Taguchi Experimental Design for Cleaning PWAs with Ball Grid Arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bonner, J. K.; Mehta, A.; Walton, S.

1997-01-01

Ball grid arrays (BGAs), and other area array packages, are becoming more prominent as a way to increase component pin count while avoiding the manufacturing difficulties inherent in processing quad flat packs (QFPs)...Cleaning printed wiring assemblies (PWAs) with BGA components mounted on the surface is problematic...Currently, a low flash point semi-aqueous material, in conjunction with a batch cleaning unit, is being used to clean PWAs. The approach taken at JPL was to investigate the use of (1) semi-aqueous materials having a high flash point and (2) aqueous cleaning involving a saponifier.

77 FR 65582 - Quad Graphics, Inc., Including Workers Whose Wages Were Reported Under Quad Graphics Printing...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-29

...., Including Workers Whose Wages Were Reported Under Quad Graphics Printing Corp. and Quad Logistics Services... Logistics Services. The intent of the Department's certification is to include all workers of the subject... were reported under Quad Graphics Printing Corp. and Quad Logistics Services (TA-W-73,441H), who became...

Plastic-Film Mulching for Enhanced Water-Use Efficiency and Economic Returns from Maize Fields in Semiarid China.

PubMed

Zhang, Peng; Wei, Ting; Cai, Tie; Ali, Shahzad; Han, Qingfang; Ren, Xiaolong; Jia, Zhikuan

2017-01-01

Film mulch has gradually been popularized to increase water availability to crops for improving and stabilizing agricultural production in the semiarid areas of Northwest China. To find more sustainable and economic film mulch methods for alleviating drought stress in semiarid region, it is necessary to test optimum planting methods in same cultivation conditions. A field experiment was conducted during 2013 and 2014 to evaluate the effects of different plastic film mulch methods on soil water, soil temperature, water use efficiency (WUE), yield and revenue. The treatments included: (i) the control, conventional flat planting without plastic film mulch (CK); (ii) flat planting with maize rows (60 cm spacing) on plastic film mulch (70 cm wide); (iii) furrow planting of maize (60 cm spacing), separated by consecutive plastic film-mulched ridges (each 50 cm wide and 15 cm tall); (iv) furrow planting of maize (60 cm spacing), separated by alternating large and small plastic film-mulched ridges (large ridges: 70 cm wide and 15 cm tall, small ridges 50 cm wide and 10 cm tall); and (v) furrow-flat planting of maize (60 cm spacing) with a large plastic film-mulched ridge (60 cm wide and 15 cm tall) alternating with a flat without plastic film-mulched space (60 cm wide). Topsoil temperature (5-25 cm) was significantly ( p < 0.05) higher in field plots with plastic film mulch than the control (CK), and resulted in greater soil water storage (0-200 cm) up to 40 days after planting. Maize grain yield and WUE were significantly ( p < 0.05) higher with the furrow planting methods (consecutive film-mulched ridges and alternating film-mulched ridges) than the check in both years. Maize yield was, on average, 29% ( p < 0.05) greater and 28% ( p < 0.05) greater with these furrow planting methods, while the average WUE increased by 22.8% ( p < 0.05) with consecutive film-mulched ridges and 21.1% ( p < 0.05) with alternating film-mulched ridges. The 2-year average net income increased by 1559, 528, and 350 Chinese Yuan (CNY) ha -1 with the consecutive film-mulched ridges, furrow-flat planting and alternating film-mulched ridges, respectively, compared with the control (CK). We conclude that the consecutive film-mulched ridge method was the most productive and profitable for maize in this semi-arid area with limited and erratic precipitation.

Determinants of recycling common types of plastic product waste in environmental horticulture industry: The case of Georgia.

PubMed

Meng, Ting; Klepacka, Anna M; Florkowski, Wojciech J; Braman, Kristine

2016-02-01

Environmental horticulture firms provide a variety of commercial/residential landscape products and services encompassing ornamental plant production, design, installation, and maintenance. The companies generate tons of waste including plastic containers, trays, and greenhouse/field covers, creating the need to reduce and utilize plastic waste. Based on survey data collected in Georgia in 2013, this paper investigates determinants of the environmental horticulture firms' recycling decision (plastic containers, flats, and greenhouse poly). Our findings indicate that the decision to discard vs. recycle plastic containers, flats, and greenhouse poly is significantly influenced by firm scope, size, location, and partnership with recycling providers, as well as whether recycling providers offer additional waste pickup services. Insights from this study are of use to local governments and environmental organizations interested in increasing horticultural firm participation in recycling programs and lowering the volume of plastic destined for landfills. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

77 FR 65365 - Procurement List; Additions

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-26

..., Plastic, Clear NSN: 6650-00-NIB-0019--Single Vision, Glass, Clear NSN: 6650-00-NIB-0020--Flat Top 28, Bifocal, Glass, Clear NSN: 6650-00-NIB-0021--Flat Top 35, Bifocal, Glass, Clear NSN: 6650-00-NIB-0022--Flat Top 7x28, Trifocal, Glass, Clear NSN: 6650-00-NIB-0023--Flat Top 8x35, Trifocal, Glass, Clear NSN...

77 FR 35942 - Procurement List; Proposed Additions

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-15

...--Bifocal, Executive, Plastic, Clear NSN: 6650-00-NIB-0019--Single Vision, Glass, Clear NSN: 6650-00-NIB-0020--Flat Top 28, Bifocal, Glass, Clear NSN: 6650-00-NIB-0021--Flat Top 35, Bifocal, Glass, Clear NSN: 6650-00-NIB-0022--Flat Top 7x28, Trifocal, Glass, Clear NSN: 6650-00-NIB-0023--Flat Top 8x35, Trifocal...

Analysis of behavior of simply supported flat plates compressed beyond the buckling load into the plastic range

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mayers, J; Budiansky, Bernard

1955-01-01

An analysis is presented of the postbuckling behavior of a simply supported square flat plate with straight edges compressed beyond the buckling load into the plastic range. The method of analysis involves the application of a variational principle of the deformation theory of plasticity in conjunction with computations carried out on a high-speed calculating machine. Numerical results are obtained for several plate proportions and for one material. The results indicate plate strengths greater than those that have been found experimentally on plates that do not satisfy straight-edge conditions. (author)

78 FR 75911 - Procurement List; Proposed Additions and Deletions

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-13

..., Plastic, Clear NSN: 6650-00-NIB-0042--Single Vision, Glass, Clear NSN: 6650-00-NIB-0043--Flat Top 28, Bifocal, Glass, Clear NSN: 6650-00-NIB-0044--Flat Top 35, Bifocal, Glass, Clear NSN: 6650-00-NIB-0045--Flat Top 7x28, Trifocal, Glass, Clear NSN: 6650-00-NIB-0046--Flat Top 8x35, Trifocal, Glass, Clear NSN...

Microstructures and fatigue life of SnAgCu solder joints bearing Nano-Al particles in QFP devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Liang; Fan, Xi-ying; Guo, Yong-huan; He, Cheng-wen

2014-05-01

Microstructures and fatigue life of SnAgCu and SnAgCu bearing nano-Al particles in QFP (Quad flat package) devices were investigated, respectively. Results show that the addition of nano-Al particles into SnAgCu solder can refine the microstructures of matrix microstructure. Moreover, the nano-Al particles present in the solder matrix, act as obstacles which can create a back stress, resisting the motion of dislocations. In QFP device, it is found that the addition of nano-Al particles can increase the fatigue life by 32% compared with the SnAgCu solder joints during thermal cycling loading.

Plastic-Film Mulching for Enhanced Water-Use Efficiency and Economic Returns from Maize Fields in Semiarid China

PubMed Central

Zhang, Peng; Wei, Ting; Cai, Tie; Ali, Shahzad; Han, Qingfang; Ren, Xiaolong; Jia, Zhikuan

2017-01-01

Film mulch has gradually been popularized to increase water availability to crops for improving and stabilizing agricultural production in the semiarid areas of Northwest China. To find more sustainable and economic film mulch methods for alleviating drought stress in semiarid region, it is necessary to test optimum planting methods in same cultivation conditions. A field experiment was conducted during 2013 and 2014 to evaluate the effects of different plastic film mulch methods on soil water, soil temperature, water use efficiency (WUE), yield and revenue. The treatments included: (i) the control, conventional flat planting without plastic film mulch (CK); (ii) flat planting with maize rows (60 cm spacing) on plastic film mulch (70 cm wide); (iii) furrow planting of maize (60 cm spacing), separated by consecutive plastic film-mulched ridges (each 50 cm wide and 15 cm tall); (iv) furrow planting of maize (60 cm spacing), separated by alternating large and small plastic film-mulched ridges (large ridges: 70 cm wide and 15 cm tall, small ridges 50 cm wide and 10 cm tall); and (v) furrow-flat planting of maize (60 cm spacing) with a large plastic film-mulched ridge (60 cm wide and 15 cm tall) alternating with a flat without plastic film-mulched space (60 cm wide). Topsoil temperature (5–25 cm) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in field plots with plastic film mulch than the control (CK), and resulted in greater soil water storage (0–200 cm) up to 40 days after planting. Maize grain yield and WUE were significantly (p < 0.05) higher with the furrow planting methods (consecutive film-mulched ridges and alternating film-mulched ridges) than the check in both years. Maize yield was, on average, 29% (p < 0.05) greater and 28% (p < 0.05) greater with these furrow planting methods, while the average WUE increased by 22.8% (p < 0.05) with consecutive film-mulched ridges and 21.1% (p < 0.05) with alternating film-mulched ridges. The 2-year average net income increased by 1559, 528, and 350 Chinese Yuan (CNY) ha−1 with the consecutive film-mulched ridges, furrow-flat planting and alternating film-mulched ridges, respectively, compared with the control (CK). We conclude that the consecutive film-mulched ridge method was the most productive and profitable for maize in this semi-arid area with limited and erratic precipitation. PMID:28428798

Conservation and the industry sector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1975-01-01

The following six highly energy intensive industries were studied as targets of energy conservation opportunity: food and kindred products, paper and allied products, chemicals and allied products, petroleum and coal products, stone, glass and clay products, and primary manufacturing. After studying conservation actions within each industry the actions were grouped under three broad categories: increased combustion efficiency, process improvement, and good housekeeping. Some of the results were: (1) approximately 2.18 quads could be saved in 1980 and 2.57 quads in 1985 by installing cogenerative facilities in 50% of the industries, (2) regenerative air-preheaters could result in a 10-15% increase in furnace efficiency representing a 15-25% fuel savings (2.3 to 3.9 quads in 1980 and 2.7 to 4.5 quads in 1985), (3) several major industries have potential for energy savings by recycling-aluminum (0.2 quads), steel (1 quad), glass (0.006 quads), paper and cement (0.08 quads).

Practical solution of plastic deformation problems in elastic-plastic range

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mendelson, A; Manson, S

1957-01-01

A practical method for solving plastic deformation problems in the elastic-plastic range is presented. The method is one of successive approximations and is illustrated by four examples which include a flat plate with temperature distribution across the width, a thin shell with axial temperature distribution, a solid cylinder with radial temperature distribution, and a rotating disk with radial temperature distribution.

Finite Element Analysis of a Dynamically Loaded Flat Laminated Plate

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-07-01

and the elements are stacked in the thickness direction to represent various material layers. This analysis allows for orthotropic, elastic- plastic or...INCREMENTS 27 V. PLASTICITY 34 Orthotropic Elastic- Plastic Yielding 34 Orthotropic Elastic-Viscoplastic Yielding 37 VI. ELEMENT EQUILIBRIUM...with time, consequently the materials are assumed to be represented by elastic- plastic and elastic-viscoplastic models. The finite element model

Quad Charts in the Classroom to Reinforce Technical Communication Fundamentals

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ford, Julie Dyke; Wei, Tie

2015-01-01

Quad charts are a genre frequently used in scientific and technical environments, yet little prior work has evaluated their potential for reinforcing technical communication fundamentals. This article provides background information about quad charts and notes the benefits of implementing quad charts in the classroom. In particular, introducing…

40 CFR 81.102 - Metropolitan Quad Cities Interstate Air Quality Control Region.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 17 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Metropolitan Quad Cities Interstate... Designation of Air Quality Control Regions § 81.102 Metropolitan Quad Cities Interstate Air Quality Control Region. The Metropolitan Quad Cities Interstate Air Quality Control Region (Illinois-Iowa) consists of...

40 CFR 81.102 - Metropolitan Quad Cities Interstate Air Quality Control Region.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 17 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Metropolitan Quad Cities Interstate... Designation of Air Quality Control Regions § 81.102 Metropolitan Quad Cities Interstate Air Quality Control Region. The Metropolitan Quad Cities Interstate Air Quality Control Region (Illinois-Iowa) consists of...

Flat conductor cable commercialization project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hogarth, P.; Wadsworth, E.

1977-01-01

An undercarpet flat conductor cable and a baseboard flat conductor cable system were studied for commercialization. The undercarpet system is designed for use in office and commercial buildings. It employs a flat power cable, protected by a grounded metal shield, that terminates in receptacles mounted on the floor. It is designed to interface with a flat conductor cable telephone system. The baseboard system consists of a flat power cable mounted in a plastic raceway; both the raceway and the receptacles are mounted on the surface of the baseboard. It is designed primarily for use in residential buildings, particularly for renovation and concrete and masonry construction.

Geological Mapping of the Ac-H-12 Toharu Quadrangle of Ceres from NASA Dawn Mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mest, Scott; Williams, David; Crown, David; Yingst, Aileen; Buczkowski, Debra; Scully, Jennifer; Jaumann, Ralf; Roatsch, Thomas; Preusker, Frank; Nathues, Andres; Hoffmann, Martin; Schaefer, Michael; Raymond, Carol; Russell, Christopher

2016-04-01

The Dawn Science Team is conducting a geologic mapping campaign for Ceres similar to that done for Vesta [1,2], including production of a Survey- and High Altitude Mapping Orbit (HAMO)-based global map and a series of 15 Low Altitude Mapping Orbit (LAMO)-based quadrangle maps. In this abstract we discuss the surface geology and geologic evolution of the Ac-H-12 Toharu Quadrangle (21-66°S, 90-180°E). At the time of this writing LAMO images (35 m/pixel) are just becoming available. The current geologic map of Ac-H-12 was produced using ArcGIS software, and is based on HAMO images (140 m/pixel) and Survey (400 m/pixel) digital terrain models (for topographic information). Dawn Framing Camera (FC) color images were also used to provide context for map unit identification. The map (to be presented as a poster) will be updated from analyses of LAMO images. The Toharu Quadrangle is named after crater Toharu (86 km diameter; 48.3°S, 156°E), and is dominated by smooth terrain in the north, and more heavily cratered terrain in the south. The quad exhibits ~9 km of relief, with the highest elevations (~3.5-4.6 km) found among the western plateau and eastern crater rims, and the lowest elevation found on the floor of crater Chaminuka. Preliminary geologic mapping has defined three regional units (smooth material, smooth Kerwan floor material, and cratered terrain) that dominate the quadrangle, as well as a series of impact crater material units. Smooth materials form nearly flat-lying plains in the northwest part of the quad, and overlies hummocky materials in some areas. These smooth materials extend over a much broader area outside of the quad, and appear to contain some of the lowest crater densities on Ceres. Cratered terrain forms much of the map area and contains rugged surfaces formed largely by the structures and deposits of impact features. In addition to geologic units, a number of geologic features - including crater rims, furrows, scarps, troughs, and impact crater chains - have been mapped. The Toharu Quadrangle predominantly displays impact craters that exhibit a range of sizes - from the limits of resolution to part of the Kerwan basin (280 km diameter) - and preservation styles. The quad also contains a number large (>20 km across) depressions that are only observable in the topographic data. Smaller craters (<40 km) generally appear morphologically "fresh", and their rims are nearly circular and raised above the surrounding terrain. Larger craters, such as Toharu, appear more degraded, exhibiting irregularly shaped, sometimes scalloped, rim structures, and debris lobes on their floors. Numerous craters (> 20 km) contain central mounds; at current FC resolution, it is difficult to discern if these are primary structures (i.e., central peaks) or secondary features. Support of the Dawn Instrument, Operations, & Science Teams is acknowledged. This work is supported by grants from NASA, DLR and MPG. References: [1] Williams D.A. et al. (2014) Icarus, 244, 1-12. [2] Yingst R.A. et al. (2014) PSS, 103, 2-23.

Machining Specific Fourier Power Spectrum Profiles into Plastics for High Energy Density Physics Experiments [Machining Specific Fourier Power Spectrum Profiles into Plastics for HEDP Experiments

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

Schmidt, Derek William; Cardenas, Tana; Doss, Forrest W.

In this paper, the High Energy Density Physics program at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has had a multiyear campaign to verify the predictive capability of the interface evolution of shock propagation through different profiles machined into the face of a plastic package with an iodine-doped plastic center region. These experiments varied the machined surface from a simple sine wave to a double sine wave and finally to a multitude of different profiles with power spectrum ranges and shapes to verify LANL’s simulation capability. The MultiMode-A profiles had a band-pass flat region of the power spectrum, while the MultiMode-B profilemore » had two band-pass flat regions. Another profile of interest was the 1-Peak profile, a band-pass concept with a spike to one side of the power spectrum. All these profiles were machined in flat and tilted orientations of 30 and 60 deg. Tailor-made machining profiles, supplied by experimental physicists, were compared to actual machined surfaces, and Fourier power spectra were compared to see the reproducibility of the machining process over the frequency ranges that physicists require.« less

Machining Specific Fourier Power Spectrum Profiles into Plastics for High Energy Density Physics Experiments [Machining Specific Fourier Power Spectrum Profiles into Plastics for HEDP Experiments

DOE PAGES

Schmidt, Derek William; Cardenas, Tana; Doss, Forrest W.; ...

2018-01-15

In this paper, the High Energy Density Physics program at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has had a multiyear campaign to verify the predictive capability of the interface evolution of shock propagation through different profiles machined into the face of a plastic package with an iodine-doped plastic center region. These experiments varied the machined surface from a simple sine wave to a double sine wave and finally to a multitude of different profiles with power spectrum ranges and shapes to verify LANL’s simulation capability. The MultiMode-A profiles had a band-pass flat region of the power spectrum, while the MultiMode-B profilemore » had two band-pass flat regions. Another profile of interest was the 1-Peak profile, a band-pass concept with a spike to one side of the power spectrum. All these profiles were machined in flat and tilted orientations of 30 and 60 deg. Tailor-made machining profiles, supplied by experimental physicists, were compared to actual machined surfaces, and Fourier power spectra were compared to see the reproducibility of the machining process over the frequency ranges that physicists require.« less

The impact of ΛCDM substructure and baryon-dark matter transition on the image positions of quad galaxy lenses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gomer, Matthew R.; Williams, Liliya L. R.

2018-04-01

The positions of multiple images in galaxy lenses are related to the galaxy mass distribution. Smooth elliptical mass profiles were previously shown to be inadequate in reproducing the quad population. In this paper, we explore the deviations from such smooth elliptical mass distributions. Unlike most other work, we use a model-free approach based on the relative polar image angles of quads, and their position in 3D space with respect to the fundamental surface of quads (FSQ). The FSQ is defined by quads produced by elliptical lenses. We have generated thousands of quads from synthetic populations of lenses with substructure consistent with Lambda cold dark matter (ΛCDM) simulations, and found that such perturbations are not sufficient to match the observed distribution of quads relative to the FSQ. The result is unchanged even when subhalo masses are increased by a factor of 10, and the most optimistic lensing selection bias is applied. We then produce quads from galaxies created using two components, representing baryons and dark matter. The transition from the mass being dominated by baryons in inner radii to being dominated by dark matter in outer radii can carry with it asymmetries, which would affect relative image angles. We run preliminary experiments using lenses with two elliptical mass components with non-identical axial ratios and position angles, perturbations from ellipticity in the form of non-zero Fourier coefficients a4 and a6, and artificially offset ellipse centres as a proxy for asymmetry at image radii. We show that combination of these effects is a promising way of accounting for quad population properties. We conclude that the quad population provides a unique and sensitive tool for constraining detailed mass distribution in the centres of galaxies.

Impact of a vaccination programme in children vaccinated with ProQuad, and ProQuad-specific effectiveness against varicella in the Veneto region of Italy.

PubMed

Giaquinto, Carlo; Gabutti, Giovanni; Baldo, Vincenzo; Villa, Marco; Tramontan, Lara; Raccanello, Nadia; Russo, Francesca; Poma, Chiara; Scamarcia, Antonio; Cantarutti, Luigi; Lundin, Rebecca; Perinetti, Emilia; Cornen, Xavier; Thomas, Stéphane; Ballandras, Céline; Souverain, Audrey; Hartwig, Susanne

2018-03-05

Monovalent varicella vaccines have been available in the Veneto Region of Italy since 2004. In 2006, a single vaccine dose was added to the immunisation calendar for children aged 14 months. ProQuad®, a quadrivalent measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine, was introduced in May 2007 and used, among other varicella vaccines, until October 2008. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a single dose of ProQuad, and the population impact of a vaccination program (VP) against varicella of any severity in children who received a first dose of ProQuad at 14 months of age in the Veneto Region, METHODS: All children born in 2006/2007, i.e., eligible for varicella vaccination after ProQuad was introduced, were retrospectively followed through individual-level data linkage between the Pedianet database (varicella cases) and the Regional Immunization Database (vaccination status). The direct effectiveness of ProQuad was estimated as the incidence rate of varicella in ProQuad-vaccinated children aged < 6 years compared to children with no varicella vaccination from the same birth cohort. The impact of the VP on varicella was measured by comparing children eligible for the VP to an unvaccinated historical cohort from 1997/1998. The vaccine impact measures were: total effect (the combined effect of ProQuad vaccination and being covered by the Veneto VP); indirect effect (the effect of the VP on unvaccinated individuals); and overall effect (the effect of the VP on varicella in the entire population of the Veneto Region, regardless of their vaccination status). The adjusted direct effectiveness of ProQuad was 94%. The vaccine impact measures total, indirect, and overall effect were 97%, 43%, and 90%, respectively. These are the first results on the effectiveness and impact of ProQuad against varicella; data confirmed its high effectiveness, based on immunological correlates for protection. Direct effectiveness is our only ProQuad-specific measure; all impact measures refer at least partially to the VP and should be interpreted in the context of high vaccine coverage and the use of various varicella vaccines in this region. The Veneto Region offered a unique opportunity for this study due to an individual data linkage between Pedianet and the Regional Immunization database.

Share of Energy Used by Appliances and Consumer Electronics Increases in U.S. Homes

EIA Publications

2011-01-01

Over the past three decades, the share of residential electricity used by appliances and electronics in U.S. homes has nearly doubled from 17% to 3% , growing from 1.77 quadrillion Btu (quads) to 3.25 quads. This rise has occurred while federal energy efficiency standards were enacted on every major appliance, overall household energy consumption actually decreased from 10.58 quads to 10.55 quads, and energy use per household fell 31%.

Australian quad bike fatalities: what is the economic cost?

PubMed

Lower, Tony; Pollock, Kirrily; Herde, Emily

2013-04-01

To determine the economic costs associated with all quad bike-related fatalities in Australia, 2001 to 2010. A human capital approach to establish the economic costs of quad bike related fatalities to the Australian economy. The model included estimates on loss of earnings due to premature death and direct costs based on coronial records for ambulance, police, hospital, premature funeral, coronial and work safety authority investigation, and death compensation costs. All costs were calculated to 2010 dollars. The estimated total economic cost associated with quad bike fatalities over this period was $288.1 million, with an average cost for each fatality of $2.3 million. When assessing the average cost of incidents between age cohorts, those aged 25-34 years had the lowest number of fatalities but had the highest average cost ($4.2 million). Quad bike fatalities have a significant economic impact on Australian society that is increasing. Implications : Given the high cost to society, interventions to address quad bike fatalities have the potential to be highly cost-effective. Such interventions should focus on design approaches to improve the safety of quad bikes in terms of stability and protection in the event of a rollover. Additionally, relevant policy (e.g. no children under 16 years riding quads, no passengers) and intervention approaches (e.g. training and use of helmets) must also support the design modifications. © 2013 The Authors. ANZJPH © 2013 Public Health Association of Australia.

FY17 NIF Performance Quad Campaign: laser performance results and conclusions

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

Di Nicola, J. M.; Mennerat, G.; Widmayer, G.

The FY17 NIF Performance Quad Campaign exercised a single quad of NIF (Q45T) at elevated energy to assess the impact of recent improvements to the infrared (1ω) and ultraviolet (3ω) section of the laser on integrated performance.

Thin film transistors on plastic substrates with reflective coatings for radiation protection

DOEpatents

Wolfe, Jesse D.; Theiss, Steven D.; Carey, Paul G.; Smith, Patrick M.; Wickboldt, Paul

2003-11-04

Fabrication of silicon thin film transistors (TFT) on low-temperature plastic substrates using a reflective coating so that inexpensive plastic substrates may be used in place of standard glass, quartz, and silicon wafer-based substrates. The TFT can be used in large area low cost electronics, such as flat panel displays and portable electronics such as video cameras, personal digital assistants, and cell phones.

Thin film transistors on plastic substrates with reflective coatings for radiation protection

DOEpatents

Wolfe, Jesse D [Fairfield, CA; Theiss, Steven D [Woodbury, MN; Carey, Paul G [Mountain View, CA; Smith, Patrick M [San Ramon, CA; Wickbold, Paul [Walnut Creek, CA

2006-09-26

Fabrication of silicon thin film transistors (TFT) on low-temperature plastic substrates using a reflective coating so that inexpensive plastic substrates may be used in place of standard glass, quartz, and silicon wafer-based substrates. The TFT can be used in large area low cost electronics, such as flat panel displays and portable electronics such as video cameras, personal digital assistants, and cell phones.

Revised Masses and Densities of the Planets around Kepler-10

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weiss, Lauren M.; Rogers, Leslie A.; Isaacson, Howard T.; Agol, Eric; Marcy, Geoffrey W.; Rowe, Jason F.; Kipping, David; Fulton, Benjamin J.; Lissauer, Jack J.; Howard, Andrew W.; Fabrycky, Daniel

2016-03-01

Determining which small exoplanets have stony-iron compositions is necessary for quantifying the occurrence of such planets and for understanding the physics of planet formation. Kepler-10 hosts the stony-iron world Kepler-10b, and also contains what has been reported to be the largest solid silicate-ice planet, Kepler-10c. Using 220 radial velocities (RVs), including 72 precise RVs from Keck-HIRES of which 20 are new from 2014 to 2015, and 17 quarters of Kepler photometry, we obtain the most complete picture of the Kepler-10 system to date. We find that Kepler-10b ({R}{{p}}=1.47 {R}\\oplus ) has mass 3.72\\quad +/- \\quad 0.42\\quad {M}\\oplus and density 6.46\\quad +/- \\quad 0.73\\quad {{g}} {{cm}}-3. Modeling the interior of Kepler-10b as an iron core overlaid with a silicate mantle, we find that the iron core constitutes 0.17 ± 0.11 of the planet mass. For Kepler-10c ({R}{{p}}=2.35 {R}\\oplus ) we measure mass 13.98\\quad +/- \\quad 1.79\\quad {M}\\oplus and density 5.94\\quad +/- \\quad 0.76\\quad {{g}} {{cm}}-3, significantly lower than the mass computed in Dumusque et al. (17.2+/- 1.9 {M}\\oplus ). Our mass measurement of Kepler-10c rules out a pure stony-iron composition. Internal compositional modeling reveals that at least 10% of the radius of Kepler-10c is a volatile envelope composed of hydrogen-helium (0.2% of the mass, 16% of the radius) or super-ionic water (28% of the mass, 29% of the radius). However, we note that analysis of only HIRES data yields a higher mass for planet b and a lower mass for planet c than does analysis of the HARPS-N data alone, with the mass estimates for Kepler-10 c being formally inconsistent at the 3σ level. Moreover, dividing the data for each instrument into two parts also leads to somewhat inconsistent measurements for the mass of planet c derived from each observatory. Together, this suggests that time-correlated noise is present and that the uncertainties in the masses of the planets (especially planet c) likely exceed our formal estimates. Transit timing variations (TTVs) of Kepler-10c indicate the likely presence of a third planet in the system, KOI-72.X. The TTVs and RVs are consistent with KOI-72.X having an orbital period of 24, 71, or 101 days, and a mass from 1 to 7 {M}\\oplus . W.M.O. Keck Observatory.

Novel quad-band terahertz metamaterial absorber based on single pattern U-shaped resonator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Ben-Xin; Wang, Gui-Zhen

2017-03-01

A novel quad-band terahertz metamaterial absorber using four different modes of single pattern resonator is demonstrated. Four obvious frequencies with near-perfect absorption are realized. Near-field distributions of the four modes are provided to reveal the physical picture of the multiple-band absorption. Unlike most previous quad-band absorbers that typically require four or more patterns, the designed absorber has only one resonant structure, which is simpler than previous works. The presented quad-band absorber has potential applications in biological sensing, medical imaging, and material detection.

QUAD+ BWR Fuel Assembly demonstration program at Browns Ferry plant

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

Doshi, P.K.; Mayhue, L.T.; Robert, J.T.

1984-04-01

The QUAD+ fuel assembly is an improved BWR fuel assembly designed and manufactured by Westinghouse Electric Corporation. The design features a water cross separating four fuel minibundles in an integral channel. A demonstration program for this fuel design is planned for late 1984 in cycle 6 of Browns Ferry 2, a TVA plant. Objectives for the design of the QUAD+ demonstration assemblies are compatibility in performance and transparency in safety analysis with the feed fuel. These objectives are met. Inspections of the QUAD+ demonstration assemblies are planned at each refueling outage.

Effect of soy addition on microwavable pocket-type flat doughs.

PubMed

Serventi, Luca; Sachleben, Joseph; Vodovotz, Yael

2011-01-01

Microwavable frozen baked goods are widely used by the food industry. However, the altered heat and mass transfer patterns associated with microwave radiation result in tough and rubbery baked products due to reduced plasticization of the polymers. Ingredients with high water-holding capacity and high content of polar lipids have been shown to enhance gluten plasticization and to improve water retention. Therefore, this study explored the physicochemical changes imparted by microwave baking of pocket-type flat doughs with and without soy added at 10%, 20%, and 26% and compared these to their conventionally baked counterparts. Microwave baking resulted in a soft, rubbery, and tough wheat product with increased "freezable" water. Soy was added to the formulation as a means to improve polymer plasticization. Conventional baking of soy doughs resulted in rubbery and tough products due to changes in water state and mobility (freezable water approximately 15 compared with 7.09 of the control). However, soy reduced the cohesiveness of the microwave baked products reaching the lowest value at 20% soy addition (cohesiveness 0.33 ± 1, comparable to that of the conventionally baked control). These data suggest that reduction of water mobility induced by soy proteins and polar lipids (confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis [TGA] and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance [¹H NMR]) possibly plasticized the starch-gluten network of microwave baked soy doughs. Thus, soy was shown to improve the texture of microwave baked pocket-type flat doughs although further formula optimization is warranted. Microwavable pocket-type flat doughs are used frequently by the food industry to enrobe meat, vegetable, and sweet items for convenient meal delivery. Microwave heating of such doughs induces the development of crustless products compared to conventionally baked products, resulting in a tough and rubbery texture. Partial substitution of wheat flour with soy, in the form of soy flour and soy milk powder, prevented the deleterious textural changes associated with microwave heating. These results suggest that soy is a functional ingredient for the textural improvement of microwavable pocket-type flat doughs. © 2011 Institute of Food Technologists®

75 FR 12729 - Foreign-Trade Zone 133-Quad-Cities, Iowa/Illinois; Application for Expansion

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-17

... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Foreign-Trade Zones Board [Docket 15-2010] Foreign-Trade Zone 133--Quad... Zones Board (the Board) by the Quad-City Foreign Trade Zone, Inc., grantee of FTZ 133, requesting authority to expand the zone within the Davenport-Rock Island-Moline Customs and Border Protection port of...

[Effects of plastic mulch on soil moisture and temperature and limiting factors to yield increase for dryland spring maize in the North China].

PubMed

Liu, Sheng-Yao; Zhang, Li-Feng; Li, Zhi-Hong; Jia, Jian-Ming; Fan, Feng-Cui; Shi, Yu-Fang

2014-11-01

Four treatments, including ridge tillage with plastic mulch (RP), ridge tillage without mulch (RB), flat tillage with plastic mulch (FP) and flat tillage without mulch (FB), were carried out to examine the tillage type and mulch on the effects of soil moisture and temperature, yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of dry land spring maize in the North China. Results showed that the average soil temperature was increased by 1-3 °C and the accumulated soil temperature was increased by 155.2-280.9 °C from sowing to tasseling by plastic mulch, and the growing duration was extended by 5.9-10.7 d. The water conservation effect of plastic mulch was significant from sowing to the seedling establishment, with WUE being increased by 81.6%-136.4% under mulch as compared with that without mulch. From the seedling to jointing stage, which coincided with the dry period in the region, soil water utilization by the maize under mulch could reach the depth of 80-100 cm, and its WUE was about 17.0%-21.6% lower than the maize without mulch, since the latter was affected by dry stress. With the coming of rainy season around the trumpeting stage, soil water in each treatment was replenished and maintained at relative high level up to harvest. Yield of maize was increased by 9.5% under RP as compared with RB. However, yield was reduced by 5.0% under FP, due to the plastic film under flat tillage prevented the infiltration of rainfall and waterlogging occurred. No significant difference in yield was found between RB and FB. Higher yield of spring maize was limited because of the mismatching in water supply and demand characterized by soil water shortage before the rainy season and abundant soil water storage after the rainy season.

Blow-up prevention by quadratic degradation in a two-dimensional Keller-Segel-Navier-Stokes system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tao, Youshan; Winkler, Michael

2016-12-01

This paper deals with an initial-boundary value problem in a two-dimensional smoothly bounded domain for the Keller-Segel-Navier-Stokes system with logistic source, as given by n_t + u\\cdot nabla n &{} =&{} Δ n - nabla \\cdot (n nabla c)+rn-μ n^2, c_t + u\\cdot nabla c &{}=&{} Δ c -c +n,u_t + u\\cdot nabla u &{}=&{} Δ u -nabla P+n nabla φ +g,nabla \\cdot u &{} =&{} 0, which describes the mutual interaction of chemotactically moving microorganisms and their surrounding incompressible fluid. It is shown that whenever μ >0, r≥ 0, gin C^1(bar{Ω }× [0,∞)) \\cap L^∞(Ω × (0,∞)) and the initial data (n_0, c_0, u_0) are sufficiently smooth fulfilling n_0not ≡ 0, the considered problem possesses a global classical solution which is bounded. Moreover, if r=0, then this solution satisfies n(\\cdot ,t)→ 0 quad and quad c(\\cdot ,t)→ 0 quad in L^∞(Ω ) as t→ ∞, and if additionally int limits _0^∞ int limits _Ω |g(x,t)|^2 dx dt < ∞, then all solution components decay in the sense that n(\\cdot ,t)→ 0, quad c(\\cdot ,t)→ 0 quad hbox and quad u(\\cdot ,t)→ 0 quad in L^∞(Ω ) as t→ ∞.

QuadBase2: web server for multiplexed guanine quadruplex mining and visualization

PubMed Central

Dhapola, Parashar; Chowdhury, Shantanu

2016-01-01

DNA guanine quadruplexes or G4s are non-canonical DNA secondary structures which affect genomic processes like replication, transcription and recombination. G4s are computationally identified by specific nucleotide motifs which are also called putative G4 (PG4) motifs. Despite the general relevance of these structures, there is currently no tool available that can allow batch queries and genome-wide analysis of these motifs in a user-friendly interface. QuadBase2 (quadbase.igib.res.in) presents a completely reinvented web server version of previously published QuadBase database. QuadBase2 enables users to mine PG4 motifs in up to 178 eukaryotes through the EuQuad module. This module interfaces with Ensembl Compara database, to allow users mine PG4 motifs in the orthologues of genes of interest across eukaryotes. PG4 motifs can be mined across genes and their promoter sequences in 1719 prokaryotes through ProQuad module. This module includes a feature that allows genome-wide mining of PG4 motifs and their visualization as circular histograms. TetraplexFinder, the module for mining PG4 motifs in user-provided sequences is now capable of handling up to 20 MB of data. QuadBase2 is a comprehensive PG4 motif mining tool that further expands the configurations and algorithms for mining PG4 motifs in a user-friendly way. PMID:27185890

Constitutive Equations: Plastic and Viscoelastic Properties. (Latest citations from the Aerospace Database)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1997-01-01

The bibliography contains citations concerning analytical techniques using constitutive equations, applied to materials under stress. The properties explored with these techniques include viscoelasticity, thermoelasticity, and plasticity. While many of the references are general as to material type, most refer to specific metals or composites, or to specific shapes, such as flat plate or spherical vessels.

Clioquinol and vitamin B12 (cobalamin) synergistically rescue the lead-induced impairments of synaptic plasticity in hippocampal dentate gyrus area of the anesthetized rats in vivo.

PubMed

Chen, W-H; Wang, M; Yu, S-S; Su, L; Zhu, D-M; She, J-Q; Cao, X-J; Ruan, D-Y

2007-07-13

Lead (Pb(2+)) exposure in development induces impairments of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) area of the anesthetized rats in vivo. The common chelating agents have many adverse effects and are incapable of alleviating lead-induced neurotoxicity. Recently, CQ, clioquinol (5-chloro-7-iodo-8-hydroxy-quinoline), which is a transition metal ion chelator and/or ionophore with low affinity for metal ions, has yielded some promising results in animal models and clinical trials related to dysfunctions of metal ions. In addition, CQ-associated side effects are believed to be overcome with vitamin B12 (VB12) supplementation. To determine whether CQ treatment could rescue impairments of synaptic plasticity induced by chronic Pb(2+) exposure, we investigated the input/output functions (I/Os), paired-pulse reactions (PPRs) and long-term potentiation (LTP) of different treatment groups in hippocampal DG area of the anesthetized rat in vivo by recording field potentials and measured hippocampal Pb(2+) concentrations of different treatment groups by PlasmaQuad 3 inductive coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. The results show: CQ alone does not rescue the lead-induced impairments of synaptic plasticity in hippocampal DG area of the anesthetized rats in vivo; VB12 alone partly rescues the lead-induced impairments of LTP; however the co-administration of CQ and VB12 totally rescues these impairments of synaptic plasticity and moreover, the effects of CQ and VB12 co-administration are specific to the lead-exposed animals.

Comparison of three different collectors for process heat applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brunold, Stefan; Frey, R.; Frei, Ulrich

1994-09-01

In general vacuum tube collectors are used in solar process heat systems. Another possibility is to use transparent insulated flat plate collectors. A critical point however, is that most of the common transparent insulating materials can not withstand high temperatures because they consist of plastics. Thus, temperature resistive collector covers combining a high tranmisivity with a low U-value are required. One possibility is to use capillaries made of glass instead of plastics. Measurement results of collector efficiency and incident angle modifier will be presented as well as calculated energy gains for three different collectors: a vacuum tube collector (Giordano Ind., France), a CPC vacuum tube collector (microtherm Energietechnik Germany; a new flat plate collector using glass capillary as transparent insulation (SET, Germany).

75 FR 75706 - Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Units 2 and 3 and Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Unit Nos. 1...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-06

...- 2010-0373] Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Units 2 and 3 and Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Unit Nos... and DPR-25 for Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Units 2 and 3, respectively, located in Grundy County, Illinois, and to Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-29 and DPR-30 for Quad Cities Nuclear Power...

Use of computer modeling to investigate a dynamic interaction problem in the Skylab TACS quad-valve package

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hesser, R. J.; Gershman, R.

1975-01-01

A valve opening-response problem encountered during development of a control valve for the Skylab thruster attitude control system (TACS) is described. The problem involved effects of dynamic interaction among valves in the quad-redundant valve package. Also described is a detailed computer simulation of the quad-valve package which was helpful in resolving the problem.

2009 Insensitive Munitions and Energetic Materials Technology Symposium

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-05-14

Multilayer Structure 1D STIMULI Flat end rod Round end rod Flat cookie -cutter Spherical fragment Simple shaped charge jet Real shaped charge jet Thin plate... cookie -cutter Spherical fragment Simple shaped charge jet Real shaped charge jet Thin plate Constant Temperature Rising Temperature Multilayer...Propellants  Plasticizer mixed into the Propellant - Dough NO SURFACE COATING Formulation Impetus (J/g) Flame Temp (K) Mw (g/mole) A

Effects of fire retardants on physical, mechanical, and fire properties of flat-pressed WPCs

Treesearch

Nadir Ayrilmis; Jan T. Benthien; Heiko Thoemen; Robert H. White

2012-01-01

Physical, mechanical, and fire properties of the flat-pressed wood plastic composites (WPCs) incorporated with various fire retardants (10% by weight) at different levels of wood flour (WF) content, 40, 50, or 60 wt%, were investigated. The WPC panels were made from dry-blended WF, polypropylene (PP), and fire retardant (FR) powders with maleic anhydride-grafted PP (2...

Multi-hop path tracing of mobile robot with multi-range image

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choudhury, Ramakanta; Samal, Chandrakanta; Choudhury, Umakanta

2010-02-01

It is well known that image processing depends heavily upon image representation technique . This paper intends to find out the optimal path of mobile robots for a specified area where obstacles are predefined as well as modified. Here the optimal path is represented by using the Quad tree method. Since there has been rising interest in the use of quad tree, we have tried to use the successive subdivision of images into quadrants from which the quad tree is developed. In the quad tree, obstacles-free area and the partial filled area are represented with different notations. After development of quad tree the algorithm is used to find the optimal path by employing neighbor finding technique, with a view to move the robot from the source to destination. The algorithm, here , permeates through the entire tree, and tries to locate the common ancestor for computation. The computation and the algorithm, aim at easing the ability of the robot to trace the optimal path with the help of adjacencies between the neighboring nodes as well as determining such adjacencies in the horizontal, vertical and diagonal directions. In this paper efforts have been made to determine the movement of the adjacent block in the quad tree and to detect the transition between the blocks equal size and finally generate the result.

Cosmological Parameters from the QUAD CMB Polarization Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castro, P. G.; Ade, P.; Bock, J.; Bowden, M.; Brown, M. L.; Cahill, G.; Church, S.; Culverhouse, T.; Friedman, R. B.; Ganga, K.; Gear, W. K.; Gupta, S.; Hinderks, J.; Kovac, J.; Lange, A. E.; Leitch, E.; Melhuish, S. J.; Memari, Y.; Murphy, J. A.; Orlando, A.; Pryke, C.; Schwarz, R.; O'Sullivan, C.; Piccirillo, L.; Rajguru, N.; Rusholme, B.; Taylor, A. N.; Thompson, K. L.; Turner, A. H.; Wu, E. Y. S.; Zemcov, M.; QUa D Collaboration

2009-08-01

In this paper, we present a parameter estimation analysis of the polarization and temperature power spectra from the second and third season of observations with the QUaD experiment. QUaD has for the first time detected multiple acoustic peaks in the E-mode polarization spectrum with high significance. Although QUaD-only parameter constraints are not competitive with previous results for the standard six-parameter ΛCDM cosmology, they do allow meaningful polarization-only parameter analyses for the first time. In a standard six-parameter ΛCDM analysis, we find the QUaD TT power spectrum to be in good agreement with previous results. However, the QUaD polarization data show some tension with ΛCDM. The origin of this 1σ-2σ tension remains unclear, and may point to new physics, residual systematics, or simple random chance. We also combine QUaD with the five-year WMAP data set and the SDSS luminous red galaxies 4th data release power spectrum, and extend our analysis to constrain individual isocurvature mode fractions, constraining cold dark matter density, αcdmi < 0.11 (95% confidence limit (CL)), neutrino density, αndi < 0.26 (95% CL), and neutrino velocity, αnvi < 0.23 (95% CL), modes. Our analysis sets a benchmark for future polarization experiments.

Ultra-low noise large-area InGaAs quad photoreceiver with low crosstalk for laser interferometry space antenna

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joshi, Abhay; Datta, Shubhashish; Rue, Jim; Livas, Jeffrey; Silverberg, Robert; Guzman Cervantes, Felipe

2012-07-01

Quad photoreceivers, namely a 2 x 2 array of p-i-n photodiodes followed by a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) per diode, are required as the front-end photonic sensors in several applications relying on free-space propagation with position and direction sensing capability, such as long baseline interferometry, free-space optical communication, and biomedical imaging. It is desirable to increase the active area of quad photoreceivers (and photodiodes) to enhance the link gain, and therefore sensitivity, of the system. However, the resulting increase in the photodiode capacitance reduces the photoreceiver's bandwidth and adds to the excess system noise. As a result, the noise performance of the front-end quad photoreceiver has a direct impact on the sensitivity of the overall system. One such particularly challenging application is the space-based detection of gravitational waves by measuring distance at 1064 nm wavelength with ~ 10 pm/√Hz accuracy over a baseline of millions of kilometers. We present a 1 mm diameter quad photoreceiver having an equivalent input current noise density of < 1.7 pA/√Hz per quadrant in 2 MHz to 20 MHz frequency range. This performance is primarily enabled by a rad-hard-by-design dualdepletion region InGaAs quad photodiode having 2.5 pF capacitance per quadrant. Moreover, the quad photoreceiver demonstrates a crosstalk of < -45 dB between the neighboring quadrants, which ensures an uncorrected direction sensing resolution of < 50 nrad. The sources of this primarily capacitive crosstalk are presented.

Assessment of vertical changes during maxillary expansion using quad helix or bonded rapid maxillary expander.

PubMed

Conroy-Piskai, Cara; Galang-Boquiren, Maria Therese S; Obrez, Ales; Viana, Maria Grace Costa; Oppermann, Nelson; Sanchez, Flavio; Edgren, Bradford; Kusnoto, Budi

2016-11-01

To determine if there is a significantly different effect on vertical changes during phase I palatal expansion treatment using a quad helix and a bonded rapid maxillary expander in growing skeletal Class I and Class II patients. This retrospective study looked at 2 treatment groups, a quad helix group and a bonded rapid maxillary expander group, before treatment (T1) and at the completion of phase I treatment (T2). Each treatment group was compared to an untreated predicted growth model. Lateral cephalograms at T1 and T2 were traced and analyzed for changes in vertical dimension. No differences were found between the treatment groups at T1, but significant differences at T2 were found for convexity, lower facial height, total facial height, facial axis, and Frankfort Mandibular Plane Angle (FMA) variables. A comparison of treatment groups at T2 to their respective untreated predicted growth models found a significant difference for the lower facial height variable in the quad helix group and for the upper first molar to palatal plane (U6-PP) variable in the bonded expander group. Overall, both the quad helix expander and the bonded rapid maxillary expander showed minimal vertical changes during palatal expansion treatment. The differences at T2 suggested that the quad helix expander had more control over skeletal vertical measurements. When comparing treatment results to untreated predicted growth values, the quad helix expander appeared to better maintain lower facial height and the bonded rapid maxillary expander appeared to better maintain the maxillary first molar vertical height.

Comparison of experimental results of a Quad-CZT array detector, a NaI(Tl), a LaBr3(Ce), and a HPGe for safeguards applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwak, S.-W.; Choi, J.; Park, S. S.; Ahn, S. H.; Park, J. S.; Chung, H.

2017-11-01

A compound semiconductor detector, CdTe (or CdZnTe), has been used in various areas including nuclear safeguards applications. To address its critical drawback, low detection efficiency, which leads to a long measurement time, a Quad-CZT array-based gamma-ray spectrometer in our previous study has been developed by combining four individual CZT detectors. We have re-designed the developed Quad-CZT array system to make it more simple and compact for a hand-held gamma-ray detector. The objective of this paper aims to compare the improved Quad-CZT array system with the traditional gamma-ray spectrometers (NaI(Tl), LaBr3(Ce), HPGe); these detectors currently have been the most commonly used for verification of nuclear materials. Nuclear materials in different physical forms in a nuclear facility of Korea were measured by the Quad-CZT array system and the existing gamma-ray detectors. For measurements of UO2 pellets and powders, and fresh fuel rods, the Quad-CZT array system turned out to be superior to the NaI(Tl) and LaBr3(Ce). For measurements of UF6 cylinders with a thick wall, the Quad-CZT array system and HPGe gave similar accuracy under the same measurement time. From the results of the field tests conducted, we can conclude that the improved Quad-CZT array system would be used as an alternative to HPGes and scintillation detectors for the purpose of increasing effectivenss and efficiency of safeguards applications. This is the first paper employing a multi-element CZT array detector for measurement of nuclear materials—particularly uranium in a UF6 cylinder—in a real nuclear facility. The present work also suggests that the multi-CZT array system described in this study would be one promising method to address a serious weakness of CZT-based radiation detection.

Immunogenicity and safety of a combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella live vaccine (ProQuad ®) administered concomitantly with a booster dose of a hexavalent vaccine in 12-23-month-old infants.

PubMed

Deichmann, Klaus A; Ferrera, Giuseppe; Tran, Clément; Thomas, Stéphane; Eymin, Cécile; Baudin, Martine

2015-05-11

Concomitant administration of vaccines can facilitate vaccination uptake, provided that no clinically significant effect on either vaccine is identified. We investigated the concomitant administration, during the second year of life, of one dose of the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine (ProQuad(®)) with a booster dose of a hexavalent vaccine. In this multicentre, open-label study, participants were randomized to 3 groups: Group 1, concomitant administration of one dose of ProQuad(®) and a booster of hexavalent vaccine; Group 2, one dose of ProQuad(®) alone; Group 3, a booster dose of hexavalent vaccine alone. Two serum samples were collected, within 7 days prior to vaccination and Days 42-56 post-vaccination for antibody testing. Antibody response rates to measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b following concomitant administration of ProQuad(®) and hexavalent vaccine were non-inferior compared with those following the individual vaccines. Antibody response rates to these antigens were all >95% in all groups. Antibody titres for the pertussis antigens following concomitant administration were also non-inferior to those following the individual vaccines. Antibody titres for the other valences were numerically comparable between groups with the exception of hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b, tetanus and poliomyelitis, which were higher in the concomitant than in the non-concomitant groups. The safety profiles of each vaccination regimen were comparable, with the exception of solicited ProQuad(®)-related injection-site reactions (Days 0-4), which occurred more frequently in the concomitant than in the non-concomitant groups. These immunogenicity data support the concomitant administration of ProQuad(®) with a hexavalent vaccine. The safety profile of concomitant ProQuad(®) and hexavalent vaccination was also in line with that of the individual Summaries of Product Characteristics. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Finite Element Analysis of Plastic Deformation During Impression Creep

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naveena; Ganesh Kumar, J.; Mathew, M. D.

2015-04-01

Finite element (FE) analysis of plastic deformation associated with impression creep deformation of 316LN stainless steel was carried out. An axisymmetric FE model of 10 × 10 × 10 mm specimen with 1-mm-diameter rigid cylindrical flat punch was developed. FE simulation of impression creep deformation was performed by assuming elastic-plastic-power-law creep deformation behavior. Evolution of the stress with time under the punch during elastic, plastic, and creep processes was analyzed. The onset of plastic deformation was found to occur at a nominal stress about 1.12 times the yield stress of the material. The size of the developed plastic zone was predicted to be about three times the radius of the punch. The material flow behavior and the pile-up on specimen surface have been modeled.

Image compression using quad-tree coding with morphological dilation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Jiaji; Jiang, Weiwei; Jiao, Licheng; Wang, Lei

2007-11-01

In this paper, we propose a new algorithm which integrates morphological dilation operation to quad-tree coding, the purpose of doing this is to compensate each other's drawback by using quad-tree coding and morphological dilation operation respectively. New algorithm can not only quickly find the seed significant coefficient of dilation but also break the limit of block boundary of quad-tree coding. We also make a full use of both within-subband and cross-subband correlation to avoid the expensive cost of representing insignificant coefficients. Experimental results show that our algorithm outperforms SPECK and SPIHT. Without using any arithmetic coding, our algorithm can achieve good performance with low computational cost and it's more suitable to mobile devices or scenarios with a strict real-time requirement.

Development of Plastic Substrate Technology for Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Displays Final Report CRADA No. TC-761-93

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

Carey, P.; Kamath, H.

Raychem Corporation (RYC) and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) conducted a development program with the goal to make rugged, low-cost., high-resolution flat panel displays based on RYC's proprietary Nematic Curvilinear Aligned Phase (NCAP) liquid crystal and LLNL's patented processes for the formation and doping of polycrystalline silicon on low-temperature, flexible, plastic substrates.

Boundedness in a quasilinear chemotaxis-haptotaxis system with logistic source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Ji; Zheng, Jiashan; Wang, Yifu

2016-04-01

In this paper, we consider the quasilinear chemotaxis-haptotaxis system u_t=nabla\\cdot(D(u)nabla u)-nabla\\cdot(S_1(u)nabla v)-nabla\\cdot(S_2(u)nabla w)+uf(u,w),quad xinΩ, t > 0,v_t=Δ v-v+u,quad xinΩ, t > 0,w_t=-vw,quad xinΩ, t > 0 in a bounded smooth domain {Ωsubset R^n (n≥1)} under zero-flux boundary conditions, where the nonlinearities {D, S_1} and {S_2} are assumed to generalize the prototypes D(u)=CD(u+1)^{m-1}, S_1(u)=C_{S_1}u(u+1)^{q_1-1} quad {and} quad S_2(u)=C_{S_2}u(u+1)^{q_2-1} with {C_D,C_{S_1},C_{S_2} > 0, m,q_1,q_2in R} and {f(u,w)in C^1([0,+infty)×[0,+∞))} fulfills f(u,w)≤ r-buquad {for all} ~u≥ 0quad {and} quad w≥ 0, where {r > 0, b > 0.} Assuming nonnegative initial data {u_0(x)in W^{1,∞}(Ω),v_0(x)in W^{1,∞}(Ω)} and {w_0(x)in C^{2,α}(barΩ)} for some {αin(0,1),} we prove that (i) for {n≤2,} if q_1,q_2\\ < m+2/n-1,} then {(star)} has a unique nonnegative classical solution which is globally bounded, (ii) for {n > 2,} if {max{q_1,q_2} < m+2/n-1} and {m > 2-2/n} or {max{q_1,q_2} < m+2/n-1} and {m≤ 1,} then {(star)} has a unique nonnegative classical solution which is globally bounded.

Limited Human Factors Assessment of the QuadGard Limb Protection System: U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command Limb Protection Program Overview (QuadGard Phases 4 and 5 Production Designs)

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-01

in calculating the ergonomics associated with ballistic protection. MARCORSYSCOM established three design requirements: (1) system compatibility...knob. The Velcro disengaged, as designed , to allow the wearer unimpeded leg movement. The control knob is used to adjust the driver’s seat height...QuadGard Phases IV and V Production Designs ) by Richard S. Bruno ARL-TR-5656 September 2011

Effects of wheelchair sports on respiratory muscle strength and thoracic mobility of individuals with spinal cord injury.

PubMed

Moreno, Marlene Aparecida; Zamunér, Antonio Roberto; Paris, Juliana Viana; Teodori, Rosana Macher; Barros, Ricardo M L

2012-06-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of wheelchair sports on respiratory muscle strength and the thoracic mobility of individuals with spinal cord injury. Thirty male subjects with chronic spinal cord injury (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grade A) took part in the study and were divided into four groups: sedentary subjects with quadriplegia (S-QUAD, n = 7), wheelchair rugby athletes with quadriplegia (A-QUAD, n = 8), sedentary subjects with paraplegia (S-PARA, n = 6), and wheelchair basketball athletes with paraplegia (A-PARA, n = 9). The main outcome measures were maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure and the respiratory coefficients at the axillary and xiphoid levels. A-QUAD group presented values significantly higher for all respiratory variables studied compared with the S-QUAD group. No significant differences in any of the respiratory variables were observed between S-PARA and A-PARA groups. There was a negative correlation between spinal cord injury level and respiratory variables for the S-QUAD and S-PARA groups. There were positive correlations in the A-QUAD group between time of training and maximal inspiratory pressure (adjusted R = 0.84; P = 0.001) and respiratory coefficients at the axillary level (adjusted R = 0.80; P = 0.002). Physical training seems to have a positive influence on respiratory muscle strength and thoracic mobility, especially in subjects with quadriplegia.

Design of the optical backscatter diagnostic for laser plasma interaction measurements on NIF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moody, J. D.; Datte, P.; Ng, E.; Maitland, K.; Hsing, W.; MacGowan, B. J.; Froula, D. H.; Neumayer, P.; Sutter, L.; Meezan, N.; Glenzer, S. H.; Kirkwood, R. K.; Divol, L.; Andrews, S.; Jackson, J.; MacKinnon, A.; Jovanovic, I.; Beeler, R.; Bertolini, L.; Landon, M.; Alvarez, S.; Lee, T.; Watts, P.

2007-11-01

We describe the design of the backscatter diagnostic for NIF laser-plasma interaction (LPI) studies. It will initially be used to validate the 280 eV point design hohlraum and select phase plates for the ignition experiments. Backscatter measurements are planned for two separate groups of 4 beams (a quad). One quad is 30^o from the hohlraum axis and the other at 50^o. The backscatter measurement utilizes 2 instruments for each beam quad. The full aperture backscatter system (FABS) measures light backscattered into the final focus lens of each beam in the quad. The near backscatter imager (NBI) measures light backscattered outside of the beam quad. Both instruments must work in conjunction to provide spectrally and temporally resolved backscatter power. We describe the design of the diagnostic and its capabilities as well as plans for calibrating it and analyzing the resulting data. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract W-7405-Eng-48.

Stability and migration of large oxygen clusters in UO(2+x): density functional theory calculations.

PubMed

Andersson, D A; Espinosa-Faller, F J; Uberuaga, B P; Conradson, S D

2012-06-21

Using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and nudged elastic band calculations we examine the finite temperature stability, transition pathways, and migration mechanisms of large oxygen clusters in UO(2+x). Here we specifically consider the recently proposed split quad-interstitial and cuboctahedral oxygen clusters. It is shown that isolated cuboctahedral clusters may transform into more stable configurations that are closely linked to the split quad-interstitial. The split quad-interstitial is stable with respect to single interstitials occupying the empty octahedral holes of the UO(2) lattice. In order to better understand discrepancies between theory and experiments, the simulated atomic pair distribution functions for the split quad-interstitial structures are analyzed with respect to the distribution function for U(4)O(9) previously obtained from neutron diffraction data. Our nudged elastic band calculations suggest that the split quad-interstitial may migrate by translating one of its constituent di-interstitial clusters via a barrier that is lower than the corresponding barrier for individual interstitials, but higher than the barrier for the most stable di-interstitial cluster.

Cryo-scanning electron microscopy discloses differences in dehydration of frozen boar semen stored in large containers.

PubMed

Ekwall, H

2009-02-01

In general, freezing in flat plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bags (FlatPacks) at 50 degrees C/min gives better post-thaw viability, in terms of sperm motility and membrane integrity, than does freezing in plastic maxi-straws, probably owing to differences in cryobiology. To test the hypothesis that this better survival post-thaw relates to the degree of sperm dehydration during freezing, the present study investigated the structure of boar semen in a frozen state using cryo-scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) to compare two different packages (FlatPacks and maxi-straws) for single artificial insemination (AI) doses, and three different freezing rates. The semen was split-sample frozen in maxi-straws or FlatPacks (both holding 5 ml) using 3% glycerol as cryoprotectant. Three freezing rates were applied from -5 degrees C to -100 degrees C, namely 2 degrees C/min, 50 degrees C/min and 1200 degrees C/min, the lattermost by plunging the samples into liquid nitrogen (LN(2)). The samples were thereafter fractured into LN(2) and larger areas of extra-cellular, unbound frozen water ('ice lakes') were measured to determine the degree of dehydration of the spermatozoa. These areas decreased in size with an increase in cooling rate, the differences in size being more dramatic for maxi-straws than for FlatPacks. Size of ice lakes was also influenced by location within package in relation to cooling rate, the central values being always smaller in maxi-straws than in Flatpacks (p < 0.05 at 2 degrees C/min and 50 degrees C/min) but not at 1200 degrees C/min, which suggested the FlatPack allows for more homogenous freezing of boar semen.

Reliability testing of ultra-low noise InGaAs quad photoreceivers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joshi, Abhay M.; Datta, Shubhashish; Prasad, Narasimha; Sivertz, Michael

2018-02-01

We have developed ultra-low noise quadrant InGaAs photoreceivers for multiple applications ranging from Laser Interferometric Gravitional Wave Detection, to 3D Wind Profiling. Devices with diameters of 0.5 mm, 1mm, and 2 mm were processed, with the nominal capacitance of a single quadrant of a 1 mm quad photodiode being 2.5 pF. The 1 mm diameter InGaAs quad photoreceivers, using a low-noise, bipolar-input OpAmp circuitry exhibit an equivalent input noise per quadrant of <1.7 pA/√Hz in 2 to 20 MHz frequency range. The InGaAs Quad Photoreceivers have undergone the following reliability tests: 30 MeV Proton Radiation up to a Total Ionizing Dose (TID) of 50 krad, Mechanical Shock, and Sinusoidal Vibration.

AGOR 28: SIO Shipyard Representative Bi-Weekly Progress Report

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-08

work on initial outfitting lists for Sally Ride. ii. Working on NS5 Hierarchy 4. Operator Concerns: • Tuff-Mass MLV and Acoustic Tiles – The...yard is continuing to install the Quad-zero MLV in various locations throughout Sally Ride. DCI is holding off on installing any new insulation in...Traction Winch Rm fwd bulkhead tiles • Sally Ride Quad-Zero MLV – The yard continues to install the Quad-Zero in location with no sound dampening tiles

Metal plasticity and ductile fracture modeling for cast aluminum alloy parts

DOE PAGES

Lee, Jinwoo; Kim, Se-Jong; Park, Hyeonil; ...

2018-01-06

Here in this study, plasticity and ductile fracture properties were characterized by performing various tension, shear, and compression tests. A series of 10 experiments were performed using notched round bars, flat-grooved plates, in-plane shear plates, and cylindrical bars. Two cast aluminum alloys used in automotive suspension systems were selected. Plasticity modelling was performed and the results were compared with experimental and corresponding simulation results; further, the relationships among the stress triaxiality, Lode angle parameter, and equivalent plastic strain at the onset of failure were determined to calibrate a ductile fracture model. Finally, the proposed ductile fracture model shows good agreementmore » with experimental results.« less

Metal plasticity and ductile fracture modeling for cast aluminum alloy parts

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

Lee, Jinwoo; Kim, Se-Jong; Park, Hyeonil

Here in this study, plasticity and ductile fracture properties were characterized by performing various tension, shear, and compression tests. A series of 10 experiments were performed using notched round bars, flat-grooved plates, in-plane shear plates, and cylindrical bars. Two cast aluminum alloys used in automotive suspension systems were selected. Plasticity modelling was performed and the results were compared with experimental and corresponding simulation results; further, the relationships among the stress triaxiality, Lode angle parameter, and equivalent plastic strain at the onset of failure were determined to calibrate a ductile fracture model. Finally, the proposed ductile fracture model shows good agreementmore » with experimental results.« less

A study of elastic and plastic stress concentration factors due to notches and fillets in flat plates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hardrath, Herbert F; Ohman, Lachlan

1953-01-01

Six large 24s-t3 aluminum-alloy-sheet specimens containing various notches or fillets were tested in tension to determine their stress concentration factors in both the elastic and plastic ranges. The elastic stress concentration factors were found to be slightly higher than those calculated by Neuber's method and those obtained photoelastically by Frocht. The results showed further that the stress concentration factor decreases as strains at the discontinuity enter the plastic range. A generalization of Stowell's relation for the plastic stress concentration factor at a circular hole in an infinite plate was applied to the specimen shapes tested and gave good agreement with test results.

Innovative Ballasted Flat Roof Solar PV Racking System

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

Peek, Richard T.

2014-12-15

The objective of this project was to reduce the cost of racking for PV solar on flat commercial rooftops. Cost reductions would come from both labor savings and material savings related to the installation process. The rack would need to accommodate the majority of modules available on the market. Cascade Engineering has a long history of converting traditional metal type applications over to plastic. Injection molding of plastics have numerous advantages including selection of resin for the application, placing the material exactly where it is needed, designing in features that will speed up the installation process, and weight reduction ofmore » the array. A plastic rack would need to meet the requirements of UL2703, Mounting systems, mounting devices, clamping/retention devices, and ground lugs for use with flat-plate photovoltaic modules and panels. Comparing original data to the end of project racking design, racking material costs were reduced 50% and labor costs reduced 64%. The racking product accommodates all 60 and 72 cell panels on the market, meets UL2703 requirements, contributes only 1.3 pounds per square foot of weight to the array, requires little ballast to secure the array, automatically grounds the module when the module is secured, stacks/nests well for shipping/fewer lifts to the roof, provides integrated wire routing, allows water to drain on the roof, and accommodates various seismic roof connections. Project goals were achieved as noted in the original funding application.« less

Curiosity Quad

NASA Image and Video Library

2012-08-09

This image shows the quadrangle where NASA Curiosity rover landed, within the expansive Gale Crater. The mission science team has divided the landing region into several square quadrangles, or quads, of interest about 1-mile 1.3-kilometers wide.

Successful outcome of modified quad surgical procedure in preteen and teen patients with brachial plexus birth palsy.

PubMed

Nath, Rahul K; Somasundaram, Chandra

2012-01-01

To evaluate the outcome of modified Quad procedure in preteen and teen patients with brachial plexus birth palsy. We have previously demonstrated a significant improvement in shoulder abduction, resulting from the modified Quad procedure in children (mean age 2.5 years; range, 0.5-9 years) with obstetric brachial plexus injury. We describe in this report the outcome of 16 patients (6 girls and 10 boys; 7 preteen and 9 teen) who have undergone the modified Quad procedure for the correction of the shoulder function, specifically abduction. The patients underwent transfer of the latissimus dorsi and teres major muscles, release of contractures of subscapularis pectoralis major and minor, and axillary nerve decompression and neurolysis (the modified Quad procedure). Mean age of these patients at surgery was 13.5 years (range, 10.1-17.9 years). The mean preoperative total Mallet score was 14.8 (range, 10-20), and active abduction was 84° (range, 20°-140°). At a mean follow-up of 1.5 years, the mean postoperative total Mallet score increased to 19.7 (range, 13-25, P < .0001), and the mean active abduction improved to 132° (range, 40°-180°, P < .0003). The modified Quad procedure greatly improves not only the active abduction but also other shoulder functions in preteen and teen patients, as this outcome is the combined result of decompression and neurolysis of the axillary nerve and the release of the contracted internal rotators of the shoulder.

On the Electrostatic Born-Infeld Equation with Extended Charges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonheure, Denis; d'Avenia, Pietro; Pomponio, Alessio

2016-09-01

In this paper, we deal with the electrostatic Born-Infeld equation -operatorname{div} (nablaφ/√{1-|nabla φ|^2} )= ρ quad{in} {R}^N, lim_{|x|to ∞} φ(x)= 0,. quad quad quad quad ({{BI}}) where {ρ} is an assigned extended charge density. We are interested in the existence and uniqueness of the potential {φ} and finiteness of the energy of the electrostatic field {-nabla φ}. We first relax the problem and treat it with the direct method of the Calculus of Variations for a broad class of charge densities. Assuming {ρ} is radially distributed, we recover the weak formulation of {({{BI}})} and the regularity of the solution of the Poisson equation (under the same smoothness assumptions). In the case of a locally bounded charge, we also recover the weak formulation without assuming any symmetry. The solution is even classical if {ρ} is smooth. Then we analyze the case where the density {ρ} is a superposition of point charges and discuss the results in (Kiessling, Commun Math Phys 314:509-523, 2012). Other models are discussed, as for instance a system arising from the coupling of the nonlinear Klein-Gordon equation with the Born-Infeld theory.

Towards a harmonised approach to reducing quad-related fatal injuries in Australia and New Zealand: a cross-sectional comparative analysis.

PubMed

Lilley, Rebbecca; Lower, Tony; Davie, Gabrielle

2017-10-01

This study compares the patterns of quad-related fatal injuries between Australia and New Zealand (NZ). Fatal injuries from July 2007 to June 2012 involving a quad (quad bike or all-terrain vehicle) were identified from coronial files. Data described the socio-demographic, injury, vehicle and environment factors associated with incidents. Injury patterns were compared between countries. A total of 101 quad-related fatalities were identified: 69 in Australia and 32 in NZ (7.3 and 8.0 annual fatalities per 100,000 vehicles). Of these, 95 closed cases were examined in detail and factors in common included fatalities occurring mainly in males, on farms, involving a rollover and resulting in crush injuries to the head and thorax. Helmet use and alcohol/drug involvement were infrequent. Differences were observed with regard to age, season of fatal incident and the presence of a slope. Fatality patterns are broadly similar. The few differences could be attributed to differing agricultural commodity mix, demographics and topography. This study's findings support harmonised cross-country injury prevention efforts primarily focused on safe design and engineering principles to reduce this injury burden. © 2017 The Authors.

Usefulness of a Rugby-shaped hohlraum in a Laser M'egaJoule (LMJ) 40-quad configuration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malinie, G.; Vandenboomgaerde, M.; Bastian, J.; Galmiche, D.; Laffite, S.; Liberatore, S.

2007-11-01

The LMJ setup will consist of 60 quads in a 3-cone configuration, at angles 33.2^o, 49^o and 59.5^o. First ignition attempts in indirect drive are planned to be made on the way to the completion of the full facility, with only 40 quads in a 2-cone configuration, at angles 33.2^o and 49^o. By analytic considerations, we show that in a 40-quad configuration, the angular location of the hohlraum outer irradiating ring, as seen from the capsule, must be closer to the laser entrance hole than with the full LMJ. The use of a Rugby-shaped hohlraum instead of a cylinder therefore allows to keep a correct symmetry while reducing the wall surface, which improves the global energetic efficiency of the target. Simplified 2D numerical simulations of Rugby hohlraums are presented, achieving a yield of about 30 MJ with our 1.215 mm-radius, CH-uniform-ablator capsule. These results suggests this kind of hohlraum might be an interesting candidate for 40-quad ignition experiments. Work on optimizing the present design and refining the numerical simulations is currently pursued.

Quad City Intersection Traffic Accident Study: 1993 Data

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-03-01

Accident information is an important factor from which to work towards the : regional Transportation System Management (TSM) objective of improving the : safety of the local transportation system. The 1993 Quad City Intersection : Traffic Accident Re...

PLASTIC-SASS--A COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR STRESSES AND DEFLECTIONS IN A REACTOR SUBASSEMBLY UNDER THERMAL, HYDRAULIC, AND FUEL EXPANSION LOADS

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

Friedrich, C.M.

1963-05-01

PLASTlC-SASS, an ALTAC-3 computer program that determines stresses and deflections in a flat-plate, rectangular reactor subassembly is described. Elastic, plastic, and creep properties are used to calculate the results of temperature, pressure, and fuel expansion. Plate deflections increase or decrease local channel thicknesses and thus produce a hydraulic load which is a function of fuel plate deflection. (auth)

Constitutive Equations: Plastic and Viscoelastic Properties. (Latest Citations from the Aerospace Database)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

The bibliography contains citations concerning analytical techniques using constitutive equations, applied to materials under stress. The properties explored with these techniques include viscoelasticity, thermoelasticity, and plasticity. While many of the references are general as to material type, most refer to specific metals or composites, or to specific shapes, such as flat plate or spherical vessels. (Contains 50-250 citations and includes a subject term index and title list.)

Capture and surveillance of quad-bike (ATV)-related injuries in administrative data collections.

PubMed

Mitchell, Rebecca J; Grzebieta, Raphael; Rechnitzer, George

2016-09-01

Identifying quad-bike-related injuries in administrative data collections can be problematic. This study sought to determine whether quad-bike-related injuries could be identified in routinely collected administrative data collections in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and to determine the information recorded according to World Health Organization (WHO) injury surveillance guidelines that could assist injury prevention efforts. Five routinely collected administrative data collections in NSW in the period 2000-2012 were reviewed. The WHO core minimum data items recorded in each of the five data collections ranged from 37.5% to 75.0%. Age and sex of the injured individual were the only data items that were recorded in all data collections. The data collections did not contain detailed information on the circumstances of quad bike incidents. Major improvements are needed in the information collected in these data-sets, if their value is to be increased and used for injury prevention purposes.

Successful Outcome of Modified Quad Surgical Procedure in Preteen and Teen Patients with Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy

PubMed Central

Nath, Rahul K.; Somasundaram, Chandra

2012-01-01

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of modified Quad procedure in preteen and teen patients with brachial plexus birth palsy. Background: We have previously demonstrated a significant improvement in shoulder abduction, resulting from the modified Quad procedure in children (mean age 2.5 years; range, 0.5–9 years) with obstetric brachial plexus injury. Methods: We describe in this report the outcome of 16 patients (6 girls and 10 boys; 7 preteen and 9 teen) who have undergone the modified Quad procedure for the correction of the shoulder function, specifically abduction. The patients underwent transfer of the latissimus dorsi and teres major muscles, release of contractures of subscapularis pectoralis major and minor, and axillary nerve decompression and neurolysis (the modified Quad procedure). Mean age of these patients at surgery was 13.5 years (range, 10.1–17.9 years). Results: The mean preoperative total Mallet score was 14.8 (range, 10–20), and active abduction was 84° (range, 20°–140°). At a mean follow-up of 1.5 years, the mean postoperative total Mallet score increased to 19.7 (range, 13–25, P < .0001), and the mean active abduction improved to 132° (range, 40°–180°, P < .0003). Conclusion: The modified Quad procedure greatly improves not only the active abduction but also other shoulder functions in preteen and teen patients, as this outcome is the combined result of decompression and neurolysis of the axillary nerve and the release of the contracted internal rotators of the shoulder. PMID:23308301

Using implicit association tests in age-heterogeneous samples: The importance of cognitive abilities and quad model processes.

PubMed

Wrzus, Cornelia; Egloff, Boris; Riediger, Michaela

2017-08-01

Implicit association tests (IATs) are increasingly used to indirectly assess people's traits, attitudes, or other characteristics. In addition to measuring traits or attitudes, IAT scores also reflect differences in cognitive abilities because scores are based on reaction times (RTs) and errors. As cognitive abilities change with age, questions arise concerning the usage and interpretation of IATs for people of different age. To address these questions, the current study examined how cognitive abilities and cognitive processes (i.e., quad model parameters) contribute to IAT results in a large age-heterogeneous sample. Participants (N = 549; 51% female) in an age-stratified sample (range = 12-88 years) completed different IATs and 2 tasks to assess cognitive processing speed and verbal ability. From the IAT data, D2-scores were computed based on RTs, and quad process parameters (activation of associations, overcoming bias, detection, guessing) were estimated from individual error rates. Substantial IAT scores and quad processes except guessing varied with age. Quad processes AC and D predicted D2-scores of the content-specific IAT. Importantly, the effects of cognitive abilities and quad processes on IAT scores were not significantly moderated by participants' age. These findings suggest that IATs seem suitable for age-heterogeneous studies from adolescence to old age when IATs are constructed and analyzed appropriately, for example with D-scores and process parameters. We offer further insight into how D-scoring controls for method effects in IATs and what IAT scores capture in addition to implicit representations of characteristics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).

Method for formation of thin film transistors on plastic substrates

DOEpatents

Carey, Paul G.; Smith, Patrick M.; Sigmon, Thomas W.; Aceves, Randy C.

1998-10-06

A process for formation of thin film transistors (TFTs) on plastic substrates replaces standard thin film transistor fabrication techniques, and uses sufficiently lower processing temperatures so that inexpensive plastic substrates may be used in place of standard glass, quartz, and silicon wafer-based substrates. The process relies on techniques for depositing semiconductors, dielectrics, and metals at low temperatures; crystallizing and doping semiconductor layers in the TFT with a pulsed energy source; and creating top-gate self-aligned as well as back-gate TFT structures. The process enables the fabrication of amorphous and polycrystalline channel silicon TFTs at temperatures sufficiently low to prevent damage to plastic substrates. The process has use in large area low cost electronics, such as flat panel displays and portable electronics.

Nitrogen soft and hard X-ray emissions using different shapes of anodes in a 4-kJ plasma focus device

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

Mahtab, M., E-mail: m.mahtab.83@gmail.com; Habibi, M., E-mail: mortezahabibi@aut.ac.ir

2013-12-15

The effect of different anode tip geometries on the intensity of soft and hard X-rays emitted from a 4-kJ plasma focus device is investigated using five different anode tips. The shapes of the uppermost region of these anodes (tips) have been cylindrical-flat, cylindrical-hollow, spherical-convex, cone-flat, and cone-hollow. For time-resolved measurement of the emitted X-rays, several BPX-65 pin diodes covered by different filters and a fast plastic scintillator are used. Experimental results have shown that, the highest intensity of the both soft and hard X-ray is recorded in cone-flat, spherical-convex, and cone-hollow tips, respectively. The use of cone-flat anode tip hasmore » augmented the emitted X-ray three times.« less

Coded excitation for infrared non-destructive testing of carbon fiber reinforced plastics.

PubMed

Mulaveesala, Ravibabu; Venkata Ghali, Subbarao

2011-05-01

This paper proposes a Barker coded excitation for defect detection using infrared non-destructive testing. Capability of the proposed excitation scheme is highlighted with recently introduced correlation based post processing approach and compared with the existing phase based analysis by taking the signal to noise ratio into consideration. Applicability of the proposed scheme has been experimentally validated on a carbon fiber reinforced plastic specimen containing flat bottom holes located at different depths.

Fatigue life of fibre reinforced plastics at 295 K after thermal cycling between 295 K and 77 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belisario, G.; Caproni, F.; Marchetti, E.

Results of low cycle three-point end fatigue tests at 295 K are reported. These were obtained from fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) flat specimens made of epoxy matrix reinforced with glass rovings only or glass rovings and Kevlar cloth. It is shown that previous thermal cycles between 295 K and 77 K exert an influence on the fatigue life as well on the acoustic emission results.

Plastic substrates for active matrix liquid crystal display incapable of withstanding processing temperature of over 200 C and method of fabrication

DOEpatents

Carey, P.G.; Smith, P.M.; Havens, J.H.; Jones, P.

1999-01-05

Bright-polarizer-free, active-matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs) are formed on plastic substrates. The primary components of the display are a pixel circuit fabricated on one plastic substrate, an intervening liquid-crystal material, and a counter electrode on a second plastic substrate. The-pixel circuit contains one or more thin-film transistors (TFTs) and either a transparent or reflective pixel electrode manufactured at sufficiently low temperatures to avoid damage to the plastic substrate. Fabrication of the TFTs can be carried out at temperatures less than 100 C. The liquid crystal material is a commercially made nematic curvilinear aligned phase (NCAP) film. The counter electrode is comprised of a plastic substrate coated with a transparent conductor, such as indium-doped tin oxide (ITO). By coupling the active matrix with NCAP, a high-information content can be provided in a bright, fully plastic package. Applications include any low cost portable electronics containing flat displays where ruggedization of the display is desired. 12 figs.

Plastic substrates for active matrix liquid crystal display incapable of withstanding processing temperature of over 200.degree. C and method of fabrication

DOEpatents

Carey, Paul G.; Smith, Patrick M.; Havens, John; Jones, Phil

1999-01-01

Bright-polarizer-free, active-matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs) are formed on plastic substrates. The primary components of the display are a pixel circuit fabricated on one plastic substrate, an intervening liquid-crystal material, and a counter electrode on a second plastic substrate. The-pixel circuit contains one or more thin-film transistors (TFTs) and either a transparent or reflective pixel electrode manufactured at sufficiently low temperatures to avoid damage to the plastic substrate. Fabrication of the TFTs can be carried out at temperatures less than 100.degree. C. The liquid crystal material is a commercially made nematic curvilinear aligned phase (NCAP) film. The counter electrode is comprised of a plastic substrate coated with a transparent conductor, such as indium-doped tin oxide (ITO). By coupling the active matrix with NCAP, a high-information content can be provided in a bright, fully plastic package. Applications include any low cost portable electronics containing flat displays where ruggedization of the display is desired.

A Micro-Force Sensor with Slotted-Quad-Beam Structure for Measuring the Friction in MEMS Bearings

PubMed Central

Liu, Huan; Yang, Shuming; Zhao, Yulong; Jiang, Zhuangde; Liu, Yan; Tian, Bian

2013-01-01

Presented here is a slotted-quad-beam structure sensor for the measurement of friction in micro bearings. Stress concentration slots are incorporated into a conventional quad-beam structure to improve the sensitivity of force measurements. The performance comparison between the quad-beam structure sensor and the slotted-quad-beam structure sensor are performed by theoretical modeling and finite element (FE) analysis. A hollow stainless steel probe is attached to the mesa of the sensor chip by a tailor-made organic glass fixture. Concerning the overload protection of the fragile beams, a glass wafer is bonded onto the bottom of sensor chip to limit the displacement of the mesa. The calibration of the packaged device is experimentally performed by a tri-dimensional positioning stage, a precision piezoelectric ceramic and an electronic analytical balance, which indicates its favorable sensitivity and overload protection. To verify the potential of the proposed sensor being applied in micro friction measurement, a measurement platform is established. The output of the sensor reflects the friction of bearing resulting from dry friction and solid lubrication. The results accord with the theoretical modeling and demonstrate that the sensor has the potential application in measuring the micro friction force under stable stage in MEMS machines. PMID:24084112

Feasibility study on proposed Amtrak service from Chicago, to Iowa City, Iowa via Quad Cities : executive summary.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-04-18

Soon after the Illinois Department of Transportation (Ill. DOT) requested Amtrak to : conduct a feasibility study on proposed Amtrak service between Chicago and the : Illinois Quad Cities, the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) ...

Effect of Cutting Tool Properties and Depth of Cut in Rock Cutting: An Experimental Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rostamsowlat, Iman

2018-06-01

The current paper is designed to investigate the effect of worn (blunt) polycrystalline diamond compact cutter properties on both the contact stress (σ) and friction coefficient ( μ) mobilized at the wear flat-rock interface at different inclination angles of the wear flat surface and at a wide range of depths of cut. An extensive and comprehensive set of cutting experiments is carried out on two sedimentary rocks (one limestone and one sandstone) using a state-of-the-art rock cutting equipment (Wombat) and various blunt cutters. Experiments with blunt cutters are characterized by different wear flat inclination angles (β), different wear flat surface roughness (Ra), different wear flat material, and different cutting tool velocities ({\\varvec{v}}) were conducted. The experimental results show that both the contact stress and friction coefficient are predominantly affected by the wear flat roughness at all inclination angles of the wear flat; however, the cutting tool velocity has a negligible influence on both the contact stress and friction coefficient. Further investigations suggest that the contact stress is greatly affected by the depth of cut within the plastic regime of frictional contact while the contact stress is insensitive to the depth of cut within the elastic regime.

Electron Beam Focusing in the Linear Accelerator (linac)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jauregui, Luis

2015-10-01

To produce consistent data with an electron accelerator, it is critical to have a well-focused beam. To keep the beam focused, quadrupoles (quads) are employed. Quads are magnets, which focus the beam in one direction (x or y) and defocus in the other. When two or more quads are used in series, a net focusing effect is achieved in both vertical and horizontal directions. At start up there is a 5% calibration error in the linac at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. This means that the momentum of particles passing through the quads isn't always what is expected, which affects the focusing of the beam. The objective is to find exactly how sensitive the focusing in the linac is to this 5% error. A linac was simulated, which contained 290 RF Cavities with random electric fields (to simulate the 5% calibration error), and a total momentum kick of 1090 MeV. National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Jefferson Lab, Old Dominion University.

Method for formation of thin film transistors on plastic substrates

DOEpatents

Carey, P.G.; Smith, P.M.; Sigmon, T.W.; Aceves, R.C.

1998-10-06

A process for formation of thin film transistors (TFTs) on plastic substrates replaces standard thin film transistor fabrication techniques, and uses sufficiently lower processing temperatures so that inexpensive plastic substrates may be used in place of standard glass, quartz, and silicon wafer-based substrates. The process relies on techniques for depositing semiconductors, dielectrics, and metals at low temperatures; crystallizing and doping semiconductor layers in the TFT with a pulsed energy source; and creating top-gate self-aligned as well as back-gate TFT structures. The process enables the fabrication of amorphous and polycrystalline channel silicon TFTs at temperatures sufficiently low to prevent damage to plastic substrates. The process has use in large area low cost electronics, such as flat panel displays and portable electronics. 5 figs.

Preliminary study of ground handling characteristics of Buoyant Quad Rotor (BQR) vehicles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Browning, R. G. E.

1980-01-01

A preliminary investigation of mooring concepts appropriate for heavy lift buoyant quad rotor (BQR) vehicles was performed. A review of the evolution of ground handling systems and procedures for all airship types is presented to ensure that appropriate consideration is given to past experiences. Two buoyant quad rotor designs are identified and described. An analysis of wind loads on a moored airship and the effects of these loads on vehicle design is provided. Four mooring concepts are assessed with respect to the airship design, wind loads and mooring site considerations. Basing requirements and applicability of expeditionary mooring at various operational scenarios are addressed.

Design of a Compact Quad-Channel Diplexer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Jin

2016-01-01

This paper presents a compact quad-channel diplexer by using two asymmetrical coupling shorted stub loaded stepped-impedance (SSLSIR) dual-band bandpass filters (DB-BPFs) to replace two single-band BPFs in a traditional BPF-based diplexer. Part of its impedance matching circuit is implemented by using a three-element lowpass T-network to acquire the desired phase shift. Detailed design procedures are given to guide the diplexer design. The fabricated quad-channel diplexer occupies a compact circuit area of 0.168λg×0.136λg. High band-to-band isolation and wide stopband performance are achieved. Good agreement is shown between the simulated and measured results.

Development of Multi-Legged Walking Robot Using Reconfigurable Modular Design and Biomimetic Control Architecture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xuedong; Sun, Yi; Huang, Qingjiu; Jia, Wenchuan; Pu, Huayan

This paper focuses on the design of a modular multi-legged walking robot MiniQuad-I, which can be reconfigured into variety configurations, including quadruped and hexapod configurations for different tasks by changing the layout of modules. Critical design considerations when taking the adaptability, maintainability and extensibility in count simultaneously are discussed and then detailed designs of each module are presented. The biomimetic control architecture of MiniQuad-I is proposed, which can improve the capability of agility and independence of the robot. Simulations and experiments on crawling, object picking and obstacle avoiding are performed to verify functions of the MiniQuad-I.

Embracing a competency-based specialty curriculum for community-based nursing roles.

PubMed

Levin, Pamela F; Swider, Susan M; Breakwell, Susan; Cowell, Julia M; Reising, Virginia

2013-01-01

The Quad Council competencies for public health nursing (PHN) provide guidance in developing curricula at both the generalist and specialist level. However, these competencies are based on nursing roles in traditional public health agencies and community/public health is defined more broadly than official agency practice. The question arises as to whether community-based specialties require largely the same knowledge and skill set as PHN. The purpose of the competency cross-mapping project reported here was to (a) assess the intersection of the Quad Council competencies with four community-based specialties and (b) ensure the appropriateness of a Quad Council-based curriculum to prepare graduates across these four specialties (home health, occupational health, environmental health, and school nursing). This article details the multistep cross-mapping process, including validation with practice leaders. Results indicate strong alignment of community-based specialty competencies with Quad Council competencies. Community-based specialty-specific content that did not align well is identified, along with examples of didactic and clinical strategies to address gaps. This work indicates that a Quad Council-based curriculum is appropriate to prepare graduates in community-based specialties when attention to the specialty-specific competencies in the clinical setting is included. This work guides the development of a doctorate of nursing practice curriculum in PHN, encompassing the four additional community-based specialties. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Rational design and validation of a vanilloid-sensitive TRPV2 ion channel.

PubMed

Yang, Fan; Vu, Simon; Yarov-Yarovoy, Vladimir; Zheng, Jie

2016-06-28

Vanilloids activation of TRPV1 represents an excellent model system of ligand-gated ion channels. Recent studies using cryo-electron microcopy (cryo-EM), computational analysis, and functional quantification revealed the location of capsaicin-binding site and critical residues mediating ligand-binding and channel activation. Based on these new findings, here we have successfully introduced high-affinity binding of capsaicin and resiniferatoxin to the vanilloid-insensitive TRPV2 channel, using a rationally designed minimal set of four point mutations (F467S-S498F-L505T-Q525E, termed TRPV2_Quad). We found that binding of resiniferatoxin activates TRPV2_Quad but the ligand-induced open state is relatively unstable, whereas binding of capsaicin to TRPV2_Quad antagonizes resiniferatoxin-induced activation likely through competition for the same binding sites. Using Rosetta-based molecular docking, we observed a common structural mechanism underlying vanilloids activation of TRPV1 and TRPV2_Quad, where the ligand serves as molecular "glue" that bridges the S4-S5 linker to the S1-S4 domain to open these channels. Our analysis revealed that capsaicin failed to activate TRPV2_Quad likely due to structural constraints preventing such bridge formation. These results not only validate our current working model for capsaicin activation of TRPV1 but also should help guide the design of drug candidate compounds for this important pain sensor.

13. VIEW OF EAST OPERATING GALLERY ALONG THE POSTMORTEM CELLS. ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

13. VIEW OF EAST OPERATING GALLERY ALONG THE POST-MORTEM CELLS. A NUMBER OF MANIPULATOR ARMS COVERED WITH PLASTIC ARE ON THE LEFT WALL. - Nevada Test Site, Engine Maintenance Assembly & Disassembly Facility, Area 25, Jackass Flats, Mercury, Nye County, NV

POLYETHYLENE ENCAPSULATES FOR HAZARDOUS WASTE DRUMS

EPA Science Inventory

This capsule report summarizes studies of the use of polyethylene (P.E.) for encapsulating drums of hazardous wastes. Flat PE sheet is welded to roto moded PE containers which forms the encapsulates. Plastic pipe welding art was used, but the prototype welding apparatus required ...

78 FR 57921 - Patch International, Inc., QuadTech International, Inc., Strategic Resources, Ltd., and Virtual...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-20

... SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [File No. 500-1] Patch International, Inc., QuadTech International, Inc., Strategic Resources, Ltd., and Virtual Medical Centre, Inc.; Order of Suspension of Trading... lack of current and accurate information concerning the securities of Virtual Medical Centre, Inc...

Landbased Instrumentation Handbook: Western Test Range

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-07-01

17 - 2-11 Quad Helix Antenna TRS, Overview 2-19 2-12 8-Foot Antenna, TRS 2-20 2-13 IRIG Standard Data Transmission Format 2-24 2-14 Pillar Point AFS...Point B-8 B-8 AN/FPS-16, Pillar Point B-9 B-9 35-Foot, ATTRAS B-10 B-10 GKR-7 B-11 B-11 8-Foot Antenna 8-12 B-12 Right Hand Quad Helix B-13 B-13 Right...Hand Quad Helix B-14 B-14 40-Foot Antenna, Pillar Pt. B-15 B-15 LA-24 Tran. Peak B-16 B-16 AN/FPQ-14, Kaena Point B-17 B-17 CCT No. 1 B-18 B-18 CCT No

Ductile Fracture Initiation of Anisotropic Metal Sheets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Liang; Li, Shuhui; He, Ji

2017-07-01

The objective of this research is to investigate the influence of material plastic anisotropy on ductile fracture in the strain space under the assumption of plane stress state for sheet metals. For convenient application, a simple expression is formulated by the method of total strain theory under the assumption of proportional loading. The Hill 1948 quadratic anisotropic yield model and isotropic hardening flow rule are adopted to describe the plastic response of the material. The Mohr-Coulomb model is revisited to describe the ductile fracture in the stress space. Besides, the fracture locus for DP590 in different loading directions is obtained by experiments. Four different types of tensile test specimens, including classical dog bone, flat with cutouts, flat with center holes and pure shear, are performed to fracture. All these specimens are prepared with their longitudinal axis inclined with the angle of 0°, 45°, and 90° to the rolling direction, respectively. A 3D digital image correlation system is used in this study to measure the anisotropy parameter r 0, r 45, r 90 and the equivalent strains to fracture for all the tests. The results show that the material plastic anisotropy has a remarkable influence on the fracture locus in the strain space and can be predicted accurately by the simple expression proposed in this study.

76 FR 14099 - Quad Tech, Inc., Sussex, WI; Notice of Affirmative Determination Regarding Application for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-15

... dated February 7, 2011, a worker requested administrative reconsideration of the negative determination regarding workers' eligibility to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) applicable to workers and former workers of Quad Tech, Inc., Sussex, Wisconsin (TA-W-73,441A) (subject firm). The determination was...

Initiating Partnerships

Science.gov Websites

ways for industry to develop a partnership with the ARC: Quad Participation. A company may assign one or more of its employees to become Quad members in one or more of the ARC research. This is the negotiated directly between the company and one or more of the ARC participating universities. Funding will

Boundedness in a quasilinear fully parabolic Keller-Segel system with logistic source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Qingshan; Li, Yuxiang

2015-10-01

This paper deals with the Neumann boundary value problem for the system u_t = nabla \\cdot (D(u) nabla u) - nabla \\cdot (S(u) nabla v) + f(u), &quad x in Ω, t > 0, v_t = Δ v - v + u, &quad x in Ω, t > 0 in a smooth bounded domain {Ωsubset{{R}}^n} {(n≥1)}, where the functions D( u) and S( u) are supposed to be smooth satisfying {D(u)≥ Mu^{-α}} and {S(u)≤ Mu^{β}} with M > 0, {αin{{R}}} and {βin{{R}}} for all {u≥1}, and the logistic source f( u) is smooth fulfilling {f(0)≥0} as well as {f(u)≤ a-μ u^{γ}} with {a≥0}, {μ > 0} and {γ≥1} for all {u≥0}. It is shown that if α + 2β < γ - 1 + 2/n, &quad for 1 ≤ γ < 2, γ - 1 + 4/n + 2, &quad for γ ≥ 2, then for sufficiently smooth initial data, the problem possesses a unique global classical solution which is uniformly bounded.

Hypofractionated Palliative Radiotherapy with Concurrent Radiosensitizing Chemotherapy for Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Using the "QUAD-SHOT Regimen".

PubMed

Gamez, Mauricio E; Agarwal, Manuj; Hu, Kenneth S; Lukens, John N; Harrison, Louis B

2017-02-01

To analyze the outcomes using the hypofractionated palliative radiotherapy regimen "QUAD-Shot" with concurrent radiosensitizing chemotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer. We analyzed twenty-one patients with newly-diagnosed or recurrent head and neck cancer treated with palliative hypofractionated concurrent chemoradiation using the QUAD-Shot regimen. All patients received at least one cycle of RT, with sixteen patients (76%) completing all three cycles. 85.7 % of patients had objective response to therapy with five patients (23.8%) demonstrating complete response (CR) and thirteen patients (61.9%) demonstrating partial response (PR). Palliation of symptoms was achieved in all (100%) of the sixteen patients that completed the three cycles. Median overall survival and median progression-free survival were 7 and 4 months, respectively. QUAD-Shot palliative radiation therapy coupled with radiosensitizing chemotherapy is efficacious and well-tolerated in patients with newly-diagnosed or recurrent head and neck cancer not amenable to curative therapy. Copyright© 2017, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.

Human Papillomavirus Genotyping Using an Automated Film-Based Chip Array

PubMed Central

Erali, Maria; Pattison, David C.; Wittwer, Carl T.; Petti, Cathy A.

2009-01-01

The INFINITI HPV-QUAD assay is a commercially available genotyping platform for human papillomavirus (HPV) that uses multiplex PCR, followed by automated processing for primer extension, hybridization, and detection. The analytical performance of the HPV-QUAD assay was evaluated using liquid cervical cytology specimens, and the results were compared with those results obtained using the digene High-Risk HPV hc2 Test (HC2). The specimen types included Surepath and PreservCyt transport media, as well as residual SurePath and HC2 transport media from the HC2 assay. The overall concordance of positive and negative results following the resolution of indeterminate and intermediate results was 83% among the 197 specimens tested. HC2 positive (+) and HPV-QUAD negative (−) results were noted in 24 specimens that were shown by real-time PCR and sequence analysis to contain no HPV, HPV types that were cross-reactive in the HC2 assay, or low virus levels. Conversely, HC2 (−) and HPV-QUAD (+) results were noted in four specimens and were subsequently attributed to cross-contamination. The most common HPV types to be identified in this study were HPV16, HPV18, HPV52/58, and HPV39/56. We show that the HPV-QUAD assay is a user friendly, automated system for the identification of distinct HPV genotypes. Based on its analytical performance, future studies with this platform are warranted to assess its clinical utility for HPV detection and genotyping. PMID:19644025

Human papillomavirus genotyping using an automated film-based chip array.

PubMed

Erali, Maria; Pattison, David C; Wittwer, Carl T; Petti, Cathy A

2009-09-01

The INFINITI HPV-QUAD assay is a commercially available genotyping platform for human papillomavirus (HPV) that uses multiplex PCR, followed by automated processing for primer extension, hybridization, and detection. The analytical performance of the HPV-QUAD assay was evaluated using liquid cervical cytology specimens, and the results were compared with those results obtained using the digene High-Risk HPV hc2 Test (HC2). The specimen types included Surepath and PreservCyt transport media, as well as residual SurePath and HC2 transport media from the HC2 assay. The overall concordance of positive and negative results following the resolution of indeterminate and intermediate results was 83% among the 197 specimens tested. HC2 positive (+) and HPV-QUAD negative (-) results were noted in 24 specimens that were shown by real-time PCR and sequence analysis to contain no HPV, HPV types that were cross-reactive in the HC2 assay, or low virus levels. Conversely, HC2 (-) and HPV-QUAD (+) results were noted in four specimens and were subsequently attributed to cross-contamination. The most common HPV types to be identified in this study were HPV16, HPV18, HPV52/58, and HPV39/56. We show that the HPV-QUAD assay is a user friendly, automated system for the identification of distinct HPV genotypes. Based on its analytical performance, future studies with this platform are warranted to assess its clinical utility for HPV detection and genotyping.

Rational design and validation of a vanilloid-sensitive TRPV2 ion channel

PubMed Central

Yang, Fan; Vu, Simon; Yarov-Yarovoy, Vladimir; Zheng, Jie

2016-01-01

Vanilloids activation of TRPV1 represents an excellent model system of ligand-gated ion channels. Recent studies using cryo-electron microcopy (cryo-EM), computational analysis, and functional quantification revealed the location of capsaicin-binding site and critical residues mediating ligand-binding and channel activation. Based on these new findings, here we have successfully introduced high-affinity binding of capsaicin and resiniferatoxin to the vanilloid-insensitive TRPV2 channel, using a rationally designed minimal set of four point mutations (F467S–S498F–L505T–Q525E, termed TRPV2_Quad). We found that binding of resiniferatoxin activates TRPV2_Quad but the ligand-induced open state is relatively unstable, whereas binding of capsaicin to TRPV2_Quad antagonizes resiniferatoxin-induced activation likely through competition for the same binding sites. Using Rosetta-based molecular docking, we observed a common structural mechanism underlying vanilloids activation of TRPV1 and TRPV2_Quad, where the ligand serves as molecular “glue” that bridges the S4–S5 linker to the S1–S4 domain to open these channels. Our analysis revealed that capsaicin failed to activate TRPV2_Quad likely due to structural constraints preventing such bridge formation. These results not only validate our current working model for capsaicin activation of TRPV1 but also should help guide the design of drug candidate compounds for this important pain sensor. PMID:27298359

Elastic and plastic buckling of simply supported solid-core sandwich plates in compression

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seide, Paul; Stowell, Elbridge Z

1950-01-01

A solution is presented for the problem of the compressive buckling of simply supported, flat, rectangular, solid-core sandwich plates stressed either in the elastic range or in the plastic range. Charts for the analysis of long sandwich plates are presented for plates having face materials of 24s-t3 aluminum alloy, 76s-t6 alclad aluminum alloy, and stainless steel. A comparison of computed and experimental buckling stresses of square solid-core sandwich plates indicates fair agreement between theory and experiment.

Impact and Penetration of Thin Aluminum 2024 Flat Panels at Oblique Angles of Incidence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ruggeri, Charles R.; Revilock, Duane M.; Pereira, J. Michael; Emmerling, William; Queitzsch, Gilbert K., Jr.

2015-01-01

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are actively involved in improving the predictive capabilities of transient finite element computational methods for application to safety issues involving unintended impacts on aircraft and aircraft engine structures. One aspect of this work involves the development of an improved deformation and failure model for metallic materials, known as the Tabulated Johnson-Cook model, or MAT224, which has been implemented in the LS-DYNA commercial transient finite element analysis code (LSTC Corp., Livermore, CA) (Ref. 1). In this model the yield stress is a function of strain, strain rate and temperature and the plastic failure strain is a function of the state of stress, temperature and strain rate. The failure criterion is based on the accumulation of plastic strain in an element. The model also incorporates a regularization scheme to account for the dependency of plastic failure strain on mesh size. For a given material the model requires a significant amount of testing to determine the yield stress and failure strain as a function of the three-dimensional state of stress, strain rate and temperature. In addition, experiments are required to validate the model. Currently the model has been developed for Aluminum 2024 and validated against a series of ballistic impact tests on flat plates of various thicknesses (Refs. 1 to 3). Full development of the model for Titanium 6Al-4V is being completed, and mechanical testing for Inconel 718 has begun. The validation testing for the models involves ballistic impact tests using cylindrical projectiles impacting flat plates at a normal incidence (Ref. 2). By varying the thickness of the plates, different stress states and resulting failure modes are induced, providing a range of conditions over which the model can be validated. The objective of the study reported here was to provide experimental data to evaluate the model under more extreme conditions, using a projectile with a more complex shape and sharp contacts, impacting flat panels at oblique angles of incidence.

An outcomes analysis of five prenatal screening strategies for trisomy 21 in women younger than 35 years.

PubMed

Biggio, Joseph R; Morris, T Christopher; Owen, John; Stringer, Jeffery S A

2004-03-01

This study was undertaken to examine the cost-effectiveness and procedural-related losses associated with 5 prenatal screening strategies for fetal aneuploidy in women under 35 years old. Five prenatal screening strategies were compared in a decision analysis model: triple screen: maternal age and midtrimester serum alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and unconjugated estriol; quad screen: triple screen plus serum dimeric inhibin A; first-trimester screen: maternal age, serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A and free beta-hCG and fetal nuchal translucency at 10 to 14 weeks' gestation; integrated screen: first-trimester screen plus quad screen, but first-trimester results are withheld until the quad screen is completed when a composite result is provided; sequential screen: first-trimester screen plus quad screen, but the first-trimester screen results are provided immediately and prenatal diagnosis offered if positive; later prenatal diagnosis is available if the quad screen is positive. Model estimates were literature derived, and cost estimates also included local sources. The 5 strategies were compared for cost, the numbers of Down syndrome fetuses detected and live births averted, and the number of procedure-related euploid losses. Sensitivity analyses were performed for parameters with imprecise point estimates. In the baseline analysis, sequential screening was the least expensive strategy ($455 million). It detected the most Down syndrome fetuses (n=1213), averted the most Down syndrome live births (n=678), but led to the highest number of procedure-related euploid losses (n=859). The integrated screen had the fewest euploid losses (n=62) and averted the second most Down syndrome live births (n=520). If fewer than 70% of women diagnosed with fetal Down syndrome elect to abort, the quad screen became the least expensive strategy. Although sequential screening was the most cost-effective prenatal screening strategy for fetal trisomy 21, it had the highest procedure-related euploid loss rate. The patient's perspective on detection versus fetal safety may help define the optimal screening strategy.

Comparison of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Cryotherapy for Increasing Quadriceps Activation in Patients With Knee Pathologies.

PubMed

Gabler, Conrad M; Lepley, Adam S; Uhl, Tim L; Mattacola, Carl G

2016-08-01

Proper neuromuscular activation of the quadriceps muscle is essential for maintaining quadriceps (quad) strength and lower-extremity function. Quad activation (QA) failure is a common characteristic observed in patients with knee pathologies, defined as an inability to voluntarily activate the entire alpha-motor-neuron pool innervating the quad. One of the more popular techniques used to assess QA is the superimposed burst (SIB) technique, a force-based technique that uses a supramaximal, percutaneous electrical stimulation to activate all of the motor units in the quad during a maximal, voluntary isometric contraction. Central activation ratio (CAR) is the formula used to calculate QA level (CAR = voluntary force/SIB force) with the SIB technique. People who can voluntarily activate 95% or more (CAR = 0.95-1.0) of their motor units are defined as being fully activated. Therapeutic exercises aimed at improving quad strength in patients with knee pathologies are limited in their effectiveness due to a failure to fully activate the muscle. Within the past decade, several disinhibitory interventions have been introduced to treat QA failure in patients with knee pathologies. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and cryotherapy are sensory-targeted modalities traditionally used to treat pain, but they have been shown to be 2 of the most successful treatments for increasing QA levels in patients with QA failure. Both modalities are hypothesized to positively affect voluntary QA by disinhibiting the motor-neuron pool of the quad. In essence, these modalities provide excitatory afferent stimuli to the spinal cord, which thereby overrides the inhibitory afferent signaling that arises from the involved joint. However, it remains unknown whether 1 is more effective than the other for restoring QA levels in patients with knee pathologies. By knowing the capabilities of each disinhibitory modality, clinicians can tailor treatments based on the rehabilitation goals of their patients. Focused Clinical Question: Is TENS or cryotherapy the more effective disinhibitory modality for treating QA failure (quantified via CAR) in patients with knee pathologies?

Development of an Effective System Identification and Control Capability for Quad-copter UAVs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Wei

In recent years, with the promise of extensive commercial applications, the popularity of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has dramatically increased as witnessed by publications and mushrooming research and educational programs. Over the years, multi-copter aircraft have been chosen as a viable configuration for small-scale VTOL UAVs in the form of quad-copters, hexa-copters and octo-copters. Compared to the single main rotor configuration such as the conventional helicopter, multi-copter airframes require a simpler feedback control system and fewer mechanical parts. These characteristics make these UAV platforms, such as quad-copter which is the main emphasis in this dissertation, a rugged and competitive candidate for many applications in both military and civil areas. Because of its configuration and relative size, the small-scale quad-copter UAV system is inherently very unstable. In order to develop an effective control system through simulation techniques, obtaining an accurate dynamic model of a given quad-copter is imperative. Moreover, given the anticipated stringent safety requirements, fault tolerance will be a crucial component of UAV certification. Accurate dynamic modeling and control of this class of UAV is an enabling technology and is imperative for future commercial applications. In this work, the dynamic model of a quad-copter system in hover flight was identified using frequency-domain system identification techniques. A new and unique experimental system, data acquisition and processing procedure was developed catering specifically to the class of electric powered multi-copter UAV systems. The Comprehensive Identification from FrEquency Responses (CIFER RTM) software package, developed by US Army Aviation Development Directorate -- AFDD, was utilized along with flight tests to develop dynamic models of the quad-copter system. A new set of flight tests were conducted and the predictive capability of the dynamic models were successfully validated. A PID controller and two fuzzy logic controllers were developed based on the validated dynamic models. The controller performances were evaluated and compared in both simulation environment and flight testing. Flight controllers were optimized to comply with US Aeronautical Design Standard Performance Specification Handling Quality Requirements for Military Rotorcraft (ADS-33E-PRF). Results showed a substantial improvement for developed controllers when compared to the nominal controllers based on hand tuning. The scope of this research involves experimental system hardware and software development, flight instrumentation, flight testing, dynamics modeling, system identification, dynamic model validation, control system modeling using PID and fuzzy logic, analysis of handling qualities, flight control optimization and validation. Both closed-loop and open-loop dynamics of the quad-copter system were analyzed. A cost-effective and high quality system identification procedure was applied and results proved in simulations as well as in flight tests.

75 FR 70691 - World Color Mt. Morris, IL LLC, Premedia Chicago Division, Currently Known as Quad/Graphics, Inc...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-18

... DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration [TA-W-74,142] World Color Mt. Morris, IL LLC, Premedia Chicago Division, Currently Known as Quad/Graphics, Inc., Including On-Site Leased Workers From Creative Group and Creative Circle, Schaumburg, IL; Amended Certification Regarding Eligibility To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance...

College Library Technology and Cooperation Grants Program, Higher Education Act, Title II-D. Final Performance Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hanifan, Thomas; Hoogheem, Cynthia L.

The Eastern Iowa Community College District (EICCD) libraries received a federal College Library Technology and Cooperation grant to provide and link public access catalogs at each college of the district--Clinton Community College, Muscatine Community College, and Scott Community College. That network is named Quad-LINC (Quad Cities Libraries in…

Quantification of micro stickies

Treesearch

Mahendra Doshi; Jeffrey Dyer; Salman Aziz; Kristine Jackson; Said M. Abubakr

1997-01-01

The objective of this project was to compare the different methods for the quantification of micro stickies. The hydrophobic materials investigated in this project for the collection of micro stickies were Microfoam* (polypropylene packing material), low density polyethylene film (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE; a flat piece from a square plastic bottle), paper...

Surface topography and roughness of high-speed milled AlMn1Cu

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhenhua; Yuan, Juntang; Yin, Zengbin; Hu, Xiaoqiu

2016-10-01

The aluminum alloy AlMn1Cu has been broadly applied for functional parts production because of its good properties. But few researches about the machining mechanism and the surface roughness were reported. The high-speed milling experiments are carried out in order to improve the machining quality and reveal the machining mechanism. The typical topography features of machined surface are observed by scan electron microscope(SEM). The results show that the milled surface topography is mainly characterized by the plastic shearing deformation surface and material piling zone. The material flows plastically along the end cutting edge of the flat-end milling tool and meanwhile is extruded by the end cutting edge, resulting in that materials partly adhere to the machined surface and form the material piling zone. As the depth of cut and the feed per tooth increase, the plastic flow of materials is strengthened and the machined surface becomes rougher. However, as the cutting speed increases, the plastic flow of materials is weakened and the milled surface becomes smoother. The cutting parameters (e.g. cutting speed, feed per tooth and depth of cut) influencing the surface roughness are analyzed. It can be concluded that the roughness of the machined surface formed by the end cutting edge is less than that by the cylindrical cutting edge when a cylindrical flat-end mill tool is used for milling. The proposed research provides the typical topography features of machined surface of the anti-rust aluminum alloy AlMn1Cu in high speed milling.

The use of COD and plastic instability in crack propagation and arrest in shells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erdogan, F.; Ratwani, M.

1974-01-01

The initiation, growth, and possible arrest of fracture in cylindrical shells containing initial defects are dealt with. For those defects which may be approximated by a part-through semi-elliptic surface crack which is sufficiently shallow so that part of the net ligament in the plane of the crack is still elastic, the existing flat plate solution is modified to take into account the shell curvature effect as well as the effect of the thickness and the small scale plastic deformations. The problem of large defects is then considered under the assumptions that the defect may be approximated by a relatively deep meridional part-through surface crack and the net ligament through the shell wall is fully yielded. The results given are based on an 8th order bending theory of shallow shells using a conventional plastic strip model to account for the plastic deformations around the crack border.

An Approach to Quad Meshing Based On Cross Valued Maps and the Ginzburg-Landau Theory

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

Viertel, Ryan; Osting, Braxton

2017-08-01

A generalization of vector fields, referred to as N-direction fields or cross fields when N=4, has been recently introduced and studied for geometry processing, with applications in quadrilateral (quad) meshing, texture mapping, and parameterization. We make the observation that cross field design for two-dimensional quad meshing is related to the well-known Ginzburg-Landau problem from mathematical physics. This identification yields a variety of theoretical tools for efficiently computing boundary-aligned quad meshes, with provable guarantees on the resulting mesh, for example, the number of mesh defects and bounds on the defect locations. The procedure for generating the quad mesh is to (i)more » find a complex-valued "representation" field that minimizes the Dirichlet energy subject to a boundary constraint, (ii) convert the representation field into a boundary-aligned, smooth cross field, (iii) use separatrices of the cross field to partition the domain into four sided regions, and (iv) mesh each of these four-sided regions using standard techniques. Under certain assumptions on the geometry of the domain, we prove that this procedure can be used to produce a cross field whose separatrices partition the domain into four sided regions. To solve the energy minimization problem for the representation field, we use an extension of the Merriman-Bence-Osher (MBO) threshold dynamics method, originally conceived as an algorithm to simulate motion by mean curvature, to minimize the Ginzburg-Landau energy for the optimal representation field. Lastly, we demonstrate the method on a variety of test domains.« less

76 FR 19746 - Expansion of Foreign-Trade Zone 133; Quad-Cities, IL/IA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-08

... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Foreign-Trade Zones Board [Order No. 1749] Expansion of Foreign-Trade Zone 133; Quad-Cities, IL/IA Pursuant to its authority under the Foreign-Trade Zones Act of June 18, 1934, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) adopts the following Order...

A radarsat-2 quad-polarized time series for monitoring crop and soil conditions in Barrax, Spain

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The European Space Agency (ESA) along with multiple university and agency investigators joined to conduct the AgriSAR Campaign in 2009. The main objective was to analyze a dense time series of RADARSAT-2 quad-pol data to define and quantify the performance of Sentinel-1 and other future ESA C-Band ...

"Sleep out on the Quad": An Opportunity for Experiential Education and Servant Based Leadership

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Kristen A.; Grazulis, Jessica; White, Joshua K.

2014-01-01

One of the purposes of higher education is to promote citizenship and social justice. This article explores the way Aurora University is helping students to discover what matters through the impact of "Sleep Out on the Quad," which is an event that uses multiple pedagogies to impact student learning of homelessness. It serves as a call…

Wetland Mapping with Quad-Pol Data Acquired during Tandem-X Science Phase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mleczko, M.; Mroz, M.; Fitrzyk, M.

2016-06-01

The aim of this study was to exploit fully polarimetric SAR data acquired during TanDEM-X - Science Phase (2014/2015) over herbaceous wetlands of the Biebrza National Park (BbNP) in North-Eastern Poland for mapping seasonally flooded grasslands and permanent natural vegetation associations. The main goal of this work was to estimate the advantage of fully polarimetric radar images (QuadPol) versus alternative polarization (AltPol) modes. The methodology consisted in processing of several data subsets through polarimetric decompositions of complex quad-pol datasets, classification of multitemporal backscattering images, complementing backscattering images with Shannon Entropy, exploitation of interferometric coherence from tandem operations. In each case the multidimensional stack of images has been classified using ISODATA unsupervised clustering algorithm. With 6 QUAD-POL TSX/TDX acquisitions it was possible to distinguish correctly 5 thematic classes related to their water regime: permanent water bodies, temporarily flooded areas, wet grasslands, dry grasslands and common reed. This last category was possible to distinguish from deciduous forest only with Yamaguchi 4 component decomposition. The interferometric coherence calculated for tandem pairs turned out not so efficient as expected for this wetland mapping.

Stability of an abstract system of coupled hyperbolic and parabolic equations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, Jianghao; Liu, Zhuangyi

2013-08-01

In this paper, we provide a complete stability analysis for an abstract system of coupled hyperbolic and parabolic equations = -Au + γ A^{α} θ, quad θ_t = -γ A^{α}u_t - kA^{β}θ, u(0) = u_0, quad u_t(0) = v_0, quad θ(0) = θ_0 where A is a self-adjoint, positive definite operator on a Hilbert space H. For {(α,β) in [0,1] × [0,1]} , the region of exponential stability had been identified in Ammar-Khodja et al. (ESAIM Control Optim Calc Var 4:577-593,1999). Our contribution is to show that the rest of the region can be classified as region of polynomial stability and region of instability. Moreover, we obtain the optimality of the order of polynomial stability.

Adaptive sliding mode control for finite-time stability of quad-rotor UAVs with parametric uncertainties.

PubMed

Mofid, Omid; Mobayen, Saleh

2018-01-01

Adaptive control methods are developed for stability and tracking control of flight systems in the presence of parametric uncertainties. This paper offers a design technique of adaptive sliding mode control (ASMC) for finite-time stabilization of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems with parametric uncertainties. Applying the Lyapunov stability concept and finite-time convergence idea, the recommended control method guarantees that the states of the quad-rotor UAV are converged to the origin with a finite-time convergence rate. Furthermore, an adaptive-tuning scheme is advised to guesstimate the unknown parameters of the quad-rotor UAV at any moment. Finally, simulation results are presented to exhibit the helpfulness of the offered technique compared to the previous methods. Copyright © 2017 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Parity violation constraints using cosmic microwave background polarization spectra from 2006 and 2007 observations by the QUaD polarimeter.

PubMed

Wu, E Y S; Ade, P; Bock, J; Bowden, M; Brown, M L; Cahill, G; Castro, P G; Church, S; Culverhouse, T; Friedman, R B; Ganga, K; Gear, W K; Gupta, S; Hinderks, J; Kovac, J; Lange, A E; Leitch, E; Melhuish, S J; Memari, Y; Murphy, J A; Orlando, A; Piccirillo, L; Pryke, C; Rajguru, N; Rusholme, B; Schwarz, R; O'Sullivan, C; Taylor, A N; Thompson, K L; Turner, A H; Zemcov, M

2009-04-24

We constrain parity-violating interactions to the surface of last scattering using spectra from the QUaD experiment's second and third seasons of observations by searching for a possible systematic rotation of the polarization directions of cosmic microwave background photons. We measure the rotation angle due to such a possible "cosmological birefringence" to be 0.55 degrees +/-0.82 degrees (random) +/-0.5 degrees (systematic) using QUaD's 100 and 150 GHz temperature-curl and gradient-curl spectra over the spectra over the multipole range 200

An Approximate Solution to the Plastic Indentation of Circular Sandwich Panels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Z.

2018-05-01

The plastic indentation response of circular sandwich panels loaded by the flat end of a cylinder is investigated employing a velocity field model. Using the principles of virtual velocities and minimum work, an expression for the indenter load in relation to the indenter displacement and displacement field of the deformed face sheet is derived. The analytical solutions obtained are in good agreement with those found by simulations using the ABAQUS code. The radial tensile strain of the deformed face sheet and the ratio of energy absorption rate of the core to that of the face sheet are discussed.

Chronostratigraphic framework for the late Miocene interval of IODP Exp. 355 Site U1457: timing of the C3-C4 transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tauxe, L.; Feakins, S. J.; Liddy, H.; Kulhanek, D. K.; Scardia, G.; Routledge, C.

2017-12-01

Combining magnetostratigraphic, biostratigraphic, and isotopic data for the Late Miocene interval of U1457 provides a tight temporal framework for the C3-C4 isotopic transition first documented by Quade et al. (1989) in northern Pakistan. We have re-evaluated the chronological constraints for the shifts recorded in Pakistan, Nepal and India. Records include those from Rhotas (Behrensmeyer et al., 2007), Jalalpur (Johnson et al., 1982, Quade and Cerling, 1995) from Pakistan, Jawalamukhti and Haripur Kola (NW India) in Voegeli et al. (2017) with magnetostratigraphic control from Meigs et al. (1995), and Sangode et al. (1996) and records from Nepal summarized by Quade et al. (1995) with magnetostratigraphic control documented by Ojha et al. (2009). An age for the C3-C4 transition at ca. 7.0 Ma is consistent with all records in hand suggesting that it is possible that the transition occurred simultaneously in the Indian subcontinent Ma (although differences are allowed but not demanded by the data). We also updated the magnetic and nannofossil stratigraphies for IODP Expedition 355, Site U1457, revising the calibration of certain nannofossil datums. These data, combined with geochemical proxy data sensitive to the C3-C4 transition (d13C values of C35 n-alkanes (per mil relative to PD Belemnite) which shows a transition at 648 mcd, lead to the tentative conclusion that the C3-C4 transition recorded at Site U1457 occurred within C3Ar, or also at ca. 7; it is apparently synchronous with the records on the Indian subcontinent. A.K. Behrensmeyer, J. Quade, T. E. Cerling , J. Kappelman, I. A. Khan, P. Copeland, L. Roe, J. Hicks, P. Stubblefield, B. J. Willis, C. Latorre, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull 119 1486-1505 (2007). F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, M. D. Schmitz, G. M. Ogg, (2012). N. M. Johnson, N. D. Opdyke, G. D. Johnson, E. H. Lindsay, R. A. K. Tahirkheli, Paleogeo. Paleoclim. and Paleoecol. 37 17-42 (1982). A.J. Meigs, D. W. Burbank, R. A. Beck, Geology 23 423-426 (1995). Ojha, T.P., R. F. Butler, P. G. DeCelles, J. Quade Basin Research 21 61-90 (2009) J. Quade and T. E. Cerling, Paleogeo. Paleoclim. and Paleoecol. 115 91-116 (1995). J. Quade and J. M. L. Cater, Ojha, T.P., J. Adam, T. M. Harrison, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull 107 1381-1397 (1995). S. J. Sangode and R. Kumar and S. K. Ghosh, J. Geol. Soc. India 47 683-704 (1996).

SU-FF-T-668: A Simple Algorithm for Range Modulation Wheel Design in Proton Therapy

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

Nie, X; Nazaryan, Vahagn; Gueye, Paul

2009-06-01

Purpose: To develop a simple algorithm in designing the range modulation wheel to generate a very smooth Spread-Out Bragg peak (SOBP) for proton therapy.Method and Materials: A simple algorithm has been developed to generate the weight factors in corresponding pristine Bragg peaks which composed a smooth SOBP in proton therapy. We used a modified analytical Bragg peak function based on Monte Carol simulation tool-kits of Geant4 as pristine Bragg peaks input in our algorithm. A simple METLAB(R) Quad Program was introduced to optimize the cost function in our algorithm. Results: We found out that the existed analytical function of Braggmore » peak can't directly use as pristine Bragg peak dose-depth profile input file in optimization of the weight factors since this model didn't take into account of the scattering factors introducing from the range shifts in modifying the proton beam energies. We have done Geant4 simulations for proton energy of 63.4 MeV with a 1.08 cm SOBP for variation of pristine Bragg peaks which composed this SOBP and modified the existed analytical Bragg peak functions for their peak heights, ranges of R{sub 0}, and Gaussian energies {sigma}{sub E}. We found out that 19 pristine Bragg peaks are enough to achieve a flatness of 1.5% of SOBP which is the best flatness in the publications. Conclusion: This work develops a simple algorithm to generate the weight factors which is used to design a range modulation wheel to generate a smooth SOBP in protonradiation therapy. We have found out that a medium number of pristine Bragg peaks are enough to generate a SOBP with flatness less than 2%. It is potential to generate data base to store in the treatment plan to produce a clinic acceptable SOBP by using our simple algorithm.« less

Shape Memory Alloy Isolation Valves: Public Quad Chart

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-05-12

NUMBER (Include area code) 12 May 2017 Briefing Charts 12 April 2017 - 12 May 2017 Shape Memory Alloy Isolation Valves: Public Quad Chart William...Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified SAR 2 William Hargus N/A PAYOFF/TRANSITIONTECHNICAL APPROACH MOTIVATION APPLYING AFRL TO SUSTAINMENT • Evaluate...spacecraft (15+ yrs) • Shaped memory alloy isolation valves provide an intrinsically safe isolation system that increases lifetime >5x over SOTA and

The Effects of Type I Error Rate and Power of the ANCOVA F-Test and Selected Alternatives under Non-Normality and Variance Heterogeneity.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rheinheimer, David C.; Penfield, Douglas A.

The performance of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and six selected competitors was examined under varying experimental conditions through Monte Carlo simulations. The six alternatives were: (1) Quade's procedure (D. Quade, 1967); (2) Puri and Sen's solution (M. Puri and P. Sen, 1969); (3) Burnett and Barr's rank difference scores (T. Burnett and…

Enhancing the Thermostability and Immunogenicity of a Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Live-Attenuated Vaccine by Incorporating Unique RSV Line19F Protein Residues.

PubMed

Rostad, Christina A; Stobart, Christopher C; Todd, Sean O; Molina, Samuel A; Lee, Sujin; Blanco, Jorge C G; Moore, Martin L

2018-03-15

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants, and an effective vaccine is not yet available. We previously generated an RSV live-attenuated vaccine (LAV) candidate, DB1, which was attenuated by a low-fusion subgroup B F protein (BAF) and codon-deoptimized nonstructural protein genes. DB1 was immunogenic and protective in cotton rats but lacked thermostability and stability of the prefusion conformation of F compared to strains with the line19F gene. We hypothesized that substitution of unique residues from the thermostable A2-line19F strain could thermostabilize DB1 and boost its immunogenicity. We therefore substituted 4 unique line19F residues into the BAF protein of DB1 by site-directed mutagenesis and rescued the recombinant virus, DB1-QUAD. Compared to DB1, DB1-QUAD had improved thermostability at 4°C and higher levels of prefusion F as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). DB1-QUAD was attenuated in normal human bronchial epithelial cells, in BALB/c mice, and in cotton rats but grew to wild-type titers in Vero cells. In mice, DB1-QUAD was highly immunogenic and generated significantly higher neutralizing antibody titers to a panel of RSV A and B strains than did DB1. DB1-QUAD was also efficacious against wild-type RSV challenge in mice and cotton rats. Thus, substitution of unique line19F residues into RSV LAV DB1 enhanced vaccine thermostability, incorporation of prefusion F, and immunogenicity and generated a promising vaccine candidate that merits further investigation. IMPORTANCE We boosted the thermostability and immunogenicity of an RSV live-attenuated vaccine candidate by substituting 4 unique residues from the RSV line19F protein into the F protein of the heterologous vaccine strain DB1. The resultant vaccine candidate, DB1-QUAD, was thermostable, attenuated in vivo , highly immunogenic, and protective against RSV challenge in mice and cotton rats. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.

The development and validation of the Questionnaire on Anticipated Discrimination (QUAD).

PubMed

Gabbidon, Jheanell; Brohan, Elaine; Clement, Sarah; Henderson, R Claire; Thornicroft, Graham

2013-11-07

The anticipation of mental health-related discrimination is common amongst people with mental health problems and can have serious adverse effects. This study aimed to develop and validate a measure assessing the extent to which people with mental health problems anticipate that they will personally experience discrimination across a range of contexts. The items and format for the Questionnaire on Anticipated Discrimination (QUAD) were developed from previous versions of the Discrimination and Stigma Scale (DISC), focus groups and cognitive debriefing interviews which were used to further refine the content and format. The resulting provisional version of the QUAD was completed by 117 service users in an online survey and reliability, validity, precision and acceptability were assessed. A final version of the scale was agreed and analyses re-run using the online survey data and data from an independent sample to report the psychometric properties of the finalised scale. The provisional version of the QUAD had 17 items, good internal consistency (alpha = 0.86) and adequate convergent validity as supported by the significant positive correlations with the Stigma Scale (SS) (r = 0.40, p < 0.001) and the Internalised Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI) (r = 0.40, p < 0.001). Three items were removed due to low endorsements, high inter-correlation or conceptual concerns. The finalised 14 item QUAD had good internal consistency (alpha = 0.86), good test re-test reliability (ρ(c) = 0.81) and adequate convergent validity: correlations with the ISMI (r = 0.45, p < 0.001) and with the SS (r = 0.39, p < 0.001). Reading ease scores indicated good acceptability for general adult populations. Cross-replication in an independent sample further indicated good internal consistency (alpha = 0.88), adequate convergent validity and revealed two factors summarised by institutions/services and interpersonal/professional relationships. The QUAD expanded upon previous versions of the DISC. It is a reliable, valid and acceptable measure which can be used to identify key life areas in which people may personally anticipate discrimination, and an overall tendency to anticipate discrimination. It may also be useful in planning interventions aimed at reducing the stigma of mental illness.

VX-222, a non-nucleoside NS5B polymerase inhibitor, in telaprevir-based regimens for genotype 1 hepatitis C virus infection.

PubMed

Di Bisceglie, Adrian M; Sulkowski, Mark; Gane, Ed; Jacobson, Ira M; Nelson, David; DeSouza, Cynthia; Alves, Katia; George, Shelley; Kieffer, Tara; Zhang, Eileen Z; Kauffman, Robert; Asmal, Mohammed; Koziel, Margaret J

2014-07-01

To investigate in this phase 2a study (ZENITH) the safety, tolerability, and antiviral activity of VX-222, a selective, non-nucleoside inhibitor of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B polymerase, combined with various telaprevir-based regimens for treatment of genotype 1 HCV. In total, 152 treatment-naive patients received VX-222+telaprevir ('DUAL' regimen; n=47), with ribavirin ('TRIPLE' regimen; n=46), or with peginterferon+ribavirin ('QUAD' regimen; n=59) for 12 weeks. Patients with detectable HCV RNA at weeks 2 and/or 8 received peginterferon+ribavirin for 24 (DUAL and TRIPLE) or 12 (QUAD) additional weeks. VX-222 (100 or 400 mg twice daily) was well tolerated, with an increased rate of gastrointestinal adverse events observed with the higher dose. Across VX-222 400-mg twice-daily regimens, the QUAD was associated with the highest frequency of grade 3/4 adverse events. The DUAL was discontinued because of high viral breakthrough before week 12. Sustained virologic response (SVR) 24 weeks after end of treatment (SVR24), including patients treated with 12 or 24 additional weeks of peginterferon+ribavirin, was 67% for TRIPLE (VX-222 400 mg twice daily) and 79 and 90% for QUAD (VX-222 100 and 400 mg twice daily, respectively). These results provide valuable information regarding the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of telaprevir combined with a non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitor, as dual therapy or with ribavirin without or with peginterferon. Telaprevir and VX-222, alone or with ribavirin without or with peginterferon, were generally well tolerated, with improved tolerability without peginterferon. SVR24 rates achieved with TRIPLE and QUAD regimens containing telaprevir and VX-222 were comparable to those observed with telaprevir-based therapy.

Short Communication: Comparative Evaluation of Coformulated Injectable Combination Antiretroviral Therapy Regimens in Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Rhesus Macaques.

PubMed

Del Prete, Gregory Q; Smedley, Jeremy; Macallister, Rhonda; Jones, Gregg S; Li, Bei; Hattersley, Jillian; Zheng, Jim; Piatak, Michael; Keele, Brandon F; Hesselgesser, Joseph; Geleziunas, Romas; Lifson, Jeffrey D

2016-02-01

The use of nonhuman primate (NHP) models to study persistent residual virus and viral eradication strategies in combination antiretroviral therapy (cART)-treated individuals requires regimens that effectively suppress SIV replication to clinically relevant levels in macaques. We developed and evaluated two novel cART regimens in SIVmac239-infected rhesus macaques: (1) a "triple regimen" containing the nucleo(s/t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate [TDF, prodrug of tenofovir (TFV, PMPA)] with the integrase strand transfer inhibitor dolutegravir (DTG) (n = 3), or (2) a "quad regimen" containing the same three drugs plus the protease inhibitor darunavir (DRV) (n = 3), with each regimen coformulated for convenient administration by a single daily subcutaneous injection. Plasma drug concentrations were consistent across animals within the triple and quad regimen-treated groups, although DTG levels were lower in the quad regimen animals. Time to achieve plasma viral loads stably <30 viral RNA copies/ml ranged from 12 to 20 weeks of treatment between animals, and viral loads <30 viral RNA copies/ml plasma were maintained through 40 weeks of follow-up on cART. Notably, although we show virologic suppression and development of viral resistance in a separate cohort of SIV-infected animals treated with oral DRV monotherapy, the addition of DRV in the quad regimen did not confer an apparent virologic benefit during early treatment, hence the quad regimen-treated animals were switched to the triple regimen after 4 weeks. This coformulated triple cART regimen can be safely, conveniently, and sustainably administered to durably suppress SIV replication to clinically relevant levels in rhesus macaques.

Benchmarking the QUAD4/TRIA3 element

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pitrof, Stephen M.; Venkayya, Vipperla B.

1993-01-01

The QUAD4 and TRIA3 elements are the primary plate/shell elements in NASTRAN. These elements enable the user to analyze thin plate/shell structures for membrane, bending and shear phenomena. They are also very new elements in the NASTRAN library. These elements are extremely versatile and constitute a substantially enhanced analysis capability in NASTRAN. However, with the versatility comes the burden of understanding a myriad of modeling implications and their effect on accuracy and analysis quality. The validity of many aspects of these elements were established through a series of benchmark problem results and comparison with those available in the literature and obtained from other programs like MSC/NASTRAN and CSAR/NASTRAN. Never-the-less such a comparison is never complete because of the new and creative use of these elements in complex modeling situations. One of the important features of QUAD4 and TRIA3 elements is the offset capability which allows the midsurface of the plate to be noncoincident with the surface of the grid points. None of the previous elements, with the exception of bar (beam), has this capability. The offset capability played a crucial role in the design of QUAD4 and TRIA3 elements. It allowed modeling layered composites, laminated plates and sandwich plates with the metal and composite face sheets. Even though the basic implementation of the offset capability is found to be sound in the previous applications, there is some uncertainty in relatively simple applications. The main purpose of this paper is to test the integrity of the offset capability and provide guidelines for its effective use. For the purpose of simplicity, references in this paper to the QUAD4 element will also include the TRIA3 element.

Positive Peer-Pressured Productivity (P-QUAD): Novel Use of Increased Transparency and a Weighted Lottery to Increase a Division's Academic Output.

PubMed

Pitt, Michael B; Furnival, Ronald A; Zhang, Lei; Weber-Main, Anne M; Raymond, Nancy C; Jacob, Abraham K

2017-03-01

Evaluate a dual incentive model combining positive peer pressure through increased transparency of peers' academic work with a weighted lottery where entries are earned based on degree of productivity. We developed a dual-incentive peer mentoring model, Positive Peer-Pressured Productivity (P-QUAD), for faculty in the Pediatric Hospital Medicine Division at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital. This model provided relative value-based incentives, with points assigned to different scholarly activities (eg. 1 point for abstract submission, 2 points for poster presentation, 3 points for oral presentation, etc.). These points translated into to lottery tickets for a semi-annual drawing for monetary prizes. Productivity was compared among faculty for P-QUAD year to the preintervention year. Fifteen (83%) of 18 eligible faculty members participated. Overall annual productivity per faculty member as measured by total P-QUAD score increased from a median of 3 (interquartile range [IQR] 0-14) in the preintervention year to 4 (IQR 0-27) in the P-QUAD year (P = .051). Submissions and acceptances increased in all categories except posters which were unchanged. Annual abstract submissions per faculty member significantly increased from a median of 1 (IQR 0-2) to 2 (IQR 0-2; P = .047). Seventy-three percent (8 of 11) of post-survey respondents indicated that the financial incentive motivated them to submit academic work; 100% indicated that increased awareness of their peers' work was a motivator. The combination of increased awareness of peers' academic productivity and a weighted lottery financial incentive appears to be a useful model for stimulating academic productivity in early-career faculty. Copyright © 2016 Academic Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Stabilization and control of quad-rotor helicopter using a smartphone device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desai, Alok; Lee, Dah-Jye; Moore, Jason; Chang, Yung-Ping

2013-01-01

In recent years, autonomous, micro-unmanned aerial vehicles (micro-UAVs), or more specifically hovering micro- UAVs, have proven suitable for many promising applications such as unknown environment exploration and search and rescue operations. The early versions of UAVs had no on-board control capabilities, and were difficult for manual control from a ground station. Many UAVs now are equipped with on-board control systems that reduce the amount of control required from the ground-station operator. However, the limitations on payload, power consumption and control without human interference remain the biggest challenges. This paper proposes to use a smartphone as the sole computational device to stabilize and control a quad-rotor. The goal is to use the readily available sensors in a smartphone such as the GPS, the accelerometer, the rate-gyros, and the camera to support vision-related tasks such as flight stabilization, estimation of the height above ground, target tracking, obstacle detection, and surveillance. We use a quad-rotor platform that has been built in the Robotic Vision Lab at Brigham Young University for our development and experiments. An Android smartphone is connected through the USB port to an external hardware that has a microprocessor and circuitries to generate pulse-width modulation signals to control the brushless servomotors on the quad-rotor. The high-resolution camera on the smartphone is used to detect and track features to maintain a desired altitude level. The vision algorithms implemented include template matching, Harris feature detector, RANSAC similarity-constrained homography, and color segmentation. Other sensors are used to control yaw, pitch, and roll of the quad-rotor. This smartphone-based system is able to stabilize and control micro-UAVs and is ideal for micro-UAVs that have size, weight, and power limitations.

Estimation of Melt Pond Fractions on First Year Sea Ice Using Compact Polarization SAR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Haiyan; Perrie, William; Li, Qun; Hou, Yijun

2017-10-01

Melt ponds are a common feature on Arctic sea ice. They are linked to the sea ice surface albedo and transmittance of energy to the ocean from the atmosphere and thus constitute an important process to parameterize in Arctic climate models and simulations. This paper presents a first attempt to retrieve the melt pond fraction from hybrid-polarized compact polarization (CP) SAR imagery, which has wider swath and shorter revisit time than the quad-polarization systems, e.g., from RADARSAT-2 (RS-2). The co-polarization (co-pol) ratio has been verified to provide estimates of melt pond fractions. However, it is a challenge to link CP parameters and the co-pol ratio. The theoretical possibility is presented, for making this linkage with the CP parameter C22/C11 (the ratio between the elements of the coherence matrix of CP SAR) for melt pond detection and monitoring with the tilted-Bragg scattering model for the ocean surface. The empirical transformed formulation, denoted as the "compact polarization and quad-pol" ("CPQP") model, is proposed, based on 2062 RS-2 quad-pol SAR images, collocated with in situ measurements. We compared the retrieved melt pond fraction with CP parameters simulated from quad-pol SAR data with results retrieved from the co-pol ratio from quad-pol SAR observations acquired during the Arctic-Ice (Arctic-Ice Covered Ecosystem in a Rapidly Changing Environment) field project. The results are shown to be comparable for observed melt pond measurements in spatial and temporal distributions. Thus, the utility of CP mode SAR for melt pond fraction estimation on first year level ice is presented.

a Novel Two-Component Decomposition for Co-Polar Channels of GF-3 Quad-Pol Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kwok, E.; Li, C. H.; Zhao, Q. H.; Li, Y.

2018-04-01

Polarimetric target decomposition theory is the most dynamic and exploratory research area in the field of PolSAR. But most methods of target decomposition are based on fully polarized data (quad pol) and seldom utilize dual-polar data for target decomposition. Given this, we proposed a novel two-component decomposition method for co-polar channels of GF-3 quad-pol data. This method decomposes the data into two scattering contributions: surface, double bounce in dual co-polar channels. To save this underdetermined problem, a criterion for determining the model is proposed. The criterion can be named as second-order averaged scattering angle, which originates from the H/α decomposition. and we also put forward an alternative parameter of it. To validate the effectiveness of proposed decomposition, Liaodong Bay is selected as research area. The area is located in northeastern China, where it grows various wetland resources and appears sea ice phenomenon in winter. and we use the GF-3 quad-pol data as study data, which which is China's first C-band polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) satellite. The dependencies between the features of proposed algorithm and comparison decompositions (Pauli decomposition, An&Yang decomposition, Yamaguchi S4R decomposition) were investigated in the study. Though several aspects of the experimental discussion, we can draw the conclusion: the proposed algorithm may be suitable for special scenes with low vegetation coverage or low vegetation in the non-growing season; proposed decomposition features only using co-polar data are highly correlated with the corresponding comparison decomposition features under quad-polarization data. Moreover, it would be become input of the subsequent classification or parameter inversion.

Lower-limb reconstruction with chimeric flaps: The quad flap.

PubMed

Azouz, Solomon M; Castel, Nikki A; Vijayasekaran, Aparna; Rebecca, Alanna M; Lettieri, Salvatore C

2018-05-07

Early soft-tissue coverage is critical for treating traumatic open lower-extremity wounds. As free-flap reconstruction evolves, injuries once thought to be nonreconstructable are being salvaged. Free-tissue transfer is imperative when there is extensive dead space or exposure of vital structures such as bone, tendon, nerves, or blood vessels. We describe 2 cases of lower-extremity crush injuries salvaged with the quad flap. This novel flap consists of parascapular, scapular, serratus, and latissimus dorsi free flaps in combination on one pedicle. This flap provides the large amount of soft-tissue coverage necessary to cover substantial defects from skin degloving, tibia and fibula fractures, and soft-tissue loss. In case 1, a 51-year-old woman was struck by an automobile and sustained bilateral tibia and fibula fractures, a crush degloving injury of the left leg, and a right forefoot traumatic amputation. She underwent reconstruction with a contralateral quad free flap. In case 2, a 53-year-old man sustained a right tibia plateau fracture with large soft-tissue defects from a motorcycle accident. He had a crush degloving injury of the entire anterolateral compartment over the distal and lower third of the right leg. The large soft-tissue defect was reconstructed with a contralateral quad flap. In both cases, the donor site was closed primarily and without early flap failures. There was one surgical complication, an abscess in case 2; the patient was taken back to the operating room for débridement of necrotic tissue. There have been no long-term complications in either case. Both patients achieved adequate soft-tissue coverage, avoided amputation, and had satisfactory aesthetic and functional outcomes. With appropriate surgical technique and patient selection, the quad-flap technique is promising for reconstructing the lower extremity. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Genomic and post-genomic effects of anti-glaucoma drugs preservatives in trabecular meshwork.

PubMed

Izzotti, Alberto; La Maestra, Sebastiano; Micale, Rosanna Tindara; Longobardi, Maria Grazia; Saccà, Sergio Claudio

2015-02-01

Oxidative stress plays an important role in glaucoma. Some preservatives of anti-glaucoma drugs, commonly used in glaucoma therapy, can prevent or induce oxidative stress in the trabecular meshwork. The aim of this study is to evaluate cellular and molecular damage induced in trabecular meshwork by preservatives contained in anti-glaucoma drugs. Cell viability (MTT test), DNA fragmentation (Comet test), oxidative DNA damage (8-oxo-dG), and gene expression (cDNA microarray) have been evaluated in trabecular meshwork specimens and in human trabecular meshwork cells treated with benzalkonium chloride, polyQuad, purite, and sofzia-like mixture. Moreover, antimicrobial effectiveness and safety of preservative contents in drugs was tested. In ex vivo experiments, benzalkonium chloride and polyQuad induced high level of DNA damage in trabecular meshwork specimens, while the effect of purite and sofzia were more attenuated. The level of DNA fragmentation induced by benzalkonium chloride was 2.4-fold higher in subjects older than 50 years than in younger subjects. Benzalkonium chloride, and polyQuad significantly increased oxidative DNA damage as compared to sham-treated specimens. Gene expression was altered by benzalkonium chloride, polyQuad, and purite but not by sofzia. In in vitro experiments, benzalkonium chloride and polyQuad dramatically decreased trabecular meshwork cell viability, increased DNA fragmentation, and altered gene expression. A lesser effect was also exerted by purite and sofzia. Genes targeted by these alterations included Fas and effector caspase-3. The efficacy of the preservatives in inhibiting bacterial growth increased the adverse effects in trabecular meshwork in terms of DNA damage and alteration of gene expression. Presented data indicates the delicate balance between efficacy and safety of drug preservatives as not yet optimized. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Geometry optimization for micro-pressure sensor considering dynamic interference

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Zhongliang; Zhao, Yulong; Li, Lili; Tian, Bian; Li, Cun

2014-09-01

Presented is the geometry optimization for piezoresistive absolute micro-pressure sensor. A figure of merit called the performance factor (PF) is defined as a quantitative index to describe the comprehensive performances of a sensor including sensitivity, resonant frequency, and acceleration interference. Three geometries are proposed through introducing islands and sensitive beams into typical flat diaphragm. The stress distributions of sensitive elements are analyzed by finite element method. Multivariate fittings based on ANSYS simulation results are performed to establish the equations about surface stress, deflection, and resonant frequency. Optimization by MATLAB is carried out to determine the dimensions of the geometries. Convex corner undercutting is evaluated. Each PF of the three geometries with the determined dimensions is calculated and compared. Silicon bulk micromachining is utilized to fabricate the prototypes of the sensors. The outputs of the sensors under both static and dynamic conditions are tested. Experimental results demonstrate the rationality of the defined performance factor and reveal that the geometry with quad islands presents the highest PF of 210.947 Hz1/4. The favorable overall performances enable the sensor more suitable for altimetry.

Flat-Cladding Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors for Large Strain Amplitude Fatigue Tests

PubMed Central

Feng, Aihen; Chen, Daolun; Li, Cheng; Gu, Xijia

2010-01-01

We have successfully developed a flat-cladding fiber Bragg grating sensor for large cyclic strain amplitude tests of up to ±8,000 με. The increased contact area between the flat-cladding fiber and substrate, together with the application of a new bonding process, has significantly increased the bonding strength. In the push-pull fatigue tests of an aluminum alloy, the plastic strain amplitudes measured by three optical fiber sensors differ only by 0.43% at a cyclic strain amplitude of ±7,000 με and 1.9% at a cyclic strain amplitude of ±8,000 με. We also applied the sensor on an extruded magnesium alloy for evaluating the peculiar asymmetric hysteresis loops. The results obtained were in good agreement with those measured from the extensometer, a further validation of the sensor. PMID:22163621

Measurement of the residual stress in hot rolled strip using strain gauge method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Lokendra; Majumdar, Shrabani; Sahu, Raj Kumar

2017-07-01

Measurement of the surface residual stress in a flat hot rolled steel strip using strain gauge method is considered in this paper. Residual stresses arise in the flat strips when the shear cut and laser cut is applied. Bending, twisting, central buckled and edge waviness is the common defects occur during the cutting and uncoiling process. These defects arise due to the non-uniform elastic-plastic deformation, phase transformation occurring during cooling and coiling-uncoiling process. The residual stress analysis is very important because with early detection it is possible to prevent an object from failure. The goal of this paper is to measure the surface residual stress in flat hot rolled strip using strain gauge method. The residual stress was measured in the head and tail end of hot rolled strip considering as a critical part of the strip.

AGOR 28

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-04-23

to work on initial outfitting lists for Sally Ride. ii. Working on NS5 Hierarchy 4. Operator Concerns: • Tuff-Mass MLV and Acoustic Tiles...The yard is continuing to install the Quad-zero MLV in various locations throughout Sally Ride. DCI is holding off on installing any new insulation ...in location with no sound dampening tiles. This includes the Main Engine Space overhead and aft bulkhead as well as the MCS. The Quad-Zeros is not

Guidance of Autonomous Aerospace Vehicles for Vertical Soft Landing using Nonlinear Control Theory

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-08-11

Measured and Kalman filter Estimate of the Roll Attitude of the Quad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 2.4...and faster Hart- ley et al. [2013]. With availability of small, light, high fidelity sensors (Inertial Measurement Units IMU ) and processors on board...is a product of inverse of rotation matrix and inertia matrix for the quad frame. Since both the matrix are invertible at all times except when roll

Electro-Optic Segment-Segment Sensors for Radio and Optical Telescopes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abramovici, Alex

2012-01-01

A document discusses an electro-optic sensor that consists of a collimator, attached to one segment, and a quad diode, attached to an adjacent segment. Relative segment-segment motion causes the beam from the collimator to move across the quad diode, thus generating a measureable electric signal. This sensor type, which is relatively inexpensive, can be configured as an edge sensor, or as a remote segment-segment motion sensor.

Performance of an MPI-only semiconductor device simulator on a quad socket/quad core InfiniBand platform.

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

Shadid, John Nicolas; Lin, Paul Tinphone

2009-01-01

This preliminary study considers the scaling and performance of a finite element (FE) semiconductor device simulator on a capacity cluster with 272 compute nodes based on a homogeneous multicore node architecture utilizing 16 cores. The inter-node communication backbone for this Tri-Lab Linux Capacity Cluster (TLCC) machine is comprised of an InfiniBand interconnect. The nonuniform memory access (NUMA) nodes consist of 2.2 GHz quad socket/quad core AMD Opteron processors. The performance results for this study are obtained with a FE semiconductor device simulation code (Charon) that is based on a fully-coupled Newton-Krylov solver with domain decomposition and multilevel preconditioners. Scaling andmore » multicore performance results are presented for large-scale problems of 100+ million unknowns on up to 4096 cores. A parallel scaling comparison is also presented with the Cray XT3/4 Red Storm capability platform. The results indicate that an MPI-only programming model for utilizing the multicore nodes is reasonably efficient on all 16 cores per compute node. However, the results also indicated that the multilevel preconditioner, which is critical for large-scale capability type simulations, scales better on the Red Storm machine than the TLCC machine.« less

Least square based sliding mode control for a quad-rotor helicopter and energy saving by chattering reduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sumantri, Bambang; Uchiyama, Naoki; Sano, Shigenori

2016-01-01

In this paper, a new control structure for a quad-rotor helicopter that employs the least squares method is introduced. This proposed algorithm solves the overdetermined problem of the control input for the translational motion of a quad-rotor helicopter. The algorithm allows all six degrees of freedom to be considered to calculate the control input. The sliding mode controller is applied to achieve robust tracking and stabilization. A saturation function is designed around a boundary layer to reduce the chattering phenomenon that is a common problem in sliding mode control. In order to improve the tracking performance, an integral sliding surface is designed. An energy saving effect because of chattering reduction is also evaluated. First, the dynamics of the quad-rotor helicopter is derived by the Newton-Euler formulation for a rigid body. Second, a constant plus proportional reaching law is introduced to increase the reaching rate of the sliding mode controller. Global stability of the proposed control strategy is guaranteed based on the Lyapunov's stability theory. Finally, the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed control system are demonstrated experimentally under wind gusts, and are compared with a regular sliding mode controller, a proportional-differential controller, and a proportional-integral-differential controller.

Treatment effects of quad-helix on the eruption pattern of maxillary second molars.

PubMed

Kobayashi, Yoshiki; Shundo, Isao; Endo, Toshiya

2012-07-01

To evaluate the effects of quad-helix treatment on the eruption pattern of maxillary second molars in patients with maxillary incisor crowding. The lateral cephalograms of 40 consecutively treated patients in the early mixed-dentition group (treatment group) were examined in comparison with those of the same number of untreated patients with a similar form of malocclusion (control group). The cephalograms of the treated patients were taken at the start (T0) and at the end (T1) of treatment, and those of the untreated patients were also taken at about the same time as T0 and T1. The mean ages at T0 and T1 in the two groups were about the same. Distal tipping and movement and impeded extrusion of the maxillary first molars were notable in the treatment group compared with the control group. The actual treatment changes with the use of the quad-helix found expression in distal tipping and impeded vertical eruption of maxillary second molars. The more the maxillary first molars were tipped distally and the less the maxillary first molars extruded, the more the vertical eruption of the maxillary second molars was impeded. Quad-helix treatment gives rise to spontaneous distal tipping and impeded vertical eruption of the maxillary second molars.

Hemodynamic Response of the Supplementary Motor Area during Locomotor Tasks with Upright versus Horizontal Postures in Humans

PubMed Central

Obayashi, Shigeru; Nakajima, Katsumi; Hara, Yukihiro

2016-01-01

To understand cortical mechanisms related to truncal posture control during human locomotion, we investigated hemodynamic responses in the supplementary motor area (SMA) with quadrupedal and bipedal gaits using functional near-infrared spectroscopy in 10 healthy adults. The subjects performed three locomotor tasks where the degree of postural instability varied biomechanically, namely, hand-knee quadrupedal crawling (HKQuad task), upright quadrupedalism using bilateral Lofstrand crutches (UpQuad task), and typical upright bipedalism (UpBi task), on a treadmill. We measured the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) during the tasks. The oxy-Hb significantly decreased in the SMA during the HKQuad task, whereas it increased during the UpQuad task. No significant responses were observed during the UpBi task. Based on the degree of oxy-Hb responses, we ranked these locomotor tasks as UpQuad > UpBi > HKQuad. The order of the different tasks did not correspond with postural instability of the tasks. However, qualitative inspection of oxy-Hb time courses showed that oxy-Hb waveform patterns differed between upright posture tasks (peak-plateau-trough pattern for the UpQuad and UpBi tasks) and horizontal posture task (downhill pattern for the HKQuad task). Thus, the SMA may contribute to the control of truncal posture accompanying locomotor movements in humans. PMID:27413555

Scattering by tilted plastic cylinders having curved ends and truncated plastic cones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Espana, Aubrey; Baik, Kyungmin; Marston, Philip L.

2005-04-01

In prior research an acoustic backscattering enhancement was demonstrated for a bluntly truncated plastic cylinder caused by a merged caustic [F. J. Blonigen and P. L. Marston, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 107, 689-698 (2000)]. This was confirmed with analogous light scattering experiments [P. L. Marston, Y. B. Zhang, and D. B. Thiessen, Appl. Opt. 42, 412-417 (2003)]. In recent work a different backscattering enhancement associated with a caustic was identified for tilted plastic cylinders having curved ends. When the cylinder is tilted so as to focus a shear wave at the point of internal specular reflection, the curvature of the outgoing acoustic wavefront vanishes orthogonal to the meridional plane. This was verified with analogous light scattering experiments. The flatness of the outgoing wavefront enhances the scattering. Backscattering by truncated plastic cones as a function of tilt also shows enhancements associated with the composition of the target. The time dependence of the backscattering envelope as a function of tilt reveals different features depending on whether the top or bottom of the cone is illuminated by tone bursts. [Work supported by the Office of Naval Research.

77 FR 21527 - Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate Products From the Republic of Korea: Final...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-10

... in coils) and without patterns in relief), of iron or non-alloy quality steel; and (2) flat-rolled... rectangular or non-rectangular cross section where such non-rectangular cross-section is achieved subsequent... characteristics that are painted, varnished, or coated with plastic or other non-metallic substances are included...

Implementation of poly(ε-caprolactone) sheet-based shape-memory polymer microvalves into plastic-based microfluidic devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Chenyang; Uto, Koichiro; Ebara, Mitsuhiro; Aoyagi, Takao; Ichiki, Takanori

2015-06-01

Implementation of shape-memory polymer (SMP) sheet-based microvalves into plastic-based microfluidic devices has been studied toward the use in disposable and mass producible micro total analysis devices. Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(methyl methacrylate-co-styrene) (MS) were used as SMP and main substrate materials, respectively. Bonding between PCL sheets and MS plates was the critical issue in the practical implementation. We found the pristine PCL sheet has relatively rough surface with Ra of 85.14 nm, which is the cause of poor bonding. Hence, by introducing the post-anneal treatment with sandwiched between two flat glass plates, the PCL surface could be smoothed to Ra of 12.50 nm, and tight bonding could be obtained. Consequently, microfluidic devices consisting of plastic/PCL/plastic layers were successfully fabricated and therein the actuation of SMP valves without any leakage was demonstrated. The present technology is expected to be applicable to disposable microfluidic devices as required for point-of-care testing.

Rebound mechanics of micrometre-scale, spherical particles in high-velocity impacts.

PubMed

Yildirim, Baran; Yang, Hankang; Gouldstone, Andrew; Müftü, Sinan

2017-08-01

The impact mechanics of micrometre-scale metal particles with flat metal surfaces is investigated for high-velocity impacts ranging from 50 m s -1 to more than 1 km s -1 , where impact causes predominantly plastic deformation. A material model that includes high strain rate and temperature effects on the yield stress, heat generation due to plasticity, material damage due to excessive plastic strain and heat transfer is used in the numerical analysis. The coefficient of restitution e is predicted by the classical work using elastic-plastic deformation analysis with quasi-static impact mechanics to be proportional to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for the low and moderate impact velocities that span the ranges of 0-10 and 10-100 m s -1 , respectively. In the elastic-plastic and fully plastic deformation regimes the particle rebound is attributed to the elastic spring-back that initiates at the particle-substrate interface. At higher impact velocities (0.1-1 km s -1 ) e is shown to be proportional to approximately [Formula: see text]. In this deeply plastic deformation regime various deformation modes that depend on plastic flow of the material including the time lag between the rebound instances of the top and bottom points of particle and the lateral spreading of the particle are identified. In this deformation regime, the elastic spring-back initiates subsurface, in the substrate.

Toward a High-Efficient Utilization of Solar Radiation by Quad-Band Solar Spectral Splitting.

PubMed

Cao, Feng; Huang, Yi; Tang, Lu; Sun, Tianyi; Boriskina, Svetlana V; Chen, Gang; Ren, Zhifeng

2016-12-01

The promising quad-band solar spectral splitter incorporates the properties of the optical filter and the spectrally selective solar thermal absorber can direct PV band to PV modules and absorb thermal band energy for thermal process with low thermal losses. It provides a new strategy for spectral splitting and offers potential ways for hybrid PVT system design. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

High spectral resolution lidar based on quad mach zehnder interferometer for aerosols and wind measurements on board space missions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mariscal, Jean-François; Bruneau, Didier; Pelon, Jacques; Van Haecke, Mathilde; Blouzon, Frédéric; Montmessin, Franck; Chepfer, Hélène

2018-04-01

We present the measurement principle and the optical design of a Quad Mach Zehnder (QMZ) interferometer as HSRL technique, allowing simultaneous measurements of particle backscattering and wind velocity. Key features of this concept is to operate with a multimodal laser and do not require any frequency stabilization. These features are relevant especially for space applications for which high technical readiness level is required.

A 'Quad-Disc' static pressure probe for measurement in adverse atmospheres - With a comparative review of static pressure probe designs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nishiyama, Randall T.; Bedard, Alfred J., Jr.

1991-09-01

There are many areas of need for accurate measurements of atmospheric static pressure. These include observations of surface meteorology, airport altimeter settings, pressure distributions around buildings, moving measurement platforms, as well as basic measurements of fluctuating pressures in turbulence. Most of these observations require long-term observations in adverse environments (e.g., rain, dust, or snow). Currently, many pressure measurements are made, of necessity, within buildings, thus involving potential errors of several millibars in mean pressure during moderate winds, accompanied by large fluctuating pressures induced by the structure. In response to these needs, a 'Quad-Disk' pressure probe for continuous, outdoor monitoring purposes was designed which is inherently weather-protected. This Quad-Disk probe has the desirable features of omnidirectional response and small error in pitch. A review of past static pressure probes contrasts design approaches and capabilities.

Physical investigation of a quad confinement plasma source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knoll, Aaron; Lucca Fabris, Andrea; Young, Christopher; Cappelli, Mark

2016-10-01

Quad magnetic confinement plasma sources are novel magnetized DC discharges suitable for applications in a broad range of fields, particularly space propulsion, plasma etching and deposition. These sources contain a square discharge channel with magnetic cusps at the four lateral walls, enhancing plasma confinement and electron residence time inside the device. The magnetic field topology is manipulated using four independent electromagnets on each edge of the channel, tuning the properties of the generated plasma. We characterize the plasma ejected from the quad confinement sources using a combination of traditional electrostatic probes and non-intrusive laser-based diagnostics. Measurements show a strong ion acceleration layer located 8 cm downstream of the exit plane, beyond the extent of the magnetic field. The ion velocity field is investigated with different magnetic configurations, demonstrating how ion trajectories may be manipulated. C.Y. acknowledges support from the DOE NSSA Stewardship Science Graduate Fellowship under contract DE-FC52-08NA28752.

QUAD fever: beware of non-infectious fever in high spinal cord injuries.

PubMed

Goyal, Jyoti; Jha, Rakesh; Bhatia, Paramjeet; Mani, Raj Kumar

2017-06-18

A case of cervical spinal cord injury and quadriparesis with prolonged fever is being described. Initially, the patient received treatment for well-documented catheter-related bloodstream infection. High spiking fever returned and persisted with no obvious evidence of infection. The usual non-infectious causes too were carefully excluded. QUAD fever or fever due to spinal cord injury itself was considered. The pathogenetic basis of QUAD fever is unclear but could be attributed to autonomic dysfunction and temperature dysregulation. Awareness of this little known condition could help in avoiding unnecessary antimicrobial therapy and in more accurate prognostication. Unlike several previous reported cases that ended fatally, the present case ran a relatively benign course. The spectrum of presentations may therefore be broader than hitherto appreciated. © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Does the Hertz solution estimate pressures correctly in diamond indentor experiments?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bruno, M. S.; Dunn, K. J.

1986-05-01

The Hertz solution has been widely used to estimate pressures in a spherical indentor against flat matrix type high pressure experiments. It is usually assumed that the pressure generated when compressing a sample between the indentor and substrate is the same as that generated when compressing an indentor against a flat surface with no sample present. A non-linear finite element analysis of this problem has shown that the situation is far more complex. The actual peak pressure in the sample is highly dependent on plastic deformation and the change in material properties due to hydrostatic pressure. An analysis with two material models is presented and compared with the Hertz solution.

Cache Sharing and Isolation Tradeoffs in Multicore Mixed-Criticality Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-01

of lockdown registers, to provide way-based partitioning. These alternatives are illustrated in Fig. 1 with respect to a quad-core ARM Cortex A9...presented a cache-partitioning scheme that allows multiple tasks to share the same cache partition on a single processor (as we do for Level-A and...sets and determined the fraction that were schedulable on our target hardware platform, the quad-core ARM Cortex A9 machine mentioned earlier, the LLC

Charge line quad pulser

DOEpatents

Booth, R.

1996-10-08

A quartet of parallel coupled planar triodes is removably mounted in a quadrahedron shaped PCB structure. Releasable brackets and flexible means attached to each triode socket make triode cathode and grid contact with respective conductive coatings on the PCB and a detachable cylindrical conductive element enclosing and contacting the triode anodes jointly permit quick and easy replacement of faulty triodes. By such orientation, the quad pulser can convert a relatively low and broad pulse into a very high and narrow pulse. 16 figs.

Charge line quad pulser

DOEpatents

Booth, Rex

1996-01-01

A quartet of parallel coupled planar triodes is removably mounted in a quadrahedron shaped PCB structure. Releasable brackets and flexible means attached to each triode socket make triode cathode and grid contact with respective conductive coatings on the PCB and a detachable cylindrical conductive element enclosing and contacting the triode anodes jointly permit quick and easy replacement of faulty triodes. By such orientation, the quad pulser can convert a relatively low and broad pulse into a very high and narrow pulse.

Averages of Eigenfunctions Over Hypersurfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Canzani, Yaiza; Galkowski, Jeffrey; Toth, John A.

2018-06-01

Let ( M, g) be a compact, smooth, Riemannian manifold and φ_h an L 2-normalized sequence of Laplace eigenfunctions with defect measure {μ}. Let H be a smooth hypersurface with unit exterior normal ν. Our main result says that when μ is not concentrated conormally to H, the eigenfunction restrictions to H satisfy \\int_H φ_h dσ_H = o(1) \\quad and \\quad \\int_H h D_{ν} φ_h dσ_H = o(1), {h \\to 0^+}.

Environmental Assessment: Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-09-01

handled, stored, transported, disposed, or recycled in accordance with these regulations. The potential for hazardous waste generation from gate...Loader (rubber tire) Concrete Truck Concrete Finisher Crane Asphalt Spreader Roller Flat Bed Truck (18 wheel) Scraper Trenching Machine 1...plastics, and lumber. These materials would be placed in the appropriate construction materials landfill or recycled when possible. These wastes

The Vacuum-Compacted Regolith Gripping Mechanism and Unmanned Flights via Quad-Rotors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scott, Rollin L.

2014-01-01

During the course of the Kennedy Space Center Summer Internship, two main experiments were performed: The Vacuum-Compacted Regolith Gripping Mechanism and Unmanned Flights via Quad-copters. The objectives of the Vacuum-Compacted Regolith Gripping Mechanism, often abbreviated as the Granular Gripper, are to exhibit Space Technology, such as a soft robotic hand, lift different apparatuses used to excavate regolith, and conserve energy while executing its intended task. The project is being conducted to test how much weight the Granular Gripper can hold. With the use of an Animatronic Robotic Hand, Arduino Uno, and other components, the system was calibrated before actually conducting the intended weight test. The maximum weight each finger could hold with the servos running, in the order of pinky, ring, middle, and index fingers, are as follows: 1.340N, 1.456 N, 0.9579 N, and 1.358 N. Using the small vacuum pump system, the maximum weight each finger could hold, in the same order, was: 4.076 N, 6.159 N, 5.454 N, and 4.052 N. The maximum torques on each of the fingers when the servos were running, in the same respective order, was: 0.0777 Nm, 0.0533 Nm, 0.0648 Nm, and 0.0532 Nm. The maximum torques on the individual fingers, when the small vacuum pump was in effect, in the same order as above, was: 0.2318 Nm, 0.3032 Nm, 0.2741 Nm, and 0.1618 Nm. In testing all the fingers with the servos running, the total weight was 5.112 N and the maximum torque on the all the fingers was 0.2515 Nm. However, when the small vacuum pump system was used, the total weight was 19.741 N and the maximum torque on the all the fingers was 0.9713 Nm. The conclusion that was drawn stated that using the small vacuum pump system proved nearly 4 times more effective when testing how much weigh the hand could hold. The resistance provided by the compacted sand in the glove allowed more weight to be held by the hand and glove. Also, when the servos turned off and the hand still retaining its position, energy is being saved because the vacuum created the same resistance the running servos did without using power. The Unmanned Flights via Quad-rotors are built because multi-rotor dynamics are an important starting point and fair analog for space craft control systems and they make good terrestrial development platforms for various aspects of control for space crafts. The project is being conducted to see what the thrust response is going to be when a pulse width modulation command is sent to the control system since the quad-rotors are PWM controlled. A simulation environment in constructed so that one can quickly iterate and test different designs such as control systems, PID control vs. LDR control, and state estimation. Using two DIY Quad Kits, APM 2.6, testing apparatus (called a data acquisition system) to test the quad-rotors, and a simulation program such as Simulink, two quad-rotors are built and controlled via a simulation program, which is designed to be as realistic as possible and not idealistic. Due to the quad-rotors not being completely built nor ready for testing, there are no results or conclusions to report.

The active movement scale: an evaluative tool for infants with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy.

PubMed

Curtis, Christine; Stephens, Derek; Clarke, Howard M; Andrews, David

2002-05-01

Newborns with peripheral nerve lesions involving the upper extremity are difficult to evaluate. The reliability of the Active Movement Scale (AMS), a tool for assessing motor function in infants with obstetrical brachial plexus palsy (OBPP), was examined in 2 complementary studies. Part A was an interrater reliability study in which 63 infants younger than 1 year with OBPP were independently evaluated by 2 physical therapists using the AMS. The scores were compared for reliability and controlled for chance agreement by using kappa statistics. Overall kappa analysis of the 15 tested movements showed a moderate strength of score agreement (kappa = 0.51). Quadratic-weighted kappa (kappa(quad)) statistics showed that 8 of the 15 movements tested were in the highest strength of agreement category (kappa(quad) = 0.81-1.00). Five movements showed substantial agreement (kappa(quad) = 0.61-0.80), and 2 movements had moderate agreement (kappa(quad) = 0.41- 0.60). The overall kappa(quad) was 0.89. Part B was a variability study designed to examine the dispersion of scores when infants with OBPP were evaluated with the AMS by multiple raters. Ten pediatric physical therapists with varying degrees of experience using the scale attended a 1(1/2)-hour instructional workshop on administration of the tool for infants with OBPP. A chain-block study design was used to obtain 30 assessments of 10 infants by 10 raters. A 2-way analysis of variance indicated that the variability of scores due to rater factors was low compared with the variability due to patient factors and that variation in scores due to rater experience was minimal. The results of part A indicate that the AMS is a reliable tool for the assessment of infants with OBPP when raters familiar with the scale are compared. The results of part B suggest that, with minimal training, raters with a range of experience using the AMS are able to reliably evaluate infants with upper-extremity paralysis.

Development of a continuous roll-to-roll processing system for mass production of plastic optical film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Chih-Yuan; Tsai, Meng-Hsun

2015-12-01

This paper reports a highly effective method for the mass production of large-area plastic optical films with a microlens array pattern based on a continuous roll-to-roll film extrusion and roller embossing process. In this study, a thin steel mold with a micro-circular hole array pattern is fabricated by photolithography and a wet chemical etching process. The thin steel mold was then wrapped onto a metal cylinder to form an embossing roller mold. During the roll-to-roll process operation, a thermoplastic raw material (polycarbonate grains) was put into the barrel of the plastic extruder with a flat T-die. Then, the molten polymer film was extruded and immediately pressed against the surface of the embossing roller mold. Under the proper processing conditions, the molten polymer will just partially fill the micro-circular holes of the mold and due to surface tension form a convex lens surface. A continuous plastic optical film with a microlens array pattern was obtained. Experiments are carried out to investigate the effect of plastic microlens formation on the roll-to-roll process. Finally, the geometrical and optical properties of the fabricated plastic optical film were measured and proved satisfactory. This technique shows great potential for the mass production of large-area plastic optical films with a microlens array pattern.

Elastic-Plastic Nonlinear Response of a Space Shuttle External Tank Stringer. Part 1; Stringer-Feet Imperfections and Assembly

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knight, Norman F., Jr.; Song, Kyongchan; Elliott, Kenny B.; Raju, Ivatury S.; Warren, Jerry E.

2012-01-01

Elastic-plastic, large-deflection nonlinear stress analyses are performed for the external hat-shaped stringers (or stiffeners) on the intertank portion of the Space Shuttle s external tank. These stringers are subjected to assembly strains when the stringers are initially installed on an intertank panel. Four different stringer-feet configurations including the baseline flat-feet, the heels-up, the diving-board, and the toes-up configurations are considered. The assembly procedure is analytically simulated for each of these stringer configurations. The location, size, and amplitude of the strain field associated with the stringer assembly are sensitive to the assumed geometry and assembly procedure. The von Mises stress distributions from these simulations indicate that localized plasticity will develop around the first eight fasteners for each stringer-feet configuration examined. However, only the toes-up configuration resulted in high assembly hoop strains.

Cache Sharing and Isolation Tradeoffs in Multicore Mixed-Criticality Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-05-01

form of lockdown registers, to provide way-based partitioning. These alternatives are illustrated in Fig. 1 with respect to a quad-core ARM Cortex A9... processor (as we do for Level-A and -B tasks), but they did not consider MC systems. Altmeyer et al. [1] considered uniprocessor scheduling on a system with a...framework. We randomly generated task sets and determined the fraction that were schedulable on our target hardware platform, the quad-core ARM Cortex A9

Variational analysis of anisotropic Schrödinger equations without Ambrosetti-Rabinowitz-type condition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Afrouzi, G. A.; Mirzapour, M.; Rădulescu, Vicenţiu D.

2018-02-01

This article is concerned with the qualitative analysis of weak solutions to nonlinear stationary Schrödinger-type equations of the form - \\sum _{i=1}^Npartial _{x_i} a_i(x,partial _{x_i}u)+b(x)|u|^{P^+_+-2}u =λ f(x,u) &{}\\quad {in } Ω , u=0 &{}\\quad {on } partial Ω , without the Ambrosetti-Rabinowitz growth condition. Our arguments rely on the existence of a Cerami sequence by using a variant of the mountain-pass theorem due to Schechter.

Human Factors Assessment of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Limb Protection Program (QuadGard Phase 3 Pre-Pilot Production Design)

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-01

NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) U.S. Army Research Laboratory ATTN: RDRL- HRM Aberdeen Proving...user’s hand must be inserted toward the elbow area of the QuadGard III sleeve. This issue was overcome by equipment familiarization and practice ...ADELPHI MD 20783-1197 NO. OF NO. OF COPIES ORGANIZATION COPIES ORGANIZATION 17 1 ARMY RSCH LABORATORY – HRED RDRL HRM DW E REDDEN

Singularities of the quad curl problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicaise, Serge

2018-04-01

We consider the quad curl problem in smooth and non smooth domains of the space. We first give an augmented variational formulation equivalent to the one from [25] if the datum is divergence free. We describe the singularities of the variational space which correspond to the ones of the Maxwell system with perfectly conducting boundary conditions. The edge and corner singularities of the solution of the corresponding boundary value problem with smooth data are also characterized. We finally obtain some regularity results of the variational solution.

Recent UAS Developments: VTOL HQ-series Shipboard Recovery and Autonomous Monitoring with MicroQuads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wardell, L. J.; Farber, A. M.; Douglas, J.

2017-12-01

Ocean research would benefit from reliable shipboard launch and recovery of small class UAS. The vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) system reduces equipment footprint without the need for launchers or recovery systems. The HQ-60 (Latitude Engineering) has demonstrated reliable ship take-off and recovery on a 10x10' area on the R/V Falkor (Schmidt Ocean Institute) and other research vessels. The HQ-60 recently set a record for longest time aloft for a VTOL aircraft, flying nearly 22.5 hours non-stop. To support close-range research, autonomous MicroQuads that "perch" in a protective box that also recharges the aircraft and transmits the data is in development. Recent MicroQuad work with developing high-resolution (<1cm) DEMs using on-board cameras has yielded promising results for the use of surface change detection. Recent USDA development targeted erosion monitoring with this system. The latest updates and testing results for both systems will be presented.

Mechanical evaluation of quad-helix appliance made of low-nickel stainless steel wire.

PubMed

dos Santos, Rogério Lacerda; Pithon, Matheus Melo

2013-01-01

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that there is no difference between stainless steel and low-nickel stainless steel wires as regards mechanical behavior. Force, resilience, and elastic modulus produced by Quad-helix appliances made of 0.032-inch and 0.036-inch wires were evaluated. Sixty Quad-helix appliances were made, thirty for each type of alloy, being fifteen for each wire thickness, 0.032-in and 0.036-in. All the archwires were submitted to mechanical compression test using an EMIC DL-10000 machine simulating activations of 4, 6, 9, and 12 mm. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with multiple comparisons and Tukey's test were used (p < 0.05) to assess force, resilience, and elastic modulus. Statistically significant difference in the forces generated, resilience and elastic modulus were found between the 0.032-in and 0.036-in thicknesses (p < 0.05). Appliances made of low-nickel stainless steel alloy had force, resilience, and elastic modulus similar to those made of stainless steel alloy.

Non-Contact Acousto-Thermal Signatures of Plastic Deformation in TI-6AL-4V

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Welter, J. T.; Malott, G.; Schehl, N.; Sathish, S.; Jata, K. V.; Blodgett, M. P.

2010-02-01

Plastic deformation introduces changes in a material which include increases in: dislocations, strains, residual stress, and yield stress. However, these changes have a very small impact on the material properties such as elastic modulus, conductivity and ultrasonic wave speed. This is due to the fact that interatomic forces govern these properties, and they are not affected by plastic deformation to any large degree. This is evident from the fact that the changes in electrical resistance and ultrasonic velocity in plastically deformed and virgin samples are very small and can only be determined by highly controlled experiments. Except for X-ray diffraction, there are no direct nondestructive methods for measuring strain and the residual stress. This paper presents an application of the non-contact acousto-thermal signature (NCATS) NDE methodology to detect plastic deformation in flat dog bone Ti-6Al-4V samples. Results of the NCATS measurements on samples subjected to incremental amounts of plastic deformation are presented. The maximum temperature attained by the sample due to acoustic excitation is found to be sensitive to the amount of plastic strain. It is observed that the temperature induced by acoustic excitation increases to a peak followed by a decrease to failure. The maximum temperature peak occurs at plastic strains of 12-14%. It is observed that there is a correlation between the peak in maximum temperature rise and the strain at the experimentally determined ultimate tensile strength. A microstructural based explanation for this will be presented. The results are discussed in reference to utilizing this technique for detection and evaluation of plastic deformation.

Accuracy of a real-time surgical navigation system for the placement of quad zygomatic implants in the severe atrophic maxilla: A pilot clinical study.

PubMed

Hung, Kuo-Feng; Wang, Feng; Wang, Hao-Wei; Zhou, Wen-Jie; Huang, Wei; Wu, Yi-Qun

2017-06-01

A real-time surgical navigation system potentially increases the accuracy when used for quad-zygomatic implant placement. To evaluate the accuracy of a real-time surgical navigation system when used for quad zygomatic implant placement. Patients with severely atrophic maxillae were prospectively recruited. Four trajectories for implants were planned, and zygomatic implants were placed using a real-time surgical navigation system. The planned-placed distance deviations at entry (entry deviation）points, exit (exit deviation) points, and angle deviation of axes (angle deviation) were measured on fused operation images. The differences of all the deviations between different groups, classified based on the lengths and locations of implants, were analysed. A P value of < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. Forty zygomatic implants were placed as planned in 10 patients. The entry deviation, exit deviation and angle deviation were 1.35 ± 0.75 mm, 2.15 mm ± 0.95 mm, and 2.05 ± 1.02 degrees, respectively. The differences of all deviations were not significant, irrespective of the lengths (P = .259, .158, and .914, respectively) or locations of the placed implants (P = .698, .072, and .602, respectively). A real-time surgical navigation system used for the placement of quad zygomatic implants demonstrated a high level of accuracy with only minimal planned-placed deviations, irrespective of the lengths or locations of the implants. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Friction and Wear Sciences for a Highly Durable Railgun Weapon

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-10-01

FFT- Based Numerical Methods for Elasto-Plastic Contacts of Nominally Flat Surfaces,” to appear in Journal of Applied Mechanics. 20. Jin, X...is the fusion enthalpy per unit mass, C!"" ~ = and ! ~ is a dimensionless coefficient and 100 ~ !" . Listed in Table I are the material’s...searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments

Efficient, flexible and mechanically robust perovskite solar cells on inverted nanocone plastic substrates.

PubMed

Tavakoli, Mohammad Mahdi; Lin, Qingfeng; Leung, Siu-Fung; Lui, Ga Ching; Lu, Hao; Li, Liang; Xiang, Bin; Fan, Zhiyong

2016-02-21

Utilization of nanostructures on photovoltaic devices can significantly improve the device energy conversion efficiency by enhancing the device light harvesting capability as well as carrier collection efficiency. However, improvements in device mechanical robustness and reliability, particularly for flexible devices, have rarely been reported with in-depth understanding. In this work, we fabricated efficient, flexible and mechanically robust organometallic perovskite solar cells on plastic substrates with inverted nanocone (i-cone) structures. Compared with the reference cell that was fabricated on a flat substrate, it was shown that the device power conversion efficiency could be improved by 37%, and reached up to 11.29% on i-cone substrates. More interestingly, it was discovered that the performance of an i-cone device remained more than 90% of the initial value even after 200 mechanical bending cycles, which is remarkably better than for the flat reference device, which degraded down to only 60% in the same test. Our experiments, coupled with mechanical simulation, demonstrated that a nanostructured template can greatly help in relaxing stress and strain upon device bending, which suppresses crack nucleation in different layers of a perovskite solar cell. This essentially leads to much improved device reliability and robustness and will have significant impact on practical applications.

DELLA proteins modulate Arabidopsis defences induced in response to caterpillar herbivory

PubMed Central

Bede, Jacqueline C.

2014-01-01

Upon insect herbivory, many plant species change the direction of metabolic flux from growth into defence. Two key pathways modulating these processes are the gibberellin (GA)/DELLA pathway and the jasmonate pathway. In this study, the effect of caterpillar herbivory on plant-induced responses was compared between wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. and quad-della mutants that have constitutively elevated GA responses. The labial saliva (LS) of caterpillars of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, is known to influence induced plant defence responses. To determine the role of this herbivore cue in determining metabolic shifts, plants were subject to herbivory by caterpillars with intact or impaired LS secretions. In both wild-type and quad-della plants, a jasmonate burst is an early response to caterpillar herbivory. Negative growth regulator DELLA proteins are required for the LS-mediated suppression of hormone levels. Jasmonate-dependent marker genes are induced in response to herbivory independently of LS, with the exception of AtPDF1.2 that showed LS-dependent expression in the quad-della mutant. Early expression of the salicylic acid (SA)-marker gene, AtPR1, was not affected by herbivory which also reflected SA hormone levels; however, this gene showed LS-dependent expression in the quad-della mutant. DELLA proteins may positively regulate glucosinolate levels and suppress laccase-like multicopper oxidase activity in response to herbivory. The present results show a link between DELLA proteins and early, induced plant defences in response to insect herbivory; in particular, these proteins are necessary for caterpillar LS-associated attenuation of defence hormones. PMID:24399173

High-precision real-time 3D shape measurement based on a quad-camera system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tao, Tianyang; Chen, Qian; Feng, Shijie; Hu, Yan; Zhang, Minliang; Zuo, Chao

2018-01-01

Phase-shifting profilometry (PSP) based 3D shape measurement is well established in various applications due to its high accuracy, simple implementation, and robustness to environmental illumination and surface texture. In PSP, higher depth resolution generally requires higher fringe density of projected patterns which, in turn, lead to severe phase ambiguities that must be solved with additional information from phase coding and/or geometric constraints. However, in order to guarantee the reliability of phase unwrapping, available techniques are usually accompanied by increased number of patterns, reduced amplitude of fringe, and complicated post-processing algorithms. In this work, we demonstrate that by using a quad-camera multi-view fringe projection system and carefully arranging the relative spatial positions between the cameras and the projector, it becomes possible to completely eliminate the phase ambiguities in conventional three-step PSP patterns with high-fringe-density without projecting any additional patterns or embedding any auxiliary signals. Benefiting from the position-optimized quad-camera system, stereo phase unwrapping can be efficiently and reliably performed by flexible phase consistency checks. Besides, redundant information of multiple phase consistency checks is fully used through a weighted phase difference scheme to further enhance the reliability of phase unwrapping. This paper explains the 3D measurement principle and the basic design of quad-camera system, and finally demonstrates that in a large measurement volume of 200 mm × 200 mm × 400 mm, the resultant dynamic 3D sensing system can realize real-time 3D reconstruction at 60 frames per second with a depth precision of 50 μm.

Boundedness for a 3D chemotaxis-Stokes system with porous medium diffusion and tensor-valued chemotactic sensitivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yilong; Li, Xie

2017-04-01

This paper deals with the following chemotaxis-Stokes system n_t+u\\cdot nabla n=Δ n^m-nabla \\cdot (nS(x,n,c)\\cdot nabla c), &{}quad xin Ω , t>0, c_t+u\\cdot nabla c=Δ c-nf(c),&{}quad xin Ω , t>0, u_t=Δ u+nabla P+nnabla φ ,&quad xin Ω , t>0,\\ nabla \\cdot u=0,&{}quad xin Ω , t>0. under no-flux boundary conditions in a bounded domain Ω subset R3 with smooth boundary, where m≥ 1, φ in W^{1,∞}(Ω ), f and S are given functions with values in [0, ∞) and R^{3× 3}, respectively. Here S satisfies |S(x,n,c)|7/6, which insures the global existence of bounded weak solution. Our result covers completely and improves the recent result by Wang and Cao (Discrete Contin Dyn Syst Ser B 20:3235-3254, 2015) which asserts, just in the case m=1, the global existence of solutions, but without boundedness, and that by Winkler (Calc Var Partial Differ Equ 54:3789-3828, 2015) which only involves the case of α =0 and requires the convexity of the domain.

Back-scattered electron imaging of skeletal tissues.

PubMed

Boyde, A; Jones, S J

The use of solid-state back-scattered electron (BSE) detectors in the scanning electron microscopic study of skeletal tissues has been investigated. To minimize the topographic element in the image, flat samples and a ring detector configuration with the sample at normal incidence to the beam and the detector are used. Very flat samples are prepared by diamond micromilling or diamond polishing plastic-embedded tissue. Density discrimination in the image is so good that different density phases within mineralized bone can be imaged. For unembedded spongy bone, cut surfaces can be discriminated from natural surfaces by a topographic contrast mechanism. BSE imaging also presents advantages for unembedded samples with rough topography, such as anorganic preparations of the mineralization zone in cartilage, which give rise to severe charging problems with conventional secondary electron imaging.

On the classification of mixed floating pollutants on the Yellow Sea of China by using a quad-polarized SAR image

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xiaochen; Shao, Yun; Tian, Wei; Li, Kun

2018-06-01

This study explored different methodologies using a C-band RADARSAT-2 quad-polarized Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image located over China's Yellow Sea to investigate polarization decomposition parameters for identifying mixed floating pollutants from a complex ocean background. It was found that solitary polarization decomposition did not meet the demand for detecting and classifying multiple floating pollutants, even after applying a polarized SAR image. Furthermore, considering that Yamaguchi decomposition is sensitive to vegetation and the algal variety Enteromorpha prolifera, while H/A/alpha decomposition is sensitive to oil spills, a combination of parameters which was deduced from these two decompositions was proposed for marine environmental monitoring of mixed floating sea surface pollutants. A combination of volume scattering, surface scattering, and scattering entropy was the best indicator for classifying mixed floating pollutants from a complex ocean background. The Kappa coefficients for Enteromorpha prolifera and oil spills were 0.7514 and 0.8470, respectively, evidence that the composite polarized parameters based on quad-polarized SAR imagery proposed in this research is an effective monitoring method for complex marine pollution.

Relationship between notch strengthening threshold and mechanical property for ductile cast iron

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ikeda, T.; Noda, N.-A.; Sano, Y.; Umetani, T.; Kai, N.

2018-06-01

In this study, dynamic tensile tests were conducted at the various strain rates and temperatures for traditional ductile cast iron. Then, the notch strength {σ }{{B}}{{noth}} and the static tensile strength at room temperature {σ }{{B,}\\quad {{RT}}}{{smooth}} were discussed in terms of the strain rate- temperature parameter R, which is known to be useful for evaluating the combined influence of strain rate and temperature. This study focuses on the notch strengthening threshold R ≧ R th where {σ }{{B}}{{noth}} is larger than {σ }{{B,}\\quad {{RT}}}{{smooth}} and therefore notched components can be used safely. In other words, if R ≧ R th, {σ }{{B,}\\quad {{RT}}}{{smooth}} can be used to evaluate notched components in mechanical design to prevent the instantaneous fracture. In this study, it was found that the R th value can be predicted from the static tensile property and Brinell hardness. Since the traditional ductile cast iron considered in this paper has a broad range of mechanical properties, the present approach and discussion can be applied to evaluate other materials under various temperature and strain rate.

solveME: fast and reliable solution of nonlinear ME models.

PubMed

Yang, Laurence; Ma, Ding; Ebrahim, Ali; Lloyd, Colton J; Saunders, Michael A; Palsson, Bernhard O

2016-09-22

Genome-scale models of metabolism and macromolecular expression (ME) significantly expand the scope and predictive capabilities of constraint-based modeling. ME models present considerable computational challenges: they are much (>30 times) larger than corresponding metabolic reconstructions (M models), are multiscale, and growth maximization is a nonlinear programming (NLP) problem, mainly due to macromolecule dilution constraints. Here, we address these computational challenges. We develop a fast and numerically reliable solution method for growth maximization in ME models using a quad-precision NLP solver (Quad MINOS). Our method was up to 45 % faster than binary search for six significant digits in growth rate. We also develop a fast, quad-precision flux variability analysis that is accelerated (up to 60× speedup) via solver warm-starts. Finally, we employ the tools developed to investigate growth-coupled succinate overproduction, accounting for proteome constraints. Just as genome-scale metabolic reconstructions have become an invaluable tool for computational and systems biologists, we anticipate that these fast and numerically reliable ME solution methods will accelerate the wide-spread adoption of ME models for researchers in these fields.

Minimization of color shift generated in RGBW quad structure.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Hong Chul; Yun, Jae Kyeong; Baek, Heume-Il; Kim, Ki Duk; Oh, Eui Yeol; Chung, In Jae

2005-03-01

The purpose of RGBW Quad Structure Technology is to realize higher brightness than that of normal panel (RGB stripe structure) by adding white sub-pixel to existing RGB stripe structure. However, there is side effect called 'color shift' resulted from increasing brightness. This side effect degrades general color characteristics due to change of 'Hue', 'Brightness' and 'Saturation' as compared with existing RGB stripe structure. Especially, skin-tone colors show a tendency to get darker in contrast to normal panel. We"ve tried to minimize 'color shift' through use of LUT (Look Up Table) for linear arithmetic processing of input data, data bit expansion to 12-bit for minimizing arithmetic tolerance and brightness weight of white sub-pixel on each R, G, B pixel. The objective of this study is to minimize and keep Δu'v' value (we commonly use to represent a color difference), quantitative basis of color difference between RGB stripe structure and RGBW quad structure, below 0.01 level (existing 0.02 or higher) using Macbeth colorchecker that is general reference of color characteristics.

Viscosities of Fe Ni, Fe Co and Ni Co binary melts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, Yuzuru; Sugisawa, Koji; Aoki, Daisuke; Yamamura, Tsutomu

2005-02-01

Viscosities of three binary molten alloys consisting of the iron group elements, Fe, Ni and Co, have been measured by using an oscillating cup viscometer over the entire composition range from liquidus temperatures up to 1600 °C with high precision and excellent reproducibility. The viscosities measured showed good Arrhenius linearity for all the compositions. The viscosities of Fe, Ni and Co as a function of temperature are as follows: \\eqalign{ & \\log \\eta={-}0.6074 + 2493/T\\qquad for\\quad Fe\\\\ & \\log \\eta={-}0.5695 + 2157/T\\qquad for\\quad Ni \\\\ & \\log \\eta={-}0.6620 + 2430/T\\qquad for\\quad Co.} The isothermal viscosities of Fe-Ni and Fe-Co binary melts increase monotonically with increasing Fe content. On the other hand, in Ni-Co binary melt, the isothermal viscosity decreases slightly and then increases with increasing Co. The activation energy of Fe-Co binary melt increased slightly on mixing, and those of Fe-Ni and Ni-Co melts decreased monotonically with increasing Ni content. The above behaviour is discussed based on the thermodynamic properties of the alloys.

Pressure and velocity profiles in a static mechanical hemilarynx model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alipour, Fariborz; Scherer, Ronald C.

2002-12-01

This study examined pressure and velocity profiles in a hemilarynx mechanical model of phonation. The glottal section had parallel walls and was fabricated from hard plastic. Twelve pressure taps were created in the vocal fold surface and connected to a differential pressure transducer through a pressure switch. The glottal gap was measured with feeler gauges and the uniform glottal duct was verified by use of a laser system. Eight pressure transducers were placed in the flat wall opposite the vocal fold. Hot-wire anemometry was used to obtain velocity profiles upstream and downstream of the glottis. The results indicate that the pressure distribution on the vocal fold surface was consistent with pressure change along a parallel duct, whereas the pressures on the opposite flat wall typically were lower (by 8%-40% of the transglottal pressure just past mid-glottis). The upstream velocity profiles were symmetric regardless of the constriction shape and size. The jet flow downstream of the glottis was turbulent even for laminar upstream conditions. The front of the jet was consistently approximately 1.5 mm from the flat wall for glottal gaps of 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 mm. The turbulence intensity also remained approximately at the same location of about 4 mm from the flat wall for the two larger gaps.

Pressure and velocity profiles in a static mechanical hemilarynx model.

PubMed

Alipour, Fariborz; Scherer, Ronald C

2002-12-01

This study examined pressure and velocity profiles in a hemilarynx mechanical model of phonation. The glottal section had parallel walls and was fabricated from hard plastic. Twelve pressure taps were created in the vocal fold surface and connected to a differential pressure transducer through a pressure switch. The glottal gap was measured with feeler gauges and the uniform glottal duct was verified by use of a laser system. Eight pressure transducers were placed in the flat wall opposite the vocal fold. Hot-wire anemometry was used to obtain velocity profiles upstream and downstream of the glottis. The results indicate that the pressure distribution on the vocal fold surface was consistent with pressure change along a parallel duct, whereas the pressures on the opposite flat wall typically were lower (by 8%-40% of the transglottal pressure just past mid-glottis). The upstream velocity profiles were symmetric regardless of the constriction shape and size. The jet flow downstream of the glottis was turbulent even for laminar upstream conditions. The front of the jet was consistently approximately 1.5 mm from the flat wall for glottal gaps of 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 mm. The turbulence intensity also remained approximately at the same location of about 4 mm from the flat wall for the two larger gaps.

Ultrasonic Welding of Thermoplastic Composite Coupons for Mechanical Characterization of Welded Joints through Single Lap Shear Testing.

PubMed

Villegas, Irene F; Palardy, Genevieve

2016-02-11

This paper presents a novel straightforward method for ultrasonic welding of thermoplastic-composite coupons in optimum processing conditions. The ultrasonic welding process described in this paper is based on three main pillars. Firstly, flat energy directors are used for preferential heat generation at the joining interface during the welding process. A flat energy director is a neat thermoplastic resin film that is placed between the parts to be joined prior to the welding process and heats up preferentially owing to its lower compressive stiffness relative to the composite substrates. Consequently, flat energy directors provide a simple solution that does not require molding of resin protrusions on the surfaces of the composite substrates, as opposed to ultrasonic welding of unreinforced plastics. Secondly, the process data provided by the ultrasonic welder is used to rapidly define the optimum welding parameters for any thermoplastic composite material combination. Thirdly, displacement control is used in the welding process to ensure consistent quality of the welded joints. According to this method, thermoplastic-composite flat coupons are individually welded in a single lap configuration. Mechanical testing of the welded coupons allows determining the apparent lap shear strength of the joints, which is one of the properties most commonly used to quantify the strength of thermoplastic composite welded joints.

Ultrasonic Welding of Thermoplastic Composite Coupons for Mechanical Characterization of Welded Joints through Single Lap Shear Testing

PubMed Central

Villegas, Irene F.; Palardy, Genevieve

2016-01-01

This paper presents a novel straightforward method for ultrasonic welding of thermoplastic-composite coupons in optimum processing conditions. The ultrasonic welding process described in this paper is based on three main pillars. Firstly, flat energy directors are used for preferential heat generation at the joining interface during the welding process. A flat energy director is a neat thermoplastic resin film that is placed between the parts to be joined prior to the welding process and heats up preferentially owing to its lower compressive stiffness relative to the composite substrates. Consequently, flat energy directors provide a simple solution that does not require molding of resin protrusions on the surfaces of the composite substrates, as opposed to ultrasonic welding of unreinforced plastics. Secondly, the process data provided by the ultrasonic welder is used to rapidly define the optimum welding parameters for any thermoplastic composite material combination. Thirdly, displacement control is used in the welding process to ensure consistent quality of the welded joints. According to this method, thermoplastic-composite flat coupons are individually welded in a single lap configuration. Mechanical testing of the welded coupons allows determining the apparent lap shear strength of the joints, which is one of the properties most commonly used to quantify the strength of thermoplastic composite welded joints. PMID:26890931

Analytical Round Robin for Elastic-Plastic Analysis of Surface Cracked Plates, Phase II Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, P. A.; Wells, D. N.

2017-01-01

The second phase of an analytical round robin for the elastic-plastic analysis of surface cracks in flat plates was conducted under the auspices of ASTM Interlaboratory Study 732. The interlaboratory study (ILS) had 10 participants with a broad range of expertise and experience, and experimental results from a surface crack tension test in 4142 steel plate loaded well into the elastic-plastic regime provided the basis for the study. The participants were asked to evaluate a surface crack tension test according to the version of the surface crack initiation toughness testing standard published at the time of the ILS, E2899-13. Data were provided to each participant that represent the fundamental information that would be provided by a mechanical test laboratory prior to evaluating the test result. Overall, the participant’s test analysis results were in good agreement and constructive feedback was received that has resulted in an improved published version of the standard E2899-15.

Scattering by truncated targets with and without boundary interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marston, Philip L.; Baik, Kyungmin; Espana, Aubrey; Osterhoudt, Curtis F.; Morse, Scot F.; Hefner, Brian T.; Blonigen, Florian J.

2005-04-01

Ray methods have been applied to the scattering of various truncated targets having wavenumber-radius products as small as 10 [F. J. Blonigen and P. L. Marston, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 107, 689-698 (2000); S. F. Morse and P. L. Marston, ibid. 112, 1318-1326 (2002); B. T. Hefner and P. L. Marston, ARLO 2, 55-60 (2001)]. Recent work emphasizes the exploration of scattering enhancements for other situations including plastic cylinders having curved ends, truncated plastic cones, partially exposed cylinders, and objects in simulated conditions for burial in a seabed. Enhanced scattering is often associated with a locally flat outgoing wavefront. For plastic targets it has been helpful to examine the time dependence of the backscattered envelope as a function of target tilt for targets illuminated by short tone bursts. For partially exposed objects it is helpful to examine the backscattering as a function of the target exposure. For simulated buried targets, it has been helpful to excite target resonances. [Work supported by the Office of Naval Research.

Process characteristics and design methods for a 300 deg quad OP amp

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beasom, J. D.; Patterson, R. B., III

1981-01-01

The results of process characterization, circuit design, and reliability studies for the development of a quad OP amplifier intended for use up to 300 C are presented. A dielectrically isolated complementary vertical bipolar process was chosen to fabricate the amplifier in order to eliminate isolation leakage and the possibility of latch up. Characterization of NPN and PNP junctions showed them to be suitable for use up to 300 C. Interconnect reliability was predicted to be greater than four years mean time between failure. Parasitic MOS formation was eliminated by isolation of each device.

Dark tip-tilt sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arcidiacono, Carmelo; Ragazzoni, Roberto; Viotto, Valentina; Bergomi, Maria; Farinato, Jacopo; Magrin, Demetrio; Dima, Marco; Gullieuszik, Marco; Marafatto, Luca

2016-07-01

Dark wavefront sensing in its simplest and more crude form is a quad-cell with a round spot of dark ink acting as occulting disk at the center. This sensor exhibits fainter limiting magnitude than a conventional quad-cell, providing that the size of the occulting disk is slightly smaller than the size of the spot and smaller than the residual jitter movement in closed loop. We present simulations focusing a generic Adaptive Optics system using Natural Guide Stars to provide the tip-tilt signal. We consider a jitter spectrum of the residual correction including amplitudes exceeding the dark disk size.

Deformation field heterogeneity in punch indentation

PubMed Central

Murthy, Tejas G.; Saldana, Christopher; Hudspeth, Matthew; M'Saoubi, Rachid

2014-01-01

Plastic heterogeneity in indentation is fundamental for understanding mechanics of hardness testing and impression-based deformation processing methods. The heterogeneous deformation underlying plane-strain indentation was investigated in plastic loading of copper by a flat punch. Deformation parameters were measured, in situ, by tracking the motion of asperities in high-speed optical imaging. These measurements were coupled with multi-scale analyses of strength, microstructure and crystallographic texture in the vicinity of the indentation. Self-consistency is demonstrated in description of the deformation field using the in situ mechanics-based measurements and post-mortem materials characterization. Salient features of the punch indentation process elucidated include, among others, the presence of a dead-metal zone underneath the indenter, regions of intense strain rate (e.g. slip lines) and extent of the plastic flow field. Perhaps more intriguing are the transitions between shear-type and compression-type deformation modes over the indentation region that were quantified by the high-resolution crystallographic texture measurements. The evolution of the field concomitant to the progress of indentation is discussed and primary differences between the mechanics of indentation for a rigid perfectly plastic material and a strain-hardening material are described. PMID:24910521

Mechanical characteristics of plastic base Ports and impact on flushing efficacy.

PubMed

Guiffant, Gérard; Flaud, Patrice; Royon, Laurent; Burnet, Espérie; Merckx, Jacques

2017-01-01

Three types of totally implantable venous access devices, Ports, are currently in use: titanium, plastic (polyoxymethylene, POM), and mixed (titanium base with a POM shell). Physics theory suggests that the interaction between a non-coring needle (NCN, made of stainless steel) and a plastic base would lead to the stronger material (steel) altering the more malleable material (plastic). To investigate whether needle impacts can alter a plastic base's surface, thus potentially reducing flushing efficacy. A Port made of POM was punctured 200 times with a 19-gauge NCN. Following the existing guidelines, the needle tip pricked the base with each puncture. The Port's base was then examined using a two-dimensional optical instrument, and a bi-dimensional numerical simulation using COMSOL ® was performed to investigate potential surface irregularities and their impact on fluid flow. Each needle impact created a hole (mean depth, 0.12 mm) with a small bump beside it (mean height, 0.02 mm) the Reynolds number Re k ≈10. A numerical simulation of the one hole/bump set showed that the flushing efficacy was 60% that of flushing along a flat surface. In clinical practice, the number of times a Port is punctured depends on patient and treatment characteristics, but each needle impact on the plastic base may increase the risk of decreased flushing effectiveness. Therefore, the more a plastic Port is accessed, the greater the risk of microorganisms, blood products, and medication accumulation. Multiple needle impacts created an irregular surface on the Port's base, which decreased flushing efficacy. Clinical investigation is needed to determine whether plastic base Ports are associated with an increased risk of Port infection and occlusion compared to titanium base Ports.

A new approach to treat discontinuities in multi-layered soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berardi, Marco; Difonzo, Fabio; Caputo, Maria; Vurro, Michele; Lopez, Luciano

2017-04-01

The water infiltration into two (or more) layered soils can give rise to preferential flow paths at the interface between different soils. The deep understanding of this phenomenon can be of great interest in modeling different environmental problems in geosciences and hydrology. Flow through layered soils arises naturally in agriculture, and layered soils are also engineered as cover liners for landfills. In particular, the treatment of the soil discontinuity is of great interest from the modeling and the numerical point of view, and is still an open problem.% (see, for example, te{Matthews_et_al,Zha_vzj_2013,DeLuca_Cepeda_ASCE_2016}). Assuming to approximate the soils with different porous media, the governing equation for this phenomenon is Richards' equation, in the following form: {eq:different_Richards_1} C_1(ψ) partial ψ/partial t = partial /partial z [ K_1(ψ) ( partial ψ/partial z - 1 ) ], \\quad if \\quad z < \\overline{z}, C_2(ψ) partial ψ/partial t = partial /partial z [ K_2(ψ) ( partial ψ/partial z - 1 ) ], \\quad if \\quad z > \\overline{z}, where \\overline{z} is the spatial threshold that identifies the change in soil structure, and C1 C_2, K_1, K_2, the hydraulic functions that describe the upper and the lower soil, respectively. The ψ-based form is used, in this work. Here we have used the Filippov's theory in order to deal with discontinuous differential systems, and we handled opportunely the numerical discretization in order to treat the abovementioned system by means of this theory, letting the discontinuity depend on the state variable. The advantage of this technique is a better insight on the solution behavior on the discontinuity surface, and the no-need to average the hydraulic conductivity field on the threshold itself, as in the existing literature.

Projected wood energy impact on US forest wood resources

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

Skog, K.E.

1993-12-31

The USDA Forest Service has developed long-term projections of wood energy use as part of a 1993 assessment of demand for and supply of resources from forest and range lands in the United States. To assess the impact of wood energy demand on timber resources, a market equilibrium model based on linear programming was developed to project residential, industrial, commercial, and utility wood energy use from various wood energy sources: roundwood from various land sources, primary wood products mill residue, other wood residue, and black liquor. Baseline projections are driven by projected price of fossil fuels compared to price ofmore » wood fuels and the projected increase in total energy use in various end uses. Wood energy use is projected to increase from 2.67 quad in 1986 to 3.5 quad in 2030 and 3.7 quad in 2040. This is less than the DOE National Energy Strategy projection of 5.5 quad in 2030. Wood energy from forest sources (roundwood) is projected to increase from 3.1 billion (10{sup 9}) ft{sup 3} in 1986 to 4.4. billion ft{sup 3} in 2030 and 4.8 billion ft{sup 3} in 2040 (88, 124 and 136 million m{sup 3}, respectively). This rate of increase of roundwood use for fuel -- 0.8 percent per year -- is virtually the same as the projected increase rate for roundwood for pulpwood. Pulpwood roundwood is projected to increase from 4.2 billion ft{sup 3} in 1986 to 6.0 billion ft{sup 3} in 2030 and 6.4 billion ft{sup 3} in 2040 (119, 170 and 183 million m{sup 3}, respectively).« less

Supersonic Panel Flutter Test Results for Flat Fiber-Glass Sandwich Panels with Foamed Cores

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tuovila, W. J.; Presnell, John G., Jr.

1961-01-01

Flutter tests have been made on flat panels having a 1/4 inch-thick plastic-foam core covered with thin fiber-glass laminates. The testing was done in the Langley Unitary Plan wind tunnel at Mach numbers from 1.76 t o 2.87. The flutter boundary for these panels was found to be near the flutter boundary of thin metal panels when compared on the basis of an equivalent panel stiffness. The results also demonstrated that the depth of the cavity behind the panel has a pronounced influence on flutter. Changing the cavity depth from 1 1/2 inches to 1/2 inch reduced the dynamic pressure at start of flutter by 40 percent. No flutter was obtained when the spacers on the back of the panel were against the bottom of the cavity.

Ways of Viewing Pictorial Plasticity

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The plastic effect is historically used to denote various forms of stereopsis. The vivid impression of depth often associated with binocular stereopsis can also be achieved in other ways, for example, using a synopter. Accounts of this go back over a hundred years. These ways of viewing all aim to diminish sensorial evidence that the picture is physically flat. Although various viewing modes have been proposed in the literature, their effects have never been compared. In the current study, we compared three viewing modes: monocular blur, synoptic viewing, and free viewing (using a placebo synopter). By designing a physical embodiment that was indistinguishable for the three experimental conditions, we kept observers naïve with respect to the differences between them; 197 observers participated in an experiment where the three viewing modes were compared by performing a rating task. Results indicate that synoptic viewing causes the largest plastic effect. Monocular blur scores lower than synoptic viewing but is still rated significantly higher than the baseline conditions. The results strengthen the idea that synoptic viewing is not due to a placebo effect. Furthermore, monocular blur has been verified for the first time as a way of experiencing the plastic effect, although the effect is smaller than synoptic viewing. We discuss the results with respect to the theoretical basis for the plastic effect. We show that current theories are not described with sufficient details to explain the differences we found. PMID:28491270

Using sieving and pretreatment to separate plastics during end-of-life vehicle recycling.

PubMed

Stagner, Jacqueline A; Sagan, Barsha; Tam, Edwin Kl

2013-09-01

Plastics continue to be a challenge for recovering materials at the end-of-life for vehicles. However, it may be possible to improve the recovery of plastics by exploiting material characteristics, such as shape, or by altering their behavior, such as through temperature changes, in relation to recovery processes and handling. Samples of a 2009 Dodge Challenger front fascia were shredded in a laboratory-scale hammer mill shredder. A 2 × 2 factorial design study was performed to determine the effect of sample shape (flat versus curved) and sample temperature (room temperature versus cryogenic temperature) on the size of the particles exiting from the shredder. It was determined that sample shape does not affect the particle size; however, sample temperature does affect the particle size. At cryogenic temperatures, the distribution of particle sizes is much narrower than at room temperature. Having a more uniform particle size could make recovery of plastic particles, such as these more efficient during the recycling of end-of-life vehicles. Samples of Chrysler minivan headlights were also shredded at room temperature and at cryogenic temperatures. The size of the particles of the two different plastics in the headlights is statistically different both at room temperature and at cryogenic temperature, and the particles are distributed narrowly. The research suggests that incremental changes in end-of-life vehicle processing could be effective in aiding materials recovery.

Non-surgical Management of Skeletal Class III Malocclusion with Bilateral Posterior Crossbite: A Case Report.

PubMed

Kumari, Lalima; Nayan, Kamal

2016-12-01

A 16-year-old female patient with skeletal Class III malocclusion and bilateral posterior cross bite complaining of difficulty in chewing was treated orthodontically without surgery (camouflage treatment). The treatment comprised of fixed orthodontic treatment with MBT prescription (0.022˝×0.028˝ slot) using quad helix appliance for bilateral expansion of maxillary arch and Class III elastics for occlusal correction. Post-treatment records showed normal overbite and overjet with acceptable occlusion. So with this treatment strategy of expanding the maxillary arch using a quad helix appliance and use of Class III elastics, we achieved a good result with optimal occlusion.

Quad-rotor flight path energy optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kemper, Edward

Quad-Rotor unmanned areal vehicles (UAVs) have been a popular area of research and development in the last decade, especially with the advent of affordable microcontrollers like the MSP 430 and the Raspberry Pi. Path-Energy Optimization is an area that is well developed for linear systems. In this thesis, this idea of path-energy optimization is extended to the nonlinear model of the Quad-rotor UAV. The classical optimization technique is adapted to the nonlinear model that is derived for the problem at hand, coming up with a set of partial differential equations and boundary value conditions to solve these equations. Then, different techniques to implement energy optimization algorithms are tested using simulations in Python. First, a purely nonlinear approach is used. This method is shown to be computationally intensive, with no practical solution available in a reasonable amount of time. Second, heuristic techniques to minimize the energy of the flight path are tested, using Ziegler-Nichols' proportional integral derivative (PID) controller tuning technique. Finally, a brute force look-up table based PID controller is used. Simulation results of the heuristic method show that both reliable control of the system and path-energy optimization are achieved in a reasonable amount of time.

Quadruplex MAPH: improvement of throughput in high-resolution copy number screening.

PubMed

Tyson, Jess; Majerus, Tamsin Mo; Walker, Susan; Armour, John Al

2009-09-28

Copy number variation (CNV) in the human genome is recognised as a widespread and important source of human genetic variation. Now the challenge is to screen for these CNVs at high resolution in a reliable, accurate and cost-effective way. Multiplex Amplifiable Probe Hybridisation (MAPH) is a sensitive, high-resolution technology appropriate for screening for CNVs in a defined region, for a targeted population. We have developed MAPH to a highly multiplexed format ("QuadMAPH") that allows the user a four-fold increase in the number of loci tested simultaneously. We have used this method to analyse a genomic region of 210 kb, including the MSH2 gene and 120 kb of flanking DNA. We show that the QuadMAPH probes report copy number with equivalent accuracy to simplex MAPH, reliably demonstrating diploid copy number in control samples and accurately detecting deletions in Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC) samples. QuadMAPH is an accurate, high-resolution method that allows targeted screening of large numbers of subjects without the expense of genome-wide approaches. Whilst we have applied this technique to a region of the human genome, it is equally applicable to the genomes of other organisms.

Quadruplex MAPH: improvement of throughput in high-resolution copy number screening

PubMed Central

Tyson, Jess; Majerus, Tamsin MO; Walker, Susan; Armour, John AL

2009-01-01

Background Copy number variation (CNV) in the human genome is recognised as a widespread and important source of human genetic variation. Now the challenge is to screen for these CNVs at high resolution in a reliable, accurate and cost-effective way. Results Multiplex Amplifiable Probe Hybridisation (MAPH) is a sensitive, high-resolution technology appropriate for screening for CNVs in a defined region, for a targeted population. We have developed MAPH to a highly multiplexed format ("QuadMAPH") that allows the user a four-fold increase in the number of loci tested simultaneously. We have used this method to analyse a genomic region of 210 kb, including the MSH2 gene and 120 kb of flanking DNA. We show that the QuadMAPH probes report copy number with equivalent accuracy to simplex MAPH, reliably demonstrating diploid copy number in control samples and accurately detecting deletions in Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC) samples. Conclusion QuadMAPH is an accurate, high-resolution method that allows targeted screening of large numbers of subjects without the expense of genome-wide approaches. Whilst we have applied this technique to a region of the human genome, it is equally applicable to the genomes of other organisms. PMID:19785739

Proof of the Feasibility of Coherent and Incoherent Schemes for Pumping a Gamma-Ray Laser

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-07-01

compounds held in plastic vials or cylindrical planchettes . Foils and planchertes were exposed with their faces normal to the machine center- line. The...irradiation; foils and planchettes were counted with a solid NaI(TI) detector system and vials were again studied with the well detector. Samples...P to flat planchettes , and F to metallic foils. The self-absorption corrections represent the fraction of fluorescent photons which reach the

VIEW OF THE INTERIOR OF BUILDING 774, THE ORIGINAL LIQUID ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

VIEW OF THE INTERIOR OF BUILDING 774, THE ORIGINAL LIQUID PROCESS WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY. THE PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS STORAGE TANKS AND ASSOCIATED PLUTONIUM-CONTAMINATED SOLUTIONS. THE GLOVE BOX IS USED BY OPERATORS TO MANUALLY OPERATE PUMPS AND VALVES THAT REQUIRE PERIODIC ADJUSTMENT. OTHER VALVES IN THE ROOM WERE INFREQUENTLY ADJUSTED, AND ARE SEALED IN PLASTIC WRAP - Rocky Flats Plant, Waste Treatment Facility, Adjacent to bldg 771C, in northern portion of protected area, Golden, Jefferson County, CO

Recent results from the first polar direct drive plastic capsule implosions on NIF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmitt, Mark J.

2012-10-01

Polar direct drive (PDD) offers a simplified platform for conducting strongly driven implosions on NIF to investigate mix, hydro-burn and ignition-relevant physics. Its successful use necessitates a firm understanding and predictive capability of its implosion characteristics including hydro performance, symmetry and yield. To assess this capability, the first two PDD implosions of deuterium filled CH capsules were recently conducted at NIF. The P2 Legendre mode symmetry seen in these implosions agreed with pre-shot predictions even though the 700kJ drive energy produced intensities that far exceeded thresholds for both Raman and Brillouin stimulated scattering. These shots were also the first to employ image backlighting driven by two laser quads. Preliminary results indicate that the yield from the uncoated 2.25 mm diameter, 42 μm thick, CH shells was reduced by about a factor of two owing to as-shot laser drive asymmetries. Similarly, a small (sim50 μm) centroid offset between the upper and lower shell hemispheres seen in the first shot appears to be indicative of the laser quad energies. Overall, the implosion trajectories agreed with pre-shot predictions of bangtime. The second shot incorporated an 80 ?m wide,10 ?m deep depression encircling the equator of the capsule. This engineered feature was imposed to test our capability to predict the effect of high-mode features on yield and mix. A predicted yield reduction factor of 3 was not observed.[4pt] In collaboration with P. A. Bradley, J. A. Cobble, P. Hakel, S. C. Hsu, N. S. Krasheninnikova, G. A. Kyrala, G. R. Magelssen, T. J. Murphy, K. A. Obrey, R. C. Shah, I. L. Tregillis and F. J. Wysocki of Los Alamos National Laboratory; M. Marinak, R. Wallace, T. Parham, M. Cowan, S. Glenn, R. Benedetti and the NIF Operations Team of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; R. S. Craxton and P. W. McKenty of the Univ. Rochester; P. Fitzsimmons and A. Nikroo of General Atomics; H. Rinderknecht, M. Rosenberg, and M. G. Johnson, MIT; Work supported by US DOE/NNSA, performed at LANL, operated by LANS LLC under contract DE-AC52-06NA25396.

Study of optimal laser parameters for cutting QFN packages by Taguchi's matrix method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Chen-Hao; Tsai, Ming-Jong; Yang, Ciann-Dong

2007-06-01

This paper reports the study of optimal laser parameters for cutting QFN (Quad Flat No-lead) packages by using a diode pumped solid-state laser system (DPSSL). The QFN cutting path includes two different materials, which are the encapsulated epoxy and a copper lead frame substrate. The Taguchi's experimental method with orthogonal array of L 9(3 4) is employed to obtain optimal combinatorial parameters. A quantified mechanism was proposed for examining the laser cutting quality of a QFN package. The influences of the various factors such as laser current, laser frequency, and cutting speed on the laser cutting quality is also examined. From the experimental results, the factors on the cutting quality in the order of decreasing significance are found to be (a) laser frequency, (b) cutting speed, and (c) laser driving current. The optimal parameters were obtained at the laser frequency of 2 kHz, the cutting speed of 2 mm/s, and the driving current of 29 A. Besides identifying this sequence of dominance, matrix experiment also determines the best level for each control factor. The verification experiment confirms that the application of laser cutting technology to QFN is very successfully by using the optimal laser parameters predicted from matrix experiments.

Quantification of free convection for embarked QFN64 electronic package: An experimental and numerical survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baïri, A.

2017-08-01

Embarked Quad Flat Non-lead (QFN) electronic devices are equipped with a significant number of sensors used for flight parameters measurement purposes. Their accuracy directly depends on the package thermal state. Flight safety therefore depends on the reliability of these QFNs, whose junction temperature must remain as low as possible while operating. The QFN64 is favored for these applications. In the operating power range considered here (0.01-0.1W), the study shows that radiative heat transfer is negligible with respect to natural convective exchanges. It is then essential to quantify the convective heat transfer coefficient on its different areas so that the arrangement is properly dimensioned. This is the objective of this work. The device is welded on a PCB which may be inclined with respect to the horizontal plane by an angle ranging from 0° to 90°. Numerical approach results are confirmed by thermal and electrical measurements carried out on prototypes for all power-inclination angle combinations. The correlations here proposed help determine the natural convective heat transfer coefficient in any area of the assembly. This work allowed to thermally characterize and certify a new QFN64 package equipped with sensors designed for aeronautics, currently under industrialization process.

Surgical planing of the skin; complications and reevaluation of indications.

PubMed

MARMELZAT, W L

1956-03-01

One hundred plastic planing operations on the skin by means of a motor-driven wire brush were reviewed. Complications noted were pruritic erythematous eczematous dermatitis on a possible autosensitization basis, hyperpigmentation and milia. These occurred in a small proportion of cases and in no case were they permanent sequelae. Flat postacne scarring is more easily improved than steep "ice-pick" type scars. The planing procedure is contraindicated in the management of certain tumors of the skin, portwine nevi, decorative tattoos, and generalized dermadromes. The psychiatric and emotional impact of the patient's scarring on his personality is often a great one and the operator must bear in mind that plastic planing is no panacea for a severely neurotic patient. Therefore it is important that patients be carefully selected and that improvement rather than complete cure be stressed.

Complications and Reevaluation of Indications

PubMed Central

Marmelzat, Willard L.

1956-01-01

One hundred plastic planing operations on the skin by means of a motor-driven wire brush were reviewed. Complications noted were pruritic erythematous eczematous dermatitis on a possible autosensitization basis, hyperpigmentation and milia. These occurred in a small proportion of cases and in no case were they permanent sequelae. Flat postacne scarring is more easily improved than steep “ice-pick” type scars. The planing procedure is contraindicated in the management of certain tumors of the skin, portwine nevi, decorative tattoos, and generalized dermadromes. The psychiatric and emotional impact of the patient's scarring on his personality is often a great one and the operator must bear in mind that plastic planing is no panacea for a severely neurotic patient. Therefore it is important that patients be carefully selected and that improvement rather than complete cure be stressed. PMID:13304668

Hydrodynamics of laser-driven double-foil collisions studied by orthogonal x-ray imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aglitskiy, Y.; Metzler, N.; Karasik, M.; Serlin, V.; Obenschain, S. P.; Schmitt, A. J.; Velikovich, A. L.; Gardner, J. H.; Weaver, J.; Oh, J.

2006-10-01

With this experiment we start the study of the physics of hydrodynamic instability seeding and growth during the deceleration and stagnation phases. Our first targets consisted of two separated parallel plastic foils -- flat and rippled. The flat foil was irradiated by the 4 ns Nike KrF laser pulses at 50 TW/cm^2 and accelerated towards the rippled one. Orthogonal imaging, i. e., a simultaneous side-on and face-on radiography of the targets has been used in these experiments. Side-on x-ray radiography and VISAR data yield shock and target velocities before and after the collision. Face-on streaks revealed well-pronounced oscillatory behavior of the single-mode mass perturbations. Both sets of synchronized data were compared with 1D and 2D simulations. Observed velocities, timing and the peak value of areal mass variation are in good agreement with the simulated ones.

Nanosecond multi-pulse laser milling for certain area removal of metal coating on plastics surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Kai; Jia, Zhenyuan; Ma, Jianwei; Liu, Wei; Wang, Ling

2014-12-01

Metal coating with functional pattern on engineering plastics surface plays an important role in industry applications; it can be obtained by adding or removing certain area of metal coating on engineering plastics surface. However, the manufacturing requirements are improved continuously and the plastic substrate presents three-dimensional (3D) structure-many of these parts cannot be fabricated by conventional processing methods, and a new manufacturing method is urgently needed. As the laser-processing technology has many advantages like high machining accuracy and constraints free substrate structure, the machining of the parts is studied through removing certain area of metal coating based on the nanosecond multi-pulse laser milling. To improve the edge quality of the functional pattern, generation mechanism and corresponding avoidance strategy of the processing defects are studied. Additionally, a prediction model for the laser ablation depth is proposed, which can effectively avoid the existence of residual metal coating and reduces the damage of substrate. With the optimal machining parameters, an equiangular spiral pattern on copper-clad polyimide (CCPI) is machined based on the laser milling at last. The experimental results indicate that the edge of the pattern is smooth and consistent, the substrate is flat and without damage. The achievements in this study could be applied in industrial production.

High-Strain-Rate Material Behavior and Adiabatic Material Instability in Impact of Micron-Scale Al-6061 Particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Qiyong; Alizadeh, Arash; Xie, Wanting; Wang, Xuemei; Champagne, Victor; Gouldstone, Andrew; Lee, Jae-Hwang; Müftü, Sinan

2018-04-01

Impact of spherical particles onto a flat sapphire surface was investigated in 50-950 m/s impact speed range experimentally and theoretically. Material parameters of the bilinear Johnson-Cook model were determined based on comparison of deformed particle shapes from experiment and simulation. Effects of high-strain-rate plastic flow, heat generation due to plasticity, material damage, interfacial friction and heat transfer were modeled. Four distinct regions were identified inside the particle by analyzing temporal variation of material flow. A relatively small volume of material near the impact zone becomes unstable due to plasticity-induced heating, accompanied by severe drop in the flow stress for impact velocity that exceeds 500 m/s. Outside of this region, flow stress is reduced due to temperature effects without the instability. Load carrying capacity of the material degrades and the material expands horizontally leading to jetting. The increase in overall plastic and frictional dissipation with impact velocity was found to be inherently lower than the increase in the kinetic energy at high speeds, leading to the instability. This work introduces a novel method to characterize HSR (109 s-1) material properties and also explains coupling between HSR material behavior and mechanics that lead to extreme deformation.

Development of CFRP mirrors for space telescopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Utsunomiya, Shin; Kamiya, Tomohiro; Shimizu, Ryuzo

2013-09-01

CFRP (Caron fiber reinforced plastics) have superior properties of high specific elasticity and low thermal expansion for satellite telescope structures. However, difficulties to achieve required surface accuracy and to ensure stability in orbit have discouraged CFRP application as main mirrors. We have developed ultra-light weight and high precision CFRP mirrors of sandwich structures composed of CFRP skins and CFRP cores using a replica technique. Shape accuracy of the demonstrated mirrors of 150 mm in diameter was 0.8 μm RMS (Root Mean Square) and surface roughness was 5 nm RMS as fabricated. Further optimization of fabrication process conditions to improve surface accuracy was studied using flat sandwich panels. Then surface accuracy of the flat CFRP sandwich panels of 150 mm square was improved to flatness of 0.2 μm RMS with surface roughness of 6 nm RMS. The surface accuracy vs. size of trial models indicated high possibility of fabrication of over 1m size mirrors with surface accuracy of 1μm. Feasibility of CFRP mirrors for low temperature applications was examined for JASMINE project as an example. Stability of surface accuracy of CFRP mirrors against temperature and moisture was discussed.

Experimental transient and permanent deformation studies of steel-sphere-impacted or explosively-impulsed aluminum panels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Witmer, E. A.; Merlis, F.; Rodal, J. J. A.; Stagliano, T. R.

1977-01-01

The sheet explosive loading technique (SELT) was employed to obtain elastic-plastic, large deflection 3-d transient and/or permanent strain data on simple well defined structural specimens and materials: initially-flat 6061-T651 aluminum panels with all four sides ideally clamped via integral construction. The SELT loading technique was chosen since it is both convenient and provides "forcing function information" of small uncertainty. These data will be useful for evaluating pertinent 3-d structural response prediction methods.

Diode-quad bridge circuit means

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harrison, D. R.; Dimeff, J. (Inventor)

1975-01-01

Diode-quad bridge circuit means is described for use as a transducer circuit or as a discriminator circuit. It includes: (1) a diode bridge having first, second, third, and fourth bridge terminals consecutively coupled together by four diodes polarized in circulating relationship; (2) a first impedance connected between the second bridge terminal and a circuit ground; (3) a second impedance connected between the fourth bridge terminal and the circuit ground; (4) a signal source having a first source terminal capacitively coupled to the first and third bridge terminals, and a second source terminal connected to the circuit ground; and (5) an output terminal coupled to the first bridge terminal and at which an output signal may be taken.

UAV-based remote sensing of the Heumoes landslide, Austria Vorarlberg

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niethammer, U.; Joswig, M.

2009-04-01

The Heumoes landslide, is located in the eastern Vorarlberg Alps, Austria, 10 km southeast of Dornbirn. The extension of the landslide is about 2000 m in west to east direction and about 500 m at its widest extent in north to south direction. It occurs between an elevation of 940 m in the east and 1360 m in the west, slope angles of more than 60 % can be observed as well as almost flat areas. Its total volume is estimated to be 9.400.000 cubic meters and its average velocities amount to some centimeter per year. Surface signatures or 'photolineations' of creeping landslides, e.g. fractures and rupture lines in sediments and street pavings, and vegetation contrasts by changes of water table in shallow vegetation in principle can be resolved by remote sensing. The necessary ground cell resolution of few centimeters, however, generally can't be achieved by routine areal or satellite imagery. The fast technological progress of unmanned areal vehicles (UAV) and the reduced payload by miniaturized optical cameras now allow for UAV remote sensing applications that are below the high financial limits of military intelligence. Even with 'low-cost' equipment, the necessary centimeter-scale ground cell resolution can be achieved by adapting the flight altitude to some ten to one hundred meters. Operated by scientists experienced in remote-control flight models, UAV remote sensing can now be performed routinely, and campaign-wise after any significant event of, e.g., heavy rainfall, or partial mudflow. We have investigated a concept of UAV-borne remote sensing based on motorized gliders, and four-propeller helicopters or 'quad-rotors'. Several missions were flown over the Heumoes landslide. Between 2006 and 2008 three series UAV-borne photographs of the Heumoes landslide were taken and could be combined to orto-mosaics of the slope area within few centimeters ground cell resolution. We will present the concept of our low cost quad-rotor UAV system and first results of the image-processing based evaluation of the acquired images to characterize spatial and temporal details of landslide behaviour. We will also sketch first schemes of joint interpretation or 'data fusion' of UAV-based remote sensing with the results from geophysical mapping of underground distribution of soil moisture and fracture processes (Walter & Joswig, EGU 2009).

Some potential material supply constraints in solar systems for heating and cooling of buildings and process heat. (A preliminary screening to identify critical materials)

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

Watts, R.L.; Gurwell, W.E.; Nelson, T.A.

1979-06-01

Nine Solar Heating and Cooling of Buildings (SHACOB) designs and three Agricultural and Industrial Process Heat (AIPH) designs have been studied to identify potential future material constraints to their large scale installation and use. The nine SHACOB and three AIPH systems were screened and found to be free of serious future material constraints. The screening was carried out for each individual system design assuming 500 million m/sup 2/ of collector area installed by the year 2000. Also, two mixed design scenarios, containing equal portions of each system design, were screened. To keep these scenarios in perspective, note that a billionmore » m/sup 2/ containing a mixture of the nine SHACOB designs will yield an annual solar contribution of about 1.3 Quads or will displace about 4.2 Quads of fossil fuel used to generate electricity. For AIPH a billion square meters of the mixed designs will yield about 2.8 Quads/year. Three materials were identified that could possibly restrain the deployment of solar systems in the specific scenarios investigated. They are iron and steel, soda lime glass and polyvinyl fluoride. All three of these materials are bulk materials. No raw material supply constraints were found.« less

Investigation of image distortion due to MCP electronic readout misalignment and correction via customized GUI application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vitucci, G.; Minniti, T.; Tremsin, A. S.; Kockelmann, W.; Gorini, G.

2018-04-01

The MCP-based neutron counting detector is a novel device that allows high spatial resolution and time-resolved neutron radiography and tomography with epithermal, thermal and cold neutrons. Time resolution is possible by the high readout speeds of ~ 1200 frames/sec, allowing high resolution event counting with relatively high rates without spatial resolution degradation due to event overlaps. The electronic readout is based on a Timepix sensor, a CMOS pixel readout chip developed at CERN. Currently, a geometry of a quad Timepix detector is used with an active format of 28 × 28 mm2 limited by the size of the Timepix quad (2 × 2 chips) readout. Measurements of a set of high-precision micrometers test samples have been performed at the Imaging and Materials Science & Engineering (IMAT) beamline operating at the ISIS spallation neutron source (U.K.). The aim of these experiments was the full characterization of the chip misalignment and of the gaps between each pad in the quad Timepix sensor. Such misalignment causes distortions of the recorded shape of the sample analyzed. We present in this work a post-processing image procedure that considers and corrects these effects. Results of the correction will be discussed and the efficacy of this method evaluated.

Energy and Economic Impacts of U.S. Federal Energy and Water Conservation Standards Adopted From 1987 Through 2010

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

Meyers, Stephen; Williams, Alison; Chan, Peter

This paper presents estimates of the key impacts of the energy and water conservation standards that have been adopted from 1987 through 2010. The standards covered include those set by legislation as well as standards adopted by DOE through rulemaking. We estimate that energy efficiency standards for consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment that have been adopted from 1987 through 2010 saved 3.0 quads in 2010, have had a cumulative energy savings of 25.9 quads through 2010 and will achieve cumulative energy savings of 158 quads over the period 1990-2070. Thus, the majority of the savings are stillmore » to come as products subject to standards enter the stock. Furthermore, the standards will have a cumulative net present value (NPV) of consumer benefit of between $851 billion and $1,103 billion, using 7 percent and 3 percent discount rates, respectively. In addition, we estimate the water conservation standards, together with those energy conservation standards that also save water, saved residential consumers 1.5 trillion gallons of water in 2010, have had cumulative water savings of 11.7 trillion gallons through 2010, and will achieve cumulative water savings by 2040 of 51.4 trillion gallons.« less

QuadCam - A Quadruple Polarimetric Camera for Space Situational Awareness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skuljan, J.

A specialised quadruple polarimetric camera for space situational awareness, QuadCam, has been built at the Defence Technology Agency (DTA), New Zealand, as part of collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), United Kingdom. The design was based on a similar system originally developed at Dstl, with some significant modifications for improved performance. The system is made up of four identical CCD cameras looking in the same direction, but in a different plane of polarisation at 0, 45, 90 and 135 degrees with respect to the reference plane. A standard set of Stokes parameters can be derived from the four images in order to describe the state of polarisation of an object captured in the field of view. The modified design of the DTA QuadCam makes use of four small Raspberry Pi computers, so that each camera is controlled by its own computer in order to speed up the readout process and ensure that the four individual frames are taken simultaneously (to within 100-200 microseconds). In addition, a new firmware was requested from the camera manufacturer so that an output signal is generated to indicate the state of the camera shutter. A specialised GPS unit (also developed at DTA) is then used to monitor the shutter signals from the four cameras and record the actual time of exposure to an accuracy of about 100 microseconds. This makes the system well suited for the observation of fast-moving objects in the low Earth orbit (LEO). The QuadCam is currently mounted on a Paramount MEII robotic telescope mount at the newly built DTA space situational awareness observatory located on Whangaparaoa Peninsula near Auckland, New Zealand. The system will be used for tracking satellites in low Earth orbit and geostationary belt as well. The performance of the camera has been evaluated and a series of test images have been collected in order to derive the polarimetric signatures for selected satellites.

Analysis of the Rotation-Torsion Spectrum of CH_2DOH Within the e_0, e_1, and o_1 Torsional Levels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coudert, L. H.; Pearson, John C.; Yu, Shanshan; Margules, L.; Motiyenko, R. A.; Klee, S.

2013-06-01

Since the first assignments of Quade and coworkers, a more satisfactory understanding of the spectrum of CH_2DOH has now been achieved. Thanks to a multidimensional potential energy surface and to a new theoretical approach accounting for the internal rotation of a partially deuterated methyl group, 76 torsional subbands could be identified in the microwave and FIR domains. 8356 rotation and rotation-torsion transitions were also assigned for the three lowest lying torsional levels, e_0, e_1, and o_1, in the microwave and terahertz domains and were analyzed with empirical models. In this paper, a new approach aimed at accounting for the rotation-torsion energy levels of CH_2DOH will be presented. It is based on the exact expression of the generalized 4× 4 inertia tensor of the molecule and accounts for the C_s symmetry of the partially deuterated methyl group, for the dependence of the rotational constants on the angle of internal rotation, and for the rotation-torsion Coriolis coupling. This approach will be used to analyze high-resolution data involving the three lowest lying torsional levels, up to k=11. In addition to the microwave data reported recently,^d new transitions recorded in the terahertz domain at JPL will be analyzed. The results of the analysis will be presented in the paper and the parameters determined in the analysis will be discussed. Quade and Suenram, J. Chem. Phys. {73} (1980) 1127; and Su and Quade, J. Mol. Spec. {134} (1989) 290. Lauvergnat, Coudert, Klee, and Smirnov, J. Mol. Spec. {256} (2009) 204. El Hilali, Coudert, Konov, and Klee, J. Chem. Phys. {135} (2011) 194309. Pearson, Yu, and Drouin, J. Mol. Spec. {280} (2012) 119. Quade and Lin, J. Chem. Phys. {38} (1963) 540.

Aggressive Strategies for Residential Energy and Carbon Savings by 2025

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ling, F. H.; Kammen, D. M.

2004-12-01

Energy efficiency technologies and practices have long been recognized as a low-cost, often least cost, option that can be deployed widely throughout the economy (Steve Nadel, 2002; Donald A. Hanson and John A. Laitner, 2003). We are engaged in a review of technology-based energy savings options throughout the U. S. economy with a joint focus on both immediate savings opportunities and long-term strategies for accelerating the innovation process and pipeline. For the near term, we developed scenarios based on available 'off the shelf' technologies and practices for achieving minimum energy consumption in lighting, standby power in electronics, and miscellaneous end-uses in the U.S. residential sector. In the business-as-usual (BAU) case, energy consumption continues to grow despite innovations at a current rate of 1.7 percent/year (Laitner, 2004). Nevertheless, the need for developing new energy supplies can be mitigated through the use of 'best current technologies' as the industry norm in 2025. Figure 1 (see URL below) shows this reduction in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The BAU model corresponds to the current rate of 'decarbonization' in the overall U.S. economy (Energy Information Administration, 2004). Over a twenty-year period, about 2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide and 30 quads of primary fuel could be saved through the introduction of "best current technology" with the greatest reductions in the area of lighting technologies. In 2025, 1.5 quads of primary energy is saved with the breakdown in end-use electricity saved as follows: 113 TWh (0.39 quads), 70.8 TWh (0.24 quads), and 62 TWh (0.21 quads) for residential lighting, appliance standards, and standby power respectively. In addition, there is empirical evidence from specific technology sectors, from statewide programs in California, as well as on theoretical grounds (Laitner, 2004) that innovation and decarbonization rates of 3 to 5 percent/year have at times been, and could again be achieved. While such high rates of innovation do not usually sustain themselves for more than a few years, innovation rates higher than the current 1.7 percent/year are also explored in this study. Acknowledgement: Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) and Energy Foundation References: Energy Information Administration. "Annual Energy Outlook 2004." Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Energy, 2004. Hanson, Donald A. and Laitner, John A. "Skip". "An Integrated Analysis of Policies That Increase Investments in Advanced Energy-Efficient/Low-Carbon Technologies." Energy Economics, 2003. Laitner, J. A. "How far energy efficiency." 2004. Nadel, Steve. "Appliance and Equipment Efficiency Standards." Annual Reviews, 2002.

Use of pultruded reinforced plastics in energy generation and energy related applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, R.

Applications of pultrusion-formed fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) in the wind, oil, and coal derived energy industries are reviewed. FRP is noted to be a viable alternative to wood, aluminum, and steel for reasons of availability, price, and weight. Attention is given to the development of FRP wind turbine blades for the DOE 8 kW low cost, high reliability wind turbine program. The blades feature a NACA 23112 profile with a 15 in. chord on the system which was tested at Rocky Flats, CO. Fabricating the blades involved a plus and minus 45 deg roving orientation, a heavy fiber-glass nose piece to assure blade strength, and a separately manufactured foam core. Additional uses for FRP products have been found in the structural members of coal stack scrubbers using a vinyl ester resin in a fire retardant formulation, and as low cost, light weight sucker rods for deep well oil drilling.

Real-time polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography data processing with parallel computing

PubMed Central

Liu, Gangjun; Zhang, Jun; Yu, Lingfeng; Xie, Tuqiang; Chen, Zhongping

2010-01-01

With the increase of the A-line speed of optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems, real-time processing of acquired data has become a bottleneck. The shared-memory parallel computing technique is used to process OCT data in real time. The real-time processing power of a quad-core personal computer (PC) is analyzed. It is shown that the quad-core PC could provide real-time OCT data processing ability of more than 80K A-lines per second. A real-time, fiber-based, swept source polarization-sensitive OCT system with 20K A-line speed is demonstrated with this technique. The real-time 2D and 3D polarization-sensitive imaging of chicken muscle and pig tendon is also demonstrated. PMID:19904337

Space shuttle engineering and operations support. Isolation between the S-band quad antenna and the S-band payload antenna. Engineering systems analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lindsey, J. F.

1976-01-01

The isolation between the upper S-band quad antenna and the S-band payload antenna on the shuttle orbiter is calculated using a combination of plane surface and curved surface theories along with worst case values. A minimum value of 60 db isolation is predicted based on recent antenna pattern data, antenna locations on the orbiter, curvature effects, dielectric covering effects and edge effects of the payload bay. The calculated value of 60 db is significantly greater than the baseline value of 40 db. Use of the new value will result in the design of smaller, lighter weight and less expensive filters for S-band transponder and the S-band payload interrogator.

An Overview of Chain of Custody Options for LETTERPRESS.

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

Smartt, Heidi A.

2016-11-01

This purpose of this document is to provide an overview of Chain of Custody (CoC) technology options that could be made available for the LETTERPRESS exercise as part of the Quad Working Group. The Quad Working Group comprises five sub-working groups (Management, Protocol, Simulation, Technology, and Training) with members from the U.S., U.K., Norway, and Sweden having the goal of providing a repeatable, realistic arms control exercise (dubbed LETTERPRESS) to be executed in representative facilities and using non-proliferative but representative treaty items. The Technology Working Group is responsible for supporting the technology requirements of the LETTERPRESS exercise and as suchmore » the technologies presented here are possible options to meet those requirements.« less

Prototype data terminal: Multiplexer/demultiplexer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leck, D. E.; Goodwin, J. E.

1972-01-01

The design and operation of a quad redundant data terminal and a multiplexer/demultiplexer (MDU) design are described. The most unique feature is the design of the quad redundant data terminal. This is one of the few designs where the unit is fail/op, fail/op, fail/safe. Laboratory tests confirm that the unit will operate satisfactorily with the failure of three out of four channels. Although the design utilizes state-of-the-art technology. The waveform error checks, the voting techniques, and the parity bit checks are believed to be used in unique configurations. Correct word selection routines are also novel, if not unique. The MDU design, while not redundant, utilizes, the latest state-of-the-art advantages of light couplers and integrated circuit amplifiers.

Neutron Particle Effects on a Quad-Redundant Flight Control Computer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eure, Kenneth; Belcastro, Celeste M.; Gray, W Steven; Gonzalex, Oscar

2003-01-01

This paper describes a single-event upset experiment performed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. A closed-loop control system consisting of a Quad-Redundant Flight Control Computer (FCC) and a B737 simulator was operated while the FCC was exposed to a neutron beam. The purpose of this test was to analyze the effects of neutron bombardment on avionics control systems operating at altitudes where neutron strikes are probable. The neutron energy spectrum produced at the Los Alamos National Laboratory is similar in shape to the spectrum of atmospheric neutrons but much more intense. The higher intensity results in accelerated life tests that are representative of the actual neutron radiation that a FCC may receive over a period of years.

View Factor and Radiation-Hydrodynamic Simulations of Gas-Filled Outer-Quad-Only Hohlraums at the National Ignition Facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Young, Christopher; Meezan, Nathan; Landen, Otto

2017-10-01

A cylindrical National Ignition Facility hohlraum irradiated exclusively by NOVA-like outer quads (44 .5° and 50° beams) is proposed to minimize laser plasma interaction (LPI) losses and avoid problems with propagating the inner (23 .5° and 30°) beams. Symmetry and drive are controlled by shortening the hohlraum, using a smaller laser entrance hole (LEH), beam phasing the 44 .5° and 50° beams, and correcting the remaining P4 asymmetry with a capsule shim. Ensembles of time-resolved view factor simulations help narrow the design space of the new configuration, with fine tuning provided by the radiation-hydrodynamic code HYDRA. Prepared by LLNL under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

Effect of freezing and thawing rates on the post-thaw viability of boar spermatozoa frozen in FlatPacks and Maxi-straws.

PubMed

Eriksson, B M; Rodriguez-Martinez, H

2000-11-01

The effects of different freezing and thawing rates on the post-thaw motility and membrane integrity of boar spermatozoa, processed as split samples in Maxi-straws or flat PET-plastic packages (FlatPack) were studied. A programmable freezing device was used to obtain freezing rates of either 20, 50 or 80 degrees C/min. Thawing of the samples was performed in a bath of circulating water; for 40s at 50 degrees C or 27s at 70 degrees C for Maxi-straws and 23s at 35 degrees C, 13s at 50 degrees C or 8s at 70 degrees C for the FlatPacks. Sperm motility was assessed both visually and with a computer assisted semen analysis (CASA) apparatus, while plasma membrane integrity was assessed using the fluorescent probes Calcein AM and ethidium homodimer-1. Temperature changes during freezing and thawing were monitored in both forms of packaging. Values for motile spermatozoa, sperm velocity and lateral head displacement variables were significantly (p<0.05) higher for samples frozen in FlatPacks than in Maxi-straws, with superior results at higher thawing rates. Freezing at 50 degrees C/min yielded better motility than 20 or 80 degrees C/min, although the effect was rather small. Neither freezing rate nor thawing rate had any effect on membrane integrity (p>0.05). A significant boar effect was seen for several parameters. The most striking difference in temperature courses between containers was a 4-5-fold lowering of the thawing rate, between -20 and 0 degrees C, in the center of the Maxi-straw, compared with the FlatPack. This is apparently due to the insulating effect of the thawed water in the periphery of the Maxi-straw. The improvement in sperm motility seen when using the FlatPack appears to be related to the rapid thawing throughout the sample, which decreases the risk of cell damage due to recrystallization during thawing. Since sperm motility patterns have been reported to be correlated with fertility both in vitro and in vivo it is speculated that the use of the FlatPack might improve the results when using frozen-thawed boar spermatozoa for artificial insemination.

3.4-Inch Quarter High Definition Flexible Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Display with Oxide Thin Film Transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatano, Kaoru; Chida, Akihiro; Okano, Tatsuya; Sugisawa, Nozomu; Inoue, Tatsunori; Seo, Satoshi; Suzuki, Kunihiko; Oikawa, Yoshiaki; Miyake, Hiroyuki; Koyama, Jun; Yamazaki, Shunpei; Eguchi, Shingo; Katayama, Masahiro; Sakakura, Masayuki

2011-03-01

In this paper, we report a 3.4-in. flexible active matrix organic light emitting display (AMOLED) display with remarkably high definition (quarter high definition: QHD) in which oxide thin film transistors (TFTs) are used. We have developed a transfer technology in which a TFT array formed on a glass substrate is separated from the substrate by physical force and then attached to a flexible plastic substrate. Unlike a normal process in which a TFT array is directly fabricated on a thin plastic substrate, our transfer technology permits a high integration of high performance TFTs, such as low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFTs (LTPS TFTs) and oxide TFTs, on a plastic substrate, because a flat, rigid, and thermally-stable glass substrate can be used in the TFT fabrication process in our transfer technology. As a result, this technology realized an oxide TFT array for an AMOLED on a plastic substrate. Furthermore, in order to achieve a high-definition AMOLED, color filters were incorporated in the TFT array and a white organic light-emitting diode (OLED) was combined. One of the features of this device is that the whole body of the device can be bent freely because a source driver and a gate driver can be integrated on the substrate due to the high mobility of an oxide TFT. This feature means “true” flexibility.

An Auxetic structure configured as oesophageal stent with potential to be used for palliative treatment of oesophageal cancer; development and in vitro mechanical analysis.

PubMed

Ali, Murtaza N; Rehman, Ihtesham Ur

2011-11-01

Oesophageal cancer is the ninth leading cause of malignant cancer death and its prognosis remains poor. Dysphagia which is an inability to swallow is a presenting symptom of oesophageal cancer and is indicative of incurability. The goal of this study was to design and manufacture an Auxetic structure film and to configure this film as an Auxetic stent for the palliative treatment of oesophageal cancer, and for the prevention of dysphagia. Polypropylene was used as a material for its flexibility and non-toxicity. The Auxetic (rotating-square geometry) structure was made by laser cutting the polypropylene film. This flat structure was welded together to form a tubular form (stent), by an adjustable temperature control soldering iron station: following this, an annealing process was also carried out to ease any material stresses. Poisson's ratio was estimated and elastic and plastic deformation of the Auxetic structure was evaluated. The elastic and plastic deformation behaviours of the Auxetic polypropylene film were evaluated by applying repetitive uniaxial tensile loads. Observation of the structure showed that it was initially elastically deformed, thereafter plastic deformation occurred. This research discusses a novel way of fabricating an Auxetic structure (rotating-squares connected together through hinges) on Polypropylene films, by estimating the Poisson's ratio and evaluating the plastic deformation relevant to the expansion behaviour of an Auxetic stent within the oesophageal lumen.

Forecasting waste compositions: A case study on plastic waste of electronic display housings.

PubMed

Peeters, Jef R; Vanegas, Paul; Kellens, Karel; Wang, Feng; Huisman, Jaco; Dewulf, Wim; Duflou, Joost R

2015-12-01

Because of the rapid succession of technological developments, the architecture and material composition of many products used in daily life have drastically changed over the last decades. As a result, well-adjusted recycling technologies need to be developed and installed to cope with these evolutions. This is essential to guarantee continued access to materials and to reduce the ecological impact of our material consumption. However, limited information is currently available on the material composition of arising waste streams and even less on how these waste streams will evolve. Therefore, this paper presents a methodology to forecast trends in the material composition of waste streams. To demonstrate the applicability and value of the proposed methodology, it is applied to forecast the evolution of plastic housing waste from flat panel display (FPD) TVs, FPD monitors, cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs and CRT monitors. The results of the presented forecasts indicate that a wide variety of plastic types and additives, such as flame retardants, are found in housings of similar products. The presented case study demonstrates that the proposed methodology allows the identification of trends in the evolution of the material composition of waste streams. In addition, it is demonstrated that the recycling sector will need to adapt its processes to deal with the increasing complexity of plastics of end-of-life electronic displays while respecting relevant directives. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Elastic-Plastic J-Integral Solutions or Surface Cracks in Tension Using an Interpolation Methodology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, P. A.; Wells, D. N.

2013-01-01

No closed form solutions exist for the elastic-plastic J-integral for surface cracks due to the nonlinear, three-dimensional nature of the problem. Traditionally, each surface crack must be analyzed with a unique and time-consuming nonlinear finite element analysis. To overcome this shortcoming, the authors have developed and analyzed an array of 600 3D nonlinear finite element models for surface cracks in flat plates under tension loading. The solution space covers a wide range of crack shapes and depths (shape: 0.2 less than or equal to a/c less than or equal to 1, depth: 0.2 less than or equal to a/B less than or equal to 0.8) and material flow properties (elastic modulus-to-yield ratio: 100 less than or equal to E/ys less than or equal to 1,000, and hardening: 3 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 20). The authors have developed a methodology for interpolating between the goemetric and material property variables that allows the user to reliably evaluate the full elastic-plastic J-integral and force versus crack mouth opening displacement solution; thus, a solution can be obtained very rapidly by users without elastic-plastic fracture mechanics modeling experience. Complete solutions for the 600 models and 25 additional benchmark models are provided in tabular format.

Void-Free Lid for Food Packaging

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Watson, C. D.; Farris, W. P.

1986-01-01

Flexible cover eliminates air pockets in sealed container. Universal food-package lid formed from flexible plastic. Partially folded, lid unfolded by depressing center portion. Height of flat portion of lid above flange thereby reduced. Pressure of food against central oval depression pops it out, forming dome that provides finger grip for mixing contents with water or opening lid. Therefore food stays fresh, allows compact stacking of partially filled containers, and resists crushing. Originally developed for packaging dehydrated food for use in human consumption on Space Shuttle missions. Other uses include home canning and commercial food packaging.

Self-organized minimum-energy structures for dielectric elastomer actuators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kofod, G.; Paajanen, M.; Bauer, S.

2006-11-01

When a stretched elastomer is laminated to a flat plastic frame, a complex shape is formed, which is termed a minimum-energy structure. It is shown how self-organized structures can be applied in the development of actuators with complex, out-of-plane actuationmodes. This unusual concept is then demonstrated in the case of dielectric elastomer actuators. Among advantages of this approach are the simplicity in manufacturing, the potential complexity and sophistication of the manufactured structures, and the general benefits of the concept when applied to other electro-mechanically active materials.

A model of high-rate indentation of a cylindrical striking pin into a deformable body

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zalazinskaya, E. A.; Zalazinsky, A. G.

2017-12-01

Mathematical modeling of an impact and high-rate indentation to a significant depth of a flat-faced hard cylindrical striking pin into a massive deformable target body is carried out. With the application of the kinematic extreme theorem of the plasticity theory and the kinetic energy variation theorem, the phase trajectories of the striking pin are calculated, the initial velocity of the striking pin in the body, the limit values of the inlet duct length, and the depth of striking pin penetration into the target are determined.

Multi-parameter actuation of a neutrally stable shell: a flexible gear-less motor.

PubMed

Hamouche, W; Maurini, C; Vidoli, S; Vincenti, A

2017-08-01

We have designed and tested experimentally a morphing structure consisting of a neutrally stable thin cylindrical shell driven by a multi-parameter piezoelectric actuation. The shell is obtained by plastically deforming an initially flat copper disc, so as to induce large isotropic and almost uniform inelastic curvatures. Following the plastic deformation, in a perfectly isotropic system, the shell is theoretically neutrally stable, having a continuous set of stable cylindrical shapes corresponding to the rotation of the axis of maximal curvature. Small imperfections render the actual structure bistable, giving preferred orientations. A three-parameter piezoelectric actuation, exerted through micro-fibre-composite actuators, allows us to add a small perturbation to the plastic inelastic curvature and to control the direction of maximal curvature. This actuation law is designed through a geometrical analogy based on a fully nonlinear inextensible uniform-curvature shell model. We report on the fabrication, identification and experimental testing of a prototype and demonstrate the effectiveness of the piezoelectric actuators in controlling its shape. The resulting motion is an apparent rotation of the shell, controlled by the voltages as in a 'gear-less motor', which is, in reality, a precession of the axis of principal curvature.

Multi-parameter actuation of a neutrally stable shell: a flexible gear-less motor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamouche, W.; Maurini, C.; Vidoli, S.; Vincenti, A.

2017-08-01

We have designed and tested experimentally a morphing structure consisting of a neutrally stable thin cylindrical shell driven by a multi-parameter piezoelectric actuation. The shell is obtained by plastically deforming an initially flat copper disc, so as to induce large isotropic and almost uniform inelastic curvatures. Following the plastic deformation, in a perfectly isotropic system, the shell is theoretically neutrally stable, having a continuous set of stable cylindrical shapes corresponding to the rotation of the axis of maximal curvature. Small imperfections render the actual structure bistable, giving preferred orientations. A three-parameter piezoelectric actuation, exerted through micro-fibre-composite actuators, allows us to add a small perturbation to the plastic inelastic curvature and to control the direction of maximal curvature. This actuation law is designed through a geometrical analogy based on a fully nonlinear inextensible uniform-curvature shell model. We report on the fabrication, identification and experimental testing of a prototype and demonstrate the effectiveness of the piezoelectric actuators in controlling its shape. The resulting motion is an apparent rotation of the shell, controlled by the voltages as in a `gear-less motor', which is, in reality, a precession of the axis of principal curvature.

Development of Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation Based on Gazebo and Pixhawk for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nguyen, Khoa Dang; Ha, Cheolkeun

2018-04-01

Hardware-in-the-loop simulation (HILS) is well known as an effective approach in the design of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) systems, enabling engineers to test the control algorithm on a hardware board with a UAV model on the software. Performance of HILS is determined by performances of the control algorithm, the developed model, and the signal transfer between the hardware and software. The result of HILS is degraded if any signal could not be transferred to the correct destination. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a middleware software to secure communications in HILS system for testing the operation of a quad-rotor UAV. In our HILS, the Gazebo software is used to generate a nonlinear six-degrees-of-freedom (6DOF) model, sensor model, and 3D visualization for the quad-rotor UAV. Meanwhile, the flight control algorithm is designed and implemented on the Pixhawk hardware. New middleware software, referred to as the control application software (CAS), is proposed to ensure the connection and data transfer between Gazebo and Pixhawk using the multithread structure in Qt Creator. The CAS provides a graphical user interface (GUI), allowing the user to monitor the status of packet transfer, and perform the flight control commands and the real-time tuning parameters for the quad-rotor UAV. Numerical implementations have been performed to prove the effectiveness of the middleware software CAS suggested in this paper.

Wheelchair users' experience of non-adapted and adapted clothes during sailing, quad rugby or wheel-walking.

PubMed

Kratz, G; Söderback, I; Guidetti, S; Hultling, C; Rykatkin, T; Söderström, M

1997-01-01

The purpose of the present quasi-experimental post-test-design study was to compare 32 wheelchair users' (mostly para/tetraplegics) experience of wearing specially adapted clothes and non-adapted clothes for sailing, quad rugby or wheel-walking. Four existing assessment instruments were used: the Klein-Bell Activities of Daily Living Scale; a two-part Basic Information Questionnaire eliciting experience of effort, comfort and feeling of physical condition; the Experience Sampling Form for investigating the individuals' attitudes in terms of involvement and affective and activity mood states, and the Occupational Therapy Assessment of Leisure Time interview framework for collecting data about experience of leisure time. The wheelchair users all associated significantly greater comfort with use of the adapted clothes and, particularly the 'sailors', better physical condition. Overall, significantly greater involvement and more positive affect states were associated with the adapted clothes than with conventional garments, and mood state changed for the better. The wheelchair users set a higher priority upon work or leisure activities than upon independence in activities of daily living, and for this reason the Klein-Bell ratings showed great variation between the 'sailors' and the 'quad rugby players' (range 57%-93%), though these groups demonstrated more independence than the 'wheel-walkers'. The results of the study confirm the value of adapting sportswear for handicapped people. Such adaptations should also be of benefit for other activities than those studied.

A Database of Reaction Monitoring Mass Spectrometry Assays for Elucidating Therapeutic Response in Cancer

PubMed Central

Remily-Wood, Elizabeth R.; Liu, Richard Z.; Xiang, Yun; Chen, Yi; Thomas, C. Eric; Rajyaguru, Neal; Kaufman, Laura M.; Ochoa, Joana E.; Hazlehurst, Lori; Pinilla-Ibarz, Javier; Lancet, Jeffrey; Zhang, Guolin; Haura, Eric; Shibata, David; Yeatman, Timothy; Smalley, Keiran S.M.; Dalton, William S.; Huang, Emina; Scott, Ed; Bloom, Gregory C.; Eschrich, Steven A.; Koomen, John M.

2012-01-01

Purpose The Quantitative Assay Database (QuAD), http://proteome.moffitt.org/QUAD/, facilitates widespread implementation of quantitative mass spectrometry in cancer biology and clinical research through sharing of methods and reagents for monitoring protein expression and modification. Experimental Design Liquid chromatography coupled to multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (LC-MRM) assays are developed using SDS-PAGE fractionated lysates from cancer cell lines. Pathway maps created using GeneGO Metacore provide the biological relationships between proteins and illustrate concepts for multiplexed analysis; each protein can be selected to examine assay development at the protein and peptide level. Results The coupling of SDS-PAGE and LC-MRM screening has been used to detect 876 peptides from 218 cancer-related proteins in model systems including colon, lung, melanoma, leukemias, and myeloma, which has led to the development of 95 quantitative assays including stable-isotope labeled peptide standards. Methods are published online and peptide standards are made available to the research community. Protein expression measurements for heat shock proteins, including a comparison with ELISA and monitoring response to the HSP90 inhibitor, 17-DMAG, are used to illustrate the components of the QuAD and its potential utility. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance This resource enables quantitative assessment of protein components of signaling pathways and biological processes and holds promise for systematic investigation of treatment responses in cancer. PMID:21656910

[Clinical effect of removable lingual arch plus auxiliary spring for dental arch expansion].

PubMed

Sun, Feng-yang; Zhang, Yu

2007-04-01

Observe the clinical effect of removable lingual arch plus auxiliary spring for convenient dental (especially mandibular) arch expansion. Seventeen patients with dental arch constriction complicated by mild dental crowding were enrolled in this study, including 9 requiring maxillary arch expansion and 8 necessitating mandibular expansion. The patients were divided to two groups at random for arch expansion with removable lingual arch plus auxiliary spring and with Quad-helix, respectively, and the effect of arch expansion was compared between the two groups. After 8 weeks of arch expansion, the average width of U4-U4 and U5-U5 in removable lingual arch group was enlarged by 2.2 mm and 3.0 mm, and that in Quad-helix group by 2.3 mm and 3.5 mm, respectively, showing no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). After 12 weeks of treatment, the average width of L4-L4 and L5-L5 in the former group was enlarged by 2.3 mm and 2.5 mm, respectively, significantly greater than that in the latter group (1.0 mm and 1.2 mm, P<0.05). Removable lingual arch plus auxiliary spring allows significant expansion of the middle segment of the dental arch (bicuspids), and can be more effective than Quad-helix for mandibular arch expansion.

Oil detection in RADARSAT-2 quad-polarization imagery: implications for ScanSAR performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Angela; Arkett, Matt; Zagon, Tom; De Abreu, Roger; Mueller, Derek; Vachon, Paris; Wolfe, John

2011-11-01

Environment Canada's Integrated Satellite Tracking of Pollution (ISTOP) program uses RADARSAT-2 data to vector pollution surveillance assets to areas where oil discharges/spills are suspected in support of enforcement and/or cleanup efforts. RADARSAT-2's new imaging capabilities and ground system promises significant improvement's in ISTOP's ability to detect and report on oil pollution. Of specific interest is the potential of dual polarization ScanSAR data acquired with VV polarization to improve the detection of oil pollution compared to data acquired with HH polarization, and with VH polarization to concurrently detect ship targets. A series of 101 RADARSAT-2 fine quad images were acquired over Coal Oil Point, near Santa Barbara, California where a seep field naturally releases hydrocarbons. The oil and gas releases in this region are visible on the sea surface and have been well documented allowing for the remote sensing of a constant source of oil at a fixed location. Although the make-up of the oil seep field could be different from that of oil spills, it provides a representative target that can be routinely imaged under a variety of wind conditions. Results derived from the fine quad imagery with a lower noise floor were adjusted to mimic the noise floor limitations of ScanSAR. In this study it was found that VV performed better than HH for oil detection, especially at higher incidence angles.

Experimental investigation of a quad-rotor biplane micro air vehicle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bogdanowicz, Christopher Michael

Micro air vehicles are expected to perform demanding missions requiring efficient operation in both hover and forward flight. This thesis discusses the development of a hybrid air vehicle which seamlessly combines both flight capabilities: hover and high-speed forward flight. It is the quad-rotor biplane, which weighs 240 grams and consists of four propellers with wings arranged in a biplane configuration. The performance of the vehicle system was investigated in conditions representative of flight through a series of wind tunnel experiments. These studies provided an understanding of propeller-wing interaction effects and system trim analysis. This showed that the maximum speed of 11 m/s and a cruise speed of 4 m/s were achievable and that the cruise power is approximately one-third of the hover power. Free flight testing of the vehicle successfully highlighted its ability to achieve equilibrium transition flight. Key design parameters were experimentally investigated to understand their effect on overall performance. It was found that a trade-off between efficiency and compactness affects the final choice of the design. Design improvements have allowed for decreases in vehicle weight and ground footprint, while increasing structural soundness. Numerous vehicle designs, models, and flight tests have proven system scalability as well as versatility, including an upscaled model to be utilized in an extensive commercial package delivery system. Overall, the quad-rotor biplane is proven to be an efficient and effective multi-role vehicle.

On the Wave Equation with Hyperbolic Dynamical Boundary Conditions, Interior and Boundary Damping and Source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vitillaro, Enzo

2017-03-01

The aim of this paper is to study the problem u_{tt}-Δ u+P(x,u_t)=f(x,u) quad & in (0,∞)×Ω, u=0 & on (0,∞)× Γ_0, u_{tt}+partial_ν u-Δ_Γ u+Q(x,u_t)=g(x,u)quad & on (0,∞)× Γ_1, u(0,x)=u_0(x),quad u_t(0,x)=u_1(x) & in overline Ω, where {Ω} is a open bounded subset of R^N with C 1 boundary ({N ≥ 2}), {Γ = partialΩ}, {(Γ0,Γ1)} is a measurable partition of {Γ}, {Δ_{Γ}} denotes the Laplace-Beltrami operator on {Γ}, {ν} is the outward normal to {Ω}, and the terms P and Q represent nonlinear damping terms, while f and g are nonlinear subcritical perturbations. In the paper a local Hadamard well-posedness result for initial data in the natural energy space associated to the problem is given. Moreover, when {Ω} is C 2 and {overline{Γ0} \\cap overline{Γ1} = emptyset}, the regularity of solutions is studied. Next a blow-up theorem is given when P and Q are linear and f and g are superlinear sources. Finally a dynamical system is generated when the source parts of f and g are at most linear at infinity, or they are dominated by the damping terms.

An Approach to Speed up Single-Frequency PPP Convergence with Quad-Constellation GNSS and GIM.

PubMed

Cai, Changsheng; Gong, Yangzhao; Gao, Yang; Kuang, Cuilin

2017-06-06

The single-frequency precise point positioning (PPP) technique has attracted increasing attention due to its high accuracy and low cost. However, a very long convergence time, normally a few hours, is required in order to achieve a positioning accuracy level of a few centimeters. In this study, an approach is proposed to accelerate the single-frequency PPP convergence by combining quad-constellation global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and global ionospheric map (GIM) data. In this proposed approach, the GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo observations are directly used in an uncombined observation model and as a result the ionospheric and hardware delay (IHD) can be estimated together as a single unknown parameter. The IHD values acquired from the GIM product and the multi-GNSS differential code bias (DCB) product are then utilized as pseudo-observables of the IHD parameter in the observation model. A time varying weight scheme has also been proposed for the pseudo-observables to gradually decrease its contribution to the position solutions during the convergence period. To evaluate the proposed approach, datasets from twelve Multi-GNSS Experiment (MGEX) stations on seven consecutive days are processed and analyzed. The numerical results indicate that the single-frequency PPP with quad-constellation GNSS and GIM data are able to reduce the convergence time by 56%, 47%, 41% in the east, north, and up directions compared to the GPS-only single-frequency PPP.

Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine

MedlinePlus

ProQuad® (as a combination product containing Measles Vaccine, Mumps Vaccine, Rubella Vaccine, Varicella Vaccine) ... Has a parent, brother, or sister with a history of immune system problems. Is taking salicylates (such ...

Computational multicore on two-layer 1D shallow water equations for erodible dambreak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simanjuntak, C. A.; Bagustara, B. A. R. H.; Gunawan, P. H.

2018-03-01

The simulation of erodible dambreak using two-layer shallow water equations and SCHR scheme are elaborated in this paper. The results show that the two-layer SWE model in a good agreement with the data experiment which is performed by Louvain-la-Neuve Université Catholique de Louvain. Moreover, the parallel algorithm with multicore architecture are given in the results. The results show that Computer I with processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2500 CPU Quad-Core has the best performance to accelerate the computational time. Moreover, Computer III with processor AMD A6-5200 APU Quad-Core is observed has higher speedup and efficiency. The speedup and efficiency of Computer III with number of grids 3200 are 3.716050530 times and 92.9% respectively.

Chandra Observations of Three Newly Discovered Quadruply Gravitationally Lensed Quasars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pooley, David

2017-09-01

Our previous work has shown the unique power of Chandra observations of quadruply gravitationally lensed quasars to address several fundamental astrophysical issues. We have used these observations to (1) determine the cause of flux ratio anomalies, (2) measure the sizes of quasar accretion disks, (3) determine the dark matter content of the lensing galaxies, and (4) measure the stellar mass-to-light ratio (in fact, this is the only way to measure the stellar mass-to-light ratio beyond the solar neighborhood). In all cases, the main source of uncertainty in our results is the small size of the sample of known quads; only 15 systems are available for study with Chandra. We propose Chandra observations of three newly discovered quads, increasing the sample size by 20%

Low-Noise Large-Area Photoreceivers with Low Capacitance Photodiodes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Joshi, Abhay M. (Inventor); Datta, Shubhashish (Inventor)

2013-01-01

A quad photoreceiver includes a low capacitance quad InGaAs p-i-n photodiode structure formed on an InP (100) substrate. The photodiode includes a substrate providing a buffer layer having a metal contact on its bottom portion serving as a common cathode for receiving a bias voltage, and successive layers deposited on its top portion, the first layer being drift layer, the second being an absorption layer, the third being a cap layer divided into four quarter pie shaped sections spaced apart, with metal contacts being deposited on outermost top portions of each section to provide output terminals, the top portions being active regions for detecting light. Four transimpedance amplifiers have input terminals electrically connected to individual output terminals of each p-i-n photodiode.

Spaceborne Hybrid Quad-Pol SAR Range Ambiguity Analysis and Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Shilin; Li, Yang; Zhang, Jingjing; Hong, Wen

2014-11-01

The higher levels of range ambiguities in the cross-polarized measurement channels are the primary limitations for the matched quad-pol (e.g., HH, VV, VH, and HV) spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems. These ambiguities severely constrain the useful range of incident angles and the swath widths particularly at larger incidence. Adopting hybridpolarimetric architecture can remarkably reduce these ambiguities. In this paper, we analyse and develop the expression of range ambiguity to signal ratio (RASR) in the hybrid-polarimetric architecture. Simulations are made to testify this novel architecture’s advantage in the improvement of range ambiguities. The system operating parameters are derived from NASA’s DESDynl mission. In addition, we used the second order moments of polarimetric covariance matrices to depict target or the environment which are more precisely.

Spaceborne Hybrid Quad-Pol SAR Range Ambiguity Analysis and Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Shilin; Li, Yang; Zhang, Jingjing; Hong, Wen

2014-11-01

The higher levels of range ambiguities in the cross- polarized measurement channels are the primary limitations for the matched quad-pol (e.g., HH, VV, VH, and HV) spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems. These ambiguities severely constrain the useful range of incident angles and the swath widths particularly at larger incidence. Adopting hybrid- polarimetric architecture can remarkably reduce these ambiguities. In this paper, we analyse and develop the expression of range ambiguity to signal ratio (RASR) in the hybrid-polarimetric architecture. Simulations are made to testify this novel architecture's advantage in the improvement of range ambiguities. The system operating parameters are derived from NASA's DESDynl mission. In addition, we used the second order moments of polarimetric covariance matrices to depict target or the environment which are more precisely.

Multiple solutions to a magnetic nonlinear Choquard equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cingolani, Silvia; Clapp, Mónica; Secchi, Simone

2012-04-01

We consider the stationary nonlinear magnetic Choquard equation (- inabla+ A(x))2u + V (x)u = (1/|x|^{α}ast |u|pright) |u|^{p-2}u,quad xin{R}N where A is a real-valued vector potential, V is a real-valued scalar potential, N ≥ 3, {α in (0, N)} and 2 - ( α/ N) < p < (2 N - α)/( N-2). We assume that both A and V are compatible with the action of some group G of linear isometries of {{R}N} . We establish the existence of multiple complex valued solutions to this equation which satisfy the symmetry condition u(gx) = tau(g)u(x)quad{for all } g in G,x in {R}N, where {tau : G rightarrow {S}1} is a given group homomorphism into the unit complex numbers.

A polygon soup representation for free viewpoint video

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colleu, T.; Pateux, S.; Morin, L.; Labit, C.

2010-02-01

This paper presents a polygon soup representation for multiview data. Starting from a sequence of multi-view video plus depth (MVD) data, the proposed representation takes into account, in a unified manner, different issues such as compactness, compression, and intermediate view synthesis. The representation is built in two steps. First, a set of 3D quads is extracted using a quadtree decomposition of the depth maps. Second, a selective elimination of the quads is performed in order to reduce inter-view redundancies and thus provide a compact representation. Moreover, the proposed methodology for extracting the representation allows to reduce ghosting artifacts. Finally, an adapted compression technique is proposed that limits coding artifacts. The results presented on two real sequences show that the proposed representation provides a good trade-off between rendering quality and data compactness.

Hexa Helix: Modified Quad Helix Appliance to Correct Anterior and Posterior Crossbites in Mixed Dentition

PubMed Central

Yaseen, Syed Mohammed; Acharya, Ravindranath

2012-01-01

Among the commonly encountered dental irregularities which constitute developing malocclusion is the crossbite. During primary and mixed dentition phase, the crossbite is seen very often and if left untreated during these phases then a simple problem may be transformed into a more complex problem. Different techniques have been used to correct anterior and posterior crossbites in mixed dentition. This case report describes the use of hexa helix, a modified version of quad helix for the management of anterior crossbite and bilateral posterior crossbite in early mixed dentition. Correction was achieved within 15 weeks with no damage to the tooth or the marginal periodontal tissue. The procedure is a simple and effective method for treating anterior and bilateral posterior crossbites simultaneously. PMID:23119188

Energy savings potential from improved building controls for the US commercial building sector

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

Fernandez, Nick; Katipamula, Srinivas; Wang, Weimin

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Building Technologies Office (BTO) sponsored a study to determine the potential national savings achievable in the commercial building sector through widespread deployment of best practice controls, elimination of system and component faults, and use of better sensing. Detailed characterization of potential savings was one source of input to set research, development, and deployment (RD&D) goals in the field of building sensors and controls. DOE’s building energy simulation software, EnergyPlus, was employed to estimate the potential savings from 34 measures in 9 building types and across 16 climates representing almost 57% of commercial building sectormore » energy consumption. In addition to estimating savings from individual measures, three packages of measures were created to estimate savings from the packages. These packages represented an 1) efficient building, 2) typical building, and 3) inefficient building. To scale the results from individual measures or a package to the national scale, building weights by building type and climate locations from the Energy Information Administration’s 2012 Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) were used. The results showed significant potential for energy savings across all building types and climates. The total site potential savings from individual measures by building type and climate location ranged between 0% and 25%. The total site potential savings by building type aggregated across all climates (using the CBECS building weights) for each measure varied between 0% and 16%. The total site potential savings aggregated across all building types and climates for each measure varied between 0% and 11%. Some individual measures had negative savings because correcting underlying operational problems (e.g., inadequate ventilation) resulted in increased energy consumption. When combined into packages, the overall national savings potential is estimated to be 29%; seven of the nine building types were in the range of 23 to 29% and two exceeded 40%. The total potential national site savings in for each building type ranged between 95x106 GJ (0.09 Quadrillion British thermal units [Quads]; Large Hotels) to 222x106 GJ (0.21 Quads; Large Office, Hospital Administrative areas, and College/University), resulting in total site savings of 1,393x106 GJ (1.32 Quads) when the three packages are applied to the U.S. commercial buildings stock. Using the source (or primary) energy conversion factors of 1.05 for natural gas and 3.14 for electricity resulted in an approximate potential primary energy savings of 2,912x106 GJ (2.76 Quads), which would be 15% of the sector’s 2015 use of approximately 18,991x106 GJ (18 Quads). Extrapolating the results for other building types not analyzed as part of this study, the primary energy savings could be in the range of 4,220x106 GJ to 5,275x106 GJ (4 to 5 Quads). If this savings potential is realized, it would be equivalent to not combusting 180 to 230 million tons of coal or reducing the energy impacts, at today’s energy intensities, of the per capita consumption of 12 to 15 million people in the U.S. To realize most of this potential savings, many gaps can be addressed through RD&D, as recommended in this paper.« less

Peel-and-Stick: Fabricating Thin Film Solar Cell on Universal Substrates

PubMed Central

Lee, Chi Hwan; Kim, Dong Rip; Cho, In Sun; William, Nemeth; Wang, Qi; Zheng, Xiaolin

2012-01-01

Fabrication of thin-film solar cells (TFSCs) on substrates other than Si and glass has been challenging because these nonconventional substrates are not suitable for the current TFSC fabrication processes due to poor surface flatness and low tolerance to high temperature and chemical processing. Here, we report a new peel-and-stick process that circumvents these fabrication challenges by peeling off the fully fabricated TFSCs from the original Si wafer and attaching TFSCs to virtually any substrates regardless of materials, flatness and rigidness. With the peel-and-stick process, we integrated hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) TFSCs on paper, plastics, cell phone and building windows while maintaining the original 7.5% efficiency. The new peel-and-stick process enables further reduction of the cost and weight for TFSCs and endows TFSCs with flexibility and attachability for broader application areas. We believe that the peel-and-stick process can be applied to thin film electronics as well. PMID:23277871

Efficient dielectric metasurface collimating lenses for mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers.

PubMed

Arbabi, Amir; Briggs, Ryan M; Horie, Yu; Bagheri, Mahmood; Faraon, Andrei

2015-12-28

Light emitted from single-mode semiconductor lasers generally has large divergence angles, and high numerical aperture lenses are required for beam collimation. Visible and near infrared lasers are collimated using aspheric glass or plastic lenses, yet collimation of mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers typically requires more costly aspheric lenses made of germanium, chalcogenide compounds, or other infrared-transparent materials. Here we report mid-infrared dielectric metasurface flat lenses that efficiently collimate the output beam of single-mode quantum cascade lasers. The metasurface lenses are composed of amorphous silicon posts on a flat sapphire substrate and can be fabricated at low cost using a single step conventional UV binary lithography. Mid-infrared radiation from a 4.8 μm distributed-feedback quantum cascade laser is collimated using a polarization insensitive metasurface lens with 0.86 numerical aperture and 79% transmission efficiency. The collimated beam has a half divergence angle of 0.36° and beam quality factor of M2=1.02.

Resilience of Key Biological Parameters of the Senegalese Flat Sardinella to Overfishing and Climate Change.

PubMed

Ba, Kamarel; Thiaw, Modou; Lazar, Najih; Sarr, Alassane; Brochier, Timothée; Ndiaye, Ismaïla; Faye, Alioune; Sadio, Oumar; Panfili, Jacques; Thiaw, Omar Thiom; Brehmer, Patrice

2016-01-01

The stock of the Senegalese flat sardinella, Sardinella maderensis, is highly exploited in Senegal, West Africa. Its growth and reproduction parameters are key biological indicators for improving fisheries management. This study reviewed these parameters using landing data from small-scale fisheries in Senegal and literature information dated back more than 25 years. Age was estimated using length-frequency data to calculate growth parameters and assess the growth performance index. With global climate change there has been an increase in the average sea surface temperature along the Senegalese coast but the length-weight parameters, sex ratio, size at first sexual maturity, period of reproduction and condition factor of S. maderensis have not changed significantly. The above parameters of S. maderensis have hardly changed, despite high exploitation and fluctuations in environmental conditions that affect the early development phases of small pelagic fish in West Africa. This lack of plasticity of the species regarding of the biological parameters studied should be considered when planning relevant fishery management plans.

Organic light emitters gain longevity

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

Service, R.E.

1996-08-16

Organic thin-film displays were for many years a research curiosity with no staying power. Now their stamina is beginning to match their unbeatable toughness and lightness. For much of the past decade, researchers have been promising to put thin films of light-emitting plastics and other organic materials on display: large, flexible, inexpensive and efficient screens to be used for everything from lightweight backlights for computer displays to TVs that you can hang flat on the wall or roll up and put in your pocket. Yet, many of these promises have fallen flat as well. Organic lights have tended to burnmore » out after just days or weeks of operation. But now long-lived organic thin film displays are beginning to shine. By crafting films without as many burnout causing defects and building devices with additional film layers to enhance light emission, researchers around the work have recently improved the brightness, lifetime, and future prosects of their devices. This article describes recent developments and improvements in the field.« less

Peel-and-Stick: Fabricating Thin Film Solar Cell on Universal Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Chi Hwan; Kim, Dong Rip; Cho, In Sun; William, Nemeth; Wang, Qi; Zheng, Xiaolin

2012-12-01

Fabrication of thin-film solar cells (TFSCs) on substrates other than Si and glass has been challenging because these nonconventional substrates are not suitable for the current TFSC fabrication processes due to poor surface flatness and low tolerance to high temperature and chemical processing. Here, we report a new peel-and-stick process that circumvents these fabrication challenges by peeling off the fully fabricated TFSCs from the original Si wafer and attaching TFSCs to virtually any substrates regardless of materials, flatness and rigidness. With the peel-and-stick process, we integrated hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) TFSCs on paper, plastics, cell phone and building windows while maintaining the original 7.5% efficiency. The new peel-and-stick process enables further reduction of the cost and weight for TFSCs and endows TFSCs with flexibility and attachability for broader application areas. We believe that the peel-and-stick process can be applied to thin film electronics as well.

Efficient dielectric metasurface collimating lenses for mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers

DOE PAGES

Arbabi, Amir; Briggs, Ryan M.; Horie, Yu; ...

2015-01-01

Light emitted from single-mode semiconductor lasers generally has large divergence angles, and high numerical aperture lenses are required for beam collimation. Visible and near infrared lasers are collimated using aspheric glass or plastic lenses, yet collimation of mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers typically requires more costly aspheric lenses made of germanium, chalcogenide compounds, or other infrared-transparent materials. We report mid-infrared dielectric metasurface flat lenses that efficiently collimate the output beam of single-mode quantum cascade lasers. The metasurface lenses are composed of amorphous silicon posts on a flat sapphire substrate and can be fabricated at low cost using a single step conventionalmore » UV binary lithography. Mid-infrared radiation from a 4.8 μm distributed-feedback quantum cascade laser is collimated using a polarization insensitive metasurface lens with 0.86 numerical aperture and 79% transmission efficiency. The collimated beam has a half divergence angle of 0.36° and beam quality factor of M² =1.02.« less

Can Tooth Preparation Design Affect the Fit of CAD/CAM Restorations?

PubMed

Roperto, Renato Cassio; Oliveira, Marina Piolli; Porto, Thiago Soares; Ferreira, Lais Alaberti; Melo, Lucas Simino; Akkus, Anna

2017-03-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the marginal fit of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) restorations manufactured with CAD/CAM systems can be affected by different tooth preparation designs. Twenty-six typodont (plastic) teeth were divided into two groups (n = 13) according to the occlusal curvature of the tooth preparation. These were the group 1 (control group) (flat occlusal design) and group 2 (curved occlusal design). Scanning of the preparations was performed, and crowns were milled using ceramic blocks. Blocks were cemented using epoxy glue on the pulpal floor only, and finger pressure was applied for 1 minute. On completion of the cementation step, poor fits between the restoration and abutment were measured by microphotography and the silicone replica technique using light-body silicon material on mesial, distal, buccal, and lingual surfaces. Two-way ANOVA analysis did not reveal a statistical difference between flat (83.61 ± 50.72) and curved (79.04 ± 30.97) preparation designs. Buccal, mesial, lingual, and distal sites on the curved design preparation showed less of a gap when compared with flat design. No difference was found on flat preparations among mesial, buccal, and distal sites (P < .05). The lingual aspect had no difference from the distal side but showed a statistically significant difference from mesial and buccal (P < .05). Difference in occlusal design did not significantly impact the marginal fit. Marginal fit was significantly affected by the location of the margin; lingual and distal locations exhibited greater margin gap values compared with buccal and mesial sites regardless of the preparation design.

Effect of a viscoelastic target on the impact response of a flat-nosed projectile

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Hu; Yang, Jialing; Liu, Hua

2018-02-01

Taylor impact is a widely used strategy in which a flat-nosed projectile is fired onto a rigid anvil directly to determine the dynamic strength of rod specimens. Nowadays, the rigid anvil is often replaced by an output target bar to ensure the accuracy of measurement via recording strain signals in the output bar. For testing the dynamic strength of low-density materials, a low-impedance target bar, which exhibits viscoelastic characteristics is often employed. In this paper, an extended Taylor model is proposed to improve the idealization of treating the target bar as perfectly rigid material in the classic Taylor model, and the viscoelastic effect of the target bar is incorporated. The viscoelastic target bar is depicted by two elastic springs and one dashpot. Based on the plastic shock wave theory in the flat-nosed projectile associated with the viscoelastic wave analysis in the target bar, the viscoelastic effect of the target bar on the impact response of the flat-nosed projectile is investigated. The finite element simulation is also carried out to verify the theoretical model, and good agreement is found. The present theoretical model is also called the Taylor-cylinder Hopkinson impact, which provides a more accurate way to identify the dynamic material parameters. The dynamic responses of the present model are further compared with previous elastic and rigid target bar models. It is found that the viscoelastic effect of the target bar should be taken into consideration in the Taylor-cylinder Hopkinson impact test for low-impedance materials.

Space use and habitat selection of migrant and resident American Avocets in San Francisco Bay

USGS Publications Warehouse

Demers, Scott A.; Takekawa, John Y.; Ackerman, Joshua T.; Warnock, N.; Athearn, N.D.

2010-01-01

San Francisco Bay is a wintering area for shorebirds, including American Avocets (Recurvirostra americana). Recently, a new resident population of avocets has emerged, presumably because of the development of tidal marshes into salt-evaporation ponds. In habitat restoration now underway, as many as 90% of salt ponds will be restored to tidal marsh. However, it is unknown if wintering and resident avocets coexist and if their requirements for space and habitat differ, necessitating different management for their populations to be maintained during restoration. We captured and radio-marked wintering avocets at a salt pond and a tidal flat to determine their population status (migrant or resident) and examine their space use and habitat selection. Of the radio-marked avocets, 79% were migrants and 21% were residents. At the salt pond, residents' fidelity to their location of capture was higher, and residents moved less than did migrants from the same site. Conversely, on the tidal flat, fidelity of residents to their site of capture was lower, and residents' home ranges were larger than those of migrants from the same site. Habitat selection of migrants and residents differed little; however, capture site influenced habitat selection far more than the birds' status as migrants or residents. Our study suggests that individual avocets have high site fidelity while wintering in San Francisco Bay, although the avocet as a species is plastic in its space use and habitat selection. This plasticity may allow wintering migrant and resident avocets to adapt to habitat change in San Francisco Bay. ?? The Cooper Ornithological Society 2010.

Effect of coccolith polysaccharides isolated from the coccolithophorid, Emiliania huxleyi, on calcite crystal formation in in vitro CaCO3 crystallization.

PubMed

Kayano, Keisuke; Saruwatari, Kazuko; Kogure, Toshihiro; Shiraiwa, Yoshihiro

2011-02-01

Marine coccolithophorids (Haptophyceae) produce calcified scales "coccoliths" which are composed of CaCO(3) and coccolith polysaccharides (CP) in the coccolith vesicles. CP was previously reported to be composed of uronic acids and sulfated residues, etc. attached to the polymannose main chain. Although anionic polymers are generally known to play key roles in biomineralization process, there is no experimental data how CP contributes to calcite crystal formation in the coccolithophorids. CP used was isolated from the most abundant coccolithophorid, Emiliania huxleyi. CaCO(3) crystallization experiment was performed on agar template layered onto a plastic plate that was dipped in the CaCO(3) crystallization solution. The typical rhombohedral calcite crystals were formed in the absence of CP. CaCO(3) crystals formed on the naked plastic plate were obviously changed to stick-like shapes when CP was present in the solution. EBSD analysis proved that the crystal is calcite of which c-axis was elongated. CP in the solution stimulated the formation of tabular crystals with flat edge in the agarose gel. SEM and FIB-TEM observations showed that the calcite crystals were formed in the gel. The formation of crystals without flat edge was stimulated when CP was preliminarily added in the gel. These observations suggest that CP has two functions: namely, one is to elongate the calcite crystal along c-axis and another is to induce tabular calcite crystal formation in the agarose gel. Thus, CP may function for the formation of highly elaborate species-specific structures of coccoliths in coccolithophorids.

The Measurement of Strong-Interaction Effects in High-Z Sigma Hyperonic Atoms.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phillips, William Clarke

Strong-interaction effects have been observed in the X-ray spectra of atoms formed with Sigma ^- in lead and tungsten. In the experiment, performed at the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron of Brookhaven National Laboratory, negative kaons were brought to rest in a novel laminar target consisting of thin sheets of high-Z material in a liquid hydrogen bath. The geometry of the target was designed to optimize the production of high-Z Sigma^- atoms and the detection of their subsequent de-excitation X rays. A method of identifying the energetic pi^+ from the production reaction K^-+ p toSigma^- +pi^+ resulted in a factor of 15 improvement in the signal-to -noise ratio of the Sigma^- atom X-rays over that of previous experiments. The X-ray spectra were recorded by three high-resolution intrinsic Ge detectors and analyzed for shifts, broadenings, and yield reductions of the final X-ray transitions before absorption of the Sigma^- into the nucleus. A lineshape function which reflected the non-Gaussian response of the X-ray spectroscopy system was developed for this analysis. The results are(UNFORMATTED TABLE OR EQUATION FOLLOWS)eqalign {Sigma^- - W (10to9): varepsilon = 650 +/- 30 eV,&quadGamma = 380 +/- 70 eV,quad %Y = .98 +/- .04cr Sigma^- - Pb (10to9): varepsilon = 510 +/- 50 eV,&quadGamma = 290 +/- 140 eV, quad %Y = .53 +/- .04cr} (TABLE/EQUATION ENDS)where varepsilon = E_{rm meds} - E_{rm calc }, Gamma is the Lorentzian FWHM, and %Y is the ratio (measured yield)/(yield calculated with no strong interaction). Optical model calculations with a = (0.928 + i0.022) fm are able to reproduce all observed effects in the Sigma^--W spectra. Such calculations with a = (0.247 + i0.039) fm reproduce the observed shift and width of the (10to9) transition in Sigma^--Pb, but fail to reproduce the observed yield reduction. It is doubtful if the current status of the theory of Sigma ^--N interactions can explain this discrepancy.

Multi-Pivot Quicksort: an Experiment with Single, Dual, Triple, Quad, and Penta-Pivot Quicksort Algorithms in Python

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Budiman, M. A.; Zamzami, E. M.; Rachmawati, D.

2017-03-01

Dual-pivot quicksort, which was proposed by Yaroslavsky, has been experimentally proven to be more efficient than the classical single-pivot quicksort under the Java Virtual Machine [6]. Moreover, Kushagara, López-Ortiz, and Munro [4] has shown that triple-pivot quicksort runs 7-8% faster than dual-pivot quicksort in C, mutatis mutandis. In this research, we implement and experiment with single, dual, triple, quad, and penta-pivot quicksort algorithms in Python. Our experimental results are as follows. Firstly, the quicksort with single pivot is the slowest among the five variants. Secondly, at least until five (penta) pivots are being used, it is proven that the more pivots are used in a quicksort algorithm, the faster its performance becomes. Thirdly, the increase of speed resulted by adding more pivots tends to decrease gradually.

1:6000 Scale (6K) Quadrangles developed by USEPA to Support Reconnaissance, and Tactical and Strategic Planning for Emergency Responses and Homeland Security Events (Region 9 Extract)

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Reference quads for emergency response reconnaissance developed for use by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Grid cells are based on densification of the USGS Quarterquad (1:12,000 scale or 12K) grids for the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico and are roughly equivalent to 1:6000 scale (6K) quadrangles approximately 2 miles long on each side. Note: This file is a regional subset that has been extracted from a national file 6K quad file. Each regional extract includes a 20 mile buffer of tiles around each EPA Region. To access the national layer (size is greater than 80MB), go to https://edg.epa.gov/data/Public/OLEM/6kquads_epa.zip.

Energy use and conservation trends, 1972--1986

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

Klan, M.S.; Belzer, D.B.; Marsh, S.J.

1989-02-01

US trends in energy use and conservation since 1972 are analyzed in this report. That year represents the last year prior to significant energy price shocks. In 1986, an estimated 31.8 quads has been saved in the US compared with what consumption would have been if the energy use per dollar of GNP had continued on the same trend after 1972 as in the period 1960--1972. Actual US energy consumption in 1986 was 74.3 quads. It is clear that energy conservation is persistent and conservation investments continue to pay off even after initial energy price shocks have subsided. Separate analysesmore » have been conducted for the major end-use sectors (residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation). Savings have been estimated in each sector, and the factors contributing to sectoral savings identified. 19 refs., 23 figs., 26 tabs.« less

Classification Comparisons Between Compact Polarimetric and Quad-Pol SAR Imagery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Souissi, Boularbah; Doulgeris, Anthony P.; Eltoft, Torbjørn

2015-04-01

Recent interest in dual-pol SAR systems has lead to a novel approach, the so-called compact polarimetric imaging mode (CP) which attempts to reconstruct fully polarimetric information based on a few simple assumptions. In this work, the CP image is simulated from the full quad-pol (QP) image. We present here the initial comparison of polarimetric information content between QP and CP imaging modes. The analysis of multi-look polarimetric covariance matrix data uses an automated statistical clustering method based upon the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm for finite mixture modeling, using the complex Wishart probability density function. Our results showed that there are some different characteristics between the QP and CP modes. The classification is demonstrated using a E-SAR and Radarsat2 polarimetric SAR images acquired over DLR Oberpfaffenhofen in Germany and Algiers in Algeria respectively.

The trivector approach for minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty: a technical note.

PubMed

Benazzo, Francesco; Rossi, Stefano Marco Paolo

2012-09-01

One of the main criticisms of minimally invasive approaches in total knee arthroplasty has been their poor adaptability in cases of major deformity or stiffness of the knee joint. When they are used in such cases, excessive soft-tissue tension is needed to provide appropriate joint exposure. Here, we describe the "mini trivector approach," which has become our standard approach for total knee replacement because it permits us to enlarge the indication for minimally or less invasive total knee replacement to many knees where quad sparing, a subvastus approach, or a mini quad or mini midvastus snip may not be sufficient to achieve correct exposure. It consists of a limited double snip of the VMO and the quadriceps tendon that reduces tension on the extensor mechanism and allows easier verticalization of the patella as well as good joint exposure.

A Quad-Cantilevered Plate micro-sensor for intracranial pressure measurement.

PubMed

Lalkov, Vasko; Qasaimeh, Mohammad A

2017-07-01

This paper proposes a new design for pressure-sensing micro-plate platform to bring higher sensitivity to a pressure sensor based on piezoresistive MEMS sensing mechanism. The proposed design is composed of a suspended plate having four stepped cantilever beams connected to its corners, and thus defined as Quad-Cantilevered Plate (QCP). Finite element analysis was performed to determine the optimal design for sensitivity and structural stability under a range of applied forces. Furthermore, a piezoresistive analysis was performed to calculate sensor sensitivity. Both the maximum stress and the change in resistance of the piezoresistor associated with the QCP were found to be higher compared to previously published designs, and linearly related to the applied pressure as desired. Therefore, the QCP demonstrates greater sensitivity, and could be potentially used as an efficient pressure sensor for intracranial pressure measurement.

Absence of Critical Points of Solutions to the Helmholtz Equation in 3D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alberti, Giovanni S.

2016-11-01

The focus of this paper is to show the absence of critical points for the solutions to the Helmholtz equation in a bounded domain {Ωsubset{R}3} , given by { div(a nabla u_{ω}g)-ω qu_{ω}g=0&quad{in Ω,} u_{ω}g=g quad{on partialΩ.} We prove that for an admissible g there exists a finite set of frequencies K in a given interval and an open cover {overline{Ω}=\\cup_{ωin K} Ω_{ω}} such that {|nabla u_{ω}g(x)| > 0} for every {ωin K} and {xinΩ_{ω}} . The set K is explicitly constructed. If the spectrum of this problem is simple, which is true for a generic domain {Ω} , the admissibility condition on g is a generic property.

New designs of LMJ targets for early ignition experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

C-Clérouin, C.; Bonnefille, M.; Dattolo, E.; Fremerye, P.; Galmiche, D.; Gauthier, P.; Giorla, J.; Laffite, S.; Liberatore, S.; Loiseau, P.; Malinie, G.; Masse, L.; Poggi, F.; Seytor, P.

2008-05-01

The LMJ experimental plans include the attempt of ignition and burn of an ICF capsule with 40 laser quads, delivering up to 1.4MJ and 380TW. New targets needing reduced laser energy with only a small decrease in robustness are then designed for this purpose. A first strategy is to use scaled-down cylindrical hohlraums and capsules, taking advantage of our better understanding of the problem, set on theoretical modelling, simulations and experiments. Another strategy is to work specifically on the coupling efficiency parameter, i.e. the ratio of the energy absorbed by the capsule to the laser energy, which is with parametric instabilities a crucial drawback of indirect drive. An alternative design is proposed, made up of the nominal 60 quads capsule, named A1040, in a rugby-shaped hohlraum. Robustness evaluations of these different targets are in progress.

Membrane separation systems---A research and development needs assessment

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

Baker, R.W.; Cussler, E.L.; Eykamp, W.

1990-04-01

Industrial separation processes consume a significant portion of the energy used in the United States. A 1986 survey by the Office of Industrial Programs estimated that about 4.2 quads of energy are expended annually on distillation, drying and evaporation operations. This survey also concluded that over 0.8 quads of energy could be saved in the chemical, petroleum and food industries alone if these industries adopted membrane separation systems more widely. Membrane separation systems offer significant advantages over existing separation processes. In addition to consuming less energy than conventional processes, membrane systems are compact and modular, enabling easy retrofit to existingmore » industrial processes. The present study was commissioned by the Department of Energy, Office of Program Analysis, to identify and prioritize membrane research needs in light of DOE's mission. Each report will be individually cataloged.« less

BEAM EXTRACTION FROM THE RECYCLER RING TO P1 LINE AT FERMILAB

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

Xiao, M.; Capista, D.; Adams, P.

The transfer line for beam extraction from the Recycler ring to P1 line provides a way to deliver 8 GeV kinetic energy protons from the Booster to the Delivery ring, via the Recycler, using existing beam transport lines, and without the need for new civil construction. It was designed in 2012. The kicker magnets at RR520 and the lambertson magnet at RR522 in the RR were installed in 2014 Summer Shutdown, the elements of RR to P1 Stub (permanent quads, trim quads, correctors, BPMs, the toroid at 703 and vertical bending dipole at V703 (ADCW) were installed in 2015 Summermore » Shutdown. On Tuesday, June 21, 2016, beam line from the Recycler Ring to P1 line was commissioned. The detailed results will be presented in this report.« less

Laser parametric instability experiments of a 3ω, 15 kJ, 6-ns laser pulse in gas-filled hohlraums at the Ligne d'Intégration Laser facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rousseaux, C.; Huser, G.; Loiseau, P.; Casanova, M.; Alozy, E.; Villette, B.; Wrobel, R.; Henry, O.; Raffestin, D.

2015-02-01

Experimental investigation of stimulated Raman (SRS) and Brillouin (SBS) scattering have been obtained at the Ligne-d'Intégration-Laser facility (LIL, CEA-Cesta, France). The parametric instabilities (LPI) are driven by firing four laser beamlets (one quad) into millimeter size, gas-filled hohlraum targets. A quad delivers energy on target of 15 kJ at 3ω in a 6-ns shaped laser pulse. The quad is focused by means of 3ω gratings and is optically smoothed with a kinoform phase plate and with smoothing by spectral dispersion-like 2 GHz and/or 14 GHz laser bandwidth. Open- and closed-geometry hohlraums have been used, all being filled with 1-atm, neo-pentane (C5H12) gas. For SRS and SBS studies, the light backscattered into the focusing optics is analyzed with spectral and time resolutions. Near-backscattered light at 3ω and transmitted light at 3ω are also monitored in the open geometry case. Depending on the target geometry (plasma length and hydrodynamic evolution of the plasma), it is shown that, at maximum laser intensity about 9 × 1014 W/cm2, Raman reflectivity noticeably increases up to 30% in 4-mm long plasmas while SBS stays below 10%. Consequently, laser transmission through long plasmas drops to about 10% of incident energy. Adding 14 GHz bandwidth to the laser always reduces LPI reflectivities, although this reduction is not dramatic.

Influence of Alveolar Bone Defects on the Stress Distribution in Quad Zygomatic Implant-Supported Maxillary Prosthesis.

PubMed

Duan, Yuanyuan; Chandran, Ravi; Cherry, Denise

The purpose of this study was to create three-dimensional composite models of quad zygomatic implant-supported maxillary prostheses with a variety of alveolar bone defects around implant sites, and to investigate the stress distribution in the surrounding bone using the finite element analysis (FEA) method. Three-dimensional models of titanium zygomatic implants, maxillary prostheses, and human skulls were created and assembled using Mimics based on microcomputed tomography and cone beam computed tomography images. A variety of additional bone defects were created at the locations of four zygomatic implants to simulate multiple clinical scenarios. The volume meshes were created and exported into FEA software. Material properties were assigned respectively for all the structures, and von Mises stress data were collected and plotted in the postprocessing module. The maximum stress in the surrounding bone was located in the crestal bone around zygomatic implants. The maximum stress in the prostheses was located at the angled area of the implant-abutment connection. The model with anterior defects had a higher peak stress value than the model with posterior defects. All the models with additional bone defects had higher maximum stress values than the control model without additional bone loss. Additional alveolar bone loss has a negative influence on the stress concentration in the surrounding bone of quad zygomatic implant-supported prostheses. More care should be taken if these additional bone defects are at the sites of anterior zygomatic implants.

An Approach to Speed up Single-Frequency PPP Convergence with Quad-Constellation GNSS and GIM

PubMed Central

Cai, Changsheng; Gong, Yangzhao; Gao, Yang; Kuang, Cuilin

2017-01-01

The single-frequency precise point positioning (PPP) technique has attracted increasing attention due to its high accuracy and low cost. However, a very long convergence time, normally a few hours, is required in order to achieve a positioning accuracy level of a few centimeters. In this study, an approach is proposed to accelerate the single-frequency PPP convergence by combining quad-constellation global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and global ionospheric map (GIM) data. In this proposed approach, the GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo observations are directly used in an uncombined observation model and as a result the ionospheric and hardware delay (IHD) can be estimated together as a single unknown parameter. The IHD values acquired from the GIM product and the multi-GNSS differential code bias (DCB) product are then utilized as pseudo-observables of the IHD parameter in the observation model. A time varying weight scheme has also been proposed for the pseudo-observables to gradually decrease its contribution to the position solutions during the convergence period. To evaluate the proposed approach, datasets from twelve Multi-GNSS Experiment (MGEX) stations on seven consecutive days are processed and analyzed. The numerical results indicate that the single-frequency PPP with quad-constellation GNSS and GIM data are able to reduce the convergence time by 56%, 47%, 41% in the east, north, and up directions compared to the GPS-only single-frequency PPP. PMID:28587305

Elastic-Plastic J-Integral Solutions or Surface Cracks in Tension Using an Interpolation Methodology. Appendix C -- Finite Element Models Solution Database File, Appendix D -- Benchmark Finite Element Models Solution Database File

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, Phillip A.; Wells, Douglas N.

2013-01-01

No closed form solutions exist for the elastic-plastic J-integral for surface cracks due to the nonlinear, three-dimensional nature of the problem. Traditionally, each surface crack must be analyzed with a unique and time-consuming nonlinear finite element analysis. To overcome this shortcoming, the authors have developed and analyzed an array of 600 3D nonlinear finite element models for surface cracks in flat plates under tension loading. The solution space covers a wide range of crack shapes and depths (shape: 0.2 less than or equal to a/c less than or equal to 1, depth: 0.2 less than or equal to a/B less than or equal to 0.8) and material flow properties (elastic modulus-to-yield ratio: 100 less than or equal to E/ys less than or equal to 1,000, and hardening: 3 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 20). The authors have developed a methodology for interpolating between the goemetric and material property variables that allows the user to reliably evaluate the full elastic-plastic J-integral and force versus crack mouth opening displacement solution; thus, a solution can be obtained very rapidly by users without elastic-plastic fracture mechanics modeling experience. Complete solutions for the 600 models and 25 additional benchmark models are provided in tabular format.

Lightning protection of a modern wind energy system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaeger, D.

Due to their considerable height and frequent location above flat terrain, wind energy systems may be struck by lightning, with two types of severe effects: the physical destruction of structurally and/or mechanically important elements, such as a rotor blade, or the damage or interruption of system electrical and electronic equipment. The GROWIAN II DEMO lightning protection program has undertaken the development of measures which in their sophistication and complexity approximate those for aircraft. These protective measures are applied to the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic composite rotor blades, the rotor bearing, and electrical circuitry installed within the wind turbine's nacelle.

Effect of an aggressive medium on discontinuous deformation of aluminum-magnesium alloy AlMg6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shibkov, A. A.; Denisov, A. A.; Zolotov, A. E.; Kochegarov, S. S.

2017-01-01

It is experimentally shown that the molecular (chemical) process of surface etching of deformed aluminum-magnesium alloy AlMg6 causes the development of a macroscopic plastic strain step with an amplitude of a few percent. Using numerical simulation of the polycrystalline solid etching process, it is shown that the corrosion front morphology varies during etching from Euclid (flat) to fractal (rough). The results obtained show the key role of the surface state on the development of macroscopic mechanical instability of a material exhibiting the Portevin-Le Chatelier effect.

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.

Measurement of Entrance Surface Dose on an Anthropomorphic Thorax Phantom Using a Miniature Fiber-Optic Dosimeter

PubMed Central

Yoo, Wook Jae; Shin, Sang Hun; Jeon, Dayeong; Hong, Seunghan; Sim, Hyeok In; Kim, Seon Geun; Jang, Kyoung Won; Cho, Seunghyun; Youn, Won Sik; Lee, Bongsoo

2014-01-01

A miniature fiber-optic dosimeter (FOD) system was fabricated using a plastic scintillating fiber, a plastic optical fiber, and a multi-pixel photon counter to measure real-time entrance surface dose (ESD) during radiation diagnosis. Under varying exposure parameters of a digital radiography (DR) system, we measured the scintillating light related to the ESD using the sensing probe of the FOD, which was placed at the center of the beam field on an anthropomorphic thorax phantom. Also, we obtained DR images using a flat panel detector of the DR system to evaluate the effects of the dosimeter on image artifacts during posteroanterior (PA) chest radiography. From the experimental results, the scintillation output signals of the FOD were similar to the ESDs including backscatter simultaneously obtained using a semiconductor dosimeter. We demonstrated that the proposed miniature FOD can be used to measure real-time ESDs with minimization of DR image artifacts in the X-ray energy range of diagnostic radiology. PMID:24694678

Measurement of entrance surface dose on an anthropomorphic thorax phantom using a miniature fiber-optic dosimeter.

PubMed

Yoo, Wook Jae; Shin, Sang Hun; Jeon, Dayeong; Hong, Seunghan; Sim, Hyeok In; Kim, Seon Geun; Jang, Kyoung Won; Cho, Seunghyun; Youn, Won Sik; Lee, Bongsoo

2014-04-01

A miniature fiber-optic dosimeter (FOD) system was fabricated using a plastic scintillating fiber, a plastic optical fiber, and a multi-pixel photon counter to measure real-time entrance surface dose (ESD) during radiation diagnosis. Under varying exposure parameters of a digital radiography (DR) system, we measured the scintillating light related to the ESD using the sensing probe of the FOD, which was placed at the center of the beam field on an anthropomorphic thorax phantom. Also, we obtained DR images using a flat panel detector of the DR system to evaluate the effects of the dosimeter on image artifacts during posteroanterior (PA) chest radiography. From the experimental results, the scintillation output signals of the FOD were similar to the ESDs including backscatter simultaneously obtained using a semiconductor dosimeter. We demonstrated that the proposed miniature FOD can be used to measure real-time ESDs with minimization of DR image artifacts in the X-ray energy range of diagnostic radiology.

Low-Velocity Impact Wear Behavior of Ball-to-Flat Contact Under Constant Kinetic Energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhang; Cai, Zhen-bing; Chen, Zhi-qiang; Sun, Yang; Zhu, Min-hao

2017-11-01

The impact tests were conducted on metallic materials with different bulk hardness and Young's moduli. Analysis of the dynamics response during the tribological process showed that the tested materials had similar energy absorption, where the peak contact force increased as the tests continued. Moreover, wear volume decreased with the increase in Young's modulus of metals, except for Cr with a relatively low hardness. Wear rate was gradually reduced to a steady stage with increasing cycles, which was attributed to the decrease in contact stress and work-hardening effect. The main wear mechanism of impact was characterized by delamination, and the specific surface degradation mechanisms were depending on the mechanical properties of materials. The absorbed energy was used to the propagation of micro-cracks in the subsurface instead of plastic deformation, when resistance of friction wear and plastic behavior was improved. Hence, both the hardness and Young's modulus played important roles in the impact wear of metallic materials.

Granular flows in constrained geometries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murthy, Tejas; Viswanathan, Koushik

Confined geometries are widespread in granular processing applications. The deformation and flow fields in such a geometry, with non-trivial boundary conditions, determine the resultant mechanical properties of the material (local porosity, density, residual stresses etc.). We present experimental studies of deformation and plastic flow of a prototypical granular medium in different nontrivial geometries- flat-punch compression, Couette-shear flow and a rigid body sliding past a granular half-space. These geometries represent simplified scaled-down versions of common industrial configurations such as compaction and dredging. The corresponding granular flows show a rich variety of flow features, representing the entire gamut of material types, from elastic solids (beam buckling) to fluids (vortex-formation, boundary layers) and even plastically deforming metals (dead material zone, pile-up). The effect of changing particle-level properties (e.g., shape, size, density) on the observed flows is also explicitly demonstrated. Non-smooth contact dynamics particle simulations are shown to reproduce some of the observed flow features quantitatively. These results showcase some central challenges facing continuum-scale constitutive theories for dynamic granular flows.

Assessment of the mechanical performance of titanium cranial prostheses manufactured by super plastic forming and single point incremental forming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sgambitterra, Emanuele; Piccininni, Antonio; Guglielmi, Pasquale; Ambrogio, Giuseppina; Fragomeni, Gionata; Villa, Tomaso; Palumbo, Gianfranco

2018-05-01

Cranial implants are custom prostheses characterized by quite high geometrical complexity and small thickness; at the same time aesthetic and mechanical requirements have to be met. Titanium alloys are largely adopted for such prostheses, as they can be processed via different manufacturing technologies. In the present work cranial prostheses have been manufactured by Super Plastic Forming (SPF) and Single Point Incremental Forming (SPIF). In order to assess the mechanical performance of the cranial prostheses, drop tests under different load conditions were conducted on flat samples to investigate the effect of the blank thickness. Numerical simulations were also run for comparison purposes. The mechanical performance of the cranial implants manufactured by SPF and SPIF could be predicted using drop test data and information about the thickness evolution of the formed parts: the SPIFed prosthesis revealed to have a lower maximum deflection and a higher maximum force, while the SPFed prostheses showed a lower absorbed energy.

Formation of conductive copper lines by femtosecond laser irradiation of copper nitride film on plastic substrates

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

Xu, Xiaodong; Yuan, Ningyi, E-mail: nyyuan@cczu.edu.cn; Center for Low-Dimensional Materials, Micro-Nano Devices and Systems, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, Jiangsu

2015-05-15

In this paper, we report a simple method to form conductive copper lines by scanning a single-beam femtosecond pulse laser on a plastic substrate covered with copper nitride (Cu{sub 3}N) film. The Cu{sub 3}N films were prepared by DC magnetron sputtering in the presence of an Ar + N{sub 2} atmosphere at 100 °C. The influence of the laser power and scanning speed on the formed copper line width, surface features, and morphology was analyzed by means of optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, non-contact 3D profilometer, and scanning electron microscopy. The experimental results demonstrate that low laser power and low scanningmore » speed favor the formation of uniform and flat Cu lines. After process optimization, copper lines with a width less than 5 μm were obtained, which provides an attractive application prospect in the field of flexible electronic devices.« less

Effects of supercritical carbon dioxide on immobile bound polymer chains on solid substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sen, Mani; Asada, Mitsunori; Jiang, Naisheng; Endoh, Maya K.; Akgun, Bulent; Satija, Sushil; Koga, Tadanori

2013-03-01

Adsorbed polymer layers formed on flat solid substrates have recently been the subject of extensive studies because it is postulated to control the dynamics of technologically relevant polymer thin films, for example, in lithography. Such adsorbed layers have been reported to hinder the mobility of polymer chains in thin films even at a large length scale. Consequently, this bound layer remains immobile regardless of processing techniques (i.e. thermal annealing, solvent dissolution, etc). Here, we investigate the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a novel plasticizer for bound polystyrene layers formed on silicon substrates. In-situ swelling and interdiffusion experiments using neutron reflectivity were performed. As a result, we found the anomalous plasticization effects of scCO2 on the bound polymer layers near the critical point where the anomalous adsorption of CO2 molecules in polymer thin films has been reported previously. Acknowledgement: We acknowledge the financial support from NSF Grant No. CMMI-084626.

An econometric analysis of regional differences in household waste collection: the case of plastic packaging waste in Sweden.

PubMed

Hage, Olle; Söderholm, Patrik

2008-01-01

The Swedish producer responsibility ordinance mandates producers to collect and recycle packaging materials. This paper investigates the main determinants of collection rates of household plastic packaging waste in Swedish municipalities. This is done by the use of a regression analysis based on cross-sectional data for 252 Swedish municipalities. The results suggest that local policies, geographic/demographic variables, socio-economic factors and environmental preferences all help explain inter-municipality collection rates. For instance, the collection rate appears to be positively affected by increases in the unemployment rate, the share of private houses, and the presence of immigrants (unless newly arrived) in the municipality. The impacts of distance to recycling industry, urbanization rate and population density on collection outcomes turn out, though, to be both statistically and economically insignificant. A reasonable explanation for this is that the monetary compensation from the material companies to the collection entrepreneurs vary depending on region and is typically higher in high-cost regions. This implies that the plastic packaging collection in Sweden may be cost ineffective. Finally, the analysis also shows that municipalities that employ weight-based waste management fees generally experience higher collection rates than those municipalities in which flat and/or volume-based fees are used.

An econometric analysis of regional differences in household waste collection: The case of plastic packaging waste in Sweden

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

Hage, Olle; Soederholm, Patrik

2008-07-01

The Swedish producer responsibility ordinance mandates producers to collect and recycle packaging materials. This paper investigates the main determinants of collection rates of household plastic packaging waste in Swedish municipalities. This is done by the use of a regression analysis based on cross-sectional data for 252 Swedish municipalities. The results suggest that local policies, geographic/demographic variables, socio-economic factors and environmental preferences all help explain inter-municipality collection rates. For instance, the collection rate appears to be positively affected by increases in the unemployment rate, the share of private houses, and the presence of immigrants (unless newly arrived) in the municipality. Themore » impacts of distance to recycling industry, urbanization rate and population density on collection outcomes turn out, though, to be both statistically and economically insignificant. A reasonable explanation for this is that the monetary compensation from the material companies to the collection entrepreneurs vary depending on region and is typically higher in high-cost regions. This implies that the plastic packaging collection in Sweden may be cost ineffective. Finally, the analysis also shows that municipalities that employ weight-based waste management fees generally experience higher collection rates than those municipalities in which flat and/or volume-based fees are used.« less

Determination of the energy dependence of the BC-408 plastic scintillation detector in medium energy x-ray beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yücel, H.; Çubukçu, Ş.; Uyar, E.; Engin, Y.

2014-11-01

The energy dependence of the response of BC-408 plastic scintillator (PS), an approximately water-equivalent material, has been investigated by employing standardized x-ray beams. IEC RQA and ISO N series x-ray beam qualities, in the range of 40-100 kVp, were calibrated using a PTW-type ionization chamber. The energy response of a thick BC-408 PS detector was measured using the multichannel pulse height analysis method. The response of BC-408 PS increased gradually with increasing energy in the energy range of 40-80 kVp and then showed a flat behavior at about 80 to 120 kVp. This might be due to the self-attenuation of scintillation light by the scintillator itself and may also be partly due to the ionization quenching, leading to a reduction in the intensity of the light output from the scintillator. The results indicated that the sensitivity drop in BC-408 PS material at lower photon energies may be overcome by adding some high-Z elements to its polyvinyltoluene (PVT) base. The material modification may compensate for the drop in the response at lower photon energies. Thus plastic scintillation dosimetry is potentially suitable for applications in diagnostic radiology.

Analytical Round Robin for Elastic-Plastic Analysis of Surface Cracked Plates: Phase I Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wells, D. N.; Allen, P. A.

2012-01-01

An analytical round robin for the elastic-plastic analysis of surface cracks in flat plates was conducted with 15 participants. Experimental results from a surface crack tension test in 2219-T8 aluminum plate provided the basis for the inter-laboratory study (ILS). The study proceeded in a blind fashion given that the analysis methodology was not specified to the participants, and key experimental results were withheld. This approach allowed the ILS to serve as a current measure of the state of the art for elastic-plastic fracture mechanics analysis. The analytical results and the associated methodologies were collected for comparison, and sources of variability were studied and isolated. The results of the study revealed that the J-integral analysis methodology using the domain integral method is robust, providing reliable J-integral values without being overly sensitive to modeling details. General modeling choices such as analysis code, model size (mesh density), crack tip meshing, or boundary conditions, were not found to be sources of significant variability. For analyses controlled only by far-field boundary conditions, the greatest source of variability in the J-integral assessment is introduced through the constitutive model. This variability can be substantially reduced by using crack mouth opening displacements to anchor the assessment. Conclusions provide recommendations for analysis standardization.

Determination of the energy dependence of the BC-408 plastic scintillation detector in medium energy x-ray beams.

PubMed

Yücel, H; Çubukçu, Ş; Uyar, E; Engin, Y

2014-11-21

The energy dependence of the response of BC-408 plastic scintillator (PS), an approximately water-equivalent material, has been investigated by employing standardized x-ray beams. IEC RQA and ISO N series x-ray beam qualities, in the range of 40-100 kVp, were calibrated using a PTW-type ionization chamber. The energy response of a thick BC-408 PS detector was measured using the multichannel pulse height analysis method. The response of BC-408 PS increased gradually with increasing energy in the energy range of 40-80 kVp and then showed a flat behavior at about 80 to 120 kVp. This might be due to the self-attenuation of scintillation light by the scintillator itself and may also be partly due to the ionization quenching, leading to a reduction in the intensity of the light output from the scintillator. The results indicated that the sensitivity drop in BC-408 PS material at lower photon energies may be overcome by adding some high-Z elements to its polyvinyltoluene (PVT) base. The material modification may compensate for the drop in the response at lower photon energies. Thus plastic scintillation dosimetry is potentially suitable for applications in diagnostic radiology.

SU-E-CAMPUS-T-03: Four-Dimensional Dose Distribution Measurement Using Plastic Scintillator

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

Hashimoto, M; Kozuka, T; Oguchi, M

2014-06-15

Purpose: To develop the detector for the four-dimensional dose distribution measurement. Methods: We made the prototype detector for four-dimensional dose distribution measurement using a cylindrical plastic scintillator (5 cm diameter) and a conical reflection grass. The plastic scintillator is used as a phantom. When the plastic scintillator is irradiated, the scintillation light was emitted according to absorbed dose distribution. The conical reflection grass was arranged to surround the plastic scintillator, which project to downstream the projection images of the scintillation light. Then, the projection image was reflected to 45 degree direction by flat reflection grass, and was recorded by camcorder.more » By reconstructing the three-dimensional dose distribution from the projection image recorded in each frame, we could obtain the four-dimensional dose distribution. First, we tested the characteristic according to the amount of emitted light. Then we compared of the light profile and the dose profile calculated with the radiotherapy treatment planning system. Results: The dose dependency of the amount of light showed linearity. The pixel detecting smaller amount of light had high sensitivity than the pixel detecting larger amount of light. However the difference of the sensitivity could be corrected from the amount of light detected in each pixel. Both of the depth light profile through the conical reflection grass and the depth dose profile showed the same attenuation in the region deeper than peak depth. In lateral direction, the difference of the both profiles was shown at outside field and penumbra region. We consider that the difference is occurred due to the scatter of the scintillation light in the plastic scintillator block. Conclusion: It was possible to obtain the amount of light corresponding to the absorbed dose distribution from the prototype detector. Four-dimensional dose distributions can be reconstructed with high accuracy by the correction of the scattered light.« less

Neutrino mass from cosmology: impact of high-accuracy measurement of the Hubble constant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sekiguchi, Toyokazu; Ichikawa, Kazuhide; Takahashi, Tomo; Greenhill, Lincoln

2010-03-01

Non-zero neutrino mass would affect the evolution of the Universe in observable ways, and a strong constraint on the mass can be achieved using combinations of cosmological data sets. We focus on the power spectrum of cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies, the Hubble constant H0, and the length scale for baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) to investigate the constraint on the neutrino mass, mν. We analyze data from multiple existing CMB studies (WMAP5, ACBAR, CBI, BOOMERANG, and QUAD), recent measurement of H0 (SHOES), with about two times lower uncertainty (5 %) than previous estimates, and recent treatments of BAO from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We obtained an upper limit of mν < 0.2eV (95 % C.L.), for a flat ΛCDM model. This is a 40 % reduction in the limit derived from previous H0 estimates and one-third lower than can be achieved with extant CMB and BAO data. We also analyze the impact of smaller uncertainty on measurements of H0 as may be anticipated in the near term, in combination with CMB data from the Planck mission, and BAO data from the SDSS/BOSS program. We demonstrate the possibility of a 5σ detection for a fiducial neutrino mass of 0.1 eV or a 95 % upper limit of 0.04 eV for a fiducial of mν = 0 eV. These constraints are about 50 % better than those achieved without external constraint. We further investigate the impact on modeling where the dark-energy equation of state is constant but not necessarily -1, or where a non-flat universe is allowed. In these cases, the next-generation accuracies of Planck, BOSS, and 1 % measurement of H0 would all be required to obtain the limit mν < 0.05-0.06 eV (95 % C.L.) for the fiducial of mν = 0 eV. The independence of systematics argues for pursuit of both BAO and H0 measurements.

Monte Carlo simulation of a novel water-equivalent electronic portal imaging device using plastic scintillating fibers.

PubMed

Teymurazyan, A; Pang, G

2012-03-01

Most electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) developed so far use a thin Cu plate/phosphor screen to convert x-ray energies into light photons, while maintaining a high spatial resolution. This results in a low x-ray absorption and thus a low quantum efficiency (QE) of approximately 2-4% for megavoltage (MV) x-rays. A significant increase of QE is desirable for applications such as MV cone-beam computed tomography (MV-CBCT). Furthermore, the Cu plate/phosphor screen contains high atomic number (high-Z) materials, resulting in an undesirable over-response to low energy x-rays (due to photoelectric effect) as well as high energy x-rays (due to pair production) when used for dosimetric verification. Our goal is to develop a new MV x-ray detector that has a high QE and uses low-Z materials to overcome the obstacles faced by current MV x-ray imaging technologies. A new high QE and low-Z EPID is proposed. It consists of a matrix of plastic scintillating fibers embedded in a water-equivalent medium and coupled to an optically sensitive 2D active matrix flat panel imager (AMFPI) for image readout. It differs from the previous approach that uses segmented crystalline scintillators made of higher density and higher atomic number materials to detect MV x-rays. The plastic scintillating fibers are focused toward the x-ray source to avoid image blurring due to oblique incidence of off-axis x-rays. When MV x-rays interact with the scintillating fibers in the detector, scintillation light will be produced. The light photons produced in a fiber core and emitted within the acceptance angle of the fiber will be guided toward the AMFPI by total internal reflection. A Monte Carlo simulation has been used to investigate imaging and dosimetric characteristics of the proposed detector under irradiation of MV x-rays. Properties, such as detection efficiency, modulation transfer function, detective quantum efficiency (DQE), energy dependence of detector response, and water-equivalence of dose response have been investigated. It has been found that the zero frequency DQE of the proposed detector can be up to 37% at 6 MV. The detector, also, is water-equivalent with a relatively uniform response to different energy x-rays as compared to current EPIDs. The results of our simulations show that, using plastic scintillating fibers, it is possible to construct a water-equivalent EPID that has a better energy response and a higher detection efficiency than current flat panel based EPIDs.

A Direct Reading Thermometer Based on a Silicon Diode.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kirkup, L.; Tonthat, C.

1998-01-01

Describes a simple circuit based on an inexpensive quad operational amplifier that permits a direct-reading temperature instrument to be constructed using silicon diodes. Encourages the use of this equipment in introductory thermal experiments. (DDR)

University of Florida Campus, Plaza of the Americas, University of ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

University of Florida Campus, Plaza of the Americas, University of Florida Campus Quad Bounded by West University Avenue, US 441/Southwest 13th Street, Stadium Road, and North-South Drive, Gainesville, Alachua County, FL

Attachment B: URS Shale Gas Emissions Analysis

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This data was provided in response to a request by ANGA for actual current data that could be compared to EPA's assumptions used in the newly proposed Oil and Natural Gas Air Pollution Standards, Subpart quad 0

RF characteristics of the hoop column antenna for the land mobile satellite system mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foldes, P.

1984-11-01

A communication system using a satellite with a 118 meter diameter quad aperture antenna to provide telephone service to mobile users remotely located from the large metropolitan areas where the telephone companies are presently implementing their cellular system is described. In this system, which is compatible with the cellular system, the mobile user communicates with the satellite at UHF frequencies. The satellite connects him at S-Band, to the existing telephone network via a base station. The results of the RF definition work for the quad aperture antenna are presented. The elements of the study requirements for the LMSS are summarized, followed by a beam topology plan which satisfies the mission requirements with a practical and realiable configuration. The geometry of the UHF antenna and its radiation characteristics are defined. The various feed alternatives, and the S-band aperture are described.

Improved electroacoustic dewatering (EAD) belt press for food products. Phase 3, Technical progress report

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

Not Available

1994-02-01

Battelle`s electroacoustic dewatering (EAD) process improves the performance of mechanical dewatering processes for several food products (such as corn fiber) by superimposing electric and ultrasonic fields. EAD has the potential to save 0.027 to 0.035 quad/yr energy by 1995 in the food processing industry, which consumed 0.15 to 0.18 quad in 1986. This report covers Phase III for demonstrating the EAD prototype on corn wet milling products (corn fiber and gluten); only Task 1 (prototype preparation and planning) was completed. EAD performance was examined in the laboratory; availability of a test site was examined. The single-roll, postdewatering EAD belt pressmore » prototype can accept material predewatered by a screw press, centrifuge, or any other mechanical dewatering device. The two-belt system, utilizing a copper-polymer cathode belt, performed as well as the three-belt system used in Phase II.« less

IR radiation characteristics and operating range research for a quad-rotor unmanned aircraft vehicle.

PubMed

Gong, Mali; Guo, Rui; He, Sifeng; Wang, Wei

2016-11-01

The security threats caused by multi-rotor unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) are serious, especially in public places. To detect and control multi-rotor UAVs, knowledge of IR characteristics is necessary. The IR characteristics of a typical commercial quad-rotor UAV are investigated in this paper through thermal imaging with an IR camera. Combining the 3D geometry and IR images of the UAV, a 3D IR characteristics model is established so that the radiant power from different views can be obtained. An estimation of operating range to detect the UAV is calculated theoretically using signal-to-noise ratio as the criterion. Field experiments are implemented with an uncooled IR camera in an environment temperature of 12°C and a uniform background. For the front view, the operating range is about 150 m, which is close to the simulation result of 170 m.

a High-Density Electron Beam and Quad-Scan Measurements at Pleiades Thomson X-Ray Source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, J. K.; Rosenzweig, J. B.; Anderson, S. G.; Tremaine, A. M.

2007-09-01

A recent development of the photo-cathode injector technology has greatly enhanced the beam quality necessary for the creation of high density/high brightness electron beam sources. In the Thomson backscattering x-ray experiment, there is an immense need for under 20 micron electron beam spot at the interaction point with a high-intensity laser in order to produce a large x-ray flux. This has been demonstrated successfully at PLEIADES in Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. For this Thomson backscattering experiment, we employed an asymmetric triplet, high remanence permanent-magnet quads to produce smaller electron beams. Utilizing highly efficient optical transition radiation (OTR) beam spot imaging technique and varying electron focal spot sizes enabled a quadrupole scan at the interaction zone. Comparisons between Twiss parameters obtained upstream to those parameter values deduced from PMQ scan will be presented in this report.

a High-Density Electron Beam and Quad-Scan Measurements at Pleiades Thomson X-Ray Source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, J. K.; Rosenzweig, J. B.; Anderson, S. G.; Tremaine, A. M.

A recent development of the photo-cathode injector technology has greatly enhanced the beam quality necessary for the creation of high density/high brightness electron beam sources. In the Thomson backscattering x-ray experiment, there is an immense need for under 20 micron electron beam spot at the interaction point with a high-intensity laser in order to produce a large x-ray flux. This has been demonstrated successfully at PLEIADES in Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. For this Thomson backscattering experiment, we employed an asymmetric triplet, high remanence permanent-magnet quads to produce smaller electron beams. Utilizing highly efficient optical transition radiation (OTR) beam spot imaging technique and varying electron focal spot sizes enabled a quadrupole scan at the interaction zone. Comparisons between Twiss parameters obtained upstream to those parameter values deduced from PMQ scan will be presented in this report.

Vehicle concepts and technology requirements for buoyant heavy-lift systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ardema, M. D.

1981-01-01

Several buoyant-vehicle (airship) concepts proposed for short hauls of heavy payloads are described. Numerous studies identified operating cost and payload capacity advantages relative to existing or proposed heavy-lift helicopters for such vehicles. Applications involving payloads of from 15 tons up to 800 tons were identified. The buoyant quad-rotor concept is discussed in detail, including the history of its development, current estimates of performance and economics, currently perceived technology requirements, and recent research and technology development. It is concluded that the buoyant quad-rotor, and possibly other buoyant vehicle concepts, has the potential of satisfying the market for very heavy vertical lift but that additional research and technology development are necessary. Because of uncertainties in analytical prediction methods and small-scale experimental measurements, there is a strong need for large or full-scale experiments in ground test facilities and, ultimately, with a flight research vehicle.

RF characteristics of the hoop column antenna for the land mobile satellite system mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Foldes, P.

1984-01-01

A communication system using a satellite with a 118 meter diameter quad aperture antenna to provide telephone service to mobile users remotely located from the large metropolitan areas where the telephone companies are presently implementing their cellular system is described. In this system, which is compatible with the cellular system, the mobile user communicates with the satellite at UHF frequencies. The satellite connects him at S-Band, to the existing telephone network via a base station. The results of the RF definition work for the quad aperture antenna are presented. The elements of the study requirements for the LMSS are summarized, followed by a beam topology plan which satisfies the mission requirements with a practical and realiable configuration. The geometry of the UHF antenna and its radiation characteristics are defined. The various feed alternatives, and the S-band aperture are described.

45-110 GHz Quad-Ridge Horn With Stable Gain and Symmetric Beam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manafi, Sara; Al-Tarifi, Muhannad; Filipovic, Dejan S.

2017-09-01

A quad-ridge horn antenna with stabilized gain and minimum difference between Eand H-plane half-power beamwidths (HPBWs) is demonstrated for operation over 45-110 GHz bandwidth. Multistep flaring and corrugations on a finite ground plane are applied to obtain stable radiation patterns with 16-dBi minimum gain over the entire range. The computational studies are validated through measurements of a 3-D printed prototype using the direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) process. Accurate fabrication with achieved surface roughness of < 1.7 μm of the fabricated antenna is verified with digital microscope. The obtained gain variation, VSWR, and HPBW variation with rotation and over 45-110 GHz bandwidth are below 1.7 dB, 1.7:1, and 9°, respectively. This work demonstrates that the DMLS is a viable fabrication process for wideband horn antennas at millimeter-wave frequencies.

Design of Quad-Band Terahertz Metamaterial Absorber Using a Perforated Rectangular Resonator for Sensing Applications.

PubMed

Xie, Qin; Dong, Guangxi; Wang, Ben-Xin; Huang, Wei-Qing

2018-05-08

Quad-band terahertz absorber with single-sized metamaterial design formed by a perforated rectangular resonator on a gold substrate with a dielectric gap in between is investigated. The designed metamaterial structure enables four absorption peaks, of which the first three peaks have large absorption coefficient while the last peak possesses a high Q (quality factor) value of 98.33. The underlying physical mechanisms of these peaks are explored; it is found that their near-field distributions are different. Moreover, the figure of merit (FOM) of the last absorption peak can reach 101.67, which is much higher than that of the first three absorption modes and even absorption bands of other works operated in the terahertz frequency. The designed device with multiple-band absorption and high FOM could provide numerous potential applications in terahertz technology-related fields.

Group-based differences in anti-aging bias among medical students.

PubMed

Ruiz, Jorge G; Andrade, Allen D; Anam, Ramanakumar; Taldone, Sabrina; Karanam, Chandana; Hogue, Christie; Mintzer, Michael J

2015-01-01

Medical students (MS) may develop ageist attitudes early in their training that may predict their future avoidance of caring for the elderly. This study sought to determine MS' patterns of explicit and implicit anti-aging bias, intent to practice with older people and using the quad model, the role of gender, race, and motivation-based differences. One hundred and three MS completed an online survey that included explicit and implicit measures. Explicit measures revealed a moderately positive perception of older people. Female medical students and those high in internal motivation showed lower anti-aging bias, and both were more likely to intend to practice with older people. Although the implicit measure revealed more negativity toward the elderly than the explicit measures, there were no group differences. However, using the quad model the authors identified gender, race, and motivation-based differences in controlled and automatic processes involved in anti-aging bias.

A hydrogen transient nuclear magnetic resonance sensor for industrial drying applications

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

Nicholls, C.

1990-01-01

It has been estimated that industrial non-paper drying processes consume {approximately}0.8 quad (i.e. 8 {times} 10{sup 14} BTU) of energy per year in the United States, representing {approximately}5% of total industrial consumption. If improved technologies could be used to increase the efficiencies of the drying process and hence produce a 2% reduction in energy consumption, the energy savings would be 0.016 quad per year, or {approximately}2.5 million bbl of crude oil. DOE studies indicated that the most attractive R D target to aid in achieving these savings was an advanced moisture sensor, capable of application to a wide variety ofmore » drying processes. To meet these objectives the sensor should accurately monitor product moisture content over the range 2--35 % wt moisture (wb) and be usable at temperatures up to 350{degree}F. 22 refs., 11 figs., 1 tab.« less

Techniques and Tools for Estimating Ionospheric Effects in Interferometric and Polarimetric SAR Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rosen, P.; Lavalle, M.; Pi, X.; Buckley, S.; Szeliga, W.; Zebker, H.; Gurrola, E.

2011-01-01

The InSAR Scientific Computing Environment (ISCE) is a flexible, extensible software tool designed for the end-to-end processing and analysis of synthetic aperture radar data. ISCE inherits the core of the ROI_PAC interferometric tool, but contains improvements at all levels of the radar processing chain, including a modular and extensible architecture, new focusing approach, better geocoding of the data, handling of multi-polarization data, radiometric calibration, and estimation and correction of ionospheric effects. In this paper we describe the characteristics of ISCE with emphasis on the ionospheric modules. To detect ionospheric anomalies, ISCE implements the Faraday rotation method using quadpolarimetric images, and the split-spectrum technique using interferometric single-, dual- and quad-polarimetric images. The ability to generate co-registered time series of quad-polarimetric images makes ISCE also an ideal tool to be used for polarimetric-interferometric radar applications.

Insar Unwrapping Error Correction Based on Quasi-Accurate Detection of Gross Errors (quad)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Y.; Zhao, C. Y.; Zhang, Q.; Yang, C. S.

2018-04-01

Unwrapping error is a common error in the InSAR processing, which will seriously degrade the accuracy of the monitoring results. Based on a gross error correction method, Quasi-accurate detection (QUAD), the method for unwrapping errors automatic correction is established in this paper. This method identifies and corrects the unwrapping errors by establishing a functional model between the true errors and interferograms. The basic principle and processing steps are presented. Then this method is compared with the L1-norm method with simulated data. Results show that both methods can effectively suppress the unwrapping error when the ratio of the unwrapping errors is low, and the two methods can complement each other when the ratio of the unwrapping errors is relatively high. At last the real SAR data is tested for the phase unwrapping error correction. Results show that this new method can correct the phase unwrapping errors successfully in the practical application.

Asymetrically driven implosion experiment on the Laser MégaJoule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Philippe, Franck; Seytor, Patricia; Tassin, Veronique; Rosch, Rudolf; Villette, Bruno

2017-10-01

We report on the results of the first implosion experiments performed on the Laser MégaJoule (LMJ) facility. Their main purpose was to study implosion with large polar asymmetries of incident radiative flux on a capsule, while preserving azimuthal symmetry, in the context of ICF. In these experiments, one quad of LMJ is focused axially on a gold shield inside a hohlraum. The shield effectively divides the hohlraum in two compartments, and a capsule placed in the second compartment is indirectly driven by the x-ray flux generated in the first one. The subsequent asymmetric implosion is backlit by an x-ray source generated by another quad of LMJ and imaged with an x-ray microscope coupled to a framing camera. Time-gated x-ray radiographs of the imploding capsule and diode array measurements of the hohlraum x-ray emission are found to be in good agreement with FCI2 radiative hydrodynamics simulations.

Design of Quad-Band Terahertz Metamaterial Absorber Using a Perforated Rectangular Resonator for Sensing Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Qin; Dong, Guangxi; Wang, Ben-Xin; Huang, Wei-Qing

2018-05-01

Quad-band terahertz absorber with single-sized metamaterial design formed by a perforated rectangular resonator on a gold substrate with a dielectric gap in between is investigated. The designed metamaterial structure enables four absorption peaks, of which the first three peaks have large absorption coefficient while the last peak possesses a high Q (quality factor) value of 98.33. The underlying physical mechanisms of these peaks are explored; it is found that their near-field distributions are different. Moreover, the figure of merit (FOM) of the last absorption peak can reach 101.67, which is much higher than that of the first three absorption modes and even absorption bands of other works operated in the terahertz frequency. The designed device with multiple-band absorption and high FOM could provide numerous potential applications in terahertz technology-related fields.

Nickel-metal hydride battery development. Final technical report

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

NONE

1995-06-01

Rechargeable batteries are used as the power source for a broad range of portable equipment. Key battery selection criteria typically are weight, volume, first cost, life cycle cost, and environmental impact. Rechargeable batteries are favored from a life cycle cost and environmental impact standpoint over primary batteries. The nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery system has emerged as the battery of choice for many applications based on its superior characteristics when judged on the above criteria against other battery types. In most cases commercial Ni-MH batteries are constructed with coiled electrodes in cylindrical metal containers. Electro Energy, Inc. (EEI) has been developingmore » a novel flat bipolar configuration of the Ni-MH system that offers weight, volume, and cost advantages when compared to cylindrical cells. The unique bipolar approach consists of fabricating individual flat wafer cells in conductive, carbon-filled, plastic face plates. The individual cells contain a nonconductive plastic border which is heat sealed around the perimeter to make a totally sealed unit cell. Multi-cell batteries are fabricated by stacking the individual wafer cells in such a way that the positive face of one cell contacts the negative face of the adjacent cell. The stack is then contained in an outer housing with end contacts. The purpose of this program was to develop, evaluate, and demonstrate the capabilities of the EEI Ni-MH battery system for consumer applications. The work was directed at the development and evaluation of the compact bipolar construction for its potential advantages of high power and energy density. Experimental investigations were performed on various nickel electrode types, hydride electrode formulations, and alternate separator materials. Studies were also directed at evaluating various oxygen recombination techniques for low pressure operation during charge and overcharge.« less

Micro packaged MEMS pressure sensor for intracranial pressure measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiong, Liu; Yan, Yao; Jiahao, Ma; Yanhang, Zhang; Qian, Wang; Zhaohua, Zhang; Tianling, Ren

2015-06-01

This paper presents a micro packaged MEMS pressure sensor for intracranial pressure measurement which belongs to BioMEMS. It can be used in lumbar puncture surgery to measure intracranial pressure. Miniaturization is key for lumbar puncture surgery because the sensor must be small enough to allow it be placed in the reagent chamber of the lumbar puncture needle. The size of the sensor is decided by the size of the sensor chip and package. Our sensor chip is based on silicon piezoresistive effect and the size is 400 × 400 μm2. It is much smaller than the reported polymer intracranial pressure sensors such as liquid crystal polymer sensors. In terms of package, the traditional dual in-line package obviously could not match the size need, the minimal size of recently reported MEMS-based intracranial pressure sensors after packaging is 10 × 10 mm2. In this work, we are the first to introduce a quad flat no-lead package as the package form of piezoresistive intracranial pressure sensors, the whole size of the sensor is minimized to only 3 × 3 mm2. Considering the liquid measurement environment, the sensor is gummed and waterproof performance is tested; the sensitivity of the sensor is 0.9 × 10-2 mV/kPa. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 61025021, 61434001), and the ‘Thousands Talents’ Program for Pioneer Researchers and Its Innovation Team, China.

Determination of Anand parameters for SnAgCuCe solder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Liang; Xue, Songbai; Gao, Lili; Zeng, Guang; Sheng, Zhong; Chen, Yan; Yu, Shenglin

2009-10-01

A unified viscoplastic constitutive model, Anand equations, was used to represent the inelastic deformation behavior for Sn3.8Ag0.7Cu/Sn3.8Ag0.7 Cu0.03Ce solders in surface mount technology. The Anand parameters of the constitutive equations for the SnAgCu and SnAgCuCe solders were determined from separated constitutive relations and experimental results. Non-linear least-squares fitting was selected to determine the model constants. Comparisons were then made with experimental measurements of the stress-inelastic strain curves: excellent agreement was found. The model accurately predicted the overall trend of steady-state stress-strain behavior of SnAgCu and SnAgCuCe solders for the temperature ranges from -55 to 125 °C and for the strain rate range from 1% s-1 to 0.01% s-1. It is concluded that the Anand model can be applied to represent the inelastic deformation behavior of solders at high homologous temperatures and can be recommended for finite element simulation of the stress-strain response of lead-free soldered joints. Based on the Anand model, the investigations of thermo-mechanical behavior of SnAgCu and SnAgCuCe soldered joints in fine pitch quad flat package by the finite element code have been done under thermal cyclic loading, and it is found that the reliability of the SnAgCuCe soldered joints is better than that of the SnAgCu soldered joints.

Unsteady loads due to propulsive lift configurations. Part C: Development of experimental techniques for investigation of unsteady pressures behind a cold model jet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haviland, J. K.; Schroeder, J. C.

1978-01-01

As part of an overall study of the scaling laws for the fluctuating pressures induced on the wings and flaps of STOL aircraft by jet engine impingement, an experimental investigation was made of the near field fluctuating pressures behind a cold circular jet, both when it was free and when it was impinging on a flat plate. Miniature static pressure probes were developed for measurements in the free jet and on the flat plate which were connected by plastic tubing to 1/8 inch microphones and acted as pressure transducers. Using a digital correlator together with an FFT program on the CDC 6400 computer, spectral densities, relative amplitudes, phase lags, and coherences were also obtained for the signals from pairs of these probes, and were used to calibrate these probes directly against microphones. This system of instrumentation was employed to obtain single point rms and third octave surveys of the static pressures in the free jet and on the surface of the plate.

Diffractive beam shaping for enhanced laser polymer welding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rauschenberger, J.; Vogler, D.; Raab, C.; Gubler, U.

2015-03-01

Laser welding of polymers increasingly finds application in a large number of industries such as medical technology, automotive, consumer electronics, textiles or packaging. More and more, it replaces other welding technologies for polymers, e. g. hot-plate, vibration or ultrasonic welding. At the same rate, demands on the quality of the weld, the flexibility of the production system and on processing speed have increased. Traditionally, diode lasers were employed for plastic welding with flat-top beam profiles. With the advent of fiber lasers with excellent beam quality, the possibility to modify and optimize the beam profile by beam-shaping elements has opened. Diffractive optical elements (DOE) can play a crucial role in optimizing the laser intensity profile towards the optimal M-shape beam for enhanced weld seam quality. We present results on significantly improved weld seam width constancy and enlarged process windows compared to Gaussian or flat-top beam profiles. Configurations in which the laser beam diameter and shape can be adapted and optimized without changing or aligning the laser, fiber-optic cable or optical head are shown.

Historic Landscape Plan University of Florida Campus, Plaza of ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

Historic Landscape Plan - University of Florida Campus, Plaza of the Americas, University of Florida Campus Quad Bounded by West University Avenue, US 441/Southwest 13th Street, Stadium Road, and North-South Drive, Gainesville, Alachua County, FL

Small rover exploration capabilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salotti, Jean-Marc; Laithier, Corentin; Machut, Benoit; Marie, Aurélien; Bruneau, Audrey; Grömer, Gernot; Foing, Bernard H.

2015-05-01

For a human mission to the Moon or Mars, an important question is to determine the best strategy for the choice of surface vehicles. Recent studies suggest that the first missions to Mars will be strongly constrained and that only small unpressurized vehicles will be available. We analyze the exploration capabilities and limitations of small surface vehicles from the user perspective. Following the “human centered design” paradigm, the team focused on human systems interactions and conducted the following experiments: - Another member of our team participated in the ILEWG EuroMoonMars 2013 simulation at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah during the same period of time. Although the possible traverses were restricted, a similar study with analog space suits and quads has been carried out. - Other experiments have been conducted in an old rock quarry close to Bordeaux, France. An expert in the use of quads for all types of terrains performed a demonstration and helped us to characterize the difficulties, the risks and advantages and drawbacks of different vehicles and tools. The vehicles that will be used on the surface of Mars have not been defined yet. Nevertheless, the results of our project already show that using a light and unpressurized vehicle (in the order of 150 kg) for the mobility on the Martian surface can be a true advantage. Part of the study was dedicated to the search for appropriate tools that could be used to make the vehicles easier to handle, safer to use and more efficient in the field to cross an obstacle. The final recommendation is to use winches and ramps, which already are widely used by quad drivers. We report on the extension of the reachable areas if such tools were available. This work has been supported by ILEWG, EuroMoonMars and the Austrian Space Forum (OEWF).

Shock response of nanoporous Cu--A molecular dynamics simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Fengpeng

2015-06-01

Shock response of porous materials can be of crucial significance for shock physics and bears many practical applications in materials synthesis and engineering. Molecular dynamics simulations are carried out to investigate shock response of nanoporous metal materials, including elastic-plastic deformation, Hugoniot states, shock-induced melting, partial or complete void collapse, hotspot formation, nanojetting, and vaporization. A model nanoporous Cu with cylindrical voids and a high porosity under shocking is established to investigate such physical properties as velocity, temperature, density, stress and von Mises stress at different stages of compression and release. The elastic-plastic and overtaking shocks are observed at different shock strengths. A modified power-law P- α model is proposed to describe the Hugoniot states. The Grüneisen equation of state is validated. Shock-induced melting shows no clear signs of bulk premelting or superheating. Void collapse via plastic flow nucleated from voids, and the exact processes are shock strength dependent. With increasing shock strengths, void collapse transits from the ``geometrical'' mode (collapse of a void is dominated by crystallography and void geometry and can be different from that of one another) to ``hydrodynamic'' mode (collapse of a void is similar to one another). The collapse may be achieved predominantly by plastic flows along the {111} slip planes, by way of alternating compression and tension zones, by means of transverse flows, via forward and transverse flows, or through forward nano-jetting. The internal jetting induces pronounced shock front roughening, leading to internal hotspot formation and sizable high speed jets on atomically flat free surfaces. P. O. Box 919-401, Mianyang, 621900, Sichuan, PRC.

Measurement of K+ production in charged-current νμ interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marshall, C. M.; Aliaga, L.; Altinok, O.; Bellantoni, L.; Bercellie, A.; Betancourt, M.; Bodek, A.; Bravar, A.; Budd, H.; Cai, T.; Carneiro, M. F.; Chvojka, J.; da Motta, H.; Devan, J.; Dytman, S. A.; Díaz, G. A.; Eberly, B.; Endress, E.; Felix, J.; Fields, L.; Filkins, A.; Fine, R.; Gago, A. M.; Galindo, R.; Gallagher, H.; Ghosh, A.; Golan, T.; Gran, R.; Griswold, S.; Harris, D. A.; Higuera, A.; Hurtado, K.; Kiveni, M.; Kleykamp, J.; Kordosky, M.; Le, T.; Maher, E.; Majoros, I.; Manly, S.; Mann, W. A.; Martinez Caicedo, D. A.; McFarland, K. S.; McGivern, C. L.; McGowan, A. M.; Messerly, B.; Miller, J.; Mislivec, A.; Morfín, J. G.; Mousseau, J.; Naples, D.; Nelson, J. K.; Norrick, A.; Nuruzzaman, Osta, J.; Paolone, V.; Park, J.; Patrick, C. E.; Perdue, G. N.; Rakotondravohitra, L.; Ramirez, M. A.; Ransome, R. D.; Ray, H.; Ren, L.; Rimal, D.; Rodrigues, P. A.; Rosenberg, M.; Ruterbories, D.; Schellman, H.; Schmitz, D. W.; Shadler, L. A.; Simon, C.; Solano Salinas, C. J.; Sánchez, S. F.; Tice, B. G.; Valencia, E.; Walton, T.; Wang, Z.; Watkins, P.; Wiley, K.; Wolcott, J.; Wospakrik, M.; Zhang, D.; Minerva Collaboration

2016-07-01

Production of K+ mesons in charged-current νμ interactions on plastic scintillator (CH) is measured using MINERvA exposed to the low-energy NuMI beam at Fermilab. Timing information is used to isolate a sample of 885 charged-current events containing a stopping K+ which decays at rest. The differential cross section in K+ kinetic energy, d σ /d TK, is observed to be relatively flat between 0 and 500 MeV. Its shape is in good agreement with the prediction by the genie neutrino event generator when final-state interactions are included, however the data rate is lower than the prediction by 15%.

Feasibility report on proposed Amtrak service Quad Cities-Chicago : executive summary.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-01-07

Since the introduction of expanded levels of intrastate service on October 30, 2006, : Amtrak trains in Illinois have produced impressive gains in both ridership and ticket : revenue. This success and continuing stakeholder support has given rise to ...

75 FR 22228 - Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Upper Mississippi River, Rock Island, IL

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-28

... necessary to allow the Quad Cities Marathon to cross the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to be... for a four hour period while a marathon is held between the cities of Davenport, IA and Rock Island...

77 FR 6591 - Investigations Regarding Certifications of Eligibility To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-08

........... 01/18/12 01/13/12 Center--Peace Health (State/One-Stop). 81247 Quad Graphics (Union)...... Dickson...). 81257 World of Flowers, Inc. Oxford, AL 01/20/12 01/18/12 (Company). 81258 DTC Communications, Inc...

Micromechanics of plastic deformation and phase transformation in a three-phase TRIP-assisted advanced high strength steel: Experiments and modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srivastava, Ankit; Ghassemi-Armaki, Hassan; Sung, Hyokyung; Chen, Peng; Kumar, Sharvan; Bower, Allan F.

2015-05-01

The micromechanics of plastic deformation and phase transformation in a three-phase advanced high strength steel are analyzed both experimentally and by microstructure-based simulations. The steel examined is a three-phase (ferrite, martensite and retained austenite) quenched and partitioned sheet steel with a tensile strength of 980 MPa. The macroscopic flow behavior and the volume fraction of martensite resulting from the austenite-martensite transformation during deformation were measured. In addition, micropillar compression specimens were extracted from the individual ferrite grains and the martensite particles, and using a flat-punch nanoindenter, stress-strain curves were obtained. Finite element simulations idealize the microstructure as a composite that contains ferrite, martensite and retained austenite. All three phases are discretely modeled using appropriate crystal plasticity based constitutive relations. Material parameters for ferrite and martensite are determined by fitting numerical predictions to the micropillar data. The constitutive relation for retained austenite takes into account contributions to the strain rate from the austenite-martensite transformation, as well as slip in both the untransformed austenite and product martensite. Parameters for the retained austenite are then determined by fitting the predicted flow stress and transformed austenite volume fraction in a 3D microstructure to experimental measurements. Simulations are used to probe the role of the retained austenite in controlling the strain hardening behavior as well as internal stress and strain distributions in the microstructure.

Assessing the role of slab rheology in coupled plate-mantle convection models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bello, Léa; Coltice, Nicolas; Tackley, Paul J.; Dietmar Müller, R.; Cannon, John

2015-11-01

Reconstructing the 3D structure of the Earth's mantle has been a challenge for geodynamicists for about 40 yr. Although numerical models and computational capabilities have substantially progressed, parameterizations used for modeling convection forced by plate motions are far from being Earth-like. Among the set of parameters, rheology is fundamental because it defines in a non-linear way the dynamics of slabs and plumes, and the organization of lithosphere deformation. In this study, we evaluate the role of the temperature dependence of viscosity (variations up to 6 orders of magnitude) and the importance of pseudo-plasticity on reconstructing slab evolution in 3D spherical models of convection driven by plate history models. Pseudo-plasticity, which produces plate-like behavior in convection models, allows a consistent coupling between imposed plate motions and global convection, which is not possible with temperature-dependent viscosity alone. Using test case models, we show that increasing temperature dependence of viscosity enhances vertical and lateral coherence of slabs, but leads to unrealistic slab morphologies for large viscosity contrasts. Introducing pseudo-plasticity partially solves this issue, producing thin laterally and vertically more continuous slabs, and flat subduction where trench retreat is fast. We evaluate the differences between convection reconstructions employing different viscosity laws to be very large, and similar to the differences between two models with the same rheology but using two different plate histories or initial conditions.

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

Peralta, Pedro; Fortin, Elizabeth; Opie, Saul

Activities for this grant included: 1) Development of dynamic impact experiments to probe strength and phase transition influence on dynamic deformation, 2) development of modern strength and phase aware simulation capabilities, 3) and post-processing of experimental data with simulation and closed form analytical techniques. Two different dynamic experiments were developed to probe material strengths in solid metals (largely copper and iron in this effort). In the first experiment a flyer plate impacts a flat target with an opposite rippled surface that is partially supported by a weaker window material. Post mortem analysis of the target sample showed a strong andmore » repeatable residual plastic deformation dependence on grain orientation. Yield strengths for strain rates near 10 5 s -1 and plastic strains near ~50% were estimated to be around 180 to 240 MPa, varying in this range with grain orientation. Unfortunately dynamic real-time measurements were difficult with this setup due to diagnostic laser scattering; hence, an additional experimental setup was developed to complement these results. In the second set of experiments a rippled surface was ablated by a controlled laser pulsed, which launched a rippled shock front to an opposite initially flat diagnostic surface that was monitored in real-time with spatially resolved velocimetry techniques, e.g., line VISAR in addition to Transient Imaging Displacement Interferometry (TIDI) displacement measurements. This setup limited the displacements at the diagnostic surface to a reasonable level for TIDI measurements (~ less than one micrometer). These experiments coupled with analytical and numerical solutions provided evidence that viscous and elastic deviatoric strength affect shock front perturbation evolution in clearly different ways. Particularly, normalized shock front perturbation amplitudes evolve with viscosity (η) and perturbation wavelength (λ) as η/λ, such that increasing viscosity (or decreasing the initial wavelength) delays the perturbation decay. Conversely our experimental data, analysis and simulations show that for materials with elastic yield strength Y the normalized shock perturbation amplitude evolves with Yλ/A 0, which shows wavelength increases have the opposite effect as in viscous materials and perturbation decay is also dependent on initial amplitude A 0 (viscous materials are independent of this parameter). Materials where strength had clear strain rate dependence, e.g., such as a PTW material law, behaved similarly to materials with only an effective yield stress (elastic-perfectly plastic) in the shock front perturbation studies obeying a Y effλA 0 relationship where Y eff was a constant (near ~400 MPa for Cu for strain rates around 10 6 s -1). Magnitude changes in strain rate would increase Y eff as would be expected from the PTW behavior, but small perturbations (typical of regions behind the shock front) near a mean had little effect. Additional work based on simulations showed that phase transformation kinetics can affect the behavior of the perturbed shock front as well as the evolution of the RM-like instability that develops due to the imprint of the perturbed shock front on the initially flat surface as the shock breaks out.« less

Strategies toward Cooperation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Donald A.

1979-01-01

The Quad-Cities Graduate Study Center in Rock Island, Illinois, a voluntary, publicly funded, academic consortium, is described. It was incorporated as an experimental project to determine if pooling institutional resources were academically, financially, and administratively possible. It is now a model of inter-institutional cooperation providing…

76 FR 9223 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Upper Mississippi River, Rock Island, IL

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-17

... is necessary to allow the Quad City Marathon to cross the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to...:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., September 25, 2011, while a marathon is held between the cities of Davenport...

77 FR 5398 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Upper Mississippi River, Rock Island, IL

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-03

... is necessary to allow the Quad City Marathon to cross the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to...:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., September 23, 2012, while a marathon is held between the cities of Davenport...

Parametric analysis of plastic strain and force distribution in single pass metal spinning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choudhary, Shashank; Tejesh, Chiruvolu Mohan; Regalla, Srinivasa Prakash; Suresh, Kurra

2013-12-01

Metal spinning also known as spin forming is one of the sheet metal working processes by which an axis-symmetric part can be formed from a flat sheet metal blank. Parts are produced by pressing a blunt edged tool or roller on to the blank which in turn is mounted on a rotating mandrel. This paper discusses about the setting up a 3-D finite element simulation of single pass metal spinning in LS-Dyna. Four parameters were considered namely blank thickness, roller nose radius, feed ratio and mandrel speed and the variation in forces and plastic strain were analysed using the full-factorial design of experiments (DOE) method of simulation experiments. For some of these DOE runs, physical experiments on extra deep drawing (EDD) sheet metal were carried out using En31 tool on a lathe machine. Simulation results are able to predict the zone of unsafe thinning in the sheet and high forming forces that are hint to the necessity for less-expensive and semi-automated machine tools to help the household and small scale spinning workers widely prevalent in India.

Local relative density modulates failure and strength in vertically aligned carbon nanotubes.

PubMed

Pathak, Siddhartha; Mohan, Nisha; Decolvenaere, Elizabeth; Needleman, Alan; Bedewy, Mostafa; Hart, A John; Greer, Julia R

2013-10-22

Micromechanical experiments, image analysis, and theoretical modeling revealed that local failure events and compressive stresses of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) were uniquely linked to relative density gradients. Edge detection analysis of systematically obtained scanning electron micrographs was used to quantify a microstructural figure-of-merit related to relative local density along VACNT heights. Sequential bottom-to-top buckling and hardening in stress-strain response were observed in samples with smaller relative density at the bottom. When density gradient was insubstantial or reversed, bottom regions always buckled last, and a flat stress plateau was obtained. These findings were consistent with predictions of a 2D material model based on a viscoplastic solid with plastic non-normality and a hardening-softening-hardening plastic flow relation. The hardening slope in compression generated by the model was directly related to the stiffness gradient along the sample height, and hence to the local relative density. These results demonstrate that a microstructural figure-of-merit, the effective relative density, can be used to quantify and predict the mechanical response.

Experimental studies of the effect target geometry on the evolution of laser produced plasma plumes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beatty, Cuyler; Anderson, Austin; Iratcabal, Jeremy; Dutra, Eric; Covington, Aaron

2016-10-01

The expansion of the laser plumes was shown to be dependent on the initial target geometry. A 16 channel framing camera was used to record the plume shape and propagation speeds were determined from analysis of the images. Plastic targets were manufactured using different methods including 3D printing, CNC machining and vacuum casting. Preliminary target designs were made using a 3D printer and ABS plastic material. These targets were then tested using a 3 J laser with a 5 ns duration pulse. Targets with a deep conical depression were shown to produce highly collimated plumes when compared to flat top targets. Preliminary results of these experiments will be discussed along with planned future experiments that will use the indented targets with a 30 J laser with a 0.8 ns duration pulse in preparation for pinched laser plume experiments at the Nevada Terawatt Facility. Other polymers that are readily available in a deuterated form will also be explored as part of an effort to develop a cost effective plasma plume target for follow on neutron production experiments. Dr. Austin Anderson.

Method of fabrication of display pixels driven by silicon thin film transistors

DOEpatents

Carey, Paul G.; Smith, Patrick M.

1999-01-01

Display pixels driven by silicon thin film transistors are fabricated on plastic substrates for use in active matrix displays, such as flat panel displays. The process for forming the pixels involves a prior method for forming individual silicon thin film transistors on low-temperature plastic substrates. Low-temperature substrates are generally considered as being incapable of withstanding sustained processing temperatures greater than about 200.degree. C. The pixel formation process results in a complete pixel and active matrix pixel array. A pixel (or picture element) in an active matrix display consists of a silicon thin film transistor (TFT) and a large electrode, which may control a liquid crystal light valve, an emissive material (such as a light emitting diode or LED), or some other light emitting or attenuating material. The pixels can be connected in arrays wherein rows of pixels contain common gate electrodes and columns of pixels contain common drain electrodes. The source electrode of each pixel TFT is connected to its pixel electrode, and is electrically isolated from every other circuit element in the pixel array.

Modeling Surface Roughness to Estimate Surface Moisture Using Radarsat-2 Quad Polarimetric SAR Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nurtyawan, R.; Saepuloh, A.; Budiharto, A.; Wikantika, K.

2016-08-01

Microwave backscattering from the earth's surface depends on several parameters such as surface roughness and dielectric constant of surface materials. The two parameters related to water content and porosity are crucial for estimating soil moisture. The soil moisture is an important parameter for ecological study and also a factor to maintain energy balance of land surface and atmosphere. Direct roughness measurements to a large area require extra time and cost. Heterogeneity roughness scale for some applications such as hydrology, climate, and ecology is a problem which could lead to inaccuracies of modeling. In this study, we modeled surface roughness using Radasat-2 quad Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PolSAR) data. The statistical approaches to field roughness measurements were used to generate an appropriate roughness model. This modeling uses a physical SAR approach to predicts radar backscattering coefficient in the parameter of radar configuration (wavelength, polarization, and incidence angle) and soil parameters (surface roughness and dielectric constant). Surface roughness value is calculated using a modified Campbell and Shepard model in 1996. The modification was applied by incorporating the backscattering coefficient (σ°) of quad polarization HH, HV and VV. To obtain empirical surface roughness model from SAR backscattering intensity, we used forty-five sample points from field roughness measurements. We selected paddy field in Indramayu district, West Java, Indonesia as the study area. This area was selected due to intensive decreasing of rice productivity in the Northern Coast region of West Java. Third degree polynomial is the most suitable data fitting with coefficient of determination R2 and RMSE are about 0.82 and 1.18 cm, respectively. Therefore, this model is used as basis to generate the map of surface roughness.

Design of a Miniaturized Langmuir Plasma Probe for the QuadSat/PnP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Landavazo, M.; Jorgensen, A. M.; Del Barga, C.; Ferguson, D.; Guillette, D.; Huynh, A.; Klepper, J.; Kuker, J.; Lyke, J. C.; Marohn, B.; Mason, J.; Quiroga, J.; Ravindran, V.; Yelton, C.; Zagrai, A. N.; Zufelt, B.

2011-12-01

We have developed a miniaturized Langmuir plasma probe for measuring plasma density in low-earth orbit. Measuring plasma density in the upper ionosphere is important as a diagnostic for the rest of the ionosphere and as an input to space weather forecasting models. Developing miniaturized instrumentation allows easier deployment of a large number of small satellites for monitoring space weather. Our instrument was designed for the Swedish QuadSat/PnP, with the following constraints: A volume constraint of 5x5x1.25cm for the electronics enclosure, a mass budget 100 g, and a power budget of 0.5 W. We met the volume and mass constraints and where able to use less power than budgeted, only 0.25 W. We designed the probe for a bias range of +/-15V and current measurements in the 1 nA to 1 mA range (6 orders of magnitude). Necessary voltage of +/- 15 V and 3.3 V were generated on-board from a single 5 V supply. The electronics suite is based off carefully selected yet affordable commercial components that exhibit low noise, low leakage currents and low power consumption. Size constraints, low noise and low leakage requirements called for a carefully designed four layer PCB with a properly guarded current path using surface mount components on both sides. An ultra-low power microcontroller handles instrument functionality and is fully controllable over i2c using SPA-1 space plug and play. We elected for a probe launched deployed, which required careful design to survive launch vibrations while staying within the mass budget. The QuadSat/PnP has not been launched at the time of writing. We will present details of the instrument design and initial calibration data.

Development of High Performance Composite Foam Insulation with Vacuum Insulation Cores

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

Biswas, Kaushik; Desjarlais, Andre Omer; SmithPhD, Douglas

Development of a high performance thermal insulation (thermal resistance or R-value per inch of R-12 hr-ft2- F/Btu-in or greater), with twice the thermal resistance of state-of-the-art commercial insulation materials ( R6/inch for foam insulation), promises a transformational impact in the area of building insulation. In 2010, in the US, the building envelope-related primary energy consumption was 15.6 quads, of which 5.75 quads were due to opaque wall and roof sections; the total US consumption (building, industrial and transportation) was 98 quads. In other words, the wall and roof contribution was almost 6% of the entire US primary energy consumption. Buildingmore » energy modeling analyses have shown that adding insulation to increase the R-value of the external walls of residential buildings by R10-20 (hr-ft2- F/Btu) can yield savings of 38-50% in wall-generated heating and cooling loads. Adding R20 will require substantial thicknesses of current commercial insulation materials, often requiring significant (and sometimes cost-prohibitive) alterations to existing buildings. This article describes the development of a next-generation composite insulation with a target thermal resistance of R25 for a 2 inch thick board (R12/inch or higher). The composite insulation will contain vacuum insulation cores, which are nominally R35-40/inch, encapsulated in polyisocyanurate foam. A recently-developed variant of vacuum insulation, called modified atmosphere insulation (MAI), was used in this research. Some background information on the thermal performance and distinguishing features of MAI has been provided. Technical details of the composite insulation development and manufacturing as well as laboratory evaluation of prototype insulation boards are presented.« less

What is integrability of discrete variational systems?

PubMed

Boll, Raphael; Petrera, Matteo; Suris, Yuri B

2014-02-08

We propose a notion of a pluri-Lagrangian problem, which should be understood as an analogue of multi-dimensional consistency for variational systems. This is a development along the line of research of discrete integrable Lagrangian systems initiated in 2009 by Lobb and Nijhoff, however, having its more remote roots in the theory of pluriharmonic functions, in the Z -invariant models of statistical mechanics and their quasiclassical limit, as well as in the theory of variational symmetries going back to Noether. A d -dimensional pluri-Lagrangian problem can be described as follows: given a d -form [Formula: see text] on an m -dimensional space (called multi-time, m > d ), whose coefficients depend on a sought-after function x of m independent variables (called field), find those fields x which deliver critical points to the action functionals [Formula: see text] for any d -dimensional manifold Σ in the multi-time. We derive the main building blocks of the multi-time Euler-Lagrange equations for a discrete pluri-Lagrangian problem with d =2, the so-called corner equations, and discuss the notion of consistency of the system of corner equations. We analyse the system of corner equations for a special class of three-point two-forms, corresponding to integrable quad-equations of the ABS list. This allows us to close a conceptual gap of the work by Lobb and Nijhoff by showing that the corresponding two-forms are closed not only on solutions of (non-variational) quad-equations, but also on general solutions of the corresponding corner equations. We also find an example of a pluri-Lagrangian system not coming from a multi-dimensionally consistent system of quad-equations.

Evaluation of diagnostic assays for the serological detection of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae on samples of known or unknown exposure.

PubMed

Opriessnig, Tanja; Hemann, Michelle; Johnson, John K; Heinen, Sheila; Giménez-Lirola, Luis G; O'Neill, Kevin C; Hoang, Hai; Yoon, Kyoung-Jin; Gottschalk, Marcelo; Halbur, Patrick G

2013-01-01

Accurate diagnosis of exposure to Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is important for maintaining negative farms. In the present study, the ability of a dual-plate complement fixation (CF) assay and 3 commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs; quad-plate ELISA-1, single-plate ELISA-2, and single-plate ELISA-3) in detecting serological evidence of A. pleuropneumoniae exposure was compared using serum samples of experimentally infected or vaccinated pigs, or field samples from the United States. Forty-two pigs were divided into groups of 2 pigs and were inoculated with 1 of 15 A. pleuropneumoniae strains representing all known serovars of A. pleuropneumoniae, or with Actinobacillus suis, or were vaccinated with a bacterin containing A. pleuropneumoniae serovar 1, 3, 5, or 7. Serum samples collected at the day of inoculation or vaccination and 7, 14, 21, and 28 days later were used to compare the assays. On samples from experimentally infected pigs, the dual-plate CF assay, quad-plate ELISA-1, single-plate ELISA-2, and single-plate ELISA-3 had sensitivities of 0.46, 0.74, 0.13, and 0.13 and specificities of 0.90, 1.0, 1.0, and 1.0, respectively. Vaccinated pigs were identified only by the dual-plate CF assay and the quad-plate ELISA-1. In addition, 90 serum samples with unknown A. pleuropneumoniae exposure collected under field conditions were tested with all assays. The agreement of the 4 assays on field samples was slight to fair. While several assays are available for demonstration of A. pleuropneumoniae exposure, differences in assay targets complicate test choices. Decisions on which assay or combination of assays to use depend on the specific reasons for running the assays.

What is integrability of discrete variational systems?

PubMed Central

Boll, Raphael; Petrera, Matteo; Suris, Yuri B.

2014-01-01

We propose a notion of a pluri-Lagrangian problem, which should be understood as an analogue of multi-dimensional consistency for variational systems. This is a development along the line of research of discrete integrable Lagrangian systems initiated in 2009 by Lobb and Nijhoff, however, having its more remote roots in the theory of pluriharmonic functions, in the Z-invariant models of statistical mechanics and their quasiclassical limit, as well as in the theory of variational symmetries going back to Noether. A d-dimensional pluri-Lagrangian problem can be described as follows: given a d-form on an m-dimensional space (called multi-time, m>d), whose coefficients depend on a sought-after function x of m independent variables (called field), find those fields x which deliver critical points to the action functionals for any d-dimensional manifold Σ in the multi-time. We derive the main building blocks of the multi-time Euler–Lagrange equations for a discrete pluri-Lagrangian problem with d=2, the so-called corner equations, and discuss the notion of consistency of the system of corner equations. We analyse the system of corner equations for a special class of three-point two-forms, corresponding to integrable quad-equations of the ABS list. This allows us to close a conceptual gap of the work by Lobb and Nijhoff by showing that the corresponding two-forms are closed not only on solutions of (non-variational) quad-equations, but also on general solutions of the corresponding corner equations. We also find an example of a pluri-Lagrangian system not coming from a multi-dimensionally consistent system of quad-equations. PMID:24511254

Conformal Cryogenic Tank Trade Study for Reusable Launch Vehicles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rivers, H. Kevin

1999-01-01

Future reusable launch vehicles may be lifting bodies with non-circular cross section like the proposed Lockheed-Martin VentureStar(tm). Current designs for the cryogenic tanks of these vehicles are dual-lobed and quad-lobed tanks which are packaged more efficiently than circular tanks, but still have low packaging efficiencies with large gaps existing between the vehicle outer mold line and the outer surfaces of the tanks. In this study, tanks that conform to the outer mold line of a non-circular vehicle were investigated. Four structural concepts for conformal cryogenic tanks and a quad-lobed tank concept were optimized for minimum weight designs. The conformal tank concepts included a sandwich tank stiffened with axial tension webs, a sandwich tank stiffened with transverse tension webs, a sandwich tank stiffened with rings and tension ties, and a sandwich tank stiffened with orthogrid stiffeners and tension ties. For each concept, geometric parameters (such as ring frame spacing, the number and spacing of tension ties or webs, and tank corner radius) and internal pressure loads were varied and the structure was optimized using a finite-element-based optimization procedure. Theoretical volumetric weights were calculated by dividing the weight of the barrel section of the tank concept and its associated frames, webs and tension ties by the volume it circumscribes. This paper describes the four conformal tank concepts and the design assumptions utilized in their optimization. The conformal tank optimization results included theoretical weights, trends and comparisons between the concepts, are also presented, along with results from the optimization of a quad-lobed tank. Also, the effects of minimum gauge values and non-optimum weights on the weight of the optimized structure are described in this paper.

Biochemical Effect of Resistance Mutations against Synergistic Inhibitors of RSV RNA Polymerase

PubMed Central

Fung, Amy; Stevens, Sarah K.; Jordan, Paul C.; Gromova, Tatiana; Taylor, Joshua S.; Hong, Jin; Meng, Jia; Wang, Guangyi; Dyatkina, Natalia; Prhavc, Marija; Symons, Julian A.; Beigelman, Leo

2016-01-01

ALS-8112 is the parent molecule of ALS-8176, a first-in-class nucleoside analog prodrug effective in the clinic against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. The antiviral activity of ALS-8112 is mediated by its 5'-triphosphate metabolite (ALS-8112-TP, or 2'F-4'ClCH2-cytidine triphosphate) inhibiting the RNA polymerase activity of the RSV L-P protein complex through RNA chain termination. Four amino acid mutations in the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain of L (QUAD: M628L, A789V, L795I, and I796V) confer in vitro resistance to ALS-8112-TP by increasing its discrimination relative to natural CTP. In this study, we show that the QUAD mutations specifically recognize the ClCH2 group of ALS-8112-TP. Among the four mutations, A789V conferred the greatest resistance phenotype, which was consistent with its putative position in the active site of the RdRp domain. AZ-27, a non-nucleoside inhibitor of RSV, also inhibited the RdRp activity, with decreased inhibition potency in the presence of the Y1631H mutation. The QUAD mutations had no effect on the antiviral activity of AZ-27, and the Y1631H mutation did not significantly increase the discrimination of ALS-8112-TP. Combining ALS-8112 with AZ-27 in vitro resulted in significant synergistic inhibition of RSV replication. Overall, this is the first mechanistic study showing a lack of cross-resistance between mutations selected by different classes of RSV polymerase inhibitors acting in synergy, opening the door to future potential combination therapies targeting different regions of the L protein. PMID:27163448

A generic set of HF antennas for use with spherical model expansions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katal, Nedim

1990-03-01

An antenna engineering handbook and database program has been constructed by engineers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) using the Numerical Electromagnetics Code (NEC) antenna modeling program to prepare data performance on tactical field communication antennas used by the Army. It is desirable to have this information installed on a personnel computer (PC), using relational database techniques to select antennas based on performance criteria. This thesis obtains and analyses current distributions and radiation pattern data by using NEC for the following set of four (4) high frequency (HF) tactical generic antennas to be used in future spherical mode expansion work: a quarter wavelength basic whip, a one-wavelength horizontal quad Loop, a 564-foot longwire, and a sloping vee beam dipole. The results of this study show that the basic whip antenna provides good groundwave communication, but it has poor near vertical incident skywave (NVIS) performance. The current distribution has the characteristics of standing waves. The horizontal quad loop antenna is good for night vision imaging systems (NVIS) and medium range skywave communications. The current distribution is sinusoidal and continuous around the loop. The long wire antenna allows short, medium and long range communications and a standing wave current distribution occurs along the antenna axis due to non-termination. The sloping vee beam antenna favors long range communication and the current distribution is mainly that of travelling sinusoidal waves. Because of their well-known efficiency, the basic whip and quad loop can be used as reference standards for the spherical mode expansion work. The longwire and sloping vee beam antenna are unwieldy, but they are effective as base station antennas.

Plastic damage induced fracture behaviors of dental ceramic layer structures subjected to monotonic load.

PubMed

Wang, Raorao; Lu, Chenglin; Arola, Dwayne; Zhang, Dongsheng

2013-08-01

The aim of this study was to compare failure modes and fracture strength of ceramic structures using a combination of experimental and numerical methods. Twelve specimens with flat layer structures were fabricated from two types of ceramic systems (IPS e.max ceram/e.max press-CP and Vita VM9/Lava zirconia-VZ) and subjected to monotonic load to fracture with a tungsten carbide sphere. Digital image correlation (DIC) and fractography technology were used to analyze fracture behaviors of specimens. Numerical simulation was also applied to analyze the stress distribution in these two types of dental ceramics. Quasi-plastic damage occurred beneath the indenter in porcelain in all cases. In general, the fracture strength of VZ specimens was greater than that of CP specimens. The crack initiation loads of VZ and CP were determined as 958 ± 50 N and 724 ± 36 N, respectively. Cracks were induced by plastic damage and were subsequently driven by tensile stress at the elastic/plastic boundary and extended downward toward to the veneer/core interface from the observation of DIC at the specimen surface. Cracks penetrated into e.max press core, which led to a serious bulk fracture in CP crowns, while in VZ specimens, cracks were deflected and extended along the porcelain/zirconia core interface without penetration into the zirconia core. The rupture loads for VZ and CP ceramics were determined as 1150 ± 170 N and 857 ± 66 N, respectively. Quasi-plastic deformation (damage) is responsible for crack initiation within porcelain in both types of crowns. Due to the intrinsic mechanical properties, the fracture behaviors of these two types of ceramics are different. The zirconia core with high strength and high elastic modulus has better resistance to fracture than the e.max core. © 2013 by the American College of Prosthodontists.

[Effects of plastic film mulching and rain harvesting modes on chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics, yield and water use efficiency of dryland maize].

PubMed

Li, Shang-Zhong; Fan, Ting-Lu; Wang, Yong; Zhao, Gang; Wang, Lei; Tang, Xiao-Ming; Dang, Yi; Zhao, Hui

2014-02-01

The differences on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, yield and water use efficiency of dryland maize were compared among full plastic film mulching on double ridges and planting in catchment furrows (FFDRF), half plastic film mulching on double ridges and planting in catchment furrows (HFDRF), plastic film mulching on ridge and planting in film-side (FS), and flat planting with no plastic film mulching (NM) under field conditions in dry highland of Loess Plateau in 2007-2012. The results showed that fluorescence yield (Fo), the maximum fluorescence yield (Fm), light-adapted fluorescence yield when PS II reaction centers were totally open (F), light-adapted fluorescence yield when PS II reaction centers closed (Fm'), the maximal photochemical efficiency of PS II (Fv/Fm), the actual photochemical efficiency of PS II in the light (Phi PS II), the relative electron transport rate (ETR), photochemical quenching (qP) and non-photochemical quenching (qN) in maize leaves of FFDRF were higher than that of control (NM), and the value of 1-qP was lower than that of control, at 13:00, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters values of FFDRF was significantly higher than control, which were increased by 5.3%, 56.8%, 10.7%, 36.3%, 23.6%, 56.7%, 64.4%, 45.5%, 23.6% and -55.6%, respectively, compared with the control. Yield and water use efficiency of FFDRF were the highest in every year no matter dry year, normal year, humid year and hail disaster year. Average yield and water use efficiency of FFDRF were 12,650 kg x hm(-2) and 40.4 kg x mm(-1) x hm(-2) during 2007-2012, increased by 57.8% and 61.6% compared with the control, respectively, and also significantly higher compared with HFDRF and PS. Therefore, it was concluded that FFDRF had significantly increased the efficiency of light energy conversion and improved the production capacity of dryland maize.

Culbertson holds a syringe kit in Destiny during Expedition Three

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-08-29

ISS003-E-5475 (29 August 2001) --- Astronaut Frank L. Culbertson, Expedition Three mission commander, holds a syringe kit to be used in the Quad Tissue Culture Module Assemblies (QTCMA) for the Biotechnology Specimen Temperature Controller (BSTC) experiment in the U.S. Laboratory.

The Comprehensive Health Assessment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eastern Iowa Community Coll. District, Davenport.

This report contains information from a fall 1991 health occupations assessment of 1,021 health-related employers in Eastern Iowa and the Illinois Quad Cities area. Twelve chapters present comprehensive results of all surveys; results of 10 labor market survey instruments developed for chiropractic offices, dentists' offices, emergency medical…

Charge Up Your Career

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lartz, Paul

2005-01-01

This articles describes a partnership between the Quad Cities Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and the Minority Teacher Incentive Program (MTIP) of the Rock Island-Milan Public Schools. The purpose of this partnership is to provide information about…

Enhancing Image Processing Performance for PCID in a Heterogeneous Network of Multi-core Processors

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-09-01

TFLOPS of Playstation 3 (PS3) nodes with IBM Cell Broadband Engine multi-cores and 15 dual-quad Xeon head nodes. The interconnect fabric includes... 4   3. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT FOR PARALLELIZATION AND...STREAMING............................................................. 7  4 . RESULTS

Public health nursing competencies 1953-1966: effective and efficient.

PubMed

Weierbach, Florence M

2007-01-01

The Quad Council of Public Health Nursing Organizations developed public health nursing competencies in 2003. They are guides for determining skills at two levels, and they identify public health nurses as providing care to individuals and families or to populations and systems with the nurse having proficiency, awareness, or knowledge. The primary purpose of this paper is to discuss historical nursing roles and qualifications as judged by the 2003 competencies, including educational preparation and experience for the administrative and staff nurse. The historical exemplar for the nursing roles is a combination public/private nursing association, referred to as the partnership, that took place in 1953-1966. Primary sources include archived material from the Instructive Visiting Nurse Association, Richmond, VA. Administrative responsibilities were divided between the chief nurse and the nursing supervisors. Staff nurse responsibilities included clinic activities, home visitation, and referral coordination between health care organizations. The delineation of nursing roles demonstrates nurses' meeting the 2003 competencies. Based on the Quad Council's 2003 public health nursing competencies, the partnership nurses were competent.

Progress Towards Highly Efficient Windows for Zero—Energy Buildings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Selkowitz, Stephen

2008-09-01

Energy efficient windows could save 4 quads/year, with an additional 1 quad/year gain from daylighting in commercial buildings. This corresponds to 13% of energy used by US buildings and 5% of all energy used by the US. The technical potential is thus very large and the economic potential is slowly becoming a reality. This paper describes the progress in energy efficient windows that employ low-emissivity glazing, electrochromic switchable coatings and other novel materials. Dynamic systems are being developed that use sensors and controls to modulate daylighting and shading contributions in response to occupancy, comfort and energy needs. Improving the energy performance of windows involves physics in a variety of application: optics, heat transfer, materials science and applied engineering. Technical solutions must also be compatible with national policy, codes and standards, economics, business practice and investment, real and perceived risks, comfort, health, safety, productivity, amenities, and occupant preference and values. The challenge is to optimize energy performance by understanding and reinforcing the synergetic coupling between these many issues.

Scalable SCPPM Decoder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Quir, Kevin J.; Gin, Jonathan W.; Nguyen, Danh H.; Nguyen, Huy; Nakashima, Michael A.; Moision, Bruce E.

2012-01-01

A decoder was developed that decodes a serial concatenated pulse position modulation (SCPPM) encoded information sequence. The decoder takes as input a sequence of four bit log-likelihood ratios (LLR) for each PPM slot in a codeword via a XAUI 10-Gb/s quad optical fiber interface. If the decoder is unavailable, it passes the LLRs on to the next decoder via a XAUI 10-Gb/s quad optical fiber interface. Otherwise, it decodes the sequence and outputs information bits through a 1-GB/s Ethernet UDP/IP (User Datagram Protocol/Internet Protocol) interface. The throughput for a single decoder unit is 150-Mb/s at an average of four decoding iterations; by connecting a number of decoder units in series, a decoding rate equal to that of the aggregate rate is achieved. The unit is controlled through a 1-GB/s Ethernet UDP/IP interface. This ground station decoder was developed to demonstrate a deep space optical communication link capability, and is unique in the scalable design to achieve real-time SCPP decoding at the aggregate data rate.

Discovery of the Lensed Quasar System DES J0408-5354

DOE PAGES

Lin, H.; Buckley-Geer, E.; Agnello, A.; ...

2017-03-27

We report the discovery and spectroscopic confirmation of the quad-like lensed quasar system DES J0408-5354 found in the Dark Energy Survey (DES) Year 1 (Y1) data. This system was discovered during a search for DES Y1 strong lensing systems using a method that identified candidates as red galaxies with multiple blue neighbors. DES J0408-5354 consists of a central red galaxy surrounded by three bright (more » $$i\\lt 20$$) blue objects and a fourth red object. Subsequent spectroscopic observations using the Gemini South telescope confirmed that the three blue objects are indeed the lensed images of a quasar with redshift z = 2.375, and that the central red object is an early-type lensing galaxy with redshift z = 0.597. DES J0408-5354 is the first quad lensed quasar system to be found in DES and begins to demonstrate the potential of DES to discover and dramatically increase the sample size of these very rare objects.« less

OMS engine shutoff valve and actuation system design and evaluation. [for space shuttles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wichmann, H.

1974-01-01

Shutoff valve and actuation system concepts that are most suitable for the Orbital Maneuvering Systems engine application were determined. Emphasis was placed on the ten year and 100 mission life requirement, propellant and propellant residue compatibility and weight. It was found that poppet or ball valves utilizing electric or electropneumatic actuation were most applicable. Preliminary design layouts of a number of valve and actuation concepts were prepared and analyzed to make the optimum concept selection. Pneumatic actuation systems were required to feature their own pneumatic supply so that for the quad redundant valve, it was necessary to include two pneumatic supply systems, one for each of the series legs of the quad redundant package. The requirement for the pneumatic package placed heavy reliability, weight, and maintenance penalties upon electropneumatic actuation systems. The two valve and actuation systems concepts selected featured electric torque motor operation and a poppet as well as a ball valve concept with a retractable seal.

Improvements on high-precision measurement of bromine isotope ratios by multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Wei, Hai-Zhen; Jiang, Shao-Yong; Zhu, Zhi-Yong; Yang, Tao; Yang, Jing-Hong; Yan, Xiong; Wu, He-Pin; Yang, Tang-Li

2015-10-01

A new, feasible procedure for high-precision bromine isotope analysis using multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) is described. With a combination of HR mass resolution mode and accurate optimization of the Zoom Optics parameters (Focus Quad: -1.30; Zoom Quad: 0.00), the challenging problem of the isobaric interferences ((40)Ar(38)ArH(+) and (40)Ar(40)ArH(+)) in the measurement of bromine isotopes ((79)Br(+), (81)Br(+)) has been effectively solved. The external reproducibility of the measured (81)Br/(79)Br ratios in the selected standard reference materials ranged from ±0.03‰ to ±0.14‰, which is superior to or equivalent to the best results from previous contributions. The effect of counter cations on the Br(+) signal intensity and the instrumental-induced mass bias was evaluated as the loss of HBr aerosol in nebulizer and potential diffusive isotope fractionations. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Research of beam smoothing technologies using CPP, SSD, and PS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Rui; Su, Jingqin; Hu, Dongxia; Li, Ping; Yuan, Haoyu; Zhou, Wei; Yuan, Qiang; Wang, Yuancheng; Tian, Xiaocheng; Xu, Dangpeng; Dong, Jun; Zhu, Qihua

2015-02-01

Precise physical experiments place strict requirements on target illumination uniformity in Inertial Confinement Fusion. To obtain a smoother focal spot and suppress transverse SBS in large aperture optics, Multi-FM smoothing by spectral dispersion (SSD) was studied combined with continuous phase plate (CPP) and polarization smoothing (PS). New ways of PS are being developed to improve the laser irradiation uniformity and solve LPI problems in indirect-drive laser fusion. The near field and far field properties of beams using polarization smoothing were studied and compared, including birefringent wedge and polarization control array. As more parameters can be manipulated in a combined beam smoothing scheme, quad beam smoothing was also studies. Simulation results indicate through adjusting dispersion directions of one-dimensional (1-D) SSD beams in a quad, two-dimensional SSD can be obtained. Experiments have been done on SG-III laser facility using CPP and Multi-FM SSD. The research provides some theoretical and experimental basis for the application of CPP, SSD and PS on high-power laser facilities.

Mountain building processes in the Central Andes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bloom, A. L.; Isacks, B. L.

1986-01-01

False color composite images of the Thematic Mapper (TM) bands 5, 4, and 2 were examined to make visual interpretations of geological features. The use of the roam mode of image display with the International Imaging Systems (IIS) System 600 image processing package running on the IIS Model 75 was very useful. Several areas in which good comparisons with ground data existed, were examined in detail. Parallel to the visual approach, image processing methods are being developed which allow the complete use of the seven TM bands. The data was organized into easily accessible files and a visual cataloging of the quads (quarter TM scenes) with preliminary registration with the best available charts for the region. The catalog has proved to be a valuable tool for the rapid scanning of quads for a specific investigation. Integration of the data into a complete approach to the problems of uplift, deformation, and magnetism in relation to the Nazca-South American plate interaction is at an initial stage.

Calendar Year 2007 Program Benefits for U.S. EPA Energy Star Labeled Products: Expanded Methodology

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

Sanchez, Marla; Homan, Gregory; Lai, Judy

2009-09-24

This report provides a top-level summary of national savings achieved by the Energy Star voluntary product labeling program. To best quantify and analyze savings for all products, we developed a bottom-up product-based model. Each Energy Star product type is characterized by product-specific inputs that result in a product savings estimate. Our results show that through 2007, U.S. EPA Energy Star labeled products saved 5.5 Quads of primary energy and avoided 100 MtC of emissions. Although Energy Star-labeled products encompass over forty product types, only five of those product types accounted for 65percent of all Energy Star carbon reductions achieved tomore » date, including (listed in order of savings magnitude)monitors, printers, residential light fixtures, televisions, and furnaces. The forecast shows that U.S. EPA?s program is expected to save 12.2 Quads of primary energy and avoid 215 MtC of emissions over the period of 2008?2015.« less

Discovery of the Lensed Quasar System DES J0408-5354

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

Lin, H.; Buckley-Geer, E.; Agnello, A.

We report the discovery and spectroscopic confirmation of the quad-like lensed quasar system DES J0408-5354 found in the Dark Energy Survey (DES) Year 1 (Y1) data. This system was discovered during a search for DES Y1 strong lensing systems using a method that identified candidates as red galaxies with multiple blue neighbors. DES J0408-5354 consists of a central red galaxy surrounded by three bright (more » $$i\\lt 20$$) blue objects and a fourth red object. Subsequent spectroscopic observations using the Gemini South telescope confirmed that the three blue objects are indeed the lensed images of a quasar with redshift z = 2.375, and that the central red object is an early-type lensing galaxy with redshift z = 0.597. DES J0408-5354 is the first quad lensed quasar system to be found in DES and begins to demonstrate the potential of DES to discover and dramatically increase the sample size of these very rare objects.« less

Mountain building processes in the Central Andes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bloom, A. L.; Isacks, B. L.

False color composite images of the Thematic Mapper (TM) bands 5, 4, and 2 were examined to make visual interpretations of geological features. The use of the roam mode of image display with the International Imaging Systems (IIS) System 600 image processing package running on the IIS Model 75 was very useful. Several areas in which good comparisons with ground data existed, were examined in detail. Parallel to the visual approach, image processing methods are being developed which allow the complete use of the seven TM bands. The data was organized into easily accessible files and a visual cataloging of the quads (quarter TM scenes) with preliminary registration with the best available charts for the region. The catalog has proved to be a valuable tool for the rapid scanning of quads for a specific investigation. Integration of the data into a complete approach to the problems of uplift, deformation, and magnetism in relation to the Nazca-South American plate interaction is at an initial stage.

Roll-to-roll, shrink-induced superhydrophobic surfaces for antibacterial applications, enhanced point-of-care detection, and blood anticoagulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nokes, Jolie McLane

Superhydrophobic (SH) surfaces are desirable because of their unique anti-wetting behavior. Fluid prefers to bead up (contact angle >150°) and roll off (contact angle hysteresis <10°) a SH surface because micro- and nanostructure features trap air pockets. Fluid only adheres to the peaks of the structures, causing minimal adhesion to the surface. Here, shrink-induced SH plastics are fabricated for a plethora of applications, including antibacterial applications, enhanced point-of-care (POC) detection, and reduced blood coagulation. Additionally, these purely structural SH surfaces are achieved in a roll-to-roll (R2R) platform for scalable manufacturing. Because their self-cleaning and water resistant properties, structurally modified SH surfaces prohibit bacterial growth and obviate bacterial chemical resistance. Antibacterial properties are demonstrated in a variety of SH plastics by preventing gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterial growth >150x compared to flat when fluid is rinsed and >20x without rinsing. Therefore, a robust and stable means to prevent bacteria growth is possible. Next, protein in urine is detected using a simple colorimetric output by evaporating droplets on a SH surface. Contrary to evaporation on a flat surface, evaporation on a SH surface allows fluid to dramatically concentrate because the weak adhesion constantly decreases the footprint area. On a SH surface, molecules in solution are confined to a footprint area 8.5x smaller than the original. By concentrating molecules, greater than 160x improvements in detection sensitivity are achieved compared to controls. Utility is demonstrated by detecting protein in urine in the pre-eclampsia range (150-300microgmL -1) for pregnant women. Further, SH surfaces repel bodily fluids including blood, urine, and saliva. Importantly, the surfaces minimize blood adhesion, leading to reduced blood coagulation without the need for anticoagulants. SH surfaces have >4200x and >28x reduction of blood residue area and volume compared to the non-structured controls of the same material. In addition, blood clotting area is reduced >5x using whole blood directly from the patient. In this study, biocompatible SH surfaces are achieved using commodity shrink-wrap film and are scaled up for R2R manufacturing. The purely structural modification negates complex and expensive post processing, and SH features are achieved in commercially-available and FDA-approved plastics.

The effect of cover use on plastic pyrolysis reactor heating process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Armadi, Benny H.; Rangkuti, Chalilullah; Fauzi, M. D.; Permatasari, R.

2017-03-01

Plastic pyrolysis process to produce liquid fuel is an endothermic process that uses heat from the combustion of fuel as heat source. The reactor used is usually a vertical cylindrical in shape, with LPG fuel combustion under the flat bottom of the reactor, and the combustion gases is dispersed into the surrounding environment, so that heat transferred to the plastic inside the reactor is not effective, causing high LPG consumption. In this study, the reactor is made of stainless steel plate, with a vertical cylindrical shape, with a basic cylindrical conical truncated by a pit pass hot flue gas in the middle that serves to deliver flue gas into the chimney. The contact area between the hot combusted LPG gases to the processed plastic inside the reactor becomes bigger and gets better heat transfer, and required less LPG consumption. For more effective heat transfer process, an outer cover of this reactor was made and the relatively hot combustion gases are used to heat the outside of the reactor by directing the flow of the flue gas from the chimney down along the outer wall of the reactor and out the bottom lid. This construction makes the heating process to be faster and the LPG fuel is used more efficiently. From the measurements, it was found to raise 1°C of temperature inside the covered reactor, the LPG consumed is 0.59 gram, and if the reactor cover is removed, the gas demand will rise nearly threefold to 1.43 grams. With this method, in addition to reducing the rate of heat loss will also help reduce LPG consumption significantly.

76 FR 61749 - Notice of Revised Determination on Reconsideration

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-05

..., Inc., including leased workers from SPS Temporaries, Depew, New York (TA-W-73,441G), engaged in the production of paperback books. The reconsideration investigation revealed that the following worker groups..., Mt. Morris, Illinois; and Quad Graphics, Inc., Depew, New York, meet the worker group certification...

Multi-band Microwave Antennas and Devices based on Generalized Negative-Refractive-Index Transmission Lines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryan, Colan Graeme Matthew

Focused on the quad-band generalized negative-refractive-index transmission line (G-NRI-TL), this thesis presents a variety of novel printed G-NRI-TL multi-band microwave device and antenna prototypes. A dual-band coupled-line coupler, an all-pass G-NRI-TL bridged-T circuit, a dual-band metamaterial leaky-wave antenna, and a multi-band G-NRI-TL resonant antenna are all new developments resulting from this research. In addition, to continue the theme of multi-band components, negative-refractive-index transmission lines are used to create a dual-band circularly polarized transparent patch antenna and a two-element wideband decoupled meander antenna system. High coupling over two independently-specified frequency bands is the hallmark of the G-NRI-TL coupler: it is 0.35lambda0 long but achieves approximately -3 dB coupling over both bands with a maximum insertion loss of 1 dB. This represents greater design flexibility than conventional coupled-line couplers and less loss than subsequent G-NRI-TL couplers. The single-ended bridged-T G-NRI-TL offers a metamaterial unit cell with an all-pass magnitude response up to 8 GHz, while still preserving the quad-band phase response of the original circuit. It is shown how the all-pass response leads to wider bandwidths and improved matching in quad-band inverters, power dividers, and hybrid couplers. The dual-band metamaterial leaky-wave antenna presented here was the first to be reported in the literature, and it allows broadside radiation at both 2 GHz and 6 GHz without experiencing the broadside stopband common to conventional periodic antennas. Likewise, the G-NRI-TL resonant antenna is the first reported instance of such a device, achieving quad-band operation between 2.5 GHz and 5.6 GHz, with a minimum radiation efficiency of 80%. Negative-refractive-index transmission line loading is applied to two devices: an NRI-TL meander antenna achieves a measured 52% impedance bandwidth, while a square patch antenna incorporates NRI-TL elements to achieve circular polarization at 2.3 GHz and 2.7 GHz, with radiation efficiencies of 70% and 78%, respectively. Optical transparency of 50% is then realized by cutting a grid through the antenna and substrate, making the device suitable for direct integration with solar panels. Therefore, this research provides several proof-of-concept devices to highlight the flexibility and multi-band properties of the G-NRI-TL which extend the capabilities of microwave transceiver systems.

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

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abe, Touma; Sugimoto, Tsuneyoshi

2010-07-01

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

Buckling-Induced Kirigami

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rafsanjani, Ahmad; Bertoldi, Katia

2017-02-01

We investigate the mechanical response of thin sheets perforated with a square array of mutually orthogonal cuts, which leaves a network of squares connected by small ligaments. Our combined analytical, experimental and numerical results indicate that under uniaxial tension the ligaments buckle out of plane, inducing the formation of 3D patterns whose morphology is controlled by the load direction. We also find that by largely stretching the buckled perforated sheets, plastic strains develop in the ligaments. This gives rise to the formation of kirigami sheets comprising periodic distribution of cuts and permanent folds. As such, the proposed buckling-induced pop-up strategy points to a simple route for manufacturing complex morphable structures out of flat perforated sheets.

Thermal performance evaluation of the Calmac (liquid) solar collector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Usher, H.

1978-01-01

The procedures used and the results obtained during the evaluation test program on the S. N. 1, (liquid) solar collector are presented. The flat plate collector uses water as the working fluid. The absorber plate is aluminum with plastic tubes coated with urethane black. The glazing consists of .040 in fiberglass reinforced polyester. The collector weight is 78.5 pounds with overall external dimensions of approximately 50.3in. x 98.3in. x 3.8in. The following information is given: thermal performance data under simulated conditions, structural behavior under static loading, and the effects of long term exposure to natural weathering. These tests were conducted using the MSFC Solar Simulator.

Mechanical and microwave absorbing properties of carbon-filled polyurethane.

PubMed

Kucerová, Z; Zajícková, L; Bursíková, V; Kudrle, V; Eliás, M; Jasek, O; Synek, P; Matejková, J; Bursík, J

2009-01-01

Polyurethane (PU) matrix composites were prepared with various carbon fillers at different filler contents in order to investigate their structure, mechanical and microwave absorbing properties. As fillers, flat carbon microparticles, carbon microfibers and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were used. The microstructure of the composite was examined by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Mechanical properties, namely universal hardness, plastic hardness, elastic modulus and creep were assessed by means of depth sensing indentation test. Mechanical properties of PU composite filled with different fillers were investigated and the composite always exhibited higher hardness, elastic modulus and creep resistance than un-filled PU. Influence of filler shape, content and dispersion was also investigated.

Measurement of $$K^{+}$$ production in charged-current $$\

DOE PAGES

Marshall, C. M.

2016-07-14

Production of K + mesons in charged-current ν μ interactions on plastic scintillator (CH) is measured using MINERvA exposed to the low-energy NuMI beam at Fermilab. Timing information is used to isolate a sample of 885 charged-current events containing a stopping K + which decays at rest. The differential cross section in K + kinetic energy, dσ/dT K, is observed to be relatively flat between 0 and 500 MeV. As a result, its shape is in good agreement with the prediction by the genie neutrino event generator when final-state interactions are included, however the data rate is lower than the predictionmore » by 15%.« less

Parquet: Regions of areal plastic dislocations (on Venus)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sukhanov, A. L.

1986-01-01

The extensive flat elevations of the Northern Hemisphere of Venus are covered with frequently intersecting lines of dislocations, resembling the outline of a giant parquet. In the internal sections of these regions we find grabens and regions of extension, and on the periphery lobe-shaped flow structures. The parquet was formed after the beginning of the formation of the lava plains, but covered by the youngest lava. These structures apparently arose partly because of the dragging of blocks of crust by the asthenospheric flows, and partly in the gravitational sliding of such heated blocks in the partial melting of their base. It is possible that these elevations occupy on Venus the place of the Earth's rift systems.

Evaluation of metal bond strength to dentin and enamel using different adhesives and surface treatments.

PubMed

Dundar, Mine; Gungor, Mehmet Ali; Cal, Ebru; Darcan, Alev; Erdem, Adalet

2007-01-01

Because adherence of base metal alloys is important for the long-term clinical success of adhesive fixed partial dentures, it has been necessary to improve adhesion to metal substrate by using different surface treatments. This study used different surface conditioning methods and two different luting resins to evaluate the shear bond strength of base metal alloys to dentin and enamel. Sixty noncarious freshly extracted human teeth were mounted in a plastic holder filled with autopolymerized acrylic resin. After the roots were removed and 30 flat enamel and 30 flat dentin surfaces were exposed, the specimens were divided randomly into two main luting cement groups. Sixty nickel chromium (NiCr) metal specimens were fabricated and subjected to three different surface conditioning procedures: sandblasting with 50 microm aluminum oxide, tribochemical silica coating, and a combination of the two. Scanning electron mircoscopy (SEM) evaluations revealed mainly cohesive failures. Self-cure adhesive resulted in higher bond strengths to dental substrates. Higher bond strengths were achieved through a combination of sandblasting and tribochemical silica coating; however, further clinical research is required. A surface treatment that combines sandblasting with tribochemical silica coating can achieve a more effective bond for adhesive restorations with metal substrates.

Modeling the evolution of a ramp-flat-ramp thrust system: A geological application of DynEarthSol2D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, L.; Choi, E.; Bartholomew, M. J.

2013-12-01

DynEarthSol2D (available at http://bitbucket.org/tan2/dynearthsol2) is a robust, adaptive, two-dimensional finite element code that solves the momentum balance and the heat equation in Lagrangian form using unstructured meshes. Verified in a number of benchmark problems, this solver uses contingent mesh adaptivity in places where shear strain is focused (localization) and a conservative mapping assisted by marker particles to preserve phase and facies boundaries during remeshing. We apply this cutting-edge geodynamic modeling tool to the evolution of a thrust fault with a ramp-flat-ramp geometry. The overall geometry of the fault is constrained by observations in the northern part of the southern Appalachian fold and thrust belt. Brittle crust is treated as a Mohr-Coulomb plastic material. The thrust fault is a zone of a finite thickness but has a lower cohesion and friction angle than its surrounding rocks. When an intervening flat separates two distinct sequential ramps crossing different stratigraphic intervals, the thrust system will experience more complex deformations than those from a single thrust fault ramp. The resultant deformations associated with sequential ramps would exhibit a spectrum of styles, of which two end members correspond to ';overprinting' and ';interference'. Reproducing these end-member styles as well as intermediate ones, our models show that the relative importance of overprinting versus interference is a sensitive function of initial fault geometry and hanging wall displacement. We further present stress and strain histories extracted from the models. If clearly distinguishable, they will guide the interpretation of field observations on thrust faults.

Convergence of a quantum normal form and a generalization of Cherry’s theorem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barone, Fiorella; Graffi, Sandro

2012-01-01

We consider on L^2({ T}^2) the Schrödinger operator family H_\\varepsilon : \\varepsilon \\in { R} with the domain and action defined as follows: \\begin{eqnarray*} D(H_\\varepsilon )=H^1({ T}^2); \\quad H_\\varepsilon u=-i\\hbar \\omega \\cdot \

77 FR 23665 - Procurement List Proposed Additions

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-20

...: Services Service Type/Location: Mailroom Operations, Official Mail Distribution Center, 1 Rock Island Arsenal, Building 132, Rock Island, IL. NPA: The Arc of the Quad Cities Area, Rock Island, IL. Contracting Activity: Dept of the ARMY, W4MM USA Joint Munitions CMD, Rock Island, IL. Service Type/Location: Custodial...

Protecting and Enhancing Campus Facilities: 6 Principles for Boards

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kaiser, Harvey H.

2012-01-01

Dormitories, student centers, lecture halls, laboratories, athletic facilities, quads--just try to imagine a residential campus without them. Impossible. They are among its most important assets. As fiduciaries, boards must ensure that those assets are protected and enhanced over time. But how to do so effectively when growing internal and…

Geologic Mapping of Athabasca Valles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Keszthelyi, L. P.; Jaeger, W. L.; Tanaka, K.; Hare, T.

2009-01-01

We are approaching the end of the third year of mapping the Athabasca Valles region of Mars. The linework has been adjusted in response to new CTX images and we are on schedule to submit the 4 MTM quads (05202, 05207, 10202, 10207) and ac-companying paper by the end of this fiscal year.

New Algorithms Manage Fourfold Redundancy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gelderloos, H. C.

1982-01-01

Redundant sensors, actuators, and computers improve reliability of complex control systems, such as those in nuclear powerplants and aircraft. If one or more redundant elements fail, another takes over so that normal operation is not interrupted. Quad selection filter rejects data from null-failed and hardover-failed and hardover-failed units.

AN ACCURACY ASSESSMENT OF 1992 LANDSAT-MSS DERIVED LAND COVER FOR THE UPPER SAN PEDRO WATERSHED (U.S./MEXICO)

EPA Science Inventory

The utility of Digital Orthophoto Quads (DOQS) in assessing the classification accuracy of land cover derived from Landsat MSS data was investigated. Initially, the suitability of DOQs in distinguishing between different land cover classes was assessed using high-resolution airbo...

78 FR 2689 - National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-14

... Rapides Parish Guaranty Bank, Park Avenue Branch, 403 Bolton Ave., Alexandria, 12001206 MISSOURI Howard...., Front & Beech Sts., Berea, 12001210 Carroll, John, University North Quad Historic District, 1 John Carroll Blvd., University Heights, 12001211 East Ohio Building, The, 1717 E. 9th St., Cleveland, 12001212...

Role of rheology in reconstructing slab morphology in global mantle models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bello, Léa; Coltice, Nicolas; Tackley, Paul; Müller, Dietmar

2015-04-01

Reconstructing the 3D structure of the Earth's mantle has been a challenge for geodynamicists for about 40 years. Although numerical models and computational capabilities have incredibly progressed, parameterizations used for modeling convection forced by plate motions are far from being Earth-like. Among the set of parameters, rheology is fundamental because it defines in a non-linear way the dynamics of slabs and plumes, and the organization of the lithosphere. Previous studies have employed diverse viscosity laws, most of them being temperature and depth dependent with relatively small viscosity contrasts. In this study, we evaluate the role of the temperature dependence of viscosity (variations up to 6 orders of magnitude) on reconstructing slab evolution in 3D spherical models of convection driven by plate history models. We also investigate the importance of pseudo-plasticity in such models. We show that strong temperature dependence of viscosity combined with pseudo-plasticity produce laterally and vertically continuous slabs, and flat subduction where trench retreat is fast (North, Central and South America). Moreover, pseudo-plasticity allows a consistent coupling between imposed plate motions and global convection, which is not possible with temperature-dependent viscosity only. However, even our most sophisticated model is not able to reproduce unambiguously stagnant slabs probably because of the simplicity of material properties we use here. The differences between models employing different viscosity laws are very large, larger than the differences between two models with the same rheology but using two different plate reconstructions or initial conditions.

Genesis Noble Gas Measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hohenberg, Charles M.

2005-01-01

The original thrust of our Genesis funding was to extend and refine the noble gas analytical capabilities of this laboratory to improve the precision and accuracy of noble gas measurements in order to optimize the scientific return from the Genesis Mission. This process involved both instrumental improvement (supplemented by a SRLIDAP instrument grant) and refinement of technique. The Genesis landing mishap shifted our emphasis to the irregular aluminum heat shield material from the flat collector wafers. This has required redesign of our laser extraction cells to accommodate the longer focal lengths required for laser extraction from non-flat surfaces. Extraction of noble gases from solid aluminum surfaces, rather than thin coatings on transparent substrates has required refinement of controlled-depth laser ablation techniques. Both of these bring new problems, both with potentially higher blanks form larger laser cells and the larger quantities of evaporated aluminum which can coat the sapphire entrance ports. This is mainly a problem for the heavy noble gases where larger extraction areas are required, necessitating the new aluminum vapor containment techniques described below. With the Genesis Mission came three new multiple multiplier noble gas mass spectrometers to this laboratory, one built solely by us (Supergnome-M), one built in collaboration with Nu-Instruments (Noblesse), and one built in collaboration with GVI (Helix). All of these have multiple multiplier detection sections with the Nu-Instruments using a pair of electrostatic quad lenses for isotope spacing and the other two using mechanically adjustable positions for the electron multipliers. The Supergnome-M and Noblesse are installed and running. The GVI instrument was delivered a year late (in March 2005) and is yet to be installed by GVI. As with all new instruments there were some initial development issues, some of which are still outstanding. The most serious of these are performance issues with the miniature channel electron multipliers. The delayed installation of Helix by the GVI is partly due to failure of the initial batch of Burle channel multipliers to perform as expected. A number of the channel multipliers designed for Noblesse by Burle have also failed upon baking. Burle has now refined the design of these and we have installed two of the new multipliers and are assessing their performance. The remaining multipliers Will be upgraded to the new design from Burle once we confirm that the problem has been fixed.

Building Background Knowledge through Reading: Rethinking Text Sets

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lupo, Sarah M.; Strong, John Z.; Lewis, William; Walpole, Sharon; McKenna, Michael C.

2018-01-01

To increase reading volume and help students access challenging texts, the authors propose a four-dimensional framework for text sets. The quad text set framework is designed around a target text: a challenging content area text, such as a canonical literary work, research article, or historical primary source document. The three remaining…

78 FR 16411 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Upper Mississippi River, Rock Island, IL

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-15

... Operation Regulation; Upper Mississippi River, Rock Island, IL AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Notice of... operating schedule that governs the Rock Island Railroad and Highway Drawbridge across the Upper Mississippi River, mile 482.9, at Rock Island, Illinois. The deviation is necessary to allow the Quad City Heart...

78 FR 18933 - Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Upper Mississippi River, Rock Island, IL

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-28

... Operation Regulations; Upper Mississippi River, Rock Island, IL AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Notice of... operating schedule that governs the Rock Island Railroad and Highway Drawbridge across the Upper Mississippi River, mile 482.9, at Rock Island, Illinois. The deviation is necessary to allow the Quad City Marathon...

Shared Campus Smooths Post-Secondary Pathways

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pearson, George

2012-01-01

At the opening of Olds High School, Principal Tom Christensen held his breath as he watched students inspect the new facilities designed with a new approach to learning in mind. The Alberta school is divided into four so-called "quads," each housing one-quarter of the school's 800 students, with flexible learning spaces to accommodate…

47 CFR Appendix to Part 36 - Glossary

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... such terms in the separation procedures. Terms which are defined in the text of this part are not.... Complement (of cable) A group of conductors of the same general type (e.g., quadded, paired) within a single... unit which is normally dependent upon the central processor of the host office for call processing...

78 FR 20090 - Reorganization of Foreign-Trade Zone 133 Under Alternative Site Framework; Quad-Cities, Iowa...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-03

... area of Henderson, Henry, Mercer, Rock Island and Warren Counties, Illinois and Cedar, Clinton, Des Moines, Dubuque, Henry, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Lee, Louisa, Muscatine, Scott and Washington Counties, Iowa, within and adjacent to the Davenport, Iowa- Moline and Rock Island, Illinois Customs and Border...

Sub-Audio Magnetics: Miniature Sensor Technology for Simultaneous Magnetic and Electromagnetic Detection of UXO

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-07-01

is comprised of 4 x 40 m lengths of braided copper wire (Figure 29) with a diameter of 15 mm, capable of passing a 500 amp current. In normal...fuel tank and rubber hoses . Sub-Audio Magnetics: Technology for Simultaneous Magnetic and Electromagnetic Detection 77 Figure 31 Quad

Preliminary Design Study of a Hybrid Airship for Flight Research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Browning, R. G. E.

1981-01-01

The feasibility of using components from four small helicopters and an airship envelope as the basis for a quad-rotor research aircraft was studied. Preliminary investigations included a review of candidate hardware and various combinations of rotor craft/airship configurations. A selected vehicle was analyzed to assess its structural and performance characteristics.

Just Chillin' on the Quad: Middle Grades Students in College

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schaefer, Mary Beth; Rivera, Lourdes M.

2014-01-01

The middle grades years has a profound and lasting impact on student achievement, including opportunities for college and career access and readiness. It is important that students at this age understand college and college life. Such understanding can help middle grades students focus on career goals and postsecondary planning, and this awareness…

Group Work in Science Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McGregor, Debbie; Tolmie, Andrew

2009-01-01

This article considers how students might work together in small groups, from two to eight, in either a primary or secondary science classroom. The nature of group work can vary widely and could include, for example, a pair carrying out an illustrative experiment, a trio or quad debating climate change, or six or seven rehearsing how they will…

Upper-Limb Exercises for Stroke Patients through the Direct Engagement of an Embodied Agent

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-01

hemiparesis . To alleviate impairments, pa- tients pursue therapy services at the acute, sub-acute, and chronic phases as necessary. Patients need...year-old male who suffered from a stroke 15 years ago. He has right hemiparesis and ambu- lates with a quad cane. He has limited scapula and minimal

US energy flow, 1981

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Briggs, C. K.; Borg, I. Y.

1982-10-01

Flow diagrams to describe the US energy situation are given. In 1981 the energy consumption was 73 quads (or 73 times 10 to the 15th power Btu). Use was down from 75 quads in 1980. Oil continues to dominate the picture as it comprises 45% of the total energy used. Net oil use (exclusive of oil purchased for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Exports) fell 8%; oil imports declined 14%. In contrast to oil, use of natural gas and coal remained at 1980 levels. Decreased use of residual oils, principally for electric power generating, account for much of the drop in oil use. Increased use of coal and nuclear energy for power generation almost compensated for the decrease in use of oil in that end use. Transmitted power remained at 1980 levels. The remainder of the drop in energy usage is attributed to price driven conservation, increased efficiencies in end use and the recession that prevailed during most of the year. The share of the energy drop attributable to the recession is estimated by various analysts to be on the order of 40 to 50%.

Insensitivity of the octahedral spherical hohlraum to power imbalance, pointing accuracy, and assemblage accuracy

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

Huo, Wen Yi; Zhao, Yiqing; Zheng, Wudi

2014-11-15

The random radiation asymmetry in the octahedral spherical hohlraum [K. Lan et al., Phys. Plasmas 21, 0 10704 (2014)] arising from the power imbalance, pointing accuracy of laser quads, and the assemblage accuracy of capsule is investigated by using the 3-dimensional view factor model. From our study, for the spherical hohlraum, the random radiation asymmetry arising from the power imbalance of the laser quads is about half of that in the cylindrical hohlraum; the random asymmetry arising from the pointing error is about one order lower than that in the cylindrical hohlraum; and the random asymmetry arising from the assemblage errormore » of capsule is about one third of that in the cylindrical hohlraum. Moreover, the random radiation asymmetry in the spherical hohlraum is also less than the amount in the elliptical hohlraum. The results indicate that the spherical hohlraum is more insensitive to the random variations than the cylindrical hohlraum and the elliptical hohlraum. Hence, the spherical hohlraum can relax the requirements to the power imbalance and pointing accuracy of laser facility and the assemblage accuracy of capsule.« less

Geothermal direct heat use: Market potential/penetration analysis for Federal Region 9

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Powell, W. (Editor); Tang, K. (Editor)

1980-01-01

A preliminary study was made of the potential for geothermal direct heat use in Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada (Federal Region 9). An analysis was made of each state to: (1) define the resource, based on the latest available data; (2) assess the potential market growth for geothermal energy; and (3) estimate the market penetration, projected to 2020. Findings of the study include the following: (1) Potentially economical hydrothermal resources exist in all four states of the Region: however, the resource data base is largely incomplete, particularly for low to moderate temperature resources. (2) In terms of beneficial heat, the total hydrothermal resource identified so far for the four states is on the order of 43 Quads, including an estimated 34 Quads of high temperature resources which are suitable for direct as well as electrical applications. (3) In California, Hawaii, and Nevada, the industrial market sector has somewhat greater potential for penetration than the residential/commercial sector. In Arizona, however, the situation is reversed, due to the collocation of two major metropolitan areas (Phoenix and Tucson) with potential geothermal resources.

Optimization of Sparse Matrix-Vector Multiplication on Emerging Multicore Platforms

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

Williams, Samuel; Oliker, Leonid; Vuduc, Richard

2008-10-16

We are witnessing a dramatic change in computer architecture due to the multicore paradigm shift, as every electronic device from cell phones to supercomputers confronts parallelism of unprecedented scale. To fully unleash the potential of these systems, the HPC community must develop multicore specific-optimization methodologies for important scientific computations. In this work, we examine sparse matrix-vector multiply (SpMV) - one of the most heavily used kernels in scientific computing - across a broad spectrum of multicore designs. Our experimental platform includes the homogeneous AMD quad-core, AMD dual-core, and Intel quad-core designs, the heterogeneous STI Cell, as well as one ofmore » the first scientific studies of the highly multithreaded Sun Victoria Falls (a Niagara2 SMP). We present several optimization strategies especially effective for the multicore environment, and demonstrate significant performance improvements compared to existing state-of-the-art serial and parallel SpMV implementations. Additionally, we present key insights into the architectural trade-offs of leading multicore design strategies, in the context of demanding memory-bound numerical algorithms.« less

Prototype data terminal-multiplexer/demultiplexer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leck, D. E.; Goodwin, J. E.

1972-01-01

The design and operation of a quad redundant data terminal and a multiplexer/demultiplexer (MDU) is described. The most unique feature is the design of the quad redundant data terminal. This is one of the few designs where the unit is fail/op, fail/op, fail/safe. Laboratory tests confirm that the unit will operate satisfactorily with the failure of three out of four channels. Although the design utilizes state-of-the-art technology, the waveform error checks, the voting techniques, and the parity bit checks are believed to be used in unique configurations. Correct word selection routines are also novel. The MDU design, while not redundant, utilizes, the latest state-of-the-art advantages of light coupler and interested amplifiers. Much of the technology employed was an evolution of prior NASA contracts related to the Addressable Time Division Data System. A good example of the earlier technology development was the development of a low level analog multiplexer, a high level analog multiplexer, and a digital multiplexer. A list of all drawings is included for reference and all schematic, block and timing diagrams are incorporated.

Shuttle antenna radome technology test program. Volume 2: Development of S-band antenna interface design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kuhlman, E. A.; Baranowski, L. C.

1977-01-01

The effects of the Thermal Protection Subsystem (TPS) contamination on the space shuttle orbiter S band quad antenna due to multiple mission buildup are discussed. A test fixture was designed, fabricated and exposed to ten cycles of simulated ground and flight environments. Radiation pattern and impedance tests were performed to measure the effects of the contaminates. The degradation in antenna performance was attributed to the silicone waterproofing in the TPS tiles rather than exposure to the contaminating sources used in the test program. Validation of the accuracy of an analytical thermal model is discussed. Thermal vacuum tests with a test fixture and a representative S band quad antenna were conducted to evaluate the predictions of the analytical thermal model for two orbital heating conditions and entry from each orbit. The results show that the accuracy of predicting the test fixture thermal responses is largely dependent on the ability to define the boundary and ambient conditions. When the test conditions were accurately included in the analytical model, the predictions were in excellent agreement with measurements.

Multi-Year Program Plan FY'09-FY'15 Solid-State Lighting Research and Development

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

None

2009-03-01

President Obama's energy and environment agenda calls for deployment of 'the Cheapest, Cleanest, Fastest Energy Source - Energy Efficiency.' The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) plays a critical role in advancing the President's agenda by helping the United States advance toward an energy-efficient future. Lighting in the United States is projected to consume nearly 10 quads of primary energy by 2012.3 A nation-wide move toward solid-state lighting (SSL) for general illumination could save a total of 32.5 quads of primary energy between 2012 and 2027. No other lighting technology offers the DOE andmore » our nation so much potential to save energy and enhance the quality of our built environment. The DOE has set forth the following mission statement for the SSL R&D Portfolio: Guided by a Government-industry partnership, the mission is to create a new, U.S.-led market for high-efficiency, general illumination products through the advancement of semiconductor technologies, to save energy, reduce costs and enhance the quality of the lighted environment.« less

Polarimetric scattering model for estimation of above ground biomass of multilayer vegetation using ALOS-PALSAR quad-pol data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sai Bharadwaj, P.; Kumar, Shashi; Kushwaha, S. P. S.; Bijker, Wietske

Forests are important biomes covering a major part of the vegetation on the Earth, and as such account for seventy percent of the carbon present in living beings. The value of a forest's above ground biomass (AGB) is considered as an important parameter for the estimation of global carbon content. In the present study, the quad-pol ALOS-PALSAR data was used for the estimation of AGB for the Dudhwa National Park, India. For this purpose, polarimetric decomposition components and an Extended Water Cloud Model (EWCM) were used. The PolSAR data orientation angle shifts were compensated for before the polarimetric decomposition. The scattering components obtained from the polarimetric decomposition were used in the Water Cloud Model (WCM). The WCM was extended for higher order interactions like double bounce scattering. The parameters of the EWCM were retrieved using the field measurements and the decomposition components. Finally, the relationship between the estimated AGB and measured AGB was assessed. The coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE) were 0.4341 and 119 t/ha respectively.

Error analysis for creating 3D face templates based on cylindrical quad-tree structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gutfeter, Weronika

2015-09-01

Development of new biometric algorithms is parallel to advances in technology of sensing devices. Some of the limitations of the current face recognition systems may be eliminated by integrating 3D sensors into these systems. Depth sensing devices can capture a spatial structure of the face in addition to the texture and color. This kind of data is yet usually very voluminous and requires large amount of computer resources for being processed (face scans obtained with typical depth cameras contain more than 150 000 points per face). That is why defining efficient data structures for processing spatial images is crucial for further development of 3D face recognition methods. The concept described in this work fulfills the aforementioned demands. Modification of the quad-tree structure was chosen because it can be easily transformed into less dimensional data structures and maintains spatial relations between data points. We are able to interpret data stored in the tree as a pyramid of features which allow us to analyze face images using coarse-to-fine strategy, often exploited in biometric recognition systems.

Friction and wear of metals with a single-crystal abrasive grit of silicon carbide: Effect of shear strength of metal

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miyoshi, K.; Buckley, D. H.

1978-01-01

Sliding friction experiments were conducted with spherical, single-crystal silicon carbide riders in contact with various metals and with metal riders in contact with silicon carbide flats. Results indicate that: (1) the friction force in the plowing of metal and (2) the groove height (corresponding to the volume of the groove) are related to the shear strength of the metal. That is, they decrease linearly as the shear strength of the bulk metal increases. Grooves are formed in metals primarily from plastic deformation, with occasional metal removal. The relation between the groove width D and the load W can be expressed by W = kD, superscript n which satisfies Meyer's law.

Synaptic organic transistors with a vacuum-deposited charge-trapping nanosheet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Chang-Hyun; Sung, Sujin; Yoon, Myung-Han

2016-09-01

Organic neuromorphic devices hold great promise for unconventional signal processing and efficient human-machine interfaces. Herein, we propose novel synaptic organic transistors devised to overcome the traditional trade-off between channel conductance and memory performance. A vacuum-processed, nanoscale metallic interlayer provides an ultra-flat surface for a high-mobility molecular film as well as a desirable degree of charge trapping, allowing for low-temperature fabrication of uniform device arrays on plastic. The device architecture is implemented by widely available electronic materials in combination with conventional deposition methods. Therefore, our results are expected to generate broader interests in incorporation of organic electronics into large-area neuromorphic systems, with potential in gate-addressable complex logic circuits and transparent multifunctional interfaces receiving direct optical and cellular stimulation.

Remote sensing of tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda carinulata) impacts along 412 km of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bedford, Ashton; Sankey, Temuulen T.; Sankey, Joel B.; Durning, Laura E.C.; Ralston, Barbara

2018-01-01

Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) is an invasive plant species that is rapidly expanding along arid and semi-arid rivers in the western United States. A biocontrol agent, tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda carinulata), was released in 2001 in California, Colorado, Utah, and Texas. In 2009, the tamarisk beetle was found further south than anticipated in the Colorado River ecosystem within the Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Our objectives were to classify tamarisk stands along 412 km of the Colorado River from the Glen Canyon Dam through the Grand Canyon National Park using 2009 aerial, high spatial resolution multispectral imagery, and then quantify tamarisk beetle impacts by comparing the pre-beetle images from 2009 with 2013 post-beetle images. We classified tamarisk presence in 2009 using the Mahalanobis Distance method with a total of 2500 training samples, and assessed the classification accuracy with an independent set of 7858 samples across 49 image quads. A total of 214 ha of tamarisk were detected in 2009 along the Colorado River, where each image quad, on average, included an 8.4 km segment of the river. Tamarisk detection accuracies varied across the 49 image quads, but the combined overall accuracy across the entire study region was 74%. Using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from 2009 and 2013 with a region-specific ratio of >1.5 decline between the two image dates (2009NDVI/2013NDVI), we detected tamarisk defoliation due to beetle herbivory. The total beetle-impacted tamarisk area was 32 ha across the study region, where tamarisk defoliation ranged 1–86% at the local levels. Our tamarisk classification can aid long-term efforts to monitor the spread and impact of the beetle along the river and the eventual mortality of tamarisk due to beetle impacts. Identifying areas of tamarisk defoliation is a useful ecological indicator for managers to plan restoration and tamarisk removal efforts.

Salvus: A flexible open-source package for waveform modelling and inversion from laboratory to global scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Afanasiev, M.; Boehm, C.; van Driel, M.; Krischer, L.; May, D.; Rietmann, M.; Fichtner, A.

2016-12-01

Recent years have been witness to the application of waveform inversion to new and exciting domains, ranging from non-destructive testing to global seismology. Often, each new application brings with it novel wave propagation physics, spatial and temporal discretizations, and models of variable complexity. Adapting existing software to these novel applications often requires a significant investment of time, and acts as a barrier to progress. To combat these problems we introduce Salvus, a software package designed to solve large-scale full-waveform inverse problems, with a focus on both flexibility and performance. Based on a high order finite (spectral) element discretization, we have built Salvus to work on unstructured quad/hex meshes in both 2 or 3 dimensions, with support for P1-P3 bases on triangles and tetrahedra. A diverse (and expanding) collection of wave propagation physics are supported (i.e. coupled solid-fluid). With a focus on the inverse problem, functionality is provided to ease integration with internal and external optimization libraries. Additionally, a python-based meshing package is included to simplify the generation and manipulation of regional to global scale Earth models (quad/hex), with interfaces available to external mesh generators for complex engineering-scale applications (quad/hex/tri/tet). Finally, to ensure that the code remains accurate and maintainable, we build upon software libraries such as PETSc and Eigen, and follow modern software design and testing protocols. Salvus bridges the gap between research and production codes with a design based on C++ mixins and Python wrappers that separates the physical equations from the numerical core. This allows domain scientists to add new equations using a high-level interface, without having to worry about optimized implementation details. Our goal in this presentation is to introduce the code, show several examples across the scales, and discuss some of the extensible design points.

Salvus: A flexible high-performance and open-source package for waveform modelling and inversion from laboratory to global scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Afanasiev, Michael; Boehm, Christian; van Driel, Martin; Krischer, Lion; May, Dave; Rietmann, Max; Fichtner, Andreas

2017-04-01

Recent years have been witness to the application of waveform inversion to new and exciting domains, ranging from non-destructive testing to global seismology. Often, each new application brings with it novel wave propagation physics, spatial and temporal discretizations, and models of variable complexity. Adapting existing software to these novel applications often requires a significant investment of time, and acts as a barrier to progress. To combat these problems we introduce Salvus, a software package designed to solve large-scale full-waveform inverse problems, with a focus on both flexibility and performance. Currently based on an abstract implementation of high order finite (spectral) elements, we have built Salvus to work on unstructured quad/hex meshes in both 2 or 3 dimensions, with support for P1-P3 bases on triangles and tetrahedra. A diverse (and expanding) collection of wave propagation physics are supported (i.e. viscoelastic, coupled solid-fluid). With a focus on the inverse problem, functionality is provided to ease integration with internal and external optimization libraries. Additionally, a python-based meshing package is included to simplify the generation and manipulation of regional to global scale Earth models (quad/hex), with interfaces available to external mesh generators for complex engineering-scale applications (quad/hex/tri/tet). Finally, to ensure that the code remains accurate and maintainable, we build upon software libraries such as PETSc and Eigen, and follow modern software design and testing protocols. Salvus bridges the gap between research and production codes with a design based on C++ template mixins and Python wrappers that separates the physical equations from the numerical core. This allows domain scientists to add new equations using a high-level interface, without having to worry about optimized implementation details. Our goal in this presentation is to introduce the code, show several examples across the scales, and discuss some of the extensible design points.

Heat pump centered integrated community energy systems: system development. Georgia Institute of Technology final report

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

Wade, D.W.; Trammell, B.C.; Dixit, B.S.

1979-12-01

Heat Pump Centered-Integrated Community Energy Systems (HP-ICES) show the promise of utilizing low-grade thermal energy for low-quality energy requirements such as space heating and cooling. The Heat Pump - Wastewater Heat Recovery (HP-WHR) scheme is one approach to an HP-ICES that proposes to reclaim low-grade thermal energy from a community's wastewater effluent. This report develops the concept of an HP-WHR system, evaluates the potential performance and economics of such a system, and examines the potential for application. A thermodynamic performance analysis of a hypothetical system projects an overall system Coefficient of Performance (C.O.P.) of from 2.181 to 2.264 for waste-watermore » temperatures varying from 50/sup 0/F to 80/sup 0/F. Primary energy source savings from the nationwide implementation of this system is projected to be 6.0 QUADS-fuel oil, or 8.5 QUADS - natural gas, or 29.7 QUADS - coal for the period 1980 to 2000, depending upon the type and mix of conventional space conditioning systems which could be displaced with the HP-WHR system. Site-specific HP-WHR system designs are presented for two application communities in Georgia. Performance analyses for these systems project annual cycle system C.O.P.'s of 2.049 and 2.519. Economic analysis on the basis of a life cycle cost comparison shows one site-specific system design to be cost competitive in the immediate market with conventional residential and light commercial HVAC systems. The second site-specific system design is shown through a similar economic analysis to be more costly than conventional systems due mainly to the current low energy costs for natural gas. It is anticipated that, as energy costs escalate, this HP-WHR system will also approach the threshold of economic viability.« less

Probabilistic Assessment of Soil Moisture using C-band Quad-polarized Remote Sensing Data from RISAT1

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pal, Manali; Suman, Mayank; Das, Sarit Kumar; Maity, Rajib

2017-04-01

Information on spatio-temporal distribution of surface Soil Moisture Content (SMC) is essential in several hydrological, meteorological and agricultural applications. There has been increasing importance of microwave active remote sensing data for large-scale estimation of surface SMC because of its ability to monitor spatial and temporal variation of surface SMC at regional, continental and global scale at a reasonably fine spatial and temporal resolution. The use of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is highly potential for catchment-scale applications due to high spatial resolution (˜10-20 m) both for vegetated and bare soil surface as well as because of its all-weather and day and night characteristics. However, one prime disadvantage of SAR is that their signal is subjective to SMC along with Land Use Land Cover (LULC) and surface roughness conditions, making the retrieval of SMC from SAR data an "ill-posed" problem. Moreover, the quantification of uncertainty due to inappropriate surface roughness characterization, soil texture, inversion techniques etc. even in the latest established retrieval methods, is little explored. This paper reports a recently developed method to estimate the surface SMC with probabilistic assessment of uncertainty associated with the estimation (Pal et al., 2016). Quad-polarized SAR data from Radar Imaging Satellite1 (RISAT1), launched in 2012 by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and information on LULC regarding bareland and vegetated land (<30 cm height) are used in estimation using the potential of multivariate probabilistic assessment through copulas. The salient features of the study are: 1) development of a combined index to understand the role of all the quad-polarized backscattering coefficients and soil texture information in SMC estimation; 2) applicability of the model for different incidence angles using normalized incidence angle theory proposed by Zibri et al. (2005); and 3) assessment of uncertainty range of the estimated SMC. Supervised Principal Component Analysis (SPCA) is used for development of combined index and Frank copula is found to be the best-fit copula. The developed model is validated with the field soil moisture values over 334 monitoring points within the study area and used for development of a soil moisture map. While the performance is promising, the model is applicable only for bare and vegetated land. References: Pal, M., Maity, R., Suman, M., Das, S.K., Patel, P., and Srivastava, H.S., (2016). "Satellite-Based Probabilistic Assessment of Soil Moisture Using C-Band Quad-Polarized RISAT1 Data." IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, In Press, doi:10.1109/TGRS.2016.2623378. Zribi, M., Baghdadi, N., Holah, N., and Fafin, O., (2005)."New methodology for soil surface moisture estimation and its application to ENVISAT-ASAR multi-incidence data inversion." Remote Sensing of Environment, vol. 96, nos. 3-4, pp. 485-496.

Performance and welfare of rabbit does in various caging systems.

PubMed

Mikó, A; Matics, Zs; Gerencsér, Zs; Odermatt, M; Radnai, I; Nagy, I; Szendrő, K; Szendrő, Zs

2014-07-01

The objective of the study was to compare production and welfare of rabbit does and their kits housed in various types of cages. Female rabbits were randomly allocated to four groups with the following cage types: CN: common wire-mesh flat-deck cage, without footrest; CF: cage similar to the CN but with plastic footrest; ECWP: enlarged cage with wire-mesh platform; and ECPP: extra enlarged cage with plastic-mesh platform. All does were inseminated on the same day, 11 days after kindlings. Reproductive performance was evaluated during the first five consecutive kindlings. Severity of sore hocks was scored at each insemination. Location preference of the does and the platform usage of their kits were evaluated. Kindling rate, litter size (total born, born alive, alive at 21 and 35 days) and kit mortality were not significantly influenced by the cage types. The litter weight at 21 days was higher in ECWP and ECPP cages than in the CF group (3516, 3576 and 3291 g, respectively; P2.5 cm) and 3 to 4 (3=callus opened, cracks present; 4=wounds) were 58%, 60%, 78% and 48%, and 0%, 5%, 0% and 48% in groups ECPP, ECWP, CF and CN, respectively. Higher number of daily nest visits was observed for CF does than for ECWP does (12.5 v. 5.9; P2/day) was higher in the CF group than in the ECWP group (12.1 v. 3.2%; P<0.01). Within large cages, the does were observed on the platform more frequently in the ECPP cages compared with the ECWP cages (56.9% v. 31.7%; P<0.001). Similarly, 2.7% and 0.2% of kits at 21 days of age, and 33.2% and 5.2% of kits at 28 days of age, were found on the platforms of ECPP and ECWP cages, respectively. In conclusion, cages larger than the conventional ones improved kits' weaning weight, plastic footrests and plastic-mesh platforms in conventional and/or large cages reduced sore hocks' problems, plastic-mesh platforms were more used by both does and kits compared with the wire-mesh platforms.

Crash simulation of hybrid structures considering the stress and strain rate dependent material behavior of thermoplastic materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hopmann, Ch.; Schöngart, M.; Weber, M.; Klein, J.

2015-05-01

Thermoplastic materials are more and more used as a light weight replacement for metal, especially in the automotive industry. Since these materials do not provide the mechanical properties, which are required to manufacture supporting elements like an auto body or a cross bearer, plastics are combined with metals in so called hybrid structures. Normally, the plastics components are joined to the metal structures using different technologies like welding or screwing. Very often, the hybrid structures are made of flat metal parts, which are stiffened by a reinforcement structure made of thermoplastic materials. The loads on these structures are very often impulsive, for example in the crash situation of an automobile. Due to the large stiffness variation of metal and thermoplastic materials, complex states of stress and very high local strain rates occur in the contact zone under impact conditions. Since the mechanical behavior of thermoplastic materials is highly dependent on these types of load, the crash failure of metal plastic hybrid parts is very complex. The problem is that the normally used strain rate dependent elastic/plastic material models are not capable to simulate the mechanical behavior of thermoplastic materials depended on the state of stress. As part of a research project, a method to simulate the mechanical behavior of hybrid structures under impact conditions is developed at the IKV. For this purpose, a specimen for the measurement of mechanical properties dependet on the state of stress and a method for the strain rate depended characterization of thermoplastic materials were developed. In the second step impact testing is performed. A hybrid structure made from a metal sheet and a reinforcement structure of a Polybutylenterephthalat Polycarbonate blend is tested under impact conditions. The measured stress and strain rate depended material data are used to simulate the mechanical behavior of the hybrid structure under highly dynamic load with impact velocities up to 5 m/s. The mechanical behavior of the plastics structure is simulated using a quadratic yield surface, which takes the state of stress and the strain rate into account. The FE model is made from mid surface elements to reduce the computing time.

Radiation dose to radiosensitive organs in PET/CT myocardial perfusion examination using versatile optical fibre

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salasiah, M.; Nordin, A. J.; Fathinul Fikri, A. S.; Hishar, H.; Tamchek, N.; Taiman, K.; Ahmad Bazli, A. K.; Abdul-Rashid, H. A.; Mahdiraji, G. A.; Mizanur, R.; Noor, Noramaliza M.

2013-05-01

Cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) provides a precise method in order to diagnose obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), compared to single photon emission tomography (SPECT). PET is suitable for obese and patients who underwent pharmacologic stress procedures. It has the ability to evaluate multivessel coronary artery disease by recording changes in left ventricular function from rest to peak stress and quantifying myocardial perfusion (in mL/min/g of tissue). However, the radiation dose to the radiosensitive organs has become crucial issues in the Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography(PET/CT) scanning procedure. The objective of this study was to estimate radiation dose to radiosensitive organs of patients who underwent PET/CT myocardial perfusion examination at Centre for Diagnostic Nuclear Imaging, Universiti Putra Malaysia in one month period using versatile optical fibres (Ge-B-doped Flat Fibre) and LiF (TLD-100 chips). All stress and rest paired myocardial perfusion PET/CT scans will be performed with the use of Rubidium-82 (82Rb). The optic fibres were loaded into plastic capsules and attached to patient's eyes, thyroid and breasts prior to the infusion of 82Rb, to accommodate the ten cases for the rest and stress PET scans. The results were compared with established thermoluminescence material, TLD-100 chips. The result shows that radiation dose given by TLD-100 and Germanium-Boron-doped Flat Fiber (Ge-B-doped Flat Fiber) for these five organs were comparable to each other where the p>0.05. For CT scans,thyroid received the highest dose compared to other organs. Meanwhile, for PET scans, breasts received the highest dose.

Microplastics in Freshwater River Sediments in Shanghai, China: A Case Study of Risk Assessment in Mega Cities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, G.; Xu, P.

2017-12-01

Microplastics are plastics that measure less than 5 mm, which attracted exponential interest in recent years. Microplastics are widely distributed in water, sediments, and biotas. Most of distribution studies focus on the marine environment, yet methods to conduct risk assessment are limited. Widespread of microplastics has raised alarm for the well-being of marine living resources because of its negative ecological effects that has been proved. To understand the distribution of microplastics in urban rivers and source of marine microplastics, we investigated into river sediments in Shanghai, the biggest city in China. Seven sampling sites covered most of city central districts including one sampling site from a tidal flat. Density separation, microscopic inspection and identification were conducted to analyze microplastic abundance, shape and color. It is found that pellets were the most prevalent shape, followed by fiber and fragment. White microplastics were the most common type in terms of color. White foamed microplastic pellets were widely distributed in urban river sediments. Microplastic abundance from rivers was one to two orders of magnitude higher than that from the tidal flat. The significant difference between river and tidal flat samples lead to the conclusion that coastal rivers may be the source of microplastics, therefore in situ data and legitimate estimation should be considered by policy-makers. Seven types of microplastics were identified by μ-FT-IR analysis, indicating a secondary source. Comparison between two types of μ-FT-IR instruments was summarized. Framework for environmental risk assessment for microplastics in sediments was proposed. Indicators and ranks were select for the assessment of microplastic in sediments. It is recommended to select the index, integrate statistical data, follow expert opinions extensively and construct comprehensive evaluation method and ecological risk assessment system for the Chinese context.

Microstructural Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Friction Stir Welded Thick 5083 Aluminum Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Imam, Murshid; Sun, Yufeng; Fujii, Hidetoshi; Ma, Ninshu; Tsutsumi, Seiichiro; Murakawa, Hidekazu

2017-01-01

Joining thick sections of aluminum alloys by friction stir welding (FSW) in a single pass needs to overcome many challenges before it comes to full-scale industrial use. Important parameters controlling the structure-properties relationships both across weld cross-section and through thickness direction were investigated through mechanical testing, electron backscatter diffraction technique, transmission electron microscopy, and occurrence of serrated plastic flow. The evolution of the properties in the weld cross-section shows that the presence of undissolved and fragmented Al_6MnFe particles cause discrepancies in establishing the Hall-Petch relationship, and derive the strengthening from the Orowan strengthening mechanism. A `stop action' friction stir weld has been prepared to understand the role of geometrical features of the tool probe in the development of the final microstructure after complete weld. Sectioning through the `stop action' weld with the probe in situ displays the individual effect of thread and flat on the grain structure formation. The material at the thread surface experiences more severe deformation than the material at flat surface. Both the high-angle boundaries and mean grain size are found to be higher at the thread surface. The strain hardening capacity, stress serration amplitude, and frequency are observed to be higher in the stir zone than other weld regions.

One-step manufacturing of innovative flat-knitted 3D net-shape preforms for composite applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bollengier, Quentin; Wieczorek, Florian; Hellmann, Sven; Trümper, Wolfgang; Cherif, Chokri

2017-10-01

Mostly due to the cost-intensive manually performed processing operations, the production of complex-shaped fibre reinforced plastic composites (FRPC) is currently very expensive and therefore either restricted to sectors with high added value or for small batch applications (e.g. in the aerospace or automotive industry). Previous works suggest that the successful integration of conventional textile manufacturing processes in the FRPC-process chain is the key to a cost-efficient manufacturing of complex three-dimensional (3D) FRPC-components with stress-oriented fibre arrangement. Therefore, this work focuses on the development of the multilayer weft knitting technology for the one-step manufacturing of complex 3D net-shaped preforms for high performance FRPC applications. In order to highlight the advantages of net-shaped multilayer weft knitted fabrics for the production of complex FRPC parts, seamless preforms such as 3D skin-stringer structures and tubular fabrics with load oriented fibre arrangement are realised. In this paper, the development of the textile bindings and performed technical modifications on flat knitting machines are presented. The results show that the multilayer weft knitting technology meets perfectly the requirements for a fully automated and reproducible manufacturing of complex 3D textile preforms with stress-oriented fibre arrangement.

Photovoltaic performance of the dome-shaped Fresnel-Köhler concentrator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zamora, Pablo; Benítez, Pablo; Yang, Li; Miñano, Juan Carlos; Mendes-Lopes, Joao; Araki, Kenji

2012-10-01

In order to have a cost-effective CPV system, two key issues must be ensured: high concentration factor and high tolerance. The novel concentrator we are presenting, the dome-shaped Fresnel-Köhler, can widely fulfill these two and other essential issues in a CPV module. This concentrator is based on two previous successful CPV designs: the FK concentrator with a flat Fresnel lens and the dome-shaped Fresnel lens system developed by Daido Steel, resulting on a superior concentrator. The concentrator has shown outstanding simulation results, achieving an effective concentration-acceptance product (CAP) value of 0.72, and an optical efficiency of 85% on-axis (no anti-reflective coating has been used). Moreover, Köhler integration provides good irradiance uniformity on the cell surface and low spectral aberration of this irradiance. This ensures an optimal performance of the solar cell, maximizing its efficiency. Besides, the domeshaped FK shows optimal results for very compact designs, especially in the f/0.7-1.0 range. The dome-shaped Fresnel- Köhler concentrator, natural and enhanced evolution of the flat FK concentrator, is a cost-effective CPV optical design, mainly due to its high tolerances. Daido Steel advanced technique for demolding injected plastic pieces will allow for easy manufacture of the dome-shaped POE of DFK concentrator.

Regulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation by Nanopatterning of Bulk Metallic Glass.

PubMed

Loye, Ayomiposi M; Kinser, Emily R; Bensouda, Sabrine; Shayan, Mahdis; Davis, Rose; Wang, Rui; Chen, Zheng; Schwarz, Udo D; Schroers, Jan; Kyriakides, Themis R

2018-06-08

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation is regulated by surface modification including texturing, which is applied to materials to enhance tissue integration. Here, we used Pt 57.5 Cu 14.7 Ni 5.3 P 22.5 bulk metallic glass (Pt-BMG) with nanopatterned surfaces achieved by thermoplastic forming to influence differentiation of human MSCs. Pt-BMGs are a unique class of amorphous metals with high strength, elasticity, corrosion resistance, and an unusual plastic-like processability. It was found that flat and nanopattened Pt-BMGs induced osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation, respectively. In addition, osteogenic differentiation on flat BMG exceeded that observed on medical grade titanium and was associated with increased formation of focal adhesions and YAP nuclear localization. In contrast, cells on nanopatterned BMGs exhibited rounded morphology, formed less focal adhesions and had mostly cytoplasmic YAP. These changes were preserved on nanopatterns made of nanorods with increased stiffness due to shorter aspect ratios, suggesting that MSC differentiation was primarily influenced by topography. These observations indicate that both elemental composition and nanotopography can modulate biochemical cues and influence MSCs. Moreover, the processability and highly tunable nature of Pt-BMGs enables the creation of a wide range of surface topographies that can be reproducibly and systematically studied, leading to the development of implants capable of engineering MSC functions.

Mobile Rah!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Villano, Matt

2006-01-01

This article reports that at many institutions, fight songs are now playing all over campus: on the quad, on the bus, in the cafeteria, and sometimes (though not the ideal situation) even in class. Just about any place one would find a cellular phone, one can hear a school's fight song in all of its rah-rah glory. Thanks to a new and lucrative…

X-33 LH2 Tank Failure Investigation Findings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Niedermeyer, Mindy; Clinton, R. G., Jr. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

This presentation focuses on the tank history, test objectives, failure description, investigation and conclusions. The test objectives include verify structural integrity at 105% expected flight load limit varying the following parameters: cryogenic temperature; internal pressure; and mechanical loading. The Failure description includes structural component of the aft body, quad-lobe design, and sandwich - honeycomb graphite epoxy construction.

77 FR 51048 - United States et al. v. Verizon Communications Inc. et al.; Proposed Final Judgment and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-23

... offerings for their customers who want a bundle including such services. Although the agreements permit the... retail outlets selling two competing quad-play offerings: one including Verizon Wireless services and a..., video, and broadband FiOS services, and over 90% of FiOS customers subscribe to some form of bundle...

Multi-Sensor Scene Synthesis and Analysis

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-09-01

Quad Trees for Image Representation and Processing ...... ... 126 2.6.2 Databases ..... ..... ... ..... ... ..... ..... 138 2.6.2.1 Definitions and...Basic Concepts ....... 138 2.6.3 Use of Databases in Hierarchical Scene Analysis ...... ... ..................... 147 2.6.4 Use of Relational Tables...Multisensor Image Database Systems (MIDAS) . 161 2.7.2 Relational Database System for Pictures .... ..... 168 2.7.3 Relational Pictorial Database

77 FR 48959 - Foreign-Trade Zone 133-Quad-Cities, Iowa/Illinois Application for Reorganization Under...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-15

... Cities Industrial Center, 200 East 90th Street, Davenport, Iowa; Site 2 (33 acres)--Rock Island Arsenal, 1775 East Street, Rock Island, Illinois; Site 3 (55 acres)--Modern Warehousing, 801 1st Street East..., Mercer, Rock Island and Warren Counties, Illinois as well as Cedar, Clinton, Des Moines, Dubuque, Henry...

Cognitive Medical Wireless Testbed System (COMWITS)

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-11-01

Number: ...... ...... Sub Contractors (DD882) Names of other research staff Inventions (DD882) Scientific Progress This testbed merges two ARO grants...bit 64 bit CPU Intel Xeon Processor E5-1650v3 (6C, 3.5 GHz, Turbo, HT , 15M, 140W) Intel Core i7-3770 (3.4 GHz Quad Core, 77W) Dual Intel Xeon

Dreaming and the University as a Way of Life

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Byrnes, Dolores M.

2009-01-01

Those who are in higher education dream of a world of changed values where the inchoate, contested, but urgent constellation of things that they collectively believe in, work for, and seek on college campuses has spread well beyond any specific "quad" and has instead become something of a global norm. Imagine that higher education is no longer…

Optimized point dose measurement for monitor unit verification in intensity modulated radiation therapy using 6 MV photons by three different methodologies with different detector-phantom combinations: A comparative study

PubMed Central

Sarkar, Biplab; Ghosh, Bhaswar; Sriramprasath; Mahendramohan, Sukumaran; Basu, Ayan; Goswami, Jyotirup; Ray, Amitabh

2010-01-01

The study was aimed to compare accuracy of monitor unit verification in intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) using 6 MV photons by three different methodologies with different detector phantom combinations. Sixty patients were randomly chosen. Zero degree couch and gantry angle plans were generated in a plastic universal IMRT verification phantom and 30×30×30 cc water phantom and measured using 0.125 cc and 0.6 cc chambers, respectively. Actual gantry and couch angle plans were also measured in water phantom using 0.6 cc chamber. A suitable point of measurement was chosen from the beam profile for each field. When the zero-degree gantry, couch angle plans and actual gantry, couch angle plans were measured by 0.6 cc chamber in water phantom, the percentage mean difference (MD) was 1.35%, 2.94 % and Standard Deviation (SD) was 2.99%, 5.22%, respectively. The plastic phantom measurements with 0.125 cc chamber Semiflex ionisation chamber (SIC) showed an MD=4.21% and SD=2.73 %, but when corrected for chamber-medium response, they showed an improvement, with MD=3.38 % and SD=2.59 %. It was found that measurements with water phantom and 0.6cc chamber at gantry angle zero degree showed better conformity than other measurements of medium-detector combinations. Correction in plastic phantom measurement improved the result only marginally, and actual gantry angle measurement in a flat- water phantom showed higher deviation. PMID:20927221

Causes of Ring-Related Leg Injuries in Birds – Evidence and Recommendations from Four Field Studies

PubMed Central

Griesser, Michael; Schneider, Nicole A.; Collis, Mary-Anne; Overs, Anthony; Guppy, Michael; Guppy, Sarah; Takeuchi, Naoko; Collins, Pete; Peters, Anne; Hall, Michelle L.

2012-01-01

One of the main techniques for recognizing individuals in avian field research is marking birds with plastic and metal leg rings. However, in some species individuals may react negatively to rings, causing leg injuries and, in extreme cases, the loss of a foot or limb. Here, we report problems that arise from ringing and illustrate solutions based on field data from Brown Thornbills (Acanthiza pusilla) (2 populations), Siberian Jays (Perisoreus infaustus) and Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens (Malurus coronatus). We encountered three problems caused by plastic rings: inflammations triggered by material accumulating under the ring (Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens), contact inflammations as a consequence of plastic rings touching the foot or tibio-tarsal joint (Brown Thornbills), and toes or the foot getting trapped in partly unwrapped flat-band colour rings (Siberian Jays). Metal rings caused two problems: the edges of aluminium rings bent inwards if mounted on top of each other (Brown Thornbills), and too small a ring size led to inflammation (Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens). We overcame these problems by changing the ringing technique (using different ring types or larger rings), or using different adhesive. Additionally, we developed and tested a novel, simple technique of gluing plastic rings onto metal rings in Brown Thornbills. A review of studies reporting ring injuries (N = 23) showed that small birds (<55 g body weight) are more prone to leg infections while larger birds (>35 g) tend to get rings stuck over their feet. We give methodological advice on how these problems can be avoided, and suggest a ringing hazard index to compare the impact of ringing in terms of injury on different bird species. Finally, to facilitate improvements in ringing techniques, we encourage online deposition of information regarding ringing injuries of birds at a website hosted by the European Union for Bird Ringing (EURING). PMID:23300574

Warmer and Wetter Soil Stimulates Assimilation More than Respiration in Rainfed Agricultural Ecosystem on the China Loess Plateau: The Role of Partial Plastic Film Mulching Tillage.

PubMed

Gong, Daozhi; Hao, Weiping; Mei, Xurong; Gao, Xiang; Liu, Qi; Caylor, Kelly

2015-01-01

Effects of agricultural practices on ecosystem carbon storage have acquired widespread concern due to its alleviation of rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Recently, combining of furrow-ridge with plastic film mulching in spring maize ecosystem was widely applied to boost crop water productivity in the semiarid regions of China. However, there is still limited information about the potentials for increased ecosystem carbon storage of this tillage method. The objective of this study was to quantify and contrast net carbon dioxide exchange, biomass accumulation and carbon budgets of maize (Zea maize L.) fields under the traditional non-mulching with flat tillage (CK) and partial plastic film mulching with furrow-ridge tillage (MFR) on the China Loess Plateau. Half-hourly net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) of both treatments were synchronously measured with two eddy covariance systems during the growing seasons of 2011 through 2013. At same time green leaf area index (GLAI) and biomass were also measured biweekly. Compared with CK, the warmer and wetter (+1.3°C and +4.3%) top soil at MFR accelerated the rates of biomass accumulation, promoted greater green leaf area and thus shortened the growing seasons by an average value of 10.4 days for three years. MFR stimulated assimilation more than respiration during whole growing season, resulting in a higher carbon sequestration in terms of NEE of -79 gC/m2 than CK. However, after considering carbon in harvested grain (or aboveground biomass), there is a slight higher carbon sink (or a stronger carbon source) in MFR due to its greater difference of aboveground biomass than that of grain between both treatments. These results demonstrate that partial plastic film mulched furrow-ridge tillage with aboveground biomass exclusive of grain returned to the soil is an effective way to enhance simultaneously carbon sequestration and grain yield of maize in the semiarid regions.

Warmer and Wetter Soil Stimulates Assimilation More than Respiration in Rainfed Agricultural Ecosystem on the China Loess Plateau: The Role of Partial Plastic Film Mulching Tillage

PubMed Central

Gong, Daozhi; Hao, Weiping; Mei, Xurong; Gao, Xiang; Liu, Qi; Caylor, Kelly

2015-01-01

Effects of agricultural practices on ecosystem carbon storage have acquired widespread concern due to its alleviation of rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Recently, combining of furrow-ridge with plastic film mulching in spring maize ecosystem was widely applied to boost crop water productivity in the semiarid regions of China. However, there is still limited information about the potentials for increased ecosystem carbon storage of this tillage method. The objective of this study was to quantify and contrast net carbon dioxide exchange, biomass accumulation and carbon budgets of maize (Zea maize L.) fields under the traditional non-mulching with flat tillage (CK) and partial plastic film mulching with furrow-ridge tillage (MFR) on the China Loess Plateau. Half-hourly net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) of both treatments were synchronously measured with two eddy covariance systems during the growing seasons of 2011 through 2013. At same time green leaf area index (GLAI) and biomass were also measured biweekly. Compared with CK, the warmer and wetter (+1.3°C and +4.3%) top soil at MFR accelerated the rates of biomass accumulation, promoted greater green leaf area and thus shortened the growing seasons by an average value of 10.4 days for three years. MFR stimulated assimilation more than respiration during whole growing season, resulting in a higher carbon sequestration in terms of NEE of -79 gC/m2 than CK. However, after considering carbon in harvested grain (or aboveground biomass), there is a slight higher carbon sink (or a stronger carbon source) in MFR due to its greater difference of aboveground biomass than that of grain between both treatments. These results demonstrate that partial plastic film mulched furrow-ridge tillage with aboveground biomass exclusive of grain returned to the soil is an effective way to enhance simultaneously carbon sequestration and grain yield of maize in the semiarid regions. PMID:26305354

Synaptic organic transistors with a vacuum-deposited charge-trapping nanosheet

PubMed Central

Kim, Chang-Hyun; Sung, Sujin; Yoon, Myung-Han

2016-01-01

Organic neuromorphic devices hold great promise for unconventional signal processing and efficient human-machine interfaces. Herein, we propose novel synaptic organic transistors devised to overcome the traditional trade-off between channel conductance and memory performance. A vacuum-processed, nanoscale metallic interlayer provides an ultra-flat surface for a high-mobility molecular film as well as a desirable degree of charge trapping, allowing for low-temperature fabrication of uniform device arrays on plastic. The device architecture is implemented by widely available electronic materials in combination with conventional deposition methods. Therefore, our results are expected to generate broader interests in incorporation of organic electronics into large-area neuromorphic systems, with potential in gate-addressable complex logic circuits and transparent multifunctional interfaces receiving direct optical and cellular stimulation. PMID:27645425

Dynamics of a Lüders Band and Destruction of an Aluminum-Magnesium Alloy, Initiated by a Stress Concentrator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shibkov, A. A.; Zheltov, M. A.; Gasanov, M. F.; Zolotov, A. E.

2018-02-01

Spatio-temporal localization of deformation and the rupture of the aluminum-magnesium AlMg6 alloy, initiated by a geometrical stress concentrator, are studied in situ by video recording at a speed of 500 to 20000 frames/s. It is established that a stress concentrator in the form of a small notch with a depth about 1% of the width of a flat specimen is an attractor of bands of macrolocalized plastic deformation, starting from a Lüders band and ending with the start of the main crack. The key role of intersecting deformation macrobands in the development of the main crack is revealed. Possible micromechanisms of viscous destruction associated with the dynamics of the intersection of deformation bands are discussed.

Simulating the Structural Response of a Preloaded Bolted Joint

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knight, Norman F., Jr.; Phillips, Dawn R.; Raju, Ivatury S.

2008-01-01

The present paper describes the structural analyses performed on a preloaded bolted-joint configuration. The joint modeled was comprised of two L-shaped structures connected together using a single bolt. Each L-shaped structure involved a vertical flat segment (or shell wall) welded to a horizontal segment (or flange). Parametric studies were performed using elasto-plastic, large-deformation nonlinear finite element analyses to determine the influence of several factors on the bolted-joint response. The factors considered included bolt preload, washer-surface-bearing size, edge boundary conditions, joint segment length, and loading history. Joint response is reported in terms of displacements, gap opening, and surface strains. Most of the factors studied were determined to have minimal effect on the bolted-joint response; however, the washer-bearing-surface size affected the response significantly.

Corrosion Product Film-Induced Stress Facilitates Stress Corrosion Cracking

PubMed Central

Wang, Wenwen; Zhang, Zhiliang; Ren, Xuechong; Guan, Yongjun; Su, Yanjing

2015-01-01

Finite element analyses were conducted to clarify the role of corrosion product films (CPFs) in stress corrosion cracking (SCC). Flat and U-shaped edge-notched specimens were investigated in terms of the CPF-induced stress in the metallic substrate and the stress in the CPF. For a U-shaped edge-notched specimen, the stress field in front of the notch tip is affected by the Young’s modulus of the CPF and the CPF thickness and notch geometry. The CPF-induced tensile stress in the metallic substrate is superimposed on the applied load to increase the crack tip strain and facilitate localized plasticity deformation. In addition, the stress in the CPF surface contributes to the rupture of the CPFs. The results provide physical insights into the role of CPFs in SCC. PMID:26066367

Community Attitudes about Economic Impacts of Colleges: A Case Study. AIR 1996 Annual Forum Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stout, Robert J.

This study examined attitudes of people about benefits of the economic impacts of two local colleges (Palmer College of Chiropractic and Scott Community College) in the metropolitan Quad Cities area of Rock Island County (Illinois) and Scott County (Iowa). The study compared impacts considered important by the community with those estimated by the…

Determining Permissible Oxygen and Water Vapor Transmission Rate for Non-Retort Military Ration Packaging

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-11-01

OXYGEN AND WATER VAPOR TRANSMISSION RATE FOR NON- RETORT MILITARY RATION PACKAGING by Danielle Froio Alan Wright Nicole Favreau and Sarah...ANSI Std. Z39.18 RETORT STORAGE SHELF LIFE RETORT POUCHES SENSORY ANALYSIS OXYGEN CRACKERS PACKAGING SENSORY... Packaging for MRE. (a) MRE Retort Pouch Quad-Laminate Structure; (b) MRE Non- retort Pouch Tri-Laminate Structure

Volunteer map data collection at the USGS

USGS Publications Warehouse

Eric, B. Wolf; Poore, Barbara S.; Caro, Holly K.; Matthews, Greg D.

2011-01-01

Since 1994, citizen volunteers have helped the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) improve its topographic maps. Through the Earth Science Corps program, citizens were able to "adopt a quad" and collect new information and update existing map features. Until its conclusion in 2001, as many as 300 volunteers annotated paper maps which were incorporated into the USGS topographic-map revision process.

Understanding American Honors: Student Selection, Key Program Components, and Stakeholder Impressions. CCRC Research Brief. Number 67

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jaggars, Shanna Smith; Grant, Markeisha; Fay, Maggie P.; Farakish, Negar

2017-01-01

Established in 2013, American Honors (AH) is a program operated in partnership between the for-profit company Quad Learning and a growing number of public two-year colleges. It is designed to provide an honors curriculum and intensive wraparound advising for high-achieving, low-income domestic students, as well as for international students who…

Unique Two-Way Field Probe Concept Utilizing a Geodesic Sphere and Quad-Rotor

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-26

82 Appendix C ...For instance, a 2 GHz frequency has a wavelength of 0.15 meters (λ = c /f = 3 x 108 m/s/2 x 109 s); whereas, a 10 GHz transmitted frequency will...in both polarizations and both poses (hexagon down and pentagon down) The ACR’s experimental results can be found in Appendix C . The

Raising the Bar: Welcome to Campus, Class of 2015

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Danielle Moss

2012-01-01

This fall--after the initial buzz that comes with going to college, meeting new friends, quad parties, and having to get to class without the watchful eyes of parents--some members of the Class of 2015 will begin to a slow descent down a rocky road of social and academic struggle. College can be a transformational experience. But an opportunity…

Design for perception management system on offshore reef based on integrated management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Li; Qiankun, Wang

2017-06-01

According to an analysis of actual monitoring demands using integrated management and information technology, a quad monitoring system is proposed to provide intelligent perception of offshore reefs, including indoor building environments, architectural structures, and facilities and perimeter integrity. This will strengthen the ability to analyse and evaluate offshore reef operation and health, promoting efficiency in decision making.

77 FR 44677 - Quad/Graphics Inc., Including On-Site Leased Workers From Staff Mart and A.I.D., Jonesboro, AR...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-30

....,Including On-Site Leased Workers From Staff Mart and A.I.D.,Jonesboro, AR; Amended Certification Regarding... Inc., Jonesboro, Arkansas. The Department's notice of determination was published in the Federal... workers leased from Staff Mart and A.I.D. were employed on-site at the Jonesboro, Arkansas location of...

BWR Steam Dryer Alternating Stress Assessment Procedures

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

Morante, R. J.; Hambric, S. A.; Ziada, S.

2016-12-01

This report presents an overview of Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) steam dryer design; the fatigue cracking failures that occurred at the Quad Cities (QC) plants and their root causes; a history of BWR Extended Power Uprates (EPUs) in the USA; and a discussion of steam dryer modifications/replacements, alternating stress mechanisms on steam dryers, and structural integrity evaluations (static and alternating stress).

NPS-SCAT: A CubeSat Communications System Design, Test, and Integration

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-06-01

used two patch antennas for the S-Band transceiver and a quad-canted turnstile antenna for the downlink in the 70-centimeter band ( Tuli , Orr, & Zee...Service. Retrieved March 08, 2009, from Cute-1.7 + APD II Project: http://lss.mes.titech.ac.jp/ssp/cute1.7/amateur_servic e_e.html Tuli , T.S., Orr

C[superscript 4] (C Quad): Development of the Application for Language Learning Based on Social and Cognitive Presences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yamada, Masanori; Goda, Yoshiko; Matsukawa, Hideya; Hata, Kojiro; Yasunami, Seisuke

2013-01-01

This research aims to develop collaborative language learning systems based on social and cognitive presence for learning settings out of class, and evaluate their effects on learning attitude and performance. The main purpose of this system is focusing on the building of a learning community, therefore the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework…

Development of Adaptive Tilt Tracker that Utilizes QUAD-cell Detector to Track Extended Objects

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-17

telescopes. When incident light encounters the atmosphere , it experiences a turbulent medium that distorts optical wavefronts. Without the AO...fluctuations which randomize optical path lengths. Figure 2 - The temporal and spatial aspects of atmospheric turbulence [6] Consider...the PTS are determined by atmospheric turbulence , optical set-up, and object characteristics such as size, shape, motion, and intensity

LTE-Enhanced Cognitive Radio Network Testbed (LTE-CORNET)

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-11-01

4 PERCENT_SUPPORTEDNAME FTE Equivalent: Total Number: Sub Contractors (DD882) Names of Personnel receiving masters degrees Names of personnel...Turbo, HT , 15M, 140W) Intel Core i7-3770 (3.4 GHz Quad Core, 77W) Dual Intel Xeon E5-2695 v4 (18C, 2.1GHz, 3.3GHz Turbo, 2400MHz, 45MB, 120W

Development of C++ Application Program for Solving Quadratic Equation in Elementary School in Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bandele, Samuel Oye; Adekunle, Adeyemi Suraju

2015-01-01

The study was conducted to design, develop and test a c++ application program CAP-QUAD for solving quadratic equation in elementary school in Nigeria. The package was developed in c++ using object-oriented programming language, other computer program that were also utilized during the development process is DevC++ compiler, it was used for…

Extending Quad-Rotor UAV Autonomy with Onboard Image Processing

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-01

of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services , Directorate for Information...vehicles perform a variety of tasks, from strike to surveillance to communications . Some vehicles, like the MQ-1 Predator, are operated remotely by...a human operator; others, like the BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile, can maneuver autonomously by following pre-programmed control law . Unmanned

A MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC MODEL OF THE M87 JET. I. SUPERLUMINAL KNOT EJECTIONS FROM HST-1 AS TRAILS OF QUAD RELATIVISTIC MHD SHOCKS

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

Nakamura, Masanori; Garofalo, David; Meier, David L., E-mail: nakamura@stsci.ed, E-mail: david.a.garofalo@jpl.nasa.go, E-mail: david.l.meier@jpl.nasa.go

2010-10-01

This is the first in a series of papers that introduces a new paradigm for understanding the jet in M87: a collimated relativistic flow in which strong magnetic fields play a dominant dynamical role. Here, we focus on the flow downstream of HST-1-an essentially stationary flaring feature that ejects trails of superluminal components. We propose that these components are quad relativistic magnetohydrodynamic shock fronts (forward/reverse fast and slow modes) in a narrow jet with a helically twisted magnetic structure. And we demonstrate the properties of such shocks with simple one-dimensional numerical simulations. Quasi-periodic ejections of similar component trails may bemore » responsible for the M87 jet substructures observed further downstream on 10{sup 2}-10{sup 3} pc scales. This new paradigm requires the assimilation of some new concepts into the astrophysical jet community, particularly the behavior of slow/fast-mode waves/shocks and of current-driven helical kink instabilities. However, the prospects of these ideas applying to a large number of other jet systems may make this worth the effort.« less

CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MILLIMETER-WAVE POLARIZATION OF CENTAURUS A WITH QUaD

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

Zemcov, M.; Bock, J.; Leitch, E.

2010-02-20

Centaurus (Cen) A represents one of the best candidates for an isolated, compact, highly polarized source that is bright at typical cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiment frequencies. We present measurements of the 4{sup 0} x 2{sup 0} region centered on Cen A with QUaD, a CMB polarimeter whose absolute polarization angle is known to an accuracy of 0.{sup 0}5. Simulations are performed to assess the effect of misestimation of the instrumental parameters on the final measurement and systematic errors due to the field's background structure and temporal variability from Cen A's nuclear region are determined. The total (Q, U) ofmore » the inner lobe region is (1.00 +- 0.07(stat.) +- 0.04(sys.), - 1.72 +- 0.06 +- 0.05) Jy at 100 GHz and (0.80 +- 0.06 +- 0.06, - 1.40 +- 0.07 +- 0.08) Jy at 150 GHz, leading to polarization angles and total errors of -30.{sup 0}0 +- 1.{sup 0}1 and -29.{sup 0}1 +- 1.{sup 0}7. These measurements will allow the use of Cen A as a polarized calibration source for future millimeter experiments.« less

Optimization of high count rate event counting detector with Microchannel Plates and quad Timepix readout

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tremsin, A. S.; Vallerga, J. V.; McPhate, J. B.; Siegmund, O. H. W.

2015-07-01

Many high resolution event counting devices process one event at a time and cannot register simultaneous events. In this article a frame-based readout event counting detector consisting of a pair of Microchannel Plates and a quad Timepix readout is described. More than 104 simultaneous events can be detected with a spatial resolution of 55 μm, while >103 simultaneous events can be detected with <10 μm spatial resolution when event centroiding is implemented. The fast readout electronics is capable of processing >1200 frames/sec, while the global count rate of the detector can exceed 5×108 particles/s when no timing information on every particle is required. For the first generation Timepix readout, the timing resolution is limited by the Timepix clock to 10-20 ns. Optimization of the MCP gain, rear field voltage and Timepix threshold levels are crucial for the device performance and that is the main subject of this article. These devices can be very attractive for applications where the photon/electron/ion/neutron counting with high spatial and temporal resolution is required, such as energy resolved neutron imaging, Time of Flight experiments in lidar applications, experiments on photoelectron spectroscopy and many others.

SiPM based readout system for PbWO4 crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berra, A.; Bolognini, D.; Bonfanti, S.; Bonvicini, V.; Lietti, D.; Penzo, A.; Prest, M.; Stoppani, L.; Vallazza, E.

2013-08-01

Silicon PhotoMultipliers (SiPMs) consist of a matrix of small passively quenched silicon avalanche photodiodes operated in limited Geiger-mode (GM-APDs) and read out in parallel from a common output node. Each pixel (with a typical size in the 20-100 μm range) gives the same current response when hit by a photon; the SiPM output signal is the sum of the signals of all the pixels, which depends on the light intensity. The main advantages of SiPMs with respect to photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) are essentially the small dimensions, the insensitivity to magnetic fields and a low bias voltage. This contribution presents the performance of a SiPM based readout system for crystal calorimeters developed in the framework of the FACTOR/TWICE collaboration. The SiPM used for the test is a new device produced by FBK-irst which consists in a matrix of four sensors embedded in the same silicon substrate, called QUAD. The SiPM has been coupled to a lead tungstate crystal, an early-prototype version of the crystals developed for the electromagnetic calorimeter of the CMS experiment. New tests are foreseen using a complete module consisting of nine crystals, each one readout by two QUADs.

Long-lasting antifog plasma modification of transparent plastics.

PubMed

Di Mundo, Rosa; d'Agostino, Riccardo; Palumbo, Fabio

2014-10-08

Antifog surfaces are necessary for any application requiring optical efficiency of transparent materials. Surface modification methods aimed toward increasing solid surface energy, even when supposed to be permanent, in fact result in a nondurable effect due to the instability in air of highly hydrophilic surfaces. We propose the strategy of combining a hydrophilic chemistry with a nanotextured topography, to tailor a long-lasting antifog modification on commercial transparent plastics. In particular, we investigated a two-step process consisting of self-masked plasma etching followed by plasma deposition of a silicon-based film. We show that the deposition of the silicon-based coatings on the flat (pristine) substrates allows a continuous variation of wettability from hydrophobic to superhydrophilic, due to a continuous reduction of carbon-containing groups, as assessed by Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. By depositing these different coatings on previously nanotextured substrates, the surface wettability behavior is changed consistently, as well as the condensation phenomenon in terms of microdroplets/liquid film appearance. This variation is correlated with advancing and receding water contact angle features of the surfaces. More importantly, in the case of the superhydrophilic coating, though its surface energy decreases with time, when a nanotextured surface underlies it, the wetting behavior is maintained durably superhydrophilic, thus durably antifog.

Matrix-type transdermal films to enhance simvastatin ex vivo skin permeability.

PubMed

El-Say, Khalid M; Ahmed, Osama A A; Aljaeid, Bader M; Zidan, Ahmed S

2017-06-01

This study aimed at employing Plackett-Burman design in screening formulation variables that affect quality of matrix-type simvastatin (SMV) transdermal film. To achieve this goal, 12 formulations were prepared by casting method. The investigated variables were Eudragit RL percentage, polymer mixture percentage, plasticizer type, plasticizer percentage, enhancer type, enhancer percentage and dichloromethane fraction in organic phase. The films were evaluated for physicochemical properties and ex vivo SMV permeation. SMV initial, delayed flux, diffusivity and permeability coefficient were calculated on the delayed flux phase with constraint to minimize the initial flux and approaching steady-state flux. The obtained results revealed flat films with homogeneous distribution of SMV within the films. Thickness values changed from 65 to 180 μm by changing the factors' combinations. Most of the permeation profiles showed sustained release feature with fast permeation phase followed by slow phase. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant effects (p < 0.05) of the investigated variables on the responses with Prob > F values of 0.0147, 0.0814, 0.0063 and 0.0142 for the initial and delayed fluxes, permeability coefficients and diffusivities, respectively. The findings of screening study showed the importance of the significant variables to be scaled up for full optimization study as a promising alternative drug delivery system.

Effect of Different Mulches under Rainfall Concentration System on Corn Production in the Semi-arid Areas of the Loess Plateau

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Xiaolong; Zhang, Peng; Chen, Xiaoli; Guo, Jingjing; Jia, Zhikuan

2016-01-01

The ridge and furrow farming system for rainfall concentration (RC) has gradually been popularized to improve the water availability for crops and to increase the water use efficiency (WUE), thereby stabilizing high yields. In the RC system, plastic-covered ridges are rainfall harvesting zones and furrows are planting zones. In this study, we optimized the mulching patterns for RC planting to mitigate the risks of drought during crop production in semi-arid agricultural areas. We conducted a four-year field study to determine the effects on corn production of mulching with 0.08-mm plastic film, maize straw, 8% biodegradable film, liquid film, bare furrow, and conventional flat (CF) farming. We found that RC significantly increased (P > 0.05) the soil moisture storage in the top 0-100 cm layer and the topsoil temperature (0-10 cm) during the corn-growing season. Combining RC with mulching further improved the rain-harvesting, moisture-retaining, and yield-increasing effects in furrows. Compared with CF, the four-year average yield increased by 1497.1 kg ha-1 to 2937.3 kg ha-1 using RC with mulch treatments and the WUE increased by 2.3 kg ha-1 mm-1 to 5.1 kg ha-1 mm-1.

Effect of Different Mulches under Rainfall Concentration System on Corn Production in the Semi-arid Areas of the Loess Plateau.

PubMed

Ren, Xiaolong; Zhang, Peng; Chen, Xiaoli; Guo, Jingjing; Jia, Zhikuan

2016-01-11

The ridge and furrow farming system for rainfall concentration (RC) has gradually been popularized to improve the water availability for crops and to increase the water use efficiency (WUE), thereby stabilizing high yields. In the RC system, plastic-covered ridges are rainfall harvesting zones and furrows are planting zones. In this study, we optimized the mulching patterns for RC planting to mitigate the risks of drought during crop production in semi-arid agricultural areas. We conducted a four-year field study to determine the effects on corn production of mulching with 0.08-mm plastic film, maize straw, 8% biodegradable film, liquid film, bare furrow, and conventional flat (CF) farming. We found that RC significantly increased (P > 0.05) the soil moisture storage in the top 0-100 cm layer and the topsoil temperature (0-10 cm) during the corn-growing season. Combining RC with mulching further improved the rain-harvesting, moisture-retaining, and yield-increasing effects in furrows. Compared with CF, the four-year average yield increased by 1497.1 kg ha(-1) to 2937.3 kg ha(-1) using RC with mulch treatments and the WUE increased by 2.3 kg ha(-1) mm(-1) to 5.1 kg ha(-1) mm(-1).

Water–use efficiency of dryland wheat in response to mulching and tillage practices on the Loess Plateau

PubMed Central

Wang, Li-fang; Shangguan, Zhou-ping

2015-01-01

Mulching and tillage are widely considered to be major practices for improving soil and water conservation where water is scarce. This paper studied the effects of FM (flat mulching), RFM (ridge-furrow mulching), SM (straw mulching), MTMC (mulching with two materials combined), MOM (mulching with other materials), NT (no-tillage) ST (subsoiling tillage) and RT (rotational tillage) on wheat yield based on a synthesis of 85 recent publications (including 2795 observations at 24 sites) in the Loess Plateau, China. This synthesis suggests that wheat yield was in the range of 259–7898 kg ha−1 for FM and RFM. The sequence of water use efficiency (WUE) effect sizes was similar to that of wheat yield for the practices. Wheat yields were more sensitive to soil water at planting covered by plastic film, wheat straw, liquid film, water-permeable plastic film and sand compared to NT, ST and RT. RFM and RT increased the yields of wheat by 18 and 15%, respectively, and corresponding for WUE by 20.11 and 12.50%. This synthesis demonstrates that RFM was better for avoiding the risk of reduced production due to lack of precipitation; however, under conditions of better soil moisture, RT and MTMC were also economic. PMID:26192158

Numerical simulations of microcrack-related damage and ignition behavior of mild-impacted polymer bonded explosives.

PubMed

Yang, Kun; Wu, Yanqing; Huang, Fenglei

2018-08-15

A physical model is developed to describe the viscoelastic-plastic deformation, cracking damage, and ignition behavior of polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) under mild impact. This model improves on the viscoelastic-statistical crack mechanical model (Visco-SCRAM) in several respects. (i) The proposed model introduces rate-dependent plasticity into the framework which is more suitable for explosives with relatively high binder content. (ii) Damage evolution is calculated by the generalized Griffith instability criterion with the dominant (most unstable) crack size rather than the averaged crack size over all crack orientations. (iii) The fast burning of cracks following ignition and the effects of gaseous products on crack opening are considered. The predicted uniaxial and triaxial stress-strain responses of PBX9501 sample under dynamic compression loading are presented to illustrate the main features of the materials. For an uncovered cylindrical PBX charge impacted by a flat-nosed rod, the simulated results show that a triangular-shaped dead zone is formed beneath the front of the rod. The cracks in the dead zone are stable due to friction-locked stress state, whereas the cracks near the front edges of dead zone become unstable and turn into hotspots due to high-shear effects. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Modified optical fiber daylighting system with sunlight transportation in free space.

PubMed

Vu, Ngoc-Hai; Pham, Thanh-Tuan; Shin, Seoyong

2016-12-26

We present the design, optical simulation, and experiment of a modified optical fiber daylighting system (M-OFDS) for indoor lighting. The M-OFDS is comprised of three sub-systems: concentration, collimation, and distribution. The concentration part is formed by coupling a Fresnel lens with a large-core plastic optical fiber. The sunlight collected by the concentration sub-system is propagated in a plastic optical fiber and then collimated by the collimator, which is a combination of a parabolic mirror and a convex lens. The collimated beam of sunlight travels in free space and is guided to the interior by directing flat mirrors, where it is diffused uniformly by a distributor. All parameters of the system are calculated theoretically. Based on the designed system, our simulation results demonstrated a maximum optical efficiency of 71%. The simulation results also showed that sunlight could be delivered to the illumination destination at distance of 30 m. A prototype of the M-OFDS was fabricated, and preliminary experiments were performed outdoors. The simulation results and experimental results confirmed that the M-OFDS was designed effectively. A large-scale system constructed by several M-OFDSs is also proposed. The results showed that the presented optical fiber daylighting system is a strong candidate for an inexpensive and highly efficient application of solar energy in buildings.

Rapid Equipping Force (REF) Analytical Support

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-06-01

document contains color images. 14. ABSTRACT 15. SUBJECT TERMS 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT UU 18. NUMBER OF PAGES 44...interface and performs actions via Excel formulae, ActiveX controls, and VBA code. – Plan to provide both simple and complex weighting and scoring methods...Requirements Quad Chart. –Solution Set Information Worksheet: A spreadsheet containing detailed information concerning every potential solution considered

Use of graphics in decision aids for telerobotic control: (Parts 5-8 of an 8-part MIT progress report)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sheridan, Thomas B.; Roseborough, James B.; Das, Hari; Chin, Kan-Ping; Inoue, Seiichi

1989-01-01

Four separate projects recently completed or in progress at the MIT Man-Machine Systems Laboratory are summarized. They are: a decision aid for retrieving a tumbling satellite in space; kinematic control and graphic display of redundant teleoperators; real time terrain/object generation: a quad-tree approach; and two dimensional control for three dimensional obstacle avoidance.

Dish Stirling High Performance Thermal Storage FY14Q4 Quad Chart

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

Andraka, Charles E.

2014-10-01

The goals of this project are to demonstrate the feasibility of significant thermal storage for dish stirling systems to leverage their existing high performance to greater capacity; demonstrate key components of a latent storage and transport system enabling on-dish storage with low energy losses; and provide a technology path to a 25kW e system with 6 hours of storage.

Diagnosing Contributions of Sensory and Cognitive Deficits to Hearing Dysfunction in Blast-Exposed/TBI Service Members

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-10-01

The speech, spatial and qualities of hearing scale (SSQ). International Journal of Audiology, 43(2), 85–99. 11 Quad Chart Diagnosing contributions... Service Members” PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr. Barbara Shinn-Cunningham CONTRACTING ORGANIZATION: Boston University Boston, MA 02215-1703 REPORT DATE...information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services , Directorate for Information Operations

New Dimensions in Microarchitecture Harnessing 3D Integration Technologies (BRIEFING CHARTS)

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-03-06

Quad Core Bandwidth and Latency Boundaries General Purpose Processor Loads Latency limited Ba nd w id th li m ite dProcessor load trade -off between I...delay No= number of ckts at 1V do= ckt delay at 1V From “3D Intergration ” Special Topic Sessionl W. Haensch, ISSCC ‘07, 2/07 11 DARPA MTS March 6, 2007

Lumber recovery from young-growth red and white fir in northern California.

Treesearch

W.Y. Pong

1982-01-01

Lumber recovery data from 1,106 logs from 341 young-growth white fir (Abies concolor (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl. ex Hildebr.) and red fir (A. magnifica A. Murr) trees are presented. All logs were processed through a quad-band headsaw. Nominal 2x4's and 2x6's made up over 93 percent of the lumber volume; nearly 70...

Simple constant-current-regulated power supply

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Priebe, D. H. E.; Sturman, J. C.

1977-01-01

Supply incorporates soft-start circuit that slowly ramps current up to set point at turn-on. Supply consists of full-wave rectifier, regulating pass transistor, current feedback circuit, and quad single-supply operational-amplifier circuit providing control. Technique is applicable to any system requiring constant dc current, such as vacuum tube equipment, heaters, or battery charges; it has been used to supply constant current for instrument calibration.

28. Fern Canyon (Meier 1979)

Treesearch

Sheauchi Cheng

2004-01-01

This established RNA is on the San Dimas Experimental Forest, within the Angeles National Forest. It is approximately 6 miles (10 km) N. of the city of Claremont. It occupies portions of seven sects. in T1N, R8W SBBM (34°12'N., 117°43'W.), USGS Mt. Baldy quad (fig. 58). Ecological subsection – San Gabriel Mountains (M261Bd).

In situ frustum indentation of nanoporous copper thin films

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

Liu, Ran; Pathak, Siddhartha; Mook, William M.

Mechanical properties of thin films are often obtained solely from nanoindentation. At the same time, such measurements are characterized by a substantial amount of uncertainty, especially when mean pressure or hardness are used to infer uniaxial yield stress. In this paper we demonstrate that indentation with a pyramidal flat tip (frustum) indenter near the free edge of a sample can provide a significantly better estimate of the uniaxial yield strength compared to frequently used Berkovich indenter. This is first demonstrated using a numerical model for a material with an isotropic pressure sensitive yield criterion. Numerical simulations confirm that the indentermore » geometry provides a clear distinction of the mean pressure at which a material transitions to inelastic behavior. The mean critical pressure is highly dependent on the plastic Poisson ratio ν p so that at the 1% offset of normalized indent depth, the critical pressure p m c normalized to the uniaxial yield strength σ 0 is 1 < p m c/σ 0 < 1.3 for materials with 0 < ν p < 0.5. Choice of a frustum over Berkovich indenter reduces uncertainty in hardness by a factor of 3. These results are used to interpret frustum indentation experiments on nanoporous (NP) Copper with struts of typical diameter of 45 nm. An estimate of the yield strength of NP Copper is obtained 230 MPa < σ 0 < 300 MPa. Edge indentation further allows one to obtain in-plane strain maps near the critical pressure. Finally, comparison of the experimentally obtained in-plane strain maps of NP Cu during deformation and the strain field for different plastic Poisson ratios suggest that this material has a plastic Poisson ratio of the order of 0.2–0.3. However, existing constitutive models may not adequately capture post-yield behavior of NP metals.« less

Epigenetics of drought-induced trans-generational plasticity: consequences for range limit development

PubMed Central

Alsdurf, Jacob; Anderson, Cynthia; Siemens, David H.

2016-01-01

Genetic variation gives plants the potential to adapt to stressful environments that often exist beyond their geographic range limits. However, various genetic, physiological or developmental constraints might prevent the process of adaptation. Alternatively, environmentally induced epigenetic changes might sustain populations for several generations in stressful areas across range boundaries, but previous work on Boechera stricta, an upland mustard closely related to Arabidopsis, documented a drought-induced trans-generational plastic trade-off that could contribute to range limit development. Offspring of parents who were drought treated had higher drought tolerance, but lower levels of glucosinolate toxins. Both drought tolerance and defence are thought to be needed to expand the range to lower elevations. Here, we used methylation-sensitive amplified fragment length polymorphisms to determine whether environmentally induced DNA methylation and thus epigenetics could be a mechanism involved in the observed trans-generational plastic trade-off. We compared 110 offspring from the same self-fertilizing lineages whose parents were exposed to experimental drought stress treatments in the laboratory. Using three primer combinations, 643 polymorphic epi-loci were detected. Discriminant function analysis (DFA) on the amount of methylation detected resulted in significant combinations of epi-loci that distinguished the parent drought treatments in the offspring. Principal component (PC) and univariate association analyses also detected the significant differences, even after controlling for lineage, planting flat, developmental differences and multiple testing. Univariate tests also indicated significant associations between the amount of methylation and drought tolerance or glucosinolate toxin concentration. One epi-locus that was implicated in DFA, PC and univariate association analysis may be directly involved in the trade-off because increased methylation at this site on the genome decreased drought tolerance, but increased glucosinolate concentration. PMID:26685218

In situ frustum indentation of nanoporous copper thin films

DOE PAGES

Liu, Ran; Pathak, Siddhartha; Mook, William M.; ...

2017-07-24

Mechanical properties of thin films are often obtained solely from nanoindentation. At the same time, such measurements are characterized by a substantial amount of uncertainty, especially when mean pressure or hardness are used to infer uniaxial yield stress. In this paper we demonstrate that indentation with a pyramidal flat tip (frustum) indenter near the free edge of a sample can provide a significantly better estimate of the uniaxial yield strength compared to frequently used Berkovich indenter. This is first demonstrated using a numerical model for a material with an isotropic pressure sensitive yield criterion. Numerical simulations confirm that the indentermore » geometry provides a clear distinction of the mean pressure at which a material transitions to inelastic behavior. The mean critical pressure is highly dependent on the plastic Poisson ratio ν p so that at the 1% offset of normalized indent depth, the critical pressure p m c normalized to the uniaxial yield strength σ 0 is 1 < p m c/σ 0 < 1.3 for materials with 0 < ν p < 0.5. Choice of a frustum over Berkovich indenter reduces uncertainty in hardness by a factor of 3. These results are used to interpret frustum indentation experiments on nanoporous (NP) Copper with struts of typical diameter of 45 nm. An estimate of the yield strength of NP Copper is obtained 230 MPa < σ 0 < 300 MPa. Edge indentation further allows one to obtain in-plane strain maps near the critical pressure. Finally, comparison of the experimentally obtained in-plane strain maps of NP Cu during deformation and the strain field for different plastic Poisson ratios suggest that this material has a plastic Poisson ratio of the order of 0.2–0.3. However, existing constitutive models may not adequately capture post-yield behavior of NP metals.« less

Comparative evaluation of molar distalization therapy with erupted second molar: Segmented versus Quad Pendulum appliance.

PubMed

Caprioglio, Alberto; Cozzani, Mauro; Fontana, Mattia

2014-01-01

There are controversial opinions about the effect of erupted second molars on distalization of the first molars. Most of the distalizing devices are anchored on the first molars, without including second molars; so, differences between sequentially distalize maxillary molars (second molar followed by the first molar) or distalize second and first molars together are not clear. The aim of the study was to compare sequential versus simultaneous molar distalization therapy with erupted second molar using two different modified Pendulum appliances followed by fixed appliances. The treatment sample consisted of 35 class II malocclusion subjects, divided in two groups: group 1 consisted of 24 patients (13 males and 11 females) with a mean pre-treatment age of 12.9 years, treated with the Segmented Pendulum (SP) and fixed appliances; group 2 consisted of 11 patients (6 males and 5 females) with a mean pre-treatment age of 13.2 years, treated with the Quad Pendulum (QP) and fixed appliances. Lateral cephalograms were obtained before treatment (T1), at the end of distalization (T2), and at the end of orthodontic fixed appliance therapy (T3). A Student t test was used to identify significant between-group differences between T1 to T2, T2 to T3, and T1 to T3. QP and SP were equally effective in distalizing maxillary molars (3.5 and 4 mm, respectively) between T1 and T2; however, the maxillary first molar showed less distal tipping (4.6° vs. 9.6°) and more extrusion (1.1 vs. 0.2 mm) in the QP group than in the SP group, as well as the vertical facial dimension, which increased more in the QP group (1.2°) than in the SP group (0.7°). At T3, the QP group maintained greater increase in lower anterior facial height and molar extrusion and decrease in overbite than the SP group. Quad Pendulum seems to have greater increase in vertical dimension and molar extrusion than the Segmented Pendulum.

Generation and Use of Thermal Energy in the U.S. Industrial Sector and Opportunities to Reduce its Carbon Emissions

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

McMillan, Colin A.; Boardman, Richard; McKellar, Michael

The industrial sector was the third-largest source of direct U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2014 behind electricity generation and transportation and accounted for roughly 20% of total emissions (EPA 2016). The Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that total U.S. energy consumption will grow to about 108 exajoules (1 EJ = 10 18 J) or 102 quads (1 quad = 10 15 British thermal units) in 2025, with nearly all of the growth coming from the industrial sector (DOE 2015b). Energy consumption in the industrial sector is forecast to increase to 39.5 EJ (37.4 quads)—a 22% increase, exceeding 36% ofmore » total energy consumption in the United States. Therefore, it is imperative that industrial GHG emissions be considered in any strategy intent on achieving deep decarbonization of the energy sector as a whole. It is important to note that unlike the transportation sector and electrical grid, energy use by industry often involves direct conversion of primary energy sources to thermal and electrical energy at the point of consumption. About 52% of U.S. industrial direct GHG emissions are the result of fuel combustion (EPA 2016) to produce hot gases and steam for process heating, process reactions, and process evaporation, concentration, and drying. The heterogeneity and variations in scale of U.S. industry and the complexity of modern industrial firms’ global supply chains are among the sector’s unique challenges to minimizing its GHG emissions. A combination of varied strategies—such as energy efficiency, material efficiency, and switching to low-carbon fuels—can help reduce absolute industrial GHG emissions. This report provides a complement to process-efficiency improvement to consider how clean energy delivery and use by industry could reduce GHG emissions. Specifically, it considers the possibility of replacing fossil-fuel combustion in industry with nuclear (specifically small modular reactors [SMRs]), solar thermal (referred to herein as solar industrial process heat [SIPH]), and geothermal energy sources. The possibility of applying electrical heating and greater use of hydrogen is also considered, although these opportunities are not discussed in as much detail.« less

Voluntary Ambulation by Upper Limb-Triggered HAL® in Patients with Complete Quadri/Paraplegia Due to Chronic Spinal Cord Injury.

PubMed

Shimizu, Yukiyo; Kadone, Hideki; Kubota, Shigeki; Suzuki, Kenji; Abe, Tetsuya; Ueno, Tomoyuki; Soma, Yuichiro; Sankai, Yoshiyuki; Hada, Yasushi; Yamazaki, Masashi

2017-01-01

Patients with complete paraplegia after spinal cord injury (SCI) are unable to stand or walk on their own. Standing exercise decreases the risk of decubitus ulcers, osteoporosis, and joint deformities in patients with SCI. Conventional gait training for complete paraplegia requires excessive upper limb usage for weight bearing and is difficult in cases of complete quadriplegia. The purpose of this study was to describe voluntary ambulation triggered by upper limb activity using the Hybrid Assistive Limb® (HAL) in patients with complete quadri/paraplegia after chronic SCI. Four patients (3 men, 1 woman) were enrolled in this study. The mean patient age ± standard deviation was 37.2 ± 17.8 (range, 20-67) years. Clinical evaluation before intervention revealed the following findings: case 1, neurological level C6, American Spinal Cord Injury Association impairment scale (AIS) grade B; case 2, T6, AIS A; case 3, T10 AIS A; and case 4, T11, AIS A. The HAL intervention consisted of 10 sessions. Each HAL session lasted 60-90 min. The HAL electrodes for hip and knee flexion-extension were placed on the anterior and posterior sides of the upper limbs contralaterally corresponding to each of the lower limbs. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to evaluate muscle activity of the tensor fascia lata and quadriceps femoris (Quad) in synchronization with a Vicon motion capture system. The modified Ashworth scale (mAs) score was also evaluated before and after each session. All participants completed all 10 sessions. Cases 1, 2, and 3 demonstrated significant decreases in mAs score after the sessions compared to pre-session measurements. In all cases, EMG before the intervention showed no apparent activation in either Quad. However, gait phase dependent activity of the lower limb muscles was seen during voluntarily triggered ambulation driven by upper limb muscle activities. In cases 3 and 4, active contraction in both Quads was observed after intervention. These findings suggest that upper-limb-triggered HAL ambulation is a safe and feasible option for rehabilitation in patients with complete quadri/paraplegia caused by chronic SCI.

Voluntary Ambulation by Upper Limb-Triggered HAL® in Patients with Complete Quadri/Paraplegia Due to Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

PubMed Central

Shimizu, Yukiyo; Kadone, Hideki; Kubota, Shigeki; Suzuki, Kenji; Abe, Tetsuya; Ueno, Tomoyuki; Soma, Yuichiro; Sankai, Yoshiyuki; Hada, Yasushi; Yamazaki, Masashi

2017-01-01

Patients with complete paraplegia after spinal cord injury (SCI) are unable to stand or walk on their own. Standing exercise decreases the risk of decubitus ulcers, osteoporosis, and joint deformities in patients with SCI. Conventional gait training for complete paraplegia requires excessive upper limb usage for weight bearing and is difficult in cases of complete quadriplegia. The purpose of this study was to describe voluntary ambulation triggered by upper limb activity using the Hybrid Assistive Limb® (HAL) in patients with complete quadri/paraplegia after chronic SCI. Four patients (3 men, 1 woman) were enrolled in this study. The mean patient age ± standard deviation was 37.2 ± 17.8 (range, 20–67) years. Clinical evaluation before intervention revealed the following findings: case 1, neurological level C6, American Spinal Cord Injury Association impairment scale (AIS) grade B; case 2, T6, AIS A; case 3, T10 AIS A; and case 4, T11, AIS A. The HAL intervention consisted of 10 sessions. Each HAL session lasted 60–90 min. The HAL electrodes for hip and knee flexion-extension were placed on the anterior and posterior sides of the upper limbs contralaterally corresponding to each of the lower limbs. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to evaluate muscle activity of the tensor fascia lata and quadriceps femoris (Quad) in synchronization with a Vicon motion capture system. The modified Ashworth scale (mAs) score was also evaluated before and after each session. All participants completed all 10 sessions. Cases 1, 2, and 3 demonstrated significant decreases in mAs score after the sessions compared to pre-session measurements. In all cases, EMG before the intervention showed no apparent activation in either Quad. However, gait phase dependent activity of the lower limb muscles was seen during voluntarily triggered ambulation driven by upper limb muscle activities. In cases 3 and 4, active contraction in both Quads was observed after intervention. These findings suggest that upper-limb-triggered HAL ambulation is a safe and feasible option for rehabilitation in patients with complete quadri/paraplegia caused by chronic SCI. PMID:29209163

Uncertainty Analysis of Decomposing Polyurethane Foam

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hobbs, Michael L.; Romero, Vicente J.

2000-01-01

Sensitivity/uncertainty analyses are necessary to determine where to allocate resources for improved predictions in support of our nation's nuclear safety mission. Yet, sensitivity/uncertainty analyses are not commonly performed on complex combustion models because the calculations are time consuming, CPU intensive, nontrivial exercises that can lead to deceptive results. To illustrate these ideas, a variety of sensitivity/uncertainty analyses were used to determine the uncertainty associated with thermal decomposition of polyurethane foam exposed to high radiative flux boundary conditions. The polyurethane used in this study is a rigid closed-cell foam used as an encapsulant. Related polyurethane binders such as Estane are used in many energetic materials of interest to the JANNAF community. The complex, finite element foam decomposition model used in this study has 25 input parameters that include chemistry, polymer structure, and thermophysical properties. The response variable was selected as the steady-state decomposition front velocity calculated as the derivative of the decomposition front location versus time. An analytical mean value sensitivity/uncertainty (MV) analysis was used to determine the standard deviation by taking numerical derivatives of the response variable with respect to each of the 25 input parameters. Since the response variable is also a derivative, the standard deviation was essentially determined from a second derivative that was extremely sensitive to numerical noise. To minimize the numerical noise, 50-micrometer element dimensions and approximately 1-msec time steps were required to obtain stable uncertainty results. As an alternative method to determine the uncertainty and sensitivity in the decomposition front velocity, surrogate response surfaces were generated for use with a constrained Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) technique. Two surrogate response surfaces were investigated: 1) a linear surrogate response surface (LIN) and 2) a quadratic response surface (QUAD). The LHS techniques do not require derivatives of the response variable and are subsequently relatively insensitive to numerical noise. To compare the LIN and QUAD methods to the MV method, a direct LHS analysis (DLHS) was performed using the full grid and timestep resolved finite element model. The surrogate response models (LIN and QUAD) are shown to give acceptable values of the mean and standard deviation when compared to the fully converged DLHS model.