Origin of the anomalous long lifetime of ¹⁴C.

PubMed

Maris, P; Vary, J P; Navrátil, P; Ormand, W E; Nam, H; Dean, D J

2011-05-20

We report the microscopic origins of the anomalously suppressed beta decay of ¹⁴C to ¹⁴N using the ab initio no-core shell model with the Hamiltonian from the chiral effective field theory including three-nucleon force terms. The three-nucleon force induces unexpectedly large cancellations within the p shell between contributions to beta decay, which reduce the traditionally large contributions from the nucleon-nucleon interactions by an order of magnitude, leading to the long lifetime of ¹⁴C.

Testing microscopically derived descriptions of nuclear collectivity: Coulomb excitation of 22Mg

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henderson, J.; Hackman, G.; Ruotsalainen, P.; Stroberg, S. R.; Launey, K. D.; Holt, J. D.; Ali, F. A.; Bernier, N.; Bentley, M. A.; Bowry, M.; Caballero-Folch, R.; Evitts, L. J.; Frederick, R.; Garnsworthy, A. B.; Garrett, P. E.; Jigmeddorj, B.; Kilic, A. I.; Lassen, J.; Measures, J.; Muecher, D.; Olaizola, B.; O'Sullivan, E.; Paetkau, O.; Park, J.; Smallcombe, J.; Svensson, C. E.; Wadsworth, R.; Wu, C. Y.

2018-07-01

Many-body nuclear theory utilizing microscopic or chiral potentials has developed to the point that collectivity might be studied within a microscopic or ab initio framework without the use of effective charges; for example with the proper evolution of the E2 operator, or alternatively, through the use of an appropriate and manageable subset of particle-hole excitations. We present a precise determination of E2 strength in 22Mg and its mirror 22Ne by Coulomb excitation, allowing for rigorous comparisons with theory. No-core symplectic shell-model calculations were performed and agree with the new B (E 2) values while in-medium similarity-renormalization-group calculations consistently underpredict the absolute strength, with the missing strength found to have both isoscalar and isovector components. The discrepancy between two microscopic models demonstrates the sensitivity of E2 strength to the choice of many-body approximation employed.

Systematics of g factors of 2{sub 1}{sup +} states in even-even nuclei from Gd to Pt: A microscopic description by the projected shell model

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

Bian, Bao-An; Institute of Low Energy Nuclear Physics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875; Di, Yao-Min

2007-01-15

The systematics of g factor of the first excited 2{sup +} state vs neutron number N is studied by the projected shell model. The study covers the even-even nuclei of all isotopic chains from Gd to Pt. g factors are calculated by using the many-body wave functions that well reproduce the energy levels and B(E2)s of the ground-state bands. For Gd to W isotopes the characteristic feature of the g factor data along an isotopic chain is described by the present model. Deficiency of the model in the g factor description for the heavier Os and Pt isotopes is discussed.

A comparative study of a (0-3) connectivity type composite and core-shell structure of CoFe2O4 - BaTiO3 based on microstructure and magnetic property

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Avisek; Gorige, Venkataiah

2018-04-01

In this work CoFe2O4 (CFO)-BaTiO3 (BTO) composite and core-shell CFO-BTO have been prepared to investigate the effect of microstructure on the magnetic properties. Detailed microstructure analysis has been carried out using X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. Although uniform distribution of CFO is found in BTO matrix for the composite sample, magnetization and coercivity values are more enhanced in core-shell CFO-BTO.

SS-HORSE method for studying resonances

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

Blokhintsev, L. D.; Mazur, A. I.; Mazur, I. A., E-mail: 008043@pnu.edu.ru

A new method for analyzing resonance states based on the Harmonic-Oscillator Representation of Scattering Equations (HORSE) formalism and analytic properties of partial-wave scattering amplitudes is proposed. The method is tested by applying it to the model problem of neutral-particle scattering and can be used to study resonance states on the basis of microscopic calculations performed within various versions of the shell model.

First Direct Mass Measurements of Nuclides around Z =100 with a Multireflection Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrograph

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ito, Y.; Schury, P.; Wada, M.; Arai, F.; Haba, H.; Hirayama, Y.; Ishizawa, S.; Kaji, D.; Kimura, S.; Koura, H.; MacCormick, M.; Miyatake, H.; Moon, J. Y.; Morimoto, K.; Morita, K.; Mukai, M.; Murray, I.; Niwase, T.; Okada, K.; Ozawa, A.; Rosenbusch, M.; Takamine, A.; Tanaka, T.; Watanabe, Y. X.; Wollnik, H.; Yamaki, S.

2018-04-01

The masses of 246Es, 251Fm, and the transfermium nuclei Md-252249 and 254No, produced by hot- and cold-fusion reactions, in the vicinity of the deformed N =152 neutron shell closure, have been directly measured using a multireflection time-of-flight mass spectrograph. The masses of 246Es and 249,250,252Md were measured for the first time. Using the masses of Md,250249 as anchor points for α decay chains, the masses of heavier nuclei, up to 261Bh and 266Mt, were determined. These new masses were compared with theoretical global mass models and demonstrated to be in good agreement with macroscopic-microscopic models in this region. The empirical shell gap parameter δ2 n derived from three isotopic masses was updated with the new masses and corroborates the existence of the deformed N =152 neutron shell closure for Md and Lr.

Interplay between proton-neutron pairing and deformation in self-conjugated medium mass nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gambacurta, Danilo; Lacroix, Denis

2016-05-01

We employ a model combining self-consistent mean-field and shell model techniques to study the competition between particle-like and proton-neutron pairing correlations in fp-shell even-even self-conjugate nuclei. Deformation effects are realistically and microscopically described. The resulting approach can give a precise description of pairing correlations and eventually treat the coexistence of different condensate formed of pairs with different total spin/ isospin. The standard BCS calculations are systematically compared with approaches including correlation effects beyond the independent quasi-particle picture. The competition between proton-neutron correlations in the isoscalar and isovector channels is also analyzed, as well as their dependence on the deformation properties.

Nuclear shape evolution based on microscopic level densities

DOE PAGES

Ward, D. E.; Carlsson, B. G.; Døssing, T.; ...

2017-02-27

Here, by combining microscopically calculated level densities with the Metropolis walk method, we develop a consistent framework for treating the energy and angular-momentum dependence of the nuclear shape evolution in the fission process. For each nucleus under consideration, the level density is calculated microscopically for each of more than five million shapes with a recently developed combinatorial method. The method employs the same single-particle levels as those used for the extraction of the pairing and shell contributions to the macroscopic-microscopic deformation-energy surface. Containing no new parameters, the treatment is suitable for elucidating the energy dependence of the dynamics of warmmore » nuclei on pairing and shell effects. It is illustrated for the fission fragment mass distribution for several uranium and plutonium isotopes of particular interest.« less

Surface properties for α-cluster nuclear matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castro, J. J.; Soto, J. R.; Yépez, E.

2013-03-01

We introduce a new microscopic model for α-cluster matter, which simulates the properties of ordinary nuclear matter and α-clustering in a curved surface of a large but finite nucleus. The model is based on a nested icosahedral fullerene-like multiple-shell structure, where each vertex is occupied by a microscopic α-particle. The novel aspect of this model is that it allows a consistent description of nuclear surface properties from microscopic parameters to be made without using the leptodermous expansion. In particular, we show that the calculated surface energy is in excellent agreement with the corresponding coefficient of the Bethe-Weizäcker semi-empirical mass formula. We discuss the properties of the surface α-cluster state, which resembles an ultra cold bosonic quantum gas trapped in an optical lattice. By comparing the surface and interior states we are able to estimate the α preformation probability. Possible extensions of this model to study nuclear dynamics through surface vibrations and departures from approximate sphericity are mentioned.

Nonlinear finite-element analysis of nanoindentation of viral capsids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gibbons, Melissa M.; Klug, William S.

2007-03-01

Recent atomic force microscope (AFM) nanoindentation experiments measuring mechanical response of the protein shells of viruses have provided a quantitative description of their strength and elasticity. To better understand and interpret these measurements, and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, this paper adopts a course-grained modeling approach within the framework of three-dimensional nonlinear continuum elasticity. Homogeneous, isotropic, elastic, thick-shell models are proposed for two capsids: the spherical cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV), and the ellipsocylindrical bacteriophage ϕ29 . As analyzed by the finite-element method, these models enable parametric characterization of the effects of AFM tip geometry, capsid dimensions, and capsid constitutive descriptions. The generally nonlinear force response of capsids to indentation is shown to be insensitive to constitutive particulars, and greatly influenced by geometric and kinematic details. Nonlinear stiffening and softening of the force response is dependent on the AFM tip dimensions and shell thickness. Fits of the models capture the roughly linear behavior observed in experimental measurements and result in estimates of Young’s moduli of ≈280-360MPa for CCMV and ≈4.5GPa for ϕ29 .

Study of Fission Barrier Heights of Uranium Isotopes by the Macroscopic-Microscopic Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Chun-Lai; Fan, Tie-Shuan

2014-09-01

Potential energy surfaces of uranium nuclei in the range of mass numbers 229 through 244 are investigated in the framework of the macroscopic-microscopic model and the heights of static fission barriers are obtained in terms of a double-humped structure. The macroscopic part of the nuclear energy is calculated according to Lublin—Strasbourg-drop (LSD) model. Shell and pairing corrections as the microscopic part are calculated with a folded-Yukawa single-particle potential. The calculation is carried out in a five-dimensional parameter space of the generalized Lawrence shapes. In order to extract saddle points on the potential energy surface, a new algorithm which can effectively find an optimal fission path leading from the ground state to the scission point is developed. The comparison of our results with available experimental data and others' theoretical results confirms the reliability of our calculations.

Shell-model method for Gamow-Teller transitions in heavy deformed odd-mass nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Long-Jun; Sun, Yang; Ghorui, Surja K.

2018-04-01

A shell-model method for calculating Gamow-Teller (GT) transition rates in heavy deformed odd-mass nuclei is presented. The method is developed within the framework of the projected shell model. To implement the computation requirement when many multi-quasiparticle configurations are included in the basis, a numerical advancement based on the Pfaffian formula is introduced. With this new many-body technique, it becomes feasible to perform state-by-state calculations for the GT nuclear matrix elements of β -decay and electron-capture processes, including those at high excitation energies in heavy nuclei which are usually deformed. The first results, β- decays of the well-deformed A =153 neutron-rich nuclei, are shown as the example. The known log(f t ) data corresponding to the B (GT- ) decay rates of the ground state of 153Nd to the low-lying states of 153Pm are well described. It is further shown that the B (GT) distributions can have a strong dependence on the detailed microscopic structure of relevant states of both the parent and daughter nuclei.

Microstructural and thermal study of Al-Si-Mg/melon shell ash particulate composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdulwahab, M.; Umaru, O. B.; Bawa, M. A.; Jibo, H. A.

The microstructural study via scanning electron microscope (SEM) and thermal study via differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) study of Al-7%Si-0.3Mg/melon shell ash particulate composite has been carried out. The melon shell ash was used in the production of MMC ranging from 5% to 20% at interval of 5% addition using stir casting method. The melon shell ash was characterized using X-ray fluorescent (XRF) that reveal the presence of CaO, SiO2, Al2O3, MgO, and TiO2 as major compounds. The composite was machined and subjected to heat treatment. Microstructural analyses of the composite produced were done using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The microstructure obtained reveals a dark ceramic (reinforcer) and white metallic phase. Equally, the 5 wt% DSC result gives better thermal conductivity than other proportions (10 wt%, 15 wt%, and 20 wt%). These results showed that an improved property of Al-Si-Mg alloy was achieved using melon shell ash particles as reinforcement up to a maximum of 20 wt% for microstructural and 5% wt DSC respectively.

SPY: A new scission point model based on microscopic ingredients to predict fission fragments properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lemaître, J.-F.; Dubray, N.; Hilaire, S.; Panebianco, S.; Sida, J.-L.

2013-12-01

Our purpose is to determine fission fragments characteristics in a framework of a scission point model named SPY for Scission Point Yields. This approach can be considered as a theoretical laboratory to study fission mechanism since it gives access to the correlation between the fragments properties and their nuclear structure, such as shell correction, pairing, collective degrees of freedom, odd-even effects. Which ones are dominant in final state? What is the impact of compound nucleus structure? The SPY model consists in a statistical description of the fission process at the scission point where fragments are completely formed and well separated with fixed properties. The most important property of the model relies on the nuclear structure of the fragments which is derived from full quantum microscopic calculations. This approach allows computing the fission final state of extremely exotic nuclei which are inaccessible by most of the fission model available on the market.

Green synthesis and characterization of Au@Pt core-shell bimetallic nanoparticles using gallic acid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Guojun; Zheng, Hongmei; Shen, Ming; Wang, Lei; Wang, Xiaosan

2015-06-01

In this study, we developed a facile and benign green synthesis approach for the successful fabrication of well-dispersed urchin-like Au@Pt core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) using gallic acid (GA) as both a reducing and protecting agent. The proposed one-step synthesis exploits the differences in the reduction potentials of AuCl4- and PtCl62-, where the AuCl4- ions are preferentially reduced to Au cores and the PtCl62- ions are then deposited continuously onto the Au core surface as a Pt shell. The as-prepared Au@Pt NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM); high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM); scanning electron microscope (SEM); UV-vis absorption spectra (UV-vis); X-ray diffraction (XRD); Fourier transmission infrared spectra (FT-IR). We systematically investigated the effects of some experimental parameters on the formation of the Au@Pt NPs, i.e., the reaction temperature, the molar ratios of HAuCl4/H2PtCl6, and the amount of GA. When polyvinylpyrrolidone K-30 (PVP) was used as a protecting agent, the Au@Pt core-shell NPs obtained using this green synthesis method were better dispersed and smaller in size. The as-prepared Au@Pt NPs exhibited better catalytic activity in the reaction where NaBH4 reduced p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol. However, the results showed that the Au@Pt bimetallic NPs had a lower catalytic activity than the pure Au NPs obtained by the same method, which confirmed the formation of Au@Pt core-shell nanostructures because the active sites on the surfaces of the Au NPs were covered with a Pt shell.

{ITALIC AB INITIO} Large-Basis no-Core Shell Model and its Application to Light Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barrett, Bruce R.; Navratil, Petr; Ormand, W. E.; Vary, James P.

2002-01-01

We discuss the {ITALIC ab initio} No-Core Shell Model (NCSM). In this method the effective Hamiltonians are derived microscopically from realistic nucleon-nucleon (NN) potentials, such as the CD-Bonn and the Argonne AV18 NN potentials, as a function of the finite Harmonic Oscillator (HO) basis space. We present converged results, i.e. , up to 50 Ω and 18 Ω HO excitations, respectively, for the A=3 and 4 nucleon systems. Our results for these light systems are in agreement with results obtained by other exact methods. We also calculate properties of 6Li and 6He in model spaces up to 10 Ω and of 12C up to 6 Ω. Binding energies, rms radii, excitation spectra and electromagnetic properties are discussed. The favorable comparison with available data is a consequence of the underlying NN interaction rather than a phenomenological fit.

Nanomechanics of biocompatible hollow thin-shell polymer microspheres.

PubMed

Glynos, Emmanouil; Koutsos, Vasileios; McDicken, W Norman; Moran, Carmel M; Pye, Stephen D; Ross, James A; Sboros, Vassilis

2009-07-07

The nanomechanical properties of biocompatible thin-shell hollow polymer microspheres with approximately constant ratio of shell thickness to microsphere diameter were measured by nanocompression tests in aqueous conditions. These microspheres encapsulate an inert gas and are used as ultrasound contrast agents by releasing free microbubbles in the presence of an ultrasound field as a result of free gas leakage from the shell. The tests were performed using an atomic force microscope (AFM) employing the force-distance curve technique. An optical microscope, on which the AFM was mounted, was used to guide the positioning of tipless cantilevers on top of individual microspheres. We performed a systematic study using several cantilevers with spring constants varying from 0.08 to 2.3 N/m on a population of microspheres with diameters from about 2 to 6 microm. The use of several cantilevers with various spring constants allowed a systematic study of the mechanical properties of the microsphere thin shell at different regimes of force and deformation. Using thin-shell mechanics theory for small deformations, the Young's modulus of the thin wall material was estimated and was shown to exhibit a strong size effect: it increased as the shell became thinner. The Young's modulus of thicker microsphere shells converged to the expected value for the macroscopic bulk material. For high applied forces, the force-deformation profiles showed a reversible and/or irreversible nonlinear behavior including "steps" and "jumps" which were attributed to mechanical instabilities such as buckling events.

Laser ablation of Au-CuO core-shell nanocomposite in water for optoelectronic devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ismail, Raid A.; Abdul-Hamed, Ryam S.

2017-12-01

Core-shell gold-copper oxide Au-CuO nanocomposites were synthesized using laser ablation of CuO target in colloidal solution of Au nanoparticles (NPs). The effect of laser fluence on the structural, morphological, electrical, and optical properties of Au-CuO nanocomposites was investigated using x-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), photoluminescence (PL), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Hall measurement, and UV-vis spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction results confirm the formation of polycrystalline Au-CuO NPs with monoclinic structure. The optical energy gap for CuO was 4 eV and for the Au-CuO core-shell nanocomposites was found to be in the range of 3.4-3.7 eV. SEM and TEM investigations revealed that the structure and morphology of Au-CuO core-shell nanocomposites were strongly depending on the laser fluence. A formation of Au-CuO nanospheres and platelets structures was observed. The photoluminescence data showed an emission of broad visible peaks between 407 and 420 nm. The effect of laser fluence on the dark and illuminated I-V characteristics of Au-CuO/n-Si heterojunction photodetectors was investigated and analyzed. The experimental data demonstrated that the photodetector prepared at optimum laser fluence exhibited photosensitivity of 0.6 AW-1 at 800 nm.

Excitation energy shift and size difference of low-energy levels in p -shell Λ hypernuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanada-En'yo, Yoshiko

2018-02-01

Structures of low-lying 0 s -orbit Λ states in p -shell Λ hypernuclei (ZAΛ) are investigated by applying microscopic cluster models for nuclear structure and a single-channel folding potential model for a Λ particle. For A >10 systems, the size reduction of core nuclei is small, and the core polarization effect is regarded as a higher-order perturbation in the Λ binding. The present calculation qualitatively describes the systematic trend of experimental data for excitation energy change from Z-1A to ZAΛ, in A >10 systems. The energy change shows a clear correlation with the nuclear size difference between the ground and excited states. In Li7Λ and Be9Λ, the significant shrinkage of cluster structures occurs consistently with the prediction of other calculations.

Micro-Raman investigations of InN-GaN core-shell nanowires on Si (111) substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sangeetha, P.; Jeganathan, K.; Ramakrishnan, V.

2013-06-01

The electron-phonon interactions in InN-GaN core-shell nanowires grown by plasma assisted- molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on Si (111) substrate have been analysed using micro-Raman spectroscopic technique with the excitation wavelength of 633, 488 and 325 nm. The Raman scattering at 633 nm reveals the characteristic E2 (high) and A1 (LO) phonon mode of InN core at 490 and 590 cm-1 respectively and E2 (high) phonon mode of GaN shell at 573 cm-1. The free carrier concentration of InN core is found to be low in the order ˜ 1016 cm-3 due to the screening of charge carriers by thin GaN shell. Diameter of InN core evaluated using the spatial correlation model is consistent with the transmission electron microscopic measurement of ˜15 nm. The phonon-life time of core-shell nanowire structure is estimated to be ˜0.4 ps. The micro-Raman mapping and its corresponding localised spectra for 325 nm excitation exhibit intense E2 (high) phonon mode of GaN shell at 573 cm-1 as the decrease of laser interaction length and the signal intensity is quenched at the voids due to high spacing of NWs.

Multi-compartment microscopic diffusion imaging

PubMed Central

Kaden, Enrico; Kelm, Nathaniel D.; Carson, Robert P.; Does, Mark D.; Alexander, Daniel C.

2017-01-01

This paper introduces a multi-compartment model for microscopic diffusion anisotropy imaging. The aim is to estimate microscopic features specific to the intra- and extra-neurite compartments in nervous tissue unconfounded by the effects of fibre crossings and orientation dispersion, which are ubiquitous in the brain. The proposed MRI method is based on the Spherical Mean Technique (SMT), which factors out the neurite orientation distribution and thus provides direct estimates of the microscopic tissue structure. This technique can be immediately used in the clinic for the assessment of various neurological conditions, as it requires only a widely available off-the-shelf sequence with two b-shells and high-angular gradient resolution achievable within clinically feasible scan times. To demonstrate the developed method, we use high-quality diffusion data acquired with a bespoke scanner system from the Human Connectome Project. This study establishes the normative values of the new biomarkers for a large cohort of healthy young adults, which may then support clinical diagnostics in patients. Moreover, we show that the microscopic diffusion indices offer direct sensitivity to pathological tissue alterations, exemplified in a preclinical animal model of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), a genetic multi-organ disorder which impacts brain microstructure and hence may lead to neurological manifestations such as autism, epilepsy and developmental delay. PMID:27282476

Atomistic Design of CdSe/CdS Core-Shell Quantum Dots with Suppressed Auger Recombination.

PubMed

Jain, Ankit; Voznyy, Oleksandr; Hoogland, Sjoerd; Korkusinski, Marek; Hawrylak, Pawel; Sargent, Edward H

2016-10-12

We design quasi-type-II CdSe/CdS core-shell colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) exhibiting a suppressed Auger recombination rate. We do so using fully atomistic tight-binding wave functions and microscopic Coulomb interactions. The recombination rate as a function of the core and shell size and shape is tested against experiments. Because of a higher density of deep hole states and stronger hole confinement, Auger recombination is found to be up to six times faster for positive trions compared to negative ones in 4 nm core/10 nm shell CQDs. Soft-confinement at the interface results in weak suppression of Auger recombination compared to same-bandgap sharp-interface CQDs. We find that the suppression is due to increased volume of the core resulting in delocalization of the wave functions, rather than due to soft-confinement itself. We show that our results are consistent with previous effective mass models with the same system parameters. Increasing the dot volume remains the most efficient way to suppress Auger recombination. We predict that a 4-fold suppression of Auger recombination can be achieved in 10 nm CQDs by increasing the core volume by using rodlike cores embedded in thick shells.

gA-driven shapes of electron spectra of forbidden β decays in the nuclear shell model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kostensalo, Joel; Suhonen, Jouni

2017-08-01

The evolution of the shape of the electron spectra of 16 forbidden β- decays as a function of gA was studied using the nuclear shell model in appropriate single-particle model spaces with established, well-tested nuclear Hamiltonians. The β spectra of 94Nb(6+) →94Mo(4+) and 98Tc(6+) →98Ru(4+) were found to depend strongly on gA, which makes them excellent candidates for the determination of the effective value of gA with the spectrum-shape method (SSM). A strong gA dependence is also seen in the spectrum of 96Zr(0+) →96Nb(6+) . This decay could be used for determining the quenching of gA in sixth-forbidden decays in the future, when the measurement of the spectrum becomes experimentally feasible. The calculated shell-model electron spectra of the ground-state-to-ground-state decays of 87Rb, 99Tc, and 137Cs and the decay of 137Cs to the isomeric 11 /2- state in 137Ba were found to be in excellent agreement with the spectra previously calculated using the microscopic quasiparticle-phonon model. This is further evidence of the robust nature of the SSM observed in the previous studies.

Systematics of nuclear ground state properties in 78-100Sr by laser spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buchinger, F.; Ramsay, E. B.; Arnold, E.; Neu, W.; Neugart, R.; Wendt, K.; Silverans, R. E.; Lievens, P.; Vermeeren, L.; Berdichevsky, D.; Fleming, R.; Sprung, D. W. L.; Ulm, G.

1990-06-01

Hyperfine structures and isotope shifts of strontium isotopes with A=78 to A=98 and A=100 were measured by collinear fast beam laser spectroscopy. Nuclear spins, moments and changes in mean square charge radii are extracted from the data. The spins and moments of most of the odd isotopes are explained in the framework of the single particle model. The changes in mean square charge radii are compared with predictions of the droplet model and of Hartree-Fock-plus-BCS calculations. For the isotopes in the transitional regions below and above the N=50 shell closure, the inclusion of quadrupole zero point motion in the Droplet model describes part of the observed shell effect. An additional change in the surface region of the charge distribution at spherical shape is suggested by the microscopic model. Furthermore, we propose that the isotopes 78Sr and 80Sr may show an unusual shape-sharing structure, with different mean deformations in the ground and 2+1 excited states.

Synthesis and characterization of silver-copper core-shell nanoparticles using polyol method for antimicrobial agent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hikmah, N.; Idrus, N. F.; Jai, J.; Hadi, A.

2016-06-01

Silver and copper nanoparticles are well-known as the good antimicrobial agent. The nano-size of particles influences in enhancing the antimicrobial activity. This paper discusses the effect of molarity on the microstructure and morphology of silver-copper core-shell nanoparticles prepared by a polyol method. In this study, silver-copper nanoparticles are synthesized through the green approach of polyol method using ethylene glycol (EG) as green solvent and reductant, and polyoxyethylene-(80)-sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) as a nontoxic stabilizer. The phase and morphology of silver-copper nanoparticles are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and Transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results XRD confirm the pure crystalline of silver and copper nanoparticles with face-centered cubic (FCC) structure. FESEM and TEM analysis confirm the existence of Ag and Cu nanoparticles in core-shell shape.

Fission Dynamics with Microscopic Level Densities

DOE PAGES

Ward, D.; Carlsson, B. G.; Dossing, Th.; ...

2017-01-01

We present a consistent framework for treating the energy and angularmomentum dependence of the shape evolution in the nuclear fission. It combines microscopically calculated level densities with the Metropolis-walk method, has no new parameters, and can elucidate the energy-dependent influence of pairing and shell effects on the dynamics of warm nuclei.

The isotopic biosignatures of photo- vs. thiotrophic bivalves: are they preserved in fossil shells?

PubMed

Dreier, A; Loh, W; Blumenberg, M; Thiel, V; Hause-Reitner, D; Hoppert, M

2014-09-01

Symbiont-bearing and non-symbiotic marine bivalves were used as model organisms to establish biosignatures for the detection of distinctive symbioses in ancient bivalves. For this purpose, the isotopic composition of lipids (δ13C) and bulk organic shell matrix (δ13C, δ34S, δ15N) from shells of several thiotrophic, phototrophic, or non-symbiotic bivalves were compared (phototrophic: Fragum fragum, Fragum unedo, Tridacna maxima; thiotrophic: Codakia tigerina, Fimbria fimbriata, Anodontia sp.; non-symbiotic: Tapes dorsatus, Vasticardium vertebratum, Scutarcopagia sp.). ∆13C values of bulk organic shell matrices, most likely representing mainly original shell protein/chitin biomass, were depleted in thio- and phototrophic bivalves compared to non-symbiotic bivalves. As the bulk organic shell matrix also showed a major depletion of δ15N (down to -2.2 ‰) for thiotrophic bivalves, combined δ13C and δ15N values are useful to differentiate between thio-, phototrophic, and non-symbiotic lifestyles. However, the use of these isotopic signatures for the study of ancient bivalves is limited by the preservation of the bulk organic shell matrix in fossils. Substantial alteration was clearly shown by detailed microscopic analyses of fossil (late Pleistocene) T. maxima and Trachycardium lacunosum shell, demonstrating a severe loss of quantity and quality of bulk organic shell matrix with time. Likewise, the composition and δ13C-values of lipids from empty shells indicated that a large part of these compounds derived from prokaryotic decomposers. The use of lipids from ancient shells for the reconstruction of the bivalve's life style therefore appears to be restricted. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Zoology: Molluscs All Beneath the Sun, One Shell, Two Shells, More, or None.

PubMed

Sigwart, Julia D

2017-07-24

One great remaining problem in evolutionary biology is to understand which common ancestor could have given rise to descendants as different as giant squid and microscopic pea clams. Two new papers provide important insights into molluscan body plan disparity. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Photonic jet with ultralong working distance by hemispheric shell.

PubMed

Hengyu, Zhu; Zaichun, Chen; Chong, Chong Tow; Minghui, Hong

2015-03-09

Micro-particle assisted nano-imaging has proven its success in the past few years since it can magnify the nano-objects, especially the metallic objects, into an image then collected by a conventional microscope. Micro-shell, which is a novel design of micro-particle in the configuration of a hemisphere with a hollow core region, is proposed and optimized in this paper in order to obtain a long photonic jet far away from its flat surface, thus increasing its working distance. Its dependence on the configuration and refractive index is investigated numerically. A micro-shell with the outer and inner radii of 5 and 2.5 µm and the refractive index of 1.5 can focus the incident light of 400 nm wavelength 2.7 µm away from the micro-shell flat surface, although the photonic jet intensity decreases to 25.8% compared to the solid hemisphere. Meanwhile, the photonic jet length of the micro-shell under the incident light of 400 nm and 1000 nm wavelengths are 1.7 µm and 4.3 µm, respectively, because its hollow core region tends to reduce the angle variation of the Poynting vectors in the photonic jet. With the long working distance and long photonic jet, the micro-shell could be used to scan over a sample to obtain a large area image when coupled with a conventional microscope, which is especially useful for the samples with the rough surfaces.

Spiral Form of the Human Cochlea Results from Spatial Constraints.

PubMed

Pietsch, M; Aguirre Dávila, L; Erfurt, P; Avci, E; Lenarz, T; Kral, A

2017-08-08

The human inner ear has an intricate spiral shape often compared to shells of mollusks, particularly to the nautilus shell. It has inspired many functional hearing theories. The reasons for this complex geometry remain unresolved. We digitized 138 human cochleae at microscopic resolution and observed an astonishing interindividual variability in the shape. A 3D analytical cochlear model was developed that fits the analyzed data with high precision. The cochlear geometry neither matched a proposed function, namely sound focusing similar to a whispering gallery, nor did it have the form of a nautilus. Instead, the innate cochlear blueprint and its actual ontogenetic variants were determined by spatial constraints and resulted from an efficient packing of the cochlear duct within the petrous bone. The analytical model predicts well the individual 3D cochlear geometry from few clinical measures and represents a clinical tool for an individualized approach to neurosensory restoration with cochlear implants.

Effective operators in a single-j orbital

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Derbali, E.; Van Isacker, P.; Tellili, B.; Souga, C.

2018-03-01

We present an analysis of effective operators in the shell model with up to three-body interactions in the Hamiltonian and two-body terms in electromagnetic transition operators when the nucleons are either neutrons or protons occupying a single-j orbital. We first show that evidence for an effective three-body interaction exists in the N = 50 isotones and in the lead isotopes but that the separate components of such interaction are difficult to obtain empirically. We then determine higher-order terms on more microscopic grounds. The starting point is a realistic two-body interaction in a large shell-model space together with a standard one-body transition operator, which, after restriction to the dominant orbital and with use of stationary perturbation theory, are transformed into effective versions with higher-order terms. An application is presented for the lead isotopes with neutrons in the 1{g}9/2 orbital.

Tropical sea snail shells: Possible exotic sources for ceramic biomaterial synthesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oktar, F. N.; Kiyici, I. A.; Gökçe, H.; Aǧaogulları, D.; Kayali, E. S.

2013-12-01

In this study, chemical and structural properties of sea snail shell based bioceramic materials (i.e. hydroxyapatite, whitlockite and other phases) are produced by using mechano-chemical (ultrasonic) conversion method. For this purpose, differential thermal and gravimetric analysis (DTA/TG), X-ray diffraction, infra-red (IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies are performed.

Three-Body Forces and the Limit of Oxygen Isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Otsuka, Takaharu; Suzuki, Toshio; Holt, Jason D.; Schwenk, Achim; Akaishi, Yoshinori

2010-07-01

The limit of neutron-rich nuclei, the neutron drip line, evolves regularly from light to medium-mass nuclei except for a striking anomaly in the oxygen isotopes. This anomaly is not reproduced in shell-model calculations derived from microscopic two-nucleon forces. Here, we present the first microscopic explanation of the oxygen anomaly based on three-nucleon forces that have been established in few-body systems. This leads to repulsive contributions to the interactions among excess neutrons that change the location of the neutron drip line from O28 to the experimentally observed O24. Since the mechanism is robust and general, our findings impact the prediction of the most neutron-rich nuclei and the synthesis of heavy elements in neutron-rich environments.

Direct observation of the transition from calcite to aragonite growth as induced by abalone shell proteins.

PubMed Central

Thompson, J B; Paloczi, G T; Kindt, J H; Michenfelder, M; Smith, B L; Stucky, G; Morse, D E; Hansma, P K

2000-01-01

The mixture of EDTA-soluble proteins found in abalone nacre are known to cause the nucleation and growth of aragonite on calcite seed crystals in supersaturated solutions of calcium carbonate. Past atomic force microscope studies of the interaction of these proteins with calcite crystals did not observe this transition because no information about the crystal polymorph on the surface was obtained. Here we have used the atomic force microscope to directly observe changes in the atomic lattice on a calcite seed crystal after the introduction of abalone shell proteins. The observed changes are consistent with a transition to (001) aragonite growth on a (1014) calcite surface. PMID:11106633

Imaging powders with the atomic force microscope: from biominerals to commercial materials.

PubMed

Friedbacher, G; Hansma, P K; Ramli, E; Stucky, G D

1991-09-13

Atomically resolved images of pressed powder samples have been obtained with the atomic force microscope (AFM). The technique was successful in resolving the particle, domain, and atomic structure of pismo clam (Tivela stultorum) and sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) shells and of commercially available calcium carbonate (CaCO(3)) and strontium carbonate (SrCO(3)) powders. Grinding and subsequent pressing of the shells did not destroy the microstructure of these materials. The atomic-resolution imaging capabilities of AFM can be applied to polycrystalline samples by means of pressing powders with a grain size as small as 50 micrometers. These results illustrate that the AFM is a promising tool for material science and the study of biomineralization.

Removal of methyl orange and methylene blue dyes from aqueous solution using lala clam (Orbicularia orbiculata) shell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eljiedi, Arwa Alseddig Ahmed; Kamari, Azlan

2017-05-01

Textile effluents are considered as potential sources of water pollution because they contain toxic dyes. In the present study, lala clam shell was used as an alternative low-cost adsorbent for the removal of two harmful dyes, namely methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. Batch adsorption studies were carried out by varying experimental parameters such as solution pH, initial concentration and adsorbent dosage. The optimum pH values for MO and MB removal were pH 2.0 and pH 8.0, respectively. At an initial MO and MB concentration of 20 mg/L, the maximum removal percentage of MO and MB were 18.9 % and 81.3 %, respectively. The adsorption equilibrium data were correlated with both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The biomass adsorbent was characterised using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR). Results from this study suggest that lala clam shell, a fishery waste, can be beneficial for water treatment.

Ultrasonic bubbles in medicine: influence of the shell.

PubMed

Postema, Michiel; Schmitz, Georg

2007-04-01

Ultrasound contrast agents consist of microscopically small bubbles encapsulated by an elastic shell. These microbubbles oscillate upon ultrasound insonification, and demonstrate highly nonlinear behavior, ameliorating their detectability. (Potential) medical applications involving the ultrasonic disruption of contrast agent microbubble shells include release-burst imaging, localized drug delivery, and noninvasive blood pressure measurement. To develop and enhance these techniques, predicting the cracking behavior of ultrasound-insonified encapsulated microbubbles has been of importance. In this paper, we explore microbubble behavior in an ultrasound field, with special attention to the influence of the bubble shell. A bubble in a sound field can be considered a forced damped harmonic oscillator. For encapsulated microbubbles, the presence of a shell has to be taken into account. In models, an extra damping parameter and a shell stiffness parameter have been included, assuming that Hooke's Law holds for the bubble shell. At high acoustic amplitudes, disruptive phenomena have been observed, such as microbubble fragmentation and ultrasonic cracking. We analyzed the occurrence of ultrasound contrast agent fragmentation, by simulating the oscillating behavior of encapsulated microbubbles with various sizes in a harmonic acoustic field. Fragmentation occurs exclusively during the collapse phase and occurs if the kinetic energy of the collapsing microbubble is greater than the instantaneous bubble surface energy, provided that surface instabilities have grown big enough to allow for break-up. From our simulations it follows that the Blake critical radius is not a good approximation for a fragmentation threshold. We demonstrated how the phase angle differences between a damped radially oscillating bubble and an incident sound field depend on shell parameters.

An Early Instance of Upper Palaeolithic Personal Ornamentation from China: The Freshwater Shell Bead from Shuidonggou 2.

PubMed

Wei, Yi; d'Errico, Francesco; Vanhaeren, Marian; Li, Feng; Gao, Xing

2016-01-01

We report the discovery and present a detailed analysis of a freshwater bivalve from Shuidonggou Locality 2, layer CL3. This layer is located c. 40 cm below layer CL2, which has yielded numerous ostrich eggshell beads. The shell is identified as the valve of a Corbicula fluminea. Data on the occurrence of this species in the Shuidonggou region during Marine Isotope Stage 3 and taphonomic analysis, conducted in the framework of this study, of a modern biocoenosis and thanatocoenosis suggest that the archeological specimen was collected at one of the numerous fossil or sub-fossil outcrops where valves of this species were available at the time of occupation of level CL3. Experimental grinding and microscopic analysis of modern shells of the same species indicate that the Shuidonggou shell was most probably ground on coarse sandstone to open a hole on its umbo, attach a thread, and use the valve as a personal ornament. Experimental engraving of freshwater shells and microscopic analysis identify an incision crossing the archaeological valve outer surface as possible deliberate engraving. Reappraisal of the site chronology in the light of available radiocarbon evidence suggests an age of at least 34-33 cal kyr BP for layer CL3. Such estimate makes the C. fluminea recovered from CL3 one of the earliest instances of personal ornamentation and the earliest example of a shell bead from China.

Lithography-Free Fabrication of Core-Shell GaAs Nanowire Tunnel Diodes.

PubMed

Darbandi, A; Kavanagh, K L; Watkins, S P

2015-08-12

GaAs core-shell p-n junction tunnel diodes were demonstrated by combining vapor-liquid-solid growth with gallium oxide deposition by atomic layer deposition for electrical isolation. The characterization of an ensemble of core-shell structures was enabled by the use of a tungsten probe in a scanning electron microscope without the need for lithographic processing. Radial tunneling transport was observed, exhibiting negative differential resistance behavior with peak-to-valley current ratios of up to 3.1. Peak current densities of up to 2.1 kA/cm(2) point the way to applications in core-shell photovoltaics and tunnel field effect transistors.

On the mechanism of penetration of ovicidal fungi through egg-shells of parasitic nematodes. Decomposition of chitinous and ascaroside layers.

PubMed

Kunert, J

1992-01-01

The decomposition of egg-shells of Ascaris lumbricoides L. was studied microscopically using topochemical methods in a set of 32 strains of soil ovicidal fungi. It was found that even fungi displaying minimal chitinolytic activity in tests on purified chitin in vitro are able to dissolve chitin of egg-shells during the attack on live eggs. Fungi without any chitinolytic activity penetrate probably only the mechanically damaged eggs. None of the studied fungi was capable of degrading enzymatically the glycolipid (ascaroside) layer of the egg-shell which remained intact after digestion of all other components of the egg.

Understanding to Hierarchical Microstructures of Crab (Chinese hairy) Shell as a Natural Architecture

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

Chuanqiang, Zhou; Xiangxiang, Gong; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou

This work was done to better understand the microstructures, composition and mechanical properties of Chinese hairy crab shell. For fully revealing its hierarchical microstructure, the crab shell was observed with electron microscope under different magnifications from different facets. XRD, EDS, FTIR and TGA techniques have been used to characterize the untreated and chemically-treated crab shells, which provided enough information to determine the species and relative content of components in this biomaterial. Combined the microstructures with constituents analysis, the structural principles of crab shell was detailedly realized from different structural levels beyond former reports. To explore the relationship between structure andmore » function, the mechanical properties of shell have been measured through performing tensile tests. The contributions of organics and minerals in shell to the mechanical properties were also discussed by measuring the tensile strength of de-calcification samples treated with HCl solution.« less

Selective colors reflection from stratified aragonite calcium carbonate plates of mollusk shells.

PubMed

Lertvachirapaiboon, Chutiparn; Parnklang, Tewarak; Pienpinijtham, Prompong; Wongravee, Kanet; Thammacharoen, Chuchaat; Ekgasit, Sanong

2015-08-01

An interaction between the incident light and the structural architecture within the shell of Asian green mussel (Perna viridis) induces observable pearlescent colors. In this paper, we investigate the influence of the structural architecture on the expressed colors. After a removal of the organic binder, small flakes from crushed shells show vivid rainbow reflection under an optical microscope. An individual flake expresses vivid color under a bright-field illumination while become transparent under a dark-field illumination. The expressed colors of the aragonite flakes are directly associated with its structural architecture. The flakes with aragonite thickness of 256, 310, and 353 nm, respectively, appear blue, green, and red under an optical microscope. The spectral simulation corroborates the experimentally observed optical effects as the flakes with thicker aragonite layers selectively reflected color with longer wavelengths. Flakes with multiple aragonite thicknesses expressed multi-color as the upper aragonite layers allow reflected colors from the lower layers to be observed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Spectral confocal reflection microscopy using a white light source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Booth, M.; Juškaitis, R.; Wilson, T.

2008-08-01

We present a reflection confocal microscope incorporating a white light supercontinuum source and spectral detection. The microscope provides images resolved spatially in three-dimensions, in addition to spectral resolution covering the wavelength range 450-650nm. Images and reflection spectra of artificial and natural specimens are presented, showing features that are not normally revealed in conventional microscopes or confocal microscopes using discrete line lasers. The specimens include thin film structures on semiconductor chips, iridescent structures in Papilio blumei butterfly scales, nacre from abalone shells and opal gemstones. Quantitative size and refractive index measurements of transparent beads are derived from spectral interference bands.

Microscopic study of spin cut-off factors of nuclear level densities

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

Gholami, M.; Kildir, M.; Behkami, A. N.

Level densities and spin cut-off factors have been investigated within the microscopic approach based on the BCS Hamiltonian. In particular, the spin cut-off parameters have been calculated at neutron binding energies over a large range of nuclear mass using the BCS theory. The spin cut-off parameters {sigma}{sup 2}(E) have also been obtained from the Gilbert and Cameron expression and from rigid body calculations. The results were compared with their corresponding macroscopic values. It was found that the values of {sigma}{sup 2}(E) did not increase smoothly with A as expected based on macroscopic theory. Instead, the values of {sigma}{sup 2}(E) showmore » structure reflecting the angular momentum of the shell model orbitals near the Fermi energy.« less

Mie scattering off coated microbubbles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelissen, Radboud; Koene, Elmer; Hilgenfeldt, Sascha; Versluis, Michel

2002-11-01

The acoustic behavior of coated microbubbles depends on parameters of the shell coating, which are in turn dependent on bubble size. More intimate knowledge of this size dependence is required for an improved modeling of a distribution of coated microbubbles such as found in ultrasound contrast agents (UCA). Here a setup is designed to simultaneously measure the optical and acoustic response of an ultrasound-driven single bubble contained in a capillary or levitated by the pressure field of a focused transducer. Optical detection is done by Mie scattering through an inverted microscope. Acoustical detection of the single bubble by a receiving transducer is made possible because of the large working distance of the microscope. For Mie scattering investigation of excited bubbles, two regimes can be distinguished, which require different detection techniques: Conventional wide-angle detection through the microscope objective is sufficient for bubbles of radius exceeding 10 mum. For smaller bubbles, two narrow-aperture detectors are used to reconstruct the bubble dynamics from the complex angle-dependence of the scattered light.

Static response of coated microbubbles compressed between rigid plates: Simulations and asymptotic analysis including elastic and adhesive forces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lytra, A.; Pelekasis, N.

2018-03-01

The static response of coated microbubbles is investigated with a novel approach employed for modeling contact between a microbubble and the cantilever of an atomic force microscope. Elastic tensions and moments are described via appropriate constitutive laws. The encapsulated gas is assumed to undergo isothermal variations. Due to the hydrophilic nature of the cantilever, an ultrathin aqueous film is formed, which transfers the force onto the shell. An interaction potential describes the local pressure applied on the shell. The problem is solved in axisymmetric form with the finite element method. The response is governed by the dimensionless bending, k^ b=kb/(χ R02 ), pressure, P^ A=(PAR0 )/χ , and interaction potential, W ^ =w0/χ . Hard polymeric shells have negligible resistance to gas compression, while for the softer lipid shells gas compressibility is comparable with shell elasticity. As the external force increases, numerical simulations reveal that the force versus deformation (f vs d) curve of polymeric shells exhibits a transition from the linear O(d) (Reissner) regime, marked by flattened shapes around the contact region, to a non-linear O(d1/2) (Pogorelov) regime dominated by shapes exhibiting crater formation due to buckling. When lipid shells are tested, buckling is bypassed as the external force increases and flattened shapes prevail in an initially linear f vs d curve. Transition to a curved upwards regime is observed as the force increases, where gas compression and area dilatation form the dominant balance providing a nonlinear regime with an O(d3) dependence. Asymptotic analysis recovers the above patterns and facilitates estimation of the shell mechanical properties.

Microwave absorption properties of Ni/(C, silicides) nanocapsules

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

The microwave absorption properties of Ni/(C, silicides) nanocapsules prepared by an arc discharge method have been studied. The composition and the microstructure of the Ni/(C, silicides) nanocapsules were determined by means of X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscope observations. Silicides, in the forms of SiOx and SiC, mainly exist in the shells of the nanocapsules and result in a large amount of defects at the ‘core/shell’ interfaces as well as in the shells. The complex permittivity and microwave absorption properties of the Ni/(C, silicides) nanocapsules are improved by the doped silicides. Compared with those of Ni/C nanocapsules, the positions of maximum absorption peaks of the Ni/(C, silicides) nanocapsules exhibit large red shifts. An electric dipole model is proposed to explain this red shift phenomenon. PMID:22548846

Quartetting in even-even and odd-odd N=Z nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sambataro, M.; Sandulescu, N.

2018-02-01

We report on a microscopic description of even-even N = Z nuclei in a formalism of quartets. Quartets are four-body correlated structures characterized by isospin T and angular momentum J. We show that the ground state correlations induced by a realistic shell model interaction can be well accounted for in terms of a restricted set of T = 0 low-J quartets, the J = 0 one playing by far a leading role among them. A conceptually similar description of odd-odd self-conjugate nuclei is given in terms of two distinct families of building blocks, one formed by the same T = 0 quartets employed for the even-even systems and the other by collective pairs with either T = 0 or T = 1. Some applications of this formalism are discussed for nuclei in the sd shell.

Lutz's spontaneous sedimentation technique and the paleoparasitological analysis of sambaqui (shell mound) sediments

PubMed Central

Camacho, Morgana; Pessanha, Thaíla; Leles, Daniela; Dutra, Juliana MF; Silva, Rosângela; de Souza, Sheila Mendonça; Araujo, Adauto

2013-01-01

Parasite findings in sambaquis (shell mounds) are scarce. Although the 121 shell mound samples were previously analysed in our laboratory, we only recently obtained the first positive results. In the sambaqui of Guapi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, paleoparasitological analysis was performed on sediment samples collected from various archaeological layers, including the superficial layer as a control. Eggs of Acanthocephala, Ascaridoidea and Heterakoidea were found in the archaeological layers. We applied various techniques and concluded that Lutz's spontaneous sedimentation technique is effective for concentrating parasite eggs in sambaqui soil for microscopic analysis. PMID:23579793

Lutz's spontaneous sedimentation technique and the paleoparasitological analysis of sambaqui (shell mound) sediments.

PubMed

Camacho, Morgana; Pessanha, Thaíla; Leles, Daniela; Dutra, Juliana M F; Silva, Rosângela; Souza, Sheila Mendonça de; Araujo, Adauto

2013-04-01

Parasite findings in sambaquis (shell mounds) are scarce. Although the 121 shell mound samples were previously analysed in our laboratory, we only recently obtained the first positive results. In the sambaqui of Guapi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, paleoparasitological analysis was performed on sediment samples collected from various archaeological layers, including the superficial layer as a control. Eggs of Acanthocephala, Ascaridoidea and Heterakoidea were found in the archaeological layers. We applied various techniques and concluded that Lutz's spontaneous sedimentation technique is effective for concentrating parasite eggs in sambaqui soil for microscopic analysis.

Electric current distribution of a multiwall carbon nanotube

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

Chen, Li-Ying; Chang, Chia-Seng, E-mail: jasonc@phys.sinica.edu.tw; Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan

2016-07-15

The electric current distribution in a multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was studied by in situ measuring the electric potential along an individual MWCNT in the ultra-high vacuum transmission electron microscope (TEM). The current induced voltage drop along each section of a side-bonded MWCNT was measured by a potentiometric probe in TEM. We have quantitatively derived that the current on the outermost shell depends on the applied current and the shell diameter. More proportion of the total electronic carriers hop into the inner shells when the applied current is increased. The larger a MWCNT’s diameter is, the easier the electronic carriersmore » can hop into the inner shells. We observed that, for an 8 nm MWCNT with 10 μA current applied, 99% of the total current was distributed on the outer two shells.« less

Preparation and characterization of polymer-coated core-shell structured magnetic microbeads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Z. L.; Ding, Z. H.; Yao, K. L.; Tao, J.; Du, G. H.; Lu, Q. H.; Wang, X.; Gong, F. L.; Chen, X.

2003-09-01

Composite microbeads consisting of polymer-coated iron oxide nanoparticles are prepared by the microemulsion polymerization of styrene, divinyl benzene and methacrylic acid in the presence of emulsifiers. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer analysis indicates the presence of -COOH groups and Fe 3O 4 of the microbeads. The amount of -COOH groups localized on the surface, which is about 0.15 mmol/g, is determined by conductometric titration. Transmission electron microscope picture reveals that the microbeads have a core-shell structure. The dissolving experiments of microbeads in hydrochloric acid and toluene further identify the core-shell structure. Optical microscope indicates that the magnetic microbeads have uniform and spherical forms with the size of 1-5 μm. Magnetic sensitivity measurement indicates that the microbeads can be used conveniently. Magnetic property measurement shows very little residual magnetization and coercivity, which are below 0.5 emu/g and around 15 Oe, respectively. The magnetic properties are greatly related to the particle sizes. The thermal gravity analysis result shows the improvement of thermal stability. The experiment of immobilized antibody indicates that the functional groups on the surface are appropriate.

Microscopic structural descriptor of liquid water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Rui; Tanaka, Hajime

2018-03-01

The microscopic structure of liquid water has been believed to be the key to the understanding of the unique properties of this extremely important substance. Many structural descriptors have been developed for revealing local structural order in water, but their properties are still not well understood. The essential difficulty comes from structural fluctuations due to thermal noise, which are intrinsic to the liquid state. The most popular and widely used descriptors are the local structure index (LSI) and d5. Recently, Russo and Tanaka [Nat. Commun. 3, 3556 (2014)] introduced a new descriptor ζ which measures the translational order between the first and second shells considering hydrogen bonding (H-bonding) in the first shell. In this work, we compare the performance of these three structural descriptors for a popular water model known as TIP5P water. We show that local structural ordering can be properly captured only by the structural descriptor ζ, but not by the other two descriptors particularly at a high temperature, where thermal noise effects are severe. The key difference of ζ from LSI and d5 is that only ζ considers H-bonding which is crucial to detect high translational and tetrahedral order of not only oxygen but also hydrogen atoms. The importance of H-bonding is very natural, considering the fact that the locally favored structures are stabilized by energy gain due to the formation of four hydrogen bonds between the central water molecule and its neighboring ones in the first shell. Our analysis of the water structure by using ζ strongly supports the two-state model of water: water is a dynamic mixture of locally favored (ordered) and normal-liquid (disordered) structures. This work demonstrates the importance of H-bonding in the characterization of water's structures and provides a useful structural descriptor for water-type tetrahedral liquids to study their structure and dynamics.

Direct Correlation of Excitonics with Efficiency in a Core-Shell Quantum Dot Solar Cell.

PubMed

Dana, Jayanta; Maiti, Sourav; Tripathi, Vaidehi S; Ghosh, Hirendra N

2018-02-16

Shell thickness dependent band-gap engineering of quasi type II core-shell material with higher carrier cooling time, lower interfacial defect states, and longer charge carrier recombination time can be a promising candidate for both photocatalysis and solar cell. In the present investigation, colloidal CdSe@CdS core-shells with different shell thickness (2, 4 and 6 monolayer CdS) were synthesized through hot injection method and have been characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) followed by steady state absorption and luminescence techniques. Ultrafast transient absorption (TA) studies suggest longer carrier cooling, lower interfacial surface states, and slower carrier recombination time in CdSe@CdS core-shell with increasing shell thickness. By TA spectroscopy, the role of CdS shell in power conversion efficiency (PCE) has been explained in detail. The measured PCE was found to initially increase and then decrease with increasing shell thickness. Shell thickness has been optimized to maximize the efficiency after correlating the shell controlled carrier cooling and recombination with PCE values and a maximum PCE of 3.88 % was obtained with 4 monolayers of CdS shell, which is found to be 57 % higher than compared to bare CdSe QDs. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Potential energy surfaces of Polonium isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nerlo-Pomorska, B.; Pomorski, K.; Schmitt, C.; Bartel, J.

2015-11-01

The evolution of the potential energy landscape is analysed in detail for ten even-even polonium isotopes in the mass range 188\\lt A\\lt 220 as obtained within the macroscopic-microscopic approach, relying on the Lublin-Strasbourg drop model and the Yukawa-folded single-particle energies for calculating the microscopic shell and pairing corrections. A variant of the modified Funny-Hills nuclear shape parametrization is used to efficiently map possible fission paths. The approach explains the main features of the fragment partition as measured in low-energy fission along the polonium chain. The latter lies in a transitional region of the nuclear chart, and will be essential to consistently understand the evolution of fission properties from neutron-deficient mercury to heavy actinides. The ability of our method to predict fission observables over such an extended region looks promising.

Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI): aspects of the core-shell structure and reactions with inorganic species in water.

PubMed

Yan, Weile; Herzing, Andrew A; Kiely, Christopher J; Zhang, Wei-Xian

2010-11-25

Aspects of the core-shell model of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) and their environmental implications were examined in this work. The structure and elemental distribution of nZVI were characterized by X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy (XEDS) with nanometer-scale spatial resolution in an aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). The analysis provides unequivocal evidence of a layered structure of nZVI consisting of a metallic iron core encapsulated by a thin amorphous oxide shell. Three aqueous environmental contaminants, namely Hg(II), Zn(II) and hydrogen sulfide, were studied to probe the reactive properties and the surface chemistry of nZVI. High-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HR-XPS) analysis of the reacted particles indicated that Hg(II) was sequestrated via chemical reduction to elemental mercury. On the other hand, Zn(II) removal was achieved via sorption to the iron oxide shell followed by zinc hydroxide precipitation. Hydrogen sulfide was immobilized on the nZVI surface as disulfide (S(2)(2-)) and monosulfide (S(2-)) species. Their relative abundance in the final products suggests that the retention of hydrogen sulfide occurs via reactions with the oxide shell to form iron sulfide (FeS) and subsequent conversion to iron disulfide (FeS(2)). The results presented herein highlight the multiple reactive pathways permissible with nZVI owing to its two functional constituents. The core-shell structure imparts nZVI with manifold functional properties previously unexamined and grants the material with potentially new applications. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

SHELL MICROSTRUCTURE OF GASTROPODS FROM LAKE TANGANYIKA, AFRICA: ADAPTATION, CONVERGENT EVOLUTION, AND ESCALATION.

PubMed

West, Kelly; Cohen, Andrew

1996-04-01

Gastropod shells from Lake Tanganyika, with their heavy calcification, coarse noded ribbing, spines, apertural lip thickening and repair scars, resemble marine shells more closely than they resemble other lacustrine shells. This convergence between Tanganyikan and marine gastropod shells, however, is not just superficial. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies reveal that the Tanganyikan shells are primarily layers of crossed-lamellar crystal architecture (that is, needle-like aragonite crystals arranged into laths that are packed into sheets such that the aragonite needles of adjacent laths are never parallel). The number of crossed-lamellar layers can vary from one to four between different Tanganyikan gastropod species. In species with two or more crossed-lamellar layers, the orientation of the lamellae is offset by approximately 90° between the different layers. The number of crossed-lamellar layers in the shell wall is positively correlated with shell strength and with predation resistance. Three and four crossed-lamellar layers in the shell wall evolved several times independently within the endemic thiarid gastropod radiation in Lake Tanganyika. Repeated origins of three and four crossed-lamellar layers suggest that they may be specific adaptations by Tanganyikan gastropods to strengthen their shells as a defense against shell-crushing predators. © 1996 The Society for the Study of Evolution.

Modeling the unidentified infrared emission with combinations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allamandola, L. J.; Hudgins, D. M.; Sandford, S. A.

1999-01-01

The infrared emission band spectrum associated with many different interstellar objects can be modeled successfully by using combined laboratory spectra of neutral and positively charged polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These model spectra, shown here for the first time, alleviate the principal spectroscopic criticisms previously leveled at the PAH hypothesis and demonstrate that mixtures of free molecular PAHs can indeed account for the overall appearance of the widespread interstellar infrared emission spectrum. Furthermore, these models give us insight into the structures, stabilities, abundances, and ionization balance of the interstellar PAH population. These, in turn, reflect conditions in the emission zones and shed light on the microscopic processes involved in the carbon nucleation, growth, and evolution in circumstellar shells and the interstellar medium.

Revealing the core-shell interactions of a giant strain relaxor ferroelectric 0.75Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3-0.25SrTiO3.

PubMed

Liu, Na; Acosta, Matias; Wang, Shuai; Xu, Bai-Xiang; Stark, Robert W; Dietz, Christian

2016-11-14

Lead-free relaxor ferroelectrics that feature a core-shell microstructure provide an excellent electromechanical response. They even have the potential to replace the environmentally hazardous lead-zirconia-titanate (PZT) in large strain actuation applications. Although the dielectric properties of core-shell ceramics have been extensively investigated, their piezoelectric properties are not yet well understood. To unravel the interfacial core-shell interaction, we studied the relaxation behaviour of field-induced ferroelectric domains in 0.75Bi 1/2 Na 1/2 TiO 3 -0.25SrTiO 3 (BNT-25ST), as a typical core-shell bulk material, using a piezoresponse force microscope. We found that after poling, lateral domains emerged at the core-shell interface and propagated to the shell region. Phase field simulations showed that the increased electrical potential beneath the core is responsible for the in-plane domain evolution. Our results imply that the field-induced domains act as pivotal points at the coherent heterophase core-shell interface, reinforcing the phase transition in the non-polar shell and thus promoting the giant strain.

Initial formation of calcite crystals in the thin prismatic layer with the periostracum of Pinctada fucata.

PubMed

Suzuki, Michio; Nakayama, Seiji; Nagasawa, Hiromichi; Kogure, Toshihiro

2013-02-01

Although the formation mechanism of calcite crystals in the prismatic layer has been studied well in many previous works, the initial state of calcite formation has not been observed in detail using electron microscopes. In this study, we report that the soft prismatic layer with transparent color (the thin prismatic layer) in the tip of the fresh shell of Pinctada fucata was picked up to observe the early calcification phase. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) image showed that the growth tip of the thin prismatic layer was covered by the periostracum, which was also where the initial formation of calcite crystals began. A cross-section containing the thin calcite crystals in the thin prismatic layer with the periostracum was made using a focused ion beam (FIB) system. In a transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation, the thin calcite crystal (thickness is about 1μm) on the periostracum was found to be a single crystal with the c-axis oriented perpendicular to the shell surface. On the other hand, many aggregated small particles consisting of bassanite crystals were observed in the periostracum suggesting the possibility that not only organic sulfate but also inorganic sulfates exist in the prismatic layer. These discoveries in the early calcification phase of the thin prismatic layer may help to clarify the mechanism of regulating the nucleation and orientation of the calcite crystal in the shell. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Constituency and origins of cyclic growth layers in pelecypod shells, part 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berry, W. B. N.

1972-01-01

Growth layers occurring in shells of 98 species of pelecypods were examined microscopically in thin section and as natural and etched surfaces. Study began with shells of eleven species known from life history investigations to have annual cycles of growth. Internal microstructural features of the annual layers in these shells provided criteria for recognition of similar, apparently annual shell increments in eighty-six of eighty-seven other species. All of the specimens feature growth laminae, commonly on the order of 50 microns in thickness. The specimens from shallow marine environments show either a clustering of growth laminae related to the formation of concentric ridges or minor growth bands on the external shell surface. Based on observations of the number of growth laminae and clusters per annual-growth layer, it was hypothesised that the subannual increments may be related to daily and fortnightly (and in some cases monthly) cycles in the environment. Possible applications of the paleogrowth method in the fields of paleoecology and paleoclimatology are discussed.

Fabrication of Fe3O4@CuO core-shell from MOF based materials and its antibacterial activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajabi, S. K.; Sohrabnezhad, Sh.; Ghafourian, S.

2016-12-01

Magnetic Fe3O4@CuO nanocomposite with a core/shell structure was successfully synthesized via direct calcinations of magnetic Fe3O4@HKUST-1 in air atmosphere. The morphology, structure, magnetic and porous properties of the as-synthesized nano composites were characterized by using scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and vibration sample magnetometer (VSM). The results showed that the nanocomposite material included a Fe3O4 core and a CuO shell. The Fe3O4@CuO core-shell can be separated easily from the medium by a small magnet. The antibacterial activity of Fe3O4-CuO core-shell was investigated against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. A new mechanism was proposed for inactivation of bacteria over the prepared sample. It was demonstrated that the core-shell exhibit recyclable antibacterial activity, acting as an ideal long-acting antibacterial agent.

Temperature effect on the growth of Au-free InAs and InAs/GaSb heterostructure nanowires on Si substrate by MOCVD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kakkerla, Ramesh Kumar; Anandan, Deepak; Hsiao, Chih-Jen; Yu, Hung Wei; Singh, Sankalp Kumar; Chang, Edward Yi

2018-05-01

We demonstrate the growth of vertically aligned Au-free InAs and InAs/GaSb heterostructure nanowires on Si (1 1 1) substrate by Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD). The effect of growth temperature on the morphology and growth rate of the InAs and InAs/GaSb heterostructure nanowires (NWs) is investigated. Control over diameter and length of the InAs NWs and the GaSb shell thickness was achieved by using growth temperature. As the GaSb growth temperature increase, GaSb radial growth rate increases due to the increase in alkyl decomposition at the substrate surface. Diffusivity of the adatoms increases as the GaSb growth temperature increase which results in tapered GaSb shell growth. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) measurements revealed that the morphology and shell thickness can be tuned by the growth temperature. Electron microscopy also shows the formation of GaSb both in radial and axial directions outside the InAs NW core can be controlled by the growth temperature. This study demonstrates the control over InAs NWs growth and the GaSb shell thickness can be achieved through proper growth temperature control, such technique is essential for the growth of nanowire for future nano electronic devices, such as Tunnel FET.

Microfluidic Synthesis of Hybrid Nanoparticles with Controlled Lipid Layers: Understanding Flexibility-Regulated Cell-Nanoparticle Interaction.

PubMed

Zhang, Lu; Feng, Qiang; Wang, Jiuling; Zhang, Shuai; Ding, Baoquan; Wei, Yujie; Dong, Mingdong; Ryu, Ji-Young; Yoon, Tae-Young; Shi, Xinghua; Sun, Jiashu; Jiang, Xingyu

2015-10-27

The functionalized lipid shell of hybrid nanoparticles plays an important role for improving their biocompatibility and in vivo stability. Yet few efforts have been made to critically examine the shell structure of nanoparticles and its effect on cell-particle interaction. Here we develop a microfluidic chip allowing for the synthesis of structurally well-defined lipid-polymer nanoparticles of the same sizes, but covered with either lipid-monolayer-shell (MPs, monolayer nanoparticles) or lipid-bilayer-shell (BPs, bilayer nanoparticles). Atomic force microscope and atomistic simulations reveal that MPs have a lower flexibility than BPs, resulting in a more efficient cellular uptake and thus anticancer effect than BPs do. This flexibility-regulated cell-particle interaction may have important implications for designing drug nanocarriers.

Enzymatic production of N-acetyl-d-glucosamine from crayfish shell wastes pretreated via high pressure homogenization.

PubMed

Wei, Guoguang; Zhang, Alei; Chen, Kequan; Ouyang, Pingkai

2017-09-01

This study presents an efficient pretreatment of crayfish shell using high pressure homogenization that enables N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GlcNAc) production by chitinase. Firstly, the chitinase from Serratia proteamaculans NJ303 was screened for its ability to degrade crayfish shell and produce GlcNAc as the sole product. Secondly, high pressure homogenization, which caused the crayfish shell to adopt a fluffy netted structure that was characterized by Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), was evaluated as the best pretreatment method. In addition, the optimal conditions of high pressure homogenization of crayfish shell were determined to be five cycles at a pressure of 400bar, which achieved a yield of 3.9g/L of GlcNAc from 25g/L of crayfish shell in a batch enzymatic reaction over 1.5h. The results showed high pressure homogenization might be an efficient method for direct utilization of crayfish shell for enzymatic production of GlcNAc. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Towards a microscopic description of the free-energy landscape of water.

PubMed

Prada-Gracia, Diego; Shevchuk, Roman; Hamm, Peter; Rao, Francesco

2012-10-14

Free-energy landscape theory is often used to describe complex molecular systems. Here, a microscopic description of water structure and dynamics based on configuration-space-networks and molecular dynamics simulations of the TIP4P/2005 model is applied to investigate the free-energy landscape of water. The latter is built on top of a large set of water microstates describing the kinetic stability of local hydrogen-bond arrangements up to the second solvation shell. In temperature space, the landscape displays three different regimes. At around ambient conditions, the free-energy surface is characterized by many short-lived basins of attraction which are structurally well-defined (inhomogeneous regime). At lower temperatures instead, the liquid rapidly becomes homogeneous. In this regime, the free energy is funneled-like, with fully coordinated water arrangements at the bottom of the funnel. Finally, a third regime develops below the temperature of maximal compressibility (Widom line) where the funnel becomes steeper with few interconversions between microstates other than the fully coordinated ones. Our results present a way to manage the complexity of water structure and dynamics, connecting microscopic properties to its ensemble behavior.

Large-area super-resolution optical imaging by using core-shell microfibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Cheng-Yang; Lo, Wei-Chieh

2017-09-01

We first numerically and experimentally report large-area super-resolution optical imaging achieved by using core-shell microfibers. The particular spatial electromagnetic waves for different core-shell microfibers are studied by using finite-difference time-domain and ray tracing calculations. The focusing properties of photonic nanojets are evaluated in terms of intensity profile and full width at half-maximum along propagation and transversal directions. In experiment, the general optical fiber is chemically etched down to 6 μm diameter and coated with different metallic thin films by using glancing angle deposition. The direct imaging of photonic nanojets for different core-shell microfibers is performed with a scanning optical microscope system. We show that the intensity distribution of a photonic nanojet is highly related to the metallic shell due to the surface plasmon polaritons. Furthermore, large-area super-resolution optical imaging is performed by using different core-shell microfibers placed over the nano-scale grating with 150 nm line width. The core-shell microfiber-assisted imaging is achieved with super-resolution and hundreds of times the field-of-view in contrast to microspheres. The possible applications of these core-shell optical microfibers include real-time large-area micro-fluidics and nano-structure inspections.

Nuclear ground-state masses and deformations: FRDM(2012)

DOE PAGES

Moller, P.; Sierk, A. J.; Ichikawa, T.; ...

2016-03-25

Here, we tabulate the atomic mass excesses and binding energies, ground-state shell-plus-pairing corrections, ground-state microscopic corrections, and nuclear ground-state deformations of 9318 nuclei ranging from 16O to A=339. The calculations are based on the finite-range droplet macroscopic and the folded-Yukawa single-particle microscopic nuclear-structure models, which are completely specified. Relative to our FRDM(1992) mass table in Möller et al. (1995), the results are obtained in the same model, but with considerably improved treatment of deformation and fewer of the approximations that were necessary earlier, due to limitations in computer power. The more accurate execution of the model and the more extensivemore » and more accurate experimental mass data base now available allow us to determine one additional macroscopic-model parameter, the density-symmetry coefficient LL, which was not varied in the previous calculation, but set to zero. Because we now realize that the FRDM is inaccurate for some highly deformed shapes occurring in fission, because some effects are derived in terms of perturbations around a sphere, we only adjust its macroscopic parameters to ground-state masses.« less

Facile synthesis and photocatalytic activity of ZnO/zinc titanate core-shell nanorod arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Ding-Chao; Fu, Qiu-Ming; Ma, Zhi-Bin; Zhao, Hong-Yang; Tu, Ya-Fang; Tian, Yu; Zhou, Di; Zheng, Guang; Lu, Hong-Bing

2018-02-01

ZnO/zinc titanate core-shell nanorod arrays (CSNRs) were successfully prepared via a simple synthesis process by combining hydrothermal synthesis and liquid phase deposition (LPD). The surface morphologies, crystalline characteristics, optical properties and surface electronic states of the ZnO/zinc titanate CSNRs were characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, x-ray diffractometer, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, PL and ultraviolet (UV)-visible absorption spectra. By controlling the reaction time of LPD, the shell thickness could vary with the reaction time. Furthermore, the impacts of the reaction time and post-annealing temperature on the crystalline structure and chemical composition of the CSNRs were also investigated. The studies of photocatalytic activity under UV light irradiation revealed that the ZnO/zinc titanate CSNRs annealed at 700 °C with 30 min deposition exhibited the best photocatalytic activity and good stability for degradation of methylene blue. It had been found that the effective separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs in the CSNRs led to the enhanced photocatalytic activity. Moreover, the ZnO/zinc titanate CSNRs grown on quartz glass substrate could be easily recycled for reuse with almost unchanged photocatalytic activity.

Spherical crystals in dusty plasmas - Simulation and theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonitz, M.; Henning, C.; Golubnychiy, V.; Baumgartner, H.; Ludwig, P.; Arp, O.; Block, D.; Piel, A.; Melzer, A.; Kraeft, W. D.

2006-10-01

Coulomb crystals in spherically symmetric traps have been found in trapped cold ions and, recently, in dusty plasmas at room temperature [1] allowing for precision measurements, including individual particle positions and trajectories. Thus, for the first time, strong correlation phenomena can be studied directly on the microscopic level which allows for detailed comparisons with theoretical results and computer simulations. We present molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations of Coulomb crystals in the range from 10 to 10,000 particles which agree very well with the measurements [3]. The results include the ground state shell configurations and symmetry properties [2,3], the crystal stability and melting behavior. Finally, a thermodynamic theory is developed and compared to simpler models, such as shell models [4]. [1] O. Arp, D. Block, A. Piel, and A. Melzer, Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 165004 (2004). [2] P. Ludwig, S. Kosse, and M. Bonitz, Phys. Rev. E 71, 046403 (2005). [3] M. Bonitz, D. Block, O. Arp, V. Golubnychiy, H. Baumgartner, P. Ludwig, A. Piel, and A. Filinov, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 075001 (2006). [4] C. Henning et al., submitted for publication.

Quantitative properties of clustering within modern microscopic nuclear models

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

Volya, A.; Tchuvil’sky, Yu. M., E-mail: tchuvl@nucl-th.sinp.msu.ru

2016-09-15

A method for studying cluster spectroscopic properties of nuclear fragmentation, such as spectroscopic amplitudes, cluster form factors, and spectroscopic factors, is developed on the basis of modern precision nuclear models that take into account the mixing of large-scale shell-model configurations. Alpha-cluster channels are considered as an example. A mathematical proof of the need for taking into account the channel-wave-function renormalization generated by exchange terms of the antisymmetrization operator (Fliessbach effect) is given. Examples where this effect is confirmed by a high quality of the description of experimental data are presented. By and large, the method in question extends substantially themore » possibilities for studying clustering phenomena in nuclei and for improving the quality of their description.« less

Preparation and characterization of CdS/Si coaxial nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, X. L.; Li, L. H.; Tang, W. H.

2006-04-01

CdS/Si coaxial nanowires were fabricated via a simple one-step thermal evaporation of CdS powder in mass scale. Their crystallinities, general morphologies and detailed microstructures were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and Raman spectra. The CdS core crystallizes in a hexagonal wurtzite structure with lattice constants of a=0.4140 nm and c=0.6719 nm, and the Si shell is amorphous. Five Raman peaks from the CdS core were observed. They are 1LO at 305 cm -1, 2LO at 601 cm -1, A 1-TO at 212 cm -1, E 1-TO at 234 cm -1, and E 2 at 252 cm -1. Photoluminescence measurements show that the nanowires have two emission bands around 510 and 590 nm, which originate from the intrinsic transitions of CdS cores and the amorphous Si shells, respectively.

Investigations on mechanism of self-healing and cavity filling in case of steel inoculated with seashell powder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Habibullah, Parvaiz; Siddiqui, Ghazala; Saleem, Yasir

2017-05-01

Seashells are comprised largely of a brittle ceramic material (calcite, the stuff of chalk) in the form of microscopic slates. Shells, such as the abalones, reinforced with a kind of protein mortar in efforts to evaluate on how seashells repair themselves. We have identified the protein and mechanism on how the protein mortar stretches itself into ligaments that bridge the gap, with the help of scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Preparation and Evaluation of Adsorbents from Coal and Irvingia gabonensis Seed Shell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ezeokonkwo, Mercy A.; Ofor, Okechukwu F.; Ani, Julius U.

2017-12-01

The adsorption of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions on adsorbents prepared from sub-bituminous coal, lignite and a blend of coal and Irvingia gabonensis seed shells was investigated. Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscope and X-ray fluorescence analyses implicated hydroxyl, carbonyl, Al2O3 and SiO2 as being responsible for binding the metal ions on the porous adsorbents. The optimum adsorption of carbonized lignite for the removal of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions from aqueous media were 80.93% and 87.85%, respectively. Batch adsorption was done by effect of adsorbent dosage, pH, contact time, temperature, particle size, and initial concentration. Equilibrium for the removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) was established within 100 and 120 min respectively. Blending the lignite-derived adsorbent with Irvingia gabonensis seed shell improved the performance significantly. More improvement was observed on modification of the blend using NaOH and H3PO4. Pb(II) was preferentially adsorbed than Cd(II) in all cases. Adsorption of Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions followed Langmuir isotherm. The kinetics of adsorption was best described by pseudo-second order model. The potential for using a blend of coal and agricultural byproduct (Irvingia gabonensis seed shell) was found to be a viable alternative for removal of toxic heavy metals from aqueous solutions.

Landscape of α preformation probability for even-even nuclei in medium mass region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, Yibin; Ren, Zhongzhou

2018-03-01

The behavior of α cluster preformation probability, in α decay, is a rich source of the structural information, such as the clustering, pairing, and shell evolution in heavy nuclei. Meanwhile, the experimental α decay data have been very recently compiled in the newest table NUBASE2016. Through a least square fit to the available experimental data of nuclear charge radii plus the neutron skin thickness, we obtain a new set of parameters for the two-parameter Fermi nucleon density distributions in target nuclei. Subsequently, we make use of these refreshed inputs, involved in the density-dependent cluster model, to extract α preformation factor ({P}α ) for a large range of medium α emitters with N < 126 from the newest data table. Besides checking the supposed smooth pattern of P α in the open-shell region, the special attention has been paid to those exotic α-decaying nuclei around the Z = 50 and N = 82 shell closures. Moreover, the correlation between the α preformation factor and the microscopic correction of nuclear mass, corresponding to the effect of shell and pairing plus deformation, is in particular investigated, to pursue the valuable knowledge of the P α pattern over the nuclide chart. The feature of α preformation factor along with the neutron-proton asymmetry is then detected and discussed to some extent.

The oxygen isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alex Brown, B.

The properties of the oxygen isotopes provide diverse examples of progress made in experiments and theory. This chain of isotopes has been studied from beyond the proton drip line in 12O to beyond the neutron drip line in 25,26O. This short survey starts with the microscopic G matrix approach for 18O of Kuo and Brown in the 1960's and shows how theory has evolved. The nuclear structure around the doubly-magic nucleus 24O is particularly simple in terms of the nuclear shell model. The nuclear structure around the doubly-magic nucleus 16O exhibits the coexistence of single-particle and collective structure.

{gamma}-vibrational states in superheavy nuclei

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

Sun Yang; Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000; Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556

2008-04-15

Recent experimental advances have made it possible to study excited structure in superheavy nuclei. The observed states have often been interpreted as quasiparticle excitations. We show that in superheavy nuclei collective vibrations systematically appear as low-energy excitation modes. By using the microscopic Triaxial Projected Shell Model, we make a detailed prediction on {gamma}-vibrational states and their E2 transition probabilities to the ground state band in fermium and nobelium isotopes where active structure research is going on, and in {sup 270}Ds, the heaviest isotope where decay data have been obtained for the ground-state and for an isomeric state.

Estimates of production and structure of nuclei with Z = 119

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adamian, G. G.; Antonenko, N. V.; Lenske, H.

2018-02-01

The comparative analysis of the hot fusion reactions 50Ti +247-249Bk and 51V +246-248Cm for synthesis of element 119 is made with the dinuclear system model and the prediction of nuclear properties of the microscopic-macroscopic approach, where the closed proton shell at Z ≥ 120 is expected. The quasiparticle structures of nuclei in the α-decay chain of 295119 and a possible spread of alpha energies are studied. The calculated values of Qα are compared with available experimental data. The termination of the α-decay chain of 295119 is revealed.

Improvement on controllable fabrication of streptavidin-modified three-layer core-shell Fe3O4@SiO2@Au magnetic nanocomposites with low fluorescence background.

PubMed

Jiang, Hongrong; Zeng, Xin; Xi, Zhijiang; Liu, Ming; Li, Chuanyan; Li, Zhiyang; Jin, Lian; Wang, Zhifei; Deng, Yan; He, Nongyue

2013-04-01

In present study, we put forward an approach to prepare three-layer core-shell Fe3O4@SiO2@Au magnetic nanocomposites via the combination of self-assembling, seed-mediated growing and multi-step chemical reduction. The Fe3O4@SiO2@Au magnetic nanocomposites were analyzed and characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electronic microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer analysis (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometer (UV-Vis). TEM and SEM characterizations showed that the FeO4@SiO2@Au nanocomposites were obtained successfully with three-layer structures, especially a layer of thin, smooth and continuous gold shell. The average diameter of Fe3O4@SiO2@Au nanocomposites was about 600 nm and an excellent dispersity was observed for the as-prepared nanoparticles. EDS characterizations demonstrated that the nanocomposites contained three elements of the precursors, Fe, Si, and Au. Furthermore, FT-IR showed that the silica and gold shell were coated successfully. UV-Vis and VSM characterizations showed that the Fe3O4@SiO2@Au nanocomposites exhibited good optical and magnetic property, and the saturation magnetization was 25.76 emu/g. In conclusion, the Fe3O4@SiO2@Au magnetic nanocomposites with three-layer core-shell structures were prepared. Furthermore, Fe3O4@SiO2@Au magnetic nanocomposites were modified with streptavidin (SA) successfully, and it was validated that they performed low fluorescence background, suggesting that they should have good applications especially in bioassay based on fluorescence detection through bonding the biotinylated fluorescent probes.

A nanocomposite of Au-AgI core/shell dimer as a dual-modality contrast agent for x-ray computed tomography and photoacoustic imaging

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

Orza, Anamaria; Wu, Hui; Li, Yuancheng

Purpose: To develop a core/shell nanodimer of gold (core) and silver iodine (shell) as a dual-modal contrast-enhancing agent for biomarker targeted x-ray computed tomography (CT) and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) applications. Methods: The gold and silver iodine core/shell nanodimer (Au/AgICSD) was prepared by fusing together components of gold, silver, and iodine. The physicochemical properties of Au/AgICSD were then characterized using different optical and imaging techniques (e.g., HR- transmission electron microscope, scanning transmission electron microscope, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, Z-potential, and UV-vis). The CT and PAI contrast-enhancing effects were tested and then compared with a clinically used CT contrast agentmore » and Au nanoparticles. To confer biocompatibility and the capability for efficient biomarker targeting, the surface of the Au/AgICSD nanodimer was modified with the amphiphilic diblock polymer and then functionalized with transferrin for targeting transferrin receptor that is overexpressed in various cancer cells. Cytotoxicity of the prepared Au/AgICSD nanodimer was also tested with both normal and cancer cell lines. Results: The characterizations of prepared Au/AgI core/shell nanostructure confirmed the formation of Au/AgICSD nanodimers. Au/AgICSD nanodimer is stable in physiological conditions for in vivo applications. Au/AgICSD nanodimer exhibited higher contrast enhancement in both CT and PAI for dual-modality imaging. Moreover, transferrin functionalized Au/AgICSD nanodimer showed specific binding to the tumor cells that have a high level of expression of the transferrin receptor. Conclusions: The developed Au/AgICSD nanodimer can be used as a potential biomarker targeted dual-modal contrast agent for both or combined CT and PAI molecular imaging.« less

Data on Molluscan Shells in parts of Nellore Coast, southeast coast of India.

PubMed

Lakshmanna, B; Jayaraju, N; Prasad, T Lakshmi; Sreenivasulu, G; Nagalakshmi, K; Kumar, M Pramod; Madakka, M

2018-02-01

X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), were applied to analyze the organic matrix of two Molluscan shells . The Mollusca shells are mineral structure and calcium carbonate crystallized as aragonite. The FT-IR spectra showed Alkyl Halide, Alkanes, Alcohols, Amides, Aromatic, and Hydroxyl groups in the organic matrix of the whole (organic and mineral) Molluscan shells. SEM images of particles of the two Molluscan shells at different magnifications were taken. The morphologies of the samples show a flake like structures with irregular grains, their sizes are at micrometric scale and the chemical analysis of EDS indicated that the major elements of Cardita and Gastropoda were C, O, and Ca, consistent with the results of XRD analysis. The results of the analysis of the EDS spectra of the shells showed that the content of most of the powder composition of shells is the element carbon, calcium oxygen, aluminium, and lead peaks that appear on the Cardita and Gastropoda and shells powders tap EDS spectra. The present work examined organic matrix of the selected shells of the heavily polluted and light polluted sites, along Nellore Coast, South East Coast of India. The heavily polluted sites have significantly thickened shells. The data demonstrated the sensitivity of this abundant and widely distributed intertidal fragile environment.

Thermoresponsive Cellulose Acetate-Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Core-Shell Fibers for Controlled Capture and Release of Moisture.

PubMed

Thakur, Neha; Sargur Ranganath, Anupama; Sopiha, Kostiantyn; Baji, Avinash

2017-08-30

In this study, we used core-shell electrospinning to fabricate cellulose acetate-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (CA-PNIPAM) fibrous membranes and demonstrated the ability of these fibers to capture water from a high humid atmosphere and release it when thermally stimulated. The wettability of the fibers was controlled by using thermoresponsive PNIPAM as the shell layer. Scanning electron and fluorescence microscopes are used to investigate the microstructure of the fibers and confirm the presence of the core and shell phases within the fibers. The moisture capturing and releasing ability of these core-shell CA-PNIPAM fibers was compared with those of the neat CA and neat PNIPAM fibers at room temperature as well as at an elevated temperature. At room temperature, the CA-PNIPAM core-shell fibers are shown to have the maximum moisture uptake capacity among the three samples. The external temperature variations which trigger the moisture response behavior of these CA-PNIPAM fibers fall within the range of typical day and night cycles of deserts, demonstrating the potential use of these fibers for water harvesting applications.

Large-basis ab initio no-core shell model and its application to {sup 12}C

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

Navratil, P.; Vary, J. P.; Barrett, B. R.

2000-11-01

We present the framework for the ab initio no-core nuclear shell model and apply it to obtain properties of {sup 12}C. We derive two-body effective interactions microscopically for specific model spaces from the realistic CD-Bonn and the Argonne V8' nucleon-nucleon (NN) potentials. We then evaluate binding energies, excitation spectra, radii, and electromagnetic transitions in the 0{Dirac_h}{Omega}, 2{Dirac_h}{Omega}, and 4{Dirac_h}{Omega} model spaces for the positive-parity states and the 1{Dirac_h}{Omega}, 3{Dirac_h}{Omega}, and 5{Dirac_h}{Omega} model spaces for the negative-parity states. Dependence on the model-space size, on the harmonic-oscillator frequency, and on the type of the NN potential, used for the effective interaction derivation,more » are studied. In addition, electromagnetic and weak neutral elastic charge form factors are calculated in the impulse approximation. Sensitivity of the form-factor ratios to the strangeness one-body form-factor parameters and to the influence of isospin-symmetry violation is evaluated and discussed. Agreement between theory and experiment is favorable for many observables, while others require yet larger model spaces and/or three-body forces. The limitations of the present results are easily understood by virtue of the trends established and previous phenomenological results.« less

Characterization of core/shell structures based on CdTe and GaAs nanocrystalline layers deposited on SnO2 microwires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghimpu, L.; Ursaki, V. V.; Pantazi, A.; Mesterca, R.; Brâncoveanu, O.; Shree, Sindu; Adelung, R.; Tiginyanu, I. M.; Enachescu, M.

2018-04-01

We report the fabrication and characterization of SnO2/CdTe and SnO2/GaAs core/shell microstructures. CdTe or GaAs shell layers were deposited by radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering on core SnO2 microwires synthesized by a flame-based thermal oxidation method. The produced structures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscope (HR-STEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman scattering and FTIR spectroscopy. It was found that the SnO2 core is of the rutile type, while the shells are composed of CdTe or GaAs nanocrystallites of zincblende structure with the dimensions of crystallites in the range of 10-20 nm. The Raman scattering investigations demonstrated that the quality of the porous nanostructured shell is improved by annealing at temperatures of 420-450 °C. The prospects of implementing these microstructures in intrinsic type fiber optic sensors are discussed.

Structural and Magnetic Response in Bimetallic Core/Shell Magnetic Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Nairan, Adeela; Khan, Usman; Iqbal, Munawar; Khan, Maaz; Javed, Khalid; Riaz, Saira; Naseem, Shahzad; Han, Xiufeng

2016-01-01

Bimagnetic monodisperse CoFe2O4/Fe3O4 core/shell nanoparticles have been prepared by solution evaporation route. To demonstrate preferential coating of iron oxide onto the surface of ferrite nanoparticles X-ray diffraction (XRD), High resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) and Raman spectroscopy have been performed. XRD analysis using Rietveld refinement technique confirms single phase nanoparticles with average seed size of about 18 nm and thickness of shell is 3 nm, which corroborates with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Low temperature magnetic hysteresis loops showed interesting behavior. We have observed large coercivity 15.8 kOe at T = 5 K, whereas maximum saturation magnetization (125 emu/g) is attained at T = 100 K for CoFe2O4/Fe3O4 core/shell nanoparticles. Saturation magnetization decreases due to structural distortions at the surface of shell below 100 K. Zero field cooled (ZFC) and Field cooled (FC) plots show that synthesized nanoparticles are ferromagnetic till room temperature and it has been noticed that core/shell sample possess high blocking temperature than Cobalt Ferrite. Results indicate that presence of iron oxide shell significantly increases magnetic parameters as compared to the simple cobalt ferrite. PMID:28335200

M-shell electron capture and direct ionization of gold by 25-MeV carbon and 32-MeV oxygen ions

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

Andrews, M.C.; McDaniel, F.D.; Duggan, J.L.

1984-01-01

M-shell x-ray production cross sections have been measured for thin solid targets of Au for 25 MeV /sup 12/C/sup q+/ (q = 4, 5, 6) and for 32 MeV /sup 16/O/sup q+/ (q = 5, 7, 8). The microscopic cross sections were determined from measurements made with targets ranging in thickness from 0.5 to 100 ..mu..g/cm/sup 2/. For projectiles with one or two K-shell vacancies, the M-shell x-ray production cross sections are found to be enhanced over those by projectiles without a K-shell vacancy. The sum of direct ionization to the continuum (DI) and electron capture (EC) to the L,more » M, N ... shells and EC to the K-shell of the projectile have been extracted from the data. The results are compared to the predictions of first Born theories i.e. PWBA for DI and OBK of Nikolaev for EC and the ECPSSR approach that accounts for energy loss, Coulomb deflection and relativistic effects in the perturbed stationary state theory. 25 references, 3 figures, 1 table.« less

Debonding of porous coating of a threaded acetabular component: retrieval analysis.

PubMed

Łapaj, Łukasz; Markuszewski, Jacek; Rybak, Tomasz; Wierusz-Kozłowska, Małgorzata

2013-01-01

This report presents a case of debonding of plasma sprayed porous titanium coating from a threaded acetabular component which caused aseptic loosening of the implant. Weight bearing after delamination caused abrasive damage of the acetabular shell, and particles of the coating embedded in the acetabular liner. Microscopic examination of periprosthetic tissues showed presence of metal particles and macrophage infiltration. Despite microscopic examination of the retrieved component the cause of debonding remains unclear. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stereoscopic Analysis of Silicone Breast Implant Shells Damaged by Surgical Instruments.

PubMed

Rapp, Derek A; Neaman, Keith C; Hammond, Dennis C

2015-07-01

Iatrogenic shell injury during the implantation and explantation of silicone gel breast implants may lead to eventual device failure. Identification of the patterns of injury caused by surgical instruments is important when attempting to characterize the cause of shell rupture. Understanding the true causes of device failure may help with its prevention. The purpose of this study was to microscopically characterize patterns of shell injury induced by various surgical instruments. Textured and smooth silicone gel implants were intentionally damaged with a variety of surgical instruments. Various scalpels and surgical scissors ranging in fineness were used to create full-thickness injuries in the implant shell. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were then used to image the injured area to determine patterns of injury. Full-thickness striations across the thickness of the shell could be seen with damage caused by scissors. The density of these striations correlated directly with the fineness of scissors used. No striations were seen with injuries caused by scalpels. Striations were only observed in injuries caused by scissors and suture needles. Striation density correlated with the coarseness of the cutting edge. No such striations were seen in shells damaged by a scalpel even when the angle of approach was changed. This difference can be of assistance in distinguishing between scissors versus scalpel injury of an implant shell.

Freshwater Fossil Pearls from the Nihewan Basin, Early Early Pleistocene.

PubMed

Li, Su-Ping; Yao, Pei-Yi; Li, Jin-Feng; Ferguson, David Kay; Min, Long-Rui; Chi, Zhen-Qing; Wang, Yong; Yao, Jian-Xin; Sha, Jin-Geng

2016-01-01

Fossil blister pearls attached to the shells of an Anodonta mollusk from China, early Early Pleistocene, are reported here for the first time. The pearls were investigated in detail using a variety of methods. Micro-CT scanning of the fossil pearls was carried out to discover the inner structure and the pearl nucleus. Using CTAn software, changes in the gray levels of the biggest pearl, which reflect the changing density of the material, were investigated. The results provide us with some clues on how these pearls were formed. Sand grains, shell debris or material with a similar density could have stimulated the development of these pearls. X-ray diffraction analysis of one fossil pearl and the shell to which it was attached reveals that only aragonite exists in both samples. The internal structures of our fossil shells and pearls were investigated using a Scanning Electron Microscope. These investigations throw some light on pearl development in the past.

Fabrication of redox-responsive magnetic protein microcapsules from hen egg white by the sonochemical method.

PubMed

Zhong, Shuangling; Cui, Xuejun; Tian, Fangyuan

2015-01-01

Redox-responsive magnetic protein microcapsules with Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) encapsulated inside have been obtained using a facile, cost-effective and fast sonochemical method from hen egg white proteins. Such prepared redox-responsive magnetic hen egg white protein microcapsules (MHEWPMCs) could be easily manipulated to do magnetic-guided targeting delivery. The synchronous loading of the hydrophobic dye Coumarin 6 as a model of drug into MHEWPMCs was readily achieved during the fabrication of MHEWPMCs by dissolving them into the oil phase before ultrasonication. TEM images indicated that Fe3O4 MNPs were encapsulated in MHEWPMCs. Confocal laser scanning microscopic images indicated that the dye was distributed evenly in the MHEWPMCs and no leakage of dye from the MHEWPMCs was observed due to the protection of protein shells. The MHEWPMCs are potential candidates as attractive carriers for drug targeting delivery and stimuli-responsive release due to their magnetic and redox responsiveness of the disulfide in the microcapsule shells.

Buckling Instability Causes Inertial Thrust for Spherical Swimmers at All Scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Djellouli, Adel; Marmottant, Philippe; Djeridi, Henda; Quilliet, Catherine; Coupier, Gwennou

2017-12-01

Microswimmers, and among them aspirant microrobots, generally have to cope with flows where viscous forces are dominant, characterized by a low Reynolds number (Re). This implies constraints on the possible sequences of body motion, which have to be nonreciprocal. Furthermore, the presence of a strong drag limits the range of resulting velocities. Here, we propose a swimming mechanism which uses the buckling instability triggered by pressure waves to propel a spherical, hollow shell. With a macroscopic experimental model, we show that a net displacement is produced at all Re regimes. An optimal displacement caused by nontrivial history effects is reached at intermediate Re. We show that, due to the fast activation induced by the instability, this regime is reachable by microscopic shells. The rapid dynamics would also allow high-frequency excitation with standard traveling ultrasonic waves. Scale considerations predict a swimming velocity of order 1 cm /s for a remote-controlled microrobot, a suitable value for biological applications such as drug delivery.

The microscopic Z-pinch process of current-carrying rarefied deuterium plasma shell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ning, Cheng; Feng, Zhixing; Xue, Chuang; Li, Baiwen

2015-02-01

For insight into the microscopic mechanism of Z-pinch dynamic processes, a code of two-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation has been developed in cylindrical coordinates. In principle, the Z-pinch of current-carrying rarefied deuterium plasma shell has been simulated by means of this code. Many results related to the microscopic processes of the Z-pinch are obtained. They include the spatio-temporal distributions of electromagnetic field, current density, forces experienced by the ions and electrons, positions and energy distributions of particles, and trailing mass and current. In radial direction, the electric and magnetic forces exerted on the electrons are comparable in magnitude, while the forces exerted on the ions are mainly the electric forces. So in the Z-pinch process, the electrons are first accelerated in Z direction and get higher velocities; then, they are driven inwards to the axis at the same time by the radial magnetic forces (i.e., Lorentz forces) of them. That causes the separations between the electrons and ions because the ion mass is much larger than the electron's, and in turn a strong electrostatic field is produced. The produced electrostatic field attracts the ions to move towards the electrons. When the electrons are driven along the radial direction to arrive at the axis, they shortly move inversely due to the static repellency among them and their tiny mass, while the ions continue to move inertially inwards, and later get into stagnation, and finally scatter outwards. Near the stagnation, the energies of the deuterium ions mostly range from 0.3 to 6 keV, while the electron energies are mostly from 5 to 35 keV. The radial components, which can contribute to the pinched plasma temperature, of the most probable energies of electron and ion at the stagnation are comparable to the Bennett equilibrium temperature (about 1 keV), and also to the highest temperatures of electron and ion obtained in one dimensional radiation magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the plasma shell Z-pinch. The trailing mass is about 20% of the total mass of the shell, and the maximum trailing current is about 7% of the driven current under our trailing definition. Our PIC simulation also demonstrates that the plasma shell first experiences a snow-plow like implosion process, which is relatively stable.

Meretrix lusoria--a natural biocomposite material: in situ analysis of hierarchical fabrication and micro-hardness.

PubMed

Zhu, Zhihong; Tong, Hua; Ren, Yaoyao; Hu, Jiming

2006-01-01

The ultrastructure of clam (Meretrix lusoria) was investigated by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffraction analyzer (XRD) combining with in situ texture decalcified technique and the micro-hardness of clam was determined, in order to understand the spatial relationship between the mineral phase and organic matrix and further explain the correlation between the property and structure. The results showed that hierarchical fabrication is the major structure character of this mollusc shell. There is specific braided structure forming from domains composed of needle-like structure made up of the single crystal of aragonite. High magnification TEM image of clam indicates the intracrystal region of the aragonite single crystal is made up of subgrain phase and some amorphous substance. There are various crystal grain growth preferential orientations in the different growth direction of the shell. An amount of organic microtubule distribute evenly in the base of calcium carbonate as reinforcement phase. The mechanical property of this natural biological composite is better than other aragonite layer of mollusc shells and pearls according to the data of micro-hardness testing. The braided structure and organic microtubule reinforcement phase are responsible for its high mechanical performance. The stereo hierarchical fabrication of clam was elucidated for the first time.

Abnormal elastic modulus behavior in a crystalline-amorphous core-shell nanowire system.

PubMed

Lee, Jeong Hwan; Choi, Su Ji; Kwon, Ji Hwan; Van Lam, Do; Lee, Seung Mo; Kim, An Soon; Baik, Hion Suck; Ahn, Sang Jung; Hong, Seong Gu; Yun, Yong Ju; Kim, Young Heon

2018-06-13

We investigated the elastic modulus behavior of crystalline InAs/amorphous Al2O3 core-shell heterostructured nanowires with shell thicknesses varying between 10 and 90 nm by conducting in situ tensile tests inside a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Counterintuitively, the elastic modulus behaviors of InAs/Al2O3 core-shell nanowires differ greatly from those of bulk-scale composite materials, free from size effects. According to our results, the elastic modulus of InAs/Al2O3 core-shell nanowires increases, peaking at a shell thickness of 40 nm, and then decreases in the range of 50-90 nm. This abnormal behavior is attributed to the continuous decrease in the elastic modulus of the Al2O3 shell as the thickness increases, which is caused by changes in the atomic/electronic structure during the atomic layer deposition process and the relaxation of residual stress/strain in the shell transferred from the interfacial mismatch between the core and shell materials. A novel method for estimating the elastic modulus of the shell in a heterostructured core-shell system was suggested by considering these two effects, and the predictions from the suggested method coincided well with the experimental results. We also found that the former and latter effects account for 89% and 11% of the change in the elastic modulus of the shell. This study provides new insight by showing that the size dependency, which is caused by the inhomogeneity of the atomic/electronic structure and the residual stress/strain, must be considered to evaluate the mechanical properties of heterostructured nanowires.

Uncertainties in modeling low-energy neutrino-induced reactions on iron-group nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paar, N.; Suzuki, T.; Honma, M.; Marketin, T.; Vretenar, D.

2011-10-01

Charged-current neutrino-nucleus cross sections for 54,56Fe and 58,60Ni are calculated and compared using frameworks based on relativistic and Skyrme energy-density functionals and on the shell model. The current theoretical uncertainties in modeling neutrino-nucleus cross sections are assessed in relation to the predicted Gamow-Teller transition strength and available data, to multipole decomposition of the cross sections, and to cross sections averaged over the Michel flux and Fermi-Dirac distribution. By employing different microscopic approaches and models, the decay-at-rest (DAR) neutrino-56Fe cross section and its theoretical uncertainty are estimated to be <σ>th=(258±57)×10-42cm2, in very good agreement with the experimental value <σ>exp=(256±108±43)×10-42cm2.

Three Dimensional Characterization of Typical Urban and Desert Particles: Implications to Particle Optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goel, V.; Mishra, S.; Ahlawat, A. S.; Sharma, C.; Kotnala, R. K.

2017-12-01

Aerosol particles are generally considered as chemically homogeneous spheres in the retrieval techniques of ground and space borne observations which is not accurate approach and can lead to erroneous observations. For better simulation of optical and radiative properties of aerosols, a good knowledge of aerosol's morphology, chemical composition and internal structure is essential. Till date, many studies have reported the morphology and chemical composition of particles but very few of them provide internal structure and spatial distribution of different chemical species within the particle. The research on the effect of particle internal structure and its contribution to particle optics is extremely limited. In present work, we characterize the PM10 particles collected form typical arid (the Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India) and typical urban (New Delhi, India) environment using microscopic techniques. The particles were milled several times to investigate their internal structure. The EDS (Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy) spectra were recorded after each milling to check the variation in the chemical composition. In arid environment, Fe, Ca, C, Al, and Mg rich shell was observed over a Si rich particle whereas in urban environment, shell of Hg, Ag, C and N was observed over a Cu rich particle. Based on the observations, different model shapes [homogenous sphere and spheroid; heterogeneous sphere and spheroid; core shell] have been considered for assessing the associated uncertainties with the routine modeling of optical properties where volume equivalent homogeneous sphere approximation is considered. The details will be discussed during presentation.

Optically enhanced SnO{sub 2}/CdSe core/shell nanostructures grown by sol-gel spin coating method

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

Kumar, Vijay, E-mail: vijaynadda83@gmail.com; Goswami, Y. C.; Rajaram, P.

2015-08-28

Synthesis of SnO{sub 2}/CdSe metal oxide/ chalcogenide nanostructures on glass micro slides using ultrasonic sol-gel process followed by spin coating has been reported. Stannous chloride, cadmium chloride and selenium dioxide compounds were used for Sn, Cd and Se precursors respectively. Ethylene glycol was used as complexing agent. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, AFM and UV-spectrophotometer. All the peaks shown in diffractograms are identified for SnO{sub 2}. Peak broadening observed in core shell due to stress behavior of CdSe lattice. Scanning electron microscope and AFM exhibits the conversion of cluster in to nanorods structures forms. Atomic force microscope showsmore » the structures in nanorods form and a roughness reduced 1.5194 nm by the deposition of CdSe. Uv Visible spectra shows a new absorption edge in the visible region make them useful for optoelectronic applications.« less

Highly aqueous soluble CaF2:Ce/Tb nanocrystals: effect of surface functionalization on structural, optical band gap, and photoluminescence properties.

PubMed

Ansari, Anees A; Parchur, Abdul K; Kumar, Brijesh; Rai, S B

2016-12-01

The design of nanostructured materials with highly stable water-dispersion and luminescence efficiency is an important concern in nanotechnology and nanomedicine. In this paper, we described the synthesis and distinct surface modification on the morphological structure and optical (optical absorption, band gap energy, excitation, emission, decay time, etc.) properties of highly crystalline water-dispersible CaF 2 :Ce/Tb nanocrystals (core-nanocrystals). The epitaxial growth of inert CaF 2 and silica shell, respectively, on their surface forming as CaF 2 :Ce/Tb@CaF 2 (core/shell) and CaF 2 :Ce/Tb@CaF 2 @SiO 2 (core/shell/SiO 2 ) nanoarchitecture. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope image shows that the nanocrystals were in irregular spherical phase, highly crystalline (~20 nm) with narrow size distribution. The core/shell nanocrystals confirm that the surface coating is responsible in the change of symmetrical nanostructure, which was determined from the band gap energy and luminescent properties. It was found that an inert inorganic shell formation effectively enhances the luminescence efficiency and silica shell makes the nanocrystals highly water-dispersible. In addition, Ce 3+ /Tb 3+ -co-doped CaF 2 nanocrystals show efficient energy transfer from Ce 3+ to Tb 3+ ion and strong green luminescence of Tb 3+ ion at 541 nm( 5 D 4 → 7 F 5 ). Luminescence decay curves of core and core/shell nanocrystals were fitted using mono and biexponential equations, and R 2 regression coefficient criteria were used to discriminate the goodness of the fitted model. The lifetime values for the core/shell nanocrystals are higher than core-nanocrystals. Considering the high stable water-dispersion and intensive luminescence emission in the visible region, these luminescent core/shell nanocrystals could be potential candidates for luminescent bio-imaging, optical bio-probe, displays, staining, and multianalyte optical sensing. A newly designed CaF 2 :Ce/Tb nanoparticles via metal complex decomposition rout shows high dispersibility in aqueous solvents with enhanced photoluminescence. The epitaxial growth of inert CaF 2 shell and further amorphous silica, respectively, enhanced their optical and luminescence properties, which is highly usable for luminescent biolabeling, and optical bioprobe etc.

Functionalized carbon dot adorned coconut shell char derived green catalysts for the rapid synthesis of amidoalkyl naphthols.

PubMed

Narayanan, Divya P; Cherikallinmel, Sudha Kochiyil; Sankaran, Sugunan; Narayanan, Binitha N

2018-06-15

A one pot synthesis of carbon dot incorporated porous coconut shell char derived sulphonated catalyst is reported here for the first time and is effectively used in the multicomponent synthesis of amidoalkyl naphthol. Macroporous nature of the char is revealed from scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis, whereas the dispersion of carbon dots (CDs) on the porous coconut shell char is confirmed from the high resolution transmission electron microscopic (HRTEM) analysis. Fluorescence emission spectrum further confirmed the presence of CDs in the catalyst. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectral analysis of the materials indicated that sulphonation occurred both to the CD and to the porous char. X-ray photo electron spectroscopic (XPS) analysis of the most active catalyst confirmed the presence of both sulphonic acid and carboxylic acid groups in the catalyst. The coconut shell char derived materials prepared by varying the amount of H 2 SO 4 are successfully utilized as efficient alternative green catalysts for the multicomponent reaction, where excellent activity in amidoalkyl naphthol synthesis is obtained within short periods under solvent free reaction conditions. A maximum yield of 98% is obtained in the synthesis of N-[Phenyl-(2-hydroxy-naphthalen-1-yl)-methyl]-benzamide, the representative amidoalkyl naphthol, with the best catalyst within 3 min of reaction. The catalyst is highly active for the reactions carried out with varieties of aldehydes and amides with a product yield in the range of 88-98%. The best catalyst system retained more than 90% of its initial activity even upto 6 th repeated run. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Low-lying dipole strength of the open-shell nucleus 94Mo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romig, C.; Beller, J.; Glorius, J.; Isaak, J.; Kelley, J. H.; Kwan, E.; Pietralla, N.; Ponomarev, V. Yu.; Sauerwein, A.; Savran, D.; Scheck, M.; Schnorrenberger, L.; Sonnabend, K.; Tonchev, A. P.; Tornow, W.; Weller, H. R.; Zilges, A.; Zweidinger, M.

2013-10-01

The low-lying dipole strength of the open-shell nucleus 94Mo was studied via the nuclear resonance fluorescence technique up to 8.7 MeV excitation energy at the bremsstrahlung facility at the Superconducting Darmstadt Electron Linear Accelerator (S-DALINAC), and with Compton backscattered photons at the High Intensity γ-ray Source (HIγS) facility. In total, 83 excited states were identified. Exploiting polarized quasi-monoenergetic photons at HIγS, parity quantum numbers were assigned to 41 states excited by dipole transitions. The electric dipole-strength distribution was determined up to 8.7 MeV and compared to microscopic calculations within the quasiparticle phonon model. Calculations and experimental data are in good agreement for the fragmentation, as well as for the integrated strength. The average decay pattern of the excited states was investigated exploiting the HIγS measurements at five energy settings. Mean branching ratios to the ground state and first excited 21+ state were extracted from the measurements with quasi-monoenergetic photons and compared to γ-cascade simulations within the statistical model. The experimentally deduced mean branching ratios exhibit a resonance-like maximum at 6.4 MeV which cannot be reproduced within the statistical model. This indicates a nonstatistical structure in the energy range between 5.5 and 7.5 MeV.

Origin and diversity of testate amoebae shell composition: Example of Bullinularia indica living in Sphagnum capillifolium.

PubMed

Delaine, Maxence; Bernard, Nadine; Gilbert, Daniel; Recourt, Philippe; Armynot du Châtelet, Eric

2017-06-01

Testate amoebae are free-living shelled protists that build a wide range of shells with various sizes, shapes, and compositions. Recent studies showed that xenosomic testate amoebae shells could be indicators of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) deposition. However, no study has yet been conducted to assess the intra-specific mineral, organic, and biologic grain diversity of a single xenosomic species in a natural undisturbed environment. This study aims at providing new information about grain selection to develop the potential use of xenosomic testate amoebae shells as bioindicators of the multiple-origin mineral/organic diversity of their proximal environment. To fulfil these objectives, we analysed the shell content of 38 Bullinularia indica individuals, a single xenosomic testate amoeba species living in Sphagnum capillifolium, by scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled with X-ray spectroscopy. The shells exhibited high diversities of mineral, organic, and biomineral grains, which confirms their capability to recycle xenosomes. Mineral grain diversity and size of B. indica matched those of the atmospheric natural mineral PM deposited in the peatbog. Calculation of grain size sorting revealed a discrete selection of grains agglutinated by B. indica. These results are a first step towards understanding the mechanisms of particle selection by xenosomic testate amoebae in natural conditions. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Microscopic insight into the structure of gallium isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Verma, Preeti; Sharma, Chetan; Singh, Suram; Bharti, Arun; Khosa, S. K.

2012-07-01

Projected Shell Model technique has been applied to odd-A71-81Ga nuclei with the deformed single-particle states generated by the standard Nilsson potential. Various nuclear structure quantities have been calculated with this technique and compared with the available experimental data in the present work. The known experimental data of the yrast bands in these nuclei are persuasively described and the band diagrams obtained for these nuclei show that the yrast bands in these odd-A Ga isotopes don't belong to the single intrinsic state only but also have multi-particle states. The back-bending in moment of inertia and the electric quadrupole transitions are also calculated.

The oxygen isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, B. Alex

The properties of the oxygen isotopes provide diverse examples of progress made in experiments and theory. This chain of isotopes has been studied from beyond the proton drip line in 12O to beyond the neutron drip line in 25,26O. This short survey starts with the microscopic G matrix approach for 18O of Kuo and Brown in the 1960’s and shows how theory has evolved. The nuclear structure around the doubly-magic nucleus 24O is particularly simple in terms of the nuclear shell model. The nuclear structure around the doubly-magic nucleus 16O exhibits the coexistence of single-particle and collective structure.

Ab initio calculation of one-nucleon halo states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodkin, D. M.; Tchuvil'sky, Yu M.

2018-02-01

We develop an approach to microscopic and ab initio description of clustered systems, states with halo nucleon and one-nucleon resonances. For these purposes a basis combining ordinary shell-model components and cluster-channel terms is built up. The transformation of clustered wave functions to the uniform Slater-determinant type is performed using the concept of cluster coefficients. The resulting basis of orthonormalized wave functions is used for calculating the eigenvalues and the eigenvectors of Hamiltonians built in the framework of ab initio approaches. Calculations of resonance and halo states of 5He, 9Be and 9B nuclei demonstrate that the approach is workable and labor-saving.

Study of 11Li and 10,11Be nuclei through elastic scattering and breakup reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaidarov, M. K.; Lukyanov, V. K.; Kadrev, D. N.; Zemlyanaya, E. V.; Antonov, A. N.; Lukyanov, K. V.; Spasova, K.

2016-01-01

The hybrid model of the microscopic optical potential (OP) is applied to calculate the 11Li+p, 10,11Be+p, and 10,11Be+12C elastic scattering cross sections at energies E < 100 MeV/nucleon. The OP's contain the folding-model real part (ReOP) with the direct and exchange terms included, while its imaginary part (ImOP) is derived within the high-energy approximation (HEA) theory. For the 11Li+p elastic scattering, the microscopic large-scale shell model (LSSM) density of 11Li is used, while the density distributions of 10,11Be nuclei obtained within the quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) model and the generator coordinate method (GCM) are utilized to calculate the microscopic OPs and cross sections of elastic scattering of these nuclei on protons and 12C. The depths of the real and imaginary parts of OP are fitted to the elastic scattering data, being simultaneously adjusted to reproduce the true energy dependence of the corresponding volume integrals. Also, the cluster models, in which 11Li consists of 2n-halo and the 9Li core having its own LSSM form of density and 11Be consists of a n-halo and the 10Be core, are adopted. Within the latter, we give predictions for the longitudinal momentum distributions of 9Li fragments produced in the breakup of 11Li at 62 MeV/nucleon on a proton target. It is shown that our results for the diffraction and stripping reaction cross sections in 11Be scattering on 9Be, 93Nb, 181Ta, and 238U targets at 63 MeV/nucleon are in a good agreement with the available experimental data.

Target electron ionization in Li2+-Li collisions: A multi-electron perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Śpiewanowski, M. D.; Gulyás, L.; Horbatsch, M.; Kirchner, T.

2015-05-01

The recent development of the magneto-optical trap reaction-microscope has opened a new chapter for detailed investigations of charged-particle collisions from alkali atoms. It was shown that energy-differential cross sections for ionization from the outer-shell in O8+-Li collisions at 1500 keV/amu can be readily explained with the single-active-electron approximation. Understanding of K-shell ionization, however, requires incorporating many-electron effects. An ionization-excitation process was found to play an important role. We present a theoretical study of target electron removal in Li2+-Li collisions at 2290 keV/amu. The results indicate that in outer-shell ionization a single-electron process plays the dominant part. However, the K-shell ionization results are more difficult to interpret. On one hand, we find only weak contributions from multi-electron processes. On the other hand, a large discrepancy between experimental and single-particle theoretical results indicate that multi-electron processes involving ionization from the outer shell may be important for a complete understanding of the process. Work supported by NSERC, Canada and the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund.

A modified carbothermal reduction method for preparation of high-performance nano-scale core/shell Cu 6Sn 5 alloy anodes in Li-ion batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Wangjun; Wang, Fei; Wang, Jie; Liu, Haijing; Wang, Congxiao; Xia, Yongyao

Core-shell structured, carbon-coated, nano-scale Cu 6Sn 5 has been prepared by a modified carbothermal reduction method using polymer coated mixed oxides of CuO and SnO 2 as precursors. On heat treatment, the mixture oxides were converted into Cu 6Sn 5 alloy by carbothermal reduction. Simultaneously, the remnants carbon was coated on the surface of the Cu 6Sn 5 particles to form a core-shell structure. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images demonstrate that the well-coated carbon layer effectively prevents the encapsulated, low melting point alloy from out flowing in a high-temperature treatment process. Core-shell structured, carbon coated Cu 6Sn 5 delivers a reversible capacity of 420 mAh g -1 with capacity retention of 80% after 50 cycles. The improvement in the cycling ability can be attributed to the fact that the carbon-shell prevents aggregation and pulverization of nano-sized tin-based alloy particles during charge/discharge cycling.

Fabrication of nanoscale heterostructures comprised of graphene-encapsulated gold nanoparticles and semiconducting quantum dots for photocatalysis.

PubMed

Li, Yuan; Chopra, Nitin

2015-05-21

Patterned growth of multilayer graphene shell encapsulated gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and their covalent linking with inorganic quantum dots are demonstrated. GNPs were grown using a xylene chemical vapor deposition process, where the surface oxidized gold nanoparticles catalyze the multilayer graphene shell growth in a single step process. The graphene shell encapsulating gold nanoparticles could be further functionalized with carboxylic groups, which were covalently linked to amine-terminated quantum dots resulting in GNP-quantum dot heterostructures. The compositions, morphologies, crystallinity, and surface functionalization of GNPs and their heterostructures with quantum dots were evaluated using microscopic, spectroscopic, and analytical methods. Furthermore, optical properties of the derived architectures were studied using both experimental methods and simulations. Finally, GNP-quantum dot heterostructures were studied for photocatalytic degradation of phenol.

Facile synthesis of mercaptosuccinic acid-capped CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/double shell quantum dots with improved cell viability on different cancer cells and normal cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parani, Sundararajan; Bupesh, Giridharan; Manikandan, Elayaperumal; Pandian, Kannaiyan; Oluwafemi, Oluwatobi Samuel

2016-11-01

Water-soluble, mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA)-capped CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/double shell quantum dots (QDs) were prepared by successive growth of CdS and ZnS shells on the as-synthesized CdTe/CdSthin core/shell quantum dots. The formation of core/double shell structured QDs was investigated by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, PL decay studies, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The core/double shell QDs exhibited good photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) which is 70% higher than that of the parent core/shell QDs, and they are stable for months. The average particle size of the core/double shell QDs was ˜3 nm as calculated from the transmission electron microscope (TEM) images. The cytotoxicity of the QDs was evaluated on a variety of cancer cells such as HeLa, MCF-7, A549, and normal Vero cells by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell viability assay. The results showed that core/double shell QDs were less toxic to the cells when compared to the parent core/shell QDs. MCF-7 cells showed proliferation on incubation with QDs, and this is attributed to the metalloestrogenic activity of cadmium ions released from QDs. The core/double shell CdTe/CdS/ZnS (CSS) QDs were conjugated with transferrin and successfully employed for the biolabeling and fluorescent imaging of HeLa cells. These core/double shell QDs are highly promising fluorescent probe for cancer cell labeling and imaging applications.

A model of spin crossover in manganese(III) compounds: effects of intra- and intercenter interactions.

PubMed

Klokishner, Sophia I; Roman, Marianna A; Reu, Oleg S

2011-11-21

A microscopic approach to the problem of cooperative spin crossover in the [MnL2]NO3 crystal, which contains Mn(III) ions as structural units, is elaborated on, and the main mechanisms governing this effect are revealed. The proposed model also takes into account the splitting of the low-spin 3T1 (t(2)(4)) and high-spin 5E (t(2)(3)e) terms by the low-symmetry crystal field. The low-spin → high-spin transition has been considered as a cooperative phenomenon driven by interaction of the electronic shells of the Mn(III) ions with the all-around full-symmetric deformation that is extended over the crystal lattice via the acoustic phonon field. The model well explains the observed thermal dependencies of the magnetic susceptibility and the effective magnetic moment.

Optical droplet vaporization of nanoparticle-loaded stimuli-responsive microbubbles

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

Si, Ting; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210; Li, Guangbin

2016-03-14

A capillary co-flow focusing process is developed to generate stimuli-responsive microbubbles (SRMs) that comprise perfluorocarbon (PFC) suspension of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) in a lipid shell. Upon continuous laser irradiation at around their surface plasmon resonance band, the SNPs effectively absorb electromagnetic energy, induce heat accumulation in SRMs, trigger PFC vaporization, and eventually lead to thermal expansion and fragmentation of the SRMs. This optical droplet vaporization (ODV) process is further simulated by a theoretical model that combines heat generation of SNPs, phase change of PFC, and thermal expansion of SRMs. The model is validated by benchtop experiments, where the ODV processmore » is monitored by microscopic imaging. The effects of primary process parameters on behaviors of ODV are predicted by the theoretical model, indicating the technical feasibility for process control and optimization in future drug delivery applications.« less

Iridescence of a shell of mollusk Haliotis Glabra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, T. L.; Wong, D.; Lee, Paul

2004-10-01

Pearls and shells of some mollusks are attractive inorganic materials primarily owing to the beauty of their natural lustrous and iridescent surface. The iridescent colors can be explained by diffraction or interference or both, depending on the microstructure of the surface. Strong iridescent colors are very evident on the polished shell of the mollusk Haliotis Glabra, commonly known as abalone. It would be interesting to study how these colors are produced on the surface of the shell. By using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), the surface of the shell is found to have a fine-scale diffraction grating structure, and stacks of thin crystalline nacreous layers or platelets are found below the surface. These observations suggest that the iridescent colors are caused by both diffraction and interference. From measurements done on the diffraction patterns that were obtained using a He-Ne laser illuminating the shell, the groove width of the grating structure was derived. Good agreement was found between the derived groove density by diffraction and that measured directly using the SEM. The crystalline structure of the nacreous layers of the shell is studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and SEM observations. The infrared absorption peaks of 700, 713, 862 and 1083 cm-1 confirmed that the nacre of the shell is basically aragonite. The strong iridescent colors of the shell are the result of high groove density on the surface which causes diffraction. The uniform stacking of layers of nacre below the surface of the shell also causes interference effects that contribute to the iridescent colors.

Deciphering the Origin of Plume-Textured Geodes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garlick, George Donald; Jones, Francis Tucker

1990-01-01

Presented is an interpretation of the inward and outward growth and formation of plume textured geodes available from southern Brazil. Field occurrence, morphology of vesicles, growth history, closure of the agate shell, microscopic features, coherent reflection of light from convoluted surfaces, and accessory minerals of the inner cavity are…

Quantitative measurement of solvation shells using frequency modulated atomic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uchihashi, T.; Higgins, M.; Nakayama, Y.; Sader, J. E.; Jarvis, S. P.

2005-03-01

The nanoscale specificity of interaction measurements and additional imaging capability of the atomic force microscope make it an ideal technique for measuring solvation shells in a variety of liquids next to a range of materials. Unfortunately, the widespread use of atomic force microscopy for the measurement of solvation shells has been limited by uncertainties over the dimensions, composition and durability of the tip during the measurements, and problems associated with quantitative force calibration of the most sensitive dynamic measurement techniques. We address both these issues by the combined use of carbon nanotube high aspect ratio probes and quantifying the highly sensitive frequency modulation (FM) detection technique using a recently developed analytical method. Due to the excellent reproducibility of the measurement technique, additional information regarding solvation shell size as a function of proximity to the surface has been obtained for two very different liquids. Further, it has been possible to identify differences between chemical and geometrical effects in the chosen systems.

Electroless nickel – phosphorus coating on crab shell particles and its characterization

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

Arulvel, S., E-mail: gs.arulvel.research@gmail.com; Elayaperumal, A.; Jagatheeshwaran, M.S.

Being hydrophilic material, crab shell particles have only a limited number of applications. It is, therefore, necessary to modify the surface of the crab shell particles. To make them useful ever for the applications, the main theme we proposed in this article is to utilize crab shell particles (CSP) with the core coated with nickel phosphorus (NiP) as a shell using the electroless coating process. For dealing with serious environmental problems, utilization of waste bio-shells is always an important factor to be considered. Chelating ability of crab shell particles eliminates the surface activation in this work proceeding to the coatingmore » process. The functional group, phase structure, microstructure, chemical composition and thermal analysis of CSP and NiP/CSP were characterized using Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray diffraction analyzer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The combination of an amorphous and crystalline structure was exhibited by CSP and NiP/CSP. NiP/CSP has shown a better thermal stability when compared to uncoated CSP. Stability test, adsorption test, and conductivity test were conducted for the study of adsorption behavior and conductivity of the particles. CSP presented a hydrophilic property in contrast to hydrophobic NiP/CSP. NiP/CSP presented a conductivity of about 44% greater compared to the CSP without any fluctuations. - Highlights: • Utilization of crab shell waste is focused on. • NiP coating on crab shell particle is fabricated using electroless process. • Thermal analysis, stability test, adsorption test and conductivity test were done. • Organic matrix of crab shell particle favors the coating process. • Results demonstrate the characterization of CSP core – NiP shell structure.« less

Fabrication of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@CuO core-shell from MOF based materials and its antibacterial activity

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

Rajabi, S.K.; Sohrabnezhad, Sh., E-mail: sohrabnezhad@guilan.ac.ir; Ghafourian, S.

Magnetic Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@CuO nanocomposite with a core/shell structure was successfully synthesized via direct calcinations of magnetic Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@HKUST-1 in air atmosphere. The morphology, structure, magnetic and porous properties of the as-synthesized nano composites were characterized by using scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and vibration sample magnetometer (VSM). The results showed that the nanocomposite material included a Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} core and a CuO shell. The Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@CuO core-shell can be separated easily from the medium by a small magnet. The antibacterial activity of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}-CuO core-shell was investigated againstmore » gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. A new mechanism was proposed for inactivation of bacteria over the prepared sample. It was demonstrated that the core-shell exhibit recyclable antibacterial activity, acting as an ideal long-acting antibacterial agent. - Graphical abstract: Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@CuO core-shell release of copper ions. These Cu{sup 2+} ions were responsible for the exhibited antibacterial activity. - Highlights: • The Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}@CuO core-shell was prepared by MOF method. • This is the first study of antibacterial activity of core-shell consist of CuO and Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}. • The core-shell can be reused effectively. • Core-shell was separated from the reaction solution by external magnetic field.« less

Fast-Response Single-Nanowire Photodetector Based on ZnO/WS2 Core/Shell Heterostructures.

PubMed

Butanovs, Edgars; Vlassov, Sergei; Kuzmin, Alexei; Piskunov, Sergei; Butikova, Jelena; Polyakov, Boris

2018-04-25

The surface plays an exceptionally important role in nanoscale materials, exerting a strong influence on their properties. Consequently, even a very thin coating can greatly improve the optoelectronic properties of nanostructures by modifying the light absorption and spatial distribution of charge carriers. To use these advantages, 1D/1D heterostructures of ZnO/WS 2 core/shell nanowires with a-few-layers-thick WS 2 shell were fabricated. These heterostructures were thoroughly characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. Then, a single-nanowire photoresistive device was assembled by mechanically positioning ZnO/WS 2 core/shell nanowires onto gold electrodes inside a scanning electron microscope. The results show that a few layers of WS 2 significantly enhance the photosensitivity in the short wavelength range and drastically (almost 2 orders of magnitude) improve the photoresponse time of pure ZnO nanowires. The fast response time of ZnO/WS 2 core/shell nanowire was explained by electrons and holes sinking from ZnO nanowire into WS 2 shell, which serves as a charge carrier channel in the ZnO/WS 2 heterostructure. First-principles calculations suggest that the interface layer i-WS 2 , bridging ZnO nanowire surface and WS 2 shell, might play a role of energy barrier, preventing the backward diffusion of charge carriers into ZnO nanowire.

Safety studies conducted on pecan shell fiber, a food ingredient produced from ground pecan shells.

PubMed

Dolan, Laurie; Matulka, Ray; Worn, Jeffrey; Nizio, John

2016-01-01

Use of pecan shell fiber in human food is presently limited, but could increase pending demonstration of safety. In a 91-day rat study, pecan shell fiber was administered at dietary concentrations of 0 (control), 50 000, 100 000 or 150 000 ppm. There was no effect of the ingredient on body weight of males or females or food consumption of females. Statistically significant increases in food consumption were observed throughout the study in 100 000 and 150 000 ppm males, resulting in intermittent decreases in food efficiency (150 000 ppm males only) that were not biologically relevant. All animals survived and no adverse clinical signs or functional changes were attributable to the test material. There were no toxicologically relevant changes in hematology, clinical chemistry or urinalysis parameters or organ weights in rats ingesting pecan shell fiber. Any macroscopic or microscopic findings were incidental, of normal variation and/or of minimal magnitude for test substance association. Pecan shell fiber was non-mutagenic in a bacterial reverse mutation test and non-clastogenic in a mouse peripheral blood micronucleus test. Based on these results, pecan shell fiber has an oral subchronic (13-week) no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 150 000 ppm in rats and is not genotoxic at the doses analyzed.

Electroless nickel - phosphorus coating on crab shell particles and its characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arulvel, S.; Elayaperumal, A.; Jagatheeshwaran, M. S.

2017-04-01

Being hydrophilic material, crab shell particles have only a limited number of applications. It is, therefore, necessary to modify the surface of the crab shell particles. To make them useful ever for the applications, the main theme we proposed in this article is to utilize crab shell particles (CSP) with the core coated with nickel phosphorus (NiP) as a shell using the electroless coating process. For dealing with serious environmental problems, utilization of waste bio-shells is always an important factor to be considered. Chelating ability of crab shell particles eliminates the surface activation in this work proceeding to the coating process. The functional group, phase structure, microstructure, chemical composition and thermal analysis of CSP and NiP/CSP were characterized using Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray diffraction analyzer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The combination of an amorphous and crystalline structure was exhibited by CSP and NiP/CSP. NiP/CSP has shown a better thermal stability when compared to uncoated CSP. Stability test, adsorption test, and conductivity test were conducted for the study of adsorption behavior and conductivity of the particles. CSP presented a hydrophilic property in contrast to hydrophobic NiP/CSP. NiP/CSP presented a conductivity of about 44% greater compared to the CSP without any fluctuations.

Rigid removable cover for dorsal wound protection and tube fixation in pigs.

PubMed

Stynes, G D; Kiroff, G K; Morrison, W A; Edwards, G A; Page, R S; Kirkland, M A

2016-04-01

To report the design and benefits of a rigid polyethylene cover 'shell' for the protection of dorsal torso wounds and tube fixation in pigs. Open C-shaped polyethylene shells were designed to protect wounds and dressings on the dorsum of pigs used in research into negative pressure dressing-assisted wound healing. The shells were designed to resist trauma and contamination, to be comfortable and expansible, and to facilitate tube fixation and management. Strap fixation was optimised during experimentation. Efficacy was assessed by direct observation of dressing and wound protection, tube integrity and by macroscopic and microscopic assessments of wound healing. The shells effectively protected the wounds against blunt and sharp trauma, were simple to remove and reapply, were well tolerated and allowed for growth of the pigs. Circumferential neck straps attached by lateral straps to the shells proved critical. There was no wound infection or inflammation underlying the shells. Porting tubing via mid-dorsal holes in the shells and affixing the tubing just cranial to these holes prevented tube damage and traction, permitted tube management from outside the cages and allowed the pigs to move freely without becoming entangled. These shells effectively protected dorsal skin wounds and dressings, prevented tube damage and facilitated tube management in pigs. Similar systems may be useful for other production animals for wound management and for tube management with negative pressure wound healing, drain tubes or the delivery of nutrition, fluids or medications. © 2016 Australian Veterinary Association.

The influence of MOVPE growth conditions on the shell of core-shell GaN microrod structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schimpke, Tilman; Avramescu, Adrian; Koller, Andreas; Fernando-Saavedra, Amalia; Hartmann, Jana; Ledig, Johannes; Waag, Andreas; Strassburg, Martin; Lugauer, Hans-Jürgen

2017-05-01

A core-shell geometry is employed for most next-generation, three-dimensional opto-electric devices based on III-V semiconductors and grown by metal organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). Controlling the shape of the shell layers is fundamental for device optimization, however no detailed analysis of the influence of growth conditions has been published to date. We study homogeneous arrays of gallium nitride core-shell microrods with height and diameter in the micrometer range and grown in a two-step selective area MOVPE process. Changes in shell shape and homogeneity effected by deliberately altered shell growth conditions were accurately assessed by digital analysis of high-resolution scanning electron microscope images. Most notably, two temperature regimes could be established, which show a significantly different behavior with regard to material distribution. Above 900 °C of wafer carrier temperature, the shell thickness along the growth axis of the rods was very homogeneous, however variations between vicinal rods increase. In contrast, below 830 °C the shell thickness is higher close to the microrod tip than at the base of the rods, while the lateral homogeneity between neighboring microrods is very uniform. This temperature effect could be either amplified or attenuated by changing the remaining growth parameters such as reactor pressure, structure distance, gallium precursor, carrier gas composition and dopant materials. Possible reasons for these findings are discussed with respect to GaN decomposition as well as the surface and gas phase diffusion of growth species, leading to an improved control of the functional layers in next-generation 3D V-III devices.

Spectrum-shape method and the next-to-leading-order terms of the β -decay shape factor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haaranen, M.; Kotila, J.; Suhonen, J.

2017-02-01

Effective values of the axial-vector coupling constant gA have lately attracted much attention due to the prominent role of gA in determining the half-lives of double β decays, in particular their neutrinoless mode. The half-life method, i.e., comparing the calculated half-lives to the corresponding experimental ones, is the most widely used method to access the effective values of gA. The present paper investigates the possibilities offered by a complementary method: the spectrum-shape method (SSM). In the SSM, comparison of the shapes of the calculated and measured β electron spectra of forbidden nonunique β decays yields information on the magnitude of gA. In parallel, we investigate the impact of the next-to-leading-order terms of the β -decay shape function and the radiative corrections on the half-life method and the SSM by analyzing the fourfold forbidden decays of 113Cd and 115In by using three nuclear-structure theory frameworks; namely, the nuclear shell model, the microscopic interacting boson-fermion model, and the microscopic quasiparticle-phonon model. The three models yield a consistent result, gA≈0.92 , when the SSM is applied to the decay of 113Cd for which β -spectrum data are available. At the same time the half-life method yields results which are in tension with each other and the SSM result.

High-K Isomers in Light Superheavy Nuclei by PNC-CSM method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Xiao-Tao

2018-05-01

The high-K isomeric states in light superheavy nuclei around A = 250 mass region are investigated by the Cranked Shell Model (CSM) with pairing treated by a Particle-Number Conserving (PNC) method. With including the higher-order deformation ɛ6, both of the high-K multi-particle state energies and the rotational bands in 254No and N = 150 isotone are reproduced well. The isomeric state energies and the microscopic mechanism of kinematic moment of inertia variations versus rotational frequency are discussed. The irregularity of the two-neutron Kπ = 8- state band at ħω ≈ 0:17 in 252No is caused by the configuration mixing with the two-proton Kπ = 8- band. .

Nuclear structure studies performed using the (18O,16O) two-neutron transfer reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carbone, D.; Agodi, C.; Cappuzzello, F.; Cavallaro, M.; Ferreira, J. L.; Foti, A.; Gargano, A.; Lenzi, S. M.; Linares, R.; Lubian, J.; Santagati, G.

2018-02-01

Excitation energy spectra and absolute cross section angular distributions were measured for the 13C(18O,16O)15C two-neutron transfer reaction at 84 MeV incident energy. This reaction selectively populates two-neutron configurations in the states of the residual nucleus. Exact finite-range coupled reaction channel calculations are used to analyse the data. Two approaches are discussed: the extreme cluster and the newly introduced microscopic cluster. The latter makes use of spectroscopic amplitudes in the centre of mass reference frame, derived from shell-model calculations using the Moshinsky transformation brackets. The results describe well the experimental cross section and highlight cluster configurations in the involved wave functions.

Microscopic boson approach to nuclear collective motion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuchta, R.

1989-10-01

A quantum mechanical approach to the maximally decoupled nuclear collective motion is proposed. The essential idea is to transcribe the original shell-model hamiltonian in terms of boson operators, then to isolate the collective one-boson eigenstates of the mapped hamiltonian and to perform a canonical transformation which eliminates (up to the two-body terms) the coupling between the collective and noncollective bosons. Unphysical states arising due to the violation of the Pauli principle in the boson space are identified and removed within a suitable approximation. The method is applied to study the low-lying collective states of nuclei which are successfully described by the exactly solvable multi-level pairing hamiltonian (Sn, Ni, Pb).

Multifunctional gold coated iron oxide core-shell nanoparticles stabilized using thiolated sodium alginate for biomedical applications.

PubMed

Sood, Ankur; Arora, Varun; Shah, Jyoti; Kotnala, R K; Jain, Tapan K

2017-11-01

In this paper we report synthesis of aqueous based gold coated iron oxide nanoparticles to integrate the localized surface plasma resonance (SPR) properties of gold and magnetic properties of iron oxide in a single system. Iron oxide-gold core shell nanoparticles were stabilized by attachment of thiolated sodium alginate to the surface of nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) micrograph presents an average elementary particle size of 8.1±2.1nm. High resolution TEM (HR-TEM) and X-ray photon spectroscopy further confirms the presence of gold shell around iron oxide core. Gold coating is responsible for reducing saturation magnetization (M s ) value from ~41emu/g to ~24emu/g - in thiolated sodium alginate stabilized gold coated iron oxide core-shell nanoparticles. The drug (curcumin) loading efficiency for the prepared nanocomposites was estimated to be around 7.2wt% (72μgdrug/mg nanoparticles) with encapsulation efficiency of 72.8%. Gold-coated iron oxide core-shell nanoparticles could be of immense importance in the field of targeted drug delivery along with capability to be used as contrast agent for MRI & CT. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline graphite from coconut shell with heating process

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

Wachid, Frischa M., E-mail: frischamw@yahoo.com, E-mail: adhiyudhaperkasa@yahoo.com, E-mail: afandisar@yahoo.com, E-mail: nurulrosyidah92@gmail.com, E-mail: darminto@physics.its.ac.id; Perkasa, Adhi Y., E-mail: frischamw@yahoo.com, E-mail: adhiyudhaperkasa@yahoo.com, E-mail: afandisar@yahoo.com, E-mail: nurulrosyidah92@gmail.com, E-mail: darminto@physics.its.ac.id; Prasetya, Fandi A., E-mail: frischamw@yahoo.com, E-mail: adhiyudhaperkasa@yahoo.com, E-mail: afandisar@yahoo.com, E-mail: nurulrosyidah92@gmail.com, E-mail: darminto@physics.its.ac.id

Graphite were synthesized and characterized by heating process of coconut shell with varying temperature (400, 800 and 1000°C) and holding time (3 and 5 hours). After heating process, the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and analyzed by X'pert HighScore Plus Software, Scanning Electron Microcope-Energy Dispersive X-Ray (SEM-EDX) and Transmission Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-Ray (TEM-EDX). Graphite and londsdaelite phase were analyzed by XRD. According to EDX analysis, the sample was heated in 1000°C got the highest content of carbon. The amorphous carbon and nanocrystalline graphite were observed by SEM-EDX and TEM-EDX.

Astrophysical reaction rates from a symmetry-informed first-principles perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dreyfuss, Alison; Launey, Kristina; Baker, Robert; Draayer, Jerry; Dytrych, Tomas

2017-01-01

With a view toward a new unified formalism for studying bound and continuum states in nuclei, to understand stellar nucleosynthesis from a fully ab initio perspective, we studied the nature of surface α-clustering in 20Ne by considering the overlap of symplectic states with cluster-like states. We compute the spectroscopic amplitudes and factors, α-decay width, and absolute resonance strength - characterizing major contributions to the astrophysical reaction rate through a low-lying 1- resonant state in 20Ne. As a next step, we consider a fully microscopic treatment for the n+4 He system, based on the successful first-principles No-Core Shell Model/Resonating Group Method (NCSM/RGM) for light nuclei, but with the capability to reach intermediate-mass nuclei. The new model takes advantage of the symmetry-based concept central to the Symmetry-Adapted No-Core Shell Model (SA-NCSM) to reduce computational complexity in physically-informed and methodical way, with sights toward first-principles calculations of rates for important astrophysical reactions, such as the 23 Al(p , γ) 24 Si reaction, believed to have a strong influence on X-ray burst light curves. Supported by the U.S. NSF (OCI-0904874, ACI -1516338) and the U.S. DOE (DE-SC0005248), and benefitted from computing resources provided by Blue Waters and the LSU Center for Computation & Technology.

Macro-microscopic mass formulae and nuclear mass predictions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Royer, G.; Guilbaud, M.; Onillon, A.

2010-12-01

Different mass formulae derived from the liquid drop model and the pairing and shell energies of the Thomas-Fermi model have been studied and compared. They include or not the diffuseness correction to the Coulomb energy, the charge exchange correction term, the curvature energy, different forms of the Wigner term and powers of the relative neutron excess I=(N-Z)/A. Their coefficients have been determined by a least square fitting procedure to 2027 experimental atomic masses (G. Audi et al. (2003) [1]). The Coulomb diffuseness correction Z/A term or the charge exchange correction Z/A term plays the main role to improve the accuracy of the mass formula. The Wigner term and the curvature energy can also be used separately but their coefficients are very unstable. The different fits lead to a surface energy coefficient of around 17-18 MeV. A large equivalent rms radius ( r=1.22-1.24 fm) or a shorter central radius may be used. An rms deviation of 0.54 MeV can be reached between the experimental and theoretical masses. The remaining differences come probably mainly from the determination of the shell and pairing energies. Mass predictions of selected expressions have been compared to 161 new experimental masses and the correct agreement allows to provide extrapolations to masses of 656 selected exotic nuclei.

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

Chen, Kuangcai; Lin, Chia -Cheng; Vela, Javier

In this study, three-layer core–shell plasmonic nanorods (Au/Ag/SiO 2–NRs), consisting of a gold nanorod core, a thin silver shell, and a thin silica layer, were synthesized and used as optical imaging probes under a differential interference contrast microscope for single particle orientation and rotational tracking. The localized surface plasmon resonance modes were enhanced upon the addition of the silver shell, and the anisotropic optical properties of gold nanorods were maintained. The silica coating enables surface functionalization with silane coupling agents and provides enhanced stability and biocompatibility. Taking advantage of the longitudinal LSPR enhancement, the orientation and rotational information of themore » hybrid nanorods on synthetic lipid bilayers and on live cell membranes were obtained with millisecond temporal resolution using a scientific complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor camera. The results demonstrate that the as-synthesized hybrid nanorods are promising imaging probes with improved sensitivity and good biocompatibility for single plasmonic particle tracking experiments in biological systems.« less

Morphology of glochidia of Lampsilis higginsi (Bivalvia: Unionidae) compared with three related species

USGS Publications Warehouse

Waller, D.L.; Holland Bartels, L. E.; Mitchell, L.G.

1988-01-01

Glochidia of the endangered unionid mussel Lampsilis higginsi (Lea) are morphologically similar to those of several other species in the upper Mississippi River. Life history details, such as the timing of reproduction and identity of host fish, can be readily studied if the glochidia of L. higginsi can be distinguished from those of related species. Authors used light and scanning electron microscopy and statistical analyses of three shell measurements, shell length, shell height, and hinge length, to compare the glochidia of L. higginsi with those of L. radiata siliquoidea (Barnes), L. ventricosa (Barnes), and Ligumia recta (Lamarck). Glochidia of L. higginsi were differentiated by scanning electron microscopy on the basis of a combined examination of the position of the hinge ligament and the width of dorsal ridges, but were indistinguishable by light microscope examination or by statistical analyses of measurements.

Plasmonic Nanodiamonds – Targeted Core-shell Type Nanoparticles for Cancer Cell Thermoablation

PubMed Central

Rehor, Ivan; Lee, Karin L.; Chen, Kevin; Hajek, Miroslav; Havlik, Jan; Lokajova, Jana; Masat, Milan; Slegerova, Jitka; Shukla, Sourabh; Heidari, Hamed; Bals, Sara

2015-01-01

Targeted biocompatible nanostructures with controlled plasmonic and morphological parameters are promising materials for cancer treatment based on selective thermal ablation of cells. Here, core-shell plasmonic nanodiamonds consisting of a silica-encapsulated diamond nanocrystal coated in a gold shell is designed and synthesized. The architecture of particles is analyzed and confirmed in detail using 3-dimensional transmission electron microscope tomography. The particles are biocompatibilized using a PEG polymer terminated with bioorthogonally reactive alkyne groups. Azide-modified transferrin is attached to these particles, and their high colloidal stability and successful targeting to cancer cells overexpressing the transferrin receptor is demonstrated. The particles are nontoxic to the cells and they are readily internalized upon binding to the transferrin receptor. The high plasmonic cross section of the particles in the near-infrared region is utilized to quantitatively ablate the cancer cells with a short, one-minute irradiation by a pulse 750-nm laser. PMID:25336437

Low Cost CaTiO3 Perovskite Synthesized from Scallop (Anadara granosa) Shell as Antibacterial Ceramic Material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fatimah, Is; Nur Ilahi, Rico; Pratami, Rismayanti

2018-01-01

Research on perovskite CaTiO3 synthesis from scallop (Anadara granosa) shell and its test as material for antibacterial ceramic application have been conducted. The synthesis was performed by calcium extraction from the scallop shell followed by solid-solid reaction of obtained calcium with TiO2. Physicochemical character of the perovskite wasstudied by measurement of crystallinity using x-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse-reflectance UV Visible spectrophotometry, scanning electrone microscope-energy dispersive x-ray (SEM-EDX) and Fourier-Transform InfraRed. Considering the future application of the perovskite as antibacterial agent, laboratory test of the peroskite as material in antibacterial ceramic preparation was also conducted. Result of research indicated that perovskite formation was obtained and the material demonstrated photocatalytic activity as identified by band gap energy (Eg) value. The significant activity was also reflected by the antibacterial action of formed ceramic.

Study of five-dimensional potential-energy surfaces for actinide isotopes by the macroscopic-microscopic method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, T. S.; Wang, Z. M.; Zhu, X.; Zhu, W. J.; Zhong, C. L.

2017-09-01

In this work, the nuclear potential-energy of the deformed nuclei as a function of shape coordinates is calculated in a five-dimensional (5D) parameter space of the axially symmetric generalized Lawrence shapes, on the basis of the macroscopic-microscopic method. The liquid-drop part of the nuclear energy is calculated according to the Myers-Swiatecki model and the Lublin-Strasbourg-drop (LSD) formula. The Woods-Saxon and the folded-Yukawa potentials for deformed nuclei are used for the shell and pairing corrections of the Strutinsky-type. The pairing corrections are calculated at zero temperature, T, related to the excitation energy. The eigenvalues of Hamiltonians for protons and neutrons are found by expanding the eigen-functions in terms of harmonic-oscillator wave functions of a spheroid. Then the BCS pair is applied on the smeared-out single-particle spectrum. By comparing the results obtained by different models, the most favorable combination of the macroscopic-microscopic model is known as the LSD formula with the folded-Yukawa potential. Potential-energy landscapes for actinide isotopes are investigated based on a grid of more than 4,000,000 deformation points and the heights of static fission barriers are obtained in terms of a double-humped structure on the full 5D parameter space. In order to locate the ground state shapes, saddle points, scission points and optimal fission path on the calculated 5D potential-energy surface, the falling rain algorithm and immersion method are designed and implemented. The comparison of our results with available experimental data and others' theoretical results confirms the reliability of our calculations.

Cellular intelligence: Microphenomenology and the realities of being.

PubMed

Ford, Brian J

2017-12-01

Traditions of Eastern thought conceptualised life in a holistic sense, emphasising the processes of maintaining health and conquering sickness as manifestations of an essentially spiritual principle that was of overriding importance in the conduct of living. Western science, which drove the overriding and partial eclipse of Eastern traditions, became founded on a reductionist quest for ultimate realities which, in the modern scientific world, has embraced the notion that every living process can be successfully modelled by a digital computer system. It is argued here that the essential processes of cognition, response and decision-making inherent in living cells transcend conventional modelling, and microscopic studies of organisms like the shell-building amoebae and the rhodophyte alga Antithamnion reveal a level of cellular intelligence that is unrecognized by science and is not amenable to computer analysis. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

NASA Tech Briefs, May 2003

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2003-01-01

Topics covered include: Using Diffusion Bonding in Making Piezoelectric Actuators; Wireless Temperature-Monitoring System; Analog Binaural Circuits for Detecting and Locating Leaks; Mirrors Containing Biomimetic Shape-Control Actuators; Surface-Micromachined Planar Arrays of Thermopiles; Cascade Back-Propagation Learning in Neural Networks; Perovskite Superlattices as Tunable Microwave Devices; Rollable Thin-Shell Nanolaminate Mirrors; Flight Tests of a Ministick Controller in an F/A-18 Airplane; Piezoelectrically Actuated Shutter for High Vacuum; Bio-Inspired Engineering of Exploration Systems; Microscope Cells Containing Multiple Micromachined Wells; Electrophoretic Deposition for Fabricating Microbatteries; Integrated Arrays of Ion-Sensitive Electrodes; Model of Fluidized Bed Containing Reacting Solids and Gases; Membrane Mirrors With Bimorph Shape Actuators; Using Fractional Clock-Period Delays in Telemetry Arraying; Developing Generic Software for Spacecraft Avionics; Numerical Study of Pyrolysis of Biomass in Fluidized Beds; and Assessment of Models of Chemically Reacting Granular Flows.

Synthesis, characterization and application of iron (II, III) oxide (Fe3O4) magnetic nanoparticles in mimic of wound healing model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Konyala, Divya

The research study focused on synthesis, characterization and applications of Fe3O4 core-shelled magnetic nanomaterials. This Fe3O4 magnetic nanomaterials will be prepared by using cost effective and convenient wet-chemistry method and will encapsulated using aqueous extracts of medicinal natural products. Three natural products namely Symplocos racemosa, Picrorhiza kurroa and Butea monosperma used to encapsulate Fe3O 4 MNMs due to their scope to reduce the risk of cancer, improves health, increase energy and enhance the immunity. These three medicinal natural products are synthesize by using water as a solvents to derive its active constituents, which will further used to functionalize the magnetic nanomaterials. The magnetic nanoparticles characterization studies performed using X-ray powder diffraction, Scanning electron microscope, Transmission electron microscope, Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Magnetic property. Fe3O4 magnetic nanomaterials biological activity was tested on Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli). The results pointed out that, due to the adequate coating of Fe 3O4 (Iron Oxide) core by the medicinal chemical constituents from the natural products, the absorption of Fe3O4 magnetic nanomaterials was not detected in the UV-VIS Spectroscopy. TEM images showed that Fe3O4 coated with natural product extract in core-shelled structure, and the size of the particle ranges from 6 nm to 10 nm. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was performed to determine the nature of chemicals present in natural extracts and functionalized Fe3O 4 magnetic nanomaterials. The model of wound healing mimic and antibacterial activity performed on gram-negative (Escherichia coli), indicating steady increasing cell growth after adding Fe3O4 MNMs. It was also found that MNMs synthesized at high temperatures shows less wound healing activity, when compared to MNMs prepared at room temperature due to formation of clusters at high temperatures.

Structural and optical properties of ZnSe:Eu/ZnS quantum dots depending on interfacial residual europium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Ji Young; Lee, Chan Gi; Seo, Han Wook; Jeong, Da-Woon; Kim, Min Young; Kim, Woo-Byoung; Kim, Bum Sung

2018-01-01

A multimodal emitter comprising of ZnSe:Eu/ZnS (core/shell) quantum dots (QDs) by adding a ZnS precursor in situ during synthesis. ZnSe/Eu2+/Eu3+/ZnS actives both core and core/shell. QDs prepared with the ZnS precursor displayed a luminescence intensity three times that of ZnSe QDs due to the passivation effect of the Shell. While the core QDs display the 450-550 nm emission of Eu2+ (4F65D1 → 4F7), the core/shell system showed no Eu2+ emission but only the sharp peaks in the red at 579, 592, 615, 651, and 700 nm due to the electronic transitions of 5D0 → 7Fn (n = 0-4) depending on leisurely decreased with increased reaction time. These results are in agreement with Eu 3d spectra of XPS analysis results. Microscopic analyses show that the core and core/shell QDs both have a zinc blende structure, and their respective sizes were about 3.19 and 3.44 nm. The lattice constant in the central portion of the core/shell QDs are around d111 = 3.13 Å, which is between the outside and inside ring patterns (d111 = 3.27 and 3.07 Å, respectively). This shows the effective over-capping of shell onto the core QDs. The core/shell structure may contain Eu2O3 bonding the over-coated ZnS surface on the Eu3+-doped ZnSe core.

Structure and properties of silk from the African wild silkmoth Gonometa postica reared indoors

PubMed Central

Teshome, Addis; Raina, S. K.; Vollrath, Fritz

2014-01-01

Abstract African wild silkmoth, Gonometa postica Walker (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), were reared indoors in order to examine the influence of rearing conditions on the structure and properties of silk cocoon shells and degummed fibers by using a scanning electron microscope, an Instron tensile tester, and a thermogravimetric analyzer. The cocoons reared indoors showed inferior quality in weight, length, width, and cocoon shell ratio compared to cocoons reared outdoors. There were no differences in cocoon shell and fiber surfaces and cross sectional structures. Cocoon shells were covered with calcium oxalate crystals with few visible fibers on their surface. Degummed fibers were smooth with minimum unfractured surfaces and globular to triangular cross sections. Indoor-reared cocoon shells had a significantly higher breaking strain, while the breaking stress was higher for cocoons reared outdoors. Fibers from indoor cocoons had a significantly higher breaking stress while outdoor fibers had higher breaking strain. Thermogravimetric analysis curves showed two main thermal reactions revealing the dehydration of water molecules and ir-reversible decomposition of the crystallites in both cocoons and fibers reared indoors and outdoors. Cocoon shells underwent additional peaks of decomposition with increased temperature. The total weight loss was higher for cocoon shells and degummed fibers from indoors. Rearing conditions (temperature and relative humidity), feeding method used, changes in total life span, days to molting, and spinning might have influenced the variation in the properties observed.The ecological and commercial significances of indoor rearing of G. postica are discussed. PMID:25373183

Micromechanical measurements of the effect of surfactants on cyclopentane hydrate shell properties.

PubMed

Brown, Erika P; Koh, Carolyn A

2016-01-07

Investigating the effect of surfactants on clathrate hydrate growth and morphology, especially particle shell strength and cohesion force, is critical to advancing new strategies to mitigate hydrate plug formation. In this study, dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid and polysorbate 80 surfactants were included during the growth of cyclopentane hydrates at several concentrations above and below the critical micelle concentration. A novel micromechanical method was applied to determine the force required to puncture the hydrate shell using a glass cantilever (with and without surfactants), with annealing times ranging from immediately after the hydrate nucleated to 90 minutes after formation. It was shown that the puncture force was decreased by the addition of both surfactants up to a maximum of 79%. Over the entire range of annealing times (0-90 minutes), the thickness of the hydrate shell was also measured. However, there was no clear change in shell thickness with the addition of surfactants. The growth rate of the hydrate shell was found to vary less than 15% with the addition of surfactants. The cohesive force between two hydrate particles was measured for each surfactant and found to be reduced by 28% to 78%. Interfacial tension measurements were also performed. Based on these results, microscopic changes to the hydrate shell morphology (due to the presence of surfactants) were proposed to cause the decrease in the force required to break the hydrate shell, since no macroscopic morphology changes were observed. Understanding the hydrate shell strength can be critical to reducing the capillary bridge interaction between hydrate particles or controlling the release of unconverted water from the interior of the hydrate particle, which can cause rapid hydrate conversion.

Buckling shells are also swimmers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quilliet, Catherine; Dyfcom Bubbleboost Team

We present an experimental and numerical study on the displacement of shells undergoing deformations in a fluid. When submitted to cycles of pressure difference between outside and inside, a shell buckles and debuckles, showing a succession of shapes and a dynamics that are different during the two phases. Hence such objects are likely to swim, including at low Reynolds (microscopic scale). We studied the swimming of buckling/debuckling shells at macroscopic scale using different approaches (force quantization, shape recording, displacement along a frictionless rail, study of external flow using PIV), and showed that inertia plays a role in propulsion, even in situations where dimensionless numbers correspond also to microswimmers in water. Different fluid viscosities were explored, showing an optimum for the displacement. Interestingly, the most favorable cases lead to displacements in the same direction and sense during both motor stroke (buckling phase) and recovery stroke (de-buckling phase). This work opens the route for the synthesis with high throughput of abusively simple synthetic swimmers, possibly gathered into nanorobots, actuated by a scalar field such as the pressure in echographic devices. Universite Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, European Research Council.

One-pot size-controlled growth of graphene-encapsulated germanium nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Jae-Hyun; Lee, Eun-Kyung; Kang, Seog-Gyun; Jung, Su-Ho; Son, Seok-Kyun; Nam, Woo Hyun; Kim, Tae-Hoon; Choi, Byong Lyong; Whang, Dongmok

2018-05-01

To realize graphene-encapsulated semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs), an additional graphene coating process, which causes shape destruction and chemical contamination, has so far been inevitable. We report herein one-pot growth of uniform graphene-germanium core-shell nanocrystals (Ge@G NCs) in gram scale by the addition of methane as a carbon source during the thermal pyrolysis of germane. The methane plays a critical role in the growth of the graphene shell, as well as in the determination of the nucleation density and diameter of the NCs, similar to a surfactant in the liquid-phase growth of monodisperse NCs. By adjusting the gas ratio of precursors, a mixture of germane and methane, we can control the size of the Ge@G NCs in the range of ∼5-180 nm. The Ge@G NCs were characterized by various microscopic and spectroscopic tools, which indicated that the Ge core is single crystalline, and is completely covered by the graphene shell. We further investigated the merits of the graphene shell, which can enhance the electrical conductivity of nanocrystalline materials.

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

Kozioziemski, B.

A foam shell, 1.2 mm outer diameter with a 35 μm thick foam layer, is used to quickly form a solid deuterium layer for ICF. Figures show the visible light microscope image and a corresponding schematic representation. In each case, images show the empty foam shell, with the dark and light patches due to the foam imperfections; the foam shell with liquid deuterium filling the foam (in this case, the liquid level exceeds the foam level because the deuterium will shrink when it freezes); and an image of the shell taken 10 minutes after the center image, after the temperaturemore » was reduced by 2 K to freeze the deuterium. This image shows that the majority of the solid deuterium has no observable defects, with the exception of the isolated crystal that formed on the foam surface. The next step is to get the correct level of liquid and cooling rate to prevent the extra crystal on the surface. In contrast, typical ICF DT fuel layers require ~13 hours to solidify in order to be defect free with a success rate of approximately 20%.« less

Development of x-ray laminography under an x-ray microscopic condition

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

Hoshino, Masato; Uesugi, Kentaro; Takeuchi, Akihisa

2011-07-15

An x-ray laminography system under an x-ray microscopic condition was developed to obtain a three-dimensional structure of laterally-extended planar objects which were difficult to observe by x-ray tomography. An x-ray laminography technique was introduced to an x-ray transmission microscope with zone plate optics. Three prototype sample holders were evaluated for x-ray imaging laminography. Layered copper grid sheets were imaged as a laminated sample. Diatomite powder on a silicon nitride membrane was measured to confirm the applicability of this method to non-planar micro-specimens placed on the membrane. The three-dimensional information of diatom shells on the membrane was obtained at a spatialmore » resolution of sub-micron. Images of biological cells on the membrane were also obtained by using a Zernike phase contrast technique.« less

Wintertime Experimental investigation of Morphology, Mixing States and Columnar Optical Properties of Aerosols over a Desert location in India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, S.; Kumar, T.; Sharma, C.; Prasad, M. V. S. N.; Singh, S.; Agnihotri, R.; Arya, B. C.; Gupta, B.; Naaraayanan, T.; Gautam, S.; Kumar, D.; Sood, K. N.; Tawale, J. S.; Sharma, A. K.; Mitra, A. K.

2014-12-01

Indian Desert (The Thar Desert) is considered as the source of mineral dust in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) especially in pre-monsoon period due to large scale convective activities during hot summer. To study the physico-chemical characteristics of aerosols over the Thar Desert (Jaisalmer, Rajasthan) during winter (December, 2013), a field campaign has been carried out in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan state. Experiments were conducted inside the city as well as far from the city. The faraway location is close to international border of another country i.e. Pakistan. PM2.5 and PM10 were collected within the city while PM5 was collected far from the city. Particles were collected on Teflon filters for bulk analysis with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), on Tin substrate for individual particle morphology and elemental composition analysis with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) and on the Cu-TEM grid for individual particle morphology and mixing state characterization using High Resolution-Transmission Electron Microscope (HRTEM). Together with this, aerosol size distribution observation and columnar spectral aerosol optical properties have been carried out with OPC (Optical Particle Counter, GRIMM Model 1.108) and hand held Microtops-II, respectively. HRTEM analysis reveals occurrence of carbonaceous fractals found in various mixing states 1) aged with some hygroscopic species 2) embedded in sulfate host 3) semi-externally mixed with sulfate and other species. Core-shell particles were also observed with varying core composition (carbon, typical mineral dust, and calcite) and shell thickness (shell comprising of water). The back trajectory analysis reveals the source of wind from Karachi and Islamabad from Pakistan which may be the potential source of carbonaceous species over the sampling site. SEM-EDS analysis reveals occurrence of mineral dust 1) pure mineral dust (Ca and Si rich) 2) polluted mineral dust (mixed with carbon and Cr) together with some pollutants (rich in carbon, S, K, Cl, Mo and Nb). Signatures of various organics were traced using FTIR. Aerosol columnar spectral optical properties, size distribution and meteorology in tandem with aforementioned aerosol properties will be discussed in detail during the presentation.

Development of core-shell coaxially electrospun composite PCL/chitosan scaffolds.

PubMed

Surucu, Seda; Turkoglu Sasmazel, Hilal

2016-11-01

This study was related to combining of synthetic Poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and natural chitosan polymers to develop three dimensional (3D) PCL/chitosan core-shell scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. The scaffolds were fabricated with coaxial electrospinning technique and the characterizations of the samples were done by thickness and contact angle (CA) measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analyses, mechanical and PBS absorption and shrinkage tests. The average inter-fiber diameter values were calculated for PCL (0.717±0.001μm), chitosan (0.660±0.007μm) and PCL/chitosan core-shell scaffolds (0.412±0.003μm), also the average inter-fiber pore size values exhibited decreases of 66.91% and 61.90% for the PCL and chitosan scaffolds respectively, compared to PCL/chitosan core-shell ones. XPS analysis of the PCL/chitosan core-shell structures exhibited the characteristic peaks of PCL and chitosan polymers. The cell culture studies (MTT assay, Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope (CLSM) and SEM analyses) carried out with L929 ATCC CCL-1 mouse fibroblast cell line proved that the biocompatibility performance of the scaffolds. The obtained results showed that the created micro/nano fibrous structure of the PCL/chitosan core-shell scaffolds in this study increased the cell viability and proliferation on/within scaffolds. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Assessing open-system behavior of 14C in terrestrial gastropod shells

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rech, Jason A.; Pigati, Jeffrey S.; Lehmann, Sophie B.; McGimpsey, Chelsea N.; Grimley, David A.; Nekola, Jeffrey C.

2011-01-01

In order to assess open-system behavior of radiocarbon in fossil gastropod shells, we measured the 14C activity on 10 aliquots of shell material recovered from Illinoian (~190-130 ka) and pre-Illinoian (~800 ka) loess and lacustrine deposits in the Midwestern USA. Eight of the 10 aliquots yielded measurable 14C activities that ranged from 0.25 to 0.53 percent modern carbon (pMC), corresponding to apparent 14C ages between 48.2 and 42.1 ka. This small level of open-system behavior is common in many materials that are used for 14C dating (e.g. charcoal), and typically sets the upper practical limit of the technique. Two aliquots of gastropod shells from the Illinoian-aged Petersburg Silt (Petersburg Section) in central Illinois, USA, however, yielded elevated 14C activities of 1.26 and 1.71 pMC, which correspond to apparent 14C ages of 35.1 and 32.7 ka. Together, these results suggest that while many fossil gastropods shells may not suffer from major (>1%) open-system problems, this is not always the case. We then examined the mineralogy, trace element chemistry, and physical characteristics of a suite of fossil and modern gastropod shells to identify the source of contamination in the Petersburg shells and assess the effectiveness of these screening techniques at identifying samples suitable for 14C dating. Mineralogical (XRD) and trace element analyses were inconclusive, which suggests that these techniques are not suitable for assessing open-system behavior in terrestrial gastropod shells. Analysis with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), however, identified secondary mineralization (calcium carbonate) primarily within the inner whorls of the Petersburg shells. This indicates that SEM examination, or possibly standard microscope examination, of the interior of gastropod shells should be used when selecting fossil gastropod shells for 14C dating.

Assessing open-system behavior of 14C in terrestrial gastropod shells

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rech, J.A.; Pigati, J.S.; Lehmann, S.B.; McGimpsey, C.N.; Grimley, D.A.; Nekola, J.C.

2011-01-01

In order to assess open-system behavior of radiocarbon in fossil gastropod shells, we measured the 14C activity on 10 aliquots of shell material recovered from Illinoian (~190-130 ka) and pre-Illinoian (~800 ka) loess and lacustrine deposits in the Midwestern USA. Eight of the 10 aliquots yielded measurable 14C activities that ranged from 0.25 to 0.53 percent modern carbon (pMC), corresponding to apparent 14C ages between 48.2 and 42.1 ka. This small level of open-system behavior is common in many materials that are used for 14C dating (e.g. charcoal), and typically sets the upper practical limit of the technique. Two aliquots of gastropod shells from the Illinoian-aged Petersburg Silt (Petersburg Section) in central Illinois, USA, however, yielded elevated 14C activities of 1.26 and 1.71 pMC, which correspond to apparent 14C ages of 35.1 and 32.7 ka. Together, these results suggest that while many fossil gastropods shells may not suffer from major (>1%) open-system problems, this is not always the case. We then examined the mineralogy, trace element chemistry, and physical characteristics of a suite of fossil and modern gastropod shells to identify the source of contamination in the Petersburg shells and assess the effectiveness of these screening techniques at identifying samples suitable for 14C dating. Mineralogical (XRD) and trace element analyses were inconclusive, which suggests that these techniques are not suitable for assessing open-system behavior in terrestrial gastropod shells. Analysis with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), however, identified secondary mineralization (calcium carbonate) primarily within the inner whorls of the Petersburg shells. This indicates that SEM examination, or possibly standard microscope examination, of the interior of gastropod shells should be used when selecting fossil gastropod shells for 14C dating. ?? 2011 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona.

Fission dynamics with microscopic level densities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Randrup, Jørgen; Ward, Daniel; Carlsson, Gillis; Døssing, Thomas; Möller, Peter; Åberg, Sven

2018-03-01

Working within the Langevin framework of nuclear shape dynamics, we study the dependence of the evolution on the degree of excitation. As the excitation energy of the fissioning system is increased, the pairing correlations and the shell effects diminish and the effective potential-energy surface becomes ever more liquid-drop like. This feature can be included in the treatment in a formally well-founded manner by using the local level densities as a basis for the shape evolution. This is particularly easy to understand and implement in the Metropolis treatment where the evolution is simulated by means of a random walk on the five-dimensional lattice of shapes for which the potential energy has been tabulated. Because the individual steps between two neighboring lattice sites are decided on the basis of the ratio of the statistical weights, what is needed is the ratio of the local level densities for those shapes, evaluated at the associated local excitation energies. For this purpose, we adapt a recently developed combinatorial method for calculating level densities which employs the same single-particle levels as those that were used for the calculation of the pairing and shell contributions to the macroscopic-microscopic deformation-energy surface. For each nucleus under consideration, the level density (for a fixed total angular momentum) is calculated microscopically for each of the over five million shapes given in the three-quadratic-surface parametrization. This novel treatment, which introduces no new parameters, is illustrated for the fission fragment mass distributions for selected uranium and plutonium cases.

Microscopically derived potential energy surfaces from mostly structural considerations

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

Ermamatov, M.J.; Institute of Nuclear Physics, Ulughbek, Tashkent 100214; Hess, Peter O., E-mail: hess@nucleares.unam.mx

2016-08-15

A simple procedure to estimate the quadrupole Potential-Energy-Surface (PES) is presented, using mainly structural information, namely the content of the shell model space and the Pauli exclusion principle. Further microscopic properties are implicitly contained through the use of results from the Möller and Nix tables or experimental information. A mapping to the geometric potential is performed yielding the PES. The General Collective Model is used in order to obtain an estimate on the spectrum and quadrupole transitions, adjusting only the mass parameter. First, we test the conjecture on known nuclei, deriving the PES and compare them to known data. Wemore » will see that the PES approximates very well the structure expected. Having acquired a certain confidence, we predict the PES of several chain of isotopes of heavy and super-heavy nuclei and at the end we investigate the structure of nuclei in the supposed island of stability. One of the main points to show is that simple assumptions can provide already important information on the structure of nuclei outside known regions and that spectra and electromagnetic transitions can be estimated without using involved calculations and assumptions. The procedure does not allow to calculate binding energies. The method presented can be viewed as a starting point for further improvements.« less

Transformation of multiwall carbon nanotubes to onions with layers cross-linked by sp3 bonds under high pressure and shear deformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pankov, A. M.; Bredikhina, A. S.; Kulnitskiy, B. A.; Perezhogin, I. A.; Skryleva, E. A.; Parkhomenko, Yu. N.; Popov, M. Yu.; Blank, V. D.

2017-08-01

A pressure-induced phase transition of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) to a new structure at room temperature is studied using a shear diamond anvil cell, X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Raman procedures. We observe a cardinal pressure-induced change in the nanoparticles shape from multi-shell tubes to multi-shell spheres. MWNT transforms to onions with layers cross-linked by sp3 bonds under the 45-65 GPa compressive stress combined with shear deformation at room temperature. TEM and XPS results show that about 40% of the carbon atoms in the new phase are sp3-bounded.

Synthesis and characterization of a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) core + poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) shell nanoparticle system

PubMed Central

Kosinski, Aaron M.; Brugnano, Jamie L.; Seal, Brandon L.; Knight, Frances C.; Panitch, Alyssa

2012-01-01

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a popular material used to prepare nanoparticles for drug delivery. However, PLGA nanoparticles lack desirable attributes including active targeting abilities, resistance to aggregation during lyophilization, and the ability to respond to dynamic environmental stimuli. To overcome these issues, we fabricated a nanoparticle consisting of a PLGA core encapsulated within a shell of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscope imaging were used to characterize the nanoparticles, while an MTT assay and ELISA suggested biocompatibility in THP1 cells. Finally, a collagen type II binding assay showed successful modification of these nanoparticles with an active targeting moiety. PMID:23507885

A sensitive glucose biosensor based on Ag@C core-shell matrix.

PubMed

Zhou, Xuan; Dai, Xingxin; Li, Jianguo; Long, Yumei; Li, Weifeng; Tu, Yifeng

2015-04-01

Nano-Ag particles were coated with colloidal carbon (Ag@C) to improve its biocompatibility and chemical stability for the preparation of biosensor. The core-shell structure was evidenced by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and the Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR) spectra revealed that the carbon shell is rich of function groups such as -OH and -COOH. The as-prepared Ag@C core-shell structure can offer favorable microenvironment for immobilizing glucose oxidase and the direct electrochemistry process of glucose oxidase (GOD) at Ag@C modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was realized. The modified electrode exhibited good response to glucose. Under optimum experimental conditions the biosensor linearly responded to glucose concentration in the range of 0.05-2.5mM, with a detection limit of 0.02mM (S/N=3). The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (KM(app)) of the biosensor is calculated to be 1.7mM, suggesting high enzymatic activity and affinity toward glucose. In addition, the GOD-Ag@C/Nafion/GCE shows good reproducibility and long-term stability. These results suggested that core-shell structured Ag@C is an ideal matrix for the immobilization of the redox enzymes and further the construction of the sensitive enzyme biosensor. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Highly stable multi-wall carbon nanotubes@poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonate) core-shell composites with three-dimensional porous nano-network for electrochemical capacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Haihan; Han, Gaoyi; Chang, Yunzhen; Fu, Dongying; Xiao, Yaoming

2015-01-01

A facile and feasible electrochemical polymerization method has been used to construct the multi-wall carbon nanotubes@poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonate) (MWCNTs@PEDOT/PSS) core-shell composites with three-dimensional (3D) porous nano-network microstructure. The composites are characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscopy. This special core-shell nanostructure can significantly reduce the ions diffusion distance and the 3D porous nano-network microstructure effectively enlarges the electrode/electrolyte interface. The electrochemical tests including cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests are performed, the results manifest the MWCNTs@PEDOT/PSS core-shell composites have superior capacitive behaviors and excellent cyclic stability, and a high areal capacitance of 98.1 mF cm-2 is achieved at 5 mV s-1 cyclic voltammetry scan. Furthermore, the MWCNTs@PEDOT/PSS composites exhibit obviously superior capacitive performance than that of PEDOT/PSS and PEDOT/Cl electrodes, indicating the effective composite of MWCNTs and PEDOT noticeably boosts the capacitive performance of PEDOT-based electrodes for electrochemical energy storage. Such a highly stable core-shell 3D network structural composite is very promising to be used as electrode materials for the high-performance electrochemical capacitors.

Physical re-examination of parameters on a molecular collisions-based diffusion model for diffusivity prediction in polymers.

PubMed

Ohashi, Hidenori; Tamaki, Takanori; Yamaguchi, Takeo

2011-12-29

Molecular collisions, which are the microscopic origin of molecular diffusive motion, are affected by both the molecular surface area and the distance between molecules. Their product can be regarded as the free space around a penetrant molecule defined as the "shell-like free volume" and can be taken as a characteristic of molecular collisions. On the basis of this notion, a new diffusion theory has been developed. The model can predict molecular diffusivity in polymeric systems using only well-defined single-component parameters of molecular volume, molecular surface area, free volume, and pre-exponential factors. By consideration of the physical description of the model, the actual body moved and which neighbor molecules are collided with are the volume and the surface area of the penetrant molecular core. In the present study, a semiempirical quantum chemical calculation was used to calculate both of these parameters. The model and the newly developed parameters offer fairly good predictive ability. © 2011 American Chemical Society

Modeling complicated rheological behaviors in encapsulating shells of lipid-coated microbubbles accounting for nonlinear changes of both shell viscosity and elasticity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qian; Matula, Thomas J.; Tu, Juan; Guo, Xiasheng; Zhang, Dong

2013-02-01

It has been accepted that the dynamic responses of ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) microbubbles will be significantly affected by the encapsulating shell properties (e.g., shell elasticity and viscosity). In this work, a new model is proposed to describe the complicated rheological behaviors in an encapsulating shell of UCA microbubbles by applying the nonlinear ‘Cross law’ to the shell viscous term in the Marmottant model. The proposed new model was verified by fitting the dynamic responses of UCAs measured with either a high-speed optical imaging system or a light scattering system. The comparison results between the measured radius-time curves and the numerical simulations demonstrate that the ‘compression-only’ behavior of UCAs can be successfully simulated with the new model. Then, the shell elastic and viscous coefficients of SonoVue microbubbles were evaluated based on the new model simulations, and compared to the results obtained from some existing UCA models. The results confirm the capability of the current model for reducing the dependence of bubble shell parameters on the initial bubble radius, which indicates that the current model might be more comprehensive to describe the complex rheological nature (e.g., ‘shear-thinning’ and ‘strain-softening’) in encapsulating shells of UCA microbubbles by taking into account the nonlinear changes of both shell elasticity and shell viscosity.

Modeling complicated rheological behaviors in encapsulating shells of lipid-coated microbubbles accounting for nonlinear changes of both shell viscosity and elasticity.

PubMed

Li, Qian; Matula, Thomas J; Tu, Juan; Guo, Xiasheng; Zhang, Dong

2013-02-21

It has been accepted that the dynamic responses of ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) microbubbles will be significantly affected by the encapsulating shell properties (e.g., shell elasticity and viscosity). In this work, a new model is proposed to describe the complicated rheological behaviors in an encapsulating shell of UCA microbubbles by applying the nonlinear 'Cross law' to the shell viscous term in the Marmottant model. The proposed new model was verified by fitting the dynamic responses of UCAs measured with either a high-speed optical imaging system or a light scattering system. The comparison results between the measured radius-time curves and the numerical simulations demonstrate that the 'compression-only' behavior of UCAs can be successfully simulated with the new model. Then, the shell elastic and viscous coefficients of SonoVue microbubbles were evaluated based on the new model simulations, and compared to the results obtained from some existing UCA models. The results confirm the capability of the current model for reducing the dependence of bubble shell parameters on the initial bubble radius, which indicates that the current model might be more comprehensive to describe the complex rheological nature (e.g., 'shear-thinning' and 'strain-softening') in encapsulating shells of UCA microbubbles by taking into account the nonlinear changes of both shell elasticity and shell viscosity.

Testing the best method to prepare recent and fossil brachiopod shells for SEM analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crippa, Gaia; Ye, Facheng

2017-04-01

The analysis of shell microstructures by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) is a method easily available to most palaeontologists and geochemists. This kind of analysis is a fundamental step in the study of the mineralised parts of marine and terrestrial organisms, and it provides invaluable information in different fields of palaeontology, from the comprehension of evolutionary taxonomy and biomineralisation processes to the screening of shell diagenetic alteration. In precipitating their low-magnesium calcite shells in isotopic equilibrium with ambient seawater, brachiopods are excellent archives of past seawater temperature and ocean chemistry. However, diagenetic processes may alter the original fabric and the original geochemical composition of the shells; the SEM analysis of the microstructure represents one of the most common method used to test fossil shell preservation and eventually exclude diagenetic alteration. Notwithstanding the importance of this analysis, only few and scattered data have been published about the preparation and cleaning of brachiopod shells for SEM analyses Here, we describe several tests performed on recent and fossil brachiopod shells, experimenting new and old methodologies in order to identify a general protocol to better highlight and analyze the shell fabric. Recent taxa include Liothyrella uva and Liothyrella neozelanica, respectively collected from Antarctica and New Zealand; fossil shells are those of Terebratula scillae collected from the lower Pleistocene Stirone River sedimentary succession in Northern Italy. We carried out several tests to check the response of the shell fabric to the resin used to embed the valves before cutting and to different times of exposure to hydrochloric acid; furthermore, as the presence of the organic matrix in recent shells represents the main obstacle to obtaining high quality SEM images, we used bleach and hydrogen peroxide with different concentrations and times of exposure to remove it. We conclude that bleach and hydrogen peroxide at the highest time of exposure followed by hydrochloric acid for 3 seconds is the best method to use when preparing recent brachiopods, whereas fossil shells should undergo higher exposure time to hydrochloric acid (15 seconds).

Multibody dynamic analysis using a rotation-free shell element with corotational frame

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Jiabei; Liu, Zhuyong; Hong, Jiazhen

2018-03-01

Rotation-free shell formulation is a simple and effective method to model a shell with large deformation. Moreover, it can be compatible with the existing theories of finite element method. However, a rotation-free shell is seldom employed in multibody systems. Using a derivative of rigid body motion, an efficient nonlinear shell model is proposed based on the rotation-free shell element and corotational frame. The bending and membrane strains of the shell have been simplified by isolating deformational displacements from the detailed description of rigid body motion. The consistent stiffness matrix can be obtained easily in this form of shell model. To model the multibody system consisting of the presented shells, joint kinematic constraints including translational and rotational constraints are deduced in the context of geometric nonlinear rotation-free element. A simple node-to-surface contact discretization and penalty method are adopted for contacts between shells. A series of analyses for multibody system dynamics are presented to validate the proposed formulation. Furthermore, the deployment of a large scaled solar array is presented to verify the comprehensive performance of the nonlinear shell model.

Fabrication, Characterization and Cytotoxicity of Spherical-Shaped Conjugated Gold-Cockle Shell Derived Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiranda, Hanan Karimah; Mahmud, Rozi; Abubakar, Danmaigoro; Zakaria, Zuki Abubakar

2018-01-01

The evolution of nanomaterial in science has brought about a growing increase in nanotechnology, biomedicine, and engineering fields. This study was aimed at fabrication and characterization of conjugated gold-cockle shell-derived calcium carbonate nanoparticles (Au-CSCaCO3NPs) for biomedical application. The synthetic technique employed used gold nanoparticle citrate reduction method and a simple precipitation method coupled with mechanical use of a Programmable roller-ball mill. The synthesized conjugated nanomaterial was characterized for its physicochemical properties using transmission electron microscope (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). However, the intricacy of cellular mechanisms can prove challenging for nanomaterial like Au-CSCaCO3NPs and thus, the need for cytotoxicity assessment. The obtained spherical-shaped nanoparticles (light-green purplish) have an average diameter size of 35 ± 16 nm, high carbon and oxygen composition. The conjugated nanomaterial, also possesses a unique spectra for aragonite polymorph and carboxylic bond significantly supporting interactions between conjugated nanoparticles. The negative surface charge and spectra absorbance highlighted their stability. The resultant spherical shaped conjugated Au-CSCaCO3NPs could be a great nanomaterial for biomedical applications.

Microstructure and Thermal Reliability of Microcapsules Containing Phase Change Material with Self-Assembled Graphene/Organic Nano-Hybrid Shells.

PubMed

Wang, Xianfeng; Guo, Yandong; Su, Junfeng; Zhang, Xiaolong; Han, Ningxu; Wang, Xinyu

2018-05-24

In recent decades, microcapsules containing phase change materials (microPCMs) have been the center of much attention in the field of latent thermal energy storage. The aim of this work was to prepare and investigate the microstructure and thermal conductivity of microPCMs containing self-assembled graphene/organic hybrid shells. Paraffin was used as a phase change material, which was successfully microencapsulated by graphene and polymer forming hybrid composite shells. The physicochemical characters of microPCM samples were investigated including mean size, shell thickness, and chemical structure. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results showed that the microPCMs were spherical particles and graphene enhanced the degree of smoothness of the shell surface. The existence of graphene in the shells was proved by using the methods of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that graphene hybrid shells were constructed by forces of electric charge absorption and long-molecular entanglement. MicroPCMs with graphene had a higher degradation temperature of 300 °C. Graphene greatly enhanced the thermal stability of microPCMs. The thermal conductivity tests indicated that the phase change temperature of microPCMs was regulated by the graphene additive because of enhancement of the thermal barrier of the hybrid shells. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests proved that the latent thermal energy capability of microPCMs had been improved with a higher heat conduction rate. In addition, infrared thermograph observations implied that the microPCMs had a sensitivity response to heat during the phase change cycling process because of the excellent thermal conductivity of graphene.

Experimental evaluation of fluorescent (alizarin red S and calcein) and clip-tag markers for stock assessment of ark shell, Anadara broughtonii

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Shanshan; Zhang, Xiumei; Li, Wentao; Li, Long; Cai, Xingyuan

2017-03-01

Release programs to enhance stocks of ark shell ( Anadara broughtonii) have been undertaken in a number of Asian countries, but their effectiveness has rarely been investigated owing to a lack of marking methods. The quality and longevity of fluorescent markers, alizarin red S (ARS) and calcein (CAL) (200 and 300 mg/L), as well as clip tags, were tested on juvenile A. broughtonii. No significant differences in survival or shell growth were observed in juveniles stained with either of the two fluorochromes after a 160-day culture period, but the retention rate was 100% after 1 year. Fluorescent marks (≥grade 3) were observable microscopically in juveniles stained with the two fluorochromes, and some fluorescent marks (≥grade 4) were visible with the naked eye after 1 year. ARS-marked shells were brighter than those marked with CAL, and shells marked with 300 mg/L of the fluorochromes were easier to detect than those marked with 200 mg/L. Clip tags were incorporated into the shell as the bivalve grew, and the retention rate was 64.25% after 160 days. Significant differences in survival (at 30 days), shell length (at 60, 90, 120, and 160 days), and wet weight (at 90, 120, and 160 days) were observed between the clip-tagged and control groups (all P< 0.05), indicating that the tags may have passive effects on the ark shell. The results suggest that both ARS and CAL are suitable to mark A. broughtonii for large-scale restocking programs, and that optimal marking quality was achieved with 300 mg/L ARS. Lighter and smaller clip tags need to be developed to reduce injury and increase survival rate of clams.

In situ microscopy of rapidly heated nano-Al and nano-Al/WO{sub 3} thermites

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

Sullivan, Kyle T.; Zachariah, Michael R.; Chiou, Wen-An

2010-09-27

The initiation and reaction mechanism of nano-Al and nano-Al thermites in rapid heating environments is investigated in this work. A semiconductor-based grid/stage was used, capable of in situ heating of a sample from room temperature to 1473 K, and at a rate of 10{sup 6} K/s, inside an electron microscope. Nano-Al was rapidly heated in a transmission electron microscope, and before and after images indicate that the aluminum migrates through the shell, consistent with a diffusion-based mechanism. A nano-Al/WO{sub 3} composite was then heated in a scanning electron microscope. The results indicate that a reactive sintering mechanism is occurring formore » the nano-Al/WO{sub 3} thermite, as the products are found to be in surface contact and significantly deformed after the heating pulse.« less

Rupture of poly implant prothèse silicone breast implants: an implant retrieval study.

PubMed

Swarts, Eric; Kop, Alan M; Nilasaroya, Anastasia; Keogh, Catherine V; Cooper, Timothy

2013-04-01

Poly Implant Prothèse implants were recalled in Australia in April of 2010 following concerns of higher than expected rupture rates and the use of unauthorized industrial grade silicone as a filler material. Although subsequent investigations found that the gel filler material does not pose a threat to human health, the important question of what caused a relatively modern breast implant to have such a poor outcome compared with contemporary silicone breast implants is yet to be addressed. From a cohort of 27 patients, 19 ruptured Poly Implant Prothèse breast implants were subjected to a range of mechanical tests and microscopic/macroscopic investigations to evaluate possible changes in properties as a result of implantation. New Poly Implant Prothèse implants were used as controls. All samples, explanted and controls, complied with the requirements for shell integrity as specified in the International Organization for Standardization 14607. Compression testing revealed rupture rates similar to those reported in the literature. Shell thickness was highly variable, with most shells having regions below the minimum thickness of 0.57 mm that was specified by the manufacturer. Potential regions of stress concentration were observed on the smooth inner surfaces and outer textured surfaces. The high incidence of Poly Implant Prothèse shell rupture is most likely a result of inadequate quality control, with contributory factors being shell thickness variation and manufacturing defects on both inner and outer surfaces of the shell. No evidence of shell degradation with implantation time was determined.

Scanning electron microscope fractography of induced fatigue-damaged saline breast implants.

PubMed

Brandon, H J; Jerina, K L; Savoy, T L; Wolf, C J

2006-01-01

Breast implant strength and durability is presently an important topic in biomaterials science. Research studies are being conducted to determine the mechanisms and rates of failure in order to assess the in vivo performance of breast implants. Fatigue life is a measure of breast implant durability since fatigue failure is a potential in vivo failure mechanism. This study describes the characterization of the fracture surface morphology of breast implant shell regions that have failed due to cyclic fatigue. Saline breast implants were fatigue tested to failure using a laboratory apparatus in which flat plates cyclically compressed the implants. The implants were unimplanted control devices of both textured and smooth saline implants. The failure surfaces of the fatigued shells were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The morphological features of the failure surfaces are described for implants with short and long fatigue lifetimes. The details of both the inside and outside surfaces of the shell at the failure location are described. Two different modes of failure were observed in both the textured and smooth shells. These modes depend on the magnitude of the cyclic load and corresponding number of fatigue cycles at failure. The first mode is a tear in the shell of about 18 mm in length, and the second mode is a pinhole approximately 1 mm in diameter. Details of the surface morphology for these two types of failure modes and shell thickness data are presented herein. There was no significant change in the crosslink density of the shell as a result of fatigue.

Quantum dots coupled ZnO nanowire-array panels and their photocatalytic activities.

PubMed

Liao, Yulong; Que, Wenxiu; Zhang, Jin; Zhong, Peng; Yuan, Yuan; Qiu, Xinku; Shen, Fengyu

2013-02-01

Fabrication and characterization of a heterojunction structured by CdS quantum dots@ZnO nanowire-array panels were presented. Firstly, ZnO nanowire-array panels were prepared by using a chemical bath deposition approach where wurtzite ZnO nanowires with a diameter of about 100 nm and 3 microm in length grew perpendicularly to glass substrate. Secondly, CdS quantum dots were deposited onto the surface of the ZnO nanowire-arrays by using successive ion layer absorption and reaction method, and the CdS shell/ZnO core heterojunction were thus obtained. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscope were employed to characterize the morphological properties of the as-obtained CdS quantum dots@ZnO nanowire-array panels. X-ray diffraction was adopted to characterize the crystalline properties of the as-obtained CdS quantum dots@ZnO nanowire-array panels. Methyl orange was taken as a model compound to confirm the photocatalytic activities of the CdS shell/ZnO core heterojunction. Results indicate that CdS with narrow band gap not only acts as a visible-light sensitizer but also is responsible for an effective charge separation.

Beta delayed neutrons for nuclear structure and astrophysics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grzywacz, Robert

2014-09-01

Beta-delayed neutron emission (β xn) is a significant or even dominant decay channel for the majority of very neutron-rich nuclei, especially for those on the r-process path. The recent theoretical models predicts that it may play more significant role then previously expected for astrophysics and this realization instigated a renewed experimental interest in this topic as a part of a larger scope of research on beta-decay strength distribution. Because studies of the decay strength directly probe relevant physics on the microscopic level, energy-resolved measurements of the beta-decay strength distribution is a better test of nuclear models than traditionally used experimental observables like half-lives and neutron branching ratios. A new detector system called the Versatile Array of Neutron Detectors at Low Energy (VANDLE) was constructed to directly address this issue. In its first experimental campaign at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility neutron energy spectra in key regions of the nuclear chart were measured: near the shell closures at 78Ni and 132Sn, and for the deformed nuclei near 100Rb. In several cases, unexpectedly intense and concentrated, resonant-like, high-energy neutron structures were observed. These results were interpreted within shell model framework which clearly indicated that these neutron emission is driven by nuclear structure effects and are due to large Gamow-Teller type transition matrix elements. This research was sponsored in part by the National Nuclear Security Administration under the Stewardship Science Academic Alliances program through DOE Cooperative Agreement No. DE-FG52-08NA28552.

Off-shell test of the Moscow potential of nucleon-nucleon interaction on the basis of data on the reaction {gamma}d {sup {yields}} np in the photon-energy region around E{sub {gamma}} {approx_equal} 2 GeV, where this reaction is sensitive to quark effects

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

Knyr, V. A.; Neudatchin, V. G.; Khokhlov, N. A.

Various pieces of evidence in favor of the Moscow potential of nucleon-nucleon interaction are discussed. The formalism of a relativistic potential model as applied to deuteron photodintegration is expounded. The differential cross section calculated for the reaction {gamma}d {sup {yields}} np on the basis of the Moscow potential at incident-photon energies E{sub {gamma}} between 1.5 and 2.5 GeV are quite in accord with present-day experimental data, which are also described well in the literature on the basis of the model of quark-gluon strings. Further steps in testing the Moscow potential and microscopically substantiating it on the basis of quark modelsmore » are indicated.« less

Systematics of intermediate-energy single-nucleon removal cross sections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tostevin, J. A.; Gade, A.

2014-11-01

There is now a large and increasing body of experimental data and theoretical analyses for reactions that remove a single nucleon from an intermediate-energy beam of neutron- or proton-rich nuclei. In each such measurement, one obtains the inclusive cross section for the population of all bound final states of the mass A -1 reaction residue. These data, from different regions of the nuclear chart, and that involve weakly and strongly bound nucleons, are compared with theoretical expectations. These calculations include an approximate treatment of the reaction dynamics and shell-model descriptions of the projectile initial state, the bound final states of the residues, and the single-particle strengths computed from their overlap functions. The results are discussed in the light of recent data, more exclusive tests of the eikonal dynamical description, and calculations that take input from more microscopic nuclear structure models.

Multi-functional electrospun antibacterial core-shell nanofibrous membranes for prolonged prevention of post-surgical tendon adhesion and inflammation.

PubMed

Shalumon, K T; Sheu, Chialin; Chen, Chih-Hao; Chen, Shih-Heng; Jose, Gils; Kuo, Chang-Yi; Chen, Jyh-Ping

2018-05-01

The possibility of endowing an electrospun anti-adhesive barrier membrane with multi-functionality, such as lubrication, prevention of fibroblast attachment and anti-infection and anti-inflammation properties, is highly desirable for the management of post-surgical tendon adhesion. To this end, we fabricated core-shell nanofibrous membranes (CSNMs) with embedded silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/poly(caprolactone) (PCL) shell and hyaluronic acid (HA)/ibuprofen in the core. HA imparted a lubrication effect for smooth tendon gliding and reduced fibroblast attachment, while Ag NPs and ibuprofen functioned as anti-infection and anti-inflammation agents, respectively. CSNMs with a PEG/PCL/Ag shell (PPA) and HA core containing 0% (H/PPA), 10% (HI10/PPA), 30% (HI30/PPA) and 50% (HI50/PPA) ibuprofen were fabricated through co-axial electrospinning and assessed through microscopic, spectroscopic, thermal, mechanical and drug release analyses. Considering nutrient passage through the barrier, the microporous CSNMs exerted the same barrier effect but drastically increased the mass transfer coefficients of bovine serum albumin compared with the commercial anti-adhesive membrane SurgiWrap®. Cell attachment/focal adhesion formation of fibroblasts revealed effective reduction of initial cell attachment on the CSNM surface with minimum cytotoxicity (except HI50/PPA). The anti-bacterial effect against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria was verified to be due to the Ag NPs in the membranes. In vivo studies using H/PPA and HI30/PPA CSNMs and SurgiWrap® in a rabbit flexor tendon rupture model demonstrated the improved efficacy of HI30/PPA CSNMs in reducing inflammation and tendon adhesion formation based on gross observation, histological analysis and functional assays. We conclude that HI30/PPA CSNMs can act as a multifunctional barrier membrane to prevent peritendinous adhesion after tendon surgery. A multi-functional anti-adhesion barrier membrane that could reduce fibroblasts attachment and penetration while simultaneously prevent post-surgical infection and inflammation is urgently needed. To this end, we prepared electrospun core-shell hyaluronic acid + ibuprofen/polyethylene glycol + polycaprolactone + Ag nanoparticles nanofibrous membranes by co-axial electrospinning as an ideal anti-adhesive membrane. The core-shell structure could meet the need of a desirable anti-adhesion barrier through release of ibuprofen and Ag nanoparticles to reduce infection and inflammation while hyaluronic acid can reduce fibroblasts adhesion. The superior performance of this multi-functional core-shell nanofibrous membrane in preventing peritendinous adhesion and post-surgical inflammation was demonstrated in a rabbit flexor tendon rupture model. Copyright © 2018 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dynamic analysis of rotor flex-structure based on nonlinear anisotropic shell models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bauchau, Olivier A.; Chiang, Wuying

1991-05-01

In this paper an anisotropic shallow shell model is developed that accommodates transverse shearing deformations and arbitrarily large displacements and rotations, but strains are assumed to remain small. Two kinematic models are developed, the first using two DOF to locate the direction of the normal to the shell's midplane, the second using three. The latter model allows for an automatic compatibility of the shell model with beam models. The shell model is validated by comparing its predictions with several benchmark problems. In actual helicopter rotor blade problems, the shell model of the flex structure is shown to give very different results shown compared to beam models. The lead-lag and torsion modes in particular are strongly affected, whereas flapping modes seem to be less affected.

Changes of ns-soot mixing states and shapes in an urban area during CalNex

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adachi, Kouji; Buseck, Peter R.

2013-05-01

Aerosol particles from megacities influence the regional and global climate as well as the health of their occupants. We used transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) to study aerosol particles collected from the Los Angeles area during the 2010 CalNex campaign. We detected major amounts of ns-soot, defined as consisting of carbon nanospheres, sulfate, sea salt, and organic aerosol (OA) and lesser amounts of brochosome particles from leaf hoppers. Ns-soot-particle shapes, mixing states, and abundances varied significantly with sampling times and days. Within plumes having high CO2 concentrations, much ns-soot was compacted and contained a relatively large number of carbon nanospheres. Ns-soot particles from both CalNex samples and Mexico City, the latter collected in 2006, had a wide range of shapes when mixed with other aerosol particles, but neither sets showed spherical ns-soot nor the core-shell configuration that is commonly used in optical calculations. Our TEM observations and light-absorption calculations of modeled particles indicate that, in contrast to ns-soot particles that are embedded within other materials or have the hypothesized core-shell configurations, those attached to other aerosol particles hardly enhance their light absorption. We conclude that the ways in which ns-soot mixes with other particles explain the observations of smaller light amplification by ns-soot coatings than model calculations during the CalNex campaign and presumably in other areas.

Rib fractures under anterior-posterior dynamic loads: experimental and finite-element study.

PubMed

Li, Zuoping; Kindig, Matthew W; Kerrigan, Jason R; Untaroiu, Costin D; Subit, Damien; Crandall, Jeff R; Kent, Richard W

2010-01-19

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether using a finite-element (FE) mesh composed entirely of hexahedral elements to model cortical and trabecular bone (all-hex model) would provide more accurate simulations than those with variable thickness shell elements for cortical bone and hexahedral elements for trabecular bone (hex-shell model) in the modeling human ribs. First, quasi-static non-injurious and dynamic injurious experiments were performed using the second, fourth, and tenth human thoracic ribs to record the structural behavior and fracture tolerance of individual ribs under anterior-posterior bending loads. Then, all-hex and hex-shell FE models for the three ribs were developed using an octree-based and multi-block hex meshing approach, respectively. Material properties of cortical bone were optimized using dynamic experimental data and the hex-shell model of the fourth rib and trabecular bone properties were taken from the literature. Overall, the reaction force-displacement relationship predicted by both all-hex and hex-shell models with nodes in the offset middle-cortical surfaces compared well with those measured experimentally for all the three ribs. With the exception of fracture locations, the predictions from all-hex and offset hex-shell models of the second and fourth ribs agreed better with experimental data than those from the tenth rib models in terms of reaction force at fracture (difference <15.4%), ultimate failure displacement and time (difference <7.3%), and cortical bone strains. The hex-shell models with shell nodes in outer cortical surfaces increased static reaction forces up to 16.6%, compared to offset hex-shell models. These results indicated that both all-hex and hex-shell modeling strategies were applicable for simulating rib responses and bone fractures for the loading conditions considered, but coarse hex-shell models with constant or variable shell thickness were more computationally efficient and therefore preferred. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Thermodynamic and structural signatures of water-driven methane-methane attraction in coarse-grained mW water.

PubMed

Song, Bin; Molinero, Valeria

2013-08-07

Hydrophobic interactions are responsible for water-driven processes such as protein folding and self-assembly of biomolecules. Microscopic theories and molecular simulations have been used to study association of a pair of methanes in water, the paradigmatic example of hydrophobic attraction, and determined that entropy is the driving force for the association of the methane pair, while the enthalpy disfavors it. An open question is to which extent coarse-grained water models can still produce correct thermodynamic and structural signatures of hydrophobic interaction. In this work, we investigate the hydrophobic interaction between a methane pair in water at temperatures from 260 to 340 K through molecular dynamics simulations with the coarse-grained monatomic water model mW. We find that the coarse-grained model correctly represents the free energy of association of the methane pair, the temperature dependence of free energy, and the positive change in entropy and enthalpy upon association. We investigate the relationship between thermodynamic signatures and structural order of water through the analysis of the spatial distribution of the density, energy, and tetrahedral order parameter Qt of water. The simulations reveal an enhancement of tetrahedral order in the region between the first and second hydration shells of the methane molecules. The increase in tetrahedral order, however, is far from what would be expected for a clathrate-like or ice-like shell around the solutes. This work shows that the mW water model reproduces the key signatures of hydrophobic interaction without long ranged electrostatics or the need to be re-parameterized for different thermodynamic states. These characteristics, and its hundred-fold increase in efficiency with respect to atomistic models, make mW a promising water model for studying water-driven hydrophobic processes in more complex systems.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELING OF THE DYNAMICS OF THERAPEUTIC ULTRASOUND CONTRAST AGENTS

PubMed Central

Hsiao, Chao-Tsung; Lu, Xiaozhen; Chahine, Georges

2010-01-01

A 3-D thick-shell contrast agent dynamics model was developed by coupling a finite volume Navier-Stokes solver and a potential boundary element method flow solver to simulate the dynamics of thick-shelled contrast agents subjected to pressure waves. The 3-D model was validated using a spherical thick-shell model validated by experimental observations. We then used this model to study shell break-up during nonspherical deformations resulting from multiple contrast agent interaction or the presence of a nearby solid wall. Our simulations indicate that the thick viscous shell resists the contrast agent from forming a re-entrant jet, as normally observed for an air bubble oscillating near a solid wall. Instead, the shell thickness varies significantly from location to location during the dynamics, and this could lead to shell break-up caused by local shell thinning and stretching. PMID:20950929

Swelling and Softening of the Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus in Response to pH Shifts

PubMed Central

Wilts, Bodo D.; Schaap, Iwan A.T.; Schmidt, Christoph F.

2015-01-01

Cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) forms highly elastic icosahedral protein capsids that undergo a characteristic swelling transition when the pH is raised from 5 to 7. Here, we performed nano-indentation experiments using an atomic force microscope to track capsid swelling and measure the shells’ Young’s modulus at the same time. When we chelated Ca2+ ions and raised the pH, we observed a gradual swelling of the RNA-filled capsids accompanied by a softening of the shell. Control experiments with empty wild-type virus and a salt-stable mutant revealed that the softening was not strictly coupled to the swelling of the protein shells. Our data suggest that a pH increase and Ca2+ chelation lead primarily to a loosening of contacts within the protein shell, resulting in a softening of the capsid. This appears to render the shell metastable and make swelling possible when repulsive forces among the capsid proteins become large enough, which is known to be followed by capsid disassembly at even higher pH. Thus, softening and swelling are likely to play a role during inoculation. PMID:25992732

The Preparation of Au@TiO2 Yolk-Shell Nanostructure and its Applications for Degradation and Detection of Methylene Blue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wan, Gengping; Peng, Xiange; Zeng, Min; Yu, Lei; Wang, Kan; Li, Xinyue; Wang, Guizhen

2017-09-01

This paper reports the synthesis of a new type of Au@TiO2 yolk-shell nanostructures by integrating ion sputtering method with atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique and its applications as visible light-driven photocatalyst and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate. Both the size and amount of gold nanoparticles confined in TiO2 nanotubes could be facilely controlled via properly adjusting the sputtering time. The unique structure and morphology of the resulting Au@TiO2 samples were investigated by using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques in detail. It is found that all tested samples can absorb visible light with a maximum absorption at localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) wavelengths (550-590 nm) which are determined by the size of gold nanoparticles. The Au@TiO2 yolk-shell composites were used as the photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue (MB). As compared with pure TiO2 nanotubes, Au@TiO2 composites exhibit improved photocatalytic properties towards the degradation of MB. The SERS effect of Au@TiO2 yolk-shell composites was also performed to investigate the detection sensitivity of MB.

The Preparation of Au@TiO2 Yolk-Shell Nanostructure and its Applications for Degradation and Detection of Methylene Blue.

PubMed

Wan, Gengping; Peng, Xiange; Zeng, Min; Yu, Lei; Wang, Kan; Li, Xinyue; Wang, Guizhen

2017-09-18

This paper reports the synthesis of a new type of Au@TiO 2 yolk-shell nanostructures by integrating ion sputtering method with atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique and its applications as visible light-driven photocatalyst and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate. Both the size and amount of gold nanoparticles confined in TiO 2 nanotubes could be facilely controlled via properly adjusting the sputtering time. The unique structure and morphology of the resulting Au@TiO 2 samples were investigated by using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques in detail. It is found that all tested samples can absorb visible light with a maximum absorption at localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) wavelengths (550-590 nm) which are determined by the size of gold nanoparticles. The Au@TiO 2 yolk-shell composites were used as the photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue (MB). As compared with pure TiO 2 nanotubes, Au@TiO 2 composites exhibit improved photocatalytic properties towards the degradation of MB. The SERS effect of Au@TiO 2 yolk-shell composites was also performed to investigate the detection sensitivity of MB.

Radii in the sd shell and the 1s 1/2 “halo” orbit: A game changer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonnard, J.; Zuker, A. P.

2018-05-01

A new microscopic parametrisation of nuclear radii as a functional of single-particle occupation numbers is presented. Its form is inspired by the Duflo-Zuker phenomenological fit which contains a “correlation” term that recently made it possible to understand the isotope shifts of several species as due to unexpectedly large 1s 1/2 and 1p orbits [Bonnard J, Lenzi S M and Zuker A P 2016 Phys. Rev. Lett. 116 212501]. It will be shown that the calculated radii for sd-shell nuclei reproduce the experimental data better than the most accurate existing fits. These results reveal a very peculiar behaviour of the 1s 1/2 orbit: It is huge (about 1.6 fm bigger than its d counterparts of about 3.5 fm) up to N, Z = 14, then drops abruptly but remains some 0.6 fm larger than the d orbits. An intriguing mechanism bound to challenge our understanding of shell formation.

Polarimetry of Pinctada fucata nacre indicates myostracal layer interrupts nacre structure.

PubMed

Metzler, Rebecca A; Jones, Joshua A; D'Addario, Anthony J; Galvez, Enrique J

2017-02-01

The inner layer of many bivalve and gastropod molluscs consists of iridescent nacre, a material that is structured like a brick wall with bricks consisting of crystalline aragonite and mortar of organic molecules. Myostracal layers formed during shell growth at the point of muscle attachment to the shell can be found interspersed within the nacre structure. Little has been done to examine the effect the myostracal layer has on subsequent nacre structure. Here we present data on the structure of the myostracal and nacre layers from a bivalve mollusc, Pinctada fucata . Scanning electron microscope imaging shows the myostracal layer consists of regular crystalline blocks. The nacre before the layer consists of tablets approximately 400 nm thick, while after the myostracal layer the tablets are approximately 500 nm thick. A new technique, imaging polarimetry, indicates that the aragonite crystals within the nacre following the myostracal layer have greater orientation uniformity than before the myostracal layer. The results presented here suggest a possible interaction between the myostracal layer and subsequent shell growth.

Polarimetry of Pinctada fucata nacre indicates myostracal layer interrupts nacre structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Metzler, Rebecca A.; Jones, Joshua A.; D'Addario, Anthony J.; Galvez, Enrique J.

2017-02-01

The inner layer of many bivalve and gastropod molluscs consists of iridescent nacre, a material that is structured like a brick wall with bricks consisting of crystalline aragonite and mortar of organic molecules. Myostracal layers formed during shell growth at the point of muscle attachment to the shell can be found interspersed within the nacre structure. Little has been done to examine the effect the myostracal layer has on subsequent nacre structure. Here we present data on the structure of the myostracal and nacre layers from a bivalve mollusc, Pinctada fucata. Scanning electron microscope imaging shows the myostracal layer consists of regular crystalline blocks. The nacre before the layer consists of tablets approximately 400 nm thick, while after the myostracal layer the tablets are approximately 500 nm thick. A new technique, imaging polarimetry, indicates that the aragonite crystals within the nacre following the myostracal layer have greater orientation uniformity than before the myostracal layer. The results presented here suggest a possible interaction between the myostracal layer and subsequent shell growth.

Synthesis and characterization of core-shell gold nanoparticles with poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) from a new precursor salt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Behera, M.; Ram, S.

2013-02-01

In this article, we report a facile one-step chemical synthesis of gold (Au) nanoparticles (GNPs) from a new precursor salt i.e., gold hydroxide in the presence of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) polymer. The non-aqueous dispersion of GNPs was comprehensively characterized by UV-Visible, FTIR, zeta potential, and transmission electron microscope (TEM). A strong surface plasmon resonance band at 529 nm in the UV-Visible spectrum confirms the formation of GNPs in the Au colloid. The FTIR spectroscopic results showed that PVP molecules get chemisorbed onto the surface of GNP via O-atom of carbonyl group. A negative zeta potential of (-)16 mV reveals accumulation of nonbonding electrons of O-atom of carbonyl group of PVP molecules on the nanosurface of GNP. TEM images demonstrate a core-shell nanostructure with an Au-crystalline core covered by a thin amorphous PVP-shell. PVP-capped GNPs could be a potential candidate for bio-sensing, catalysis, and other applications.

Perfect fluid Lagrangian and its cosmological implications in theories of gravity with nonminimally coupled matter fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avelino, P. P.; Azevedo, R. P. L.

2018-03-01

In this paper we show that the on-shell Lagrangian of a perfect fluid depends on microscopic properties of the fluid, giving specific examples of perfect fluids with different on-shell Lagrangians but with the same energy-momentum tensor. We demonstrate that if the fluid is constituted by localized concentrations of energy with fixed rest mass and structure (solitons) then the average on-shell Lagrangian of a perfect fluid is given by Lm=T , where T is the trace of the energy-momentum tensor. We show that our results have profound implications for theories of gravity where the matter Lagrangian appears explicitly in the equations of motion of the gravitational and matter fields, potentially leading to observable deviations from a nearly perfect cosmic microwave background black body spectrum: n -type spectral distortions, affecting the normalization of the spectral energy density. Finally, we put stringent constraints on f (R ,Lm) theories of gravity using the COBE-FIRAS measurement of the spectral radiance of the cosmic microwave background.

SEM study of diversity in the cyst surface topography of nine parthenogenetic Artemia (Crustacea: Anostraca) populations from China.

PubMed

Asem, Alireza; Sun, Shi-Chun

2014-12-01

The cysts of nine Chinese populations of parthenogenetic Artemia were studied by scanning electron microscope. In the 270 cysts examined, 15 different morphological patterns were recognized with most of them not recorded in previous studies and the "tubercled shell surface" being the most common pattern. Results also displayed high intrapopulation variability, with the maximum of 11 patterns (in 30 cysts) recorded from the Barkol population. No positive correlation between the diversity of cyst shell patterns and ploidy compositions was found. Principal components analysis suggests higher similarity among coastal populations than among inland populations, which may be attributed to the identity of physicochemical conditions among coastal salterns and dissimilarity among inland saline lakes. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Characterization of chitinolytic bacteria and histological aspects of Shell Disease Syndrome in European spiny lobsters (Palinurus elephas) (Fabricius 1787).

PubMed

Mancuso, M; Costanzo, M T; Maricchiolo, G; Gristina, M; Zaccone, R; Cuccu, D; Genovese, L

2010-07-01

The present research reports the first description of Shell Disease Syndrome in European spiny lobsters Palinurus elephas (Fabricius 1787), which occurred in an experimental aquaculture facility in Sicily (Italy). Both bacterial characterization and histopathological examination of the exoskeleton at site of lesions was carried out. Infected specimens showed tail fan erosions, and in one case uropod ulceration and complete loss of periods. Identified species included: Listonella anguillarum 50.5%, Vibrio parahaemolyticus 27.5% and Vibrio alginolyticus 22%. Microscopic evaluation of lesions indicate the presence of inflammatory responses, which include melanization and pseudomembrane formation, similar to those described for other crustaceans affected by SDS. (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Does prism width from the shell prismatic layer have a random distribution?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vancolen, Séverine; Verrecchia, Eric

2008-10-01

A study of the distribution of the prism width inside the prismatic layer of Unio tumidus (Philipsson 1788, Diss Hist-Nat, Berling, Lundæ) from Lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland, has been conducted in order to determine whether or not this distribution is random. Measurements of 954 to 1,343 prism widths (depending on shell sample) have been made using a scanning electron microscope in backscattered electron mode. A white noise test has been applied to the distribution of prism sizes (i.e. width). It shows that there is no temporal cycle that could potentially influence their formation and growth. These results suggest that prism widths are randomly distributed, and related neither to external rings nor to environmental constraints.

Synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic properties of core/shell mesoporous silica nanospheres supporting nanocrystalline titania

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cendrowski, K.; Chen, X.; Zielinska, B.; Kalenczuk, R. J.; Rümmeli, M. H.; Büchner, B.; Klingeler, R.; Borowiak-Palen, E.

2011-11-01

The facile bulk synthesis of silica nanospheres makes them an attractive support for the transport of chemical compounds such as nanocrystalline titanium dioxide. In this contribution we present a promising route for the synthesis of mesoporous silica nanospheres (m-SiO2) with diameter in range 200 nm, which are ideal supports for nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO2). The detailed microscopic and spectroscopic characterizations of core/shell structure (m-SiO2/TiO2) were conducted. Moreover, the photocatalytic potential of the nanostructures was investigated via phenol decomposition and hydrogen generation. A clear enhancement of photoactivity in both reactions as compared to commercial TiO2-Degussa P25 catalyst is detected.

Core-shell polymer nanoparticles for prevention of GSH drug detoxification and cisplatin delivery to breast cancer cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Surnar, Bapurao; Sharma, Kavita; Jayakannan, Manickam

2015-10-01

Platinum drug delivery against the detoxification of cytoplasmic thiols is urgently required for achieving efficacy in breast cancer treatment that is over expressed by glutathione (GSH, thiol-oligopeptide). GSH-resistant polymer-cisplatin core-shell nanoparticles were custom designed based on biodegradable carboxylic functional polycaprolactone (PCL)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) diblock copolymers. The core of the nanoparticle was fixed as 100 carboxylic units and the shell part was varied using various molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ethers (MW of PEGs = 100-5000 g mol-1) as initiator in the ring-opening polymerization. The complexation of cisplatin aquo species with the diblocks produced core-shell nanoparticles of 75 nm core with precise size control the particles up to 190 nm. The core-shell nanoparticles were found to be stable in saline solution and PBS and they exhibited enhanced stability with increase in the PEG shell thickness at the periphery. The hydrophobic PCL layer on the periphery of the cisplatin core behaved as a protecting layer against the cytoplasmic thiol residues (GSH and cysteine) and exhibited <5% of drug detoxification. In vitro drug-release studies revealed that the core-shell nanoparticles were ruptured upon exposure to lysosomal enzymes like esterase at the intracellular compartments. Cytotoxicity studies were performed both in normal wild-type mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (Wt-MEFs), and breast cancer (MCF-7) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cell lines. Free cisplatin and polymer drug core-shell nanoparticles showed similar cytotoxicity effects in the HeLa cells. In MCF-7 cells, the free cisplatin drug exhibited 50% cell death whereas complete cell death (100%) was accomplished by the polymer-cisplatin core-shell nanoparticles. Confocal microscopic images confirmed that the core-shell nanoparticles were taken up by the MCF-7 and HeLa cells and they were accumulated both at the cytoplasm as well at peri-nuclear environments. The present investigation lays a new foundation for the polymer-based core-shell nanoparticles approach for overcoming detoxification in platinum drugs for the treatment of GSH over-expressed breast cancer cells.Platinum drug delivery against the detoxification of cytoplasmic thiols is urgently required for achieving efficacy in breast cancer treatment that is over expressed by glutathione (GSH, thiol-oligopeptide). GSH-resistant polymer-cisplatin core-shell nanoparticles were custom designed based on biodegradable carboxylic functional polycaprolactone (PCL)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) diblock copolymers. The core of the nanoparticle was fixed as 100 carboxylic units and the shell part was varied using various molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ethers (MW of PEGs = 100-5000 g mol-1) as initiator in the ring-opening polymerization. The complexation of cisplatin aquo species with the diblocks produced core-shell nanoparticles of 75 nm core with precise size control the particles up to 190 nm. The core-shell nanoparticles were found to be stable in saline solution and PBS and they exhibited enhanced stability with increase in the PEG shell thickness at the periphery. The hydrophobic PCL layer on the periphery of the cisplatin core behaved as a protecting layer against the cytoplasmic thiol residues (GSH and cysteine) and exhibited <5% of drug detoxification. In vitro drug-release studies revealed that the core-shell nanoparticles were ruptured upon exposure to lysosomal enzymes like esterase at the intracellular compartments. Cytotoxicity studies were performed both in normal wild-type mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (Wt-MEFs), and breast cancer (MCF-7) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cell lines. Free cisplatin and polymer drug core-shell nanoparticles showed similar cytotoxicity effects in the HeLa cells. In MCF-7 cells, the free cisplatin drug exhibited 50% cell death whereas complete cell death (100%) was accomplished by the polymer-cisplatin core-shell nanoparticles. Confocal microscopic images confirmed that the core-shell nanoparticles were taken up by the MCF-7 and HeLa cells and they were accumulated both at the cytoplasm as well at peri-nuclear environments. The present investigation lays a new foundation for the polymer-based core-shell nanoparticles approach for overcoming detoxification in platinum drugs for the treatment of GSH over-expressed breast cancer cells. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: TGA profile and DSC thermogram of all polymers, DLS data, AFM image, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and MALDI spectra of all polymers and monomers. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr04963f

On the microscopic fluctuations driving the NMR relaxation of quadrupolar ions in water

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

Carof, Antoine; Salanne, Mathieu; Rotenberg, Benjamin, E-mail: benjamin.rotenberg@upmc.fr

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxation is sensitive to the local structure and dynamics around the probed nuclei. The Electric Field Gradient (EFG) is the key microscopic quantity to understand the NMR relaxation of quadrupolar ions, such as {sup 7}Li{sup +}, {sup 23}Na{sup +}, {sup 25}Mg{sup 2+}, {sup 35}Cl{sup −}, {sup 39}K{sup +}, or {sup 133}Cs{sup +}. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the statistical and dynamical properties of the EFG experienced by alkaline, alkaline Earth, and chloride ions at infinite dilution in water. Specifically, we analyze the effect of the ionic charge and size on the distribution of the EFGmore » tensor and on the multi-step decay of its auto-correlation function. The main contribution to the NMR relaxation time arises from the slowest mode, with a characteristic time on the picosecond time scale. The first solvation shell of the ion plays a dominant role in the fluctuations of the EFG, all the more that the ion radius is small and its charge is large. We propose an analysis based on a simplified charge distribution around the ion, which demonstrates that the auto-correlation of the EFG, hence the NMR relaxation time, reflects primarily the collective translational motion of water molecules in the first solvation shell of the cations. Our findings provide a microscopic route to the quantitative interpretation of NMR relaxation measurements and open the way to the design of improved analytical theories for NMR relaxation for small ionic solutes, which should focus on water density fluctuations around the ion.« less

Analysis of repeated signals during shell fights in the hermit crab Pagurus bernhardus

PubMed Central

Briffa, M.; Elwood, R. W.; Dick, J. T. A.

1998-01-01

Shell exchanges between hermit crabs may occur after a period of shell rapping, when the initiating or attacking crab brings its shell rapidly and repeatedly into contact with the shell of the non-initiator or defender, in a series of bouts. There are two opposing models of hermit crab shell exchange and the function of shell rapping. The negotiation model views shell exchange as a mutualistic activity, in which the initiator supplies information about the quality of its shell via the fundamental frequency of the rapping sound. The aggression model views shell rapping as either detrimental to the defending crab, or as providing it with information about the initiator's ability or motivation to continue, or both. The negotiation model makes no predictions about the temporal pattern of rapping, but under the aggression model it would be expected that crabs that rapped more vigorously would be more likely to effect an exchange. Repeating the signal could be expected under either model. Crabs that achieve an exchange rap more vigorously, rapping is more persistent when a clear gain in shell quality may be achieved, and the vigour is greater when the relative resource-holding potential (or 'fighting ability') is high. These findings support the aggression model rather than the negotiation model. Contrary to the predictions of game theory, crabs that do not effect an exchange appear to signal that they are about to give up. The data suggest that rapping is performed repeatedly because the accumulation of all of the performances acts as a signal of stamina.

In-situ synthetize multi-walled carbon nanotubes@MnO2 nanoflake core-shell structured materials for supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Huajun; Wang, Jiaoxia; Jia, Yi; Ma, Chun'an

2012-10-01

A new type of core-shell structured material consisting of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanoflake is synthesized using an in-situ co-precipitation method. By scanning electron microscopy and transition electron microscope, it is confirmed that the core-shell nanostructure is formed by the uniform incorporation of birnessite-type MnO2 nanoflake growth round the surface of the activated-MWCNTs. That core-shell structured material electrode presents excellent electrochemical capacitance properties with the specific capacitance reaching 380 F g-1 at the current density of 5 A g-1 in 0.5 M Na2SO4 electrolyte. In addition, the electrode also exhibits good performance (the power density: 11.28 kW kg-1 at 5 A g-1) and long-term cycling stability (retaining 82.7% of its initial capacitance after 3500 cycles at 5 A g-1). It mainly attributes to MWCNTs not only providing considerable specific surface area for high mass loading of MnO2 nanoflakes to ensure effective utilization of MnO2 nanoflake, but also offering an electron pathway to improve electrical conductivity of the electrode materials. It is clearly indicated that such core-shell structured materials including MWCNTs and MnO2 nanoflake may find important applications for supercapacitors.

An Ochered Fossil Marine Shell From the Mousterian of Fumane Cave, Italy

PubMed Central

Peresani, Marco; Vanhaeren, Marian; Quaggiotto, Ermanno; Queffelec, Alain; d’Errico, Francesco

2013-01-01

A scanty but varied ensemble of finds challenges the idea that Neandertal material culture was essentially static and did not include symbolic items. In this study we report on a fragmentary Miocene-Pliocene fossil marine shell, Aspa marginata , discovered in a Discoid Mousterian layer of the Fumane Cave, northern Italy, dated to at least 47.6-45.0 Cal ky BP. The shell was collected by Neandertals at a fossil exposure probably located more than 100 kms from the site. Microscopic analysis of the shell surface identifies clusters of striations on the inner lip. A dark red substance, trapped inside micropits produced by bioeroders, is interpreted as pigment that was homogeneously smeared on the outer shell surface. Dispersive X-ray and Raman analysis identify the pigment as pure hematite. Of the four hypotheses we considered to explain the presence of this object at the site, two (tool, pigment container) are discarded because in contradiction with observations. Although the other two (“manuport”, personal ornament) are both possible, we favor the hypothesis that the object was modified and suspended by a ‘thread’ for visual display as a pendant. Together with contextual and chronometric data, our results support the hypothesis that deliberate transport and coloring of an exotic object, and perhaps its use as pendant, was a component of Neandertal symbolic culture, well before the earliest appearance of the anatomically modern humans in Europe. PMID:23874677

Development of Paper Products from Dried Sweetpotato Stems and Peanut Shells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McConnell, R.; Smith, R.; Jones, G.; Lu, J. Y.

1998-01-01

One of the goals of NASA's Advanced Life Support Program (ALS) for sustaining human life in space is to achieve a closed system in plant production and usage. That all inedible plant parts should be recycled or used in some way. A Tuskegee University team researching sweetpotato and peanut for ALS has developed paper products from dried sweet-potato stems and peanut shells. In this study, the sweet-potato stems and peanut shells were soaked separately in water for 48 hours. After 48 hours, researchers manually separated the pulp and the unusable parts. To form the paper, 160 g of pulp and water mixture was poured through a 15.1 cm (diameter) filtration funnel and the pulp was trapped on 15 cm (diameter) filter paper. The filter paper and pulp were dried in an air oven, and the filter paper was removed, An examination under a scanning electron microscope showed that the sweet-potato paper was composed of "fibers", whereas the peanut shell paper was composed of "blocks". Results of physical testing showed that the sweet-potato stem paper was stronger than the peanut shell paper. It is anticipated that there may be other uses of these products such as writing paper, bags and packaging material. Because of its biodegradability, it can be incorporated into the resource recycling system at the end of its use.

The self-healing composite anticorrosion coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Zhao; Wei, Zhang; Le-ping, Liao; Hong-mei, Wang; Wu-jun, Li

Self-healing coatings, which autonomically repair and prevent corrosion of the underlying substrate, are of particular interest for the researchers. In the article, effectiveness of epoxy resin filled microcapsules was investigated for healing of cracks generated in coatings. Microcapsules were prepared by in situ polymerization of urea-formaldehyde resin to form shell over epoxy resindroplets. Characteristics of these capsules were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermo gravimetric analyzer (TGA) and particle size analyzer. The model system of self-healing antisepsis coating consists of an epoxy resin matrix, 10 wt% microencapsulated healing agent, 2wt% catalyst solution. The self-healing function of this coating system is evaluated through corrosion testing of damaged and healed coated steel samples compared to control samples. Electrochemical testing provides further evidence of passivation of the substrate by self-healing coatings.

Permeable reactive barrier of coarse sand-supported zero valent iron for the removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol in groundwater.

PubMed

Gao, Weichun; Zhang, Yongxiang; Zhang, Xiaoye; Duan, Zhilong; Wang, Youhao; Qin, Can; Hu, Xiao; Wang, Hao; Chang, Shan

2015-11-01

In this study, coarse sand-supported zero valent iron (ZVI) composite was synthesized by adding sodium alginate to immobilize. Composite was detected by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). SEM results showed that composite had core-shell structure and a wide porous distribution pattern. The synthesized composite was used for degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) contamination in groundwater. Experimental results demonstrated that degradation mechanism of 2,4-DCP using coarse sand-supported ZVI included adsorption, desorption, and dechlorination. 2,4-DCP adsorption was described as pseudo-second-order kinetic model. It was concluded that dechlorination was the key reaction pathway, ZVI and hydrogen are prime reductants in dechlorination of 2,4-DCP using ZVI.

Is localized infrared spectroscopy now possible in the electron microscope?

PubMed

Rez, Peter

2014-06-01

The recently developed in-column monochromators make it possible to record energy-c spectra with resolutions better than 30 meV from nanometer-sized regions. It should therefore in principle be possible to detect localized vibrational excitations. The scattering geometry in the electron microscope means that bond stretching in the specimen plane or longitudinal optic phonons dominate the scattering. Most promising for initial studies are vibrations with energies between 300 and 400 meV from hydrogen bonded to other atoms. Estimates of the scattering cross-sections on the basis of a simple model show that they are about the same as inner shell scattering cross-sections. Cross-sections also increase with charge transfer between the atoms, and theory incorporating realistic charge distributions shows that signal/noise is the only limitation to high-resolution imaging. Given the magnitude of the scattering cross-sections, minimizing the tail of the zero-loss peak is just as important as achieving a small-width at half-maximum. Improvements in both resolution and controlling the zero-loss tail will be necessary before it is practical to detect optic phonons in solids between 40 and 60 meV.

Long-range versus short-range correlations in the two-neutron transfer reaction 64Ni(18O,16O)66Ni

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paes, B.; Santagati, G.; Vsevolodovna, R. Magana; Cappuzzello, F.; Carbone, D.; Cardozo, E. N.; Cavallaro, M.; García-Tecocoatzi, H.; Gargano, A.; Ferreira, J. L.; Lenzi, S. M.; Linares, R.; Santopinto, E.; Vitturi, A.; Lubian, J.

2017-10-01

Recently, various two-neutron transfer studies using the (18O,16O) reaction were performed with a large success. This was achieved because of a combined use of the microscopic quantum description of the reaction mechanism and of the nuclear structure. In the present work we use this methodology to study the two-neutron transfer reaction of the 18O+64Ni system at 84 MeV incident energy, to the ground and first 2+ excited state of the residual 66Ni nucleus. All the experimental data were measured by the large acceptance MAGNEX spectrometer at the Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare -Laboratori Nazionali del Sud (Italy). We have performed exact finite range cross section calculations using the coupled channel Born approximation (CCBA) and coupled reaction channel (CRC) method for the sequential and direct two-neutron transfers, respectively. Moreover, this is the first time that the formalism of the microscopic interaction boson model (IBM-2) was applied to a two-neutron transfer reaction. From our results we conclude that for two-neutron transfer to the ground state of 66Ni, the direct transfer is the dominant reaction mechanism, whereas for the transfer to the first excited state of 66Ni, the sequential process dominates. A competition between long-range and short-range correlations is discussed, in particular, how the use of two different models (Shell model and IBM's) help to disentangle long- and short-range correlations.

A truncated spherical shell model for nuclear collective excitations: Applications to the odd-mass systems, neutron-proton systems, and other topics

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

Wu, Hua.

1989-01-01

One of the most elusive quantum system in nature is the nucleus, which is a strongly interacting many body system. In the hadronic (a la neutrons and protons) phase, the primary concern of this thesis, the nucleus' single particle excitations are intertwined with their various collective excitations. Although the underpinning of the nucleus is the spherical shell model, it is rendered powerless without a severe, but intelligent truncation of the infinite Hilbert space. The recently proposed Fermion Dynamical Symmetry Model (FDSM) is precisely such a truncation scheme and in which a symmetry-dictated truncation scheme is introduced in nuclear physics formore » the first time. In this thesis, extensions and explorations of the FDSM are made to specifically study the odd mass (where the most intricate mixing of the single particle and the collective excitations are observed) and the neutron-proton systems. In particular, the author finds that the previously successful phenomenological particle-rotor-model of the Copenhagen school can now be well understood microscopically via the FDSM. Furthermore, the well known Coriolis attenuation and variable moment of inertia effects are naturally understood from the model as well. A computer code FDUO was written by one of us to study, for the first time, the numerical implications of the FDSM. Several collective modes were found even when the system does not admit a group chain description. In addition, the code is most suitable to study the connection between level statistical behavior (a at Gaussian Orthogonal Ensemble) and dynamical symmetry. It is found that there exist critical region of the interaction parameter space were the system behaves chaotically. This information is certainly crucial to understanding quantum chaotic behavior.« less

Structure and properties of silk from the African wild silkmoth Gonometa postica reared indoors.

PubMed

Teshome, Addis; Raina, S K; Vollrath, Fritz

2014-03-07

African wild silkmoth, Gonometa postica Walker (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), were reared indoors in order to examine the influence of rearing conditions on the structure and properties of silk cocoon shells and degummed fibers by using a scanning electron microscope, an Instron tensile tester, and a thermogravimetric analyzer. The cocoons reared indoors showed inferior quality in weight, length, width, and cocoon shell ratio compared to cocoons reared outdoors. There were no differences in cocoon shell and fiber surfaces and cross sectional structures. Cocoon shells were covered with calcium oxalate crystals with few visible fibers on their surface. Degummed fibers were smooth with minimum unfractured surfaces and globular to triangular cross sections. Indoor-reared cocoon shells had a significantly higher breaking strain, while the breaking stress was higher for cocoons reared outdoors. Fibers from indoor cocoons had a significantly higher breaking stress while outdoor fibers had higher breaking strain. Thermogravimetric analysis curves showed two main thermal reactions revealing the dehydration of water molecules and ir-reversible decomposition of the crystallites in both cocoons and fibers reared indoors and outdoors. Cocoon shells underwent additional peaks of decomposition with increased temperature. The total weight loss was higher for cocoon shells and degummed fibers from indoors. Rearing conditions (temperature and relative humidity), feeding method used, changes in total life span, days to molting, and spinning might have influenced the variation in the properties observed.The ecological and commercial significances of indoor rearing of G. posticaare discussed. This is an open access paper. We use the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license that permits unrestricted use, provided that the paper is properly attributed.

Fabrication and Characterization of Novel Electrothermal Self-Healing Microcapsules with Graphene/Polymer Hybrid Shells for Bitumenious Material.

PubMed

Wang, Xinyu; Guo, Yandong; Su, Junfeng; Zhang, Xiaolong; Wang, Yingyuan; Tan, Yiqiu

2018-06-09

Self-healing bituminous material has been a hot research topic in self-healing materials, and this smart self-healing approach is a promising a revolution in pavement material technology. Bitumen has a self-healing naturality relating to temperature, healing time, and aging degree. To date, heat induction and microencapsulation rejuvenator are two feasible approaches, which have been put into real applications. However, both methods have disadvantages limiting their practical results and efficiency. It will be an ideal method combining the advantages and avoiding the disadvantages of the above two methods at the same time. The aim of this work was to synthesize and characterize electrothermal self-healing microcapsules containing bituminous rejuvenator with graphene/organic nanohybrid structure shells. The microcapsules owned electric conductivity capability because of the advent of graphene, and realized the self-healing through the two approaches of heat induction and rejuvenation. The microcapsule shells were fabricated using a strength hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM) resin and graphene by two-step hybrid polymerization. Experimental tests were carried out to character the morphology, integrity, and shell structure. It was found that the electric charge balance determined the graphene/HMMM microstructure. The graphene content in shells could not be greatly increased under an electrostatic balance in emulsion. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM) results indicated that the graphene had deposited on shells. TGA/DTG tests implied that the thermal decomposition temperature of microcapsules with graphene had increased to about 350 °C. The thermal conductivity of microcapsules had been sharply increased to about 8.0 W/m²·K with 2.0 wt % graphene in shells. At the same time, electrical resistivity of microcapsules/bitumen samples had a decrease with more graphene in bitumen.

Functional analysis of a tyrosinase gene involved in early larval shell biogenesis in Crassostrea angulata and its response to ocean acidification.

PubMed

Yang, Bingye; Pu, Fei; Li, Lingling; You, Weiwei; Ke, Caihuan; Feng, Danqing

2017-04-01

The formation of the primary shell is a vital process in marine bivalves. Ocean acidification largely influences shell formation. It has been reported that enzymes involved in phenol oxidation, such as tyrosinase and phenoloxidases, participate in the formation of the periostracum. In the present study, we cloned a tyrosinase gene from Crassostrea angulata named Ca-tyrA1, and its potential function in early larval shell biogenesis was investigated. The Ca-tyrA1 gene has a full-length cDNA of 2430bp in size, with an open reading frame of 1896bp in size, which encodes a 631-amino acid protein that includes a 24-amino acid putative signal peptide. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that Ca-tyrA1 transcription mainly occurs at the trochophore stage, and the Ca-tyrA1 mRNA levels in the 3000ppm treatment group were significantly upregulated in the early D-veliger larvae. WMISH and electron scanning microscopy analyses showed that the expression of Ca-tyrA1 occurs at the gastrula stage, thereby sustaining the early D-veliger larvae, and the shape of its signal is saddle-like, similar to that observed under an electron scanning microscope. Furthermore, the RNA interference has shown that the treatment group has a higher deformity rate than that of the control, thereby indicating that Ca-tyrA1 participates in the biogenesis of the primary shell. In conclusion, and our results indicate that Ca-tyrA1 plays a vital role in the formation of the larval shell and participates in the response to larval shell damages in Crassostrea angulata that were induced by ocean acidification. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Resource Letter NSM-1: New insights into the nuclear shell model

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

Dean, David Jarvis; Hamilton, J. H.

2011-01-01

This Resource Letter provides a guide to the literature on the spherical shell model as applied to nuclei. The nuclear shell model describes the structure of nuclei starting with a nuclear core developed by the classical neutron and proton magic numbers N,Z=2,8,20,28,50,82, 126, where gaps occur in the single-particle energies as a shell is filled, and the interactions of valence nucleons that reside beyond that core. Various modern extensions of this model for spherical nuclei are likewise described. Significant extensions of the nuclear shell model include new magic numbers for spherical nuclei and now for deformed nuclei as well. Whenmore » both protons and neutrons have shell gaps at the same spherical or deformed shapes, they can reinforce each other to give added stability to that shape and lead to new magic numbers. The vanishings of the classical spherical shell model energy gaps and magic numbers in new neutron-rich nuclei are described. Spherical and deformed shell gaps are seen to be critical for the existence of elements with Z > 100.« less

Ab initio many-body calculations of nucleon scattering on ^16O

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Navratil, Petr; Quaglioni, Sofia; Roth, Robert

2008-10-01

We develop a new ab initio many-body approachootnotetextS. Quaglioni and P. Navratil, arXiv:0804.1560. capable of describing simultaneously both bound and scattering states in light nuclei, by combining the resonating-group methodootnotetextY. C. Tang et al., Phys. Rep. 47, 167 (1978); K. Langanke and H. Friedrich, Advances in Nuclear Physics, Plenum, New York, 1987. with the ab initio no-core shell model (NCSM).ootnotetextP. Navratil, J. P. Vary, and B. R. Barrett, Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 5728 (2000); Phys. Rev. C 62, 054311 (2000). In this way, we complement a microscopic-cluster technique with the use of realistic interactions, and a microscopic and consistent description of the nucleon clusters, while preserving Pauli principle and translational symmetry. We will present results for low-energy nucleon scattering on ^16O and for A=17 bound states obtained using realistic nucleon-nucleon potentials. The ^16O wave functions are calculated within the importance-truncated NCSMootnotetextR. Roth and P. Navratil, Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 092501 (2007). that allows the use of model spaces up to 18φ and ultimately enables to reach convergence of phase-shifts and other observables. Prepared by LLNL under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344. Support from the U.S. DOE/SC/NP (Work Proposal No. SCW0498), and from the U. S. Department of Energy Grant DE-FC02-07ER41457 is acknowledged.

Parameterized Finite Element Modeling and Buckling Analysis of Six Typical Composite Grid Cylindrical Shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, Changliang; Wang, Junbiao; Liu, Chuang

2014-10-01

Six typical composite grid cylindrical shells are constructed by superimposing three basic types of ribs. Then buckling behavior and structural efficiency of these shells are analyzed under axial compression, pure bending, torsion and transverse bending by finite element (FE) models. The FE models are created by a parametrical FE modeling approach that defines FE models with original natural twisted geometry and orients cross-sections of beam elements exactly. And the approach is parameterized and coded by Patran Command Language (PCL). The demonstrations of FE modeling indicate the program enables efficient generation of FE models and facilitates parametric studies and design of grid shells. Using the program, the effects of helical angles on the buckling behavior of six typical grid cylindrical shells are determined. The results of these studies indicate that the triangle grid and rotated triangle grid cylindrical shell are more efficient than others under axial compression and pure bending, whereas under torsion and transverse bending, the hexagon grid cylindrical shell is most efficient. Additionally, buckling mode shapes are compared and provide an understanding of composite grid cylindrical shells that is useful in preliminary design of such structures.

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

Vakili, Hajar; Rahvar, Sohrab; Kroupa, Pavel, E-mail: vakili@physics.sharif.edu

Shell galaxies are understood to form through the collision of a dwarf galaxy with an elliptical galaxy. Shell structures and kinematics have been noted to be independent tools to measure the gravitational potential of the shell galaxies. We compare theoretically the formation of shells in Type I shell galaxies in different gravity theories in this work because this is so far missing in the literature. We include Newtonian plus dark halo gravity, and two non-Newtonian gravity models, MOG and MOND, in identical initial systems. We investigate the effect of dynamical friction, which by slowing down the dwarf galaxy in themore » dark halo models limits the range of shell radii to low values. Under the same initial conditions, shells appear on a shorter timescale and over a smaller range of distances in the presence of dark matter than in the corresponding non-Newtonian gravity models. If galaxies are embedded in a dark matter halo, then the merging time may be too rapid to allow multi-generation shell formation as required by observed systems because of the large dynamical friction effect. Starting from the same initial state, the observation of small bright shells in the dark halo model should be accompanied by large faint ones, while for the case of MOG, the next shell generation patterns iterate with a specific time delay. The first shell generation pattern shows a degeneracy with the age of the shells and in different theories, but the relative distance of the shells and the shell expansion velocity can break this degeneracy.« less

Full f-p Shell Calculation of {sup 51}Ca and {sup 51}Sc

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

Novoselsky, A.; Vallieres, M.; Laadan, O.

The spectra and the electromagnetic transitions of the nuclei {sup 51}Ca and {sup 51}Sc with 11 nucleons in the {ital f-p} shell are described in the nuclear shell-model approach by using two different two-body effective interactions. The full {ital f-p} shell basis functions are used with no truncation. The new parallel shell-model computer code DUPSM (Drexel University parallel shell model), that we recently developed, has been used. The calculations have been done on the MOSIX parallel machine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

Types and analysis of defects in welding junctions of the header to steam generator shells on power-generating units with VVER-1000

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozhigov, L. S.; Voevodin, V. N.; Mitrofanov, A. S.; Vasilenko, R. L.

2016-10-01

Investigation objects were metal templates, which were cut during the repair of welding junction no. 111 (header to the steam generator shell) on a power-generating unit with VVER-1000 of the South-Ukraine NPP, and substances of mud depositions collected from walls of this junction. Investigations were carried out using metallography, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersion microanalysis by an MMO-1600-AT metallurgical microscope and a JEOL JSM-7001F scanning electron microscope with the Shottky cathode. As a result of investigations in corrosion pits and mud depositions in the area of welding junction no. 111, iron and copper-enriched particles were revealed. It is shown that, when contacting with the steel header surface, these particles can form microgalvanic cells causing reactions of iron dissolution and the pit corrosion of metal. Nearby corrosion pits in metal are microcracks, which can be effect of the stress state of metal under corrosion pits along with revealed effects of twinning. The hypothesis is expressed that pitting corrosion of metal occurred during the first operation period of the power-generating unit in the ammonia water chemistry conditions (WCC). The formation of corrosion pits and nucleating cracks from them was stopped with the further operation under morpholine WCC. The absence of macrocracks in metal of templates verifies that, during operation, welding junction no. 111 operated under load conditions not exceeding the permissible ones by design requirements. The durability of the welding junction of the header to the steam generator shell significantly depends on the technological schedule of chemical cleaning and steam generator shut-down cooling.

Egg shell waste as heterogeneous nanocatalyst for biodiesel production: Optimized by response surface methodology.

PubMed

Pandit, Priti R; Fulekar, M H

2017-08-01

Worldwide consumption of hen eggs results in availability of large amount of discarded egg waste particularly egg shells. In the present study, the waste shells were utilized for the synthesis of highly active heterogeneous calcium oxide (CaO) nanocatalyst to transesterify dry biomass into methyl esters (biodiesel). The CaO nanocatalyst was synthesied by calcination-hydration-dehydration technique and fully characterized by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), brunauer-emmett-teller (BET) elemental and thermogravimetric analysis. TEM image showed that the nano catalyst had spherical shape with average particle size of 75 nm. BET analysis indicated that the catalyst specific surface area was 16.4 m 2  g -1 with average pore diameter of 5.07 nm. The effect of nano CaO catalyst was investigated by direct transesterification of dry biomass into biodiesel along with other reaction parameters such as catalyst ratio, reaction time and stirring rate. The impact of the transesterification reaction parameters and microalgal biodiesel yield were analyzed by response surface methodology based on a full factorial, central composite design. The significance of the predicted mode was verified and 86.41% microalgal biodiesel yield was reported at optimal parameter conditions 1.7% (w/w), catalyst ratio, 3.6 h reaction time and stirring rate of 140.6 rpm. The biodiesel conversion was determined by 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The fuel properties of prepared biodiesel were found to be highly comply with the biodiesel standard ASTMD6751 and EN14214. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of Shell Properties on High-Frequency Ultrasound Imaging and Drug Delivery Using Polymer-Shelled Microbubbles

PubMed Central

Chitnis, Parag V.; Koppolu, Sujeethraj; Mamou, Jonathan; Chlon, Ceciel; Ketterling, Jeffrey A.

2013-01-01

This two-part study investigated shell rupture of ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) under static overpressure conditions and the subharmonic component from UCAs subjected to 20-MHz tonebursts. Five different polylactide-shelled UCAs with shell-thickness-to-radius ratios (STRRs) of 7.5, 30, 40, 65, and 100 nm/μm were subjected to static overpressure in a glycerol-filled test chamber. A video microscope imaged the UCAs as pressure varied from 2 to 330 kPa over 90 min. Images were postprocessed to obtain the pressure threshold for rupture and the diameter of individual microbubbles. Backscatter from individual UCAs was investigated by flowing a dilute UCA solution through a wall-less flow phantom placed at the geometric focus of a 20-MHz transducer. UCAs were subjected to 10- and 20-cycle tonebursts of acoustic pressures ranging from 0.3 to 2.3 MPa. A method based on singular-value decomposition (SVD) was employed to obtain a cumulative subharmonic score (SHS). Different UCA types exhibited distinctly different rupture thresholds that were linearly related to their STRR, but uncorrelated with UCA size. The rupture threshold for the UCAs with an STRR = 100 nm/μm was more than 4 times greater than the UCAs with an STRR = 7.5 nm/μm. The polymer-shelled UCAs produced substantial subharmonic response but the subharmonic response to 20-MHz excitation did not correlate with STRRs or UCA-rupture pressures. The 20-cycle excitation resulted in an SHS that was 2 to 3 times that of UCAs excited with 10-cycle tonebursts. PMID:23287913

Determination on the chemical composition of Ammonia beccarii shell using SEM and EDX: Preliminary study of benthic foraminifera capacity in response to anthropogenic metal contamination in coastal areas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rositasari, R.; Suratno; Yogaswara, D.

2018-02-01

The use of single-celled and shelled biota, such as foraminifera that lives as benthic, in coastal environmental monitoring activity is very efficient. Several species of the Ammonia have been used as a proxy of various aquatic environmental monitoring activities. Chemical constituents screening in foraminiferal shell is a step ahead to identify the capacity of benthic foraminifera in responding to anthropogenic metal contamination in coastal water areas. The initial hypothesis of this study is the calcite test of Ammonia beccarii binds the anthropogenic metal in its shell structure and triggers the deformation test. The normal and abnormal shells of Ammonia specimens from Jakarta Bay and Batam waters are used in this study. The Ponar grab was used to sample surface sediment in Jakarta Bay and Batam waters in 2015, and the short core was used to acquire substratum sediment in Jakarta Bay in 2011.The Ammonia beccarii shell was analyzed using SEM and EDX detectors (Scanning Electron Microscope and Energy Dispersive X-ray). The shooting was performed three times in each test, i.e. in the first chamber (proloculus), the last chamber and the chamber between the two. The main building blocks of the foraminifera test are oxygen with an average weight range of 42.86 - 58.79% and carbon with an average weight range of 17.69 - 26.32%. There is a tendency for low levels of C and O elements in the abnormal tests.

Polyfibroblast: A Self-Healing and Galvanic Protection Additive

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-07-25

OBIECTIVES 1 KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS 3.1 ON SITE INSPECTION OF COATING HEALTH 2 3.2 MICROCAPSULE SHEAR STRENGTH 4 3.3 NEXT STEPS 5 1 Summary Initial...experiments with the handheld fluorescence microscope were successful in imaging Nile Red-loaded microcapsules within the self-healing paint. However...the microcapsule shells were brighter than the entrained fluid, making it difficult to assess the health of the coating. Shear strength

A novel microsphere with a three-layer structure for duodenum-specific drug delivery.

PubMed

Zhu, Xi; Zhou, Dan; Jin, Yun; Song, Yu-pin; Zhang, Zhi-rong; Huang, Yuan

2011-07-15

Owing to the quick elimination of drug from duodenum and the depth of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonized in mucus, antibiotic therapy often fails in the eradication of H. pylori infection for duodenal ulcer. A novel duodenum-specific microsphere (DSM) consisting of three-layer structure was developed to enhance the drug concentration and retention time in duodenal mucus layer. Firstly a core-shell mucoadhesive microsphere was prepared with a novel emulsification/coagulation coating method by introducing drug loaded Eudragit cores into a thiolated chitosan mucoadhesive layer. Then the obtained core-shell mucoadhesive microspheres were further coated with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate maleate as the pH-sensitive layer for the trigger of mucoadhesion and drug release in duodenum. From the fluorescence microscopic and scanning electron microscopic images, the three-layer structure was successfully established. The microspheres exhibited a duodenum-specific trigger performance, good mucoadhesive property and pH-dependent drug release. In vivo study performed in rats demonstrated that DSM exhibited about 3-fold augmentation of AUC and about 5-fold augmentation of C(max) for duodenal mucus drug concentration compared with free drug suspension. These results suggest that the three-layer structure microspheres may provide a promising approach for duodenum-targeting drug delivery system. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A comparative SEM morphological study of biogenic and abiogenic carbonates for the search for biostructures on Mars.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Elia, M.; Blanco, A.; Galiano, A.; Orofino, V.; Fonti, S.; Mancarella, F.; Guido, A.

Next space missions will investigate the possibility of extinct or extant life on Mars. In previous laboratory works by studying the infrared spectral modifications induced by thermal processing on different carbonate samples (recent shells and fossils of different ages), we developed a method able to discriminate biogenic carbonates from their abiogenic counterparts. The method has been successfully applied to microbialites, i.e. bio-induced carbonates deposits, and particularly to stromatolites, the laminated fabric of microbialites, some of which can be ascribed among the oldest traces of biological activity known on Earth. These results are of valuable importance since such carbonates are linked to primitive living organisms which can be considered as good analogues for putative Martian life forms. Due to the fact that the microstructures of biogenic carbonate may be different from those of abiogenic origin, we have recently investigated the microscopic morphology at different scales of our samples (shells, skeletal grains, microbialites and stromatolites) using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). In this paper we present some preliminary results that can be of valuable interest in view of the high resolution imaging systems that in the near future will explore the surface of Mars in the search for biological traces of life.

The limits of hamiltonian structures in three-dimensional elasticity, shells, and rods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ge, Z.; Kruse, H. P.; Marsden, J. E.

1996-01-01

This paper uses Hamiltonian structures to study the problem of the limit of three-dimensional (3D) elastic models to shell and rod models. In the case of shells, we show that the Hamiltonian structure for a three-dimensional elastic body converges, in a sense made precise, to that for a shell model described by a one-director Cosserat surface as the thickness goes to zero. We study limiting procedures that give rise to unconstrained as well as constrained Cosserat director models. The case of a rod is also considered and similar convergence results are established, with the limiting model being a geometrically exact director rod model (in the framework developed by Antman, Simo, and coworkers). The resulting model may or may not have constraints, depending on the nature of the constitutive relations and their behavior under the limiting procedure. The closeness of Hamiltonian structures is measured by the closeness of Poisson brackets on certain classes of functions, as well as the Hamiltonians. This provides one way of justifying the dynamic one-director model for shells. Another way of stating the convergence result is that there is an almost-Poisson embedding from the phase space of the shell to the phase space of the 3D elastic body, which implies that, in the sense of Hamiltonian structures, the dynamics of the elastic body is close to that of the shell. The constitutive equations of the 3D model and their behavior as the thickness tends to zero dictates whether the limiting 2D model is a constrained or an unconstrained director model. We apply our theory in the specific case of a 3D Saint Venant-Kirchhoff material and derive the corresponding limiting shell and rod theories. The limiting shell model is an interesting Kirchhoff-like shell model in which the stored energy function is explicitly derived in terms of the shell curvature. For rods, one gets (with an additional inextensibility constraint) a one-director Kirchhoff elastic rod model, which reduces to the well-known Euler elastica if one adds an additional single constraint that the director lines up with the Frenet frame.

Effects of cluster-shell competition and BCS-like pairing in 12C

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsuno, H.; Itagaki, N.

2017-12-01

The antisymmetrized quasi-cluster model (AQCM) was proposed to describe α-cluster and jj-coupling shell models on the same footing. In this model, the cluster-shell transition is characterized by two parameters, R representing the distance between α clusters and Λ describing the breaking of α clusters, and the contribution of the spin-orbit interaction, very important in the jj-coupling shell model, can be taken into account starting with the α-cluster model wave function. Not only the closure configurations of the major shells but also the subclosure configurations of the jj-coupling shell model can be described starting with the α-cluster model wave functions; however, the particle-hole excitations of single particles have not been fully established yet. In this study we show that the framework of AQCM can be extended even to the states with the character of single-particle excitations. For ^{12}C, two-particle-two-hole (2p2h) excitations from the subclosure configuration of 0p_{3/2} corresponding to a BCS-like pairing are described, and these shell model states are coupled with the three α-cluster model wave functions. The correlation energy from the optimal configuration can be estimated not only in the cluster part but also in the shell model part. We try to pave the way to establish a generalized description of the nuclear structure.

Charge radii of neutron-deficient Ca isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, A. J.; Minamisono, K.; Klose, A.; Everett, N.; Kalman, C.; Powel, R. C.; Watkins, J.; Garand, D.; Sumithrarachchi, C.; Krämer, J.; Maa, B.; Nörtershäuser, W.; Rossi, D. M.; Kujawa, C.; Pineda, S.; Lantis, J.; Liu, Y.; Mantica, P. F.; Pearson, M. R.

2017-09-01

Nucleon shell closures are generally associated with a local minimum in mean-square charge radii, 〈r2 〉 , along an isotopic chain. The 〈r2 〉 of 18Ar and 19K isotopes, however, do not show this signature at the N = 20 neutron shell closure. To gain a microscopic understanding of this abnormal behavior, measurements of 〈r2 〉 of neutron-deficient Ca isotopes below N = 20 have been proposed at the BEam COoling and LAser spectroscopy (BECOLA) facility at NSCL/MSU. Preliminary results will be presented and the deduced charge radii will be compared to theoretical calculations and the trends in the nearby isotopic chains. Work supported in part by NSF Grant PHY-15-65546, U.S. DOE Grant DE-NA0002924 and by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through Grant SFB 1245.

Structure and decays of nuclear three-body systems: The Gamow coupled-channel method in Jacobi coordinates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, S. M.; Michel, N.; Nazarewicz, W.; Xu, F. R.

2017-10-01

Background: Weakly bound and unbound nuclear states appearing around particle thresholds are prototypical open quantum systems. Theories of such states must take into account configuration mixing effects in the presence of strong coupling to the particle continuum space. Purpose: To describe structure and decays of three-body systems, we developed a Gamow coupled-channel (GCC) approach in Jacobi coordinates by employing the complex-momentum formalism. We benchmarked the complex-energy Gamow shell model (GSM) against the new framework. Methods: The GCC formalism is expressed in Jacobi coordinates, so that the center-of-mass motion is automatically eliminated. To solve the coupled-channel equations, we use hyperspherical harmonics to describe the angular wave functions while the radial wave functions are expanded in the Berggren ensemble, which includes bound, scattering, and Gamow states. Results: We show that the GCC method is both accurate and robust. Its results for energies, decay widths, and nucleon-nucleon angular correlations are in good agreement with the GSM results. Conclusions: We have demonstrated that a three-body GSM formalism explicitly constructed in the cluster-orbital shell model coordinates provides results similar to those with a GCC framework expressed in Jacobi coordinates, provided that a large configuration space is employed. Our calculations for A =6 systems and 26O show that nucleon-nucleon angular correlations are sensitive to the valence-neutron interaction. The new GCC technique has many attractive features when applied to bound and unbound states of three-body systems: it is precise, is efficient, and can be extended by introducing a microscopic model of the core.

Morphology and electronic structure of the oxide shell on the surface of iron nanoparticles.

PubMed

Wang, Chongmin; Baer, Donald R; Amonette, James E; Engelhard, Mark H; Antony, Jiji; Qiang, You

2009-07-01

An iron (Fe) nanoparticle exposed to air at room temperature will be instantly covered by an oxide shell that is typically approximately 3 nm thick. The nature of this native oxide shell, in combination with the underlying Fe(0) core, determines the physical and chemical behavior of the core-shell nanoparticle. One of the challenges of characterizing core-shell nanoparticles is determining the structure of the oxide shell, that is, whether it is FeO, Fe(3)O(4), gamma-Fe(2)O(3), alpha-Fe(2)O(3), or something else. The results of prior characterization efforts, which have mostly used X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy, electron diffraction, and transmission electron microscopic imaging, have been framed in terms of one of the known Fe-oxide structures, although it is not necessarily true that the thin layer of Fe oxide is a known Fe oxide. In this Article, we probe the structure of the oxide shell on Fe nanoparticles using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) at the oxygen (O) K-edge with a spatial resolution of several nanometers (i.e., less than that of an individual particle). We studied two types of representative particles: small particles that are fully oxidized (no Fe(0) core) and larger core-shell particles that possess an Fe core. We found that O K-edge spectra collected for the oxide shell in nanoparticles show distinct differences from those of known Fe oxides. Typically, the prepeak of the spectra collected on both the core-shell and the fully oxidized particles is weaker than that collected on standard Fe(3)O(4). Given the fact that the origin of this prepeak corresponds to the transition of the O 1s electron to the unoccupied state of O 2p hybridized with Fe 3d, a weak pre-edge peak indicates a combination of the following four factors: a higher degree of occupancy of the Fe 3d orbital; a longer Fe-O bond length; a decreased covalency of the Fe-O bond; and a measure of cation vacancies. These results suggest that the coordination configuration in the oxide shell on Fe nanoparticles is defective as compared to that of their bulk counterparts. Implications of these defective structural characteristics on the properties of core-shell structured iron nanoparticles are discussed.

Steady state model for the thermal regimes of shells of airships and hot air balloons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luchev, Oleg A.

1992-10-01

A steady state model of the temperature regime of airships and hot air balloons shells is developed. The model includes three governing equations: the equation of the temperature field of airships or balloons shell, the integral equation for the radiative fluxes on the internal surface of the shell, and the integral equation for the natural convective heat exchange between the shell and the internal gas. In the model the following radiative fluxes on the shell external surface are considered: the direct and the earth reflected solar radiation, the diffuse solar radiation, the infrared radiation of the earth surface and that of the atmosphere. For the calculations of the infrared external radiation the model of the plane layer of the atmosphere is used. The convective heat transfer on the external surface of the shell is considered for the cases of the forced and the natural convection. To solve the mentioned set of the equations the numerical iterative procedure is developed. The model and the numerical procedure are used for the simulation study of the temperature fields of an airship shell under the forced and the natural convective heat transfer.

Improvement of Progressive Damage Model to Predicting Crashworthy Composite Corrugated Plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Yiru; Jiang, Hongyong; Ji, Wenyuan; Zhang, Hanyu; Xiang, Jinwu; Yuan, Fuh-Gwo

2018-02-01

To predict the crashworthy composite corrugated plate, different single and stacked shell models are evaluated and compared, and a stacked shell progressive damage model combined with continuum damage mechanics is proposed and investigated. To simulate and predict the failure behavior, both of the intra- and inter- laminar failure behavior are considered. The tiebreak contact method, 1D spot weld element and cohesive element are adopted in stacked shell model, and a surface-based cohesive behavior is used to capture delamination in the proposed model. The impact load and failure behavior of purposed and conventional progressive damage models are demonstrated. Results show that the single shell could simulate the impact load curve without the delamination simulation ability. The general stacked shell model could simulate the interlaminar failure behavior. The improved stacked shell model with continuum damage mechanics and cohesive element not only agree well with the impact load, but also capture the fiber, matrix debonding, and interlaminar failure of composite structure.

Deuteron-induced nucleon transfer reactions within an ab initio framework: First application to p -shell nuclei

DOE PAGES

Raimondi, Francesco; Hupin, Guillaume; Navratil, Petr; ...

2016-05-10

Low-energy transfer reactions in which a proton is stripped from a deuteron projectile and dropped into a target play a crucial role in the formation of nuclei in both primordial and stellar nucleosynthesis, as well as in the study of exotic nuclei using radioactive beam facilities and inverse kinematics. Here, ab initio approaches have been successfully applied to describe the 3H(d,n) 4He and 3He(d,p) 4He fusion processes. An ab initio treatment of transfer reactions would also be desirable for heavier targets. In this work, we extend the ab initio description of (d,p) reactions to processes with light p-shell nuclei. Asmore » a first application, we study the elastic scattering of deuterium on 7Li and the 7Li(d,p) 8Li transfer reaction based on a two-body Hamiltonian. We use the no-core shell model to compute the wave functions of the nuclei involved in the reaction, and describe the dynamics between targets and projectiles with the help of microscopic-cluster states in the spirit of the resonating group method. The shapes of the excitation functions for deuterons impinging on 7Li are qualitatively reproduced up to the deuteron breakup energy. The interplay between d– 7Li and p– 8Li particle-decay channels determines some features of the 9Be spectrum above the d+ 7Li threshold. Our prediction for the parity of the 17.298 MeV resonance is at odds with the experimental assignment. Deuteron stripping reactions with p-shell targets can now be computed ab initio, but calculations are very demanding. Finally, a quantitative description of the 7Li(d,p) 8Li reaction will require further work to include the effect of three-nucleon forces and additional decay channels and to improve the convergence rate of our calculations.« less

Deuteron-induced nucleon transfer reactions within an ab initio framework: First application to p -shell nuclei

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

Raimondi, Francesco; Hupin, Guillaume; Navratil, Petr

Low-energy transfer reactions in which a proton is stripped from a deuteron projectile and dropped into a target play a crucial role in the formation of nuclei in both primordial and stellar nucleosynthesis, as well as in the study of exotic nuclei using radioactive beam facilities and inverse kinematics. Here, ab initio approaches have been successfully applied to describe the 3H(d,n) 4He and 3He(d,p) 4He fusion processes. An ab initio treatment of transfer reactions would also be desirable for heavier targets. In this work, we extend the ab initio description of (d,p) reactions to processes with light p-shell nuclei. Asmore » a first application, we study the elastic scattering of deuterium on 7Li and the 7Li(d,p) 8Li transfer reaction based on a two-body Hamiltonian. We use the no-core shell model to compute the wave functions of the nuclei involved in the reaction, and describe the dynamics between targets and projectiles with the help of microscopic-cluster states in the spirit of the resonating group method. The shapes of the excitation functions for deuterons impinging on 7Li are qualitatively reproduced up to the deuteron breakup energy. The interplay between d– 7Li and p– 8Li particle-decay channels determines some features of the 9Be spectrum above the d+ 7Li threshold. Our prediction for the parity of the 17.298 MeV resonance is at odds with the experimental assignment. Deuteron stripping reactions with p-shell targets can now be computed ab initio, but calculations are very demanding. Finally, a quantitative description of the 7Li(d,p) 8Li reaction will require further work to include the effect of three-nucleon forces and additional decay channels and to improve the convergence rate of our calculations.« less

On the Mössbauer Effect and the Rigid Recoil Question

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davidson, Mark

2017-03-01

The rigid recoil of a crystal is the accepted mechanism for the Mössbauer effect. It's at odds with the special theory of relativity which does not allow perfectly rigid bodies. The standard model of particle physics which includes QED should not allow any signals to be transmitted faster than the speed of light. If perturbation theory can be used, then the X-ray emitted in a Mössbauer decay must come from a single nuclear decay vertex at which the 4-momentum is exactly conserved in a Feynman diagram. Then the 4-momentum of the final state Mössbauer nucleus must be slightly off the mass shell. This off-shell behavior would be followed by subsequent diffusion of momentum throughout the crystal to bring the nucleus back onto the mass shell and the crystal to a final relaxed state in which it moves rigidly with the appropriate recoil velocity. This mechanism explains the Mössbauer effect at the microscopic level and reconciles it with relativity. Because off-mass-shell quantum mechanics is required, the on-mass-shell theories developed originally for the Mössbauer effect are inadequate. Another possibility is that that the recoil response involves a non-perturbative effect in the standard model which could allow for a non-local instantaneous momentum transfer between the crystal and the decay (or absorption), as proposed for example by Preparata and others in super-radiance theory. The recoil time of the crystal is probably not instantaneous, and if it could be measured, one could distinguish between various theories. An experiment is proposed in this paper to measure this time. The idea is to measure the total energy radiated due to bremsstrahlung from a charged Mössbauer crystal which has experienced a recoil. Using Larmor's formula, along with corrections to it, allows one to design an experiment. The favored idea is to use many small nano-spheres of Mössbauer-active metals, whose outer surfaces are charged. The energy radiated then varies as the charge squared divided by the recoil time. This can then be measured with the extreme sensitivity available in Mössbauer experiments. If it turns out that experiments prove the need for off-mass-shell theory, then this would have profound implications for all of condensed matter physics. It would mean that an off-mass-shell theory like those considered by Stueckelberg, Horwitz, Piron, Greenberger, and many others are required to describe nature. The inclusion of these would be a major shift in the foundations. It would mean that there are new dynamic variables—the rest masses of particles. The ability to measure the diffusion relaxation time should prove useful also in chemical analysis, and provide a new class of analytical methods for material science. This problem is also interesting because the Mössbauer effect is a phenomenon where the solid-state environment dramatically and indisputably influences the probability of a nuclear process.

Physicochemical properties and characterization of chitosan synthesized from fish scales, crab and shrimp shells.

PubMed

Kumari, Suneeta; Kumar Annamareddy, Sri Hari; Abanti, Sahoo; Kumar Rath, Pradip

2017-11-01

Chitosan is derived from different starting materials such as fish scales, shrimp and crab shells by the process of deacetylation of chitin, which is carried out using 40% KOH at 90°C for 6h. Prepared chitosan was characterized by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, Scanning electron microscope and Thermogravimetric analysis. Futher the physicochemical properties of chitosan like Fat binding capacity (FBC), water binding capacity (WBC), solubility, average molecular weight, ash content, moisture and degree of deacetylation of chitosan were also studied. Crystalline index (%) values of commercial, shrimp, crab and fish chitosan were found to be 96, 82, 88 and 84% respectively. The presence of amino group was confirmed from the FTIR spectra of chitosan synthesized. TGA results demonstrated the lower thermal stability of chitosan. Relatively smother surface and nano-fiber structures were observed from SEM analysis. The degree of deacetylation of chitosan from different sources such as shells of fish, shrimp and crab were found to be 75%, 78%, and 70% respectively. In a similar way the WBC and FBC of fish, shrimp and crab shells were found to be 492, 358 and 138% and 226, 246 and 138% respectively. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Luminescence study on Eu3+ doped Y2O3 nanoparticles: particle size, concentration and core-shell formation effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robindro Singh, L.; Ningthoujam, R. S.; Sudarsan, V.; Srivastava, Iti; Dorendrajit Singh, S.; Dey, G. K.; Kulshreshtha, S. K.

2008-02-01

Nanoparticles of Eu3+ doped Y2O3 (core) and Eu3+ doped Y2O3 covered with Y2O3 shell (core-shell) are prepared by urea hydrolysis for 3 h in ethylene glycol medium at a relatively low temperature of 140 °C, followed by heating at 500 and 900 °C. Particle sizes determined from x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopic studies are 11 and 18 nm for 500 and 900 °C heated samples respectively. Based on the luminescence studies of 500 and 900 °C heated samples, it is confirmed that there is no particle size effect on the peak positions of Eu3+ emission, and optimum luminescence intensity is observed from the nanoparticles with a Eu3+ concentration of 4-5 at.%. A luminescence study establishes that the Eu3+ environment in amorphous Y (OH)3 is different from that in crystalline Y2O3. For a fixed concentration of Eu3+ doping, there is a reduction in Eu3+ emission intensity for core-shell nanoparticles compared to that of core nanoparticles, and this has been attributed to the concentration dilution effect. Energy transfer from the host to Eu3+ increases with increase of crystallinity.

Use of Almond Shells and Rice Husk as Fillers of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA) Composites.

PubMed

Sabbatini, Alessandra; Lanari, Silvia; Santulli, Carlo; Pettinari, Claudio

2017-07-28

In recent years, wood fibres have often been applied as the reinforcement of thermoplastic materials, such as polypropylene, whereas their use in combination with thermosetting resin has been less widespread. This study concerns the production of PMMA-based composites by partly replacing alumina trihydrate (ATH) with wood waste fillers, namely rice husks and almond shells, which would otherwise be disposed by incineration. The amount of filler introduced was limited to 10% as regards rice husks and 10 or 15% almond shells, since indications provided by reactivity tests and viscosity measurements did not suggest the feasibility of total replacement of ATH. As a matter of fact, the introduction of these contents of wood waste filler in PMMA-based composite did not result in any significant deterioration of its mechanical properties (Charpy impact, Rockwell M hardness and flexural performance). Some reduction of these properties was only observed in the case of introduction of 15% almond shells. A further issue concerned the yellowing of the organic filler under exposure to UV light. On the other hand, a very limited amount of water was absorbed, never exceeding values around 0.6%, despite the significant porosity revealed by the filler's microscopic evaluation. These results are particularly interesting in view of the application envisaged for these composites, i.e., wood replacement boards.

Protective effects of a by-product of the pecan nut industry (Carya illinoensis) on the toxicity induced by cyclophosphamide in rats Carya illinoensis protects against cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity.

PubMed

Benvegnú, D; Barcelos, R C S; Boufleur, N; Reckziegel, P; Pase, C S; Müller, L G; Martins, N M B; Vareli, C; Bürger, M E

2010-01-01

This study investigated the antioxidant effects of pecan nut (Carya illinoensis) shell aqueous extract (AE) on toxicity induced by cyclophosphamide (CP) in the heart, kidney, liver, bladder, plasma and erythrocytes of rats. Rats were treated with water or pecan shell AE (5%) ad libitum, replacing drinking water for 37 days up to the end of the experiment. On day 30, half of each group received a single administration of vehicle or CP 200 mg/kg-ip. After 7 days, the organs were removed. Rats treated with CP showed an increase in lipid peroxidation (LP) and decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in all structures. Catalase (CAT) activity was increased in the heart and decreased in liver and kidney. Besides, CP treatment decreased plasmatic vitamin C (VIT C) levels and induced bladder macroscopical and microscopical damages. In contrast, co-treatment with pecan shell AE prevented the LP development and the GSH depletion in all structures, except in the heart and plasma, respectively. CAT activity in the heart and liver as well as the plasmatic VIT C levels remained unchanged. Finally, AE prevented CP-induced bladder injury. These findings revealed the protective role of pecan shell AE in CP-induced multiple organ toxicity.

Preferential solvation and solvation shell composition of free base and protonated 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin in aqueous organic mixed solvents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farajtabar, Ali; Jaberi, Fatemeh; Gharib, Farrokh

2011-12-01

The solvatochromic properties of the free base and the protonated 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS) were studied in pure water, methanol, ethanol (protic solvents), dimethylsulfoxide, DMSO, (non-protic solvent), and their corresponding aqueous-organic binary mixed solvents. The correlation of the empirical solvent polarity scale ( ET) values of TPPS with composition of the solvents was analyzed by the solvent exchange model of Bosch and Roses to clarify the preferential solvation of the probe dyes in the binary mixed solvents. The solvation shell composition and the synergistic effects in preferential solvation of the solute dyes were investigated in terms of both solvent-solvent and solute-solvent interactions and also, the local mole fraction of each solvent composition was calculated in cybotactic region of the probe. The effective mole fraction variation may provide significant physico-chemical insights in the microscopic and molecular level of interactions between TPPS species and the solvent components and therefore, can be used to interpret the solvent effect on kinetics and thermodynamics of TPPS. The obtained results from the preferential solvation and solvent-solvent interactions have been successfully applied to explain the variation of equilibrium behavior of protonation of TPPS occurring in aqueous organic mixed solvents of methanol, ethanol and DMSO.

Viral nanomechanics with a virtual atomic force microscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aznar, María; Roca-Bonet, Sergi; Reguera, David

2018-07-01

One of the most important components of a virus is the protein shell or capsid that encloses its genetic material. The main role of the capsid is to protect the viral genome against external aggressions, facilitating its safe and efficient encapsulation and delivery. As a consequence, viral capsids have developed astonishing mechanical properties that are crucial for viral function. These remarkable properties have started to be unveiled in single-virus nanoindentation experiments, and are opening the door to the use of viral-derived artificial nanocages for promising bio- and nano-technological applications. However, the interpretation of nanoindentation experiments is often difficult, requiring the support of theoretical and simulation analysis. Here we present a ‘Virtual AFM’ (VAFM), a Brownian Dynamics simulation of a coarse-grained model of virus aimed to mimic the standard setup of atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanoindentation experiments. Despite the heavy level of coarse-graining, these simulations provide valuable information which is not accessible in experiments. Rather than focusing on a specific virus, the VAFM will be used to analyze how the mechanical response and breaking of viruses depend on different parameters controlling the effective interactions between capsid’s structural units. In particular, we will discuss the influence of adsorption, the tip radius, and the rigidity and shape of the shell on its mechanical response.

Application of the Shell/3D Modeling Technique for the Analysis of Skin-Stiffener Debond Specimens

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krueger, Ronald; O'Brien, T. Kevin; Minguet, Pierre J.

2002-01-01

The application of a shell/3D modeling technique for the simulation of skin/stringer debond in a specimen subjected to three-point bending is demonstrated. The global structure was modeled with shell elements. A local three-dimensional model, extending to about three specimen thicknesses on either side of the delamination front was used to capture the details of the damaged section. Computed total strain energy release rates and mixed-mode ratios obtained from shell/13D simulations were in good agreement with results obtained from full solid models. The good correlations of the results demonstrated the effectiveness of the shell/3D modeling technique for the investigation of skin/stiffener separation due to delamination in the adherents.

Electronic transport properties of inner and outer shells in near ohmic-contacted double-walled carbon nanotube transistors

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

Zhang, Yuchun; Zhou, Liyan; Zhao, Shangqian

2014-06-14

We investigate electronic transport properties of field-effect transistors based on double-walled carbon nanotubes, of which inner shells are metallic and outer shells are semiconducting. When both shells are turned on, electron-phonon scattering is found to be the dominant phenomenon. On the other hand, when outer semiconducting shells are turned off, a zero-bias anomaly emerges in the dependence of differential conductance on the bias voltage, which is characterized according to the Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid model describing tunneling into one-dimensional materials. We attribute these behaviors to different contact conditions for outer and inner shells of the double-walled carbon nanotubes. A simple model combiningmore » Luttinger liquid model for inner metallic shells and electron-phonon scattering in outer semiconducting shells is given here to explain our transport data at different temperatures.« less

Additional evidence on the use of personal ornaments in the Middle Paleolithic of North Africa

PubMed Central

d'Errico, Francesco; Vanhaeren, Marian; Barton, Nick; Bouzouggar, Abdeljalil; Mienis, Henk; Richter, Daniel; Hublin, Jean-Jacques; McPherron, Shannon P.; Lozouet, Pierre

2009-01-01

Recent investigations into the origins of symbolism indicate that personal ornaments in the form of perforated marine shell beads were used in the Near East, North Africa, and SubSaharan Africa at least 35 ka earlier than any personal ornaments in Europe. Together with instances of pigment use, engravings, and formal bone tools, personal ornaments are used to support an early emergence of behavioral modernity in Africa, associated with the origin of our species and significantly predating the timing for its dispersal out of Africa. Criticisms have been leveled at the low numbers of recovered shells, the lack of secure dating evidence, and the fact that documented examples were not deliberately shaped. In this paper, we report on 25 additional shell beads from four Moroccan Middle Paleolithic sites. We review their stratigraphic and chronological contexts and address the issue of these shells having been deliberately modified and used. We detail the results of comparative analyses of modern, fossil, and archaeological assemblages and microscopic examinations of the Moroccan material. We conclude that Nassarius shells were consistently used for personal ornamentation in this region at the end of the last interglacial. Absence of ornaments at Middle Paleolithic sites postdating Marine Isotope Stage 5 raises the question of the possible role of climatic changes in the disappearance of this hallmark of symbolic behavior before its reinvention 40 ka ago. Our results suggest that further inquiry is necessary into the mechanisms of cultural transmission within early Homo sapiens populations. PMID:19717433

Propagation of flexural and membrane waves with fluid loaded NASTRAN plate and shell elements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kalinowski, A. J.; Wagner, C. A.

1983-01-01

Modeling of flexural and membrane type waves existing in various submerged (or in vacuo) plate and/or shell finite element models that are excited with steady state type harmonic loadings proportioned to e(i omega t) is discussed. Only thin walled plates and shells are treated wherein rotary inertia and shear correction factors are not included. More specifically, the issue of determining the shell or plate mesh size needed to represent the spatial distribution of the plate or shell response is of prime importance towards successfully representing the solution to the problem at hand. To this end, a procedure is presented for establishing guide lines for determining the mesh size based on a simple test model that can be used for a variety of plate and shell configurations such as, cylindrical shells with water loading, cylindrical shells in vacuo, plates with water loading, and plates in vacuo. The procedure for doing these four cases is given, with specific numerical examples present only for the cylindrical shell case.

Polarimetry of Pinctada fucata nacre indicates myostracal layer interrupts nacre structure

PubMed Central

Jones, Joshua A.; D'Addario, Anthony J.; Galvez, Enrique J.

2017-01-01

The inner layer of many bivalve and gastropod molluscs consists of iridescent nacre, a material that is structured like a brick wall with bricks consisting of crystalline aragonite and mortar of organic molecules. Myostracal layers formed during shell growth at the point of muscle attachment to the shell can be found interspersed within the nacre structure. Little has been done to examine the effect the myostracal layer has on subsequent nacre structure. Here we present data on the structure of the myostracal and nacre layers from a bivalve mollusc, Pinctada fucata. Scanning electron microscope imaging shows the myostracal layer consists of regular crystalline blocks. The nacre before the layer consists of tablets approximately 400 nm thick, while after the myostracal layer the tablets are approximately 500 nm thick. A new technique, imaging polarimetry, indicates that the aragonite crystals within the nacre following the myostracal layer have greater orientation uniformity than before the myostracal layer. The results presented here suggest a possible interaction between the myostracal layer and subsequent shell growth. PMID:28386442

Multishell Au/Ag/SiO 2 nanorods with tunable optical properties as single particle orientation and rotational tracking probes

DOE PAGES

Chen, Kuangcai; Lin, Chia -Cheng; Vela, Javier; ...

2015-04-07

In this study, three-layer core–shell plasmonic nanorods (Au/Ag/SiO 2–NRs), consisting of a gold nanorod core, a thin silver shell, and a thin silica layer, were synthesized and used as optical imaging probes under a differential interference contrast microscope for single particle orientation and rotational tracking. The localized surface plasmon resonance modes were enhanced upon the addition of the silver shell, and the anisotropic optical properties of gold nanorods were maintained. The silica coating enables surface functionalization with silane coupling agents and provides enhanced stability and biocompatibility. Taking advantage of the longitudinal LSPR enhancement, the orientation and rotational information of themore » hybrid nanorods on synthetic lipid bilayers and on live cell membranes were obtained with millisecond temporal resolution using a scientific complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor camera. The results demonstrate that the as-synthesized hybrid nanorods are promising imaging probes with improved sensitivity and good biocompatibility for single plasmonic particle tracking experiments in biological systems.« less

Imaging and estimating the surface heterogeneity on a droplet containing cosolvents.

PubMed

Fang, Xiaohua; Li, Bingquan; Wu, Jun; Maldarelli, Charles; Sokolov, Jonathan C; Rafailovich, Miriam H; Somasundaran, Ponisseril

2009-07-23

Cosolvents have numerous applications in many industries as well as scientific research. The shortage in the knowledge of the structures in a cosolvent system is significant. In this work, we display the spatial as well as the kinetic distribution of the cosolvents using droplets as paradigms. When an alcohol/water-containing sessile droplet evaporates on a substrate, it phase segregates into a water-enriched core and a thin alcohol prevailing shell. This is considered to be due to the different escaping rate of solvents out of the liquid-vapor (l-v) interfaces. In between the core and shell phases, there exists a rough and solid-like liquid-liquid (l-l) wall interface as marked by the fluorescent polystyrene spheres and imaged by a confocal microscope. Holes and patches of beads are observed to form on this phase boundary. The water-dispersed beads prefer to partition within the core. The shell prevails in the droplet during most of the drying and shrinks with the l-v boundary. By monitoring the morphological progression of the droplet, the composition of the cosolvent at the liquid-vapor interface is obtained.

Fretting and Corrosion Between a Metal Shell and Metal Liner May Explain the High Rate of Failure of R3 Modular Metal-on-Metal Hips.

PubMed

Ilo, Kevin C; Derby, Emma J; Whittaker, Robert K; Blunn, Gordon W; Skinner, John A; Hart, Alister J

2017-05-01

The R3 acetabular system used with its metal liner has higher revision rates when compared to its ceramic and polyethylene liner. In June 2012, the medical and healthcare products regulatory agency issued an alert regarding the metal liner of the R3 acetabular system. Six retrieved R3 acetabular systems with metal liners underwent detailed visual analysis using macroscopic and microscopic techniques. Visual analysis discovered corrosion on the backside of the metal liners. There was a distinct border to the areas of corrosion that conformed to antirotation tab insertions on the inner surface of the acetabular shell, which are for the polyethylene liner. Scanning electron microscopy indicated evidence of crevice corrosion, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis confirmed corrosion debris rich in titanium. The high failure rate of the metal liner option of the R3 acetabular system may be attributed to corrosion on the backside of the liner which appear to result from geometry and design characteristics of the acetabular shell. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Characterization of core/shell Cu/Ag nanopowders synthesized by electrochemistry and assessment of their impact on hemolysis, platelet aggregation, and coagulation on human blood for potential wound dressing use

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laloy, Julie; Haguet, Hélène; Alpan, Lutfiye; Mancier, Valérie; Mejia, Jorge; Levi, Samuel; Dogné, Jean-Michel; Lucas, Stéphane; Rousse, Céline; Fricoteaux, Patrick

2017-08-01

Copper/silver core/shell nanopowders with different metal ratio have been elaborated by electrochemistry (ultrasound-assisted electrolysis followed by a displacement reaction). Characterization was performed by several methods (X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, centrifugal liquid sedimentation, and zeta potential measurements). The mean diameter of all nanoparticles is around 10 nm. The impact of each nanopowder on hemolysis, platelet aggregation, and coagulation has been studied on whole human blood. Hemolysis assays were performed with spectrophotometric measurement and platelet aggregation, with light transmission aggregometry and was compared to Cu/Pt core/shell nanoparticles with similar size as negative control. Calibrated thrombin generation test has been used for a coagulation study. They neither impact platelet aggregation nor hemolysis and have a procoagulant effect whatever their composition (i.e., metal ratio). These results highlight that such nanopowders have a potential use in medical applications (e.g., wound dressing).

Multi-methodological investigation of the variability of the microstructure of HPMC hard capsules.

PubMed

Faulhammer, E; Kovalcik, A; Wahl, V; Markl, D; Stelzer, F; Lawrence, S; Khinast, J G; Paudel, A

2016-09-25

The objective of this study was to analyze differences in the subtle microstructure of three different grades of HMPC hard capsule shells using mechanical, spectroscopic, microscopic and tomographic approaches. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), vibrational spectroscopic, X-Ray scattering techniques as well as environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were used. Two HPMC capsules manufactured via chemical gelling, one capsule shell manufactured via thermal gelling and one thermally gelled transparent capsule were included. Characteristic micro-structural alterations (associated manufacturing processes) such as mechanical and physical properties relevant to capsule performance and processability were thoroughly elucidated with the integration of data obtained from multi-methodological investigations. The physico-chemical and physico-mechanical data obtained from a gamut of techniques implied that thermally gelled HPMC hard capsule shells could offer an advantage in terms of machinability during capsule filling, owing to their superior micro- and macroscopic structure as well as specifically the mechanical stability under dry or humid conditions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fabrication, characterization and gas sensing studies of PPy/MWCNT/SLS nanocomposite

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

Tiwari, D. C., E-mail: dctiwari2001@yahoo.com; Atri, Priyanka, E-mail: dctiwari2001@yahoo.com; Sharma, R.

2014-04-24

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) coated with polypyrrole nanocomposite was prepared by in-situ chemical oxidative polymerization method in the presence of surfactant (SLS). The scanning electron microscope (SEM) pictures indicate the core shell structure of PPy/MWCNT/SLS nanocomposite. Nature of the prepared material was investigated by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy. This nanocomposite shows the excellent gas sensing behaviour for ammonia gas at 150 ppm and 300 ppm levels.

A Method for Quantifying, Visualising, and Analysing Gastropod Shell Form

PubMed Central

Liew, Thor-Seng; Schilthuizen, Menno

2016-01-01

Quantitative analysis of organismal form is an important component for almost every branch of biology. Although generally considered an easily-measurable structure, the quantification of gastropod shell form is still a challenge because many shells lack homologous structures and have a spiral form that is difficult to capture with linear measurements. In view of this, we adopt the idea of theoretical modelling of shell form, in which the shell form is the product of aperture ontogeny profiles in terms of aperture growth trajectory that is quantified as curvature and torsion, and of aperture form that is represented by size and shape. We develop a workflow for the analysis of shell forms based on the aperture ontogeny profile, starting from the procedure of data preparation (retopologising the shell model), via data acquisition (calculation of aperture growth trajectory, aperture form and ontogeny axis), and data presentation (qualitative comparison between shell forms) and ending with data analysis (quantitative comparison between shell forms). We evaluate our methods on representative shells of the genera Opisthostoma and Plectostoma, which exhibit great variability in shell form. The outcome suggests that our method is a robust, reproducible, and versatile approach for the analysis of shell form. Finally, we propose several potential applications of our methods in functional morphology, theoretical modelling, taxonomy, and evolutionary biology. PMID:27280463

A shell-neutral modeling approach yields sustainable oyster harvest estimates: a retrospective analysis of the Louisiana state primary seed grounds

USGS Publications Warehouse

Soniat, Thomas M.; Klinck, John M.; Powell, Eric N.; Cooper, Nathan; Abdelguerfi, Mahdi; Hofmann, Eileen E.; Dahal, Janak; Tu, Shengru; Finigan, John; Eberline, Benjamin S.; La Peyre, Jerome F.; LaPeyre, Megan K.; Qaddoura, Fareed

2012-01-01

A numerical model is presented that defines a sustainability criterion as no net loss of shell, and calculates a sustainable harvest of seed (<75 mm) and sack or market oysters (≥75 mm). Stock assessments of the Primary State Seed Grounds conducted east of the Mississippi from 2009 to 2011 show a general trend toward decreasing abundance of sack and seed oysters. Retrospective simulations provide estimates of annual sustainable harvests. Comparisons of simulated sustainable harvests with actual harvests show a trend toward unsustainable harvests toward the end of the time series. Stock assessments combined with shell-neutral models can be used to estimate sustainable harvest and manage cultch through shell planting when actual harvest exceeds sustainable harvest. For exclusive restoration efforts (no fishing allowed), the model provides a metric for restoration success-namely, shell accretion. Oyster fisheries that remove shell versus reef restorations that promote shell accretion, although divergent in their goals, are convergent in their management; both require vigilant attention to shell budgets.

Operator evolution for ab initio electric dipole transitions of 4He

DOE PAGES

Schuster, Micah D.; Quaglioni, Sofia; Johnson, Calvin W.; ...

2015-07-24

A goal of nuclear theory is to make quantitative predictions of low-energy nuclear observables starting from accurate microscopic internucleon forces. A major element of such an effort is applying unitary transformations to soften the nuclear Hamiltonian and hence accelerate the convergence of ab initio calculations as a function of the model space size. The consistent simultaneous transformation of external operators, however, has been overlooked in applications of the theory, particularly for nonscalar transitions. We study the evolution of the electric dipole operator in the framework of the similarity renormalization group method and apply the renormalized matrix elements to the calculationmore » of the 4He total photoabsorption cross section and electric dipole polarizability. All observables are calculated within the ab initio no-core shell model. Furthermore, we find that, although seemingly small, the effects of evolved operators on the photoabsorption cross section are comparable in magnitude to the correction produced by including the chiral three-nucleon force and cannot be neglected.« less

Characterization of Dielectric Nanocomposites with Electrostatic Force Microscopy

PubMed Central

El Khoury, D.; Fedorenko, V.; Castellon, J.; Laurentie, J.-C.; Fréchette, M.; Ramonda, M.

2017-01-01

Nanocomposites physical properties unexplainable by general mixture laws are usually supposed to be related to interphases, highly present at the nanoscale. The intrinsic dielectric constant of the interphase and its volume need to be considered in the prediction of the effective permittivity of nanodielectrics, for example. The electrostatic force microscope (EFM) constitutes a promising technique to probe interphases locally. This work reports theoretical finite-elements simulations and experimental measurements to interpret EFM signals in front of nanocomposites with the aim of detecting and characterizing interphases. According to simulations, we designed and synthesized appropriate samples to verify experimentally the ability of EFM to characterize a nanoshell covering nanoparticles, for different shell thicknesses. This type of samples constitutes a simplified electrostatic model of a nanodielectric. Experiments were conducted using either DC or AC-EFM polarization, with force gradient detection method. A comparison between our numerical model and experimental results was performed in order to validate our predictions for general EFM-interphase interactions. PMID:29109811

Open source integrated modeling environment Delta Shell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donchyts, G.; Baart, F.; Jagers, B.; van Putten, H.

2012-04-01

In the last decade, integrated modelling has become a very popular topic in environmental modelling since it helps solving problems, which is difficult to model using a single model. However, managing complexity of integrated models and minimizing time required for their setup remains a challenging task. The integrated modelling environment Delta Shell simplifies this task. The software components of Delta Shell are easy to reuse separately from each other as well as a part of integrated environment that can run in a command-line or a graphical user interface mode. The most components of the Delta Shell are developed using C# programming language and include libraries used to define, save and visualize various scientific data structures as well as coupled model configurations. Here we present two examples showing how Delta Shell simplifies process of setting up integrated models from the end user and developer perspectives. The first example shows coupling of a rainfall-runoff, a river flow and a run-time control models. The second example shows how coastal morphological database integrates with the coastal morphological model (XBeach) and a custom nourishment designer. Delta Shell is also available as open-source software released under LGPL license and accessible via http://oss.deltares.nl.

A novel fabrication of Cu{sub 2}O@Cu{sub 7}S{sub 4} core-shell micro/nanocrystals from Cu{sub 2}O temples and enhanced photocatalytic activities

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

Li, Junqi, E-mail: sfmlab@163.com; Sun, Long; Yan, Ying

2016-08-15

Highlights: • The Cu{sub 2}O@Cu{sub 7}S{sub 4} core-shell crystals maintained the same morphology with template. • The crystals exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity than the pure Cu{sub 2}O crystals. • The photocatalytic activity of different R crystals is diverse from each other. • A possible formation mechanism has been proposed. - Abstract: Uniform and monodispersed Cu{sub 2}O@Cu{sub 7}S{sub 4} core-shell micro/nanocrystals have been synthesized successfully at room temperature via a simple chemical etching reaction, using Cu{sub 2}O as sacrificial template. The structure and properties of the crystals were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM),more » X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). The photocatalytic activity of the Cu{sub 2}O@Cu{sub 7}S{sub 4} crystals was evaluated by photocatalytic decolorization of MeO (methyl orange) aqueous solution at ambient temperature under visible-light irradiation. The results show that the as-prepared Cu{sub 2}O@Cu{sub 7}S{sub 4} crystals revealed core-shell structure, which maintained the same morphology with corresponding template and were composed of cuboctahedron Cu{sub 7}S{sub 4} shell and active Cu{sub 2}O core. Due to the unique Cu{sub 2}O@Cu{sub 7}S{sub 4} core-shell structure, the crystals exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity than that of the pure Cu{sub 2}O crystals, and the photocatalytic activity of different R crystals is diverse from each other. A possible formation mechanism has been proposed.« less

Single-step synthesis of Er3+ and Yb3+ ions doped molybdate/Gd2O3 core-shell nanoparticles for biomedical imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamińska, Izabela; Elbaum, Danek; Sikora, Bożena; Kowalik, Przemysław; Mikulski, Jakub; Felcyn, Zofia; Samol, Piotr; Wojciechowski, Tomasz; Minikayev, Roman; Paszkowicz, Wojciech; Zaleszczyk, Wojciech; Szewczyk, Maciej; Konopka, Anna; Gruzeł, Grzegorz; Pawlyta, Mirosława; Donten, Mikołaj; Ciszak, Kamil; Zajdel, Karolina; Frontczak-Baniewicz, Małgorzata; Stępień, Piotr; Łapiński, Mariusz; Wilczyński, Grzegorz; Fronc, Krzysztof

2018-01-01

Nanostructures as color-tunable luminescent markers have become major, promising tools for bioimaging and biosensing. In this paper separated molybdate/Gd2O3 doped rare earth ions (erbium, Er3+ and ytterbium, Yb3+) core-shell nanoparticles (NPs), were fabricated by a one-step homogeneous precipitation process. Emission properties were studied by cathodo- and photoluminescence. Scanning electron and transmission electron microscopes were used to visualize and determine the size and shape of the NPs. Spherical NPs were obtained. Their core-shell structures were confirmed by x-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy measurements. We postulated that the molybdate rich core is formed due to high segregation coefficient of the Mo ion during the precipitation. The calcination process resulted in crystallization of δ/ξ (core/shell) NP doped Er and Yb ions, where δ—gadolinium molybdates and ξ—molybdates or gadolinium oxide. We confirmed two different upconversion mechanisms. In the presence of molybdenum ions, in the core of the NPs, Yb3+-{{{{MoO}}}4}2- (∣2F7/2, 3T2〉) dimers were formed. As a result of a two 980 nm photon absorption by the dimer, we observed enhanced green luminescence in the upconversion process. However, for the shell formed by the Gd2O3:Er, Yb NPs (without the Mo ions), the typical energy transfer upconversion takes place, which results in red luminescence. We demonstrated that the NPs were transported into cytosol of the HeLa and astrocytes cells by endocytosis. The core-shell NPs are sensitive sensors for the environment prevailing inside (shorter luminescence decay) and outside (longer luminescence decay) of the tested cells. The toxicity of the NPs was examined using MTT assay.

Direct observation of the core/double-shell architecture of intense dual-mode luminescent tetragonal bipyramidal nanophosphors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Su Yeon; Jeong, Jong Seok; Mkhoyan, K. Andre; Jang, Ho Seong

2016-05-01

Highly efficient downconversion (DC) green-emitting LiYF4:Ce,Tb nanophosphors have been synthesized for bright dual-mode upconversion (UC) and DC green-emitting core/double-shell (C/D-S) nanophosphors--Li(Gd,Y)F4:Yb(18%),Er(2%)/LiYF4:Ce(15%),Tb(15%)/LiYF4--and the C/D-S structure has been proved by extensive scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) analysis. Colloidal LiYF4:Ce,Tb nanophosphors with a tetragonal bipyramidal shape are synthesized for the first time and they show intense DC green light via energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ under illumination with ultraviolet (UV) light. The LiYF4:Ce,Tb nanophosphors show 65 times higher photoluminescence intensity than LiYF4:Tb nanophosphors under illumination with UV light and the LiYF4:Ce,Tb is adapted into a luminescent shell of the tetragonal bipyramidal C/D-S nanophosphors. The formation of the DC shell on the core significantly enhances UC luminescence from the UC core under irradiation of near infrared light and concurrently generates DC luminescence from the core/shell nanophosphors under UV light. Coating with an inert inorganic shell further enhances the UC-DC dual-mode luminescence by suppressing the surface quenching effect. The C/D-S nanophosphors show 3.8% UC quantum efficiency (QE) at 239 W cm-2 and 73.0 +/- 0.1% DC QE. The designed C/D-S architecture in tetragonal bipyramidal nanophosphors is rigorously verified by an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, with the assistance of line profile simulation, using an aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope equipped with a high-efficiency EDX. The feasibility of these C/D-S nanophosphors for transparent display devices is also considered.Highly efficient downconversion (DC) green-emitting LiYF4:Ce,Tb nanophosphors have been synthesized for bright dual-mode upconversion (UC) and DC green-emitting core/double-shell (C/D-S) nanophosphors--Li(Gd,Y)F4:Yb(18%),Er(2%)/LiYF4:Ce(15%),Tb(15%)/LiYF4--and the C/D-S structure has been proved by extensive scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) analysis. Colloidal LiYF4:Ce,Tb nanophosphors with a tetragonal bipyramidal shape are synthesized for the first time and they show intense DC green light via energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ under illumination with ultraviolet (UV) light. The LiYF4:Ce,Tb nanophosphors show 65 times higher photoluminescence intensity than LiYF4:Tb nanophosphors under illumination with UV light and the LiYF4:Ce,Tb is adapted into a luminescent shell of the tetragonal bipyramidal C/D-S nanophosphors. The formation of the DC shell on the core significantly enhances UC luminescence from the UC core under irradiation of near infrared light and concurrently generates DC luminescence from the core/shell nanophosphors under UV light. Coating with an inert inorganic shell further enhances the UC-DC dual-mode luminescence by suppressing the surface quenching effect. The C/D-S nanophosphors show 3.8% UC quantum efficiency (QE) at 239 W cm-2 and 73.0 +/- 0.1% DC QE. The designed C/D-S architecture in tetragonal bipyramidal nanophosphors is rigorously verified by an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, with the assistance of line profile simulation, using an aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope equipped with a high-efficiency EDX. The feasibility of these C/D-S nanophosphors for transparent display devices is also considered. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: XRD patterns, PL and PLE spectra, SEM and HR-TEM images, PL decay times, photographs showing the transparent nanophosphor solutions and their dual-mode luminescence, and additional EDX data. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr05722a

Influence of corneal thickness on the intraocular pressure readings for Maklakoff's tonometer of different weight

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Franus, D. V.

2018-05-01

Research is conducted into variation in the stress-strain state of the corneoscleral shell of the human eye under loading by a flat base stamp of varying weight. A three-dimensional finite-element model of the contact problem of loading of the corneoscleral shell in the ANSYS program package is presented. Cornea and sclera are modeled as conjugated transversely isotropic spherical shells. The cornea is modeled as a multilayer shell with variable thickness in which all modeled layers have their own individual elastic properties. The research deals with the numerical calculation of the diameter of the contact zone between the shell and the stamp. Values of correction coefficients for intraocular pressure are obtained depending on the thickness of the corneal shell in its center, allowing the true intraocular pressure to be determined more accurately.

Glass shell manufacturing in space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Downs, R. L.; Ebner, M. A.; Nolen, R. L., Jr.

1981-01-01

Highly-uniform, hollow glass spheres (shells), which are used for inertial confinement fusion targets, were formed from metal-organic gel powder feedstock in a vertical furnace. As a result of the rapid pyrolysis caused by the furnace, the gel is transformed to a shell in five distinct stages: (a) surface closure of the porous gel; (b) generation of a closed-cell foam structure in the gel; (c) spheridization of the gel and further expansion of the foam; (d) coalescence of the closed-cell foam to a single-void shell; and (e) fining of the glass shell. The heat transfer from the furnace to the falling gel particle was modeled to determine the effective heating rate of the gel. The model predicts the temperature history for a particle as a function of mass, dimensions, specific heat, and absorptance as well as furnace temperature profile and thermal conductivity of the furnace gas. A model was developed that predicts the gravity-induced degradation of shell concentricity in falling molten shells as a function of shell characteristics and time.

nth-Nearest-neighbor distribution functions of an interacting fluid from the pair correlation function: a hierarchical approach.

PubMed

Bhattacharjee, Biplab

2003-04-01

The paper presents a general formalism for the nth-nearest-neighbor distribution (NND) of identical interacting particles in a fluid confined in a nu-dimensional space. The nth-NND functions, W(n,r) (for n=1,2,3, em leader) in a fluid are obtained hierarchically in terms of the pair correlation function and W(n-1,r) alone. The radial distribution function (RDF) profiles obtained from the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of Lennard-Jones (LJ) fluid is used to illustrate the results. It is demonstrated that the collective structural information contained in the maxima and minima of the RDF profiles being resolved in terms of individual NND functions may provide more insights about the microscopic neighborhood structure around a reference particle in a fluid. Representative comparison between the results obtained from the formalism and the MD simulation data shows good agreement. Apart from the quantities such as nth-NND functions and nth-nearest-neighbor distances, the average neighbor population number is defined. These quantities are evaluated for the LJ model system and interesting density dependence of the microscopic neighborhood shell structures are discussed in terms of them. The relevance of the NND functions in various phenomena is also pointed out.

nth-nearest-neighbor distribution functions of an interacting fluid from the pair correlation function: A hierarchical approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhattacharjee, Biplab

2003-04-01

The paper presents a general formalism for the nth-nearest-neighbor distribution (NND) of identical interacting particles in a fluid confined in a ν-dimensional space. The nth-NND functions, W(n,r¯) (for n=1,2,3,…) in a fluid are obtained hierarchically in terms of the pair correlation function and W(n-1,r¯) alone. The radial distribution function (RDF) profiles obtained from the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of Lennard-Jones (LJ) fluid is used to illustrate the results. It is demonstrated that the collective structural information contained in the maxima and minima of the RDF profiles being resolved in terms of individual NND functions may provide more insights about the microscopic neighborhood structure around a reference particle in a fluid. Representative comparison between the results obtained from the formalism and the MD simulation data shows good agreement. Apart from the quantities such as nth-NND functions and nth-nearest-neighbor distances, the average neighbor population number is defined. These quantities are evaluated for the LJ model system and interesting density dependence of the microscopic neighborhood shell structures are discussed in terms of them. The relevance of the NND functions in various phenomena is also pointed out.

New calculations of gross β-decay properties for astrophysical applications: Speeding-up the classical r process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Möller, Peter; Pfeiffer, Bernd; Kratz, Karl-Ludwig

2003-05-01

Recent compilations of experimental gross β-decay properties, i.e., half-lives (T1/2) and neutron-emission probabilities (Pn), are compared to improved global macroscopic-microscopic model predictions. The model combines calculations within the quasiparticle (QP) random-phase approximation for the Gamow-Teller (GT) part with an empirical spreading of the QP strength and the gross theory for the first-forbidden part of β- decay. Nuclear masses are either taken from the 1995 data compilation of Audi et al., when available, otherwise from the finite-range droplet model. Especially for spherical and neutron-(sub-)magic isotopes a considerable improvement compared to our earlier predictions for pure GT decay (ADNDT, 1997) is observed. T1/2 and Pn values up to the neutron drip line have been used in r-process calculations within the classical “waiting-point” approximation. With the new nuclear-physics input, a considerable speeding-up of the r-matter flow is observed, in particular at those r-abundance peaks which are related to magic neutron-shell closures.

A simple model for research interest evolution patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jia, Tao; Wang, Dashun; Szymanski, Boleslaw

Sir Isaac Newton supposedly remarked that in his scientific career he was like ``...a boy playing on the sea-shore ...finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary''. His remarkable modesty and famous understatement motivate us to seek regularities in how scientists shift their research focus as the career develops. Indeed, despite intensive investigations on how microscopic factors, such as incentives and risks, would influence a scientist's choice of research agenda, little is known on the macroscopic patterns in the research interest change undertaken by individual scientists throughout their careers. Here we make use of over 14,000 authors' publication records in physics. By quantifying statistical characteristics in the interest evolution, we model scientific research as a random walk, which reproduces patterns in individuals' careers observed empirically. Despite myriad of factors that shape and influence individual choices of research subjects, we identified regularities in this dynamical process that are well captured by a simple statistical model. The results advance our understanding of scientists' behaviors during their careers and open up avenues for future studies in the science of science.

Interplay between collective and single particle excitations around neutron-rich doubly-magic nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leoni, S.

2016-05-01

The excitation spectra of nuclei with one or two particles outside a doubly-magic core are expected to be dominated, at low energy, by the couplings between phonon excitations of the core and valence particles. A survey of the experimental situation is given for some nuclei lying in close proximity of neutron-rich doubly-magic systems, such as 47,49Ca, 133Sb and 210Bi. Data are obtained with various types of reactions (multinucleon transfer with heavy ions, cold neutron capture and neutron induced fission of 235U and 241Pu targets), with the employment of complex detection systems based on HPGe arrays. A comparison with theoretical calculations is also presented, in terms of large shell model calculations and of a phenomenological particle-phonon model. In the case of 133Sb, a new microscopic "hybrid" model is introduced: it is based on the coupling between core excitations (both collective and non-collective) of the doubly-magic core and the valence nucleon, using the Skyrme effective interaction in a consistent way.

Isothermal Circumstellar Dust Shell Model for Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robinson, G.; Towers, I. N.; Jovanoski, Z.

2009-01-01

We introduce a model of radiative transfer in circumstellar dust shells. By assuming that the shell is both isothermal and its thickness is small compared to its radius, the model is simple enough for students to grasp and yet still provides a quantitative description of the relevant physical features. The isothermal model can be used in a…

On the influence of lipid-induced optical anisotropy for the bioimaging of exo- or endocytosis with interference microscopic imaging.

PubMed

Marques, D; Miranda, A; Silva, A G; Munro, P R T; DE Beule, P A A

2018-05-01

Some implementations of interference microscopy imaging use digital holographic measurements of complex scattered fields to reconstruct three-dimensional refractive index maps of weakly scattering, semi-transparent objects, frequently encountered in biological investigations. Reconstruction occurs through application of the object scattering potential which assumes an isotropic refractive index throughout the object. Here, we demonstrate that this assumption can in some circumstances be invalid for biological imaging due to the presence of lipid-induced optical anisotropy. We show that the nanoscale organization of lipids in the observation of cellular endocytosis with polarized light induces a significant change in far-field scattering. We obtain this result by presenting a general solution to Maxwell's equations describing light scattering of core-shell particles near an isotropic substrate covered with an anisotropic thin film. This solution is based on an extension of the Bobbert-Vlieger solution for particle scattering near a substrate delivering an exact solution to the scattering problem in the near field as well as far field. By applying this solution to study light scattering by a lipid vesicle near a lipid bilayer, whereby the lipids are represented through a biaxial optical model, we conclude through ellipsometry concepts that effective amounts of lipid-induced optical anisotropy significantly alter far-field optical scattering in respect to an equivalent optical model that neglects the presence of optical anisotropy. © 2018 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2018 Royal Microscopical Society.

Geodynamic Modeling of Planetary Ice-Oceans: Evolution of Ice-Shell Thickness in Convecting Two-Phase Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allu Peddinti, D.; McNamara, A. K.

2016-12-01

Along with the newly unveiled icy surface of Pluto, several icy planetary bodies show indications of an active surface perhaps underlain by liquid oceans of some size. This augments the interest to explore the evolution of an ice-ocean system and its surface implications. The geologically young surface of the Jovian moon Europa lends much speculation to variations in ice-shell thickness over time. Along with the observed surface features, it suggests the possibility of episodic convection and conduction within the ice-shell as it evolved. What factors would control the growth of the ice-shell as it forms? If and how would those factors determine the thickness of the ice-shell and consequently the heat transfer? Would parameters such as tidal heating or initial temperature affect how the ice-shell grows and to what significance? We perform numerical experiments using geodynamical models of the two-phase ice-water system to study the evolution of planetary ice-oceans such as that of Europa. The models evolve self-consistently from an initial liquid ocean as it cools with time. The effects of presence, absence and magnitude of tidal heating on ice-shell thickness are studied in different models. The vigor of convection changes as the ice-shell continues to thicken. Initial modeling results track changes in the growth rate of the ice-shell as the vigor of the convection changes. The magnitude and temporal location of the rate change varies with different properties of tidal heating and values of initial temperature. A comparative study of models is presented to demonstrate how as the ice-shell is forming, its growth rate and convection are affected by processes such as tidal heating.

Production of palm kernel shell-based activated carbon by direct physical activation for carbon dioxide adsorption.

PubMed

Rashidi, Nor Adilla; Yusup, Suzana

2018-05-09

The feasibility of biomass-based activated carbons has received a huge attention due to their excellent characteristics such as inexpensiveness, good adsorption behaviour and potential to reduce a strong dependency towards non-renewable precursors. Therefore, in this research work, eco-friendly activated carbon from palm kernel shell that has been produced from one-stage physical activation by using the Box-Behnken design of Response Surface Methodology is highlighted. The effect of three input parameters-temperature, dwell time and gas flow rate-towards product yield and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) uptake at room temperature and atmospheric pressure are studied. Model accuracy has been evaluated through the ANOVA analysis and lack-of-fit test. Accordingly, the optimum condition in synthesising the activated carbon with adequate CO 2 adsorption capacity of 2.13 mmol/g and product yield of 25.15 wt% is found at a temperature of 850 °C, holding time of 60 min and CO 2 flow rate of 450 cm 3 /min. The synthesised activated carbon has been characterised by diverse analytical instruments including thermogravimetric analyser, scanning electron microscope, as well as N 2 adsorption-desorption isotherm. The characterisation analysis indicates that the synthesised activated carbon has higher textural characteristics and porosity, together with better thermal stability and carbon content as compared to pristine palm kernel shell. Activated carbon production via one-step activation approach is economical since its carbon yield is within the industrial target, whereas CO 2 uptake is comparable to the synthesised activated carbon from conventional dual-stage activation, commercial activated carbon and other published data from literature.

Finite Rotation Analysis of Highly Thin and Flexible Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clarke, Greg V.; Lee, Keejoo; Lee, Sung W.; Broduer, Stephen J. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Deployable space structures such as sunshields and solar sails are extremely thin and highly flexible with limited bending rigidity. For analytical investigation of their responses during deployment and operation in space, these structures can be modeled as thin shells. The present work examines the applicability of the solid shell element formulation to modeling of deployable space structures. The solid shell element formulation that models a shell as a three-dimensional solid is convenient in that no rotational parameters are needed for the description of kinematics of deformation. However, shell elements may suffer from element locking as the thickness becomes smaller unless special care is taken. It is shown that, when combined with the assumed strain formulation, the solid shell element formulation results in finite element models that are free of locking even for extremely thin structures. Accordingly, they can be used for analysis of highly flexible space structures undergoing geometrically nonlinear finite rotations.

Enteric-coated sustained-release nanoparticles by coaxial electrospray: preparation, characterization, and in vitro evaluation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, Shilei; Wang, Bochu; Wang, Yazhou; Xu, Yingqian

2014-02-01

Enteric-coated formulations can delay the release of drugs until they have passed through the stomach. However, high concentration of drugs caused by rapidly released in the small intestine leads to the intestinal damage, and frequent administration would increase the probability of missing medication and reduce the patient compliance. To solve the above-mentioned problems, aspirin-loaded enteric-coated sustained-release nanoparticles with core-shell structure were prepared via one-step method using coaxial electrospray in this study. Eudragit L100-55 as pH-sensitive polymer and Eudragit RS as sustained-release polymer were used for the outer coating and inner core of the nanoparticles, respectively. The maximum loading capacity of nanoparticles was 23.66 % by changing the flow rate ratio of outer/inner solutions, and the entrapment efficiency was nearly 100 %. Nanoparticles with core-shell structure were observed via fluorescence microscope and transmission electron microscope. And pH-sensitive and sustained drug release profiles were observed in the media with different pH values (1.2 and 6.8). In addition, mild cytotoxicity in vitro was detected, and the nanoparticles could be taken up by Caco-2 cells within 1.0 h in cellular uptake study. These results indicate that prepared enteric-coated sustained-release nanoparticles would be a more safety and effective carrier for oral drug delivery.

Bright-field electron tomography of individual inorganic fullerene-like structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bar Sadan, Maya; Wolf, Sharon G.; Houben, Lothar

2010-03-01

Nanotubes and fullerene-like nanoparticles of various inorganic layered compounds have been studied extensively in recent years. Their characterisation on the atomic scale has proven essential for progress in synthesis as well as for the theoretical modelling of their physical properties. We show that with electron tomography it is possible to achieve a reliable reconstruction of the 3D structure of nested WS2 or MoS2 fullerene-like and nanotube structures with sub-nanometre resolution using electron microscopes that are not aberration-corrected. Model-based simulations were used to identify imaging parameters, under which structural features such as the shell structure can be retained in the tomogram reconstructed from bright-field micrographs. The isolation of a particle out of an agglomerate for the analysis of a single structure and its interconnection with other particles is facilitated through the tomograms. The internal structure of the layers within the particle alongside the shape and content of its internal void are reconstructed. The tomographic reconstruction yields insights regarding the growth process as well as structural defects, such as non-continuous layers, which relate to the lubrication properties.Nanotubes and fullerene-like nanoparticles of various inorganic layered compounds have been studied extensively in recent years. Their characterisation on the atomic scale has proven essential for progress in synthesis as well as for the theoretical modelling of their physical properties. We show that with electron tomography it is possible to achieve a reliable reconstruction of the 3D structure of nested WS2 or MoS2 fullerene-like and nanotube structures with sub-nanometre resolution using electron microscopes that are not aberration-corrected. Model-based simulations were used to identify imaging parameters, under which structural features such as the shell structure can be retained in the tomogram reconstructed from bright-field micrographs. The isolation of a particle out of an agglomerate for the analysis of a single structure and its interconnection with other particles is facilitated through the tomograms. The internal structure of the layers within the particle alongside the shape and content of its internal void are reconstructed. The tomographic reconstruction yields insights regarding the growth process as well as structural defects, such as non-continuous layers, which relate to the lubrication properties. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Figs. S1 and S2 and movies S1-S6. See DOI: 10.1039/b9nr00251k

Modeling of nonlinear viscous stress in encapsulating shells of lipid-coated contrast agent microbubbles.

PubMed

Doinikov, Alexander A; Haac, Jillian F; Dayton, Paul A

2009-02-01

A general theoretical approach to the development of zero-thickness encapsulation models for contrast microbubbles is proposed. The approach describes a procedure that allows one to recast available rheological laws from the bulk form to a surface form which is used in a modified Rayleigh-Plesset equation governing the radial dynamics of a contrast microbubble. By the use of the proposed procedure, the testing of different rheological laws for encapsulation can be carried out. Challenges of existing shell models for lipid-encapsulated microbubbles, such as the dependence of shell parameters on the initial bubble radius and the "compression-only" behavior, are discussed. Analysis of the rheological behavior of lipid encapsulation is made by using experimental radius-time curves for lipid-coated microbubbles with radii in the range 1.2-2.5 microm. The curves were acquired for a research phospholipid-coated contrast agent insonified with a 20 cycle, 3.0 MHz, 100 kPa acoustic pulse. The fitting of the experimental data by a model which treats the shell as a viscoelastic solid gives the values of the shell surface viscosity increasing from 0.30 x 10(-8) kg/s to 2.63 x 10(-8) kg/s for the range of bubble radii, indicated above. The shell surface elastic modulus increases from 0.054 N/m to 0.37 N/m. It is proposed that this increase may be a result of the lipid coating possessing the properties of both a shear-thinning and a strain-softening material. We hypothesize that these complicated rheological properties do not allow the existing shell models to satisfactorily describe the dynamics of lipid encapsulation. In the existing shell models, the viscous and the elastic shell terms have the linear form which assumes that the viscous and the elastic stresses acting inside the lipid shell are proportional to the shell shear rate and the shell strain, respectively, with constant coefficients of proportionality. The analysis performed in the present paper suggests that a more general, nonlinear theory may be more appropriate. It is shown that the use of the nonlinear theory for shell viscosity allows one to model the "compression-only" behavior. As an example, the results of the simulation for a 2.03 microm radius bubble insonified with a 6 cycle, 1.8 MHz, 100 kPa acoustic pulse are given. These parameters correspond to the acoustic conditions under which the "compression-only" behavior was observed by de Jong et al. [Ultrasound Med. Biol. 33 (2007) 653-656]. It is also shown that the use of the Cross law for the modeling of the shear-thinning behavior of shell viscosity reduces the variance of experimentally estimated values of the shell viscosity and its dependence on the initial bubble radius.

Verification of Orthogrid Finite Element Modeling Techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Steeve, B. E.

1996-01-01

The stress analysis of orthogrid structures, specifically with I-beam sections, is regularly performed using finite elements. Various modeling techniques are often used to simplify the modeling process but still adequately capture the actual hardware behavior. The accuracy of such 'Oshort cutso' is sometimes in question. This report compares three modeling techniques to actual test results from a loaded orthogrid panel. The finite element models include a beam, shell, and mixed beam and shell element model. Results show that the shell element model performs the best, but that the simpler beam and beam and shell element models provide reasonable to conservative results for a stress analysis. When deflection and stiffness is critical, it is important to capture the effect of the orthogrid nodes in the model.

A new multi-layer approach for progressive damage simulation in composite laminates based on isogeometric analysis and Kirchhoff-Love shells. Part II: impact modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pigazzini, M. S.; Bazilevs, Y.; Ellison, A.; Kim, H.

2017-11-01

In this two-part paper we introduce a new formulation for modeling progressive damage in laminated composite structures. We adopt a multi-layer modeling approach, based on isogeometric analysis, where each ply or lamina is represented by a spline surface, and modeled as a Kirchhoff-Love thin shell. Continuum damage mechanics is used to model intralaminar damage, and a new zero-thickness cohesive-interface formulation is introduced to model delamination as well as permitting laminate-level transverse shear compliance. In Part I of this series we focus on the presentation of the modeling framework, validation of the framework using standard Mode I and Mode II delamination tests, and assessment of its suitability for modeling thick laminates. In Part II of this series we focus on the application of the proposed framework to modeling and simulation of damage in composite laminates resulting from impact. The proposed approach has significant accuracy and efficiency advantages over existing methods for modeling impact damage. These stem from the use of IGA-based Kirchhoff-Love shells to represent the individual plies of the composite laminate, while the compliant cohesive interfaces enable transverse shear deformation of the laminate. Kirchhoff-Love shells give a faithful representation of the ply deformation behavior, and, unlike solids or traditional shear-deformable shells, do not suffer from transverse-shear locking in the limit of vanishing thickness. This, in combination with higher-order accurate and smooth representation of the shell midsurface displacement field, allows us to adopt relatively coarse in-plane discretizations without sacrificing solution accuracy. Furthermore, the thin-shell formulation employed does not use rotational degrees of freedom, which gives additional efficiency benefits relative to more standard shell formulations.

A new multi-layer approach for progressive damage simulation in composite laminates based on isogeometric analysis and Kirchhoff-Love shells. Part I: basic theory and modeling of delamination and transverse shear

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bazilevs, Y.; Pigazzini, M. S.; Ellison, A.; Kim, H.

2017-11-01

In this two-part paper we introduce a new formulation for modeling progressive damage in laminated composite structures. We adopt a multi-layer modeling approach, based on Isogeometric Analysis (IGA), where each ply or lamina is represented by a spline surface, and modeled as a Kirchhoff-Love thin shell. Continuum Damage Mechanics is used to model intralaminar damage, and a new zero-thickness cohesive-interface formulation is introduced to model delamination as well as permitting laminate-level transverse shear compliance. In Part I of this series we focus on the presentation of the modeling framework, validation of the framework using standard Mode I and Mode II delamination tests, and assessment of its suitability for modeling thick laminates. In Part II of this series we focus on the application of the proposed framework to modeling and simulation of damage in composite laminates resulting from impact. The proposed approach has significant accuracy and efficiency advantages over existing methods for modeling impact damage. These stem from the use of IGA-based Kirchhoff-Love shells to represent the individual plies of the composite laminate, while the compliant cohesive interfaces enable transverse shear deformation of the laminate. Kirchhoff-Love shells give a faithful representation of the ply deformation behavior, and, unlike solids or traditional shear-deformable shells, do not suffer from transverse-shear locking in the limit of vanishing thickness. This, in combination with higher-order accurate and smooth representation of the shell midsurface displacement field, allows us to adopt relatively coarse in-plane discretizations without sacrificing solution accuracy. Furthermore, the thin-shell formulation employed does not use rotational degrees of freedom, which gives additional efficiency benefits relative to more standard shell formulations.

Use of Almond Shells and Rice Husk as Fillers of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA) Composites

PubMed Central

Sabbatini, Alessandra; Lanari, Silvia; Santulli, Carlo

2017-01-01

In recent years, wood fibres have often been applied as the reinforcement of thermoplastic materials, such as polypropylene, whereas their use in combination with thermosetting resin has been less widespread. This study concerns the production of PMMA-based composites by partly replacing alumina trihydrate (ATH) with wood waste fillers, namely rice husks and almond shells, which would otherwise be disposed by incineration. The amount of filler introduced was limited to 10% as regards rice husks and 10 or 15% almond shells, since indications provided by reactivity tests and viscosity measurements did not suggest the feasibility of total replacement of ATH. As a matter of fact, the introduction of these contents of wood waste filler in PMMA-based composite did not result in any significant deterioration of its mechanical properties (Charpy impact, Rockwell M hardness and flexural performance). Some reduction of these properties was only observed in the case of introduction of 15% almond shells. A further issue concerned the yellowing of the organic filler under exposure to UV light. On the other hand, a very limited amount of water was absorbed, never exceeding values around 0.6%, despite the significant porosity revealed by the filler’s microscopic evaluation. These results are particularly interesting in view of the application envisaged for these composites, i.e., wood replacement boards. PMID:28773234

Analysis of Composite Skin-Stiffener Debond Specimens Using a Shell/3D Modeling Technique and Submodeling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

OBrien, T. Kevin (Technical Monitor); Krueger, Ronald; Minguet, Pierre J.

2004-01-01

The application of a shell/3D modeling technique for the simulation of skin/stringer debond in a specimen subjected to tension and three-point bending was studied. The global structure was modeled with shell elements. A local three-dimensional model, extending to about three specimen thicknesses on either side of the delamination front was used to model the details of the damaged section. Computed total strain energy release rates and mixed-mode ratios obtained from shell/3D simulations were in good agreement with results obtained from full solid models. The good correlation of the results demonstrated the effectiveness of the shell/3D modeling technique for the investigation of skin/stiffener separation due to delamination in the adherents. In addition, the application of the submodeling technique for the simulation of skin/stringer debond was also studied. Global models made of shell elements and solid elements were studied. Solid elements were used for local submodels, which extended between three and six specimen thicknesses on either side of the delamination front to model the details of the damaged section. Computed total strain energy release rates and mixed-mode ratios obtained from the simulations using the submodeling technique were not in agreement with results obtained from full solid models.

Optical properties of light absorbing carbon aggregates mixed with sulfate: assessment of different model geometries for climate forcing calculations.

PubMed

Kahnert, Michael; Nousiainen, Timo; Lindqvist, Hannakaisa; Ebert, Martin

2012-04-23

Light scattering by light absorbing carbon (LAC) aggregates encapsulated into sulfate shells is computed by use of the discrete dipole method. Computations are performed for a UV, visible, and IR wavelength, different particle sizes, and volume fractions. Reference computations are compared to three classes of simplified model particles that have been proposed for climate modeling purposes. Neither model matches the reference results sufficiently well. Remarkably, more realistic core-shell geometries fall behind homogeneous mixture models. An extended model based on a core-shell-shell geometry is proposed and tested. Good agreement is found for total optical cross sections and the asymmetry parameter. © 2012 Optical Society of America

Isospin symmetry breaking and large-scale shell-model calculations with the Sakurai-Sugiura method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mizusaki, Takahiro; Kaneko, Kazunari; Sun, Yang; Tazaki, Shigeru

2015-05-01

Recently isospin symmetry breaking for mass 60-70 region has been investigated based on large-scale shell-model calculations in terms of mirror energy differences (MED), Coulomb energy differences (CED) and triplet energy differences (TED). Behind these investigations, we have encountered a subtle problem in numerical calculations for odd-odd N = Z nuclei with large-scale shell-model calculations. Here we focus on how to solve this subtle problem by the Sakurai-Sugiura (SS) method, which has been recently proposed as a new diagonalization method and has been successfully applied to nuclear shell-model calculations.

Monte Carlo simulations of nematic and chiral nematic shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wand, Charlie R.; Bates, Martin A.

2015-01-01

We present a systematic Monte Carlo simulation study of thin nematic and cholesteric shells with planar anchoring using an off-lattice model. The results obtained using the simple model correspond with previously published results for lattice-based systems, with the number, type, and position of defects observed dependent on the shell thickness with four half-strength defects in a tetrahedral arrangement found in very thin shells and a pair of defects in a bipolar (boojum) configuration observed in thicker shells. A third intermediate defect configuration is occasionally observed for intermediate thickness shells, which is stabilized in noncentrosymmetric shells of nonuniform thickness. Chiral nematic (cholesteric) shells are investigated by including a chiral term in the potential. Decreasing the pitch of the chiral nematic leads to a twisted bipolar (chiral boojum) configuration with the director twist increasing from the inner to the outer surface.

Multi-scale coarse-graining of non-conservative interactions in molecular liquids

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

Izvekov, Sergei, E-mail: sergiy.izvyekov.civ@mail.mil; Rice, Betsy M.

2014-03-14

A new bottom-up procedure for constructing non-conservative (dissipative and stochastic) interactions for dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) models is described and applied to perform hierarchical coarse-graining of a polar molecular liquid (nitromethane). The distant-dependent radial and shear frictions in functional-free form are derived consistently with a chosen form for conservative interactions by matching two-body force-velocity and three-body velocity-velocity correlations along the microscopic trajectories of the centroids of Voronoi cells (clusters), which represent the dissipative particles within the DPD description. The Voronoi tessellation is achieved by application of the K-means clustering algorithm at regular time intervals. Consistently with a notion of many-bodymore » DPD, the conservative interactions are determined through the multi-scale coarse-graining (MS-CG) method, which naturally implements a pairwise decomposition of the microscopic free energy. A hierarchy of MS-CG/DPD models starting with one molecule per Voronoi cell and up to 64 molecules per cell is derived. The radial contribution to the friction appears to be dominant for all models. As the Voronoi cell sizes increase, the dissipative forces rapidly become confined to the first coordination shell. For Voronoi cells of two and more molecules the time dependence of the velocity autocorrelation function becomes monotonic and well reproduced by the respective MS-CG/DPD models. A comparative analysis of force and velocity correlations in the atomistic and CG ensembles indicates Markovian behavior with as low as two molecules per dissipative particle. The models with one and two molecules per Voronoi cell yield transport properties (diffusion and shear viscosity) that are in good agreement with the atomistic data. The coarser models produce slower dynamics that can be appreciably attributed to unaccounted dissipation introduced by regular Voronoi re-partitioning as well as by larger numerical errors in mapping out the dissipative forces. The framework presented herein can be used to develop computational models of real liquids which are capable of bridging the atomistic and mesoscopic scales.« less

Quantifying Hydrostatic Pressure in Plant Cells by Using Indentation with an Atomic Force Microscope

PubMed Central

Beauzamy, Léna; Derr, Julien; Boudaoud, Arezki

2015-01-01

Plant cell growth depends on a delicate balance between an inner drive—the hydrostatic pressure known as turgor—and an outer restraint—the polymeric wall that surrounds a cell. The classical technique to measure turgor in a single cell, the pressure probe, is intrusive and cannot be applied to small cells. In order to overcome these limitations, we developed a method that combines quantification of topography, nanoindentation force measurements, and an interpretation using a published mechanical model for the pointlike loading of thin elastic shells. We used atomic force microscopy to estimate the elastic properties of the cell wall and turgor pressure from a single force-depth curve. We applied this method to onion epidermal peels and quantified the response to changes in osmolality of the bathing solution. Overall our approach is accessible and enables a straightforward estimation of the hydrostatic pressure inside a walled cell. PMID:25992723

Thin Shell Model for NIF capsule stagnation studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hammer, J. H.; Buchoff, M.; Brandon, S.; Field, J. E.; Gaffney, J.; Kritcher, A.; Nora, R. C.; Peterson, J. L.; Spears, B.; Springer, P. T.

2015-11-01

We adapt the thin shell model of Ott et al. to asymmetric ICF capsule implosions on NIF. Through much of an implosion, the shell aspect ratio is large so the thin shell approximation is well satisfied. Asymmetric pressure drive is applied using an analytic form for ablation pressure as a function of the x-ray flux, as well as time-dependent 3D drive asymmetry from hohlraum calculations. Since deviations from a sphere are small through peak velocity, we linearize the equations, decompose them by spherical harmonics and solve ODE's for the coefficients. The model gives the shell position, velocity and areal mass variations at the time of peak velocity, near 250 microns radius. The variables are used to initialize 3D rad-hydro calculations with the HYDRA and ARES codes. At link time the cold fuel shell and ablator are each characterized by a density, adiabat and mass. The thickness, position and velocity of each point are taken from the thin shell model. The interior of the shell is filled with a uniform gas density and temperature consistent with the 3/2PV energy found from 1D rad-hydro calculations. 3D linked simulations compare favorably with integrated simulations of the entire implosion. Through generating synthetic diagnostic data, the model offers a method for quickly testing hypothetical sources of asymmetry and comparing with experiment. Prepared by LLNL under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

HR Del REMNANT ANATOMY USING TWO-DIMENSIONAL SPECTRAL DATA AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL PHOTOIONIZATION SHELL MODELS

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

Moraes, Manoel; Diaz, Marcos

2009-12-15

The HR Del nova remnant was observed with the IFU-GMOS at Gemini North. The spatially resolved spectral data cube was used in the kinematic, morphological, and abundance analysis of the ejecta. The line maps show a very clumpy shell with two main symmetric structures. The first one is the outer part of the shell seen in H{alpha}, which forms two rings projected in the sky plane. These ring structures correspond to a closed hourglass shape, first proposed by Harman and O'Brien. The equatorial emission enhancement is caused by the superimposed hourglass structures in the line of sight. The second structuremore » seen only in the [O III] and [N II] maps is located along the polar directions inside the hourglass structure. Abundance gradients between the polar caps and equatorial region were not found. However, the outer part of the shell seems to be less abundant in oxygen and nitrogen than the inner regions. Detailed 2.5-dimensional photoionization modeling of the three-dimensional shell was performed using the mass distribution inferred from the observations and the presence of mass clumps. The resulting model grids are used to constrain the physical properties of the shell as well as the central ionizing source. A sequence of three-dimensional clumpy models including a disk-shaped ionization source is able to reproduce the ionization gradients between polar and equatorial regions of the shell. Differences between shell axial ratios in different lines can also be explained by aspherical illumination. A total shell mass of 9 x 10{sup -4} M {sub sun} is derived from these models. We estimate that 50%-70% of the shell mass is contained in neutral clumps with density contrast up to a factor of 30.« less

Shell effects in a multinucleon transfer process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Long; Wen, Pei-Wei; Lin, Cheng-Jian; Bao, Xiao-Jun; Su, Jun; Li, Cheng; Guo, Chen-Chen

2018-04-01

The shell effects in multinucleon transfer process are investigated in the systems 136Xe + 198Pt and 136Xe + 208Pb within the dinuclear system (DNS) model. The temperature dependence of shell corrections on potential energy surface is taken into account in the DNS model and remarkable improvement for description of experimental data is noticed. The reactions 136Xe + 186W and 150Nd + 186W are also studied. It is found that due to shell effects the projectile 150Nd is more promising for producing transtarget nuclei rather than 136Xe with neutron shell closure.

Modeling of nonlinear viscous stress in encapsulating shells of lipid-coated contrast agent microbubbles

PubMed Central

Doinikov, Alexander A.; Haac, Jillian F.; Dayton, Paul A.

2009-01-01

A general theoretical approach to the development of zero-thickness encapsulation models for contrast microbubbles is proposed. The approach describes a procedure that allows one to recast available rheological laws from the bulk form to a surface form which is used in a modified Rayleigh-Plesset equation governing the radial dynamics of a contrast microbubble. By the use of the proposed procedure, the testing of different rheological laws for encapsulation can be carried out. Challenges of existing shell models for lipid-encapsulated microbubbles, such as the dependence of shell parameters on the initial bubble radius and the “compression-only” behavior, are discussed. Analysis of the rheological behavior of lipid encapsulation is made by using experimental radius-time curves for lipid-coated microbubbles with radii in the range 1.2 – 2.5 μm. The curves were acquired for a research phospholipid-coated contrast agent insonified with a 20-cycle, 3.0 MHz, 100 kPa acoustic pulse. The fitting of the experimental data by a model which treats the shell as a viscoelastic solid gives the values of the shell surface viscosity increasing from 0.30×10-8 kg/s to 2.63×10-8 kg/s for the range of bubble radii indicated above. The shell surface elastic modulus increases from 0.054 N/m to 0.37 N/m. It is proposed that this increase may be a result of the lipid coating possessing the properties of both a shear-thinning and a strain-softening material. We hypothesize that these complicated rheological properties do not allow the existing shell models to satisfactorily describe the dynamics of lipid encapsulation. In the existing shell models, the viscous and the elastic shell terms have the linear form which assumes that the viscous and the elastic stresses acting inside the lipid shell are proportional to the shell shear rate and the shell strain, respectively, with constant coefficients of proportionality. The analysis performed in the present paper suggests that a more general, nonlinear theory may be more appropriate. It is shown that the use of the nonlinear theory for shell viscosity allows one to model the “compression-only” behavior. As an example, the results of the simulation for a 2.03- μm-radius bubble insonified with a 6-cycle, 1.8 MHz, 100 kPa acoustic pulse are given. These parameters correspond to the acoustic conditions under which the “compression-only” behavior was observed by de Jong et al. [Ultrasound Med. Biol. 33 (2007) 653–656]. It is also shown that the use of the Cross law for the modeling of the shear-thinning behavior of shell viscosity reduces the variance of experimentally estimated values of the shell viscosity and its dependence on the initial bubble radius. PMID:18990417

A compact circumstellar shell as the source of high-velocity features in SN 2011fe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mulligan, Brian W.; Wheeler, J. Craig

2018-05-01

High-velocity features (HVFs), especially of Ca II, are frequently seen in Type Ia supernova observed prior to B-band maximum (Bmax). These HVFs evolve in velocity from more than 25 000 km s-1, in the days after first light, to about 18 000 km s-1 near Bmax. To recreate the evolution of the Ca II near-infrared triplet (CaNIR) HVFs in SN 2011fe, we consider the interaction between a model Type Ia supernova and compact circumstellar shells with masses between 0.003 and 0.012 M⊙. We fit the observed CaNIR feature using synthetic spectra generated from the models using SYN++. The CaNIR feature is better explained by the supernova model interacting with a shell than the model without a shell, with a shell of mass 0.005 M⊙ tending to be better fitting than the other shells. The evolution of the optical depth of CaNIR suggests that the ionization state of calcium within the ejecta and shell is not constant. We discuss the method used to measure the observed velocity of CaNIR and other features and conclude that HVFs or other components can be falsely identified. We briefly discuss the possible origin of the shells and the implications for the progenitor system of the supernova.

Inner-shell radiation from wire array implosions on the Zebra generator

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

Ouart, N. D.; Giuliani, J. L.; Dasgupta, A.

2014-03-15

Implosions of brass wire arrays on Zebra have produced L-shell radiation as well as inner-shell Kα and Kβ transitions. The L-shell radiation comes from ionization stages around the Ne-like charge state that is largely populated by a thermal electron energy distribution function, while the K-shell photons are a result of high-energy electrons ionizing or exciting an inner-shell (1s) electron from ionization stages around Ne-like. The K- and L-shell radiations were captured using two time-gated and two axially resolved time-integrated spectrometers. The electron beam was measured using a Faraday cup. A multi-zone non-local thermodynamic equilibrium pinch model with radiation transport ismore » used to model the x-ray emission from experiments for the purpose of obtaining plasma conditions. These plasma conditions are used to discuss some properties of the electron beam generated by runaway electrons. A simple model for runaway electrons is examined to produce the Kα radiation, but it is found to be insufficient.« less

Collisionless shock formation, spontaneous electromagnetic fluctuations, and streaming instabilities

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

Bret, A.; Instituto de Investigaciones Energeticas y Aplicaciones Industriales, Campus Universitario de Ciudad Real, 13071 Ciudad Real; Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, MS-51 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

2013-04-15

Collisionless shocks are ubiquitous in astrophysics and in the lab. Recent numerical simulations and experiments have shown how they can arise from the encounter of two collisionless plasma shells. When the shells interpenetrate, the overlapping region turns unstable, triggering the shock formation. As a first step towards a microscopic understanding of the process, we analyze here in detail the initial instability phase. On the one hand, 2D relativistic Particle-In-Cell simulations are performed where two symmetric initially cold pair plasmas collide. On the other hand, the instabilities at work are analyzed, as well as the field at saturation and the seedmore » field which gets amplified. For mildly relativistic motions and onward, Weibel modes govern the linear phase. We derive an expression for the duration of the linear phase in good agreement with the simulations. This saturation time constitutes indeed a lower-bound for the shock formation time.« less

In vitro growth of flat aragonite crystals between the layers of the insoluble organic matrix of the abalone Haliotis laevigata

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gries, Katharina I.; Heinemann, Fabian; Rosenauer, Andreas; Fritz, Monika

2012-11-01

Nacre of abalone shells consists of aragonite platelets and organic material, the so-called organic matrix. During the growth process of the shell the aragonite platelets grow into a scaffold formed by the organic matrix. In this work we tried to mimic this growth process by placing a piece of the insoluble organic matrix (which is a part of the organic matrix) of the abalone Haliotis laevigata in a crystallization device which was flowed through by CaCl2 and NaHCO3 solutions. Using this setup amongst others flat aragonite crystals grow on the insoluble organic matrix. When investigating these crystals in a transmission electron microscope it is possible to recognize similarities to the structure of nacre, like the formation of mineral bridges and growth between layers of the insoluble organic matrix. These similarities are presented in this paper.

Preparation and Characterization of Activated Carbon from Palm Kernel Shell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andas, J.; Rahman, M. L. A.; Yahya, M. S. M.

2017-08-01

In this study, a high quality of activated carbon (AC) was successfully synthesized from palm kernel shell (PKS) via single step KOH activation. Several optimal conditions such as impregnation ratio and activation temperature were investigated. The prepared activated carbon under the optimum condition of impregnation ratio (1:1.5 raw/KOH) and activation temperature (800 °C) was characterized using Na2S2O3 volumetric method, CHNS/O analysis and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Na2S2O3 volumetric showed an iodine number of 994.83 mgg-1 with yield % of 8.931 %. CHNS/O analysis verified an increase in C content for KOH-AC (61.10 %) in comparison to the raw PKS (47.28 %). Well-formation of porous structure was evidenced through SEM for KOH-AC. From this study, it showed a successful conversion of agricultural waste into value added porous material under benign condition.

Direct measurement of chiral structure and transport in single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Taoran; Lin, Letian; Qin, Lu-Chang; Washburn, Sean

2016-11-01

Electrical devices based on suspended multi-wall carbon nanotubes were constructed and studied. The chiral structure of each shell in a particular nanotube was determined using nanobeam electron diffraction in a transmission electron microscope. The transport properties of the carbon nanotube were also measured. The nanotube device length was short enough that the transport was nearly ballistic, and multiple subbands contributed to the conductance. Thermal excitation of carriers significantly affected nanotube resistance at room temperature.

A model for large amplitude oscillations of coated bubbles accounting for buckling and rupture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marmottant, Philippe; van der Meer, Sander; Emmer, Marcia; Versluis, Michel; de Jong, Nico; Hilgenfeldt, Sascha; Lohse, Detlef

2005-12-01

We present a model applicable to ultrasound contrast agent bubbles that takes into account the physical properties of a lipid monolayer coating on a gas microbubble. Three parameters describe the properties of the shell: a buckling radius, the compressibility of the shell, and a break-up shell tension. The model presents an original non-linear behavior at large amplitude oscillations, termed compression-only, induced by the buckling of the lipid monolayer. This prediction is validated by experimental recordings with the high-speed camera Brandaris 128, operated at several millions of frames per second. The effect of aging, or the resultant of repeated acoustic pressure pulses on bubbles, is predicted by the model. It corrects a flaw in the shell elasticity term previously used in the dynamical equation for coated bubbles. The break-up is modeled by a critical shell tension above which gas is directly exposed to water.

Emergent properties of nuclei from ab initio coupled-cluster calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hagen, G.; Hjorth-Jensen, M.; Jansen, G. R.; Papenbrock, T.

2016-06-01

Emergent properties such as nuclear saturation and deformation, and the effects on shell structure due to the proximity of the scattering continuum and particle decay channels are fascinating phenomena in atomic nuclei. In recent years, ab initio approaches to nuclei have taken the first steps towards tackling the computational challenge of describing these phenomena from Hamiltonians with microscopic degrees of freedom. This endeavor is now possible due to ideas from effective field theories, novel optimization strategies for nuclear interactions, ab initio methods exhibiting a soft scaling with mass number, and ever-increasing computational power. This paper reviews some of the recent accomplishments. We also present new results. The recently optimized chiral interaction NNLO{}{{sat}} is shown to provide an accurate description of both charge radii and binding energies in selected light- and medium-mass nuclei up to 56Ni. We derive an efficient scheme for including continuum effects in coupled-cluster computations of nuclei based on chiral nucleon-nucleon and three-nucleon forces, and present new results for unbound states in the neutron-rich isotopes of oxygen and calcium. The coupling to the continuum impacts the energies of the {J}π =1/{2}-,3/{2}-,7/{2}-,3/{2}+ states in {}{17,23,25}O, and—contrary to naive shell-model expectations—the level ordering of the {J}π =3/{2}+,5/{2}+,9/{2}+ states in {}{53,55,61}Ca. ).

Visualizing deceleration-phase instabilities in inertial confinement fusion implosions using an "enhanced self-emission" technique at the National Ignition Facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pickworth, L. A.; Hammel, B. A.; Smalyuk, V. A.; Robey, H. F.; Benedetti, L. R.; Berzak Hopkins, L.; Bradley, D. K.; Field, J. E.; Haan, S. W.; Hatarik, R.; Hartouni, E.; Izumi, N.; Johnson, S.; Khan, S.; Lahmann, B.; Landen, O. L.; Le Pape, S.; MacPhee, A. G.; Meezan, N. B.; Milovich, J.; Nagel, S. R.; Nikroo, A.; Pak, A. E.; Petrasso, R.; Remington, B. A.; Rice, N. G.; Springer, P. T.; Stadermann, M.; Widmann, K.; Hsing, W.

2018-05-01

High-mode perturbations and low-mode asymmetries were measured in the deceleration phase of indirectly driven, deuterium gas filled inertial confinement fusion capsule implosions at convergence ratios of 10 to 15, using a new "enhanced emission" technique at the National Ignition Facility [E. M. Campbell et al., AIP Conf. Proc. 429, 3 (1998)]. In these experiments, a high spatial resolution Kirkpatrick-Baez microscope was used to image the x-ray emission from the inner surface of a high-density-carbon capsule's shell. The use of a high atomic number dopant in the shell enabled time-resolved observations of shell perturbations penetrating into the hot spot. This allowed the effects of the perturbations and asymmetries on degrading neutron yield to be directly measured. In particular, mix induced radiation losses of ˜400 J from the hot spot resulted in a neutron yield reduction of a factor of ˜2. In a subsequent experiment with a significantly increased level of short-mode initial perturbations, shown through the enhanced imaging technique to be highly organized radially, the neutron yield dropped an additional factor of ˜2.

In vivo imaging of the morphology and changes in pH along the gastrointestinal tract of Japanese medaka by photonic band-gap hydrogel microspheres.

PubMed

Du, Xuemin; Lei, Ngai-Yu; Hu, Peng; Lei, Zhang; Ong, Daniel Hock-Chun; Ge, Xuewu; Zhang, Zhicheng; Lam, Michael Hon-Wah

2013-07-17

Colloidal crystalline microspheres with photonic band-gap properties responsive to media pH have been developed for in vivo imaging purposes. These colloidal crystalline microspheres were constructed from monodispersed core-shell nano-size particles with poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) (PS-co-PAA) cores and poly(acrylic acid-co-N-isopropylacrylamide) (PAA-co-PNIPAM) hydrogel shells cross-linked by N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide. A significant shift in the photonic band-gap properties of these colloidal crystalline microspheres was observed in the pH range of 4-5. This was caused by the discontinuous volume phase transition of the hydrogel coating, due to the protonation/deprotonation of its acrylic acid moieties, on the core-shell nano-sized particles within the microspheres. The in vivo imaging capability of these pH-responsive photonic microspheres was demonstrated on a test organism - Japanese medaka, Oryzia latipes - in which the morphology and change in pH along their gastrointestinal (GI) tracts were revealed under an ordinary optical microscope. This work illustrates the potential of stimuli-responsive photonic band-gap materials in tissue-/organ-level in vivo bio-imaging. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Updating the Jovian Proton Radiation Environment - 2015

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garrett, Henry; Martinez-Sierra, Luz Maria; Evans, Robin

2015-01-01

Since publication in 1983 by N. Divine and H. Garrett, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's plasma and radiation models have been the design standard for NASA's missions to Jupiter. These models consist of representations of the cold plasma and electrons, the warm and auroral electrons and protons, and the radiation environment (electron, proton, and heavy ions). To date, however, the high-energy proton model has been limited to an L-shell of 12. With the requirement to compute the effects of the high energy protons and other heavy ions on the proposed Europa mission, the extension of the high energy proton model from approximately 12 L-shell to approximately 50 L-shell has become necessary. In particular, a model of the proton environment over that range is required to estimate radiation effects on the solar arrays for the mission. This study describes both the steps taken to extend the original Divine proton model out to an approximately 50 L-shell and the resulting model developed to accomplish that goal. In addition to hydrogen, the oxygen, sulfur, and helium heavy ion environments have also been added between approximately 6 L-shell and approximately 50 L-shell. Finally, selected examples of the model's predictions are presented to illustrate the uses of the tool.

Effects of Combined Loads on the Nonlinear Response and Residual Strength of Damaged Stiffened Shells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Starnes, James H., Jr.; Rose, Cheryl A.; Rankin, Charles C.

1996-01-01

The results of an analytical study of the nonlinear response of stiffened fuselage shells with long cracks are presented. The shells are modeled with a hierarchical modeling strategy and analyzed with a nonlinear shell analysis code that maintains the shell in a nonlinear equilibrium state while the crack is grown. The analysis accurately accounts for global and local structural response phenomena. Results are presented for various combinations of internal pressure and mechanical loads, and the effects of crack orientation on the shell response are described. The effects of combined loading conditions and the effects of varying structural parameters on the stress-intensity factors associated with a crack are presented.

Flexible configuration-interaction shell-model many-body solver

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

Johnson, Calvin W.; Ormand, W. Erich; McElvain, Kenneth S.

BIGSTICK Is a flexible configuration-Interaction open-source shell-model code for the many-fermion problem In a shell model (occupation representation) framework. BIGSTICK can generate energy spectra, static and transition one-body densities, and expectation values of scalar operators. Using the built-in Lanczos algorithm one can compute transition probabflity distributions and decompose wave functions into components defined by group theory.

The Vibration Analysis of Tube Bundles Induced by Fluid Elastic Excitation in Shell Side of Heat Exchanger

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bao, Minle; Wang, Lu; Li, Wenyao; Gao, Tianze

2017-09-01

Fluid elastic excitation in shell side of heat exchanger was deduced theoretically in this paper. Model foundation was completed by using Pro / Engineer software. The finite element model was constructed and imported into the FLUENT module. The flow field simulation adopted the dynamic mesh model, RNG k-ε model and no-slip boundary conditions. Analysing different positions vibration of tube bundles by selecting three regions in shell side of heat exchanger. The results show that heat exchanger tube bundles at the inlet of the shell side are more likely to be failure due to fluid induced vibration.

An Efficient Analysis Methodology for Fluted-Core Composite Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Oremont, Leonard; Schultz, Marc R.

2012-01-01

The primary loading condition in launch-vehicle barrel sections is axial compression, and it is therefore important to understand the compression behavior of any structures, structural concepts, and materials considered in launch-vehicle designs. This understanding will necessarily come from a combination of test and analysis. However, certain potentially beneficial structures and structural concepts do not lend themselves to commonly used simplified analysis methods, and therefore innovative analysis methodologies must be developed if these structures and structural concepts are to be considered. This paper discusses such an analysis technique for the fluted-core sandwich composite structural concept. The presented technique is based on commercially available finite-element codes, and uses shell elements to capture behavior that would normally require solid elements to capture the detailed mechanical response of the structure. The shell thicknesses and offsets using this analysis technique are parameterized, and the parameters are adjusted through a heuristic procedure until this model matches the mechanical behavior of a more detailed shell-and-solid model. Additionally, the detailed shell-and-solid model can be strategically placed in a larger, global shell-only model to capture important local behavior. Comparisons between shell-only models, experiments, and more detailed shell-and-solid models show excellent agreement. The discussed analysis methodology, though only discussed in the context of fluted-core composites, is widely applicable to other concepts.

Design and Analysis of an X-Ray Mirror Assembly Using the Meta-Shell Approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McClelland, Ryan S.; Bonafede, Joseph; Saha, Timo T.; Solly, Peter M.; Zhang, William W.

2016-01-01

Lightweight and high resolution optics are needed for future space-based x-ray telescopes to achieve advances in high-energy astrophysics. Past missions such as Chandra and XMM-Newton have achieved excellent angular resolution using a full shell mirror approach. Other missions such as Suzaku and NuSTAR have achieved lightweight mirrors using a segmented approach. This paper describes a new approach, called meta-shells, which combines the fabrication advantages of segmented optics with the alignment advantages of full shell optics. Meta-shells are built by layering overlapping mirror segments onto a central structural shell. The resulting optic has the stiffness and rotational symmetry of a full shell, but with an order of magnitude greater collecting area. Several meta-shells so constructed can be integrated into a large x-ray mirror assembly by proven methods used for Chandra and XMM-Newton. The mirror segments are mounted to the meta-shell using a novel four point semi-kinematic mount. The four point mount deterministically locates the segment in its most performance sensitive degrees of freedom. Extensive analysis has been performed to demonstrate the feasibility of the four point mount and meta-shell approach. A mathematical model of a meta-shell constructed with mirror segments bonded at four points and subject to launch loads has been developed to determine the optimal design parameters, namely bond size, mirror segment span, and number of layers per meta-shell. The parameters of an example 1.3 m diameter mirror assembly are given including the predicted effective area. To verify the mathematical model and support opto-mechanical analysis, a detailed finite element model of a meta-shell was created. Finite element analysis predicts low gravity distortion and low sensitivity to thermal gradients.

Deformation of compound shells under action of internal shock wave loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chernobryvko, Marina; Kruszka, Leopold; Avramov, Konstantin

2015-09-01

The compound shells under the action of internal shock wave loading are considered. The compound shell consists of a thin cylindrical shell and two thin parabolic shells at the edges. The boundary conditions in the shells joints satisfy the equality of displacements. The internal shock wave loading is modelled as the surplus pressure surface. This pressure is a function of the shell coordinates and time. The strain rate deformation of compound shell takes place in both the elastic and in plastic stages. In the elastic stage the equations of the structure motions are obtained by the assumed-modes method, which uses the kinetic and potential energies of the cylindrical and two parabolic shells. The dynamic behaviour of compound shells is treated. In local plastic zones the 3-D thermo-elastic-plastic model is used. The deformations are described by nonlinear model. The stress tensor elements are determined using dynamic deformation theory. The deformation properties of materials are influenced by the strain rate behaviour, the influence of temperature parameters, and the elastic-plastic properties of materials. The dynamic yield point of materials and Pisarenko-Lebedev's criterion of destruction are used. The modified adaptive finite differences method of numerical analysis is suggested for those simulations. The accuracy of the numerical simulation is verified on each temporal step of calculation and in the case of large deformation gradients.

Fragmentation of protostars dust shells at the Hayashi stage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdulmyanov, T. R.

2017-09-01

The aim of this study is to determine the density variations of a protostars dust shells at the Hayashi stage. The simplified model of the density wave perturbations are obtained on the base hydrodynamic equations. According to this model, the fragmentation of dust shells may occur at the stage of slow compression of protostar. Using the solution of the wave equation, the 3-D profiles of the density of the dust shell are defined.

Effective Simulation of Delamination in Aeronautical Structures Using Shells and Cohesive Elements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davila, Carlos G.; Camanho, Pedro P.; Turon, Albert

2007-01-01

A cohesive element for shell analysis is presented. The element can be used to simulate the initiation and growth of delaminations between stacked, non-coincident layers of shell elements. The procedure to construct the element accounts for the thickness offset by applying the kinematic relations of shell deformation to transform the stiffness and internal force of a zero-thickness cohesive element such that interfacial continuity between the layers is enforced. The procedure is demonstrated by simulating the response and failure of the Mixed Mode Bending test and a skin-stiffener debond specimen. In addition, it is shown that stacks of shell elements can be used to create effective models to predict the inplane and delamination failure modes of thick components. The results indicate that simple shell models can retain many of the necessary predictive attributes of much more complex 3D models while providing the computational efficiency that is necessary for design.

Cohesive Elements for Shells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davila, Carlos G.; Camanho, Pedro P.; Turon, Albert

2007-01-01

A cohesive element for shell analysis is presented. The element can be used to simulate the initiation and growth of delaminations between stacked, non-coincident layers of shell elements. The procedure to construct the element accounts for the thickness offset by applying the kinematic relations of shell deformation to transform the stiffness and internal force of a zero-thickness cohesive element such that interfacial continuity between the layers is enforced. The procedure is demonstrated by simulating the response and failure of the Mixed Mode Bending test and a skin-stiffener debond specimen. In addition, it is shown that stacks of shell elements can be used to create effective models to predict the inplane and delamination failure modes of thick components. The results indicate that simple shell models can retain many of the necessary predictive attributes of much more complex 3D models while providing the computational efficiency that is necessary for design.

Finite Element Analysis of Geodesically Stiffened Cylindrical Composite Shells Using a Layerwise Theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gerhard, Craig Steven; Gurdal, Zafer; Kapania, Rakesh K.

1996-01-01

Layerwise finite element analyses of geodesically stiffened cylindrical shells are presented. The layerwise laminate theory of Reddy (LWTR) is developed and adapted to circular cylindrical shells. The Ritz variational method is used to develop an analytical approach for studying the buckling of simply supported geodesically stiffened shells with discrete stiffeners. This method utilizes a Lagrange multiplier technique to attach the stiffeners to the shell. The development of the layerwise shells couples a one-dimensional finite element through the thickness with a Navier solution that satisfies the boundary conditions. The buckling results from the Ritz discrete analytical method are compared with smeared buckling results and with NASA Testbed finite element results. The development of layerwise shell and beam finite elements is presented and these elements are used to perform the displacement field, stress, and first-ply failure analyses. The layerwise shell elements are used to model the shell skin and the layerwise beam elements are used to model the stiffeners. This arrangement allows the beam stiffeners to be assembled directly into the global stiffness matrix. A series of analytical studies are made to compare the response of geodesically stiffened shells as a function of loading, shell geometry, shell radii, shell laminate thickness, stiffener height, and geometric nonlinearity. Comparisons of the structural response of geodesically stiffened shells, axial and ring stiffened shells, and unstiffened shells are provided. In addition, interlaminar stress results near the stiffener intersection are presented. First-ply failure analyses for geodesically stiffened shells utilizing the Tsai-Wu failure criterion are presented for a few selected cases.

Shell models of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plunian, Franck; Stepanov, Rodion; Frick, Peter

2013-02-01

Shell models of hydrodynamic turbulence originated in the seventies. Their main aim was to describe the statistics of homogeneous and isotropic turbulence in spectral space, using a simple set of ordinary differential equations. In the eighties, shell models of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence emerged based on the same principles as their hydrodynamic counter-part but also incorporating interactions between magnetic and velocity fields. In recent years, significant improvements have been made such as the inclusion of non-local interactions and appropriate definitions for helicities. Though shell models cannot account for the spatial complexity of MHD turbulence, their dynamics are not over simplified and do reflect those of real MHD turbulence including intermittency or chaotic reversals of large-scale modes. Furthermore, these models use realistic values for dimensionless parameters (high kinetic and magnetic Reynolds numbers, low or high magnetic Prandtl number) allowing extended inertial range and accurate dissipation rate. Using modern computers it is difficult to attain an inertial range of three decades with direct numerical simulations, whereas eight are possible using shell models. In this review we set up a general mathematical framework allowing the description of any MHD shell model. The variety of the latter, with their advantages and weaknesses, is introduced. Finally we consider a number of applications, dealing with free-decaying MHD turbulence, dynamo action, Alfvén waves and the Hall effect.

Characterization of Magnetic Nanostructures Using Off-Axis Electron Holography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Desai

This dissertation research has involved microscopic characterization of magnetic nanostructures using off-axis electron holography and Lorentz microscopy. The nanostructures investigated have included Co nanoparticles (NPs), Au/Fe/GaAs shell/core nanowires (NWs), carbon spirals with magnetic cores, magnetic nanopillars, Ni-Zn-Co spinel ferrite and CoFe/Pd multilayers. The studies have confirmed the capability of holography to describe the behavior of magnetic structures at the nanoscale. The phase changes caused by the fringing fields of chains consisting of Co NPs were measured and calculated. The difference between chains with different numbers of Co NPs followed the trend indicated by calculations. Holography studies of Au/Fe/GaAs NWs grown on (110) GaAs substrates with rotationally non-uniform coating confirmed that Fe was present in the shell and that the shell behaved as a bar magnet. No fringing field was observed from NWs with cylindrical coating grown on (111)B GaAs substrates. The most likely explanation is that magnetic fields are confined within the shells and form closed loops. The multiple-magnetic-domain structure of iron carbide cores in carbon spirals was imaged using phase maps of the fringing fields. The strength and range of this fringing field was insufficient for manipulating the carbon spirals with an external applied magnetic field. No magnetism was revealed for CoPd/Fe/CoPd magnetic nanopillars. Degaussing and MFM scans ruled out the possibility that saturated magnetization and sample preparation had degraded the anisotropy, and the magnetism, respectively. The results suggested that these nanopillars were not suitable as candidates for prototypical bit information storage devices. Observations of Ni-Zn-Co spinel ferrite thin films in plan-view geometry indicated a multigrain magnetic domain structure and the magnetic fields were oriented in-plane only with no preferred magnetization distribution. This domain structure helps explain this ferrite's high permeability at high resonance frequency, which is an unusual character. Perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) of CoFe/Pd multilayers was revealed using holography. Detailed microscopic characterization showed structural factors such as layer waviness and interdiffusion that could contribute to degradation of the PMA. However, these factors are overwhelmed by the dominant effect of the CoFe layer thickness, and can be ignored when considering magnetic domain structure.

Refined hierarchical kinematics quasi-3D Ritz models for free vibration analysis of doubly curved FGM shells and sandwich shells with FGM core

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fazzolari, Fiorenzo A.; Carrera, Erasmo

2014-02-01

In this paper, the Ritz minimum energy method, based on the use of the Principle of Virtual Displacements (PVD), is combined with refined Equivalent Single Layer (ESL) and Zig Zag (ZZ) shell models hierarchically generated by exploiting the use of Carrera's Unified Formulation (CUF), in order to engender the Hierarchical Trigonometric Ritz Formulation (HTRF). The HTRF is then employed to carry out the free vibration analysis of doubly curved shallow and deep functionally graded material (FGM) shells. The PVD is further used in conjunction with the Gauss theorem to derive the governing differential equations and related natural boundary conditions. Donnell-Mushtari's shallow shell-type equations are given as a particular case. Doubly curved FGM shells and doubly curved sandwich shells made up of isotropic face sheets and FGM core are investigated. The proposed shell models are widely assessed by comparison with the literature results. Two benchmarks are provided and the effects of significant parameters such as stacking sequence, boundary conditions, length-to-thickness ratio, radius-to-length ratio and volume fraction index on the circular frequency parameters and modal displacements are discussed.

Two-nucleon high-spin states, the Bansal-French model and the crude shell model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, Tsan Ung

1987-08-01

Recent data on two-nucleon stretched high-spin states agree well with the crude shell model predictions. For two-neutron high-spin states, the A and T linear dependence of B2n in the Bansal-French model can be deduced from the A and T linear dependence of Bn and the crude shell model. 7-2 states in some Zn and Ge even nuclei might be two-proton states. This hypothesis should be confirmed by two-proton transfer reaction.

Advantages of intermediate X-ray energies in Zernike phase contrast X-ray microscopy.

PubMed

Wang, Zhili; Gao, Kun; Chen, Jian; Hong, Youli; Ge, Xin; Wang, Dajiang; Pan, Zhiyun; Zhu, Peiping; Yun, Wenbing; Jacobsen, Chris; Wu, Ziyu

2013-01-01

Understanding the hierarchical organizations of molecules and organelles within the interior of large eukaryotic cells is a challenge of fundamental interest in cell biology. Light microscopy is a powerful tool for observations of the dynamics of live cells, its resolution attainable is limited and insufficient. While electron microscopy can produce images with astonishing resolution and clarity of ultra-thin (<1 μm thick) sections of biological specimens, many questions involve the three-dimensional organization of a cell or the interconnectivity of cells. X-ray microscopy offers superior imaging resolution compared to light microscopy, and unique capability of nondestructive three-dimensional imaging of hydrated unstained biological cells, complementary to existing light and electron microscopy. Until now, X-ray microscopes operating in the "water window" energy range between carbon and oxygen k-shell absorption edges have produced outstanding 3D images of cryo-preserved cells. The relatively low X-ray energy (<540 eV) of the water window imposes two important limitations: limited penetration (<10 μm) not suitable for imaging larger cells or tissues, and small depth of focus (DoF) for high resolution 3D imaging (e.g., ~1 μm DoF for 20 nm resolution). An X-ray microscope operating at intermediate energy around 2.5 keV using Zernike phase contrast can overcome the above limitations and reduces radiation dose to the specimen. Using a hydrated model cell with an average chemical composition reported in literature, we calculated the image contrast and the radiation dose for absorption and Zernike phase contrast, respectively. The results show that an X-ray microscope operating at ~2.5 keV using Zernike phase contrast offers substantial advantages in terms of specimen size, radiation dose and depth-of-focus. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Further Results in Bend-Buckling Analysis of Ring Stiffened Cylindrical Shells.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-08-01

Submerged Shell Targets, NSWC TR 84-380, Dec 1984. 2. Moussouros, M., "Finite Element Modeling Techniques for Buckling Analysis of Cylindrical Shells...KCR, MBR , M0 , F0 , and I, R is the mean radius as given by R0 ) R0 - Mean radius of circular cylindrical shell (perfect shell or radius of

X-rays from Eta Carinae

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chlebowski, T.; Seward, F. D.; Swank, J.; Szymkowiak, A.

1984-01-01

X-ray observations of Eta Car obtained with the high-resolution imager and solid-state spectrometer of the Einstein observatory are reported and interpreted in terms of a two-shell model. A soft component with temperature 5 million K is located in the expanding outer shell, and the hard core component with temperature 80 million K is attributed to the interaction of a high-velocity stellar wind from the massive central object with the inner edge of a dust shell. Model calculations based on comparison with optical and IR data permit estimation of the mass of the outer shell (0.004 solar mass), the mass of the dust shell (3 solar mass), and the total shell expansion energy (less than 2 x 10 to the 49th ergs).

Photophysical Properties of II-VI Semiconductor Nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gong, Ke

As it is well known, semiconductor nanocrystals (also called quantum dots, QDs) are being actively pursued for use in many different types of luminescent optical materials. These materials include the active media for luminescence downconversion in artificial lighting, lasers, luminescent solar concentrators and many other applications. Chapter 1 gives general introduction of QDs, which describe the basic physical properties and optical properties. Based on the experimental spectroscopic study, a semiquantitative method-effective mass model is employed to give theoretical prediction and guide. The following chapters will talks about several topics respectively. A predictive understanding of the radiative lifetimes is therefore a starting point for the understanding of the use of QDs for these applications. Absorption intensities and radiative lifetimes are fundamental properties of any luminescent material. Meantime, achievement of high efficiency with high working temperature and heterostructure fabrication with manipulation of lattice strain are not easy and need systematic investigation. To make accurate connections between extinction coefficients and radiative recombination rates, chapter 2 will consider three closely related aspects of the size dependent spectroscopy of II-VI QDs. First, it will consider the existing literature on cadmium selenide (CdSe) QD absorption spectra and extinction coefficients. From these results and fine structure considerations Boltzmann weighted radiative lifetimes are calculated. These lifetimes are compared to values measured on very high quality CdSe and CdSe coated with zinc selenide (ZnSe) shells. Second, analogous literature data are analyzed for cadmium telluride (CdTe) nanocrystals and compared to lifetimes measured for very high quality QDs. Furthermore, studies of the absorption and excitation spectra and measured radiative lifetimes for CdTe/CdSe Type-II core/shell QDs are reported. These results are also analyzed in terms of a Boltzmann population of exciton sublevels and calculated electron and hole wave functions. Much of the absorption data and fine structure calculations are already in the literature. These results are combined with new measurements of radiative lifetimes and electron-hole overlap calculations to produce an integrated picture of the II-VI QD spectroscopic fundamentals. Finally, we adopt recent synthetic advances to make very monodisperse zincblende CdSe/CdS quantum dots having near-unity photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs). Due the absence of nonradiative decay pathways, accurate values of the radiative lifetimes can be obtained from time resolved PL measurements. Radiative lifetimes can also be obtained from the Einstein relations, using the static absorption spectra and the relative thermal populations in the angular momentum sublevels. One of the inputs into these calculations is the shell thickness, and it is useful to be able to determine shell thickness from spectroscopic measurements. We use an empirically corrected effective mass model to produce a "map" of exciton wavelength as a function of core size and shell thickness. These calculations use an elastic continuum model and the known lattice and elastic constants to include the effect of lattice strain on the band gap energy. Radiative lifetimes calculated both experimentally and theoretically are checked and the size dependence is compared to previous studied Type-I, II and single component particles. However, it is not enough to just understanding these basic photophysics of absorption and emission. The emission intensities (related to QYs) also change with changes of the temperature. The temperature dependent PLs of II-VI QDs is extensively studied, but most of this work is at low temperatures. Temperatures well above ambient are of interest to lighting applications and in this regime both the reversible and irreversible loss of quantum yield (thermal quenching) are serious impediments to the implementation of QDs in commercial devices. Chapter 3 will elucidate the mechanism of static thermal quenching, in which the reduction of QYs does not affect the PL decay kinetics, on CdSe, CdTe and CdSe/ZnSe QDs as a function of particle sizes/shapes, surface composition and surface ligands. Through systematic experiments, this part of the dissertation discusses several possible mechanisms (e.g. structural, activated excited state, and electronic charging) and examines which the dominant cause for loss of QY at high temperature is. The more practical step is to develop the synthetic method of highly luminescent and stable core/shell QDs with minimum thermal quenching, which greatly enhance the energy efficiency of light emitting and photovoltaic devices. As the nonradiative Auger processed are induced by surface charging described in chapter 3, static and time-resolved fluorescence and high and low power transient absorption results on CdSe/CdS and CdSe/ZnSe core/shell particles are presented in chapter 4. Two CdS shell thicknesses were examined and all of the particles had either octadecylamine (ODA) and tributylphosphine (TBP) or just ODA ligands. The results can be understood in terms of a mechanism in which there is a thermal equilibrium between electrons being in the valence band or in chalcogenide localized surface states. Thermal promotion of a valence band electron to a surface state leaves the particle core positively charged. Photon absorption when the particle is in this state results in a positive trion, which undergoes a fast Auger recombination, making the particle nonluminescent. A lack of TBP ligands results in more empty surface orbitals and therefore shifts the equilibrium toward surface trapped electrons and hence trion formation. Low- and high-power transient absorption measurements give the trion and biexciton lifetimes and the ratio of the trion to biexciton Auger lifetimes are examined and compared to the degeneracies of Auger pathways. We also study the shell thickness and composition dependence of Auger times, which is compared to the scaling factors of effective volume and electron-hole overlap considerations. Core/shell QDs often exhibit much higher luminescence quantum yields (QYs), more stability, and are depicted as having a nearly spherical core and a shell of very nearly uniform thickness, which results in a very simple picture of surface passivation. The uniformity of the shell is crucial in obtaining QDs with well passivated surfaces. However, transmission electron microscope (TEM) images disprove the ideal situation. Defects and thickness inhomogeneity in shell materials are treated qualitatively as an analog to film thickness inhomogeneity in epitaxially grown thin films. More quantitatively, the extent to which the shell thickness of core/shell particles is constant can be determined by time-resolved PL studies that measure the dynamics of hole tunneling to acceptors that are adsorbed on the shell surface due that tunneling rates varies strongly with core-acceptor separation. Careful analysis of the hole transfer kinetics reveals the extent of shell thickness inhomogeneity, however, it may be complicated by the distribution of numbers of adsorbed acceptors. All the considerations can be incorporated into a model we establish in Chapter 5for the distribution of measured hole tunneling rates. From this analysis the distribution of shell thicknesses can be extracted from the luminescence kinetic results. This approach is therefore a sensitive measure of the distribution of tunneling distances. Thus, any defects or structural irregularities that allow the hole acceptors to adsorb closer to the particle core increases the hole tunneling rate and can be detected and quantified. A quantitative treatment of the lattice strain energy in determining the shell morphology of CdSe/CdS core/shell nanoparticles is presented in chapter 5. We use the inhomogeneity in hole tunneling rates through the shell to adsorbed hole acceptors to quantify the extent of shell thickness inhomogeneity. The results can be understood in terms of a model based on elastic continuum calculations, which indicate that the lattice strain energy depends on both core size and shell thickness. This model assumes thermodynamic equilibrium, i.e., that the shell morphology corresponds to a minimum total (lattice strain plus surface) energy. Comparison with the experimental results indicates that CdSe/CdS nanoparticles undergo an abrupt transition from smooth to rough shells when the total lattice strain energy exceeds about 27eV or the strain energy density exceeds 0.59 eV/nm2. The predictions of this model are not followed for CdSe/CdS nanoparticles when the shell is deposited at very low temperature and therefore equilibrium is not established. The effects of lattice strain on the spectroscopy and photoluminescence quantum yields of zincblende CdSe/CdS core/shell quantum dots are examined. The quantum yields are measured as a function of core size and shell thickness. High quantum yields are achieved as long as the lattice strain energy density is below ~0.85 eV/nm2, which is considerably greater than the limiting value of 0.59 eV/nm2 for thermodynamicstability of a smooth, defect free shell, as previously reported in chapter 5. Thus, core/shell quantum dots having strain energy densities between 0.59 and 0.85 eV/nm2 can have very high PL QYs, but are metastable with respect to surface defect formation. Such metastable core/shell QDs can be produced by shell deposition at comparatively low temperatures (< 140 °C). Annealing of these particles causes partial loss of core pressure, and a red shift of the spectrum.

Influence of an asymmetric ring on the modeling of an orthogonally stiffened cylindrical shell

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rastogi, Naveen; Johnson, Eric R.

1994-01-01

Structural models are examined for the influence of a ring with an asymmetrical cross section on the linear elastic response of an orthogonally stiffened cylindrical shell subjected to internal pressure. The first structural model employs classical theory for the shell and stiffeners. The second model employs transverse shear deformation theories for the shell and stringer and classical theory for the ring. Closed-end pressure vessel effects are included. Interacting line load intensities are computed in the stiffener-to-skin joints for an example problem having the dimensions of the fuselage of a large transport aircraft. Classical structural theory is found to exaggerate the asymmetric response compared to the transverse shear deformation theory.

Effect of long-term selection for egg production on eggshell quality of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica).

PubMed

Fathi, M M; El-Dlebshany, A E; El-Deen, M Bahie; Radwan, L M; Rayan, G N

2016-11-01

An experiment was conducted to evaluate egg quality and ultrastuctural measurements of eggshell using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) in 2 lines (selected and control) of Japanese quail. A selection program was applied over 22 consecutive generations for higher egg production and lower broken egg percentage. The results revealed that the females of the selected line produced significantly (P < 0.01) higher egg mass compared to that of the control line. Also, the selection procedure significantly improved feed conversion ratio. The eggshells of the selected line had a higher breaking strength compared to those of the control line, although there was no difference between them in shell thickness. Significantly higher wet (P < 0.01) and dry (P < 0.05) eggshell percentages were found in the selected line. In general, the eggshells of the selected line had a lower total score (good) of ultrastructural evaluation compared to the control line. According to scanning electron microscope data, the incidence of certain structural variants was more common in eggshells of the control line suggesting poor shell strength. The incidence of alignment was more prevalent in control eggshells compared to selected ones, suggesting lower resistance to breakage. Late fusion and large interstitial spaces of the palisade layer indicating decreased resistance to fracture were observed in control eggshells. It could be concluded that the improvement eggshell quality may be caused by the long-term selection for lower cracked and broken egg rates from generation to generation. © 2016 Poultry Science Association Inc.

Time-dependent pH sensing phenomena using CdSe/ZnS quantum dots in EIS structure.

PubMed

Kumar, Pankaj; Maikap, Siddheswar; Prakash, Amit; Tien, Ta-Chang

2014-04-12

Time-dependent pH sensing phenomena of the core-shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dot (QD) sensors in EIS (electrolyte insulator semiconductor) structure have been investigated for the first time. The quantum dots are immobilized by chaperonin GroEL protein, which are observed by both atomic force microscope and scanning electron microscope. The diameter of one QD is approximately 6.5 nm. The QDs are not oxidized over a long time and core-shell CdSe/ZnS are confirmed by X-ray photon spectroscopy. The sensors are studied for sensing of hydrogen ions concentration in different buffer solutions at broad pH range of 2 to 12. The QD sensors show improved sensitivity (38 to 55 mV/pH) as compared to bare SiO2 sensor (36 to 23 mV/pH) with time period of 0 to 24 months, owing to the reduction of defects in the QDs. Therefore, the differential sensitivity of the QD sensors with respect to the bare SiO2 sensors is improved from 2 to 32 mV/pH for the time period of 0 to 24 months. After 24 months, the sensitivity of the QD sensors is close to ideal Nernstian response with good linearity of 99.96%. Stability and repeatability of the QD sensors show low drift (10 mV for 10 cycles) as well as small hysteresis characteristics (<10 mV). This QD sensor is very useful for future human disease diagnostics.

Lack of detection of a putative retrovirus associated with haemic neoplasia in the soft shell clam Mya arenaria.

PubMed

AboElkhair, M; Iwamoto, T; Clark, K F; McKenna, P; Siah, A; Greenwood, S J; Berthe, F C J; Casey, J W; Cepica, A

2012-01-01

Haemic neoplasia (HN) is a leukemia-like disease that affects at least 20 species of marine bivalves including soft shell clam, Mya arenaria. Since the disease was discovered in 1969, the etiology remains unknown. A retroviral etiology has been suggested based on the detection of reverse transcriptase activity and electron microscopic observation of retroviral-like particles using negative staining. To date, however no virus isolate and no retroviral sequence from HN has been obtained. Moreover, transmission of the disease by cell-free filtrate from affected clams has not been reproduced. In the current study, we reinvestigated the association of HN with a putative retrovirus. Sucrose gradient centrifugation followed by assessment of reverse transcriptase activity, electrophoretic analysis of protein and RNA, and electron microscopic examinations of fractions corresponding to retroviral density were employed. Detection of retroviral pol sequences using degenerate RT-PCR approaches was also attempted. Our results showed visible bands at the expected density of retrovirus in HN-positive and HN-negative clam tissues and both with reverse transcriptase activity. Electron microscopy, RNA analysis, protein analysis, and PCR systems targeting the pol gene of retroviruses did not however provide clear evidence supporting presence of a retrovirus. We point out that the retrovirus etiology of HN of Mya arenaria proposed some 25 years ago should be reconsidered in the absence of a virus isolate or virus sequences. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Meta-shell Approach for Constructing Lightweight and High Resolution X-Ray Optics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McClelland, Ryan S.

2016-01-01

Lightweight and high resolution optics are needed for future space-based x-ray telescopes to achieve advances in high-energy astrophysics. Past missions such as Chandra and XMM-Newton have achieved excellent angular resolution using a full shell mirror approach. Other missions such as Suzaku and NuSTAR have achieved lightweight mirrors using a segmented approach. This paper describes a new approach, called meta-shells, which combines the fabrication advantages of segmented optics with the alignment advantages of full shell optics. Meta-shells are built by layering overlapping mirror segments onto a central structural shell. The resulting optic has the stiffness and rotational symmetry of a full shell, but with an order of magnitude greater collecting area. Several meta-shells so constructed can be integrated into a large x-ray mirror assembly by proven methods used for Chandra and XMM-Newton. The mirror segments are mounted to the meta-shell using a novel four point semi-kinematic mount. The four point mount deterministically locates the segment in its most performance sensitive degrees of freedom. Extensive analysis has been performed to demonstrate the feasibility of the four point mount and meta-shell approach. A mathematical model of a meta-shell constructed with mirror segments bonded at four points and subject to launch loads has been developed to determine the optimal design parameters, namely bond size, mirror segment span, and number of layers per meta-shell. The parameters of an example 1.3 m diameter mirror assembly are given including the predicted effective area. To verify the mathematical model and support opto-mechanical analysis, a detailed finite element model of a meta-shell was created. Finite element analysis predicts low gravity distortion and low thermal distortion. Recent results are discussed including Structural Thermal Optical Performance (STOP) analysis as well as vibration and shock testing of prototype meta-shells.

Cross-shell excitations in Si 31

DOE PAGES

Tai, P. -L.; Tabor, S. L.; Lubna, R. S.; ...

2017-07-28

The Si-31 nucleus was produced through the O-18(18O, an) fusion-evaporation reaction at E-lab = 24 MeV. Evaporated a particles from the reaction were detected and identified in the Microball detector array for channel selection. Multiple gamma-ray coincidence events were detected in Gammasphere. The energy and angle information for the alpha particles was used to determine the Si-31 recoil kinematics on an event-by-event basis for a more accurate Doppler correction. A total of 22 new states and 52 new gamma transitions were observed, including 14 from states above the neutron separation energy. The positive-parity states predicted by the shell-model calculations inmore » the sd model space agree well with experiment. The negative-parity states were compared with shell-model calculations in the psdpf model space with some variations in the N = 20 shell gap. The best agreement was found with a shell gap intermediate between that originally used for A approximate to 20 nuclei and that previously adapted for P-32,P-34. This variation suggests the need for a more universal cross-shell interaction.« less

Old and New Magic Numbers

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

Talmi, Igal

2008-11-11

The discovery of magic numbers led to the shell model. They indicated closure of major shells and are robust: proton magic numbers are rather independent of the occupation of neutron orbits and vice versa. Recently the magic property became less stringent and we hear a lot about the discovery of new magic numbers. These, however, indicate sub-shell closures and strongly depend on occupation numbers and hence, may be called quasi-magic numbers. Some of these have been known for many years and the mechanism for their appearance as well as disappearance, was well understood within the simple shell model. The situationmore » will be illustrated by a few examples which demonstrate the simple features of the shell model. Will this simplicity emerge from the complex computations of nuclear many-body theory?.« less

Unraveling halide hydration: A high dilution approach.

PubMed

Migliorati, Valentina; Sessa, Francesco; Aquilanti, Giuliana; D'Angelo, Paola

2014-07-28

The hydration properties of halide aqua ions have been investigated combining classical Molecular Dynamics (MD) with Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. Three halide-water interaction potentials recently developed [M. M. Reif and P. H. Hünenberger, J. Chem. Phys. 134, 144104 (2011)], along with three plausible choices for the value of the absolute hydration free energy of the proton (ΔG [minus sign in circle symbol]hyd[H+]), have been checked for their capability to properly describe the structural properties of halide aqueous solutions, by comparing the MD structural results with EXAFS experimental data. A very good agreement between theory and experiment has been obtained with one parameter set, namely LE, thus strengthening preliminary evidences for a ΔG [minus sign in circle symbol]hyd[H] value of -1100 kJ mol(-1) [M. M. Reif and P. H. Hünenberger, J. Chem. Phys. 134, 144104 (2011)]. The Cl(-), Br(-), and I(-) ions have been found to form an unstructured and disordered first hydration shell in aqueous solution, with a broad distribution of instantaneous coordination numbers. Conversely, the F(-) ion shows more ordered and defined first solvation shell, with only two statistically relevant coordination geometries (six and sevenfold complexes). Our thorough investigation on the effect of halide ions on the microscopic structure of water highlights that the perturbation induced by the Cl(-), Br(-), and I(-) ions does not extend beyond the ion first hydration shell, and the structure of water in the F(-) second shell is also substantially unaffected by the ion.

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

Nick Cannell; Adrian S. Sabau

The investment casting process allows the production of complex-shape parts and close dimensional tolerances. One of the most important phases in the investment casting process is the design of the pattern die. Pattern dies are used to create wax patterns by injecting wax into dies. The first part of the project involved preparation of reports on the state of the art at that time for all the areas under consideration (die-wax, wax-shell, and shell-alloy). The primary R&D focus during Phase I was on the wax material since the least was known about it. The main R&D accomplishments during this phasemore » were determination of procedures for obtaining the thermal conductivity and viscoelastic properties of an unfilled wax and validating those procedures. Phase II focused on die-wax and shell-alloy systems. A wax material model was developed based on results obtained during the previous R&D phase, and a die-wax model was successfully incorporated into and used in commercial computer programs. Current computer simulation programs have complementary features. A viscoelastic module was available in ABAQUS but unavailable in ProCAST, while the mold-filling module was available in ProCAST but unavailable in ABAQUS. Thus, the numerical simulation results were only in good qualitative agreement with experimental results, the predicted shrinkage factors being approximately 2.5 times larger than those measured. Significant progress was made, and results showed that the testing and modeling of wax material had great potential for industrial applications. Additional R&D focus was placed on one shell-alloy system. The fused-silica shell mold and A356 aluminum alloy were considered. The experimental part of the program was conducted at ORNL and commercial foundries, where wax patterns were injected, molds were invested, and alloys were poured. It was very important to obtain accurate temperature data from actual castings, and significant effort was made to obtain temperature profiles in the shell mold. A model for thermal radiation within the shell mold was developed, and the thermal model was successfully validated using ProCAST. Since the fused silica shells had the lowest thermal expansion properties in the industry, the dewaxing phase, including the coupling between wax-shell systems, was neglected. The prefiring of the empty shell mold was considered in the model, and the shell mold was limited to a pure elastic material. The alloy dimensions were obtained from numerical simulations only with coupled shell-alloy systems. The alloy dimensions were in excellent quantitative agreement with experimental data, validating the deformation module. For actual parts, however, the creep properties of the shell molds must also be obtained, modeled, and validated.« less

Applying a Qualitative Modeling Shell to Process Diagnosis: The Caster System.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-03-01

Process Diagnosis: The Caster System by Timothy F. Thompson and William J. Clancey Department of Computer Science Stanford University Stanford, CA 94303...MODELING SHELL TO PROCESS DIAGNOSIS: THE CASTER SYSTEM 12 PERSONAL AUTHOR(S) TIMOTHY F. THOMPSON. WESTINGHOUSE R&D CENTER, WILLIAM CLANCEY, STANFORD...editions are obsolete. Applying a Qualitative Modeling Shell to Process Diagnosis: The Caster System by Timothy F. Thompson, Westinghouse R&D Center

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

Gronke, M.; Dijkstra, M., E-mail: maxbg@astro.uio.no

We perform Lyman- α (Ly α ) Monte-Carlo radiative transfer calculations on a suite of 2500 models of multiphase, outflowing media, which are characterized by 14 parameters. We focus on the Ly α spectra emerging from these media and investigate which properties are dominant in shaping the emerging Ly α profile. Multiphase models give rise to a wide variety of emerging spectra, including single-, double-, and triple-peaked spectra. We find that the dominant parameters in shaping the spectra include (i) the cloud covering factor, f {sub c} , which is in agreement with earlier studies, and (ii) the temperature andmore » number density of residual H i in the hot ionized medium. We attempt to reproduce spectra emerging from multiphase models with “shell models” which are commonly used to fit observed Ly α spectra, and investigate the connection between shell-model parameters and the physical parameters of the clumpy media. In shell models, the neutral hydrogen content of the shell is one of the key parameters controlling Ly α radiative transfer. Because Ly α spectra emerging from multiphase media depend much less on the neutral hydrogen content of the clumps, the shell-model parameters such as H i column density (but also shell velocity and dust content) are generally not well matched to the associated physical parameters of the clumpy media.« less

Ion acceleration in shell cylinders irradiated by a short intense laser pulse

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

Andreev, A.; ELI-ALPS, Szeged; Platonov, K.

The interaction of a short high intensity laser pulse with homo and heterogeneous shell cylinders has been analyzed using particle-in-cell simulations and analytical modeling. We show that the shell cylinder is proficient of accelerating and focusing ions in a narrow region. In the case of shell cylinder, the ion energy exceeds the ion energy for a flat target of the same thickness. The constructed model enables the evaluation of the ion energy and the number of ions in the focusing region.

Ballistic Simulation Method for Lithium Ion Batteries (BASIMLIB) Using Thick Shell Composites (TSC) in LS-DYNA

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-08-04

BAllistic SImulation Method for Lithium Ion Batteries (BASIMLIB) using Thick Shell Composites (TSC) in LS-DYNA Venkatesh Babu, Dr. Matt Castanier, Dr...Objective • Objective and focus of this work is to develop a – Robust simulation methodology to model lithium - ion based batteries in its module and full...unlimited  Lithium Ion Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery cell, module and pack was modeled in LS-DYNA using both Thin Shell Layer (TSL) and Thick Shell

Teeth: Among Nature's Most Durable Biocomposites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lawn, Brian R.; Lee, James J.-W.; Chai, Herzl

2010-08-01

This paper addresses the durability of natural teeth from a materials perspective. Teeth are depicted as smart biocomposites, highly resistant to cumulative deformation and fracture. Favorable morphological features of teeth at both macroscopic and microscopic levels contribute to an innate damage tolerance. Damage modes are activated readily within the brittle enamel coat but are contained from spreading catastrophically into the vulnerable tooth interior in sustained occlusal loading. Although tooth enamel contains a multitude of microstructural defects that can act as sources of fracture, substantial overloads are required to drive any developing cracks to ultimate failure—nature's strategy is to contain damage rather than avoid it. Tests on model glass-shell systems simulating the basic elements of the tooth enamel/dentin layer structure help to identify important damage modes. Fracture and deformation mechanics provide a basis for analyzing critical conditions for each mode, in terms of characteristic tooth dimensions and materials properties. Comparative tests on extracted human and animal teeth confirm the validity of the model test approach and point to new research directions. Implications in biomechanics, especially as they relate to dentistry and anthropology, are outlined.

Bright-field electron tomography of individual inorganic fullerene-like structures.

PubMed

Bar Sadan, Maya; Wolf, Sharon G; Houben, Lothar

2010-03-01

Nanotubes and fullerene-like nanoparticles of various inorganic layered compounds have been studied extensively in recent years. Their characterisation on the atomic scale has proven essential for progress in synthesis as well as for the theoretical modelling of their physical properties. We show that with electron tomography it is possible to achieve a reliable reconstruction of the 3D structure of nested WS(2) or MoS(2) fullerene-like and nanotube structures with sub-nanometre resolution using electron microscopes that are not aberration-corrected. Model-based simulations were used to identify imaging parameters, under which structural features such as the shell structure can be retained in the tomogram reconstructed from bright-field micrographs. The isolation of a particle out of an agglomerate for the analysis of a single structure and its interconnection with other particles is facilitated through the tomograms. The internal structure of the layers within the particle alongside the shape and content of its internal void are reconstructed. The tomographic reconstruction yields insights regarding the growth process as well as structural defects, such as non-continuous layers, which relate to the lubrication properties.

Lα and Mαβ X-ray production cross-sections of Bi by 6-30 keV electron impact

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Y.; Xu, M. X.; Yuan, Y.; Wu, Y.; Qian, Z. C.; Chang, C. H.; Mei, C. S.; Zhu, J. J.; Moharram, K.

2017-12-01

In this paper, the Lα and Mαβ X-ray production cross-sections for Bi impacted by 6-30 keV electron have been measured. The experiments were performed at a Scanning Electron Microscope equipped with a silicon drift detector. The thin film with thick C substrate and the thin film deposited on self-supporting thin C film were both used as the targets to make a comparison. For the thick carbon substrate target, the Monte Carlo method has been used to eliminate the contribution of backscattering particles. The measured data are compared with the DWBA theoretical model and the experimental results in the literature. The experimental data for the thin film with thick C substrate target and the thin film deposited on self-supporting thin C film target are within reasonable gaps. The DWBA theoretical model gives good fit to the experimental data both for L- and M- shells. Besides, we also analyze the reasons why the discrepancies exist between our measurements and the experimental results in the literature.

Nuclear structure for SNe r- and neutrino processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suzuki, Toshio

2014-09-01

SNe r- and neutrino-processes are investigated based on recent advances in the studies of spin responses in nuclei. New shell-model Hamiltonians, which can well describe spin responses in nuclei with proper tensor components, are used to make accurate evaluations of reaction cross sections and rates in astrophysical processes. Nucleosyntheses in SNe r- and ν -processes as well as rp-processes are discussed with these new reaction rates with improved accuracies. (1) Beta-decay rates for N = 126 isotones are evaluated by shell-model calculations, and new rates are applied to study r-process nucleosynthesis in SNe's around its third peak as well as beyond the peak region up to uranium. (2) ν -processes for light-element synthesis in core-collapse SNe are studied with a new shell-model Hamiltonian in p-shell, SFO. Effects of MSW ν -oscillations on the production yields of 7Li and 11B and sensitivity of the yield ratio on ν -oscillation parameters are discussed. ν -induced reactions on 16O are also studied. (3) A new shell-model Hamiltonian in pf-shell, GXPF1J, is used to evaluate e-capture rates in pf-shell nuclei at stellar environments. New e-capture rates are applied to study nucleosynthesis in type-Ia supernova explosions, rp-process and X-ray bursts.

Host susceptibility hypothesis for shell disease in American lobsters.

PubMed

Tlusty, Michael F; Smolowitz, Roxanna M; Halvorson, Harlyn O; DeVito, Simone E

2007-12-01

Epizootic shell disease (ESD) in American lobsters Homarus americanus is the bacterial degradation of the carapace resulting in extensive irregular, deep erosions. The disease is having a major impact on the health and mortality of some American lobster populations, and its effects are being transferred to the economics of the fishery. While the onset and progression of ESD in American lobsters is undoubtedly multifactorial, there is little understanding of the direct causality of this disease. The host susceptibility hypothesis developed here states that although numerous environmental and pathological factors may vary around a lobster, it is eventually the lobster's internal state that is permissive to or shields it from the final onset of the diseased state. To support the host susceptibility hypothesis, we conceptualized a model of shell disease onset and severity to allow further research on shell disease to progress from a structured model. The model states that shell disease onset will occur when the net cuticle degradation (bacterial degradation, decrease of host immune response to bacteria, natural wear, and resorption) is greater than the net deposition (growth, maintenance, and inflammatory response) of the shell. Furthermore, lesion severity depends on the extent to which cuticle degradation exceeds deposition. This model is consistent with natural observations of shell disease in American lobster.

In-Flight Aeroelastic Stability of the Thermal Protection System on the NASA HIAD, Part I: Linear Theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goldman, Benjamin D.; Dowell, Earl H.; Scott, Robert C.

2014-01-01

Conical shell theory and piston theory aerodynamics are used to study the aeroelastic stability of the thermal protection system (TPS) on the NASA Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD). Structural models of the TPS consist of single or multiple orthotropic conical shell systems resting on several circumferential linear elastic supports. The shells in each model may have pinned (simply-supported) or elastically-supported edges. The Lagrangian is formulated in terms of the generalized coordinates for all displacements and the Rayleigh-Ritz method is used to derive the equations of motion. The natural modes of vibration and aeroelastic stability boundaries are found by calculating the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a large coefficient matrix. When the in-flight configuration of the TPS is approximated as a single shell without elastic supports, asymmetric flutter in many circumferential waves is observed. When the elastic supports are included, the shell flutters symmetrically in zero circumferential waves. Structural damping is found to be important in this case. Aeroelastic models that consider the individual TPS layers as separate shells tend to flutter asymmetrically at high dynamic pressures relative to the single shell models. Several parameter studies also examine the effects of tension, orthotropicity, and elastic support stiffness.

Planetary Ice-Oceans: Numerical Modeling Study of Ice-Shell Growth in Convecting Two-Phase Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allu Peddinti, Divya; McNamara, Allen

2017-04-01

Several icy bodies in the Solar system such as the icy moons Europa and Enceladus exhibit signs of subsurface oceans underneath an ice-shell. For Europa, the geologically young surface, the presence of surface features and the aligned surface chemistry pose interesting questions about formation of the ice-shell and its interaction with the ocean below. This also ties in with its astrobiological potential and implications for similar ice-ocean systems elsewhere in the cosmos. The overall thickness of the H2O layer on Europa is estimated to be 100-150 km while the thickness of the ice-shell is debated. Additionally, Europa is subject to tidal heating due to interaction with Jupiter's immense gravity field. It is of interest to understand how the ice-shell thickness varies in the presence of tidal internal heating and the localization of heating in different regions of the ice-shell. Thus this study aims to determine the effect of tidal internal heating on the growth rate of the ice-shell over time. We perform geodynamic modeling of the ice-ocean system in order to understand how the ice-shell thickness changes with time. The convection code employs the ice Ih-water phase diagram in order to model the two-phase convecting ice-ocean system. All the models begin from an initial warm thick ocean that cools from the top. The numerical experiments analyze three cases: case 1 with no tidal internal heating in the system, case 2 with constant tidal internal heating in the ice and case 3 with viscosity-dependent tidal internal heating in the ice. We track the ice-shell thickness as a function of time as the system cools. Modeling results so far have identified that the shell growth rate changes substantially at a point in time that coincides with a change in the planform of ice-convection cells. Additionally, the velocity vs depth plots indicate a shift from a conduction dominant to a convection dominant ice regime. We compare the three different cases to provide a comprehensive understanding of the temporal variation in the ice-shell thickness due to the addition of heating in the ice.

Double-detonation Sub-Chandrasekhar Supernovae: Synthetic Observables for Minimum Helium Shell Mass Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kromer, M.; Sim, S. A.; Fink, M.; Röpke, F. K.; Seitenzahl, I. R.; Hillebrandt, W.

2010-08-01

In the double-detonation scenario for Type Ia supernovae, it is suggested that a detonation initiates in a shell of helium-rich material accreted from a companion star by a sub-Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarf. This shell detonation drives a shock front into the carbon-oxygen white dwarf that triggers a secondary detonation in the core. The core detonation results in a complete disruption of the white dwarf. Earlier studies concluded that this scenario has difficulties in accounting for the observed properties of Type Ia supernovae since the explosion ejecta are surrounded by the products of explosive helium burning in the shell. Recently, however, it was proposed that detonations might be possible for much less massive helium shells than previously assumed (Bildsten et al.). Moreover, it was shown that even detonations of these minimum helium shell masses robustly trigger detonations of the carbon-oxygen core (Fink et al.). Therefore, it is possible that the impact of the helium layer on observables is less than previously thought. Here, we present time-dependent multi-wavelength radiative transfer calculations for models with minimum helium shell mass and derive synthetic observables for both the optical and γ-ray spectral regions. These differ strongly from those found in earlier simulations of sub-Chandrasekhar-mass explosions in which more massive helium shells were considered. Our models predict light curves that cover both the range of brightnesses and the rise and decline times of observed Type Ia supernovae. However, their colors and spectra do not match the observations. In particular, their B - V colors are generally too red. We show that this discrepancy is mainly due to the composition of the burning products of the helium shell of the Fink et al. models which contain significant amounts of titanium and chromium. Using a toy model, we also show that the burning products of the helium shell depend crucially on its initial composition. This leads us to conclude that good agreement between sub-Chandrasekhar-mass explosions and observed Type Ia supernovae may still be feasible but further study of the shell properties is required.

Shell Tectonics: A Mechanical Model for Strike-slip Displacement on Europa

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rhoden, Alyssa Rose; Wurman, Gilead; Huff, Eric M.; Manga, Michael; Hurford, Terry A.

2012-01-01

We introduce a new mechanical model for producing tidally-driven strike-slip displacement along preexisting faults on Europa, which we call shell tectonics. This model differs from previous models of strike-slip on icy satellites by incorporating a Coulomb failure criterion, approximating a viscoelastic rheology, determining the slip direction based on the gradient of the tidal shear stress rather than its sign, and quantitatively determining the net offset over many orbits. This model allows us to predict the direction of net displacement along faults and determine relative accumulation rate of displacement. To test the shell tectonics model, we generate global predictions of slip direction and compare them with the observed global pattern of strike-slip displacement on Europa in which left-lateral faults dominate far north of the equator, right-lateral faults dominate in the far south, and near-equatorial regions display a mixture of both types of faults. The shell tectonics model reproduces this global pattern. Incorporating a small obliquity into calculations of tidal stresses, which are used as inputs to the shell tectonics model, can also explain regional differences in strike-slip fault populations. We also discuss implications for fault azimuths, fault depth, and Europa's tectonic history.

Two-nucleon high-spin states, the Bansal-French model and the crude shell model

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

Chan, T.U.

Recent data on two-nucleon stretched high-spin states agree well with the crude shell model predictions. For two-neutron high-spin states, the A and T linear dependence of B/sub 2n/ in the Bansal-French model can be deduced from the A and T linear dependence of B/sub n/ and the crude shell model. 7/sub 2//sup -/ states in some Zn and Ge even nuclei might be two-proton states. This hypothesis should be confirmed by two-proton transfer reaction.

An immersed-shell method for modelling fluid–structure interactions

PubMed Central

Viré, A.; Xiang, J.; Pain, C. C.

2015-01-01

The paper presents a novel method for numerically modelling fluid–structure interactions. The method consists of solving the fluid-dynamics equations on an extended domain, where the computational mesh covers both fluid and solid structures. The fluid and solid velocities are relaxed to one another through a penalty force. The latter acts on a thin shell surrounding the solid structures. Additionally, the shell is represented on the extended domain by a non-zero shell-concentration field, which is obtained by conservatively mapping the shell mesh onto the extended mesh. The paper outlines the theory underpinning this novel method, referred to as the immersed-shell approach. It also shows how the coupling between a fluid- and a structural-dynamics solver is achieved. At this stage, results are shown for cases of fundamental interest. PMID:25583857

Effects of Drift-Shell Splitting by Chorus Waves on Radiation Belt Electrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, A. A.; Zheng, L.; O'Brien, T. P., III; Tu, W.; Cunningham, G.; Elkington, S. R.; Albert, J.

2015-12-01

Drift shell splitting in the radiation belts breaks all three adiabatic invariants of charged particle motion via pitch angle scattering, and produces new diffusion terms that fully populate the diffusion tensor in the Fokker-Planck equation. Based on the stochastic differential equation method, the Radbelt Electron Model (REM) simulation code allows us to solve such a fully three-dimensional Fokker-Planck equation, and to elucidate the sources and transport mechanisms behind the phase space density variations. REM has been used to perform simulations with an empirical initial phase space density followed by a seed electron injection, with a Tsyganenko 1989 magnetic field model, and with chorus wave and ULF wave diffusion models. Our simulation results show that adding drift shell splitting changes the phase space location of the source to smaller L shells, which typically reduces local electron energization (compared to neglecting drift-shell splitting effects). Simulation results with and without drift-shell splitting effects are compared with Van Allen Probe measurements.

Influences of external vs. core-shell mixing on aerosol optical properties at various relative humidities.

PubMed

Ramachandran, S; Srivastava, Rohit

2013-05-01

Aerosol optical properties of external and core-shell mixtures of aerosol species present in the atmosphere are calculated in this study for different relative humidities. Core-shell Mie calculations are performed using the values of radii, refractive indices and densities of aerosol species that act as core and shell, and the core-shell radius ratio. The single scattering albedo (SSA) is higher when the absorbing species (black carbon, BC) is the core, while for a sulfate core SSA does not vary significantly as the BC in the shell dominates the absorption. Absorption gets enhanced in core-shell mixing of absorbing and scattering aerosols when compared to their external mixture. Thus, SSA is significantly lower for a core-shell mixture than their external mixture. SSA is more sensitive to core-shell ratio than mode radius when BC is the core. The extinction coefficient, SSA and asymmetry parameter are higher for external mixing when compared to BC (core)-water soluble aerosol (shell), and water soluble aerosol (core)-BC (shell) mixtures in the relative humidity range of 0 to 90%. Spectral SSA exhibits the behaviour of the species which acts as a shell in core-shell mixing. The asymmetry parameter for an external mixture of water soluble aerosol and BC is higher than BC (core)-water soluble aerosol (shell) mixing and increases as function of relative humidity. The asymmetry parameter for the water soluble aerosol (core)-BC (shell) is independent of relative humidity as BC is hydrophobic. The asymmetry parameter of the core-shell mixture decreases when BC aerosols are involved in mixing, as the asymmetry parameter of BC is lower. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) of core-shell mixtures increases at a higher rate when the relative humidity exceeds 70% in continental clean and urban aerosol models, whereas AOD remains the same when the relative humidity exceeds 50% in maritime aerosol models. The SSA for continental aerosols varies for core-shell mixing of water soluble aerosol (core)-shell (BC) when compared to their external mixture, while the SSA for maritime aerosols does not vary significantly for different mixing scenarios because of the dominance of sea salt aerosols. Thus, these results confirm that aerosol mixing can modify the physical and optical characteristics of aerosols, which vary as a function of relative humidity. These calculations will be useful in parameterising the effect of core-shell vs. external mixing of aerosols in global climate models, and in the evaluation of aerosol radiative effects.

Imperfection sensitivity of pressured buckling of biopolymer spherical shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lei; Ru, C. Q.

2016-06-01

Imperfection sensitivity is essential for mechanical behavior of biopolymer shells [such as ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) and spherical viruses] characterized by high geometric heterogeneity. In this work, an imperfection sensitivity analysis is conducted based on a refined shell model recently developed for spherical biopolymer shells of high structural heterogeneity and thickness nonuniformity. The influence of related parameters (including the ratio of radius to average shell thickness, the ratio of transverse shear modulus to in-plane shear modulus, and the ratio of effective bending thickness to average shell thickness) on imperfection sensitivity is examined for pressured buckling. Our results show that the ratio of effective bending thickness to average shell thickness has a major effect on the imperfection sensitivity, while the effect of the ratio of transverse shear modulus to in-plane shear modulus is usually negligible. For example, with physically realistic parameters for typical imperfect spherical biopolymer shells, the present model predicts that actual maximum external pressure could be reduced to as low as 60% of that of a perfect UCA spherical shell or 55%-65% of that of a perfect spherical virus shell, respectively. The moderate imperfection sensitivity of spherical biopolymer shells with physically realistic imperfection is largely attributed to the fact that biopolymer shells are relatively thicker (defined by smaller radius-to-thickness ratio) and therefore practically realistic imperfection amplitude normalized by thickness is very small as compared to that of classical elastic thin shells which have much larger radius-to-thickness ratio.

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

Brink, Adam Ray; Quinn, D. Dane

This paper describes the energy dissipation arising from microslip for an elastic shell incorporating shear and longitudinal deformation resting on a rough-rigid foundation. This phenomenon is investigated using finite element (FE) analysis and nonlinear geometrically exact shell theory. Both approaches illustrate the effect of shear within the shell and observe a reduction in the energy dissipated from microslip as compared to a similar system neglecting shear deformation. In particular, it is found that the shear deformation allows for load to be transmitted beyond the region of slip so that the entire interface contributes to the load carrying capability of themore » shell. The energy dissipation resulting from the shell model is shown to agree well with that arising from the FE model, and this representation can be used as a basis for reduced order models that capture the microslip phenomenon.« less

Slush Fund: The Multiphase Nature of Oceanic Ices and Its Role in Shaping Europa's Icy Shell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buffo, J.; Schmidt, B. E.; Huber, C.

2017-12-01

The role of Europa's ice shell in mediating ocean-surface interaction, constraining potential habitability of the underlying hydrosphere, and dictating the surface morphology of the moon is discussed extensively in the literature, yet the dynamics and characteristics of the shell itself remain largely unconstrained. Some of the largest unknowns arise from underrepresented physics and varying a priori assumptions built into the current ice shell models. Here we modify and apply a validated one-dimensional reactive transport model designed to simulate the formation and evolution of terrestrial sea ice to the Europa environment. The top-down freezing of sea ice due to conductive heat loss to the atmosphere is akin to the formation of the Jovian moon's outer ice shell, albeit on a different temporal and spatial scale. Nevertheless, the microscale physics that govern the formation of sea ice on Earth (heterogenous solidification leading to brine pockets and channels, multiphase reactive transport phenomena, gravity drainage) likely operate in a similar manner at the ice-ocean interface of Europa, dictating the thermal, chemical, and mechanical properties of the ice shell. Simulations of the European ice-ocean interface at different stages during the ice shell's evolution are interpolated to produce vertical profiles of temperature, salinity, solid fraction, and eutectic points throughout the entire shell. Additionally, the model is coupled to the equilibrium chemistry package FREZCHEM to investigate the impact a diverse range of putative European ocean chemistries has on ice shell properties. This method removes the need for a priori assumptions of impurity entrainment rates and ice shell properties, thus providing a first principles constraint on the stratigraphic characteristics of a simulated European ice shell. These insights have the potential to improve existing estimates for the onset of solid state convection, melt lens formation due to eutectic melting, ice shell thickness, and ocean-surface interaction rates. Moreover, this work aims to shed light on the important role microscale physics plays in determining the macroscale properties of icy worlds by highlighting and adapting successful multiphase reactive transport sea ice models utilized in large scale Earth systems science simulations.

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

Lu, Ping

Controlling metallic nanoparticle (NP) interactions plays a vital role in the development of new joining techniques (nanosolder) that bond at lower processing temperatures but remain viable at higher temperatures. The pr imary objective of this project is t o develop a fundamental understanding of the actual reaction processes, associated atomic mechanisms, and the resulting microstructure that occur during thermally - driven bond formation concerning metal - metal nano - scale (%3C50nm) interfaces. In this LDRD pr oject, we have studied metallic NPs interaction at the elevated temperatures by combining in - situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM ) using an aberrationmore » - corrected scanning transmission electron microscope (AC - STEM) and atomic - scale modeling such as m olecular dynamic (MD) simulations. Various metallic NPs such as Ag, Cu and Au are synthesized by chemical routines. Numerous in - situ e xperiments were carried out with focus of the research on study of Ag - Cu system. For the first time, using in - situ STEM he ating experiments , we directly observed t he formation of a 3 - dimensional (3 - D) epitaxial Cu - Ag core - shell nanoparticle during the thermal interaction of Cu and Ag NPs at elevated temperatures (150 - 300 o C). The reaction takes place at temperatures as low as 150 o C and was only observed when care was taken to circumvent the effects of electron beam irradiation during STEM imaging. Atomic - scale modeling verified that the Cu - Ag core - shell structure is energetically favored, and indicated that this phenomenon is a nano - scale effect related to the large surface - to - volume ratio of the NPs. The observation potentially can be used for developing new nanosolder technology that uses Ag shell as the "glue" that stic ks the particles of Cu together. The LDRD has led to several journal publications and numerous conference presentations, and a TA. In addition, we have developed new TEM characterization techniques and phase - field modeling tools that can be used for future materials research at Sandia. Acknowledgeme nts This work was supported by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program of Sandia National Laboratories. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi - program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidia ry of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE - AC04 - 94AL85000.« less

Calculation methods study on hot spot stress of new girder structure detail

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liao, Ping; Zhao, Renda; Jia, Yi; Wei, Xing

2017-10-01

To study modeling calculation methods of new girder structure detail's hot spot stress, based on surface extrapolation method among hot spot stress method, a few finite element analysis models of this welded detail were established by finite element software ANSYS. The influence of element type, mesh density, different local modeling methods of the weld toe and extrapolation methods was analyzed on hot spot stress calculation results at the toe of welds. The results show that the difference of the normal stress in the thickness direction and the surface direction among different models is larger when the distance from the weld toe is smaller. When the distance from the toe is greater than 0.5t, the normal stress of solid models, shell models with welds and non-weld shell models tends to be consistent along the surface direction. Therefore, it is recommended that the extrapolated point should be selected outside the 0.5t for new girder welded detail. According to the results of the calculation and analysis, shell models have good grid stability, and extrapolated hot spot stress of solid models is smaller than that of shell models. So it is suggested that formula 2 and solid45 should be carried out during the hot spot stress extrapolation calculation of this welded detail. For each finite element model under different shell modeling methods, the results calculated by formula 2 are smaller than those of the other two methods, and the results of shell models with welds are the largest. Under the same local mesh density, the extrapolated hot spot stress decreases gradually with the increase of the number of layers in the thickness direction of the main plate, and the variation range is within 7.5%.

Microscopic structure of liquid 1-1-1-2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a) from Monte Carlo simulation.

PubMed

Do, Hainam; Wheatley, Richard J; Hirst, Jonathan D

2010-10-28

1-1-1-2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a) is one of the most commonly used refrigerants. Its thermophysical properties are important for evaluating the performance of refrigeration cycles. These can be obtained via computer simulation, with an insight into the microscopic structure of the liquid, which is not accessible to experiment. In this paper, vapour-liquid equilibrium properties of R134a and its liquid microscopic structure are investigated using coupled-decoupled configurational-bias Monte Carlo simulation in the Gibbs ensemble, with a recent potential [J. Phys. Chem. B 2009, 113, 178]. We find that the simulations agree well with the experimental data, except at the vicinity of the critical region. Liquid R134a packs like liquid argon, with a coordination number in the first solvation shell of 12 at 260 K. The nearest neighbours prefer to be localized in three different spaces around the central molecule, in such a manner that the dipole moments are in a parallel alignment. Analysis of the pair interaction energy shows clear association of R134a molecules, but no evidence for C-HF type hydrogen bonding is found. The above findings should be of relevance to a broad range of fluoroalkanes.

Nano-biosilica from marine diatoms: A brand new material for photonic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Stefano, L.; Maddalena, P.; Moretti, L.; Rea, I.; Rendina, I.; De Tommasi, E.; Mocella, V.; De Stefano, M.

2009-07-01

Several biological organisms, from some sea shells to butterflies, exhibit sophisticated optical systems, which have been developed during the evolution of each species. The diatoms are microscopic algae enclosed between two valves of hydrated amorphous silica. These intricate structures, called frustules, show quite symmetric patterns of micrometric and nanometric pores. Their strong similarity with man-made objects suggests to exploit the optical properties of the frustules in light guiding and optical transducing. We have found very interesting results, both from the experimental and numerical points of view.

Achromatic elemental mapping beyond the nanoscale in the transmission electron microscope.

PubMed

Urban, K W; Mayer, J; Jinschek, J R; Neish, M J; Lugg, N R; Allen, L J

2013-05-03

Newly developed achromatic electron optics allows the use of wide energy windows and makes feasible energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) at atomic resolution. In this Letter we present EFTEM images formed using electrons that have undergone a silicon L(2,3) core-shell energy loss, exhibiting a resolution in EFTEM of 1.35 Å. This permits elemental mapping beyond the nanoscale provided that quantum mechanical calculations from first principles are done in tandem with the experiment to understand the physical information encoded in the images.

Modeling delamination growth in composites

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

Reedy, E.D. Jr.; Mello, F.J.

1996-12-01

A method for modeling the initiation and growth of discrete delaminations in shell-like composite structures is presented. The laminate is divided into two or more sublaminates, with each sublaminate modeled with four-noded quadrilateral shell elements. A special, eight-noded hex constraint element connects opposing sublaminate shell elements. It supplies the nodal forces and moments needed to make the two opposing shell elements act as a single shell element until a prescribed failure criterion is satisfied. Once the failure criterion is attained, the connection is broken, creating or growing a discrete delamination. This approach has been implemented in a 3D finite elementmore » code. This code uses explicit time integration, and can analyze shell-like structures subjected to large deformations and complex contact conditions. The shell elements can use existing composite material models that include in-plane laminate failure modes. This analysis capability was developed to perform crashworthiness studies of composite structures, and is useful whenever there is a need to estimate peak loads, energy absorption, or the final shape of a highly deformed composite structure. This paper describes the eight-noded hex constraint element used to model the initiation and growth of a delamination, and discusses associated implementation issues. Particular attention is focused on the delamination growth criterion, and it is verified that calculated results do not depend on element size. In addition, results for double cantilever beam and end notched flexure specimens are presented and compared to measured data to assess the ability of the present approach to model a growing delamination.« less

Removal of Congo Red by magnetic mesoporous titanium dioxide-graphene oxide core-shell microspheres for water purification.

PubMed

Li, Leilei; Li, Xiangjun; Duan, Huimin; Wang, Xiaojiao; Luo, Chuannan

2014-06-14

Magnetic mesoporous titanium dioxide-graphene oxide (Fe3O4@mTiO2@GO) with a large surface area and a good magnetic responsiveness was synthesized by immobilizing a mesoporous titanium dioxide (mTiO2) shell on the surface of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles prior to binding with graphene oxide (GO). It showed a tunable pore structure and surface properties, and was mechanically strong. The characteristic results of a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that Fe3O4@mTiO2@GO has been prepared. Fe3O4@mTiO2@GO was used as an adsorbent for the removal of Congo Red (CR) from simulated wastewater with a fast solid-liquid separation in the presence of an external magnetic field. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to evaluate the adsorption conditions and reusability. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity was 89.95 mg g(-1), which is much higher than the previously reported values of other absorbent materials. Moreover, the Fe3O4@mTiO2@GO could be repeatedly used via simple treatment without any obvious structure and performance degradation. The adsorption kinetic data were best described by a pseudo-second-order model and the equilibrium adsorptions were well-described by the Freundlich isotherm model. The Fe3O4@mTiO2@GO may be suitable materials for use in CR pollution cleanup if synthesized on a large scale and at a low price in the near future.

Computational investigation of longitudinal diffusion, eddy dispersion, and trans-particle mass transfer in bulk, random packings of core-shell particles with varied shell thickness and shell diffusion coefficient.

PubMed

Daneyko, Anton; Hlushkou, Dzmitry; Baranau, Vasili; Khirevich, Siarhei; Seidel-Morgenstern, Andreas; Tallarek, Ulrich

2015-08-14

In recent years, chromatographic columns packed with core-shell particles have been widely used for efficient and fast separations at comparatively low operating pressure. However, the influence of the porous shell properties on the mass transfer kinetics in core-shell packings is still not fully understood. We report on results obtained with a modeling approach to simulate three-dimensional advective-diffusive transport in bulk random packings of monosized core-shell particles, covering a range of reduced mobile phase flow velocities from 0.5 up to 1000. The impact of the effective diffusivity of analyte molecules in the porous shell and the shell thickness on the resulting plate height was investigated. An extension of Giddings' theory of coupled eddy dispersion to account for retention of analyte molecules due to stagnant regions in porous shells with zero mobile phase flow velocity is presented. The plate height equation involving a modified eddy dispersion term excellently describes simulated data obtained for particle-packings with varied shell thickness and shell diffusion coefficient. It is confirmed that the model of trans-particle mass transfer resistance of core-shell particles by Kaczmarski and Guiochon [42] is applicable up to a constant factor. We analyze individual contributions to the plate height from different mass transfer mechanisms in dependence of the shell parameters. The simulations demonstrate that a reduction of plate height in packings of core-shell relative to fully porous particles arises mainly due to reduced trans-particle mass transfer resistance and transchannel eddy dispersion. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nonlinear Response and Residual Strength of Damaged Stiffened Shells Subjected to Combined Loads

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Starnes, James H., Jr.; Britt, Vicki O.; Rose, Cheryl A.; Rankin, Charles C.

1996-01-01

The results of an analytical study of the nonlinear response of stiffened fuselage shells with long cracks are presented. The shells are modeled with a hierarchical modeling strategy and analyzed with a nonlinear shell analysis code that maintains the shell in a nonlinear equilibrium state while the crack is grown. The analysis accurately accounts for global and local structural response phenomena. Fuselage skins, frames stringers and failsafe straps are included in the models. Results are presented for various combinations of internal pressure and mechanical bending, vertical shear and torsion loads, and the effects of crack orientation and location on the shell response are described. These results indicate that the nonlinear interaction between the in-plane stress resultants and the out-of-plane displacements near a crack can significantly affect the structural response of the shell, and the stress-intensity factors associated with a crack that are used to predict residual strength. The effects of representative combined loading conditions on the stress-intensity factors associated with a crack are presented. The effects of varying structural parameters on the stress-intensity factors associated with a crack, and on self-similar and non-self-similar crack-growth are also presented.

van der Waals three-body force shell model (VTSM) for the lattice dynamical studies of thallous bromide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tiwari, Sarvesh K.; Pandey, L. K.; Shukla, Lal Ji; Upadhyaya, K. S.

2009-12-01

The van der Waals three-body force shell model (VTSM) has been developed by modifying the three-body force shell model (TSM) for the lattice dynamics of ionic crystals with cesium chloride (CsCl) structure. This new model incorporates van der Waals interactions along with long-range Coulomb interactions, three-body interactions and short-range second neighbour interactions in the framework of a rigid shell model (RSM). In the present paper, VTSM has been used to study the lattice dynamics of thallous bromide (TlBr), from which adequacy of VTSM has been established. A comparative study of the dynamical behaviour of TlBr has also been done between the present model and TSM, the model over which modification has been made to obtain the present model VTSM. Good agreement has been observed between the theoretical and experimental results, which give confidence that it is an appropriate model for the complete description of ionic crystals with CsCl structure.

SYMPLECTIC INVARIANTS AND FLOWERS' CLASSIFICATION OF SHELL MODEL STATES

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

Helmers, K.

1961-01-01

Flowers has given a classification of shell model states in j-j coupling for a fixed number of nucleons in a shell with respect to a symplectic group. The relation between these classifications for the various nucleon numbers is studied and is found to be governed by another symplectic group, the transformations of which in general change the nucleon number. (auth)

Charge symmetry breaking in light Λ hypernuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gal, Avraham; Gazda, Daniel

2018-02-01

Charge symmetry breaking (CSB) is particularly strong in the A = 4 mirror hypernuclei {}14\\text{H}-Λ 4\\text{He}. Recent four-body no-core shell model calculations that confront this CSB by introducing Λ-Σ0 mixing to leading-order chiral effective field theory hyperon-nucleon potentials are reviewed, and a shell-model approach to CSB in p-shell Λ hypernuclei is outlined.

Applicability of the Continuum-Shell Theories to the Mechanics of Carbon Nanotubes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harik, V. M.; Gates, T. S.; Nemeth, M. P.

2002-01-01

Validity of the assumptions relating the applicability of continuum shell theories to the global mechanical behavior of carbon nanotubes is examined. The present study focuses on providing a basis that can be used to qualitatively assess the appropriateness of continuum-shell models for nanotubes. To address the effect of nanotube structure on their deformation, all nanotube geometries are divided into four major classes that require distinct models. Criteria for the applicability of continuum models are presented. The key parameters that control the buckling strains and deformation modes of these classes of nanotubes are determined. In an analogy with continuum mechanics, mechanical laws of geometric similitude are presented. A parametric map is constructed for a variety of nanotube geometries as a guide for the applicability of different models. The continuum assumptions made in representing a nanotube as a homogeneous thin shell are analyzed to identify possible limitations of applying shell theories and using their bifurcation-buckling equations at the nano-scale.

Projected shell model study on nuclei near the N = Z line

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Y.

2003-04-01

Study of the N ≈ Z nuclei in the mass-80 region is not only interesting due to the existence of abundant nuclear-structure phenomena, but also important in understanding the nucleosynthesis in the rp-process. It is difficult to apply a conventional shell model due to the necessary involvement of the g 9/2 sub-shell. In this paper, the projected shell model is introduced to this study. Calculations are systematically performed for the collective levels as well as the quasi-particle excitations. It is demonstrated that calculations with this truncation scheme can achieve a comparable quality as the large-scale shell model diagonalizations for 48 Cr, but the present method can be applied to much heavier mass regions. While the known experimental data of the yrast bands in the N ≈ Z nuclei (from Se to Ru) are reasonably described, the present calculations predict the existence of high- K states, some of which lie low in energy under certain structure conditions.

Statistical mechanics of shell models for two-dimensional turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aurell, E.; Boffetta, G.; Crisanti, A.; Frick, P.; Paladin, G.; Vulpiani, A.

1994-12-01

We study shell models that conserve the analogs of energy and enstrophy and hence are designed to mimic fluid turbulence in two-dimensions (2D). The main result is that the observed state is well described as a formal statistical equilibrium, closely analogous to the approach to two-dimensional ideal hydrodynamics of Onsager [Nuovo Cimento Suppl. 6, 279 (1949)], Hopf [J. Rat. Mech. Anal. 1, 87 (1952)], and Lee [Q. Appl. Math. 10, 69 (1952)]. In the presence of forcing and dissipation we observe a forward flux of enstrophy and a backward flux of energy. These fluxes can be understood as mean diffusive drifts from a source to two sinks in a system which is close to local equilibrium with Lagrange multipliers (``shell temperatures'') changing slowly with scale. This is clear evidence that the simplest shell models are not adequate to reproduce the main features of two-dimensional turbulence. The dimensional predictions on the power spectra from a supposed forward cascade of enstrophy and from one branch of the formal statistical equilibrium coincide in these shell models in contrast to the corresponding predictions for the Navier-Stokes and Euler equations in 2D. This coincidence has previously led to the mistaken conclusion that shell models exhibit a forward cascade of enstrophy. We also study the dynamical properties of the models and the growth of perturbations.

Effect of one step KOH activation and CaO modified carbon in transesterification reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yacob, Abd Rahim; Zaki, Muhammad Azam Muhammad

2017-11-01

In this work, one step activation was introduced using potassium hydroxide (KOH) and calcium oxide (CaO) modified palm kernel shells. Various concentration of calcium oxide was used as catalyst while maintaining the same concentration of potassium hydroxide to activate and impregnate the palm kernel shell before calcined at 500°C for 5 hours. All the prepared samples were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM). FTIR analysis of raw palm kernel shell showed the presence of various functional groups. However, after activation, most of the functional groups were eliminated. The basic strength of the prepared samples were determined using back titration method. The samples were then used as base heterogeneous catalyst for the transesterification reaction of rice bran oil with methanol. Analysis of the products were performed using Gas Chromatography Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) to calculate the percentage conversion of the biodiesel products. This study shows, as the percentage of one step activation potassium and calcium oxide doped carbon increases thus, the basic strength also increases followed by the increase in biodiesel production. Optimization study shows that the optimum biodiesel production was at 8 wt% catalyst loading, 9:1 methanol: oil molar ratio at 65°C and 6 hours which gives a conversion up to 95%.

Modeling of thin-walled structures interacting with acoustic media as constrained two-dimensional continua

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rabinskiy, L. N.; Zhavoronok, S. I.

2018-04-01

The transient interaction of acoustic media and elastic shells is considered on the basis of the transition function approach. The three-dimensional hyperbolic initial boundary-value problem is reduced to a two-dimensional problem of shell theory with integral operators approximating the acoustic medium effect on the shell dynamics. The kernels of these integral operators are determined by the elementary solution of the problem of acoustic waves diffraction at a rigid obstacle with the same boundary shape as the wetted shell surface. The closed-form elementary solution for arbitrary convex obstacles can be obtained at the initial interaction stages on the background of the so-called “thin layer hypothesis”. Thus, the shell–wave interaction model defined by integro-differential dynamic equations with analytically determined kernels of integral operators becomes hence two-dimensional but nonlocal in time. On the other hand, the initial interaction stage results in localized dynamic loadings and consequently in complex strain and stress states that require higher-order shell theories. Here the modified theory of I.N.Vekua–A.A.Amosov-type is formulated in terms of analytical continuum dynamics. The shell model is constructed on a two-dimensional manifold within a set of field variables, Lagrangian density, and constraint equations following from the boundary conditions “shifted” from the shell faces to its base surface. Such an approach allows one to construct consistent low-order shell models within a unified formal hierarchy. The equations of the N th-order shell theory are singularly perturbed and contain second-order partial derivatives with respect to time and surface coordinates whereas the numerical integration of systems of first-order equations is more efficient. Such systems can be obtained as Hamilton–de Donder–Weyl-type equations for the Lagrangian dynamical system. The Hamiltonian formulation of the elementary N th-order shell theory is here briefly described.

Shear effects on energy dissipation from an elastic beam on a rigid foundation

DOE PAGES

Brink, Adam Ray; Quinn, D. Dane

2015-10-20

This paper describes the energy dissipation arising from microslip for an elastic shell incorporating shear and longitudinal deformation resting on a rough-rigid foundation. This phenomenon is investigated using finite element (FE) analysis and nonlinear geometrically exact shell theory. Both approaches illustrate the effect of shear within the shell and observe a reduction in the energy dissipated from microslip as compared to a similar system neglecting shear deformation. In particular, it is found that the shear deformation allows for load to be transmitted beyond the region of slip so that the entire interface contributes to the load carrying capability of themore » shell. The energy dissipation resulting from the shell model is shown to agree well with that arising from the FE model, and this representation can be used as a basis for reduced order models that capture the microslip phenomenon.« less

Core excitations across the neutron shell gap in 207Tl

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

Wilson, E.; Podolyák, Zs.; Grawe, H.

2015-05-05

The single closed-neutron-shell, one proton–hole nucleus 207Tl was populated in deep-inelastic collisions of a 208Pb beam with a 208Pb target. The yrast and near-yrast level scheme has been established up to high excitation energy, comprising an octupole phonon state and a large number of core excited states. Based on shell-model calculations, all observed single core excitations were established to arise from the breaking of the N=126 neutron core. While the shell-model calculations correctly predict the ordering of these states, their energies are compressed at high spins. It is concluded that this compression is an intrinsic feature of shell-model calculations usingmore » two-body matrix elements developed for the description of two-body states, and that multiple core excitations need to be considered in order to accurately calculate the energy spacings of the predominantly three-quasiparticle states.« less

New Tooling System for Forming Aluminum Beverage Can End Shell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamazaki, Koetsu; Otsuka, Takayasu; Han, Jing; Hasegawa, Takashi; Shirasawa, Taketo

2011-08-01

This paper proposes a new tooling system for forming shells of aluminum beverage can ends. At first, forming process of a conversional tooling system has been simulated using three-dimensional finite element models. Simulation results have been confirmed to be consistent with those of axisymmetric models, so simulations for further study have been performed using axisymmetric models to save computational time. A comparison shows that thinning of the shell formed by the proposed tooling system has been improved about 3.6%. Influences of the tool upmost surface profiles and tool initial positions in the new tooling system have been investigated and the design optimization method based on the numerical simulations has been then applied to search optimum design points, in order to minimize thinning subjected to the constraints of the geometrical dimensions of the shell. At last, the performance of the shell subjected to internal pressure has been confirmed to meet design requirements.

Comparison of performance of shell-and-tube heat exchangers with conventional segmental baffles and continuous helical baffle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmed, Asif; Ferdous, Imam Ul.; Saha, Sumon

2017-06-01

In the present study, three-dimensional numerical simulation of two shell-and-tube heat exchangers (STHXs) with conventional segmental baffles (STHXsSB) and continuous helical baffle (STHXsHB) is carried out and a comparative study is performed based on the simulation results. Both of the STHXs contain 37 tubes inside a 500 mm long and 200 mm diameter shell and mass flow rate of shell-side fluid is varied from 0.5 kg/s to 2 kg/s. At first, physical and mathematical models are developed and numerically simulated using finite element method (FEM). For the validation of the computational model, shell-side average nusselt number (Nus) is calculated from the simulation results and compared with the available experimental results. The comparative study shows that STHXsHB has 72-127% higher heat transfer coefficient per unit pressure drop compared to the conventional STHXsSB for the same shell-side mass flow rate. Moreover, STHXsHB has 59-63% lower shell-side pressure drop than STHXsSB.

Cenosphere formation from heavy fuel oil: a numerical analysis accounting for the balance between porous shells and internal pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reddy, Vanteru M.; Rahman, Mustafa M.; Gandi, Appala N.; Elbaz, Ayman M.; Schrecengost, Robert A.; Roberts, William L.

2016-01-01

Heavy fuel oil (HFO) as a fuel in industrial and power generation plants ensures the availability of energy at economy. Coke and cenosphere emissions from HFO combustion need to be controlled by particulate control equipment such as electrostatic precipitators, and collection effectiveness is impacted by the properties of these particulates. The cenosphere formation is a function of HFO composition, which varies depending on the source of the HFO. Numerical modelling of the cenosphere formation mechanism presented in this paper is an economical method of characterising cenosphere formation potential for HFO in comparison to experimental analysis of individual HFO samples, leading to better control and collection. In the present work, a novel numerical model is developed for understanding the global cenosphere formation mechanism. The critical diameter of the cenosphere is modelled based on the balance between two pressures developed in an HFO droplet. First is the pressure (Prpf) developed at the interface of the liquid surface and the inner surface of the accumulated coke due to the flow restriction of volatile components from the interior of the droplet. Second is the pressure due to the outer shell strength (PrC) gained from van der Walls energy of the coke layers and surface energy. In this present study it is considered that when PrC ≥ Prpf the outer shell starts to harden. The internal motion in the shell layer ceases and the outer diameter (DSOut) of the shell is then fixed. The entire process of cenosphere formation in this study is analysed in three phases: regression, shell formation and hardening, and post shell hardening. Variations in pressures during shell formation are analysed. Shell (cenosphere) dimensions are evaluated at the completion of droplet evaporation. The rate of fuel evaporation, rate of coke formation and coke accumulation are analysed. The model predicts shell outer diameters of 650, 860 and 1040 µm, and inner diameters are 360, 410 and 430 µm respectively, for 700, 900 and 1100 µm HFO droplets. The present numerical model is validated with experimental results available from the literature. Total variation between computational and experimental results is in the range of 3-7%.

Emergent properties of nuclei from ab initio coupled-cluster calculations

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

Hagen, G.; Hjorth-Jensen, M.; Jansen, G. R.

Emergent properties such as nuclear saturation and deformation, and the effects on shell structure due to the proximity of the scattering continuum and particle decay channels are fascinating phenomena in atomic nuclei. In recent years, ab initio approaches to nuclei have taken the first steps towards tackling the computational challenge of describing these phenomena from Hamiltonians with microscopic degrees of freedom. Our endeavor is now possible due to ideas from effective field theories, novel optimization strategies for nuclear interactions, ab initio methods exhibiting a soft scaling with mass number, and ever-increasing computational power. We review some of the recent accomplishments. We also present new results. The recently optimized chiral interaction NNLOmore » $${}_{{\\rm{sat}}}$$ is shown to provide an accurate description of both charge radii and binding energies in selected light- and medium-mass nuclei up to 56Ni. We derive an efficient scheme for including continuum effects in coupled-cluster computations of nuclei based on chiral nucleon–nucleon and three-nucleon forces, and present new results for unbound states in the neutron-rich isotopes of oxygen and calcium. Finally, the coupling to the continuum impacts the energies of the $${J}^{\\pi }=1/{2}^{-},3/{2}^{-},7/{2}^{-},3/{2}^{+}$$ states in $${}^{\\mathrm{17,23,25}}$$O, and—contrary to naive shell-model expectations—the level ordering of the $${J}^{\\pi }=3/{2}^{+},5/{2}^{+},9/{2}^{+}$$ states in $${}^{\\mathrm{53,55,61}}$$Ca.« less

Emergent properties of nuclei from ab initio coupled-cluster calculations

DOE PAGES

Hagen, G.; Hjorth-Jensen, M.; Jansen, G. R.; ...

2016-05-17

Emergent properties such as nuclear saturation and deformation, and the effects on shell structure due to the proximity of the scattering continuum and particle decay channels are fascinating phenomena in atomic nuclei. In recent years, ab initio approaches to nuclei have taken the first steps towards tackling the computational challenge of describing these phenomena from Hamiltonians with microscopic degrees of freedom. Our endeavor is now possible due to ideas from effective field theories, novel optimization strategies for nuclear interactions, ab initio methods exhibiting a soft scaling with mass number, and ever-increasing computational power. We review some of the recent accomplishments. We also present new results. The recently optimized chiral interaction NNLOmore » $${}_{{\\rm{sat}}}$$ is shown to provide an accurate description of both charge radii and binding energies in selected light- and medium-mass nuclei up to 56Ni. We derive an efficient scheme for including continuum effects in coupled-cluster computations of nuclei based on chiral nucleon–nucleon and three-nucleon forces, and present new results for unbound states in the neutron-rich isotopes of oxygen and calcium. Finally, the coupling to the continuum impacts the energies of the $${J}^{\\pi }=1/{2}^{-},3/{2}^{-},7/{2}^{-},3/{2}^{+}$$ states in $${}^{\\mathrm{17,23,25}}$$O, and—contrary to naive shell-model expectations—the level ordering of the $${J}^{\\pi }=3/{2}^{+},5/{2}^{+},9/{2}^{+}$$ states in $${}^{\\mathrm{53,55,61}}$$Ca.« less

All (4,1): Sigma models with (4 , q) off-shell supersymmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hull, Chris; Lindström, Ulf

2017-03-01

Off-shell (4 , q) supermultiplets in 2-dimensions are constructed for q = 1 , 2 , 4. These are used to construct sigma models whose target spaces are hyperkähler with torsion. The off-shell supersymmetry implies the three complex structures are simultaneously integrable and allows us to construct actions using extended superspace and projective superspace, giving an explicit construction of the target space geometries.

Synthesis, Characterization and Cytotoxicity of Novel Multifunctional Fe3O4@SiO2@GdVO4:Dy3+ Core-Shell Nanocomposite as a Drug Carrier

PubMed Central

Li, Bo; Fan, Huitao; Zhao, Qiang; Wang, Congcong

2016-01-01

In this study, multifunctional Fe3O4@SiO2@GdVO4:Dy3+ nanocomposites were successfully synthesized via a two-step method. Their structure, luminescence and magnetic properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectra and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The results indicated that the as-prepared multifunctional composites displayed a well-defined core-shell structure. The composites show spherical morphology with a size distribution of around 360 nm. Additionally, the composites exhibit high saturation magnetization (20.40 emu/g) and excellent luminescence properties. The inner Fe3O4 cores and the outer GdVO4:Dy3+ layers endow the composites with good responsive magnetic properties and strong fluorescent properties, which endow the nanoparticles with great potential applications in drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging, and marking and separating of cells in vitro. PMID:28773275

Enhanced Photon Extraction from a Nanowire Quantum Dot Using a Bottom-Up Photonic Shell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeannin, Mathieu; Cremel, Thibault; Häyrynen, Teppo; Gregersen, Niels; Bellet-Amalric, Edith; Nogues, Gilles; Kheng, Kuntheak

2017-11-01

Semiconductor nanowires offer the possibility to grow high-quality quantum-dot heterostructures, and, in particular, CdSe quantum dots inserted in ZnSe nanowires have demonstrated the ability to emit single photons up to room temperature. In this paper, we demonstrate a bottom-up approach to fabricate a photonic fiberlike structure around such nanowire quantum dots by depositing an oxide shell using atomic-layer deposition. Simulations suggest that the intensity collected in our NA =0.6 microscope objective can be increased by a factor 7 with respect to the bare nanowire case. Combining microphotoluminescence, decay time measurements, and numerical simulations, we obtain a fourfold increase in the collected photoluminescence from the quantum dot. We show that this improvement is due to an increase of the quantum-dot emission rate and a redirection of the emitted light. Our ex situ fabrication technique allows a precise and reproducible fabrication on a large scale. Its improved extraction efficiency is compared to state-of-the-art top-down devices.

Charge-doping and chemical composition-driven magnetocrystalline anisotropy in CoPt core-shell alloy clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruiz-Díaz, P.; Muñoz-Navia, M.; Dorantes-Dávila, J.

2018-03-01

Charge-doping together with 3 d-4 d alloying emerges as promising mechanisms for tailoring the magnetic properties of low-dimensional systems. Here, throughout ab initio calculations, we present a systematic overview regarding the impact of both electron(hole) charge-doping and chemical composition on the magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MA) of CoPt core-shell alloy clusters. By taking medium-sized Co n Pt m ( N = n + m = 85) octahedral-like alloy nanoparticles for some illustrative core-sizes as examples, we found enhanced MA energies and large induced spin(orbital) moments in Pt-rich clusters. Moreover, depending on the Pt-core-size, both in-plane and off-plane directions of magnetization are observed. In general, the MA of these binary compounds further stabilizes upon charge-doping. In addition, in the clusters with small MA, the doping promotes magnetization switching. Insights into the microscopical origins of the MA behavior are associated to changes in the electronic structure of the clusters. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

An Aeroelastic Evaluation of the Flexible Thermal Protection System for an Inatable Aerodynamic Decelerator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goldman, Benjamin D.

The purpose of this dissertation is to study the aeroelastic stability of a proposed flexible thermal protection system (FTPS) for the NASA Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD). A flat, square FTPS coupon exhibits violent oscillations during experimental aerothermal testing in NASA's 8 Foot High Temperature Tunnel, leading to catastrophic failure. The behavior of the structural response suggested that aeroelastic flutter may be the primary instability mechanism, prompting further experimental investigation and theoretical model development. Using Von Karman's plate theory for the panel-like structure and piston theory aerodynamics, a set of aeroelastic models were developed and limit cycle oscillations (LCOs) were calculated at the tunnel flow conditions. Similarities in frequency content of the theoretical and experimental responses indicated that the observed FTPS oscillations were likely aeroelastic in nature, specifically LCO/flutter. While the coupon models can be used for comparison with tunnel tests, they cannot predict accurately the aeroelastic behavior of the FTPS in atmospheric flight. This is because the geometry of the flight vehicle is no longer a flat plate, but rather (approximately) a conical shell. In the second phase of this work, linearized Donnell conical shell theory and piston theory aerodynamics are used to calculate natural modes of vibration and flutter dynamic pressures for various structural models composed of one or more conical shells resting on several circumferential elastic supports. When the flight vehicle is approximated as a single conical shell without elastic supports, asymmetric flutter in many circumferential waves is observed. When the elastic supports are included, the shell flutters symmetrically in zero circumferential waves. Structural damping is found to be important in this case, as "hump-mode" flutter is possible. Aeroelastic models that consider the individual FTPS layers as separate shells exhibit asymmetric flutter at high dynamic pressures relative to the single shell models. Parameter studies also examine the effects of tension, shear modulus reduction, and elastic support stiffness. Limitations of a linear structural model and piston theory aerodynamics prompted a more elaborate evaluation of the flight configuration. Using nonlinear Donnell conical shell theory for the FTPS structure, the pressure buckling and aeroelastic limit cycle oscillations were studied for a single elastically-supported conical shell. While piston theory was used initially, a time-dependent correction factor was derived using transform methods and potential flow theory to calculate more accurately the low Mach number supersonic flow. Three conical shell geometries were considered: a 3-meter diameter 70° shell, a 3.7-meter 70° shell, and a 6-meter diameter 70° shell. The 6-meter configuration was loaded statically and the results were compared with an experimental load test of a 6-meter HIAD vehicle. Though agreement between theoretical and experimental strains was poor, circumferential wrinkling phenomena observed during the experiments was captured by the theory and axial deformations were qualitatively similar in shape. With piston theory aerodynamics, the nonlinear flutter dynamic pressures of the 3-meter configuration were in agreement with the values calculated using linear theory, and the limit cycle amplitudes were generally on the order of the shell thickness. Pre-buckling pressure loads and the aerodynamic pressure correction factor were studied for all geometries, and these effects resulted in significantly lower flutter boundaries compared with piston theory alone. In the final phase of this work, the existing linear and nonlinear FTPS shell models were coupled with NASA's FUN3D Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes CFD code, allowing for the most physically realistic flight predictions. For the linear shell structural model, the elastically-supported shell natural modes were mapped to a CFD grid of a 6-meter HIAD vehicle, and a linear structural dynamics solver internal to the CFD code was used to compute the aeroelastic response. Aerodynamic parameters for a proposed HIAD re-entry trajectory were obtained, and aeroelastic solutions were calculated at three points in the trajectory: Mach 1, Mach 2, and Mach 11 (peak dynamic pressure). No flutter was found at any of these conditions using the linear method, though oscillations (of uncertain origin) on the order of the shell thickness may be possible in the transonic regime. For the nonlinear shell structural model, a set of assumed sinusoidal modes were mapped to the CFD grid, and the linear structural dynamics equations were replaced by a nonlinear ODE solver for the conical shell equations. Successful calculation and restart of the nonlinear dynamic aeroelastic solutions was demonstrated. Preliminary results indicated that dynamic instabilities may be possible at Mach 1 and 2, with a completely stable solution at Mach 11, though further study is needed. A major benefit of this implementation is that the coefficients and mode shapes for the nonlinear conical shell may be replaced with those of other types of structures, greatly expanding the aeroelastic capabilities of FUN3D.

A Complete Structural Inventory of the Mycobacterial Microcompartment Shell Proteins Constrains Models of Global Architecture and Transport*

PubMed Central

Mallette, Evan

2017-01-01

Bacterial microcompartments are bacterial analogs of eukaryotic organelles in that they spatially segregate aspects of cellular metabolism, but they do so by building not a lipid membrane but a thin polyhedral protein shell. Although multiple shell protein structures are known for several microcompartment types, additional uncharacterized components complicate systematic investigations of shell architecture. We report here the structures of all four proteins proposed to form the shell of an uncharacterized microcompartment designated the Rhodococcus and Mycobacterium microcompartment (RMM), which, along with crystal interactions and docking studies, suggests possible models for the particle's vertex and edge organization. MSM0272 is a typical hexameric β-sandwich shell protein thought to form the bulk of the facet. MSM0273 is a pentameric β-barrel shell protein that likely plugs the vertex of the particle. MSM0271 is an unusual double-ringed bacterial microcompartment shell protein whose rings are organized in an offset position relative to all known related proteins. MSM0275 is related to MSM0271 but self-organizes as linear strips that may line the facet edge; here, the presence of a novel extendable loop may help ameliorate poor packing geometry of the rigid main particle at the angled edges. In contrast to previously characterized homologs, both of these proteins show closed pores at both ends. This suggests a model where key interactions at the vertex and edges are mediated at the inner layer of the shell by MSM0271 (encircling MSM0273) and MSM0275, and the facet is built from MSM0272 hexamers tiling in the outer layer of the shell. PMID:27927988

A Complete Structural Inventory of the Mycobacterial Microcompartment Shell Proteins Constrains Models of Global Architecture and Transport.

PubMed

Mallette, Evan; Kimber, Matthew S

2017-01-27

Bacterial microcompartments are bacterial analogs of eukaryotic organelles in that they spatially segregate aspects of cellular metabolism, but they do so by building not a lipid membrane but a thin polyhedral protein shell. Although multiple shell protein structures are known for several microcompartment types, additional uncharacterized components complicate systematic investigations of shell architecture. We report here the structures of all four proteins proposed to form the shell of an uncharacterized microcompartment designated the Rhodococcus and Mycobacterium microcompartment (RMM), which, along with crystal interactions and docking studies, suggests possible models for the particle's vertex and edge organization. MSM0272 is a typical hexameric β-sandwich shell protein thought to form the bulk of the facet. MSM0273 is a pentameric β-barrel shell protein that likely plugs the vertex of the particle. MSM0271 is an unusual double-ringed bacterial microcompartment shell protein whose rings are organized in an offset position relative to all known related proteins. MSM0275 is related to MSM0271 but self-organizes as linear strips that may line the facet edge; here, the presence of a novel extendable loop may help ameliorate poor packing geometry of the rigid main particle at the angled edges. In contrast to previously characterized homologs, both of these proteins show closed pores at both ends. This suggests a model where key interactions at the vertex and edges are mediated at the inner layer of the shell by MSM0271 (encircling MSM0273) and MSM0275, and the facet is built from MSM0272 hexamers tiling in the outer layer of the shell. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Modeling the Electrostatics of Hollow Shell Suspensions: Ion Distribution, Pair Interactions, and Many-Body Effects.

PubMed

Hallez, Yannick; Meireles, Martine

2016-10-11

Electrostatic interactions play a key role in hollow shell suspensions as they determine their structure, stability, thermodynamics, and rheology and also the loading capacity of small charged species for nanoreservoir applications. In this work, fast, reliable modeling strategies aimed at predicting the electrostatics of hollow shells for one, two, and many colloids are proposed and validated. The electrostatic potential inside and outside a hollow shell with a finite thickness and a specific permittivity is determined analytically in the Debye-Hückel (DH) limit. An expression for the interaction potential between two such hollow shells is then derived and validated numerically. It follows a classical Yukawa form with an effective charge depending on the shell geometry, permittivity, and inner and outer surface charge densities. The predictions of the Ornstein-Zernike (OZ) equation with this pair potential to determine equations of state are then evaluated by comparison to results obtained with a Brownian dynamics algorithm coupled to the resolution of the linearized Poisson-Boltzmann and Laplace equations (PB-BD simulations). The OZ equation based on the DLVO-like potential performs very well in the dilute regime as expected, but also quite well, and more surprisingly, in the concentrated regime in which full spheres exhibit significant many-body effects. These effects are shown to vanish for shells with small thickness and high permittivity. For highly charged hollow shells, we propose and validate a charge renormalization procedure. Finally, using PB-BD simulations, we show that the cell model predicts the ion distribution inside and outside hollow shells accurately in both electrostatically dilute and concentrated suspensions. We then determine the shell loading capacity as a function of salt concentration, volume fraction, and surface charge density for nanoreservoir applications such as drug delivery, sensing, or smart coatings.

Modeling and simulation in biomedicine.

PubMed Central

Aarts, J.; Möller, D.; van Wijk van Brievingh, R.

1991-01-01

A group of researchers and educators in The Netherlands, Germany and Czechoslovakia have developed and adapted mathematical computer models of phenomena in the field of physiology and biomedicine for use in higher education. The models are graphical and highly interactive, and are all written in TurboPascal or the mathematical simulation language PSI. An educational shell has been developed to launch the models. The shell allows students to interact with the models and teachers to edit the models, to add new models and to monitor the achievements of the students. The models and the shell have been implemented on a MS-DOS personal computer. This paper describes the features of the modeling package and presents the modeling and simulation of the heart muscle as an example. PMID:1807745

Performance analysis of the node shell on a container door based on ANSYS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qingzhou; Zhou, Yi; Hu, Changqing; Cheng, Jiamin; Zeng, Xiaochen

2018-01-01

The structure of thenode shell on a container door was designed and analyzed in this study. The model of the shell was developed with ANSYS. The grids of the model were divided based on the Hex dominant method, and the stress distribution and the temperature distribution of the shell were calculated based on FEA (Finite Element Analysis) method. The analysis results indicated thatthe location of the concave upward side has the highest stress which also lower than the strength limit of the material. The temperature of the magnet installation location was highest, therefore the glue for fixing the magnet must has high temperature resistance. The results provide the basis for the further optimization of the shell.

On sound transmission into a stiffened cylindrical shell with rings and stringers treated as discrete elements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koval, L. R.

1980-01-01

In the context of the transmission of airborne noise into an aircraft fuselage, a mathematical model is presented for the transmission of an oblique plane sound wave into a finite cylindrical shell stiffened by stringers and ring frames. The rings and stringers are modeled as discrete structural elements. The numerical case studied was typical of a narrow-bodied jet transport fuselage. The numerical results show that the ring-frequency dip in the transmission loss curve that is present for a monocoque shell is still present in the case of a stiffened shell. The ring frequency effect is a result of the cylindrical geometry of the shell. Below the ring frequency, stiffening does not appear to have any significant effect on transmission loss, but above the ring frequency, stiffeners can enhance the transmission loss of a cylindrical shell.

Microbubble Sizing and Shell Characterization Using Flow Cytometry

PubMed Central

Tu, Juan; Swalwell, Jarred E.; Giraud, David; Cui, Weicheng; Chen, Weizhong; Matula, Thomas J.

2015-01-01

Experiments were performed to size, count, and obtain shell parameters for individual ultrasound contrast microbubbles using a modified flow cytometer. Light scattering was modeled using Mie theory, and applied to calibration beads to calibrate the system. The size distribution and population were measured directly from the flow cytometer. The shell parameters (shear modulus and shear viscosity) were quantified at different acoustic pressures (from 95 to 333 kPa) by fitting microbubble response data to a bubble dynamics model. The size distribution of the contrast agent microbubbles is consistent with manufacturer specifications. The shell shear viscosity increases with increasing equilibrium microbubble size, and decreases with increasing shear rate. The observed trends are independent of driving pressure amplitude. The shell elasticity does not vary with microbubble size. The results suggest that a modified flow cytometer can be an effective tool to characterize the physical properties of microbubbles, including size distribution, population, and shell parameters. PMID:21622051

Multi-shell model of ion-induced nucleic acid condensation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tolokh, Igor S.; Drozdetski, Aleksander V.; Pollack, Lois; Baker, Nathan A.; Onufriev, Alexey V.

2016-04-01

We present a semi-quantitative model of condensation of short nucleic acid (NA) duplexes induced by trivalent cobalt(iii) hexammine (CoHex) ions. The model is based on partitioning of bound counterion distribution around single NA duplex into "external" and "internal" ion binding shells distinguished by the proximity to duplex helical axis. In the aggregated phase the shells overlap, which leads to significantly increased attraction of CoHex ions in these overlaps with the neighboring duplexes. The duplex aggregation free energy is decomposed into attractive and repulsive components in such a way that they can be represented by simple analytical expressions with parameters derived from molecular dynamic simulations and numerical solutions of Poisson equation. The attractive term depends on the fractions of bound ions in the overlapping shells and affinity of CoHex to the "external" shell of nearly neutralized duplex. The repulsive components of the free energy are duplex configurational entropy loss upon the aggregation and the electrostatic repulsion of the duplexes that remains after neutralization by bound CoHex ions. The estimates of the aggregation free energy are consistent with the experimental range of NA duplex condensation propensities, including the unusually poor condensation of RNA structures and subtle sequence effects upon DNA condensation. The model predicts that, in contrast to DNA, RNA duplexes may condense into tighter packed aggregates with a higher degree of duplex neutralization. An appreciable CoHex mediated RNA-RNA attraction requires closer inter-duplex separation to engage CoHex ions (bound mostly in the "internal" shell of RNA) into short-range attractive interactions. The model also predicts that longer NA fragments will condense more readily than shorter ones. The ability of this model to explain experimentally observed trends in NA condensation lends support to proposed NA condensation picture based on the multivalent "ion binding shells."

Multifunctional core-shell silica microspheres and their performance in self-carrier decomposition, sustained drug release and fluorescent bioimaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehdi, Yamina Ait; Itatahine, Asma; Fizir, Meriem; Xiao, Deli; Dramou, Pierre; He, Hua

2018-07-01

An ideal nanocarrier system for drug delivery is that one made from biocompatible and biodegradable materials for safe excretion from the biological system, and often with additional imaging abilities. In the present work, new core-shell silica microspheres have been prepared, with carrier decomposition after drug release. Paclitaxel, which is one of the most efficient drugs against a wide range of malignancies was integrated into the silica core. The carrier decomposition resulted from the escape of drug molecules with loading capacity about 16.95%. To achieve the fluorescents properties of the synthesized material a biocompatible photoluminescent prepared carbon dots were inserted in a silica shell around the Ptx-SiO2 core. The resultant silica core-shell (Ptx-SiO2CDs-SiO2) NPs with average particle size around 100 nm showed high fluorescent properties from the confocal laser scanning microscope observation. Further observation under UV-light at 365 nm also confirmed the photoluminescence. The Ptx-SiO2@CDs-SiO2 NPs were highly water soluble, and provide a sustained drug release as well as pH sensitivity. The incubation of A549 cells line with Ptx-SiO2@CDs-SiO2 NPs exhibits high cellular uptake as shown by CDs imaging. These properties in addition to the biocompatibility of Ptx-SiO2@CDs-SiO2 NPs and biodegradability of the silica core contributed simultaneously with the drug release process for easy body excretion after its functionality via renal system.

Quasi-static axisymmetric eversion hemispherical domes made of elastomers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kabrits, Sergey A.; Kolpak, Eugeny P.

2016-06-01

The paper considers numerical solution for the problem of quasi-static axisymmetric eversion of a spherical shell (hemisphere) under action of external pressure. Results based on the general nonlinear theory of shells made of elastomers, proposed by K. F. Chernykh. It is used two models of shells based on the hypotheses of the Kirchhoff and Timoshenko, modified K.F. Chernykh for the case of hyperelastic rubber-like material. The article presents diagrams of equilibrium states of eversion hemispheres for both models as well as the shape of the shell at different points in the diagram.

Nonlinear analysis of damaged stiffened fuselage shells subjected to combined loads

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Starnes, James H., Jr.; Britt, Vicki O.; Young, Richard D.; Rankin, Charles C.; Shore, Charles P.; Bains, Jane C.

1994-01-01

The results of an analytical study of the nonlinear response of stiffened fuselage shells with long cracks are presented. The shells are modeled with a hierarchical modeling strategy that accounts for global and local response phenomena accurately. Results are presented for internal pressure and mechanical bending loads. The effects of crack location and orientation on shell response are described. The effects of mechanical fasteners on the response of a lap joint and the effects of elastic and elastic-plastic material properties on the buckling response of tension-loaded flat panels with cracks are also addressed.

Kinematic Methods of Designing Free Form Shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korotkiy, V. A.; Khmarova, L. I.

2017-11-01

The geometrical shell model is formed in light of the set requirements expressed through surface parameters. The shell is modelled using the kinematic method according to which the shell is formed as a continuous one-parameter set of curves. The authors offer a kinematic method based on the use of second-order curves with a variable eccentricity as a form-making element. Additional guiding ruled surfaces are used to control the designed surface form. The authors made a software application enabling to plot a second-order curve specified by a random set of five coplanar points and tangents.

Time-dependent pH sensing phenomena using CdSe/ZnS quantum dots in EIS structure

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Time-dependent pH sensing phenomena of the core-shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dot (QD) sensors in EIS (electrolyte insulator semiconductor) structure have been investigated for the first time. The quantum dots are immobilized by chaperonin GroEL protein, which are observed by both atomic force microscope and scanning electron microscope. The diameter of one QD is approximately 6.5 nm. The QDs are not oxidized over a long time and core-shell CdSe/ZnS are confirmed by X-ray photon spectroscopy. The sensors are studied for sensing of hydrogen ions concentration in different buffer solutions at broad pH range of 2 to 12. The QD sensors show improved sensitivity (38 to 55 mV/pH) as compared to bare SiO2 sensor (36 to 23 mV/pH) with time period of 0 to 24 months, owing to the reduction of defects in the QDs. Therefore, the differential sensitivity of the QD sensors with respect to the bare SiO2 sensors is improved from 2 to 32 mV/pH for the time period of 0 to 24 months. After 24 months, the sensitivity of the QD sensors is close to ideal Nernstian response with good linearity of 99.96%. Stability and repeatability of the QD sensors show low drift (10 mV for 10 cycles) as well as small hysteresis characteristics (<10 mV). This QD sensor is very useful for future human disease diagnostics. PMID:24725352

Influence of the shell thickness and charge distribution on the effective interaction between two like-charged hollow spheres.

PubMed

Angelescu, Daniel G; Caragheorgheopol, Dan

2015-10-14

The mean-force and the potential of the mean force between two like-charged spherical shells were investigated in the salt-free limit using the primitive model and Monte Carlo simulations. Apart from an angular homogeneous distribution, a discrete charge distribution where point charges localized on the shell outer surface followed an icosahedral arrangement was considered. The electrostatic coupling of the model system was altered by the presence of mono-, trivalent counterions or small dendrimers, each one bearing a net charge of 9 e. We analyzed in detail how the shell thickness and the radial and angular distribution of the shell charges influenced the effective interaction between the shells. We found a sequence of the potential of the mean force similar to the like-charged filled spheres, ranging from long-range purely repulsive to short-range purely attractive as the electrostatic coupling increased. Both types of potentials were attenuated and an attractive-to-repulsive transition occurred in the presence of trivalent counterions as a result of (i) thinning the shell or (ii) shifting the shell charge from the outer towards the inner surface. The potential of the mean force became more attractive with the icosahedrally symmetric charge model, and additionally, at least one shell tended to line up with 5-fold symmetry axis along the longest axis of the simulation box at the maximum attraction. The results provided a basic framework of understanding the non-specific electrostatic origin of the agglomeration and long-range assembly of the viral nanoparticles.

Efficacy of antimicrobials extracted from organic pecan shell for inhibiting the growth of Listeria spp.

PubMed

Babu, Dinesh; Crandall, Philip G; Johnson, Casey L; O'Bryan, Corliss A; Ricke, Steven C

2013-12-01

Growers and processors of USDA certified organic foods are in need of suitable organic antimicrobials. The purpose of the research reported here was to develop and test natural antimicrobials derived from an all-natural by-product, organic pecan shells. Unroasted and roasted organic pecan shells were subjected to solvent free extraction to produce antimicrobials that were tested against Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes serotypes to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of antimicrobials. The effectiveness of pecan shell extracts were further tested using a poultry skin model system and the growth inhibition of the Listeria cells adhered onto the skin model were quantified. The solvent free extracts of pecan shells inhibited Listeria strains at MICs as low as 0.38%. The antimicrobial effectiveness tests on a poultry skin model exhibited nearly a 2 log reduction of the inoculated cocktail mix of Listeria strains when extracts of pecan shell powder were used. The extracts also produced greater than a 4 log reduction of the indigenous spoilage bacteria on the chicken skin. Thus, the pecan shell extracts may prove to be very effective alternative antimicrobials against food pathogens and supplement the demand for effective natural antimicrobials for use in organic meat processing. © 2013 Institute of Food Technologists®

Combined optical sizing and acoustical characterization of single freely-floating microbubbles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luan, Ying; Renaud, Guillaume; Raymond, Jason L.; Segers, Tim; Lajoinie, Guillaume; Beurskens, Robert; Mastik, Frits; Kokhuis, Tom J. A.; van der Steen, Antonius F. W.; Versluis, Michel; de Jong, Nico

2016-12-01

In this study we present a combined optical sizing and acoustical characterization technique for the study of the dynamics of single freely-floating ultrasound contrast agent microbubbles exposed to long burst ultrasound excitations up to the milliseconds range. A co-axial flow device was used to position individual microbubbles on a streamline within the confocal region of three ultrasound transducers and a high-resolution microscope objective. Bright-field images of microbubbles passing through the confocal region were captured using a high-speed camera synchronized to the acoustical data acquisition to assess the microbubble response to a 1-MHz ultrasound burst. Nonlinear bubble vibrations were identified at a driving pressure as low as 50 kPa. The results demonstrate good agreement with numerical simulations based on the shell-buckling model proposed by Marmottant et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 118, 3499-3505 (2005)]. The system demonstrates the potential for a high-throughput in vitro characterization of individual microbubbles.

Quantifying hydrostatic pressure in plant cells by using indentation with an atomic force microscope.

PubMed

Beauzamy, Léna; Derr, Julien; Boudaoud, Arezki

2015-05-19

Plant cell growth depends on a delicate balance between an inner drive-the hydrostatic pressure known as turgor-and an outer restraint-the polymeric wall that surrounds a cell. The classical technique to measure turgor in a single cell, the pressure probe, is intrusive and cannot be applied to small cells. In order to overcome these limitations, we developed a method that combines quantification of topography, nanoindentation force measurements, and an interpretation using a published mechanical model for the pointlike loading of thin elastic shells. We used atomic force microscopy to estimate the elastic properties of the cell wall and turgor pressure from a single force-depth curve. We applied this method to onion epidermal peels and quantified the response to changes in osmolality of the bathing solution. Overall our approach is accessible and enables a straightforward estimation of the hydrostatic pressure inside a walled cell. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Application of the line-spring model to a cylindrical shell containing a circumferential or axial part-through crack

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Delale, F.; Erdogan, F.

1982-01-01

The line-spring model developed by Rice and Levy (1972) is used to obtain an approximate solution for a cylindrical shell containing a part-through surface crack. A Reissner type theory is used to account for the effects of the transverse shear deformations, and the stress intensity factor at the deepest penetration point of the crack is tabulated for bending and membrane loading by varying three-dimensionless length parameters of the problem formed from the shell radius, the shell thickness, the crack length, and the crack depth. The upper bounds of the stress intensity factors are provided, and qualitatively the line-spring model gives the expected results in comparison with elasticity solutions.

All (4,0): Sigma models with (4,0) off-shell supersymmetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hull, Chris; Lindström, Ulf

2017-08-01

Off-shell (4, 0) supermultiplets in 2-dimensions are formulated. These are used to construct sigma models whose target spaces are vector bundles over manifolds that are hyperkähler with torsion. The off-shell supersymmetry implies that the complex structures are simultaneously integrable and allows us to write actions using extended superspace and projective superspace, giving an explicit construction of the target space geometries.

LQR Control of Shell Vibrations Via Piezoceramic Actuators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

delRosario, R. C. H.; Smith, R. C.

1997-01-01

A model-based Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) method for controlling vibrations in cylindrical shells is presented. Surface-mounted piezo-ceramic patches are employed as actuators which leads to unbounded control input operators. Modified Donnell-Mushtari shell equations incorporating strong or Kelvin-Voigt damping are used to model the system. The model is then abstractly formulated in terms of sesquilinear forms. This provides a framework amenable for proving model well-posedness and convergence of LQR gains using analytic semigroup results combined with LQR theory for unbounded input operators. Finally, numerical examples demonstrating the effectiveness of the method are presented.

Microscopic model of road capacity for highway systems in port based metropolitan areas.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-03-01

In this report, we present our approach to use microscopic modeling to assess : highway traffic mobility during lane blockage situation. A test microscopic model using : ARENA software is developed. In this model, we specifically aim to simulate the ...

Finite Element Modeling of the Buckling Response of Sandwich Panels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rose, Cheryl A.; Moore, David F.; Knight, Norman F., Jr.; Rankin, Charles C.

2002-01-01

A comparative study of different modeling approaches for predicting sandwich panel buckling response is described. The study considers sandwich panels with anisotropic face sheets and a very thick core. Results from conventional analytical solutions for sandwich panel overall buckling and face-sheet-wrinkling type modes are compared with solutions obtained using different finite element modeling approaches. Finite element solutions are obtained using layered shell element models, with and without transverse shear flexibility, layered shell/solid element models, with shell elements for the face sheets and solid elements for the core, and sandwich models using a recently developed specialty sandwich element. Convergence characteristics of the shell/solid and sandwich element modeling approaches with respect to in-plane and through-the-thickness discretization, are demonstrated. Results of the study indicate that the specialty sandwich element provides an accurate and effective modeling approach for predicting both overall and localized sandwich panel buckling response. Furthermore, results indicate that anisotropy of the face sheets, along with the ratio of principle elastic moduli, affect the buckling response and these effects may not be represented accurately by analytical solutions. Modeling recommendations are also provided.

Global Curvature Buckling and Snapping of Spherical Shells.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pezzulla, Matteo; Stoop, Norbert; Steranka, Mark; Bade, Abdikhalaq; Trejo, Miguel; Holmes, Douglas

A spherical shell under external pressure will eventually buckle locally through the development of a dimple. However, when a free spherical shell is subject to variations in natural curvature, it will either buckle globally or snap towards a buckled configuration. We study the similarities and differences between pressure and curvature instabilities in spherical shells. We show how the critical buckling natural curvature is largely independent of the thinness and half-angle of the shell, while the critical snapping natural curvature grows linearly with the half-angle. As a result, we demonstrate how a critical half-angle, depending only on the thinness of the shell, sets the threshold between two different kinds of snapping: as a rule of thumb, shallow shells snap into everted shells, while deep shells snap into buckled shells. As the developed models are purely geometrical, the results are applicable to a large variety of stimuli and scales. NSF CAREER CMMI-1454153.

Silica-Coated Core-Shell Structured Polystyrene Nanospheres and Their Size-Dependent Mechanical Properties.

PubMed

Cao, Xu; Pan, Guoshun; Huang, Peng; Guo, Dan; Xie, Guoxin

2017-08-22

The core-shell structured PS/SiO 2 composite nanospheres were synthesized on the basis of a modified Stöber method. The mechanical properties of monodisperse nanospheres were characterized with nanoindentation on the basis of the atomic force microscopy (AFM). The surface morphologies of PS/SiO 2 composite nanospheres was scanned with the tapping mode of AFM, and the force-distance curves were measured with the contact mode of AFM. Different contact models were compared for the analyses of experimental data. The elastic moduli of PS/SiO 2 composite nanosphere (4-40 GPa) and PS nanosphere (∼3.4 GPa) were obtained with the Hertz and Johnson-Kendall-Roberts (JKR) models, respectively, and the JKR model was proven to be more appropriate for calculating the elastic modulus of PS/SiO 2 nanospheres. The elastic modulus of SiO 2 shell gradually approached a constant value (∼46 GPa) with the increase of SiO 2 shell thickness. A core-shell model was proposed for describing the relationship between PS/SiO 2 composite nanosphere's elastic modulus and shell thickness. The mechanical properties of the composite nanospheres were reasonably explained on the basis of the growth mechanism of PS/SiO 2 composite nanospheres, in particular the SiO 2 shell's formation process. Available research data of PS/SiO 2 composite nanospheres in this work can provide valuable guidance for their effective application in surface engineering, micro/nanomanufacturing, lubrication, and so on.

Plume Activity and Tidal Deformation on Enceladus Influenced by Faults and Variable Ice Shell Thickness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Běhounková, Marie; Souček, Ondřej; Hron, Jaroslav; Čadek, Ondřej

2017-09-01

We investigated the effect of variations in ice shell thickness and of the tiger stripe fractures crossing Enceladus' south polar terrain on the moon's tidal deformation by performing finite element calculations in three-dimensional geometry. The combination of thinning in the polar region and the presence of faults has a synergistic effect that leads to an increase of both the displacement and stress in the south polar terrain by an order of magnitude compared to that of the traditional model with a uniform shell thickness and without faults. Assuming a simplified conductive heat transfer and neglecting the heat sources below the ice shell, we computed the global heat budget of the ice shell. For the inelastic properties of the shell described by a Maxwell viscoelastic model, we show that unrealistically low average viscosity of the order of 10^{13} Pa s is necessary for preserving the volume of the ocean, suggesting the important role of the heat sources in the deep interior. Similarly, low viscosity is required to predict the observed delay of the plume activity, which hints at other delaying mechanisms than just the viscoelasticity of the ice shell. The presence of faults results in large spatial and temporal heterogeneity of geysering activity compared to the traditional models without faults. Our model contributes to understanding the physical mechanisms that control the fault activity, and it provides potentially useful information for future missions that will sample the plume for evidence of life.

From viscous to elastic sheets: Dynamics of smectic freely floating films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stannarius, Ralf; Harth, Kirsten; May, Kathrin; Trittel, Torsten

The dynamics of droplets and bubbles, particularly on microscopic scales, are of considerable importance in biological, environmental, and technical contexts. Soap bubbles, vesicles and components of biological cells are well known examples where the dynamic behavior is significantly influenced by the properties of thin membranes enclosed by fluids. Two-dimensional membrane motions couple to 3D shape transformations. Smectic liquid crystal mesogens form phases with internal molecular layer order. Free-standing films are easily prepared from this class of materials. They represent simple model systems for membrane dynamics and pattern formation in a quasi two-dimensional fluid. These films are usually spanned over a frame, and they can be inflated to bubbles on a support. Recently, closed microscopic shells of liquid-crystalline materials suspended in an outer fluid without contact to a solid support have been introduced and studied. With a special technique, we prepare millimetre to centimetre sized smectic bubbles in air (similar to soap bubbles). Their distinct feature is the fact that any change of surface area is coupled to a restructuring of the layers in the membrane. High-speed cameras are used to observe the shape transformations of freely floating bubbles from a distorted initial shape to a sphere. Bursting dynamics are recorded and compared to models. Most strikingly, an unpreceded cross-over from inviscid to viscous and elastic behaviour with increasing thickness of the membrane is found: Whereas thin bubbles behave almost like inviscid fluids, the relaxation dynamics slows down considerably for larger film thicknesses. Surface wrinkling and formation of extrusions are observed. We will present a characterization and an expalantion for the above phenomena.

Alternating current dielectrophoresis of core-shell nanoparticles: Experiments and comparison with theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Chungja

Nanoparticles are fascinating where physical and optical properties are related to size. Highly controllable synthesis methods and nanoparticle assembly are essential for highly innovative technological applications. Well-defined shaped and sized nanoparticles enable comparisons between experiments, theory and subsequent new models to explain experimentally observed phenomena. Among nanoparticles, nonhomogeneous core-shell nanoparticles (CSnp) have new properties that arise when varying the relative dimensions of the core and the shell. This CSnp structure enables various optical resonances, and engineered energy barriers, in addition to the high charge to surface ratio. Assembly of homogeneous nanoparticles into functional structures has become ubiquitous in biosensors (i.e. optical labeling), nanocoatings, and electrical circuits. Limited nonhomogenous nanoparticle assembly has only been explored. Many conventional nanoparticle assembly methods exist, but this work explores dielectrophoresis (DEP) as a new method. DEP is particle polarization via non-uniform electric fields while suspended in conductive fluids. Most prior DEP efforts involve microscale particles. Prior work on core-shell nanoparticle assemblies and separately, nanoparticle characterizations with dielectrophoresis and electrorotation, did not systematically explore particle size, dielectric properties (permittivity and electrical conductivity), shell thickness, particle concentration, medium conductivity, and frequency. This work is the first, to the best of our knowledge, to systematically examine these dielectrophoretic properties for core-shell nanoparticles. Further, we conduct a parametric fitting to traditional core-shell models. These biocompatible core-shell nanoparticles were studied to fill a knowledge gap in the DEP field. Experimental results (chapter 5) first examine medium conductivity, size and shell material dependencies of dielectrophoretic behaviors of spherical CSnp into 2D and 3D particle-assemblies. Chitosan (amino sugar) and poly-L-lysine (amino acid, PLL) CSnp shell materials were custom synthesized around a hollow (gas) core by utilizing a phospholipid micelle around a volatile fluid templating for the shell material; this approach proves to be novel and distinct from conventional core-shell models wherein a conductive core is coated with an insulative shell. Experiments were conducted within a 100 nl chamber housing 100 um wide Ti/Au quadrapole electrodes spaced 25 um apart. Frequencies from 100kHz to 80MHz at fixed local field of 5Vpp were tested with 10-5 and 10-3 S/m medium conductivities for 25 seconds. Dielectrophoretic responses of ~220 and 340(or ~400) nm chitosan or PLL CSnp were compiled as a function of medium conductivity, size and shell material. Experiments further examined shell thickness and particle concentration (chapter 6) dependencies on ~530 nm CSnp dielectrophoretic and electrorotational responses with ~30nm and ~80 nm shell thicknesses and at particle concentration count rates of 5000 +/- 500, 10000 +/- 500, and 15000 +/- 500 counts per second. Using similar experimental conditions, both dielectrophoretic and electrorotational CSnp responses were compiled versus frequency, shell thickness, and particle concentration. Knowledge gained from this study includes a unique resonance-like dielectrophoretic and electrorotational spectrum, which is significantly distinct from other cells and particles. CSnp dielectric properties were then calculated by parametrically fitting parameters to an existing core-shell model. The optimum conductivity and relative permittivity for the core and the shell are 1E-15 S/m, 1, 0.6 S/m, and 90, respectively. These properties can be exploited to rapidly assemble these unique core-shell particles for future structural color production in fabrics, vehicle, and wall painting.

Probing the pre-PN Mass Loss Histories in the PPN Dust Shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ueta, T.

2001-12-01

Proto-planetary nebulae (PPNs) are immediate progenitors of planetary nebulae (PNs) rapidly evolving over a relatively short time scale. Unlike the full-fledged PNs, the circumstellar dust shells of PPNs have neither been photo-ionized nor been swept up by fast winds. Since the PPN shells retain pristine fossil records of mass loss histories of these stars during the pre-PN phases, these dust shells provide ideal astronomical laboratories in which to investigate the origin of complex PN structures that we observe. We have conducted imaging surveys of the PPN shells in mid-infrared and optical wavelengths, probing the dust distribution directly via mid-infrared thermal dust emission arising from the shells and indirectly via dust-scattered stellar optical emission passing through the shells. From these surveys, we have found that (1) the PPN shells are intrinsically axisymmetric due to equatorially-enhanced superwind mass loss that occurred immediately before the beginning of the PPN phase, and (2) the variable degree of equatorial enhancement in the shells, which is probably related to the progenitor mass, has resulted in different optical depths and morphologies. To characterize the PPN shell geometries, we have developed and employed a 2.5 dimensional radiative transfer code that treats dust absorption, reemission, and an/isotropic scattering in any axisymmetric system illuminated by a central energy source. In the code, the dust optical properties are derived from the laboratory-measured refractive index using Mie theory allowing a distribution of sizes for each species in each composition layer in the shell. Our numerical analysis would be able to de-project and recover 3-D geometrical quantities, such as the pole-to-equator density ratio, from the observational data. These model calculations would provide constraining parameters for hydrodynamical models intended to generate equatorial enhancements during dust mass loss as well as initial parameters for magneto-hydrodynamical models aimed to reproduce highly complex PN morphologies.

Preparation and thermal stability of the spindle α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}@SiO{sub 2} core–shell nanoparticles

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

Zhang, Xin; Niu, Yongan; Li, Yang

2014-03-15

The spindle α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}@SiO{sub 2} core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared via hydrothermal synthesis and modified Stöber method. During these processes, shell thicknesses could be easily adjusted by the amount of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), and the formation of core-free SiO{sub 2} could be effectively avoided. The structures and compositions of α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}@SiO{sub 2} NPs are investigated by transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption spectroscopy. These results reveal that the α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}@SiO{sub 2} NPs with certain sizes are monodisperse and homogeneous. To estimate the thermal stability, the α-Fe{sub 2}O{submore » 3}, α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}@SiO{sub 2} and SiO{sub 2} NPs are annealed at 600, 800 and 1000 °C for 1 h under air atmosphere, respectively. Furthermore, the stabilities of these NPs are confirmed by thermal analysis methods. The structure and shape stabilities of these as-prepared α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}@SiO{sub 2} NPs are investigated by XRD and scanning electron microscope (SEM). -- Graphical abstract: Schematic of preparation of the monodisperse spindle α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}@SiO{sub 2} nanoparticles (NPs). Highlights: • The spindle α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}@SiO{sub 2} nanoparticles (NPs) are successfully prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and modified Stöber method. • Optical properties are estimated and calculated by UV vis absorption spectrum. • Thermal stability of the α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}, α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}@SiO{sub 2} and SiO{sub 2} NPs are compared and analyzed by the SEM technique. • The structural changes of α-Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}@SiO{sub 2} NPs are measured by XRD measurement.« less

Synthesis and characterization of the core-shell magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (Fe₃O₄@MIPs) adsorbents for effective extraction and determination of sulfonamides in the poultry feed.

PubMed

Kong, Xuan; Gao, Ruixia; He, Xiwen; Chen, Langxing; Zhang, Yukui

2012-07-06

In this study, we present a general method to prepare the core-shell magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) nanoparticles (NPs) for sulfamethazine (SMZ). The resulting Fe₃O₄@MIPs NPs possess a highly improved imprinting effect, fast adsorption kinetics and high adsorption capacity, and can be applied to extract sulfonamide in the poultry feed. In this protocol, the magnetite NPs were synthesized by co-precipitating Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ in an ammonia solution first. Silica was then coated on the Fe₃O₄ NPs using a sol-gel method to obtain silica shell magnetic NPs. Subsequently, the vinyl groups were grated onto silica-modified Fe₃O₄ surface by 3-methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane. Finally, the MIPs films were formed on the surface of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ by the copolymerization of vinyl end groups with functional monomer, methacrylic acid, cross-linking agent, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, the initiator azo-bis-isobutyronitrile and template molecule, sulfamethazine. The morphology, magnetic, adsorption and recognition properties of Fe₃O₄@MIPs NPs were characterized using transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and re-binding experiments. The results showed that the binding sites of Fe₃O₄@MIPs were good accessibility, fast adsorption rate and the maximum adsorption capacity of Fe₃O₄@MIPs to SMZ was 344.8 μg g⁻¹. The selectivity of the obtained Fe₃O₄@MIPs NPs were elucidated by the different rebinding capability of SMZ and structural related sulfonamides in the mixed solution. The results indicated that the Fe₃O₄@MIPs had high imprinting factor 9.5 and significant selectivity. A method was developed for enrichment and determination of SMZ in the poultry feed samples with recoveries of duck and chicken feed ranging from 63.3 to 76.5% and 68.7 to 74.7%, respectively and the relative standard deviations (RSD) (<6.7%). Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A non-LTE kinetic model for quick analysis of K-shell spectra from Z-pinch plasmas

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

Li, J., E-mail: s.duan@163.com; Huang, X. B., E-mail: s.duan@163.com; Cai, H. C., E-mail: s.duan@163.com

Analyzing and modeling K-shell spectra emitted by low-to moderate-atomic number plasma is a useful and effective way to retrieve temperature density of z-pinch plasmas. In this paper, a non-LTE population kinetic model for quick analysis of K-shell spectra was proposed. The model contains ionization stages from bare nucleus to neutral atoms and includes all the important atomic processes. In the present form of the model, the plasma is assumed to be both optically thin and homogeneous with constant temperature and density, and only steady-state situation is considered. According to the detailed calculations for aluminum plasmas, contours of ratios of certainmore » K-shell lines in electron temperature and density plane as well as typical synthesized spectra were presented and discussed. The usefulness of the model is demonstrated by analyzing the spectrum from a neon gas-puff Z-pinch experiment performed on a 1 MA pulsed-power accelerator.« less

Plume Activity and Tidal Deformation on Enceladus Influenced by Faults and Variable Ice Shell Thickness

PubMed Central

Souček, Ondřej; Hron, Jaroslav; Čadek, Ondřej

2017-01-01

Abstract We investigated the effect of variations in ice shell thickness and of the tiger stripe fractures crossing Enceladus' south polar terrain on the moon's tidal deformation by performing finite element calculations in three-dimensional geometry. The combination of thinning in the polar region and the presence of faults has a synergistic effect that leads to an increase of both the displacement and stress in the south polar terrain by an order of magnitude compared to that of the traditional model with a uniform shell thickness and without faults. Assuming a simplified conductive heat transfer and neglecting the heat sources below the ice shell, we computed the global heat budget of the ice shell. For the inelastic properties of the shell described by a Maxwell viscoelastic model, we show that unrealistically low average viscosity of the order of 1013 Pa s is necessary for preserving the volume of the ocean, suggesting the important role of the heat sources in the deep interior. Similarly, low viscosity is required to predict the observed delay of the plume activity, which hints at other delaying mechanisms than just the viscoelasticity of the ice shell. The presence of faults results in large spatial and temporal heterogeneity of geysering activity compared to the traditional models without faults. Our model contributes to understanding the physical mechanisms that control the fault activity, and it provides potentially useful information for future missions that will sample the plume for evidence of life. Key Words: Enceladus—Tidal deformation—Faults—Variable ice shell thickness—Tidal heating—Plume activity and timing. Astrobiology 17, 941–954. PMID:28816521

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

Hansen, Stephanie B.; Harding, Eric C.; Knapp, Patrick F.

The burning core of an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) plasma produces bright x-rays at stagnation that can directly diagnose core conditions essential for comparison to simulations and understanding fusion yields. These x-rays also backlight the surrounding shell of warm, dense matter, whose properties are critical to understanding the efficacy of the inertial confinement and global morphology. In this work, we show that the absorption and fluorescence spectra of mid-Z impurities or dopants in the warm dense shell can reveal the optical depth, temperature, and density of the shell and help constrain models of warm, dense matter. This is illustrated bymore » the example of a high-resolution spectrum collected from an ICF plasma with a beryllium shell containing native iron impurities. Lastly, analysis of the iron K-edge provides model-independent diagnostics of the shell density (2.3 × 10 24 e/cm 3) and temperature (10 eV), while a 12-eV red shift in Kβ and 5-eV blue shift in the K-edge discriminate among models of warm dense matter: Both shifts are well described by a self-consistent field model based on density functional theory but are not fully consistent with isolated-atom models using ad-hoc density effects.« less

Fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy for warm dense matter studies and ICF plasma diagnostics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hansen, S. B.; Harding, E. C.; Knapp, P. F.; Gomez, M. R.; Nagayama, T.; Bailey, J. E.

2018-05-01

The burning core of an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) plasma produces bright x-rays at stagnation that can directly diagnose core conditions essential for comparison to simulations and understanding fusion yields. These x-rays also backlight the surrounding shell of warm, dense matter, whose properties are critical to understanding the efficacy of the inertial confinement and global morphology. We show that the absorption and fluorescence spectra of mid-Z impurities or dopants in the warm dense shell can reveal the optical depth, temperature, and density of the shell and help constrain models of warm, dense matter. This is illustrated by the example of a high-resolution spectrum collected from an ICF plasma with a beryllium shell containing native iron impurities. Analysis of the iron K-edge provides model-independent diagnostics of the shell density (2.3 × 1024 e/cm3) and temperature (10 eV), while a 12-eV red shift in Kβ and 5-eV blue shift in the K-edge discriminate among models of warm dense matter: Both shifts are well described by a self-consistent field model based on density functional theory but are not fully consistent with isolated-atom models using ad-hoc density effects.

Variational asymptotic modeling of composite dimensionally reducible structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Wenbin

A general framework to construct accurate reduced models for composite dimensionally reducible structures (beams, plates and shells) was formulated based on two theoretical foundations: decomposition of the rotation tensor and the variational asymptotic method. Two engineering software systems, Variational Asymptotic Beam Sectional Analysis (VABS, new version) and Variational Asymptotic Plate and Shell Analysis (VAPAS), were developed. Several restrictions found in previous work on beam modeling were removed in the present effort. A general formulation of Timoshenko-like cross-sectional analysis was developed, through which the shear center coordinates and a consistent Vlasov model can be obtained. Recovery relations are given to recover the asymptotic approximations for the three-dimensional field variables. A new version of VABS has been developed, which is a much improved program in comparison to the old one. Numerous examples are given for validation. A Reissner-like model being as asymptotically correct as possible was obtained for composite plates and shells. After formulating the three-dimensional elasticity problem in intrinsic form, the variational asymptotic method was used to systematically reduce the dimensionality of the problem by taking advantage of the smallness of the thickness. The through-the-thickness analysis is solved by a one-dimensional finite element method to provide the stiffnesses as input for the two-dimensional nonlinear plate or shell analysis as well as recovery relations to approximately express the three-dimensional results. The known fact that there exists more than one theory that is asymptotically correct to a given order is adopted to cast the refined energy into a Reissner-like form. A two-dimensional nonlinear shell theory consistent with the present modeling process was developed. The engineering computer code VAPAS was developed and inserted into DYMORE to provide an efficient and accurate analysis of composite plates and shells. Numerical results are compared with the exact solutions, and the excellent agreement proves that one can use VAPAS to analyze composite plates and shells efficiently and accurately. In conclusion, rigorous modeling approaches were developed for composite beams, plates and shells within a general framework. No such consistent and general treatment is found in the literature. The associated computer programs VABS and VAPAS are envisioned to have many applications in industry.

Effect of Microscopic Damage Events on Static and Ballistic Impact Strength of Triaxial Braid Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Littell, Justin D.; Binienda, Wieslaw K.; Arnold, William A.; Roberts, Gary D.; Goldberg, Robert K.

2010-01-01

The reliability of impact simulations for aircraft components made with triaxial-braided carbon-fiber composites is currently limited by inadequate material property data and lack of validated material models for analysis. Methods to characterize the material properties used in the analytical models from a systematically obtained set of test data are also lacking. A macroscopic finite element based analytical model to analyze the impact response of these materials has been developed. The stiffness and strength properties utilized in the material model are obtained from a set of quasi-static in-plane tension, compression and shear coupon level tests. Full-field optical strain measurement techniques are applied in the testing, and the results are used to help in characterizing the model. The unit cell of the braided composite is modeled as a series of shell elements, where each element is modeled as a laminated composite. The braided architecture can thus be approximated within the analytical model. The transient dynamic finite element code LS-DYNA is utilized to conduct the finite element simulations, and an internal LS-DYNA constitutive model is utilized in the analysis. Methods to obtain the stiffness and strength properties required by the constitutive model from the available test data are developed. Simulations of quasi-static coupon tests and impact tests of a represented braided composite are conducted. Overall, the developed method shows promise, but improvements that are needed in test and analysis methods for better predictive capability are examined.

Buckling Imperfection Sensitivity of Axially Compressed Orthotropic Cylinders

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schultz, Marc R.; Nemeth, Michael P.

2010-01-01

Structural stability is a major consideration in the design of lightweight shell structures. However, the theoretical predictions of geometrically perfect structures often considerably over predict the buckling loads of inherently imperfect real structures. It is reasonably well understood how the shell geometry affects the imperfection sensitivity of axially compressed cylindrical shells; however, the effects of shell anisotropy on the imperfection sensitivity is less well understood. In the present paper, the development of an analytical model for assessing the imperfection sensitivity of axially compressed orthotropic cylinders is discussed. Results from the analytical model for four shell designs are compared with those from a general-purpose finite-element code, and good qualitative agreement is found. Reasons for discrepancies are discussed, and potential design implications of this line of research are discussed.

Chaotic and regular instantons in helical shell models of turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Pietro, Massimo; Mailybaev, Alexei A.; Biferale, Luca

2017-03-01

Shell models of turbulence have a finite-time blowup in the inviscid limit, i.e., the enstrophy diverges while the single-shell velocities stay finite. The signature of this blowup is represented by self-similar instantonic structures traveling coherently through the inertial range. These solutions might influence the energy transfer and the anomalous scaling properties empirically observed for the forced and viscous models. In this paper we present a study of the instantonic solutions for a set of four shell models of turbulence based on the exact decomposition of the Navier-Stokes equations in helical eigenstates. We find that depending on the helical structure of each model, instantons are chaotic or regular. Some instantonic solutions tend to recover mirror symmetry for scales small enough. Models that have anomalous scaling develop regular nonchaotic instantons. Conversely, models that have nonanomalous scaling in the stationary regime are those that have chaotic instantons. The direction of the energy carried by each single instanton tends to coincide with the direction of the energy cascade in the stationary regime. Finally, we find that whenever the small-scale stationary statistics is intermittent, the instanton is less steep than the dimensional Kolmogorov scaling, independently of whether or not it is chaotic. Our findings further support the idea that instantons might be crucial to describe some aspects of the multiscale anomalous statistics of shell models.

Thickness Constraints on the Icy Shells of the Galilean Satellites from a Comparison of Crater Shapes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schenk, Paul M.

2002-01-01

A thin outer ice shell on Jupiter's large moon Europa would imply easy exchange between the surface and any organic or biotic material in its putative subsurface ocean. The thickness of the outer ice shell is poorly constrained, however, with model-dependent estimates ranging from a few kilometers of depths of impact craters on Europa, Ganymede and Callisto that reveal two anomalous transitions in crater shape with diameter. The first transition is probably related to temperature-dependent ductility of the crust at shallow depths (7-8 km on Europa). The second transition is attributed to the influence of subsurface oceans on all three satellites, which constrains Europa's icy shell to be at least 19 km thick. The icy lithospheres of Ganymede and Callisto are equally ice-rich, but Europa's icy shell has a thermal structure about 0.25-0.5 times the thickness of Ganymede's or Callisto's shells, depending on epoch. The appearances of the craters on Europa are inconsistent with thin-ice-shell models and indicate that exchange of oceanic and surface material could be difficult.

Separative analyses of a chromatographic column packed with a core-shell adsorbent for lithium isotope separation

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

Sugiyama, T.; Sugura, K.; Enokida, Y.

2015-03-15

Lithium-6 is used as a blanket material for sufficient tritium production in DT fueled fusion reactors. A core-shell type adsorbent was proposed for lithium isotope separation by chromatography. The mass transfer model in a chromatographic column consisted of 4 steps, such as convection and dispersion in the column, transfer through liquid films, intra-particle diffusion and and adsorption or desorption at the local adsorption sites. A model was developed and concentration profiles and time variation in the column were numerically simulated. It became clear that core-shell type adsorbents with thin porous shell were saturated rapidly relatively to fully porous one andmore » established a sharp edge of adsorption band. This is very important feature because lithium isotope separation requires long-distance development of adsorption band. The values of HETP (Height Equivalent of a Theoretical Plate) for core-shell adsorbent packed column were estimated by statistical moments of the step response curve. The value of HETP decreased with the thickness of the porous shell. A core-shell type adsorbent is, then, useful for lithium isotope separation. (authors)« less

Simulations of polymorphic icosahedral shells assembling around many cargo molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohajerani, Farzaneh; Perlmutter, Jason; Hagan, Michael

Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) are large icosahedral shells that sequester the enzymes and reactants responsible for particular metabolic pathways in bacteria. Although different BMCs vary in size and encapsulate different cargoes, they are constructed from similar pentameric and hexameric shell proteins. Despite recent groundbreaking experiments which visualized the formation of individual BMCs, the detailed assembly pathways and the factors which control shell size remain unclear. In this talk, we describe theoretical and computational models that describe the dynamical encapsulation of hundreds of cargo molecules by self-assembling icosahedral shells. We present phase diagrams and analysis of dynamical simulation trajectories showing how the thermodynamics, assembly pathways, and emergent structures depend on the interactions among shell proteins and cargo molecules. Our model suggests a mechanism for controlling insertion of the 12 pentamers required for a closed shell topology, and the relationship between assembly pathway and BMC size polydispersity. In addition to elucidating how native BMCs assemble,our results establish principles for reengineering BMCs or viral capsids as customizable nanoreactors that can assemble around a programmable set of enzymes and reactants. Supported by NIH R01GM108021 and Brandeis MRSEC DMR-1420382.

Model uncertainties of local-thermodynamic-equilibrium K-shell spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagayama, T.; Bailey, J. E.; Mancini, R. C.; Iglesias, C. A.; Hansen, S. B.; Blancard, C.; Chung, H. K.; Colgan, J.; Cosse, Ph.; Faussurier, G.; Florido, R.; Fontes, C. J.; Gilleron, F.; Golovkin, I. E.; Kilcrease, D. P.; Loisel, G.; MacFarlane, J. J.; Pain, J.-C.; Rochau, G. A.; Sherrill, M. E.; Lee, R. W.

2016-09-01

Local-thermodynamic-equilibrium (LTE) K-shell spectroscopy is a common tool to diagnose electron density, ne, and electron temperature, Te, of high-energy-density (HED) plasmas. Knowing the accuracy of such diagnostics is important to provide quantitative conclusions of many HED-plasma research efforts. For example, Fe opacities were recently measured at multiple conditions at the Sandia National Laboratories Z machine (Bailey et al., 2015), showing significant disagreement with modeled opacities. Since the plasma conditions were measured using K-shell spectroscopy of tracer Mg (Nagayama et al., 2014), one concern is the accuracy of the inferred Fe conditions. In this article, we investigate the K-shell spectroscopy model uncertainties by analyzing the Mg spectra computed with 11 different models at the same conditions. We find that the inferred conditions differ by ±20-30% in ne and ±2-4% in Te depending on the choice of spectral model. Also, we find that half of the Te uncertainty comes from ne uncertainty. To refine the accuracy of the K-shell spectroscopy, it is important to scrutinize and experimentally validate line-shape theory. We investigate the impact of the inferred ne and Te model uncertainty on the Fe opacity measurements. Its impact is small and does not explain the reported discrepancies.

Derivation of the Boltzmann Equation for Financial Brownian Motion: Direct Observation of the Collective Motion of High-Frequency Traders.

PubMed

Kanazawa, Kiyoshi; Sueshige, Takumi; Takayasu, Hideki; Takayasu, Misako

2018-03-30

A microscopic model is established for financial Brownian motion from the direct observation of the dynamics of high-frequency traders (HFTs) in a foreign exchange market. Furthermore, a theoretical framework parallel to molecular kinetic theory is developed for the systematic description of the financial market from microscopic dynamics of HFTs. We report first on a microscopic empirical law of traders' trend-following behavior by tracking the trajectories of all individuals, which quantifies the collective motion of HFTs but has not been captured in conventional order-book models. We next introduce the corresponding microscopic model of HFTs and present its theoretical solution paralleling molecular kinetic theory: Boltzmann-like and Langevin-like equations are derived from the microscopic dynamics via the Bogoliubov-Born-Green-Kirkwood-Yvon hierarchy. Our model is the first microscopic model that has been directly validated through data analysis of the microscopic dynamics, exhibiting quantitative agreements with mesoscopic and macroscopic empirical results.

Derivation of the Boltzmann Equation for Financial Brownian Motion: Direct Observation of the Collective Motion of High-Frequency Traders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanazawa, Kiyoshi; Sueshige, Takumi; Takayasu, Hideki; Takayasu, Misako

2018-03-01

A microscopic model is established for financial Brownian motion from the direct observation of the dynamics of high-frequency traders (HFTs) in a foreign exchange market. Furthermore, a theoretical framework parallel to molecular kinetic theory is developed for the systematic description of the financial market from microscopic dynamics of HFTs. We report first on a microscopic empirical law of traders' trend-following behavior by tracking the trajectories of all individuals, which quantifies the collective motion of HFTs but has not been captured in conventional order-book models. We next introduce the corresponding microscopic model of HFTs and present its theoretical solution paralleling molecular kinetic theory: Boltzmann-like and Langevin-like equations are derived from the microscopic dynamics via the Bogoliubov-Born-Green-Kirkwood-Yvon hierarchy. Our model is the first microscopic model that has been directly validated through data analysis of the microscopic dynamics, exhibiting quantitative agreements with mesoscopic and macroscopic empirical results.

Shell-model predictions for Lambda Lambda hypernuclei

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

Gal, A.; Millener, D.

2011-06-02

It is shown how the recent shell-model determination of {Lambda}N spin-dependent interaction terms in {Lambda} hypernuclei allows for a reliable deduction of {Lambda}{Lambda} separation energies in {Lambda}{Lambda} hypernuclei across the nuclear p shell. Comparison is made with the available data, highlighting {sub {Lambda}{Lambda}}{sup 11}Be and {sub {Lambda}{Lambda}}{sup 12}Be which have been suggested as possible candidates for the KEK-E373 HIDA event.

a Truncated Spherical Shell Model for Nuclear Collective Excitations: Applications to the Odd Mass Systems, Neutron-Proton Systems and Other Topics.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Hua

One of the most elusive quantum system in nature is the nucleus, which is a strongly interacting many body system. In the hadronic (a la neutrons and protons) phase, the primary concern of this thesis, the nucleus' single particle excitations are intertwined with their various collective excitations. Although the underpinning of the nucleus is the spherical shell model, it is rendered powerless without a severe, but "intelligent" truncation of the infinite Hilbert space. The recently proposed Fermion Dynamical Symmetry Model (FDSM) is precisely such a truncation scheme and in which a symmetry-dictated turncation scheme is introduced in nuclear physics for the first time. In this thesis, extensions and explorations of the FDSM are made to specifically study the odd mass (where the most intricate mixing of the single particle and the collective excitations are observed) and the neutron-proton systems. In particular, we find that the previously successful phenomenological particle-rotor-model of the Copenhagen school can now be well understood microscopically via the FDSM. Furthermore, the well known Coriolis attenuation and variable moment of inertia effects are naturally understood from the model as well. A computer code FDU0 was written by one of us to study, for the first time, the numerical implications of the FDSM. Several collective modes were found even when the system does not admit a group chain description. In addition, the code is most suitable to study the connection between level statistical behavior (a al Gaussian Orthogonal Ensemble) and dynamical symmetry. It is found that there exist critical region of the interaction parameter space were the system behaves "chaotically". This information is certainly crucial to understanding quantum "chaotic" behavior. Also, some of the primitive assumptions of the FDSM are investigated and we concluded that the assumption of the quasi-spin behavior for the so-called abnormal parity particles is inadequate and needs to be extended. Suggestions of extensions are made. Finally, the newly developed physical quantity, the collective spin, is explored in terms of dynamical symmetries in the FDSM.

Adaptation from restricted geometries: the shell inclination of terrestrial gastropods.

PubMed

Okajima, Ryoko; Chiba, Satoshi

2013-02-01

The adaptations that occur for support and protection can be studied with regard to the optimal structure that balances these objectives with any imposed constraints. The shell inclination of terrestrial gastropods is an appropriate model to address this problem. In this study, we examined how gastropods improve shell angles to well-balanced ones from geometrically constrained shapes. Our geometric analysis and physical analysis showed that constantly coiled shells are constrained from adopting a well-balanced angle; the shell angle of such basic shells tends to increase as the spire index (shell height/width) increases, although the optimum angle for stability is 90° for flat shells and 0° for tall shells. Furthermore, we estimated the influences of the geometric rule and the functional demands on actual shells by measuring the shell angles of both resting and active snails. We found that terrestrial gastropods have shell angles that are suited for balance. The growth lines of the shells indicated that this adaptation depends on the deflection of the last whorl: the apertures of flat shells are deflected downward, whereas those of tall shells are deflected upward. Our observations of active snails demonstrated that the animals hold their shells at better balanced angles than inactive snails. © 2012 The Author(s). Evolution© 2012 The Society for the Study of Evolution.

Large enhanced dielectric permittivity in polyaniline passivated core-shell nano magnetic iron oxide by plasma polymerization

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

Joy, Lija K.; Sooraj, V.; Sethulakshmi, N.

2014-03-24

Commercial samples of Magnetite with size ranging from 25–30 nm were coated with polyaniline by using radio frequency plasma polymerization to achieve a core shell structure of magnetic nanoparticle (core)–Polyaniline (shell). High resolution transmission electron microscopy images confirm the core shell architecture of polyaniline coated iron oxide. The dielectric properties of the material were studied before and after plasma treatment. The polymer coated magnetite particles exhibited a large dielectric permittivity with respect to uncoated samples. The dielectric behavior was modeled using a Maxwell–Wagner capacitor model. A plausible mechanism for the enhancement of dielectric permittivity is proposed.

Porogranular materials composed of elastic Helmholtz resonators for acoustic wave absorption.

PubMed

Griffiths, Stéphane; Nennig, Benoit; Job, Stéphane

2017-01-01

A theoretical and experimental study of the acoustic absorption of granular porous media made of non-cohesive piles of spherical shells is presented. These shells are either rigid or elastic, possibly drilled with a neck (Helmholtz resonators), and either porous or impervious. A description is given of acoustic propagation through these media using the effective medium models proposed by Johnson (rigid particles) and Boutin (rigid Helmholtz resonators), which are extended to the configurations studied in this work. A solution is given for the local equation of elasticity of a shell coupled to the viscous flow of air through the neck and the micropores. The models and the simulations are compared to absorption spectra measured in reflection in an impedance tube. The effective medium models and the measurements show excellent agreement for configurations made of rigid particles and rigid Helmholtz resonators that induce an additional peak of absorption at low frequency. A shift of the Helmholtz resonance toward low frequencies, due to the softness of the shells is revealed by the experiments for elastic shells made of soft elastomer and is well reproduced by the simulations. It is shown that microporous shells enhance and broaden acoustic absorption compared to stiff or elastic resonators.

Vibration characteristics of 1/8-scale dynamic models of the space-shuttle solid-rocket boosters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leadbetter, S. A.; Stephens, W.; Sewall, J. L.; Majka, J. W.; Barret, J. R.

1976-01-01

Vibration tests and analyses of six 1/8 scale models of the space shuttle solid rocket boosters are reported. Natural vibration frequencies and mode shapes were obtained for these aluminum shell models having internal solid fuel configurations corresponding to launch, midburn (maximum dynamic pressure), and near endburn (burnout) flight conditions. Test results for longitudinal, torsional, bending, and shell vibration frequencies are compared with analytical predictions derived from thin shell theory and from finite element plate and beam theory. The lowest analytical longitudinal, torsional, bending, and shell vibration frequencies were within + or - 10 percent of experimental values. The effects of damping and asymmetric end skirts on natural vibration frequency were also considered. The analytical frequencies of an idealized full scale space shuttle solid rocket boosted structure are computed with and without internal pressure and are compared with the 1/8 scale model results.

Modeling deformation and chaining of flexible shells in a nematic solvent with finite elements on an adaptive moving mesh

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DeBenedictis, Andrew; Atherton, Timothy J.; Rodarte, Andrea L.; Hirst, Linda S.

2018-03-01

A micrometer-scale elastic shell immersed in a nematic liquid crystal may be deformed by the host if the cost of deformation is comparable to the cost of elastic deformation of the nematic. Moreover, such inclusions interact and form chains due to quadrupolar distortions induced in the host. A continuum theory model using finite elements is developed for this system, using mesh regularization and dynamic refinement to ensure quality of the numerical representation even for large deformations. From this model, we determine the influence of the shell elasticity, nematic elasticity, and anchoring condition on the shape of the shell and hence extract parameter values from an experimental realization. Extending the model to multibody interactions, we predict the alignment angle of the chain with respect to the host nematic as a function of aspect ratio, which is found to be in excellent agreement with experiments.

Ab initio results for intermediate-mass, open-shell nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baker, Robert B.; Dytrych, Tomas; Launey, Kristina D.; Draayer, Jerry P.

2017-01-01

A theoretical understanding of nuclei in the intermediate-mass region is vital to astrophysical models, especially for nucleosynthesis. Here, we employ the ab initio symmetry-adapted no-core shell model (SA-NCSM) in an effort to push first-principle calculations across the sd-shell region. The ab initio SA-NCSM's advantages come from its ability to control the growth of model spaces by including only physically relevant subspaces, which allows us to explore ultra-large model spaces beyond the reach of other methods. We report on calculations for 19Ne and 20Ne up through 13 harmonic oscillator shells using realistic interactions and discuss the underlying structure as well as implications for various astrophysical reactions. This work was supported by the U.S. NSF (OCI-0904874 and ACI -1516338) and the U.S. DOE (DE-SC0005248), and also benefitted from the Blue Waters sustained-petascale computing project and high performance computing resources provided by LSU.

The influence of annealing temperature on the interface and photovoltaic properties of CdS/CdSe quantum dots sensitized ZnO nanorods solar cells.

PubMed

Qiu, Xiaofeng; Chen, Ling; Gong, Haibo; Zhu, Min; Han, Jun; Zi, Min; Yang, Xiaopeng; Ji, Changjian; Cao, Bingqiang

2014-09-15

Arrays of ZnO/CdS/CdSe core/shell nanocables with different annealing temperatures have been investigated for CdS/CdSe quantum dots sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). CdS/CdSe quantum dots were synthesized on the surface of ZnO nanorods that serve as the scaffold via a simple ion-exchange approach. The uniform microstructure was verified by scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. UV-Visible absorption spectrum and Raman spectroscopy analysis indicated noticeable influence of annealing temperature on the interface structural and optical properties of the CdS/CdSe layers. Particularly, the relationship between annealing temperatures and photovoltaic performance of the corresponding QDSSCs was investigated employing photovoltaic conversion, quantum efficiency and electrochemical impedance spectra. It is demonstrated that higher cell efficiency can be obtained by optimizing the annealing temperature through extending the photoresponse range and improving QD layer crystal quality. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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

Versino, Daniele; Bronkhorst, Curt Allan

The computational formulation of a micro-mechanical material model for the dynamic failure of ductile metals is presented in this paper. The statistical nature of porosity initiation is accounted for by introducing an arbitrary probability density function which describes the pores nucleation pressures. Each micropore within the representative volume element is modeled as a thick spherical shell made of plastically incompressible material. The treatment of porosity by a distribution of thick-walled spheres also allows for the inclusion of micro-inertia effects under conditions of shock and dynamic loading. The second order ordinary differential equation governing the microscopic porosity evolution is solved withmore » a robust implicit procedure. A new Chebyshev collocation method is employed to approximate the porosity distribution and remapping is used to optimize memory usage. The adaptive approximation of the porosity distribution leads to a reduction of computational time and memory usage of up to two orders of magnitude. Moreover, the proposed model affords consistent performance: changing the nucleation pressure probability density function and/or the applied strain rate does not reduce accuracy or computational efficiency of the material model. The numerical performance of the model and algorithms presented is tested against three problems for high density tantalum: single void, one-dimensional uniaxial strain, and two-dimensional plate impact. Here, the results using the integration and algorithmic advances suggest a significant improvement in computational efficiency and accuracy over previous treatments for dynamic loading conditions.« less

Nanocrystalline p-hydroxyacetanilide (paracetamol) and gold core-shell structure as a model drug deliverable organic-inorganic hybrid nanostructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Subhojit; Paul, Anumita; Chattopadhyay, Arun

2013-09-01

We report on the generation of core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) having an organic nanocrystal (NC) core coated with an inorganic metallic shell, being dispersed in aqueous medium. First, NCs of p-hydroxyacetanilide (pHA)--known also as paracetamol--were generated in an aqueous medium. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) evidenced the formation of pHA NCs and of their crystalline nature. The NCs were then coated with Au to form pHA@Au core-shell NPs, where the thickness of the Au shell was on the order of nanometers. The formation of Au nanoshell--surrounding pHA NC--was confirmed from its surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band in the UV/Vis spectrum and by TEM measurements. Further, on treatment of the core-shell particles with a solution comprising NaCl and HCl (pH < 3), the Au shell could be dissolved, subsequently releasing pHA molecules. The dissolution of Au shell was marked by a gradual diminishing of its SPR band, while the release of pHA molecules in the solution was confirmed from TEM and FTIR studies. The findings suggest that the core-shell NP could be hypothesized to be a model for encapsulating drug molecules, in their crystalline forms, for slow as well as targeted release.We report on the generation of core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) having an organic nanocrystal (NC) core coated with an inorganic metallic shell, being dispersed in aqueous medium. First, NCs of p-hydroxyacetanilide (pHA)--known also as paracetamol--were generated in an aqueous medium. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) evidenced the formation of pHA NCs and of their crystalline nature. The NCs were then coated with Au to form pHA@Au core-shell NPs, where the thickness of the Au shell was on the order of nanometers. The formation of Au nanoshell--surrounding pHA NC--was confirmed from its surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band in the UV/Vis spectrum and by TEM measurements. Further, on treatment of the core-shell particles with a solution comprising NaCl and HCl (pH < 3), the Au shell could be dissolved, subsequently releasing pHA molecules. The dissolution of Au shell was marked by a gradual diminishing of its SPR band, while the release of pHA molecules in the solution was confirmed from TEM and FTIR studies. The findings suggest that the core-shell NP could be hypothesized to be a model for encapsulating drug molecules, in their crystalline forms, for slow as well as targeted release. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr03566b

Surface roughness evaluation on mandrels and mirror shells for future X-ray telescopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sironi, Giorgia; Spiga, D.

2008-07-01

More X-ray missions that will be operating in near future, like particular SIMBOL-X, e-Rosita, Con-X/HXT, SVOM/XIAO and Polar-X, will be based on focusing optics manufactured by means of the Ni electroforming replication technique. This production method has already been successfully exploited for SAX, XMM and Swift-XRT. Optical surfaces for X-ray reflection have to be as smooth as possible also at high spatial frequencies. Hence it will be crucial to take under control microroughness in order to reduce the scattering effects. A high rms microroughness would cause the degradation of the angular resolution and loss of effective area. Stringent requirements have therefore to be fixed for mirror shells surface roughness depending on the specific energy range investigated, and roughness evolution has to be carefully monitored during the subsequent steps of the mirror-shells realization. This means to study the roughness evolution in the chain mandrel, mirror shells, multilayer deposition and also the degradation of mandrel roughness following iterated replicas. Such a study allows inferring which phases of production are the major responsible of the roughness growth and could help to find solutions optimizing the involved processes. The exposed study is carried out in the context of the technological consolidation related to SIMBOL-X, along with a systematic metrological study of mandrels and mirror shells. To monitor the roughness increase following each replica, a multiinstrumental approach was adopted: microprofiles were analysed by means of their Power Spectral Density (PSD) in the spatial frequency range 1000-0.01 μm. This enables the direct comparison of roughness data taken with instruments characterized by different operative ranges of frequencies, and in particular optical interferometers and Atomic Force Microscopes. The performed analysis allowed us to set realistic specifications on the mandrel roughness to be achieved, and to suggest a limit for the maximum number of a replica a mandrel can undergo before being refurbished.

Realistic Gamow shell model for resonance and continuum in atomic nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, F. R.; Sun, Z. H.; Wu, Q.; Hu, B. S.; Dai, S. J.

2018-02-01

The Gamow shell model can describe resonance and continuum for atomic nuclei. The model is established in the complex-moment (complex-k) plane of the Berggren coordinates in which bound, resonant and continuum states are treated on equal footing self-consistently. In the present work, the realistic nuclear force, CD Bonn, has been used. We have developed the full \\hat{Q}-box folded-diagram method to derive the realistic effective interaction in the model space which is nondegenerate and contains resonance and continuum channels. The CD-Bonn potential is renormalized using the V low-k method. With choosing 16O as the inert core, we have applied the Gamow shell model to oxygen isotopes.

Hierarchic plate and shell models based on p-extension

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Szabo, Barna A.; Sahrmann, Glenn J.

1988-01-01

Formulations of finite element models for beams, arches, plates and shells based on the principle of virtual work was studied. The focus is on computer implementation of hierarchic sequences of finite element models suitable for numerical solution of a large variety of practical problems which may concurrently contain thin and thick plates and shells, stiffeners, and regions where three dimensional representation is required. The approximate solutions corresponding to the hierarchic sequence of models converge to the exact solution of the fully three dimensional model. The stopping criterion is based on: (1) estimation of the relative error in energy norm; (2) equilibrium tests, and (3) observation of the convergence of quantities of interest.

Low energy dipole strength from large scale shell model calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sieja, Kamila

2017-09-01

Low energy enhancement of radiative strength functions has been deduced from experiments in several mass regions of nuclei. Such an enhancement is believed to impact the calculated neutron capture rates which are crucial input for reaction rates of astrophysical interest. Recently, shell model calculations have been performed to explain the upbend of the γ-strength as due to the M1 transitions between close-lying states in the quasi-continuum in Fe and Mo nuclei. Beyond mean-↓eld calculations in Mo suggested, however, a non-negligible role of electric dipole in the low energy enhancement. So far, no calculations of both dipole components within the same theoretical framework have been presented in this context. In this work we present newly developed large scale shell model appraoch that allows to treat on the same footing natural and non-natural parity states. The calculations are performed in a large sd - pf - gds model space, allowing for 1p{1h excitations on the top of the full pf-shell con↓guration mixing. We restrict the discussion to the magnetic part of the dipole strength, however, we calculate for the ↓rst time the magnetic dipole strength between states built of excitations going beyond the classical shell model spaces. Our results corroborate previous ↓ndings for the M1 enhancement for the natural parity states while we observe no enhancement for the 1p{1h contributions. We also discuss in more detail the e↑ects of con↓guration mixing limitations on the enhancement coming out from shell model calculations.

Effect of the shell material and confinement type on the conversion efficiency of core/shell quantum dot nanocrystal solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahin, Mehmet

2018-05-01

In this study, the effects of the shell material and confinement type on the conversion efficiency of core/shell quantum dot nanocrystal (QDNC) solar cells have been investigated in detail. For this purpose, the conventional, i.e. original, detailed balance model, developed by Shockley and Queisser to calculate an upper limit for the conversion efficiency of silicon p–n junction solar cells, is modified in a simple and effective way to calculate the conversion efficiency of core/shell QDNC solar cells. Since the existing model relies on the gap energy () of the solar cell, it does not make an estimation about the effect of QDNC materials on the efficiency of the solar cells, and gives the same efficiency values for several QDNC solar cells with the same . The proposed modification, however, estimates a conversion efficiency in relation to the material properties and also the confinement type of the QDNCs. The results of the modified model show that, in contrast to the original one, the conversion efficiencies of different QDNC solar cells, even if they have the same , become different depending upon the confinement type and shell material of the core/shell QDNCs, and this is crucial in the design and fabrication of the new generation solar cells to predict the confinement type and also appropriate QDNC materials for better efficiency.

Effectively-truncated large-scale shell-model calculations and nuclei around 100Sn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gargano, A.; Coraggio, L.; Itaco, N.

2017-09-01

This paper presents a short overview of a procedure we have recently introduced, dubbed the double-step truncation method, which is aimed to reduce the computational complexity of large-scale shell-model calculations. Within this procedure, one starts with a realistic shell-model Hamiltonian defined in a large model space, and then, by analyzing the effective single particle energies of this Hamiltonian as a function of the number of valence protons and/or neutrons, reduced model spaces are identified containing only the single-particle orbitals relevant to the description of the spectroscopic properties of a certain class of nuclei. As a final step, new effective shell-model Hamiltonians defined within the reduced model spaces are derived by way of a unitary transformation of the original large-scale Hamiltonian. A detailed account of this transformation is given and the merit of the double-step truncation method is illustrated by discussing few selected results for 96Mo, described as four protons and four neutrons outside 88Sr. Some new preliminary results for light odd-tin isotopes from A = 101 to 107 are also reported.

Shear-flexible finite-element models of laminated composite plates and shells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Noor, A. K.; Mathers, M. D.

1975-01-01

Several finite-element models are applied to the linear static, stability, and vibration analysis of laminated composite plates and shells. The study is based on linear shallow-shell theory, with the effects of shear deformation, anisotropic material behavior, and bending-extensional coupling included. Both stiffness (displacement) and mixed finite-element models are considered. Discussion is focused on the effects of shear deformation and anisotropic material behavior on the accuracy and convergence of different finite-element models. Numerical studies are presented which show the effects of increasing the order of the approximating polynomials, adding internal degrees of freedom, and using derivatives of generalized displacements as nodal parameters.

Morphomechanics and Developmental Constraints in the Evolution of Ammonites Shell Form.

PubMed

Erlich, Alexander; Moulton, Derek E; Goriely, Alain; Chirat, Regis

2016-11-01

The idea that physical processes involved in biological development underlie morphogenetic rules and channel morphological evolution has been central to the rise of evolutionary developmental biology. Here, we explore this idea in the context of seashell morphogenesis. We show that a morphomechanical model predicts the effects of variations in shell shape on the ornamental pattern in ammonites, a now extinct group of cephalopods with external chambered shell. Our model shows that several seemingly unrelated characteristics of synchronous, ontogenetic, intraspecific, and evolutionary variations in ornamental patterns among various ammonite species may all be understood from the fact that the mechanical forces underlying the oscillatory behavior of the shell secreting system scale with the cross-sectional curvature of the shell aperture. This simple morphogenetic rule, emerging from biophysical interactions during shell formation, introduced a non-random component in the production of phenotypic variation and channeled the morphological evolution of ammonites over millions of years. As such, it provides a paradigm for the concept of "developmental constraints." © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sound transmission through double cylindrical shells lined with porous material under turbulent boundary layer excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Jie; Bhaskar, Atul; Zhang, Xin

2015-11-01

This paper investigates sound transmission through double-walled cylindrical shell lined with poroelastic material in the core, excited by pressure fluctuations due to the exterior turbulent boundary layer (TBL). Biot's model is used to describe the sound wave propagating in the porous material. Three types of constructions, bonded-bonded, bonded-unbonded and unbonded-unbonded, are considered in this study. The power spectral density (PSD) of the inner shell kinetic energy is predicted for two turbulent boundary layer models, different air gap depths and three types of polyimide foams, respectively. The peaks of the inner shell kinetic energy due to shell resonance, hydrodynamic coincidence and acoustic coincidence are discussed. The results show that if the frequency band over the ring frequency is of interest, an air gap, even if very thin, should exist between the two elastic shells for better sound insulation. And if small density foam has a high flow resistance, a superior sound insulation can still be maintained.

Shell Model Far From Stability: Island of Inversion Mergers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nowacki, F.; Poves, A.

2018-02-01

In this study we propose a common mechanism for the disappearance of shell closures far from stabilty. With the use of Large Scale Shell Model calculations (SM-CI), we predict that the region of deformation which comprises the heaviest Chromium and Iron isotopes at and beyond N=40 will merge with a new one at N=50 in an astonishing parallel to the N=20 and N=28 case in the Neon and Magnesium isotopes. We propose a valence space including the full pf-shell for the protons and the full sdg shell for the neutrons, which represents a come-back of the the harmonic oscillator shells in the very neutron rich regime. Our calculations preserve the doubly magic nature of the ground state of 78Ni, which, however, exhibits a well deformed prolate band at low excitation energy, providing a striking example of shape coexistence far from stability. This new Island of Inversion (IoI) adds to the four well documented ones at N=8, 20, 28 and 40.

Dynamic model of open shell structures buried in poroelastic soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bordón, J. D. R.; Aznárez, J. J.; Maeso, O.

2017-08-01

This paper is concerned with a three-dimensional time harmonic model of open shell structures buried in poroelastic soils. It combines the dual boundary element method (DBEM) for treating the soil and shell finite elements for modelling the structure, leading to a simple and efficient representation of buried open shell structures. A new fully regularised hypersingular boundary integral equation (HBIE) has been developed to this aim, which is then used to build the pair of dual BIEs necessary to formulate the DBEM for Biot poroelasticity. The new regularised HBIE is validated against a problem with analytical solution. The model is used in a wave diffraction problem in order to show its effectiveness. It offers excellent agreement for length to thickness ratios greater than 10, and relatively coarse meshes. The model is also applied to the calculation of impedances of bucket foundations. It is found that all impedances except the torsional one depend considerably on hydraulic conductivity within the typical frequency range of interest of offshore wind turbines.

Large-scale shell-model study of the Sn isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osnes, Eivind; Engeland, Torgeir; Hjorth-Jensen, Morten

2015-05-01

We summarize the results of an extensive study of the structure of the Sn isotopes using a large shell-model space and effective interactions evaluated from realistic two-nucleon potentials. For a fuller account, see ref. [1].

Hohlraum-driven mid-Z (SiO2) double-shell implosions on the omega laser facility and their scaling to NIF.

PubMed

Robey, H F; Amendt, P A; Milovich, J L; Park, H-S; Hamza, A V; Bono, M J

2009-10-02

High-convergence, hohlraum-driven implosions of double-shell capsules using mid-Z (SiO2) inner shells have been performed on the OMEGA laser facility [T. R. Boehly, Opt. Commun. 133, 495 (1997)]. These experiments provide an essential extension of the results of previous low-Z (CH) double-shell implosions [P. A. Amendt, Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 065004 (2005)] to materials of higher density and atomic number. Analytic modeling, supported by highly resolved 2D numerical simulations, is used to account for the yield degradation due to interfacial atomic mixing. This extended experimental database from OMEGA enables a validation of the mix model, and provides a means for quantitatively assessing the prospects for high-Z double-shell implosions on the National Ignition Facility [Paisner, Laser Focus World 30, 75 (1994)].

Space-Time Fluid-Structure Interaction Computation of Flapping-Wing Aerodynamics

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-12-01

SST-VMST." The structural mechanics computations are based on the Kirchhoff -Love shell model. We use a sequential coupling technique, which is...mechanics computations are based on the Kirchhoff -Love shell model. We use a sequential coupling technique, which is ap- plicable to some classes of FSI...we use the ST-VMS method in combination with the ST-SUPS method. The structural mechanics computations are mostly based on the Kirchhoff –Love shell

A mixed helium-oxygen shell in some core-collapse supernova progenitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gofman, Roni Anna; Gilkis, Avishai; Soker, Noam

2018-04-01

We evolve models of rotating massive stars up to the stage of iron core collapse using the MESA code and find a shell with a mixed composition of primarily helium and oxygen in some cases. In the parameter space of initial masses of 13-40M⊙ and initial rotation velocities of 0-450 kms-1 that we investigate, we find a mixed helium-oxygen (He-O) shell with a significant total He-O mass and with a helium to oxygen mass ratio in the range of 0.5-2 only for a small fraction of the models. While the shell formation due to mixing is instigated by rotation, the pre-collapse rotation rate is not very high. The fraction of models with a shell of He-O composition required for an energetic collapse-induced thermonuclear explosion is small, as is the fraction of models with high specific angular momentum, which can aid the thermonuclear explosion by retarding the collapse. Our results suggest that the collapse-induced thermonuclear explosion mechanism that was revisited recently can account for at most a small fraction of core-collapse supernovae. The presence of such a mixed He-O shell still might have some implications for core-collapse supernovae, such as some nucleosynthesis processes when jets are present, or might result in peculiar sub-luminous core-collapse supernovae.

A mixed helium-oxygen shell in some core-collapse supernova progenitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gofman, Roni Anna; Gilkis, Avishai; Soker, Noam

2018-07-01

We evolve models of rotating massive stars up to the stage of iron core collapse using the MESA code and find a shell with a mixed composition of primarily helium and oxygen in some cases. In the parameter space of initial masses of 13-40 M⊙ and initial rotation velocities of 0-450 km s-1 that we investigate, we find a mixed helium-oxygen (He-O) shell with a significant total He-O mass and with a helium to oxygen mass ratio in the range of 0.5-2 only for a small fraction of the models. While the shell formation due to mixing is instigated by rotation, the pre-collapse rotation rate is not very high. The fraction of models with a shell of He-O composition required for an energetic collapse-induced thermonuclear explosion is small, as is the fraction of models with high specific angular momentum, which can aid the thermonuclear explosion by retarding the collapse. Our results suggest that the collapse-induced thermonuclear explosion mechanism that was revisited recently can account for at most a small fraction of core-collapse supernovae. The presence of such a mixed He-O shell still might have some implications for core-collapse supernovae, such as some nucleosynthesis processes when jets are present, or might result in peculiar sub-luminous core-collapse supernovae.

Variation in pH of Model Secondary Organic Aerosol during Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation.

PubMed

Dallemagne, Magda A; Huang, Xiau Ya; Eddingsaas, Nathan C

2016-05-12

The majority of atmospheric aerosols consist of both organic and inorganic components. At intermediate relative humidity (RH), atmospheric aerosol can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in which the organic and inorganic fractions segregate from each other. We have extended the study of LLPS to the effect that phase separation has on the pH of the overall aerosols and the pH of the individual phases. Using confocal microscopy and pH sensitive dyes, the pH of internally mixed model aerosols consisting of polyethylene glycol 400 and ammonium sulfate as well as the pH of the organic fraction during LLPS have been directly measured. During LLPS, the pH of the organic fraction was observed to increase to 4.2 ± 0.2 from 3.8 ± 0.1 under high RH when the aerosol was internally mixed. In addition, the high spatial resolution of the confocal microscope allowed us to characterize the composition of each of the phases, and we have observed that during LLPS the organic shell still contains large quantities of water and should be characterized as an aqueous organic-rich phase rather than simply an organic phase.

Microscopic interpretation of inelastic electron scattering from even Ni isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yokoyama, Atsushi; Ogawa, Kengo

1990-10-01

Transition charge densities of inelastic electron scattering for the excitation of 2+ and 4+ states in even-mass Ni isotopes are investigated in terms of the standard shell model of the (p3/2,p1/2,f5/2)n configurations. Effective transition operators pertinent to the model space are derived by considering particle-hole excitations up to 12ħω for C2 and 14ħω for C4 transitions within the framework of a first-order perturbation theory. It is shown that surface-peaked transition charge densities can be obtained for the first excited 2+ and 4+ states, being in agreement with experiment. Particle-hole excitations up to λħω, e.g., λ=2 for C2 transition, are most responsible for that feature. Higher ħω excitations appear relatively significant in the interior region of the nucleus: They enhance the peak around the surface, improving further agreement with experiment, but for C2 transition they tend to generate another peak inside the nucleus and thus seem to deteriorate agreement with experiment. Transition densities for the 0+g.s.-->2+2,3 and 0+g.s.-->4+2 transitions are also discussed.

Nanoparticles Effectively Target Rapamycin Delivery to Sites of Experimental Aortic Aneurysm in Rats.

PubMed

Shirasu, Takuro; Koyama, Hiroyuki; Miura, Yutaka; Hoshina, Katsuyuki; Kataoka, Kazunori; Watanabe, Toshiaki

2016-01-01

Several drugs targeting the pathogenesis of aortic aneurysm have shown efficacy in model systems but not in clinical trials, potentially owing to the lack of targeted drug delivery. Here, we designed a novel drug delivery system using nanoparticles to target the disrupted aortic aneurysm micro-structure. We generated poly(ethylene glycol)-shelled nanoparticles incorporating rapamycin that exhibited uniform diameter and long-term stability. When injected intravenously into a rat model in which abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) had been induced by infusing elastase, labeled rapamycin nanoparticles specifically accumulated in the AAA. Microscopic analysis revealed that rapamycin nanoparticles were mainly distributed in the media and adventitia where the wall structures were damaged. Co-localization of rapamycin nanoparticles with macrophages was also noted. Rapamycin nanoparticles injected during the process of AAA formation evinced significant suppression of AAA formation and mural inflammation at 7 days after elastase infusion, as compared with rapamycin treatment alone. Correspondingly, the activities of matrix metalloproteinases and the expression of inflammatory cytokines were significantly suppressed by rapamycin nanoparticle treatment. Our findings suggest that the nanoparticle-based delivery system achieves specific delivery of rapamycin to the rat AAA and might contribute to establishing a drug therapy approach targeting aortic aneurysm.

Nanoparticles Effectively Target Rapamycin Delivery to Sites of Experimental Aortic Aneurysm in Rats

PubMed Central

Shirasu, Takuro; Koyama, Hiroyuki; Miura, Yutaka; Hoshina, Katsuyuki; Kataoka, Kazunori; Watanabe, Toshiaki

2016-01-01

Several drugs targeting the pathogenesis of aortic aneurysm have shown efficacy in model systems but not in clinical trials, potentially owing to the lack of targeted drug delivery. Here, we designed a novel drug delivery system using nanoparticles to target the disrupted aortic aneurysm micro-structure. We generated poly(ethylene glycol)-shelled nanoparticles incorporating rapamycin that exhibited uniform diameter and long-term stability. When injected intravenously into a rat model in which abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) had been induced by infusing elastase, labeled rapamycin nanoparticles specifically accumulated in the AAA. Microscopic analysis revealed that rapamycin nanoparticles were mainly distributed in the media and adventitia where the wall structures were damaged. Co-localization of rapamycin nanoparticles with macrophages was also noted. Rapamycin nanoparticles injected during the process of AAA formation evinced significant suppression of AAA formation and mural inflammation at 7 days after elastase infusion, as compared with rapamycin treatment alone. Correspondingly, the activities of matrix metalloproteinases and the expression of inflammatory cytokines were significantly suppressed by rapamycin nanoparticle treatment. Our findings suggest that the nanoparticle-based delivery system achieves specific delivery of rapamycin to the rat AAA and might contribute to establishing a drug therapy approach targeting aortic aneurysm. PMID:27336852

Growth characteristics of primary M7C3 carbide in hypereutectic Fe-Cr-C alloy.

PubMed

Liu, Sha; Zhou, Yefei; Xing, Xiaolei; Wang, Jibo; Ren, Xuejun; Yang, Qingxiang

2016-09-06

The microstructure of the hypereutectic Fe-Cr-C alloy is observed by optical microscopy (OM). The initial growth morphology, the crystallographic structure, the semi-molten morphology and the stacking faults of the primary M7C3 carbide are observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The in-suit growth process of the primary M7C3 carbide was observed by confocal laser microscope (CLM). It is found that the primary M7C3 carbide in hypereutectic Fe-Cr-C alloy is irregular polygonal shape with several hollows in the center and gaps on the edge. Some primary M7C3 carbides are formed by layers of shell or/and consist of multiple parts. In the initial growth period, the primary M7C3 carbide forms protrusion parallel to {} crystal planes. The extending and revolving protrusion forms the carbide shell. The electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) maps show that the primary M7C3 carbide consists of multiple parts. The semi-molten M7C3 carbide contains unmelted shell and several small-scale carbides inside, which further proves that the primary M7C3 carbide is not an overall block. It is believed that the coalescence of the primary M7C3 carbides is ascribed to the growing condition of the protrusion and the gap filling process.

Core/Shell Microstructure Induced Synergistic Effect for Efficient Water-Droplet Formation and Cloud-Seeding Application.

PubMed

Tai, Yanlong; Liang, Haoran; Zaki, Abdelali; El Hadri, Nabil; Abshaev, Ali M; Huchunaev, Buzgigit M; Griffiths, Steve; Jouiad, Mustapha; Zou, Linda

2017-12-26

Cloud-seeding materials as a promising water-augmentation technology have drawn more attention recently. We designed and synthesized a type of core/shell NaCl/TiO 2 (CSNT) particle with controlled particle size, which successfully adsorbed more water vapor (∼295 times at low relative humidity, 20% RH) than that of pure NaCl, deliquesced at a lower environmental RH of 62-66% than the hygroscopic point (h g.p ., 75% RH) of NaCl, and formed larger water droplets ∼6-10 times its original measured size area, whereas the pure NaCl still remained as a crystal at the same conditions. The enhanced performance was attributed to the synergistic effect of the hydrophilic TiO 2 shell and hygroscopic NaCl core microstructure, which attracted a large amount of water vapor and turned it into a liquid faster. Moreover, the critical particle size of the CSNT particles (0.4-10 μm) as cloud-seeding materials was predicted via the classical Kelvin equation based on their surface hydrophilicity. Finally, the benefits of CSNT particles for cloud-seeding applications were determined visually through in situ observation under an environmental scanning electron microscope on the microscale and cloud chamber experiments on the macroscale, respectively. These excellent and consistent performances positively confirmed that CSNT particles could be promising cloud-seeding materials.

Growth characteristics of primary M7C3 carbide in hypereutectic Fe-Cr-C alloy

PubMed Central

Liu, Sha; Zhou, Yefei; Xing, Xiaolei; Wang, Jibo; Ren, Xuejun; Yang, Qingxiang

2016-01-01

The microstructure of the hypereutectic Fe-Cr-C alloy is observed by optical microscopy (OM). The initial growth morphology, the crystallographic structure, the semi-molten morphology and the stacking faults of the primary M7C3 carbide are observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The in-suit growth process of the primary M7C3 carbide was observed by confocal laser microscope (CLM). It is found that the primary M7C3 carbide in hypereutectic Fe-Cr-C alloy is irregular polygonal shape with several hollows in the center and gaps on the edge. Some primary M7C3 carbides are formed by layers of shell or/and consist of multiple parts. In the initial growth period, the primary M7C3 carbide forms protrusion parallel to {} crystal planes. The extending and revolving protrusion forms the carbide shell. The electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) maps show that the primary M7C3 carbide consists of multiple parts. The semi-molten M7C3 carbide contains unmelted shell and several small-scale carbides inside, which further proves that the primary M7C3 carbide is not an overall block. It is believed that the coalescence of the primary M7C3 carbides is ascribed to the growing condition of the protrusion and the gap filling process. PMID:27596718

Multi-shell model of ion-induced nucleic acid condensation

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

Tolokh, Igor S.; Drozdetski, Aleksander V.; Pollack, Lois

We present a semi-quantitative model of condensation of short nucleic acid (NA) duplexes induced by trivalent cobalt(III) hexammine (CoHex) ions. The model is based on partitioning of bound counterion distribution around single NA duplex into “external” and “internal” ion binding shells distinguished by the proximity to duplex helical axis. In the aggregated phase the shells overlap, which leads to significantly increased attraction of CoHex ions in these overlaps with the neighboring duplexes. The duplex aggregation free energy is decomposed into attractive and repulsive components in such a way that they can be represented by simple analytical expressions with parameters derivedmore » from molecular dynamic simulations and numerical solutions of Poisson equation. The attractive term depends on the fractions of bound ions in the overlapping shells and affinity of CoHex to the “external” shell of nearly neutralized duplex. The repulsive components of the free energy are duplex configurational entropy loss upon the aggregation and the electrostatic repulsion of the duplexes that remains after neutralization by bound CoHex ions. The estimates of the aggregation free energy are consistent with the experimental range of NA duplex condensation propensities, including the unusually poor condensation of RNA structures and subtle sequence effects upon DNA condensation. The model predicts that, in contrast to DNA, RNA duplexes may condense into tighter packed aggregates with a higher degree of duplex neutralization. An appreciable CoHex mediated RNA-RNA attraction requires closer inter-duplex separation to engage CoHex ions (bound mostly in the “internal” shell of RNA) into short-range attractive interactions. The model also predicts that longer NA fragments will condense more readily than shorter ones. The ability of this model to explain experimentally observed trends in NA condensation lends support to proposed NA condensation picture based on the multivalent “ion binding shells.”.« less

Multi-shell model of ion-induced nucleic acid condensation

PubMed Central

Tolokh, Igor S.; Drozdetski, Aleksander V.; Pollack, Lois; Onufriev, Alexey V.

2016-01-01

We present a semi-quantitative model of condensation of short nucleic acid (NA) duplexes induced by trivalent cobalt(iii) hexammine (CoHex) ions. The model is based on partitioning of bound counterion distribution around single NA duplex into “external” and “internal” ion binding shells distinguished by the proximity to duplex helical axis. In the aggregated phase the shells overlap, which leads to significantly increased attraction of CoHex ions in these overlaps with the neighboring duplexes. The duplex aggregation free energy is decomposed into attractive and repulsive components in such a way that they can be represented by simple analytical expressions with parameters derived from molecular dynamic simulations and numerical solutions of Poisson equation. The attractive term depends on the fractions of bound ions in the overlapping shells and affinity of CoHex to the “external” shell of nearly neutralized duplex. The repulsive components of the free energy are duplex configurational entropy loss upon the aggregation and the electrostatic repulsion of the duplexes that remains after neutralization by bound CoHex ions. The estimates of the aggregation free energy are consistent with the experimental range of NA duplex condensation propensities, including the unusually poor condensation of RNA structures and subtle sequence effects upon DNA condensation. The model predicts that, in contrast to DNA, RNA duplexes may condense into tighter packed aggregates with a higher degree of duplex neutralization. An appreciable CoHex mediated RNA-RNA attraction requires closer inter-duplex separation to engage CoHex ions (bound mostly in the “internal” shell of RNA) into short-range attractive interactions. The model also predicts that longer NA fragments will condense more readily than shorter ones. The ability of this model to explain experimentally observed trends in NA condensation lends support to proposed NA condensation picture based on the multivalent “ion binding shells.” PMID:27389241

STATIC ANALYSIS OF SHELLS OF REVOLUTION USING DOUBLY-CURVED QUADRILATERAL ELEMENTS DERIVED FROM ALTERNATE VARIATIONAL MODELS.

DTIC Science & Technology

geometrical shape of the finite element in both of the models is a doubly-curved quadrilateral element whose edge curves are the lines-of-curvature coordinates employed to define the shell midsurface . (Author)

A comprehensive alpha-heating model for inertial confinement fusion

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

Christopherson, A. R.; Betti, R.; Bose, A.

In this paper, a comprehensive model is developed to study alpha-heating in inertially confined plasmas. It describes the time evolution of a central low-density hot spot confined by a compressible shell, heated by fusion alphas, and cooled by radiation and thermal losses. The model includes the deceleration, stagnation, and burn phases of inertial confinement fusion implosions, and is valid for sub-ignited targets with ≤10× amplification of the fusion yield from alpha-heating. The results of radiation-hydrodynamic simulations are used to derive realistic initial conditions and dimensionless parameters for the model. It is found that most of the alpha energy (~90%) producedmore » before bang time is deposited within the hot spot mass, while a small fraction (~10%) drives mass ablation off the inner shell surface and its energy is recycled back into the hot spot. Of the bremsstrahlung radiation emission, ~40% is deposited in the hot spot, ~40% is recycled back in the hot spot by ablation off the shell, and ~20% leaves the hot spot. We show here that the hot spot, shocked shell, and outer shell trajectories from this analytical model are in good agreement with simulations. Finally, a detailed discussion of the effect of alpha-heating on the hydrodynamics is also presented.« less

Fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy for warm dense matter studies and ICF plasma diagnostics

DOE PAGES

Hansen, Stephanie B.; Harding, Eric C.; Knapp, Patrick F.; ...

2018-03-07

The burning core of an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) plasma produces bright x-rays at stagnation that can directly diagnose core conditions essential for comparison to simulations and understanding fusion yields. These x-rays also backlight the surrounding shell of warm, dense matter, whose properties are critical to understanding the efficacy of the inertial confinement and global morphology. In this work, we show that the absorption and fluorescence spectra of mid-Z impurities or dopants in the warm dense shell can reveal the optical depth, temperature, and density of the shell and help constrain models of warm, dense matter. This is illustrated bymore » the example of a high-resolution spectrum collected from an ICF plasma with a beryllium shell containing native iron impurities. Lastly, analysis of the iron K-edge provides model-independent diagnostics of the shell density (2.3 × 10 24 e/cm 3) and temperature (10 eV), while a 12-eV red shift in Kβ and 5-eV blue shift in the K-edge discriminate among models of warm dense matter: Both shifts are well described by a self-consistent field model based on density functional theory but are not fully consistent with isolated-atom models using ad-hoc density effects.« less

A comprehensive alpha-heating model for inertial confinement fusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christopherson, A. R.; Betti, R.; Bose, A.; Howard, J.; Woo, K. M.; Campbell, E. M.; Sanz, J.; Spears, B. K.

2018-01-01

A comprehensive model is developed to study alpha-heating in inertially confined plasmas. It describes the time evolution of a central low-density hot spot confined by a compressible shell, heated by fusion alphas, and cooled by radiation and thermal losses. The model includes the deceleration, stagnation, and burn phases of inertial confinement fusion implosions, and is valid for sub-ignited targets with ≤10 × amplification of the fusion yield from alpha-heating. The results of radiation-hydrodynamic simulations are used to derive realistic initial conditions and dimensionless parameters for the model. It is found that most of the alpha energy (˜90%) produced before bang time is deposited within the hot spot mass, while a small fraction (˜10%) drives mass ablation off the inner shell surface and its energy is recycled back into the hot spot. Of the bremsstrahlung radiation emission, ˜40% is deposited in the hot spot, ˜40% is recycled back in the hot spot by ablation off the shell, and ˜20% leaves the hot spot. We show here that the hot spot, shocked shell, and outer shell trajectories from this analytical model are in good agreement with simulations. A detailed discussion of the effect of alpha-heating on the hydrodynamics is also presented.

A comprehensive alpha-heating model for inertial confinement fusion

DOE PAGES

Christopherson, A. R.; Betti, R.; Bose, A.; ...

2018-01-08

In this paper, a comprehensive model is developed to study alpha-heating in inertially confined plasmas. It describes the time evolution of a central low-density hot spot confined by a compressible shell, heated by fusion alphas, and cooled by radiation and thermal losses. The model includes the deceleration, stagnation, and burn phases of inertial confinement fusion implosions, and is valid for sub-ignited targets with ≤10× amplification of the fusion yield from alpha-heating. The results of radiation-hydrodynamic simulations are used to derive realistic initial conditions and dimensionless parameters for the model. It is found that most of the alpha energy (~90%) producedmore » before bang time is deposited within the hot spot mass, while a small fraction (~10%) drives mass ablation off the inner shell surface and its energy is recycled back into the hot spot. Of the bremsstrahlung radiation emission, ~40% is deposited in the hot spot, ~40% is recycled back in the hot spot by ablation off the shell, and ~20% leaves the hot spot. We show here that the hot spot, shocked shell, and outer shell trajectories from this analytical model are in good agreement with simulations. Finally, a detailed discussion of the effect of alpha-heating on the hydrodynamics is also presented.« less

Phase field modeling of brittle fracture for enhanced assumed strain shells at large deformations: formulation and finite element implementation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reinoso, J.; Paggi, M.; Linder, C.

2017-06-01

Fracture of technological thin-walled components can notably limit the performance of their corresponding engineering systems. With the aim of achieving reliable fracture predictions of thin structures, this work presents a new phase field model of brittle fracture for large deformation analysis of shells relying on a mixed enhanced assumed strain (EAS) formulation. The kinematic description of the shell body is constructed according to the solid shell concept. This enables the use of fully three-dimensional constitutive models for the material. The proposed phase field formulation integrates the use of the (EAS) method to alleviate locking pathologies, especially Poisson thickness and volumetric locking. This technique is further combined with the assumed natural strain method to efficiently derive a locking-free solid shell element. On the computational side, a fully coupled monolithic framework is consistently formulated. Specific details regarding the corresponding finite element formulation and the main aspects associated with its implementation in the general purpose packages FEAP and ABAQUS are addressed. Finally, the applicability of the current strategy is demonstrated through several numerical examples involving different loading conditions, and including linear and nonlinear hyperelastic constitutive models.

Optimization of Biosorptive Removal of Dye from Aqueous System by Cone Shell of Calabrian Pine

PubMed Central

Deniz, Fatih

2014-01-01

The biosorption performance of raw cone shell of Calabrian pine for C.I. Basic Red 46 as a model azo dye from aqueous system was optimized using Taguchi experimental design methodology. L9 (33) orthogonal array was used to optimize the dye biosorption by the pine cone shell. The selected factors and their levels were biosorbent particle size, dye concentration, and contact time. The predicted dye biosorption capacity for the pine cone shell from Taguchi design was obtained as 71.770 mg g−1 under optimized biosorption conditions. This experimental design provided reasonable predictive performance of dye biosorption by the biosorbent (R 2: 0.9961). Langmuir model fitted better to the biosorption equilibrium data than Freundlich model. This displayed the monolayer coverage of dye molecules on the biosorbent surface. Dubinin-Radushkevich model and the standard Gibbs free energy change proposed physical biosorption for predominant mechanism. The logistic function presented the best fit to the data of biosorption kinetics. The kinetic parameters reflecting biosorption performance were also evaluated. The optimization study revealed that the pine cone shell can be an effective and economically feasible biosorbent for the removal of dye. PMID:25405213

On the time-variable nature of Titan's obliquity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noyelles, Benoit; Nimmo, Francis

2014-05-01

Titan presents an unexpectedly high obliquity (Stiles et al. 2008, Meriggiola & Iess 2012) while its topography and gravity suggest a non-hydrostatic ice shell (Hemingway et al. 2013). We here present a 6-dof model of the rotation of Titan simultaneously simulating the full orientation of the shell and the inner core, and considering a global subsurface ocean with a partially-compensated shell of spatially-variable thickness. Between 10 and 13% of our realistic interior models induce a resonance with the annual forcing, that dramatically raises the obliquity. The relevant model Titans are composed of a 130-140 km thick shell floating on a ~250 km thick ocean. The observed obliquity should not be considered as a mean one but as an instantaneous one, that should vary by ~7 arcmin over the duration of the Cassini mission.

Systematic shell-model study on spectroscopic properties from light to heavy nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Cenxi

2018-05-01

A systematic shell-model study is performed to study the spectroscopic properties from light to heavy nuclei, such as binding energies, energy levels, electromagnetic properties, and β decays. The importance of cross-shell excitation is shown in the spectroscopic properties of neutron-rich boron, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopes. A special case is presented for low-lying structure of 14C. The weakly bound effect of proton 1s1/2 orbit is necessary for the description of the mirror energy difference in the nuclei around A=20. Some possible isomers are predicted in the nuclei in the southeast region of 132Sn based on a newly suggested Hamiltonian. A preliminary study on the nuclei around 208Pb are given to show the ability of the shell model in the heavy nuclei.

Superclustering in the explosion scenario. II - Prolate spheroidal shells from superconducting cosmic strings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Borden, David; Ostriker, Jeremiah P.; Weinberg, David H.

1989-01-01

If galaxies form on shells, then clusters of galaxies should form at the vertices where three shells intersect. Weinberg, Ostriker, and Dekel (WOD, 1989) studied this picture quantitatively and found that an intersecting spherical shell model reproduces many of the properties of the observed distribution of galaxy clusters, but that too much superclustering is produced. In this paper, the WOD analysis is repeated with prolate spheroids that could be created by superconducting cosmic strings. It is found that most of the attractive features of the WOD model are maintained in the more general case and there is slight improvement in some aspects, but that the overall problem of excessive superclustering is not really alleviated.

Buckling of circular cylindrical shells under dynamically applied axial loads

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tulk, J. D.

1972-01-01

A theoretical and experimental study was made of the buckling characteristics of perfect and imperfect circular cylindrical shells subjected to dynamic axial loading. Experimental data included dynamic buckling loads (124 data points), high speed photographs of buckling mode shapes and observations of the dynamic stability of shells subjected to rapidly applied sub-critical loads. A mathematical model was developed to describe the dynamic behavior of perfect and imperfect shells. This model was based on the Donnell-Von Karman compatibility and equilibrium equations and had a wall deflection function incorporating five separate modes of deflection. Close agreement between theory and experiment was found for both dynamic buckling strength and buckling mode shapes.

Damage Tolerance of Large Shell Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Minnetyan, L.; Chamis, C. C.

1999-01-01

Progressive damage and fracture of large shell structures is investigated. A computer model is used for the assessment of structural response, progressive fracture resistance, and defect/damage tolerance characteristics. Critical locations of a stiffened conical shell segment are identified. Defective and defect-free computer models are simulated to evaluate structural damage/defect tolerance. Safe pressurization levels are assessed for the retention of structural integrity at the presence of damage/ defects. Damage initiation, growth, accumulation, and propagation to fracture are included in the simulations. Damage propagation and burst pressures for defective and defect-free shells are compared to evaluate damage tolerance. Design implications with regard to defect and damage tolerance of a large steel pressure vessel are examined.

Curved Thermopiezoelectric Shell Structures Modeled by Finite Element Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Ho-Jun

2000-01-01

"Smart" structures composed of piezoelectric materials may significantly improve the performance of aeropropulsion systems through a variety of vibration, noise, and shape-control applications. The development of analytical models for piezoelectric smart structures is an ongoing, in-house activity at the NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field focused toward the experimental characterization of these materials. Research efforts have been directed toward developing analytical models that account for the coupled mechanical, electrical, and thermal response of piezoelectric composite materials. Current work revolves around implementing thermal effects into a curvilinear-shell finite element code. This enhances capabilities to analyze curved structures and to account for coupling effects arising from thermal effects and the curved geometry. The current analytical model implements a unique mixed multi-field laminate theory to improve computational efficiency without sacrificing accuracy. The mechanics can model both the sensory and active behavior of piezoelectric composite shell structures. Finite element equations are being implemented for an eight-node curvilinear shell element, and numerical studies are being conducted to demonstrate capabilities to model the response of curved piezoelectric composite structures (see the figure).

Morphological and mechanical changes in juvenile red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) shells during ontogeny.

PubMed

Fish, Jennifer F; Stayton, Charles T

2014-04-01

Turtles experience numerous modifications in the morphological, physiological, and mechanical characteristics of their shells through ontogeny. Although a general picture is available of the nature of these modifications, few quantitative studies have been conducted on changes in turtle shell shape through ontogeny, and none on changes in strength or rigidity. This study investigates the morphological and mechanical changes that juvenile Trachemys scripta elegans undergo as they increase in size. Morphology and shell rigidity were quantified in a sample of 36 alcohol-preserved juvenile Trachemys scripta elegans. Morphometric information was used to create finite element models of all specimens. These models were used to assess the mechanical behavior of the shells under various loading conditions. Overall, we find that turtles experience complementary changes in size, shape, deformability, and relative strength as they grow. As turtles age their shells become larger, more elongate, relatively flatter, and more rigid. These changes are associated with decreases in relative (size independent) strength, even though the shells of larger turtles are stronger in an absolute sense. Decreased deformability is primarily due to changes in the size of the animals. Residual variation in deformability cannot be explained by changes in shell shape. This variation is more likely due to changes in the degree of connectedness of the skeletal elements in the turtle's shells, along with changes in the thickness and degree of mineralization of shell bone. We suggest that the mechanical implications of shell size, shape, and deformability may have a large impact on survivorship and development in members of this species as they mature. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Shell structures of assemblies of equicharged particles subject to radial power-law confining potentials.

PubMed

Cioslowski, Jerzy

2010-12-21

Constituting the simplest generalization of spherical Coulomb crystals, assemblies of N equicharged particles confined by radial potentials proportional to the λth power of distance are amenable to rigorous analysis within the recently introduced shell model. Thanks to the power scaling of the confining potential and the resulting pruning property of the shell configurations (i.e., the lists of shell occupancies), the shell-model estimates of the energies and the mean radii of such assemblies at equilibrium geometries follow simple recursive formulas. The formulas greatly facilitate derivations of the first two leading terms in the large-N asymptotics of these estimates, which are given by power series in ξ(4/3) N(-2/3), where -(ξ/2) n(3/2) is the leading angular-correlation correction to the minimum energy of n electrons on the surface of a sphere with a unit radius (the solution of the Thomson problem). Although the scaled occupancies of the outermost shells conform to a universal scaling law, the actual filling of the shells tends to follow rather irregular patterns that vary strongly with λ. However, the number of shells K(N) for a given N decreases in general upon an increase in the power-law exponent, which is due to the (λ + 1)(2) ξ(2) dependence of shell capacities that roughly measure the maximum numbers of particles sustainable within individual shells. Several types of configuration transitions (i.e., the changes in the number of shells upon addition of one particle) are observed in the crystals with up to 10,000 particles and integer values of λ between 1 and 10, but the rule |K(N + 1)-K(N)| ≤ 1 is found to be strictly obeyed.

Microscopic description of quadrupole collectivity in neutron-rich nuclei across the N = 126 shell closure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodríguez-Guzmán, R.; Robledo, L. M.; Sharma, M. M.

2015-06-01

The quadrupole collectivity in Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy, Er, Yb, Hf and W nuclei with neutron numbers 122 ≤ N ≤ 156 is studied, both at the mean field level and beyond, using the Gogny energy density functional. Besides the robustness of the N = 126 neutron shell closure, it is shown that the onset of static deformations in those isotopic chains with increasing neutron number leads to an enhanced stability and further extends the corresponding two-neutron drip lines far beyond what could be expected from spherical calculations. Independence of the mean-field predictions with respect to the particular version of the Gogny energy density functional employed is demonstrated by comparing results based on the D1S and D1M parameter sets. Correlations beyond mean field are taken into account in the framework of the angular momentum projected generator coordinate method calculation. It is shown that N = 126 remains a robust neutron magic number when dynamical effects are included. The analysis of the collective wave functions, average deformations and excitation energies indicate that, with increasing neutron number, the zero-point quantum corrections lead to dominant prolate configurations in the 0{1/+}, 0{2/+}, 2{1/+} and 2{2/+} states of the studied nuclei. Moreover, those dynamical deformation effects provide an enhanced stability that further supports the mean-field predictions, corroborating a shift of the r-process path to higher neutron numbers. Beyond mean-field calculations provide a smaller shell gap at N = 126 than the mean-field one in good agreement with previous theoretical studies. However, the shell gap still remains strong enough in the two-neutron drip lines.

Characterization of Nano-Hydroxyapatite Synthesized from Sea Shells Through Wet Chemical Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santhosh, S.; Prabu, S. Balasivanandha

2012-10-01

Nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) was synthesized by a wet chemical reaction using powdered sea shells (CaO) as starting material which was converted to calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) and subsequently reacted with phosphoric acid (H3PO4). Initially raw sea shells (CaCO3) were thermally converted to amorphous calcium oxide by heat treatment. Two sets of experiments were done; in the first experiment, HA powder was dried in an electric furnace and in the second experiment, the reactants were irradiated in a domestic microwave oven followed by microwave drying. In each set of experiments, the concentrations of the reactants were decreased gradually. HA was synthesized by slow addition of phosphoric acid (H3PO4) in to calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) maintaining the pH of the solution at 10 to avoid the formation of calcium deficient apatites. In both the experiments, Ca:P ratio of 1.67 was maintained for the reagents. The synthesized samples showed X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns corresponding to hydroxyapatite. The wet chemical process with furnace drying resulted in HA particles of size 7-34 nm, whereas microwave irradiated process yielded HA particles of size 34-102 nm as evidenced from XRD analyses. The above experimental work done by wet chemical synthesis to produce HA powder from sea shells is a simple processing method at room temperature. Microwave irradiation leads to uniform crystallite sizes as evident from this study, at differing concentrations of the reactants and is a comparatively easy method to synthesize HA. The high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM)/transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analyses revealed the characteristic rod-shaped nanoparticles of HA for the present study.

Building Atoms Shell by Shell.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sussman, Beverly

1993-01-01

Describes an atom-building activity where students construct three-dimensional models of atoms using a styrofoam ball as the nucleus and pom-poms, gum drops, minimarshmallows, or other small items of two different colors to represent protons and neutrons attached. Rings of various sizes with pom-poms attached represent electron shells and…

Enceladus's ice shell thickness and ocean depth from gravity, topography, and libration measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Trinh, A.; Rivoldini, A.; Beuthe, M.; Rekier, J.; Baland, R. M.; Van Hoolst, T.

2017-12-01

One of Cassini's major achievements is the discovery of a global ocean a few kilometres beneath Enceladus's south polar terrain. Here we infer the thickness of Enceladus's ice shell and ocean from Cassini's observations using our latest models of isostatic compensation, shell libration, and ocean dynamics.

Thickness constraints on the icy shells of the galilean satellites from a comparison of crater shapes.

PubMed

Schenk, Paul M

2002-05-23

A thin outer ice shell on Jupiter's large moon Europa would imply easy exchange between the surface and any organic or biotic material in its putative subsurface ocean. The thickness of the outer ice shell is poorly constrained, however, with model-dependent estimates ranging from a few kilometres to ten or more kilometres. Here I present measurements of depths of impact craters on Europa, Ganymede and Callisto that reveal two anomalous transitions in crater shape with diameter. The first transition is probably related to temperature-dependent ductility of the crust at shallow depths (7 8 km on Europa). The second transition is attributed to the influence of subsurface oceans on all three satellites, which constrains Europa's icy shell to be at least 19 km thick. The icy lithospheres of Ganymede and Callisto are equally ice-rich, but Europa's icy shell has a thermal structure about 0.25 0.5 times the thicknesses of Ganymede's or Callisto's shells, depending on epoch. The appearances of the craters on Europa are inconsistent with thin-ice-shell models and indicate that exchange of oceanic and surface material could be difficult.

Vanadium fine-structure K-shell electron impact ionization cross sections for fast-electron diagnostic in laser–solid experiments

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

Palmeri, P., E-mail: patrick.palmeri@umons.ac.be; Quinet, P., E-mail: pascal.quinet@umons.ac.be; IPNAS, Université de Liège, B-4000 Liège

2015-09-15

The K-shell electron impact ionization (EII) cross section, along with the K-shell fluorescence yield, is one of the key atomic parameters for fast-electron diagnostic in laser–solid experiments through the K-shell emission cross section. In addition, in a campaign dedicated to the modeling of the K lines of astrophysical interest (Palmeri et al. (2012)), the K-shell fluorescence yields for the K-vacancy fine-structure atomic levels of all the vanadium isonuclear ions have been calculated. In this study, the K-shell EII cross sections connecting the ground and the metastable levels of the parent vanadium ions to the daughter ions K-vacancy levels considered in Palmerimore » et al. (2012) have been determined. The relativistic distorted-wave (DW) approximation implemented in the FAC atomic code has been used for the incident electron kinetic energies up to 20 times the K-shell threshold energies. Moreover, the resulting DW cross sections have been extrapolated at higher energies using the asymptotic behavior of the modified relativistic binary encounter Bethe model (MRBEB) of Guerra et al. (2012) with the density-effect correction proposed by Davies et al. (2013)« less

Kinetic Energy Transfer Process in a Double Shell Leading to Robust Burn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montgomery, D. S.; Daughton, W. S.; Albright, B. J.; Wilson, D. C.; Loomis, E. N.; Merritt, E. C.; Dodd, E. S.; Kirkpatrick, R. C.; Watt, R. G.; Rosen, M. D.

2017-10-01

A goal of double shell capsule implosions is to impart sufficient internal energy to the D-T fuel at stagnation in order to obtain robust α-heating and burn with low hot spot convergence, C.R. < 10. A simple description of the kinetic energy transfer from the outer shell to the inner shell is found using shock physics and adiabatic compression, and compares well with 1D modeling. An isobaric model for the stagnation phase of the inner shell is used to determine the ideal partition of internal energy in the D-T fuel. Robust burn of the fuel requires, at minimum, that α-heating exceeds the rate of cooling by expansion of the hot spot so that the yield occurs before the hot spot disassembles, which is then used to define a minimum requirement for robust burn. One potential advantage of a double shell capsule compared to single shell capsules is the use of a heavy metal pusher, which may lead to a longer hot spot disassembly time. We present these analytic results and compare them to 1D and 2D radiation-hydrodynamic simulations. Work performed under the auspices of DOE by LANL under contract DE-AC52-06NA25396.

A statistical model for monitoring shell disease in inshore lobster fisheries: A case study in Long Island Sound

PubMed Central

Chen, Yong

2017-01-01

The expansion of shell disease is an emerging threat to the inshore lobster fisheries in the northeastern United States. The development of models to improve the efficiency and precision of existing monitoring programs is advocated as an important step in mitigating its harmful effects. The objective of this study is to construct a statistical model that could enhance the existing monitoring effort through (1) identification of potential disease-associated abiotic and biotic factors, and (2) estimation of spatial variation in disease prevalence in the lobster fishery. A delta-generalized additive modeling (GAM) approach was applied using bottom trawl survey data collected from 2001–2013 in Long Island Sound, a tidal estuary between New York and Connecticut states. Spatial distribution of shell disease prevalence was found to be strongly influenced by the interactive effects of latitude and longitude, possibly indicative of a geographic origin of shell disease. Bottom temperature, bottom salinity, and depth were also important factors affecting the spatial variability in shell disease prevalence. The delta-GAM projected high disease prevalence in non-surveyed locations. Additionally, a potential spatial discrepancy was found between modeled disease hotspots and survey-based gravity centers of disease prevalence. This study provides a modeling framework to enhance research, monitoring and management of emerging and continuing marine disease threats. PMID:28196150

Simulating Self-Assembly with Simple Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rapaport, D. C.

Results from recent molecular dynamics simulations of virus capsid self-assembly are described. The model is based on rigid trapezoidal particles designed to form polyhedral shells of size 60, together with an atomistic solvent. The underlying bonding process is fully reversible. More extensive computations are required than in previous work on icosahedral shells built from triangular particles, but the outcome is a high yield of closed shells. Intermediate clusters have a variety of forms, and bond counts provide a useful classification scheme

The conformal hyperplet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faux, Michael

2017-05-01

We introduce a finite off-shell hypermultiplet with no off-shell central charge. This requires 192+192 degrees of freedom, all but 8+8 of which are auxiliary or gauge. In the absence of supergravity, the model has a saddle-point vacuum instability implying ghost-like propagators. These are cured by realizing the model superconformally, such that the erstwhile ghosts are realized as compensators. Gauge fixing these links the physical hypermultiplets to supergravity. This evokes the prospect of realizing 𝒩 = 4 super-Yang-Mills theory off-shell.

Mathematical modeling of shell configurations made of homogeneous and composite materials experiencing intensive short actions and large displacements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khairnasov, K. Z.

2018-04-01

The paper presents a mathematical model for solving the problem of behavior of shell configurations under the action of static and dynamic impacts. The problem is solved in geometrically nonlinear statement with regard to the finite element method. The composite structures with different material layers are considered. The obtained equations are used to study the behavior of shell configurations under the action of dynamic loads. The results agree well with the experimental data.

How the hydrophobic factor drives protein folding

PubMed Central

Baldwin, Robert L.; Rose, George D.

2016-01-01

How hydrophobicity (HY) drives protein folding is studied. The 1971 Nozaki–Tanford method of measuring HY is modified to use gases as solutes, not crystals, and this makes the method easy to use. Alkanes are found to be much more hydrophobic than rare gases, and the two different kinds of HY are termed intrinsic (rare gases) and extrinsic (alkanes). The HY values of rare gases are proportional to solvent-accessible surface area (ASA), whereas the HY values of alkanes depend on special hydration shells. Earlier work showed that hydration shells produce the hydration energetics of alkanes. Evidence is given here that the transfer energetics of alkanes to cyclohexane [Wolfenden R, Lewis CA, Jr, Yuan Y, Carter CW, Jr (2015) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 112(24):7484–7488] measure the release of these shells. Alkane shells are stabilized importantly by van der Waals interactions between alkane carbon and water oxygen atoms. Thus, rare gases cannot form this type of shell. The very short (approximately picoseconds) lifetime of the van der Waals interaction probably explains why NMR efforts to detect alkane hydration shells have failed. The close similarity between the sizes of the opposing energetics for forming or releasing alkane shells confirms the presence of these shells on alkanes and supports Kauzmann's 1959 mechanism of protein folding. A space-filling model is given for the hydration shells on linear alkanes. The model reproduces the n values of Jorgensen et al. [Jorgensen WL, Gao J, Ravimohan C (1985) J Phys Chem 89:3470–3473] for the number of waters in alkane hydration shells. PMID:27791131

Applications of Shell-Model Techniques to N = 50 Nuclei.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Xiangdong

Traditional shell-model techniques, which involve setting up and diagonalizing model Hamiltonians in a finite Hilbert space, have been used to treat the N = 50 isotones. A model space with active f_{5over 2}, p_{3over 2}, p_{1over 2} and g_{9over 2} proton orbits is used to simulate the low-lying excitations of these isotones. An effective Hamiltonian which consists of one-body and two-body interactions is obtained by varying a total of 69 parameters to fit over 140 experimental energy levels in nuclei ranging from ^{82 }Ge to ^{96}Pd. The structures of the model wavefunctions calculated with the empirical model Hamiltonian are analyzed and compared with experimental measurements. It is found that the overall level systematics of N = 50 nuclei are well described by the model treatment. In particular, for the nuclei heavier than ^{88}Sr, the present results are not essentially different from those obtained in the p_{1over 2}-g_ {9over 2} model space, and for those lighter than ^{88}Sr, the wavefunctions are dominated by f_{5 over 2}-p_{3over 2}-p _{1over2} configurations. The model predictions for very proton-deficient, very unstable nuclei are presented for further experimental verification. Spectroscopic factors for single-proton-transfer reactions and M1 and E2 transition rates and moments are calculated using these model wavefunctions. Effective strengths of electromagnetic operators are adjusted in order to achieve the best agreement between the model predictions and experimental data. The effective proton charge is determined to be 1.9 e. The spin g-factor is found to be quenched by 16 percent for the fp shell orbits and by 29 percent for the g_{9over 2 } orbit. A new shell-model code which is capable of performing shell-model calculations in a general LS -coupling basis has been constructed. The code can be implemented with shell-model truncation schemes for both the LS -coupling limit and the seniority limit. Examples from the Ni isotopes are used to illustrate applications of the code.

Collective nature of low-lying excitations in 70,72,74Zn from lifetime measurements using the AGATA spectrometer demonstrator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Louchart, C.; Obertelli, A.; Görgen, A.; Korten, W.; Bazzacco, D.; Birkenbach, B.; Bruyneel, B.; Clément, E.; Coleman-Smith, P. J.; Corradi, L.; Curien, D.; de Angelis, G.; de France, G.; Delaroche, J.-P.; Dewald, A.; Didierjean, F.; Doncel, M.; Duchêne, G.; Eberth, J.; Erduran, M. N.; Farnea, E.; Finck, C.; Fioretto, E.; Fransen, C.; Gadea, A.; Girod, M.; Gottardo, A.; Grebosz, J.; Habermann, T.; Hackstein, M.; Huyuk, T.; Jolie, J.; Judson, D.; Jungclaus, A.; Karkour, N.; Klupp, S.; Krücken, R.; Kusoglu, A.; Lenzi, S. M.; Libert, J.; Ljungvall, J.; Lunardi, S.; Maron, G.; Menegazzo, R.; Mengoni, D.; Michelagnoli, C.; Million, B.; Molini, P.; Möller, O.; Montagnoli, G.; Montanari, D.; Napoli, D. R.; Orlandi, R.; Pollarolo, G.; Prieto, A.; Pullia, A.; Quintana, B.; Recchia, F.; Reiter, P.; Rosso, D.; Rother, W.; Sahin, E.; Salsac, M.-D.; Scarlassara, F.; Schlarb, M.; Siem, S.; Singh, P. P.; Söderström, P.-A.; Stefanini, A. M.; Stézowski, O.; Sulignano, B.; Szilner, S.; Theisen, Ch.; Ur, C. A.; Valiente-Dobón, J. J.; Zielinska, M.

2013-05-01

Background: Neutron-rich nuclei with protons in the fp shell show an onset of collectivity around N=40. Spectroscopic information is required to understand the underlying mechanism and to determine the relevant terms of the nucleon-nucleon interaction that are responsible for the evolution of the shell structure in this mass region.Methods: We report on the lifetime measurement of the first 2+ and 4+ states in 70,72,74Zn and the first 6+ state in 72Zn using the recoil distance Doppler shift method. The experiment was carried out at the INFN Laboratory of Legnaro with the AGATA demonstrator, first phase of the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array of highly segmented, high-purity germanium detectors coupled to the PRISMA magnetic spectrometer. The excited states of the nuclei of interest were populated in the deep inelastic scattering of a 76Ge beam impinging on a 238U target.Results: The maximum of collectivity along the chain of Zn isotopes is observed for 72Zn at N=42. An unexpectedly long lifetime of 20-5.2+1.8 ps was measured for the 4+ state in 74Zn.Conclusions: Our results lead to small values of the B(E2;41+→21+)/B(E2;21+→01+) ratio for 72,74Zn, suggesting a significant noncollective contribution to these excitations. These experimental results are not reproduced by state-of-the-art microscopic models and call for lifetime measurements beyond the first 2+ state in heavy zinc and nickel isotopes.

Ab initio description of p-shell hypernuclei.

PubMed

Wirth, Roland; Gazda, Daniel; Navrátil, Petr; Calci, Angelo; Langhammer, Joachim; Roth, Robert

2014-11-07

We present the first ab initio calculations for p-shell single-Λ hypernuclei. For the solution of the many-baryon problem, we develop two variants of the no-core shell model with explicit Λ and Σ(+),Σ(0),Σ(-) hyperons including Λ-Σ conversion, optionally supplemented by a similarity renormalization group transformation to accelerate model-space convergence. In addition to state-of-the-art chiral two- and three-nucleon interactions, we use leading-order chiral hyperon-nucleon interactions and a recent meson-exchange hyperon-nucleon interaction. We validate the approach for s-shell hypernuclei and apply it to p-shell hypernuclei, in particular to (Λ)(7)Li, (Λ)(9)Be, and (Λ)(13)C. We show that the chiral hyperon-nucleon interactions provide ground-state and excitation energies that generally agree with experiment within the cutoff dependence. At the same time we demonstrate that hypernuclear spectroscopy provides tight constraints on the hyperon-nucleon interactions.

Effect of Ice-Shell Thickness Variations on the Tidal Deformation of Enceladus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choblet, G.; Cadek, O.; Behounkova, M.; Tobie, G.; Kozubek, T.

2015-12-01

Recent analysis of Enceladus's gravity and topography has suggested that the thickness of the ice shell significantly varies laterally - from 30-40 km in the south polar region to 60 km elsewhere. These variations may influence the activity of the geysers and increase the tidal heat production in regions where the ice shell is thinned. Using a model including a regional or global subsurface ocean and Maxwell viscoelasticity, we investigate the impact of these variations on the tidal deformation of the moon and its heat production. For that purpose, we use different numerical approaches - finite elements, local application of 1d spectral method, and a generalized spectral method. Results obtained with these three approaches for various models of ice-shell thickness variations are presented and compared. Implications of a reduced ice shell thickness for the south polar terrain activity are discussed.

High spin structure and intruder configurations in 31P

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ionescu-Bujor, M.; Iordachescu, A.; Napoli, D. R.; Lenzi, S. M.; Mărginean, N.; Otsuka, T.; Utsuno, Y.; Ribas, R. V.; Axiotis, M.; Bazzacco, D.; Bizzeti-Sona, A. M.; Bizzeti, P. G.; Brandolini, F.; Bucurescu, D.; Cardona, M. A.; De Angelis, G.; De Poli, M.; Della Vedova, F.; Farnea, E.; Gadea, A.; Hojman, D.; Kalfas, C. A.; Kröll, Th.; Lunardi, S.; Martínez, T.; Mason, P.; Pavan, P.; Quintana, B.; Alvarez, C. Rossi; Ur, C. A.; Vlastou, R.; Zilio, S.

2006-02-01

The nucleus 31P has been studied in the 24Mg(16O,2αp) reaction with a 70-MeV 16O beam. A complex level scheme extended up to spins 17/2+ and 15/2-, on positive and negative parity, respectively, has been established. Lifetimes for the new states have been investigated by the Doppler shift attenuation method. Two shell-model calculations have been performed to describe the experimental data, one by using the code ANTOINE in a valence space restricted to the sd shell, and the other by applying the Monte Carlo shell model in a valence space including the sd-fp shells. The latter calculation indicates that intruder excitations, involving the promotion of a T=0 proton-neutron pair to the fp shell, play a dominant role in the structure of the positive-parity high-spin states of 31P.

Minimum stiffness criteria for ring frame stiffeners of space launch vehicles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Friedrich, Linus; Schröder, Kai-Uwe

2016-12-01

Frame stringer-stiffened shell structures show high load carrying capacity in conjunction with low structural mass and are for this reason frequently used as primary structures of aerospace applications. Due to the great number of design variables, deriving suitable stiffening configurations is a demanding task and needs to be realized using efficient analysis methods. The structural design of ring frame stringer-stiffened shells can be subdivided into two steps. One, the design of a shell section between two ring frames. Two, the structural design of the ring frames such that a general instability mode is avoided. For sizing stringer-stiffened shell sections, several methods were recently developed, but existing ring frame sizing methods are mainly based on empirical relations or on smeared models. These methods do not mandatorily lead to reliable designs and in some cases the lightweight design potential of stiffened shell structures can thus not be exploited. In this paper, the explicit physical behaviour of ring frame stiffeners of space launch vehicles at the onset of panel instability is described using mechanical substitute models. Ring frame stiffeners of a stiffened shell structure are sized applying existing methods and the method suggested in this paper. To verify the suggested method and to demonstrate its potential, geometrically non-linear finite element analyses are performed using detailed finite element models.

Numerical treatment of a geometrically nonlinear planar Cosserat shell model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sander, Oliver; Neff, Patrizio; Bîrsan, Mircea

2016-05-01

We present a new way to discretize a geometrically nonlinear elastic planar Cosserat shell. The kinematical model is similar to the general six-parameter resultant shell model with drilling rotations. The discretization uses geodesic finite elements (GFEs), which leads to an objective discrete model which naturally allows arbitrarily large rotations. GFEs of any approximation order can be constructed. The resulting algebraic problem is a minimization problem posed on a nonlinear finite-dimensional Riemannian manifold. We solve this problem using a Riemannian trust-region method, which is a generalization of Newton's method that converges globally without intermediate loading steps. We present the continuous model and the discretization, discuss the properties of the discrete model, and show several numerical examples, including wrinkling of thin elastic sheets in shear.

Large-scale shell-model calculation with core excitations for neutron-rich nuclei beyond 132Sn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Hua; Hasegawa, Munetake; Tazaki, Shigeru; Kaneko, Kazunari; Sun, Yang

2011-10-01

The structure of neutron-rich nuclei with a few nucleons beyond 132Sn is investigated by means of large-scale shell-model calculations. For a considerably large model space, including neutron core excitations, a new effective interaction is determined by employing the extended pairing-plus-quadrupole model with monopole corrections. The model provides a systematical description for energy levels of A=133-135 nuclei up to high spins and reproduces available data of electromagnetic transitions. The structure of these nuclei is analyzed in detail, with emphasis of effects associated with core excitations. The results show evidence of hexadecupole correlation in addition to octupole correlation in this mass region. The suggested feature of magnetic rotation in 135Te occurs in the present shell-model calculation.

Improved ceramic slip casting technique. [application to aircraft model fabrication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buck, Gregory M. (Inventor); Vasquez, Peter (Inventor)

1993-01-01

A primary concern in modern fluid dynamics research is the experimental verification of computational aerothermodynamic codes. This research requires high precision and detail in the test model employed. Ceramic materials are used for these models because of their low heat conductivity and their survivability at high temperatures. To fabricate such models, slip casting techniques were developed to provide net-form, precision casting capability for high-purity ceramic materials in aqueous solutions. In previous slip casting techniques, block, or flask molds made of plaster-of-paris were used to draw liquid from the slip material. Upon setting, parts were removed from the flask mold and cured in a kiln at high temperatures. Casting detail was usually limited with this technique -- detailed parts were frequently damaged upon separation from the flask mold, as the molded parts are extremely delicate in the uncured state, and the flask mold is inflexible. Ceramic surfaces were also marred by 'parting lines' caused by mold separation. This adversely affected the aerodynamic surface quality of the model as well. (Parting lines are invariably necessary on or near the leading edges of wings, nosetips, and fins for mold separation. These areas are also critical for flow boundary layer control.) Parting agents used in the casting process also affected surface quality. These agents eventually soaked into the mold, the model, or flaked off when releasing the case model. Different materials were tried, such as oils, paraffin, and even an algae. The algae released best, but some of it remained on the model and imparted an uneven texture and discoloration on the model surface when cured. According to the present invention, a wax pattern for a shell mold is provided, and an aqueous mixture of a calcium sulfate-bonded investment material is applied as a coating to the wax pattern. The coated wax pattern is then dried, followed by curing to vaporize the wax pattern and leave a shell mold of the calcium sulfate-bonded investment material. The shell mold is cooled to room temperature, and a ceramic slip is poured therein. After a ceramic shell of desired thickness has set up in the shell mold, excess ceramic slip is poured out. While still wet, the shell mold is peeled from the ceramic shell to expose any delicate or detailed parts, after which the ceramic shell is cured to provide a complete, detailed, precision ceramic article without parting lines.