Multispectral near-IR reflectance imaging of simulated early occlusal lesions: Variation of lesion contrast with lesion depth and severity

PubMed Central

Simon, Jacob C.; Chan, Kenneth H.; Darling, Cynthia L.; Fried, Daniel

2014-01-01

Background and Objectives Early demineralization appears with high contrast at near-IR wavelengths due to a ten to twenty fold difference in the magnitude of light scattering between sound and demineralized enamel. Water absorption in the near-IR has a significant effect on the lesion contrast and the highest contrast has been measured in spectral regions with higher water absorption. The purpose of this study was to determine how the lesion contrast changes with lesion severity and depth for different spectral regions in the near-IR and compare that range of contrast with visible reflectance and fluorescence. Materials and Methods Forty-four human molars were used in this in vitro study. Teeth were painted with an acid-resistant varnish, leaving a 4×4 mm window on the occlusal surface of each tooth exposed for demineralization. Artificial lesions were produced in the unprotected windows after 12–48 hr exposure to a demineralizing solution at pH-4.5. Near-IR reflectance images were acquired over several near-IR spectral distributions, visible light reflectance, and fluorescence with 405-nm excitation and detection at wavelengths greater than 500-nm. Crossed polarizers were used for reflectance measurements to reduce interference from specular reflectance. Cross polarization optical coherence tomography (CP-OCT) was used to non-destructively assess the depth and severity of demineralization in each sample window. Matching two dimensional CP-OCT images of the lesion depth and integrated reflectivity were compared with the reflectance and fluorescence images to determine how accurately the variation in the lesion contrast represents the variation in the lesion severity. Results Artificial lesions appear more uniform on tooth surfaces exposed to an acid challenge at visible wavelengths than they do in the near-IR. Measurements of the lesion depth and severity using CP-OCT show that the lesion severity varies markedly across the sample windows and that the lesion contrast in the visible does not accurately reflect the large variation in the lesion severity. Reflectance measurements at certain near-IR wavelengths more accurately reflect variation in the depth and severity of the lesions. Conclusion The results of the study suggest that near-IR reflectance measurements at longer wavelengths coincident with higher water absorption are better suited for imaging early caries lesions. PMID:24375543

An examination of a modified Yo-Yo test to measure intermittent running performance in rugby players.

PubMed

Dobbin, Nick; Moss, Samantha Louise; Highton, Jamie; Twist, Craig

2018-06-17

This study examined how starting each shuttle in the prone position altered the internal, external and perceptual responses to the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1). Using a randomized crossover design, 17 male rugby players completed the Yo-Yo IR1 and prone Yo-Yo IR1 on two separate occasions. External loads (via microtechnology), [Formula: see text], heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured at 160, 280 and 440 m (sub-maximal) and when the test was terminated (peak). The pre-to-post change in blood lactate concentration (Δ[La] b ) was determined for both tests. All data were analysed using effect sizes (ES) and magnitude-based inferences. Between-trial differences (ES ± 90% CL) indicated that total distance was most likely lower (-1.87 ± 0.19), whereas other measures of peak external load were likely to very likely higher during the prone Yo-Yo IR1 (0.62-1.80). Sub-maximal RPE was likely to most likely higher (0.40-0.96) and peak RPE very likely higher (0.63 ± 0.41) in the prone Yo-Yo IR1. The change in [La] b was likely higher after the prone Yo-Yo IR1. Mean HR was possibly lower at 440 m (-0.25 ± 0.29) as was peak HR (-0.26 ± 0.25) in the prone Yo-Yo IR1. [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] were likely to very likely higher at 280 and 440 m (ES = 0.36-1.22), while peak values were possibly to likely higher (ES = 0.23-0.37) in the prone Yo-Yo IR1. Adopting a prone position during the Yo-Yo IR1 increases the internal, external and perceptual responses, placing greater emphasis on metabolically demanding actions typical of rugby.

Shoulder-Rotator Strength, Range of Motion, and Acromiohumeral Distance in Asymptomatic Adolescent Volleyball Attackers

PubMed Central

Harput, Gulcan; Guney, Hande; Toprak, Ugur; Kaya, Tunca; Colakoglu, Fatma Filiz; Baltaci, Gul

2016-01-01

Context: Sport-specific adaptations at the glenohumeral joint could occur in adolescent athletes because they start participating in high-performance sports in early childhood. Objective: To investigate shoulder-rotator strength, internal-rotation (IR) and external-rotation (ER) range of motion (ROM), and acromiohumeral distance (AHD) in asymptomatic adolescent volleyball attackers to determine if they have risk factors for injury. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: University laboratory. Participants: Thirty-nine adolescent high school-aged volleyball attackers (22 boys, 17 girls; age = 16.0 ± 1.4 years, height = 179.2 ± 9.0 cm, mass = 67.1 ± 10.9 kg, body mass index = 20.7 ± 2.6 kg/m2). Main Outcome Measure(s): Shoulder IR and ER ROM, total-rotation ROM, glenohumeral IR deficit, AHD, and concentric and eccentric strength of the shoulder internal and external rotators were tested bilaterally. Results: External-rotation ROM was greater (t38 = 4.92, P < .001), but IR ROM (t38 = −8.61, P < .001) and total ROM (t38 = −3.55, P = .01) were less in the dominant shoulder, and 15 athletes had a glenohumeral IR deficit (IR ROM loss > 18°). We observed greater concentric internal-rotator (t38 = 2.89, P = .006) and eccentric external-rotator (t38 = 2.65, P = .01) strength in the dominant than in the nondominant shoulder. The AHD was less in the dominant shoulder (t38 = −3.60, P < .001). Conclusions: Adolescent volleyball attackers demonstrated decreased IR ROM, total ROM, and AHD and increased ER ROM in their dominant shoulder. Therefore, routine screening of adolescent athletes and designing training programs for hazardous adaptive changes could be important in preventing shoulder injuries. PMID:27813683

Shoulder-Rotator Strength, Range of Motion, and Acromiohumeral Distance in Asymptomatic Adolescent Volleyball Attackers.

PubMed

Harput, Gulcan; Guney, Hande; Toprak, Ugur; Kaya, Tunca; Colakoglu, Fatma Filiz; Baltaci, Gul

2016-09-01

Sport-specific adaptations at the glenohumeral joint could occur in adolescent athletes because they start participating in high-performance sports in early childhood. To investigate shoulder-rotator strength, internal-rotation (IR) and external-rotation (ER) range of motion (ROM), and acromiohumeral distance (AHD) in asymptomatic adolescent volleyball attackers to determine if they have risk factors for injury. Cross-sectional study. University laboratory. Thirty-nine adolescent high school-aged volleyball attackers (22 boys, 17 girls; age = 16.0 ± 1.4 years, height = 179.2 ± 9.0 cm, mass = 67.1 ± 10.9 kg, body mass index = 20.7 ± 2.6 kg/m 2 ). Shoulder IR and ER ROM, total-rotation ROM, glenohumeral IR deficit, AHD, and concentric and eccentric strength of the shoulder internal and external rotators were tested bilaterally. External-rotation ROM was greater (t 38 = 4.92, P < .001), but IR ROM (t 38 = -8.61, P < .001) and total ROM (t 38 = -3.55, P = .01) were less in the dominant shoulder, and 15 athletes had a glenohumeral IR deficit (IR ROM loss > 18°). We observed greater concentric internal-rotator (t 38 = 2.89, P = .006) and eccentric external-rotator (t 38 = 2.65, P = .01) strength in the dominant than in the nondominant shoulder. The AHD was less in the dominant shoulder (t 38 = -3.60, P < .001). Adolescent volleyball attackers demonstrated decreased IR ROM, total ROM, and AHD and increased ER ROM in their dominant shoulder. Therefore, routine screening of adolescent athletes and designing training programs for hazardous adaptive changes could be important in preventing shoulder injuries.

Infrared reflectometry of skin: Analysis of backscattered light from different skin layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pleitez, Miguel A.; Hertzberg, Otto; Bauer, Alexander; Lieblein, Tobias; Glasmacher, Mathias; Tholl, Hans; Mäntele, Werner

2017-09-01

We have recently reported infrared spectroscopy of human skin in vivo using quantum cascade laser excitation and photoacoustic or photothermal detection for non-invasive glucose measurement . Here, we analyze the IR light diffusely reflected from skin layers for spectral contributions of glucose. Excitation of human skin by an external cavity tunable quantum cascade laser in the spectral region from 1000 to 1245 cm- 1, where glucose exhibits a fingerprint absorption, yields reflectance spectra with some contributions from glucose molecules. A simple three-layer model of skin was used to calculate the scattering intensities from the surface and from shallow and deeper layers using the Boltzmann radiation transfer equation. Backscattering of light at wavelengths around 10 μm from the living skin occurs mostly from the Stratum corneum top layers and the shallow layers of the living epidermis. The analysis of the polarization of the backscattered light confirms this calculation. Polarization is essentially unchanged; only a very small fraction (< 3%) is depolarized at 90° with respect to the laser polarization set at 0°. Based on these findings, we propose that the predominant part of the backscattered light is due to specular reflectance and to scattering from layers close to the surface. Diffusely reflected light from deeper layers undergoing one or more scattering processes would appear with significantly altered polarization. We thus conclude that a non-invasive glucose measurement based on backscattering of IR light from skin would have the drawback that only shallow layers containing some glucose at concentrations only weakly related to blood glucose are monitored.

Assessment of Refueling Hose Visibility: Post-Cleaning Evaluation

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-10-01

Cott, H.P., and Kinkade, R.G. (Eds.), Human Engineering Guide to Equipment Design. Washington, DC: GPO. F-35 Gen 5 HMDS spec for minimum...spectral band sensors: visible, near IR, and short-wave IR. These images will be captured for each of the samples set up for both the geometries...Contrast Ratio Near IR Black Reflectance White Reflectance Contrast Ratio Short Wave IR Black

Versatile, ultra-low sample volume gas analyzer using a rapid, broad-tuning ECQCL and a hollow fiber gas cell

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

Kriesel, Jason M.; Makarem, Camille N.; Phillips, Mark C.

We describe a versatile mid-infrared (Mid-IR) spectroscopy system developed to measure the concentration of a wide range of gases with an ultra-low sample size. The system combines a rapidly-swept external cavity quantum cascade laser (ECQCL) with a hollow fiber gas cell. The ECQCL has sufficient spectral resolution and reproducibility to measure gases with narrow features (e.g., water, methane, ammonia, etc.), and also the spectral tuning range needed to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs), (e.g., aldehydes, ketones, hydrocarbons), sulfur compounds, chlorine compounds, etc. The hollow fiber is a capillary tube having an internal reflective coating optimized for transmitting the Mid-IR lasermore » beam to a detector. Sample gas introduced into the fiber (e.g., internal volume = 0.6 ml) interacts strongly with the laser beam, and despite relatively modest path lengths (e.g., L ~ 3 m), the requisite quantity of sample needed for sensitive measurements can be significantly less than what is required using conventional IR laser spectroscopy systems. Example measurements are presented including quantification of VOCs relevant for human breath analysis with a sensitivity of ~2 picomoles at a 1 Hz data rate.« less

Versatile, ultra-low sample volume gas analyzer using a rapid, broad-tuning ECQCL and a hollow fiber gas cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kriesel, Jason M.; Makarem, Camille N.; Phillips, Mark C.; Moran, James J.; Coleman, Max L.; Christensen, Lance E.; Kelly, James F.

2017-05-01

We describe a versatile mid-infrared (Mid-IR) spectroscopy system developed to measure the concentration of a wide range of gases with an ultra-low sample size. The system combines a rapidly-swept external cavity quantum cascade laser (ECQCL) with a hollow fiber gas cell. The ECQCL has sufficient spectral resolution and reproducibility to measure gases with narrow features (e.g., water, methane, ammonia, etc.), and also the spectral tuning range needed to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs), (e.g., aldehydes, ketones, hydrocarbons), sulfur compounds, chlorine compounds, etc. The hollow fiber is a capillary tube having an internal reflective coating optimized for transmitting the Mid-IR laser beam to a detector. Sample gas introduced into the fiber (e.g., internal volume = 0.6 ml) interacts strongly with the laser beam, and despite relatively modest path lengths (e.g., L 3 m), the requisite quantity of sample needed for sensitive measurements can be significantly less than what is required using conventional IR laser spectroscopy systems. Example measurements are presented including quantification of VOCs relevant for human breath analysis with a sensitivity of 2 picomoles at a 1 Hz data rate.

Final Technical Report - Polymeric Multilayer Infrared Reflecting Mirrors

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

Reed, John

2016-09-16

The goal of this project was to develop a clear, polymeric, multilayer film with an expanded infrared (IR) reflection band which would allow improved rejection of incident IR energy. The IR reflection band is covering the region from about 850 nm to 1830 nm. This film is essentially clear and colorless in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectra (visible light transmission of about 89%) while reflecting 90-95% of the IR energy over the portion of the spectra indicated above. This film has a nominal thickness of 3 mils, is polymeric in nature (contains no metals, metal oxides, or othermore » material types) and is essentially clear in appearance This film can then be used as a component of other products such as a solar window film, an IR reflecting interlayer for laminated glass, a heat rejecting skylight film, a base film for daylight redirecting products, a greenhouse film, and many more applications. One of the main strengths of this product is that because it is a standalone IR rejecting film, it can be incorporated and retrofitted into many applications that desire or require the transmission of visible light, but want to block other portions of the solar spectra, especially the IR portion. Many of the applications exist in the window glazing product area where this film can provide for substantial energy improvements in applications where visible light is desired.« less

FT-IR/ATR univariate and multivariate calibration models for in situ monitoring of sugars in complex microalgal culture media.

PubMed

Girard, Jean-Michel; Deschênes, Jean-Sébastien; Tremblay, Réjean; Gagnon, Jonathan

2013-09-01

The objective of this work is to develop a quick and simple method for the in situ monitoring of sugars in biological cultures. A new technology based on Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR/ATR) spectroscopy in combination with an external light guiding fiber probe was tested, first to build predictive models from solutions of pure sugars, and secondly to use those models to monitor the sugars in the complex culture medium of mixotrophic microalgae. Quantification results from the univariate model were correlated with the total dissolved solids content (R(2)=0.74). A vector normalized multivariate model was used to proportionally quantify the different sugars present in the complex culture medium and showed a predictive accuracy of >90% for sugars representing >20% of the total. This method offers an alternative to conventional sugar monitoring assays and could be used at-line or on-line in commercial scale production systems. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Interferometric 2D Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy Reveals Structural Heterogeneity of Catalytic Monolayers on Transparent Materials.

PubMed

Vanselous, Heather; Stingel, Ashley M; Petersen, Poul B

2017-02-16

Molecular monolayers exhibit structural and dynamical properties that are different from their bulk counterparts due to their interaction with the substrate. Extracting these distinct properties is crucial for a better understanding of processes such as heterogeneous catalysis and interfacial charge transfer. Ultrafast nonlinear spectroscopic techniques such as 2D infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy are powerful tools for understanding molecular dynamics in complex bulk systems. Here, we build on technical advancements in 2D IR and heterodyne-detected sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy to study a CO 2 reduction catalyst on nanostructured TiO 2 with interferometric 2D SFG spectroscopy. Our method combines phase-stable heterodyne detection employing an external local oscillator with a broad-band pump pulse pair to provide the first high spectral and temporal resolution 2D SFG spectra of a transparent material. We determine the overall molecular orientation of the catalyst and find that there is a static structural heterogeneity reflective of different local environments at the surface.

Highly Efficient Red and White Organic Light-Emitting Diodes with External Quantum Efficiency beyond 20% by Employing Pyridylimidazole-Based Metallophosphors.

PubMed

Miao, Yanqin; Tao, Peng; Wang, Kexiang; Li, Hongxin; Zhao, Bo; Gao, Long; Wang, Hua; Xu, Bingshe; Zhao, Qiang

2017-11-01

Two highly efficient red neutral iridium(III) complexes, Ir1 and Ir2, were rationally designed and synthesized by selecting two pyridylimidazole derivatives as the ancillary ligands. Both Ir1 and Ir2 show nearly the same photoluminescence emission with the maximum peak at 595 nm (shoulder band at about 638 nm) and achieve high solution quantum yields of up to 0.47 for Ir1 and 0.57 for Ir2. Employing Ir1 and Ir2 as emitters, the fabricated red organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) show outstanding performance with the maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE), current efficiency (CE), and power efficiency (PE) of 20.98%, 33.04 cd/A, and 33.08 lm/W for the Ir1-based device and 22.15%, 36.89 cd/A, and 35.85 lm/W for the Ir2-based device, respectively. Furthermore, using Ir2 as red emitter, a trichromatic hybrid white OLED, showing good warm white emission with low correlated color temperature of <2200 K under the voltage of 4-6 V, was fabricated successfully. The white device also realizes excellent device efficiencies with the maximum EQE, CE, and PE reaching 22.74%, 44.77 cd/A, and 46.89 lm/W, respectively. Such high electroluminescence performance for red and white OLEDs indicates that Ir1 and Ir2 as efficient red phosphors have great potential for future OLED displays and lightings applications.

Thermal-to-visible transducer (TVT) for thermal-IR imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flusberg, Allen; Swartz, Stephen; Huff, Michael; Gross, Steven

2008-04-01

We have been developing a novel thermal-to-visible transducer (TVT), an uncooled thermal-IR imager that is based on a Fabry-Perot Interferometer (FPI). The FPI-based IR imager can convert a thermal-IR image to a video electronic image. IR radiation that is emitted by an object in the scene is imaged onto an IR-absorbing material that is located within an FPI. Temperature variations generated by the spatial variations in the IR image intensity cause variations in optical thickness, modulating the reflectivity seen by a probe laser beam. The reflected probe is imaged onto a visible array, producing a visible image of the IR scene. This technology can provide low-cost IR cameras with excellent sensitivity, low power consumption, and the potential for self-registered fusion of thermal-IR and visible images. We will describe characteristics of requisite pixelated arrays that we have fabricated.

AMC-SWMO Countermeasures Study. Volume 1. Guide to How Countermeasures Affect Smart Weapons

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-06-01

low reflectivity) in a white background (high reflectivity). 4.1.2 IR Slanature Alteration Nonimaging IR signature alteration techniques involve...spots. These techniques can 4-5 SEEKER S......DETETEDSIGNAL AL CONTRAST BETWEEN TARGET AND BACKGROUND Ltgf-’ £tgt L(Ttgt )+ pjgt Lsky/sun/jl 0u Solar ...Reflected Lbklg: 4Okg L(1bkg ) + kg Lsky/sunvcloud Cloud/Sky Reflected Ground Reflected where, Target Emitted Solar Reflected L = integrated radiance

A Study of Search Intermediary Working Notes: Implications for IR System Design.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spink, Amanda; Goodrum, Abby

1996-01-01

Reports findings from an exploratory study investigating working notes created during encoding and external storage (EES) processes by human search intermediaries (librarians at the University of North Texas) using a Boolean information retrieval (IR) system. Implications for the design of IR interfaces and further research is discussed.…

Use of near infrared/red radiance ratios for estimating vegetation biomass and physiological status

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tucker, C. J.

1977-01-01

The application of photographic infrared/red (ir/red) reflectance or radiance ratios for the estimation of vegetation biomass and physiological status were investigated by analyzing in situ spectral reflectance data from experimental grass plots. Canopy biological samples were taken for total wet biomass, total dry biomass, leaf water content, dry green biomass, dry brown biomass, and total chlorophyll content at each sampling date. Integrated red and photographic infrared radiances were regressed against the various canopy or plot variables to determine the relative significance between the red, photographic infrared, and the ir/red ratio and the canopy variables. The ir/red ratio is sensitive to the photosynthetically active or green biomass, the rate of primary production, and actually measures the interaction between the green biomass and the rate of primary production within a given species type. The ir/red ratio resulted in improved regression significance over the red or the ir/radiances taken separately. Only slight differences were found between ir/red ratio, the ir-red difference, the vegetation index, and the transformed vegetation index. The asymptotic spectral radiance properties of the ir, red, ir/red ratio, and the various transformations were evaluated.

Regular and platform switching: bone stress analysis varying implant type.

PubMed

Gurgel-Juarez, Nália Cecília; de Almeida, Erika Oliveira; Rocha, Eduardo Passos; Freitas, Amílcar Chagas; Anchieta, Rodolfo Bruniera; de Vargas, Luis Carlos Merçon; Kina, Sidney; França, Fabiana Mantovani Gomes

2012-04-01

This study aimed to evaluate stress distribution on peri-implant bone simulating the influence of platform switching in external and internal hexagon implants using three-dimensional finite element analysis. Four mathematical models of a central incisor supported by an implant were created: External Regular model (ER) with 5.0 mm × 11.5 mm external hexagon implant and 5.0 mm abutment (0% abutment shifting), Internal Regular model (IR) with 4.5 mm × 11.5 mm internal hexagon implant and 4.5 mm abutment (0% abutment shifting), External Switching model (ES) with 5.0 mm × 11.5 mm external hexagon implant and 4.1 mm abutment (18% abutment shifting), and Internal Switching model (IS) with 4.5 mm × 11.5 mm internal hexagon implant and 3.8 mm abutment (15% abutment shifting). The models were created by SolidWorks software. The numerical analysis was performed using ANSYS Workbench. Oblique forces (100 N) were applied to the palatal surface of the central incisor. The maximum (σ(max)) and minimum (σ(min)) principal stress, equivalent von Mises stress (σ(vM)), and maximum principal elastic strain (ε(max)) values were evaluated for the cortical and trabecular bone. For cortical bone, the highest stress values (σ(max) and σ(vm) ) (MPa) were observed in IR (87.4 and 82.3), followed by IS (83.3 and 72.4), ER (82 and 65.1), and ES (56.7 and 51.6). For ε(max), IR showed the highest stress (5.46e-003), followed by IS (5.23e-003), ER (5.22e-003), and ES (3.67e-003). For the trabecular bone, the highest stress values (σ(max)) (MPa) were observed in ER (12.5), followed by IS (12), ES (11.9), and IR (4.95). For σ(vM), the highest stress values (MPa) were observed in IS (9.65), followed by ER (9.3), ES (8.61), and IR (5.62). For ε(max) , ER showed the highest stress (5.5e-003), followed by ES (5.43e-003), IS (3.75e-003), and IR (3.15e-003). The influence of platform switching was more evident for cortical bone than for trabecular bone, mainly for the external hexagon implants. In addition, the external hexagon implants showed less stress concentration in the regular and switching platforms in comparison to the internal hexagon implants. © 2012 by the American College of Prosthodontists.

Standoff Mid-Infrared Emissive Imaging Spectroscopy for Identification and Mapping of Materials in Polychrome Objects.

PubMed

Gabrieli, Francesca; Dooley, Kathryn A; Zeibel, Jason G; Howe, James D; Delaney, John K

2018-06-18

Microscale mid-infrared (mid-IR) imaging spectroscopy is used for the mapping of chemical functional groups. The extension to macroscale imaging requires that either the mid-IR radiation reflected off or that emitted by the object be greater than the radiation from the thermal background. Reflectance spectra can be obtained using an active IR source to increase the amount of radiation reflected off the object, but rapid heating of greater than 4 °C can occur, which is a problem for paintings. Rather than using an active source, by placing a highly reflective tube between the painting and camera and introducing a low temperature source, thermal radiation from the room can be reduced, allowing the IR radiation emitted by the painting to dominate. Thus, emissivity spectra of the object can be recovered. Using this technique, mid-IR emissivity image cubes of paintings were collected at high collection rates with a low-noise, line-scanning imaging spectrometer, which allowed pigments and paint binders to be identified and mapped. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Exploiting external reflection FTIR spectroscopy for the in-situ identification of pigments and binders in illuminated manuscripts. Brochantite and posnjakite as a case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaffino, Chiara; Guglielmi, Vittoria; Faraone, Silvio; Vinaccia, Alessandro; Bruni, Silvia

2015-02-01

In the present work, the use of portable instrumentation allowing in-situ reflection FTIR analyses is exploited to identify the coloring matters of northern-Italian illuminations dating to the XVI century. In order to build a database of spectra, reference paint samples were prepared spreading the pigments on parchment with two different binders, i.e. gum arabic and egg white, used in antiquity. Pigments for the database were chosen considering their use in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance and their response in the mid- and near-IR region. The reflection FTIR spectra obtained resulted to be dominated by the specular reflection component, allowing the use of the Kramers-Kronig transform to convert them to the more conventional absorbance FTIR spectra. Several pigments could thus be identified in ancient illuminations, even if some green details showed a spectral pattern different with respect to the most common commercial green pigments of the database. Therefore, in addition, basic copper sulfates brochantite and posnjakite were synthesized and characterized. In three green details, posnjakite was identified, both as a pure compound and together with malachite.

Exploiting external reflection FTIR spectroscopy for the in-situ identification of pigments and binders in illuminated manuscripts. Brochantite and posnjakite as a case study.

PubMed

Zaffino, Chiara; Guglielmi, Vittoria; Faraone, Silvio; Vinaccia, Alessandro; Bruni, Silvia

2015-02-05

In the present work, the use of portable instrumentation allowing in-situ reflection FTIR analyses is exploited to identify the coloring matters of northern-Italian illuminations dating to the XVI century. In order to build a database of spectra, reference paint samples were prepared spreading the pigments on parchment with two different binders, i.e. gum arabic and egg white, used in antiquity. Pigments for the database were chosen considering their use in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance and their response in the mid- and near-IR region. The reflection FTIR spectra obtained resulted to be dominated by the specular reflection component, allowing the use of the Kramers-Kronig transform to convert them to the more conventional absorbance FTIR spectra. Several pigments could thus be identified in ancient illuminations, even if some green details showed a spectral pattern different with respect to the most common commercial green pigments of the database. Therefore, in addition, basic copper sulfates brochantite and posnjakite were synthesized and characterized. In three green details, posnjakite was identified, both as a pure compound and together with malachite. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Distribution pattern of tachykinin NK2 receptors in human colon: involvement in the regulation of intestinal motility.

PubMed

Jaafari, Nadia; Khomitch-Baud, Alexandra; Christen, Marie-Odile; Julé, Yvon

2007-07-20

Although a number of pharmacological studies have shown the involvement of tachykinin type 2 receptors (NK2r) in the regulation of human colonic motility, few data are available so far on their pattern of expression. In this study this pattern was investigated in the myenteric plexuses, the longitudinal and circular muscle layers (external muscular layers), and the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) using confocal microscopy immunofluorescence methods. NK2r immunoreactivity (NK2r-IR) was detected in the soma of myenteric neurons and in nerve varicosities located in myenteric plexuses as well as in external muscular layers. Colocalization analysis of NK2r-IR and synaptophysin-IR, showed significant regional differences in the distribution of NK2r-expressing nerve varicosities, the rate of occurrence was found to be 56.08% +/- 3% (mean +/- SE) in the external muscular layers and 30.22% +/- 1% (mean +/- SE) in the myenteric plexuses. NK2r-IR was found in membranes of most muscle cells previously incubated with a selective NK2r agonist, [beta-Ala(8)] neurokinin A fragment 4-10, at 4 degrees C, and then mainly relocated in the cytoplasm when heated to 37 degrees C. A number of NK2r-IR nerve varicosities were close to NK2r-expressing neurons and muscle cells. Some of NK2r-expressing neurons and nerves were tachykinin-IR. No NK2r-IR was detected in ICCs. The present data indicate that presynaptic and postsynaptic neuroneuronal and neuromuscular regulatory processes mediated by tachykinins via NK2r may occur for modulating human colonic motility.

Particulate matter (PM) episodes at a suburban site in Hong Kong: evolution of PM characteristics and role of photochemistry in secondary aerosol formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Yi Ming; Jie Li, Yong; Wang, Hao; Lee, Berto Paul Yok Long; Huang, Dan Dan; Keung Chan, Chak

2016-11-01

Episodes with high concentrations of particulate matter (PM) across the seasons were investigated during four 1-month campaigns at a suburban site in Hong Kong. High-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) measurements revealed that both regional transport and secondary formation contributed to high PM levels during the episodes at this site. Based on distinct meteorological conditions, episodes were categorized into three types: liquid water content (LWC), solar irradiance (IR), and long-range transport (LRT). Despite the difference in meteorological conditions, all episodes were characterized by a high fraction of sulfate (45-56 %) and organics (23-34 %). However, aerosols in LWC episodes were less aged, consisting of the lowest fraction of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) and the highest fraction of small particles. Large particles mixed internally while freshly formed small particles mixed externally in LWC episodes. Aerosols in LRT episodes, by contrast, were the most aged and consisted of the highest proportion of low-volatility oxygenated organic aerosol (LVOOA) and the lowest proportion of small particles. Both small and large particles mixed externally in LRT episodes. The highest proportion of semi-volatile oxygenated organic aerosol (SVOOA) and a medium proportion of small particles were observed in IR episodes. Both small and large particles were likely externally mixed during IR episodes. Furthermore, aerosols experienced the most dramatic size increase and diurnal variation, with a time lag between SVOOA and LVOOA and a gradual increase in carbon oxidation state (OSc ≈ 2 × O : C - H : C). Five out of 10 episodes were of the IR type, further reflecting the importance of this type of episode. The evolution of aerosol components in one particular episode of the IR type, which exhibited a clear land-sea breeze pattern, was examined in detail. Sulfate and SOA due to photochemical aging were very efficiently produced during the course of 6 h. The "less-oxidized" SOA (SVOOA) was initially formed at a higher rate than the "more-oxidized" SOA (LVOOA). The SVOOA transformed to LVOOA at the later stage of photochemical aging. This transformation was further supported by mass spectral analysis, which showed an increase in the most oxidized ion (CO2+) and decreases in moderately oxidized ones (C2H3O+, C3H3O+ and C3H5O+). By measuring the physical and chemical properties of PM in a highly time-resolved manner, the current study was able to demonstrate the dynamic and complex nature of PM transformation during high-PM episodes.

Variation in spectral response of soybeans with respect to illumination, view, and canopy geometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ranson, K. J.; Biehl, L. L.; Bauer, M. E.

1984-01-01

Comparisons of the spectral response for incomplete (well-defined row structure) and complete (overlapping row structure) canopies of soybeans indicated a greater dependence on Sun and view geometry for the incomplete canopies. Red and near-IR reflectance for the incomplete canopy decreased as solar zenith angle increased for a nadir view angle until the soil between the plant rows was completely shaded. Thereafter for increasing solar zenith angle, the red reflectance leveled off and the near-IR reflectance increased. A 'hot spot' effect was evident for the red and near-IR reflectance factors. The 'hot spot' effect was more pronounced for the red band based on relative reflectance value changes. The ratios of off-nadir to nadir acquired data reveal that off-nadir red band reflectance factors more closely approximated straightdown measurements for time periods away from solar noon. Normalized difference generally approximated straightdown measurements during the middle portion of the day.

NOAA AVHRR Land Surface Albedo Algorithm Development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Toll, D. L.; Shirey, D.; Kimes, D. S.

1997-01-01

The primary objective of this research is to develop a surface albedo model for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). The primary test site is the Konza prairie, Kansas (U.S.A.), used by the International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP) in the First ISLSCP Field Experiment (FIFE). In this research, high spectral resolution field spectrometer data was analyzed to simulate AVHRR wavebands and to derive surface albedos. Development of a surface albedo algorithm was completed by analysing a combination of satellite, field spectrometer, and ancillary data. Estimated albedos from the field spectrometer data were compared to reference albedos derived using pyranometer data. Variations from surface anisotropy of reflected solar radiation were found to be the most significant albedo-related error. Additional error or sensitivity came from estimation of a shortwave mid-IR reflectance (1.3-4.0 micro-m) using the AVHRR red and near-IR bands. Errors caused by the use of AVHRR spectral reflectance to estimate both a total visible (0.4-0.7 micro-m) and near-IR (0.7-1.3 micro-m) reflectance were small. The solar spectral integration, using the derived ultraviolet, visible, near-IR and SW mid-IR reflectivities, was not sensitive to many clear-sky changes in atmospheric properties and illumination conditions.

A Direct Demonstration of Closed-State Inactivation of K+ Channels at Low pH

PubMed Central

Claydon, Thomas W.; Vaid, Moni; Rezazadeh, Saman; Kwan, Daniel C.H.; Kehl, Steven J.; Fedida, David

2007-01-01

Lowering external pH reduces peak current and enhances current decay in Kv and Shaker-IR channels. Using voltage-clamp fluorimetry we directly determined the fate of Shaker-IR channels at low pH by measuring fluorescence emission from tetramethylrhodamine-5-maleimide attached to substituted cysteine residues in the voltage sensor domain (M356C to R362C) or S5-P linker (S424C). One aspect of the distal S3-S4 linker α-helix (A359C and R362C) reported a pH-induced acceleration of the slow phase of fluorescence quenching that represents P/C-type inactivation, but neither site reported a change in the total charge movement at low pH. Shaker S424C fluorescence demonstrated slow unquenching that also reflects channel inactivation and this too was accelerated at low pH. In addition, however, acidic pH caused a reversible loss of the fluorescence signal (pKa = 5.1) that paralleled the reduction of peak current amplitude (pKa = 5.2). Protons decreased single channel open probability, suggesting that the loss of fluorescence at low pH reflects a decreased channel availability that is responsible for the reduced macroscopic conductance. Inhibition of inactivation in Shaker S424C (by raising external K+ or the mutation T449V) prevented fluorescence loss at low pH, and the fluorescence report from closed Shaker ILT S424C channels implied that protons stabilized a W434F-like inactivated state. Furthermore, acidic pH changed the fluorescence amplitude (pKa = 5.9) in channels held continuously at −80 mV. This suggests that low pH stabilizes closed-inactivated states. Thus, fluorescence experiments suggest the major mechanism of pH-induced peak current reduction is inactivation of channels from closed states from which they can activate, but not open; this occurs in addition to acceleration of P/C-type inactivation from the open state. PMID:17470663

Enface Thickness Mapping and Reflectance Imaging of Retinal Layers in Diabetic Retinopathy.

PubMed

Francis, Andrew W; Wanek, Justin; Lim, Jennifer I; Shahidi, Mahnaz

2015-01-01

To present a method for image segmentation and generation of enface thickness maps and reflectance images of retinal layers in healthy and diabetic retinopathy (DR) subjects. High density spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) images were acquired in 10 healthy and 4 DR subjects. Customized image analysis software identified 5 retinal cell layer interfaces and generated thickness maps and reflectance images of the total retina (TR), inner retina (IR), outer retina (OR), and the inner segment ellipsoid (ISe) band. Thickness maps in DR subjects were compared to those of healthy subjects by generating deviation maps which displayed retinal locations with thickness below, within, and above the normal 95% confidence interval. In healthy subjects, TR and IR thickness maps displayed the foveal depression and increased thickness in the parafoveal region. OR and ISe thickness maps showed increased thickness at the fovea, consistent with normal retinal anatomy. In DR subjects, thickening and thinning in localized regions were demonstrated on TR, IR, OR, and ISe thickness maps, corresponding to retinal edema and atrophy, respectively. TR and OR reflectance images showed reduced reflectivity in regions of increased thickness. Hard exudates appeared as hyper-reflective spots in IR reflectance images and casted shadows on the deeper OR and ISe reflectance images. The ISe reflectance image clearly showed the presence of focal laser scars. Enface thickness mapping and reflectance imaging of retinal layers is a potentially useful method for quantifying the spatial and axial extent of pathologies due to DR.

Enface Thickness Mapping and Reflectance Imaging of Retinal Layers in Diabetic Retinopathy

PubMed Central

Francis, Andrew W.; Wanek, Justin; Lim, Jennifer I.; Shahidi, Mahnaz

2015-01-01

Purpose To present a method for image segmentation and generation of enface thickness maps and reflectance images of retinal layers in healthy and diabetic retinopathy (DR) subjects. Methods High density spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) images were acquired in 10 healthy and 4 DR subjects. Customized image analysis software identified 5 retinal cell layer interfaces and generated thickness maps and reflectance images of the total retina (TR), inner retina (IR), outer retina (OR), and the inner segment ellipsoid (ISe) band. Thickness maps in DR subjects were compared to those of healthy subjects by generating deviation maps which displayed retinal locations with thickness below, within, and above the normal 95% confidence interval. Results In healthy subjects, TR and IR thickness maps displayed the foveal depression and increased thickness in the parafoveal region. OR and ISe thickness maps showed increased thickness at the fovea, consistent with normal retinal anatomy. In DR subjects, thickening and thinning in localized regions were demonstrated on TR, IR, OR, and ISe thickness maps, corresponding to retinal edema and atrophy, respectively. TR and OR reflectance images showed reduced reflectivity in regions of increased thickness. Hard exudates appeared as hyper-reflective spots in IR reflectance images and casted shadows on the deeper OR and ISe reflectance images. The ISe reflectance image clearly showed the presence of focal laser scars. Conclusions Enface thickness mapping and reflectance imaging of retinal layers is a potentially useful method for quantifying the spatial and axial extent of pathologies due to DR. PMID:26699878

Microoptoelectromechanical systems-based external cavity quantum cascade lasers for real-time spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butschek, Lorenz; Hugger, Stefan; Jarvis, Jan; Haertelt, Marko; Merten, André; Schwarzenberg, Markus; Grahmann, Jan; Stothard, David; Warden, Matthew; Carson, Christopher; Macarthur, John; Fuchs, Frank; Ostendorf, Ralf; Wagner, Joachim

2018-01-01

We report on mid-IR spectroscopic measurements performed with rapidly tunable external cavity quantum cascade lasers (EC-QCLs). Fast wavelength tuning in the external cavity is realized by a microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS) grating oscillating at a resonance frequency of about 1 kHz with a deflection amplitude of up to 10 deg. The entire spectral range of the broadband QCL can therefore be covered in just 500 μs, paving the way for real-time spectroscopy in the mid-IR region. In addition to its use in spectroscopic measurements conducted in backscattering and transmission geometry, the MOEMS-based laser source is characterized regarding pulse intensity noise, wavelength reproducibility, and spectral resolution.

Pigments which reflect infrared radiation from fire

DOEpatents

Berdahl, Paul H.

1998-01-01

Conventional paints transmit or absorb most of the intense infrared (IR) radiation emitted by fire, causing them to contribute to the spread of fire. The present invention comprises a fire retardant paint additive that reflects the thermal IR radiation emitted by fire in the 1 to 20 micrometer (.mu.m) wavelength range. The important spectral ranges for fire control are typically about 1 to about 8 .mu.m or, for cool smoky fires, about 2 .mu.m to about 16 .mu.m. The improved inventive coatings reflect adverse electromagnetic energy and slow the spread of fire. Specific IR reflective pigments include titanium dioxide (rutile) and red iron oxide pigments with diameters of about 1 .mu.m to about 2 .mu.m and thin leafing aluminum flake pigments.

Spectral reflectance relationships to leaf water stress

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ripple, William J.

1986-01-01

Spectral reflectance data were collected from detached snapbean leaves in the laboratory with a multiband radiometer. Four experiments were designed to study the spectral response resulting from changes in leaf cover, relative water content of leaves, and leaf water potential. Spectral regions included in the analysis were red (630-690 nm), NIR (760-900 nm), and mid-IR (2.08-2.35 microns). The red and mid-IR bands showed sensitivity to changes in both leaf cover and relative water content of leaves. The NIR was only highly sensitive to changes in leaf cover. Results provided evidence that mid-IR reflectance was governed primarily by leaf moisture content, although soil reflectance was an important factor when leaf cover was less than 100 percent. High correlations between leaf water potentials and reflectance were attributed to covariances with relative water content of leaves and leaf cover.

MIR and FIR Analysis of Inorganic Species in a Single Data Acquisition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Peng; Shilov, Sergey

2017-06-01

The extension of the mid IR towards the far IR spectral range below 400 \\wn is of great interest for molecular vibrational analysis for inorganic and organometallic chemistry, for geological, pharmaceutical, and physical applications, polymorph screening and crystallinity analysis as well as for matrix isolation spectroscopy. In these cases, the additional far infrared region offers insight to low energy vibrations which are observable only there. This includes inorganic species, lattice vibrations or intermolecular vibrations in the ordered solid state. The spectral range of a FTIR spectrometer is defined by the major optical components such as the source, beamsplitter, and detector. The globar source covers a broad spectral range from 8000 to 20 \\wn. However a bottle neck exists with respect to the beamsplitter and detector. To extend the spectral range further into the far IR and THz spectral ranges, one or more additional far IR beam splitters and detectors have been previously required. Two new optic components have been incorporated in a spectrometer to achieve coverage of both the mid and far infrared in a single scan: a wide range MIR-FIR beam splitter and the wide range DLaTGS detector that utilizes a diamond window. The use of a standard SiC IR source with these components yields a spectral range of 6000 down to 50 \\wn in one step for all types of transmittance, reflectance and ATR measurements. Utilizing the external water cooled mercury arc high power lamp the spectral range can be ultimately extended down to 10 \\wn. Examples of application will include emission in MIR-THz range, identification of pigments, additives in polymers, and polymorphism studies.

Accurate Transmittance Measurements of Thick, High-Index, High- Dispersion, IR Windows, Using a Fourier Transform IR Spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kupferberg, Lenn C.

1996-03-01

Fourier transform IR [FT-IR] spectrometers have virtually replaced scanned grating IR spectrometers in the commercial market. While FTIR spectrometers have been a boon for the chemist, they present problems for the measurement of transmittance of thick, high-index, high-dispersion, IR windows. Reflection and refraction of light by the windows introduce measurement errors. The principles of the FT-IR spectrometer will be briefly reviewed. The origins of the measurement errors will be discussed. Simple modifications to the operation of commercially available instruments will be presented. These include using strategically placed apertures and the use of collimated vs. focused beams at the sample position. They are essential for removing the effects of reflected light entering the interferometer and limiting the divergence angle of light in the interferometer. The latter minimizes refractive effects and insures consistent underfilling of the detector. Data will be shown from FT-IR spectrometers made by four manufactures and compared to measurements from a dispersive spectrometer.

Study on the occurrence of spontaneously established perpendicular exchange bias in Co{sub 49}Pt{sub 51}/IrMn bilayers

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

Tsai, C. Y.; Lin, K. F.; Hsu, Jen-Hwa, E-mail: jhhsu@phys.ntu.edu.tw

2014-05-07

In this study, perpendicular exchange bias (PEB) effect in the as-grown Co{sub 49}Pt{sub 51}/IrMn bilayers was demonstrated at room temperature using single-layered Co{sub 49}Pt{sub 51} alloy thin film as ferromagnetic (FM) layer. Several unusual features were observed in this system, viz.,: (i) the PEB was spontaneously established without any external magnetic field treatments, (ii) single-shifted loops were obtained rather than double-shifted ones, and (iii) the spontaneous PEB effect was accompanied by a reduction in perpendicular coercivity, H{sub c⊥} from 1024 to 632 Oe. The results of x–ray diffraction revealed the formation of IrMn (111) texture. Training effect studies indicate that themore » PEB effect is stable in this system with less than 5% variation in PEB value within 15 repetitive scans. Significant reduction in the PEB effect was found for the CoPt/IrMn films either grown or subjected to post-annealing under external magnetic field (H{sub ind}). The thickness dependence of PEB effect with respect to the FM and antiferromagnetic layers were also investigated and a largest PEB value of 533 Oe was obtained for the sample grown with 3-nm thick CoPt and 10-nm thick IrMn layers. The results of present study thus establish an opportunity to realize PEB effect in the absence of external field during fabrication.« less

Pigments which reflect infrared radiation from fire

DOEpatents

Berdahl, P.H.

1998-09-22

Conventional paints transmit or absorb most of the intense infrared (IR) radiation emitted by fire, causing them to contribute to the spread of fire. The present invention comprises a fire retardant paint additive that reflects the thermal IR radiation emitted by fire in the 1 to 20 micrometer ({micro}m) wavelength range. The important spectral ranges for fire control are typically about 1 to about 8 {micro}m or, for cool smoky fires, about 2 {micro}m to about 16 {micro}m. The improved inventive coatings reflect adverse electromagnetic energy and slow the spread of fire. Specific IR reflective pigments include titanium dioxide (rutile) and red iron oxide pigments with diameters of about 1 {micro}m to about 2 {micro}m and thin leafing aluminum flake pigments. 4 figs.

Infrared spectroscopy and spectroscopic imaging in forensic science.

PubMed

Ewing, Andrew V; Kazarian, Sergei G

2017-01-16

Infrared spectroscopy and spectroscopic imaging, are robust, label free and inherently non-destructive methods with a high chemical specificity and sensitivity that are frequently employed in forensic science research and practices. This review aims to discuss the applications and recent developments of these methodologies in this field. Furthermore, the use of recently emerged Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic imaging in transmission, external reflection and Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) modes are summarised with relevance and potential for forensic science applications. This spectroscopic imaging approach provides the opportunity to obtain the chemical composition of fingermarks and information about possible contaminants deposited at a crime scene. Research that demonstrates the great potential of these techniques for analysis of fingerprint residues, explosive materials and counterfeit drugs will be reviewed. The implications of this research for the examination of different materials are considered, along with an outlook of possible future research avenues for the application of vibrational spectroscopic methods to the analysis of forensic samples.

Reflectance Infrared Spectroscopy on Operating Surface Acoustic Wave Chemical Sensors During Exposure to Gas-Phase Analytes

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

Hierlemann, A.; Hill, M.; Ricco, A.J.

We have developed instrumentation to enable the combination of surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor measurements with direct, in-situ molecular spectroscopic measurements to understand the response of the SAW sensors with respect to the interfacial chemistry of surface-confined sensing films interacting with gas-phase analytes. Specifically, the instrumentation and software was developed to perform in-situ Fourier-transform infrared external-reflectance spectroscopy (FTIR-ERS) on operating SAW devices during dosing of their chemically modified surfaces with analytes. By probing the surface with IR spectroscopy during gas exposure, it is possible to understand in unprecedented detail the interaction processes between the sorptive SAW coatings and the gaseousmore » analyte molecules. In this report, we provide details of this measurement system, and also demonstrate the utility of these combined measurements by characterizing the SAW and FTIR-ERS responses of organic thin-film sensor coatings interacting with gas-phase analytes.« less

Impact of an external radiation field on handheld XRF measurements for nuclear forensics applications

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

Steeb, Jennifer L.; Mertz, Carol J.; Finck, Martha R.

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is an attractive technique for nuclear forensics applications. We evaluated a handheld, portable XRF device by applying an external radiation field (10 mR/h to 17 R/h) using two types of radiography sources: a 60Co radiography camera to observe effects from high-energy gamma emissions and an 192Ir radiography camera to observe effects from several low-energy gamma (0.604, 0.468, and 0.317 MeV) and decay daughter x-ray emissions. External radiation tests proved that radiation, in general, has a significant effect on the dead time or background at dose rates over 1 R/hr for both the 192Ir and 60Co sources.

Modeling Infrared Signal Reflections to Characterize Indoor Multipath Propagation

PubMed Central

De-La-Llana-Calvo, Álvaro; Lázaro-Galilea, José Luis; Gardel-Vicente, Alfredo; Rodríguez-Navarro, David; Bravo-Muñoz, Ignacio; Tsirigotis, Georgios; Iglesias-Miguel, Juan

2017-01-01

In this paper, we propose a model to characterize Infrared (IR) signal reflections on any kind of surface material, together with a simplified procedure to compute the model parameters. The model works within the framework of Local Positioning Systems (LPS) based on IR signals (IR-LPS) to evaluate the behavior of transmitted signal Multipaths (MP), which are the main cause of error in IR-LPS, and makes several contributions to mitigation methods. Current methods are based on physics, optics, geometry and empirical methods, but these do not meet our requirements because of the need to apply several different restrictions and employ complex tools. We propose a simplified model based on only two reflection components, together with a method for determining the model parameters based on 12 empirical measurements that are easily performed in the real environment where the IR-LPS is being applied. Our experimental results show that the model provides a comprehensive solution to the real behavior of IR MP, yielding small errors when comparing real and modeled data (the mean error ranges from 1% to 4% depending on the environment surface materials). Other state-of-the-art methods yielded mean errors ranging from 15% to 40% in test measurements. PMID:28406436

Environmental testing and laser transmission results for ruggedized high power IR fiber cables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Busse, Lynda; Kung, Frederic; Florea, Catalin; Shaw, Brandon; Aggarwal, Ishwar; Sanghera, Jas

2013-03-01

We present successful results of high mid-IR laser power transmission as well as MIL-SPEC environmental testing (thermal cycling and vibration testing) of ruggedized, IR-transmitting chalcogenide glass fiber cables. The cables tested included chalcogenide fiber cables with endfaces imprinted with anti-reflective "moth eye" surfaces, whereby the reflection loss is reduced from about 17% per end to less than 3%. The cables with these moth eye surfaces also show excellent laser damage resistance.

High-pressure versus isoelectronic doping effect on the honeycomb iridate Na2IrO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hermann, V.; Ebad-Allah, J.; Freund, F.; Pietsch, I. M.; Jesche, A.; Tsirlin, A. A.; Deisenhofer, J.; Hanfland, M.; Gegenwart, P.; Kuntscher, C. A.

2017-11-01

We study the effect of isoelectronic doping and external pressure in tuning the ground state of the honeycomb iridate Na2IrO3 by combining optical spectroscopy with synchrotron x-ray diffraction measurements on single crystals. The obtained optical conductivity of Na2IrO3 is discussed in terms of a Mott-insulating picture versus the formation of quasimolecular orbitals and in terms of Kitaev interactions. With increasing Li content x , (Na1 -xLix )2IrO3 moves deeper into the Mott-insulating regime, and there are indications that up to a doping level of 24% the compound comes closer to the Kitaev limit. The optical conductivity spectrum of single-crystalline α -Li2IrO3 does not follow the trends observed for the series up to x =0.24 . There are strong indications that α -Li2IrO3 is not as close to the Kitaev limit as Na2IrO3 and lies closer to the quasimolecular orbital picture instead. Except for the pressure-induced hardening of the phonon modes, the optical properties of Na2IrO3 seem to be robust against external pressure. Possible explanations of the unexpected evolution of the optical conductivity with isolectronic doping and the drastic change between x =0.24 and x =1 are given by comparing the pressure-induced changes of lattice parameters and the optical conductivity with the corresponding changes induced by doping.

IR Imaging Study on Heater Performamnce of Outside Rearview Mirrors for Automobiles

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

Wang, Hsin; England, Todd W

Adhesive bonded electrical heaters have been used in outside rearview mirrors of automobiles in order to act as defrosters. Entrapment of air pockets between the heater and the mirror can affects the performance and structural integrity of the mirror assembly. Since painting over the mirror is not an option in the production environment, the biggest challenge for IR imaging is to minimize surface reflection. Looking through a smooth, highly reflective first-surface mirror and a 2 mm thick glass without picking up other heat sources in the room, such as people, electronics equipment and the camera itself, requires careful planning andmore » effective shielding. In this paper, we present our method of avoiding mirror reflection and IR images of the heated mirror in operation. Production heaters and heaters with artificial defect were studied. The IR imaging method has shown to be an effective tool for heater quality control and performance studies.« less

Serial removal of caries lesions from tooth occlusal surfaces using near-IR image-guided IR laser ablation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, Kenneth H.; Tom, Henry; Darling, Cynthia L.; Fried, Daniel

2015-02-01

Previous studies have established that caries lesions can be imaged with high contrast without the interference of stains at near-IR wavelengths greater than 1300-nm. It has been demonstrated that computer controlled laser scanning systems utilizing IR lasers operating at high pulse repetition rates can be used for serial imaging and selective removal of caries lesions. In this study, we report our progress towards the development of algorithms for generating rasterized ablation maps from near-IR reflectance images for the removal of natural lesions from tooth occlusal surfaces. An InGaAs camera and a filtered tungsten-halogen lamp producing near-IR light in the range of 1500-1700-nm were used to collect crosspolarization reflectance images of tooth occlusal surfaces. A CO2 laser operating at a wavelength of 9.3- μm with a pulse duration of 10-15-μs was used for image-guided ablation.

Intraluminal low-dose-rate 192Ir brachytherapy combined with external beam radiotherapy and biliary stenting for unresectable extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma.

PubMed

Takamura, Akio; Saito, Hiroya; Kamada, Tadashi; Hiramatsu, Kazuhide; Takeuchi, Shuhei; Hasegawa, Masakazu; Miyamoto, Noriyuki

2003-12-01

To evaluate the results of combined-modality therapy, including external beam radiotherapy, intraluminal (192)Ir, and biliary stenting for extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma. Between 1988 and 1998, 93 patients with unresectable extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma underwent definitive radiotherapy. The dose of external beam radiotherapy was 50 Gy in 25 fractions. Low-dose-rate (192)Ir was delivered at a dose of 27-50 Gy (mean 39.2) at 0.5 cm from the source. An expandable metallic endoprosthesis was used to establish an internal bile passage. The median survival was 12 months, with a 1-, 3-, and 5-year actuarial survival rate of 50%, 10%, and 4%, respectively. Tumor length, hepatic invasion, and distant metastasis significantly affected survival. Ninety-six percent of patients could successfully remove external drainage catheters. The actuarial biliary patency rate for these patients at 1, 3, and 5 years was 52%, 29%, and 18%, respectively. Tumor length, tumor diameter and T stage were significantly associated with the patency rate. Mild-to-severe gastroduodenal complications were observed in 32 patients and were significantly associated with the active length of (192)Ir and linear source activity. Eight patients had treatment-related biliary fistula. Our combined-modality therapy provided reasonable local control and improved the quality of life of patients with extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma. Because none of the treatment characteristics had any impact on survival or biliary patency, lower dose levels and/or a localized target volume are recommended to minimize morbidity.

Shoulder rotational profiles in young healthy elite female and male badminton players.

PubMed

Couppé, C; Thorborg, K; Hansen, M; Fahlström, M; Bjordal, J M; Nielsen, D; Baun, M; Storgaard, M; Magnusson, S P

2014-02-01

The aim of the present study was to profile shoulder passive range of motion (ROM) and isometric strength for external (ER) and internal (IR) rotation as part of a preseason screening in adolescent national badminton players. Passive external range of motion (EROM) and internal range of motion (IROM) were examined on the dominant and nondominant shoulder in 31 adolescent national badminton players (12 females and 19 males) with a standard goniometer. Muscle strength was examined with a hand-held dynamometer in ER and IR. Total range of motion (TROM = EROM+IROM) was lower on the dominant side compared with the nondominant side in both groups (P < 0.001). Males were generally stronger than females in all strength measurements except for IR on the dominant side (P < 0.01). In females, IR dominant side strength was greater compared with IR on the nondominant side (P < 0.05). TROM was reduced on the dominant side compared with the nondominant side in young elite badminton players, irrespective of gender. No rotational strength differences existed between the dominant and nondominant side in male players, but in female players a higher IR strength on the dominant side was not balanced by a higher ER strength. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Attenuated total internal reflection infrared microspectroscopic imaging using a large-radius germanium internal reflection element and a linear array detector.

PubMed

Patterson, Brian M; Havrilla, George J

2006-11-01

The number of techniques and instruments available for Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopic imaging has grown significantly over the past few years. Attenuated total internal reflectance (ATR) FT-IR microspectroscopy reduces sample preparation time and has simplified the analysis of many difficult samples. FT-IR imaging has become a powerful analytical tool using either a focal plane array or a linear array detector, especially when coupled with a chemometric analysis package. The field of view of the ATR-IR microspectroscopic imaging area can be greatly increased from 300 x 300 microm to 2500 x 2500 microm using a larger internal reflection element of 12.5 mm radius instead of the typical 1.5 mm radius. This gives an area increase of 70x before aberrant effects become too great. Parameters evaluated include the change in penetration depth as a function of beam displacement, measurements of the active area, magnification factor, and change in spatial resolution over the imaging area. Drawbacks such as large file size will also be discussed. This technique has been successfully applied to the FT-IR imaging of polydimethylsiloxane foam cross-sections, latent human fingerprints, and a model inorganic mixture, which demonstrates the usefulness of the method for pharmaceuticals.

Sensitivity and specificity of detecting reticular pseudodrusen in multimodal imaging in Japanese patients.

PubMed

Ueda-Arakawa, Naoko; Ooto, Sotaro; Tsujikawa, Akitaka; Yamashiro, Kenji; Oishi, Akio; Yoshimura, Nagahisa

2013-03-01

To identify reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) in age-related macular degeneration using multiple imaging modalities, including the blue channel image of fundus photography, infrared reflectance (IR), fundus autofluorescence, near-infrared fundus autofluorescence, confocal blue reflectance, indocyanine green angiography, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and to compare the sensitivities and specificities of these modalities for detecting RPD. This study included 220 eyes from 114 patients with newly diagnosed age-related macular degeneration. Patients underwent fundus photography, IR, fundus autofluorescence, near-infrared fundus autofluorescence, confocal blue reflectance, indocyanine green angiography, and SD-OCT in both eyes. Eyes were diagnosed with RPD if they showed reticular patterns on at least two of the seven imaging modalities. Thirty-seven eyes were diagnosed with RPD. However, SD-OCT and IR had the highest sensitivity (94.6%), and at the same time, SD-OCT had a high specificity (98.4%). The blue channel of color fundus photography, confocal blue reflectance, and indocyanine green angiography had a specificity of 100% but had lower sensitivity than that of SD-OCT and IR. For detecting RPD, IR and SD-OCT had the highest sensitivity. Although SD-OCT had the highest sensitivity and specificity, RPD detection should be confirmed using more than one modality for increased accuracy.

Optical properties of reduced graphene oxide and CuFe2O4 composites in the IR region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, De-yue; Li, Xiao-xia; Guo, Yu-xiang; Zeng, Yu-run

2018-01-01

The complex refractive index of reduced graphene oxide and CuFe2O4 composites prepared by hydrothermal method was calculated using infrared Micro-reflective spectra and K-K relation, and the calculation errors were analyzed according to its IR transmission and spectral reflectivity calculated by Fresnel formula. And then normal emissivity of the composite in IR atmospheric window was calculated by means of Fresnel formula and modified refraction angle formula. The calculation accuracy was verified by comparing measured normal total emissivity with the calculated one. The results show that complex refractive index and normal emissivity calculated by the formulas have a high accuracy. It has been found that the composite has a good absorption and radiation characteristics in IR atmospheric window and a strong scattering ability in middle IR region by analyzing its extinction, absorption and radiation properties in IR region. Therefore, it may be used as IR absorption, extinction and radiation materials in some special fields.

Forensic Hair Differentiation Using Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR FT-IR) Spectroscopy.

PubMed

Manheim, Jeremy; Doty, Kyle C; McLaughlin, Gregory; Lednev, Igor K

2016-07-01

Hair and fibers are common forms of trace evidence found at crime scenes. The current methodology of microscopic examination of potential hair evidence is absent of statistical measures of performance, and examiner results for identification can be subjective. Here, attenuated total reflection (ATR) Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to analyze synthetic fibers and natural hairs of human, cat, and dog origin. Chemometric analysis was used to differentiate hair spectra from the three different species, and to predict unknown hairs to their proper species class, with a high degree of certainty. A species-specific partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) model was constructed to discriminate human hair from cat and dog hairs. This model was successful in distinguishing between the three classes and, more importantly, all human samples were correctly predicted as human. An external validation resulted in zero false positive and false negative assignments for the human class. From a forensic perspective, this technique would be complementary to microscopic hair examination, and in no way replace it. As such, this methodology is able to provide a statistical measure of confidence to the identification of a sample of human, cat, and dog hair, which was called for in the 2009 National Academy of Sciences report. More importantly, this approach is non-destructive, rapid, can provide reliable results, and requires no sample preparation, making it of ample importance to the field of forensic science. © The Author(s) 2016.

Near-IR and CP-OCT Imaging of Suspected Occlusal Caries Lesions

PubMed Central

Simon, Jacob C.; Kang, Hobin; Staninec, Michal; Jang, Andrew T.; Chan, Kenneth H.; Darling, Cynthia L.; Lee, Robert C.; Fried, Daniel

2017-01-01

Introduction Radiographic methods have poor sensitivity for occlusal lesions and by the time the lesions are radiolucent they have typically progressed deep into the dentin. New more sensitive imaging methods are needed to detect occlusal lesions. In this study, cross-polarization optical coherence tomography (CP-OCT) and near-IR imaging were used to image questionable occlusal lesions (QOC's) that were not visible on radiographs but had been scheduled for restoration on 30 test subjects. Methods Near-IR reflectance and transillumination probes incorporating a high definition InGaAs camera and near-IR broadband light sources were used to acquire images of the lesions before restoration. The reflectance probe utilized cross-polarization and operated at wavelengths from 1500–1700-nm where there is an increase in water absorption for higher contrast. The transillumination probe was operated at 1300-nm where the transparency of enamel is highest. Tomographic images (6×6×7 mm3) of the lesions were acquired using a high-speed swept-source CP-OCT system operating at 1300-nm before and after removal of the suspected lesion. Results Near-IR reflectance imaging at 1500–1700-nm yielded significantly higher contrast (p<0.05) of the demineralization in the occlusal grooves compared with visible reflectance imaging. Stains in the occlusal grooves greatly reduced the lesion contrast in the visible range yielding negative values. Only half of the 26 lesions analyzed showed the characteristic surface demineralization and increased reflectivity below the dentinal-enamel junction (DEJ) in 3D OCT images indicative of penetration of the lesion into the dentin. Conclusion This study demonstrates that near-IR imaging methods have great potential for improving the early diagnosis of occlusal lesions. PMID:28339115

Diffuse-reflectance fourier-transform mid-infrared spectroscopy as a method of characterizing changes in soil organic matter

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Diffuse-Reflectance Fourier-Transform Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy (MidIR) can identify the presence of important organic functional groups in soil organic matter (SOM). Soils contain myriad organic and inorganic components that absorb in the MidIR so spectral interpretation needs to be validated in or...

Composite Reflective Absorptive IR-Blocking Filters Embedded in Metamaterial Antireflection Coated Silicon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Munson, C. D.; Choi, S. K.; Coughlin, K. P.; McMahon, J. J.; Miller, K. H.; Page, L. A.; Wollack, E. J.

2017-01-01

Infrared (IR)-blocking filters are crucial for controlling the radiative loading on cryogenic systems and for optimizing the sensitivity of bolometric detectors in the far-IR. We present a new IR filter approach based on a combination of patterned frequency-selective structures on silicon and a thin (2575 micron thick) absorptive composite based on powdered reststrahlen absorbing materials. For a 300 K blackbody, this combination reflects approximately 50% of the incoming light and blocks greater than.99.8% of the total power with negligible thermal gradients and excellent low-frequency transmission. This allows a reduction in the IR thermal loading to negligible levels in a single cold filter. These composite filters are fabricated on silicon substrates, which provide excellent thermal transport laterally through the filter and ensure that the entire area of the absorptive filter stays near the bath temperature. A metamaterial antireflection coating cut into these substrates reduces in-band reflections to below 1%, and the in-band absorption of the powder mix is below 1% for signal bands below 750 GHz. This type of filter can be directly incorporated into silicon refractive optical elements.

Characterization of laser beam transmission through a High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Genna, S.; Leone, C.; Tagliaferri, V.

2017-02-01

Infrared (IR) light propagation in semicrystalline polymers involves mechanisms such as reflection, transmission, absorption and internal scattering. These different rates determine either the interaction mechanism, either the temperatures reached in the IR heating processes. Consequently, the knowledge of these rates is fundamental in the development of IR heating processes in order to avoid the polymer's damage and to increase the process energy efficiency. Aim of this work is to assess a simple procedure to determine the rates of absorbed, reflected, transmitted and scattered energy in the case of an unfilled High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plate. Experimental tests were performed by exposing a HDPE plate, 3 mm in thickness, to a diode laser source, working at the fundamental wavelength of 975 nm. The transmitted power was measured by power meter, the reflected one by applying the Beer-Lambert law to sample of different thickness. IR thermal images were adopted to measure the absorbed ratio. The scattered ratio was measured by energetic balance, as difference between the incoming power and the other ratios. Finally, IR thermal images were adopted to measure the scattered ratio and to validate the procedure.

Angular and Seasonal Variation of Spectral Surface Reflectance Ratios: Implications for the Remote Sensing of Aerosol over Land

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Remer, L. A.; Wald, A. E.; Kaufman, Y. J.

1999-01-01

We obtain valuable information on the angular and seasonal variability of surface reflectance using a hand-held spectrometer from a light aircraft. The data is used to test a procedure that allows us to estimate visible surface reflectance from the longer wavelength 2.1 micrometer channel (mid-IR). Estimating or avoiding surface reflectance in the visible is a vital first step in most algorithms that retrieve aerosol optical thickness over land targets. The data indicate that specular reflection found when viewing targets from the forward direction can severely corrupt the relationships between the visible and 2.1 micrometer reflectance that were derived from nadir data. There is a month by month variation in the ratios between the visible and the mid-IR, weakly correlated to the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). If specular reflection is not avoided, the errors resulting from estimating surface reflectance from the mid-IR exceed the acceptable limit of DELTA-rho approximately 0.01 in roughly 40% of the cases, using the current algorithm. This is reduced to 25% of the cases if specular reflection is avoided. An alternative method that uses path radiance rather than explicitly estimating visible surface reflectance results in similar errors. The two methods have different strengths and weaknesses that require further study.

Mid-infrared reflectlance spectra (2.3-22 micions) of sulfur, gold, KBr, MgO, and halon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nash, D. B.

1986-01-01

Biconical diffuse reflectance spectra in the mid-infrared are presented for powder and other solid forms of sulfur, gold, potassium bromide, magnesium oxide, and halon. Comparisons are made with previously published results of other investigators, and recommendations are made regarding the relative usefulnees of these materials as reflectance standards in the mid-IR. Sulfur has strong intrinsic bands at wavelengths greater than 7 microns that must be taken into account for its use as a reflectance standard. Some sulfur samples have hydrocarbon contaminants and in powder form may have adsorbed water, both of which produce bands in the 3-4-micron region. Potassium bromide has several weak intrinsic bands and is very sensitive to adsorbed water contamination; otherwise it is a good IR reference material. Magnesium oxide and halon have major bands structure and low reflectivity at wavelengths greater than 2.6 microns and thus are unsuitable as reference materials in the mid-IR. Vapor-deposited gold on fine sandpaper (600 grit) is very bright, spectrally flat, and fairly diffuse, so it is the superior material (of those examined) for reflectance reference material throughout the IR. Fine gold powder, on the other hand, is much less bright than evaporated gold, and its reflectivity at wavelengths greater than its particle size is highly sensitive to particle packing density.

HandSight: Supporting Everyday Activities through Touch-Vision

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-10-01

switches between IR and RGB o Large, low resolution, and fixed focal length > 1ft • Raspberry PI NoIR: https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/ pi -noir...camera/ o Raspberry Pi NoIR camera with external visible light filters o Good image quality, manually adjustable focal length, small, programmable 11...purpose and scope of the research. 2. KEYWORDS: Provide a brief list of keywords (limit to 20 words). 3. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: The PI is reminded that

Training 2000. Publication 1480.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Internal Revenue Service (Dept. of Treasury), Washington, DC.

This document reports the results of an examination of the external and internal environments of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the most promising technological tools and methods to create the training system capabilities the IRS will need in the future. Following an executive summary, chapter 1 describes how the document was developed.…

Bio-inspired, sub-wavelength surface structures for ultra-broadband, omni-directional anti-reflection in the mid and far IR.

PubMed

Gonzalez, Federico Lora; Gordon, Michael J

2014-06-02

Quasi-ordered moth-eye arrays were fabricated in Si using a colloidal lithography method to achieve highly efficient, omni-directional transmission of mid and far infrared (IR) radiation. The effect of structure height and aspect ratio on transmittance and scattering was explored experimentally and modeled quantitatively using effective medium theory. The highest aspect ratio structures (AR = 9.4) achieved peak transmittance of 98%, with >85% transmission for λ = 7-30 μm. A detailed photon balance was constructed by measuring transmission, forward scattering, specular reflection and diffuse reflection to quantify optical losses due to near-field effects. In addition, angle-dependent transmission measurements showed that moth-eye structures provide superior anti-reflective properties compared to unstructured interfaces over a wide angular range (0-60° incidence). The colloidal lithography method presented here is scalable and substrate-independent, providing a general approach to realize moth-eye structures and anti-reflection in many IR-compatible material systems.

Martian surface weathering studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Calvin, M.

1973-01-01

The nature of the Martian surface was characterized by means of its reflectance properties. The Mariner 9 photography was used to establish terrain units which were crossed by the Mariner 6 and 7 paths. The IR reflectance measured by the IR spectrometers on these spacecraft was to be used to indicate the nature of the surface within these units. There is an indication of physical size and/or compositional variation between units but too many natural parameters can vary (size, shape, composition, adsorbed phases, reradiation, atmospheric absorbtion, temperature gradients, etc.) to be certain what effect is causing those variations observed. It is suggested that the characterization could be fruitfully pursued by a group which was dedicated to peeling back the layers of minutia affecting IR reflectance.

Reliability, precision, and gender differences in knee internal/external rotation proprioception measurements.

PubMed

Nagai, Takashi; Sell, Timothy C; Abt, John P; Lephart, Scott M

2012-11-01

To develop and assess the reliability and precision of knee internal/external rotation (IR/ER) threshold to detect passive motion (TTDPM) and determine if gender differences exist. Test-retest for the reliability/precision and cross-sectional for gender comparisons. University neuromuscular and human performance research laboratory. Ten subjects for the reliability and precision aim. Twenty subjects (10 males and 10 females) for gender comparisons. All TTDPM tests were performed using a multi-mode dynamometer. Subjects performed TTDPM at two knee positions (near IR or ER end-range). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC (3,k)) and standard error of measurement (SEM) were used to evaluate the reliability and precision. Independent t-tests were used to compare genders. TTDPM toward IR and ER at two knee positions. Intrasession and intersession reliability and precision were good (ICC=0.68-0.86; SEM=0.22°-0.37°). Females had significantly diminished TTDPM toward IR at IR-test position (males: 0.77°±0.14°, females: 1.18°±0.46°, p=0.021) and TTDPM toward IR at the ER-test position (males: 0.87°±0.13°, females: 1.36°±0.58°, p=0.026). No other significant gender differences were found (p>0.05). The current IR/ER TTDPM methods are reliable and accurate for the test-retest or cross-section research design. Gender differences were found toward IR where the ACL acts as the secondary restraint. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Internal- and External-Rotation Peak Toque in Little League Baseball Players With Subacromial Impingement Syndrome: Improved by Closed Kinetic Chain Shoulder Training.

PubMed

Lee, Dong-Rour; Kim, Laurentius Jongsoon

2016-08-01

Many studies have explored closed kinetic chain (CKC) shoulder exercises (SEs) with a sling because they are safer and more effective than open-chain exercises, especially in early stages of treatment. However, the application of CKC SE in youth baseball players has rarely been attempted, although teenage baseball players also experience shoulder pain. To investigate the effects of CKC SE on the peak torque of shoulder internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) in youth baseball players. Single-group pretest, posttest. Biomechanics laboratory. 23 Little League Baseball players with subacromial impingement syndrome. The CKC SE with a sling was CKC shoulder-flexion exercise, extension exercise, IR exercise, and ER exercise. This exercise regimen was conducted 2 or 3 times/wk for 8 wk. The peak torque of shoulder IR and ER was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. Concentric shoulder rotation was performed, with 5 repetitions at an angular velocity of 60°/s and 15 at 180°/s. The IR and ER peak torque significantly increased at each angular velocity after the exercise program. In particular, the increase in IR and ER peak torque values was statistically significant at an angular velocity of 180°/s. CKC SE was effective in increasing shoulder IR and ER strength, demonstrating its potential benefits in the prevention and treatment of shoulder injury. In addition, increased IR peak torque appears to improve throwing velocity in baseball players.

[IR study on a series of tungsten clusters].

PubMed

Yu, R; Chen, J; Lu, S

2000-10-01

In this paper, the IR study on a series of tungsten clusters which contain a [W2S4]2+ or [W2MM'S4]4+ (M,M'=Cu,Ag) core is reported. According to the results of X-ray structural analysis and the IR spectra of the clusters, some characteristic IR absorptions of the clusters were assigned. The study of IR spectra of these clusters shows that the variation of structure can reflect on the IR spectra significantly.

Influence of Yo-Yo IR2 Scores on Internal and External Workloads and Fatigue Responses of Tag Football Players during Tournament Competition

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study was to: a) identify changes in jump height and perceived well-being as indirect markers of fatigue, b) determine the internal and external workloads performed by players, and c) examine the influence of Yo-Yo IR2 on changes in jump height, perceived well-being and internal and external workloads during a tag football tournament. Microtechnology devices combined with heart rate (HR) chest straps provided external and internal measures of match work-rate and workload for twelve male tag football players during the 2014 Australian National Championships. Jump height and perceived well-being were assessed prior to and during the tournament as indirect measures of fatigue. Changes in work-rate, workload and fatigue measures between high- and low-fitness groups were examined based on players’ Yo-Yo IR2 score using a median split technique. The low- and high-fitness groups reported similar mean HR, PlayerloadTM/min, and distance/min for matches, however the low-fitness group reported higher perceived match-intensities (ES = 0.90–1.35) for several matches. Further, the high-fitness group reported higher measures of tournament workload, including distance (ES = 0.71), PlayerloadTM (ES = 0.85) and Edwards’ training impulse (TRIMP) (ES = 1.23) than the low-fitness group. High- and low-fitness groups both showed large decreases (ES = 1.46–1.49) in perceived well-being during the tournament, although jump height did not decrease below pre-tournament values. Increased Yo-Yo IR2 appears to offer a protective effect against player fatigue despite increased workloads during a tag football tournament. It is vital that training programs adequately prepare tag football players for tournament competition to maximise performance and minimise player fatigue. PMID:26465599

The use of near-infrared photography to image fired bullets and cartridge cases.

PubMed

Stein, Darrell; Yu, Jorn Chi Chung

2013-09-01

An imaging technique that is capable of reducing glare, reflection, and shadows can greatly assist the process of toolmarks comparison. In this work, a camera with near-infrared (near-IR) photographic capabilities was fitted with an IR filter, mounted to a stereomicroscope, and used to capture images of toolmarks on fired bullets and cartridge cases. Fluorescent, white light-emitting diode (LED), and halogen light sources were compared for use with the camera. Test-fired bullets and cartridge cases from different makes and models of firearms were photographed under either near-IR or visible light. With visual comparisons, near-IR images and visible light images were comparable. The use of near-IR photography did not reveal more details and could not effectively eliminate reflections and glare associated with visible light photography. Near-IR photography showed little advantages in manual examination of fired evidence when it was compared with visible light (regular) photography. © 2013 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

The super-hydrophobic IR-reflectivity TiO2 coated hollow glass microspheres synthesized by soft-chemistry method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Yan; Wang, Yuanhao; An, Zhenguo; Zhang, Jingjie; Yang, Hongxing

2016-11-01

The super-hydrophobic and IR-reflectivity hollow glass microspheres (HGM) was synthesized by being coated with anatase TiO2 and a super-hydrophobic material. The super-hydrophobic self-cleaning property prolong the life time of the IR reflectivity. TBT and PFOTES were firstly applied and hydrolyzed on HGM and then underwent hydrothermal reaction to synthesis anatase TiO2 film. For comparison, the PFOTES/TiO2 mutual-coated HGM (MCHGM), PFOTES single-coated HGM (F-SCHGM) and TiO2 single-coated HGM (Ti-SCHGM) were synthesized as well. The MCHGM had bigger contact angle (153°) but smaller sliding angle (16°) than F-SCHGM (contact angle: 141.2°; sliding angle: 67°). Ti-SCHGM and MCHGM both showed similar IR reflectivity with ca. 5.8% increase compared with original HGM and F-SCHGM. For the thermal conductivity, coefficients of F-SCHGM (0.0479 W/(m K)) was basically equal to that of the original HGM (0.0475 W/(m K)). Negligible difference was found between the thermal conductivity coefficients of MCHGM-coated HGM (0.0543 W/(m K)) and Ti-SCHGM (0.0546 W/(m K)).

Combined IR imaging-neural network method for the estimation of internal temperature in cooked chicken meat

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibarra, Juan G.; Tao, Yang; Xin, Hongwei

2000-11-01

A noninvasive method for the estimation of internal temperature in chicken meat immediately following cooking is proposed. The external temperature from IR images was correlated with measured internal temperature through a multilayer neural network. To provide inputs for the network, time series experiments were conducted to obtain simultaneous observations of internal and external temperatures immediately after cooking during the cooling process. An IR camera working at the spectral band of 3.4 to 5.0 micrometers registered external temperature distributions without the interference of close-to-oven environment, while conventional thermocouples registered internal temperatures. For an internal temperature at a given time, simultaneous and lagged external temperature observations were used as the input of the neural network. Based on practical and statistical considerations, a criterion is established to reduce the nodes in the neural network input. The combined method was able to estimate internal temperature for times between 0 and 540 s within a standard error of +/- 1.01 degree(s)C, and within an error of +/- 1.07 degree(s)C for short times after cooking (3 min), with two thermograms at times t and t+30s. The method has great potential for monitoring of doneness of chicken meat in conveyor belt type cooking and can be used as a platform for similar studies in other food products.

Plasma generation and processing of interstellar carbonaceous dust analogs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peláez, R. J.; Maté, B.; Tanarro, I.; Molpeceres, G.; Jiménez-Redondo, M.; Timón, V.; Escribano, R.; Herrero, V. J.

2018-03-01

Interstellar (IS) dust analogs, based on amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a-C:H) were generated by plasma deposition in radio frequency discharges of CH4 + He mixtures. The a-C:H samples were characterized by means of secondary electron microscopy, infrared (IR) spectroscopy and UV-visible reflectivity. DFT calculations of structure and IR spectra were also carried out. From the experimental data, atomic compositions were estimated. Both IR and reflectivity measurements led to similar high proportions (≈50%) of H atoms, but there was a significant discrepancy in the sp2/sp3 hybridization ratios of C atoms (sp2/sp3 = 1.5 from IR and 0.25 from reflectivity). Energetic processing of the samples with 5 keV electrons led to a decay of IR aliphatic bands and to a growth of aromatic bands, which is consistent with a dehydrogenation and graphitization of the samples. The decay of the CH aliphatic stretching band at 3.4 μm upon electron irradiation is relatively slow. Estimates based on the absorbed energy and on models of cosmic ray (CR) flux indicate that CR bombardment is not enough to justify the observed disappearance of this band in dense IS clouds.

Detection of regulated herbs and plants in plant food supplements and traditional medicines using infrared spectroscopy.

PubMed

Deconinck, E; Djiogo, C A Sokeng; Bothy, J L; Courselle, P

2017-08-05

The identification of a specific toxic or regulated plant in herbal preparations or plant food supplements is a real challenge, since they are often powdered, mixed with other herbal or synthetic powders and compressed into tablets or capsules. The classical identification approaches based on micro- and macroscopy are therefore not possible anymore. In this paper infrared spectroscopy, combined with attenuated total reflectance was evaluated for the screening of plant based preparations for nine specific plants (five regulated and four common plants for herbal supplements). IR and NIR spectra were recorded for a series of self-made triturations of the targeted plants. After pretreatment of the spectral data chemometric classification techniques were applied to both data sets (IR and NIR) separately and the combination of both. The results show that the screening of herbal preparations or plant food supplements for specific plants, using infrared spectroscopy, is feasible. The best model was obtained with the Mid-IR data, using SIMCA as modelling technique. During validation of the model, using an external test set, 21 of 25 were correctly classified and six of the nine targeted plants showed no misclassifications for the selected test set. For the other three a success rate of 50% was obtained. Mid-IR combined with SIMCA can therefore be applied as a first step in the screening of unknown samples, before applying more sophisticated fingerprint approaches or identification tests described in several national and international pharmacopoeia. As a proof of concept five real suspicious samples were successfully screened for the targeted regulated plants. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Modeling of the ITER-like wide-angle infrared thermography view of JET.

PubMed

Aumeunier, M-H; Firdaouss, M; Travère, J-M; Loarer, T; Gauthier, E; Martin, V; Chabaud, D; Humbert, E

2012-10-01

Infrared (IR) thermography systems are mandatory to ensure safe plasma operation in fusion devices. However, IR measurements are made much more complicated in metallic environment because of the spurious contributions of the reflected fluxes. This paper presents a full predictive photonic simulation able to assess accurately the surface temperature measurement with classical IR thermography from a given plasma scenario and by taking into account the optical properties of PFCs materials. This simulation has been carried out the ITER-like wide angle infrared camera view of JET in comparing with experimental data. The consequences and the effects of the low emissivity and the bidirectional reflectivity distribution function used in the model for the metallic PFCs on the contribution of the reflected flux in the analysis are discussed.

WE-G-BRE-06: New Potential for Enhancing External Beam Radiotherapy for Lung Cancer Using FDA-Approved Concentrations of Cisplatin Or Carboplatin Nanoparticles Administered Via Inhalation

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

Hao, Y; Altundal, Y; Sajo, E

Purpose: This study investigates, for the first time, the dose enhancement to lung tumors due to cisplatin nanoparticles (CNPs) and carboplatin nanoparticles (CBNPs) administered via inhalation route (IR) during external beam radiotherapy. Methods: Using Monte Carlo generated 6 MV energy fluence spectra, a previously employed analytic method was used to estimate dose enhancement to lung tumor due to radiation-induced photoelectrons from CNPs administered via IR in comparison to intravenous (IV) administration. Previous studies have indicated about 5% of FDA-approved cisplatin concentrations reach the lung tumor via IV. Meanwhile recent experimental studies indicate that 3.5–14.6 times higher concentrations of CNPs canmore » reach the lung tumors by IR compared to IV. Taking these into account, the dose enhancement factor (DEF) defined as the ratio of the dose with and without CNPs was calculated for field size of 10 cm × 10 cm (sweeping gap), for a range of tumor depths and tumor sizes. Similar calculations were done for CBNPs. Results: For IR with 3.5 times higher concentrations than IV, and 2 cm diameter tumor, clinically significant DEF values of 1.19–1.30 were obtained for CNPs at 3–10 cm depth, respectively, in comparison to 1.06–1.09 for IV. For CBNPs, DEF values of 1.26–1.41 were obtained in comparison to 1.07–1.12 for IV. For IR with 14.6 times higher concentrations, higher DEF values were obtained e.g. 1.81–2.27 for CNPs. DEF increased with increasing field size or decreasing tumor size. Conclusions: Our preliminary results indicate that major dose enhancement to lung tumors can be achieved using CNPs/CBNPs administered via IR, in contrast to IV administration during external beam radiotherapy. These findings highlight a potential new approach for radiation boosting to lung tumors using CNPs/CBNPs administered via IR. This would, especially, be applicable during concomitant chemoradiotherapy, potentially allowing for dose enhancement while minimizing normal tissue toxicities.« less

Possible near-IR channels for remote sensing precipitable water vapor from geostationary satellite platforms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gao, B.-C.; Goetz, A. F. H.; Westwater, Ed R.; Conel, J. E.; Green, R. O.

1993-01-01

Remote sensing of troposheric water vapor profiles from current geostationary weather satellites is made using a few broadband infrared (IR) channels in the 6-13 micron region. Uncertainties greater than 20% exist in derived water vapor values just above the surface from the IR emission measurements. In this paper, we propose three near-IR channels, one within the 0.94-micron water vapor band absorption region, and the other two in nearby atmospheric windows, for remote sensing of precipitable water vapor over land areas, excluding lakes and rivers, during daytime from future geostationary satellite platforms. The physical principles are as follows. The reflectance of most surface targets varies approximately linearly with wavelength near 1 micron. The solar radiation on the sun-surface-sensor ray path is attenuated by atmospheric water vapor. The ratio of the radiance from the absorption channel with the radiances from the two window channels removes the surface reflectance effects and yields approximately the mean atmospheric water vapor transmittance of the absorption channel. The integrated water vapor amount from ground to space can be obtained with a precision of better than 5% from the mean transmittance. Because surface reflectances vary slowly with time, temporal variation of precipitable water vapor can be determined reliably. High spatial resolution, precipitable water vapor images are derived from spectral data collected by the Airborne Visable-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer, which measures solar radiation reflected by the surface in the 0.4-2.5 micron region in 10-nm channels and has a ground instantaneous field of view of 20 m from its platform on an ER-2 aircraft at 20 km. The proposed near-IR reflectance technique would complement the IR emission techniques for remote sensing of water vapor profiles from geostationary satellite platforms, especially in the boundary layer where most of the water vapor is located.

Pave-IR operator's manual version 1.3 : a thermal imaging system for evaluating hot-mix asphalt paving operations.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-06-01

This product updates the prior users manual for Pave-IR to reflect changes in hardware and software made : to accommodate collection of GPS data simultaneously during the collection of thermal profiles. The current : Pave-IR system described in th...

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PASSIVE SHOULDER ROTATION RANGE OF MOTION, ISOMETRIC ROTATION STRENGTH AND SERVE SPEED BETWEEN ELITE TENNIS PLAYERS WITH AND WITHOUT HISTORY OF SHOULDER PAIN

PubMed Central

Moreno-Pérez, V.; Elvira, JLL.; Fernandez-Fernandez, J.; Vera-Garcia, FJ.

2018-01-01

Background Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit and external rotation strength have been associated with the development of shoulder pain in overhead athletes. Objective To examine the bilateral passive shoulder rotational range of motion (ROM), the isometric rotational strength and unilateral serve speed in elite tennis players with and without shoulder pain history (PH and NPH, respectively) and compare between dominant and non-dominant limbs and between groups. Study Design Cohort study. Methods Fifty-eight elite tennis players were distributed into the PH group (n = 20) and the NPH group (n = 38). Serve velocity, dominant and non-dominant passive shoulder external and internal rotation (ER and IR) ROM, total arc of motion (TAM: the sum of IR and ER ROM), ER and IR isometric strength, bilateral deficits and ER/IR strength ratio were measured in both groups. Questionnaires were administered in order to classify characteristics of shoulder pain. Results The dominant shoulder showed significantly reduced IR ROM and TAM, and increased ER ROM compared to the non-dominant shoulder in both groups. Isometric ER strength and ER/IR strength ratio were significantly lower in the dominant shoulder in the PH group when compared with the NPH group. No significant differences between groups were found for serve speed. Conclusion These data show specific adaptations in the IR, TAM and ER ROM in the dominant shoulder in both groups. Isometric ER muscle weakness and ER/IR strength ratio deficit appear to be associated with history of shoulder injuries in elite tennis players. It would be advisable for clinicians to use the present information to design injury prevention programs. Level of evidence 2 PMID:29484240

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PASSIVE SHOULDER ROTATION RANGE OF MOTION, ISOMETRIC ROTATION STRENGTH AND SERVE SPEED BETWEEN ELITE TENNIS PLAYERS WITH AND WITHOUT HISTORY OF SHOULDER PAIN.

PubMed

Moreno-Pérez, V; Elvira, Jll; Fernandez-Fernandez, J; Vera-Garcia, F J

2018-02-01

Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit and external rotation strength have been associated with the development of shoulder pain in overhead athletes. To examine the bilateral passive shoulder rotational range of motion (ROM), the isometric rotational strength and unilateral serve speed in elite tennis players with and without shoulder pain history (PH and NPH, respectively) and compare between dominant and non-dominant limbs and between groups. Cohort study. Fifty-eight elite tennis players were distributed into the PH group (n = 20) and the NPH group (n = 38). Serve velocity, dominant and non-dominant passive shoulder external and internal rotation (ER and IR) ROM, total arc of motion (TAM: the sum of IR and ER ROM), ER and IR isometric strength, bilateral deficits and ER/IR strength ratio were measured in both groups. Questionnaires were administered in order to classify characteristics of shoulder pain. The dominant shoulder showed significantly reduced IR ROM and TAM, and increased ER ROM compared to the non-dominant shoulder in both groups. Isometric ER strength and ER/IR strength ratio were significantly lower in the dominant shoulder in the PH group when compared with the NPH group. No significant differences between groups were found for serve speed. These data show specific adaptations in the IR, TAM and ER ROM in the dominant shoulder in both groups. Isometric ER muscle weakness and ER/IR strength ratio deficit appear to be associated with history of shoulder injuries in elite tennis players. It would be advisable for clinicians to use the present information to design injury prevention programs. 2.

Some observations on the greenhouse effect at the Earth's surface.

PubMed

Akitt, J W

2018-01-05

It is shown that the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and water vapour reflect back to the surface, all IR radiation originating at the surface within their respective spectral bands. This reflection occurs in a very thin layer at the surface, not much over 12cm in thickness. Heat is lost from the surface by heat exchange with the atmosphere and by loss of radiation. About 52% of radiation leaves the surface in two principal window regions but this is not enough to account for the earth's equilibrium temperature. This window radiation seems to disappear quite quickly and is replaced by black body radiation. It is this which eventually contributes to the earth's radiation balance, and has to originate approximately between 40 and 50km altitude where the temperature is about correct, near 255K. Doubling the CO 2 concentration increases the surface temperature by about 0.9°C and this need not have any influence higher up in the atmosphere. The surface temperature seems indeed to have no direct influence on the earth's external radiation balance. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Some observations on the greenhouse effect at the Earth's surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akitt, J. W.

2018-01-01

It is shown that the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and water vapour reflect back to the surface, all IR radiation originating at the surface within their respective spectral bands. This reflection occurs in a very thin layer at the surface, not much over 12 cm in thickness. Heat is lost from the surface by heat exchange with the atmosphere and by loss of radiation. About 52% of radiation leaves the surface in two principal window regions but this is not enough to account for the earth's equilibrium temperature. This window radiation seems to disappear quite quickly and is replaced by black body radiation. It is this which eventually contributes to the earth's radiation balance, and has to originate approximately between 40 and 50 km altitude where the temperature is about correct, near 255 K. Doubling the CO2 concentration increases the surface temperature by about 0.9 °C and this need not have any influence higher up in the atmosphere. The surface temperature seems indeed to have no direct influence on the earth's external radiation balance.

ADAPTIVE OPTICS IMAGING OF FOVEAL SPARING IN GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY SECONDARY TO AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION.

PubMed

Querques, Giuseppe; Kamami-Levy, Cynthia; Georges, Anouk; Pedinielli, Alexandre; Capuano, Vittorio; Blanco-Garavito, Rocio; Poulon, Fanny; Souied, Eric H

2016-02-01

To describe adaptive optics (AO) imaging of foveal sparing in geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration. Flood-illumination AO infrared (IR) fundus images were obtained in four consecutive patients with GA using an AO retinal camera (rtx1; Imagine Eyes). Adaptive optics IR images were overlaid with confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope near-IR autofluorescence images to allow direct correlation of en face AO features with areas of foveal sparing. Adaptive optics appearance of GA and foveal sparing, preservation of functional photoreceptors, and cone densities in areas of foveal sparing were investigated. In 5 eyes of 4 patients (all female; mean age 74.2 ± 11.9 years), a total of 5 images, sized 4° × 4°, of foveal sparing visualized on confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope near-IR autofluorescence were investigated by AO imaging. En face AO images revealed GA as regions of inhomogeneous hyperreflectivity with irregularly dispersed hyporeflective clumps. By direct comparison with adjacent regions of GA, foveal sparing appeared as well-demarcated areas of reduced reflectivity with less hyporeflective clumps (mean 14.2 vs. 3.2; P = 0.03). Of note, in these areas, en face AO IR images revealed cone photoreceptors as hyperreflective dots over the background reflectivity (mean cone density 3,271 ± 1,109 cones per square millimeter). Microperimetry demonstrated residual function in areas of foveal sparing detected by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope near-IR autofluorescence. Adaptive optics allows the appreciation of differences in reflectivity between regions of GA and foveal sparing. Preservation of functional cone photoreceptors was demonstrated on en face AO IR images in areas of foveal sparing detected by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope near-IR autofluorescence.

The complimentary use of evacuable cells and remote sensing accessories for materials characterization by FT-IR spectroscopy

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

Powell, G.L.; Milosevic, M.

Diffuse reflectance (DR), emission (E), and external reflectance (ER) FT-IR spectroscopies are powerful techniques for materials characterization and surface analysis provided the spectrometer can address the appropriate location on a specimen under conditions for which the resulting measurement is meaningful. Evacuable cells and transfer optics have been developed for this purpose for coupon studies under laboratory conditions where a well defined location on a specimen can be monitored by DR, E, or ER while the environment, i. e., temperature and atmosphere, of the specimen is rigorously controlled. The Spectropus system of remote sampling accessories has been developed to make similarmore » measurements on large flat or convex objects in ambient air or in environmental chambers with sufficient ease that meaningful statistical comparisons of spectra obtained from many locations on a specimen or from many specimens can be made. These two general techniques are complimentary and allow for the results of controlled laboratory experiments to be readily extended to inspection operations. Evacuable cells designs for DR, for combined DR and E, and for 75{degrees}-ER with polarized light are described. Complimentary use of these cells with functionally similar remote sensing accessories is demonstrated with applications including the preparation of ceramic BeO surfaces for adhesive bonding (DR), the determination of the extent of cure and the oxidative degradation of epoxy adhesives and composites (DR and E), and the determination of the oxidation rate of uranium metal in air, oxygen, and water vapor (ER).« less

Development of Silicon-substrate Based Fabry-Perot Etalons for far-IR Astrophysics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stacey, Gordon

We propose to design, construct and test silicon-substrate-based (SSB) mirrors necessary for high performance Fabry-Perot interferometers (FPIs) to be used in the 25-40 um mid-IR band. These mirrors will be fabricated from silicon wafers that are anti-reflection coated (ARC) by micromachining an artificial dielectric meta-material on one side, and depositing optimized gold-metalized patterns on the other. Two mirrors with the metalized surfaces facing one-another form the Fabry-Perot cavity, also known as the FPI etalon. The exterior surfaces of the silicon mirrors are anti-reflection coated for both good transmission in the science band, and to prevent unwanted parasitic FPI cavities from forming between the four surfaces (one anti-reflection coated, one metalized for each mirror) of the FPI etalon. The mirrors will be tested within a Miniature Cryogenic Scanning Fabry-Perot (MCSF) that we have designed through support of a previous NASA grant (NNX09AB95G). This design is based on our long experience in constructing and using scanning FPI in the mid-IR to submm range, and fits within test-beds we have on hand that are suitable for both warm and cold tests. The key technologies are the ARC and tuned mirrors that are enabled by silicon nano-machining techniques. The creation of these SSB mirrors promises greatly improved performance over previous versions of mid-IR to submm-band FPIs that are based on mirrors made from free-standing metal mesh stretched over support rings. Performance is improved both structurally and in terms of sensitivity, and is measured as the product of the cavity finesse times transmission. Our electromagnetic modeling suggests that SSB mirrors will improve this product by a factor of 2 over the best free standing mesh etalons available. This translates into a factor of sqrt(2) improvement in sensitivity per etalon, or a full factor of 2 when used in a tandem (dual etalon) FPI spectrometer. The SSB improvements are due to both the stiff (~ 0.8 mm thick) silicon substrate and the silicon nanofabrication techniques and include the effects of (1) precisely tuned reflective surfaces, (2) very smooth mirror surfaces leading to greater cavity efficiency, (3) reduced susceptibility to vibrations due the silicon support structures, (4) reduced susceptibility to defect finesse due to reduced mounting stress, and (5) greatly improved mechanical robustness that could result in space-qualified hardware. These improvements are enabled by the combination of silicon-based technologies and our sophisticated electromagnetic modeling. The finished products have many science applications. For example, the SSB mirrors within an MCSF would convert the FORCAST or HAWC+ cameras on SOFIA into imaging spectrometers capable of widescale mapping of the mid to far-IR fine structure lines from the Galactic Center, Galactic star formation regions and external galaxies. In fact, this new etalon technology could be used in any mid to far-IR camera, converting the camera into a moderate (100 to 4000) to high resolving power (~100,000) imaging spectrometer at modest cost. A particularly interesting application could be a large format (~10 cm diameter) FPI that could deliver resolving powers in excess of 5000 for a 10 m space telescope, which might be the incarnation of the next major far-IR space mission (see NASA Cosmic Origins Newsletter, V4, No. 1, March 2015). Our program addresses NASA's Strategic goal 1: "Expand the frontiers of knowledge, capability, and opportunity in space."; Objective 1.6: "Discover how the Universe works, explore how it began and evolved, and search for life on planets around other stars,"• specifically "Technology development and demonstration."• It also addresses Strategic Goal 2 via Objective 2.4: "Advance the Nation's STEM education and workforce pipeline by working collaborative with other agencies to engage students, teachers, and faculty in NASA's missions and unique assets."•

Conducting Focus Groups with College Students: Strategies to Ensure Success. Professional File. Number 127, Fall 2012

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Billups, Felice D.

2012-01-01

Institutional researchers (IRs) are often asked to conduct focus groups as an efficient way to address an institutional concern or problem. Typically, IR professionals depend on external consultants and specialists to conduct these group interviews for them; however, due to recent resource constraints (staffing, budgets), they are increasingly…

Identification of Uranium Minerals in Natural U-Bearing Rocks Using Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy.

PubMed

Beiswenger, Toya N; Gallagher, Neal B; Myers, Tanya L; Szecsody, James E; Tonkyn, Russell G; Su, Yin-Fong; Sweet, Lucas E; Lewallen, Tricia A; Johnson, Timothy J

2018-02-01

The identification of minerals, including uranium-bearing species, is often a labor-intensive process using X-ray diffraction (XRD), fluorescence, or other solid-phase or wet chemical techniques. While handheld XRD and fluorescence instruments can aid in field applications, handheld infrared (IR) reflectance spectrometers can now also be used in industrial or field environments, with rapid, nondestructive identification possible via analysis of the solid's reflectance spectrum providing information not found in other techniques. In this paper, we report the use of laboratory methods that measure the IR hemispherical reflectance of solids using an integrating sphere and have applied it to the identification of mineral mixtures (i.e., rocks), with widely varying percentages of uranium mineral content. We then apply classical least squares (CLS) and multivariate curve resolution (MCR) methods to better discriminate the minerals (along with two pure uranium chemicals U 3 O 8 and UO 2 ) against many common natural and anthropogenic background materials (e.g., silica sand, asphalt, calcite, K-feldspar) with good success. Ground truth as to mineral content was attained primarily by XRD. Identification is facile and specific, both for samples that are pure or are partially composed of uranium (e.g., boltwoodite, tyuyamunite, etc.) or non-uranium minerals. The characteristic IR bands generate unique (or class-specific) bands, typically arising from similar chemical moieties or functional groups in the minerals: uranyls, phosphates, silicates, etc. In some cases, the chemical groups that provide spectral discrimination in the longwave IR reflectance by generating upward-going (reststrahlen) bands can provide discrimination in the midwave and shortwave IR via downward-going absorption features, i.e., weaker overtone or combination bands arising from the same chemical moieties.

ERTS-1 imagery and native plant distributions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Musick, H. B.; Mcginnies, W.; Haase, E.; Lepley, L. K.

1974-01-01

A method is developed for using ERTS spectral signature data to determine plant community distribution and phenology without resolving individual plants. An Exotech ERTS radiometer was used near ground level to obtain spectral signatures for a desert plant community, including two shrub species, ground covered with live annuals in April and dead ones in June, and bare ground. It is shown that comparisons of scene types can be made when spectral signatures are expressed as a ratio of red reflectivity to IR reflectivity or when they are plotted as red reflectivity vs. IR reflectivity, in which case the signature clusters of each component are more distinct. A method for correcting and converting the ERTS radiance values to reflectivity values for comparison with ground truth data is appended.

Attenuated total reflectance FT-IR imaging and quantitative energy dispersive-electron probe X-ray microanalysis techniques for single particle analysis of atmospheric aerosol particles.

PubMed

Ryu, JiYeon; Ro, Chul-Un

2009-08-15

This work demonstrates the practical applicability of the combined use of attenuated total reflectance (ATR) FT-IR imaging and low-Z particle electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA) techniques for the characterization of individual aerosol particles. These two single particle analytical techniques provide complementary information on the physicochemical characteristics of the same individual particles, that is, the low-Z particle EPMA for the information on the morphology and elemental concentration and the ATR-FT-IR imaging on the functional group, molecular species, and crystal structure. It was confirmed that the ATR-FT-IR imaging technique can provide sufficient FT-IR absorption signals to perform molecular speciation of individual particles of micrometer size when applied to artificially generated aerosol particles such as ascorbic acid and NaNO(3) aerosols. An exemplar indoor atmospheric aerosol sample was investigated to demonstrate the practical feasibility of the combined application of ATR-FT-IR imaging and low-Z particle EPMA techniques for the characterization of individual airborne particles.

Infrared/microwave (IR/MW) micromirror array beam combiner design and analysis.

PubMed

Tian, Yi; Lv, Lijun; Jiang, Liwei; Wang, Xin; Li, Yanhong; Yu, Haiming; Feng, Xiaochen; Li, Qi; Zhang, Li; Li, Zhuo

2013-08-01

We investigated the design method of an infrared (IR)/microwave (MW) micromirror array type of beam combiner. The size of micromirror is in microscopic levels and comparable to MW wavelengths, so that the MW will not react in these dimensions, whereas the much shorter optical wavelengths will be reflected by them. Hence, the MW multilayered substrate was simplified and designed using transmission line theory. The beam combiner used an IR wavefront-division imaging technique to reflect the IR radiation image to the unit under test (UUT)'s pupil in a parallel light path. In addition, the boresight error detected by phase monopulse radar was analyzed using a moment-of method (MoM) and multilevel fast multipole method (MLFMM) acceleration technique. The boresight error introduced by the finite size of the beam combiner was less than 1°. Finally, in order to verify the wavefront-division imaging technique, a prototype of a micromirror array was fabricated, and IR images were tested. The IR images obtained by the thermal imager verified the correctness of the wavefront-division imaging technique.

Diffuse Reflectance FT-IR Of Surface Modified Kevlar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benrashid, R.; Tesoro, G.; McKenzie, M. T., Jr.

1989-12-01

Diffuse reflectance FT-IR (DRIFT) has been applied to the characterization of surface modified Kevlar 29 and 49 fibers. The surface modifications include amination and sulfonation. The standard DRIFT experiment has been modified in the manner first described by Koenig et.al. 1 who used a KBR overlayer to enhance surface functional IR bands. The results from the DRIFT experiment have been correlated with those from a standard dye test. The results for degree of modification are in reasonable agreement between the two measurement approaches. However, the dye experiment is time-consuming and inconvenient. DRIFT has been shown to be useful in characterizing modified Kevlar surfaces in as-used conditions.

The use of FT-IR reflection-absorbance spectroscopy to study photochemical degradation of polymeric coatings on mirrors

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

Webb, J.D.; Chughtai, A.R.; Czanderna, A.W.

1981-10-01

A technique is presented for in situ study of degradative changes in polymeric coatings on metallic substrates. The technique uses a controlled environment chamber in conjunction with a Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometer. The chamber design permits collection of IR reflection-absorbance spectra from a sample undergoing exposure to controlled ultraviolet (UV) radiation, gas mixtures, and temperatures. Initial data presented confirm the ability of the technique to provide information regarding the bulk photochemistry of bisphenol-A polycarbonate coatings on gold and aluminum substrates. Refinements of this technique should allow a detailed kinetic study of degradative reactions at the polymer/metal interface.

Use of FT-IR reflection-absorbance spectroscopy to study photochemical degradation of polymeric coatings on mirrors

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

Webb, J D; Schissel, P; Czanderna, A W

1981-01-01

A technique is presented for in situ study of degradative changes in polymeric coatings on metallic substrates. The technique uses a controlled environment chamber in conjunction with a Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometer. The chamber design permits collection of IR reflection-absorbance spectra from a sample undergoing exposure to controlled ultraviolet (uv) radiation, gas mixtures, and temperatures. Initial data presented confirm the ability of the technique to provide information regarding the bulk photochemistry of bisphenol-A polycarbonate coatings on gold and aluminum substrates. Refinements of this technique should allow a detailed kinetic study of degradative reactions at the polymer/metal interface.

Polarized neutron reflectivity study of a thermally treated MnIr/CoFe exchange bias system.

PubMed

Awaji, Naoki; Miyajima, Toyoo; Doi, Shuuichi; Nomura, Kenji

2010-12-01

It has recently been found that the exchange bias of a MnIr/CoFe system can be increased significantly by adding a thermal treatment to the bilayer. To reveal the origin of the higher exchange bias, we performed polarized neutron reflectivity measurements at the JRR-3 neutron source. The magnetization vector near the MnIr/CoFe interface for thermally treated samples differed from that for samples without the treatment. We propose a model in which the pinned spin area at the interface is extended due to the increased roughness and atomic interdiffusion that result from the thermal treatment.

Analysis of thin-film polymers using attenuated total internal reflection-Raman microspectroscopy.

PubMed

Tran, Willie; Tisinger, Louis G; Lavalle, Luis E; Sommer, André J

2015-01-01

Two methods commonly employed for molecular surface analysis and thin-film analysis of microscopic areas are attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) microspectroscopy and confocal Raman microspectroscopy. In the former method, the depth of the evanescent probe beam can be controlled by the wavelength of light, the angle of incidence, or the refractive index of the internal reflection element. Because the penetration depth is proportional to the wavelength of light, one could interrogate a smaller film thickness by moving from the mid-infrared region to the visible region employing Raman spectroscopy. The investigation of ATR Raman microspectroscopy, a largely unexplored technique available to Raman microspectroscopy, was carried out. A Renishaw inVia Raman microscope was externally modified and used in conjunction with a solid immersion lens (SIL) to perform ATR Raman experiments. Thin-film polymer samples were analyzed to explore the theoretical sampling depth for experiments conducted without the SIL, with the SIL, and with the SIL using evanescent excitation. The feasibility of micro-ATR Raman was examined by collecting ATR spectra from films whose thickness measured from 200 to 60 nm. Films of these thicknesses were present on a much thicker substrate, and features from the underlying substrate did not become visible until the thin film reached a thickness of 68 nm.

Thermal testing by internal IR heating of the FEP module

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nathanson, D. M.; Efromson, R. A.; Lee, E. I.

1986-01-01

A spacecraft module, to be integrated with the FLTSATCOM spacecraft, was tested in a simulated orbit environment separate from the host spacecraft. Thermal vacuum testing of the module was accomplished using internal IR heating rather than conventional external heat sources. For this configuration, the technique produced boundary conditions expected for flight to enable verification of system performance and thermal design details.

Quantum-mechanical ab initio simulation of the Raman and IR spectra of Mn3Al2Si3O12 spessartine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valenzano, Loredana; Meyer, Alessio; Demichelis, Raffaella; Civalleri, Bartolomeo; Dovesi, Roberto

2009-07-01

The IR and Raman spectra of spessartine garnet Mn3Al2Si3O12, are simulated with the periodic ab initio CRYSTAL code by adopting an all-electron Gaussian-type basis set and the B3LYP Hamiltonian. The frequencies of the 25 Raman active modes (3 of A 1 g , 8 of E g and 14 of F 2 g symmetry) and of the two sets of 17 F 1 u transverse-optical and longitudinal-optical frequencies are generated, as well as the IR oscillator strength. The agreement between calculated and experimental data is excellent: for the IR and Raman sets, the mean absolute difference overline{|Updelta|} is 4.0 and 6.8 cm-1, respectively. Isotopic substitution permits to highlight the Mn, Al and Si participation to the various zones of the spectrum. Graphical animation, available on the authors’ web-site ( http://www.crystal.unito.it/vibs/garnets/spessartine/ ), provides a very readable description of the movement of atoms and groups in each vibrational mode.

Low-loss VIS/IR-XUV beam splitter for high-power applications.

PubMed

Pupeza, Ioachim; Fill, Ernst E; Krausz, Ferenc

2011-06-20

We present a low-loss VIS/IR-XUV beam splitter, suitable for high-power operation. The spatial separation of the VIS/IR and XUV components of a beam is achieved by the wedged top layer of a dielectric multilayer structure, onto which the beam is impinging under Brewster's angle (for VIS/IR). With a fused silica wedge with an angle of 0.5° we achieve a separation angle of 2.2° and an IR reflectivity of 0.9995. Typical XUV reflectivities amount to 0.1-0.2. The novel element is mechanically robust, exhibiting two major advantages over free-standing Brewster plates: (i) a significant improvement of heat conduction and (ii) easier handling, in particular for high-optical-quality fabrication. The beam splitter could be used as an output coupler for intracavity-generated XUV radiation, promising a boost of the power regime of current MHz-HHG experiments. It is also suited for single-pass experiments and as a beam combiner for pump-probe experiments.

Cloud cover over the equatorial eastern Pacific derived from July 1983 International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project data using a hybrid bispectral threshold method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Minnis, Patrick; Harrison, Edwin F.; Gibson, Gary G.

1987-01-01

A set of visible and IR data obtained with GOES from July 17-31, 1983 is analyzed using a modified version of the hybrid bispectral threshold method developed by Minnis and Harrison (1984). This methodology can be divided into a set of procedures or optional techniques to determine the proper contaminate clear-sky temperature or IR threshold. The various optional techniques are described; the options are: standard, low-temperature limit, high-reflectance limit, low-reflectance limit, coldest pixel and thermal adjustment limit, IR-only low-cloud temperature limit, IR clear-sky limit, and IR overcast limit. Variations in the cloud parameters and the characteristics and diurnal cycles of trade cumulus and stratocumulus clouds over the eastern equatorial Pacific are examined. It is noted that the new method produces substantial changes in about one third of the cloud amount retrieval; and low cloud retrievals are affected most by the new constraints.

Beyond Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy: External Cavity Quantum Cascade Laser-Based Mid-infrared Transmission Spectroscopy of Proteins in the Amide I and Amide II Region.

PubMed

Schwaighofer, Andreas; Montemurro, Milagros; Freitag, Stephan; Kristament, Christian; Culzoni, María J; Lendl, Bernhard

2018-05-24

In this work, we present a setup for mid-IR measurements of the protein amide I and amide II bands in aqueous solution. Employing a latest generation external cavity-quantum cascade laser (EC-QCL) at room temperature in pulsed operation mode allowed implementing a high optical path length of 31 μm that ensures robust sample handling. By application of a data processing routine, which removes occasionally deviating EC-QCL scans, the noise level could be lowered by a factor of 4. The thereby accomplished signal-to-noise ratio is better by a factor of approximately 2 compared to research-grade Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometers at equal acquisition times. Employing this setup, characteristic spectral features of three representative proteins with different secondary structures could be measured at concentrations as low as 1 mg mL -1 . Mathematical evaluation of the spectral overlap confirms excellent agreement of the quantum cascade laser infrared spectroscropy (QCL-IR) transmission measurements with protein spectra acquired by FT-IR spectroscopy. The presented setup combines performance surpassing FT-IR spectroscopy with large applicable optical paths and coverage of the relevant spectral range for protein analysis. This holds high potential for future EC-QCL-based protein studies, including the investigation of dynamic secondary structure changes and chemometrics-based protein quantification in complex matrices.

Microstructures as IR-sensors with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baikova, T. V.; Danilov, P. A.; Gonchukov, S. A.; Yermachenko, V. M.; Ionin, A. A.; Khmelnitskii, R. A.; Kudryashov, S. I.; Nguyen, T. T. H.; Rudenko, A. A.; Saraeva, I. N.; Svistunova, T. S.; Zayarny, D. A.

2017-09-01

Using a micro-hole grating in a supported silver film as a laser-fabricated novel optical platform for surface-enhanced IR absoprtion/reflection spectroscopy, characteristic absorption bands of Staphylococcus aureus, especially - its buried carotenoid fragments - were detected in FT-IR spectra with 10-fold analytical enhancement, paving the way to spectral express-identification of the pathogenic microorganisms.

78 FR 62787 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-22

... component of its current IRS margin model. The proposed change is reflected in an Advisory Notice issued to... offers clearing for a variety of swaps products under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures... rate swaps (``IRS''). CME proposes to make certain changes to its current IRS margin model in relation...

Searching For Infrared Excesses Around White Dwarf Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deeb Wilson, Elin; Rebull, Luisa M.; Debes, John H.; Stark, Chris

2017-01-01

Many WDs have been found to be “polluted,” meaning they contain heavier elements in their atmospheres. Either an active process that counters gravitational settling is taking place, or an external mechanism is the cause. One proposed external mechanism for atmospheric pollution of WDs is the disintegration and accretion of rocky bodies, which would result in a circumstellar (CS) disk. As CS disks are heated, they emit excess infrared (IR) emission. WDs with IR excesses indicative of a CS disk are known as dusty WDs. Statistical studies are still needed to determine how numerous dusty, polluted WDs are, along with trends and correlations regarding rate of planetary accretion, the lifetimes of CS disks, and the structure and evolution of CS disks. These findings will allow for a better understanding of the fates of planets along with potential habitability of surviving planets.In this work, we are trying to confirm IR excesses around a sample of 69 WD stars selected as part of the WISE InfraRed Excesses around Degenerates (WIRED) Survey (Debes et al. 2011). We have archival data from WISE, Spitzer, 2MASS, DENIS, and SDSS. The targets were initially selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), and identified as containing IR excesses based on WISE data. We also have data from the Four Star Infrared Camera array, which is part of Carnegie Institution’s Magellan 6.5 meter Baade Telescope located at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. These Four Star data are much higher spatial resolution than the WISE data that were used to determine if each WD has an IR excess. There are often not many bands delineating the IR excess portion of the SED; therefore, we are using the Four Star data to check if there is another source in the WISE beam affecting the IR excess.

Near-IR Image-Guided Laser Ablation of Demineralization on Tooth Occlusal Surfaces

PubMed Central

Tom, Henry; Chan, Kenneth H.; Darling, Cynthia L.; Fried, Daniel

2016-01-01

Introduction Studies have shown that reflectance images at near-IR wavelengths coincident with higher water absorption are well-suited for image-guided laser ablation of carious lesions since the contrast between sound and demineralized enamel is extremely high and interference from stains is minimized. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that near-IR reflectance images taken at a wavelength range of 1,500–1,700 nm can be used to guide a 9.3 μm CO2 laser for the selective ablation of early demineralization on tooth occlusal surfaces. Methods The occlusal surfaces of ten sound human molars were used in this in vitro study. Shallow simulated caries lesions with random patterns and varying depth and position were produced on tooth occlusal surfaces. Sequential near-IR reflectance images at 1,500–1,700 nm were used to guide the laser for the selective removal of the demineralized enamel. Digital microscopy and polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) were used to assess selectivity. Results Images taken before and after lesion removal suggest that the demineralized areas were removed with high selectivity. Although the estimated volume of tissue ablated was typically higher than the initial lesion volume measured with PS-OCT, the volume of enamel removed by the laser correlated well with the initial lesion volume. Conclusion Sequential near-IR reflectance images at 1,500–1,700 nm can be used to guide a 9.3 μm CO2 laser for the selective ablation of early demineralization on tooth occlusal surfaces. PMID:26763111

Robust free-space optical communication for indoor information environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakada, Toyohisa; Itoh, Hideo; Kunifuji, Susumu; Nakashima, Hideyuki

2003-10-01

The purpose of our study is to establish a robust communication, while keeping security and privacy, between a handheld communicator and the surrounding information environment. From the viewpoint of low power consumption, we have been developing a reflectivity modulating communication module composed of a liquid crystal light modulator and a corner-reflecting mirror sheet. We installed a corner-reflecting sheet instead of light scattering sheet in a handheld videogame machine with a display screen with a reflection-type liquid crystal. Infrared (IR) LED illuminator attached next to the IR camera of a base station illuminates all the room, and the terminal send their data to the base station by switching ON and OFF of the reflected IR beam. Intensity of reflected light differs with the position and the direction of the terminal, and sometimes the intensity of OFF signal at a certain condition is brighter than that of ON signal at another condition. To improve the communication quality, use of machine learning technique is a possibility of the solution. In this paper, we compare various machine learning techniques for the purpose of free space optical communication, and propose a new algorithm that improves the robustness of the data link. Evaluation using an actual free-space communication system is also described.

Fast quantification of bovine milk proteins employing external cavity-quantum cascade laser spectroscopy.

PubMed

Schwaighofer, Andreas; Kuligowski, Julia; Quintás, Guillermo; Mayer, Helmut K; Lendl, Bernhard

2018-06-30

Analysis of proteins in bovine milk is usually tackled by time-consuming analytical approaches involving wet-chemical, multi-step sample clean-up procedures. The use of external cavity-quantum cascade laser (EC-QCL) based IR spectroscopy was evaluated as an alternative screening tool for direct and simultaneous quantification of individual proteins (i.e. casein and β-lactoglobulin) and total protein content in commercial bovine milk samples. Mid-IR spectra of protein standard mixtures were used for building partial least squares (PLS) regression models. A sample set comprising different milk types (pasteurized; differently processed extended shelf life, ESL; ultra-high temperature, UHT) was analysed and results were compared to reference methods. Concentration values of the QCL-IR spectroscopy approach obtained within several minutes are in good agreement with reference methods involving multiple sample preparation steps. The potential application as a fast screening method for estimating the heat load applied to liquid milk is demonstrated. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of Gold Nanoparticles on Prostate Dose Distribution under Ir-192 Internal and 18 MV External Radiotherapy Procedures Using Gel Dosimetry and Monte Carlo Method.

PubMed

Khosravi, H; Hashemi, B; Mahdavi, S R; Hejazi, P

2015-03-01

Gel polymers are considered as new dosimeters for determining radiotherapy dose distribution in three dimensions. The ability of a new formulation of MAGIC-f polymer gel was assessed by experimental measurement and Monte Carlo (MC) method for studying the effect of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in prostate dose distributions under the internal Ir-192 and external 18MV radiotherapy practices. A Plexiglas phantom was made representing human pelvis. The GNP shaving 15 nm in diameter and 0.1 mM concentration were synthesized using chemical reduction method. Then, a new formulation of MAGIC-f gel was synthesized. The fabricated gel was poured in the tubes located at the prostate (with and without the GNPs) and bladder locations of the phantom. The phantom was irradiated to an Ir-192 source and 18 MV beam of a Varian linac separately based on common radiotherapy procedures used for prostate cancer. After 24 hours, the irradiated gels were read using a Siemens 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner. The absolute doses at the reference points and isodose curves resulted from the experimental measurement of the gels and MC simulations following the internal and external radiotherapy practices were compared. The mean absorbed doses measured with the gel in the presence of the GNPs in prostate were 15% and 8 % higher than the corresponding values without the GNPs under the internal and external radiation therapies, respectively. MC simulations also indicated a dose increase of 14 % and 7 % due to presence of the GNPs, for the same experimental internal and external radiotherapy practices, respectively. There was a good agreement between the dose enhancement factors (DEFs) estimated with MC simulations and experiment gel measurements due to the GNPs. The results indicated that the polymer gel dosimetry method as developed and used in this study, can be recommended as a reliable method for investigating the DEF of GNPs in internal and external radiotherapy practices.

Noncontact localized internal infrared radiation measurement using an infrared point detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hisaka, Masaki

2017-12-01

The techniques for temperature measurement within the human body are important for clinical applications. A method for noncontact local infrared (IR) radiation measurements was investigated deep within an object to simulate how the core human body temperature can be obtained. To isolate the IR light emitted from a specific area within the object from the external noise, the radiating IR light was detected using an IR point detector, which comprises a pinhole and a thermopile positioned at an imaging relation with the region of interest within the object. The structure of the helical filament radiating IR light inside a light bulb was thermally imaged by scanning the bulb in two dimensions. Moreover, this approach was used to effectively measure IR light in the range of human body temperature using a glass plate placed in front of the heat source, mimicking the ocular fundus.

Noncontact localized internal infrared radiation measurement using an infrared point detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hisaka, Masaki

2018-06-01

The techniques for temperature measurement within the human body are important for clinical applications. A method for noncontact local infrared (IR) radiation measurements was investigated deep within an object to simulate how the core human body temperature can be obtained. To isolate the IR light emitted from a specific area within the object from the external noise, the radiating IR light was detected using an IR point detector, which comprises a pinhole and a thermopile positioned at an imaging relation with the region of interest within the object. The structure of the helical filament radiating IR light inside a light bulb was thermally imaged by scanning the bulb in two dimensions. Moreover, this approach was used to effectively measure IR light in the range of human body temperature using a glass plate placed in front of the heat source, mimicking the ocular fundus.

Detecting infrared luminescence and non-chemical signaling of living cells: single cell mid-IR spectroscopy in cryogenic environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pereverzev, Sergey

2017-02-01

Many life-relevant interaction energies are in IR range, and it is reasonable to believe that some biochemical reactions inside cells can results in emission of IR photons. Cells can use this emission for non-chemical and non-electrical signaling. Detecting weak infrared radiation from live cells is complicated because of strong thermal radiation background and absorption of radiation by tissues. A microfluidic device with live cells inside a vacuum cryogenic environment should suppress this background, and thereby permit observation of live cell auto-luminescence or signaling in the IR regime. One can make IR-transparent windows not emitting in this range, so only the cell and a small amount of liquid around it will emit infrared radiation. Currently mid-IR spectroscopy of single cells requires the use of a synchrotron source to measure absorption or reflection spectra. Decreasing of thermal radiation background will allow absorption and reflection spectroscopy of cells without using synchrotron light. Moreover, cell auto-luminescence can be directly measured. The complete absence of thermal background radiation for cryogenically cooled samples allows the use IR photon-sensitive detectors and obtaining single molecule sensitivity in IR photo-luminescence measurements. Due to low photon energies, photo-luminescence measurements will be non-distractive for pressures samples. The technique described here is based upon US patent 9366574.

Effective Use of Molecular Recognition in Gas Sensing: Results from Acoustic Wave and In-Situ FTIR Measurements

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

Bodenhofer, K,; Gopel, W.; Hierlemann, A.

To probe directly the analyte/film interactions that characterize molecular recognition in gas sensors, we recorded changes to the in-situ surface vibrational spectra of specifically fictionalized surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices concurrently with analyte exposure and SAW measurement of the extent of sorption. Fourier-lmnsform infrared external- reflectance spectra (FTIR-ERS) were collected from operating 97-MH2 SAW delay lines during exposure to a range of analytes as they interacted with thin-film coatings previously shown to be selective: cyclodextrins for chiral recognition, Ni-camphorates for Lewis bases such as pyridine and organophosphonates, and phthalocyanines for aromatic compounds. In most cases where specific chemical interactions-metal coordination,more » "cage" compound inclusion, or z stacking-were expected, analyte dosing caused distinctive changes in the IR spectr~ together with anomalously large SAW sensor responses. In contrast, control experiments involving the physisorption of the same analytes by conventional organic polymers did not cause similar changes in the IR spectra, and the SAW responses were smaller. For a given conventional polymer, the partition coefficients (or SAW sensor signals) roughly followed the analyte fraction of saturation vapor pressure. These SAW/FTIR results support earlier conclusions derived from thickness-shear mode resonator data.« less

High-speed high-sensitivity infrared spectroscopy using mid-infrared swept lasers (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Childs, David T. D.; Groom, Kristian M.; Hogg, Richard A.; Revin, Dmitry G.; Cockburn, John W.; Rehman, Ihtesham U.; Matcher, Stephen J.

2016-03-01

Infrared spectroscopy is a highly attractive read-out technology for compositional analysis of biomedical specimens because of its unique combination of high molecular sensitivity without the need for exogenous labels. Traditional techniques such as FTIR and Raman have suffered from comparatively low speed and sensitivity however recent innovations are challenging this situation. Direct mid-IR spectroscopy is being speeded up by innovations such as MEMS-based FTIR instruments with very high mirror speeds and supercontinuum sources producing very high sample irradiation levels. Here we explore another possible method - external cavity quantum cascade lasers (EC-QCL's) with high cavity tuning speeds (mid-IR swept lasers). Swept lasers have been heavily developed in the near-infrared where they are used for non-destructive low-coherence imaging (OCT). We adapt these concepts in two ways. Firstly by combining mid-IR quantum cascade gain chips with external cavity designs adapted from OCT we achieve spectral acquisition rates approaching 1 kHz and demonstrate potential to reach 100 kHz. Secondly we show that mid-IR swept lasers share a fundamental sensitivity advantage with near-IR OCT swept lasers. This makes them potentially able to achieve the same spectral SNR as an FTIR instrument in a time x N shorter (N being the number of spectral points) under otherwise matched conditions. This effect is demonstrated using measurements of a PDMS sample. The combination of potentially very high spectral acquisition rates, fundamental SNR advantage and the use of low-cost detector systems could make mid-IR swept lasers a powerful technology for high-throughput biomedical spectroscopy.

Fractionated External Beam Radiotherapy as a Suitable Preparative Regimen for Hepatocyte Transplantation After Partial Hepatectomy

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

Krause, Petra; Wolff, Hendrik A.; Rave-Frank, Margret

2011-07-15

Purpose: Hepatocyte transplantation is strongly considered to be a promising option to correct chronic liver failure through repopulation of the diseased organ. We already reported on extensive liver repopulation by hepatocytes transplanted into rats preconditioned with 25-Gy single dose selective external beam irradiation (IR). Herein, we tested lower radiation doses and fractionated protocols, which would be applicable in clinical use. Methods and Material: Livers of dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPPIV)-deficient rats were preconditioned with partial liver external beam single dose IR at 25 Gy, 8 Gy, or 5 Gy, or fractionated IR at 5 x 5 Gy or 5 x 2 Gy.more » Four days after completion of IR, a partial hepatectomy (PH) was performed to resect the untreated liver section. Subsequently, 12 million wild-type (DPPIV{sup +}) hepatocytes were transplanted via the spleen into the recipient livers. The degree of donor cell integration and liver repopulation was studied 16 weeks after transplantation by means of immunofluorescence and DPPIV-luminescence assay. Results: Donor hepatocyte integration and liver repopulation were more effective in the irradiated livers following pretreatment with the IR doses 1 x 25 Gy and 5 x 5 Gy (formation of large DPPIV-positive cell clusters) than single-dose irradiation at 8 Gy or 5 Gy (DPPIV-positive clusters noticeably smaller and less frequent). Quantitative analysis of extracted DPPIV revealed signals exceeding the control level in all transplanted animals treated with IR and PH. Compared with the standard treatment of 1 x 25 Gy, fractionation with 5 x 5 Gy was equally efficacious, the Mann-Whitney U test disclosing no statistically significant difference (p = 0.146). The lower doses of 1 x 5 Gy, 1 x 8 Gy, and 5 x 2 Gy were significantly less effective with p < 0.05. Conclusion: This study suggests that fractionated radiotherapy in combination with PH is a conceivable pretreatment approach to prime the host liver for hepatocyte transplantation, thus bringing the experimental model a step closer to clinical application.« less

Potential for enhancing external beam radiotherapy for lung cancer using high-Z nanoparticles administered via inhalation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, Yao; Altundal, Yucel; Moreau, Michele; Sajo, Erno; Kumar, Rajiv; Ngwa, Wilfred

2015-09-01

Nanoparticle-aided radiation therapy is emerging as a promising modality to enhance radiotherapy via the radiosensitizing action of high atomic number (Z) nanoparticles. However, the delivery of sufficiently potent concentrations of such nanoparticles to the tumor remain a challenge. This study investigates the dose enhancement to lung tumors due to high-Z nanoparticles (NPs) administered via inhalation during external beam radiotherapy. Here NPs investigated include: cisplatin nanoparticles (CNPs), carboplatin nanoparticles (CBNPs), and gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Using Monte Carlo-generated megavoltage energy spectra, a previously employed analytic method was used to estimate dose enhancement to lung tumors due to radiation-induced photoelectrons from the NPs administered via inhalation route (IR) in comparison to intravenous (IV) administration. Previous studies have indicated about 5% of FDA-approved cisplatin concentrations reach the lung via IV. Meanwhile recent experimental studies indicate that 3.5-14.6 times higher concentrations of NPs can reach the lung by IR compared to IV. Taking these into account, the dose enhancement factor (DEF) defined as the ratio of the radiotherapy dose with and without nanoparticles was calculated for a range of NPs concentrations and tumor sizes. The DEF for IR was then compared with that for IV. For IR with 3.5 times higher concentrations than IV, and 2 cm diameter tumor, clinically significant DEF values of up to 1.19, 1.26, and 1.51 were obtained for CNPs, CBNPs and GNPs. In comparison values of 1.06, 1.08, and 1.15 were obtained via IV administration. For IR with 14.6 times higher concentrations, even higher DEF values were obtained e.g. 1.81 for CNPs. Results also showed that the DEF increased with increasing field size or decreasing tumor volume, as expected. The results of this work indicate that IR administration of targeted high-Z CNPs/CBNPs/GNPs could enable clinically significant DEF to lung tumors compared to IV administration during external beam radiotherapy. For FDA approved concentrations of CNPs or CBNPs considered, this could allow for additional dose enhancement to tumors via photoelectric mechanism during concomitant chemoradiotherapy.

Controllable light filters using an all-solid-state switchable mirror with a Mg-Ir thin film for preterm infant incubators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tajima, Kazuki; Shimoike, Mika; Li, Heng; Inagaki, Masumi; Izumi, Hitomi; Akiyama, Misaki; Matsushima, Yukiko; Ohta, Hidenobu

2013-04-01

We have fabricated a controllable light filter using an all-solid-state switchable mirror incorporating a Mg-Ir thin film for use in preterm infant incubators. The solid-state switchable mirror device was fabricated by depositing a multilayer on a glass substrate. The mixed hydride of MgH2 and Mg6Ir2H11 created from the Mg-Ir thin film is red in the transparent state. The optical switching speeds between the reflective and transparent red states depended on applied voltage. The device showed three states, namely, reflective, black, and transparent red, due to the properties of the switchable mirror material. These results suggest that the material could be used as a controllable light filter for preterm infant incubators, since it eliminates the light wavelength that disturbs regular sleep-wake cycles of preterm infants.

Application of Diffuse Reflectance FT-IR Spectroscopy for the Surface Study of Kevlar Fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chatzi, E. G.; Ishida, H.; Koenig, J. L.

1985-12-01

The surfaces of Kevlar-49 aramid fibers, being used in high-performance composite materials, have been characterized by diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Enhancement of the surface selectivity of the technique has been achieved using KBr overlayers. The water absorbed by both the skin and the core of the fibers has been characterized by using this technique and the accessibility of the fiber functional groups has been evaluated.

ISERV Pathfinder. The ISS SERVIR Environmental Research and Visualization System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Howell, Burgess

2011-01-01

SERVIR integrates Earth observations (e.g., space imagery), predictive models, and in situ data to provide timely information products to support environmental decision makers. ISERV propoesed development -- ISERV-W: Internal Visible/Near-Infrared (VNIR), attached to ISS via Window Observational Research Facility (WORF), ISERV-E: External Visible/Broad-Infrared (V/IR) and ISERV-PM: External Passive Microwave.

Attenuation of near-IR light through dentin at wavelengths from 1300–1650-nm

PubMed Central

Chan, Andrew C.; Darling, Cynthia L.; Chan, Kenneth H.; Fried, Daniel

2014-01-01

Light scattering in dental enamel decreases markedly from the UV to the near-IR and recent studies employing near-IR transillumination and reflectance imaging including optical coherence tomography indicate that this wavelength region is ideally suited for imaging dental caries due to the high transparency of enamel. The opacity of dentin is an important factor in optimizing the contrast of demineralization in reflectance measurements. It also influences the contrast of occlusal lesions in transillumination. Light scattering in dentin is an order of magnitude larger than in enamel, it is highly anisotropic and has a different spectral light scattering dependence than enamel. The objective of this study was to measure the optical attenuation of near-IR light through dentin at near-IR wavelengths from 1300–1650-nm. In this study the collimated transmission of near-IR light through polished thin sections of dentin of 0.05 to 0.6 mm thickness was measured. Beer-Lambert plots show that the attenuation coefficients range in magnitude from 20 to 40 cm−1. Attenuation increased significantly with increasing wavelength and the increases were not entirely consistent with increased water absorption. PMID:24839373

Comparison of Attenuated Total Reflectance Mid-Infrared, Near Infrared, and 1H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopies for the Determination of Coffee's Geographical Origin.

PubMed

Medina, Jessica; Caro Rodríguez, Diana; Arana, Victoria A; Bernal, Andrés; Esseiva, Pierre; Wist, Julien

2017-01-01

The sensorial properties of Colombian coffee are renowned worldwide, which is reflected in its market value. This raises the threat of fraud by adulteration using coffee grains from other countries, thus creating a demand for robust and cost-effective methods for the determination of geographical origin of coffee samples. Spectroscopic techniques such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), near infrared (NIR), and mid-infrared (mIR) have arisen as strong candidates for the task. Although a body of work exists that reports on their individual performances, a faithful comparison has not been established yet. We evaluated the performance of 1 H-NMR, Attenuated Total Reflectance mIR (ATR-mIR), and NIR applied to fraud detection in Colombian coffee. For each technique, we built classification models for discrimination by species ( C. arabica versus C. canephora (or robusta )) and by origin (Colombia versus other C. arabica ) using a common set of coffee samples. All techniques successfully discriminated samples by species, as expected. Regarding origin determination, ATR-mIR and 1 H-NMR showed comparable capacity to discriminate Colombian coffee samples, while NIR fell short by comparison. In conclusion, ATR-mIR, a less common technique in the field of coffee adulteration and fraud detection, emerges as a strong candidate, faster and with lower cost compared to 1 H-NMR and more discriminating compared to NIR.

Analysis of the configuration and the location of thermographic equipment for the inspection in photovoltaic systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Álvarez-Tey, G.; Jiménez-Castañeda, R.; Carpio, J.

2017-12-01

The infrared (IR) thermography is a non-destructive technique (NDT) which is used to carry out maintenance quickly and easily in photovoltaic (PV) systems. IR imaging with thermographic cameras under steady state conditions is a usual method for quality control of PV modules and plants in operation. For the proper IR inspection which determines the severity or the importance of the detected findings, it is necessary to consider different aspects of the configuration and the location of the thermographic equipment which allow reducing measuring errors. This paper considers some elements which contribute to the accurate configuration of the thermographic equipment. The influence of the reflected apparent temperature in outdoor IR inspections is analysed and it is proposed a simple method for obtaining it. Besides, the importance of the emissivity in IR thermography is analysed. For that, the value of the emissivity in PV modules of various types both front and rear shape is determined experimentally. It is also studied the proper location of the thermographic equipment in order to minimize reflections of the sun and the sky. For this objective, it is studied the ideal and minimum height of inspection according to the layout of the PV system. In a particular case, it is also analysed the influence of the horizontal angle of thermographic inspection and the reflected radiation.

High-sensitivity detection of TNT

PubMed Central

Pushkarsky, Michael B.; Dunayevskiy, Ilya G.; Prasanna, Manu; Tsekoun, Alexei G.; Go, Rowel; Patel, C. Kumar N.

2006-01-01

We report high-sensitivity detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) by using laser photoacoustic spectroscopy where the laser radiation is obtained from a continuous-wave room temperature high-power quantum cascade laser in an external grating cavity geometry. The external grating cavity quantum cascade laser is continuously tunable over ≈400 nm around 7.3 μm and produces a maximum continuous-wave power of ≈200 mW. The IR spectroscopic signature of TNT is sufficiently different from that of nitroglycerine so that unambiguous detection of TNT without false positives from traces of nitroglycerine is possible. We also report the results of spectroscopy of acetylene in the 7.3-μm region to demonstrate continuous tunability of the IR source. PMID:17164325

The interaction between impaired acute insulin response and insulin resistance predict type 2 diabetes and impairment of fasting glucose.

PubMed

Zethelius, Björn; Berglund, Lars; Hänni, Arvo; Berne, Christian

2008-01-01

Impaired acute insulin response (AIR) and insulin resistance (IR) are characteristics of Type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The aim was to develop risk models for T2DM and impaired fasting glucose (IFG), reflecting estimates both of AIR and IR, and of their interaction, as predictors over 20 years of follow-up. We developed predictive models using hierarchic multiple regression analyses in a population-based cohort of 1227 men with normal fasting blood glucose at baseline (1970-73) and were reinvestigated after 10 and after 20 years. Using IVGTT-variables correlated either to AIR or to IR, separate models were developed. Combined models were also estimated from which prediction scores, representing individual risk, were calculated. In combined models, interaction between prediction scores reflecting AIR and IR predicted T2DM and IFG. Lowest tertile of AIR and the highest tertile of IR showed a relative risk (RR) of 15.3 (95%-CI=5.58-41.84) for T2DM compared to the contrast group (high AIR and low IR). Corresponding RR for IFG was 13.23 (95%-CI=6.53-26.78). C-statistic increased from 0.76 to 0.79 (p=0.018) for T2DM and from 0.77 to 0.80 for IFG (p=0.062) taking interaction into account. Main effects of lowest tertile of AIR and highest tertile of IR versus best were: RR for T2DM, 8.80 (95%-CI=4.25-18.21) and 6.31 (95%-CI=3.26-12.21); for IFG, 9.07, (95%-CI=5.38-15.29) and 4.49 (95%-CI=2.98-6-76). The interaction between low AIR and high IR revealed a high relative risk for T2DM or IFG reflecting the interplay between these factors over long time on worsening glucose tolerance and development of manifest disease.

Zr 2Ir 6B with an eightfold superstructure of the cubic perovskite-like boride ZrIr 3B 0.5: Synthesis, crystal structure and bonding analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hermus, Martin; Fokwa, Boniface P. T.

2010-04-01

Single phase powder samples and single crystals of Zr 2Ir 6B were successfully synthesized by arc-melting the elements in a water-cooled copper crucible under an argon atmosphere. Superstructure reflections were observed both on powder and on single crystal diffraction data, leading to an eightfold superstructure of ZrIr 3B x phase. The new phase, which has a metallic luster, crystallizes in space group Fm3¯m (no. 225) with the lattice parameters a=7.9903(4) Å, V=510.14(4) Å 3. Its crystal structure was refined on the basis of powder as well as single crystal data. The single crystal refinement converged to R1=0.0239 and w R2=0.0624 for all 88 unique reflections and 6 parameters. Zr 2Ir 6B is isotypic to Ti 2Rh 6B and its structure can be described as a defect double perovskite, A2BB' O6, where the A site is occupied by zirconium, the B site by boron, the O site by iridium but the B' site is vacant, leading to the formation of empty and boron-filled octahedral Ir 6 clusters. According to the result of tight-binding electronic structure calculations, Ir-B and Ir-Zr interactions are mainly responsible for the structural stability of the phase. According to COHP bonding analysis, the strongest bonding occurs for the Ir-B contacts, and the Ir-Ir bonding within the empty clusters is two times stronger than that in the BIr 6 octahedra.

A qualitative and quantitative study on the enkephalinergic innervation of the pig gastrointestinal tract.

PubMed

Porcher, C; Julé, Y; Henry, M

2000-03-01

Enkephalins are involved in neural control of digestive functions such as motility, secretion, and absorption. To better understand their role in pigs, we analyzed the qualitative and quantitative distribution of enkephalin immunoreactivity (ENK-IR) in components of the intestinal wall from the esophagus to the anal sphincter. Immunohistochemical labelings were analyzed using conventional fluorescence and confocal microscopy. ENK-IR was compared with the synaptophysin immunoreactivity (SYN-IR). The results show that maximal ENK-IR levels in the entire digestive tract are reached in the myenteric plexuses and, to a lesser extent, in the external submucous plexus and the circular muscle layer. In the longitudinal muscle layer, ENK-IR was present in the esophagus, stomach, rectum, and anal sphincter, whereas it was absent from the duodenum to the distal colon. In the ENK-IR plexuses and muscle layers, more than 60% of the nerve fibers identified by SYN-IR expressed ENK-IR. No ENK-IR was observed in the internal submucous plexus and the mucosa; the latter was found to contain ENK-IR endocrine cells. These results strongly suggest that, in pigs, enkephalins play a major role in the regulatory mechanisms that underlie the neural control of digestive motility.

Detection of changes in leaf water content using near- and middle-infrared reflectances

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hunt, E. Raymond, Jr.; Rock, Barrett N.

1989-01-01

A method to detect plant water stress by remote sensing is proposed using indices of near-IR and mid-IR wavelengths. The ability of the Leaf Water Content Index (LWCI) to determine leaf relative water content (RWC) is tested on species with different leaf morphologies. The way in which the Misture Stress Index (MSI) varies with RWC is studied. On test with several species, it is found that LWCI is equal to RWC, although the reflectances at 1.6 microns for two different RWC must be known to accurately predict unknown RWC. A linear correlation is found between MSI and RWC with each species having a different regression equation. Also, MSI is correlated with log sub 10 Equivalent Water Thickness (EWT) with data for all species falling on the same regression line. It is found that the minimum significant change of RWC that could be detected by appying the linear regression equation of MSI to EWT is 52 percent. Because the natural RWC variation from water stress is about 20 percent for most species, it is concluded that the near-IR and mid-IR reflectances cannot be used to remotely sense water stress.

Metal-dielectric frequency-selective surface for high performance solar window coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toor, Fatima; Guneratne, Ananda C.; Temchenko, Marina

2016-03-01

We demonstrate a solar control window film consisting of metallic nanoantennas designed to reflect infrared (IR) light while allowing visible light to pass through. The film consists of a capacitive frequency-selective surface (CFSS) which acts as a band-stop filter, reflecting only light at target wavelengths. The designed CFSS when installed on windows will lower air conditioning costs by reflecting undesired wavelengths of light and thus reduce the amount of heat that enters a building. State-of-the-art commercial solar control films consist of a multilayer stack which is costly ( 13/m2 to 40/m2) to manufacture and absorbs IR radiation, causing delamination or glass breakage when attached to windows. Our solar control film consists of a nanostructured metallic layer on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate that reflects IR radiation instead of absorbing it, solving the delamination problem. The CFSS is also easy to manufacture with roll-to-roll nanoimprint lithography at a cost of <$12/m2. We design the CFSS using the COMSOL Wave Optics module to solve for electromagnetic wave propagation in optical media via the finite element method. The simulation domain is reduced to a single unit cell with periodic boundary conditions to account for the symmetries of the planar, periodic CFSS. The design is optimized using parametric sweeps around the various geometric components of the metallic nanoantenna. Our design achieves peak reflection of 80% at 1000 nm and has a broadband IR response that will allow for optimum solar control without significantly affecting the transmission of visible light.

Attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared imaging of large areas using inverted prism crystals and combining imaging and mapping.

PubMed

Chan, K L Andrew; Kazarian, Sergei G

2008-10-01

Attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) imaging is a very useful tool for capturing chemical images of various materials due to the simple sample preparation and the ability to measure wet samples or samples in an aqueous environment. However, the size of the array detector used for image acquisition is often limited and there is usually a trade off between spatial resolution and the field of view (FOV). The combination of mapping and imaging can be used to acquire images with a larger FOV without sacrificing spatial resolution. Previous attempts have demonstrated this using an infrared microscope and a Germanium hemispherical ATR crystal to achieve images of up to 2.5 mm x 2.5 mm but with varying spatial resolution and depth of penetration across the imaged area. In this paper, we demonstrate a combination of mapping and imaging with a different approach using an external optics housing for large ATR accessories and inverted ATR prisms to achieve ATR-FT-IR images with a large FOV and reasonable spatial resolution. The results have shown that a FOV of 10 mm x 14 mm can be obtained with a spatial resolution of approximately 40-60 microm when using an accessory that gives no magnification. A FOV of 1.3 mm x 1.3 mm can be obtained with spatial resolution of approximately 15-20 microm when using a diamond ATR imaging accessory with 4x magnification. No significant change in image quality such as spatial resolution or depth of penetration has been observed across the whole FOV with this method and the measurement time was approximately 15 minutes for an image consisting of 16 image tiles.

A Review of Luminescent Anionic Nano System: d10 Metallocyanide Excimers and Exciplexes in Alkali Halide Hosts

PubMed Central

Li, Xiaobo; Patterson, Howard H.

2013-01-01

Dicyanoaurate, dicyanoargentate, and dicyanocuprate ions in solution and doped in different alkali halide hosts exhibit interesting photophysical and photochemical behavior, such as multiple emission bands, exciplex tuning, optical memory, and thermochromism. This is attributed to the formation of different sizes of nanoclusters in solution and in doped hosts. A series of spectroscopic methods (luminescence, UV-reflectance, IR, and Raman) as well as theoretical calculations have confirmed the existence of excimers and exciplexes. This leads to the tunability of these nano systems over a wide wavelength interval. The population of these nanoclusters varies with temperature and external laser irradiation, which explains the thermochromism and optical memory. DFT calculations indicate an MLCT transition for each nanocluster and the emission energy decreases with increasing cluster size. This is in agreement with the relatively long life-time for the emission peaks and the multiple emission peaks dependence upon cluster concentration. PMID:28811397

Novel preparation of highly photocatalytically active copper chromite nanostructured material via a simple hydrothermal route

PubMed Central

Beshkar, Farshad; Zinatloo-Ajabshir, Sahar; Bagheri, Samira; Salavati-Niasari, Masoud

2017-01-01

Highly photocatalytically active copper chromite nanostructured material were prepared via a novel simple hydrothermal reaction between [Cu(en)2(H2O)2]Cl2 and [Cr(en)3]Cl3.3H2O at low temperature, without adding any pH regulator or external capping agent. The as-synthesized nanostructured copper chromite was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Results of the morphological investigation of the as-synthesized products illustrate that the shape and size of the copper chromite depended on the surfactant sort, reaction duration and temperature. Moreover, the photocatalytic behavior of as-obtained copper chromite was evaluated by photodegradation of acid blue 92 (anionic dye) as water pollutant. PMID:28582420

Manganese porphyrin immobilized on magnetic MCM-41 nanoparticles as an efficient and reusable catalyst for alkene oxidations with sodium periodate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hajian, Robabeh; Ehsanikhah, Amin

2018-01-01

This study describes the immobilization of tetraphenylporphyrinatomanganese(III) chloride, (MnPor), onto imidazole functionalized MCM-41 with magnetite nanoparticle core (Fe3O4@MCM-41-Im). The resultant material (Fe3O4@MCM-41-Im@MnPor) was characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR), diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectrophotometry (DR UV-Vis), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Inductively coupled plasma (ICP), analyzer transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area. This new heterogenized catalyst was applied as an efficient catalyst for the epoxidation of a variety of cyclic and linear olefins with NaIO4 under mild conditions. The prepared catalyst can be easily recovered through the application of an external magnet, and reused several times without any significant decrease in activity and magnetic properties.

Collecting Quality Infrared Spectra from Microscopic Samples of Suspicious Powders in a Sealed Cell.

PubMed

Kammrath, Brooke W; Leary, Pauline E; Reffner, John A

2017-03-01

The infrared (IR) microspectroscopical analysis of samples within a sealed-cell containing barium fluoride is a critical need when identifying toxic agents or suspicious powders of unidentified composition. The dispersive nature of barium fluoride is well understood and experimental conditions can be easily adjusted during reflection-absorption measurements to account for differences in focus between the visible and IR regions of the spectrum. In most instances, the ability to collect a viable spectrum is possible when using the sealed cell regardless of whether visible or IR focus is optimized. However, when IR focus is optimized, it is possible to collect useful data from even smaller samples. This is important when a minimal sample is available for analysis or the desire to minimize risk of sample exposure is important. While the use of barium fluoride introduces dispersion effects that are unavoidable, it is possible to adjust instrument settings when collecting IR spectra in the reflection-absorption mode to compensate for dispersion and minimize impact on the quality of the sample spectrum.

Origins of intracellular calcium mobilization evoked by infrared laser stimulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olsovsky, Cory A.; Tolstykh, Gleb P.; Ibey, Bennett L.; Beier, Hope T.

2015-03-01

Cellular delivery of pulsed IR laser energy has been shown to stimulate action potentials in neurons. The mechanism for this stimulation is not completely understood. Certain hypotheses suggest the rise in temperature from IR exposure could activate temperature- or pressure-sensitive channels, or create pores in the cellular outer membrane. Studies using intensity-based Ca2+-responsive dyes show changes in Ca2+ levels after various IR stimulation parameters; however, determination of the origin of this signal proved difficult. An influx of larger, typically plasma-membrane-impermeant ions has been demonstrated, which suggests that Ca2+ may originate from the external solution. However, activation of intracellular signaling pathways, possibly indicating a more complex role of increasing Ca2+ concentration, has also been shown. By usingCa2+ sensitive dye Fura-2 and a high-speed ratiometric imaging system that rapidly alternates the excitation wavelengths, we have quantified the Ca2+ mobilization in terms of influx from the external solution and efflux from intracellular organelles. CHO-K1 cells, which lack voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, and NG-108 neuroblastoma cells, which do not produce action potentials in an early undifferentiated state, are used to determine the origin of the Ca2+ signals and investigate the role these mechanisms may play in IR neural stimulation.

Formulation of Ames 24E2 IR-black coating

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Sheldon M.

1991-01-01

The formulation of Ames 24E2 IR-black coating and a rationale for the selection of its components are given. The objective was to make a very rough, very thick, and highly absorbing coating to attenuate the specular reflectance of telescope baffles at far-IR wavelengths. Application and curing instructions are also given. Outgassing measurements are quite low following a 24-hour radiative cure.

Biological effects and medical applications of infrared radiation

PubMed Central

Tsai, Shang-Ru; Hamblin, Michael R

2017-01-01

Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between 760 nm and 100,000 nm. Low-level light therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy generally employs light at red and near-infrared wavelengths (600–100 nm) to modulate biological activity. Many factors, conditions, and parameters influence the therapeutic effects of IR, including fluence, irradiance, treatment timing and repetition, pulsing, and wavelength. Increasing evidence suggests that IR can carry out photostimulation and photobiomodulation effects particularly benefiting neural stimulation, wound healing, and cancer treatment. Nerve cells respond particularly well to IR, which has been proposed for a range of neurostimulation and neuromodulation applications, and recent progress in neural stimulation and regeneration are discussed in this review. The applications of IR therapy have moved on rapidly in recent years. For example, IR therapy has been developed that does not actually require an external power source, such as IR-emitting materials, and garments that can be powered by body heat alone. Another area of interest is the possible involvement of solar IR radiation in photoaging or photorejuvenation as opposites sides of the coin, and whether sunscreens should protect against solar IR? A better understanding of new developments and biological implications of IR could help us to improve therapeutic effectiveness or develop new methods of PBM using IR wavelengths. PMID:28441605

Biological effects and medical applications of infrared radiation.

PubMed

Tsai, Shang-Ru; Hamblin, Michael R

2017-05-01

Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between 760nm and 100,000nm. Low-level light therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy generally employs light at red and near-infrared wavelengths (600-100nm) to modulate biological activity. Many factors, conditions, and parameters influence the therapeutic effects of IR, including fluence, irradiance, treatment timing and repetition, pulsing, and wavelength. Increasing evidence suggests that IR can carry out photostimulation and photobiomodulation effects particularly benefiting neural stimulation, wound healing, and cancer treatment. Nerve cells respond particularly well to IR, which has been proposed for a range of neurostimulation and neuromodulation applications, and recent progress in neural stimulation and regeneration are discussed in this review. The applications of IR therapy have moved on rapidly in recent years. For example, IR therapy has been developed that does not actually require an external power source, such as IR-emitting materials, and garments that can be powered by body heat alone. Another area of interest is the possible involvement of solar IR radiation in photoaging or photorejuvenation as opposites sides of the coin, and whether sunscreens should protect against solar IR? A better understanding of new developments and biological implications of IR could help us to improve therapeutic effectiveness or develop new methods of PBM using IR wavelengths. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Optimally designed narrowband guided-mode resonance reflectance filters for mid-infrared spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Liu, Jui-Nung; Schulmerich, Matthew V.; Bhargava, Rohit; Cunningham, Brian T.

2011-01-01

An alternative to the well-established Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry, termed discrete frequency infrared (DFIR) spectrometry, has recently been proposed. This approach uses narrowband mid-infrared reflectance filters based on guided-mode resonance (GMR) in waveguide gratings, but filters designed and fabricated have not attained the spectral selectivity (≤ 32 cm−1) commonly employed for measurements of condensed matter using FT-IR spectroscopy. With the incorporation of dispersion and optical absorption of materials, we present here optimal design of double-layer surface-relief silicon nitride-based GMR filters in the mid-IR for various narrow bandwidths below 32 cm−1. Both shift of the filter resonance wavelengths arising from the dispersion effect and reduction of peak reflection efficiency and electric field enhancement due to the absorption effect show that the optical characteristics of materials must be taken into consideration rigorously for accurate design of narrowband GMR filters. By incorporating considerations for background reflections, the optimally designed GMR filters can have bandwidth narrower than the designed filter by the antireflection equivalence method based on the same index modulation magnitude, without sacrificing low sideband reflections near resonance. The reported work will enable use of GMR filters-based instrumentation for common measurements of condensed matter, including tissues and polymer samples. PMID:22109445

Excited-state dynamics of acetylene excited to individual rotational level of the V04K01 subband

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Makarov, Vladimir I.; Kochubei, Sergei A.; Khmelinskii, Igor V.

2006-01-01

Dynamics of the IR emission induced by excitation of the acetylene molecule using the (32Ka0,1,2,ÃAu1←41la1,X˜Σg+1) transition was investigated. The observed IR emission was assigned to transitions between the ground-state vibrational levels. Acetylene fluorescence quenching induced by external electric and magnetic fields acting upon the system prepared using the (34Ka1,ÃAu1←00la0,X˜Σg+1) excitation was also studied. External electric field creates an additional radiationless pathway to the ground-state levels, coupling levels of the ÃAu1 excited state to the quasiresonant levels of the X˜Σg+1 ground state. The level density of the ground state in the vicinity of the excited state is very high, thus the electric-field-induced transition is irreversible, with the rate constant described by the Fermi rule. Magnetic field alters the decay profile without changing the fluorescence quantum yield in collisionless conditions. IR emission from the CCH transient was detected, and was also affected by the external electric and magnetic fields. Acetylene predissociation was demonstrated to proceed by the direct S1→S0 mechanism. The results were explained using the previously developed theoretical approach, yielding values of the relevant model parameters.

THE INFRARED SPECTRUM OF PROTONATED OVALENE IN SOLID PARA-HYDROGEN AND ITS POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTION TO INTERSTELLAR UNIDENTIFIED INFRARED EMISSION

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

Tsuge, Masashi; Bahou, Mohammed; Lee, Yuan-Pern

The mid-infrared emission from galactic objects, including reflection nebulae, planetary nebulae, proto-planetary nebulae, molecular clouds, etc, as well as external galaxies, is dominated by the unidentified infrared (UIR) emission bands. Large protonated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (H{sup +}PAHs) were proposed as possible carriers, but no spectrum of an H{sup +}PAH has been shown to exactly match the UIR bands. Here, we report the IR spectrum of protonated ovalene (7-C{sub 32}H{sub 15} {sup +}) measured in a para -hydrogen ( p -H{sub 2}) matrix at 3.2 K, generated by bombarding a mixture of ovalene and p -H{sub 2} with electrons during matrixmore » deposition. Spectral assignments were made based on the expected chemistry and on the spectra simulated with the wavenumbers and infrared intensities predicted with the B3PW91/6-311++G(2d,2p) method. The close resemblance of the observed spectral pattern to that of the UIR bands suggests that protonated ovalene may contribute to the UIR emission, particularly from objects that emit Class A spectra, such as the IRIS reflection nebula, NGC 7023.« less

Selecting the optimum number of partial least squares components for the calibration of attenuated total reflectance-mid-infrared spectra of undesigned kerosene samples.

PubMed

Gómez-Carracedo, M P; Andrade, J M; Rutledge, D N; Faber, N M

2007-03-07

Selecting the correct dimensionality is critical for obtaining partial least squares (PLS) regression models with good predictive ability. Although calibration and validation sets are best established using experimental designs, industrial laboratories cannot afford such an approach. Typically, samples are collected in an (formally) undesigned way, spread over time and their measurements are included in routine measurement processes. This makes it hard to evaluate PLS model dimensionality. In this paper, classical criteria (leave-one-out cross-validation and adjusted Wold's criterion) are compared to recently proposed alternatives (smoothed PLS-PoLiSh and a randomization test) to seek out the optimum dimensionality of PLS models. Kerosene (jet fuel) samples were measured by attenuated total reflectance-mid-IR spectrometry and their spectra where used to predict eight important properties determined using reference methods that are time-consuming and prone to analytical errors. The alternative methods were shown to give reliable dimensionality predictions when compared to external validation. By contrast, the simpler methods seemed to be largely affected by the largest changes in the modeling capabilities of the first components.

26 CFR 801.4 - Customer satisfaction measures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... REVENUE PRACTICE BALANCED SYSTEM FOR MEASURING ORGANIZATIONAL AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE WITHIN THE INTERNAL... taxpayers, organizational units, or employees within the IRS and external groups affected by the services...

LO-TO splittings, effective charges and interactions in electro-optic meta-nitroaniline crystal as studied by polarized IR reflection and transmission spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szostak, M. M.; Le Calvé, N.; Romain, F.; Pasquier, B.

1994-10-01

The polarized IR reflection spectra of the meta-nitroaniline ( m-NA) single crystal along the a, b and c crystallographic axes as well as the b and c polarized transmission spectra have been measured in the 100-400 cm -1 region. The LO-TO splitting values have been calculated from the reflection spectra by fitting them with the four parameter dielectric function. The dipole moment derivatives, relevant to dynamic effective charges, of the vibrations have also been calculated and used to check the applicability of the oriented gas model (OGM) to reflection spectra. The discrepancies from the OGM have been discussed in terms of vibronic couplings, weak hydrogen bondings (HB) and intramolecular charge transfer.

External-Cavity Quantum Cascade Laser Spectroscopy for Mid-IR Transmission Measurements of Proteins in Aqueous Solution.

PubMed

Alcaráz, Mirta R; Schwaighofer, Andreas; Kristament, Christian; Ramer, Georg; Brandstetter, Markus; Goicoechea, Héctor; Lendl, Bernhard

2015-07-07

In this work, we report mid-IR transmission measurements of the protein amide I band in aqueous solution at large optical paths. A tunable external-cavity quantum cascade laser (EC-QCL) operated in pulsed mode at room temperature allowed one to apply a path length of up to 38 μm, which is four times larger than that applicable with conventional FT-IR spectrometers. To minimize temperature-induced variations caused by background absorption of the ν2-vibration of water (HOH-bending) overlapping with the amide I region, a highly stable temperature control unit with relative temperature stability within 0.005 °C was developed. An advanced data processing protocol was established to overcome fluctuations in the fine structure of the emission curve that are inherent to the employed EC-QCL due to its mechanical instabilities. To allow for wavenumber accuracy, a spectral calibration method has been elaborated to reference the acquired IR spectra to the absolute positions of the water vapor absorption bands. Employing this setup, characteristic spectral features of five well-studied proteins exhibiting different secondary structures could be measured at concentrations as low as 2.5 mg mL(-1). This concentration range could previously only be accessed by IR measurements in D2O. Mathematical evaluation of the spectral overlap and comparison of second derivative spectra confirm excellent agreement of the QCL transmission measurements with protein spectra acquired by FT-IR spectroscopy. This proves the potential of the applied setup to monitor secondary structure changes of proteins in aqueous solution at extended optical path lengths, which allow experiments in flow through configuration.

Comparison of Attenuated Total Reflectance Mid-Infrared, Near Infrared, and 1H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopies for the Determination of Coffee's Geographical Origin

PubMed Central

Caro Rodríguez, Diana; Arana, Victoria A.; Bernal, Andrés; Esseiva, Pierre

2017-01-01

The sensorial properties of Colombian coffee are renowned worldwide, which is reflected in its market value. This raises the threat of fraud by adulteration using coffee grains from other countries, thus creating a demand for robust and cost-effective methods for the determination of geographical origin of coffee samples. Spectroscopic techniques such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), near infrared (NIR), and mid-infrared (mIR) have arisen as strong candidates for the task. Although a body of work exists that reports on their individual performances, a faithful comparison has not been established yet. We evaluated the performance of 1H-NMR, Attenuated Total Reflectance mIR (ATR-mIR), and NIR applied to fraud detection in Colombian coffee. For each technique, we built classification models for discrimination by species (C. arabica versus C. canephora (or robusta)) and by origin (Colombia versus other C. arabica) using a common set of coffee samples. All techniques successfully discriminated samples by species, as expected. Regarding origin determination, ATR-mIR and 1H-NMR showed comparable capacity to discriminate Colombian coffee samples, while NIR fell short by comparison. In conclusion, ATR-mIR, a less common technique in the field of coffee adulteration and fraud detection, emerges as a strong candidate, faster and with lower cost compared to 1H-NMR and more discriminating compared to NIR. PMID:29201055

Standoff detection of explosives and chemical agents using broadly tuned external-cavity quantum cascade lasers (EC-QCLs)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takeuchi, Eric B.; Rayner, Timothy; Weida, Miles; Crivello, Salvatore; Day, Timothy

2007-10-01

Civilian soft targets such as transportation systems are being targeted by terrorists using IEDs and suicide bombers. Having the capability to remotely detect explosives, precursors and other chemicals would enable these assets to be protected with minimal interruption of the flow of commerce. Mid-IR laser technology offers the potential to detect explosives and other chemicals in real-time and from a safe standoff distance. While many of these agents possess "fingerprint" signatures in the mid-IR (i.e. in the 3-20 micron regime), their effective interrogation by a practical, field-deployable system has been limited by size, complexity, reliability and cost constraints of the base laser technology. Daylight Solutions has addressed these shortcomings by developing compact, portable, broadly tunable mid-IR laser sources based upon external-cavity quantum cascade technology. This technology is now being applied by Daylight in system level architectures for standoff and remote detection of explosives, precursors and chemical agents. Several of these architectures and predicted levels of performance will be presented.

Qualification tests for {sup 192}Ir sealed sources

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

Iancso, Georgeta, E-mail: georgetaiancso@yahoo.com; Iliescu, Elena, E-mail: georgetaiancso@yahoo.com; Iancu, Rodica, E-mail: georgetaiancso@yahoo.com

This paper describes the results of qualification tests for {sup 192}Ir sealed sources, available in Testing and Nuclear Expertise Laboratory of National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering 'Horia Hulubei' (I.F.I.N.-HH), Romania. These sources had to be produced in I.F.I.N.-HH and were tested in order to obtain the authorization from The National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN). The sources are used for gammagraphy procedures or in gammadefectoscopy equipments. Tests, measurement methods and equipments used, comply with CNCAN, AIEA and International Quality Standards and regulations. The qualification tests are: 1. Radiological tests and measurements: dose equivalent rate at 1 m;more » tightness; dose equivalent rate at the surface of the transport and storage container; external unfixed contamination of the container surface. 2. Mechanical and climatic tests: thermal shock; external pressure; mechanic shock; vibrations; boring; thermal conditions for storage and transportation. Passing all tests, it was obtained the Radiological Security Authorization for producing the {sup 192}Ir sealed sources. Now IFIN-HH can meet many demands for this sealed sources, as the only manufacturer in Romania.« less

Variant ionotropic glutamate receptors as chemosensory receptors in Drosophila

PubMed Central

Benton, Richard; Vannice, Kirsten S.; Gomez-Diaz, Carolina; Vosshall, Leslie B.

2009-01-01

Summary Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) mediate neuronal communication at synapses throughout vertebrate and invertebrate nervous systems. We have characterized a novel family of iGluR-related genes in Drosophila, which we name Ionotropic Receptors (IRs). These receptors do not belong to the well-described Kainate, AMPA, or NMDA classes of iGluRs, and have divergent ligand-binding domains that lack their characteristic glutamate-interacting residues. IRs are expressed in a combinatorial fashion in sensory neurons that respond to many distinct odors but do not express either insect odorant receptors (ORs) or gustatory receptors (GRs). IR proteins accumulate in sensory dendrites and not at synapses. Mis-expression of IRs induces novel odor responses in ectopic neurons. Together, these results lead us to propose that the IRs comprise a novel family of chemosensory receptors. Conservation of IR/iGluR-related proteins in bacteria, plants, and animals suggests that this receptor family represents an evolutionarily ancient mechanism for sensing both internal and external chemical cues. PMID:19135896

Preferred mirror coatings for UV, visible, and IR space optical instruments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heaney, James B.; Kauder, Lonny R.; Freese, Scott C.; Quijada, Manuel A.

2012-09-01

This paper will review the suitability of the common four types of reflecting surfaces - Ag, Al, Au and Be - for use aboard satellite borne remote sensing and astrophysical observatories, from the uv to far-ir spectral bands. The choice of appropriate protecting and reflectance enhancing overcoats for these reflecting metals will be discussed. Laboratory test data and optical diagnostic techniques used to verify durability of the selected coatings in a terrestrial storage environment and their sensitivity to a space radiation and cold temperature environment will be presented. For some of the selected coatings, a connection will be made between pre-launch laboratory quality checks and post-launch performance on orbit.

Polar phonons in β-Ga2O3 studied by IR reflectance spectroscopy and first-principle calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azuhata, Takashi; Shimada, Kazuhiro

2017-08-01

IR reflectance spectra of β-Ga2O3 are measured in the range from 400 to 1100 cm-1 using the (\\bar{2}01) and (010) planes for pure transverse Au- and Bu-mode phonons, respectively. The spectra measured using the (010) plane depend remarkably on the polarization direction of the incident light because of the monoclinic symmetry. Reflectance spectra simulated using parameters obtained from first-principle calculations are in good agreement with the experimental spectra. By adjusting the calculated phonon parameters so as to reproduce the experimental spectra, the polar phonon parameters were determined for six modes above 400 cm-1.

Soil Moisture Sensing Using Reflected GPS Signals: Description of the GPS Soil Moisture Product.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larson, Kristine; Small, Eric; Chew, Clara

2015-04-01

As first demonstrated by the GPS reflections group in 2008, data from GPS networks can be used to monitor multiple parameters of the terrestrial water cycle. The GPS L-band signals take two paths: (1) the "direct" signal travels from the satellite to the antenna, which is typically located 2-3 meters above the ground; (2) the reflected signal interacts with the Earth's surface before traveling to the antenna. The direct signal is used by geophysicists and surveyors to measure the position of the antenna, while the effects of reflected signals are a source of error. If one focuses on the reflected signal rather than the positioning observables, one has a method that is sensitive to surface soil moisture (top 5 cm), vegetation water content, and snow depth. This method - known as GPS Interferometric Reflectometry (GPS-IR) - has a footprint of ~1000 m2 for most GPS sites. This is intermediate in scale to most in situ and satellite observations. A significant advantage of GPS-IR is that data from existing GPS networks can be used without any changes to the instrumentation. This means that there is a new source of cost-effective instrumentation for satellite validation and climate studies. This presentation will provide an overview of the GPS-IR methodology with an emphasis on the soil moisture product. GPS water cycle products are currently produced on a daily basis for a network of ~500 sites in the western United States; results are freely available at http://xenon.colorado.edu/portal. Plans to expand the GPS-IR method to the network of international GPS sites will also be discussed.

Inward rectifier potassium channels in the HL-1 cardiomyocyte-derived cell line.

PubMed

Goldoni, Dana; Zhao, YouYou; Green, Brian D; McDermott, Barbara J; Collins, Anthony

2010-11-01

HL-1 is a line of immortalized cells of cardiomyocyte origin that are a useful complement to native cardiomyocytes in studies of cardiac gene regulation. Several types of ion channel have been identified in these cells, but not the physiologically important inward rectifier K(+) channels. Our aim was to identify and characterize inward rectifier K(+) channels in HL-1 cells. External Ba(2+) (100 µM) inhibited 44 ± 0.05% (mean ± s.e.m., n = 11) of inward current in whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. The reversal potential of the Ba(2+)-sensitive current shifted with external [K(+)] as expected for K(+)-selective channels. The slope conductance of the inward Ba(2+)-sensitive current increased with external [K(+)]. The apparent Kd for Ba(2+) was voltage dependent, ranging from 15 µM at -150  mV to 148 µM at -75  mV in 120  mM external K(+). This current was insensitive to 10 µM glybenclamide. A component of whole-cell current was sensitive to 150 µM 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), although it did not correspond to the Ba(2+)-sensitive component. The effect of external 1 mM Cs(+) was similar to that of Ba(2+). Polymerase chain reaction using HL-1 cDNA as template and primers specific for the cardiac inward rectifier K(ir)2.1 produced a fragment of the expected size that was confirmed to be K(ir)2.1 by DNA sequencing. In conclusion, HL-1 cells express a current that is characteristic of cardiac inward rectifier K(+) channels, and express K(ir)2.1 mRNA. This cell line may have use as a system for studying inward rectifier gene regulation in a cardiomyocyte phenotype. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The excess infrared emission of Herbig Ae/Be stars - Disks or envelopes?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hartmann, Lee; Kenyon, Scott J.; Calvet, Nuria

1993-01-01

It is suggested that the near-IR emission in many Herbig Ae/Be stars arises in surrounding dusty envelopes, rather than circumstellar disks. It is shown that disks around Ae/Be stars are likely to remain optically thick at the required accretion rates. It is proposed that the IR excesses of many Ae/Be stars originate in surrounding dust nebulae instead of circumstellar disks. It is suggested that the near-IR emission of the envelope is enhanced by the same processes that produce anomalous strong continuum emission at temperatures of about 1000 K in reflection nebulae surrounding hot stars. This near-IR emission could be due to small grains transiently heated by UV photons. The dust envelopes could be associated with the primary star or a nearby companion star. Some Ae/Be stars show evidence for the 3.3-6.3-micron emission features seen in reflection nebulae around hot stars, which lends further support to this suggestion.

Detection of creatinine enriched on a surface imprinted polystyrene film using FT-ATR-IR.

PubMed

Sreenivasan, K

2006-01-01

The surface of polystyrene (PS) was chemically modified by coating a thin layer of polyaniline (PANI) by oxidizing aniline using ammonium persulfate. Affinity sites for creatinine, a clinically relevant molecule, were created in the coated layer by adding creatinine as print molecules during the oxidation. The imprinted layer adsorbed creatinine was compared to non-imprinted surface reflecting the creation of creatinine-specific sites on the surface. The equilibrium was attained rapidly, indicating that a material of this kind is suitable for sensing applications. The adsorbed creatinine on the surface was detected using the technique of Fourier transform attenuated total internal reflection infra red spectroscopy (FT-ATR-IR). The results show that molecularly imprinted surface can enrich molecules of interest and the enriched molecules can be detected using FT-IR.

Non-destructive component separation using infrared radiant energy

DOEpatents

Simandl, Ronald F [Knoxville, TN; Russell, Steven W [Knoxville, TN; Holt, Jerrid S [Knoxville, TN; Brown, John D [Harriman, TN

2011-03-01

A method for separating a first component and a second component from one another at an adhesive bond interface between the first component and second component. Typically the method involves irradiating the first component with infrared radiation from a source that radiates substantially only short wavelengths until the adhesive bond is destabilized, and then separating the first component and the second component from one another. In some embodiments an assembly of components to be debonded is placed inside an enclosure and the assembly is illuminated from an IR source that is external to the enclosure. In some embodiments an assembly of components to be debonded is simultaneously irradiated by a multi-planar array of IR sources. Often the IR radiation is unidirectional. In some embodiments the IR radiation is narrow-band short wavelength infrared radiation.

Optical and structural studies of films grown thermally on zirconium surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morgan, J. M.; McNatt, J. S.; Shepard, M. J.; Farkas, N.; Ramsier, R. D.

2002-06-01

Variable angle IR reflection spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy are used to determine the thickness and morphology of films grown thermally on Zr surfaces in air. The density and homogeneity of these films increases with temperature in the range studied (773-873 K) and growth at the highest temperature follows cubic rate law kinetics. We demonstrate a structure-property relationship for these thermally grown films and suggest the application of IR reflectivity as an inspection method during the growth of environmentally passive films on industrial Zr components.

Quantification of bovine immunoglobulin G using transmission and attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy.

PubMed

Elsohaby, Ibrahim; McClure, J Trenton; Riley, Christopher B; Shaw, R Anthony; Keefe, Gregory P

2016-01-01

In this study, we evaluated and compared the performance of transmission and attenuated total reflectance (ATR) infrared (IR) spectroscopic methods (in combination with quantification algorithms previously developed using partial least squares regression) for the rapid measurement of bovine serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration, and detection of failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) in dairy calves. Serum samples (n = 200) were collected from Holstein calves 1-11 days of age. Serum IgG concentrations were measured by the reference method of radial immunodiffusion (RID) assay, transmission IR (TIR) and ATR-IR spectroscopy-based assays. The mean IgG concentration measured by RID was 17.22 g/L (SD ±9.60). The mean IgG concentrations predicted by TIR and ATR-IR spectroscopy methods were 15.60 g/L (SD ±8.15) and 15.94 g/L (SD ±8.66), respectively. RID IgG concentrations were positively correlated with IgG levels predicted by TIR (r = 0.94) and ATR-IR (r = 0.92). The correlation between 2 IR spectroscopic methods was 0.94. Using an IgG concentration <10 g/L as the cut-point for FTPI cases, the overall agreement between TIR and ATR-IR methods was 94%, with a corresponding kappa value of 0.84. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy for identifying FTPI by TIR were 0.87, 0.97, 0.91, 0.95, and 0.94, respectively. Corresponding values for ATR-IR were 0.87, 0.95, 0.86, 0.95, and 0.93, respectively. Both TIR and ATR-IR spectroscopic approaches can be used for rapid quantification of IgG level in neonatal bovine serum and for diagnosis of FTPI in dairy calves. © 2015 The Author(s).

Transillumination and reflectance probes for in vivo near-IR imaging of dental caries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simon, Jacob C.; Lucas, Seth A.; Staninec, Michal; Tom, Henry; Chan, Kenneth H.; Darling, Cynthia L.; Fried, Daniel

2014-02-01

Previous studies have demonstrated the utility of near infrared (NIR) imaging for caries detection employing transillumination and reflectance imaging geometries. Three intra-oral NIR imaging probes were fabricated for the acquisition of in vivo, real time videos using a high definition InGaAs SWIR camera and near-IR broadband light sources. Two transillumination probes provide occlusal and interproximal images using 1300-nm light where water absorption is low and enamel manifests the highest transparency. A third reflectance probe utilizes cross polarization and operates at >1500-nm, where water absorption is higher which reduces the reflectivity of sound tissues, significantly increasing lesion contrast. These probes are being used in an ongoing clinical study to assess the diagnostic performance of NIR imaging for the detection of caries lesions in teeth scheduled for extraction for orthodontic reasons.

Punctuated Holocene climate of Vestfirðir, Iceland, linked to internal/external variables and oceanographic conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harning, David J.; Geirsdóttir, Áslaug; Miller, Gifford H.

2018-06-01

Emerging Holocene paleoclimate datasets point to a non-linear response of Icelandic climate against a background of steady orbital cooling. The Vestfirðir peninsula (NW Iceland) is an ideal target for continued climate reconstructions due to the presence of a small ice cap (Drangajökull) and numerous lakes, which provide two independent means to evaluate existing Icelandic climate records and to constrain the forcing mechanisms behind centennial-scale cold anomalies. Here, we present new evidence for Holocene expansions of Drangajökull based on 14C dates from entombed dead vegetation as well as two continuous Holocene lake sediment records. Lake sediments were analyzed for both bulk physical (MS) and biological (%TOC, δ13C, C/N, and BSi) parameters. Composite BSi and C/N records from the two lakes yield a sub-centennial qualitative perspective on algal (diatom) productivity and terrestrial landscape stability, respectively. The Vestfirðir lake proxies suggest initiation of the Holocene Thermal Maximum by ∼8.8 ka with subsequent and pronounced cooling not apparent until ∼3 ka. Synchronous periods of reduced algal productivity and accelerated landscape instability point to cold anomalies centered at ∼8.2, 6.6, 4.2, 3.3, 2.3, 1.8, 1, and 0.25 ka. Triggers for cold anomalies are linked to variable combinations of freshwater pulses, low total solar irradiance, explosive and effusive volcanism, and internal modes of climate variability, with cooling likely sustained by ocean/sea-ice feedbacks. The climate evolution reflected by our glacial and organic proxy records corresponds closely to marine records from the North Iceland Shelf.

An Intercomparison Between Radar Reflectivity and the IR Cloud Classification Technique for the TOGA-COARE Area

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carvalho, L. M. V.; Rickenbach, T.

1999-01-01

Satellite infrared (IR) and visible (VIS) images from the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere - Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA-COARE) experiment are investigated through the use of Clustering Analysis. The clusters are obtained from the values of IR and VIS counts and the local variance for both channels. The clustering procedure is based on the standardized histogram of each variable obtained from 179 pairs of images. A new approach to classify high clouds using only IR and the clustering technique is proposed. This method allows the separation of the enhanced convection in two main classes: convective tops, more closely related to the most active core of the storm, and convective systems, which produce regions of merged, thick anvil clouds. The resulting classification of different portions of cloudiness is compared to the radar reflectivity field for intensive events. Convective Systems and Convective Tops are followed during their life cycle using the IR clustering method. The areal coverage of precipitation and features related to convective and stratiform rain is obtained from the radar for each stage of the evolving Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCS). In order to compare the IR clustering method with a simple threshold technique, two IR thresholds (Tir) were used to identify different portions of cloudiness, Tir=240K which roughly defines the extent of all cloudiness associated with the MCS, and Tir=220K which indicates the presence of deep convection. It is shown that the IR clustering technique can be used as a simple alternative to identify the actual portion of convective and stratiform rainfall.

On the symmetry and crystal structures of Ba{sub 2}LaIrO{sub 6}

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

Fu, W.T., E-mail: w.fu@chem.leidenuniv.n; Goetz, R.J.; IJdo, D.J.W.

2010-02-15

Accurate profile analysis of X-ray diffraction data was carried out to settle recent dispute on the symmetry and crystal structures of the double perovskite Ba{sub 2}LaIrO{sub 6}. Even through careful comparison of the full-width at half-maximum values, we found no evidence for Ba{sub 2}LaIrO{sub 6} adopting either monoclinic (I2/m) or mixed rhombohedral (R3-bar) and monoclinic (I2/m) structures at room temperature, becoming triclinic (I1-bar) at below about 200 K. The correct space group is just R3-bar at temperatures between 82 and 653 K. Furthermore, the R3-bar->Fm3-barm phase transition does occur in Ba{sub 2}LaIrO{sub 6}, but the transition temperature is found tomore » be much higher than the reported value. - Graphical abstract: Observed (crosses) and calculated (continuous line) profiles of Ba{sub 2}LaIrO{sub 6} at some selected temperature showing the region containing the basic (222), (321) and (400) reflections. Tick marks below indicate the positions of the allowed Bragg's reflections.« less

Visualizing Chemistry with Infrared Imaging

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Xie, Charles

2011-01-01

Almost all chemical processes release or absorb heat. The heat flow in a chemical system reflects the process it is undergoing. By showing the temperature distribution dynamically, infrared (IR) imaging provides a salient visualization of the process. This paper presents a set of simple experiments based on IR imaging to demonstrate its enormous…

Detection of starch adulteration in onion powder by FT-NIR and FT-IR spectroscopy

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Adulteration of onion powder with cornstarch was identified by Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The reflectance spectra of 180 pure and adulterated samples (1–35 wt% starch) were collected and preprocessed to generate calibration and predi...

FT-IR examination of the development of secondary cell wall in cotton fibers

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The secondary cell wall development of cotton fibers harvested at 18, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36 and 40 days after flowering was examined using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform-infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy. Generally, a progressive intensity increase for bands assigned to cellulose Iß was ...

Reflectance characteristics of dry plant materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elvidge, Christopher D.

1987-01-01

Chlorophyll and water obscure the absorption features of all other leaf constituents in the spectra of green leaves. The predominant near-IR and thermal IR spectral features of dry plant materials originate from lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. These compounds account for 80 to 98 percent of the dry weight in most plant materials.

Generating evidence for health policy in challenging settings: lessons learned from four prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV implementation research studies in Nigeria.

PubMed

Sam-Agudu, Nadia A; Aliyu, Muktar H; Adeyemi, Olusegun A; Oronsaye, Frank; Oyeledun, Bolanle; Ogidi, Amaka G; Ezeanolue, Echezona E

2018-04-17

Implementation research (IR) facilitates health systems strengthening and optimal patient outcomes by generating evidence for scale-up of efficacious strategies in context. Thus, difficulties in generating IR evidence, particularly in limited-resource settings with wide disease prevention and treatment gaps, need to be anticipated and addressed. Nigeria is a priority country for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). This paper analyses the experiences of four PMTCT IR studies in Nigeria, and proffers solutions to major challenges encountered during implementation. Multicentre PMTCT IR studies conducted in Nigeria during the Global Plan's assessment period (2011 to 2015) were included. Four studies were identified, namely The Baby Shower Trial, Optimizing PMTCT, MoMent and Lafiyan Jikin Mata. Major common challenges encountered were categorised as 'External' (beyond the control of study teams) and 'Internal' (amenable to rectification by study teams). External challenges included healthcare worker strikes and turnover, acts and threats of ethnic and political violence and terrorism, and multiplicity of required local ethical reviews. Internal challenges included limited research capacity among study staff, research staff turnover and travel restrictions hindering study site visits. Deliberate research capacity-building was provided to study staff through multiple opportunities before and during study implementation. Post-study employment opportunities and pathways for further research career-building are suggested as incentives for study staff retention. Engagement of study community-resident personnel minimised research staff turnover in violence-prone areas. The IR environment in Nigeria is extremely diverse and challenging, yet, with local experience and anticipatory planning, innovative solutions can be implemented to modulate internal challenges. Issues still remain with healthcare worker strikes and often unpredictable insecurity. There is a dire need for cooperation between institutional review boards across Nigeria in order to minimise the multiplicity of reviews for multicentre studies. External challenges need to be addressed by high-level stakeholders, given Nigeria's crucial regional and global position in the fight against the HIV epidemic.

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

Johnson, D.W.; Safai, C.; Goffinet, D.R.

Eleven patients with obstructive jaundice from unresectable cholangiocarcinoma, metastatic porta hepatis adenopathy, or direct compression from a pancreatic malignancy were treated at the Stanford University Medical Center from 1978-1983 with an external drainage procedure followed by high-dose external-beam radiotherapy and by an intracavitary boost to the site of obstruction with Iridium/sup 192/ (Ir/sup 192/). A median dose of 5000 cGy was delivered with 4-6 Mv photons to the tumor bed and regional lymphatics in 9 patients, 1 patient received 2100 cGy to the liver in accelerated fractions because of extensive intrahepatic disease, and 1 patient received 7000 equivalent cGy tomore » his pancreatic tumor bed and regional lymphatics with neon heavy particles. An Ir/sup 192/ wire source later delivered a 3100-10,647 cGy boost to the site of biliary obstruction in each patient, for a mean combined dose of 10,202 cGy to a point 5 mm from the line source. Few acute complications were noted, but 3/11 patients (27%) subsequently developed upper gastrointestinal bleeding from duodenitis or frank duodenal ulceration 4 weeks, 4 months, and 7.5 months following treatment. Eight patients died - 5 with local recurrence +/- distant metastasis, 2 with sepsis, and 1 with widespread systemic metastasis. Autopsies revealed no evidence of biliary tree obstruction in 3/3 patients. Evolution of radiation treatment technqiues for biliary obstruction in the literature is reviewed. High-dose external-beam therapy followed by high-dose Ir/sup 192/ intracavitary boost is well tolerated and provides significant palliation.« less

Preparation and microwave-infrared absorption of reduced graphene oxide/Cu-Ni ferrite/Al2O3 composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De-yue, Ma; Xiao-xia, Li; Yu-xiang, Guo; Yu-run, Zeng

2018-01-01

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/Cu-Ni ferrite/Al2O3 composite was prepared by solvothermal method, and its properties were characterized by SEM, x-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and FTIR. The electromagnetic parameters in 2-18 GHz and mid-infrared (IR) spectral transmittance of the composite were measured, respectively. The results show that Cu0.7Ni0.3Fe2O4 nanoparticles with an average size of tens nanometers adsorb on surface of RGO, and meanwhile, Al2O3 nanoparticles adhere to the surface of Cu0.7Ni0.3Fe2O4 nanoparticles and RGO. The composite has both dielectric and magnetic loss mechanism. Its reflection loss is lower than -19 dB in 2-18 GHz, and the maximum of -23.2 dB occurs at 15.6 GHz. With the increasing of Al2O3 amount, its reflection loss becomes lower and the maximum moves towards low frequency slightly. Compared with RGO/Cu-Ni ferrite composites, its magnetic loss and reflection loss slightly reduce with the increasing of Al2O3 amount, and the maximum of reflection loss shifts from a low frequency to a high one. However, its broadband IR absorption is significantly enhanced owing to nano-Al2O3. Therefore, RGO/Cu-Ni ferrite/Al2O3 composites can be used as excellent broadband microwave and IR absorbing materials, and maybe have broad application prospect in electromagnetic shielding, IR absorbing and coating materials.

Thermal and vibration testing of ruggedized IR-transmitting fiber cables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Busse, Lynda; Kung, Fred; Florea, Catalin; Shaw, Brandon; Aggarwal, Ishwar; Sanghera, Jas

2013-05-01

We present successful results obtained for thermal/ vibration testing of ruggedized, IR-transmitting chalcogenide glass fiber cables using a government facility with state-of-the-art equipment capable of MIL-SPEC environmental testing. We will also present results of a direct imprinting process to create novel "moth eye" patterned surfaces on the IR fiber cable ends that significantly reduces endface reflection losses from 17% to less than 3%. The cables with these imprinted "moth eye" ends transmit much higher IR laser power without damage than was obtained for previous cables with traditional AR coatings.

LASER APPLICATIONS AND OTHER TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS: Matrix laser IR-visible image converter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lipatov, N. I.; Biryukov, A. S.

2006-04-01

A new type of a focal matrix IR-visible image converter is proposed. The pixel IR detectors of the matrix are tunable microcavities of VCSEL (vertical-cavity surface emitting laser) semiconductor microstructures. The image conversion is performed due to the displacements of highly reflecting cavity mirrors caused by thermoelastic stresses in their microsuspensions appearing upon absorption of IR radiation. Analysis of the possibilities of the converter shows that its sensitivity is 10-3-10-2 K and the time response is 10-4-10-3 s. These characteristics determine the practical application of the converter.

Design and Analysis of an Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem (ADCS) for AFIT’s 6U Standard Bus

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-27

Fault Detection and Isolation GUI Graphical User Interface IGRF International Geomagnetic Reference Field IMU Inertial Measurement Unit IR infrared xv...ADCS hardware components were either commercially purchased or built in-house and include an Inertial Measurement Unit ( IMU ), external magnetometer, 4...3.2.1.3 IMU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 3.2.1.4 External Magnetometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 3.2.2

Characterization and identification of microorganisms by FT-IR microspectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ngo-Thi, N. A.; Kirschner, C.; Naumann, D.

2003-12-01

We report on a novel FT-IR approach for microbial characterization/identification based on a light microscope coupled to an infrared spectrometer which offers the possibility to acquire IR-spectra of microcolonies containing only few hundred cells. Microcolony samples suitable for FT-IR microspectroscopic measurements were obtained by a replica technique with a stamping device that transfers spatially accurate cells of microcolonies growing on solid culture plates to a special, IR-transparent or reflecting stamping plate. High quality spectra could be recorded either by applying the transmission/absorbance or the reflectance/absorbance mode of the infrared microscope. Signal to noise ratios higher than 1000 were obtained for microcolonies as small as 40 μm in diameter. Reproducibility levels were established that allowed species and strain identification. The differentiation and classification capacity of the FT-IR microscopic technique was tested for different selected microorganisms. Cluster and factor analysis methods were used to evaluate the complex spectral data. Excellent discrimination between bacteria and yeasts, and at the same time Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains was obtained. Twenty-two selected strains of different species within the genus Staphylococcus were repetitively measured and could be grouped into correct species cluster. Moreover, the results indicated that the method allows also identifications at the subspecies level. Additionally, the new approach allowed spectral mapping analysis of single colonies which provided spatially resolved characterization of growth heterogeneity within complex microbial populations such as colonies.

Cleanliness evaluation of rough surfaces with diffuse IR reflectance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pearson, L. H.

1995-01-01

Contamination on bonding surfaces has been determined to be a primary cause for degraded bond strength in certain solid rocket motor bondlines. Hydrocarbon and silicone based organic contaminants that are airborne or directly introduced to a surface are a significant source of contamination. Diffuse infrared (IR) reflectance has historically been used as an effective technique for detection of organic contaminants, however, common laboratory methods involving the use of a Fourier transform IR spectrometer (FTIR) are impractical for inspecting the large bonding surface areas found on solid rocket motors. Optical methods involving the use of acousto-optic tunable filters and fixed bandpass optical filters are recommended for increased data acquisition speed. Testing and signal analysis methods are presented which provide for simultaneous measurement of contamination concentration and roughness level on rough metal surfaces contaminated with hydrocarbons.

System and method for online inspection of turbines using an optical tube with broadspectrum mirrors

DOEpatents

Baleine, Erwan

2015-12-22

An optical inspection system for nondestructive internal visual inspection and non-contact infra-red (IR) temperature monitoring of an online, operating power generation turbine. The optical inspection system includes an optical tube having a viewing port, at least one reflective mirror or a mirror array having a reflectivity spectral range from 550 nm to 20 .mu.m, and capable of continuous operation at temperatures greater than 932 degrees Fahrenheit (500 degrees Celsius), and a transparent window with high transmission within the same spectral range mounted distal the viewing port. The same optical mirror array may be used to measure selectively surface temperature of metal turbine blades in the near IR range (approximately 1 .mu.m wavelength) and of thermal barrier coated turbine blades in the long IR range (approximately 10 .mu.m wavelength).

Magnetocaloric effect in Sr2CrIrO6 double perovskite: Monte Carlo simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El Rhazouani, O.; Slassi, A.; Ziat, Y.; Benyoussef, A.

2017-05-01

Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) combined with the Metropolis algorithm has been performed to study the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in the promising double perovskite (DP) Sr2CrIrO6 that has not so far been synthetized. This paper presents the global magneto-thermodynamic behavior of Sr2CrIrO6 compound in term of MCE and discusses the behavior in comparison to other DPs. Thermal dependence of the magnetization has been investigated for different values of reduced external magnetic field. Thermal magnetic entropy and its change have been obtained. The adiabatic temperature change and the relative cooling power have been established. Through the obtained results, Sr2CrIrO6 DP could have some potential applications for magnetic refrigeration over a wide temperature range above room temperature and at large magnetic fields.

Effects of nitrogen fertilization on growth and reflectance characteristics of winter wheat

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hinzman, L. D.; Bauer, M. E.; Daughtry, C. S. T.

1986-01-01

The use of remote sensing to determine seasonal changes in agronomic and spectral properties of winter wheat canopies with different levels of N fertilization is investigated. Field experiments were conducted at Purdue Agronomy Farm, West Lafayette, IN during the 1978-1979 and 1979-1980 growing season. Spectral reflectance, total leaf N concentration, leaf chlorophyll concentration, leaf are index (LAI), and fresh and dry phytomass are measured and analyzed. Three distinct wheat canopies are detected for the O, 60, and 120 kg N/ha levels of fertilization; it is observed that with an increase in N the reflectance in the visible, and middle IR wavelengths decrease, and the IR reflectance is increased. The canopies with 120 kg N/ha display the highest LAI, maintain green leaf area the longest, and increase in fresh and dry phytomass. The relationship between spectral and agronomic variables is examined; the effect of changing chlorophyll concentration and LAI on the reflectance is studied.

Thermo-Reflectance Spectra of Eros: Unambiguous Detection of Olivine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lucey, P. G.; Hinrichs, J. L.; Urquhart-Kelly, M.; Wellnitz, D.; Bell, J. F., III; Clark, B. E.

2001-01-01

Olivine is readily detected on 433 Eros using the new thermo-reflectance spectral technique applied to near-IR spectra obtained at Eros by the NEAR spacecraft. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Investigation of Electrostatic Charge in Hose Lines

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-10-01

of the system. A INSULATORINSULATOR Ir1 Q Q dH vH A INSULATORINSULATOR Ir2 Q dm dl 2 vm LmLH S1 S2 S3EXTERNAL WIRE BRAID ON HOSE vl 2vm dm Lm dl...sizes of fuel hoses , including hoses with and without integrally bonded grounding wire braid ; (4) Different lengths of hose test sections; (5...Different earth grounding contact conditions along the hose test section, such as: (i) Complete insulation from the ground; (ii) Wire braid conductor along

External cavity-quantum cascade laser infrared spectroscopy for secondary structure analysis of proteins at low concentrations

PubMed Central

Schwaighofer, Andreas; Alcaráz, Mirta R.; Araman, Can; Goicoechea, Héctor; Lendl, Bernhard

2016-01-01

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy are analytical techniques employed for the analysis of protein secondary structure. The use of CD spectroscopy is limited to low protein concentrations (<2 mg ml−1), while FTIR spectroscopy is commonly used in a higher concentration range (>5 mg ml−1). Here we introduce a quantum cascade laser (QCL)-based IR transmission setup for analysis of protein and polypeptide secondary structure at concentrations as low as 0.25 mg ml−1 in deuterated buffer solution. We present dynamic QCL-IR spectra of the temperature-induced α-helix to β-sheet transition of poly-L-lysine. The concentration dependence of the α-β transition temperature between 0.25 and 10 mg ml−1 was investigated by QCL-IR, FTIR and CD spectroscopy. By using QCL-IR spectroscopy it is possible to perform IR spectroscopic analysis in the same concentration range as CD spectroscopy, thus enabling a combined analysis of biomolecules secondary structure by CD and IR spectroscopy. PMID:27633337

External cavity-quantum cascade laser infrared spectroscopy for secondary structure analysis of proteins at low concentrations.

PubMed

Schwaighofer, Andreas; Alcaráz, Mirta R; Araman, Can; Goicoechea, Héctor; Lendl, Bernhard

2016-09-16

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy are analytical techniques employed for the analysis of protein secondary structure. The use of CD spectroscopy is limited to low protein concentrations (<2 mg ml(-1)), while FTIR spectroscopy is commonly used in a higher concentration range (>5 mg ml(-1)). Here we introduce a quantum cascade laser (QCL)-based IR transmission setup for analysis of protein and polypeptide secondary structure at concentrations as low as 0.25 mg ml(-1) in deuterated buffer solution. We present dynamic QCL-IR spectra of the temperature-induced α-helix to β-sheet transition of poly-L-lysine. The concentration dependence of the α-β transition temperature between 0.25 and 10 mg ml(-1) was investigated by QCL-IR, FTIR and CD spectroscopy. By using QCL-IR spectroscopy it is possible to perform IR spectroscopic analysis in the same concentration range as CD spectroscopy, thus enabling a combined analysis of biomolecules secondary structure by CD and IR spectroscopy.

Twisted Hubbard model for Sr2IrO4: magnetism and possible high temperature superconductivity.

PubMed

Wang, Fa; Senthil, T

2011-04-01

Sr(2)IrO(4) has been suggested as a Mott insulator from a single J(eff)=1/2 band, similar to the cuprates. However, this picture is complicated by the measured large magnetic anisotropy and ferromagnetism. Based on a careful mapping to the J(eff)=1/2 (pseudospin-1/2) space, we propose that the low energy electronic structure of Sr(2)IrO(4) can indeed be described by a SU(2) invariant pseudospin-1/2 Hubbard model very similar to that of the cuprates, but with a twisted coupling to an external magnetic field (a g tensor with a staggered antisymmetric component). This perspective naturally explains the magnetic properties of Sr(2)IrO(4). We also derive several simple facts based on this mapping and the known results about the Hubbard model and the cuprates, which may be tested in future experiments on Sr(2)IrO(4). In particular, we propose that (electron-)doping Sr(2)IrO(4) can potentially realize high-temperature superconductivity. © 2011 American Physical Society

Plant cover, soil temperature, freeze, water stress, and evapotranspiration conditions. [south Texas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wiegand, C. L.; Nixon, P. R.; Gausman, H. W.; Namken, L. N.; Leamer, R. W.; Richardson, A. J. (Principal Investigator)

1981-01-01

Emissive and reflective data for 10 days, and IR data for 6 nights in south Texas scenes were analyzed after procedures were developed for removing cloud-affected data. HCMM radiometric temperatures were: within 2 C of dewpoint temperatures on nights when air temperature approached dewpoint temperatures; significantly correlated with variables important in evapotranspiration; and, related to freeze severity and planting depth soil temperatures. Vegetation greenness indexes calculated from visible and reflective IR bands of NOAA-6 to -9 meteorological satellites will be useful in the AgRISTARS program for seasonal crop development, crop condition, and drought applications.

Centrifugal ultrafiltration of human serum for improving immunoglobulin A quantification using attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy.

PubMed

Elsohaby, Ibrahim; McClure, J Trenton; Riley, Christopher B; Bryanton, Janet; Bigsby, Kathryn; Shaw, R Anthony

2018-02-20

Attenuated total reflectance infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy is a simple, rapid and cost-effective method for the analysis of serum. However, the complex nature of serum remains a limiting factor to the reliability of this method. We investigated the benefits of coupling the centrifugal ultrafiltration with ATR-IR spectroscopy for quantification of human serum IgA concentration. Human serum samples (n = 196) were analyzed for IgA using an immunoturbidimetric assay. ATR-IR spectra were acquired for whole serum samples and for the retentate (residue) reconstituted with saline following 300 kDa centrifugal ultrafiltration. IR-based analytical methods were developed for each of the two spectroscopic datasets, and the accuracy of each of the two methods compared. Analytical methods were based upon partial least squares regression (PLSR) calibration models - one with 5-PLS factors (for whole serum) and the second with 9-PLS factors (for the reconstituted retentate). Comparison of the two sets of IR-based analytical results to reference IgA values revealed improvements in the Pearson correlation coefficient (from 0.66 to 0.76), and the root mean squared error of prediction in IR-based IgA concentrations (from 102 to 79 mg/dL) for the ultrafiltration retentate-based method as compared to the method built upon whole serum spectra. Depleting human serum low molecular weight proteins using a 300 kDa centrifugal filter thus enhances the accuracy IgA quantification by ATR-IR spectroscopy. Further evaluation and optimization of this general approach may ultimately lead to routine analysis of a range of high molecular-weight analytical targets that are otherwise unsuitable for IR-based analysis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Appearance of medium-large drusen and reticular pseudodrusen on adaptive optics in age-related macular degeneration.

PubMed

Querques, Giuseppe; Kamami-Levy, Cynthia; Blanco-Garavito, Rocio; Georges, Anouk; Pedinielli, Alexandre; Capuano, Vittorio; Poulon, Fanny; Souied, Eric H

2014-11-01

To investigate the appearance of medium-large drusen and reticular pseudodrusen on adaptive optics (AO). In 14 consecutive patients, AO infrared (IR) images were overlaid with confocal scanning-laser-ophthalmoscope IR reflectance images and IR-referenced spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. In eight eyes of six patients, a total of 19 images of medium-large drusen were investigated by AO imaging. En face AO revealed medium-large drusen as highly hyper-reflective round/oval lesions, always centred and/or surrounded by a continuous/discontinuous hyporeflectivity. Cone photoreceptors were detected overlying drusen, appearing either as continuous 'bright' hyper-reflective dots over a 'dark' hyporeflective background, or as continuous 'dark' hyporeflective dots over a 'bright' hyper-reflective background. In eight eyes from eight patients, a total of 14 images of pseudodrusen were investigated by AO imaging. En face AO revealed reticular pseudodrusen as isoreflective lesions, always surrounded by a continuous/discontinuous hyporeflectivity. Cone photoreceptors were detected overlying pseudodrusen as 'bright' hyper-reflective dots over either a hyporeflective or isoreflective background. No 'dark' hyporeflective dots were detected in eyes with reticular pseudodrusen only. Cone photoreceptors were counted on the border of the drusen and pseudodrusen, respectively, and in a visibly healthy zone in its absolute vicinity. A similar decrease in cone appearance was observed for drusen and pseudodrusen (15.7% vs 16.2%). AO allows differences in reflectivity between medium-large drusen and reticular pseudodrusen to be appreciated. The cone mosaics may be detected as continuous 'bright' hyper-reflective dots overlying/on the border of drusen and pseudodrusen deposits, and possibly as continuous 'dark' hyporeflective dots overlying drusen only. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Adsorption and photodecomposition of Mo(CO)[sub 6] on Si(111) 7[times]7: An infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy study

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

Richter, L.J.; Buntin, S.A.; Chu, P.M.

1994-02-15

The adsorption and photodecomposition of Mo(CO)[sub 6] adsorbed on Si(111) 7[times]7 surfaces has been studied with Auger electron spectroscopy, temperature programmed desorption, low energy electron diffraction and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy in a single external reflection configuration. The external-reflection technique is demonstrated to have adequate sensitivity to characterize submonolayer coverages of photogenerated Mo(CO)[sub [ital x

Discrimination of edible oils and fats by combination of multivariate pattern recognition and FT-IR spectroscopy: A comparative study between different modeling methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Javidnia, Katayoun; Parish, Maryam; Karimi, Sadegh; Hemmateenejad, Bahram

2013-03-01

By using FT-IR spectroscopy, many researchers from different disciplines enrich the experimental complexity of their research for obtaining more precise information. Moreover chemometrics techniques have boosted the use of IR instruments. In the present study we aimed to emphasize on the power of FT-IR spectroscopy for discrimination between different oil samples (especially fat from vegetable oils). Also our data were used to compare the performance of different classification methods. FT-IR transmittance spectra of oil samples (Corn, Colona, Sunflower, Soya, Olive, and Butter) were measured in the wave-number interval of 450-4000 cm-1. Classification analysis was performed utilizing PLS-DA, interval PLS-DA, extended canonical variate analysis (ECVA) and interval ECVA methods. The effect of data preprocessing by extended multiplicative signal correction was investigated. Whilst all employed method could distinguish butter from vegetable oils, iECVA resulted in the best performances for calibration and external test set with 100% sensitivity and specificity.

Detection of Soluble and Fixed NH4+ in Clay Minerals by DTA and IR Reflectance Spectroscopy : A Potential Tool for Planetary Surface Exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Janice, Bishop; Banin, A.; Mancinelli, R. L.; Klovstad, M. R.; DeVincenzi, Donald L. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Nitrogen is an essential element for life. It is the only element among the six major biogenic elements, C, O, S, O, P, H, whose presence in the Martian soil has not been positively and directly established. We describe here a study assessing the ability to detect NH4 in soils by two methods: differential thermal analysis (DTA) and infrared (IR) reflectance spectroscopy. Four standard clay minerals (kaolinite, montmorillonite, illite and attapulgite) and an altered tephra sample from Mauna Kea were treated with NH4 in this study. Samples of the NH4-treated and leached clays were analyzed by DTA and infrared (IR) reflectance spectroscopy to quantify the delectability of soluble and sorbed/fixed NH4. An exotherm at 270-280 C was clearly detected in the DTA curves of NH4-treated (non-leached) samples. This feature is assigned to the thermal decomposition reaction of NH4. Spectral bands observed at 1.56, 2.05, 2.12, 3.06, 3.3, 3.5, 5.7 and 7.0 microns in the reflectance spectra of NH4-treated and leached samples are assigned to the sorbed/fixed ammonium in the clays. The montmorillonite has shown the most intense absorbance due to fixed ammonium among the leached samples in this study, as a result of its high cation sorption capacity. It is concluded that the presence of sorbed or fixed NH4 in clays may be detected by infrared (IR) reflectance or emission spectroscopy. Distinction between soluble and sorbed NH4 may be achieved through the presence or absence of several spectral features assigned to the sorbed NH4 moietyi and, specifically, by use of the 4.2 micrometer feature assigned to solution NH4. Thermal analyses furnish supporting evidence of ammonia in our study through detection of N released at temperatures of 270-330 C. Based on these results it is estimated that IR spectra measured from a rover should be able to detect ammonia if present above 20 mg NH4/g sample in the surface layers. Orbital IR spectra and thermal analyses measured on a rover may be able to detect ammonia in soils as well but at higher abundances. The spectral features at 3.06 and 7.0 microns due to bound NH4 in clays and altered Hawaiian tephra appear to be the most promising for detection by orbital spectrometers. If N species are present on Mars the sedimentary deposits may be the best regions to look for them.

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy imaging of live epithelial cancer cells under non-aqueous media.

PubMed

Soh, JunYi; Chueng, Adeline; Adio, Aminat; Cooper, Alan J; Birch, Brian R; Lwaleed, Bashir A

2013-04-01

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) imaging is increasingly being applied to biomedical specimens, but strong IR absorption by water complicates live cell imaging. This study investigates the viability of adherent epithelial cells maintained for short periods under mineral oils in order to facilitate live cell spectroscopy using FT-IR with subsequent imaging. The MGH-U1 urothelial or CaCo2 colorectal cancer cell lines were grown on plastic surfaces or mid-range infrared transparent windows. Medium in established cultures was replaced with paraffin mineral oil, or Fluorolube, for up to 2 h, and viability assessed by supravital staining. Drug handling characteristics were also assessed. Imaging of preparations was attempted by reflectance and transmission using a Varian FT-IR microscope. Cells covered by mineral oil remained viable for 2 h, with recovery into normal medium possible. MTT ((3-(4,5-dimethylthlazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium) conversion to crystalline formazan and differential patterns of drug uptake were maintained. The combination of a calcium fluoride substrate, Fluorolube oil, and transmission optics proved best for spectroscopy. Spectral features were used to obtain images of live cells. The viability of cells overlaid with IR transparent oils was assessed as part of a technique to optimise conditions for FT-IR imaging. Images of untreated cells were obtained using both reflectance and transmission. This represents an effective means of imaging live cells by IR spectroscopy, and also means that imaging is not necessarily a terminal event. It also increases options for producing images based on real-time biochemistry in a range of in vitro experimental and 'optical biopsy' contexts.

Potential Second-Harmonic Ghost Bands in Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Difference Spectroscopy of Proteins.

PubMed

Ito, Shota; Kandori, Hideki; Lorenz-Fonfria, Victor A

2018-06-01

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) difference absorption spectroscopy is a common method for studying the structural and dynamical aspects behind protein function. In particular, the 2800-1800 cm -1 spectral range has been used to obtain information about internal (deuterated) water molecules, as well as site-specific details about cysteine residues and chemically modified and artificial amino acids. Here, we report on the presence of ghost bands in cryogenic light-induced FT-IR difference spectra of the protein bacteriorhodopsin. The presence of these ghost bands can be particularly problematic in the 2800-1900 cm -1 region, showing intensities similar to O-D vibrations from water molecules. We demonstrate that they arise from second harmonics from genuine chromophore bands located in the 1400-850 cm -1 region, generated by double-modulation artifacts caused from reflections of the IR beam at the sample and at the cryostat windows back to the interferometer (inter-reflections). The second-harmonic ghost bands can be physically removed by placing an optical filter of suitable cutoff in the beam path, but at the cost of losing part of the multiplexing advantage of FT-IR spectroscopy. We explored alternatives to the use of optical filters. Tilting the cryostat windows was effective in reducing the intensity of the second harmonic artifacts but tilting the sample windows was not, presumably by their close proximity to the focal point of the IR beam. We also introduce a simple numerical post-processing approach that can partially, but not fully, correct for second-harmonic ghost bands in FT-IR difference spectra.

General characteristics and availability of Landsat 3 and heat capacity mapping mission thermal infrared data

USGS Publications Warehouse

Southworth, C. Scott

1983-01-01

Two satellite systems launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1978 carried sensors which operated in the thermal infrared (IR) region of the electromagnetic spectrum, The final IR radiation data provide spectral information about the physical properties of the Earth's surficial materials not duplicated in either the visible or reflective IR wavelength regions. Landsat 3, launched on March 5, 1978, contained a thermal sensor as part of the multispectral scanner (MSS) system. The sensor operated in the 10.4- to 12.6-?m (band 8) wavelength region and produced imagery with a ground resolution of approximately 235 m. Launched on April 26) 1978) the Heat Capacity Mapping Mission (HCMM) spacecraft carried a sensor, the heat capacity mapping radiometer (HCMR) which operated in the 10.5- to 12.5?m wavelength region and produced imagery with a ground resolution of approximately 600 m at nadir. The HCMM satellite acquired over 6,600 data passes of visible (0.55-1.1 ?m), as well as thermal IR data, over North America, Europe, and Australia. General characteristics and availability of Landsat 3 and HCMM thermal IR data are discussed. Landsat 3 reflected IR band 7 (0.55-1.1 ?m) and Landsat 3 band 8 thermal data acquired over the eastern and western United States are analyzed and compared with HCMM visible, thermal IR, thermal inertia, and day-night temperature difference imagery for geologic applications. Digitally processed and enhanced HCMM data (high-pass filters, diagonal derivatives, and band ratios), produced by the U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff) Ariz., are presented for geologic interpretation.

Experimental implementations of 2D IR spectroscopy through a horizontal pulse shaper design and a focal plane array detector

PubMed Central

Ghosh, Ayanjeet; Serrano, Arnaldo L.; Oudenhoven, Tracey A.; Ostrander, Joshua S.; Eklund, Elliot C.; Blair, Alexander F.; Zanni, Martin T.

2017-01-01

Aided by advances in optical engineering, two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy (2D IR) has developed into a promising method for probing structural dynamics in biophysics and material science. We report two new advances for 2D IR spectrometers. First, we report a fully reflective and totally horizontal pulse shaper, which significantly simplifies alignment. Second, we demonstrate the applicability of mid-IR focal plane arrays (FPAs) as suitable detectors in 2D IR experiments. FPAs have more pixels than conventional linear arrays and can be used to multiplex optical detection. We simultaneously measure the spectra of a reference beam, which improves the signal-to-noise by a factor of 4; and two additional beams that are orthogonally polarized probe pulses for 2D IR anisotropy experiments. PMID:26907414

2D surface temperature measurement of plasma facing components with modulated active pyrometry

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

Amiel, S.; Loarer, T.; Pocheau, C.

2014-10-01

In nuclear fusion devices, such as Tore Supra, the plasma facing components (PFC) are in carbon. Such components are exposed to very high heat flux and the surface temperature measurement is mandatory for the safety of the device and also for efficient plasma scenario development. Besides this measurement is essential to evaluate these heat fluxes for a better knowledge of the physics of plasma-wall interaction, it is also required to monitor the fatigue of PFCs. Infrared system (IR) is used to manage to measure surface temperature in real time. For carbon PFCs, the emissivity is high and known (ε ~more » 0.8), therefore the contribution of the reflected flux from environment and collected by the IR cameras can be neglected. However, the future tokamaks such as WEST and ITER will be equipped with PFCs in metal (W and Be/W, respectively) with low and variable emissivities (ε ~ 0.1–0.4). Consequently, the reflected flux will contribute significantly in the collected flux by IR camera. The modulated active pyrometry, using a bicolor camera, proposed in this paper allows a 2D surface temperature measurement independently of the reflected fluxes and the emissivity. Experimental results with Tungsten sample are reported and compared with simultaneous measurement performed with classical pyrometry (monochromatic and bichromatic) with and without reflective flux demonstrating the efficiency of this method for surface temperature measurement independently of the reflected flux and the emissivity.« less

Electronic structure and magnetic properties of Dy adatom on Ir surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shick, A. B.; Lichtenstein, A. I.

2018-05-01

The electronic structure and magnetism of individual Dy atom adsorbed on the (1 1 1) surface of Ir is investigated using the combination of the density functional theory with the Hubbard-I approximation to the Anderson impurity model (DFT + HIA). The Dy3+ adatom is found magnetic with the magnetic moment of 9.35μB in the external magnetic field. The spin and orbital magnetic moments, and their ratio are evaluated, and compared with the X-ray magnetic circular dichroism data. The positive magnetic anisotropy energy of ≈ 1.3 meV determines the out-of-plane orientation of the Dy adatom magnetic moment. The role of 5d-4f interorbital exchange polarization in modification of the 4f shell energy spectrum is emphasized. We predict the Dy magnetization to drop by the factor of three with switching off the external magnetic field.

Convective heat transfer and infrared thermography.

PubMed

Carlomagno, Giovanni M; Astarita, Tommaso; Cardone, Gennaro

2002-10-01

Infrared (IR) thermography, because of its two-dimensional and non-intrusive nature, can be exploited in industrial applications as well as in research. This paper deals with measurement of convective heat transfer coefficients (h) in three complex fluid flow configurations that concern the main aspects of both internal and external cooling of turbine engine components: (1) flow in ribbed, or smooth, channels connected by a 180 degrees sharp turn, (2) a jet in cross-flow, and (3) a jet impinging on a wall. The aim of this study was to acquire detailed measurements of h distribution in complex flow configurations related to both internal and external cooling of turbine components. The heated thin foil technique, which involves the detection of surface temperature by means of an IR scanning radiometer, was exploited to measure h. Particle image velocimetry was also used in one of the configurations to precisely determine the velocity field.

Is modern external beam radiotherapy with androgen deprivation therapy still a viable alternative for prostate cancer in an era of robotic surgery and brachytherapy: a comparison of Australian series.

PubMed

Wilcox, Shea William; Aherne, Noel J; McLachlan, Craig Steven; McKay, Michael J; Last, Andrew J; Shakespeare, Thomas P

2015-02-01

We compare the results of modern external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT), using combined androgen deprivation and dose-escalated intensity-modulated radiotherapy with MRI-CT fusion and daily image guidance with fiducial markers (DE-IG-IMRT), with recently published Australian series of brachytherapy and surgery. Five-year actuarial biochemical disease-free survival (bDFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS) and prostate cancer-specific survival (PCaSS) were calculated for 675 patients treated with DE-IG-IMRT and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Patients had intermediate-risk (IR) and high-risk (HR) disease. A search was conducted identifying Australian reports from 2005 onwards of IR and HR patients treated with surgery or brachytherapy, reporting actuarial outcomes at 3 years or later. With a median follow-up of 59 months, our 5-year bDFS was 93.3% overall: 95.5% for IR and 91.3% for HR disease. MFS was 96.9% overall (99.0% IR, 94.9% HR), and PCaSS was 98.8% overall (100% IR, 97.7% HR). Prevalence of Grade 2 genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity at 5 years was 1.3% and 1.6%, with 0.3% Grade 3 genitourinary toxicity and no Grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicity. Eight reports of brachytherapy and surgery were identified. The HDR brachytherapy series' median 5-year bDFS was 82.5%, MFS 90.0% and PCaSS 97.9%. One surgical series reported 5-year bDFS of 65.5% for HR patients. One LDR series reported 5-year bDFS of 85% for IR patients. Modern EBRT is at least as effective as modern Australian surgical and brachytherapy techniques. All patients considering treatment for localised prostate cancer should be referred to a radiation oncologist to discuss EBRT as an equivalent option. © 2015 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists.

Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR) Mapping Coupled with Multivariate Curve Resolution (MCR) for Studying the Miscibility of Chlorobutyl Rubber/Polyamide-12 Blends.

PubMed

Tang, Yongjiao; Jing, Nan; Zhang, Pudun

2015-11-01

A series of chlorobutyl rubber/polyamide-12 (CIIR/PA-12) blends compatibilized by different amounts of maleic anhydride (MAH) grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) were investigated by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR) mapping. Multivariate curve resolution (MCR) was used to process the FT-IR images. Both the spectra of pure components in the blends and their concentration distributions in a micro-region were acquired. Our results demonstrated that the blend with 15 parts per hundred rubber PP-g-MAH showed the best miscibility. An amide interphase and an imide interphase were inferred by analyzing the spectra of MCR component 3 of the blends with and without PP-g-MAH, respectively. Correspondingly, two different compatibilizing mechanisms were proposed for these blends.

Chemometric analysis of attenuated total reflectance infrared spectra of Proteus mirabilis strains with defined structures of LPS.

PubMed

Zarnowiec, Paulina; Mizera, Andrzej; Chrapek, Magdalena; Urbaniak, Mariusz; Kaca, Wieslaw

2016-07-01

Proteus spp. strains are some of the most important pathogens associated with complicated urinary tract infections and bacteremia affecting patients with immunodeficiency and long-term urinary catheterization. For epidemiological purposes, various molecular typing methods have been developed for this pathogen. However, these methods are labor intensive and time consuming. We evaluated a new method of differentiation between strains. A collection of Proteus spp. strains was analyzed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy in the mid-infrared region. ATR FT-IR spectroscopy used in conjunction with a diamond ATR accessory directly produced the biochemical profile of the surface chemistry of bacteria. We conclude that a combination of ATR FT-IR spectroscopy and mathematical modeling provides a fast and reliable alternative for discrimination between Proteus isolates, contributing to epidemiological research. © The Author(s) 2016.

Advantages of infrared transflection micro spectroscopy and paraffin-embedded sample preparation for biological studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Jie; Li, Qian; Zhou, Bo; Wang, Dan; Wu, Rie

2018-04-01

Fourier-Transform Infrared micro-spectroscopy is an excellent method for biological analyses. In this paper, series metal coating films on ITO glass were prepared by the electrochemical method and the different thicknesses of paraffin embedding rat's brain tissue on the substrates were studied by IR micro-spetroscopy in attenuated total reflection (ATR) mode and transflection mode respectively. The Co-Ni-Cu alloy coating film with low cost is good reflection substrates for the IR analysis. The infrared microscopic transflection mode needs not to touch the sample at all and can get the IR spectra with higher signal to noise ratios. The Paraffin-embedding method allows tissues to be stored for a long time for re-analysis to ensure the traceability of the sample. Also it isolates the sample from the metal and avoids the interaction of biological tissue with the metals. The best thickness of the tissues is 4 μm.

Application of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for determination of cefixime in oral pharmaceutical formulations.

PubMed

Kandhro, Aftab A; Laghari, Abdul Hafeez; Mahesar, Sarfaraz A; Saleem, Rubina; Nelofar, Aisha; Khan, Salman Tariq; Sherazi, S T H

2013-11-01

A quick and reliable analytical method for the quantitative assessment of cefixime in orally administered pharmaceutical formulations is developed by using diamond cell attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy as an easy procedure for quality control laboratories. The standards for calibration were prepared in aqueous medium ranging from 350 to 6000mg/kg. The calibration model was developed based on partial least square (PLS) using finger print region of FT-IR spectrum in the range from 1485 to 887cm(-1). Excellent coefficient of determination (R(2)) was achieved as high as 0.99976 with root mean square error of 44.8 for calibration. The application of diamond cell (smart accessory) ATR FT-IR proves a reliable determination of cefixime in pharmaceutical formulations to assess the quality of the final product. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Analyses of IR-Stealthy and Coated Surface Materials: A Comparison of LIBS and Reflectance Spectra and Their Application to Mars Surface Exploration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wiens, R. C.; Kirkland, L. E.; McKay, C. P.; Cremers, D. A.; Thompson, J.; Maurice, S.; Pinet, P. C.

2004-01-01

Identification of non-silicate samples on Mars, such as carbonates, sulfates, nitrates, or evaporites in general, is important because of their association with aqueous processes and their potential as exobiology sites. Infrared (IR) and thermal emission (TE) spectroscopy have been considered the primary tools for remote identification of these minerals. This includes current and future orbital assets such as TES on MGS, THEMIS on Mars Odyssey, OMEGA on Mars Express, CRISM on MRO, and now the Mini-TES on the MER rovers. While reflectance and emission spectroscopy have clearly been the method of choice for these missions, the technique is not always successful in mineral identifications due to dust, surface weathering chemistry, coatings, or surface texture. Here we describe and show IR spectra of several such samples, and then report on the relative success of LIBS analyses in determining the rock type.

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Part III. Applications.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perkins, W. D.

1987-01-01

Discusses the use of the FT-IR spectrometer in analyses that were previously avoided. Examines some of the applications of this spectroscopy with aqueous solutions, circular internal reflection, samples with low transmission, diffuse reflectance, infrared emission, and the infrared microscope. (TW)

High-efficiency emitting materials based on phenylquinoline/carbazole-based compounds for organic light emitting diode applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Sung-Ho

2009-08-01

Highly efficient light-emitting materials based on phenylquinoline-carbazole derivative has been synthesized for organic-light emitting diodes (OLEDs). The materials form high quality amorphous thin films by thermal evaporation and the energy levels can be easily adjusted by the introduction of different electron donating and electron withdrawing groups on carbazoylphenylquinoline. Non-doped deep-blue OLEDs using Et-CVz-PhQ as the emitter show bright emission (CIE coordinates, x=0.156, y=0.093) with an external quantum efficiency of 2.45 %. Furthermore, the material works as an excellent host material for BCzVBi to get high-performance OLEDs with excellent deep-blue CIE coordinates (x=0.155, y=0.157), high power efficiency (5.98 lm/W), and high external quantum efficiency (5.22 %). Cyclometalated Ir(III) μ-chloride bridged dimers were synthesized by iridium trichloride hydrate with an excess of our developed deep-blue emitter, Et-CVz-PhQ. The Ir(III) complexes were prepared by the dimers with the corresponding ancillary ligands. The chloride bridged diiridium complexes can be easily converted to mononuclear Ir(III) complexes by replacing the two bridging chlorides with bidentate monoanionic ancillary ligands. Among the various types of ancillary ligands, we firstly used picolinic acid N-oxide, including picolinic acid and acetylacetone as an ancillary ligands for Ir(III) complexes. The PhOLEDs also shows reasonably high brightness and good luminance efficiency of 20,000 cd/m2 and 12 cd/A, respectively.

IR thermography for dynamic detection of laminar-turbulent transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simon, Bernhard; Filius, Adrian; Tropea, Cameron; Grundmann, Sven

2016-05-01

This work investigates the potential of infrared (IR) thermography for the dynamic detection of laminar-turbulent transition. The experiments are conducted on a flat plate at velocities of 8-14 m/s, and the transition of the laminar boundary layer to turbulence is forced by a disturbance source which is turned on and off with frequencies up to 10 Hz. Three different heating techniques are used to apply the required difference between fluid and structure temperature: a heated aluminum structure is used as an internal structure heating technique, a conductive paint acts as a surface bounded heater, while an IR heater serves as an example for an external heating technique. For comparison of all heating techniques, a normalization is introduced and the frequency response of the measured IR camera signal is analyzed. Finally, the different heating techniques are compared and consequences for the design of experiments on laminar-turbulent transition are discussed.

Patterns of FOS protein induction in singing female starlings

PubMed Central

Riters, Lauren V.

2013-01-01

Females of many songbird species produce song, but information about the neural correlates of singing behavior is limited in this sex. Although well studied in males, activity in premotor song control regions and social behavior regions has not been examined in females during song production. Here, we examined the immediate early gene protein product FOS in both song control and social behavior brain regions after female starlings defending nest boxes responded to an unfamiliar female in a naturalistic setting. We found that females that sang in response to the intruder had much higher numbers of fos-immunoreactive neurons (fos-ir) in the vocal control regions HVC, the robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA), and the dorsomedial part of the nucleus intercollicularis (DM of the ICo). In HVC, fos-ir correlated positively with song length. In RA, DM and Area X, fos-ir correlated positively with number of songs produced. In social behavior regions, singers showed higher fos-ir in the nucleus taeniae of the amygdala, the dorsal part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and the ventromedial hypothalamus than non-singers. Overall, patterns of fos-ir in song control regions in females were similar to those reported for males, but differences in fos-ir were identified in social behavior regions. These differences may reflect a distinct role for brain regions involved in social behavior in female song, or they may reflect differences in the social function of female and male song. PMID:23022365

Three-dimensional analysis of the shoulder motion in patients with massive irreparable cuff tears after latissimus dorsi tendon transfer (LDT).

PubMed

Ippolito, Giorgio; Serrao, Mariano; Napoli, Francesco; Conte, Carmela; Miscusi, Massimo; Coppola, Gianluca; Pierelli, Francesco; Costanzo, Giuseppe; De Cupis, Vincenzo

2016-10-01

Latissimus dorsi tendon transfer (LDT) is a recent method for surgical treatment of massive, irreparable posterosuperior cuff tears (MIPCT). So far, there are no studies on the quantitative motion analysis of the shoulder and latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle activation after LDT. The changes in shoulder movements after LDT can be objectively assessed by the 3-D motion analysis. These changes may not be due to an increased activity of the LD muscle as external rotator. The shoulder kinematics of nine patients with MIPCT were recorded through a 3-D motion analysis system, before LTD (T0), and after 3 (T1) and 6 (T2) months post-LDT. Maximal shoulder flexion-extension, abduction-adduction, and horizontal abduction-adduction, and the internal and external circumduction of the shoulder joint were measured during upright standing posture. Surface EMG activity of the LD muscle was recorded during both internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) tasks in three different postures. A significant increase of shoulder movements was observed at T2 compared with T0 for almost all motor tasks. A significant effect of LDT was also found on LD-IR/ER ratio in posture 1 at T2 compared with T0 and T1. No significant effects were found for the LD-IR/ER ratio in the other postures. Our study indicates that LDT is effective in shoulder motion recovery. Such improvement is not associated with a change in function of the LD muscle, which may be induced by a depression of the humeral head into the glenoid cavity instead.

Work function measurements by the field emission retarding potential method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swanson, L. W.; Strayer, R. W.; Mackie, W. A.

1971-01-01

Using the field emission retarding potential method true work functions have been measured for the following monocrystalline substrates: W(110), W(111), W(100), Nb(100), Ni(100), Cu(100), Ir(110) and Ir(111). The electron elastic and inelastic reflection coefficients from several of these surfaces have also been examined near zero primary beam energy.

IR reflectance spectroscopy of carbon dioxide clathrate hydrates. Implications for Saturn's icy moons.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oancea, A.; Grasset, O.; Le Menn, E.; Bezacier, L.; Bollengier, O.; Le Mouélic, S.; Tobie, G.

2012-04-01

A CO2 spectral band was discovered by VIMS on the Saturn's satellites Dione, Hyperion, Iapetus and Phoebe [1]. The band position on the three first satellites corresponds to CO2 trapped in a complex material, but no indication exists whether this latter is water ice or some mineral or complex organic compound [1]. On Phoebe, the CO2 spectral band is consistent with solid CO2 or CO2 molecules trapped in the small cages of a clathrate hydrate structure [2]. It is thought that clathrate hydrates could play a significant role in the chemistry of the solar nebula [3] and in the physical evolution of astrophysical objects [4]. But so far, no clathrate hydrate structure has been observed in astrophysical environments. Moreover, identification of molecules trapped in a clathrate hydrate structure is extremely difficult because of the strong IR vibration modes of the water ice matrix. In this work, experimental IR reflectance spectra for CO2 clathrate hydrates are studied on grains and films. Clathrates are synthesized in a high pressure autoclave at low temperatures. IR spectral analysis is made with a low pressure and low temperature cryostat. These experimental conditions - 80 < T < 110 K, P~10-5 bar - are relevant to icy moons' surfaces. We have observed that the IR reflectance, in the spectral region (3 - 5 μm) characterized by H2O and CO2 high absorption coefficients, is strongly dependent on physical (size, surface) and optical (n and k) properties of the samples. The impact of these parameters on the CO2 clathrate IR reflectance spectrum will be presented. A comparison between the absorption bands of CO2 clathrate hydrates obtained in our lab and CO2 absorption bands as detected by VIMS on the icy satellites of Saturn will be shown. This experimental work confirms that VIMS data are not consistent with the presence of structure I CO2 clathrate hydrates on the surface of the icy moons. Possibility of having metastable structure II still remains unsolved and will be discussed. [1] Dalton et al., Space Sci. Rev. 2010, 153 : 113-154. [2] Cruikshank D.P. et al, Icarus, 2010, 206: 561-572. [3] Mousis O. et al , Ap. J. 2009, 691: 1780-1786. [4] Choukroun M. et al, in Solar System Ices, edited by Castillo-Rogez, J. et al., 2011.

Photovoltaics module interface: General purpose primers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boerio, J.

1985-01-01

The interfacial chemistry established between ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and the aluminized back surface of commercial solar cells was observed experimentally. The technique employed is called Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, with the infrared signal being reflected back from the aluminum surface through the EVA film. Reflection infrared (IR) spectra are given and attention is drawn to the specific IR peak at 1080/cm which forms on hydrolytic aging of the EVA/aluminum system. With this fundamental finding, and the workable experimental techniques, candidate silane coupling agents are employed at the interface, and their effects on eliminating or slowing hydrolytic aging of the EVA/aluminum interface are monitored.

Manifestation of Crystal Lattice Distortions in the IR Reflection Spectra of Abrasion-Treated ZnSe Ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sitnikova, V. E.; Dunaev, A. A.; Mamalimov, R. I.; Pakhomov, P. M.; Khizhnyak, S. D.; Chmel, A. E.

2017-07-01

The Fourier IR reflection spectra of ZnSe ceramics prepared by hot pressing (HP), physical vapor deposition (PVD), and PVD combined with hot isostatic pressing (HIP) are presented. The optical constants of polished and dry-ground specimens were used for comparison. The grinding treatment simulated the erosion of the outer surface of optical elements made of zinc selenide under the influence of solid dust particles and deposits. In the polished specimens residual stresses showed up in the IR reflection spectra of the ZnSePVD and ZnSeHIP ceramics, which had well-defined orientation of grains, but were not present in the spectra of the ZnSeHIP ceramics as a result of mutual compensation of the stresses in the randomly oriented grains of the material. The stresses, which appeared as a shift of the absorption bands calculated by the Kramers-Kronig method, increased significantly after abrasive treatment of the specimens. For all the treated ceramics the intensity of the absorption bands resulting from the anharmonicity of the vibrations in the distorted crystal lattice increased by several times. The last effect also depends on the production prehistory of the ceramics.

Nondestructive Handheld Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Analysis of Spectroscopic Changes and Multivariate Modeling of Thermally Degraded Plain Portland Cement Concrete and its Slag and Fly Ash-Based Analogs.

PubMed

Leung Tang, Pik; Alqassim, Mohammad; Nic Daéid, Niamh; Berlouis, Leonard; Seelenbinder, John

2016-05-01

Concrete is by far the world's most common construction material. Modern concrete is a mixture of industrial pozzolanic cement formulations and aggregate fillers. The former acts as the glue or binder in the final inorganic composite; however, when exposed to a fire the degree of concrete damage is often difficult to evaluate nondestructively. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy through techniques such as transmission, attenuated total reflectance, and diffuse reflectance have been rarely used to evaluate thermally damaged concrete. In this paper, we report on a study assessing the thermal damage of concrete via the use of a nondestructive handheld FT-IR with a diffuse reflectance sample interface. In situ measurements can be made on actual damaged areas, without the need for sample preparation. Separate multivariate models were developed to determine the equivalent maximal temperature endured for three common industrial concrete formulations. The concrete mixtures were successfully modeled displaying high predictive power as well as good specificity. This has potential uses in forensic investigation and remediation services particularly for fires in buildings. © The Author(s) 2016.

Infrared Imaging Tools for Diagnostic Applications in Dermatology.

PubMed

Gurjarpadhye, Abhijit Achyut; Parekh, Mansi Bharat; Dubnika, Arita; Rajadas, Jayakumar; Inayathullah, Mohammed

Infrared (IR) imaging is a collection of non-invasive imaging techniques that utilize the IR domain of the electromagnetic spectrum for tissue assessment. A subset of these techniques construct images using back-reflected light, while other techniques rely on detection of IR radiation emitted by the tissue as a result of its temperature. Modern IR detectors sense thermal emissions and produce a heat map of surface temperature distribution in tissues. Thus, the IR spectrum offers a variety of imaging applications particularly useful in clinical diagnostic area, ranging from high-resolution, depth-resolved visualization of tissue to temperature variation assessment. These techniques have been helpful in the diagnosis of many medical conditions including skin/breast cancer, arthritis, allergy, burns, and others. In this review, we discuss current roles of IR-imaging techniques for diagnostic applications in dermatology with an emphasis on skin cancer, allergies, blisters, burns and wounds.

The neuro-muscular system in continuously swimming cercariae from Belarus. I Xiphidiocercariae.

PubMed

Tolstenkov, Oleg O; Akimova, Ludmila N; Terenina, Nadezhda B; Gustafsson, Margaretha K S

2012-11-01

The neuromuscular system (NMS) in cercariae of Neoastiotrema trituri, Plagiorchis elegans, Omphalometra flexuosa, Skrjabinoeces similis and Prosthogonimus ovatus was studied with immunocytochemical methods and confocal scanning laser microscopy. The patterns of F-actin in the musculature, 5-HT immunoreactive (IR), FMRFamide-IR neuronal elements and α-tubulin-IR sensory receptors were investigated, and they were found to be rather similar in all the cercariae studied. Four species have seven paired 5-HT-IR neurons in the body, and P. elegans has eight. N. trituri has three 5-HT-IR neurons in each brain ganglion, while the other species have four. A high degree of conformity in the structure of the NMS was observed, probably reflecting the close phylogenetic relationship and the similar strategy of host finding.

Development of Infrared Library Search Prefilters for Automotive Clear Coats from Simulated Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) Spectra.

PubMed

Perera, Undugodage Don Nuwan; Nishikida, Koichi; Lavine, Barry K

2018-06-01

A previously published study featuring an attenuated total reflection (ATR) simulation algorithm that mitigated distortions in ATR spectra was further investigated to evaluate its efficacy to enhance searching of infrared (IR) transmission libraries. In the present study, search prefilters were developed from transformed ATR spectra to identify the assembly plant of a vehicle from ATR spectra of the clear coat layer. A total of 456 IR transmission spectra from the Paint Data Query (PDQ) database that spanned 22 General Motors assembly plants and served as a training set cohort were transformed into ATR spectra by the simulation algorithm. These search prefilters were formulated using the fingerprint region (1500 cm -1 to 500 cm -1 ). Both the transformed ATR spectra (training set) and the experimental ATR spectra (validation set) were preprocessed for pattern recognition analysis using the discrete wavelet transform, which increased the signal-to-noise of the ATR spectra by concentrating the signal in specific wavelet coefficients. Attenuated total reflection spectra of 14 clear coat samples (validation set) measured with a Nicolet iS50 Fourier transform IR spectrometer were correctly classified as to assembly plant(s) of the automotive vehicle from which the paint sample originated using search prefilters developed from 456 simulated ATR spectra. The ATR simulation (transformation) algorithm successfully facilitated spectral library matching of ATR spectra against IR transmission spectra of automotive clear coats in the PDQ database.

Divalent ion block of inward rectifier current in human capillary endothelial cells and effects on resting membrane potential

PubMed Central

Jow, Flora; Numann, Randy

1998-01-01

Cultured human capillary endothelial cells (HCEC) contain a large inward rectifier current, IK(IR), that can be abolished by removing external K+ or by adding 50 μm Ba2+.We show that IK(IR) is responsible for maintaining the hyperpolarized potential (−60.6 ± 0.5 mV, n = 83) of HCEC. Blocking IK(IR) with 50 μm Ba2+ shifts the zero current level and depolarizes HCEC by 36.5 ± 1.3 mV (n = 4).Increasing external Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o) from 0.5 to 7 mm reduces the magnitude of IK(IR) by 36.5 ± 2.3 % (n = 5) and depolarizes the cells by 10.33 ± 2.4 mV (n = 3), whereas decreasing [Ca2+]o from 1.8 to 0.5 mm increases the amplitude of IK(IR) by 6.9 ± 1.9 % (n = 4). The relationship between [Ca2+]o and the percentage block of IK(IR) gives a Kd value of 5.4 ± 0.6 mm at −120 mV.IK(IR) is also blocked by other divalent ions, with Ba2+ >> Sr2+ > Mg2+ > Mn2+= Ca2+, and the block of peak current at −120 mV being 85.3 ± 3.2 % (n = 5) for 50 μm Ba2+, 62.9 ± 2.2 % (n = 5) for 5 mm Sr2+, 40.7 ± 2.5 % (n = 9) for 5 mm Mg2+, 33.4 ± 2.1 % (n = 5) for 5 mm Mn2+ and 32.9 ± 2.1 % (n = 5) for 5 mm Ca2+.The voltage dependence of Sr2+ block of peak IK(IR) occurred with a Kd value of 1.0 ± 0.09 mm for −140 mV, 1.9 ± 0.16 mm for −130 mV, 3.1 ± 0.28 mm for −120 mV, 4.6 ± 0.34 mm for −110 mV and 6.4 ± 0.5 mm for −100 mV (n = 5), with a calculated electrical distance (δ) of 0.44 from the outside. PMID:9729622

Determination of the Ability to Measure Traces of Water in Dehydrated Residues of Waste Water by IR Diffuse Reflectance Spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pratsenka, S. V.; Voropai, E. S.; Belkin, V. G.

2018-01-01

Rapid measurement of the moisture content of dehydrated residues is a critical problem, the solution of which will increase the efficiency of treatment facilities and optimize the process of applying flocculants. The ability to determine the moisture content of dehydrated residues using a meter operating on the IR reflectance principle was confirmed experimentally. The most suitable interference filters were selected based on an analysis of the obtained diffuse reflectance spectrum of the dehydrated residue in the range 1.0-2.7 μm. Calibration curves were constructed and compared for each filter set. A measuring filter with a transmittance maximum at 1.19 μm and a reference filter with a maximum at 1.3 μm gave the best agreement with the laboratory measurements.

Programmable architecture for pixel level processing tasks in lightweight strapdown IR seekers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coates, James L.

1993-06-01

Typical processing tasks associated with missile IR seeker applications are described, and a straw man suite of algorithms is presented. A fully programmable multiprocessor architecture is realized on a multimedia video processor (MVP) developed by Texas Instruments. The MVP combines the elements of RISC, floating point, advanced DSPs, graphics processors, display and acquisition control, RAM, and external memory. Front end pixel level tasks typical of missile interceptor applications, operating on 256 x 256 sensor imagery, can be processed at frame rates exceeding 100 Hz in a single MVP chip.

The Effect of Glenohumeral Internal-Rotation Deficit on Functional Rotator-Strength Ratio in Adolescent Overhead Athletes.

PubMed

Guney, Hande; Harput, Gulcan; Colakoglu, Filiz; Baltaci, Gul

2016-02-01

Glenohumeral (GH) internal-rotation deficit (GIRD) and lower eccentric external-rotator (ER) to concentric internal-rotator (IR) strength (ER:IR) ratio have been documented as risk factors for shoulder injuries, but there is no information on whether GIRD has an adverse effect on ER:IR ratio in adolescent overhead athletes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of GIRD on functional ER:IR ratio of the adolescent overhead athletes. Cross-sectional study. University research laboratory. 52 adolescent overhead athletes. To determine GIRD, the range of GH IR and ER motion was measured with a digital inclinometer. An isokinetic dynamometer was used to assess eccentric and concentric IR and ER muscle strength of the dominant and nondominant shoulders. One-way ANCOVA where sport type was set as a covariate was used to analyze the difference between athletes with and without GIRD. After standardized examinations of all shoulders, the athletes were divided into 2 groups, shoulders with (n = 27) and without GIRD (n = 25). There was a significant difference between groups in functional ER:IR ratio (P < .001). Athletes with GIRD had lower ER:IR ratio (0.56) than athletes without GIRD (0.83). As GIRD has an adverse effect on functional ratio of the shoulder-rotator muscles, interventions for adolescent overhead athletes should include improving GH-rotation range of motion.

Shoulder strength imbalances as injury risk in handball.

PubMed

Edouard, P; Degache, F; Oullion, R; Plessis, J-Y; Gleizes-Cervera, S; Calmels, P

2013-07-01

This study was conducted to analyze whether internal (IR) and external (ER) rotator shoulder muscles weakness and/or imbalance collected through a preseason assessment could be predictors of subsequent shoulder injury during a season in handball players. In preseason, 16 female elite handball players (HPG) and 14 healthy female nonathletes (CG) underwent isokinetic IR and ER strength test with use of a Con-Trex® dynamometer in a seated position with 45° shoulder abduction in scapular plane, at 60, 120 and 240°/s in concentric and at 60°/s in eccentric, for both sides. An imbalanced muscular strength profile was determined using -statistically selected cut-offs from CG values. For HPG, all newly incurred shoulder injuries were reported during the season. There were significant differences between HPG and CG only for dominant eccentric IR strength, ER/IR ratio at 240°/s and for IRecc/ERcon ratio. In HPG, IR and ER strength was higher, and ER/IR ratios lower for dominant than for nondominant side. The relative risk was 2.57 (95%CI: 1.60-3.54; P<0.05) if handball players had an imbalanced muscular strength profile. In youth female handball players IR and ER muscle strength increases on the dominant side without ER/IR imbalances; and higher injury risk was associated with imbalanced muscular strength profile. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Electrically switchable polymer stabilised broadband infrared reflectors and their potential as smart windows for energy saving in buildings.

PubMed

Khandelwal, Hitesh; Loonen, Roel C G M; Hensen, Jan L M; Debije, Michael G; Schenning, Albertus P H J

2015-07-01

Electrically switchable broadband infrared reflectors that are relatively transparent in the visible region have been fabricated using polymer stabilised cholesteric liquid crystals. The IR reflectors can change their reflection/transmission properties by applying a voltage in response to changes in environmental conditions. Simulations predict that a significant amount of energy can be saved on heating, cooling and lighting of buildings in places such as Madrid by using this switchable IR reflector. We have also fabricated a switchable IR reflector which can also generate electricity. These polymer based switchable IR reflectors are of high potential as windows of automobiles and buildings to control interior temperatures and save energy.

Electrically switchable polymer stabilised broadband infrared reflectors and their potential as smart windows for energy saving in buildings

PubMed Central

Khandelwal, Hitesh; Loonen, Roel C. G. M.; Hensen, Jan L. M.; Debije, Michael G.; Schenning, Albertus P. H. J.

2015-01-01

Electrically switchable broadband infrared reflectors that are relatively transparent in the visible region have been fabricated using polymer stabilised cholesteric liquid crystals. The IR reflectors can change their reflection/transmission properties by applying a voltage in response to changes in environmental conditions. Simulations predict that a significant amount of energy can be saved on heating, cooling and lighting of buildings in places such as Madrid by using this switchable IR reflector. We have also fabricated a switchable IR reflector which can also generate electricity. These polymer based switchable IR reflectors are of high potential as windows of automobiles and buildings to control interior temperatures and save energy. PMID:26132328

Using an Intention/Reflection Practice to Focus Students towards Future Professions in a Short-Term International Travel Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fierke, Kerry K.; Lepp, Gardner A.; Bastianelli, Karen; Vogelsang, Lisa; Tornabene, Ladona

2016-01-01

The article describes a student-centered approach to generating meaningful learning outcomes in a short-term study abroad program. A practice named Intention/Reflection (I/R) was used to help students to identify, articulate, and reflect upon learning objectives that were personally meaningful, within the broader framework of the intended outcomes…

Application of laboratory and portable attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopic approaches for rapid quantification of alpaca serum immunoglobulin G

PubMed Central

Burns, Jennifer B.; Riley, Christopher B.; Shaw, R. Anthony; McClure, J. Trenton

2017-01-01

The objective of this study was to develop and compare the performance of laboratory grade and portable attenuated total reflectance infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopic approaches in combination with partial least squares regression (PLSR) for the rapid quantification of alpaca serum IgG concentration, and the identification of low IgG (<1000 mg/dL), which is consistent with the diagnosis of failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) in neonates. Serum samples (n = 175) collected from privately owned, healthy alpacas were tested by the reference method of radial immunodiffusion (RID) assay, and laboratory grade and portable ATR-IR spectrometers. Various pre-processing strategies were applied to the ATR-IR spectra that were linked to corresponding RID-IgG concentrations, and then randomly split into two sets: calibration (training) and test sets. PLSR was applied to the calibration set and calibration models were developed, and the test set was used to assess the accuracy of the analytical method. For the test set, the Pearson correlation coefficients between the IgG measured by RID and predicted by both laboratory grade and portable ATR-IR spectrometers was 0.91. The average differences between reference serum IgG concentrations and the two IR-based methods were 120.5 mg/dL and 71 mg/dL for the laboratory and portable ATR-IR-based assays, respectively. Adopting an IgG concentration <1000 mg/dL as the cut-point for FTPI cases, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for identifying serum samples below this cut point by laboratory ATR-IR assay were 86, 100 and 98%, respectively (within the entire data set). Corresponding values for the portable ATR-IR assay were 95, 99 and 99%, respectively. These results suggest that the two different ATR-IR assays performed similarly for rapid qualitative evaluation of alpaca serum IgG and for diagnosis of IgG <1000 mg/dL, the portable ATR-IR spectrometer performed slightly better, and provides more flexibility for potential application in the field. PMID:28651006

Application of laboratory and portable attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopic approaches for rapid quantification of alpaca serum immunoglobulin G.

PubMed

Elsohaby, Ibrahim; Burns, Jennifer B; Riley, Christopher B; Shaw, R Anthony; McClure, J Trenton

2017-01-01

The objective of this study was to develop and compare the performance of laboratory grade and portable attenuated total reflectance infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopic approaches in combination with partial least squares regression (PLSR) for the rapid quantification of alpaca serum IgG concentration, and the identification of low IgG (<1000 mg/dL), which is consistent with the diagnosis of failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) in neonates. Serum samples (n = 175) collected from privately owned, healthy alpacas were tested by the reference method of radial immunodiffusion (RID) assay, and laboratory grade and portable ATR-IR spectrometers. Various pre-processing strategies were applied to the ATR-IR spectra that were linked to corresponding RID-IgG concentrations, and then randomly split into two sets: calibration (training) and test sets. PLSR was applied to the calibration set and calibration models were developed, and the test set was used to assess the accuracy of the analytical method. For the test set, the Pearson correlation coefficients between the IgG measured by RID and predicted by both laboratory grade and portable ATR-IR spectrometers was 0.91. The average differences between reference serum IgG concentrations and the two IR-based methods were 120.5 mg/dL and 71 mg/dL for the laboratory and portable ATR-IR-based assays, respectively. Adopting an IgG concentration <1000 mg/dL as the cut-point for FTPI cases, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for identifying serum samples below this cut point by laboratory ATR-IR assay were 86, 100 and 98%, respectively (within the entire data set). Corresponding values for the portable ATR-IR assay were 95, 99 and 99%, respectively. These results suggest that the two different ATR-IR assays performed similarly for rapid qualitative evaluation of alpaca serum IgG and for diagnosis of IgG <1000 mg/dL, the portable ATR-IR spectrometer performed slightly better, and provides more flexibility for potential application in the field.

The Rise of International Relations Programs in the Brazilian Federal Universities: Curriculum Specificities and Current Challenges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ferreira, Marcos Alan S. V.

2016-01-01

The aim of this reflection is to study the new international relations (IR) programs introduced by Brazilian federal universities, looking comparatively at their curriculum specificities and current challenges. In recent years, Brazil has seen an increase of IR programs launched in several regions. Since 2003, the Ministry of Education is in the…

Optical properties of graphene, silicene, germanene, and stanene from IR to far UV - A first principles study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

John, Rita; Merlin, Benita

2017-11-01

This study offers an analysis of optical properties of Graphene and its 2D analogues: Silicene, Germanene, and Stanene with the help of band structures based on Density Functional Theory. The complex dielectric function and complex refractive index are calculated in both parallel (||) and perpendicular (⊥) polarization directions of the electromagnetic field. From these calculated values, optical observables like absorption, reflection, optical conductivity, and electron loss function have been studied. The optical response of all materials is shifted from ultraviolet (UV) to infrared (IR) from graphene to stanene; Graphene is more into UV region and other materials in the IR and visible regions. The intensity of absorption is maximum for stanene. The real part of dielectric function reveals the existence of plasma frequency in the || polarization direction indicating the metal to dielectric transition except for graphene. Study on refractive index clearly displays the birefringence characteristics of all materials. Reflectivity is enhanced in the mid IR and visible regions when light is polarized in the || direction. The in-depth investigations arrive at fine results which would enable the prediction of their potential applications in the optical and optoelectronic industries.

Multiphoton microscopy can visualize zonal damage and decreased cellular metabolic activity in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thorling, Camilla A.; Liu, Xin; Burczynski, Frank J.; Fletcher, Linda M.; Gobe, Glenda C.; Roberts, Michael S.

2011-11-01

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a common occurrence in liver surgery. In orthotopic transplantation, the donor liver is exposed to periods of ischemia and when oxygenated blood is reintroduced to the liver, oxidative stress may develop and lead to graft failure. The aim of this project was to investigate whether noninvasive multiphoton and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, without external markers, were useful in detecting early liver damage caused by I/R injury. Localized hepatic ischemia was induced in rats for 1 h followed by 4 h reperfusion. Multiphoton and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy was conducted prior to ischemia and up to 4 h of reperfusion and compared to morphological and biochemical assessment of liver damage. Liver function was significantly impaired at 2 and 4 h of reperfusion. Multiphoton microscopy detected liver damage at 1 h of reperfusion, manifested by vacuolated cells and heterogeneous spread of damage over the liver. The damage was mainly localized in the midzonal region of the liver acinus. In addition, fluorescence lifetime imaging showed a decrease in cellular metabolic activity. Multiphoton and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy detected evidence of early I/R injury both structurally and functionally. This provides a simple noninvasive technique useful for following progressive liver injury without external markers.

Development of acceptance criteria for batches of silane primer for external tank thermal protection system bonding applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mikes, F.

1984-01-01

Silane primers for use as thermal protection on external tanks were subjected to various analytic techniques to determine the most effective testing method for silane lot evaluation. The analytic methods included high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, thermogravimetry (TGA), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It is suggested that FTIR be used as the method for silane lot evaluation. Chromatograms, TGA profiles, bar graphs showing IR absorbances, and FTIR spectra are presented.

Discrimination of edible oils and fats by combination of multivariate pattern recognition and FT-IR spectroscopy: a comparative study between different modeling methods.

PubMed

Javidnia, Katayoun; Parish, Maryam; Karimi, Sadegh; Hemmateenejad, Bahram

2013-03-01

By using FT-IR spectroscopy, many researchers from different disciplines enrich the experimental complexity of their research for obtaining more precise information. Moreover chemometrics techniques have boosted the use of IR instruments. In the present study we aimed to emphasize on the power of FT-IR spectroscopy for discrimination between different oil samples (especially fat from vegetable oils). Also our data were used to compare the performance of different classification methods. FT-IR transmittance spectra of oil samples (Corn, Colona, Sunflower, Soya, Olive, and Butter) were measured in the wave-number interval of 450-4000 cm(-1). Classification analysis was performed utilizing PLS-DA, interval PLS-DA, extended canonical variate analysis (ECVA) and interval ECVA methods. The effect of data preprocessing by extended multiplicative signal correction was investigated. Whilst all employed method could distinguish butter from vegetable oils, iECVA resulted in the best performances for calibration and external test set with 100% sensitivity and specificity. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Probing the infrared counterparts of diffuse far-ultraviolet sources in the Galaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saikia, Gautam; Shalima, P.; Gogoi, Rupjyoti; Pathak, Amit

2017-12-01

Recent availability of high quality infrared (IR) data for diffuse regions in the Galaxy and external galaxies have added to our understanding of interstellar dust. A comparison of ultraviolet (UV) and IR observations may be used to estimate absorption, scattering and thermal emission from interstellar dust. In this paper, we report IR and UV observations for selective diffuse sources in the Galaxy. Using archival mid-infrared (MIR) and far-infrared (FIR) observations from Spitzer Space Telescope, we look for counterparts of diffuse far-ultraviolet (FUV) sources observed by the Voyager, Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) and Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) telescopes in the Galaxy. IR emission features at 8 μm are generally attributed to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules, while emission at 24 μm are attributed to Very Small Grains (VSGs). The data presented here is unique and our study tries to establish a relation between various dust populations. By studying the FUV-IR correlations separately at low and high latitude locations, we have identified the grain component responsible for the diffuse FUV emission.

Photochemical degradation of polymeric coatings on mirrors as studied in situ using FT-IR reflection-absorbance spectroscopy

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

Webb, J.D.; Schissel, P.; Czanderna, A.W.

1981-12-01

Reflection-absorbance spectroscopy has been used to obtain analytical information on samples of polymer/metal multilayer stacks subjected to degradative factors. The capabilities of the apparatus are summarized and representative data from initial studies are presented. (LEW)

Changes in Liver Cell DNA Methylation Status in Diabetic Mice Affect Its FT-IR Characteristics

PubMed Central

Vidal, Benedicto de Campos; Ghiraldini, Flávia Gerelli; Mello, Maria Luiza S.

2014-01-01

Background Lower levels of cytosine methylation have been found in the liver cell DNA from non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice under hyperglycemic conditions. Because the Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) profiles of dry DNA samples are differently affected by DNA base composition, single-stranded form and histone binding, it is expected that the methylation status in the DNA could also affect its FT-IR profile. Methodology/Principal Findings The DNA FT-IR signatures obtained from the liver cell nuclei of hyperglycemic and normoglycemic NOD mice of the same age were compared. Dried DNA samples were examined in an IR microspectroscope equipped with an all-reflecting objective (ARO) and adequate software. Conclusions/Significance Changes in DNA cytosine methylation levels induced by hyperglycemia in mouse liver cells produced changes in the respective DNA FT-IR profiles, revealing modifications to the vibrational intensities and frequencies of several chemical markers, including νas –CH3 stretching vibrations in the 5-methylcytosine methyl group. A smaller band area reflecting lower energy absorbed in the DNA was found in the hyperglycemic mice and assumed to be related to the lower levels of –CH3 groups. Other spectral differences were found at 1700–1500 cm−1 and in the fingerprint region, and a slight change in the DNA conformation at the lower DNA methylation levels was suggested for the hyperglycemic mice. The changes that affect cytosine methylation levels certainly affect the DNA-protein interactions and, consequently, gene expression in liver cells from the hyperglycemic NOD mice. PMID:25019512

Accretion rate of extraterrestrial matter: Iridium deposited over the last 70 million years

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kyte, Frank T.

1988-01-01

In order to quantify the accretion rate of extraterrestrial matter during the Cenozoic, Ir concentrations were measured in a continuous series of 450 samples across most of the length of piston core LL44-GPC3. LL44-GPC3 is a 25-meter-long, large-diameter piston core of abyssal clay from the central North Pacific. This core contains a nearly continuous record of sedimentation over the last 70 Ma, as this site migrated from a region near the Equator in the late Cretaceous to its present position north of Hawaii. The first-cut survey across the core is nearing completion, and all of the conclusions of the earlier study, in which was reported the concentrations of Ir, Co, and Sb across 9 meters of this core, remain unchanged. The only strongly enhanced Ir concentrations occur at the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) boundary and outside the K-T boundary Ir correlates well with Co, a terrestrial element which is largely present in hydrogenous ferromanganese oxide precipitates from seawater. Concentrations of both elements appear to be inversely correlated with the sedimentation rate. Although the K-T Ir anomaly is unique in magnitude in this core, there are several small bumps in the Ir profile which may reflect smaller accretionary events. The most promising Ir enhancement was observed in a 30 cm section approximately 1 m below the K-T boundary. Preliminary data suggest deposition of an excess across this interval at a time estimate to be approximate 1 Ma before the K-T impact event, but there is insufficient evidence at present to prove that this reflects enhanced accretion of extraterrestrial matter. A detailed model is being prepared of the chemical record of sedimentation in this core using a combined database of 39 elements in approximately 450 samples across the Cenozoic. Preliminary working model indicates that the only sedimentary sources which contribute significantly to the Ir budget in this core are the hydrogenous precipitates and extraterrestrial particulates.

Alternatives to SiOx for protective scan mirror coatings in remote sensing instruments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

MacDonald, Michael E.

1999-09-01

Mirrors in remote sensing instruments require durable dielectric coatings, both to prevent oxidation of the reflective surface and to protect it during cleaning. IR absorption bands within widely-used SiOx coatings produce scene radiance and instrument background variations as a function of scan mirror angle which motivate the search for possible substitute materials. In this work several candidate coatings are evaluated including CeF3, HfO2, MgF2 SrF2, and Y2O3. This evaluation consists of reflectance, adhesion, and durability measurements of mirrors with an aluminum reflective surface over-coated with these materials. S-polarized and P- polarized reflectance measurements are presented between 2 and 20 micrometers for incidence angles between 40 and 50 degrees. This angular range is sufficient to scan the earth disk from geostationary orbit. Additional measurements at 45 degrees incidence are presented between 2 and 55 micrometers , covering the IR wavelength range of interest for earth radiation budget sensors. Comparisons are drawn with measurements of scan- mirror witness samples from the imaging and sounding instruments used in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES). These witness samples exhibit reflectance variations arising from IR absorption bands in the SiOx protective coatings used in these mirrors. The spectral characteristics of several of the alternate materials are found to be quite attractive, however durable coatings of some of these materials require elevated deposition temperature which are incompatible with the nickel-coated beryllium scan mirror substrate construction used in GOES. This work present the achievable reflectance and durability of these alternate dielectric protective coatings at the deposition temperature constraints imposed by the scan mirror substrate. The prospects for substituting one of these coatings for SiOx are evaluated, and contrasted with the capability of radiometric calibration techniques to deal with the reflectance variations produced by SiOx coatings.

Evaluating Multispectral Snowpack Reflectivity With Changing Snow Correlation Lengths

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kang, Do Hyuk; Barros, Ana P.; Kim, Edward J.

2016-01-01

This study investigates the sensitivity of multispectral reflectivity to changing snow correlation lengths. Matzler's ice-lamellae radiative transfer model was implemented and tested to evaluate the reflectivity of snow correlation lengths at multiple frequencies from the ultraviolet (UV) to the microwave bands. The model reveals that, in the UV to infrared (IR) frequency range, the reflectivity and correlation length are inversely related, whereas reflectivity increases with snow correlation length in the microwave frequency range. The model further shows that the reflectivity behavior can be mainly attributed to scattering rather than absorption for shallow snowpacks. The largest scattering coefficients and reflectivity occur at very small correlation lengths (approximately 10(exp -5 m) for frequencies higher than the IR band. In the microwave range, the largest scattering coefficients are found at millimeter wavelengths. For validation purposes, the ice-lamella model is coupled with a multilayer snow physics model to characterize the reflectivity response of realistic snow hydrological processes. The evolution of the coupled model simulated reflectivities in both the visible and the microwave bands is consistent with satellite-based reflectivity observations in the same frequencies. The model results are also compared with colocated in situ snow correlation length measurements (Cold Land Processes Field Experiment 2002-2003). The analysis and evaluation of model results indicate that the coupled multifrequency radiative transfer and snow hydrology modeling system can be used as a forward operator in a data-assimilation framework to predict the status of snow physical properties, including snow correlation length.

Camouflage in thermal IR: spectral design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pohl, Anna; Fagerström, Jan; Kariis, Hans; Lindell, Roland; Hallberg, Tomas; Högström, Herman

2016-10-01

In this work a spectral designed coating from SPECTROGON is evaluated. Spectral design in this case means that the coating has a reflectivity equal to one at 3-5 and 8-12 microns were sensors operate and a much lower reflectivity in the other wave length regions. Three boxes are evaluated: one metallic, one black-body and one with a spectral designed surface, all with a 15 W radiator inside the box. It is shown that the box with the spectral designed surface can combine the two good characteristics of the other boxes: low signature from the metallic box and reasonable inside temperature from the black-body box. The measurements were verified with calculations using RadThermIR.

High-accuracy self-mixing interferometer based on multiple reflections using a simple external reflecting mirror

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xiu-lin; Wei, Zheng; Wang, Rui; Huang, Wen-cai

2018-05-01

A self-mixing interferometer (SMI) with resolution twenty times higher than that of a conventional interferometer is developed by multiple reflections. Only by employing a simple external reflecting mirror, the multiple-pass optical configuration can be constructed. The advantage of the configuration is simple and easy to make the light re-injected back into the laser cavity. Theoretical analysis shows that the resolution of measurement is scalable by adjusting the number of reflections. The experiment shows that the proposed method has the optical resolution of approximate λ/40. The influence of displacement sensitivity gain ( G) is further analyzed and discussed in practical experiments.

Convective cell development and propagation in a mesoscale convective complex

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ahn, Yoo-Shin; Brundidge, Kenneth C.

1987-01-01

A case study was made of the mesoscale convective complex (MCC) which occurred over southern Oklahoma and northern Texas on 27 May 1981. This storm moved in an eastsoutheasterly direction and during much of its lifetime was observable by radars at Oklahoma City, Ok. and Stephenville, Tx. It was found that the direction of cell (VIP level 3 or more reflectivity) propagation was somewhat erratic but approximately the same as the system (VIP level 1 reflectivity) movement and the ambient wind. New cells developed along and behind the gust front make it appear that once the MCC is initiated, a synergistic relationship exists between the gust front and the MCC. The relationship between rainfall patterns and amounts and the infrared (IR) temperature field in the satellite imagery were examined. The 210 K isotherm of GOES IR imagery was found to encompass the rain area of the storm. The heaviest rainfall was in the vicinity of the VIP level 3 cells and mostly contained within the 205 K isotherm of GOES IR imagery.

Detection of latent bloodstains beneath painted surfaces using reflected infrared photography.

PubMed

Farrar, Andrew; Porter, Glenn; Renshaw, Adrian

2012-09-01

Bloodstain evidence is a highly valued form of physical evidence commonly found at scenes involving violent crimes. However, painting over bloodstains will often conceal this type of evidence. There is limited research in the scientific literature that describes methods of detecting painted-over bloodstains. This project employed a modified digital single-lens reflex camera to investigate the effectiveness of infrared (IR) photography in detecting latent bloodstain evidence beneath a layer or multiple layers of paint. A qualitative evaluation was completed by comparing images taken of a series of samples using both IR and standard (visible light) photography. Further quantitative image analysis was used to verify the findings. Results from this project indicate that bloodstain evidence can be detected beneath up to six layers of paint using reflected IR; however, the results vary depending on the characteristics of the paint. This technique provides crime scene specialists with a new field method to assist in locating, visualizing, and documenting painted-over bloodstain evidence. © 2012 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Chemical fingerprinting of Arabidopsis using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic approaches.

PubMed

Gorzsás, András; Sundberg, Björn

2014-01-01

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy is a fast, sensitive, inexpensive, and nondestructive technique for chemical profiling of plant materials. In this chapter we discuss the instrumental setup, the basic principles of analysis, and the possibilities for and limitations of obtaining qualitative and semiquantitative information by FT-IR spectroscopy. We provide detailed protocols for four fully customizable techniques: (1) Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS): a sensitive and high-throughput technique for powders; (2) attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy: a technique that requires no sample preparation and can be used for solid samples as well as for cell cultures; (3) microspectroscopy using a single element (SE) detector: a technique used for analyzing sections at low spatial resolution; and (4) microspectroscopy using a focal plane array (FPA) detector: a technique for rapid chemical profiling of plant sections at cellular resolution. Sample preparation, measurement, and data analysis steps are listed for each of the techniques to help the user collect the best quality spectra and prepare them for subsequent multivariate analysis.

Polarized Infrared Reflectance Studies of Quaternary In0.04Al0.06Ga0.90N

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bakhori, S. K. Mohd; Lee, S. C.; Ahmad, M. A.; Ng, S. S.; Hassan, H. Abu

2010-07-01

Group III-nitride has re-gained considerable interest recently as wide direct band gap semiconductor materials for opto-electronic and high power devices. The quaternary InAlGaN have great flexibility in tailoring their band gap profile while maintaining their lattice-matching and structural integrity. In this study, we report for the first time the polarized infrared (IR) reflectance studies of quaternary In0.04Al0.06Ga0.90N by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of Perkin-Elmer. The quaternary In0.04Al0.06Ga0.90N epilayers was grown on sapphire by molecular beam epitaxy. The polarized IR reflectance spectra obtained at incident angle of 15° were then compared with modeling spectrum of damped harmonic oscillator. Through this study, the transverse and longitudinal optical phonon modes of quaternary In0.04Al0.06Ga0.90N epilayers were obtained.

Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR FT-IR) Spectroscopy as an Analytical Method to Investigate the Secondary Structure of a Model Protein Embedded in Solid Lipid Matrices.

PubMed

Zeeshan, Farrukh; Tabbassum, Misbah; Jorgensen, Lene; Medlicott, Natalie J

2018-02-01

Protein drugs may encounter conformational perturbations during the formulation processing of lipid-based solid dosage forms. In aqueous protein solutions, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy can investigate these conformational changes following the subtraction of spectral interference of solvent with protein amide I bands. However, in solid dosage forms, the possible spectral contribution of lipid carriers to protein amide I band may be an obstacle to determine conformational alterations. The objective of this study was to develop an ATR FT-IR spectroscopic method for the analysis of protein secondary structure embedded in solid lipid matrices. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was chosen as a model protein, while Precirol AT05 (glycerol palmitostearate, melting point 58 ℃) was employed as the model lipid matrix. Bovine serum albumin was incorporated into lipid using physical mixing, melting and mixing, or wet granulation mixing methods. Attenuated total reflection FT-IR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) were performed for the analysis of BSA secondary structure and its dissolution in aqueous media, respectively. The results showed significant interference of Precirol ATO5 with BSA amide I band which was subtracted up to 90% w/w lipid content to analyze BSA secondary structure. In addition, ATR FT-IR spectroscopy also detected thermally denatured BSA solid alone and in the presence of lipid matrix indicating its suitability for the detection of denatured protein solids in lipid matrices. Despite being in the solid state, conformational changes occurred to BSA upon incorporation into solid lipid matrices. However, the extent of these conformational alterations was found to be dependent on the mixing method employed as indicated by area overlap calculations. For instance, the melting and mixing method imparted negligible effect on BSA secondary structure, whereas the wet granulation mixing method promoted more changes. Size exclusion chromatography analysis depicted the complete dissolution of BSA in the aqueous media employed in the wet granulation method. In conclusion, an ATR FT-IR spectroscopic method was successfully developed to investigate BSA secondary structure in solid lipid matrices following the subtraction of lipid spectral interference. The ATR FT-IR spectroscopy could further be applied to investigate the secondary structure perturbations of therapeutic proteins during their formulation development.

Diphosphine- and CO-Induced Fragmentation of Chloride-bridged Dinuclear Complex and Cp*Ir(mu-Cl)(3)Re(CO)(3) and Attempted Synthesis of Cp*Ir(mu-Cl)(3)Mn(CO)(3): Spectroscopic Data and X-ray Diffraction Structures of the Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl Compounds [Cp*IrCl{(Z)-Ph2PCH = CHPPh2}][Cl]center dot 2CHCl(3) and Cp*Ir(CO)Cl-2

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

Hammons, Casey; Wang, Xiaoping; Nesterov, Vladimir

2010-01-01

The confacial bioctahedral compound Cp*Ir(mu-Cl)(3)Re(CO)(3) (1) undergoes rapid fragmentation in the presence of the unsaturated diphosphine ligand (Z)-Ph2PCH = CHPPh2 to give the mononuclear compounds [Cp*IrCl {(Z)-Ph2PCH = CHPPh2}][Cl] (2) and fac-ClRe(CO)(3)[(Z)-Ph2PCH = CHPPh2] (3). 2 has been characterized by H-1 and P-31 NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. 2 center dot 2CHCl(3) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c, a = 35.023 (8) angstrom, b = 10.189 (2) angstrom, c = 24.003 (6) angstrom, b = 103.340 (3), V = 8,335 (3) angstrom 3, Z = 8, and d(calc) = 1.647 Mg/m(3); R = 0.0383, R-w = 0.1135 formore » 8,178 reflections with I> 2 sigma(I). The Ir(III) center in 2 exhibits a six-coordinate geometry and displays a chelating diphosphine group. Compound 1 reacts with added CO with fragmentation to yield the known compounds Cp*Ir(CO)Cl-2 (4) and ClRe(CO)(5) (5) in near quantitative yield by IR spectroscopy. Using the protocol established by our groups for the synthesis of 1, we have explored the reaction of [Cp*IrCl2](2) with ClMn(CO)(5) as a potential route to Cp*Ir(mu-Cl)(3)Mn(CO)(3); unfortunately, 4 was the only product isolated from this reaction. The solid-state structure of 4 was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. 4 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1, a = 7.4059 (4) angstrom, b = 7.8940 (4) angstrom, c = 11.8488 (7) angstrom, alpha = 80.020 (1), beta = 79.758 (1), gamma = 68.631 (1), V = 630.34 (6) angstrom(3), Z = 2, and d(calc) = 2.246 Mg/m(3); R = 0.0126, R-w = 0.0329 for 2,754 reflections with I> 2 sigma(I). The expected three-legged piano-stool geometry in 4 has been crystallographically confirmed.« less

External cavity-quantum cascade laser (EC-QCL) spectroscopy for protein analysis in bovine milk.

PubMed

Kuligowski, Julia; Schwaighofer, Andreas; Alcaráz, Mirta Raquel; Quintás, Guillermo; Mayer, Helmut; Vento, Máximo; Lendl, Bernhard

2017-04-22

The analytical determination of bovine milk proteins is important in food and non-food industrial applications and yet, rather labour-intensive wet-chemical, low-throughput methods have been employed since decades. This work proposes the use of external cavity-quantum cascade laser (EC-QCL) spectroscopy for the simultaneous quantification of the most abundant bovine milk proteins and the total protein content based on the chemical information contained in mid-infrared (IR) spectral features of the amide I band. Mid-IR spectra of protein standard mixtures were used for building partial least squares (PLS) regression models. Protein concentrations in commercial bovine milk samples were calculated after chemometric compensation of the matrix contribution employing science-based calibration (SBC) without sample pre-processing. The use of EC-QCL spectroscopy together with advanced multivariate data analysis allowed the determination of casein, α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin and total protein content within several minutes. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A non-destructive spectroscopic study of the decoration of archaeological pottery: from matt-painted bichrome ceramic sherds (southern Italy, VIII-VII B.C.) to an intact Etruscan cinerary urn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bruni, Silvia; Guglielmi, Vittoria; Della Foglia, Elena; Castoldi, Marina; Bagnasco Gianni, Giovanna

2018-02-01

A study is presented based on the use of entirely non-destructive spectroscopic techniques to analyze the chemical composition of the painted surface layer of archaeological pottery. This study aims to define both the raw materials and the working technology of ancient potters. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, micro-Raman spectroscopy, visible and near infrared (NIR) diffuse reflection spectroscopy and external reflection Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were applied to matt-painted bichrome pottery sherds (VIII-VII century B.C.) from the site of Incoronata near Metaponto in southern Italy. Two different raw materials, ochre and iron-rich clay, were recognized for the red decoration, while the dark areas resulted to have been obtained by the so-called manganese black technique. In any case, it was demonstrated that the decoration was applied before firing, in spite of its sometimes grainy aspect that could suggest a post-firing application. For the samples with a more sophisticated decorative pattern a red/black/white polychromy was recognized, as the lighter areas correspond to an ;intentional white; obtained by the firing of a calcium-rich clay. Reflection spectroscopy in the visible-NIR and mid-IR as well as micro-Raman spectroscopy were then employed to characterize the decoration of an intact ceramic urn from the Etruscan town of Chiusi, evidencing a post-firing painting based on the use of red ochre, carbon black and lime, possibly imitating the ;fresco; technique used in wall paintings.

Mitigating stimulated scattering processes in gas-filled Hohlraums via external magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gong, Tao; Zheng, Jian; Li, Zhichao; Ding, Yongkun; Yang, Dong; Hu, Guangyue; Zhao, Bin

2015-09-01

A simple model, based on energy and pressure equilibrium, is proposed to deal with the effect of external magnetic fields on the plasma parameters inside the laser path, which shows that the electron temperature can be significantly enhanced as the intensity of the external magnetic fields increases. With the combination of this model and a 1D three-wave coupling code, the effect of external magnetic fields on the reflectivities of stimulated scattering processes is studied. The results indicate that a magnetic field with an intensity of tens of Tesla can decrease the reflectivities of stimulated scattering processes by several orders of magnitude.

Comparison of the far-infrared and carbon monoxide emission in Heiles' Cloud 2 and B18

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Snell, Ronald L.; Schloerb, F. Peter; Heyer, Mark H.

1989-01-01

A comparison is made of the far-IR emission detected by IRAS at 60 and 100 microns and the emission from C(-13)O in B18 and Heiles' Cloud 2. The results show that both these clouds have extended emission at the studied wavelengths and that this emission is correlated with the integrated intensity of (C-13)O emission. The dust temperature and optical depth, the gas column density, the mass of gas and dust, and the far-IR luminosity are derived and presented. The analysis shows that the dust optical depth is much better correlated with the gas column density than with the far-IR intensity. The dust temperature is found to be anticorrelated with the gas column density, suggesting that these clouds are externally heated by the interstellar radiation field. The far-IR luminosity-to-mass ratios for the clouds are substantially less than the average for the inner Galaxy.

Role of the antiferromagnetic pinning layer on spin wave properties in IrMn/NiFe based spin-valves

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

Gubbiotti, G., E-mail: gubbiotti@fisica.unipg.it; Tacchi, S.; Del Bianco, L.

2015-05-07

Brillouin light scattering (BLS) was exploited to study the spin wave properties of spin-valve (SV) type samples basically consisting of two 5 nm-thick NiFe layers (separated by a Cu spacer of 5 nm), differently biased through the interface exchange coupling with an antiferromagnetic IrMn layer. Three samples were investigated: a reference SV sample, without IrMn (reference); one sample with an IrMn underlayer (10 nm thick) coupled to the bottom NiFe film; one sample with IrMn underlayer and overlayer of different thickness (10 nm and 6 nm), coupled to the bottom and top NiFe film, respectively. The exchange coupling with the IrMn, causing the insurgence ofmore » the exchange bias effect, allowed the relative orientation of the NiFe magnetization vectors to be controlled by an external magnetic field, as assessed through hysteresis loop measurements by magneto-optic magnetometry. Thus, BLS spectra were acquired by sweeping the magnetic field so as to encompass both the parallel and antiparallel alignment of the NiFe layers. The BLS results, well reproduced by the presented theoretical model, clearly revealed the combined effects on the spin dynamic properties of the dipolar interaction between the two NiFe films and of the interface IrMn/NiFe exchange coupling.« less

Optical gain tuning within IR region in type-II In0.5Ga0.5As0.8P0.2/GaAs0.5Sb0.5 nano-scale heterostructure under external uniaxial strain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, A. K.; Rathi, Amit; Riyaj, Md.; Bhardwaj, Garima; Alvi, P. A.

2017-11-01

Quaternary and ternary alloy semiconductors offer an extra degree of flexibility in terms of bandgap tuning. Modifications in the wave functions and alterations in optical transitions in quaternary and ternary QW (quantum well) heterostructures due to external uniaxial strain provide valuable insights on the characteristics of the heterostructure. This paper reports the optical gain in strained InGaAsP/GaAsSb type-II QW heterostructure (well width = 20 Å) under external uniaxial strain at room temperature (300 K). The entire heterostructure is supposed to be grown on InP substrate pseudomorphically. Band structure, wave functions, energy dispersion and momentum matrix elements of the heterostructure have been computed. 6 × 6 diagonalised k → ·p → Hamiltonian matrix of the system is evaluated and Luttinger-Kohn model has been applied for the band structure and wavefunction calculations. TE mode optical gain spectrum in the QW-heterostructure under uniaxial strain along [110] is calculated. Optical gain of the heterostructure as a function of 2D carrier density and temperature variation is investigated. The variation of the peak optical gain as a function of As and Sb fractions in InGaAsP as a barrier and GaAsSb as a well respectively is exhibited. For a charge carrier injection of 5 ×1012 /cm2 , the TE optical gain is 3952 cm-1 at room temperature under no external uniaxial strain. Significant increase in TE mode optical gain is observed under high external uniaxial strain (1, 5 and 10 GPa) along [110] within IR (Infrared region) region.

A Profile of Glenohumeral Internal and External Rotation Motion in the Uninjured High School Baseball Pitcher, Part II: Strength

PubMed Central

Hurd, Wendy J.; Kaplan, Kevin M.; ElAttrache, Neal S.; Jobe, Frank W.; Morrey, Bernard F.; Kaufman, Kenton R.

2011-01-01

Context: A database describing the range of normal rotator cuff strength values in uninjured high school pitchers has not been established. Chronologic factors that contribute to adaptations in strength also have not been established. Objectives: To establish a normative profile of rotator cuff strength in uninjured high school baseball pitchers and to determine whether bilateral differences in rotator cuff strength are normal findings in this age group. Design: Cohort study. Setting: Baseball playing field. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 165 uninjured male high school baseball pitchers (age = 16 ± 1 years, height = 1.8 ± 0.1 m, mass = 76.8 ± 10.1 kg, pitching experience = 7 ± 2 years). Main Outcome Measure(s): Isometric rotator cuff strength was measured bilaterally with a handheld dynamometer. We calculated side-to-side differences in strength (external rotation [ER], internal rotation [IR], and the ratio of ER:IR at 90° of abduction), differences in strength by age, and the influence of chronologic factors (participant age, years of pitching experience) on limb strength. Results: Side-to-side differences in strength were found for ER, IR, and ER:IR ratio at 90° of abduction. Age at the time of testing was a significant but weak predictor of both ER strength (R2 = 0.032, P = .02) and the ER:IR ratio (R2 = 0.051, P = .004) at 90° of abduction. Conclusions: We established a normative profile of rotator cuff strength for the uninjured high school baseball pitcher that might be used to assist clinicians and researchers in the interpretation of muscle strength performance in this population. These data further suggested that dominant-limb adaptations in rotator cuff strength are a normal finding in this age group and did not demonstrate that these adaptations were a consequence of the age at the time of testing or the number of years of pitching experience. PMID:21669099

High performance digital read out integrated circuit (DROIC) for infrared imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mizuno, Genki; Olah, Robert; Oduor, Patrick; Dutta, Achyut K.; Dhar, Nibir K.

2016-05-01

Banpil Photonics has developed a high-performance Digital Read-Out Integrated Circuit (DROIC) for image sensors and camera systems targeting various military, industrial and commercial Infrared (IR) imaging applications. The on-chip digitization of the pixel output eliminates the necessity for an external analog-to-digital converter (ADC), which not only cuts costs, but also enables miniaturization of packaging to achieve SWaP-C camera systems. In addition, the DROIC offers new opportunities for greater on-chip processing intelligence that are not possible in conventional analog ROICs prevalent today. Conventional ROICs, which typically can enhance only one high performance attribute such as frame rate, power consumption or noise level, fail when simultaneously targeting the most aggressive performance requirements demanded in imaging applications today. Additionally, scaling analog readout circuits to meet such requirements leads to expensive, high-power consumption with large and complex systems that are untenable in the trend towards SWaP-C. We present the implementation of a VGA format (640x512 pixels 15μm pitch) capacitivetransimpedance amplifier (CTIA) DROIC architecture that incorporates a 12-bit ADC at the pixel level. The CTIA pixel input circuitry has two gain modes with programmable full-well capacity values of 100K e- and 500K e-. The DROIC has been developed with a system-on-chip architecture in mind, where all the timing and biasing are generated internally without requiring any critical external inputs. The chip is configurable with many parameters programmable through a serial programmable interface (SPI). It features a global shutter, low power, and high frame rates programmable from 30 up 500 frames per second in full VGA format supported through 24 LVDS outputs. This DROIC, suitable for hybridization with focal plane arrays (FPA) is ideal for high-performance uncooled camera applications ranging from near IR (NIR) and shortwave IR (SWIR) to mid-wave IR (MWIR) and long-wave IR (LWIR) spectral bands.

Immunisation Registries at regional level in Italy and the roadmap for a future Italian National Registry.

PubMed

D'Ancona, F; Gianfredi, V; Riccardo, F; Iannazzo, S

2018-01-01

Immunization Information Systems, or Immunisation registries (IRs), are essential to monitor and evaluate the accessibility, quality and outcomes of immunisation programmes both at local and national level. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in order to investigate and map the level of IRs implementation obtained by the 21 Italian Regional Health Authorities. On this basis we defined a roadmap towards implementing an Italian National IR. We designed an online questionnaire. Data were collected from July to September 2016 from all the 21 Regional Health Authorities in charge of infectious diseases control and immunization management. 18/21 Italian Regions have fully implemented an IR, out of them, 11 use the same software for all Local Health Units. Two Regions have partially implemented their IRs and one Region is not yet computerised. The decentralization of the Italian Health System is reflected also on the IRs characteristics and functionalities in terms of fragmented implementation of IRs and diversity in the software systems and data flows in place. Future efforts should not only aim not only to clarify the functionalities of Regional IRs, but should also aim to define how aggregation of data at national level can be optimised.

Reflectance Experiment Laboratory (RELAB) Description and User's Manual

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pieters, Carle M.; Hiroi, Takahiro; Pratt, Steve F.; Patterson, Bill

2004-01-01

Spectroscopic data acquired in the laboratory provide the interpretive foundation upon which compositional information about unexplored or unsampled planetary surfaces is derived from remotely obtained reflectance spectra. The RELAB is supported by NASA as a multi-user spectroscopy facility, and laboratory time can be made available at no charge to investigators who are in funded NASA programs. RELAB has two operational spectrometers available to NASA scientists: 1) a near- ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared bidirectional spectrometer and 2) a near- and mid- infrared FT-IR spectrometer. The overall purpose of the design and operation of the RELAB bidirectional spectrometer is to obtain high precision, high spectral resolution, bidirectional reflectance spectra of earth and planetary materials. One of the key elements of its design is the ability to measure samples using viewing geometries specified by the user. This allows investigators to simulate, under laboratory conditions, reflectance spectra obtained remotely (i.e., with spaceborne, telescopic, and airborne systems) as well as to investigate geometry dependent reflectance properties of geologic materials. The Nicolet 740 FT-IR spectrometer currently operates in reflectance mode from 0.9 to 25 Fm. Use and scheduling of the RELAB is monitored by a 4-member advisory committee. NASA investigators should direct inquiries to the Science Manager or RELAB Operator.

Analysis of hard-to-cook red and black common beans using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

PubMed

Maurer, Giselle A; Ozen, Banu F; Mauer, Lisa J; Nielsen, S Suzanne

2004-03-24

Extracted fractions from black and red common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) were studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Beans were stored under three conditions: control at 4 degrees C; hard-to-cook (HTC) at 29 degrees C, 65% RH for 3.5 months; and refrigerated at 2 degrees C, 79% RH for 3.5 months after a HTC period (called HTC-refrigerated). Two fractions isolated from the beans, the soluble pectin fraction (SPF) and the water insoluble residue of the cell wall (WIRCW), were analyzed using diffuse reflectance (DRIFTS) FT-IR. The soaking water and cooking water from the beans were also studied using attenuated total reflectance (ATR) FT-IR. The DRIFTS FT-IR results from the SPF and WIRCW fractions were consistent with previously published data for Carioca beans showing that in general, more phenolic compounds were associated with the SPF of HTC beans than in the control beans. Results also showed that HTC-refrigerated beans had higher concentrations of phenolic compounds than control beans in the SPF. The ATR FT-IR results for soaking and cooking waters from the HTC-refrigerated and HTC beans had higher concentrations of absorbing compounds than the control beans, indicating that they lost more constituents to the water. Additionally, results indicate that the mechanism(s) for reversibility of the HTC defect could be different than the one(s) involved in the development of the defect.

Formation of pyroxenite layers in the Totalp ultramafic massif (Swiss Alps) - Insights from highly siderophile elements and Os isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Acken, David; Becker, Harry; Walker, Richard J.; McDonough, William F.; Wombacher, Frank; Ash, Richard D.; Piccoli, Phil M.

2010-01-01

Pyroxenitic layers are a minor constituent of ultramafic mantle massifs, but are considered important for basalt generation and mantle refertilization. Mafic spinel websterite and garnet-spinel clinopyroxenite layers within Jurassic ocean floor peridotites from the Totalp ultramafic massif (eastern Swiss Alps) were analyzed for their highly siderophile element (HSE) and Os isotope composition. Aluminum-poor pyroxenites (websterites) display chondritic to suprachondritic initial γOs (160 Ma) of -2 to +27. Osmium, Ir and Ru abundances are depleted in websterites relative to the associated peridotites and to mantle lherzolites worldwide, but relative abundances (Os/Ir, Ru/Ir) are similar. Conversely, Pt/Ir, Pd/Ir and Re/Ir are elevated. Aluminum-rich pyroxenites (clinopyroxenites) are characterized by highly radiogenic 187Os/ 188Os with initial γOs (160 Ma) between +20 and +1700. Their HSE composition is similar to that of basalts, as they are more depleted in Os, Ir and Ru compared to Totalp websterites, along with even higher Pt/Ir, Pd/Ir and Re/Ir. The data are most consistent with multiple episodes of reaction of mafic pyroxenite precursor melts with surrounding peridotites, with the highest degree of interaction recorded in the websterites, which typically occur in direct contact to peridotites. Clinopyroxenites, in contrast, represent melt-dominated systems, which retained the precursor melt characteristics to a large extent. The melts may have been derived from a sublithospheric mantle source with high Pd/Ir, Pt/Ir and Re/Os, coupled with highly radiogenic 187Os/ 188Os compositions. Modeling indicates that partial melting of subducted, old oceanic crust in the asthenosphere could be a possible source for such melts. Pentlandite and godlevskite are identified in both types of pyroxenites as the predominant sulfide minerals and HSE carriers. Heterogeneous HSE abundances within these sulfide grains likely reflect subsolidus processes. In contrast, large grain-to-grain variations, and correlated variations of HSE ratios, indicate chemical disequilibrium under high-temperature conditions. This likely reflects multiple events of melt-rock interaction and sulfide precipitation. Notably, sulfides from the same thick section for the pyroxenites may display both residual-peridotite and melt-like HSE signatures. Because Totalp pyroxenites are enriched in Pt and Re, and depleted in Os, they will develop excess radiogenic 187Os and 186Os, compared to ambient mantle. These enrichments, however, do not possess the requisite Pt-Re-Os composition to account for the coupled suprachondritic 186Os- 187Os signatures observed in some Hawaiian picrites, Gorgona komatiites, or the Siberian plume.

What's in Your Box? Promoting Self-Reflection and Analysis of External Influences on Gender Expression and Sexual Orientation Attitudes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Priest, Hannah M.

2014-01-01

This lesson plan is designed to stimulate awareness and reflection on personal attitudes toward gender expression and sexual orientation. Participants are guided to identify and analyze how external influences from various socialization agents shape gender and sexual orientation norms and, consequently, personal attitudes about gender expression…

Forensic applications of infrared imaging for the detection and recording of latent evidence.

PubMed

Lin, Apollo Chun-Yen; Hsieh, Hsing-Mei; Tsai, Li-Chin; Linacre, Adrian; Lee, James Chun-I

2007-09-01

We report on a simple method to record infrared (IR) reflected images in a forensic science context. Light sources using ultraviolet light have been used previously in the detection of latent prints, but the use of infrared light has been subjected to less investigation. IR light sources were used to search for latent evidence and the images were captured by either video or using a digital camera with a CCD array sensitive to IR wavelength. Bloodstains invisible to the eye, inks, tire prints, gunshot residue, and charred document on dark background are selected as typical matters that may be identified during a forensic investigation. All the evidence types could be detected and identified using a range of photographic techniques. In this study, a one in eight times dilution of blood could be detected on 10 different samples of black cloth. When using 81 black writing inks, the observation rates were 95%, 88% and 42% for permanent markers, fountain pens and ball-point pens, respectively, on the three kinds of dark cloth. The black particles of gunshot residue scattering around the entrance hole under IR light were still observed at a distance of 60 cm from three different shooting ranges. A requirement of IR reflectivity is that there is a contrast between the latent evidence and the background. In the absence of this contrast no latent image will be detected, which is similar to all light sources. The use of a video camera allows the recording of images either at a scene or in the laboratory. This report highlights and demonstrates the robustness of IR to detect and record the presence of latent evidence.

A dual-band adaptor for infrared imaging.

PubMed

McLean, A G; Ahn, J-W; Maingi, R; Gray, T K; Roquemore, A L

2012-05-01

A novel imaging adaptor providing the capability to extend a standard single-band infrared (IR) camera into a two-color or dual-band device has been developed for application to high-speed IR thermography on the National Spherical Tokamak Experiment (NSTX). Temperature measurement with two-band infrared imaging has the advantage of being mostly independent of surface emissivity, which may vary significantly in the liquid lithium divertor installed on NSTX as compared to that of an all-carbon first wall. In order to take advantage of the high-speed capability of the existing IR camera at NSTX (1.6-6.2 kHz frame rate), a commercial visible-range optical splitter was extensively modified to operate in the medium wavelength and long wavelength IR. This two-band IR adapter utilizes a dichroic beamsplitter, which reflects 4-6 μm wavelengths and transmits 7-10 μm wavelength radiation, each with >95% efficiency and projects each IR channel image side-by-side on the camera's detector. Cutoff filters are used in each IR channel, and ZnSe imaging optics and mirrors optimized for broadband IR use are incorporated into the design. In-situ and ex-situ temperature calibration and preliminary data of the NSTX divertor during plasma discharges are presented, with contrasting results for dual-band vs. single-band IR operation.

Laser reflection from oxide-coated aluminum

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, M. D.

1982-01-01

The theory of reflection from an oxide-coated metal is combined with experimentally measured parameters of aluminum to produce useful amplitude and phase shift information applicable to the concentration and direction of laser light. Amplitude and phase are plotted vs angle of incidence for several important laser wavelengths in the near UV, visible, and IR spectral regions.

Secondary cell wall development in cotton fibers as examined with attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Cotton fibers harvested at 18, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36 and 40 days after flowering were examined using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform-infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy. The selected harvesting points coincide with secondary cell wall (SCW) development in the fibers. Progressive but moderat...

Visible and near-IR spectral reflectance of geologically important materials: A short review

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singer, R. B.

1982-01-01

Examples of reflectance spectra are presented and discussed for various mineral groups including pyroxenes, olivene, phylosilicates, amphiboles, feldspars, oxides and hydroxides, carbonates, and mixtures of minerals. The physical sources of some spectral features are also reviewed such as charge transfer and conduction bands, crystal field absorptions, and vibrational absorptions.

Passive Standoff Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents on Surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thériault, Jean-Marc; Puckrin, Eldon; Hancock, Jim; Lecavalier, Pierre; Lepage, Carmela Jackson; Jensen, James O.

2004-11-01

Results are presented on the passive standoff detection and identification of chemical warfare (CW) liquid agents on surfaces by the Fourier-transform IR radiometry. This study was performed during surface contamination trials at Defence Research and Development Canada-Suffield in September 2002. The goal was to verify that passive long-wave IR spectrometric sensors can potentially remotely detect surfaces contaminated with CW agents. The passive sensor, the Compact Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer, was used in the trial to obtain laboratory and field measurements of CW liquid agents, HD and VX. The agents were applied to high-reflectivity surfaces of aluminum, low-reflectivity surfaces of Mylar, and several other materials including an armored personnel carrier. The field measurements were obtained at a standoff distance of 60 m from the target surfaces. Results indicate that liquid contaminant agents deposited on high-reflectivity surfaces can be detected, identified, and possibly quantified with passive sensors. For low-reflectivity surfaces the presence of the contaminants can usually be detected; however, their identification based on simple correlations with the absorption spectrum of the pure contaminant is not possible.

Infrared Reflectance Analysis of Epitaxial n-Type Doped GaN Layers Grown on Sapphire.

PubMed

Tsykaniuk, Bogdan I; Nikolenko, Andrii S; Strelchuk, Viktor V; Naseka, Viktor M; Mazur, Yuriy I; Ware, Morgan E; DeCuir, Eric A; Sadovyi, Bogdan; Weyher, Jan L; Jakiela, Rafal; Salamo, Gregory J; Belyaev, Alexander E

2017-12-01

Infrared (IR) reflectance spectroscopy is applied to study Si-doped multilayer n + /n 0 /n + -GaN structure grown on GaN buffer with GaN-template/sapphire substrate. Analysis of the investigated structure by photo-etching, SEM, and SIMS methods showed the existence of the additional layer with the drastic difference in Si and O doping levels and located between the epitaxial GaN buffer and template. Simulation of the experimental reflectivity spectra was performed in a wide frequency range. It is shown that the modeling of IR reflectance spectrum using 2 × 2 transfer matrix method and including into analysis the additional layer make it possible to obtain the best fitting of the experimental spectrum, which follows in the evaluation of GaN layer thicknesses which are in good agreement with the SEM and SIMS data. Spectral dependence of plasmon-LO-phonon coupled modes for each GaN layer is obtained from the spectral dependence of dielectric of Si doping impurity, which is attributed to compensation effects by the acceptor states.

Ground based measurements on reflectance towards validating atmospheric correction algorithms on IRS-P6 AWiFS data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rani Sharma, Anu; Kharol, Shailesh Kumar; Kvs, Badarinath; Roy, P. S.

In Earth observation, the atmosphere has a non-negligible influence on the visible and infrared radiation which is strong enough to modify the reflected electromagnetic signal and at-target reflectance. Scattering of solar irradiance by atmospheric molecules and aerosol generates path radiance, which increases the apparent surface reflectance over dark surfaces while absorption by aerosols and other molecules in the atmosphere causes loss of brightness to the scene, as recorded by the satellite sensor. In order to derive precise surface reflectance from satellite image data, it is indispensable to apply the atmospheric correction which serves to remove the effects of molecular and aerosol scattering. In the present study, we have implemented a fast atmospheric correction algorithm to IRS-P6 AWiFS satellite data which can effectively retrieve surface reflectance under different atmospheric and surface conditions. The algorithm is based on MODIS climatology products and simplified use of Second Simulation of Satellite Signal in Solar Spectrum (6S) radiative transfer code, which is used to generate look-up-tables (LUTs). The algorithm requires information on aerosol optical depth for correcting the satellite dataset. The proposed method is simple and easy to implement for estimating surface reflectance from the at sensor recorded signal, on a per pixel basis. The atmospheric correction algorithm has been tested for different IRS-P6 AWiFS False color composites (FCC) covering the ICRISAT Farm, Patancheru, Hyderabad, India under varying atmospheric conditions. Ground measurements of surface reflectance representing different land use/land cover, i.e., Red soil, Chick Pea crop, Groundnut crop and Pigeon Pea crop were conducted to validate the algorithm and found a very good match between surface reflectance and atmospherically corrected reflectance for all spectral bands. Further, we aggregated all datasets together and compared the retrieved AWiFS reflectance with aggregated ground measurements which showed a very good correlation of 0.96 in all four spectral bands (i.e. green, red, NIR and SWIR). In order to quantify the accuracy of the proposed method in the estimation of the surface reflectance, the root mean square error (RMSE) associated to the proposed method was evaluated. The analysis of the ground measured versus retrieved AWiFS reflectance yielded smaller RMSE values in case of all four spectral bands. EOS TERRA/AQUA MODIS derived AOD exhibited very good correlation of 0.92 and the data sets provides an effective means for carrying out atmospheric corrections in an operational way. Keywords: Atmospheric correction, 6S code, MODIS, Spectroradiometer, Sun-Photometer

Vibrational Excitations and Low Energy Electronic Structure of Epoxide-decorated Graphene.

PubMed

Mattson, E C; Johns, J E; Pande, K; Bosch, R A; Cui, S; Gajdardziska-Josifovska, M; Weinert, M; Chen, J H; Hersam, M C; Hirschmugl, C J

2014-01-02

We report infrared studies of adsorbed atomic oxygen (epoxide functional groups) on graphene. Two different systems are used as a platform to explore these interactions, namely, epitaxial graphene/SiC(0001) functionalized with atomic oxygen (graphene epoxide, GE) and chemically reduced graphene oxide (RGO). In the case of the model GE system, IR reflectivity measurements show that epoxide groups distort the graphene π bands around the K-point, imparting a finite effective mass and contributing to a band gap. In the case of RGO, epoxide groups are found to be present following the reduction treatment by a combination of polarized IR reflectance and transmittance measurements. Similar to the GE system, a band gap in the RGO sample is observed as well.

Artifact Correction in Temperature-Dependent Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared (ATR-IR) Spectra.

PubMed

Sobieski, Brian; Chase, Bruce; Noda, Isao; Rabolt, John

2017-08-01

A spectral processing method was developed and tested for analyzing temperature-dependent attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectra of aliphatic polyesters. Spectra of a bio-based, biodegradable polymer, 3.9 mol% 3HHx poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate- co-(R)-3-hydroxyhexanoate] (PHBHx), were analyzed and corrected prior to analysis using two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS). Removal of the temperature variation of diamond absorbance, correction of the baseline, ATR correction, and appropriate normalization were key to generating more reliable data. Both the processing steps and order were important. A comparison to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis indicated that the normalization method should be chosen with caution to avoid unintentional trends and distortions of the crystalline sensitive bands.

Vibrational Excitations and Low Energy Electronic Structure of Epoxide-decorated Graphene

PubMed Central

Mattson, E.C.; Johns, J.E.; Pande, K.; Bosch, R.A.; Cui, S.; Gajdardziska-Josifovska, M.; Weinert, M.; Chen, J.H.; Hersam, M.C.; Hirschmugl, C.J.

2014-01-01

We report infrared studies of adsorbed atomic oxygen (epoxide functional groups) on graphene. Two different systems are used as a platform to explore these interactions, namely, epitaxial graphene/SiC(0001) functionalized with atomic oxygen (graphene epoxide, GE) and chemically reduced graphene oxide (RGO). In the case of the model GE system, IR reflectivity measurements show that epoxide groups distort the graphene π bands around the K-point, imparting a finite effective mass and contributing to a band gap. In the case of RGO, epoxide groups are found to be present following the reduction treatment by a combination of polarized IR reflectance and transmittance measurements. Similar to the GE system, a band gap in the RGO sample is observed as well. PMID:24563725

Dielectric, magnetic, and lattice dynamics properties of Y-type hexaferrite Ba{sub 0.5}Sr{sub 1.5}Zn{sub 2}Fe{sub 12}O{sub 22}: Comparison of ceramics and single crystals

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

Kamba, S.; Goian, V.; Savinov, M.

2010-05-15

We prepared multiferroic Y-type hexaferrite Ba{sub 0.5}Sr{sub 1.5}Zn{sub 2}Fe{sub 12}O{sub 22} ceramics and compared their magnetic and dielectric properties with single crystal. Magnetic susceptibility and microwave resonance measurement revealed magnetic phase transition at T{sub C}=312 K, similar as in single crystal. Ferroelectric (FE) phase can be induced by external magnetic field in all investigated samples and the phase diagram in ceramics qualitatively resembles that of the single crystal. The range of magnetic fields, where the FE phase is induced, broadens after annealing of single crystal. Ceramics quenched after sintering exhibit several orders of magnitude lower conductivity than the single crystal.more » Heavily damped magnetic resonance was discovered in terahertz spectra at 10 K and its frequency softens below 5 GHz near T{sub C}. Number and symmetry of observed infrared (IR) and Raman active phonons correspond to paraelectric phase with D{sub 3d}{sup 5} hexagonal structure. No evidence for a structural phase transition was found in the IR and Raman spectra on cooling (in zero magnetic field) or in the room-temperature IR spectra with external static magnetic field up to 0.3 T.« less

Two-Magnon Raman Scattering and Pseudospin-Lattice Interactions in Sr_{2}IrO_{4} and Sr_{3}Ir_{2}O_{7}.

PubMed

Gretarsson, H; Sung, N H; Höppner, M; Kim, B J; Keimer, B; Le Tacon, M

2016-04-01

We have used Raman scattering to investigate the magnetic excitations and lattice dynamics in the prototypical spin-orbit Mott insulators Sr_{2}IrO_{4} and Sr_{3}Ir_{2}O_{7}. Both compounds exhibit pronounced two-magnon Raman scattering features with different energies, line shapes, and temperature dependencies, which in part reflect the different influence of long-range frustrating exchange interactions. Additionally, we find strong Fano asymmetries in the line shapes of low-energy phonon modes in both compounds, which disappear upon cooling below the antiferromagnetic ordering temperatures. These unusual phonon anomalies indicate that the spin-orbit coupling in Mott-insulating iridates is not sufficiently strong to quench the orbital dynamics in the paramagnetic state.

Infrared-sensitive photocathode

DOEpatents

Mariella, Jr., Raymond P.; Cooper, Gregory A.

1995-01-01

A single-crystal, multi-layer device incorporating an IR absorbing layer that is compositionally different from the Ga.sub.x Al.sub.1-x Sb layer which acts as the electron emitter. Many different IR absorbing layers can be envisioned for use in this embodiment, limited only by the ability to grow quality material on a chosen substrate. A non-exclusive list of possible IR absorbing layers would include GaSb, InAs and InAs/Ga.sub.w In.sub.y Al.sub.1-y-w Sb superlattices. The absorption of the IR photon excites an electron into the conduction band of the IR absorber. An externally applied electric field then transports electrons from the conduction band of the absorber into the conduction band of the Ga.sub.x Al.sub.1-x Sb, from which they are ejected into vacuum. Because the band alignments of Ga.sub.x Al.sub.1-x Sb can be made the same as that of GaAs, emitting efficiencies comparable to GaAs photocathodes are obtainable. The present invention provides a photocathode that is responsive to wavelengths within the range of 0.9 .mu.m to at least 10 .mu.m.

Infrared-sensitive photocathode

DOEpatents

Mariella, R.P. Jr.; Cooper, G.A.

1995-04-04

A single-crystal, multi-layer device is described incorporating an IR absorbing layer that is compositionally different from the Ga{sub x}Al{sub 1{minus}x}Sb layer which acts as the electron emitter. Many different IR absorbing layers can be envisioned for use in this embodiment, limited only by the ability to grow quality material on a chosen substrate. A non-exclusive list of possible IR absorbing layers would include GaSb, InAs and InAs/Ga{sub w}In{sub y}Al{sub 1{minus}y{minus}w}Sb superlattices. The absorption of the IR photon excites an electron into the conduction band of the IR absorber. An externally applied electric field then transports electrons from the conduction band of the absorber into the conduction band of the Ga{sub x}Al{sub 1{minus}x}Sb, from which they are ejected into vacuum. Because the band alignments of Ga{sub x}Al{sub 1{minus}x}Sb can be made the same as that of GaAs, emitting efficiencies comparable to GaAs photocathodes are obtainable. The present invention provides a photocathode that is responsive to wavelengths within the range of 0.9 {mu}m to at least 10 {mu}m. 9 figures.

Tuning the giant magnetoelastic transition in Ba3BiIr2O9 and Ba3BiRu2O9

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Zixin; Avdeev, Maxim; Kennedy, Brendan J.; Knight, Kevin S.; Zhou, Qingdi; Ling, Chris D.

2014-07-01

We have experimentally investigated the effects of pressure on the magnetoelastic transitions associated with the opening of spin-gaps in Ba3BiIr2O9 and Ba3BiRu2O9. For both compounds, reducing the unit cell volume by either external physical and internal chemical pressure was found to reduce the temperature T* of the transition and, to a lesser extent, the magnitude of the associated negative thermal volume expansion. The results yield the latent heat associated with the transitions, -3.34(3) × 102 J mol-1 for Ba3BiIr2O9 and -7.1(5) × 102 J mol-1 for Ba3BiRu2O9. The transition in Ba3BiRu2O9 is significantly more robust than in Ba3BiIr2O9, requiring an order of magnitude higher pressures to achieve the same reduction in T*. The differing responses of the two compounds points to differences between the 4d and 5d metals and hence to the importance of spin-orbit coupling, which is expected to be much stronger in the Ir compound.

Infrared Imaging of Nitric Oxide-Mediated Blood Flow in Human Sickle Cell Disease

PubMed Central

Gorbach, Alexander M.; Ackerman, Hans C.; Liu, Wei-Min; Meyer, Joseph M.; Littel, Patricia L.; Seamon, Catherine; Footman, Eleni; Chi, Amy; Zorca, Suzana; Krajewski, Megan L.; Cuttica, Michael J.; Machado, Roberto F.; Cannon, Richard O.; Kato, Gregory J.

2012-01-01

Vascular dysfunction is an important pathophysiologic manifestation of sickle cell disease (SCD), a condition that increases risk of pulmonary hypertension and stroke. We hypothesized that infrared (IR) imaging would detect changes in cutaneous blood flow reflective of vascular function. We performed IR imaging and conventional strain gauge plethysmography in twenty-five adults with SCD at baseline and during intra-arterial infusions of an endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (ACh), an endothelium-independent vasodilator sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and a NOS inhibitor L-NMMA. Skin temperature measured by IR imaging increased in a dose-dependent manner to graded infusions of ACh (+1.1° C, p < 0.0001) and SNP (+0.9° C, p < 0.0001), and correlated with dose-dependent increases in forearm blood flow (ACh: +19.9 mL/min/100mL, p < 0.0001; rs = 0.57, p = 0.003; SNP: +8.6 mL/min/100mL, p < 0.0001; r = 0.70, p = 0.0002). Although IR measurement of skin temperature accurately reflected agonist-induced increases in blood flow, it was less sensitive to decreases in blood flow caused by NOS inhibition. Baseline forearm skin temperature measured by IR imaging correlated significantly with baseline forearm blood flow (31.8±0.2° C, 6.0±0.4 mL/min/100mL; r = 0.58, p = 0.003), and appeared to represent a novel biomarker of vascular function. It predicted a blunted blood flow response to SNP (r = −0.61, p = 0.002), and was independently associated with a marker of pulmonary artery pressure, as well as hemoglobin level, diastolic blood pressure, homocysteine, and cholesterol (R2 = 0.84, p < 0.0001 for the model). IR imaging of agonist-stimulated cutaneous blood flow represents a less cumbersome alternative to plethysmography methodology. Measurement of baseline skin temperature by IR imaging may be a useful new marker of vascular risk in adults with SCD. PMID:22784510

Handheld Reflective Foil Emissometer with 0.007 Absolute Accuracy at 0.05

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van der Ham, E. W. M.; Ballico, M. J.

2014-07-01

The development and performance of a handheld emissometer for the measurement of the emissivity of highly reflective metallic foils used for the insulation of domestic and commercial buildings are described. Reflective roofing insulation based on a thin coating of metal on a more robust substrate is very widely used in hotter climates to reduce the radiant heat transfer between the ceiling and roof in commercial and residential buildings. The required normal emissivity of these foils is generally below 0.05, so stray reflected ambient infrared radiation (IR) makes traditional reflectance-based measurements of emissivity very difficult to achieve with the required accuracy. Many manufacturers apply additional coatings onto the metallic foil to reduce visible glare during installation on a roof, and to provide protection to the thin reflective layer; however, this layer can also substantially increase the IR emissivity. The system as developed at the National Measurement Institute, Australia (NMIA) is based on the principle of measurement of the modulation in thermal infrared radiation, as the sample is thermally modulated by hot and cold air streams. A commercial infrared to band radiation thermometer with a highly specialized stray and reflected radiation shroud attachment is used as the detector system, allowing for convenient handheld field measurements. The performance and accuracy of the system have been compared with NMIA's reference emissometer systems for a number of typical material samples, demonstrating its capability to measure the absolute thermal emissivity of these very highly reflective foils with an uncertainty of better than.

Electroactive semi-interpenetrating polymer networks architecture with tunable IR reflectivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chevrot, C.; Teyssié, D.; Verge, P.; Goujon, L.; Tran-Van, F.; Vidal, F.; Aubert, P. H.; Peralta, S.; Sauques, L.

2011-04-01

A promising alternative of multi-layered devices showing electrochromic properties results from the design of a self-supported semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) including an electronic conductive polymer (ECP) formed within. The formation of the ECP in the network has already been described by oxidative polymerization using iron trichloride as an oxidant and leading to conducting semi-IPN with mixed electronic and ionic conductivities as well as convenient mechanical properties. This presentation relates to the elaboration of such semi-IPN using polyethyleneoxide (PEO) network or a PEO/NBR (Nitrile Butadiene Rubber) IPN in which a linear poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is formed symmetrically and selectively as very thin layers very next to the two main faces of the film matrix. PEO/PEDOT semi-IPNs lead to interesting optical reflective properties in the IR between 0.8 and 25 μm. Reflectance contrasts up to 35 % is observed when, after swelling in an ionic liquid, a low voltage is applied between the two main faces of the film. However the low flexibility and brittleness of the film and a slow degradation in air at temperature up from 60°C prompted to replace the PEO matrix by a flexible PEO/NBR IPN one. Indeed, the combination of NBR and PEO in an IPN leads to materials possessing flexible properties, good ionic conductivity at 25°C as well as a better resistance to thermal ageing. Finally, NBR/PEO/PEDOT semi-IPNs allow observing comparable reflectance contrast in the IR range than those shown by PEO/PEDOT semi-IPNs.

The Smoothed Dirichlet Distribution: Understanding Cross-Entropy Ranking in Information Retrieval

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-07-01

reflect those of the spon- sor. viii ABSTRACT Unigram Language modeling is a successful probabilistic framework for Information Retrieval (IR) that uses...the Relevance model (RM), a state-of-the-art model for IR in the language modeling framework that uses the same cross-entropy as its ranking function...In addition, the SD based classifier provides more flexibility than RM in modeling documents owing to a consistent generative framework . We

3D-printed external light trap for solar cells.

PubMed

van Dijk, Lourens; Paetzold, Ulrich W; Blab, Gerhard A; Schropp, Ruud E I; di Vece, Marcel

2016-05-01

We present a universally applicable 3D-printed external light trap for enhanced absorption in solar cells. The macroscopic external light trap is placed at the sun-facing surface of the solar cell and retro-reflects the light that would otherwise escape. The light trap consists of a reflective parabolic concentrator placed on top of a reflective cage. Upon placement of the light trap, an improvement of 15% of both the photocurrent and the power conversion efficiency in a thin-film nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) solar cell is measured. The trapped light traverses the solar cell several times within the reflective cage thereby increasing the total absorption in the cell. Consequently, the trap reduces optical losses and enhances the absorption over the entire spectrum. The components of the light trap are 3D printed and made of smoothened, silver-coated thermoplastic. In contrast to conventional light trapping methods, external light trapping leaves the material quality and the electrical properties of the solar cell unaffected. To explain the theoretical operation of the external light trap, we introduce a model that predicts the absorption enhancement in the solar cell by the external light trap. The corresponding calculated path length enhancement shows good agreement with the empirically derived value from the opto-electrical data of the solar cell. Moreover, we analyze the influence of the angle of incidence on the parasitic absorptance to obtain full understanding of the trap performance. © 2015 The Authors. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Study of the oxidation of uranium by external and diffuse reflectance FTIR spectroscopy using remote-sensing and evacuable cell techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Powell, G. L.; Dobbins, A.; Cristy, S. S.; Cliff, T. L.; Meyer, H. M., III; Lucania, J.; Milosevic, Milan

1994-01-01

This report describes the application of reflectance FTIR spectroscopy to the measurement of the oxidation rate of uranium by environmental gases near room temperature. It also describes very efficient evacuable cells designed for 75 degree(s) external reflectance with polarized light and for diffuse reflectance using mid-infrared FTIR spectroscopy. These cells, along with functionally similar remote sensing accessories, have been applied to the study of the oxidation of uranium metal in air, oxygen, and water vapor by precisely measuring the 575 cm-1 band of UO2 and other properties of the corrosion film such as absorbed water and reflective losses caused by film degradation related to pitting or nucleation phenomena.

Differential co-localisation of the P2X7 receptor subunit with vesicular glutamate transporters VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 in rat CNS.

PubMed

Atkinson, L; Batten, T F C; Moores, T S; Varoqui, H; Erickson, J D; Deuchars, J

2004-01-01

Presynaptic P2X(7) receptors are thought to play a role in the modulation of transmitter release and have been localised to terminals with the location and morphology typical of excitatory boutons. To test the hypothesis that this receptor is preferentially associated with excitatory terminals we combined immunohistochemistry for the P2X(7) receptor subunit (P2X(7)R) with that for two vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUT1 and VGLUT2) in the rat CNS. This confirmed that P2X(7)R immunoreactivity (IR) is present in glutamatergic terminals; however, whether it was co-localised with VGLUT1-IR or VGLUT2-IR depended on the CNS region examined. In the spinal cord, P2X(7)R-IR co-localised with VGLUT2-IR. In the brainstem, co-localisation of P2X(7)R-IR with VGLUT2-IR was widespread, but co-localisation with VGLUT1-IR was seen only in the external cuneate nucleus and spinocerebellar tract region of the ventral medulla. In the cerebellum, P2X(7)R-IR co-localised with both VGLUT1 and VGLUT2-IR in the granular layer. In the hippocampus it was co-localised only with VGLUT1-IR, including in the polymorphic layer of the dentate gyrus and the substantia radiatum of the CA3 region. In other forebrain areas, P2X(7)R-IR co-localised with VGLUT1-IR throughout the amygdala, caudate putamen, striatum, reticular thalamic nucleus and cortex and with VGLUT2-IR in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, amygdala and hypothalamus. Dual labelling studies performed using markers for cholinergic, monoaminergic, GABAergic and glycinergic terminals indicated that in certain brainstem and spinal cord nuclei the P2X(7)R is also expressed by subpopulations of cholinergic and GABAergic/glycinergic terminals. These data support our previous hypothesis that the P2X(7)R may play a role in modulating glutamate release in functionally different systems throughout the CNS but further suggest a role in modulating release of inhibitory transmitters in some regions.

Functional shoulder ratios with high velocities of shoulder internal rotation are most sensitive to determine shoulder rotation torque imbalance: a cross-sectional study with elite handball players and controls.

PubMed

Castro, Marcelo Peduzzi de; Fonseca, Pedro; Morais, Sara Tribuzi; Borgonovo-Santos, Márcio; Coelho, Eduardo Filipe Cruz; Ribeiro, Daniel Cury; Vilas-Boas, João Paulo

2017-12-04

The aim of the present study was to determine which approach to calculating shoulder ratios is the most sensitive for determining shoulder torque imbalance in handball players. Twenty-six participants (handball athletes, n = 13; healthy controls, n = 13) performed isokinetic concentric and eccentric shoulder internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) assessment at 60, 180 and 300°/s. We used eight approaches to calculating shoulder ratios: four concentric (i.e. concentric ER torque divided by concentric IR torque), and four functional (i.e. eccentric ER torque divided by concentric IR torque) at the velocities of 60, 180 and 300°/s for both IR and ER, and combining 60°/s of ER and 300°/s of IR. A three factorial ANOVA (factors: shoulder ratios, upper limb sides, and groups) along with Tukey's post-hoc analysis, and effect sizes were calculated. The findings suggested the functional shoulder ratio combining 60°/s of ER and 300°/s of IR is the most sensitive to detect differences between upper limbs for handball players, and between players and controls for the dominant side. The functional shoulder ratio combining 60°/s of ER with 300°/s of IR seems to present advantages over the other approaches for identifying upper limb asymmetries and differences in shoulder torque balance related to throwing.

Sleeper stretch accelerates recovery of glenohumeral internal rotation after pitching.

PubMed

Reuther, Katherine E; Larsen, Ryan; Kuhn, Pamela D; Kelly, John D; Thomas, Stephen J

2016-12-01

The natural time course for recovery of glenohumeral internal rotation (IR) loss after a throwing episode is unknown. In addition, the effect of the sleeper stretch on the time course for recovery of motion after a throwing episode has never been investigated. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to (1) to determine the natural time course for spontaneous recovery of IR after a throwing episode and (2) to evaluate the effect of the sleeper stretch on the time course for recovery of IR after a throwing episode. The study participants were 17 male high school baseball pitchers (aged 17.7 ± 0.9 years). A crossover designed was used over a 2-week period. For week 1, glenohumeral IR and external rotation (ER) were evaluated in the dominant shoulder 1 day before a throwing episode and at 2 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, and 5 days after pitching. During week 2, participants completed a sleeper stretch protocol before measurements. The natural time course of spontaneous recovery for IR after a throwing episode was 4 days. Stretching reduced the time course of recovery for IR to 2 days. A sleeper stretch program for high school baseball pitchers can accelerate the recovery of commonly observed IR loss and also may mitigate the cumulative effects observed over the course of a season. Copyright © 2016 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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

Steiner, Myles A.; Perl, E. E.; Geisz, J. F.

Here, we demonstrate that in solar cells with highly reflective back mirrors, the measured internal quantum efficiency exhibits a shift in bandgap relative to the measured external quantum efficiency. The shift arises from the fact that the measured reflectance at the front surface includes a superposition of waves reflecting from the front and back surfaces. We quantify the magnitude of the apparent shift and discuss the errors that can result in determination of quantities such as the photocurrent. Because of this apparent shift, it is important that the bandgap be determined from the external quantum efficiency.

Predicting ambient aerosol Thermal Optical Reflectance (TOR) measurements from infrared spectra: organic carbon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dillner, A. M.; Takahama, S.

2014-11-01

Organic carbon (OC) can constitute 50% or more of the mass of atmospheric particulate matter. Typically, the organic carbon concentration is measured using thermal methods such as Thermal-Optical Reflectance (TOR) from quartz fiber filters. Here, methods are presented whereby Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) absorbance spectra from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE or Teflon) filters are used to accurately predict TOR OC. Transmittance FT-IR analysis is rapid, inexpensive, and non-destructive to the PTFE filters. To develop and test the method, FT-IR absorbance spectra are obtained from 794 samples from seven Interagency Monitoring of PROtected Visual Environment (IMPROVE) sites sampled during 2011. Partial least squares regression is used to calibrate sample FT-IR absorbance spectra to artifact-corrected TOR OC. The FTIR spectra are divided into calibration and test sets by sampling site and date which leads to precise and accurate OC predictions by FT-IR as indicated by high coefficient of determination (R2; 0.96), low bias (0.02 μg m-3, all μg m-3 values based on the nominal IMPROVE sample volume of 32.8 m-3), low error (0.08 μg m-3) and low normalized error (11%). These performance metrics can be achieved with various degrees of spectral pretreatment (e.g., including or excluding substrate contributions to the absorbances) and are comparable in precision and accuracy to collocated TOR measurements. FT-IR spectra are also divided into calibration and test sets by OC mass and by OM / OC which reflects the organic composition of the particulate matter and is obtained from organic functional group composition; this division also leads to precise and accurate OC predictions. Low OC concentrations have higher bias and normalized error due to TOR analytical errors and artifact correction errors, not due to the range of OC mass of the samples in the calibration set. However, samples with low OC mass can be used to predict samples with high OC mass indicating that the calibration is linear. Using samples in the calibration set that have a different OM / OC or ammonium / OC distributions than the test set leads to only a modest increase in bias and normalized error in the predicted samples. We conclude that FT-IR analysis with partial least squares regression is a robust method for accurately predicting TOR OC in IMPROVE network samples; providing complementary information to the organic functional group composition and organic aerosol mass estimated previously from the same set of sample spectra (Ruthenburg et al., 2014).

In situ observation of carbon nanotube layer growth on microbolometers with substrates at ambient temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Svatoš, Vojtěch; Gablech, Imrich; Ilic, B. Robert; Pekárek, Jan; Neužil, Pavel

2018-03-01

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have near unity infrared (IR) absorption efficiency, making them extremely attractive for IR imaging devices. Since CNT growth occurs at elevated temperatures, the integration of CNTs with IR imaging devices is challenging and has not yet been achieved. Here, we show a strategy for implementing CNTs as IR absorbers using differential heating of thermally isolated microbolometer membranes in a C2H2 environment. During the process, CNTs were catalytically grown on the surface of a locally heated membrane, while the substrate was maintained at an ambient temperature. CNT growth was monitored in situ in real time using optical microscopy. During growth, we measured the intensity of light emission and the reflected light from the heated microbolometer. Our measurements of bolometer performance show that the CNT layer on the surface of the microbolometer membrane increases the IR response by a factor of (2.3 ± 0.1) (mean ± one standard deviation of the least-squares fit parameters). This work opens the door to integrating near unity IR absorption, CNT-based, IR absorbers with hybrid complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor focal plane array architectures.

Pointing and figure control system for a space-based far-IR segmented telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lau, Kenneth

1993-01-01

A pointing and figure control system for two space-based far-IR telescopes, the 10-20 m Large Deployable Reflector and the 3.6 m Submillimeter Intermediate Mission, is described. The figure maintenance control system is designed to counter the optical elements translational and rotational changes induced by long-term thermal drifts that the support structure may experience. The pointing system applies optical truss to telescope pointing; a laser metrology system is used to transfer pointing informaton from an external fine guidance sensor to the telescope optical boresight, defined by the primary mirror, secondary mirror, and focal plane assembly.

Dual FOV infrared lens design with the laser common aperture optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Wei-jun; Zhang, Xuan-zhi; Luan, Ya-dong; Zhang, Bo

2015-02-01

With the demand of autonomous precision guidance of air defense missile, the system scheme of the IR imaging/Ladar dual-mode seeker with a common aperture was proposed, and the optical system used in was designed. The system had a common receiving aperture, and its structure was very compact, so it could meet the requirement for the miniaturization of the seeker. Besides, it also could meet the demands of a wide field of view for searching target, and the demands for accurately recognizing and tracking the target at the same time. In order to increase the narrow FOV tracking performance, the dual FOV infrared optical used the zooming mode which some components flip in or out the optical system to firm the target signal. The dual FOV optics are divided into the zooming part, with dual variable focal length, and the reimaging part which was chosen in such a way to minimize the objective lens while maintaining 100% cold shield efficiency. The final infrared optics including 4°×3°(NFOV) and 16°×12°(WFOV) was designed. The NFOV lens composed of two common IR/Ladar lens, three relay lens, a beam splitter and two reflective fold mirrors, while WFOV lens increased two lens such as Germanium and Silicon. The common IR/Ladar lens ZnS and ZnSe could refractive the IR optics and Laser optics. The beam splitter which refractived IR optics and reflected Laser optics was located in the middle of Germanium and Silicon. The designed optical system had good image quality, and fulfilled the performance requirement of seeker system.

Asteroid thermal modeling in the presence of reflected sunlight

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myhrvold, Nathan

2018-03-01

A new derivation of simple asteroid thermal models is presented, investigating the need to account correctly for Kirchhoff's law of thermal radiation when IR observations contain substantial reflected sunlight. The framework applies to both the NEATM and related thermal models. A new parameterization of these models eliminates the dependence of thermal modeling on visible absolute magnitude H, which is not always available. Monte Carlo simulations are used to assess the potential impact of violating Kirchhoff's law on estimates of physical parameters such as diameter and IR albedo, with an emphasis on NEOWISE results. The NEOWISE papers use ten different models, applied to 12 different combinations of WISE data bands, in 47 different combinations. The most prevalent combinations are simulated and the accuracy of diameter estimates is found to be depend critically on the model and data band combination. In the best case of full thermal modeling of all four band the errors in an idealized model the 1σ (68.27%) confidence interval is -5% to +6%, but this combination is just 1.9% of NEOWISE results. Other combinations representing 42% of the NEOWISE results have about twice the CI at -10% to +12%, before accounting for errors due to irregular shape or other real world effects that are not simulated. The model and data band combinations found for the majority of NEOWISE results have much larger systematic and random errors. Kirchhoff's law violation by NEOWISE models leads to errors in estimation accuracy that are strongest for asteroids with W1, W2 band emissivity ɛ12 in both the lowest (0.605 ≤ɛ12 ≤ 0 . 780), and highest decile (0.969 ≤ɛ12 ≤ 0 . 988), corresponding to the highest and lowest deciles of near-IR albedo pIR. Systematic accuracy error between deciles ranges from a low of 5% to as much as 45%, and there are also differences in the random errors. Kirchhoff's law effects also produce large errors in NEOWISE estimates of pIR, particularly for high values. IR observations of asteroids in bands that have substantial reflected sunlight can largely avoid these problems by adopting the Kirchhoff law compliant modeling framework presented here, which is conceptually straightforward and comes without computational cost.

Giant switchable Rashba effect in oxide heterostructures

DOE PAGES

Zhong, Zhicheng; Si, Liang; Zhang, Qinfang; ...

2015-03-01

One of the most fundamental phenomena and a reminder of the electron’s relativistic nature is the Rashba spin splitting for broken inversion symmetry. Usually this splitting is a tiny relativistic correction. Interfacing ferroelectric BaTiO₃ and a 5d (or 4d) transition metal oxide with a large spin-orbit coupling, Ba(Os,Ir,Ru)O₃, we show that giant Rashba spin splittings are indeed possible and even controllable by an external electric field. Based on density functional theory and a microscopic tight binding understanding, we conclude that the electric field is amplified and stored as a ferroelectric Ti-O distortion which, through the network of oxygen octahedra, inducesmore » a large (Os,Ir,Ru)-O distortion. The BaTiO₃/Ba(Os,Ru,Ir)O₃ heterostructure is hence the ideal test station for switching and studying the Rashba effect and allows applications at room temperature.« less

Discrete frequency infrared microspectroscopy and imaging with a tunable quantum cascade laser

PubMed Central

Kole, Matthew R.; Reddy, Rohith K.; Schulmerich, Matthew V.; Gelber, Matthew K.; Bhargava, Rohit

2012-01-01

Fourier-transform infrared imaging (FT-IR) is a well-established modality but requires the acquisition of a spectrum over a large bandwidth, even in cases where only a few spectral features may be of interest. Discrete frequency infrared (DF-IR) methods are now emerging in which a small number of measurements may provide all the analytical information needed. The DF-IR approach is enabled by the development of new sources integrating frequency selection, in particular of tunable, narrow-bandwidth sources with enough power at each wavelength to successfully make absorption measurements. Here, we describe a DF-IR imaging microscope that uses an external cavity quantum cascade laser (QCL) as a source. We present two configurations, one with an uncooled bolometer as a detector and another with a liquid nitrogen cooled Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT) detector and compare their performance to a commercial FT-IR imaging instrument. We examine the consequences of the coherent properties of the beam with respect to imaging and compare these observations to simulations. Additionally, we demonstrate that the use of a tunable laser source represents a distinct advantage over broadband sources when using a small aperture (narrower than the wavelength of light) to perform high-quality point mapping. The two advances highlight the potential application areas for these emerging sources in IR microscopy and imaging. PMID:23113653

Ultraviolet reflectance properties of asteroids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Butterworth, P. S.; Meadows, A. J.

1985-05-01

An analysis of the UV spectra of 28 asteroids obtained with the Internal Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite is presented. The spectra lie within the range 2100-3200 A. The results are examined in terms of both asteroid classification and of current ideas concerning the surface mineralogy of asteroids. For all the asteroids examined, UV reflectivity declines approximately linearly toward shorter wavelengths. In general, the same taxonomic groups are seen in the UV as in the visible and IR, although there is some evidence for asteroids with anomalous UV properties and for UV subclasses within the S class. No mineral absorption features are reported of strength similar to the strongest features in the visible and IR regions, but a number of shallow absorptions do occur and may provide valuable information on the surface composition of many asteroids.

Micro-attenuated total reflection spectral imaging in archaeology: application to Maya paint and plaster wall decorations.

PubMed

Goodall, Rosemary A; Hall, Jay; Sharer, Robert J; Traxler, Loa; Rintoul, Llew; Fredericks, Peter M

2008-01-01

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) attenuated total reflection (ATR) imaging has been successfully used to identify individual mineral components of ancient Maya paint. The high spatial resolution of a micro FT-IR-ATR system in combination with a focal plane array detector has allowed individual particles in the paint to be resolved and identified from their spectra. This system has been used in combination with micro-Raman spectroscopy to characterize the paint, which was found to be a mixture of hematite and silicate particles with minor amounts of calcite, carbon, and magnetite particles in a sub-micrometer hematite and calcite matrix. The underlying stucco was also investigated and found to be a combination of calcite with fine carbon particles, making a dark sub-ground for the paint.

Novel Design of Iridium Phosphors with Pyridinylphosphinate Ligands for High-Efficiency Blue Organic Light-emitting Diodes

PubMed Central

Wu, Zheng-Guang; Jing, Yi-Ming; Lu, Guang-Zhao; Zhou, Jie; Zheng, You-Xuan; Zhou, Liang; Wang, Yi; Pan, Yi

2016-01-01

Due to the high quantum efficiency and wide scope of emission colors, iridium (Ir) (III) complexes have been widely applied as guest materials for OLEDs (organic light-emitting diodes). Contrary to well-developed Ir(III)-based red and green phosphorescent complexes, the efficient blue emitters are rare reported. Like the development of the LED, the absence of efficient and stable blue materials hinders the widely practical application of the OLEDs. Inspired by this, we designed two novel ancillary ligands of phenyl(pyridin-2-yl)phosphinate (ppp) and dipyridinylphosphinate (dpp) for efficient blue phosphorescent iridium complexes (dfppy)2Ir(ppp) and (dfppy)2Ir(dpp) (dfppy = 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine) with good electron transport property. The devices using the new iridium phosphors display excellent electroluminescence (EL) performances with a peak current efficiency of 58.78 cd/A, a maximum external quantum efficiency of 28.3%, a peak power efficiency of 52.74 lm/W and negligible efficiency roll-off ratios. The results demonstrated that iridium complexes with pyridinylphosphinate ligands are potential blue phosphorescent materials for OLEDs. PMID:27929124

Soft Lithographic Procedure for Producing Plastic Microfluidic Devices with View-ports Transparent to Visible and Infrared Light.

PubMed

Suryana, Mona; Shanmugarajah, Jegan V; Maniam, Sivakumar M; Grenci, Gianluca

2017-08-17

Infrared (IR) spectro-microscopy of living biological samples is hampered by the absorption of water in the mid-IR range and by the lack of suitable microfluidic devices. Here, a protocol for the fabrication of plastic microfluidic devices is demonstrated, where soft lithographic techniques are used to embed transparent Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) view-ports in connection with observation chamber(s). The method is based on a replica casting approach, where a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mold is produced through standard lithographic procedures and then used as the template to produce a plastic device. The plastic device features ultraviolet/visible/infrared (UV/Vis/IR) -transparent windows made of CaF2 to allow for direct observation with visible and IR light. The advantages of the proposed method include: a reduced need for accessing a clean room micro-fabrication facility, multiple view-ports, an easy and versatile connection to an external pumping system through the plastic body, flexibility of the design, e.g., open/closed channels configuration, and the possibility to add sophisticated features such as nanoporous membranes.

Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit in throwing athletes: current perspectives

PubMed Central

Rose, Michael B; Noonan, Thomas

2018-01-01

Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) is an adaptive process in which the throwing shoulder experiences a loss of internal rotation (IR). GIRD has most commonly been defined by a loss of >20° of IR compared to the contralateral shoulder. Total rotational motion of the shoulder is the sum of internal and external rotation and may be more important than the absolute value of IR loss. Pathologic GIRD has been defined as a loss of IR combined with a loss of total rotational motion. The leading pathologic process in GIRD is posterior capsular and rotator-cuff tightness, due to the repetitive cocking that occurs with the overhead throwing motion. GIRD has been associated with numerous pathologic conditions, including posterior superior labral tears, partial articular-sided rotator-cuff tears, and superior labral anterior-to-posterior tears. The mainstay of treatment for patients with GIRD is posterior capsular stretching and strengthening to improve scapular mechanics. In patients who fail nonoperative therapy, shoulder arthroscopy can be performed. Arthroscopic surgery in the high-level throwing athlete should be to restore them to their functional baseline with the minimum amount of intervention possible. PMID:29593438

Methods of editing cloud and atmospheric layer affected pixels from satellite data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nixon, P. R. (Principal Investigator); Wiegand, C. L.; Richardson, A. J.; Johnson, M. P.

1981-01-01

Plotted transects made from south Texas daytime HCMM data show the effect of subvisible cirrus (SCI) clouds in the emissive (IR) band but the effect is unnoticable in the reflective (VIS) band. The depression of satellite indicated temperatures ws greatest in the center of SCi streamers and tapered off at the edges. Pixels of uncontaminated land and water features in the HCMM test area shared identical VIS and IR digital count combinations with other pixels representing similar features. A minimum of 0.015 percent repeats of identical VIS-IR combinations are characteristic of land and water features in a scene of 30 percent cloud cover. This increases to 0.021 percent of more when the scene is clear. Pixels having shared VIS-IR combinations less than these amounts are considered to be cloud contaminated in the cluster screening method. About twenty percent of SCi was machine indistinguishable from land features in two dimensional spectral space (VIS vs IR).

Effects of Curricular Activity on Students' Situational Motivation and Physical Activity Levels

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gao, Zan; Hannon, James C.; Newton, Maria; Huang, Chaoqun

2011-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine (a) the effects of three curricular activities on students' situational motivation (intrinsic motivation [IM], identified regulation [IR], external regulation, and amotivation [AM]) and physical activity (PA) levels, and (b) the predictive strength of situational motivation to PA levels. Four hundred twelve…

Comprehensive analysis of NAC transcription factors and their expression during cucumber fruit spine development

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an important vegetable crop worldwide, and fruit trichomes ir spines are an important trait for external fruit quality. The mechanisms underlying spine formation are not well understood, but there is evidence of the involvement of the plant-specific NAC family of tra...

Annual Surveillance Summary: Bacterial Infections in the Military Health System (MHS), 2016

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-06-01

Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited. The views expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect...historic IR to the IR of the current analysis year. c Results are presented by two decimal places to account for low incidence rates. Data Source...NMCPHC HL7-formatted CHCS microbiology and M2 databases. Prepared by the EpiData Center Department, Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, on 21

Infrared Complex Optical Constants of GB, GF, HD, HN1, and VX

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-04-01

amplitude ratio, Psi (), and the phase difference induced by the reflection, Delta (). These Stainless steel holder Liquid IR source polarizer S...required with a transmission technique. 2.3 ATR IR-VASE Liquid-Sampling Assembly The ATR liquid-sampling assembly consisted of a stainless steel cell...cell body with a stainless steel bar that was held in place with screws and aluminum shims at either end of the bar. A 0.1 mm polytetrafluoroethylene

Molecular organization of a water-insoluble iridium(III) complex in mixed monolayers.

PubMed

Giner-Casares, Juan J; Pérez-Morales, Marta; Bolink, Henk J; Muñoz, Eulogia; de Miguel, Gustavo; Martín-Romero, María T; Camacho, Luis

2007-11-01

In this work, organized mixed monolayers containing a cationic water-insoluble iridium(III) complex, Ir-dye, [Ir(ppy)(2)(tmphen)]PF(6), (tmphen = 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, and ppy = 2-phenylpyridine), and an anionic lipid matrix, DMPA, dimyristoyl-phosphatidic acid, with different molar proportions, were formed by the co-spreading method at the air-water interface. The presence of the dye at the interface, as well as the molecular organization of the mixed films, is deduced from surface techniques such as pi-A isotherms, Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) and reflection spectroscopy. The results obtained remark the formation of an equimolar mixed film, Ir-dye/DMPA = 1:1. BAM images reveal a whole homogeneous monolayer, with gradually increasing reflectivity along the compression process up to reaching the collapse of this equimolecular monolayer at pi approximately equal to 37 mNm(-1). Increasing the molar ratio of DMPA in the mixture, the excess of lipid molecules organizes themselves forming dark flower-like domains of pure DMPA at high surface pressures, coexisting with the mixed Ir-dye/DMPA = 1:1 monolayer. On the other hand, unstable mixed monolayers are obtained by using an initial dye surface concentration higher than the equimolecular one. These mixed Langmuir monolayers have been successfully transferred onto solid substrates by the LB (Langmuir-Blodgett) technique.

Tumor diagnostics using fiber optical IR spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winter, Harald; Bindig, Uwe; Waesche, Wolfgang; Liebold, K.; Roggan, Andre; Frege, P.; Gross, U. M.; Mueller, G.

1999-04-01

Aim of the project is the development of an in vivo endoscopic method to differentiate between cancerous from healthy tissue. The method is based on IR spectra in which each diseased state of the tissue has its own characteristic pattern as already shown in previous experiments. Two regions (1245 - 1195) cm-1 and (1045 - 995) cm-1 within the fingerprint (less than 1500 cm-1) region were selected for analysis. This paper will present the technical design of the laboratory set up and outcome of the development as well as the experiments. Two lead-salt diode lasers were used as excitation sources. The IR-radiation was transmitted via silverhalide fibers to the tissue to be investigated. On the detection side another IR fiber was used to transmit the signal to an MCT-detector (Mercury-Cadmium-Telluride). Measurement modes are Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) and diffuse Reflection/Remission. Spatial resolution was 100 X 100 micrometer2. The tissue used for these experiments was human colon carcinoma under humidity conditions. Samples were mapped using a stepper motor powered x/y/z-translation stage with a resolution of 1 micrometer. Results were compared with measurements carried out using a FTIR-interferometer and an FTIR-microscope in the region from 4000 - 900 cm-1. Soft- and Hardware control of the experiment is done using Labwindows/CVI (National Instruments, USA).

External Quality Arrangements for Scotland's Colleges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education, 2008

2008-01-01

This document represents an innovative and radical landmark in the development of external quality arrangements for Scotland's colleges. The quality framework and arrangements for annual engagement, subject-based aspect reports, and external review reflect new thinking nationally, within HMIE, in the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding…

More on the tensor response of the QCD vacuum to an external magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorsky, A.; Kopnin, P. N.; Krikun, A.; Vainshtein, A.

2012-04-01

In this paper we discuss a few issues concerning the magnetic susceptibility of the quark condensate and the Son-Yamamoto anomaly matching equation. It is shown that the Son-Yamamoto relation in the IR implies a nontrivial interplay between the kinetic and Wess-Zumino-Witten terms in the chiral Lagrangian. It is also demonstrated that in a holographic framework an external magnetic field triggers mixing between scalar and tensor fields. Accounting for this, one may calculate the magnetic susceptibility of the quark condensate to all orders in the magnetic field.

Detection and identification of multiple adulterants in plant food supplements using attenuated total reflectance-Infrared spectroscopy.

PubMed

Deconinck, E; Aouadi, C; Bothy, J L; Courselle, P

2018-04-15

Due to the rising popularity of dietary supplements, especially plant food supplements, and alternative herbal medicines, a whole market developed and these products became freely available through internet. Though several searches revealed that at least a part of these products, especially the ones obtained from websites disclosing their physical identity, are aldulterated with pharmaceutical compounds. This causes a threat for public health, since these compounds are not declared and therefore adverse effects will not immediately be related to the product. The more the adulterants can interfere with other medicinal treatments. Since the present active pharmaceutical ingredients are not declared on the package and the products are sold as 100% natural or herbal in nature, it is very difficult for custom personnel to discriminate between products to be confiscated or not. Therefore easy to apply analytical approaches to discriminate between adulterated and non-adulterated products are necessary. This paper presents an approach based on infrared spectroscopy combined with attenuated total reflectance (ATR) and partial least squares- discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) to easily differentiate between adulterated and non- adulterated plant food supplements and to get a first idea of the nature of the adulterant present. The performance of PLS-DA models based on Mid-IR and NIR data were compared as well as models based on the combined data. Further three preprocessing strategies were compared. The best performance was obtained for a PLS-DA model using Mid-IR data with the second derivative as preprocessing method. This model showed a correct classification rate of 98.3% for an external test set. Also eight real samples were screened using the model and for seven of these samples a correct classification was obtained. Generally it could be concluded that the obtained model and the presented approach could be used at customs to discriminate between adulterated and non-adulterated herbal food supplements and even get a first idea of the nature of the adulterant present. The more the presented approach hardly needs sample preparation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization of southern yellow pine bark layers by Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy

Treesearch

Thomas L. Eberhardt

2009-01-01

The outer bark (rhytidome) of the southern yellow pines is a complex structure comprised of alternating layers of obliterated phloem and periderm tissues, with the latter comprised of three layers, those being phellem, phellogen, and phelloderm. An attenuated total reflectance (ATR) sampling accessory, coupled with a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer,...

Documenting Student Engagement Using an Intention/Reflection Exercise during an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fierke, Kerry K.; Lepp, Gardner A.

2015-01-01

The article shares the outcomes of a practice called Intention/Reflection (I/R) when applied to a group of ten students in a five-week course involving an international advanced pharmacy practice experience. Developed by the authors and founded on a combination of theoretical principles, this practice is unique because of the blend of formative…

Federal tax-exemption requirements for joint ventures between nonprofit hospital providers and for-profit entities: form over substance?

PubMed

Young, Gary J

2004-01-01

This article discusses the IRS rule on hospital joint ventures and related legal developments. The central thesis is that the IRS's emphasis on operational control is misplaced from both a legal and a policy perspective, and reflects a decidedly strong preference for the form of a joint venture's governance over the substance of its charitable and community service activities. More specifically, the article challenges the IRS position that the rule is a corollary of existing tax law principles. Additionally, social science research is presented to demonstrate that the rule is not likely to promote, and may in fact undermine, United States health policy objectives.

Twenty Years On: Reflections on "Supporting the Use of External Representations in Problem Solving"…

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cox, Richard; Brna, Paul

2016-01-01

We reflect upon a paper we wrote that was published in 1995 (20 years ago). We outline the motivation for the work and situate it in the state of the art at that time. We suggest that a key contribution was to highlight the need to provide support for learners who reason with external representations. The support must be flexible enough to…

Epitaxial strain effect on the physical properties of layered ruthenate and iridate thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miao, Ludi

Transition metal oxides have attracted widespread attention due to their broad range of fascinating exotic phenomena such as multiferroicity, superconductivity, colossal magnetoresistance and metal-to-insulator transition. Due to the interplay between spin, charge, lattice and orbital degrees of freedom of strongly correlated d electrons, these physical properties are extremely sensitive to the external perturbations such as magnetic field, charge carrier doping and pressure, which provide a unique chance in search for novel exotic quantum states. Ruthenate systems are a typical strongly correlated system, with rich ordered states and their properties are extremely sensitive to external stimuli. Recently, the experimental observation of spin-orbit coupling induced Mott insulator in Sr2IrO4 as well as the theoretical prediction of topological insulating state in other iridates, have attracted tremendous interest in the physics of strong correlation and spin-orbit coupling in 4d/5d compounds. We observe an itinerant ferromagnetic ground state of Ca2 RuO4 film in stark contrast to the Mott-insulating state in bulk Ca2RuO4. We have also established the epitaxial strain effect on the transport and magnetic properties for the (Ca,Sr) 2RuO4 thin films. For Sr2IrO4 thin films, we will show that the Jeff = 1/2 moment orientation can be modulated by epitaxial strain. In addition, we discovered novel Ba 7Ir3O13+x thin films which exhibit colossal permittivity.

Glenohumeral range of motion (ROM) and isometric strength of professional team handball athletes, part III: changes over the playing season.

PubMed

Fieseler, Georg; Jungermann, Philipp; Koke, Alexander; Irlenbusch, Lars; Delank, Karl-Stefan; Schwesig, René

2015-12-01

The aim of our study was to investigate the relation of workload on range of motion and isometric strength of team handball athletes' shoulders over a competitive season. 31 Professional male handball athletes underwent clinical shoulder examinations. Athletes were examined subsequently during the complete playing season (week 0, 6, 22 and 40) to determine bilateral isometric shoulder rotational strength and active range of motion (ROM). In addition, relative (intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and absolute (standard error of measurement) reliability were calculated. Intraobserver reliability was excellent (ICC 0.76-0.98) for isometric strength and flexibility measurements. Internal rotation (IR) and total arc ROM in the throwing shoulder (TS) decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in both sequences (week 22 to week 40, week 0 to week 40). External rotation (ER) ROM and isometric strength in IR and ER did not change significantly. Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) and external rotation gain (ERG) of the TS decreased significantly between week 22 and week 40, but both did not change overall (week 0 to week 40). There was significant influence on IR ROM (week 22 to week 40) and strength in ER (week 0 to week 40) in the non-throwing shoulder. Several characteristics of handball players' shoulders changed significantly from the beginning to the end of a season. More specifically, the repetitive forces accumulated during the competitive season resulted in altered GIRD, ERG and isometric strength of the dominant glenohumeral joint.

Effect of shoulder taping on maximum shoulder external and internal rotation range in uninjured and previously injured overhead athletes during a seated throw.

PubMed

McConnell, Jenny; Donnelly, Cyril; Hamner, Samuel; Dunne, James; Besier, Thor

2011-09-01

The purpose of our study was to investigate whether shoulder taping affects shoulder kinematics in injured and previously injured overhead athletes during a seated throw. Twenty-six overhead college athletes threw a handball three times with and without tape, while seated on a chair. An 8-camera Vicon Motion Capture system recorded markers placed on the upper limb and trunk during each of the throwing conditions. Scaled musculoskeletal models of the upper limb were created using OpenSim and inverse kinematics used to obtain relevant joint angles. Shoulder taping had no main effect on external (ER) and internal (IR) rotation range (ROM) of the shoulder, but a significant interaction effect was found (p = 0.003 and 0.02, respectively), depending on previous injury status, whereby both the ER and IR ROM of the shoulder in the group of previously injured athletes decreased when taped (143-138° and 54-51°, respectively), but increased in the group who had never been injured (131-135° and 42-44°, respectively). Maximum abduction range and ball velocity were not affected by the application of shoulder taping, regardless of previous injury status. Thus, application of shoulder taping has a differential effect on maximum shoulder ER and IR ROM during throwing depending on previous injury status. These findings have implications for returning athletes to sport after injury and for screening athletes at risk of injury. Copyright © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society.

Spectroscopic Detection of Minerals in Martian Meteorites using Reflectance and Emittance Spectroscopy and Applications to Surface Mineralogy on Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bishop, J. L.; Hamilton, V. E.

2001-12-01

Martian meteorites provide direct information about crustal rocks on Mars. In this study we are measuring reflectance and emittance spectra of multiple Martian meteorites in order to characterize the spectral properties of the minerals present and to develop comprehensive criteria for remote detection of rocks and minerals. Previous studies have evaluated mid-IR emittance spectra [Hamilton et al., 1997] and visible/IR reflectance spectra [Bishop et al., 1998a,b] of Martian meteorites independently. The current study includes comparisons of the visible/NIR and mid-IR spectral regions and also involves comparison of mid-IR spectra measured using biconical reflectance and thermal emission techniques. Combining spectral analyses of Martian meteorite chips and powders enables characterization of spectral bands for remote detection of potential source regions for meteorite-like rocks on the surface of Mars using both Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) datasets and visible/NIR datasets from past and future missions. Identification of alteration minerals in these meteorites also provides insights into the alteration processes taking place on Mars. Analysis of TES data on Mars has identified global regions of basaltic and andesitic surface material [e.g. Bandfield et al., 2000; Christensen et al., 2000]; however neither of these spectral endmembers corresponds well to the spectra of Martian meteorites. Some preliminary findings suggest that small regions on the surface of Mars may relate to meteorite compositions [e.g. Hoefen et al., 2000; Hamilton et al., 2001]. Part of the difficulty in identifying meteorite compositions on Mars may be due to surface alteration. We hope to apply the results of our spectroscopic analyses of Martian meteorites, as well as fresh and altered basaltic material, toward analysis of composition on Mars using multiple spectral datasets. References: Bandfield J. et al., Science 287, 1626, 2000. Bishop J. et al., MAPS 33, 699, 1998a. Bishop J. et al., MAPS 33, 693, 1998b. Christensen P., et al., JGR 105, 9609, 2000. Hamilton V. et al., JGR 102, 25593, 1997. Hamilton V. et al., LPSC XXXII, #2184, 2001. Hoefen T. et al., Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 32, 1118, 2000.

The Far-Infrared Emission of Radio Loud and Radio Quiet Quasars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Polletta, M.; Courvoisier, T. J.-L.; Wilkes, B. J.; Hooper, E. J.

2000-01-01

Continuum observations at radio, millimeter, infrared and soft X-ray energies are presented for a sample of 22 quasars, consisting of flat and steep spectrum radio loud, radio intermediate and radio quiet objects. The primary observational distinctions, among the different kinds of quasars in the radio and IR energy domains are studied using large observational datasets provided by ISOPHOT on board the Infrared Space Observatory, by the IRAM interferometer, by the sub-millimetre array SCUBA on JCMT, and by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) facilities IRAC1 on the 2.2 m telescope and SEST. The spectral energy distributions of all quasars from radio to IR energies are analyzed and modeled with non-thermal and thermal spectral components. The dominant mechanism emitting in the far/mid-IR is thermal dust emission in all quasars, with the exception of flat spectrum radio loud quasars for which the presence of thermal IR emission remains rather uncertain, since it is difficult to separate it from the bright non-thermal component. The dust is predominantly heated by the optical/ultraviolet radiation emitted from the external components of the AGN. A starburst contributes to the IR emission at different levels, but always less than the AGN (<= 27%). The distribution of temperatures, sizes, masses, and luminosities of the emitting dust are independent of the quasar type.

Metal-Insulator Transition in Epitaxial Pyrochlore Iridates Bi2Ir2O7 thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, Jiun-Haw; Liu, Jian; Yi, Di; Rayan-Serrao, C.; Suresha, S.; Marti, Xavi; Riggs, Scott; Shapiro, Max; Ian, Fisher; Ramesh, R.

2013-03-01

Recently there is a surge of interest in searching for topological order in correlated electronic systems such as transition metal oxides. The strong spin-orbit interaction of 5d electrons and the geometric frustration in the crystal lattice make the pyrochlore iridate(A2Ir2O7) an ideal candidate to achieve this goal. Pioneering experiments on bulk polycrystalline and single crystal samples revealed a temperature dependent metal-insulator transition coupled to a long range magnetic order, and the transition temperature can be tuned by either A-site ionic radius or an external pressure. In this talk we present our efforts to understand and control the metal-insulator transition and the underlying electronic structure of pyrochlore iridates via epitaxial Bi2Ir2O7 thin films. Bulk Bi2Ir2O7 is located at the metallic side of the phase diagram. However as the film's thickness decreases the transport evolves from a metallic to a strongly localized character. Resonant X-ray spectroscopy suggests that the density of states near Fermi level is dominated by the Ir Je ff =1/2 states. Intriguingly, the magnetoresistance shows a linear field dependence over a wide range of fields at low temperatures, which is possibly consistent with the existence of Dirac nodes.

Tuning the giant magnetoelastic transition in Ba3BiIr2O9 and Ba3BiRu2O9.

PubMed

Huang, Zixin; Avdeev, Maxim; Kennedy, Brendan J; Knight, Kevin S; Zhou, Qingdi; Ling, Chris D

2014-07-09

We have experimentally investigated the effects of pressure on the magnetoelastic transitions associated with the opening of spin-gaps in Ba3BiIr2O9 and Ba3BiRu2O9. For both compounds, reducing the unit cell volume by either external physical and internal chemical pressure was found to reduce the temperature T(*) of the transition and, to a lesser extent, the magnitude of the associated negative thermal volume expansion. The results yield the latent heat associated with the transitions, -3.34(3) × 10(2) J mol(-1) for Ba3BiIr2O9 and -7.1(5) × 10(2) J mol(-1) for Ba3BiRu2O9. The transition in Ba3BiRu2O9 is significantly more robust than in Ba3BiIr2O9, requiring an order of magnitude higher pressures to achieve the same reduction in T(*). The differing responses of the two compounds points to differences between the 4d and 5d metals and hence to the importance of spin-orbit coupling, which is expected to be much stronger in the Ir compound.

Direct Observation of Pressure-Driven Valence Electron Transfer in Ba 3 BiRu 2 O 9 , Ba 3 BiIr 2 O 9 , and Ba 4 BiIr 3 O 12

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

Blanchard, Peter E. R.; Chapman, Karena W.; Heald, Steve M.

The hexagonal perovskites Ba3BiIr2O9, Ba3BiRu2O9 and Ba4BiIr3O12 all undergo pressure-induced 1% volume collapses above 5 GPa. These first-order transitions have been ascribed to internal transfer of valence electrons between bismuth and iridium/ruthenium, which is driven by external applied pressure because the reduction in volume achieved by emptying the 6s shell of bismuth upon oxidation to Bi5+ is greater in magnitude than the increase in volume by reducing iridium or ruthenium. Here, we report direct observation of these valence transfers for the first time, using high-pressure X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) measurements. Our data also support the highly unusual “4+” nominalmore » oxidation state of bismuth in these compounds, although the possibility of local disproportionation into Bi3+/Bi5+ cannot be definitively ruled out. Ab initio calculations reproduce the transition, support its interpretation as a valence electron transfer from Bi to Ir/Ru, and suggest that the high-pressure phase may show metallic behavior (in contrast to the insulating ambient-pressure phase).« less

Towards Better Understanding QBism.

PubMed

Khrennikov, Andrei

2018-01-01

Recently I posted a paper entitled "External observer reflections on QBism". As any external observer, I was not able to reflect all features of QBism properly. The comments I received from one of QBism's creators, C. A. Fuchs, were very valuable to me in better understanding the views of QBists. Some of QBism's features are very delicate and extracting them from articles of QBists is not a simple task. Therefore, I hope that the second portion of my reflections on QBism (or, strictly speaking, my reflections on Fuchs reflections on my earlier reflections) might be interesting and useful for other experts in quantum foundations and quantum information theory (especially, taking into account my previous aggressively anti-QBism position). In the present paper I correct some of my earlier posted critical comments on QBism. At the same time, other critical comments gained new validation through my recent deeper understanding of QBists views on a number of problems.

Apparent bandgap shift in the internal quantum efficiency for solar cells with back reflectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steiner, M. A.; Perl, E. E.; Geisz, J. F.; Friedman, D. J.; Jain, N.; Levi, D.; Horner, G.

2017-04-01

We demonstrate that in solar cells with highly reflective back mirrors, the measured internal quantum efficiency exhibits a shift in bandgap relative to the measured external quantum efficiency. The shift arises from the fact that the measured reflectance at the front surface includes a superposition of waves reflecting from the front and back surfaces. We quantify the magnitude of the apparent shift and discuss the errors that can result in determination of quantities such as the photocurrent. Because of this apparent shift, it is important the bandgap be determined from the external quantum efficiency.

Apparent bandgap shift in the internal quantum efficiency for solar cells with back reflectors

DOE PAGES

Steiner, Myles A.; Perl, E. E.; Geisz, J. F.; ...

2017-04-28

Here, we demonstrate that in solar cells with highly reflective back mirrors, the measured internal quantum efficiency exhibits a shift in bandgap relative to the measured external quantum efficiency. The shift arises from the fact that the measured reflectance at the front surface includes a superposition of waves reflecting from the front and back surfaces. We quantify the magnitude of the apparent shift and discuss the errors that can result in determination of quantities such as the photocurrent. Because of this apparent shift, it is important that the bandgap be determined from the external quantum efficiency.

Catheter based mid-infrared reflectance and reflectance generated absorption spectroscopy

DOEpatents

Holman, Hoi-Ying N

2013-10-29

A method of characterizing conditions in a tissue, by (a) providing a catheter that has a light source that emits light in selected wavenumbers within the range of mid-IR spectrum; (b) directing the light from the catheter to an area of tissue at a location inside a blood vessel of a subject; (c) collecting light reflected from the location and generating a reflectance spectra; and (d) comparing the reflectance spectra to a reference spectra of normal tissue, whereby a location having an increased number of absorbance peaks at said selected wavenumbers indicates a tissue inside the blood vessel containing a physiological marker for atherosclerosis.

Acute effects of scapular Kinesio Taping® on shoulder rotator strength, ROM and acromiohumeral distance in asymptomatic overhead athletes.

PubMed

Harput, Gulcan; Guney, Hande; Toprak, Ugur; Colakoglu, Filiz; Baltaci, Gul

2017-11-01

There is limited information in the literature that shows whether scapular taping has an effect on the acromiohumeral distance (AHD) and shoulder functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of scapular Kinesio Taping® on shoulder internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) strength, IR and ER range of motion (ROM) and AHD in asymptomatic overhead athletes. Forty-one volleyball athletes (24 men, 17 women; mean age: 16.1±1.5 years, body mass: 66.5±9.6 kg, body height: 179.6±8.4 cm, Body Mass Index: 20.5±2.3 kg/m2, time participating in overhead sports activity: 6.2±1.4 h/week, experience in sport: 4.1±2.4 years) were included in this study. Shoulder IR and ER ROM, total rotation ROM, AHD, shoulder isometric IR and ER strength and ER:IR strength ratio of the dominant side were tested before and after taping. Scapular taping increased the shoulder IR (P<0.001) and total ROM (P<0.001), AHD (P<0.001), shoulder IR (P=0.002) and ER (P=0.006) strength. ER ROM and ER:IR ratio did not change after taping (P=0.26, P=0.98, respectively). The results of this study suggest that scapular taping could be an effective method for enhancing the acromiohumeral distance, shoulder rotator strength and range of motion. Therefore, scapular taping could be recommended for not only in the asymptomatic athletes' shoulder exercise training but also in the prevention of subacromial impingement syndrome.

AMC-SWMO Countermeasures Study. Volume 1. Guide to How Countermeasures Affect Smart Weapons

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-01-01

4.1.2 IR Signature Alteration Nonimaging IR signature alteration techniques involve thermal management. The pertinent signature is Mhe difference between...appear the same to a nonimaging (point source) sensor, where the target area is always less th3n the instantaneous field-of-view (IFOV). Figure 4-3 shows...L Ltgt- Lbkg CONTRAST BETWEEN TARGET AND BACKGROUND Ltgt= rtgt L(Ttgt ) + Rigt Lsky/sun/cloud Solar Reflected -bkgb %kg L(Tbkg ) + Pbkg Lsky/sun/cloud

Hip and ankle range of motion and hip muscle strength in young female ballet dancersand controls

PubMed Central

Bennell, K.; Khan, K. M.; Matthews, B.; De Gruyter, M.; Cook, E.; Holzer, K.; Wark, J. D.

1999-01-01

OBJECTIVES: To compare the hip and ankle range of motion and hip muscle strength in 8-11 year old novice female ballet dancers and controls. METHODS: Subjects were 77 dancers and 49 controls (mean (SD) age 9.6 (0.8) and 9.6 (0.7) years respectively). Supine right active hip external rotation (ER) and internal rotation (IR) were measured using an inclinometer. A turnout protractor was used to assess standing active turnout range. The measure of ER achieved from below the hip during turnout (non-hip ER) was calculated by subtracting hip ER range from turnout range, and hip ER:IR was derived by dividing ER range by IR range. Range of right weight bearing ankle dorsiflexion was measured in a standing lunge using two methods: the distance from the foot to the wall (in centimetres) and the angle of the shank to the vertical via an inclinometer (in degrees). Right calf muscle range was measured in weight bearing using an inclinometer. A manual muscle tester was used to assess right isometric hip flexor, internal rotator, external rotator, abductor, and adductor strength. RESULTS: Dancers had less ER (p<0.05) and IR (p<0.01) range than controls but greater ER:IR (p<0.01). Although there was no difference in turnout between groups, the dancers had greater non-hip ER. Dancers had greater range of ankle dorsiflexion than controls, measured in both centimetres (p<0.01) and degrees (p<0.05), but similar calf muscle range. After controlling for body weight, controls had stronger hip muscles than dancers except for hip abductor strength which was similar. Regression analyses disclosed a moderate relation between turnout and hip ER (r = 0.40). There were no significant correlations between range of motion and training years and weekly training hours. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal follow up will assist in determining whether or not hip and ankle range in young dancers is genetically fixed and unable to be improved with further balletic training. 


 PMID:10522638

Vibrational spectra of individual millimeter-size membrane patches using miniature infrared waveguides.

PubMed Central

Plunkett, S E; Jonas, R E; Braiman, M S

1997-01-01

We have used miniature planar IR waveguides, consisting of Ge strips 30-50 microm thick and 2 mm wide, as evanescent-wave sensors to detect the mid-(IR) evanescent-wave absorbance spectra of small areas of biomolecular monolayers and multilayers. Examples include picomolar quantities of an integral transmembrane protein (bacteriorhodopsin) and lipid (dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine). IR bands due to the protein and lipid components of the plasma membrane of individual 1.5-mm-diameter devitellinized Xenopus laevis oocytes, submerged in buffer and sticking to the waveguide surface, were also detected. A significant improvement in sensitivity was observed, as compared to previous sizes and geometries of evanescent-wave sensors (e.g., commercially available internal reflection elements or tapered optical fibers). These measurements suggest the feasibility of using such miniature supported planar IR waveguides to observe structural changes in transmembrane proteins functioning in vivo in single cells. PMID:9336219

Optical radiation in modern medicine

PubMed Central

Sowa, Paweł; Rutkowska-Talipska, Joanna; Rutkowski, Krzysztof; Kosztyła-Hojna, Bożena

2013-01-01

Optical radiation extends between microwaves and X-rays of the electromagnetic radiation and includes ultraviolet (UV), visible light (VL) and infrared (IR) components. The dose of radiation that reaches the skin is influenced by the ozone layer, position of the Sun, latitude, altitude, cloud cover and ground reflections. The photobiological effects of UV, VL and IR bands depend on their wavelength, frequency and mechanism of action. They are modified by the thickness, structure, vasculature and pigmentation of skin's stratum corneum, epidermis and dermis. Following absorption, IR affects the body mainly through transfer of thermal energy to tissues. Visible light and skin interact either thermally or photochemically, whereas UV acts mainly photochemically. Optical radiation in the form of sunlight therapy had been used already in ancient times. Nowadays IR, VL and UV are widely applied in the therapy of allergic, dermatological, cardiovascular, respiratory, rheumatic, neonatal, pediatric and psychiatric disorders. PMID:24278082

Componential distribution analysis of food using near infrared ray image

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamauchi, Hiroki; Kato, Kunihito; Yamamoto, Kazuhiko; Ogawa, Noriko; Ohba, Kimie

2008-11-01

The components of the food related to the "deliciousness" are usually evaluated by componential analysis. The component content and type of components in the food are determined by this analysis. However, componential analysis is not able to analyze measurements in detail, and the measurement is time consuming. We propose a method to measure the two-dimensional distribution of the component in food using a near infrared ray (IR) image. The advantage of our method is to be able to visualize the invisible components. Many components in food have characteristics such as absorption and reflection of light in the IR range. The component content is measured using subtraction between two wavelengths of near IR light. In this paper, we describe a method to measure the component of food using near IR image processing, and we show an application to visualize the saccharose in the pumpkin.

Mobile In Vivo Infrared Data Collection and Diagnoses Comparison System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mintz, Frederick W. (Inventor); Gunapala, Sarath D. (Inventor); Moynihan, Philip I. (Inventor)

2013-01-01

Described is a mobile in vivo infrared brain scan and analysis system. The system includes a data collection subsystem and a data analysis subsystem. The data collection subsystem is a helmet with a plurality of infrared (IR) thermometer probes. Each of the IR thermometer probes includes an IR photodetector capable of detecting IR radiation generated by evoked potentials within a user's skull. The helmet is formed to collect brain data that is reflective of firing neurons in a mobile subject and transmit the brain data to the data analysis subsystem. The data analysis subsystem is configured to generate and display a three-dimensional image that depicts a location of the firing neurons. The data analysis subsystem is also configured to compare the brain data against a library of brain data to detect an anomaly in the brain data, and notify a user of any detected anomaly in the brain data.

Enhancement of crystal homogeneity of protein crystals under application of an external alternating current electric field

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

Koizumi, H.; Uda, S.; Fujiwara, K.

X-ray diffraction rocking-curve measurements were performed on tetragonal hen egg white (HEW) lysozyme crystals grown with and without the application of an external alternating current (AC) electric field. The crystal quality was assessed by the full width at half maximum (FWHM) value for each rocking curve. For two-dimensional maps of the FWHMs measured on the 440 and the 12 12 0 reflection, the crystal homogeneity was improved under application of an external electric field at 1 MHz, compared with that without. In particular, the significant improvement of the crystal homogeneity was observed for the 12 12 0 reflection.

Insulin Resistance as a Link between Amyloid-Beta and Tau Pathologies in Alzheimer’s Disease

PubMed Central

Mullins, Roger J.; Diehl, Thomas C.; Chia, Chee W.; Kapogiannis, Dimitrios

2017-01-01

Current hypotheses and theories regarding the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) heavily implicate brain insulin resistance (IR) as a key factor. Despite the many well-validated metrics for systemic IR, the absence of biomarkers for brain-specific IR represents a translational gap that has hindered its study in living humans. In our lab, we have been working to develop biomarkers that reflect the common mechanisms of brain IR and AD that may be used to follow their engagement by experimental treatments. We present two promising biomarkers for brain IR in AD: insulin cascade mediators probed in extracellular vesicles (EVs) enriched for neuronal origin, and two-dimensional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) measures of brain glucose. As further evidence for a fundamental link between brain IR and AD, we provide a novel analysis demonstrating the close spatial correlation between brain expression of genes implicated in IR (using Allen Human Brain Atlas data) and tau and beta-amyloid pathologies. We proceed to propose the bold hypotheses that baseline differences in the metabolic reliance on glycolysis, and the expression of glucose transporters (GLUT) and insulin signaling genes determine the vulnerability of different brain regions to Tau and/or Amyloid beta (Aβ) pathology, and that IR is a critical link between these two pathologies that define AD. Lastly, we provide an overview of ongoing clinical trials that target IR as an angle to treat AD, and suggest how biomarkers may be used to evaluate treatment efficacy and target engagement. PMID:28515688

Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopic methods for microbial ecology: analysis of bacteria, bacteria-polymer mixtures and biofilms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nichols, P. D.; Henson, J. M.; Guckert, J. B.; Nivens, D. E.; White, D. C.

1985-01-01

Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy has been used to rapidly and nondestructively analyze bacteria, bacteria-polymer mixtures, digester samples and microbial biofilms. Diffuse reflectance FT-IR (DRIFT) analysis of freeze-dried, powdered samples offered a means of obtaining structural information. The bacteria examined were divided into two groups. The first group was characterized by a dominant amide I band and the second group of organisms displayed an additional strong carbonyl stretch at approximately 1740 cm-1. The differences illustrated by the subtraction spectra obtained for microbes of the two groups suggest that FT-IR spectroscopy can be utilized to recognize differences in microbial community structure. Calculation of specific band ratios has enabled the composition of bacteria and extracellular or intracellular storage product polymer mixtures to be determined for bacteria-gum arabic (amide I/carbohydrate C-O approximately 1150 cm-1) and bacteria-poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (amide I/carbonyl approximately 1740 cm-1). The key band ratios correlate with the compositions of the material and provide useful information for the application of FT-IR spectroscopy to environmental biofilm samples and for distinguishing bacteria grown under differing nutrient conditions. DRIFT spectra have been obtained for biofilms produced by Vibrio natriegens on stainless steel disks. Between 48 and 144 h, an increase in bands at approximately 1440 and 1090 cm-1 was seen in FT-IR spectra of the V. natriegens biofilm. DRIFT spectra of mixed culture effluents of anaerobic digesters show differences induced by shifts in input feedstocks. The use of flow-through attenuated total reflectance has permitted in situ real-time changes in biofilm formation to be monitored and provides a powerful tool for understanding the interactions within adherent microbial consortia.

Differences in quantification of DNA double-strand breaks assessed by 53BP1/γH2AX focus formation assays and the comet assay in mammalian cells treated with irradiation and N-acetyl-L-cysteine.

PubMed

Kurashige, Tomomi; Shimamura, Mika; Nagayama, Yuji

2016-06-01

The biological effect of ionizing radiation (IR) on genomic DNA is thought to be either direct or indirect; the latter is mediated by IR induction of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study was designed to evaluate the effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a well-known ROS-scavenging antioxidant, on IR induction of genotoxicity, cytotoxicity and ROS production in mammalian cells, and aimed to clarify the conflicting data in previous publications. Although we clearly demonstrate the beneficial effect of NAC on IR-induced genotoxicity and cytotoxicity (determined using the micronucleus assay and cell viability/clonogenic assays), the data on NAC's effect on DNA double-strand break (DSB) formation were inconsistent in different assays. Specifically, mitigation of IR-induced DSBs by NAC was readily detected by the neutral comet assay, but not by the γH2AX or 53BP1 focus assays. NAC is a glutathione precursor and exerts its effect after conversion to glutathione, and presumably it has its own biological activity. Assuming that the focus assay reflects the biological responses to DSBs (detection and repair), while the comet assay reflects the physical status of genomic DNA, our results indicate that the comet assay could readily detect the antioxidant effect of NAC on DSB formation. However, NAC's biological effect might affect the detection of DSB repair by the focus assays. Our data illustrate that multiple parameters should be carefully used to analyze DNA damage when studying potential candidates for radioprotective compounds. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Japan Radiation Research Society and Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology.

Effects of Particle Size on the Attenuated Total Reflection Spectrum of Minerals.

PubMed

Udvardi, Beatrix; Kovács, István J; Fancsik, Tamás; Kónya, Péter; Bátori, Miklósné; Stercel, Ferenc; Falus, György; Szalai, Zoltán

2017-06-01

This study focuses on particle size effect on monomineralic powders recorded using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy. Six particle size fractions of quartz, feldspar, calcite, and dolomite were prepared (<2, 2-4, 4-8, 8-16, 16-32, and 32-63 µm). It is found that the width, intensity, and area of bands in the ATR FT-IR spectra of minerals have explicit dependence on the particle size. As particle size increases, the intensity and area of IR bands usually decrease while the width of bands increases. The band positions usually shifted to higher wavenumbers with decreasing particle size. Infrared spectra of minerals are the most intensive in the particle size fraction of 2-4 µm. However, if the particle size is very small (<2 µm), due to the wavelength and penetration depth of the IR light, intensity decreases. Therefore, the quantity of very fine-grained minerals may be underestimated compared to the coarser phases. A nonlinear regression analysis of the data indicated that the average coefficients and indices of the power trend line equation imply a very simplistic relationship between median particle diameter and absorbance at a given wavenumber. It is concluded that when powder samples with substantially different particle size are compared, as in regression analysis for modal predictions using ATR FT-IR, it is also important to report the grain size distribution or surface area of samples. The band area of water (3000-3620 cm -1 ) is similar in each mineral fraction, except for the particles below 2 µm. It indicates that the finest particles could have disproportionately more water adsorbed on their larger surface area. Thus, these higher wavenumbers of the ATR FT-IR spectra may be more sensitive to this spectral interference if the number of particles below 2 µm is considerable. It is also concluded that at least a proportion of the moisture could be very adhesive to the particles due to the band shift towards lower wavenumbers in the IR range of 3000-3620 cm -1 .

Direct Emissivity Measurements of Painted Metals for Improved Temperature Estimation During Laser Damage Testing

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-27

Source The laser probe in use for this test is a Daylight Solutions Unicorn II quantum cascade laser operating at 3.77 µm. According to the laser...San Diego, CA, Spec Sheet: Unicorn II Fixed-Wavelength Mid-IR External Cavity Lasers. 51 REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704–0188 The

Evaluation of Concurrent Radiation, Temozolomide and ABT-888 Treatment Followed by Maintenance Therapy with Temozolomide and ABT-888 in a Genetically Engineered Glioblastoma Mouse Model.

PubMed

Lemasson, Benjamin; Wang, Hanxiao; Galbán, Stefanie; Li, Yinghua; Zhu, Yuan; Heist, Kevin A; Tsein, Christina; Chenevert, Thomas L; Rehemtulla, Alnawaz; Galbán, Craig J; Holland, Eric C; Ross, Brian D

2016-02-01

Despite the use of ionizing radiation (IR) and temozolomide (TMZ), outcome for glioblastoma (GBM) patients remains dismal. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is important in repair pathways for IR-induced DNA damage and TMZ-induced alkylation at N7-methylguanine and N3-methyldenine. However, optimized protocols for administration of PARP inhibitors have not been delineated. In this study, the PARP inhibitor ABT-888 was evaluated in combination with and compared to current standard-of-care in a genetically engineered mouse GBM model. Results demonstrated that concomitant TMZ/IR/ABT-888 with adjuvant TMZ/ABT-888 was more effective in inducing apoptosis and reducing proliferation with significant tumor growth delay and improved overall survival over concomitant TMZ/IR with adjuvant TMZ. Diffusion-weighted MRI, an early translatable response biomarker detected changes in tumors reflecting response at 1 day post TMZ/IR/ABT-888 treatment. This study provides strong scientific rationale for the development of an optimized dosing regimen for a PARP inhibitor with TMZ/IR for upfront treatment of GBM. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of a Short-Duration Stretching Drill After Pitching on Elbow and Shoulder Range of Motion in Professional Baseball Pitchers.

PubMed

Escamilla, Rafael F; Yamashiro, Kyle; Mikla, Tony; Collins, Jeff; Lieppman, Keith; Andrews, James R

2017-03-01

A glenohumeral internal rotation (IR) deficit or a total rotational motion (IR plus external rotation [ER]) deficit in the throwing shoulder compared with the nonthrowing shoulder has been shown to increase the risk of shoulder and elbow injuries. After a pitching session, both IR and total rotational motion deficits have been shown to occur naturally for an extended period of time in asymptomatic pitchers, but it is unclear how to best control these deficits between pitching sessions. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to determine whether performing a short-duration stretching/calisthenics drill after pitching will result in an increase in IR, ER, total rotational motion, and elbow extension in professional baseball pitchers. It was hypothesized that these shoulder and elbow passive range of motion (PROM) measurements would all decrease after pitching but would subsequently return to prepitching values after the short-duration stretching/calisthenics drill. Controlled laboratory study. A convenience sample of 20 male professional baseball pitchers served as study participants. The following sequence of activities was performed for all participants: (1) a 5- to 10-minute dynamic warm-up consisting of running and light throwing, (2) elbow extension and IR and ER PROM measurements taken before pitching, (3) 40 full-effort pitches off the pitching mound, (4) 8 minutes of rest, (5) elbow extension and IR and ER PROM measurements taken after pitching, (6) a short-duration stretching/calisthenics drill (two-out drill), and (7) elbow extension and IR and ER PROM measurements taken after the two-out drill. A 1-way repeated-measures analysis of variance ( P < .05) was employed to assess differences in elbow extension, IR, ER, and total rotational motion in the 3 measurement conditions (prepitching, postpitching, and postdrill). To assess intrarater and interrater reliability, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated, and the measurement error was calculated using the standard error of measurement (SEM). Significant differences were observed among the 3 conditions for ER ( P = .002), IR ( P = .027), and total rotational motion ( P < .001), but there was no significant difference in elbow extension ( P = .117). Bonferroni post hoc analyses revealed (1) significantly greater ER during prepitching and postdrill versus the postpitching condition (94° ± 7° [prepitching] and 94° ± 8° [postdrill] vs 88° ± 8°; P = .010 and .005, respectively), (2) significantly greater IR during prepitching and postdrill versus the postpitching condition (36° ± 10° [prepitching] and 35° ± 9° [postdrill] vs 30° ± 10°; P = .034 and .043, respectively), and (3) significantly greater total rotational motion during prepitching and postdrill versus the postpitching condition (129° ± 13° [prepitching] and 129° ± 13° [postdrill] vs 119° ± 13°; P = .034 and .004, respectively). There were no significant differences in ER, IR, or total rotational motion between the prepitching and postdrill conditions ( P > .999 for all). The intrarater reliability (ICC 3,1 ) was 0.91 for ER (SEM, 1.3°) and 0.90 for IR (SEM, 1.9°), and the interrater reliability (ICC 2,1 ) was 0.81 for ER (SEM, 3.3°) and 0.77 for IR (SEM, 4.3°). After a 40-pitch bullpen session, IR and ER PROM as well as total rotational motion were significantly lower than prepitching values; however, these deficits were restored back to their prepitching levels after the players performed the two-out drill, which may increase pitching performance and decrease the risk of shoulder and elbow injuries. More research is needed to test these hypotheses and assess the clinical efficacy of the two-out drill. The findings from the current study will assist clinicians better understand the positive effects of performing a short duration stretching/calisthenics drill on shoulder internal and external rotation range of motion between innings while pitching during a baseball game.

Gas chromatography/matrix-isolation apparatus

DOEpatents

Reedy, G.T.

1986-06-10

A gas-sample collection device provides matrix isolation of individual gas bands from a gas chromatographic separation and for the spectroscopic analysis of the individual sample bands. The device includes a vacuum chamber containing a rotatably supported, specular carousel having at least one reflecting surface for holding a sample deposited thereon. A gas inlet is provided for depositing a mixture of sample and matrix material on the reflecting surface which is maintained at a sufficiently low temperature to cause solidification. A first parabolic mirror directs an incident beam of electromagnetic radiation, such as in the infrared (IR) spectrum, from a source onto the sample/matrix mixture while a second parabolic mirror directs a second beam of electromagnetic radiation reflected by the specular surface to an IR spectrometer for determining the absorption spectra of the sample material deposited on the reflecting surface. The pair of off-axis parabolic mirrors having a common focal point are positioned outside of the vacuum chamber and may be displaced in combination for improved beam positioning and alignment. The carousel is provided with an aperture for each reflecting surface to facilitate accurate positioning of the incident beam relative to the gas-samples under analysis. Improved gas-sample deposition is insured by the use of a long focal length stereomicroscope positioned outside of the vacuum chamber for monitoring sample formation through a window, while the sample collector is positioned outside of the zone bounded by the incident and reflected electromagnetic beams for improved sample access and monitoring. 10 figs.

Gas chromatography/matrix-isolation apparatus

DOEpatents

Reedy, Gerald T.

1986-01-01

A gas-sample collection device provides matrix isolation of individual gas bands from a gas chromatographic separation and for the spectroscopic analysis of the individual sample bands. The device includes a vacuum chamber containing a rotatably supported, specular carousel having at least one reflecting surface for holding a sample deposited thereon. A gas inlet is provided for depositing a mixture of sample and matrix material on the reflecting surface which is maintained at a sufficiently low temperature to cause solidification. A first parabolic mirror directs an incident beam of electromagnetic radiation, such as in the infrared (IR) spectrum, from a source onto the sample/matrix mixture while a second parabolic mirror directs a second beam of electromagnetic radiation reflected by the specular surface to an IR spectrometer for determining the absorption spectra of the sample material deposited on the reflecting surface. The pair of off-axis parabolic mirrors having a common focal point are positioned outside of the vacuum chamber and may be displaced in combination for improved beam positioning and alignment. The carousel is provided with an aperture for each reflecting surface to facilitate accurate positioning of the incident beam relative to the gas-samples under analysis. Improved gas-sample deposition is insured by the use of a long focal length stereomicroscope positioned outside of the vacuum chamber for monitoring sample formation through a window, while the sample collector is positioned outside of the zone bounded by the incident and reflected electromagnetic beams for improved sample access and monitoring.

High contrast near-infrared polarized reflectance images of demineralization on tooth buccal and occlusal surfaces at lambda = 1310-nm.

PubMed

Wu, J; Fried, D

2009-03-01

Sound enamel manifests peak transparency in the near-IR (NIR) at 1310-nm, therefore the near-IR is ideally suited for high contrast imaging of dental caries. The purpose of this study was to acquire images of early demineralized enamel on the buccal and occlusal surfaces of extracted human teeth using NIR reflectance imaging and compare the contrast of those images with the contrast of images taken using other methods. Fifteen human molars were used in this in vitro study. Teeth were painted with a clear acid-resistant varnish, leaving two 2 mm x 2 mm windows on the buccal and occlusal surfaces of each tooth for demineralization. Artificial lesions were produced in the exposed windows after a 2-day exposure to a demineralizing solution at pH 4.5. Lesions were imaged using NIR transillumination, NIR and visible light reflectance, and fluorescence imaging methods. Crossed polarizers were used where appropriate to improve contrast. Polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) was also used to non-destructively assess the depth and severity of demineralization in each sample window. NIR reflectance imaging had the highest image contrast for both the buccal and occlusal groups and it was significantly higher contrast than visible light reflectance (P < 0.05). The results of the study suggest that NIR reflectance imaging is a promising new method for acquiring high contrast images of early demineralization on tooth surfaces. Copyright 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Selective ablation of carious lesions using an integrated near-IR imaging system and a novel 9.3-μm CO2 Laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, Kenneth H.; Fried, Nathaniel M.; Fried, Daniel

2018-02-01

Previous studies have shown that reflectance imaging at wavelengths greater than 1200-nm can be used to image demineralization on tooth occlusal surfaces with high contrast and without the interference of stains. In addition, these near-IR imaging systems can be integrated with laser ablation systems for the selective removal of carious lesions. Higher wavelengths, such as 1950-nm, yield higher lesion contrast due to higher water absorption and lower scattering. In this study, a point-to-point scanning system employing diode and fiber lasers operating at 1450, 1860, 1880, and 1950-nm was used to acquire reflected light images of the tooth surface. Artificial lesions were imaged at these wavelengths to determine the highest lesion contrast. Near-IR images at 1880-nm were used to demarcate lesion areas for subsequent selective carious lesion removal using a new compact air-cooled CO2 laser prototype operating at 9.3-μm. The highest lesion contrast was at 1950-nm and the dual NIR/CO2 laser system selectively removed the simulated lesions with a mean loss of only 12-μm of sound enamel.

Laser Infrared Desorption Spectroscopy to Detect Complex Organic Molecules on Icy Planetary Surfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sollit, Luke S.; Beegle, Luther W.

2008-01-01

Laser Desorption-Infrared Spectroscopy (LD-IR) uses an IR laser pulse to desorb surface materials while a spectrometer measures the emission spectrum of the desorbed materials (Figure 1). In this example, laser desorption operates by having the incident laser energy absorbed by near surface material (10 microns in depth). This desorption produces a plume that exists in an excited state at elevated temperatures. A natural analog for this phenomenon can be observed when comets approach the sun and become active and individual molecular emission spectra can be observed in the IR [1,2,3,4,5]. When this occurs in comets, the same species that initially emit radiation down to the ground state are free to absorb it, reducing the amount of detectable emission features. The nature of our technique results in absorption not occurring, because the laser pulse could easily be moved away form the initial desorption plume, and still have better spatial resolution then reflectance spectroscopy. In reflectance spectroscopy, trace components have a relatively weak signal when compared to the entire active nature of the surface. With LDIR, the emission spectrum is used to identify and analyze surface materials.

Optical element for full spectral purity from IR-generated EUV light sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van den Boogaard, A. J. R.; Louis, E.; van Goor, F. A.; Bijkerk, F.

2009-03-01

Laser produced plasma (LLP) sources are generally considered attractive for high power EUV production in next generation lithography equipment. Such plasmas are most efficiently excited by the relatively long, infrared wavelengths of CO2-lasers, but a significant part of the rotational-vibrational excitation lines of the CO2 radiation will be backscattered by the plasma's critical density surface and consequently will be present as parasitic radiation in the spectrum of such sources. Since most optical elements in the EUV collecting and imaging train have a high reflection coefficient for IR radiation, undesirable heating phenomena at the resist level are likely to occur. In this study a completely new principle is employed to obtain full separation of EUV and IR radiation from the source by a single optical component. While the application of a transmission filter would come at the expense of EUV throughput, this technique potentially enables wavelength separation without loosing reflectance compared to a conventional Mo/Si multilayer coated element. As a result this method provides full spectral purity from the source without loss in EUV throughput. Detailed calculations on the principal of functioning are presented.

Electron dynamics and prompt ablation of aluminum surface excited by intense femtosecond laser pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ionin, A. A.; Kudryashov, S. I.; Makarov, S. V.; Seleznev, L. V.; Sinitsyn, D. V.

2014-12-01

Thin aluminum film homogeneously heated by intense IR femtosecond laser pulses exhibits on the excitation timescale consequent fluence-dependent rise and drop of the IR-pump self-reflectivity, followed by its final saturation at higher fluences F > 0.3 J/cm2. This prompt optical dynamics correlates with the initial monotonic increase in the accompanying laser-induced electron emission, which is succeeded by its non-linear (three-photon) increase for F > 0.3 J/cm2. The underlying electronic dynamics is related to the initial saturation of IR resonant interband transitions in this material, followed by its strong instantaneous electronic heating via intraband transitions during the pump pulse resulting in thermionic emission. Above the threshold fluence of 0.3 J/cm2, the surface electronic heating is balanced during the pump pulse by simultaneous cooling via intense plasma removal (prompt ablation). The relationship between the deposited volume energy density in the film and its prompt electronic temperature derived from the self-reflection measurements using a Drude model, demonstrates a kind of electron "liquid-vapor" phase transition, driven by strong cubic optical non-linearity of the photo-excited aluminum.

Ionizing Radiation Potentiates Dihydroartemisinin-Induced Apoptosis of A549 Cells via a Caspase-8-Dependent Pathway

PubMed Central

Chen, Tongsheng; Chen, Min; Chen, Jingqin

2013-01-01

This report is designed to explore the molecular mechanism by which dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and ionizing radiation (IR) induce apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. DHA treatment induced a concentration- and time-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated cell death with typical apoptotic characteristics such as breakdown of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), caspases activation, DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization. Inhibition of caspase-8 or -9 significantly blocked DHA-induced decrease of cell viability and activation of caspase-3, suggesting the dominant roles of caspase-8 and -9 in DHA-induced apoptosis. Silencing of proapoptotic protein Bax but not Bak significantly inhibited DHA-induced apoptosis in which Bax but not Bak was activated. In contrast to DHA treatment, low-dose (2 or 4 Gy) IR induced a long-playing generation of ROS. Interestingly, IR treatment for 24 h induced G2/M cell cycle arrest that disappeared at 36 h after treatment. More importantly, IR synergistically potentiated DHA-induced generation of ROS, activation of caspase-8 and -3, irreparable G2/M arrest and apoptosis, but did not enhance DHA-induced loss of Δψm and activation of caspase-9. Taken together, our results strongly demonstrate the remarkable synergistic efficacy of combination treatment with DHA and low-dose IR for A549 cells in which IR potentiates DHA-induced apoptosis largely by enhancing the caspase-8-mediated extrinsic pathway. PMID:23536891

Evaluation of MidIR fibre optic reflectance: Detection limit, reproducibility and binary mixture discrimination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sessa, Clarimma; Bagán, Héctor; García, José Francisco

2013-11-01

MidIR fibre optic reflectance (MidIR-FORS) is a promising analytical technique in the field of science conservation, especially because it is non-destructive. Another advantage of MidIR-FORS is that the obtained information is representative, as a large amount of spectral data can be collected. Although the technique has a high potential and is almost routinely applied, its quality parameters have not been thoroughly studied in the specific application of analysis of artistic materials. The objective of this study is to evaluate the instrumental capabilities of MidIR-FORS for the analysis of artwork materials in terms of detection limit, reproducibility, and mixture characterisation. The study has been focused on oil easel painting and several paints of known composition have been analysed. Paint layers include blue pigments not only because of their important role along art history, but also because their physical and spectroscopic characteristics allow a better evaluation of the MidIR-FORS capabilities. The results of the analysis indicate that MidIR-FORS supplies a signal affected by different factors, such as the optical, morphological and physical properties of the surface, in addition to the composition of materials analysed. Consequently, the detection limits established are relatively high for artistic objects (Prussian blue - PB 2.1-6.5%; Phthalocyanine blue - Pht 6.3-10.2%; synthetic Ultramarine blue - UM 12.1%) and may therefore lead to an incomplete description of the artwork. Reproducibility of the technique over time and across surface has been determined. The results show that the major sources of dispersion are the heterogeneity of the pigments distribution, physical features, and band shape distortions. The total dispersion is around 4% for the most intense bands (oil) and increases up to 26% when weak or overlapped bands are considered (PB, Pht, UM). The application of different pre-treatments (cutoff of fibres absorption, Savizky-Golay smoothing algorithm, polynomial baseline offset, Standard Normal Variate algorithm - SNV) to the raw spectra allows improving these results to maximum values of 15%. Finally, the capabilities of PCA and MidIR-FORS to discriminate between binary mixtures were tested. The results demonstrate that it is possible to differentiate mixtures depending on the range of concentration of their components, within specific limits of detection.

Synthesis of Surface-Modified Iron Oxides for the Solvent-Free Recovery of Bacterial Bioactive Compound Prodigiosin and Its Algicidal Activity.

PubMed

Arivizhivendhan, K V; Mahesh, M; Boopathy, R; Patchaimurugan, K; Maharaja, P; Swarnalatha, S; Regina Mary, R; Sekaran, G

2016-09-15

Prodigiosin (PG) is a bioactive compound produced by several bacterial species. Currently, many technologies are being developed for the production of PG by fermentation processes. However, new challenges are being faced with regard to the production of PG in terms of the recovery and purification steps, owing to the labile nature of PG molecules and the cost of the purification steps. Conventional methods have limitations due to high cost, low reusability, and health hazards. Hence, the present investigation was focused on the development of surface-functionalized magnetic iron oxide ([Fe3O4]F) for solvent-free extraction of bioactive PG from the bacterial fermented medium. Fe3O4 was functionalized with diethanolamine and characterized by FT-IR, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and confocal microscopy. The various process parameters, such as contact time, temperature, pH, and mass of Fe3O4, were optimized for the extraction of PG using functionalized Fe3O4. Instrumental analyses confirmed that the PG molecules were cross-linked with functional groups on [Fe3O4]F through van der Waals forces of attraction. PG extracted through Fe3O4 or [Fe3O4]F was separated from the fermentation medium by applying an external electromagnetic field and regenerated for successive reuse cycles. The purity of the extracted PG was characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography, FT-IR, and UV-visible spectroscopy. The iron oxide-diethanolamine-PG cross-linked ([Fe3O4]F-PG) composite matrix effectively deactivates harmful fouling by cyanobacterial growth in water-treatment plants. The present investigation provides the possibility of solvent-free extraction of bacterial bioactive PG from a fermented medium using functionalized magnetic iron oxide.

Distribution of the 3.1 micron feature in Cepheus A

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hodapp, Klaus-Werner; Eiroa, Carlos

1989-01-01

Near-IR absorption features produced by core-mantle dust grains are observed in many protostellar objects. The high spatial resolution observations (less or equal to 3 in.) could be helpful to monitor the expected changes of the features. Cep A/IRS 6 is a suitable candidate to carry out such a kind of study. It is located in an active star formation region and consists of a young object associated with an extended reflection nebula. The ice feature was observed in four positions of Cep A/IRS 6 with a 2.7 in. aperture. The observations were carried out at the IRTF using the cooled grating array spectrometer CGAS. The 2.4 to 3.8 micron spectra of two positions are presented.

Assessment of remineralized dentin lesions with thermal and near-infrared reflectance imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Robert C.; Darling, Cynthia L.; Fried, Daniel

2016-02-01

Accurate detection and measurement of the highly mineralized surface layer that forms on caries lesions is important for the diagnosis of lesion activity. Previous studies have demonstrated that optical imaging methods can be used to measure the degree of remineralization on enamel lesions. The purpose of this study was to determine if thermal and near-IR reflectance imaging could be used to assess the remineralization process in simulated dentin lesions. Artificial bovine (n=15) dentin lesions were prepared by immersion in a demineralization solution for 24 hours and they were subsequently placed in an acidic remineralization solution for up to 12 days. The samples were dehydrated using an air spray for 30 seconds and imaged using thermal and InGaAs cameras. The area enclosed by the time-temperature curve, ΔQ, from thermal imaging decreased significantly with longer periods of remineralization. However, near-IR reflectance intensity differences, ΔI, before and after dehydration failed to show any significant relationship with the degree of remineralization. This study shows that thermal imaging can be used for the assessment of the remineralization of dentin lesions.

Near-IR multi-modal imaging of natural occlusal lesions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Dustin; Fried, Daniel; Darling, Cynthia L.

2009-02-01

Reflectance and transillumination imaging show demineralization with high contrast in the near-IR. The objective of this study is to use lesion size and contrast acquired in reflectance and transillumination near-infrared imaging modes to estimate the severity of natural occlusal caries lesions. Previous studies have shown that near-infrared (NIR) light can be used to effectively image artificial carious lesions. However, its efficacy on natural lesions requires further exploration. Fifty extracted teeth with varying amounts of occlusal decay were examined using a NIR imaging system operating at 1310-nm. Image analysis software was used to calculate contrast values between sound and carious tooth structure. After imaging, teeth were histologically sampled at 1-mm intervals in order to determine lesion depth. Lesion contrast in transillumination mode significantly increased with lesion depth (p<0.001), while lesion contrast in reflectance mode did not increase. The lesion area demonstrated a significant increase with lesion severity in both imaging modes. These results suggest that lesion contrast and area can be used to estimate lesion severity in NIR images.

External Mandates and Instructional Leadership: School Leaders as Mediating Agents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Louis, Karen Seashore; Robinson, Viviane M.

2012-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine how US school leaders make sense of external mandates, and the way in which their understanding of state and district accountability policies affects their work. It is posited that school leaders' responses to external accountability are likely to reflect a complex interaction between their…

Student Selection for Higher Education: The Relationship Between Internal and External Marks.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Papas, George; Psacharopoulos, George

1993-01-01

Longitudinal data on 366 Greek higher education candidates are used to explore relationship between internal (school average) and external (entrance examinations) marks. Marks of last three grades of secondary school seem to reflect fairly well how student will perform in external examinations. Questions of access to education and tests as…

Multisystemic Therapy for Child Non-Externalizing Psychological and Health Problems: A Preliminary Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pane, Heather T.; White, Rachel S.; Nadorff, Michael R.; Grills-Taquechel, Amie; Stanley, Melinda A.

2013-01-01

Multisystemic therapy (MST) is effective for decreasing or preventing delinquency and other externalizing behaviors and increasing prosocial or adaptive behaviors. The purpose of this project was to review the literature examining the efficacy of MST for other child psychological and health problems reflecting non-externalizing behaviors,…

Comparison of Fiber Optic and Conduit Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Setup for In-Line Fermentation Monitoring.

PubMed

Koch, Cosima; Posch, Andreas E; Herwig, Christoph; Lendl, Bernhard

2016-12-01

The performance of a fiber optic and an optical conduit in-line attenuated total reflection mid-infrared (IR) probe during in situ monitoring of Penicillium chrysogenum fermentation were compared. The fiber optic probe was connected to a sealed, portable, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) process spectrometer via a plug-and-play interface. The optical conduit, on the other hand, was connected to a FT-IR process spectrometer via a knuckled probe with mirrors that had to be adjusted prior to each fermentation, which were purged with dry air. Penicillin V (PenV) and its precursor phenoxyacetic acid (POX) concentrations were determined by online high-performance liquid chromatography and the obtained concentrations were used as reference to build partial least squares regression models. Cross-validated root-mean-square errors of prediction were found to be 0.2 g L -1 (POX) and 0.19 g L -1 (PenV) for the fiber optic setup and 0.17 g L -1 (both POX and PenV) for the conduit setup. Higher noise-levels and spectrum-to-spectrum variations of the fiber optic setup lead to higher noise of estimated (i.e., unknown) POX and PenV concentrations than was found for the conduit setup. It seems that trade-off has to be made between ease of handling (fiber optic setup) and measurement accuracy (optical conduit setup) when choosing one of these systems for bioprocess monitoring. © The Author(s) 2016.

Development of nanostructured antireflection coatings for infrared technologies and applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pethuraja, Gopal G.; Zeller, John W.; Welser, Roger E.; Efstathiadis, Harry; Haldar, Pradeep; Wijewarnasuriya, Priyalal S.; Dhar, Nibir K.; Sood, Ashok K.

2017-09-01

Infrared (IR) sensing technologies and systems operating from the near-infrared (NIR) to long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectra are being developed for a variety of defense and commercial systems applications. Reflection losses affecting a significant portion of the incident signal limits the performance of IR sensing systems. One of the critical technologies that will overcome this limitation and enhance the performance of IR sensing systems is the development of advanced antireflection (AR) coatings. Magnolia is actively involved in the development and advancement of ultrahigh performance AR coatings for a wide variety of defense and commercial applications. Ultrahigh performance nanostructured AR coatings have been demonstrated for UV to LWIR spectral bands using various substrates. The AR coatings enhance the optical transmission through optical components and devices by significantly minimizing reflection losses, a substantial improvement over conventional thin-film AR coating technologies. Nanostructured AR coatings are fabricated using a tunable self-assembly process on substrates that are transparent for a given spectrum of interest ranging from UV to LWIR. The nanostructured multilayer structures have been designed, developed and optimized for various optoelectronic applications. The optical properties of the AR-coated optical components and sensor substrates have been measured and fine-tuned to achieve a predicted high level of performance of the coatings. In this paper, we review our latest work on high quality nanostructure-based AR coatings, including recent efforts towards the development of nanostructured AR coatings on IR-transparent substrates.

Selected Hydrologic Applications of LANDSAT-2 Data: an Evaluation. [Snowmelt in the American River Basin and soil moisture studies at the Phoenix, Arizona Test Site and at Luverne, Minnesota

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wiesnet, D. R.; Mcginnis, D. F., Jr.; Matson, M. (Principal Investigator)

1978-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. Estimates of soil moisture were obtained from visible, near-IR gamma ray and microwave data. Attempts using GOES thermal-IR were unsuccessful due to resolutions (8 km). Microwaves were the most effective at soil moisture estimates, with and without vegetative cover. Gamma rays provided only one value for the test site, produced by many data points obtained from overlapping 150 meter diameter circles. Even though the resulting averaged value was near the averaged field moisture value, this method suffers from atmospheric contaminants, the need to fly at low altitudes, and the necessity of prior calibration of a given site. Visible and near-IR relationships are present for bare fields but appear to be limited to soil moisture levels between 5 and 20%. The densely vegetated alfalfa fields correlated with near-IR reflectance only; soil moisture values from wheat fields showed no relation to either or near-IR MSS data.

Iridium Cyclooctene Complex That Forms a Hyperpolarization Transfer Catalyst before Converting to a Binuclear C-H Bond Activation Product Responsible for Hydrogen Isotope Exchange.

PubMed

Iali, Wissam; Green, Gary G R; Hart, Sam J; Whitwood, Adrian C; Duckett, Simon B

2016-11-21

[IrCl(COE) 2 ] 2 (1) reacts with pyridine (py) and H 2 to form crystallographically characterized IrCl(H) 2 (COE)(py) 2 (2). 2 undergoes py loss to form 16-electron IrCl(H) 2 (COE)(py) (3), with equivalent hydride ligands. When this reaction is studied with parahydrogen, 1 efficiently achieves hyperpolarization of free py (and nicotinamide, nicotine, 5-aminopyrimidine, and 3,5-lutudine) via signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) and hence reflects a simple and readily available precatayst for this process. 2 reacts further over 48 h at 298 K to form crystallographically characterized (Cl)(H)(py)(μ-Cl)(μ-H)(κ-μ-NC 5 H 4 )Ir(H)(py) 2 (4). This dimer is active in the hydrogen isotope exchange process that is used in radiopharmaceutical preparations. Furthermore, while [Ir(H) 2 (COE)(py) 3 ]PF 6 (6) forms upon the addition of AgPF 6 to 2, its stability precludes its efficient involvement in SABRE.

The magnetic and crystal structures of Sr2IrO4: A neutron diffraction study

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

Ye, Feng; Chi, Songxue; Chakoumakos, Bryan C

2013-01-01

We report a single-crystal neutron diffraction study of the layered Sr2IrO4. This work unambigu- ously determines the magnetic and crystal structures, and reveals that the spin orientation rigidly tracks the staggered rotation of the IrO6 octahedra in Sr2IrO4. The long-range antiferromagnetic order has a canted spin configuration with an ordered moment of 0.208(3) B/Ir site within the basal plane; a detailed examination of the spin canting yields 0.202(3) and 0.049(2) B/site for the a-axis and the b-axis, respectively. It is intriguing that forbidden nuclear reflections of space group I41/acd are also observed in a wide temperature range from 4 Kmore » to 600 K, which suggests a reduced crystal structure symmetry. This neutron scattering work provides a direct, well-refined experimen- tal characterization of the magnetic and crystal structures that are crucial to the understanding of the unconventional magnetism existent in this unusual magnetic insulator.« less

Airborne pipeline leak detection: UV or IR?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Babin, François; Gravel, Jean-François; Allard, Martin

2016-05-01

This paper presents a study of different approaches to the measurement of the above ground vapor plume created by the spill caused by a small 0.1 l/min (or less) leak in an underground liquid petroleum pipeline. The scenarios are those for the measurement from an airborne platform. The usual approach is that of IR absorption, but in the case of liquid petroleum products, there are drawbacks that will be discussed, especially when using alkanes to detect a leak. The optical measurements studied include UV enhanced Raman lidar, UV fluorescence lidar and IR absorption path integrated lidars. The breadboards used for testing the different approaches will be described along with the set-ups for leak simulation. Although IR absorption would intuitively be the most sensitive, it is shown that UV-Raman could be an alternative. When using the very broad alkane signature in the IR, the varying ground spectral reflectance are a problem. It is also determined that integrated path measurements are preferred, the UV enhanced Raman measurements showing that the vapor plume stays very close to the ground.

Restructuring of an Ir(210) electrode surface by potential cycling

PubMed Central

Soliman, Khaled A; Kolb, Dieter M; Jacob, Timo

2014-01-01

Summary This study addresses the electrochemical surface faceting and restructuring of Ir(210) single crystal electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry measurements and in situ scanning tunnelling microscopy are used to probe structural changes and variations in the electrochemical behaviour after potential cycling of Ir(210) in 0.1 M H2SO4. Faceted structures are obtained electrochemically as a function of time by cycling at a scanrate of 1 V·s−1 between −0.28 and 0.70 V vs SCE, i.e., between the onset of hydrogen evolution and the surface oxidation regime. The electrochemical behaviour in sulfuric acid solution is compared with that of thermally faceted Ir(210), which shows a sharp characteristic voltammetric peak for (311) facets. Structures similar to thermally-induced faceted Ir(210) are obtained electrochemically, which typically correspond to polyoriented facets at nano-pyramids. These structures grow anisotropically in a preferred direction and reach a height of about 5 nm after 4 h of cycling. The structural changes are reflected in variations of the electrocatalytic activity towards carbon monoxide adlayer oxidation. PMID:25247118

Restructuring of an Ir(210) electrode surface by potential cycling.

PubMed

Soliman, Khaled A; Kolb, Dieter M; Kibler, Ludwig A; Jacob, Timo

2014-01-01

This study addresses the electrochemical surface faceting and restructuring of Ir(210) single crystal electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry measurements and in situ scanning tunnelling microscopy are used to probe structural changes and variations in the electrochemical behaviour after potential cycling of Ir(210) in 0.1 M H2SO4. Faceted structures are obtained electrochemically as a function of time by cycling at a scanrate of 1 V·s(-1) between -0.28 and 0.70 V vs SCE, i.e., between the onset of hydrogen evolution and the surface oxidation regime. The electrochemical behaviour in sulfuric acid solution is compared with that of thermally faceted Ir(210), which shows a sharp characteristic voltammetric peak for (311) facets. Structures similar to thermally-induced faceted Ir(210) are obtained electrochemically, which typically correspond to polyoriented facets at nano-pyramids. These structures grow anisotropically in a preferred direction and reach a height of about 5 nm after 4 h of cycling. The structural changes are reflected in variations of the electrocatalytic activity towards carbon monoxide adlayer oxidation.

Thermal balance testing of MSAT 2 spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Samson, Serge; Choueiry, Elie

1994-01-01

The present work reports on the recently completed infrared thermal balance/thermal vacuum testing of a MSAT satellite, the first satellite to provide mobile communications service for all of continental North America. MSAT is a two spacecraft program, using a three-axis stabilized Hughes HS-601 series Bus as the vehicle for the Canadian designed Payload. The thermal tests which were performed at the Canadian Space Agency's David Florida Laboratory in Ottawa, Canada, lasted approximately 35 days. The infrared (IR) heating rig was designed to provide radiant heat inputs into seven spacecraft zones during Thermal Vacuum (TV) testing. The TV test was divided into multiple phases. It began with a thermal balance cold phase, followed by a thermal cold cycle and a hot balance phase, complemented by a thermal hot cycle to finish with a thermal cycle with continuous monitoring of the Bus and Payload. The spacecraft's external heat fluxes were provided by IR lamp sources. To ensure flux uniformity, highly reflective baffles and IR East and West faces; the Earth facing (Nadir); and the inside of the thrust cylinder. The aft-end panel heat fluxes were provided by a heated LN2 shroud. The radiation flux intensity on the spacecraft zones from the various rig elements was measured using Monitored Background Radiometers (MBR's) and compared with direct calculations and with pretest predictions. The temperature measurement system was based on Uniform Temperature References (UTR's) located inside the chamber such that all feedthroughs were copper-copper. This system was devised to achieve a temperature measurement accuracy of plus/minus 0.5 C for over 850 thermocouples used in the test. A PC-(QNX-based) based real-time data acquisition system was utilized to provide continuous monitoring of all channels based on a 30-second time scan. In addition, the data acquisition system was able to retrieve telemetry stream from the Satellite Test Equipments (STE) station for real-time data manipulation. Preliminary results showed the test to be successful from both the thermal balance side and the electrical testing side.

Negative Urgency: A Personality Predictor of Externalizing Behavior Characterized by Neuroticism, Low Conscientiousness, and Disagreeableness

PubMed Central

Settles, Regan E.; Fischer, Sarah; Cyders, Melissa A.; Combs, Jessica L.; Gunn, Rachel L.; Smith, Gregory T.

2012-01-01

Negative urgency, the tendency to act rashly when distressed, is characterized by high Neuroticism, low Conscientiousness, and low Agreeableness. Because of this set of characteristics, the authors hypothesized that (1) negative urgency (NU) is a particularly important predictor of externalizing dysfunction; (2) traits that reflect primarily high Neuroticism predict internalizing dysfunction and (3) traits that reflect primarily low Conscientiousness predict those types of externalizing dysfunction that include intense affect less strongly than does NU. In three studies, the authors showed that negative urgency concurrently predicted alcohol dependence symptoms in disordered women, drinking problems and smoker status in pre-adolescents, and aggression, risky sex, illegal drug use, drinking problems, and conduct disordered behavior in college students. High Neuroticism traits predicted internalizing dysfunction but predicted none of these externalizing criteria beyond negative urgency. Low Conscientiousness did not add to prediction from negative urgency, except in a few cases. The tendency toward affect-driven rash action may underlie many externalizing behaviors. PMID:21859164

Infrared machine vision system for the automatic detection of olive fruit quality.

PubMed

Guzmán, Elena; Baeten, Vincent; Pierna, Juan Antonio Fernández; García-Mesa, José A

2013-11-15

External quality is an important factor in the extraction of olive oil and the marketing of olive fruits. The appearance and presence of external damage are factors that influence the quality of the oil extracted and the perception of consumers, determining the level of acceptance prior to purchase in the case of table olives. The aim of this paper is to report on artificial vision techniques developed for the online estimation of olive quality and to assess the effectiveness of these techniques in evaluating quality based on detecting external defects. This method of classifying olives according to the presence of defects is based on an infrared (IR) vision system. Images of defects were acquired using a digital monochrome camera with band-pass filters on near-infrared (NIR). The original images were processed using segmentation algorithms, edge detection and pixel value intensity to classify the whole fruit. The detection of the defect involved a pixel classification procedure based on nonparametric models of the healthy and defective areas of olives. Classification tests were performed on olives to assess the effectiveness of the proposed method. This research showed that the IR vision system is a useful technology for the automatic assessment of olives that has the potential for use in offline inspection and for online sorting for defects and the presence of surface damage, easily distinguishing those that do not meet minimum quality requirements. Crown Copyright © 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of hand grip exercise on shoulder joint internal rotation and external rotation peak torque.

PubMed

Lee, Dong-Rour; Jong-Soon Kim, Laurentius

2016-08-10

The goal of this study is to analyze the effects of hand grip training on shoulder joint internal rotation (IR)/external rotation (ER) peak torque for healthy people. The research was conducted on 23 healthy adults in their 20 s-30 s who volunteered to participate in the experiment. Hand grip power test was performed on both hands of the research subjects before/after the test to study changes in hand grip power. Isokinetic machine was used to measure the concentric IRPT (internal rotation peak torque) and concentric ERPT (external rotation peak torque) at the velocity of 60°/sec, 90°/sec, and 180°/sec before/after the test. Hand grip training was performed daily on the subject's right hand only for four weeks according to exercise program. Finally, hand grip power of both hands and the maximum torque values of shoulder joint IR/ER were measured before/after the test and analyzed. There was a statistically significant difference in the hand grip power of the right hand, which was subject to hand grip training, after the experiment. Also, statistically significant difference for shoulder ERPT was found at 60°/sec. Hand grip training has a positive effect on shoulder joint IRPT/ERPT and therefore can help strengthen muscles around the shoulder without using weight on the shoulder. Consequently, hand grip training would help maintain strengthen the muscles around the shoulder in the early phase of rehabilitation process after shoulder surgery.

Modeling Natural Space Ionizing Radiation Effects on External Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alstatt, Richard L.; Edwards, David L.; Parker, Nelson C. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

Predicting the effective life of materials for space applications has become increasingly critical with the drive to reduce mission cost. Programs have considered many solutions to reduce launch costs including novel, low mass materials and thin thermal blankets to reduce spacecraft mass. Determining the long-term survivability of these materials before launch is critical for mission success. This presentation will describe an analysis performed on the outer layer of the passive thermal control blanket of the Hubble Space Telescope. This layer had degraded for unknown reasons during the mission, however ionizing radiation (IR) induced embrittlement was suspected. A methodology was developed which allowed direct comparison between the energy deposition of the natural environment and that of the laboratory generated environment. Commercial codes were used to predict the natural space IR environment model energy deposition in the material from both natural and laboratory IR sources, and design the most efficient test. Results were optimized for total and local energy deposition with an iterative spreadsheet. This method has been used successfully for several laboratory tests at the Marshall Space Flight Center. The study showed that the natural space IR environment, by itself, did not cause the premature degradation observed in the thermal blanket.

Modeling natural space ionizing radiation effects on external materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Altstatt, Richard L.; Edwards, David L.

2000-10-01

Predicting the effective life of materials for space applications has become increasingly critical with the drive to reduce mission cost. Programs have considered many solutions to reduce launch costs including novel, low mass materials and thin thermal blankets to reduce spacecraft mass. Determining the long-term survivability of these materials before launch is critical for mission success. This presentation will describe an analysis performed on the outer layer of the passive thermal control blanket of the Hubble Space Telescope. This layer had degraded for unknown reasons during the mission, however ionizing radiation (IR) induced embrittlement was suspected. A methodology was developed which allowed direct comparison between the energy deposition of the natural environment and that of the laboratory generated environment. Commercial codes were used to predict the natural space IR environment, model energy deposition in the material from both natural and laboratory IR sources, and design the most efficient test. Results were optimized for total and local energy deposition with an iterative spreadsheet. This method has been used successfully for several laboratory tests at the Marshall Space Flight Center. The study showed that the natural space IR environment, by itself, did not cause the premature degradation observed in the thermal blanket.

Reversible unidirectional reflection and absorption of PT-symmetry structure under electro-optical modulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, Yun-tuan; Zhang, Yi-chi; Xia, Jing

2018-06-01

In order to obtain tunable unidirectional device, we assumed an ideal periodic layered Parity-Time (PT) symmetry structure inserted by doped LiNbO3 (LN) interlayers. LN is a typical electro-optical material of which the refractive index depends on the external electric field. In our work, we theoretically investigate the modulation effect of the external electric field on the transmittance and reflectance of the structure through numerical method. Through selected structural parameters, the one-way enhanced reflection and high absorption (above 0.9) behaviors are found. Within a special frequency band (not a single frequency), our theoretical model performs enhanced reflection in one incidence direction and high absorption in the other direction. Furthermore, the directions of enhanced reflection and absorption can be reversed through reversing the direction of applied electric field. Such structure with reversible properties has the potential in designing new optical devices.

Effect of aluminum substitution on the reflectance spectra of hematite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morris, R. V.; Lauer, H. V., Jr.; Mendell, W. W.

1982-01-01

Hematite and aluminous hematite were synthesized and the diffuse reflectance spectra were recorded for the region between 0.35 and 1.20 microns. Results show that the near-IR based minimum for the aluminous hematite is shifted longward by about 0.02 microns and is much more shallow. Also, the aluminous specimen is considerably more reflective shortward of approximately 0.55 microns where the ferritic specimen is strongly absorbing. This is noteworthy since the visible slope and the red shoulder are often used in the construction of false color and band ratio images.

Visible Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-01-01

circular output beams are easily coupled into optical fibers, or focused or collimated with microlenslets. The VCSELs can be tested individually at the wafer...semiconductor visible VCSEL . Also shown is the DBR reflectance and reflectivity phase , as seen from the optical cavity, and the electric field intensity ...76 xv Figure page 2.32 Calculated electric field intensity for the example IR and visible VCSELs shown in Fig. 2.31 ........................... 79

Characterization of Electrically Active Defects in Si Using CCD Image Sensors

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-02-01

63 35 Dislocation Segments in CCD Imager . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 36 422 Reflection Topograph of Dislocation Loop ir... Loops . . . . . 3 39 422 Reflection Topograph of Scratch on CCD Imager, . . . 69 40 Dark Current Display of a CCD Imager with 32 ms integration Time...made of each slice using the elon -asoorbio aold developer described in Appendix D. The inagers were then thinned using the procedure at Appendix taor

Soybean canopy reflectance as a function of view and illumination geometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ranson, K. J.; Vanderbilt, V. C.; Biehl, L. L.; Robinson, B. F.; Bauer, M. E.

1981-01-01

Reflectances were calculated from measurements at four wavelength bands through eight view azimuth and seven view zenith directions, for various solar zenith and azimuth angles over portions of three days, in an experimental characterization of a soybean field by means of its reflectances and physical and agronomic attributes. Results indicate that the distribution of reflectance from a soybean field is a function of the solar illumination and viewing geometry, wavelength, and row direction, as well as the state of canopy development. Shadows between rows were found to affect visible wavelength band reflectance to a greater extent than near-IR reflectance. A model describing reflectance variation as a function of projected solar and viewing angles is proposed, which approximates the visible wavelength band reflectance variations of a canopy with a well-defined row structure.

Chronic Kidney Disease Exacerbates Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion Injury: Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Apoptosis.

PubMed

Guo, Junjie; Zhu, Jianbing; Ma, Leilei; Shi, Hongtao; Hu, Jiachang; Zhang, Shuning; Hou, Lei; Xu, Fengqiang; An, Yi; Yu, Haichu; Ge, Junbo

2018-06-01

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is known to exacerbate myocardial ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury. However, the underlying mechanisms are still not well understood. Despite various strategies for cardioprotection, limited studies have been focused on the prevention of CKD-induced myocardial susceptibility to IR injury. Here, we hypothesized that excessive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated apoptosis involved in myocardial IR injury in CKD mice and pretreatment with chemical ER chaperone rendered the heart resistant to myocardial IR injury in the setting of CKD. CKD was induced by 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy (SN) in mice, whereas sham-operated mice served as control (Sham). CKD significantly aggravated the cardiac injury after IR in SN group than Sham group as reflected by more severe cardiac dysfunction, increased myocardial infarct size and the ratio of myocardial apoptosis. The expression of ER stress-mediated apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), caspase-12) was markedly upregulated after IR injury in SN group than Sham group, whereas the expression of anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, was obviously downregulated. In addition, the chemical ER chaperone sodium 4-phenylbutyrate (4PBA) pretreatment ameliorated cardiac dysfunction and lessened the infarct size and myocardial apoptosis after IR injury in mice with CKD. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that excessive activation of ER stress-mediated apoptosis pathway involved in the CKD-induced myocardial susceptibility to IR injury, and chemical ER chaperone 4PBA alleviated myocardial IR injury in mice with CKD.

Infrared imaging of subcutaneous veins.

PubMed

Zharov, Vladimir P; Ferguson, Scott; Eidt, John F; Howard, Paul C; Fink, Louis M; Waner, Milton

2004-01-01

Imaging of subcutaneous veins is important in many applications, such as gaining venous access and vascular surgery. Despite a long history of medical infrared (IR) photography and imaging, this technique is not widely used for this purpose. Here we revisited and explored the capability of near-IR imaging to visualize subcutaneous structures, with a focus on diagnostics of superficial veins. An IR device comprising a head-mounted IR LED array (880 nm), a small conventional CCD camera (Toshiba Ik-mui, Tokyo, Japan), virtual-reality optics, polarizers, filters, and diffusers was used in vivo to obtain images of different subcutaneous structures. The same device was used to estimate the IR image quality as a function of wavelength produced by a tunable xenon lamp-based monochrometer in the range of 500-1,000 nm and continuous-wave Nd:YAG (1.06 microm) and diode (805 nm) lasers. The various modes of optical illumination were compared in vivo. Contrast of the IR images in the reflectance mode was measured in the near-IR spectral range of 650-1,060 nm. Using the LED array, various IR images were obtained in vivo, including images of vein structure in a pigmented, fatty forearm, varicose leg veins, and vascular lesions of the tongue. Imaging in the near-IR range (880-930 nm) provides relatively good contrast of subcutaneous veins, underscoring its value for diagnosis. This technique has the potential for the diagnosis of varicose veins with a diameter of 0.5-2 mm at a depth of 1-3 mm, guidance of venous access, podiatry, phlebotomy, injection sclerotherapy, and control of laser interstitial therapy. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Irradiation-Dependent Effects on Tumor Perfusion and Endogenous and Exogenous Hypoxia Markers in an A549 Xenograft Model

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

Fokas, Emmanouil, E-mail: emmanouil.fokas@yahoo.d; Haenze, Joerg; Kamlah, Florentine

2010-08-01

Purpose: Hypoxia is a major determinant of tumor radiosensitivity, and microenvironmental changes in response to ionizing radiation (IR) are often heterogenous. We analyzed IR-dependent changes in hypoxia and perfusion in A549 human lung adenocarcinoma xenografts. Materials and Methods: Immunohistological analysis of two exogenously added chemical hypoxic markers, pimonidazole and CCI-103F, and of the endogenous marker Glut-1 was performed time dependently after IR. Tumor vessels and apoptosis were analyzed using CD31 and caspase-3 antibodies. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and fluorescent beads (Hoechst 33342) were used to monitor vascular perfusion. Results: CCI-103F signals measuring the fraction of hypoxic areas aftermore » IR were significantly decreased by approximately 50% when compared with pimonidazole signals, representing the fraction of hypoxic areas from the same tumors before IR. Interestingly, Glut-1 signals were significantly decreased at early time point (6.5 h) after IR returning to the initial levels at 30.5 h. Vascular density showed no difference between irradiated and control groups, whereas apoptosis was significantly induced at 10.5 h post-IR. DCE-MRI indicated increased perfusion 1 h post-IR. Conclusions: The discrepancy between the hypoxic fractions of CCI-103F and Glut-1 forces us to consider the possibility that both markers reflect different metabolic alterations of tumor microenvironment. The reliability of endogenous markers such as Glut-1 to measure reoxygenation in irradiated tumors needs further consideration. Monitoring tumor microvascular response to IR by DCE-MRI and measuring tumor volume alterations should be encouraged.« less

Fos-like immunoreactivity and thirst following hyperosmotic loading in rats with subdiaphragmatic vagotomy.

PubMed

Starbuck, Elizabeth M; Wilson, Wendy L; Fitts, Douglas A

2002-03-29

If receptors in the gut relay information about increases in local osmolality to the brain via the vagus nerve, then vagotomy should diminish this signaling and reduce both thirst and brain Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-ir). Water intake in response to hypertonic saline (i.p. or i.g., 1 M NaCl, 1% BW; i.g., 0.6 M NaCl, 0.5% BW) was reduced during 120 min in rats with subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (VGX) compared to sham-VGX rats. Brain Fos-ir was examined in response to both i.g. loads. After the smaller load, VGX greatly reduced Fos-ir in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and the magnocellular and parvocellular areas of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Fos-ir in the subfornical organ (SFO) and nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) was not affected. After the larger load, VGX significantly reduced Fos-ir in the parvocellular PVN and in the NTS, but not in the other regions. Thus, decreased water intake by VGX rats was accompanied by decreased Fos-ir in the parvocellular PVN after the same treatments, indicating a role for the abdominal vagus in thirst in response to signaling from gut osmoreceptors. The decreased water intake in the VGX group was not reflected as a decrease in Fos-ir in the SFO. Absorption of the larger i.g. load may have activated Fos-ir through more rapidly increasing systemic osmolality, thereby obscuring a role for the vagus at this dose in the SON and magnocellular PVN.

Nematic-driven anisotropic electronic properties of underdoped detwinned Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 revealed by optical spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Degiorgi, L.

2015-03-01

We collect optical reflectivity data as a function of temperature across the structural tetragonal-to-orthorhombic phase transition at Ts on Ba(Fe1-xCox)2As2 for x = 0, 2.5% and 4.5%, with uniaxial and in-situ tunable applied pressure in order to detwin the sample and to exert on it an external symmetry breaking field. At T =Ts . Moreover, the optical anisotropy gets progressively depleted with increasing Co-content in the underdoped regime, consistent with the doping dependence of the orthorhombicity but contrary to the non-monotonic behavior observed for the dc anisotropy. Our findings bear testimony for an important anisotropy of the electronic structure and thus underscore an electronic polarization upon (pressure) inducing and entering the nematic phase. Work in collaboration with: A. Dusza, C. Mirri, S. Bastelberger, A. Lucarelli (ETH Zurich) and J.H. Chu, H.H. Kuo, I.R. Fisher (Stanford University).

Ultra-High Efficiency, High-Concentration PV System Based On Spectral Division Between GaInP/GaInAs/Ge And BPC Silicon Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benítez, P.; Mohedano, R.; Buljan, M.; Miñano, J. C.; Sun, Y.; Falicoff, W.; Vilaplana, J.; Chaves, J.; Biot, G.; López, J.

2011-12-01

A novel HCPV nonimaging concentrator concept with high concentration (>500×) is presented. It uses the combination of a commercial concentration GaInP/GaInAs/Ge 3J cell and a concentration Back-Point-Contact (BPC) concentration silicon cell for efficient spectral utilization, and external confinement techniques for recovering the 3J cell's reflection. The primary optical element (POE) is a flat Fresnel lens and the secondary optical element (SOE) is a free-form RXI-type concentrator with a band-pass filter embedded it, both POE and SOE performing Köhler integration to produce light homogenization. The band-pass filter sends the IR photons in the 900-1200 nm band to the silicon cell. Computer simulations predict that four-terminal terminal designs could achieve ˜46% added cell efficiencies using commercial 39% 3J and 26% Si cells. A first proof-of concept receiver prototype has been manufactured using a simpler optical architecture (with a lower concentration, ˜100× and lower simulated added efficiency), and experimental measurements have shown up to 39.8% 4J receiver efficiency using a 3J with peak efficiency of 36.9%.

Na+/K+-ATPase and vacuolar-type H+-ATPase in the gills of the aquatic air-breathing fish Trichogaster microlepis in response to salinity variation.

PubMed

Huang, Chun-Yen; Chao, Pei-Lin; Lin, Hui-Chen

2010-03-01

The aquatic air-breathing fish, Trichogaster microlepis, can be found in fresh water and estuaries. We further evaluated the changes in two important osmoregulatory enzymes, Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase (NKA) and vacuolar-type H(+)-ATPase (VHA), in the gills when fish were subjected to deionized water (DW), fresh water (FW), and salinated brackish water (salinity of 10 g/L). Fish were sampled only 4 days after experimental transfer. The mortality, plasma osmolality, and Na(+) concentration were higher in 10 g/L acclimated fish, while their muscle water content decreased with elevated external salinity. The highest NKA protein abundance was found in the fish gills in 10 g/L, and NKA activity was highest in the DW and 10 g/L acclimated fish. The VHA protein levels were highest in 10 g/L, and VHA activity was highest in the DW treatment. From immunohistochemical results, we found three different cell populations: (1) NKA-immunoreactive (NKA-IR) cells, (2) both NKA-IR and HA-IR cells, and (3) HA-IR cells. NKA-IR cells in the lamellar and interlamellar regions significantly increased in DW and 10 g/L treatments. Only HA-IR cells in the lamellar region were significantly increased in DW. In the interlamellar region, there was no difference in the number of HA-IR cells among the three treated. From these results, T. microlepis exhibited osmoregulatory ability in DW and 10 g/L treatments. The cell types involved in ionic regulation were also examined with immunofluorescence staining; three ionocyte types were found which were similar to the zebrafish model. Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spatially Resolved Observations of the Galactic Center Source IRS 21

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanner, A.; Ghez, A. M.; Morris, M.; Becklin, E. E.; Cotera, A.; Ressler, M.; Werner, M.; Wizinowich, P.

2002-08-01

We present diffraction-limited 2-25 μm images obtained with the W. M. Keck 10 m telescopes that spatially resolve the cool source IRS 21, one of a small group of enigmatic objects in the central parsec of our Galaxy that have eluded classification. Modeled as a Gaussian, the azimuthally averaged intensity profile of IRS 21 has a half-width at half-maximum (HWHM) size of 650+/-80 AU at 2.2 μm and an average HWHM size of 1600+/-200 AU at mid-infrared wavelengths. These large apparent sizes imply an extended distribution of dust. The mid-infrared color map indicates that IRS 21 is a self-luminous source rather than an externally heated dust clump as originally suggested. The spectral energy distribution has distinct near- and mid-infrared components. A simple radiative transfer code, which simultaneously fits the near- and mid-infrared photometry and intensity profiles, supports a model in which the near-infrared radiation is scattered and extincted light from an embedded central source, while the mid-infrared emission is from thermally reradiating silicate dust. We argue that IRS 21 (and by analogy, the other luminous sources along the Northern Arm) is a massive star experiencing rapid mass loss and plowing through the Northern Arm, thereby generating a bow shock, which is spatially resolved in our observations.

The Impact of Emerging Technologies on Future Air Capabilities

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-12-01

ferroelectric FPAs (60). More advanced FPA technologies include quantum well IR photodetectors ( QWIPS ) and strained layer superlattices. Significant...microspacecraft. Expected benefits include enhanced handling qualities, vibration suppression, alleviation of noise and vibration and monitoring of vehicle...of fatigue loads, cabin vibration and both internal and external noise , as well as contributing to enhanced handling. This would result in better

An Empirical Investigation of Organizational Effectiveness and Performance.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-07-29

on rerie side II necessaIr and Identify by block nuIb*’) Organizational Effectiveness Model of Effectiveness Corporate Strategy Organizational...complex and problematic task with little likelihood of reaching a final or even acceptable solution, social science research, never-the-less, should...regulations, interest rates, the weather, availability of supplies and raw materials, changing social values, and other external organizational events

Markers of sympathetic nervous system activity associate with complex plasma lipids in metabolic syndrome subjects.

PubMed

Nestel, Paul J; Khan, Anmar A; Straznicky, Nora E; Mellett, Natalie A; Jayawardana, Kaushala; Mundra, Piyushkumar A; Lambert, Gavin W; Meikle, Peter J

2017-01-01

Plasma sphingolipids including ceramides, and gangliosides are associated with insulin resistance (IR) through effects on insulin signalling and glucose metabolism. Our studies of subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS) showed close relationships between IR and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity including arterial norepinephrine (NE). We have therefore investigated possible associations of IR and SNS activity with complex lipids that are involved in both insulin sensitivity and neurotransmission. We performed a cross-sectional assessment of 23 lipid classes/subclasses (total 339 lipid species) by tandem mass spectrometry in 94 overweight untreated subjects with IR (quantified by HOMA-IR, Matsuda index and plasma insulin). Independently of IR parameters, several circulating complex lipids associated significantly with arterial NE and NEFA (non-esterified fatty acids) and marginally with heart rate (HR). After accounting for BMI, HOMA-IR, systolic BP, age, gender, and correction for multiple comparisons, these associations were significant (p < 0.05): NE with ceramide, phosphatidylcholine, alkyl- and alkenylphosphatidylcholine and free cholesterol; NEFA with mono- di- and trihexosylceramide, G M3 ganglioside, sphingomyelin, phosphatidylcholine, alkyl- and alkenylphosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and free cholesterol; HR marginally (p = or <0.1>0.05) with ceramide, G M3 ganglioside, sphingomyelin, lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, lysophosphatidylinositol and free cholesterol. Multiple subspecies of these lipids significantly associated with NE and NEFA. None of the IR biomarkers associated significantly with lipid classes/subclasses after correction for multiple comparisons. This is the first demonstration that arterial norepinephrine and NEFA, that reflect both SNS activity and IR, associate significantly with circulating complex lipids independently of IR, suggesting a role for such lipids in neural mechanisms operating in MetS. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dendrodendritic Synapses in the Mouse Olfactory Bulb External Plexiform Layer

PubMed Central

Bartel, Dianna L.; Rela, Lorena; Hsieh, Lawrence; Greer, Charles A.

2014-01-01

Odor information relayed by olfactory bulb projection neurons, mitral and tufted cells (M/T), is modulated by pairs of reciprocal dendrodendritic synaptic circuits in the external plexiform layer (EPL). Interneurons, which are accounted for largely by granule cells, receive depolarizing input from M/T dendrites and in turn inhibit current spread in M/T dendrites via hyperpolarizing reciprocal dendrodendritic synapses. Because the location of dendrodendritic synapses may significantly affect the cascade of odor information, we assessed synaptic properties and density within sublaminae of the EPL and along the length of M/T secondary dendrites. In electron micrographs the M/T to granule cell synapse appeared to predominate and were equivalent in both the outer and inner EPL. However, the dendrodendritic synapses from granule cell spines onto M/T dendrites, were more prevalent in the outer EPL. In contrast, individual gephyrin-IR puncta, a postsynaptic scaffolding protein at inhibitory synapses used here as a proxy for the granule to M/T dendritic synapse was equally distributed throughout the EPL. Of significance to the organization of intrabulbar circuits, gephyrin-IR synapses are not uniformly distributed along M/T secondary dendrites. Synaptic density, expressed as a function of surface area, increases distal to the cell body. Furthermore, the distributions of gephyrin-IR puncta are heterogeneous and appear as clusters along the length of the M/T dendrites. Consistent with computational models, our data suggest that temporal coding in M/T cells is achieved by precisely located inhibitory input and that distance from the soma is compensated with an increase in synaptic density. PMID:25420934

UV, visible, and near-IR reflectivity data for magnetic soils/rocks from Brazil

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vempati, R. K.; Morris, R. V.; Lauer, H. V., Jr.; Coey, J. M. D.

1991-01-01

The objective is to obtain UV, visible, and near-IR reflectivity spectra for several magnetic Brazilian soils/rocks and compare them to corresponding data for Mars to see if these materials satisfy both magnetic and spectral constraints for Mars. Selected physical properties of the magnetic Brazilian soils/rocks are presented. In general, the spectral features resulting from ferric crystal-field transitions are much better defined in the spectra of the magnetic Brazilian soils/rocks than in Martian spectral data. Presumably, this results from a relatively higher proportion of crystalline ferric oxides for the former. The apparent masking of the spectral signature of maghemite by hematite or goethite for the Brazilian samples implies the magnetic and spectral constraints for Mars can be decoupled. That is, maghemite may be present in magnetically-significant but optically-insignificant amounts compared to crystalline hematite.

Moth eye-inspired anti-reflective surfaces for improved IR optical systems & visible LEDs fabricated with colloidal lithography and etching.

PubMed

Chan, Lesley W; Morse, Daniel E; Gordon, Michael J

2018-05-08

Near- and sub-wavelength photonic structures are used by numerous organisms (e.g. insects, cephalopods, fish, birds) to create vivid and often dynamically-tunable colors, as well as create, manipulate, or capture light for vision, communication, crypsis, photosynthesis, and defense. This review introduces the physics of moth eye (ME)-like, biomimetic nanostructures and discusses their application to reduce optical losses and improve efficiency of various optoelectronic devices, including photodetectors, photovoltaics, imagers, and light emitting diodes. Light-matter interactions at structured and heterogeneous surfaces over different length scales are discussed, as are the various methods used to create ME-inspired surfaces. Special interest is placed on a simple, scalable, and tunable method, namely colloidal lithography with plasma dry etching, to fabricate ME-inspired nanostructures in a vast suite of materials. Anti-reflective surfaces and coatings for IR devices and enhancing light extraction from visible light emitting diodes are highlighted.

Discrete wavelength-locked external cavity laser

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pilgrim, Jeffrey S. (Inventor); Silver, Joel A. (Inventor)

2005-01-01

An external cavity laser (and method of generating laser light) comprising: a laser light source; means for collimating light output by the laser light source; a diffraction grating receiving collimated light; a cavity feedback mirror reflecting light received from the diffraction grating back to the diffraction grating; and means for reliably tuning the external cavity laser to discrete wavelengths.

Evaluation of hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]-pyruvate by magnetic resonance to detect ionizing radiation effects in real time.

PubMed

Sandulache, Vlad C; Chen, Yunyun; Lee, Jaehyuk; Rubinstein, Ashley; Ramirez, Marc S; Skinner, Heath D; Walker, Christopher M; Williams, Michelle D; Tailor, Ramesh; Court, Laurence E; Bankson, James A; Lai, Stephen Y

2014-01-01

Ionizing radiation (IR) cytotoxicity is primarily mediated through reactive oxygen species (ROS). Since tumor cells neutralize ROS by utilizing reducing equivalents, we hypothesized that measurements of reducing potential using real-time hyperpolarized (HP) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) can serve as a surrogate marker of IR induced ROS. This hypothesis was tested in a pre-clinical model of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), an aggressive head and neck malignancy. Human ATC cell lines were utilized to test IR effects on ROS and reducing potential in vitro and [1-¹³C] pyruvate HP-MRS/MRSI imaging of ATC orthotopic xenografts was used to study in vivo effects of IR. IR increased ATC intra-cellular ROS levels resulting in a corresponding decrease in reducing equivalent levels. Exogenous manipulation of cellular ROS and reducing equivalent levels altered ATC radiosensitivity in a predictable manner. Irradiation of ATC xenografts resulted in an acute drop in reducing potential measured using HP-MRS, reflecting the shunting of reducing equivalents towards ROS neutralization. Residual tumor tissue post irradiation demonstrated heterogeneous viability. We have adapted HP-MRS/MRSI to non-invasively measure IR mediated changes in tumor reducing potential in real time. Continued development of this technology could facilitate the development of an adaptive clinical algorithm based on real-time adjustments in IR dose and dose mapping.

Nurses' intentions to respond to bioterrorism and other infectious disease emergencies.

PubMed

Grimes, Deanna E; Mendias, Elnora P

2010-01-01

Although nurses historically have responded to natural disasters, little is known about nurses' intentions to respond during bioterrorism and other infectious disease emergencies where they and their families may be at risk. To investigate that question, we surveyed nurses following their participation in a class on bioterrorism. Participants (N = 292) completed a Personal/Professional Profile (PPP), Test of Bioterrorism Knowledge (BT Knowledge), and an Intention to Respond (IR) instrument. IR was measured by participants' scores on their likelihood to care for patients (0 = extremely unlikely, 10 = extremely likely) for each of 10 infectious disease scenarios reflecting different infection risk. We calculated scores for each scenario, totaled them, and examined the total IR related to the participant's PPP and scores on BT Knowledge. Additionally, we examined participants' written comments explaining the reasons for their IR. Total IR scores ranged from 8-100 (mean and median of 70). The IR was higher in scenarios where the infection risk was lower. Overall IR scores were positively related to BT Knowledge and having had previous emergency and disaster experience. Those less likely to respond had dependent children and more years in nursing. Results indicate that nurses differentiated risks associated with different infectious disease situations and may decide to respond during a real emergency based on such information. Implications for nursing administrators and nursing educators are discussed. Copyright 2010 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ternary electrocatalysts for oxidizing ethanol to carbon dioxide: making ir capable of splitting C-C bond.

PubMed

Li, Meng; Cullen, David A; Sasaki, Kotaro; Marinkovic, Nebojsa S; More, Karren; Adzic, Radoslav R

2013-01-09

Splitting the C-C bond is the main obstacle to electrooxidation of ethanol (EOR) to CO(2). We recently demonstrated that the ternary PtRhSnO(2) electrocatalyst can accomplish that reaction at room temperature with Rh having a unique capability to split the C-C bond. In this article, we report the finding that Ir can be induced to split the C-C bond as a component of the ternary catalyst. We characterized and compared the properties of several carbon-supported nanoparticle (NP) electrocatalysts comprising a SnO(2) NP core decorated with multimetallic nanoislands (MM' = PtIr, PtRh, IrRh, PtIrRh) prepared using a seeded growth approach. An array of characterization techniques were employed to establish the composition and architecture of the synthesized MM'/SnO(2) NPs, while electrochemical and in situ infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy studies elucidated trends in activity and the nature of the reaction intermediates and products. Both EOR reactivity and selectivity toward CO(2) formation of several of these MM'/SnO(2)/C electrocatalysts are significantly higher compared to conventional Pt/C and Pt/SnO(2)/C catalysts. We demonstrate that the PtIr/SnO(2)/C catalyst with high Ir content shows outstanding catalytic properties with the most negative EOR onset potential and reasonably good selectivity toward ethanol complete oxidation to CO(2).

Investigations of High Resolution Imaging through the Earth’s Atmosphere Using Speckle Interferometry

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-03-07

improved the SO/AFGL speckle camera for use at any conventionai`teescop" by pErv’-ion ofmicro-processor controlled " Risley prisms, shutter mechanisms...condition in the IR because of the all-reflecting system (the wedges used for mode . C are normally not used for IR work). In the 2ptical Experiments the...of pairs of •’ 16 fl**S ’ ,**S * !, S glass wedges (mode C). Beckers and Roddier (1982) used the Roddier rotation sholaring interferometer to obtain

Optical design for a breadboard high-resolution spectrometer for SIRTF/IRS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, Robert J.; Houck, James R.; van Cleve, Jeffrey E.

1996-11-01

The optical design of a breadboard high resolution infrared spectrometer for the IRS instrument on the SIRTF mission is discussed. The spectrometer uses a crossed echelle grating configuration to cover the spectral region from 10 to 20 micrometer with a resolving power of approximately equals 600. The all reflective spectrometer forms a nearly diffraction limited image of the two dimensional spectrum on a 128 multiplied by 128 arsenic doped silicon area array with 75 micrometer pixels. The design aspects discussed include, grating numerology, image quality, packaging and alignment philosophy.

High performance, low dissipation quantum cascade lasers across the mid-IR range.

PubMed

Bismuto, Alfredo; Blaser, Stéphane; Terazzi, Romain; Gresch, Tobias; Muller, Antoine

2015-03-09

In this work, we present the development of low consumption quantum cascade lasers across the mid-IR range. In particular, short cavity single-mode lasers with optimised facet reflectivities have been fabricated from 4.5 to 9.2 μm. Threshold dissipated powers as low as 0.5 W were obtained in continuous wave operation at room temperature. In addition, the beneficial impact of reducing chip length on laser mounting yield is discussed. High power single-mode lasers from the same processed wafers are also presented.

Semiconductor-metal graded-index composite thin films for infrared applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lamb, James L.; Nagendra, C. L.

1994-01-01

Theoretical/experimental studies have been carried out on germanium:silver (Ge:Ag) graded-index composite thin films which demonstrate that graded coatings, consisting of varied concentrations of Ag with respect to the Ge film thickness, exhibit different optical properties ranging from selective infrared (IR) reflectance to broadband IR absorptance. The graded coatings have been produced by dc magnetron cosputtering of Ge and Ag and the spectral properties are found to be stable against temperature. The coatings have been applied to an infrared tunnel sensor (micro-Golay cell) to improve the device performance.

The effect of texture on the crack growth resistance of alumina

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Salem, Jonathan A.; Shannon, John L., Jr.; Bradt, Richard C.

1987-01-01

The crack growth resistance of a textured, extruded alumina body was compared with that of an isotropic, isopressed body of similar grain size, density, and chemistry. R-curve levels reflected the preferred orientation; however, R-curve slopes (dK sub IR/d Delta a) were the same in all instances, implying a similar crack growth resistive mechanism. Three orthogonal orientations of crack growth in the two structures exhibited similar forms of K sub IR versus Delta-a curves, for which a schematic diagram for polycrystalline ceramics is proposed.

Influence of external magnetic field on the microwave absorption properties of carbonyl iron and polychloroprene composites film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Haiyan; Li, Mingjie; Li, Xueai

2016-12-01

The carbonyl iron particles were dispersed in a polychloroprene rubber (CR) matrix under a magnetic field for a practical application as microwave absorption composites film. In comparison with the carbonyl iron particles (CIP)/CR composites film prepared by general route, such films made with external magnetic field exhibit excellent microwave absorption properties, strongly depending on the increment of anisotropy and rearrangement of magnetic particles. The film made under external magnetic field with a thickness of only 0.54 mm shows least reflection loss of -15.98 dB and the reflection loss value less than -10.0 dB over the frequency range of 11.4˜14.8 GHz. The results indicated the composite film made under external magnetic field have excellent microwave absorption properties, which suggest that the composites thin film could be used as a thinner and lighter microwave absorber.

Efficient near-infrared emission of π-extended cyclometalated iridium complexes based on pyrene in solution-processed polymer light-emitting diode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yu; Hao, Zhaoran; Meng, Fanyuan; Wang, Pu; Yang, Liang; Wang, Yafei; Pei, Yong; Su, Shijian

2018-05-01

A novel iridium complex grafting hole-transporting triphenylamine (TPA) unit onto cyclometalated ligand, namely t-BuPyrPyTPA)2Ir(acac), was successfully synthesized and characterized. The photophysical, electrochemical and DFT/TD-DFT calculation, as well as electroluminescence properties of this iridium complex were fully investigated. Meanwhile, the PLEDs employing (t-BuPyrPyTPA)2Ir(acac) as dopant presented stable NIR emission peaked at 697 nm and a shoulder at 764 nm with a highest external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 0.56% at 4 wt% dopant concentration. These results demonstrate that expanding the conjugation length of the ligand is an effective way to achieve NIR emission.

Investigation of Chemical and Physical Changes to Bioapatite During Fossilization Using Trace Element Geochemistry, Infrared Spectroscopy and Stable Isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suarez, C. A.; Kohn, M. J.

2013-12-01

Bioapatite in the form of vertebrate bone can be used for a wide variety of paleo-proxies, from determination of ancient diet to the isotopic composition of meteoric water. Bioapatite alteration during diagenesis is a constant barrier to the use of fossil bone as a paleo-proxy. To elucidate the physical and chemical alteration of bone apatite during fossilization, we analyzed an assortment of fossil bones of different ages for trace elements, using LA-ICP-MS, stable isotopes, and reflected IR spectroscopy. One set of fossil bones from the Pleistocene of Idaho show a diffusion recrystallization profile, however, rare earth element (REE) profiles indicate diffusion adsorption. This suggests that REE diffusion is controlled by changing (namely decreasing) boundary conditions (i.e. decreasing concentration of REE in surrounding pore fluids). Reflected IR analysis along this concentration profile reveal that areas high in U have lost type A carbonate from the crystal structure in addition to water and organics. Stable isotopic analysis of carbon and oxygen will determine what, if any, change in the isotopic composition of the carbonate component of apatite has occurred do to the diffusion and recrystallization process. Analysis of much older bone from the Cretaceous of China reveal shallow REE and U concentration profiles and very uniform reflected IR spectra with a significant loss of type A carbonate throughout the entire bone cortex. Analysis of stable isotopes through the bone cortex will be compared to the stable isotopes collected from the Pleistocene of Idaho.

MO-F-CAMPUS-J-03: Sorting 2D Dynamic MR Images Using Internal Respiratory Signal for 4D MRI

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

Wen, Z; Hui, C; Beddar, S

Purpose: To develop a novel algorithm to extract internal respiratory signal (IRS) for sorting dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) images in order to achieve four-dimensional (4D) MR imaging. Methods: Dynamic MR images were obtained with the balanced steady state free precession by acquiring each two-dimensional sagittal slice repeatedly for more than one breathing cycle. To generate a robust IRS, we used 5 different representative internal respiratory surrogates in both the image space (body area) and the Fourier space (the first two low-frequency phase components in the anterior-posterior direction, and the first two low-frequency phase components in the superior-inferior direction). A clusteringmore » algorithm was then used to search for a group of similar individual internal signals, which was then used to formulate the final IRS. A phantom study and a volunteer study were performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of this algorithm. The IRS was compared to the signal from the respiratory bellows. Results: The IRS computed by our algorithm matched well with the bellows signal in both the phantom and the volunteer studies. On average, the normalized cross correlation between the IRS and the bellows signal was 0.97 in the phantom study and 0.87 in the volunteer study, respectively. The average difference between the end inspiration times in the IRS and bellows signal was 0.18 s in the phantom study and 0.14 s in the volunteer study, respectively. 4D images sorted based on the IRS showed minimal mismatched artifacts, and the motion of the anatomy was coherent with the respiratory phases. Conclusion: A novel algorithm was developed to generate IRS from dynamic MR images to achieve 4D MR imaging. The performance of the IRS was comparable to that of the bellows signal. It can be easily implemented into the clinic and potentially could replace the use of external respiratory surrogates. This research was partially funded by the the Center for Radiation Oncology Research from UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.« less

Structural modification of poly(methyl methacrylate) by proton irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, H. W.; Woo, H. J.; Hong, W.; Kim, J. K.; Lee, S. K.; Eum, C. H.

2001-01-01

A general survey is presented on the structural modification of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) by proton implantation. The implanted PMMA films were characterized by FT-IR attenuated total reflection (FT-IR ATR), Raman, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and surface profiling. The ion fluence of 350 keV protons ranged from 2×10 14 to 1×10 15 ions/cm 2. The IR and Raman spectra showed the reduction of peaks from the pendant group of PMMA. The change of absorption and composition was observed by UV-VIS and RBS, respectively. These results showed that the pendant group is readily decomposed and eliminated by proton irradiation. The change of molecular weight distribution was also measured by GPC and G-value of scission was estimated to be 0.67.

Interpersonal relationship modulates the behavioral and neural responses during moral decision-making.

PubMed

Zhan, Youlong; Xiao, Xiao; Li, Jin; Liu, Lei; Chen, Jie; Fan, Wei; Zhong, Yiping

2018-04-13

Interpersonal relationship (IR) may play an important role in moral decision-making. However, it is little known about how IR influences neural and behavioral responses during moral decision-making. The present study utilized the dilemma scenario-priming paradigm to examine the time course of the different intimate IR (friend, acquaintance, or stranger) impacts on the emotional and cognitive processes during moral decision-making. Results showed that participants made less altruistic decisions with increased decision times and experienced more unpleasure for strangers versus friends and acquaintances. Moreover, at the early moral intuitional process, there was no significance difference observed at N1 under different intimate IR; however, at the emotional process, larger P260 which reflects the dilemma conflicts and negative emotional responses, was elicited when moral decision-making for strangers; at the later cognitive process, such difference was also observed at LPP (300-450 ms) which indexes the later top-down cognitive appraisal and reasoning processes. However, such differences were not observed between friends and acquaintances. Results indicate that IR modulates the emotional and cognitive processes during moral decision-making, suggesting that the closer the IR is, the weaker the dilemma conflicts and emotional responses are, and the more efficient this conflicts are solved. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The light wave flow effect in a plane-parallel layer with a quasi-zero refractive index under the action of bounded light beams

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

Gadomsky, O. N., E-mail: gadomsky@mail.ru; Shchukarev, I. A., E-mail: blacxpress@gmail.com

2016-08-15

It is shown that external optical radiation in the 450–1200 nm range can be efficiently transformed under the action of bounded light beams to a surface wave that propagates along the external and internal boundaries of a plane-parallel layer with a quasi-zero refractive index. Reflection regimes with complex and real angles of refraction in the layer are considered. The layer with a quasi-zero refractive index in this boundary problem is located on a highly reflective metal substrate; it is shown that the uniform low reflection of light is achieved in the wavelength range under study.

Comparison between infrared optical and stereoscopic X-ray technologies for patient setup in image guided stereotactic radiotherapy.

PubMed

Tagaste, Barbara; Riboldi, Marco; Spadea, Maria F; Bellante, Simone; Baroni, Guido; Cambria, Raffaella; Garibaldi, Cristina; Ciocca, Mario; Catalano, Gianpiero; Alterio, Daniela; Orecchia, Roberto

2012-04-01

To compare infrared (IR) optical vs. stereoscopic X-ray technologies for patient setup in image-guided stereotactic radiotherapy. Retrospective data analysis of 233 fractions in 127 patients treated with hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy was performed. Patient setup at the linear accelerator was carried out by means of combined IR optical localization and stereoscopic X-ray image fusion in 6 degrees of freedom (6D). Data were analyzed to evaluate the geometric and dosimetric discrepancy between the two patient setup strategies. Differences between IR optical localization and 6D X-ray image fusion parameters were on average within the expected localization accuracy, as limited by CT image resolution (3 mm). A disagreement between the two systems below 1 mm in all directions was measured in patients treated for cranial tumors. In extracranial sites, larger discrepancies and higher variability were observed as a function of the initial patient alignment. The compensation of IR-detected rotational errors resulted in a significantly improved agreement with 6D X-ray image fusion. On the basis of the bony anatomy registrations, the measured differences were found not to be sensitive to patient breathing. The related dosimetric analysis showed that IR-based patient setup caused limited variations in three cases, with 7% maximum dose reduction in the clinical target volume and no dose increase in organs at risk. In conclusion, patient setup driven by IR external surrogates localization in 6D featured comparable accuracy with respect to procedures based on stereoscopic X-ray imaging. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Silk protein aggregation kinetics revealed by Rheo-IR.

PubMed

Boulet-Audet, Maxime; Terry, Ann E; Vollrath, Fritz; Holland, Chris

2014-02-01

The remarkable mechanical properties of silk fibres stem from a multi-scale hierarchical structure created when an aqueous protein "melt" is converted to an insoluble solid via flow. To directly relate a silk protein's structure and function in response to flow, we present the first application of a Rheo-IR platform, which couples cone and plate rheology with attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy. This technique provides a new window into silk processing by linking shear thinning to an increase in molecular alignment, with shear thickening affecting changes in the silk protein's secondary structure. Additionally, compared to other static characterization methods for silk, Rheo-IR proved particularly useful at revealing the intrinsic difference between natural (native) and reconstituted silk feedstocks. Hence Rheo-IR offers important novel insights into natural silk processing. This has intrinsic academic merit, but it might also be useful when designing reconstituted silk analogues alongside other polymeric systems, whether natural or synthetic. Copyright © 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Validation of ATR FT-IR to identify polymers of plastic marine debris, including those ingested by marine organisms.

PubMed

Jung, Melissa R; Horgen, F David; Orski, Sara V; Rodriguez C, Viviana; Beers, Kathryn L; Balazs, George H; Jones, T Todd; Work, Thierry M; Brignac, Kayla C; Royer, Sarah-Jeanne; Hyrenbach, K David; Jensen, Brenda A; Lynch, Jennifer M

2018-02-01

Polymer identification of plastic marine debris can help identify its sources, degradation, and fate. We optimized and validated a fast, simple, and accessible technique, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR), to identify polymers contained in plastic ingested by sea turtles. Spectra of consumer good items with known resin identification codes #1-6 and several #7 plastics were compared to standard and raw manufactured polymers. High temperature size exclusion chromatography measurements confirmed ATR FT-IR could differentiate these polymers. High-density (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) discrimination is challenging but a clear step-by-step guide is provided that identified 78% of ingested PE samples. The optimal cleaning methods consisted of wiping ingested pieces with water or cutting. Of 828 ingested plastics pieces from 50 Pacific sea turtles, 96% were identified by ATR FT-IR as HDPE, LDPE, unknown PE, polypropylene (PP), PE and PP mixtures, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and nylon. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Adsorption and oxidation of formaldehyde on a polycrystalline Pt film electrode: An in situ IR spectroscopy search for adsorbed reaction intermediates

PubMed Central

Behm, R Jürgen

2014-01-01

Summary As part of a mechanistic study of the electrooxidation of C1 molecules we have systematically investigated the dissociative adsorption/oxidation of formaldehyde on a polycrystalline Pt film electrode under experimental conditions optimizing the chance for detecting weakly adsorbed reaction intermediates. Employing in situ IR spectroscopy in an attenuated total reflection configuration (ATR-FTIRS) with p-polarized IR radiation to further improve the signal-to-noise ratio, and using low reaction temperatures (3 °C) and deuterium substitution to slow down the reaction kinetics and to stabilize weakly adsorbed reaction intermediates, we could detect an IR absorption band at 1660 cm−1 characteristic for adsorbed formyl intermediates. This assignment is supported by an isotope shift in wave number. Effects of temperature, potential and deuterium substitution on the formation and disappearance of different adsorbed species (COad, adsorbed formate, adsorbed formyl), are monitored and quantified. Consequences on the mechanism for dissociative adsorption and oxidation of formaldehyde are discussed. PMID:24991512

Investigation of thermal effects of infrared lasers on the rabbit retina: a study in the course of development of an active subretinal prosthesis.

PubMed

Sailer, Heiko; Shinoda, Kei; Blatsios, Georgios; Kohler, Konrad; Bondzio, Lars; Zrenner, Eberhart; Gekeler, Florian

2007-08-01

Retinal implants are intended to replace photoreceptors in patients suffering from degenerative retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa. Data show that photodiodes in subretinal implants are not powerful enough to stimulate overlying retinal tissue by simply transforming light energy into electrical energy. Therefore, infrared (IR) irradiation has been envisioned to supply additional energy. While epiretinal implants mostly use induction coils for wireless energy transfer, IR irradiation seems to be an additional option. This study investigated the feasibility of an IR energy supply for an active subretinal implant by assessing thermal effects of IR irradiation onto the rabbit retina. Polyimide foil strips carrying an optical sensor as well as a thermal sensor were implanted into the subretinal space of the eyes of nine rabbits using a transchoroidal surgical approach. The area of the thermal sensor was irradiated by an IR laser (830 nm) focused on the device. The sensor provided simultaneous real-time measurements of absolute temperature and irradiation density, allowing direct correlation of the temperature increase to different intensities of IR irradiation. Possible IR-related damage to the retina was examined in histological sections. Temperature changes in living and dead animals were evaluated as a function of IR irradiation power of between 0.1 mW and 40 mW (0.03 mW/mm2-12.7 mW/mm2). We found an exponential relationship between IR irradiation power and temperature increase over the whole range (up to 12.7 mW/mm2) in the living animal. The maximum temperature increase caused by IR irradiation of 40 mW (12.7 mW/mm2) was 4.5 degrees C. The ratio of temperature increase to IR irradiation density postmortem (i.e., without ocular blood flow) was linear over the whole range, with 1.15 degrees C per 1 mW/mm2. Thus, the cooling effect of ocular blood flow varied depending on IR irradiance density. In histological sections, no IR-induced damage to the retina was detected. A temperature increase of 3.2 degrees C in the living rabbit eye is to be expected when powering a subretinal implant with 15 mW (4.8 mW/mm2) IR power, the wattage used in an external power supply for an active implant with 1,500 electrodes. This appears to be a tolerable increase for ocular tissue.

What drives community adherence to indoor residual spraying (IRS) against malaria in Manhiça district, rural Mozambique: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Munguambe, Khátia; Pool, Robert; Montgomery, Catherine; Bavo, Carlos; Nhacolo, Ariel; Fiosse, Lina; Sacoor, Charfudin; Nhalungo, Delino; Mabunda, Samuel; Macete, Eusébio; Alonso, Pedro

2011-11-23

Malaria control remains a challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) reinforced the recommendation of indoor residual spraying (IRS) with dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) to reduce malaria transmission. The National Malaria Control Programme has been reporting high coverage rates of IRS in Mozambique. It is important to establish to what extent these rates are a reflection of community acceptability, and to explore the factors associated with adherence, in order to recommend suitable approaches for interventions of this nature. To understand the implementation process, reception and acceptability of the IRS program in Manhiça district, Southern Mozambique. Qualitative data was collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation of IRS activities, informal interviews, and focus group discussions. Study participants comprised householders, community leaders, health care providers, sprayers, and community members. Qualitative data analysis was based on grounded theory. Secondary data from the Manhiça Demographic Surveillance System was used to complement the qualitative data. IRS was well received in most neighbourhoods. The overall coverage rates varied between 29% and 41% throughout the study period. The factors related to adherence to IRS were: immediate impact on insects in general, trust and obedience in the health authority, community leaders' influence, and acquaintance with the sprayers. Fighting malaria was not an important motivation for IRS adherence. There was a perception of limited efficacy of IRS against mosquitoes, but this did not affect adherence. Non-adherence to the intervention was mainly due to the unavailability of key householders, disagreement with the procedures, and the perception that spraying increased the burden of insects. Most respondents strongly favoured bed nets over IRS. The study suggests that the contribution of IRS to malaria and mosquito control is not entirely perceived by the beneficiaries, and that other as cost effective interventions such as insecticide-treated nets are favoured over IRS. Adherence to IRS was found to be influenced by socio-political factors. There is a need to redefine the community sensitization approaches in order to make IRS a genuinely participative, acceptable, and sustainable programme.

Development of a TLD mailed system for remote dosimetry audit for (192)Ir HDR and PDR sources.

PubMed

Roué, Amélie; Venselaar, Jack L M; Ferreira, Ivaldo H; Bridier, André; Van Dam, Jan

2007-04-01

In the framework of an ESTRO ESQUIRE project, the BRAPHYQS Physics Network and the EQUAL-ESTRO laboratory have developed a procedure for checking the absorbed dose to water in the vicinity of HDR or PDR sources using a mailed TLD system. The methodology and the materials used in the procedure are based on the existing EQUAL-ESTRO external radiotherapy dose checks. A phantom for TLD postal dose assurance service, adapted to accept catheters from different HDR afterloaders, has been developed. The phantom consists of three PMMA tubes supporting catheters placed at 120 degrees around a central TLD holder. A study on the use of LiF powder type DTL 937 (Philitech) has been performed in order to establish the TLD calibration in dose-to-water at a given distance from (192)Ir source, as well as to determine all correction factors to convert the TLD reading into absorbed dose to water. The dosimetric audit is based on the comparison between the dose to water measured with the TL dosimeter and the dose calculated by the clinical TPS. Results of the audits are classified in four different levels depending on the ratio of the measured dose to the stated dose. The total uncertainty budget in the measurement of the absorbed dose to water using TLD near an (192)Ir HDR source, including TLD reading, correction factors and TLD calibration coefficient, is determined as 3.27% (1s). To validate the procedures, the external audit was first tested among the members of the BRAPHYQS Network. Since November 2004, the test has been made available for use by all European brachytherapy centres. To date, 11 centres have participated in the checks and the results obtained are very encouraging. Nevertheless, one error detected has shown the usefulness of this audit. A method of absorbed dose to water determination in the vicinity of an (192)Ir brachytherapy source was developed for the purpose of a mailed TL dosimetry system. The accuracy of the procedure was determined. This method allows a check of the whole dosimetry chain for this type of brachytherapy afterloading system and can easily be performed by mail to any institution in the European area and elsewhere. Such an external audit can be an efficient QC method complementary to internal quality control as it can reveal some errors which are not observable by other means.

Meaning, Internalization, and Externalization: Toward a Fuller Understanding of the Process of Reflection and Its Role in the Construction of the Self

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Le Cornu, Alison

2009-01-01

The study of the process of reflection has a dignified history. However, few have linked reflection to the development of the self in such a way that the form of reflection is understood to influence the resultant type of self. This article explores the process of reflection using a framework of meaning making, internalization, and externalization…

Rapid intra-operative diagnosis of kidney cancer by attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy of tissue smears.

PubMed

Pucetaite, Milda; Velicka, Martynas; Urboniene, Vidita; Ceponkus, Justinas; Bandzeviciute, Rimante; Jankevicius, Feliksas; Zelvys, Arunas; Sablinskas, Valdas; Steiner, Gerald

2018-05-01

Herein, a technique to analyze air-dried kidney tissue impression smears by means of attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy is presented. Spectral tumor markers-absorption bands of glycogen-are identified in the ATR-IR spectra of the kidney tissue smear samples. Thin kidney tissue cryo-sections currently used for IR spectroscopic analysis lack such spectral markers as the sample preparation causes irreversible molecular changes in the tissue. In particular, freeze-thaw cycle results in degradation of the glycogen and reduction or complete dissolution of its content. Supervised spectral classification was applied to the recorded spectra of the smears and the test spectra were classified with a high accuracy of 92% for normal tissue and 94% for tumor tissue, respectively. For further development, we propose that combination of the method with optical fiber ATR probes could potentially be used for rapid real-time intra-operative tissue analysis without interfering with either the established protocols of pathological examination or the ordinary workflow of operating surgeon. Such approach could ensure easier transition of the method to clinical applications where it may complement the results of gold standard histopathology examination and aid in more precise resection of kidney tumors. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR FT-IR) Spectroscopy as a Forensic Method to Determine the Composition of Inks Used to Print the United States One-cent Blue Benjamin Franklin Postage Stamps of the 19th Century.

PubMed

Brittain, Harry G

2016-01-01

Through the combined use of infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance (ATR) sampling, the composition of inks used to print the many different types of one-cent Benjamin Franklin stamps of the 19th century has been established. This information permits a historical evaluation of the formulations used at various times, and also facilitates the differentiation of the various stamps from each other. In two instances, the ink composition permits the unambiguous identification of stamps whose appearance is identical, and which (until now) have only been differentiated through estimates of the degree of hardness or softness of the stamp paper, or through the presence or absence of a watermark in the paper. In these instances, the use of ATR Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectroscopy effectively renders irrelevant two 100-year-old practices of stamp identification. Furthermore, since the use of ATR sampling makes it possible to obtain the spectrum of a stamp still attached to its cover, it is no longer necessary to identify these blue Franklin stamps using their cancellation dates. © The Author(s) 2015.

Towards ultrasound enhanced mid-IR spectroscopy for sensing bacteria in aqueous solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Freitag, Stephan; Schwaighofer, Andreas; Radel, Stefan; Lendl, Bernhard

2018-02-01

We employ attenuated total reflection (ATR) mid-IR technology for sensing of bacteria present in aqueous solution. In ATR spectroscopy, the penetration depth of the evanescent field extends to approx. 1-2 micrometers into the aqueous solution depending on the refractive index of the employed materials (Si, ZnS, Ge) used as attenuated total reflection (ATR) element and the geometry of the optical set-up. Due to the flow profile in the microfluidic cell, an additional force is required to bring particles into the evanescent field for measurement. For that purpose, we employ standing ultrasound waves produced between a sound source vibrating at approx. 2 MHz and the ATR crystal acting as a reflector. This ultrasonic trap is integrated into the microfluidic channel. As aqueous solution is passing through that acoustofluidic cell, particles are concentrated in the nodal plane of the standing ultrasound wave, forming particle conglomerates. By selecting appropriate experimental conditions, it is then possible to press bacteria against the crystal surface for interaction with the evanescent wave (as well as to keep them away from the ATR element). Our current work aims at establishing a custommade US-ATR-IR setup for signal enhancement of bacteria (e.g. E. coli, P. aeruginosa as well as Salmonella) in drinking water.

Statistics of natural reverberation enable perceptual separation of sound and space

PubMed Central

Traer, James; McDermott, Josh H.

2016-01-01

In everyday listening, sound reaches our ears directly from a source as well as indirectly via reflections known as reverberation. Reverberation profoundly distorts the sound from a source, yet humans can both identify sound sources and distinguish environments from the resulting sound, via mechanisms that remain unclear. The core computational challenge is that the acoustic signatures of the source and environment are combined in a single signal received by the ear. Here we ask whether our recognition of sound sources and spaces reflects an ability to separate their effects and whether any such separation is enabled by statistical regularities of real-world reverberation. To first determine whether such statistical regularities exist, we measured impulse responses (IRs) of 271 spaces sampled from the distribution encountered by humans during daily life. The sampled spaces were diverse, but their IRs were tightly constrained, exhibiting exponential decay at frequency-dependent rates: Mid frequencies reverberated longest whereas higher and lower frequencies decayed more rapidly, presumably due to absorptive properties of materials and air. To test whether humans leverage these regularities, we manipulated IR decay characteristics in simulated reverberant audio. Listeners could discriminate sound sources and environments from these signals, but their abilities degraded when reverberation characteristics deviated from those of real-world environments. Subjectively, atypical IRs were mistaken for sound sources. The results suggest the brain separates sound into contributions from the source and the environment, constrained by a prior on natural reverberation. This separation process may contribute to robust recognition while providing information about spaces around us. PMID:27834730

Statistics of natural reverberation enable perceptual separation of sound and space.

PubMed

Traer, James; McDermott, Josh H

2016-11-29

In everyday listening, sound reaches our ears directly from a source as well as indirectly via reflections known as reverberation. Reverberation profoundly distorts the sound from a source, yet humans can both identify sound sources and distinguish environments from the resulting sound, via mechanisms that remain unclear. The core computational challenge is that the acoustic signatures of the source and environment are combined in a single signal received by the ear. Here we ask whether our recognition of sound sources and spaces reflects an ability to separate their effects and whether any such separation is enabled by statistical regularities of real-world reverberation. To first determine whether such statistical regularities exist, we measured impulse responses (IRs) of 271 spaces sampled from the distribution encountered by humans during daily life. The sampled spaces were diverse, but their IRs were tightly constrained, exhibiting exponential decay at frequency-dependent rates: Mid frequencies reverberated longest whereas higher and lower frequencies decayed more rapidly, presumably due to absorptive properties of materials and air. To test whether humans leverage these regularities, we manipulated IR decay characteristics in simulated reverberant audio. Listeners could discriminate sound sources and environments from these signals, but their abilities degraded when reverberation characteristics deviated from those of real-world environments. Subjectively, atypical IRs were mistaken for sound sources. The results suggest the brain separates sound into contributions from the source and the environment, constrained by a prior on natural reverberation. This separation process may contribute to robust recognition while providing information about spaces around us.

Current studies and improvements on a single frequency blue source generated by second harmonic from IR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khademian, Ali; Jampani, Sai Lakshman; Truscott, Matthew; Jayaraj, Anooja; Shiner, David

2017-04-01

We have reported 81.5% efficiency in generating 500 mW of blue at 486 nm by second harmonic generation (SHG) from the IR, using a periodically poled Lithium Tantalate (PPSLT) crystal. Initially a total cavity loss of 0.65% was observed. We developed techniques for careful measurement of individual losses such as scattering and absorption in the crystal and mirrors, polarization misalignment caused by the crystal and back reflection from the periodically poled boundaries of crystal. We have replaced the crystal with a tilted periodically poled crystal. This eliminated the reflection loss, but scattering in the crystal, we speculate from the MgO doping, is still causing enough feedback to destabilize the IR source. We are also replacing cavity mirrors with ultra-low loss sputtered mirrors to minimize their contribution to loss. Crystal lifetime at different blue power levels is being investigated. In our setup a mixed signal processer (MSP) is used for cavity locking and temperature stabilizing. Once MSP is programed by a computer interface, it can be installed inside the cavity housing, making the laser source standalone and self-sufficient. We have been able to stabilize and lock the laser cavity length, the temperature of the IR laser source, the temperature of fiber Bragg grating (FBG), and the temperature of the nonlinear crystal using the MSP, matching the performance of high end commercial temperature controllers and lock-in amplifiers. Our recent progress and improvements will be presented. This work is supported by NSF award 1404498.

Identification of Uranium Minerals in Natural U-Bearing Rocks Using Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

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

Beiswenger, Toya N.; Gallagher, Neal B.; Myers, Tanya L.

The identification of minerals, including uranium-bearing minerals, is traditionally a labor-intensive-process using x-ray diffraction (XRD), fluorescence, or other solid-phase and wet chemical techniques. While handheld XRD and fluorescence instruments can aid in field identification, handheld infrared reflectance spectrometers can also be used in industrial or field environments, with rapid, non-destructive identification possible via spectral analysis of the solid’s reflectance spectrum. We have recently developed standard laboratory measurement methods for the infrared (IR) reflectance of solids and have investigated using these techniques for the identification of uranium-bearing minerals, using XRD methods for ground-truth. Due to the rich colors of such species,more » including distinctive spectroscopic signatures in the infrared, identification is facile and specific, both for samples that are pure or are partially composed of uranium (e.g. boltwoodite, schoepite, tyuyamunite, carnotite, etc.) or non-uranium minerals. The method can be used to detect not only pure and partial minerals, but is quite sensitive to chemical change such as hydration (e.g. schoepite). We have further applied statistical methods, in particular classical least squares (CLS) and multivariate curve resolution (MCR) for discrimination of such uranium minerals and two uranium pure chemicals (U3O8 and UO2) against common background materials (e.g. silica sand, asphalt, calcite, K-feldspar) with good success. Each mineral contains unique infrared spectral features; some of the IR features are similar or common to entire classes of minerals, typically arising from similar chemical moieties or functional groups in the minerals: phosphates, sulfates, carbonates, etc. These characteristic 2 infrared bands generate the unique (or class-specific) bands that distinguish the mineral from the interferents or backgrounds. We have observed several cases where the chemical moieties that provide the spectral discrimination in the longwave IR do so by generating upward-going reststrahlen bands in the reflectance data, but the same minerals have other weaker (overtone) bands, sometimes from the same chemical groups, that are manifest as downward-going transmission-type features in the midwave and shortwave infrared.« less

Acquisition of Infrared Variable Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometer (IR-VASE)

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-04-22

External Advisory Board Meeting in Rio Piedras, PR. March 2016 Quiñonez B.*, Castilla D., Almodóvar J.; “ Polysaccharide -based polyelectrolyte...April 2016 Quiñonez B.*, Castilla D., Almodóvar J.; “ Polysaccharide -based polyelectrolyte multilayers: Physicochemical characterization and in...2016 Quiñonez B.*, Castilla D., Almodóvar J.; “ Polysaccharide -based polyelectrolyte multilayers: Physicochemical characterization and in vitro

External Validity of a Risk Stratification Score Predicting Early Distant Brain Failure and Salvage Whole Brain Radiation Therapy After Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Brain Metastases.

PubMed

Press, Robert H; Boselli, Danielle M; Symanowski, James T; Lankford, Scott P; McCammon, Robert J; Moeller, Benjamin J; Heinzerling, John H; Fasola, Carolina E; Burri, Stuart H; Patel, Kirtesh R; Asher, Anthony L; Sumrall, Ashley L; Curran, Walter J; Shu, Hui-Kuo G; Crocker, Ian R; Prabhu, Roshan S

2017-07-01

A scoring system using pretreatment factors was recently published for predicting the risk of early (≤6 months) distant brain failure (DBF) and salvage whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone. Four risk factors were identified: (1) lack of prior WBRT; (2) melanoma or breast histologic features; (3) multiple brain metastases; and (4) total volume of brain metastases <1.3 cm 3 , with each factor assigned 1 point. The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of this scoring system and its appropriateness for clinical use in an independent external patient population. We reviewed the records of 247 patients with 388 brain metastases treated with SRS between 2010 at 2013 at Levine Cancer Institute. The Press (Emory) risk score was calculated and applied to the validation cohort population, and subsequent risk groups were analyzed using cumulative incidence. The low-risk (LR) group had a significantly lower risk of early DBF than did the high-risk (HR) group (22.6% vs 44%, P=.004), but there was no difference between the HR and intermediate-risk (IR) groups (41.2% vs 44%, P=.79). Total lesion volume <1.3 cm 3  (P=.004), malignant melanoma (P=.007), and multiple metastases (P<.001) were validated as predictors for early DBF. Prior WBRT and breast cancer histologic features did not retain prognostic significance. Risk stratification for risk of early salvage WBRT were similar, with a trend toward an increased risk for HR compared with LR (P=.09) but no difference between IR and HR (P=.53). The 3-level Emory risk score was shown to not be externally valid, but the model was able to stratify between 2 levels (LR and not-LR [combined IR and HR]) for early (≤6 months) DBF. These results reinforce the importance of validating predictive models in independent cohorts. Further refinement of this scoring system with molecular information and in additional contemporary patient populations is warranted. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An external-cavity quantum cascade laser operating near 5.2 µm combined with cavity ring-down spectroscopy for multi-component chemical sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dutta Banik, Gourab; Maity, Abhijit; Som, Suman; Pal, Mithun; Pradhan, Manik

2018-04-01

We report on the performance of a widely tunable continuous wave mode-hop-free external-cavity quantum cascade laser operating at λ ~ 5.2 µm combined with cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) technique for high-resolution molecular spectroscopy. The CRDS system has been utilized for simultaneous and molecule-specific detection of several environmentally and bio-medically important trace molecular species such as nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, carbonyl sulphide and acetylene (C2H2) at ultra-low concentrations by probing numerous rotationally resolved ro-vibrational transitions in the mid-IR spectral region within a relatively small spectral range of ~0.035 cm-1. This continuous wave external-cavity quantum cascade laser-based multi-component CRDS sensor with high sensitivity and molecular specificity promises applications in environmental sensing as well as non-invasive medical diagnosis through human breath analysis.

Profiles of Global Gene Expression in Ionizing-Radiation–Damaged Human Diploid Fibroblasts Reveal Synchronization behind the G1 Checkpoint in a G0-like State of Quiescence

PubMed Central

Zhou, Tong; Chou, Jeff W.; Simpson, Dennis A.; Zhou, Yingchun; Mullen, Thomas E.; Medeiros, Margarida; Bushel, Pierre R.; Paules, Richard S.; Yang, Xuebin; Hurban, Patrick; Lobenhofer, Edward K.; Kaufmann, William K.

2006-01-01

Cell cycle arrest and stereotypic transcriptional responses to DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation (IR) were quantified in telomerase-expressing human diploid fibroblasts. Analysis of cytotoxicity demonstrated that 1.5 Gy IR inactivated colony formation by 40–45% in three fibroblast lines; this dose was used in all subsequent analyses. Fibroblasts exhibited > 90% arrest of progression from G2 to M at 2 hr post-IR and a similarly severe arrest of progression from G1 to S at 6 and 12 hr post-IR. Normal rates of DNA synthesis and mitosis 6 and 12 hr post-IR caused the S and M compartments to empty by > 70% at 24 hr. Global gene expression was analyzed in IR-treated cells. A microarray analysis algorithm, EPIG, identified nine IR-responsive patterns of gene expression that were common to the three fibroblast lines, including a dominant p53-dependent G1 checkpoint response. Many p53 target genes, such as CDKN1A, GADD45, BTG2, and PLK3, were significantly up-regulated at 2 hr post-IR. Many genes whose expression is regulated by E2F family transcription factors, including CDK2, CCNE1, CDC6, CDC2, MCM2, were significantly down-regulated at 24 hr post-IR. Numerous genes that participate in DNA metabolism were also markedly repressed in arrested fibroblasts apparently as a result of cell synchronization behind the G1 checkpoint. However, cluster and principal component analyses of gene expression revealed a profile 24 hr post-IR with similarity to that of G0 growth quiescence. The results reveal a highly stereotypic pattern of response to IR in human diploid fibroblasts that reflects primarily synchronization behind the G1 checkpoint but with prominent induction of additional markers of G0 quiescence such as GAS1. PMID:16581545

Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D associated with indicators of body fat and insulin resistance in prepubertal chilean children.

PubMed

Cediel, G; Corvalán, C; Aguirre, C; de Romaña, D L; Uauy, R

2016-01-01

Consistent data on the relation between vitamin D, body fat and insulin resistance (IR) in children are lacking. (1) To evaluate the association between serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and key indicators of: adiposity (total and central), IR, and (2) to estimate serum 25(OH)D cut-offs that best reflect IR and total and central adiposity in children. Prepubertal children (n=435, ~53% girls; ~age 7 years) from the Growth and Obesity Chilean Cohort Study were evaluated for potential associations between serum 25(OH)D and indicators of: (1) total adiposity (body mass index by age (BAZ), body fat (including three-component model)), central adiposity (waist circumference and trunk fatness); (2) IR (homeostasis model assessment of IR) and insulin sensitive (quantitative insulin sensitivity check index) using standardized multiple regression models with standardized coefficients and receiver operating characteristic curves. Overall, mean serum 25(OH)D was 32.1±9.2 ng ml(-1), while 19.4% of children were obese (BAZ⩾2 s.d.). Serum 25(OH)D was inversely associated with indicators of total and central adiposity and with IR indicators. Effect sizes were moderate in girls (~0.3 for adiposity and IR indicators), while, weaker values were found in boys. Serum 25(OH)D estimated cut-offs that best predicted total, central adiposity and IR were~30 ng ml(-1). Children with suboptimal serum 25(OH)D (<30 ng ml(-1)) had a higher risk (two to three times) of being obese (high BAZ, body fat percent and/or central adiposity); and three to four times greater risk for IR. Serum 25(OH)D was inversely associated with adiposity (total and central) and IR indicators in prepubertal Chilean children. The conventional cut-off of vitamin D sufficiency (⩾30 ng ml(-1)) was adequate to assess obesity and IR risk in this age group.

Risk Factors for Shoulder and Elbow Injuries in High School Baseball Pitchers: The Role of Preseason Strength and Range of Motion.

PubMed

Tyler, Timothy F; Mullaney, Michael J; Mirabella, Michael R; Nicholas, Stephen J; McHugh, Malachy P

2014-08-01

Shoulder strength and motion deficits in high school baseball pitchers have been implicated in injury risk. To prospectively determine if preseason strength and range of motion (ROM) are predictive of injury in high school baseball pitchers. It was hypothesized that ROM asymmetries and weakness would be predictive of injury. Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Preseason strength and ROM measurements were made on 101 pitchers from 4 different high schools over 4 seasons (total 166 pitcher-seasons: 25 freshman, 46 junior varsity, and 95 varsity player-seasons). Glenohumeral internal rotation (IR), glenohumeral external rotation, and posterior shoulder ROM were measured bilaterally. Strength in IR, external rotation, supraspinatus (empty-can test), and scapular retraction was measured bilaterally (handheld dynamometer). Injury incidence (injuries per 1000 pitches) was computed for players categorized as above normal (≥1 SD above the mean), normal (within 1 standard deviation of the mean), and below normal (≤1 SD below the mean) for each potential risk factor. Injury was defined as a missed game or practice because of shoulder or elbow problem. There were 28 upper extremity injuries (19 shoulder, 9 elbow; incidence, 0.58 injuries/1000 pitches). There was a trend for supraspinatus weakness to be associated with increased injury risk (relative risk [RR], 3.60; 95% CI, 0.75-17.32; P = .09). When analyzing major injuries only (>3 missed games), preseason supraspinatus weakness was significantly associated with increased injury risk (RR, 4.58; 95% CI, 1.40-15.01; P = .02). Paradoxically, pitchers with no IR loss were at increased risk compared with pitchers with ≥20° loss (RR, 4.85; 95% CI, 1.01-23.29; P = .04). Other ROM and strength measures were unrelated to injury risk. Although excessive loss of IR ROM is thought to be a risk factor for injury, the opposite was the case in this study. The absence of IR ROM loss in high school pitchers may indicate inadequate prior exposure to pitching, resulting in increased injury risk. Preseason supraspinatus weakness was associated with increased risk for a major injury, and preventative supraspinatus strengthening may be beneficial. © 2014 The Author(s).

A pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic comparison of immediate-release metoprolol and extended-release metoprolol CR/XL in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction: a randomized, open-label study.

PubMed

Karlson, Björn W; Dellborg, Mikael; Gullestad, Lars; Aberg, Jan; Sugg, Jennifer; Herlitz, Johan

2014-01-01

Previous metoprolol studies in myocardial infarction patients were performed with immediate-release (IR) metoprolol. This study aims to evaluate if extended-release metoprolol CR/XL once daily gives a similar β-blockade over 24 h compared to multiple dosing of metoprolol IR. After 2 days of routine metoprolol treatment, 27 patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction were randomized to open-label treatment with metoprolol IR (50 mg four times daily or 100 mg twice daily) or metoprolol CR/XL 200 mg once daily for 3 days. Metoprolol CR/XL 200 mg once daily gave more pronounced suppression of peak heart rate, with lower peak and less variation in peak to trough plasma levels. There were no differences in AUC between the CR/XL and IR formulations, although the trough plasma metoprolol levels were comparable for metoprolol CR/XL 200 mg once daily and metoprolol IR 50 mg four times daily, but lower for metoprolol IR 100 mg twice daily. Both treatments were well tolerated. Metoprolol CR/XL 200 mg once daily showed lower peak and less variation in peak to trough plasma levels compared to multiple dosing of metoprolol IR with the same AUC. This was accompanied by a more uniform β-blockade over time, which was reflected by heart rate, and a more pronounced suppression of peak heart rate with similar tolerability. This suggests metoprolol CR/XL may be used as an alternative to metoprolol IR in patients with myocardial infarction. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Platinum-group elements fractionation by selective complexing, the Os, Ir, Ru, Rh-arsenide-sulfide systems above 1020 °C

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Helmy, Hassan M.; Bragagni, Alessandro

2017-11-01

The platinum-group element (PGE) contents in magmatic ores and rocks are normally in the low μg/g (even in the ng/g) level, yet they form discrete platinum-group mineral (PGM) phases. IPGE (Os, Ir, Ru) + Rh form alloys, sulfides, and sulfarsenides while Pt and Pd form arsenides, tellurides, bismuthoids and antimonides. We experimentally investigate the behavior of Os, Ru, Ir and Rh in As-bearing sulfide system between 1300 and 1020 °C and show that the prominent mineralogical difference between IPGE (+Rh) and Pt and Pd reflects different chemical preference in the sulfide melt. At temperatures above 1200 °C, Os shows a tendency to form alloys. Ruthenium forms a sulfide (laurite RuS2) while Ir and Rh form sulfarsenides (irarsite IrAsS and hollingworthite RhAsS, respectively). The chemical preference of PGE is selective: IPGE + Rh form metal-metal, metal-S and metal-AsS complexes while Pt and Pd form semimetal complexes. Selective complexing followed by mechanical separation of IPGE (and Rh)-ligand from Pt- and Pd-ligand associations lead to PGE fractionation.

IR Variability of Eta Carinae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Nathan

2007-02-01

Every 5.5 years, η Carinae experiences a dramatic ``spectroscopic event'' when high-excitation lines in its UV, optical, and IR spectrum disappear, and its hard X-ray and radio continuum flux crash. This periodicity has been attributed to an eccentric binary system with a shell ejection occurring at periastron. In addition, η Car shows long term changes as it is still recovering from its giant 19th century outburst. Both types of variability are directly linked to the current mass-loss rate and dust formation in its wind. Mid-IR images and spectra with T-ReCS provide a direct measure of changes in the current bolometric luminosity and trace dust formation episodes. This will provide a direct measurement of the mass ejected. Near-IR emission lines trace related changes in the post-event wind and ionization changes in the circumstellar environment needed to test specific models for the cause of η Car's variability as it recovers from its recent ``event''. High resolution near-IR spectra with GNIRS will continue the important work of HST/STIS, investigating changes in the direct and reflected spectrum of the stellar wind, and ionization changes in the nebula.

Efficient Optical Logic, Interconnections and Processing Using Quantum Confined Structures

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-05-01

No bis I With bias Ra ( b ’ OotI o lNo bias Use Il) felectro-refraicc n to phase-s’:t A- X I 3 Wavelength 3 Figure II-1. Efficient modulation in a...operation. The top (bottom) mirror of an AFP structure has an amplitude reflection coefficient of rt( b ) and power reflectivity of RT( B )=Ir0)12, viewed...and ( b ) for the case of a=O and a=ln(rb/rt), respectively. Adding (1) and (2), we obtain the total amplitude reflection rto as: -13- I Ii/V aoabl

A study of muscular tissue of animal origin by reflection-spectroscopy methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plotnikova, L. V.; Nechiporenko, A. P.; Orekhova, S. M.; Plotnikov, P. P.; Ishevskii, A. L.

2017-06-01

A comparative analysis of the spectral characteristics of the surface of muscular tissue of animal origin (pork) and its main components has been performed by the methods of diffuse reflection electronic spectroscopy (DRES) and frustrated total internal reflection IR spectroscopy. The experiments have shown that the application of the DRES method makes it possible to detect more pronounced changes in the surface optical characteristics of muscular tissue and obtain electronic spectra containing information about the component composition of its main parts under successive extraction of sarcoplasmic materials, myofibrillar proteins of the actomyosin complex, and stroma mucopolysaccharides.

Increases in external cause mortality due to high and low temperatures: evidence from northeastern Europe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orru, Hans; Åström, Daniel Oudin

2017-05-01

The relationship between temperature and mortality is well established but has seldom been investigated in terms of external causes. In some Eastern European countries, external cause mortality is substantial. Deaths owing to external causes are the third largest cause of mortality in Estonia, after cardiovascular disease and cancer. Death rates owing to external causes may reflect behavioural changes among a population. The aim for the current study was to investigate if there is any association between temperature and external cause mortality, in Estonia. We collected daily information on deaths from external causes (ICD-10 diagnosis codes V00-Y99) and maximum temperatures over the period 1997-2013. The relationship between daily maximum temperature and mortality was investigated using Poisson regression, combined with a distributed lag non-linear model considering lag times of up to 10 days. We found significantly higher mortality owing to external causes on hot (the same and previous day) and cold days (with a lag of 1-3 days). The cumulative relative risks for heat (an increase in temperature from the 75th to 99th percentile) were 1.24 (95% confidence interval, 1.14-1.34) and for cold (a decrease from the 25th to 1st percentile) 1.19 (1.03-1.38). Deaths due to external causes might reflect changes in behaviour among a population during periods of extreme hot and cold temperatures and should therefore be investigated further, because such deaths have a severe impact on public health, especially in Eastern Europe where external mortality rates are high.

Reflectivity (visible and near IR), Moessbauer, static magnetic, and X ray diffraction properties of aluminum-substituted hematites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Morris, Richard V.; Schulze, Darrell G.; Lauer, Howard V., Jr.; Agresti, David G.; Shelfer, Tad D.

1992-01-01

The effect of substituting iron by aluminum in polymorphs of Fe2O3 and FeOOH on their reflectivity characteristics was investigated by comparing data on visible and NIR reflectivities and on static magnetic, XRD, and Moessbauer properties for a family of aluminum-substituted hematites alpha-(Fe,Al)2O3, with compositions where the values of the Al/(Al+Fe) ratio were up to 0.61. Samples were prepared by oxidation of magnetite, dehydroxylation of goethite, and direct precipitation. The analytical methods used for obtaining diffuse reflectivity spectra (350-2200 nm), Moessbauer spectra, and static magnetic data are those described by Morris et al. (1989).

Evaluation of a Shoulder Injury Prevention Program in Wheelchair Basketball.

PubMed

Wilroy, Jereme; Hibberd, Elizabeth

2017-11-15

Previous literature has theorized that alterations in shoulder physical characteristics are present in wheelchair athletes and contribute to shoulder pain and injury. Limited empirical evidence is present that evaluates the effectiveness of a shoulder injury prevention program focusing on improving these altered characteristics. To evaluate the effectiveness of a 6-week intervention program at improving characteristics that increases the risk of developing pain or shoulder injury. Pre and post-test. Home-based and controlled laboratory. Seven collegiate wheelchair athletes. Shoulder range of motion (ROM) and scapular muscle strength were assessed, and a 5-minute injury prevention program was taught to participants. Participants completed the intervention 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Following completion of the program, a post-intervention screening was performed. Internal/external rotation ROM, retraction strength, and internal/external rotation strength. Participants experienced a significant improvement in dominant limb shoulder internal rotation ROM (t6=3.56,p=0.012) with an average increase of 11.4° of IR ROM, and a significant improvement in dominant limb shoulder external rotation (ER) ROM (t6=2.79,p=0.032) with an average increase of 8.0° of ER ROM. There were no significant increases in shoulder IR or ER strength and scapular retraction strength (p>0.05). Improvements in ROM have previously been linked to decreases in shoulder pain and injury in other upper-extremity dominant sports by improving scapular kinematics. These results provide evidence that a 6-week strengthening and stretching intervention program may decrease risk factors for shoulder injury in wheelchair athletics.

An easy method to differentiate retinal arteries from veins by spectral domain optical coherence tomography: retrospective, observational case series

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Recently it was shown that retinal vessel diameters could be measured using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). It has also been suggested that retinal vessels manifest different features on spectral domain OCT (SD-OCT) depending on whether they are arteries or veins. Our study was aimed to present a reliable SD-OCT assisted method of differentiating retinal arteries from veins. Methods Patients who underwent circular OCT scans centred at the optic disc using a Spectralis OCT (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) were retrospectively reviewed. Individual retinal vessels were identified on infrared reflectance (IR) images and given unique labels for subsequent grading. Vessel types (artery, vein or uncertain) assessed by IR and/or fluorescein angiography (FA) were referenced as ground truth. From OCT, presence/absence of the hyperreflective lower border reflectivity feature was assessed. Presence of this feature was considered indicative for retinal arteries and compared with the ground truth. Results A total of 452 vessels from 26 eyes of 18 patients were labelled and 398 with documented vessel type (302 by IR and 96 by FA only) were included in the study. Using SD-OCT, 338 vessels were assigned a final grade, of which, 86.4% (292 vessels) were classified correctly. Forty three vessels (15 arteries and 28 veins) that IR failed to differentiate were correctly classified by SD-OCT. When using only IR based ground truth for vessel type the SD-OCT based classification approach reached a sensitivity of 0.8758/0.9297, and a specificity of 0.9297/0.8758 for arteries/veins, respectively. Conclusion Our method was able to classify retinal arteries and veins with a commercially available SD-OCT alone, and achieved high classification performance. Paired with OCT based vessel measurements, our study has expanded the potential clinical implication of SD-OCT in evaluation of a variety of retinal and systemic vascular diseases. PMID:24884611

A systematic review of population based epidemiological studies in Myasthenia Gravis

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background The aim was to collate all myasthenia gravis (MG) epidemiological studies including AChR MG and MuSK MG specific studies. To synthesize data on incidence rate (IR), prevalence rate (PR) and mortality rate (MR) of the condition and investigate the influence of environmental and technical factors on any trends or variation observed. Methods Studies were identified using multiple sources and meta-analysis performed to calculate pooled estimates for IR, PR and MR. Results 55 studies performed between 1950 and 2007 were included, representing 1.7 billion population-years. For All MG estimated pooled IR (eIR): 5.3 per million person-years (C.I.:4.4, 6.1), range: 1.7 to 21.3; estimated pooled PR: 77.7 per million persons (C.I.:64.0, 94.3), range 15 to 179; MR range 0.1 to 0.9 per millions person-years. AChR MG eIR: 7.3 (C.I.:5.5, 7.8), range: 4.3 to 18.0; MuSK MG IR range: 0.1 to 0.32. However marked variation persisted between populations studied with similar methodology and in similar areas. Conclusions We report marked variation in observed frequencies of MG. We show evidence of increasing frequency of MG with year of study and improved study quality. This probably reflects improved case ascertainment. But other factors must also influence disease onset resulting in the observed variation in IR across geographically and genetically similar populations. PMID:20565885

Cercal sensory system and giant interneurons in Gryllodes sigillatus.

PubMed

Kanou, Masamichi; Nawae, Miyuki; Kuroishi, Hiroyuki

2006-04-01

The external morphologies of two cricket species, Gryllodes sigillatus and Gryllus bimaculatus, were investigated. Despite its small body length, G. sigillatus possessed longer cerci and longer cercal filiform hairs than G. bimaculatus. The estimated number of filiform hairs on a cercus was also larger in G. sigillatus than in G. bimaculatus. Wind-sensitive interneurons receiving sensory inputs from cercal filiform hairs and running in the ventral nerve cord (VNC) were investigated in G. sigillatus both morphologically and physiologically. By intracellular staining, these interneurons were proved to be morphologically homologous with previously identified giant interneurons (GIs 8-1, 9-1, 9-2, 9-3, 10-2, and 10-3) in G. bimaculatus and Acheta domesticus. In G. sigillatus, the intensity-response relationship (I-R curve) for each GI was investigated using a unidirectional air current stimulus. The stimulus was applied from 12 different directions, and an I-R curve was obtained for each stimulus direction. Each GI showed a characteristic I-R curve depending on stimulus direction. The directionality curve expressed in terms of threshold velocity showed that each GI had a distinctive directional characteristic. The functional properties of GIs in G. sigillatus, such as I-R curve, threshold velocity, and directional characteristics, were compared with those of homologous GIs in G. bimaculatus in Discussion.

Shoulder functional ratio in elite junior tennis players.

PubMed

Saccol, Michele Forgiarini; Gracitelli, Guilherme Conforto; da Silva, Rogério Teixeira; Laurino, Cristiano Frota de Souza; Fleury, Anna Maria; Andrade, Marília dos Santos; da Silva, Antonio Carlos

2010-02-01

To evaluate shoulder rotation strength and compare the functional ratio between shoulders of elite junior tennis players. This cross-sectional study evaluated muscular rotation performance of 40 junior tennis players (26 male and 14 female) with an isokinetic dynamometer. Strength variables of external (ER) and internal rotators (IR) in concentric and eccentric modes were considered. For the peak torque functional ratio, the eccentric strength of the ER and the concentric strength of the IR were calculated. All variables related to IR were significantly higher on the dominant compared to the non-dominant side in males and females (p<0.05), but only boys exhibited this dominance effect in ER (p<0.05 and p<0.001). Regarding functional ratios, they were significantly lower for the dominant shoulder (p<0.001) and below 1.00 for both groups, indicating that the eccentric strength of the ER was not greater than the concentric strength of the IR. Elite junior tennis players without shoulder injury have shoulder rotation muscle strength imbalances that alter the normal functional ratio between rotator cuff muscles. Although these differences do not seem to affect the athletic performance, detection and prevention with exercise programs at an early age are recommended. Crown Copyright 2009. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The isokinetic rotator cuff strength ratios in overhead athletes: Assessment and exercise effect.

PubMed

Berckmans, Kelly; Maenhout, Annelies G; Matthijs, Lien; Pieters, Louise; Castelein, Birgit; Cools, Ann M

2017-09-01

Muscle strength imbalance in the shoulder region can be considered as a predisposing factor in the development of movement dysfunctions, possibly leading to overuse injuries. Repetitive overhead throwing, performed in sports, may result in muscle imbalance between the external (ER) and internal (IR) rotators. Muscle strength measured with an isokinetic device, is reported as a concentric (CON) or eccentric (ECC) force. The balance between an agonist and an antagonist is mentioned as a ratio (CON/CON or ECC/CON). The aim of this systematic literature review is to provide an overview of the existing evidence considering the isokinetic muscle strength ratios of ER and IR of the shoulder in healthy overhead athletes. In addition, the effect of exercise programs on these ratios was investigated. Two online databases (Web of Science and PubMed) were consulted using different search strategies. Articles were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. All included articles were assessed on their methodological quality. There is moderate evidence for a lower functional deceleration ratio (ECC ER/CON IR) at the dominant side. This lower ratio is due to a large overweight of CON IR strength on that side. There is no consensus about which exercise program is the most effective in altering the shoulder isokinetic strength ratios. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The origin of the diffuse galactic IR/submm emission: Revisited after IRAS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cox, P.; Mezger, P. G.

1987-01-01

Balloon observations are compared with Infrared Astronomy Satellite observations. There was good agreement for the longitudinal profiles. However, the dust emission observed by IRAS, contrary to the balloon observations which show dust emission only within the absolute value of b is equal to or less than 3 degrees, extends all the way to the galactic pole. The model fits were repeated using more recent parameters for the distribution of interstellar matter in the galactic disk and central region. The IR luminosities are derived for the revised galactic distance scale of solar radius - 8.5 Kpc. A total IR luminosity of 1.2 E10 solar luminosity is obtained, which is about one third of the estimated stellar luminosity of the Galaxy. The dust emission spectrum lambdaI(sub lambda) attains it maximum at 100 microns. A secondary maximum in the dust emission spectrum occurs at 10 microns, which contains 15% of the total IR luminosity of the Galaxy. The galactic dust emission spectrum was compared with the dust emission spectra of external IRAS galaxies. The warm dust luminosity relates to the present OB star formation rate, while flux densities observed at longer submm wavelengths are dominated by cold dust emission and thus can be used to estimate gas masses.

Chemical Vapor Identification Using Field-Based Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Detection and Solid Phase Microextraction

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-01-01

Index IMS Ion Mobility Spectrometry IR Infrared IRE Internal Reflection Element KBr Potassium Bromide LOD Limit of Detection MS Mass Spectrometer NB...Kaiser Bryant, Master of Science in Public Health, 2005 Directed By: Peter T. LaPuma, LtCol, USAF, BSC Assistant Professor, Department of Prey Med and...hereby certifies that the use of any copyrighted material in the thesis manuscript entitled: Chemical Agent Identification Using Field-Based Attenuated

NPP VIIRS and Aqua MODIS RSB Comparison Using Observations from Simultaneous Nadir Overpasses (SNO)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Xiong, X.; Wu, A.

2012-01-01

Suomi NPP (National Polar-orbiting Partnership) satellite (http://npp.gsfc.nasa.gov/viirs.html) began to daily collect global data following its successful launch on October 28, 2011. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) is a key NPP sensor. Similar to the design of the OLS, SeaWiFS and MODIS instruments, VIIRS has on-board calibration components including a solar diffuser (SD) and a solar diffuser stability monitor (SDSM) for the reflective solar bands (RSB), a V-groove blackbody for the thermal emissive bands (TEB), and a space view (SV) port for background subtraction. Immediately after the VIIRS nadir door s opening on November 21, 2011, anomalously large degradation in the SD response was identified in the near-IR wavelength region, which was unexpected as decreases in the SD reflectance usually occur gradually in the blue (0.4 m) wavelength region based on past experience. In this study, we use a well-calibrated Aqua MODIS as reference to track and evaluate VIIRS RSB stability and performance. Reflectances observed by both sensors from simultaneous nadir overpasses (SNO) are used to determine VIIRS to MODIS reflectance ratios for their spectral matching bands. Results of this study provide an immediate post-launch assessment, independent validation of the anomalous degradation observed in SD measurements at near-IR wavelengths and initial analysis of calibration stability and consistency.

Colossal permittivity induced by lattice mirror reflection symmetry breaking in Ba7Ir3O13+x(0 <= x <= 1.5) epitaxial thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miao, Ludi; Xin, Yan; Zhu, Huiwen; Xu, Hong; Luo, Sijun; Talbayev, Diyar; Stanislavchuk, T. N.; Sirenko, A. A.; Mao, Zhiqiang

2014-03-01

Materials with colossal permittivity (CP) at room temperature hold tremendous promise in modern microelectronics as well as high-energy-density storage applications. Despite several proposed mechanisms that lead torecent discoveries of a series of new CP materials such as Nb, In co-doped TiO2 and CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics, it is imperative to find other approaches which can further guide the search for new CP materials. In this talk, we will demonstrate a new mechanism for CP: the breaking of mirror reflection symmetry of lattice can cause CP. This mechanism was revealed in a new layered iridate Ba7Ir3O13+x (BIO) thin film we recently discovered. Structural characterization of BIO films show that its mirror reflection symmetry is broken along b-axis, but preserved along a- and c-axes. Dielectric property measurements of BIO films at room temperature show a CP (103-10<4) along the in-plane direction, but a much smaller permittivity (10- 20) along the c-axis, in the 102- 106 Hz frequency range. Such unusually large anisotropy in permittivity testifies to the significant role of the structural in-plane mirror reflection symmetry breaking in inducing CP. This work is supported by DOD-ARO under Grant No. W911NF0910530.

Red and infrared gas laser beam for therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pascu, Mihail-Lucian; Ristici, Marin; Ristici, E.; Tivarus, Madalina-Elena

2000-06-01

For the low power laser therapy, the experiments show that better results are obtained when the laser beam is an overlapping of two radiations: one in the visible region of the spectrum and the other in IR region. Also, some experiments show that for good results in biostimulation it is important to have a high coherence length of laser beam; this is not the case of the laser diodes The He-Ne laser has the best coherence, being able to generate laser radiations in visible and IR. It has tow strong laser lines: 633 nm and 1.15 micrometers . Although their gains are about the same, the available power of the red radiation is 3-4 times higher because of its larger width, when they oscillate separately. Using special dichroic mirrors for simultaneous reflection of the both liens, the laser beam will consist of the two radiations, each of them having good coherence . A 420 mm active length, 1.8 mm inner diameter He-Ne laser tube and a special designed resonator has been developed. The mirrors reflect both radiations as follows: one reflects 99.9 percent and the other, the output mirror, reflects 98 percent. There is a competition between them because these lines have a common lower level. The output power of the laser beam as 6 mW for 633 nm and 4 mW for 1.15 micrometers , respectively.

Salience of Somatosensory Stimulus Modulating External-to-Internal Orienting Attention.

PubMed

Peng, Jiaxin; Chan, Sam C C; Chau, Bolton K H; Yu, Qiuhua; Chan, Chetwyn C H

2017-01-01

Shifting between one's external and internal environments involves orienting attention. Studies on differentiating subprocesses associated with external-to-internal orienting attention are limited. This study aimed to reveal the characteristics of the disengagement, shifting and reengagement subprocesses by using somatosensory external stimuli and internally generated images. Study participants were to perceive nociceptive external stimuli (External Low (E L ) or External High (E H )) induced by electrical stimulations (50 ms) followed by mentally rehearsing learned subnociceptive images (Internal Low (I L ) and Internal High (I H )). Behavioral responses and EEG signals of the participants were recorded. The three significant components elicited were: fronto-central negativity (FCN; 128-180 ms), fronto-central P2 (200-260 ms), and central P3 (320-380 ms), which reflected the three subprocesses, respectively. Differences in the FCN and P2 amplitudes during the orienting to the subnociceptive images revealed only in the E H but not E L stimulus condition that are new findings. The results indicated that modulations of the disengagement and shifting processes only happened if the external nociceptive stimuli were of high salience and the external-to-internal incongruence was large. The reengaging process reflected from the amplitude of P3 correlated significantly with attenuation of the pain intensity felt from the external nociceptive stimuli. These findings suggested that the subprocesses underlying external-to-internal orienting attention serve different roles. Disengagement subprocess tends to be stimulus dependent, which is bottom-up in nature. Shifting and reengagement tend to be top-down subprocesses, which taps on cognitive control. This subprocess may account for the attenuation effects on perceived pain intensity after orienting attention.

Salience of Somatosensory Stimulus Modulating External-to-Internal Orienting Attention

PubMed Central

Peng, Jiaxin; Chan, Sam C. C.; Chau, Bolton K. H.; Yu, Qiuhua; Chan, Chetwyn C. H.

2017-01-01

Shifting between one’s external and internal environments involves orienting attention. Studies on differentiating subprocesses associated with external-to-internal orienting attention are limited. This study aimed to reveal the characteristics of the disengagement, shifting and reengagement subprocesses by using somatosensory external stimuli and internally generated images. Study participants were to perceive nociceptive external stimuli (External Low (EL) or External High (EH)) induced by electrical stimulations (50 ms) followed by mentally rehearsing learned subnociceptive images (Internal Low (IL) and Internal High (IH)). Behavioral responses and EEG signals of the participants were recorded. The three significant components elicited were: fronto-central negativity (FCN; 128–180 ms), fronto-central P2 (200–260 ms), and central P3 (320–380 ms), which reflected the three subprocesses, respectively. Differences in the FCN and P2 amplitudes during the orienting to the subnociceptive images revealed only in the EH but not EL stimulus condition that are new findings. The results indicated that modulations of the disengagement and shifting processes only happened if the external nociceptive stimuli were of high salience and the external-to-internal incongruence was large. The reengaging process reflected from the amplitude of P3 correlated significantly with attenuation of the pain intensity felt from the external nociceptive stimuli. These findings suggested that the subprocesses underlying external-to-internal orienting attention serve different roles. Disengagement subprocess tends to be stimulus dependent, which is bottom-up in nature. Shifting and reengagement tend to be top-down subprocesses, which taps on cognitive control. This subprocess may account for the attenuation effects on perceived pain intensity after orienting attention. PMID:28970787

Sol-Gel Deposition of Iridium Oxide for Biomedical Micro-Devices

PubMed Central

Nguyen, Cuong M.; Rao, Smitha; Yang, Xuesong; Dubey, Souvik; Mays, Jeffrey; Cao, Hung; Chiao, Jung-Chih

2015-01-01

Flexible iridium oxide (IrOx)-based micro-electrodes were fabricated on flexible polyimide substrates using a sol-gel deposition process for utilization as integrated pseudo-reference electrodes for bio-electrochemical sensing applications. The fabrication method yields reliable miniature on-probe IrOx electrodes with long lifetime, high stability and repeatability. Such sensors can be used for long-term measurements. Various dimensions of sol-gel iridium oxide electrodes including 1 mm × 1 mm, 500 μm × 500 μm, and 100 μm × 100 μm were fabricated. Sensor longevity and pH dependence were investigated by immersing the electrodes in hydrochloric acid, fetal bovine serum (FBS), and sodium hydroxide solutions for 30 days. Less pH dependent responses, compared to IrOx electrodes fabricated by electrochemical deposition processes, were measured at 58.8 ± 0.4 mV/pH, 53.8 ± 1.3 mV/pH and 48 ± 0.6 mV/pH, respectively. The on-probe IrOx pseudo-reference electrodes were utilized for dopamine sensing. The baseline responses of the sensors were higher than the one using an external Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Using IrOx reference electrodes integrated on the same probe with working electrodes eliminated the use of cytotoxic Ag/AgCl reference electrode without loss in sensitivity. This enables employing such sensors in long-term recording of concentrations of neurotransmitters in central nervous systems of animals and humans. PMID:25686309

IR-based spot weld NDT in automotive applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Jian; Feng, Zhili

2015-05-01

Today's auto industry primarily relies on destructive teardown evaluation to ensure the quality of the resistance spot welds (RSWs) due to their criticality in crash resistance and performance of vehicles. The destructive teardown evaluation is labor intensive and costly. The very nature of the destructive test means only a few selected welds will be sampled for quality. Most of the welds in a car are never checked. There are significant costs and risks associated with reworking and scrapping the defective welded parts made between the teardown tests. IR thermography as a non-destructive testing (NDT) tool has its distinct advantage — its non-intrusive and non-contact nature. This makes the IR based NDT especially attractive for the highly automated assembly lines. IR for weld quality inspection has been explored in the past, mostly limited to the offline post-processing manner in a laboratory environment. No online real-time RSW inspection using IR thermography has been reported. Typically for postprocessing inspection, a short-pulse heating via xenon flash lamp light (in a few milliseconds) is applied to the surface of a spot weld. However, applications in the auto industry have been unsuccessful, largely due to a critical drawback that cannot be implemented in the high-volume production line - the prerequisite of painting the weld surface to eliminate surface reflection and other environmental interference. This is due to the low signal-to-noise ratio resulting from the low/unknown surface emissivity and the very small temperature changes (typically on the order of 0.1°C) induced by the flash lamp method. An integrated approach consisting of innovations in both data analysis algorithms and hardware apparatus that effectively solved the key technical barriers for IR NDT. The system can be used for both real-time (during welding) and post-processing inspections (after welds have been made). First, we developed a special IR thermal image processing method that utilizes the relative IR intensity change, so that the influence of surface reflection and environment interference can be reduced. Second, for the post-processing inspection, a special induction heater is used to replace the flash lamp, resulting in temperature changes on the order of 10°C. As a result, the signal-to-noise ratio increased by several orders of magnitudes with no surface painting needed, and the inspection results are more accurate and reliable. For real-time inspection, the heat from welding (with temperature exceeding 1000°C) was utilized. Third, "thermal signatures" were identified to uniquely correlate to different weld quality attributes through computational modeling of heat transfer and extensive testing of specially designed ranges of welding conditions. Novel IR image analysis algorithms that automatically and intelligently identify the "thermal signatures" from the IR images and positively determine the weld quality in less than a second were developed.

Review of infrared scene projector technology-1993

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Driggers, Ronald G.; Barnard, Kenneth J.; Burroughs, E. E.; Deep, Raymond G.; Williams, Owen M.

1994-07-01

The importance of testing IR imagers and missile seekers with realistic IR scenes warrants a review of the current technologies used in dynamic infrared scene projection. These technologies include resistive arrays, deformable mirror arrays, mirror membrane devices, liquid crystal light valves, laser writers, laser diode arrays, and CRTs. Other methods include frustrated total internal reflection, thermoelectric devices, galvanic cells, Bly cells, and vanadium dioxide. A description of each technology is presented along with a discussion of their relative benefits and disadvantages. The current state of each methodology is also summarized. Finally, the methods are compared and contrasted in terms of their performance parameters.

Remote sensing of ocean currents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maul, G. A. (Principal Investigator)

1973-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. Monthly field experiments in support of the NOAA investigation of ocean color boundary determination using ERTS-1 data have been conducted since June 1972. The boundary between coastal waters and the Loop Current has been detected by ERTS-1 as a result of sea state changes as well as color differences. Ocean information is contained in all 24 channels of the Bendix MSS flown on the C-130 in June 1972; this includes UV, visible, reflected IR, and emitted IR. Computer enhancement of MSS data is revealing many features not shown in the NDPF product.

Bandwidth-narrowed Bragg gratings inscribed in double-cladding fiber by femtosecond laser.

PubMed

Shi, Jiawei; Li, Yuhua; Liu, Shuhui; Wang, Haiyan; Liu, Ningliang; Lu, Peixiang

2011-01-31

Bragg gratings with the bandwidth(FWHM) narrowed up to 79 pm were inscribed in double-cladding fiber with femtosecond radiation and a phase mask followed by an annealing treatment. With the annealing temperature below a critical value, the bandwidth of Bragg gratings induced by Type I-IR and Type II-IR index change was narrowed without the reduction of reflectivity. The bandwidth narrowing is due to the profile transformation of the refractive index modulation caused by the annealing treatment. This mechanism was verified by comparing bandwidth narrowing processes of FBGs written with different power densities.

Optical constants of neat liquid-chemical warfare agents and related materials measured by infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, C. S.-C.; Williams, B. R.; Hulet, M. S.; Tiwald, T. E.; Miles, R. W., Jr.; Samuels, A. C.

2011-05-01

We studied various liquids using a vertical attenuated total reflection (ATR) liquid sampling assembly in conjunction with Infrared Variable Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (IR-VASE), to determine the infrared optical constants of several bulk liquids related to chemical warfare. The index of refraction, n, and the extinction coefficient, k, of isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate (Sarin or GB), isopropyl alcohol (IPA) (a precursor of GB), and dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP)-a commonly employed simulant for GB, measured by our vertical ATR IR-VASE setup are closely matched to those found in other studies. We also report the optical constants of cyclohexyl methylphosphonofluoridate (GF), 2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methylphosphonothioate (VX), bis-(2-chloroethyl) sulfide (HD), and 2-chlorovinyl dichloroarsine (L, Lewisite). The ATR IR-VASE technique affords an accurate measurement of the optical constants of these hazardous compounds.

Chemical vapor deposition of low reflective cobalt (II) oxide films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amin-Chalhoub, Eliane; Duguet, Thomas; Samélor, Diane; Debieu, Olivier; Ungureanu, Elisabeta; Vahlas, Constantin

2016-01-01

Low reflective CoO coatings are processed by chemical vapor deposition from Co2(CO)8 at temperatures between 120 °C and 190 °C without additional oxygen source. The optical reflectivity in the visible and near infrared regions stems from 2 to 35% depending on deposition temperature. The combination of specific microstructural features of the coatings, namely a fractal ⿿cauliflower⿿ morphology and a grain size distribution more or less covering the near UV and IR wavelength ranges enhance light scattering and gives rise to a low reflectivity. In addition, the columnar morphology results in a density gradient in the vertical direction that we interpret as a refractive index gradient lowering reflectivity further down. The coating formed at 180 °C shows the lowest average reflectivity (2.9%), and presents an interesting deep black diffuse aspect.

Atmospheric optical depth effects on angular anisotropy of plant canopy reflectance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deering, Donald W.; Eck, Thomas F.

1987-01-01

The effects of varying atmospheric aerosol optical depth on the bidirectional reflectance distribution of vegetation canopies is investigated. The reflectance distributions of two pasture grass canopies and one soya bean canopy under different sky irradiance distributions were measured, and the data were analyzed in the visible and IR spectral bands. It is observed that, for the pasture grass canopies, the change in reflectance is due to the percentage of shadowed area viewed by the sensor, and for the soya bean, the specular reflection effect and increased diffuse irradiance penetration into the canopy cause reflectance changes. It is detected that the reflectivity for the soya bean canopy on a hazy day is lower than on a clear day; however, the opposite change is observed for the pasture grass. It is also detected that the normalized difference vegetation index values differ under clear and hazy conditions for the same vegetation canopy conditions.

Validation of the 2014 European Society of Cardiology Sudden Cardiac Death Risk Prediction Model in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in a Reference Center in South America.

PubMed

Fernández, Adrián; Quiroga, Alejandro; Ochoa, Juan Pablo; Mysuta, Mauricio; Casabé, José Horacio; Biagetti, Marcelo; Guevara, Eduardo; Favaloro, Liliana E; Fava, Agostina M; Galizio, Néstor

2016-07-01

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a common cause of death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC). Our aim was to conduct an external and independent validation in South America of the 2014 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) SCD risk prediction model to identify patients requiring an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. This study included 502 consecutive patients with HC followed from March, 1993 to December, 2014. A combined end point of SCD or appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy was assessed. For the quantitative estimation of individual 5-year SCD risk, we used the formula: 1 - 0.998(exp(Prognostic index)). Our database also included the abnormal blood pressure response to exercise as a risk marker. We analyzed the 3 categories of 5-year risk proposed by the ESC: low risk (LR) <4%; intermediate risk (IR) ≥4% to <6%, and high risk (HR) ≥6%. The LR group included 387 patients (77%); the IR group 39 (8%); and the HR group 76 (15%). Fourteen patients (3%) had SCD/appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy (LR: 0%; IR: 2 of 39 [5%]; and HR: 12 of 76 [16%]). In a receiver-operating characteristic curve, the new model proved to be an excellent predictor because the area under the curve for the estimated risk is 0.925 (statistical C: 0.925; 95% CI 0.8884 to 0.9539, p <0.0001). In conclusion, the SCD risk prediction model in HC proposed by the 2014 ESC guidelines was validated in our population and represents an improvement compared with previous approaches. A larger multicenter, independent and external validation of the model with long-term follow-up would be advisable. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Humeral external rotation handling by using the Bobath concept approach affects trunk extensor muscles electromyography in children with cerebral palsy.

PubMed

Grazziotin Dos Santos, C; Pagnussat, Aline S; Simon, A S; Py, Rodrigo; Pinho, Alexandre Severo do; Wagner, Mário B

2014-10-20

This study aimed to investigate the electromyographic activity of cervical and trunk extensors muscles in children with cerebral palsy during two handlings according to the Bobath concept. A crossover trial involving 40 spastic diplegic children was conducted. Electromyography (EMG) was used to measure muscular activity at sitting position (SP), during shoulder internal rotation (IR) and shoulder external rotation (ER) handlings, which were performed using the elbow joint as key point of control. Muscle recordings were performed at the fourth cervical (C4) and at the tenth thoracic (T10) vertebral levels. The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) was used to assess whether muscle activity would vary according to different levels of severity. Humeral ER handling induced an increase on EMG signal of trunk extensor muscles at the C4 (P=0.007) and T10 (P<0.001) vertebral levels. No significant effects were observed between SP and humeral IR handling at C4 level; However at T10 region, humeral IR handling induced an increase of EMG signal (P=0.019). Humeral ER resulted in an increase of EMG signal at both levels, suggesting increase of extensor muscle activation. Furthermore, the humeral ER handling caused different responses on EMG signal at T10 vertebra level, according to the GMFCS classification (P=0.017). In summary, an increase of EMG signal was observed during ER handling in both evaluated levels, suggesting an increase of muscle activation. These results indicate that humeral ER handling can be used for diplegic CP children rehabilitation to facilitate cervical and trunk extensor muscles activity in a GMFCS level-dependent manner. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Retreatment of recurrent carcinoma of the head and neck by afterloading interstitial 192Ir implant

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

Emami, B.; Marks, J.E.

From January 1975 to December 1980, 25 patients with persistent or recurrent carcinomas of the head and neck were retreated for palliation at the Division of Radiation Oncology, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology. These patients had all undergone extensive previous treatment by surgery and/or radiation. All were retreated with 192Ir interstitial implant with or without external radiation and/or surgical excision. Of 25 patients, 13 had complete response (CR) and 6 had partial response for a follow-up period of 1 to 7 years. Of 13 patients with CR, 6 are alive with no evidence of disease (NED) and two died NED. Detailedmore » results are presented and the new strategy for such patients is discussed.« less

Preseason shoulder strength measurements in professional baseball pitchers: identifying players at risk for injury.

PubMed

Byram, Ian R; Bushnell, Brandon D; Dugger, Keith; Charron, Kevin; Harrell, Frank E; Noonan, Thomas J

2010-07-01

The ability to identify pitchers at risk for injury could be valuable to a professional baseball organization. To our knowledge, there have been no prior studies examining the predictive value of preseason strength measurements. Preseason weakness of shoulder external rotators is associated with increased risk of in-season throwing-related injury in professional baseball pitchers. Cohort study (prognosis); Level of evidence, 2. Preseason shoulder strength was measured for all pitchers in a professional baseball organization over a 5-year period (2001-2005). Prone internal rotation (IR), prone external rotation (PER), seated external rotation (SER), and supraspinatus (SS) strength were tested during spring training before each season. The players were then prospectively followed throughout the season for incidence of throwing-related injury. Injuries were categorized on an ordinal scale, with no injury, injury treated conservatively, and injury resulting in surgery delineated 0, 1, and 2, respectively. Subset analyses of shoulder injuries and of players with prior surgery were also performed. The association between strength measurements and injury was analyzed using Spearman rank correlation. A statistically significant association was observed for PER strength (P = .003), SER strength (P = .048), and SS strength (P = .006) with throwing-related injury requiring surgical intervention. Supraspinatus strength was also significantly associated with incidence of any shoulder injury (P = .031). There was an association between the ratio of PER/IR strength and incidence of shoulder injury (P = .037) and some evidence for an association with overall incidence of throwing-related injury (P = .051). No associations were noted in the subgroup of players with prior surgery. Preseason weakness of external rotation and SS strength is associated with in-season throwing-related injury resulting in surgical intervention in professional baseball pitchers. Thus, preseason strength data may help identify players at risk for injury and formulate strengthening plans for prevention.

UV-Visible reflectance of Phobos from SPICAM and OMEGA and comparison with Deimos

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gondet, Brigitte; Bertaux, Jean-Loup; Montmessin, Franck; Reberarc, Aurelie

2016-04-01

Mars Express made several encounters with Phobos and a few with Deimos since 2004. Observations with SPICAM and OMEGA imaging spectrometers on board Mars Express covers the range from UV (110-312 nm) to visible and mid IR up to 5 μm. In the following we consider the ultraviolet (UV) channel of SPICAM and only the visible channel of OMEGA and its small UV extension down to 390 nm, in order to compare with SPICAM. Preliminary results were presented already in the past [1]. Since then, a more detailed analysis was carried out, subtracting some internally scattered light affecting the SPICAM UV retrieved reflectance. The combined spectrum of Radiance Factor from SPICAM and OMEGA suggests the presence of a deep absorption feature. Both instruments, taken separately, support also this absorption feature. In the visible part of CRISM [2] on board MRO, one feature is centered at 0.65 μm, with an absorption depth varying from 0 to 4%, an other one is centered at 2.8μm. These two Visible IR features were interpreted [2] either to highly desiccated Fe-phyllosilicate minerals indigenous to the bodies, or to a surface process involving Rayleigh scattering and absorption of small iron particles formed by exogenic space weathering processing. In this rather uncertain situation, the UV band detected by SPICAM and OMEGA on board Mars Express is of great importance to attempt discriminating between the two scenarios proposed above to explain the Visible-IR reflectance spectra of Phobos. [1] Bertaux J.L. et al. (2011) EPSC/DPS conference abstract, Nantes, November 2011, [5] Freaman A.A. et al. (2014) Icarus, 229 , 196-205.

Simultaneous probing of bulk liquid phase and catalytic gas-liquid-solid interface under working conditions using attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy

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

Meemken, Fabian; Müller, Philipp; Hungerbühler, Konrad

Design and performance of a reactor set-up for attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy suitable for simultaneous reaction monitoring of bulk liquid and catalytic solid-liquid-gas interfaces under working conditions are presented. As advancement of in situ spectroscopy an operando methodology for gas-liquid-solid reaction monitoring was developed that simultaneously combines catalytic activity and molecular level detection at the catalytically active site of the same sample. Semi-batch reactor conditions are achieved with the analytical set-up by implementing the ATR-IR flow-through cell in a recycle reactor system and integrating a specifically designed gas feeding system coupled with a bubble trap. By the usemore » of only one spectrometer the design of the new ATR-IR reactor cell allows for simultaneous detection of the bulk liquid and the catalytic interface during the working reaction. Holding two internal reflection elements (IRE) the sample compartments of the horizontally movable cell are consecutively flushed with reaction solution and pneumatically actuated, rapid switching of the cell (<1 s) enables to quasi simultaneously follow the heterogeneously catalysed reaction at the catalytic interface on a catalyst-coated IRE and in the bulk liquid on a blank IRE. For a complex heterogeneous reaction, the asymmetric hydrogenation of 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenone on chirally modified Pt catalyst the elucidation of catalytic activity/enantioselectivity coupled with simultaneous monitoring of the catalytic solid-liquid-gas interface is shown. Both catalytic activity and enantioselectivity are strongly dependent on the experimental conditions. The opportunity to gain improved understanding by coupling measurements of catalytic performance and spectroscopic detection is presented. In addition, the applicability of modulation excitation spectroscopy and phase-sensitive detection are demonstrated.« less

Comparative evaluation of bioactivity of crystalline trypsin for drying by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy.

PubMed

Otsuka, Makoto; Fukui, Yuya; Ozaki, Yukihiro

2009-03-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the enzymatic stability of colloidal trypsin powder during heating in a solid-state by using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra with chemoinformatics and generalized two-dimensional (2D) correlation spectroscopy. Colloidal crystalline trypsin powders were heated using differential scanning calorimetry. The enzymatic activity of trypsin was assayed by the kinetic degradation method. Spectra of 10 calibration sample sets were recorded three times with a FT-IR spectrometer. The maximum intensity at 1634cm(-1) of FT-IR spectra and enzymatic activity of trypsin decreased as the temperature increased. The FT-IR spectra of trypsin samples were analyzed by a principal component regression analysis (PCR). A plot of the calibration data obtained was made between the actual and predicted trypsin activity based on a two-component model with gamma(2)=0.962. On the other hand, a 2D method was applied to FT-IR spectra of heat-treated trypsin. The result was consistent with that of the chemoinformetrical method. The results for deactivation of colloidal trypsin powder by heat-treatment indicated that nano-structure of crystalline trypsin changed by heating reflecting that the beta-sheet was mainly transformed, since the peak at 1634cm(-1) decreased with dehydration. The FT-IR chemoinformetrical method allows for a solid-state quantitative analysis of the bioactivity of the bulk powder of trypsin during drying.

Supplementing diet with Manitoba lingonberry juice reduces kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury.

PubMed

Isaak, Cara K; Wang, Pengqi; Prashar, Suvira; O, Karmin; Brown, Daniel Cw; Debnath, Samir C; Siow, Yaw L

2017-07-01

Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) contains high levels of anthocyanins which are bioavailable in the kidney and may be protective against ischemia-reperfusion (IR)-induced acute kidney injury. This study investigated the effect of lingonberry juice on the IR-induced stress-activated signalling pathway and inflammatory response in the kidney. Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to kidney IR had significantly impaired kidney function, with increased activation of the JNK signalling pathway and increased inflammatory response, measured using a multiplex panel containing an extensive array of inflammatory biomarkers. In rats fed 1 mL lingonberry juice daily for 3 weeks prior to IR, kidney function was protected and attenuation of inflammatory response and JNK signalling was reflected in the reduction of the measured biomarkers. In vitro results in cultured HK-2 cells confirmed that lingonberry anthocyanins reduced JNK signalling and inflammatory gene expression after IR. This study shows, for the first time, that daily supplementation with lingonberry juice may protect against loss of kidney function induced by IR injury by modulating JNK signalling and inhibiting the subsequent inflammatory response. © 2017 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2017 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Externalizing psychopathology and gain-loss feedback in a simulated gambling task: dissociable components of brain response revealed by time-frequency analysis.

PubMed

Bernat, Edward M; Nelson, Lindsay D; Steele, Vaughn R; Gehring, William J; Patrick, Christopher J

2011-05-01

Externalizing is a broad construct that reflects propensity toward a variety of impulse control problems, including antisocial personality disorder and substance use disorders. Two event-related potential responses known to be reduced among individuals high in externalizing proneness are the P300, which reflects postperceptual processing of a stimulus, and the error-related negativity (ERN), which indexes performance monitoring based on endogenous representations. In the current study, the authors used a simulated gambling task to examine the relation between externalizing proneness and the feedback-related negativity (FRN), a brain response that indexes performance monitoring related to exogenous cues, which is thought to be highly related to the ERN. Time-frequency (TF) analysis was used to disentangle the FRN from the accompanying P300 response to feedback cues by parsing the overall feedback-locked potential into distinctive theta (4-7 Hz) and delta (<3 Hz) TF components. Whereas delta-P300 amplitude was reduced among individuals high in externalizing proneness, theta-FRN response was unrelated to externalizing. These findings suggest that in contrast with previously reported deficits in endogenously based performance monitoring (as indexed by the ERN), individuals prone to externalizing problems show intact monitoring of exogenous cues (as indexed by the FRN). The results also contribute to a growing body of evidence indicating that the P300 is attenuated across a broad range of task conditions in high-externalizing individuals.

Linking Dense Gas from the Milky Way to External Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stephens, Ian W.; Jackson, James M.; Whitaker, J. Scott; Contreras, Yanett; Guzmán, Andrés E.; Sanhueza, Patricio; Foster, Jonathan B.; Rathborne, Jill M.

2016-06-01

In a survey of 65 galaxies, Gao & Solomon found a tight linear relation between the infrared luminosity (L IR, a proxy for the star formation rate) and the HCN(1-0) luminosity ({L}{{HCN}}). Wu et al. found that this relation extends from these galaxies to the much less luminous Galactic molecular high-mass star-forming clumps (˜1 pc scales), and posited that there exists a characteristic ratio L IR/{L}{{HCN}} for high-mass star-forming clumps. The Gao-Solomon relation for galaxies could then be explained as a summation of large numbers of high-mass star-forming clumps, resulting in the same L IR/{L}{{HCN}} ratio for galaxies. We test this explanation and other possible origins of the Gao-Solomon relation using high-density tracers (including HCN(1-0), N2H+(1-0), HCO+(1-0), HNC(1-0), HC3N(10-9), and C2H(1-0)) for ˜300 Galactic clumps from the Millimetre Astronomy Legacy Team 90 GHz (MALT90) survey. The MALT90 data show that the Gao-Solomon relation in galaxies cannot be satisfactorily explained by the blending of large numbers of high-mass clumps in the telescope beam. Not only do the clumps have a large scatter in the L IR/{L}{{HCN}} ratio, but also far too many high-mass clumps are required to account for the Galactic IR and HCN luminosities. We suggest that the scatter in the L IR/{L}{{HCN}} ratio converges to the scatter of the Gao-Solomon relation at some size-scale ≳1 kpc. We suggest that the Gao-Solomon relation could instead result from of a universal large-scale star formation efficiency, initial mass function, core mass function, and clump mass function.

Real-time synchronized multiple-sensor IR/EO scene generation utilizing the SGI Onyx2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Makar, Robert J.; O'Toole, Brian E.

1998-07-01

An approach to utilize the symmetric multiprocessing environment of the Silicon Graphics Inc.R (SGI) Onyx2TM has been developed to support the generation of IR/EO scenes in real-time. This development, supported by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWC/AD), focuses on high frame rate hardware-in-the-loop testing of multiple sensor avionics systems. In the past, real-time IR/EO scene generators have been developed as custom architectures that were often expensive and difficult to maintain. Previous COTS scene generation systems, designed and optimized for visual simulation, could not be adapted for accurate IR/EO sensor stimulation. The new Onyx2 connection mesh architecture made it possible to develop a more economical system while maintaining the fidelity needed to stimulate actual sensors. An SGI based Real-time IR/EO Scene Simulator (RISS) system was developed to utilize the Onyx2's fast multiprocessing hardware to perform real-time IR/EO scene radiance calculations. During real-time scene simulation, the multiprocessors are used to update polygon vertex locations and compute radiometrically accurate floating point radiance values. The output of this process can be utilized to drive a variety of scene rendering engines. Recent advancements in COTS graphics systems, such as the Silicon Graphics InfiniteRealityR make a total COTS solution possible for some classes of sensors. This paper will discuss the critical technologies that apply to infrared scene generation and hardware-in-the-loop testing using SGI compatible hardware. Specifically, the application of RISS high-fidelity real-time radiance algorithms on the SGI Onyx2's multiprocessing hardware will be discussed. Also, issues relating to external real-time control of multiple synchronized scene generation channels will be addressed.

Advanced Artificial Dielectric Materials for Millimeter Wavelength Applications.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-10-26

extreme, it reaches a finite value, ot’ = - 3/8ir, corresponding to the magnetic behavior of a superconducting sphere [201. E 0.01 10 / - +.c I/LIMIT...dispersion of small magnetic particles, one must proceed carefully in accounting for the various demagnetizing effects, internal and external fields, etc...rum!:er, * ’B0 GOUPSUB OR Artificial Dielectrics, Induced Magnetic Permeability, Properties of’ Heterogeneous Media. Fine Powder Preparation

Aerosol Attenuation in the 2-4 Micrometer Region

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-03-01

Company Model 911ir dew point hydrometer. The lithium chloride sensors will be placed on the roof where the aerosol is sampled and at the entrance...Extinction Measurement il External View of 400 Meter White Cell 13 Primary Aerosol and Gas Handlinfe Systems 14 Calibration for Extinction...Massacusetts. Aerosol-laden air will be drawn into the experimental apparatus from a point 10 ft above the roof of the building. A continuoush

The future of interventional and neurointerventional radiology: learning lessons from the past.

PubMed

Maingard, Julian; Kok, Hong Kuan; Ranatunga, Dinesh; Brooks, Duncan Mark; Chandra, Ronil V; Lee, Michael J; Asadi, Hamed

2017-12-01

The rapid progression of medical imaging technology and the ability to leverage knowledge from non-invasive imaging means that Interventional Radiologists (IRs) and Interventional Neuroradiologists are optimally placed to incorporate minimally invasive interventional paradigms into clinical management to advance patient care. There is ample opportunity to radically change the management options for patients with a variety of diseases through the use of minimally invasive interventional procedures. However, this will need to be accompanied by an increased clinical role of IRs to become active partners in the clinical management of patients. Unfortunately, the development of IR clinical presence has lagged behind and is reflected by declining rates of IR involvement in certain areas of practice such as vascular interventions. Current and future IRs must be willing to take on clinical responsibilities; reviewing patients in clinic to determine suitability for a procedure and potential contraindications, rounding on hospital inpatients and be willing to manage procedure related complications, which are all important parts of a successful IR practice. Increasing our clinical presence has several advantages over the procedure-driven model including enhanced patient knowledge and informed consent for IR procedures, improved rapport with patients and other clinical colleagues through active participation and engagement in patient care, visibility as a means to facilitate referrals and consistency of follow-up with opportunities for further learning. Many of the solutions to these problems are already in progress and the use of IR as a "hired gun" or "technician" is a concept that should be relegated to the past, and replaced with recognition of IRs as clinicians and partners in delivering modern high quality multidisciplinary team-based patient care. The following article will review the history of IR, the challenges facing this rapidly evolving profession and discuss recent developments occurring globally that are essential in maintaining expertise, securing future growth and improving patient outcomes in the modern multidisciplinary practice of medicine.

Effects on micronuclei formation of 60-Hz electromagnetic field exposure with ionizing radiation, hydrogen peroxide, or c-Myc overexpression.

PubMed

Jin, Yeung Bae; Kang, Ga-Young; Lee, Jae Seon; Choi, Jong-Il; Lee, Ju-Woon; Hong, Seung-Cheol; Myung, Sung Ho; Lee, Yun-Sil

2012-04-01

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a possible correlation between exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) and cancer. However, this correlation has yet to be definitively confirmed by epidemiological studies. The principal objective of this study was to assess the effects of 60 Hz magnetic fields in a normal cell line system, and particularly in combination with various external factors, via micronucleus (MN) assays. Mouse embryonic fibroblast NIH3T3 cells and human lung fibroblast WI-38 cells were exposed for 4 h to a 60 Hz, 1 mT uniform magnetic field with or without ionizing radiation (IR, 2 Gy), H(2)O(2) (100 μM) and cellular myelocytomatosis oncogene (c-Myc) activation. The results obtained showed no significant differences between the cells exposed to ELF-MF alone and the unexposed cells. Moreover, no synergistic effects were observed when ELF-MF was combined with IR, H(2)O(2), and c-Myc activation. Our results demonstrate that ELF-MF did not enhance MN frequency by IR, H(2)O(2) and c-Myc activation.

Properties of Graphene/Shape Memory Thermoplastic Polyurethane Composites Actuating by Various Methods

PubMed Central

Park, Jin Ho; Dao, Trung Dung; Lee, Hyung-il; Jeong, Han Mo; Kim, Byung Kyu

2014-01-01

Shape memory behavior of crystalline shape memory polyurethane (SPU) reinforced with graphene, which utilizes melting temperature as a shape recovery temperature, was examined with various external actuating stimuli such as direct heating, resistive heating, and infrared (IR) heating. Compatibility of graphene with crystalline SPU was adjusted by altering the structure of the hard segment of the SPU, by changing the structure of the graphene, and by changing the preparation method of the graphene/SPU composite. The SPU made of aromatic 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MSPU) exhibited better compatibility with graphene, having an aromatic structure, compared to that made of the aliphatic hexamethylene diisocyanate. The finely dispersed graphene effectively reinforced MSPU, improved shape recovery of MSPU, and served effectively as a filler, triggering shape recovery by resistive or IR heating. Compatibility was enhanced when the graphene was modified with methanol. This improved shape recovery by direct heating, but worsened the conductivity of the composite, and consequently the efficiency of resistive heating for shape recovery also declined. Graphene modified with methanol was more effective than pristine graphene in terms of shape recovery by IR heating. PMID:28788529

Development of a Qcl-Based Spectrometer for Spectroscopic Analysis of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iranpour, Michael Cyrus; Tran, Minh Nhat; Stewart, Jacob

2017-06-01

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are naturally occurring molecules that are emitted into the atmosphere by plants. BVOCs have an important role in atmospheric chemistry as they react readily with ozone, hydroxyl radicals, and nitric oxides to form aerosols and pollutants such as ozone in the troposphere. We are developing an IR spectrometer with the aim of measuring spectra of atmospheric samples of BVOCs to determine their concentrations. Using an external cavity quantum cascade laser (EC-QCL), we have acquired IR spectra of isoprene (C_{5}H_{8}) near 993 cm^{-1}. Isoprene represents an ideal target, as it is the simplest and most abundant BVOC. IR spectra of standard samples of isoprene were acquired in order to determine the detection limit of the spectrometer. We have also been working to improve the capabilities of the spectrometer by implementing wavelength modulation spectroscopy and increasing the path length through our samples by using a multipass cell. In this talk, we will present data from our initial measurements of the standard isoprene samples using a simple direct absorption setup as well as measurements using the improved spectrometer.

Resonator modes and mode dynamics for an external cavity-coupled laser array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nair, Niketh; Bochove, Erik J.; Aceves, Alejandro B.; Zunoubi, Mohammad R.; Braiman, Yehuda

2015-03-01

Employing a Fox-Li approach, we derived the cold-cavity mode structure and a coupled mode theory for a phased array of N single-transverse-mode active waveguides with feedback from an external cavity. We applied the analysis to a system with arbitrary laser lengths, external cavity design and coupling strengths to the external cavity. The entire system was treated as a single resonator. The effect of the external cavity was modeled by a set of boundary conditions expressed by an N-by-N frequency-dependent matrix relation between incident and reflected fields at the interface with the external cavity. The coupled mode theory can be adapted to various types of gain media and internal and external cavity designs.

An Examination of How Middle School Science Teachers Conduct Collaborative Inquiry and Reflection about Students' Conceptual Understanding

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Todd-Gibson, Christine

2013-01-01

This qualitative case study examined how middle school science teachers conducted collaborative inquiry and reflection about students' conceptual understanding, and how individual teachers in the middle school science group acted and made reflections in response to their collaborative inquiry. It also examined external influences that affected the…

An Examination of How Middle School Science Teachers Conduct Collaborative Inquiry and Reflection about Students' Conceptual Understanding

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Todd-Gibson, Christine

2017-01-01

This qualitative case study examined how middle school science teachers conducted collaborative inquiry and reflection about students' conceptual understanding, and how individual teachers in the middle school science group acted and made reflections in response to their collaborative inquiry. It also examined external influences that affected the…

Innovative FT-IR imaging of protein film secondary structure before and after heat treatment.

PubMed

Bonwell, Emily S; Wetzel, David L

2009-11-11

Changes in the secondary structure of globular protein occur during thermal processing. An infrared reflecting mirrored optical substrate that is unaffected by heat allows recording infrared spectra of protein films in a reflection absorption mode on the stage of an FT-IR microspectrometer. Hydrated films of myoglobin protein cast from solution on the mirrored substrate are interrogated before and after thermal denaturation to allow a direct comparison. Focal plane array imaging of 280 protein films allowed selection of the same area in the image from which to extract spectra. After treatment, 110 of 140 spectra from multiple films showed a dramatic shift from the alpha-helix form (1650 +/- 5 cm(-1)) to aggregated forms on either side of the original band. Seventy maxima were near 1625 cm(-1), and 40 shifted in the direction of 1670 cm(-1). The method developed was applied to films cast from two other commercial animal and plant protein sources.

Analysis of grain boundary phase devitrification of Y2O3- and Al2O3-doped Si3N4

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hench, L. L.; Vaidyanathan, P. N.

1983-01-01

The present study has the objective to show that a Fourier Transform IR (FTIR) spectrometer in a single-beam reflection mode can be used for direct comparison of fractured vs nonfractured Si3N4 surfaces. This can be done because the FTIR method permits a digital summation of nearly 1000 scans of the fracture surface. Commercial-grade Si3N4, Y2O3, and Al2O3 were used in the study. The samples were heat treated in a vacuum induction heating furnace at either 1000 C for 10 h or 1200 C for 10 h each. Use of Fourier transform IR reflection spectroscopic analysis and X-ray diffraction shows that 10 h at 1200 C is sufficient to devitrify the amorphous grain boundary phase of Si3N4 containing 15 percent Y2O3 + 2 percent Al2O3 densification aids.

Color tunable low cost transparent heat reflector using copper and titanium oxide for energy saving application

PubMed Central

Dalapati, Goutam Kumar; Masudy-Panah, Saeid; Chua, Sing Teng; Sharma, Mohit; Wong, Ten It; Tan, Hui Ru; Chi, Dongzhi

2016-01-01

Multilayer coating structure comprising a copper (Cu) layer sandwiched between titanium dioxide (TiO2) were demonstrated as a transparent heat reflecting (THR) coating on glass for energy-saving window application. The main highlight is the utilization of Cu, a low-cost material, in-lieu of silver which is widely used in current commercial heat reflecting coating on glass. Color tunable transparent heat reflecting coating was realized through the design of multilayer structure and process optimization. The impact of thermal treatment on the overall performance of sputter deposited TiO2/Cu/TiO2 multilayer thin film on glass substrate is investigated in detail. Significant enhancement of transmittance in the visible range and reflectance in the infra-red (IR) region has been observed after thermal treatment of TiO2/Cu/TiO2 multilayer thin film at 500 °C due to the improvement of crystal quality of TiO2. Highest visible transmittance of 90% and IR reflectance of 85% at a wavelength of 1200 nm are demonstrated for the TiO2/Cu/TiO2 multilayer thin film after annealing at 500 °C. Performance of TiO2/Cu/TiO2 heat reflector coating decreases after thermal treatment at 600 °C. The wear performance of the TiO2/Cu/TiO2 multilayer structure has been evaluated through scratch hardness test. The present work shows promising characteristics of Cu-based THR coating for energy-saving building industry. PMID:26846687

Color tunable low cost transparent heat reflector using copper and titanium oxide for energy saving application.

PubMed

Dalapati, Goutam Kumar; Masudy-Panah, Saeid; Chua, Sing Teng; Sharma, Mohit; Wong, Ten It; Tan, Hui Ru; Chi, Dongzhi

2016-02-05

Multilayer coating structure comprising a copper (Cu) layer sandwiched between titanium dioxide (TiO2) were demonstrated as a transparent heat reflecting (THR) coating on glass for energy-saving window application. The main highlight is the utilization of Cu, a low-cost material, in-lieu of silver which is widely used in current commercial heat reflecting coating on glass. Color tunable transparent heat reflecting coating was realized through the design of multilayer structure and process optimization. The impact of thermal treatment on the overall performance of sputter deposited TiO2/Cu/TiO2 multilayer thin film on glass substrate is investigated in detail. Significant enhancement of transmittance in the visible range and reflectance in the infra-red (IR) region has been observed after thermal treatment of TiO2/Cu/TiO2 multilayer thin film at 500 °C due to the improvement of crystal quality of TiO2. Highest visible transmittance of 90% and IR reflectance of 85% at a wavelength of 1200 nm are demonstrated for the TiO2/Cu/TiO2 multilayer thin film after annealing at 500 °C. Performance of TiO2/Cu/TiO2 heat reflector coating decreases after thermal treatment at 600 °C. The wear performance of the TiO2/Cu/TiO2 multilayer structure has been evaluated through scratch hardness test. The present work shows promising characteristics of Cu-based THR coating for energy-saving building industry.

Study on the cloud detection of GOCI by using the simulated surface reflectance from BRDF-model for the land application and meteorological utilization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Hye-Won; Yeom, Jong-Min; Woo, Sun-Hee; Chae, Tae-Byeong

2016-04-01

COMS (Communication, Ocean, and Meteorological Satellite) was launched at French Guiana Kourou space center on 27 June 2010. Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI), which is the first ocean color geostationary satellite in the world for observing the ocean phenomena, is able to obtain the scientific data per an hour from 00UTC to 07UTC. Moreover, the spectral channels of GOCI would enable not only monitoring for the ocean, but for extracting the information of the land surface over the Korean Peninsula, Japan, and Eastern China. Since it is extremely important to utilize GOCI data accurately for the land application, cloud pixels over the surface have to be removed. Unfortunately, infra-red (IR) channels that can easily detect the water vapor with the cloud top temperature, are not included in the GOCI sensor. In this paper, the advanced cloud masking algorithm will be proposed with visible and near-IR (NIR) bands that are within GOCI bands. The main obstacle of cloud masking with GOCI is how to handle the high variable surface reflectance, which is mainly depending on the solar zenith angle. In this study, we use semi-empirical BRDF model to simulate the surface reflectance by using 16 day composite cloudy free image. When estimating the simulated surface reflectance, same geometry for GOCI observation was applied. The simulated surface reflectance is used to discriminate cloud areas especially for the thin cloud and shows more reasonable result than original threshold methods.

CCD reflectance spectra of selected asteroids. I - Presentation and data analysis considerations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vilas, Faith; Mcfadden, Lucy A.

1992-01-01

Narrowband reflectance spectra have been acquired which contribute to the library of asteroid data in the visible and near-IR spectral regions. The spectra support the existence of aqueous alteration products on asteroids located in the outer part of the main asteroid belt out to at least 4 AU. No evidence for features similar to the spectral features of ordinary chondrite meteorites was found in the spectra of asteroids located near the 3:1 Kirkwood Gap chaotic zone.

Spatial redistribution of radiation in flip-chip photodiodes based on InAsSbP/InAs double heterostructures

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

Zakgeim, A. L.; Il’inskaya, N. D.; Karandashev, S. A.

2017-02-15

The spatial distribution of equilibrium and nonequilibrium (including luminescent) IR (infrared) radiation in flip-chip photodiodes based on InAsSbP/InAs double heterostructures (λ{sub max} = 3.4 μm) is measured and analyzed; the structural features of the photodiodes, including the reflective properties of the ohmic contacts, are taken into account. Optical area enhancement due to multiple internal reflection in photodiodes with different geometric characteristics is estimated.

Raman and IR-ATR spectroscopy studies of heteroepitaxial structures with a GaN:C top layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cerqueira, M. F.; Vieira, L. G.; Alves, A.; Correia, R.; Huber, M.; Andreev, A.; Bonanni, A.; Vasilevskiy, M. I.

2017-09-01

This work, motivated by the technologically important task of determination of carbon dopant location in the GaN crystal lattice, employed Raman spectroscopy, with both resonant and non-resonant excitation, and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, in the attenuated total reflection (ATR) configuration, to study lattice vibration modes in a set of carbon-doped GaN (GaN:C) epilayers grown by metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy. We analyse Raman and IR-ATR spectra from the point of view of possible effects of the carbon doping, namely: (i) local vibration mode of C atoms in the nitrogen sublattice (whose frequency we theoretically estimate as 768 cm-1 using an isotope defect model), and (ii) shift in the positions of longitudinal modes owing to the phonon-plasmon coupling. We find only indirect hints of the doping effect on the resonant Raman spectra. However, we show theoretically and confirm experimentally that the IR-ATR spectroscopy can be a much more sensitive tool for this purpose, at least for the considered structures. A weak perturbation of the dielectric function of GaN:C, caused by the substitutional carbon impurity, is shown to produce a measurable dip in the ATR reflectivity spectra at  ≈770 cm-1 for both p- and s-polarizations. Moreover, it influences a specific (guided-wave type) mode observed at  ≈737 cm-1, originating from the GaN layer, which appears in the narrow frequency window where the real parts of the two components of the dielectric tensor of the hexagonal crystal have opposite signs. This interpretation is supported by our modelling of the whole multilayer structure, using a transfer matrix formalism.

Application of spectroscopic techniques for the study of the surface changes in poplar wood and possible implications in conservation of wooden artefacts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pelosi, C.; Agresti, G.; Calienno, L.; Lo Monaco, A.; Picchio, R.; Santamaria, U.; Vinciguerra, V.

2013-05-01

The aim of this work is to study the surface modifications of poplar (Populus spp.) wood by reflectance spectrophotometry and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy in order to understand the mechanisms that cause the changes and to suggest possible solutions to avoid the degradation phenomena. Since colour changes on wood surfaces are due to photo degradation of its chemical constituents, the study of the relationship between CIELAB colour changes and changes in chemical composition due to irradiation is of practical importance both in cultural heritage and in contemporary artefacts and objects. Concerning the surface protection of wood, starting from the results obtained by testing different commercial products, the attention has been focused on Linfoil®, a novel organic preservative/consolidant product that seems to attract a great interest in the field of conservation of wooden artefacts. Linfoil® was chosen and analysed in order to understand its composition and its time stability using reflectance spectrophotometry, FT-IR spectroscopy and analytical pyrolysis coupled to a gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric system. Colour monitoring allowed to find that wood surface colour undergoes an important variation due to photo-irradiation, occurring within the first 24 hours and mainly due to L* decrease and b* increase. Though Linfoil® treatment modifies wood colour, nevertheless it seems to protect wood surface by reducing the yellowish. FT-IR spectroscopy allowed to investigate the rate of photo-degradation of wood surface due to lignin oxidation. The most important result is that a correlation of the colour changes may be derived with the photo-degradation of lignin obtained by FT-IR analysis.

Insulin Signalling in Hepatocytes of Type 2 Diabetic Humans. Excessive Expression and Activity of PKC-ι and Dependent Processes and Reversal by PKC-ι Inhibitors

PubMed Central

Sajan, M.P.; Farese, R. V.

2012-01-01

Aims/Hypothesis We examined the role of the protein kinase C-τ (PKC-ι) in mediating alterations in expression of enzymes in hepatocytes of type 2 diabetic humans that contribute importantly to development of lipid and carbohydrate abnormalities in type 2 diabetes. Methods We examined insulin signalling in isolated hepatocytes of non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic humans, and effects of two newly developed small molecule PKC-ι inhibitors on aberrant signalling and downstream processes. Results Opposite to PKC-ι deficiency in diabetic muscle, which diminishes glucose transport, "PKC-ι in diabetic hepatocytes was overexpressed and overactive, basally and following insulin treatment, and, moreover, was accompanied by increased expression of "PKC-ι-dependent lipogenic, proinflammatory and gluconeogenic enzymes. Heightened "PKC-ι activity most likely reflected heightened activity of insulin receptor substrate(IRS)-2-dependent phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), as IRS-1 levels and IRS-1/PI3K activity were markedly diminished.. Importantly, insulin stimulated "PKC-ι expression and its overexpression in diabetic hepatocytes was reversed in vitro by both insulin deprivation and "PKC-ι inhibitors; this suggested operation of an insulin-driven, feed-forward/positive-feedback mechanism. In contrast to "PKC-ι, Akt2 activity and activation by insulin was diminished, apparently reflecting IRS-1 deficiency. Treatment of diabetic hepatocytes with "PKC-ι/λ inhibitors diminished expression of lipogenic, proinflammatory and gluconeogenic enzymes. Conclusions/Interpretations Our findings suggest that a vicious cycle of "PKC-ι overactivity and overexpression exists in hepatocytes of type 2 diabetic humans and contributes importantly to maintaining overactivity of lipogenic, proinflammatory and gluconeogenic pathways that underlie lipid and carbohydrate abnormalities in type 2 diabetes. PMID:22349071

Insulin signalling in hepatocytes of humans with type 2 diabetes: excessive production and activity of protein kinase C-ι (PKC-ι) and dependent processes and reversal by PKC-ι inhibitors.

PubMed

Sajan, M P; Farese, R V

2012-05-01

We examined the role of protein kinase C-ι (PKC-ι) in mediating alterations in the abundance of enzymes in hepatocytes of type 2 diabetic humans that contribute importantly to the development of lipid and carbohydrate abnormalities in type 2 diabetes. We examined (1) insulin signalling in isolated hepatocytes of non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic humans and (2) the effects of two newly developed small molecule PKC-ι inhibitors on aberrant signalling and downstream processes. In contrast with PKC-ι deficiency in diabetic muscle, which diminishes glucose transport, PKC-ι in diabetic hepatocytes was overproduced and overactive, basally and after insulin treatment, and, moreover, was accompanied by increased abundance of PKC-ι-dependent lipogenic, proinflammatory and gluconeogenic enzymes. Heightened PKC-ι activity most likely reflected heightened activity of IRS-2-dependent phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), as IRS-1 levels and IRS-1/PI3K activity were markedly diminished. Importantly, insulin-stimulated PKC-ι abundance and its overabundance in diabetic hepatocytes was reversed in vitro by both insulin deprivation and PKC-ι inhibitors; this suggested operation of an insulin-driven, feed-forward/positive-feedback mechanism. In contrast with PKC-ι, protein kinase B (Akt2) activity and activation by insulin was diminished, apparently reflecting IRS-1 deficiency. Treatment of diabetic hepatocytes with PKC-ι/λ inhibitors diminished abundance of lipogenic, proinflammatory and gluconeogenic enzymes. Our findings suggest that a vicious cycle of PKC-ι overactivity and overproduction exists in hepatocytes of humans with type 2 diabetes and contributes importantly to maintaining overactivity of lipogenic, proinflammatory and gluconeogenic pathways, which underlies the lipid and carbohydrate abnormalities in type 2 diabetes.

Environmental stresses of field growth allow cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase-deficient Nicotiana attenuata plants to compensate for their structural deficiencies.

PubMed

Kaur, Harleen; Shaker, Kamel; Heinzel, Nicolas; Ralph, John; Gális, Ivan; Baldwin, Ian T

2012-08-01

The organized lignocellulosic assemblies of cell walls provide the structural integrity required for the large statures of terrestrial plants. Silencing two CINNAMYL ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE (CAD) genes in Nicotiana attenuata produced plants (ir-CAD) with thin, red-pigmented stems, low CAD and sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase activity, low lignin contents, and rubbery, structurally unstable stems when grown in the glasshouse (GH). However, when planted into their native desert habitat, ir-CAD plants produced robust stems that survived wind storms as well as the wild-type plants. Despite efficient silencing of NaCAD transcripts and enzymatic activity, field-grown ir-CAD plants had delayed and restricted spread of red stem pigmentation, a color change reflecting blocked lignification by CAD silencing, and attained wild-type-comparable total lignin contents. The rubbery GH phenotype was largely restored when field-grown ir-CAD plants were protected from wind, herbivore attack, and ultraviolet B exposure and grown in restricted rooting volumes; conversely, it was lost when ir-CAD plants were experimentally exposed to wind, ultraviolet B, and grown in large pots in growth chambers. Transcript and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-time-of-flight analysis revealed that these environmental stresses enhanced the accumulation of various phenylpropanoids in stems of field-grown plants; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis revealed that the lignin of field-grown ir-CAD plants had GH-grown comparable levels of sinapaldehyde and syringaldehyde cross-linked into their lignins. Additionally, field-grown ir-CAD plants had short, thick stems with normal xylem element traits, which collectively enabled field-grown ir-CAD plants to compensate for the structural deficiencies associated with CAD silencing. Environmental stresses play an essential role in regulating lignin biosynthesis in lignin-deficient plants.

Environmental Stresses of Field Growth Allow Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase-Deficient Nicotiana attenuata Plants to Compensate for their Structural Deficiencies1[C][W][OA

PubMed Central

Kaur, Harleen; Shaker, Kamel; Heinzel, Nicolas; Ralph, John; Gális, Ivan; Baldwin, Ian T.

2012-01-01

The organized lignocellulosic assemblies of cell walls provide the structural integrity required for the large statures of terrestrial plants. Silencing two CINNAMYL ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE (CAD) genes in Nicotiana attenuata produced plants (ir-CAD) with thin, red-pigmented stems, low CAD and sinapyl alcohol dehydrogenase activity, low lignin contents, and rubbery, structurally unstable stems when grown in the glasshouse (GH). However, when planted into their native desert habitat, ir-CAD plants produced robust stems that survived wind storms as well as the wild-type plants. Despite efficient silencing of NaCAD transcripts and enzymatic activity, field-grown ir-CAD plants had delayed and restricted spread of red stem pigmentation, a color change reflecting blocked lignification by CAD silencing, and attained wild-type-comparable total lignin contents. The rubbery GH phenotype was largely restored when field-grown ir-CAD plants were protected from wind, herbivore attack, and ultraviolet B exposure and grown in restricted rooting volumes; conversely, it was lost when ir-CAD plants were experimentally exposed to wind, ultraviolet B, and grown in large pots in growth chambers. Transcript and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-time-of-flight analysis revealed that these environmental stresses enhanced the accumulation of various phenylpropanoids in stems of field-grown plants; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis revealed that the lignin of field-grown ir-CAD plants had GH-grown comparable levels of sinapaldehyde and syringaldehyde cross-linked into their lignins. Additionally, field-grown ir-CAD plants had short, thick stems with normal xylem element traits, which collectively enabled field-grown ir-CAD plants to compensate for the structural deficiencies associated with CAD silencing. Environmental stresses play an essential role in regulating lignin biosynthesis in lignin-deficient plants. PMID:22645069

Autonomous long-range open area fire detection and reporting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Engelhaupt, Darell E.; Reardon, Patrick J.; Blackwell, Lisa; Warden, Lance; Ramsey, Brian D.

2005-03-01

Approximately 5 billion dollars in US revenue was lost in 2003 due to open area fires. In addition many lives are lost annually. Early detection of open area fires is typically performed by manned observatories, random reporting and aerial surveillance. Optical IR flame detectors have been developed previously. They typically have experienced high false alarms and low flame detection sensitivity due to interference from solar and other causes. Recently a combination of IR detectors has been used in a two or three color mode to reduce false alarms from solar, or background sources. A combination of ultra-violet C (UVC) and near infra-red (NIR) detectors has also been developed recently for flame discrimination. Relatively solar-blind basic detectors are now available but typically detect at only a few tens of meters at ~ 1 square meter fuel flame. We quantify the range and solar issues for IR and visible detectors and qualitatively define UV sensor requirements in terms of the mode of operation, collection area issues and flame signal output by combustion photochemistry. We describe innovative flame signal collection optics for multiple wavelengths using UV and IR as low false alarm detection of open area fires at long range (8-10 km/m2) in daylight (or darkness). A circular array detector and UV-IR reflective and refractive devices including cylindrical or toroidal lens elements for the IR are described. The dispersion in a refractive cylindrical IR lens characterizes the fire and allows a stationary line or circle generator to locate the direction and different flame IR "colors" from a wide FOV. The line generator will produce spots along the line corresponding to the fire which can be discriminated with a linear detector. We demonstrate prototype autonomous sensors with RF digital reporting from various sites.

Grammaticality and Educational Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hordern, Jim

2017-01-01

This paper uses Bernstein's concept of grammar to illuminate aspects of educational research. The relationship between internal and external languages of description in the production of disciplinary knowledge is examined. This leads to a reflection on the various factors both internal and external to the discipline of educational studies that…

Generation of thermo-acoustic waves from pulsed solar/IR radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahman, Aowabin

Acoustic waves could potentially be used in a wide range of engineering applications; however, the high energy consumption in generating acoustic waves from electrical energy and the cost associated with the process limit the use of acoustic waves in industrial processes. Acoustic waves converted from solar radiation provide a feasible way of obtaining acoustic energy, without relying on conventional nonrenewable energy sources. One of the goals of this thesis project was to experimentally study the conversion of thermal to acoustic energy using pulsed radiation. The experiments were categorized into "indoor" and "outdoor" experiments, each with a separate experimental setup. The indoor experiments used an IR heater to power the thermo-acoustic lasers and were primarily aimed at studying the effect of various experimental parameters on the amplitude of sound waves in the low frequency range (below 130 Hz). The IR radiation was modulated externally using a chopper wheel and then impinged on a porous solid, which was housed inside a thermo-acoustic (TA) converter. A microphone located at a certain distance from the porous solid inside the TA converter detected the acoustic signals. The "outdoor" experiments, which were targeted at TA conversion at comparatively higher frequencies (in 200 Hz-3 kHz range) used solar energy to power the thermo-acoustic laser. The amplitudes (in RMS) of thermo-acoustic signals obtained in experiments using IR heater as radiation source were in the 80-100 dB range. The frequency of acoustic waves corresponded to the frequency of interceptions of the radiation beam by the chopper. The amplitudes of acoustic waves were influenced by several factors, including the chopping frequency, magnitude of radiation flux, type of porous material, length of porous material, external heating of the TA converter housing, location of microphone within the air column, and design of the TA converter. The time-dependent profile of the thermo-acoustic signals also showed "transient" behavior, meaning that the RMS amplitudes of TA signals varied over a time interval much greater than the time period of acoustic cycles. Acoustic amplitudes in the range of 75-95 dB were obtained using solar energy as the heat source, within the frequency range of 200 Hz-3 kHz.

TH-AB-202-11: Spatial and Rotational Quality Assurance of 6DOF Patient Tracking Systems

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

Belcher, AH; Liu, X; Grelewicz, Z

2016-06-15

Purpose: External tracking systems used for patient positioning and motion monitoring during radiotherapy are now capable of detecting both translations and rotations (6DOF). In this work, we develop a novel technique to evaluate the 6DOF performance of external motion tracking systems. We apply this methodology to an infrared (IR) marker tracking system and two 3D optical surface mapping systems in a common tumor 6DOF workspace. Methods: An in-house designed and built 6DOF parallel kinematics robotic motion phantom was used to follow input trajectories with sub-millimeter and sub-degree accuracy. The 6DOF positions of the robotic system were then tracked and recordedmore » independently by three optical camera systems. A calibration methodology which associates the motion phantom and camera coordinate frames was first employed, followed by a comprehensive 6DOF trajectory evaluation, which spanned a full range of positions and orientations in a 20×20×16 mm and 5×5×5 degree workspace. The intended input motions were compared to the calibrated 6DOF measured points. Results: The technique found the accuracy of the IR marker tracking system to have maximal root mean square error (RMSE) values of 0.25 mm translationally and 0.09 degrees rotationally, in any one axis, comparing intended 6DOF positions to positions measured by the IR camera. The 6DOF RSME discrepancy for the first 3D optical surface tracking unit yielded maximal values of 0.60 mm and 0.11 degrees over the same 6DOF volume. An earlier generation 3D optical surface tracker was observed to have worse tracking capabilities than both the IR camera unit and the newer 3D surface tracking system with maximal RMSE of 0.74 mm and 0.28 degrees within the same 6DOF evaluation space. Conclusion: The proposed technique was effective at evaluating the performance of 6DOF patient tracking systems. All systems examined exhibited tracking capabilities at the sub-millimeter and sub-degree level within a 6DOF workspace.« less

Internal respiratory surrogate in multislice 4D CT using a combination of Fourier transform and anatomical features

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

Hui, Cheukkai; Suh, Yelin; Robertson, Daniel

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a novel algorithm to create a robust internal respiratory signal (IRS) for retrospective sorting of four-dimensional (4D) computed tomography (CT) images. Methods: The proposed algorithm combines information from the Fourier transform of the CT images and from internal anatomical features to form the IRS. The algorithm first extracts potential respiratory signals from low-frequency components in the Fourier space and selected anatomical features in the image space. A clustering algorithm then constructs groups of potential respiratory signals with similar temporal oscillation patterns. The clustered group with the largest number of similar signalsmore » is chosen to form the final IRS. To evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm, the IRS was computed and compared with the external respiratory signal from the real-time position management (RPM) system on 80 patients. Results: In 72 (90%) of the 4D CT data sets tested, the IRS computed by the authors’ proposed algorithm matched with the RPM signal based on their normalized cross correlation. For these data sets with matching respiratory signals, the average difference between the end inspiration times (Δt{sub ins}) in the IRS and RPM signal was 0.11 s, and only 2.1% of Δt{sub ins} were more than 0.5 s apart. In the eight (10%) 4D CT data sets in which the IRS and the RPM signal did not match, the average Δt{sub ins} was 0.73 s in the nonmatching couch positions, and 35.4% of them had a Δt{sub ins} greater than 0.5 s. At couch positions in which IRS did not match the RPM signal, a correlation-based metric indicated poorer matching of neighboring couch positions in the RPM-sorted images. This implied that, when IRS did not match the RPM signal, the images sorted using the IRS showed fewer artifacts than the clinical images sorted using the RPM signal. Conclusions: The authors’ proposed algorithm can generate robust IRSs that can be used for retrospective sorting of 4D CT data. The algorithm is completely automatic and requires very little processing time. The algorithm is cost efficient and can be easily adopted for everyday clinical use.« less

Validation of ATR FT-IR to identify polymers of plastic marine debris, including those ingested by marine organisms

USGS Publications Warehouse

Jung, Melissa R.; Horgen, F. David; Orski, Sara V.; Rodriguez, Viviana; Beers, Kathryn L.; Balazs, George H.; Jones, T. Todd; Work, Thierry M.; Brignac, Kayla C.; Royer, Sarah-Jeanne; Hyrenbach, David K.; Jensen, Brenda A.; Lynch, Jennifer M.

2018-01-01

Polymer identification of plastic marine debris can help identify its sources, degradation, and fate. We optimized and validated a fast, simple, and accessible technique, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR), to identify polymers contained in plastic ingested by sea turtles. Spectra of consumer good items with known resin identification codes #1–6 and several #7 plastics were compared to standard and raw manufactured polymers. High temperature size exclusion chromatography measurements confirmed ATR FT-IR could differentiate these polymers. High-density (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) discrimination is challenging but a clear step-by-step guide is provided that identified 78% of ingested PE samples. The optimal cleaning methods consisted of wiping ingested pieces with water or cutting. Of 828 ingested plastics pieces from 50 Pacific sea turtles, 96% were identified by ATR FT-IR as HDPE, LDPE, unknown PE, polypropylene (PP), PE and PP mixtures, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and nylon.

Design of visible and IR infrared dual-band common-path telescope system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, YuLin; Yu, Xun; Tao, Yu; Jiang, Xu

2018-01-01

The use of visible and IR infrared dual-band combination can effectively improve the performance of photoelectric detection system,TV and IR system were designed with the common path by the common reflection optical system.A TV/IR infrared common-caliber and common-path system is designed,which can realize the Remote and all-day information.For the 640×512 cooled focal plane array,an infrared middle wave system was presented with a focal length of 600mm F number of 4 field of view(FOV) of 0.38°×0.43°, the system uses optical passive thermal design, has o compact structure and can meet 100% cold shield efficiency,meanwhile it meets the design requirements of lightweight and athermalization. For the 1920×1080 pixels CCD,a visible (TV) system ,which had 500mm focal length, 4F number,was completed.The final optical design along with their modulation transfer function is presented,showing excellent imaging performance in dual-band at the temperature range between -40° and 60°.

Which shoulder motions cause subacromial impingement? Evaluating the vertical displacement and peak strain of the coracoacromial ligament by ultrasound speckle tracking imaging.

PubMed

Park, In; Lee, Hyo-Jin; Kim, Sung-Eun; Bae, Sung-Ho; Byun, Chu-Hwan; Kim, Yang-Soo

2015-11-01

Subacromial impingement is a common cause of shoulder pain and one cause of rotator cuff disease. We aimed to identify which shoulder motions cause subacromial impingement by measuring the vertical displacement and peak strain of the coracoacromial ligament using ultrasound speckle tracking imaging. Sixteen shoulders without shoulder disability were enrolled. All subjects were men, and the average age was 28.6 years. The vertical displacement and peak strain of the coracoacromial ligament were analyzed by the motion tracing program during the following active assisted motions (active motion controlled by the examiner): (1) forward flexion in the scapular plane, (2) horizontal abduction in the axial plane, (3) external rotation with the arm at 0° abduction (ER0), (4) internal rotation with the arm at 0° abduction (IR0), (5) internal rotation with the arm at 90° abduction (IR90), and (6) internal rotation at the back (IRB). The mean vertical displacement of the coracoacromial ligament during forward flexion (2.2 mm), horizontal abduction (2.2 mm), and IR90 (2.4 mm) was significantly greater than that during the other motions (ER0, -0.7 mm; IR0, 0.5 mm; IRB, 1.0 mm; P < .003). The mean peak strain was significantly higher in forward flexion (6.88%), horizontal abduction (6.58%), and IR90 (4.88%) than with the other motions (ER0, 1.42%; IR0, 1.78%; IRB, 2.61%; P < .003). Forward flexion, horizontal abduction, and IR90 showed higher vertical displacement and peak strain of the coracoacromial ligament, causing subacromial impingement. It is recommended that patients with impingement syndrome or a repaired rotator cuff avoid these shoulder motions. Copyright © 2015 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.