Formation of industrial mixed culture biofilm in chlorophenol cultivated medium of microbial fuel cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassan, Huzairy; Jin, Bo; Dai, Sheng; Ngau, Cornelius

2016-11-01

The formation of microbial biofilm while maintaining the electricity output is a challenging topic in microbial fuel cell (MFC) studies. This MFC critical factor becomes more significant when handling with industrial wastewater which normally contains refractory and toxic compounds. This study explores the formation of industrial mixed culture biofilm in chlorophenol cultivated medium through observing and characterizing microscopically its establishment on MFC anode surface. The mixed culture was found to develop its biofilm on the anode surface in the chlorophenol environment and established its maturity and dispersal stages with concurrent electricity generation and phenolic degradation. The mixed culture biofilm engaged the electron transfer roles in MFC by generating current density of 1.4 mA/m2 and removing 53 % of 2,4-dichlorophenol. The results support further research especially on hazardous wastewater treatment using a benign and sustainable method.

Induction heaters used to heat subsurface formations

DOEpatents

Nguyen, Scott Vinh [Houston, TX; Bass, Ronald M [Houston, TX

2012-04-24

A heating system for a subsurface formation includes an elongated electrical conductor located in the subsurface formation. The electrical conductor extends between at least a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact. A ferromagnetic conductor at least partially surrounds and at least partially extends lengthwise around the electrical conductor. The electrical conductor, when energized with time-varying electrical current, induces sufficient electrical current flow in the ferromagnetic conductor such that the ferromagnetic conductor resistively heats to a temperature of at least about 300.degree. C.

Nanoscale volcanoes: accretion of matter at ion-sculpted nanopores.

PubMed

Mitsui, Toshiyuki; Stein, Derek; Kim, Young-Rok; Hoogerheide, David; Golovchenko, J A

2006-01-27

We demonstrate the formation of nanoscale volcano-like structures induced by ion-beam irradiation of nanoscale pores in freestanding silicon nitride membranes. Accreted matter is delivered to the volcanoes from micrometer distances along the surface. Volcano formation accompanies nanopore shrinking and depends on geometrical factors and the presence of a conducting layer on the membrane's back surface. We argue that surface electric fields play an important role in accounting for the experimental observations.

Kinetic factors determining conducting filament formation in solid polymer electrolyte based planar devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krishnan, Karthik; Aono, Masakazu; Tsuruoka, Tohru

2016-07-01

Resistive switching characteristics and conducting filament formation dynamics in solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) based planar-type atomic switches, with opposing active Ag and inert Pt electrodes, have been investigated by optimizing the device configuration and experimental parameters such as the gap distance between the electrodes, the salt inclusion in the polymer matrix, and the compliance current applied in current-voltage measurements. The high ionic conductivities of SPE enabled us to make scanning electron microscopy observations of the filament formation processes in the sub-micrometer to micrometer ranges. It was found that switching behaviour and filament growth morphology depend strongly on several kinetic factors, such as the redox reaction rate at the electrode-polymer interfaces, ion mobility in the polymer matrix, electric field strength, and the reduction sites for precipitation. Different filament formations, resulting from unidirectional and dendritic growth behaviours, can be controlled by tuning specified parameters, which in turn improves the stability and performance of SPE-based devices.Resistive switching characteristics and conducting filament formation dynamics in solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) based planar-type atomic switches, with opposing active Ag and inert Pt electrodes, have been investigated by optimizing the device configuration and experimental parameters such as the gap distance between the electrodes, the salt inclusion in the polymer matrix, and the compliance current applied in current-voltage measurements. The high ionic conductivities of SPE enabled us to make scanning electron microscopy observations of the filament formation processes in the sub-micrometer to micrometer ranges. It was found that switching behaviour and filament growth morphology depend strongly on several kinetic factors, such as the redox reaction rate at the electrode-polymer interfaces, ion mobility in the polymer matrix, electric field strength, and the reduction sites for precipitation. Different filament formations, resulting from unidirectional and dendritic growth behaviours, can be controlled by tuning specified parameters, which in turn improves the stability and performance of SPE-based devices. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr00569a

[The Dual Nature of the Electrical Signals of the Brain (Electrical and Electrochemical) Which Were Recorded With the Help Polarizable Electrodes From Inert Metals].

PubMed

Dubinin, A G; Reutov, V P; Svinov, M M; Troshin, G I; Shvets-Teneta-Gurii, T B

2015-01-01

In the modern neurophysiology opinion was confirmed that the electrical signals of the brain in the frequency band from DC to electroencephalogram recorded with metallic conductors of inert metal implanted in the brain are formed solely by changes in the electric field of the brain. This paper presents a review of the literature and our own data, according to which the formation of these signals involves two factors. One factor is a change in the charge of the electric double layer electrode having a capacitor property and change the value of its charge with changes in the electric field volume conductor--the brain. Another factor is an electrochemical signal is defined by local changes in the redox potential (E) neuronal-glial populations surrounding the electrode. The paper provides an overviews the electrical and electrochemical properties of the electrodes of the inert metals used in electrophysiology. It is shown that each of these factors has the characteristic parameters over time and amplitude. The data of own studies of local changes in E cortex accompanying brain's response to the implantation of electrodes in the brain's cortex, the natural behavior of animals in the wake-sleep, integrative brain function and effect of pharmacological agents. These results give evidence of the highly informative study of local changes in brain E in order to study energy metabolism in the brain of waking animals, and lay the foundation for the study of local changes in brain energy metabolism in free animal behavior.

Temperature limited heater with a conduit substantially electrically isolated from the formation

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

Vinegar, Harold J; Sandberg, Chester Ledlie

2009-07-14

A system for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. A conduit may be located in an opening in the formation. The conduit includes ferromagnetic material. An electrical conductor is positioned inside the conduit, and is electrically coupled to the conduit at or near an end portion of the conduit so that the electrical conductor and the conduit are electrically coupled in series. Electrical current flows in the electrical conductor in a substantially opposite direction to electrical current flow in the conduit during application of electrical current to the system. The flow of electrons is substantially confined to the insidemore » of the conduit by the electromagnetic field generated from electrical current flow in the electrical conductor so that the outside surface of the conduit is at or near substantially zero potential at 25.degree. C. The conduit may generate heat and heat the formation during application of electrical current.« less

Inactivation of MS2 bacteriophage by streamer corona discharge in water.

PubMed

Lee, Changha; Kim, Jaeeun; Yoon, Jeyong

2011-02-01

Electrical discharge processes are emerging as water treatment technologies applicable to both the degradation of organic contaminants as well as inactivation of pathogens. Particularly as a disinfection technology, electrical discharge processes do not produce toxic byproducts, and effectively inactivate a wide spectrum of microorganisms by multiple lethal actions generated by the formation of plasma channels. This study demonstrates the inactivation of a virus using the streamer corona discharge process (SCDP) with MS2 phage as a surrogate. A rapid inactivation of MS2 phage (i.e., approximately 4 log inactivation in 5 min) was observed in all experimental runs conducted. Discharge conditions such as applied voltage and storage capacitance significantly affected the inactivation efficiency of MS2 phage, whereas the influence of water quality parameters was minor. In order to elucidate the mechanism of MS2 phage inactivation, potentially lethal factors that can be generated by the SCDP were selected, and their roles in the inactivation of MS2 phage were examined. As a result, effects of UV radiation, chemical oxidants, and pulsed electric fields were found to be insignificant. The shockwave generated upon plasma channel formation appears to be the most important factor responsible for MS2 phage inactivation. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Transition from a beads-on-string to a spike structure in an electrified viscoelastic jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Fang; Yin, Xie-Yuan; Yin, Xie-Zhen

2017-02-01

A one-dimensional numerical simulation is performed to study the nonlinear behaviors of a perfectly conducting, slightly viscoelastic liquid jet under a large radial electric field. A singular spike structure different from a beads-on-string structure is detected. The electric field is found to be the key factor for the formation of spikes. The transition from a beads-on-string to a spike structure occurs at sufficiently large electric fields. Moreover, the transition occurs more easily for smaller wave numbers. Viscosity is found to suppress spikes while elasticity promotes them. The mechanism responsible for spike formation is further explored by examining the maximum radius of the jet in the beads-on-string case. The capillary and electrostatic forces prove to be dominant in droplets, and the transition takes place when the electrostatic force exceeds the capillary force. The self-similarity in spikes is discussed. Different from the transition moment, the inertial, electrostatic, and solvent viscous forces are important in a developed spike.

Research on the discharge characteristics for water tree in crosslinked polyethylene cable based on plasma-chemical model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Yang; Qi, Yang; Bing, Gao; Rong, Xia; Yanjie, Le; Iroegbu, Paul Ikechukwu

2018-03-01

Water tree is the predominant defect in high-voltage crosslinked polyethylene cables. The microscopic mechanism in the discharge process is not fully understood; hence, a drawback is created towards an effective method to evaluate the insulation status. In order to investigate the growth of water tree, a plasma-chemical model is developed. The dynamic characteristics of the discharge process including voltage waveform, current waveform, electron density, electric potential, and electric field intensity are analyzed. Our results show that the distorted electric field is the predominant contributing factor of electron avalanche formation, which inevitably leads to the formation of pulse current. In addition, it is found that characteristic parameters such as the pulse width and pulse number have a great relevance to the length of water tree. Accordingly, the growth of water tree can be divided into the initial stage, development stage, and pre-breakdown stage, which provides a reference for evaluating the deteriorated stages of crosslinked polyethylene cables.

40 CFR 260.10 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... the basis of one or more of the following factors: (i) The design and use of the device primarily to... onsite, or to a point of shipment for disposal off-site. Aquifer means a geologic formation, group of... equivalent responsibility. Battery means a device consisting of one or more electrically connected...

Ion Plume Damage in Formation Flight Regimes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Young, Jarred Alexander

This effort examines the potential for damage from plume impingement from an electric propulsion system within spacecraft missions that utilize a formation flight architecture. Specifically, the potential erosion of a structural material (Aluminum) and anti-reflective coatings for solar cell coverglass are explored. Sputter yields for the materials of Aluminum, Magnesium Fluoride, and Indium Tin Oxide are experimentally validated using an electrostatic ion source at energies varying from 500-1500 eV. Erosion depths are analyzed using white-light optical profilometry to measure potential depths up to 1 microm. This erosion data was then utilized to create (or augment) Bohdansky and Yamamura theoretical curve fits for multiple incidence angles to look at theoretical sputter effects within formation flight regimes at multiple formation distances from 50-1000 m. The damage from these electric propulsion plumes is explored throughout multiple orbital conditions from LEO, Sun-Synchronous, and GEO. Factors affecting erosion are: plume density, local geomagnetic field environment and incidence angles of target surfaces. Results from this simulated study show significant erosion with GEO with minor erosion in some LEO and all Sun-Synchronous cases.

The use of an electric field in increasing the resistance of plants to the action of unfavorable space flight factors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nechitailo, G.; Gordeev, A.

The key role in increasing the resistance of plants to unfavorable space flight factors is assigned to biomembranes of root cells. It is these biomembranes on which numerous biochemical and biophysical processes determining the adaptive capacity of plant organisms occur. In the initial period of exposure to unfavorable space flight factors the adaptational reactions of the plant organism undoubtedly increase its resistance. But the intensification of removal of H+ ions through the plasmalemma with an increase of the external influence sharply raises the quantity of cations leaving the cell, which leads to the accumu lation of a considerable quantity of intracellular negative charges. These charges together with negative charges built in the membrane force protons to concentrate on the external surface of the membrane. Since protons have a very strong electric field, they form such a charge of which the electric field is about from several to hundreds of V/cm. The concentration of positive charges of protons entails the formation of a double electric field which extremely impedes the diffusion of other ions. Thus, a proton barrier is formed. Its length can be very considerable due to which the whole process of transmembrane energy and mass-transfer is disturbed. The proton barrier is easily destroyed by a weak electric field created in the root zone. In experiment on electrostimulation of different plants under space flight conditions at the orbital station MIR the absorption of nutrient elements by the root system increased to the optimal level, the ratio of physiologically active substances in the rhizosphere was normalized, the content of chlorophyll, carotin, and ascorbic acid in leaves corresponded to the ground-based control. Understanding of the mechanism of formation of a proton barrier on the plasmalemma of root cells as a result of the response of plants to the negative action of external factors (microgravity) is of great importance. It allows the possibility of life support of the vegetable kingdom in extreme conditions to be estimated in a new way.

The use of an electric field in increasing the resistance of plants to the action of unfavorable space flight factors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nechitailo, G.; Gordeev, A.

2004-01-01

The key role in increasing the resistance of plants to unfavorable space flight factors is assigned to biomembranes of root cells. It is these biomembranes in which numerous biochemical and biophysical processes determining the adaptive capacity of plant organisms occur. In the initial period of exposure to unfavorable space flight factors the adaptation reactions of the plant organism undoubtedly increase its resistance. But the intensification of removal of H + ions through the plasmalemma with an increase of the external influence sharply raises the quantity of cations leaving the cell, which leads to the accumulation of a considerable quantity of intracellular negative charges. These charges together with negative charges built in the membrane force protons to concentrate on the external surface of the membrane. Since protons have a very strong electric field, they form such a charge of which the electric field is about from several to hundreds of V/cm. The concentration of positive charges of protons entails the formation of a double electric field which extremely impedes the diffusion of other ions. Thus, a proton barrier is formed. Its length can be very considerable due to which the whole process of transmembrane energy and mass-transfer is disturbed. The proton barrier is easily destroyed by a weak electric field created in the root zone. In experiments on electrostimulation of different plants under space flight conditions at the orbital station MIR the absorption of nutrient elements by the root system increased to the optimal level, the ratio of physiologically active substances in the rhizosphere was normalized, the content of chlorophyll, carotin, and ascorbic acid in leaves corresponded to the ground-based control. Understanding of the mechanism of formation of a proton barrier on the plasmalemma of root cells as a result of the response of plants to the negative action of external factors (microgravity) is of great importance. It allows the possibility of life support of the vegetable kingdom in extreme conditions to be estimated in a new way.

¹³C Pathway Analysis for the Role of Formate in Electricity Generation by Shewanella Oneidensis MR-1 Using Lactate in Microbial Fuel Cells.

PubMed

Luo, Shuai; Guo, Weihua; Nealson, Kenneth H; Feng, Xueyang; He, Zhen

2016-02-12

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising technology for direct electricity generation from organics by microorganisms. The type of electron donors fed into MFCs affects the electrical performance, and mechanistic understanding of such effects is important to optimize the MFC performance. In this study, we used a model organism in MFCs, Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, and (13)C pathway analysis to investigate the role of formate in electricity generation and the related microbial metabolism. Our results indicated a synergistic effect of formate and lactate on electricity generation, and extra formate addition on the original lactate resulted in more electrical output than using formate or lactate as a sole electron donor. Based on the (13)C tracer analysis, we discovered decoupled cell growth and electricity generation in S. oneidensis MR-1 during co-utilization of lactate and formate (i.e., while the lactate was mainly metabolized to support the cell growth, the formate was oxidized to release electrons for higher electricity generation). To our best knowledge, this is the first time that (13)C tracer analysis was applied to study microbial metabolism in MFCs and it was demonstrated to be a valuable tool to understand the metabolic pathways affected by electron donors in the selected electrochemically-active microorganisms.

Understanding Polymorphism Formation in Electrospun Fibers of Immiscible Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Blends

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

G Zhong; L Zhang; R Su

2011-12-31

Effects of electric poling, mechanical stretching, and dipolar interaction on the formation of ferroelectric ({beta} and/or {gamma}) phases in poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) have been studied in electrospun fibers of PVDF/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and PVDF/polysulfone (PSF) blends with PVDF as the minor component, using wide-angle X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared techniques. Experimental results of as-electrospun neat PVDF fibers (beaded vs. bead-free) showed that mechanical stretching during electrospinning, rather than electric poling, was effective to induce ferroelectric phases. For as-electrospun PVDF blend fibers with the non-polar PSF matrix, mechanical stretching during electrospinning again was capable of inducing some ferroelectric phases in additionmore » to the major paraelectric ({alpha}) phase. However, after removing the mechanical stretching in a confined melt-recrystallization process, only the paraelectric phase was obtained. For as-electrospun PVDF blend fibers with the polar (or ferroelectric) PAN matrix, strong intermolecular interactions between polar PAN and PVDF played an important role in the ferroelectric phase formation in addition to the mechanical stretching effect during electrospinning. Even after the removal of mechanical stretching through the confined melt-recrystallization process, a significant amount of ferroelectric phases persisted. Comparing the ferroelectric phase formation between PVDF/PSF and PVDF/PAN blend fibers, we concluded that the local electric field-dipole interactions were the determining factor for the nucleation and growth of polar PVDF phases.« less

Numerical investigation into blood clotting at the bone-dental implant interface in the presence of an electrical stimulus.

PubMed

Vanegas-Acosta, J C; Garzón-Alvarado, D A; Lancellotti, V

2013-12-01

The insertion of a dental implant activates a sequence of wound healing events ending with bone formation and implant osseointegration. This sequence starts with the blood coagulation process and the formation of a fibrin network that detains spilt blood. Fibrin formation can be simplified as the kinetic reaction between thrombin and fibrinogen preceding the conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin. Based on experimental observations of the electrical properties of these molecules, we present a hypothesis for the mechanism of a static electrical stimulus in controlling the formation of the blood clot. Specifically, the electrical stimulus increases the fibrin network formation in such a way that a preferential region of higher fibrin density is obtained. This hypothesis is validated by means of a numerical model for the blood clot formation at the bone-dental implant interface. Numerical results compare favorably to experimental observations for blood clotting with and without the static electrical stimulus. It is concluded that the density of the fibrin network depends on the strength of the static electrical stimulus, and that the blood clot formation has a preferential direction of formation in the presence of the electrical signal. © 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Approximate relationship between frequency-dependent skin depth resolved from geoelectromagnetic pedotransfer function and depth of investigation resolved from geoelectrical measurements: A case study of coastal formation, southern Nigeria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

George, N. J.; Obiora, D. N.; Ekanem, A. M.; Akpan, A. E.

2016-10-01

The task involved in the interpretation of Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) data is how to get unique results in the absence/limited number of borehole information, which is usually limited to information on the spot. Geological and geochemical mapping of electrical properties are usually limited to direct observations on the surface and therefore, conclusions and extrapolations that can be drawn about the system electrical characteristics and possible underlying structures may be masked as geology changes with positions. The electrical resistivity study pedotransfer functions (PTFs) have been linked with the electromagnetic (EM) resolved PTFs at chosen frequencies of skin/penetration depth corresponding to the VES resolved investigation depth in order to determine the local geological attributes of hydrogeological repository in the coastal formation dominated with fine sand. The illustrative application of effective skin depth depicts that effective skin depth has direct relation with the EM response of the local source over the layered earth and thus, can be linked to the direct current earth response functions as an aid for estimating the optimum depth and electrical parameters through comparative analysis. Though the VES and EM resolved depths of investigation at appropriate effective and theoretical frequencies have wide gaps, diagnostic relations characterising the subsurface depth of interest have been established. The determining factors of skin effect have been found to include frequency/period, resistivity/conductivity, absorption/attenuation coefficient and energy loss factor. The novel diagnostic relations and their corresponding constants between 1-D resistivity data and EM skin depth are robust PTFs necessary for checking the accuracy associated with the non-unique interpretations that characterise the 1-D resistivity data, mostly when lithostratigraphic data are not available.

13C Pathway Analysis for the Role of Formate in Electricity Generation by Shewanella Oneidensis MR-1 Using Lactate in Microbial Fuel Cells

PubMed Central

Luo, Shuai; Guo, Weihua; H. Nealson, Kenneth; Feng, Xueyang; He, Zhen

2016-01-01

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising technology for direct electricity generation from organics by microorganisms. The type of electron donors fed into MFCs affects the electrical performance, and mechanistic understanding of such effects is important to optimize the MFC performance. In this study, we used a model organism in MFCs, Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, and 13C pathway analysis to investigate the role of formate in electricity generation and the related microbial metabolism. Our results indicated a synergistic effect of formate and lactate on electricity generation, and extra formate addition on the original lactate resulted in more electrical output than using formate or lactate as a sole electron donor. Based on the 13C tracer analysis, we discovered decoupled cell growth and electricity generation in S. oneidensis MR-1 during co-utilization of lactate and formate (i.e., while the lactate was mainly metabolized to support the cell growth, the formate was oxidized to release electrons for higher electricity generation). To our best knowledge, this is the first time that 13C tracer analysis was applied to study microbial metabolism in MFCs and it was demonstrated to be a valuable tool to understand the metabolic pathways affected by electron donors in the selected electrochemically-active microorganisms. PMID:26868848

A New Dual-Pore Formation Factor Model: A Percolation Network Study and Comparison to Experimental Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Y. B.; Li, M.; Bernabe, Y.

2014-12-01

We modeled the electrical transport behavior of dual-pore carbonate rocks in this paper. Based on experimental data of a carbonate reservoir in China, we simply considered the low porosity samples equivalent to the matrix (micro-pore system) of the high porosity samples. For modeling the bimodal porous media, we considered that the matrix is homogeneous and interconnected. The connectivity and the pore size distribution of macro-pore system are varied randomly. Both pore systems are supposed to act electrically in parallel, connected at the nodes, where the fluid exchange takes place, an approach previously used by Bauer et al. (2012). Then, the effect of the properties of matrix, the pore size distribution and connectivity of macro-pore system on petrophysical properties of carbonates can be investigated. We simulated electrical current through networks in three-dimensional simple cubic (SC) and body-center cubic (BCC) with different coordination numbers and different pipe radius distributions of macro-pore system. Based on the simulation results, we found that the formation factor obeys a "universal" scaling relationship (i.e. independent of lattice type), 1/F∝eγz, where γ is a function of the normalized standard deviation of the pore radius distribution of macro-pore system and z is the coordination number of macro-pore system. This relationship is different from the classic "universal power law" in percolation theory. A formation factor model was inferred on the basis of the scaling relationship mentioned above and several scale-invariant quantities (such as hydraulic radius rH and throat length l of macro-pore). Several methods were developed to estimate corresponding parameters of the new model with conventional core analyses. It was satisfactorily tested against experimental data, including some published experimental data. Furthermore, the relationship between water saturation and resistivity in dual-pore carbonates was discussed based on the new model.

Energy-saving management modelling and optimization for lead-acid battery formation process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, T.; Chen, Z.; Xu, J. Y.; Wang, F. Y.; Liu, H. M.

2017-11-01

In this context, a typical lead-acid battery producing process is introduced. Based on the formation process, an efficiency management method is proposed. An optimization model with the objective to minimize the formation electricity cost in a single period is established. This optimization model considers several related constraints, together with two influencing factors including the transformation efficiency of IGBT charge-and-discharge machine and the time-of-use price. An example simulation is shown using PSO algorithm to solve this mathematic model, and the proposed optimization strategy is proved to be effective and learnable for energy-saving and efficiency optimization in battery producing industries.

In Situ Complementary Doping, Thermoelectric Improvements, and Strain-Induced Structure within Alternating PEDOT:PSS/PANI Layers.

PubMed

Andrei, Virgil; Bethke, Kevin; Madzharova, Fani; Bronneberg, Aafke Cecile; Kneipp, Janina; Rademann, Klaus

2017-09-27

Although the deposition of alternating layers from poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and polyaniline (PANI) salts has recently provided a breakthrough in the field of conductive polymers, the cause for the conductivity improvement has remained unclear. In this work, we report a cooperative doping effect between alternating PANI base and PEDOT:PSS layers, resulting in electrical conductivities of 50-100 S cm -1 and power factors of up to 3.0 ± 0.5 μW m -1 K -2 , which surpass some of the recent values obtained for protonated PANI/PEDOT:PSS multilayers by a factor of 20. In this case, the simultaneous improvement in the electrical conductivity of both types of layers is caused by the in situ protonation of PANI, which corresponds to the removal of the excess acidic PSS chains from the PEDOT:PSS grains. The interplay between the functional groups' reactivity and the supramolecular chain reorganization leads to an array of preparation-dependent phenomena, including a stepwise increase in the film thickness, an alternation in the electrical conductivity, and the formation of a diverse surface landscape. The latter effect can be traced to a buildup of strain within the layers, which results in either the formation of folds or the shrinkage of the film. These results open new paths for designing nanostructured thin-film thermoelectrics.

Postfact phenomena of the wet-steam flow electrization in turbines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tarelin, A. A.

2017-11-01

Physical processes occurring in a turbine with natural electrization of a humidity-steam flow and their effect on efficiency and reliability of the turbine operation has been considered. Causes of the electrical potential occurrence on a rotor shaft are analyzed. The wet steam's electrization exposure on the electrical potential that is one of the major factors of bearings' electroerosion has been demonstrated on the full-scale installation. Hydrogen formation in wheelspace of the turbine as a result of electrochemical processes and electric field exposure of the space charge has been considered. Hydrogen concentration dependence on a volume charge density in the steam flow has been determined. It is stated that the processes occurring behind the final stage of wet-steam turbines are similar to the ones in elaerosol ectrostatic generators. It has been demonstrated that this phenomenon causes the flow's temporal inhibition and starts pulsations. These factors' impact on power loss of the turbine has been evaluated and recommendations for their elimination have been offered. It has been determined that motions of charged drops can cause self-maintained discharges inside of the flow and between the flow and grounded surfaces that are accompanied by electromagnetic radiation of the wide spectrum. The integrated studies have shown that physical phenomena occurring due to natural electrization negatively affect efficiency and reliability of the turbine operation. Practical recommendations allowing one to minimize the negative effects of the flow natural electrization process have been offered.

Transport and recombination in organic light-emitting diodes studied by electrically detected magnetic resonance.

PubMed

Graeff, C F O; Silva, G B; Nüesch, F; Zuppiroli, L

2005-09-01

We have used electrically detected magnetic resonance (EDMR) to study a series of multilayer organic devices based on aluminum (III) 8-hydroxyquinoline (Alq3). These devices were designed to identify the microscopic origin of different spin-dependent processes, i.e. hopping and exciton formation. The EDMR signal in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on Alq3 is only observed when the device is electroluminescent and is assigned to spin-dependent exciton formation. It can be decomposed in at least two Gaussians: one with peak-to-peak line (deltaH(PP)) of 1.6 mT and another with deltaH(PP) of 2.0 to 3.4 mT, depending on bias and temperature. The g-factors of the two components are barely distinguishable and close to 2.003. The broad line is attributed to the resonance in Alq3 anions, while the other line is attributed to cationic states. These attributions are supported by line shape and its electrical-field dependence of unipolar Alq3-based diodes, where hopping process related to dication and dianion formation is observed. In these unipolar devices, it is shown that the signal coming from spin-dependent hopping occurs close to organic semiconductor/metal interfaces. The sign of the magnetic-resonance-induced conductivity change is dominated by charge injection rather than charge mobility. Our results indicate that the probability of singlet exciton formation in our OLEDs is smaller than 25%.

A theoretical study on the electronic structure of Au-XO(0,-1,+1) (X=C, N, and O) complexes: effect of an external electric field.

PubMed

Tielens, Frederik; Gracia, Lourdes; Polo, Victor; Andrés, Juan

2007-12-20

A theoretical study on the nature of Au-XO(0,-1,+1) (X=C, N, O) interaction is carried out in order to provide a better understanding on the adsorption process of XO molecules on Au surfaces or Au-supported surfaces. The effect of the total charge as well as the presence of an external electric field on the formation processes of the Au-XO complex are analyzed and discussed using DFT (B3LYP) and high-level ab initio (CCSD(T)//MP2) methods employing a 6-311+G(3df) basis set for X and O atoms and Stuttgart pseudopotentials for Au atom. The presence of an electric field can increase the binding of O2 molecule to Au while weakening the formation of the Au-CO complex. These behaviors are discussed in the context of adsorption or deadsorption of these molecules on Au clusters. The formation of the Au-XO complex, the effect of addition/removal of one electron, and the role of the electric field are rationalized by studying the nature of the bonding interactions by means of the electron localization function (ELF) analysis. The net interaction between Au and XO fragments is governed by the interplay of three factors: (i) the amount of charge transfer from Au to XO, (ii) the sharing of the lone pair from X atom by the Au core (V(X, Au) basin), and (iii) the role of the lone pair of Au (V(Au) basin) mainly formed by 6s electrons. The total charge of the system and the applied electric field determine the population and orientation of the V(Au) basin and, subsequently, the degree of repulsion with the V(X, Au) basin.

Morphological, Raman, electrical and dielectric properties of rare earth doped X-type hexagonal ferrites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majeed, Abdul; Khan, Muhammad Azhar; ur Raheem, Faseeh; Ahmad, Iftikhar; Akhtar, Majid Niaz; Warsi, Muhammad Farooq

2016-12-01

The influence of rare-earth metals (La, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy) on morphology, Raman, electrical and dielectric properties of Ba2NiCoRExFe28-xO46 ferrites were studied. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) exhibited the platelet like structure of these hexagonal ferrites. The surface morphology indicated the formation of ferrite grains in the nano-regime scale. The bands obtained at lower wave number may be attributed to the metal-oxygen vibration at octahedral site which confirm the development of hexagonal phase of these ferrites. The resonance peaks were observed in dielectric constant, dielectric loss factor and quality factor versus frequency graphs. These dielectric parameters indicate that these ferrites nano-materials are potential candidates in the high frequency applications. The enhancement in DC electric resistivity from 2.48×108 to 1.20×109 Ω cm indicates that the prepared materials are beneficial for decreasing the eddy current losses at high frequencies and for the fabrication of multilayer chip inductor (MLCI) devices.

Electrical coupling regulates layer 1 interneuron microcircuit formation in the neocortex

PubMed Central

Yao, Xing-Hua; Wang, Min; He, Xiang-Nan; He, Fei; Zhang, Shu-Qing; Lu, Wenlian; Qiu, Zi-Long; Yu, Yong-Chun

2016-01-01

The coexistence of electrical and chemical synapses among interneurons is essential for interneuron function in the neocortex. However, it remains largely unclear whether electrical coupling between interneurons influences chemical synapse formation and microcircuit assembly during development. Here, we show that electrical and GABAergic chemical connections robustly develop between interneurons in neocortical layer 1 over a similar time course. Electrical coupling promotes action potential generation and synchronous firing between layer 1 interneurons. Furthermore, electrically coupled interneurons exhibit strong GABA-A receptor-mediated synchronous synaptic activity. Disruption of electrical coupling leads to a loss of bidirectional, but not unidirectional, GABAergic connections. Moreover, a reduction in electrical coupling induces an increase in excitatory synaptic inputs to layer 1 interneurons. Together, these findings strongly suggest that electrical coupling between neocortical interneurons plays a critical role in regulating chemical synapse development and precise formation of circuits. PMID:27510304

Electrical conductivity modeling in fractal non-saturated porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, W.; Cai, J.; Hu, X.; Han, Q.

2016-12-01

The variety of electrical conductivity in non-saturated conditions is important to study electric conduction in natural sedimentary rocks. The electrical conductivity in completely saturated porous media is a porosity-function representing the complex connected behavior of single conducting phases (pore fluid). For partially saturated conditions, the electrical conductivity becomes even more complicated since the connectedness of pore. Archie's second law is an empirical electrical conductivity-porosity and -saturation model that has been used to predict the formation factor of non-saturated porous rock. However, the physical interpretation of its parameters, e.g., the cementation exponent m and the saturation exponent n, remains questionable. On basis of our previous work, we combine the pore-solid fractal (PSF) model to build an electrical conductivity model in non-saturated porous media. Our theoretical porosity- and saturation-dependent models contain endmember properties, such as fluid electrical conductivities, pore fractal dimension and tortuosity fractal dimension (representing the complex degree of electrical flowing path). We find the presented model with non-saturation-dependent electrical conductivity datasets indicate excellent match between theory and experiments. This means the value of pore fractal dimension and tortuosity fractal dimension change from medium to medium and depends not only on geometrical properties of pore structure but also characteristics of electrical current flowing in the non-saturated porous media.

Skin Rejuvenation with Non-Invasive Pulsed Electric Fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golberg, Alexander; Khan, Saiqa; Belov, Vasily; Quinn, Kyle P.; Albadawi, Hassan; Felix Broelsch, G.; Watkins, Michael T.; Georgakoudi, Irene; Papisov, Mikhail; Mihm, Martin C., Jr.; Austen, William G., Jr.; Yarmush, Martin L.

2015-05-01

Degenerative skin diseases affect one third of individuals over the age of sixty. Current therapies use various physical and chemical methods to rejuvenate skin; but since the therapies affect many tissue components including cells and extracellular matrix, they may also induce significant side effects, such as scarring. Here we report on a new, non-invasive, non-thermal technique to rejuvenate skin with pulsed electric fields. The fields destroy cells while simultaneously completely preserving the extracellular matrix architecture and releasing multiple growth factors locally that induce new cells and tissue growth. We have identified the specific pulsed electric field parameters in rats that lead to prominent proliferation of the epidermis, formation of microvasculature, and secretion of new collagen at treated areas without scarring. Our results suggest that pulsed electric fields can improve skin function and thus can potentially serve as a novel non-invasive skin therapy for multiple degenerative skin diseases.

Gravito-electrodynamics, Ehd and Their Applications To Natural Hazards and Laboratory Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kikuchi, H.

For the past two decades, theory of dusty and dirty plasmas in space and in the labo - ratory has been developed on the basis of both unconventional gravito-electrody- nam ics and a new EHD (electrohydrodynamics) with novel concepts of electric re- connection and critical ionization velocity as well as modern concepts of self-organ- ization and chaos and has been applied to explanations of a variety of new dust-re- lated and meteorologyico-electric phenomena such as planetary (Saturn's and Jupi- ter's) dust layer or ring formation, terrestrial dust layer formation, terrestrial light - ning including winter thunderstorms, rocket and tower triggered lightning, planetary (Saturn's, Jupiter's, and Io's) lightning, nebular lightning, ball lightning, tornadic thunderstorms, whirlwinds, cloud-to-ionosphere discharges, pre-earthquake atmo- sphereic and ionospheric effects, and new laboratory devices such as electric undu - lators, a universal electric-cusp type plasma reactor for basic laboratory studies, sim- ulations of atmospheric phenomena and pollution control and gas cleaning, plasma processing and new material production for industrial applications, and new devices such as towards cancer treatment for biological and medical applications. Reference H. Kikuchi, Electrohydrodynamics in Dusty and Dirty plasmas, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht/The Netherlands, 2001. For describing any plasmas, particle dynamics plays always fundamental and impor - tant roles in understanding all of plasma behaviors. A variety of descriptions in a magnetic field such as a guiding center approach have well been developed as a test-particle approach particularly for a base of MHD. This is still true for EHD or EMHD, but additional factors become significant due to the existence of space charges and electric fields for EHD or EMHD in dielectric or semiconducting fluids. In cosmic plasmas, the existence of double layers, electric and magnetic dipoles or quadru-poles often affects the particle motions drastically even if particles are uncharged, and can play a crucial role in planetary dust layer or ring formation. This is a new discov-ery and has been discussed in detail for the past several EGS meetings. In the presenc e of quadrupole-like charged cloud configurations which constitute electric cusps and mirrors, a neutral or uncharged particle can be accelerated in an electric cusp, reaching a maximum speed near a cusp boundary, if the environment is a tenuous gas whatever it may be neutral or ionized, and also can be reflected back at a mirror point. Otherwise, a dust in an electric cusp is capable for a source origin of plasma layer formation, gas discharges or lightnings due to additional effect of `criti-cal velocity' if the local electric fields around the dust produced by quadrupole-like charged clouds are sufficiently high beyond a gas-breakdown threshold. Then electric reconnection through the dust is followed by streamer or leader formation due to the critical ionization effect and consequent gas discharges or lightnings. One of major features of new electrodynamics, gravito-electrodynamics, and EHD is a new addition of two basic concepts of electric reconnection and critical ionization . First, one may recall that a distribution of scattered charged clouds is so ubiquitous in space and in the laboratory, even in our daily life, whatever they are of large-scale or small-scale, like thunderclouds in the atmosphere, charged clouds in interstellar space, charges on the belt of Van de Graff generator, and a system of miniature thunder-clouds produced by frictional electricity almost everywhere, typically on human hairs. All those cases are capable for electric reconnection. Whenever electric reconnection occurs through dusts in the atmosphere, it can be accompanied by a critical ioniza-tion flow . In this way, electric reconnection and critical ionization could be a signifi-cant cause of electrification and electric discharge and play important roles in a varie-ty of phenomena in meteorologico-electric, dusty and dirty plasma environments.

Numerical modeling of fluid and electrical currents through geometries based on synchrotron X-ray tomographic images of reservoir rocks using Avizo and COMSOL

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bird, M. B.; Butler, S. L.; Hawkes, C. D.; Kotzer, T.

2014-12-01

The use of numerical simulations to model physical processes occurring within subvolumes of rock samples that have been characterized using advanced 3D imaging techniques is becoming increasingly common. Not only do these simulations allow for the determination of macroscopic properties like hydraulic permeability and electrical formation factor, but they also allow the user to visualize processes taking place at the pore scale and they allow for multiple different processes to be simulated on the same geometry. Most efforts to date have used specialized research software for the purpose of simulations. In this contribution, we outline the steps taken to use commercial software Avizo to transform a 3D synchrotron X-ray-derived tomographic image of a rock core sample to an STL (STereoLithography) file which can be imported into the commercial multiphysics modeling package COMSOL. We demonstrate that the use of COMSOL to perform fluid and electrical current flow simulations through the pore spaces. The permeability and electrical formation factor of the sample are calculated and compared with laboratory-derived values and benchmark calculations. Although the simulation domains that we were able to model on a desk top computer were significantly smaller than representative elementary volumes, and we were able to establish Kozeny-Carman and Archie's Law trends on which laboratory measurements and previous benchmark solutions fall. The rock core samples include a Fountainebleau sandstone used for benchmarking and a marly dolostone sampled from a well in the Weyburn oil field of southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada. Such carbonates are known to have complicated pore structures compared with sandstones, yet we are able to calculate reasonable macroscopic properties. We discuss the computing resources required.

Target Plate Material Influence on Fullerene-C60 Laser Desorption/Ionization Efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeegers, Guido P.; Günthardt, Barbara F.; Zenobi, Renato

2016-04-01

Systematic laser desorption/ionization (LDI) experiments of fullerene-C60 on a wide range of target plate materials were conducted to gain insight into the initial ion formation in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. The positive and negative ion signal intensities of precursor, fragment, and cluster ions were monitored, varying both the laser fluence (0-3.53 Jcm-2) and the ion extraction delay time (0-950 ns). The resulting species-specific ion signal intensities are an indication for the ionization mechanisms that contribute to LDI and the time frames in which they operate, providing insight in the (MA)LDI primary ionization. An increasing electrical resistivity of the target plate material increases the fullerene-C60 precursor and fragment anion signal intensity. Inconel 625 and Ti90/Al6/V4, both highly electrically resistive, provide the highest anion signal intensities, exceeding the cation signal intensity by a factor ~1.4 for the latter. We present a mechanism based on transient electrical field strength reduction to explain this trend. Fullerene-C60 cluster anion formation is negligible, which could be due to the high extraction potential. Cluster cations, however, are readily formed, although for high laser fluences, the preferred channel is formation of precursor and fragment cations. Ion signal intensity depends greatly on the choice of substrate material, and careful substrate selection could, therefore, allow for more sensitive (MA)LDI measurements.

The application and research status of tin whisker formation in electric usage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Heng; Liu, Qing-bin; Lan, Yuan-pei; Wang, Hua; Yao, Da-wei

2017-05-01

`Hair Like' crystalline structure grows from most pure tin or zinc finishes. Usually, the diameter of tin whisker is up to 10 mm and the length of tin whisker is typically 1 µm. In detail, the questions for tin whisker formation are classified into 6 categories: 1. Residual stress with in the tin plating; 2. Intermetallic Formation; 3. Externally Applied Compressive Stress; 4. Bending and Stretching; 5. Scratches and Nicks; 6. Coefficient of Thermal Expansion Mismatches. The result shows that, whisker formation could causes electrical short circuit (High current of whisker melting), debris contamination (Sensitive Optical and Micro Electrical Mechanical System) and metal vapor (Vaporize Damage). Thus, it is suggested that environmental tests and standards (Whisker Shape, Temperature, Pressure, Moisture, Thermal Cycling, and Electrical Field) are required for suppressing whisker formation. Nowadays, the new standards committee of Europe Union acts RoHS (Restriction of certain Hazardous Substances) and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) to restrict Pb usage. Thus, new compounds adding to alloys to suppress whiskers are required in electronic application area. In summary, the tin whisker formation is largely influenced by compositions and precipitations.

History of Power Transmission Technologies and Future Prospects of Power System of Chubu Electric Power Company

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takagi, Hirotaka; Sugiyama, Tomonari; Zashibo, Toshihito

Since its foundation, the power system of Chubu Electric Power Company (hereinafter CEPCO) has developed through power source and transmission facility formation to meet electricity demand increases. This development has been accompanied by progress in transmission technologies including capacity scale-up, compactification and power system stabilization to operate complex power systems. Now, changes in business situation due to electricity market liberalizatin may bring new challenges to future facility formation. This paper reviews CEPCO's history of power system formation and progress in transmission technologies, and describes future challenges.

A laboratory study to estimate pore geometric parameters of sandstones using complex conductivity and nuclear magnetic resonance for permeability prediction

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

Osterman, Gordon; Keating, Kristina; Binley, Andrew

Here, we estimate parameters from the Katz and Thompson permeability model using laboratory complex electrical conductivity (CC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data to build permeability models parameterized with geophysical measurements. We use the Katz and Thompson model based on the characteristic hydraulic length scale, determined from mercury injection capillary pressure estimates of pore throat size, and the intrinsic formation factor, determined from multisalinity conductivity measurements, for this purpose. Two new permeability models are tested, one based on CC data and another that incorporates CC and NMR data. From measurements made on forty-five sandstone cores collected from fifteen different formations,more » we evaluate how well the CC relaxation time and the NMR transverse relaxation times compare to the characteristic hydraulic length scale and how well the formation factor estimated from CC parameters compares to the intrinsic formation factor. We find: (1) the NMR transverse relaxation time models the characteristic hydraulic length scale more accurately than the CC relaxation time (R 2 of 0.69 and 0.33 and normalized root mean square errors (NRMSE) of 0.16 and 0.21, respectively); (2) the CC estimated formation factor is well correlated with the intrinsic formation factor (NRMSE50.23). We demonstrate that that permeability estimates from the joint-NMR-CC model (NRMSE50.13) compare favorably to estimates from the Katz and Thompson model (NRMSE50.074). Lastly, this model advances the capability of the Katz and Thompson model by employing parameters measureable in the field giving it the potential to more accurately estimate permeability using geophysical measurements than are currently possible.« less

A laboratory study to estimate pore geometric parameters of sandstones using complex conductivity and nuclear magnetic resonance for permeability prediction

DOE PAGES

Osterman, Gordon; Keating, Kristina; Binley, Andrew; ...

2016-03-18

Here, we estimate parameters from the Katz and Thompson permeability model using laboratory complex electrical conductivity (CC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data to build permeability models parameterized with geophysical measurements. We use the Katz and Thompson model based on the characteristic hydraulic length scale, determined from mercury injection capillary pressure estimates of pore throat size, and the intrinsic formation factor, determined from multisalinity conductivity measurements, for this purpose. Two new permeability models are tested, one based on CC data and another that incorporates CC and NMR data. From measurements made on forty-five sandstone cores collected from fifteen different formations,more » we evaluate how well the CC relaxation time and the NMR transverse relaxation times compare to the characteristic hydraulic length scale and how well the formation factor estimated from CC parameters compares to the intrinsic formation factor. We find: (1) the NMR transverse relaxation time models the characteristic hydraulic length scale more accurately than the CC relaxation time (R 2 of 0.69 and 0.33 and normalized root mean square errors (NRMSE) of 0.16 and 0.21, respectively); (2) the CC estimated formation factor is well correlated with the intrinsic formation factor (NRMSE50.23). We demonstrate that that permeability estimates from the joint-NMR-CC model (NRMSE50.13) compare favorably to estimates from the Katz and Thompson model (NRMSE50.074). Lastly, this model advances the capability of the Katz and Thompson model by employing parameters measureable in the field giving it the potential to more accurately estimate permeability using geophysical measurements than are currently possible.« less

An effective medium approach to modelling the pressure-dependent electrical properties of porous rocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Tongcheng

2018-07-01

Understanding the electrical properties of rocks under varying pressure is important for a variety of geophysical applications. This study proposes an approach to modelling the pressure-dependent electrical properties of porous rocks based on an effective medium model. The so-named Textural model uses the aspect ratios and pressure-dependent volume fractions of the pores and the aspect ratio and electrical conductivity of the matrix grains. The pores were represented by randomly oriented stiff and compliant spheroidal shapes with constant aspect ratios, and their pressure-dependent volume fractions were inverted from the measured variation of total porosity with differential pressure using a dual porosity model. The unknown constant stiff and compliant pore aspect ratios and the aspect ratio and electrical conductivity of the matrix grains were inverted by best fitting the modelled electrical formation factor to the measured data. Application of the approach to three sandstone samples covering a broad porosity range showed that the pressure-dependent electrical properties can be satisfactorily modelled by the proposed approach. The results demonstrate that the dual porosity concept is sufficient to explain the electrical properties of porous rocks under pressure through the effective medium model scheme.

Evaluating sensitivity of complex electrical methods for monitoring CO2 intrusion into a shallow groundwater system and associated geochemical transformations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dafflon, B.; Wu, Y.; Hubbard, S. S.; Birkholzer, J. T.; Daley, T. M.; Pugh, J. D.; Peterson, J.; Trautz, R. C.

2011-12-01

A risk factor of CO2 storage in deep geological formations includes its potential to leak into shallow formations and impact groundwater geochemistry and quality. In particular, CO2 decreases groundwater pH, which can potentially mobilize naturally occurring trace metals and ions commonly absorbed to or contained in sediments. Here, geophysical studies (primarily complex electrical method) are being carried out at both laboratory and field scales to evaluate the sensitivity of geophysical methods for monitoring dissolved CO2 distribution and geochemical transformations that may impact water quality. Our research is performed in association with a field test that is exploring the effects of dissolved CO2 intrusion on groundwater geochemistry. Laboratory experiments using site sediments (silica sand and some fraction of clay minerals) and groundwater were initially conducted under field relevant CO2 partial pressures (pCO2). A significant pH drop was observed with inline sensors with concurrent changes in fluid conductivity caused by CO2 dissolution. Electrical resistivity and electrical phase responses correlated well with the CO2 dissolution process at various pCO2. Specifically, resistivity decreased initially at low pCO2 condition resulting from CO2 dissolution followed by a slight rebound because of the transition of bicarbonate into non-dissociated carbonic acid at lower pH slightly reducing the total concentration of dissociated species. Continuous electrical phase decreases were also observed, which are interpreted to be driven by the decrease of surface charge density (due to the decrease of pH, which approaches the PZC of the sediments). In general, laboratory experiments revealed the sensitivity of electrical signals to CO2 intrusion into groundwater formations and can be used to guide field data interpretation. Cross well complex electrical data are currently being collected periodically throughout a field experiment involving the controlled release of dissolved CO2 into groundwater. The objective of the geophysical cross well monitoring effort is to evaluate the sensitivity of complex electrical methods to dissolved CO2 at the field scale. Here, we report on the ability to translate laboratory-based petrophysical information from lab to field scales, and on the potential of field complex electrical methods for remotely monitoring CO2-induced geochemical transformations.

Neurobeachin is required postsynaptically for electrical and chemical synapse formation

PubMed Central

Miller, Adam C.; Voelker, Lisa H.; Shah, Arish N.; Moens, Cecilia B.

2014-01-01

Summary Background Neural networks and their function are defined by synapses, which are adhesions specialized for intercellular communication that can be either chemical or electrical. At chemical synapses transmission between neurons is mediated by neurotransmitters, while at electrical synapses direct ionic and metabolic coupling occurs via gap junctions between neurons. The molecular pathways required for electrical synaptogenesis are not well understood and whether they share mechanisms of formation with chemical synapses is not clear. Results Here, using a forward genetic screen in zebrafish we find that the autism-associated gene neurobeachin (nbea), which encodes a BEACH-domain containing protein implicated in endomembrane trafficking, is required for both electrical and chemical synapse formation. Additionally, we find that nbea is dispensable for axonal formation and early dendritic outgrowth, but is required to maintain dendritic complexity. These synaptic and morphological defects correlate with deficiencies in behavioral performance. Using chimeric animals in which individually identifiable neurons are either mutant or wildtype we find that Nbea is necessary and sufficient autonomously in the postsynaptic neuron for both synapse formation and dendritic arborization. Conclusions Our data identify a surprising link between electrical and chemical synapse formation and show that Nbea acts as a critical regulator in the postsynaptic neuron for the coordination of dendritic morphology with synaptogenesis. PMID:25484298

Geological criteria and geophysical methods of natural bitumen deposits preparation to the development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uspensky, B. V.; Borovsky, M. Ya; Vafin, R. F.; Valeeva, S. E.; Mudarisova, R. A.

2018-05-01

The article considers the provisions of the ontogenesis of the following factors in the formation of natural bitumen clusters in the Permian deposits of the Melekesskiy region: genetic, geodynamic, structural and hydrogeological. It is shown that tectonically weakened zones and zones of Neogene incisions development are fixed by high-precision gravimetry in the form of intense local minima of gravity. A favorable factor contributing to the "strengthening" of anomalous geophysical effects is the coincidence of the locations of these geological section heterogeneities in the plan. It is recommended at the stage of experimental-industrial operation a complex of geophysical methods for monitoring the processes of natural bitumen deposits development by means of secondary impact on the formation. High-precision magnetic, thermal and electrical prospecting in various modifications are used.

Stripe formation in an immiscible polymer blend under electric and shear-flow fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Na, Yang-Ho; Shibuya, Tetsunori; Ujiie, Seiji; Nagaya, Tomoyuki; Orihara, Hiroshi

2008-04-01

We found a stripe formation in an emulsion of a liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) and a machine oil (OIL) in electric and shear fields. Through the simultaneous measurement with a confocal scanning laser microscope and a rheometer, it was clearly shown that the formation of stripes, which are periodically arrayed, leads to the increase of the shear stress. The droplets, which are one component of the emulsion, start to be connected at low electric fields and then change into the stripes with the increase of electric field. Finally, a three-dimensional network is formed at high electric fields. The period and fluctuation of the stripe structure were also investigated in detail.

Enhanced thermoelectric performance of amorphous Nb based oxynitrides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Music, Denis; Geyer, Richard W.; Hans, Marcus

2015-12-01

Using density functional theory, amorphous Nb0.27Ru0.06O0.56N0.10 was designed to facilitate a combination of an enhanced Seebeck coefficient and low electrical resistivity. Based on a positive Cauchy pressure, ductile behavior is expected. To verify these predictions, the transport and mechanical properties of amorphous thin films were evaluated. Metallic electrical resistivity and the Seebeck coefficient of -94 μV K-1 are obtained, which is consistent with our predictions. As there is no crack formation, these samples can be perceived as ductile. We demonstrate that the power factor can be increased by an order of magnitude, while keeping the thermal fatigue low.

Effect of argon ion implantation on the electrical and dielectric properties of CR-39

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

Chawla, Mahak, E-mail: mahak.chawla@gmail.com; Shekhawat, Nidhi; Goyal, Meetika

2016-05-23

The objective of the present work is to study the effect of 130 keV Ar{sup +} ions on the electrical and dielectric properties of CR-39 samples at various doses 5×10{sup 14}, 1×10{sup 15} and 1×10{sup 16} Ar{sup +} cm{sup −2}. Current-Voltage (I-V characteristics) measurements have been used to study the electrical properties of virgin and Ar{sup +} implanted CR-39 specimens. The current has been found to be increased with increasing voltage as well as with increasing ion dose. The dielectric spectroscopy of these specimens has been done in the frequency range of 100 kHz-100 MHz. The dielectric constant has been found tomore » be decreasing whereas dielectric loss factor increases with increasing ion fluence. These kind of behavior observed in the implanted specimens indicate towards the formation of carbonaceous clusters due to the cross linking, chemical bond cleavage, formation of free radicals. The changes observed in the dielectric behavior have been further correlated with the structural changes observed through I-V characteristics.« less

Influence of anodization parameters on the volume expansion of anodic aluminum oxide formed in mixed solution of phosphoric and oxalic acids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kao, Tzung-Ta; Chang, Yao-Chung

2014-01-01

The growth of anodic alumina oxide was conducted in the mixed solution of phosphoric and oxalic acids. The influence of anodizing voltage, electrolyte temperature, and concentration of phosphoric and oxalic acids on the volume expansion of anodic aluminum oxide has been investigated. Either anodizing parameter is chosen to its full extent of range that allows the anodization process to be conducted without electric breakdown and to explore the highest possible volume expansion factor. The volume expansion factors were found to vary between 1.25 and 1.9 depending on the anodizing parameters. The variation is explained in connection with electric field, ion transport number, temperature effect, concentration, and activity of acids. The formation of anodic porous alumina at anodizing voltage 160 V in 1.1 M phosphoric acid mixed with 0.14 M oxalic acid at 2 °C showed the peak volume expansion factor of 1.9 and the corresponding moderate growth rate of 168 nm/min.

30 CFR 1206.351 - What definitions apply to this subpart?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... of electricity for sale or to convert geothermal energy into electrical energy for sale. Contract... energy of the geothermal resource for direct use purposes. Electrical facility means a power plant or... formations; (3) Heat or other associated energy found in geothermal formations; and (4) Any byproducts. Gross...

Therapeutic Angiogenesis via Solar Cell-Facilitated Electrical Stimulation.

PubMed

Jeong, Gun-Jae; Oh, Jin Young; Kim, Yeon-Ju; Bhang, Suk Ho; Jang, Hyeon-Ki; Han, Jin; Yoon, Jeong-Kee; Kwon, Sang-Mo; Lee, Tae Il; Kim, Byung-Soo

2017-11-08

Cell therapy has been suggested as a treatment modality for ischemic diseases, but the poor survival and engraftment of implanted cells limit its therapeutic efficacy. To overcome such limitation, we used electrical stimulation (ES) derived from a wearable solar cell for inducing angiogenesis in ischemic tissue. ES enhanced the secretion of angiogenic growth factors and the migration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), myoblasts, endothelial progenitor cells, and endothelial cells in vitro. In a mouse ischemic hindlimb model, ES generated by a solar cell and applied to the ischemic region promoted migration of MSCs toward the ischemic site and upregulated expression of angiogenic paracrine factors (vascular endothelial, basic fibroblast, and hepatocyte growth factors; and stromal cell-derived factor-1α). Importantly, solar cell-generated ES promoted the formation of capillaries and arterioles at the ischemic region, attenuated muscle necrosis and fibrosis, and eventually prevented loss of the ischemic limb. Solar cell ES therapy showed higher angiogenic efficacy than conventional MSC therapy. This study shows the feasibility of using solar cell ES as a novel treatment for therapeutic angiogenesis.

Formation of 2D nanoparticles with block structure in simultaneous electric explosion of conductors

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

Kryzhevich, Dmitrij S., E-mail: kryzhev@ispms.ru, E-mail: kost@ispms.ru; Zolnikov, Konstantin P., E-mail: kryzhev@ispms.ru, E-mail: kost@ispms.ru; Abdrashitov, Andrei V.

2014-11-14

A molecular dynamics simulation of nanoparticle formation in simultaneous electric explosion of conductors is performed. Interatomic interaction is described using potentials calculated in the framework of the embedded atom method. High-rate heating results in failure of the conductors with the formation of nanoparticles. The influence of the heating rate, temperature distribution over the specimen cross-section and the distance between simultaneously exploded conductors on the structure of formed nanoparticles is studied. The calculation results show that the electric explosion of conductors allows the formation of nanoparticles with block structure.

Target Plate Material Influence on Fullerene-C60 Laser Desorption/Ionization Efficiency.

PubMed

Zeegers, Guido P; Günthardt, Barbara F; Zenobi, Renato

2016-04-01

Systematic laser desorption/ionization (LDI) experiments of fullerene-C60 on a wide range of target plate materials were conducted to gain insight into the initial ion formation in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. The positive and negative ion signal intensities of precursor, fragment, and cluster ions were monitored, varying both the laser fluence (0-3.53 Jcm(-2)) and the ion extraction delay time (0-950 ns). The resulting species-specific ion signal intensities are an indication for the ionization mechanisms that contribute to LDI and the time frames in which they operate, providing insight in the (MA)LDI primary ionization. An increasing electrical resistivity of the target plate material increases the fullerene-C60 precursor and fragment anion signal intensity. Inconel 625 and Ti90/Al6/V4, both highly electrically resistive, provide the highest anion signal intensities, exceeding the cation signal intensity by a factor ~1.4 for the latter. We present a mechanism based on transient electrical field strength reduction to explain this trend. Fullerene-C60 cluster anion formation is negligible, which could be due to the high extraction potential. Cluster cations, however, are readily formed, although for high laser fluences, the preferred channel is formation of precursor and fragment cations. Ion signal intensity depends greatly on the choice of substrate material, and careful substrate selection could, therefore, allow for more sensitive (MA)LDI measurements. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Investigating Hydrophilic Pores in Model Lipid Bilayers using Molecular Simulations: Correlating Bilayer Properties with Pore Formation Thermodynamics

PubMed Central

Hu, Yuan; Sinha, Sudipta Kumar

2015-01-01

Cell-penetrating and antimicrobial peptides show remarkable ability to translocate across physiological membranes. Along with factors such as electric potential induced-perturbations of membrane structure and surface tension effects, experiments invoke pore-like membrane configurations during the solute transfer process into vesicles and cells. The initiation and formation of pores are associated with a non-trivial free energy cost, thus necessitating consideration of the factors associated with pore formation and attendant free energetics. Due to experimental and modeling challenges related to the long timescales of the translocation process, we use umbrella-sampling molecular dynamics simulations with a lipid-density based order parameter to investigate membrane pore-formation free energy employing Martini coarse-grained models. We investigate structure and thermodynamic features of the pore in 18 lipids spanning a range of head-groups, charge states, acyl chain lengths and saturation. We probe the dependence of pore-formation barriers on area per lipid, lipid bilayer thickness, membrane bending rigidities in three different lipid classes. The pore formation free energy in pure bilayers and peptide translocating scenarios are significantly coupled with bilayer thickness. Thicker bilayers require more reversible work to create pores. Pore formation free energy is higher in peptide-lipid systems relative to the peptide-free lipid systems due to penalties to maintain solvation of charged hydrophilic solutes within the membrane environment. PMID:25614183

Investigating Hydrophilic Pores in Model Lipid Bilayers Using Molecular Simulations: Correlating Bilayer Properties with Pore-Formation Thermodynamics.

PubMed

Hu, Yuan; Sinha, Sudipta Kumar; Patel, Sandeep

2015-06-23

Cell-penetrating and antimicrobial peptides show a remarkable ability to translocate across physiological membranes. Along with factors such as electric-potential-induced perturbations of membrane structure and surface tension effects, experiments invoke porelike membrane configurations during the solute transfer process into vesicles and cells. The initiation and formation of pores are associated with a nontrivial free-energy cost, thus necessitating a consideration of the factors associated with pore formation and the attendant free energies. Because of experimental and modeling challenges related to the long time scales of the translocation process, we use umbrella sampling molecular dynamics simulations with a lipid-density-based order parameter to investigate membrane-pore-formation free energy employing Martini coarse-grained models. We investigate structure and thermodynamic features of the pore in 18 lipids spanning a range of headgroups, charge states, acyl chain lengths, and saturation. We probe the dependence of pore-formation barriers on the area per lipid, lipid bilayer thickness, and membrane bending rigidities in three different lipid classes. The pore-formation free energy in pure bilayers and peptide translocating scenarios are significantly coupled with bilayer thickness. Thicker bilayers require more reversible work to create pores. The pore-formation free energy is higher in peptide-lipid systems than in peptide-free lipid systems due to penalties to maintain the solvation of charged hydrophilic solutes within the membrane environment.

Propofol, more than halothane, depresses electroencephalographic activation resulting from electrical stimulation in reticular formation.

PubMed

Antognini, J F; Bravo, E; Atherley, R; Carstens, E

2006-09-01

Halothane and propofol depress the central nervous system, and this is partly manifested by a decrease in electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. Little work has been performed to determine the differences between these anesthetics with regard to their effects on evoked EEG activity. We examined the effects of halothane and propofol on EEG responses to electrical stimulation of the reticular formation. Rats (n= 12) were anesthetized with either halothane or propofol, and EEG responses were recorded before and after electrical stimulation of the reticular formation. Two anesthetic concentrations were used (0.8 and 1.2 times the amount needed to prevent gross, purposeful movement in response to supramaximal noxious stimulation), and both anesthetics were studied in each rat using a cross-over design. Electrical stimulation in the reticular formation increased the spectral edge (SEF) and median edge (MEF) frequencies by approximately 1-2 Hz during halothane anesthesia at low and high concentrations. During propofol anesthesia, MEF increased at the low propofol infusion rate, but SEF was unaffected. At the high propofol infusion rate, SEF and MEF decreased following electrical stimulation in the reticular formation. At immobilizing concentrations, propofol produces a larger decrease than halothane in EEG responses to reticular formation stimulation, consistent with propofol having a more profound depressant effect on cortical and subcortical structures.

Multiferroics BiMn1-xAlxO3 nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of various structural, physical, electrical and dielectric parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, Bashir; Raissat, Rabia; Mumtaz, Saleem; Ahmad, Zahoor; Sadiq, Imran; Ashiq, Muhammad Naeem; Najam-ul-Haq, Muhammad

2017-07-01

The aluminium substituted bismuth based manganates with nominal composition BiMn1-xAlxO3 (x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8) were prepared by the simple microemulsion method. The alteration in their structural, electrical and dielectric parameters due to Al substitution has been investigated. The X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) confirms the formation of single phase orthorhombic with crystallite size ranges from 32 to 52 nm. The morphological features and particle size were determined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dc electrical resistivity increased from 6 × 108 to 8 × 109 Ω cm with the increase in substituent concentration. The dielectric constant, dielectric loss tangent and dielectric loss factor decreased with the increase in frequency. The increase in electrical resistivity makes the synthesized materials paramount over other materials and can be useful for technological applications in microwave devices.

Spin-dependent electrical conduction in a pentacene Schottky diode explored by electrically detected magnetic resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fukuda, Kunito; Asakawa, Naoki

2017-02-01

Reported is the observation of dark spin-dependent electrical conduction in a Schottky barrier diode with pentacene (PSBD) using electrically detected magnetic resonance at room temperature. It is suggested that spin-dependent conduction exists in pentacene thin films, which is explored by examining the anisotropic linewidth of the EDMR signal and current density-voltage (J-V) measurements. The EDMR spectrum can be decomposed to Gaussian and Lorentzian components. The dependency of the two signals on the applied voltage was consistent with the current density-voltage (J-V) of the PSBD rather than that of the electron-only device of Al/pentacene/Al, indicating that the spin-dependent conduction is due to bipolaron formation associated with hole polaronic hopping processes. The applied-voltage dependence of the ratio of intensity of the Gaussian line to the Lorentzian may infer that increasing current density should make conducting paths more dispersive, thereby resulting in an increased fraction of the Gaussian line due to the higher dispersive g-factor.

Positron Annihilation Ratio Spectroscopy (PsARS) Applied to Positronium Formation Studies

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-03-01

POSITRON ANNIHILATION RATIO SPECTROSCOPY (PsARS) APPLIED TO POSITRONIUM FORMATION STUDIES THESIS...AFIT/GNE/ENP/10-M07 POSITRON ANNIHILATION RATIO SPECTROSCOPY (PsARS) APPLIED TO POSITRONIUM FORMATION STUDIES ...lifetime studies in local electric field experiments. High local electric fields can polarize a positron -electron pair, which may result in an extended

Skeletal myotube formation enhanced by electrospun polyurethane carbon nanotube scaffolds

PubMed Central

Sirivisoot, Sirinrath; Harrison, Benjamin S

2011-01-01

Background This study examined the effects of electrically conductive materials made from electrospun single- or multiwalled carbon nanotubes with polyurethane to promote myoblast differentiation into myotubes in the presence and absence of electrical stimulation. Methods and results After electrical stimulation, the number of multinucleated myotubes on the electrospun polyurethane carbon nanotube scaffolds was significantly larger than that on nonconductive electrospun polyurethane scaffolds (5% and 10% w/v polyurethane). In the absence of electrical stimulation, myoblasts also differentiated on the electrospun polyurethane carbon nanotube scaffolds, as evidenced by expression of Myf-5 and myosin heavy chains. The myotube number and length were significantly greater on the electrospun carbon nanotubes with 10% w/v polyurethane than on those with 5% w/v polyurethane. The results suggest that, in the absence of electrical stimulation, skeletal myotube formation is dependent on the morphology of the electrospun scaffolds, while with electrical stimulation it is dependent on the electrical conductivity of the scaffolds. Conclusion This study indicates that electrospun polyurethane carbon nanotubes can be used to modulate skeletal myotube formation with or without application of electrical stimulation. PMID:22072883

Formation of Organized Protein Thin Films with External Electric Field.

PubMed

Ferreira, Cecília Fabiana da G; Camargo, Paulo C; Benelli, Elaine M

2015-10-01

The effect of an external electric field on the formation of protein GlnB-Hs films and on its buffer solution on siliconized glass slides has been analyzed by current versus electric field curves and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The Herbaspirillum seropedicae GlnB protein (GlnB-Hs) is a globular, soluble homotrimer (36 kDa) with its 3-D structure previously determined. Concentrations of 10 nM native denatured GlnB-Hs protein were deposited on siliconized glass slides under ambient conditions. Immediately after solution deposition a maximum electric field of 30 kV/m was applied with rates of 3 V/s. The measured currents were surface currents and were analyzed as transport current. Electric current started to flow only after a minimum electric field (critical value) for the systems analyzed. The AFM images showed films with a high degree of directional organization only when the proteins were present in the solution. These results showed that the applied electric field favored directional organization of the protein GlnB-Hs films and may contribute to understand the formation of protein films under applied electric fields.

Formation of bacterial nanocells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vainshtein, Mikhail; Kudryashova, Ekaterina; Suzina, Natalia; Ariskina, Elena; Voronkov, Vadim

1998-07-01

Existence of nanobacteria received increasing attention both in environmental microbiology/geomicro-biology and in medical microbiology. In order to study a production of nanoforms by typical bacterial cells. Effects of different physical factors were investigated. Treatment of bacterial cultures with microwave radiation, or culturing in field of electric current resulted in formation a few types of nanocells. The number and type of nanoforms were determined with type and dose of the treatment. The produced nanoforms were: i) globules, ii) clusters of the globules--probably produced by liaison, iii) nanocells coated with membrane. The viability of the globules is an object opened for doubts. The nanocells discovered multiplication and growth on solidified nutrient media. The authors suggest that formation of nanocells is a common response of bacteria to stress-actions produced by different agents.

Grouped exposed metal heaters

DOEpatents

Vinegar, Harold J.; Coit, William George; Griffin, Peter Terry; Hamilton, Paul Taylor; Hsu, Chia-Fu; Mason, Stanley Leroy; Samuel, Allan James; Watkins, Ronnie Wade

2010-11-09

A system for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The system includes two or more groups of elongated heaters. The group includes two or more heaters placed in two or more openings in the formation. The heaters in the group are electrically coupled below the surface of the formation. The openings include at least partially uncased wellbores in a hydrocarbon layer of the formation. The groups are electrically configured such that current flow through the formation between at least two groups is inhibited. The heaters are configured to provide heat to the formation.

Grouped exposed metal heaters

DOEpatents

Vinegar, Harold J [Bellaire, TX; Coit, William George [Bellaire, TX; Griffin, Peter Terry [Brixham, GB; Hamilton, Paul Taylor [Houston, TX; Hsu, Chia-Fu [Granada Hills, CA; Mason, Stanley Leroy [Allen, TX; Samuel, Allan James [Kular Lumpar, ML; Watkins, Ronnie Wade [Cypress, TX

2012-07-31

A system for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The system includes two or more groups of elongated heaters. The group includes two or more heaters placed in two or more openings in the formation. The heaters in the group are electrically coupled below the surface of the formation. The openings include at least partially uncased wellbores in a hydrocarbon layer of the formation. The groups are electrically configured such that current flow through the formation between at least two groups is inhibited. The heaters are configured to provide heat to the formation.

Soldering of Carbon Materials Using Transition Metal Rich Alloys.

PubMed

Burda, Marek; Lekawa-Raus, Agnieszka; Gruszczyk, Andrzej; Koziol, Krzysztof K K

2015-08-25

Joining of carbon materials via soldering has not been possible up to now due to lack of wetting of carbons by metals at standard soldering temperatures. This issue has been a severely restricting factor for many potential electrical/electronic and mechanical applications of nanostructured and conventional carbon materials. Here we demonstrate the formation of alloys that enable soldering of these structures. By addition of several percent (2.5-5%) of transition metal such as chromium or nickel to a standard lead-free soldering tin based alloy we obtained a solder that can be applied using a commercial soldering iron at typical soldering temperatures of approximately 350 °C and at ambient conditions. The use of this solder enables the formation of mechanically strong and electrically conductive joints between carbon materials and, when supported by a simple two-step technique, can successfully bond carbon structures to any metal terminal. It has been shown using optical and scanning electron microscope images as well as X-ray diffraction patterns and energy dispersive X-ray mapping that the successful formation of carbon-solder bonds is possible, first, thanks to the uniform nonreactive dispersion of transition metals in the tin-based matrix. Further, during the soldering process, these free elements diffuse into the carbon-alloy border with no formation of brazing-like carbides, which would damage the surface of the carbon materials.

Electrodynamic properties and height of atmospheric convective boundary layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anisimov, S. V.; Galichenko, S. V.; Mareev, E. A.

2017-09-01

We consider the relations between the mixed layer height and atmospheric electric parameters affected by convective mixing. Vertical turbulent transport of radon, its progeny and electrically charged particles is described under Lagrangian stochastic framework, which is the next step to develop a consistent model for the formation of electrical conditions in the atmospheric boundary layer. Using the data from detailed and complex measurements of vertical profiles of the temperature and turbulence statistics as input, we calculated non-stationary vertical profiles of radon and its daughter products concentrations, atmospheric electric conductivity and intensity of electric field in the convective boundary layer from the morning transition through early afternoon quasi-stationary conditions. These profiles demonstrate substantial variability due to the changing turbulent regime in the evolving boundary layer. We obtained quantitative estimates of the atmospheric electric field variability range essentially related to the sunrise and convection development. It is shown that the local change in the electrical conductivity is the only factor that can change the intensity of electric field at the earth's surface more than twice during the transition from night to day. The established relations between electric and turbulent parameters of the boundary layer indicate that the effect of sunrise is more pronounced in the case when development of convection is accompanied by an increase in aerosol concentration and, hence, a decrease in local conductivity.

Study of Electrical Contacts and Devices in Advanced Semiconductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hall, H. P.; Das, K.; Alterovitz, Samuel (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Research conducted at Tuskegee University concentrates on electrical contacts to GaN films and their characterization with the objective of understanding contact formation and realizing low-resistance metal contacts. Contact properties are known to be strongly related to surface preparation. It appears that the as-received material had a thin oxide film on the surface of the GaN film. Various cleaning treatments were employed in order to render the surface contamination free and removal of the oxide film. Metal films were then deposited by e-beam evaporation. Electrical characteristics of these contacts indicated that the optimal treatment was an organic solvent cleaning followed by etching in buffered oxide solution. Contacts established with Al were observed to be ohmic in nature, whereas Au, Cr, Ti, and Pt exhibit rectifying contacts. Platinum contacts were almost ideal as shown by an ideality factor of 1.02.

Metal Whiskers: Failure Modes and Mitigation Strategies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brusse, Jay A.; Leidecker, Henning

2007-01-01

Metal coatings especially tin, zinc and cadmium are unpredictably susceptible to the formation of electrically conductive, crystalline filaments referred to as metal whiskers. The use of such coatings in and around electrical systems presents a risk of electrical shorting. Examples of metal whisker formation are shown with emphasis on optical inspection techniques to improve probability of detection. The failure modes (i.e., electrical shorting behavior) associated with metal whiskers are described. Based on an almost 9- year long study, the benefits of polyurethane conformal coat (namely, Arathane 5750) to protect electrical conductors from whisker-induced short circuit anomalies is discussed.

Electrical resistance tomography from measurements inside a steel cased borehole

DOEpatents

Daily, William D.; Schenkel, Clifford; Ramirez, Abelardo L.

2000-01-01

Electrical resistance tomography (ERT) produced from measurements taken inside a steel cased borehole. A tomographic inversion of electrical resistance measurements made within a steel casing was then made for the purpose of imaging the electrical resistivity distribution in the formation remotely from the borehole. The ERT method involves combining electrical resistance measurements made inside a steel casing of a borehole to determine the electrical resistivity in the formation adjacent to the borehole; and the inversion of electrical resistance measurements made from a borehole not cased with an electrically conducting casing to determine the electrical resistivity distribution remotely from a borehole. It has been demonstrated that by using these combined techniques, highly accurate current injection and voltage measurements, made at appropriate points within the casing, can be tomographically inverted to yield useful information outside the borehole casing.

Spontaneous formation of electric current sheets and the origin of solar flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Low, B. C.; Wolfson, R.

1988-01-01

It is demonstrated that the continuous boundary motion of a sheared magnetic field in a tenuous plasma with an infinite electrical conductivity can induce the formation of multiple electric current sheets in the interior plasma. In response to specific footpoint displacements, the quadrupolar magnetic field considered is shown to require the formation of multiple electric current sheets as it achieves a force-free state. Some of the current sheets are found to be of finite length, running along separatrix lines of force which separate lobes of magnetic flux. It is suggested that current sheets in the form of infinitely thin magnetic shear layers may be unstable to resistive tearing, a process which may have application to solar flares.

Q-factor control of multilayer micromembrane using PZT composite material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Čekas, Elingas; Janušas, Giedrius; Palevicius, Arvydas; Janušas, Tomas; Ciganas, Justas

2018-02-01

Cantilever and membrane based sensors, which are capable of providing accurate detection of target analytes have been always an important research topic of medical diagnostics, food testing, and environmental monitoring fields. Here, the mechanical detection is achieved by micro- and nano-scale cantilevers for stress sensing and mass sensing, or micro- and nano-scale plates or membranes. High sensitivity is a major issue for the active element and it could be achieved via increased Q-factor. The ability to control the Q factor expands the range of application of the device and allows to achieve more accurate results. The aim of this paper is to investigate the mechanical and electrical properties, as well as, the ability to control the Q factor of the membrane with PZT nanocomposite. This multilayered membrane was formatted using the n-type <100> silicon substrate by implementing the Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition (LPCVD), photolithography by using photomask with defined dimensions, deep etching, and e-beam evaporation techniques. Dynamic and electrical characteristics of the membrane were numerically investigated using COMSOL Multiphysics software. The use of the multilayered membrane can range from simple monitoring of particles concentration in a closed environment to inspecting glucose levels in human fluids (blood, tears, sweat, etc.).

Characterization of poly methyl methaacrylate and reduced graphene oxide composite for application as electrolyte in dye sensitized solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shrivatsav, Roshan; Mahalingam, Vignesh; Lakshmi Narayanan, E. R.; Naveen Balaji, N.; Balu, Murali; Krishna Prasad, R.; Kumaresan, Duraisamy

2018-04-01

Quasi-solid state iodide/triiodide redox electrolyte containing reduced graphene oxide and poly (methyl methaacrylate) (RGO-PMMA) composites for the fabrication of more durable, high performance dye sensitized solar cells are prepared. The morphological analysis of prepared RGO-PMMA composites showed formation of spherical like morphologies of RGO dispersed PMMA particles with their macroscopic inter-particle networks having voids. The x ray diffraction and electrical conductivity studies showed the addition of 1 wt% of filler RGO into amorphous PMMA matrix increased the electrical conductivity of the polymer composite about three orders of magnitude from 10‑7 and 10‑4 S cm‑1. Further, the photovoltaic current-voltage analysis of DSSCs with different RGO-PMMA composite based iodide/triiodide redox electrolytes showed the highest power conversion efficiency of 5.38% and the fill factor 0.63 for 2% RGO-PMMA electrolyte. The EIS analysis showed an increased recombination resistance (Rct2) at TiO2 electrode/dye/electrolyte interface due to the better electrical conductivity of RGO with good ionic conductivity in 2% RGO-PMMA composite based redox electrolyte boosted the generation of a high current density and fill factor in their DSSCs.

The Management of Cognitive Load During Complex Cognitive Skill Acquisition by Means of Computer-Simulated Problem Solving

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kester, Liesbeth; Kirschner, Paul A.; van Merrienboer, Jeroen J.G.

2005-01-01

This study compared the effects of two information presentation formats on learning to solve problems in electrical circuits. In one condition, the split-source format, information relating to procedural aspects of the functioning of an electrical circuit was not integrated in a circuit diagram, while information in the integrated format condition…

Against the grain: The physical properties of anisotropic partially molten rocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghanbarzadeh, S.; Hesse, M. A.; Prodanovic, M.

2014-12-01

Partially molten rocks commonly develop textures that appear close to textural equilibrium, where the melt network evolves to minimize the energy of the melt-solid interfaces, while maintaining the dihedral angle θ at solid-solid-melt contact lines. Textural equilibrium provides a powerful model for the melt distribution that controls the petro-physical properties of partially molten rocks, e.g., permeability, elastic moduli, and electrical resistivity. We present the first level-set computations of three-dimensional texturally equilibrated melt networks in rocks with an anisotropic fabric. Our results show that anisotropy induces wetting of smaller grain boundary faces for θ > 0 at realistic porosities ϕ < 3%. This was previously not thought to be possible at textural equilibrium and reconciles the theory with experimental observations. Wetting of the grain boundary faces leads to a dramatic redistribution of the melt from the edges to the faces that introduces strong anisotropy in the petro-physical properties such as permeability, effective electrical conductivity and mechanical properties. Figure, on left, shows that smaller grain boundaries become wetted at relatively low melt fractions of 3% in stretched polyhedral grains with elongation factor 1.5. Right plot represents the ratio of melt electrical conductivity to effective conductivity of medium (known as formation factor) as an example of anisotropy in physical properties. The plot shows that even slight anisotropy in grains induces considerable anisotropy in electrical properties.

Inhibition of thrombus formation on intravascular sensors by electrical polarization.

PubMed

Schmitt, J M; Baer, M; Meindl, J D; Anderson, M F; Mihm, F G

1984-09-01

Implantable biomedical sensors built on a silicon substrate capped with glass are currently being developed for intravascular applications. Electrical techniques for inhibiting thrombus formation on the surface of a proposed optical sensor in direct contact with blood have been investigated. Glass-on-silicon specimens (4 X 1.2 X 0.4 mm3) were coated with indium-tin oxide, a transparent conductor, and implanted in the vena cava and iliac veins of three dogs for 10, 20, or 33 days. The equilibrium surface-blood interface potentials of the specimens were modified by implanted current sources which supplied either direct current (8-15 microA) or 100 KHz alternating current (5 microA, root mean square). Light-microscopic and scanning electron-microscopic analyses showed each of the DC-polarized specimens to be free of thrombus, in contrast to nonpolarized (control) specimens on which varying amounts of adsorbed protein and thrombus deposits were found. Like the control specimens, the AC-polarized specimens formed thrombus, but the appearance of the deposits differed. These findings support the view that the polarity, magnitude and time dependence of the potential across conducting surface-blood interface significantly influence thrombogenicity. Further work is necessary to determine the roles of electrochemical and electrostatic factors in preventing thrombus formation on foreign materials.

Original electric-vertex formulation of the symmetric eight-vertex model on the square lattice is fully nonuniversal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krčmár, Roman; Šamaj, Ladislav

2018-01-01

The partition function of the symmetric (zero electric field) eight-vertex model on a square lattice can be formulated either in the original "electric" vertex format or in an equivalent "magnetic" Ising-spin format. In this paper, both electric and magnetic versions of the model are studied numerically by using the corner transfer matrix renormalization-group method which provides reliable data. The emphasis is put on the calculation of four specific critical exponents, related by two scaling relations, and of the central charge. The numerical method is first tested in the magnetic format, the obtained dependencies of critical exponents on the model's parameters agree with Baxter's exact solution, and weak universality is confirmed within the accuracy of the method due to the finite size of the system. In particular, the critical exponents η and δ are constant as required by weak universality. On the other hand, in the electric format, analytic formulas based on the scaling relations are derived for the critical exponents ηe and δe which agree with our numerical data. These exponents depend on the model's parameters which is evidence for the full nonuniversality of the symmetric eight-vertex model in the original electric formulation.

User's manual for the Shuttle Electric Power System analysis computer program (SEPS), volume 2 of program documentation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bains, R. W.; Herwig, H. A.; Luedeman, J. K.; Torina, E. M.

1974-01-01

The Shuttle Electric Power System Analysis SEPS computer program which performs detailed load analysis including predicting energy demands and consumables requirements of the shuttle electric power system along with parameteric and special case studies on the shuttle electric power system is described. The functional flow diagram of the SEPS program is presented along with data base requirements and formats, procedure and activity definitions, and mission timeline input formats. Distribution circuit input and fixed data requirements are included. Run procedures and deck setups are described.

Electricity. A Bilingual Text = Electricidad. Un Texto Bilingue.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Los Angeles Unified School District, CA. Div. of Career and Continuing Education.

This booklet is a course of instruction in electricity in a two-column, English-Spanish format. Following an introduction to electricity and a lesson on safety, the booklet contains 21 units covering the following topics: ways to produce electricity; basic circuits; electrical measurements; electric generators; transformers, symbols and…

Mechanics of water pore formation in lipid membrane under electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bu, Bing; Li, Dechang; Diao, Jiajie; Ji, Baohua

2017-04-01

Transmembrane water pores are crucial for substance transport through cell membranes via membrane fusion, such as in neural communication. However, the molecular mechanism of water pore formation is not clear. In this study, we apply all-atom molecular dynamics and bias-exchange metadynamics simulations to study the process of water pore formation under an electric field. We show that water molecules can enter a membrane under an electric field and form a water pore of a few nanometers in diameter. These water molecules disturb the interactions between lipid head groups and the ordered arrangement of lipids. Following the movement of water molecules, the lipid head groups are rotated and driven into the hydrophobic region of the membrane. The reorientated lipid head groups inside the membrane form a hydrophilic surface of the water pore. This study reveals the atomic details of how an electric field influences the movement of water molecules and lipid head groups, resulting in water pore formation.

Metallurgical features of the formation of a solid-phase metal joint upon electric-circuit heating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Latypov, R. A.; Bulychev, V. V.; Zybin, I. N.

2017-06-01

The thermodynamic conditions of formation of a joint between metals using the solid-phase methods of powder metallurgy, welding, and deposition of functional coatings upon electric-current heating of the surfaces to be joined are studied. Relations are obtained to quantitatively estimate the critical sizes of the circular and linear active centers that result in the formation of stable bonding zones.

A data seamless interaction scheme between electric power secondary business systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ai, Wenkai; Qian, Feng

2018-03-01

At present, the data interaction of electric power secondary business systems is very high, and it is not universal to develop programs when data interaction is carried out by different manufacturers' electric power secondary business systems. There are different interaction schemes for electric power secondary business systems with different manufacturers, which lead to high development cost, low reusability and high maintenance difficulty. This paper introduces a new data seamless interaction scheme between electric power secondary business systems. The scheme adopts the international common Java message service protocol as the transmission protocol, adopts the common JavaScript object symbol format as the data interactive format, unified electric power secondary business systems data interactive way, improve reusability, reduce complexity, monitor the operation of the electric power secondary business systems construction has laid a solid foundation.

Insulated conductor temperature limited heater for subsurface heating coupled in a three-phase WYE configuration

DOEpatents

Vinegar, Harold J.; Sandberg, Chester Ledlie

2010-11-09

A heating system for a subsurface formation is described. The heating system includes a first heater, a second heater, and a third heater placed in an opening in the subsurface formation. Each heater includes: an electrical conductor; an insulation layer at least partially surrounding the electrical conductor; and an electrically conductive sheath at least partially surrounding the insulation layer. The electrical conductor is electrically coupled to the sheath at a lower end portion of the heater. The lower end portion is the portion of the heater distal from a surface of the opening. The first heater, the second heater, and the third heater are electrically coupled at the lower end portions of the heaters. The first heater, the second heater, and the third heater are configured to be electrically coupled in a three-phase wye configuration.

The Role of Electrical Anisotropy in Modeling and Interpreting Controlled-Source Electromagnetic Responses for Hydraulic Fracture Monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trevino, S., III; Hickey, M. S.; Everett, M. E.

2017-12-01

Controlled-Source Electromagnetics (CSEM) can be used to monitor the movement and extent of injection fluid during a hydraulic fracture. The response of the fluid to energization by a CSEM source is dependent upon the electrical conductivity difference between the fluid and background geological formation. An important property that must be taken into account when modeling and interpreting CSEM responses is that electrical conductivity may be anisotropic. We study the effect of electrical anisotropy in both the background formation and the fluid-injection zone. First, various properties of the background formation can affect anisotropy including variations in grain size, composition and bedding-plane orientation. In certain formations, such as shale, the horizontal component of the conductivity can be more than an order of magnitude larger than the vertical component. We study this effect by computing differences in surface CSEM responses using the analytic 1-D anisotropic primary solution of a horizontal electric dipole positioned at the surface. Second, during hydraulic fracturing, the injected fluid can create new fractures and infill existing natural fractures. To include the explicit fracture geometry in modeling, a large increase in the number of nodes and computational time is required which may not be feasible. An alternative is to instead model the large-scale fracture geometry as a uniform slab with an appropriate bulk conductivity. Micro-scale fracture geometry may cause preferential fluid propagation in a single direction or plane which can be represented by electrical anisotropy of the slab. To study such effects of bulk anisotropy on CSEM responses we present results from multiple scenarios of surface to surface hydraulic fracture monitoring using 3-D finite element modeling. The model uses Coulomb-gauged potentials to solve Maxwell's equations in the frequency domain and we have updated the code to allow a triaxial electrical conductivity tensor to be specified. By allowing for formation and target electrical anisotropy these modeling results contribute to a better understanding and faster interpretation of field data.

Factors that Influence RF Breakdown in Antenna Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caughman, J. B. O.; Baity, F. W.; Rasmussen, D. A.; Aghazarian, M.; Castano Giraldo, C. H.; Ruzic, David

2007-11-01

One of the main power-limiting factors in antenna systems is the maximum voltage that the antenna or vacuum transmission line can sustain before breaking down. The factors that influence RF breakdown are being studied in a resonant 1/4-wavelength section of vacuum transmission line terminated with an open circuit electrode structure. Breakdown can be initiated via electron emission by high electric fields and by plasma formation in the structure, depending on the gas pressure. Recent experiments have shown that a 1 kG magnetic field can influence plasma formation at pressures as low as 8x10-5 Torr at moderate voltage levels (<5 kV). Ultraviolet light, with energies near the work function of the electrode material, can induce a multipactor discharge and limit power transmission. Details of these experimental results, including the effect of electrode materials (Ni and Cu), will be presented. Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed by UT-Battelle, LLC, for the U.S. Dept. of Energy under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725. Work supported by USDOE with grant DE-FG02-04ER54765

Formation of the ZnFe2O4 phase in an electric arc furnace off-gas treatment system.

PubMed

Suetens, T; Guo, M; Van Acker, K; Blanpain, B

2015-04-28

To better understand the phenomena of ZnFe2O4 spinel formation in electric arc furnace dust, the dust was characterized with particle size analysis, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA). Different ZnFe2O4 formation reaction extents were observed for iron oxide particles with different particle sizes. ZnO particles were present as both individual particles and aggregated on the surface of larger particles. Also, the slag particles found in the off-gas were shown not to react with the zinc vapor. After confirming the presence of a ZnFe2O4 formation reaction, the thermodynamic feasibility of in-process separation - a new electric arc furnace dust treatment technology - was reevaluated. The large air intake and the presence of iron oxide particles in the off-gas were included into the thermodynamic calculations. The formation of the stable ZnFe2O4 spinel phase was shown to be thermodynamically favorable in current electric arc furnace off-gas ducts conditions even before reaching the post combustion chamber. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The differential effects of halothane and isoflurane on electroencephalographic responses to electrical microstimulation of the reticular formation.

PubMed

Orth, Mashawn; Bravo, Emigdio; Barter, Linda; Carstens, Earl; Antognini, Joseph F

2006-06-01

Isoflurane and halothane cause electroencephalographic (EEG) depression and neuronal depression in the reticular formation, a site critical to consciousness. We hypothesized that isoflurane, more than halothane, would depress EEG activation elicited by electrical microstimulation of the reticular formation. Rats were anesthetized with either halothane or isoflurane and stimulating electrodes were positioned in the reticular formation. In a crossover design, anesthetic concentration was adjusted to 0.8 and 1.2 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of halothane or isoflurane and electrical microstimulation was performed and the EEG responses were recorded. Microstimulation increased the spectral edge and median edge frequencies 2-2.5 Hz at 0.8 MAC for halothane and isoflurane and 1.2 MAC halothane. At 1.2 MAC isoflurane, burst suppression occurred and microstimulation decreased the period of isoelectricity (24% +/- 19% to 8% +/- 7%; P < 0.05), whereas the spectral edge and median edge frequencies were unchanged. At anesthetic concentrations required to produce immobility, the cortex remains responsive to electrical microstimulation of the reticular formation, although the EEG response is depressed in the transition from 0.8 to 1.2 MAC. These data indicate that cortical neurons remain responsive to synaptic input during isoflurane and halothane anesthesia.

Formation of Relativistic Jets : Magnetohydrodynamics and Synchrotron Radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Porth, Oliver J. G.

2011-11-01

In this thesis, the formation of relativistic jets is investigated by means of special relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations and synchrotron radiative transfer. Our results show that the magnetohydrodynamic jet self-collimation paradigm can also be applied to the relativistic case. In the first part, jets launched from rotating hot accretion disk coronae are explored, leading to well collimated, but only mildly relativistic flows. Beyond the light-cylinder, the electric charge separation force balances the classical trans-field Lorentz force almost entirely, resulting in a decreased efficiency of acceleration and collimation in comparison to non-relativistic disk winds. In the second part, we examine Poynting dominated flows of various electric current distributions. By following the outflow for over 3000 Schwarzschild radii, highly relativistic jets of Lorentz factor 8 and half-opening angles below 1 degree are obtained, providing dynamical models for the parsec scale jets of active galactic nuclei. Applying the magnetohydrodynamic structure of the quasi-stationary simulation models, we solve the relativistically beamed synchrotron radiation transport. This yields synthetic radiation maps and polarization patterns that can be used to confront high resolution radio and (sub-) mm observations of nearby active galactic nuclei. Relativistic motion together with the helical magnetic fields of the jet formation site imprint a clear signature on the observed polarization and Faraday rotation. In particular, asymmetries in the polarization direction across the jet can disclose the handedness of the magnetic helix and thus the spin direction of the central engine. Finally, we show first results from fully three-dimensional, high resolution adaptive mesh refinement simulations of jet formation from a rotating magnetosphere and examine the jet stability. Relativistic field-line rotation leads to an electric charge separation force that opposes the magnetic Lorentz force, such that we obtain an increased stability of relativistic flows. Accordingly, the non-axisymmetric modes applied to the field-line foot-points saturate quickly, with no signs of enhanced dissipation or disruption near the jet launching site.

Three-phase heaters with common overburden sections for heating subsurface formations

DOEpatents

Vinegar, Harold J [Bellaire, TX

2012-02-14

A heating system for a subsurface formation is described. The heating system includes three substantially u-shaped heaters with first end portions of the heaters being electrically coupled to a single, three-phase wye transformer and second end portions of the heaters being electrically coupled to each other and/or to ground. The three heaters may enter the formation through a first common wellbore and exit the formation through a second common wellbore so that the magnetic fields of the three heaters at least partially cancel out in the common wellbores.

Shot noise at the quantum point contact in InGaAs heterostructure

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

Nishihara, Yoshitaka; Nakamura, Shuji; Ono, Teruo

2013-12-04

We study the shot noise at a quantum point contact (QPC) fabricated in an InGaAs/InGaAsP heterostructure, whose conductance can be electrically tuned by the gate voltages. Shot noise suppression is observed at the conductance plateau of N(2e{sup 2}/h) (N = 4,5,and 6), which indicates the coherent quantized channel formation in the QPC. The electron heating effect generated at the QPC explains the deviation of the observed Fano factor from the theory.

Integration of altitude and airspeed information into a primary flight display via moving-tape formats: Evaluation during random tracking task

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abbott, Terence S.; Nataupsky, Mark; Steinmetz, George G.

1987-01-01

A ground-based aircraft simulation study was conducted to determine the effects on pilot preference and performance of integrating airspeed and altitude information into an advanced electronic primary flight display via moving-tape (linear moving scale) formats. Several key issues relating to the implementation of moving-tape formats were examined in this study: tape centering, tape orientation, and trend information. The factor of centering refers to whether the tape was centered about the actual airspeed or altitude or about some other defined reference value. Tape orientation refers to whether the represented values are arranged in descending or ascending order. Two pilots participated in this study, with each performing 32 runs along seemingly random, previously unknown flight profiles. The data taken, analyzed, and presented consisted of path performance parameters, pilot-control inputs, and electrical brain response measurements.

Nanopore formation in neuroblastoma cells following ultrashort electric pulse exposure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roth, Caleb C.; Payne, Jason A.; Wilmink, Gerald J.; Ibey, Bennett L.

2011-03-01

Ultrashort or nanosecond electrical pulses (USEP) cause repairable damage to the plasma membranes of cells through formation of nanopores. These nanopores are able to pass small ions such as sodium, calcium, and potassium, but remain impermeable to larger molecules like trypan blue and propidium iodide. What remains uncertain is whether generation of nanopores by ultrashort electrical pulses can inhibit action potentials in excitable cells. In this paper, we explored the sensitivity of excitable cells to USEP using Calcium Green AM 1 ester fluorescence to measure calcium uptake indicative of nanopore formation in the plasma membrane. We determined the threshold for nanopore formation in neuroblastoma cells for three pulse parameters (amplitude, pulse width, and pulse number). Measurement of such thresholds will guide future studies to determine if USEP can inhibit action potentials without causing irreversible membrane damage.

Electro-autotrophic synthesis of higher alcohols

DOEpatents

Liao, James C.; Cho, Kwang Myung

2016-11-01

The disclosure provides a process that converts CO.sub.2 to higher alcohols (e.g. isobutanol) using electricity as the energy source. This process stores electricity (e.g. from solar energy, nuclear energy, and the like) in liquid fuels that can be used as high octane number gasoline substitutes. Instead of deriving reducing power from photosynthesis, this process derives reducing power from electrically generated mediators, either H.sub.2 or formate. H.sub.2 can be derived from electrolysis of water. Formate can be generated by electrochemical reduction of CO.sub.2. After delivering the reducing power in the cell, formate becomes CO.sub.2 and recycles back. Therefore, the biological CO.sub.2 fixation process can occur in the dark.

Electro-autotrophic synthesis of higher alcohols

DOEpatents

Liao, James C.; Cho, Kwang Myung

2015-10-06

The disclosure provides a process that converts CO.sub.2 to higher alcohols (e.g. isobutanol) using electricity as the energy source. This process stores electricity (e.g. from solar energy, nuclear energy, and the like) in liquid fuels that can be used as high octane number gasoline substitutes. Instead of deriving reducing power from photosynthesis, this process derives reducing power from electrically generated mediators, either H.sub.2 or formate. H.sub.2 can be derived from electrolysis of water. Formate can be generated by electrochemical reduction of CO.sub.2. After delivering the reducing power in the cell, formate becomes CO.sub.2 and recycles back. Therefore, the biological CO.sub.2 fixation process can occur in the dark.

Ion radial diffusion in an electrostatic impulse model for stormtime ring current formation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Margaret W.; Schulz, Michael; Lyons, Larry R.; Gorney, David J.

1992-01-01

Guiding-center simulations of stormtime transport of ring-current and radiation-belt ions having first adiabatic invariants mu is approximately greater than 15 MeV/G (E is approximately greater than 165 keV at L is approximately 3) are surprisingly well described (typically within a factor of approximately less than 4) by the quasilinear theory of radial diffusion. This holds even for the case of an individual model storm characterized by substorm-associated impulses in the convection electric field, provided that the actual spectrum of the electric field is incorporated in the quasilinear theory. Correction of the quasilinear diffusion coefficient D(sub LL)(sup ql) for drift-resonance broadening (so as to define D(sub LL)(sup ql)) reduced the typical discrepancy with the diffusion coefficients D(sub LL)(sup sim) deduced from guiding-center simulations of representative-particle trajectories to a factor of approximately 3. The typical discrepancy was reduced to a factor of approximately 1.4 by averaging D(sub LL)(sup sim), D(sub LL)(sup ql), and D(sub LL)(sup rb) over an ensemble of model storms characterized by different (but statistically equivalent) sets of substorm-onset times.

Conformation and structural changes of diblock copolymers with octopus-like micelle formation in the presence of external stimuli

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dammertz, K.; Saier, A. M.; Marti, O.; Amirkhani, M.

2014-04-01

External stimuli such as vapours and electric fields can be used to manipulate the formation of AB-diblock copolymers on surfaces. We study the conformational variation of PS-b-PMMA (polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate)), PS and PMMA adsorbed on mica and their response to saturated water or chloroform atmospheres. Using specimens with only partial polymer coverage, new unanticipated effects were observed. Water vapour, a non-solvent for all three polymers, was found to cause high surface mobility. In contrast, chloroform vapour (a solvent for all three polymers) proved to be less efficient. Furthermore, the influence of an additional applied electric field was investigated. A dc field oriented parallel to the sample surface induces the formation of polymer islands which assemble into wormlike chains. Moreover, PS-b-PMMA forms octopus-like micelles (OLMs) on mica. Under the external stimuli mentioned above, the wormlike formations of OLMs are able to align in the direction of the external electric field. In the absence of an electric field, the OLMs disaggregate and exhibit phase separated structures under chloroform vapour.

Dependence of negative ion formation on inhomogeneous electric field strength in atmospheric pressure negative corona discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sekimoto, K.; Takayama, M.

2008-12-01

The dependence of negative ion formation on the inhomogeneous electric field strength in atmospheric pressure negative corona discharge with point-to-plane electrodes has been described. The distribution of negative ions HO-, NOx - and COx - and their abundances on the plane electrode was obtained with a mass spectrometer. The ion distribution on the plane was divided into two regions, the center region on the needle axis and peripheral region occurring the dominant NOx - and COx - ions and HO- ion, respectively. The calculated electric field strength in inhomogeneous electric field established on the needle tip surface suggested that the abundant formation of NOx - and COx - ions and HO- ion is attributed to the high field strength at the tip apex region over 108 Vm-1 and the low field strength at the tip peripheral region of the order of 107 Vm-1, respectively. The formation of HO-, NOx - and COx - has been discussed from the standpoint of negative ion evolution based on the thermochemical reaction and the kinetic energy of electron emitted from the needle tip.

Theory of the formation of the electric double layer at the ion exchange membrane-solution interface.

PubMed

Moya, A A

2015-02-21

This work aims to extend the study of the formation of the electric double layer at the interface defined by a solution and an ion-exchange membrane on the basis of the Nernst-Planck and Poisson equations, including different values of the counter-ion diffusion coefficient and the dielectric constant in the solution and membrane phases. The network simulation method is used to obtain the time evolution of the electric potential, the displacement electric vector, the electric charge density and the ionic concentrations at the interface between a binary electrolyte solution and a cation-exchange membrane with total co-ion exclusion. The numerical results for the temporal evolution of the interfacial electric potential and the surface electric charge are compared with analytical solutions derived in the limit of the shortest times by considering the Poisson equation for a simple cationic diffusion process. The steady-state results are justified from the Gouy-Chapman theory for the diffuse double layer in the limits of similar and high bathing ionic concentrations with respect to the fixed-charge concentration inside the membrane. Interesting new physical insights arise from the interpretation of the process of the formation of the electric double layer at the ion exchange membrane-solution interface on the basis of a membrane model with total co-ion exclusion.

Exploring the pH-Dependent Substrate Transport Mechanism of FocA Using Molecular Dynamics Simulation

PubMed Central

Lv, Xiaoying; Liu, Huihui; Ke, Meng; Gong, Haipeng

2013-01-01

FocA belongs to the formate-nitrate transporter family and plays an essential role in the export and uptake of formate in organisms. According to the available crystal structures, the N-terminal residues of FocA are structurally featureless at physiological conditions but at reduced pH form helices to harbor the cytoplasmic entrance of the substrate permeation pathway, which apparently explains the cessation of electrical signal observed in electrophysiological experiments. In this work, we found by structural analysis and molecular dynamics simulations that those N-terminal helices cannot effectively preclude the substrate permeation. Equilibrium simulations and thermodynamic calculations suggest that FocA is permeable to both formate and formic acid, the latter of which is transparent to electrophysiological studies as an electrically neutral species. Hence, the cease of electrical current at acidic pH may be caused by the change of the transported substrate from formate to formic acid. In addition, the mechanism of formate export at physiological pH is discussed. PMID:24359743

REACH. Electricity Units. Secondary.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Gene; Sappe, Hoyt

As a part of the REACH (Refrigeration, Electro-Mechanical, Air-Conditioning, Heating) electromechanical cluster, this student manual contains individualized instructional units in the area of electricity. The instructional units focus on electricity fundamentals and electric motors. Each unit follows a typical format that includes a unit sheet,…

Polarizing intestinal epithelial cells electrically through Ror2

PubMed Central

Cao, Lin; McCaig, Colin D.; Scott, Roderick H.; Zhao, Siwei; Milne, Gillian; Clevers, Hans; Zhao, Min; Pu, Jin

2014-01-01

ABSTRACT The apicobasal polarity of enterocytes determines where the brush border membrane (apical membrane) will form, but how this apical membrane faces the lumen is not well understood. The electrical signal across the epithelium could serve as a coordinating cue, orienting and polarizing enterocytes. Here, we show that applying a physiological electric field to intestinal epithelial cells, to mimic the natural electric field created by the transepithelial potential difference, polarized phosphorylation of the actin-binding protein ezrin, increased expression of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (ALPI, a differentiation marker) and remodeled the actin cytoskeleton selectively on the cathode side. In addition, an applied electric field also activated ERK1/2 and LKB1 (also known as STK11), key molecules in apical membrane formation. Disruption of the tyrosine protein kinase transmembrane receptor Ror2 suppressed activation of ERK1/2 and LKB1 significantly, and subsequently inhibited apical membrane formation in enterocytes. Our findings indicate that the endogenous electric field created by the transepithelial potential difference might act as an essential coordinating signal for apical membrane formation at a tissue level, through activation of LKB1 mediated by Ror2–ERK signaling. PMID:24928904

Relationships between electrical properties and petrography of El-Maghara sandstone formations, Egypt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kassab, Mohamed A.; Gomaa, Mohamed M.; Lala, Amir M. S.

2017-06-01

Realization of electrical and petrography of rocks is absolutely necessary for geophysical investigations. The petrographical, petrophysical and electrical properties of sandstone rocks (El-Maghara Formation, North Sinai, Egypt) will be discussed in the present work. The goal of this paper was to highlight interrelations between electrical properties in terms of frequency (conductivity, permittivity and impedance) and petrography, as well as mineral composition. Electrical properties including (conductivity and dielectric constant) were measured at room temperature and humidity of (∼35%). The frequency range used will be from 10 Hz to 100 kHz. Slight changes between samples in electrical properties were found to result from changes in composition and texture. Electrical properties generally change with grain size, shape, sorting, mineralogy and mineral composition. The dielectric constant decreases with frequency and increases with increasing clay content. The conductivity increases with the increase in conductor channels among electrodes. Many parameters can combine together to lead to the same electrical properties. The samples are mainly composed of sand with clay and carbonate.

Chemistry of surface water at a volcanic summit area, Norikura, central Japan: multivariate statistical approach.

PubMed

Anazaw, K; Ohmori, L H

2001-11-01

Many hydrochemical studies on chemical formation of shallow ground water have been reported as results of water-rock interaction, and contamination of paleo-brine or human activities, whereas the preliminary formation of precipitation source in the recharged region has not been established yet. The purpose of this research work is to clarify the geochemical process of water formation from a water source unpolluted by seawater or human activity. Norikura volcano, located in western part of central Japan provided a suitable source for this research purpose, and hence chemical compositions of water samples from the summit and the mountainside area of Norikura volcano were determined. Most samples in the summit area showed very low electrical conductivity, and lower than 12 microS/cm. On the basis of the chemical compositions, principal component analysis (PCA) and factor analysis (FA), such as kinds of multivariate statistical techniques were used to extract geochemical factors affecting hydrochemical process. As a result, three factors were extracted. The first factor showed high loading on K+, Ca2+, SO2 and SiO2, and this factor was interpreted due to influence of the chemical interaction between acidic precipitated water and rocks. The second factor showed high loading on Na+ and Cl-, and it was assumed to be an influence of seawater salt. The third factor showed loading on NO3-, and it was interpreted to be caused by biochemical effect of vegetation. The proportionate contributions of these factors to the evolution of water chemical composition were found to be 45%, 20%, and 10% for factors 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The same exploration at the mountainside of Norikura volcano revealed that the chemical variances of the non-geothermal water samples were highly influenced by water-rock interactions. The silicate dissolution showed 45% contribution for all chemical variances, while the adsorption of Ca2+ and Mg2+ by precipitation or ion exchange showed 20% contribution. The seawater salt influence or biochemical effect was statistically negligible in this area. The clear differentiation of geochemical process on water formation was found between the summit area and the mountainside area.

Ferroelectricity of domain walls in rare earth iron garnet films.

PubMed

Popov, A I; Zvezdin, K A; Gareeva, Z V; Mazhitova, F A; Vakhitov, R M; Yumaguzin, A R; Zvezdin, A K

2016-11-16

In this paper, we report on electric polarization arising in a vicinity of Bloch-like domain walls in rare-earth iron garnet films. The domain walls generate an intrinsic magnetic field that breaks an antiferroelectric structure formed in the garnets due to an exchange interaction between rare earth and iron sublattices. We explore 180° domain walls whose formation is energetically preferable in the films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Magnetic and electric structures of the 180° quasi-Bloch domain walls have been simulated at various relations between system parameters. Singlet, doublet ground states of rare earth ions and strongly anisotropic rare earth Ising ions have been considered. Our results show that electric polarization appears in rare earth garnet films at Bloch domain walls, and the maximum of magnetic inhomogeneity is not always linked to the maximum of electric polarization. A number of factors including the temperature, the state of the rare earth ion and the type of a wall influence magnetically induced electric polarization. We show that the value of polarization can be enhanced by the shrinking of the Bloch domain wall width, decreasing the temperature, and increasing the deviations of magnetization from the Bloch rotation that are regulated by impacts given by magnetic anisotropies of the films.

The role of amine ligands in governing film morphology and electrical properties of copper films derived from copper formate-based molecular inks.

PubMed

Paquet, Chantal; Lacelle, Thomas; Liu, Xiangyang; Deore, Bhavana; Kell, Arnold J; Lafrenière, Sylvie; Malenfant, Patrick R L

2018-04-19

Copper formate complexes with various primary amines, secondary amines and pyridines were prepared, and their decomposition into conductive films was characterized. A comparison of the various complexes reveals that the temperature of thermolysis depends on the number of hydrogen bonds that can be formed between the amine and formate ligands. The particle size resulting from sintering of the copper complexes is shown to depend on the fraction of amine ligand released during the thermolysis reaction. The particle size in turn is shown to govern the electrical properties of the copper films. Correlations between the properties of the amines, such as boiling point and coordination strength, with the morphology and electrical performance of the copper films were established and provide a basis for the molecular design of copper formate molecular inks.

Parallel heater system for subsurface formations

DOEpatents

Harris, Christopher Kelvin [Houston, TX; Karanikas, John Michael [Houston, TX; Nguyen, Scott Vinh [Houston, TX

2011-10-25

A heating system for a subsurface formation is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of substantially horizontally oriented or inclined heater sections located in a hydrocarbon containing layer in the formation. At least a portion of two of the heater sections are substantially parallel to each other. The ends of at least two of the heater sections in the layer are electrically coupled to a substantially horizontal, or inclined, electrical conductor oriented substantially perpendicular to the ends of the at least two heater sections.

Model for interface formation and the resulting electrical properties for barium-strontium-titanate films on silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mueller, A. H.; Suvorova, N. A.; Irene, E. A.; Auciello, O.; Schultz, J. A.

2003-04-01

The interface formation between sputtered barium strontium titanate (BST) films and both Si and SiO2 substrate surfaces has been followed using real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry and the mass spectrometry of recoiled ions. In both substrates an intermixed interface layer was observed and subcutaneous Si oxidation occurred. A model for the interface formation is proposed in which the interface includes an SiO2 film on Si, and an intermixed film on which is pure BST. During the deposition of BST the interfaces films were observed to change in time. Electrical characterization of the resulting metal-BST interface capacitors indicates that those samples with SiO2 on the Si surface had the best electrical characteristics.

Indium Hybridization of Large Format TES Bolometer Arrays to Readout Multiplexers for Far-Infrared Astronomy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, Timothy M.; Costen, Nick; Allen, Christine

2007-01-01

The advance of new detector technologies combined with enhanced fabrication methods has resulted in an increase in development of large format arrays. The next generation of scientific instruments will utilize detectors containing hundreds to thousands of elements providing a more efficient means to conduct large area sky surveys. Some notable detectors include a 32x32 x-ray microcalorimeter for Constellation-X, an infrared bolometer called SAFIRE to fly on the airborne observatory SOFIA, and the sub-millimeter bolometer SCUBA-2 to be deployed at the JCMT which will use more than 10,000 elements for two colors, each color using four 32x40 arrays. Of these detectors, SCUBA-2 is farthest along in development and uses indium hybridization to multiplexers for readout of the large number of elements, a technology that will be required to enable the next generation of large format arrays. Our current efforts in working toward large format arrays have produced GISMO, the Goddard IRAM Superconducting 2-Millimeter observer. GISMO is a far infrared instrument to be field tested later this year at the IRAM 30 meter telescope in Spain. GISMO utilizes transition edge sensor (TES) technology in an 8x16 filled array format that allows for typical fan-out wiring and wire-bonding to four 1x32 NIST multiplexers. GISMO'S electrical wiring is routed along the tops of 30 micron walls which also serve as the mechanical framework for the array. This architecture works well for the 128 element array, but is approaching the limit for routing the necessary wires along the surface while maintaining a high fill factor. Larger format arrays will benefit greatly from making electrical connections through the wafer to the backside, where they can be hybridized to a read-out substrate tailored to handling the wiring scheme. The next generation array we are developing is a 32x40 element array on a pitch of 1135 microns that conforms to the NIST multiplexer, already developed for the SCUBA-2 instrument This architecture will utilize electrical connections that route from the TES to the support frame and through the wafer. The detector chip will then be hybridized to the NIST multiplexer via indium bump bonding. In our development scheme we are using substrates that allow for diagnostic testing of electrical continuity across the entire array and we are testing our process to minimize or eliminate any contact resistance at metal interfaces. Our goal is hybridizing a fully functional 32x40 array of TES bolometers to a NIST multiplexer. The following work presents our current progress toward enabling this technology.

[Forensic-medical diagnostics of an electrical mark resulting from the injury inflicted by technical electricity in the aqueous environment].

PubMed

Pigolkin, Iu I; Skovorodnikov, S V; Dubrovin, I A

2014-01-01

The objective of the present study was to develop the criteria for forensic-medical diagnostics of an electrical injury inflicted in the aqueous environment based on the characteristics of the electrical mark. The specific morphological features of the electrical injuries inflicted in the aqueous environment that were discovered in the materials available for the forensic medical expertise were analysed taking into consideration the results of the relevant research reported in the forensic medical literature. It was shown that an electrical injury inflicted in the aqueous environment results in the formation of an unusual mark in the form of blisters containing no watery liquid associated with electrogenic oedema in the surrounding tissues. Macroscopic and microscopic studies of the electrical mark failed to reveal the signs of grade III and IV grade thermal burning or thermally affected hair. It is concluded that the consistent characteristics of the electrical mark resulting from the injury inflicted by technical electricity in the aqueous environment include cell lengthening, blister formation inside the corneal layer, and the separation of epidermis from the skin proper.

Step-wise potential development across the lipid bilayer under external electric fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majhi, Amit Kumar

2018-04-01

Pore formation across the bilayers under external electric field is an important phenomenon, which has numerous applications in biology and bio-engineering fields. However, it is not a ubiquitous event under all field applications. To initiate a pore in the bilayer a particular threshold electric field is required. The electric field alters the intrinsic potential distribution across the bilayer as we as it enhances total potential drop across the bilayer, which causes the pore formation. The intrinsic potential profile has a maximum peak value, which is 0.8 V and it gets enhanced under application of external field, 0.43 V/nm. The peak value becomes 1.4 V when a pore appears in the bilayer and it continues to evolve as along as the external electric field remains switched on.

Formation of the Electric Double Layer and its Effects on Moving Bodies in a Space Plasma Environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yang, Qianli; Wu, S. T.; Stone, N. H.; Li, Xiaoquing

1996-01-01

In this paper we solve the self-consistent Vlasov and Poisson equations by a numerical method to determine the local distribution function of the ion and the electron, within a thin layer near the moving body, respectively. Using these ion and electron distributions, the number density for the ions and electrons are determined, such that, the electric potential is obtained within this thin layer (i.e., measured by Debye length). Numerical results are presented for temporal evolution of the electron and ion density and its corresponding electric potential within the layer which shows the formation of electric double layer and its structures. From these numerical results, we are able to determine the maximum conditions of the electric potential, it may create satellite anomaly.

Bubble Formation and Detachment in Reduced Gravity Under the Influence of Electric Fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Herman, Cila; Iacona, Estelle; Chang, Shinan

2002-01-01

The objective of the study is to investigate the behavior of individual air bubbles injected through an orifice into an electrically insulating liquid under the influence of a static electric field. Both uniform and nonuniform electric field configurations were considered. Bubble formation and detachment were recorded and visualized in reduced gravity (corresponding to gravity levels on Mars, on the Moon as well as microgravity) using a high-speed video camera. Bubble volume, dimensions and contact angle at detachment were measured. In addition to the experimental studies, a simple model, predicting bubble characteristics at detachment was developed. The model, based on thermodynamic considerations, accounts for the level of gravity as well as the magnitude of the uniform electric field. Measured data and model predictions show good agreement and indicate that the level of gravity and the electric field magnitude significantly affect bubble shape, volume and dimensions.

Small static electric field strength promotes aggregation-prone structures in amyloid-β(29-42)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Yan; Shi, Xiao-Feng; Salsbury, Freddie R.; Derreumaux, Philippe

2017-04-01

The formation of senile plaques in central neural system resulting from the aggregation of the amyloid β (Aβ) of 40 and 42 residues is one of the two hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Numerous experiments and computational studies have shown that the aggregation of Aβ peptides in vitro is very complex and depends on many factors such as pH, agitation, temperature, and peptide concentration. The impact of a static electric field (EF) on amyloid peptide aggregation has been much less studied, although EFs may have some applications to treat Parkinson's disease symptoms. Here, we study the influence of an EF strength of 20 mV/nm, present in the human brains, on the conformation of the Aβ29-42 dimer. Our 7 μs non-equilibrium atomistic simulations in aqueous solution show that this field-strength promotes substantially the formation of β-hairpins, believed to be a very important intermediate state during aggregation. This work also suggests that structural biology experiments conducted under appropriate EF strengths may help reduce the conformational heterogeneity of Aβ1-40/Aβ1-42 dimers and provide significant insights into their structures that may be disease-causing.

Electric field measuring and display system. [for cloud formations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wojtasinski, R. J.; Lovall, D. D. (Inventor)

1974-01-01

An apparatus is described for monitoring the electric fields of cloud formations within a particular area. It utilizes capacitor plates that are alternately shielded from the clouds for generating an alternating signal corresponding to the intensity of the electric field of the clouds. A synchronizing signal is produced for controlling sampling of the alternating signal. Such samplings are fed through a filter and converted by an analogue to digital converter into digital form and subsequently fed to a transmitter for transmission to the control station for recording.

Cloning of the transgenic pigs expressing human decay accelerating factor and N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III.

PubMed

Fujimura, Tatsuya; Kurome, Mayuko; Murakami, Hiroshi; Takahagi, Yoichi; Matsunami, Katsuyoshi; Shimanuki, Shinichi; Suzuki, Kohei; Miyagawa, Shuji; Shirakura, Ryota; Shigehisa, Tamotsu; Nagashima, Hiroshi

2004-01-01

The present paper describes production of cloned pigs from fibroblast cells of transgenic pigs expressing human decay accelerating factor (DAF, CD55) and N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III) that remodels sugar-chain biosynthesis. Two nuclear transfer protocols were used: a two-step activation (TA) method and a delayed activation (DA) method. Enucleated in vitro-matured oocytes and donor cells were electrically fused in a calcium-containing medium by TA method or in a calcium-free medium by DA method, followed by electrical activation 1-1.5 h later, respectively. In vitro blastocyst formation rates of nuclear transferred embryos reconstructed by TA and DA method were 8% and 14%, respectively. As a result of embryo transfer of the reconstructed embryos made by each method into recipient pigs, both gave rise to cloned piglets. These cloned pigs expressed transgene as much as their nuclear donor cells. In conclusions, (1) pig cloning can be carried out by TA or DA nuclear transfer methods, (2) expression of transgenes can be maintained to cloned pigs from the nuclear donor cells derived from transgenic animals.

Influence of electrolytes in the QCM response: discrimination and quantification of the interference to correct microgravimetric data.

PubMed

Encarnação, João M; Stallinga, Peter; Ferreira, Guilherme N M

2007-02-15

In this work we demonstrate that the presence of electrolytes in solution generates desorption-like transients when the resonance frequency is measured. Using impedance spectroscopy analysis and Butterworth-Van Dyke (BVD) equivalent electrical circuit modeling we demonstrate that non-Kanazawa responses are obtained in the presence of electrolytes mainly due to the formation of a diffuse electric double layer (DDL) at the sensor surface, which also causes a capacitor like signal. We extend the BVD equivalent circuit by including additional parallel capacitances in order to account for such capacitor like signal. Interfering signals from electrolytes and DDL perturbations were this way discriminated. We further quantified as 8.0+/-0.5 Hz pF-1 the influence of electrolytes to the sensor resonance frequency and we used this factor to correct the data obtained by frequency counting measurements. The applicability of this approach is demonstrated by the detection of oligonucleotide sequences. After applying the corrective factor to the frequency counting data, the mass contribution to the sensor signal yields identical values when estimated by impedance analysis and frequency counting.

Thermoelectric Properties of the Ca1- x R x MnO3 Perovskite System (R: Pr, Nd, Sm) for High-Temperature Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Soon-Mok; Lim, Chang-Hyun; Seo, Won-Seon

2011-05-01

Perovskite oxides have attracted considerable attention in the area of thermoelectrics owing to the advantages of their isotropic crystal structure and straightforward control of their electrical properties. Among the many perovskites, different types of polycrystalline Ca1- x R x MnO3 (R: Pr, Nd, Sm) were prepared by solid-state reaction in this study. Three different rare-earth dopants were substituted at the Ca-ion site at various amounts. Considering phase stability, rare-earth ions with nearly the same ionic radius as Ca2+ were selected. To assess thermoelectric performance, the electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and power factor were measured, and phase analysis was conducted. The effects of ionic radius variation on single phase formation and the effect of doping amount on carrier concentration are discussed.

The Effect of (Ag, Ni, Zn)-Addition on the Thermoelectric Properties of Copper Aluminate

PubMed Central

Yanagiya, Shun-ichi; Van Nong, Ngo; Xu, Jianxiao; Pryds, Nini

2010-01-01

Polycrystalline bulk copper aluminate Cu1-x-yAgxByAlO2 with B = Ni or Zn were prepared by spark plasma sintering and subsequent thermal treatment. The influence of partial substitution of Ag, Ni and Zn for Cu-sites in CuAlO2 on the high temperature thermoelectric properties has been studied. The addition of Ag and Zn was found to enhance the formation of CuAlO2 phase and to increase the electrical conductivity. The addition of Ag or Ag and Ni on the other hand decreases the electrical conductivity. The highest power factor of 1.26 × 10-4 W/mK2 was obtained for the addition of Ag and Zn at 1,060 K, indicating a significant improvement compared with the non-doped CuAlO2 sample.

Intraoral conversion of occlusal force to electricity and magnetism by biting of piezoelectric elements.

PubMed

Kameda, Takashi; Ohkuma, Kazuo; Sano, Natsuki; Ogura, Hideo; Terada, Kazuto

2012-01-01

Very weak electrical, magnetic and ultrasound signal stimulations are known to promote the formation, metabolism, restoration and stability of bone and surrounding tissues after treatment and operations. We have therefore investigated the possibility of intraoral generation of electricity and magnetism by occlusal force in an in vitro study. Biting bimorph piezoelectric elements with lead zirconate titanate (PZT) using dental models generated appropriate magnetism for bone formation, i. e. 0.5-0.6 gauss, and lower electric currents and higher voltages, i. e. 2.0-6.0 μA at 10-22 V (appropriate levels are 30 μA and 1.25 V), as observed by a universal testing machine. The electric currents and voltages could be changed using amplifier circuits. These results show that intraoral generation of electricity and magnetism is possible and could provide post-operative stabilization and activation of treated areas of bone and the surrounding tissues directly and/or indirectly by electrical, magnetic and ultrasound stimulation, which could accelerate healing.

Structural and electronic transport properties of compound forming HgPb liquid alloy using ab-initio pseudopotential

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Nalini; Thakur, Anil; Ahluwalia, P. K.

2013-02-01

The electrical resistivity of compound forming liquid alloy HgPb is studied as a function of concentration. Hard sphere diameters of Hg and Pb are obtained through the inter-ionic pair potential evaluated using Troullier and Martins ab initio pseudopotential, which have been used to calculate partial structure factors. Considering the liquid alloy to be a ternary mixture Ziman's formula for calculating the resistivity of binary liquid alloys, modified for complex formation, has been used. The concentration dependence in resistivity occurs due to preferential ordering of unlike atoms as nearest neighbours with help of complex formation model. Though the compound HgiPbi as per structure peaks is found to be less stable. However it contributes significantly to resistivity as compared to bare ions.

Study on electrical properties of metal/GaSb junctions using metal-GaSb alloys

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

Nishi, Koichi, E-mail: nishi@mosfet.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp; Yokoyama, Masafumi; Kim, Sanghyeon

2014-01-21

We study the metal-GaSb alloy formation, the structural properties and the electrical characteristics of the metal-alloy/GaSb diodes by employing metal materials such as Ni, Pd, Co, Ti, Al, and Ta, in order to clarify metals suitable for GaSb p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (pMOSFETs) as metal-GaSb alloy source/drain (S/D). It is found that Ni, Pd, Co, and Ti can form alloy with GaSb by rapid thermal annealing at 250, 250, 350, and 450 °C, respectively. The Ni-GaSb and Pd-GaSb alloy formation temperature of 250 °C is lower than the conventional dopant activation annealing for ion implantation, which enable us to lower the processmore » temperature. The alloy layers show lower sheet resistance (R{sub Sheet}) than that of p{sup +}-GaSb layer formed by ion implantation and activation annealing. We also study the electrical characteristics of the metal-alloy/GaSb junctions. The alloy/n-GaSb contact has large Schottky barrier height (ϕ{sub B}) for electrons, ∼0.6 eV, and low ϕ{sub B} for holes, ∼0.2 eV, which enable us to realize high on/off ratio in pMOSFETs. We have found that the Ni-GaSb/GaSb Schottky junction shows the best electrical characteristics with ideal factor (n) of 1.1 and on-current/off-current ratio (I{sub on}/I{sub off}) of ∼10{sup 4} among the metal-GaSb alloy/GaSb junctions evaluated in the present study. These electrical properties are also superior to those of a p{sup +}-n diode fabricated by Be ion implantation with activation annealing at 350 °C. As a result, the Ni-GaSb alloy can be regarded as one of the best materials to realize metal S/D in GaSb pMOSFETs.« less

Transcranial focal electrical stimulation via tripolar concentric ring electrodes does not modify the short- and long-term memory formation in rats evaluated in the novel object recognition test.

PubMed

Rogel-Salazar, G; Luna-Munguía, H; Stevens, K E; Besio, W G

2013-04-01

Noninvasive transcranial focal electrical stimulation (TFS) via tripolar concentric ring electrodes (TCREs) has been under development as an alternative/complementary therapy for seizure control. Transcranial focal electrical stimulation has shown efficacy in attenuating penicillin-, pilocarpine-, and pentylenetetrazole-induced acute seizures in rat models. This study evaluated the effects of TFS via TCREs on the memory formation of healthy rats as a safety test of TFS. Short- and long-term memory formation was tested after the application of TFS using the novel object recognition (NOR) test. The following independent groups were used: naïve, control (without TFS), and TFS (treated). The naïve, control, and stimulated groups spent more time investigating the new object than the familiar one during the test phase. Transcranial focal electrical stimulation via TCREs given once does not modify the short- and long-term memory formation in rats in the NOR test. Results provide an important step towards a better understanding for the safe usage of TFS via TCREs. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Enhanced electrical conductivity of poly(methyl methacrylate) filled with graphene and in situ synthesized gold nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Jie; Athanassiou, Athanassia; Bonaccorso, Francesco; Fragouli, Despina

2018-06-01

The improvement of the electrical conductivity of polymers by incorporating graphene has been intensively studied in recent years. To further boost the electrical conductivity, blending third-party additives into the polymer/graphene systems has been demonstrated as a viable strategy. Herein, we propose a simple route to increase the electrical conductivity of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/graphene nanoplatelet (GnP) composites, by the in situ synthesis of gold nanoparticles directly into the solid film. In particular, PMMA, GnPs and a gold precursor are solution blended to form the composite films. The subsequent heat-induced formation of gold nanoparticles directly in the solid state film, cause the significant decrease of the percolation threshold of GnPs loading, from 3% to 1% by weight in the composite. This is attributed to the preferential formation of the gold nanoparticles onto the GnPs, with synergistic effects beneficial for the improvement of the electrical conductivity. The formation procedure of the gold nanoparticles, and their arrangement into the composite matrix are studied. We demonstrate that following this straightforward process it is possible to form nanocomposites able to conduct efficiently electric current even at low graphene loadings preserving at the same time the mechanical properties of the polymer matrix.

Formation of the lunar crust - An electrical source of heating

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sonett, C. P.; Colburn, D. S.; Schwartz, K.

1975-01-01

A model for formation of the lunar crust based on heating by electrical induction is explored, while adherence is maintained to certain constraints associated with existing models of the solar system. The heating mechanism is based on eddy current induction from disordered magnetic fields swept outwards by an intense (T Tauri-like) plasma flow from the sun. The electrical theory is an alternative to intense short-period accretion as a source of heat for the evolution of lunar maria and highlands, provided that long-lived radioactives are not swept to the surface from too large a melt volume during the initial thermal episode. This formation of the lunar highlands does not intrinsically require rapid accretion, nor on this basis is the time of formation of the planets generally restricted to a very short time. The threshold temperature for eddy current heating is attained by either a solar nebula at 300-400 C during formation of the moon or a very low energy long-period accumulation of the moon, both leading to melting in ten to the fifth to ten to the seventh power years.

In situ conversion process utilizing a closed loop heating system

DOEpatents

Sandberg, Chester Ledlie [Palo Alto, CA; Fowler, Thomas David [Houston, TX; Vinegar, Harold J [Bellaire, TX; Schoeber, Willen Jan Antoon Henri

2009-08-18

An in situ conversion system for producing hydrocarbons from a subsurface formation is described. The system includes a plurality of u-shaped wellbores in the formation. Piping is positioned in at least two of the u-shaped wellbores. A fluid circulation system is coupled to the piping. The fluid circulation system is configured to circulate hot heat transfer fluid through at least a portion of the piping to form at least one heated portion of the formation. An electrical power supply is configured to provide electrical current to at least a portion of the piping located below an overburden in the formation to resistively heat at least a portion of the piping. Heat transfers from the piping to the formation.

Humidity influence on atomic force microscopy electrostatic nanolithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyuksyutov, Sergei; Juhl, Shane; Vaia, Richard

2006-03-01

The formation and sustainability of water menisci and bridges between solid dielectric surface and nano-asperity under external electrostatic potential is a mystery, which must be adequately explained. The goal of our study is twofold: (i) To address the influence of an ambient humidity through the water meniscus formation on the nanostructure formation in soften polymeric surfaces; (ii) Estimate an electric charge generation and transport inside the water meniscus in vicinity of nanoscale asperity taking into consideration an induced water ionization in strong non-uniform electric field of magnitude up to 10^10 Vm-1. It is suspected that strong electric field inside a polymer matrix activates the hoping mechanism of conductivity. The electrons are supplied by tunneling of conductive tip, and also through water ionization. Electric current associated with these free carriers produces Jule heating of a small volume of polymer film heating it above the glass transition temperature. Nanostructures are created by mass transport of visco-elastic polymer melt enabling high structure densities on polymer film.

CO2 Emissions Embodied in Interprovincial Electricity Transmissions in China.

PubMed

Qu, Shen; Liang, Sai; Xu, Ming

2017-09-19

Existing studies on the evaluation of CO 2 emissions due to electricity consumption in China are inaccurate and incomplete. This study uses a network approach to calculate CO 2 emissions of purchased electricity in Chinese provinces. The CO 2 emission factors of purchased electricity range from 265 g/kWh in Sichuan to 947 g/kWh in Inner Mongolia. We find that emission factors of purchased electricity in many provinces are quite different from the emission factors of electricity generation. This indicates the importance of the network approach in accurately reflecting embodied emissions. We also observe substantial variations of emissions factors of purchased electricity within subnational grids: the provincial emission factors deviate from the corresponding subnational-grid averages from -58% to 44%. This implies that using subnational-grid averages as required by Chinese government agencies can be quite inaccurate for reporting indirect CO 2 emissions of enterprises' purchased electricity. The network approach can improve the accuracy of the quantification of embodied emissions in purchased electricity and emission flows embodied in electricity transmission.

Electric-dipole absorption resonating with longitudinal optical phonon-plasmon system and its effect on dispersion relations of interface phonon polariton modes in metal/semiconductor-stripe structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakamoto, Hironori; Takeuchi, Eito; Yoshida, Kouki; Morita, Ken; Ma, Bei; Ishitani, Yoshihiro

2018-01-01

Interface phonon polaritons (IPhPs) in nano-structures excluding metal components are thoroughly investigated because they have lower loss in optical emission or absorption and higher quality factors than surface plasmon polaritons. In previous reports, it is found that strong infrared (IR) absorption is based on the interaction of p-polarized light and materials, and the resonance photon energy highly depends on the structure size and angle of incidence. We report the optical absorption by metal/semiconductor (bulk-GaAs and thin film-AlN)-stripe structures in THz to mid-IR region for the electric field of light perpendicular to the stripes, where both of s- and p-polarized light are absorbed. The absorption resonates with longitudinal optical (LO) phonon or LO phonon-plasmon coupling (LOPC) modes, and thus is independent of the angle of incidence or structure size. This absorption is attributed to the electric dipoles by the optically induced polarization charges at the metal/semiconductor, heterointerfaces, or interfaces of high electron density layers and depression ones. The electric permittivity is modified by the formation of these dipoles. It is found to be indispensable to utilize our form of altered permittivity to explain the experimental dispersion relations of metal/semiconductor-IPhP and SPhP in these samples. This analysis reveals that the IPhPs in the stripe structures of metal/AlN-film on a SiC substrate are highly confined in the AlN film, while the permittivity of the structures of metal/bulk-GaAs is partially affected by the electric-dipoles. The quality factors of the electric-dipole absorption are found to be 42-54 for undoped samples, and the value of 62 is obtained for Al/AlN-IPhP. It is thought that metal-contained structures are not obstacles to mode energy selectivity in phonon energy region of semiconductors.

Effects of applied electric field during postannealing on the tunable properties of (Ba,Sr)TiO3 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, Yidong; Cheng, Jinbo; Pan, Bai; Wu, Di; Meng, Xiangkang; Liu, Zhiguo

2005-08-01

The impact of postannealing in electric field on the structure, tunability, and dielectric behavior of rf magnetron sputtering derived (Ba,Sr)TiO3 films has been studied. It has been demonstrated that postannealing in the proper electric field can increase the dielectric constant and the tunability remarkably and destroy the symmetry of capacitance-voltage characteristics of the films. The increased out-of-plane lattice constant and the appearance of the hysteresis loops in the electric-annealed films indicated the formation of small polar regions with tetragonal structure, which are responsible for the increased dielectric constant and tunability. It was proposed that the segregation of Ti3+ ions caused by electric annealing could induce the formation of BaTiO3-like regions, which are ferroelectric at room temperature.

Wellhead with non-ferromagnetic materials

DOEpatents

Hinson, Richard A [Houston, TX; Vinegar, Harold J [Bellaire, TX

2009-05-19

Wellheads for coupling to a heater located in a wellbore in a subsurface formation are described herein. At least one wellhead may include a heater located in a wellbore in a subsurface formation; and a wellhead coupled to the heater. The wellhead may be configured to electrically couple the heater to one or more surface electrical components. The wellhead may include at least one non-ferromagnetic material such that ferromagnetic effects are inhibited in the wellhead. Systems and methods for using such wellheads for treating a subsurface formation are described herein.

Structure of the floating water bridge and water in an electric field

PubMed Central

Skinner, Lawrie B.; Benmore, Chris J.; Shyam, Badri; Weber, J. K. R.; Parise, John B.

2012-01-01

The floating water bridge phenomenon is a freestanding rope-shaped connection of pure liquid water, formed under the influence of a high potential difference (approximately 15 kV). Several recent spectroscopic, optical, and neutron scattering studies have suggested that the origin of the bridge is associated with the formation of anisotropic chains of water molecules in the liquid. In this work, high energy X-ray diffraction experiments have been performed on a series of floating water bridges as a function of applied voltage, bridge length, and position within the bridge. The two-dimensional X-ray scattering data showed no direction-dependence, indicating that the bulk water molecules do not exhibit any significant preferred orientation along the electric field. The only structural changes observed were those due to heating, and these effects were found to be the same as for bulk water. These X-ray scattering measurements are supported by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations which were performed under electric fields of 106 V/m and 109 V/m. Directional structure factor calculations were made from these simulations parallel and perpendicular to the E-field. The 106 V/m model showed no significant directional-dependence (anisotropy) in the structure factors. The 109 V/m model however, contained molecules aligned by the E-field, and had significant structural anisotropy. PMID:23010930

Electrical and thermal modeling of a large-format lithium titanate oxide battery system.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-04-01

The future of mass transportation is clearly moving towards the increased efficiency of hybrid and electric vehicles. Electrical : energy storage is a key component in most of these advanced vehicles, with the system complexity and vehicle cost shift...

Determining resistivity of a formation adjacent to a borehole having casing with an apparatus having all current conducting electrodes within the cased well

DOEpatents

Vail, III, William Banning

2001-01-01

Methods of operation of different types of multiple electrode apparatus vertically disposed in a cased well to measure information useful to determine the resistivity of adjacent geological formations from within the cased well are described. The multiple electrode apparatus has a plurality of spaced apart voltage measurement electrodes that electrically engage a portion of the interior of the cased well. During measurements of information useful to determine formation resistivity, current is conducted between a first current conducting electrode in electrical contact with the interior of the cased well to a second current conducting electrode that is also in electrical contact with the interior of the cased well. The first and second current conducting electrodes are separated by a distance sufficient so that at least a portion of the current conducted between the first and second current conducting electrodes is conducted through the geological formation of interest.

Electrical Field Guided Electrospray Deposition for Production of Gradient Particle Patterns.

PubMed

Yan, Wei-Cheng; Xie, Jingwei; Wang, Chi-Hwa

2018-06-06

Our previous work demonstrated the uniform particle pattern formation on the substrates using electrical field guided electrospray deposition. In this work, we reported for the first time the fabrication of gradient particle patterns on glass slides using an additional point, line, or bar electrode based on our previous electrospray deposition configuration. We also demonstrated that the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating could result in the formation of uniform particle patterns instead of gradient particle patterns on glass slides using the same experimental setup. Meanwhile, we investigated the effect of experimental configurations on the gradient particle pattern formation by computational simulation. The simulation results are in line with experimental observations. The formation of gradient particle patterns was ascribed to the gradient of electric field and the corresponding focusing effect. Cell patterns can be formed on the particle patterns deposited on PDMS-coated glass slides. The formed particle patterns hold great promise for high-throughput screening of biomaterial-cell interactions and sensing.

Conductivity affects nanosecond electrical pulse induced pressure transient formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roth, Caleb C.; Barnes, Ronald A.; Ibey, Bennett L.; Beier, Hope T.; Glickman, Randolph D.

2016-03-01

Nanoporation occurs in cells exposed to high amplitude short duration (< 1μs) electrical pulses. The biophysical mechanism(s) responsible for nanoporation is unknown although several theories exist. Current theories focus exclusively on the electrical field, citing electrostriction, water dipole alignment and/or electrodeformation as the primary mechanisms for pore formation. Our group has shown that mechanical forces of substantial magnitude are also generated during nsEP exposures. We hypothesize that these mechanical forces may contribute to pore formation. In this paper, we report that alteration of the conductivity of the exposure solution also altered the level of mechanical forces generated during a nsEP exposure. By reducing the conductivity of the exposure solutions, we found that we could completely eliminate any pressure transients normally created by nsEP exposure. The data collected for this proceeding does not definitively show that the pressure transients previously identified contribute to nanoporation; however; it indicates that conductivity influences both survival and pressure transient formation.

Electron avalanche structure determined by random walk theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Englert, G. W.

1973-01-01

A self-consistent avalanche solution which accounts for collective long range Coulomb interactions as well as short range elastic and inelastic collisions between electrons and background atoms is made possible by a random walk technique. Results show that the electric field patterns in the early formation stages of avalanches in helium are close to those obtained from theory based on constant transport coefficients. Regions of maximum and minimum induced electrostatic potential phi are located on the axis of symmetry and within the volume covered by the electron swarm. As formation time continues, however, the region of minimum phi moves to slightly higher radii and the electric field between the extrema becomes somewhat erratic. In the intermediate formation periods the avalanche growth is slightly retarded by the high concentration of ions in the tail which oppose the external electric field. Eventually the formation of ions and electrons in the localized regions of high field strength more than offset this effect causing a very abrupt increase in avalanche growth.

Utilizing borehole electrical images to interpret lithofacies of fan-delta: A case study of Lower Triassic Baikouquan Formation in Mahu Depression, Junggar Basin, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Rui; Zhang, Changmin; Tang, Yong; Qu, Jianhua; Guo, Xudong; Sun, Yuqiu; Zhu, Rui; Zhou, Yuanquan (Nancy)

2017-11-01

Large-scale conglomerate fan-delta aprons were typical deposits on the slope of Mahu Depression during the Early Triassic. Without outcrops, it is difficult to study the lithofacies only by examining the limited cores from the main oil-bearing interval of the Baikouquan Formation. Borehole electrical imaging log provides abundant high-resolution geologic information that is obtainable only from real rocks previously. Referring to the lithology and sedimentary structure of cores, a case study of fan-deltas in the Lower Triassic Baikouquan Formation of the Mahu Depression presents a methodology for interpreting the complicated lithofacies utilizing borehole electrical images. Eleven types of lithologies and five types of sedimentary structures are summarized in borehole electrical images. The sediments are fining upward from gravel to silt and clay in the Baikouquan Formation. Fine-pebbles and granules are the main deposits in T1b1 and T1b2, but sandstones, siltstones and mudstones are more developed in T1b3. The main sedimentary textures are massive beddings, cross beddings and scour-and-fill structures. Parallel and horizontal beddings are more developed in T1b3 relatively. On integrated analysis of the lithology and sedimentary structure, eight lithofacies from electrical images, referred to as image lithofacies, is established for the fan-deltas. Granules to coarse-pebbles within massive beddings, granules to coarse-pebbles within cross and parallel beddings, siltstones within horizontal and massive beddings are the most developed lithofacies respectively in T1b1, T1b2 and T1b3. It indicates a gradual rise of the lake level of Mahu depression during the Early Triassic, with the fan-delta aprons retrograding towards to the margin of the basin. Therefore, the borehole electrical imaging log compensate for the limitation of cores of the Baikouquan Formation, providing an effective new approach to interpret the lithofacies of fan-delta.

Effect of ferroelectric BaTiO3 particles on the threshold voltage of a smectic A liquid crystal.

PubMed

Imamaliyev, Abbas Rahim; Ramazanov, Mahammadali Ahmad; Humbatov, Shirkhan Arastun

2018-01-01

The influence of small ferroelectric BaTiO 3 particles on the planar-homeotropic transition threshold voltage in smectic A liquid crystals consisting of p -nitrophenyl p -decyloxybenzoate and 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl were studied by using capacitance-voltage ( C - V ) measurements. It was shown that the BaTiO 3 particles significantly reduce the threshold voltage. The obtained result is explained by two factors: an increase of dielectric anisotropy of the liquid crystals and the formation of a strong electric field near polarized particles of BaTiO 3 . It was shown that the role of the second factor is dominant. The explanations of some features observed in the C - V characteristics are given.

Effects of micro electric current load during cooling of plant tissues on intracellular ice crystal formation behavior and pH.

PubMed

Ninagawa, Takako; Kawamura, Yukio; Konishi, Tadashi; Narumi, Akira

2016-08-01

Cryopreservation techniques are expected to evolve further to preserve biomaterials and foods in a fresh state for extended periods of time. Long-term cryopreservation of living materials such as food and biological tissue is generally achieved by freezing; thus, intracellular freezing occurs. Intracellular freezing injures the cells and leads to cell death. Therefore, a dream cryopreservation technique would preserve the living materials without internal ice crystal formation at a temperature low enough to prevent bacterial activity. This study was performed to investigate the effect of micro electrical current loading during cooling as a new cryopreservation technique. The behavior of intracellular ice crystal formation in plant tissues with or without an electric current load was evaluated using the degree of supercooling, degree of cell deformation, and grain size and growing rate of intracellular ice crystal. Moreover, the transition of intracellular pH during plant tissue cooling with or without electric current loading was also examined using the fluorescence intensity ratio to comprehend cell activity at lower temperatures. The results indicated that micro electric current load did not only decrease the degree of cell deformation and grain size of intracellular ice crystal but also reduced the decline in intracellular pH due to temperature lowering, compared with tissues subjected to the same cooling rate without an electric current load. Thus, the effect of electric current load on cryopreservation and the potential of a new cryopreservation technique using electric current load were discussed based on these results. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Geothermal injection treatment: Process chemistry, field experiences, and design options

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kindle, C. H.; Mercer, B. W.; Elmore, R. P.; Blair, S. C.; Myers, D. A.

1984-09-01

The successful development of geothermal reservoirs to generate electric power will require the injection disposal of approximately 700,000 gal/h (2,600,000 1/h) of heat depleted brine for every 50,000 kW of generating capacity. To maintain injectability, the spent brine must be compatible with the receiving formation. The factors that influence this brine/formation compatibility and tests to quantify them are discussed. Some form of treatment will be necessary prior to injection for most situations; the process chemistry involved to avoid and/or accelerate the formation of precipitate particles is also discussed. The treatment processes, either avoidance or controlled precipitation approaches, are described in terms of their principles and demonstrated applications in the geothermal field and, when such experience is limited, in other industrial use. Monitoring techniques for tracking particulate growth, the effect of process parameters on corrosion, and well injectability are presented. Examples of brine injection, preinjection treatment, and recovery from injectivity loss are examined and related to the aspects listed above.

Generation of extreme state of water by spherical wire array underwater electrical explosion

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

Antonov, O.; Gilburd, L.; Efimov, S.

2012-10-15

The results of the first experiments on the underwater electrical explosion of a spherical wire array generating a converging strong shock wave are reported. Using a moderate pulse power generator with a stored energy of {<=}6 kJ and discharge current of {<=}500 kA with a rise-time of {approx}300 ns, explosions of Cu and Al wire arrays of different diameters and with a different number and diameter of wires were tested. Electrical, optical, and destruction diagnostics were used to determine the energy deposited into the array, the time-of-flight of the shock wave to the origin of the implosion, and the parametersmore » of water at that location. The experimental and numerical simulation results indicate that the convergence of the shock wave leads to the formation of an extreme state of water in the vicinity of the implosion origin that is characterized by pressure, temperature, and compression factors of (2 {+-} 0.2) Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 12} Pa, 8 {+-} 0.5 eV, and 7 {+-} 0.5, respectively.« less

Adaptive Formation Control of Electrically Driven Nonholonomic Mobile Robots With Limited Information.

PubMed

Bong Seok Park; Jin Bae Park; Yoon Ho Choi

2011-08-01

We present a leader-follower-based adaptive formation control method for electrically driven nonholonomic mobile robots with limited information. First, an adaptive observer is developed under the condition that the velocity measurement is not available. With the proposed adaptive observer, the formation control part is designed to achieve the desired formation and guarantee the collision avoidance. In addition, neural network is employed to compensate the actuator saturation, and the projection algorithm is used to estimate the velocity information of the leader. It is shown, by using the Lyapunov theory, that all errors of the closed-loop system are uniformly ultimately bounded. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the performance of the proposed control system.

On the role of electric field direction in the formation of sporadic E-layers in the southern polar cap ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parkinson, M. L.; Dyson, P. L.; Monselesan, D. P.; Morris, R. J.

1998-03-01

Measurements of the occurrence of sporadic E (Es)-layers and F-region electric fields were obtained with a modern, HF digital ionosonde located at Casey, Antarctica (66.3°S, 110.5°E, 81°S CGM latitude) during the late austral summer of 1995/96. The occurrence of Es-layers was inferred from the presence of appropriate traces in normal swept-frequency ionograms, and the electric fields were inferred from F-region ``drift-mode'' velocities assuming that the plasma convection velocities given by E × B/B2 were measured, on average, by the interferometer. The theory of formation of high-latitude Es-layers predicts that electric fields directed toward the south west (SW) should be particularly effective at producing thin layers in the southern hemisphere. Our measurements made at a true polar cap station are consistent with this expectation, and are contrasted with observations made by incoherent scatter radars in the northern hemisphere, which also show the importance of SW electric fields, whereas the same theory predicts that NW electric fields should be important at northern latitudes. We reconcile the interhemispheric differences with simple calculations of ion convergence driven by the electric fields specified by the IZMIRAN electrodynamic model (IZMEM) in both hemispheres. The importance of the interplanetary magnetic field in the control of high-latitude Es formation is emphasised as an important adjunct to space weather modelling and forecasting.

An in vitro model of a system of electrical potential compensation in extracorporeal circulation.

PubMed

Carletti, Umberto; Cattini, Stefano; Lodi, Renzo; Petralia, Antonio; Rovati, Luigi; Zaffe, Davide

2014-02-01

Extracorporeal circulation (ECC) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery induces systemic immune-inflammatory reaction that results in increased postoperative morbidity. Many factors are responsible for the adverse response after ECC. The present in vitro study aimed to investigate electric charges (ECs) generated during ECC, to set a device compensating the ECs, and checking its effect on red blood cells (RBC). The electrical signals of blood in ECC were collected by a custom developed low-noise electronic circuit, processed by a digital oscilloscope (DSO) and a dynamic signal analyzer (DSA). The compensation of ECs was performed using a compensation device, injecting a nulling charge into the blood circuit. The compensation effect of the ECs on RBCs was evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The electrical analysis performed using both the DSO and the DSA confirmed the EC formation during ECC. The notable electric signals recorded in standard ECC circuits substantially nulled once the compensation device was used, thus confirming efficient EC compensation. After two hours of ECC, the SEM non-blended test on human RBC samples highlighted morphological changes in acanthocytes of the normal biconcave-shaped RBC. The outcomes confirm the development of parasitic ECs during ECC and that a suppressor system may decrease the potential damage of ECs. Nevertheless, further studies are ongoing in order to investigate the complex mechanisms related to lymphocytes and platelet morphological and physiological chances during triboelectric charges in ECC.

Synthesis of kenaf cellulose carbamate and its smart electric stimuli-response.

PubMed

Gan, Sinyee; Piao, Shang Hao; Choi, Hyoung Jin; Zakaria, Sarani; Chia, Chin Hua

2016-02-10

Cellulose carbamate (CC) was produced from kenaf core pulp (KCP) via a microwave reactor-assisted method. The formation of CC was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nitrogen content analysis. The degree of substitution, zeta potential and size distribution of CC were also determined. The CC was characterized with scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry analysis. The CC particles were then dispersed in silicone oil to prepare CC-based anhydrous electric stimuli-responsive electrorheological (ER) fluids. Rhelogical measurement was carried out using rotational rheometer with a high voltage generator in both steady and oscillatory shear modes to examine the effect of electric field strength on the ER characteristics. The results showed that the increase in electric field strength has enhanced the ER properties of CC-based ER fluid due to the chain formation induced by electric polarization among the particles. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enhanced electrical activation in In-implanted Ge by C co-doping

DOE PAGES

Feng, R.; Kremer, F.; Sprouster, D.; ...

2015-11-22

At high dopant concentrations in Ge, electrically activating all implanted dopants is a major obstacle in the fulfillment of high-performance Ge-channel complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices. In this letter, we demonstrate a significant increase in the electrically-active dopant fraction in In-implanted Ge by co-doping with the isovalent element C. Electrical measurements have been correlated with x-ray absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy results in addition to density functional theory simulations. With C þ In co-doping, the electrically active fraction was doubled and tripled at In concentrations of 0.2 and 0.7 at. %, respectively. This marked improvement was the result ofmore » C-In pair formation such that In-induced strain in the Ge lattice was reduced while the precipitation of In and the formation of In-V clusters were both suppressed.« less

Power systems utilizing the heat of produced formation fluid

DOEpatents

Lambirth, Gene Richard [Houston, TX

2011-01-11

Systems, methods, and heaters for treating a subsurface formation are described herein. At least one method includes treating a hydrocarbon containing formation. The method may include providing heat to the formation; producing heated fluid from the formation; and generating electricity from at least a portion of the heated fluid using a Kalina cycle.

Aerosols and seismo-ionosphere coupling: A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Namgaladze, Aleksandr; Karpov, Mikhail; Knyazeva, Maria

2018-06-01

The role of atmosphere aerosols in the global electric circuit, particularly during earthquakes preparation periods, is discussed in this review paper. Aerosols participate in production and transport of electric charges as well as in clouds formation. Satellite imagery shows increased aerosol optical depth over the tectonic faults and formation of the anomalous clouds aligned with the faults shortly before the earthquake shocks. At the same time variations of the ionospheric electric field and total electron content (TEC) are observed. We assume that the vertical electric current is generated over the fault due to the separation and vertical transport of charges with different masses and polarities. This charges the ionosphere positively relative to the Earth in the same way as the thunderstorm currents do. The resulting electric field in the ionosphere drives F2-layer plasma via the electromagnetic [E→ ×B→ ] drift and decreases or increases electron density depending on the configuration of the electric field, thus, creating observed negative or positive TEC disturbances. The important role of the electric dynamo effect in these processes is underlined.

Microbial utilization of electrically reduced neutral red as the sole electron donor for growth and metabolite production

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

Park, D.H.; Laivenieks, M.; Guettler, M.V.

1999-07-01

Electrically reduced neutral red (NR) served as the sole source of reducing power for growth and metabolism of pure and mixed cultures of H[sub 2]-consuming bacteria in a novel electrochemical bioreactor system. NR was continuously reduced by the cathodic potential ([minus]1.5 V) generated from an electric current (0.3 to 1.0 mA), and it was subsequently oxidized by Actinobacillus succinogenes or by mixed methanogenic cultures. The A. succinogenes mutant strain FZ-6 did not grow on fumarate alone unless electrically reduced NR or hydrogen was present as the electron donor for succinate production. The mutant strain, unlike the wild type, lacked pyruvatemore » formate lyase and formate dehydrogenase. Electrically reduced NR also replaced hydrogen as the sole electron donor source for growth and production of methane from CO[sub 2]. These results show that both pure and mixed cultures can function as electrochemical devices when electrically generated reducing power can be used to drive metabolism. The potential utility of utilizing electrical reducing power in enhancing industrial fermentations or biotransformation processes is discussed.« less

Non-ferromagnetic overburden casing

DOEpatents

Vinegar, Harold J.; Harris, Christopher Kelvin; Mason, Stanley Leroy

2010-09-14

Systems, methods, and heaters for treating a subsurface formation are described herein. At least one system for electrically insulating an overburden portion of a heater wellbore is described. The system may include a heater wellbore located in a subsurface formation and an electrically insulating casing located in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore. The casing may include at least one non-ferromagnetic material such that ferromagnetic effects are inhibited in the casing.

Emission current formation in plasma electron emitters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gruzdev, V. A.; Zalesski, V. G.

2010-12-01

A model of the plasma electron emitter is considered, in which the current redistribution over electrodes of the emitter gas-discharge structure and weak electric field formation in plasma are taken into account as functions of the emission current. The calculated and experimental dependences of the switching parameters, extraction efficiency, and strength of the electric field in plasma on the accelerating voltage and geometrical sizes of the emission channel are presented.

Formation of Electrostatic Potential Drops in the Auroral Zone

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schriver, D.; Ashour-Abdalla, M.; Richard, R. L.

2001-01-01

In order to examine the self-consistent formation of large-scale quasi-static parallel electric fields in the auroral zone on a micro/meso scale, a particle in cell simulation has been developed. The code resolves electron Debye length scales so that electron micro-processes are included and a variable grid scheme is used such that the overall length scale of the simulation is of the order of an Earth radii along the magnetic field. The simulation is electrostatic and includes the magnetic mirror force, as well as two types of plasmas, a cold dense ionospheric plasma and a warm tenuous magnetospheric plasma. In order to study the formation of parallel electric fields in the auroral zone, different magnetospheric ion and electron inflow boundary conditions are used to drive the system. It has been found that for conditions in the primary (upward) current region an upward directed quasi-static electric field can form across the system due to magnetic mirroring of the magnetospheric ions and electrons at different altitudes. For conditions in the return (downward) current region it is shown that a quasi-static parallel electric field in the opposite sense of that in the primary current region is formed, i.e., the parallel electric field is directed earthward. The conditions for how these different electric fields can be formed are discussed using satellite observations and numerical simulations.

Electrochemical mineral scale prevention and removal on electrically conducting carbon nanotube--polyamide reverse osmosis membranes.

PubMed

Duan, Wenyan; Dudchenko, Alexander; Mende, Elizabeth; Flyer, Celeste; Zhu, Xiaobo; Jassby, David

2014-05-01

The electrochemical prevention and removal of CaSO4 and CaCO3 mineral scales on electrically conducting carbon nanotube - polyamide reverse osmosis membrane was investigated. Different electrical potentials were applied to the membrane surface while filtering model scaling solutions with high saturation indices. Scaling progression was monitored through flux measurements. CaCO3 scale was efficiently removed from the membrane surface through the intermittent application of a 2.5 V potential to the membrane surface, when the membrane acted as an anode. Water oxidation at the anode, which led to proton formation, resulted in the dissolution of deposited CaCO3 crystals. CaSO4 scale formation was significantly retarded through the continuous application of 1.5 V DC to the membrane surface, when the membrane was operated as an anode. The continuous application of a sufficient electrical potential to the membrane surface leads to the formation of a thick layer of counter-ions along the membrane surface that pushed CaSO4 crystal formation away from the membrane surface, allowing the formed crystals to be carried away by the cross-flow. We developed a simple model, based on a modified Poisson-Boltzmann equation, which qualitatively explained our observed experimental results.

Application of geophysical techniques for 3D geohazard mapping to delineate cavities and potential sinkholes in the northern part of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

PubMed

Bakhshipour, Zeinab; Huat, Bujang B K; Ibrahim, Shaharin; Asadi, Afshin; Kura, Nura Umar

2013-01-01

This work describes the application of the electrical resistivity (ER) method to delineating subsurface structures and cavities in Kuala Lumpur Limestone within the Batu Cave area of Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. In all, 17 ER profiles were measured by using a Wenner electrode configuration with 2 m spacing. The field survey was accompanied by laboratory work, which involves taking resistivity measurements of rock, soil, and water samples taken from the field to obtain the formation factor. The relationship between resistivity and the formation factor and porosity for all the samples was established. The porosity values were plotted and contoured. A 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional representation of the subsurface topography of the area was prepared through use of commercial computer software. The results show the presence of cavities and sinkholes in some parts of the study area. This work could help engineers and environmental managers by providing the information necessary to produce a sustainable management plan in order to prevent catastrophic collapses of structures and other related geohazard problems.

Application of Geophysical Techniques for 3D Geohazard Mapping to Delineate Cavities and Potential Sinkholes in the Northern Part of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

PubMed Central

Bakhshipour, Zeinab; Huat, Bujang B. K.; Ibrahim, Shaharin; Asadi, Afshin

2013-01-01

This work describes the application of the electrical resistivity (ER) method to delineating subsurface structures and cavities in Kuala Lumpur Limestone within the Batu Cave area of Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. In all, 17 ER profiles were measured by using a Wenner electrode configuration with 2 m spacing. The field survey was accompanied by laboratory work, which involves taking resistivity measurements of rock, soil, and water samples taken from the field to obtain the formation factor. The relationship between resistivity and the formation factor and porosity for all the samples was established. The porosity values were plotted and contoured. A 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional representation of the subsurface topography of the area was prepared through use of commercial computer software. The results show the presence of cavities and sinkholes in some parts of the study area. This work could help engineers and environmental managers by providing the information necessary to produce a sustainable management plan in order to prevent catastrophic collapses of structures and other related geohazard problems. PMID:24501583

A Global Electric Circuit on Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Delory, G. T.; Farrell, W. M.; Desch, M. D.

2001-01-01

We describe conditions on the surface of Mars conducive to the formation of a martian global electric circuit, in a direct analogy to the terrestrial case where atmospheric currents and electric fields are generated worldwide through the charging in thunderstorms. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Numerical simulation of electrically stimulated osteogenesis in dental implants.

PubMed

Vanegas-Acosta, J C; Garzón-Alvarado, D A; Lancellotti, V

2014-04-01

Cell behavior and tissue formation are influenced by a static electric field (EF). Several protocols for EF exposure are aimed at increasing the rate of tissue recovery and reducing the healing times in wounds. However, the underlying mechanisms of the EF action on cells and tissues are still a matter of research. In this work we introduce a mathematical model for electrically stimulated osteogenesis at the bone-dental implant interface. The model describes the influence of the EF in the most critical biological processes leading to bone formation at the bone-dental implant interface. The numerical solution is able to reproduce the distribution of spatial-temporal patterns describing the influence of EF during blood clotting, osteogenic cell migration, granulation tissue formation, displacements of the fibrillar matrix, and formation of new bone. In addition, the model describes the EF-mediated cell behavior and tissue formation which lead to an increased osteogenesis in both smooth and rough implant surfaces. Since numerical results compare favorably with experimental evidence, the model can be used to predict the outcome of using electrostimulation in other types of wounds and tissues. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Tapered Aluminium Microelectrode Array for Improvement of Dielectrophoresis-Based Particle Manipulation

PubMed Central

Buyong, Muhamad Ramdzan; Larki, Farhad; Faiz, Mohd Syafiq; Hamzah, Azrul Azlan; Yunas, Jumrail; Majlis, Burhanuddin Yeop

2015-01-01

In this work, the dielectrophoretic force (FDEP) response of Aluminium Microelectrode Arrays with tapered profile is investigated through experimental measurements and numerical simulations. A standard CMOS processing technique with a step for the formation of a tapered profile resist is implemented in the fabrication of Tapered Aluminium Microelectrode Arrays (TAMA). The FDEP is investigated through analysis of the Clausius-Mossotti factor (CMF) and cross-over frequency (fxo). The performance of TAMA with various side wall angles is compared to that of microelectrodes with a straight cut sidewall profile over a wide range of frequencies through FEM numerical simulations. Additionally, electric field measurement (EFM) is performed through scanning probe microscopy (SPM) in order to obtain the region of force focus in both platforms. Results showed that the tapered profile microelectrodes with angles between 60° and 70° produce the highest electric field gradient on the particles. Also, the region of the strongest electric field in TAMA is located at the bottom and top edge of microelectrode while the strongest electric field in microelectrodes with straight cut profile is found at the top corner of the microelectrode. The latter property of microelectrodes improves the probability of capturing/repelling the particles at the microelectrode’s side wall. PMID:25970255

A tapered aluminium microelectrode array for improvement of dielectrophoresis-based particle manipulation.

PubMed

Buyong, Muhamad Ramdzan; Larki, Farhad; Faiz, Mohd Syafiq; Hamzah, Azrul Azlan; Yunas, Jumrail; Majlis, Burhanuddin Yeop

2015-05-11

In this work, the dielectrophoretic force (F(DEP)) response of Aluminium Microelectrode Arrays with tapered profile is investigated through experimental measurements and numerical simulations. A standard CMOS processing technique with a step for the formation of a tapered profile resist is implemented in the fabrication of Tapered Aluminium Microelectrode Arrays (TAMA). The F(DEP) is investigated through analysis of the Clausius-Mossotti factor (CMF) and cross-over frequency (f(xo)). The performance of TAMA with various side wall angles is compared to that of microelectrodes with a straight cut sidewall profile over a wide range of frequencies through FEM numerical simulations. Additionally, electric field measurement (EFM) is performed through scanning probe microscopy (SPM) in order to obtain the region of force focus in both platforms. Results showed that the tapered profile microelectrodes with angles between 60° and 70° produce the highest electric field gradient on the particles. Also, the region of the strongest electric field in TAMA is located at the bottom and top edge of microelectrode while the strongest electric field in microelectrodes with straight cut profile is found at the top corner of the microelectrode. The latter property of microelectrodes improves the probability of capturing/repelling the particles at the microelectrode's side wall.

Solar thermal electricity generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gasemagha, Khairy Ramadan

1993-01-01

This report presents the results of modeling the thermal performance and economic feasibility of large (utility scale) and small solar thermal power plants for electricity generation. A number of solar concepts for power systems applications have been investigated. Each concept has been analyzed over a range of plant power ratings from 1 MW(sub e) to 300 MW(sub e) and over a range of capacity factors from a no-storage case (capacity factor of about 0.25 to 0.30) up to intermediate load capacity factors in the range of 0.46 to 0.60. The solar plant's economic viability is investigated by examining the effect of various parameters on the plant costs (both capital and O & M) and the levelized energy costs (LEC). The cost components are reported in six categories: collectors, energy transport, energy storage, energy conversion, balance of plant, and indirect/contingency costs. Concentrator and receiver costs are included in the collector category. Thermal and electric energy transport costs are included in the energy transport category. Costs for the thermal or electric storage are included in the energy storage category; energy conversion costs are included in the energy conversion category. The balance of plant cost category comprises the structures, land, service facilities, power conditioning, instrumentation and controls, and spare part costs. The indirect/contingency category consists of the indirect construction and the contingency costs. The concepts included in the study are (1) molten salt cavity central receiver with salt storage (PFCR/R-C-Salt); (2) molten salt external central receiver with salt storage (PFCR/R-E-Salt); (3) sodium external central receiver with sodium storage (PFCR/RE-Na); (4) sodium external central receiver with salt storage (PFCR/R-E-Na/Salt); (5) water/steam external central receiver with oil/rock storage (PFCR/R-E-W/S); (6) parabolic dish with stirling engine conversion and lead acid battery storage (PFDR/SLAB); (7) parabolic dish with stirling engine conversion and redox advanced battery storage (PFDR/S-RAB); and (8) parabolic trough with oil/rock storage (LFDR/R-HT-45). Key annual efficiency and economic results of the study are highlighted in tabular format for plant sizes and capacity factor that resulted in the lowest LEC over the analysis range.

Predicted electric-field-induced hexatic structure in an ionomer membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allahyarov, Elshad; Taylor, Philip L.

2009-08-01

Coarse-grained molecular-dynamics simulations were used to study the morphological changes induced in a Nafion®-like ionomer by the imposition of a strong electric field. We observe the formation of structures aligned along the direction of the applied field. The polar head groups of the ionomer sidechains aggregate into clusters, which then form rodlike formations which assemble into a hexatic array aligned with the direction of the field. Occasionally these lines of sulfonates and protons form a helical structure. Upon removal of the electric field, the hexatic array of rodlike structures persists and has a lower calculated free energy than the original isotropic morphology.

Comparison of formation and fluid-column logs in a heterogeneous basalt aquifer

USGS Publications Warehouse

Paillet, F.L.; Williams, J.H.; Oki, D.S.; Knutson, K.D.

2002-01-01

Deep observation boreholes in the vicinity of active production wells in Honolulu, Hawaii, exhibit the anomalous condition that fluid-column electrical conductivity logs and apparent profiles of pore-water electrical conductivity derived from induction conductivity logs are nearly identical if a formation factor of 12.5 is assumed. This condition is documented in three boreholes where fluid-column logs clearly indicate the presence of strong borehole flow induced by withdrawal from partially penetrating water-supply wells. This result appears to contradict the basic principles of conductivity-log interpretation. Flow conditions in one of these boreholes was investigated in detail by obtaining flow profiles under two water production conditions using the electromagnetic flowmeter. The flow-log interpretation demonstrates that the fluid-column log resembles the induction log because the amount of inflow to the borehole increases systematically upward through the transition zone between deeper salt water and shallower fresh water. This condition allows the properties of the fluid column to approximate the properties of water entering the borehole as soon as the upflow stream encounters that producing zone. Because this condition occurs in all three boreholes investigated, the similarity of induction and fluid-column logs is probably not a coincidence, and may relate to aquifer response under the influence of pumping from production wells.

Comparison of formation and fluid-column logs in a heterogeneous basalt aquifer.

PubMed

Paillet, F L; Williams, J H; Oki, D S; Knutson, K D

2002-01-01

Deep observation boreholes in the vicinity of active production wells in Honolulu, Hawaii, exhibit the anomalous condition that fluid-column electrical conductivity logs and apparent profiles of pore-water electrical conductivity derived from induction conductivity logs are nearly identical if a formation factor of 12.5 is assumed. This condition is documented in three boreholes where fluid-column logs clearly indicate the presence of strong borehole flow induced by withdrawal from partially penetrating water-supply wells. This result appears to contradict the basic principles of conductivity-log interpretation. Flow conditions in one of these boreholes was investigated in detail by obtaining flow profiles under two water production conditions using the electromagnetic flowmeter. The flow-log interpretation demonstrates that the fluid-column log resembles the induction log because the amount of inflow to the borehole increases systematically upward through the transition zone between deeper salt water and shallower fresh water. This condition allows the properties of the fluid column to approximate the properties of water entering the borehole as soon as the upflow stream encounters that producing zone. Because this condition occurs in all three boreholes investigated, the similarity of induction and fluid-column logs is probably not a coincidence, and may relate to aquifer response under the influence of pumping from production wells.

Enhancement of thermoelectric performance in strontium titanate by praseodymium substitution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kovalevsky, A. V.; Yaremchenko, A. A.; Populoh, S.; Weidenkaff, A.; Frade, J. R.

2013-02-01

In order to identify the effects of Pr additions on thermoelectric properties of strontium titanate, crystal structure, electrical and thermal conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient of Sr1-xPrxTiO3 (x = 0.02-0.30) materials were studied at 400 < T < 1180 K under highly reducing atmosphere. The mechanism of electronic transport was found to be similar up to 10% of praseodymium content, where generation of the charge carriers upon substitution resulted in significant increase of the electrical conductivity, moderate decrease in Seebeck coefficient, and general improvement of the power factor. Formation of point defects in the course of substitution led to suppression of the lattice thermal conductivity, whilst the contribution from electronic component was increasing with carrier concentration. Possible formation of layered structures and growing distortion of the perovskite lattice resulted in relatively low thermoelectric performance for Sr0.80Pr0.20TiO3 and Sr0.70Pr0.30TiO3. The maximum dimensionless figure of merit was observed for Sr0.90Pr0.10TiO3 and amounted to ˜0.23 at 670 K and ˜0.34 at 1170 K, close to the values, obtained in similar conditions for the best bulk thermoelectrics, based on rare-earth substituted SrTiO3.

A RESTful API for Exchanging Materials Data in the AFLOWLIB.org Consortium

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-12

of North Texas, Denton TX 4Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics and Chemistry, Duke University, Durham NC, 27708 †On leave from the...software tools, input and output data are maintained remotely, lowering cost, improving ecological sustainability (saving electricity ) and increas- ing...enthalpy_formation_atom) – Description. Returns the formation enthalpy ∆HF per unit cell (∆HF atomic per atom). For compounds ANABNB · · · with NA + NB

Virtual CO2 Emission Flows in the Global Electricity Trade Network.

PubMed

Qu, Shen; Li, Yun; Liang, Sai; Yuan, Jiahai; Xu, Ming

2018-06-05

Quantifying greenhouse gas emissions due to electricity consumption is crucial for climate mitigation in the electric power sector. Current practices primarily use production-based emission factors to quantify emissions for electricity consumption, assuming production and consumption of electricity take place within the same region. The increasingly intensified cross-border electricity trade complicates the accounting for emissions of electricity consumption. This study employs a network approach to account for the flows in the whole electricity trade network to estimate CO 2 emissions of electricity consumption for 137 major countries/regions in 2014. Results show that in some countries, especially those in Europe and Southern Africa, the impacts of electricity trade on the estimation of emission factors and embodied emissions are significant. The changes made to emission factors by considering intergrid electricity trade can have significant implications for emission accounting and climate mitigation when multiplied by total electricity consumption of the corresponding countries/regions.

Narrowband thermal radiation from closed-end microcavities

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

Kohiyama, Asaka; Shimizu, Makoto; Iguchi, Fumitada

2015-10-07

High spectral selectivity of thermal radiation is important for achieving high-efficiency energy systems. In this study, intense, narrowband, and low directional absorption/radiation were observed in closed-end microcavity which is a conventional open-end microcavity covered by a semi-transparent thin metal film. The quality factor (Q factor) of optical absorption band strongly depended on the film electrical conductivity. Asymmetric and narrow absorption band with a Q factor of 25 at 1.28 μm was obtained for a 6-nm-thick Au film. Numerical simulations suggest that the formation of a fixed-end mode at the cavity aperture contributes to the narrowband optical absorption. The closed-end microcavity filledmore » with SiO{sub 2} exhibits intense and isotropic thermal radiation over a wide solid angle according to numerical simulation. The narrow and asymmetric absorption spectrum was experimentally confirmed in a model of closed-end microcavity.« less

Contractile activity of human skeletal muscle cells prevents insulin resistance by inhibiting pro-inflammatory signalling pathways.

PubMed

Lambernd, S; Taube, A; Schober, A; Platzbecker, B; Görgens, S W; Schlich, R; Jeruschke, K; Weiss, J; Eckardt, K; Eckel, J

2012-04-01

Obesity is closely associated with muscle insulin resistance and is a major risk factor for the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Regular physical activity not only prevents obesity, but also considerably improves insulin sensitivity and skeletal muscle metabolism. We sought to establish and characterise an in vitro model of human skeletal muscle contraction, with a view to directly studying the signalling pathways and mechanisms that are involved in the beneficial effects of muscle activity. Contracting human skeletal muscle cell cultures were established by applying electrical pulse stimulation. To induce insulin resistance, skeletal muscle cells were incubated with human adipocyte-derived conditioned medium, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 and chemerin. Similarly to in exercising skeletal muscle in vivo, electrical pulse stimulation induced contractile activity in human skeletal muscle cells, combined with the formation of sarcomeres, activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and increased IL-6 secretion. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was substantially elevated in contracting cells compared with control. The incubation of skeletal muscle cells with adipocyte-conditioned media, chemerin and MCP-1 significantly reduced the insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt. This effect was abrogated by concomitant pulse stimulation of the cells. Additionally, pro-inflammatory signalling by adipocyte-derived factors was completely prevented by electrical pulse stimulation of the myotubes. We showed that the effects of electrical pulse stimulation on skeletal muscle cells were similar to the effect of exercise on skeletal muscle in vivo in terms of enhanced AMPK activation and IL-6 secretion. In our model, muscle contractile activity eliminates insulin resistance by blocking pro-inflammatory signalling pathways. This novel model therefore provides a unique tool for investigating the molecular mechanisms that mediate the beneficial effects of muscle contraction.

Effect of ferroelectric BaTiO3 particles on the threshold voltage of a smectic A liquid crystal

PubMed Central

Imamaliyev, Abbas Rahim; Ramazanov, Mahammadali Ahmad

2018-01-01

The influence of small ferroelectric BaTiO3 particles on the planar–homeotropic transition threshold voltage in smectic A liquid crystals consisting of p-nitrophenyl p-decyloxybenzoate and 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl were studied by using capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements. It was shown that the BaTiO3 particles significantly reduce the threshold voltage. The obtained result is explained by two factors: an increase of dielectric anisotropy of the liquid crystals and the formation of a strong electric field near polarized particles of BaTiO3. It was shown that the role of the second factor is dominant. The explanations of some features observed in the C–V characteristics are given. PMID:29600143

Bipolar lead-acid batteries for electrical actuation applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pierce, Douglas C.; Gentry, William O.; Hall, David

1994-01-01

This document presents in viewgraph format information on bipolar battery development at Johnson Controls, Incorporated. The organization structure, goals, progress to date, future plans, and battery parameters and electrical properties are given.

Completing the Circuit: A Century of Electrical Education at MSM/UMR.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ridley, Jack B.

This book records highlights of the development of electrical engineering education at the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR), first known as the University of Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy (MSM). Chapter I focuses on the formative years (1871-1924), discussing the first course of study in electricity, expansion of the electrical…

Bubble Detachment in Variable Gravity Under the Influence of a Non-Uniform Electric Field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chang, Shinan; Herman, Cila; Iacona, Estelle

2002-01-01

The objective of the study reported in this paper is to investigate the effects of variable, reduced gravity on the formation and detachment behavior of individual air bubbles under the influence of a non-uniform electric field. For this purpose, variable gravity experiments were carried out in parabolic nights. The non-uniform electric field was generated by a spherical electrode and a plate electrode. The effect of the magnitude of the non-uniform electric field and gravity level on bubble formation, development and detachment at an orifice was investigated. An image processing code was developed that allows the measurement of bubble volume, dimensions and contact angle at detachment. The results of this research can be used to explore the possibility of enhancing boiling heat transfer in the variable and low gravity environments by substituting the buoyancy force with a force induced by the electric field. The results of experiments and measurements indicate that the level of gravity significantly affects bubble shape, size and frequency. The electric field magnitude also influences bubble detachment, however, its impact is not as profound as that of variable gravity for the range of electric field magnitudes investigated in the present study.

Electrical and geochemical properties of tufa deposits as related to mineral composition in the South Western Desert, Egypt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gomaa, Mohamed M.; Abou El-Anwar, Esmat A.

2015-06-01

The geochemical, petrographical, and electrical properties of rocks are essential to the investigation of the properties of minerals. In this paper we will try to present a study of the A. C. electrical properties of carbonate rock samples and their relation to petrographical and geochemical properties. Samples were collected from four formations from the Bir Dungul area, in the South Western Desert, Egypt. The electrical properties of the samples were measured using a non-polarizing electrode, at room temperature (~28 °C), and at a relative atmospheric humidity of (~45%), in the frequency range from 42 Hz to 5 MHz. The changes in the electrical properties were argued to the change in mineral composition. Generally, the electrical properties of rocks are changed due to many factors e.g., grain size, mineral composition, grain shape and inter-granular relations between grains. The dielectric constant of samples decreases with frequency, and increases with conductor concentration. Also, the conductivity increases with an increase of continuous conductor paths between electrodes. The petrographical and geochemical studies reveal that the deposition of the tufa deposits occurred in shallow lakes accompanied by a high water table, an alkaline spring recharge and significant vegetation cover. Diagenetically, tufa deposits were subjected to early and late diagenesis. Petrography and geochemistry studies indicated that the area of tufa deposits was deposited under the control of bacterial activity. Geochemically, the Sr content indicates that the tufa deposits formed from dissolved bicarbonate under the control of microbes and bacterial activity.

Particle Simulations of the Guard Electrode Effects on the Photoelectron Distribution Around an Electric Field Sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyake, Y.; Usui, H.; Kojima, H.

2010-12-01

In tenuous space plasma environment, photoelectrons emitted due to solar illumination produce a high-density photoelectron cloud localized in the vicinity of a spacecraft body and an electric field sensor. The photoelectron current emitted from the sensor has also received considerable attention because it becomes a primary factor in determining floating potentials of the sunlit spacecraft and sensor bodies. Considering the fact that asymmetric photoelectron distribution between sunlit and sunless sides of the spacecraft occasionally causes a spurious sunward electric field, we require quantitative evaluation of the photoelectron distribution around the spacecraft and its influence on electric field measurements by means of a numerical approach. In the current study, we applied the Particle-in-Cell plasma simulation to the analysis of the photoelectron environment around spacecraft. By using the PIC modeling, we can self-consistently consider the plasma kinetics. This enables us to simulate the formation of the photoelectron cloud as well as the spacecraft and sensor charging in a self-consistent manner. We report the progress of an analysis on photoelectron environment around MEFISTO, which is an electric field instrument for the BepiColombo/MMO spacecraft to Mercury’s magnetosphere. The photoelectron guard electrode is a key technology for ensuring an optimum photoelectron environment. We show some simulation results on the guard electrode effects on surrounding photoelectrons and discuss a guard operation condition for producing the optimum photoelectron environment. We also deal with another important issue, that is, how the guard electrode can mitigate an undesirable influence of an asymmetric photoelectron distribution on electric field measurements.

Eye movements evoked by electrical microstimulation of the mesencephalic reticular formation in goldfish.

PubMed

Luque, M A; Pérez-Pérez, M P; Herrero, L; Waitzman, D M; Torres, B

2006-02-01

Anatomical studies in goldfish show that the tectofugal axons provide a large number of boutons within the mesencephalic reticular formation. Electrical stimulation, reversible inactivation and cell recording in the primate central mesencephalic reticular formation have suggested that it participates in the control of rapid eye movements (saccades). Moreover, the role of this tecto-recipient area in the generation of saccadic eye movements in fish is unknown. In this study we show that the electrical microstimulation of the mesencephalic reticular formation of goldfish evoked short latency saccadic eye movements in any direction (contraversive or ipsiversive, upward or downward). Movements of the eyes were usually disjunctive. Based on the location of the sites from which eye movements were evoked and the preferred saccade direction, eye movements were divided into different groups: pure vertical saccades were mainly elicited from the rostral mesencephalic reticular formation, while oblique and pure horizontal were largely evoked from middle and caudal mesencephalic reticular formation zones. The direction and amplitude of pure vertical and horizontal saccades were unaffected by initial eye position. However the amplitude, but not the direction of most oblique saccades was systematically modified by initial eye position. At the same time, the amplitude of elicited saccades did not vary in any consistent manner along either the anteroposterior, dorsoventral or mediolateral axes (i.e. there was no topographic organization of the mesencephalic reticular formation with respect to amplitude). In addition to these groups of movements, we found convergent and goal-directed saccades evoked primarily from the anterior and posterior mesencephalic reticular formation, respectively. Finally, the metric and kinetic characteristics of saccades could be manipulated by changes in the stimulation parameters. We conclude that the mesencephalic reticular formation in goldfish shares physiological functions that correspond closely with those found in mammals.

Technical Feasibility of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Utilizing a Porous Rock Reservoir (Appendix)

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

Medeiros, Michael

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) conducted a project to explore the viability of underground compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology. CAES uses low-cost, off-peak electricity to compress air into a storage system in an underground space such as a rock formation or salt cavern. When electricity is needed, the air is withdrawn and used to drive a generator for electricity production.

Technical Feasibility of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Utilizing a Porous Rock Reservoir

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

Medeiros, Michael; Booth, Robert; Fairchild, James

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) conducted a project to explore the viability of underground compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology. CAES uses low-cost, off-peak electricity to compress air into a storage system in an underground space such as a rock formation or salt cavern. When electricity is needed, the air is withdrawn and used to drive a generator for electricity production.

Strong Schottky barrier reduction at Au-catalyst/GaAs-nanowire interfaces by electric dipole formation and Fermi-level unpinning.

PubMed

Suyatin, Dmitry B; Jain, Vishal; Nebol'sin, Valery A; Trägårdh, Johanna; Messing, Maria E; Wagner, Jakob B; Persson, Olof; Timm, Rainer; Mikkelsen, Anders; Maximov, Ivan; Samuelson, Lars; Pettersson, Håkan

2014-01-01

Nanoscale contacts between metals and semiconductors are critical for further downscaling of electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, realizing nanocontacts poses significant challenges since conventional approaches to achieve ohmic contacts through Schottky barrier suppression are often inadequate. Here we report the realization and characterization of low n-type Schottky barriers (~0.35 eV) formed at epitaxial contacts between Au-In alloy catalytic particles and GaAs-nanowires. In comparison to previous studies, our detailed characterization, employing selective electrical contacts defined by high-precision electron beam lithography, reveals the barrier to occur directly and solely at the abrupt interface between the catalyst and nanowire. We attribute this lowest-to-date-reported Schottky barrier to a reduced density of pinning states (~10(17) m(-2)) and the formation of an electric dipole layer at the epitaxial contacts. The insight into the physical mechanisms behind the observed low-energy Schottky barrier may guide future efforts to engineer abrupt nanoscale electrical contacts with tailored electrical properties.

Influence of applied electric field annealing on the microwave properties of (Ba0.5Sr0.5)TiO3 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Kwang-Hwan; Lee, Chil-Hyoung; Kang, Chong-Yun; Yoon, Seok-Jin; Lee, Young-Pak

2007-04-01

The effect of heat treatment in electric field on the structure and dielectric properties at microwave range of rf magnetron sputtering derived (Ba0.5Sr0.5)TiO3 thin films have been studied. It has been demonstrated that postannealing in the proper electric field can increase the dielectric constant and the tunability. The increased out-of-plane lattice constant in the electric-annealed films indicated the formation of small polar regions with tetragonal structure, which are responsible for the increased dielectric constant and tunability. It was proposed that the segregation of Ti3+ ions caused by electric annealing could induce the formation of BaTiO3-like regions, which are ferroelectric at room temperature. And in dielectric loss, as the Ti-O bonding lengths increase, the energy scattering on the ferroelectric mode also increases. So, the value of dielectric loss is slightly increased.

Wet etch methods for InAs nanowire patterning and self-aligned electrical contacts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fülöp, G.; d'Hollosy, S.; Hofstetter, L.; Baumgartner, A.; Nygård, J.; Schönenberger, C.; Csonka, S.

2016-05-01

Advanced synthesis of semiconductor nanowires (NWs) enables their application in diverse fields, notably in chemical and electrical sensing, photovoltaics, or quantum electronic devices. In particular, indium arsenide (InAs) NWs are an ideal platform for quantum devices, e.g. they may host topological Majorana states. While the synthesis has been continously perfected, only a few techniques have been developed to tailor individual NWs after growth. Here we present three wet chemical etch methods for the post-growth morphological engineering of InAs NWs on the sub-100 nm scale. The first two methods allow the formation of self-aligned electrical contacts to etched NWs, while the third method results in conical shaped NW profiles ideal for creating smooth electrical potential gradients and shallow barriers. Low temperature experiments show that NWs with etched segments have stable transport characteristics and can serve as building blocks of quantum electronic devices. As an example we report the formation of a single electrically stable quantum dot between two etched NW segments.

Fluorine and oxygen plasma influence on nanoparticle formation and aggregation in metal oxide thin film transistors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

MÄ dzik, Mateusz; Elamurugu, Elangovan; Viegas, Jaime

2017-03-01

Despite recent advances in metal oxide thin-film transistor technology, there are no foundry processes available yet for large-scale deployment of metal oxide electronics and photonics, in a similar way as found for silicon based electronics and photonics. One of the biggest challenges of the metal oxide platform is the stability of the fabricated devices. Also, there is wide dispersion on the measured specifications of fabricated TFT, from lot-to-lot and from different research groups. This can be partially explained by the importance of the deposition method and its parameters, which determine thin film microstructure and thus its electrical properties. Furthermore, substrate pretreatment is an important factor, as it may act as a template for material growth. Not so often mentioned, plasma processes can also affect the morphology of deposited films on further deposition steps, such as inducing nanoparticle formation, which strongly impact the conduction mechanism in the channel layer of the TFT. In this study, molybdenum doped indium oxide is sputtered onto ALD deposited HfO2 with or without pattering, and etched by RIE chlorine based processing. Nanoparticle formation is observed when photoresist is removed by oxygen plasma ashing. HfO2 etching in CF4/Ar plasma prior to resist stripping in oxygen plasma promotes the aggregation of nanoparticles into nanosized branched structures. Such nanostructuring is absent when oxygen plasma steps are replaced by chemical wet processing with acetone. Finally, in order to understand the electronic transport effect of the nanoparticles on metal oxide thin film transistors, TFT have been fabricated and electrically characterized.

Overactive bladder and pontine reticular formation.

PubMed

Zorba, Orhan Ünal; Kırbaş, Serkan; Uzun, Hakkı; Cetinkaya, Mehmet; Önem, Kadir; Rifaioğlu, Mehmet Murat

2013-01-01

The etiology of overactive bladder (OAB) remains unclear. Observed neurogenic factors in the literature are limited to suprapontine or spinal pathologies. The blink reflex is a useful tool in the evaluation of brainstem functions. Blink reflex latency times were evaluated in order to reveal pathology in the brainstem. A total of 60 women, 30 patients with idiopathic OAB and 30 healthy controls, were enrolled in the study. Blink reflex latency times were analyzed by electrical stimulation of the supraorbital nerve. Two responses in the orbicularis oculi muscle, early ipsilateral response (R1) and late bilateral response (R2) latency times, were recorded. Mean ages of the patients and controls were 51.9 ± 5.3 and 49.2 ± 6.2 years, respectively. R2 latency times were significantly higher in patients than in controls. However, R1 latency times were similar between the two groups. The results of the study suggest a significant relation between late blink latency times and OAB. An oligosynaptic path via the trigeminal nuclei is responsible for R1; however, R2 response is relayed through the reticular formation. Stimulation of pontine reticular formation inhibits micturition contraction. In some patients, idiopathic OAB may result from reticular formation-originated pathology. Additional studies on other reticular formation-mediated reflexes are needed to reveal possible dysfunction of reticular formation. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

N-type molecular electrical doping in organic semiconductors: formation and dissociation efficiencies of charge transfer complex

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jae-Min; Yoo, Seung-Jun; Moon, Chang-Ki; Sim, Bomi; Lee, Jae-Hyun; Lim, Heeseon; Kim, Jeong Won; Kim, Jang-Joo

2016-09-01

Electrical doping is an important method in organic electronics to enhance device efficiency by controlling Fermi level, increasing conductivity, and reducing injection barrier from electrode. To understand the charge generation process of dopant in doped organic semiconductors, it is important to analyze the charge transfer complex (CTC) formation and dissociation into free charge carrier. In this paper, we correlate charge generation efficiency with the CTC formation and dissociation efficiency of n-dopant in organic semiconductors (OSs). The CTC formation efficiency of Rb2CO3 linearly decreases from 82.8% to 47.0% as the doping concentration increases from 2.5 mol% to 20 mol%. The CTC formation efficiency and its linear decrease with doping concentration are analytically correlated with the concentration-dependent size and number of dopant agglomerates by introducing the degree of reduced CTC formation. Lastly, the behavior of dissociation efficiency is discussed based on the picture of the statistical semiconductor theory and the frontier orbital hybridization model.

Dielectric-spectroscopy approach to ferrofluid nanoparticle clustering induced by an external electric field.

PubMed

Rajnak, Michal; Kurimsky, Juraj; Dolnik, Bystrik; Kopcansky, Peter; Tomasovicova, Natalia; Taculescu-Moaca, Elena Alina; Timko, Milan

2014-09-01

An experimental study of magnetic colloidal particles cluster formation induced by an external electric field in a ferrofluid based on transformer oil is presented. Using frequency domain isothermal dielectric spectroscopy, we study the influence of a test cell electrode separation distance on a low-frequency relaxation process. We consider the relaxation process to be associated with an electric double layer polarization taking place on the particle surface. It has been found that the relaxation maximum considerably shifts towards lower frequencies when conducting the measurements in the test cells with greater electrode separation distances. As the electric field intensity was always kept at a constant value, we propose that the particle cluster formation induced by the external ac electric field accounts for that phenomenon. The increase in the relaxation time is in accordance with the Schwarz theory of electric double layer polarization. In addition, we analyze the influence of a static electric field generated by dc bias voltage on a similar shift in the relaxation maximum position. The variation of the dc electric field for the hysteresis measurements purpose provides understanding of the development of the particle clusters and their decay. Following our results, we emphasize the utility of dielectric spectroscopy as a simple, complementary method for detection and study of clusters of colloidal particles induced by external electric field.

Electrical characteristics of rocks in fractured and caved reservoirs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Tianzhi; Lu, Tao; Zhang, Haining; Jiang, Liming; Liu, Tangyan; Meng, He; Wang, Feifei

2017-12-01

The conductive paths formed by fractures and cave in complex reservoirs differ from those formed by pores and throats in clastic rocks. In this paper, a new formation model based on fractured and caved reservoirs is established, and the electrical characteristics of rocks are analyzed with different pore structures using resistance law to understand their effects on rock resistivity. The ratio of fracture width to cave radius (C e value) and fracture dip are employed to depict pore structure in this model. Our research shows that the electrical characteristics of rocks in fractured and caved reservoirs are strongly affected by pore structure and porous fluid distribution. Although the rock electrical properties associated with simple pore structure agree well with Archie formulae, the relationships between F and φ or between I and S w , in more complicated pore structures, are nonlinear in double logarithmic coordinates. The parameters in Archie formulae are not constant and they depend on porosity and fluid saturation. Our calculations suggest that the inclined fracture may lead to resistivity anisotropy in the formation. The bigger dip the inclining fracture has, the more anisotropy the formation resistivity has. All of these studies own practical sense for the evaluation of oil saturation using resistivity logging data.

Electric utilities and telecommunications

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

Moeller, J.W.

1995-08-01

Part I of this article will provide some background on the involvement of electric utilities in telecommunications. It will discuss the Power Radio Services, under which the FCC regulates radio communications of electric utilities, the pole attachment statute of the Communications Act, which authorized the FCC to regulate attachments of cable television cables to electric utility poles, and a recent Department of Energy (DOE) report on the need for a demonstration on the use of telecommunications for DSM. Part I will also discuss several recent developments relative to the Power Radio Services and the pole attachment statute. Part II willmore » discuss electric utilities and telecommunications under PUHCA. It will outline the extensive and complex requirements of PUHCA that are applicable to public utility holding companies, as well as the specific requirements of PUHCA for the formation by public utility holding companies of subsidiaries to engage in telecommunications activities. It will also discuss the seven instances in the past decade in which the SEC has approved the formation by public utility holding companies of such subsidiaries. Part III of this article will discuss a principal obstacle to expanded electric utility involvement in telecommunications activities-a series of administrative and judicial decisions that illustrate the potential for dual regulation by the SEC and the FERC to result in confusion and inefficiencies. It will also discuss proposals in Congress to minimize this potential. Part IV will discuss House Bill 3636 and Senate Bill 1822 and their proposals to amend PUHCA to facilitate the formation or acquisition by public utility holding companies of non-utility subsidiaries to engage in telecommunications activities. It will also discuss their proposals to address the potential consequences of dual regulation by the SEC and the FERC of electric utilities involved in telecommunications.« less

76 FR 23222 - Electric Reliability Organization Interpretation of Transmission Operations Reliability

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-26

... applications or print-to-PDF format, and not in a scanned format, at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling....3d 1342 (DC Cir. 2009). \\5\\ Mandatory Reliability Standards for the Bulk-Power System, Order No. 693... applications or print-to-PDF format and not in a scanned format. Commenters filing electronically do not need...

The formation of ozone and UV radiation from high-power pulsed electric discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piskarev, I. M.; Ushkanov, V. A.; Selemir, V. D.; Spirov, G. M.; Malevannaya Pikar', I. A.; Zuimach, E. A.

2008-09-01

High-power electric discharges with pulse energies of from 0.15 J to 4 kJ were studied. The yields of UV photons and ozone were found to be approximately equal, which led us to conclude that discharge conditions under which UV radiation and ozone fully destroyed each other were possible. If ozone formation was suppressed, as when a negative volume charge was created in the spark gap region, the flux of UV photons reached 3 × 1023 photons/(cm2 s).

Technical Feasibility of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Utilizing a Porous Rock Reservoir, Appendix — Chapter 7

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

Medeiros, Michael

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) conducted a project to explore the viability of underground compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology. CAES uses low-cost, off-peak electricity to compress air into a storage system in an underground space such as a rock formation or salt cavern. When electricity is needed, the air is withdrawn and used to drive a generator for electricity production.

Technical Feasibility of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Utilizing a Porous Rock Reservoir, Appendix — Chapter 6

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

Medeiros, Michael

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) conducted a project to explore the viability of underground compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology. CAES uses low-cost, off-peak electricity to compress air into a storage system in an underground space such as a rock formation or salt cavern. When electricity is needed, the air is withdrawn and used to drive a generator for electricity production.

Technical Feasibility of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Utilizing a Porous Rock Reservoir, Appendix — Chapter 4

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

Medeiros, Michael

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) conducted a project to explore the viability of underground compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology. CAES uses low-cost, off-peak electricity to compress air into a storage system in an underground space such as a rock formation or salt cavern. When electricity is needed, the air is withdrawn and used to drive a generator for electricity production.

Technical Feasibility of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Utilizing a Porous Rock Reservoir, Appendix — Chapter 9

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

Medeiros, Michael

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) conducted a project to explore the viability of underground compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology. CAES uses low-cost, off-peak electricity to compress air into a storage system in an underground space such as a rock formation or salt cavern. When electricity is needed, the air is withdrawn and used to drive a generator for electricity production.

Technical Feasibility of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Utilizing a Porous Rock Reservoir, Appendix — Chapter 3

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

Medeiros, Michael

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) conducted a project to explore the viability of underground compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology. CAES uses low-cost, off-peak electricity to compress air into a storage system in an underground space such as a rock formation or salt cavern. When electricity is needed, the air is withdrawn and used to drive a generator for electricity production.

Technical Feasibility of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Utilizing a Porous Rock Reservoir, Appendix — Chapter 5

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

Medeiros, Michael

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) conducted a project to explore the viability of underground compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology. CAES uses low-cost, off-peak electricity to compress air into a storage system in an underground space such as a rock formation or salt cavern. When electricity is needed, the air is withdrawn and used to drive a generator for electricity production.

Technical Feasibility of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Utilizing a Porous Rock Reservoir, Appendix — Chapter 8

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

Medeiros, Michael

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) conducted a project to explore the viability of underground compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology. CAES uses low-cost, off-peak electricity to compress air into a storage system in an underground space such as a rock formation or salt cavern. When electricity is needed, the air is withdrawn and used to drive a generator for electricity production.

Methods and apparatus for measurement of the resistivity of geological formations from within cased wells in presence of acoustic and magnetic energy sources

DOEpatents

Vail, W.B. III.

1991-08-27

Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring the acoustically modulated electronic properties of geological formations and cement layers adjacent to cased boreholes. Current is passed from an electrode in electrical contact with the interior of the borehole casing to an electrode on the surface of the earth. Voltage measuring electrodes in electrical contact with the interior of the casing measure the voltage at various points thereon. The voltage differences between discrete pairs of the voltage measuring electrodes provide a measurement of the leakage current conducted into formation in the vicinity of those electrodes. Simultaneously subjecting the casing and formation to an acoustic source acoustically modulates the leakage current measured thereby providing a measure of the acoustically modulated electronic properties of the adjacent formation. Similarly, methods and apparatus are also described which measure the leakage current into formation while simultaneously subjecting the casing to an applied magnetic field which therefore allows measurement of the magnetically modulated electronic properties of the casing and the adjacent formation. 9 figures.

Methods and apparatus for measurement of the resistivity of geological formations from within cased wells in presence of acoustic and magnetic energy sources

DOEpatents

Vail, III, William B.

1991-01-01

Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring the acoustically modulated electronic properties of geological formations and cement layers adjacent to cased boreholes. Current is passed from an electrode in electrical contact with the interior of the borehole casing to an electrode on the surface of the earth. Voltage measuring electrodes in electrical contact with the interior of the casing measure the voltage at various points thereon. The voltage differences between discrete pairs of the voltage measuring electrodes provide a measurement of the leakage current conducted into formation in the vicinity of those electrodes. Simultaneously subjecting the casing and formation to an acoustic source acoustically modulates the leakage current measured thereby providing a measure of the acoustically modulated electronic properties of the adjacent formation. Similarly, methods and apparatus are also described which measure the leakage current into formation while simultaneously subjecting the casing to an applied magnetic field which therefore allows measurement of the magnetically modulated electronic properties of the casing and the adjacent formation.

Effects of electric fields on the photonic crystal formation from block copolymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Taekun; Ju, Jin-wook; Ryoo, Won

2012-03-01

Effects of electric fields on the self-assembly of block copolymers have been investigated for thin films of polystyrene-bpoly( 2-vinyl pyridine); PS-b-P2VP, 52 kg/mol-b-57 kg/mol and 133 kg/mol-b-132 kg/mol. Block copolymers of polystyrene and poly(2-vinyl pyridine) have been demonstrated to form photonic crystals of 1D lamellar structure with optical band gaps that correspond to UV-to-visible light. The formation of lamellar structure toward minimum freeenergy state needs increasing polymer chain mobility, and the self-assembly process is accelerated usually by annealing, that is exposing the thin film to solvent vapor such as chloroform and dichloromethane. In this study, thin films of block copolymers were spin-coated on substrates and placed between electrode arrays of various patterns including pin-points, crossing and parallel lines. As direct or alternating currents were applied to electrode arrays during annealing process, the final structure of thin films was altered from the typical 1D lamellae in the absence of electric fields. The formation of lamellar structure was spatially controlled depending on the shape of electrode arrays, and the photonic band gap also could be modulated by electric field strength. The spatial formation of lamellar structure was examined with simulated distribution of electrical potentials by finite difference method (FDM). P2VP layers in self-assembled film were quaternized with methyl iodide vapor, and the remaining lamellar structure was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The result of this work is expected to provide ways of fabricating functional structures for display devices utilizing photonic crystal array.

Construction fatality due to electrical contact in Ontario, Canada, 1997-2007.

PubMed

Kim, Hwan; Lewko, John; Garritano, Enzo; Sharma, Bhanu; Moody, Joel; Colantonio, Angela

2016-06-27

Electrical contact is a leading cause of occupational fatality in the construction industry. However, research on the factors that contribute to electricity-related fatality in construction is limited. To characterize, using an adapted Haddon's Matrix, the factors that contribute to electricity-related occupational fatalities in the construction industry in Ontario, Canada. Coroner's data on occupational electricity-related fatalities between 1997-2007 in the construction industry were acquired from the Ontario Ministry of Labour. Using an adapted Haddon's Matrix, we characterized worker, agent, and environmental characteristics of electricity-related occupational fatalities in the province through a narrative text analysis. Electrical contact was responsible for 15% of all occupational fatalities among construction workers in Ontario. Factors associated with said occupational fatalities included direct contact with electrical sources, lower voltage sources, and working outdoors. This study provides a profile of electricity-related occupational fatalities among construction workers in Ontario, and can be used to inform safety regulations.

Quantitative impact of hydrothermal alteration on electrical resistivity in geothermal systems from a joint analysis of laboratory measurements and borehole data in Krafla area, N-E Iceland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lévy, Léa; Páll Hersir, Gylfi; Flóvenz, Ólafur; Gibert, Benoit; Pézard, Philippe; Sigmundsson, Freysteinn; Briole, Pierre

2016-04-01

Rock permeability and fluid temperature are the two most decisive factors for a successful geothermal drilling. While those parameters are only measured from drilling, they might be estimated on the basis of their impact on electrical resistivity that might be imaged from surface soundings, for example through TEM (Transient Electro Magnetic) down to one km depth. The electrical conductivity of reservoir rocks is the sum of a volume term depending on fluid parameters and a surface term related to rock alteration. Understanding the link between electrical resistivity and geothermal key parameters requires the knowledge of hydrothermal alteration and its petrophysical signature with the Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). Fluid-rock interactions related to hydrothermal circulation trigger the precipitation of alteration minerals, which are both witnesses of the temperature at the time of reaction and new paths for the electrical current. Alteration minerals include zeolites, smectites, chlorites, epidotes and amphiboles among which low temperatures parageneses are often the most conductive. The CEC of these mineral phases contributes to account for surface conductivity occuring at the water-rock interface. In cooling geothermal systems, these minerals constitute in petrophysical terms and from surface electrical conduction a memory of the equilibrium phase revealed from electrical probing at all scales. The qualitative impact of alteration minerals on resistivity structure has been studied over the years in the Icelandic geothermal context. In this work, the CEC impact on pore surfaces electrical conductivity is studied quantitatively at the borehole scale, where several types of volcanic rocks are mixed together, with various degrees of alteration and porosity. Five boreholes located within a few km at the Krafla volcano, Northeast Iceland, constitute the basis for this study. The deepest and reference hole, KJ-18, provides cuttings of rock and logging data down to 2215 m depth; CEC measurements performed on cuttings show. KH-1 and KH-3 have cores and logs in the top 200 m only. Boreholes KH-5 and KH-6 sample cores with higher temperature alteration minerals down to 600 m. Together, these 4 shallow holes cover the diversity of rock types and alterations facies found in KJ-18. The petrophysical calibration obtained from cores will then be upscaled to log data analysis in KJ-18: porosity, formation factor, permeability, acoustic velocity, electrical surface conduction at different temperatures and CEC. This research is supported by the IMAGE FP7 EC project (Integrated Methods for Advanced Geothermal Exploration, grant agreement No. 608553).

An analysis of electrical conductivity model in saturated porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, J.; Wei, W.; Qin, X.; Hu, X.

2017-12-01

Electrical conductivity of saturated porous media has numerous applications in many fields. In recent years, the number of theoretical methods to model electrical conductivity of complex porous media has dramatically increased. Nevertheless, the process of modeling the spatial conductivity distributed function continues to present challenges when these models used in reservoirs, particularly in porous media with strongly heterogeneous pore-space distributions. Many experiments show a more complex distribution of electrical conductivity data than the predictions derived from the experiential model. Studies have observed anomalously-high electrical conductivity of some low-porosity (tight) formations compared to more- porous reservoir rocks, which indicates current flow in porous media is complex and difficult to predict. Moreover, the change of electrical conductivity depends not only on the pore volume fraction but also on several geometric properties of the more extensive pore network, including pore interconnection and tortuosity. In our understanding of electrical conductivity models in porous media, we study the applicability of several well-known methods/theories to electrical characteristics of porous rocks as a function of pore volume, tortuosity and interconnection, to estimate electrical conductivity based on the micro-geometrical properties of rocks. We analyze the state of the art of scientific knowledge and practice for modeling porous structural systems, with the purpose of identifying current limitations and defining a blueprint for future modeling advances. We compare conceptual descriptions of electrical current flow processes in pore space considering several distinct modeling approaches. Approaches to obtaining more reasonable electrical conductivity models are discussed. Experiments suggest more complex relationships between electrical conductivity and porosity than experiential models, particularly in low-porosity formations. However, the available theoretical models combined with simulations do provide insight to how microscale physics affects macroscale electrical conductivity in porous media.

Concentration dependences of the physicochemical properties of a water-acetone system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fedyaeva, O. A.; Poshelyuzhnaya, E. G.

2017-01-01

Concentration dependences of the UV spectrum, refractive index, specific electrical conductivity, boiling point, pH, surface tension, and heats of dissolution of a water-acetone system on the amount of acetone in the water are studied. It is found that the reversible protolytic interaction of the components occurs in all such solutions, resulting in the formation of hydroxyl and acetonium ions. It is shown that shifts of the equilibrium between the molecules and ions in the solution leads to extreme changes in their electrical properties. It is concluded that the formation of acetone solutions of water is accompanied by heat absorption, while the formation of aqueous solutions of acetone is accompanied by heat release.

Electrically conductive proppant and methods for detecting, locating and characterizing the electrically conductive proppant

DOEpatents

Cannan, Chad; Bartel, Lewis; Palisch, Terrence; Aldridge, David

2015-01-13

Electrically conductive proppants and methods for detecting, locating, and characterizing same are provided. The electrically conductive proppant can include a substantially uniform coating of an electrically conductive material having a thickness of at least 500 nm. The method can include injecting a hydraulic fluid into a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein, injecting into the fracture a fluid containing the electrically conductive proppant, electrically energizing the earth at or near the fracture, and measuring three dimensional (x, y, and z) components of electric and magnetic field responses at a surface of the earth or in an adjacent wellbore.

Effects of Cooling Rate on 6.5% Silicon Steel Ordering

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

Cui, Jun; Macziewski, Chad; Jensen, Brandt

Increasing Si content improves magnetic and electrical properties of electrical steel, with 6.5% Si as the optimum. Unfortunately, when Si content approaches 5.7%, the Fe-Si alloy becomes brittle. At 6.5%, the steel conventional cold rolling process is no longer applicable. The heterogeneous formation of B2 and D03 ordered phases is responsible for the embrittlement. The formation of these ordered phases can be impeded by rapid cooling. However, only the cooling rates of water and brine water were investigated. A comprehensive study of the effect of rapid cooling rate on the formation of the ordered phases was carried out by varyingmore » wheel speed and melt-injection rate. Thermal imaging employed to measure cooling rates while microstructures of the obtained ribbons are characterized using X-ray diffraction and TEM. The electrical, magnetic and mechanical properties are characterized using 4-pt probe, VSM, and macro-indentation methods. The relations between physical properties and ordered phases are established.« less

Integrating surface and borehole geophysics in ground water studies - an example using electromagnetic soundings in south Florida

USGS Publications Warehouse

Paillet, Frederick; Hite, Laura; Carlson, Matthew

1999-01-01

Time domain surface electromagnetic soundings, borehole induction logs, and other borehole logging techniques are used to construct a realistic model for the shallow subsurface hydraulic properties of unconsolidated sediments in south Florida. Induction logs are used to calibrate surface induction soundings in units of pore water salinity by correlating water sample specific electrical conductivity with the electrical conductivity of the formation over the sampled interval for a two‐layered aquifer model. Geophysical logs are also used to show that a constant conductivity layer model is appropriate for the south Florida study. Several physically independent log measurements are used to quantify the dependence of formation electrical conductivity on such parameters as salinity, permeability, and clay mineral fraction. The combined interpretation of electromagnetic soundings and induction logs was verified by logging three validation boreholes, confirming quantitative estimates of formation conductivity and thickness in the upper model layer, and qualitative estimates of conductivity in the lower model layer.

Coarsening behavior of γ' and γ″ phases in GH4169 superalloy by electric field treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Lei; Wang, Yao; Liu, Yang; Song, Xiu; Lü, Xu-dong; Zhang, Bei-jiang

2013-09-01

The coarsening behaviors of γ' and γ″ phases in GH4169 alloy aged at 1023 and 1073 K with electric field treatment (EFT) were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). It is demonstrated that precipitation coarsening occurs, and the growth activation energies of γ' and γ″ phases can be decreased to 115.6 and 198.1 kJ·mol-1, respectively, by applying the electric field. The formation of a large number of vacancies in the matrix is induced by EFT. Due to the occurrence of vacancy migration, the diffusion coefficients of Al and Nb atoms are increased to be 1.6-5.0 times larger than those without EFT at 1023 or 1073 K. Furthermore, the formation of vacancy clusters is promoted by EFT, and the increase in strain energy for the coarsening of γ' and γ″ phases can be counterbalanced by the formation of vacancy clusters.

Negative ion formation and evolution in atmospheric pressure corona discharges between point-to-plane electrodes with arbitrary needle angle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sekimoto, K.; Takayama, M.

2010-12-01

The change in the distribution pattern of negative ions HO-, NOx- and COx- observed on arbitrary point-to-plane electrode configuration has been investigated by varying the angle of needle to the plane electrode, under atmospheric pressure corona discharge conditions. The stationary inhomogeneous electric field distributions between the point-to-plane electrodes with arbitrary needle angle were calculated. The experimental and theoretical results obtained suggested that the negative ion evolutions progress along field lines established between the electrodes with arbitrary configurations and the resulting terminal ion formation on a given field line is attributable to the electric field strength on the needle tip surface where the field line arose. The NOx- and COx- ions were dominantly produced on the field lines arising from the needle tip apex region with the highest electric field strength, while the field lines emanating from the tip peripheral regions with lower field strength resulted in the formation of the HO- ion.

Theoretical simulation of the multipole seismoelectric logging while drilling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guan, Wei; Hu, Hengshan; Zheng, Xiaobo

2013-11-01

Acoustic logging-while-drilling (LWD) technology has been commercially used in the petroleum industry. However it remains a rather difficult task to invert formation compressional and shear velocities from acoustic LWD signals due to the unwanted strong collar wave, which covers or interferes with signals from the formation. In this paper, seismoelectric LWD is investigated for solving that problem. The seismoelectric field is calculated by solving a modified Poisson's equation, whose source term is the electric disturbance induced electrokinetically by the travelling seismic wave. The seismic wavefield itself is obtained by solving Biot's equations for poroelastic waves. From the simulated waveforms and the semblance plots for monopole, dipole and quadrupole sources, it is found that the electric field accompanies the collar wave as well as other wave groups of the acoustic pressure, despite the fact that seismoelectric conversion occurs only in porous formations. The collar wave in the electric field, however, is significantly weakened compared with that in the acoustic pressure, in terms of its amplitude relative to the other wave groups in the full waveforms. Thus less and shallower grooves are required to damp the collar wave if the seismoelectric LWD signals are recorded for extracting formation compressional and shear velocities.

Formation flying for electric sails in displaced orbits. Part II: Distributed coordinated control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Wei; Mengali, Giovanni; Quarta, Alessandro A.; Yuan, Jianping

2017-09-01

We analyze a cooperative control framework for electric sail formation flying around a heliocentric displaced orbit, aiming at observing the polar region of a celestial body. The chief spacecraft is assumed to move along an elliptic displaced orbit, while each deputy spacecraft adjusts its thrust vector (that is, both its sail attitude and characteristic acceleration) in order to track a prescribed relative trajectory. The relative motion of the electric sail formation system is formulated in the chief rotating frame, where the control inputs of each deputy are the relative sail attitude angles and the relative lightness number with respect to those of the chief. The information exchange among the spacecraft, characterized by the communication topology, is represented by a weighted graph. Two typical cases, according to whether the communication graph is directed or undirected, are discussed. For each case, a distributed coordinated control law is designed in such a way that each deputy not only tracks the chief state, but also makes full use of information from its neighbors, thus increasing the redundancy and robustness of the formation system in case of failure among the communication links. Illustrative examples show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Synergistic effect of defined artificial extracellular matrices and pulsed electric fields on osteogenic differentiation of human MSCs.

PubMed

Hess, Ricarda; Jaeschke, Anna; Neubert, Holger; Hintze, Vera; Moeller, Stephanie; Schnabelrauch, Matthias; Wiesmann, Hans-Peter; Hart, David A; Scharnweber, Dieter

2012-12-01

In vivo, bone formation is a complex, tightly regulated process, influenced by multiple biochemical and physical factors. To develop a vital bone tissue engineering construct, all of these individual components have to be considered and integrated to gain an in vivo-like stimulation of target cells. The purpose of the present studies was to investigate the synergistic role of defined biochemical and physical microenvironments with respect to osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Biochemical microenvironments have been designed using artificial extracellular matrices (aECMs), containing collagen I (coll) and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) like chondroitin sulfate (CS), or a high-sulfated hyaluronan derivative (sHya), formulated as coatings on three-dimensional poly(caprolactone-co-lactide) (PCL) scaffolds. As part of the physical microenvironment, cells were exposed to pulsed electric fields via transformer-like coupling (TC). Results showed that aECM containing sHya enhanced osteogenic differentiation represented by increases in ALP activity and gene-expression (RT-qPCR) of several bone-related proteins (RUNX-2, ALP, OPN). Electric field stimulation alone did not influence cell proliferation, but osteogenic differentiation was enhanced if osteogenic supplements were provided, showing synergistic effects by the combination of sHya and electric fields. These results will improve the understanding of bone regeneration processes and support the development of effective tissue engineered bone constructs. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Treating nahcolite containing formations and saline zones

DOEpatents

Vinegar, Harold J

2013-06-11

A method for treating a nahcolite containing subsurface formation includes removing water from a saline zone in or near the formation. The removed water is heated using a steam and electricity cogeneration facility. The heated water is provided to the nahcolite containing formation. A fluid is produced from the nahcolite containing formation. The fluid includes at least some dissolved nahcolite. At least some of the fluid is provided to the saline zone.

Plasma particle simulations on interactions between spacecraft and cold streaming plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyake, Y.; Usui, H.; Nakashima, H.

2012-12-01

In order to better assess space weather effects on spacecraft system, we require in-depth understanding of fundamental processes of spacecraft-plasma interactions. Particularly in scientific spacecraft missions, the wake and photoelectron cloud formation as well as the spacecraft charging are significant factors influencing their operations, because onboard scientific instruments are often susceptible to such plasma disturbances. In this paper, we focus on the wake formation resulting from spacecraft interactions with a cold streaming plasma and study it by means of numerical simulations using modern supercomputers. We apply the particle-in-cell (PIC) method to the study of wake structure around a scientific spacecraft. We use our original plasma particle simulation code EMSES [2], which enables us to include solid spacecraft and sensor surfaces as internal boundaries. Although there are a number of preceding PIC simulation works regarding the wake structure behind a spacecraft [3], we here extend the studies by including numerical models of both spacecraft body and conducting booms simultaneously in the simulation system. The current analysis focuses on the wake structures behind the Cluster satellite in a tenuous plasma flow. We have included the conducting surfaces of wire booms as well as the spacecraft body in the simulations, the both of which can contribute to the wake formation. The major outcomes of the simulations are summarized as follows [4]; 1. not only a spacecraft body but also a thin (in an order of mm) wire boom contribute substantially to the formation of an electrostatic wake, particularly when the spacecraft has a positive potential of a few tens of volts; 2. in such a condition, the spatial scale of the wake reaches up to 100 m, leading to the detection of a wake electric field pattern that is very similar to that observed in the presence of a uniform ambient electric field; 3. spurious electric field can be detected even in subsonic ion flows occasionally, which is caused by an asymmetric potential pattern between the up- and down- streams of the spacecraft. We will report some details of these results as well as the comparison of the numerical results with observational data. [References] [1] André, M., and C. M. Cully (2012), Low-energy ions: A previously hidden solar system particle population, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L03101, doi:10.1029/ 2011GL050242. [2] Miyake, Y., and H. Usui (2009), New electromagnetic particle simulation code for the analysis of spacecraft-plasma interactions, Phys. Plasmas, 16, 062904, doi:10.1063/1.3147922. [3] Engwall, E., A. I. Eriksson, and J. Forest (2006), Wake formation behind positively charged spacecraft in flowing tenuous plasmas, Phys. Plasmas, 13, 062904, doi:10.1063/1.2199207. [4] Miyake, Y., and H. Usui (2012), Particle simulations of wake effects on electric field measurements in multi-species ion flows, Proc. of 12th Spacecraft Charging Technology Conference, Kitakyushu, Japan.

Reliable aluminum contact formation by electrostatic bonding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kárpáti, T.; Pap, A. E.; Radnóczi, Gy; Beke, B.; Bársony, I.; Fürjes, P.

2015-07-01

The paper presents a detailed study of a reliable method developed for aluminum fusion wafer bonding assisted by the electrostatic force evolving during the anodic bonding process. The IC-compatible procedure described allows the parallel formation of electrical and mechanical contacts, facilitating a reliable packaging of electromechanical systems with backside electrical contacts. This fusion bonding method supports the fabrication of complex microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and micro-opto-electromechanical systems (MOEMS) structures with enhanced temperature stability, which is crucial in mechanical sensor applications such as pressure or force sensors. Due to the applied electrical potential of  -1000 V the Al metal layers are compressed by electrostatic force, and at the bonding temperature of 450 °C intermetallic diffusion causes aluminum ions to migrate between metal layers.

Study on statistical breakdown delay time in argon gas using a W-band millimeter-wave gyrotron

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

Kim, Dongsung; Yu, Dongho; Choe, MunSeok

2016-04-15

In this study, we investigated plasma initiation delay times for argon volume breakdown at the W-band frequency regime. The threshold electric field is defined as the minimum electric field amplitude needed for plasma breakdown at various pressures. The measured statistical delay time showed an excellent agreement with the theoretical Gaussian distribution and the theoretically estimated formative delay time. Also, we demonstrated that the normalized effective electric field as a function of the product of pressure and formative time shows an outstanding agreement to that of 1D particle-in-cell simulation coupled with a Monte Carlo collision model [H. C. Kim and J.more » P. Verboncoeur, Phys. Plasmas 13, 123506 (2006)].« less

78 FR 30245 - Electric Reliability Organization Interpretation of Specific Requirements of the Disturbance...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-22

... print-to-PDF format and not in a scanned format. Mail/Hand Delivery: Commenters unable to file comments.... FERC, 564 F.3d 1342 (DC Cir. 2009). 3. In March 2007, the Commission issued Order No. 693, evaluating... should be filed in native applications or print-to-PDF format and not in a scanned format. Commenters...

Temporal evolution of the electric field accelerating electrons away from the auroral ionosphere.

PubMed

Marklund, G T; Ivchenko, N; Karlsson, T; Fazakerley, A; Dunlop, M; Lindqvist, P A; Buchert, S; Owen, C; Taylor, M; Vaivalds, A; Carter, P; André, M; Balogh, A

2001-12-13

The bright night-time aurorae that are visible to the unaided eye are caused by electrons accelerated towards Earth by an upward-pointing electric field. On adjacent geomagnetic field lines the reverse process occurs: a downward-pointing electric field accelerates electrons away from Earth. Such magnetic-field-aligned electric fields in the collisionless plasma above the auroral ionosphere have been predicted, but how they could be maintained is still a matter for debate. The spatial and temporal behaviour of the electric fields-a knowledge of which is crucial to an understanding of their nature-cannot be resolved uniquely by single satellite measurements. Here we report on the first observations by a formation of identically instrumented satellites crossing a beam of upward-accelerated electrons. The structure of the electric potential accelerating the beam grew in magnitude and width for about 200 s, accompanied by a widening of the downward-current sheet, with the total current remaining constant. The 200-s timescale suggests that the evacuation of the electrons from the ionosphere contributes to the formation of the downward-pointing magnetic-field-aligned electric fields. This evolution implies a growing load in the downward leg of the current circuit, which may affect the visible discrete aurorae.

electric dipole superconductor in bilayer exciton system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Qing-Feng; Jiang, Qing-Dong; Bao, Zhi-Qiang; Xie, X. C.

Recently, it was reported that the bilayer exciton systems could exhibit many new phenomena, including the large bilayer counterflow conductivity, the Coulomb drag, etc. These phenomena imply the formation of exciton condensate superfluid state. On the other hand, it is now well known that the superconductor is the condensate superfluid state of the Cooper pairs, which can be viewed as electric monopoles. In other words, the superconductor state is the electric monopole condensate superfluid state. Thus, one may wonder whether there exists electric dipole superfluid state. In this talk, we point out that the exciton in a bilayer system can be considered as a charge neutral electric dipole. And we derive the London-type and Ginzburg-Landau-type equations of electric dipole superconductivity. From these equations, we discover the Meissner-type effect (against spatial variation of magnetic fields), and the dipole current Josephson effect. The frequency in the AC Josephson effect of the dipole current is equal to that in the normal (monopole) superconductor. These results can provide direct evidence for the formation of exciton superfluid state in the bilayer systems and pave new ways to obtain the electric dipole current. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support by NBRP of China (2012CB921303 and 2015CB921102) and NSF-China under Grants Nos. 11274364 and 11574007.

Chemical colloids versus biological colloids: a comparative study for the elucidation of the mechanism of protein fiber formation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Xu, Shaohua; Wu, David; Arnsdorf, Morton; Johnson, Robert; Getz, Godfrey S.; Cabana, Veneracion G.

2005-01-01

Fiber formation from murine serum amyloid A1 (SAA) was compared to the linear aggregation and fiber formation of colloidal gold particles. Here we report the similarities of these processes. Upon incubation with acetic acid, SAA misfolds and adopts a new conformation, which we termed saa. saa apparently is less soluble than SAA in aqueous solution; it aggregates and forms nucleation units and then fibers. The fibers appear as a string of the nucleation units. Additionally, an external electric field promotes saa fiber formation. These properties of saa are reminiscent of colloidal gold formation from gold ions and one-dimensional aggregation of the gold colloids. Colloidal gold particles were also found to be capable of aggregating one-dimensionally under an electric field or in the presence of polylysine. These gold fibers resembled in structure that of saa fibers. In summary, protein aggregation and formation of fibers appear to follow the generalized principles derived in colloidal science for the aggregation of atoms and molecules, including polymers such as polypeptides. The analysis of colloidal gold formation and of one-dimensional aggregation provides a simple model system for the elucidation of some aspects of protein fiber formation.

Understanding the Electrical Behavior of the Action Potential in Terms of Elementary Electrical Sources

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rodriguez-Falces, Javier

2015-01-01

A concept of major importance in human electrophysiology studies is the process by which activation of an excitable cell results in a rapid rise and fall of the electrical membrane potential, the so-called action potential. Hodgkin and Huxley proposed a model to explain the ionic mechanisms underlying the formation of action potentials. However,…

New Effects of the Interaction of Electric and Gravitational Fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krechet, V. G.; Oshurko, V. B.; Ivanova, S. D.

2018-06-01

The properties of stationary distributions of self-gravitating electric fields are considered within the framework of GRT with the presence of a vortex component in the gravitational field taken into account. It is shown that under the indicated conditions, cylindrically symmetric configurations of the gravitational field and electric fields can lead to the formation of "wormholes" and other remarkable effects.

Improved High-Voltage Gas Isolator for Ion Thruster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Banks, Bruce

2007-01-01

A report describes an improved high-voltage isolator for preventing electrical discharge along the flow path of a propellant gas being fed from a supply at a spacecraft chassis electrical potential to an ion thruster at a potential as high as multiple kilovolts. The isolator must survive launch vibration and must remain electrically nonconductive for thousands of hours under conditions that, in the absence of proper design, would cause formation of electrically conductive sputtered metal, carbon, and/or decomposed hydrocarbons on its surfaces. The isolator includes an alumina cylinder containing a spiral channel filled with a porous medium made from alumina microbeads fired together with an alumina slurry. Connections to gas-transport tubes are made at both ends of the alumina cylinder by means of metal caps containing fine-mesh screens to prevent passage of loose alumina particles. The outer surface of the alumina cylinder is convoluted to lengthen the electrical path between the metal caps and to afford shadow shielding to minimize the probability of formation of a continuous deposit that would electrically connect the ends. A flanged cylindrical metal cap that surrounds the alumina cylinder without touching one of the ends provides additional shadow shielding.

Electric Field Sensor for Lightning Early Warning System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Premlet, B.; Mohammed, R.; Sabu, S.; Joby, N. E.

2017-12-01

Electric field mills are used popularly for atmospheric electric field measurements. Atmospheric Electric Field variation is the primary signature for Lightning Early Warning systems. There is a characteristic change in the atmospheric electric field before lightning during a thundercloud formation.A voltage controlled variable capacitance is being proposed as a method for non-contacting measurement of electric fields. A varactor based mini electric field measurement system is developed, to detect any change in the atmospheric electric field and to issue lightning early warning system. Since this is a low-cost device, this can be used for developing countries which are facing adversities. A network of these devices can help in forming a spatial map of electric field variations over a region, and this can be used for more improved atmospheric electricity studies in developing countries.

Effect of annealing time, weight pressure and cobalt doping on the electrical and magnetic behavior of barium titanate

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

Samuvel, K., E-mail: kssamuvel@gmail.com; Ramachandran, K., E-mail: ramach76@yahoo.com

2016-05-06

BaTi{sub 0.5}CO{sub 0.5}O{sub 3} (BTCO) nanoparticles were prepared by the solid state reaction technique using different starting materials and the microstructure examined by XRD, FESEM, BDS and VSM. X-ray diffraction and electron diffraction patterns showed that the nanoparticles were the tetragonal BTCO phase. The BTCO nanoparticles prepared from the starting materials of as prepared titanium-oxide, Cobalt -oxide and barium carbonate have spherical grain morphology, an average size of 65 nm and a fairly narrow size distribution. The nano-scale presence and the formation of the tetragonal perovskite phase as well as the crystallinity were detected using the mentioned techniques. Dielectric properties ofmore » the samples were measured at different frequencies. Broadband dielectric spectroscopy is applied to investigate the electrical properties of disordered perovskite-like ceramics in a wide temperature range. The doped BTCO samples exhibited low loss factor at 1 kHz and 1 MHz frequencies respectively.« less

Chemical Degradation of the Cathodic Electrical Contact Between Carbon and Cast Iron in Aluminum Production Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brassard, Martin; Désilets, Martin; Soucy, Gervais; Bilodeau, Jean-François; Forté, Martin

2017-06-01

The cathodic carbon to cast iron electrical contact degradation is one of the factors to consider in the cathode voltage drop (CVD) increase over the lifetime of aluminum production cells. Lab-scale experiments were carried out to study the cast iron to carbon interface chemical degradation and the impact of important cell parameters like temperature and bath chemistry. Laboratory degradation results were compared with industrial samples. A thermoelectric Ansys numerical model was then used to predict the effect of cast iron surface degradation over CVD. Results show that the aluminum formation on the cast iron surface and its subsequent diffusion creates an immiscible mixture of Fe-Al metal alloy and electrolytic bath. Disparities were also observed between industrial samples taken from two different technologies, suggesting that the degradation can be slowed down. Thermoelectric calculations finally revealed that the impact of the contact resistance augmentation is by far greater than the cast iron degradation.

Enhanced thermoelectric transport in modulation-doped GaN/AlGaN core/shell nanowires.

PubMed

Song, Erdong; Li, Qiming; Swartzentruber, Brian; Pan, Wei; Wang, George T; Martinez, Julio A

2016-01-08

The thermoelectric properties of unintentionally n-doped core GaN/AlGaN core/shell N-face nanowires are reported. We found that the temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity is consistent with thermally activated carriers with two distinctive donor energies. The Seebeck coefficient of GaN/AlGaN nanowires is more than twice as large as that for the GaN nanowires alone. However, an outer layer of GaN deposited onto the GaN/AlGaN core/shell nanowires decreases the Seebeck coefficient at room temperature, while the temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity remains the same. We attribute these observations to the formation of an electron gas channel within the heavily-doped GaN core of the GaN/AlGaN nanowires. The room-temperature thermoelectric power factor for the GaN/AlGaN nanowires can be four times higher than the GaN nanowires. Selective doping in bandgap engineered core/shell nanowires is proposed for enhancing the thermoelectric power.

Complex conductivity of organic-rich shales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woodruff, W. F.; Revil, A.; Torres-Verdin, C.

2013-12-01

We can accurately determine the intrinsic anisotropy and material properties in the laboratory, providing empirical evidence of transverse isotropy and the polarization of the organic and metallic fractions in saturated and unsaturated shales. We develop two distinct approaches to obtain the complex conductivity tensor from spectral induced polarization (SIP) measurements. Experimental results indicate clear anisotropy, and characterize the effects of thermal maturation, TOC, and pyrite, aiding in the calibration and interpretation of geophysical data. SIP is a non-intrusive measurement, sensitive to the surface conductance of mineral grains, frequency-dependent polarization of the electrical double layer, and bulk conductivity of the pore water. The in-phase and quadrature components depend upon parameters of principal importance in unconventional shale formation evaluation (e.g., the distribution of pore throat sizes, formation factor, permeability, salinity and cation exchange capacity (CEC), fluid saturation and wettability). In addition to the contribution of the electrical double layer of non-conducting minerals to surface conductivity, we have observed a clear relaxation associated with kerogen pyrolysis, pyrite distribution, and evidence that the CEC of the kerogen fraction may also contribute, depending on thermal maturation history. We utilize a recent model for anisotropic complex conductivity, and rigorous experimental protocols to quantify the role of kerogen and pyrolysis on surface and quadrature conductivity in mudrocks. The complex conductivity tensor σ* describes the directional dependence of electrical conduction in a porous medium, and accounts for both conduction and polarization. The complex-valued tensor components are given as σ*ij , where σ'ij represents in-phase and σ"ij denotes quadrature conductivities. The directional dependence of the complex conductivity tensor is relegated to the textural properties of the material. The components of the formation factor and connectivity (tortuosity) tensors Fij and Tij (affecting the bulk and surface conductivity, respectively) are correlated as Fij=TijΦ. Both conductivity and connectivity tensors share the same eigenvectors; the anisotropy ratio is equivalent in TI media. At high pore water salinity, surface and quadrature conductivity share the same bulk tortuosity; when surface conductivity dominates (low salinity), conductivity is controlled by the surface conductance, and the tortuosity of electrical current along mineral surfaces usually higher than that of the pore water. We developed two distinct SIP measurement protocols to obtain the tensor: (1) azimuthal sampling and inversion of phasor potentials through the full-field solution of the Laplace equation; (2) direct measurement of complex conductivity eigenvalues by polarized, single-component stimulus current. Experiments also include unsaturated and saturated measurements with three brines of known salinity and pH, at log-distributed frequencies ranging 1 mHz to 45 kHz. Both azimuthal spectra and eigenvalue spectra validate the theoretical model and illustrate the effectiveness of the protocols themselves. We obtain the textural tensors and invert key parameters including Archie exponents and CEC, and characterize the relaxation phenomena associated with kerogen content and maturity for multiphase fluid systems.

Muscle fiber type specific induction of slow myosin heavy chain 2 gene expression by electrical stimulation

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

Crew, Jennifer R.; Falzari, Kanakeshwari; DiMario, Joseph X., E-mail: joseph.dimario@rosalindfranklin.edu

Vertebrate skeletal muscle fiber types are defined by a broad array of differentially expressed contractile and metabolic protein genes. The mechanisms that establish and maintain these different fiber types vary throughout development and with changing functional demand. Chicken skeletal muscle fibers can be generally categorized as fast and fast/slow based on expression of the slow myosin heavy chain 2 (MyHC2) gene in fast/slow muscle fibers. To investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control fiber type formation in secondary or fetal muscle fibers, myoblasts from the fast pectoralis major (PM) and fast/slow medial adductor (MA) muscles were isolated, allowed tomore » differentiate in vitro, and electrically stimulated. MA muscle fibers were induced to express the slow MyHC2 gene by electrical stimulation, whereas PM muscle fibers did not express the slow MyHC2 gene under identical stimulation conditions. However, PM muscle fibers did express the slow MyHC2 gene when electrical stimulation was combined with inhibition of inositol triphosphate receptor (IP3R) activity. Electrical stimulation was sufficient to increase nuclear localization of expressed nuclear-factor-of-activated-T-cells (NFAT), NFAT-mediated transcription, and slow MyHC2 promoter activity in MA muscle fibers. In contrast, both electrical stimulation and inhibitors of IP3R activity were required for these effects in PM muscle fibers. Electrical stimulation also increased levels of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-{gamma} co-activator-1 (PGC-1{alpha}) protein in PM and MA muscle fibers. These results indicate that MA muscle fibers can be induced by electrical stimulation to express the slow MyHC2 gene and that fast PM muscle fibers are refractory to stimulation-induced slow MyHC2 gene expression due to fast PM muscle fiber specific cellular mechanisms involving IP3R activity.« less

Possible role of electric forces in bromine activation during polar boundary layer ozone depletion and aerosol formation events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tkachenko, Ekaterina

2017-11-01

This work presents a hypothesis about the mechanism of bromine activation during polar boundary layer ozone depletion events (ODEs) as well as the mechanism of aerosol formation from the frost flowers. The author suggests that ODEs may be initiated by the electric-field gradients created at the sharp tips of ice formations as a result of the combined effect of various environmental conditions. According to the author's estimates, these electric-field gradients may be sufficient for the onset of point or corona discharges followed by generation of high local concentrations of the reactive oxygen species and initiation of free-radical and redox reactions. This process may be responsible for the formation of seed bromine which then undergoes further amplification by HOBr-driven bromine explosion. The proposed hypothesis may explain a variety of environmental conditions and substrates as well as poor reproducibility of ODE initiation observed by researchers in the field. According to the author's estimates, high wind can generate sufficient conditions for overcoming the Rayleigh limit and thus can initiate ;spraying; of charged aerosol nanoparticles. These charged aerosol nanoparticles can provoke formation of free radicals, turning the ODE on. One can also envision a possible emission of halogen ion as a result of the ;electrospray; process analogous to that of electrospray ionization mass-spectrometry.

Electric-Field Control of Oxygen Vacancies and Magnetic Phase Transition in a Cobaltite/Manganite Bilayer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, B.; Song, C.; Li, F.; Zhong, X. Y.; Wang, Z. C.; Werner, P.; Gu, Y. D.; Wu, H. Q.; Saleem, M. S.; Parkin, S. S. P.; Pan, F.

2017-10-01

Manipulation of oxygen vacancies (VO ) in single oxide layers by varying the electric field can result in significant modulation of the ground state. However, in many oxide multilayers with strong application potentials, e.g., ferroelectric tunnel junctions and solid-oxide fuel cells, understanding VO behavior in various layers under an applied electric field remains a challenge, owing to complex VO transport between different layers. By sweeping the external voltage, a reversible manipulation of VO and a corresponding fixed magnetic phase transition sequence in cobaltite/manganite (SrCoO3 -x/La0.45Sr0.55MnO3 -y ) heterostructures are reported. The magnetic phase transition sequence confirms that the priority of electric-field-induced VO formation or annihilation in the complex bilayer system is mainly determined by the VO formation energies and Gibbs free-energy differences, which is supported by theoretical analysis. We not only realize a reversible manipulation of the magnetic phase transition in an oxide bilayer but also provide insight into the electric-field control of VO engineering in heterostructures.

A Method of Evaluating Operation of Electric Energy Meter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xiangqun; Li, Tianyang; Cao, Fei; Chu, Pengfei; Zhao, Xinwang; Huang, Rui; Liu, Liping; Zhang, Chenglin

2018-05-01

The existing electric energy meter rotation maintenance strategy regularly checks the electric energy meter and evaluates the state. It only considers the influence of time factors, neglects the influence of other factors, leads to the inaccuracy of the evaluation, and causes the waste of resources. In order to evaluate the running state of the electric energy meter in time, a method of the operation evaluation of the electric energy meter is proposed. The method is based on extracting the existing data acquisition system, marketing business system and metrology production scheduling platform that affect the state of energy meters, and classified into error stability, operational reliability, potential risks and other factors according to the influencing factors, based on the above basic test score, inspecting score, monitoring score, score of family defect detection. Then, according to the evaluation model according to the scoring, we evaluate electric energy meter operating state, and finally put forward the corresponding maintenance strategy of rotation.

Electrical Conductive Mechanism of Gas Hydrate-Bearing Reservoirs in the Permafrost Region of Qilian Mountain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, C.; Zou, C.; Tang, Y.; Liu, A.; Hu, X.

2017-12-01

In the Qilian Mountain, gas hydrates not only occur in pore spaces of sandstones, but also fill in fractures of mudstones. This leads to the difficulty in identification and evaluation of gas hydrate reservoir from resistivity and velocity logs. Understanding electrical conductive mechanism is the basis for log interpretation. However, the research is insufficient in this area. We have collected well logs from 30 wells in this area. Well logs and rock samples from DK-9, DK-11 and DK-12 wells were used in this study. The experiments including SEM, thin section, NMR, XRD, synthesis of gas hydrate in consolidated rock cores under low temperature and measurement of their resistivity and others were performed for understanding the effects of pore structure, rock composition, temperature and gas hydrate on conductivity. The results show that the porosity of reservoir of pore filling type is less than 10% and its clay mineral content is high. As good conductive passages, fractures can reduce resistivity of water-saturated rock. If fractures in the mudstone are filled by calcite, resistivity increases significantly. The resistivity of water-saturated rock at 2°C is twice of that at 18°C. The gas hydrate formation process in the sandstone was studied by resistivity recorded in real time. In the early stage of gas hydrate formation, the increase of residual water salinity may lead to the decrease of resistivity. In the late stage of gas hydrate formation, the continuity decrease of water leads to continuity increase of resistivity. In summary, fractures, rock composition, temperature and gas hydrate are important factors influencing resistivity of formation. This study is helpful for more accurate evaluation of gas hydrate from resistivity log. Acknowledgment: We acknowledge the financial support of the National Special Program for Gas Hydrate Exploration and Test-production (GZH201400302).

The effect of temperature and moisture on electrical resistance, strain sensitivity and crack sensitivity of steel fiber reinforced smart cement composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teomete, Egemen

2016-07-01

Earthquakes, material degradations and other environmental factors necessitate structural health monitoring (SHM). Metal foil strain gages used for SHM have low durability and low sensitivity. These factors motivated researchers to work on cement based strain sensors. In this study, the effects of temperature and moisture on electrical resistance, compressive and tensile strain gage factors (strain sensitivity) and crack sensitivity were determined for steel fiber reinforced cement based composite. A rapid increase of electrical resistance at 200 °C was observed due to damage occurring between cement paste, aggregates and steel fibers. The moisture—electrical resistance relationship was investigated. The specimens taken out of the cure were saturated with water and had a moisture content of 9.49%. The minimum electrical resistance was obtained at 9% moisture at which fiber-fiber and fiber-matrix contact was maximum and the water in micro voids was acting as an electrolyte, conducting electrons. The variation of compressive and tensile strain gage factors (strain sensitivities) and crack sensitivity were investigated by conducting compression, split tensile and notched bending tests with different moisture contents. The highest gage factor for the compression test was obtained at optimal moisture content, at which electrical resistance was minimum. The tensile strain gage factor for split tensile test and crack sensitivity increased by decreasing moisture content. The mechanisms between moisture content, electrical resistance, gage factors and crack sensitivity were elucidated. The relations of moisture content with electrical resistance, gage factors and crack sensitivities have been presented for the first time in this study for steel fiber reinforced cement based composites. The results are important for the development of self sensing cement based smart materials.

Kinetics of the electric double layer formation modelled by the finite difference method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valent, Ivan

2017-11-01

Dynamics of the elctric double layer formation in 100 mM NaCl solution for sudden potentail steps of 10 and 20 mV was simulated using the Poisson-Nernst-Planck theory and VLUGR2 solver for partial differential equations. The used approach was verified by comparing the obtained steady-state solution with the available exact solution. The simulations allowed for detailed analysis of the relaxation processes of the individual ions and the electric potential. Some computational aspects of the problem were discussed.

Analysis of multifunctional piezoelectric metastructures for low-frequency bandgap formation and energy harvesting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sugino, C.; Erturk, A.

2018-05-01

Vibration-based energy harvesting is a growing field for generating low-power electricity to use in wireless electronic devices, such as the sensor networks used in structural health monitoring applications. Locally resonant metastructures, which are structures that comprise locally resonant metamaterial components, enable bandgap formation at wavelengths much longer than the lattice size, for critical applications such as low-frequency vibration attenuation in flexible structures. This work aims to bridge the domains of energy harvesting and locally resonant metamaterials to form multifunctional structures that exhibit both low-power electricity generation and vibration attenuation capabilities. A fully coupled electromechanical modeling framework is developed for two characteristic systems and their modal analysis is presented. Simulations are performed to explore the vibration and electrical power frequency response maps for varying electrical load resistance, and optimal loading conditions are presented. Case studies are presented to understand the interaction of bandgap formation and energy harvesting capabilities of this new class of multifunctional energy-harvesting locally resonant metastructures. It is shown that useful energy can be harvested from locally resonant metastructures without significantly diminishing their dramatic vibration attenuation in the locally resonant bandgap. Thus, integrating energy harvesters into a locally resonant metastructure enables a new potential for multifunctional locally resonant metastructures that can host self-powered sensors.

Anemone-like nanostructures for non-lithographic, reproducible, large-area, and ultra-sensitive SERS substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daglar, Bihter; Demirel, Gokcen Birlik; Khudiyev, Tural; Dogan, Tamer; Tobail, Osama; Altuntas, Sevde; Buyukserin, Fatih; Bayindir, Mehmet

2014-10-01

The melt-infiltration technique enables the fabrication of complex nanostructures for a wide range of applications in optics, electronics, biomaterials, and catalysis. Here, anemone-like nanostructures are produced for the first time under the surface/interface principles of melt-infiltration as a non-lithographic method. Functionalized anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes are used as templates to provide large-area production of nanostructures, and polycarbonate (PC) films are used as active phase materials. In order to understand formation dynamics of anemone-like structures finite element method (FEM) simulations are performed and it is found that wetting behaviour of the polymer is responsible for the formation of cavities at the caps of the structures. These nanostructures are examined in the surface-enhanced-Raman-spectroscopy (SERS) experiment and they exhibit great potential in this field. Reproducible SERS signals are detected with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 7.2-12.6% for about 10 000 individual spots. SERS measurements are demonstrated at low concentrations of Rhodamine 6G (R6G), even at the picomolar level, with an enhancement factor of ~1011. This high enhancement factor is ascribed to the significant electric field enhancement at the cavities of nanostructures and nanogaps between them, which is supported by finite difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. These novel nanostructured films can be further optimized to be used in chemical and plasmonic sensors and as a single molecule SERS detection platform.The melt-infiltration technique enables the fabrication of complex nanostructures for a wide range of applications in optics, electronics, biomaterials, and catalysis. Here, anemone-like nanostructures are produced for the first time under the surface/interface principles of melt-infiltration as a non-lithographic method. Functionalized anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes are used as templates to provide large-area production of nanostructures, and polycarbonate (PC) films are used as active phase materials. In order to understand formation dynamics of anemone-like structures finite element method (FEM) simulations are performed and it is found that wetting behaviour of the polymer is responsible for the formation of cavities at the caps of the structures. These nanostructures are examined in the surface-enhanced-Raman-spectroscopy (SERS) experiment and they exhibit great potential in this field. Reproducible SERS signals are detected with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 7.2-12.6% for about 10 000 individual spots. SERS measurements are demonstrated at low concentrations of Rhodamine 6G (R6G), even at the picomolar level, with an enhancement factor of ~1011. This high enhancement factor is ascribed to the significant electric field enhancement at the cavities of nanostructures and nanogaps between them, which is supported by finite difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. These novel nanostructured films can be further optimized to be used in chemical and plasmonic sensors and as a single molecule SERS detection platform. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: SEM images of the AAO membrane and bare polymer film, FEM simulations of anemone-like polymeric nanopillars depending on the time and pressure, and detailed calculation of the enhancement factor both including experimental and theoretical approaches. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr03909b

A Model for the Formation of Piezoelectric Single-Crystal Nanorings and Nanobows

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

King, Angela G.

2004-01-01

The piezoelectric materials generate electricity or electric polarity in dielectric crystals when subjected to an applied voltage. The nanorings and nanobows are presented that can be used in nanoscale applications such as sensors, transducers, and electromechanical coupling devices.

Electrokinetic coupling in unsaturated porous media.

PubMed

Revil, A; Linde, N; Cerepi, A; Jougnot, D; Matthäi, S; Finsterle, S

2007-09-01

We consider a charged porous material that is saturated by two fluid phases that are immiscible and continuous on the scale of a representative elementary volume. The wetting phase for the grains is water and the nonwetting phase is assumed to be an electrically insulating viscous fluid. We use a volume-averaging approach to derive the linear constitutive equations for the electrical current density as well as the seepage velocities of the wetting and nonwetting phases on the scale of a representative elementary volume. These macroscopic constitutive equations are obtained by volume-averaging Ampère's law together with the Nernst-Planck equation and the Stokes equations. The material properties entering the macroscopic constitutive equations are explicitly described as functions of the saturation of the water phase, the electrical formation factor, and parameters that describe the capillary pressure function, the relative permeability functions, and the variation of electrical conductivity with saturation. New equations are derived for the streaming potential and electro-osmosis coupling coefficients. A primary drainage and imbibition experiment is simulated numerically to demonstrate that the relative streaming potential coupling coefficient depends not only on the water saturation, but also on the material properties of the sample, as well as the saturation history. We also compare the predicted streaming potential coupling coefficients with experimental data from four dolomite core samples. Measurements on these samples include electrical conductivity, capillary pressure, the streaming potential coupling coefficient at various levels of saturation, and the permeability at saturation of the rock samples. We found very good agreement between these experimental data and the model predictions.

Novel microfluidic system for online monitoring of biofilm dynamics by electrical impedance spectroscopy and amperometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bruchmann, Julia; Sachsenheimer, Kai; Schwartz, Thomas; Rapp, Bastian E.

2016-03-01

Biofilm formation is ubiquitous in nature where microorganisms attach to surfaces and form highly adapted and protected communities. In technical and industrial systems like drinking water supply, food production or shipping industry biofilms are a major cause of product contamination, biofouling, and biocorrosion. Therefore, understanding of biofilm formation and means of preventing biofilm formation is important to develop novel biofilm treatment strategies. A system allowing directly online detection and monitoring biofilm formation is necessary. However, until today, there are little to none technical systems featuring a non-destructive real-time characterization of biofilm formation in a highthroughput manner. This paper presents such a microfluidic system based on electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and amperomertic current measurement. The sensor consists of four modules, each housing 24 independent electrodes within 12 microfluidic channels. Attached biomass on the electrodes is monitored as increased inhibition in charge transfer by EIS and a change in metabolic activity is measured as change in produced electric current by amperometry. This modular sensor system is highly adaptable and suitable for a broad range of microbiological applications. Among others, biofilm formation processes can be characterized online, biofilm manipulation like inactivation or destabilization can be monitored in real-time and gene expression can be analyzed in parallel. The use of different electrode designs allows effective biofilm studies during all biofilm phases. The whole system was recently extended by an integrated pneumatic microfluidic pump which enables easy handling procedures. Further developments of this pumping module will allow a fully- automated computer-controlled valving and pumping.

Electrically tunable hole g factor of an optically active quantum dot for fast spin rotations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prechtel, Jonathan H.; Maier, Franziska; Houel, Julien; Kuhlmann, Andreas V.; Ludwig, Arne; Wieck, Andreas D.; Loss, Daniel; Warburton, Richard J.

2015-04-01

We report a large g factor tunability of a single hole spin in an InGaAs quantum dot via an electric field. The magnetic field lies in the in-plane direction x , the direction required for a coherent hole spin. The electrical field lies along the growth direction z and is changed over a large range, 100 kV/cm. Both electron and hole g factors are determined by high resolution laser spectroscopy with resonance fluorescence detection. This, along with the low electrical-noise environment, gives very high quality experimental results. The hole g factor ghx depends linearly on the electric field Fz,d ghx/d Fz=(8.3 ±1.2 ) ×10-4 cm/kV, whereas the electron g factor gex is independent of electric field d gex/d Fz=(0.1 ±0.3 ) ×10-4 cm/kV (results averaged over a number of quantum dots). The dependence of ghx on Fz is well reproduced by a 4 ×4 k .p model demonstrating that the electric field sensitivity arises from a combination of soft hole confining potential, an In concentration gradient, and a strong dependence of material parameters on In concentration. The electric field sensitivity of the hole spin can be exploited for electrically driven hole spin rotations via the g tensor modulation technique and based on these results, a hole spin coupling as large as ˜1 GHz can be envisaged.

The role of photo-electric properties of silk cocoon membrane in pupal metamorphosis: A natural solar cell

PubMed Central

Tulachan, Brindan; Srivastava, Shivansh; Kusurkar, Tejas Sanjeev; Sethy, Niroj Kumar; Bhargava, Kalpana; Singh, Sushil Kumar; Philip, Deepu; Bajpai, Alok; Das, Mainak

2016-01-01

Silkworm metamorphosis is governed by the intrinsic and extrinsic factors. One key intrinsic factor is the temporal electrical firing of the neuro-secretory cells of the dormant pupae residing inside the silk cocoon membrane (SCM). Extrinsic factors are environmental like temperature, humidity and light. The firing pattern of the cells is a function of the environmental factors that eventually controls the pupal development. How does the nervous organization of the dormant pupae sense the environment even while enclosed inside the cocoon shell? We propose that the SCM does this by capturing the incident light and converting it to electricity in addition to translating the variation in temperature and humidity as an electrical signal. The light to electricity conversion is more pronounced with ultraviolet (UV) frequency. We discovered that a UV sensitive fluorescent quercetin derivative that is present on the SCM and pupal body surface is responsible for generating the observed photo current. Based on these results, we propose an equivalent circuit model of the SCM where an overall electrical output transfers the weather information to pupae, directing its growth. We further discuss the implication of this electrical energy conversion and its utility for consumable electricity. PMID:26907586

The role of photo-electric properties of silk cocoon membrane in pupal metamorphosis: A natural solar cell.

PubMed

Tulachan, Brindan; Srivastava, Shivansh; Kusurkar, Tejas Sanjeev; Sethy, Niroj Kumar; Bhargava, Kalpana; Singh, Sushil Kumar; Philip, Deepu; Bajpai, Alok; Das, Mainak

2016-02-24

Silkworm metamorphosis is governed by the intrinsic and extrinsic factors. One key intrinsic factor is the temporal electrical firing of the neuro-secretory cells of the dormant pupae residing inside the silk cocoon membrane (SCM). Extrinsic factors are environmental like temperature, humidity and light. The firing pattern of the cells is a function of the environmental factors that eventually controls the pupal development. How does the nervous organization of the dormant pupae sense the environment even while enclosed inside the cocoon shell? We propose that the SCM does this by capturing the incident light and converting it to electricity in addition to translating the variation in temperature and humidity as an electrical signal. The light to electricity conversion is more pronounced with ultraviolet (UV) frequency. We discovered that a UV sensitive fluorescent quercetin derivative that is present on the SCM and pupal body surface is responsible for generating the observed photo current. Based on these results, we propose an equivalent circuit model of the SCM where an overall electrical output transfers the weather information to pupae, directing its growth. We further discuss the implication of this electrical energy conversion and its utility for consumable electricity.

Microbial Fuel Cell-driven caustic potash production from wastewater for carbon sequestration.

PubMed

Gajda, Iwona; Greenman, John; Melhuish, Chris; Santoro, Carlo; Ieropoulos, Ioannis

2016-09-01

This work reports on the novel formation of caustic potash (KOH) directly on the MFC cathode locking carbon dioxide into potassium bicarbonate salt (kalicinite) while producing, instead of consuming electrical power. Using potassium-rich wastewater as a fuel for microorganisms to generate electricity in the anode chamber, has resulted in the formation of caustic catholyte directly on the surface of the cathode electrode. Analysis of this liquid has shown to be highly alkaline (pH>13) and act as a CO2 sorbent. It has been later mineralised to kalicinite thus locking carbon dioxide into potassium bicarbonate salt. This work demonstrates an electricity generation method as a simple, cost-effective and environmentally friendly route towards CO2 sequestration that perhaps leads to a carbon negative economy. Moreover, it shows a potential application for both electricity production and nutrient recovery in the form of minerals from nutrient-rich wastewater streams such as urine for use as fertiliser in the future. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Regional air quality impacts of increased natural gas production and use in Texas.

PubMed

Pacsi, Adam P; Alhajeri, Nawaf S; Zavala-Araiza, Daniel; Webster, Mort D; Allen, David T

2013-04-02

Natural gas use in electricity generation in Texas was estimated, for gas prices ranging from $1.89 to $7.74 per MMBTU, using an optimal power flow model. Hourly estimates of electricity generation, for individual electricity generation units, from the model were used to estimate spatially resolved hourly emissions from electricity generation. Emissions from natural gas production activities in the Barnett Shale region were also estimated, with emissions scaled up or down to match demand in electricity generation as natural gas prices changed. As natural gas use increased, emissions decreased from electricity generation and increased from natural gas production. Overall, NOx and SO2 emissions decreased, while VOC emissions increased as natural gas use increased. To assess the effects of these changes in emissions on ozone and particulate matter concentrations, spatially and temporally resolved emissions were used in a month-long photochemical modeling episode. Over the month-long photochemical modeling episode, decreases in natural gas prices typical of those experienced from 2006 to 2012 led to net regional decreases in ozone (0.2-0.7 ppb) and fine particulate matter (PM) (0.1-0.7 μg/m(3)). Changes in PM were predominantly due to changes in regional PM sulfate formation. Changes in regional PM and ozone formation are primarily due to decreases in emissions from electricity generation. Increases in emissions from increased natural gas production were offset by decreasing emissions from electricity generation for all the scenarios considered.

[FORMATION OF BILIODIGESTIVE AND INTERINTESTINAL ANASTOMOSES IN ENVIRONMENT OF BILIARY PERITONITIS, USING A HIGH FREQUENCY ELECTRIC WELDING IN EXPERIMENT].

PubMed

Nychytaylo, M Yu; Furmanov, Yu O; Gutsulyak, A I; Savytska, I M; Lopatkina, K G; Zagriychuk, M S; Goman, A V

2016-01-01

In experiment on 20 rabbits a diffuse biliary peritonitis was simulated, using intraabdominal injection of a laboratory culture of E. coli suspension and a medicinal bile. In 24 h on background of peritonitis on excluded loop of a small bowel in accordance to method of Roux, using a high frequency electric welding with the help of apparatus Patonmed EKB3-300 a one-layered everting cholecystoenteroanastomosis and enteroenteroanastomosis was formated. In a 6 mo postoperatively a connection line was not revealed from outside or from inside, the signs of stenosis were absent. In environment of a diffuse biliary peritonitis a welding technologies have permitted to form a hermetic and competent biliodigestive and interintestinal anastomoses, the processes of a welding suture regeneration postoperatively have a typical course. Using a high frequency-electric welding it is possible to perform a one-staged reconstructive interventions in environment of a pronounced inflammation of tissues due to subsequent precise conjunction of mucosal sheets of connected organs, preventing the anastomotic stricture formation.

Simulations of transient membrane behavior in cells subjected to a high-intensity ultrashort electric pulse.

PubMed

Hu, Q; Viswanadham, S; Joshi, R P; Schoenbach, K H; Beebe, S J; Blackmore, P F

2005-03-01

A molecular dynamics (MD) scheme is combined with a distributed circuit model for a self-consistent analysis of the transient membrane response for cells subjected to an ultrashort (nanosecond) high-intensity (approximately 0.01-V/nm spatially averaged field) voltage pulse. The dynamical, stochastic, many-body aspects are treated at the molecular level by resorting to a course-grained representation of the membrane lipid molecules. Coupling the Smoluchowski equation to the distributed electrical model for current flow provides the time-dependent transmembrane fields for the MD simulations. A good match between the simulation results and available experimental data is obtained. Predictions include pore formation times of about 5-6 ns. It is also shown that the pore formation process would tend to begin from the anodic side of an electrically stressed membrane. Furthermore, the present simulations demonstrate that ions could facilitate pore formation. This could be of practical importance and have direct relevance to the recent observations of calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum in cells subjected to such ultrashort, high-intensity pulses.

Electric Field-Mediated Processing of Polymers. Appendix 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wnek, G. E.; Bowlin, G. L.; Haas, T. W.

2000-01-01

Significant opportunities exist for the processing of polymers (homopolymers and blends) using electric fields. We suggest that a broad range of properties can be achieved using a relatively small number of polymers, with electric fields providing the ability to tailor properties via the control of shape, morphology, and orientation. Specific attention is given to electrospinning, but we note that electroaerosol formation and field-modulated film casting represent additional processing options.

High Performance Polymer Memory and Its Formation

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-04-26

the retention time of the device was performed to estimate the barrier height of the charge trap . The activation energy was approximated to be about...characteristics and presented a model to explain the mechanism of electrical switching in the device. By exploiting an electric-field induced charge transfer...electrical current in the high conductivity state would be due to some temperature-independent charge tunneling processes. The IV curves could be

Heat-electrical regeneration way to intensive energy saving in an electric arc furnaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kartavtcev, S.; Matveev, S.; Neshporenko, E.

2018-03-01

Energy saving in steel production is of great significance for its large economical scale of 1500 mil t/year and high-energy consumption. Steady trend of last years is an increase of steel production in electric arc furnaces (EAF) with a very high consumption of electricity up to 750 kWh/ton. The intention to reduce so much energy consumption they can reach by many ways. One of such way is a transforming heat energy of liquid steel to electricity and destine it to steel electric arc process. Under certain conditions, it may lead to “zero” consumption of electric power in the process. The development of these conditions leads to the formation of energy-efficient heat schemes, with a minimum electricity consumption from the external network.

Characterization of solar cells for space applications. Volume 13: Electrical characteristics of Hughes LPE gallium arsenide solar cells as a function of intensity and temperature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anspaugh, B. E.; Beckert, D. M.; Downing, R. G.; Miyahira, T. F.; Weiss, R. S.

1980-01-01

Electrical characteristics of Hughes Liquid phase epitaxy, P/N gallium aluminum arsenide solar cells are presented in graphical and tabular format as a function of solar illumination intensity and temperature.

Field tuning the g factor in InAs nanowire double quantum dots.

PubMed

Schroer, M D; Petersson, K D; Jung, M; Petta, J R

2011-10-21

We study the effects of magnetic and electric fields on the g factors of spins confined in a two-electron InAs nanowire double quantum dot. Spin sensitive measurements are performed by monitoring the leakage current in the Pauli blockade regime. Rotations of single spins are driven using electric-dipole spin resonance. The g factors are extracted from the spin resonance condition as a function of the magnetic field direction, allowing determination of the full g tensor. Electric and magnetic field tuning can be used to maximize the g-factor difference and in some cases altogether quench the electric-dipole spin resonance response, allowing selective single spin control. © 2011 American Physical Society

Strong electronic interaction and multiple quantum Hall ferromagnetic phases in trilayer graphene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Datta, Biswajit; Dey, Santanu; Samanta, Abhisek; Borah, Abhinandan; Agarwal, Hitesh; Watanabe, Kenji; Taniguchi, Takashi; Sensarma, Rajdeep; Deshmukh, Mandar

There is an increasing interest in the electronic properties of few layer graphene as it offers a platform to study electronic interactions because the dispersion of bands can be tuned with number and stacking of layers in combination with electric field. Here, we report evidence of strong electronic interactions and quantum Hall ferromagnetism (QHF) seen in a dual gated ABA trilayer graphene sample. Due to high mobility (500,000 cm2V-1s-1) in our device compared to previous studies, we find all symmetry broken states including ν = 0 filling factor at relatively low magnetic field (6T). Activation measurements show that Landau Level (LL) gaps are enhanced by interactions. Moreover, we observe hysteresis as a function of filling factor and spikes in the longitudinal resistance which, together, signal the formation of QHF states at low magnetic field.

Investigation of the factors responsible for burns during MRI.

PubMed

Dempsey, M F; Condon, B; Hadley, D M

2001-04-01

Numerous reported burn injuries have been sustained during clinical MRI procedures. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible factors that may be responsible for such burns. Experiments were performed to investigate three possible mechanisms for causing heating in copper wire during MRI: direct electromagnetic induction in a conductive loop, induction in a resonant conducting loop, and electric field resonant coupling with a wire (the antenna effect). Maximum recorded temperature rises were 0.6 degrees C for the loop, 61.1 degrees C for the resonant loop, and 63.5 degrees C for the resonant antenna. These experimental findings suggest that, contrary to common belief, it is unlikely that direct induction in a conductive loop will result in thermal injury. Burn incidents are more likely to occur due to the formation of resonant conducting loops and from extended wires forming resonant antenna. The characteristics of resonance should be considered when formulating safety guidelines.

The Effect of SbI3 Doping on the Structure and Electrical Properties of n-Type Bi1.8Sb0.2Te2.85Se0.15 Alloy Prepared by the Free Growth Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xiaoyu; Yu, Yuan; Zhu, Bin; Gao, Na; Huang, Zhongyue; Xiang, Bo; Zu, Fangqiu

2018-02-01

Thermoelectric technology is regarded as one of the most promising direct power generation techniques via thermoelectric materials. However, the batch production and scale-up application are hindered because of the high-cost and poor performance. In this work, we adopt the free growth method to synthesize a series of the bulk materials of SbI3-doped Bi1.8Sb0.2Te2.85Se0.15 alloys. The structural and component investigations as well as the electrical properties characterization are carried out. The results show that SbI3 promotes the formation of Te-rich regions in the matrix. In addition, the synergistically optimized electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient are attained by controlling the SbI3 doping concentration. Thus, the sample with 0.30 wt.% SbI3 displays a highly increased power factor of ˜ 13.57 μW cm-1 K-2, which is nearly 21 times higher than that of the undoped one. Moreover, the free growth method is reproducible, convenient and economical. Therefore, it has great potential as a promising technology for the batch synthesis.

Correlation of radiation-induced changes in microstructure/microchemistry, density and thermo-electric power of type 304L and 316 stainless steels irradiated in the Phénix reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Renault Laborne, Alexandra; Gavoille, Pierre; Malaplate, Joël; Pokor, Cédric; Tanguy, Benoît

2015-05-01

Annealed specimens of type 304L and 316 stainless steel and cold-worked 316 specimens were irradiated in the Phénix reactor in the temperature range 381-394 °C and to different damage doses up to 39 dpa. The microstructure and microchemistry of both 304L and 316 have been examined using the combination of the different techniques of TEM to establish the void swelling and precipitation behavior under neutron irradiation. TEM observations are compared with results of measurements of immersion density and thermo-electric power obtained on the same irradiated stainless steels. The similarities and differences in their behavior on different scales are used to understand the factors in terms of the chemical composition and metallurgical state of steels, affecting the precipitation under irradiation and the swelling behavior. Irradiation induces the formation of some precipitate phases (e.g., M6C and M23C6-type carbides, and γ'- and G-phases), Frank loops and cavities. According to the metallurgical state and chemical composition of the steel, the amount of each type of radiation-induced defects is not the same, affecting their density and thermo-electric power.

Analysis on factors affecting household customers decision in using electricity at peak time and its correlation towards saving electricity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pasasa, Linus; Marbun, Parlin; Mariza, Ita

2015-09-01

The purpose of this paper is to study and analyse the factors affecting customer decisions in using electricity at peak-load hours (between 17.00 to 22.00 WIB) and their behaviors towards electricity conservation in Indonesian household. The underlying rationale is to influence a reduction in energy consumption by stimulating energy saving behaviors, thereby reducing the impact of energy use on the environment. How is the correlation between the decisions in using electricity during peak load hours with the household customer's behavior towards saving electricity? The primary data is obtained by distributing questionnaires to customers of PT. PLN Jakarta Raya and Tangerang Distribution from Household segment. The data is analysed using the Structural Equation Model (SEM) and AMOS Software. The research is finding that all factors (Personal, Social, PLN Services, Psychological, and Cultural) are positively influence customer decision in using electricity at peak load hours. There is a correlation between the decisions in using electricity during peak load hours with the household customer's behavior towards saving electricity.

Formation flying for electric sails in displaced orbits. Part I: Geometrical analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Wei; Mengali, Giovanni; Quarta, Alessandro A.; Yuan, Jianping

2017-09-01

We present a geometrical methodology for analyzing the formation flying of electric solar wind sail based spacecraft that operate in heliocentric, elliptic, displaced orbits. The spacecraft orbit is maintained by adjusting its propulsive acceleration modulus, whose value is estimated using a thrust model that takes into account a variation of the propulsive performance with the sail attitude. The properties of the relative motion of the spacecraft are studied in detail and a geometrical solution is obtained in terms of relative displaced orbital elements, assumed to be small quantities. In particular, for the small eccentricity case (i.e. for a near-circular displaced orbit), the bounds characterized by the extreme values of relative distances are analytically calculated, thus providing an useful mathematical tool for preliminary design of the spacecraft formation structure.

Modelling in conventional electroporation for model cell with organelles using COMSOL Multiphysics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sulaeman, M. Y.; Widita, R.

2016-03-01

Conventional electroporation is a formation of pores in the membrane cell due to the external electric field applied to the cell. The purpose of creating pores in the cell using conventional electroporation are to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy (electrochemotherapy) and to kill cancer tissue using irreversible electroporation. Modeling of electroporation phenomenon on a model cell had been done by using software COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3b with the applied external electric field with intensity at 1.1 kV/cm to find transmembrane voltage and pore density. It can be concluded from the results of potential distribution and transmembrane voltage, it show that pores formation only occurs in the membrane cells and it could not penetrate into inside the model cell so there is not pores formation in its organells.

The effect of economic factors and energy efficiency programs on residential electricity consumption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakai, Mihoko

Many countries have implemented policies to correct market and behavioral failures that lead to inefficient energy use. It is important to know what factors and policies can effectively overcome such failures and improve energy efficiency; however, a comprehensive analysis has been difficult because of data limitations. Using state scores compiled by American organizations recently, and adopting fixed-effects regression models, I analyze the joint impacts of relevant factors and policy programs on residential electricity consumption in each U.S. state. The empirical results reveal that increases in electricity price have small and negative effects, and increases in personal income have positive effects on residential electricity sales per capita (a measure of energy efficiency). The results suggest that it may take time for economic factors to affect electricity sales. The effects of personal income suggest the difficulty of controlling residential electricity consumption; however, they also imply that there is some room in households to reduce electricity use. The study also finds that programs and budgets of several policies seem to be associated with electricity sales. The estimates from a model including interaction terms suggest the importance of including multiple policies when analyzing and designing policies to address electricity efficiency. The results also imply the possibility of rebound effects of some policies, whereby improvements in energy efficiency lead to increases in energy consumption due to the associated lower per unit cost. Future studies should analyze both short-term and long-term effects of economic factors and policies, based on improved and accumulated time series and panel data, in order to design more effective policies for improving residential electricity efficiency.

Formation of Singularities at the Interface of Liquid Dielectrics in a Horizontal Electric Field in the Presence of Tangential Velocity Discontinuity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zubarev, N. M.; Kochurin, E. A.

2018-03-01

Nonlinear dynamics of the interface of dielectric liquids under the conditions of suppression of the Kelvin-Helmholz instability by a tangential electric field has been investigated. Two broad classes of exact analytical solutions to the equations of motion describing the evolution of spatially localized and periodic interface perturbations have been found. Both classes of solutions tend to the formation of strong singularities: interface discontinuities with formally infinite amplitudes. The discontinuity sign is determined by the sign of liquid velocity jump at the interface.

Synchronization stability and pattern selection in a memristive neuronal network.

PubMed

Wang, Chunni; Lv, Mi; Alsaedi, Ahmed; Ma, Jun

2017-11-01

Spatial pattern formation and selection depend on the intrinsic self-organization and cooperation between nodes in spatiotemporal systems. Based on a memory neuron model, a regular network with electromagnetic induction is proposed to investigate the synchronization and pattern selection. In our model, the memristor is used to bridge the coupling between the magnetic flux and the membrane potential, and the induction current results from the time-varying electromagnetic field contributed by the exchange of ion currents and the distribution of charged ions. The statistical factor of synchronization predicts the transition of synchronization and pattern stability. The bifurcation analysis of the sampled time series for the membrane potential reveals the mode transition in electrical activity and pattern selection. A formation mechanism is outlined to account for the emergence of target waves. Although an external stimulus is imposed on each neuron uniformly, the diversity in the magnetic flux and the induction current leads to emergence of target waves in the studied network.

Synchronization stability and pattern selection in a memristive neuronal network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chunni; Lv, Mi; Alsaedi, Ahmed; Ma, Jun

2017-11-01

Spatial pattern formation and selection depend on the intrinsic self-organization and cooperation between nodes in spatiotemporal systems. Based on a memory neuron model, a regular network with electromagnetic induction is proposed to investigate the synchronization and pattern selection. In our model, the memristor is used to bridge the coupling between the magnetic flux and the membrane potential, and the induction current results from the time-varying electromagnetic field contributed by the exchange of ion currents and the distribution of charged ions. The statistical factor of synchronization predicts the transition of synchronization and pattern stability. The bifurcation analysis of the sampled time series for the membrane potential reveals the mode transition in electrical activity and pattern selection. A formation mechanism is outlined to account for the emergence of target waves. Although an external stimulus is imposed on each neuron uniformly, the diversity in the magnetic flux and the induction current leads to emergence of target waves in the studied network.

Influence of electrical coupling on early afterdepolarizations in ventricular myocytes.

PubMed

Saiz, J; Ferrero, J M; Monserrat, M; Ferrero, J M; Thakor, N V

1999-02-01

Computer modeling is used to study the effect of electrical coupling between a myocardial zone where early afterdepolarizations (EAD's) can develop and the normal neighboring tissue. The effects of such coupling on EAD development and on the likelihood of EAD propagation as an ectopic beat are studied. The influence on EAD formation is investigated by approximating two partially coupled myocardial zones modeled as two active elements coupled by a junctional resistance R. For R values lower than 800 omega cm2, the action potentials are transmitted to the coupled element, and for R values higher than 850 omega cm2 they are blocked. In both ranges of R, when the electrical coupling increases, the EAD's appear at more negative takeoff potentials with higher amplitudes and upstrokes. The EAD's are not elicited if the electrical coupling is too high. In a separate model of two one-dimensional cardiac fiber segments partially coupled by a resistance R, critical R values exist, between 42 and 54 omega cm2, that facilitate EAD propagation. These results demonstrate that in myocardial zones favorable to the formation of EAD, the electrical coupling dramatically affects initiation of EAD and its spread to the neighboring tissue.

Invited Article: Relation between electric and magnetic field structures and their proton-beam images

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

Kugland, N. L.; Ryutov, D. D.; Plechaty, C.

2012-10-15

Proton imaging is commonly used to reveal the electric and magnetic fields that are found in high energy density plasmas. Presented here is an analysis of this technique that is directed towards developing additional insight into the underlying physics. This approach considers: formation of images in the limits of weak and strong intensity variations; caustic formation and structure; image inversion to obtain line-integrated field characteristics; direct relations between images and electric or magnetic field structures in a plasma; imaging of sharp features such as Debye sheaths and shocks. Limitations on spatial and temporal resolution are assessed, and similarities with opticalmore » shadowgraphy are noted. Synthetic proton images are presented to illustrate the analysis. These results will be useful for quantitatively analyzing experimental proton imaging data and verifying numerical codes.« less

Regional Variability and Uncertainty of Electric Vehicle Life Cycle CO₂ Emissions across the United States.

PubMed

Tamayao, Mili-Ann M; Michalek, Jeremy J; Hendrickson, Chris; Azevedo, Inês M L

2015-07-21

We characterize regionally specific life cycle CO2 emissions per mile traveled for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) across the United States under alternative assumptions for regional electricity emission factors, regional boundaries, and charging schemes. We find that estimates based on marginal vs average grid emission factors differ by as much as 50% (using National Electricity Reliability Commission (NERC) regional boundaries). Use of state boundaries versus NERC region boundaries results in estimates that differ by as much as 120% for the same location (using average emission factors). We argue that consumption-based marginal emission factors are conceptually appropriate for evaluating the emissions implications of policies that increase electric vehicle sales or use in a region. We also examine generation-based marginal emission factors to assess robustness. Using these two estimates of NERC region marginal emission factors, we find the following: (1) delayed charging (i.e., starting at midnight) leads to higher emissions in most cases due largely to increased coal in the marginal generation mix at night; (2) the Chevrolet Volt has higher expected life cycle emissions than the Toyota Prius hybrid electric vehicle (the most efficient U.S. gasoline vehicle) across the U.S. in nearly all scenarios; (3) the Nissan Leaf BEV has lower life cycle emissions than the Prius in the western U.S. and in Texas, but the Prius has lower emissions in the northern Midwest regardless of assumed charging scheme and marginal emissions estimation method; (4) in other regions the lowest emitting vehicle depends on charge timing and emission factor estimation assumptions.

Low cost solar array project production process and equipment task: A Module Experimental Process System Development Unit (MEPSDU)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1981-01-01

Several major modifications were made to the design presented at the PDR. The frame was deleted in favor of a "frameless" design which will provide a substantially improved cell packing factor. Potential shaded cell damage resulting from operation into a short circuit can be eliminated by a change in the cell series/parallel electrical interconnect configuration. The baseline process sequence defined for the MEPSON was refined and equipment design and specification work was completed. SAMICS cost analysis work accelerated, format A's were prepared and computer simulations completed. Design work on the automated cell interconnect station was focused on bond technique selection experiments.

An investigation of the effect of instruction in physics on the formation of mental models for problem-solving in the context of simple electric circuits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beh, Kian Lim

2000-10-01

This study was designed to explore the effect of a typical traditional method of instruction in physics on the formation of useful mental models among college students for problem-solving using simple electric circuits as a context. The study was also aimed at providing a comprehensive description of the understanding regarding electric circuits among novices and experts. In order to achieve these objectives, the following two research approaches were employed: (1) A students survey to collect data from 268 physics students; and (2) An interview protocol to collect data from 23 physics students and 24 experts (including 10 electrical engineering graduates, 4 practicing electrical engineers, 2 secondary school physics teachers, 8 physics lecturers, and 4 electrical engineers). Among the major findings are: (1) Most students do not possess accurate models of simple electric circuits as presented implicitly in physics textbooks; (2) Most students display good procedural understanding for solving simple problems concerning electric circuits but have no in-depth conceptual understanding in terms of practical knowledge of current, voltage, resistance, and circuit connections; (3) Most students encounter difficulty in discerning parallel connections that are drawn in a non-conventional format; (4) After a year of college physics, students show significant improvement in areas, including practical knowledge of current and voltage, ability to compute effective resistance and capacitance, ability to identify circuit connections, and ability to solve problems; however, no significance was found in practical knowledge of resistance and ability to connect circuits; and (5) The differences and similarities between the physics students and the experts include: (a) Novices perceive parallel circuits more in terms of 'branch', 'current', and 'resistors with the same resistance' while experts perceive parallel circuits more in terms of 'node', 'voltage', and 'less resistance'; and (b) Both novices and experts use phrases such as 'side-by side' and 'one on top of the other' in describing parallel circuits which emphasize the geometry of the standard circuit drawing when describing parallel resistors.

Electric emissions from electrical appliances.

PubMed

Leitgeb, N; Cech, R; Schröttner, J

2008-01-01

Electric emissions from electric appliances are frequently considered negligible, and standards consider electric appliances to comply without testing. By investigating 122 household devices of 63 different categories, it could be shown that emitted electric field levels do not justify general disregard. Electric reference values can be exceeded up to 11-fold. By numerical dosimetry with homogeneous human models, induced intracorporal electric current densities were determined and factors calculated to elevate reference levels to accounting for reduced induction efficiency of inhomogeneous fields. These factors were found not high enough to allow generally concluding on compliance with basic restrictions without testing. Electric appliances usually simultaneously emit both electric and magnetic fields exposing almost the same body region. Since the sum of induced current densities is limited, one field component reduces the available margin for the other. Therefore, superposition of electric current densities induced by either field would merit consideration.

Double Layers in Astrophysics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, Alton C. (Editor); Moorehead, Tauna W. (Editor)

1987-01-01

Topics addressed include: laboratory double layers; ion-acoustic double layers; pumping potential wells; ion phase-space vortices; weak double layers; electric fields and double layers in plasmas; auroral double layers; double layer formation in a plasma; beamed emission from gamma-ray burst source; double layers and extragalactic jets; and electric potential between plasma sheet clouds.

75 FR 4310 - Credit Reforms in Organized Wholesale Electric Markets

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-27

... electricity markets typically use bilateral contracts such as the Western Systems Power Pool (WSPP) standard... scanned image format. Commenters filing electronically do not need to make a paper filing. Commenters that..., Secretary. In consideration of the foregoing, the Commission proposes to amend part 35, Chapter J, Title 18...

Research on Operation Assessment Method for Energy Meter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xiangqun; Huang, Rui; Shen, Liman; chen, Hao; Xiong, Dezhi; Xiao, Xiangqi; Liu, Mouhai; Xu, Renheng

2018-03-01

The existing electric energy meter rotation maintenance strategy regularly checks the electric energy meter and evaluates the state. It only considers the influence of time factors, neglects the influence of other factors, leads to the inaccuracy of the evaluation, and causes the waste of resources. In order to evaluate the running state of the electric energy meter in time, a method of the operation evaluation of the electric energy meter is proposed. The method is based on extracting the existing data acquisition system, marketing business system and metrology production scheduling platform that affect the state of energy meters, and classified into error stability, operational reliability, potential risks and other factors according to the influencing factors, based on the above basic test score, inspecting score, monitoring score, score of family defect detection. Then, according to the evaluation model according to the scoring, we evaluate electric energy meter operating state, and finally put forward the corresponding maintenance strategy of rotation.

The Research of Regression Method for Forecasting Monthly Electricity Sales Considering Coupled Multi-factor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jiangbo; Liu, Junhui; Li, Tiantian; Yin, Shuo; He, Xinhui

2018-01-01

The monthly electricity sales forecasting is a basic work to ensure the safety of the power system. This paper presented a monthly electricity sales forecasting method which comprehensively considers the coupled multi-factors of temperature, economic growth, electric power replacement and business expansion. The mathematical model is constructed by using regression method. The simulation results show that the proposed method is accurate and effective.

Defects formation and spiral waves in a network of neurons in presence of electromagnetic induction.

PubMed

Rostami, Zahra; Jafari, Sajad

2018-04-01

Complex anatomical and physiological structure of an excitable tissue (e.g., cardiac tissue) in the body can represent different electrical activities through normal or abnormal behavior. Abnormalities of the excitable tissue coming from different biological reasons can lead to formation of some defects. Such defects can cause some successive waves that may end up to some additional reorganizing beating behaviors like spiral waves or target waves. In this study, formation of defects and the resulting emitted waves in an excitable tissue are investigated. We have considered a square array network of neurons with nearest-neighbor connections to describe the excitable tissue. Fundamentally, electrophysiological properties of ion currents in the body are responsible for exhibition of electrical spatiotemporal patterns. More precisely, fluctuation of accumulated ions inside and outside of cell causes variable electrical and magnetic field. Considering undeniable mutual effects of electrical field and magnetic field, we have proposed the new Hindmarsh-Rose (HR) neuronal model for the local dynamics of each individual neuron in the network. In this new neuronal model, the influence of magnetic flow on membrane potential is defined. This improved model holds more bifurcation parameters. Moreover, the dynamical behavior of the tissue is investigated in different states of quiescent, spiking, bursting and even chaotic state. The resulting spatiotemporal patterns are represented and the time series of some sampled neurons are displayed, as well.

Electrically conducting nanopatterns formed by chemical e-beam lithography via gold nanoparticle seeds.

PubMed

Schaal, Patrick A; Besmehn, Astrid; Maynicke, Eva; Noyong, Michael; Beschoten, Bernd; Simon, Ulrich

2012-02-07

We report the formation of thiol nanopatterns on SAM covered silicon wafers by converting sulfonic acid head groups via e-beam lithography. These thiol groups act as binding sites for gold nanoparticles, which can be enhanced to form electrically conducting nanostructures. This approach serves as a proof-of-concept for the combination of top-down and bottom-up processes for the generation of electrical devices on silicon.

Methods and apparatus for measurement of electronic properties of geological formations through borehole casing

DOEpatents

Vail, W.B. III.

1991-08-27

Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring electronic properties of geological formations and cement layers adjacent to cased boreholes including resistivities, polarization phenomena and dielectric constants. Current is passed from an electrode in electrical contact with the interior of the borehole casing to an electrode on the surface of the earth. At least three voltage measuring electrodes in electrical contact with the interior of the casing measure the voltage at various points thereon. The voltage differences between discrete pairs of the voltage measuring electrodes provide a measurement of the differential current conducted into the formation in the vicinity of those electrodes. These measurements facilitate calculation of the resistivities of the adjacent geological formations as well as an indication of whether cement is present. Measurements of the differential voltage response to transient currents provide a measurement of the polarization phenomena in formation as well as the capacitance of the casing in contact with the formation which is useful for determining whether oil and gas are present. Lithological characteristics of the formation such as the presence or absence of clay can also be determined. A calibration procedure is provided for minimizing errors induced by variations in the casing. The device also may be placed within the pipe attached to a drill bit while drilling open holes. 48 figures.

Methods and apparatus for measurement of electronic properties of geological formations through borehole casing

DOEpatents

Vail, W.B. III.

1989-11-21

Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring electronic properties of geological formations and cement layers adjacent to cased boreholes including resistivities, polarization phenomena and dielectric constants. Current is passed from an electrode in electrical contact with the interior of the borehole casing to an electrode on the surface of the earth. At least three voltage measuring electrodes in electrical contact with the interior of the casing measure the voltage at various points thereon. The voltage differences between discrete pairs of the voltage measuring electrodes provide a measurement of differential current conducted into formation in the vicinity of those electrodes. These measurements facilitate calculation of the resistivities of the adjacent geological formations as well as an indication of whether cement is present. Measurements of the differential voltage response to transient currents provide a measurement of the polarization phenomena in formation as well as the capacitance of the casing in contact with the formation which is useful for determining whether oil and gas are present. Lithological characteristics of the formation such as the presence or absence of clay can also be determined. A calibration procedure is provided for minimizing errors induced by variations in the casing. The device also may be placed within the pipe attached to a drill bit while drilling open holes. 48 figs.

Methods and apparatus for measurement of electronic properties of geological formations through borehole casing

DOEpatents

Vail, III, William B.

1991-01-01

Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring electronic properties of geological formations and cement layers adjacent to cased boreholes including resistivities, polarization phenomena and dielectric constants. Current is passed from an electrode in electrical contact with the interior of the borehole casing to an electrode on the surface of the earth. At least three voltage measuring electrodes in electrical contact with the interior of the casing measure the voltage at various points thereon. The voltage differences between discrete pairs of the voltage measuring electrodes provide a measurement of the differential current conducted into formation in the vicinity of those electrodes. These measurements facilitate calculation of the resistivities of the adjacent geological formations as well as an indication of whether cement is present. Measurements of the differential voltage response to transient currents provide a measurement of the polarization phenomena in formation as well as the capacitance of the casing in contact with the formation which is useful for determining whether oil and gas present. Lithological characteristics of the formation such as the pressence or absence of clay can also be determined. A calibration procedure is provided for minimizing errors induced by variations in the casing. The device also may be placed within the pipe attached to a drill bit while drilling open holes.

Methods and apparatus for measurement of electronic properties of geological formations through borehole casing

DOEpatents

Vail, III, William B.

1989-01-01

Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring electronic properties of geological formations and cement layers adjacent to cased boreholes including resistivities, polarization phenomena and dielectric constants. Current is passed from an electrode in electrical contact with the interior of the borehole casing to an electrode on the surface of the earth. At least three voltage measuring electrodes in electrical contact with the interior of the casing measure the voltage at various points thereon. The voltage differences between discrete pairs of the voltage measuring electrodes provide a measurement of differential current conducted into formation in the vicinity of those electrodes. These measurements facilitate calculation of the resistivities of the adjacent geological formations as well as an indication of whether cement is present. Measurements of the differential voltage response to transient currents provide a measurement of the polarization phenomena in formation as well as the capacitance of the casing in contact with the formation which is useful for determining whether oil and gas are present. Lithological characteristics of the formation such as the presence or absence of clay can also be determined. A calibration procedure is provided for minimizing errors induced by variations in the casing. The device also may be placed within the pipe attached to a drill bit while drilling open holes.

Workshop on multifactor aging mechanisms and models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agarwal, V. K.

1992-10-01

There have been considerable efforts to understand the aging and failure mechanisms of insulation in electrical systems. However, progress has been slow because of the complex nature of the subject particularly when dealing with multiple stresses e.g. electrical, thermal, mechanical, radiation, humidity and other environmental factors. When an insulating material is exposed to just one stress factor e.g. electric field, one must devise test(s) which are not only economically efficient and practical but which take into account the nature of electric field (ac, dc and pulsed), duration and level or field strength, and field configurations. Any additional stress factor(s) make the matrix of measurements and the understanding of resulting degradation processes more complex, time consuming and expensive.

Formative Research in the Production of Television for Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Palmer, Edward L.

The Children's Television Workshop (CTW), responsible for the programs "Sesame Street" and "The Electric Company", conducted extensive research into the systematic use of television to promote the social, emotional, and intellectual growth of young children. Working without precedents in the field of formative research…

The formation mechanism for printed silver-contacts for silicon solar cells.

PubMed

Fields, Jeremy D; Ahmad, Md Imteyaz; Pool, Vanessa L; Yu, Jiafan; Van Campen, Douglas G; Parilla, Philip A; Toney, Michael F; van Hest, Maikel F A M

2016-04-01

Screen-printing provides an economically attractive means for making Ag electrical contacts to Si solar cells, but the use of Ag substantiates a significant manufacturing cost, and the glass frit used in the paste to enable contact formation contains Pb. To achieve optimal electrical performance and to develop pastes with alternative, abundant and non-toxic materials, a better understanding the contact formation process during firing is required. Here, we use in situ X-ray diffraction during firing to reveal the reaction sequence. The findings suggest that between 500 and 650 °C PbO in the frit etches the SiNx antireflective-coating on the solar cell, exposing the Si surface. Then, above 650 °C, Ag(+) dissolves into the molten glass frit - key for enabling deposition of metallic Ag on the emitter surface and precipitation of Ag nanocrystals within the glass. Ultimately, this work clarifies contact formation mechanisms and suggests approaches for development of inexpensive, nontoxic solar cell contacting pastes.

Process of negative-muon-induced formation of an ionized acceptor center ({sub μ}A){sup –} in crystals with the diamond structure

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

Belousov, Yu. M., E-mail: theorphys@phystech.edu

The formation of an ionized acceptor center by a negative muon in crystals with the diamond structure is considered. The negative muon entering a target is captured by a nucleus, forming a muonic atom {sub μ}A coupled to a lattice. The appearing radiation-induced defect has a significant electric dipole moment because of the violation of the local symmetry of the lattice and changes the phonon spectrum of the crystal. The ionized acceptor center is formed owing to the capture of an electron interacting with the electric dipole moment of the defect and with the radiation of a deformation-induced local-mode phonon.more » Upper and lower bounds of the formation rate of the ionized acceptor center in diamond, silicon, and germanium crystals are estimated. It is shown that the kinetics of the formation of the acceptor center should be taken into account when processing μSR experimental data.« less

The formation mechanism for printed silver-contacts for silicon solar cells

DOE PAGES

Fields, Jeremy D.; Ahmad, Md. Imteyaz; Pool, Vanessa L.; ...

2016-04-01

Screen-printing provides an economically attractive means for making Ag electrical contacts to Si solar cells, but the use of Ag substantiates a significant manufacturing cost, and the glass frit used in the paste to enable contact formation contains Pb. To achieve optimal electrical performance and to develop pastes with alternative, abundant, and non-toxic materials requires understanding the contact formation process during firing. Here, we use in-situ X-ray diffraction during firing to reveal the reaction sequence. The findings suggest that between 500 degrees C and 650 degrees C PbO in the frit etches the SiNx antireflective-coating on the solar cell, exposingmore » the Si surface. Then, above 650 degrees C, Ag+ dissolves into the molten glass frit -- key for enabling deposition of metallic Ag on the emitter surface and precipitation of Ag nanocrystals within the glass. Ultimately, this work clarifies contact formation mechanisms and suggests approaches for development of inexpensive, nontoxic solar cell contacting pastes.« less

Thermodynamic modelling of the formation of zinc-manganese ferrite spinel in electric arc furnace dust.

PubMed

Pickles, C A

2010-07-15

Electric arc furnace dust is generated when automobile scrap, containing galvanized steel, is remelted in an electric arc furnace. This dust is considered as a hazardous waste in most countries. Zinc is a major component of the dust and can be of significant commercial value. Typically, the majority of the zinc exists as zinc oxide (ZnO) and as a zinc-manganese ferrite spinel ((Zn(x)Mn(y)Fe(1-x-y))Fe(2)O(4)). The recovery of the zinc from the dust in metal recycling and recovery processes, particularly in the hydrometallurgical extraction processes, is often hindered by the presence of the mixed ferrite spinel. However, there is a paucity of information available in the literature on the formation of this spinel. Therefore, in the present research, the equilibrium module of HSC Chemistry 6.1 was utilized to investigate the thermodynamics of the formation of the spinel and the effect of variables on the amount and the composition of the mixed ferrite spinel. It is proposed that the mixed ferrite spinel forms due to the reaction of iron-manganese particulates with both gaseous oxygen and zinc, at the high temperatures in the freeboard of the furnace above the steel melt. Based on the thermodynamic predictions, methods are proposed for minimizing the formation of the mixed ferrite spinel. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrical potential modulation of dynamic film properties of aqueous surfactant solutions through a nanogap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Guoxin; Luo, Jianbin; Liu, Shuhai; Guo, Dan

2011-01-01

The effect of external electrical potentials (EEPs) on aqueous surfactant films nanoconfined in a ball-plate configuration has been investigated by measuring the dynamic film thickness with an interferometer. Experimental results indicate that the film formation properties of the surfactant solutions in the nanogap under applied EEPs are strongly dependent on the interfacial adsorbed surfactant structure. Effective control over the film formation properties by applying EEPs depends on the signs of the charges on the solid surface and the surfactant headgroups, the surfactant concentration, and the magnitude of EEPs. Remarkable alterations of the film formation properties in the nanogap by EEPs can be observed except when the surface charge is the same in sign as the headgroups and the surfactant concentration is above the critical micelle concentration. Mechanisms of these phenomena have been discussed in this work.

Increase in the efficiency of electric melting of pellets in an arc furnace with allowance for the energy effect of afterburning of carbon oxide in slag using fuel-oxygen burners

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stepanov, V. A.; Krakht, L. N.; Merker, E. E.; Sazonov, A. V.; Chermenev, E. A.

2015-12-01

The problems of increasing the efficiency of electric steelmaking using fuel-oxygen burners to supply oxygen for the afterburning of effluent gases in an arc furnace are considered. The application of a new energy-saving regime based on a proposed technology of electric melting is shown to intensify the processes of slag formation, heating, and metal decarburization.

Rheological properties and formation mechanism of DC electric fields induced konjac glucomannan-tungsten gels.

PubMed

Wang, Lixia; Jiang, Yaoping; Lin, Youhui; Pang, Jie; Liu, Xiang Yang

2016-05-20

Konjac glucomannan-tungsten (KGM-T) hydrogel of electrochemical reversibility was successfully produced under DC electric fields in the presence of sodium tungstate. The structure and the effects of sodium tungstate concentration, KGM concentration, voltage and electric processing time on the rheological properties of the gels were investigated. pH experiments showed that KGM sol containing Na2WO4·2H2O in the vicinity of the positive electrode became acidic and the negative electrode basic after the application of DC electric fields. Under acid conditions, WO4(2-) ions transformed into isopoly-tungstic acid ions. FTIR and Raman studies indicated that isopoly-tungstic acid ions absorbed on KGM molecular chain and cross-linked with -OH groups at C-6 position on sugar units of KGM. Frequency sweep data showed with increasing sodium tungstate concentration, voltage, and electric processing time, the viscoelastic moduli, i.e., the storage and the loss moduli of the gel increased, whereas an increase in KGM concentration led to a decrease in gel viscoelastic moduli. The temperature sweep measurements indicated the obtained gel exhibited high thermal stability. Finally, the mechanism of gel formation was proposed. Our work may pave the way to use DC electric fields for the design and development of KGM gels as well as polysaccharide gels. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Increased electrical output when a bacterial ABTS oxidizer is used in a microbial fuel cell

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a technology that provides electrical energy from the microbial oxidation of organic compounds. Most MFCs use oxygen as the oxidant in the cathode chamber. The present study examined the formation in culture of an unidentified bacterial oxidant and investigated the ...

Formative Assessment Probes: Where Do I Put the Switch?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keeley, Page

2015-01-01

After completing a science unit on transfer of energy, including how chemical energy from a battery is converted to electrical energy; electrical circuits; and transformation of energy into sound, light, or heat; the students in Mrs. Finlay's fourth-grade science class were challenged to use what they learned to solve a problem. The students…

Vomiting Center reanalyzed: An electrical stimulation study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, A. D.; Wilson, V. J.

1982-01-01

Electrical stimulation of the brainstem of 15 decerebrate cats produced stimulus-bound vomiting in only 4 animals. Vomiting was reproducible in only one cat. Effective stimulating sites were located in the solitary tract and reticular formation. Restricted localization of a vomiting center, stimulation of which evoked readily reproducible results, could not be obtained.

Influences of Electrification and Salt on Hydrophobicity of Sample Surface in Dynamic Drop Test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shiibara, Daiki; Arata, Yoshihiro; Haji, Kenichi; Miyake, Takuma; Sakoda, Tatsuya; Otsubo, Masahisa

Studies on the development of deterioration/ performance evaluation method for outdoor electric insulation of polymer materials are pushed forward now in the International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE). The small scale test method (Dynamic drop test; DDT) which could evaluate disappearance characteristics of hydrophobicity easily was suggested. This test is to evaluate resistance of a sample to loss of hydrophobicity due to moisture and simultaneous electric stress. As factors for deterioration of hydrophobicity on a sample in DDT, various factors such as electrical influence, physical influence by water droplets and so on were considered. In this study, we investigated two kinds of factors (electrification and salt) affecting deterioration of hydrophobicity on the surface of a silicone rubber until ignition of continuous electrical discharge in DDT.

Double relaxation via AdS/CFT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amiri-Sharifi, S.; Ali-Akbari, M.; Kishani-Farahani, A.; Shafie, N.

2016-08-01

We exploit the AdS/CFT correspondence to investigate thermalization in an N = 2 strongly coupled gauge theory including massless fundamental matter (quark). More precisely, we consider the response of a zero temperature state of the gauge theory under influence of an external electric field which leads to a time-dependent current. The holographic dual of the above set-up is given by introducing a time-dependent electric field on the probe D7-brane embedded in an AdS5 ×S5 background. In the dual gravity theory an apparent horizon forms on the brane which, according to AdS/CFT dictionary, is the counterpart of the thermalization process in the gauge theory side. We classify different functions for time-dependent electric field and study their effect on the apparent horizon formation. In the case of pulse functions, where the electric field varies from zero to zero, apart from non-equilibrium phase, we observe the formation of two separate apparent horizons on the brane. This means that the state of the gauge theory experiences two different temperature regimes during its time evolution.

Electrical properties of multilayers from low- and high-molecular-weight polyelectrolytes.

PubMed

Radeva, Tsetska; Milkova, Viktoria; Petkanchin, Ivana

2004-11-15

The formation of stable multilayer films by using as constituents sodium poly(4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (PVP) was studied by electrooptics. A strong increase in basicity of the pyridine rings in the electrical field of the oppositely charged PSS chains was suggested to be the driving force for multilayer film formation. A linear increase in the film thickness was registered after deposition of the first three layers, with no dependence on the polyelectrolyte molecular weight. The electrooptical effect was found to increase with increasing area of each next layer, but depended on the molecular weights of both polymers. Polarization of "condensed" counterions along the chains of the last-adsorbed layer was suggested to explain this dependence. Following the counterion dynamics, we come to the conclusion that the electrical properties of the top layer govern the electrooptical behavior of the PSS/PVP film.

Post-breakdown secondary discharges at the electrode/dielectric interface of a cylindrical barrier discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carman, Robert; Ward, Barry; Kane, Deborah

2011-10-01

The electrical breakdown characteristics of a double-walled cylindrical dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) lamp with a neon buffer gas under pulsed voltage excitation have been investigated. Following the formation of plasma in the main discharge gap, we have observed secondary breakdown phenomena at the inner and outer mesh electrode/dielectric interfaces under specific operating conditions. Plasma formation at these interfaces is investigated by monitoring the Ozone production rate in controlled flows of ultra high purity oxygen together with the overall electrical voltage-charge characteristics of the lamp. The results show that this secondary breakdown only occurs after the main discharge plasma has been established, and that significant electrical power may be dissipated in generating these spurious secondary plasmas. The results are important with regards to optimising the design and identifying efficient operating regimes of DBD based devices that employ mesh-type or wire/strip electrodes.

Jet formation at the interaction of localized waves on the free surface of dielectric liquid in a tangential electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kochurin, E. A.; Zubarev, N. M.

2018-01-01

Nonlinear dynamics of the free surface of finite depth non-conducting fluid with high dielectric constant subjected to a strong horizontal electric field is considered. Using the conformal transformation of the region occupied by the fluid into a strip, the process of interaction of counter-propagating waves is numerically simulated. The nonlinear solitary waves on the surface can separately propagate along or against the direction of electric field without distortion. At the same time, the shape of the oppositely traveling waves can be distorted as the result of their interaction. In the problem under study, the nonlinearity leads to increasing the wave amplitudes and the duration of their interaction. This effect is inversely proportional to the fluid depth. In the shallow water limit, the tendency to the formation of a vertical liquid jet is observed.

Combined treatment with electrical stimulation and insulin-like growth factor-1 promotes bone regeneration in vitro.

PubMed

Qi, Zhiping; Xia, Peng; Pan, Su; Zheng, Shuang; Fu, Chuan; Chang, Yuxin; Ma, Yue; Wang, Jincheng; Yang, Xiaoyu

2018-01-01

Electrical stimulation (ES) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) are widely used in bone regeneration because of their osteogenic activity. However, the combined effects of ES and supplemental IGF-1 on the whole bone formation process remain unclear. In this study, fluorescence staining and an MTT assay were first utilized to observe the influence of ES and IGF-1 on MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation and adhesion in vitro. Subsequently, osteogenic differentiation was evaluated by the alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) and the expression of osteogenic marker genes. In addition, cell mineralization was determined by alizarin red staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We demonstrated that the MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation was significantly higher for treatments combining IGF-1 and ES than for treatments with IGF-1 alone. The combination of IGF-1 and ES increased the MC3T3-E1 cell ALP activity, the expression of osteogenesis-related genes and the calcium deposition with a clear dose-dependent effect. Our data show the synergistic effect of IGF-1 and ES in promoting the proliferation, differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells, which suggests that it would be more effective to combine the proper dose of IGF-1 with ES to promote local bone damage repair and regeneration.

A review on battery thermal management in electric vehicle application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, Guodong; Cao, Lei; Bi, Guanglong

2017-11-01

The global issues of energy crisis and air pollution have offered a great opportunity to develop electric vehicles. However, so far, cycle life of power battery, environment adaptability, driving range and charging time seems far to compare with the level of traditional vehicles with internal combustion engine. Effective battery thermal management (BTM) is absolutely essential to relieve this situation. This paper reviews the existing literature from two levels that are cell level and battery module level. For single battery, specific attention is paid to three important processes which are heat generation, heat transport, and heat dissipation. For large format cell, multi-scale multi-dimensional coupled models have been developed. This will facilitate the investigation on factors, such as local irreversible heat generation, thermal resistance, current distribution, etc., that account for intrinsic temperature gradients existing in cell. For battery module based on air and liquid cooling, series, series-parallel and parallel cooling configurations are discussed. Liquid cooling strategies, especially direct liquid cooling strategies, are reviewed and they may advance the battery thermal management system to a new generation.

Synthesis of active absorber layer by dip-coating method for perovskite solar cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Rahul; Noor, I. M.; Singh, Pramod K.; Bhattacharya, B.; Arof, A. K.

2018-04-01

In this paper, we develop the hybrid perovskite-based n-i-p solar cell using a simple, fast and low-cost dip-coating method. Hot solution and the pre-annealed substrate are used for coating the perovskite thin film by this method this is further used for studying its structural and electrical properties. UV-vis spectroscopy is carried out for calculating the band gap of the hybrid perovskite layer which is ∼1.6 eV. X-ray spectroscopy confirms that the formation of hybrid perovskite layer. The profilometer is used to study the surface roughness and also for measuring the thickness of the perovskite layer with varying substrate temperature. The optimized sample was further used for cross-sectional SEM image to verify the thickness measured from the profiler. The electrical parameter of JV characteristic with varying temperature is tabulated in the table. Whereas, the perovskite sensitized solar cell exhibits highest short circuit current density, Jsc of 11 mA cm-2, open circuit voltage, Voc of 0.87 V, fill factor of 0.55 and efficiency, η of >5%.

Nanosecond pulsed electric field suppresses development of eyes and germ cells through blocking synthesis of retinoic acid in Medaka (Oryzias latipes).

PubMed

Shiraishi, Eri; Hosseini, Hamid; Kang, Dong K; Kitano, Takeshi; Akiyama, Hidenori

2013-01-01

Application of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) has attracted rising attention in various scientific fields including medical, pharmacological, and biological sciences, although its effects and molecular mechanisms leading to the effects remain poorly understood. Here, we show that a single, high-intensity (10-30 kV/cm), 60-ns PEF exposure affects gene expression and impairs development of eyes and germ cells in medaka (Oryzias latipes). Exposure of early blastula stage embryos to nsPEF down-regulated the expression of several transcription factors which are essential for eye development, causing abnormal eye formation. Moreover, the majority of the exposed genetic female embryos showed a fewer number of germ cells similar to that of the control (unexposed) genetic male at 9 days post-fertilization (dpf). However, all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) treatment following the exposure rescued proliferation of germ cells and resumption of normal eye development, suggesting that the phenotypes induced by nsPEF are caused by a decrease of retinoic acid levels. These results confirm that nsPEFs induce novel effects during embryogenesis in medaka.

Synthesis and electrical behavior of Ni-Ti substituted Y-type hexaferrites for high frequency application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, Bashir; Ashiq, Muhammad Naeem; Mumtaz, Saleem; Ali, Irshad; Najam-Ul-Haq, Muhmmad; Sadiq, Imran

2018-04-01

This article reports the fabrication of Ni-Ti doped derivatives of Sr2Co2Fe12-2xO22 by economical Sol-gel method. At room temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of powder was obtained after sintering at 1050 °C. The XRD analysis revealed the formation of pure Sr-Y hexaferrite phase. It was found that the observed values of dielectric parameters decreased with increasing Ni-Ti substitution. The higher values of dielectric constants and dielectric loss factor at lower frequency were owing to surface charge polarization. In all the samples the resonance peaks were also observed. The observed room temperature DC electrical resistivity found to increase from 1.8x106 to 4.9x109 ohm cm. The observed activation energies values of the fabricated materials are found in 0.52-0.82 eV range. The decrease in dielectric parameters and increase in resistivity of the fabricated samples with substituents suggest these materials have worth application in micro-wave devices as such devices required highly resistive materials.

Enhanced thermoelectric transport in modulation-doped GaN/AlGaN core/shell nanowires

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

Song, Erdong; Li, Qiming; Swartzentruber, Brian

2015-11-25

The thermoelectric properties of unintentionally n-doped core GaN/AlGaN core/shell N-face nanowires are reported. We found that the temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity is consistent with thermally activated carriers with two distinctive donor energies. The Seebeck coefficient of GaN/AlGaN nanowires is more than twice as large as that for the GaN nanowires alone. However, an outer layer of GaN deposited onto the GaN/AlGaN core/shell nanowires decreases the Seebeck coefficient at room temperature, while the temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity remains the same. We attribute these observations to the formation of an electron gas channel within the heavily-doped GaN coremore » of the GaN/AlGaN nanowires. The room-temperature thermoelectric power factor for the GaN/AlGaN nanowires can be four times higher than the GaN nanowires. As a result, selective doping in bandgap engineered core/shell nanowires is proposed for enhancing the thermoelectric power.« less

Modelling of a Double-Track Railway Contact System Electric Field Intensity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belinsky, Stanislav; Khanzhina, Olga; Sidorov, Alexander

2017-12-01

Working conditions of personnel that serves contact system (CS) are affected by factors including health and safety, security and working hours (danger of rolling stock accidents, danger of electric shock strokes, work at height, severity and tension of work, increased noise level, etc.) Low frequency electromagnetic fields as part of both electric and magnetic fields are among of the most dangerous and harmful factors. These factors can affect not only the working personnel, but also a lot of people, who do not work with the contact system itself, but could be influenced by electromagnetic field as the result of their professional activity. People, who use public transport or live not far from the electrified lines, are endangered by these factors as well. There are results of the theoretical researches in which low frequency electric fields of railway contact system were designed with the use of mathematical and computer modelling. Significant features of electric field distribution near double-track railway in presence or absence of human body were established. The studies showed the dependence of low frequency electric field parameters on the distance to the track axis, height, and presence or absence of human body. The obtained data were compared with permissible standards established in the Russian Federation and other countries with advanced electrified railway system. Evaluation of low frequency electric fields harmful effect on personnel is the main result of this work. It is also established, that location of personnel, voltage and current level, amount of tracks and other factors influence electric fields of contact systems.

Particle-in-Cell Simulations of the Twisted Magnetospheres of Magnetars. I.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Alexander Y.; Beloborodov, Andrei M.

2017-08-01

The magnetospheres of magnetars are believed to be filled with electron-positron plasma generated by electric discharge. We present a first numerical experiment demonstrating this process in an axisymmetric magnetosphere with a simple threshold prescription for pair creation, which is applicable to the inner magnetosphere with an ultrastrong field. The {e}+/- discharge occurs in response to the twisting of the closed magnetic field lines by a shear deformation of the magnetar surface, which launches electric currents into the magnetosphere. The simulation shows the formation of an electric “gap” with an unscreened electric field ({\\boldsymbol{E}}\\cdot {\\boldsymbol{B}}\

Electrochemical methods for generation of a biological proton motive force

DOEpatents

Zeikus, Joseph Gregory [Okemos, MI; Shin, Hyoun S [Lansing, MI; Jain, Mahendra K [Lexington, KY

2008-12-02

Disclosed are methods using neutral red to mediate the interconversion of chemical and electrical energy. Electrically reduced neutral red has been found to promote cell growth and formation of reduced products by reversibly increasing the ratio of the reduced:oxidized forms of NAD(H) or NADP(H). Electrically reduced neutral red is able to serve as the sole source of reducing power for microbial cell growth. Neutral red is also able to promote conversion of chemical energy to electrical energy by facilitating the transfer of electrons from microbial reducing power to a fuel cell cathode.

Electrochemical methods for generation of a biological proton motive force and pyridine nucleotide cofactor regeneration

DOEpatents

Zeikus, Gregory J.; Shin, Hyoun S.; Jain, Mahendra K.

2002-01-01

Disclosed are methods using neutral red to mediate the interconversion of chemical and electrical energy. Electrically reduced neutral red has been found to promote cell growth and formation of reduced products by reversibly increasing the ratio of the reduced:oxidized forms of NAD(H) or NADP(H). Electrically reduced neutral red is able to serve as the sole source of reducing power for microbial, cell growth. Neutral red is also able to promote conversion of chemical energy to electrical energy by facilitating the transfer of electrons from microbial reducing power to a fuel cell cathode.

Electrochemical methods for generation of a biological proton motive force and pyridine nucleotide cofactor regeneration

DOEpatents

Zeikus, Joseph G.; Park, Doo

2001-01-01

Disclosed are methods using neutral red to mediate the interconversion of chemical and electrical energy. Electrically reduced neutral red has been found to promote cell growth and formation of reduced products by reversibly increasing the ratio of the reduced:oxidized forms of NAD(H) or NADP(H). Electrically reduced neutral red is able to serve as the sole source of reducing power for microbial cell growth. Neutral red is also able to promote conversion of chemical energy to electrical energy by facilitating the transfer of electrons from microbial reducing power to a fuel cell cathode.

Acoustic and Electrical Property Changes Due to Microbial Growth and Biofilm Formation in Porous Media

EPA Science Inventory

A laboratory study was conducted to investigate the effect of microbial growth and biofilm formation on compressional waves, and complex conductivity during stimulated microbial growth. Over the 29 day duration of the experiment, compressional wave amplitudes and arrival times f...

Deficiency of PHB complex impairs respiratory supercomplex formation and activates mitochondrial flashes.

PubMed

Jian, Chongshu; Xu, Fengli; Hou, Tingting; Sun, Tao; Li, Jinghang; Cheng, Heping; Wang, Xianhua

2017-08-01

Prohibitins (PHBs; prohibitin 1, PHB1 or PHB, and prohibitin 2, PHB2) are evolutionarily conserved and ubiquitously expressed mitochondrial proteins. PHBs form multimeric ring complexes acting as scaffolds in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Mitochondrial flashes (mitoflashes) are newly discovered mitochondrial signaling events that reflect electrical and chemical excitations of the organelle. Here, we investigate the possible roles of PHBs in the regulation of mitoflash signaling. Downregulation of PHBs increases mitoflash frequency by up to 5.4-fold due to elevated basal reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the mitochondria. Mechanistically, PHB deficiency impairs the formation of mitochondrial respiratory supercomplexes (RSCs) without altering the abundance of individual respiratory complex subunits. These impairments induced by PHB deficiency are effectively rescued by co-expression of PHB1 and PHB2, indicating that the multimeric PHB complex acts as the functional unit. Furthermore, downregulating other RSC assembly factors, including SCAFI (also known as COX7A2L), RCF1a (HIGD1A), RCF1b (HIGD2A), UQCC3 and SLP2 (STOML2), all activate mitoflashes through elevating mitochondrial ROS production. Our findings identify the PHB complex as a new regulator of RSC formation and mitoflash signaling, and delineate a general relationship among RSC formation, basal ROS production and mitoflash biogenesis. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

A cooperative game theory approach to transmission planning in power systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Contreras, Javier

The rapid restructuring of the electric power industry from a vertically integrated entity into a decentralized industry has given rise to complex problems. In particular, the transmission component of the electric power system requires new methodologies to fully capture this emerging competitive industry. Game theory models are used to model strategic interactions in a competitive environment. This thesis presents a new decentralized framework to study the transmission network expansion problem using cooperative game theory. First, the players and the rules of the game are defined. Second, a coalition formation scheme is developed. Finally, the optimized cost of expansion is allocated based on the history of the coalition formation.

Electrical properties of palladium-doped CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Arashdeep; Md Mursalin, Sk.; Rana, P.; Sen, Shrabanee

2015-09-01

The effect of doping palladium (Pd) at the Cu site of CaCu3Ti4O12 powders (CCPTO) synthesized by sol-gel technique on electrical properties was studied. XRD analysis revealed the formation of CCTO and CCPTO ceramics with some minor quantities of impurities. SEM micrographs revealed that the grain size decreased with Pd doping. TEM micrographs of CCPTO powder showed the formation of irregular-shaped particles of ~40 nm. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss showed a significant enhancement with Pd doping. A significant decrease in grain-boundary resistance with Pd doping was ascertained by impedance spectroscopy study.

Formation of curvature singularities on the interface between dielectric liquids in a strong vertical electric field.

PubMed

Kochurin, Evgeny A; Zubarev, Nikolay M; Zubareva, Olga V

2013-08-01

The nonlinear dynamics of the interface between two deep dielectric fluids in the presence of a vertical electric field is studied. We consider the limit of a strong external electric field where electrostatic forces dominate over gravitational and capillary forces. The nonlinear integrodifferential equations for the interface motion are derived under the assumption of small interfacial slopes. It is shown in the framework of these equations that, in the generic case, the instability development leads to the formation of root singularities at the interface in a finite time. The interfacial curvature becomes infinite at singular points, while the slope angles remain relatively small. The curvature is negative in the vicinity of singularities if the ratio of the permittivities of the fluids exceeds the inverse ratio of their densities, and it is positive in the opposite case (we consider that the lower fluid is heavier than the upper one). In the intermediate case, the interface evolution equations describe the formation and sharpening of dimples at the interface. The results obtained are applicable for the description of the instability of the interface between two magnetic fluids in a vertical magnetic field.

Impact of nanosecond pulsed electric fields on primary hippocampal neurons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roth, Caleb C.; Payne, Jason A.; Kuipers, Marjorie A.; Thompson, Gary L.; Wilmink, Gerald J.; Ibey, Bennett L.

2012-02-01

Cellular exposure to nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) are believed to cause immediate creation of nanopores in the plasma membrane. These nanopores enable passage of small ions, but remain impermeable to larger molecules like propidium iodide. Previous work has shown that nanopores are stable for minutes after exposure, suggesting that formation of nanopores in excitable cells could lead to prolonged action potential inhibition. Previously, we measured the formation of nanopores in neuroblastoma cells by measuring the influx of extracellular calcium by preloading cells with Calcium Green-AM. In this work, we explored the impact of changing the width of a single nsPEF, at constant amplitude, on uptake of extracellular calcium ions by primary hippocampal neurons (PHN). Calcium Green was again used to measure the influx of extracellular calcium and FM1-43 was used to monitor changes in membrane conformation. The observed thresholds for nanopore formation in PHN by nsPEF were comparable to those measured in neuroblastoma. This work is the first study of nsPEF effects on PHN and strongly suggests that neurological inhibition by nanosecond electrical pulses is highly likely at doses well below irreversible damage.

Characterization of the Electric Double Layer Formation Dynamics of a Metal/Ionic Liquid/Metal Structure.

PubMed

Schmidt, Elliot; Shi, Sha; Ruden, P Paul; Frisbie, C Daniel

2016-06-15

Although ionic liquids (ILs) have been used extensively in recent years as a high-capacitance "dielectric" in electric double layer transistors, the dynamics of the double layer formation have remained relatively unexplored. Better understanding of the dynamics and relaxation processes involved in electric double layer formation will guide device optimization, particularly with regard to switching speed. In this paper, we explore the dynamical characteristics of an IL in a metal/ionic liquid/metal (M/IL/M) capacitor. In particular, we examine a Au/IL/Au structure where the IL is 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate. The experiments consist of frequency-dependent impedance measurements and time-dependent current vs voltage measurements for applied linear voltage ramps and abrupt voltage steps. The parameters of an equivalent circuit model are determined by fits to the impedance vs frequency data and subsequently verified by calculating the current vs voltage characteristics for the applied potential profiles. The data analysis indicates that the dynamics of the structure are characterized by a wide distribution of relaxation times spanning the range of less than microseconds to longer than seconds. Possible causes for these time scales are discussed.

A new approach to the internal thermal management of cylindrical battery cells for automotive applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Worwood, Daniel; Kellner, Quirin; Wojtala, Malgorzata; Widanage, W. D.; M^cGlen, Ryan; Greenwood, David; Marco, James

2017-04-01

Conventional cooling approaches that target either a singular tab or outer surface of common format cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells suffer from a high cell thermal resistance. Under an aggressive duty cycle, this resistance can result in the formation of large in-cell temperature gradients and high hot spot temperatures, which are known to accelerate ageing and further reduce performance. In this paper, a novel approach to internal thermal management of cylindrical battery cells to lower the thermal resistance for heat transport through the inside of the cell is investigated. The effectiveness of the proposed method is analysed for two common cylindrical formats when subject to highly aggressive electrical loading conditions representative of a high performance electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). A mathematical model that captures the dominant thermal properties of the cylindrical cell is created and validated using experimental data. Results from the extensive simulation study indicate that the internal cooling strategy can reduce the cell thermal resistance by up to 67.8 ± 1.4% relative to single tab cooling, and can emulate the performance of a more complex pack-level double tab cooling approach whilst targeting cooling at a single tab.

Evaluation of the Field Water-bearing Potential Using Geophysical Methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avxhiu, R. B.; Nenaj, S. S.

2002-12-01

There are about 16 villages and the center of the district itself, Bilishti, in the Devolli field with a developed agricultural economy. The actual demand for drink and irrigation water has been considerably increased. As the existing irrigation system is damaged and outdated, it is necessary to have an evaluation of the water-bearing potential of the Quaternary formations of the Devolli Field. These formations are composed of various layers such as clay, sandy clay, sand, coarse-grained sand and gravels. Electrical soundings in a grid of 500 x 500 m and 250 x 250 m have been carried out in an area of 100 km2 to evaluate the water-bearing-potential. Their location along with the geological map is shown in Fig.1. Their interpretation shows that the Quaternary formations thickness varies from some meters to 150 m at the center of the valley. It is shown in Fig.2. It has been made possible to distinguish different layers of various composition and non-homogeneous thickness composing the Quaternary formations, (Figs.3,4,5) but we have been mostly focused on the water-bearing coarse-grained sands and gravels, of higher thickness and consistency. This may help to plan an effective grid of holes to take out water. The history of the Devolli River beds formation during the Quaternary period is treated in this poster as well. This information has been obtained both from the traces of the river beds (which have often changed) and electrical soundings.(Fig.6) We can conclude that the results of the electrical soundings show that there are some waterbearing layers at different hypsometric levels. Two of them are the most important: (Figs.3.4) 1. The uppermost Upper Quaternary sand-gravel formations. 2. The deeper (but almost of the same composition) layer of the Q1 - Q2 formations. The poster is composed of the explanatory text and six illustrating figures,

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

Aabakken, J.

This report, prepared by NREL's Strategic Energy Analysis Center, includes up-to-date information on power technologies, including complete technology profiles. The data book also contains charts on electricity restructuring, power technology forecasts, electricity supply, electricity capability, electricity generation, electricity demand, prices, economic indicators, environmental indicators, and conversion factors.

Theory for electric dipole superconductivity with an application for bilayer excitons.

PubMed

Jiang, Qing-Dong; Bao, Zhi-qiang; Sun, Qing-Feng; Xie, X C

2015-07-08

Exciton superfluid is a macroscopic quantum phenomenon in which large quantities of excitons undergo the Bose-Einstein condensation. Recently, exciton superfluid has been widely studied in various bilayer systems. However, experimental measurements only provide indirect evidence for the existence of exciton superfluid. In this article, by viewing the exciton in a bilayer system as an electric dipole, we derive the London-type and Ginzburg-Landau-type equations for the electric dipole superconductors. By using these equations, we discover the Meissner-type effect and the electric dipole current Josephson effect. These effects can provide direct evidence for the formation of the exciton superfluid state in bilayer systems and pave new ways to drive an electric dipole current.

Miniature whirlwinds produced in the laboratory by high-voltage electrical discharges.

PubMed

Ryan, R T; Vonnegut, B

1970-06-12

Laboratory experiments showed that under certain conditions of vorticity the electrical heatinig produced by a high-voltage discharge at atmospheric pressure can cause the formation of a miniature tornado-like vortex. Once it forms, this vortex stabilizes the electrical discharge along its axis and changes its character from that of a spark to high-pressure variety of a glow discharge. Electrical and dynamic parameters were measured. By relating observations and measurements made in these experiments to previous work and to analogous situations in nature, it is concluded that the heating produced by electrical discharges in a large storm may play a significant role in forming and maintaining natural tornadoes.

Hemichannel composition and electrical synaptic transmission: molecular diversity and its implications for electrical rectification

PubMed Central

Palacios-Prado, Nicolás; Huetteroth, Wolf; Pereda, Alberto E.

2014-01-01

Unapposed hemichannels (HCs) formed by hexamers of gap junction proteins are now known to be involved in various cellular processes under both physiological and pathological conditions. On the other hand, less is known regarding how differences in the molecular composition of HCs impact electrical synaptic transmission between neurons when they form intercellular heterotypic gap junctions (GJs). Here we review data indicating that molecular differences between apposed HCs at electrical synapses are generally associated with rectification of electrical transmission. Furthermore, this association has been observed at both innexin and connexin (Cx) based electrical synapses. We discuss the possible molecular mechanisms underlying electrical rectification, as well as the potential contribution of intracellular soluble factors to this phenomenon. We conclude that asymmetries in molecular composition and sensitivity to cellular factors of each contributing hemichannel can profoundly influence the transmission of electrical signals, endowing electrical synapses with more complex functional properties. PMID:25360082

Electrohydrodynamic pressure enhanced by free space charge for electrically induced structure formation with high aspect ratio.

PubMed

Tian, Hongmiao; Wang, Chunhui; Shao, Jinyou; Ding, Yucheng; Li, Xiangming

2014-10-28

Electrically induced structure formation (EISF) is an interesting and unique approach for generating a microstructured duplicate from a rheological polymer by a spatially modulated electric field induced by a patterned template. Most of the research on EISF have so far used various dielectric polymers (with an electrical conductivity smaller than 10(-10) S/m that can be considered a perfect dielectric), on which the electric field induces a Maxwell stress only due to the dipoles (or bounded charges) in the polymer molecules, leading to a structure with a small aspect ratio. This paper presents a different approach for improving the aspect ratio allowed in EISF by doping organic salt into the perfect dielectric polymer, i.e., turning the perfect dielectric into a leaky dielectric, considering the fact that the free space charges enriched in the leaky dielectric polymer can make an additional contribution to the Maxwell stress, i.e., electrohydrodynamic pressure, which is desirable for high aspect ratio structuring. Our numerical simulations and experimental tests have shown that a leaky dielectric polymer, with a small conductivity comparable to that of deionized water, can be much more effective at being electrohydrodynamically deformed into a high aspect ratio in comparison with a perfect dielectric polymer when both of them have roughly the same dielectric constant.

Promotion of Water Channels for Enhanced Ion Transport in 14 nm Diameter Carbon Nanotubes.

PubMed

Sheng, Jiadong; Zhu, Qi; Zeng, Xian; Yang, Zhaohui; Zhang, Xiaohua

2017-03-29

Ion transport plays an important role in solar-to-electricity conversion, drug delivery, and a variety of biological processes. Carbon nanotube (CNT) is a promising material as an ion transporter in the applications of the mimicking of natural ion channels, desalination, and energy harvesting. Here, we demonstrate a unique, enhanced ion transport through a vertically aligned multiwall CNT membrane after the application of an electric potential across CNT membranes. Interestingly, electrowetting arising from the application of an electric potential is critical for the enhancement of overall ion transport rate through CNT membranes. The wettability of a liquid with high surface tension on the interior channel walls of CNTs increases during an electric potential treatment and promotes the formation of water channels in CNTs. The formation of water channels in CNTs induces an increase in overall ion diffusion through CNT membranes. This phenomenon is also related to a decrease in the charge transfer resistance of CNTs (R ct ) after an electric potential is applied. Correspondingly, the enhanced ion flow rate gives rise to an enhancement in the capacitive performance of CNT based membranes. Our observations might have profound impact on the development of CNT based energy storage devices as well as artificial ion channels.

Enhancement of Pool Boiling Heat Transfer and Control of Bubble Motion in Microgravity Using Electric Fields - BCOEL

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Herman, Cila; Iacona, Estelle; Acquaviva, Tom; Coho, Bill; Grant, Nechelle; Nahra, Henry; Sankaran, Subramanian; Taylor, Al; Julian, Ed; Robinson, Dale;

Absolute and convective instabilities of a film flow down a vertical fiber subjected to a radial electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Rong; Chen, Xue; Ding, Zijing

2018-01-01

We consider the motion of a gravity-driven flow down a vertical fiber subjected to a radial electric field. This flow exhibits rich dynamics including the formation of droplets, or beads, driven by a Rayleigh-Plateau mechanism modified by the presence of gravity as well as the Maxwell stress at the interface. A spatiotemporal stability analysis is performed to investigate the effect of electric field on the absolute-convective instability (AI-CI) characteristics. We performed a numerical simulation on the nonlinear evolution of the film to examine the transition from CI to AI regime. The numerical results are in excellent agreement with the spatiotemporal stability analysis. The blowup behavior of nonlinear simulation predicts the formation of touchdown singularity of the interface due to the effect of electric field. We try to connect the blowup behavior with the AI-CI characteristics. It is found that the singularities mainly occur in the AI regime. The results indicate that the film may have a tendency to form very sharp tips due to the enhancement of the absolute instability induced by the electric field. We perform a theoretical analysis to study the behaviors of the singularities. The results show that there exists a self-similarity between the temporal and spatial distances from the singularities.

Enhancement of Pool Boiling Heat Transfer and Control of Bubble Motion in Microgravity Using Electric Fields (BCOEL)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Herman, Cila; Iacona, Estelle; Acquaviva, Tom; Coho, Bill; Grant, Nechelle; Nahra, Henry; Taylor, Al; Julian, Ed; Robinson, Dale; VanZandt, Dave

2001-01-01

The BCOEL project focuses on improving pool boiling heat transfer and bubble control in microgravity by exposing the fluid to electric fields. The electric fields induce a body force that can replace gravity in the low gravity environment, and enhance bubble removal from the heated surface. A better understanding of microgravity effects on boiling with and without electric fields is critical to the proper design of the phase-change-heat-removal equipment for use in spacebased applications. The microgravity experiments will focus on the visualization of bubble formation and shape during boiling. Heat fluxes on the boiling surface will be measured, and, together with the measured driving temperature differences, used to plot boiling curves for different electric field magnitudes. Bubble formation and boiling processes were found to be extremely sensitive to g-jitter. The duration of the experimental run is critical in order to achieve steady state in microgravity experiments. The International Space Station provides conditions suitable for such experiments. The experimental apparatus to be used in the study is described in the paper. The apparatus will be tested in the KC-135 first, and microgravity experiments will be conducted on board of the International Space Station using the Microgravity Science Glovebox as the experimental platform.

Synergistic effect of electrical and chemical factors on endocytosis in micro-discharge plasma gene transfection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jinno, M.; Ikeda, Y.; Motomura, H.; Isozaki, Y.; Kido, Y.; Satoh, S.

2017-06-01

We have developed a new micro-discharge plasma (MDP)-based gene transfection method, which transfers genes into cells with high efficiency and low cytotoxicity; however, the mechanism underlying the method is still unknown. Studies revealed that the N-acetylcysteine-mediated inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity completely abolished gene transfer. In this study, we used laser-produced plasma to demonstrate that gene transfer does not occur in the absence of electrical factors. Our results show that both electrical and chemical factors are necessary for gene transfer inside cells by microplasma irradiation. This indicates that plasma-mediated gene transfection utilizes the synergy between electrical and chemical factors. The electric field threshold required for transfection was approximately 1 kV m-1 in our MDP system. This indicates that MDP irradiation supplies sufficient concentrations of ROS, and the stimulation intensity of the electric field determines the transfection efficiency in our system. Gene transfer by plasma irradiation depends mainly on endocytosis, which accounts for at least 80% of the transfer, and clathrin-mediated endocytosis is a dominant endocytosis. In plasma-mediated gene transfection, alterations in electrical and chemical factors can independently regulate plasmid DNA adhesion and triggering of endocytosis, respectively. This implies that plasma characteristics can be adjusted according to target cell requirements, and the transfection process can be optimized with minimum damage to cells and maximum efficiency. This may explain how MDP simultaneously achieves high transfection efficiency with minimal cell damage.

Electrical device fabrication from nanotube formations

DOEpatents

Nicholas, Nolan Walker; Kittrell, W. Carter; Kim, Myung Jong; Schmidt, Howard K.

2013-03-12

A method for forming nanotube electrical devices, arrays of nanotube electrical devices, and device structures and arrays of device structures formed by the methods. Various methods of the present invention allow creation of semiconducting and/or conducting devices from readily grown SWNT carpets rather than requiring the preparation of a patterned growth channel and takes advantage of the self-controlling nature of these carpet heights to ensure a known and controlled channel length for reliable electronic properties as compared to the prior methods.

Electric breakdown during the pulsed current spreading in the sand

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

Vasilyak, L. M., E-mail: vasilyak@ihed.ras.ru; Vetchinin, S. P.; Panov, V. A.

2016-03-15

Processes of spreading of the pulsed current from spherical electrodes and an electric breakdown in the quartz sand are studied experimentally. When the current density on the electrode exceeds the critical value, a nonlinear reduction occurs in the grounding resistance as a result of sparking in the soil. The critical electric field strengths for ionization and breakdown are determined. The ionization-overheating instability is shown to develop on the electrode, which leads to the current contraction and formation of plasma channels.

Leadership skills for the California electric utility industry: A qualitative study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hubbell, Michael

The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine the skills and knowledge necessary for leaders in the California electric utility industry in 2020. With rapid industry changes, skills to effectively lead and stay competitive are undetermined. Leaders must manage an increasingly hostile social and political environment, incorporate new technology, and deal with an aging workforce and infrastructure. Methodology. This study utilized a qualitative case study design to determine the factors that influence the skills leaders will require in 2020. It incorporated the perspectives of current electric utility leaders while looking with a future lens. Findings. Interviews were conducted with transmission and distribution (T&D) directors at 3 investor-owned public electric utilities headquartered in California. The questions followed an open-ended format to gather responses as perceived by electric utility leaders for each research question category: overall skills, aging workforce, regulation, technology, and leading younger generations. The research resulted in 18 major themes: 5 for overall skills, 3 for aging workforce, 4 for regulation, 3 for technology, and 3 for leading younger generations. Conclusions. The study identified leadership skills including the ability to embrace, leverage, and stay current with technology; understand and provide a clear vision for the future; increase creativity; manage the next set of workers; motivate during a time of great change; prepare for knowledge transfer and change in workforce culture; manage regulatory expectations; expand potential utility opportunities; leverage "big data"; allow worker collaboration; and understand what drives younger generations. Recommendations. California-based electric utility leaders can remain effective by implementing key strategies identified herein. Further research could examine perspectives of additional utility leaders who lead in organizational units outside of T&D, expand the research to include additional states, and/or demonstrate how to acquire the identified skills. It is also recommended that a replication of this study be undertaken to include a perspective and analysis of union or "field" workers.

[Identification of the cumulative eco-environment effect of coal-electricity integration based on interpretative structural model].

PubMed

Han, Lin Wei; Fu, Xiao; Yan, Yan; Wang, Chen Xing; Wu, Gang

2017-05-18

In order to determine the cumulative eco-environmental effect of coal-electricity integration, we selected 29 eco-environmental factors including different development and construction activities of coal-electricity integration, soil, water, atmospheric conditions, biology, landscape, and ecology. Literature survey, expert questionnaire and interview were conducted to analyze the interactive relationships between different factors. The structure and correlations between the eco-environmental factors influenced by coal-electricity integration activities were analyzed using interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and the cumulative eco-environment effect of development and construction activities was determined. A research and evaluation framework for the cumulative eco-environmental effect was introduced in addition to specific evaluation and management needs. The results of this study would provide a theoretical and technical basis for planning and management of coal-electricity integration development activities.

Electric Field Effects on the Intermolecular Interactions in Water Whiskers: Insight from Structures, Energetics, and Properties

DOE PAGES

Bai, Yang; He, Hui-Min; Li, Ying; ...

2015-02-19

Modulation of intermolecular interactions in response to external electric fields could be fundamental to the formation of unusual forms of water, such as water whiskers. However, a detailed understanding of the nature of intermolecular interactions in such systems is lacking. In this study, we present novel theoretical results based on electron correlation calculations regarding the nature of H-bonds in water whiskers, which is revealed by studying their evolution under external electric fields with various field strengths. We find that the water whiskers consisting of 2-7 water molecules all have a chain-length dependent critical electric field. Under the critical electric field,more » the most compact chain structures are obtained, featuring very strong H-bonds, herein referred to as covalent H-bonds. In the case of a water dimer whisker, the bond length of the novel covalent H-bond shortens by 25%, the covalent bond order increases by 9 times, and accordingly the H-bond energy is strengthened by 5 times compared to the normal H-bond in a (H 2O) 2 cluster. Below the critical electric field, it is observed that with increasing field strength, H-bonding orbitals display gradual evolutions in the orbital energy, orbital ordering, and orbital nature (i.e., from typical -style orbital to unusual -style double H-bonding orbital). We also show that beyond the critical electric field, a single water whisker may disintegrate to form a loosely bound zwitterionic chain due to a relay-style proton transfer, whereas two water whiskers may undergo intermolecular cross-linking to form a quasi-two-dimensional water network. In conclusion, these results help shed new insight on the effects of electric fields on water whisker formation.« less

Determination of the needed power of an electric motor on the basis of acceleration time of the electric car

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sapundzhiev, M.; Evtimov, I.; Ivanov, R.

2017-10-01

The paper presents an upgraded methodology for determination of the electric motor power considering the time for acceleration. The influence of the speed factor of electric motor on the value of needed power at same acceleration time is studied. Some calculations on the basis of real vehicle were made. The numeric and graphical results are given. They show a decrease of needed power with the increase of the speed factor of motor, because the high speed factor allows the use of a larger range of the characteristic with the maximum power of the motor. An experimental verification of methodology was done.

Apparatus for Use in Determining Surface Conductivity at Microwave Frequencies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hearn, Chase P. (Inventor)

1995-01-01

An apparatus is provided for use in determining surface conductivity of a flat or shaped conductive material at microwave frequencies. A plate has an electrically conductive surface with first and second holes passing through the plate. An electrically conductive material under test (MUT) is maintained in a spaced apart relationship with the electrically conductive surface of the plate by one or more nonconductive spacers. A first coupling loop is electrically shielded within the first hole while a second coupling loop is electrically shielded within the second hole. A dielectric resonator element is positioned between the first and second coupling loops, while also being positioned closer to the MUT than the electrically conductive surface of the plate. Microwave energy at an operating frequency f is supplied from a signal source to the first coupling loop while microwave energy received at the second coupling loop is measured. The apparatus is capable of measuring the Q-factor of the dielectric resonator situated in the 'cavity' existing between the electrically conductive surface of the plate and the MUT. Surface conductivity of the electrically conductive surface can be determined via interpolation using: 1 ) the measured Q-factor with the electrically conductive surface in place, and 2) the measured Q-factor when the MUT is replaced with reference standards having known surface conductivities.

Interdigitated array of Pt electrodes for electrical stimulation and engineering of aligned muscle tissue.

PubMed

Ahadian, Samad; Ramón-Azcón, Javier; Ostrovidov, Serge; Camci-Unal, Gulden; Hosseini, Vahid; Kaji, Hirokazu; Ino, Kosuke; Shiku, Hitoshi; Khademhosseini, Ali; Matsue, Tomokazu

2012-09-21

Engineered skeletal muscle tissues could be useful for applications in tissue engineering, drug screening, and bio-robotics. It is well-known that skeletal muscle cells are able to differentiate under electrical stimulation (ES), with an increase in myosin production, along with the formation of myofibers and contractile proteins. In this study, we describe the use of an interdigitated array of electrodes as a novel platform to electrically stimulate engineered muscle tissues. The resulting muscle myofibers were analyzed and quantified in terms of their myotube characteristics and gene expression. The engineered muscle tissues stimulated through the interdigitated array of electrodes demonstrated superior performance and maturation compared to the corresponding tissues stimulated through a conventional setup (i.e., through Pt wires in close proximity to the muscle tissue). In particular, the ES of muscle tissue (voltage 6 V, frequency 1 Hz and duration 10 ms for 1 day) through the interdigitated array of electrodes resulted in a higher degree of C2C12 myotube alignment (∼80%) as compared to ES using Pt wires (∼65%). In addition, higher amounts of C2C12 myotube coverage area, myotube length, muscle transcription factors and protein biomarkers were found for myotubes stimulated through the interdigitated array of electrodes compared to those stimulated using the Pt wires. Due to the wide array of potential applications of ES for two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) engineered tissues, the suggested platform could be employed for a variety of cell and tissue structures to more efficiently investigate their response to electrical fields.

Electricity-Electronics for Industrial Arts. Instructors Lesson Plans. Industrial Arts Series, Publication Number 10,010.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hinrichs, Roy S., Comp.

Thirty-one lesson plans on electricity-electronics are presented in this guide designed for industrial arts instructors. Each lesson plan is organized into the following format: (1) lesson objective; (2) supplementary teaching items; (3) presentation; (4) demonstration; (5) laboratory or other activities; and (6) test items (oral, written, or…

The role of hydropower in electric power integration of Asian countries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belyaev, Lev; Savelyev, Vladimir; Chudinova, Lyudmila

2018-01-01

The possible role of hydropower plants in formation and operation of interstate power pools is described based on the generalization of the world experience. Peculiarities of the influence of hydropower on development of interstate electric ties in this part of the world and potential effects are showed on the example of Central and Northeast Asia.

Formative Evaluation of an Experimental BE/E [Basic Electricity and Electronics] Program. Report No. 9-75.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fishburne, R. P., Jr.; Mims, Diane M.

An experimental Basic Electricity and Electronics course (BE/E) utilizing a lock-step, instructor presentation methodology was developed and evaluated at the Service School Command, Great Lakes. The study, directed toward the training of lower mental group, school nonqualified personnel, investigated comparative data on test performance, attitude,…

Functional electrical stimulation-facilitated proliferation and regeneration of neural precursor cells in the brains of rats with cerebral infarction

PubMed Central

Xiang, Yun; Liu, Huihua; Yan, Tiebin; Zhuang, Zhiqiang; Jin, Dongmei; Peng, Yuan

2014-01-01

Previous studies have shown that proliferation of endogenous neural precursor cells cannot alone compensate for the damage to neurons and axons. From the perspective of neural plasticity, we observed the effects of functional electrical stimulation treatment on endogenous neural precursor cell proliferation and expression of basic fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor in the rat brain on the infarct side. Functional electrical stimulation was performed in rat models of acute middle cerebral artery occlusion. Simultaneously, we set up a placebo stimulation group and a sham-operated group. Immunohistochemical staining showed that, at 7 and 14 days, compared with the placebo group, the numbers of nestin (a neural precursor cell marker)-positive cells in the subgranular zone and subventricular zone were increased in the functional electrical stimulation treatment group. Western blot assays and reverse-transcription PCR showed that total protein levels and gene expression of epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor were also upregulated on the infarct side. Prehensile traction test results showed that, at 14 days, prehension function of rats in the functional electrical stimulation group was significantly better than in the placebo group. These results suggest that functional electrical stimulation can promote endogenous neural precursor cell proliferation in the brains of acute cerebral infarction rats, enhance expression of basic fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor, and improve the motor function of rats. PMID:25206808

Effect of mesa structure formation on the electrical properties of zinc oxide thin film transistors.

PubMed

Singh, Shaivalini; Chakrabarti, P

2014-05-01

ZnO based bottom-gate thin film transistor (TFT) with SiO2 as insulating layer has been fabricated with two different structures. The effect of formation of mesa structure on the electrical characteristics of the TFTs has been studied. The formation of mesa structure of ZnO channel region can definitely result in better control over channel region and enhance value of channel mobility of ZnO TFT. As a result, by fabricating a mesa structured TFT, a better value of mobility and on-state current are achieved at low voltages. A typical saturation current of 1.85 x 10(-7) A under a gate bias of 50 V is obtained for non mesa structure TFT while for mesa structured TFT saturation current of 5 x 10(-5) A can be obtained at comparatively very low gate bias of 6.4 V.

Precise Morphology Control and Continuous Fabrication of Perovskite Solar Cells Using Droplet-Controllable Electrospray Coating System.

PubMed

Hong, Seung Chan; Lee, Gunhee; Ha, Kyungyeon; Yoon, Jungjin; Ahn, Namyoung; Cho, Woohyung; Park, Mincheol; Choi, Mansoo

2017-03-08

Herein, we developed a novel electrospray coating system for continuous fabrication of perovskite solar cells with high performance. Our system can systemically control the size of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 precursor droplets by modulating the applied electrical potential, shown to be a crucial factor for the formation of perovskite films. As a result, we have obtained pinhole-free and large grain-sized perovskite solar cells, yielding the best PCE of 13.27% with little photocurrent hysteresis. Furthermore, the average PCE through the continuous coating process was 11.56 ± 0.52%. Our system demonstrates not only the high reproducibility but also a new way to commercialize high-quality perovskite solar cells.

The Studies of a Vacuum Gap Breakdown after High-Current Arc Interruption with Increasing the Voltage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, A. V.; Popov, S. A.; Batrakov, A. V.; Dubrovskaya, E. L.; Lavrinovich, V. A.

2017-12-01

Vacuum-gap breakdown has been studied after high-current arc interruption with a subsequent increase in the transient recovery voltage across a gap. The effects of factors, such as the rate of the rise in the transient voltage, the potential of the shield that surrounds a discharge gap, and the arc burning time, have been determined. It has been revealed that opening the contacts earlier leads to the formation of an anode spot, which is the source of electrode material vapors into the discharge gap after current zero moment. Under the conditions of increasing voltage, this fact results in the breakdown. Too late opening leads to the breakdown of a short gap due to the high electric fields.

Lifestyle Factors in U.S. Residential Electricity Consumption

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

Sanquist, Thomas F.; Orr, Heather M.; Shui, Bin

2012-03-30

A multivariate statistical approach to lifestyle analysis of residential electricity consumption is described and illustrated. Factor analysis of selected variables from the 2005 U.S. Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) identified five lifestyle factors reflecting social and behavioral choices associated with air conditioning, laundry usage, personal computer usage, climate zone of residence, and TV use. These factors were also estimated for 2001 RECS data. Multiple regression analysis using the lifestyle factors yields solutions accounting for approximately 40% of the variance in electricity consumption for both years. By adding the associated household and market characteristics of income, local electricity price and accessmore » to natural gas, variance accounted for is increased to approximately 54%. Income contributed only {approx}1% unique variance to the 2005 and 2001 models, indicating that lifestyle factors reflecting social and behavioral choices better account for consumption differences than income. This was not surprising given the 4-fold range of energy use at differing income levels. Geographic segmentation of factor scores is illustrated, and shows distinct clusters of consumption and lifestyle factors, particularly in suburban locations. The implications for tailored policy and planning interventions are discussed in relation to lifestyle issues.« less

Effects of spatially variable resolution on field-scale estimates of tracer concentration from electrical inversions using Archie's law

USGS Publications Warehouse

Singha, Kamini; Gorelick, Steven M.

2006-01-01

Two important mechanisms affect our ability to estimate solute concentrations quantitatively from the inversion of field-scale electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) data: (1) the spatially variable physical processes that govern the flow of current as well as the variation of physical properties in space and (2) the overparameterization of inverse models, which requires the imposition of a smoothing constraint (regularization) to facilitate convergence of the inverse solution. Based on analyses of field and synthetic data, we find that the ability of ERT to recover the 3D shape and magnitudes of a migrating conductive target is spatially variable. Additionally, the application of Archie's law to tomograms from field ERT data produced solute concentrations that are consistently less than 10% of point measurements collected in the field and estimated from transport modeling. Estimates of concentration from ERT using Archie's law only fit measured solute concentrations if the apparent formation factor is varied with space and time and allowed to take on unreasonably high values. Our analysis suggests that the inability to find a single petrophysical relation in space and time between concentration and electrical resistivity is largely an effect of two properties of ERT surveys: (1) decreased sensitivity of ERT to detect the target plume with increasing distance from the electrodes and (2) the smoothing imprint of regularization used in inversion.

Measurement of electrical impedance of a Berea sandstone core during the displacement of saturated brine by oil and CO2 injections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yu; Xue, Ziqiu; Park, Hyuck; Kiyama, Tamotsu; Zhang, Yi; Nishizawa, Osamu; Chae, Kwang-seok

2015-12-01

Complex electrical impedance measurements were performed on a brine-saturated Berea sandstone core while oil and CO2 were injected at different pressures and temperatures. The saturations of brine, oil, and CO2 in the core were simultaneously estimated using an X-ray computed tomography scanner. The formation factor of this Berea core and the resistivity indexes versus the brine saturations were calculated using Archie's law. The experimental results found different flow patterns of oil under different pressures and temperatures. Fingers were observed for the first experiment at 10 MPa and 40 °C. The fingers were restrained as the viscosity ratio of oil and water changed in the second (10 MPa and 25 °C) and third (5 MPa and 25 °C) experiments. The resistivity index showed an exponential increase with a decrease in brine saturation. The saturation exponent varied from 1.4 to 4.0 at different pressure and temperature conditions. During the oil injection procedure, the electrical impedance increased with oil saturation and was significantly affected by different oil distributions; therefore, the impedance varied whether the finger was remarkable or not, even if the oil saturation remained constant. During the CO2 injection steps, the impedance showed almost no change with CO2 saturation because the brine in the pores became immobile after the oil injection.

Characteristics of ferroelectric-ferroelastic domains in Néel-type skyrmion host GaV4S8

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butykai, Ádám; Bordács, Sándor; Kézsmárki, István; Tsurkan, Vladimir; Loidl, Alois; Döring, Jonathan; Neuber, Erik; Milde, Peter; Kehr, Susanne C.; Eng, Lukas M.

2017-03-01

GaV4S8 is a multiferroic semiconductor hosting Néel-type magnetic skyrmions dressed with electric polarization. At Ts = 42 K, the compound undergoes a structural phase transition of weakly first-order, from a non-centrosymmetric cubic phase at high temperatures to a polar rhombohedral structure at low temperatures. Below Ts, ferroelectric domains are formed with the electric polarization pointing along any of the four <111> axes. Although in this material the size and the shape of the ferroelectric-ferroelastic domains may act as important limiting factors in the formation of the Néel-type skyrmion lattice emerging below TC = 13 K, the characteristics of polar domains in GaV4S8 have not been studied yet. Here, we report on the inspection of the local-scale ferroelectric domain distribution in rhombohedral GaV4S8 using low-temperature piezoresponse force microscopy. We observed mechanically and electrically compatible lamellar domain patterns, where the lamellae are aligned parallel to the (100)-type planes with a typical spacing between 100 nm-1.2 μm. Since the magnetic pattern, imaged by atomic force microscopy using a magnetically coated tip, abruptly changes at the domain boundaries, we expect that the control of ferroelectric domain size in polar skyrmion hosts can be exploited for the spatial confinement and manipulation of Néel-type skyrmions.

Thermoplastic-based conductive composites containing multi-wall carbon nanotubes aligned under the application of external electric fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osazuwa, Osayuki

The objective of this thesis is to prepare thermoplastic/multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and to apply external alternating current (AC) electric fields to achieve enhanced conductivity and dielectric properties. The first part of the thesis focuses on preparing polyolefin-based composites containing welldispersed MWCNTs. MWCNTs are functionalized with a hyperbranched polyethylene (HBPE) using a non-covalent, non-specific functionalization approach and melt compounded with an ethylene-octene copolymer (EOC) matrix. The improved filler dispersion in the functionalized EOC/MWCNT composite results in higher elongation at break compared to the non-functionalized composite. However, the electrical percolation threshold and the ultimate conductivity of the composites are not affected considerably, suggesting that this functionalization approach leaves the inherent properties of the nanotubes intact. EOC/HBPE-functionalized MWCNT composites are further subjected to external AC electric fields (35 -- 212 kV/m), which induce the formation of aligned columnar structures, as evidenced by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Experimentally acquired resistivity data are used to derive correlations between the characteristic insulator-to-conductor transition times of the composites and the electric field strength (E), polymer viscosity (eta) and MWCNT volume fraction (φ). A criterion for the selection of (eta, E, φ) conditions that enable MWCNT assembly under an electric field controlled regime (minimal Brownian motion-driven aggregation effects) is developed. The dielectric properties of the solidified aligned EOC/MWCNT composites are further studied using dielectric spectroscopy. Annealing of the composites at 160 °C results in the formation of interconnected structures, whereas electrification, using AC field of 71 and 212 kV/m induces the formation of aligned columnar structures. The electrified and annealed composites have increased real and imaginary permittivity compared to the as-compounded composite, resulting in improved conductivity and storage capacity. An equivalent circuit model is fitted to the experimentally obtained impedance data in order to correlate the effects of electric field and processing time to the dielectric characteristics of the treated composites. Finally poly(ethylene succinate) (PESu) composites containing well-dispersed MWCNT were prepared by an in-situ polymerization method. Composite electrification results in improvements in the electrical conductivity by up to 12 orders of magnitude, and a retention of high conductivity in the solidified state.

The Synergistic Effect between Electrical and Chemical Factors in Plasma Gene/Molecule-Transfection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jinno, Masafumi

2016-09-01

This study has been done to know what kind of factors in plasma and processes on cells promote plasma gene/molecule transfection. We have discovered a new plasma source using a microcapillary electrode which enables high transfection efficiency and high cell survivability simultaneously. However, the mechanism of the transfection by plasma was not clear. To clarify the transfection mechanisms by micro plasma, we focused on the effects of electrical (current, charge, field, etc.) and chemical (radicals, RONS, etc.) factors generated by the micro plasma and evaluated the contribution weight of three groups of the effects and processes, i.e. electrical, chemical and biochemical ones. At first, the necessity of the electrical factors was estimated by the laser produced plasma (LPP). Mouse L-929 fibroblast cell was cultured on a 96-well plate or 12-well micro slide chamber. Plasmids pCX-EGFP in Tris-EDTA buffer was dropped on the cells and they were exposed to the capillary discharge plasma (CDP) or the LPP. In the case of the CDP, the plasma was generated between the tip of the capillary electrode and the cells so that both electrical and chemical factors were supplied to the cells. In this setup, about 20% of average transfection efficiency was obtained. In the case of the LPP, the plasma was generated apart from the cells so that electrical factors were not supplied to the cells. In this setup, no transfection was observed. These results show that the electrical factors are necessary for the plasma gene transfection. Next, the necessity of the chemical factors was estimated the effect of catalase to remove H2O2 in CDP. The transfection efficiency decreased to 0.4 by scavenging H2O2 with catalase. However, only the solution of H2O2 caused no gene transfection in cells. These results shows that H2O2 is important species to cause gene/molecule transfection but still needs a synergistic effect with electrical or other chemical factors. This work was partly supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (25108509 and 15H00896) from JSPS and a grant from Ehime University. The plasmids are prepared by ADRES Shigenobu of Ehime University.

Carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity sector in major countries: a decomposition analysis.

PubMed

Li, Xiangzheng; Liao, Hua; Du, Yun-Fei; Wang, Ce; Wang, Jin-Wei; Liu, Yanan

2018-03-01

The electric power sector is one of the primary sources of CO 2 emissions. Analyzing the influential factors that result in CO 2 emissions from the power sector would provide valuable information to reduce the world's CO 2 emissions. Herein, we applied the Divisia decomposition method to analyze the influential factors for CO 2 emissions from the power sector from 11 countries, which account for 67% of the world's emissions from 1990 to 2013. We decompose the influential factors for CO 2 emissions into seven areas: the emission coefficient, energy intensity, the share of electricity generation, the share of thermal power generation, electricity intensity, economic activity, and population. The decomposition analysis results show that economic activity, population, and the emission coefficient have positive roles in increasing CO 2 emissions, and their contribution rates are 119, 23.9, and 0.5%, respectively. Energy intensity, electricity intensity, the share of electricity generation, and the share of thermal power generation curb CO 2 emissions and their contribution rates are 17.2, 15.7, 7.7, and 2.8%, respectively. Through decomposition analysis for each country, economic activity and population are the major factors responsible for increasing CO 2 emissions from the power sector. However, the other factors from developed countries can offset the growth in CO 2 emissions due to economic activities.

Application of Microsecond Voltage Pulses for Water Disinfection by Diaphragm Electric Discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kakaurov, S. V.; Suvorov, I. F.; Yudin, A. S.; Solovyova, T. L.; Kuznetsova, N. S.

2015-11-01

The paper presents the dependence of copper and silver ions formation on the duration of voltage pulses of diaphragm electric discharge and on the pH of treated liquid medium. Knowing it allows one to create an automatic control system to control bactericidal agent's parameters obtained in diaphragm electric discharge reactor. The current-voltage characteristic of the reactor with a horizontal to the diaphragm membrane water flow powered from the author's custom pulse voltage source is also presented. The results of studies of the power consumption of diaphragm electric discharge depending on temperature of the treated liquid medium are given.

Propagation characteristics of a focused laser beam in a strontium barium niobate photorefractive crystal under reverse external electric field.

PubMed

Guo, Q L; Liang, B L; Wang, Y; Deng, G Y; Jiang, Y H; Zhang, S H; Fu, G S; Simmonds, P J

2014-10-01

The propagation characteristics of a focused laser beam in a SBN:75 photorefractive crystal strongly depend on the signal-to-background intensity ratio (R=I_s/I_b) under reverse external electric field. In the range 20>R>0.05, the laser beam shows enhanced self-defocusing behavior with increasing external electric field, while it shows self-focusing in the range 0.03>R>0.01. Spatial solitons are observed under a suitable reverse external electric field for R=0.025. A theoretical model is proposed to explain the experimental observations, which suggest a new type of soliton formation due to "enhancement" not "screening" of the external electrical field.

Theory for electric dipole superconductivity with an application for bilayer excitons

PubMed Central

Jiang, Qing-Dong; Bao, Zhi-qiang; Sun, Qing-Feng; Xie, X. C.

2015-01-01

Exciton superfluid is a macroscopic quantum phenomenon in which large quantities of excitons undergo the Bose-Einstein condensation. Recently, exciton superfluid has been widely studied in various bilayer systems. However, experimental measurements only provide indirect evidence for the existence of exciton superfluid. In this article, by viewing the exciton in a bilayer system as an electric dipole, we derive the London-type and Ginzburg-Landau-type equations for the electric dipole superconductors. By using these equations, we discover the Meissner-type effect and the electric dipole current Josephson effect. These effects can provide direct evidence for the formation of the exciton superfluid state in bilayer systems and pave new ways to drive an electric dipole current. PMID:26154838

Dual percolation behaviors of electrical and thermal conductivity in metal-ceramic composites

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

Sun, K.; Zhang, Z. D.; Qian, L.

2016-02-08

The thermal and electrical properties including the permittivity spectra in radio frequency region were investigated for copper/yttrium iron garnet (Cu/YIG) composites. Interestingly, the percolation behaviors in electrical and thermal conductivity were obtained due to the formation of copper particles' networks. Beyond the electrical percolation threshold, negative permittivity was observed and plasmon frequency was reduced by several orders of magnitude. With the increase in copper content, the thermal conductivity was gradually increased; meanwhile, the phonon scattering effect and thermal resistance get enhanced, so the rate of increase in thermal conductivity gradually slows down. Hopefully, Cu/YIG composites with tunable electrical and thermalmore » properties have great potentials for electromagnetic interference shielding and electromagnetic wave attenuation.« less

49 CFR 192.113 - Longitudinal joint factor (E) for steel pipe.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... class Longitudinal joint factor (E) ASTM A 53/A53M Seamless 1.00 Electric resistance welded 1.00 Furnace butt welded .60 ASTM A 106 Seamless 1.00 ASTM A 333/A 333M Seamless 1.00 Electric resistance welded 1.00 ASTM A 381 Double submerged arc welded 1.00 ASTM A 671 Electric-fusion-welded 1.00 ASTM A 672...

40 CFR Table K-1 to Subpart K of... - Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) CH4 Emission Factors

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 22 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) CH4 Emission Factors K Table K-1 to Subpart K of Part 98 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.... 98, Subpt. K, Table K-1 Table K-1 to Subpart K of Part 98—Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) CH4 Emission...

40 CFR Table K-1 to Subpart K of... - Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) CH4 Emission Factors

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 22 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) CH4 Emission Factors K Table K-1 to Subpart K of Part 98 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.... 98, Subpt. K, Table K-1 Table K-1 to Subpart K of Part 98—Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) CH4 Emission...

40 CFR Table K-1 to Subpart K of... - Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) CH4 Emission Factors

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 21 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) CH4 Emission Factors K Table K-1 to Subpart K of Part 98 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.... 98, Subpt. K, Table K-1 Table K-1 to Subpart K of Part 98—Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) CH4 Emission...

40 CFR Table K-1 to Subpart K of... - Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) CH4 Emission Factors

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 21 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) CH4 Emission Factors K Table K-1 to Subpart K of Part 98 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.... 98, Subpt. K, Table K-1 Table K-1 to Subpart K of Part 98—Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) CH4 Emission...

Directional antennas for electromagnetic mapping in a borehole

DOEpatents

Reagor, David Wesley; Nguyen, Doan Ngoc; Ashworth, Stephen Paul

2017-05-02

A bottom hole assembly used for a field operation is disclosed herein. The bottom hole assembly can include at least one directional antenna disposed on an outer surface of a first tubing pipe of a tubing string, where the at least one directional antenna receives a first electric current from at least one power source, where the first electric current generates a first magnetic field that radiates from the at least one directional antenna into a formation. The bottom hole assembly can also include at least one receiver disposed on a second tubing pipe of the tubing string, where the at least one receiver receives the first magnetic field returning from the formation.

Formation of ZnO at zinc oxidation by near- and supercritical water under the constant electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shishkin, A. V.; Sokol, M. Ya.; Shatrova, A. V.; Fedyaeva, O. N.; Vostrikov, A. A.

2014-12-01

The work has detected an influence of a constant electric field (up to E = 300 kV/m) on the structure of a nanocrystalline layer of zinc oxide, formed on the surface of a planar zinc anode in water under supercritical (673 K and 23 MPa) and near-critical (673 K and 17. 5 MPa) conditions. The effect of an increase of zinc oxidation rate with an increase in E is observed under supercritical conditions and is absent at near-critical ones. Increase in the field strength leads to the formation of a looser structure in the inner part of the zinc oxide layer.

Nano-sized Adsorbate Structure Formation in Anisotropic Multilayer System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kharchenko, Vasyl O.; Kharchenko, Dmitrii O.; Yanovsky, Vladimir V.

2017-05-01

In this article, we study dynamics of adsorbate island formation in a model plasma-condensate system numerically. We derive the generalized reaction-diffusion model for adsorptive multilayer system by taking into account anisotropy in transfer of adatoms between neighbor layers induced by electric field. It will be found that with an increase in the electric field strength, a structural transformation from nano-holes inside adsorbate matrix toward separated nano-sized adsorbate islands on a substrate is realized. Dynamics of adsorbate island sizes and corresponding distributions are analyzed in detail. This study provides an insight into details of self-organization of adatoms into nano-sized adsorbate islands in anisotropic multilayer plasma-condensate systems.

CORRELATION INDICES OF CEREBRAL HEMODYNAMICS AND ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY IN CHILDREN WITH IMPAIRED MOTOR SKILLS.

PubMed

Golovchenko, I V; Hayday, M I

The correlations between the indicators of cerebral hemodynamics and electrical activity in children with impaired motor skills of central origin (children with cerebral palsy) were investigated. There is established a high number of links between indicators of rheoencephalogram (REG) and electroencephalogram (EEG) in the left cerebral hemisphere than in the right. In frontomastoidal allocation 19 correlations and in occipitomastoidal - 59 links. We suppose that poor circulation in vertebroplasty-basilar system leads to the defeat of the brain stem, which, with afferent pathways of the reticular formation, connects the thalamus with the cortex. In the reticular formation there is an inhibition of ascending activators influences, which eland to decreasing of the cortex is tonus. You can talk about the functional immaturity of the system of nonspecific activation by the reticular formation of the brain stem. Children with violation of motor activity had significantly more negative and positive significant and high correlation among the existing indicators of electric brain activity and cerebral hemodynamics, in our opinion, is due to the development of interconnection compensation that is carried out by adjustment of the functional systems and the formation of new forms of adaptive responses in conditions of disontogenetik. Feature correlation pattern of the EEG, of children with disorders of motor activity, is associated with a significantly great number of high and significant correlations between measures of electrical brain activity in the δ- and q- rhythms, especially in the temporal areas of the cerebral cortex. According to visual analysis of EEG there is revealed a common manifestation of changes of bioelectric brain activity in children with disorders of motor activity. This is manifested in the development of paroxysmal activity of action potentials of θ- and δ-rhythms with the focus of activity in the anterior areas of the cerebral cortex; the formation of a mosaic representation of the θ-rhythms in temporal areas; the presence of hypersynchronous a-paroxysms in the posterior areas of the cerebral cortex. The given facts testify to activation of mechanisms of limbic-neocortical systems and synchronizing influences of the reticular formation of the stem and diencephalic structures. There is also detected greater number of correlations when occipitomastoidal registration was lone it reflects compensatory redistribution of cerebral blood flow over the affected structures of brain stem structures that are associated with the provision of cortical functions.

New Parameterizations for Neutral and Ion-Induced Sulfuric Acid-Water Particle Formation in Nucleation and Kinetic Regimes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Määttänen, Anni; Merikanto, Joonas; Henschel, Henning; Duplissy, Jonathan; Makkonen, Risto; Ortega, Ismael K.; Vehkamäki, Hanna

2018-01-01

We have developed new parameterizations of electrically neutral homogeneous and ion-induced sulfuric acid-water particle formation for large ranges of environmental conditions, based on an improved model that has been validated against a particle formation rate data set produced by Cosmics Leaving OUtdoor Droplets (CLOUD) experiments at European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). The model uses a thermodynamically consistent version of the Classical Nucleation Theory normalized using quantum chemical data. Unlike the earlier parameterizations for H2SO4-H2O nucleation, the model is applicable to extreme dry conditions where the one-component sulfuric acid limit is approached. Parameterizations are presented for the critical cluster sulfuric acid mole fraction, the critical cluster radius, the total number of molecules in the critical cluster, and the particle formation rate. If the critical cluster contains only one sulfuric acid molecule, a simple formula for kinetic particle formation can be used: this threshold has also been parameterized. The parameterization for electrically neutral particle formation is valid for the following ranges: temperatures 165-400 K, sulfuric acid concentrations 104-1013 cm-3, and relative humidities 0.001-100%. The ion-induced particle formation parameterization is valid for temperatures 195-400 K, sulfuric acid concentrations 104-1016 cm-3, and relative humidities 10-5-100%. The new parameterizations are thus applicable for the full range of conditions in the Earth's atmosphere relevant for binary sulfuric acid-water particle formation, including both tropospheric and stratospheric conditions. They are also suitable for describing particle formation in the atmosphere of Venus.

Effect of ferrihydrite biomineralization on methanogenesis in an anaerobic incubation from paddy soil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuang, Li; Xu, Jielong; Tang, Jia; Zhou, Shungui

2015-05-01

Microbial reduction of Fe(III) can be one of the major factors controlling methane production from anaerobic sedimentary environments, such as paddy soils and wetlands. Although secondary iron mineralization following Fe(III) reduction is a process that occurs naturally over time, it has not yet been considered in methanogenic systems. This study performed a long-term anaerobic incubation of a paddy soil and ferrihydrite-supplemented soil cultures to investigate methanogenesis during ferrihydrite biomineralization. The results revealed that the long-term effect of ferrihydrite on methanogenesis may be enhancement rather than suppression documented in previous studies. During initial microbial ferrihydrite reduction, methanogenesis was suppressed; however, the secondary minerals of magnetite formation was simultaneous with facilitated methanogenesis in terms of average methane production rate and acetate utilization rate. In the phase of magnetite formation, microbial community analysis revealed a strong stimulation of the bacterial Geobacter, Bacillus, and Sedimentibacter and the archaeal Methanosarcina in the ferrihydrite-supplemented cultures. Direct electric syntrophy between Geobacter and Methanosarcina via conductive magnetite is the plausible mechanism for methanogenesis acceleration along with magnetite formation. Our data suggested that a change in iron mineralogy might affect the conversion of anaerobic organic matter to methane and might provide a fresh perspective on the mitigation of methane emissions from paddy soils by ferric iron fertilization.

18 CFR 50.3 - Applications/pre-filing; rules and format.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... filings must be signed in compliance with § 385.2005 of this chapter. (e) The Commission will conduct a... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Applications/pre-filing... INTERSTATE ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION FACILITIES § 50.3 Applications/pre-filing; rules and format. (a) Filings are...

Transcranial focal electrical stimulation via tripolar concentric ring electrodes does not modify the short- and long-term memory formation in rats evaluated in the novel object recognition test

PubMed Central

Rogel-Salazar, G; Luna-Munguía, H; Stevens, KE; Besio, WG

2013-01-01

Noninvasive transcranial focal electrical stimulation (TFS) via tripolar concentric ring electrodes (TCREs) has been under development by Besio as an alternative/complementary therapy for seizure control. TFS has shown efficacy attenuating penicillin, pilocarpine, and pentylenetetrazole– induced acute seizures in rat models. This study evaluated the effects of TFS via TCREs on the memory formation of healthy rats as a safety test of TFS. The short and long-term memory formation was tested after the application of TFS using the novel object recognition (NOR) test. Independent groups were used: naïve, control (without TFS), and TFS (treated). Naïve, control, and stimulated groups spent more time investigating the new object than the familiar one during the test phase. TFS via TCREs given once does not modify the short- and long-term memory formation in rats in the NOR test. Results provide an important step towards a better understanding for the safe usage of TFS via TCREs. PMID:23419871

Forecast and analysis of the ratio of electric energy to terminal energy consumption for global energy internet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Wei; Zhong, Ming; Cheng, Ling; Jin, Lu; Shen, Si

2018-02-01

In the background of building global energy internet, it has both theoretical and realistic significance for forecasting and analysing the ratio of electric energy to terminal energy consumption. This paper firstly analysed the influencing factors of the ratio of electric energy to terminal energy and then used combination method to forecast and analyse the global proportion of electric energy. And then, construct the cointegration model for the proportion of electric energy by using influence factor such as electricity price index, GDP, economic structure, energy use efficiency and total population level. At last, this paper got prediction map of the proportion of electric energy by using the combination-forecasting model based on multiple linear regression method, trend analysis method, and variance-covariance method. This map describes the development trend of the proportion of electric energy in 2017-2050 and the proportion of electric energy in 2050 was analysed in detail using scenario analysis.

The potential of at-home prediction of the formation of urolithiasis by simple multi-frequency electrical conductivity of the urine and the comparison of its performance with urine ion-related indices, color and specific gravity.

PubMed

Silverio, Angelito A; Chung, Wen-Yaw; Cheng, Cheanyeh; Wang, Hai-Lung; Kung, Chien-Min; Chen, Jun; Tsai, Vincent F S

2016-04-01

It is important to control daily diet, water intake and life style as well as monitor the quality of urine for urolithiasis prevention. For decades, many ion-related indices have been developed for predicting the formation of urinary stones or urolithiasis, such as EQUILs, relative supersaturation (RSS), Tiselius indices (TI), Robertson risk factor algorithms (RRFA) and more recently, the Bonn risk index. However, they mostly demand robust laboratory analysis, are work-intensive, and even require complex computational programs to get the concentration patterns of several urine analytes. A simple and fast platform for measuring multi-frequency electrical conductivity (MFEC) of morning spot urine (random urine) to predict the onset of urolithiasis was implemented in this study. The performance thereof was compared to ion-related indices, urine color and specific gravity. The concentrations of relevant ions, color, specific gravity (SG) and MFEC (MFEC tested at 1, 10, 100, 5001 KHz and 1 MHz) of 80 random urine samples were examined after collection. Then, the urine samples were stored at 4 °C for 24 h to determine whether sedimentation would occur or not. Ion-activity product index of calcium oxalate (AP(CaOx) EQ2) was calculated. The correlation between AP(CaOx) EQ2, urine color, SG and MFEC were analyzed. AP(CaOx) EQ2, urine color and MFEC (at 5 frequencies) all demonstrated good prediction (p = 0.01, 0.01, 0.01, respectively) for stone formation. The positive correlation between AP(CaOx) EQ2 and MFEC is also significant (p = 0.01). MFEC provides a good metric for predicting the onset of urolithiasis, which is comparable to conventional ion-related indices and urine color. This technology can be implemented with much ease for objectively monitoring the quality of urine at points-of-care or at home.

A Review of Operational Water Consumption and Withdrawal Factors for Electricity Generating Technologies

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

Macknick, Jordan; Newmark, Robin; Heath, Garvin

2011-03-01

This report provides estimates of operational water withdrawal and water consumption factors for electricity generating technologies in the United States. Estimates of water factors were collected from published primary literature and were not modified except for unit conversions. The presented water factors may be useful in modeling and policy analyses where reliable power plant level data are not available.

Research on electricity consumption forecast based on mutual information and random forests algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Jing; Shi, Yunli; Tan, Jian; Zhu, Lei; Li, Hu

2018-02-01

Traditional power forecasting models cannot efficiently take various factors into account, neither to identify the relation factors. In this paper, the mutual information in information theory and the artificial intelligence random forests algorithm are introduced into the medium and long-term electricity demand prediction. Mutual information can identify the high relation factors based on the value of average mutual information between a variety of variables and electricity demand, different industries may be highly associated with different variables. The random forests algorithm was used for building the different industries forecasting models according to the different correlation factors. The data of electricity consumption in Jiangsu Province is taken as a practical example, and the above methods are compared with the methods without regard to mutual information and the industries. The simulation results show that the above method is scientific, effective, and can provide higher prediction accuracy.

Essays on electricity theft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steadman, Keva Ullanda

Electricity theft is a relatively unknown crime with high economic costs. In this dissertation, I try to identify the factors that motivate persons to steal electricity. First, I use a panel dataset of 97 countries spanning the five year period 2003--2007 to estimate a model that describes the effect of the unemployment rate, GDP per capita, male population and urbanization on theft, robbery and homicide rates. The results are consistent with previous empirical work on crime and economic opportunity. The second and main contribution of this paper is to estimate the same model using distribution loss as a proxy for electricity theft. The results show that the unemployment rate, a key explanatory economic factor for crime, cannot explain variation in electricity theft, although there is some evidence, albeit weak, supporting correlation in rich countries. Therefore, policies that target the reduction of property crime through a reduction in unemployment will have no effect on electricity theft. The third contribution relates to the role that political institutions play in the incentives to steal electricity. After control for socioeconomic factors, I find that there is no relationship between political governance indicators and electricity theft. In the second and third chapters, I compare the United States, a high income, low electricity theft country with Jamaica, a middle income, high electricity theft country. The effect of unemployment on electricity theft mirrors the results found in the first chapter. In the United States, electricity theft is affected by changes in economic conditions but in Jamaica, it is not. These results suggest that the state of institutions plays a role in how social norms are determined. Poor countries will be more likely than rich countries to have weak institutions with social norms that encourage electricity theft.

Electrical burns: The trend and risk factors in the Ghanaian population.

PubMed

Agbenorku, P; Agbenorku, E; Akpaloo, J; Obeng, G; Agbley, D

2014-12-31

The usefulness of electricity in daily life offers several advantages which cannot be underestimated. Electricity is needed by industries for manufacturing and also in homes for lighting, cooking, washing, etc. However, electricity can cause severe life-threatening complications. This study investigates the trend and mortality risk factors of electrical burn injuries at the Burns Intensive Care Unit (BICU) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Ghana. The Burns Registry at KATH BICU containing information on patients who were admitted for electrical burns was used. Data on the sex, age, occupation, cause of injury, Total Body Surface Area burned (TBSA) and outcome of admissions was obtained. GraphPad version 5 was used for the analysis. There were 13 (2.7%) electrical burns, suffered by 11 males (84.6%) and 2 females (15.4%) out of a total 487 BICU admissions over a 4-year period (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2013); the mean age of the electrical burn victims was 37.8 years (range = 22-56); the TBSA ranged from 5.0% - 98.0%. Mortality risk factors identified were high voltage electrical burns, older age (P=0.0250) and TBSA>20% (P=0.048). Four cases (30.8%) were transferred to the Main Burns Ward (Ward D2C); 6 cases (46.1%) were discharged home; 3 patients (23.1%) died; all deaths were recorded in persons who had high voltage electrical burns. Electrical burns can be severe and can cause death. Even though the current study showed that a small population was affected by electrical burns, society has to be continually conscious of the detrimental effects of electrical energy and take the necessary precautions to minimize this type of accident.

Electrical burns: The trend and risk factors in the Ghanaian population

PubMed Central

Agbenorku, P.; Agbenorku, E.; Akpaloo, J.; Obeng, G.; Agbley, D.

2014-01-01

Summary The usefulness of electricity in daily life offers several advantages which cannot be underestimated. Electricity is needed by industries for manufacturing and also in homes for lighting, cooking, washing, etc. However, electricity can cause severe life-threatening complications. This study investigates the trend and mortality risk factors of electrical burn injuries at the Burns Intensive Care Unit (BICU) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Ghana. The Burns Registry at KATH BICU containing information on patients who were admitted for electrical burns was used. Data on the sex, age, occupation, cause of injury, Total Body Surface Area burned (TBSA) and outcome of admissions was obtained. GraphPad version 5 was used for the analysis. There were 13 (2.7%) electrical burns, suffered by 11 males (84.6%) and 2 females (15.4%) out of a total 487 BICU admissions over a 4-year period (July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2013); the mean age of the electrical burn victims was 37.8 years (range = 22–56); the TBSA ranged from 5.0% - 98.0%. Mortality risk factors identified were high voltage electrical burns, older age (P=0.0250) and TBSA>20% (P=0.048). Four cases (30.8%) were transferred to the Main Burns Ward (Ward D2C); 6 cases (46.1%) were discharged home; 3 patients (23.1%) died; all deaths were recorded in persons who had high voltage electrical burns. Electrical burns can be severe and can cause death. Even though the current study showed that a small population was affected by electrical burns, society has to be continually conscious of the detrimental effects of electrical energy and take the necessary precautions to minimize this type of accident. PMID:26336364

High energy XeBr electric discharge laser

DOEpatents

Sze, Robert C.; Scott, Peter B.

1981-01-01

A high energy XeBr laser for producing coherent radiation at 282 nm. The XeBr laser utilizes an electric discharge as the excitation source to minimize formation of molecular ions thereby minimizing absorption of laser radiation by the active medium. Additionally, HBr is used as the halogen donor which undergoes harpooning reactions with Xe.sub.M * to form XeBr*.

Effect of heat and radio frequency electric field treatments on membrane damage and intracellular leakage of UV-substances of Escherichia coli K-12 in apple juice

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The need for a nonthermal intervention technology that can achieve microbial safety without altering nutritional quality of liquid foods led to the development of the radio frequency electric fields (RFEF) process. Previously, we documented formation of surface blebs on Escherichia coli cells treate...

Fuel and Electrical Systems Mechanic. Apprenticeship Training Standards = Mecanicien de systemes d'alimentation en carburant et electriques. Normes de formation en apprentissage.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ontario Ministry of Skills Development, Toronto.

These training standards for fuel and electrical systems mechanics are intended to be used by apprentice/trainees, instructors, and companies in Ontario, Canada, as a blueprint for training or as a prerequisite for prerequisite for accreditation/certification. The training standards identify skills required for this occupation and its related…

High energy XeBr electric discharge laser

DOEpatents

Sze, R.C.; Scott, P.B.

A high energy XeBr laser for producing coherent radiation at 282 nm is disclosed. The XeBr laser utilizes an electric discharge as the excitation source to minimize formation of molecular ions thereby minimizing absorption of laser radiation by the active medium. Additionally, HBr, is used as the halogen donor which undergoes harpooning reactions with Xe/sub M/ to form XeBr.

Preparation and Characterization of Ato Nanoparticles by Coprecipitation with Modified Drying Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Shimin; Liang, Dongdong; Liu, Jindong; Jiang, Weiwei; Liu, Chaoqian; Ding, Wanyu; Wang, Hualin; Wang, Nan

Antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) nanoparticles were prepared by coprecipitation by packing drying and traditional direct drying (for comparison) methods. The as-prepared ATO nanoparticles were characterized by TG, XRD, EDS, TEM, HRTEM, BET, bulk density and electrical resistivity measurements. Results indicated that the ATO nanoparticles obtained by coprecipitation with direct drying method featured hard-agglomerated morphology, high bulk density, low surface area and low electrical resistivity, probably due to the direct liquid evaporation during drying, the fast shrinkage of the precipitate, the poor removal efficiency of liquid molecules and the hard agglomerate formation after calcination. Very differently, the ATO product obtained by the packing and drying method featured free-agglomerated morphology, low bulk density, high surface area and high electrical resistivity ascribed probably to the formed vapor cyclone environment and liquid evaporation-resistance, avoiding fast liquid removal and improving the removal efficiency of liquid molecules. The intrinsic formation mechanism of ATO nanoparticles from different drying methods was illustrated based on the dehydration process of ATO precipitates. Additionally, the packing and drying time played key roles in determining the bulk density, morphology and electrical conductivity of ATO nanoparticles.

Electricity and disinfectant production from wastewater: Microbial Fuel Cell as a self-powered electrolyser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gajda, Iwona; Greenman, John; Melhuish, Chris; Ieropoulos, Ioannis A.

2016-05-01

This study presents a simple and sustainable Microbial Fuel Cell as a standalone, self-powered reactor for in situ wastewater electrolysis, recovering nitrogen from wastewater. A process is proposed whereby the MFC electrical performance drives the electrolysis of wastewater towards the self-generation of catholyte within the same reactor. The MFCs were designed to harvest the generated catholyte in the internal chamber, which showed that liquid production rates are largely proportional to electrical current generation. The catholyte demonstrated bactericidal properties, compared to the control (open-circuit) diffusate, and reduced observable biofilm formation on the cathode electrode. Killing effects were confirmed using bacterial kill curves constructed by exposing a bioluminescent Escherichia coli target, as a surrogate coliform, to catholyte where a rapid kill rate was observed. Therefore, MFCs could serve as a water recovery system, a disinfectant/cleaner generator that limits undesired biofilm formation and as a washing agent in waterless urinals to improve sanitation. This simple and ready to implement MFC system can convert organic waste directly into electricity and self-driven nitrogen along with water recovery. This could lead to the development of energy positive bioprocesses for sustainable wastewater treatment.

Ice-Templated Bimodal-Porous Silver Nanowire/PDMS Nanocomposites for Stretchable Conductor.

PubMed

Oh, Jae Young; Lee, Dongju; Hong, Soon Hyung

2018-06-27

A three-dimensional (3D) bimodal-porous silver nanowire (AgNW) nanostructure with superior electrical properties is fabricated by freeze drying of AgNW aqueous dispersion with macrosized ice spheres for bimodal-porous structure. The ice sphere dispersed AgNW solution yields a 3D AgNW network at the surface of ice sphere and formation of macropores by removal of ice sphere during freeze-drying process. The resulting nanostructures exhibit excellent electrical properties due to their low electrical percolation threshold by the formation of macropores, which results in an efficient and dense 3D AgNW network with a small amount of AgNWs. The highly conductive and stretchable AgNW/poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) nanocomposites are made by impregnating the 3D porous conductive network with highly stretchable poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) matrix. The AgNW/PDMS nanocomposites exhibit a high conductivity of 42 S/cm with addition of relatively small amount of 2 wt %. The high conductivity is retained when stretched up to 120% elongation even after 100 stretching-releasing cycles. Due to high electrical conductivity and superior stretchability of AgNW/PDMS nanocomposites, these are expected to be used in stretchable electronic devices.

Multiple Spacecraft Study of the Impact of Turbulence on Reconnection Rates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wendel, Deirdre; Goldstein, Melvyn; Figueroa-Vinas, Adolfo; Adrian, Mark; Sahraoui, Fouad

2011-01-01

Magnetic turbulence and secondary island formation have reemerged as possible explanations for fast reconnection. Recent three-dimensional simulations reveal the formation of secondary islands that serve to shorten the current sheet and increase the accelerating electric field, while both simulations and observations witness electron holes whose collapse energizes electrons. However, few data studies have explicitly investigated the effect of turbulence and islands on the reconnection rate. We present a more comprehensive analysis of the effect of turbulence and islands on reconnection rates observed in space. Our approach takes advantage of multiple spacecraft to find the location of the spacecraft relative to the inflow and the outflow, to estimate the reconnection electric field, to indicate the presence and size of islands, and to determine wave vectors indicating turbulence. A superposed epoch analysis provides independent estimates of spatial scales and a reconnection electric field. We apply k-filtering and a new method adopted from seismological analyses to identify the wavevectors. From several case studies of reconnection events, we obtain preliminary estimates of the spectral scaling law, identify wave modes, and present a method for finding the reconnection electric field associated with the wave modes.

Electricity and disinfectant production from wastewater: Microbial Fuel Cell as a self-powered electrolyser

PubMed Central

Gajda, Iwona; Greenman, John; Melhuish, Chris; Ieropoulos, Ioannis A.

2016-01-01

This study presents a simple and sustainable Microbial Fuel Cell as a standalone, self-powered reactor for in situ wastewater electrolysis, recovering nitrogen from wastewater. A process is proposed whereby the MFC electrical performance drives the electrolysis of wastewater towards the self-generation of catholyte within the same reactor. The MFCs were designed to harvest the generated catholyte in the internal chamber, which showed that liquid production rates are largely proportional to electrical current generation. The catholyte demonstrated bactericidal properties, compared to the control (open-circuit) diffusate, and reduced observable biofilm formation on the cathode electrode. Killing effects were confirmed using bacterial kill curves constructed by exposing a bioluminescent Escherichia coli target, as a surrogate coliform, to catholyte where a rapid kill rate was observed. Therefore, MFCs could serve as a water recovery system, a disinfectant/cleaner generator that limits undesired biofilm formation and as a washing agent in waterless urinals to improve sanitation. This simple and ready to implement MFC system can convert organic waste directly into electricity and self-driven nitrogen along with water recovery. This could lead to the development of energy positive bioprocesses for sustainable wastewater treatment. PMID:27172836

Potential reduction of energy consumption in public university library

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noranai, Z.; Azman, ADF

2017-09-01

Efficient electrical energy usage has been recognized as one of the important factor to reduce cost of electrical energy consumption. Various parties have been emphasized about the importance of using electrical energy efficiently. Inefficient usage of electrical energy usage lead to biggest factor increasing of administration cost in Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. With this in view, a project the investigate potential reduction electrical energy consumption in Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia was carried out. In this project, a case study involving electrical energy consumption of Perpustakaan Tunku Tun Aminah was conducted. The scopes of this project are to identify energy consumption in selected building and to find the factors that contributing to wastage of electrical energy. The MS1525:2001, Malaysian Standard - Code of practice on energy efficiency and use of renewable energy for non-residential buildings was used as reference. From the result, 4 saving measure had been proposed which is change type of the lamp, install sensor, decrease the number of lamp and improve shading coefficient on glass. This saving measure is suggested to improve the efficiency of electrical energy consumption. Improve of human behaviour toward saving energy measure can reduce 10% from the total of saving cost while on building technical measure can reduce 90% from total saving cost.

Bioinspired model of mechanical energy harvesting based on flexoelectric membranes.

PubMed

Rey, Alejandro D; Servio, P; Herrera-Valencia, E E

2013-02-01

Membrane flexoelectricity is an electromechanical coupling process that describes membrane electrical polarization due to bending and membrane bending under electric fields. In this paper we propose, formulate, and characterize a mechanical energy harvesting system consisting of a deformable soft flexoelectric thin membrane subjected to harmonic forcing from contacting bulk fluids. The key elements of the energy harvester are formulated and characterized, including (i) the mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency, (ii) the electromechanical shape equation connecting fluid forces with membrane curvature and electric displacement, and (iii) the electric power generation and efficiency. The energy conversion efficiency is cast as the ratio of flexoelectric coupling to the product of electric and bending elasticity. The device is described by a second-order curvature dynamics coupled to the electric displacement equation and as such results in mechanical power absorption with a resonant peak whose amplitude decreases with bending viscosity. The electric power generation is proportional to the conversion factor and the power efficiency decreases with frequency. Under high bending viscosity, the power efficiency increases with the conversion factor and under low viscosities it decreases with the conversion factor. The theoretical results presented contribute to the ongoing experimental efforts to develop mechanical energy harvesting from fluid flow energy through solid-fluid interactions and electromechanical transduction.

[Research on carbon reduction potential of electric vehicles for low-carbon transportation and its influencing factors].

PubMed

Shi, Xiao-Qing; Li, Xiao-Nuo; Yang, Jian-Xin

2013-01-01

Transportation is the key industry of urban energy consumption and carbon emissions. The transformation of conventional gasoline vehicles to new energy vehicles is an important initiative to realize the goal of developing low-carbon city through energy saving and emissions reduction, while electric vehicles (EV) will play an important role in this transition due to their advantage in energy saving and lower carbon emissions. After reviewing the existing researches on energy saving and emissions reduction of electric vehicles, this paper analyzed the factors affecting carbon emissions reduction. Combining with electric vehicles promotion program in Beijing, the paper analyzed carbon emissions and reduction potential of electric vehicles in six scenarios using the optimized energy consumption related carbon emissions model from the perspective of fuel life cycle. The scenarios included power energy structure, fuel type (energy consumption per 100 km), car type (CO2 emission factor of fuel), urban traffic conditions (speed), coal-power technologies and battery type (weight, energy efficiency). The results showed that the optimized model was able to estimate carbon emissions caused by fuel consumption more reasonably; electric vehicles had an obvious restrictive carbon reduction potential with the fluctuation of 57%-81.2% in the analysis of six influencing factors, while power energy structure and coal-power technologies play decisive roles in life-cycle carbon emissions of electric vehicles with the reduction potential of 78.1% and 81.2%, respectively. Finally, some optimized measures were proposed to reduce transport energy consumption and carbon emissions during electric vehicles promotion including improving energy structure and coal technology, popularizing energy saving technologies and electric vehicles, accelerating the battery R&D and so on. The research provides scientific basis and methods for the policy development for the transition of new energy vehicles in low-carbon transport.

Nanosecond pulsed electric fields induce poly(ADP-ribose) formation and non-apoptotic cell death in HeLa S3 cells

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

Morotomi-Yano, Keiko; Akiyama, Hidenori; Yano, Ken-ichi, E-mail: yanoken@kumamoto-u.ac.jp

Highlights: •Nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) is a new and unique means for life sciences. •Apoptosis was induced by nsPEF exposure in Jurkat cells. •No signs of apoptosis were detected in HeLa S3 cells exposed to nsPEFs. •Formation of poly(ADP-ribose) was induced in nsPEF-exposed HeLa S3 cells. •Two distinct modes of cell death were activated by nsPEF in a cell-dependent manner. -- Abstract: Nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) have recently gained attention as effective cancer therapy owing to their potency for cell death induction. Previous studies have shown that apoptosis is a predominant mode of nsPEF-induced cell death in severalmore » cell lines, such as Jurkat cells. In this study, we analyzed molecular mechanisms for cell death induced by nsPEFs. When nsPEFs were applied to Jurkat cells, apoptosis was readily induced. Next, we used HeLa S3 cells and analyzed apoptotic events. Contrary to our expectation, nsPEF-exposed HeLa S3 cells exhibited no molecular signs of apoptosis execution. Instead, nsPEFs induced the formation of poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR), a hallmark of necrosis. PAR formation occurred concurrently with a decrease in cell viability, supporting implications of nsPEF-induced PAR formation for cell death. Necrotic PAR formation is known to be catalyzed by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), and PARP-1 in apoptotic cells is inactivated by caspase-mediated proteolysis. Consistently, we observed intact and cleaved forms of PARP-1 in nsPEF-exposed and UV-irradiated cells, respectively. Taken together, nsPEFs induce two distinct modes of cell death in a cell type-specific manner, and HeLa S3 cells show PAR-associated non-apoptotic cell death in response to nsPEFs.« less

Optical and electrical properties of porous silicon layer formed on the textured surface by electrochemical etching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weiying, Ou; Lei, Zhao; Hongwei, Diao; Jun, Zhang; Wenjing, Wang

2011-05-01

Porous silicon (PS) layers were formed on textured crystalline silicon by electrochemical etching in HF-based electrolyte. Optical and electrical properties of the TMAH textured surfaces with PS formation are studied. Moreover, the influences of the initial structures and the anodizing time on the optical and electrical properties of the surfaces after PS formation are investigated. The results show that the TMAH textured surfaces with PS formation present a dramatic decrease in reflectance. The longer the anodizing time is, the lower the reflectance. Moreover, an initial surface with bigger pyramids achieved lower reflectance in a short wavelength range. A minimum reflectance of 3.86% at 460 nm is achieved for a short anodizing time of 2 min. Furthermore, the reflectance spectrum of the sample, which was etched in 3 vol.% TMAH for 25 min and then anodized for 20 min, is extremely flat and lies between 3.67% and 6.15% in the wavelength range from 400 to 1040 nm. In addition, for a short anodizing time, a slight increase in the effective carrier lifetime is observed. Our results indicate that PS layers formed on a TMAH textured surface for a short anodization treatment can be used as both broadband antireflection coatings and passivation layers for the application in solar cells.

Thin-film fractal nanostructures formed by electrical breakdown

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tadtaev, P. O.; Bobkov, A. A.; Borodzyulya, V. F.; Lamkin, I. A.; Mihailov, I. I.; Moshnikov, V. A.; Permyakov, N. V.; Solomonov, A. V.; Sudar, N. T.; Tarasov, S. A.

2017-11-01

This is a study of the fractal micro- and nanostructures formation caused by the electrical breakdown of the indium-tin oxide (ITO) covered with various organic coatings. The samples were created by covering a glass substrate with a 1 to 10um-thick layer of indium-tin oxide. Some of the samples were then coated with organic layers of polycarbonate, poly(methyl methacrylate) and others. In order to create high local electrical field densities a special setup based on a eutectic GaIn liquid needle was created: it allowed for the contact area of 60um in diameter and application of the step voltage swept from 20 to 300 volts. The setup also contained a spectrometer for measuring the spectra of the breakdown optical effects. The results showed that the destruction of ITO led to the formation of the spiral fractal nanostructures, parameters of which depended on the thickness of the layer and the presence of the organic cover. In case of the latter, polymer coating was shown to visualize and zoom the topography of the nanostructures which might be used as a method of “polymer photography” for such fractal formations. The analysis of the spectra showed their dependence on the parameters of the structures which proves the possibility of conducting optical diagnostics of the created structures.

Complex Pattern Formation from Current-Driven Dynamics of Single-Layer Epitaxial Islands on Crystalline Conducting Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Ashish; Dasgupta, Dwaipayan; Maroudas, Dimitrios

We report a systematic study of complex pattern formation resulting from the driven dynamics of single-layer homoepitaxial islands on face-centered cubic (FCC) crystalline conducting substrate surfaces under the action of an externally applied electric field. The analysis is based on an experimentally validated nonlinear model of mass transport via island edge atomic diffusion, which also accounts for edge diffusional anisotropy. We analyze the morphological stability and simulate the field-driven evolution of rounded islands for an electric field oriented along the fast diffusion direction. For larger than critical island sizes on {110} and {100} FCC substrates, we show that multiple necking instabilities generate complex island patterns, including void-containing islands, mediated by sequences of breakup and coalescence events and distributed symmetrically with respect to the electric field direction. We analyze the dependence of the formed patterns on the original island size and on the duration of application of the external field. Starting from a single large rounded island, we characterize the evolution of the number of daughter islands and their average size and uniformity. The analysis reveals that the pattern formation kinetics follows a universal scaling relation. Division of Materials Sciences & Engineering, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy (Award No.: DE-FG02-07ER46407).

Neuronal Target Identification Requires AHA-1-Mediated Fine-Tuning of Wnt Signaling in C. elegans

PubMed Central

Zhang, Jingyan; Li, Xia; Jevince, Angela R.; Guan, Liying; Wang, Jiaming; Hall, David H.; Huang, Xun; Ding, Mei

2013-01-01

Electrical synaptic transmission through gap junctions is a vital mode of intercellular communication in the nervous system. The mechanism by which reciprocal target cells find each other during the formation of gap junctions, however, is poorly understood. Here we show that gap junctions are formed between BDU interneurons and PLM mechanoreceptors in C. elegans and the connectivity of BDU with PLM is influenced by Wnt signaling. We further identified two PAS-bHLH family transcription factors, AHA-1 and AHR-1, which function cell-autonomously within BDU and PLM to facilitate the target identification process. aha-1 and ahr-1 act genetically upstream of cam-1. CAM-1, a membrane-bound receptor tyrosine kinase, is present on both BDU and PLM cells and likely serves as a Wnt antagonist. By binding to a cis-regulatory element in the cam-1 promoter, AHA-1 enhances cam-1 transcription. Our study reveals a Wnt-dependent fine-tuning mechanism that is crucial for mutual target cell identification during the formation of gap junction connections. PMID:23825972

Prediction on the charging demand for electric vehicles in Chengdu

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

yun, Cai; wanquan, Zhang; wei, You; pan, Mao

2018-03-01

The development of the electric vehicle charging station facilities speed directly affect the development of electric vehicle speed. And the charging demand of electric vehicles is one of the main factors influencing the electric vehicle charging facilities. The paper collected and collated car ownership in recent years, the use of elastic coefficient to predict Chengdu electric vehicle ownership, further modeling to give electric vehicle charging demand.

Choice of electricity provider in California after deregulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keanini, Rasa Ilze

Surveys often ask consumers how much they are willing to pay for certain goods and services, without requiring the consumer to actually pay for the good or service. Such surveys, termed stated preference studies, find that consumers value renewable electricity. This result is in contrast to actual experiences in recently deregulated electricity markets in several states, including California. When given the opportunity to choose in California, only one to two percent of the population opted for renewable electricity products. This dissertation used data from residential customers who chose an alternative electricity product in California's deregulated electricity market to determine the value placed on the renewable attribute of electricity products. This dissertation begins by taking a historical look at the electricity market of the nation and specifically California. From 1998 through 2001, California's electricity market was deregulated to include retail competition. This dissertation used data from electric service providers to reveal the factors influencing residential customer's choice of electricity product. Discrete choice models were used to determine the factors influencing electricity product choice. The results indicated that both price and renewable content had an effect on choice of product. Additionally, a more complicated model jointly estimating the discrete choice of electricity product with the continuous choice of electricity consumption (kWh) was specified and estimated.

Improving the Factor Structure of Psychological Scales

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xijuan; Savalei, Victoria

2015-01-01

Many psychological scales written in the Likert format include reverse worded (RW) items in order to control acquiescence bias. However, studies have shown that RW items often contaminate the factor structure of the scale by creating one or more method factors. The present study examines an alternative scale format, called the Expanded format, which replaces each response option in the Likert scale with a full sentence. We hypothesized that this format would result in a cleaner factor structure as compared with the Likert format. We tested this hypothesis on three popular psychological scales: the Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale, the Conscientiousness subscale of the Big Five Inventory, and the Beck Depression Inventory II. Scales in both formats showed comparable reliabilities. However, scales in the Expanded format had better (i.e., lower and more theoretically defensible) dimensionalities than scales in the Likert format, as assessed by both exploratory factor analyses and confirmatory factor analyses. We encourage further study and wider use of the Expanded format, particularly when a scale’s dimensionality is of theoretical interest. PMID:27182074

Taking Battery Technology from the Lab to the Big City

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

Banerjee, Sanjoy; Shmukler, Michael; Martin, Cheryl

2013-07-29

Urban Electric Power, a startup formed by researchers from the City University of New York (CUNY) Energy Institute, is taking breakthroughs in battery technology from the lab to the market. With industry and government funding, including a grant from the Energy Department, Urban Electric Power developed a zinc-nickel oxide battery electrolyte that circulates constantly, eliminating dendrite formation and preventing battery shortages. Their new challenge is to take this technology to the market, where they can scale up the batteries for reducing peak energy demand in urban areas and storing variable renewable electricity.

Temperature limited heaters using phase transformation of ferromagnetic material

DOEpatents

Vitek, John Michael [Oak Ridge, TN; Brady, Michael Patrick [Oak Ridge, TN

2009-10-06

Systems, methods, and heaters for treating a subsurface formation are described herein. Systems and methods for making heaters are described herein. At least one heater includes a ferromagnetic conductor and an electrical conductor. The electrical conductor is electrically coupled to the ferromagnetic conductor. The heater provides a first amount of heat at a lower temperature. The heater may provide a second reduced amount of heat when the heater reaches a selected temperature, or enters a selected temperature range, at which the ferromagnetic conductor undergoes a phase transformation.

Nanopowder synthesis based on electric explosion technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kryzhevich, D. S.; Zolnikov, K. P.; Korchuganov, A. V.; Psakhie, S. G.

2017-10-01

A computer simulation of the bicomponent nanoparticle formation during the electric explosion of copper and nickel wires was carried out. The calculations were performed in the framework of the molecular dynamics method using many-body potentials of interatomic interaction. As a result of an electric explosion of dissimilar metal wires, bicomponent nanoparticles having different stoichiometry and a block structure can be formed. It is possible to control the process of destruction and the structure of the formed bicomponent nanoparticles by varying the distance between the wires and the loading parameters.

Taking Battery Technology from the Lab to the Big City

ScienceCinema

Banerjee, Sanjoy; Shmukler, Michael; Martin, Cheryl

2018-02-02

Urban Electric Power, a startup formed by researchers from the City University of New York (CUNY) Energy Institute, is taking breakthroughs in battery technology from the lab to the market. With industry and government funding, including a grant from the Energy Department, Urban Electric Power developed a zinc-nickel oxide battery electrolyte that circulates constantly, eliminating dendrite formation and preventing battery shortages. Their new challenge is to take this technology to the market, where they can scale up the batteries for reducing peak energy demand in urban areas and storing variable renewable electricity.

Emotional tagging--a simple hypothesis in a complex reality.

PubMed

Bergado, Jorge A; Lucas, Morgan; Richter-Levin, Gal

2011-06-01

At the psychological level, the notion that emotional events may be better remembered is a long accepted view. Its translation into neurobiological mechanisms has led to the proposal of the 'emotional tag' concept, according to which, the activation of the amygdala by emotionality would result in modulation of neural plasticity in brain regions (e.g. hippocampus) involved in forming memory of the emotional event. In line with this idea, amygdala activation (by electrical stimulation or exposure to an emotional event) has been demonstrated to affect synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. Furthermore, the mechanisms associated with the formation of a 'synaptic tag', which is a mechanism proposed to explain the specificity of synaptic plasticity, could subserve the effects of the 'emotional tag' on synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. The literature reviewed here supports this view but points also to additional factors that should be taken into consideration, such as intensity, duration, controllability of the emotional experience, age of exposure and relations between the emotional aspects of the experience and the event-to-be-remembered. These factors do not only affect the behavioral outcome of the stressful experience but also find their expression in variations in the neuronal and biochemical pathways that are activated, and in the way those will interact with memory formation mechanisms. While adding complexity to the notion of the 'emotional tag', taking such factors into consideration is likely to bring us closer to elucidating the neural mechanisms involved in emotional memory modulation and to our understanding of the neurobiology of associated disorders, such as PTSD. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Application of the self-diagnosis composite into concrete structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsubara, Hideaki; Shin, Soon-Gi; Okuhara, Yoshiki; Nomura, Hiroshi; Yanagida, Hiroaki

2001-04-01

The function and performance of the self-diagnosis composites embedded in mortar/concrete blocks and concrete piles were investigated by bending tests and electrical resistance measurements. Carbon powder (CP) and carbon fiber (CF) were introduced in glass fiber reinforced plastics composites to obtain electrical conductivity. The CP composite has commonly good performances in various bending tests of block and pile specimens, comparing to the CF composite. The electrical resistance of the CP composite increases in a small strain to response remarkably micro-crack formation at about 200 (mu) strain and to detect well to smaller deformations before the crack formation. The CP composite possesses a continuous resistance change up to a large strain level near the final fracture of concrete structures reinforced by steel bars. The cyclic bending tests showed that the micro crack closed at unloading state was able to be evaluated from the measurement of residual resistance. It has been concluded that the self- diagnosis composite is fairly useful for the measurement of damage and fracture in concrete blocks and piles.

Electrodeposited Cu2O doped with Cl: Electrical and optical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pelegrini, S.; Tumelero, M. A.; Brandt, I. S.; Della Pace, R. D.; Faccio, R.; Pasa, A. A.

2018-04-01

For understanding the electrical and optical properties of electrodeposited Cl-doped Cu2O thin films, we have studied layers with increasing thickness and Cl concentrations of 0.8 and 1.2 at. %. The deposits were characterized by measuring the charge transport, the optical reflectance, and the photoluminescence. No significant decrease of electrical resistivity was observed in doped samples compared to undoped ones. A decrease of about five orders of magnitude was measured and ascribed to the presence of pinholes, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy analyses. From optical measurements, we concluded that the Cl atoms are incorporated into substitutional sites of Cu2O lattices in agreement with photoluminescence results showing a strong reduction in the peak intensity of VO+2 defects in comparison to undoped layers. Computational calculation using density functional theory has pointed out high formation energy for single Cl related defects, but low formation energy for Cl-defect complexes, such as ClO + VCu, that strongly compensate the carriers generated by the Cl doping.

Influence of Electric Fields on Biofouling of Carbonaceous Electrodes.

PubMed

Pandit, Soumya; Shanbhag, Sneha; Mauter, Meagan; Oren, Yoram; Herzberg, Moshe

2017-09-05

Biofouling commonly occurs on carbonaceous capacitive deionization electrodes in the process of treating natural waters. Although previous work reported the effect of electric fields on bacterial mortality for a variety of medical and engineered applications, the effect of electrode surface properties and the magnitude and polarity of applied electric fields on biofilm development has not been comprehensively investigated. This paper studies the formation of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm on a Papyex graphite (PA) and a carbon aerogel (CA) in the presence and the absence of an electric field. The experiments were conducted using a two-electrode flow cell with a voltage window of ±0.9 V. The CA was less susceptible to biofilm formation compared to the PA due to its lower surface roughness, lower hydrophobicity, and significant antimicrobial properties. For both positive and negative applied potentials, we observed an inverse relationship between biofilm formation and the magnitude of the applied potential. The effect is particularly strong for the CA electrodes and may be a result of cumulative effects between material toxicity and the stress experienced by cells at high applied potentials. Under the applied potentials for both electrodes, high production of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) was indicative of bacterial stress. For both electrodes, the elevated specific ROS activity was lowest for the open circuit potential condition, elevated when cathodically and anodically polarized, and highest for the ±0.9 V cases. These high applied potentials are believed to affect the redox potential across the cell membrane and disrupt redox homeostasis, thereby inhibiting bacterial growth.

Structural, optical and electrical properties of copper antimony sulfide thin films grown by a citrate-assisted single chemical bath deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loranca-Ramos, F. E.; Diliegros-Godines, C. J.; Silva González, R.; Pal, Mou

2018-01-01

Copper antimony sulfide (CAS) has been proposed as low toxicity and earth abundant absorber materials for thin film photovoltaics due to their suitable optical band gap, high absorption coefficient and p-type electrical conductivity. The present work reports the formation of copper antimony sulfide by chemical bath deposition using sodium citrate as a complexing agent. We show that by tuning the annealing condition, one can obtain either chalcostibite or tetrahedrite phase. However, the main challenge was co-deposition of copper and antimony as ternary sulfides from a single chemical bath due to the distinct chemical behavior of these metals. The as-deposited films were subjected to several trials of thermal treatment using different temperatures and time to find the optimized annealing condition. The films were characterized by different techniques including Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), profilometer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-vis spectrophotometer, and Hall Effect measurements. The results show that the formation of chalcostibite and tetrahedrite phases is highly sensitive to annealing conditions. The electrical properties obtained for the chalcostibite films varied as the annealing temperature increases from 280 to 350 °C: hole concentration (n) = 1017-1018 cm-3, resistivity (ρ) = 1.74-2.14 Ωcm and carrier mobility (μ) = 4.7-9.26 cm2/Vseg. While for the tetrahedrite films, the electrical properties were n = 5 × 1019 cm-3, μ = 18.24 cm2/Vseg, and ρ = 5.8 × 10-3 Ωcm. A possible mechanism for the formation of ternary copper antimony sulfide has also been proposed.

Modeling and simulations of the double-probe electric field instrument in tenuous and cold streaming plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyake, Y.; Cully, C. M.; Usui, H.; Nakashima, H.

2013-12-01

In order to increase accuracy and reliability of in-situ measurements made by scientific spacecraft, it is imperative to develop comprehensive understanding of spacecraft-plasma interactions. In space environments, not only the spacecraft charging but also surrounding plasma disturbances such as caused by the wake formation may interfere directly with in-situ measurements. The self-consistent solutions of such phenomena are necessary to assess their effects on scientific spacecraft systems. As our recent activity, we work on the modeling and simulations of Cluster double-probe instrument in tenuous and cold streaming plasmas [1]. Double-probe electric field sensors are often deployed using wire booms with radii much less than typical Debye lengths of magnetospheric plasmas (millimeters compared to tens of meters). However, in tenuous and cold streaming plasmas seen in the polar cap and lobe regions, the wire booms have a high positive potential due to photoelectron emission and can strongly scatter approaching ions. Consequently, an electrostatic wake formed behind the spacecraft is further enhanced by the presence of the wire booms. We reproduce this process for the case of the Cluster satellite by performing plasma particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations [2], which include the effects of both the spacecraft body and the wire booms in a simultaneous manner, on modern supercomputers. The simulations reveal that the effective thickness of the booms for the Cluster Electric Field and Wave (EFW) instrument is magnified from its real thickness (2.2 millimeters) to several meters, when the spacecraft potential is at 30-40 volts. Such booms enhance the wake electric field magnitude by a factor of about 2 depending on the spacecraft potential, and play a principal role in explaining the in situ Cluster EFW data showing sinusoidal spurious electric fields of about 10 mV/m amplitudes. The boom effects are quantified by comparing PIC simulations with and without wire booms. The paper also reports some recent progress of ongoing PIC simulation research that focuses on spurious electric field generation in subsonic ion flows. Our preliminary simulation results revealed that; (1) there is no apparent wake signature behind the spacecraft in such a condition, but (2) spurious electric field over 1 mV/m amplitude is observed in the direction of the flow vector. The observed field amplitude is sometimes comparable to the convection electric field (a few mV/m) associated with the flow. Our analysis also confirmed that the spurious field is caused by a weakly-asymmetric potential pattern created by the ion flow. We will present the parametric study of such spurious fields for various conditions of plasma flows. [References] [1] Miyake, Y., C. M. Cully, H. Usui, and H. Nakashima (2013), Plasma particle simulations of wake formation behind a spacecraft with thin wire booms, submitted to J. Geophys. Res. [2] Miyake, Y., and H. Usui (2009), New electromagnetic particle simulation code for the analysis of spacecraft-plasma interactions, Phys. Plasmas, 16, 062904, doi:10.1063/1.3147922.

Magnetostrictive Vibration Damper and Energy Harvester for Rotating Machinery

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deng, Zhangxian; Asnani, Vivake M.; Dapino, Marcelo J.

2015-01-01

Vibrations generated by machine driveline components can cause excessive noise and structural damage. Magnetostrictive materials, including Galfenol (iron-gallium alloys) and Terfenol-D (terbium-iron-dysprosium alloys), are able to convert mechanical energy to magnetic energy. A magnetostrictive vibration ring is proposed, which generates electrical energy and dampens vibration, when installed in a machine driveline. A 2D axisymmetric finite element (FE) model incorporating magnetic, mechanical, and electrical dynamics is constructed in COMSOL Multiphysics. Based on the model, a parametric study considering magnetostrictive material geometry, pickup coil size, bias magnet strength, flux path design, and electrical load is conducted to maximize loss factor and average electrical output power. By connecting various resistive loads to the pickup coil, the maximum loss factors for Galfenol and Terfenol-D due to electrical energy loss are identified as 0.14 and 0.34, respectively. The maximum average electrical output power for Galfenol and Terfenol-D is 0.21 W and 0.58 W, respectively. The loss factors for Galfenol and Terfenol-D are increased to 0.59 and 1.83, respectively, by using an L-C resonant circuit.

Formation and electrical transport properties of pentacene nanorod crystal.

PubMed

Akai-Kasaya, M; Ohmori, C; Kawanishi, T; Nashiki, M; Saito, A; Aono, M; Kuwahara, Y

2010-09-10

The monophasic formation of an uncharted pentacene crystal, the pentacene nanorod, has been investigated. The restricted formation of the pentacene nanorod on a bare mica surface reveals a peculiar surface catalytic crystal growth mode of the pentacene. We demonstrated the charge transport measurements through a single pentacene nanorod and analyzed the data using a periodic hopping conduction model. The results revealed that the pentacene nanorod has a periodic conductive node within their one-dimensional crystal.

Platelet rich plasma promotes skeletal muscle cell migration in association with up-regulation of FAK, paxillin, and F-Actin formation.

PubMed

Tsai, Wen-Chung; Yu, Tung-Yang; Lin, Li-Ping; Lin, Mioa-Sui; Tsai, Ting-Ta; Pang, Jong-Hwei S

2017-11-01

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) contains various cytokines and growth factors which may be beneficial to the healing process of injured muscle. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of PRP on migration of skeletal muscle cells. Skeletal muscle cells intrinsic to Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with PRP. The cell migration was evaluated by transwell filter migration assay and electric cell-substrate impedance sensing. The spreading of cells was evaluated microscopically. The formation of filamentous actin (F-actin) cytoskeleton was assessed by immunofluorescence staining. The protein expressions of paxillin and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) were assessed by Western blot analysis. Transfection of paxillin small-interfering RNA (siRNAs) to muscle cells was performed to validate the role of paxillin in PRP-mediated promotion of cell migration. Dose-dependently PRP promotes migration of and spreading and muscle cells. Protein expressions of paxillin and FAK were up-regulated dose-dependently. F-actin formation was also enhanced by PRP treatment. Furthermore, the knockdown of paxillin expression impaired the effect of PRP to promote cell migration. It was concluded that PRP promoting migration of muscle cells is associated with up-regulation of proteins expression of paxillin and FAK as well as increasing F-actin formation. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:2506-2512, 2017. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Enhanced Electrical Activation in In-Implanted Si 0.35Ge 0.65 by C Co-Doping

DOE PAGES

Feng, Ruixing; Kremer, Felipe; Sprouster, David J.; ...

2016-04-21

In this report, we have achieved a significant increase in the electrically active dopant fraction in Indium (In)-implanted Si 0.35Ge 0.65, by co-doping with the isovalent element Carbon (C). Electrical measurements have been correlated with X-ray absorption spectroscopy to determine the electrical properties and the In atom lattice location. With C+In co-doping, the solid solubility of In in Si 0.35Ge 0.65 was at least tripled from between 0.02 and 0.06 at% to between 0.2 and 0.6 at% as a result of C–In pair formation, which suppressed In metal precipitation. A dramatic improvement of electrical properties was thus attained in themore » co-doped samples.« less

Motions of charged particles in the Magnetosphere under the influence of a time-varying large scale convection electric field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, P. H.; Bewtra, N. K.; Hoffman, R. A.

1979-01-01

The motions of charged particles under the influence of the geomagnetic and electric fields were quite complex in the region of the inner magnetosphere. The Volland-Stern type large scale convection electric field was used successfully to predict both the plasmapause location and particle enhancements determined from Explorer 45 measurements. A time dependence in this electric field was introduced based on the variation in Kp for actual magnetic storm conditions. The particle trajectories were computed as they change in this time-varying electric field. Several storm fronts of particles of different magnetic moments were allowed to be injected into the inner magnetosphere from L = 10 in the equatorial plane. The motions of these fronts are presented in a movie format.

Critical review: Uncharted waters? The future of the electricity-water nexus.

PubMed

Sanders, Kelly T

2015-01-06

Electricity generation often requires large amounts of water, most notably for cooling thermoelectric power generators and moving hydroelectric turbines. This so-called "electricity-water nexus" has received increasing attention in recent years by governments, nongovernmental organizations, industry, and academics, especially in light of increasing water stress in many regions around the world. Although many analyses have attempted to project the future water requirements of electricity generation, projections vary considerably due to differences in temporal and spatial boundaries, modeling frameworks, and scenario definitions. This manuscript is intended to provide a critical review of recent publications that address the future water requirements of electricity production and define the factors that will moderate the water requirements of the electric grid moving forward to inform future research. The five variables identified include changes in (1) fuel consumption patterns, (2) cooling technology preferences, (3) environmental regulations, (4) ambient climate conditions, and (5) electric grid characteristics. These five factors are analyzed to provide guidance for future research related to the electricity-water nexus.

Elevating Learner Achievement Using Formative Electronic Lab Assessments in the Engineering Laboratory: A Viable Alternative to Weekly Lab Reports

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chen, Baiyun; DeMara, Ronald F.; Salehi, Soheil; Hartshorne, Richard

2018-01-01

A laboratory pedagogy interweaving weekly student portfolios with onsite formative electronic laboratory assessments (ELAs) is developed and assessed within the laboratory component of a required core course of the electrical and computer engineering (ECE) undergraduate curriculum. The approach acts to promote student outcomes, and neutralize…

Formation flow rate control method in multi-layer production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muzipov, H. N.; Akhmadulin, R. К; Bakanovskaya, L. N.

2018-05-01

The article describes a method of flow rate control of separate formations in multilayer production by noises frequency response (FR). The noise FR is converted into electrical signals scaled in proportion to the flow rates using secondary facilities. The pump noise is suggested to be reduced with the quarter-wave acoustic resonator working as an acoustic filter.

NREL Scientists and Engineers Recognized for Top Innovations | NREL | News

Science.gov Websites

commercially available, large-format isothermal battery calorimeter for lithium-ion battery safety testing to test the performance and safety of large-format lithium-ion batteries used extensively in electric develop NREL intellectual property representing an isothermal battery calorimeter. The technical

Impact of Bounded Noise and Rewiring on the Formation and Instability of Spiral Waves in a Small-World Network of Hodgkin-Huxley Neurons.

PubMed

Yao, Yuangen; Deng, Haiyou; Ma, Chengzhang; Yi, Ming; Ma, Jun

2017-01-01

Spiral waves are observed in the chemical, physical and biological systems, and the emergence of spiral waves in cardiac tissue is linked to some diseases such as heart ventricular fibrillation and epilepsy; thus it has importance in theoretical studies and potential medical applications. Noise is inevitable in neuronal systems and can change the electrical activities of neuron in different ways. Many previous theoretical studies about the impacts of noise on spiral waves focus an unbounded Gaussian noise and even colored noise. In this paper, the impacts of bounded noise and rewiring of network on the formation and instability of spiral waves are discussed in small-world (SW) network of Hodgkin-Huxley (HH) neurons through numerical simulations, and possible statistical analysis will be carried out. Firstly, we present SW network of HH neurons subjected to bounded noise. Then, it is numerically demonstrated that bounded noise with proper intensity σ, amplitude A, or frequency f can facilitate the formation of spiral waves when rewiring probability p is below certain thresholds. In other words, bounded noise-induced resonant behavior can occur in the SW network of neurons. In addition, rewiring probability p always impairs spiral waves, while spiral waves are confirmed to be robust for small p, thus shortcut-induced phase transition of spiral wave with the increase of p is induced. Furthermore, statistical factors of synchronization are calculated to discern the phase transition of spatial pattern, and it is confirmed that larger factor of synchronization is approached with increasing of rewiring probability p, and the stability of spiral wave is destroyed.

Temperature dependent electrical properties of polyaniline film grown on paper through aniline vapor polymerization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deb, K.; Bhowmik, K. L.; Bera, A.; Chattopadhyay, K. K.; Saha, B.

2016-05-01

Polyaniline thin film has been prepared on paper by aniline vapor deposition technique. Ferric chloride has been used as polymerizing agent in this approach. The prepared films were studied through electrical resistivity and optical properties measurements. The electrical resistivity of the polyaniline film shows significant temperature dependence. The resistance sharply falls with the increase in temperature. The optical absorbance measurements shows characteristics absorbance peak indicating the formation of conducting emeraldine salt form of polyaniline. The optical energy band gap of the film was calculated from the transmittance spectra. The optical energy band gap and electrical conductivity of the polyaniline film is well suited for their applications in electronic devices.

Straight and chopped DC performance data for a General Electric 5BY436A1 DC shunt motor with a General Electric EV-1 controller

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edie, P. C.

1981-01-01

Both straight and chopped dc motor performance data for a General Electric 5BY436A1 motor with a General Electric EV-1 controller is presented in tabular and graphical formats. Effects of motor temperature and operating voltage are also shown. The maximum motor efficiency is approximately 85% at low operating temperatures in the straight dc mode. Chopper efficiency can be assumed to be 95% under all operating conditions. For equal speeds, the motor operated in the chopped mode develops slightly more torque and draws more current than it does in the straight mode.

Fault tolerant vector control of induction motor drive

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Odnokopylov, G.; Bragin, A.

2014-10-01

For electric composed of technical objects hazardous industries, such as nuclear, military, chemical, etc. an urgent task is to increase their resiliency and survivability. The construction principle of vector control system fault-tolerant asynchronous electric. Displaying recovery efficiency three-phase induction motor drive in emergency mode using two-phase vector control system. The process of formation of a simulation model of the asynchronous electric unbalance in emergency mode. When modeling used coordinate transformation, providing emergency operation electric unbalance work. The results of modeling transient phase loss motor stator. During a power failure phase induction motor cannot save circular rotating field in the air gap of the motor and ensure the restoration of its efficiency at rated torque and speed.

External cardiac compression may be harmful in some scenarios of pulseless electrical activity.

PubMed

Hogan, T S

2012-10-01

Pulseless electrical activity occurs when organised or semi-organised electrical activity of the heart persists but the product of systemic vascular resistance and the increase in systemic arterial flow generated by the ejection of the left venticular stroke volume is not sufficient to produce a clinically detectable pulse. Pulseless electrical activity encompasses a very heterogeneous variety of severe circulatory shock states ranging in severity from pseudo-cardiac arrest to effective cardiac arrest. Outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for pulseless electrical activity are generally poor. Impairment of cardiac filling is the limiting factor to cardiac output in many scenarios of pulseless electrical activity, including extreme vasodilatory shock states. There is no evidence that external cardiac compression can increase cardiac output when impaired cardiac filling is the limiting factor to cardiac output. If impaired cardiac filling is the limiting factor to cardiac output and the heart is effectively ejecting all the blood returning to it, then external cardiac compression can only increase cardiac output if it increases venous return and cardiac filling. Repeated cardiac compression asynchronous with the patient's cardiac cycle and raised mean intrathoracic pressure due to chest compression can be expected to reduce rather than to increase cardiac filling and therefore to reduce rather than to increase cardiac output in such circumstances. The hypothesis is proposed that the performance of external cardiac compression will have zero or negative effect on cardiac output in pulseless electrical activity when impaired cardiac filling is the limiting factor to cardiac output. External cardiac compression may be both directly and indirectly harmful to significant sub-groups of patients with pulseless electrical activity. We have neither evidence nor theory to provide comfort that external cardiac compression is not harmful in many scenarios of pulseless electrical activity. Investigation using a variety of animal models of pulseless electrical activity produced by different shock-inducing mechanisms is required to provide an evidence base for resuscitation guidelines. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analyzing of economic growth based on electricity consumption from different sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maksimović, Goran; Milosavljević, Valentina; Ćirković, Bratislav; Milošević, Božidar; Jović, Srđan; Alizamir, Meysam

2017-10-01

Economic growth could be influenced by different factors. In this study was analyzed the economic growth based on the electricity consumption form different sources. As economic growth indicator gross domestic product (GDP) was used. ANFIS (adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system) methodology was applied to determine the most important factors from the given set for the GDP growth prediction. Six inputs were used: electricity production from coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, nuclear, oil and renewable sources. Results shown that the electricity consumption from renewable sources has the highest impact on the economic or GDP growth prediction.

Using Geophysics to Define Hydrostratigraphic Units in the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers, Texas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, B. D.; Blome, C. D.; Clark, A. K.; Kress, W.; Smith, D. V.

2007-05-01

Airborne and ground geophysical surveys conducted in Uvalde, Medina, and northern Bexar counties, Texas, can be used to define and characterize hydrostratigraphic units of the Edwards and Trinity aquifers. Airborne magnetic surveys have defined numerous Cretaceous intrusive stocks and laccoliths, mainly in Uvalde County, that influence local hydrology and perhaps regional ground-water flow paths. Depositional environments in the aquifers can be classified as shallow water platforms (San Marcos Platform, Edwards Group), shoal and reef facies (Devils River Trend, Devils River Formation), and deeper water basins (Maverick Basin, West Nueces, McKnight, and Salmon Peak Formations). Detailed airborne and ground electromagnetic surveys have been conducted over the Edwards aquifer catchment zone (exposed Trinity aquifer rocks), recharge zone (exposed Edwards aquifer rocks), and artesian zone (confined Edwards) in the Seco Creek area (northeast Uvalde and Medina Counties; Devils River Trend). These geophysical survey data have been used to divide the Edwards exposed within the Balcones fault zone into upper and lower hydrostratigraphic units. Although both units are high electrical resistivity, the upper unit has slightly lower resistivity than the lower unit. The Georgetown Formation, at the top of the Edwards Group has a moderate resistivity. The formations that comprise the upper confining units to the Edwards aquifer rocks have varying resistivities. The Eagleford and Del Rio Groups (mainly clays) have very low resistivities and are excellent electrical marker beds in the Seco Creek area. The Buda Limestone is characterized by high resistivities. Moderate resistivities characterize the Austin Group rocks (mainly chalk). The older Trinity aquifer, underlying the Edwards aquifer rocks, is characterized by less limestone (electrically resistive or low conductivity units) and greater quantities of mudstones (electrically conductive or low resistivity units). In the western area (Devils River Trend and Maverick Basin) of the Trinity aquifer system there are well-defined collapse units and features that are marked by moderate resistivities bracketed by resistive limestone and conductive mudstone of the Glen Rose Limestone. In the central part of the aquifer (San Marcos Platform) the Trinity's lithologies are divided into upper and lower units with further subdivisions into hydrostratigraphic units. These hydrostratigraphic units are well mapped by an airborne electromagnetic survey in Bexar County. Electrical properties of the Edwards aquifer also vary across the fresh-saline water interface where ground and borehole electrical surveys have been conducted. The saline- saturated Edwards is predictably more conductive than the fresh-water saturated rocks. Similar fresh-saline water interfaces exist within the upper confining units of the Edwards aquifer (Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer) and the Trinity aquifer rocks.

Distinguishing crystallization stages and their influence on quantum efficiency during perovskite solar cell formation in real-time.

PubMed

Wagner, Lukas; Mundt, Laura E; Mathiazhagan, Gayathri; Mundus, Markus; Schubert, Martin C; Mastroianni, Simone; Würfel, Uli; Hinsch, Andreas; Glunz, Stefan W

2017-11-02

Relating crystallization of the absorber layer in a perovskite solar cell (PSC) to the device performance is a key challenge for the process development and in-depth understanding of these types of high efficient solar cells. A novel approach that enables real-time photo-physical and electrical characterization using a graphite-based PSC is introduced in this work. In our graphite-based PSC, the device architecture of porous monolithic contact layers creates the possibility to perform photovoltaic measurements while the perovskite crystallizes within this scaffold. The kinetics of crystallization in a solution based 2-step formation process has been analyzed by real-time measurement of the external photon to electron quantum efficiency as well as the photoluminescence emission spectra of the solar cell. With this method it was in particular possible to identify a previously overlooked crystallization stage during the formation of the perovskite absorber layer. This stage has significant influence on the development of the photocurrent, which is attributed to the formation of electrical pathways between the electron and hole contact, enabling efficient charge carrier extraction. We observe that in contrast to previously suggested models, the perovskite layer formation is indeed not complete with the end of crystal growth.

Characterization of terrestrial solar cells for space applications: Electrical characteristics of thin Westinghouse dendritic web cells as a function of solar intensity, temperature, and incidence angle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stella, P. M.; Anspaugh, B. E.

1985-01-01

Electrical characteristics of thin (100- and 140-micron) Westinghouse dendritic-web N/P silicon solar cells are presented in graphical and tabular format as a function of solar illumination intensity and temperature. Performance is also shown as a function of solar illlumination angle of incidence for AMO.

Electric field numerical simulation of disc type electrostatic spinning spinneret

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, L.; Deng, ZL; Qin, XH; Liang, ZY

2018-01-01

Electrospinning is a new type of free-end spinning built on electric field. Different from traditional single needle spinneret, in this study, a new disc type free surface spinneret is used to produce multiple jets, this will greatly improve production efficiency of nanofiber. The electric-field distribution of spinneret is the crux of the formation and trajectory of jets. In order to probe the electric field intensity of the disc type spinneret, computational software of Ansoft Maxwell 12 is adopted for a precise and intuitive analysis. The results showed that the whole round cambered surface of the spinning solution at edge of each layer of the spinneret with the maximum curvature has the highest electric field intensity, and through the simulation of the electric field distribution of different spinneret parameters such as layer, the height and radius of the spinneret. Influences of various parameters on the electrostatic spinning are obtained.

Electrical Deflection of Polar Liquid Streams: A Misunderstood Demonstration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ziaei-Moayyed, Maryam; Goodman, Edward; Williams, Peter

2000-11-01

The electrical deflection of polar liquid streams, commonly used as a textbook illustration of the behavior of polar molecules, is shown to be due to the formation of electrically charged droplets in the polar liquid stream, induced by a nearby charged object, rather than any force exerted on molecular dipoles. Streams of water and polar organic liquids could be deflected in a uniform electric field, which could not have exerted any force on dipolar species. Water and polar organic liquid streams formed within a grounded, electrically screened region could not be deflected after exiting the screened region, demonstrating that there is no electrical force on uncharged polar liquid droplets. Induced charging was observed also in insulating polar organic liquids and is suggested to be due to ionic impurities. A weak deflection of a stream of a nonpolar liquid (tetrachloroethylene) was also observed, indicating that such impurity effects are quite general, even in nonpolar liquids.

Electrically Conductive and Protective Coating for Planar SOFC Stacks

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

Choi, Jung-Pyung; Stevenson, Jeffry W.

Ferritic stainless steels are preferred interconnect materials for intermediate temperature SOFCs because of their resistance to oxidation, high formability and low cost. However, their protective oxide layer produces Cr-containing volatile species at SOFC operating temperatures and conditions, which can cause cathode poisoning. Electrically conducting spinel coatings have been developed to prevent cathode poisoning and to maintain an electrically conductive pathway through SOFC stacks. However, this coating is not compatible with the formation of stable, hermetic seals between the interconnect frame component and the ceramic cell. Thus, a new aluminizing process has been developed by PNNL to enable durable sealing, preventmore » Cr evaporation, and maintain electrical insulation between stack repeat units. Hence, two different types of coating need to have stable operation of SOFC stacks. This paper will focus on the electrically conductive coating process. Moreover, an advanced coating process, compatible with a non-electrically conductive coating will be« less

Method for reducing formation of electrically resistive layer on ferritic stainless steels

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

Rakowski, James M.

A method of reducing the formation of electrically resistive scale on a an article comprising a silicon-containing ferritic stainless subjected to oxidizing conditions in service includes, prior to placing the article in service, subjecting the article to conditions under which silica, which includes silicon derived from the steel, forms on a surface of the steel. Optionally, at least a portion of the silica is removed from the surface to placing the article in service. A ferritic stainless steel alloy having a reduced tendency to form silica on at least a surface thereof also is provided. The steel includes a near-surfacemore » region that has been depleted of silicon relative to a remainder of the steel.« less

Method for reducing formation of electrically resistive layer on ferritic stainless steels

DOEpatents

Rakowski, James M.

2013-09-10

A method of reducing the formation of electrically resistive scale on a an article comprising a silicon-containing ferritic stainless subjected to oxidizing conditions in service includes, prior to placing the article in service, subjecting the article to conditions under which silica, which includes silicon derived from the steel, forms on a surface of the steel. Optionally, at least a portion of the silica is removed from the surface to placing the article in service. A ferritic stainless steel alloy having a reduced tendency to form silica on at least a surface thereof also is provided. The steel includes a near-surface region that has been depleted of silicon relative to a remainder of the steel.

Variation of the shape and morphological properties of silica and metal oxide powders by electro homogeneous precipitation

DOEpatents

Harris, M.T.; Basaran, O.A.; Sisson, W.G.; Brunson, R.R.

1997-02-18

The present invention provides a method for preparing irreversible linear aggregates (fibrils) of metal oxide powders by utilizing static or pulsed DC electrical fields across a relatively non-conducting liquid solvent in which organometal compounds or silicon alkoxides have been dissolved. The electric field is applied to the relatively non-conducting solution throughout the particle formation and growth process promoting the formation of either linear aggregates (fibrils) or spherical shaped particles as desired. Thus the present invention provides a physical method for altering the size, shape and porosity of precursor hydrous metal oxide or hydrous silicon oxide powders for the development of advanced ceramics with improved strength and insulating capacity. 3 figs.

Plasma ignition and steady state simulations of the Linac4 H- ion source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mattei, S.; Ohta, M.; Yasumoto, M.; Hatayama, A.; Lettry, J.; Grudiev, A.

2014-02-01

The RF heating of the plasma in the Linac4 H- ion source has been simulated using a particle-in-cell Monte Carlo collision method. This model is applied to investigate the plasma formation starting from an initial low electron density of 1012 m-3 and its stabilization at 1018 m-3. The plasma discharge at low electron density is driven by the capacitive coupling with the electric field generated by the antenna, and as the electron density increases the capacitive electric field is shielded by the plasma and induction drives the plasma heating process. Plasma properties such as e-/ion densities and energies, sheath formation, and shielding effect are presented and provide insight to the plasma properties of the hydrogen plasma.

Biosynthesis of acetyl-coenzyme A in the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata in relation to acetylcholine metabolism.

PubMed Central

Diebler, M F; Morot-Gaudry, Y

1977-01-01

Formation of acetyl-CoA through acetyl-CoA synthetase (forward reaction) and through choline acyltransferase (backward reaction) was investigated in tissue extract from the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata. When the tissue extract was submitted to gel filtration on Sephadex G-25, the formation of acetyl-CoA by acetyl-CoA synthetase appeared fully dependent on ATP and CoA and partially dependent on acetate (an endogenous supply of acetate is discussed). Choline acetyltransferase was a potent source of acetyl-CoA, only requiring acetylcholine and CoA, and was much more efficient than acetyl-CoA synthetase for concentrations of acetylcholine likely to be present in nerve endings. PMID:23101

A built-in sensor with carbon nanotubes coated by Ag clusters for deformation monitoring of glass fibre/epoxy composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slobodian, P.; Riha, P.; Matyas, J.; Olejnik, R.; Lloret Pertegás, S.; Schledjewski, R.; Kovar, M.

2018-03-01

A multiwalled carbon nanotube network embedded in a polyurethane membrane was integrated into a glass fibre reinforced epoxy composite by means of vacuum infusion to become a part of the composite and has been serving for a strain self-sensing functionality. Besides the pristine nanotubes also nanotubes with Ag nanoparticles attached to their surfaces were used to increase strain sensing. Moreover, the design of the carbon nanotube/polyurethane sensor allowed formation of network micro-sized cracks which increased its reversible electrical resistance resulted in an enhancement of strain sensing. The resistance sensitivity, quantified by a gauge factor, increased more than hundredfold in case of a pre-strained sensor with Ag decorated nanotubes in comparison with the sensor with pristine nanotubes.

3D Thermal and Electrochemical Model for Spirally Wound Large Format Lithium-ion Batteries (Presentation)

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

Lee, K. J.; Kim, G. H.; Smith, K.

In many commercial cells, long tabs at both cell sides, leading to uniform potentials along the spiral direction of wound jelly rolls, are rarely seen because of their high manufacturing cost. More often, several metal strips are welded at discrete locations along both current collector foils. With this design, the difference of electrical potentials is easily built up along current collectors in the spiral direction. Hence, the design features of the tabs, such as number, location and size, can be crucial factors for spiral-shaped battery cells. This paper presents a Li-ion battery cell model having a 3-dimensional spiral mesh involvingmore » a wound jellyroll structure. Further results and analysis will be given regarding impacts of tab location, number, and size.« less

Lithium Ion Batteries in Electric Drive Vehicles

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

Pesaran, Ahmad A.

2016-05-16

This research focuses on the technical issues that are critical to the adoption of high-energy-producing lithium Ion batteries. In addition to high energy density / high power density, this publication considers performance requirements that are necessary to assure lithium ion technology as the battery format of choice for electrified vehicles. Presentation of prime topics includes: long calendar life (greater than 10 years); sufficient cycle life; reliable operation under hot and cold temperatures; safe performance under extreme conditions; end-of-life recycling. To achieve aggressive fuel economy standards, carmakers are developing technologies to reduce fuel consumption, including hybridization and electrification. Cost and affordabilitymore » factors will be determined by these relevant technical issues which will provide for the successful implementation of lithium ion batteries for application in future generations of electrified vehicles.« less

Space-charge-limited currents for cathodes with electric field enhanced geometry

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

Lai, Dingguo, E-mail: laidingguo@nint.ac.cn; Qiu, Mengtong; Xu, Qifu

This paper presents the approximate analytic solutions of current density for annulus and circle cathodes. The current densities of annulus and circle cathodes are derived approximately from first principles, which are in agreement with simulation results. The large scaling laws can predict current densities of high current vacuum diodes including annulus and circle cathodes in practical applications. In order to discuss the relationship between current density and electric field on cathode surface, the existing analytical solutions of currents for concentric cylinder and sphere diodes are fitted from existing solutions relating with electric field enhancement factors. It is found that themore » space-charge-limited current density for the cathode with electric-field enhanced geometry can be written in a general form of J = g(β{sub E}){sup 2}J{sub 0}, where J{sub 0} is the classical (1D) Child-Langmuir current density, β{sub E} is the electric field enhancement factor, and g is the geometrical correction factor depending on the cathode geometry.« less

Geophysical characterization of saltwater intrusion in a coastal aquifer: The case of Martil-Alila plain (North Morocco)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Himi, Mahjoub; Tapias, Josefiina; Benabdelouahab, Sara; Salhi, Adil; Rivero, Luis; Elgettafi, Mohamed; El Mandour, Abdenabi; Stitou, Jamal; Casas, Albert

2017-02-01

Several factors can affect the quantity and the quality of groundwater resources, but in coastal aquifers seawater intrusion is often the most significant issue regarding freshwater supply. Further, saltwater intrusion is a worldwide issue because about seventy percent of the world's population lives in coastal regions. Generally, fresh groundwater not affected by saltwater intrusion is characterized by low salinity and therefore low electrical conductivity (EC) values. Consequently, high values of EC in groundwater along the coastline are usually associated to seawater intrusion. This effect is amplified if the coastal aquifer is overexploited with a subsequent gradual displacement of the freshwater-saltwater interface towards the continent. Delineation of marine intrusion in coastal aquifers has traditionally relied upon observation wells and collection of water samples. This approach may miss important hydrologic features related to saltwater intrusion in areas where access is difficult and where wells are widely spaced. Consequently, the scarcity of sampling points and sometimes their total absence makes the number of data available limited and most of the time not representative for mapping the spatial and temporal variability of groundwater salinity. In this study, we use a series of geophysical methods for characterizing the aquifer geometry and the extension of saltwater intrusion in the Martil-Alila coastal region (Morocco) as a complement to geological and hydrogeochemical data. For this reason, we carried out three geophysical surveys: Gravity, Electrical Resistivity and Frequency Domain Electromagnetic. The geometry of the basin has been determined from the interpretation of a detailed gravity survey. Electrical resistivity models derived from vertical electrical soundings allowed to characterize the vertical and the lateral extensions of aquifer formations. Finally, frequency domain electromagnetic methods allowed delineating the extension of the saltwater intrusion.

Synthesis and Characterization of Reduced Graphene Oxide/Rhodamine 101 (rGO-Rh101) Nanocomposites and Their Heterojunction Performance in rGO-Rh101/ p-Si Device Configuration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Batır, G. Güven; Arık, Mustafa; Caldıran, Zakir; Turut, Abdulmecit; Aydogan, Sakir

2018-01-01

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-rhodamine 101 (Rh101) nanocomposites with different ratios of rGO have been synthesized in aqueous medium by ultrasonic homogenization. The fluorescence of Rh101 as measured using a laser dye with high fluorescence quantum yield was substantially quenched with increasing amount of rGO in the nanocomposite. Formation of rGO-Rh101 nanocomposites was confirmed by x-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and fluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, rGO-Rh101 nanocomposite/ p-Si heterojunctions were synthesized, all of which showed good rectifying behavior. The electrical characteristics of these devices were analyzed using current-voltage ( I- V) measurements to determine the ideality factor and barrier height. The experimental results confirmed the presence of lateral inhomogeneity in the effective barrier height of the rGO-Rh101 nanocomposite/ p-Si heterojunctions. In addition to I- V measurements, one device was analyzed in more detail using frequency-dependent capacitance-voltage measurements. All electrical measurements were carried out at room temperature and in the dark.

Tapered microelectrode array system for dielectrophoretically filtration: fabrication, characterization, and simulation study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buyong, Muhamad Ramdzan; Larki, Farhad; Takamura, Yuzuru; Majlis, Burhanuddin Yeop

2017-10-01

This paper presents the fabrication, characterization, and simulation of microelectrode arrays system with tapered profile having an aluminum surface for dielectrophoresis (DEP)-based manipulation of particles. The proposed structure demonstrates more effective electric field gradient compared with its counterpart with untapered profile. Therefore, according to the asymmetric distribution of the electric field in the active region of microelectrode, it produces more effective particle manipulation. The tapered aluminum microelectrode array (TAMA) fabrication process uses a state-of-the-art technique in the formation of the resist's taper profile. The performance of TAMA with various sidewall profile angles (5 deg to 90 deg) was analyzed through finite-element method numerical simulations to offer a better understanding of the origin of the sidewall profile effect. The ability of capturing and manipulating of the device was examined through modification of the Clausius-Mossotti factor and cross-over frequency (f). The fabricated system has been particularly implemented for filtration of particles with a desired diameter from a mixture of particles with three different diameters in an aqueous medium. The microelectrode system with tapered side wall profile offers a more efficient platform for particle manipulation and sensing applications compared with the conventional microelectrode systems.

Photoinduced Field-Effect Passivation from Negative Carrier Accumulation for High-Efficiency Silicon/Organic Heterojunction Solar Cells.

PubMed

Liu, Zhaolang; Yang, Zhenhai; Wu, Sudong; Zhu, Juye; Guo, Wei; Sheng, Jiang; Ye, Jichun; Cui, Yi

2017-12-26

Carrier recombination and light management of the dopant-free silicon/organic heterojunction solar cells (HSCs) based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) are the critical factors in developing high-efficiency photovoltaic devices. However, the traditional passivation technologies can hardly provide efficient surface passivation on the front surface of Si. In this study, a photoinduced electric field was induced in a bilayer antireflective coating (ARC) of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) films, due to formation of an accumulation layer of negative carriers (O 2 - species) under UV (sunlight) illumination. This photoinduced field not only suppressed the silicon surface recombination but also enhanced the built-in potential of HSCs with 84 mV increment. In addition, this photoactive ARC also displayed the outstanding light-trapping capability. The front PEDOT:PSS/Si HSC with the saturated O 2 - received a champion PCE of 15.51% under AM 1.5 simulated sunlight illumination. It was clearly demonstrated that the photoinduced electric field was a simple, efficient, and low-cost method for the surface passivation and contributed to achieve a high efficiency when applied in the Si/PEDOT:PSS HSCs.

Numerical modelling of the Luna-Glob lander electric charging on the lunar surface with SPIS-DUST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuznetsov, I. A.; Hess, S. L. G.; Zakharov, A. V.; Cipriani, F.; Seran, E.; Popel, S. I.; Lisin, E. A.; Petrov, O. F.; Dolnikov, G. G.; Lyash, A. N.; Kopnin, S. I.

2018-07-01

One of the complicating factors of the future robotic and human lunar landing missions is the influence of the dust. The upper insulating regolith layer is electrically charged by the solar ultraviolet radiation and the flow of solar wind particles. Resulted electric charge and thus surface potential depend on the lunar local time, latitude and the electrical properties of the regolith. Understanding of mechanisms of the dust electric charging, dust levitation and electric charging of a lander on the lunar surface is essential for interpretation of measurements of the instruments of the Luna-Glob lander payload, e.g. the Dust Impact sensor and the Langmuir Probe. One of the tools, which allows simulating the electric charging of the regolith and lander and also the transport and deposition of the dust particles on the lander surface, is the recently developed Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software toolkit, called the SPIS-DUST. This paper describes the SPIS-DUST numerical simulation of the interaction between the solar wind plasma, ultraviolet radiation, regolith and a lander and presents as result qualitative and quantitative data of charging the surfaces, plasma sheath and its influence on spacecraft sensors, dust dynamics. The model takes into account the geometry of the Luna-Glob lander, the electric properties of materials used on the lander surface, as well as Luna-Glob landing place. Initial conditions are chosen using current theoretical models of formation of dusty plasma exosphere and levitating charged dust particles. Simulation for the three cases (local lunar noon, evening and sunset) showed us the surrounding plasma sheath around the spacecraft which gives a significant potential bias in the spacecraft vicinity. This bias influences on the spacecraft sensors but with SPIS software we can estimate the potential of uninfluenced plasma with the data from the plasma sensors (Langmuir probes). SPIS-DUST modification allows us to get the dust dynamics properties. For our three cases we've obtained the dust densities around the spacecraft and near the surface of the Moon. As another practical result of this work we can count a suggestion of improving of dusty plasma instrument for the next mission: it must be valuable to relocate the plasma sensors to a distant boom at some distance from the spacecraft.

Modeling corona sheath dynamics and effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carlson, B.; Lehtinen, N. G.

2016-12-01

The conductive lightning channel is only a centimeter or so in diameter, but charge deposited along such a narrow channel produces a large electric field that drives corona discharge in nearby air, carrying the charge outward several meters. The formation of this "corona sheath" affects a wide range of observable properties of lightning, including the overall charge carried by the channel, the shape, speed, and attenuation of impulsive currents, and the possibility of x-ray production. Simplified electrostatic and electrodynamic models of the formation of the sheath will be discussed, with results given including regions near the tip of a hypothetical channel. These results suggest that the sheath initially expands very rapidly, limiting the lifetime of the intense fields nearest the channel. The expansion gradually slows as the fields decrease, but under certain circumstances a large-scale streamer-like process can lead to enhancement of electric fields displaced from the tip of the channel, possibly suggesting a mechanism for space stem formation and leader stepping.

Bio-functionalized graphene–graphene oxide nanocomposite based electrochemical immunosensing

PubMed Central

Sharma, Priyanka; Tuteja, Satish K.; Bhalla, Vijayender; Shekhawat, G.; Dravid, Vinayak P.; Suri, C.Raman

2014-01-01

We report a novel in-situ electrochemical synthesis approach for the formation of functionalized graphene–graphene oxide (fG–GO) nanocomposite on screen-printed electrodes (SPE). Electrochemically controlled nanocomposite film formation was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Further insight into the nanocomposite has been accomplished by the Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy. Configured as a highly responsive screen-printed immunosensor, the fG–GO nanocomposite on SPE exhibits electrical and chemical synergies of the nano-hybrid functional construct by combining good electronic properties of functionalized graphene (fG) and the facile chemical functionality of graphene oxide (GO) for compatible bio-interface development using specific anti-diuron antibody. The enhanced electrical properties of nanocomposite biofilm demonstrated a significant increase in electrochemical signal response in a competitive inhibition immunoassay format for diuron detection, promising its potential applicability for ultra-sensitive detection of range of target analytes. PMID:22884654

Flowing Plasma Interaction with an Electric Sail Tether Element

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schneider, Todd; Vaughn, Jason; Wright, Kenneth; Anderson, Allen; Stone, Nobie

2017-01-01

Harnessing the power of the solar wind, an Electric Sail, or E-sail, is a relatively new concept that promises to deliver high speed propellant-less propulsion. The electric sail is an invention made in 2006 at the Kumpula Space Centre in Finland by Pekka Janhunen [Janhunen and Sandroos, 2007]. At its core, an electric sail utilizes multiple positively biased tethers which exchange momentum with solar wind protons via the repelling electric field established around each tether, in other words, by reflecting the solar wind protons. Recognizing the solar wind is a plasma, the effective repelling area of each tether is increased significantly by the formation a plasma sheath around each tether. Fig. 1 shows schematically a spacecraft employing an electric sail. The positive voltage bias (greater than10kV) applied to each tether naturally results in electron collection. Therefore, the electric sail concept necessarily includes an electron source (electron gun) to return collected electrons to space and maintain the positive bias of the tether system.

Projecting Electricity Demand in 2050

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

Hostick, Donna J.; Belzer, David B.; Hadley, Stanton W.

2014-07-01

This paper describes the development of end-use electricity projections and load curves that were developed for the Renewable Electricity (RE) Futures Study (hereafter RE Futures), which explored the prospect of higher percentages (30% - 90%) of total electricity generation that could be supplied by renewable sources in the United States. As input to RE Futures, two projections of electricity demand were produced representing reasonable upper and lower bounds of electricity demand out to 2050. The electric sector models used in RE Futures required underlying load profiles, so RE Futures also produced load profile data in two formats: 8760 hourly datamore » for the year 2050 for the GridView model, and in 2-year increments for 17 time slices as input to the Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) model. The process for developing demand projections and load profiles involved three steps: discussion regarding the scenario approach and general assumptions, literature reviews to determine readily available data, and development of the demand curves and load profiles.« less

Electrically-induced polarization selection rules of a graphene quantum dot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Qing-Rui; Li, Yan; Jia, Chen; Wang, Fu-Li; Zhang, Ya-Ting; Liu, Chun-Xiang

2018-05-01

We study theoretically the single-electron triangular zigzag graphene quantum dot in uniform in-plane electric fields. The absorption spectra of the dot are calculated by the tight-binding method. The energy spectra and the distribution of wave functions are also presented to analyse the absorption spectra. The orthogonal zero-energy eigenstates are arranged along to the direction of the external field. The remarkable result is that all intraband transitions and some interband transitions are forbidden when the absorbed light is polarized along the direction of the electric field. With x-direction electric field, all intraband absorption is y polarized due to the electric-field-direction-polarization selection rule. Moreover, with y-direction electric field, all absorption is either x or y polarized due to the parity selection rule as well as to the electric-field-direction-polarization selection rule. Our calculation shows that the formation of the absorption spectra is co-decided by the polarization selection rules and the overlap between the eigenstates of the transition.

Formation of polycrystalline-silicon films with hemispherical grains for capacitor structures with increased capacitance

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

Novak, A. V., E-mail: novak-andrei@mail.ru

2014-12-15

The effect of formation conditions on the morphology of silicon films with hemispherical grains (HSG-Si) obtained by the method of low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) is investigated by atomic-force microscopy. The formation conditions for HSG-Si films with a large surface area are found. The obtained HSG-Si films make it possible to fabricate capacitor structures, the electric capacitance of which is twice as large in comparison to that of capacitors with “smooth” electrodes from polycrystalline silicon.

Lattice calculation of electric dipole moments and form factors of the nucleon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abramczyk, M.; Aoki, S.; Blum, T.; Izubuchi, T.; Ohki, H.; Syritsyn, S.

2017-07-01

We analyze commonly used expressions for computing the nucleon electric dipole form factors (EDFF) F3 and moments (EDM) on a lattice and find that they lead to spurious contributions from the Pauli form factor F2 due to inadequate definition of these form factors when parity mixing of lattice nucleon fields is involved. Using chirally symmetric domain wall fermions, we calculate the proton and the neutron EDFF induced by the C P -violating quark chromo-EDM interaction using the corrected expression. In addition, we calculate the electric dipole moment of the neutron using a background electric field that respects time translation invariance and boundary conditions, and we find that it decidedly agrees with the new formula but not the old formula for F3. Finally, we analyze some selected lattice results for the nucleon EDM and observe that after the correction is applied, they either agree with zero or are substantially reduced in magnitude, thus reconciling their difference from phenomenological estimates of the nucleon EDM.

Frequency-dependent local field factors in dielectric liquids by a polarizable force field and molecular dynamics simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davari, Nazanin; Haghdani, Shokouh; Åstrand, Per-Olof

2015-12-01

A force field model for calculating local field factors, i.e. the linear response of the local electric field for example at a nucleus in a molecule with respect to an applied electric field, is discussed. It is based on a combined charge-transfer and point-dipole interaction model for the polarizability, and thereby it includes two physically distinct terms for describing electronic polarization: changes in atomic charges arising from transfer of charge between the atoms and atomic induced dipole moments. A time dependence is included both for the atomic charges and the atomic dipole moments and if they are assumed to oscillate with the same frequency as the applied electric field, a model for frequency-dependent properties are obtained. Furthermore, if a life-time of excited states are included, a model for the complex frequency-dependent polariability is obtained including also information about excited states and the absorption spectrum. We thus present a model for the frequency-dependent local field factors through the first molecular excitation energy. It is combined with molecular dynamics simulations of liquids where a large set of configurations are sampled and for which local field factors are calculated. We are normally not interested in the average of the local field factor but rather in configurations where it is as high as possible. In electrical insulation, we would like to avoid high local field factors to reduce the risk for electrical breakdown, whereas for example in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, high local field factors are desired to give dramatically increased intensities.

Measurements of electron avalanche formation time in W-band microwave air breakdown

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cook, Alan M.; Hummelt, Jason S.; Shapiro, Michael A.; Temkin, Richard J.

2011-08-01

We present measurements of formation times of electron avalanche ionization discharges induced by a focused 110 GHz millimeter-wave beam in atmospheric air. Discharges take place in a free volume of gas, with no nearby surfaces or objects. When the incident field amplitude is near the breakdown threshold for pulsed conditions, measured formation times are ˜0.1-2 μs over the pressure range 5-700 Torr. Combined with electric field breakdown threshold measurements, the formation time data shows the agreement of 110 GHz air breakdown with the similarity laws of gas discharges.

Enhanced electrical conductivity and piezoresistive sensing in multi-wall carbon nanotubes/polydimethylsiloxane nanocomposites via the construction of a self-segregated structure.

PubMed

Wang, Ming; Zhang, Kai; Dai, Xin-Xin; Li, Yin; Guo, Jiang; Liu, Hu; Li, Gen-Hui; Tan, Yan-Jun; Zeng, Jian-Bing; Guo, Zhanhu

2017-08-10

Formation of highly conductive networks is essential for achieving flexible conductive polymer composites (CPCs) with high force sensitivity and high electrical conductivity. In this study, self-segregated structures were constructed in polydimethylsiloxane/multi-wall carbon nanotube (PDMS/MWCNT) nanocomposites, which then exhibited high piezoresistive sensitivity and low percolation threshold without sacrificing their mechanical properties. First, PDMS was cured and pulverized into 40-60 mesh-sized particles (with the size range of 250-425 μm) as an optimum self-segregated phase to improve the subsequent electrical conductivity. Then, the uncured PDMS/MWCNT base together with the curing agent was mixed with the abovementioned PDMS particles, serving as the segregated phase. Finally, the mixture was cured again to form the PDMS/MWCNT nanocomposites with self-segregated structures. The morphological evaluation indicated that MWCNTs were located in the second cured three-dimensional (3D) continuous PDMS phase, resulting in an ultralow percolation threshold of 0.003 vol% MWCNTs. The nanocomposites with self-segregated structures with 0.2 vol% MWCNTs achieved a high electrical conductivity of 0.003 S m -1 , whereas only 4.87 × 10 -10 S m -1 was achieved for the conventional samples with 0.2 vol% MWCNTs. The gauge factor GF of the self-segregated samples was 7.4-fold that of the conventional samples at 30% compression strain. Furthermore, the self-segregated samples also showed higher compression modulus and strength as compared to the conventional samples. These enhanced properties were attributed to the construction of 3D self-segregated structures, concentrated distribution of MWCNTs, and strong interfacial interaction between the segregated phase and the continuous phase with chemical bonds formed during the second curing process. These self-segregated structures provide a new insight into the fabrication of elastomers with high electrical conductivity and piezoresistive sensitivity for flexible force-sensitive materials.

Particle acceleration in the dynamic magnetotail: Orbits in self-consistent three-dimensional MHD fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Birn, Joachim; Hesse, Michael

1994-01-01

The acceleration of protons in a dynamically evolving magnetotail is investigated by tracing particles in the fields obtained from a three-dimensional resistive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation. The MHD simulation, representing plasmoid formation and ejection through a near-Earth reconnection process, leads to cross-tail electric fields of up to approximately 4 mV/m with integrated voltages across the tail of up to approximately 200 kV. Energization of particles takes place over a wide range along the tail, due to the large spatial extent of the increased electric field together with the finite cross-tail extent of the electric field region. Such accelerated particles appear earthward of the neutral line over a significant portion of the closed field line region inside of the separatrix, not just in the vicinity of the separatrix. Two different acceleration processes are identified: a 'quasi-potential' acceleration, due to particle motion in the direction of the cross-tail electric field, and a 'quasi-betatron' effect, which consists of multiple energy gains from repeated crossings of the acceleration region, mostly on Speiser-type orbits, in the spatially varying induced electric field. The major source region for accelerated particles in the hundreds of keV range is the central plasma sheet at the dawn flank outside the reconnection site. Since this source plasma is already hot and dense, its moderate energization by a factor of approximately 2 may be sufficient to explain the observed increases in the energetic particle fluxes. Particles from the tail are the source of beams at the plasma sheet/lobe boundary. The temporal increase in the energetic particle fluxes, estimated from the increase in energy gain, occurs on a fast timescale of a few minutes, coincident with a strong increase in B(sub z), despite the fact that the inner boundary ('injection boundary') of the distribution of energized particles is fairly smooth.

Growth of large-scale nanotwinned Cu nanowire arrays from anodic aluminum oxide membrane by electrochemical deposition process: controllable nanotwin density and growth orientation with enhanced electrical endurance performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, Tsung-Cheng; Lin, Yen-Miao; Tsai, Hung-Wei; Wang, Zhiming M.; Liao, Chien-Neng; Chueh, Yu-Lun

2014-06-01

Densely nanotwinned Cu nanowire (NW) arrays with an identical diameter of ~55 nm were fabricated by pulse electrochemical deposition at low temperature using anodic aluminum oxide as a template. Different growth orientations of nanotwinned Cu nanowire arrays were investigated. The endurance of the electrical current density before breakdown of the nanotwinned Cu NWs can reach up to 2.4 × 108 A cm-2. The formation of highly dense nanotwins is attributed to relaxation of coalescence induced stress and twin fault stacking when Cu NWs grow by two-dimensional kinetics. A mechanism based on the twinning structure effect on the electromigration was proposed to explain the improved electrical endurance of Cu. The result demonstrates that the formation of nanotwins into Cu NWs can effectively suppress the void growth, leading to extended life time for use in electronic devices.Densely nanotwinned Cu nanowire (NW) arrays with an identical diameter of ~55 nm were fabricated by pulse electrochemical deposition at low temperature using anodic aluminum oxide as a template. Different growth orientations of nanotwinned Cu nanowire arrays were investigated. The endurance of the electrical current density before breakdown of the nanotwinned Cu NWs can reach up to 2.4 × 108 A cm-2. The formation of highly dense nanotwins is attributed to relaxation of coalescence induced stress and twin fault stacking when Cu NWs grow by two-dimensional kinetics. A mechanism based on the twinning structure effect on the electromigration was proposed to explain the improved electrical endurance of Cu. The result demonstrates that the formation of nanotwins into Cu NWs can effectively suppress the void growth, leading to extended life time for use in electronic devices. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: X-ray diffraction spectra of Cu NWs grown by electrochemical deposition with a current density of 1.5 A cm-2 at -1 °C and room temperature; bright-field TEM images of Cu NWs deposited at -1 °C with a current density of 0.4, 0.8, 1.8, and 1.5 A cm-2, respectively; illustration of the effect of twin density on the MTTF of Cu NWs. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr06194a

Improving the Factor Structure of Psychological Scales: The Expanded Format as an Alternative to the Likert Scale Format

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhang, Xijuan; Savalei, Victoria

2016-01-01

Many psychological scales written in the Likert format include reverse worded (RW) items in order to control acquiescence bias. However, studies have shown that RW items often contaminate the factor structure of the scale by creating one or more method factors. The present study examines an alternative scale format, called the Expanded format,…

Human Health and Exposure to Electromagnetic Radiation

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-07-01

electromagnetic field exposures and cancer. Studies of electrical and electronic workers are suggestive of such a link, but are subject to the confounding factor ...associations between cancer and electrical installations 108 51 Factors associated with increased risk of childhood cancer in the Denver studies 109 52...It is important in epidemiological studies to make Arenuous efforts to adjust for possible confounding factors , many - in particular the early

Titanium hermetic seals

DOEpatents

Brow, Richard K.; Watkins, Randall D.

1995-07-04

Titanium is prenitrided by being heated in a nitrogen environment under conditions which give rise to the formation of a titanium-nitride surface layer on the titanium. Titanium thus prenitrided may be used in electrical components which are hermetically sealed using silicate glasses and standard glass sealing techniques. According to the method of the invention, alkali volatilization and formation of deleterious interfacial silicide are inhibited.

Titanium hermetic seals

DOEpatents

Brow, Richard K.; Watkins, Randall D.

1995-01-01

Titanium is prenitrided by being heated in a nitrogen environment under conditions which give rise to the formation of a titanium-nitride surface layer on the titanium. Titanium thus prenitrided may be used in electrical components which are hermetically sealed using silicate glasses and standard glass sealing techniques. According to the method of the invention, alkali volatilization and formation of deleterious interfacial silicide are inhibited.

Electromagnetic properties of material coated surfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beard, L.; Berrie, J.; Burkholder, R.; Dominek, A.; Walton, E.; Wang, N.

1989-01-01

The electromagnetic properties of material coated conducting surfaces were investigated. The coating geometries consist of uniform layers over a planar surface, irregularly shaped formations near edges and randomly positioned, electrically small, irregularly shaped formations over a surface. Techniques to measure the scattered field and constitutive parameters from these geometries were studied. The significance of the scattered field from these geometries warrants further study.

Effect of electrical polarization of hydroxyapatite ceramics on new bone formation.

PubMed

Itoh, S; Nakamura, S; Kobayashi, T; Shinomiya, K; Yamashita, K; Itoh, S

2006-03-01

Large surface charges can be induced on hydroxyapatite (HAp) ceramics by proton transport polarization, but this does not affect beta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) because of its low polarizability. We wished to examine differences in osteogenic cell activity and new bone growth between positively or negatively surface-charged HAp and HAp/TCP plates using a calvarial bone defect model. In the first group of rats, test pieces were placed with their positively charged surfaces face down on the dura mater. In the second group, test pieces were placed with their negatively charged surfaces face down on the dura mater. A third group received noncharged test pieces. Histological examination, including enzymatic staining for osteoblasts and osteoclasts, was carried out. While no bone formation was observed at the pericranium, direct bone formation on the cranial bone debris and new bone growth expanded from the margins of the sites of injury to bridge across both the positively and negatively charged surfaces of HAp and HAp/TCP plates occurred. Electrical polarization of implanted plates, including positive charge, led to enhanced osteoblast activity, though decreased osteoclast activity was seen on the positively charged plate surface. Thus, polarization of HAp ceramics may modulate new bone formation and resorption.

Earthquake clouds and physical mechanism of their formation.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doda, L.; Pulinets, S.

2006-12-01

The Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere (LAI) coupling model created recently permitted to explain some unknown phenomena observed around the time of strong earthquakes. One of them is formation of special shape clouds, usually presented as the thin linear structures. It was discovered that these clouds are associated with the active tectonic faults or with the tectonic plate borders. They repeat the fault shape but usually are turned in relation to the fault position. Their formation is explained by the anomalous vertical electric field generated in the vicinity of active tectonic structure due to air ionization produced by the radon increased emanation. The new formed ions through the hydration process do not recombine and growth with time due to increased water molecules attachment to the ion. Simultaneously they move up driven by the anomalous electric field and drift in the crossed ExB fields. At the higher altitudes the large ion clusters become the centers of condensation and the cloud formation. Examples for the recent major earthquakes (Sumatra 2004, Kashmir 2005, Java 2006) are presented. The size and the angle of the cloud rotation in relation to the fault position permit to estimate the magnitude of the impending earthquake.

Finite-difference modeling of the electroseismic logging in a fluid-saturated porous formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guan, Wei; Hu, Hengshan

2008-05-01

In a fluid-saturated porous medium, an electromagnetic (EM) wavefield induces an acoustic wavefield due to the electrokinetic effect. A potential geophysical application of this effect is electroseismic (ES) logging, in which the converted acoustic wavefield is received in a fluid-filled borehole to evaluate the parameters of the porous formation around the borehole. In this paper, a finite-difference scheme is proposed to model the ES logging responses to a vertical low frequency electric dipole along the borehole axis. The EM field excited by the electric dipole is calculated separately by finite-difference first, and is considered as a distributed exciting source term in a set of extended Biot's equations for the converted acoustic wavefield in the formation. This set of equations is solved by a modified finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithm that allows for the calculation of dynamic permeability so that it is not restricted to low-frequency poroelastic wave problems. The perfectly matched layer (PML) technique without splitting the fields is applied to truncate the computational region. The simulated ES logging waveforms approximately agree with those obtained by the analytical method. The FDTD algorithm applies also to acoustic logging simulation in porous formations.

Investigation of piezoresistive effect in p-channel metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors fabricated on circular silicon-on-insulator diaphragms using cost-effective minimal-fab process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yongxun; Tanaka, Hiroyuki; Umeyama, Norio; Koga, Kazuhiro; Khumpuang, Sommawan; Nagao, Masayoshi; Matsukawa, Takashi; Hara, Shiro

2018-06-01

P-channel metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (PMOSFETs) with the 〈110〉 or 〈100〉 channel direction have been successfully fabricated on circular silicon-on-insulator (SOI) diaphragms using a cost-effective minimal-fab process, and their electrical characteristics have been systematically investigated before and after the SOI diaphragm formation. It was found that almost the same subthreshold slope (S-slope) and threshold voltage (V t) are observed in the fabricated PMOSFETs before and after the SOI diaphragm formation, and they are independent of the channel direction. On the other hand, significant variations in drain current were observed in the fabricated PMOSFETs with the 〈110〉 channel direction after the SOI diaphragm formation owing to the residual mechanical stress-induced piezoresistive effect. It was also confirmed that electrical characteristics of the fabricated PMOSFETs with the 〈100〉 channel direction are almost the same before and after the SOI diaphragm formation, i.e., not sensitive to the mechanical stress. Moreover, the drain current variations at different directions of mechanical stress and current flow were systematically investigated and discussed.

Hierarchical structures of carbon nanotubes and arrays of chromium-capped silicon nanopillars: formation and electrical properties.

PubMed

Koch, Stefan; Joshi, Ravi K; Noyong, Michael; Timper, Jan; Schneider, Jörg J; Simon, Ulrich

2012-09-10

The formation of stochastically oriented carbon-nanotube networks on top of an array of free-standing chromium-capped silicon nanopillars is reported. The combination of nanosphere lithography and chemical vapor deposition enables the construction of nanostructures that exhibit a hierarchical sequence of structural sizes. Metallic chromium serves as an etching mask for Si-pillar formation and as a nucleation site for the formation of carbon nanotubes through the chemical vapor deposition of ethene, ethanol, and methane, respectively, thereby bridging individual pillars from top to top. Iron and cobalt were applied onto the chromium caps as catalysts for CNT growth and the influence of different carbon sources and different gas-flow rates were investigated. The carbon nanotubes were structurally characterized and their DC electrical properties were studied by in situ local- and ex situ macroscopic measurements, both of which reveal their semiconductor properties. This process demonstrates how carbon nanotubes can be integrated into Si-based semiconductors and, thus, this process may be used to form high-surface-area sensors or new porous catalyst supports with enhanced gas-permeation properties. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

On a chaotic potential at the surface of a compensated semiconductor under conditions of the self-assembly of electrically active defects

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

Bondarenko, V. B., E-mail: enter@spbstu.ru; Filimonov, A. V.

2015-09-15

Natural irregularities of the electric potential on the surface of a semiconductor under conditions of the partial self-assembly of electrically active defects, i.e., on the formation of donor–acceptor pairs in depletion layers, are studied. The amplitude and character of the spatial distribution of the chaotic potential on the surface of a semiconductor in the cases of localized and delocalized states are determined. The dependence of the amplitude of the chaotic potential on the degree of compensation of the semiconductor is obtained.

Effect of the local electric field on the formation of an ordered structure in porous anodic alumina

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lazarouk, S. K.; Katsuba, P. S.; Leshok, A. A.; Vysotskii, V. B.

2015-09-01

Experimental data and a model are presented, and the electric field that appears in porous alumina during electrochemical anodic oxidation of aluminum in electrolytes based on an aqueous solution of oxalic acid at a voltage of 90-250 V is calculated. It is found that the electric field in the layers with a porosity of 1-10% in growing alumina reaches 109-1010 V/m, which exceeds the electric strength of the material and causes microplasma patterns emitting visible light at the pore bottom, the self-organization of the structure of porous alumina, and the anisotropy of local porous anodizing. Moreover, other new effects are to be expected during aluminum anodizing under the conditions that ensure a high electric field inside the barrier layer of porous oxide.

Electric-field-induced association of colloidal particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fraden, Seth; Hurd, Alan J.; Meyer, Robert B.

1989-11-01

Dilute suspensions of micron diameter dielectric spheres confined to two dimensions are induced to aggregate linearly by application of an electric field. The growth of the average cluster size agrees well with the Smoluchowski equation, but the evolution of the measured cluster size distribution exhibits significant departures from theory at large times due to the formation of long linear clusters which effectively partition space into isolated one-dimensional strips.

Probe Beam Deflection Optical Imaging of Thermal and mechanical Phenomena Resulting from Nanosecond Electric Pulse (nsEP) Exposure In-Vitro

DTIC Science & Technology

of plasma membranes of eukaryotic cells in vitro and in vivo. The physical to biological driving mechanisms behind nanoporation still remain unclear...but could be a result of a multitude of stimuli, including mechanical (shockwaves, electrode formation), thermal, and electrical (ion transport...channel gating). Experimentally quantifying and characterizing mechanical fields with piezoelectric transducers proves difficult due to electromagnetic

Ontology for Life-Cycle Modeling of Electrical Distribution Systems: Application of Model View Definition Attributes

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-01

Building in- formation exchange (COBie), Building Information Modeling ( BIM ) 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF...to develop a life-cycle building model have resulted in the definition of a “core” building information model that contains general information de...develop an information -exchange Model View Definition (MVD) for building electrical systems. The objective of the current work was to document the

Energy balance and assessment of the pressure build-up around a bolt fastener due to sparking during a lightning impact

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teulet, Philippe; Billoux, Tommy; Cressault, Yann; Masquère, Mathieu; Gleizes, Alain; Revel, Ivan; Lepetit, Bruno; Peres, Gilles

2017-03-01

This work is devoted to the calculation of the energy balance associated with the formation of an electric arc between the bolt shank and an inner structural part of the fuselage during a lightning strike. Assessment of the pressure build-up in the confined volume around the bolt fastener has also been performed. This pressure rise comes from the temperature increase and from the mass density increase (melting and vaporisation of materials). Previous electrical measurements performed by Airbus Group during a lightning test campaign have been used to calculate the total available electrical energy. The energies necessary for melting and vaporisation of bolt and rib are derived from thermodynamic properties of aluminium and titanium. A numerical code has been developed to determine the chemical composition (under the local thermodynamic equilibrium [LTE] assumption) and the internal energy of the plasma for air-Al/Ti mixtures. Plasma and material radiation losses and heat conduction losses have also been evaluated. Finally, an analytical model has been implemented to determine the overpressure as a function of the deposited electrical energy, the energy involved in the arc formation, the energy necessary for melting and the plasma composition and mass density. With this approach, maximum pressure values are in the range 200-330 bars.

SEM viewing of gypsiferous material and study of their influence on electrical resistivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dafalla, M.; Fouzan, F. Al

2012-04-01

The gypsum rich material is often linked to the cavity formation due to the high solubility of cal-cium carbonate in the presence of acidic media. This work is dedicated to a close-up look to the structure of materials rich of gypsum and material of less or traces of sulfate ions. Electrical resistivity measurements were conducted along extended lines on sections involving cavities and the resulting profiles were examined for any changes. Forms and features of gypsum and minerals containing sulfates were studied and compared to sam-ples tested using SEM (scanning electron microscope). The chemical analyses (EDAX) using electron beam was carried out and the elements present within these samples were established. Quantitative chemical testing for some parameters including sulfate ions was carried out. Structural forms variation and changes are studied in view of the chemical composition. The electrical resistivity was measured using Syscal R1 electerical resis-tivity equipment for several spots near surface. Statistical correlations between sulfate ions content and elec-trical resistivity, for near surface soils, is presented. This study is aiming at utilizing the geophysical testing methods of sulfate rich soils and predicting future cavity formation in areas of high risk to cavities due to chemical weathering.

Surface Charge Effects on the Electro-Orientation of Insulating Nanotubes in Aqueous Electrolytes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cetindag, Semih; Tiwari, Bishnu; Zhang, Dongyan; Yap, Yoke Khin; Kim, Sangil; Shan, Jerry W.

2017-11-01

While the alignment of electrically conductive nanowires and nanotubes by electric fields in liquid solution has been well studied, much less is known about the electro-orientation of insulating 1D particles, such as boron-nitride nanotubes (BNNTs). Here, we demonstrate for the first time the electro-orientation of individual insulating BNNTs in aqueous KCl solutions under AC fields. Comparison to theory indicates that the observed frequency response is not related to the crossover for Maxwell-Wagner interfacial polarization. Instead, the cross-over frequency in the low-frequency regime scales as the square root of solution conductivity, indicating that alignment is associated with the formation and motion of an electrical double layer (EDL), much like induced-charge electro-osmosis for a conducting particle. However, the mechanism for the formation of the EDL is presumably different for insulating particles like BNNTs as compared to conductors. By varying the surface charge of the particle by changing pH, we show that the alignment rate increases with increasing surface charge, and is likely a result of counter-ion migration and EDL polarization under the influence of applied electric field. Thus, particle surface charge (large Dukhin number) is believed to play a vital role in the electro-orientation of insulating particles in aqueous solutions. NSF CBET-1604931 and NSF DMR-1261910.

Influence of the Convection Electric Field Models on Predicted Plasmapause Positions During Magnetic Storms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pierrard, V.; Khazanov, G.; Cabrera, J.; Lemaire, J.

2007-01-01

In the present work, we determine how three well documented models of the magnetospheric electric field, and two different mechanisms proposed for the formation of the plasmapause influence the radial distance, the shape and the evolution of the plasmapause during the geomagnetic storms of 28 October 2001 and of 17 April 2002. The convection electric field models considered are: Mcllwain's E51) electric field model, Volland-Stern's model and Weimer's statistical model compiled from low-Earth orbit satellite data. The mechanisms for the formation of the plasmapause to be tested are: (i) the MHD theory where the plasmapause should correspond to the last-closed- equipotential (LCE) or last-closed-streamline (LCS), if the E-field distribution is stationary or time-dependent respectively; (ii) the interchange mechanism where the plasmapause corresponds to streamlines tangent to a Zero-Parallel-Force surface where the field-aligned plasma distribution becomes convectively unstable during enhancements of the E-field intensity in the nightside local time sector. The results of the different time dependent simulations are compared with concomitant EUV observations when available. The plasmatails or plumes observed after both selected geomagnetic storms are predicted in all simulations and for all E-field models. However, their shapes are quite different depending on the E-field models and the mechanisms that are used. Despite the partial success of the simulations to reproduce plumes during magnetic storms and substorms, there remains a long way to go before the detailed structures observed in the EUV observations during periods of geomagnetic activity can be accounted for very precisely by the existing E-field models. Furthermore, it cannot be excluded that the mechanisms currently identified to explain the formation of "Carpenter's knee" during substorm events, will', have to be revised or complemented in the cases of geomagnetic storms.

Conductive network formation of carbon nanotubes in elastic polymer microfibers and its effect on the electrical conductance: Experiment and simulation

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

Cho, Hyun Woo; Kim, Jeongmin; Sung, Bong June, E-mail: jjpark@chonnam.ac.kr, E-mail: bjsung@sogang.ac.kr

We investigate how the electrical conductance of microfibers (made of polymers and conductive nanofillers) decreases upon uniaxial deformation by performing both experiments and simulations. Even though various elastic conductors have been developed due to promising applications for deformable electronic devices, the mechanism at a molecular level for electrical conductance change has remained elusive. Previous studies proposed that the decrease in electrical conductance would result from changes in either distances or contact numbers between conductive fillers. In this work, we prepare microfibers of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)/polyvinyl alcohol composites and investigate the electrical conductance and the orientation of SWCNTs uponmore » uniaxial deformation. We also perform extensive Monte Carlo simulations, which reproduce experimental results for the relative decrease in conductance and the SWCNTs orientation. We investigate the electrical networks of SWCNTs in microfibers and find that the decrease in the electrical conductance upon uniaxial deformation should be attributed to a subtle change in the topological structure of the electrical network.« less

Water-Mediated Photochemical Treatments for Low-Temperature Passivation of Metal-Oxide Thin-Film Transistors.

PubMed

Heo, Jae Sang; Jo, Jeong-Wan; Kang, Jingu; Jeong, Chan-Yong; Jeong, Hu Young; Kim, Sung Kyu; Kim, Kwanpyo; Kwon, Hyuck-In; Kim, Jaekyun; Kim, Yong-Hoon; Kim, Myung-Gil; Park, Sung Kyu

2016-04-27

The low-temperature electrical passivation of an amorphous oxide semiconductor (AOS) thin-film transistor (TFT) is achieved by a deep ultraviolet (DUV) light irradiation-water treatment-DUV irradiation (DWD) method. The water treatment of the first DUV-annealed amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (a-IGZO) thin film is likely to induce the preferred adsorption of water molecules at the oxygen vacancies and leads to subsequent hydroxide formation in the bulk a-IGZO films. Although the water treatment initially degraded the electrical performance of the a-IGZO TFTs, the second DUV irradiation on the water-treated devices may enable a more complete metal-oxygen-metal lattice formation while maintaining low oxygen vacancies in the oxide films. Overall, the stable and dense metal-oxygen-metal (M-O-M) network formation could be easily achieved at low temperatures (below 150 °C). The successful passivation of structural imperfections in the a-IGZO TFTs, such as hydroxyl group (OH-) and oxygen vacancies, mainly results in the enhanced electrical performances of the DWD-processed a-IGZO TFTs (on/off current ratio of 8.65 × 10(9), subthreshold slope of 0.16 V/decade, an average mobility of >6.94 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1), and a bias stability of ΔVTH < 2.5 V), which show more than a 30% improvement over the simple DUV-treated a-IGZO TFTs.

Analysis on Potential of Electric Energy Market based on Large Industrial Consumer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Jingyi; Zhu, Xinzhi; Yang, Shuo; Xia, Huaijian; Yang, Di; Li, Hao; Lin, Haiying

2018-01-01

The implementation of electric energy substitution by enterprises plays an important role in promoting the development of energy conservation and emission reduction in china. In order to explore alternative energy potential of industrial enterprises, to simulate and analyze the process of industrial enterprises, identify high energy consumption process and equipment, give priority to alternative energy technologies, and determine the enterprise electric energy substitution potential predictive value, this paper constructs the evaluation model of the influence factors of the electric energy substitution potential of industrial enterprises, and uses the combined weight method to determine the weight value of the evaluation factors to calculate the target value of the electric energy substitution potential. Taking the iron and steel industry as an example, this method is used to excavate the potential. The results show that the method can effectively tap the potential of the electric power industry

Simulation of fatigue damage in ferroelectric polycrystals under mechanical/electrical loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozinov, S.; Kuna, M.

2018-07-01

The reliability of smart-structures made of ferroelectric ceramics is essentially reduced by the formation of cracks under the action of external electrical and/or mechanical loading. In the current research a numerical model for low-cycle fatigue in ferroelectric mesostructures is proposed. In the finite element simulations a combination of two user element routines is utilized. The first one is used to model a micromechanical ferroelectric domain switching behavior inside the grains. The second one is used to simulate fatigue damage of grain boundaries by a cohesive zone model (EMCCZM) based on an electromechanical cyclic traction-separation law (TSL). For numerical simulations a scanning electron microscope image of the ceramic's grain structure was digitalized and meshed. The response of this mesostructure to cyclic electrical or mechanical loading is systematically analyzed. As a result of the simulations, the distribution of electric potential, field, displacement and polarization as well as mechanical stresses and deformations inside the grains are obtained. At the grain boundaries, the formation and evolution of damage are analyzed until final failure and induced degradation of electric permittivity. It is found that the proposed model correctly mimics polycrystalline behavior during poling processes and progressive damage under cyclic electromechanical loading. To the authors' knowledge, it is the first model and numerical analysis of ferroelectric polycrystals taking into account both domain reorientation and cohesive modeling of intergranular fracture. It can help to understand failure mechanisms taking place in ferroelectrics during fatigue processes.

Power factor regulation for household usage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daud, Nik Ghazali Nik; Hashim, Fakroul Ridzuan; Tarmizi, Muhammad Haziq Ahmad

2018-02-01

Power factor regulator technology has recently drawn attention to the consumer and to power generation company in order for consumers to use electricity efficiently. Controlling of power factor for efficient usage can reduce the production of power in fulfilment demands hence reducing the greenhouse effect. This paper presents the design method of power factor controller for household usage. There are several methods to improve the power factor. The power factor controller used by this method is by using capacitors. Total harmonic distortion also has become a major problem for the reliability of the electrical appliances and techniques to control it will be discussed.

Electric dipole moment of magnetoexciton in concentric quantum rings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

García, L. F.; Mikhailov, I. D.; Revinova, S. Yu

2017-12-01

We study properties of exciton in a weakly coupled concentric quantum rings, penetrated by an axially directed magnetic flux and subjected to an electric field in the ring’s plane. To this end, we adopt a simple model of quasi-one-dimensional rotator, for which the wave functions and the corresponding energies we found by using the double Fourier series expansion method. Revealed multiple intersections of the energy levels provide conditions for abrupt changes of the radial and the angular quantum numbers, making possible the tunnelling of carriers between rings and allowing the formation of a permanent large dipole moment. We show that the electric and magnetic polarizability of concentric quantum rings with a trapped exciton are very sensible to external electric and magnetic fields.

Electrically tunable negative refraction in core/shell-structured nanorod fluids.

PubMed

Su, Zhaoxian; Yin, Jianbo; Guan, Yanqing; Zhao, Xiaopeng

2014-10-21

We theoretically investigate optical refraction behavior in a fluid system which contains silica-coated gold nanorods dispersed in silicone oil under an external electric field. Because of the formation of a chain-like or lattice-like structure of dispersed nanorods along the electric field, the fluid shows a hyperbolic equifrequency contour characteristic and, as a result, all-angle broadband optical negative refraction for transverse magnetic wave propagation can be realized. We calculate the effective permittivity tensor of the fluid and verify the analysis using finite element simulations. We also find that the negative refractive index can vary with the electric field strength and external field distribution. Under a non-uniform external field, the gradient refraction behavior can be realized.

Temperature dependent electrical properties of polyaniline film grown on paper through aniline vapor polymerization

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

Deb, K.; Bera, A.; Saha, B., E-mail: biswajit.physics@gmail.com

2016-05-23

Polyaniline thin film has been prepared on paper by aniline vapor deposition technique. Ferric chloride has been used as polymerizing agent in this approach. The prepared films were studied through electrical resistivity and optical properties measurements. The electrical resistivity of the polyaniline film shows significant temperature dependence. The resistance sharply falls with the increase in temperature. The optical absorbance measurements shows characteristics absorbance peak indicating the formation of conducting emeraldine salt form of polyaniline. The optical energy band gap of the film was calculated from the transmittance spectra. The optical energy band gap and electrical conductivity of the polyaniline filmmore » is well suited for their applications in electronic devices.« less

Thermal and electrical contact conductance studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vansciver, S. W.; Nilles, M.

1985-01-01

Prediction of electrical and thermal contact resistance for pressed, nominally flat contacts is complicated by the large number of variables which influence contact formation. This is reflected in experimental results as a wide variation in contact resistances, spanning up to six orders of magnitude. A series of experiments were performed to observe the effects of oxidation and surface roughness on contact resistance. Electrical contact resistance and thermal contact conductance from 4 to 290 K on OFHC Cu contacts are reported. Electrical contact resistance was measured with a 4-wire DC technique. Thermal contact conductance was determined by steady-state longitudinal heat flow. Corrections for the bulk contribution ot the overall measured resistance were made, with the remaining resistance due solely to the presence of the contact.

Electrical properties of granite with implications for the lower crust.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Olhoeft, G.R.

1981-01-01

The electrical properties of granite appear to be dominantly controlled by the amount of free water in the granite and by temperature. Minor contributions to the electrical properties are provided by hydrostatic and lithostatic pressure, structurally bound water, oxygen fugacity, and other parameters. The effect of sulphur fugacity may be important but is experimentally unconfirmed. In addition to changing the magnitude of electrical properties, the amount and chemistry of water in granite significantly changes the temperature dependence of the electrical properties. With increasing temperature, changes in water content retain large, but lessened, effects on electrical properties. Near room temperature, a monolayer of water will decrease the electrical resistivity by an order of magnitude. Several weight-percent water may decrease the electrical resistivity by as much as nine orders of magnitude and decrease the thermal activation energy by a factor of five. At elevated temperatures just below granitic melting, a few weight-percent water may still decrease the resistivity by as much as 3 orders of magnitude and the activation energy by a factor of two.-Author

Cytokines and growth factors which regulate bone cell function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seino, Yoshiki

Everybody knows that growth factors are most important in making bone. Hormones enhance bone formation from a long distance. Growth factors promote bone formation as an autocrine or paracrine factor in nearby bone. BMP-2 through BMP-8 are in the TGF-β family. BMP makes bone by enchondral ossification. In bone, IGF-II is most abundant, second, TGF-β, and third IGF-I. TGF-β enhances bone formation mainly by intramembranous ossification in vivo. TGF-β affects both cell proliferation and differentiation, however, TGF-β mainly enhances bone formation by intramembranous ossification. Interestingly, TGF-β is increased by estrogen(E 2), androgen, vitamin D, TGF-β and FGF. IGF-I and IGF-II also enhance bone formation. At present it remains unclear why IGF-I is more active in bone formation than IGF-II, although IGF-II is more abundant in bone compared to IGF-I. However, if only type I receptor signal transduction promotes bone formation, the strong activity of IGF-I in bone formation is understandable. GH, PTH and E 2 promotes IGF-I production. Recent data suggest that hormones containing vitamin D or E 2 enhance bone formation through growth factors. Therefore, growth factors are the key to clarifying the mechanism of bone formation.

Determinants of Electricity Consumption Intensity in China: Analysis of Cities at Subprovince and Prefecture Levels in 2009

PubMed Central

Xia, X. H.; Hu, Yi

2012-01-01

China has experienced great social and economic vicissitudes that caused the vast complexity and uncertainty for electricity consumption. This paper attempts to identify the main determinants of the electricity consumption intensity by using the data from Chinese cities at subprovince and prefecture levels in 2009. The key category factors, including urban morphology, industrial structure, regulation context, urbanization degree, price, natural condition, and resource endowment, are abstracted and the influence of these determinants is evaluated by adopting the finite mixture models. The variation of each determinant across regions, the comparative weights of all the factors, and the detailed classifications of the cities are reported for facilitating the understanding of electricity consumption in China. The corresponding policies for electricity administration are addressed as well. PMID:22927781

Mechanisms contributing to cluster formation in the inferior olivary nucleus in brainstem slices from postnatal mice

PubMed Central

Kølvraa, Mathias; Müller, Felix C; Jahnsen, Henrik; Rekling, Jens C

2014-01-01

Abstract The inferior olivary nucleus (IO) in in vitro slices from postnatal mice (P5.5–P15.5) spontaneously generates clusters of neurons with synchronous calcium transients, and intracellular recordings from IO neurons suggest that electrical coupling between neighbouring IO neurons may serve as a synchronizing mechanism. Here, we studied the cluster-forming mechanism and find that clusters overlap extensively with an overlap distribution that resembles the distribution for a random overlap model. The average somatodendritic field size of single curly IO neurons was ∼6400 μm2, which is slightly smaller than the average IO cluster size. Eighty-seven neurons with overlapping dendrites were estimated to be contained in the principal olive mean cluster size, and about six non-overlapping curly IO neurons could be contained within the largest clusters. Clusters could also be induced by iontophoresis with glutamate. Induced clusters were inhibited by tetrodotoxin, carbenoxelone and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid, suggesting that sodium action potentials and electrical coupling are involved in glutamate-induced cluster formation, which could also be induced by activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors. Spikelets and a small transient depolarizing response were observed during glutamate-induced cluster formation. Calcium transients spread with decreasing velocity during cluster formation, and somatic action potentials and cluster formation are accompanied by large dendritic calcium transients. In conclusion, cluster formation depends on gap junctions, sodium action potentials and spontaneous clusters occur randomly throughout the IO. The relative slow signal spread during cluster formation, combined with a strong dendritic influx of calcium, may signify that active dendritic properties contribute to cluster formation. PMID:24042500

Effects of borehole design on complex electrical resistivity measurements: laboratory validation and numerical experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Treichel, A.; Huisman, J. A.; Zhao, Y.; Zimmermann, E.; Esser, O.; Kemna, A.; Vereecken, H.

2012-12-01

Geophysical measurements within a borehole are typically affected by the presence of the borehole. The focus of the current study is to quantify the effect of borehole design on broadband electrical impedance tomography (EIT) measurements within boreholes. Previous studies have shown that effects on the real part of the electrical resistivity are largest for boreholes with large diameters and for materials with a large formation factor. However, these studies have not considered the effect of the well casing and the filter gravel on the measurement of the real part of the electrical resistivity. In addition, the effect of borehole design on the imaginary part of the electrical resistivity has not been investigated yet. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of borehole design on the complex electrical resistivity using laboratory measurements and numerical simulations. In order to do so, we developed a high resolution two dimensional axisymmetric finite element model (FE) that enables us to simulate the effects of several key borehole design parameters (e.g. borehole diameter, thickness of PVC well casing) on the measurement process. For the material surrounding the borehole, realistic values for complex resistivity were obtained from a database of laboratory measurements of complex resistivity from the test site Krauthausen (Germany). The slotted PVC well casing is represented by an effective resistivity calculated from the water-filled slot volume and the PVC volume. Measurements with and without PVC well casing were made with a four-electrode EIT logging tool in a water-filled rain barrel. The initial comparison for the case that the logging tool was inserted in the PVC well casing showed a considerable mismatch between measured and modeled values. It was required to consider a complete electrode model instead of point electrodes to remove this mismatch. This validated model was used to investigate in detail how complex resistivity measurements with different electrode configurations are affected by borehole design. Finally, the plausibility of our results was verified by comparing the simulation results with borehole EIT measurements made at the test site Krauthausen.

Synthesis of graphene nanomaterials and their application in electrochemical energy storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiong, Guoping

The need to store and use energy on diverse scales in a modern technological society necessitates the design of large and small energy systems, among which electrical energy storage systems such as batteries and capacitors have attracted much interest in the past several decades. Supercapacitors, also known as ultracapacitors, or electrochemical capacitors, with fast power delivery and long cycle life are complementing or even replacing batteries in many applications. The rapid development of miniaturized electronic devices has led to a growing need for rechargeable micro-power sources with high performance. Among different sources, electrochemical micro-capacitors or micro-supercapacitors provide higher power density than their counterparts and are gaining increased interest from the research and engineering communities. Rechargeable Li ion batteries with high energy and power density, long cycling life, high charge-discharge rate (1C - 3C) and safe operation are in high demand as power sources and power backup for hybrid electric vehicles and other applications. In the present work, graphene-based graphene materials have been designed and synthesized for electrochemical energy storage applications, e.g., conventional supercapacitors (macro-supercapacitors), microsupercapacitors and lithium ion batteries. Factors influencing the formation and structure of graphitic petals grown by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition on oxidized silicon substrates were investigated through process variation and materials analysis. Insights gained into the growth mechanism of these graphitic petals suggest a simple scribing method can be used to control both the location and formation of petals on flat Si substrates. Transitional metal oxides and conducting polymers have been coated on the graphitic petal-based electrodes by facile chemical methods for multifunctional energy storage applications. Detailed electrochemical characterization (e.g., cyclic voltammetry and constant galvanostatic charge/discharge) has been carried out to evaluate the performance of electrodes.

Photon-induced thermoelectric voltages in complex oxide superlattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Habermeier, Hanns-Ulrich; Heinze, Stefan

2014-03-01

Heterostructures composed of transition metal oxides with strong electron correlation offer a unique opportunity to design new artificial materials whose electrical, magnetic and optical properties can be manipulated by tailoring the occupation of the 3d-orbitals of the transition metal in the compound. This possibility is an implication of symmetry constraints at interfaces resulting in a delicate interplay of spin-, charge-, orbital and lattice interactions of electrons. In turn, the material properties are sensitive to external perturbations such as strain, electrical and magnetic fields and photon flux as well. In this contribution we use photon flux exposure to explore the consequences of superlattice formation of YBa2Cu3O7-δ/La 2/3Ca1/3MnO3 on the entropy transport, especially on the Seebeck coefficient. In addition to the investigation of the fundamental aspects of entropy transport in oxide superlattices, the driving force for this work is the development of optical sensing devices. The method applied is based on the off-diagonal thermoelectric effect (ODTE) appearing in films deposited on substrates with a vicinal cut. This well-known principle serves as a technique to investigate the anisotropic transport properties and the components of the Seebeck tensor in these superlattices. It could be shown that the normalized ODTE signals scale linearly with the number of interfaces in the structures. We observed an enhancement of the ODTE signals by a factor of four due to superlattice formation. The results are discussed with respect to cross-plane coherent backscattering of phonon waves at the superlattice interfaces and the thermal boundary resistance at the YBa2Cu3O7-δ/La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 interfaces.

Electrical Injuries

MedlinePlus

... long you were exposed. Other factors include how healthy you are, and how quickly you get treatment. Causes of electrical injuries include Lightning strikes Faulty electrical appliances Work-related exposures Contact with household wiring or power lines Accidents in small children, when they bite ...

In Situ Potentiodynamic Analysis of the Electrolyte/Silicon Electrodes Interface Reactions - A Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy Study

DOE PAGES

Horowitz, Yonatan; Han, Hui-Ling; Ross, Philip N.; ...

2015-12-11

The key factor in long-term use of batteries is the formation of an electrically insulating solid layer that allows lithium ion transport but stops further electrolyte redox reactions on the electrode surface, hence solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). In this paper, we have studied a common electrolyte, 1.0 M LiPF 6/ethylene carbonate (EC)/diethyl carbonate (DEC), reduction products on crystalline silicon (Si) electrodes in a lithium (Li) half-cell system under reaction conditions. We employed in situ sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG-VS) with interface sensitivity in order to probe the molecular composition of the SEI surface species under various applied potentials wheremore » electrolyte reduction is expected. We found that, with a Si(100)-hydrogen terminated wafer, a Si-ethoxy (Si-OC 2H 5) surface intermediate forms due to DEC decomposition. Our results suggest that the SEI surface composition varies depending on the termination of Si surface, i.e., the acidity of the Si surface. We provide the evidence of specific chemical composition of the SEI on the anode surface under reaction conditions. This supports an electrochemical electrolyte reduction mechanism in which the reduction of the DEC molecule to an ethoxy moiety plays a key role. Finally, these findings shed new light on the formation mechanism of SEI on Si anodes in particular and on SEI formation in general.« less

Bluetongue virus infection alters the impedance of monolayers of bovine endothelial cells as a result of cell death.

PubMed

Drew, Clifton P; Gardner, Ian A; Mayo, Christie E; Matsuo, Eiko; Roy, Polly; MacLachlan, N James

2010-07-01

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is the cause of bluetongue, an emerging, arthropod-transmitted disease of ungulates. Bluetongue is characterized by vascular injury with hemorrhage, tissue infarction and widespread edema, lesions that are consistent with those of the so-called viral hemorrhagic fevers. To further investigate the pathogenesis of vascular injury in bluetongue, we utilized an electrical impedance assay and immunofluorescence staining to compare the effects of BTV infection on cultured bovine endothelial cells (bPAEC) with those of inducers of cell death (Triton X-100) and interendothelial gap formation (tissue necrosis factor [TNF]). The data confirm that the adherens junctions of BTV-infected bPAECs remained intact until 24h post-infection, and that loss of monolayer impedance precisely coincided with onset of virus-induced cell death. In contrast, recombinant bovine TNF-alpha caused rapid loss of bPAEC monolayer impedance that was associated with interendothelial gap formation and redistribution of VE-cadherin, but without early cell death. The data from these in vitro studies are consistent with a pathogenesis of bluetongue that involves virus-induced vascular injury leading to thrombosis, hemorrhage and tissue necrosis. However, the contribution of cytokine-induced interendothelial gap formation with subsequent edema and hypovolemic shock contributes to the pathogenesis of bluetongue remains to be fully characterized. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Experimental characterization of plasma formation and shockwave propagation induced by high power pulsed underwater electrical discharge.

PubMed

Claverie, A; Deroy, J; Boustie, M; Avrillaud, G; Chuvatin, A; Mazanchenko, E; Demol, G; Dramane, B

2014-06-01

High power pulsed electrical discharges into liquids are investigated for new industrial applications based on the efficiency of controlled shock waves. We present here new experimental data obtained by combination of detailed high speed imaging equipments. It allows the visualization of the very first instants of plasma discharge formation, and then the pulsations of the gaseous bubble with an accurate timing of events. The time history of the expansion/compression of this bubble leads to an estimation of the energy effectively transferred to water during the discharge. Finally, the consecutive shock generation driven by this pulsating bubble is optically monitored by shadowgraphs and schlieren setup. These data provide essential information about the geometrical pattern and chronometry associated with the shock wave generation and propagation.

Switchable diode effect in oxygen vacancy-modulated SrTiO3 single crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Xinqiang; Shuai, Yao; Wu, Chuangui; Luo, Wenbo; Sun, Xiangyu; Zeng, Huizhong; Bai, Xiaoyuan; Gong, Chaoguan; Jian, Ke; Zhang, Lu; Guo, Hongliang; Tian, Benlang; Zhang, Wanli

2017-09-01

SrTiO3 (STO) single crystal wafer was annealed in vacuum, and co-planar metal-insulator-metal structure of Pt/Ti/STO/Ti/Pt were formed by sputtering Pt/Ti electrodes onto the surface of STO after annealing. The forming-free resistive switching behavior with self-compliance property was observed in the sample. The sample showed switchable diode effect, which is explained by a simple model that redistribution of oxygen vacancies (OVs) under the external electric field results in the formation of n-n+ junction or n+-n junction (n donated n-type semiconductor; n+ donated heavily doped n-type semiconductor). The self-compliance property is also interpreted by the formation of n-n+/n+-n junction caused by the migration of the OVs under the electric field.