Mountain deposit and (or) along a north-northwest trend parallel to the major Harshaw Creek Fault. Much of the entire area sampled contains widespread anomalies for Pb, Te, and Cu; the other elements are only locally anomalous. Various plots of ratios of Cu (cold-extractable) to Cu (total) did not produce any new information not readily apparent on either one of the two copper maps. A plot of ratios of Fe to Mn delineated many areas of pyrite mineralization. Several of these areas may represent the pyritic halos around deeply buried porphyry copper systems. The best ore guide for the Red Mountain porphyry system is the coincidence of positive anomalies of Mo, Pb, and Te and a negative anomaly of Mn. Other areas with anomalies of the same suite of elements are present within the Patagonia Mountains. It is concluded that geochemical sampling, even in a highly contaminated area, can be useful in delineating major geologic features, such as porphyry copper belts and major faults. Multielement geochemical surveys on a regional scale can effectively locate large, deeply buried, zoned mineral systems such as that at Red Mountain. Plots of element ratios, where adequately understood, can provide geochemical information not readily discernible from plots of single elements alone. ?? 1981.

  9. Microwave Oven Experiments with Metals and Light Sources

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Vollmer, Michael; Mollmann, Klaus-Peter; Karstadt, Detlef

    2004-01-01

    "Don't put metal objects in the microwave" is common safety advice. But why? Here we describe demonstration experiments involving placing household metallic objects in a microwave oven. These allow a better understanding of the interaction of microwaves with materials. Light bulbs and discharge lamps can also be used in instructive demonstrations.

  10. Performance of buried pipe installation.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2010-05-01

    The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of geometric and mechanical parameters : characterizing the soil structure interaction developed in a buried pipe installation located under : roads/highways. The drainage pipes or culverts instal...

  11. Attenuation characteristics of the fundamental modes that propagate in buried iron water pipes.

    PubMed

    Long, R; Lowe, M; Cawley, P

    2003-09-01

    The attenuation of the fundamental non-torsional modes that propagate down buried iron water pipes has been studied. The mode shapes, mode attenuation due to leakage into the surrounding medium and the scattering of the modes as they interact with pipe joints and fittings have been investigated. In the low frequency region the mode predicted to dominate over significant propagation distances approximates a plane wave in the water within the pipe. The established acoustic technique used to locate leaks in buried iron water pipes assumes that leak noise propagates as a single non-dispersive mode at a velocity related to the low frequency asymptote of this water borne mode. Experiments have been conducted on buried water mains at test sites in the UK to verify the attenuation and velocity dispersion predictions.

  12. Buried penis: An unrecognized risk factor in the development of invasive penile cancer.

    PubMed

    Abdulla, Alym; Daya, Dean; Pinthus, Jehonathan; Davies, Timothy

    2012-10-01

    One of the documented benefits of neonatal circumcision is protection against invasive penile cancer. To date there have been a handful of published cases of invasive penile cancer in men circumcised as neonates. We report a case of a 73-year-old man, with a history of neonatal circumcision with no evidence of previous human papillomavirus exposure, who developed a buried penis secondary to obesity. He was diagnosed with Grade 2, pT3N0 squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. This report suggests that buried penis may pose a risk factor for the development of penile cancer despite the protective effects of neonatal circumcision. Thus periodic examination of a buried penis is warranted even in patients with no risk factors for penile cancer. A review of the literature is provided.

  13. A novel self-aligned oxygen (SALOX) implanted SOI MOSFET device structure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tzeng, J. C.; Baerg, W.; Ting, C.; Siu, B.

    The morphology of the novel self-aligned oxygen implanted SOI (SALOX SOI) [1] MOSFET was studied. The channel silicon of SALOX SOI was confirmed to be undamaged single crystal silicon and was connected with the substrate. Buried oxide formed by oxygen implantation in this SALOX SOI structure was shown by a cross section transmission electron micrograph (X-TEM) to be amorphous. The source/drain silicon on top of the buried oxide was single crystal, as shown by the transmission electron diffraction (TED) pattern. The source/drain regions were elevated due to the buried oxide volume expansion. A sharp silicon—silicon dioxide interface between the source/drain silicon and buried oxide was observed by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Well behaved n-MOS transistor current voltage characteristics were obtained and showed no I-V kink.

  14. Decomposition patterns of buried remains at different intervals in the Central Highveld region of South Africa.

    PubMed

    Marais-Werner, A; Myburgh, J; Meyer, A; Nienaber, W C; Steyn, M

    2017-07-01

    Burial of remains is an important factor when one attempts to establish the post-mortem interval as it reduces, and in extreme cases, excludes oviposition by Diptera species. This in turn leads to modification of the decomposition process. The aim of this study was to record decomposition patterns of buried remains using a pig model. The pattern of decomposition was evaluated at different intervals and recorded according to existing guidelines. In order to contribute to our knowledge on decomposition in different settings, a quantifiable approach was followed. Results indicated that early stages of decomposition occurred rapidly for buried remains within 7-33 days. Between 14 and 33 days, buried pigs displayed common features associated with the early to middle stages of decomposition, such as discoloration and bloating. From 33 to 90 days advanced decomposition manifested on the remains, and pigs then reached a stage of advanced decomposition where little change was observed in the next ±90-183 days after interment. Throughout this study, total body scores remained higher for surface remains. Overall, buried pigs followed a similar pattern of decomposition to those of surface remains, although at a much slower rate when compared with similar post-mortem intervals in surface remains. In this study, the decomposition patterns and rates of buried remains were mostly influenced by limited insect activity and adipocere formation which reduces the rate of decay in a conducive environment (i.e. burial in soil).

  15. Electrical injury

    MedlinePlus

    ... biting or chewing on electrical cords, or poking metal objects into an electrical outlet Electrical weapons (such ... the current. Do not use a wet or metal object. If possible, stand on something dry that ...

  16. Gnathostoma infection in Nakhon Nayok and Prachin Buri, Central Thailand.

    PubMed

    Rojekittikhun, Wichit; Chaiyasith, Tossapon; Nuamtanong, Supaporn; Pubampen, Somchit; Maipanich, Wanna; Tungtrongchitr, Rungsunn

    2002-09-01

    Gnathostoma infection in Nakhon Nayok and Prachin Buri Provinces, Central Thailand, was investigated. The prevalence and intensity of infection of swamp eels were determined; dog fecal samples and fresh-water copepods were examined for evidence of infection. The overall prevalence of eel infection was 38.1% (117/307) in Nakhon Nayok and 24.0% (74/308) in Prachin Buri--the former rate being significantly higher than the latter. Most of the positive Nalkhon Nayok eels (53.8%) harbored only 1-9 larvae; only one eel bore more than 50 larvae. In Prachin Buri, 67.6% of the positive eels harbored 1-9 larvae; again, only one eel bore more than 50 larvae. The mean number of 11.0 +/- 10.4 larvae/eel in Nakhon Nayok was not significantly different from that of Prachin Buri (9.3 +/- 11.4). A total of 1,292 gnathostome larvae were recovered from 307 eels in Nakhon Nayok. Of these, 52.3% had accumulated in the liver and 47.7% had spread throughout the muscles. In eels from Prachin Buri, 50.6% and 49.4% of the total of 688 larvae (from 308 eels) were found in the liver and muscles, respectively. The larvae preferred encysting in ventral of muscles rather than dorsal part; they preferred the middle portion to the anterior and posterior portions. The average length of gnathostome larvae recovered from Nakhon Nayok eels was 4.0 +/- 0.5 mm (range 2.5-5.1 mm) and the average body width was 0.40 +/- 0.05 mm (range 0.29-0.51 mm). Those from eels in Prachin Buri were 3.9 +/- 0.5 mm (range 2.2-5.1 mm) and 0.34 +/- 0.05 mm (range 0.20-0.48 mm), respectively. The mean body length and width of the larvae from eels in Nakhon Nayok were significantly greater than those of the larvae from eels in Prachin Buri. In Ban Phrao, Nakhon Nayok, none of the first 44 fecal specimens examined was positive. Of the second (68) and the third (70) specimens, one (1.5%) and two (2.9%) samples were positive. However, six months after the third fecal collection, no eggs were found. In Tha Ngam, Prachin Buri, no eggs were found in all three batches (109, 115, and 100 fecal samples). A cyclops survey of 4,000-5,000 crustacea from each of two areas (Ban Phrao and Tha Ngam) found no evidence of natural cyclops infection.

  17. Noradrenergic facilitation of shock-probe defensive burying in lateral septum of rats, and modulation by chronic treatment with desipramine.

    PubMed

    Bondi, Corina O; Barrera, Gabriel; Lapiz, M Danet S; Bedard, Tania; Mahan, Amy; Morilak, David A

    2007-03-30

    We have previously shown that acute stress-induced release of norepinephrine (NE) facilitates anxiety-like behavioral responses to stress, such as reduction in open-arm exploration on the elevated-plus maze and in social behavior on the social interaction test. Since these responses represent inhibition of ongoing behavior, it is important to also address whether NE facilitates a response that represents an activation of behavior. Correspondingly, it is unknown how a chronic elevation in tonic steady-state noradrenergic (NA) neurotransmission induced by NE reuptake blockade might alter this acute modulatory function, a regulatory process that may be pertinent to the anxiolytic effects of NE reuptake blockers such as desipramine (DMI). Therefore, in this study, we investigated noradrenergic modulation of the shock-probe defensive burying response in the lateral septum (LS). In experiment 1, shock-probe exposure induced an acute 3-fold increase in NE levels measured in LS of male Sprague-Dawley rats by microdialysis. Shock-probe exposure also induced a modest rise in plasma ACTH, taken as an indicator of perceived stress, that returned to baseline more rapidly in rats that were allowed to bury the probe compared to rats prevented from burying by providing them with minimal bedding, indicating that the active defensive burying behavior is an effective coping strategy that reduces the impact of acute shock probe-induced stress. In experiment 2, blockade of either alpha(1)- or beta-adrenergic receptors in LS by local antagonist microinjection immediately before testing reduced defensive burying and increased immobility. In the next experiment, chronic DMI treatment increased basal extracellular NE levels in LS, and attenuated the acute shock probe-induced increase in NE release in LS relative to baseline. Chronic DMI treatment decreased shock-probe defensive burying behavior in a time-dependent manner, apparent only after 2 weeks or more of drug treatment. Moreover, rats treated chronically with DMI showed no significant rise of plasma ACTH in response to shock-probe exposure. Thus, acute stress-induced release of NE in LS facilitated defensive burying, an active, adaptive behavioral coping response. Chronic treatment with the NE reuptake blocker and antidepressant drug DMI attenuated acute noradrenergic facilitation of the active burying response, and also attenuated the level of perceived stress driving that response. These results suggest that long-term regulation of the acute modulatory function of NE by chronic treatment with reuptake blockers may contribute to the mechanisms by which such drugs exert their anxiolytic effects in the treatment of stress-related psychiatric conditions, including depression and anxiety.

  18. Insights into the carboxyltransferase reaction of pyruvate carboxylase from the structures of bound product and intermediate analogues

    PubMed Central

    Lietzan, Adam D.; St. Maurice, Martin

    2014-01-01

    Pyruvate carboxylase (PC) is a biotin-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the MgATP- and bicarbonate-dependent carboxylation of pyruvate to oxaloacetate, an important anaplerotic reaction in central metabolism. The carboxyltransferase (CT) domain of PC catalyzes the transfer of a carboxyl group from carboxybiotin to the accepting substrate, pyruvate. It has been hypothesized that the reactive enolpyruvate intermediate is stabilized through a bidentate interaction with the metal ion in the CT domain active site. Whereas bidentate ligands are commonly observed in enzymes catalyzing reactions proceeding through an enolpyruvate intermediate, no bidentate interaction has yet been observed in the CT domain of PC. Here, we report three X-ray crystal structures of the Rhizobium etli PC CT domain with the bound inhibitors oxalate, 3-hydroxypyruvate, and 3-bromopyruvate. Oxalate, a stereoelectronic mimic of the enolpyruvate intermediate, does not interact directly with the metal ion. Instead, oxalate is buried in a pocket formed by several positively charged amino acid residues and the metal ion. Furthermore, both 3-hydroxypyruvate and 3-bromopyruvate, analogs of the reaction product oxaloacetate, bind in an identical manner to oxalate suggesting that the substrate maintains its orientation in the active site throughout catalysis. Together, these structures indicate that the substrates, products and intermediates in the PC-catalyzed reaction are not oriented in the active site as previously assumed. The absence of a bidentate interaction with the active site metal appears to be a unique mechanistic feature among the small group of biotin-dependent enzymes that act on α-keto acid substrates. PMID:24157795

  19. Metal-capped silicon organic micro-ring electro-optical modulator (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zaki, Aya O.; Kirah, Khaled A.; Swillam, Mohamed A.

    2017-02-01

    An ultra-compact hybrid plasmonic waveguide ring electro-optical modulator is designed to be easily fabricated on silicon on insulator (SOI) substrates using standard silicon photonics technology. The proposed waveguide is based on a buried standard silicon waveguide of height 220 nm topped with polymer and metal. The key advantage of this novel design is that only the silicon layer of the waveguide is structured as a coupled ring resonator. Then, the device is covered with electro-optical polymer and metal in post processes with no need for lithography or accurate mask alignment techniques. The simple fabrication method imposes many design challenges to obtain a resonator of reasonable loaded quality factor and high extinction ratio. Here, the performance of the resonator is optimized in the telecom wavelength range around 1550 nm using 3D FDTD simulations. The design of the coupling junction between the access waveguide and the tightly bent ring is thoroughly studied. The extension of the metal over the coupling region is exploited to make the critical dimension of the design geometry at least 2.5 times larger than conventional plasmonic resonators and the design is thus more robust. In this paper, we demonstrate an electro-optical modulator that offers an insertion loss < 1 dB, a modulation depth of 12 dB for an applied peak to peak voltage of only 2 V and energy consumption of 1.74 fJ/bit. The performance is superior to previously reported hybrid plasmonic ring resonator based modulators while the design shows robustness and low fabrication cost.

  20. Proton NMR spectroscopic characterization of binary and ternary complexes of cobalt(II) carboxypeptidase A with inhibitors

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

    Bertini, I.; Luchinat, C.; Messori, L.

    The binding of L- and D-phenylalanine and carboxylate inhibitors to cobalt(II)-substituted carboxypeptidase A, Co(II)CPD (E), in the presence and absence of pseudohalogens (X = N/sub 3//sup -/, NCO/sup -/, and NCS/sup -/) has been studied by /sup 1/H NMR spectroscopy. This technique monitors the proton signals of histidine residues bound to cobalt(II) and is therefore sensitive to the interactions of inhibitors that perturb the coordination sphere of the metal. Enzyme-inhibitor complexes, E/times/I, E/times/I/sub 2/, and E/times/I/times/X, each with characteristic NMR features, have been identified. The NMR data suggest that when the carboxylate group of a substrate of inhibitor binds atmore » the active site, a conformational change occurs that allows a second ligand molecule to bind to the metal ion, altering its coordination sphere and thereby attenuating the bidentate behavior of Glu-72. The /sup 1/H NMR signals also reflect alterations in the histidine interactions with the metal upon inhibitor binding. Isotropic shifts in the signals for the C-4 (c) and N protons (a) of one of the histidine ligands are readily observed in all of these complexes. These signals are relatively constant for all E/times/I and E/times/I/times/X complexes, indicating that this ligand is in a relatively fixed or buried conformation. However in the 2:1 carboxylate inhibitor (E/times/I/sub 2/) complexes, both signals are shifted upfield, suggesting a disturbance in the interaction of this histidine with the metal.« less

  1. Printing of metallic 3D micro-objects by laser induced forward transfer.

    PubMed

    Zenou, Michael; Kotler, Zvi

    2016-01-25

    Digital printing of 3D metal micro-structures by laser induced forward transfer under ambient conditions is reviewed. Recent progress has allowed drop on demand transfer of molten, femto-liter, metal droplets with a high jetting directionality. Such small volume droplets solidify instantly, on a nanosecond time scale, as they touch the substrate. This fast solidification limits their lateral spreading and allows the fabrication of high aspect ratio and complex 3D metal structures. Several examples of micron-scale resolution metal objects printed using this method are presented and discussed.

  2. EM61-MK2 Response of Standard Munition Items

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-10-06

    metallic objects in the vicinity of the sensor. The decay of this induced field is sensed by monitoring the current in a wire-loop receiver coil in four...response are selected and marked as potential metal targets. This initial list of anomalies is used as input to an analysis step that selects anomalies... metal objects are left un-remediated but we are confident that the objects responsible for the anomaly have a smaller response than any of our targets

  3. A Novel Method for Remote Depth Estimation of Buried Radioactive Contamination.

    PubMed

    Ukaegbu, Ikechukwu Kevin; Gamage, Kelum A A

    2018-02-08

    Existing remote radioactive contamination depth estimation methods for buried radioactive wastes are either limited to less than 2 cm or are based on empirical models that require foreknowledge of the maximum penetrable depth of the contamination. These severely limits their usefulness in some real life subsurface contamination scenarios. Therefore, this work presents a novel remote depth estimation method that is based on an approximate three-dimensional linear attenuation model that exploits the benefits of using multiple measurements obtained from the surface of the material in which the contamination is buried using a radiation detector. Simulation results showed that the proposed method is able to detect the depth of caesium-137 and cobalt-60 contamination buried up to 40 cm in both sand and concrete. Furthermore, results from experiments show that the method is able to detect the depth of caesium-137 contamination buried up to 12 cm in sand. The lower maximum depth recorded in the experiment is due to limitations in the detector and the low activity of the caesium-137 source used. Nevertheless, both results demonstrate the superior capability of the proposed method compared to existing methods.

  4. Investigating buried polymer interfaces using sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Zhan

    2010-01-01

    This paper reviews recent progress in the studies of buried polymer interfaces using sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy. Both buried solid/liquid and solid/solid interfaces involving polymeric materials are discussed. SFG studies of polymer/water interfaces show that different polymers exhibit varied surface restructuring behavior in water, indicating the importance of probing polymer/water interfaces in situ. SFG has also been applied to the investigation of interfaces between polymers and other liquids. It has been found that molecular interactions at such polymer/liquid interfaces dictate interfacial polymer structures. The molecular structures of silane molecules, which are widely used as adhesion promoters, have been investigated using SFG at buried polymer/silane and polymer/polymer interfaces, providing molecular-level understanding of polymer adhesion promotion. The molecular structures of polymer/solid interfaces have been examined using SFG with several different experimental geometries. These results have provided molecular-level information about polymer friction, adhesion, interfacial chemical reactions, interfacial electronic properties, and the structure of layer-by-layer deposited polymers. Such research has demonstrated that SFG is a powerful tool to probe buried interfaces involving polymeric materials, which are difficult to study by conventional surface sensitive analytical techniques. PMID:21113334

  5. A Novel Method for Remote Depth Estimation of Buried Radioactive Contamination

    PubMed Central

    2018-01-01

    Existing remote radioactive contamination depth estimation methods for buried radioactive wastes are either limited to less than 2 cm or are based on empirical models that require foreknowledge of the maximum penetrable depth of the contamination. These severely limits their usefulness in some real life subsurface contamination scenarios. Therefore, this work presents a novel remote depth estimation method that is based on an approximate three-dimensional linear attenuation model that exploits the benefits of using multiple measurements obtained from the surface of the material in which the contamination is buried using a radiation detector. Simulation results showed that the proposed method is able to detect the depth of caesium-137 and cobalt-60 contamination buried up to 40 cm in both sand and concrete. Furthermore, results from experiments show that the method is able to detect the depth of caesium-137 contamination buried up to 12 cm in sand. The lower maximum depth recorded in the experiment is due to limitations in the detector and the low activity of the caesium-137 source used. Nevertheless, both results demonstrate the superior capability of the proposed method compared to existing methods. PMID:29419759

  6. Performance evaluation of buried pipe installation.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2010-05-01

    The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of geometric and mechanical parameters characterizing the soil structure interaction developed in a buried pipe installation located under roads/highways. The drainage pipes or culverts installed ...

  7. Performance of buried pipe installation : tech summary.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2010-05-01

    Existing codes and recommendations often require standard/minimum values for the bedding, backfi ll, and fi ll cover geometric and : mechanical properties in the installation of buried pipes under transportation facilities. These recommended values a...

  8. Effects of compaction and soil moisture on American burying beetles.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2016-12-25

    Silphid beetles in the genus Nicrophorus bury themselves during periods of inactivity, however, the influence of soil characteristics on burial behavior remains unclear. We examined soil preferences of the federally endangered Nicrophorus americanus,...

  9. 75 FR 38042 - Specifications and Drawings for Construction of Direct Buried Plant

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-07-01

    ... CFR Part 1755 Specifications and Drawings for Construction of Direct Buried Plant AGENCY: Rural... Plant (Form 515a). This document corrects the Docket ID number. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce...

  10. General Metal Trades Book I. Units of Instruction. Teacher's Guide.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    East Texas State Univ., Commerce. Occupational Curriculum Lab.

    This teacher's guide provides instructional materials for a 10-unit course in the General Metal Trades program. Each unit includes most or all of these basic components: performance objectives (unit and specific objectives), suggested teaching activities (a sheet outlining steps to follow to accomplish specific objectives), information sheets,…

  11. General Metals: Grades 7-12.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Instructional Objectives Exchange, Los Angeles, CA.

    Ninety objectives and related test items for use in grades 7 through 12 are presented. Each sample contains an objective, test items, and criteria for judging the adequacy of the response. Objectives are organized into the following categories: (1) property of metals; (2) operations and functions; (3) cutting and shearing; (4) filing; (5) cutting…

  12. Detection of Two Buried Cross Pipelines by Observation of the Scattered Electromagnetic Field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mangini, Fabio; Di Gregorio, Pietro Paolo; Frezza, Fabrizio; Muzi, Marco; Tedeschi, Nicola

    2015-04-01

    In this work we present a numerical study on the effects that can be observed in the electromagnetic scattering of a plane wave due to the presence of two crossed pipelines buried in a half-space occupied by cement. The pipeline, supposed to be used for water conveyance, is modeled as a cylindrical shell made of metallic or poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) material. In order to make the model simpler, the pipelines are supposed running parallel to the air-cement interface on two different parallel planes; moreover, initially we suppose that the two tubes make an angle of 90 degrees. We consider a circularly-polarized plane wave impinging normally to the interface between air and the previously-mentioned medium, which excites the structure in order to determine the most useful configuration in terms of scattered-field sensitivity. To perform the study, a commercially available simulator which implements the Finite Element Method was adopted. A preliminary frequency sweep allows us to choose the most suitable operating frequency depending on the dimensions of the commercial pipeline cross-section. We monitor the three components of the scattered electric field along a line just above the interface between the two media. The electromagnetic properties of the materials employed in this study are taken from the literature and, since a frequency-domain technique is adopted, no further approximation is needed. Once the ideal problem has been studied, i.e. having considered orthogonal and tangential scenario, we further complicate the model by considering different crossing angles and distances between the tubes, in two cases of PVC and metallic material. The results obtained in these cases are compared with those of the initial problem with the goal of determining the scattered field dependence on the geometrical characteristics of the cross between two pipelines. One of the practical applications in the field of Civil Engineering of this study may be the use of ground penetrating radar (GPR) techniques to monitor the fouling conditions of water pipelines without the need to intervene destructively on the structure. Acknowledgements: This work is a contribution to COST Action TU1208 "Civil Engineering Applications of Ground Penetrating Radar".

  13. Regional Studies of Highland-Lowland Age Differences Across the Mars Crustal Dichotomy Boundary

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Frey, H. V.; DeSoto, G. E.; Lazrus, R. M.

    2005-01-01

    Regional differences in crater retention ages (CRAs) across the Mars dichotomy boundary are compared to the global highland-lowland age difference previously determined from visible and buried impact basins based on MOLA-derived Quasi-Circular Depressions (QCDs). Here Western Arabia (WA) is compared with Ismenius Lacus (IL). We find the buried lowlands in the two regions have total CRAs essentially identical to the global average. Even more intriguing, the WA cratered terrain appears to have a CRA like that of the adjacent buried lowlands,

  14. Fiscal Year 1986 Technical Objective Document (TOD).

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1986-03-01

    abilties superior to other IR and manual turrets. - START DATE: FY 88 END DATE: FY 90" PROJECT TITLE: COMPOSITE METAL FIRES EE 62:06 JON: 2673XXXX...TECHNOLOGY: FIRE ELEMENT: INTERACTION DESCRIPTION (TECHNICAL OBJECTIVE) Evaluate a new series of agents "BORALONS" capable of extinguishing metal fires and...PROJECT TITLE: COMPOSITE METAL FIRES PE: 63723 JON: 2104XXXX

  15. Metal artifact reduction for CT-based luggage screening.

    PubMed

    Karimi, Seemeen; Martz, Harry; Cosman, Pamela

    2015-01-01

    In aviation security, checked luggage is screened by computed tomography scanning. Metal objects in the bags create artifacts that degrade image quality. Though there exist metal artifact reduction (MAR) methods mainly in medical imaging literature, they require knowledge of the materials in the scan, or are outlier rejection methods. To improve and evaluate a MAR method we previously introduced, that does not require knowledge of the materials in the scan, and gives good results on data with large quantities and different kinds of metal. We describe in detail an optimization which de-emphasizes metal projections and has a constraint for beam hardening and scatter. This method isolates and reduces artifacts in an intermediate image, which is then fed to a previously published sinogram replacement method. We evaluate the algorithm for luggage data containing multiple and large metal objects. We define measures of artifact reduction, and compare this method against others in MAR literature. Metal artifacts were reduced in our test images, even for multiple and large metal objects, without much loss of structure or resolution. Our MAR method outperforms the methods with which we compared it. Our approach does not make assumptions about image content, nor does it discard metal projections.

  16. Modelling the effect of buried valleys on groundwater flow: case study in Ventspils vicinity, Latvia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Delina, Aija; Popovs, Konrads; Bikse, Janis; Retike, Inga; Babre, Alise; Kalvane, Gunta

    2015-04-01

    Buried subglacial valleys are widely distributed in glaciated regions and they can have great influence on groundwater flow and hence on groundwater resources. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the buried valleys on groundwater flow in a confined aquifer (Middle Devonian Eifelian stage Arukila aquifer, D2ar) applying numerical modelling. The study area is located at vicinity of Ventspils Town, near wellfield Ogsils where number of the buried valleys with different depth and filling material are present. Area is located close to the Baltic Sea at Piejūra lowland Rinda plain and regional groundwater flow is towards sea. Territory is covered by thin layer of Quaternary sediments in thicknesses of 10 to 20 meters although Prequaternary sediments are exposed at some places. Buried valleys are characterized as narrow, elongated and deep formations that is be filled with various, mainly Pleistocene glacigene sediments - either till loam of different ages or sand and gravel or interbedding of both above mentioned. The filling material of the valleys influences groundwater flow in the confined aquifers which is intercepted by the valleys. It is supposed that glacial till loam filled valleys serves as a barrier to groundwater flow and as a recharge conduit when filled with sand and gravel deposits. Numerical model was built within MOSYS modelling system (Virbulis et al. 2012) using finite element method in order to investigate buried valley influence on groundwater flow in the study area. Several conceptual models were tested in numerical model depending on buried valley filling material: sand and gravel, till loam or mixture of them. Groundwater flow paths and travel times were studied. Results suggested that valley filled with glacial till is acting as barrier and it causes sharp drop of piezometric head and downward flow. Valley filled with sand and gravel have almost no effect on piezometric head distribution, however it this case buried valleys encourage groundwater recharge from shallower aquifers. Modelling results with and without valleys shows that buried valleys affect piezometric head in narrow zone around valley. Sand and gravel filled buried valleys recharges confined aquifer with relatively "new" water, thus creating high vulnerability zones in the study area. This research is supported by European Regional Development Fund project Nr.2013/0054/2DP/2.1.1.1.0/13/APIA/VIAA/007 and NRP project EVIDENnT project "Groundwater and climate scenarios" subproject "Groundwater Research". References: Virbulis, J., Timuhins, A., Klints, I., Seņņikovs, J., Bethers, U., Popovs, K. 2012. Script based MOSYS system for the generation of a three dimensional geological structure and the calculation of groundwater flow: case study of the Baltic Artesian Basin. In: Highlights of groundwater research in the Baltic Artesian Basin. University of Latvia, Riga, pp. 53-74.

  17. How to recycle asbestos containing materials (ACM)

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

    Jantzen, C.M.

    The current disposal of asbestos containing materials (ACM) in the private sector consists of sealing asbestos wetted with water in plastic for safe transportation and burial in regulated land fills. This disposal methodology requires large disposal volumes especially for asbestos covered pipe and asbestos/fiberglass adhering to metal framework, e.g. filters. This wrap and bury technology precludes recycle of the asbestos, the pipe and/or the metal frameworks. Safe disposal of ACM at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sites, likewise, requires large disposal volumes in landfills for non-radioactive ACM and large disposal volumes in radioactive burial grounds for radioactive and suspect contaminatedmore » ACM. The availability of regulated disposal sites is rapidly diminishing causing recycle to be a more attractive option. Asbestos adhering to metal (e.g., pipes) can be recycled by safely removing the asbestos from the metal in a patented hot caustic bath which prevents airborne contamination /inhalation of asbestos fibers. The dissolution residue (caustic and asbestos) can be wet slurry fed to a melter and vitrified into a glass or glass-ceramic. Palex glasses, which are commercially manufactured, are shown to be preferred over conventional borosilicate glasses. The Palex glasses are alkali magnesium silicate glasses derived by substituting MgO for B{sub 2}O{sub 3} in borosilicate type glasses. Palex glasses are very tolerant of the high MgO and high CaO content of the fillers used in forming asbestos coverings for pipes and found in boiler lashing, e.g., hydromagnesite (3MgCO{sub 3} Mg(OH){sub 2} 3H{sub 2}O) and plaster of paris, gypsum (CaSO{sub 4}). The high temperate of the vitrification process destroys the asbestos fibers and renders the asbestos non-hazardous, e.g., a glass or glass-ceramic. In this manner the glass or glass-ceramic produced can be recycled, e.g., glassphalt or glasscrete, as can the clean metal pipe or metal framework.« less

  18. A one dimensional numerical approach for computing the eigenmodes of elastic waves in buried pipelines

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Duan, Wenbo; Kirby, Ray; Mudge, Peter; Gan, Tat-Hean

    2016-12-01

    Ultrasonic guided waves are often used in the detection of defects in oil and gas pipelines. It is common for these pipelines to be buried underground and this may restrict the length of the pipe that can be successfully tested. This is because acoustic energy travelling along the pipe walls may radiate out into the surrounding medium. Accordingly, it is important to develop a better understanding of the way in which elastic waves propagate along the walls of buried pipes, and so in this article a numerical model is developed that is suitable for computing the eigenmodes for uncoated and coated buried pipes. This is achieved by combining a one dimensional eigensolution based on the semi-analytic finite element (SAFE) method, with a perfectly matched layer (PML) for the infinite medium surrounding the pipe. This article also explores an alternative exponential complex coordinate stretching function for the PML in order to improve solution convergence. It is shown for buried pipelines that accurate solutions may be obtained over the entire frequency range typically used in long range ultrasonic testing (LRUT) using a PML layer with a thickness equal to the pipe wall thickness. This delivers a fast and computationally efficient method and it is shown for pipes buried in sand or soil that relevant eigenmodes can be computed and sorted in less than one second using relatively modest computer hardware. The method is also used to find eigenmodes for a buried pipe coated with the viscoelastic material bitumen. It was recently observed in the literature that a viscoelastic coating may effectively isolate particular eigenmodes so that energy does not radiate from these modes into the surrounding [elastic] medium. A similar effect is also observed in this article and it is shown that this occurs even for a relatively thin layer of bitumen, and when the shear impedance of the coating material is larger than that of the surrounding medium.

  19. Characterization of ferromagnetic or conductive properties of metallic foreign objects embedded within the human body with magnetic iron detector (MID): Screening patients for MRI.

    PubMed

    Gianesin, Barbara; Zefiro, Daniele; Paparo, Francesco; Caminata, Alessio; Balocco, Manuela; Carrara, Paola; Quintino, Sabrina; Pinto, Valeria; Bacigalupo, Lorenzo; Rollandi, Gian Andrea; Marinelli, Mauro; Forni, Gian Luca

    2015-05-01

    A preliminary assessment of the MRI-compatibility of metallic object possibly embedded within the patient is required before conducting the MRI examination. The Magnetic Iron Detector (MID) is a highly sensitive susceptometer that uses a weak magnetic field to measure iron overload in the liver. MID might be used to perform a screening procedure for MRI by determining the ferromagnetic/conductive properties of embedded metallic objects. The study was composed by: (i) definition of MID sensitivity threshold; (ii) application of MID in a procedure to characterize the ferromagnetic/conductive properties of metallic foreign objects in 958 patients scheduled for MID examination. The detection threshold for ferromagnetic objects was found to be the equivalent of a piece of wire of length 2 mm and gauge 0.8 mm(2) and, representing purely conductive objects, an aluminum sheet of area 2 × 2 cm(2) . Of 958 patients, 165 had foreign bodies of unknown nature. MID was able to detect those with ferromagnetic and/or conducting properties based on fluctuations in the magnetic and eddy current signals versus control. The high sensitivity of MID makes it suitable for assessing the ferromagnetic/conductive properties of metallic foreign objects embedded within the body of patients scheduled for MRI. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  20. Three-Dimensional Electromagnetic Scattering from Layered Media with Rough Interfaces for Subsurface Radar Remote Sensing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Duan, Xueyang

    The objective of this dissertation is to develop forward scattering models for active microwave remote sensing of natural features represented by layered media with rough interfaces. In particular, soil profiles are considered, for which a model of electromagnetic scattering from multilayer rough surfaces with or without buried random media is constructed. Starting from a single rough surface, radar scattering is modeled using the stabilized extended boundary condition method (SEBCM). This method solves the long-standing instability issue of the classical EBCM, and gives three-dimensional full wave solutions over large ranges of surface roughnesses with higher computational efficiency than pure numerical solutions, e.g., method of moments (MoM). Based on this single surface solution, multilayer rough surface scattering is modeled using the scattering matrix approach and the model is used for a comprehensive sensitivity analysis of the total ground scattering as a function of layer separation, subsurface statistics, and sublayer dielectric properties. The buried inhomogeneities such as rocks and vegetation roots are considered for the first time in the forward scattering model. Radar scattering from buried random media is modeled by the aggregate transition matrix using either the recursive transition matrix approach for spherical or short-length cylindrical scatterers, or the generalized iterative extended boundary condition method we developed for long cylinders or root-like cylindrical clusters. These approaches take the field interactions among scatterers into account with high computational efficiency. The aggregate transition matrix is transformed to a scattering matrix for the full solution to the layered-medium problem. This step is based on the near-to-far field transformation of the numerical plane wave expansion of the spherical harmonics and the multipole expansion of plane waves. This transformation consolidates volume scattering from the buried random medium with the scattering from layered structure in general. Combined with scattering from multilayer rough surfaces, scattering contributions from subsurfaces and vegetation roots can be then simulated. Solutions of both the rough surface scattering and random media scattering are validated numerically, experimentally, or both. The experimental validations have been carried out using a laboratory-based transmit-receive system for scattering from random media and a new bistatic tower-mounted radar system for field-based surface scattering measurements.

  1. Studies of contemporary glacier basal ice cryostructures to identify buried basal ice in the permafrost: an example from the Matanuska Glacier, Alaska.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stephani, E.; Fortier, D.; Kanevskiy, M.; Dillon, M.; Shur, Y.

    2007-12-01

    In the permafrost, massive ice bodies occur as buried glacier ice, aufeis ice, recrystalized snow, massive segregated ice, injection ice, ice wedges or ice formed in underground cavities ("pool ice", "thermokarst-cave ice"). The origin of massive ice bodies in the permafrost bears considerable implications for the reconstructions of paleoenvironments and paleoclimates. Our work aims to help the permafrost scientists working on massive icy sediments to distinguish buried basal glacier ice from other types of buried ice. To do so, the properties and structure of contemporary basal ice must be well known. Field investigations at the Matanuska Glacier (Chugach range, South-central Alaska), consisted in descriptions and sampling of natural basal ice exposures. We have used the basal ice facies classification of Lawson (1979) which is simple, easy to use in the field and provides a good framework for the description of basal ice exposures. Cores were extracted and brought back to the laboratory for water and grain-size analyses. The sediments forming the cryostructure were mostly polymodal, poorly sorted gravelly silt to gravelly fine sand, with mud contents generally over 50%. These data will be used to calibrate three-dimensional (3D) models produced from micro-tomographic scans of basal ice which will produce quantitative estimates of volumetric ice and sediments contents of basal ice cryostructures. Ultimately, visual qualitative and quantitative characterization of the basal ice components of 3D models together with field observations and laboratory analysis will allow for a new micro-facies and cryostructures classification of the basal ice. Our work will also have applications in glaciology, glacial geology, geomorphology, Quaternary and paleo-climatological studies based on inferences made from the structure of basal glacier ice. This paper presents the internal composition of the basal ice facies in terms of cryostructures assemblages (Fortier et al.: 2007) and sedimentological properties. Fortier, D., Kanevskiy, M, Stephani, E., Dillon, M., Shur, Y. 2007. Facies and cryostructures of glacier basal ice as an object of permafrost study, an example from the Matanuska Glacier, Alaska. Canadian Quaternary Association Conference, Ottawa, June 2007: 75. Lawson, D.E. 1979. Sedimentological analysis of the western terminus region of the Matanuska Glacier, Alaska. Cold Regions Engineering and Research Laboratory, Hanover, N.H., Report 79-9.

  2. Performance of buried pipe installation : technical summary.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2010-05-01

    The goal of this research project was to determine the effects of geometric and mechanical parameters characterizing the soil-structure interaction developed in a buried pipe installation. Parameters such as pipe ring stiff ness, bedding thickness, t...

  3. Carbon limitation patterns in buried and open urban streams

    EPA Science Inventory

    Urban streams alternate between darkened buried segments dominated by heterotrophic processes and lighted open segments dominated by autotrophic processes. We hypothesized that labile carbon leaking from autotrophic cells would reduce heterotrophic carbon limitation in open chan...

  4. Attenuation characteristics of the leaky \\text{T}(0,1) mode guided wave propagating in piping coated with anticorrosion grease

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nishino, Hideo; Tateishi, Kohei; Ishikawa, Masashi; Furukawa, Takashi; Goka, Motoki

    2018-07-01

    Guided wave inspection is expected especially for buried piping because it can be applied easily to such piping requiring only its partial digging from the ground. However, in buried piping, the attenuation coefficient is extremely large compared with that in above-ground piping because the leaky \\text{T}(0,1) mode guided wave (LTGW) propagates in buried piping and its energy leaks into the adjacent surrounding material as a bulk shear wave. Petrolatum anticorrosion grease (PAG) is the most widely used as the coating material on the pipe surface before burying piping in sand or soil, which is a viscous material with a temperature-dependent shear wave velocity. In this paper, attenuation characteristics of the LTGW are shown theoretically and experimentally. The theoretical calculations explain very well the experimental results measured. The temperature dependence of the attenuation coefficient is discussed with the theoretical outcomes.

  5. Atomic friction at exposed and buried graphite step edges: Experiments and simulations

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

    Ye, Zhijiang; Martini, Ashlie, E-mail: amartini@ucmerced.edu

    2015-06-08

    The surfaces of layered materials such as graphite exhibit step edges that affect friction. Step edges can be exposed, where the step occurs at the outmost layer, or buried, where the step is underneath another layer of material. Here, we study friction at exposed and buried step edges on graphite using an atomic force microscope (AFM) and complementary molecular dynamics simulations of the AFM tip apex. Exposed and buried steps exhibit distinct friction behavior, and the friction on either step is affected by the direction of sliding, i.e., moving up or down the step, and the bluntness of the tip.more » These trends are analyzing in terms of the trajectory of the AFM tip as it moves over the step, which is a convolution of the topography of the surface and the tip shape.« less

  6. South Polar Hills

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    2006-01-01

    28 January 2006 This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a summer scene from the south polar region of Mars. The circular feature in the northeast (upper right) corner of the image is an old meteor impact crater that has been partially filled and buried. The cone-shaped hill that occurs within the crater on its east (right) side is a remnant of material that once covered and completely buried the crater. Perhaps beneath the surfaces in the rest of the image there are other craters that have been filled and buried such that we cannot know, from an image, that they ever existed. The theme of filled, buried, and exhumed craters is one that repeats itself -- over and over again -- all over Mars.

    Location near: 80.3oS, 286.1oW Image width: 3 km (1.9 mi) Illumination from: upper left Season: Southern Summer

  7. Field investigation on structural performance of the buried UPVC pipes with and without geogrid reinforcement

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Teja, Akkineni Surya; Rajkumar, R.; Gokula Krishnan, B.; Aravindh, R.

    2018-02-01

    Buried pipes are used mainly for water supply and drainage besides many other applications such as oil, liquefied natural gas, coal slurries and mine tailings. The pipes used may be rigid (reinforced concrete, vitrified clay and ductile iron) or flexible (Steel, UPVC, aluminium, Fiber glass and High-density polyethylene) although the distinction between them is blurring. Flexible pipe design is governed by deflection or buckling. UPVC pipes are preferred due to light weight, long term chemical stability and cost efficiency. This project aims to study the load deformation behaviour of the buried pipe and stress variation across the cross section of the pipe under static loading along with the influence of depth of embedment, density of backfill on the deformation and stresses in pipe and the deformation behaviour of buried pipe when soil is reinforced with geogrid reinforcement and evaluate the structural performance of the pipe.

  8. Backscattered electron simulations to evaluate sensitivity against electron dosage of buried semiconductor features

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mukhtar, Maseeh; Thiel, Bradley

    2018-03-01

    In fabrication, overlay measurements of semiconductor device patterns have conventionally been performed using optical methods. Beginning with image-based techniques using box-in-box to the more recent diffraction-based overlay (DBO). Alternatively, use of SEM overlay is under consideration for in-device overlay. Two main application spaces are measurement features from multiple mask levels on the same surface and buried features. Modern CD-SEMs are adept at measuring overlay for cases where all features are on the surface. In order to measure overlay of buried features, HV-SEM is needed. Gate-to-fin and BEOL overlay are important use cases for this technique. A JMONSEL simulation exercise was performed for these two cases using 10 nm line/space gratings of graduated increase in depth of burial. Backscattered energy loss results of these simulations were used to calculate the sensitivity measurements of buried features versus electron dosage for an array of electron beam voltages.

  9. Microflora distributions in paleosols: a method for calculating the validity of radiocarbon-dated surfaces

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

    Mahaney, W.C.; Boyer, M.G.

    1986-08-01

    Microflora (bacteria and fungi) distributions in several paleosols from Mount Kenya, East Africa, provide important information about contamination of buried soil horizons dated by radiocarbon. High counts of bacteria and fungi in buried soils provide evidence for contamination by plant root effects or ground water movement. Profiles with decreasing counts versus depth appear to produce internally consistent and accurate radiocarbon dates. Profiles with disjunct or bimodal distributions of microflora at various depths produce internally inconsistent chronological sequences of radiocarbon-dated buried surfaces. Preliminary results suggest that numbers up to 5 x 10/sup 2/ g/sup -1/ for bacteria in buried A horizonsmore » do not appear to affect the validity of /sup 14/C dates. Beyond this threshold value, contamination appears to produce younger dates, the difference between true age and /sup 14/C age increasing with the amount of microflora contamination.« less

  10. Target detection using microwave irradiances from natural sources: A passive, local and global surveillance system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stacey, J. M.

    1984-01-01

    Detection of metal objects on or near the Earth's surface was investigated using existing, passive, microwave sensors operating from Earth orbit. The range equations are derived from basic microwave principles and theories and the expressions are given explicitly to estimate the signal to noise ratio for detecting metal targets operating as bistatic scatterers. Actual measurements are made on a range of metal objects observed from orbit using existing passive microwave receiving systems. The details of the measurements and the results are tabulated and discussed. The advantages of a passive microwave sensor as it is applied to surveillance of metal objects as viewed from aerial platforms or from orbit, are examined.

  11. The beginning of metallurgy in the southern Levant: a late 6th millennium CalBC copper awl from Tel Tsaf, Israel.

    PubMed

    Garfinkel, Yosef; Klimscha, Florian; Shalev, Sariel; Rosenberg, Danny

    2014-01-01

    The beginning of metallurgy in the ancient Near East attracts much attention. The southern Levant, with the rich assemblage of copper artifacts from the Nahal Mishmar cave and the unique gold rings of the Nahal Qanah cave, is regarded as a main center of early metallurgy during the second half of the 5th millennium CalBC. However, a recently discovered copper awl from a Middle Chalcolithic burial at Tel Tsaf, Jordan Valley, Israel, suggests that cast metal technology was introduced to the region as early as the late 6th millennium CalBC. This paper examines the chemical composition of this item and reviews its context. The results indicate that it was exported from a distant source, probably in the Caucasus, and that the location where it was found is indicative of the social status of the buried individual. This rare finding indicates that metallurgy was first diffused [corrected] to the southern Levant through exchange networks and only centuries later involved local productionThis copper awl, the earliest metal artifact found in the southern Levant, indicates that the elaborate Late Chalcolithic metallurgy developed from a more ancient tradition.

  12. The Beginning of Metallurgy in the Southern Levant: A Late 6th Millennium CalBC Copper Awl from Tel Tsaf, Israel

    PubMed Central

    Garfinkel, Yosef; Klimscha, Florian; Shalev, Sariel; Rosenberg, Danny

    2014-01-01

    The beginning of metallurgy in the ancient Near East attracts much attention. The southern Levant, with the rich assemblage of copper artifacts from the Nahal Mishmar cave and the unique gold rings of the Nahal Qanah cave, is regarded as a main center of early metallurgy during the second half of the 5th millennium CalBC. However, a recently discovered copper awl from a Middle Chalcolithic burial at Tel Tsaf, Jordan Valley, Israel, suggests that cast metal technology was introduced to the region as early as the late 6th millennium CalBC. This paper examines the chemical composition of this item and reviews its context. The results indicate that it was exported from a distant source, probably in the Caucasus, and that the location where it was found is indicative of the social status of the buried individual. This rare finding indicates that metallurgy was first defused to the southern Levant through exchange networks and only centuries later involved local production. This copper awl, the earliest metal artifact found in the southern Levant, indicates that the elaborate Late Chalcolithic metallurgy developed from a more ancient tradition. PMID:24671185

  13. Exposed versus buried wires for fixation of lateral humeral condyle fractures in children: a comparison of safety and efficacy.

    PubMed

    Chan, Lester Wai Mon; Siow, Hua Ming

    2011-10-01

    Displaced fractures of the lateral condyle of the humerus are usually treated with open reduction and fixation with smooth Kirschner wires. These may be passed through the skin and left exposed or buried subcutaneously. Exposed wires may be removed in the outpatient clinic, whereas buried wires require a formal procedure under anaesthesia. This advantage may be offset if there is a higher rate of complications with exposed wires. The aim of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of exposed and buried wires. Retrospective cohort. Children with lateral condyle fractures of the humerus who had undergone surgery were identified from our departmental database. Case records and X-rays of 75 patients were reviewed. Forty-two patients had buried wires and 33 had exposed wires. There were no serious complications in either group. In the exposed wires group, 1 patient had a superficial wound infection that was treated effectively with 1 week of oral antibiotics, while 2 patients had hypergranulation of pin tracts treated with topical silver nitrate. None of the patients showed loss of reduction, deep infection, or any other complications requiring additional procedures. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of complications between the buried and exposed groups. We conclude that open reduction and exposed wiring is a safe and effective option for lateral condyle fractures, and recommend a period of 4 weeks of K-wire fixation followed by 2 weeks of backslab immobilisation as adequate for union with minimal risk of infection.

  14. Surgical and Functional Outcomes Following Buried Penis Repair With Limited Panniculectomy and Split-thickness Skin Graft.

    PubMed

    Hampson, Lindsay A; Muncey, Wade; Chung, Paul H; Ma, C C; Friedrich, Jeffrey; Wessells, Hunter; Voelzke, Bryan B

    2017-12-01

    To report surgical and functional outcomes of buried penis surgery. Outcomes following buried penis surgery at the University of Washington were assessed from June 1, 2005 to June 1, 2016. Patient demographic and surgical data were abstracted from a retrospective chart review. All patients were attempted to be contacted by phone for long-term follow-up. Uni- and multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate for association with any complication. A total of 42 men underwent buried penis repair surgery (mean short-term follow-up 8.1 months). There was an overall 33% 90-day complication rate (21 events). In univariate analysis, body mass index (BMI; P = .02) and no history of gastric bypass (P = .03) were significant predictors of any complication. In multivariate analysis, only BMI remained significant (odds ratio 1.1 for each increase in unit of BMI, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.27). Twenty-seven patients were reached for long-term follow-up (mean 39 months). Patients reported improvements in every functional domain that was assessed. Of the patients, 85% reported they would undergo buried penis surgery again, 74% that surgery led to a positive change in their lives, and 85% that the surgery had remained a long-term success. Surgical correction of buried penis with penile split-thickness skin graft and limited panniculectomy is well tolerated and results in functional, long-term improvements. BMI is associated with an increased likelihood of a complication following surgery. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. Nature Drilling Exposes Deeply Buried Minerals

    NASA Image and Video Library

    2011-03-08

    This image from NASA Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey spacecraft shows the context for orbital observations of exposed rocks that had been buried on Mars. The area is dominated by the Huygens crater, which is about the size of Wisconsin.

  16. Analysis of micro computed tomography images; a look inside historic enamelled metal objects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    van der Linden, Veerle; van de Casteele, Elke; Thomas, Mienke Simon; de Vos, Annemie; Janssen, Elsje; Janssens, Koen

    2010-02-01

    In this study the usefulness of micro-Computed Tomography (µ-CT) for the in-depth analysis of enamelled metal objects was tested. Usually investigations of enamelled metal artefacts are restricted to non-destructive surface analysis or analysis of cross sections after destructive sampling. Radiography, a commonly used technique in the field of cultural heritage studies, is limited to providing two-dimensional information about a three-dimensional object (Lang and Middleton, Radiography of Cultural Material, pp. 60-61, Elsevier-Butterworth-Heinemann, Amsterdam-Stoneham-London, 2005). Obtaining virtual slices and information about the internal structure of these objects was made possible by CT analysis. With this technique the underlying metal work was studied without removing the decorative enamel layer. Moreover visible defects such as cracks were measured in both width and depth and as of yet invisible defects and weaker areas are visualised. All these features are of great interest to restorers and conservators as they allow a view inside these objects without so much as touching them.

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

    F.V. Perry; A. Cogbill; R. Kelley

    The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) considers volcanism to be a potentially disruptive class of events that could affect the safety of the proposed high-level waste repository at Yucca Mountain. Volcanic hazard assessment in monogenetic volcanic fields depends on an adequate understanding of the temporal and spatial pattern of past eruptions. At Yucca Mountain, the hazard is due to an 11 Ma-history of basaltic volcanism with the latest eruptions occurring in three Pleistocene episodes to the west and south of Yucca Mountain. An expert elicitation convened in 1995-1996 by the DOE estimated the mean hazard of volcanic disruption of themore » repository as slightly greater than 10{sup -8} dike intersections per year with an uncertainty of about two orders of magnitude. Several boreholes in the region have encountered buried basalt in alluvial-filled basins; the youngest of these basalts is dated at 3.8 Ma. The possibility of additional buried basalt centers is indicated by a previous regional aeromagnetic survey conducted by the USGS that detected approximately 20 magnetic anomalies that could represent buried basalt volcanoes. Sensitivity studies indicate that the postulated presence of buried post-Miocene volcanoes to the east of Yucca Mountain could increase the hazard by an order of magnitude, and potentially significantly impact the results of the earlier expert elicitation. Our interpretation of the aeromagnetic data indicates that post-Miocene basalts are not present east of Yucca Mountain, but that magnetic anomalies instead represent faulted and buried Miocene basalt that correlates with nearby surface exposures. This interpretation is being tested by drilling. The possibility of uncharacterized buried volcanoes that could significantly change hazard estimates led DOE to support an update of the expert elicitation in 2004-2006. In support of the expert elicitation data needs, the DOE is sponsoring (1) a new higher-resolution, helicopter-borne aeromagnetic survey, completed in mid-2004, and (2) drilling of selected anomalies based on the aeromagnetic survey results to better characterize the number, location and age of buried volcanoes, which began in mid-2005. The new aeromagnetic survey detected the presence of 33 anomalies interpreted as possible buried volcanoes or faulted tuff bedrock. A program to drill ten of the anomalies has begun, with the selection of drill holes prioritized based on their potential impact on the hazard assessment.« less

  18. Detection of Unknown Crypts under the Floor in the Holy Trinity Church (Dominican Monastery) in Krakow, Poland

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Strzępowicz, Anna; Łyskowski, Mikołaj; Ziętek, Jerzy; Tomecka-Suchoń, Sylwia

    2018-03-01

    The GPR surveying method belongs to non-invasive and quick geophysical methods, applied also in archaeological prospection. It allows for detecting archaeological artefacts buried under historical layers, and also those which can be found within buildings of historical value. Most commonly, just as in this particular case, it is used in churches, where other non-invasive localisation methods cannot be applied. In a majority of cases, surveys bring about highly positive results, enabling the site and size of a specific object to be indicated. A good example are the results obtained from the measurements carried out in the Basilica of Holy Trinity, belonging to the Dominican Monastery in Krakow. They allowed for confirming the location of the already existing crypts and for indicating so-far unidentified objects.

  19. Method of forming through substrate vias (TSVs) and singulating and releasing die having the TSVs from a mechanical support substrate

    DOEpatents

    Okandan, Murat; Nielson, Gregory N

    2014-12-09

    Accessing a workpiece object in semiconductor processing is disclosed. The workpiece object includes a mechanical support substrate, a release layer over the mechanical support substrate, and an integrated circuit substrate coupled over the release layer. The integrated circuit substrate includes a device layer having semiconductor devices. The method also includes etching through-substrate via (TSV) openings through the integrated circuit substrate that have buried ends at or within the release layer including using the release layer as an etch stop. TSVs are formed by introducing one or more conductive materials into the TSV openings. A die singulation trench is etched at least substantially through the integrated circuit substrate around a perimeter of an integrated circuit die. The integrated circuit die is at least substantially released from the mechanical support substrate.

  20. Gold-implanted shallow conducting layers in polymethylmethacrylate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Teixeira, F. S.; Salvadori, M. C.; Cattani, M.; Brown, I. G.

    2009-03-01

    PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) was ion implanted with gold at very low energy and over a range of different doses using a filtered cathodic arc metal plasma system. A nanometer scale conducting layer was formed, fully buried below the polymer surface at low implantation dose, and evolving to include a gold surface layer as the dose was increased. Depth profiles of the implanted material were calculated using the Dynamic TRIM computer simulation program. The electrical conductivity of the gold-implanted PMMA was measured in situ as a function of dose. Samples formed at a number of different doses were subsequently characterized by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, and test patterns were formed on the polymer by electron beam lithography. Lithographic patterns were imaged by atomic force microscopy and demonstrated that the contrast properties of the lithography were well maintained in the surface-modified PMMA.

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