Optimization of current waveform tailoring for magnetically driven isentropic compression experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waisman, E. M.; Reisman, D. B.; Stoltzfus, B. S.; Stygar, W. A.; Cuneo, M. E.; Haill, T. A.; Davis, J.-P.; Brown, J. L.; Seagle, C. T.; Spielman, R. B.

2016-06-01

The Thor pulsed power generator is being developed at Sandia National Laboratories. The design consists of up to 288 decoupled and transit time isolated capacitor-switch units, called "bricks," that can be individually triggered to achieve a high degree of pulse tailoring for magnetically driven isentropic compression experiments (ICE) [D. B. Reisman et al., Phys. Rev. Spec. Top.-Accel. Beams 18, 090401 (2015)]. The connecting transmission lines are impedance matched to the bricks, allowing the capacitor energy to be efficiently delivered to an ICE strip-line load with peak pressures of over 100 GPa. Thor will drive experiments to explore equation of state, material strength, and phase transition properties of a wide variety of materials. We present an optimization process for producing tailored current pulses, a requirement for many material studies, on the Thor generator. This technique, which is unique to the novel "current-adder" architecture used by Thor, entirely avoids the iterative use of complex circuit models to converge to the desired electrical pulse. We begin with magnetohydrodynamic simulations for a given material to determine its time dependent pressure and thus the desired strip-line load current and voltage. Because the bricks are connected to a central power flow section through transit-time isolated coaxial cables of constant impedance, the brick forward-going pulses are independent of each other. We observe that the desired equivalent forward-going current driving the pulse must be equal to the sum of the individual brick forward-going currents. We find a set of optimal brick delay times by requiring that the L2 norm of the difference between the brick-sum current and the desired forward-going current be a minimum. We describe the optimization procedure for the Thor design and show results for various materials of interest.

Optimization of current waveform tailoring for magnetically driven isentropic compression experiments.

PubMed

Waisman, E M; Reisman, D B; Stoltzfus, B S; Stygar, W A; Cuneo, M E; Haill, T A; Davis, J-P; Brown, J L; Seagle, C T; Spielman, R B

2016-06-01

The Thor pulsed power generator is being developed at Sandia National Laboratories. The design consists of up to 288 decoupled and transit time isolated capacitor-switch units, called "bricks," that can be individually triggered to achieve a high degree of pulse tailoring for magnetically driven isentropic compression experiments (ICE) [D. B. Reisman et al., Phys. Rev. Spec. Top.-Accel. Beams 18, 090401 (2015)]. The connecting transmission lines are impedance matched to the bricks, allowing the capacitor energy to be efficiently delivered to an ICE strip-line load with peak pressures of over 100 GPa. Thor will drive experiments to explore equation of state, material strength, and phase transition properties of a wide variety of materials. We present an optimization process for producing tailored current pulses, a requirement for many material studies, on the Thor generator. This technique, which is unique to the novel "current-adder" architecture used by Thor, entirely avoids the iterative use of complex circuit models to converge to the desired electrical pulse. We begin with magnetohydrodynamic simulations for a given material to determine its time dependent pressure and thus the desired strip-line load current and voltage. Because the bricks are connected to a central power flow section through transit-time isolated coaxial cables of constant impedance, the brick forward-going pulses are independent of each other. We observe that the desired equivalent forward-going current driving the pulse must be equal to the sum of the individual brick forward-going currents. We find a set of optimal brick delay times by requiring that the L2 norm of the difference between the brick-sum current and the desired forward-going current be a minimum. We describe the optimization procedure for the Thor design and show results for various materials of interest.

Accurate wavelengths for X-ray spectroscopy and the NIST hydrogen-like ion database

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kotochigova, S. A.; Kirby, K. P.; Brickhouse, N. S.; Mohr, P. J.; Tupitsyn, I. I.

2005-06-01

We have developed an ab initio multi-configuration Dirac-Fock-Sturm method for the precise calculation of X-ray emission spectra, including energies, transition wavelengths and transition probabilities. The calculations are based on non-orthogonal basis sets, generated by solving the Dirac-Fock and Dirac-Fock-Sturm equations. Inclusion of Sturm functions into the basis set provides an efficient description of correlation effects in highly charged ions and fast convergence of the configuration interaction procedure. A second part of our study is devoted to developing a theoretical procedure and creating an interactive database to generate energies and transition frequencies for hydrogen-like ions. This procedure is highly accurate and based on current knowledge of the relevant theory, which includes relativistic, quantum electrodynamic, recoil, and nuclear size effects.

Generation of high-density biskyrmions by electric current

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

Peng, Licong; Zhang, Ying; He, Min

Much interest has been focused on the manipulation of magnetic skyrmions, including the generation, annihilation, and motion behaviors, for potential applications in spintronics. We experimentally demonstrate that a high-density Bloch-type biskyrmion lattice in MnNiGa can be generated by applying electric current. It is revealed that the density of biskyrmions can be remarkably increased by increasing the electric current, in contrast to the scattered biskyrmions induced by a magnetic field alone. Furthermore, the transition from the ferromagnetic state to the stripe domain structure can be terminated by the electric current, leading to the biskyrmions dominated residual domain pattern. These biskyrmions inmore » such residual domain structure are extremely stable at zero magnetic and electric fields and can further evolve into the high-density biskyrmion lattice over a temperature range from 100 to 330 K. Finally, our experimental findings open up a new pathway for the generation of skyrmion lattice by electric current manipulation.« less

Generation of high-density biskyrmions by electric current

DOE PAGES

Peng, Licong; Zhang, Ying; He, Min; ...

2017-06-16

Much interest has been focused on the manipulation of magnetic skyrmions, including the generation, annihilation, and motion behaviors, for potential applications in spintronics. We experimentally demonstrate that a high-density Bloch-type biskyrmion lattice in MnNiGa can be generated by applying electric current. It is revealed that the density of biskyrmions can be remarkably increased by increasing the electric current, in contrast to the scattered biskyrmions induced by a magnetic field alone. Furthermore, the transition from the ferromagnetic state to the stripe domain structure can be terminated by the electric current, leading to the biskyrmions dominated residual domain pattern. These biskyrmions inmore » such residual domain structure are extremely stable at zero magnetic and electric fields and can further evolve into the high-density biskyrmion lattice over a temperature range from 100 to 330 K. Finally, our experimental findings open up a new pathway for the generation of skyrmion lattice by electric current manipulation.« less

Steroid hormone induction of temporal gene expression in Drosophila brain neuroblasts generates neuronal and glial diversity

PubMed Central

Syed, Mubarak Hussain; Mark, Brandon; Doe, Chris Q

2017-01-01

An important question in neuroscience is how stem cells generate neuronal diversity. During Drosophila embryonic development, neural stem cells (neuroblasts) sequentially express transcription factors that generate neuronal diversity; regulation of the embryonic temporal transcription factor cascade is lineage-intrinsic. In contrast, larval neuroblasts generate longer ~50 division lineages, and currently only one mid-larval molecular transition is known: Chinmo/Imp/Lin-28+ neuroblasts transition to Syncrip+ neuroblasts. Here we show that the hormone ecdysone is required to down-regulate Chinmo/Imp and activate Syncrip, plus two late neuroblast factors, Broad and E93. We show that Seven-up triggers Chinmo/Imp to Syncrip/Broad/E93 transition by inducing expression of the Ecdysone receptor in mid-larval neuroblasts, rendering them competent to respond to the systemic hormone ecdysone. Importantly, late temporal gene expression is essential for proper neuronal and glial cell type specification. This is the first example of hormonal regulation of temporal factor expression in Drosophila embryonic or larval neural progenitors. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.26287.001 PMID:28394252

Gravitational waves from a first-order electroweak phase transition: a brief review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weir, David J.

2018-01-01

We review the production of gravitational waves by an electroweak first-order phase transition. The resulting signal is a good candidate for detection at next-generation gravitational wave detectors, such as LISA. Detection of such a source of gravitational waves could yield information about physics beyond the Standard Model that is complementary to that accessible to current and near-future collider experiments. We summarize efforts to simulate and model the phase transition and the resulting production of gravitational waves. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue `Higgs cosmology'.

Imaging of pure spin-valley diffusion current in WS2-WSe2 heterostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Chenhao; Kim, Jonghwan; Utama, M. Iqbal Bakti; Regan, Emma C.; Kleemann, Hans; Cai, Hui; Shen, Yuxia; Shinner, Matthew James; Sengupta, Arjun; Watanabe, Kenji; Taniguchi, Takashi; Tongay, Sefaattin; Zettl, Alex; Wang, Feng

2018-05-01

Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) materials are promising for spintronic and valleytronic applications because valley-polarized excitations can be generated and manipulated with circularly polarized photons and the valley and spin degrees of freedom are locked by strong spin-orbital interactions. In this study we demonstrate efficient generation of a pure and locked spin-valley diffusion current in tungsten disulfide (WS2)–tungsten diselenide (WSe2) heterostructures without any driving electric field. We imaged the propagation of valley current in real time and space by pump-probe spectroscopy. The valley current in the heterostructures can live for more than 20 microseconds and propagate over 20 micrometers; both the lifetime and the diffusion length can be controlled through electrostatic gating. The high-efficiency and electric-field–free generation of a locked spin-valley current in TMDC heterostructures holds promise for applications in spin and valley devices.

Drag and Lift Forces Between a Rotating Conductive Sphere and a Cylindrical Magnet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nurge, Mark A.; Youngquist, Robert C.

2017-01-01

Modeling the interaction between a non-uniform magnetic field and a rotating conductive object allows study of the drag force which is used in applications such as eddy current braking and linear induction motors as well as the transition to a repulsive force that is the basis for magnetic levitation systems. Here, we study the interaction between a non-uniform field generated by a cylindrical magnet and a rotating conductive sphere. Each eddy current in the sphere generates a magnetic field which in turn generates another eddy current, eventually feeding back on itself. A two step mathematics process is developed to find a closed form solution in terms of only two eddy currents. However, the complete solution requires decomposition of the magnetic field into a summation of spherical harmonics, making it more suitable for a graduate level electromagnetism lecture or lab. Finally, the forces associated with these currents are calculated and then verified experimentally.

Drag and lift forces between a rotating conductive sphere and a cylindrical magnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nurge, Mark A.; Youngquist, Robert C.; Starr, Stanley O.

2018-06-01

Modeling the interaction between a non-uniform magnetic field and a rotating conductive object provides insight into the drag force, which is used in applications such as eddy current braking and linear induction motors, as well as the transition to a repulsive force, which is the basis for magnetic levitation systems. Here, we study the interaction between a non-uniform field generated by a cylindrical magnet and a rotating conductive sphere. Each eddy current in the sphere generates a magnetic field which in turn generates another eddy current, eventually feeding back on itself. A two-step mathematical process is developed to find a closed-form solution in terms of only three eddy currents. However, the complete solution requires decomposition of the magnetic field into a summation of spherical harmonics, making it more suitable for a graduate-level electromagnetism lecture or lab. Finally, the forces associated with these currents are calculated and then verified experimentally.

Second-Generation High-Temperature Superconductor Wires for the Electric Power Grid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malozemoff, A. P.

2012-08-01

Superconductors offer major advantages for the electric power grid, including high current and power capacity, high efficiency arising from the lossless current flow, and a unique current-limiting functionality arising from a superconductor-to-resistive transition. These advantages can be brought to bear on equipment such as underground power cables, fault current limiters, rotating machinery, transformers, and energy storage. The first round of significant commercial-scale superconductor power-equipment demonstrations, carried out during the past decade, relied on a first-generation high-temperature superconductor (HTS) wire. However, during the past few years, with the recent commercial availability of high-performance second-generation HTS wires, power-equipment demonstrations have increasingly been carried out with these new wires, which bring important advantages. The foundation is being laid for commercial expansion of this important technology into the power grid.

Transit time of optical pulses propagating through a finite length medium.

PubMed

Bloemer, Mark; Myneni, Krishna; Centini, Marco; Scalora, Michael; D'Aguanno, Giuseppe

2002-05-01

We present experimental and theoretical results on the transit time of optical pulses propagating through bulk media of finite length, specifically GaAs and silica. The transit time of the peak of the pulse varies with the central wavelength due to the étalon effects caused by the reflectivity at the air/medium boundaries. For transform limited optical pulses, the transit time as a function of wavelength follows the transmittance spectrum, that is, the longest transit time occurs at the transmittance maxima where the cavity dwell time is the longest and the shortest transit time occurs at the transmittance minima. The results are dramatically different for chirped pulses obtained by modulating the injection current of a diode laser. The range in the transit times for chirped pulses is a factor of four times larger compared with transform limited pulses. In addition, the transit time for chirped pulses propagating through the GaAs sample is negative at certain wavelengths. Also, the transmitted pulse is not distorted. Although modulating the injection current of a diode laser is the most common method for generating optical pulses, to our knowledge this is the first reported observation of the transit time of these chirped optical pulses propagating through a simple étalon structure.

Characterizing Urban Household Waste Generation and Metabolism Considering Community Stratification in a Rapid Urbanizing Area of China

PubMed Central

Xiao, Lishan; Lin, Tao; Chen, Shaohua; Zhang, Guoqin; Ye, Zhilong; Yu, Zhaowu

2015-01-01

The relationship between social stratification and municipal solid waste generation remains uncertain under current rapid urbanization. Based on a multi-object spatial sampling technique, we selected 191 households in a rapidly urbanizing area of Xiamen, China. The selected communities were classified into three types: work-unit, transitional, and commercial communities in the context of housing policy reform in China. Field survey data were used to characterize household waste generation patterns considering community stratification. Our results revealed a disparity in waste generation profiles among different households. The three community types differed with respect to family income, living area, religious affiliation, and homeowner occupation. Income, family structure, and lifestyle caused significant differences in waste generation among work-unit, transitional, and commercial communities, respectively. Urban waste generation patterns are expected to evolve due to accelerating urbanization and associated community transition. A multi-scale integrated analysis of societal and ecosystem metabolism approach was applied to waste metabolism linking it to particular socioeconomic conditions that influence material flows and their evolution. Waste metabolism, both pace and density, was highest for family structure driven patterns, followed by lifestyle and income driven. The results will guide community-specific management policies in rapidly urbanizing areas. PMID:26690056

Universal bounds on current fluctuations.

PubMed

Pietzonka, Patrick; Barato, Andre C; Seifert, Udo

2016-05-01

For current fluctuations in nonequilibrium steady states of Markovian processes, we derive four different universal bounds valid beyond the Gaussian regime. Different variants of these bounds apply to either the entropy change or any individual current, e.g., the rate of substrate consumption in a chemical reaction or the electron current in an electronic device. The bounds vary with respect to their degree of universality and tightness. A universal parabolic bound on the generating function of an arbitrary current depends solely on the average entropy production. A second, stronger bound requires knowledge both of the thermodynamic forces that drive the system and of the topology of the network of states. These two bounds are conjectures based on extensive numerics. An exponential bound that depends only on the average entropy production and the average number of transitions per time is rigorously proved. This bound has no obvious relation to the parabolic bound but it is typically tighter further away from equilibrium. An asymptotic bound that depends on the specific transition rates and becomes tight for large fluctuations is also derived. This bound allows for the prediction of the asymptotic growth of the generating function. Even though our results are restricted to networks with a finite number of states, we show that the parabolic bound is also valid for three paradigmatic examples of driven diffusive systems for which the generating function can be calculated using the additivity principle. Our bounds provide a general class of constraints for nonequilibrium systems.

A Method for Generating Educational Test Items That Are Aligned to the Common Core State Standards

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gierl, Mark J.; Lai, Hollis; Hogan, James B.; Matovinovic, Donna

2015-01-01

The demand for test items far outstrips the current supply. This increased demand can be attributed, in part, to the transition to computerized testing, but, it is also linked to dramatic changes in how 21st century educational assessments are designed and administered. One way to address this growing demand is with automatic item generation.…

Successfully Transitioning Science Research to Space Weather Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spann, James

2012-01-01

The awareness of potentially significant impacts of space weather on spaceand ground ]based technological systems has generated a strong desire in many sectors of government and industry to effectively transform knowledge and understanding of the variable space environment into useful tools and applications for use by those entities responsible for systems that may be vulnerable to space weather impacts. Essentially, effectively transitioning science knowledge to useful applications relevant to space weather has become important. This talk will present proven methodologies that have been demonstrated to be effective, and how in the current environment those can be applied to space weather transition efforts.

Non-dispersive carrier transport in molecularly doped polymers and the convection-diffusion equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tyutnev, A. P.; Parris, P. E.; Saenko, V. S.

2015-08-01

We reinvestigate the applicability of the concept of trap-free carrier transport in molecularly doped polymers and the possibility of realistically describing time-of-flight (TOF) current transients in these materials using the classical convection-diffusion equation (CDE). The problem is treated as rigorously as possible using boundary conditions appropriate to conventional time of flight experiments. Two types of pulsed carrier generation are considered. In addition to the traditional case of surface excitation, we also consider the case where carrier generation is spatially uniform. In our analysis, the front electrode is treated as a reflecting boundary, while the counter electrode is assumed to act either as a neutral contact (not disturbing the current flow) or as an absorbing boundary at which the carrier concentration vanishes. As expected, at low fields transient currents exhibit unusual behavior, as diffusion currents overwhelm drift currents to such an extent that it becomes impossible to determine transit times (and hence, carrier mobilities). At high fields, computed transients are more like those typically observed, with well-defined plateaus and sharp transit times. Careful analysis, however, reveals that the non-dispersive picture, and predictions of the CDE contradict both experiment and existing disorder-based theories in important ways, and that the CDE should be applied rather cautiously, and even then only for engineering purposes.

Electric field-triggered metal-insulator transition resistive switching of bilayered multiphasic VOx

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Won, Seokjae; Lee, Sang Yeon; Hwang, Jungyeon; Park, Jucheol; Seo, Hyungtak

2018-01-01

Electric field-triggered Mott transition of VO2 for next-generation memory devices with sharp and fast resistance-switching response is considered to be ideal but the formation of single-phase VO2 by common deposition techniques is very challenging. Here, VOx films with a VO2-dominant phase for a Mott transition-based metal-insulator transition (MIT) switching device were successfully fabricated by the combined process of RF magnetron sputtering of V metal and subsequent O2 annealing to form. By performing various material characterizations, including scanning transmission electron microscopy-electron energy loss spectroscopy, the film is determined to have a bilayer structure consisting of a VO2-rich bottom layer acting as the Mott transition switching layer and a V2O5/V2O3 mixed top layer acting as a control layer that suppresses any stray leakage current and improves cyclic performance. This bilayer structure enables excellent electric field-triggered Mott transition-based resistive switching of Pt-VOx-Pt metal-insulator-metal devices with a set/reset current ratio reaching 200, set/reset voltage of less than 2.5 V, and very stable DC cyclic switching upto 120 cycles with a great set/reset current and voltage distribution less than 5% of standard deviation at room temperature, which are specifications applicable for neuromorphic or memory device applications. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Imaging of pure spin-valley diffusion current in WS2-WSe2 heterostructures.

PubMed

Jin, Chenhao; Kim, Jonghwan; Utama, M Iqbal Bakti; Regan, Emma C; Kleemann, Hans; Cai, Hui; Shen, Yuxia; Shinner, Matthew James; Sengupta, Arjun; Watanabe, Kenji; Taniguchi, Takashi; Tongay, Sefaattin; Zettl, Alex; Wang, Feng

2018-05-25

Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) materials are promising for spintronic and valleytronic applications because valley-polarized excitations can be generated and manipulated with circularly polarized photons and the valley and spin degrees of freedom are locked by strong spin-orbital interactions. In this study we demonstrate efficient generation of a pure and locked spin-valley diffusion current in tungsten disulfide (WS 2 )-tungsten diselenide (WSe 2 ) heterostructures without any driving electric field. We imaged the propagation of valley current in real time and space by pump-probe spectroscopy. The valley current in the heterostructures can live for more than 20 microseconds and propagate over 20 micrometers; both the lifetime and the diffusion length can be controlled through electrostatic gating. The high-efficiency and electric-field-free generation of a locked spin-valley current in TMDC heterostructures holds promise for applications in spin and valley devices. Copyright © 2018 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.

Optimization of current waveform tailoring for magnetically driven isentropic compression experiments

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

Waisman, E. M.; Reisman, D. B.; Stoltzfus, B. S.

2016-06-15

The Thor pulsed power generator is being developed at Sandia National Laboratories. The design consists of up to 288 decoupled and transit time isolated capacitor-switch units, called “bricks,” that can be individually triggered to achieve a high degree of pulse tailoring for magnetically driven isentropic compression experiments (ICE) [D. B. Reisman et al., Phys. Rev. Spec. Top.–Accel. Beams 18, 090401 (2015)]. The connecting transmission lines are impedance matched to the bricks, allowing the capacitor energy to be efficiently delivered to an ICE strip-line load with peak pressures of over 100 GPa. Thor will drive experiments to explore equation of state,more » material strength, and phase transition properties of a wide variety of materials. We present an optimization process for producing tailored current pulses, a requirement for many material studies, on the Thor generator. This technique, which is unique to the novel “current-adder” architecture used by Thor, entirely avoids the iterative use of complex circuit models to converge to the desired electrical pulse. We begin with magnetohydrodynamic simulations for a given material to determine its time dependent pressure and thus the desired strip-line load current and voltage. Because the bricks are connected to a central power flow section through transit-time isolated coaxial cables of constant impedance, the brick forward-going pulses are independent of each other. We observe that the desired equivalent forward-going current driving the pulse must be equal to the sum of the individual brick forward-going currents. We find a set of optimal brick delay times by requiring that the L{sub 2} norm of the difference between the brick-sum current and the desired forward-going current be a minimum. We describe the optimization procedure for the Thor design and show results for various materials of interest.« less

Annotated Bibliography of Sediment Transport Occurring over Ebb-Tidal Deltas.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-09-01

and trough cross stratification from the shallower channel, should be expected. Swash-generated, horizontal plane laminations or * slightly inclined... laminations from the shallow channel sides. Transitional inlets would produce a variety of sequences, the exact nature of which would reflect the relative...and tidal currents. The beach face is characterized by flatbeds and antidunes; the runnel contains cuspate megaripples and current ripples oriented

Experimental Identification of Electric Field Excitation Mechanisms in a Structural Transition of Tokamak Plasmas

PubMed Central

Kobayashi, T.; Itoh, K.; Ido, T.; Kamiya, K.; Itoh, S.-I.; Miura, Y.; Nagashima, Y.; Fujisawa, A.; Inagaki, S.; Ida, K.; Hoshino, K.

2016-01-01

Self-regulation between structure and turbulence, which is a fundamental process in the complex system, has been widely regarded as one of the central issues in modern physics. A typical example of that in magnetically confined plasmas is the Low confinement mode to High confinement mode (L-H) transition, which is intensely studied for more than thirty years since it provides a confinement improvement necessary for the realization of the fusion reactor. An essential issue in the L-H transition physics is the mechanism of the abrupt “radial” electric field generation in toroidal plasmas. To date, several models for the L-H transition have been proposed but the systematic experimental validation is still challenging. Here we report the systematic and quantitative model validations of the radial electric field excitation mechanism for the first time, using a data set of the turbulence and the radial electric field having a high spatiotemporal resolution. Examining time derivative of Poisson’s equation, the sum of the loss-cone loss current and the neoclassical bulk viscosity current is found to behave as the experimentally observed radial current that excites the radial electric field within a few factors of magnitude. PMID:27489128

On emissions trading, toxic debt and the Australian power market

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

Simshauser, Paul

2009-03-15

Implementation of emissions trading will have profound effects on the financial stability of coal generators. While the impact on equity capital is well understood, the potential fallout in the market for project finance is not. During the current global financial crisis, the form and quantum of transitional assistance to coal generators will be crucial to ensure ongoing participation of domestic and foreign project banks in the power markets. (author)

Driver Circuit For High-Power MOSFET's

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Letzer, Kevin A.

1991-01-01

Driver circuit generates rapid-voltage-transition pulses needed to switch high-power metal oxide/semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) modules rapidly between full "on" and full "off". Rapid switching reduces time of overlap between appreciable current through and appreciable voltage across such modules, thereby increasing power efficiency.

Non-Gaussianities in multifield DBI inflation with a waterfall phase transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kidani, Taichi; Koyama, Kazuya; Mizuno, Shuntaro

2012-10-01

We study multifield Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) inflation models with a waterfall phase transition. This transition happens for a D3 brane moving in the warped conifold if there is an instability along angular directions. The transition converts the angular perturbations into the curvature perturbation. Thanks to this conversion, multifield models can evade the stringent constraints that strongly disfavor single field ultraviolet (UV) DBI inflation models in string theory. We explicitly demonstrate that our model satisfies current observational constraints on the spectral index and equilateral non-Gaussianity as well as the bound on the tensor to scalar ratio imposed in string theory models. In addition, we show that large local type non-Gaussianity is generated together with equilateral non-Gaussianity in this model.

Synthesis of Binary Transition Metal Nitrides, Carbides and Borides from the Elements in the Laser-Heated Diamond Anvil Cell and Their Structure-Property Relations

PubMed Central

Friedrich, Alexandra; Winkler, Björn; Juarez-Arellano, Erick A.; Bayarjargal, Lkhamsuren

2011-01-01

Transition metal nitrides, carbides and borides have a high potential for industrial applications as they not only have a high melting point but are generally harder and less compressible than the pure metals. Here we summarize recent advances in the synthesis of binary transition metal nitrides, carbides and borides focusing on the reaction of the elements at extreme conditions generated within the laser-heated diamond anvil cell. The current knowledge of their structures and high-pressure properties like high-(p,T) stability, compressibility and hardness is described as obtained from experiments. PMID:28824101

Simulation of nonstationary phenomena in atmospheric-pressure glow discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korolev, Yu. D.; Frants, O. B.; Nekhoroshev, V. O.; Suslov, A. I.; Kas'yanov, V. S.; Shemyakin, I. A.; Bolotov, A. V.

2016-06-01

Nonstationary processes in atmospheric-pressure glow discharge manifest themselves in spontaneous transitions from the normal glow discharge into a spark. In the experiments, both so-called completed transitions in which a highly conductive constricted channel arises and incomplete transitions accompanied by the formation of a diffuse channel are observed. A model of the positive column of a discharge in air is elaborated that allows one to interpret specific features of the discharge both in the stationary stage and during its transition into a spark and makes it possible to calculate the characteristic oscillatory current waveforms for completed transitions into a spark and aperiodic ones for incomplete transitions. The calculated parameters of the positive column in the glow discharge mode agree well with experiment. Data on the densities of the most abundant species generated in the discharge (such as atomic oxygen, metastable nitrogen molecules, ozone, nitrogen oxides, and negative oxygen ions) are presented.

Simulation of nonstationary phenomena in atmospheric-pressure glow discharge

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

Korolev, Yu. D., E-mail: korolev@lnp.hcei.tsc.ru; Frants, O. B.; Nekhoroshev, V. O.

2016-06-15

Nonstationary processes in atmospheric-pressure glow discharge manifest themselves in spontaneous transitions from the normal glow discharge into a spark. In the experiments, both so-called completed transitions in which a highly conductive constricted channel arises and incomplete transitions accompanied by the formation of a diffuse channel are observed. A model of the positive column of a discharge in air is elaborated that allows one to interpret specific features of the discharge both in the stationary stage and during its transition into a spark and makes it possible to calculate the characteristic oscillatory current waveforms for completed transitions into a spark andmore » aperiodic ones for incomplete transitions. The calculated parameters of the positive column in the glow discharge mode agree well with experiment. Data on the densities of the most abundant species generated in the discharge (such as atomic oxygen, metastable nitrogen molecules, ozone, nitrogen oxides, and negative oxygen ions) are presented.« less

Autogenerator of beams of charged particles

DOEpatents

Adler, Richard J.; Mazarakis, Michael G.; Miller, Robert B.; Shope, Steven L.; Smith, David L.

1986-01-01

An autogenerating apparatus provides secondary intense relativistic current beam pulses in response to an injected beam pulse. One or more electromagnetic energy storage devices are provided in conjunction with gaps along a beam propagation path for the injected beam pulse. For injected beam pulses which are no longer than double the transit time of electromagnetic waves within the storage devices (which may be resonant cavities), distinct secondary beam pulses are generated by each of the energy storage devices. The beam propagation path, together with the one or more gaps provided therein, operates as a pulse forming transmission line cavity, in which the separate cavities associated with the gaps provide delays for electromagnetic waves generated at the gaps. After doubly traversing the cavity, the electromagnetic waves cause the gap to generate the secondary beam pulses, which are thus delayed by a time interval equal to the double transit time for the induced wave within the cavity.

Autogenerator of beams of charged particles

DOEpatents

Adler, R.J.; Mazarakis, M.G.; Miller, R.M.; Shope, S.L.; Smith, D.L.

1983-10-31

An autogenerating apparatus provides secondary intense relativistic current beam pulses in response to an injected beam pulse. One or more electromagnetic energy storage devices are provided in conjunction with gaps along a beam propagation path for the injected beam pulse. For injected beam pulses which are no longer than double the transit time of electromagnetic waves within the storage devices (which may be resonant cavities), distinct secondary beam pulses are generated by each of the energy storage devices. The beam propagation path, together with the one or more gaps provided therein, operates as a pulse forming transmission line cavity, in which the separate cavities associated with the gaps provide delays for electromagnetic waves generated at the gaps. After doubly traversing the cavity, the electromagnetic waves cause the gap to generate the secondary beam pulses, which are thus delayed by a time interval equal to the double transit time for the induced wave within the cavity.

Spin currents and spin-orbit torques in ferromagnetic trilayers.

PubMed

Baek, Seung-Heon C; Amin, Vivek P; Oh, Young-Wan; Go, Gyungchoon; Lee, Seung-Jae; Lee, Geun-Hee; Kim, Kab-Jin; Stiles, M D; Park, Byong-Guk; Lee, Kyung-Jin

2018-06-01

Magnetic torques generated through spin-orbit coupling 1-8 promise energy-efficient spintronic devices. For applications, it is important that these torques switch films with perpendicular magnetizations without an external magnetic field 9-14 . One suggested approach 15 to enable such switching uses magnetic trilayers in which the torque on the top magnetic layer can be manipulated by changing the magnetization of the bottom layer. Spin currents generated in the bottom magnetic layer or its interfaces transit the spacer layer and exert a torque on the top magnetization. Here we demonstrate field-free switching in such structures and show that its dependence on the bottom-layer magnetization is not consistent with the anticipated bulk effects 15 . We describe a mechanism for spin-current generation 16,17 at the interface between the bottom layer and the spacer layer, which gives torques that are consistent with the measured magnetization dependence. This other-layer-generated spin-orbit torque is relevant to energy-efficient control of spintronic devices.

Phenomenological description of depoling current in Pb0.99Nb0.02(Zr0.95Ti0.05)0.98O3 ferroelectric ceramics under shock wave compression: Relaxation model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Dongdong; Du, Jinmei; Gu, Yan; Feng, Yujun

2012-05-01

By assuming a relaxation process for depolarization associated with the ferroelectric (FE) to antiferroelectric (AFE) phase transition in Pb0.99Nb0.02(Zr0.95Ti0.05)0.98O3 ferroelectric ceramics under shock wave compression, we build a new model for the depoling current, which is different from both the traditional constant current source (CCS) model and the phase transition kinetics (PTK) model. The characteristic relaxation time and new-equilibrated polarization are dependent on both the shock pressure and electric field. After incorporating a Maxwell s equation, the relaxation model developed applies to all the depoling currents under short-circuit condition and high-impedance condition. Influences of shock pressure, load resistance, dielectric property, and electrical conductivity on the depoling current are also discussed. The relaxation model gives a good description about the suppressing effect of the self-generated electric field on the FE-to-AFE phase transition at low shock pressures, which cannot be described by the traditional models. After incorporating a time- and electric-field-dependent repolarization, this model predicts that the high-impedance current eventually becomes higher than the short-circuit current, which is consistent with the experimental results in the literature. Finally, we make the comparison between our relaxation model and the traditional CCS model and PTK model.

India's Proposed Universal Health Coverage Policy: Evidence for Age Structure Transition Effect and Fiscal Sustainability.

PubMed

Narayana, Muttur Ranganathan

2016-12-01

India's High Level Expert Group on Universal Health Coverage in 2011 recommended a universal, public-funded and national health coverage policy. As a plausible forward-looking macroeconomic reform in the health sector, this policy proposal on universal health coverage (UHC) needs to be evaluated for age structure transition effect and fiscal sustainability to strengthen its current design and future implementation. Macroeconomic analyses of the long-term implications of age structure transition and fiscal sustainability on India's proposed UHC policy. A new measure of age-specific UHC is developed by combining the age profile of public and private health consumption expenditure by using the National Transfer Accounts methodology. Different projections of age-specific public health expenditure are calculated over the period 2005-2100 to account for the age structure transition effect. The projections include changes in: (1) levels of the expenditure as gross domestic product grows, (2) levels and shape of the expenditure as gross domestic product grows and expenditure converges to that of developed countries (or convergence scenario) based on the Lee-Carter model of forecasting mortality rates, and (3) levels of the expenditure as India moves toward a UHC policy. Fiscal sustainability under each health expenditure projection is determined by using the measures of generational imbalance and sustainability gap in the Generational Accounting methodology. Public health expenditure is marked by age specificities and the elderly population is costlier to support for their healthcare needs in the future. Given the discount and productivity growth rates, the proposed UHC is not fiscally sustainable under India's current fiscal policies except for the convergence scenario. However, if the income elasticity of public expenditure on social welfare and health expenditure is less than one, fiscal sustainability of the UHC policy is attainable in all scenarios of projected public health expenditures. These new results strengthen the proposed UHC policy by accounting for age structure transition effect and justifying its sustainability within the framework of India's current fiscal policies. The age structure transition effect is important to incorporate the age-specific cost and benefit of the proposed UHC policy, especially as India moves toward an ageing society. Fiscal sustainability is essential to ensure that the proposed UHC is implementable on a long-term basis and within the framework of current fiscal policies.

Remote sensing, geographical information systems, and spatial modeling for analyzing public transit services

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Changshan

Public transit service is a promising transportation mode because of its potential to address urban sustainability. Current ridership of public transit, however, is very low in most urban regions, particularly those in the United States. This woeful transit ridership can be attributed to many factors, among which poor service quality is key. Given this, there is a need for transit planning and analysis to improve service quality. Traditionally, spatially aggregate data are utilized in transit analysis and planning. Examples include data associated with the census, zip codes, states, etc. Few studies, however, address the influences of spatially aggregate data on transit planning results. In this research, previous studies in transit planning that use spatially aggregate data are reviewed. Next, problems associated with the utilization of aggregate data, the so-called modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP), are detailed and the need for fine resolution data to support public transit planning is argued. Fine resolution data is generated using intelligent interpolation techniques with the help of remote sensing imagery. In particular, impervious surface fraction, an important socio-economic indicator, is estimated through a fully constrained linear spectral mixture model using Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) data within the metropolitan area of Columbus, Ohio in the United States. Four endmembers, low albedo, high albedo, vegetation, and soil are selected to model heterogeneous urban land cover. Impervious surface fraction is estimated by analyzing low and high albedo endmembers. With the derived impervious surface fraction, three spatial interpolation methods, spatial regression, dasymetric mapping, and cokriging, are developed to interpolate detailed population density. Results suggest that cokriging applied to impervious surface is a better alternative for estimating fine resolution population density. With the derived fine resolution data, a multiple route maximal covering/shortest path (MRMCSP) model is proposed to address the tradeoff between public transit service quality and access coverage in an established bus-based transit system. Results show that it is possible to improve current transit service quality by eliminating redundant or underutilized service stops. This research illustrates that fine resolution data can be efficiently generated to support urban planning, management and analysis. Further, this detailed data may necessitate the development of new spatial optimization models for use in analysis.

Shock induced phase transitions and current generation in ferroelectric ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agrawal, Vinamra; Bhattacharya, Kaushik

2017-06-01

Ferroelectric materials are used as ferroelectric generators to obtain pulsed power by subjecting them to a shock loading. The impact induces a phase transition and at high impact speeds, dielectric breakdown. Depending on the loading conditions and the electromechanical boundary conditions, the current or voltage profiles obtained vary. We explore the phenomenon of large deformation dynamic behavior and the associated electro-thermo-mechanical coupling of ferroelectric materials in adiabatic environments. Using conservation laws, Maxwell's equations and second law of thermodynamics, we obtain a set of governing equations for the material and the driving force acting on the propagating phase boundary. We also account for the possibility of surface charges on the phase boundary in case of dielectric breakdown which introduces contribution of curvature of the phase boundary in the equations. Next, the governing equations are used to solve a plate impact problem. The Helmholtz energy of the material is chosen be a combination of piecewise quadratic potential in polarization and thermo-elastic material capable of undergoing phase transformation. We obtain current profiles for short circuit boundary conditions along with strain, particle velocity and temperature maps. US AFOSR through Center of Excellence in High Rate Deformation of Heterogeneous Materials FA 9550-12-1-0091.

Location Prediction Based on Transition Probability Matrices Constructing from Sequential Rules for Spatial-Temporal K-Anonymity Dataset

PubMed Central

Liu, Zhao; Zhu, Yunhong; Wu, Chenxue

2016-01-01

Spatial-temporal k-anonymity has become a mainstream approach among techniques for protection of users’ privacy in location-based services (LBS) applications, and has been applied to several variants such as LBS snapshot queries and continuous queries. Analyzing large-scale spatial-temporal anonymity sets may benefit several LBS applications. In this paper, we propose two location prediction methods based on transition probability matrices constructing from sequential rules for spatial-temporal k-anonymity dataset. First, we define single-step sequential rules mined from sequential spatial-temporal k-anonymity datasets generated from continuous LBS queries for multiple users. We then construct transition probability matrices from mined single-step sequential rules, and normalize the transition probabilities in the transition matrices. Next, we regard a mobility model for an LBS requester as a stationary stochastic process and compute the n-step transition probability matrices by raising the normalized transition probability matrices to the power n. Furthermore, we propose two location prediction methods: rough prediction and accurate prediction. The former achieves the probabilities of arriving at target locations along simple paths those include only current locations, target locations and transition steps. By iteratively combining the probabilities for simple paths with n steps and the probabilities for detailed paths with n-1 steps, the latter method calculates transition probabilities for detailed paths with n steps from current locations to target locations. Finally, we conduct extensive experiments, and correctness and flexibility of our proposed algorithm have been verified. PMID:27508502

Chiral magnetic effect in condensed matter systems

DOE PAGES

Li, Qiang; Kharzeev, Dmitri E.

2016-12-01

The chiral magnetic effect is the generation of electrical current induced by chirality imbalance in the presence of magnetic field. It is a macroscopic manifestation of the quantum anomaly in relativistic field theory of chiral fermions. In the quark-gluon plasma, the axial anomaly induces topological charge changing transition that results in the generation of electrical current along the magnetic field. In condensed matter systems, the chiral magnetic effect was first predicted in the gapless semiconductors with tow energy bands having pointlike degeneracies. In addition, thirty years later after this prediction, the chiral magnetic effect was finally observed in the 3Dmore » Dirac/Weyl semimetals.« less

Nutrient supply, surface currents, and plankton dynamics predict zooplankton hotspots in coastal upwelling systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Messié, Monique; Chavez, Francisco P.

2017-09-01

A simple combination of wind-driven nutrient upwelling, surface currents, and plankton growth/grazing equations generates zooplankton patchiness and hotspots in coastal upwelling regions. Starting with an initial input of nitrate from coastal upwelling, growth and grazing equations evolve phytoplankton and zooplankton over time and space following surface currents. The model simulates the transition from coastal (large phytoplankton, e.g., diatoms) to offshore (picophytoplankton and microzooplankton) communities, and in between generates a large zooplankton maximum. The method was applied to four major upwelling systems (California, Peru, Northwest Africa, and Benguela) using latitudinal estimates of wind-driven nitrate supply and satellite-based surface currents. The resulting zooplankton simulations are patchy in nature; areas of high concentrations coincide with previously documented copepod and krill hotspots. The exercise highlights the importance of the upwelling process and surface currents in shaping plankton communities.

Systems and Software Producibility Collaboration and Experimental Environment (SPRUCE)

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-04-23

Research Manhattan Project Like Research – Transition timeframe needed • Current generation programs – DoD acquisitions over next 1-5 years • Next...Specific Computing Plant B a s i c Transformational Research Manhattan Project Like Research B a s i c 16 • Sponsored by Lockheed Martin

Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: transition between diabetes services.

PubMed

Visentin, Kate; Koch, Tina; Kralik, Debbie

2006-06-01

The research aimed to develop a sustainable and coordinated approach to facilitating the transition between diabetes services for adolescents. The objectives were to: (1) involve key diabetes health delivery stakeholders in expressing their concerns and issues about current service delivery and ways to improve same, and (2) reveal from the perspective of the adolescents living with Type 1 Diabetes their experiences surrounding the process of transition. This paper presents research that sought to identify the major concerns and issues that stakeholders had about transition and to reveal the experience of transition for the adolescent with Type 1 Diabetes. Key representatives from seven public diabetes services in Adelaide, South Australia worked collaboratively to answer the objectives of this inquiry. Approach. Interview data were generated and analysed using a response focus framework provided by fourth generation evaluation research. In this study, the focus was on common concerns, claims and issues raised by health care professionals (n = 21) and adolescents (n = 10) aged between 15 and 18 years about transferring from children's to adult diabetes services. Data revealed education and dietetic advice was reactive rather than proactive and that the paediatric model of care is philosophically and practically different to the adult model of diabetes care. Three phases of transition were identified: preparation, formal transition and evaluation. Our findings indicated that these stages of transition were not being fully implemented in health units. The project findings have set the scene to establish a multidisciplinary working party to work collaboratively across agencies to develop effective transition pathways. The role of diabetes nurse educators and dietitians in South Australia is under-used throughout the transition process. Diabetes nurse educators are in an ideal position to prepare, coordinate and evaluate transitional processes.

Microwave Photonics: current challenges towards widespread application.

PubMed

Capmany, José; Li, Guifang; Lim, Christina; Yao, Jianping

2013-09-23

Microwave Photonics, a symbiotic field of research that brings together the worlds of optics and radio frequency is currently facing several challenges in its transition from a niche to a truly widespread technology essential to support the ever-increasing values for speed, bandwidth, processing capability and dynamic range that will be required in next generation hybrid access networks. We outline these challenges, which are the subject of the contributions to this focus issue.

A compact high current pulsed electron gun with subnanosecond electron pulse widths

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khakoo, M. A.; Srivastava, S. K.

1984-01-01

A magnetically-collimated, double-pulsed electron gun capable of generating electron pulses with a peak instantaneous current of approximately 70 microamps and a temporal width of 0.35 ns (FWHM) has been developed. Calibration is accomplished by measuring the lifetime of the well known 2(1P)-to-1(1S) transition in helium (58.4nm) at a near-threshold electron-impact energy by use of the delayed-coincidence technique.

Paradigm transitions in solar-terrestrial physics from 1900: my personal view

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akasofu, S.-I.

2015-04-01

Solar-terrestrial physics, like any other scientific field, has evolved and developed by replacing older theories with newer theories. Unfortunately, each generation of young researchers tends to learn naturally only the latest, and perhaps the most popular theory and believes that it is the only useful one to pursue. Therefore, they do not necessarily realize that in the past the theory they chose had struggled to reach its presently acceptable state, and that eventually it might be replaced with a new theory. Two generations of scientists or in some subjects even more generations tend to be guided by one particular idea or theory. Thus, among us (namely, one or two generations) a high degree of agreement occurs, both on the theoretical assumptions and on the problem to be solved within the framework provided by the theory. Such an idea or theory was termed paradigm by Kuhn (1970). The purpose of this article is to describe several examples of the transition of paradigms and ideas in the subjects of solar-terrestrial physics. The examples are subjects that experienced a paradigm change after prevailing in the field for a few generations and also some that are perhaps on the verge of the transition. The chosen subjects are (1) Stormer's single particle theory to Chapman's plasma theory (1907-1963), (2) the auroral zone to the auroral oval (1860-1971), (3) the closed to open magnetosphere (1931-1971), (4) the current system controversies (1918-1963) and (1964-present), (5) the fixed pattern concept to the concept of auroral/magnetospheric substorms (1935-1982), (6) the importance of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) in the development of geomagnetic storms (1905-1966), (7) the ring current: solar wind protons to oxygen ions from the ionosphere (1933-1977), (8) the storm-substorm controversy (1963-present), (9) substorm onset (1964-present), (10) solar flares (1958-present) and (11) sunspots (1961-present).

Quantization and fractional quantization of currents in periodically driven stochastic systems. I. Average currents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chernyak, Vladimir Y.; Klein, John R.; Sinitsyn, Nikolai A.

2012-04-01

This article studies Markovian stochastic motion of a particle on a graph with finite number of nodes and periodically time-dependent transition rates that satisfy the detailed balance condition at any time. We show that under general conditions, the currents in the system on average become quantized or fractionally quantized for adiabatic driving at sufficiently low temperature. We develop the quantitative theory of this quantization and interpret it in terms of topological invariants. By implementing the celebrated Kirchhoff theorem we derive a general and explicit formula for the average generated current that plays a role of an efficient tool for treating the current quantization effects.

9th Annual Science and Engineering Technology Conference

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-04-17

Disks Composite Technology Titanium Aluminides Processing Microstructure Properties Curve Generator Go-Forward: Integrated Materials & Process Models...Initiatives Current DPA/T3s: Atomic Layer Deposition Hermetic Coatings: ...domestic ALD for electronic components; transition to fabrication process ...Production windows estim • Process capability fully established >Production specifications in place >Supply chain established •All necessary property

Giant Magnetoelectric Energy Conversion Utilizing Inter-Ferroelectric Phase Transformations in Ferroics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Finkel, Peter; Staruch, Margo

Phase transition-based electromechanical transduction permits achieving a non-resonant broadband mechanical energy conversion see (Finkel et al Actuators, 5 [1] 2. (2015)) , the idea is based on generation high energy density per cycle , at least 100x of magnitude larger than linear piezoelectric type generators in stress biased [011]cut relaxor ferroelectric Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PIN-PMN-PT) single crystal can generate reversible strain >0.35% at remarkably low fields (0.1 MV/m) for tens of millions of cycles. Recently we demonstrated that large strain and polarization rotation can be generated for over 40 x 106cycles with little fatigue by realization of reversible ferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition in [011] cut PIN-PMN-PT relaxor ferroelectric single crystal while sweeping through the transition with a low applied electric field <0.18 MV/m under mechanical stress. This methodology was extended in the present work to propose magnetoelectric (ME) composite hybrid system comprised of highly magnetostrictive alloymFe81.4Ga18.6 (Galfenol), and lead indium niobate-lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PIN-PMN-PT) domain engineered relaxor ferroelectric single crystal. A small time-varying magnetic field applied to this system causes the magnetostrictive element to expand, and the resulting stress forces the phase change in the relaxor ferroelectric single crystal. ME coupling coefficient was fond to achieve 80 V/cm Oe near the FR-FO phase transition that is at least 100X of magnitude higher than any currently reported values.

Scaling universality at the dynamic vortex Mott transition

DOE PAGES

Lankhorst, M.; Poccia, N.; Stehno, M. P.; ...

2018-01-17

The cleanest way to observe a dynamic Mott insulator-to-metal transition (DMT) without the interference from disorder and other effects inherent to electronic and atomic systems, is to employ the vortex Mott states formed by superconducting vortices in a regular array of pinning sites. Here, we report the critical behavior of the vortex system as it crosses the DMT line, driven by either current or temperature. We find universal scaling with respect to both, expressed by the same scaling function and characterized by a single critical exponent coinciding with the exponent for the thermodynamic Mott transition. We develop a theory formore » the DMT based on the parity reflection-time reversal (PT) symmetry breaking formalism and find that the nonequilibrium-induced Mott transition has the same critical behavior as the thermal Mott transition. Our findings demonstrate the existence of physical systems in which the effect of a nonequilibrium drive is to generate an effective temperature and hence the transition belonging in the thermal universality class.« less

Scaling universality at the dynamic vortex Mott transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lankhorst, M.; Poccia, N.; Stehno, M. P.; Galda, A.; Barman, H.; Coneri, F.; Hilgenkamp, H.; Brinkman, A.; Golubov, A. A.; Tripathi, V.; Baturina, T. I.; Vinokur, V. M.

2018-01-01

The cleanest way to observe a dynamic Mott insulator-to-metal transition (DMT) without the interference from disorder and other effects inherent to electronic and atomic systems, is to employ the vortex Mott states formed by superconducting vortices in a regular array of pinning sites. Here, we report the critical behavior of the vortex system as it crosses the DMT line, driven by either current or temperature. We find universal scaling with respect to both, expressed by the same scaling function and characterized by a single critical exponent coinciding with the exponent for the thermodynamic Mott transition. We develop a theory for the DMT based on the parity reflection-time reversal (P T ) symmetry breaking formalism and find that the nonequilibrium-induced Mott transition has the same critical behavior as the thermal Mott transition. Our findings demonstrate the existence of physical systems in which the effect of a nonequilibrium drive is to generate an effective temperature and hence the transition belonging in the thermal universality class.

Current measurement by Faraday effect on GEPOPU

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

N, Correa; H, Chuaqui; E, Wyndham; F, Veloso; J, Valenzuela; M, Favre; H, Bhuyan

2014-05-01

The design and calibration of an optical current sensor using BK7 glass is presented. The current sensor is based on the polarization rotation by Faraday effect. GEPOPU is a pulsed power generator, double transit time 120ns, 1.5 Ohm impedance, coaxial geometry, where Z pinch experiment are performed. The measurements were performed at the Optics and Plasma Physics Laboratory of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. The verdet constant for two different optical materials was obtained using He-Ne laser. The values obtained are within the experimental error bars of measurements published in the literature (less than 15% difference). Two different sensor geometries were tried. We present the preliminary results for one of the geometries. The values obtained for the current agree within the measurement error with those obtained by means of a Spice simulation of the generator. Signal traces obtained are completely noise free.

Sustained diffusive alternating current gliding arc discharge in atmospheric pressure air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Jiajian; Gao, Jinlong; Li, Zhongshan; Ehn, Andreas; Aldén, Marcus; Larsson, Anders; Kusano, Yukihiro

2014-12-01

Rapid transition from glow discharge to thermal arc has been a common problem in generating stable high-power non-thermal plasmas especially at ambient conditions. A sustained diffusive gliding arc discharge was generated in a large volume in atmospheric pressure air, driven by an alternating current (AC) power source. The plasma column extended beyond the water-cooled stainless steel electrodes and was stabilized by matching the flow speed of the turbulent air jet with the rated output power. Comprehensive investigations were performed using high-speed movies measured over the plasma column, synchronized with simultaneously recorded current and voltage waveforms. Dynamic details of the novel non-equilibrium discharge are revealed, which is characterized by a sinusoidal current waveform with amplitude stabilized at around 200 mA intermediate between thermal arc and glow discharge, shedding light to the governing mechanism of the sustained spark-suppressed AC gliding arc discharge.

CHI Research on NSTX-U

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lay, W.-S.; Raman, R.; Jarboe, T. R.; Nelson, B. A.; Mueller, D.; Ebrahimi, F.; Ono, M.; Jardin, S. C.; Taylor, G.

2017-10-01

At present about 20% of the total plasma current required for sustained operation has been generated by transient CHI. The present understanding suggests that it may be possible to generate all of the needed current in a ST / tokamak using transient CHI. In such a scenario, one could transition directly from a CHI produced plasma to a non-inductively sustained plasma, without the difficult intermediate step that involves non-inductive current ramp-up. STs based on this new configuration would take advantage of evolving developments in high-temperature superconductor technology to develop a simpler design ST that relies primarily on CHI for plasma current generation. Motivated by the very good results from NSTX and HIT-II, we are examining the potential application of transient CHI for reactor configurations through these studies. (1) Study of the maximum levels of start-up currents that could be generated on NSTX-U, (2) application of a single biased electrode configuration on QUEST to protect the insulator from neutron damage in a CHI reactor installation, and (3) QUEST-like, but a double biased electrode configuration for PEGASUS and NSTX-U. Results from these on-going studies will be described. This work is supported by U.S. DOE Contracts: DE-AC02-09CH11466, DE-FG02-99ER54519 AM08, and DE-SC0006757.

Magnetic Recording Media Technology for the Tb/in2 Era"

ScienceCinema

Bertero, Gerardo [Western Digital

2017-12-09

Magnetic recording has been the technology of choice of massive storage of information. The hard-disk drive industry has recently undergone a major technological transition from longitudinal magnetic recording (LMR) to perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR). However, convention perpendicular recording can only support a few new product generations before facing insurmountable physical limits. In order to support sustained recording areal density growth, new technological paradigms, such as energy-assisted recording and bit-patterined media recording are being contemplated and planned. In this talk, we will briefly discuss the LMR-to-PMR transition, the extendibility of current PMR recording, and the nature and merits of new enabling technologies. We will also discuss a technology roadmap toward recording densities approaching 10 Tv/in2, approximately 40 times higher than in current disk drives.

Hybrid Electric Transit Bus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Viterna, Larry A.

1997-01-01

A government, industry, and university cooperative is developing an advanced hybrid electric city transit bus. Goals of this effort include doubling the fuel economy compared to current buses and reducing emissions to one-tenth of current EPA standards. Unique aspects of the vehicle's power system include the use of ultra-capacitors as an energy storage system, and a planned natural gas fueled turbogenerator developed from a small jet engine. Power from both the generator and energy storage system is provided to a variable speed electric motor attached to the rear axle. At over 15000 kg gross weight, this is the largest vehicle of its kind ever built using ultra-capacitor energy storage. This paper describes the overall power system architecture, the evolution of the control strategy, and its performance over industry standard drive cycles.

Lithographed Superconducting Resonator Development for Next-Generation Frequency Multiplexing Readout of Transition-Edge Sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faramarzi, F.; De Haan, T.; Kusaka, A.; Lee, A.; Neuhauser, B.; Plambeck, R.; Raum, C.; Suzuki, A.; Westbrook, B.

2018-03-01

Ground-based cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiments are undergoing a period of exponential growth. Current experiments are observing with 1000-10,000 detectors, and the next-generation experiment (CMB stage 4) is proposing to deploy approximately 500,000 detectors. This order of magnitude increase in detector count will require a new approach for readout electronics. We have developed superconducting resonators for next-generation frequency-domain multiplexing (fMUX) readout architecture. Our goal is to reduce the physical size of resonators, such that resonators and detectors can eventually be integrated on a single wafer. To reduce the size of these resonators, we have designed spiral inductors and interdigitated capacitors that resonate around 10-100 MHz, an order of magnitude higher frequency compared to current fMUX readout systems. The higher frequency leads to a wider bandwidth and would enable higher multiplexing factor than the current ˜ 50 detectors per readout channel. We will report on the simulation, fabrication method, characterization technique, and measurement of quality factor of these resonators.

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

Jensen, Brian James

There is a scientific need to obtain new data to constrain and refine next generation multi-phase equation-of-state (EOS) for metals. Experiments are needed to locate phase boundaries, determine transition kinetic times, and to obtain EOS and Hugoniot data for relevant phases. The objectives of the current work was to examine the multiphase properties for cerium including the dynamic melt boundary and the low-pressure solid-solid phase transition through the critical point. These objectives were addressed by performing plate impact experiment that used multiple experimental configuration including front-surface impact experiments to directly measure transition kinetics, multislug experiments that used the overtake methodmore » to measure sound speeds at pressure, and preheat experiments to map out phase boundaries. Preliminary data and analysis obtained for cerium will be presented.« less

Current instability and burnout of HEMT structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vashchenko, V. A.; Sinkevitch, V. F.

1996-06-01

The burnout mechanism and region of high conductivity formation under breakdown of pseudomorphic GalnAs/GaAlAs and GaAs/GaAlAs HEMT structures have been studied in a pulsed and direct current (d.c.) regime. Peculiarities of the HEMT breakdown have been compared with a GaAs MESFET structure of the same topology. It appears that in all types of investigated structures the drain voltage increase is limited by the transition into a high conductivity state as a result of "parasitic" avalanche-injection conductivity modulation of the undoped GaAs or i-GaAs layer. It has been established that the transition into a high conductivity state is caused by holes from the drain avalanche region in the channel and is the result of a mutual intensification of the avalanche generation rate near the drain and the injection level from the source contact. It turns out that under a typical gate bias operation the transition in the high conductivity state is accompanied by a negative differential conductivity (NDC) and results in the formation of high current density filaments. The resulting high local overheating in the filament region is the cause of local melting and burnout of the HEMT structures.

A β-Ta system for current induced magnetic switching in the absence of external magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Wenzhe; Qian, Lijuan; Xiao, Gang

2018-05-01

Magnetic switching via Giant Spin Hall Effect (GSHE) has received great interest for its role in developing future spintronics logic or memory devices. In this work, a new material system (i.e. a transition metal sandwiched between two ferromagnetic layers) with interlayer exchange coupling is introduced to realize the deterministic field-free perpendicular magnetic switching. This system uses β-Ta, as the GSHE agent to generate a spin current and as the interlayer exchange coupling medium to generate an internal field. The critical switching current density at zero field is on the order of 106 A/cm2 due to the large spin Hall angle of β-Ta. The internal field, along with switching efficiency, depends strongly on the orthogonal magnetization states of two ferromagnetic coupling layers in this system.

A Dry-Etch Process for Low Temperature Superconducting Transition Edge Sensors for Far Infrared Bolometer Arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, Christine A.; Chervenak, James A.; Hsieh, Wen-Ting; McClanahan, Richard A.; Miller, Timothy M.; Mitchell, Robert; Moseley, S. Harvey; Staguhn, Johannes; Stevenson, Thomas R.

2003-01-01

The next generation of ultra-low power bolometer arrays, with applications in far infrared imaging, spectroscopy and polarimetry, utilizes a superconducting bilayer as the sensing element to enable SQUID multiplexed readout. Superconducting transition edge sensors (TES s) are being produced with dual metal systems of superconductinghormal bilayers. The transition temperature (Tc) is tuned by altering the relative thickness of the superconductor with respect to the normal layer. We are currently investigating MoAu and MoCu bilayers. We have developed a dry-etching process for MoAu TES s with integrated molybdenum leads, and are working on adapting the process to MoCu. Dry etching has the advantage over wet etching in the MoAu system in that one can achieve a high degree of selectivity, greater than 10, using argon ME, or argon ion milling, for patterning gold on molybdenum. Molybdenum leads are subsequently patterned using fluorine plasma.. The dry-etch technique results in a smooth, featureless TES with sharp sidewalls, no undercutting of the Mo beneath the normal metal, and Mo leads with high critical current. The effects of individual processing parameters on the characteristics of the transition will be reported.

Impact of cool-down conditions at Tc on the superconducting rf cavity quality factor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vogt, J.-M.; Kugeler, O.; Knobloch, J.

2013-10-01

Many next-generation, high-gradient accelerator applications, from energy-recovery linacs to accelerator-driven systems (ADS) rely on continuous wave (CW) operation for which superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) systems are the enabling technology. However, while SRF cavities dissipate little power, they must be cooled by liquid helium and for many CW accelerators the complexity as well as the investment and operating costs of the cryoplant can prove to be prohibitive. We investigated ways to reduce the dynamic losses by improving the residual resistance (Rres) of niobium cavities. Both the material treatment and the magnetic shielding are known to have an impact. In addition, we found that Rres can be reduced significantly when the cool-down conditions during the superconducting phase transition of the niobium are optimized. We believe that not only do the cool-down conditions impact the level to which external magnetic flux is trapped in the cavity but also that thermoelectric currents are generated which in turn create additional flux that can be trapped. Therefore, we investigated the generation of flux and the dynamics of flux trapping and release in a simple model niobium-titanium system that mimics an SRF cavity in its helium tank. We indeed found that thermal gradients along the system during the superconducting transition can generate a thermoelectric current and magnetic flux, which subsequently can be trapped. These effects may explain the observed variation of the cavity’s Rres with cool-down conditions.

Performance Testing of the Vapor Phase Catalytic Ammonia Removal Engineering Development Unit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Flynn, Michael; Tleimat, Maher; Nalette, Tim; Quinn, Gregory

2005-01-01

This paper describes the results of performance testing of the Vapor Phase Catalytic Ammonia Removal (VPCAR) technology. The VPCAR technology is currently being developed by NASA as a Mars transit vehicle water recycling system. NASA has recently completed-a grant-to develop a next generation VPCAR system. This grant concluded with the shipment of the final deliverable to NASA on 8/31/03. This paper presents the results of mass, power, volume, and acoustic measurements for the delivered system. Product water purity analysis for a Mars transit mission and a simulated planetary base wastewater ersatz are also provided.

Insights into Parochial School Leadership from a New Generation of Leaders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Benscoter, Andy

2015-01-01

The purpose of this qualitative study was to gather insights from current parochial school administrators who experience the day-to-day operations and expectations of the position. The role of the parochial principal has transitioned over the past decades to be a position requiring a variety of skills and abilities. Data collection occurred…

Dynamical Generation of the Transition Zone in the Earth's Mantle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hansen, U.; Stemmer, K.

2005-12-01

The internal structure of the Earth is made up by a series of layers, though it is unclear how many layers exist and if there are layers invisible to remote sensing techniques. The transition zone is likely to be a boundary layer separating the convective systems in the lower and upper mantle. It seems likely that currently there is some mass exchange across this boundary, rather than the two systems beeing strictly separated.a Double-diffusive convection(d.d.c) is a vital mechanism which can generate layered structure and may thus be an important mmical machinery behind the formation of the transition zone. Double-diffusive convection determines the dynamics of systems whose density is influenced by at least two components with different molecular diffusivities.In the mantle, composition and temperature play the role of those two components. By means of numerical experiments we demonstrate that under mantle relevant conditions d.d.c typically leads to the formation of a transition zone. The calculations encompass two- and three dimensional Cartesian geometries as well as fully 3D spherical domains. We have further included strongly temperature dependent viscosity and find that this leads to even more pronounced layering. In most cases a layered flow pattern emerges, where two layers with a transition zone in between resembles a quasistationary state. Thus, the transition zone can be the result of a self organization process of the convective flow in the mantle. The presence of a phase transition further helps to stabilize the boundary against overturning, even on a time scale on the order of the age of the Earth.

Energy Switching Threshold for Climatic Benefits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, X.; Cao, L.; Caldeira, K.

2013-12-01

Climate change is one of the great challenges facing humanity currently and in the future. Its most severe impacts may still be avoided if efforts are made to transform current energy systems (1). A transition from the global system of high Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission electricity generation to low GHG emission energy technologies is required to mitigate climate change (2). Natural gas is increasingly seen as a choice for transitions to renewable sources. However, recent researches in energy and climate puzzled about the climate implications of relying more energy on natural gas. On one hand, a shift to natural gas is promoted as climate mitigation because it has lower carbon per unit energy than coal (3). On the other hand, the effect of switching to natural gas on nuclear-power and other renewable energies development may offset benefits from fuel-switching (4). Cheap natural gas is causing both coal plants and nuclear plants to close in the US. The objective of this study is to measure and evaluate the threshold of energy switching for climatic benefits. We hypothesized that the threshold ratio of energy switching for climatic benefits is related to GHGs emission factors of energy technologies, but the relation is not linear. A model was developed to study the fuel switching threshold for greenhouse gas emission reduction, and transition from coal and nuclear electricity generation to natural gas electricity generation was analyzed as a case study. The results showed that: (i) the threshold ratio of multi-energy switching for climatic benefits changes with GHGs emission factors of energy technologies. (ii)The mathematical relation between the threshold ratio of energy switching and GHGs emission factors of energies is a curved surface function. (iii) The analysis of energy switching threshold for climatic benefits can be used for energy and climate policy decision support.

Dynamic Response of a Magnetized Plasma to AN External Source: Application to Space and Solid State Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Huai-Bei

This dissertation examines the dynamic response of a magnetoplasma to an external time-dependent current source. To achieve this goal a new method which combines analytic and numerical techniques to study the dynamic response of a 3-D magnetoplasma to a time-dependent current source imposed across the magnetic field was developed. The set of the cold electron and/or ion plasma equations and Maxwell's equations are first solved analytically in (k, omega)^ace; inverse Laplace and 3 -D complex Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) techniques are subsequently used to numerically transform the radiation fields and plasma currents from the (k, omega) ^ace to the (r, t) space. The dynamic responses of the electron plasma and of the compensated two-component plasma to external current sources are studied separately. The results show that the electron plasma responds to a time -varying current source imposed across the magnetic field by exciting whistler/helicon waves and forming of an expanding local current loop, induced by field aligned plasma currents. The current loop consists of two anti-parallel field-aligned current channels concentrated at the ends of the imposed current and a cross-field current region connecting these channels. The latter is driven by an electron Hall drift. A compensated two-component plasma responds to the same current source as following: (a) For slow time scales tau > Omega_sp{i}{-1} , it generates Alfven waves and forms a non-local current loop in which the ion polarization currents dominate the cross-field current; (b) For fast time scales tau < Omega_sp{i}{-1} , the dynamic response of the compensated two-component plasma is the same as that of the electron plasma. The characteristics of the current closure region are determined by the background plasma density, the magnetic field and the time scale of the current source. This study has applications to a diverse range of space and solid state plasma problems. These problems include current closure in emf inducing tethered satellite systems (TSS), generation of ELF/VLF waves by ionospheric heating, current closure and quasineutrality in thin magnetopause transitions, and short electromagnetic pulse generation in solid state plasmas. The cross-field current in TSS builds up on a time scale corresponding to the whistler waves and results in local current closure. Amplitude modulated HF ionospheric heating generates ELF/VLF waves by forming a horizontal magnetic dipole. The dipole is formed by the current closure in the modified region. For thin transition the time-dependent cross-field polarization field at the magnetopause could be neutralized by the formation of field aligned current loops that close by a cross-field electron Hall current. A moving current source in a solid state plasma results in microwave emission if the speed of the source exceeds the local phase velocity of the helicon or Alfven waves. Detailed analysis of the above problems is presented in the thesis.

Evaluating transition-metal catalysis in gas generation from the Permian Kupferschiefer by hydrous pyrolysis

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lewan, M.D.; Kotarba, M.J.; Wieclaw, D.; Piestrzynski, A.

2008-01-01

Transition metals in source rocks have been advocated as catalysts in determining extent, composition, and timing of natural gas generation (Mango, F. D. (1996) Transition metal catalysis in the generation of natural gas. Org. Geochem.24, 977–984). This controversial hypothesis may have important implications concerning gas generation in unconventional shale-gas accumulations. Although experiments have been conducted to test the metal-catalysis hypothesis, their approach and results remain equivocal in evaluating natural assemblages of transition metals and organic matter in shale. The Permian Kupferschiefer of Poland offers an excellent opportunity to test the hypothesis with immature to marginally mature shale rich in both transition metals and organic matter. Twelve subsurface samples containing similar Type-II kerogen with different amounts and types of transition metals were subjected to hydrous pyrolysis at 330° and 355 °C for 72 h. The gases generated in these experiments were quantitatively collected and analyzed for molecular composition and stable isotopes. Expelled immiscible oils, reacted waters, and spent rock were also quantitatively collected. The results show that transition metals have no effect on methane yields or enrichment. δ13C values of generated methane, ethane, propane and butanes show no systematic changes with increasing transition metals. The potential for transition metals to enhance gas generation and oil cracking was examined by looking at the ratio of the generated hydrocarbon gases to generated expelled immiscible oil (i.e., GOR), which showed no systematic change with increasing transition metals. Assuming maximum yields at 355 °C for 72 h and first-order reaction rates, pseudo-rate constants for methane generation at 330 °C were calculated. These rate constants showed no increase with increasing transition metals. The lack of a significant catalytic effect of transition metals on the extent, composition, and timing of natural gas generation in these experiments is attributed to the metals not occurring in the proper form or the poisoning of potential catalytic microcosms by polar-rich bitumen, which impregnates the rock matrix during the early stages of petroleum formation.

Antimicrobial activity of transition metal acid MoO(3) prevents microbial growth on material surfaces.

PubMed

Zollfrank, Cordt; Gutbrod, Kai; Wechsler, Peter; Guggenbichler, Josef Peter

2012-01-01

Serious infectious complications of patients in healthcare settings are often transmitted by materials and devices colonised by microorganisms (nosocomial infections). Current strategies to generate material surfaces with an antimicrobial activity suffer from the consumption of the antimicrobial agent and emerging multidrug-resistant pathogens amongst others. Consequently, materials surfaces exhibiting a permanent antimicrobial activity without the risk of generating resistant microorganisms are desirable. This publication reports on the extraordinary efficient antimicrobial properties of transition metal acids such as molybdic acid (H(2)MoO(4)), which is based on molybdenum trioxide (MoO(3)). The modification of various materials (e.g. polymers, metals) with MoO(3) particles or sol-gel derived coatings showed that the modified materials surfaces were practically free of microorganisms six hours after contamination with infectious agents. The antimicrobial activity is based on the formation of an acidic surface deteriorating cell growth and proliferation. The application of transition metal acids as antimicrobial surface agents is an innovative approach to prevent the dissemination of microorganisms in healthcare units and public environments. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

From bedside to classroom: the nurse educator transition model.

PubMed

Schoening, Anne M

2013-01-01

The purpose of this qualitative study was to generate a theoretical model that describes the social process that occurs during the role transition from nurse to nurse educator. Recruitment and retention of qualified nurse educators is essential in order to remedy the current staff nurse and faculty shortage in the United States, yet nursing schools face many challenges in this area. This grounded theory study utilized purposive, theoretical sampling to identify 20 nurse educators teaching in baccalaureate nursing programs in the Midwest. The Nurse Educator Transition (NET) model was created from these data.This model identifies four phases in the role transition from nurse to nurse educator: a) the Anticipatory/Expectation Phase, b) the Disorientation Phase, c) the Information-Seeking Phase, and d) the Identity Formation Phase. Recommendations include integrating formal pedagogical education into nursing graduate programs and creating evidence-based orientation and mentoring programs for novice nurse faculty.

Resolving discrete pulsar spin-down states with current and future instrumentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaw, B.; Stappers, B. W.; Weltevrede, P.

2018-04-01

An understanding of pulsar timing noise offers the potential to improve the timing precision of a large number of pulsars as well as facilitating our understanding of pulsar magnetospheres. For some sources, timing noise is attributable to a pulsar switching between two different spin-down rates (\\dot{ν }). Such transitions may be common but difficult to resolve using current techniques. In this work, we use simulations of \\dot{ν }-variable pulsars to investigate the likelihood of resolving individual \\dot{ν } transitions. We inject step changes in the value of \\dot{ν } with a wide range of amplitudes and switching time-scales. We then attempt to redetect these transitions using standard pulsar timing techniques. The pulse arrival-time precision and the observing cadence are varied. Limits on \\dot{ν } detectability based on the effects such transitions have on the timing residuals are derived. With the typical cadences and timing precision of current timing programmes, we find that we are insensitive to a large region of Δ \\dot{ν } parameter space that encompasses small, short time-scale switches. We find, where the rotation and emission states are correlated, that using changes to the pulse shape to estimate \\dot{ν } transition epochs can improve detectability in certain scenarios. The effects of cadence on Δ \\dot{ν } detectability are discussed, and we make comparisons with a known population of intermittent and mode-switching pulsars. We conclude that for short time-scale, small switches, cadence should not be compromised when new generations of ultra-sensitive radio telescopes are online.

COMPARISON OF CLEAN DIESEL BUSES TO CNG BUSES

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

Lowell, D.; Parsley, W.; Bush,C

2003-08-24

Using previously published data on regulated and unregulated emissions, this paper will compare the environmental performance of current generation transit buses operated on compressed natural gas (CNG) to current generation transit buses operated on ultra low sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD) and incorporating diesel particulate filters (DPF). Unregulated emissions evaluated include toxic compounds associated with adverse health effects (carbonyl, PAH, NPAH, benzene) as well as PM particle count and size distribution. For all regulated and unregulated emissions, both technologies are shown to be comparable. DPF equipped diesel buses and CNG buses have virtually identical levels of PM mass emissions and particlemore » number emissions. DPF-equipped diesel buses have lower HC and CO emissions and lower emissions of toxic substances such as benzene, carbonyls and PAHs than CNG buses. CNG buses have lower NOx emissions than DPF-equipped buses, though CNG bus NOx emissions are shown to be much more variable. In addition, this paper will compare the capital and operating costs of CNG and DPF-equipped buses. The cost comparison is primarily based on the experience of MTA New York City Transit in operating CNG buses since 1995 and DPF-equipped buses fueled with ULSD since 2001. Published data on the experience of other large transit agencies in operating CNG buses is used to validate the NYCT experience. The incremental cost (compared to ''baseline'' diesel) of operating a typical 200-bus depot is shown to be six times higher for CNG buses than for ''clean diesel'' buses. The contributors to this increased cost for CNG buses are almost equally split between increased capital costs for purchase of buses and installation of fueling infrastructure, and increased operating costs for purchase of fuel, bus maintenance, and fuel station maintenance.« less

Fluctuating hydrodynamics, current fluctuations, and hyperuniformity in boundary-driven open quantum chains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carollo, Federico; Garrahan, Juan P.; Lesanovsky, Igor; Pérez-Espigares, Carlos

2017-11-01

We consider a class of either fermionic or bosonic noninteracting open quantum chains driven by dissipative interactions at the boundaries and study the interplay of coherent transport and dissipative processes, such as bulk dephasing and diffusion. Starting from the microscopic formulation, we show that the dynamics on large scales can be described in terms of fluctuating hydrodynamics. This is an important simplification as it allows us to apply the methods of macroscopic fluctuation theory to compute the large deviation (LD) statistics of time-integrated currents. In particular, this permits us to show that fermionic open chains display a third-order dynamical phase transition in LD functions. We show that this transition is manifested in a singular change in the structure of trajectories: while typical trajectories are diffusive, rare trajectories associated with atypical currents are ballistic and hyperuniform in their spatial structure. We confirm these results by numerically simulating ensembles of rare trajectories via the cloning method, and by exact numerical diagonalization of the microscopic quantum generator.

Fluctuating hydrodynamics, current fluctuations, and hyperuniformity in boundary-driven open quantum chains.

PubMed

Carollo, Federico; Garrahan, Juan P; Lesanovsky, Igor; Pérez-Espigares, Carlos

2017-11-01

We consider a class of either fermionic or bosonic noninteracting open quantum chains driven by dissipative interactions at the boundaries and study the interplay of coherent transport and dissipative processes, such as bulk dephasing and diffusion. Starting from the microscopic formulation, we show that the dynamics on large scales can be described in terms of fluctuating hydrodynamics. This is an important simplification as it allows us to apply the methods of macroscopic fluctuation theory to compute the large deviation (LD) statistics of time-integrated currents. In particular, this permits us to show that fermionic open chains display a third-order dynamical phase transition in LD functions. We show that this transition is manifested in a singular change in the structure of trajectories: while typical trajectories are diffusive, rare trajectories associated with atypical currents are ballistic and hyperuniform in their spatial structure. We confirm these results by numerically simulating ensembles of rare trajectories via the cloning method, and by exact numerical diagonalization of the microscopic quantum generator.

Alternative laser system for cesium magneto-optical trap via optical injection locking to sideband of a 9-GHz current-modulated diode laser.

PubMed

Diao, Wenting; He, Jun; Liu, Zhi; Yang, Baodong; Wang, Junmin

2012-03-26

By optical injection of an 852-nm extended-cavity diode laser (master laser) to lock the + 1-order sideband of a ~9-GHz-current-modulated diode laser (slave laser), we generate a pair of phase-locked lasers with a frequency difference up to ~9-GHz for a cesium (Cs) magneto-optical trap (MOT) with convenient tuning capability. For a cesium MOT, the master laser acts as repumping laser, locked to the Cs 6S₁/₂ (F = 3) - 6P₃/₂ (F' = 4) transition. When the + 1-order sideband of the 8.9536-GHz-current-modulated slave laser is optically injection-locked, the carrier operates on the Cs 6S₁/₂ (F = 4) - 6P₃/₂ (F' = 5) cooling cycle transition with -12 MHz detuning and acts as cooling/trapping laser. When carrying a 9.1926-GHz modulation signal, this phase-locked laser system can be applied in the fields of coherent population trapping and coherent manipulation of Cs atomic ground states.

Electrical Tuning of Valley-Polarized Circular Photogalvanic Current in a Monolayer Transition Metal Dichalcogenide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Lei; Lenferink, Erik J.; Stanev, Teodor K.; Stern, Nathaniel P.; Wei, Guohua

In a monolayer transition metal dichalcogenide that lacks structural inversion symmetry, the valley contrasting properties, particularly the magnetic moment and Berry curvature, offer the possibility to create a population imbalance between the two valleys simply with an external optical field. With the circular photogalvanic effect, the generation of the spin-valley-coupled photocurrent has been demonstrated in chalcogenides. Continuously tuning the valley-polarized current so far has remained largely unexplored in monolayer devices. Here we show the voltage-tunable photocurrent polarization can be achieved in monolayer MoS2 where electric field facilitates the disassociation of excitons and the carrier drift. Gating that modulates the contact barrier and carrier density can switch the monolayer photocurrent polarization on and off with a large valley-polarized current on-off ratio greater than 103. The efficient electrical tuning of valley-polarized photocurrent opens new possibilities for exploiting polarized currents in monolayer semiconductor devices. This work is supported by the National Science Foundation MRSEC program (DMR-1121262) and the U.S. Department of Energy (BES DE-SC0012130). N.P.S. is an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow.

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

Xiao, Heng; Gustafson, William I.; Wang, Hailong

Subgrid-scale interactions between turbulence and radiation are potentially important for accurately reproducing marine low clouds in climate models. To better understand the impact of these interactions, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is configured for large eddy simulation (LES) to study the stratocumulus-to-trade cumulus (Sc-to-Cu) transition. Using the GEWEX Atmospheric System Studies (GASS) composite Lagrangian transition case and the Atlantic Trade Wind Experiment (ATEX) case, it is shown that the lack of subgrid-scale turbulence-radiation interaction, as is the case in current generation climate models, accelerates the Sc-to-Cu transition. Our analysis suggests that in cloud-topped boundary layers subgrid-scale turbulence-radiation interactionsmore » contribute to stronger production of temperature variance, which in turn leads to stronger buoyancy production of turbulent kinetic energy and helps to maintain the Sc cover.« less

Leading the Transition from the Alternate Assessment Based on Modified Achievement Standards to the General Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lazarus, Sheryl S.; Rieke, Rebekah

2013-01-01

Schools are facing many changes in the ways that teaching, learning, and assessment take place. Most states are moving from individual state standards to the new Common Core State Standards, which will be fewer, higher, and more rigorous than most current state standards. As the next generation of assessments used for accountability are rolled…

Magnetic properties of four dimensional fermions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergman, Oren; Lifschytz, Gilad; Lippert, Matthew

2013-12-01

We investigate the Sakai-Sugimoto model at nonzero baryon chemical potential in a background magnetic field in the chiral symmetric phase. We find that a new form of baryonic matter shows up, and we investigate its properties. We find a generated axial current, a reduction in the amount of charge participating in dissipative interactions and a metamagnetic like phase transition at low temperature.

Revisiting the Corrosion of the Aluminum Current Collector in Lithium-Ion Batteries

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

Ma, Tianyuan; Xu, Gui-Liang; Li, Yan

The corrosion of aluminum current collectors and the oxidation of solvents at a relatively high potential have been widely investigated with an aim to stabilize the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries using such components. The corrosion behavior of aluminum current collectors was revisited using a home-build high-precision electrochemical measurement system, and the impact of electrolyte components and the surface protection layer on aluminum foil was systematically studied. The electrochemical results showed that the corrosion of aluminum foil was triggered by the electrochemical oxidation of solvent molecules, like ethylene carbonate, at a relative high potential. The organic radical cations generated frommore » the electrochemical oxidation are energetically unstable, and readily undergo a deprotonation reaction that generates protons and promote the dissolution of Al3+ from the aluminum foil. This new reaction mechanism can also shed light on the dissolution of transitional metal at high potentials.« less

Revisiting the Corrosion of the Aluminum Current Collector in Lithium-Ion Batteries

DOE PAGES

Ma, Tianyuan; Xu, Gui -Liang; Li, Yan; ...

2017-02-16

The corrosion of aluminum current collectors and the oxidation of solvents at a relatively high potential have been widely investigated with an aim to stabilize the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries using such components. The corrosion behavior of aluminum current collectors was revisited using a home-build high-precision electrochemical measurement system, and the impact of electrolyte components and the surface protection layer on aluminum foil was systematically studied. The electrochemical results showed that the corrosion of aluminum foil was triggered by the electrochemical oxidation of solvent molecules, like ethylene carbonate, at a relative high potential. The organic radical cations generated frommore » the electrochemical oxidation are energetically unstable, and readily undergo a deprotonation reaction that generates protons and promote the dissolution of Al 3+ from the aluminum foil. Finally, this new reaction mechanism can also shed light on the dissolution of transitional metal at high potentials.« less

Revisiting the Corrosion of the Aluminum Current Collector in Lithium-Ion Batteries.

PubMed

Ma, Tianyuan; Xu, Gui-Liang; Li, Yan; Wang, Li; He, Xiangming; Zheng, Jianming; Liu, Jun; Engelhard, Mark H; Zapol, Peter; Curtiss, Larry A; Jorne, Jacob; Amine, Khalil; Chen, Zonghai

2017-03-02

The corrosion of aluminum current collectors and the oxidation of solvents at a relatively high potential have been widely investigated with an aim to stabilize the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries using such components. The corrosion behavior of aluminum current collectors was revisited using a home-build high-precision electrochemical measurement system, and the impact of electrolyte components and the surface protection layer on aluminum foil was systematically studied. The electrochemical results showed that the corrosion of aluminum foil was triggered by the electrochemical oxidation of solvent molecules, like ethylene carbonate, at a relative high potential. The organic radical cations generated from the electrochemical oxidation are energetically unstable and readily undergo a deprotonation reaction that generates protons and promotes the dissolution of Al 3+ from the aluminum foil. This new reaction mechanism can also shed light on the dissolution of transitional metal at high potentials.

Production of atmospheric-pressure glow discharge in nitrogen using needle-array electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takaki, K.; Hosokawa, M.; Sasaki, T.; Mukaigawa, S.; Fujiwara, T.

2005-04-01

An atmospheric pressure glow discharge was generated using a needle-array electrode in nitrogen, and the voltage-current characteristics of the glow discharge were obtained in a range from 1 mA to 60 A. A pulsed high voltage with short rise time under 10 ns was employed to generate streamer discharges simultaneously at all needle tips. The large number of streamer discharges prevented the glow-to-arc transition caused by inhomogeneous thermalization. Semiconductor opening switch diodes were employed as an opening switch to shorten the rise time. The glow voltage was almost constant until the discharge current became 0.3 A, whereas the voltage increased with the current higher than 0.3 A. Electron density and temperature in a positive column of the glow discharge at 60 A were obtained to 1.4×1012cm-3 and 1.3 eV from calculation based on nitrogen swarm data.

Revisiting the Corrosion of the Aluminum Current Collector in Lithium-Ion Batteries

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

Ma, Tianyuan; Xu, Gui -Liang; Li, Yan

The corrosion of aluminum current collectors and the oxidation of solvents at a relatively high potential have been widely investigated with an aim to stabilize the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries using such components. The corrosion behavior of aluminum current collectors was revisited using a home-build high-precision electrochemical measurement system, and the impact of electrolyte components and the surface protection layer on aluminum foil was systematically studied. The electrochemical results showed that the corrosion of aluminum foil was triggered by the electrochemical oxidation of solvent molecules, like ethylene carbonate, at a relative high potential. The organic radical cations generated frommore » the electrochemical oxidation are energetically unstable, and readily undergo a deprotonation reaction that generates protons and promote the dissolution of Al 3+ from the aluminum foil. Finally, this new reaction mechanism can also shed light on the dissolution of transitional metal at high potentials.« less

Interaction-induced conducting-non-conducting transition of ultra-cold atoms in one-dimensional optical lattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chien, Chih-Chun; Gruss, Daniel; Di Ventra, Massimiliano; Zwolak, Michael

2013-06-01

The study of time-dependent, many-body transport phenomena is increasingly within reach of ultra-cold atom experiments. We show that the introduction of spatially inhomogeneous interactions, e.g., generated by optically controlled collisions, induce negative differential conductance in the transport of atoms in one-dimensional optical lattices. Specifically, we simulate the dynamics of interacting fermionic atoms via a micro-canonical transport formalism within both a mean-field and a higher-order approximation, as well as with a time-dependent density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG). For weakly repulsive interactions, a quasi-steady-state atomic current develops that is similar to the situation occurring for electronic systems subject to an external voltage bias. At the mean-field level, we find that this atomic current is robust against the details of how the interaction is switched on. Further, a conducting-non-conducting transition exists when the interaction imbalance exceeds some threshold from both our approximate and time-dependent DMRG simulations. This transition is preceded by the atomic equivalent of negative differential conductivity observed in transport across solid-state structures.

Space Weather Monitoring for ISS Space Environments Engineering and Crew Auroral Observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Minow, Joseph I.; Pettit, Donald R.; Hartman, William A.

2012-01-01

The awareness of potentially significant impacts of space weather on spaceand ground ]based technological systems has generated a strong desire in many sectors of government and industry to effectively transform knowledge and understanding of the variable space environment into useful tools and applications for use by those entities responsible for systems that may be vulnerable to space weather impacts. Essentially, effectively transitioning science knowledge to useful applications relevant to space weather has become important. This talk will present proven methodologies that have been demonstrated to be effective, and how in the current environment those can be applied to space weather transition efforts.

Breakover mechanism of GaAs photoconductive switch triggering spark gap for high power applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Liqiang; Shi, Wei; Feng, Qingqing

2011-11-01

A spark gap (SG) triggered by a semi-insulating GaAs photoconductive semiconductor switch (PCSS) is presented. Currents as high as 5.6 kA have been generated using the combined switch, which is excited by a laser pulse with energy of 1.8 mJ and under a bias of 4 kV. Based on the transferred-electron effect and gas streamer theory, the breakover characteristics of the combined switch are analyzed. The photoexcited carrier density in the PCSS is calculated. The calculation and analysis indicate that the PCSS breakover is caused by nucleation of the photoactivated avalanching charge domain. It is shown that the high output current is generated by the discharge of a high-energy gas streamer induced by the strong local electric field distortion or by overvoltage of the SG resulting from quenching of the avalanching domain, and periodic oscillation of the current is caused by interaction between the gas streamer and the charge domain. The cycle of the current oscillation is determined by the rise time of the triggering electric pulse generated by the PCSS, the pulse transmission time between the PCSS and the SG, and the streamer transit time in the SG.

Design and building of new spin polarized Positron Annihilation Induced Auger Electron Spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Zheng Hui; Mishler, Michael; Joglekar, Prasad; Shastry, Karthik; Koymen, Ali; Sharma, Suresh; Weiss, Alexander

2014-03-01

We propose to develop a next generation high flux variable energy spin-polarized position beam facility for materials studies. This new system will have a higher efficiency than our current system, and it will also be the first in the world to combine spin polarization with a time of flight Positron Annihilation induced Auger Electron Spectroscopy (PAES). The spin polarized positrons are electromagnetically guided towards the sample with an axial magnetic field and perpendicular electric fields. These incident positrons get annihilated at the surface of the sample creating two gamma rays and auger electrons via Auger transitions. These signals are useful in characterizing material surface, surface magnetization, and energy sharing in valence band. This new spectrometer, which is currently under construction, will be a next generation positron system. NSF.

The Evaluation of Two CDU Concepts and Their Effects on FMS Training

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abbott, Terence S.

1995-01-01

One of the biggest challenges for a pilot in the transition to a "glass" cockpit is understanding the Flight Management System (FMS). This is due to both the complex nature of the FMS and to the pilot-FMS interface. For these reasons, a large portion of transition training is devoted to the FMS. The intent of the current study was to examine the impact of the primary pilot-FMS interface, the Control Display Unit (CDU), on FMS training. The hypothesis of this study was that the interface design could have a significant impact on training. An FMS simulation was developed with two separate interfaces. One interface was similar to a current-generation design and the other was a multi-windows CDU based on graphical user interface techniques. For both application and evaluation reasons, constraints were applied to the graphical CDU design to maintain as much similarity as possible with the conventional CDU.

Nonlinear optical effects of opening a gap in graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carvalho, David N.; Biancalana, Fabio; Marini, Andrea

2018-05-01

Graphene possesses remarkable electronic, optical, and mechanical properties that have taken the research of two-dimensional relativistic condensed matter systems to prolific levels. However, the understanding of how its nonlinear optical properties are affected by relativisticlike effects has been broadly uncharted. It has been recently shown that highly nontrivial currents can be generated in free-standing samples, notably leading to the generation of even harmonics. Since graphene monolayers are centrosymmetric media, for which such harmonic generation at normal incidence is deemed inaccessible, this light-driven phenomenon is both startling and promising. More realistically, graphene samples are often deposited on a dielectric substrate, leading to additional intricate interactions. Here, we present a treatment to study this instance by gapping the spectrum and we show this leads to the appearance of a Berry phase in the carrier dynamics. We analyze the role of such a phase in the generated nonlinear current and conclude that it suppresses odd-harmonic generation. The pump energy can be tuned to the energy gap to yield interference among odd harmonics mediated by interband transitions, allowing even harmonics to be generated. Our results and general methodology pave the way for understanding the role of gap opening in the nonlinear optics of two-dimensional lattices.

Preparing At-Risk Youth for a Changing World: Revisiting a Person-in-Context Model for Transition to Employment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DeLuca, Christopher; Godden, Lorraine; Hutchinson, Nancy L.; Versnel, Joan

2015-01-01

Background: The current global cohort of youth has been called "a generation at-risk", marked by a dramatic rise in youth who are not in employment, education or training programmes. In 2010, youth were three times as likely as adults to be unemployed, with youth unemployment worsening in 2012 and 2013. Accordingly, there is an urgent…

Pure spin current manipulation in antiferromagnetically exchange coupled heterostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avilés-Félix, L.; Butera, A.; González-Chávez, D. E.; Sommer, R. L.; Gómez, J. E.

2018-03-01

We present a model to describe the spin currents generated by ferromagnet/spacer/ferromagnet exchange coupled trilayer systems and heavy metal layers with strong spin-orbit coupling. By exploiting the magnitude of the exchange coupling (oscillatory RKKY-like coupling) and the spin-flop transition in the magnetization process, it has been possible to produce spin currents polarized in arbitrary directions. The spin-flop transition of the trilayer system originates pure spin currents whose polarization vector depends on the exchange field and the magnetization equilibrium angles. We also discuss a protocol to control the polarization sign of the pure spin current injected into the metallic layer by changing the initial conditions of magnetization of the ferromagnetic layers previously to the spin pumping and inverse spin Hall effect experiments. The small differences in the ferromagnetic layers lead to a change in the magnetization vector rotation that permits the control of the sign of the induced voltage components due to the inverse spin Hall effect. Our results can lead to important advances in hybrid spintronic devices with new functionalities, particularly, the ability to control microscopic parameters such as the polarization direction and the sign of the pure spin current through the variation of macroscopic parameters, such as the external magnetic field or the thickness of the spacer in antiferromagnetic exchange coupled systems.

An Overview of NASA SPoRT GOES-R JPSS Proving Ground Testbed Activities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berndt, Emily; Stano, Geoffrey; Fuell, Kevin; Leroy, Anita; Mcgrath, Kevin; Molthan, Andrew; Schultz, Lori; Smith, Matthew; White, Kris; Schultz, Christopher;

High-performance ferroelectric and magnetoresistive materials for next-generation thermal detector arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Todd, Michael A.; Donohue, Paul P.; Watton, Rex; Williams, Dennis J.; Anthony, Carl J.; Blamire, Mark G.

2002-12-01

This paper discusses the potential thermal imaging performance achievable from thermal detector arrays and concludes that the current generation of thin-film ferroelectric and resistance bolometer based detector arrays are limited by the detector materials used. It is proposed that the next generation of large uncooled focal plane arrays will need to look towards higher performance detector materials - particularly if they aim to approach the fundamental performance limits and compete with cooled photon detector arrays. Two examples of bolometer thin-film materials are described that achieve high performance from operating around phase transitions. The material Lead Scandium Tantalate (PST) has a paraelectric-to-ferroelectric phase transition around room temperature and is used with an applied field in the dielectric bolometer mode for thermal imaging. PST films grown by sputtering and liquid-source CVD have shown merit figures for thermal imaging a factor of 2 to 3 times higher than PZT-based pyroelectric thin films. The material Lanthanum Calcium Manganite (LCMO) has a paramagnetic to ferromagnetic phase transition around -20oC. This paper describes recent measurements of TCR and 1/f noise in pulsed laser-deposited LCMO films on Neodymium Gallate substrates. These results show that LCMO not only has high TCR's - up to 30%/K - but also low 1/f excess noise, with bolometer merit figures at least an order of magnitude higher than Vanadium Oxide, making it ideal for the next generation of microbolometer arrays. These high performance properties come at the expense of processing complexities and novel device designs will need to be introduced to realize the potential of these materials in the next generation of thermal detectors.

Numerical simulations of current generation and dynamo excitation in a mechanically forced turbulent flow.

PubMed

Bayliss, R A; Forest, C B; Nornberg, M D; Spence, E J; Terry, P W

2007-02-01

The role of turbulence in current generation and self-excitation of magnetic fields has been studied in the geometry of a mechanically driven, spherical dynamo experiment, using a three-dimensional numerical computation. A simple impeller model drives a flow that can generate a growing magnetic field, depending on the magnetic Reynolds number Rm=micro0sigmaVa and the fluid Reynolds number Re=Vanu of the flow. For Re<420, the flow is laminar and the dynamo transition is governed by a threshold of Rmcrit=100, above which a growing magnetic eigenmode is observed that is primarily a dipole field transverse to the axis of symmetry of the flow. In saturation, the Lorentz force slows the flow such that the magnetic eigenmode becomes marginally stable. For Re>420 and Rm approximately 100 the flow becomes turbulent and the dynamo eigenmode is suppressed. The mechanism of suppression is a combination of a time varying large-scale field and the presence of fluctuation driven currents (such as those predicted by the mean-field theory), which effectively enhance the magnetic diffusivity. For higher Rm, a dynamo reappears; however, the structure of the magnetic field is often different from the laminar dynamo. It is dominated by a dipolar magnetic field aligned with the axis of symmetry of the mean-flow, which is apparently generated by fluctuation-driven currents. The magnitude and structure of the fluctuation-driven currents have been studied by applying a weak, axisymmetric seed magnetic field to laminar and turbulent flows. An Ohm's law analysis of the axisymmetric currents allows the fluctuation-driven currents to be identified. The magnetic fields generated by the fluctuations are significant: a dipole moment aligned with the symmetry axis of the mean-flow is generated similar to those observed in the experiment, and both toroidal and poloidal flux expulsion are observed.

A photometric search for transiting planets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baliber, Nairn Reese

In the decade since the discovery of the first planet orbiting a main-sequence star other than the Sun, more than 160 planets have been detected in orbit around other stars, most of them discovered by measuring the velocity of the reflexive motion of their parent stars caused by the gravitational pull of the planets. These discoveries produced a population of planets much different to the ones in our Solar System and created interest in other methods to detect these planets. One such method is searching for transits, the slight photometric dimming of stars caused by a close-orbiting, Jupiter-sized planet passing between a star and our line of sight once per orbit. We report results from TeMPEST, the Texas, McDonald Photometric Extrasolar Search for Transits, a transit survey conducted with the McDonald Observatory 0.76 m Prime Focus Corrector (PFC). We monitored five fields of stars in the plane of the Milky Way over the course of two and a half years. We created a photometry pipeline to perform high-precision differential photometry on all of the images, and used a software detection algorithm to detect transit signals in the light curves. Although no transits were found, we calculated our detection probability by determining the fraction of the stars monitored by TeMPEST which were suitable to show transits, measuring the probability of detecting transit signals based on the temporal coverage of our fields, and measuring our detection efficiency by inserting false transits into TeMPEST data to see what fraction could be recovered by our automatic detection software. We conclude that in our entire data set, we generated an effective sample of 2660 stars, a sample in which if any star is showing a transit, it would have been detected. We found no convincing transits in our data, but current statistics from radial velocity surveys indicate that only one in about 1300 of these stars should be showing transits. These numbers are consistent with the lack of transits produced by TeMPEST and the small number of transits generated by other surveys. We therefore discuss methods by which a transit survey's effective sample may be increased to make such surveys productive in a reasonable amount of time.

Origin of the U(1) field mass in superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koizumi, Hiroyasu

2017-05-01

Recently, a new theory for superconductivity has been put forward, in which the persistent current generation is attributed to the emergent singularities of the electronic wave function that are created by the spin-twisting itinerant circular motion of electrons. The persistent current generated by this mechanism behaves in every respect like supercurrent in superconductors, yielding the flux quantum h/2e and the Josephson frequency 2eV/h, where h is Planck’s constant, -e is the electron charge, and V is the voltage across the Josephson junction. The mass generation of the U(1) gauge field (or the Meissner effect) in the new theory is due to the emergence of topological objects, ‘instantons’ generated by the single-valued requirement of the wave function in the presence of the emergent singularities. The current standard theory of superconductivity is based on the BCS theory, and explains the emergence of superconductivity as due to the global U(1) gauge symmetry breaking realized by the Cooper pair formation. The U(1) field mass generation is believed to be due to this global U(1) gauge symmetry breaking. However, the feasibility of this mechanism has been questioned since no known interaction can prepare the global U(1) symmetry broken state from the normal state. We argue here that the U(1) mass generation in the BCS superconductor can be attributed to the one by the instanton mentioned above if the Rashba spin-orbit interaction is added. Then, the occurrence of persistent current generation becomes due to the instanton formation, and the role of the Cooper pair formation is to stabilize the instanton by providing an energy gap for perturbative excitations. Upon forming the Cooper pair, the instanton is stabilized and persistent current generation becomes possible. Thus, the superconducting transition temperature coincides with the Cooper pair formation temperature.

Photoinduced topological phase transition and spin polarization in a two-dimensional topological insulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, M. N.; Su, W.; Deng, M. X.; Ruan, Jiawei; Luo, W.; Shao, D. X.; Sheng, L.; Xing, D. Y.

2016-11-01

A great deal of attention has been paid to the topological phases engineered by photonics over the past few years. Here, we propose a topological quantum phase transition to a quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) phase induced by off-resonant circularly polarized light in a two-dimensional system that is initially in a quantum spin Hall phase or a trivial insulator phase. This provides an alternative method to realize the QAH effect, other than magnetic doping. The circularly polarized light effectively creates a Zeeman exchange field and a renormalized Dirac mass, which are tunable by varying the intensity of the light and drive the quantum phase transition. Both the transverse and longitudinal Hall conductivities are studied, and the former is consistent with the topological phase transition when the Fermi level lies in the band gap. A highly controllable spin-polarized longitudinal electrical current can be generated when the Fermi level is in the conduction band, which may be useful for designing topological spintronics.

Image understanding architecture: a status report

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weems, Charles C.

1995-01-01

The image understanding architecture (IUA) effort is now entering a new phase. The second generation IUA prototypes are nearing completion and our experience with the hardware, extensive software simulations, and additional research are guiding the development of a new generation of the IUA. Furthermore, the primary contractors have been selected for a technology reinvestment project (TRP) award to develop a commercial, off-the-shelf implementation of the new IUA for dual-use embedded applications. Thus, the IUA effort is in the process of making the transition from a research and development project to being a commercially available vision accelerator. IUA development is currently taking place at three sites (Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, Calif., Amerinex Artificial Intelligence Inc., and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst). This TRP consortium plans to form a new company to take over all aspects of IUA development and production. This article summarizes the previous efforts, describes the current status of the effort, expands briefly upon some of the basic research that is supporting the next generation IUA, and concludes with a section describing the efforts that will be undertaken in developing the next generation.

Bimodal exciton-plasmon light sources controlled by local charge carrier injection.

PubMed

Merino, Pablo; Rosławska, Anna; Große, Christoph; Leon, Christopher C; Kuhnke, Klaus; Kern, Klaus

2018-05-01

Electrical charges can generate photon emission in nanoscale quantum systems by two independent mechanisms. First, radiative recombination of pairs of oppositely charged carriers generates sharp excitonic lines. Second, coupling between currents and collective charge oscillations results in broad plasmonic bands. Both luminescence modes can be simultaneously generated upon charge carrier injection into thin C 60 crystallites placed in the plasmonic nanocavity of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Using the sharp tip of the STM as a subnanometer-precise local electrode, we show that the two types of electroluminescence are induced by two separate charge transport channels. Holes injected into the valence band promote exciton generation, whereas electrons extracted from the conduction band cause plasmonic luminescence. The different dynamics of the two mechanisms permit controlling their relative contribution in the combined bimodal emission. Exciton recombination prevails for low charge injection rates, whereas plasmon decay outshines for high tunneling currents. The continuous transition between both regimes is described by a rate model characterizing emission dynamics on the nanoscale. Our work provides the basis for developing blended exciton-plasmon light sources with advanced functionalities.

Automating the Transition Between Sensorless Motor Control Methods for the NASA Glenn Research Center Flywheel Energy Storage System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fehrmann, Elizabeth A.; Kenny, Barbara H.

2004-01-01

The NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has been working to advance the technology necessary for a flywheel energy storage system for the past several years. Flywheels offer high efficiency, durability, and near-complete discharge capabilities not produced by typical chemical batteries. These characteristics show flywheels to be an attractive alternative to the more typical energy storage solutions. Flywheels also offer the possibility of combining what are now two separate systems in space applications into one: energy storage, which is currently provided by batteries, and attitude control, which is currently provided by control moment gyroscopes (CMGs) or reaction wheels. To date, NASA Glenn research effort has produced the control algorithms necessary to demonstrate flywheel operation up to a rated speed of 60,000 RPM and the combined operation of two flywheel machines to simultaneously provide energy storage and single axis attitude control. Two position-sensorless algorithms are used to control the motor/generator, one for low (0 to 1200 RPM) speeds and one for high speeds. The algorithm allows the transition from the low speed method to the high speed method, but the transition from the high to low speed method was not originally included. This leads to a limitation in the existing motor/generator control code that does not allow the flywheels to be commanded to zero speed (and back in the negative speed direction) after the initial startup. In a multi-flywheel system providing both energy storage and attitude control to a spacecraft, speed reversal may be necessary.

Current-driven orbital order-disorder transition in LaMnO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mondal, Parthasarathi; Bhattacharya, Dipten; Mandal, P.

2011-08-01

We report a significant influence of electric current on the orbital order-disorder transition in LaMnO3. The transition temperature TOO, thermal hysteresis in the resistivity ρ versus temperature T plot around TOO, and latent heat L associated with the transition decrease with an increase in current density. Eventually, at a critical current density, L reaches zero. The transition zone, on the other hand, broadens with an increase in current density. The states at ordered, disordered, and transition zones are all found to be stable within the time window from ˜10-3 to ˜104 s.

A modified PATH algorithm rapidly generates transition states comparable to those found by other well established algorithms

PubMed Central

Chandrasekaran, Srinivas Niranj; Das, Jhuma; Dokholyan, Nikolay V.; Carter, Charles W.

2016-01-01

PATH rapidly computes a path and a transition state between crystal structures by minimizing the Onsager-Machlup action. It requires input parameters whose range of values can generate different transition-state structures that cannot be uniquely compared with those generated by other methods. We outline modifications to estimate these input parameters to circumvent these difficulties and validate the PATH transition states by showing consistency between transition-states derived by different algorithms for unrelated protein systems. Although functional protein conformational change trajectories are to a degree stochastic, they nonetheless pass through a well-defined transition state whose detailed structural properties can rapidly be identified using PATH. PMID:26958584

Simulative research on the anode plasma dynamics in the high-power electron beam diode

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

Cai, Dan; Liu, Lie; Ju, Jin-Chuan

2015-07-15

Anode plasma generated by electron beams could limit the electrical pulse-length, modify the impedance and stability of diode, and affect the generator to diode power coupling. In this paper, a particle-in-cell code is used to study the dynamics of anode plasma in the high-power electron beam diode. The effect of gas type, dynamic characteristic of ions on the diode operation with bipolar flow model are presented. With anode plasma appearing, the amplitude of diode current is increased due to charge neutralizations of electron flow. The lever of neutralization can be expressed using saturation factor. At same pressure of the anodemore » gas layer, the saturation factor of CO{sub 2} is bigger than the H{sub 2}O vapor, namely, the generation rate of C{sup +} ions is larger than the H{sup +} ions at the same pressure. The transition time of ions in the anode-cathode gap could be used to estimate the time of diode current maximum.« less

Performance Characterization of a Novel Plasma Thruster to Provide a Revolutionary Operationally Responsive Space Capability with Micro- and Nano-Satellites

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-24

and radiation resistance of rare earth permanent magnets for applications such as ion thrusters and high efficiency Stirling Radioisotope Generators...from Electron Transitioning Discharge Current Discharge Power Discharge Voltage Θ Divergence Angle Earths Gravity at Sea Level...Hall effect thruster HIVAC High Voltage Hall Accelerator LEO Low Earth Orbit LDS Laser Displacement System LVDT Linear variable differential

CFD Methods and Tools for Multi-Element Airfoil Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rogers, Stuart E.; George, Michael W. (Technical Monitor)

1995-01-01

This lecture will discuss the computational tools currently available for high-lift multi-element airfoil analysis. It will present an overview of a number of different numerical approaches, their current capabilities, short-comings, and computational costs. The lecture will be limited to viscous methods, including inviscid/boundary layer coupling methods, and incompressible and compressible Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes methods. Both structured and unstructured grid generation approaches will be presented. Two different structured grid procedures are outlined, one which uses multi-block patched grids, the other uses overset chimera grids. Turbulence and transition modeling will be discussed.

Combined Quarterly Technical Report Number 23. SATNET Development and Operation. Pluribus Satellite IMP Development. Remote Site Maintenance. Internet Operations and Maintenance. Mobile Access Terminal Network. TCP for the HP3000. TCP-TAC. TCP for VAX-UNIX

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-11-01

evaluate and test these ideas in the Internet research context. 4. Field third-generation gateways. At this point in time, we purposely avoid selecting a...plan to cover the period from now until the time when a gateway system can be fielded which implements the results of the current work in the Internet ... research community. The current gateway system is inadequate from both a functionality and a• performance standpoint, and therefore the transition

Modeling and control of distributed energy systems during transition between grid connected and standalone modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arafat, Md Nayeem

Distributed generation systems (DGs) have been penetrating into our energy networks with the advancement in the renewable energy sources and energy storage elements. These systems can operate in synchronism with the utility grid referred to as the grid connected (GC) mode of operation, or work independently, referred to as the standalone (SA) mode of operation. There is a need to ensure continuous power flow during transition between GC and SA modes, referred to as the transition mode, in operating DGs. In this dissertation, efficient and effective transition control algorithms are developed for DGs operating either independently or collectively with other units. Three techniques are proposed in this dissertation to manage the proper transition operations. In the first technique, a new control algorithm is proposed for an independent DG which can operate in SA and GC modes. The proposed transition control algorithm ensures low total harmonic distortion (THD) and less voltage fluctuation during mode transitions compared to the other techniques. In the second technique, a transition control is suggested for a collective of DGs operating in a microgrid system architecture to improve the reliability of the system, reduce the cost, and provide better performance. In this technique, one of the DGs in a microgrid system, referred to as a dispatch unit , takes the additional responsibility of mode transitioning to ensure smooth transition and supply/demand balance in the microgrid. In the third technique, an alternative transition technique is proposed through hybridizing the current and droop controllers. The proposed hybrid transition control technique has higher reliability compared to the dispatch unit concept. During the GC mode, the proposed hybrid controller uses current control. During the SA mode, the hybrid controller uses droop control. During the transition mode, both of the controllers participate in formulating the inverter output voltage but with different weights or coefficients. Voltage source inverters interfacing the DGs as well as the proposed transition control algorithms have been modeled to analyze the stability of the algorithms in different configurations. The performances of the proposed algorithms are verified through simulation and experimental studies. It has been found that the proposed control techniques can provide smooth power flow to the local loads during the GC, SA and transition modes.

Gender and changing generational relations: spouse choice in Indonesia.

PubMed

Malhotra, A

1991-11-01

Many Asian societies are undergoing a nuptiality transition that is not only tied integrally to other aspects of family organization, but is also often more complex than standard studies of female age at marriage can reveal. To comprehend some of this complexity, we focus on the patterns of spouse choice for both men and women in central Java. The extent of parental control over mate selection is examined for change over time, gender differences, and likely determinants, including family class, education, premarital work, and residence. It is argued that the current marriage transition in Indonesia reflects both gender and generational hierarchies in the Javanese family system. The analysis is conducted using a multinomial logit model; in general, it yields results strongly supportive of the argument that the determinants of spouse selection differ by gender. The results also show that although there is a dramatic shift towards self-choice marriages, it is occurring within the context of historical and institutional factors specific to Javanese society.

Power-to-Syngas: An Enabling Technology for the Transition of the Energy System?

PubMed

Foit, Severin R; Vinke, Izaak C; de Haart, Lambertus G J; Eichel, Rüdiger-A

2017-05-08

Power-to-X concepts promise a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions simultaneously guaranteeing a safe energy supply even at high share of renewable power generation, thus becoming a cornerstone of a sustainable energy system. Power-to-syngas, that is, the electrochemical conversion of steam and carbon dioxide with the use of renewably generated electricity to syngas for the production of synfuels and high-value chemicals, offers an efficient technology to couple different energy-intense sectors, such as "traffic and transportation" and "chemical industry". Syngas produced by co-electrolysis can thus be regarded as a key-enabling step for a transition of the energy system, which offers additionally features of CO 2 -valorization and closed carbon cycles. Here, we discuss advantages and current limitations of low- and high-temperature co-electrolysis. Advances in both fundamental understanding of the basic reaction schemes and stable high-performance materials are essential to further promote co-electrolysis. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Development of Modal Analysis for the Study of Global Modes in High Speed Boundary Layer Flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brock, Joseph Michael

Boundary layer transition for compressible flows remains a challenging and unsolved problem. In the context of high-speed compressible flow, transitional and turbulent boundary-layers produce significantly higher surface heating caused by an increase in skin-friction. The higher heating associated with transitional and turbulent boundary layers drives thermal protection systems (TPS) and mission trajectory bounds. Proper understanding of the mechanisms that drive transition is crucial to the successful design and operation of the next generation spacecraft. Currently, prediction of boundary-layer transition is based on experimental efforts and computational stability analysis. Computational analysis, anchored by experimental correlations, offers an avenue to assess/predict stability at a reduced cost. Classical methods of Linearized Stability Theory (LST) and Parabolized Stability Equations (PSE) have proven to be very useful for simple geometries/base flows. Under certain conditions the assumptions that are inherent to classical methods become invalid and the use of LST/PSE is inaccurate. In these situations, a global approach must be considered. A TriGlobal stability analysis code, Global Mode Analysis in US3D (GMAUS3D), has been developed and implemented into the unstructured solver US3D. A discussion of the methodology and implementation will be presented. Two flow configurations are presented in an effort to validate/verify the approach. First, stability analysis for a subsonic cylinder wake is performed and results compared to literature. Second, a supersonic blunt cone is considered to directly compare LST/PSE analysis and results generated by GMAUS3D.

Protected transitional solution to transformational satellite communications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brand, Jerry C.

2005-06-01

As the Warfighter progresses into the next generation battlefield, transformational communications become evident as an enabling technology. Satellite communications become even more vital as the battles range over greater non-contiguous spaces. While current satellite communications provide suitable beyond line-of-sight communications and the Transformational Communications Architecture (TCA) sets the stage for sound information exchange, a realizable transition must occur to ensure successful succession to this higher level. This paper addresses the need for a planned escalation to the next generation satellite communications architecture and offers near-term alternatives. Commercial satellite systems continue to enable the Warfighter to reach back to needed information resources, providing a large majority of available bandwidth. Four areas of concentration for transition include encrypted Telemetry, Tracking and Control (or Command) (TT&C), encrypted and covered data, satellite attack detection and protection, and operational mobility. Solution methodologies include directly embedding COMSEC devices in the satellites and terminals, and supplementing existing terminals with suitable equipment and software. Future satellites planned for near-term launches can be adapted to include commercial grade and higher-level secure equipment. Alternately, the expected use of programmable modems (Software Defined Radios (SDR)) enables incorporation of powerful cipher methods approaching military standards as well as waveforms suitable for on-the-move operation. Minimal equipment and software additions on the satellites can provide reasonable attack detection and protection methods in concert with the planned satellite usage. Network management suite modifications enable cohesive incorporation of these protection schemes. Such transitional ideas offer a smooth and planned transition as the TCA takes life.

Properties of the surface generation-recombination noise in 1.94 μm GaSb-based laser diodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glemža, Justinas; Palenskis, Vilius; Pralgauskaitė, Sandra; Vyšniauskas, Juozas; Matukas, Jonas

2018-06-01

A detail investigation of generation-recombination (g-r) noise in 1.94 μm GaSb-based type-I ridge waveguide laser diodes (LDs) has been performed in a temperature range (230-295) K. Lorentzian-type noise spectra have been observed in the current range below the threshold at the forward and reverse biases of the LDs with the same characteristic time (3.7 μs) and activation energy (≈0.37 eV) of charge carriers transitions associated with the g-r processes. An equivalent electrical circuit possessing the voltage noise source is presented, which allows the description of both the current-voltage characteristic and the voltage fluctuation spectral density of the laser diode. Results indicate that the origin of the g-r noise in the investigated samples is the surface recombination caused by the surface leakage current channel between n+GaSb and p+GaSb contacts, which is practically independent from the applied bias polarity.

Hyperpolarization-Activated Current Induces Period-Doubling Cascades and Chaos in a Cold Thermoreceptor Model

PubMed Central

Xu, Kesheng; Maidana, Jean P.; Caviedes, Mauricio; Quero, Daniel; Aguirre, Pablo; Orio, Patricio

2017-01-01

In this article, we describe and analyze the chaotic behavior of a conductance-based neuronal bursting model. This is a model with a reduced number of variables, yet it retains biophysical plausibility. Inspired by the activity of cold thermoreceptors, the model contains a persistent Sodium current, a Calcium-activated Potassium current and a hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih) that drive a slow subthreshold oscillation. Driven by this oscillation, a fast subsystem (fast Sodium and Potassium currents) fires action potentials in a periodic fashion. Depending on the parameters, this model can generate a variety of firing patterns that includes bursting, regular tonic and polymodal firing. Here we show that the transitions between different firing patterns are often accompanied by a range of chaotic firing, as suggested by an irregular, non-periodic firing pattern. To confirm this, we measure the maximum Lyapunov exponent of the voltage trajectories, and the Lyapunov exponent and Lempel-Ziv's complexity of the ISI time series. The four-variable slow system (without spiking) also generates chaotic behavior, and bifurcation analysis shows that this is often originated by period doubling cascades. Either with or without spikes, chaos is no longer generated when the Ih is removed from the system. As the model is biologically plausible with biophysically meaningful parameters, we propose it as a useful tool to understand chaotic dynamics in neurons. PMID:28344550

Photocurrent generation in a metallic transition-metal dichalcogenide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehmood, Naveed; Rasouli, Hamid Reza; ćakıroǧlu, Onur; Kasırga, T. Serkan

2018-05-01

Photocurrent generation is unexpected in metallic 2D layered materials unless a photothermal mechanism is prevalent. Yet, typical high thermal conductivity and low absorption of the visible spectrum prevent photothermal current generation in metals. Here, we report photoresponse from two-terminal devices of mechanically exfoliated metallic 3R-Nb S2 thin crystals using scanning photocurrent microscopy (SPCM) both at zero and finite bias. SPCM measurements reveal that the photocurrent predominantly emerges from metal/Nb S2 junctions of the two-terminal device at zero bias. At finite biases, along with the photocurrent generated at metal/Nb S2 junctions, now a negative photoresponse from all over the Nb S2 crystal is evident. Among our results, we realized that the observed photocurrent can be explained by the local heating caused by the laser excitation. These findings show that Nb S2 is among a few metallic materials in which photocurrent generation is possible.

Homogeneous dielectric barrier discharges in atmospheric air and its influencing factor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ran, Junxia; Li, Caixia; Ma, Dong; Luo, Haiyun; Li, Xiaowei

2018-03-01

The stable homogeneous dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is obtained in atmospheric 2-3 mm air gap. It is generated using center frequency 1 kHz high voltage power supply between two plane parallel electrodes with specific alumina ceramic plates as the dielectric barriers. The discharge characteristics are studied by a measurement of its electrical discharge parameters and observation of its light emission phenomena. The results show that a large single current pulse of about 200 μs duration appearing in each voltage pulse, and its light emission is radially homogeneous and covers the entire surface of the two electrodes. The homogeneous discharge generated is a Townsend discharge during discharge. The influences of applied barrier, its thickness, and surface roughness on the transition of discharge modes are studied. The results show that it is difficult to produce a homogeneous discharge using smooth plates or alumina plate surface roughness Ra < 100 nm even at a 1 mm air gap. If the alumina plate is too thin, the discharge also transits to filamentary discharge. If it is too thick, the discharge is too weak to observe. With the increase of air gap distance and applied voltage, the discharge can also transit from a homogeneous mode to a filamentary mode. In order to generate stable and homogeneous DBD at a larger air gap, proper dielectric material, dielectric thickness, and dielectric surface roughness should be used, and proper applied voltage amplitude and frequency should also be used.

External vortex pumping by oscillating plate arrays of mayfly nymphs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sensenig, Andrew; Kiger, Ken; Shultz, Jeffrey

2009-11-01

Mayfly nymphs are aquatic insects, many of which can generate ventilation currents by beating two linear arrays of external plate-like gills. The oscillation Reynolds number associated with the gill motion changes with animal size, varying from Re ˜ 2 to 50 depending on age and species. Thus mayflies provide a novel system model for studying ontogenetic changes in pumping mechanisms associated with transitions from a more viscous- to inertia-dominated flow. Observation of the 3-D kinematics of the gill motion of the species C. triangulifer reveal that the mayfly makes a transition in stroke motion when Re>5, with a corresponding shift in mean flow from the ventral to the dorsal direction. Time-resolved PIV measurements within the inter-gill space reveal the basic elements of the flow consist of vortex rings generated by the strokes of the individual gills. For the larger Re case, the phasing of the plate motion generates a complex array of small vortices that interact to produce an intermittent dorsally directed jet. For Re<5, distinct vortices are still observed, but increased diffusion creates vortices that simultaneously envelope several gills, forcing a new flow pattern to emerge and preventing the effective use of the high Re stroke kinematics. Thus we argue the transition in the kinematics is a reflection of a single mechanism adapted over the traversed Re range, rather than a shift to a completely new mechanism. This work is supported by the NSF under grant CBET-0730907.

Lifetime enhancement for multiphoton absorption in intermediate band solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bezerra, Anibal T.; Studart, Nelson

2017-08-01

A semiconductor structure consisting of two coupled quantum wells embedded into the intrinsic region of a p-i-n junction is proposed as an intermediate band solar cell with a photon ratchet state, which would lead to increasing the cell efficiency. The conduction subband of the right-hand side quantum well works as the intermediated band, whereas the excited conduction subband of the left-hand side quantum well operates as the ratchet state. The photoelectrons in the intermediate band are scattered through the thin wells barrier and accumulated into the ratchet subband. A rate equation model for describing the charge transport properties is presented. The efficiency of the current generation is analyzed by studying the occupation of the wells subbands, taking into account the charge dynamic behavior provided by the electrical contacts connected to the cell. The current generation efficiency depends essentially from the relations between the generation, recombination rates and the scattering rate to the ratchet state. The inclusion of the ratchet states led to both an increase and a decrease in the cell current depending on the transition rates. This suggests that the coupling between the intermediate band and the ratchet state is a key point in developing an efficient solar cell.

Resistance is Futile: STScI's Science Planning and Scheduling Team Switches From VMS to Unix Operations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adler, D. S.

2000-12-01

The Science Planning and Scheduling Team (SPST) of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) has historically operated exclusively under VMS. Due to diminished support for VMS-based platforms at STScI, SPST is in the process of transitioning to Unix operations. In the summer of 1999, SPST selected Python as the primary scripting language for the operational tools and began translation of the VMS DCL code. As of October 2000, SPST has installed a utility library of 16 modules consisting of 8000 lines of code and 80 Python tools consisting of 13000 lines of code. All tasks related to calendar generation have been switched to Unix operations. Current work focuses on translating the tools used to generate the Science Mission Specifications (SMS). The software required to generate the Mission Schedule and Command Loads (PASS), maintained by another team at STScI, will take longer to translate than the rest of the SPST operational code. SPST is planning on creating tools to access PASS from Unix in the short term. We are on schedule to complete the work needed to fully transition SPST to Unix operations (while remotely accessing PASS on VMS) by the fall of 2001.

Vibration transfer mobility measurements using maximum length sequences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singleton, Herbert L.

2005-09-01

Vibration transfer mobility measurements are required under Federal Transit Administration guidelines when developing detailed predictions of ground-borne vibration for rail transit systems. These measurements typically use a large instrumented hammer to generate impulses in the soil. These impulses are measured by an array of accelerometers to characterize the transfer mobility of the ground in a localized area. While effective, these measurements often make use of heavy, custom-engineered equipment to produce the impulse signal. To obtain satisfactory signal-to-noise ratios, it is necessary to generate multiple impulses to generate an average value, but this process involves considerable physical labor in the field. To address these shortcomings, a transfer mobility measurement system utilizing a tactile transducer and maximum length sequences (MLS) was developed. This system uses lightweight off-the-shelf components to significantly reduce the weight and cost of the system. The use of MLS allows for adequate signal-to-noise ratio from the tactile transducer, while minimizing the length of the measurement. Tests of the MLS system show good agreement with the impulse-based method. The combination of the cost savings and reduced weight of this new system facilitates transfer mobility measurements that are less physically demanding, and more economical when compared with current methods.

Constraining dynamical neutrino mass generation with cosmological data

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

Koksbang, S.M.; Hannestad, S., E-mail: koksbang@phys.au.dk, E-mail: sth@phys.au.dk

We study models in which neutrino masses are generated dynamically at cosmologically late times. Our study is purely phenomenological and parameterized in terms of three effective parameters characterizing the redshift of mass generation, the width of the transition region, and the present day neutrino mass. We also study the possibility that neutrinos become strongly self-interacting at the time where the mass is generated. We find that in a number of cases, models with large present day neutrino masses are allowed by current CMB, BAO and supernova data. The increase in the allowed mass range makes it possible that a non-zeromore » neutrino mass could be measured in direct detection experiments such as KATRIN. Intriguingly we also find that there are allowed models in which neutrinos become strongly self-interacting around the epoch of recombination.« less

Trajectory phase transitions and dynamical Lee-Yang zeros of the Glauber-Ising chain.

PubMed

Hickey, James M; Flindt, Christian; Garrahan, Juan P

2013-07-01

We examine the generating function of the time-integrated energy for the one-dimensional Glauber-Ising model. At long times, the generating function takes on a large-deviation form and the associated cumulant generating function has singularities corresponding to continuous trajectory (or "space-time") phase transitions between paramagnetic trajectories and ferromagnetically or antiferromagnetically ordered trajectories. In the thermodynamic limit, the singularities make up a whole curve of critical points in the complex plane of the counting field. We evaluate analytically the generating function by mapping the generator of the biased dynamics to a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian of an associated quantum spin chain. We relate the trajectory phase transitions to the high-order cumulants of the time-integrated energy which we use to extract the dynamical Lee-Yang zeros of the generating function. This approach offers the possibility to detect continuous trajectory phase transitions from the finite-time behavior of measurable quantities.

CERDEC Fuel Cell Team: Military Transitions for Soldier Fuel Cells

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-10-27

Fuel Cell (DMFC) (PEO Soldier) Samsung: 20W DMFC (CRADA) General Atomics & Jadoo: 50W Ammonia Borane Fueled PEMFC Current Fuel Cell Team Efforts...Continued Ardica: 20W Wearable PEMFC operating on Chemical Hydrides Spectrum Brands w/ Rayovac: Hydrogen Generators and Alkaline Fuel Cells for AA...100W Ammonia Borane fueled PEMFC Ultralife: 150W sodium borohydride fueled PEMFC Protonex: 250W RMFC and Power Manager (ARO) NanoDynamics: 250W SOFC

Are U-channels measurements appropriate for reversal or excursion records ?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Philippe, E. G. H.; Valet, J. P.

2017-12-01

Sampling of sediment cores by U-channel plastic tubes is a very successful technique that allows to perform measurements of the magnetic remanence and demagnetization of long sections of sediment. This approach made possible the acquisition of detailed records of paleosecular variation, geomagnetic polarity and relative paleointensity over the past million years and yielded significant advances in our knowledge of the geomagnetic field changes. The major pitfall is that the resolution of the signal which is imposed by the deposition rate of the sediment is also attenuated by the response curve of the magnetic sensors used for measurements. This is not so critical to document the dipole field changes, but may have a significant impact to recover fast field changes typical of the non-dipole field that prevail during reversals and excursions. We have investigated possible consequences by comparing 150 successive individual directions of 1 cm side successive single samples with the measurement of the 1.5m equivalent U-channel obtained by placing the same samples adjacent to each other. We compared different transition lengths and generated transitional directions that produce records with similar characteristics as those derived from volcanic records of reversals with a magnetization intensity dropping to 5% of the full polarity value during the transition. The results show that even with transitional intervals as long as 30 cm and therefore associated with deposition rates as high as 10 cm/ka the U-channels considerably smooth all variations with significant consequences on the VGP paths that become more constrained in longitude. Despite little similarity with the global structure of the transition, the U-channels fail to reproduce the complexity of the transitional period. The transitional VGPs never duplicate the variations of the non-dipole field even within several centimeters and generate artificial clusters or periods of apparent fast changes. We are currently testing whether deconvolution techniques can recover the original directions.

Self-triggering superconducting fault current limiter

DOEpatents

Yuan, Xing [Albany, NY; Tekletsadik, Kasegn [Rexford, NY

2008-10-21

A modular and scaleable Matrix Fault Current Limiter (MFCL) that functions as a "variable impedance" device in an electric power network, using components made of superconducting and non-superconducting electrically conductive materials. The matrix fault current limiter comprises a fault current limiter module that includes a superconductor which is electrically coupled in parallel with a trigger coil, wherein the trigger coil is magnetically coupled to the superconductor. The current surge doing a fault within the electrical power network will cause the superconductor to transition to its resistive state and also generate a uniform magnetic field in the trigger coil and simultaneously limit the voltage developed across the superconductor. This results in fast and uniform quenching of the superconductors, significantly reduces the burnout risk associated with non-uniformity often existing within the volume of superconductor materials. The fault current limiter modules may be electrically coupled together to form various "n" (rows).times."m" (columns) matrix configurations.

Supporting Energy Transitions and Miscanthus Program Development at the University of Iowa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lain, Kayley Christina

Miscanthus is a highly productive, low-input biofuel crop that supports agricultural diversification with improved performance for climate commitment, energy security, and water quality over first generation biofuels. Despite its high performance, no local or regional markets for the feedstock have formed in North America, and current climate-based productivity assessment methods lack the information farmers and decision-makers need to establish commercial scale bioenergy markets, programs, and thermal co-firing plans. This study develops a Miscanthus Suitability Rating and a transferable field-scale siting method, applied at 10 m resolution across the State of Iowa to assess miscanthus production potential and identify individual farms that are highly suitable for large-scale miscanthus cultivation while maintaining a majority of existing row cropping acreage. Results show that highly suitable fields within 50 miles (84 km) of each of Iowa's coal-fired electrical generating units (EGUs) can displace up to 43% of current coal consumption. Every EGU in Iowa has land resource to produce local miscanthus to co-fire with other solid fuels at industry-leading levels without significantly impacting local row crop production. Seven of the state's smaller facilities could even operate exclusively on local miscanthus with advancements in densification technology. The energy evaluation tool developed in this work estimates the energy return on investment (EROI) of Iowa miscanthus for existing thermal generation facilities between 37 and 59, depending on transportation requirements and chemical field applications. This transition would diversify local agribusiness and energy feedstocks, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide a sustainable, dispatchable, in-state fuel source to complement wind and solar energy.

Human Guidance Behavior Decomposition and Modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feit, Andrew James

Trained humans are capable of high performance, adaptable, and robust first-person dynamic motion guidance behavior. This behavior is exhibited in a wide variety of activities such as driving, piloting aircraft, skiing, biking, and many others. Human performance in such activities far exceeds the current capability of autonomous systems in terms of adaptability to new tasks, real-time motion planning, robustness, and trading safety for performance. The present work investigates the structure of human dynamic motion guidance that enables these performance qualities. This work uses a first-person experimental framework that presents a driving task to the subject, measuring control inputs, vehicle motion, and operator visual gaze movement. The resulting data is decomposed into subspace segment clusters that form primitive elements of action-perception interactive behavior. Subspace clusters are defined by both agent-environment system dynamic constraints and operator control strategies. A key contribution of this work is to define transitions between subspace cluster segments, or subgoals, as points where the set of active constraints, either system or operator defined, changes. This definition provides necessary conditions to determine transition points for a given task-environment scenario that allow a solution trajectory to be planned from known behavior elements. In addition, human gaze behavior during this task contains predictive behavior elements, indicating that the identified control modes are internally modeled. Based on these ideas, a generative, autonomous guidance framework is introduced that efficiently generates optimal dynamic motion behavior in new tasks. The new subgoal planning algorithm is shown to generate solutions to certain tasks more quickly than existing approaches currently used in robotics.

Refinement of the Hybrid Neuroendovascular Operating Suite: Current and Future Applications.

PubMed

Ashour, Ramsey; See, Alfred P; Dasenbrock, Hormuzdiyar H; Khandelwal, Priyank; Patel, Nirav J; Belcher, Bianca; Aziz-Sultan, Mohammad Ali

2016-07-01

In early-generation hybrid biplane endovascular operating rooms, switching from surgical to angiographic position is cumbersome. In this report, we highlight the unique design of a new hybrid neuroendovascular operating suite that allows surgical access to the head while keeping the biplane system over the lower body of the patient. Current and future hybrid neuroendovascular operating suite applications are discussed. We collaborated with engineers to implement the following modifications to the design of the angiographic system: translation of the bed toward the feet to allow biplane cerebral imaging in the head-side position and the biplane left-side position; translation of the base of the A-plane C-arm away from the feet to allow increased operator space at the head of the bed and to allow cerebral imaging in both the head-side and left-side positions; use of a specialized boom mount for the display panel to increase mobility; and use of a radiolucent tabletop with attachments for the headrest or radiolucent head clamp system. The modified hybrid neuroendovascular operating suite allows for seamless transition between surgical and angiographic positions within seconds, improving workflow efficiency and decreasing procedure time as compared with early-generation hybrid rooms. Combined endovascular and surgical applications are facilitated by co-locating their respective technologies and refining the ergonomics of the system to ease transition between both sets of technologies. In so doing, hybrid neuroendovascular operating suites can be anticipated to improve patient outcomes, generate novel treatment paradigms, and improve time and cost efficiency. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Development of a Next-Generation Membrane-Integrated Adsorption Processor for CO2 Removal and Compression for Closed-Loop Air Revitalization Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mulloth, Lila; LeVan, Douglas

2002-01-01

The current CO2 removal technology of NASA is very energy intensive and contains many non-optimized subsystems. This paper discusses the concept of a next-generation, membrane integrated, adsorption processor for CO2 removal nd compression in closed-loop air revitalization systems. This processor will use many times less power than NASA's current CO2 removal technology and will be capable of maintaining a lower CO2 concentration in the cabin than that can be achieved by the existing CO2 removal systems. The compact, consolidated, configuration of gas dryer, CO2 separator, and CO2 compressor will allow continuous recycling of humid air in the cabin and supply of compressed CO2 to the reduction unit for oxygen recovery. The device has potential application to the International Space Station and future, long duration, transit, and planetary missions.

The transition of GTDS to the Unix workstation environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carter, D.; Metzinger, R.; Proulx, R.; Cefola, P.

1995-01-01

Future Flight Dynamics systems should take advantage of the possibilities provided by current and future generations of low-cost, high performance workstation computing environments with Graphical User Interface. The port of the existing mainframe Flight Dynamics systems to the workstation environment offers an economic approach for combining the tremendous engineering heritage that has been encapsulated in these systems with the advantages of the new computing environments. This paper will describe the successful transition of the Draper Laboratory R&D version of GTDS (Goddard Trajectory Determination System) from the IBM Mainframe to the Unix workstation environment. The approach will be a mix of historical timeline notes, descriptions of the technical problems overcome, and descriptions of associated SQA (software quality assurance) issues.

How do generalized jamming transitions affect collective migration in confluent tissues?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manning, M. Lisa

Recent experiments have demonstrated that tissues involved in embryonic development, lung function, wound healing, and cancer progression are close to fluid-to-solid, or ``jamming'' transitions. Theoretical models for confluent 2D tissues have also been shown to exhibit continuous rigidity transitions. However, in vivobiological systems can differ in significant ways from the simple 2D models. For example, many tissues are three-dimensional, mechanically heterogeneous, and/or composed of mechanosensitive cells interspersed with extracellular matrix. We have extended existing models for confluent tissues to capture these features, and we find interesting predictions for collective cell motion that are ultimately related to an underlying generalized jamming transition. For example, in 2D, we find that heterogeneous mixtures of cells spontaneously self-organize into rigid regions of stiffer cells interspersed with string-like groups of soft cells, reminiscent of cellular streaming seen in cancer. We also find that alignment interactions (of the sort often explored in self-propelled particle models) alter the transition and generate interesting flocked liquid and flocked solid collective migration patterns. Our model predicts that 3D tissues also exhibit a jamming transition governed by cell shape, as well as history-dependent aging, and we are currently exploring whether ECM-like interactions in 3D models might help explain compressional stiffening seen in experiments on human tissue.

Understanding L-H transition in tokamak fusion plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Guosheng; Wu, Xingquan

2017-03-01

This paper reviews the current state of understanding of the L-H transition phenomenon in tokamak plasmas with a focus on two central issues: (a) the mechanism for turbulence quick suppression at the L-H transition; (b) the mechanism for subsequent generation of sheared flow. We briefly review recent advances in the understanding of the fast suppression of edge turbulence across the L-H transition. We uncover a comprehensive physical picture of the L-H transition by piecing together a number of recent experimental observations and insights obtained from 1D and 2D simulation models. Different roles played by diamagnetic mean flow, neoclassical-driven mean flow, turbulence-driven mean flow, and turbulence-driven zonal flows are discussed and clarified. It is found that the L-H transition occurs spontaneously mediated by a shift in the radial wavenumber spectrum of edge turbulence, which provides a critical evidence for the theory of turbulence quench by the flow shear. Remaining questions and some key directions for future investigations are proposed. This work was supported by National Magnetic Confinement Fusion Science Program of China under Contracts No. 2015GB101000, No. 2013GB106000, and No. 2013GB107000 and National Natural Science Foundation of China under Contracts No. 11575235 and No. 11422546.

A Survey of Current Valued Academic Leadership Qualities in Nursing.

PubMed

Delgado, Cheryl; Mitchell, Maureen M

2016-01-01

An informal survey was used to identify nurse faculty leadership qualities currently valued and relevant. The accelerating retirement rate for seasoned leaders has created a need for nurse educators and academic leaders. Our school was concerned that we were not meeting students' needs for today's leadership challenges. We were also interested in the experiences of leadership preparation. This was a cross-sectional, online survey of faculty at top nursing schools as determined by US News & World Report. The top leadership qualities identified were integrity, communication clarity, and problem-solving ability. Current challenges for leaders were finding qualified faculty, obtaining resources, and team building. The results may guide curricular adjustments and the transition to a new generation of nurse academic leaders.

One Giant Leap for Categorizers: One Small Step for Categorization Theory

PubMed Central

Smith, J. David; Ell, Shawn W.

2015-01-01

We explore humans’ rule-based category learning using analytic approaches that highlight their psychological transitions during learning. These approaches confirm that humans show qualitatively sudden psychological transitions during rule learning. These transitions contribute to the theoretical literature contrasting single vs. multiple category-learning systems, because they seem to reveal a distinctive learning process of explicit rule discovery. A complete psychology of categorization must describe this learning process, too. Yet extensive formal-modeling analyses confirm that a wide range of current (gradient-descent) models cannot reproduce these transitions, including influential rule-based models (e.g., COVIS) and exemplar models (e.g., ALCOVE). It is an important theoretical conclusion that existing models cannot explain humans’ rule-based category learning. The problem these models have is the incremental algorithm by which learning is simulated. Humans descend no gradient in rule-based tasks. Very different formal-modeling systems will be required to explain humans’ psychology in these tasks. An important next step will be to build a new generation of models that can do so. PMID:26332587

Developing Data Resources for the 21st Century : New Uses for Archived Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Transit Data

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-08-01

This report is broken into four sections. Section 1 provides a very brief description of transit in early American cities, describes the second generation of transit and the role of government planning and concludes with the third generation of trans...

Factor Structure and Basic Psychometric Properties of the "Transition Assessment" and "Goal Generator"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hennessey, Maeghan N.; Terry, Robert; Martin, James E.; McConnell, Amber E.; Willis, Donna M.

2017-01-01

The researchers examined the theoretical factor structure fit and psychometric properties of the Transition Assessment and Goal Generator (TAGG). In the first study, 349 transition-aged students with disabilities, their special educators, and family members completed TAGG assessments, and using exploratory factor analysis (EFA)/confirmatory factor…

Factor Structure and Basic Psychometric Properties of the "Transition Assessment and Goal Generator"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hennessey, Maeghan N.; Terry, Robert; Martin, James E.; McConnell, Amber E.; Willis, Donna M.

2018-01-01

We examined the theoretical factor structure fit and psychometric properties of the "Transition Assessment and Goal Generator" (TAGG). In the first study, 349 transition-aged students with disabilities, their special educators, and family members completed TAGG assessments, and using exploratory factor analysis (EFA)/confirmatory factor…

Lactulose breath test gas production in childhood IBS is associated with intestinal transit and bowel movement frequency

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

In adults with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bacterial gas production (colonic fermentation) is related to both symptom generation and intestinal transit. Whether gas production affects symptom generation, psychosocial distress, or intestinal transit in childhood IBS is unknown. Children (ages 7-1...

Method and split cavity oscillator/modulator to generate pulsed particle beams and electromagnetic fields

DOEpatents

Clark, M. Collins; Coleman, P. Dale; Marder, Barry M.

1993-01-01

A compact device called the split cavity modulator whose self-generated oscillating electromagnetic field converts a steady particle beam into a modulated particle beam. The particle beam experiences both signs of the oscillating electric field during the transit through the split cavity modulator. The modulated particle beam can then be used to generate microwaves at that frequency and through the use of extractors, high efficiency extraction of microwave power is enabled. The modulated beam and the microwave frequency can be varied by the placement of resistive wires at nodes of oscillation within the cavity. The short beam travel length through the cavity permit higher currents because both space charge and pinching limitations are reduced. The need for an applied magnetic field to control the beam has been eliminated.

Method and split cavity oscillator/modulator to generate pulsed particle beams and electromagnetic fields

DOEpatents

Clark, M.C.; Coleman, P.D.; Marder, B.M.

1993-08-10

A compact device called the split cavity modulator whose self-generated oscillating electromagnetic field converts a steady particle beam into a modulated particle beam. The particle beam experiences both signs of the oscillating electric field during the transit through the split cavity modulator. The modulated particle beam can then be used to generate microwaves at that frequency and through the use of extractors, high efficiency extraction of microwave power is enabled. The modulated beam and the microwave frequency can be varied by the placement of resistive wires at nodes of oscillation within the cavity. The short beam travel length through the cavity permit higher currents because both space charge and pinching limitations are reduced. The need for an applied magnetic field to control the beam has been eliminated.

Formal methods for test case generation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rushby, John (Inventor); De Moura, Leonardo Mendonga (Inventor); Hamon, Gregoire (Inventor)

2011-01-01

The invention relates to the use of model checkers to generate efficient test sets for hardware and software systems. The method provides for extending existing tests to reach new coverage targets; searching *to* some or all of the uncovered targets in parallel; searching in parallel *from* some or all of the states reached in previous tests; and slicing the model relative to the current set of coverage targets. The invention provides efficient test case generation and test set formation. Deep regions of the state space can be reached within allotted time and memory. The approach has been applied to use of the model checkers of SRI's SAL system and to model-based designs developed in Stateflow. Stateflow models achieving complete state and transition coverage in a single test case are reported.

A review of turbine blade tip heat transfer.

PubMed

Bunker, R S

2001-05-01

This paper presents a review of the publicly available knowledge base concerning turbine blade tip heat transfer, from the early fundamental research which laid the foundations of our knowledge, to current experimental and numerical studies utilizing engine-scaled blade cascades and turbine rigs. Focus is placed on high-pressure, high-temperature axial-turbine blade tips, which are prevalent in the majority of today's aircraft engines and power generating turbines. The state of our current understanding of turbine blade tip heat transfer is in the transitional phase between fundamentals supported by engine-based experience, and the ability to a priori correctly predict and efficiently design blade tips for engine service.

A methodology to identify stranded generation facilities and estimate stranded costs for Louisiana's electric utility industry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cope, Robert Frank, III

1998-12-01

The electric utility industry in the United States is currently experiencing a new and different type of growing pain. It is the pain of having to restructure itself into a competitive business. Many industry experts are trying to explain how the nation as a whole, as well as individual states, will implement restructuring and handle its numerous "transition problems." One significant transition problem for federal and state regulators rests with determining a utility's stranded costs. Stranded generation facilities are assets which would be uneconomic in a competitive environment or costs for assets whose regulated book value is greater than market value. At issue is the methodology which will be used to estimate stranded costs. The two primary methods are known as "Top-Down" and "Bottom-Up." The "Top-Down" approach simply determines the present value of the losses in revenue as the market price for electricity changes over a period of time into the future. The problem with this approach is that it does not take into account technical issues associated with the generation and wheeling of electricity. The "Bottom-Up" approach computes the present value of specific strandable generation facilities and compares the resulting valuations with their historical costs. It is regarded as a detailed and difficult, but more precise, approach to identifying stranded assets and their associated costs. This dissertation develops a "Bottom-Up" quantitative, optimization-based approach to electric power wheeling within the state of Louisiana. It optimally evaluates all production capabilities and coordinates the movement of bulk power through transmission interconnections of competing companies in and around the state. Sensitivity analysis to this approach is performed by varying seasonal consumer demand, electric power imports, and transmission inter-connection cost parameters. Generation facility economic dispatch and transmission interconnection bulk power transfers, specific to each set of parameters, lead to the identification of stranded generation facilities. Stranded costs of non-dispatched and uneconomically dispatched generation facilities can then be estimated to indicate, arguably, the largest portion of restructuring transition costs as the industry is transformed from its present monopolistic structure to a competitive one.

The DOE/NASA SRG110 Program Overview

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaltens, R. K.; Richardson, R. L.

2005-12-01

The Department of Energy is developing the Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG110) for NASAs Science Mission Directorate for potential surface and deep space missions. The SRG110 is one of two new radioisotope power systems (RPSs) currently being developed for NASA space missions, and is capable of operating in a range of planetary atmospheres and in deep space environments. It has a mass of approximately 27 kg and produces more than 125We(dc) at beginning of mission (BOM), with a design lifetime of fourteen years. Electrical power is produced by two (2) free-piston Stirlings convertor heated by two General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) modules. The complete SRG110 system is approximately 38 cm x 36 cm and 76 cm long. The SRG110 generator is being designed in 3 stages: Engineering Model, Qualification Generator, and Flight Generator. Current plans call for the Engineering Model to be fabricated and tested by October 2006. Completion of testing of the Qualification Generator is scheduled for mid-2009. This development is being performed by Lockheed Martin, Valley Forge, PA and Infinia Corporation, Kennewick, WA under contract to the Department of Energy, Germantown, Md. Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio is providing independent testing and support for the technology transition for the SRG110 Program.

Improving Aerosol and Visibility Forecasting Capabilities Using Current and Future Generations of Satellite Observations

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-08-27

Shi et al. (2011) suggested that large spatial discrepancies exist in operational satellite aerosol products such as MODIS and MISR. Thus, before...to be fully evaluated. In the past few years of the project period, MODIS Deep Blue (DB) and MISR aerosol products have been studied, and schemes for...constructing DA-grade MODIS DB and MISR aerosol products have been developed and transitioned to the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). Continuing

Study on quantitative detection technology of special position defects in heat transfer tubes of nuclear power plants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qi, Pan; Cui, Hongyan; Shao, Wenbin; Feng, Meiming; Liao, Shusheng

2018-04-01

This study was conducted analyzing eddy current signals from a rotary probe and an array probe to detect artificial cracks and flat bottom holes (FBH) located in selected positions in a steam generator heat transfer tube of a nuclear power plant. In particular, the study examined the expanded transition section, and the detection sensitivity and the variation characteristics of the unilateral signal to provide guidance for in-service inspections.

Energy landscape of the reactions governing the Na+ deeply occluded state of the Na+/K+-ATPase in the giant axon of the Humboldt squid

PubMed Central

Castillo, Juan P.; De Giorgis, Daniela; Basilio, Daniel; Gadsby, David C.; Rosenthal, Joshua J. C.; Latorre, Ramon; Holmgren, Miguel; Bezanilla, Francisco

2011-01-01

The Na+/K+ pump is a nearly ubiquitous membrane protein in animal cells that uses the free energy of ATP hydrolysis to alternatively export 3Na+ from the cell and import 2K+ per cycle. This exchange of ions produces a steady-state outwardly directed current, which is proportional in magnitude to the turnover rate. Under certain ionic conditions, a sudden voltage jump generates temporally distinct transient currents mediated by the Na+/K+ pump that represent the kinetics of extracellular Na+ binding/release and Na+ occlusion/deocclusion transitions. For many years, these events have escaped a proper thermodynamic treatment due to the relatively small electrical signal. Here, taking the advantages offered by the large diameter of the axons from the squid Dosidicus gigas, we have been able to separate the kinetic components of the transient currents in an extended temperature range and thus characterize the energetic landscape of the pump cycle and those transitions associated with the extracellular release of the first Na+ from the deeply occluded state. Occlusion/deocclusion transition involves large changes in enthalpy and entropy as the ion is exposed to the external milieu for release. Binding/unbinding is substantially less costly, yet larger than predicted for the energetic cost of an ion diffusing through a permeation pathway, which suggests that ion binding/unbinding must involve amino acid side-chain rearrangements at the site. PMID:22143771

Energy landscape of the reactions governing the Na+ deeply occluded state of the Na+/K+-ATPase in the giant axon of the Humboldt squid.

PubMed

Castillo, Juan P; De Giorgis, Daniela; Basilio, Daniel; Gadsby, David C; Rosenthal, Joshua J C; Latorre, Ramon; Holmgren, Miguel; Bezanilla, Francisco

2011-12-20

The Na(+)/K(+) pump is a nearly ubiquitous membrane protein in animal cells that uses the free energy of ATP hydrolysis to alternatively export 3Na(+) from the cell and import 2K(+) per cycle. This exchange of ions produces a steady-state outwardly directed current, which is proportional in magnitude to the turnover rate. Under certain ionic conditions, a sudden voltage jump generates temporally distinct transient currents mediated by the Na(+)/K(+) pump that represent the kinetics of extracellular Na(+) binding/release and Na(+) occlusion/deocclusion transitions. For many years, these events have escaped a proper thermodynamic treatment due to the relatively small electrical signal. Here, taking the advantages offered by the large diameter of the axons from the squid Dosidicus gigas, we have been able to separate the kinetic components of the transient currents in an extended temperature range and thus characterize the energetic landscape of the pump cycle and those transitions associated with the extracellular release of the first Na(+) from the deeply occluded state. Occlusion/deocclusion transition involves large changes in enthalpy and entropy as the ion is exposed to the external milieu for release. Binding/unbinding is substantially less costly, yet larger than predicted for the energetic cost of an ion diffusing through a permeation pathway, which suggests that ion binding/unbinding must involve amino acid side-chain rearrangements at the site.

From agenda-setting to implementation: The role of multisectoral partnerships in addressing urban climate risks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Surminski, Swenja; Leck, Hayley

2017-10-01

Multisectoral partnerships (MSPs) form an increasingly popular and important part of the global climate and disaster risk governance landscape, but the literature offers little critical investigation of this phenomenon. In particular it remains unclear how MSPs can support the transition from agenda setting to implementation in response to multiple current and future pressures threatening the resilience of cities. Through the lens of the London Climate Change Partnership (LCCP) and drawing from other MSP examples, this paper investigates the scope for MSPs to enhance climate adaptation in an urban context. Our paper has two main aims: to expand understanding of the role of MSPs in the adaptation decision process in the context of the wider governance literature, and to shed some light on the complexities of transitioning through that process. To clarify the role of a MSP we propose a distinction between "first generation" and "second generation" MSPs, illustrating the progression from agenda-setting to implementation: "first generation" MSPs are focused on agenda setting and knowledge sharing in order to support decision makers, while "second generation" MSPs are aimed at implementing solutions. We consider this distinction from the perspective of the individual members and their perceptions, motivations, and expectations. We find that the dynamic nature of urban adaptation with a shifting focus from initial agenda setting toward the implementation of actions presents challenges for existing MSPs, particularly such long-established ones like the LCCP. Our investigation shows that "first generation" MSPs can play important roles in agenda setting, but finds little evidence of "second generation" MSPs achieving implementation.

Tunnel Field-Effect Transistors in 2-D Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ilatikhameneh, Hesameddin; Tan, Yaohua; Novakovic, Bozidar; Klimeck, Gerhard; Rahman, Rajib; Appenzeller, Joerg

2015-12-01

In this work, the performance of Tunnel Field-Effect Transistors (TFETs) based on two-dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenide (TMD) materials is investigated by atomistic quantum transport simulations. One of the major challenges of TFETs is their low ON-currents. 2D material based TFETs can have tight gate control and high electric fields at the tunnel junction, and can in principle generate high ON-currents along with a sub-threshold swing smaller than 60 mV/dec. Our simulations reveal that high performance TMD TFETs, not only require good gate control, but also rely on the choice of the right channel material with optimum band gap, effective mass and source/drain doping level. Unlike previous works, a full band atomistic tight binding method is used self-consistently with 3D Poisson equation to simulate ballistic quantum transport in these devices. The effect of the choice of TMD material on the performance of the device and its transfer characteristics are discussed. Moreover, the criteria for high ON-currents are explained with a simple analytic model, showing the related fundamental factors. Finally, the subthreshold swing and energy-delay of these TFETs are compared with conventional CMOS devices.

Transitional care for rheumatic conditions in Europe: current clinical practice and available resources.

PubMed

Clemente, Daniel; Leon, Leticia; Foster, Helen; Carmona, Loreto; Minden, Kirsten

2017-06-09

To assess European pediatric rheumatology providers' current clinical practices and resources used in the transition from child-centered to adult-oriented care. European pediatric rheumatologists were invited to complete a 17-item anonymized e-survey assessing current transition practices, transition policy awareness, and needs in advance of the publication of EULAR/PReS recommendations on transition. The response rate was 121/276 (44%), including responses from 115 centers in 22 European Union countries. Although 32/121 (26%) responded that their centers did not offer transition services, the majority (99%) agreed that a formalized process in transitioning patients to adult care is necessary. A minority (<30%) of respondents stated that they have a written transition policy although 46% have an informal transition process. Designated staff to support transitional care were available in a minority of centers: nurse (35%), physiotherapist (15%), psychologist (15%), social worker (8%), and occupational therapist (2%). The existence of a designated team member to coordinate transition was acknowledged in many centers (64% of respondents) although just 36% use a checklist for young people as part of individualized transitional care. This survey of European pediatric rheumatology providers regarding transitional care practices demonstrates agreement that transitional care is important, and wide variation in current provision of transition services exists.

Trends in body mass index and prevalence of extreme high obesity among Pennsylvania children and adolescents, 2007-2011: promising but cautionary.

PubMed

Lohrmann, David; YoussefAgha, Ahmed; Jayawardene, Wasantha

2014-04-01

We determined current trends and patterns in overweight, obesity, and extreme high obesity among Pennsylvania pre-kindergarten (pre-K) to 12th grade students and simulated future trends. We analyzed body mass index (BMI) of pre-K to 12th grade students from 43 of 67 Pennsylvania counties in 2007 to 2011 to determine trends and to discern transition patterns among BMI status categories for 2009 to 2011. Vinsem simulation, confirmed by Markov chain modeling, generated future prevalence trends. Combined rates of overweight, obesity, and extreme high obesity decreased among secondary school students across the 5 years, and among elementary students, first increased and then markedly decreased. BMI status remained constant for approximately 80% of normal and extreme high obese students, but both decreased and increased among students who initially were overweight and obese; the increase in BMI remained significant. Overall trends in child and adolescent BMI status seemed positive. BMI transition patterns indicated that although overweight and obesity prevalence leveled off, extreme high obesity, especially among elementary students, is projected to increase substantially over time. If current transition patterns continue, the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and extreme high obesity among Pennsylvania students in 2031 is projected to be 16.0%, 6.6%, and 23.2%, respectively.

Effects of anchoring and arc structure on the control authority of a rail plasma actuator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Young-Joon; Gray, Miles; Sirohi, Jayant; Raja, Laxminarayan L.

2017-09-01

Experiments were conducted on a rail plasma actuator (RailPAc) with different electrode cross sections (rails or rods) to assess methods to improve the actuation authority, defined as the impulse generated for a given electrical input. The arc was characterized with electrical measurements and high-speed images, while impulse measurements quantified the actuation authority. A RailPAc power supply capable of delivering  ∼1 kA of current at  ∼100 V was connected to rod electrodes (free-floating with circular cross-section) and rail electrodes (flush-mounted in a flat plate with rectangular cross-section). High-speed images show that the rail electrodes cause the arc to anchor itself to the anode electrode and transit in discrete jumps, while rod electrodes permit the arc to transit smoothly without anchoring. The impulse measurements reveal that the anchoring reduces the actuation authority by  ∼21% compared to a smooth transit, and the effect of anchoring can be suppressed by reducing the gap between the rails to 2 mm. The study further demonstrates that if a smooth transit is achieved, the control authority can be increased with a larger gap and larger arc current. In conclusion, the actuation authority of a RailPAc can be maximized by carefully choosing a gap width that prevents anchoring. Further study is warranted to increase the RailPAc actuation authority by introducing multiple turns of wires beneath the RailPAc to augment the induced magnetic field.

Dependence of transition width on current and critical current in transition-edge sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morgan, K. M.; Pappas, C. G.; Bennett, D. A.; Gard, J. D.; Hays-Wehle, J. P.; Hilton, G. C.; Reintsema, C. D.; Schmidt, D. R.; Ullom, J. N.; Swetz, D. S.

2017-05-01

In superconducting transition-edge sensor X-ray detectors, we observe that as the thermal conductance (G) to the heat bath increases, the resistive transition broadens. Consequently, the sensitivity of films to deposited energy worsens. Using a two-fluid model for the superconducting-to-normal transition in a thin film, we show that this broadening can be attributed to the larger current (I0) necessary for biasing the film at a given point in the transition for higher-G devices, resulting in a higher Ic0/I0 ratio (Ic0 is the film's critical current at zero temperature). To recover a sharper transition, we fabricated rectangular films with varying numbers of internal normal-metal structures while keeping G constant, allowing the independent variation of both I0 and Ic0. We show that it is possible to manipulate the transition width and G independently, thus enabling fast thermal sensors with an excellent energy resolution.

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

NONE

More than 3,000 electric utilities in the United States provide electricity to sustain the Nation`s economic growth and promote the well-being of its inhabitants. At the end of 1996, the net generating capability of the electric power industry stood at more than 776,000 megawatts. Sales to ultimate consumers in 1996 exceeded 3.1 trillion kilowatthours at a total cost of more than $210 billion. In addition, the industry added over 9 million new customers during the period from 1990 through 1996. The above statistics provide an indication of the size of the electric power industry. Propelled by events of the recentmore » past, the industry is currently in the midst of changing from a vertically integrated and regulated monopoly to a functionally unbundled industry with a competitive market for power generation. Advances in power generation technology, perceived inefficiencies in the industry, large variations in regional electricity prices, and the trend to competitive markets in other regulated industries have all contributed to the transition. Industry changes brought on by this movement are ongoing, and the industry will remain in a transitional state for the next few years or more. During the transition, many issues are being examined, evaluated, and debated. This report focuses on three of them: how wholesale and retail prices have changed since 1990; the power and ability of independent system operators (ISOs) to provide transmission services on a nondiscriminatory basis; and how issues that affect consumer choice, including stranded costs and the determination of retail prices, may be handled either by the US Congress or by State legislatures.« less

Design of a variable width pulse generator feasible for manual or automatic control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vegas, I.; Antoranz, P.; Miranda, J. M.; Franco, F. J.

2017-01-01

A variable width pulse generator featuring more than 4-V peak amplitude and less than 10-ns FWHM is described. In this design the width of the pulses is controlled by means of the control signal slope. Thus, a variable transition time control circuit (TTCC) is also developed, based on the charge and discharge of a capacitor by means of two tunable current sources. Additionally, it is possible to activate/deactivate the pulses when required, therefore allowing the creation of any desired pulse pattern. Furthermore, the implementation presented here can be electronically controlled. In conclusion, due to its versatility, compactness and low cost it can be used in a wide variety of applications.

Power Management Based Current Control Technique for Photovoltaic-Battery Assisted Wind-Hydro Hybrid System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ram Prabhakar, J.; Ragavan, K.

2013-07-01

This article proposes new power management based current control strategy for integrated wind-solar-hydro system equipped with battery storage mechanism. In this control technique, an indirect estimation of load current is done, through energy balance model, DC-link voltage control and droop control. This system features simpler energy management strategy and necessitates few power electronic converters, thereby minimizing the cost of the system. The generation-demand (G-D) management diagram is formulated based on the stochastic weather conditions and demand, which would likely moderate the gap between both. The features of management strategy deploying energy balance model include (1) regulating DC-link voltage within specified tolerances, (2) isolated operation without relying on external electric power transmission network, (3) indirect current control of hydro turbine driven induction generator and (4) seamless transition between grid-connected and off-grid operation modes. Furthermore, structuring of the hybrid system with appropriate selection of control variables enables power sharing among each energy conversion systems and battery storage mechanism. By addressing these intricacies, it is viable to regulate the frequency and voltage of the remote network at load end. The performance of the proposed composite scheme is demonstrated through time-domain simulation in MATLAB/Simulink environment.

76 FR 71934 - Tobacco Transition Payment Program; Availability of Current Assessment Methods Determination...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-21

... DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Farm Service Agency Tobacco Transition Payment Program; Availability of Current Assessment Methods Determination Document AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation and Farm Service... current methods used to calculate manufacturer and importer assessments that fund the Tobacco Transition...

Parent Support and Stress among First-Generation and Continuing-Generation Female Students during the Transition to College

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sy, Susan R.; Fong, Kristen; Carter, Rebecca; Boehme, Julia; Alpert, Amy

2012-01-01

This study compares first-generation and continuing-generation female college students in terms of: (a) level of parents' emotional and informational support; (b) level of students' stress; and (c) the relationship between both types of parent support and students' stress during the transition to college. We collected survey data from an…

Temperature dependence of the enhanced inverse spin Hall voltage in Pt/Antiferromagnetic/ Y3Fe5O12

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brangham, J. T.; Lee, A. J.; Cheng, Y.; Yu, S. S.; Dunsiger, S. R.; Page, M. R.; Hammel, P. C.; Yang, F. Y.

The generation, propagation, and detection of spin currents are of intense interest in the field of spintronics. Spin current generation by FMR spin pumping using Y3Fe5O12 (YIG) and spin current detection by the inverse spin Hall effect (ISHE) in metals such as Pt have been well studied. This is due to YIG's exceptionally low damping and insulating behavior and the large spin Hall angle of Pt. Previously, our group showed that the ISHE voltages are significantly enhanced by adding a thin intermediate layer of an antiferromagnet (AFM) between Pt and YIG at room temperature. Recent theoretical work predicts a mechanism for this enhancement as well as the temperature dependence of the ISHE voltages of metal/AFM/YIG trilayers. The predictions show a maximum in the ISHE voltages for these systems near the magnetic phase transition temperature of the AFM. Here we present experimental results showing the temperature dependence for Pt/AFM/YIG structures with various AFMs. DOE Grant No. DE-SC0001304.

Study of carrier-mobility of organic thin film by dark-injection time-of-flight and electric-field-induced optical second-harmonic generation measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xin; Sunaga, Masashi; Taguchi, Dai; Manaka, Takaaki; Lin, Hong; Iwamoto, Mitsumasa

2017-06-01

By using dark-injection time-of-flight (ToF) and time-resolved electric-field-induced optical second-harmonic generation (EFISHG) measurements, we studied carrier mobility μ of pentacene (Pen) thin film of ITO/Pen/Al and Au/Pen/polyimide/ITO diodes where pentacene film is ∼100 nm in thickness. ToF showed that determination of transit time tr from trace of transient currents is difficult owing to large capacitive charging current. On the other hand, optical EFISHG is free from this charging current, and allows us to calculate hole and electron mobility as μh = 1.8 ×10-4 cm2/Vs and μe = 7.6 ×10-7 cm2/Vs, respectively, by using the relation tr = d / μ ∫tc tr E (0) dt (d : Pen thickness, E (0) : electric field across Pen), instead of the conventional relationship tr =d2 / μV (V : voltage across Pen). Time-resolved EFISHG measurement is useful for the determination of carrier mobility of organic thin film in organic devices.

"No place like home": Aging in post-reform Beijing.

PubMed

Yu, Jie; Rosenberg, Mark W

2017-07-01

This study shows the Western theorization and interpretation of aging, place and health are not well suited to a non-western case. The current generation of older Chinese has experienced the transition from a planned economy to a socialist market economy. Urban changes have taken place in various ways. This study explains the spatio-temporal processes of older people with their changing places by conducting in-depth interviews with 47 older people living at home in Beijing. Their generational consciousness and old place identities are deeply rooted in pre-reform Collectivism and shaped by socialist ideologies of the past. The representation of the old identity among older people is circumscribed by their living situations and selectively manifested. In most cases, there are limited mechanisms formed to recreate positive place meanings and reintegrate older people and place. The processes reflect the growing social inequality and changing cultural values in a society in transition. Growing social inequality and changing cultural values have a great impact on older people's health and well-being. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dynamic Behaviors of Materials under Ramp Wave Loading on Compact Pulsed Power Generators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Jianheng; Luo, Binqiang; Wang, Guiji; Chong, Tao; Tan, Fuli; Liu, Cangli; Sun, Chengwei

The technique using intense current to produce magnetic pressure provides a unique way to compress matter near isentrope to high density without obvious temperature increment, which is characterized as ramp wave loading, and firstly developed by Sandia in 1998. Firstly recent advances on compact pulsed power generators developed in our laboratory, such as CQ-4, CQ-3-MMAF and CQ-7 devices, are simply introduced here, which devoted to ramp wave loading from 50GPa to 200 GPa, and to ultrahigh-velocity flyer launching up to 30 km/s. And then, we show our progress in data processing methods and experiments of isentropic compression conducted on these devices mentioned above. The suitability of Gruneisen EOS and Vinet EOS are validated by isentropic experiments of tantalum, and the parameters of SCG constitutive equation of aluminum and copper are modified to give better prediction under isentropic compression. Phase transition of bismuth and tin are investigated under different initial temperatures, parameters of Helmholtz free energy and characteristic relaxation time in kinetic phase transition equation are calibrated. Supported by NNSF of China under Contract No.11327803 and 11176002

Nanomorphology Effects in Semiconductors with Native Ferromagnetism: Hierarchical Europium (II) Oxide Tubes Prepared via a Topotactic Nanostructure Transition.

PubMed

Trepka, Bastian; Erler, Philipp; Selzer, Severin; Kollek, Tom; Boldt, Klaus; Fonin, Mikhail; Nowak, Ulrich; Wolf, Daniel; Lubk, Axel; Polarz, Sebastian

2018-01-01

Semiconductors with native ferromagnetism barely exist and defined nanostructures are almost unknown. This lack impedes the exploration of a new class of materials characterized by a direct combination of effects on the electronic system caused by quantum confinement effects with magnetism. A good example is EuO for which currently no reliable routes for nanoparticle synthesis can be established. Bottom-up approaches applicable to other oxides fail because of the labile oxidation state +II. Instead of targeting a direct synthesis, the two steps-"structure control" and "chemical transformation"-are separated. The generation of a transitional, hybrid nanophase is followed by its conversion into EuO under full conservation of all morphological features. Hierarchical EuO materials are now accessible in the shape of oriented nanodisks stacked to tubular particles. Magnetically, the coupling of either vortex or onion states has been found. An unexpected temperature dependence is governed by thermally activated transitions between these states. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Frequency modulation spectroscopy with a THz quantum-cascade laser.

PubMed

Eichholz, R; Richter, H; Wienold, M; Schrottke, L; Hey, R; Grahn, H T; Hübers, H-W

2013-12-30

We report on a terahertz spectrometer for high-resolution molecular spectroscopy based on a quantum-cascade laser. High-frequency modulation (up to 50 MHz) of the laser driving current produces a simultaneous modulation of the frequency and amplitude of the laser output. The modulation generates sidebands, which are symmetrically positioned with respect to the laser carrier frequency. The molecular transition is probed by scanning the sidebands across it. In this way, the absorption and the dispersion caused by the molecular transition are measured. The signals are modeled by taking into account the simultaneous modulation of the frequency and amplitude of the laser emission. This allows for the determination of the strength of the frequency as well as amplitude modulation of the laser and of molecular parameters such as pressure broadening.

Proceedings Papers of the AFSC (Air Force Systems Command) Avionics Standardization Conference (2nd) Held at Dayton, Ohio on 30 November-2 December 1982. Volume 2

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-11-01

groups. The Air Force is concerned with such issues such as resource allocation to foster and prcomotc standards, transitioning from current to future...perform automatic resource allocation , generate MATE Intermediate code, and provide formatted output listings. d. MATE Test Executive (MTE). The MTE...AFFECTED BY THESE STANDARDS TO KNOW JUST WHAT IS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THEM: THE HARDWARE; THE COMPLIANCE TESTING ; THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO FACILITATE DESIGN

Cold starting of fluorescent lamps - part I: a description of the transient regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Langer, Reinhard; Garner, Richard; Paul, Irina; Horn, Siegfried; Tidecks, Reinhard

2016-10-01

In this paper we give a proposal for the transient behaviour of a cold-started fluorescent lamp, from the generation of the first conductive channel over the normal and abnormal glow discharge and the glow-to-arc (GTA) transition to the arc discharge in the steady state. Starting from the equilibrium voltage-current characteristics of the lamp and considering recent experimental results a qualitative description of the transient regime is developed, which was so far not available in the literature.

Critical threshold behavior for steady-state internal transport barriers in burning plasmas.

PubMed

García, J; Giruzzi, G; Artaud, J F; Basiuk, V; Decker, J; Imbeaux, F; Peysson, Y; Schneider, M

2008-06-27

Burning tokamak plasmas with internal transport barriers are investigated by means of integrated modeling simulations. The barrier sustainment in steady state, differently from the barrier formation process, is found to be characterized by a critical behavior, and the critical number of the phase transition is determined. Beyond a power threshold, alignment of self-generated and noninductively driven currents occurs and steady state becomes possible. This concept is applied to simulate a steady-state scenario within the specifications of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.

Transition metal catalysis in the generation of petroleum and natural gas. Progress report, [1992--1993

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

Mango, F.

1993-08-01

A new hypothesis is introduced for the generation of petroleum and natural gas. The transition metals, activated under the reducing conditions of diagenesis, are proposed as catalysts in the generation of light hydrocarbons. The objective of this proposal is to test that hypothesis. Transition metals (Ni, V, Ti, Co, Fe), in kerogen, porphyrins, and as pure compounds, will be tested under catagenic conditions for catalytic activity in the conversion of normal paraffins and hydrogen into light hydrocarbons. If the hypothesis is correct, kerogenous transition metals should become catalytically active under the reducing conditions of diagenesis and catalyze the conversion ofmore » paraffins into the light hydrocarbons seen in petroleum. Moreover, the C{sub 1}-C{sub 4} hydrocarbons generated catalytically should be similar in molecular and isotopic compositions to natural gas.« less

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

Fajardo, E. A.; Zülicke, U.; Winkler, R.

We discuss the universal spin dynamics in quasi-one-dimensional systems including the real spin in narrow-gap semiconductors like InAs and InSb, the valley pseudospin in staggered single-layer graphene, and the combination of real spin and valley pseudospin characterizing single-layer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) such as MoS2, WS2, MoS2, and WSe2. All these systems can be described by the same Dirac-like Hamiltonian. Spin-dependent observable effects in one of these systems thus have counterparts in each of the other systems. Effects discussed in more detail include equilibrium spin currents, current-induced spin polarization (Edelstein effect), and spin currents generated via adiabatic spin pumping. Ourmore » work also suggests that a long-debated spin-dependent correction to the position operator in single-band models should be absent.« less

Extragalactic magnetic fields unlikely generated at the electroweak phase transition

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

Wagstaff, Jacques M.; Banerjee, Robi, E-mail: jwagstaff@hs.uni-hamburg.de, E-mail: banerjee@hs.uni-hamburg.de

2016-01-01

In this paper we show that magnetic fields generated at the electroweak phase transition are most likely too weak to explain the void magnetic fields apparently observed today unless they have considerable helicity. We show that, in the simplest estimates, the helicity naturally produced in conjunction with the baryon asymmetry is too small to explain observations, which require a helicity fraction at least of order 10{sup −14}–10{sup −10} depending on the void fields constraint used. Therefore new mechanisms to generate primordial helicity are required if magnetic fields generated during the electroweak phase transition should explain the extragalactic fields.

Study protocol: improving the transition of care from a non-network hospital back to the patient's medical home.

PubMed

Ayele, Roman A; Lawrence, Emily; McCreight, Marina; Fehling, Kelty; Peterson, Jamie; Glasgow, Russell E; Rabin, Borsika A; Burke, Robert; Battaglia, Catherine

2017-02-10

The process of transitioning Veterans to primary care following a non-Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitalization can be challenging. Poor transitions result in medical complications and increased hospital readmissions. The goal of this transition of care quality improvement (QI) project is to identify gaps in the current transition process and implement an intervention that bridges the gap and improves the current transition of care process within the Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS). We will employ qualitative methods to understand the current transition of care process back to VA primary care for Veterans who received care in a non-VA hospital in ECHCS. We will conduct in-depth semi-structured interviews with Veterans hospitalized in 2015 in non-VA hospitals as well as both VA and non-VA providers, staff, and administrators involved in the current care transition process. Participants will be recruited using convenience and snowball sampling. Qualitative data analysis will be guided by conventional content analysis and Lean Six Sigma process improvement tools. We will use VA claim data to identify the top ten non-VA hospitals serving rural and urban Veterans by volume and Veterans that received inpatient services at non-VA hospitals. Informed by both qualitative and quantitative data, we will then develop a transitions care coordinator led intervention to improve the transitions process. We will test the transition of care coordinator intervention using repeated improvement cycles incorporating salient factors in value stream mapping that are important for an efficient and effective transition process. Furthermore, we will complete a value stream map of the transition process at two other VA Medical Centers and test whether an implementation strategy of audit and feedback (the value stream map of the current transition process with the Transition of Care Dashboard) versus audit and feedback with Transition Nurse facilitation of the process using the Resource Guide and Transition of Care Dashboard improves the transition process, continuity of care, patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. Our current transition of care process has shortcomings. An intervention utilizing a transition care coordinator has the potential to improve this process. Transitioning Veterans to primary care following a non-VA hospitalization is a crucial step for improving care coordination for Veterans.

Role of thermal heating on the voltage induced insulator-metal transition in VO2.

PubMed

Zimmers, A; Aigouy, L; Mortier, M; Sharoni, A; Wang, Siming; West, K G; Ramirez, J G; Schuller, Ivan K

2013-02-01

We show that the main mechanism for the dc voltage or dc current induced insulator-metal transition in vanadium dioxide VO(2) is due to local Joule heating and not a purely electronic effect. This "tour de force" experiment was accomplished by using the fluorescence spectra of rare-earth doped micron sized particles as local temperature sensors. As the insulator-metal transition is induced by a dc voltage or dc current, the local temperature reaches the transition temperature indicating that Joule heating plays a predominant role. This has critical implications for the understanding of the dc voltage or dc current induced insulator-metal transition and has a direct impact on applications which use dc voltage or dc current to externally drive the transition.

Using economy of means to evolve transition rules within 2D cellular automata.

PubMed

Ripps, David L

2010-01-01

Running a cellular automaton (CA) on a rectangular lattice is a time-honored method for studying artificial life on a digital computer. Commonly, the researcher wishes to investigate some specific or general mode of behavior, say, the ability of a coherent pattern of points to glide within the lattice, or to generate copies of itself. This technique has a problem: how to design the transitions table-the set of distinct rules that specify the next content of a cell from its current content and that of its near neighbors. Often the table is painstakingly designed manually, rule by rule. The problem is exacerbated by the potentially vast number of individual rules that need be specified to cover all combinations of center and neighbors when there are several symbols in the alphabet of the CA. In this article a method is presented to have the set of rules evolve automatically while running the CA. The transition table is initially empty, with rules being added as the need arises. A novel principle drives the evolution: maximum economy of means-maximizing the reuse of rules introduced on previous cycles. This method may not be a panacea applicable to all CA studies. Nevertheless, it is sufficiently potent to evolve sets of rules and associated patterns of points that glide (periodically regenerate themselves at another location) and to generate gliding "children" that then "mate" by collision.

Transitions in low Re pumping by oscillating plate arrays of mayfly nymphs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiger, Ken; Sensenig, Andrew; Shultz, Jeffrey

2008-11-01

Mayfly nymphs are aquatic insects which alter behavior and metabolism to accommodate changes in ambient dissolved oxygen. Many species can generate a ventilation current to compensate for low oxygen levels by beating two linear arrays of plate-like gills that line the lateral edge of the abdomen. The oscillation Reynolds number associated with the gill motion changes with animal size, varying over a span of Re = 2 to 50 depending on age and species. Thus mayflies provide a novel system model for studying ontological changes in pumping mechanisms associated with transitions from a viscous- to inertia-dominated flow. Observation of the detailed 3-D kinematics of the gill motion of the species Centroptilum triangulifer reveal that the mayfly makes a marked transition in stroke motion when Re>5, with a corresponding shift in mean flow from the ventral to the dorsal direction. Results of the time-resolved flow within the inter-gill space shows that for Re>12 the plate motion generates a complex array of bound and shed vortices, which interact to produce an intermittent dorsally directed jet. For the Re<5, distinct bound vortices are still observed, but increased diffusive effects creates vortices which simultaneously envelope several gills, forcing a new flow pattern to emerge. Details of the flow mechanism and its implications will be discussed. This work is supported by NSF under grant CBET-0730907.

Narrating the social relations of initiating injecting drug use: transitions in self and society.

PubMed

Rhodes, Tim; Bivol, Stela; Scutelniciuc, Otilia; Hunt, Neil; Bernays, Sarah; Busza, Joanna

2011-11-01

Few studies have explored drug injectors' accounts of their initiation of others into injecting. There also lacks research on the social relations of initiating injecting drug use in transitional society. We draw upon analyses of 42 audio-recorded semi-structured interviews with current and recent injecting drug users, conducted in 2009 in the Republic of Moldova, a transitional society of south-eastern Europe. A thematic analysis informed by narrative theory was undertaken, focusing on accounts of self-initiation and the initiation of others. We also reflect upon the potential of peer efforts to dissuade would-be injectors from initiating. Findings emphasise initiation into injecting as a symbolic identity transition, enabled through everyday social relations. In turn, our analysis locates the drug transitions of the self inside an account of societal transition. We find that personal narratives of self transition are made sense of, and presented, in relation to broader narratives of social transition and change. Furthermore, we explore how narratives of self-initiation, and especially the initiation of others, serve to negotiate initiation as a moral boundary crossing. Self-initiation is located inside an account of transitioning social values. In looking back, initiation is depicted as a feature of a historically situated aberration in normative values experienced by the 'transition generation'. Accounts of the initiation of others (which a third of our sample describe) seek to qualify the act as acceptable given the circumstances. These accounts also connect the contingency of agency with broader narratives of social condition. Lastly, the power of peers to dissuade others from initiating injection was doubted, in part because most self-initiations were accomplished as a product of agency enabled by environment as well as in the face of peer attempts to dissuade. Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Demonstration of the role of turbulence-driven poloidal flow generation in the L-H transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, C. X.; Xu, Y. H.; Luo, J. R.; Mao, J. S.; Liu, B. H.; Li, J. G.; Wan, B. N.; Wan, Y. X.

2000-05-01

This paper presents the evidence for the role of turbulence-driven poloidal flow generation in the L-H transition induced by a turbulent heating pulse on the HT-6M tokamak. It is found that the poloidal flow υθ plays a key role in developing the electric field Er and triggering the transition. The acceleration of υθ across the transition is clearly correlated with the enhancement of the Reynolds stress gradient.

A review of visible, near-IR, and mid-IR transitions in rare-earth doped glass waveguides for remote sensing and LIDAR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jha, Animesh

2006-12-01

In the review article we explain the recent investigations on rare-earth doped glass and optical fibres for designing lasers which may be suitable for remote sensing and LIDAR applications. The paper explains the importance of engineering efficient lasing transitions in visible (480-650 nm) for generating UV lasers via one-stage harmonic generation. Besides visible transitions, we also demonstrate the transitions in near- and mid-IR via near-IR pumping scheme.

Method for calibration-free scanned-wavelength modulation spectroscopy for gas sensing

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

Hanson, Ronald K.; Jeffries, Jay B.; Sun, Kai

A method of calibration-free scanned-wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) absorption sensing is provided by obtaining absorption lineshape measurements of a gas sample on a sensor using 1f-normalized WMS-2f where an injection current to an injection current-tunable diode laser (TDL) is modulated at a frequency f, where a wavelength modulation and an intensity modulation of the TDL are simultaneously generated, extracting using a numerical lock-in program and a low-pass filter appropriate band-width WMS-nf (n=1, 2, . . . ) signals, where the WMS-nf signals are harmonics of the f, determining a physical property of the gas sample according to ratios of themore » WMS-nf signals, determining the zero-absorption background using scanned-wavelength WMS, and determining non-absorption losses using at least two of the harmonics, where a need for a non-absorption baseline measurement is removed from measurements in environments where collision broadening has blended transition linewidths, where calibration free WMS measurements without knowledge of the transition linewidth is enabled.« less

Sensing Floquet-Majorana fermions via heat transfer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molignini, Paolo; van Nieuwenburg, Evert; Chitra, R.

2017-09-01

Time periodic modulations of the transverse field in the closed X Y spin-1/2 chain generate a very rich dynamical phase diagram, with a hierarchy of Zn topological phases characterized by differing numbers of Floquet-Majorana modes. This rich phase diagram survives when the system is coupled to dissipative end reservoirs. Circumventing the obstacle of preparing and measuring quasienergy configurations endemic to Floquet-Majorana detection schemes, we show that stroboscopic heat transport and spin density are robust observables to detect both the dynamical phase transitions and Majorana modes in dissipative settings. We find that the heat current provides very clear signatures of these Floquet topological phase transitions. In particular, we observe that the derivative of the heat current, with respect to a control parameter, changes sign at the boundaries separating topological phases with differing nonzero numbers of Floquet-Majorana modes. We present a simple scheme to directly count the number of Floquet-Majorana modes in a phase from the Fourier transform of the local spin density profile. Our results are valid provided the anisotropies are not strong and can be easily implemented in quantum engineered systems.

Investigations of current limiting properties of the MgB2 wires subjected to pulse overcurrents in the benchtop tester

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Lin; Majoros, M.; Campbell, A. M.; Coombs, T.; Harrison, S.; Sargent, P.; Haslett, M.; Husband, M.

2007-04-01

A laboratory scale desktop test system including a cryogenic system, an AC pulse generation system and a real time data acquisition program in LabView/DAQmx, has been developed to evaluate the quench properties of MgB2 wires as an element in a superconducting fault current limiter under pulse overcurrents at 25 K in self-field conditions. The MgB2 samples started from a superconducting state and demonstrated good current limiting properties characterized by a fast transition to the normal state during the first half of the cycle and a continuously limiting effect in the subsequent cycles without burnouts. The experimental and numerical simulation results on the quench behaviour indicate the feasibility of using MgB2 for future superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) applications. This work is supported by Rolls-Royce Plc and the UK Department of Trade & Industry (DTI).

Best Practices for NPT Transit Matching

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

Gilligan, Kimberly V.; Whitaker, J. Michael; Oakberg, John A.

2016-09-01

Transit matching is the process for relating or matching reports of shipments and receipts submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Transit matching is a component used by the IAEA in drawing safeguards conclusions and performing investigative analysis. Transit matching is part of IAEA safeguards activities and the State evaluation process, and it is included in the annual Safeguards Implementation Report (SIR). Annually, the IAEA currently receives reports of ~900,000 nuclear material transactions, of which ~500,000 are for domestic and foreign transfers. Of these the IAEA software can automatically match (i.e., machine match) about 95% of the domestic transfersmore » and 25% of the foreign transfers. Given the increasing demands upon IAEA resources, it is highly desirable for the machine-matching process to match as many transfers as possible. Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have conducted an investigation funded by the National Nuclear Security Administration through the Next Generation Safeguards Initiative to identify opportunities to strengthen IAEA transit matching. Successful matching, and more specifically machine matching, is contingent on quality data from the reporting States. In February 2016, ORNL hosted representatives from three States, the IAEA, and Euratom to share results from past studies and to discuss the processes, policies, and procedures associated with State reporting for transit matching. Drawing on each entity's experience and knowledge, ORNL developed a best practices document to be shared with the international safeguards community to strengthen transit matching. This paper shares the recommendations that resulted from this strategic meeting and the next steps being taken to strengthen transit matching.« less

Progress in American Superconductor's HTS wire and optimization for fault current limiting systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malozemoff, Alexis P.

2016-11-01

American Superconductor has developed composite coated conductor tape-shaped wires using high temperature superconductor (HTS) on a flexible substrate with laminated metal stabilizer. Such wires enable many applications, each requiring specific optimization. For example, coils for HTS rotating machinery require increased current density J at 25-50 K. A collaboration with Argonne, Brookhaven and Los Alamos National Laboratories and several universities has increased J using an optimized combination of precipitates and ion irradiation defects in the HTS. Major commercial opportunities also exist to enhance electric power grid resiliency by linking substations with distribution-voltage HTS power cables [10]. Such links provide alternative power sources if one substation's transmission-voltage power is compromised. But they must also limit fault currents which would otherwise be increased by such distribution-level links. This can be done in an HTS cable, exploiting the superconductor-to-resistive transition when current exceeds the wires' critical J. A key insight is that such transitions are usually nonuniform; so the wire must be designed to prevent localized hot spots from damaging the wire or even generating gas bubbles in the cable causing dielectric breakdown. Analysis shows that local heating can be minimized by increasing the composite tape's total thickness, decreasing its total resistance in the normal state and decreasing its critical J. This conflicts with other desirable wire characteristics. Optimization of these conflicting requirements is discussed.

Discharge start-up and ramp-up development for NSTX-U and MAST-U

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Battaglia, D. J.; Boyer, M. D.; Gerhardt, S. P.; Menard, J. E.; Mueller, D.; Cunningham, G.; Kirk, A.; Kogan, L.; McArdle, G.; Pangione, L.; Thornton, A. J.; Ren, E.

2017-10-01

A collaborative modeling effort is underway to develop robust inductive start-up and ramp-up scenarios for NSTX-U and MAST-U. These complementary spherical tokamak devices aim to generate the physics basis for achieving steady-state, high-beta and high-confinement plasma discharges with a self-consistent solution for managing the divertor heat flux. High-performance discharges in these devices require sufficient plasma elongation (κ = 2.4 - 2.8) to maximize the bootstrap and beam-driven current drive, increase MHD stability at high Ip and high βN, and realize advanced divertor geometries such as the snowflake and super-X. Achieving the target elongation on NSTX-U is enabled by an L-H transition in the current ramp-up that slows the current diffusion and maintains a low internal inductance (li <= 0.8). Modeling focuses on developing scenarios that achieve a suitable field null for breakdown and discharge conditions conducive to an early L-H transition while maintaining vertical and MHD stability, with appropriate margin for variation in experimental conditions. The toroidal currents induced in conducting structures and the specifications of the real-time control and power supply systems are unique constraints for the two devices. Work Supported by U.S. DOE Contract No. DE-AC02-09CH11466 and the RCUK Energy Programme [Grant Number EP/P012450/1].

Large Angle Satellite Attitude Maneuvers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cochran, J. E.; Junkins, J. L.

1975-01-01

Two methods are proposed for performing large angle reorientation maneuvers. The first method is based upon Euler's rotation theorem; an arbitrary reorientation is ideally accomplished by rotating the spacecraft about a line which is fixed in both the body and in space. This scheme has been found to be best suited for the case in which the initial and desired attitude states have small angular velocities. The second scheme is more general in that a general class of transition trajectories is introduced which, in principle, allows transfer between arbitrary orientation and angular velocity states. The method generates transition maneuvers in which the uncontrolled (free) initial and final states are matched in orientation and angular velocity. The forced transition trajectory is obtained by using a weighted average of the unforced forward integration of the initial state and the unforced backward integration of the desired state. The current effort is centered around practical validation of this second class of maneuvers. Of particular concern is enforcement of given control system constraints and methods for suboptimization by proper selection of maneuver initiation and termination times. Analogous reorientation strategies which force smooth transition in angular momentum and/or rotational energy are under consideration.

Turbulence and sheared flow dynamics during q95 and density scans across the L-H transition on DIII-D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Zheng; McKee, George; Gohil, Punit; Schmitz, Lothar; Eldon, David; Grierson, Brian; Kriete, Matt; Rhodes, Terry; Petty, Craig

2017-10-01

Measurements of long wavelength density fluctuation characteristics have been obtained in the edge of Deuterium (D) plasmas across the L-H transition on DIII-D during density and q95 scans. The relative density fluctuation amplitude measured by Beam Emission Spectroscopy (BES) increases with higher q95. The power threshold is found to increase with plasma current (i.e., lower q95) but with complex density dependence: the largest increase of PLH is seen at ne 3.2e19 m-3. Interestingly, a dual counter-propagating mode is observed for cases when PLH is low. The existence of the dual mode is correlated with increasing flow shear. Estimation of the turbulence kinetic energy transfer from turbulence to the flow increases prior to the transition. The complex behaviors of the turbulence characteristics and dual frequency modes interactions impact the flow shear generation, the transition process and the power threshold scaling. Work supported by the US Department of Energy under DE-FG02-08ER54999, DE-AC02-09CH11466, DE-FC02-04ER54698, and DE-AC52-07NA27344.

Cross-correlation spectroscopy study of the transient spark discharge in atmospheric pressure air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janda, Mário; Hoder, Tomáš; Sarani, Abdollah; Brandenburg, Ronny; Machala, Zdenko

2017-05-01

A streamer-to-spark transition in a self-pulsing transient spark (TS) discharge of positive polarity in air was investigated using cross-correlation spectroscopy. The entire temporal evolution of the TS was recorded for several spectral bands and lines: the second positive system of N2 (337.1 nm), the first negative system of {{{{N}}}2}+ (391.4 nm), and atomic oxygen (777.1 nm). The results enable the visualization of the different phases of discharge development including the primary streamer, the secondary streamer, and the transition to the spark. The spatio-temporal distribution of the reduced electric field strength during the primary streamer phase of the TS was determined and discussed. The transition from the streamer to the spark proceeds very fast within about 10 ns for the TS with a current pulse repetition rate in the range 8-10 kHz. This is attributed to memory effects, leading to a low net electron attachment rate and faster propagation of the secondary streamer. Gas heating, accumulation of species such as oxygen atoms from the previous TS pulses, as well as generation of charged particles by stepwise ionization seem to play important roles contributing to this fast streamer-to-spark transition.

Status of Credentialing Structures Related to Secondary Transition: A State-Level Policy Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simonsen, Monica L.; Novak, Jeanne A.; Mazzotti, Valerie L.

2018-01-01

To understand the current status of transition-related credentialing systems in driving personnel preparation, it is necessary to identify which state education and rehabilitation services agencies are currently providing certification and licensure in the area of secondary transition. The purpose of this study was to examine the current state of…

Formational Turning Points in the Transition to College: Understanding How Communication Events Shape First-Generation Students' Pedagogical and Interpersonal Relationships with Their College Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Tiffany R.

2014-01-01

In the present study, I explored student-teacher interaction, student-teacher relationship formation and development, and the ways in which student-teacher interaction and relationships facilitated support and persistence for first-generation (FG) students during the transition to college. Using transition theory as a sensitizing framework, I took…

Baryogenesis via leptonic CP-violating phase transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pascoli, Silvia; Turner, Jessica; Zhou, Ye-Ling

2018-05-01

We propose a new mechanism to generate a lepton asymmetry based on the vacuum CP-violating phase transition (CPPT). This approach differs from classical thermal leptogenesis as a specific seesaw model, and its UV completion, need not be specified. The lepton asymmetry is generated via the dynamically realised coupling of the Weinberg operator during the phase transition. This mechanism provides a connection with low-energy neutrino observables.

Investigating High Frequency Magnetic Activity During Local Helicity Injection on the Pegasus Toroidal Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richner, N. J.; Bongard, M. W.; Fonck, R. J.; Pachicano, J. L.; Perry, J. M.; Reusch, J. A.

2017-10-01

Understanding the current drive mechanism(s) of Local Helicity Injection (LHI) is needed for confident scaling to next-step devices. 3D resistive MHD NIMROD simulations ascribe large-scale reconnection events of helical injector current streams as a current drive mechanism. The events generate n = 1 B fluctuations on outboard Mirnov coils, consistent with experiment. New results suggest additional mechanisms are also active during LHI. Reconnection-driven ion heating is better correlated with high frequency activity than the n = 1 bursts. Experiments with inboard injectors can exhibit an abrupt ( 250 μs) transition to a reduced MHD state on outboard Mirnovs where the n = 1 feature vanishes, while still maintaining current growth and/or sustainment. A new insertable magnetics probe was developed to investigate these phenomena. It measures TeXBz up to 3.5 MHz at 15 points over a 14 cm radial extent (ΔR 1 cm). Measurements with this probe are consistent with the outboard Mirnovs when positioned far from the plasma boundary. However, measurements near the plasma edge lack the reduction in broadband power (up to 2 MHz) following the transition. The probe shows power is concentrated at higher frequencies during LHI, with mostly flat B spectra up to 600-800 kHz ( fci) at which there is a resonance-like feature; at higher frequencies, the power decreases. These measurements suggest short-wavelength activity may play a significant role in LHI current drive. Work supported by US DOE Grant DE-FG02-96ER54375.

West Florida shelf circulation and temperature budget for the 1999 spring transition

USGS Publications Warehouse

He, Ruoying; Weisberg, Robert H.

2002-01-01

Mid-latitude continental shelves undergo a spring transition as the net surface heat flux changes from cooling to warming. Using in situ data and a numerical circulation model we investigate the circulation and temperature budget on the West Florida Continental Shelf (WFS) for the spring transition of 1999. The model is a regional adaptation of the primitive equation, Princeton Ocean Model forced by NCEP reanalysis wind and heat flux fields and by river inflows. Based on agreements between the modeled and observed fields we use the model to draw inferences on how the surface momentum and heat fluxes affect the seasonal and synoptic scale variability. We account for a strong southeastward current at mid-shelf by the baroclinic response to combined wind and buoyancy forcing, and we show how this local forcing leads to annually occurring cold and low salinity tongues. Through term-by-term analyses of the temperature budget we describe the WFS temperature evolution in spring. Heat flux largely controls the seasonal transition, whereas ocean circulation largely controls the synoptic scale variability. These two processes, however, are closely linked. Bottom topography and coastline geometry are important in generating regions of convergence and divergence. Rivers contribute to the local hydrography and are important ecologically. Along with upwelling, river inflows facilitate frontal aggregation of nutrients and the spring formation of a high concentration chlorophyll plume near the shelf break (the so-called ‘Green River’) coinciding with the cold, low salinity tongues. These features originate by local, shelf-wide forcing; the Loop Current is not an essential ingredient.

Quantum incommensurate skyrmion crystals and commensurate to in-commensurate transitions in cold atoms and materials with spin-orbit couplings in a Zeeman field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Fadi; Ye, Jinwu; Liu, Wu-Ming

2017-08-01

In this work, we study strongly interacting spinor atoms in a lattice subject to a two dimensional (2d) anisotropic Rashba type of spin orbital coupling (SOC) and an Zeeman field. We find the interplay between the Zeeman field and the SOC provides a new platform to host rich and novel classes of quantum commensurate and in-commensurate phases, excitations and phase transitions. These commensurate phases include two collinear states at low and high Zeeman field, two co-planar canted states at mirror reflected SOC parameters respectively. Most importantly, there are non-coplanar incommensurate Skyrmion (IC-SkX) crystal phases surrounded by the four commensurate phases. New excitation spectra above all the five phases, especially on the IC-SKX phase are computed. Three different classes of quantum commensurate to in-commensurate transitions from the IC-SKX to its four neighboring commensurate phases are identified. Finite temperature behaviors and transitions are discussed. The critical temperatures of all the phases can be raised above that reachable by current cold atom cooling techniques simply by tuning the number of atoms N per site. In view of recent impressive experimental advances in generating 2d SOC for cold atoms in optical lattices, these new many-body phenomena can be explored in the current and near future cold atom experiments. Applications to various materials such as MnSi, {Fe}}0.5 {Co}}0.5Si, especially the complex incommensurate magnetic ordering in Li2IrO3 are given.

Multilocus inference of species trees and DNA barcoding.

PubMed

Mallo, Diego; Posada, David

2016-09-05

The unprecedented amount of data resulting from next-generation sequencing has opened a new era in phylogenetic estimation. Although large datasets should, in theory, increase phylogenetic resolution, massive, multilocus datasets have uncovered a great deal of phylogenetic incongruence among different genomic regions, due both to stochastic error and to the action of different evolutionary process such as incomplete lineage sorting, gene duplication and loss and horizontal gene transfer. This incongruence violates one of the fundamental assumptions of the DNA barcoding approach, which assumes that gene history and species history are identical. In this review, we explain some of the most important challenges we will have to face to reconstruct the history of species, and the advantages and disadvantages of different strategies for the phylogenetic analysis of multilocus data. In particular, we describe the evolutionary events that can generate species tree-gene tree discordance, compare the most popular methods for species tree reconstruction, highlight the challenges we need to face when using them and discuss their potential utility in barcoding. Current barcoding methods sacrifice a great amount of statistical power by only considering one locus, and a transition to multilocus barcodes would not only improve current barcoding methods, but also facilitate an eventual transition to species-tree-based barcoding strategies, which could better accommodate scenarios where the barcode gap is too small or inexistent.This article is part of the themed issue 'From DNA barcodes to biomes'. © 2016 The Authors.

Aging in America in the Twenty-first Century: Demographic Forecasts from the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on an Aging Society

PubMed Central

Olshansky, S Jay; Goldman, Dana P; Zheng, Yuhui; Rowe, John W

2009-01-01

Context: The aging of the baby boom generation, the extension of life, and progressive increases in disability-free life expectancy have generated a dramatic demographic transition in the United States. Official government forecasts may, however, have inadvertently underestimated life expectancy, which would have major policy implications, since small differences in forecasts of life expectancy produce very large differences in the number of people surviving to an older age. This article presents a new set of population and life expectancy forecasts for the United States, focusing on transitions that will take place by midcentury. Methods: Forecasts were made with a cohort-components methodology, based on the premise that the risk of death will be influenced in the coming decades by accelerated advances in biomedical technology that either delay the onset and age progression of major fatal diseases or that slow the aging process itself. Findings: Results indicate that the current forecasts of the U.S. Social Security Administration and U.S. Census Bureau may underestimate the rise in life expectancy at birth for men and women combined, by 2050, from 3.1 to 7.9 years. Conclusions: The cumulative outlays for Medicare and Social Security could be higher by $3.2 to $8.3 trillion relative to current government forecasts. This article discusses the implications of these results regarding the benefits and costs of an aging society and the prospect that health disparities could attenuate some of these changes. PMID:20021588

A Generalized Framework for Modeling Next Generation 911 Implementations.

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

Kelic, Andjelka; Aamir, Munaf Syed; Kelic, Andjelka

This document summarizes the current state of Sandia 911 modeling capabilities and then addresses key aspects of Next Generation 911 (NG911) architectures for expansion of existing models. Analysis of three NG911 implementations was used to inform heuristics , associated key data requirements , and assumptions needed to capture NG911 architectures in the existing models . Modeling of NG911 necessitates careful consideration of its complexity and the diversity of implementations. Draft heuristics for constructing NG911 models are pres ented based on the analysis along with a summary of current challenges and ways to improve future NG911 modeling efforts . We foundmore » that NG911 relies on E nhanced 911 (E911) assets such as 911 selective routers to route calls originating from traditional tel ephony service which are a majority of 911 calls . We also found that the diversity and transitional nature of NG911 implementations necessitates significant and frequent data collection to ensure that adequate model s are available for crisis action support .« less

Studies and comparison of currently utilized models for ablation in Electrothermal-chemical guns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jia, Shenli; Li, Rui; Li, Xingwen

2009-10-01

Wall ablation is a key process taking place in the capillary plasma generator in Electrothermal-Chemical (ETC) guns, whose characteristic directly decides the generator's performance. In the present article, this ablation process is theoretically studied. Currently widely used mathematical models designed to describe such process are analyzed and compared, including a recently developed kinetic model which takes into account the unsteady state in plasma-wall transition region by dividing it into two sub-layers, a Knudsen layer and a collision dominated non-equilibrium Hydrodynamic layer, a model based on Langmuir Law, as well as a simplified model widely used in arc-wall interaction process in circuit breakers, which assumes a proportional factor and an ablation enthalpy obtained empirically. Bulk plasma state and parameters are assumed to be consistent while analyzing and comparing each model, in order to take into consideration only the difference caused by model itself. Finally ablation rate is calculated in each method respectively and differences are discussed.

Late metal carbene complexes generated by multiple C-H activations: examining the continuum of M=C bond reactivity.

PubMed

Whited, Matthew T; Grubbs, Robert H

2009-10-20

Unactivated C(sp(3))-H bonds are ubiquitous in organic chemicals and hydrocarbon feedstocks. However, these resources remain largely untapped, and the development of efficient homogeneous methods for hydrocarbon functionalization by C-H activation is an attractive and unresolved challenge for synthetic chemists. Transition-metal catalysis offers an attractive possible means for achieving selective, catalytic C-H functionalization given the thermodynamically favorable nature of many desirable partial oxidation schemes and the propensity of transition-metal complexes to cleave C-H bonds. Selective C-H activation, typically by a single cleavage event to produce M-C(sp(3)) products, is possible through myriad reported transition-metal species. In contrast, several recent reports have shown that late transition metals may react with certain substrates to perform multiple C-H activations, generating M=C(sp(2)) complexes for further elaboration. In light of the rich reactivity of metal-bound carbenes, such a route could open a new manifold of reactivity for catalytic C-H functionalization, and we have targeted this strategy in our studies. In this Account, we highlight several early examples of late transition-metal complexes that have been shown to generate metal-bound carbenes by multiple C-H activations and briefly examine factors leading to the selective generation of metal carbenes through this route. Using these reports as a backdrop, we focus on the double C-H activation of ethers and amines at iridium complexes supported by Ozerov's amidophosphine PNP ligand (PNP = [N(2-P(i)Pr(2)-4-Me-C(6)H(3))(2)](-)), allowing isolation of unusual square-planar iridium(I) carbenes. These species exhibit reactivity that is distinct from the archetypal Fischer and Schrock designations. We present experimental and theoretical studies showing that, like the classical square-planar iridium(I) organometallics, these complexes are best described as nucleophilic at iridium. We discuss the classification of this reactivity in the context of a scheme originally delineated by Roper. These "Roper-type" carbenes perform a number of multiple-bond metatheses leading to atom and group transfer from electrophilic heterocumulene (e.g., CO(2), CS(2), PhNCS) and diazo (e.g., N(2)O, AdN(3)) reagents. In one instance, we have extended this methodology to a process for catalytic C-H functionalization by a double C-H activation-group transfer process. Although the scope of these reactions is currently limited, these new pathways may find broader utility as the reactivity of late-metal carbenes continues to be explored. Examination of alternative transition metals and supporting ligand sets will certainly be important. Nonetheless, our findings show that carbene generation by double C-H activation is a viable strategy for C-H functionalization, leading to products not accessible through traditional C(sp(3))-H activation pathways.

Progress Toward Efficient Laminar Flow Analysis and Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Campbell, Richard L.; Campbell, Matthew L.; Streit, Thomas

2011-01-01

A multi-fidelity system of computer codes for the analysis and design of vehicles having extensive areas of laminar flow is under development at the NASA Langley Research Center. The overall approach consists of the loose coupling of a flow solver, a transition prediction method and a design module using shell scripts, along with interface modules to prepare the input for each method. This approach allows the user to select the flow solver and transition prediction module, as well as run mode for each code, based on the fidelity most compatible with the problem and available resources. The design module can be any method that designs to a specified target pressure distribution. In addition to the interface modules, two new components have been developed: 1) an efficient, empirical transition prediction module (MATTC) that provides n-factor growth distributions without requiring boundary layer information; and 2) an automated target pressure generation code (ATPG) that develops a target pressure distribution that meets a variety of flow and geometry constraints. The ATPG code also includes empirical estimates of several drag components to allow the optimization of the target pressure distribution. The current system has been developed for the design of subsonic and transonic airfoils and wings, but may be extendable to other speed ranges and components. Several analysis and design examples are included to demonstrate the current capabilities of the system.

Current practice and views of neurologists on the transition from pediatric to adult care.

PubMed

Oskoui, Maryam; Wolfson, Christina

2012-12-01

To describe the current practice and views of neurologists on transitioning patients from pediatric to adult care, a cross-sectional study of all pediatric and adult neurologists in the province of Quebec, Canada, was conducted. The response rate was 73% for pediatric and 49% for adult neurologists. Most pediatric neurologists do not have a patient transition program or policy in place. Although a transfer summary is commonly provided, critical information is often lacking. Nearly half of neurologists believed that patients experience a gap in care during the transition process, and most agreed that the transition process is often poorly coordinated, highlighting patient, family, and health care factors. Current practice does not follow existing consensus statements for transition of care with respect to timing, communication, and preparation, and many pediatric neurologists experience difficulty in finding an appropriate adult health care provider for their patients. Neurologists reported many challenges in the current transition of care process.

Spin-dependent electronic transport properties of transition metal atoms doped α-armchair graphyne nanoribbons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fotoohi, Somayeh; Haji-Nasiri, Saeed

2018-04-01

Spin-dependent electronic transport properties of single 3d transition metal (TM) atoms doped α-armchair graphyne nanoribbons (α-AGyNR) are investigated by non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) method combined with density functional theory (DFT). It is found that all of the impurity atoms considered in this study (Fe, Co, Ni) prefer to occupy the sp-hybridized C atom site in α-AGyNR, and the obtained structures remain planar. The results show that highly localized impurity states are appeared around the Fermi level which correspond to the 3d orbitals of TM atoms, as can be derived from the projected density of states (PDOS). Moreover, Fe, Co, and Ni doped α-AGyNRs exhibit magnetic properties due to the strong spin splitting property of the energy levels. Also for each case, the calculated current-voltage characteristic per super-cell shows that the spin degeneracy in the system is obviously broken and the current becomes strongly spin dependent. Furthermore, a high spin-filtering effect around 90% is found under the certain bias voltages in Ni doped α-AGyNR. Additionally, the structure with Ni impurity reveals transfer characteristic that is suitable for designing a spin current switch. Our findings provide a high possibility to design the next generation spin nanodevices with novel functionalities.

Space Weather Modeling Services at the Community Coordinated Modeling Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hesse, Michael

2006-01-01

The Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) is a multi-agency partnership, which aims at the creation of next generation space weather models. The goal of the CCMC is to support the research and developmental work necessary to substantially increase the present-day modeling capability for space weather purposes, and to provide models for transition to the Rapid Prototyping Centers at the space weather forecast centers. This goal requires close collaborations with and substantial involvement of the research community. The physical regions to be addressed by CCMC-related activities range from the solar atmosphere to the Earth's upper atmosphere. The CCMC is an integral part of the National Space Weather Program Implementation Plan, of NASA's Living With a Star (LWS) initiative, and of the Department of Defense Space Weather Transition Plan. CCMC includes a facility at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. CCMC also provides, to the research community, access to state-of-the-art space research models. In this paper we will provide a description of the current CCMC status, discuss current plans, research and development accomplishments and goals, and describe the model testing and validation process undertaken as part of the CCMC mandate. Special emphasis will be on solar and heliospheric models currently residing at CCMC, and on plans for validation and verification.

Intense terahertz pulses from SLAC electron beams using coherent transition radiation.

PubMed

Wu, Ziran; Fisher, Alan S; Goodfellow, John; Fuchs, Matthias; Daranciang, Dan; Hogan, Mark; Loos, Henrik; Lindenberg, Aaron

2013-02-01

SLAC has two electron accelerators, the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) and the Facility for Advanced Accelerator Experimental Tests (FACET), providing high-charge, high-peak-current, femtosecond electron bunches. These characteristics are ideal for generating intense broadband terahertz (THz) pulses via coherent transition radiation. For LCLS and FACET respectively, the THz pulse duration is typically 20 and 80 fs RMS and can be tuned via the electron bunch duration; emission spectra span 3-30 THz and 0.5 THz-5 THz; and the energy in a quasi-half-cycle THz pulse is 0.2 and 0.6 mJ. The peak electric field at a THz focus has reached 4.4 GV/m (0.44 V/Å) at LCLS. This paper presents measurements of the terahertz pulses and preliminary observations of nonlinear materials response.

Statistical mechanics of self-driven Carnot cycles.

PubMed

Smith, E

1999-10-01

The spontaneous generation and finite-amplitude saturation of sound, in a traveling-wave thermoacoustic engine, are derived as properties of a second-order phase transition. It has previously been argued that this dynamical phase transition, called "onset," has an equivalent equilibrium representation, but the saturation mechanism and scaling were not computed. In this work, the sound modes implementing the engine cycle are coarse-grained and statistically averaged, in a partition function derived from microscopic dynamics on criteria of scale invariance. Self-amplification performed by the engine cycle is introduced through higher-order modal interactions. Stationary points and fluctuations of the resulting phenomenological Lagrangian are analyzed and related to background dynamical currents. The scaling of the stable sound amplitude near the critical point is derived and shown to arise universally from the interaction of finite-temperature disorder, with the order induced by self-amplification.

Photovoltaic conversion efficiency of InN/InxGa1-xN quantum dot intermediate band solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ben Afkir, N.; Feddi, E.; Dujardin, F.; Zazoui, M.; Meziane, J.

2018-04-01

The behavior of InN/InxGa1-xN spherical quantum dots solar cell is investigated, considering the internal electric field induced by the polarization of the junction. In order to determine the position of the intermediate band (IB), we present an efficient numerical technique based on difference finite method to solve the 3D time-independent Schrödinger's equation in spherical coordinates. The resultant n × n Hamiltonian matrix when considering n discrete points in spatial direction is diagonalized in order to calculate energy levels. Thus, the interband and intersubband transitions are determined, taking into consideration the effect of the internal electric field, size dots, interdot distances, and indium content on the energy levels, optical transition, photo-generated current density, open-circuit voltage and power conversion efficiency of the QD-IBSCs.

Lessons learned in transit efficiencies, revenue generation and cost reductions

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-01-01

The purpose of this research project was to gather and redistribute information : on how transit agencies are finding ways to either generate new revenues or : reduce costs without harming the best interests of their passengers. This : research proje...

State-Chart Autocoder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clark, Kenneth; Watney, Garth; Murray, Alexander; Benowitz, Edward

2007-01-01

A computer program translates Unified Modeling Language (UML) representations of state charts into source code in the C, C++, and Python computing languages. ( State charts signifies graphical descriptions of states and state transitions of a spacecraft or other complex system.) The UML representations constituting the input to this program are generated by using a UML-compliant graphical design program to draw the state charts. The generated source code is consistent with the "quantum programming" approach, which is so named because it involves discrete states and state transitions that have features in common with states and state transitions in quantum mechanics. Quantum programming enables efficient implementation of state charts, suitable for real-time embedded flight software. In addition to source code, the autocoder program generates a graphical-user-interface (GUI) program that, in turn, generates a display of state transitions in response to events triggered by the user. The GUI program is wrapped around, and can be used to exercise the state-chart behavior of, the generated source code. Once the expected state-chart behavior is confirmed, the generated source code can be augmented with a software interface to the rest of the software with which the source code is required to interact.

Polarization control of high order harmonics in the EUV photon energy range.

PubMed

Vodungbo, Boris; Barszczak Sardinha, Anna; Gautier, Julien; Lambert, Guillaume; Valentin, Constance; Lozano, Magali; Iaquaniello, Grégory; Delmotte, Franck; Sebban, Stéphane; Lüning, Jan; Zeitoun, Philippe

2011-02-28

We report the generation of circularly polarized high order harmonics in the extreme ultraviolet range (18-27 nm) from a linearly polarized infrared laser (40 fs, 0.25 TW) focused into a neon filled gas cell. To circularly polarize the initially linearly polarized harmonics we have implemented a four-reflector phase-shifter. Fully circularly polarized radiation has been obtained with an efficiency of a few percents, thus being significantly more efficient than currently demonstrated direct generation of elliptically polarized harmonics. This demonstration opens up new experimental capabilities based on high order harmonics, for example, in biology and materials science. The inherent femtosecond time resolution of high order harmonic generating table top laser sources renders these an ideal tool for the investigation of ultrafast magnetization dynamics now that the magnetic circular dichroism at the absorption M-edges of transition metals can be exploited.

Very high frequency spectroscopy and tuning of a single-cooper-pair transistor with an on-chip generator.

PubMed

Billangeon, P-M; Pierre, F; Bouchiat, H; Deblock, R

2007-03-23

A single-Cooper-pair transistor (SCPT) is coupled capacitively to a voltage biased Josephson junction, used as a high-frequency generator. Thanks to the high energy of photons generated by the Josephson junction, transitions between energy levels, not limited to the first two levels, were induced and the effect of this irradiation on the dc Josephson current of the SCPT was measured. The phase and gate bias dependence of energy levels of the SCPT at high energy is probed. Because the energies of photons can be higher than the superconducting gap we can induce not only transfer of Cooper pairs but also transfer of quasiparticles through the island of the SCPT, thus controlling the poisoning of the SCPT. This can both decrease and increase the average Josephson energy of the SCPT: its supercurrent is then controlled by high-frequency irradiation.

An assessment of potential CO2 Sources throughout the Illinois Basin Subtask 5.1 – CO2 Source Assessment Topical Report

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

Patel, Vinodkumar; O?Brien, Kevin; Korose, Christopher

Large-scale anthropogenic CO2 sources (>100,000 tonnes/year) were catalogued and assessed for the Illinois East Sub-Basin project area. The portfolio of sources is quite diverse, and contains not only fossil-based power generation facilities but also ethanol, chemical, and refinery facilities. Over 60% of the facilities are relatively new (i.e. post year 2000 construction) hence increasing the likelihood that retrofitting the facility with a carbon capture plant is feasible. Two of the facilities have indicated interest in being “early adopters” should the CarbonSAFE project eventually transition to a build and operate phase: the Prairie State Generating Company’s electricity generation facility near Marissa,more » Illinois, and Quasar Syngas, LLC’s Wabash ammonia/direct-reduced iron plant, currently in development north of Terre Haute, Indiana.« less

Charge-pump voltage converter

DOEpatents

Brainard, John P [Albuquerque, NM; Christenson, Todd R [Albuquerque, NM

2009-11-03

A charge-pump voltage converter for converting a low voltage provided by a low-voltage source to a higher voltage. Charge is inductively generated on a transfer rotor electrode during its transit past an inductor stator electrode and subsequently transferred by the rotating rotor to a collector stator electrode for storage or use. Repetition of the charge transfer process leads to a build-up of voltage on a charge-receiving device. Connection of multiple charge-pump voltage converters in series can generate higher voltages, and connection of multiple charge-pump voltage converters in parallel can generate higher currents. Microelectromechanical (MEMS) embodiments of this invention provide a small and compact high-voltage (several hundred V) voltage source starting with a few-V initial voltage source. The microscale size of many embodiments of this invention make it ideally suited for MEMS- and other micro-applications where integration of the voltage or charge source in a small package is highly desirable.

Current fluctuations in periodically driven systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barato, Andre C.; Chetrite, Raphael

2018-05-01

Small nonequelibrium systems driven by an external periodic protocol can be described by Markov processes with time-periodic transition rates. In general, current fluctuations in such small systems are large and may play a crucial role. We develop a theoretical formalism to evaluate the rate of such large deviations in periodically driven systems. We show that the scaled cumulant generating function that characterizes current fluctuations is given by a maximal Floquet exponent. Comparing deterministic protocols with stochastic protocols, we show that, with respect to large deviations, systems driven by a stochastic protocol with an infinitely large number of jumps are equivalent to systems driven by deterministic protocols. Our results are illustrated with three case studies: a two-state model for a heat engine, a three-state model for a molecular pump, and a biased random walk with a time-periodic affinity.

Field emission and explosive electron emission process in focused ion beam fabricated platinum and tungsten three-dimensional overhanging nanostructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Abhishek Kumar

2018-06-01

Three-dimensional platinum and tungsten overhanging nanogap (∼70 nm) electrodes are fabricated on a glass substrate using focused ion beam milling and chemical vapour deposition processes. Current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the devices measured at a pressure of ∼10-6 mbar shows space-charge emission followed by the Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) field emission. After the F-N emission, the system enters into an explosive emission process, at a higher voltage generating a huge current. We observe a sharp and abrupt rise in the emission current which marks the transition from the F-N emission to the explosive emission state. The explosive emission process is destructive in nature and yields micro-/nano-size spherical metal particles. The chemical compositions and the size-distribution of such particles are performed.

Photocarrier generation from interlayer charge-transfer transitions in WS2-graphene heterostructures

PubMed Central

Yuan, Long; Chung, Ting-Fung; Kuc, Agnieszka; Wan, Yan; Xu, Yang; Chen, Yong P.; Heine, Thomas; Huang, Libai

2018-01-01

Efficient interfacial carrier generation in van der Waals heterostructures is critical for their electronic and optoelectronic applications. We demonstrate broadband photocarrier generation in WS2-graphene heterostructures by imaging interlayer coupling–dependent charge generation using ultrafast transient absorption microscopy. Interlayer charge-transfer (CT) transitions and hot carrier injection from graphene allow carrier generation by excitation as low as 0.8 eV below the WS2 bandgap. The experimentally determined interlayer CT transition energies are consistent with those predicted from the first-principles band structure calculation. CT interactions also lead to additional carrier generation in the visible spectral range in the heterostructures compared to that in the single-layer WS2 alone. The lifetime of the charge-separated states is measured to be ~1 ps. These results suggest that interlayer interactions make graphene–two-dimensional semiconductor heterostructures very attractive for photovoltaic and photodetector applications because of the combined benefits of high carrier mobility and enhanced broadband photocarrier generation. PMID:29423439

Improved Transient and Steady-State Performances of Series Resonant ZCS High-Frequency Inverter-Coupled Voltage Multiplier Converter with Dual Mode PFM Control Scheme

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, Enhui; Gamage, Laknath; Ishitobi, Manabu; Hiraki, Eiji; Nakaoka, Mutsuo

The A variety of switched-mode high voltage DC power supplies using voltage-fed type or current-fed type high-frequency transformer resonant inverters using MOS gate bipolar power transistors; IGBTs have been recently developed so far for a medical-use X-ray high power generator. In general, the high voltage high power X-ray generator using voltage-fed high frequency inverter with a high voltage transformer link has to meet some performances such as (i) short rising period in start transient of X-ray tube voltage (ii) no overshoot transient response in tube voltage, (iii) minimized voltage ripple in periodic steady-state under extremely wide load variations and filament heater current fluctuation conditions of the X-ray tube. This paper presents two lossless inductor snubber-assisted series resonant zero current soft switching high-frequency inverter using a diode-capacitor ladder type voltage multiplier called Cockcroft-Walton circuit, which is effectively implemented for a high DC voltage X-ray power generator. This DC high voltage generator which incorporates pulse frequency modulated series resonant inverter using IGBT power module packages is based on the operation principle of zero current soft switching commutation scheme under discontinuous resonant current and continuous resonant current transition modes. This series capacitor compensated for transformer resonant power converter with a high frequency transformer linked voltage boost multiplier can efficiently work a novel selectively-changed dual mode PFM control scheme in order to improve the start transient and steady-state response characteristics and can completely achieve stable zero current soft switching commutation tube filament current dependent for wide load parameter setting values with the aid of two lossless inductor snubbers. It is proved on the basis of simulation and experimental results in which a simple and low cost control implementation based on selectively-changed dual-mode PFM for high-voltage X-ray DC-DC power converter with a voltage multiplier strategy has some specified voltage pattern tracking voltage response performances under rapid rising time and no overshoot in start transient tube voltage as well as the minimized steady-state voltage ripple in tube voltage.

Effects of Hot Limiter Biasing on Tokamak Runaway Discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salar Elahi, A.; Ghoranneviss, M.; Ghanbari, M. R.

2013-10-01

In this research hot limiter biasing effects on the Runaway discharges were investigated. First wall of the tokamak reactors can affects serious damage due to the high energy runaway electrons during a major disruption and therefore its life time can be reduced. Therefore, it is important to find methods to decrease runaway electron generation and their energy. Tokamak limiter biasing is one of the methods for controlling the radial electric field and can induce a transition to an improved confinement state. In this article generation of runaway electrons and the energy they can obtain will be investigated theoretically. Moreover, in order to apply radial biasing an emissive limiter biasing is utilized. The biased limiter can apply +380 V in the status of cold and hot to the plasma and result in the increase of negative bias current in hot status. In fact, in this experiment we try to decrease the generation of runaway electrons and their energy by using emissive limiter biasing inserted on the IR-T1 tokamak. The mean energy of these electrons was obtained by spectroscopy of hard X-ray. Also, the plasma current center shift was measured from the vertical field coil characteristics in presence of limiter biasing. The calculation is made focusing on the vertical field coil current and voltage changes due to a horizontal displacement of plasma column.

Tapered fluorotellurite microstructured fibers for broadband supercontinuum generation.

PubMed

Wang, Fang; Wang, Kangkang; Yao, Chuanfei; Jia, Zhixu; Wang, Shunbin; Wu, Changfeng; Qin, Guanshi; Ohishi, Yasutake; Qin, Weiping

2016-02-01

Fluorotellurite microstructured fibers (MFs) based on TeO2-BaF2-Y2O3 glasses are fabricated by using a rod-in-tube method. Tapered fluorotellurite MFs with varied transition region lengths are prepared by employing an elongation machine. By using a tapered fluorotellurite MF with a transition region length of ∼3.3  cm as the nonlinear medium and a 1560 nm femtosecond fiber laser as the pump source, broadband supercontinuum generation covering from 470 to 2770 nm is obtained. The effects of the transition region length of the tapered fluorotellurite MF on supercontinuum generation are also investigated. Our results show that tapered fluorotellurite MFs are promising nonlinear media for generating broadband supercontinuum light expanding from visible to mid-infrared spectral region.

White light supercontinuum generation in a Y-shaped microstructured tapered fiber pumped at 1064 nm.

PubMed

Cascante-Vindas, J; Díez, A; Cruz, J L; Andrés, M V

2010-07-05

We report the generation of supercontinuum in a Ge-doped Y-shape tapered fiber pumped at 1064 nm in the ns pump regime. The taper was designed to have long taper transitions and a taper waist with a core diameter of 0.9 mum. The large air-filling fraction and diameter of the air-hole microstructure reduces the confinement loss at long wavelengths so, enabling the extension of the spectrum to longer wavelengths. Along the taper transition the zero-dispersion wavelength decreases as the diameter of the taper becomes smaller. The spectral components generated along the taper transition pump the taper waist, enhancing the generation of short wavelengths. A flat spectrum spanning from 420 nm to 1850 nm is reported.

Experimental residual stress evaluation of hydraulic expansion transitions in Alloy 690 steam generator tubing

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

McGregor, R.; Doherty, P.; Hornbach, D.

1995-12-31

Nuclear Steam Generator (SG) service reliability and longevity have been seriously affected worldwide by corrosion at the tube-to-tubesheet joint expansion. Current SG designs for new facilities and replacement projects enhance corrosion resistance through the use of advanced tubing materials and improved joint design and fabrication techniques. Here, transition zones of hydraulic expansions have undergone detailed experimental evaluation to define residual stress and cold-work distribution on and below the secondary-side surface. Using X-ray diffraction techniques, with supporting finite element analysis, variations are compared in tubing metallurgical condition, tube/pitch geometry, expansion pressure, and tube-to-hole clearance. Initial measurements to characterize the unexpanded tubemore » reveal compressive stresses associated with a thin work-hardened layer on the outer surface of the tube. The gradient of cold-work was measured as 3% to 0% within .001 inch of the surface. The levels and character of residual stresses following hydraulic expansion are primarily dependent on this work-hardened surface layer and initial stress state that is unique to each tube fabrication process. Tensile stresses following expansion are less than 25% of the local yield stress and are found on the transition in a narrow circumferential band at the immediate tube surface (< .0002 inch/0.005 mm depth). The measurements otherwise indicate a predominance of compressive stresses on and below the secondary-side surface of the transition zone. Excellent resistance to SWSCC initiation is offered by the low levels of tensile stress and cold-work. Propagation of any possible cracking would be deterred by the compressive stress field that surrounds this small volume of tensile material.« less

Reimagining Energy in the North: Developing Solutions for Improving Renewable Energy Security in Northern Communities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Creed, I. F.; Poelzer, G.; Noble, B.; Beatty, B.; Belcher, K.; Chung, T.; Loring, P. A.

2017-12-01

The global energy sector is at a crossroads. Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, volatile fossil fuel prices, the emergence of sustainability markets, and advances in renewable energy technologies are setting the foundation for what could be one of the most significant societal transitions since the industrial revolution. There is a growing movement to "re-energize" Canada, through embracing pathways to facilitate a societal transition a low-carbon future. For example, circumpolar jurisdictions are poised for a transition to renewable energy. There are more than 250 remote, off-grid communities across Canada's North, of which approximately 170 are Indigenous, that rely largely on diesel-fueled generators. Diesel-fueled generation is generally reliable when properly maintained; however, supply is limited, infrastructure is at capacity or in need of major upgrading, and the volatile price of fuel can mean significant social, community and economic opportunity loss. Renewable energy projects offer one possible opportunity to address these challenges. But, given the challenges of human capacity, limited fiscal resources, and regulatory barriers, how can Northern communities participate in the global energy transition and not be left behind? To answer this question, the University of Saskatchewan, together with partners from the circumpolar North, are leading an initiative to develop a cross-sectoral and multi-national consortium of communities, utilities, industries, governments, and academics engaged in renewable energy in the North. This consortium will reimagine energy security in the North by co-creating and brokering the knowledge and understanding to design renewable energy systems that enhance social and economic value. Northern communities and utilities will learn directly from other northern communities and utilities across Canada and internationally about what can be achieved in renewable energy development and the solutions to current and future energy challenges.

Preparation and Characterization of BaTiO3-PbZrTiO3 Coating for Pyroelectric Energy Harvesting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raghavendra, R. M.; Praneeth, K. P. S. S.; Dutta, Soma

2017-01-01

Harvesting energy from waste heat is a promising field of research as there are significant energy recovery opportunities from various waste thermal energy sources. The present study reports pyroelectric energy harvesting using thick film prepared from a (x)BaTiO3-(1 - x)PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 (BT-PZT) solid solution. The developed BT-PZT system is engineered to tune the ferro to paraelectric phase transition temperature of it in-between the phase transition temperature of BaTiO3 (393 K) and PbZrTiO3 (573 K) with higher pyroelectric figure-of-merit (FOM). The temperature-dependent dielectric behavior of the material has revealed the ferro- to paraelectric phase transition at 427 K with a maximum dielectric constant of 755. The room-temperature (298 K) pyroelectric coefficient (Pi) of the material was obtained as 738.63 μC/m2K which has yielded a significantly high FOM of 1745.8 J m-3 K-2. The enhancement in pyroelectric property is attributed to the morphotopic phase transition between tetragonal and rhombohedral PZT phases in the BT-PZT system. The developed BT-PZT system is capable of generating a power output of 1.3 mW/m2 near the Curie temperature with a constant rate (0.11 K/s) of heating. A signal conditioning circuit has been developed to rectify the time-varying current and voltage signals obtained from the harvester during heating cycles. The output voltage generated by the pyroelectric harvester has been stored in a capacitor for powering wearable electronics.

Proposal and Development of a High Voltage Variable Frequency Alternating Current Power System for Hybrid Electric Aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadey, David J.; Taylor, Linda M.; Beach, Raymond F.

2017-01-01

The development of ultra-efficient commercial vehicles and the transition to low-carbon emission propulsion are seen as strategic thrust paths within NASA Aeronautics. A critical enabler to these paths comes in the form of hybrid electric propulsion systems. For megawatt-class systems, the best power system topology for these hybrid electric propulsion systems is debatable. Current proposals within NASA and the Aero community suggest using a combination of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) for power generation, transmission, and distribution. This paper proposes an alternative to the current thought model through the use of a primarily high voltage AC power system, supported by the Convergent Aeronautics Solutions (CAS) Project. This system relies heavily on the use of doubly-fed induction machines (DFIMs), which provide high power densities, minimal power conversion, and variable speed operation. The paper presents background on the activity along with the system architecture, development status, and preliminary results.

Design and Application of Hybrid Magnetic Field-Eddy Current Probe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wincheski, Buzz; Wallace, Terryl; Newman, Andy; Leser, Paul; Simpson, John

2013-01-01

The incorporation of magnetic field sensors into eddy current probes can result in novel probe designs with unique performance characteristics. One such example is a recently developed electromagnetic probe consisting of a two-channel magnetoresistive sensor with an embedded single-strand eddy current inducer. Magnetic flux leakage maps of ferrous materials are generated from the DC sensor response while high-resolution eddy current imaging is simultaneously performed at frequencies up to 5 megahertz. In this work the design and optimization of this probe will be presented, along with an application toward analysis of sensory materials with embedded ferromagnetic shape-memory alloy (FSMA) particles. The sensory material is designed to produce a paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition in the FSMA particles under strain. Mapping of the stray magnetic field and eddy current response of the sample with the hybrid probe can thereby image locations in the structure which have experienced an overstrain condition. Numerical modeling of the probe response is performed with good agreement with experimental results.

Microscopic origin of gating current fluctuations in a potassium channel voltage sensor.

PubMed

Freites, J Alfredo; Schow, Eric V; White, Stephen H; Tobias, Douglas J

2012-06-06

Voltage-dependent ion channels open and close in response to changes in membrane electrical potential due to the motion of their voltage-sensing domains (VSDs). VSD charge displacements within the membrane electric field are observed in electrophysiology experiments as gating currents preceding ionic conduction. The elementary charge motions that give rise to the gating current cannot be observed directly, but appear as discrete current pulses that generate fluctuations in gating current measurements. Here we report direct observation of gating-charge displacements in an atomistic molecular dynamics simulation of the isolated VSD from the KvAP channel in a hydrated lipid bilayer on the timescale (10-μs) expected for elementary gating charge transitions. The results reveal that gating-charge displacements are associated with the water-catalyzed rearrangement of salt bridges between the S4 arginines and a set of conserved acidic side chains on the S1-S3 transmembrane segments in the hydrated interior of the VSD. Copyright © 2012 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Currents between tethered electrodes in a magnetized laboratory plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stenzel, R. L.; Urrutia, J. M.

1989-01-01

Laboratory experiments on important plasma physics issues of electrodynamic tethers were performed. These included current propagation, formation of wave wings, limits of current collection, nonlinear effects and instabilities, charging phenomena, and characteristics of transmission lines in plasmas. The experiments were conducted in a large afterglow plasma. The current system was established with a small electron-emitting hot cathode tethered to an electron-collecting anode, both movable across the magnetic field and energized by potential difference up to V approx.=100 T(sub e). The total current density in space and time was obtained from complete measurements of the perturbed magnetic field. The fast spacecraft motion was reproduced in the laboratory by moving the tethered electrodes in small increments, applying delayed current pulses, and reconstructing the net field by a linear superposition of locally emitted wavelets. With this technique, the small-amplitude dc current pattern is shown to form whistler wings at each electrode instead of the generally accepted Alfven wings. For the beam electrode, the whistler wing separates from the field-aligned beam which carries no net current. Large amplitude return currents to a stationary anode generate current-driven microinstabilities, parallel electric fields, ion depletions, current disruptions and time-varying electrode charging. At appropriately high potentials and neutral densities, excess neutrals are ionized near the anode. The anode sheath emits high-frequency electron transit-time oscillations at the sheath-plasma resonance. The beam generates Langmuir turbulence, ion sound turbulence, electron heating, space charge fields, and Hall currents. An insulated, perfectly conducting transmission line embedded in the plasma becomes lossy due to excitation of whistler waves and magnetic field diffusion effects. The implications of the laboratory observations on electrodynamic tethers in space are discussed.

Short-range transit planning : current practice and a proposed framework

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1984-06-01

The research described in this report explored the service and operations : planning process in the transit industry in a two-phase approach. In the first : phase a detailed assessment of current short range transit planning practice was : undertaken...

Liberalization of the Spanish electricity sector: An advanced model

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

Unda, J.I.

1998-06-01

Spain`s electricity industry is being restructured to provide a competitive generation market, a regulated, open access transmission and distribution system, and phased-in customer choice. But while the reform is radical in its objectives, it will be gradual in its implementation. This article briefly describes the current state of affairs within the Spanish electricity sector and details the reform plans set out in the act, focusing on the adopted institutional design and the established transition period. It also offers an overview of the role that the regulatory authority will play throughout the process.

Transmutation of skyrmions to half-solitons driven by the nonlinear optical spin Hall effect.

PubMed

Flayac, H; Solnyshkov, D D; Shelykh, I A; Malpuech, G

2013-01-04

We show that the spin domains, generated in the linear optical spin Hall effect by the analog of spin-orbit interaction for exciton polaritons, are associated with the formation of a Skyrmion lattice. In the nonlinear regime, the spin anisotropy of the polariton-polariton interactions results in a spatial compression of the domains and in a transmutation of the Skyrmions into oblique half-solitons. This phase transition is associated with both the focusing of the spin currents and the emergence of a strongly anisotropic emission pattern.

Intense terahertz radiation from relativistic laser–plasma interactions

DOE PAGES

Liao, G. Q.; Li, Y. T.; Li, C.; ...

2016-11-02

The development of tabletop intense terahertz (THz) radiation sources is extremely important for THz science and applications. This study presents our measurements of intense THz radiation from relativistic laser–plasma interactions under different experimental conditions. Several THz generation mechanisms have been proposed and investigated, including coherent transition radiation (CTR) emitted by fast electrons from the target rear surface, transient current radiation at the front of the target, and mode conversion from electron plasma waves (EPWs) to THz waves. Finally, the results indicate that relativistic laser plasma is a promising driver of intense THz radiation sources.

Digital gene expression analysis of male and female bud transition in Metasequoia reveals high activity of MADS-box transcription factors and hormone-mediated sugar pathways.

PubMed

Zhao, Ying; Liang, Haiying; Li, Lan; Tang, Sha; Han, Xiao; Wang, Congpeng; Xia, Xinli; Yin, Weilun

2015-01-01

Metasequoia glyptostroboides is a famous redwood tree of ecological and economic importance, and requires more than 20 years of juvenile-to-adult transition before producing female and male cones. Previously, we induced reproductive buds using a hormone solution in juvenile Metasequoia trees as young as 5-to-7 years old. In the current study, hormone-treated shoots found in female and male buds were used to identify candidate genes involved in reproductive bud transition in Metasequoia. Samples from hormone-treated cone reproductive shoots and naturally occurring non-cone setting shoots were analyzed using 24 digital gene expression (DGE) tag profiles using Illumina, generating a total of 69,520 putative transcripts. Next, 32 differentially and specifically expressed transcripts were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, including the upregulation of MADS-box transcription factors involved in male bud transition and flowering time control proteins involved in female bud transition. These differentially expressed transcripts were associated with 243 KEGG pathways. Among the significantly changed pathways, sugar pathways were mediated by hormone signals during the vegetative-to-reproductive phase transition, including glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and sucrose and starch metabolism pathways. Key enzymes were identified in these pathways, including alcohol dehydrogenase (NAD) and glutathione dehydrogenase for the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway, and glucanphosphorylase for sucrose and starch metabolism pathways. Our results increase our understanding of the reproductive bud transition in gymnosperms. In addition, these studies on hormone-mediated sugar pathways increase our understanding of the relationship between sugar and hormone signaling during female and male bud initiation in Metasequoia.

Normal mode-guided transition pathway generation in proteins

PubMed Central

Lee, Byung Ho; Seo, Sangjae; Kim, Min Hyeok; Kim, Youngjin; Jo, Soojin; Choi, Moon-ki; Lee, Hoomin; Choi, Jae Boong

2017-01-01

The biological function of proteins is closely related to its structural motion. For instance, structurally misfolded proteins do not function properly. Although we are able to experimentally obtain structural information on proteins, it is still challenging to capture their dynamics, such as transition processes. Therefore, we need a simulation method to predict the transition pathways of a protein in order to understand and study large functional deformations. Here, we present a new simulation method called normal mode-guided elastic network interpolation (NGENI) that performs normal modes analysis iteratively to predict transition pathways of proteins. To be more specific, NGENI obtains displacement vectors that determine intermediate structures by interpolating the distance between two end-point conformations, similar to a morphing method called elastic network interpolation. However, the displacement vector is regarded as a linear combination of the normal mode vectors of each intermediate structure, in order to enhance the physical sense of the proposed pathways. As a result, we can generate more reasonable transition pathways geometrically and thermodynamically. By using not only all normal modes, but also in part using only the lowest normal modes, NGENI can still generate reasonable pathways for large deformations in proteins. This study shows that global protein transitions are dominated by collective motion, which means that a few lowest normal modes play an important role in this process. NGENI has considerable merit in terms of computational cost because it is possible to generate transition pathways by partial degrees of freedom, while conventional methods are not capable of this. PMID:29020017

Traffic Dimensioning and Performance Modeling of 4G LTE Networks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ouyang, Ye

2011-01-01

Rapid changes in mobile techniques have always been evolutionary, and the deployment of 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks will be the same. It will be another transition from Third Generation (3G) to Fourth Generation (4G) over a period of several years, as is the case still with the transition from Second Generation (2G) to 3G. As a result,…

Supporting Technology at GRC to Mitigate Risk as Stirling Power Conversion Transitions to Flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schreiber, Jeffrey G.; Thieme, Lanny G.; Wong, Wayne A.

2009-01-01

Stirling power conversion technology has been reaching more advanced levels of maturity during its development for space power applications. The current effort is in support of the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG), which is being developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC), Sunpower Inc., and the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). This generator would use two high-efficiency Advanced Stirling Convertors (ASCs) to convert thermal energy from a radioisotope heat source into electricity. Of paramount importance is the reliability of the power system and as a part of this, the Stirling power convertors. GRC has established a supporting technology effort with tasks in the areas of reliability, convertor testing, high-temperature materials, structures, advanced analysis, organics, and permanent magnets. The project utilizes the matrix system at GRC to make use of resident experts in each of the aforementioned fields. Each task is intended to reduce risk and enhance reliability of the convertor as this technology transitions toward flight status. This paper will provide an overview of each task, outline the recent efforts and accomplishments, and show how they mitigate risk and impact the reliability of the ASC s and ultimately, the ASRG.

Supporting Technology at GRC to Mitigate Risk as Stirling Power Conversion Transitions to Flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schreiber, Jeffrey G.; Thieme, Lanny G.; Wong, Wayne A.

2008-01-01

Stirling power conversion technology has been reaching more advanced levels of maturity during its development for space power applications. The current effort is in support of the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG), which is being developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC), Sunpower Inc., and the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC). This generator would use two high-efficiency Advanced Stirling Convertors (ASCs) to convert thermal energy from a radioisotope heat source into electricity. Of paramount importance is the reliability of the power system and as a part of this, the Stirling power convertors. GRC has established a supporting technology effort with tasks in the areas of reliability, convertor testing, high-temperature materials, structures, advanced analysis, organics, and permanent magnets. The project utilizes the matrix system at GRC to make use of resident experts in each of the aforementioned fields. Each task is intended to reduce risk and enhance reliability of the convertor as this technology transitions toward flight status. This paper will provide an overview of each task, outline the recent efforts and accomplishments, and show how they mitigate risk and impact the reliability of the ASC s and ultimately, the ASRG.

Large enhancement of second harmonic generation from transition-metal dichalcogenide monolayer on grating near bound states in the continuum.

PubMed

Wang, Tiecheng; Zhang, Shihao

2018-01-08

Second harmonic generation from the two-layer structure where a transition-metal dichalcogenide monolayer is put on a one-dimensional grating has been studied. This grating supports bound states in the continuum which have no leakage lying within the continuum of radiation modes, we can enhance the second harmonic generation from the transition-metal dichalcogenide monolayer by more than four orders of magnitude based on the critical field enhancement near the bound states in the continuum. In order to complete this calculation, the scattering matrix theory has been extended to include the nonlinear effect and the scattering matrix of a two-dimensional material including nonlinear terms; furthermore, two methods to observe the bound states in the continuum are considered, where one is tuning the thickness of the grating and the other is changing the incident angle of the electromagnetic wave. We have also discussed various modulation of the second harmonic generation enhancement by adjusting the azimuthal angle of the transition-metal dichalcogenide monolayer.

A Comparison of Photocatalytic Activities of Gold Nanoparticles Following Plasmonic and Interband Excitation and a Strategy for Harnessing Interband Hot Carriers for Solution Phase Photocatalysis

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Light driven excitation of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) has emerged as a potential strategy to generate hot carriers for photocatalysis through excitation of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). In contrast, carrier generation through excitation of interband transitions remains a less explored and underestimated pathway for photocatalytic activity. Photoinduced oxidative etching of GNPs with FeCl3 was investigated as a model reaction in order to elucidate the effects of both types of transitions. The quantitative results show that interband transitions more efficiently generate hot carriers and that those carriers exhibit higher reactivity as compared to those generated solely by LSPR. Further, leveraging the strong π-acidic character of the resulting photogenerated Au+ hole, an interband transition induced cyclization reaction of alkynylphenols was developed. Notably, alkyne coordination to the Au+ hole intercepts the classic oxidation event and leads to the formation of the catalytically active gold clusters on subnanometer scale. PMID:28573211

Generating constrained randomized sequences: item frequency matters.

PubMed

French, Robert M; Perruchet, Pierre

2009-11-01

All experimental psychologists understand the importance of randomizing lists of items. However, randomization is generally constrained, and these constraints-in particular, not allowing immediately repeated items-which are designed to eliminate particular biases, frequently engender others. We describe a simple Monte Carlo randomization technique that solves a number of these problems. However, in many experimental settings, we are concerned not only with the number and distribution of items but also with the number and distribution of transitions between items. The algorithm mentioned above provides no control over this. We therefore introduce a simple technique that uses transition tables for generating correctly randomized sequences. We present an analytic method of producing item-pair frequency tables and item-pair transitional probability tables when immediate repetitions are not allowed. We illustrate these difficulties and how to overcome them, with reference to a classic article on word segmentation in infants. Finally, we provide free access to an Excel file that allows users to generate transition tables with up to 10 different item types, as well as to generate appropriately distributed randomized sequences of any length without immediately repeated elements. This file is freely available from http://leadserv.u-bourgogne.fr/IMG/xls/TransitionMatrix.xls.

Random matrix theory for transition strengths: Applications and open questions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kota, V. K. B.

2017-12-01

Embedded random matrix ensembles are generic models for describing statistical properties of finite isolated interacting quantum many-particle systems. A finite quantum system, induced by a transition operator, makes transitions from its states to the states of the same system or to those of another system. Examples are electromagnetic transitions (then the initial and final systems are same), nuclear beta and double beta decay (then the initial and final systems are different) and so on. Using embedded ensembles (EE), there are efforts to derive a good statistical theory for transition strengths. With m fermions (or bosons) in N mean-field single particle levels and interacting via two-body forces, we have with GOE embedding, the so called EGOE(1+2). Now, the transition strength density (transition strength multiplied by the density of states at the initial and final energies) is a convolution of the density generated by the mean-field one-body part with a bivariate spreading function due to the two-body interaction. Using the embedding U(N) algebra, it is established, for a variety of transition operators, that the spreading function, for sufficiently strong interactions, is close to a bivariate Gaussian. Also, as the interaction strength increases, the spreading function exhibits a transition from bivariate Breit-Wigner to bivariate Gaussian form. In appropriate limits, this EE theory reduces to the polynomial theory of Draayer, French and Wong on one hand and to the theory due to Flambaum and Izrailev for one-body transition operators on the other. Using spin-cutoff factors for projecting angular momentum, the theory is applied to nuclear matrix elements for neutrinoless double beta decay (NDBD). In this paper we will describe: (i) various developments in the EE theory for transition strengths; (ii) results for nuclear matrix elements for 130Te and 136Xe NDBD; (iii) important open questions in the current form of the EE theory.

Superconcentrated electrolytes for a high-voltage lithium-ion battery

PubMed Central

Wang, Jianhui; Yamada, Yuki; Sodeyama, Keitaro; Chiang, Ching Hua; Tateyama, Yoshitaka; Yamada, Atsuo

2016-01-01

Finding a viable electrolyte for next-generation 5 V-class lithium-ion batteries is of primary importance. A long-standing obstacle has been metal-ion dissolution at high voltages. The LiPF6 salt in conventional electrolytes is chemically unstable, which accelerates transition metal dissolution of the electrode material, yet beneficially suppresses oxidative dissolution of the aluminium current collector; replacing LiPF6 with more stable lithium salts may diminish transition metal dissolution but unfortunately encounters severe aluminium oxidation. Here we report an electrolyte design that can solve this dilemma. By mixing a stable lithium salt LiN(SO2F)2 with dimethyl carbonate solvent at extremely high concentrations, we obtain an unusual liquid showing a three-dimensional network of anions and solvent molecules that coordinate strongly to Li+ ions. This simple formulation of superconcentrated LiN(SO2F)2/dimethyl carbonate electrolyte inhibits the dissolution of both aluminium and transition metal at around 5 V, and realizes a high-voltage LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4/graphite battery that exhibits excellent cycling durability, high rate capability and enhanced safety. PMID:27354162

Bypass transition in compressible boundary layers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vandervegt, J. J.

1992-01-01

Transition to turbulence in aerospace applications usually occurs in a strongly disturbed environment. For instance, the effects of free-stream turbulence, roughness and obstacles in the boundary layer strongly influence transition. Proper understanding of the mechanisms leading to transition is crucial in the design of aircraft wings and gas turbine blades, because lift, drag and heat transfer strongly depend on the state of the boundary layer, laminar or turbulent. Unfortunately, most of the transition research, both theoretical and experimental, has focused on natural transition. Many practical flows, however, defy any theoretical analysis and are extremely difficult to measure. Morkovin introduced in his review paper the concept of bypass transition as those forms of transition which bypass the known mechanisms of linear and non-linear transition theories and are currently not understood by experiments. In an effort to better understand the mechanisms leading to transition in a disturbed environment, experiments are conducted studying simpler cases, viz. the effects of free stream turbulence on transition on a flat plate. It turns out that these experiments are very difficult to conduct, because generation of free stream turbulence with sufficiently high fluctuation levels and reasonable homogeneity is non trivial. For a discussion see Morkovin. Serious problems also appear due to the fact that at high Reynolds numbers the boundary layers are very thin, especially in the nose region of the plate where the transition occurs, which makes the use of very small probes necessary. The effects of free-stream turbulence on transition are the subject of this research and are especially important in a gas turbine environment, where turbulence intensities are measured between 5 and 20 percent, Wang et al. Due to the fact that the Reynolds number for turbine blades is considerably lower than for aircraft wings, generally a larger portion of the blade will be in a laminar transitional state. The effects of large free stream turbulence in compressible boundary layers at Mach numbers are examined both in the subsonic and transonic regime using direct numerical simulations. The flow is computed over a flat plate and curved surface. while many applications operate in the transonic regime. Due the nature of their numerical scheme, a non-conservation formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations, it is a non-trivial extension to compute flow fields in the transonic regime. This project aims at better understanding the effects of large free-stream turbulence in compressible boundary layers at mach number both in the subsonic and transonic regime using direct numerical simulations. The present project aims at computing the flow over a flat plate and curved surface. This research will provide data which can be used to clarify mechanisms leading to transition in an environment with high free stream turbulence. This information is useful for the development of turbulence models, which are of great importance for CFD applications, and are currently unreliable for more complex flows, such as transitional flows.

Bethe Ansatz for the Weakly Asymmetric Simple Exclusion Process and Phase Transition in the Current Distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simon, Damien

2011-03-01

The probability distribution of the current in the asymmetric simple exclusion process is expected to undergo a phase transition in the regime of weak asymmetry of the jumping rates. This transition was first predicted by Bodineau and Derrida using a linear stability analysis of the hydrodynamical limit of the process and further arguments have been given by Mallick and Prolhac. However it has been impossible so far to study what happens after the transition. The present paper presents an analysis of the large deviation function of the current on both sides of the transition from a Bethe Ansatz approach of the weak asymmetry regime of the exclusion process.

Electric-field-driven phase transition in vanadium dioxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, B.; Zimmers, A.; Aubin, H.; Ghosh, R.; Liu, Y.; Lopez, R.

2011-12-01

We report on local probe measurements of current-voltage and electrostatic force-voltage characteristics of electric-field-induced insulator to metal transition in VO2 thin film. In conducting AFM mode, switching from the insulating to metallic state occurs for electric-field threshold E˜6.5×107Vm-1 at 300K. Upon lifting the tip above the sample surface, we find that the transition can also be observed through a change in electrostatic force and in tunneling current. In this noncontact regime, the transition is characterized by random telegraphic noise. These results show that electric field alone is sufficient to induce the transition; however, the electronic current provides a positive feedback effect that amplifies the phenomena.

Ion and electron dynamics generating the Hall current in the exhaust far downstream of the reconnection x-line

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

Fujimoto, Keizo, E-mail: keizo.fujimoto@nao.ac.jp; Takamoto, Makoto

2016-01-15

We have investigated the ion and electron dynamics generating the Hall current in the reconnection exhaust far downstream of the x-line where the exhaust width is much larger than the ion gyro-radius. A large-scale particle-in-cell simulation shows that most ions are accelerated through the Speiser-type motion in the current sheet formed at the center of the exhaust. The transition layers formed at the exhaust boundary are not identified as slow mode shocks. (The layers satisfy mostly the Rankine-Hugoniot conditions for a slow mode shock, but the energy conversion hardly occurs there.) We find that the ion drift velocity is modifiedmore » around the layer due to a finite Larmor radius effect. As a result, the ions are accumulated in the downstream side of the layer, so that collimated ion jets are generated. The electrons experience two steps of acceleration in the exhaust. The first is a parallel acceleration due to the out-of-plane electric field E{sub y} which has a parallel component in most area of the exhaust. The second is a perpendicular acceleration due to E{sub y} at the center of the current sheet and the motion is converted to the parallel direction. Because of the second acceleration, the electron outflow velocity becomes almost uniform over the exhaust. The difference in the outflow profile between the ions and electrons results in the Hall current in large area of the exhaust. The present study demonstrates the importance of the kinetic treatments for collisionless magnetic reconnection even far downstream from the x-line.« less

Coherent Control of Nanoscale Ballistic Currents in Transition Metal Dichalcogenide ReS2.

PubMed

Cui, Qiannan; Zhao, Hui

2015-04-28

Transition metal dichalcogenides are predicted to outperform traditional semiconductors in ballistic devices with nanoscale channel lengths. So far, experimental studies on charge transport in transition metal dichalcogenides are limited to the diffusive regime. Here we show, using ReS2 as an example, all-optical injection, detection, and coherent control of ballistic currents. By utilizing quantum interference between one-photon and two-photon interband transition pathways, ballistic currents are injected in ReS2 thin film samples by a pair of femtosecond laser pulses. We find that the current decays on an ultrafast time scale, resulting in an electron transport of only a fraction of one nanometer. Following the relaxation of the initially injected momentum, backward motion of the electrons for about 1 ps is observed, driven by the Coulomb force from the oppositely moved holes. We also show that the injected current can be controlled by the phase of the laser pulses. These results demonstrate a new platform to study ballistic transport of nonequilibrium carriers in transition metal dichalcogenides.

Lattice Supersymmetry and Order-Disorder Coexistence in the Tricritical Ising Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Brien, Edward; Fendley, Paul

2018-05-01

We introduce and analyze a quantum spin or Majorana chain with a tricritical Ising point separating a critical phase from a gapped phase with order-disorder coexistence. We show that supersymmetry is not only an emergent property of the scaling limit but also manifests itself on the lattice. Namely, we find explicit lattice expressions for the supersymmetry generators and currents. Writing the Hamiltonian in terms of these generators allows us to find the ground states exactly at a frustration-free coupling. These confirm the coexistence between two (topologically) ordered ground states and a disordered one in the gapped phase. Deforming the model by including explicit chiral symmetry breaking, we find the phases persist up to an unusual chiral phase transition where the supersymmetry becomes exact even on the lattice.

Task reports on developing techniques for scattering by 3D composite structures and to generate new solutions in diffraction theory using higher order boundary conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Volakis, John L.

1990-01-01

There are two tasks described in this report. First, an extension of a two dimensional formulation is presented for a three dimensional body of revolution. With the introduction of a Fourier expansion of the vector electric and magnetic fields, a coupled two dimensional system is generated and solved via the finite element method. An exact boundary condition is employed to terminate the mesh and the fast fourier transformation is used to evaluate the boundary integrals for low O(n) memory demand when an iterative solution algorithm is used. Second, the diffraction by a material discontinuity in a thick dielectric/ferrite layer is considered by modeling the layer as a distributed current sheet obeying generalized sheet transition conditions (GSTC's).

Analysis of Complexity Evolution Management and Human Performance Issues in Commercial Aircraft Automation Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vakil, Sanjay S.; Hansman, R. John

2000-01-01

Autoflight systems in the current generation of aircraft have been implicated in several recent incidents and accidents. A contributory aspect to these incidents may be the manner in which aircraft transition between differing behaviours or 'modes.' The current state of aircraft automation was investigated and the incremental development of the autoflight system was tracked through a set of aircraft to gain insight into how these systems developed. This process appears to have resulted in a system without a consistent global representation. In order to evaluate and examine autoflight systems, a 'Hybrid Automation Representation' (HAR) was developed. This representation was used to examine several specific problems known to exist in aircraft systems. Cyclomatic complexity is an analysis tool from computer science which counts the number of linearly independent paths through a program graph. This approach was extended to examine autoflight mode transitions modelled with the HAR. A survey was conducted of pilots to identify those autoflight mode transitions which airline pilots find difficult. The transitions identified in this survey were analyzed using cyclomatic complexity to gain insight into the apparent complexity of the autoflight system from the perspective of the pilot. Mode transitions which had been identified as complex by pilots were found to have a high cyclomatic complexity. Further examination was made into a set of specific problems identified in aircraft: the lack of a consistent representation of automation, concern regarding appropriate feedback from the automation, and the implications of physical limitations on the autoflight systems. Mode transitions involved in changing to and leveling at a new altitude were identified across multiple aircraft by numerous pilots. Where possible, evaluation and verification of the behaviour of these autoflight mode transitions was investigated via aircraft-specific high fidelity simulators. Three solution approaches to concerns regarding autoflight systems, and mode transitions in particular, are presented in this thesis. The first is to use training to modify pilot behaviours, or procedures to work around known problems. The second approach is to mitigate problems by enhancing feedback. The third approach is to modify the process by which automation is designed. The Operator Directed Process forces the consideration and creation of an automation model early in the design process for use as the basis of the software specification and training.

Observation of Tropical Cyclone-Induced Shallow Water Currents in Taiwan Strait

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Junqiang; Qiu, Yun; Zhang, Shanwu; Kuang, Fangfang

2017-06-01

The data from three stations equipped with Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) deployed in the shallow water of the Taiwan Strait (TWS) were used to study the shallow coastal ocean response to five quasi-continuous tropical cyclone (TC) events in the late summer 2006. We revealed that, in the forced stage, when the large and strong TC (Bilis) transited, the geostrophic currents were formed which dominated the whole event, while the strong but relatively small one (Saomai) or the weak one (Bopha) primarily leaded to the generation of Ekman currents. In the relaxation stage, the barotropic subinertial waves and/or the baroclinic near-inertial oscillations (NIOs) were triggered. Typically, during the transit of the Saomai, subinertial waves were induced which demonstrated a period of 2.8-4.1 days and a mean alongshore phase velocity of 14.9 ± 3.2 m/s in the form of free-barotropic continental shelf waves. However, the NIOs are only notable in the area in which the water column is stably stratified and also where the wind stress is dominated by the clockwise component and accompanied by high-frequency (near-inertial) variations. We also demonstrated that, due to the damping effects, the nonlinear wave-wave interaction (e.g., between NIO and semidiurnal tide in our case), together with the well-known bottom friction, led to the rapid decay of the observed TC-induced near-inertial currents, giving a typical e-folding time scale of 1-3 inertial periods. Moreover, such nonlinear wave-wave interaction was even found to play a major role during the spring tide in TWS.

Center for modeling of turbulence and transition: Research briefs, 1993

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liou, William W. (Editor)

1994-01-01

This research brief contains the progress reports of the research staff of the Center for Modeling of Turbulence and Transition (CMOTT) from June 1992 to July 1993. It is also an annual report to the Institute for Computational Mechanics in Propulsion located at Ohio Aerospace Institute and NASA Lewis Research Center. The main objectives of the research activities at CMOTT are to develop, validate, and implement turbulence and transition models for flows of interest in propulsion systems. Currently, our research covers eddy viscosity one- and two-equation models, Reynolds-stress algebraic equation models, Reynolds-stress transport equation models, nonequilibrium multiple-scale models, bypass transition models, joint scalar probability density function models, and Renormalization Group Theory and Direct Interaction Approximation methods. Some numerical simulations (LES and DNS) have also been carried out to support the development of turbulence modeling. Last year was CMOTT's third year in operation. During this period, in addition to the above mentioned research, CMOTT has also hosted the following programs: an eighteen-hour short course on 'Turbulence--Fundamentals and Computational Modeling (Part I)' given by CMOTT at the NASA Lewis Research Center; a productive summer visitor research program that has generated many encouraging results; collaborative programs with industry customers to help improve their turbulent flow calculations for propulsion system designs; a biweekly CMOTT seminar series with speakers from within and without the NASA Lewis Research Center including foreign speakers. In addition, CMOTT members have been actively involved in the national and international turbulence research activities. The current CMOTT roster and organization are listed in Appendix A. Listed in Appendix B are the abstracts of the biweekly CMOTT seminar. Appendix C lists the papers contributed by CMOTT members.

Generation of the relic neutrino asymmetry in a hot plasma of the early universe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Semikoz, Victor B.; Dvornikov, Maxim

The neutrino asymmetry in the early universe plasma, nν ‑ nν¯, is calculated both before and after the electroweak phase transition (EWPT). In the Standard Model, before EWPT, the leptogenesis is well known to be driven by the abelian anomaly in a massless hypercharge field. The generation of the neutrino asymmetry in the Higgs phase after EWPT, in its turn, has not been considered previously because of the absence of any quantum anomaly in an external electromagnetic field for such electroneutral particles as neutrino, unlike the Adler-Bell-Jackiw anomaly for charged left and right polarized massless electrons in the same electromagnetic field. Using the neutrino Boltzmann equation, modified by the Berry curvature term in the momentum space, we establish the violation of the macroscopic neutrino current in plasma after EWPT and exactly reproduce the nonconservation of the lepton current in the symmetric phase before EWPT arising in quantum field theory due to the nonzero lepton hypercharge and corresponding triangle anomaly in an external hypercharge field. In the last case, the nonconservation of the lepton current is derived through the kinetic approach without a computation of corresponding Feynman diagrams. Then, the new kinetic equation is applied for the calculation of the neutrino asymmetry accounting for the Berry curvature and the electroweak interaction with background fermions in the Higgs phase. Such an interaction generates a neutrino asymmetry through the electroweak coupling of neutrino currents with electromagnetic fields in plasma, which is ˜ GF2. It turns out that this effect is especially efficient for maximally helical magnetic fields.

49 CFR 630.3 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

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49 CFR 630.3 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... TRANSPORTATION NATIONAL TRANSIT DATABASE § 630.3 Definitions. (a) Except as otherwise provided, terms defined in... current editions of the National Transit Database Reporting Manuals and the NTD Uniform System of Accounts... benefits from assistance under 49 U.S.C. 5307 or 5311. Current edition of the National Transit Database...

49 CFR 630.3 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... TRANSPORTATION NATIONAL TRANSIT DATABASE § 630.3 Definitions. (a) Except as otherwise provided, terms defined in... current editions of the National Transit Database Reporting Manuals and the NTD Uniform System of Accounts... benefits from assistance under 49 U.S.C. 5307 or 5311. Current edition of the National Transit Database...

49 CFR 630.3 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... TRANSPORTATION NATIONAL TRANSIT DATABASE § 630.3 Definitions. (a) Except as otherwise provided, terms defined in... current editions of the National Transit Database Reporting Manuals and the NTD Uniform System of Accounts... benefits from assistance under 49 U.S.C. 5307 or 5311. Current edition of the National Transit Database...

49 CFR 630.3 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... TRANSPORTATION NATIONAL TRANSIT DATABASE § 630.3 Definitions. (a) Except as otherwise provided, terms defined in... current editions of the National Transit Database Reporting Manuals and the NTD Uniform System of Accounts... benefits from assistance under 49 U.S.C. 5307 or 5311. Current edition of the National Transit Database...

Non-equilibrium populations of hydrogen in high-redshift galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pomerantz, Brian B.; Redmond, Kayla; Strelnitski, Vladimir

2014-07-01

We investigate the possibility of maser amplification in hydrogen recombination lines from the galaxies of first generation, at z≲ 30. Combining analytical and computational approaches, we show that the transitions between the hydrogen Rydberg energy levels induced by the radiation from the ionizing star and by the (warmer than currently) cosmic microwave background can produce noticeable differences in the population distribution, as compared with previous computations for contemporary H+ regions, most of which ignored the processes induced by the ionizing star's radiation. In particular, the low (n≲ 30) α-transitions show an increased tendency towards population inversion, when ionization of the H+ region is caused by a very hot star at high redshift. The resulting maser/laser amplification can increase the brightness of the emitted lines and make them detectable. However, the limiting effects of maser saturation will probably not allow maser gains to exceed one or two orders of magnitude.

Antiferromagnetic spin Seebeck effect.

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

Wu, Stephen M.; Zhang, Wei; KC, Amit

2016-03-03

We report on the observation of the spin Seebeck effect in antiferromagnetic MnF2. A device scale on-chip heater is deposited on a bilayer of MnF2 (110) (30nm)/Pt (4 nm) grown by molecular beam epitaxy on a MgF2(110) substrate. Using Pt as a spin detector layer, it is possible to measure the thermally generated spin current from MnF2 through the inverse spin Hall effect. The low temperature (2–80 K) and high magnetic field (up to 140 kOe) regime is explored. A clear spin-flop transition corresponding to the sudden rotation of antiferromagnetic spins out of the easy axis is observed in themore » spin Seebeck signal when large magnetic fields (>9T) are applied parallel to the easy axis of the MnF2 thin film. When the magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the easy axis, the spin-flop transition is absent, as expected.« less

A network approach for identifying and delimiting biogeographical regions.

PubMed

Vilhena, Daril A; Antonelli, Alexandre

2015-04-24

Biogeographical regions (geographically distinct assemblages of species and communities) constitute a cornerstone for ecology, biogeography, evolution and conservation biology. Species turnover measures are often used to quantify spatial biodiversity patterns, but algorithms based on similarity can be sensitive to common sampling biases in species distribution data. Here we apply a community detection approach from network theory that incorporates complex, higher-order presence-absence patterns. We demonstrate the performance of the method by applying it to all amphibian species in the world (c. 6,100 species), all vascular plant species of the USA (c. 17,600) and a hypothetical data set containing a zone of biotic transition. In comparison with current methods, our approach tackles the challenges posed by transition zones and succeeds in retrieving a larger number of commonly recognized biogeographical regions. This method can be applied to generate objective, data-derived identification and delimitation of the world's biogeographical regions.

Antiferromagnetic Spin Seebeck Effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Stephen M.; Zhang, Wei; KC, Amit; Borisov, Pavel; Pearson, John E.; Jiang, J. Samuel; Lederman, David; Hoffmann, Axel; Bhattacharya, Anand

2016-03-01

We report on the observation of the spin Seebeck effect in antiferromagnetic MnF2 . A device scale on-chip heater is deposited on a bilayer of MnF2 (110) (30 nm )/Pt (4 nm) grown by molecular beam epitaxy on a MgF2 (110) substrate. Using Pt as a spin detector layer, it is possible to measure the thermally generated spin current from MnF2 through the inverse spin Hall effect. The low temperature (2-80 K) and high magnetic field (up to 140 kOe) regime is explored. A clear spin-flop transition corresponding to the sudden rotation of antiferromagnetic spins out of the easy axis is observed in the spin Seebeck signal when large magnetic fields (>9 T ) are applied parallel to the easy axis of the MnF2 thin film. When the magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the easy axis, the spin-flop transition is absent, as expected.

The role of top in heavy flavor physics

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

Hewett, J.L.

1997-01-01

The implications of the massive top quark on heavy flavor transitions are explored. We review the generation of quark masses and mixings and the determination techniques, and present the status of the elements of the weak mixing matrix. Purely leptonic decays of heavy mesons are briefly summarized. We present a general introduction to flavor changing neutral currents and an extensive summary of radiative and other rare decay modes. The physics of neutral meson mixing is reviewed and applied to each meson system. We describe the phenomenology of CP violation and how it may be measured in meson decays. Standard Modelmore » predictions are given in each case and the effects of physics beyond the Standard Model are also discussed. Throughout, we contrast these transitions in the K and B meson systems to those in the D meson and top-quark sectors.« less

Solar Spectral Lines with Special Polarization Properties for the Calibration of Instrument Polarization

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

Li, W.; Casini, R.; Alemán, T. del Pino

We investigate atomic transitions that have previously been identified as having zero polarization from the Zeeman effect. Our goal is to identify spectral lines that can be used for the calibration of instrumental polarization of large astronomical and solar telescopes, such as the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, which is currently under construction on Haleakala. We use a numerical model that takes into account the generation of scattering polarization and its modification by the presence of a magnetic field of arbitrary strength. We adopt values for the Landé factors from spectroscopic measurements or semi-empirical results, thus relaxing the common assumptionmore » of LS-coupling previously used in the literature. The mechanisms dominating the polarization of particular transitions are identified, and we summarize groups of various spectral lines useful for the calibration of spectropolarimetric instruments, classified according to their polarization properties.« less

Stability assessment of a multi-port power electronic interface for hybrid micro-grid applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shamsi, Pourya

Migration to an industrial society increases the demand for electrical energy. Meanwhile, social causes for preserving the environment and reducing pollutions seek cleaner forms of energy sources. Therefore, there has been a growth in distributed generation from renewable sources in the past decade. Existing regulations and power system coordination does not allow for massive integration of distributed generation throughout the grid. Moreover, the current infrastructures are not designed for interfacing distributed and deregulated generation. In order to remedy this problem, a hybrid micro-grid based on nano-grids is introduced. This system consists of a reliable micro-grid structure that provides a smooth transition from the current distribution networks to smart micro-grid systems. Multi-port power electronic interfaces are introduced to manage the local generation, storage, and consumption. Afterwards, a model for this micro-grid is derived. Using this model, the stability of the system under a variety of source and load induced disturbances is studied. Moreover, pole-zero study of the micro-grid is performed under various loading conditions. An experimental setup of this micro-grid is developed, and the validity of the model in emulating the dynamic behavior of the system is verified. This study provides a theory for a novel hybrid micro-grid as well as models for stability assessment of the proposed micro-grid.

Tunneling modulation of a quantum-well transistor laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, M.; Qiu, J.; Wang, C. Y.; Holonyak, N.

2016-11-01

Different than the Bardeen and Brattain transistor (1947) with the current gain depending on the ratio of the base carrier spontaneous recombination lifetime to the emitter-collector transit time, the Feng and Holonyak transistor laser current gain depends upon the base electron-hole (e-h) stimulated recombination, the base dielectric relaxation transport, and the collector stimulated tunneling. For the n-p-n transistor laser tunneling operation, the electron-hole pairs are generated at the collector junction under the influence of intra-cavity photon-assisted tunneling, with electrons drifting to the collector and holes drifting to the base. The excess charge in the base lowers the emitter junction energy barrier, allowing emitter electron injection into the base and satisfying charge neutrality via base dielectric relaxation transport (˜femtoseconds). The excess electrons near the collector junction undergo stimulated recombination at the base quantum-well or transport to the collector, thus supporting tunneling current amplification and optical modulation of the transistor laser.

Lithium target for accelerator based BNCT neutron source: Influence by the proton irradiation on lithium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujii, R.; Imahori, Y.; Nakakmura, M.; Takada, M.; Kamada, S.; Hamano, T.; Hoshi, M.; Sato, H.; Itami, J.; Abe, Y.; Fuse, M.

2012-12-01

The neutron source for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is in the transition stage from nuclear reactor to accelerator based neutron source. Generation of low energy neutron can be achieved by 7Li (p, n) 7Be reaction using accelerator based neutron source. Development of small-scale and safe neutron source is within reach. The melting point of lithium that is used for the target is low, and durability is questioned for an extended use at a high current proton beam. In order to test its durability, we have irradiated lithium with proton beam at the same level as the actual current density, and found no deterioration after 3 hours of continuous irradiation. As a result, it is suggested that lithium target can withstand proton irradiation at high current, confirming suitability as accelerator based neutron source for BNCT.

Solenoid-free plasma startup in NSTX using transient CHI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raman, R.; Jarboe, T. R.; Mueller, D.; Nelson, B. A.; Bell, M. G.; Bell, R.; Gates, D.; Gerhardt, S.; Hosea, J.; Kaita, R.; Kugel, H.; LeBlanc, B.; Maingi, R.; Maqueda, R.; Menard, J.; Nagata, M.; Ono, M.; Paul, S.; Roquemore, L.; Sabbagh, S.; Soukhanovskii, V.; Taylor, G.

2009-06-01

Experiments in NSTX have now demonstrated the coupling of toroidal plasmas produced by the technique of coaxial helicity injection (CHI) to inductive sustainment and ramp-up of the toroidal plasma current. In these discharges, the central Ohmic transformer was used to apply an inductive loop voltage to discharges with a toroidal current of about 100 kA created by CHI. The coupled discharges have ramped up to >700 kA and transitioned into an H-mode demonstrating compatibility of this startup method with conventional operation. The electron temperature in the coupled discharges reached over 800 eV and the resulting plasma had low inductance, which is preferred for long-pulse high-performance discharges. These results from NSTX in combination with the previously obtained record 160 kA non-inductively generated startup currents in an ST or tokamak in NSTX demonstrate that CHI is a viable solenoid-free plasma startup method for future STs and tokamaks.

Proposal and Development of a High Voltage Variable Frequency Alternating Current Power System for Hybrid Electric Aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadey, David J.; Taylor, Linda M.; Beach, Raymond F.

2016-01-01

The development of ultra-efficient commercial vehicles and the transition to low-carbon emission propulsion are seen as thrust paths within NASA Aeronautics. A critical enabler to these paths comes in the form of hybrid-electric propulsion systems. For megawatt-class systems, the best power system topology for these hybrid-electric propulsion systems is debatable. Current proposals within NASA and the Aero community suggest using a combination of AC and DC for power transmission. This paper proposes an alternative to the current thought model through the use of a primarily high voltage AC power generation, transmission, and distribution systems, supported by the Convergent Aeronautics Solutions (CAS) Project. This system relies heavily on the use of dual-fed induction machines, which provide high power densities, minimal power conversion, and variable speed operation. The paper presents background on the project along with the system architecture, development status and preliminary results.

Achieving Transformational Materials Performance in a New Era of Science

ScienceCinema

Sarrao, John

2017-12-22

The inability of current materials to meet performance requirements is a key stumbling block for addressing grand challenges in energy and national security. Fortunately, materials research is on the brink of a new era - a transition from observation and validation of materials properties to prediction and control of materials performance. In this talk, I describe the nature of the current challenge, the prospects for success, and a specific facility concept, MaRIE, that will provide the needed capabilities to meet these challenges, especially for materials in extreme environments. MaRIE, for Matter-Radiation Interactions in Extremes, is Los Alamos' concept to realize this vision of 21st century materials research. This vision will be realized through enhancements to the current LANSCE accelerator, development of a fourth-generation x-ray light source co-located with the proton accelerator, and a comprehensive synthesis and characterization facility focused on controlling complex materials and the defect/structure link to materials performance.

Influence of Disability and Gender on Transition Assessment and Goal Generator (TAGG) Scores

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

El-Kazimi, Nidal

2012-01-01

Legislators mandated transition education for students with disabilities to improve their post-school outcomes. Each student with an IEP should have an annual transition plan at or before his or her 16th birthday. IDEA mandated the utilization of age appropriate transition assessment to develop students' post-secondary transition goals based on…

Photopolymerized microfeatures for directed spiral ganglion neurite and Schwann cell growth.

PubMed

Tuft, Bradley W; Li, Shufeng; Xu, Linjing; Clarke, Joseph C; White, Scott P; Guymon, Bradley A; Perez, Krystian X; Hansen, Marlan R; Guymon, C Allan

2013-01-01

Cochlear implants (CIs) provide auditory perception to individuals with severe hearing impairment. However, their ability to encode complex auditory stimuli is limited due, in part, to poor spatial resolution caused by electrical current spread in the inner ear. Directing nerve cell processes towards target electrodes may reduce the problematic current spread and improve stimulatory specificity. In this work, photopolymerization was used to fabricate micro- and nano-patterned methacrylate polymers to probe the extent of spiral ganglion neuron (SGN) neurite and Schwann cell (SGSC) contact guidance based on variations in substrate topographical cues. Micropatterned substrates are formed in a rapid, single-step reaction by selectively blocking light with photomasks which have parallel line-space gratings with periodicities of 10-100 μm. Channel amplitudes of 250 nm-10 μm are generated by modulating UV exposure time, light intensity, and photoinitiator concentration. Gradual transitions are observed between ridges and grooves using scanning electron and atomic force microscopy. The transitions stand in contrast to vertical features generated via etching lithographic techniques. Alignment of neural elements increases significantly with increasing feature amplitude and constant periodicity, as well as with decreasing periodicity and constant amplitude. SGN neurite alignment strongly correlates (r = 0.93) with maximum feature slope. Multiple neuronal and glial types orient to the patterns with varying degrees of alignment. This work presents a method to fabricate gradually-sloping micropatterns for cellular contact guidance studies and demonstrates spatial control of inner ear neural elements in response to micro- and nano-scale surface topography. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Impressed sources and fields in the volume-integral-equation formulation of electromagnetic scattering by a finite object: A tutorial

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishchenko, Michael I.; Yurkin, Maxim A.

2018-07-01

Although free space cannot generate electromagnetic waves, the majority of existing accounts of frequency-domain electromagnetic scattering by particles and particle groups are based on the postulate of existence of an impressed incident field, usually in the form of a plane wave. In this tutorial we discuss how to account for the actual existence of impressed source currents rather than impressed incident fields. Specifically, we outline a self-consistent theoretical formalism describing electromagnetic scattering by an arbitrary finite object in the presence of arbitrarily distributed impressed currents, some of which can be far removed from the object and some can reside in its vicinity, including inside the object. To make the resulting formalism applicable to a wide range of scattering-object morphologies, we use the framework of the volume integral equation formulation of electromagnetic scattering, couple it with the notion of the transition operator, and exploit the fundamental symmetry property of this operator. Among novel results, this tutorial includes a streamlined proof of fundamental symmetry (reciprocity) relations, a simplified derivation of the Foldy equations, and an explicit analytical expression for the transition operator of a multi-component scattering object.

Hall-MHD and PIC Modeling of the Conduction-to-Opening Transition in a Plasma Opening Switch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schumer, J. W.; SwanekampDdagger, S. B.; Ottinger, P. F.; Commisso, R. J.; Weber, B. V.

1998-11-01

Utilizing the fast opening characteristics of a plasma opening switch (POS), inductive energy storage devices can generate short-duration high-power pulses (<0.1 μ s, >1 TW) with current rise-times on the order of 10 ns. Plasma redistribution and thinning during the POS conduction phase can be modeled adequately with MHD methods. By including the Hall term in Ohm's Law, MHD methods can simulate plasmas with density gradient scale lengths between c/ω_pe < Ln < c/ω_pi. However, the neglect of electron inertia (c/ω_pe) and space-charge separation (λ_De) by single-fluid theory eventually becomes invalid in small gap regions that form during POS opening. PIC methods are well-suited for low-density plasmas, but are numerically taxed by high-density POS regions. An interface converts MHD (Mach2) output into PIC (Magic) input suitable for validating various transition criteria through comparison of current and density distributions from both methods. We will discuss recent progress in interfacing Hall-MHD and PIC simulations. Work supported by Defense Special Weapons Agency. ^ NRL-NRC Research Associate. hspace0.25in ^ JAYCOR, Vienna, VA 22102.

Transition-Metal Substitution Doping in Synthetic Atomically Thin Semiconductors

DOE PAGES

Gao, Jian; Kim, Young Duck; Liang, Liangbo; ...

2016-09-20

Semiconductor impurity doping has enabled an entire generation of technology. The emergence of alternative semiconductor material systems, such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), requires the development of scalable doping strategies. We report an unprecedented one-pot synthesis for transition-metal substitution in large-area, synthetic monolayer TMDCs. Electron microscopy, optical and electronic transport characterization and ab initio calculations indicate that our doping strategy preserves the attractive qualities of TMDC monolayers, including semiconducting transport and strong direct-gap luminescence. These results are expected to encourage exploration of transition-metal substitution in two-dimensional systems, potentially enabling next-generation optoelectronic technology in the atomically-thin regime.

Coherent Transition Radiation Generated from Transverse Electron Density Modulation

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

Halavanau, A.; Piot, P.; Tyukhtin, A. V.

Coherent Transition radiation (CTR) of a given frequency is commonly generated with longitudinal electron bunch trains. In this paper, we present a study of CTR properties produced from simultaneous electron transverse and longitudinal density modulation. We demonstrate via numerical simulations a simple technique to generate THz-scale frequencies from mm-scale transversely separated electron beamlets formed into a ps-scale bunch train. The results and a potential experimental setup are discussed.

Meaningful Peer Review in Radiology: A Review of Current Practices and Potential Future Directions.

PubMed

Moriarity, Andrew K; Hawkins, C Matthew; Geis, J Raymond; Dreyer, Keith J; Kamer, Aaron P; Khandheria, Paras; Morey, Jose; Whitfill, James; Wiggins, Richard H; Itri, Jason N

2016-12-01

The current practice of peer review within radiology is well developed and widely implemented compared with other medical specialties. However, there are many factors that limit current peer review practices from reducing diagnostic errors and improving patient care. The development of "meaningful peer review" requires a transition away from compliance toward quality improvement, whereby the information and insights gained facilitate education and drive systematic improvements that reduce the frequency and impact of diagnostic error. The next generation of peer review requires significant improvements in IT functionality and integration, enabling features such as anonymization, adjudication by multiple specialists, categorization and analysis of errors, tracking, feedback, and easy export into teaching files and other media that require strong partnerships with vendors. In this article, the authors assess various peer review practices, with focused discussion on current limitations and future needs for meaningful peer review in radiology. Copyright © 2016 American College of Radiology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Disequilibrium of fire-prone forests sets the stage for a rapid decline in conifer dominance during the 21st century.

PubMed

Serra-Diaz, Josep M; Maxwell, Charles; Lucash, Melissa S; Scheller, Robert M; Laflower, Danelle M; Miller, Adam D; Tepley, Alan J; Epstein, Howard E; Anderson-Teixeira, Kristina J; Thompson, Jonathan R

2018-04-30

The impacts of climatic changes on forests may appear gradually on time scales of years to centuries due to the long generation times of trees. Consequently, current forest extent may not reflect current climatic patterns. In contrast with these lagged responses, abrupt transitions in forests under climate change may occur in environments where alternative vegetation states are influenced by disturbances, such as fire. The Klamath forest landscape (northern California and southwest Oregon, USA) is currently dominated by high biomass, biodiverse temperate coniferous forests, but climate change could disrupt the mechanisms promoting forest stability (e.g. growth, regeneration and fire tolerance). Using a landscape simulation model, we estimate that about one-third of the Klamath forest landscape (500,000 ha) could transition from conifer-dominated forest to shrub/hardwood chaparral, triggered by increased fire activity coupled with lower post-fire conifer establishment. Such shifts were widespread under the warmer climate change scenarios (RCP 8.5) but were surprisingly prevalent under the climate of 1949-2010, reflecting the joint influences of recent warming trends and the legacy of fire suppression that may have enhanced conifer dominance. Our results demonstrate that major forest ecosystem shifts should be expected when climate change disrupts key stabilizing feedbacks that maintain the dominance of long-lived, slowly regenerating trees.

Predicting Postsecondary Education and Employment Outcomes Using Results from the Transition Assessment and Goal Generator

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burnes, Jennifer J.; Martin, James E.; Terry, Robert; McConnell, Amber E.; Hennessey, Maeghan N.

2018-01-01

We conducted an exploratory study to investigate the relation between nonacademic behavior constructs measured by the "Transition Assessment and Goal Generator" (TAGG) and postsecondary education and employment outcomes for 297 high school leavers who completed the TAGG during their high school years. Four of eight TAGG constructs…

Predicting Postsecondary Education and Employment Outcomes Using Results from the Transition Assessment and Goal Generator

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burnes, Jennifer J.; Martin, James E.; Terry, Robert; McConnell, Amber E.; Hennessey, Maeghan N.

2017-01-01

We conducted an exploratory study to investigate the relation between nonacademic behavior constructs measured by the "Transition Assessment and Goal Generator" (TAGG) and postsecondary education and employment outcomes for 297 high school leavers who completed the TAGG during their high school years. Four of eight TAGG constructs…

First-Generation College Seniors: A Phenomenological Exploration of the Transitional Experience of the Final College Year

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Overton-Healy, Julia

2010-01-01

This study investigated the transitional experience of college seniors who are also first-generation status. This topic merits investigation because there is an increasing interest in various demographics of college students, and because college seniors represent an important retention demographic for American higher education, where the retention…

A Comparison of Photocatalytic Activities of Gold Nanoparticles Following Plasmonic and Interband Excitation and a Strategy for Harnessing Interband Hot Carriers for Solution Phase Photocatalysis

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

Zhao, Jie; Nguyen, Son C.; Ye, Rong

Light driven excitation of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) has emerged as a potential strategy to generate hot carriers for photocatalysis through excitation of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). In contrast, carrier generation through excitation of interband transitions remains a less explored and underestimated pathway for photocatalytic activity. Photoinduced oxidative etching of GNPs with FeCl3 was investigated as a model reaction in order to elucidate the effects of both types of transitions. Our quantitative results show that interband transitions more efficiently generate hot carriers and that those carriers exhibit higher reactivity as compared to those generated solely by LSPR. Furthermore, by leveragingmore » the strong π-acidic character of the resulting photogenerated Au+ hole, an interband transition induced cyclization reaction of alkynylphenols was developed. One thing of note is that the, alkyne coordination to the Au+ hole intercepts the classic oxidation event and leads to the formation of the catalytically active gold clusters on subnanometer scale.« less

A Comparison of Photocatalytic Activities of Gold Nanoparticles Following Plasmonic and Interband Excitation and a Strategy for Harnessing Interband Hot Carriers for Solution Phase Photocatalysis

DOE PAGES

Zhao, Jie; Nguyen, Son C.; Ye, Rong; ...

2017-05-10

Light driven excitation of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) has emerged as a potential strategy to generate hot carriers for photocatalysis through excitation of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). In contrast, carrier generation through excitation of interband transitions remains a less explored and underestimated pathway for photocatalytic activity. Photoinduced oxidative etching of GNPs with FeCl3 was investigated as a model reaction in order to elucidate the effects of both types of transitions. Our quantitative results show that interband transitions more efficiently generate hot carriers and that those carriers exhibit higher reactivity as compared to those generated solely by LSPR. Furthermore, by leveragingmore » the strong π-acidic character of the resulting photogenerated Au+ hole, an interband transition induced cyclization reaction of alkynylphenols was developed. One thing of note is that the, alkyne coordination to the Au+ hole intercepts the classic oxidation event and leads to the formation of the catalytically active gold clusters on subnanometer scale.« less

Field-Tuned Superconductor-Insulator Transition with and without Current Bias.

PubMed

Bielejec, E; Wu, Wenhao

2002-05-20

The magnetic-field-tuned superconductor-insulator transition has been studied in ultrathin beryllium films quench condensed near 20 K. In the zero-current limit, a finite-size scaling analysis yields the scaling exponent product nuz = 1.35+/-0.10 and a critical sheet resistance, R(c), of about 1.2R(Q), with R(Q) = h/4e(2). However, in the presence of dc bias currents that are smaller than the zero-field critical currents, nuz becomes 0.75+/-0.10. This new set of exponents suggests that the field-tuned transitions with and without a dc bias current belong to different universality classes.

Quantifying Special Generator Ridership in Transit Analyses

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-01-01

In major investment analyses and transit corridor studies, the impact of conventions, sporting matches, and other special events on transit ridership is often of interest. In many locations, it is hypothesized that additional ridership to and from su...

On the theory of polarization radiation in media with sharp boundaries

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

Karlovets, D. V., E-mail: d.karlovets@gmail.com

2011-07-15

Polarization radiation generated when a point charge moves uniformly along a straight line in vacuum in the vicinity of media with a finite permittivity {epsilon}({omega}) = {epsilon} Prime + i{epsilon} Double-Prime and sharp boundaries is considered. A method is developed in which polarization radiation is represented as the field of the current induced in the substance by the field of the moving charge. The solution to the problem of radiation induced when a charge moves along the axis of a cylindrical vacuum channel in a thin screen with a finite radius and a finite permittivity is obtained. Depending on themore » parameters of the problem, this solution describes various types of radiation (Cherenkov, transition, and diffraction radiation). In particular, when the channel radius tends to zero and the outer radius of the screen tends to infinity, the expression derived for the emitted energy coincides with the known solution for transition radiation in a plate. In another particular case of ideal conductivity ({epsilon} Double-Prime {yields} {infinity}), the relevant formula coincides with the known results for diffraction radiation from a circular aperture in an infinitely thin screen. The solution is obtained to the problem of radiation generated when the charge flies near a thin rectangular screen with a finite permittivity. This solution describes the diffraction and Cherenkov mechanisms of radiation and takes into account possible multiple re-reflections of radiation in the screen. The solution to the problem of radiation generated when a particles flies near a thin grating consisting of a finite number of strips having a rectangular cross section and a finite permittivity and separated by vacuum gaps (Smith-Purcell radiation) is also obtained. In the special case of ideal conductivity, the expression derived for the emitted energy coincides with the known result in the model of surface currents.« less

Digital gene expression analysis of male and female bud transition in Metasequoia reveals high activity of MADS-box transcription factors and hormone-mediated sugar pathways

PubMed Central

Zhao, Ying; Liang, Haiying; Li, Lan; Tang, Sha; Han, Xiao; Wang, Congpeng; Xia, Xinli; Yin, Weilun

2015-01-01

Metasequoia glyptostroboides is a famous redwood tree of ecological and economic importance, and requires more than 20 years of juvenile-to-adult transition before producing female and male cones. Previously, we induced reproductive buds using a hormone solution in juvenile Metasequoia trees as young as 5-to-7 years old. In the current study, hormone-treated shoots found in female and male buds were used to identify candidate genes involved in reproductive bud transition in Metasequoia. Samples from hormone-treated cone reproductive shoots and naturally occurring non-cone setting shoots were analyzed using 24 digital gene expression (DGE) tag profiles using Illumina, generating a total of 69,520 putative transcripts. Next, 32 differentially and specifically expressed transcripts were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, including the upregulation of MADS-box transcription factors involved in male bud transition and flowering time control proteins involved in female bud transition. These differentially expressed transcripts were associated with 243 KEGG pathways. Among the significantly changed pathways, sugar pathways were mediated by hormone signals during the vegetative-to-reproductive phase transition, including glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and sucrose and starch metabolism pathways. Key enzymes were identified in these pathways, including alcohol dehydrogenase (NAD) and glutathione dehydrogenase for the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway, and glucanphosphorylase for sucrose and starch metabolism pathways. Our results increase our understanding of the reproductive bud transition in gymnosperms. In addition, these studies on hormone-mediated sugar pathways increase our understanding of the relationship between sugar and hormone signaling during female and male bud initiation in Metasequoia. PMID:26157452

Aerosciences, Aero-Propulsion and Flight Mechanics Technology Development for NASA's Next Generation Launch Technology Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cockrell, Charles E., Jr.

2003-01-01

The Next Generation Launch Technology (NGLT) program, Vehicle Systems Research and Technology (VSR&T) project is pursuing technology advancements in aerothermodynamics, aeropropulsion and flight mechanics to enable development of future reusable launch vehicle (RLV) systems. The current design trade space includes rocket-propelled, hypersonic airbreathing and hybrid systems in two-stage and single-stage configurations. Aerothermodynamics technologies include experimental and computational databases to evaluate stage separation of two-stage vehicles as well as computational and trajectory simulation tools for this problem. Additionally, advancements in high-fidelity computational tools and measurement techniques are being pursued along with the study of flow physics phenomena, such as boundary-layer transition. Aero-propulsion technology development includes scramjet flowpath development and integration, with a current emphasis on hypervelocity (Mach 10 and above) operation, as well as the study of aero-propulsive interactions and the impact on overall vehicle performance. Flight mechanics technology development is focused on advanced guidance, navigation and control (GN&C) algorithms and adaptive flight control systems for both rocket-propelled and airbreathing vehicles.

Mirror Buckling Transitions in Freestanding Graphene Membranes Induced through Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schoelz, James K.

Graphene has the ability to provide for a technological revolution. First isolated and characterized in 2004, this material shows promise in the field of flexible electronics. The electronic properties of graphene can be tuned by controlling the shape of the membrane. Of particular interest in this endeavor are the thermal ripples in graphene membranes. Years of theoretical work by such luminaries as Lev Landau, Rudolf Peierls, David Mermin and Herbert Wagner have established that 2D crystals should not be thermodynamically stable. Experimental research on thin films has supported this finding. Yet graphene exists, and freestanding graphene films have been grown on large scales. It turns out that coupling between the bending and stretching phonons can stabilize the graphene in a flat, albeit rippled phase. These ripples have attracted much attention, and recent work has shown how to arrange these ripples in a variety of configurations. In this thesis, I will present work done using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to interact with freestanding graphene membranes. First I will present STM images of freestanding graphene and show how these images show signs of distortion under the electrostatic influence of the STM tip. This electrostatic attraction between the STM tip and the graphene sample can be used to pull on the graphene sample. At the same time, by employing Joule heating in order to heat graphene using the tunneling current, and exploiting the negative coefficient of thermal expansion, a repulsive thermal load can be generated. By repeatedly pulling on the graphene using the electrostatic potential, while sequentially increasing the setpoint current we can generate a thermal mirror buckling event. Slowly heating the graphene using the tunneling current, prepares a small convex region of graphene under the tip. By increasing thermal stress, as well as pulling using the out of plane electrostatic force, the graphene suddenly and irreversibly switches the sign of its curvature. This event is discovered using STM measurements and supplemented by molecular dynamics simulations. Finally, I will show how to characterize this transition using the famed Ising model. The ripples are modeled as individual Ising spins, which at low temperature exhibit antiferromagnetic coupling. By heating the graphene membrane, the strain increases, changing the antiferromagnetic coupling to ferromagnetic coupling, which characterizes the irreversible transition from a soft, flexible state to a rigid configuration.

Back to the Faculty: Transition from University Department Leadership

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Dennie L.; Rollins, Kayla B.; Smith, Lana J.

2012-01-01

This study examined the perceptions and concerns of current academic department chairs as they consider the transition to full responsibilities as a faculty member after the completion of a term in this leadership role. Currently, little research has focused on the dynamics of this transition process. Findings indicated that most department chairs…

40 CFR Appendix II to Part 1042 - Steady-State Duty Cycles

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... the maximum test power. 3 Advance from one mode to the next within a 20-second transition phase. During the transition phase, command a linear progression from the torque setting of the current mode to... transition phase, command a linear progression from the torque setting of the current mode to the torque...

Making Pathways: Young People and Their Informal Vocational Learning. Discussion Paper. Working Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bye, Jayne

Current research into youth transitions in Australia documents an increasingly individualized process in which significant numbers of youths are deemed at risk of not making a successful transition from school to work. Many theorists are questioning the applicability of the linear model of transition to current conditions. Other theorists are…

Spin-current probe for phase transition in an insulator

DOE PAGES

Qiu, Zhiyong; Li, Jia; Hou, Dazhi; ...

2016-08-30

Spin fluctuation and transition have always been one of the central topics of magnetism and condensed matter science. Experimentally, the spin fluctuation is found transcribed onto scattering intensity in the neutron-scattering process, which is represented by dynamical magnetic susceptibility and maximized at phase transitions. Importantly, a neutron carries spin without electric charge, and therefore it can bring spin into a sample without being disturbed by electric energy. However, large facilities such as a nuclear reactor are necessary. Here we present that spin pumping, frequently used in nanoscale spintronic devices, provides a desktop microprobe for spin transition; spin current is amore » flux of spin without an electric charge and its transport reflects spin excitation. Additionally, we demonstrate detection of antiferromagnetic transition in ultra-thin CoO films via frequency-dependent spin-current transmission measurements, which provides a versatile probe for phase transition in an electric manner in minute devices.« less

Blowing magnetic skyrmion bubbles

DOE PAGES

Jiang, Wanjun; Upadhyaya, Pramey; Zhang, Wei; ...

2015-06-11

The formation of soap bubbles from thin films is accompanied by topological transitions. In this paper, we show how a magnetic topological structure, a skyrmion bubble, can be generated in a solid-state system in a similar manner. Using an inhomogeneous in-plane current in a system with broken inversion symmetry, we experimentally “blow” magnetic skyrmion bubbles from a geometrical constriction. The presence of a spatially divergent spin-orbit torque gives rise to instabilities of the magnetic domain structures that are reminiscent of Rayleigh-Plateau instabilities in fluid flows. We determine a phase diagram for skyrmion formation and reveal the efficient manipulation of thesemore » dynamically created skyrmions, including depinning and motion. Finally, the demonstrated current-driven transformation from stripe domains to magnetic skyrmion bubbles could lead to progress in skyrmion-based spintronics.« less

The VLTI: An Ever Improving Imaging Machine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Merand, Antoine

2018-04-01

The last decade has seen VLTI transitioning from 2 to 3 to 4 Telescopes recombination. This led to an increase in the morphological complexity observations are able to address, and ultimately the possibility to reconstruct images. Reconstructing images using 4T data only is not a simple feat and requires coordinated observations with multiple re-configurations of VLTI moving telescopes, the Auxiliary Telescopes (AT). Whereas the current second generation instruments (GRAVITY and MATISSE) combine the 4 currently available telescopes, the VLTI platform can accommodate many more telescopes, and the tunnel has space for 2 more delay lines, allowing to combine simultaneously up to 8 telescopes. I will have a look at how VLTI could evolve to include and operate additional telescopes, as well as the improvements (and limitations) related to imaging stellar surfaces.

Parallel cascade selection molecular dynamics (PaCS-MD) to generate conformational transition pathway

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harada, Ryuhei; Kitao, Akio

2013-07-01

Parallel Cascade Selection Molecular Dynamics (PaCS-MD) is proposed as a molecular simulation method to generate conformational transition pathway under the condition that a set of "reactant" and "product" structures is known a priori. In PaCS-MD, the cycle of short multiple independent molecular dynamics simulations and selection of the structures close to the product structure for the next cycle are repeated until the simulated structures move sufficiently close to the product. Folding of 10-residue mini-protein chignolin from the extended to native structures and open-close conformational transition of T4 lysozyme were investigated by PaCS-MD. In both cases, tens of cycles of 100-ps MD were sufficient to reach the product structures, indicating the efficient generation of conformational transition pathway in PaCS-MD with a series of conventional MD without additional external biases. Using the snapshots along the pathway as the initial coordinates, free energy landscapes were calculated by the combination with multiple independent umbrella samplings to statistically elucidate the conformational transition pathways.

Coherent generation of symmetry-forbidden phonons by light-induced electron-phonon interactions in magnetite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borroni, S.; Baldini, E.; Katukuri, V. M.; Mann, A.; Parlinski, K.; Legut, D.; Arrell, C.; van Mourik, F.; Teyssier, J.; Kozlowski, A.; Piekarz, P.; Yazyev, O. V.; Oleś, A. M.; Lorenzana, J.; Carbone, F.

2017-09-01

Symmetry breaking across phase transitions often causes changes in selection rules and emergence of optical modes which can be detected via spectroscopic techniques or generated coherently in pump-probe experiments. In second-order or weakly first-order transitions, fluctuations of the ordering field are present above the ordering temperature, giving rise to intriguing precursor phenomena, such as critical opalescence. Here, we demonstrate that in magnetite (Fe3O4 ) light excitation couples to the critical fluctuations of the charge order and coherently generates structural modes of the ordered phase above the critical temperature of the Verwey transition. Our findings are obtained by detecting coherent oscillations of the optical constants through ultrafast broadband spectroscopy and analyzing their dependence on temperature. To unveil the coupling between the structural modes and the electronic excitations, at the origin of the Verwey transition, we combine our results from pump-probe experiments with spontaneous Raman scattering data and theoretical calculations of both the phonon dispersion curves and the optical constants. Our methodology represents an effective tool to study the real-time dynamics of critical fluctuations across phase transitions.

New-generation 5-HT4 receptor agonists: potential for treatment of gastrointestinal motility disorders.

PubMed

Manabe, Noriaki; Wong, Banny S; Camilleri, Michael

2010-06-01

Gastrointestinal (GI) dysmotility is an important mechanism in functional GI disorders (FGIDs) including constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia, and gastroparesis. 5-hydroxytryptamine(4) (5-HT(4)) receptors are targets for the treatment of GI motility disorders. However, older 5-HT(4) receptor agonists had limited clinical success because they were associated with changes in the function of the cardiac HERG potassium channel. We conducted a PubMed search using the following key words alone or in combination: 5-HT(4), safety, toxicity, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical trial, cardiac, hERG, arrhythmia, potassium current, elderly, prucalopride, ATI-7505, and velusetrag (TD-5108), to review mechanisms of action, clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of three new-generation 5-HT(4) receptor agonists. Prucalopride, ATI-7505, and velusetrag (TD-5108) are highly selective, high-affinity 5-HT(4) receptor agonists that are devoid of action on other receptors within their therapeutic range. Their efficacy has been demonstrated in pharmacodynamic studies which demonstrate acceleration of colonic transit and, to a variable degree, in clinical trials that significantly relieve chronic constipation. Currently available evidence shows that the new 5-HT(4) receptor agonists have safe cardiac profiles. New-generation 5-HT(4) receptor agonists and future drugs targeting organ-specific splice variants are promising approaches to treat GI dysmotility, particularly colonic diseases.

NASA's Vision for Potential Energy Reduction from Future Generations of Propulsion Technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haller, Bill

2015-01-01

Through a robust partnership with the aviation industry, over the past 50 years NASA programs have helped foster advances in propulsion technology that enabled substantial reductions in fuel consumption for commercial transports. Emerging global trends and continuing environmental concerns are creating challenges that will very likely transform the face of aviation over the next 20-40 years. In recognition of this development, NASA Aeronautics has established a set of Research Thrusts that will help define the future direction of the agency's research technology efforts. Two of these thrusts, Ultra-Efficient Commercial Vehicles and Transition to Low-Carbon Propulsion, serve as cornerstones for the Advanced Air Transport Technology (AATT) project. The AATT project is exploring and developing high-payoff technologies and concepts that are key to continued improvement in energy efficiency and environmental compatibility for future generations of fixed-wing, subsonic transports. The AATT project is primarily focused on the N+3 timeframe, or 3 generations from current technology levels. As should be expected, many of the propulsion system architectures technologies envisioned for N+3 vary significantly from todays engines. The use of batteries in a hybrid-electric configuration or deploying multiple fans distributed across the airframe to enable higher bypass ratios are just two examples of potential advances that could enable substantial energy reductions over current propulsion systems.

Characteristics of soft x-ray spectra from ultra-fast micro-capillary discharge plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jing; Avaria, Gonzalo; Shlyaptsev, Vyacheslav; Tomasel, Fernando; Grisham, Michael; Dawson, Quincy; Rocca, Jorge; NSF CenterExtreme Ultraviolet Science; Technology Collaboration

2013-10-01

The efficient generation of high aspect ratio (e.g. 300:1) plasma columns ionized to very high degrees of ionization (e.g. Ni-like Xenon) by an ultrafast current pulses of moderate amplitude in micro-capillary channels is of interest for fundamental plasma studies and for applications such as the generation of discharge-pumped soft x-ray lasers. Spectra and simulations for plasmas generated in 500 um alumina capillary discharges driven by 35-40 kA current pulses with 4 ns rise time were obtained in Xenon and Neon discharges. The first shows the presence of lines corresponding to ionization stages up to Fe-like Xe. The latter show that Al impurities from the walls and Si (from injected SiH4) are ionized to the H-like and He-like stages. He-like spectra containing the resonance line significantly broaden by opacity, the intercombination line, and Li-like satellites are analyzed and modeled. For Xenon discharges, the spectral lines from the Ni-like transitions the 3d94d(3/2, 3/2)J=0 to the 3d94p(5/2, 3/2)J=1 and to 3d94p(3/2, 1/2)J=1 are observed at gas pressures up to 2.0 Torr. Work supported by NSF Award PHY-1004295.

State-changes in the swimmeret system: a neural circuit that drives locomotion

PubMed Central

Tschuluun, N.; Hall, W. M.; Mulloney, B.

2009-01-01

Summary The crayfish swimmeret system undergoes transitions between a silent state and an active state. In the silent state, no patterned firing occurs in swimmeret motor neurons. In the active state, bursts of spikes in power stroke motor neurons alternate periodically with bursts of spikes in return stroke motor neurons. In preparations of the isolated crayfish central nervous system (CNS), the temporal structures of motor patterns expressed in the active state are similar to those expressed by the intact animal. These transitions can occur spontaneously, in response to stimulation of command neurons, or in response to application of neuromodulators and transmitter analogues. We used single-electrode voltage clamp of power-stroke exciter and return-stroke exciter motor neurons to study changes in membrane currents during spontaneous transitions and during transitions caused by bath-application of carbachol or octopamine (OA). Spontaneous transitions from silence to activity were marked by the appearance of a standing inward current and periodic outward currents in both types of motor neurons. Bath-application of carbachol also led to the development of these currents and activation of the system. Using low Ca2+–high Mg2+ saline to block synaptic transmission, we found that the carbachol-induced inward current included a direct response by the motor neuron and an indirect component. Spontaneous transitions from activity to silence were marked by disappearance of the standing inward current and the periodic outward currents. Bath-application of OA led promptly to the disappearance of both currents, and silenced the system. OA also acted directly on both types of motor neurons to cause a hyperpolarizing outward current that would contribute to silencing the system. PMID:19880720

State-changes in the swimmeret system: a neural circuit that drives locomotion.

PubMed

Tschuluun, N; Hall, W M; Mulloney, B

2009-11-01

The crayfish swimmeret system undergoes transitions between a silent state and an active state. In the silent state, no patterned firing occurs in swimmeret motor neurons. In the active state, bursts of spikes in power stroke motor neurons alternate periodically with bursts of spikes in return stroke motor neurons. In preparations of the isolated crayfish central nervous system (CNS), the temporal structures of motor patterns expressed in the active state are similar to those expressed by the intact animal. These transitions can occur spontaneously, in response to stimulation of command neurons, or in response to application of neuromodulators and transmitter analogues. We used single-electrode voltage clamp of power-stroke exciter and return-stroke exciter motor neurons to study changes in membrane currents during spontaneous transitions and during transitions caused by bath-application of carbachol or octopamine (OA). Spontaneous transitions from silence to activity were marked by the appearance of a standing inward current and periodic outward currents in both types of motor neurons. Bath-application of carbachol also led to the development of these currents and activation of the system. Using low Ca(2+)-high Mg(2+) saline to block synaptic transmission, we found that the carbachol-induced inward current included a direct response by the motor neuron and an indirect component. Spontaneous transitions from activity to silence were marked by disappearance of the standing inward current and the periodic outward currents. Bath-application of OA led promptly to the disappearance of both currents, and silenced the system. OA also acted directly on both types of motor neurons to cause a hyperpolarizing outward current that would contribute to silencing the system.

Human computer interactions in next-generation of aircraft smart navigation management systems: task analysis and architecture under an agent-oriented methodological approach.

PubMed

Canino-Rodríguez, José M; García-Herrero, Jesús; Besada-Portas, Juan; Ravelo-García, Antonio G; Travieso-González, Carlos; Alonso-Hernández, Jesús B

2015-03-04

The limited efficiency of current air traffic systems will require a next-generation of Smart Air Traffic System (SATS) that relies on current technological advances. This challenge means a transition toward a new navigation and air-traffic procedures paradigm, where pilots and air traffic controllers perform and coordinate their activities according to new roles and technological supports. The design of new Human-Computer Interactions (HCI) for performing these activities is a key element of SATS. However efforts for developing such tools need to be inspired on a parallel characterization of hypothetical air traffic scenarios compatible with current ones. This paper is focused on airborne HCI into SATS where cockpit inputs came from aircraft navigation systems, surrounding traffic situation, controllers' indications, etc. So the HCI is intended to enhance situation awareness and decision-making through pilot cockpit. This work approach considers SATS as a system distributed on a large-scale with uncertainty in a dynamic environment. Therefore, a multi-agent systems based approach is well suited for modeling such an environment. We demonstrate that current methodologies for designing multi-agent systems are a useful tool to characterize HCI. We specifically illustrate how the selected methodological approach provides enough guidelines to obtain a cockpit HCI design that complies with future SATS specifications.

Human Computer Interactions in Next-Generation of Aircraft Smart Navigation Management Systems: Task Analysis and Architecture under an Agent-Oriented Methodological Approach

PubMed Central

Canino-Rodríguez, José M.; García-Herrero, Jesús; Besada-Portas, Juan; Ravelo-García, Antonio G.; Travieso-González, Carlos; Alonso-Hernández, Jesús B.

2015-01-01

The limited efficiency of current air traffic systems will require a next-generation of Smart Air Traffic System (SATS) that relies on current technological advances. This challenge means a transition toward a new navigation and air-traffic procedures paradigm, where pilots and air traffic controllers perform and coordinate their activities according to new roles and technological supports. The design of new Human-Computer Interactions (HCI) for performing these activities is a key element of SATS. However efforts for developing such tools need to be inspired on a parallel characterization of hypothetical air traffic scenarios compatible with current ones. This paper is focused on airborne HCI into SATS where cockpit inputs came from aircraft navigation systems, surrounding traffic situation, controllers’ indications, etc. So the HCI is intended to enhance situation awareness and decision-making through pilot cockpit. This work approach considers SATS as a system distributed on a large-scale with uncertainty in a dynamic environment. Therefore, a multi-agent systems based approach is well suited for modeling such an environment. We demonstrate that current methodologies for designing multi-agent systems are a useful tool to characterize HCI. We specifically illustrate how the selected methodological approach provides enough guidelines to obtain a cockpit HCI design that complies with future SATS specifications. PMID:25746092

Cystic fibrosis: addressing the transition from pediatric to adult-oriented health care.

PubMed

Kreindler, James L; Miller, Victoria A

2013-12-11

Survival for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) increased to nearly 40 years in 2012 from the early childhood years in the 1940s. Therefore, patients are living long enough to require transition from pediatric CF centers to adult CF centers. The goal of transition is for the young adult to be engaged in the adult health care system in ways that optimize health, maximize potential, and increase quality of life. A successful transition promotes autonomy and responsibility with respect to one's own health. Currently, there is an information gap in the literature with respect to psychological models that can help guide informed transition processes. In this review, we establish the framework in which transition exists in CF; we review some of the published literature from the last 20 years of experience with transition in CF centers around the world; and we discuss psychological models of pediatric illness that can help to explain the current state of transition to adult-oriented care from pediatric-oriented care and help to formulate new models of ascertaining readiness for transition. Finally, we look at our current knowledge gaps and opportunities for future research endeavors.

Supercontinuum generation and lasing in thulium doped tellurite microstructured fibers

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

Jia, Zhi-Xu; Liu, Lai; Yao, Chuan-Fei

2014-02-14

We report supercontinuum (SC) generation in Tm{sup 3+} doped tellurite microstructured fibers (TMFs) pumped by a 1.56 μm femtosecond fiber laser. In comparison with SC generation in undoped TMFs, the SC spectral bandwidth and the spectral intensity in the wavelength region of >1.9 μm are evidently enlarged in Tm{sup 3+} doped TMFs owing to the contribution of the combination of linear gain of Tm{sup 3+} and the nonlinear optical effects to spectral broadening. Furthermore, a transition from SC generation to 1.887 μm lasing (Tm{sup 3+}: {sup 3}F{sub 4}→{sup 3}H{sub 6} transition) is observed in Tm{sup 3+} doped TMFs by varying the pulse widthmore » of the pump laser from 0.29 to 3.47 ps, which gives the evidence of the above spectral broadening mechanism. This is the first observation of the transition from SC generation to lasing, to the best of our knowledge.« less

Another look at the question of density and rail transit.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-07-01

Long community discussions about rail often include whether a citys spatial distribution of : housing, employment and other trip generators is conducive to supporting rail transit. A citys : decision to construct rail transit is based on an arr...

High-current, relativistic electron-beam transport in metals and the role of magnetic collimation.

PubMed

Storm, M; Solodov, A A; Myatt, J F; Meyerhofer, D D; Stoeckl, C; Mileham, C; Betti, R; Nilson, P M; Sangster, T C; Theobald, W; Guo, Chunlei

2009-06-12

High-resolution coherent transition radiation (CTR) imaging diagnoses electrons accelerated in laser-solid interactions with intensities of approximately 10;{19} W/cm;{2}. The CTR images indicate electron-beam filamentation and annular propagation. The beam temperature and half-angle divergence are inferred to be approximately 1.4 MeV and approximately 16 degrees , respectively. Three-dimensional hybrid-particle-in-cell code simulations reproduce the details of the CTR images assuming an initial half-angle divergence of approximately 56 degrees . Self-generated resistive magnetic fields are responsible for the difference between the initial and measured divergence.

The Effect of 24c-Site (A) Cation Substitution on the Tetragonal-Cubic Phase Transition in Li7-xLa3-xAxZr2O12 Garnet-Based Ceramic Electrolyte

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

with Al [16,20]. In KrogereVink notation, the relationships for Ta and Nb substitution for Zr are as follows [20,22,23]: Ta$ Zr ¼ V0Li (3) Nb ...garnet phase. < CeO2 precipitation at grain boundaries increases grain boundary resistance . < Super-valent cation substitution likely stabilizes the...Introduction Li-ion batteries have played a vital role in the development of current generation mobile devices, microelectronics and electric vehicles [1]. Due

Efficient two-step photocarrier generation in bias-controlled InAs/GaAs quantum dot superlattice intermediate-band solar cells.

PubMed

Kada, T; Asahi, S; Kaizu, T; Harada, Y; Tamaki, R; Okada, Y; Kita, T

2017-07-19

We studied the effects of the internal electric field on two-step photocarrier generation in InAs/GaAs quantum dot superlattice (QDSL) intermediate-band solar cells (IBSCs). The external quantum efficiency of QDSL-IBSCs was measured as a function of the internal electric field intensity, and compared with theoretical calculations accounting for interband and intersubband photoexcitations. The extra photocurrent caused by the two-step photoexcitation was maximal for a reversely biased electric field, while the current generated by the interband photoexcitation increased monotonically with increasing electric field intensity. The internal electric field in solar cells separated photogenerated electrons and holes in the superlattice (SL) miniband that played the role of an intermediate band, and the electron lifetime was extended to the microsecond scale, which improved the intersubband transition strength, therefore increasing the two-step photocurrent. There was a trade-off relation between the carrier separation enhancing the two-step photoexcitation and the electric-field-induced carrier escape from QDSLs. These results validate that long-lifetime electrons are key to maximising the two-step photocarrier generation in QDSL-IBSCs.

Analysis and elimination of a bias in targeted molecular dynamics simulations of conformational transitions: application to calmodulin.

PubMed

Ovchinnikov, Victor; Karplus, Martin

2012-07-26

The popular targeted molecular dynamics (TMD) method for generating transition paths in complex biomolecular systems is revisited. In a typical TMD transition path, the large-scale changes occur early and the small-scale changes tend to occur later. As a result, the order of events in the computed paths depends on the direction in which the simulations are performed. To identify the origin of this bias, and to propose a method in which the bias is absent, variants of TMD in the restraint formulation are introduced and applied to the complex open ↔ closed transition in the protein calmodulin. Due to the global best-fit rotation that is typically part of the TMD method, the simulated system is guided implicitly along the lowest-frequency normal modes, until the large spatial scales associated with these modes are near the target conformation. The remaining portion of the transition is described progressively by higher-frequency modes, which correspond to smaller-scale rearrangements. A straightforward modification of TMD that avoids the global best-fit rotation is the locally restrained TMD (LRTMD) method, in which the biasing potential is constructed from a number of TMD potentials, each acting on a small connected portion of the protein sequence. With a uniform distribution of these elements, transition paths that lack the length-scale bias are obtained. Trajectories generated by steered MD in dihedral angle space (DSMD), a method that avoids best-fit rotations altogether, also lack the length-scale bias. To examine the importance of the paths generated by TMD, LRTMD, and DSMD in the actual transition, we use the finite-temperature string method to compute the free energy profile associated with a transition tube around a path generated by each algorithm. The free energy barriers associated with the paths are comparable, suggesting that transitions can occur along each route with similar probabilities. This result indicates that a broad ensemble of paths needs to be calculated to obtain a full description of conformational changes in biomolecules. The breadth of the contributing ensemble suggests that energetic barriers for conformational transitions in proteins are offset by entropic contributions that arise from a large number of possible paths.

Effects of Low-frequency Current Sacral Dermatome Stimulation on Idiopathic Slow Transit Constipation

PubMed Central

Kim, Jin-Seop; Yi, Seung-Ju

2014-01-01

[Purpose] This study aimed to determine whether low-frequency current therapy can be used to reduce the symptoms of idiopathic slow transit constipation (ISTC). [Subjects] Fifteen patients (ten male and five female) with idiopathic slow transit constipation were enrolled in the present study. [Results] Bowel movements per day, bowel movements per week, and constipation assessment scale scores significantly improved after low-frequency current simulation of S2-S3. [Conclusion] Our results show that stimulation with low-frequency current of the sacral dermatomes may offer therapeutic benefits for a subject of patients with ISTC. PMID:25013277

Effects of Low-frequency Current Sacral Dermatome Stimulation on Idiopathic Slow Transit Constipation.

PubMed

Kim, Jin-Seop; Yi, Seung-Ju

2014-06-01

[Purpose] This study aimed to determine whether low-frequency current therapy can be used to reduce the symptoms of idiopathic slow transit constipation (ISTC). [Subjects] Fifteen patients (ten male and five female) with idiopathic slow transit constipation were enrolled in the present study. [Results] Bowel movements per day, bowel movements per week, and constipation assessment scale scores significantly improved after low-frequency current simulation of S2-S3. [Conclusion] Our results show that stimulation with low-frequency current of the sacral dermatomes may offer therapeutic benefits for a subject of patients with ISTC.

Externalities of energy use, analyzed for shipping and electricity generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomson, Heather

Energy use is central to the modern lifestyle, but producing this energy often comes at an environmental cost. The three studies in this paper look at the tradeoffs involved in energy production. The first looks at transitioning marine vessels to natural gas from current distillate fuels. While natural gas will reduce local air pollutants, such as sulfur oxides and particulate matter, the implications for greenhouse gases depend on how the natural gas is extracted, processed, distributed, and used. Applying a "technology warming potential" (TWP) approach, natural gas as a marine fuel achieves climate parity within 30 years for diesel ignited engines, though it could take up to 190 years to reach climate parity with conventional fuels in a spark ignited engine. Movement towards natural gas as a marine fuel continues to progress, and conditions exist in some regions to make a near-term transition to natural gas feasible. The second study looks at externalities associated with electricity generation. The impact on the surrounding community is one concern when siting new electricity generating facilities. A survey was conducted of residents living near an industrial scale wind turbine and a coal-fired power plant to determine their visual and auditory effects on the residents. Results concluded that respondents living near the wind turbine were in favor of the facility. They were willing to pay an average of 2.56 a month to keep the turbine in its current location. Respondents living near the coal plant were opposed to the facility. They were willing to spend 1.82 a month to have the facility removed. The third study presents a cost effectiveness analysis of three of the main fuels used for electricity generation, namely coal, natural gas, and wind. This analysis adds social costs to the private costs traditionally utilized by investors making decisions. It utilizes previous research on visual and auditory amenity and disamenity values as well as recent published studies on the impacts of electricity generation on water use, wildlife, and property values, among others, as well as other impacts well documented in the literature. When literature values were not identical, low, medium, and high values were considered in order to look at the full range of values. On average, the cost of wind power is 0.0332/kWh, natural gas power is 0.1071/kWh, and coal $0.1314/kWh.

Unexpected Nonlinear Effects in Superconducting Transition-Edge Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadleir, John

2016-01-01

When a normal metal transitions into the superconducting state the DC resistance drops from a finite value to zero over some finite transition width in temperature, current, and magnetic field. Superconducting transition-edge sensors (TESs) operate within this transition region and uses resistive changes to measure deposited thermal energy. This resistive transition is not perfectly smooth and a wide range of TES designs and materials show sub-structure in the resistive transition (as seen in smooth nonmonotonic behavior, jump discontinuities, and hysteresis in the devices current-voltage relation and derivatives of the resistance with respect to temperature, bias current, and magnetic field). TES technology has advanced to the point where for many applications this structure is the limiting factor in performance and optimization consists of finding operating points away from these structures. For example, operating at or near this structure can lead to nonlinearity in the detectors response and gain scale, limit the spectral range of the detector by limiting the usable resistive range, and degrade energy resolution. The origin of much of this substructure is unknown. This presentation investigates a number of possible sources in turn. First we model the TES as a superconducting weak-link and solve for the characteristic differential equations current and voltage time dependence. We find:(1) measured DC biased current-voltage relationship is the time-average of a much higher frequency limit cycle solution.(2) We calculate the fundamental frequency and estimate the power radiated from the TES treating the bias leads as an antennae.(3) The solution for a set of circuit parameters becomes multivalued leading to current transitions between levels.(4)The circuit parameters can change the measure resistance and mask the true critical current. As a consequence the TES resistance surface is not just a function of temperature, current, and magnetic field but is also a function of the circuit elements (such as shunt resistor, SQUID inductance, and capacitor values). In other words, same device measured in different electrical circuits will have a different resistive surface in temperature, current, and magnetic field. Next we consider that at the transition temperature of a superconductor both the magnetic penetration depth and coherence length are divergent. As a consequence these important characteristic length scales are changing with operating point. We present measurements on devices showing commensurate behavior between these characteristic lengths and the length scale of added normal metal structures. Reordering of proximity vortices leads to discontinuities and irreversibility of the current-voltage curves. Last we consider a weak-link TES including both thermal activated resistance effects and the effect of the magnetic penetration depth being a function of temperature and magnetic field. We derive its impact on the resistive transition surface and the important device parameters a and b.

Measurement tools and outcome measures used in transitional patient safety; a systematic review.

PubMed

van Melle, Marije A; van Stel, Henk F; Poldervaart, Judith M; de Wit, Niek J; Zwart, Dorien L M

2018-01-01

Patients are at risk for harm when treated simultaneously by healthcare providers from different healthcare organisations. To assess current practice and improvements of transitional patient safety, valid measurement tools are needed. To identify and appraise all measurement tools and outcomes that measure aspects of transitional patient safety, PubMed, Cinahl, Embase and Psychinfo were systematically searched. Two researchers performed the title and abstract and full-text selection. First, publications about validation of measurement tools were appraised for quality following COSMIN criteria. Second, we inventoried all measurement tools and outcome measures found in our search that assessed current transitional patient safety or the effect of interventions targeting transitional patient safety. The initial search yielded 8288 studies, of which 18 assessed validity of measurement tools of different aspects of transitional safety, and 191 assessed current transitional patient safety or effect of interventions. In the validated measurement tools, the overall quality of content and structural validity was acceptable; other COSMIN criteria, such as reliability, measurement error and responsiveness, were mostly poor or not reported. In our outcome inventory, the most frequently used validated outcome measure was the Care Transition Measure (n = 9). The most frequently used non-validated outcome measures were: medication discrepancies (n = 98), hospital readmissions (n = 55), adverse events (n = 34), emergency department visits (n = 33), (mental or physical) health status (n = 28), quality and timeliness of discharge summary, and patient satisfaction (n = 23). Although no validated measures exist that assess all aspects of transitional patient safety, we found validated measurement tools on specific aspects. Reporting of validity of transitional measurement tools was incomplete. Numerous outcome measures with unknown measurement properties are used in current studies on safety of care transitions, which makes interpretation or comparison of their results uncertain.

Youth Transitions and Generations: A Response to Wyn and Woodman

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roberts, Ken

2007-01-01

This article presents the author's response to Wyn and Woodman (2006) who have urged shifting youth research away from a transition paradigm to a generation paradigm. The evidence that they marshal in support is mainly from Australia, but their arguments are intended to be relevant throughout the western world. Here, the author argues that Wyn and…

Urban public transit systems modeling capabilities

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-02-01

Current national transportation policy places increasing emphasis on multi-modal : solutions involving public transit and high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) facilities : and services. Current traffic simulation/assignment models, however, have only : limit...

Studies of the Superconducting Transition in the Mo/Au-Bilayer Thin Films

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadleir, John; Smith, Stephen; Iyomoto, naoko; Bandler, Simon; Chervenak, Jay; Brown, Ari; Brekowsky, Regis; Kilbourne, Caroline; Robinson, Ian

2007-01-01

At NASA Goddard, microcalorimeter arrays using superconducting transition edge sensor thermometers (TESs) are under development for high energy resolution X-ray astrophysics applications. We report on our studies of the superconducting transition in our Mo/Au-bilayer TES films including: low current measurements of the superconducting bilayer's resistance transition versus temperature on pixels with different normal metal absorber attachment designs and measured temperature scaling of the critical current and critical magnetic field.

Investigation into the behaviors of ventilated supercavities in unsteady flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shao, Siyao; Wu, Yue; Haynes, Joseph; Arndt, Roger E. A.; Hong, Jiarong

2018-05-01

A systematic investigation of ventilated supercavitation behaviors in an unsteady flow is conducted using a high-speed water tunnel at the Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory. The cavity is generated with a forward facing model under varying ventilation rates and cavitator sizes. The unsteady flow is produced by a gust generator consisting of two hydrofoils flapping in unison with a varying angle of attack (AoA) and frequency (fg). The current experiment reveals five distinct cavity states, namely, the stable state, wavy state, pulsating state I, pulsating state II, and collapsing state, based on the variation of cavity geometry and pressure signatures inside the cavity. The distribution of cavity states over a broad range of unsteady conditions is summarized in a cavity state map. It shows that the transition of the supercavity from the stable state to pulsating and collapsing states is primarily induced by increasing AoA while the transition to the wavy state triggers largely by increasing fg. Remarkably, the state map over the non-dimensionalized half wavelength and wave amplitude of the perturbation indicates that the supercavity loses its stability and transitions to pulsating or collapsing states when the level of its distortion induced by the flow unsteadiness exceeds the cavity dimension under a steady condition. The state maps under different ventilation rates and cavitator sizes yield similar distribution but show that the occurrence of the cavity collapse can be suppressed with increasing ventilation coefficient or cavitator size. Such knowledge can be integrated into designing control strategies for the supercavitating devices operating under different unsteady conditions.

Current collection by high voltage anodes in near ionospheric conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Antoniades, John A.; Greaves, Rod G.; Boyd, D. A.; Ellis, R.

1990-01-01

The authors experimentally identified three distinct regimes with large differences in current collection in the presence of neutrals and weak magnetic fields. In magnetic field/anode voltage space the three regions are separated by very sharp transition boundaries. The authors performed a series of laboratory experiments to study the dependence of the region boundaries on several parameters, such as the ambient neutral density, plasma density, magnetic field strength, applied anode voltage, voltage pulsewidth, chamber material, chamber size and anode radius. The three observed regimes are: classical magnetic field limited collection; stable medium current toroidal discharge; and large scale, high current space glow discharge. There is as much as several orders of magnitude of difference in the amount of collected current upon any boundary crossing, particularly if one enters the space glow regime. They measured some of the properties of the plasma generated by the breakdown that is present in regimes II and III in the vicinity of the anode including the sheath modified electrostatic potential, I-V characteristics at high voltage as well as the local plasma density.

Lepton-flavored electroweak baryogenesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Huai-Ke; Li, Ying-Ying; Liu, Tao; Ramsey-Musolf, Michael; Shu, Jing

2017-12-01

We explore lepton-flavored electroweak baryogenesis, driven by C P -violation in leptonic Yukawa sector, using the τ -μ system in the two Higgs doublet model as an example. This setup generically yields, together with the flavor-changing decay h →τ μ , a tree-level Jarlskog invariant that can drive dynamical generation of baryon asymmetry during a first-order electroweak phase transition and results in C P -violating effects in the decay h →τ τ . We find that the observed baryon asymmetry can be generated in parameter space compatible with current experimental results for the decays h →τ μ , h →τ τ , and τ →μ γ , as well as the present bound on the electric dipole moment of the electron. The baryon asymmetry generated is intrinsically correlated with the C P -violating decay h →τ τ and the flavor-changing decay h →τ μ , which thus may serve as "smoking guns" to test lepton-flavored electroweak baryogenesis.

Sleep and awareness about presence of regularity speed the transition from implicit to explicit knowledge.

PubMed

Drosopoulos, Spyridon; Harrer, Dorothea; Born, Jan

2011-03-01

Sleep supports the conversion of implicitly acquired information into explicitly available knowledge. Currently, it is unclear if awareness about the presence of regularities in the stimulus material can modulate this conversion. Forty participants were trained on a serial reaction time task (SRTT). Twenty participants were informed afterwards that there was some regularity in the underlying sequence, without giving them any specific details about this regularity (aware condition); twenty other participants were not informed (unaware condition). Ten participants in each group slept the night after training, whereas 10 remained awake. After a second night of (recovery) sleep, a generation task followed where the target positions of the trained SRTT had to be deliberately generated. Both "sleep" and "awareness" improved generation task performance, but the two factors did not interact. We conclude that whilst sleep facilitates the conversion of implicit into explicit knowledge, the effect of awareness is not specific to sleep-dependent consolidation. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spectroscopic Study of Terahertz Generation in Mid-Infrared Quantum Cascade Lasers.

PubMed

Jiang, Yifan; Vijayraghavan, Karun; Jung, Seungyong; Jiang, Aiting; Kim, Jae Hyun; Demmerle, Frederic; Boehm, Gerhard; Amann, Markus C; Belkin, Mikhail A

2016-02-16

Terahertz quantum cascade laser sources based on intra-cavity difference-frequency generation are currently the only room-temperature mass-producible diode-laser-like emitters of coherent 1-6 THz radiation. Device performance has improved dramatically over the past few years to reach milliwatt-level power output and broad tuning from 1.2 to 5.9 THz, all at room-temperature. Terahertz output in these sources originates from intersubband optical nonlinearity in the laser active region. Here we report the first comprehensive spectroscopic study of the optical nonlinearity and investigate its dependence on the mid-infrared pump frequencies. Our work shows that the terahertz generation efficiency can vary by a factor of 2 or greater depending on the spectral position of the mid-infrared pumps for a fixed THz difference-frequency. We have also measured for the first time the linewidth for transitions between the lower quantum cascade laser states, which is critical for determining terahertz nonlinearity and predicting optical loss in quantum cascade laser waveguides.

Experimental realization of underdense plasma photocathode wakefield acceleration at FACET

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scherkl, Paul

2017-10-01

Novel electron beam sources from compact plasma accelerator concepts currently mature into the driving technology for next generation high-energy physics and light source facilities. Particularly electron beams of ultra-high brightness could pave the way for major advances for both scientific and commercial applications, but their generation remains tremendously challenging. The presentation outlines the experimental demonstration of the world's first bright electron beam source from spatiotemporally synchronized laser pulses injecting electrons into particle-driven plasma wakefields at FACET. Two distinctive types of operation - laser-triggered density downramp injection (``Plasma Torch'') and underdense plasma photocathode acceleration (``Trojan Horse'') - and their intermediate transitions are characterized and contrasted. Extensive particle-in-cell simulations substantiate the presentation of experimental results. In combination with novel techniques to minimize the beam energy spread, the acceleration scheme presented here promises ultra-high beam quality and brightness.

Full-Sky Maps of the VHF Radio Sky with the Owens Valley Radio Observatory Long Wavelength Array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eastwood, Michael W.; Hallinan, Gregg

2018-05-01

21-cm cosmology is a powerful new probe of the intergalactic medium at redshifts 20 >~ z >~ 6 corresponding to the Cosmic Dawn and Epoch of Reionization. Current observations of the highly-redshifted 21-cm transition are limited by the dynamic range they can achieve against foreground sources of low-frequency (<200 MHz) of radio emission. We used the Owens Valley Radio Observatory Long Wavelength Array (OVRO-LWA) to generate a series of new modern high-fidelity sky maps that capture emission on angular scales ranging from tens of degrees to ~15 arcmin, and frequencies between 36 and 73 MHz. These sky maps were generated from the application of Tikhonov-regularized m-mode analysis imaging, which is a new interferometric imaging technique that is uniquely suited for low-frequency, wide-field, drift-scanning interferometers.

Ion Electrodiffusion Governs Silk Electrogelation.

PubMed

Kojic, Nikola; Panzer, Matthew J; Leisk, Gary G; Raja, Waseem K; Kojic, Milos; Kaplan, David L

2012-07-14

Silk electrogelation involves the transition of an aqueous silk fibroin solution to a gel state (E-gel) in the presence of an electric current. The process is based on local pH changes as a result of water electrolysis - generating H(+) and OH(-) ions at the (+) and (-) electrodes, respectively. Silk fibroin has a pI=4.2 and when local pH

Ionization of Xenon to the Nickel-Like Stage and Beyond in Micro-Capillary Plasma Columns Heated by Ultrafast Current Pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avaria, G.; Grisham, M.; Li, J.; Tomasel, F. G.; Shlyapstsev, V. N.; Busquet, M.; Woolston, M.; Rocca, J. J.

Homogeneous plasma columns with ionization levels typical of MA discharges were created by rapidly heating gas-filled 520 µm diameter channels with ns rise-time current pulses of unusually low amplitude, 40 kA. These conditions allow the generation of high aspect ratio (eg. > 300:1) plasma columns with very high degrees of ionization (e.g. Ni-like Xenon) of interest for soft x-ray lasers below λ = 10 nm. Spectra and simulations of plasmas generated in 520 µm diameter alumina capillaries driven by 35-40 kA current pulses with 4 ns rise time were obtained for discharges in Xenon and Neon discharges. The first shows the presence of lines corresponding to ionization stages up to Fe-like Xe. The latter show that Al impurities from the walls are ionized to the H-like and He-like stages. He-like Al spectra containing the resonance line significantly broaden by opacity, the intercombination line, and Li-like satellites are analyzed. For Xenon discharges, the spectral lines from the Ni-like transitions the 3d94d (3/2, 3/2)J = 0 to the 3d94p(5/2, 3/2)J = 1 and to 3d94p(3/2, 1/2)J = 1 are observed.

Impacts of the Minamata convention on mercury emissions and global deposition from coal-fired power generation in Asia.

PubMed

Giang, Amanda; Stokes, Leah C; Streets, David G; Corbitt, Elizabeth S; Selin, Noelle E

2015-05-05

We explore implications of the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury for emissions from Asian coal-fired power generation, and resulting changes to deposition worldwide by 2050. We use engineering analysis, document analysis, and interviews to construct plausible technology scenarios consistent with the Convention. We translate these scenarios into emissions projections for 2050, and use the GEOS-Chem model to calculate global mercury deposition. Where technology requirements in the Convention are flexibly defined, under a global energy and development scenario that relies heavily on coal, we project ∼90 and 150 Mg·y(-1) of avoided power sector emissions for China and India, respectively, in 2050, compared to a scenario in which only current technologies are used. Benefits of this avoided emissions growth are primarily captured regionally, with projected changes in annual average gross deposition over China and India ∼2 and 13 μg·m(-2) lower, respectively, than the current technology case. Stricter, but technologically feasible, mercury control requirements in both countries could lead to a combined additional 170 Mg·y(-1) avoided emissions. Assuming only current technologies but a global transition away from coal avoids 6% and 36% more emissions than this strict technology scenario under heavy coal use for China and India, respectively.

Method for dry etching of transition metals

DOEpatents

Ashby, C.I.H.; Baca, A.G.; Esherick, P.; Parmeter, J.E.; Rieger, D.J.; Shul, R.J.

1998-09-29

A method for dry etching of transition metals is disclosed. The method for dry etching of a transition metal (or a transition metal alloy such as a silicide) on a substrate comprises providing at least one nitrogen- or phosphorus-containing {pi}-acceptor ligand in proximity to the transition metal, and etching the transition metal to form a volatile transition metal/{pi}-acceptor ligand complex. The dry etching may be performed in a plasma etching system such as a reactive ion etching (RIE) system, a downstream plasma etching system (i.e. a plasma afterglow), a chemically-assisted ion beam etching (CAIBE) system or the like. The dry etching may also be performed by generating the {pi}-acceptor ligands directly from a ligand source gas (e.g. nitrosyl ligands generated from nitric oxide), or from contact with energized particles such as photons, electrons, ions, atoms, or molecules. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, an intermediary reactant species such as carbonyl or a halide ligand is used for an initial chemical reaction with the transition metal, with the intermediary reactant species being replaced at least in part by the {pi}-acceptor ligand for forming the volatile transition metal/{pi}-acceptor ligand complex.

Method for dry etching of transition metals

DOEpatents

Ashby, Carol I. H.; Baca, Albert G.; Esherick, Peter; Parmeter, John E.; Rieger, Dennis J.; Shul, Randy J.

1998-01-01

A method for dry etching of transition metals. The method for dry etching of a transition metal (or a transition metal alloy such as a silicide) on a substrate comprises providing at least one nitrogen- or phosphorous-containing .pi.-acceptor ligand in proximity to the transition metal, and etching the transition metal to form a volatile transition metal/.pi.-acceptor ligand complex. The dry etching may be performed in a plasma etching system such as a reactive ion etching (RIE) system, a downstream plasma etching system (i.e. a plasma afterglow), a chemically-assisted ion beam etching (CAIBE) system or the like. The dry etching may also be performed by generating the .pi.-acceptor ligands directly from a ligand source gas (e.g. nitrosyl ligands generated from nitric oxide), or from contact with energized particles such as photons, electrons, ions, atoms, or molecules. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, an intermediary reactant species such as carbonyl or a halide ligand is used for an initial chemical reaction with the transition metal, with the intermediary reactant species being replaced at least in part by the .pi.-acceptor ligand for forming the volatile transition metal/.pi.-acceptor ligand complex.

Ultrafast dynamics of photoexcited charge and spin currents in semiconductor nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meier, Torsten; Pasenow, Bernhard; Duc, Huynh Thanh; Vu, Quang Tuyen; Haug, Hartmut; Koch, Stephan W.

2007-02-01

Employing the quantum interference among one- and two-photon excitations induced by ultrashort two-color laser pulses it is possible to generate charge and spin currents in semiconductors and semiconductor nanostructures on femtosecond time scales. Here, it is reviewed how the excitation process and the dynamics of such photocurrents can be described on the basis of a microscopic many-body theory. Numerical solutions of the semiconductor Bloch equations (SBE) provide a detailed description of the time-dependent material excitations. Applied to the case of photocurrents, numerical solutions of the SBE for a two-band model including many-body correlations on the second-Born Markov level predict an enhanced damping of the spin current relative to that of the charge current. Interesting effects are obtained when the scattering processes are computed beyond the Markovian limit. Whereas the overall decay of the currents is basically correctly described already within the Markov approximation, quantum-kinetic calculations show that memory effects may lead to additional oscillatory signatures in the current transients. When transitions to coupled heavy- and light-hole valence bands are incorporated into the SBE, additional charge and spin currents, which are not described by the two-band model, appear.

The impact of reducing car weight on global emissions: the future fleet in Great Britain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serrenho, André Cabrera; Norman, Jonathan B.; Allwood, Julian M.

2017-05-01

Current European policies define targets for future direct emissions of new car sales that foster a fast transition to electric drivetrain technologies. However, these targets do not consider the emissions produced in electricity generation and material production, and therefore fail to incentivise car manufacturers to consider the benefits of vehicle weight reduction. In this paper, we examine the potential benefits of limiting the average weight and altering the material composition of new cars in terms of global greenhouse gas emissions produced during the use phase, electricity generation and material production. We anticipate the emissions savings for the future car fleet in Great Britain until 2050 for various alternative futures, using a dynamic material flow analysis of ferrous metals and aluminium, and considering an evolving demand for car use. The results suggest that fostering vehicle weight reduction could produce greater cumulative emissions savings by 2050 than those obtained by incentivising a fast transition to electric drivetrains, unless there is an extreme decarbonization of the electricity grid. Savings promoted by weight reduction are immediate and do not depend on the pace of decarbonization of the electricity grid. Weight reduction may produce the greatest savings when mild steel in the car body is replaced with high-strength steel. This article is part of the themed issue 'Material demand reduction'.

Impact induced depolarization of ferroelectric materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agrawal, Vinamra; Bhattacharya, Kaushik

2018-06-01

We study the large deformation dynamic behavior and the associated nonlinear electro-thermo-mechanical coupling exhibited by ferroelectric materials in adiabatic environments. This is motivated by a ferroelectric generator which involves pulsed power generation by loading the ferroelectric material with a shock, either by impact or a blast. Upon impact, a shock wave travels through the material inducing a ferroelectric to nonpolar phase transition giving rise to a large voltage difference in an open circuit situation or a large current in a closed circuit situation. In the first part of this paper, we provide a general continuum mechanical treatment of the situation assuming a sharp phase boundary that is possibly charged. We derive the governing laws, as well as the driving force acting on the phase boundary. In the second part, we use the derived equations and a particular constitutive relation that describes the ferroelectric to nonpolar phase transition to study a uniaxial plate impact problem. We develop a numerical method where the phase boundary is tracked but other discontinuities are captured using a finite volume method. We compare our results with experimental observations to find good agreement. Specifically, our model reproduces the observed exponential rise of charge as well as the resistance dependent Hugoniot. We conclude with a parameter study that provides detailed insight into various aspects of the problem.

7 CFR 1940.552 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... basic State Factor (SF). The data sources used for each criteria is believed to be the most current and... given the criteria. The transition formula first checks whether the current year's basic formula... year's BFA). EC14NO91.000 If the current year's State BFA is not within this transition range, the...

Plasmoids formation in a laboratory and large-volume flux closure during simulations of Coaxial Helicity Injection in NSTX-U

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ebrahimi, Fatima

2016-10-01

In NSTX-U, transient Coaxial Helicity Injection (CHI) is the primary method for current generation without reliance on the solenoid. A CHI discharge is generated by driving current along open field lines (the injector flux) that connect the inner and outer divertor plates on NSTX/NSTX-U, and has generated over 200 kA of toroidal current on closed flux surfaces in NSTX. Extrapolation of the concept to larger devices requires an improved understanding of the physics of flux closure and the governing parameters that maximizes the fraction of injected flux that is converted to useful closed flux. Here, through comprehensive resistive MHD NIMROD simulations conducted for the NSTX and NSTX-U geometries, two new major findings will be reported. First, formation of an elongated Sweet-Parker current sheet and a transition to plasmoid instability has for the first time been demonstrated by realistic global simulations. This is the first observation of plasmoid instability in a laboratory device configuration predicted by realistic MHD simulations and then supported by experimental camera images from NSTX. Second, simulations have now, for the first time, been able to show large fraction conversion of injected open flux to closed flux in the NSTX-U geometry. Consistent with the experiment, simulations also show that reconnection could occur at every stage of the helicity injection phase. The influence of 3D effects, and the parameter range that supports these important new findings is now being studied to understand the impact of toroidal magnetic field and the electron temperature, both of which are projected to increase in larger ST devices. Work supported by DOE DE-SC0010565.

A distributed parameter model of transmission line transformer for high voltage nanosecond pulse generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jiangtao; Zhao, Zheng; Li, Longjie; He, Jiaxin; Li, Chenjie; Wang, Yifeng; Su, Can

2017-09-01

A transmission line transformer has potential advantages for nanosecond pulse generation including excellent frequency response and no leakage inductance. The wave propagation process in a secondary mode line is indispensable due to an obvious inside transient electromagnetic transition in this scenario. The equivalent model of the transmission line transformer is crucial for predicting the output waveform and evaluating the effects of magnetic cores on output performance. However, traditional lumped parameter models are not sufficient for nanosecond pulse generation due to the natural neglect of wave propagations in secondary mode lines based on a lumped parameter assumption. In this paper, a distributed parameter model of transmission line transformer was established to investigate wave propagation in the secondary mode line and its influential factors through theoretical analysis and experimental verification. The wave propagation discontinuity in the secondary mode line induced by magnetic cores is emphasized. Characteristics of the magnetic core under a nanosecond pulse were obtained by experiments. Distribution and formation of the secondary mode current were determined for revealing essential wave propagation processes in secondary mode lines. The output waveform and efficiency were found to be affected dramatically by wave propagation discontinuity in secondary mode lines induced by magnetic cores. The proposed distributed parameter model was proved more suitable for nanosecond pulse generation in aspects of secondary mode current, output efficiency, and output waveform. In depth, comprehension of underlying mechanisms and a broader view of the working principle of the transmission line transformer for nanosecond pulse generation can be obtained through this research.

A distributed parameter model of transmission line transformer for high voltage nanosecond pulse generation.

PubMed

Li, Jiangtao; Zhao, Zheng; Li, Longjie; He, Jiaxin; Li, Chenjie; Wang, Yifeng; Su, Can

2017-09-01

A transmission line transformer has potential advantages for nanosecond pulse generation including excellent frequency response and no leakage inductance. The wave propagation process in a secondary mode line is indispensable due to an obvious inside transient electromagnetic transition in this scenario. The equivalent model of the transmission line transformer is crucial for predicting the output waveform and evaluating the effects of magnetic cores on output performance. However, traditional lumped parameter models are not sufficient for nanosecond pulse generation due to the natural neglect of wave propagations in secondary mode lines based on a lumped parameter assumption. In this paper, a distributed parameter model of transmission line transformer was established to investigate wave propagation in the secondary mode line and its influential factors through theoretical analysis and experimental verification. The wave propagation discontinuity in the secondary mode line induced by magnetic cores is emphasized. Characteristics of the magnetic core under a nanosecond pulse were obtained by experiments. Distribution and formation of the secondary mode current were determined for revealing essential wave propagation processes in secondary mode lines. The output waveform and efficiency were found to be affected dramatically by wave propagation discontinuity in secondary mode lines induced by magnetic cores. The proposed distributed parameter model was proved more suitable for nanosecond pulse generation in aspects of secondary mode current, output efficiency, and output waveform. In depth, comprehension of underlying mechanisms and a broader view of the working principle of the transmission line transformer for nanosecond pulse generation can be obtained through this research.

Perspectives on hypersonic viscous flow research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cheng, H. K.

1993-01-01

Issues and advances in current hypersonic flow research perceived to be of interest in theoretical fluid/gas dynamics are reviewed. Particular attention is given to the hypersonic aircraft as waverider, computational methods and theoretical development in the study of viscous interaction, and boundary-layer instability and transition studies. In the present framework the study of viscous hypersonic flow faces transition problems of two kinds which represent the two major areas of current research: the turbulence transition in the high Re range and the transition to the free-molecule limit.

External noise-induced transitions in a current-biased Josephson junction

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

Huang, Qiongwei; Xue, Changfeng, E-mail: cfxue@163.com; Tang, Jiashi

We investigate noise-induced transitions in a current-biased and weakly damped Josephson junction in the presence of multiplicative noise. By using the stochastic averaging procedure, the averaged amplitude equation describing dynamic evolution near a constant phase difference is derived. Numerical results show that a stochastic Hopf bifurcation between an absorbing and an oscillatory state occurs. This means the external controllable noise triggers a transition into the non-zero junction voltage state. With the increase of noise intensity, the stationary probability distribution peak shifts and is characterised by increased width and reduced height. And the different transition rates are shown for large andmore » small bias currents.« less

Integrating Nuclear and Renewable Electricity in a Low-Carbon World: MIT-Japan Future of Nuclear Power Studies

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

Haratyk, Geoffrey; Komiyama, Ryoichi; Forsberg, Charles

Affordable reliable energy made possible a large middle class in the industrial world. Concerns about climate change require a transition to nuclear, wind, and solar—but these energy sources in current forms do not have the capability to meet the requirements for variable affordable energy. Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Tokyo, the Tokyo Institute of Technology and the Institute for Energy Economics are undertaking a series of studies to address how to make this transition to a low carbon world. Three areas are being investigated. The first area is the development of electricity grid models tomore » understand the impacts of different choices of technologies and different limits on greenhouse gas emissions. The second area is the development of technologies to enable variable electricity to the grid while capital-intensive nuclear, wind and solar generating plants operate at full capacity to minimize costs. Technologies to enable meeting variable electricity demand while operating plants at high-capacity factors include use of heat and hydrogen storage. The third area is the development of electricity market rules to enable transition to a low-carbon grid.« less

Rényi entropy of the totally asymmetric exclusion process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wood, Anthony J.; Blythe, Richard A.; Evans, Martin R.

2017-11-01

The Rényi entropy is a generalisation of the Shannon entropy that is sensitive to the fine details of a probability distribution. We present results for the Rényi entropy of the totally asymmetric exclusion process (TASEP). We calculate explicitly an entropy whereby the squares of configuration probabilities are summed, using the matrix product formalism to map the problem to one involving a six direction lattice walk in the upper quarter plane. We derive the generating function across the whole phase diagram, using an obstinate kernel method. This gives the leading behaviour of the Rényi entropy and corrections in all phases of the TASEP. The leading behaviour is given by the result for a Bernoulli measure and we conjecture that this holds for all Rényi entropies. Within the maximal current phase the correction to the leading behaviour is logarithmic in the system size. Finally, we remark upon a special property of equilibrium systems whereby discontinuities in the Rényi entropy arise away from phase transitions, which we refer to as secondary transitions. We find no such secondary transition for this nonequilibrium system, supporting the notion that these are specific to equilibrium cases.

Parameter optimization on the convergence surface of path simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chandrasekaran, Srinivas Niranj

Computational treatments of protein conformational changes tend to focus on the trajectories themselves, despite the fact that it is the transition state structures that contain information about the barriers that impose multi-state behavior. PATH is an algorithm that computes a transition pathway between two protein crystal structures, along with the transition state structure, by minimizing the Onsager-Machlup action functional. It is rapid but depends on several unknown input parameters whose range of different values can potentially generate different transition-state structures. Transition-state structures arising from different input parameters cannot be uniquely compared with those generated by other methods. I outline modifications that I have made to the PATH algorithm that estimates these input parameters in a manner that circumvents these difficulties, and describe two complementary tests that validate the transition-state structures found by the PATH algorithm. First, I show that although the PATH algorithm and two other approaches to computing transition pathways produce different low-energy structures connecting the initial and final ground-states with the transition state, all three methods agree closely on the configurations of their transition states. Second, I show that the PATH transition states are close to the saddle points of free-energy surfaces connecting initial and final states generated by replica-exchange Discrete Molecular Dynamics simulations. I show that aromatic side-chain rearrangements create similar potential energy barriers in the transition-state structures identified by PATH for a signaling protein, a contractile protein, and an enzyme. Finally, I observed, but cannot account for, the fact that trajectories obtained for all-atom and Calpha-only simulations identify transition state structures in which the Calpha atoms are in essentially the same positions. The consistency between transition-state structures derived by different algorithms for unrelated protein systems argues that although functionally important protein conformational change trajectories are to a degree stochastic, they nonetheless pass through a well-defined transition state whose detailed structural properties can rapidly be identified using PATH. In the end, I outline the strategies that could enhance the efficiency and applicability of PATH.

Minority Business Participation in Public/Private Partnerships: A Manual on Joint Development

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1986-02-01

The promotion of commercial real estate development projects in and adjacent to transit facilities as a means of generating additional revenues to defray part of local transit agency operating costs also known as transit-related real estate developme...

An Exploration into the Expansion of the Transition Program to Meet the Needs of Students with Cognitive Impairments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Codey, Emily

2013-01-01

The purpose of this mixed methods action research study was to collect data in order to expand the current transition program in place for students with cognitive impairments. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected from district stakeholders regarding the current transition program in place for students with cognitive impairments. In…

Quantum-kinetic theory of photocurrent generation via direct and phonon-mediated optical transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aeberhard, U.

2011-07-01

A quantum kinetic theory of direct and phonon-mediated indirect optical transitions is developed within the framework of the nonequilibrium Green’s function formalism. After validation against the standard Fermi golden rule approach in the bulk case, it is used in the simulation of photocurrent generation in ultrathin crystalline silicon p-i-n junction devices.

Crisis-transitions in athletes: current emphases on cognitive and contextual factors.

PubMed

Stambulova, Natalia B

2017-08-01

During the last decade, the field of athlete career research has seen much expansion. Researchers established the holistic lifespan and ecological approaches, introduced cultural praxis of athletes' careers paradigm, and updated the taxonomy of athletes' transitions. However, recent transition research focused mainly on the transition process and factors contributing to successful transitions, while crisis-transitions and factors contributing to ineffective coping have been largely ignored. The aim of this paper is to facilitate relevant research and practice through (1) positioning athletes' developmental crises within the context of the current transition literature, (2) introducing two new approaches (termed 'cognitive turn' and 'cultural turn') with a potential to enhance our understanding of the phenomenon, and (3) outlining crisis-coping interventions. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Survey of transit bus maintenance programs in Virginia.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1981-01-01

Transit bus maintenance practices as used by thirteen small and medium-sized transit systems in Virginia were cataloged. Different approaches to maintenance were investigated and the current condition of transit bus maintenance was determined. Factor...

Numerical study of air ingress transition to natural circulation in a high temperature helium loop

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

Franken, Daniel; Gould, Daniel; Jain, Prashant K.

Here, the generation-IV high temperature gas cooled reactors (HTGRs) are designed with many passive safety features, one of which is the ability to passively remove heat under a loss of coolant accident (LOCA). However, several common reactor designs do not prevent against a large break in the coolant system and may therefore experience a depressurized LOCA. This would lead to air entering into the reactor system via several potential modes of ingress: diffusion, gravity currents, and natural circulation. At the onset of a LOCA, the initial rate of air ingress is expected to be very slow because it is governedmore » by molecular diffusion. However, after several hours, natural circulation would commence, thus, bringing the air into the reactor system at a much higher rate. As a consequence, air ingress would cause the high temperature graphite matrix to oxidize, leading to its thermal degradation and decreased passive heat (decay) removal capability. Therefore, it is essential to understand the transition of air ingress from molecular diffusion to natural circulation in an HTGR system. This paper presents results from a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model to study the air ingress transition behavior. These results are validated against an h-shaped high temperature helium loop experiment. Details are provided to quantitatively predict the transition time from molecular diffusion to natural circulation.« less

Numerical study of air ingress transition to natural circulation in a high temperature helium loop

DOE PAGES

Franken, Daniel; Gould, Daniel; Jain, Prashant K.; ...

2017-09-21

Here, the generation-IV high temperature gas cooled reactors (HTGRs) are designed with many passive safety features, one of which is the ability to passively remove heat under a loss of coolant accident (LOCA). However, several common reactor designs do not prevent against a large break in the coolant system and may therefore experience a depressurized LOCA. This would lead to air entering into the reactor system via several potential modes of ingress: diffusion, gravity currents, and natural circulation. At the onset of a LOCA, the initial rate of air ingress is expected to be very slow because it is governedmore » by molecular diffusion. However, after several hours, natural circulation would commence, thus, bringing the air into the reactor system at a much higher rate. As a consequence, air ingress would cause the high temperature graphite matrix to oxidize, leading to its thermal degradation and decreased passive heat (decay) removal capability. Therefore, it is essential to understand the transition of air ingress from molecular diffusion to natural circulation in an HTGR system. This paper presents results from a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model to study the air ingress transition behavior. These results are validated against an h-shaped high temperature helium loop experiment. Details are provided to quantitatively predict the transition time from molecular diffusion to natural circulation.« less

A quantitative analysis of municipal solid waste disposal charges in China.

PubMed

Wu, Jian; Zhang, Weiqian; Xu, Jiaxuan; Che, Yue

2015-03-01

Rapid industrialization and economic development have caused a tremendous increase in municipal solid waste (MSW) generation in China. China began implementing a policy of MSW disposal fees for household waste management at the end of last century. Three charging methods were implemented throughout the country: a fixed disposal fee, a potable water-based disposal fee, and a plastic bag-based disposal fee. To date, there has been little qualitative or quantitative analysis on the effectiveness of this relatively new policy. This paper provides a general overview of MSW fee policy in China, attempts to verify whether the policy is successful in reducing general waste collected, and proposes an improved charging system to address current problems. The paper presents an empirical statistical analysis of policy effectiveness derived from an environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) test on panel data of China. EKC tests on different kinds of MSW charge systems were then examined for individual provinces or cities. A comparison of existing charging systems was conducted using environmental and economic criteria. The results indicate the following: (1) the MSW policies implemented over the study period were effective in the reduction of waste generation, (2) the household waste discharge fee policy did not act as a strong driver in terms of waste prevention and reduction, and (3) the plastic bag-based disposal fee appeared to be performing well according to qualitative and quantitative analysis. Based on current situation of waste discharging management in China, a three-stage transitional charging scheme is proposed and both advantages and drawbacks discussed. Evidence suggests that a transition from a fixed disposal fee to a plastic bag-based disposal fee involving various stakeholders should be the next objective of waste reduction efforts.

Analyses of some exoplanets' transits and transit timing variations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Püsküllü, ćaǧlar; Soydugan, Faruk

2017-02-01

We present solutions of the transit light curves and transit timing variations (TTVs) analyses of the exoplanets HAT-P-5b, HAT-P-9b and HAT-P-25b. Transit light curves were collected at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Observatory and TUBITAK National Observatory. The models were produced by WINFITTER program and stellar, planetary and orbital properties were obtained and discussed. We gave new transit times and generated TTVs with them by appending additional data based on Exoplanet Transit Database (ETD). Significant signals at the TTVs were also investigated.

Coherent structures in bypass transition induced by a cylinder wake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Chong; Wang, Jin Jun; Zhang, Pan Feng; Feng, Li Hao

Flat-plate boundary layer transition induced by the wake vortex of a two-dimensional circular cylinder is experimentally investigated. Combined visualization and velocity measurements show a different transition route from the Klebanoff mode in free-stream turbulence-induced transition. This transition scenario is mainly characterized as: (i) generation of secondary transverse vortical structures near the flat plate surface in response to the von Kn vortex street of the cylinder; (ii) formation of hairpin vortices due to the secondary instability of secondary vortical structures; (iii) growth of hairpins which is accelerated by wake-vortex induction; (iv) formation of hairpin packets and the associated streaky structures. Detailed investigation shows that during transition the evolution dynamics and self-sustaining mechanisms of hairpins, hairpin packets and streaks are consistent with those in a turbulent boundary layer. The wake vortex mainly plays the role of generating and destabilizing secondary transverse vortices. After that, the internal mechanisms become dominant and lead to the setting up of a self-sustained turbulent boundary layer.

Entropy generation and momentum transfer in the superconductor-normal and normal-superconductor phase transformations and the consistency of the conventional theory of superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hirsch, J. E.

2018-05-01

Since the discovery of the Meissner effect, the superconductor to normal (S-N) phase transition in the presence of a magnetic field is understood to be a first-order phase transformation that is reversible under ideal conditions and obeys the laws of thermodynamics. The reverse (N-S) transition is the Meissner effect. This implies in particular that the kinetic energy of the supercurrent is not dissipated as Joule heat in the process where the superconductor becomes normal and the supercurrent stops. In this paper, we analyze the entropy generation and the momentum transfer between the supercurrent and the body in the S-N transition and the N-S transition as described by the conventional theory of superconductivity. We find that it is not possible to explain the transition in a way that is consistent with the laws of thermodynamics unless the momentum transfer between the supercurrent and the body occurs with zero entropy generation, for which the conventional theory of superconductivity provides no mechanism. Instead, we point out that the alternative theory of hole superconductivity does not encounter such difficulties.

Generative rules of Drosophila locomotor behavior as a candidate homology across phyla.

PubMed

Gomez-Marin, Alex; Oron, Efrat; Gakamsky, Anna; Dan Valente; Benjamini, Yoav; Golani, Ilan

2016-06-08

The discovery of shared behavioral processes across phyla is a significant step in the establishment of a comparative study of behavior. We use immobility as an origin and reference for the measurement of fly locomotor behavior; speed, walking direction and trunk orientation as the degrees of freedom shaping this behavior; and cocaine as the parameter inducing progressive transitions in and out of immobility. We characterize and quantify the generative rules that shape Drosophila locomotor behavior, bringing about a gradual buildup of kinematic degrees of freedom during the transition from immobility to normal behavior, and the opposite narrowing down into immobility. Transitions into immobility unfold via sequential enhancement and then elimination of translation, curvature and finally rotation. Transitions out of immobility unfold by progressive addition of these degrees of freedom in the opposite order. The same generative rules have been found in vertebrate locomotor behavior in several contexts (pharmacological manipulations, ontogeny, social interactions) involving transitions in-and-out of immobility. Recent claims for deep homology between arthropod central complex and vertebrate basal ganglia provide an opportunity to examine whether the rules we report also share common descent. Our approach prompts the discovery of behavioral homologies, contributing to the elusive problem of behavioral evolution.

Achilles Tendon Adaptation During Transition to a Minimalist Running Style.

PubMed

Joseph, Michael F; Histen, Katherine; Arntsen, Julia; L'Hereux, Lauren; Defeo, Carmine; Lockwood, Derek; Scheer, Todd; Denegar, Craig R

2017-04-01

Achilles tendons (ATs) adapt to increased loading generated by long-term adoption of a minimalist shoe running style. There may be difference in the chronology and extent of adaptation between the sexes. To learn the chronology of AT adaptations in female and male runners who transitioned to a minimalist running style through a planned, progressive 12-wk transition program. Prospective cohort study of well-trained, traditionally shod runners who transitioned to minimalist shoe running. Repeated laboratory assessment at baseline and 3, 12, and 24 wk after initiating transition program. Fifteen women and 7 men (of 29 enrolled) completed the study. The authors used diagnostic ultrasound and isokinetic dynamometry to generate a force elongation curve and its derivatives at each time point. Greater adaptations were observed in men than in women, with men generating more force and having greater increases in CSA, stiffness, and Young's modulus and less elongation after 12 wk of training. Men demonstrated changes in AT properties that were consistent with increased loading of the triceps surae during exercise. The women demonstrated far smaller changes. Further investigation is warranted to understand when adaptations may occur in women and the implications of altered AT mechanical properties for performance and injury risk.

The effects of return current and target charging in short pulse high intensity laser interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beg, Farhat

2003-10-01

Since the introduction of the technique of chirped pulse amplification (CPA), peak laser intensities have increased dramatically. It is now possible to perform laser-plasma interaction experiments at intensities approaching 1021 Wcm-2. The electrons in the field of such lasers are highly relativistic (gamma 31) and the temperature of the hot electron distribution produced in a plasma at such extreme intensities can exceed 10 MeV. Since the resulting beam current exceeds the Alfvén limit, a neutralizing return current of cold plasma electrons moving in the opposite direction is produced. Another source of return current is that due to the escape of very energetic electrons from the target, which then creates a large electrostatic potential due to charge separation. These return currents can cause significant ohmic heating. We present results from experiments performed at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory using the VULCAN laser facility (I> 5 x1019 Wcm-2). Single wire targets were used and in some shots a secondary wire or foil was placed near the target. Three main observations were made: (i) generation of a Z-pinch in the wire due to the return current, (ii) optical transition radiation at 2w and (iii) proton emission from both the primary wire target and the secondary wire or foil. The Z-pinch was observed to be m=0 unstable. The current was estimated to be about 0.8 MA using simple energy balance considerations. Intense second harmonic emission due to coherent optical transition radiation from both the primary target and secondary objects was observed and is likely due to electron bunches accelerated by the ponderomotive jxB force of the laser. The proton emission from the secondary wire or foil was likely due to field emission of electrons from the these objects in response to the large potential produced from charging of the primary target. Results of simulations to model these interactions will also be presented.

On the mechanisms of cation injection in conducting bridge memories: The case of HfO{sub 2} in contact with noble metal anodes (Au, Cu, Ag)

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

Saadi, M.; CNRS, LTM, F-38000 Grenoble; El Manar University, LMOP, 2092 Tunis

Resistance switching is studied in HfO{sub 2} as a function of the anode metal (Au, Cu, and Ag) in view of its application to resistive memories (resistive random access memories, RRAM). Current-voltage (I-V) and current-time (I-t) characteristics are presented. For Au anodes, resistance transition is controlled by oxygen vacancies (oxygen-based resistive random access memory, OxRRAM). For Ag anodes, resistance switching is governed by cation injection (Conducting Bridge random access memory, CBRAM). Cu anodes lead to an intermediate case. I-t experiments are shown to be a valuable tool to distinguish between OxRRAM and CBRAM behaviors. A model is proposed to explainmore » the high-to-low resistance transition in CBRAMs. The model is based on the theory of low-temperature oxidation of metals (Cabrera-Mott theory). Upon electron injection, oxygen vacancies and oxygen ions are generated in the oxide. Oxygen ions are drifted to the anode, and an interfacial oxide is formed at the HfO{sub 2}/anode interface. If oxygen ion mobility is low in the interfacial oxide, a negative space charge builds-up at the HfO{sub 2}/oxide interface. This negative space charge is the source of a strong electric field across the interfacial oxide thickness, which pulls out cations from the anode (CBRAM case). Inversely, if oxygen ions migration through the interfacial oxide is important (or if the anode does not oxidize such as Au), bulk oxygen vacancies govern resistance transition (OxRRAM case).« less

Transitional flow in thin tubes for space station freedom radiator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Loney, Patrick; Ibrahim, Mounir

1995-01-01

A two dimensional finite volume method is used to predict the film coefficients in the transitional flow region (laminar or turbulent) for the radiator panel tubes. The code used to perform this analysis is CAST (Computer Aided Simulation of Turbulent Flows). The information gathered from this code is then used to augment a Sinda85 model that predicts overall performance of the radiator. A final comparison is drawn between the results generated with a Sinda85 model using the Sinda85 provided transition region heat transfer correlations and the Sinda85 model using the CAST generated data.

Delay of Transition Using Forced Damping

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Exton, Reginald J.

2014-01-01

Several experiments which have reported a delay of transition are analyzed in terms of the frequencies of the induced disturbances generated by different flow control elements. Two of the experiments employed passive stabilizers in the boundary layer, one leading-edge bluntness, and one employed an active spark discharge in the boundary layer. It is found that the frequencies generated by the various elements lie in the damping region of the associated stability curve. It is concluded that the creation of strong disturbances in the damping region stabilizes the boundary-layer and delays the transition from laminar to turbulent flow.

Massachusetts Fuel Cell Bus Project: Demonstrating a Total Transit Solution for Fuel Cell Electric Buses in Boston

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

The Federal Transit Administration's National Fuel Cell Bus Program focuses on developing commercially viable fuel cell bus technologies. Nuvera is leading the Massachusetts Fuel Cell Bus project to demonstrate a complete transit solution for fuel cell electric buses that includes one bus and an on-site hydrogen generation station for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). A team consisting of ElDorado National, BAE Systems, and Ballard Power Systems built the fuel cell electric bus, and Nuvera is providing its PowerTap on-site hydrogen generator to provide fuel for the bus.

The TESS Science Processing Operations Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jenkins, Jon; Twicken, Joseph D.; McCauliff, Sean; Campbell, Jennifer; Sanderfer, Dwight; Lung, David; Mansouri-Samani, Masoud; Girouard, Forrest; Tenenbaum, Peter; Klaus, Todd;

Improving Upon String Methods for Transition State Discovery.

PubMed

Chaffey-Millar, Hugh; Nikodem, Astrid; Matveev, Alexei V; Krüger, Sven; Rösch, Notker

2012-02-14

Transition state discovery via application of string methods has been researched on two fronts. The first front involves development of a new string method, named the Searching String method, while the second one aims at estimating transition states from a discretized reaction path. The Searching String method has been benchmarked against a number of previously existing string methods and the Nudged Elastic Band method. The developed methods have led to a reduction in the number of gradient calls required to optimize a transition state, as compared to existing methods. The Searching String method reported here places new beads on a reaction pathway at the midpoint between existing beads, such that the resolution of the path discretization in the region containing the transition state grows exponentially with the number of beads. This approach leads to favorable convergence behavior and generates more accurate estimates of transition states from which convergence to the final transition states occurs more readily. Several techniques for generating improved estimates of transition states from a converged string or nudged elastic band have been developed and benchmarked on 13 chemical test cases. Optimization approaches for string methods, and pitfalls therein, are discussed.

Liquid-liquid phase transformations and the shape of the melting curve.

PubMed

Makov, G; Yahel, E

2011-05-28

The phase diagram of elemental liquids has been found to be surprisingly rich, including variations in the melting curve and transitions in the liquid phase. The effect of these transitions in the liquid state on the shape of the melting curve is analyzed. First-order phase transitions intersecting the melting curve imply piecewise continuous melting curves, with solid-solid transitions generating upward kinks or minima and liquid-liquid transitions generating downward kinks or maxima. For liquid-liquid phase transitions proposed for carbon, phosphorous selenium, and possibly nitrogen, we find that the melting curve exhibits a kink. Continuous transitions imply smooth extrema in the melting curve, the curvature of which is described by an exact thermodynamic relation. This expression indicates that a minimum in the melting curve requires the solid compressibility to be greater than that of the liquid, a very unusual situation. This relation is employed to predict the loci of smooth maxima at negative pressures for liquids with anomalous melting curves. The relation between the location of the melting curve maximum and the two-state model of continuous liquid-liquid transitions is discussed and illustrated by the case of tellurium. © 2011 American Institute of Physics

Selenide isotope generators for the Galileo Mission: SIG hermetic bimetal weld transition joint

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

Barnett, W.J.

1979-08-01

The successful development of the commercial 6061-T651/Silver/304L explosive clad plate material as a bimetal weld transition joint material, as described herein, satisfies all SIG Galileo design requirements for hermetic weld attachment of stainless steel subassemblies to aluminum alloy generator housing or end cover structures. The application of this type weld transition joint to the hermetic attachment of stainless steel shell connectors is well-developed and tested. Based on on-going life tests of stainless steel receptacle/bimetal ring attachment assemblies and metallurgical characterization studies of this transition joint material, it appears evident that this transition joint material has more than adequate capability tomore » meet the 250 to 300/sup 0/F and 50,000 hr. design life of the SIG/Galileo mission. Its extended life temperture capability may well approach 350 to 400/sup 0/F.« less

Emergent functions of quantum materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tokura, Yoshinori; Kawasaki, Masashi; Nagaosa, Naoto

2017-11-01

Materials can harbour quantum many-body systems, most typically in the form of strongly correlated electrons in solids, that lead to novel and remarkable functions thanks to emergence--collective behaviours that arise from strong interactions among the elements. These include the Mott transition, high-temperature superconductivity, topological superconductivity, colossal magnetoresistance, giant magnetoelectric effect, and topological insulators. These phenomena will probably be crucial for developing the next-generation quantum technologies that will meet the urgent technological demands for achieving a sustainable and safe society. Dissipationless electronics using topological currents and quantum spins, energy harvesting such as photovoltaics and thermoelectrics, and secure quantum computing and communication are the three major fields of applications working towards this goal. Here, we review the basic principles and the current status of the emergent phenomena and functions in materials from the viewpoint of strong correlation and topology.

Quantum Nonlinear Hall Effect Induced by Berry Curvature Dipole in Time-Reversal Invariant Materials.

PubMed

Sodemann, Inti; Fu, Liang

2015-11-20

It is well known that a nonvanishing Hall conductivity requires broken time-reversal symmetry. However, in this work, we demonstrate that Hall-like currents can occur in second-order response to external electric fields in a wide class of time-reversal invariant and inversion breaking materials, at both zero and twice the driving frequency. This nonlinear Hall effect has a quantum origin arising from the dipole moment of the Berry curvature in momentum space, which generates a net anomalous velocity when the system is in a current-carrying state. The nonlinear Hall coefficient is a rank-two pseudotensor, whose form is determined by point group symmetry. We discus optimal conditions to observe this effect and propose candidate two- and three-dimensional materials, including topological crystalline insulators, transition metal dichalcogenides, and Weyl semimetals.

Conservation laws and symmetries in stochastic thermodynamics.

PubMed

Polettini, Matteo; Bulnes-Cuetara, Gregory; Esposito, Massimiliano

2016-11-01

Phenomenological nonequilibrium thermodynamics describes how fluxes of conserved quantities, such as matter, energy, and charge, flow from outer reservoirs across a system and how they irreversibly degrade from one form to another. Stochastic thermodynamics is formulated in terms of probability fluxes circulating in the system's configuration space. The consistency of the two frameworks is granted by the condition of local detailed balance, which specifies the amount of physical quantities exchanged with the reservoirs during single transitions between configurations. We demonstrate that the topology of the configuration space crucially determines the number of independent thermodynamic affinities (forces) that the reservoirs generate across the system and provides a general algorithm that produces the fundamental affinities and their conjugate currents contributing to the total dissipation, based on the interplay between macroscopic conservations laws for the currents and microscopic symmetries of the affinities.

Roles of Engineering Correlations in Hypersonic Entry Boundary Layer Transition Prediction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Campbell, Charles H.; Anderson, Brian P.; King, Rudolph A.; Kegerise, Michael A.; Berry, Scott A.; Horvath, Thomas J.

2010-01-01

Efforts to design and operate hypersonic entry vehicles are constrained by many considerations that involve all aspects of an entry vehicle system. One of the more significant physical phenomenon that affect entry trajectory and thermal protection system design is the occurrence of boundary layer transition from a laminar to turbulent state. During the Space Shuttle Return To Flight activity following the loss of Columbia and her crew of seven, NASA's entry aerothermodynamics community implemented an engineering correlation based framework for the prediction of boundary layer transition on the Orbiter. The methodology for this implementation relies upon similar correlation techniques that have been is use for several decades. What makes the Orbiter boundary layer transition correlation implementation unique is that a statistically significant data set was acquired in multiple ground test facilities, flight data exists to assist in establishing a better correlation and the framework was founded upon state of the art chemical nonequilibrium Navier Stokes flow field simulations. Recent entry flight testing performed with the Orbiter Discovery now provides a means to validate this engineering correlation approach to higher confidence. These results only serve to reinforce the essential role that engineering correlations currently exercise in the design and operation of entry vehicles. The framework of information related to the Orbiter empirical boundary layer transition prediction capability will be utilized to establish a fresh perspective on this role, and to discuss the characteristics which are desirable in a next generation advancement. The details of the paper will review the experimental facilities and techniques that were utilized to perform the implementation of the Orbiter RTF BLT Vsn 2 prediction capability. Statistically significant results for multiple engineering correlations from a ground testing campaign will be reviewed in order to describe why only certain correlations were selected for complete implementation to support the Shuttle Program. Historical Orbiter flight data on early boundary layer transition due to protruding gap fillers will be described in relation to the selected empirical correlations. In addition, Orbiter entry flight testing results from the BLT Flight Experiment will be discussed in relation to these correlations. Applicability of such correlations to the entry design problem will be reviewed, and finally a perspective on the desirable characteristics for a next generation capability based on high fidelity physical models will be provided.

Supersymmetrical bounding of asymmetric states and quantum phase transitions by anti-crossing of symmetric states

PubMed Central

Afzal, Muhammad Imran; Lee, Yong Tak

2016-01-01

Von Neumann and Wigner theorized the bounding and anti-crossing of eigenstates. Experiments have demonstrated that owing to anti-crossing and similar radiation rates, the graphene-like resonance of inhomogeneously strained photonic eigenstates can generate a pseudomagnetic field, bandgaps and Landau levels, whereas exponential or dissimilar rates induce non-Hermicity. Here, we experimentally demonstrate higher-order supersymmetry and quantum phase transitions by resonance between similar one-dimensional lattices. The lattices consisted of inhomogeneous strain-like phases of triangular solitons. The resonance created two-dimensional, inhomogeneously deformed photonic graphene. All parent eigenstates were annihilated. Eigenstates of mildly strained solitons were annihilated at similar rates through one tail and generated Hermitian bounded eigenstates. The strongly strained solitons with positive phase defects were annihilated at exponential rates through one tail, which bounded eigenstates through non-Hermitianally generated exceptional points. Supersymmetry was evident, with preservation of the shapes and relative phase differences of the parent solitons. Localizations of energies generated from annihilations of mildly and strongly strained soliton eigenstates were responsible for geometrical (Berry) and topological phase transitions, respectively. Both contributed to generating a quantum Zeno phase, whereas only strong twists generated topological (Anderson) localization. Anti-bunching-like condensation was also observed. PMID:27966596

Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2013

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

Eudy, Leslie; Gikakis, Christina

2013-12-01

This report is the seventh in an annual series of reports that summarize the progress of fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) development in the United States and discuss the achievements and challenges of introducing fuel cell propulsion in transit. The report also provides a snapshot of current FCEB performance results from August 2012 through July 2013 for five FCEB demonstrations at four transit agencies.

Nonequilibrium Second-Order Phase Transition in a Cooper-Pair Insulator.

PubMed

Doron, A; Tamir, I; Mitra, S; Zeltzer, G; Ovadia, M; Shahar, D

2016-02-05

In certain disordered superconductors, upon increasing the magnetic field, superconductivity terminates with a direct transition into an insulating phase. This phase is comprised of localized Cooper pairs and is termed a Cooper-pair insulator. The current-voltage characteristics measured in this insulating phase are highly nonlinear and, at low temperatures, exhibit abrupt current jumps. Increasing the temperature diminishes the jumps until the current-voltage characteristics become continuous. We show that a direct correspondence exists between our system and systems that undergo an equilibrium, second-order, phase transition. We illustrate this correspondence by comparing our results to the van der Waals equation of state for the liquid-gas mixture. We use the similarities to identify a critical point where an out of equilibrium second-order-like phase transition occurs in our system. Approaching the critical point, we find a power-law behavior with critical exponents that characterizes the transition.

A Comparison of Two Control Display Unit Concepts on Flight Management System Training

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abbott, Terence S.

1997-01-01

One of the biggest challenges for a pilot in the transition to a 'glass' cockpit is understanding the flight management system (FMS). Because of both the complex nature of the FMS and the pilot-FMS interface, a large portion of transition training is devoted to the FMS. The current study examined the impact of the primary pilot-FMS interface, the control display unit (CDU), on FMS training. Based on the hypothesis that the interface design could have a significant impact on training, an FMS simulation with two separate interfaces was developed. One interface was similar to a current-generation design, and the other was a multiwindows CDU based on graphical user interface techniques. For both application and evaluation reasons, constraints were applied to the graphical CDU design to maintain as much similarity as possible with the conventional CDU. This preliminary experiment was conducted to evaluate the interface effects on training. Sixteen pilots with no FMS experience were used in a between-subjects test. A time-compressed, airline-type FMS training environment was simulated. The subjects were trained to a fixed-time criterion, and performance was measured in a final, full-mission simulation context. This paper describes the technical approach, simulation implementation, and experimental results of this effort.

Space Weather Modeling at the Community Coordinated Modeling Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hesse M.

2005-01-01

The Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) is a multi-agency partnership, which aims at the creation of next generation space weather models. The goal of the CCMC is to support the research and developmental work necessary to substantially increase the present-day modeling capability for space weather purposes, and to provide models for transition to the rapid prototyping centers at the space weather forecast centers. This goal requires dose collaborations with and substantial involvement of the research community. The physical regions to be addressed by CCMC-related activities range from the solar atmosphere to the Earth's upper atmosphere. The CCMC is an integral part of the National Space Weather Program Implementation Plan, of NASA's Living With a Star (LWS) initiative, and of the Department of Defense Space Weather Transition Plan. CCMC includes a facility at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, as well as distributed computing facilities provided by the US Air Force. CCMC also provides, to the research community, access to state-of-the-art space research models. In this paper we will provide updates on CCMC status, on current plans, research and development accomplishments and goals, and on the model testing and validation process undertaken as part of the CCMC mandate. Special emphasis will be on solar and heliospheric models currently residing at CCMC, and on plans for validation and verification.

"You're Doing Great. Keep Doing What You're Doing": Socially Supportive Communication during First-Generation College Students' Socialization

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gist-Mackey, Angela N.; Wiley, Marissa L.; Erba, Joseph

2018-01-01

The experiences of first-generation college students (FGCS) are marked by high levels of stress and uncertainty as they navigate the transition to college. This study uses the organizational assimilation model to explore FGCS' transition to college by temporally analyzing multiple sources and types of socially supportive communication found in…

Optical second-harmonic-generation probe of two-dimensional ferroelectricity.

PubMed

Aktsipetrov, O A; Misuryaev, T V; Murzina, T V; Blinov, L M; Fridkin, V M; Palto, S P

2000-03-15

Optical second-harmonic generation (SHG) is used as a noninvasive probe of two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectricity in Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of the copolymer vinylidene fluoride with trifluoroethylene. The surface 2D ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition in the topmost layer of the LB films and a thickness-independent (almost 2D) transition in the bulk of these films are observed in temperature studies of SHG.

WWC Review of the Report "Closing the Social-Class Achievement Gap: A Difference-Education Intervention Improves First-Generation Students' Academic Performance and All Students' College Transition." What Works Clearinghouse Single Study Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

What Works Clearinghouse, 2014

2014-01-01

For the 2014 study, "Closing the Social-Class Achievement Gap: A Difference-Education Intervention Improves First-Generation Students' Academic Performance and All Students' College Transition," researchers investigated the impact of attending a moderated panel on incoming freshmen's adjustment to college. The panel featured…

Pulsed power accelerator for material physics experiments

DOE PAGES

Reisman, D.  B.; Stoltzfus, B.  S.; Stygar, W.  A.; ...

2015-09-01

We have developed the design of Thor: a pulsed power accelerator that delivers a precisely shaped current pulse with a peak value as high as 7 MA to a strip-line load. The peak magnetic pressure achieved within a 1-cm-wide load is as high as 100 GPa. Thor is powered by as many as 288 decoupled and transit-time isolated bricks. Each brick consists of a single switch and two capacitors connected electrically in series. The bricks can be individually triggered to achieve a high degree of current pulse tailoring. Because the accelerator is impedance matched throughout, capacitor energy is delivered tomore » the strip-line load with an efficiency as high as 50%. We used an iterative finite element method (FEM), circuit, and magnetohydrodynamic simulations to develop an optimized accelerator design. When powered by 96 bricks, Thor delivers as much as 4.1 MA to a load, and achieves peak magnetic pressures as high as 65 GPa. When powered by 288 bricks, Thor delivers as much as 6.9 MA to a load, and achieves magnetic pressures as high as 170 GPa. We have developed an algebraic calculational procedure that uses the single brick basis function to determine the brick-triggering sequence necessary to generate a highly tailored current pulse time history for shockless loading of samples. Thor will drive a wide variety of magnetically driven shockless ramp compression, shockless flyer plate, shock-ramp, equation of state, material strength, phase transition, and other advanced material physics experiments.« less

Impact of future energy policy on water resources in Kazakhstan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivotti, Pedro; Karatayev, Marat; Sobral Mourão, Zenaida; Shah, Nilay; Clarke, Michèle; Konadu, D. Dennis

2017-04-01

As part of its commitment to become one of the top-30 developed countries in the world, Kazakhstan set out an ambitious target of increasing the share of renewables and alternative sources of energy in its power generation mix to 50% by 2050. This vision greatly contrasts with the current situation, with coal and natural gas power plants producing around 90% of total electricity in 2016. While this transition provides a unique opportunity to improve the sustainability of the national energy system, major natural resources challenges currently faced in the country should be taken into account. Particularly in the case of water resources management, the current system is characterised by significant losses, heavy reliance on irrigation for the agricultural sector, unevenly distributed surface water, vulnerability to climate change and variations in transboundary inflows, amongst other issues. In this context, this study aims to investigate the future availability of water resources to support food production and the transition to a new energy system. Given the challenges mentioned above, tackling this question requires an integrated analysis of the water-energy-food systems in Kazakhstan. This is done in three stages: (1) characterising the water supply and demand in the country; (2) establishing the linkages between water resources and activities in the power production and agricultural sectors; and (3) identifying potential conflicts at the nexus between water, energy and food, taking into account future energy policy scenarios, trends for food production and water resource use.

Kinetics of transient pump currents generated by the (H,K)-ATPase after an ATP concentration jump.

PubMed

Stengelin, M; Fendler, K; Bamberg, E

1993-03-01

(H,K)-ATPase containing membranes from hog stomach were attached to black lipid membranes. Currents induced by an ATP concentration jump were recorded and analyzed. A sum of three exponentials (tau 1(-1) approximately 400 sec-1, tau 2(-1) approximately 100 sec-1, tau 3(-1) approximately 10 sec-1; T = 300 K, pH 6, MgCl2 3 mM, no K+) was fitted to the transient signal. The dependence of the resulting time constants and the peak current on electrolyte composition, ATP conversion rate, temperature, and membrane conductivity was recorded. The results are consistent with a reaction scheme similar to that proposed by Albers and Post for the NaK-ATPase. Based on this model the following assignments were made: tau 2 corresponds to ATP binding and exchange with caged ATP. tau 1 describes the phosphorylation reaction E1 x ATP-->E1P. The third, slowest time constant tau 3 is tentatively assigned to the E1P-->E2P transition. This is the first electrogenic step and is accelerated at high pH and by ATP via a low affinity binding site. The second electrogenic step is the transition from E2K to E1H. The E2K<==>E1H equilibrium is influenced by potassium with an apparent K0.5 of 3 mM and by the pH. Low pH and low potassium concentration stabilize the E1 conformation.

Magnetoresistance measurements of superconducting molybdenum nitride thin films

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

Baskaran, R., E-mail: baskaran@igcar.gov.in; Arasu, A. V. Thanikai; Amaladass, E. P.

2016-05-23

Molybdenum nitride thin films have been deposited on aluminum nitride buffered glass substrates by reactive DC sputtering. GIXRD measurements indicate formation of nano-crystalline molybdenum nitride thin films. The transition temperature of MoN thin film is 7.52 K. The transition width is less than 0.1 K. The upper critical field Bc{sub 2}(0), calculated using GLAG theory is 12.52 T. The transition width for 400 µA current increased initially upto 3 T and then decreased, while that for 100 µA current transition width did not decrease.

Survival of foodborne pathogens on commercially packed table grapes under simulated refrigerated transit conditions.

PubMed

Carter, Michelle Qiu; Feng, Doris; Chapman, Mary H; Gabler, Franka

2018-06-01

We examined the survival of Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Salmonella enterica Thompson inoculated on commercially packed table grapes under simulated refrigerated transit conditions (1.1 ± 0.5 °C; 90% RH). Grapes were placed in perforated polyethylene cluster bags, within a commercial expanded polystyrene box equipped with either a SO 2 -generating pad; a perforated polyethylene box liner; a SO 2 -generating pad and a box liner; or none of them. L. monocytogenes was most sensitive to SO 2 -generating pad. SO 2 -generating pad or SO 2 -generating pad with box liner inactivated this pathogen completely on day 12 following the inoculation. S. enterica Thompson displayed a similar cold sensitivity as L. monocytogenes, but was more resistant to SO 2 -generating pad than L. monocytogenes. While SO 2 -generating pad eliminated S. enterica Thompson on day 20, a combination of box liner with SO 2 -generating pad inactivated this pathogen completely on day 13. E. coli O157:H7 had the highest tolerance to transit temperature and to SO 2 -generating pad; SO 2 -generating pad inactivated this pathogen completely on Day 20. Our data suggest that use of SO 2 -generating pad combined with box liner is effective in reducing foodborne pathogens L. monocytogenes and S. enterica Thompson, while the use of SO 2 -generating pad alone was more effective on E. coli O157:H7. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Electrical energy per order and current efficiency for electrochemical oxidation of p-chlorobenzoic acid with boron-doped diamond anode.

PubMed

Lanzarini-Lopes, Mariana; Garcia-Segura, Sergi; Hristovski, Kiril; Westerhoff, Paul

2017-12-01

Electrochemical oxidation (EO) is an advanced oxidation process for water treatment to mineralize organic contaminants. While proven to degrade a range of emerging pollutants in water, less attention has been given to quantify the effect of operational variables such applied current density and pollutant concentration on efficiency and energy requirements. Particular figures of merit were mineralization current efficiency (MCE) and electrical energy per order (E EO ). Linear increases of applied current exponentially decreased the MCE due to the enhancement of undesired parasitic reactions that consumed generated hydroxyl radical. E EO values ranged from 39.3 to 331.8 kW h m -3 order -1 . Increasing the applied current also enhanced the E EO due to the transition from kinetics limited by current to kinetics limited by mass transfer. Further increases in current did not influence the removal rate, but it raised the E EO requirement. The E EO requirement diminished when decreasing initial pollutant loading with the increase of the apparent kinetic rate because of the relative availability of oxidant per pollutant molecule in solution at a defined current. Oxidation by-products released were identified, and a plausible degradative pathway has been suggested. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Interpreting intensities in vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy: CO adsorption on Pd surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morkel, M.; Unterhalt, H.; Klüner, T.; Rupprechter, G.; Freund, H.-J.

2005-07-01

The lineshape and intensity of SFG signals of CO adsorbed on supported Pd nanoparticles and Pd(1 1 1) are analyzed. For CO/Pd(1 1 1) nearly symmetric lorentzian lineshapes were observed. Applying two different visible wavelengths for excitation, asymmetric lineshapes observed for the CO/Pd/Al 2O 3/NiAl(1 1 0) system are explained by a lower resonant and a higher non-resonant SFG signal and a change in the phase between resonant and non-resonant signals, most likely originating from an interband transition in the NiAl substrate. The relative intensity of different CO species (hollow, bridge, on-top) was modeled by DFT calculations of IR transition moments and Raman activities. While the (experimental) sensitivity of SFG towards different CO species strongly varies, the calculated IR and Raman activities are rather similar. The inability to exactly reproduce experimental SFG intensities suggests a strong coverage dependence of Raman activities or that non-linear effects occur that can currently not be properly accounted for.

Demonstration of Synaptic Behaviors and Resistive Switching Characterizations by Proton Exchange Reactions in Silicon Oxide

PubMed Central

Chang, Yao-Feng; Fowler, Burt; Chen, Ying-Chen; Zhou, Fei; Pan, Chih-Hung; Chang, Ting-Chang; Lee, Jack C.

2016-01-01

We realize a device with biological synaptic behaviors by integrating silicon oxide (SiOx) resistive switching memory with Si diodes. Minimal synaptic power consumption due to sneak-path current is achieved and the capability for spike-induced synaptic behaviors is demonstrated, representing critical milestones for the use of SiO2–based materials in future neuromorphic computing applications. Biological synaptic behaviors such as long-term potentiation (LTP), long-term depression (LTD) and spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) are demonstrated systematically using a comprehensive analysis of spike-induced waveforms, and represent interesting potential applications for SiOx-based resistive switching materials. The resistive switching SET transition is modeled as hydrogen (proton) release from (SiH)2 to generate the hydrogen bridge defect, and the RESET transition is modeled as an electrochemical reaction (proton capture) that re-forms (SiH)2. The experimental results suggest a simple, robust approach to realize programmable neuromorphic chips compatible with large-scale CMOS manufacturing technology. PMID:26880381

Setting standards at the forefront of delivery system reform: aligning care coordination quality measures for multiple chronic conditions.

PubMed

DuGoff, Eva H; Dy, Sydney; Giovannetti, Erin R; Leff, Bruce; Boyd, Cynthia M

2013-01-01

The primary study objective is to assess how three major health reform care coordination initiatives (Accountable Care Organizations, Independence at Home, and Community-Based Care Transitions) measure concepts critical to care coordination for people with multiple chronic conditions. We find that there are major differences in quality measurement across these three large and politically important programs. Quality measures currently used or proposed for these new health reform-related programs addressing care coordination primarily capture continuity of care. Other key areas of care coordination, such as care transitions, patient-centeredness, and cross-cutting care across multiple conditions are infrequently addressed. The lack of a comprehensive and consistent measure set for care coordination will pose challenges for healthcare providers and policy makers who seek, respectively, to provide and reward well-coordinated care. In addition, this heterogeneity in measuring care coordination quality will generate new information, but will inhibit comparisons between these care coordination programs. © 2013 National Association for Healthcare Quality.

Demonstration of Synaptic Behaviors and Resistive Switching Characterizations by Proton Exchange Reactions in Silicon Oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Yao-Feng; Fowler, Burt; Chen, Ying-Chen; Zhou, Fei; Pan, Chih-Hung; Chang, Ting-Chang; Lee, Jack C.

2016-02-01

We realize a device with biological synaptic behaviors by integrating silicon oxide (SiOx) resistive switching memory with Si diodes. Minimal synaptic power consumption due to sneak-path current is achieved and the capability for spike-induced synaptic behaviors is demonstrated, representing critical milestones for the use of SiO2-based materials in future neuromorphic computing applications. Biological synaptic behaviors such as long-term potentiation (LTP), long-term depression (LTD) and spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) are demonstrated systematically using a comprehensive analysis of spike-induced waveforms, and represent interesting potential applications for SiOx-based resistive switching materials. The resistive switching SET transition is modeled as hydrogen (proton) release from (SiH)2 to generate the hydrogen bridge defect, and the RESET transition is modeled as an electrochemical reaction (proton capture) that re-forms (SiH)2. The experimental results suggest a simple, robust approach to realize programmable neuromorphic chips compatible with large-scale CMOS manufacturing technology.

A synaptic device built in one diode-one resistor (1D-1R) architecture with intrinsic SiOx-based resistive switching memory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Yao-Feng; Fowler, Burt; Chen, Ying-Chen; Zhou, Fei; Pan, Chih-Hung; Chang, Kuan-Chang; Tsai, Tsung-Ming; Chang, Ting-Chang; Sze, Simon M.; Lee, Jack C.

2016-04-01

We realize a device with biological synaptic behaviors by integrating silicon oxide (SiOx) resistive switching memory with Si diodes to further minimize total synaptic power consumption due to sneak-path currents and demonstrate the capability for spike-induced synaptic behaviors, representing critical milestones for the use of SiO2-based materials in future neuromorphic computing applications. Biological synaptic behaviors such as long-term potentiation, long-term depression, and spike-timing dependent plasticity are demonstrated systemically with comprehensive investigation of spike waveform analyses and represent a potential application for SiOx-based resistive switching materials. The resistive switching SET transition is modeled as hydrogen (proton) release from the (SiH)2 defect to generate the hydrogenbridge defect, and the RESET transition is modeled as an electrochemical reaction (proton capture) that re-forms (SiH)2. The experimental results suggest a simple, robust approach to realize programmable neuromorphic chips compatible with largescale complementary metal-oxide semiconductor manufacturing technology.

Recent Development Activities and Future Mission Applications of NASA's Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Patterson, Michael J.; Pencil, Eric J.

2014-01-01

NASAs Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) project is developing next generation ion propulsion technologies to enhance the performance and lower the costs of future NASA space science missions. This is being accomplished by producing Engineering Model (EM) and Prototype Model (PM) components, validating these via qualification-level and integrated system testing, and preparing the transition of NEXT technologies to flight system development. This presentation is a follow-up to the NEXT project overviews presented in 2009-2010. It reviews the status of the NEXT project, presents the current system performance characteristics, and describes planned activities in continuing the transition of NEXT technology to a first flight. In 2013 a voluntary decision was made to terminate the long duration test of the NEXT thruster, given the thruster design has exceeded all expectations by accumulating over 50,000 hours of operation to demonstrate around 900 kg of xenon throughput. Besides its promise for upcoming NASA science missions, NEXT has excellent potential for future commercial and international spacecraft applications.

Photocurrent measurements in Coupled Quantum Well van der Waals Heterostructures made of 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joe, Andrew; Jauregui, Luis; High, Alex; Dibos, Alan; Gulpinar, Elgin; Pistunova, Kateryna; Park, Hongkun; Kim, Philip

, Luis A. Jauregui, Alex A. High, Alan Dibos, Elgin Gulpinar, Kateryna Pistunova, Hongkun Park, Philip Kim Harvard University, Physics Department -abstract- Single layer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC) are 2-dimensional (2D) semiconductors van der Waals (vdW) characterized by a direct optical bandgap in the visible wavelength (~2 eV). Characterization of the band alignment between TMDC and the barrier is important for the fabrication of tunneling devices. Here, we fabricate coupled quantum well (CQW) heterostructures made of 2D TMDCs with hexagonal Boron nitride (hBN) as an atomically thin barrier and gate dielectric and with top and bottom metal (or graphite) as gate electrodes. We observe a clear dependence of the photo-generated current with varying hBN thickness, electrode workfunctions, electric field, laser excitation power, excitation wavelength, and temperature. We will discuss the implication of photocurrent in relation to quantum transport process across the vdW interfaces.

Expediting the transition from replacement medicine to tissue engineering.

PubMed

Coury, Arthur J

2016-06-01

In this article, an expansive interpretation of "Tissue Engineering" is proposed which is in congruence with classical and recent published definitions. I further simplify the definition of tissue engineering as: "Exerting systematic control of the body's cells, matrices and fluids." As a consequence, many medical therapies not commonly considered tissue engineering are placed in this category because of their effect on the body's responses. While the progress of tissue engineering strategies is inexorable and generally positive, it has been subject to setbacks as have many important medical therapies. Medical practice is currently undergoing a transition on several fronts (academics, start-up companies, going concerns) from the era of "replacement medicine" where body parts and functions are replaced by mechanical, electrical or chemical therapies to the era of tissue engineering where health is restored by regeneration generation or limitation of the body's tissues and functions by exploiting our expanding knowledge of the body's biological processes to produce natural, healthy outcomes.

Probabilistic sensitivity analysis for decision trees with multiple branches: use of the Dirichlet distribution in a Bayesian framework.

PubMed

Briggs, Andrew H; Ades, A E; Price, Martin J

2003-01-01

In structuring decision models of medical interventions, it is commonly recommended that only 2 branches be used for each chance node to avoid logical inconsistencies that can arise during sensitivity analyses if the branching probabilities do not sum to 1. However, information may be naturally available in an unconditional form, and structuring a tree in conditional form may complicate rather than simplify the sensitivity analysis of the unconditional probabilities. Current guidance emphasizes using probabilistic sensitivity analysis, and a method is required to provide probabilistic probabilities over multiple branches that appropriately represents uncertainty while satisfying the requirement that mutually exclusive event probabilities should sum to 1. The authors argue that the Dirichlet distribution, the multivariate equivalent of the beta distribution, is appropriate for this purpose and illustrate its use for generating a fully probabilistic transition matrix for a Markov model. Furthermore, they demonstrate that by adopting a Bayesian approach, the problem of observing zero counts for transitions of interest can be overcome.

Setting Standards at the Forefront of Delivery System Reform: Aligning Care Coordination Quality Measures for Multiple Chronic Conditions

PubMed Central

DuGoff, Eva H.; Dy, Sydney; Giovannetti, Erin R.; Leff, Bruce; Boyd, Cynthia M.

2015-01-01

The primary study objective is to assess how three major health reform care coordination initiatives (Accountable Care Organizations, Independence at Home, and Community-based Care Transitions) measure concepts critical to care coordination for people with multiple chronic conditions. We find that there are major differences in quality measurement across these three large and politically important programs. Quality measures currently used or proposed for these new health reform-related programs addressing care coordination primarily capture continuity of care. Other key areas of care coordination, such as care transitions, patient-centeredness, and cross-cutting care across multiple conditions are infrequently addressed. The lack of a comprehensive and consistent measure set for care coordination will pose challenges for health care providers and policymakers who seek, respectively, to provide and reward well-coordinated care. In addition, this heterogeneity in measuring care coordination quality will generate new information, but will inhibit comparisons between these care coordination programs. PMID:24004040

Zeeman splitting and dynamical mass generation in Dirac semimetal ZrTe5

PubMed Central

Liu, Yanwen; Yuan, Xiang; Zhang, Cheng; Jin, Zhao; Narayan, Awadhesh; Luo, Chen; Chen, Zhigang; Yang, Lei; Zou, Jin; Wu, Xing; Sanvito, Stefano; Xia, Zhengcai; Li, Liang; Wang, Zhong; Xiu, Faxian

2016-01-01

Dirac semimetals have attracted extensive attentions in recent years. It has been theoretically suggested that many-body interactions may drive exotic phase transitions, spontaneously generating a Dirac mass for the nominally massless Dirac electrons. So far, signature of interaction-driven transition has been lacking. In this work, we report high-magnetic-field transport measurements of the Dirac semimetal candidate ZrTe5. Owing to the large g factor in ZrTe5, the Zeeman splitting can be observed at magnetic field as low as 3 T. Most prominently, high pulsed magnetic field up to 60 T drives the system into the ultra-quantum limit, where we observe abrupt changes in the magnetoresistance, indicating field-induced phase transitions. This is interpreted as an interaction-induced spontaneous mass generation of the Dirac fermions, which bears resemblance to the dynamical mass generation of nucleons in high-energy physics. Our work establishes Dirac semimetals as ideal platforms for investigating emerging correlation effects in topological matters. PMID:27515493

A Classroom Activity to Illustrate the Demographic Transition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weihe, Paul

2006-01-01

A discussion of the Demographic Transition is included in many Environmental Biology or Environmental Science classes. The Demographic Transition occurs as a nation becomes more urban and wealthy, and was widely observed in the twentieth century. The phenomenon includes decreasing family size (fewer children) across generations. In this classroom…

Community College Leadership Transition through the Framework of Appreciative Inquiry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Royer, Dan W.; Latz, Amanda O.

2016-01-01

Our paper considers a critical juncture in community college leadership as many community college leaders approach retirement. These transitions are inescapable. How will institutional memory (Parker, 2011) be preserved with the passing of the leadership mantel to a new generation? These transitions also impact ways in which leaders influence…

Key vortical structure causing laminar-turbulent transition in a boundary layer disturbed by a short-duration jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshikawa, Joe; Nishio, Yu; Izawa, Seiichiro; Fukunishi, Yu

2018-01-01

Numerical simulations are carried out to discover the flow structure that plays an important role in the laminar-turbulent transition process of a boundary layer on a flat plate. The boundary layer is destabilized by ejecting a short-duration jet from a hole in the surface. When the jet velocity is set to 20% of the uniform-flow velocity, a laminar-turbulent transition takes place, whereas in the 18% case, the disturbances created by the jet decay downstream. It is found that in both cases, hairpin vortices are generated; however, these first-generation hairpins do not directly cause the transition. Only in the 20% case does a new hairpin vortex of a different shape with wider distance between the legs appear. The new hairpin grows with time and evokes the generation of vortical structures one after another around it, turning the flow turbulent. It is found that the difference between the two cases is whether or not one of the first-generation hairpin vortices gets connected with the nearby longitudinal vortices. Only when the connection is successful is the new hairpin vortex with wider distance between the legs created. For each of several cases tested with changing jet-ejecting conditions, no difference is found in the importance of the role of the hairpin structure. Therefore, we conclude that the hairpin vortex with widespread legs is a key structure in the transition to turbulence.

Ballistic edge states in Bismuth nanowires revealed by SQUID interferometry.

PubMed

Murani, Anil; Kasumov, Alik; Sengupta, Shamashis; Kasumov, Yu A; Volkov, V T; Khodos, I I; Brisset, F; Delagrange, Raphaëlle; Chepelianskii, Alexei; Deblock, Richard; Bouchiat, Hélène; Guéron, Sophie

2017-07-05

The protection against backscattering provided by topology is a striking property. In two-dimensional insulators, a consequence of this topological protection is the ballistic nature of the one-dimensional helical edge states. One demonstration of ballisticity is the quantized Hall conductance. Here we provide another demonstration of ballistic transport, in the way the edge states carry a supercurrent. The system we have investigated is a micrometre-long monocrystalline bismuth nanowire with topological surfaces, that we connect to two superconducting electrodes. We have measured the relation between the Josephson current flowing through the nanowire and the superconducting phase difference at its ends, the current-phase relation. The sharp sawtooth-shaped phase-modulated current-phase relation we find demonstrates that transport occurs selectively along two ballistic edges of the nanowire. In addition, we show that a magnetic field induces 0-π transitions and ϕ 0 -junction behaviour, providing a way to manipulate the phase of the supercurrent-carrying edge states and generate spin supercurrents.

Theory of terahertz emission from femtosecond-laser-induced microplasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thiele, I.; Nuter, R.; Bousquet, B.; Tikhonchuk, V.; Skupin, S.; Davoine, X.; Gremillet, L.; Bergé, L.

2016-12-01

We present a theoretical investigation of terahertz (THz) generation in laser-induced gas plasmas. The work is strongly motivated by recent experimental results on microplasmas, but our general findings are not limited to such a configuration. The electrons and ions are created by tunnel ionization of neutral atoms, and the resulting plasma is heated by collisions. Electrons are driven by electromagnetic, convective, and diffusive sources and produce a macroscopic current which is responsible for THz emission. The model naturally includes both ionization current and transition-Cherenkov mechanisms for THz emission, which are usually investigated separately in the literature. The latter mechanism is shown to dominate for single-color multicycle laser pulses, where the observed THz radiation originates from longitudinal electron currents. However, we find that the often discussed oscillations at the plasma frequency do not contribute to the THz emission spectrum. In order to predict the scaling of the conversion efficiency with pulse energy and focusing conditions, we propose a simplified description that is in excellent agreement with rigorous particle-in-cell simulations.

Non-volatile, solid state bistable electrical switch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, Roger M. (Inventor)

1994-01-01

A bistable switching element is made of a material whose electrical resistance reversibly decreases in response to intercalation by positive ions. Flow of positive ions between the bistable switching element and a positive ion source is controlled by means of an electrical potential applied across a thermal switching element. The material of the thermal switching element generates heat in response to electrical current flow therethrough, which in turn causes the material to undergo a thermal phase transition from a high electrical resistance state to a low electrical resistance state as the temperature increases above a predetermined value. Application of the electrical potential in one direction renders the thermal switching element conductive to pass electron current out of the ion source. This causes positive ions to flow from the source into the bistable switching element and intercalate the same to produce a non-volatile, low resistance logic state. Application of the electrical potential in the opposite direction causes reverse current flow which de-intercalates the bistable logic switching element and produces a high resistance logic state.

Digital control of highly augmented combat rotorcraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tischler, Mark B.

1987-01-01

Proposed concepts for the next generation of combat helicopters are to be embodied in a complex, highly maneuverable, multiroled vehicle with avionics systems. Single pilot and nap-of-the-Earth operations require handling qualities which minimize the involvement of the pilot in basic stabilization tasks. To meet these requirements will demand a full authority, high-gain, multimode, multiply-redundant, digital flight-control system. The gap between these requirements and current low-authority, low-bandwidth operational rotorcraft flight-control technology is considerable. This research aims at smoothing the transition between current technology and advanced concept requirements. The state of the art of high-bandwidth digital flight-control systems are reviewed; areas of specific concern for flight-control systems of modern combat are exposed; and the important concepts are illustrated in design and analysis of high-gain, digital systems with a detailed case study involving a current rotorcraft system. Approximate and exact methods are explained and illustrated for treating the important concerns which are unique to digital systems.

4D bioprinting: the next-generation technology for biofabrication enabled by stimuli-responsive materials.

PubMed

Li, Yi-Chen; Zhang, Yu Shrike; Akpek, Ali; Shin, Su Ryon; Khademhosseini, Ali

2016-12-02

Four-dimensional (4D) bioprinting, encompassing a wide range of disciplines including bioengineering, materials science, chemistry, and computer sciences, is emerging as the next-generation biofabrication technology. By utilizing stimuli-responsive materials and advanced three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting strategies, 4D bioprinting aims to create dynamic 3D patterned biological structures that can transform their shapes or behavior under various stimuli. In this review, we highlight the potential use of various stimuli-responsive materials for 4D printing and their extension into biofabrication. We first discuss the state of the art and limitations associated with current 3D printing modalities and their transition into the inclusion of the additional time dimension. We then suggest the potential use of different stimuli-responsive biomaterials as the bioink that may achieve 4D bioprinting where transformation of fabricated biological constructs can be realized. We finally conclude with future perspectives.

Single-walled carbon nanotube, multi-walled carbon nanotube and Fe2O3 nanoparticles induced mitochondria mediated apoptosis in melanoma cells.

PubMed

Naserzadeh, Parvaneh; Ansari Esfeh, Fatemeh; Kaviani, Mahboubeh; Ashtari, Khadijeh; Kheirbakhsh, Raheleh; Salimi, Ahmad; Pourahmad, Jalal

2018-06-01

Nanomaterials (NM) exhibit novel anticancer properties. The toxicity of three nanoparticles that are currently being produced in high tonnage including single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT), multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles, were compared with normal and melanoma cells. All tested nanoparticles induced selective toxicity and caspase 3 activation through mitochondria pathway in melanoma cells and mitochondria cause the generating of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential decline (MMP collapse), mitochondria swelling, and cytochrome c release. The pretreatment of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a cell-permeable antioxidant and cyclosporine A (Cs. A), a mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), pore sealing agent decreased cytotoxicity, caspase 3 activation, ROS generation, and mitochondrial damages induced by SWCNT, MWCNT, and IONPs. Our promising results provide a potential approach for the future therapeutic use of SWCNT, MWCNT, and IONPs in melanoma through mitochondrial targeting.

Experimental demonstration of a Ku-band radial-line relativistic klystron oscillator based on transition radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dang, Fangchao; Zhang, Xiaoping; Zhang, Jun; Ju, Jinchuan; Zhong, Huihuang

2017-03-01

We report on a radial-line relativistic klystron oscillator (RL-RKO), which is physically designed to generate gigawatt-level high power microwaves (HPMs) at Ku-band. The 3π/4 mode of a four-gap buncher is selected to highly modulate the radially propagating intense relativistic electron beam (IREB). A three-gap extractor operating at the π mode is employed to extract the radio-frequency energy efficiently. The Ku-band RL-RKO is investigated experimentally on an intense-current electron beam accelerator. The radially propagating IREB is well focused with an axial-width of 2 mm by a radial magnetic field of 0.4 T. Microwaves with a frequency of 14.86 GHz and a power of 1.5 GW are generated, corresponding to an efficiency of 24%, which indicates a significant advance for the research of radial-line HPM sources.

Color display and encryption with a plasmonic polarizing metamirror

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Maowen; Li, Xiong; Pu, Mingbo; Guo, Yinghui; Liu, Kaipeng; Yu, Honglin; Ma, Xiaoliang; Luo, Xiangang

2018-01-01

Structural colors emerge when a particular wavelength range is filtered out from a broadband light source. It is regarded as a valuable platform for color display and digital imaging due to the benefits of environmental friendliness, higher visibility, and durability. However, current devices capable of generating colors are all based on direct transmission or reflection. Material loss, thick configuration, and the lack of tunability hinder their transition to practical applications. In this paper, a novel mechanism that generates high-purity colors by photon spin restoration on ultrashallow plasmonic grating is proposed. We fabricated the sample by interference lithography and experimentally observed full color display, tunable color logo imaging, and chromatic sensing. The unique combination of high efficiency, high-purity colors, tunable chromatic display, ultrathin structure, and friendliness for fabrication makes this design an easy way to bridge the gap between theoretical investigations and daily-life applications.

Internal transport barrier triggered by non-linear lower hybrid wave deposition under condition of beam-driven toroidal rotation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Q. D.; Budny, R. V.

2015-03-01

By using gyro-Landau fluid transport model (GLF23), time-dependent integrated modeling is carried out using TRANSP to explore the dynamic process of internal transport barrier (ITB) formation in the neutral beam heating discharges. When the current profile is controlled by LHCD (lower hybrid current drive), with appropriate neutral beam injection, the nonlinear interplay between the transport determined gradients in the plasma temperature (Ti,e) and toroidal velocity (Vϕ) and the E×B flow shear (including q-profile) produces transport bifurcations, generating spontaneously a stepwise growing ITB. In the discharge, the constraints imposed by the wave propagation condition causes interplay of the LH driven current distribution with the plasma configuration modification, which constitutes non-linearity in the LH wave deposition. The non-linear effects cause bifurcation in LHCD, generating two distinct quasi-stationary reversed magnetic shear configurations. The change of current profile during the transition period between the two quasi-stationary states results in increase of the E×B shearing flow arising from toroidal rotation. The turbulence transport suppression by sheared E×B flow during the ITB development is analysed, and the temporal evolution of some parameters characterized the plasma confinement is examined. Ample evidence shows that onset of the ITB development is correlated with the enhancement of E×B shearing rate caused by the bifurcation in LHCD. It is suggested that the ITB triggering is associated with the non-linear effects of the LH power deposition.

Hybrid Pyroclastic Deposits Accumulated From The Eruptive Transitional Regime of Plinian Eruptions.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

di Muro, Andrea; Rosi, Mauro

In the past 15 years sedimentological studies (Valentine and Giannetti, 1995; Wilson and Hildreth, 1997; Rosi et al., 2001), physical models (Neri et al., 1988; Veitch and Woods, 2000; Kaminski and Jaupart, 2001) and laboratory experiments (Carey et al., 1988) converge at defining a new eruptive regime transitional between the fully convective and the fully collapsing end -members. Buoyant columns and density currents are contemporaneously fed in the transitional dynamic regime and fall beds are intercalated with the density current deposits in the area invested by them. The sedimentological analysis of the well exposed 800yr B.P. plinian eruption of the volcano Quilotoa (Ecuador) enabled us to i) recognize a gradual evolution of the eruptive regime, ii) characterize the fall and density current deposits emplaced during the transitional regime. The eruptive activity began with at least two phreatic explosions and the effusion of a small volume lava dome. Eruptive behaviour then switched to explosive and fed a purely convective column that accumulated a reverse graded pumice fall while rising up to an height of 30 km. A small volume, diluted and slow density current (S1 current) was emplaced in the proximal SW sector just before the column reached its maximum height. Two group s of more voluminous and faster intra-plinian density currents (S2 and S3 currents) were subsequently emplaced contemporaneously with the accumulation of the lower and upper part respectively of a normal graded pumice fall bed. S2 and S3 currents were radially distributed around the crater and deposited bedded layers with facies of decreasing energy when moving away from the crater. Massive beds of small volume were emplaced only i) inside the proximal valley channel near the topography break in slope, ii) outside the valley channel in medial area where the currents impinged against relieves. A thick sequence of pyroclastic flow deposits (S4 currents) accumulated in the valley channels around the crater only in a post-plinian phase. During this phase, the convective plume was purely coignimbritic. The runout (from 4 to 11 km) and the degree of valley -confinement progressively increased from S1 to S4 currents. The eruption ended with the collapse of a 2.6 km summit caldera. During this last eruptive phase, coarse lithic-rich flow units with runout shorter than previously were emplaced. The parallel evolution of column height (grain-size), fountain height (size of ballistics) and flow properties (surges vs. flows) compares well with the numerical simulations of pyroclastic dispersion performed by Neri et al. (2002). In the whole dispersion area, the fall bed has a polymodal grain-size. The coarse modes of the fall appear related to the plinian column, while the fines ones have a co-ignimbrite fall origin. Sub-pop ulation analysis shows that the fine modes are related to ash aggregation that in transitional eruptions plays a significant role in the deposition of very fine sizzes also in very proximal areas. The fall deposit is totally eroded and reworked by the syn-plinian currents in the proximal areas and partially eroded in the medial areas. Grain-size and maximum clast analysis indicate that a significant fraction of the intraplinian beds is of primary fall origin. Strong similarities are found between the Quilot oa deposits and that accumulated during the transitional phase of the 1991 Pinatubo eruption (Rosi et al., 2001). These evidences should be carefully taken in account for risk assessment when analysing deposits accumulated in the transitional eruptive regi me with the aim at calculating the physical parameters characterizing the density currents ( Brissette and Lajoie, 1990). References : Brissette FP and Lajoie J (1990) Depositional mechanics of turbulent nuées ardentes (surges) from their grain-sizes. Bull Volcanol 53:60-66. Carey S, Sigurdsson H, Sparks RSJ (1988) Experimental studies of particle-laden plumes. J Geophys Res 93:15314-15328 Kaminski E and Jaupart C (2001) Marginal stability of atmospheric eruption columns and pyroclastic flow generation J Geophys Res 106: 21785-21798 Neri A, Papale P and Macedonio G (1998) The role of magma composition and water content in explosive eruptions: 2. Pyroclastic dispersion dynamics. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 87: 95-115 Neri A, Di Muro A, Rosi M (2002) Mass partition during collapsing and transitional columns by using numerical simulations. In press on J Volcanol Geotherm Res Rosi M., Paladio-Melosantos M.L., Di Muro A., Leoni R., Bacolcol T. (2001) Fall vs Flow Activity During the 1991 Climactic Eruption of Mt. Pinatubo (Philippines). Bull Volcanol 62: 549-566 Valentine G.A., Giannetti B. (1995) Single Pyroclastic beds deposited by simultaneous fallout and surge processes: Roccamonfina volcano, Italy. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 64:129-137. Veitch G and Woods A (2002) Particle recycling and oscillations of volcanic eruption columns. J of Geophys Res, 105: 2829-2842. Wilson C.J.N., Hildreth W. (1997) The Bishop Tuff: new insights from eruptive stratigraphy J of Geol. 105:407-439.

Sustaining the Clinical and Translational Research Workforce: Training and Empowering the Next Generation of Investigators.

PubMed

Yin, Helen L; Gabrilove, Janice; Jackson, Rebecca; Sweeney, Carol; Fair, Alecia M; Toto, Robert

2015-07-01

There is mounting concern that clinician-scientists are a vanishing species and that the pipeline for clinical and translational research (CTR) investigators is in jeopardy. For the majority of current junior CTR investigators, the career path involves first obtaining a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded K-type career development award, particularly K08 and K23, and subsequently an NIH R01. This transition, popularly referred to as K2R, is a major hurdle with a low success rate and gaps in funding. In this Perspective, the authors identify factors that facilitate K2R transition and important aspects of increasing and sustaining the pipeline of CTR investigators. They also highlight significant differences in success rates of women and those underrepresented in biomedical research. Early career exposure to research methodology, protected time, multidisciplinary mentoring, and institutional "culture shift" are important for fostering and rewarding team science. Mentoring is the single most important contributor to K2R success, and emerging evidence suggests that formal mentor training and team mentoring are effective. Leadership training can empower junior investigators to thrive as independent CTR investigators. Future research should focus on delineating the difference between essential and supplemental factors to achieve this transition, and mentoring methods that foster success, including those that promote K2R transition of women and those underrepresented in biomedical research. The Clinical and Translational Science Awards National Consortium is well positioned to test existing models aimed at shortening the time frame, increasing the rate of K2R transition, and identifying strategies that improve success.

Sustaining the Clinical Translational Research Workforce: Training and Empowering the Next Generation of Investigators

PubMed Central

Yin, Helen L.; Gabrilove, Janice; Jackson, Rebecca; Sweeney, Carol; Fair, Alecia M.; Toto, Robert

2015-01-01

There is mounting concern that clinician scientists are a vanishing species, and that the pipeline for clinical translational research (CTR) investigators is in jeopardy. For the majority of current junior CTR investigators, the career path involves first obtaining a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded K-type career development award, particularly K08 and K23, and subsequently an NIH R01. This transition, popularly referred to as K2R, is a major hurdle with a low success rate and gaps in funding. In this Perspective, the authors identify factors that facilitate K2R transition and important aspects of increasing and sustaining the pipeline of CTR investigators. They also highlight significant differences in success rates of women and those underrepresented in biomedical research. Early career exposure to research methodology, protected time, multidisciplinary mentoring, and institutional “culture shift” are important for fostering and rewarding team science. Mentoring is the single most important contributor to K2R success, and emerging evidence suggests that formal mentor training and team mentoring are effective. Leadership training can empower junior investigators to thrive as independent CTR investigators. Future research should focus on delineating the difference between essential and supplemental factors to achieve this transition, and mentoring methods that foster success, including those that promote K2R transition of women and those underrepresented in biomedical research. The Clinical Translational Science Awards National Consortium is well positioned to test existing models aimed at shortening the timeframe, increasing the rate of K2R transition, and identifying strategies that improve success. PMID:26414054

Calculating electronic correlation effects from densities of transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haydock, Roger

Adding a localized electron to a system of interacting electrons induces a density of transitions described by the time-independent Heisenberg equation. Sequences of these transitions generate interacting states whose total energy is the sum of energies of the constituent transitions. A calculation of magnetic moments for itinerant electrons with Ising interactions illustrates this method. supported by the H. V. Snyder Gift to the University of Oregon.

Strong magneto-optical effects in A Cr2O4 (A =Fe,Co ) spinel oxides generated by tetrahedrally coordinated transition metal ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kocsis, V.; Bordács, S.; Deisenhofer, J.; Kiss, L. F.; Ohgushi, K.; Kaneko, Y.; Tokura, Y.; Kézsmárki, I.

2018-03-01

Magneto-optical effects have been investigated over the infrared visible spectral range in A Cr2O4 (A =Fe,Co ) spinel oxides with noncollinear spin orders in their ground states. We found large magneto-optical Kerr rotation and ellipticity at the on-site d -d transitions of the A2 + ions located within the charge gap. The magneto-optical Kerr rotation of ϑKerr≈12∘ observed in CoCr2O4 is unprecedentedly large among magnetic semiconductors and points toward the uniqueness of tetrahedrally coordinated Co2 + ions in generating strong magneto-optical response. Criteria of strong magneto-optical effects emerging at on-site d -d transitions of transition metal ions are discussed.

Applications of connected vehicle infrastructure technologies to enhance transit service efficiency and safety.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-09-30

Many transit agencies provide real-time operational information and trip-planning tools through phone, Web, and smartphone applications. These services utilize a one-way information flow from transit agencies to transit users. Current smartphone tech...

Agile Port System Transition Support Transition Plan Development

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-07-29

Operational Needs addressed • Proposed Solutions • Current Status • Risk • A Business Case for transition • Appropriate Funding Sources • Transition...13  3.1.6  Risk  Table...18  3.2.6  Risk  Table

Steam generator feedwater nozzle transition piece replacement experience at Salem Unit 1

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

Patten, D.B.; Perrin, J.S.; Roberts, A.T.

Cracking of steam generator feedwater piping adjacent to the feedwater nozzles has been a recurring problem since 1979 at Salem Unit 1 owned and operated by Public Service Electric and Gas Company. In addition to the cracking problem, erosion-corrosion at the leading edge of the feedwater nozzle thermal sleeve was also observed in 1992. To provide a long-term solution for the pipe cracking and thermal sleeve erosion-corrosion problems, a unique transition piece forging was specially designed, fabricated, and installed for each of the four steam generators during the 1995 outage. This paper discusses the design, fabrication, and installation of themore » transition piece forgings at Salem Unit 1, and the experiences gained from this project. It is believed that these experiences may help other utilities when planning similar replacements in the future.« less

Power system requirements and definition for lunar and Mars outposts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Petri, D. A.; Cataldo, R. L.; Bozek, J. M.

1990-01-01

Candidate power systems being considered for outpost facilities (stationary power systems) and vehicles (mobile systems) are discussed, including solar, chemical, isotopic, and reactor. The current power strategy was an initial outpost power system composed of photovoltaic arrays for daytime energy needs and regenerative fuel cells for power during the long lunar night. As day and night power demands grow, the outpost transitions to nuclear-based power generation, using thermoelectric conversion initially and evolving to a dynamic conversion system. With this concept as a guideline, a set of requirements has been established, and a reference definition of candidate power systems meeting these requirements has been identified.

Optical ferris wheel for ultracold atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Franke-Arnold, S.; Leach, J.; Padgett, M. J.; Lembessis, V. E.; Ellinas, D.; Wright, A. J.; Girkin, J. M.; Ohberg, P.; Arnold, A. S.

2007-07-01

We propose a versatile optical ring lattice suitable for trapping cold and quantum degenerate atomic samples. We demonstrate the realisation of intensity patterns from pairs of Laguerre-Gauss (exp(iℓө) modes with different ℓ indices. These patterns can be rotated by introducing a frequency shift between the modes. We can generate bright ring lattices for trapping atoms in red-detuned light, and dark ring lattices suitable for trapping atoms with minimal heating in the optical vortices of blue-detuned light. The lattice sites can be joined to form a uniform ring trap, making it ideal for studying persistent currents and the Mott insulator transition in a ring geometry.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions Effects of Grid-Scale Electricity Storage in a Decarbonizing Power System

DOE PAGES

Craig, Michael T.; Jaramillo, Paulina; Hodge, Bri-Mathias

2018-01-03

While grid-scale electricity storage (hereafter 'storage') could be crucial for deeply decarbonizing the electric power system, it would increase carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions in current systems across the United States. To better understand how storage transitions from increasing to decreasing system CO 2 emissions, we quantify the effect of storage on operational CO 2 emissions as a power system decarbonizes under a moderate and strong CO 2 emission reduction target through 2045. Under each target, we compare the effect of storage on CO 2 emissions when storage participates in only energy, only reserve, and energy and reserve markets. Wemore » conduct our study in the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) system and use a capacity expansion model to forecast generator fleet changes and a unit commitment and economic dispatch model to quantify system CO 2 emissions with and without storage. We find that storage would increase CO 2 emissions in the current ERCOT system, but would decrease CO 2 emissions in 2025 through 2045 under both decarbonization targets. Storage reduces CO 2 emissions primarily by enabling gas-fired generation to displace coal-fired generation, but also by reducing wind and solar curtailment. We further find that the market in which storage participates drives large differences in the magnitude, but not the direction, of the effect of storage on CO 2 emissions.« less

Carbon Dioxide Emissions Effects of Grid-Scale Electricity Storage in a Decarbonizing Power System

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

Craig, Michael T.; Jaramillo, Paulina; Hodge, Bri-Mathias

While grid-scale electricity storage (hereafter 'storage') could be crucial for deeply decarbonizing the electric power system, it would increase carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions in current systems across the United States. To better understand how storage transitions from increasing to decreasing system CO 2 emissions, we quantify the effect of storage on operational CO 2 emissions as a power system decarbonizes under a moderate and strong CO 2 emission reduction target through 2045. Under each target, we compare the effect of storage on CO 2 emissions when storage participates in only energy, only reserve, and energy and reserve markets. Wemore » conduct our study in the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) system and use a capacity expansion model to forecast generator fleet changes and a unit commitment and economic dispatch model to quantify system CO 2 emissions with and without storage. We find that storage would increase CO 2 emissions in the current ERCOT system, but would decrease CO 2 emissions in 2025 through 2045 under both decarbonization targets. Storage reduces CO 2 emissions primarily by enabling gas-fired generation to displace coal-fired generation, but also by reducing wind and solar curtailment. We further find that the market in which storage participates drives large differences in the magnitude, but not the direction, of the effect of storage on CO 2 emissions.« less

Carbon dioxide emissions effects of grid-scale electricity storage in a decarbonizing power system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Craig, Michael T.; Jaramillo, Paulina; Hodge, Bri-Mathias

2018-01-01

While grid-scale electricity storage (hereafter ‘storage’) could be crucial for deeply decarbonizing the electric power system, it would increase carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in current systems across the United States. To better understand how storage transitions from increasing to decreasing system CO2 emissions, we quantify the effect of storage on operational CO2 emissions as a power system decarbonizes under a moderate and strong CO2 emission reduction target through 2045. Under each target, we compare the effect of storage on CO2 emissions when storage participates in only energy, only reserve, and energy and reserve markets. We conduct our study in the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) system and use a capacity expansion model to forecast generator fleet changes and a unit commitment and economic dispatch model to quantify system CO2 emissions with and without storage. We find that storage would increase CO2 emissions in the current ERCOT system, but would decrease CO2 emissions in 2025 through 2045 under both decarbonization targets. Storage reduces CO2 emissions primarily by enabling gas-fired generation to displace coal-fired generation, but also by reducing wind and solar curtailment. We further find that the market in which storage participates drives large differences in the magnitude, but not the direction, of the effect of storage on CO2 emissions.

Urbanization and obesity in The Gambia: a country in the early stages of the demographic transition.

PubMed

Siervo, M; Grey, P; Nyan, O A; Prentice, A M

2006-04-01

To investigate the distribution of overweight and obesity and its relationship with socio-economic and behavioural factors in a developing-country population undergoing rapid nutritional transition. Cross-sectional house-to-house survey in urban Gambia. Four groups of 50 subjects were sampled as follows: young men (YM, 14-25 years), young women (YW, 14-25 years), older men (OM, 35-50 years) and older women (OW, 35-50 years). Several socio-economic and behavioural factors were investigated. Composite indices for socio-economic status, education, healthy lifestyle and western influences were created. Body weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Body composition was assessed by leg-to-leg bioimpedance. Overweight was defined as BMI=25.0-29.9 kg/m(2) and obesity as BMI>or=30.0 kg/m(2). There were highly significant gender and age differences in overweight (YM=0%, YW=10%, OM=6% and OW=34%) and obesity (YM=0%, YW=4%, OM=6% and OW=50%). Only 16% of OW were neither overweight nor obese compared to 88% of OM. OW had a higher fat mass percent (38.4%) than other groups, while fat-free mass (kg) was significantly higher in males than females with YW having the lowest value. Young generations were more educated and more influenced by western ideals than OM and OW. Weight gain was not always associated with weight concern and many overweight/obese subjects did not perceive themselves as overweight. Social and behavioural changes are already creating a perceptible 'generational gap' among this population undergoing rapid transition. The improved education and current lean status of the younger adults offers opportunities for preventative interventions. These need to be specially targeted at women.

Operational Merits of Maritime Superconductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ross, R.; Bosklopper, J. J.; van der Meij, K. H.

The perspective of superconductivity to transfer currents without loss is very appealing in high power applications. In the maritime sector many machines and systems exist in the roughly 1-100 MW range and the losses are well over 50%, which calls for dramatic efficiency improvements. This paper reports on three studies that aimed at the perspectives of superconductivity in the maritime sector. It is important to realize that the introduction of superconductivity comprises two technology transitions namely firstly electrification i.e. the transition from mechanical drives to electric drives and secondly the transition from normal to superconductive electrical machinery. It is concluded that superconductivity does reduce losses, but its impact on the total energy chain is of little significance compared to the investments and the risk of introducing a very promising but as yet not proven technology in the harsh maritime environment. The main reason of the little impact is that the largest losses are imposed on the system by the fossil fueled generators as prime movers that generate the electricity through mechanical torque. Unless electric power is supplied by an efficient and reliable technology that does not involve mechanical torque with the present losses both normal as well as superconductive electrification of the propulsion will hardly improve energy efficiency or may even reduce it. One exception may be the application of degaussing coils. Still appealing merits of superconductivity do exist, but they are rather related to the behavior of superconductive machines and strong magnetic fields and consequently reduction in volume and mass of machinery or (sometimes radically) better performance. The merits are rather convenience, design flexibility as well as novel applications and capabilities which together yield more adequate systems. These may yield lower operational costs in the long run, but at present the added value of superconductivity rather seems more adequate than cheaper systems.

Preparing transition-metal clusters in known structural forms: the mass-analyzed threshold ionization spectrum of V3.

PubMed

Ford, Mark S; Mackenzie, Stuart R

2005-08-22

The first results are presented of a new experiment designed both to generate and characterize spectroscopically individual isomers of transition-metal cluster cations. As a proof of concept the one-photon mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectrum of V3 has been recorded in the region of 44,000-45,000 cm-1. This study extends the range of a previous zero-kinetic-energy (ZEKE) photoelectron study of Yang et al. [Chem. Phys. Lett. 231, 177 (1994)] with which the current results are compared. The MATI spectra reported here exhibit surprisingly high resolution (0.2 cm-1) for this technique despite the use of large discrimination and extraction fields. Analysis of the rotational profile of the origin band allows assignment of the V3 ground state as and the V3+ ground state as , both with D3h geometry, in agreement with the density-functional theory study of the V3 ZEKE spectrum by Calaminici et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 114, 4036 (2001)]. There is also some evidence in the spectrum of transitions to the low-lying excited state of the ion. The vibrational structure observed in the MATI spectrum is, however, significantly different to and less extensive than that predicted in the density-functional theory study. Possible reasons for the discrepancies are discussed and an alternative assignment is proposed which results in revised values for the vibrational wave numbers of both the neutral and ionic states. These studies demonstrate the efficient generation of cluster ions in known structural (isomeric) forms and pave the way for the study of cluster reactivity as a function of geometrical structure.

High-Temperature Tolerance of Photosynthesis Can Be Linked to Local Electrical Responses in Leaves of Pea

PubMed Central

Sukhov, Vladimir; Gaspirovich, Vladimir; Mysyagin, Sergey; Vodeneev, Vladimir

2017-01-01

It is known that numerous stimuli induce electrical signals which can increase a plant's tolerance to stressors, including high temperature. However, the physiological role of local electrical responses (LERs), i.e., responses in the zone of stimulus action, in the plant's tolerance has not been sufficiently investigated. The aim of a current work is to analyze the connection between parameters of LERs with the thermal tolerance of photosynthetic processes in pea. Electrical activity and photosynthetic parameters in pea leaves were registered during transitions of air temperature in a measurement head (from 23 to 30°C, from 30 to 40°C, from 40 to 45°C, and from 45 to 23°C). This stepped heating decreased a photosynthetic assimilation of CO2 and induced generation of LERs in the heated leaf. Amplitudes of LERs, quantity of responses during the heating and the number of temperature transition, which induced the first generation of LERs, varied among different pea plants. Parameters of LERs were weakly connected with the photosynthetic assimilation of CO2 during the heating; however, a residual photosynthetic activity after a treatment by high temperatures increased with the growth of amplitudes and quantity of LERs and with lowering of the number of the heating transition, inducing the first electrical response. The effect was not connected with a photosynthetic activity before heating; similar dependences were also observed for effective and maximal quantum yields of photosystem II after heating. We believe that the observed effect can reflect a positive influence of LERs on the thermal tolerance of photosynthesis. It is possible that the process can participate in a plant's adaptation to stressors. PMID:29033854

Three Generation Family Households: Differences by Family Structure at Birth

PubMed Central

Pilkauskas, Natasha V.

2013-01-01

Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study (N=4,898), this study investigates how the share, correlates, transition patterns, and duration of three generation households vary by mother’s relationship status at birth. Nine percent of married mothers, 17 % of cohabiting, and 45% of single mothers live in a three generation family household at the birth of the child. Incidence over time is much higher and most common among single mother households, 60% live in a three generation family household in at least one wave. Economic need, culture, and generational needs are associated with living in a three generation household and correlates vary by mother’s relationship status. Three generation family households are short lived and transitions are frequent. Kin support through coresidence is an important source of support for families with young children and in particular families that are unwed at the birth of their child. PMID:24014117

Tools and Functions of Reconfigurable Colloidal Assembly.

PubMed

Solomon, Michael J

2018-02-19

We review work in reconfigurable colloidal assembly, a field in which rapid, back-and-forth transitions between the equilibrium states of colloidal self-assembly are accomplished by dynamic manipulation of the size, shape, and interaction potential of colloids, as well as the magnitude and direction of the fields applied to them. It is distinguished from the study of colloidal phase transitions by the centrality of thermodynamic variables and colloidal properties that are time switchable; by the applicability of these changes to generate transitions in assembled colloids that may be spatially localized; and by its incorporation of the effects of generalized potentials due to, for example, applied electric and magnetic fields. By drawing upon current progress in the field, we propose a matrix classification of reconfigurable colloidal systems based on the tool used and function performed by reconfiguration. The classification distinguishes between the multiple means by which reconfigurable assembly can be accomplished (i.e., the tools of reconfiguration) and the different kinds of structural transitions that can be achieved by it (i.e., the functions of reconfiguration). In the first case, the tools of reconfiguration can be broadly classed as (i) those that control the colloidal contribution to the system entropy-as through volumetric and/or shape changes of the particles; (ii) those that control the internal energy of the colloids-as through manipulation of colloidal interaction potentials; and (iii) those that control the spatially resolved potential energy that is imposed on the colloids-as through the introduction of field-induced phoretic mechanisms that yield colloidal displacement and accumulation. In the second case, the functions of reconfiguration include reversible: (i) transformation between different phases-including fluid, cluster, gel, and crystal structures; (ii) manipulation of the spacing between colloids in crystals and clusters; and (iii) translation, rotation, or shape-change of finite-size objects self-assembled from colloids. With this classification in hand, we correlate the current limits on the spatiotemporal scales for reconfigurable colloidal assembly and identify a set of future research challenges.

Three-dimensional finite element study on stress generation in synchrotron X-ray tomography reconstructed nickel-manganese-cobalt based half cell

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

Wu, Linmin; Xiao, Xianghui; Wen, Youhai

In this study, the stress generation caused by phase transitions and lithium intercalation of nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) based half cell with realistic 3D microstructures has been studied using finite element method. The electrochemical properties and discharged curves under various C rates are studied. The potential drops significantly with the increase of C rates. During the discharge process, for particles isolated from the conductive channels, several particles with no lithium ion intercalation are observed. For particles in the electrochemical network, the lithium ion concentration increases during the discharge process. The stress generation inside NMC particles is calculated coupled with lithium diffusion andmore » phase transitions. The results show the stresses near the concave and convex regions are the highest. The neck regions of the connected particles 2 can break and form several isolated particles. If the isolated particles are not connected with the electrically conductive materials such as carbon and binder, the capacity loses in battery. For isolated particles in the conductive channel, cracks are more likely to form on the surface. Moreover, stresses inside the particles increase dramatically when considering phase transitions. The phase transitions introduce an abrupt volume change and generate the strain mismatch, causing the stress increase.« less

Trip generation studies for special generators.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-02-01

This research examines the effects of town centers and senior housing developments on : surrounding roadways and nearby transit. The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) : Trip Generation Manual, which determines number of trips produced or at...

The Menopausal Transition: Guidelines for Researchers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mansfield, Phyllis Kernoff; And Others

1989-01-01

Research guidelines are presented to encourage sound research on the menopausal transition. Included is a review of current literature covering three aspects of menopausal transition: age span, changes in menstrual bleeding during the transition, and other psychological and somatic changes during premenopausal stages. (IAH)

Light-field-driven currents in graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Higuchi, Takuya; Heide, Christian; Ullmann, Konrad; Weber, Heiko B.; Hommelhoff, Peter

2017-10-01

The ability to steer electrons using the strong electromagnetic field of light has opened up the possibility of controlling electron dynamics on the sub-femtosecond (less than 10-15 seconds) timescale. In dielectrics and semiconductors, various light-field-driven effects have been explored, including high-harmonic generation, sub-optical-cycle interband population transfer and the non-perturbative change of the transient polarizability. In contrast, much less is known about light-field-driven electron dynamics in narrow-bandgap systems or in conductors, in which screening due to free carriers or light absorption hinders the application of strong optical fields. Graphene is a promising platform with which to achieve light-field-driven control of electrons in a conducting material, because of its broadband and ultrafast optical response, weak screening and high damage threshold. Here we show that a current induced in monolayer graphene by two-cycle laser pulses is sensitive to the electric-field waveform, that is, to the exact shape of the optical carrier field of the pulse, which is controlled by the carrier-envelope phase, with a precision on the attosecond (10-18 seconds) timescale. Such a current, dependent on the carrier-envelope phase, shows a striking reversal of the direction of the current as a function of the driving field amplitude at about two volts per nanometre. This reversal indicates a transition of light-matter interaction from the weak-field (photon-driven) regime to the strong-field (light-field-driven) regime, where the intraband dynamics influence interband transitions. We show that in this strong-field regime the electron dynamics are governed by sub-optical-cycle Landau-Zener-Stückelberg interference, composed of coherent repeated Landau-Zener transitions on the femtosecond timescale. Furthermore, the influence of this sub-optical-cycle interference can be controlled with the laser polarization state. These coherent electron dynamics in graphene take place on a hitherto unexplored timescale, faster than electron-electron scattering (tens of femtoseconds) and electron-phonon scattering (hundreds of femtoseconds). We expect these results to have direct ramifications for band-structure tomography and light-field-driven petahertz electronics.

Light-field-driven currents in graphene.

PubMed

Higuchi, Takuya; Heide, Christian; Ullmann, Konrad; Weber, Heiko B; Hommelhoff, Peter

2017-10-12

The ability to steer electrons using the strong electromagnetic field of light has opened up the possibility of controlling electron dynamics on the sub-femtosecond (less than 10 -15 seconds) timescale. In dielectrics and semiconductors, various light-field-driven effects have been explored, including high-harmonic generation, sub-optical-cycle interband population transfer and the non-perturbative change of the transient polarizability. In contrast, much less is known about light-field-driven electron dynamics in narrow-bandgap systems or in conductors, in which screening due to free carriers or light absorption hinders the application of strong optical fields. Graphene is a promising platform with which to achieve light-field-driven control of electrons in a conducting material, because of its broadband and ultrafast optical response, weak screening and high damage threshold. Here we show that a current induced in monolayer graphene by two-cycle laser pulses is sensitive to the electric-field waveform, that is, to the exact shape of the optical carrier field of the pulse, which is controlled by the carrier-envelope phase, with a precision on the attosecond (10 -18 seconds) timescale. Such a current, dependent on the carrier-envelope phase, shows a striking reversal of the direction of the current as a function of the driving field amplitude at about two volts per nanometre. This reversal indicates a transition of light-matter interaction from the weak-field (photon-driven) regime to the strong-field (light-field-driven) regime, where the intraband dynamics influence interband transitions. We show that in this strong-field regime the electron dynamics are governed by sub-optical-cycle Landau-Zener-Stückelberg interference, composed of coherent repeated Landau-Zener transitions on the femtosecond timescale. Furthermore, the influence of this sub-optical-cycle interference can be controlled with the laser polarization state. These coherent electron dynamics in graphene take place on a hitherto unexplored timescale, faster than electron-electron scattering (tens of femtoseconds) and electron-phonon scattering (hundreds of femtoseconds). We expect these results to have direct ramifications for band-structure tomography and light-field-driven petahertz electronics.

Analytical and computational investigations of a magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) energy-bypass system for supersonic gas turbine engines to enable hypersonic flight

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benyo, Theresa Louise

Historically, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has used rocket-powered vehicles as launch vehicles for access to space. A familiar example is the Space Shuttle launch system. These vehicles carry both fuel and oxidizer onboard. If an external oxidizer (such as the Earth's atmosphere) is utilized, the need to carry an onboard oxidizer is eliminated, and future launch vehicles could carry a larger payload into orbit at a fraction of the total fuel expenditure. For this reason, NASA is currently researching the use of air-breathing engines to power the first stage of two-stage-to-orbit hypersonic launch systems. Removing the need to carry an onboard oxidizer leads also to reductions in total vehicle weight at liftoff. This in turn reduces the total mass of propellant required, and thus decreases the cost of carrying a specific payload into orbit or beyond. However, achieving hypersonic flight with air-breathing jet engines has several technical challenges. These challenges, such as the mode transition from supersonic to hypersonic engine operation, are under study in NASA's Fundamental Aeronautics Program. One propulsion concept that is being explored is a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) energy- bypass generator coupled with an off-the-shelf turbojet/turbofan. It is anticipated that this engine will be capable of operation from takeoff to Mach 7 in a single flowpath without mode transition. The MHD energy bypass consists of an MHD generator placed directly upstream of the engine, and converts a portion of the enthalpy of the inlet flow through the engine into electrical current. This reduction in flow enthalpy corresponds to a reduced Mach number at the turbojet inlet so that the engine stays within its design constraints. Furthermore, the generated electrical current may then be used to power aircraft systems or an MHD accelerator positioned downstream of the turbojet. The MHD accelerator operates in reverse of the MHD generator, re-accelerating the exhaust flow from the engine by converting electrical current back into flow enthalpy to increase thrust. Though there has been considerable research into the use of MHD generators to produce electricity for industrial power plants, interest in the technology for flight-weight aerospace applications has developed only recently. In this research, electromagnetic fields coupled with weakly ionzed gases to slow hypersonic airflow were investigated within the confines of an MHD energy-bypass system with the goal of showing that it is possible for an air-breathing engine to transition from takeoff to Mach 7 without carrying a rocket propulsion system along with it. The MHD energy-bypass system was modeled for use on a supersonic turbojet engine. The model included all components envisioned for an MHD energy-bypass system; two preionizers, an MHD generator, and an MHD accelerator. A thermodynamic cycle analysis of the hypothesized MHD energy-bypass system on an existing supersonic turbojet engine was completed. In addition, a detailed thermodynamic, plasmadynamic, and electromagnetic analysis was combined to offer a single, comprehensive model to describe more fully the proper plasma flows and magnetic fields required for successful operation of the MHD energy bypass system. The unique contribution of this research involved modeling the current density, temperature, velocity, pressure, electric field, Hall parameter, and electrical power throughout an annular MHD generator and an annular MHD accelerator taking into account an external magnetic field within a moving flow field, collisions of electrons with neutral particles in an ionized flow field, and collisions of ions with neutral particles in an ionized flow field (ion slip). In previous research, the ion slip term has not been considered. The MHD energy-bypass system model showed that it is possible to expand the operating range of a supersonic jet engine from a maximum of Mach 3.5 to a maximum of Mach 7. The inclusion of ion slip within the analysis further showed that it is possible to 'drive' this system with maximum magnetic fields of 3 T and with maximum conductivity levels of 11 mhos/m. These operating parameters better the previous findings of 5 T and 10 mhos/m, and reveal that taking into account collisions between ions and neutral particles within a weakly ionized flow provides a more realistic model with added benefits of lower magnetic fields and conductivity levels especially at the higher Mach numbers. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

Generative rules of Drosophila locomotor behavior as a candidate homology across phyla

PubMed Central

Gomez-Marin, Alex; Oron, Efrat; Gakamsky, Anna; Dan Valente; Benjamini, Yoav; Golani, Ilan

2016-01-01

The discovery of shared behavioral processes across phyla is a significant step in the establishment of a comparative study of behavior. We use immobility as an origin and reference for the measurement of fly locomotor behavior; speed, walking direction and trunk orientation as the degrees of freedom shaping this behavior; and cocaine as the parameter inducing progressive transitions in and out of immobility. We characterize and quantify the generative rules that shape Drosophila locomotor behavior, bringing about a gradual buildup of kinematic degrees of freedom during the transition from immobility to normal behavior, and the opposite narrowing down into immobility. Transitions into immobility unfold via sequential enhancement and then elimination of translation, curvature and finally rotation. Transitions out of immobility unfold by progressive addition of these degrees of freedom in the opposite order. The same generative rules have been found in vertebrate locomotor behavior in several contexts (pharmacological manipulations, ontogeny, social interactions) involving transitions in-and-out of immobility. Recent claims for deep homology between arthropod central complex and vertebrate basal ganglia provide an opportunity to examine whether the rules we report also share common descent. Our approach prompts the discovery of behavioral homologies, contributing to the elusive problem of behavioral evolution. PMID:27271799

Heating and cooling of the multiply charged ion nonequilibrium plasma in a high-current extended low-inductance discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burtsev, V. A.; Kalinin, N. V.

2014-09-01

Using a radiation magnetohydrodynamics two-temperature model (RMHD model) of a high-current volumetric radiating Z-discharge, the heating and cooling of the nitrogen plasma in a pulsed pinched extended discharge is investigated as applied to the problem of creating a recombination laser based on 3 → 2 transitions of hydrogen-like nitrogen ions (λ = 13.4 nm). It is shown that the power supply of the discharge, which is represented by a dual storage-forming line and a transmission line, makes it possible to raise the power density of the nitrogen plasma to 0.01-1.00 TW/cm3. Accordingly, there arises the possibility of generating a fully ionized (i.e., consisting of bare nuclei and electrons) plasma through the heating (compression) of electrons owing to the self-magnetic field of the plasma current and Joule heat even if the plasma is cooled by its own radiation at this stage. Such a plasma is needed to produce the lasing (active) medium of a recombination laser based on electron transitions in hydrogen-like ions. At the second stage, it is necessary to rapidly and deeply cool the plasma to 20-40 eV for 1-2 ns. Cooling of the fully ionized expanding plasma was numerically simulated with the discharge current switched on and off by means of a switch with a rapidly rising resistance. In both cases, the plasma expansion in the discharge is not adiabatic. Even after the discharge current is fairly rapidly switched off, heating of electrons continues inside the plasma column for a time longer than the switching time. Discharge current switchoff improves the electron cooling efficiency only slightly. Under such conditions, the plasma cools down to 50-60 eV in the former case and to 46-54 eV in the latter case for 2-3 ns.

State of the Art of Current Practices for Transit Transfers.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1981-07-01

The major objectives of the study are to: (1) describe and summarize the transfer policies currently in use on U.S. transit properties; (2) identify reasons why properties use or do not use particular transfer policies; (3) determine the consequences...

Current Usage and Future Prospects of Multispectral (RGB) Satellite Imagery in Support of NWS Forecast Offices and National Centers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Molthan, Andrew L.; Fuell, Kevin K.; Knaff, John; Lee, Thomas

2012-01-01

Current and future satellite sensors provide remotely sensed quantities from a variety of wavelengths ranging from the visible to the passive microwave, from both geostationary and low-Earth orbits. The NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center has a long history of providing multispectral imagery from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA s Terra and Aqua satellites in support of NWS forecast office activities. Products from MODIS have recently been extended to include a broader suite of multispectral imagery similar to those developed by EUMETSAT, based upon the spectral channel s available from the Spinning Enhanced Visible and InfraRed Imager (SEVIRI) aboard METEOSAT-9. This broader suite includes products that discriminate between air mass types associated with synoptic-scale features, assists in the identification of dust, and improves upon paired channel difference detection of fog and low cloud events. Similarly, researchers at NOAA/NESDIS and CIRA have developed air mass discrimination capabilities using channels available from the current GOES Sounders. Other applications of multispectral composites include combinations of high and low frequency, horizontal and vertically polarized passive microwave brightness temperatures to discriminate tropical cyclone structures and other synoptic-scale features. Many of these capabilities have been transitioned for evaluation and operational use at NWS Weather Forecast Offices and National Centers through collaborations with SPoRT and CIRA. Future instruments will continue the availability of these products and also expand upon current capabilities. The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) on GOES-R will improve the spectral, spatial, and temporal resolution of our current geostationary capabilities, and the recent launch of the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) carries instruments such as the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), and the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), which have unrivaled spectral and spatial resolution, as precursors to the JPSS era (i.e., the next generation of polar orbiting satellites). At the same time, new image manipulation and display capabilities are available within AWIPS II, the next generation of the NWS forecaster decision support system. This presentation will present a review of SPoRT, CIRA, and NRL collaborations regarding multispectral satellite imagery and articulate an integrated and collaborative path forward with Raytheon AWIPS II development staff for integrating current and future capabilities that support new satellite instrumentation and the AWIPS II decision support system.

The Transition from VMS to Unix Operations for STScI's Science Planning and Scheduling Team

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adler, D. S.; Taylor, D. K.

The Science Planning and Scheduling Team of the Space Telescope Science Institute currently uses the VMS operating system. SPST began a transition to Unix-based operations in the summer of 1999. The main tasks for SPST to address in the Unix transition are: (1) converting the current SPST operational tools from DCL to Python; (2) converting our database report scripts from SQL; (3) adopting a Unix-based code management system; and (4) training the SPST staff. The goal is to fully transition the team to Unix operations by the end of 2001.

Multipartite entanglement characterization of a quantum phase transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Costantini, G.; Facchi, P.; Florio, G.; Pascazio, S.

2007-07-01

A probability density characterization of multipartite entanglement is tested on the one-dimensional quantum Ising model in a transverse field. The average and second moment of the probability distribution are numerically shown to be good indicators of the quantum phase transition. We comment on multipartite entanglement generation at a quantum phase transition.

Transition in Physical Recreation and Students with Cognitive Disabilities: Graduate and Parent Perspectives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roth, Kristi; Pyfer, Jean; Huettig, Carol

2007-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceived impact of physical recreation transition programming on individuals with cognitive disabilities and generate strategies for improved transition. Interviews were completed with 17 young adults who were one to three years post graduation. Interviews determined graduate's perception of their…

Minority Business Participation in Public/Private Partnerships: A Manual on Joint Development. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beltran, Celestino M.; And Others

The Urban Mass Transportation Association promotes Commercial real estate development projects in and adjacent to transit facilities as a means of generating additional revenues to defray part of local transit agency operating cost. Transit-related real estate development, or joint development, provides unique financial benefits for investors and…

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Kepler pipeline transit signal recovery. III. (Christiansen+, 2016)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christiansen, J. L.; Clarke, B. D.; Burke, C. J.; Jenkins, J. M.; Bryson, S. T.; Coughlin, J. L.; Mullally, F.; Thompson, S. E.; Twicken, J. D.; Batalha, N. M.; Haas, M. R.; Catanzarite, J.; Campbell, J. R.; Uddin, A. K.; Zamudio, K.; Smith, J. C.; Henze, C. E.

2018-03-01

Here we describe the third transit injection experiment, which tests the entire Kepler observing baseline (Q1-Q17) for the first time across all 84 CCD channels. It was performed to measure the sensitivity of the Kepler pipeline used to generate the Q1-Q17 Data Release 24 (DR24) catalog of Kepler Objects of Interest (Coughlin et al. 2016, J/ApJS/224/12) available at the NASA Exoplanet Archive (Akeson et al. 2013PASP..125..989A). The average detection efficiency describes the likelihood that the Kepler pipeline would successfully recover a given transit signal. To measure this property we perform a Monte Carlo experiment where we inject the signatures of simulated transiting planets around 198154 target stars, one per star, across the focal plane starting with the Q1-Q17 DR24 calibrated pixels. The simulated transits are generated using the Mandel & Agol (2002ApJ...580L.171M) model. Of the injections, 159013 resulted in three or more injected transits (the minimum required for detection by the pipeline) and were used for the subsequent analysis. (1 data file).

First-Generation Undergraduate Students' Social Support, Depression, and Life Satisfaction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jenkins, Sharon Rae; Belanger, Aimee; Connally, Melissa Londono; Boals, Adriel; Duron, Kelly M.

2013-01-01

First-generation undergraduate students face challenging cross-socioeconomic cultural transitions into college life. The authors compared first- and non-first-generation undergraduate students' social support, posttraumatic stress, depression symptoms, and life satisfaction. First-generation participants reported less social support from family…

Impacts of the Minamata Conventionon on Mercury Emissions and Global Deposition from Coal-Fired Power Generation in Asia

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

Giang, Amanda; Stokes, Leah C.; Streets, David G.

We explore implications of the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury for emissions from Asian coal-fired power generation, and resulting changes to deposition worldwide by 2050. We use engineering analysis, document analysis, and interviews to construct plausible technology scenarios consistent with the Convention. We translate these scenarios into emissions projections for 2050, and use the GEOS-Chem model to calculate global mercury deposition. Where technology requirements in the Convention are flexibly defined, under a global energy and development scenario that relies heavily on coal, we project similar to 90 and 150 Mg.y(-1) of avoided power sector emissions for China and India,more » respectively, in 2050, compared to a scenario in which only current technologies are used. Benefits of this avoided emissions growth are primarily captured regionally, with projected changes in annual average gross deposition over China and India similar to 2 and 13 mu g.m(-2) lower, respectively, than the current technology case. Stricter, but technologically feasible, mercury control requirements in both countries could lead to a combined additional 170 Mg.y(-1) avoided emissions. Assuming only current technologies but a global transition away from coal avoids 6% and 36% more emissions than this strict technology scenario under heavy coal use for China and India, respectively.« less

Transit transparency.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-07-01

Public transit agencies have employed intelligent systems for determining : schedules and routes and for monitoring the real-time location and status of their : vehicle fleets for nearly two decades. But until recently, the data generated by : daily ...

Talking Transition--An Interview with an Expert

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greathouse, Dan; Shaughnessy, Michael F.

2010-01-01

Ginger Blalock is an educational consultant in the area of career development and transition for youth with special needs, currently serving as facilitator for the NMPED-funded Transition Outcomes Project and Statewide Transition Coordinating Council, educational consultant for Technet's administration of the NMDWS WIRED Project (Workforce…

Development of an index to rank dairy females on expected lifetime profit.

PubMed

Kelleher, M M; Amer, P R; Shalloo, L; Evans, R D; Byrne, T J; Buckley, F; Berry, D P

2015-06-01

The objective of this study was to develop an index to rank dairy females on expected profit for the remainder of their lifetime, taking cognizance of both additive and nonadditive genetic merit, permanent environmental effects, and current states of the animal including the most recent calving date and cow parity. The cow own worth (COW) index is intended to be used for culling the expected least profitable females in a herd, as well as inform purchase and pricing decisions for trading of females. The framework of the COW index consisted of the profit accruing from (1) the current lactation, (2) future lactations, and (3) net replacement cost differential. The COW index was generated from estimated performance values (sum of additive genetic merit, nonadditive genetic merit, and permanent environmental effects) of traits, their respective net margin values, and transition probability matrices for month of calving, survival, and somatic cell count; the transition matrices were to account for predicted change in a cow's state in the future. Transition matrices were generated from 3,156,109 lactation records from the Irish national database between the years 2010 and 2013. Phenotypic performance records for 162,981 cows in the year 2012 were used to validate the COW index. Genetic and permanent environmental effects (where applicable) were available for these cows from the 2011 national genetic evaluations and used to calculate the COW index and their national breeding index values (includes only additive genetic effects). Cows were stratified per quartile within herd, based on their COW index value and national breeding index value. The correlation between individual animal COW index value and national breeding index value was 0.65. Month of calving of the cow in her current lactation explained 18% of the variation in the COW index, with the parity of the cow explaining an additional 3 percentage units of the variance in the COW index. Females ranking higher on the COW index yielded more milk and milk solids and calved earlier in the calving season than their lower ranking contemporaries. The difference in phenotypic performance between the best and worst quartiles was larger for cows ranked on COW index than cows ranked on the national breeding index. The COW index is useful to rank females before culling or purchasing decisions on expected profit and is complementary to the national breeding index, which identifies the most suitable females for breeding replacements. Copyright © 2015 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Longitudinal Proximity Effects in Superconducting Transition-Edge Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadleir, John E.; Smith, Stephen J.; Bandler, SImon R.; Chervenak, James A.; Clem, John R.

2009-01-01

We have found experimentally that the critical current of a square superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) depends exponentially upon the side length L and the square root of the temperature T. As a consequence, the effective transition temperature T(sub c) of the TES is current-dependent and at fixed current scales as 1/L(sup 2). We also have found that the critical current can show clear Fraunhofer-like oscillations in an applied magnetic field, similar to those found in Josephson junctions. The observed behavior has a natural theoretical explanation in terms of longitudinal proximity effects if the TES is regarded as a weak link between superconducting leads. We have observed the proximity effect in these devices over extraordinarily long lengths exceeding 100 microns.

Spontaneous recombination current in InGaAs/GaAs quantum well lasers

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

Blood, P.; Fletcher, E.D.; Woodbridge, K.

1990-10-08

We have studied the intrinsic factors which determine the threshold current and its temperature dependence in 160-A-wide In{sub 0.2}Ga{sub 0.8}As single well quantum lasers with GaAs barriers, grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs substrates. By measuring the relative temperature dependence of the spontaneous emission intensity at threshold we show that radiative transitions between higher order ({ital n}=2,3) electron and heavy hole subbands make a significant contribution to the threshold current and its temperature sensitivity, even in devices where the laser transitions are between {ital n}=1 subbands. These higher transitions will also influence the dependence of threshold current and itsmore » temperature sensitivity on well width.« less

Simulation of chain of quenches on toroidal HTS-SMES taking account of thermal and electromagnetic characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oga, Y.; Noguchi, S.; Igarashi, H.

When a temperature rise occurs at a local area inside a coil of toroidal HTS-SMES by any reason, a temperature hotspot which results in a thermal runaway appears at the local area. Subsequently, after appearing the local normal zone in the HTS coil, the transport current of the HTS coil decrease since the resistance of HTS coil appears and the current partially flows into a parallel-connecting shunt resistance. However, if the transport current of the normal-transitioned HTS coil is hardly changed, the temperature on the hotspot would rise more and then the normal zone would spread rapidly. It may cause a serious accident due to high stored energy. Therefore, using the numerical simulation, we have investigated the behaviors of the coil current, the critical current, and the temperature in the superconducting element coils of HTS-SMES. Consequently, the temperature of the superconducting element coils rises up extremely when a large heat is generated at a certain area of one of them by any reason. Moreover, there is a possibility that the shunt resister hardly functions for protection since the coil is burned out due to high inductances and low resistance of the superconducting element coil.

Nonlinear Optical Spectroscopy of Two-Dimensional Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Qiannan

Nonlinear optical properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials, such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), graphene, black phosphorus, and so on, play a key role of understanding nanoscale light-matter interactions, as well as developing nanophotonics applications from solar cells to quantum computation. With ultrafast lasers, we experimentally study nonlinear optical properties of 2D materials. Employing transient absorption microscopy, we study several members of 2D materials, such as WSe2, TiS3 and ReS2. The dynamical saturable absorption process of 2D excitons is spatiotemporally resolved. Intrinsic parameters of these 2D materials, such as exciton lifetime, exciton diffusion coefficient, and exciton mobility, are effectively measured. Especially, in-plane anisotropy of transient absorption and diffusive transport is observed for 2D excitons in monolayer ReS2, demonstrating the in-plane degree of freedom. Furthermore, with quantum interference and control nanoscopy, we all-optically inject, detect and manipulate nanoscale ballistic charge currents in a ReS2 thin film. By tuning the phase difference between one photon absorption and two photon absorption transition paths, sub-picosecond timescale of ballistic currents is coherently controlled for the first time in TMDs. In addition, the spatial resolution is two-order of magnitude smaller than optical diffraction limit. The second-order optical nonlinearity of 2D monolayers is resolved by second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy. We measure the second-order susceptibility of monolayer MoS 2. The angular dependence of SHG in monolayer MoS2 shows strong symmetry dependence on its crystal lattice structure. Hence, second harmonic generation microscopy can serve as a powerful tool to noninvasively determine the crystalline directions of 2D monolayers. The real and imaginary parts of third-order optical nonlinearity of 2D monolayers are resolved by third harmonic generation (THG) microscopy and two-photon transient absorption microscopy, respectively. With third harmonic generation microscopy, we observe strong and anisotropic THG in monolayer and multilayer ReS2. Comparing with 2D materials with hexagonal lattice, such as MoS2, the third-order susceptibility is higher by one order of magnitude in ReS2 with a distorted 1T structure. The in-plane anisotropy of THG is attributed to the lattice distortion in ReS2 after comparing with a symmetry analysis. With two-photon transient absorption microscopy, we observe a giant two-photon absorption coefficient of monolayer WS2.

Automated Guideway Transit System Passenger Security Guidebook

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1980-03-01

This uidebook provides AGT system planners, designers and operators with information on available crime countermeasures and their relative effectiveness against transit crime. : Crime countermeasures on current transit systems have been reviewed and ...

Data Validation in the Kepler Science Operations Center Pipeline

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, Hayley; Twicken, Joseph D.; Tenenbaum, Peter; Clarke, Bruce D.; Li, Jie; Quintana, Elisa V.; Allen, Christopher; Chandrasekaran, Hema; Jenkins, Jon M.; Caldwell, Douglas A.;

The need to respect nature and its limits challenges society and conservation science

PubMed Central

Martin, Jean-Louis; Maris, Virginie; Simberloff, Daniel S.

2016-01-01

Increasing human population interacts with local and global environments to deplete biodiversity and resources humans depend on, thus challenging societal values centered on growth and relying on technology to mitigate environmental stress. Although the need to address the environmental crisis, central to conservation science, generated greener versions of the growth paradigm, we need fundamental shifts in values that ensure transition from a growth-centered society to one acknowledging biophysical limits and centered on human well-being and biodiversity conservation. We discuss the role conservation science can play in this transformation, which poses ethical challenges and obstacles. We analyze how conservation and economics can achieve better consonance, the extent to which technology should be part of the solution, and difficulties the “new conservation science” has generated. An expanded ambition for conservation science should reconcile day-to-day action within the current context with uncompromising, explicit advocacy for radical transitions in core attitudes and processes that govern our interactions with the biosphere. A widening of its focus to understand better the interconnectedness between human well-being and acknowledgment of the limits of an ecologically functional and diverse planet will need to integrate ecological and social sciences better. Although ecology can highlight limits to growth and consequences of ignoring them, social sciences are necessary to diagnose societal mechanisms at work, how to correct them, and potential drivers of social change. PMID:27185943

The impact of reducing car weight on global emissions: the future fleet in Great Britain

PubMed Central

Norman, Jonathan B.; Allwood, Julian M.

2017-01-01

Current European policies define targets for future direct emissions of new car sales that foster a fast transition to electric drivetrain technologies. However, these targets do not consider the emissions produced in electricity generation and material production, and therefore fail to incentivise car manufacturers to consider the benefits of vehicle weight reduction. In this paper, we examine the potential benefits of limiting the average weight and altering the material composition of new cars in terms of global greenhouse gas emissions produced during the use phase, electricity generation and material production. We anticipate the emissions savings for the future car fleet in Great Britain until 2050 for various alternative futures, using a dynamic material flow analysis of ferrous metals and aluminium, and considering an evolving demand for car use. The results suggest that fostering vehicle weight reduction could produce greater cumulative emissions savings by 2050 than those obtained by incentivising a fast transition to electric drivetrains, unless there is an extreme decarbonization of the electricity grid. Savings promoted by weight reduction are immediate and do not depend on the pace of decarbonization of the electricity grid. Weight reduction may produce the greatest savings when mild steel in the car body is replaced with high-strength steel. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Material demand reduction’. PMID:28461428

The impact of reducing car weight on global emissions: the future fleet in Great Britain.

PubMed

Serrenho, André Cabrera; Norman, Jonathan B; Allwood, Julian M

2017-06-13

Current European policies define targets for future direct emissions of new car sales that foster a fast transition to electric drivetrain technologies. However, these targets do not consider the emissions produced in electricity generation and material production, and therefore fail to incentivise car manufacturers to consider the benefits of vehicle weight reduction. In this paper, we examine the potential benefits of limiting the average weight and altering the material composition of new cars in terms of global greenhouse gas emissions produced during the use phase, electricity generation and material production. We anticipate the emissions savings for the future car fleet in Great Britain until 2050 for various alternative futures, using a dynamic material flow analysis of ferrous metals and aluminium, and considering an evolving demand for car use. The results suggest that fostering vehicle weight reduction could produce greater cumulative emissions savings by 2050 than those obtained by incentivising a fast transition to electric drivetrains, unless there is an extreme decarbonization of the electricity grid. Savings promoted by weight reduction are immediate and do not depend on the pace of decarbonization of the electricity grid. Weight reduction may produce the greatest savings when mild steel in the car body is replaced with high-strength steel.This article is part of the themed issue 'Material demand reduction'. © 2017 The Authors.

The need to respect nature and its limits challenges society and conservation science.

PubMed

Martin, Jean-Louis; Maris, Virginie; Simberloff, Daniel S

2016-05-31

Increasing human population interacts with local and global environments to deplete biodiversity and resources humans depend on, thus challenging societal values centered on growth and relying on technology to mitigate environmental stress. Although the need to address the environmental crisis, central to conservation science, generated greener versions of the growth paradigm, we need fundamental shifts in values that ensure transition from a growth-centered society to one acknowledging biophysical limits and centered on human well-being and biodiversity conservation. We discuss the role conservation science can play in this transformation, which poses ethical challenges and obstacles. We analyze how conservation and economics can achieve better consonance, the extent to which technology should be part of the solution, and difficulties the "new conservation science" has generated. An expanded ambition for conservation science should reconcile day-to-day action within the current context with uncompromising, explicit advocacy for radical transitions in core attitudes and processes that govern our interactions with the biosphere. A widening of its focus to understand better the interconnectedness between human well-being and acknowledgment of the limits of an ecologically functional and diverse planet will need to integrate ecological and social sciences better. Although ecology can highlight limits to growth and consequences of ignoring them, social sciences are necessary to diagnose societal mechanisms at work, how to correct them, and potential drivers of social change.

Longitudinal Analysis of the Trajectories of Academic and Social Motivation across the Transition from Elementary to Middle School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Madjar, Nir; Cohen, Veronique; Shoval, Gal

2018-01-01

School transitions are important phases in students' educational experiences. The current study aimed to explore the trajectories of academic and social motivation across the transition from elementary to middle school. Participants (N = 415) were sampled from six elementary schools; 55% transitioned after sixth grade (transition) and 45% remained…

Radiative lifetimes and transition probabilities for electric-dipole delta n equals zero transitions in highly stripped sulfur ions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pegg, D. J.; Elston, S. B.; Griffin, P. M.; Forester, J. P.; Thoe, R. S.; Peterson, R. S.; Sellin, I. A.; Hayden, H. C.

1976-01-01

The beam-foil time-of-flight method has been used to investigate radiative lifetimes and transition rates involving allowed intrashell transitions within the L shell of highly ionized sulfur. The results for these transitions, which can be particularly correlation-sensitive, are compared with current calculations based upon multiconfigurational models.

Preparation of transition metal nanoparticles and surfaces modified with (CO)polymers synthesized by RAFT

DOEpatents

McCormick, III., Charles L.; Lowe, Andrew B.; Sumerlin, Brent S.

2006-11-21

A new, facile, general one-phase method of generating thio-functionalized transition metal nanoparticles and surfaces modified by (co)polymers synthesized by the RAFT method is described. The method includes the stops of forming a (co)polymer in aqueous solution using the RAFT methodology, forming a colloidal transition metal precursor solution from an appropriate transition metal; adding the metal precursor solution or surface to the (co)polymer solution, adding a reducing agent into the solution to reduce the metal colloid in situ to produce the stabilized nanoparticles or surface, and isolating the stabilized nanoparticles or surface in a manner such that aggregation is minimized. The functionalized surfaces generated using these methods can further undergo planar surface modifications, such as functionalization with a variety of different chemical groups, expanding their utility and application.

Preparation of transition metal nanoparticles and surfaces modified with (co)polymers synthesized by RAFT

DOEpatents

McCormick, III, Charles L.; Lowe, Andrew B [Hattiesburg, MS; Sumerlin, Brent S [Pittsburgh, PA

2011-12-27

A new, facile, general one-phase method of generating thiol-functionalized transition metal nanoparticles and surfaces modified by (co)polymers synthesized by the RAFT method is described. The method includes the steps of forming a (co)polymer in aqueous solution using the RAFT methodology, forming a colloidal transition metal precursor solution from an appropriate transition metal; adding the metal precursor solution or surface to the (co)polymer solution, adding a reducing agent into the solution to reduce the metal colloid in situ to produce the stabilized nanoparticles or surface, and isolating the stabilized nanoparticles or surface in a manner such that aggregation is minimized. The functionalized surfaces generated using these methods can further undergo planar surface modifications, such as functionalization with a variety of different chemical groups, expanding their utility and application.

Between the Rock and a Hard Place: The CCMC as a Transit Station Between Modelers and Forecasters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hesse, Michael

2009-01-01

The Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) is a US inter-agency activity aiming at research in support of the generation of advanced space weather models. As one of its main functions, the CCMC provides to researchers the use of space science models, even if they are not model owners themselves. The second CCMC activity is to support Space Weather forecasting at national Space Weather Forecasting Centers. This second activity involved model evaluations, model transitions to operations, and the development of draft Space Weather forecasting tools. This presentation will focus on the latter element. Specifically, we will discuss the process of transition research models, or information generated by research models, to Space Weather Forecasting organizations. We will analyze successes as well as obstacles to further progress, and we will suggest avenues for increased transitioning success.

Social mobility and subclinical atherosclerosis in a middle-income country: Association of intra- and inter-generational social mobility with carotid intima-media thickness in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

PubMed

Guimarães, Joanna M N; Clarke, Philippa; Tate, Denise; Coeli, Claudia Medina; Griep, Rosane Harter; Fonseca, Maria de Jesus Mendes da; Santos, Itamar S; Melo, Enirtes Caetano Prates; Chor, Dora

2016-11-01

Over the past half century Brazil has undergone a process of dramatic industrialization and urbanization. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have become common due to rapid demographic, epidemiologic, and nutritional transitions. The association of social mobility with subclinical CVD has been rarely explored, particularly in developing societies. We investigated the association of intra- and inter-generational social mobility with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), a marker of subclinical or asymptomatic atherosclerosis, in a large Brazilian sample (ELSA-Brasil). We used baseline data (2008-2010) for 7343 participants from ELSA-Brasil. Intra-generational social mobility was defined as the change in occupational social class between participants' first occupation and current occupation. Inter-generational social mobility was defined as the change in occupational social class of the head of the household when the participant started working and participants' current occupation. Social mobility groups were classified as: stable high (reference), upward, downward and stable low. Linear regression models were used to examine the associations between type of social mobility and IMT. Compared to those who experienced stable high occupational status across generations, downward inter-generational mobility was associated with greater IMT. Additionally, those who declined the most in occupational status had the highest values of IMT, even after adjustments for lifestyle and cardiovascular factors. For intra-generational mobility, stable low versus stable high social mobility was independently associated with higher IMT. Subclinical atherosclerosis is patterned by socioeconomic status both within and across generations, demonstrating an association even before symptoms of CVD appear. The health consequences of downward inter-generational social mobility were not fully explained by lifestyle and cardiovascular factors, whereas being consistently exposed to low occupational status within one's own adulthood was associated with greater IMT, suggesting a cumulative risk model. Primary prevention of atherosclerosis should be complemented by macrosocial policies aimed to reduce downward socioeconomic mobility between generations. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Measurement of entropy generation within bypass transitional flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skifton, Richard; Budwig, Ralph; McEligot, Donald; Crepeau, John

2012-11-01

A flat plate made from quartz was submersed in the Idaho National Laboratory's Matched Index of Refraction (MIR) flow facility. PIV was utilized to capture spatial vectors maps at near wall locations with five to ten points within the viscous sublayer. Entropy generation was calculated directly from measured velocity fluctuation derivatives. Two flows were studied: a zero pressure gradient and an adverse pressure gradient (β = -0.039). The free stream turbulence intensity to drive bypass transition ranged between 3% (near trailing edge) and 8% (near leading edge). The pointwise entropy generation rate will be utilized as a design parameter to systematically reduce losses. As a second observation, the pointwise entropy can be shown to predict the onset of transitional flow. This research was partially supported by the DOE EPSCOR program, grant DE-SC0004751 and by the Idaho National Laboratory. Center for Advanced Energy Studies.

Firing patterns in the adaptive exponential integrate-and-fire model.

PubMed

Naud, Richard; Marcille, Nicolas; Clopath, Claudia; Gerstner, Wulfram

2008-11-01

For simulations of large spiking neuron networks, an accurate, simple and versatile single-neuron modeling framework is required. Here we explore the versatility of a simple two-equation model: the adaptive exponential integrate-and-fire neuron. We show that this model generates multiple firing patterns depending on the choice of parameter values, and present a phase diagram describing the transition from one firing type to another. We give an analytical criterion to distinguish between continuous adaption, initial bursting, regular bursting and two types of tonic spiking. Also, we report that the deterministic model is capable of producing irregular spiking when stimulated with constant current, indicating low-dimensional chaos. Lastly, the simple model is fitted to real experiments of cortical neurons under step current stimulation. The results provide support for the suitability of simple models such as the adaptive exponential integrate-and-fire neuron for large network simulations.

Modelling and control of solid oxide fuel cell generation system in microgrid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Niancheng; Li, Chunyan; Sun, Fangqing; Wang, Qianggang

2017-11-01

Compared with other kinds of fuel cells, solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) has been widely used in microgrids because of its higher efficiency and longer operation life. The weakness of SOFC lies in its slow response speed when grid disturbance occurs. This paper presents a control strategy that can promote the response speed and limit the fault current impulse for SOFC systems integrated into microgrids. First, the hysteretic control of the bidirectional DC-DC converter, which joins the SOFC and DC bus together, is explored. In addition, an improved droop control with limited current protection is applied in the DC-AC inverter, and the active synchronization control is applied to ensure a smooth transition of the microgrid between the grid-connected mode and the islanded mode. To validate the effectiveness of this control strategy, the control model was built and simulated in PSCAD/EMTDC.

[Disease prevention in the elderly: misconceptions in current models].

PubMed

Veras, Renato Peixoto

2012-10-01

The Brazilian population is aging significantly within a context of gradual improvement in the country's social and economic indicators. Increased longevity leads to increased use of health services, pressuring the public and social welfare health services, generating higher costs, and jeopardizing the system's sustainability. The alternative to avoid overburdening the system is to invest in policies for disease prevention, stabilization of chronic diseases, and maintenance of functional capacity. The current article aims to analyze the difficulties in implementing preventive programs and the reasons for the failure of various programs in health promotion, prevention, and management of chronic diseases in the elderly. There can be no solution to the crisis in financing and restructuring the health sector without implementing a preventive logic. Scientific research has already correctly identified the risk factors for the elderly population, but this is not enough. We must use such knowledge to promote the necessary transition from a healthcare-centered model to a preventive one.

Cancer of the Pancreas: Molecular Pathways and Current Advancement in Treatment.

PubMed

Polireddy, Kishore; Chen, Qi

2016-01-01

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal cancers among all malignances, with a median overall survival of <1 year and a 5-year survival of ~5%. The dismal survival rate and prognosis are likely due to lack of early diagnosis, fulminant disease course, high metastasis rate, and disappointing treatment outcome. Pancreatic cancers harbor a variety of genetic alternations that render it difficult to treat even with targeted therapy. Recent studies revealed that pancreatic cancers are highly enriched with a cancer stem cell (CSC) population, which is resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs, and therefore escapes chemotherapy and promotes tumor recurrence. Cancer cell epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is highly associated with metastasis, generation of CSCs, and treatment resistance in pancreatic cancer. Reviewed here are the molecular biology of pancreatic cancer, the major signaling pathways regulating pancreatic cancer EMT and CSCs, and the advancement in current clinical and experimental treatments for pancreatic cancer.

Automatic Train Operation Using Autonomic Prediction of Train Runs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asuka, Masashi; Kataoka, Kenji; Komaya, Kiyotoshi; Nishida, Syogo

In this paper, we present an automatic train control method adaptable to disturbed train traffic conditions. The proposed method presumes transmission of detected time of a home track clearance to trains approaching to the station by employing equipment of Digital ATC (Automatic Train Control). Using the information, each train controls its acceleration by the method that consists of two approaches. First, by setting a designated restricted speed, the train controls its running time to arrive at the next station in accordance with predicted delay. Second, the train predicts the time at which it will reach the current braking pattern generated by Digital ATC, along with the time when the braking pattern transits ahead. By comparing them, the train correctly chooses the coasting drive mode in advance to avoid deceleration due to the current braking pattern. We evaluated the effectiveness of the proposed method regarding driving conditions, energy consumption and reduction of delays by simulation.

Possible charge analogues of spin transfer torques in bulk superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garate, Ion

2014-03-01

Spin transfer torques (STT) occur when electric currents travel through inhomogeneously magnetized systems and are important for the motion of magnetic textures such as domain walls. Since superconductors are easy-plane ferromagnets in particle-hole (charge) space, it is natural to ask whether any charge duals of STT phenomena exist therein. We find that the superconducting analogue of the adiabatic STT vanishes in a bulk superconductor with a momentum-independent order parameter, while the superconducting counterpart of the nonadiabatic STT does not vanish. This nonvanishing superconducting torque is induced by heat (rather than charge) currents and acts on the charge (rather than spin) degree of freedom. It can become significant in the vicinity of the superconducting transition temperature, where it generates a net quasiparticle charge and alters the dispersion and linewidth of low-frequency collective modes. This work has been financially supported by Canada's NSERC.

Efficient Transition Probability Computation for Continuous-Time Branching Processes via Compressed Sensing.

PubMed

Xu, Jason; Minin, Vladimir N

2015-07-01

Branching processes are a class of continuous-time Markov chains (CTMCs) with ubiquitous applications. A general difficulty in statistical inference under partially observed CTMC models arises in computing transition probabilities when the discrete state space is large or uncountable. Classical methods such as matrix exponentiation are infeasible for large or countably infinite state spaces, and sampling-based alternatives are computationally intensive, requiring integration over all possible hidden events. Recent work has successfully applied generating function techniques to computing transition probabilities for linear multi-type branching processes. While these techniques often require significantly fewer computations than matrix exponentiation, they also become prohibitive in applications with large populations. We propose a compressed sensing framework that significantly accelerates the generating function method, decreasing computational cost up to a logarithmic factor by only assuming the probability mass of transitions is sparse. We demonstrate accurate and efficient transition probability computations in branching process models for blood cell formation and evolution of self-replicating transposable elements in bacterial genomes.

Efficient Transition Probability Computation for Continuous-Time Branching Processes via Compressed Sensing

PubMed Central

Xu, Jason; Minin, Vladimir N.

2016-01-01

Branching processes are a class of continuous-time Markov chains (CTMCs) with ubiquitous applications. A general difficulty in statistical inference under partially observed CTMC models arises in computing transition probabilities when the discrete state space is large or uncountable. Classical methods such as matrix exponentiation are infeasible for large or countably infinite state spaces, and sampling-based alternatives are computationally intensive, requiring integration over all possible hidden events. Recent work has successfully applied generating function techniques to computing transition probabilities for linear multi-type branching processes. While these techniques often require significantly fewer computations than matrix exponentiation, they also become prohibitive in applications with large populations. We propose a compressed sensing framework that significantly accelerates the generating function method, decreasing computational cost up to a logarithmic factor by only assuming the probability mass of transitions is sparse. We demonstrate accurate and efficient transition probability computations in branching process models for blood cell formation and evolution of self-replicating transposable elements in bacterial genomes. PMID:26949377

Photocatalytic fluoroalkylation reactions of organic compounds.

PubMed

Barata-Vallejo, Sebastián; Bonesi, Sergio M; Postigo, Al

2015-12-14

Photocatalytic methods for fluoroalkyl-radical generation provide more convenient alternatives to the classical perfluoroalkyl-radical (Rf) production through chemical initiators, such as azo or peroxide compounds or the employment of transition metals through a thermal electron transfer (ET) initiation process. The mild photocatalytic reaction conditions tolerate a variety of functional groups and, thus, are handy to the late-stage modification of bioactive molecules. Transition metal-photocatalytic reactions for Rf radical generation profit from the redox properties of coordinatively saturated Ru or Ir organocomplexes to act as both electron donor and reductive species, thus allowing for the utilization of electron accepting and donating fluoroalkylating agents for Rf radical production. On the other hand, laboratory-available and inexpensive photoorgano catalysts (POC), in the absence of transition metals, can also act as electron exchange species upon excitation, resulting in ET reactions that produce Rf radicals. In this work, a critical account of transition metal and transition metal-free Rf radical production will be described with photoorgano catalysts, studying classical examples and the most recent investigations in the field.

Implications of Weak Link Effects on Thermal Characteristics of Transition-Edge Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bailey, Catherine

2011-01-01

Weak link behavior in transition-edge sensor (TES) devices creates the need for a more careful characterization of a device's thermal characteristics through its transition. This is particularly true for small TESs where a small change in the measurement current results in large changes in temperature. A highly current-dependent transition shape makes accurate thermal characterization of the TES parameters through the transition challenging. To accurately interpret measurements, especially complex impedance, it is crucial to know the temperature-dependent thermal conductance, G(T), and heat capacity, C(T), at each point through the transition. We will present data illustrating these effects and discuss how we overcome the challenges that are present in accurately determining G and T from IV curves. We will also show how these weak link effects vary with TES size.

Advanced Stirling Convertor Testing at NASA Glenn Research Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, Scott D.; Poriti, Sal

2010-01-01

The NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has been testing high-efficiency free-piston Stirling convertors for potential use in radioisotope power systems (RPSs) since 1999. The current effort is in support of the Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator (ASRG), which is being developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC), Sunpower, Inc., and the NASA GRC. This generator would use two high-efficiency Advanced Stirling Convertors (ASCs) to convert thermal energy from a radioisotope heat source into electricity. As reliability is paramount to a RPS capable of providing spacecraft power for potential multi-year missions, GRC provides direct technology support to the ASRG flight project in the areas of reliability, convertor and generator testing, high-temperature materials, structures, modeling and analysis, organics, structural dynamics, electromagnetic interference (EMI), and permanent magnets to reduce risk and enhance reliability of the convertor as this technology transitions toward flight status. Convertor and generator testing is carried out in short- and long-duration tests designed to characterize convertor performance when subjected to environments intended to simulate launch and space conditions. Long duration testing is intended to baseline performance and observe any performance degradation over the life of the test. Testing involves developing support hardware that enables 24/7 unattended operation and data collection. GRC currently has 14 Stirling convertors under unattended extended operation testing, including two operating in the ASRG Engineering Unit (ASRG-EU). Test data and high-temperature support hardware are discussed for ongoing and future ASC tests with emphasis on the ASC-E and ASC-E2.

Military Veterans' Midlife Career Transition and Life Satisfaction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robertson, Heather C.; Brott, Pamelia E.

2014-01-01

Many military veterans face the challenging transition to civilian employment. Military veteran members of a national program, Troops to Teachers, were surveyed regarding life satisfaction and related internal/external career transition variables. Participants included military veterans who were currently or had previously transitioned to K-12…

Generic dynamical phase transition in one-dimensional bulk-driven lattice gases with exclusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lazarescu, Alexandre

2017-06-01

Dynamical phase transitions are crucial features of the fluctuations of statistical systems, corresponding to boundaries between qualitatively different mechanisms of maintaining unlikely values of dynamical observables over long periods of time. They manifest themselves in the form of non-analyticities in the large deviation function of those observables. In this paper, we look at bulk-driven exclusion processes with open boundaries. It is known that the standard asymmetric simple exclusion process exhibits a dynamical phase transition in the large deviations of the current of particles flowing through it. That phase transition has been described thanks to specific calculation methods relying on the model being exactly solvable, but more general methods have also been used to describe the extreme large deviations of that current, far from the phase transition. We extend those methods to a large class of models based on the ASEP, where we add arbitrary spatial inhomogeneities in the rates and short-range potentials between the particles. We show that, as for the regular ASEP, the large deviation function of the current scales differently with the size of the system if one considers very high or very low currents, pointing to the existence of a dynamical phase transition between those two regimes: high current large deviations are extensive in the system size, and the typical states associated to them are Coulomb gases, which are highly correlated; low current large deviations do not depend on the system size, and the typical states associated to them are anti-shocks, consistently with a hydrodynamic behaviour. Finally, we illustrate our results numerically on a simple example, and we interpret the transition in terms of the current pushing beyond its maximal hydrodynamic value, as well as relate it to the appearance of Tracy-Widom distributions in the relaxation statistics of such models. , which features invited work from the best early-career researchers working within the scope of J. Phys. A. This project is part of the Journal of Physics series’ 50th anniversary celebrations in 2017. Alexandre Lazarescu was selected by the Editorial Board of J. Phys. A as an Emerging Talent.

Mental models accurately predict emotion transitions.

PubMed

Thornton, Mark A; Tamir, Diana I

2017-06-06

Successful social interactions depend on people's ability to predict others' future actions and emotions. People possess many mechanisms for perceiving others' current emotional states, but how might they use this information to predict others' future states? We hypothesized that people might capitalize on an overlooked aspect of affective experience: current emotions predict future emotions. By attending to regularities in emotion transitions, perceivers might develop accurate mental models of others' emotional dynamics. People could then use these mental models of emotion transitions to predict others' future emotions from currently observable emotions. To test this hypothesis, studies 1-3 used data from three extant experience-sampling datasets to establish the actual rates of emotional transitions. We then collected three parallel datasets in which participants rated the transition likelihoods between the same set of emotions. Participants' ratings of emotion transitions predicted others' experienced transitional likelihoods with high accuracy. Study 4 demonstrated that four conceptual dimensions of mental state representation-valence, social impact, rationality, and human mind-inform participants' mental models. Study 5 used 2 million emotion reports on the Experience Project to replicate both of these findings: again people reported accurate models of emotion transitions, and these models were informed by the same four conceptual dimensions. Importantly, neither these conceptual dimensions nor holistic similarity could fully explain participants' accuracy, suggesting that their mental models contain accurate information about emotion dynamics above and beyond what might be predicted by static emotion knowledge alone.

Investigation of the transition of multicycle AC operation in ISTTOK under edge electrode biasing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malaquias, A.; Henriques, R. B.; Silva, C.; Figueiredo, H.; Nedzelskiy, I. S.; Fernandes, H.; Sharma, R.; Plyusnin, V. V.

2017-11-01

In this paper we present recent results obtained on plasma edge electrode biasing during AC discharges. The goal is to obtain experimental evidence on a number of plasma parameters that can play a role during the AC transition on the repeatability and reproducibility of AC operation. The control of the plasma density in the quiescent phase is made just before the AC transition by means of positive edge biasing leading to a transitory improved of density (30%-40%). Gas puff experiments show that the increase of background gas pressure during discharge led to a better success of the AC transition. The experimental results indicate that the increase of density during the AC transition induced by edge biasing is followed by an electron temperature drop. The drop in electron temperature leads in most cases the formation of runaway electrons. It has been observed that the runaway population during discharge flattop depends on the interplay between gas content and plasma density and temperature. The results also confirm that the correct balance of external magnetic fields is crucial during the AC transition phase where drift electron currents are formed. The results from the heavy ion beam diagnostic show that the formation of plasma current during consecutive AC transitions is asymmetric. Numerical simulations indicate that for some particular conditions this result could be reproduced from assuming the presence of two counter-currents during AC transition.

Effect of gas heating on the generation of an ultrashort avalanche electron beam in the pulse-periodic regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baksht, E. Kh.; Burachenko, A. G.; Lomaev, M. I.; Sorokin, D. A.; Tarasenko, V. F.

2015-07-01

The generation of an ultrashort avalanche electron beam (UAEB) in nitrogen in the pulse-periodic regime is investigated. The gas temperature in the discharge gap of the atmospheric-pressure nitrogen is measured from the intensity distribution of unresolved rotational transitions ( C 3Π u , v' = 0) → ( B 3Π g , v″ = 0) in the nitrogen molecule for an excitation pulse repetition rate of 2 kHz. It is shown that an increase in the UAEB current amplitude in the pulse-periodic regime is due to gas heating by a series of previous pulses, which leads to an increase in the reduced electric field strength as a result of a decrease in the gas density in the zone of the discharge formation. It is found that in the pulse-periodic regime and the formation of the diffuse discharge, the number of electrons in the beam increases by several times for a nitrogen pressure of 9 × 103 Pa. The dependences of the number of electrons in the UAEB on the time of operation of the generator are considered.

Hearing the signal of dark sectors with gravitational wave detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaeckel, Joerg; Khoze, Valentin V.; Spannowsky, Michael

2016-11-01

Motivated by advanced LIGO (aLIGO)'s recent discovery of gravitational waves, we discuss signatures of new physics that could be seen at ground- and space-based interferometers. We show that a first-order phase transition in a dark sector would lead to a detectable gravitational wave signal at future experiments, if the phase transition has occurred at temperatures few orders of magnitude higher than the electroweak scale. The source of gravitational waves in this case is associated with the dynamics of expanding and colliding bubbles in the early universe. At the same time we point out that topological defects, such as dark sector domain walls, may generate a detectable signal already at aLIGO. Both bubble and domain-wall scenarios are sourced by semiclassical configurations of a dark new physics sector. In the first case, the gravitational wave signal originates from bubble wall collisions and subsequent turbulence in hot plasma in the early universe, while the second case corresponds to domain walls passing through the interferometer at present and is not related to gravitational waves. We find that aLIGO at its current sensitivity can detect smoking-gun signatures from domain-wall interactions, while future proposed experiments including the fifth phase of aLIGO at design sensitivity can probe dark sector phase transitions.

FVB Energy Inc. Technical Assistance Project

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

DeSteese, John G.

2011-05-17

The request made by FVB asked for advice and analysis regarding the value of recapturing the braking energy of trains operating on electric light rail transit systems. A specific request was to evaluate the concept of generating hydrogen by electrolysis. The hydrogen would, in turn, power fuel cells that could supply electric energy back into the system for train propulsion or, possibly, also to the grid. To allow quantitative assessment of the potential resource, analysis focused on operations of the SoundTransit light rail system in Seattle, Washington. An initial finding was that the full cycle efficiency of producing hydrogen asmore » the medium for capturing and reusing train braking energy was quite low (< 20%) and, therefore, not likely to be economically attractive. As flywheel energy storage is commercially available, the balance of the analysis focused the feasibility of using this alternative on the SoundTransit system. It was found that an investment in a flywheel with a 25-kWh capacity of the type manufactured by Beacon Power Corporation (BPC) would show a positive 20-year net present value (NPV) based on the current frequency of train service. The economic attractiveness of this option would increase initially if green energy subsidies or rebates were applicable and, in the future, as the planned frequency of train service grows.« less

Generalized GW+Boltzmann Approach for the Description of Ultrafast Electron Dynamics in Topological Insulators

PubMed Central

Battiato, Marco; Sánchez-Barriga, Jaime

2017-01-01

Quantum-phase transitions between trivial insulators and topological insulators differ from ordinary metal-insulator transitions in that they arise from the inversion of the bulk band structure due to strong spin–orbit coupling. Such topological phase transitions are unique in nature as they lead to the emergence of topological surface states which are characterized by a peculiar spin texture that is believed to play a central role in the generation and manipulation of dissipationless surface spin currents on ultrafast timescales. Here, we provide a generalized GW+Boltzmann approach for the description of ultrafast dynamics in topological insulators driven by electron–electron and electron–phonon scatterings. Taking the prototypical insulator Bi2Te3 as an example, we test the robustness of our approach by comparing the theoretical prediction to results of time- and angle-resolved photoemission experiments. From this comparison, we are able to demonstrate the crucial role of the excited spin texture in the subpicosecond relaxation of transient electrons, as well as to accurately obtain the magnitude and strength of electron–electron and electron–phonon couplings. Our approach could be used as a generalized theory for three-dimensional topological insulators in the bulk-conducting transport regime, paving the way for the realization of a unified theory of ultrafast dynamics in topological materials. PMID:28773171

Generalized GW+Boltzmann Approach for the Description of Ultrafast Electron Dynamics in Topological Insulators.

PubMed

Battiato, Marco; Aguilera, Irene; Sánchez-Barriga, Jaime

2017-07-17

Quantum-phase transitions between trivial insulators and topological insulators differ from ordinary metal-insulator transitions in that they arise from the inversion of the bulk band structure due to strong spin-orbit coupling. Such topological phase transitions are unique in nature as they lead to the emergence of topological surface states which are characterized by a peculiar spin texture that is believed to play a central role in the generation and manipulation of dissipationless surface spin currents on ultrafast timescales. Here, we provide a generalized G W +Boltzmann approach for the description of ultrafast dynamics in topological insulators driven by electron-electron and electron-phonon scatterings. Taking the prototypical insulator Bi 2 Te 3 as an example, we test the robustness of our approach by comparing the theoretical prediction to results of time- and angle-resolved photoemission experiments. From this comparison, we are able to demonstrate the crucial role of the excited spin texture in the subpicosecond relaxation of transient electrons, as well as to accurately obtain the magnitude and strength of electron-electron and electron-phonon couplings. Our approach could be used as a generalized theory for three-dimensional topological insulators in the bulk-conducting transport regime, paving the way for the realization of a unified theory of ultrafast dynamics in topological materials.

Progress in understanding the enhanced pedestal H-mode in NSTX

DOE PAGES

Gerhardt, S. P.; Canik, J. M.; Maingi, R.; ...

2014-08-01

The paper describes the enhanced pedestal (EP) H-mode observed in the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX). The defining characteristics of EP H-mode are given, namely i)transition after the L- to H-mode transition, ii) region of very steep ion temperature gradient, and iii) associated region of strong rotational shear. A newly observed long-pulse EP H-mode example shows quiescent behavior for as long as the heating and current drive sources are maintained. Cases are shown where the region of steep ion temperature gradient is located at the very edge, and cases where it is shifted up to 10 cm inward from themore » plasma edge; these cases are united by a common dependence of the ion temperature gradient on the toroidal rotation frequency shear. EP H-mode examples have been observed across a wide range of q95 and pedestal collisionality. No strong changes in the fluctuation amplitudes have been observed following the eP H-mode transition, and transport analysis indicates that the ion t hermal transport is comparable to or less than anticipated from a simple neoclassical transport model. Cases are shown where EP H-modes were reliably generated, through these low-q95 examples were difficult to sustain. A case where an externally triggered ELM precipitates the transition to EP H-mode is also shown, though an initial experiment designed to trigger EP-H-modes in this fashion was successful.« less

Physical understanding of gas-liquid annular flow and its transition to dispersed droplets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Parmod; Das, Arup Kumar; Mitra, Sushanta K.

2016-07-01

Transformation from annular to droplet flow is investigated for co-current, upward gas-liquid flow through a cylindrical tube using grid based volume of fluid framework. Three transitional routes, namely, orificing, rolling, and undercutting are observed for flow transformation at different range of relative velocities between the fluids. Physics behind these three exclusive phenomena is described using circulation patterns of gaseous phase in the vicinity of a liquid film which subsequently sheds drop leading towards transition. Orifice amplitude is found to grow exponentially towards the core whereas it propagates in axial direction in a parabolic path. Efforts have been made to fit the sinusoidal profile of wave structure with the numerical interface contour at early stages of orificing. Domination of gas inertia over liquid flow has been studied in detail at the later stages to understand the asymmetric shape of orifice, leading towards lamella formation and droplet generation. Away from comparative velocities, circulations in the dominant phase dislodge the drop by forming either a ligament (rolling) or a bag (undercut) like protrusion in liquid. Study of velocity patterns in the plane of droplet dislodge reveals the underlying physics behind the disintegration and its dynamics at the later stages. Using numerical phase distributions, rejoining of dislodged droplet with liquid film as post-rolling consequences has been also proposed. A flow pattern map showing the transitional boundaries based on the physical mechanism is constructed for air-water combination.

Vortex dynamics in superconducting transition edge sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ezaki, S.; Maehata, K.; Iyomoto, N.; Asano, T.; Shinozaki, B.

2018-02-01

The temperature dependence of the electrical resistance (R-T) and the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics has been measured and analyzed in a 40 nm thick Ti thin film, which is used as a transition edge sensor (TES). The analyses of the I-V characteristics with the vortex-antivortex pair dissociation model indicate the possible existence of the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT) transition in two-dimensional superconducting Ti thin films. We investigated the noise due to the vortices' flow in TESs. The values of the current noise spectral density in the TESs were estimated by employing the vortex dynamics caused by the BKT transition in the Ti thin films. The estimated values of the current noise spectral density induced by the vortices' flow were in respectable agreement with the values of excess noise experimentally observed in the TESs with Ti/Au bilayer.

Field-induced phase transitions in chiral smectic liquid crystals studied by the constant current method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

H, Dhaouadi; R, Zgueb; O, Riahi; F, Trabelsi; T, Othman

2016-05-01

In ferroelectric liquid crystals, phase transitions can be induced by an electric field. The current constant method allows these transition to be quickly localized and thus the (E,T) phase diagram of the studied product can be obtained. In this work, we make a slight modification to the measurement principles based on this method. This modification allows the characteristic parameters of ferroelectric liquid crystal to be quantitatively measured. The use of a current square signal highlights a phenomenon of ferroelectric hysteresis with remnant polarization at null field, which points out an effect of memory in this compound.