Sequential shrink photolithography for plastic microlens arrays.

PubMed

Dyer, David; Shreim, Samir; Jayadev, Shreshta; Lew, Valerie; Botvinick, Elliot; Khine, Michelle

2011-07-18

Endeavoring to push the boundaries of microfabrication with shrinkable polymers, we have developed a sequential shrink photolithography process. We demonstrate the utility of this approach by rapidly fabricating plastic microlens arrays. First, we create a mask out of the children's toy Shrinky Dinks by simply printing dots using a standard desktop printer. Upon retraction of this pre-stressed thermoplastic sheet, the dots shrink to a fraction of their original size, which we then lithographically transfer onto photoresist-coated commodity shrink wrap film. This shrink film reduces in area by 95% when briefly heated, creating smooth convex photoresist bumps down to 30 µm. Taken together, this sequential shrink process provides a complete process to create microlenses, with an almost 99% reduction in area from the original pattern size. Finally, with a lithography molding step, we emboss these bumps into optical grade plastics such as cyclic olefin copolymer for functional microlens arrays.

Sequential shrink photolithography for plastic microlens arrays

PubMed Central

Dyer, David; Shreim, Samir; Jayadev, Shreshta; Lew, Valerie; Botvinick, Elliot; Khine, Michelle

2011-01-01

Endeavoring to push the boundaries of microfabrication with shrinkable polymers, we have developed a sequential shrink photolithography process. We demonstrate the utility of this approach by rapidly fabricating plastic microlens arrays. First, we create a mask out of the children’s toy Shrinky Dinks by simply printing dots using a standard desktop printer. Upon retraction of this pre-stressed thermoplastic sheet, the dots shrink to a fraction of their original size, which we then lithographically transfer onto photoresist-coated commodity shrink wrap film. This shrink film reduces in area by 95% when briefly heated, creating smooth convex photoresist bumps down to 30 µm. Taken together, this sequential shrink process provides a complete process to create microlenses, with an almost 99% reduction in area from the original pattern size. Finally, with a lithography molding step, we emboss these bumps into optical grade plastics such as cyclic olefin copolymer for functional microlens arrays. PMID:21863126

The analysis of magnesium oxide hydration in three-phase reaction system

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

Tang, Xiaojia; Guo, Lin; Chen, Chen

In order to investigate the magnesium oxide hydration process in gas–liquid–solid (three-phase) reaction system, magnesium hydroxide was prepared by magnesium oxide hydration in liquid–solid (two-phase) and three-phase reaction systems. A semi-empirical model and the classical shrinking core model were used to fit the experimental data. The fitting result shows that both models describe well the hydration process of three-phase system, while only the semi-empirical model right for the hydration process of two-phase system. The characterization of the hydration product using X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) was performed. The XRD and SEM show hydration process in the two-phasemore » system follows common dissolution/precipitation mechanism. While in the three-phase system, the hydration process undergo MgO dissolution, Mg(OH){sub 2} precipitation, Mg(OH){sub 2} peeling off from MgO particle and leaving behind fresh MgO surface. - Graphical abstract: There was existence of a peeling-off process in the gas–liquid–solid (three-phase) MgO hydration system. - Highlights: • Magnesium oxide hydration in gas–liquid–solid system was investigated. • The experimental data in three-phase system could be fitted well by two models. • The morphology analysis suggested that there was existence of a peel-off process.« less

Liner for extrusion billet containers. Interim Technical Documentary Progress Report, February 1--April 30, 1963

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

Spachner, S. A.

1963-05-01

A shrink-fit assembly device for buildup of ceramiccoated liner and sleeve assemblies was tested and modified to develop desired temperatures and suitable heat distribution in sleeves, which were heated. Nine different compositions of fiber metal reinforced ceramic compacts were produced for preliminary evaluation of suitability for extrusion liner use. Procedures were developed for welding short, hollow ceramic cylinders of high-strength metal carbides and borides to form a ceramic extrusion liner of suitable length. Dissassembly tooling for rapid separation of shrink-fitted sleeves from a worn liner was designed, fabricated, and tested. Preliminary extrusion testing of an alumina-coated liner was carried out,more » using SAE 4340 steel billets extruded to rod at 12 : 1 and 16 : 1 ratios. No coating wear was noted after extrusion of 3 billets. (auth)« less

Advanced shrink material for NTD process with lower Y/X shrinkage bias of elongated patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyamoto, Yoshihiro; Sekito, Takashi; Sagan, John; Horiba, Yuko; Kinuta, Takafumi; Nagahara, Tatsuro; Tarutani, Shinji

2015-03-01

Negative tone shrink materials (NSM) suitable for resolution enhancement of negative tone development (NTD) 193nm immersion resists have been developed. While this technology is being expanded to integrated circuits (IC) manufacturing, there still have two major problems to apply various processes. One of them is shrink ID bias which means shrink differences between isolated (I) and dense (D) CDs, and the other one is Y/X shrinkage bias which means shrinkage differences between major axis (Y) and minor axis (X) of the elongated or oval shape pattern. While we have presented the improvement of shrink ID bias at SPIE2014 [1], the reduction of Y/X shrinkage bias was the examination theme for quite some time. In this paper, we present Y/X shrinkage bias of current NTD shrink material, new concept material for Y/X bias reduction and the result of new shrink material. Current NTD shrink model has Y/X bias of 1.6 (Y shrink=16nm) at a mixing bake (MB) of 150°C on AZ AX2110P NTD elongated pattern of X=70nm and Y=210nm ADI. This means shrinkage of Y has larger shrinkage than X and that makes difficult to apply shrink material. We expected that the characteristic shape of elongated pattern was one of the root-cause for Y/X bias, and then simulated how to achieve equivalent shrinkage at Y and X. We concluded that available resist volume per each Y and X unit was not equivalent and need new shrink concept to solve Y/X bias. Based on our new concept, we prepared new shrink material which has lower Y/X bias and larger shrink amount compared with current NTD shrink material. Finally we have achieved lower Y/X bias from 1.6 to 1.1 at MB150°C and moreover got higher shrinkage than current NTD shrink material from 10.1nm to 16.7nm.

Ceramic tamper-revealing seals

DOEpatents

Kupperman, David S.; Raptis, Apostolos C.; Sheen, Shuh-Haw

1992-01-01

A flexible metal or ceramic cable with composite ceramic ends, or a u-shaped ceramic connecting element attached to a binding element plate or block cast from alumina or zirconium, and connected to the connecting element by shrink fitting.

Ceramic tamper-revealing seals

DOEpatents

Kupperman, D.S.; Raptis, A.C.; Sheen, S.H.

1992-12-08

A flexible metal or ceramic cable is described with composite ceramic ends, or a U-shaped ceramic connecting element attached to a binding element plate or block cast from alumina or zirconium, and connected to the connecting element by shrink fitting. 7 figs.

Adaptive self-assembly and induced-fit transformations of anion-binding metal-organic macrocycles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ting; Zhou, Li-Peng; Guo, Xiao-Qing; Cai, Li-Xuan; Sun, Qing-Fu

2017-06-01

Container-molecules are attractive to chemists due to their unique structural characteristics comparable to enzymes and receptors in nature. We report here a family of artificial self-assembled macrocyclic containers that feature induced-fit transformations in response to different anionic guests. Five metal-organic macrocycles with empirical formula of MnL2n (M=Metal L=Ligand n=3, 4, 5, 6, 7) are selectively obtained starting from one simple benzimidazole-based ligand and square-planar palladium(II) ions, either by direct anion-adaptive self-assembly or induced-fit transformations. Hydrogen-bonding interactions between the inner surface of the macrocycles and the anionic guests dictate the shape and size of the product. A comprehensive induced-fit transformation map across all the MnL2n species is drawn, with a representative reconstitution process from Pd7L14 to Pd3L6 traced in detail, revealing a gradual ring-shrinking mechanism. We envisage that these macrocyclic molecules with adjustable well-defined hydrogen-bonding pockets will find wide applications in molecular sensing or catalysis.

Monitoring and predicting shrink potential and future processing quality of potato tubers

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Long-term storage of potato tubers increases risks, which are often attributed to shrink and quality loss. To minimize shrink and ensure high quality tubers, producers must closely monitor the condition of the crop during storage and make necessary adjustments to management plans. Evaluation procedu...

Occupational asthma due to polyethylene shrink wrapping (paper wrapper's asthma).

PubMed Central

Gannon, P F; Burge, P S; Benfield, G F

1992-01-01

Occupational asthma due to the pyrolysis products of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) produced by shrink wrapping processes has previously been reported. The first case of occupational asthma in a shrink wrap worker using a different plastic, polyethylene, is reported; the association was confirmed by specific bronchial provocation testing. PMID:1440477

Evaluation of shrinking core model in leaching process of Pomalaa nickel laterite using citric acid as leachant at atmospheric conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wanta, K. C.; Perdana, I.; Petrus, H. T. B. M.

2016-11-01

Most of kinetics studies related to leaching process used shrinking core model to describe physical phenomena of the process. Generally, the model was developed in connection with transport and/or reaction of reactant components. In this study, commonly used internal diffusion controlled shrinking core model was evaluated for leaching process of Pomalaa nickel laterite using citric acid as leachant. Particle size was varied at 60-70, 100-120, -200 meshes, while the operating temperature was kept constant at 358 K, citric acid concentration at 0.1 M, pulp density at 20% w/v and the leaching time was for 120 minutes. Simulation results showed that the shrinking core model was inadequate to closely approach the experimental data. Meanwhile, the experimental data indicated that the leaching process was determined by the mobility of product molecules in the ash layer pores. In case of leaching resulting large product molecules, a mathematical model involving steps of reaction and product diffusion might be appropriate to develop.

Cryogenic anti-friction bearing with inner race

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blount, Dale H. (Inventor)

1990-01-01

This invention consists of a bearing designed to operate in a cryogenic environment and which has an inner raceway generally constructed as an annular band fitted by an interference fit to a rotating shaft. A pair of annular tension bands are fitted onto opposed sides of the band and function to firmly clamp the raceway to the shaft. This occurs because the tension bands are constructed of a material which, when cooled to approximately -335 F shrinks more than the raceway and the shaft to which it is fitted. The bands further relax somewhat at room temperature and permit the interference fit between the raceway and the shaft to be sized such that the raceway is not overly stressed.

A Good Fit?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Violino, Bob

2010-01-01

Outsourcing has evolved into a strategic imperative at a growing number of community colleges, especially as administrators rein in spending and streamline operations in the face of shrinking budgets. Across the country, more colleges are outsourcing a range of functions, including information technology (IT), course instruction, food service,…

A study of fracture mechanisms in ATD roller bearing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zee, Ralph H.

1990-01-01

The purpose was to investigate how microstructures, especially anisotropy, affects internal stresses and the overall mechanical response of bearings. Samples with the stress axis along the aligned carbide direction possessed high modulus values compared to those with their axis perpendicular to the carbide stringers. The difference in the modulus was found to be more than a factor of two. A series of experiments was conducted on rolled samples to further investigate this effect; the two sets of results were consistent with each other. The degree of anisotropy of the microstructure in terms of the carbide and matrix orientations was determined using x-ray diffraction. The stress state determination was conducted using neutron diffraction. It was found that there was little variation in the distribution of the internal stresses amongst different samples, indicating that small changes in the processing and geometrical conditions did not result in significant variations in the internal stress. A nominal tensile hoop stress of 39 ksi was obtained for the inner raceway. Furthermore, during the course of the investigation, it was apparent that there was a need to determine the stress state induced by the shrink fitting process. Therefore, a series of experiments was conducted using strain gages to identify the stress distribution in a shrink fitting process in three different types of geometries. Correlations were obtained to estimate the highest stress values in the outer and inner groove geometry. A finite element program based on the ANSYS system was developed to compute the stress distribution in the inner raceway geometry. This analysis indicates that the highest tensile stress in the system occurs at the ID of the ring with a stress value of over 5 times that of the applied radial stress. Results from all these facets were correlated with one another. It appears that the material does not fail as a result of any one single factor, but results from a combination of the various factors investigated.

Note: All-digital CMOS MOS-capacitor-based pulse-shrinking mechanism suitable for time-to-digital converters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Chun-Chi; Hwang, Chorng-Sii; Lin, You-Ting; Liu, Keng-Chih

2015-12-01

This paper presents an all-digital CMOS pulse-shrinking mechanism suitable for time-to-digital converters (TDCs). A simple MOS capacitor is used as a pulse-shrinking cell to perform time attenuation for time resolving. Compared with a previous pulse-shrinking mechanism, the proposed mechanism provides an appreciably improved temporal resolution with high linearity. Furthermore, the use of a binary-weighted pulse-shrinking unit with scaled MOS capacitors is proposed for achieving a programmable resolution. A TDC involving the proposed mechanism was fabricated using a TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) 0.18-μm CMOS process, and it has a small area of nearly 0.02 mm2 and an integral nonlinearity error of ±0.8 LSB for a resolution of 24 ps.

Cryogenic anti-friction bearing with reinforced inner race

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blount, Dale H. (Inventor)

1991-01-01

This invention consists of a bearing (26) designed to operate in a cryogenic environment and which has an inner raceway (30) generally constructed as an annular band fitted by an interference fit to a rotating shaft (12). A pair of annular tension bands (32, 34) are fitted onto opposed sides of the band and function to firmly clamp the raceway (30) to the shaft (12). This occurs because the tension bands are constructed of a material which, when cooled to aproximately -385.degree. F., shrinks more than the raceway (30) and the shaft (12) to which it is fitted. The bands further relax somewhat at room temperature and permit the interference fit between the raceway (30) and the shaft (12) to be sized such that the raceway (30) is not overly stessed.

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

Stubblefield, M.A.; Yang, C.; Lea, R.H.

The use of heat-activated thermal couplings is a quick and cost-effective joining method for composite-to-composite materials. In this study, a prepreg laminate which contains thermoset resins and fiberglass reinforcements is wrapped around the ends of components which are to be joined. A shrink tape, made of thermoplastic material, is placed over the prepreg laminate. When curing the shrink tape and the prepreg laminate, the shrink tape shrinks and compresses the prepreg to obtain good adhesion and the required mechanical properties. The mechanical strength of the heat coupling joint in bending increased by 29% over the currently used butt-weld method. Tomore » optimize the curing process, a finite element model was also developed to show the temperature distribution of the heat coupling joint during the curing process. Based on the tested prepreg material properties and model, the finite analysis temperature distribution differed less than 10% from that of the experimental data.« less

Reversible Structural Swell-Shrink and Recoverable Optical Properties in Hybrid Inorganic-Organic Perovskite.

PubMed

Zhang, Yupeng; Wang, Yusheng; Xu, Zai-Quan; Liu, Jingying; Song, Jingchao; Xue, Yunzhou; Wang, Ziyu; Zheng, Jialu; Jiang, Liangcong; Zheng, Changxi; Huang, Fuzhi; Sun, Baoquan; Cheng, Yi-Bing; Bao, Qiaoliang

2016-07-26

Ion migration in hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites has been suggested to be an important factor for many unusual behaviors in perovskite-based optoelectronics, such as current-voltage hysteresis, low-frequency giant dielectric response, and the switchable photovoltaic effect. However, the role played by ion migration in the photoelectric conversion process of perovskites is still unclear. In this work, we provide microscale insights into the influence of ion migration on the microstructure, stability, and light-matter interaction in perovskite micro/nanowires by using spatially resolved optical characterization techniques. We observed that ion migration, especially the migration of MA(+) ions, will induce a reversible structural swell-shrink in perovskites and recoverably affect the reflective index, quantum efficiency, light-harvesting, and photoelectric properties. The maximum ion migration quantity in perovskites was as high as approximately 30%, resulting in lattice swell or shrink of approximately 4.4%. Meanwhile, the evidence shows that ion migration in perovskites could gradually accelerate the aging of perovskites because of lattice distortion in the reversible structural swell-shrink process. Knowledge regarding reversible structural swell-shrink and recoverable optical properties may shed light on the development of optoelectronic and converse piezoelectric devices based on perovskites.

Historical Research: How to Fit Minority and Women's Studies into Mathematics Class

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saraco, Margaret R.

2008-01-01

This article presents a lesson for studying minority and women's contributions to the field of mathematics in the middle school classroom. This lesson may be able to stem the tide of the shrinking number of students entering the field of mathematics by helping them become interested in its history. Nonetheless, this project encourages students to…

A novel method for air drying aloe leaf slices by covering with filter papers as a shrink-proof layer.

PubMed

Kim, S A; Baek, J H; Lee, S J; Choi, S Y; Hur, W; Lee, S Y

2009-01-01

To prevent the shrinkage of aloe vera slices during air drying, a method utilizing a shrink-proof layer was developed. The sample was configured of whole leaf aloe slices, where 1 side or both sides were covered with filter papers as shrink-proof layers. After air drying by varying the air temperature and the slice thickness, the drying characteristics, as well as several quality factors of the dried aloe vera leaf slices, were analyzed. In the simulation of the drying curves, the modified Page model showed the best fitness, representing a diffusion-controlled drying mechanism. Nonetheless, there was a trace of a constant-rate drying period in the samples dried by the method. Shrinkage was greatly reduced, and the rehydration ratios increased by approximately 50%. Scanning electron microscopic analysis revealed that the surface structure of original fibrous form was well sustained. FT-IR characteristics showed that the dried samples could sustain aloe polysaccharide acetylation. Furthermore, the functional properties of the dried slices including water holding capacity, swelling, and fat absorption capability were improved, and polysaccharide retention levels increased by 20% to 30%. Therefore, we concluded that application of shrink-proof layers on aloe slices provides a novel way to overcome the shrinkage problems commonly found in air drying, thereby improving their functional properties with less cost. Practical Application: This research article demonstrates a novel air drying method using shrink-proof layers to prevent the shrinkage of aloe slices. We analyzed extensively the characteristics of shrinkage mechanism and physical properties of aloe flesh gels in this drying system. We concluded that this method can be a beneficial means to retain the functional properties of dried aloe, and a potential alternative to freeze drying, which is still costly.

Fabrication of compact electron gun for 6 MeV X-ray source

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

Ghodke, S.R.; Barnwal, Rajesh; Kumar, Mahendra, E-mail: ghodke_barc@yahoo.co.in

The 6 MeV X-Ray source for container cargo scanning application has been designed and developed by the Accelerator and Pulse Power Division, BARC, Mumbai. This compact linac has been designed as a mobile system, to be mounted on a moving container. In linac-based cargo-scanning system, to work electron gun on a movable container, it has to be robust. Electron gun is to work at 10{sup -7} mbar vacuum and 2000 degree Celsius temperature. An effort is made to engineer the gun assembly to make it more robust and aligned. The linac acts as the source of X-rays, which fall onmore » the cargo and are then detected by the detector system. Many components are indigenously developed like grid, insulating ring, Tungsten filament and filament guide, which are made from alumina ceramic and Tantalum which is to work at 1500 degree Celsius. Filament connector is made from Invar to reduce heat loss and to make rigid connection. It was CNC machined and wire cut by EDM. Invar and Copper electrode feed through is shrink fitted with the help of liquid Nitrogen. Shrink fit tolerances of 15 micrometer are achieved by jig boring machining processes. Tantalum cup for LaB6 cathode and heat shield are made from die and punch mechanism. For alignment of electron emitter with beam axis this Tantalum cup is a crucial component. Electron gun is assembled and aligned its components with the help of precision jigs. The whole assembly was Helium leak tested by MSLD up to 4 x 10{sup -10} mbar.l/s vacuum, no leak was found. This paper will describe the machining, Tantalum cup forming, ceramic components development, heat shields, ceramic feed through etc of electron gun. (author)« less

Fabrication of ultra-fine grained aluminium tubes by RTES technique

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

Jafarzadeh, H., E-mail: h.jafarzadeh@ut.ac.ir; Abrinia, K.

Recently, repetitive tube expansion and shrinking have been exploited as a means for producing ultra-fine grained and nano-crystalline microstructures for magnesium alloy tubes. This method includes two different half-cycles and was based on pressing a tubular part through an angular channel die with two shear zones. Since the aluminium alloys are the most widely used materials in industries, in this study, repetitive tube expansion and shrinking as a new severe plastic deformation technique was applied to commercially pure aluminium for fabricating ultra-fine grained aluminium tubes for the first time and the ability of this process in significant grain refinement ismore » determined even after single cycle. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to evaluate the microstructure of the repetitive tube expansion and shrinking processed materials and the examinations showed ultra-fine grains with the average grain size of 320 nm after one cycle of repetitive tube expansion and shrinking. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength increased notably by the factor of 2.17 and 1.27 respectively, after one cycle of repetitive tube expansion and shrinking, whereas the elongation to failure as well as the uniform elongation decreased. Furthermore, micro-hardness distribution through the part's section proposed the hardness increasing to ~ 55 HV from the initial value of ~ 28 HV after one cycle of repetitive tube expansion and shrinking. - Highlights: • RTES was introduced for fabricating the UFGed AA1050 tubes for the first time. • Nano-grained AA1050 tube was obtained by RTES process. • Grain size of ~ 320 nm was obtained after two half-cycles of RTES process. • Yield and ultimate strength increased by the factor of 2.17 and 1.27 respectively. • The microhardness increased to ~ 55 HV from the initial value of ~ 28 HV.« less

Shrinking pleuritis with lobar atelectasis, a morphologic variant of round atelectasis

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

Chung-Park, M.; Tomashefski, J.F. Jr.; Cohen, A.M.

1989-04-01

Round atelectasis (shrinking pleuritis) is typically a localized process characterized by focal pleural scarring and subjacent peripheral atelectasis. We report three patients, studied at autopsy, with an unusual variant of round atelectasis, termed shrinking pleuritis with lobar atelectasis, which is characterized by lobar atelectasis, visceral pleural fibrosis involving multiple lobes, interlobar fibrous cords, pleural effusion, and nonspecific, persistent infiltrates on chest radiogram. The possible causes of shrinking pleuritis with lobar atelectasis in our patients were multiple and included environmental dust exposure, infection, uremia, and recurrent pleural effusions. Our findings support both the folding (pleural effusion) and fibrosing (pleural injury) theoriesmore » of pathogenesis of round atelectasis and emphasize the spectrum of morphologic variability in this condition.« less

Kinetics of electrically and chemically induced swelling in polyelectrolyte gels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grimshaw, P. E.; Nussbaum, J. H.; Grodzinsky, A. J.; Yarmush, M. L.

1990-09-01

Controlled swelling and shrinking of polyelectrolyte gels is useful for regulating the transport of solutes into, out of, and through these materials. A macroscopic continuum model is presented to predict the kinetics of swelling in polyelectrolyte gel membranes induced by augmentation of electrostatic swelling forces arising from membrane fixed charge groups. The model accounts for ionic transport within the membrane, electrodiffusion phenomena, dissociation of membrane charge groups, intramembrane fluid flow, and mechanical deformation of the membrane matrix. Model predictions are compared with measurements of chemically and electrically induced swelling and shrinking in crosslinked polymethacrylic acid (PMAA) membranes. Large, reversible changes in PMAA membrane hydration were observed after changing the bath pH or by applying an electric field to modify the intramembrane ionic environment and fixed charge density. A relatively slow swelling process and more rapid shrinking for both chemical and electrical modulation of the intramembrane pH are observed. The model indicates that retardation of membrane swelling is dominated by diffusion-limited reaction of H+ ions with membrane charge groups, and that the more rapid shrinking is limited primarily by mechanical processes.

Beyond the Nation-State: A Process for Determining the Security Strategy for the Integrated United Continent of Europe

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-05-01

shrinking water supply, and shrinking fuel reserves. As these challenges multiply, the source of solutions becomes difficult to identify. A cooperative ... movement of the people through political channels seems to be the emerging source. 5 CHAPTER II IDENTIFYING NEW THREAT AREAS What does all this have to do

Adaptive wettability-enhanced surfaces ordered on molded etched substrates using shrink film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jayadev, Shreshta; Pegan, Jonathan; Dyer, David; McLane, Jolie; Lim, Jessica; Khine, Michelle

2013-01-01

Superhydrophobic surfaces in nature exhibit desirable properties including self-cleaning, bacterial resistance, and flight efficiency. However, creating such intricate multi-scale features with conventional fabrication approaches is difficult, expensive, and not scalable. By patterning photoresist on pre-stressed shrink-wrap film, which contracts by 95% in surface area when heated, such features over large areas can be obtained easily. Photoresist serves as a dry etch mask to create complex and high-aspect ratio microstructures in the film. Using a double-shrink process, we introduce adaptive wettability-enhanced surfaces ordered on molded etched (AWESOME) substrates. We first create a mask out of the children’s toy ‘Shrinky-Dinks’ by printing dots using a laserjet printer. Heating this thermoplastic sheet causes the printed dots to shrink to a fraction of their original size. We then lithographically transfer the inverse pattern onto photoresist-coated shrink-wrap polyolefin film. The film is then plasma etched. After shrinking, the film serves as a high-aspect ratio mold for polydimethylsiloxane, creating a superhydrophobic surface with water contact angles >150° and sliding angles <10°. We pattern a microarray of ‘sticky’ spots with a dramatically different sliding angle compared to that of the superhydrophobic region, enabling microtiter-plate type assays without the need for a well plate.

Parameter Sensitivity Study of the Unreacted-Core Shrinking Model: A Computer Activity for Chemical Reaction Engineering Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tudela, Ignacio; Bonete, Pedro; Fullana, Andres; Conesa, Juan Antonio

2011-01-01

The unreacted-core shrinking (UCS) model is employed to characterize fluid-particle reactions that are important in industry and research. An approach to understand the UCS model by numerical methods is presented, which helps the visualization of the influence of the variables that control the overall heterogeneous process. Use of this approach in…

Customized Hermetic Feedthrough Developed to Isolate Fluids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meredith, Roger D.

1999-01-01

A common problem occurs when refrigerant fluids wick inside the insulation of thermocouple wires through a compressor's casing feedthrough and then leak into the adjacent disconnect box outside the casing. Leaking fluids create an unfavorable situation inside the disconnect box and may contaminate the fluids. To address this problem, NASA Lewis Research Center s Manufacturing Engineering Division developed a customized hermetic feedthrough for a bank of Worthington compressors. In these compressors, bearing temperatures are measured by internal thermocouples embedded in bearings located inside the compressor casings. The thermocouple wires need to be routed outside the casing and read at another location. These wires are short and are terminated to a disconnect strip inside the casing. The bearings operate at about 170 F, but because the casing is filled with R12 refrigerant oil, the casing has a maximum temperature of about 100 F. The operating conditions of these compressors permit the use of an epoxy that is compatible with the R12 fluid. The desired finished product is a stainless steel tube that has been filled solid with epoxy after thermocouple wires bonded and sealed by epoxy have been inserted through its length. Shrink tubing extends from both ends of the tube. The process that was developed to isolate the thermocouple wires from the R12 fluid follows. For this application, use an 8-in.-long piece of 0.500-in. 304 stainless steel tube with six pairs of 24-gauge stranded, PTFE-insulated (polytetrafluoroethylene) type "T" thermocouple wires for each feedthrough. Use shrink tubing to strain relief the insulated wires at their exit from the stainless steel tube. Cut the wire to length and identify the location of the stainless steel tube sleeve with masking tape. Then, remove the outer insulation from a 2-in. section of wire that will be inside the tube, and carefully strip to bare wire a 1-in. section in the middle of the section with the outer insulation removed. For an effective seal, the epoxy must penetrate between the strands when stranded conductors are used. Make the seal with epoxy bond on the bare wire. The bare wire must be encapsulated with a thin layer of the epoxy that leaves only a very low profile. These encapsulated wires must cure before the assembly can be continued. Then, inspect the cured wires for complete encapsulation before going to the next step. Insert the wires in the stainless steel tube and orient them so that the epoxied stripped sections are staggered within the tube; then, apply shrink tubing to one end of the cleaned wires, positioning it inside the edge of the tube. The small gaps between the wires on the other end will be used to inject the epoxy into the tube. Let the epoxy cure inside the tube, free of any voids. Then, continue to fill the tube until the entire 8-in. length is nearly filled, allowing room for the other strain-relieving shrink tubing. Since this first design, the process has been adjusted to fit many needs and situations. Customized feedthroughs have been assembled from various wire types, wire gauges, and/or stainless steel tube passages. The fittings selected to mount these feedthroughs allow their use in other areas, such as pressure or vacuum systems.

Cracking up (and down): Linking multi-domain hydraulic properties with multi-scale hydrological processes in shrink-swell soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stewart, R. D.; Rupp, D. E.; Abou Najm, M. R.; Selker, J. S.

2017-12-01

Shrink-swell soils, often classified as Vertisols or vertic intergrades, are found on every continent except Antarctica and within many agricultural and urban regions. These soils are characterized by cyclical shrinking and swelling, in which bulk density and porosity distributions vary as functions of time and soil moisture. Crack networks that form in these soils act as dominant environmental controls on the movement of water, contaminants, and gases, making it important to develop fundamental understanding and tractable models of their hydrologic characteristics and behaviors. In this study, which took place primarily in the Secano Interior region of South-Central Chile, we quantified soil-water interactions across scales using a diverse and innovative dataset. These measurements were then utilized to develop a set of parsimonious multi-domain models for describing hydraulic properties and hydrological processes in shrink-swell soils. In a series of examples, we show how this model can predict porosity distributions, crack widths, saturated hydraulic conductivities, and surface runoff (i.e., overland flow) thresholds, by capturing the dominant mechanisms by which water moves through and interacts with clayey soils. Altogether, these models successfully link small-scale shrinkage/swelling behaviors with large-scale thresholds, and can be applied to describe important processes such as infiltration, overland flow development, and the preferential flow and transport of fluids and gases.

Gear Drive Testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1982-01-01

Philadelphia Gear Corporation used two COSMIC computer programs; one dealing with shrink fit analysis and the other with rotor dynamics problems in computerized design and test work. The programs were used to verify existing in-house programs to insure design accuracy by checking its company-developed computer methods against procedures developed by other organizations. Its specialty is in custom units for unique applications, such as Coast Guard ice breaking ships, steel mill drives, coal crusher, sewage treatment equipment and electricity.

Shrink film patterning by craft cutter: complete plastic chips with high resolution/high-aspect ratio channel.

PubMed

Taylor, Douglas; Dyer, David; Lew, Valerie; Khine, Michelle

2010-09-21

This paper presents a rapid, ultra-low-cost approach to fabricate microfluidic devices using a polyolefin shrink film and a digital craft cutter. The shrinking process (with a 95% reduction in area) results in relatively uniform and consistent microfluidic channels with smooth surfaces, vertical sidewalls, and high aspect ratio channels with lateral resolutions well beyond the tool used to cut them. The thermal bonding of the layers results in strongly bonded devices. Complex microfluidic designs are easily designed on the fly and protein assays are also readily integrated into the device. Full device characterization including channel consistency, optical properties, and bonding strength are assessed in this technical note.

Method of forming shrink-fit compression seal

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Podgorski, T. J. (Inventor)

1977-01-01

A method for making a glass-to-metal seal is described. A domed metal enclosure having a machined seal ring is fitted to a glass post machined to a slight taper and to a desired surface finish. The metal part is then heated by induction in a vacuum. As the metal part heats and expands relative to the glass post, the metal seal ring, possessing a higher coefficient of expansion than the glass post, slides down the tapered post. Upon cooling, the seal ring crushes against the glass post forming the seal. The method results in a glass-to-metal seal possessing extremely good leak resistance, while the parts are kept clean and free of the contaminants.

Development of an Efficient Micro-Heat Exchanger: The Integration of Design Processing and Testing

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-11-01

together at high temperatures and cooled to room temperature. Additionally, alumina and zirconia powders have a major difference in densification...efficient heat exchanger. The main problem that needed to be resolved was the fact that the zirconia powders shrink much more than alumina powder...been measured. Our measurement in dimensions verifies that zirconia powders shrink substantially more than alumina powder except CR-15 after final

Shrink-induced single-cell plastic microwell array.

PubMed

Lew, Valerie; Nguyen, Diep; Khine, Michelle

2011-12-01

The ability to interrogate and track single cells over time in a high-throughput format would provide critical information for fundamental biological understanding of processes and for various applications, including drug screening and toxicology. We have developed an ultrarapid and simple method to create single-cell wells of controllable diameter and depth with commodity shrink-wrap film and tape. Using a programmable CO(2) laser, we cut hole arrays into the tape. The tape then serves as a shadow mask to selectively etch wells into commodity shrink-wrap film by O(2) plasma. When the shrink-wrap film retracts upon briefly heating, high-aspect plastic microwell arrays with diameters down to 20 μm are readily achieved. We calibrated the loading procedure with fluorescent microbeads. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of the wells by loading fluorescently labeled single human embryonic stem cells into the wells. Copyright © 2011 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Program to Develop High Strength Aluminum Powder Metallurgy Mill Products - Phase IV-B-Scale - up to 3200 lb Billet

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-04-25

H . Dudas and J . Paul Lyle, Jr. as project supervisors. The Frankford Arsenal Project Engineer...container was controlled to minimize dust emissions through any of the seals in the complete assembly. A gas bypass line allowed the displaced gas in...2) the cylinder, a shrink fit assembly of an H -12 steel liner and two outer retaining rings; and (3) a ram assembly consisting of a ram nose,

Cryogenic support member

DOEpatents

Niemann, Ralph C.; Gonczy, John D.; Nicol, Thomas H.

1987-01-01

A cryogenic support member is comprised of a non-metallic rod having a depression in at least one end and a metallic end connection assembled to the rod. The metallic end connection comprises a metallic plug which conforms to the shape and is disposed in the depression and a metallic sleeve is disposed over the rod and plug. The plug and the sleeve are shrink-fitted to the depression in the rod to form a connection good in compression, tension and bending.

A Probabilistic Finite Element Analysis of Residual Stress Formation in Shrink-Fit Ceramic/Steel Gun Barrels

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-01-01

the present work, the Advanced Mean Value method developed by Millwater and co-workers is used [6-10]. II.1.1 Advanced Mean-Value Method The...Engineering A, submitted for publication, December, , 2001. 6. H. R. Millwater and Y.-T. Wu, “Computational Structural Reliability Analysis of a...Turbine Blade,” Proceedings International Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exposition, Cincinnati, OH, May 24-27, 1993. 7. Millwater , H.R., Y

A Theoretical Analysis of the Perceptual Span based on SWIFT Simulations of the n + 2 Boundary Paradigm

PubMed Central

Risse, Sarah; Hohenstein, Sven; Kliegl, Reinhold; Engbert, Ralf

2014-01-01

Eye-movement experiments suggest that the perceptual span during reading is larger than the fixated word, asymmetric around the fixation position, and shrinks in size contingent on the foveal processing load. We used the SWIFT model of eye-movement control during reading to test these hypotheses and their implications under the assumption of graded parallel processing of all words inside the perceptual span. Specifically, we simulated reading in the boundary paradigm and analysed the effects of denying the model to have valid preview of a parafoveal word n + 2 two words to the right of fixation. Optimizing the model parameters for the valid preview condition only, we obtained span parameters with remarkably realistic estimates conforming to the empirical findings on the size of the perceptual span. More importantly, the SWIFT model generated parafoveal processing up to word n + 2 without fitting the model to such preview effects. Our results suggest that asymmetry and dynamic modulation are plausible properties of the perceptual span in a parallel word-processing model such as SWIFT. Moreover, they seem to guide the flexible distribution of processing resources during reading between foveal and parafoveal words. PMID:24771996

Wearable ear EEG for brain interfacing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schroeder, Eric D.; Walker, Nicholas; Danko, Amanda S.

2017-02-01

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) measuring electrical activity via electroencephalogram (EEG) have evolved beyond clinical applications to become wireless consumer products. Typically marketed for meditation and neu- rotherapy, these devices are limited in scope and currently too obtrusive to be a ubiquitous wearable. Stemming from recent advancements made in hearing aid technology, wearables have been shrinking to the point that the necessary sensors, circuitry, and batteries can be fit into a small in-ear wearable device. In this work, an ear-EEG device is created with a novel system for artifact removal and signal interpretation. The small, compact, cost-effective, and discreet device is demonstrated against existing consumer electronics in this space for its signal quality, comfort, and usability. A custom mobile application is developed to process raw EEG from each device and display interpreted data to the user. Artifact removal and signal classification is accomplished via a combination of support matrix machines (SMMs) and soft thresholding of relevant statistical properties.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of non-irradiated and chlorine-free packaging for fresh beef preservation.

PubMed

Rodrigues, José B M; Sarantópoulos, Claire I G L; Bromberg, Renata; Andrade, Juliana C; Brunelli, Kleber; Miyagusku, Luciana; Marquezini, Miriam G; Yamada, Eunice A

2017-03-01

This study evaluates the potential of using non-irradiated barrier-shrink bags containing ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), polyamide (PA) and ethylene ionomer in their structures to preserve vacuum-packaged fresh beef as an alternative to traditional gamma-ray cross-linked bags containing polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC). Boneless beef rib eye roll cuts were vacuum-packed in an industrial processing plant using EVOH 44% mol, EVOH 32% mol and a control PVDC barrier shrink bags. The cuts were evaluated during storage at 0.5°C. The EVOH films presented similar performance compared to control PVDC barrier shrink bags related to bacteria growth and purge loss. Packages with EVOH 32% mol film presented better performance than control bag with respect to the meat sensorial attributes, including fewer bubbles and better adhesion. EVOH 44% mol bags presented the highest rate of colour loss. The EVOH 32% mol non-irradiated and chlorine-free film is as effective for the preservation of fresh beef as traditional PVDC-irradiated shrink bags. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Extension of the shelf life of guava by individual packaging with cling and shrink films.

PubMed

Rana, Seema; Siddiqui, Saleem; Goyal, Ankit

2015-12-01

Guava is a climacteric fruit so physico-chemical changes continuously occur after harvest till fruit become unfit for consumption and suffers from post harvest losses. The main objective of this work was to assess the effectiveness of individual film in form of Shrink and Cling wrap on shelf life of guava. Fruits were individually packed in polythene bags (LDPE) of 200 gauge thickness by Shrink and Cling wrapping and stored at 7 ± 3 °C. Individual wrapping reduced the magnitude of changes during storage i.e., ripening process drastically as evident from lower total soluble solids, higher ascorbic acid, polyphenol content with lower polyphenol oxidase activity and physiological loss of weight (PLW) was less than 3.5 %. Film wrapping preserved freshness of wrapped fruits as they remained acceptable for whole storage time in contrast to control fruits which turned unacceptable by 15(th) day of storage. Control fruits showed significant compositional changes as well as in polyphenol content, ascorbic acid and reduced number of marketable fruits while Cling and Shrink wrapping enhanced the shelf life by 10 days.

Optimize of shrink process with X-Y CD bias on hole pattern

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koike, Kyohei; Hara, Arisa; Natori, Sakurako; Yamauchi, Shohei; Yamato, Masatoshi; Oyama, Kenichi; Yaegashi, Hidetami

2017-03-01

Gridded design rules[1] is major process in configuring logic circuit used 193-immersion lithography. In the scaling of grid patterning, we can make 10nm order line and space pattern by using multiple patterning techniques such as self-aligned multiple patterning (SAMP) and litho-etch- litho-etch (LELE)[2][3][4] . On the other hand, Line cut process has some error parameters such as pattern defect, placement error, roughness and X-Y CD bias with the decreasing scale. We tried to cure hole pattern roughness to use additional process such as Line smoothing[5] . Each smoothing process showed different effect. As the result, CDx shrink amount is smaller than CDy without one additional process. In this paper, we will report the pattern controllability comparison of EUV and 193-immersion. And we will discuss optimum method about CD bias on hole pattern.

Historical foundations and future directions in macrosystems ecology.

PubMed

Rose, Kevin C; Graves, Rose A; Hansen, Winslow D; Harvey, Brian J; Qiu, Jiangxiao; Wood, Stephen A; Ziter, Carly; Turner, Monica G

2017-02-01

Macrosystems ecology is an effort to understand ecological processes and interactions at the broadest spatial scales and has potential to help solve globally important social and ecological challenges. It is important to understand the intellectual legacies underpinning macrosystems ecology: How the subdiscipline fits within, builds upon, differs from and extends previous theories. We trace the rise of macrosystems ecology with respect to preceding theories and present a new hypothesis that integrates the multiple components of macrosystems theory. The spatio-temporal anthropogenic rescaling (STAR) hypothesis suggests that human activities are altering the scales of ecological processes, resulting in interactions at novel space-time scale combinations that are diverse and predictable. We articulate four predictions about how human actions are "expanding", "shrinking", "speeding up" and "slowing down" ecological processes and interactions, and thereby generating new scaling relationships for ecological patterns and processes. We provide examples of these rescaling processes and describe ecological consequences across terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. Rescaling depends in part on characteristics including connectivity, stability and heterogeneity. Our STAR hypothesis challenges traditional assumptions about how the spatial and temporal scales of processes and interactions operate in different types of ecosystems and provides a lens through which to understand macrosystem-scale environmental change. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd/CNRS.

Self-expanding/shrinking structures by 4D printing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bodaghi, M.; Damanpack, A. R.; Liao, W. H.

2016-10-01

The aim of this paper is to create adaptive structures capable of self-expanding and self-shrinking by means of four-dimensional printing technology. An actuator unit is designed and fabricated directly by printing fibers of shape memory polymers (SMPs) in flexible beams with different arrangements. Experiments are conducted to determine thermo-mechanical material properties of the fabricated part revealing that the printing process introduced a strong anisotropy into the printed parts. The feasibility of the actuator unit with self-expanding and self-shrinking features is demonstrated experimentally. A phenomenological constitutive model together with analytical closed-form solutions are developed to replicate thermo-mechanical behaviors of SMPs. Governing equations of equilibrium are developed for printed structures based on the non-linear Green-Lagrange strain tensor and solved implementing a finite element method along with an iterative incremental Newton-Raphson scheme. The material-structural model is then applied to digitally design and print SMP adaptive lattices in planar and tubular shapes comprising a periodic arrangement of SMP actuator units that expand and then recover their original shape automatically. Numerical and experimental results reveal that the proposed planar lattice as meta-materials can be employed for plane actuators with self-expanding/shrinking features or as structural switches providing two different dynamic characteristics. It is also shown that the proposed tubular lattice with a self-expanding/shrinking mechanism can serve as tubular stents and grippers for bio-medical or piping applications.

High-resolution direct 3D printed PLGA scaffolds: print and shrink.

PubMed

Chia, Helena N; Wu, Benjamin M

2014-12-17

Direct three-dimensional printing (3DP) produces the final part composed of the powder and binder used in fabrication. An advantage of direct 3DP is control over both the microarchitecture and macroarchitecture. Prints which use porogen incorporated in the powder result in high pore interconnectivity, uniform porosity, and defined pore size after leaching. The main limitations of direct 3DP for synthetic polymers are the use of organic solvents which can dissolve polymers used in most printheads and limited resolution due to unavoidable spreading of the binder droplet after contact with the powder. This study describes a materials processing strategy to eliminate the use of organic solvent during the printing process and to improve 3DP resolution by shrinking with a non-solvent plasticizer. Briefly, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) powder was prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation to form polymer microparticles. The printing powder was composed of polymer microparticles dry mixed with sucrose particles. After printing with a water-based liquid binder, the polymer microparticles were fused together to form a network by solvent vapor in an enclosed vessel. The sucrose is removed by leaching and the resulting scaffold is placed in a solution of methanol. The methanol acts as a non-solvent plasticizer and allows for polymer chain rearrangement and efficient packing of polymer chains. The resulting volumetric shrinkage is ∼80% at 90% methanol. A complex shape (honey-comb) was designed, printed, and shrunken to demonstrate isotropic shrinking with the ability to reach a final resolution of ∼400 μm. The effect of type of alcohol (i.e. methanol or ethanol), concentration of alcohol, and temperature on volumetric shrinking was studied. This study presents a novel materials processing strategy to overcome the main limitations of direct 3DP to produce high resolution PLGA scaffolds.

Ecology for the shrinking city (JA) | Science Inventory | US ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This article brings together the concepts of shrinking cities—the hundreds of cities worldwide experiencing long-term population loss—and ecology for the city. Ecology for the city is the application of a social–ecological understanding to shaping urban form and function along sustainable trajectories. Ecology for the shrinking city therefore acknowledges that urban transformations to sustainable trajectories may be quite different in shrinking cities as compared with growing cities. Shrinking cities are well poised for transformations, because shrinking is perceived as a crisis and can mobilize the social capacity to change. Ecology is particularly well suited to contribute solutions because of the extent of vacant land in shrinking cities that can be leveraged for ecosystem-services provisioning. A crucial role of an ecology for the shrinking city is identifying innovative pathways that create locally desired amenities that provide ecosystem services and contribute to urban sustainability at multiple scales. This paper brings together the concepts of ecology for the city and shrinking cities – the hundreds of cities worldwide experiencing long-term population loss. Ecology for the city is the application of social-ecological understanding to shaping urban form and function along sustainable trajectories. Ecology for the shrinking city acknowledges that urban transformations to sustainable trajectories may be quite different in shrinking cities as compa

Capture of shrinking targets with realistic shrink patterns.

PubMed

Hoffmann, Errol R; Chan, Alan H S; Dizmen, Coskun

2013-01-01

Previous research [Hoffmann, E. R. 2011. "Capture of Shrinking Targets." Ergonomics 54 (6): 519-530] reported experiments for capture of shrinking targets where the target decreased in size at a uniform rate. This work extended this research for targets having a shrink-size versus time pattern that of an aircraft receding from an observer. In Experiment 1, the time to capture the target in this case was well correlated in terms of Fitts' index of difficulty, measured at the time of capture of the target, a result that is in agreement with the 'balanced' model of Johnson and Hart [Johnson, W. W., and Hart, S. G. 1987. "Step Tracking Shrinking Targets." Proceedings of the human factors society 31st annual meeting, New York City, October 1987, 248-252]. Experiment 2 measured the probability of target capture for varying initial target sizes and target shrink rates constant, defined as the time for the target to shrink to half its initial size. Data of shrink time constant for 50% probability of capture were related to initial target size but did not greatly affect target capture as the rate of target shrinking decreased rapidly with time.

Interior of building 16 section, view north of machine shop, ...

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

Interior of building 16 section, view north of machine shop, showing shrink-fitting a bearing sleeve onto a section of the propeller shaft for the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy. The lathe on the extreme left of the photograph was used to machine bearing sleeves to final dimensions. This work, in August 1994, was the final major machine shop job done for the U.S. Navy. Photograph by Robert Stewart, August 1994. - Naval Base Philadelphia-Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Machine Shops, League Island, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Optimization of High-Dimensional Functions through Hypercube Evaluation

PubMed Central

Abiyev, Rahib H.; Tunay, Mustafa

2015-01-01

A novel learning algorithm for solving global numerical optimization problems is proposed. The proposed learning algorithm is intense stochastic search method which is based on evaluation and optimization of a hypercube and is called the hypercube optimization (HO) algorithm. The HO algorithm comprises the initialization and evaluation process, displacement-shrink process, and searching space process. The initialization and evaluation process initializes initial solution and evaluates the solutions in given hypercube. The displacement-shrink process determines displacement and evaluates objective functions using new points, and the search area process determines next hypercube using certain rules and evaluates the new solutions. The algorithms for these processes have been designed and presented in the paper. The designed HO algorithm is tested on specific benchmark functions. The simulations of HO algorithm have been performed for optimization of functions of 1000-, 5000-, or even 10000 dimensions. The comparative simulation results with other approaches demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is a potential candidate for optimization of both low and high dimensional functions. PMID:26339237

'Shrink' losses in commercially sized corn silage piles: Quantifying total losses and where they occur.

PubMed

Robinson, P H; Swanepoel, N; Heguy, J M; Price, T; Meyer, D M

2016-01-15

Silage 'shrink' (i.e., loss of fresh chopped crop between ensiling and feedout) represents a nutrient loss which can degrade air quality as volatile carbon compounds, degrade surface waterways due to seepage, or degrade aquifers due to seepage. Virtually no research has documented shrink in large silage piles. The term 'shrink' is often ill defined, but can be expressed as losses of wet weight (WW), oven dry matter (oDM), and oDM corrected for volatiles lost in the drying oven (vcoDM). Corn silage piles (4 wedge, 2 rollover/wedge, 1 bunker) from 950 to 12,204 tonnes as built, on concrete (4), soil (2) and a combination (1) in California's San Joaquin Valley, using a bacterial inoculant, covered within 24 h with an oxygen barrier inner film and black/white outer plastic, fed out using large front end loaders through an electronic feed tracking system, and from the 2013 crop year, were used. Shrink as WW, oDM and vcoDM were 90±17, 68±18 and 28±21 g/kg, suggesting that much WW shrink is water and much oDM shrink is volatiles lost during analytical oven drying. Most shrink occurred in the silage mass with losses from exposed silage faces, as well as between exposed face silage removal and the total mixed ration mixer, being low. Silage bulk density, exposed silage face management and face use rate did not have obvious impacts on any shrink measure, but age of the silage pile during silage feedout impacted shrink losses ('older' silage piles being higher), but most strongly for WW shrink. Real shrink losses (i.e., vcoDM) of large well managed corn silage piles are low, the exposed silage face is a small portion of losses, and many proposed shrink mitigations appeared ineffective, possibly because shrink was low overall and they are largely directed at the exposed silage face. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Braking system for use with an arbor of a microscope

DOEpatents

Norgren, Duane U.

1984-01-01

A balanced braking system comprising a plurality of braking assemblies located about a member to be braked. Each of the braking assemblies consists of a spring biased piston of a first material fitted into a body of a different material which has a greater contraction upon cooling than the piston material. The piston is provided with a recessed head portion over which is positioned a diaphragm and forming a space therebetween to which is connected a pressurized fluid supply. The diaphragm is controlled by the fluid in the space to contact or withdraw from the member to be braked. A cooling device causes the body within which the piston is fitted to contract more than the piston, producing a tight shrink fit therebetween. The braking system is particularly applicable for selectively braking an arbor of an electron microscope which immobilizes, for example, a vertically adjustable low temperature specimen holder during observation. The system provides balanced braking forces which can be easily removed and re-established with minimal disturbance to arbor location.

Braking system

DOEpatents

Norgren, D.U.

1982-09-23

A balanced braking system comprising a plurality of braking assemblies located about a member to be braked. Each of the braking assemblies consists of a spring biased piston of a first material fitted into a body of a different material which has a greater contraction upon cooling than the piston material. The piston is provided with a recessed head portion over which is positioned a diaphragm and forming a space therebetween to which is connected a pressurized fluid supply. The diaphragm is controlled by the fluid in the space to contact or withdraw from the member to be braked. A cooling means causes the body within which the piston is fitted to contract more than the piston, producing a tight shrink fit therebetween. The braking system is particularly applicable for selectively braking an arbor of an electron microscope which immobilizes, for example, a vertically adjustable low temperature specimen holder during observation. The system provides balanced braking forces which can be easily removed and re-established with minimal disturbance to arbor location.

Precuring implant photoresists for shrink and patterning control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winroth, Gustaf; Rosseel, Erik; Delvaux, Christie; Sanchez, Efrain Altamirano; Ercken, Monique

2013-10-01

193-nm compatible photoresists are turning out to be the new platform for implant lithography, due to the increasing requirements in both resolution and overlay. Shrinkage of such resists is becoming progressively the most topical issue for aggressive nodes, where conventional pretreatments from older resist platforms, such as ultraviolet flood exposures, are not directly transferable to (meth-)acrylate-type resists. The precuring options available for state-of-the-art implant photoresists for 193-nm lithography is explored, in which we target to reduce the shrinkage during implantation for trenching critical dimensions (CDs) that are relevant for nodes <20 nm. An extensive study comprising different approaches, including laser-, ion-, and electron-based treatments, is presented. Each treatment is individually investigated with the aim to find not only a valid pretreatment for shrinkage control during implantation, but also to understand what effect alternative pretreatments have on the morphology and the CDs of thick photoresists used as implant stopping layers. Viable options for further process optimization in order to integrate them into device process flows are found. To this extent, the shrink behavior after pretreatment is shown, and the additional shrink dynamics after implantation are compared.

Trophic dynamics of shrinking Subarctic lakes: naturally eutrophic waters impart resilience to rising nutrient and major ion concentrations.

PubMed

Lewis, Tyler L; Heglund, Patricia J; Lindberg, Mark S; Schmutz, Joel A; Schmidt, Joshua H; Dubour, Adam J; Rover, Jennifer; Bertram, Mark R

2016-06-01

Shrinking lakes were recently observed for several Arctic and Subarctic regions due to increased evaporation and permafrost degradation. Along with lake drawdown, these processes often boost aquatic chemical concentrations, potentially impacting trophic dynamics. In particular, elevated chemical levels may impact primary productivity, which may in turn influence populations of primary and secondary consumers. We examined trophic dynamics of 18 shrinking lakes of the Yukon Flats, Alaska, that had experienced pronounced increases in nutrient (>200 % total nitrogen, >100 % total phosphorus) and ion concentrations (>100 % for four major ions combined) from 1985-1989 to 2010-2012, versus 37 stable lakes with relatively little chemical change over the same period. We found that phytoplankton stocks, as indexed by chlorophyll concentrations, remained unchanged in both shrinking and stable lakes from the 1980s to 2010s. Moving up the trophic ladder, we found significant changes in invertebrate abundance across decades, including decreased abundance of five of six groups examined. However, these decadal losses in invertebrate abundance were not limited to shrinking lakes, occurring in lakes with stable surface areas as well. At the top of the food web, we observed that probabilities of lake occupancy for ten waterbird species, including adults and chicks, remained unchanged from the period 1985-1989 to 2010-2012. Overall, our study lakes displayed a high degree of resilience to multi-trophic cascades caused by rising chemical concentrations. This resilience was likely due to their naturally high fertility, such that further nutrient inputs had little impact on waters already near peak production.

Trophic dynamics of shrinking Subarctic lakes: naturally eutrophic waters impart resilience to rising nutrient and major ion concentrations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lewis, Tyler; Lindberg, Mark S.; Heglund, Patricia J.; Schmutz, Joel A.; Schmidt, Joshua H.; Dubour, Adam J.; Rover, Jennifer R.; Bertram, Mark R.

2016-01-01

Shrinking lakes were recently observed for several Arctic and Subarctic regions due to increased evaporation and permafrost degradation. Along with lake drawdown, these processes often boost aquatic chemical concentrations, potentially impacting trophic dynamics. In particular, elevated chemical levels may impact primary productivity, which may in turn influence populations of primary and secondary consumers. We examined trophic dynamics of 18 shrinking lakes of the Yukon Flats, Alaska, that had experienced pronounced increases in nutrient (>200 % total nitrogen, >100 % total phosphorus) and ion concentrations (>100 % for four major ions combined) from 1985-1989 to 2010-2012, versus 37 stable lakes with relatively little chemical change over the same period. We found that phytoplankton stocks, as indexed by chlorophyll concentrations, remained unchanged in both shrinking and stable lakes from the 1980s to 2010s. Moving up the trophic ladder, we found significant changes in invertebrate abundance across decades, including decreased abundance of five of six groups examined. However, these decadal losses in invertebrate abundance were not limited to shrinking lakes, occurring in lakes with stable surface areas as well. At the top of the food web, we observed that probabilities of lake occupancy for ten waterbird species, including adults and chicks, remained unchanged from the period 1985-1989 to 2010-2012. Overall, our study lakes displayed a high degree of resilience to multi-trophic cascades caused by rising chemical concentrations. This resilience was likely due to their naturally high fertility, such that further nutrient inputs had little impact on waters already near peak production.

Effects of Brass (Cu3Zn2) as High Thermal Expansion Material on Shrink Disc Performance During High Thermal Loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazlan, MIS; Mohd, SA; Bahar, ND; Aziz, SAA

2018-03-01

This research work is focused on shrink disc operation at high temperature. Geometrical and material design selections have been done by taking into consideration the existing shrink disc operating at high temperature condition. The existing shrink disc confronted slip between shaft and shaft sleeve during thermal loading condition. The assessment has been obtained through virtual experiment by using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) -Thermal Transient Stress for 900 seconds with 300 °C of thermal loading. This investigation consists of the current and improved version of shrink disc, where identical geometries and material properties were utilized. High Thermal Expansion (HTE) material has been introduced to overcome the current design of the shrink disc. Brass (Cu3Zn2) has been selected as the HTE material in the improved shrink disc design due to its high thermal expansion properties. The HTE has shown a significant improvement on the total contact area and contact pressure on the shaft and the shaft sleeve. The improved shrink disc embedded with HTE during thermal loading exhibit a minimum of 1244.1 mm2 of the total area on shaft and shaft sleeve which uninfluenced the total contact area at normal condition which is 1254.3 mm2. Meanwhile, the total pressure of improved shrink disc had an increment of 108.1 MPa while existing shrink disc total pressure has lost 17.2 MPa during thermal loading.

Comparison of Phase Field Crystal and Molecular Dynamics Simulations for a Shrinking Grain

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

Radhakrishnan, Balasubramaniam; Gorti, Sarma B; Nicholson, Don M

2012-01-01

The Phase-Field Crystal (PFC) model represents the atomic density as a continuous function, whose spatial distribution evolves at diffusional, rather than vibrational time scales. PFC provides a tool to study defect interactions at the atomistic level but over longer time scales than in molecular dynamics (MD). We examine the behavior of the PFC model with the goal of relating the PFC parameters to physical parameters of real systems, derived from MD simulations. For this purpose we model the phenomenon of the shrinking of a spherical grain situated in a matrix. By comparing the rate of shrinking of the central grainmore » using MD and PFC we obtain a relationship between PFC and MD time scales for processes driven by grain boundary diffusion. The morphological changes in the central grain including grain shape and grain rotation are also examined in order to assess the accuracy of the PFC in capturing the evolution path predicted by MD.« less

The use of computational inspection to identify process window limiting hotspots and predict sub-15nm defects with high capture rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ham, Boo-Hyun; Kim, Il-Hwan; Park, Sung-Sik; Yeo, Sun-Young; Kim, Sang-Jin; Park, Dong-Woon; Park, Joon-Soo; Ryu, Chang-Hoon; Son, Bo-Kyeong; Hwang, Kyung-Bae; Shin, Jae-Min; Shin, Jangho; Park, Ki-Yeop; Park, Sean; Liu, Lei; Tien, Ming-Chun; Nachtwein, Angelique; Jochemsen, Marinus; Yan, Philip; Hu, Vincent; Jones, Christopher

2017-03-01

As critical dimensions for advanced two dimensional (2D) DUV patterning continue to shrink, the exact process window becomes increasingly difficult to determine. The defect size criteria shrink with the patterning critical dimensions and are well below the resolution of current optical inspection tools. As a result, it is more challenging for traditional bright field inspection tools to accurately discover the hotspots that define the process window. In this study, we use a novel computational inspection method to identify the depth-of-focus limiting features of a 10 nm node mask with 2D metal structures (single exposure) and compare the results to those obtained with a traditional process windows qualification (PWQ) method based on utilizing a focus modulated wafer and bright field inspection (BFI) to detect hotspot defects. The method is extended to litho-etch litho-etch (LELE) on a different test vehicle to show that overlay related bridging hotspots also can be identified.

Shrink Wrapping Cells in a Defined Extracellular Matrix to Modulate the Chemo-Mechanical Microenvironment.

PubMed

Palchesko, Rachelle N; Szymanski, John M; Sahu, Amrita; Feinberg, Adam W

2014-09-01

Cell-matrix interactions are important for the physical integration of cells into tissues and the function of insoluble, mechanosensitive signaling networks. Studying these interactions in vitro can be difficult because the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that adsorb to in vitro cell culture surfaces do not fully recapitulate the ECM-dense basement membranes to which cells such as cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells adhere to in vivo . Towards addressing this limitation, we have developed a surface-initiated assembly process to engineer ECM proteins into nanostructured, microscale sheets that can be shrink wrapped around single cells and small cell ensembles to provide a functional and instructive matrix niche. Unlike current cell encapsulation technology using alginate, fibrin or other hydrogels, our engineered ECM is similar in density and thickness to native basal lamina and can be tailored in structure and composition using the proteins fibronectin, laminin, fibrinogen, and/or collagen type IV. A range of cells including C2C12 myoblasts, bovine corneal endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes survive the shrink wrapping process with high viability. Further, we demonstrate that, compared to non-encapsulated controls, the engineered ECM modulates cytoskeletal structure, stability of cell-matrix adhesions and cell behavior in 2D and 3D microenvironments.

Shrink Wrapping Cells in a Defined Extracellular Matrix to Modulate the Chemo-Mechanical Microenvironment

PubMed Central

Palchesko, Rachelle N.; Szymanski, John M.; Sahu, Amrita; Feinberg, Adam W.

2014-01-01

Cell-matrix interactions are important for the physical integration of cells into tissues and the function of insoluble, mechanosensitive signaling networks. Studying these interactions in vitro can be difficult because the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that adsorb to in vitro cell culture surfaces do not fully recapitulate the ECM-dense basement membranes to which cells such as cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells adhere to in vivo. Towards addressing this limitation, we have developed a surface-initiated assembly process to engineer ECM proteins into nanostructured, microscale sheets that can be shrink wrapped around single cells and small cell ensembles to provide a functional and instructive matrix niche. Unlike current cell encapsulation technology using alginate, fibrin or other hydrogels, our engineered ECM is similar in density and thickness to native basal lamina and can be tailored in structure and composition using the proteins fibronectin, laminin, fibrinogen, and/or collagen type IV. A range of cells including C2C12 myoblasts, bovine corneal endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes survive the shrink wrapping process with high viability. Further, we demonstrate that, compared to non-encapsulated controls, the engineered ECM modulates cytoskeletal structure, stability of cell-matrix adhesions and cell behavior in 2D and 3D microenvironments. PMID:25530816

Shrink-induced graphene sensor for alpha-fetoprotein detection with low-cost self-assembly and label-free assay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sando, Shota; Zhang, Bo; Cui, Tianhong

2017-12-01

Combination of shrink induced nano-composites technique and layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembled graphene challenges controlling surface morphology. Adjusting shrink temperature achieves tunability on graphene surface morphology on shape memory polymers, and it promises to be an alternative in fields of high-surface-area conductors and molecular detection. In this study, self-assembled graphene on a shrink polymer substrate exhibits nanowrinkles after heating. Induced nanowrinkles on graphene with different shrink temperature shows distinct surface roughness and wettability. As a result, it becomes more hydrophilic with higher shrink temperatures. The tunable wettability promises to be utilized in, for example, microfluidic devices. The graphene on shrink polymer also exhibits capability of being used in sensing applications for pH and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) detection with advantages of label free and low cost, due to self-assembly technique, easy functionalization, and antigen-antibody reaction on graphene surface. The detection limit of AFP detection is down to 1 pg/mL, and therefore the sensor also has a significant potential for biosensing as it relies on low-cost self-assembly and label-free assay.

Examining a shrinking rustbelt city: A case of Binghamton, NY (1990 - 2010)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Paul Sung-Pyo

Shrinking cities are locations that have experienced population and economic loss. Each shrinking city is unique in the influential characteristics that result in loss, however, patterns of the contemporary city is highly based on economic changes. The impact of shrinking cities is a global phenomenon not only limited to the U.S. or the developed world. However, among large shrinking cities of the world, 25% are located in the U.S. Therefore, it is of utter importance to understand and examine these locations. The connection of spectral findings of a shrinking "Rustbelt" city of Binghamton, NY using a multilayer perceptron (MLP) artificial neural network (ANN) mean of classification was made with spatial findings of demographic and socioeconomic status of the local population. This resulted in a high scale classification of urban ecozones, which created the boundaries for examining the changes in population size and the types of individuals associated with these populations.

Agroecology for the Shrinking City

EPA Science Inventory

Many cities are experiencing long-term declines in population and economic activity. As a result, frameworks for urban sustainability need to address the unique challenges and opportunities of such shrinking cities. Shrinking, particularly in the U.S., has led to extensive vacant...

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

Gasser, U., E-mail: urs.gasser@psi.ch; Hyatt, J. S.; Lietor-Santos, J.-J.

We study the form factor of thermoresponsive microgels based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) at high generalized volume fractions, ζ, where the particles must shrink or interpenetrate to fit into the available space. Small-angle neutron scattering with contrast matching techniques is used to determine the particle form factor. We find that the particle size is constant up to a volume fraction roughly between random close packing and space filling. Beyond this point, the particle size decreases with increasing particle concentration; this decrease is found to occur with little interpenetration. Noteworthily, the suspensions remain liquid-like for ζ larger than 1, emphasizing the importance ofmore » particle softness in determining suspension behavior.« less

Study on coming out of the shaft from ceramic sleeve in terms of the residual displacement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, G. W.; Noda, N.-A.; Sano, Y.; Sakai, H.

2018-06-01

Ceramic roller can be used in the heating furnace conveniently because of its high temperature resistance. However, the coming out of the shaft may often happen from the ceramic sleeve under repeated load. In this paper, a two-dimensional shrink fitted structure is considered by replacing the shaft with the inner plate and by replacing the sleeve with the outer plate. Based on the model with stopper, the FEM simulation is performed under alternate loading with certain intervals newly added. The analysis results show that the coming out failure can be explained from the residual displacement accumulation during these intervals.

Performance investigation on dissipative dielectric elastomer generators with a triangular energy harvesting scheme

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Peng; Chen, Hualing; Li, Bo; Wang, Yongquan

2017-11-01

In this letter, a theoretical framework describing an energy harvesting cycle including the loss of tension (LT) process is proposed to investigate the energy harvesting performance of a dielectric elastomer generator (DEG) with a triangular energy harvesting scheme by considering material viscosity and leakage current. As the external force that is applied to the membrane decreases, the membrane is relaxed. When the external force decreases to zero, the condition is known as LT. Then the membrane undergoing LT can further relax, which is referred to as the LT process. The LT process is usually ignored in theoretical analysis but observed from energy harvesting experiments of DEGs. It is also studied how shrinking time and transfer capacitor affect the energy conversion of a DEG. The results indicate that energy density and conversion efficiency can be simultaneously improved by choosing appropriate shrinking time and transfer capacitor to optimize the energy harvesting cycle. The results and methods are expected to provide guidelines for the optimal design and assessment of DEGs.

Improved Silica Aerogel Composite Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Paik, Jong-Ah; Sakamoto, Jeffrey; Jones, Steven

2008-01-01

A family of aerogel-matrix composite materials having thermal-stability and mechanical- integrity properties better than those of neat aerogels has been developed. Aerogels are known to be excellent thermal- and acoustic-insulation materials because of their molecular-scale porosity, but heretofore, the use of aerogels has been inhibited by two factors: (1) Their brittleness makes processing and handling difficult. (2) They shrink during production and shrink more when heated to high temperatures during use. The shrinkage and the consequent cracking make it difficult to use them to encapsulate objects in thermal-insulation materials. The underlying concept of aerogel-matrix composites is not new; the novelty of the present family of materials lies in formulations and processes that result in superior properties, which include (1) much less shrinkage during a supercritical-drying process employed in producing a typical aerogel, (2) much less shrinkage during exposure to high temperatures, and (3) as a result of the reduction in shrinkage, much less or even no cracking.

Individual shrink wrapping extends the storage life and maintains the quality of pomegranates (cvs. 'Mridula' and 'Bhagwa') at ambient and low temperature.

PubMed

Sudhakar Rao, D V

2018-01-01

The present investigation was carried out to study the response of two commercial pomegranate cultivars to individual shrink wrapping in extending the storage life and quality maintenance. Pomegranate fruits ('Mridula' and 'Bhagwa') were individually shrink wrapped using three semi-permeable films (Cryovac ® BDF-2001, D-955 and normal LDPE) and stored at ambient (25-32 °C and 49-67% RH) and low temperature (8 °C and 75-80% RH). Shrink wrapping greatly reduced weight loss in both cultivars irrespective of the film used and storage temperature. Weight loss in shrink wrapped (D-955 film) 'Mridula' and 'Bhagwa' after 1 month storage at ambient temperature was respectively 1.40 and 1.05%, when compared to 22.92 and 22.53% in non-wrapped fruits. After 3 months at 8 °C, shrink wrapped 'Mridula' and 'Bhagwa' fruits lost only 0.43 and 0.68% weight respectively, compared to 17.23 and 21.67% in non-wrapped ones. Shrink wrapping significantly reduced the respiration rate at ambient temperature and the response varied with variety and film used. Shrink wrapped fruits of both cultivars retained the original peel colour (Hunter h∘ and C* values) to a maximum extent during 3 months storage at 8 °C and shelf-life period at ambient temperature. Irrespective of variety and film, shrink wrapping maintained the peel thickness and peel moisture content, significantly much higher than non-wrapped fruits at both temperatures. Compared to 'Mridula' cultivar, 'Bhagwa' responded well to shrink wrapping during prolonged storage at both temperatures with better maintenance of quality in terms of appearance, colour, juice content, TSS, acidity, sugars and sensory attributes. At ambient temperature, shrink wrapping with D-955 or LDPE film extended the storage life of 'Mridula' and 'Bhagwa' for 3 weeks and 1 month respectively, whereas at 8 °C both could be stored for 3 months with 3 days of shelf life.

Individual shrink wrapping extends the storage life and maintains the antioxidants of mango (cvs. 'Alphonso' and 'Banganapalli') stored at 8 °C.

PubMed

Rao, D V Sudhakar; Shivashankara, K S

2015-07-01

Freshly-harvested mature green mangoes (cvs. 'Alphonso' and 'Banganapalli') were individually shrink wrapped using two semi-permeable Cryovac films® (D-955 and LD-935) and a locally available LDPE film. The shrink wrapped and non-wrapped fruit were stored at 8 °C for 5 weeks and transferred to ambient conditions for subsequent ripening, to study the feasibility of alleviation of chilling injury (CI) and to determine shrink wrapping effect on fruit quality. Shrink wrapped mangoes of 'Banganapalli' and 'Alphonso' cultivars packed in D-955 (15 μm thickness) film could be stored for 5 weeks at 8 °C in fresh and unripe green condition. After storage, these cultivars respectively lost only 0.5 and 1.4 % mass in case of shrink wrapping as compared to 5.8 and 6.9 % loss in non-wrapped fruit. After removal from low temperature and unwrapping, shrink wrapped mangoes showed normal respiratory behaviour with production of CO2 and ethylene peaks (climacteric peaks) during ripening, whereas non-wrapped fruit did not show any respiratory peaks. Shrink wrapped mangoes ripened normally within a week at ambient temperature (24-32 °C and 60-70 % RH) with good surface yellow colour (reflected by hue and chroma values), edible softness, retention of nutritional quality and acceptable organoleptic quality. These quality parameters were better in fruit wrapped with D-955 film compared to LD-935 and LDPE films. Total carotenoids in terms of β-carotene content were significantly higher in shrink wrapped fruit when compared to non-wrapped fruit. Among different shrink films, total antioxidant capacity and DPPH radical scavenging abilities were higher in LD-935 wrapped fruit in case of 'Alphonso' cultivar whereas these were on par in LD-935 and D-955 film wrapped fruit in case of 'Banganapalli' cultivar.

Total 'shrink' losses, and where they occur, in commercially sized silage piles constructed from immature and mature cereal crops.

PubMed

Robinson, P H; Swanepoel, N; Heguy, J M; Price, P; Meyer, D M

2016-07-15

Silage 'shrink' (i.e., fresh chop crop lost between ensiling and feedout) represents losses of potential animal nutrients which degrade air quality as volatile carbon compounds. Regulatory efforts have, in some cases, resulted in semi-mandatory mitigations (i.e., dairy farmers select a minimum number of mitigations from a list) to reduce silage shrink, mitigations often based on limited data of questionable relevance to large commercial silage piles where silage shrink may or may not be a problem of a magnitude equal to that assumed. Silage 'shrink' is generally ill defined, but can be expressed as losses of wet weight (WW), oven dry matter (oDM), and oDM corrected for volatiles lost during oven drying (vcoDM). As no research has documented shrink in large cereal silage piles, 6 piles ranging from 1456 to 6297tonnes (as built) were used. Three used cereal cut at an immature stage and three at a mature stage. Physiologically immature silages had generally higher (P<0.01) levels of total volatile fatty acids (especially acetic acid; P=0.01) and total alcohols (P<0.01) than did physiologically mature crops, suggesting higher carbon compound volatilization potential from immature silages. However expressed as WW, oDM and vcoDM, total shrink (as well as from where in the piles it occurred) was little impacted by crop maturity, and whole pile vcoDM shrink was only ~35g/kg. Overall, real shrink losses (vcoDM) of large well managed cereal silage piles were relatively low, and a lower potential contributor to aerosol emissions of volatile carbon compounds than has often been assumed. Losses from the silage mass and the exposed silage face were approximately equal contributors to vcoDM shrink. Mitigations to reduce these relatively low emission levels of volatile organic compounds from cereal silage piles should focus on the ensiled mass and the exposed silage face. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Shrink-wrapped isosurface from cross sectional images

PubMed Central

Choi, Y. K.; Hahn, J. K.

2010-01-01

Summary This paper addresses a new surface reconstruction scheme for approximating the isosurface from a set of tomographic cross sectional images. Differently from the novel Marching Cubes (MC) algorithm, our method does not extract the iso-density surface (isosurface) directly from the voxel data but calculates the iso-density point (isopoint) first. After building a coarse initial mesh approximating the ideal isosurface by the cell-boundary representation, it metamorphoses the mesh into the final isosurface by a relaxation scheme, called shrink-wrapping process. Compared with the MC algorithm, our method is robust and does not make any cracks on surface. Furthermore, since it is possible to utilize lots of additional isopoints during the surface reconstruction process by extending the adjacency definition, theoretically the resulting surface can be better in quality than the MC algorithm. According to experiments, it is proved to be very robust and efficient for isosurface reconstruction from cross sectional images. PMID:20703361

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

Katti, Amogh; Di Fatta, Giuseppe; Naughton III, Thomas J

Future extreme-scale high-performance computing systems will be required to work under frequent component failures. The MPI Forum's User Level Failure Mitigation proposal has introduced an operation, MPI_Comm_shrink, to synchronize the alive processes on the list of failed processes, so that applications can continue to execute even in the presence of failures by adopting algorithm-based fault tolerance techniques. This MPI_Comm_shrink operation requires a fault tolerant failure detection and consensus algorithm. This paper presents and compares two novel failure detection and consensus algorithms. The proposed algorithms are based on Gossip protocols and are inherently fault-tolerant and scalable. The proposed algorithms were implementedmore » and tested using the Extreme-scale Simulator. The results show that in both algorithms the number of Gossip cycles to achieve global consensus scales logarithmically with system size. The second algorithm also shows better scalability in terms of memory and network bandwidth usage and a perfect synchronization in achieving global consensus.« less

Study on Kinetic Mechanism of Bastnaesite Concentrates Decomposition Using Calcium Hydroxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cen, Peng; Wu, Wenyuan; Bian, Xue

2018-06-01

The thermal decomposition of bastnaesite concentrates using calcium hydroxide was studied. Calcium hydroxide can effectively inhibit the emission of fluorine during roasting by transforming it to calcium fluoride. The decomposition rate increased with increasing reaction temperature and amount of calcium hydroxide. The decomposition kinetics were investigated. The decomposition reaction was determined to be a heterogeneous gas-solid reaction, and it followed an unreacted shrinking core model. By means of the integrated rate equation method, the reaction was proven to be kinetically first order. Different reaction models were fit to the experimental data to determine the reaction control process. The chemical reaction at the phase interface controlled the reaction rate in the temperatures ranging from 673 K to 773 K (400 °C to 500 °C) with an apparent activation energy of 82.044 kJ·mol-1. From 773 K to 973 K (500 °C to 700 °C), diffusion through the solid product's layer became the determining step, with a lower activation energy of 15.841 kJ·mol-1.

Dissolution characteristics of sericite in chalcopyrite bioleaching and its effect on copper extraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Ying-bo; Li, Hao; Lin, Hai; Zhang, Yuan

2017-04-01

The effects of sericite particle size, rotation speed, and leaching temperature on sericite dissolution and copper extraction in a chalcopyrite bioleaching system were examined. Finer particles, appropriate temperature and rotation speed for Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans resulted in a higher Al3+ dissolution concentration. The Al3+ dissolution concentration reached its highest concentration of 38.66 mg/L after 48-d leaching when the sericite particle size, temperature, and rotation speed were -43 μm, 30°C, and 160 r/min, respectively. Meanwhile, the sericite particle size, rotation speed, and temperature can affect copper extraction. The copper extraction rate is higher when the sericite particle size is finer. An appropriately high temperature is favorable for copper leaching. The dissolution of sericite fitted the shrinking core model, 1-(2/3) α-(1- α)2/3 = k 1 t, which indicates that internal diffusion is the decision step controlling the overall reaction rate in the leaching process. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed small precipitates covered on the surface of sericite after leaching, which increased the diffusion resistance of the leaching solution and dissolved ions.

Reinforced cementitous composite with in situ shrinking microfibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Eric S.; Lee, Jason K.; Lee, Patrick C.; Huston, Dryver R.; Tan, Ting; Al-Ghamdi, Saleh

2017-03-01

This paper describes an innovative fiber reinforcement technology for cementitious composite structures that employs in situ shrinking microfibers to provide supplemental strength-enhancing compressive stresses. Reinforced concrete is one of the most commonly used structural materials in construction industry, primarily due to its cost, durability, ability to be easily fabricated into a variety of shapes on site, and locally abundant raw material availability almost everywhere. Unlike incumbent passive reinforcing microfiber technology, in situ shrinking microfibers that respond to an in situ stimulus such as heat, pH, or moisture variations can induce pre-compression to matrix and create additional resistance from external loads, creating stronger composite structures. In this paper, heat-activated-shrinking (HAS) microfibers made from polyolefin, and pH-activated-shrinking (pHAS) microfibers made from chitosan powder were used to study effects of shrinking microfiber reinforcing in concrete. Shrinking ratios and tensile strengths of both microfibers were measured. Cementitious specimens with active shrinking microfibers, passive non shrinking fibers, as well as control samples were made. Mechanical properties of the samples were compared with compression and three-point bending tests. The optimum microfiber weight percentages for HAS microfibers were 0.5 wt% in compression tests, and 1.0 wt% in three-point bending tests. For pHAS microfibers, the optimum weight percentages were 0.5 wt% in three-point bending tests. Compared to heat passive microfibers specimens, 45% increase in the maximum compression strengths, and 124% increase in the maximum bending strengths were achieved at the optimum weight percentages of HAS microfibers. In addition, with 0.5 wt% of pHAS microfibers, 145% increase in the maximum bending strengths of three-point bending tests resulted compared to pH passive microfibers specimens.

Origin of chemically distinct discs in the Auriga cosmological simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grand, Robert J. J.; Bustamante, Sebastián; Gómez, Facundo A.; Kawata, Daisuke; Marinacci, Federico; Pakmor, Rüdiger; Rix, Hans-Walter; Simpson, Christine M.; Sparre, Martin; Springel, Volker

2018-03-01

The stellar disc of the Milky Way shows complex spatial and abundance structure that is central to understanding the key physical mechanisms responsible for shaping our Galaxy. In this study, we use six very high resolution cosmological zoom-in simulations of Milky Way-sized haloes to study the prevalence and formation of chemically distinct disc components. We find that our simulations develop a clearly bimodal distribution in the [α/Fe]-[Fe/H] plane. We find two main pathways to creating this dichotomy, which operate in different regions of the galaxies: (a) an early (z > 1) and intense high-[α/Fe] star formation phase in the inner region (R ≲ 5 kpc) induced by gas-rich mergers, followed by more quiescent low-[α/Fe] star formation; and (b) an early phase of high-[α/Fe] star formation in the outer disc followed by a shrinking of the gas disc owing to a temporarily lowered gas accretion rate, after which disc growth resumes. In process (b), a double-peaked star formation history around the time and radius of disc shrinking accentuates the dichotomy. If the early star formation phase is prolonged (rather than short and intense), chemical evolution proceeds as per process (a) in the inner region, but the dichotomy is less clear. In the outer region, the dichotomy is only evident if the first intense phase of star formation covers a large enough radial range before disc shrinking occurs; otherwise, the outer disc consists of only low-[α/Fe] sequence stars. We discuss the implication that both processes occurred in the Milky Way.

The Naïve Overfitting Index Selection (NOIS): A new method to optimize model complexity for hyperspectral data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rocha, Alby D.; Groen, Thomas A.; Skidmore, Andrew K.; Darvishzadeh, Roshanak; Willemen, Louise

2017-11-01

The growing number of narrow spectral bands in hyperspectral remote sensing improves the capacity to describe and predict biological processes in ecosystems. But it also poses a challenge to fit empirical models based on such high dimensional data, which often contain correlated and noisy predictors. As sample sizes, to train and validate empirical models, seem not to be increasing at the same rate, overfitting has become a serious concern. Overly complex models lead to overfitting by capturing more than the underlying relationship, and also through fitting random noise in the data. Many regression techniques claim to overcome these problems by using different strategies to constrain complexity, such as limiting the number of terms in the model, by creating latent variables or by shrinking parameter coefficients. This paper is proposing a new method, named Naïve Overfitting Index Selection (NOIS), which makes use of artificially generated spectra, to quantify the relative model overfitting and to select an optimal model complexity supported by the data. The robustness of this new method is assessed by comparing it to a traditional model selection based on cross-validation. The optimal model complexity is determined for seven different regression techniques, such as partial least squares regression, support vector machine, artificial neural network and tree-based regressions using five hyperspectral datasets. The NOIS method selects less complex models, which present accuracies similar to the cross-validation method. The NOIS method reduces the chance of overfitting, thereby avoiding models that present accurate predictions that are only valid for the data used, and too complex to make inferences about the underlying process.

Climate Change Could Increase the Geographic Extent of Hendra Virus Spillover Risk.

PubMed

Martin, Gerardo; Yanez-Arenas, Carlos; Chen, Carla; Plowright, Raina K; Webb, Rebecca J; Skerratt, Lee F

2018-03-19

Disease risk mapping is important for predicting and mitigating impacts of bat-borne viruses, including Hendra virus (Paramyxoviridae:Henipavirus), that can spillover to domestic animals and thence to humans. We produced two models to estimate areas at potential risk of HeV spillover explained by the climatic suitability for its flying fox reservoir hosts, Pteropus alecto and P. conspicillatus. We included additional climatic variables that might affect spillover risk through other biological processes (such as bat or horse behaviour, plant phenology and bat foraging habitat). Models were fit with a Poisson point process model and a log-Gaussian Cox process. In response to climate change, risk expanded southwards due to an expansion of P. alecto suitable habitat, which increased the number of horses at risk by 175-260% (110,000-165,000). In the northern limits of the current distribution, spillover risk was highly uncertain because of model extrapolation to novel climatic conditions. The extent of areas at risk of spillover from P. conspicillatus was predicted shrink. Due to a likely expansion of P. alecto into these areas, it could replace P. conspicillatus as the main HeV reservoir. We recommend: (1) HeV monitoring in bats, (2) enhancing HeV prevention in horses in areas predicted to be at risk, (3) investigate and develop mitigation strategies for areas that could experience reservoir host replacements.

Model-based inspection of multipackage food products using a twin-beam x-ray system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palmer, Stephen C.; Batchelor, Bruce G.

1998-10-01

A twin-orthogonal-fanbeam x-ray system has been built as part of a six-partner project funded by the Commission of the European Union. The images created by this system represent plan and side views of the object to be inspected. Using such a system, it is possible to locate a point-like feature that creates a significant shadow in both beams, in a 3D space. However, the real value of such a system lies in the fact that it is often possible to see a foreign body, such as a small piece of loose glass, within a jar using one beam, when the same contaminant is invisible to the other beam. Such a situation typically arises when the foreign body is obscured by the x-ray shadow of the neck-shoulder region of a jar. The x-ray system built by our colleagues in this consortium is being used to examine, simultaneously, six jars of semi-fluid savory sauce, held together by shrink-wrapping on a cardboard tray. The inspection algorithm consists of fitting multi-part models of the image intensity function to both the plan and side-view images. Once a model has been fitted, it is possible to use image comparison, in order to highlight any foreign bodies. The pre-processed plan and side-view images are analyzed and correlated together, so that in many cases, a foreign body whose view is obscured in one image can be detected in the other.

Flexible shrink-induced high surface area electrodes for electrochemiluminescent sensing.

PubMed

Pegan, Jonathan D; Ho, Adrienne Y; Bachman, Mark; Khine, Michelle

2013-11-07

Photolithographically defined metallic thin film on commodity shrink-wrap is leveraged to create robust electrodes. By thermally shrinking the film, electrodes are reduced by 20× in footprint for improved resolution and conductivity with >600% enhancements in electrochemically active surface area; as electrochemiluminescent sensors, they demonstrate improved limits of detection.

Hydrolysis and fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass

DOEpatents

Torget, Robert W.; Padukone, Nandan; Hatzis, Christos; Wyman, Charles E.

2000-01-01

A multi-function process is described for the hydrolysis and fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass to separate hemicellulosic sugars from other biomass components such as extractives and proteins; a portion of the solubilized lignin; cellulose; glucose derived from cellulose; and insoluble lignin from said biomass comprising one or more of the following: optionally, as function 1, introducing a dilute acid of pH 1.0-5.0 into a continual shrinking bed reactor containing a lignocellulosic biomass material at a temperature of about 94 to about 160.degree. C. for a period of about 10 to about 120 minutes at a volumetric flow rate of about 1 to about 5 reactor volumes to effect solubilization of extractives, lignin, and protein by keeping the solid to liquid ratio constant throughout the solubilization process; as function 2, introducing a dilute acid of pH 1.0-5.0, either as virgin acid or an acidic stream from another function, into a continual shrinking bed reactor containing either fresh biomass or the partially fractionated lignocellulosic biomass material from function 1 at a temperature of about 94-220.degree. C. for a period of about 10 to about 60 minutes at a volumetric flow rate of about 1 to about 5 reactor volumes to effect solubilization of hemicellulosic sugars, semisoluble sugars and other compounds, and amorphous glucans by keeping the solid to liquid ratio constant throughout the solubilization process; as function 3, optionally, introducing a dilute acid of pH 1.0-5.0 either as virgin acid or an acidic stream from another function, into a continual shrinking bed reactor containing the partially fractionated lignocellulosic biomass material from function 2 at a temperature of about 180-280.degree. C. for a period of about 10 to about 60 minutes at a volumetric flow rate of 1 to about 5 reactor volumes to effect solubilization of cellulosic sugars by keeping the solid to liquid ratio constant throughout the solubilization process; and as function 4, optionally, introducing a dilute acid of pH 1.0-5.0 either as virgin acid or an acidic stream from another function, into a continual shrinking bed reactor containing the partially fractionated lignocellulosic biomass material from function 3 at a temperature of about 180-280.degree. C. for a period of about 10 to about 60 minutes at a volumetric flow rate of about 1 to about 5 reactor volumes to effect solubilization of cellulosic sugars by keeping the solid to liquid ratio constant throughout the solubilization process.

Sustainability for Shrinking Cities | Science Inventory | US EPA

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Shrinking cities are widespread throughout the world despite the rapidly increasing global urban population. These cities are attempting to transition to sustainable trajectories to improve the health and well-being of urban residents, to build their capacity to adapt to changing conditions and to cope with major events. The dynamics of shrinking cities are different than the dynamics of growing cities, and therefore intentional research and planning around creating sustainable cities is needed for shrinking cities. We propose research that can be applied to shrinking cities by identifying parallel challenges in growing cities and translating urban research and planning that is specific to each city’s dynamics. In addition, we offer applications of panarchy concepts to this problem. The contributions to this Special Issue take on this forward-looking planning task through drawing lessons for urban sustainability from shrinking cities, or translating general lessons from urban research to the context of shrinking cities. Humans are rapidly becoming an urban species, with greater populations in urban areas, increasing size of these urban areas, and increasing number of very large urban areas. As a consequence, much of what we know about cities is focused on how they grow and take shape, the strains that their growth puts on city infrastructure, the consequences for human and nonhuman inhabitants of these cities and their surroundings, and the policies which can

49 CFR Appendix A to Part 40 - DOT Standards for Urine Collection Kits

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... sealed plastic bag or shrink wrapping; or must have a peelable, sealed lid or other easily visible tamper...) together in a sealed plastic bag or shrink wrapping separate from the collection container; or must be wrapped (with cap) individually in sealed plastic bags or shrink wrapping; or must have peelable, sealed...

49 CFR Appendix A to Part 40 - DOT Standards for Urine Collection Kits

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... sealed plastic bag or shrink wrapping; or must have a peelable, sealed lid or other easily visible tamper...) together in a sealed plastic bag or shrink wrapping separate from the collection container; or must be wrapped (with cap) individually in sealed plastic bags or shrink wrapping; or must have peelable, sealed...

49 CFR Appendix A to Part 40 - DOT Standards for Urine Collection Kits

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... sealed plastic bag or shrink wrapping; or must have a peelable, sealed lid or other easily visible tamper...) together in a sealed plastic bag or shrink wrapping separate from the collection container; or must be wrapped (with cap) individually in sealed plastic bags or shrink wrapping; or must have peelable, sealed...

49 CFR Appendix A to Part 40 - DOT Standards for Urine Collection Kits

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... sealed plastic bag or shrink wrapping; or must have a peelable, sealed lid or other easily visible tamper...) together in a sealed plastic bag or shrink wrapping separate from the collection container; or must be wrapped (with cap) individually in sealed plastic bags or shrink wrapping; or must have peelable, sealed...

49 CFR Appendix A to Part 40 - DOT Standards for Urine Collection Kits

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... sealed plastic bag or shrink wrapping; or must have a peelable, sealed lid or other easily visible tamper...) together in a sealed plastic bag or shrink wrapping separate from the collection container; or must be wrapped (with cap) individually in sealed plastic bags or shrink wrapping; or must have peelable, sealed...

Shrinking plastic tubing and nonstandard diameters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ruiz, W. V.; Thatcher, C. S.

1980-01-01

Process allows larger-than-normal postshrink diameters without splitting. Tetrafluoroethylene tubing on mandrel is supported within hot steel pipe by several small diameter coil sections. Rising temperature of mandrel is measured via thermocouple so assembly can be removed without overshrinking (and splitting) of tubing.

Fabrication and characterization of self-folding thermoplastic sheets using unbalanced thermal shrinkage.

PubMed

Danielson, Christian; Mehrnezhad, Ali; YekrangSafakar, Ashkan; Park, Kidong

2017-06-14

Self-folding or micro-origami technologies are actively investigated as a novel manufacturing process to fabricate three-dimensional macro/micro-structures. In this paper, we present a simple process to produce a self-folding structure with a biaxially oriented polystyrene sheet (BOPS) or Shrinky Dinks. A BOPS sheet is known to shrink to one-third of its original size in plane, when it is heated above 160 °C. A grid pattern is engraved on one side of the BOPS film with a laser engraver to decrease the thermal shrinkage of the engraved side. The thermal shrinkage of the non-engraved side remains the same and this unbalanced thermal shrinkage causes folding of the structure as the structure shrinks at high temperature. We investigated the self-folding mechanism and characterized how the grid geometry, the grid size, and the power of the laser engraver affect the bending curvature. The developed fabrication process to locally modulate thermomechanical properties of the material by engraving the grid pattern and the demonstrated design methodology to harness the unbalanced thermal shrinkage can be applied to develop complicated self-folding macro/micro structures.

An upscaling method and a numerical analysis of swelling/shrinking processes in a compacted bentonite/sand mixture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, M.; Agus, S. S.; Schanz, T.; Kolditz, O.

2004-12-01

This paper presents an upscaling concept of swelling/shrinking processes of a compacted bentonite/sand mixture, which also applies to swelling of porous media in general. A constitutive approach for highly compacted bentonite/sand mixture is developed accordingly. The concept is based on the diffuse double layer theory and connects microstructural properties of the bentonite as well as chemical properties of the pore fluid with swelling potential. Main factors influencing the swelling potential of bentonite, i.e. variation of water content, dry density, chemical composition of pore fluid, as well as the microstructures and the amount of swelling minerals are taken into account. According to the proposed model, porosity is divided into interparticle and interlayer porosity. Swelling is the potential of interlayer porosity increase, which reveals itself as volume change in the case of free expansion, or turns to be swelling pressure in the case of constrained swelling. The constitutive equations for swelling/shrinking are implemented in the software GeoSys/RockFlow as a new chemo-hydro-mechanical model, which is able to simulate isothermal multiphase flow in bentonite. Details of the mathematical and numerical multiphase flow formulations, as well as the code implementation are described. The proposed model is verified using experimental data of tests on a highly compacted bentonite/sand mixture. Comparison of the 1D modelling results with the experimental data evidences the capability of the proposed model to satisfactorily predict free swelling of the material under investigation. Copyright

CMOS time-to-digital converter based on a pulse-mixing scheme

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Chun-Chi; Hwang, Chorng-Sii; Liu, Keng-Chih; Chen, Guan-Hong

2014-11-01

This paper proposes a new pulse-mixing scheme utilizing both pulse-shrinking and pulse-stretching mechanisms to improve the performance of time-to-digital converters (TDCs). The temporal resolution of the conventional pulse-shrinking mechanism is determined by the size ratio between homogeneous and inhomogeneous elements. The proposed scheme which features double-stage operation derives its resolution according to the time difference between pulse-shrinking and pulse-stretching amounts. Thus, it can achieve greater immunity against temperature and ambient variations than that of the single-stage scheme. The circuit area also can be reduced by the proposed pulse-mixing scheme. In addition, this study proposes an improved cyclic delay line to eliminate the undesirable shift in the temporal resolution successfully. Therefore, the effective resolution can be controlled completely by the pulse-mixing unit to improve accuracy. The proposed TDC composed of only one cyclic delay line and one counter is fabricated in a TSMC CMOS 0.35-μm DPQM process. The chip core occupies an extremely small area of 0.02 mm2, which is the best among the related works. The experimental result shows that an effective resolution of around 53 ps within ±13% variation over a 0-100 °C temperature range is achieved. The power consumption is 90 μW at a sample rate of 1000 samples/s. In addition to the reduced area, the proposed TDC circuit achieves its resolution with less thermal-sensitivity and better fluctuations caused by process variations.

Shrinking galaxy disks with fountain-driven accretion from the halo

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

Elmegreen, Bruce G.; Struck, Curtis; Hunter, Deidre A., E-mail: bge@watson.ibm.com, E-mail: curt@iastate.edu, E-mail: dah@lowell.edu

2014-12-01

Star formation in most galaxies requires cosmic gas accretion because the gas consumption time is short compared to the Hubble time. This accretion presumably comes from a combination of infalling satellite debris, cold flows, and condensation of hot halo gas at the cool disk interface, perhaps aided by a galactic fountain. In general, the accretion will have a different specific angular momentum than the part of the disk that receives it, even if the gas comes from the nearby halo. The gas disk then expands or shrinks over time. Here we show that condensation of halo gas at a ratemore » proportional to the star formation rate in the fountain model will preserve an initial shape, such as an exponential, with a shrinking scale length, leaving behind a stellar disk with a slightly steeper profile of younger stars near the center. This process is slow for most galaxies, producing imperceptible radial speeds, and it may be dominated by other torques, but it could be important for blue compact dwarfs, which tend to have large, irregular gas reservoirs and steep blue profiles in their inner stellar disks.« less

Morphological Adaptations for Digging and Climate-Impacted Soil Properties Define Pocket Gopher (Thomomys spp.) Distributions

PubMed Central

Marcy, Ariel E.; Fendorf, Scott; Patton, James L.; Hadly, Elizabeth A.

2013-01-01

Species ranges are mediated by physiology, environmental factors, and competition with other organisms. The allopatric distribution of five species of northern Californian pocket gophers (Thomomys spp.) is hypothesized to result from competitive exclusion. The five species in this environmentally heterogeneous region separate into two subgenera, Thomomys or Megascapheus, which have divergent digging styles. While all pocket gophers dig with their claws, the tooth-digging adaptations of subgenus Megascapheus allow access to harder soils and climate-protected depths. In a Northern Californian locality, replacement of subgenus Thomomys with subgenus Megascapheus occurred gradually during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. Concurrent climate change over this transition suggests that environmental factors – in addition to soil – define pocket gopher distributional limits. Here we show 1) that all pocket gophers occupy the subset of less energetically costly soils and 2) that subgenera sort by percent soil clay, bulk density, and shrink-swell capacity (a mineralogical attribute). While clay and bulk density (without major perturbations) stay constant over decades to millennia, low precipitation and high temperatures can cause shrink-swell clays to crack and harden within days. The strong yet underappreciated interaction between soil and moisture on the distribution of vertebrates is rarely considered when projecting species responses to climatic change. Furthermore, increased precipitation alters the weathering processes that create shrink-swell minerals. Two projected outcomes of ongoing climate change—higher temperatures and precipitation—will dramatically impact hardness of soil with shrink-swell minerals. Current climate models do not include factors controlling soil hardness, despite its impact on all organisms that depend on a stable soil structure. PMID:23717675

Nanotextured Shrink Wrap Superhydrophobic Surfaces by Argon Plasma Etching

PubMed Central

Nokes, Jolie M.; Sharma, Himanshu; Tu, Roger; Kim, Monica Y.; Chu, Michael; Siddiqui, Ali; Khine, Michelle

2016-01-01

We present a rapid, simple, and scalable approach to achieve superhydrophobic (SH) substrates directly in commodity shrink wrap film utilizing Argon (Ar) plasma. Ar plasma treatment creates a stiff skin layer on the surface of the shrink film. When the film shrinks, the mismatch in stiffness between the stiff skin layer and bulk shrink film causes the formation of multiscale hierarchical wrinkles with nano-textured features. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirm the presence of these biomimetic structures. Contact angle (CA) and contact angle hysteresis (CAH) measurements, respectively, defined as values greater than 150° and less than 10°, verified the SH nature of the substrates. Furthermore, we demonstrate the ability to reliably pattern hydrophilic regions onto the SH substrates, allowing precise capture and detection of proteins in urine. Finally, we achieved self-driven microfluidics via patterning contrasting superhydrophilic microchannels on the SH Ar substrates to induce flow for biosensing. PMID:28773318

Nanotextured Shrink Wrap Superhydrophobic Surfaces by Argon Plasma Etching.

PubMed

Nokes, Jolie M; Sharma, Himanshu; Tu, Roger; Kim, Monica Y; Chu, Michael; Siddiqui, Ali; Khine, Michelle

2016-03-14

We present a rapid, simple, and scalable approach to achieve superhydrophobic (SH) substrates directly in commodity shrink wrap film utilizing Argon (Ar) plasma. Ar plasma treatment creates a stiff skin layer on the surface of the shrink film. When the film shrinks, the mismatch in stiffness between the stiff skin layer and bulk shrink film causes the formation of multiscale hierarchical wrinkles with nano-textured features. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirm the presence of these biomimetic structures. Contact angle (CA) and contact angle hysteresis (CAH) measurements, respectively, defined as values greater than 150° and less than 10°, verified the SH nature of the substrates. Furthermore, we demonstrate the ability to reliably pattern hydrophilic regions onto the SH substrates, allowing precise capture and detection of proteins in urine. Finally, we achieved self-driven microfluidics via patterning contrasting superhydrophilic microchannels on the SH Ar substrates to induce flow for biosensing.

Click chemistry modification of natural keratin fibers for sustained shrink-resist performance.

PubMed

Yu, Dan; Cai, Jackie Y; Church, Jeffrey S; Wang, Lijing

2015-01-01

This paper introduces a novel chemical treatment for achieving sustained shrink-resist performance on natural keratin fibers. The new treatment involves the controlled reduction of keratin in the cuticle region of the fiber, and the application of a water soluble diacrylate, namely glycerol 1,3-diglycerolate diacrylate (GDA), on the reduced keratin substrate. The acrylate groups of the GDA react with cysteine residues in the reduced keratin through thiol-ene click reactions at room temperature, leading to GDA grafting and the formation of GDA crosslinks in the keratin structure. The modified substrates were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and assessed for its shrink-resistance and wet burst strength. This chemical modification has shown to alter the fiber surface morphology and hydrophilicity, resulting in substantially improved shrink-resistance with good fiber strength retention. Possible shrink-resistance mechanisms were also discussed. Crown Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Shrinking cities examined from a shrinking scale – the impact of household and neighborhood heterogeneity on changes in material and energy consumption, ecosystem services and environmental impact

EPA Science Inventory

Urban populations continue to increase globally and cities have become the dominant human habitat. However, the growth of cities is not universal. Shrinking cities face decreased income, reduced property values, and decreased tax revenue. Fewer people per unit area creates ineffi...

[Investigation Report of Tripterygium wilfordii and Tripterygium hypoglaucum].

PubMed

Liu, Chao; Ge, Xiao-guang; Hao, Qing-xiu; Guo, Lan-ping; Yuan, Qing-jun; Huang, Lu-qi

2015-02-01

To get the information of resources, cultivation, commodity circulation and other aspects of Tripterygium wilfordii and Tripterygium hypoglaucum. Collect samples in 13 locations of Tripterygium wilfordii and Tripterygium hypoglaucum, compare their plant morphological characteristics and growth habit, and investigate their wild resources conditions, planting information, easy-confused varieties and different commodity features. (1) Tripterygium wilfordii and Tripterygium hypoglaucum were mainly collected under woods or on the edge of woods,and light and moisture attributed to their distribution to some extent. (2) Wild resources of Tripterygium wilfordii and Tripterygium hypoglaucum were shrinking, and both of their cultivation history were relatively short and their cultivation technique were still in a low level. (3) Due to lack of harvesting and processing standards, decoction pieces, varying from roots, rhizomes to stems of plants, were all sold as commercial medicines. Wild resources of Tripterygium wilfordii and Tripterygium hypoglaucum are shrinking,and the standardized research on cultivation-harvest processing and commercial medicines remains to be further carried out.

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

Katti, Amogh; Di Fatta, Giuseppe; Naughton, Thomas

Future extreme-scale high-performance computing systems will be required to work under frequent component failures. The MPI Forum s User Level Failure Mitigation proposal has introduced an operation, MPI Comm shrink, to synchronize the alive processes on the list of failed processes, so that applications can continue to execute even in the presence of failures by adopting algorithm-based fault tolerance techniques. This MPI Comm shrink operation requires a failure detection and consensus algorithm. This paper presents three novel failure detection and consensus algorithms using Gossiping. The proposed algorithms were implemented and tested using the Extreme-scale Simulator. The results show that inmore » all algorithms the number of Gossip cycles to achieve global consensus scales logarithmically with system size. The second algorithm also shows better scalability in terms of memory and network bandwidth usage and a perfect synchronization in achieving global consensus. The third approach is a three-phase distributed failure detection and consensus algorithm and provides consistency guarantees even in very large and extreme-scale systems while at the same time being memory and bandwidth efficient.« less

Modeling and FE Simulation of Quenchable High Strength Steels Sheet Metal Hot Forming Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Hongsheng; Bao, Jun; Xing, Zhongwen; Zhang, Dejin; Song, Baoyu; Lei, Chengxi

2011-08-01

High strength steel (HSS) sheet metal hot forming process is investigated by means of numerical simulations. With regard to a reliable numerical process design, the knowledge of the thermal and thermo-mechanical properties is essential. In this article, tensile tests are performed to examine the flow stress of the material HSS 22MnB5 at different strains, strain rates, and temperatures. Constitutive model based on phenomenological approach is developed to describe the thermo-mechanical properties of the material 22MnB5 by fitting the experimental data. A 2D coupled thermo-mechanical finite element (FE) model is developed to simulate the HSS sheet metal hot forming process for U-channel part. The ABAQUS/explicit model is used conduct the hot forming stage simulations, and ABAQUS/implicit model is used for accurately predicting the springback which happens at the end of hot forming stage. Material modeling and FE numerical simulations are carried out to investigate the effect of the processing parameters on the hot forming process. The processing parameters have significant influence on the microstructure of U-channel part. The springback after hot forming stage is the main factor impairing the shape precision of hot-formed part. The mechanism of springback is advanced and verified through numerical simulations and tensile loading-unloading tests. Creep strain is found in the tensile loading-unloading test under isothermal condition and has a distinct effect on springback. According to the numerical and experimental results, it can be concluded that springback is mainly caused by different cooling rats and the nonhomogengeous shrink of material during hot forming process, the creep strain is the main factor influencing the amount of the springback.

76 FR 15802 - Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model EC130 B4 Helicopters

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-22

... in insert D of Figure 5 of the EASB, and determine if it is covered with heat shrink, P/N... shown in insert D of Figure 5 or the attachment screw is not covered with heat shrink, modify the.... Figure 5 of the EASB does not show the heat shrink installed for clarity of screw head and lug detail. (3...

Speckle attenuation by adaptive singular value shrinking with generalized likelihood matching in optical coherence tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Huaiguang; Fu, Shujun; Wang, Hong; Lv, Hongli; Zhang, Caiming

2018-03-01

As a high-resolution imaging mode of biological tissues and materials, optical coherence tomography (OCT) is widely used in medical diagnosis and analysis. However, OCT images are often degraded by annoying speckle noise inherent in its imaging process. Employing the bilateral sparse representation an adaptive singular value shrinking method is proposed for its highly sparse approximation of image data. Adopting the generalized likelihood ratio as similarity criterion for block matching and an adaptive feature-oriented backward projection strategy, the proposed algorithm can restore better underlying layered structures and details of the OCT image with effective speckle attenuation. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves a state-of-the-art despeckling performance in terms of both quantitative measurement and visual interpretation.

Genetic and cultural management solutions to improve potato storage quality

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Potato storage quality is most easily described in terms of tuber attributes that maintain the value of the harvested crop. Among these attributes are attractive appearance, low shrink, low incidence of bruising and, for chip and fry processing varieties, specific gravity and reducing sugars appropr...

Method and apparatus for packaging optical fiber sensors for harsh environments

DOEpatents

Pickrell, Gary; Duan, Yuhong; Wang, Anbo

2005-08-09

A package for an optical fiber sensor having a metal jacket surrounding the sensor, and heat-shrink tubing surrounding the metal jacket. The metal jacket is made of a low melting point metal (e.g. lead, tin). The sensor can be disposed in a rigid tube (e.g. stainless steel or glass) that is surrounded by the metal jacket. The metal jacket provides a hermetic, or nearly hermetic seal for the sensor. The package is made by melting the metal jacket and heating the heat shrink tubing at the same time. As the heat-shrink tubing shrinks, it presses the low melting point metal against the sensor, and squeezes out the excess metal.

Process optimization and leaching kinetics of zinc and manganese metals from zinc-carbon and alkaline spent batteries using citric acid reagent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuliusman; Amiliana, R. A.; Wulandari, P. T.; Huda, M.; Kusumadewi, F. A.

2018-03-01

Zn-Carbon and Alkaline spent batteries contains heavy metals, such as zinc and manganese, which can causes environmental problem if not handled properly. Usually the recovery of these metals were done by leaching method using strong acid, but the use of strong acids as leaching reagents can be harmful to the environment. This paper concerns the recovery of Zn and Mn metals from Zn-C and alkaline spent batteries with leaching method using citric acid as the environmental friendly leaching reagent. The leaching conditions using citric acid were optimized and the leaching kinetics of Zn and Mn in citric acid solution was investigated. The leaching of 89.62% Zn and 63.26% Mn was achieved with 1.5 M citric acid, 90°C temperature, and 90 minutes stirring time. Kinetics data for the dissolution of Zn showed the best fit to chemical control shrinking core model, while the diffusion controlled model was suitable for the dissolution of Mn kinetics data. The activation energy of 6.12 and 1.73 kcal/mol was acquired for the leaching of Zn and Mn in the temperature range 60°C-90°C.

Large thermal protection system panel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weinberg, David J. (Inventor); Myers, Franklin K. (Inventor); Tran, Tu T. (Inventor)

2003-01-01

A protective panel for a reusable launch vehicle provides enhanced moisture protection, simplified maintenance, and increased temperature resistance. The protective panel includes an outer ceramic matrix composite (CMC) panel, and an insulative bag assembly coupled to the outer CMC panel for isolating the launch vehicle from elevated temperatures and moisture. A standoff attachment system attaches the outer CMC panel and the bag assembly to the primary structure of the launch vehicle. The insulative bag assembly includes a foil bag having a first opening shrink fitted to the outer CMC panel such that the first opening and the outer CMC panel form a water tight seal at temperatures below a desired temperature threshold. Fibrous insulation is contained within the foil bag for protecting the launch vehicle from elevated temperatures. The insulative bag assembly further includes a back panel coupled to a second opening of the foil bag such that the fibrous insulation is encapsulated by the back panel, the foil bag, and the outer CMC panel. The use of a CMC material for the outer panel in conjunction with the insulative bag assembly eliminates the need for waterproofing processes, and ultimately allows for more efficient reentry profiles.

The preliminary design of bearings for the control system of a high-temperature lithium-cooled nuclear reactor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yacobucci, H. G.; Waldron, W. D.; Walowit, J. A.

1973-01-01

The design of bearings for the control system of a fast reactor concept is presented. The bearings are required to operate at temperatures up to 2200 F in one of two fluids, lithium or argon. Basic bearing types are the same regardless of the fluid. Crowned cylindrical journals were selected for radially loaded bearings and modified spherical bearings were selected for bearings under combined thrust and radial loads. Graphite and aluminum oxide are the materials selected for the argon atmosphere bearings while cermet compositions (carbides or nitrides bonded with refractory metals) were selected for the lithium lubricated bearings. Mounting of components is by shrink fit or by axial clamping utilizing differential thermal expansion.

Manufacture and quality control of interconnecting wire harnesses, Volume 3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1972-01-01

The document covers interconnecting wire harnesses defined in the design standard, including type 6, enclosed in TFE heat shrink tubing; and type 7, flexible armored. Knowledge gained through experience on the Saturn 5 program coupled with recent advances in techniques, materials, and processes was incorporated into this document.

Putting the Fun in Fundraising

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simons, Dave

2008-01-01

Today, school districts are faced with perpetually shrinking budgets, and all too often, music programs suffer the most. As a result, fundraising, once considered a supplemental effort, is now an integral part of the budgetary process for school trips and other extras. To make the most of their fundraising endeavors, music departments and…

"Wasting Talent"? Gender and the Problematics of Academic Disenchantment and Disengagement with Leadership

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blackmore, Jill

2014-01-01

Confronted with the processes of massification, commercialisation, internationalisation and reduced funding, universities also face an ageing academic workforce, with implications of a shrinking pool from which to recruit managerial and research leaders. A feminist analysis suggests that the policy problematic has been wrongly conceptualised as…

MHD stagnation-point flow over a nonlinearly shrinking sheet with suction effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Awaludin, Izyan Syazana; Ahmad, Rokiah; Ishak, Anuar

2018-04-01

The stagnation point flow over a shrinking permeable sheet in the existence of magnetic field is numerically investigated in this paper. The system of partial differential equations are transformed to a nonlinear ordinary differential equation using similarity transformation and is solved numerically using the boundary value problem solver, bvp4c, in Matlab software. It is found that dual solutions exist for a certain range of the shrinking strength.

Aligning Solution-Derived Carbon Nanotube Film with Full Surface Coverage for High-Performance Electronics Applications.

PubMed

Zhu, Ma-Guang; Si, Jia; Zhang, Zhiyong; Peng, Lian-Mao

2018-06-01

The main challenge for application of solution-derived carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in high performance field-effect transistor (FET) is how to align CNTs into an array with high density and full surface coverage. A directional shrinking transfer method is developed to realize high density aligned array based on randomly orientated CNT network film. Through transferring a solution-derived CNT network film onto a stretched retractable film followed by a shrinking process, alignment degree and density of CNT film increase with the shrinking multiple. The quadruply shrunk CNT films present well alignment, which is identified by the polarized Raman spectroscopy and electrical transport measurements. Based on the high quality and high density aligned CNT array, the fabricated FETs with channel length of 300 nm present ultrahigh performance including on-state current I on of 290 µA µm -1 (V ds = -1.5 V and V gs = -2 V) and peak transconductance g m of 150 µS µm -1 , which are, respectively, among the highest corresponding values in the reported CNT array FETs. High quality and high semiconducting purity CNT arrays with high density and full coverage obtained through this method promote the development of high performance CNT-based electronics. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Numerical simulation for flow and heat transfer to Carreau fluid with magnetic field effect: Dual nature study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hashim; Khan, Masood; Alshomrani, Ali Saleh

2017-12-01

This article considers a realistic approach to examine the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) flow of Carreau fluid induced by the shrinking sheet subject to the stagnation-point. This study also explores the impacts of non-linear thermal radiation on the heat transfer process. The governing equations of physical model are expressed as a system of partial differential equations and are transformed into non-linear ordinary differential equations by introducing local similarity variables. The economized equations of the problem are numerically integrated using the Runge-Kutta Fehlberg integration scheme. In this study, we explore the condition of existence, non-existence, uniqueness and dual nature for obtaining numerical solutions. It is found that the solutions may possess multiple natures, upper and lower branch, for a specific range of shrinking parameter. Results indicate that due to an increment in the magnetic parameter, range of shrinking parameter where a dual solution exists, increases. Further, strong magnetic field enhances the thickness of the momentum boundary layer in case of the second solution while for first solution it reduces. We further note that the fluid suction diminishes the fluid velocity and therefore the thickness of the hydrodynamic boundary layer decreases as well. A critical analysis with existing works is performed which shows that outcome are benchmarks with these works.

Modeling postshock evolution of large electropores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neu, John C.; Krassowska, Wanda

2003-02-01

The Smoluchowski equation (SE), which describes the evolution of pores created by electric shocks, cannot be applied to modeling large and long-lived pores for two reasons: (1) it does not predict pores of radius above 20 nm without also predicting membrane rupture; (2) it does not predict postshock growth of pores. This study proposes a model in which pores are coupled by membrane tension, resulting in a nonlinear generalization of SE. The predictions of the model are explored using examples of homogeneous (all pore radii r are equal) and heterogeneous (0⩽r⩽rmax) distributions of pores. Pores in a homogeneous population either shrink to zero or assume a stable radius corresponding to the minimum of the bilayer energy. For a heterogeneous population, such a stable radius does not exist. All pores, except rmax, shrink to zero and rmax grows to infinity. However, the unbounded growth of rmax is not physical because the number of pores per cell decreases in time and the continuum model loses validity. When the continuum formulation is replaced by the discrete one, the model predicts the coarsening process: all pores, except rmax, shrink to zero and rmax assumes a stable radius. Thus, the model with tension-coupled pores does not predict membrane rupture and the predicted postshock growth of pores is consistent with experimental evidence.

It Shrinks! It Cracks!

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-04-20

Given enough time, impact craters on Mars tend to fill up with different materials. For instance, some craters on Mars had lakes inside them in the past. When these lakes dried out, they left behind traces of their past existence, such as sedimentary deposits (materials that were carried along with the running water into the lake inside the crater and then settled down). Some craters, especially in high latitudes, contain ice deposits that filled the crater when an earlier ice age allowed ice to extend into the crater's latitude. Here, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spies a crater that lies close to Elysium, a major volcanic system on Mars. The whole region surrounding the crater was at some point covered by lava from the volcano creating vast lava plains, and in the process, flooding impact craters in their way. When the lava eventually cooled down, it solidified and began to shrink in size. This shrinking led to formation of cracks on the surface of the lava that grew in a circular pattern matching the shape of the crater it was filling. Scientists can study these fractures and estimate how much it shrank in volume to better understand the properties of the lava (such as its temperature) during the time it filled the crater. https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21596

The Incredibly Shrinking World of Imagination.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kassem, Lou

1992-01-01

Suggests that children's imaginations are not shrinking. Discusses seven ways in which English teachers, librarians, publishers, and authors have used adolescent literature in creative and imaginative ways. (RS)

How Accurately do Leading and Lagging Indictors Predict F-16 Aircraft Availability (AA)

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-08-01

Predictions AU/ACSC/2016 vi PREFACE As the F-16 fleet continues to age, and budgets continue to shrink , United States Air Force (USAF... shrinking budgets, it is imperative for maintenance leaders to use all tools available to them to improve the amount of aircraft available for operations...remarkable considering the overall F-16 fleet shrinking at a steady pace (see table 2 for information). AA is one of the most critical factors that

A Paradox of Town Spatial Development: The Growing Real Estate and Shrinking Town - a Case Study of Hsinchu County, Taiwan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hung, Chi-Tung; Chuang, Mo-Hsiung; Lin, Wen-Yen

2017-04-01

The key factors of many discussions on shrinking towns are focusing at decreasing population and declining industries. Our study, using Hsinchu County as an example, has found that part of the county (Guanxi township) is following a typical and traditional town development pattern, while somewhere else of this county (Zhubei township) shows rapid growth in real estate but with a high vacancy rate. Even though the distance between Guanxi and Zhubei is less than 20 kilometers, the spatial development phenomenon of the two townships are both "shrinking" in the same county but very different in their developing paths. This study used GIS to overlay the maps from field survey and archive data, such as real estate prices of different years, environmental hazards and disaster records, local area power consumptions, and vulnerable population data, to clarify the causes and systems behind the shrinking phenomena of the two townships and to construct a theory of "shrinking town" in Taiwan. The contribution of this study is the findings of the tangling relations of the vulnerability from land-enclosure policy, the system design of local industrial development and urban planning, and structural factors of environmental hazards. Note: This study is part of the results from the Ministry of Science and Technology funding project (MOST 105-2621-M-120-002) KEYWORDS: shrinking town, environmental hazards, urban planning, spatial disasters, real estate development

19 CFR 102.22 - Rules of origin for textile and apparel products of Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

...: bleaching, shrinking, fulling, napping, decating, permanent stiffening, weighting, permanent embossing, or... as showerproofing, superwashing, bleaching, decating, fulling, shrinking, mercerizing, or similar...

Varicocele

MedlinePlus

... cause testicles to fail to develop normally or shrink. Most varicoceles develop over time. Fortunately, most varicoceles ... tubules. When damaged, as from varicocele, the testicle shrinks and softens. It's not clear what causes the ...

19 CFR 102.22 - Rules of origin for textile and apparel products of Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

...: bleaching, shrinking, fulling, napping, decating, permanent stiffening, weighting, permanent embossing, or... as showerproofing, superwashing, bleaching, decating, fulling, shrinking, mercerizing, or similar...

19 CFR 102.22 - Rules of origin for textile and apparel products of Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

...: bleaching, shrinking, fulling, napping, decating, permanent stiffening, weighting, permanent embossing, or... as showerproofing, superwashing, bleaching, decating, fulling, shrinking, mercerizing, or similar...

19 CFR 102.22 - Rules of origin for textile and apparel products of Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

...: bleaching, shrinking, fulling, napping, decating, permanent stiffening, weighting, permanent embossing, or... as showerproofing, superwashing, bleaching, decating, fulling, shrinking, mercerizing, or similar...

19 CFR 102.22 - Rules of origin for textile and apparel products of Israel.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

...: bleaching, shrinking, fulling, napping, decating, permanent stiffening, weighting, permanent embossing, or... as showerproofing, superwashing, bleaching, decating, fulling, shrinking, mercerizing, or similar...

Hemorrhoid surgery

MedlinePlus

... a small rubber band around a hemorrhoid to shrink it by blocking blood flow. Stapling a hemorrhoid to block blood flow, causing it to shrink. Using a knife (scalpel) to remove hemorrhoids. You ...

Nasal polyps

MedlinePlus

... get rid of nasal polyps. Nasal steroid sprays shrink polyps. They help clear blocked nasal passages and ... is stopped. Corticosteroid pills or liquid may also shrink polyps, and can reduce swelling and nasal congestion. ...

Patterns in shrinking gels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsuo, Eriko Sato; Tanaka, Toyoichi

1992-08-01

POLYMER gels can undergo a volume phase transition (either continuous or discontinuous) when an external condition, such as temperature or solvent composition, is altered1-3. During this transition, the volume may change by a factor of several thousand, and various patterns develop in the gel. The patterns arising from swelling and shrinking differ in both their appearance and their physical mechanisms. The mechanism for the formation and evolution of patterns on swelling gels has been established as being due to a single kind of mechanical instability4-7 in contrast, the shrinking patterns seem to be sensitive to both the initial and final states of the transition. Here we classify the various shrinking patterns in the form of a phase diagram, and explain the poly-morphism in terms of macroscopic phase separation.

A New Microelectronics Curriculum Created by Synopsys, Inc.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goldman, Rich; Bartleson, Karen; Wood, Troy; Melikyan, Vazgen; Wang, Zhi-hua; Chen, Lan

2009-01-01

Rapid changes in integrated circuits (IC) technology and constantly shrinking process geometries demand a new curriculum that meets the contemporary requirements for IC design. This is especially important for 90nm and below technologies and the use of state-of-the-art EDA design tools and advanced IC design techniques. The creation of new…

The Army and Civilian Nursing Crisis at the Dawn of the 21st Century

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-04-01

and advertising about the programs by recruiters. • Lack of recruiter penetration of targeted market. • Shrinking supply of civilian nurse recruits...Increase in recruiting mission without an increase in recruiting force. • Increase in time to process applicant’s accession packet. • Lack of marketing

The One-College Concept and Continuing Education: The Process of Change from Peripheral Status to Full Integration.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flanagan, Gene J.

Traditionally, continuing education, though a recognized mission of the community college, has been relegated to an ancillary position outside of the policy-making and administrative mainstream. As traditional student populations shrink and outreach and career preparation become more important, community colleges have begun to realize that…

Are Editors Out of the Tenure Process?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howard, Jennifer

2007-01-01

University presses have complained for years that tenure committees unfairly expect their editors to be arbiters of what counts as tenure-worthy work. At the same time, the presses have been caught in a business-side squeeze between dwindling sales (and shrinking subsidies) and the ever-greater pressure on scholars to publish. In this article, the…

Epidemic failure detection and consensus for extreme parallelism

DOE PAGES

Katti, Amogh; Di Fatta, Giuseppe; Naughton, Thomas; ...

2017-02-01

Future extreme-scale high-performance computing systems will be required to work under frequent component failures. The MPI Forum s User Level Failure Mitigation proposal has introduced an operation, MPI Comm shrink, to synchronize the alive processes on the list of failed processes, so that applications can continue to execute even in the presence of failures by adopting algorithm-based fault tolerance techniques. This MPI Comm shrink operation requires a failure detection and consensus algorithm. This paper presents three novel failure detection and consensus algorithms using Gossiping. The proposed algorithms were implemented and tested using the Extreme-scale Simulator. The results show that inmore » all algorithms the number of Gossip cycles to achieve global consensus scales logarithmically with system size. The second algorithm also shows better scalability in terms of memory and network bandwidth usage and a perfect synchronization in achieving global consensus. The third approach is a three-phase distributed failure detection and consensus algorithm and provides consistency guarantees even in very large and extreme-scale systems while at the same time being memory and bandwidth efficient.« less

Laser therapy for cancer

MedlinePlus

... a very narrow, focused beam of light to shrink or destroy cancer cells. It can be used ... be used to: Destroy tumors and precancerous growths Shrink tumors that are blocking the stomach, colon, or ...

Effect of shrink wrap packaging for maintaining quality of cucumber during storage.

PubMed

Dhall, Rajinder Kumar; Sharma, Sanjeev R; Mahajan, B V C

2012-08-01

Immature green cucumber cv. 'Padmini' fruits were individually shrink wrapped with Cryovac D955 (60 guage) film and stored at 12 ± 1 °C, 90-95% RH as well as ambient conditions (29-33 °C, 65-70% RH). At 12 ± 1 °C and 90-95% RH, individual shrink wrapped cucumber recorded minimum Physiological loss in weight (0.66%) as compared with unwrapped fruits (11.11%) at the end of refrigerated storage (15 days). The softening (loss of firmness) was maximum (1304.6-876.6 g force) in unwrapped cucumbers whereas in shrink wrapping, minimum loss in firmness (1304.6-1065.3 g force) was observed after 12 days storage at 12 ± 1 °C and 90-95% RH but greater loss of weight and firmness makes the control cucumbers unmarketable after 9 days of storage. There were no rotting at all both in shrink wrapped and unwrapped cucumbers upto 15 days of storage at 12 ± 1 °C and 90-95% RH. After 15 days storage of shrink wrapped cucumbers at 12 ± 1 °C and 90-95% RH, there was loss of green colour and development of yellowness and decay. The sensory attributes score was highest in shrink wrapped cucumbers as compared to unwrapped cucumbers at end of both storage conditions. Thus it can be concluded that individual shrink wrapped cucumber can be stored well upto 15 days at 12 ± 1 °C and 90-95% RH and for 5 days at ambient conditions (29-33 °C, 65-70% RH) with maximum retention of green colour, no spoilage, minimum weight and firmness loss and very good sensory quality attributes whereas, unwrapped fruits can be stored well upto 9 days at 12 ± 1 °C and 90-95% RH and for 2 days at ambient conditions with maximum retention of physico-chemical quality attributes.

Factors affecting body weight loss during commercial long haul transport of cattle in North America.

PubMed

González, L A; Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K S; Bryan, M; Silasi, R; Brown, F

2012-10-01

The objective of the present study was to identify and quantify several factors affecting shrink in cattle during commercial long-haul transport (≥400 km; n = 6,152 journeys). Surveys were designed and delivered to transport carriers to collect relevant information regarding the characteristics of animals, time of loading, origin and destination, and loaded weight before and after transport. In contrast to fat cattle, feeder cattle exhibited greater shrink (4.9 vs. 7.9 ± 0.2% of BW, respectively; P < 0.01), and experienced longer total transport durations (12.4 vs. 14.9 ± 0.99, respectively; P < 0.01) due to border crossing protocols which require mandatory animal inspection. Shrink was greater (P < 0.001) for feeder cattle loaded at ranches/farms and feed yards compared with those loaded at auction markets. Cattle loaded during the afternoon and evening shrank more than those loaded during the night and morning (P < 0.05). Shrinkage was less in cattle transported by truck drivers having 6 or more years of experience hauling livestock compared with those with 5 yr or less (P < 0.05). Shrink increased with both midpoint ambient temperature (% of BW/°C; P < 0.001) and time on truck (% of BW/h; P < 0.001). Temperature and time on truck had a multiplicative effect on each other because shrink increased most rapidly in cattle transported for both longer durations and at higher ambient temperatures (P < 0.001). The rate of shrink over time (% of BW/h) was greatest in cull cattle, intermediate in calves and feeder cattle, and slowest in fat cattle (P < 0.05) but such differences disappeared when the effects of place of origin, loading time, and experience of truck drivers were included in the model. Cull cattle, calves and feeder cattle appear to be more affected by transport compared with fat cattle going to slaughter because of greater shrink. Several factors should be considered when developing guidelines to reduce cattle transport stress and shrink including type of cattle, ambient temperature, transport duration, driving quality, and time and origin of loading.

Thermal effects in nano-sized adsorbate islands growth processes at vapor deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kharchenko, Vasyl O.; Kharchenko, Dmitrii O.; Dvornichenko, Alina V.

2016-02-01

We study a model of pattern formation in adsorptive systems with a local change in the surface temperature due to adsorption/desorption processes. It is found that thermal effects shrink the domain of main system parameters, when pattern formation is possible. It is shown that an increase in a surface reheat efficiency delays ordering processes. We have found that a distribution of adsorbate islands over sizes depends on relaxation and reheat processes. We have shown that the mean linear size of stationary adsorbate islands is of nano-meter range.

Hormone therapy for prostate cancer

MedlinePlus

... be used: Before radiation or surgery to help shrink tumors Along with radiation therapy for cancer that ... of most androgens in the body. This also shrinks or stops prostate cancer from growing. While effective, ...

Fibroid Tumors in Women: A Hidden Epidemic?

MedlinePlus

... that lower progesterone levels could cause fibroids to shrink. That could help relieve pain and other symptoms ... estrogen alone. In theory, such a treatment could shrink fibroids but spare women from hot flashes and ...

Skin Diseases: NIH Research to Results

MedlinePlus

... with immune system cells found in tumors could shrink skin cancer tumors and possibly prolong life, too. ... altered in the lab could cause tumors to shrink in a small number of patients. More studies ...

TreeShrink: fast and accurate detection of outlier long branches in collections of phylogenetic trees.

PubMed

Mai, Uyen; Mirarab, Siavash

2018-05-08

Sequence data used in reconstructing phylogenetic trees may include various sources of error. Typically errors are detected at the sequence level, but when missed, the erroneous sequences often appear as unexpectedly long branches in the inferred phylogeny. We propose an automatic method to detect such errors. We build a phylogeny including all the data then detect sequences that artificially inflate the tree diameter. We formulate an optimization problem, called the k-shrink problem, that seeks to find k leaves that could be removed to maximally reduce the tree diameter. We present an algorithm to find the exact solution for this problem in polynomial time. We then use several statistical tests to find outlier species that have an unexpectedly high impact on the tree diameter. These tests can use a single tree or a set of related gene trees and can also adjust to species-specific patterns of branch length. The resulting method is called TreeShrink. We test our method on six phylogenomic biological datasets and an HIV dataset and show that the method successfully detects and removes long branches. TreeShrink removes sequences more conservatively than rogue taxon removal and often reduces gene tree discordance more than rogue taxon removal once the amount of filtering is controlled. TreeShrink is an effective method for detecting sequences that lead to unrealistically long branch lengths in phylogenetic trees. The tool is publicly available at https://github.com/uym2/TreeShrink .

FURTHER STUDIES ON THE KINETICS OF OSMOSIS IN LIVING CELLS

PubMed Central

Lucké, Balduin; Hartline, H. Keffer; McCutcheon, Morton

1931-01-01

Using unfertilized eggs of Arbacia punctulata as natural osmometers an attempt has been made to account for the course of swelling and shrinking of these cells in anisotonic solutions by means of the laws governing osmosis and diffusion. The method employed has been to compute permeability of the cell to water, as measured by the rate of volume change per unit of cell surface per unit of osmotic pressure outstanding between the cell and its medium. Permeability to water as here defined and as somewhat differently defined by Northrop is approximately constant during swelling and shrinking, at least for the first several minutes of these processes. Permeability is found to be independent of the osmotic pressure of the solution in which cells are swelling. Water is found to leave cells more readily than it enters, that is, permeability is greater during exosmosis than during endosmosis. PMID:19872594

The Effects of Thermal Radiation on an Unsteady MHD Axisymmetric Stagnation-Point Flow over a Shrinking Sheet in Presence of Temperature Dependent Thermal Conductivity with Navier Slip

PubMed Central

Mondal, Sabyasachi; Haroun, Nageeb A. H.; Sibanda, Precious

2015-01-01

In this paper, the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) axisymmetric stagnation-point flow of an unsteady and electrically conducting incompressible viscous fluid in with temperature dependent thermal conductivity, thermal radiation and Navier slip is investigated. The flow is due to a shrinking surface that is shrunk axisymmetrically in its own plane with a linear velocity. The magnetic field is imposed normally to the sheet. The model equations that describe this fluid flow are solved by using the spectral relaxation method. Here, heat transfer processes are discussed for two different types of wall heating; (a) a prescribed surface temperature and (b) a prescribed surface heat flux. We discuss and evaluate how the various parameters affect the fluid flow, heat transfer and the temperature field with the aid of different graphical presentations and tabulated results. PMID:26414006

50 CFR 229.32 - Atlantic large whale take reduction plan regulations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... marked with thin colored whipping line, thin colored plastic, or heat-shrink tubing, or other material... be dyed, painted, or marked with thin colored whipping line, thin colored plastic, or heat-shrink...

50 CFR 229.32 - Atlantic large whale take reduction plan regulations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... marked with thin colored whipping line, thin colored plastic, or heat-shrink tubing, or other material... be dyed, painted, or marked with thin colored whipping line, thin colored plastic, or heat-shrink...

SEM-induced shrinkage and site-selective modification of single-crystal silicon nanopores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Qi; Wang, Yifan; Deng, Tao; Liu, Zewen

2017-07-01

Solid-state nanopores with feature sizes around 5 nm play a critical role in bio-sensing fields, especially in single molecule detection and sequencing of DNA, RNA and proteins. In this paper we present a systematic study on shrinkage and site-selective modification of single-crystal silicon nanopores with a conventional scanning electron microscope (SEM). Square nanopores with measurable sizes as small as 8 nm × 8 nm and rectangle nanopores with feature sizes (the smaller one between length and width) down to 5 nm have been obtained, using the SEM-induced shrinkage technique. The analysis of energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and the recovery of the pore size and morphology reveal that the grown material along with the edge of the nanopore is the result of deposition of hydrocarbon compounds, without structural damage during the shrinking process. A simplified model for pore shrinkage has been developed based on observation of the cross-sectional morphology of the shrunk nanopore. The main factors impacting on the task of controllably shrinking the nanopores, such as the accelerating voltage, spot size, scanned area of e-beam, and the initial pore size have been discussed. It is found that single-crystal silicon nanopores shrink linearly with time under localized irradiation by SEM e-beam in all cases, and the pore shrinkage rate is inversely proportional to the initial equivalent diameter of the pore under the same e-beam conditions.

Micromechanical Analysis of Crack Closure Mechanism for Intelligent Material Containing TiNi Fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Araki, Shigetoshi; Ono, Hiroyuki; Saito, Kenji

In our previous study, the micromechanical modeling of an intelligent material containing TiNi fibers was performed and the stress intensity factor KI at the tip of the crack in the material was expressed in terms of the magnitude of the shape memory shrinkage of the fibers and the thermal expansion strain in the material. In this study, the value of KI at the tip of the crack in the TiNi/epoxy material is calculated numerically by using analytical expressions obtained in our first report. As a result, we find that the KI value decreases with increasing shrink strain of the fibers, and this tendency agrees with that of the experimental result obtained by Shimamoto etal.(Trans. Jpn. Soc. Mech. Eng., Vol. 65, No. 634 (1999), pp. 1282-1286). Moreover, there exists an optimal value of the shrink strain of the fibers to make the KI value zero. The change in KI with temperature during the heating process from the reference temperature to the inverse austenitic finishing temperature of TiNi fiber is also consistent with the experimental result. These results can be explained by the changes in the shrink strain, the thermal expansion strain, and the elastic moduli of TiNi fiber with temperature. These results may be useful in designing intelligent materials containing TiNi fibers from the viewpoint of crack closure.

Higher Education in the Global Market: Opportunities and Threats

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Singh, Navin

2011-01-01

The world is marked by the twin processes of economic and cultural globalization in an era of information technology. The identities of all societies are evolving as social and political boundaries are shrinking day-by-day. As a result of significant economic and political changes, cross-cultural contact is at an all-time high in human history.…

Exploring Media Processes and Project Applications: Rediscovering Shrinky Dinks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wolf Bordonaro, Gaelynn P.; Blake, Ann; Corrington, Deborah; Fanders, Tegan; Morley, Lauren

2009-01-01

Shrinky Dinks[R] are a plastic-sheet material that shrinks, hardens and thickens when heated in a traditional or toaster oven. The material was a favorite of generations, but many contemporary students and professionals in art have never had the opportunity to play with the unique media. This article discusses Shrinky Dinks and the importance of…

The Suburbanization of America Or the Shrinking of the Cities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weaver, Robert C.

1977-01-01

Argues that "the social pattern of suburbia, especially its racial exclusion, cannot and will not be altered unless and until we recognize the process and identify the many factors which make up the push and pull in migration. The contemporary suburb is different from its earlier namesake in both function and form." (Author/JM)

Third Grade English Language Arts: Underperformance on Statewide Assessments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ramnarain, Taramattie

2013-01-01

The intent of this investigation was to examine the Kaplan K-12 program in an intervention process and identify the determinants that contributed to the void in performance in English language arts in Grade 3. As such, the researcher selected the Kaplan K-12 intervention program to shrink the void in performance in the English language arts within…

When stress predicts a shrinking gene pool, trading early reproduction for longevity can increase fitness, even with lower fecundity.

PubMed

Ratcliff, William C; Hawthorne, Peter; Travisano, Michael; Denison, R Ford

2009-06-25

Stresses like dietary restriction or various toxins increase lifespan in taxa as diverse as yeast, Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila and rats, by triggering physiological responses that also tend to delay reproduction. Food odors can reverse the effects of dietary restriction, showing that key mechanisms respond to information, not just resources. Such environmental cues can predict population trends, not just individual prospects for survival and reproduction. When population size is increasing, each offspring produced earlier makes a larger proportional contribution to the gene pool, but the reverse is true when population size is declining. We show mathematically that natural selection can favor facultative delay in reproduction when environmental cues predict a decrease in total population size, even if lifetime fecundity decreases with delay. We also show that increased reproduction from waiting for better conditions does not increase fitness (proportional representation) when the whole population benefits similarly. We conclude that the beneficial effects of stress on longevity (hormesis) in diverse taxa are a side-effect of delaying reproduction in response to environmental cues that population size is likely to decrease. The reversal by food odors of the effects of dietary restriction can be explained as a response to information that population size is less likely to decrease, reducing the chance that delaying reproduction will increase fitness.

Sustainability for Shrinking Cities

EPA Science Inventory

Shrinking cities are widespread throughout the world despite the rapidly increasing global urban population. These cities are attempting to transition to sustainable trajectories to improve the health and well-being of urban residents, to build their capacity to adapt to changing...

Neural Substrate of Body Size: Illusory Feeling of Shrinking of the Waist

PubMed Central

Kito, Tomonori; Sadato, Norihiro; Passingham, Richard E; Naito, Eiichi

2005-01-01

The perception of the size and shape of one's body (body image) is a fundamental aspect of how we experience ourselves. We studied the neural correlates underlying perceived changes in the relative size of body parts by using a perceptual illusion in which participants felt that their waist was shrinking. We scanned the brains of the participants using functional magnetic resonance imaging. We found that activity in the cortices lining the left postcentral sulcus and the anterior part of the intraparietal sulcus reflected the illusion of waist shrinking, and that this activity was correlated with the reported degree of shrinking. These results suggest that the perceived changes in the size and shape of body parts are mediated by hierarchically higher-order somatosensory areas in the parietal cortex. Based on this finding we suggest that relative size of body parts is computed by the integration of more elementary somatic signals from different body segments. PMID:16336049

Observations of simultaneous coronal loop shrinkage and expansion during the decay phase of a solar flare

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, J. I.; Fletcher, L.; Nitta, N. V.

2006-07-01

We report what we believe are the first direct and unambiguous observations of simultaneous coronal magnetic flux loop shrinkage and expansion during the decay phase of a solar flare. The retracting and expanding loops were observed nearly face-on (i.e., with the loop major axis approximately orthogonal to the line of sight) in emission in imaging data from the Yohkoh Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT). The retracting loop is observed to shrink with a speed of 118 ± 66 km s-1. The faint outward moving loop-like feature occurred ~200´´ above the shrinking loop during the time of the shrinking loop. We estimate the speed of the outward moving loop was ~129 ± 74 km s-1. We interpret the shrinking loop and simultaneous outward moving loop as direct evidence for reconnected magnetic field lines during a flare.

EMU Suit Performance Simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cowley, Matthew S.; Benson, Elizabeth; Harvill, Lauren; Rajulu, Sudhakar

2014-01-01

Introduction: Designing a planetary suit is very complex and often requires difficult trade-offs between performance, cost, mass, and system complexity. To verify that new suit designs meet requirements, full prototypes must be built and tested with human subjects. However, numerous design iterations will occur before the hardware meets those requirements. Traditional draw-prototype-test paradigms for research and development are prohibitively expensive with today's shrinking Government budgets. Personnel at NASA are developing modern simulation techniques that focus on a human-centric design paradigm. These new techniques make use of virtual prototype simulations and fully adjustable physical prototypes of suit hardware. This is extremely advantageous and enables comprehensive design down-selections to be made early in the design process. Objectives: The primary objective was to test modern simulation techniques for evaluating the human performance component of two EMU suit concepts, pivoted and planar style hard upper torso (HUT). Methods: This project simulated variations in EVA suit shoulder joint design and subject anthropometry and then measured the differences in shoulder mobility caused by the modifications. These estimations were compared to human-in-the-loop test data gathered during past suited testing using four subjects (two large males, two small females). Results: Results demonstrated that EVA suit modeling and simulation are feasible design tools for evaluating and optimizing suit design based on simulated performance. The suit simulation model was found to be advantageous in its ability to visually represent complex motions and volumetric reach zones in three dimensions, giving designers a faster and deeper comprehension of suit component performance vs. human performance. Suit models were able to discern differing movement capabilities between EMU HUT configurations, generic suit fit concerns, and specific suit fit concerns for crewmembers based on individual anthropometry

Relative permeability of fractured wellbore cement: an experimental investigation using electrical resistivity monitoring for moisture content

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Um, W.; Rod, K. A.; Strickland, C. E.

2016-12-01

Permeability is a critical parameter needed to understand flow in subsurface environments; it is particularly important in deep subsurface reservoirs where multiphase fluid flow is common, such as carbon sequestration and geothermal reservoirs. Cement is used in the annulus of wellbores due to its low permeable properties to seal aquifers, reducing leaks to adjacent strata. Extreme subsurface environments of CO2 storage and geothermal production conditions will eventually reduce the cement integrity, propagating fracture networks and increasing the permeability for air and/or water. To date, there have been no reproducible experimental investigations of relative permeability in fractured wellbore cement published. To address this gap, we conducted a series of experiments using fractured Portland cement monoliths with increasing fracture networks. The monolith cylinder sides were jacketed with heavy-duty moisture-seal heat-shrink tubing, then fractured using shear force applied via a hydraulic press. Fractures were generated with different severity for each of three monoliths. Stainless steel endcaps were fixed to the monoliths using the same shrink-wrapped jacket. Fracture characteristics were determined using X-ray microtomography and image analysis. Flow controllers were used to control flow of water and air to supply continuous water or water plus air, both of which were delivered through the influent end cap. Effluent air flow was monitored using a flow meter, and water flow was measured gravimetrically. To monitor the effective saturation of the fractures, a RCON2 concrete bulk electrical resistivity test device was attached across both endcaps and a 0.1M NaNO3 brine was used as the transport fluid to improve resistivity measurements. Water content correlated to resistivity measurements with a r2 > 0.96. Data from the experiments was evaluated using two relative permeability models, the Corey-curve, often used for modeling relative permeability in porous media, and the X-curve, commonly used to depict the relative permeability of fractures. Relative permeability measurements from the cores containing a higher degree of fracturing showed a better fit to X-curve, while data from the minimally fractured cores were better described by fitting to the Corey-curve.

Application of overlay modeling and control with Zernike polynomials in an HVM environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ju, JaeWuk; Kim, MinGyu; Lee, JuHan; Nabeth, Jeremy; Jeon, Sanghuck; Heo, Hoyoung; Robinson, John C.; Pierson, Bill

2016-03-01

Shrinking technology nodes and smaller process margins require improved photolithography overlay control. Generally, overlay measurement results are modeled with Cartesian polynomial functions for both intra-field and inter-field models and the model coefficients are sent to an advanced process control (APC) system operating in an XY Cartesian basis. Dampened overlay corrections, typically via exponentially or linearly weighted moving average in time, are then retrieved from the APC system to apply on the scanner in XY Cartesian form for subsequent lot exposure. The goal of the above method is to process lots with corrections that target the least possible overlay misregistration in steady state as well as in change point situations. In this study, we model overlay errors on product using Zernike polynomials with same fitting capability as the process of reference (POR) to represent the wafer-level terms, and use the standard Cartesian polynomials to represent the field-level terms. APC calculations for wafer-level correction are performed in Zernike basis while field-level calculations use standard XY Cartesian basis. Finally, weighted wafer-level correction terms are converted to XY Cartesian space in order to be applied on the scanner, along with field-level corrections, for future wafer exposures. Since Zernike polynomials have the property of being orthogonal in the unit disk we are able to reduce the amount of collinearity between terms and improve overlay stability. Our real time Zernike modeling and feedback evaluation was performed on a 20-lot dataset in a high volume manufacturing (HVM) environment. The measured on-product results were compared to POR and showed a 7% reduction in overlay variation including a 22% terms variation. This led to an on-product raw overlay Mean + 3Sigma X&Y improvement of 5% and resulted in 0.1% yield improvement.

Calculation of skin-friction coefficients for low Reynolds number turbulent boundary layer flows. M.S. Thesis - California Univ. at Davis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barr, P. K.

1980-01-01

An analysis is presented of the reliability of various generally accepted empirical expressions for the prediction of the skin-friction coefficient C/sub f/ of turbulent boundary layers at low Reynolds numbers in zero-pressure-gradient flows on a smooth flat plate. The skin-friction coefficients predicted from these expressions were compared to the skin-friction coefficients of experimental profiles that were determined from a graphical method formulated from the law of the wall. These expressions are found to predict values that are consistently different than those obtained from the graphical method over the range 600 Re/sub theta 2000. A curve-fitted empirical relationship was developed from the present data and yields a better estimated value of C/sub f/ in this range. The data, covering the range 200 Re/sub theta 7000, provide insight into the nature of transitional flows. They show that fully developed turbulent boundary layers occur at Reynolds numbers Re/sub theta/ down to 425. Below this level there appears to be a well-ordered evolutionary process from the laminar to the turbulent profiles. These profiles clearly display the development of the turbulent core region and the shrinking of the laminar sublayer with increasing values of Re/sub theta/.

Rapid process for producing transparent, monolithic porous glass

DOEpatents

Coronado, Paul R [Livermore, CA

2006-02-14

A process for making transparent porous glass monoliths from gels. The glass is produced much faster and in much larger sizes than present technology for making porous glass. The process reduces the cost of making large porous glass monoliths because: 1) the process does not require solvent exchange nor additives to the gel to increase the drying rates, 2) only moderate temperatures and pressures are used so relatively inexpensive equipment is needed, an 3) net-shape glass monoliths are possible using this process. The process depends on the use of temperature to control the partial pressure of the gel solvent in a closed vessel, resulting in controlled shrinking during drying.

77 FR 3019 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-20

..., shrinks to the greater of: (a) 4 percentage points, or, (b) one-quarter the applicable percentage... national best offer, as appropriate, shrinks to the greater of: (a) 4 percentage points, or, (b) one...

Rigidity of complete generic shrinking Ricci solitons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, Yawei; Zhou, Jundong; Wang, Xue

2018-01-01

Let (Mn , g , X) be a complete generic shrinking Ricci soliton of dimension n ≥ 3. In this paper, by employing curvature inequalities, the formula of X-Laplacian for the norm square of the trace-free curvature tensor, the weak maximum principle and the estimate of the scalar curvature of (Mn , g) , we prove some rigidity results for (Mn , g , X) . In particular, it is showed that (Mn , g , X) is isometric to Rn or a finite quotient of Sn under a pointwise pinching condition. Moreover, we establish several optimal inequalities and classify those shrinking solitons for equalities.

Robust shrinking ellipsoid model predictive control for linear parameter varying system

PubMed Central

Yan, Yan

2017-01-01

In this paper, a new off-line model predictive control strategy is presented for a kind of linear parameter varying system with polytopic uncertainty. A nest of shrinking ellipsoids is constructed by solving linear matrix inequality. By splitting the objective function into two parts, the proposed strategy moves most computations off-line. The on-line computation is only calculating the current control to assure the system shrinking into the smaller ellipsoid. With the proposed formulation, the stability of the closed system is proved, followed with two numerical examples to demonstrate the proposed method’s effectiveness in the end. PMID:28575028

Shrinking cities examined from a shrinking scale – the impact ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Urban populations continue to increase globally and cities have become the dominant human habitat. However, the growth of cities is not universal. Shrinking cities face decreased income, reduced property values, and decreased tax revenue. Fewer people per unit area creates inefficiencies and higher costs for infrastructure maintenance and the provision of public amenities. However, population losses and economic distress are not equal in all neighborhoods, and in fact are quite heterogeneously distributed across the landscape. Broader statements about the trajectory of a shrinking city may mask underlying differences in economic, cultural, and environmental impacts as well as the ability of some neighborhoods to be resilient and adaptive to economic changes as well as climate change and other environmental stressors. This paper examines the recent impact of population loss in neighborhoods in the Río Piedras watershed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on the provision of ecosystem services, material and energy flows, and ecological impacts, using public data and data collected previously in two household surveys. Using scenarios, we estimate future population changes and their potential positive and negative impacts on the environment and human well-being in these neighborhoods. This paper expands on prior research on shrinking cities by examining the impacts of population loss on urban social-ecological systems at the household and neighborhood scales. The purpose

East Europe Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-01-26

production, animal raising and the processing of animal products. The changes in the regulator system going into effect in 1987 will increase...gigantic foodstuffs reserves of the European Economic Qammunity shrink, so the reduction in supports may not make its effect felt immediately. But... effect will not be felt until 1987 (10). By reason of energy policy, the potential for compensating these earnings losses is strictly limited. A

Standardized shrinking LORETA-FOCUSS (SSLOFO): a new algorithm for spatio-temporal EEG source reconstruction.

PubMed

Liu, Hesheng; Schimpf, Paul H; Dong, Guoya; Gao, Xiaorong; Yang, Fusheng; Gao, Shangkai

2005-10-01

This paper presents a new algorithm called Standardized Shrinking LORETA-FOCUSS (SSLOFO) for solving the electroencephalogram (EEG) inverse problem. Multiple techniques are combined in a single procedure to robustly reconstruct the underlying source distribution with high spatial resolution. This algorithm uses a recursive process which takes the smooth estimate of sLORETA as initialization and then employs the re-weighted minimum norm introduced by FOCUSS. An important technique called standardization is involved in the recursive process to enhance the localization ability. The algorithm is further improved by automatically adjusting the source space according to the estimate of the previous step, and by the inclusion of temporal information. Simulation studies are carried out on both spherical and realistic head models. The algorithm achieves very good localization ability on noise-free data. It is capable of recovering complex source configurations with arbitrary shapes and can produce high quality images of extended source distributions. We also characterized the performance with noisy data in a realistic head model. An important feature of this algorithm is that the temporal waveforms are clearly reconstructed, even for closely spaced sources. This provides a convenient way to estimate neural dynamics directly from the cortical sources.

The influence of badland surfaces and erosion processes on vegetation cover

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hardenbicker, Ulrike; Matheis, Sarah

2014-05-01

To assess the links between badland geomorphology and vegetation cover, we used detailed mapping in the Avonlea badlands, 60 km southwest of Regina, Saskatchewan Canada. Three badlands surfaces are typical in the study area: a basal pediment surface, a mid-slope of bentonitic mudstone with typical popcorn surface, and an upper slope with mud-cemented sandstone. Badland development was triggered by rapid post Pleistocene incision of a meltwater channel in Upper Cretaceous marine and lagoonal sediments. After surveying and mapping of a test area, sediment samples were taken to analyze geophysical parameters. A detailed geomorphic map and vegetation map (1:1000) were compared and analyzed in order to determine the geomorphic environment for plant colonization. The shrink-swell capacity of the bentonitic bedrock, slaking potential and dispersivity are controlled by soil texture, clay mineralogy and chemistry, strongly influencing the timing and location of runoff and the relative significance of surface and subsurface erosional processes. The absence of shrink-swell cracking of the alluvial surfaces of the pediments indicates a low infiltration capacity and sheetflow. The compact lithology of the sandstone is responsible for its low permeability and high runoff coefficient. Slope drainage of steep sandstone slopes is routed through a deep corrasional pipe network. Silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana) is the only species growing on the popcorn surface of the mudrock, which is in large parts vegetation free. The basal pediment shows a distinct 2 m band surrounding the mudrock outcrop without vegetation as a result of high sedimentation rate due to slope wash. Otherwise the typical pioneer vegetation of this basal pediment are grasses. In the transition zone below the steep sandstone cliffs and above the gentle bentonitic mudrock surfaces patches of short-grass vegetation are found, marking slumped blocks with intact vegetation and soil cover. These patches are surrounded by less dense pioneer vegetation consisting of grasses and sage bushes indicating minimal surface erosion or sedimentation. Geomorphic mapping documented a high density of active pipes in this area, transporting silt and fine sand from the sandstone cliffs to lower and basal pediments. Vegetation cover alone is a poor indicator of badland surfaces and erosion processes because of the three-dimensional nature of badland erosion processes, and the shrink-swell capacity of the bentonitic bedrock. A combination of geomorphic and vegetation mapping is needed to identify badland surfaces and processes in the study area.

Hand tool permits shrink sizing of assembled tubing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Millett, A.; Odor, M.

1966-01-01

Portable tool sizes tubing ends without disassembling the tubing installation. The shrink sizing tool is clamped to the tubing and operated by a ratchet wrench. A gear train forces the tubing end against an appropriate die or mandrel to effect the sizing.

78 FR 14269 - Folding Gift Boxes From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of the Second Sunset Review...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-05

... generally packaged in shrink-wrap, cellophane, or other packaging materials, in single or multi-box packs... packaged in shrink-wrap, cellophane, other resin- based packaging films, or paperboard. Imports of the...

75 FR 59305 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing of a Proposed Rule Change To...

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2010-09-27

..., as appropriate, shrinks to the greater of: (a) 4 percentage points, or, (b) one-quarter the..., shrinks to the greater of: (a) 4 percentage points, or, (b) one-quarter the applicable percentage...

Ecology for the shrinking city (JA)

EPA Science Inventory

This article brings together the concepts of shrinking cities—the hundreds of cities worldwide experiencing long-term population loss—and ecology for the city. Ecology for the city is the application of a social–ecological understanding to shaping urban form and function along su...

Pronounced chemical response of Subarctic lakes to climate-driven losses in surface area

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lewis, Tyler L.; Lindberg, Mark S.; Schmutz, Joel A.; Heglund, Patricia J.; Rover, Jennifer R.; Koch, Joshua C.; Bertram, Mark R.

2015-01-01

Losses in lake area have been observed for several Arctic and Subarctic regions in recent decades, with unknown consequences for lake ecosystems. These reductions are primarily attributed to two climate-sensitive mechanisms, both of which may also cause changes in water chemistry: (i) increased imbalance of evaporation relative to inflow, whereby increased evaporation and decreased inflow act to concentrate solutes into smaller volumes; and (ii) accelerated permafrost degradation, which enhances sublacustrine drainage while simultaneously leaching previously frozen solutes into lakes. We documented changes in nutrients [total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP)] and ions (calcium, chloride, magnesium, sodium) over a 25 year interval in shrinking, stable, and expanding Subarctic lakes of the Yukon Flats, Alaska. Concentrations of all six solutes increased in shrinking lakes from 1985–1989 to 2010–2012, while simultaneously undergoing little change in stable or expanding lakes. This created a present-day pattern, much weaker or absent in the 1980s, in which shrinking lakes had higher solute concentrations than their stable or expanding counterparts. An imbalanced evaporation-to-inflow ratio (E/I) was the most likely mechanism behind such changes; all four ions, which behave semiconservatively and are prone to evapoconcentration, increased in shrinking lakes and, along with TN and TP, were positively related to isotopically derived E/I estimates. Moreover, the most conservative ion, chloride, increased >500% in shrinking lakes. Conversely, only TP concentration was related to probability of permafrost presence, being highest at intermediate probabilities. Overall, the substantial increases of nutrients (TN >200%, TP >100%) and ions (>100%) may shift shrinking lakes towards overly eutrophic or saline states, with potentially severe consequences for ecosystems of northern lakes.

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

Park, Jun -Sang; Ray, Atish K.; Dawson, Paul R.

A shrink-fit sample is manufactured with a Ti-8Al-1Mo-1V alloy to introduce a multiaxial residual stress field in the disk of the sample. A set of strain and orientation pole figures are measured at various locations across the disk using synchrotron high-energy X-ray diffraction. Two approaches—the traditional sin 2Ψ method and the bi-scale optimization method—are taken to determine the stresses in the disk based on the measured strain and orientation pole figures, to explore the range of solutions that are possible for the stress field within the disk. While the stress components computed using the sin 2Ψ method and the bi-scalemore » optimization method have similar trends, their magnitudes are significantly different. Lastly, it is suspected that the local texture variation in the material is the cause of this discrepancy.« less

Joining mechanism with stem tension and interlocked compression ring

DOEpatents

James, Allister W.; Morrison, Jay A.

2012-09-04

A stem (34) extends from a second part (30) through a hole (28) in a first part (22). A groove (38) around the stem provides a non-threaded contact surface (42) for a ring element (44) around the stem. The ring element exerts an inward force against the non-threaded contact surface at an angle that creates axial tension (T) in the stem, pulling the second part against the first part. The ring element is formed of a material that shrinks relative to the stem by sintering. The ring element may include a split collet (44C) that fits partly into the groove, and a compression ring (44E) around the collet. The non-threaded contact surface and a mating distal surface (48) of the ring element may have conic geometries (64). After shrinkage, the ring element is locked onto the stem.

75 FR 6748 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule...

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2010-02-10

... on a first-come/first-serve basis. Should available cabinet inventory shrink to 40 cabinets or less... be limited to a maximum power level of 5kW. Should available cabinet inventory shrink to zero, the...

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... Managed Fund Shares of TrimTabs Float Shrink ETF under NYSE Arca Equities Rule 8.600; Correction November... Rule Change to List and Trade Managed Fund Shares of TrimTabs Float Shrink ETF under NYSE Arca Equities...

A recursive algorithm for the three-dimensional imaging of brain electric activity: Shrinking LORETA-FOCUSS.

PubMed

Liu, Hesheng; Gao, Xiaorong; Schimpf, Paul H; Yang, Fusheng; Gao, Shangkai

2004-10-01

Estimation of intracranial electric activity from the scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) requires a solution to the EEG inverse problem, which is known as an ill-conditioned problem. In order to yield a unique solution, weighted minimum norm least square (MNLS) inverse methods are generally used. This paper proposes a recursive algorithm, termed Shrinking LORETA-FOCUSS, which combines and expands upon the central features of two well-known weighted MNLS methods: LORETA and FOCUSS. This recursive algorithm makes iterative adjustments to the solution space as well as the weighting matrix, thereby dramatically reducing the computation load, and increasing local source resolution. Simulations are conducted on a 3-shell spherical head model registered to the Talairach human brain atlas. A comparative study of four different inverse methods, standard Weighted Minimum Norm, L1-norm, LORETA-FOCUSS and Shrinking LORETA-FOCUSS are presented. The results demonstrate that Shrinking LORETA-FOCUSS is able to reconstruct a three-dimensional source distribution with smaller localization and energy errors compared to the other methods.

The structure of mode-locking regions of piecewise-linear continuous maps: II. Skew sawtooth maps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simpson, D. J. W.

2018-05-01

In two-parameter bifurcation diagrams of piecewise-linear continuous maps on , mode-locking regions typically have points of zero width known as shrinking points. Near any shrinking point, but outside the associated mode-locking region, a significant proportion of parameter space can be usefully partitioned into a two-dimensional array of annular sectors. The purpose of this paper is to show that in these sectors the dynamics is well-approximated by a three-parameter family of skew sawtooth circle maps, where the relationship between the skew sawtooth maps and the N-dimensional map is fixed within each sector. The skew sawtooth maps are continuous, degree-one, and piecewise-linear, with two different slopes. They approximate the stable dynamics of the N-dimensional map with an error that goes to zero with the distance from the shrinking point. The results explain the complicated radial pattern of periodic, quasi-periodic, and chaotic dynamics that occurs near shrinking points.

Effects of polyethylene film wrap on cooler shrink and the microbial status of beef carcasses.

PubMed

Sampaio, Guilherme S L; Pflanzer-Júnior, Sérgio B; Roça, Roberto de O; Casagrande, Leandro; Bedeschi, Elaine A; Padovani, Carlos R; Miguel, Giulianna Z; Santos, Carolina T; Girão, Lucio V C; Miranda, Zander B; Franco, Robson M

2015-02-01

The present study evaluated the use of polyethylene film wrapping of beef half carcasses and its effects on cooler shrink, cooling characteristics and microbial status of the half carcasses. Film wrapping reduced cooler shrink by 55.2%, 43.1%, 36.0% and 30% after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of cooling, respectively, compared to the unwrapped half carcasses, whereas the surface water activity showed no significant differences among the time periods. The wrapped half carcasses had a lower cooling rate and higher surface and internal temperatures. The highest values of the aerobic mesophiles, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacteriaceae were found in the half carcasses wrapped in film. No significant differences were found in the values of Escherichia coli. The polyethylene film was effective in reducing cooler shrink; however, it caused a delay in cooling, thereby enabling greater microbial occurrences and counts and impairing the hygienic and sanitary conditions of the carcasses, which may be an impediment to the practical application of this technology.

Behaviour of Rotating Bose Einstein Condensates Under Shrinking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhai, Hui; Zhou, Qi

2005-01-01

When the repulsive interaction strength between atoms decreases, the size of a rotating Bose-Einstein condensate will consequently shrink. We find that the rotational frequency will increase during the shrinking of condensate, which is a quantum mechanical analogy to ballet dancing. Compared to a non-rotating condensate, the size of a rotating BEC will eventually be saturated at a finite value when the interaction strength is gradually reduced. We also calculate the vortex dynamics induced by the atomic current, and discuss the difference of vortex dynamics in this case and that observed in a recent experiment carried out by the JILA group [Phys. Rev. Lett. 90 (2003) 170405].

Building an imaging center: laying the foundation.

PubMed

Foreman, M Shane; Geise, Jon D; Reed, Mary A

2005-01-01

In Spring 2003, Central Louisiana Imaging, Inc. (CLII), an 11-member radiology group, decided to create a properly configured freestanding imaging center. Before moving forward with the project, CLII conducted extensive market research and learned the following: CLII's ability to draw patients from a broad geography (central Louisiana) would work in its favor While the defined market was shrinking slightly and made up of middle-income households, the population was fairly well insured and aging at a rate comparable to the nation. Given an aging population and advances in technology, market demand for imaging was projected to grow despite the shrinking population. There were opportunities to differentiate on quality technology, service offering, and customer service; the sophistication and positioning of competitors is more important than the sheer number of competitors. CLII's relationship with key referring physicians was likely portable and would translate into volume within the new center. The group measured each potential service or modality against 5 evaluation criteria to determine whether a market opportunity existed: demographic fit, projected market demand, competitive positioning, "anchor service," and synergy with CLII's strategy. Once the market opportunity was confirmed and the service offering was set, CLII completed a 5-year proforma in order to project cash flows, capital costs, and the anticipated return on investment. CLII opened the imaging center in September 2004. Ten months into opeations, the center was a measurable success. The levels, and break-even by month 4, volumes are currently at year 2 levels, and the center recently added nuclear medicine and its second magnetic resonance imaging system-11 months ahead of schedule.

Shrink-swell behavior of soil across a vertisol catena

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Shrinking and swelling of soils and the associated formation and closing of cracks can vary spatially within the smallest hydrologic unit subdivision utilized in surface hydrology models. Usually in the application of surface hydrology models, cracking is not considered to vary within a hydrologic u...

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2010-02-09

... on a first-come/first-serve basis. Should available cabinet inventory shrink to 40 cabinets or less... be limited to a maximum power level of 5kW. Should available cabinet inventory shrink to zero, the...

Shrink-induced biomimetic wrinkled substrates for functional cardiac cell alignment and culture.

PubMed

Mendoza, Nicole; Tu, Roger; Chen, Aaron; Lee, Eugene; Khine, Michelle

2014-01-01

The anisotropic alignment of cardiomyocytes in native myocardium tissue is a functional feature that is absent in traditional in vitro cardiac cell culture. Microenvironmental factors cue structural organization of the myocardium, which promotes the mechanical contractile properties and electrophysiological patterns seen in mature cardiomyocytes. Current nano- and microfabrication techniques, such as photolithography, generate simplified cell culture topographies that are not truly representative of the multifaceted and multi-scale fibrils of the cardiac extracellular matrix. In addition, such technologies are costly and require a clean room for fabrication. This chapter offers an easy, fast, robust, and inexpensive fabrication of biomimetic multi-scale wrinkled surfaces through the process of plasma treating and shrinking prestressed thermoplastic. Additionally, this chapter includes techniques for culturing stem cells and their cardiac derivatives on these substrates. Importantly, this wrinkled cell culture platform is compatible with both fluorescence and bright-field imaging; real-time physiological monitoring of CM action potential propagation and contraction properties can elucidate cardiotoxicity drug effects.

Induction of cell expansion of goldfish melanocytoma cells (GMM-1) by epinephrine and dexamethasone requires external calcium.

PubMed

Shih, Y L; Lo, S J

1993-05-01

Treatment of GMM-1 (a goldfish melanocytoma cell line) cells with epinephrine induced a rapid cell expansion (flattening of cells, extension and broadening of cellular processes) similar to the effect of dexamethasone reported previously (Shih et al., 1990). Studies on the possible involvement of secondary messengers in cell expansion indicated that (i) both 8-bromo-CAMP and forskolin caused cell shrinking (the opposite of cell expansion); (ii) TPA also caused cell shrinking; (iii) phospholipid derivatives, such as 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol, lysophosphatidic acid, and arachidonic acid caused cell expansion; and (iv) EGTA (calcium chelator) and nifedipine (calcium channel blocker) inhibited the effect of epinephrine. Together with the previous findings, these observations indicate that epinephrine and dexamethasone may share a common pathway in triggering an external calcium influx to cause cell expansion. The results of the effects of epinephrine agonists and antagonists, together with those of other workers, also show that there are multiple isoforms of adrenoceptor in the goldfish.

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

Norsworthy, R.

A rating system was developed for several coating types used for underground pipeline systems. Consideration included soil stress, adhesion, surface preparation, cathodic protection (CP) shielding, CP requirements, handling and construction, repair, field joint system, bends and other components, and the application process. Polyethylene- and polyvinyl chloride-backed tapes, woven polyolefin geotextile fabric (WGF)-backed tapes, hot-applied tapes, petrolatum- and wax-based tapes, and shrink sleeves were evaluated. WGF-backed tapes had the highest rating.

Dry etching of chrome for photomasks for 100-nm technology using chemically amplified resist

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mueller, Mark; Komarov, Serguie; Baik, Ki-Ho

2002-07-01

Photo mask etching for the 100nm technology node places new requirements on dry etching processes. As the minimum-size features on the mask, such as assist bars and optical proximity correction (OPC) patterns, shrink down to 100nm, it is necessary to produce etch CD biases of below 20nm in order to reproduce minimum resist features into chrome with good pattern fidelity. In addition, vertical profiles are necessary. In previous generations of photomask technology, footing and sidewall profile slope were tolerated, since this dry etch profile was an improvement from wet etching. However, as feature sizes shrink, it is extremely important to select etch processes which do not generate a foot, because this will affect etch linearity and also limit the smallest etched feature size. Chemically amplified resist (CAR) from TOK is patterned with a 50keV MEBES eXara e-beam writer, allowing for patterning of small features with vertical resist profiles. This resist is developed for raster scan 50 kV e-beam systems. It has high contrast, good coating characteristics, good dry etch selectivity, and high environmental stability. Chrome etch process development has been performed using Design of Experiments to optimize parameters such as sidewall profile, etch CD bias, etch CD linearity for varying sizes of line/space patterns, etch CD linearity for varying sizes of isolated lines and spaces, loading effects, and application to contact etching.

The social and ecological transitions of shrinking cities -- San Juan, Puerto Rico as a case study

EPA Science Inventory

Urban populations continue to increase globally and cities have become the dominant human habitat. However, the growth of cities is not universal. One in six cities globally is losing population. Shrinking cities share common attributes such as decreased household income, reduced...

75 FR 6746 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing of Proposed Rule Change To...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-10

... shrink to 40 cabinets or less, the Exchange will limit new cabinet orders to a maximum of 4 cabinets each... inventory shrink to zero, the Exchange will place firms seeking services on a waiting list based on that...

Study on copper kinetics in processing sulphide ore mixed with copper and zinc with sulfuric acid leaching under pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen-bo, LUO; Ji-kun, WANG; Yin, GAN

2018-01-01

Sulphide ore mixed with copper and zinc is processed with pressure acid leaching. Research is conducted on the copper kinetic. The stirring rate is set at 600 rpm which could eliminate the influence of external diffusions. Research is conducted on the factors affecting the copper leaching kinetic are temperature, pressure, concentration of sulfuric acid, particle size. The result shows that the apparent activity energy is 50.7 KJ/mol. We could determine that the copper leaching process is shrinking core model of chemical reaction control and work out the leaching equation.

Finding the right way: DFM versus area efficiency for 65 nm gate layer lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarma, Chandra S.; Scheer, Steven; Herold, Klaus; Fonseca, Carlos; Thomas, Alan; Schroeder, Uwe P.

2006-03-01

DFM (Design for Manufacturing) has become a buzzword for lithography since the 90nm node. Implementing DFM intelligently can boost yield rates and reliability in semiconductor manufacturing significantly. However, any restriction on the design space will always result in an area loss, thus diminishing the effective shrink factor for a given technology. For a lithographer, the key task is to develop a manufacturable process, while not sacrificing too much area. We have developed a high performing lithography process for attenuated gate level lithography that is based on aggressive illumination and a newly optimized SRAF placement schemes. In this paper we present our methodology and results for this optimization, using an anchored simulation model. The wafer results largely confirm the predictions of the simulations. The use of aggressive SRAF (Sub Resolution Assist Features) strategy leads to reduction of forbidden pitch regions without any SRAF printing. The data show that our OPC is capable of correcting the PC tip to tip distance without bridging between the tips in dense SRAM cells. SRAF strategy for various 2D cases has also been verified on wafer. We have shown that aggressive illumination schemes yielding a high performing lithography process can be employed without sacrificing area. By carefully choosing processing conditions, we were able develop a process that has very little restrictions for design. In our approach, the remaining issues can be addressed by DFM, partly in data prep procedures, which are largely area neutral and transparent to the designers. Hence, we have shown successfully, that DFM and effective technology shrinks are not mutually exclusive.

A non-destructive crossbar architecture of multi-level memory-based resistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahebkarkhorasani, Seyedmorteza

Nowadays, researchers are trying to shrink the memory cell in order to increase the capacity of the memory system and reduce the hardware costs. In recent years, there has been a revolution in electronics by using fundamentals of physics to build a new memory for computer application in order to increase the capacity and decrease the power consumption. Increasing the capacity of the memory causes a growth in the chip area. From 1971 to 2012 semiconductor manufacturing process improved from 6mum to 22 mum. In May 2008, S.Williams stated that "it is time to stop shrinking". In his paper, he declared that the process of shrinking memory element has recently become very slow and it is time to use another alternative in order to create memory elements [9]. In this project, we present a new design of a memory array using the new element named Memristor [3]. Memristor is a two-terminal passive electrical element that relates the charge and magnetic flux to each other. The device remained unknown since 1971 when it was discovered by Chua and introduced as the fourth fundamental passive element like capacitor, inductor and resistor [3]. Memristor has a dynamic resistance and it can retain its previous value even after disconnecting the power supply. Due to this interesting behavior of the Memristor, it can be a good replacement for all of the Non-Volatile Memories (NVMs) in the near future. Combination of this newly introduced element with the nanowire crossbar architecture would be a great structure which is called Crossbar Memristor. Some frameworks have recently been introduced in literature that utilized Memristor crossbar array, but there are many challenges to implement the Memristor crossbar array due to fabrication and device limitations. In this work, we proposed a simple design of Memristor crossbar array architecture which uses input feedback in order to preserve its data after each read operation.

A stability analysis on forced convection boundary layer stagnation-point slip flow in Darcy-Forchheimer porous medium towards a shrinking sheet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bakar, Shahirah Abu; Arifin, Norihan Md; Ali, Fadzilah Md; Bachok, Norfifah; Nazar, Roslinda

2017-08-01

The stagnation-point flow over a shrinking sheet in Darcy-Forchheimer porous medium is numerically studied. The governing partial differential equations are transformed into ordinary differential equations using a similarity transformation, and then solved numerically by using shooting technique method with Maple implementation. Dual solutions are observed in a certain range of the shrinking parameter. Regarding on numerical solutions, we prepared stability analysis to identify which solution is stable between non-unique solutions by bvp4c solver in Matlab. Further we obtain numerical results or each solution, which enable us to discuss the features of the respective solutions.

"Print-n-Shrink" technology for the rapid production of microfluidic chips and protein microarrays.

PubMed

Sollier, Kevin; Mandon, Céline A; Heyries, Kevin A; Blum, Loïc J; Marquette, Christophe A

2009-12-21

An innovative method for the production of microfluidic chips integrating protein spots is described. The technology, called "Print-n-Shrink", is based on the screen-printing of a microfluidic design (using a dielectric ink) onto Polyshrink polystyrene sheets. The initial print which has a minimum size of 15 microm (height) x 230 microm (width) is thermally treated (30 seconds, 163 degrees C) to shrink and generate features of 85 microm (height) x 100 microm (width). Concomitantly, proteins such as monoclonal antibodies or cellular adhesion proteins are spotted onto the Polyshrink sheets and shrunk together with the microfluidic design, creating a complete biochip integrating both complex microfluidic designs and protein spots for bioanalytical applications.

52. GENERAL VIEW OF THE HIGH BAY AND SHRINK PIT ...

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

52. GENERAL VIEW OF THE HIGH BAY AND SHRINK PIT PRODUCTION AREA, FROM THE WEST BALCONY; LOOKING SE. THE 217/40 TON CLEVELAND CRANE CAN BE SEEN IN THE UPPER RIGHT OF THE VIEW. (Ryan) - Watervliet Arsenal, Building No. 110, Hagner Road between Schull & Whittemore Roads, Watervliet, Albany County, NY

Direct Perception of Action-Scaled Affordances: The Shrinking Gap Problem

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fajen, Brett R.; Matthis, Jonathan S.

2011-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of possibilities for action (i.e., affordances) that depend on one's movement capabilities, and more specifically, the passability of a shrinking gap between converging obstacles. We introduce a new optical invariant that specifies in intrinsic units the minimum locomotor speed needed to…

Heat-shrink tubing as a solid-phase microextraction coating for the enrichment and determination of phthalic acid esters.

PubMed

Luo, Xi; He, Chengxia; Zhang, Feifang; Wang, Hailong; Yang, Bingcheng; Liang, Xinmiao

2014-12-01

Heat-shrink tubing, which shrinks in one plane only (its diameter) when heated, commonly used for sealing protection in electrical engineering, was found to be able to function as a solid-phase microextraction coating. Its utility was demonstrated for the determination of phthalic acid esters in an aqueous solution combined with high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with a UV absorbance detector. The preparation procedure was rather simple and only ∼10 min was needed. The fiber cost is extremely low (∼10 cent each). The parameters affecting the extraction were optimized. Heat-shrink tubing fiber exhibited a significant enrichment effect for the three examined phthalic acid esters and up to 931-fold enrichment factor was obtained. The limit of detection was <10 μg/L for all analytes. The operation repeatability and fiber-to-fiber reproducibility were 1.2-8.3 and 5.4-9.1%, respectively. It was successfully applied for the analysis of bottled drinking water with recoveries ranging from 90.1-100.5%. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The science of shrinking human heads: tribal warfare and revenge among the South American Jivaro-Shuar.

PubMed

Jandial, Rahul; Hughes, Samuel A; Aryan, Henry E; Marshall, Lawrence F; Levy, Michael L

2004-11-01

THE PRACTICE OF "head-shrinking" has been the proper domain not of Africa but rather of the denizens of South America. Specifically, in the post-Columbian period, it has been most famously the practice of a tribe of indigenous people commonly called the Jivaro or Jivaro-Shuar. The evidence suggests that the Jivaro-Shuar are merely the last group to retain a custom widespread in northwestern South America. In both ceramic and textile art of the pre-Columbian residents of Peru, the motif of trophy heads smaller than normal life-size heads commonly recurs; the motif is seen even in surviving carvings in stone and shell. Moreover, although not true shrunken heads, trophy heads found in late pre-Columbian and even post-Columbian graves of the region demonstrate techniques of display very similar to those used by the Jivaro-Shuar, at least some of which are best understood in the context of head-shrinking. Regardless, the Jivaro-Shuar and their practices provide an illustrative counterexample to popular myth regarding the culture and science of the shrinking of human heads.

Embracing the quantum limit in silicon computing.

PubMed

Morton, John J L; McCamey, Dane R; Eriksson, Mark A; Lyon, Stephen A

2011-11-16

Quantum computers hold the promise of massive performance enhancements across a range of applications, from cryptography and databases to revolutionary scientific simulation tools. Such computers would make use of the same quantum mechanical phenomena that pose limitations on the continued shrinking of conventional information processing devices. Many of the key requirements for quantum computing differ markedly from those of conventional computers. However, silicon, which plays a central part in conventional information processing, has many properties that make it a superb platform around which to build a quantum computer. © 2011 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved

DEVELOPMENT OF DIES FOR EXTRUSION OF COMPLEX SHAPES OF STEEL AND REFRACTORY ALLOYS. Interim Technical Documentary Progress Report to Aeronautical Systems Division for the Period September 16,1962 through December 31, 1962

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

Hunt, J.G.; Jenkins, R.G.; White, A.M.

1963-03-01

A number of ceramics, metallic compounds, and ceramic-metal composites were successfully hot pressed into the shape of die inserts. Steels were extruded through several of these for the purpose of evaluating the materials or to study methods of supporting the die inserts. Refractory metal inserts were also used in similar tests. Hot pressed inserts consisting of 80 vo1% Al/sub 2/O/ sub 3/--10 vol% W and 80 vol% ThO/sub 2/--10 vol% W cracked but did not erode. Sintered molybdenum inserts flowed excessively, whereas sintered tungsten inserts flowed to a lesser degree. A hard die casing with a slight shrink fit appearsmore » to be the most satisfactory method of support. (auth)« less

Design of the Wind Tunnel Model Communication Controller Board. Degree awarded by Christopher Newport Univ. on Dec. 1998

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, William C.

1999-01-01

The NASA Langley Research Center's Wind Tunnel Reinvestment project plans to shrink the existing data acquisition electronics to fit inside a wind tunnel model. Space limitations within a model necessitate a distributed system of Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) rather than a centralized system based on PC boards. This thesis will focus on the design of the prototype of the communication Controller board. A portion of the communication Controller board is to be used as the basis of an ASIC design. The communication Controller board will communicate between the internal model modules and the external data acquisition computer. This board is based around an Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), to allow for reconfigurability. In addition to the FPGA, this board contains buffer Random Access Memory (RAM), configuration memory (EEPROM), drivers for the communications ports, and passive components.

Determination of residual stress in a microtextured α titanium component using high-energy synchrotron X-rays

DOE PAGES

Park, Jun -Sang; Ray, Atish K.; Dawson, Paul R.; ...

2016-05-02

A shrink-fit sample is manufactured with a Ti-8Al-1Mo-1V alloy to introduce a multiaxial residual stress field in the disk of the sample. A set of strain and orientation pole figures are measured at various locations across the disk using synchrotron high-energy X-ray diffraction. Two approaches—the traditional sin 2Ψ method and the bi-scale optimization method—are taken to determine the stresses in the disk based on the measured strain and orientation pole figures, to explore the range of solutions that are possible for the stress field within the disk. While the stress components computed using the sin 2Ψ method and the bi-scalemore » optimization method have similar trends, their magnitudes are significantly different. Lastly, it is suspected that the local texture variation in the material is the cause of this discrepancy.« less

Microgels: Structure, Dynamics, and Possible Applications.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McKenna, John; Streletzky, Kiril

2007-03-01

We cross-linked Hydropxypropylcellulose (HPC) polymer chains to produce microgel nanoparticles and studied their structure and dynamics using Dynamic Light Scattering spectroscopy. The complex nature of the fluid and large size distribution of the particles renders typical characterization algorithm CONTIN ineffective and inconsistent. Instead, the particles spectra have been fit to a sum of stretched exponentials. Each term offers three parameters for analysis and represents a single mode. The results of this analysis show that the microgels undergo a transition to a fewer modes around 41C. The CONTIN size distribution analysis shows similar results, but these come with much less consistency and resolution. Our experiments prove that microgel particles shrink under volume phase transition. The shrinkage is reversible and depends on the amount of cross-linker, salt and polymer concentrations and rate of heating. Reversibility of microgel volume phase transition property might be particularly useful for a controlled drug delivery and release.

Cluster Analysis and Gaussian Mixture Estimation of Correlated Time-Series by Means of Multi-dimensional Scaling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibuki, Takero; Suzuki, Sei; Inoue, Jun-ichi

We investigate cross-correlations between typical Japanese stocks collected through Yahoo!Japan website ( http://finance.yahoo.co.jp/ ). By making use of multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) for the cross-correlation matrices, we draw two-dimensional scattered plots in which each point corresponds to each stock. To make a clustering for these data plots, we utilize the mixture of Gaussians to fit the data set to several Gaussian densities. By minimizing the so-called Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) with respect to parameters in the mixture, we attempt to specify the best possible mixture of Gaussians. It might be naturally assumed that all the two-dimensional data points of stocks shrink into a single small region when some economic crisis takes place. The justification of this assumption is numerically checked for the empirical Japanese stock data, for instance, those around 11 March 2011.

Interquantile Shrinkage in Regression Models

PubMed Central

Jiang, Liewen; Wang, Huixia Judy; Bondell, Howard D.

2012-01-01

Conventional analysis using quantile regression typically focuses on fitting the regression model at different quantiles separately. However, in situations where the quantile coefficients share some common feature, joint modeling of multiple quantiles to accommodate the commonality often leads to more efficient estimation. One example of common features is that a predictor may have a constant effect over one region of quantile levels but varying effects in other regions. To automatically perform estimation and detection of the interquantile commonality, we develop two penalization methods. When the quantile slope coefficients indeed do not change across quantile levels, the proposed methods will shrink the slopes towards constant and thus improve the estimation efficiency. We establish the oracle properties of the two proposed penalization methods. Through numerical investigations, we demonstrate that the proposed methods lead to estimations with competitive or higher efficiency than the standard quantile regression estimation in finite samples. Supplemental materials for the article are available online. PMID:24363546

Application of Multi-Threshold NULL Convention Logic to Adaptive Beamforming Circuits for Ultra-Low Power

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-31

Abstract: With the decrease of transistor feature sizes into the ultra-deep submicron range, leakage power becomes an important design challenge for...MTNCL design showed substantial improvements in terms of active energy and leakage power compared to the equivalent synchronous design. Keywords...switching could use a large portion of power. Additionally, leakage power has come to dominate power consumption as process sizes shrink. Adaptive

Effect of electron beam cooling on transversal and longitudinal emittance of an external proton beam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kilian, K.; Machner, H.; Magiera, A.; Prasuhn, D.; von Rossen, P.; Siudak, R.; Stein, H. J.; Stockhorst, H.

2018-02-01

Benefits of electron cooling to the quality of extracted ion beams from storage rings are discussed. The transversal emittances of an external proton beam with and without electron cooling at injection energy are measured with the GEM detector assembly. While the horizontal emittance remains the vertical emittance shrinks by the cooling process. The longitudinal momentum variance is also reduced by cooling.

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

Segal-Peretz, Tamar; Zhou, Chun; Ren, Jiaxing

The three-dimensional assembly of poly (styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) in chemoepitaxy and graphoepitaxy directed self-assembly (DSA) was investigated using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) tomography. The tomographic characterization revealed hidden morphologies and defects at the BCP- chemical pattern interface in lamellar DSA, and probed the formation of cylinders at the bottom of cylindrical DSA for contact hole shrink. Lastly, future work will include control over 3D assembly in sub-10 nm processes.

Longitudinal wave function control in single quantum dots with an applied magnetic field

PubMed Central

Cao, Shuo; Tang, Jing; Gao, Yunan; Sun, Yue; Qiu, Kangsheng; Zhao, Yanhui; He, Min; Shi, Jin-An; Gu, Lin; Williams, David A.; Sheng, Weidong; Jin, Kuijuan; Xu, Xiulai

2015-01-01

Controlling single-particle wave functions in single semiconductor quantum dots is in demand to implement solid-state quantum information processing and spintronics. Normally, particle wave functions can be tuned transversely by an perpendicular magnetic field. We report a longitudinal wave function control in single quantum dots with a magnetic field. For a pure InAs quantum dot with a shape of pyramid or truncated pyramid, the hole wave function always occupies the base because of the less confinement at base, which induces a permanent dipole oriented from base to apex. With applying magnetic field along the base-apex direction, the hole wave function shrinks in the base plane. Because of the linear changing of the confinement for hole wave function from base to apex, the center of effective mass moves up during shrinking process. Due to the uniform confine potential for electrons, the center of effective mass of electrons does not move much, which results in a permanent dipole moment change and an inverted electron-hole alignment along the magnetic field direction. Manipulating the wave function longitudinally not only provides an alternative way to control the charge distribution with magnetic field but also a new method to tune electron-hole interaction in single quantum dots. PMID:25624018

Longitudinal wave function control in single quantum dots with an applied magnetic field.

PubMed

Cao, Shuo; Tang, Jing; Gao, Yunan; Sun, Yue; Qiu, Kangsheng; Zhao, Yanhui; He, Min; Shi, Jin-An; Gu, Lin; Williams, David A; Sheng, Weidong; Jin, Kuijuan; Xu, Xiulai

2015-01-27

Controlling single-particle wave functions in single semiconductor quantum dots is in demand to implement solid-state quantum information processing and spintronics. Normally, particle wave functions can be tuned transversely by an perpendicular magnetic field. We report a longitudinal wave function control in single quantum dots with a magnetic field. For a pure InAs quantum dot with a shape of pyramid or truncated pyramid, the hole wave function always occupies the base because of the less confinement at base, which induces a permanent dipole oriented from base to apex. With applying magnetic field along the base-apex direction, the hole wave function shrinks in the base plane. Because of the linear changing of the confinement for hole wave function from base to apex, the center of effective mass moves up during shrinking process. Due to the uniform confine potential for electrons, the center of effective mass of electrons does not move much, which results in a permanent dipole moment change and an inverted electron-hole alignment along the magnetic field direction. Manipulating the wave function longitudinally not only provides an alternative way to control the charge distribution with magnetic field but also a new method to tune electron-hole interaction in single quantum dots.

Glacier loss on Kilimanjaro continues unabated

PubMed Central

Thompson, L. G.; Brecher, H. H.; Mosley-Thompson, E.; Hardy, D. R.; Mark, B. G.

2009-01-01

The dramatic loss of Kilimanjaro's ice cover has attracted global attention. The three remaining ice fields on the plateau and the slopes are both shrinking laterally and rapidly thinning. Summit ice cover (areal extent) decreased ≈1% per year from 1912 to 1953 and ≈2.5% per year from 1989 to 2007. Of the ice cover present in 1912, 85% has disappeared and 26% of that present in 2000 is now gone. From 2000 to 2007 thinning (surface lowering) at the summits of the Northern and Southern Ice Fields was ≈1.9 and ≈5.1 m, respectively, which based on ice thicknesses at the summit drill sites in 2000 represents a thinning of ≈3.6% and ≈24%, respectively. Furtwängler Glacier thinned ≈50% at the drill site between 2000 and 2009. Ice volume changes (2000–2007) calculated for two ice fields reveal that nearly equivalent ice volumes are now being lost to thinning and lateral shrinking. The relative importance of different climatological drivers remains an area of active inquiry, yet several points bear consideration. Kilimanjaro's ice loss is contemporaneous with widespread glacier retreat in mid to low latitudes. The Northern Ice Field has persisted at least 11,700 years and survived a widespread drought ≈4,200 years ago that lasted ≈300 years. We present additional evidence that the combination of processes driving the current shrinking and thinning of Kilimanjaro's ice fields is unique within an 11,700-year perspective. If current climatological conditions are sustained, the ice fields atop Kilimanjaro and on its flanks will likely disappear within several decades. PMID:19884500

Glacier loss on Kilimanjaro continues unabated.

PubMed

Thompson, L G; Brecher, H H; Mosley-Thompson, E; Hardy, D R; Mark, B G

2009-11-24

The dramatic loss of Kilimanjaro's ice cover has attracted global attention. The three remaining ice fields on the plateau and the slopes are both shrinking laterally and rapidly thinning. Summit ice cover (areal extent) decreased approximately 1% per year from 1912 to 1953 and approximately 2.5% per year from 1989 to 2007. Of the ice cover present in 1912, 85% has disappeared and 26% of that present in 2000 is now gone. From 2000 to 2007 thinning (surface lowering) at the summits of the Northern and Southern Ice Fields was approximately 1.9 and approximately 5.1 m, respectively, which based on ice thicknesses at the summit drill sites in 2000 represents a thinning of approximately 3.6% and approximately 24%, respectively. Furtwängler Glacier thinned approximately 50% at the drill site between 2000 and 2009. Ice volume changes (2000-2007) calculated for two ice fields reveal that nearly equivalent ice volumes are now being lost to thinning and lateral shrinking. The relative importance of different climatological drivers remains an area of active inquiry, yet several points bear consideration. Kilimanjaro's ice loss is contemporaneous with widespread glacier retreat in mid to low latitudes. The Northern Ice Field has persisted at least 11,700 years and survived a widespread drought approximately 4,200 years ago that lasted approximately 300 years. We present additional evidence that the combination of processes driving the current shrinking and thinning of Kilimanjaro's ice fields is unique within an 11,700-year perspective. If current climatological conditions are sustained, the ice fields atop Kilimanjaro and on its flanks will likely disappear within several decades.

Will Universities Rediscover Their Core Mission as They Shrink?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kissel, Adam

2011-01-01

If one intends to speculate about the effects of the bursting of the higher education bubble, one can gain some insight by examining universities that are already shrinking. The University of California (UC) system's state appropriation, for example, has decreased by almost a billion dollars since 2007-2008. In this article, the author talks about…

Challenges and limitations in studying the shrink-swell and crack dynamics of vertisol soils

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The need to study the shrink-swell and crack properties of vertic soils has long been recognized given their dynamics in time and space, which modifies the physical properties that impact water and air movement in the soil, flow of water into the subsoil and ground water, and generally alter the hyd...

Shrink-film configurable multiscale wrinkles for functional alignment of human embryonic stem cells and their cardiac derivatives.

PubMed

Chen, Aaron; Lieu, Deborah K; Freschauf, Lauren; Lew, Valerie; Sharma, Himanshu; Wang, Jiaxian; Nguyen, Diep; Karakikes, Ioannis; Hajjar, Roger J; Gopinathan, Ajay; Botvinick, Elliot; Fowlkes, Charless C; Li, Ronald A; Khine, Michelle

2011-12-22

A biomimetic substrate for cell-culture is fabricated by plasma treatment of a prestressed thermoplastic shrink film to create tunable multiscaled alignment "wrinkles". Using this substrate, the functional alignment of human embryonic stem cell derived cardiomyocytes is demonstrated. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Decline of the world's saline lakes

Treesearch

Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh; Craig Miller; Sarah E. Null; R. Justin DeRose; Peter Wilcock; Maura Hahnenberger; Frank Howe; Johnnie Moore

2017-01-01

Many of the world’s saline lakes are shrinking at alarming rates, reducing waterbird habitat and economic benefits while threatening human health. Saline lakes are long-term basin-wide integrators of climatic conditions that shrink and grow with natural climatic variation. In contrast, water withdrawals for human use exert a sustained reduction in lake inflows and...

A Model Recycling Program: UNC Takes Action as Landfill Space Shrinks and Costs Rise.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sherman, Rhonda L.

1991-01-01

The University of North Carolina responded to escalating waste disposal costs and shrinking landfill space with a structured program of recycling, including a mobile recycling drop, student family housing recycling, a newspaper drop-off site, high-volume glass pick-up, high-volume newspaper pick-up, and cardboard recycling. Campus-wide cooperation…

Airborne megawatt class free-electron laser for defense and security

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

Roy Whitney; David Douglas; George Neil

2005-03-01

An airborne megawatt (MW) average power Free-Electron Laser (FEL) is now a possibility. In the process of shrinking the FEL parameters to fit on ship, a surprisingly lightweight and compact design has been achieved. There are multiple motivations for using a FEL for a high-power airborne system for Defense and Security: Diverse mission requirements can be met by a single system. The MW of light can be made available with any time structure for time periods from microseconds to hours, i.e. there is a nearly unlimited magazine. The wavelength of the light can be chosen to be from the farmore » infrared (IR) to the near ultraviolet (UV) thereby best meeting mission requirements. The FEL light can be modulated for detecting the same pattern in the small fraction of light reflected from the target resulting in greatly enhanced targeting control. The entire MW class FEL including all of its subsystems can be carried by large commercial size airplanes or on an airship. Adequate electrical power can be generated on the plane or airship to run the FEL as long as the plane or airship has fuel to fly. The light from the FEL will work well with relay mirror systems. The required R&D to achieve the MW level is well understood. The coupling of the capabilities of an airborne FEL to diverse mission requirements provides unique opportunities.« less

Four birds with one stone? Reparative, neuroplastic, cardiorespiratory, and metabolic benefits of aerobic exercise poststroke.

PubMed

Ploughman, Michelle; Kelly, Liam P

2016-12-01

Converging evidence from animal models of stroke and clinical trials suggests that aerobic exercise has effects across multiple targets. The subacute phase is characterized by a period of heightened neuroplasticity when aerobic exercise has the potential to optimize recovery. In animals, low intensity aerobic exercise shrinks lesion size and reduces cell death and inflammation, beginning 24 h poststroke. Also in animals, aerobic exercise upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor near the lesion and improves learning. In terms of neuroplastic effects, clinical trial results are less convincing and have only examined effects in chronic stroke. Stroke patients demonstrate cardiorespiratory fitness levels below the threshold required to carry out daily activities. This may contribute to a 'neurorehabilitation ceiling' that limits capacity to practice at a high enough frequency and intensity to promote recovery. Aerobic exercise when delivered 2-5 days per week at moderate to high intensity beginning as early as 5 days poststroke improves cardiorespiratory fitness, dyslipidemia, and glucose tolerance. Based on the evidence discussed and applying principles of periodization commonly used to prepare athletes for competition, we have created a model of aerobic training in subacute stroke in which training is delivered in density blocks (duration × intensity) matched to recovery phases.

Kinetic modeling of copper biosorption by immobilized biomass

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

Veglio, F.; Beolchini, F.; Toro, L.

1998-03-01

Biosorption of heavy metals is one of the most promising technologies involved in the removal of toxic metals from industrial waste streams and natural waters. The kinetic modeling of copper biosorption by Arthrobacter sp. immobilized in a hydroxyethyl methacrylate-based matrix is reported in this work. The resin-biomass complex (RBC) has been used for copper biosorption in different conditions according to a factorial experiment. Factors investigated were cross-linker (trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate) concentration, biomass concentration in the solid, and particles` granulometry. A maximum copper specific uptake of abut 7 mg of Cu/g of biomass (dry weight) has been observed, in the case ofmore » a RBC with the following characteristics: 2% (w/w) cross-linker concentration, 8% (w/w) biomass concentration, and 425--750 {micro}m granulometry. The shrinking core model has been used for the fitting of experimental data. A good fit has been found in the case of controlling intraparticle diffusion in all experimental trials. The copper diffusion coefficient in RBC has been estimated from the slope of the regression lines. Values obtained for the diffusion coefficients do not differ from one another with respect to the estimated standard error. An average apparent copper diffusion coefficient of about 3 {times} 10{sup {minus}6} cm{sup 2}/s has been found.« less

A non-volatile flip-flop based on diode-selected PCM for ultra-low power systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Yong; Du, Yuan; Gao, Dan; Kang, Yong; Song, Zhitang; Chen, Bomy

2016-10-01

As the process technology is continuously shrinking, low power consumption is a major issue in VLSI Systems-on-Chip (SoCs), especially for standby-power-critical applications. Recently, the emerging CMOS-compatible non-volatile memories (NVMs), such as Phase Change Memory (PCM), have been used as on-chip storage elements, which can obtain non-volatile processing, nearly-zero standby power and instant-on capability. PCM has been considered as the best candidate for the next generation of NVMs for its low cost, high density and high resistance transformation ratio. In this paper, for the first time, we present a diode-selected PCM based non-volatile flip-flop (NVFF) which is optimized for better power consumption and process variation tolerance. With dual trench isolation process, the diode-selected PCM realizes ultra small area, which is very suitable for multi-context configuration and large scale flip-flops matrix. Since the MOS-selected PCM is hard to shrink further due to large amount of PCM write current, the proposed NVFF achieves higher power efficiency without loss of current driving capability. Using the 40nm manufacturing process, the area of the cell (1D1R) is as small as 0.016 μm2. Simulation results show that the energy consumption during the recall operation is 62 fJ with 1.1 standard supply voltage, which is reduced by 54.9% compared to the previous 2T2R based NVFF. When the supply voltage reduces to 0.7 V, the recall energy is as low as 17 fJ. With the great advantages in cell size and energy, the proposed diode-selected NVFF is very applicable and cost-effective for ULP systems.

Measuring and partitioning soil respiration in sharkey shrink-swell clays under plantation grown short-rotation woody crops

Treesearch

Wilson G. Hood; Michael C. Tyree; Dylan N. Dillaway Dillaway; Theodor D. Leininger

2015-01-01

The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV) offers an ecological niche for short-rotation woody crop (SRWC) production by mating marginal agricultural land with optimal growing conditions. Approximately 1.7 million ha within the LMAV consist of Sharkey shrink-swell clays. They are considered marginal in terms of traditional agricultural productivity due to their...

Why Human Jawbones Shrink so Rapidly in Evolution Scale?

PubMed

Holowko, Beata

2016-01-01

Deliberations are presented on the cause of human jawbones shrinking. It is argued that an interplay of the geometry of the sphenoid bone and the MYH16 gene mutation is the likely reason of decreasing ofhuman faces. The basicranial-flexion angle distribution of the new sample of 337 Central European patients is analyzed and compared with existing data from other continents.

The Practice of Strategic Planning in the Organization of the Future

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-06-07

or go into steady decline. Books and articles abound offering a variety of prescriptions to deal with the phenomena of continually shrinking markets ...organizations continue to view themselves as external boundary spanners, market strategists, or acquisitioners divorced from the internal culture of the...management team, to act a- guardians of the process. A simple set of definition.s was selected and agreed upon. The onlN imperatives in term-selection were

Control of optical bandgap energy and optical absorption coefficient by geometric parameters in sub-10 nm silicon-nanodisc array structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fairuz Budiman, Mohd; Hu, Weiguo; Igarashi, Makoto; Tsukamoto, Rikako; Isoda, Taiga; Itoh, Kohei M.; Yamashita, Ichiro; Murayama, Akihiro; Okada, Yoshitaka; Samukawa, Seiji

2012-02-01

A sub-10 nm, high-density, periodic silicon-nanodisc (Si-ND) array has been fabricated using a new top-down process, which involves a 2D array bio-template etching mask made of Listeria-Dps with a 4.5 nm diameter iron oxide core and damage-free neutral-beam etching (Si-ND diameter: 6.4 nm). An Si-ND array with an SiO2 matrix demonstrated more controllable optical bandgap energy due to the fine tunability of the Si-ND thickness and diameter. Unlike the case of shrinking Si-ND thickness, the case of shrinking Si-ND diameter simultaneously increased the optical absorption coefficient and the optical bandgap energy. The optical absorption coefficient became higher due to the decrease in the center-to-center distance of NDs to enhance wavefunction coupling. This means that our 6 nm diameter Si-ND structure can satisfy the strict requirements of optical bandgap energy control and high absorption coefficient for achieving realistic Si quantum dot solar cells.

Variations in diameter measurements of Robusta Eucalyptus due to swelling and shrinking of bark

Treesearch

Robert E. Burgan

1971-01-01

Trunk diameters of Eucalyptus robusta trees shrink and swell as bark moisture content changes. Diameter variations from this cause as measured on six trees with a dial-gage dendrometer were less than 1 percent of trunk diameter. To compare this variation with the variation in d.b.h. measurements that can result from personal techiques of using a...

Lithography alternatives meet design style reality: How do they "line" up?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smayling, Michael C.

2016-03-01

Optical lithography resolution scaling has stalled, giving innovative alternatives a window of opportunity. One important factor that impacts these lithographic approaches is the transition in design style from 2D to 1D for advanced CMOS logic. Just as the transition from 3D circuits to 2D fabrication 50 years ago created an opportunity for a new breed of electronics companies, the transition today presents exciting and challenging time for lithographers. Today, we are looking at a range of non-optical lithography processes. Those considered here can be broadly categorized: self-aligned lithography, self-assembled lithography, deposition lithography, nano-imprint lithography, pixelated e-beam lithography, shot-based e-beam lithography .Do any of these alternatives benefit from or take advantage of 1D layout? Yes, for example SAPD + CL (Self Aligned Pitch Division combined with Complementary Lithography). This is a widely adopted process for CMOS nodes at 22nm and below. Can there be additional design / process co-optimization? In spite of the simple-looking nature of 1D layout, the placement of "cut" in the lines and "holes" for interlayer connections can be tuned for a given process capability. Examples of such optimization have been presented at this conference, typically showing a reduction of at least one in the number of cut or hole patterns needed.[1,2] Can any of the alternatives complement each other or optical lithography? Yes.[3] For example, DSA (Directed Self Assembly) combines optical lithography with self-assembly. CEBL (Complementary e-Beam Lithography) combines optical lithography with SAPD for lines with shot-based e-beam lithography for cuts and holes. Does one (shrinking) size fit all? No, that's why we have many alternatives. For example NIL (Nano-imprint Lithography) has been introduced for NAND Flash patterning where the (trending lower) defectivity is acceptable for the product. Deposition lithography has been introduced in 3D NAND Flash to set the channel length of select and memory transistors.

The rigid-plate and shrinking-plate hypotheses: Implications for the azimuths of transform faults

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, Jay Kumar; Gordon, Richard G.

2016-08-01

The rigid-plate hypothesis implies that oceanic lithosphere does not contract horizontally as it cools (hereinafter "rigid plate"). An alternative hypothesis, that vertically averaged tensional thermal stress in the competent lithosphere is fully relieved by horizontal thermal contraction (hereinafter "shrinking plate"), predicts subtly different azimuths for transform faults. The size of the predicted difference is as large as 2.44° with a mean and median of 0.46° and 0.31°, respectively, and changes sign between right-lateral (RL)-slipping and left-lateral (LL)-slipping faults. For the MORVEL transform-fault data set, all six plate pairs with both RL- and LL-slipping faults differ in the predicted sense, with the observed difference averaging 1.4° ± 0.9° (95% confidence limits), which is consistent with the predicted difference of 0.9°. The sum-squared normalized misfit, r, to global transform-fault azimuths is minimized for γ = 0.8 ± 0.4 (95% confidence limits), where γ is the fractional multiple of the predicted difference in azimuth between the shrinking-plate (γ = 1) and rigid-plate (γ = 0) hypotheses. Thus, observed transform azimuths differ significantly between RL-slipping and LL-slipping faults, which is inconsistent with the rigid-plate hypothesis but consistent with the shrinking-plate hypothesis, which indicates horizontal shrinking rates of 2% Ma-1 for newly created lithosphere, 1% Ma-1 for 0.1 Ma old lithosphere, 0.2% Ma-1 for 1 Ma old lithosphere, and 0.02% Ma-1 for 10 Ma old lithosphere, which are orders of magnitude higher than the mean intraplate seismic strain rate of 10-6 Ma-1 (5 × 10-19 s-1).

Metals Additive Manufacturing. Great Promise in Mitigating Shortages but Some Risks Remain

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-11-01

manufac- tured, shrinking development and delivery cycle times, and yielding improved performance at a lower cost per part. Shapes previously not...make a part. As illustrated in Figure 1, after each pass, a new layer of powder is laid down using a recoater blade and the process continues until...suggested deliberately abandon- ing large production runs and stockpiled inventories. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) lists AM as a priority in its R

Gas Diffusion in Fluids Containing Bubbles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zak, M.; Weinberg, M. C.

1982-01-01

Mathematical model describes movement of gases in fluid containing many bubbles. Model makes it possible to predict growth and shrink age of bubbles as function of time. New model overcomes complexities involved in analysis of varying conditions by making two simplifying assumptions. It treats bubbles as point sources, and it employs approximate expression for gas concentration gradient at liquid/bubble interface. In particular, it is expected to help in developing processes for production of high-quality optical glasses in space.

Lower pitch is larger, yet falling pitches shrink.

PubMed

Eitan, Zohar; Schupak, Asi; Gotler, Alex; Marks, Lawrence E

2014-01-01

Experiments using diverse paradigms, including speeded discrimination, indicate that pitch and visually-perceived size interact perceptually, and that higher pitch is congruent with smaller size. While nearly all of these studies used static stimuli, here we examine the interaction of dynamic pitch and dynamic size, using Garner's speeded discrimination paradigm. Experiment 1 examined the interaction of continuous rise/fall in pitch and increase/decrease in object size. Experiment 2 examined the interaction of static pitch and size (steady high/low pitches and large/small visual objects), using an identical procedure. Results indicate that static and dynamic auditory and visual stimuli interact in opposite ways. While for static stimuli (Experiment 2), higher pitch is congruent with smaller size (as suggested by earlier work), for dynamic stimuli (Experiment 1), ascending pitch is congruent with growing size, and descending pitch with shrinking size. In addition, while static stimuli (Experiment 2) exhibit both congruence and Garner effects, dynamic stimuli (Experiment 1) present congruence effects without Garner interference, a pattern that is not consistent with prevalent interpretations of Garner's paradigm. Our interpretation of these results focuses on effects of within-trial changes on processing in dynamic tasks and on the association of changes in apparent size with implied changes in distance. Results suggest that static and dynamic stimuli can differ substantially in their cross-modal mappings, and may rely on different processing mechanisms.

Select geotechnical properties of a lime stabilized expansive soil amended with bagasse ash and coconut shell powder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

James, Jijo; Pandian, P. Kasinatha

2018-03-01

Lime stabilization has been and still is one of the most preferred methods for stabilization of expansive soils. However, in the recent times, utilization of solid waste materials in soil stabilization has gained prominence as an effective means to manage wastes generated from various sources. In this work, an attempt has been made to utilize waste materials from two sources as auxiliary additives to lime in the stabilization of an expansive soil. Bagasse ash (BA), a waste by-product from the sugar industry and Coconut shell powder (CSP), a processed waste obtained from left over coconut shells of oil extraction industry were used as auxiliary additives. An expansive soil obtained from a local field was subjected to chemical, mineral, microstructural and geotechnical characterization in the laboratory and stabilized using 3% lime. The waste materials were subjected to chemical, mineral and microstructural characterization. The stabilization process was amended with four different contents viz. 0.25%, 0.5%, 1% and 2% of BA and CSP separately and the effect of the amendment was studied on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS), plasticity, swell-shrink and microstructural characteristics of the expansive soil. The results of the study indicated that BA amendment of lime stabilization performed better than CSP in improving the UCS, plasticity, swell-shrink and microstructure of the lime stabilized expansive soil.

Pinning transition in shrinking nanobubbles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Beng Hau; An, Hongjie; Ohl, Claus-Dieter

Surface nanobubbles are unusually long-lived gaseous domains that form on immersed substrates. Although liquid droplets are known to grow or shrink in either an unpinned (constant contact angle) or a pinned (constant footprint radius) mode, surface nanobubbles have only ever been observed in the pinned state. Theory suggests that, provided the nanobubbles are sustained by supersaturated liquid, they are indefinitely stable in the pinned mode, but rapidly dissolve into bulk liquid if not. Yet many basic aspects of the line pinning are not yet clarified, such as its magnitude or the conditions in which it becomes dominant. In this talk we present experiments with total internal fluorescence microscopy in which nanobubbles nucleated with a temperature difference method initially shrink in an unpinned mode, before transitioning to a pinned state. Using a simple energy balance we recover an estimate for the pinning force on each nanobubble.

Single-Event Transient Testing of Low Dropout PNP Series Linear Voltage Regulators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adell, Philippe; Allen, Gregory

2013-01-01

As demand for high-speed, on-board, digital-processing integrated circuits on spacecraft increases (field-programmable gate arrays and digital signal processors in particular), the need for the next generation point-of-load (POL) regulator becomes a prominent design issue. Shrinking process nodes have resulted in core rails dropping to values close to 1.0 V, drastically reducing margin to standard switching converters or regulators that power digital ICs. The goal of this task is to perform SET characterization of several commercial POL converters, and provide a discussion of the impact of these results to state-of-the-art digital processing IC through laser and heavy ion testing

Antibody-linked drug shrinks various types of tumors in preclinical study | Center for Cancer Research

Cancer.gov

A preclinical study by Center for Cancer Research investigators and colleagues shows that a drug guided by an attached target-seeking antibody can recognize cells infiltrating tumors, the tumor stroma, and cause various types of tumors to shrink, and in many cases, disappear. Their findings suggest that when stromal cells take up the ADC, they cleave the drug from the antibody

Funnel for fuel pin loading system

DOEpatents

Christiansen, D.W.; Steffen, J.M.; Brown, W.F.

1984-01-01

An enlarged funnel is described which is releasably mounted at the open end of a length of cladding by an encircling length of shrink tubing which securely engages outer surfaces of both the funnel and cladding. The shrink tubing overlaps an annular shoulder against which pulling force can be exerted to remove the tubing from the cladding. The shoulder can be provided on a separate collar or ring, or on the funnel itself.

Funnel for fuel pin loading system

DOEpatents

Christiansen, David W.; Steffen, Jim M.; Brown, William F.

1985-01-01

An enlarged funnel is releasably mounted at the open end of a length of cladding by an encircling length of shrink tubing which securely engages outer surfaces of both the funnel and cladding. The shrink tubing overlaps an annular shoulder against which pulling force can be exerted to remove the tubing from the cladding. The shoulder can be provided on a separate collar or ring, or on the funnel itself.

A study of pH-dependence of shrink and stretch of tetrahedral DNA nanostructures.

PubMed

Wang, Ping; Xia, Zhiwei; Yan, Juan; Liu, Xunwei; Yao, Guangbao; Pei, Hao; Zuo, Xiaolei; Sun, Gang; He, Dannong

2015-04-21

We monitored the shrink and stretch of the tetrahedral DNA nanostructure (TDN) and the i-motif connected TDN structure at pH 8.5 and pH 4.5, and we found that not only the i-motif can change its structure when the pH changes, but also the TDN and the DNA double helix change their structures when the pH changes.

Statistical analysis of temperature data sampled at Station-M in the Norwegian Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lorentzen, Torbjørn

2014-02-01

The paper analyzes sea temperature data sampled at Station-M in the Norwegian Sea. The data cover the period 1948-2010. The following questions are addressed: What type of stochastic process characterizes the temperature series? Are there any changes or patterns which indicate climate change? Are there any characteristics in the data which can be linked to the shrinking sea-ice in the Arctic area? Can the series be modeled consistently and applied in forecasting of the future sea temperature? The paper applies the following methods: Augmented Dickey-Fuller tests for testing of unit-root and stationarity, ARIMA-models in univariate modeling, cointegration and error-correcting models are applied in estimating short- and long-term dynamics of non-stationary series, Granger-causality tests in analyzing the interaction pattern between the deep and upper layer temperatures, and simultaneous equation systems are applied in forecasting future temperature. The paper shows that temperature at 2000 m Granger-causes temperature at 150 m, and that the 2000 m series can represent an important information carrier of the long-term development of the sea temperature in the geographical area. Descriptive statistics shows that the temperature level has been on a positive trend since the beginning of the 1980s which is also measured in most of the oceans in the North Atlantic. The analysis shows that the temperature series are cointegrated which means they share the same long-term stochastic trend and they do not diverge too far from each other. The measured long-term temperature increase is one of the factors that can explain the shrinking summer sea-ice in the Arctic region. The analysis shows that there is a significant negative correlation between the shrinking sea ice and the sea temperature at Station-M. The paper shows that the temperature forecasts are conditioned on the properties of the stochastic processes, causality pattern between the variables and specification of model, respectively. The estimated models forecast that temperature at 150 m is expected to increase by 0.018 °C per year, while deep water temperature at 2000 m is expected to increase between 0.0022 and 0.0024 °C per year.

Profound seasonal shrinking and regrowth of the ossified braincase in phylogenetically distant mammals with similar life histories

PubMed Central

Dechmann, Dina K. N.; LaPoint, Scott; Dullin, Christian; Hertel, Moritz; Taylor, Jan R. E.; Zub, Karol; Wikelski, Martin

2017-01-01

Ontogenetic changes in skull shape and size are ubiquitous in altricial vertebrates, but typically unidirectional and minimal in full-grown animals. Red-toothed shrews exhibit a rare exception, where the shape, mass and size of the skull, brain, and several major organs, show significant bidirectional seasonal changes. We now show a similar but male-biased shrinking (16%) and regrowth (8%) in the standardized braincase depth of least weasels (Mustela nivalis). Juvenile weasels also exhibit a growth overshoot, followed by a shrinkage period lasting until the end of their first winter. Only male weasels then regrow during their second summer. High-resolution CT scans suggest areas of the skull are affected differently during shrinking and regrowth in both species. This suggests multiple evolutionary drivers: while the shrinking likely facilitates survival during seasonal low resource availability in these high-metabolic mammals with year-round activity, the regrowth may be most strongly influenced by high investment into reproduction and territories, which is male-biased in the weasels. Our data provide evidence for convergent evolution of skull and thus brain shrinkage and regrowth, with important implications for understanding adaptations to changing environments and for applied research on the correlated changes in bone structure, brain size and the many other affected organs. PMID:28211896

Do low-shrink composites reduce polymerization shrinkage effects?

PubMed

Tantbirojn, D; Pfeifer, C S; Braga, R R; Versluis, A

2011-05-01

Progress in polymer science has led to continuous reduction of polymerization shrinkage, exemplified by a new generation of "low-shrink composites". The common inference that shrinkage stress effects will be reduced in teeth restored with such restoratives with lower shrinkage was tested in extracted human premolars. Mesio-occluso-distal slot-shaped cavities were cut and restored with a conventional (SupremePlus) or low-shrink (RefleXions, Premise, Kalore, and LS) composite (N = 5). We digitized the coronal surfaces before and 10 min after restoration to determine cuspal deflection from the buccal and lingual volume change/area. We also determined the main properties involved (total shrinkage, post-gel shrinkage, degree of conversion, and elastic modulus), as well as microleakage, to verify adequate bonding. It was shown that, due to shrinkage stresses, buccal and lingual surfaces pulled inward after restoration (9-14 microns). Only Kalore and LS resulted in significantly lower tooth deformation (ANOVA/Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc, p = 0.05). The other two low-shrink composites, despite having the lowest and highest total shrinkage values, did not cause significant differences in cuspal deflection. Deflection seemed most related to the combination of post-gel shrinkage and elastic modulus. Therefore, even for significantly lower total shrinkage values, shrinkage stress is not necessarily reduced.

Profound seasonal shrinking and regrowth of the ossified braincase in phylogenetically distant mammals with similar life histories.

PubMed

Dechmann, Dina K N; LaPoint, Scott; Dullin, Christian; Hertel, Moritz; Taylor, Jan R E; Zub, Karol; Wikelski, Martin

2017-02-13

Ontogenetic changes in skull shape and size are ubiquitous in altricial vertebrates, but typically unidirectional and minimal in full-grown animals. Red-toothed shrews exhibit a rare exception, where the shape, mass and size of the skull, brain, and several major organs, show significant bidirectional seasonal changes. We now show a similar but male-biased shrinking (16%) and regrowth (8%) in the standardized braincase depth of least weasels (Mustela nivalis). Juvenile weasels also exhibit a growth overshoot, followed by a shrinkage period lasting until the end of their first winter. Only male weasels then regrow during their second summer. High-resolution CT scans suggest areas of the skull are affected differently during shrinking and regrowth in both species. This suggests multiple evolutionary drivers: while the shrinking likely facilitates survival during seasonal low resource availability in these high-metabolic mammals with year-round activity, the regrowth may be most strongly influenced by high investment into reproduction and territories, which is male-biased in the weasels. Our data provide evidence for convergent evolution of skull and thus brain shrinkage and regrowth, with important implications for understanding adaptations to changing environments and for applied research on the correlated changes in bone structure, brain size and the many other affected organs.

Growth of the interaction layer around fuel particles in dispersion fuel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olander, D.

2009-01-01

Corrosion of uranium particles in dispersion fuel by the aluminum matrix produces interaction layers (an intermetallic-compound corrosion product) around the shrinking fuel spheres. The rate of this process was modeled as series resistances due to Al diffusion through the interaction layer and reaction of aluminum with uranium in the fuel particle to produce UAl x. The overall kinetics are governed by the relative rates of these two steps, the slowest of which is reaction at the interface between Al in the interaction layer and U in the fuel particle. The substantial volume change as uranium is transferred from the fuel to the interaction layer was accounted for. The model was compared to literature data on in-reactor growth of the interaction layer and the Al/U gradient in this layer, the latter measured in ex-reactor experiments. The rate constant of the Al-U interface reaction and the diffusivity of Al in the interaction layer were obtained from this fitting procedure. The second feature of the corrosion process is the transfer of fission products from the fuel particle to the interaction layer due to the reaction. It is commonly assumed that the observed swelling of irradiated fuel elements of this type is due to release of fission gas in the interaction layer to form large bubbles. This hypothesis was tested by using the model to compute the quantity of fission gas available from this source and comparing the pressure of the resulting gas with the observed swelling of fuel plates. It was determined that the gas pressure so generated is too small to account for the observed delamination of the fuel.

Chlorination Kinetics of Titanium Nitride for Production of Titanium Tetrachloride from Nitrided Ilmenite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmadi, Eltefat; Rezan, Sheikh Abdul; Baharun, Norlia; Ramakrishnan, Sivakumar; Fauzi, Ahmad; Zhang, Guangqing

2017-10-01

The kinetics of chlorination of titanium nitride (TiN) was investigated in the temperature range of 523 K to 673 K (250 °C to 400 °C). The results showed that the extent of chlorination slightly increased with increasing temperature and decreasing particle size of titanium nitride at constant flow rate of N2-Cl2 gas mixture. At 523 K (250 °C), the extent of chlorination was 85.6 pct in 60 minutes whereas at 673 K (400 °C), it was 97.7 pct investigated by weight loss measurement and confirmed by ICP analyses. The experimental results indicated that a shrinking unreacted core model with mixed-control mechanism governed the chlorination rate. It was observed that the surface chemical reaction of chlorine gas on the surface of TiN particles was rate controlling in the initial stage and, during later stage, internal (pore) diffusion through the intermediate product layer was rate controlling step. Overall the process follows the mixed-control model incorporating both chemical reaction and internal diffusion control. The activation energy for the chlorination of TiN was found to be about 10.97 kJ mol-1. In processing TiCl4 from TiN and TiO0.02C0.13N0.85, the solids involved in the chlorination process were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX). The SEM/EDX results demonstrated the consumption of TiN particles with extent of chlorination that showed shrinking core behavior.

Overcoming etch challenges related to EUV based patterning (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Metz, Andrew W.; Cottle, Hongyun; Honda, Masanobu; Morikita, Shinya; Kumar, Kaushik A.; Biolsi, Peter

2017-04-01

Research and development activities related to Extreme Ultra Violet [EUV] defined patterning continue to grow for < 40 nm pitch applications. The confluence of high cost and extreme process control challenges of Self-Aligned Quad Patterning [SAQP] with continued momentum for EUV ecosystem readiness could provide cost advantages in addition to improved intra-level overlay performance relative to multiple patterning approaches. However, Line Edge Roughness [LER] and Line Width Roughness [LWR] performance of EUV defined resist images are still far from meeting technology needs or ITRS spec performance. Furthermore, extreme resist height scaling to mitigate flop over exacerbates the plasma etch trade-offs related to traditional approaches of PR smoothing, descum implementation and maintaining 2D aspect ratios of short lines or elliptical contacts concurrent with ultra-high photo resist [PR] selectivity. In this paper we will discuss sources of LER/LWR, impact of material choice, integration, and innovative plasma process techniques and describe how TELTM VigusTM CCP Etchers can enhance PR selectivity, reduce LER/LWR, and maintain 2D aspect ratio of incoming patterns. Beyond traditional process approaches this paper will show the utility of: [1] DC Superposition in enhancing EUV resist hardening and selectivity, increasing resistance to stress induced PR line wiggle caused by CFx passivation, and mitigating organic planarizer wiggle; [2] Quasi Atomic Layer Etch [Q-ALE] for ARC open eliminating the tradeoffs between selectivity, CD, and shrink ratio control; and [3] ALD+Etch FUSION technology for feature independent CD shrink and LER reduction. Applicability of these concepts back transferred to 193i based lithography is also confirmed.

Rituximab in the treatment of shrinking lung syndrome in systemic lupus erythematosus.

PubMed

Peñacoba Toribio, Patricia; Córica Albani, María Emilia; Mayos Pérez, Mercedes; Rodríguez de la Serna, Arturo

2014-01-01

Shrinking lung syndrome (SLS) is a rare manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus. We report the case of a patient with non-responding SLS (neither to glucocorticoids nor immunosupresors), who showed remarkable improvement after the onset of treatment with rituximab. Although there is a little evidence, treatment with rituximab could be proposed in SLS when classical treatment fails. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

The Incredible Shrinking Cup Lab: Connecting with Ocean and Great Lakes Scientists to Investigate the Effect of Depth and Water Pressure on Polystyrene

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rose, Chantelle M.; Adams, Jacqueline M.; Hinchey, Elizabeth K.; Nestlerode, Janet A.; Patterson, Mark R.

2013-01-01

Pressure increases rapidly with depth in a water body. Ocean and Great Lakes scientists often use this physical feature of water as the basis of a fun pastime performed aboard research vessels around the world: the shrinking of polystyrene cups. Depending on the depth to which the cups are deployed, the results can be quite striking! Capitalizing…

Improved high power/high frequency inductor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mclyman, W. T. (Inventor)

1990-01-01

A toroidal core is mounted on an alignment disc having uniformly distributed circumferential notches or holes therein. Wire is then wound about the toroidal core in a uniform pattern defined by the notches or holes. Prior to winding, the wire may be placed within shrink tubing. The shrink tubing is then wound about the alignment disc and core and then heat-shrunk to positively retain the wire in the uniform position on the toroidal core.

A shrinking hypersphere PSO for engineering optimisation problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yadav, Anupam; Deep, Kusum

2016-03-01

Many real-world and engineering design problems can be formulated as constrained optimisation problems (COPs). Swarm intelligence techniques are a good approach to solve COPs. In this paper an efficient shrinking hypersphere-based particle swarm optimisation (SHPSO) algorithm is proposed for constrained optimisation. The proposed SHPSO is designed in such a way that the movement of the particle is set to move under the influence of shrinking hyperspheres. A parameter-free approach is used to handle the constraints. The performance of the SHPSO is compared against the state-of-the-art algorithms for a set of 24 benchmark problems. An exhaustive comparison of the results is provided statistically as well as graphically. Moreover three engineering design problems namely welded beam design, compressed string design and pressure vessel design problems are solved using SHPSO and the results are compared with the state-of-the-art algorithms.

Elasticity of Relativistic Rigid Bodies?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smarandache, Florentin

2013-10-01

In the classical Twin Paradox, according to the Special Theory of Relativity, when the traveling twin blasts off from the Earth to a relative velocity v =√{/3 } 2 c with respect to the Earth, his measuring stick and other physical objects in the direction of relative motion shrink to half their lengths. How is that possible in the real physical world to have let's say a rigid rocket shrinking to half and then later elongated back to normal as an elastic material when it stops? What is the explanation for the traveler's measuring stick and other physical objects, in effect, return to the same length to their original length in the Stay-At-Home, but there is no record of their having shrunk? If it's a rigid (not elastic) object, how can it shrink and then elongate back to normal? It might get broken in such situation.

Heuristic pattern correction scheme using adaptively trained generalized regression neural networks.

PubMed

Hoya, T; Chambers, J A

2001-01-01

In many pattern classification problems, an intelligent neural system is required which can learn the newly encountered but misclassified patterns incrementally, while keeping a good classification performance over the past patterns stored in the network. In the paper, an heuristic pattern correction scheme is proposed using adaptively trained generalized regression neural networks (GRNNs). The scheme is based upon both network growing and dual-stage shrinking mechanisms. In the network growing phase, a subset of the misclassified patterns in each incoming data set is iteratively added into the network until all the patterns in the incoming data set are classified correctly. Then, the redundancy in the growing phase is removed in the dual-stage network shrinking. Both long- and short-term memory models are considered in the network shrinking, which are motivated from biological study of the brain. The learning capability of the proposed scheme is investigated through extensive simulation studies.

Protein footprinting by pyrite shrink-wrap laminate.

PubMed

Leser, Micheal; Pegan, Jonathan; El Makkaoui, Mohammed; Schlatterer, Joerg C; Khine, Michelle; Law, Matt; Brenowitz, Michael

2015-04-07

The structure of macromolecules and their complexes dictate their biological function. In "footprinting", the solvent accessibility of the residues that constitute proteins, DNA and RNA can be determined from their reactivity to an exogenous reagent such as the hydroxyl radical (·OH). While ·OH generation for protein footprinting is achieved by radiolysis, photolysis and electrochemistry, we present a simpler solution. A thin film of pyrite (cubic FeS2) nanocrystals deposited onto a shape memory polymer (commodity shrink-wrap film) generates sufficient ·OH via Fenton chemistry for oxidative footprinting analysis of proteins. We demonstrate that varying either time or H2O2 concentration yields the required ·OH dose-oxidation response relationship. A simple and scalable sample handling protocol is enabled by thermoforming the "pyrite shrink-wrap laminate" into a standard microtiter plate format. The low cost and malleability of the laminate facilitates its integration into high throughput screening and microfluidic devices.

Crosstalk between Autophagy and Apoptosis: Potential and Emerging Therapeutic Targets for Cardiac Diseases.

PubMed

Li, Meng; Gao, Ping; Zhang, Junping

2016-03-03

Autophagy is a cell survival process which is related to breaking down and reusing cytoplasm components. Moreover, autophagy regulates cell death under certain conditions. Apoptosis has the characteristics of chromatin agglutination and the shrinking of nuclear and apoptosis body form. Even if the mechanisms of autophagy and apoptosis have differences, some proteins modulate both autophagy and apoptosis. Crosstalk between them exists. This review highlights recent advances in the interaction of autophagy and apoptosis and its importance in the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Three Dimensional Assembly in Directed Self-assembly of Block Copolymers

DOE PAGES

Segal-Peretz, Tamar; Zhou, Chun; Ren, Jiaxing; ...

2016-09-02

The three-dimensional assembly of poly (styrene-b-methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) in chemoepitaxy and graphoepitaxy directed self-assembly (DSA) was investigated using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) tomography. The tomographic characterization revealed hidden morphologies and defects at the BCP- chemical pattern interface in lamellar DSA, and probed the formation of cylinders at the bottom of cylindrical DSA for contact hole shrink. Lastly, future work will include control over 3D assembly in sub-10 nm processes.

Extreme Magneto-transport of Bulk Carbon Nanotubes in Sorted Electronic Concentrations and Aligned High Performance Fiber

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

Bulmer, John S.; Lekawa-Raus, Agnieszka; Rickel, Dwight G.

We explored high-field (60 T) magneto-resistance (MR) with two carbon nanotube (CNT) material classes: (1) unaligned single-wall CNTs (SWCNT) films with controlled metallic SWCNT concentrations and doping degree and (2) CNT fiber with aligned, long-length microstructure. All unaligned SWCNT films showed localized hopping transport where high-field MR saturation definitively supports spin polarization instead of a more prevalent wave function shrinking mechanism. Nitric acid exposure induced an insulator to metal transition and reduced the positive MR component. Aligned CNT fiber, already on the metal side of the insulator to metal transition, had positive MR without saturation and was assigned to classicalmore » MR involving electronic mobility. Subtracting high-field fits from the aligned fiber’s MR yielded an unconfounded negative MR, which was assigned to weak localization. It is concluded that fluctuation induced tunnelling, an extrinsic transport model accounting for most of the aligned fiber’s room temperature resistance, appears to lack MR field dependence.« less

Study on temperature and near-infrared driving characteristics of hydrogel actuator fabricated via molding and 3D printing.

PubMed

Zhao, Qian; Liang, Yunhong; Ren, Lei; Qiu, Feng; Zhang, Zhihui; Ren, Luquan

2018-02-01

A hydrogel material system which was fit for molding and 3D printing was developed to fabricate bilayer hydrogel actuators with controllable temperature and near infrared laser responses. Polymerization on interface boundary of layered structure enhanced the bonding strength of hydrogel actuators. By utilizing anisotropic of microstructure along with thickness direction, bilayer hydrogel actuators fabricated via molding realized intelligent bending/shrinking responses, which guided the preparation of hydrogel ink for 3D printing. In-situ free radical polymerization under vacuum realized the solidification of printed hydrogel actuators with graphene oxide. Based on anisotropic swelling/deswelling behaviors of precise structure fabricated via 3D printing, the printed bilayer hydrogel actuators achieved temperature and near infrared laser responsive deformation. Changes of programmable printing path effectively resulted in corresponding deformation patterns. Combination of advantages of molding and 3D printing can promote the design and fabrication of hydrogel actuators with high mechanical strength, response speed and deformation ability. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Determination of elastic stresses in gas-turbine disks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Manson, S S

1947-01-01

A method is presented for the calculation of elastic stresses in symmetrical disks typical of those of a high-temperature gas turbine. The method is essentially a finite-difference solution of the equilibrium and compatibility equations for elastic stresses in a symmetrical disk. Account can be taken of point-to-point variations in disk thickness, in temperature, in elastic modulus, in coefficient of thermal expansion, in material density, and in Poisson's ratio. No numerical integration or trial-and-error procedures are involved and the computations can be performed in rapid and routine fashion by nontechnical computers with little engineering supervision. Checks on problems for which exact mathematical solutions are known indicate that the method yields results of high accuracy. Illustrative examples are presented to show the manner of treating solid disks, disks with central holes, and disks constructed either of a single material or two or more welded materials. The effect of shrink fitting is taken into account by a very simple device.

Preliminary design trade-offs for a multi-mission stored cryogen cooler

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sherman, A.

1978-01-01

Preliminary design studies were performed for a multi-mission solid cryogen cooler having a wide range of application for both the shuttle sortie and free flyer missions. This multi-mission cooler (MMC) is designed to be utilized with various solid cryogens to meet a wide range of instrument cooling from 10 K (with solid hydrogen) to 90 K. The baseline cooler utilizes two stages of solid cryogen and incorporates an optional, higher temperature third stage which is cooled by either a passive radiator or a thermoelectric cooler. The MMC has an interface which can accommodate a wide variety of instrument configurations. A shrink fit adapter is incorporated which allows a drop-in instrument integration. The baseline design provides cooling of approximately 1 watt over a 60 to 100 K temperature range and about 0.5 watts from 15 to 60 K for a one year lifetime. For low cooling loads and with use of the optional radiator shield, cooling lifetimes as great as 8 years are predicted.

A budget model to determine the financial health of nursing education programs in academic institutions.

PubMed

Donnelly, Gloria

2005-01-01

In the allocation of resources in academic settings, hierarchies of tradition and status often supersede documented need. Nursing programs sometimes have difficulty in getting what they need to maintain quality programs and to grow. The budget is the crucial tool in documenting nursing program needs and its contributions to the entire academic enterprise. Most nursing programs administrators see only an operating expense budget that may grow or shrink by a rubric that may not fit the reality of the situation. A budget is a quantitative expression of how well a unit is managed. Educational administrators should be paying as much attention to analyzing financial outcomes as they do curricular outcomes. This article describes the development of a model for tracking revenue and expense and a simple rubric for analyzing the relationship between the two. It also discusses how to use financial data to improve the fiscal performance of nursing units and to leverage support during times of growth.

Extreme Magneto-transport of Bulk Carbon Nanotubes in Sorted Electronic Concentrations and Aligned High Performance Fiber.

PubMed

Bulmer, John S; Lekawa-Raus, Agnieszka; Rickel, Dwight G; Balakirev, Fedor F; Koziol, Krzysztof K

2017-09-22

We explored high-field (60 T) magneto-resistance (MR) with two carbon nanotube (CNT) material classes: (1) unaligned single-wall CNTs (SWCNT) films with controlled metallic SWCNT concentrations and doping degree and (2) CNT fiber with aligned, long-length microstructure. All unaligned SWCNT films showed localized hopping transport where high-field MR saturation definitively supports spin polarization instead of a more prevalent wave function shrinking mechanism. Nitric acid exposure induced an insulator to metal transition and reduced the positive MR component. Aligned CNT fiber, already on the metal side of the insulator to metal transition, had positive MR without saturation and was assigned to classical MR involving electronic mobility. Subtracting high-field fits from the aligned fiber's MR yielded an unconfounded negative MR, which was assigned to weak localization. It is concluded that fluctuation induced tunnelling, an extrinsic transport model accounting for most of the aligned fiber's room temperature resistance, appears to lack MR field dependence.

Extreme Magneto-transport of Bulk Carbon Nanotubes in Sorted Electronic Concentrations and Aligned High Performance Fiber

DOE PAGES

Bulmer, John S.; Lekawa-Raus, Agnieszka; Rickel, Dwight G.; ...

2017-09-22

We explored high-field (60 T) magneto-resistance (MR) with two carbon nanotube (CNT) material classes: (1) unaligned single-wall CNTs (SWCNT) films with controlled metallic SWCNT concentrations and doping degree and (2) CNT fiber with aligned, long-length microstructure. All unaligned SWCNT films showed localized hopping transport where high-field MR saturation definitively supports spin polarization instead of a more prevalent wave function shrinking mechanism. Nitric acid exposure induced an insulator to metal transition and reduced the positive MR component. Aligned CNT fiber, already on the metal side of the insulator to metal transition, had positive MR without saturation and was assigned to classicalmore » MR involving electronic mobility. Subtracting high-field fits from the aligned fiber’s MR yielded an unconfounded negative MR, which was assigned to weak localization. It is concluded that fluctuation induced tunnelling, an extrinsic transport model accounting for most of the aligned fiber’s room temperature resistance, appears to lack MR field dependence.« less

Experimental study of contact edge roughness on sub-100 nm various circular shapes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Tae Y.; Ihm, Dongchul; Kang, Hyo C.; Lee, Jum B.; Lee, Byoung H.; Chin, Soo B.; Cho, Do H.; Song, Chang L.

2005-05-01

The measurement of edge roughness has become a hot issue in the semiconductor industry. Especially the contact roughness is being more critical as design rule shrinks. Major vendors offer a variety of features to measure the edge roughness in their CD-SEMs. For the line and space patterns, features such as Line Edge Roughness (LER) and Line Width Roughness (LWR) are available in current CD-SEMs. However the features currently available in commercial CD-SEM cannot provide a proper solution in monitoring the contact roughness. We had introduced a new parameter R, measurement algorithm and definition of contact edge roughness to quantify CER and CSR in previous paper. The parameter, R could provide an alternative solution to monitor contact or island pattern roughness. In this paper, we investigated to assess optimum number of CD measurement (1-D) and fitting method for CER or CSR. The study was based on a circular contact shape. Some new ideas to quantify CER or CSR were also suggested with preliminary experimental results.

Ultrafast all-optical arithmetic logic based on hydrogenated amorphous silicon microring resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gostimirovic, Dusan; Ye, Winnie N.

2016-03-01

For decades, the semiconductor industry has been steadily shrinking transistor sizes to fit more performance into a single silicon-based integrated chip. This technology has become the driving force for advances in education, transportation, and health, among others. However, transistor sizes are quickly approaching their physical limits (channel lengths are now only a few silicon atoms in length), and Moore's law will likely soon be brought to a stand-still despite many unique attempts to keep it going (FinFETs, high-k dielectrics, etc.). This technology must then be pushed further by exploring (almost) entirely new methodologies. Given the explosive growth of optical-based long-haul telecommunications, we look to apply the use of high-speed optics as a substitute to the digital model; where slow, lossy, and noisy metal interconnections act as a major bottleneck to performance. We combine the (nonlinear) optical Kerr effect with a single add-drop microring resonator to perform the fundamental AND-XOR logical operations of a half adder, by all-optical means. This process is also applied to subtraction, higher-order addition, and the realization of an all-optical arithmetic logic unit (ALU). The rings use hydrogenated amorphous silicon as a material with superior nonlinear properties to crystalline silicon, while still maintaining CMOS-compatibility and the many benefits that come with it (low cost, ease of fabrication, etc.). Our method allows for multi-gigabit-per-second data rates while maintaining simplicity and spatial minimalism in design for high-capacity manufacturing potential.

Effect of von Karman Vortex Shedding on Regular and Open-slit V-gutter Stabilized Turbulent Premixed Flames

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-04-01

Both flame lengths shrink and large scale disruptions occur downstream with vortex shedding carrying reaction zones. Flames in both flameholders...9) the flame structure changes dramatically for both regular and open-slit V-gutter. Both flame lengths shrink and large scale disruptions occur...reduces the flame length . However, qualitatively the open-slit V-gutter appears to be more sensitive than the regular V-gutter. Both flames remain

Investigation of using shrinking method in construction of Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences Electron Linear Accelerator TW-tube (IPM TW-Linac tube)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghasemi, F.; Abbasi Davani, F.

2015-06-01

Due to Iran's growing need for accelerators in various applications, IPM's electron Linac project has been defined. This accelerator is a 15 MeV energy S-band traveling-wave accelerator which is being designed and constructed based on the klystron that has been built in Iran. Based on the design, operating mode is π /2 and the accelerating chamber consists of two 60cm long tubes with constant impedance and a 30cm long buncher. Amongst all construction methods, shrinking method is selected for construction of IPM's electron Linac tube because it has a simple procedure and there is no need for large vacuum or hydrogen furnaces. In this paper, different aspects of this method are investigated. According to the calculations, linear ratio of frequency alteration to radius change is 787.8 MHz/cm, and the maximum deformation at the tube wall where disks and the tube make contact is 2.7μ m. Applying shrinking method for construction of 8- and 24-cavity tubes results in satisfactory frequency and quality factor. Average deviations of cavities frequency of 8- and 24-cavity tubes to the design values are 0.68 MHz and 1.8 MHz respectively before tune and 0.2 MHz and 0.4 MHz after tune. Accelerating tubes, buncher, and high power couplers of IPM's electron linac are constructed using shrinking method.

Modification of spermatozoa quality in mature small ruminants.

PubMed

Martin, G B; de St Jorre, T Jorre; Al Mohsen, F A; Malecki, I A

2011-01-01

This review is based largely, but not entirely, on the assumption that gamete quality is directly linked to sperm output and thus testicular mass, an approach made necessary by the absence of a large body of data on factors that affect gamete quality in ruminants. On the other hand, there is a change in the efficiency of sperm production per gram of testicular tissue when the testis is growing or shrinking, a clear indicator of changes in the rates of cell loss during the process of spermatogenesis, probably through apoptosis. We therefore postulate that the spermatozoa that do survive when the testis is shrinking are of a lower quality than those that are produced when the testis is growing and the rate of sperm survival is increasing. In adult small ruminants in particular, testicular mass and sperm production are highly labile and can be manipulated by management of photoperiod (melatonin), nutrition, genetics and behaviour ('mating pressure'). Importantly, these factors do not act independently of each other - rather, the outcomes in terms of sperm production are dictated by interactions. It therefore seems likely that spermatozoa quality will be affected by these same factors, but definitive answers await detailed studies.

Communication: Light driven remote control of microgels' size in the presence of photosensitive surfactant: Complete phase diagram

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schimka, Selina; Gordievskaya, Yulia D.; Lomadze, Nino; Lehmann, Maren; von Klitzing, Regine; Rumyantsev, Artem M.; Kramarenko, Elena Yu.; Santer, Svetlana

2017-07-01

Here we report on a light triggered remote control of microgel size in the presence of photosensitive surfactant. The hydrophobic tail of the cationic surfactant contains azobenzene group that undergoes a reversible photo-isomerization reaction from a trans- to a cis-state accompanied by a change in the hydrophobicity of the surfactant. We have investigated light assisted behaviour and the complex formation of the microgels with azobenzene containing surfactant over the broad concentrational range starting far below and exceeding several times of the critical micelle concentration (CMC). At small surfactant concentration in solution (far below CMC), the surfactant in the trans-state accommodates within the microgel causing its compaction, while the cis-isomer desorbs out of microgel resulting in its swelling. The process of the microgel size change can be described as swelling on UV irradiation (trans-cis isomerization) and shrinking on irradiation with blue light (cis-trans isomerization). However, at the surfactant concentrations larger than CMC, the opposite behaviour is observed: the microgel swells on blue irradiation and shrinks during exposure to UV light. We explain this behaviour theoretically taking into account isomer dependent micellization of surfactant within the microgels.

Contact patterning strategies for 32nm and 28nm technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morgenfeld, Bradley; Stobert, Ian; An, Ju j.; Kanai, Hideki; Chen, Norman; Aminpur, Massud; Brodsky, Colin; Thomas, Alan

2011-04-01

As 193 nm immersion lithography is extended indefinitely to sustain technology roadmaps, there is increasing pressure to contain escalating lithography costs by identifying patterning solutions that can minimize the use of multiple-pass processes. Contact patterning for the 32/28 nm technology nodes has been greatly facilitated by just-in-time introduction of new process enablers that allow the simultaneous support of flexible foundry-oriented ground rules alongside highperformance technology, while also migrating to a single-pass patterning process. The incorporation of device based performance metrics along with rigorous patterning and structural variability studies were critical in the evaluation of material innovation for improved resolution and CD shrink along with novel data preparation flows utilizing aggressive strategies for SRAF insertion and retargeting.

Shrinking lung syndrome as a manifestation of pleuritis: a new model based on pulmonary physiological studies.

PubMed

Henderson, Lauren A; Loring, Stephen H; Gill, Ritu R; Liao, Katherine P; Ishizawar, Rumey; Kim, Susan; Perlmutter-Goldenson, Robin; Rothman, Deborah; Son, Mary Beth F; Stoll, Matthew L; Zemel, Lawrence S; Sandborg, Christy; Dellaripa, Paul F; Nigrovic, Peter A

2013-03-01

The pathophysiology of shrinking lung syndrome (SLS) is poorly understood. We sought to define the structural basis for this condition through the study of pulmonary mechanics in affected patients. Since 2007, most patients evaluated for SLS at our institutions have undergone standardized respiratory testing including esophageal manometry. We analyzed these studies to define the physiological abnormalities driving respiratory restriction. Chest computed tomography data were post-processed to quantify lung volume and parenchymal density. Six cases met criteria for SLS. All presented with dyspnea as well as pleurisy and/or transient pleural effusions. Chest imaging results were free of parenchymal disease and corrected diffusing capacities were normal. Total lung capacities were 39%-50% of predicted. Maximal inspiratory pressures were impaired at high lung volumes, but not low lung volumes, in 5 patients. Lung compliance was strikingly reduced in all patients, accompanied by increased parenchymal density. Patients with SLS exhibited symptomatic and/or radiographic pleuritis associated with 2 characteristic physiological abnormalities: (1) impaired respiratory force at high but not low lung volumes; and (2) markedly decreased pulmonary compliance in the absence of identifiable interstitial lung disease. These findings suggest a model in which pleural inflammation chronically impairs deep inspiration, for example through neural reflexes, leading to parenchymal reorganization that impairs lung compliance, a known complication of persistently low lung volumes. Together these processes could account for the association of SLS with pleuritis as well as the gradual symptomatic and functional progression that is a hallmark of this syndrome.

Investigation of Hydrophobic Radomes for Microwave Landing System.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-11-01

horizontal heating wires on the inside surface, and 2) a slotted waveguide unit (C-band waveguide, about 2 feet in length) covered with a Teflon shrink tube ...AZ) Fiberglass flat 1.5ft x 13ft NE sandwich (EL) Teflon shrink 1 in x 2 ft SW tubing (Field Mon.) 7 (8) Hydrophobic Coating for Antenna Weather...SURFACE PREPARATION 13 24 Mar 󈨖 Conolite Primer: Vellox S-048 Finish: Microfine FSD, 7 coats, sprayed 14 24 Mar 󈨖 Conolite Teflon film, C-TAPE-36

Adaptive Memory: Evaluating Alternative Forms of Fitness-Relevant Processing in the Survival Processing Paradigm

PubMed Central

Sandry, Joshua; Trafimow, David; Marks, Michael J.; Rice, Stephen

2013-01-01

Memory may have evolved to preserve information processed in terms of its fitness-relevance. Based on the assumption that the human mind comprises different fitness-relevant adaptive mechanisms contributing to survival and reproductive success, we compared alternative fitness-relevant processing scenarios with survival processing. Participants rated words for relevancy to fitness-relevant and control conditions followed by a delay and surprise recall test (Experiment 1a). Participants recalled more words processed for their relevance to a survival situation. We replicated these findings in an online study (Experiment 2) and a study using revised fitness-relevant scenarios (Experiment 3). Across all experiments, we did not find a mnemonic benefit for alternative fitness-relevant processing scenarios, questioning assumptions associated with an evolutionary account of remembering. Based on these results, fitness-relevance seems to be too wide-ranging of a construct to account for the memory findings associated with survival processing. We propose that memory may be hierarchically sensitive to fitness-relevant processing instructions. We encourage future researchers to investigate the underlying mechanisms responsible for survival processing effects and work toward developing a taxonomy of adaptive memory. PMID:23585858

ILT optimization of EUV masks for sub-7nm lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hooker, Kevin; Kuechler, Bernd; Kazarian, Aram; Xiao, Guangming; Lucas, Kevin

2017-06-01

The 5nm and 7nm technology nodes will continue recent scaling trends and will deliver significantly smaller minimum features, standard cell areas and SRAM cell areas vs. the 10nm node. There are tremendous economic pressures to shrink each subsequent technology, though in a cost-effective and performance enhancing manner. IC manufacturers are eagerly awaiting EUV so that they can more aggressively shrink their technology than they could by using complicated MPT. The current 0.33NA EUV tools and processes also have their patterning limitations. EUV scanner lenses, scanner sources, masks and resists are all relatively immature compared to the current lithography manufacturing baseline of 193i. For example, lens aberrations are currently several times larger (as a function of wavelength) in EUV scanners than for 193i scanners. Robustly patterning 16nm L/S fully random logic metal patterns and 40nm pitch random logic rectangular contacts with 0.33NA EUV are tough challenges that will benefit from advanced OPC/RET. For example, if an IC manufacturer can push single exposure device layer resolution 10% tighter using improved ILT to avoid using DPT, there will be a significant cost and process complexity benefit to doing so. ILT is well known to have considerable benefits in finding flexible 193i mask pattern solutions to improve process window, improve 2D CD control, improve resolution in low K1 lithography regime and help to delay the introduction of DPT. However, ILT has not previously been applied to EUV lithography. In this paper, we report on new developments which extend ILT method to EUV lithography and we characterize the benefits seen vs. traditional EUV OPC/RET methods.

Mixed convection flow of a nanofluid containing gyrotactic microorganisms over a stretching/shrinking sheet in the presence of magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aman, Fazlina; Mohamad Khazim, Wan Nor Hafizah Wan; Mansur, Syahira

2017-09-01

Interaction of motile microorganisms and nanoparticles along with buoyancy forces will produce nanofluid bioconvection. Bioconvection happened because of the microorganisms are imposed into the nanofluid to stabilize the nanoparticles to suspend. In this paper, we investigated the problem of mixed convection flow of a nanofluid combined with gyrotactic microorganisms over a stretching/shrinking sheet under the influence of magnetic field. The nonlinear partial differential equations are transformed into a set of five similarities nonlinear ordinary differential equations by using similarity transformation, before being solved numerically. Some of the governing parameters involve in this problem are magnetic parameter, stretching/shrinking parameter, Brownian motion parameter, thermophoresis parameter and Prandtl number. Using tables and graphs, the consequences of numerous parameters on the flow and heat transfer features are examined and discussed. The results indicate that the skin friction coefficient, local Nusselt number, local Sherwood number and local density of the motile microorganisms are strongly affected by the governing parameters.

Shrinking cities: urban challenges of globalization.

PubMed

Martinez-Fernandez, Cristina; Audirac, Ivonne; Fol, Sylvie; Cunningham-Sabot, Emmanuèle

2012-01-01

Urban shrinkage is not a new phenomenon. It has been documented in a large literature analyzing the social and economic issues that have led to population flight, resulting, in the worse cases, in the eventual abandonment of blocks of housing and neighbourhoods. Analysis of urban shrinkage should take into account the new realization that this phenomenon is now global and multidimensional — but also little understood in all its manifestations. Thus, as the world's population increasingly becomes urban, orthodox views of urban decline need redefinition. The symposium includes articles from 10 urban analysts working on 30 cities around the globe. These analysts belong to the Shrinking Cities International Research Network (SCIRN), whose collaborative work aims to understand different types of city shrinkage and the role that different approaches, policies and strategies have played in the regeneration of these cities. In this way the symposium will inform both a rich diversity of analytical perspectives and country-based studies of the challenges faced by shrinking cities. It will also disseminate SCIRN's research results from the last 3 years.

A mutation uncouples the tubulin conformational and GTPase cycles, revealing allosteric control of microtubule dynamics

PubMed Central

Geyer, Elisabeth A; Burns, Alexander; Lalonde, Beth A; Ye, Xuecheng; Piedra, Felipe-Andres; Huffaker, Tim C; Rice, Luke M

2015-01-01

Microtubule dynamic instability depends on the GTPase activity of the polymerizing αβ-tubulin subunits, which cycle through at least three distinct conformations as they move into and out of microtubules. How this conformational cycle contributes to microtubule growing, shrinking, and switching remains unknown. Here, we report that a buried mutation in αβ-tubulin yields microtubules with dramatically reduced shrinking rate and catastrophe frequency. The mutation causes these effects by suppressing a conformational change that normally occurs in response to GTP hydrolysis in the lattice, without detectably changing the conformation of unpolymerized αβ-tubulin. Thus, the mutation weakens the coupling between the conformational and GTPase cycles of αβ-tubulin. By showing that the mutation predominantly affects post-GTPase conformational and dynamic properties of microtubules, our data reveal that the strength of the allosteric response to GDP in the lattice dictates the frequency of catastrophe and the severity of rapid shrinking. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.10113.001 PMID:26439009

Geosimulation of urban growth and demographic decline in the Ruhr: a case study for 2025 using the artificial intelligence of cells and agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rienow, Andreas; Stenger, Dirk

2014-07-01

The Ruhr is an "old acquaintance" in the discourse of urban decline in old industrialized cities. The agglomeration has to struggle with archetypical problems of former monofunctional manufacturing cities. Surprisingly, the image of a shrinking city has to be refuted if you shift the focus from socioeconomic wealth to its morphological extension. Thus, it is the objective of this study to meet the challenge of modeling urban sprawl and demographic decline by combining two artificial intelligent solutions: The popular urban cellular automaton SLEUTH simulates urban growth using four simple but effective growth rules. In order to improve its performance, SLEUTH has been modified among others by combining it with a robust probability map based on support vector machines. Additionally, a complex multi-agent system is developed to simulate residential mobility in a shrinking city agglomeration: residential mobility and the housing market of shrinking city systems focuses on the dynamic of interregional housing markets implying the development of potential dwelling areas. The multi-agent system comprises the simulation of population patterns, housing prices, and housing demand in shrinking city agglomerations. Both models are calibrated and validated regarding their localization and quantification performance. Subsequently, the urban landscape configuration and composition of the Ruhr 2025 are simulated. A simple spatial join is used to combine the results serving as valuable inputs for future regional planning in the context of multifarious demographic change and preceding urban growth.

A simple method using two-step hot embossing technique with shrinking for fabrication of cross microchannels on PMMA substrate and its application to electrophoretic separation of amino acids in functional drinks.

PubMed

Wiriyakun, Natta; Nacapricha, Duangjai; Chantiwas, Rattikan

2016-12-01

This work presents a simple hot embossing method with a shrinking procedure to produce cross-shape microchannels on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) substrate for the fabrication of an electrophoresis chip. The proposed method employed a simple two-step hot embossing technique, carried out consecutively on the same piece of substrate to make the crossing channels. Studies of embossing conditions, i.e. temperature, pressure and time, were carried out to investigate their effects on the dimension of the microchannels. Applying a simple shrinking procedure reduced the size of the channels from 700±20µm wide×150±5µm deep to 250±10µm wide×30±2µm deep, i.e. 80% and 64% reduction in the depth and width, respectively. Thermal fusion was employed to bond the PMMA substrate with a PMMA cover plate to produce the microfluidic device. Replication of microchip was achieved by precise control of conditions in the fabrication process (pressure, temperature and time), resulting in lower than 7% RSD of channel dimension, width and depth (n =10 devices). The method was simple and robust without the use of expensive equipment to construct the microstructure on a thermoplastic substrate. The PMMA microchip was used for demonstration of amine functionalization on the PMMA surface, measurement of electroosmotic flow and for electrophoretic separation of amino acids in functional drink samples. The precision of migration time and peak area of the amino acids, Lys, Ile and Phe at 125μM to 500μM, were in the range 3.2-4.2% RSD (n=9 devices) and 4.5-5.3% RSD (n=9 devices), respectively. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Crosstalk between Autophagy and Apoptosis: Potential and Emerging Therapeutic Targets for Cardiac Diseases

PubMed Central

Li, Meng; Gao, Ping; Zhang, Junping

2016-01-01

Autophagy is a cell survival process which is related to breaking down and reusing cytoplasm components. Moreover, autophagy regulates cell death under certain conditions. Apoptosis has the characteristics of chromatin agglutination and the shrinking of nuclear and apoptosis body form. Even if the mechanisms of autophagy and apoptosis have differences, some proteins modulate both autophagy and apoptosis. Crosstalk between them exists. This review highlights recent advances in the interaction of autophagy and apoptosis and its importance in the development of cardiovascular diseases. PMID:26950124

Silicone elastomers capable of large isotropic dimensional change

DOEpatents

Lewicki, James; Worsley, Marcus A.

2017-07-18

Described herein is a highly effective route towards the controlled and isotropic reduction in size-scale, of complex 3D structures using silicone network polymer chemistry. In particular, a class of silicone structures were developed that once patterned and cured can `shrink` micron scale additive manufactured and lithographically patterned structures by as much as 1 order of magnitude while preserving the dimensions and integrity of these parts. This class of silicone materials is compatible with existing additive manufacture and soft lithographic fabrication processes and will allow access to a hitherto unobtainable dimensionality of fabrication.

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

Kaur, Maninder; Dai, Qilin; Bowden, Mark E.

Chromium (Cr) forms a solid solution with iron (Fe) lattice when doped in core-shell iron -iron oxide nanocluster (NC) and shows a mixed phase of sigma (σ) FeCr and bcc Fe. The Cr dopant affects heavily the magnetization and magnetic reversal process, and causes the hysteresis loop to shrink near the zero field axis. Dramatic transformation happens from dipolar interaction (0 at. % Cr) to strong exchange interaction (8 at. % of Cr) is confirmed from the Henkel plot and delta M plot, and is explained by a water-melon model of core-shell NC system.

Gas separation membranes

DOEpatents

Schell, William J.

1979-01-01

A dry, fabric supported, polymeric gas separation membrane, such as cellulose acetate, is prepared by casting a solution of the polymer onto a shrinkable fabric preferably formed of synthetic polymers such as polyester or polyamide filaments before washing, stretching or calendering (so called griege goods). The supported membrane is then subjected to gelling, annealing, and drying by solvent exchange. During the processing steps, both the fabric support and the membrane shrink a preselected, controlled amount which prevents curling, wrinkling or cracking of the membrane in flat form or when spirally wound into a gas separation element.

Structure Analysis of Jungle-Gym-Type Gels by Brownian Dynamics Simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohta, Noriyoshi; Ono, Kohki; Takasu, Masako; Furukawa, Hidemitsu

2008-02-01

We investigated the structure and the formation process of two kinds of gels by Brownian dynamics simulation. The effect of flexibility of main chain oligomer was studied. From our results, hard gel with rigid main chain forms more homogeneous network structure than soft gel with flexible main chain. In soft gel, many small loops are formed, and clusters tend to shrink. This heterogeneous network structure may be caused by microgels. In the low density case, soft gel shows more heterogeneity than the high density case.

Piling-to-buckling transition in the drying process of polymer solution drop on substrate having a large contact angle.

PubMed

Kajiya, Tadashi; Nishitani, Eisuke; Yamaue, Tatsuya; Doi, Masao

2006-01-01

We studied the drying process of polymer solution drops placed on a substrate having a large contact angle with the drop. The drying process takes place in three stages. First, the droplet evaporates keeping the contact line fixed. Second, the droplet shrinks uniformly with receding contact line. Finally the contact line is pinned again, and the droplet starts to be deformed. The shape of the final polymer deposit changes from concave dot, to flat dot, and then to concave dot again with the increase of the initial polymer concentration. This shape change is caused by the gradual transition from the solute piling mechanism proposed by Deegan to the crust buckling mechanism proposed by de Gennes and Pauchard.

Big Bang Titanic: New Dark Energy (Vacuum Gravity) Cosmic Model Emerges Upon Falsification of The Big Bang By Disproof of Its Central Assumptions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gentry, Robert

2011-04-01

Physicists who identify the big bang with the early universe should have first noted from Hawking's A Brief History of Time, p. 42, that he ties Hubble's law to Doppler shifts from galaxy recession from a nearby center, not to bb's unvalidated and thus problematical expansion redshifts. Our PRL submission LJ12135 describes such a model, but in it Hubble's law is due to Doppler and vacuum gravity effects, the 2.73K CBR is vacuum gravity shifted blackbody cavity radiation from an outer galactic shell, and its (1 + z)-1 dilation and (M,z) relations closely fit high-z SNe Ia data; all this strongly implies our model's vacuum energy is the elusive dark energy. We also find GPS operation's GR effects falsify big bang's in-flight expansion redshift paradigm, and hence the big bang, by showing λ changes occur only at emission. Surprisingly we also discover big bang's CBR prediction is T < 2x10-8 K, not the observed 2.73K. So instead of the 2.73K affirming the big bang as cosmologists claim, it actually disproves it, to which the DAE's response is most enigmatic -- namely, CBR photons expand dλ/dt > 0, while galactic photons shrink dλ/dt < 0. Contrary to a PRL editor's claim, the above results show LJ12135 fits PRL guidelines for papers that replace established theories. For details see alphacosmos.net.

Reconstruction of loads in the fibrosa and ventricularis of porcine aortic valves.

PubMed

Vesely, I

1996-01-01

The main structural components of aortic valve cusps, the fibrosa and ventricularis, are pre loaded by virtue of their attachment to each other. The fibrosa is under compression and the ventricularis is under tension. Once separated from each other, these internal stresses are relieved, and the fibrosa elongates and the ventricularis shrinks. It then becomes impossible to determine what fraction of the load is carried by the two layers at a given strain, using the standard superposition of tension vs strain curves. To enable the superposition approach, we needed to adjust the tension/ strain curves of the fibrosa and ventricularis, and duplicate the pre load that exists in these layers. We, therefore, iteratively shifted these curves and compared their arithmetic sum to the tension curve for the whole intact cusp, using a sum-of-squares error function. The best fits occurred when the fibrosa and ventricularis were shifted to the right and left by amounts corresponding to a true strain of epsilon = 0.26 and 0.10 for the fibrosa and ventricularis in the radial directions. In the circumferential direction, the best fit was achieved for shifts of epsilon = -0.11 and 0.010 for the fibrosa and ventricularis, respectively. This 26% compressive strain of the radial fibrosa compares well with direct observations. The reconstructed tension curves indicate that the ventricularis carries much of the radial loads, whereas circumferentially the two layers share loads equally up to 25% strain, beyond which the fibrosa takes over.

Method of constructing a superconducting magnet

DOEpatents

Satti, John A.

1981-01-01

A superconducting magnet designed to produce magnetic flux densities of the order of 4 to 5 Webers per square meter is constructed by first forming a cable of a plurality of matrixed superconductor wires with each wire of the plurality insulated from each other one. The cable is shaped into a rectangular cross-section and is wound with tape in an open spiral to create cooling channels. Coils are wound in a calculated pattern in saddle shapes to produce desired fields, such as dipoles, quadrupoles, and the like. Wedges are inserted between adjacent cables as needed to maintain substantially radial placement of the long dimensions of cross sections of the cables. After winding, individual strands in each of the cables are brought out to terminals and are interconnected to place all of the strands in series and to maximize the propagation of a quench by alternating conduction from an inner layer to an outer layer and from top half to bottom half as often as possible. Individual layers are separated from others by spiraled aluminum spacers to facilitate cooling. The wound coil is wrapped with an epoxy tape that is cured by heat and then machined to an interference fit with an outer aluminum pipe which is then affixed securely to the assembled coil by heating it to make a shrink fit. In an alternate embodiment, one wire of the cable is made of copper or the like to be heated externally to propagate a quench.

Superconducting magnet

DOEpatents

Satti, John A.

1980-01-01

A superconducting magnet designed to produce magnetic flux densities of the order of 4 to 5 Webers per square meter is constructed by first forming a cable of a plurality of matrixed superconductor wires with each wire of the plurality insulated from each other one. The cable is shaped into a rectangular cross-section and is wound with tape in an open spiral to create cooling channels. Coils are wound in a calculated pattern in saddle shapes to produce desired fields, such as dipoles, quadrupoles, and the like. Wedges are inserted between adjacent cables as needed to maintain substantially radial placement of the long dimensions of cross sections of the cables. After winding, individual strands in each of the cables are brought out to terminals and are interconnected to place all of the strands in series and to maximize the propagation of a quench by alternating conduction from an inner layer to an outer layer and from top half to bottom half as often as possible. Individual layers are separated from others by spiraled aluminum spacers to facilitate cooling. The wound coil is wrapped with an epoxy tape that is cured by heat and then machined to an interference fit with an outer aluminum pipe which is then affixed securely to the assembled coil by heating it to make a shrink fit. In an alternate embodiment, one wire of the cable is made of copper or the like to be heated externally to propagate a quench.

Patterns and Potential Drivers of Dramatic Changes in Tibetan Lakes, 1972–2010

PubMed Central

Li, Yingkui; Liao, Jingjuan; Guo, Huadong; Liu, Zewen; Shen, Guozhuang

2014-01-01

Most glaciers in the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau are retreating, and glacier melt has been emphasized as the dominant driver for recent lake expansions on the Tibetan Plateau. By investigating detailed changes in lake extents and levels across the Tibetan Plateau from Landsat/ICESat data, we found a pattern of dramatic lake changes from 1970 to 2010 (especially after 2000) with a southwest-northeast transition from shrinking, to stable, to rapidly expanding. This pattern is in distinct contrast to the spatial characteristics of glacier retreat, suggesting limited influence of glacier melt on lake dynamics. The plateau-wide pattern of lake change is related to precipitation variation and consistent with the pattern of permafrost degradation induced by rising temperature. More than 79% of lakes we observed on the central-northern plateau (with continuous permafrost) are rapidly expanding, even without glacial contributions, while lakes fed by retreating glaciers in southern regions (with isolated permafrost) are relatively stable or shrinking. Our study shows the limited role of glacier melt and highlights the potentially important contribution of permafrost degradation in predicting future water availability in this region, where understanding these processes is of critical importance to drinking water, agriculture, and hydropower supply of densely populated areas in South and East Asia. PMID:25372787

Patterns and potential drivers of dramatic changes in Tibetan lakes, 1972-2010.

PubMed

Li, Yingkui; Liao, Jingjuan; Guo, Huadong; Liu, Zewen; Shen, Guozhuang

2014-01-01

Most glaciers in the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau are retreating, and glacier melt has been emphasized as the dominant driver for recent lake expansions on the Tibetan Plateau. By investigating detailed changes in lake extents and levels across the Tibetan Plateau from Landsat/ICESat data, we found a pattern of dramatic lake changes from 1970 to 2010 (especially after 2000) with a southwest-northeast transition from shrinking, to stable, to rapidly expanding. This pattern is in distinct contrast to the spatial characteristics of glacier retreat, suggesting limited influence of glacier melt on lake dynamics. The plateau-wide pattern of lake change is related to precipitation variation and consistent with the pattern of permafrost degradation induced by rising temperature. More than 79% of lakes we observed on the central-northern plateau (with continuous permafrost) are rapidly expanding, even without glacial contributions, while lakes fed by retreating glaciers in southern regions (with isolated permafrost) are relatively stable or shrinking. Our study shows the limited role of glacier melt and highlights the potentially important contribution of permafrost degradation in predicting future water availability in this region, where understanding these processes is of critical importance to drinking water, agriculture, and hydropower supply of densely populated areas in South and East Asia.

Broken bridges: a counter-example of the ER=EPR conjecture

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

Chen, Pisin; Wu, Chih-Hung; Yeom, Dong-han, E-mail: pisinchen@phys.ntu.edu.tw, E-mail: b02202007@ntu.edu.tw, E-mail: innocent.yeom@gmail.com

In this paper, we provide a counter-example to the ER=EPR conjecture. In an anti-de Sitter space, we construct a pair of maximally entangled but separated black holes. Due to the vacuum decay of the anti-de Sitter background toward a deeper vacuum, these two parts can be trapped by bubbles. If these bubbles are reasonably large, then within the scrambling time, there should appear an Einstein-Rosen bridge between the two black holes. Now by tracing more details on the bubble dynamics, one can identify parameters such that one of the two bubbles either monotonically shrinks or expands. Because of the changemore » of vacuum energy, one side of the black hole would evaporate completely. Due to the shrinking of the apparent horizon, a signal of one side of the Einstein-Rosen bridge can be viewed from the opposite side. We analytically and numerically demonstrate that within a reasonable semi-classical parameter regime, such process can happen. Bubbles are a non-perturbative effect, which is the crucial reason that allows the transmission of information between the two black holes through the Einstein-Rosen bridge, even though the probability is highly suppressed. Therefore, the ER=EPR conjecture cannot be generic in its present form and its validity maybe restricted.« less

Wafer hotspot prevention using etch aware OPC correction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamouda, Ayman; Power, Dave; Salama, Mohamed; Chen, Ao

2016-03-01

As technology development advances into deep-sub-wavelength nodes, multiple patterning is becoming more essential to achieve the technology shrink requirements. Recently, Optical Proximity Correction (OPC) technology has proposed simultaneous correction of multiple mask-patterns to enable multiple patterning awareness during OPC correction. This is essential to prevent inter-layer hot-spots during the final pattern transfer. In state-of-art literature, multi-layer awareness is achieved using simultaneous resist-contour simulations to predict and correct for hot-spots during mask generation. However, this approach assumes a uniform etch shrink response for all patterns independent of their proximity, which isn't sufficient for the full prevention of inter-exposure hot-spot, for example different color space violations post etch or via coverage/enclosure post etch. In this paper, we explain the need to include the etch component during multiple patterning OPC. We also introduce a novel approach for Etch-aware simultaneous Multiple-patterning OPC, where we calibrate and verify a lumped model that includes the combined resist and etch responses. Adding this extra simulation condition during OPC is suitable for full chip processing from a computation intensity point of view. Also, using this model during OPC to predict and correct inter-exposures hot-spots is similar to previously proposed multiple-patterning OPC, yet our proposed approach more accurately corrects post-etch defects too.

A wavelet and least square filter based spatial-spectral denoising approach of hyperspectral imagery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Ting; Chen, Xiao-Mei; Chen, Gang; Xue, Bo; Ni, Guo-Qiang

2009-11-01

Noise reduction is a crucial step in hyperspectral imagery pre-processing. Based on sensor characteristics, the noise of hyperspectral imagery represents in both spatial and spectral domain. However, most prevailing denosing techniques process the imagery in only one specific domain, which have not utilized multi-domain nature of hyperspectral imagery. In this paper, a new spatial-spectral noise reduction algorithm is proposed, which is based on wavelet analysis and least squares filtering techniques. First, in the spatial domain, a new stationary wavelet shrinking algorithm with improved threshold function is utilized to adjust the noise level band-by-band. This new algorithm uses BayesShrink for threshold estimation, and amends the traditional soft-threshold function by adding shape tuning parameters. Comparing with soft or hard threshold function, the improved one, which is first-order derivable and has a smooth transitional region between noise and signal, could save more details of image edge and weaken Pseudo-Gibbs. Then, in the spectral domain, cubic Savitzky-Golay filter based on least squares method is used to remove spectral noise and artificial noise that may have been introduced in during the spatial denoising. Appropriately selecting the filter window width according to prior knowledge, this algorithm has effective performance in smoothing the spectral curve. The performance of the new algorithm is experimented on a set of Hyperion imageries acquired in 2007. The result shows that the new spatial-spectral denoising algorithm provides more significant signal-to-noise-ratio improvement than traditional spatial or spectral method, while saves the local spectral absorption features better.

Modeling multidomain hydraulic properties of shrink-swell soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stewart, Ryan D.; Abou Najm, Majdi R.; Rupp, David E.; Selker, John S.

2016-10-01

Shrink-swell soils crack and become compacted as they dry, changing properties such as bulk density and hydraulic conductivity. Multidomain models divide soil into independent realms that allow soil cracks to be incorporated into classical flow and transport models. Incongruously, most applications of multidomain models assume that the porosity distributions, bulk density, and effective saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil are constant. This study builds on a recently derived soil shrinkage model to develop a new multidomain, dual-permeability model that can accurately predict variations in soil hydraulic properties due to dynamic changes in crack size and connectivity. The model only requires estimates of soil gravimetric water content and a minimal set of parameters, all of which can be determined using laboratory and/or field measurements. We apply the model to eight clayey soils, and demonstrate its ability to quantify variations in volumetric water content (as can be determined during measurement of a soil water characteristic curve) and transient saturated hydraulic conductivity, Ks (as can be measured using infiltration tests). The proposed model is able to capture observed variations in Ks of one to more than two orders of magnitude. In contrast, other dual-permeability models assume that Ks is constant, resulting in the potential for large error when predicting water movement through shrink-swell soils. Overall, the multidomain model presented here successfully quantifies fluctuations in the hydraulic properties of shrink-swell soil matrices, and are suitable for use in physical flow and transport models based on Darcy's Law, the Richards Equation, and the advection-dispersion equation.

Dual Salt- and Thermo-Responsive Programmable Bilayer Hydrogel Actuators with Pseudo-Interpenetrating Double-Network Structures.

PubMed

Xiao, Shengwei; Zhang, Mingzhen; He, Xiaomin; Huang, Lei; Zhang, Yanxian; Ren, Baiping; Zhong, Mingqiang; Chang, Yung; Yang, Jintao; Zheng, Jie

2018-06-07

Development of smart soft actuators is highly important for fundamental research and industrial applications, but has proved to be extremely challenging. In this work, we present a facile, one-pot, one-step method to prepare dual-responsive bilayer hydrogels, consisting of a thermos-responsive poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (polyNIPAM) layer and a salt-responsive poly(3-(1-(4-vinylbenzyl)-1H-imidazol-3-ium-3-yl)propane-1-sulfonat) (polyVBIPS) layer. Both polyNIPAM and polyVBIPs layers exhibit a completely opposite swelling/shrinking behavior, where polyNIPAM shrinks (swells) but polyVBIPS swells (shrinks) in salt solution (water) or at high (low) temperatures. By tuning NIPAM:VBIPS ratios, the resulting polyNIPAM/polyVBIPS bilayer hydrogels enable to achieve fast and large-amplitude bidirectional bending in response to temperatures, salt concentrations, and salt types. Such bidirectional bending, bending orientation and degree can be reversibly, repeatedly, and precisely controlled by salt- or temperature-induced cooperative, swelling-shrinking properties from both layers. Based on their fast, reversible, bidirectional bending behavior, we further design two conceptual hybrid hydrogel actuators, serving as a six-arm gripper to capture, transport, and release an object and an electrical circuit switch to turn on-and-off a lamp. Different from the conventional two or multi-step methods for preparation of bilayer hydrogels, our simple, one-pot, one-step method and a new bilayer hydrogel system provide an innovative concept to explore new hydrogel-based actuators through combining different responsive materials that allow to program different stimulus for soft and intelligent materials applications.

Post-fusion structural changes and their roles in exocytosis and endocytosis of dense-core vesicles

PubMed Central

Chiang, Hsueh-Cheng; Shin, Wonchul; Zhao, Wei-Dong; Hamid, Edaeni; Sheng, Jiansong; Baydyuk, Maryna; Wen, Peter J.; Jin, Albert; Momboisse, Fanny; Wu, Ling-Gang

2014-01-01

Vesicle fusion with the plasma membrane generates an Ω-shaped membrane profile. Its pore is thought to dilate until flattening (full-collapse), followed by classical endocytosis to retrieve vesicles. Alternatively, the pore may close (kiss-and-run), but the triggering mechanisms and its endocytic roles remain poorly understood. Here, using confocal and STED imaging of dense-core vesicles, we find that fusion-generated Ω-profiles may enlarge or shrink while maintaining vesicular membrane proteins. Closure of fusion-generated Ω-profiles, which produces various sizes of vesicles, is the dominant mechanism mediating rapid and slow endocytosis within ~1–30 s. Strong calcium influx triggers dynamin-mediated closure. Weak calcium influx does not promote closure, but facilitates the merging of Ω-profiles with the plasma membrane via shrinking rather than full-collapse. These results establish a model, termed Ω-exo-endocytosis, in which the fusion-generated Ω-profile may shrink to merge with the plasma membrane, change in size, or change in size then close in response to calcium, which is the main mechanism to retrieve dense-core vesicles. PMID:24561832

Particulate Matter Sources and Composition near a Shrinking Saline Lake (Salton Sea)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frie, A. L.; Dingle, J. H.; Garrison, A.; Ying, S.; Bahreini, R.

2017-12-01

Dried lake beds (playas) are large dust sources in arid regions, and with increased global water demand many large lakes are shrinking. The Salton Sea is an example of one such lake in the early stages of desiccation, with about 15,000 acres of exposed playa. To quantify the impacts of the shrinking lake on airborne particulate matter(PM) composition, PM samples were collected in August of 2015 and February of 2016 near the Salton Sea, CA. These samples were analyzed for total elemental concentration of 15 elements. For these elements, enrichment factors relative to aluminum were calculated and PMF modeling was applied to deconvolve source factors. From these data, desert-like and playa-like sources were estimated to accounted for 45% and 9% of PM10 mass during these sampling periods. PMF results also revealed that playa sources account for 70% of PM10 Na, evidencing playa-driven PM compositional changes. Additionally, PM Se displayed strong seasonal variation, which is thought to be driven by Se volatilization within Salton Sea sediments, playas, or waters.

Microeconomics of process control in semiconductor manufacturing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monahan, Kevin M.

2003-06-01

Process window control enables accelerated design-rule shrinks for both logic and memory manufacturers, but simple microeconomic models that directly link the effects of process window control to maximum profitability are rare. In this work, we derive these links using a simplified model for the maximum rate of profit generated by the semiconductor manufacturing process. We show that the ability of process window control to achieve these economic objectives may be limited by variability in the larger manufacturing context, including measurement delays and process variation at the lot, wafer, x-wafer, x-field, and x-chip levels. We conclude that x-wafer and x-field CD control strategies will be critical enablers of density, performance and optimum profitability at the 90 and 65nm technology nodes. These analyses correlate well with actual factory data and often identify millions of dollars in potential incremental revenue and cost savings. As an example, we show that a scatterometry-based CD Process Window Monitor is an economically justified, enabling technology for the 65nm node.

NanoVipa: a miniaturized high-resolution echelle spectrometer, for the monitoring of young stars from a 6U Cubesat

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bourdarot, G.; Le Coarer, E.; Bonfils, X.; Alecian, E.; Rabou, P.; Magnard, Y.

2017-12-01

We introduce to astrophysical instrumentation and space optics the use of virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) to shrink échelle spectrometers and/or increase their resolution. Here, we report on both a concept of an echelle spectrometer with resolution R=50{,}000 (@653nm), which fits a 6U nanosatellite platform ({{1U= 10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm}}), and on our laboratory tests on a R=200{,}000 demonstrator. The outline of our paper is as follows: Sect. 1 introduces our concept of a 6U payload comprising an échelle spectrometer based on the VIPA. We present also the science cases of monitoring young stars, and the wider science landscape amenable with larger telescopes. Section 2 gives a more detailed description of the VIPA and of its implementation in a cross-dispersed spectrometer. Section 3 shows the first results at R=200{,}000 we already achieved at the Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG). Finally, Sect. 4 is a discussion on the remaining technical points to study.

The shape of cars to come

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

Ashley, S.

1991-05-01

Ford's new concept car achieves weight, size, and cost savings with an innovative lightweight aluminum space frame composed of simple extrusions that are fitted together like Lego blocks and adhesively bonded. On the outside, the design is a blend of art and technology that is a modern restatement of a large luxury car. The other major focus of the design is the Contour's compact T-drive powertrain configuration (also shared by the Mystique). This consists of a transversely mounted engine stuffed into the front of the chassis with a longitudinally positioned transmission right behind it. The T-drive arrangement shrinks the car'smore » engine bay and overall length while expanding the passenger compartment. In addition, powerplants with from four to eight cylinders as well as front-wheel-, rear-wheel-, and four-wheel-drive transmission systems can all be incorporated into the T-drive. Other technical innovations on the Contour include an unusual ducted cooling system, a compact brake assembly, a lightweight high-efficiency air conditioner, centralized single-source lighting, and simple but effective suspension technology.« less

Phase controlled synthesis of (Mg, Ca, Ba)-ferrite magnetic nanoparticles with high uniformity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, S. F.; Li, Q.; Zu, X. T.; Xiang, X.; Liu, W.; Li, S.

2016-12-01

(Mg, Ca, Ba)-ferrite magnetic nanoparticles were successfully synthesized through modifying the atomic ratio of polysaccharide and chelating agent at an optimal sintering temperature. In the process, the polysaccharide plays an important role in drastically shrinking the precursor during the gel drying process. In the metal-complex structure, M2+ ion active sites were coordinated by -OH of the water molecules except for EDTA anions. The MFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles exhibited enhanced magnetic properties when compared with nano-MFe2O4 of similar particle size synthesized by other synthesis route reported in the literature. In particular, the sintering temperature improves the crystallinity and increases the hysteresis loop squareness ratio of (Mg, Ca, Ba)-ferrite nanoparticles significantly.

Zuwanderung und Integration als strategischer Ansatzpunkt städtischer Regenerierung - Das Beispiel der westfälischen Stadt Altena

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mantel, Anna; Engel, Susen; Nuissl, Henning

2018-03-01

The small town of Altena is among the fastest-shrinking cities in western Germany and has recently attracted national and international attention due to its "welcoming culture" for refugees. This can be understood within the context of the town's strategic urban development policies aiming to counter the demographic change. This article argues that a regeneration strategy directed towards immigration and integration can offer a chance for shrinking cities but is simultaneously faced with considerable challenges and uncertainties, which could be dealt with through an "integrative approach" to urban development.

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

Sato, Toyoto; Tomiyasu, Dr. Keisuke; Ikeda, Kazutaka

Local atomic structural investigations of LiAlD4, which is composed of Li+ and [AlD4], at 40 300 K were studied by total neutron scattering combined with pair distribution function (PDF) analysis for understanding of hydrogen release from LiAlD4. The results showed that the Al D pair distribution almost unchanged, while the Li D pair distribution clearly started to broaden and shrink above 200 250 K. The shrinking of the Li D pair distribution might lead to the local generation of LiD, which was speculated as the precursory phenomenon for the hydrogen release from LiAlD4.

Zuwanderung und Integration als strategischer Ansatzpunkt städtischer Regenerierung. Das Beispiel der westfälischen Stadt Altena

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mantel, Anna; Engel, Susen; Nuissl, Henning

2018-04-01

The small town of Altena is among the fastest-shrinking cities in western Germany and has recently attracted national and international attention due to its "welcoming culture" for refugees. This can be understood within the context of the town's strategic urban development policies aiming to counter the demographic change. This article argues that a regeneration strategy directed towards immigration and integration can offer a chance for shrinking cities but is simultaneously faced with considerable challenges and uncertainties, which could be dealt with through an "integrative approach" to urban development.

Optshrink LR + S: accelerated fMRI reconstruction using non-convex optimal singular value shrinkage.

PubMed

Aggarwal, Priya; Shrivastava, Parth; Kabra, Tanay; Gupta, Anubha

2017-03-01

This paper presents a new accelerated fMRI reconstruction method, namely, OptShrink LR + S method that reconstructs undersampled fMRI data using a linear combination of low-rank and sparse components. The low-rank component has been estimated using non-convex optimal singular value shrinkage algorithm, while the sparse component has been estimated using convex l 1 minimization. The performance of the proposed method is compared with the existing state-of-the-art algorithms on real fMRI dataset. The proposed OptShrink LR + S method yields good qualitative and quantitative results.

Incidental experiences of regulatory fit and the processing of persuasive appeals.

PubMed

Koenig, Anne M; Cesario, Joseph; Molden, Daniel C; Kosloff, Spee; Higgins, E Tory

2009-10-01

This article examines how the subjective experiences of "feeling right" from regulatory fit and of "feeling wrong" from regulatory non-fit influence the way people process persuasive messages. Across three studies, incidental experiences of regulatory fit increased reliance on source expertise and decreased resistance to counterpersuasion, whereas incidental experiences of regulatory non-fit increased reliance on argument strength and increased resistance to counterpersuasion. These results suggest that incidental fit and non-fit experiences can produce, respectively, more superficial or more thorough processing of persuasive messages. The mechanisms underlying these effects, and the conditions under which they should and should not be expected, are discussed.

10 CFR 26.39 - Review process for fitness-for-duty policy violations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Review process for fitness-for-duty policy violations. 26.39 Section 26.39 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS Program Elements § 26.39 Review process for fitness-for-duty policy violations. (a) Each licensee and other entity who is...

10 CFR 26.39 - Review process for fitness-for-duty policy violations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Review process for fitness-for-duty policy violations. 26.39 Section 26.39 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS Program Elements § 26.39 Review process for fitness-for-duty policy violations. (a) Each licensee and other entity who is...

10 CFR 26.39 - Review process for fitness-for-duty policy violations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Review process for fitness-for-duty policy violations. 26.39 Section 26.39 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS Program Elements § 26.39 Review process for fitness-for-duty policy violations. (a) Each licensee and other entity who is...

10 CFR 26.39 - Review process for fitness-for-duty policy violations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Review process for fitness-for-duty policy violations. 26.39 Section 26.39 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS Program Elements § 26.39 Review process for fitness-for-duty policy violations. (a) Each licensee and other entity who is...

10 CFR 26.39 - Review process for fitness-for-duty policy violations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Review process for fitness-for-duty policy violations. 26.39 Section 26.39 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS Program Elements § 26.39 Review process for fitness-for-duty policy violations. (a) Each licensee and other entity who is...

Leaching of silicon from ferronickel (FeNi) smelting slag with sodium hydroxide solution at atmospheric pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mufakhir, F. R.; Mubarok, M. Z.; Ichlas, Z. T.

2018-01-01

The present paper reports the leaching behavior of silicon from ferronickel slag under atmospheric pressure using sodium hydroxide solution. The effect of several experimental variables, namely concentration of leaching agent, operating temperature, stirring speed, and slurry density was investigated. The leaching kinetic was also investigated by using shrinking core model. It was determined that leaching of silicon from the slag was controlled by diffusion through product layer, although the activation energy was found to be 85.84 kJ/mol, which was unusually high for such a diffusion-controlled process.

Case study in health information management: strategic planning.

PubMed

Homan, C V

1992-08-01

The strategic planning process has proven to be invaluable to Riverside Hospital's success. Involvement of all levels of the organization and integration of plans solidifies organizational commitments and provides a framework that assures accomplishment of overall goals. With major developments in computerization of medical records and other systems that support patient care data analysis on the horizon, Riverside's integrated plans are defining crucial information system projects. As the pool of available resources for projects continues to shrink, the planning format described assures funding of information system needs that will secure a position for Riverside in the health care marketplace of the future.

Remote actuated cryocooler for superconducting generator and method of assembling the same

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

Stautner, Ernst Wolfgang; Haran, Kiruba Sivasubramaniam; Fair, Ruben Jeevanasan

2017-02-14

In one embodiment, a cryocooler assembly for cooling a heat load is provided. The cryocooler assembly includes a vacuum vessel surrounding the heat load and a cryocooler at least partially inserted into the vacuum vessel, the cryocooler including a coldhead. The assembly further includes an actuator coupled to the cryocooler. The actuator is configured to translate the cryocooler coldhead into thermal engagement with the heat load and to maintain constant pressure of the coldhead against the heat load to facilitate maintaining thermal engagement with the heat load as the heat load shrinks during a cool down process.

Oxidation kinetics for conversion of U 3O 8 to ε-UO 3 with NO 2

DOE PAGES

Johnson, J. A.; Rawn, C. J.; Spencer, B. B.; ...

2017-04-04

The oxidation kinetics of U 3O 8 powder to ε-UO 3 in an NO 2 environment was measured by in situ x-ray diffraction (XRD). Experiments were performed at temperatures of 195, 210, 235, and 250°C using a custom designed and fabricated sample isolation stage. Data were refined to quantify phase fractions using a newly proposed structure for the ε-UO 3 polymorph. The kinetics data were modeled using a shrinking core approach. A proposed two-step reaction process is presented based on the developed models.

Heat Source/Sink in a Magneto-Hydrodynamic Non-Newtonian Fluid Flow in a Porous Medium: Dual Solutions.

PubMed

Hayat, Tasawar; Awais, Muhammad; Imtiaz, Amna

2016-01-01

This communication deals with the properties of heat source/sink in a magneto-hydrodynamic flow of a non-Newtonian fluid immersed in a porous medium. Shrinking phenomenon along with the permeability of the wall is considered. Mathematical modelling is performed to convert the considered physical process into set of coupled nonlinear mathematical equations. Suitable transformations are invoked to convert the set of partial differential equations into nonlinear ordinary differential equations which are tackled numerically for the solution computations. It is noted that dual solutions for various physical parameters exist which are analyzed in detail.

Topological dynamics of vortex-line networks in hexagonal manganites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xue, Fei; Wang, Nan; Wang, Xueyun; Ji, Yanzhou; Cheong, Sang-Wook; Chen, Long-Qing

2018-01-01

The two-dimensional X Y model is the first well-studied system with topological point defects. On the other hand, although topological line defects are common in three-dimensional systems, the evolution mechanism of line defects is not fully understood. The six domains in hexagonal manganites converge to vortex lines in three dimensions. Using phase-field simulations, we predicted that during the domain coarsening process, the vortex-line network undergoes three types of basic topological changes, i.e., vortex-line loop shrinking, coalescence, and splitting. It is shown that the vortex-antivortex annihilation controls the scaling dynamics.

How to measure a-few-nanometer-small LER occurring in EUV lithography processed feature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawada, Hiroki; Kawasaki, Takahiro; Kakuta, Junichi; Ikota, Masami; Kondo, Tsuyoshi

2018-03-01

For EUV lithography features we want to decrease the dose and/or energy of CD-SEM's probe beam because LER decreases with severe resist-material's shrink. Under such conditions, however, measured LER increases from true LER, due to LER bias that is fake LER caused by random noise in SEM image. A gap error occurs between the right and the left LERs. In this work we propose new procedures to obtain true LER by excluding the LER bias from the measured LER. To verify it we propose a LER's reference-metrology using TEM.

Polymerization development of "low-shrink" resin composites: Reaction kinetics, polymerization stress and quality of network.

PubMed

Yamasaki, Lilyan C; De Vito Moraes, André G; Barros, Mathew; Lewis, Steven; Francci, Carlos; Stansbury, Jeffrey W; Pfeifer, Carmem S

2013-09-01

To evaluate "low-shrink" composites in terms of polymerization kinetics, stress development and mechanical properties. "Low-shrink" materials (Kalore/KAL, N'Durance/NDUR, and Filtek P90/P90) and one control (Esthet X HD/EHD) were tested. Polymerization stress (PS) was measured using the Instron 5565 tensometer. Volumetric shrinkage (VS) was determined by the ACTA linometer. Elastic modulus (E) and flexural strength (FS) were obtained by a three-point bending test. Degree of conversion (DC) and polymerization rate (Rp) were determined by NIR spectroscopy (6165cm(-1) for dimethacrylates; 4156 and 4071cm(-1) for P90). Photopolymerization was performed at 740mW/cm(2)×27s. Glass transition temperature (Tg), degree of heterogeneity and crosslink density were obtained in a DMA for the fully cured specimens. Analysis of extracts was done by (1)H NMR. Data were analyzed with one-way ANOVA/Tukey's test (α=0.05). The control presented the highest shrinkage and Tg. P90 showed the highest modulus, and NDUR demonstrated the highest conversion. The polymerization rates were comparable for all materials. NDUR and KAL had the highest and the lowest network homogeneity, respectively. The multifunctional P90 had the highest crosslink density, with no difference between other composites. The control had the greatest stress development, similar to NDUR. Crosslinking density and polymer network homogeneity were influenced by degree of conversion and monomer structure. Not all "low-shrink" composites reduced polymerization stress. P90 and NDUR had no leachable monomers, which was also a function of high crosslinking (P90) and high conversion (NDUR). Copyright © 2013 Academy of Dental Materials. All rights reserved.

Quantify patient-specific coronary material property and its impact on stress/strain calculations using in vivo IVUS data and 3D FSI models: a pilot study

PubMed Central

Guo, Xiaoya; Zhu, Jian; Maehara, Akiko; Monoly, David; Samady, Habib; Wang, Liang; Billiar, Kristen L.; Zheng, Jie; Yang, Chun; Mintz, Gary S.; Giddens, Don P.; Tang, Dalin

2016-01-01

Computational models have been used to calculate plaque stress and strain for plaque progression and rupture investigations. An intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-based modeling approach is proposed to quantify in vivo vessel material properties for more accurate stress/strain calculations. In vivo Cine IVUS and VH-IVUS coronary plaque data were acquired from one patient with informed consent obtained. Cine IVUS data and 3D thin-slice models with axial stretch were used to determine patient-specific vessel material properties. Twenty full 3D fluid–structure interaction models with ex vivo and in vivo material properties and various axial and circumferential shrink combinations were constructed to investigate the material stiffness impact on stress/strain calculations. The approximate circumferential Young’s modulus over stretch ratio interval [1.0, 1.1] for an ex vivo human plaque sample and two slices (S6 and S18) from our IVUS data were 1631, 641, and 346 kPa, respectively. Average lumen stress/strain values from models using ex vivo, S6 and S18 materials with 5 % axial shrink and proper circumferential shrink were 72.76, 81.37, 101.84 kPa and 0.0668, 0.1046, and 0.1489, respectively. The average cap strain values from S18 material models were 150–180 % higher than those from the ex vivo material models. The corresponding percentages for the average cap stress values were 50–75 %. Dropping axial and circumferential shrink consideration led to stress and strain over-estimations. In vivo vessel material properties may be considerably softer than those from ex vivo data. Material stiffness variations may cause 50–75 % stress and 150–180 % strain variations. PMID:27561649

Key role of collagen fibers orientation in casing-meat adhesion.

PubMed

Yang, Shuang; Wang, Jinfeng; Wang, Yuanliang; Luo, Yanfeng

2016-11-01

Meat adhesion of collagen casings is important for the quality of sausages. In view of the crucial role of surface morphology in material adhesion, we hypothesize that the fiber orientation of collagen casings controls the meat adhesion. To verify this hypothesis, the casing-meat adhesion of four manufactured collagen casings (MCCs) was examined by the visual observation and the peeling force detection. The corresponding fiber orientation was investigated by using scanning electric microscope (SEM) and tensile tests. The results showed that MCC1 and MCC2 which had narrower directionality peak (-20° to -40° and -20° to 40°, respectively) and higher axial (σ a ) to radial (σ r ) strength ratios (1.90±0.07 and 1.31±0.02, respectively) demonstrated lower peeling forces than MCC3 and MCC4, indicating that a more isotropic structure is advantageous to the casing-meat adhesion. Further detection of the radial and axial shrink (including free shrinkage (S r , S a ) and shrink force (F r , F a )) and observation of the local meat-casing interfaces by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining showed that appropriate S r (15%-20%) and F r (0.2-0.4N) values at 80°C helped to make the sausage tight whereas high F a (>0.7N) promoted the peeling off of the casings from meat. These results imply that an isotropic structure leads to balanced radial and axial shrink of MCCs, which may enhance the casing-meat adhesion. Overall, controlling a uniform fiber orientation should be an effective way to enhance the meat adhesion of collagen casings. Besides, shrinking properties should be efficient indicators for the meat adhesion of collagen casings. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

FITS Liberator: Image processing software

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindberg Christensen, Lars; Nielsen, Lars Holm; Nielsen, Kaspar K.; Johansen, Teis; Hurt, Robert; de Martin, David

2012-06-01

The ESA/ESO/NASA FITS Liberator makes it possible to process and edit astronomical science data in the FITS format to produce stunning images of the universe. Formerly a plugin for Adobe Photoshop, the current version of FITS Liberator is a stand-alone application and no longer requires Photoshop. This image processing software makes it possible to create color images using raw observations from a range of telescopes; the FITS Liberator continues to support the FITS and PDS formats, preferred by astronomers and planetary scientists respectively, which enables data to be processed from a wide range of telescopes and planetary probes, including ESO's Very Large Telescope, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, ESA's XMM-Newton Telescope and Cassini-Huygens or Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

The stagnation-point flow towards a shrinking sheet with homogeneous - heterogeneous reactions effects: A stability analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ismail, Nurul Syuhada; Arifin, Norihan Md.; Bachok, Norfifah; Mahiddin, Norhasimah

2017-01-01

A numerical study is performed to evaluate the problem of stagnation - point flow towards a shrinking sheet with homogeneous - heterogeneous reaction effects. By using non-similar transformation, the governing equations be able to reduced to an ordinary differential equation. Then, results of the equations can be obtained numerically by shooting method with maple implementation. Based on the numerical results obtained, the velocity ratio parameter λ< 0, the dual solutions do exist. Then, the stability analysis is carried out to determine which solution is more stable between both of the solutions by bvp4c solver in Matlab.

Unsteady boundary layer rotating flow and heat transfer in a copper-water nanofluid over a shrinking sheet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dzulkifli, Nor Fadhilah; Bachok, Norfifah; Yacob, Nor Azizah; Arifin, Norihan Md; Rosali, Haliza

2017-04-01

The study of unsteady three-dimensional boundary layer rotating flow with heat transfer in Copper-water nanofluid over a shrinking sheet is discussed. The governing equations in terms of partial differential equations are transformed to ordinary differential equations by introducing the appropriate similarity variables which are then solved numerically by a shooting method with Maple software. The numerical results of velocity gradient in x and y directions, skin friction coefficient and local Nusselt number as well as dual velocity and temperature profiles are shown graphically. The study revealed that dual solutions exist in certain range of s > 0.

Dual solutions of three-dimensional flow and heat transfer over a non-linearly stretching/shrinking sheet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naganthran, Kohilavani; Nazar, Roslinda; Pop, Ioan

2018-05-01

This study investigated the influence of the non-linearly stretching/shrinking sheet on the boundary layer flow and heat transfer. A proper similarity transformation simplified the system of partial differential equations into a system of ordinary differential equations. This system of similarity equations is then solved numerically by using the bvp4c function in the MATLAB software. The generated numerical results presented graphically and discussed in the relevance of the governing parameters. Dual solutions found as the sheet stretched and shrunk in the horizontal direction. Stability analysis showed that the first solution is physically realizable whereas the second solution is not practicable.

Active clearance control system for a turbomachine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnston, R. P.; Knapp, M. H.; Coulson, C. E. (Inventor)

1982-01-01

An axial compressor is provided with a cooling air manifold surrounding a portion of the shroud, and means for bleeding air from the compressor to the manifold for selectively flowing it in a modulating manner axially along the outer side of the stator/shroud to cool and shrink it during steady state operating conditions so as to obtain minimum shroud/rotor clearance conditions. Provision is also made to selectively divert the flow of cooling air from the manifold during transient periods of operation so as to alter the thermal growth or shrink rate of the stator/shroud and result in adequate clearance with the compressor rotor.

Method for making conductors for ferrite memory arrays. [from pre-formed metal conductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heckler, C. H.; Baba, P. D.; Bhiwandker, N. C. (Inventor)

1974-01-01

The ferrite memory arrays are made from pre-formed metal conductors for the ferrite arrays. The conductors are made by forming a thin sheet of a metallizing paste of metal alloy powder, drying the paste layer, bisque firing the dried sheet at a first temperature, and then punching the conductors from the fired sheet. During the bisque firing, the conductor sheet shrinks to 58 percent of its pre-fired volume and the alloy particles sinter together. The conductors are embedded in ferrite sheet material and finally fired at a second higher temperature during which firing the conductors shrink approximately the same degree as the ferrite material.

Why Y chromosome is shorter and women live longer?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biecek, P.; Cebrat, S.

2008-09-01

We have used the Penna ageing model to analyze how the differences in evolution of sex chromosomes depend on the strategy of reproduction. In panmictic populations, when females (XX) can freely choose the male partner (XY) for reproduction from the whole population, the Y chromosome accumulates defects and eventually the only information it brings is a male sex determination. As a result of shrinking Y chromosome the male genomes de facto loose one copy of the X chromosome information and, as a result, males are characterized by higher mortality, observed also in the human populations. If it is assumed in the model that the presence of the male is indispensable at least during the pregnancy of his female partner and he cannot be seduced by another female at least during the one reproduction cycle-the Y chromosome preserves its content, does not shrink and the lifespan of females and males is the same. Thus, Y chromosome shrinks not because of existing in one copy, without the possibility of recombination, but because it stays under weaker selection pressure; in panmictic populations without the necessity of being faithful, a considerable fraction of males is dispensable and they can be eliminated from the population without reducing its reproduction potential.

Urban shrinkage in Germany and the USA: a comparison of transformation patterns and local strategies.

PubMed

Wiechmann, Thorsten; Pallagst, Karina M

2012-01-01

Many American and European cities have to deal with demographic and economic trajectories leading to urban shrinkage. According to official data, 13% of urban regions in the US and 54% of those in the EU have lost population in recent years. However, the extent and spatial distribution of declining populations differ significantly between Europe and the US. In Germany, the situation is driven by falling birth rates and the effects of German reunification. In the US, shrinkage is basically related to long-term industrial transformation. But the challenges of shrinking cities seldom appeared on the agendas of politicians and urban planners until recently. This article provides a critical overview of the development paths and local strategies of four shrinking cities: Schwedt and Dresden in eastern Germany; Youngstown and Pittsburgh in the US. A typology of urban growth and shrinkage, from economic and demographic perspectives, enables four types of city to be differentiated and the differences between the US and eastern Germany to be discussed. The article suggests that a new transatlantic debate on policy and planning strategies for restructuring shrinking cities is needed to overcome the dominant growth orientation that in most cases intensifies the negative consequences of shrinkage.

The shrinking mining city: urban dynamics and contested territory.

PubMed

Martinez-Fernandez, Cristina; Wu, Chung-Tong; Schatz, Laura K; Taira, Nobuhisa; Vargas-Hernández, José G

2012-01-01

Shrinking mining cities — once prosperous settlements servicing a mining site or a system of mining sites — are characterized by long-term population and/or economic decline. Many of these towns experience periods of growth and shrinkage, mirroring the ebbs and flows of international mineral markets which determine the fortunes of the dominant mining corporation upon which each of these towns heavily depends. This dependence on one main industry produces a parallel development in the fluctuations of both workforce and population. Thus, the strategies of the main company in these towns can, to a great extent, determine future developments and have a great impact on urban management plans. Climate conditions, knowledge, education and health services, as well as transportation links, are important factors that have impacted on lifestyles in mining cities, but it is the parallel development with the private sector operators (often a single corporation) that constitutes the distinctive feature of these cities and that ultimately defines their shrinkage. This article discusses shrinking mining cities in capitalist economies, the factors underpinning their development, and some of the planning and community challenges faced by these cities in Australia, Canada, Japan and Mexico.

Barely Bisected Rings

NASA Image and Video Library

2016-09-12

Saturn's shadow stretched beyond the edge of its rings for many years after Cassini first arrived at Saturn, casting an ever-lengthening shadow that reached its maximum extent at the planet's 2009 equinox. This image captured the moment in 2015 when the shrinking shadow just barely reached across the entire main ring system. The shadow will continue to shrink until the planet's northern summer solstice, at which point it will once again start lengthening across the rings, reaching across them in 2019. Like Earth, Saturn is tilted on its axis. And, just as on Earth, as the sun climbs higher in the sky, shadows get shorter. The projection of the planet's shadow onto the rings shrinks and grows over the course of its 29-year-long orbit, as the angle of the sun changes with respect to Saturn's equator. This view looks toward the sunlit side of the rings from about 11 degrees above the ring plane. The image was taken in visible light with the Cassini spacecraft wide-angle camera on Jan. 16, 2015. The view was obtained at a distance of approximately 1.6 million miles (2.5 million kilometers) from Saturn. Image scale is about 90 miles (150 kilometers) per pixel. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20498

Identification of a keratinase-producing bacterial strain and enzymatic study for its improvement on shrink resistance and tensile strength of wool- and polyester-blended fabric.

PubMed

Cai, Shao-Bo; Huang, Zheng-Hua; Zhang, Xing-Qun; Cao, Zhang-Jun; Zhou, Mei-Hua; Hong, Feng

2011-01-01

A wool-degrading bacterium was isolated from decomposition wool fabrics in China. The strain, named 3096-4, showed excellent capability of removing cuticle layer of wool fibers, as demonstrated by removing cuticle layer completely within 48 h. According to the phenotypic characteristics and 16S rRNA profile, the isolate was classified as Pseudomonas. Bacteria growth and keratinase activity of the isolate were determined during cultivation on raw wool at different temperatures, initial pH, and rotation speed using orthogonal matrix method. Maximum growth and keratinase activity of the bacterium were observed under the condition including 30 °C, initial pH 7.6, and rotational speeds 160 rpm. The keratinase-containing crude enzyme prepared from 3096-4 was evaluated in the treatment of wool fabrics. The optimal condition of our enzymatic improvement of shrink resistance was the combination of 30 °C, initial pH 7.6, and rotation speeds 160 rpm. After the optimized treatment, the wool fabrics felting shrink was 4.1% at 6 h, and textile strength was not lost.

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

Mruetusatorn, Prachya; Boreyko, Jonathan B; Sarles, Stephen A

Droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) are a powerful platform for studying the dynamics of synthetic cellular membranes; however, very little has been done to exploit the unique dynamical features of DIBs. Here, we generate microscale droplet interface bilayers ( DIBs) by bringing together femtoliter-volume water droplets in a microfluidic oil channel, and characterize morphological changes of the DIBs as the droplets shrink due to evaporation. By varying the initial conditions of the system, we identify three distinct classes of dynamic morphology. (1) Buckling and Fission: When forming DIBs using the lipid-out method (lipids in oil phase), lipids in the shrinking monolayersmore » continually pair together and slide into the bilayer to conserve their mass. As the bilayer continues to grow, it becomes confined, buckles, and eventually fissions one or more vesicles. (2) Uniform Shrinking: When using the lipid-in method (lipids in water phase) to form DIBs, lipids uniformly transfer from the monolayers and bilayer into vesicles contained inside the water droplets. (3) Stretching and Unzipping: Finally, when the droplets are pinned to the wall(s) of the microfluidic channel, the droplets become stretched during evaporation, culminating in the unzipping of the bilayer and droplet separation. These findings offer a better understanding of the dynamics of coupled lipid interfaces.« less

Finite Element Solution of Unsteady Mixed Convection Flow of Micropolar Fluid over a Porous Shrinking Sheet

PubMed Central

Gupta, Diksha; Singh, Bani

2014-01-01

The objective of this investigation is to analyze the effect of unsteadiness on the mixed convection boundary layer flow of micropolar fluid over a permeable shrinking sheet in the presence of viscous dissipation. At the sheet a variable distribution of suction is assumed. The unsteadiness in the flow and temperature fields is caused by the time dependence of the shrinking velocity and surface temperature. With the aid of similarity transformations, the governing partial differential equations are transformed into a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations, which are solved numerically, using variational finite element method. The influence of important physical parameters, namely, suction parameter, unsteadiness parameter, buoyancy parameter and Eckert number on the velocity, microrotation, and temperature functions is investigated and analyzed with the help of their graphical representations. Additionally skin friction and the rate of heat transfer have also been computed. Under special conditions, an exact solution for the flow velocity is compared with the numerical results obtained by finite element method. An excellent agreement is observed for the two sets of solutions. Furthermore, to verify the convergence of numerical results, calculations are conducted with increasing number of elements. PMID:24672310

Towards a mechanistic foundation of evolutionary theory.

PubMed

Doebeli, Michael; Ispolatov, Yaroslav; Simon, Burt

2017-02-15

Most evolutionary thinking is based on the notion of fitness and related ideas such as fitness landscapes and evolutionary optima. Nevertheless, it is often unclear what fitness actually is, and its meaning often depends on the context. Here we argue that fitness should not be a basal ingredient in verbal or mathematical descriptions of evolution. Instead, we propose that evolutionary birth-death processes, in which individuals give birth and die at ever-changing rates, should be the basis of evolutionary theory, because such processes capture the fundamental events that generate evolutionary dynamics. In evolutionary birth-death processes, fitness is at best a derived quantity, and owing to the potential complexity of such processes, there is no guarantee that there is a simple scalar, such as fitness, that would describe long-term evolutionary outcomes. We discuss how evolutionary birth-death processes can provide useful perspectives on a number of central issues in evolution.

Dual-Shell Fluorescent Nanoparticles for Self-Monitoring of pH-Responsive Molecule-Releasing in a Visualized Way.

PubMed

Yang, Lingang; Cui, Chuanfeng; Wang, Lingzhi; Lei, Juying; Zhang, Jinlong

2016-07-27

The rational design and controlled synthesis of a smart device with flexibly tailored response ability is all along desirable for bioapplication but long remains a considerable challenge. Here, a pH-stimulated valve system with a visualized "on-off" mode is constructed through a dual-shell fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) strategy. The dual shells refer to carbon dots and fluorescent molecules embedded polymethacrylic acid (F-PMAA) layers successively coating around a SiO2 core (ca. 120 nm), which play the roles as energy donor and acceptor, respectively. The total thickness of the dual-shell in the solid composite is ca. 10 nm. The priorities of this dual-shell FRET nanovalve stem from three facts: (1) the thin shell allows the formation of efficient FRET system without chemical bonding between energy donor and acceptor; (2) the maximum emission wavelength of CD layer is tunable in the range of 400-600 nm, thus providing a flexible energy donor for a wide variety of energy acceptors; (3) the outer F-PMAA shell with a pH-sensitive swelling-shrinking (on-off) behavior functions as a valve for regulating the FRET process. As such, a sensitive and stable pH ratiometric sensor with a working pH range of 3-6 has been built by simply encapsulating pH-responsive fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) into PMAA; a pH-dependent swelling-shrinking shuttle carrier with a finely controllable molecule-release behavior has been further fabricated using rhodamine B isothiocyanate (RBITC) as the energy donor and model guest molecule. Significantly, the controlled releasing process is visually self-monitorable.

Optical slicing and 3-D characterization of hippocampal capillaries in the rat visualized by autometallographic silver enhancement of colloidal gold particles.

PubMed

Andreasen, A; Danscher, G

1997-10-01

In order to visualize the vascular system of the rat brain, 10 Wistar rats were perfused transcardially with glutaraldehyde and a 40 degrees C gold-gelatine solution. The brains were post-fixed with glutaraldehyde and vibratomized into 100-micron-thick slices, and the gold particles were developed by autometallography. In this way, the colloidal gold particles in the vessels became encased in silver and thereby made visible. The developed gold staining is stable and does not interfere with further dehydration and counterstaining. Images were frame grabbed during optical slicing, and classic stereograms and 'shadow' 3-D images were produced. We found a high variation of capillary density in the hippocampal region reflecting known subregional structures. The silver-enhanced vessels acted as natural markers and made it possible to study and measure aspects of the complexity of dehydration and staining artifacts. We found a non-linear shrinking of 13-17% in the x- and y-directions and a spatial shrinking up to 50% in some regions after the dehydration and staining process. This observation may be of interest not only in relation to tissue subjected to this fixation protocol but also to other fixation procedures. The gold-gelatine autometallographic technique and the present stereograms can release data for stereological use as well.

Structural phase transitions of (Bi 1$-$xSb x ) 2(Te 1$-$y Se y) 3 compounds under high pressure and the influence of the atomic radius on the compression processes of tetradymites

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

Zhao, Jinggeng; Yu, Zhenhai; Hu, Qingyang

Recently, A 2B 3-type tetradymites have developed into a hot topic in physical and material research fields, where the A and B atoms represent V and VI group elements, respectively. In this study, in situ angle-dispersive X-ray diffraction measurements were performed on Bi 2Te 2Se, BiSbTeSe 2, and Sb 2Te 2Se tetradymites under high pressure. Bi 2Te 2Se transforms from a layered rhombohedral structure (phase I) into 7-fold monoclinic (phase II) and body-centered tetragonal (phase IV) structures at about 8.0 and 14.3 GPa, respectively, without an 8-fold monoclinic structure (phase III) similar to that in Bi 2Te 3. Thus, themore » compression behavior of Bi 2Te 2Se is the same as that of Bi 2Se 3, which could also be obtained from first-principles calculations and in situ high-pressure electrical resistance measurements. Under high pressure, BiSbTeSe 2 and Sb 2Te 2Se undergo similar structural phase transitions to Bi 2Te 2Se, which indicates that the compression process of tellurides can be modulated by doping Se in Te sites. According to these high-pressure investigations of A 2B 3-type tetradymites, the decrease of the B-site atomic radius shrinks the stable pressure range of phase III and expands that of phase II, whereas the decrease of the A-site atomic radius induces a different effect, i.e. expanding the stable pressure range of phase III and shrinking that of phase II. Lastly, the influence of the atomic radius on the compression process of tetradymites is closely related to the chemical composition and the atom arrangement in the quintuple layer.« less

Structural phase transitions of (Bi 1$-$xSb x ) 2(Te 1$-$y Se y) 3 compounds under high pressure and the influence of the atomic radius on the compression processes of tetradymites

DOE PAGES

Zhao, Jinggeng; Yu, Zhenhai; Hu, Qingyang; ...

2016-12-14

Recently, A 2B 3-type tetradymites have developed into a hot topic in physical and material research fields, where the A and B atoms represent V and VI group elements, respectively. In this study, in situ angle-dispersive X-ray diffraction measurements were performed on Bi 2Te 2Se, BiSbTeSe 2, and Sb 2Te 2Se tetradymites under high pressure. Bi 2Te 2Se transforms from a layered rhombohedral structure (phase I) into 7-fold monoclinic (phase II) and body-centered tetragonal (phase IV) structures at about 8.0 and 14.3 GPa, respectively, without an 8-fold monoclinic structure (phase III) similar to that in Bi 2Te 3. Thus, themore » compression behavior of Bi 2Te 2Se is the same as that of Bi 2Se 3, which could also be obtained from first-principles calculations and in situ high-pressure electrical resistance measurements. Under high pressure, BiSbTeSe 2 and Sb 2Te 2Se undergo similar structural phase transitions to Bi 2Te 2Se, which indicates that the compression process of tellurides can be modulated by doping Se in Te sites. According to these high-pressure investigations of A 2B 3-type tetradymites, the decrease of the B-site atomic radius shrinks the stable pressure range of phase III and expands that of phase II, whereas the decrease of the A-site atomic radius induces a different effect, i.e. expanding the stable pressure range of phase III and shrinking that of phase II. Lastly, the influence of the atomic radius on the compression process of tetradymites is closely related to the chemical composition and the atom arrangement in the quintuple layer.« less

Precipitate resolution in an electron irradiated ni-si alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, H.; Muroga, T.; Yoshida, N.; Kitajima, K.

1988-09-01

Precipitate resolution processes in a Ni-12.6 at% Si alloy under electron irradiation have been observed by means of HVEM. Above 400°C, growth and resolution of Ni 3Si precipitates were observed simultaneously. The detail stereoscopic observation showed that the precipitates close to free surfaces grew, while those in the middle of a specimen dissolved. The critical dose when the precipitates start to shrink increases with increasing the depth. This depth dependence of the precipitate behavior under irradiation has a close relation with the formation of surface precipitates and the growth of solute depleted zone beneath them. The temperature and dose dependence of the resolution rate showed that the precipitates in the solute depleted zone dissolved by the interface controlled process of radiation-enhanced diffusion.

Intelligent laser soldering inspection and process control

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vanzetti, Riccardo

1987-01-01

Component assembly on printed circuitry keeps making giant strides toward denser packaging and smaller dimensions. From a single layer to multilayer, from through holes to surface mounted components and tape applied bonds, unrelenting progress results in new, difficult problems in assembling, soldering, inspecting and controlling the manufacturing process of the new electronics. Among the major problems are the variables introduced by human operators. The small dimensions and the tight assembly tolerances are now successfully met by machines which are faster and more precise than the human hand. The same is true for soldering. But visual inspection of the solder joints is now so severely limited by the ever shrinking area accessible to the human eye that the inspector's diagnosis cannot be trusted any longer. Solutions to correcting these problems are discussed.

The effect of thermomechanical processing on second phase particle redistribution in U-10 wt%Mo

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

Hu, Xiaohua; Wang, Xiaowo; Joshi, Vineet V.

2018-03-01

The multi-pass hot-rolling process of an annealed uranium-10 wt% molybdenum coupon was studied by plane-strain compression finite element modeling. Two point correlation function (2PCF) was used to analyze the carbide particle distribution after each rolling reduction. The hot rolling simulation results show that the alignment of UC particles along grain boundaries will rotate during rolling until it is parallel to the rolling direction, to form stringer-like distributions which are typically observed in rolled products that contain inclusions. 2PCF analysis of simulation shows that the interparticle spacing shrinks along the normal direction. The number of major peaks of 2PCF along NDmore » decreases after large reduction. The locations of major peaks indicate the inter-stringer distances.« less

Mask manufacturing of advanced technology designs using multi-beam lithography (Part 1)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Green, Michael; Ham, Young; Dillon, Brian; Kasprowicz, Bryan; Hur, Ik Boum; Park, Joong Hee; Choi, Yohan; McMurran, Jeff; Kamberian, Henry; Chalom, Daniel; Klikovits, Jan; Jurkovic, Michal; Hudek, Peter

2016-10-01

As optical lithography is extended into 10nm and below nodes, advanced designs are becoming a key challenge for mask manufacturers. Techniques including advanced Optical Proximity Correction (OPC) and Inverse Lithography Technology (ILT) result in structures that pose a range of issues across the mask manufacturing process. Among the new challenges are continued shrinking Sub-Resolution Assist Features (SRAFs), curvilinear SRAFs, and other complex mask geometries that are counter-intuitive relative to the desired wafer pattern. Considerable capability improvements over current mask making methods are necessary to meet the new requirements particularly regarding minimum feature resolution and pattern fidelity. Advanced processes using the IMS Multi-beam Mask Writer (MBMW) are feasible solutions to these coming challenges. In this paper, we study one such process, characterizing mask manufacturing capability of 10nm and below structures with particular focus on minimum resolution and pattern fidelity.

Mask manufacturing of advanced technology designs using multi-beam lithography (part 2)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Green, Michael; Ham, Young; Dillon, Brian; Kasprowicz, Bryan; Hur, Ik Boum; Park, Joong Hee; Choi, Yohan; McMurran, Jeff; Kamberian, Henry; Chalom, Daniel; Klikovits, Jan; Jurkovic, Michal; Hudek, Peter

2016-09-01

As optical lithography is extended into 10nm and below nodes, advanced designs are becoming a key challenge for mask manufacturers. Techniques including advanced optical proximity correction (OPC) and Inverse Lithography Technology (ILT) result in structures that pose a range of issues across the mask manufacturing process. Among the new challenges are continued shrinking sub-resolution assist features (SRAFs), curvilinear SRAFs, and other complex mask geometries that are counter-intuitive relative to the desired wafer pattern. Considerable capability improvements over current mask making methods are necessary to meet the new requirements particularly regarding minimum feature resolution and pattern fidelity. Advanced processes using the IMS Multi-beam Mask Writer (MBMW) are feasible solutions to these coming challenges. In this paper, Part 2 of our study, we further characterize an MBMW process for 10nm and below logic node mask manufacturing including advanced pattern analysis and write time demonstration.

Collective dynamics during cell division

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zapperi, Stefano; Bertalan, Zsolt; Budrikis, Zoe; La Porta, Caterina A. M.

In order to correctly divide, cells have to move all their chromosomes at the center, a process known as congression. This task is performed by the combined action of molecular motors and randomly growing and shrinking microtubules. Chromosomes are captured by growing microtubules and transported by motors using the same microtubules as tracks. Coherent motion occurs as a result of a large collection of random and deterministic dynamical events. Understanding this process is important since a failure in chromosome segregation can lead to chromosomal instability one of the hallmarks of cancer. We describe this complex process in a three dimensional computational model involving thousands of microtubules. The results show that coherent and robust chromosome congression can only happen if the total number of microtubules is neither too small, nor too large. Our results allow for a coherent interpretation a variety of biological factors already associated in the past with chromosomal instability and related pathological conditions.

Understanding force-generating microtubule systems through in vitro reconstitution

PubMed Central

Kok, Maurits; Dogterom, Marileen

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Microtubules switch between growing and shrinking states, a feature known as dynamic instability. The biochemical parameters underlying dynamic instability are modulated by a wide variety of microtubule-associated proteins that enable the strict control of microtubule dynamics in cells. The forces generated by controlled growth and shrinkage of microtubules drive a large range of processes, including organelle positioning, mitotic spindle assembly, and chromosome segregation. In the past decade, our understanding of microtubule dynamics and microtubule force generation has progressed significantly. Here, we review the microtubule-intrinsic process of dynamic instability, the effect of external factors on this process, and how the resulting forces act on various biological systems. Recently, reconstitution-based approaches have strongly benefited from extensive biochemical and biophysical characterization of individual components that are involved in regulating or transmitting microtubule-driven forces. We will focus on the current state of reconstituting increasingly complex biological systems and provide new directions for future developments. PMID:27715396

Process optimization and kinetics for leaching of rare earth metals from the spent Ni-metal hydride batteries.

PubMed

Meshram, Pratima; Pandey, B D; Mankhand, T R

2016-05-01

Nickel-metal hydride batteries (Ni-MH) contain not only the base metals, but valuable rare earth metals (REMs) viz. La, Sm, Nd, Pr and Ce as well. In view of the importance of resource recycling and assured supply of the contained metals in such wastes, the present study has focussed on the leaching of the rare earth metals from the spent Ni-MH batteries. The conditions for the leaching of REMs from the spent batteries were optimized as: 2M H2SO4, 348K temperature and 120min of time at a pulp density (PD) of 100g/L. Under this condition, the leaching of 98.1% Nd, 98.4% Sm, 95.5% Pr and 89.4% Ce was achieved. Besides the rare earth metals, more than 90% of base metals (Ni, Co, Mn and Zn) were also leached out in this condition. Kinetic data for the dissolution of all the rare earth metals showed the best fit to the chemical control shrinking core model. The leaching of metals followed the mechanism involving the chemical reaction proceeding on the surface of particles by the lixiviant, which was corroborated by the XRD phase analysis and SEM-EDS studies. The activation energy of 7.6, 6.3, 11.3 and 13.5kJ/mol was acquired for the leaching of neodymium, samarium, praseodymium and cerium, respectively in the temperature range 305-348K. From the leach liquor, the mixed rare earth metals were precipitated at pH∼1.8 and the precipitated REMs was analyzed by XRD and SEM studies to determine the phases and the morphological features. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Amoeba-inspired Tug-of-War algorithms for exploration-exploitation dilemma in extended Bandit Problem.

PubMed

Aono, Masashi; Kim, Song-Ju; Hara, Masahiko; Munakata, Toshinori

2014-03-01

The true slime mold Physarum polycephalum, a single-celled amoeboid organism, is capable of efficiently allocating a constant amount of intracellular resource to its pseudopod-like branches that best fit the environment where dynamic light stimuli are applied. Inspired by the resource allocation process, the authors formulated a concurrent search algorithm, called the Tug-of-War (TOW) model, for maximizing the profit in the multi-armed Bandit Problem (BP). A player (gambler) of the BP should decide as quickly and accurately as possible which slot machine to invest in out of the N machines and faces an "exploration-exploitation dilemma." The dilemma is a trade-off between the speed and accuracy of the decision making that are conflicted objectives. The TOW model maintains a constant intracellular resource volume while collecting environmental information by concurrently expanding and shrinking its branches. The conservation law entails a nonlocal correlation among the branches, i.e., volume increment in one branch is immediately compensated by volume decrement(s) in the other branch(es). Owing to this nonlocal correlation, the TOW model can efficiently manage the dilemma. In this study, we extend the TOW model to apply it to a stretched variant of BP, the Extended Bandit Problem (EBP), which is a problem of selecting the best M-tuple of the N machines. We demonstrate that the extended TOW model exhibits better performances for 2-tuple-3-machine and 2-tuple-4-machine instances of EBP compared with the extended versions of well-known algorithms for BP, the ϵ-Greedy and SoftMax algorithms, particularly in terms of its short-term decision-making capability that is essential for the survival of the amoeba in a hostile environment. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effect of filler content and processing variables on dimensional accuracy of experimental composite inlay material.

PubMed

Razak, A A; Harrison, A

1997-04-01

Dimensional accuracy of a composite inlay restoration is important to ensure an accurate fit and to minimize cementation stresses. A method was developed to measure dimensional accuracy and stability of a composite inlay. A standard Class II (MOD) inlay cavity stainless steel mold was made with six circular indentations placed on the occlusal floor of the cavity and four indentations on each gingival floor to act as datum points in the measurement of linear polymerization shrinkage. The inlay restorations were prepared from an inlay-onlay composite material of different filler contents (50%, 65%, and 79% by weight). For each filler content group, three curing methods were used: light curing only, light curing and heat curing at 100 degrees C for 5 minutes, and light curing and heat curing at 100 degrees C for 5 minutes and then storage in distilled water for 7 days. The accuracy of the MOD inlays was determined by measuring the shrinkage of the restoration on the occlusal floor areas and the gingival seats. The results demonstrated an inverse linear relationship between filler content and polymerization shrinkage. There was a tendency for the light-curing and heat-curing method to show an increase in polymerization shrinkage. An expansion was recorded between the mesial and distal boxes when the specimens were soaked in water for 7 days. This study suggested that the inlay mold limits the physical shrinkage that can occur between the mesial and distal axial walls of the inlay restoration because the inlay cannot shrink to a smaller dimension than the mold. Water sorption then causes hygroscopic expansion, which enlarges the distance between the mesial and distal walls.

Photoinduced Reactions of Benzophenone in Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene.

PubMed

Levin, Peter P; Efremkin, Alexei F; Krivandin, Aleksey V; Lomakin, Sergei M; Shatalova, Olga V; Khudyakov, Igor V

2018-05-03

The photoinduced reactions of benzophenone (B) in biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) were studied with nanosecond laser photolysis (N 2 laser, λ337.1 nm). The first observed transient was a triplet state 3 B*. Decay of 3 B* led to formation of a radical pair (RP) of BH • and R • , where R • is a radical formed by hydrogen abstraction from BOPP (RH) by 3 B*. We studied BOPP after the preheating for a short time in a temperature range 298-423 K, which is essentially lower than its melting point of 453 K. All measurements with not-heated and with preheated (annealed) BOPP were made at 298 K. A radical pair (RP) apparently decays as a contact pair 3 [BH • , R • ] in nonheated BOPP. A critical phenomenon takes place: dissociation of RP with a formation of free radicals in the polymer bulk is observed at preheating temperature T crit ≈ 403 K and at a higher T. The physical process of heating and cooling of BOPP apparently resulted in the restructuring of crystallites, their agglomeration, shrinking of the distribution of crystallites according to their sizes in BOPP. Overall BOPP becomes softer which manifests itself in the radical kinetics. The decay kinetics of 3 B* and RP in the cage fits well the first-order law. Rate constants were obtained. Radicals BH • , which exit into the polymer bulk at temperatures of preheating T ≥ 403 K, decay by cross-termination according to the second-order law. A relatively high rate constant ∼10 8 M -1 ·s -1 for this reaction was obtained due to diffusion of BH • enclosed in the soft amorphous phase of BOPP. Properties of BOPP containing B were studied with ESR, DSC, IR, and WAXD.

Ending the CEO succession crisis.

PubMed

Charan, Ram

2005-02-01

The CEO succession process is broken. Many companies have no meaningful succession plans, and few of the ones that do are happy with them. CEO tenure is shrinking; in fact, two out of five CEOs fail in their first 18 months. It isn't just that more CEOs are being replaced; it's that they're being replaced badly. The problems extend to every aspect of CEO succession: internal development programs, board supervision, and outside recruitment. While many organizations do a decent job of nurturing middle managers, few have set up the comprehensive programs needed to find the half-dozen true CEO candidates out of the thousands of leaders in their midst. Even more damaging is the failure of boards to devote enough attention to succession. Search committee members often have no experience hiring CEOs; lacking guidance, they supply either the narrowest or the most general of requirements and then fail to vet eitherthe candidates or the recruiters. The result is that too often new CEOs are plucked from the well-worn Rolodexes of a remarkably small number of recruiters. These candidates may be strong in charisma but may lack critical skills or otherwise be a bad fit with the company. The resulting high turnover is particularly damaging, since outside CEOs often bring in their own teams, can cause the company to lose focus, and are especially costly to be rid of. Drawing on over 35 years of experience with CEO succession, the author explains how companies can create a deep pool of internal candidates, how boards can consistently align strategy and leadership development, and how directors can get their money's worth from recruiters. Choosing a CEO should be not one decision but an amalgam ofthousands of decisions made by many people every day over years.

Simultaneous overlay and CD measurement for double patterning: scatterometry and RCWA approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jie; Liu, Zhuan; Rabello, Silvio; Dasari, Prasad; Kritsun, Oleg; Volkman, Catherine; Park, Jungchul; Singh, Lovejeet

2009-03-01

As optical lithography advances to 32 nm technology node and beyond, double patterning technology (DPT) has emerged as an attractive solution to circumvent the fundamental optical limitations. DPT poses unique demands on critical dimension (CD) uniformity and overlay control, making the tolerance decrease much faster than the rate at which critical dimension shrinks. This, in turn, makes metrology even more challenging. In the past, multi-pad diffractionbased overlay (DBO) using empirical approach has been shown to be an effective approach to measure overlay error associated with double patterning [1]. In this method, registration errors for double patterning were extracted from specially designed diffraction targets (three or four pads for each direction); CD variation is assumed negligible within each group of adjacent pads and not addressed in the measurement. In another paper, encouraging results were reported with a first attempt at simultaneously extracting overlay and CD parameters using scatterometry [2]. In this work, we apply scatterometry with a rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) approach to characterize two double-patterning processes: litho-etch-litho-etch (LELE) and litho-freeze-litho-etch (LFLE). The advantage of performing rigorous modeling is to reduce the number of pads within each measurement target, thus reducing space requirement and improving throughput, and simultaneously extract CD and overlay information. This method measures overlay errors and CDs by fitting the optical signals with spectra calculated from a model of the targets. Good correlation is obtained between the results from this method and that of several reference techniques, including empirical multi-pad DBO, CD-SEM, and IBO. We also perform total measurement uncertainty (TMU) analysis to evaluate the overall performance. We demonstrate that scatterometry provides a promising solution to meet the challenging overlay metrology requirement in DPT.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Attentional Control in the Aging Brain

PubMed Central

Prakash, Ruchika Shaurya; Voss, Michelle W.; Erickson, Kirk I.; Lewis, Jason M.; Chaddock, Laura; Malkowski, Edward; Alves, Heloisa; Kim, Jennifer; Szabo, Amanda; White, Siobhan M.; Wójcicki, Thomas R.; Klamm, Emily L.; McAuley, Edward; Kramer, Arthur F.

2011-01-01

A growing body of literature provides evidence for the prophylactic influence of cardiorespiratory fitness on cognitive decline in older adults. This study examined the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and recruitment of the neural circuits involved in an attentional control task in a group of healthy older adults. Employing a version of the Stroop task, we examined whether higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with an increase in activation in cortical regions responsible for imposing attentional control along with an up-regulation of activity in sensory brain regions that process task-relevant representations. Higher fitness levels were associated with better behavioral performance and an increase in the recruitment of prefrontal and parietal cortices in the most challenging condition, thus providing evidence that cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with an increase in the recruitment of the anterior processing regions. There was a top-down modulation of extrastriate visual areas that process both task-relevant and task-irrelevant attributes relative to the baseline. However, fitness was not associated with differential activation in the posterior processing regions, suggesting that fitness enhances attentional function by primarily influencing the neural circuitry of anterior cortical regions. This study provides novel evidence of a differential association of fitness with anterior and posterior brain regions, shedding further light onto the neural changes accompanying cardiorespiratory fitness. PMID:21267428

Predictive Simulation of Process Windows for Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing: Influence of the Powder Bulk Density.

PubMed

Rausch, Alexander M; Küng, Vera E; Pobel, Christoph; Markl, Matthias; Körner, Carolin

2017-09-22

The resulting properties of parts fabricated by powder bed fusion additive manufacturing processes are determined by their porosity, local composition, and microstructure. The objective of this work is to examine the influence of the stochastic powder bed on the process window for dense parts by means of numerical simulation. The investigations demonstrate the unique capability of simulating macroscopic domains in the range of millimeters with a mesoscopic approach, which resolves the powder bed and the hydrodynamics of the melt pool. A simulated process window reveals the influence of the stochastic powder layer. The numerical results are verified with an experimental process window for selective electron beam-melted Ti-6Al-4V. Furthermore, the influence of the powder bulk density is investigated numerically. The simulations predict an increase in porosity and surface roughness for samples produced with lower powder bulk densities. Due to its higher probability for unfavorable powder arrangements, the process stability is also decreased. This shrinks the actual parameter range in a process window for producing dense parts.

Predictive Simulation of Process Windows for Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing: Influence of the Powder Bulk Density

PubMed Central

Rausch, Alexander M.; Küng, Vera E.; Pobel, Christoph; Körner, Carolin

2017-01-01

The resulting properties of parts fabricated by powder bed fusion additive manufacturing processes are determined by their porosity, local composition, and microstructure. The objective of this work is to examine the influence of the stochastic powder bed on the process window for dense parts by means of numerical simulation. The investigations demonstrate the unique capability of simulating macroscopic domains in the range of millimeters with a mesoscopic approach, which resolves the powder bed and the hydrodynamics of the melt pool. A simulated process window reveals the influence of the stochastic powder layer. The numerical results are verified with an experimental process window for selective electron beam-melted Ti-6Al-4V. Furthermore, the influence of the powder bulk density is investigated numerically. The simulations predict an increase in porosity and surface roughness for samples produced with lower powder bulk densities. Due to its higher probability for unfavorable powder arrangements, the process stability is also decreased. This shrinks the actual parameter range in a process window for producing dense parts. PMID:28937633

A theoretical study of the spheroidal droplet evaporation in forced convection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jie; Zhang, Jian

2014-11-01

In many applications, the shape of a droplet may be assumed to be an oblate spheroid. A theoretical study is conducted on the evaporation of an oblate spheroidal droplet under forced convection conditions. Closed-form analytical expressions of the mass evaporation rate for an oblate spheroid are derived, in the regime of controlled mass-transfer and heat-transfer, respectively. The variation of droplet size during the evaporation process is presented in the regime of shrinking dynamic model. Comparing with the droplets having the same surface area, an increase in the aspect ratio enhances the mass evaporation rate and prolongs the burnout time.

Shrinking of silicon nanocrystals embedded in an amorphous silicon oxide matrix during rapid thermal annealing in a forming gas atmosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Sebille, M.; Fusi, A.; Xie, L.; Ali, H.; van Swaaij, R. A. C. M. M.; Leifer, K.; Zeman, M.

2016-09-01

We report the effect of hydrogen on the crystallization process of silicon nanocrystals embedded in a silicon oxide matrix. We show that hydrogen gas during annealing leads to a lower sub-band gap absorption, indicating passivation of defects created during annealing. Samples annealed in pure nitrogen show expected trends according to crystallization theory. Samples annealed in forming gas, however, deviate from this trend. Their crystallinity decreases for increased annealing time. Furthermore, we observe a decrease in the mean nanocrystal size and the size distribution broadens, indicating that hydrogen causes a size reduction of the silicon nanocrystals.

Shrink wrapping redox-active crystals of polyoxometalate open frameworks with organic polymers via crystal induced polymerisation.

PubMed

Takashima, Yohei; Miras, Haralampos N; Glatzel, Stefan; Cronin, Leroy

2016-06-14

We report examples of crystal surface modification of polyoxometalate open frameworks whereby the use of pyrrole or aniline as monomers leads to the formation of the corresponding polymers via an oxidative polymerization process initiated by the redox active POM scaffolds. Guest-exchange experiments demonstrate that the polymers can finely tune the guest exchange rate and their structural integrity is retained after the surface modifications. In addition, the formation of polyoxometalate-based self-fabricating tubes by the dissolution of Keggin-based network crystals were also modulated by the polymers, allowing a new type of hybrid inorganic polymer with an organic coating to be fabricated.

Apparatus for inspecting piping

DOEpatents

Zollingger, W. Thor; Appel, D. Keith; Park, Larry R.

1995-01-01

An inspection rabbit for inspecting piping systems having severe bends therein. The rabbit consists of a flexible, modular body containing a miniaturized eddy current inspection probe, a self-contained power supply for proper operation of the rabbit, an outer surface that allows ease of movement through piping systems and means for transmitting data generated by the inspection device. The body is preferably made of flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubing or, alternatively, silicone rubber with a shrink wrapping of polytetrafluoroethylene (TEFLON.RTM.). The body is formed to contain the power supply, preferably a plurality of batteries, and a spool of communication wire that connects to a data processing computer external to the piping system.

STS-79 Rolls over from OPF to VAB

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

A vantage point high atop the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) shrinks the size and scale of the orbiter Atlantis as it is rolled from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the VAB. During the five working days it spends inside the huge building, Atlantis will be mated to the external tank/twin solid rocket booster assembly, and then rolled out to Launch Pad 39A. Here, the SPACEHAB Double Module will be installed in the orbiter's payload bay and final launch preparations will get underway. Atlantis is scheduled for liftoff on Mission STS-79 , the fourth docking with the Russian Space Station Mir, scheduled for July 31.

Heat Source/Sink in a Magneto-Hydrodynamic Non-Newtonian Fluid Flow in a Porous Medium: Dual Solutions

PubMed Central

Hayat, Tasawar; Awais, Muhammad; Imtiaz, Amna

2016-01-01

This communication deals with the properties of heat source/sink in a magneto-hydrodynamic flow of a non-Newtonian fluid immersed in a porous medium. Shrinking phenomenon along with the permeability of the wall is considered. Mathematical modelling is performed to convert the considered physical process into set of coupled nonlinear mathematical equations. Suitable transformations are invoked to convert the set of partial differential equations into nonlinear ordinary differential equations which are tackled numerically for the solution computations. It is noted that dual solutions for various physical parameters exist which are analyzed in detail. PMID:27598314

Thyroid nodule

MedlinePlus

... has grown Another possible treatment is an ethanol (alcohol) injection into the nodule to shrink ... Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Nutrition, University of Washington School of Medicine, ...

Optimization of temperature field of tobacco heat shrink machine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Xudong; Yang, Hai; Sun, Dong; Xu, Mingyang

2018-06-01

A company currently shrinking machine in the course of the film shrinkage is not compact, uneven temperature, resulting in poor quality of the shrinkage of the surface film. To solve this problem, the simulation and optimization of the temperature field are performed by using the k-epsilon turbulence model and the MRF model in fluent. The simulation results show that after the mesh screen structure is installed at the suction inlet of the centrifugal fan, the suction resistance of the fan can be increased and the eddy current intensity caused by the high-speed rotation of the fan can be improved, so that the internal temperature continuity of the heat shrinkable machine is Stronger.

Salton Sea, California

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-09-23

The Salton Sea in south California was created in 1905 when spring flooding on the Colorado River breached a canal. For 18 months the entire volume of the river rushed into the Salton Trough, creating a lake 32 km wide and 72 km long. In the 1950s, resorts sprang up along the shores. However, shrinking of the lake and increased salinity led to the abandonment of the resorts. The two images show the shrinking lake on May 31, 1984 (Landsat) and June 14, 2015 (ASTER). The images cover an area of 37.5 x 27 km, and are located at 33.2 degrees north, 115.7 degrees west. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA19786

Apparatus for maintaining alignment of a shrinking weld joint in an electron-beam welding operation

DOEpatents

Trent, Jett B.; Murphy, Jimmy L.

1981-01-01

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for automatically maintaining a shrinking weld joint in alignment with an electron beam during an electron-beam multipass-welding operation. The apparatus utilizes a biasing device for continually urging a workpiece-supporting face plate away from a carriage mounted base that rotatably supports the face plate. The extent of displacement of the face plate away from the base is indicative of the shrinkage occuring in the weld joint area. This displacement is measured and is used to move the base on the carriage a distance equal to one-half the displacement for aligning the weld joint with the electron beam during each welding pass.

Apparatus for maintaining aligment of a shrinking weld joint in an electron-beam welding operation

DOEpatents

Trent, J.B.; Murphy, J.L.

1980-01-03

The invention is directed to an apparatus for automatically maintaining a shrinking weld joint in alignement with an electron beam during an electron-beam multipass-welding operation. The apparatus utilizes a bias means for continually urging a workpiece-supporting face plate away from a carriage mounted base that rotatably supports the face plate. The extent of displacement of the face plate away from the base in indicative of the shrinkage occuring in the weld joint area. This displacement is measured and is used to move the base on the carriage a distance equal to one-half the displacement for aligning the weld joint with the electron beam during each welding pass.

Convergence of spectra of graph-like thin manifolds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Exner, Pavel; Post, Olaf

2005-05-01

We consider a family of compact manifolds which shrinks with respect to an appropriate parameter to a graph. The main result is that the spectrum of the Laplace-Beltrami operator converges to the spectrum of the (differential) Laplacian on the graph with Kirchhoff boundary conditions at the vertices. On the other hand, if the shrinking at the vertex parts of the manifold is sufficiently slower comparing to that of the edge parts, the limiting spectrum corresponds to decoupled edges with Dirichlet boundary conditions at the endpoints. At the borderline between the two regimes we have a third possibility when the limiting spectrum can be described by a nontrivial coupling at the vertices.

Analysis of selected materials flown on interior locations of the Long Duration Exposure Facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, H. A.; Nelson, K. M.; Eash, D.; Pippin, H. G.

1994-01-01

This report documents the post-flight condition of selected hardware taken from interior locations on the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF). This hardware was generally in excellent condition. Outgassing data is presented for heat shrink tubing and fiberglass composite shims. Variation in total mass loss (TML) values for heat shrink tubing were correlated with location. Nylon grommets were evaluated for mechanical integrity; slight embrittlement was observed for flight specimens. Multi-layer insulation blankets, wire bundles, and paints in non-exposed interior locations were all in visibly good condition. Silicon-containing contaminant films were observed on silver-coated hex nuts at the space- and Earth-end interior locations.

Background to new entrant safety fitness assurance process

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-03-01

This report presents the results of background research leading to the development of a New Entrant Safety Fitness Assurance Process, a prequalification and monitoring program for motor carriers entering interstate service. The New Entrant Safety Fit...

Influence of Thrust Level on the Architecture and Optimal Working Process Parameters of a Small-scale Turbojet for UAV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuz`michev, V. S.; Filinov, E. P.; Ostapyuk, Ya A.

2018-01-01

This article describes how the thrust level influences the turbojet architecture (types of turbomachines that provide the maximum efficiency) and its working process parameters (turbine inlet temperature (TIT) and overall pressure ratio (OPR)). Functional gasdynamic and strength constraints were included, total mass of fuel and the engine required for mission and the specific fuel consumption (SFC) were considered optimization criteria. Radial and axial turbines and compressors were considered. The results show that as the engine thrust decreases, optimal values of working process parameters decrease too, and the regions of compromise shrink. Optimal engine architecture and values of working process parameters are suggested for turbojets with thrust varying from 100N to 100kN. The results show that for the thrust below 25kN the engine scale factor should be taken into the account, as the low flow rates begin to influence the efficiency of engine elements substantially.

Treatments To Produce Stabilized Aluminum Mirrors for Cryogenic Uses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zewari, Wahid; Barthelmy, Michael; Ohl, Raymond

2005-01-01

Five metallurgical treatments have been tested as means of stabilizing mirrors that are made of aluminum alloy 6061 and are intended for use in cryogenic applications. Aluminum alloy 6061 is favored as a mirror material by many scientists and engineers. Like other alloys, it shrinks upon cool-down from room temperature to cryogenic temperature. This shrinkage degrades the optical quality of the mirror surfaces. Hence, the metallurgical treatments were tested to determine which one could be most effective in minimizing the adverse optical effects of cooldown to cryogenic temperatures. Each of the five metallurgical treatments comprises a multistep process, the steps of which are interspersed with the steps of the mirror-fabrication process. The five metallurgical-treatment/fabrication.- process combinations were compared with each other and with a benchmark fabrication process, in which a mirror is made from an alloy blank by (1) symmetrical rough machining, (2) finish machining to within 0.006 in. (. 0.15 mm) of final dimensions, and finally (3) diamond turning to a mirror finish.

Physical Fitness and the Stress Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ensel, Walter M.; Lin, Nan

2004-01-01

In the current paper we focus on the role of physical fitness in the life stress process for both psychological and physical well-being. The major research question posed in the current study is: Does physical fitness deter distress in a model containing the major components of the life stress process? That is, do individuals who exercise show…

Implementation of image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) for patients with uterine cervix cancer: a tumor volume kinetics approach.

PubMed

Carvalho, Heloisa de Andrade; Mendez, Lucas Castro; Stuart, Silvia Radwanski; Guimarães, Roger Guilherme Rodrigues; Ramos, Clarissa Cerchi Angotti; de Paula, Lucas Assad; de Sales, Camila Pessoa; Chen, André Tsin Chih; Blasbalg, Roberto; Baroni, Ronaldo Hueb

2016-08-01

To evaluate tumor shrinking kinetics in order to implement image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) for the treatment of patients with cervix cancer. This study has prospectively evaluated tumor shrinking kinetics of thirteen patients with uterine cervix cancer treated with combined chemoradiation. Four high dose rate brachytherapy fractions were delivered during the course of pelvic external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams were acquired at diagnosis (D), first (B1), and third (B3) brachytherapy fractions. Target volumes (GTV and HR-CTV) were calculated by both the ellipsoid formula (VE) and MRI contouring (VC), which were defined by a consensus between at least two radiation oncologists and a pelvic expert radiologist. Most enrolled patients had squamous cell carcinoma and FIGO stage IIB disease, and initiated brachytherapy after the third week of pelvic external beam radiation. Gross tumor volume volume reduction from diagnostic MRI to B1 represented 61.9% and 75.2% of the initial volume, when measured by VE and VC, respectively. Only a modest volume reduction (15-20%) was observed from B1 to B3. The most expressive tumor shrinking occurred in the first three weeks of oncological treatment and was in accordance with gynecological examination. These findings may help in IGBT implementation.

Superwetting and aptamer functionalized shrink-induced high surface area electrochemical sensors.

PubMed

Hauke, A; Kumar, L S Selva; Kim, M Y; Pegan, J; Khine, M; Li, H; Plaxco, K W; Heikenfeld, J

2017-08-15

Electrochemical sensing is moving to the forefront of point-of-care and wearable molecular sensing technologies due to the ability to miniaturize the required equipment, a critical advantage over optical methods in this field. Electrochemical sensors that employ roughness to increase their microscopic surface area offer a strategy to combatting the loss in signal associated with the loss of macroscopic surface area upon miniaturization. A simple, low-cost method of creating such roughness has emerged with the development of shrink-induced high surface area electrodes. Building on this approach, we demonstrate here a greater than 12-fold enhancement in electrochemically active surface area over conventional electrodes of equivalent on-chip footprint areas. This two-fold improvement on previous performance is obtained via the creation of a superwetting surface condition facilitated by a dissolvable polymer coating. As a test bed to illustrate the utility of this approach, we further show that electrochemical aptamer-based sensors exhibit exceptional signal strength (signal-to-noise) and excellent signal gain (relative change in signal upon target binding) when deployed on these shrink electrodes. Indeed, the observed 330% gain we observe for a kanamycin sensor is 2-fold greater than that seen on planar gold electrodes. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A remotely interrogatable sensor for chemical monitoring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stoyanov, P. G.; Doherty, S. A.; Grimes, C. A.; Seitz, W. R.

1998-01-01

A new type of continuously operating, in-situ, remotely monitored sensor is presented. The sensor is comprised of a thin film array of magnetostatically coupled, magnetically soft ferromagnetic thin film structures, adhered to or encased within a thin polymer layer. The polymer is made so that it swells or shrinks in response to the chemical analyte of interest, which in this case is pH. As the polymer swells or shrinks, the magnetostatic coupling between the magnetic elements changes, resulting in changes in the magnetic switching characteristics of the sensor. Placed within a sinusoidal magnetic field the magnetization vector of the coupled sensor elements periodically reverses directions, generating magnetic flux that can be remotely detected as a series of voltage spikes in appropriately placed pickup coils. one preliminary sensor design consists of four triangles, initially spaced approximately 50 micrometers apart, arranged to form a 12 mm x 12 mm square with the triangle tips centered at a common origin. Our preliminary work has focused on monitoring of pH using a lightly crosslinked pH sensitive polymer layer of hydroxyethylmethacrylate and 2-(dimethylamino) ethylmethacrylate. As the polymer swells or shrinks the magnetostatic coupling between the triangles changes, resulting in measurable changes in the amplitude of the detected voltage spirits.

Field-driven chiral bubble dynamics analysed by a semi-analytical approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vandermeulen, J.; Leliaert, J.; Dupré, L.; Van Waeyenberge, B.

2017-12-01

Nowadays, field-driven chiral bubble dynamics in the presence of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction are a topic of thorough investigation. In this paper, a semi-analytical approach is used to derive equations of motion that express the bubble wall (BW) velocity and the change in in-plane magnetization angle as function of the micromagnetic parameters of the involved interactions, thereby taking into account the two-dimensional nature of the bubble wall. It is demonstrated that the equations of motion enable an accurate description of the expanding and shrinking convex bubble dynamics and an expression for the transition field between shrinkage and expansion is derived. In addition, these equations of motion show that the BW velocity is not only dependent on the driving force, but also on the BW curvature. The absolute BW velocity increases for both a shrinking and an expanding bubble, but for different reasons: for expanding bubbles, it is due to the increasing importance of the driving force, while for shrinking bubbles, it is due to the increasing importance of contributions related to the BW curvature. Finally, using this approach we show how the recently proposed magnetic bubblecade memory can operate in the flow regime in the presence of a tilted sinusoidal magnetic field and at greatly reduced bubble sizes compared to the original device prototype.

The Malaria Transition on the Arabian Peninsula: Progress toward a Malaria-Free Region between 1960–2010

PubMed Central

Snow, Robert W.; Amratia, Punam; Zamani, Ghasem; Mundia, Clara W.; Noor, Abdisalan M.; Memish, Ziad A.; Al Zahrani, Mohammad H.; Al Jasari, Adel; Fikri, Mahmoud; Atta, Hoda

2014-01-01

The transmission of malaria across the Arabian Peninsula is governed by the diversity of dominant vectors and extreme aridity. It is likely that where malaria transmission was historically possible it was intense and led to a high disease burden. Here, we review the speed of elimination, approaches taken, define the shrinking map of risk since 1960 and discuss the threats posed to a malaria-free Arabian Peninsula using the archive material, case data and published works. From as early as the 1940s, attempts were made to eliminate malaria on the peninsula but were met with varying degrees of success through to the 1970s; however, these did result in a shrinking of the margins of malaria transmission across the peninsula. Epidemics in the 1990s galvanised national malaria control programmes to reinvigorate control efforts. Before the launch of the recent global ambition for malaria eradication, countries on the Arabian Peninsula launched a collaborative malaria-free initiative in 2005. This initiative led a further shrinking of the malaria risk map and today locally acquired clinical cases of malaria are reported only in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, with the latter contributing to over 98% of the clinical burden. PMID:23548086

Three-dimensional analysis of surface crack-Hertzian stress field interaction

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ballarini, R.; Hsu, Y.

1989-01-01

The results are presented of a stress intensity factor analysis of semicircular surface cracks in the inner raceway of an engine bearing. The loading consists of a moving spherical Hertzian contact load and an axial stress due to rotation and shrink fit. A 3-D linear elastic Boundary Element Method code was developed to perform the stress analysis. The element library includes linear and quadratic isoparametric surface elements. Singular quarter point elements were employed to capture the square root displacement variation and the inverse square root stress singularity along the crack front. The program also possesses the capability to separate the whole domain into two subregions. This procedure enables one to solve nonsymmetric fracture mechanics problems without having to separate the crack surfaces a priori. A wide range of configuration parameters was investigated. The ratio of crack depth to bearing thickness was varied from one-sixtieth to one-fifth for several different locations of the Hertzian load. The stress intensity factors for several crack inclinations were also investigated. The results demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of the Boundary Element Method. Moreover, the results can provide the basis for crack growth calculations and fatigue life prediction.

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

Hong, Yi-Siang; Chen, Jui-Yuan; Huang, Chun-Wei

Recently, the mechanism of resistive random access memory (RRAM) has been partly clarified and determined to be controlled by the forming and erasing of conducting filaments (CF). However, the size of the CF may restrict the application and development as devices are scaled down. In this work, we synthesized CuO nanowires (NW) (∼150 nm in diameter) to fabricate a CuO NW RRAM nanodevice that was much smaller than the filament (∼2 μm) observed in a bulk CuO RRAM device in a previous study. HRTEM indicated that the Cu{sub 2}O phase was generated after operation, which demonstrated that the filament could be minimizemore » to as small as 3.8 nm when the device is scaled down. In addition, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) show the resistive switching of the dielectric layer resulted from the aggregated oxygen vacancies, which also match with the I-V fitting results. Those results not only verify the switching mechanism of CuO RRAM but also show RRAM has the potential to shrink in size, which will be beneficial to the practical application of RRAM devices.« less

HPC-Microgels: New Look at Structure and Dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McKenna, John; Streletzky, Kiril; Mohieddine, Rami

2006-10-01

Issues remain unresolved in targeted chemotherapy including: an inability to effectively target cancerous tissue, the loss of low molecular weight medicines to the RES system, the high cytotoxicity of currently used drug carriers, and the inability to control the release of medicines upon arrival to the target. Hydroxy-propyl cellulose(HPC) microgels may be able to surmount these obstacles. HPC is a high molecular weight polymer with low cytotoxicity and a critical temperature around 41C. We cross-linked HPC polymer chains to produce microgel nanoparticles and studied their structure and dynamics using Dynamic Light Scattering spectroscopy. The complex nature of the fluid and large size distribution of the particles renders typical characterization algorithm CONTIN ineffective and inconsistent. Instead, the particles spectra have been fit to a sum of stretched exponentials. Each term offers three parameters for analysis and represents a single mode. The results of this analysis show that the microgels undergo a multi to uni-modal transition around 41C. The CONTIN size distribution analysis shows similar results, but these come with much less consistency and resolution. During the phase transition it is found that the microgel particles actually shrink. This property might be particularly useful for controlled drug delivery and release.

Person Fit Based on Statistical Process Control in an Adaptive Testing Environment. Research Report 98-13.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van Krimpen-Stoop, Edith M. L. A.; Meijer, Rob R.

Person-fit research in the context of paper-and-pencil tests is reviewed, and some specific problems regarding person fit in the context of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) are discussed. Some new methods are proposed to investigate person fit in a CAT environment. These statistics are based on Statistical Process Control (SPC) theory. A…

Joint estimation of preferential attachment and node fitness in growing complex networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pham, Thong; Sheridan, Paul; Shimodaira, Hidetoshi

2016-09-01

Complex network growth across diverse fields of science is hypothesized to be driven in the main by a combination of preferential attachment and node fitness processes. For measuring the respective influences of these processes, previous approaches make strong and untested assumptions on the functional forms of either the preferential attachment function or fitness function or both. We introduce a Bayesian statistical method called PAFit to estimate preferential attachment and node fitness without imposing such functional constraints that works by maximizing a log-likelihood function with suitably added regularization terms. We use PAFit to investigate the interplay between preferential attachment and node fitness processes in a Facebook wall-post network. While we uncover evidence for both preferential attachment and node fitness, thus validating the hypothesis that these processes together drive complex network evolution, we also find that node fitness plays the bigger role in determining the degree of a node. This is the first validation of its kind on real-world network data. But surprisingly the rate of preferential attachment is found to deviate from the conventional log-linear form when node fitness is taken into account. The proposed method is implemented in the R package PAFit.

Joint estimation of preferential attachment and node fitness in growing complex networks

PubMed Central

Pham, Thong; Sheridan, Paul; Shimodaira, Hidetoshi

2016-01-01

Complex network growth across diverse fields of science is hypothesized to be driven in the main by a combination of preferential attachment and node fitness processes. For measuring the respective influences of these processes, previous approaches make strong and untested assumptions on the functional forms of either the preferential attachment function or fitness function or both. We introduce a Bayesian statistical method called PAFit to estimate preferential attachment and node fitness without imposing such functional constraints that works by maximizing a log-likelihood function with suitably added regularization terms. We use PAFit to investigate the interplay between preferential attachment and node fitness processes in a Facebook wall-post network. While we uncover evidence for both preferential attachment and node fitness, thus validating the hypothesis that these processes together drive complex network evolution, we also find that node fitness plays the bigger role in determining the degree of a node. This is the first validation of its kind on real-world network data. But surprisingly the rate of preferential attachment is found to deviate from the conventional log-linear form when node fitness is taken into account. The proposed method is implemented in the R package PAFit. PMID:27601314

Individual Shrink Wrapping of Zucchini Fruit Improves Postharvest Chilling Tolerance Associated with a Reduction in Ethylene Production and Oxidative Stress Metabolites.

PubMed

Megías, Zoraida; Martínez, Cecilia; Manzano, Susana; García, Alicia; Rebolloso-Fuentes, María Del Mar; Garrido, Dolores; Valenzuela, Juan Luis; Jamilena, Manuel

2015-01-01

We have studied the effect of individual shrink wrapping (ISW) on the postharvest performance of refrigerated fruit from two zucchini cultivars that differ in their sensitivity to cold storage: Sinatra (more sensitive) and Natura (more tolerant). The fruit was individually shrink wrapped before storing at 4°C for 0, 7 and 14 days. Quality parameters, ethylene and CO2 productions, ethylene gene expression, and oxidative stress metabolites were assessed in shrink wrapped and non-wrapped fruit after conditioning the fruit for 6 hours at 20°C. ISW decreased significantly the postharvest deterioration of chilled zucchini in both cultivars. Weight loss was reduced to less than 1%, pitting symptoms were completely absent in ISW fruit at 7 days, and were less than 25% those of control fruits at 14 days of cold storage, and firmness loss was significantly reduced in the cultivar Sinatra. These enhancements in quality of ISW fruit were associated with a significant reduction in cold-induced ethylene production, in the respiration rate, and in the level of oxidative stress metabolites such as hydrogen peroxide and malonyldialdehyde (MDA). A detailed expression analysis of ethylene biosynthesis, perception and signaling genes demonstrated a downregulation of CpACS1 and CpACO1 genes in response to ISW, two genes that are upregulated by cold storage. However, the expression patterns of six other ethylene biosynthesis genes (CpACS2 to CpACS7) and five ethylene signal transduction pathway genes (CpCTR1, CpETR1, CpERS1, CpEIN3.1 and CpEN3.2), suggest that they do not play a major role in response to cold storage and ISW packaging. In conclusion, ISW zucchini packaging resulted in improved tolerance to chilling concomitantly with a reduction in oxidative stress, respiration rate and ethylene production, as well as in the expression of ethylene biosynthesis genes, but not of those involved in ethylene perception and sensitivity.

Individual Shrink Wrapping of Zucchini Fruit Improves Postharvest Chilling Tolerance Associated with a Reduction in Ethylene Production and Oxidative Stress Metabolites

PubMed Central

Megías, Zoraida; Martínez, Cecilia; Manzano, Susana; García, Alicia; Rebolloso-Fuentes, María del Mar; Garrido, Dolores; Valenzuela, Juan Luis; Jamilena, Manuel

2015-01-01

We have studied the effect of individual shrink wrapping (ISW) on the postharvest performance of refrigerated fruit from two zucchini cultivars that differ in their sensitivity to cold storage: Sinatra (more sensitive) and Natura (more tolerant). The fruit was individually shrink wrapped before storing at 4°C for 0, 7 and 14 days. Quality parameters, ethylene and CO2 productions, ethylene gene expression, and oxidative stress metabolites were assessed in shrink wrapped and non-wrapped fruit after conditioning the fruit for 6 hours at 20°C. ISW decreased significantly the postharvest deterioration of chilled zucchini in both cultivars. Weight loss was reduced to less than 1%, pitting symptoms were completely absent in ISW fruit at 7 days, and were less than 25% those of control fruits at 14 days of cold storage, and firmness loss was significantly reduced in the cultivar Sinatra. These enhancements in quality of ISW fruit were associated with a significant reduction in cold-induced ethylene production, in the respiration rate, and in the level of oxidative stress metabolites such as hydrogen peroxide and malonyldialdehyde (MDA). A detailed expression analysis of ethylene biosynthesis, perception and signaling genes demonstrated a downregulation of CpACS1 and CpACO1 genes in response to ISW, two genes that are upregulated by cold storage. However, the expression patterns of six other ethylene biosynthesis genes (CpACS2 to CpACS7) and five ethylene signal transduction pathway genes (CpCTR1, CpETR1, CpERS1, CpEIN3.1 and CpEN3.2), suggest that they do not play a major role in response to cold storage and ISW packaging. In conclusion, ISW zucchini packaging resulted in improved tolerance to chilling concomitantly with a reduction in oxidative stress, respiration rate and ethylene production, as well as in the expression of ethylene biosynthesis genes, but not of those involved in ethylene perception and sensitivity. PMID:26177024

Fit of pressed crowns fabricated from two CAD-CAM wax pattern process plans: A comparative in vitro study.

PubMed

Shamseddine, Loubna; Mortada, Rola; Rifai, Khaldoun; Chidiac, Jose Johann

2017-07-01

Subtractive and additive computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) wax pattern processing are 2 methods of fabricating a pressed ceramic crown. Whether a subtractive milled wax pattern or a pattern from the micro-stereolithography additive process produces lithium disilicate crowns with better marginal and internal fit is unclear. Ten silicone impressions were made for a prepared canine tooth. Each die received 2 lithium disilicate (IPS e.max) copings, 1 from milled wax blocks and 1 from additive wax. The replica technique was used to measure the fit by scanning electron microscopy at ×80 magnification. Collected data were analyzed using the paired Student t test for the marginal and internal fit. For the occlusal fit, the difference in scores did not follow a normal distribution, and the Wilcoxon signed rank test was used (α=.05). The mean marginal, axial, and occlusal fit showed no significant differences when the 2 CAD-CAM manufacturing processes were compared (P>.05). For the marginal fit, the mean (±SD) values were 105.1 μm ±39.6 with the milled process and 126.2 μm ±25.2 for the additive process. The mean values were 98.1 μm ±26.1 for the axial fit in the milled process and 106.8 μm ±21.2 in the additive process. For the occlusal fit, median values (interquartile interval) were 199.0 μm (141.5 to 269.9) for subtractive manufacturing and 257.2 μm (171.6 to 266.0) for micro-SLA manufacturing. No significant difference was found between the fit of the 2 techniques. The mean values of axial and occlusal median values were 10 and 5 to 6 times greater than machine's nominal values. Copyright © 2016 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Towards defect free EUVL reticles: carbon and particle removal by single dry cleaning process and pattern repair by HIM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koster, N. B.; Molkenboer, F. T.; van Veldhoven, E.; Oostrom, S.

2011-04-01

We report on our findings on EUVL reticle contamination removal, inspection and repair. We show that carbon contamination can be removed without damage to the reticle by our plasma process. Also organic particles, simulated by PSL spheres, can be removed from both the surface of the absorber as well as from the bottom of the trenches. The particles shrink in size during the plasma treatment until they are vanished. The determination of the necessary cleaning time for PSL spheres was conducted on Ru coated samples and the final experiment was performed on our dummy reticle. Finally we show that the Helium Ion Microscope in combination with a Gas Injection System is capable of depositing additional lines and squares on the reticle with sufficient resolution for pattern repair.

10 CFR 26.189 - Determination of fitness.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Determination of fitness. 26.189 Section 26.189 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS Determining Fitness-for-Duty Policy Violations and Determining Fitness § 26.189 Determination of fitness. (a) A determination of fitness is the process entered...

10 CFR 26.189 - Determination of fitness.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Determination of fitness. 26.189 Section 26.189 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS Determining Fitness-for-Duty Policy Violations and Determining Fitness § 26.189 Determination of fitness. (a) A determination of fitness is the process entered...

The Dynamics of Power laws: Fitness and Aging in Preferential Attachment Trees

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garavaglia, Alessandro; van der Hofstad, Remco; Woeginger, Gerhard

2017-09-01

Continuous-time branching processes describe the evolution of a population whose individuals generate a random number of children according to a birth process. Such branching processes can be used to understand preferential attachment models in which the birth rates are linear functions. We are motivated by citation networks, where power-law citation counts are observed as well as aging in the citation patterns. To model this, we introduce fitness and age-dependence in these birth processes. The multiplicative fitness moderates the rate at which children are born, while the aging is integrable, so that individuals receives a finite number of children in their lifetime. We show the existence of a limiting degree distribution for such processes. In the preferential attachment case, where fitness and aging are absent, this limiting degree distribution is known to have power-law tails. We show that the limiting degree distribution has exponential tails for bounded fitnesses in the presence of integrable aging, while the power-law tail is restored when integrable aging is combined with fitness with unbounded support with at most exponential tails. In the absence of integrable aging, such processes are explosive.

Fitness issues in the context of judicial proceedings.

PubMed

Samuels, Anthony; O'Driscoll, Colman; Allnutt, Stephen

2007-06-01

This paper provides a conceptual, historical and legislative overview of fitness issues. These include fitness to be interrogated or charged, to plead, to be tried and to be sentenced in the context of Australia and New Zealand. Legislation regarding fitness issues needs to strike a balance between protecting the rights of mentally impaired defendants to a fair trial process and recognizing that mental illness in itself does not absolutely preclude participation in a trial process or necessarily diminish criminal responsibility. Although the key determinants of fitness seem to be the ability to cope with court processes and communicate with counsel, the application of clinical judgement to legal criteria is not always straightforward.

GPUs for statistical data analysis in HEP: a performance study of GooFit on GPUs vs. RooFit on CPUs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pompili, Alexis; Di Florio, Adriano; CMS Collaboration

2016-10-01

In order to test the computing capabilities of GPUs with respect to traditional CPU cores a high-statistics toy Monte Carlo technique has been implemented both in ROOT/RooFit and GooFit frameworks with the purpose to estimate the statistical significance of the structure observed by CMS close to the kinematical boundary of the Jψϕ invariant mass in the three-body decay B +→JψϕK +. GooFit is a data analysis open tool under development that interfaces ROOT/RooFit to CUDA platform on nVidia GPU. The optimized GooFit application running on GPUs hosted by servers in the Bari Tier2 provides striking speed-up performances with respect to the RooFit application parallelised on multiple CPUs by means of PROOF-Lite tool. The considerably resulting speed-up, while comparing concurrent GooFit processes allowed by CUDA Multi Process Service and a RooFit/PROOF-Lite process with multiple CPU workers, is presented and discussed in detail. By means of GooFit it has also been possible to explore the behaviour of a likelihood ratio test statistic in different situations in which the Wilks Theorem may apply or does not apply because its regularity conditions are not satisfied.

Performance studies of GooFit on GPUs vs RooFit on CPUs while estimating the statistical significance of a new physical signal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Di Florio, Adriano

2017-10-01

In order to test the computing capabilities of GPUs with respect to traditional CPU cores a high-statistics toy Monte Carlo technique has been implemented both in ROOT/RooFit and GooFit frameworks with the purpose to estimate the statistical significance of the structure observed by CMS close to the kinematical boundary of the J/ψϕ invariant mass in the three-body decay B + → J/ψϕK +. GooFit is a data analysis open tool under development that interfaces ROOT/RooFit to CUDA platform on nVidia GPU. The optimized GooFit application running on GPUs hosted by servers in the Bari Tier2 provides striking speed-up performances with respect to the RooFit application parallelised on multiple CPUs by means of PROOF-Lite tool. The considerable resulting speed-up, evident when comparing concurrent GooFit processes allowed by CUDA Multi Process Service and a RooFit/PROOF-Lite process with multiple CPU workers, is presented and discussed in detail. By means of GooFit it has also been possible to explore the behaviour of a likelihood ratio test statistic in different situations in which the Wilks Theorem may or may not apply because its regularity conditions are not satisfied.

Multi-criteria assessment of socio-environmental aspects in shrinking cities. Experiences from eastern Germany

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

Schetke, Sophie; Haase, Dagmar

Demographic change and economic decline produce modified urban land use pattern and densities. Compared to the beginning of the 90s after the German reunification, nowadays massive housing and commercial vacancies followed by demolition and perforation come to pass in many cities of the former GDR. In consequence, a considerable surplus of urban brownfields has been created. Furthermore, the decline in the urban fabric affects social infrastructure and urban greenery of local neighbourhoods. Here, urban planning enters into 'uncharted territory' since it needs to assess the socio-environmental impact of shrinkage. In order to carry out such an evaluation quantitatively, a multi-criteriamore » assessment scheme (MCA) was developed and applied. Firstly, we identified infrastructure and land use changes related to vacancy and demolition. Secondly, demolition scenarios for the coming 20 years were applied in order to give an idea for a long-term monitoring approach at the local district level. A multi-criteria indicator matrix quantifies the socio-environmental impact on both urban greenery and residents. Using it, we set demolition scenarios against urban 'quality of life' targets. Empirical evidence comes from Leipzig, in eastern Germany, a representative case study for urban shrinkage processes. The results show that shrinkage implies socio-environmental changes of residential livelihoods, however, does not simply increase or decrease the overall urban quality of life. The integrated assessment of all indicators identifies environmental and social opportunities, as well as the challenges a shrinking city is faced with.« less

Values beyond value? Is anything beyond the logic of capital?

PubMed

Skeggs, Bev

2014-03-01

We are living in a time when it is frequently assumed that the logic of capital has subsumed every single aspect of our lives, intervening in the organization of our intimate relations as well as the control of our time, including investments in the future (e.g. via debt). The theories that document the incursion of this logic (often through the terms of neoliberalism and/or governmentality) assume that this logic is internalized, works and organizes everything including our subjectivity. These theories performatively reproduce the very conditions they describe, shrinking the domain of values and making it subject to capital's logic. All values are reduced to value. Yet values and value are always dialogic, dependent and co-constituting. In this paper I chart the history by which value eclipses values and how this shrinks our sociological imagination. By outlining the historical processes that institutionalized different organizations of the population through political economy and the social contract, producing ideas of proper personhood premised on propriety, I detail how forms of raced, gendered and classed personhood was formed. The gaps between the proper and improper generate significant contradictions that offer both opportunities to and limits on capitals' lines of flight. It is the lacks, the residues, and the excess that cannot be captured by capital's mechanisms of valuation that will be explored in order to think beyond the logic of capital and show how values will always haunt value. © London School of Economics and Political Science 2014.

Reduction of Iron-Oxide-Carbon Composites: Part III. Shrinkage of Composite Pellets during Reduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halder, S.; Fruehan, R. J.

2008-12-01

This article involves the evaluation of the volume change of iron-oxide-carbon composite pellets and its implications on reduction kinetics under conditions prevalent in a rotary hearth furnace (RHF) that were simulated in the laboratory. The pellets, in general, were found to shrink considerably during the reduction due to the loss of carbon and oxygen from the system, sintering of the iron-oxide, and formation of a molten slag phase at localized regions inside the pellets due to the presence of binder and coal/wood-charcoal ash at the reduction temperatures. One of the shortcomings of the RHF ironmaking process has been the inability to use multiple layers of composite pellets because of the impediment in heat transport to the lower layers of a multilayer bed. However, pellet shrinkage was found to have a strong effect on the reduction kinetics by virtue of enhancing the external heat transport to the lower layers. The volume change of the different kinds of composite pellets was studied as a function of reduction temperature and time. The estimation of the change in the amount of external heat transport with varying pellet sizes for a particular layer of a multilayer bed was obtained by conducting heat-transfer tests using inert low-carbon steel spheres. It was found that if the pellets of the top layer of the bed shrink by 30 pct, the external heat transfer to the second layer increases by nearly 6 times.

Consequences of high-x proton size fluctuations in small collision systems at √{sNN}=200 GeV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGlinchey, D.; Nagle, J. L.; Perepelitsa, D. V.

2016-08-01

Recent measurements of jet production rates at large transverse momentum (pT) in the collisions of small projectiles with large nuclei at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and the CERN Large Hadron Collider indicate that they have an unexpected relationship with estimates of the collision centrality. One compelling interpretation of the data is that they capture an xp-dependent decrease in the average interaction strength of the nucleon in the projectile undergoing a hard scattering. A weakly interacting or "shrinking" nucleon in the projectile strikes fewer nucleons in the nucleus, resulting in a particular pattern of centrality-dependent modifications to high-pT processes. We describe a simple one-parameter geometric implementation of this picture within a modified Monte Carlo Glauber model tuned to d +Au jet data, and explore two of its major consequences. First, the model predicts a particular projectile-species effect on the centrality dependence at high xp, opposite to that expected from a final state energy loss effect. Second, we find that some of the large centrality dependence observed for forward dihadron production in d +Au collisions at RHIC may arise from the physics of the "shrinking" projectile nucleon, in addition to impact parameter dependent shadowing or saturation effects at low nuclear x . We conclude that analogous measurements in recently collected p +Au and 3He+Au collision data at RHIC can provide a unique test of these predictions.

ASASSN-15oi: a rapidly evolving, luminous tidal disruption event at 216 Mpc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holoien, T. W.-S.; Kochanek, C. S.; Prieto, J. L.; Grupe, D.; Chen, Ping; Godoy-Rivera, D.; Stanek, K. Z.; Shappee, B. J.; Dong, Subo; Brown, J. S.; Basu, U.; Beacom, J. F.; Bersier, D.; Brimacombe, J.; Carlson, E. K.; Falco, E.; Johnston, E.; Madore, B. F.; Pojmanski, G.; Seibert, M.

2016-12-01

We present ground-based and Swift photometric and spectroscopic observations of the tidal disruption event (TDE) ASASSN-15oi, discovered at the centre of 2MASX J20390918-3045201 (d ≃ 216 Mpc) by the All-Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae. The source peaked at a bolometric luminosity of L ≃ 1.3 × 1044 erg s-1 and radiated a total energy of E ≃ 6.6 × 1050 erg over the first ˜3.5 months of observations. The early optical/UV emission of the source can be fit by a blackbody with temperature increasing from T ˜ 2 × 104 K to T ˜ 4 × 104 K while the luminosity declines from L ≃ 1.3 × 1044 erg s-1 to L ≃ 2.3 × 1043 erg s-1, requiring the photosphere to be shrinking rapidly. The optical/UV luminosity decline during this period is most consistent with an exponential decline, L∝ e^{-(t-t_0)/τ}, with τ ≃ 46.5 d for t0 ≃ 57241.6 (MJD), while a power-law decline of L ∝ (t - t0)-α with t0 ≃ 57 212.3 and α = 1.62 provides a moderately worse fit. ASASSN-15oi also exhibits roughly constant soft X-ray emission that is significantly weaker than the optical/UV emission. Spectra of the source show broad helium emission lines and strong blue continuum emission in early epochs, although these features fade rapidly and are not present ˜3 months after discovery. The early spectroscopic features and colour evolution of ASASSN-15oi are consistent with a TDE, but the rapid spectral evolution is unique among optically selected TDEs.

Distance-near disparity esotropia: can we shrink the gap?

PubMed

Burke, J P

2015-02-01

Distance-near disparity esotropias are a group of heterogenous usually acquired strabismus disorders, where the angle of misalignment at near exceeds that at distance by 10 prism diopters or more, where the accurate correction of refractive errors and ambylopia are important early objectives. These aetiologically diverse entities respond non-uniformally to strabismus surgery and bifocals. The management challenge is one of 'shrinking' the disparity so that the affected individuals can develop and comfortably maintain binocular single vision and/or optimal alignment. Surgical procedures have continued to evolve but none of the current operative procedures are superior for all patients. Subclassifying this strabismus and highlighting publication data from more homogenous clinical series may assist with the optimisation of future management and treatment outcomes.

The Pearson walk with shrinking steps in two dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serino, C. A.; Redner, S.

2010-01-01

We study the shrinking Pearson random walk in two dimensions and greater, in which the direction of the Nth step is random and its length equals λN-1, with λ<1. As λ increases past a critical value λc, the endpoint distribution in two dimensions, P(r), changes from having a global maximum away from the origin to being peaked at the origin. The probability distribution for a single coordinate, P(x), undergoes a similar transition, but exhibits multiple maxima on a fine length scale for λ close to λc. We numerically determine P(r) and P(x) by applying a known algorithm that accurately inverts the exact Bessel function product form of the Fourier transform for the probability distributions.

Integrated Information Increases with Fitness in the Evolution of Animats

PubMed Central

Edlund, Jeffrey A.; Chaumont, Nicolas; Hintze, Arend; Koch, Christof; Tononi, Giulio; Adami, Christoph

2011-01-01

One of the hallmarks of biological organisms is their ability to integrate disparate information sources to optimize their behavior in complex environments. How this capability can be quantified and related to the functional complexity of an organism remains a challenging problem, in particular since organismal functional complexity is not well-defined. We present here several candidate measures that quantify information and integration, and study their dependence on fitness as an artificial agent (“animat”) evolves over thousands of generations to solve a navigation task in a simple, simulated environment. We compare the ability of these measures to predict high fitness with more conventional information-theoretic processing measures. As the animat adapts by increasing its “fit” to the world, information integration and processing increase commensurately along the evolutionary line of descent. We suggest that the correlation of fitness with information integration and with processing measures implies that high fitness requires both information processing as well as integration, but that information integration may be a better measure when the task requires memory. A correlation of measures of information integration (but also information processing) and fitness strongly suggests that these measures reflect the functional complexity of the animat, and that such measures can be used to quantify functional complexity even in the absence of fitness data. PMID:22028639

Pre-processing by data augmentation for improved ellipse fitting.

PubMed

Kumar, Pankaj; Belchamber, Erika R; Miklavcic, Stanley J

2018-01-01

Ellipse fitting is a highly researched and mature topic. Surprisingly, however, no existing method has thus far considered the data point eccentricity in its ellipse fitting procedure. Here, we introduce the concept of eccentricity of a data point, in analogy with the idea of ellipse eccentricity. We then show empirically that, irrespective of ellipse fitting method used, the root mean square error (RMSE) of a fit increases with the eccentricity of the data point set. The main contribution of the paper is based on the hypothesis that if the data point set were pre-processed to strategically add additional data points in regions of high eccentricity, then the quality of a fit could be improved. Conditional validity of this hypothesis is demonstrated mathematically using a model scenario. Based on this confirmation we propose an algorithm that pre-processes the data so that data points with high eccentricity are replicated. The improvement of ellipse fitting is then demonstrated empirically in real-world application of 3D reconstruction of a plant root system for phenotypic analysis. The degree of improvement for different underlying ellipse fitting methods as a function of data noise level is also analysed. We show that almost every method tested, irrespective of whether it minimizes algebraic error or geometric error, shows improvement in the fit following data augmentation using the proposed pre-processing algorithm.

Survey of Current Practice in the Fitting and Fine-Tuning of Common Signal-Processing Features in Hearing Aids for Adults.

PubMed

Anderson, Melinda C; Arehart, Kathryn H; Souza, Pamela E

2018-02-01

Current guidelines for adult hearing aid fittings recommend the use of a prescriptive fitting rationale with real-ear verification that considers the audiogram for the determination of frequency-specific gain and ratios for wide dynamic range compression. However, the guidelines lack recommendations for how other common signal-processing features (e.g., noise reduction, frequency lowering, directional microphones) should be considered during the provision of hearing aid fittings and fine-tunings for adult patients. The purpose of this survey was to identify how audiologists make clinical decisions regarding common signal-processing features for hearing aid provision in adults. An online survey was sent to audiologists across the United States. The 22 survey questions addressed four primary topics including demographics of the responding audiologists, factors affecting selection of hearing aid devices, the approaches used in the fitting of signal-processing features, and the strategies used in the fine-tuning of these features. A total of 251 audiologists who provide hearing aid fittings to adults completed the electronically distributed survey. The respondents worked in a variety of settings including private practice, physician offices, university clinics, and hospitals/medical centers. Data analysis was based on a qualitative analysis of the question responses. The survey results for each of the four topic areas (demographics, device selection, hearing aid fitting, and hearing aid fine-tuning) are summarized descriptively. Survey responses indicate that audiologists vary in the procedures they use in fitting and fine-tuning based on the specific feature, such that the approaches used for the fitting of frequency-specific gain differ from other types of features (i.e., compression time constants, frequency lowering parameters, noise reduction strength, directional microphones, feedback management). Audiologists commonly rely on prescriptive fitting formulas and probe microphone measures for the fitting of frequency-specific gain and rely on manufacturers' default settings and recommendations for both the initial fitting and the fine-tuning of signal-processing features other than frequency-specific gain. The survey results are consistent with a lack of published protocols and guidelines for fitting and adjusting signal-processing features beyond frequency-specific gain. To streamline current practice, a transparent evidence-based tool that enables clinicians to prescribe the setting of other features from individual patient characteristics would be desirable. American Academy of Audiology

Edaravone Injection

MedlinePlus

Edaravone injection is used to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease; a condition in which the nerves that control muscle movement slowly die, causing the muscles to shrink and ...

Rupture dynamics along bimaterial interfaces: a parametric study of the coupling between interfacial sliding and normal traction perturbation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scala, Antonio; Festa, Gaetano; Vilotte, Jean-Pierre

2017-04-01

Earthquake ruptures often develop along faults separating materials with dissimilar elastic properties. Due to the broken symmetry, the propagation of the rupture along the bimaterial interface is driven by the coupling between interfacial sliding and normal traction perturbations. We numerically investigate in-plane rupture growth along a planar interface, under slip weakening friction, separating two dissimilar isotropic linearly elastic half-spaces. We perform a parametric study of the classical Prakash-Clifton regularisation for different material contrasts. In particular mesh-dependence and regularisation-dependence of the numerical solutions are analysed in this parameter space. When regularisation involves a slip-rate dependent relaxation time, a characteristic sliding distance is identified below which numerical solutions no longer depend on the regularisation parameter, i.e. they are consistent solutions of the same physical problem. Such regularisation provides an adaptive high-frequency filter of the slip-induced normal traction perturbations, following the dynamic shrinking of the dissipation zone during the acceleration phase. In contrast, regularisation involving a constant relaxation time leads to numerical solutions that always depend on the regularisation parameter since it fails adapting to the shrinking of the process zone. Dynamic regularisation is further investigated using a non-local regularisation based on a relaxation time that depends on the dynamic length of the dissipation zone. Such reformulation is shown to provide similar results as the dynamic time scale regularisation proposed by Prakash-Clifton when slip rate is replaced by the maximum slip rate along the sliding interface. This leads to the identification of a dissipative length scale associated with the coupling between interfacial sliding and normal traction perturbations, together with a scaling law between the maximum slip rate and the dynamic size of the process zone during the rupture propagation. Dynamic time scale regularisation is show to provide mesh-independent and physically well-posed numerical solutions during the acceleration phase toward an asymptotic speed. When generalised Rayleigh wave does not exist, numerical solutions are shown to tend toward an asymptotic velocity higher than the slowest shear wave speed. When generalised Rayleigh wave speed exists, as numerical solutions tend toward this velocity, increasing spurious oscillations develop and solutions become unstable. In this regime regularisation dependent and unstable finite-size pulses may be generated. This instability is associated with the singular behaviour of the slip-induced normal traction perturbations, and of the slip rate at the rupture front, in relation with complete shrinking of the dissipation zone. This phase requires to be modelled either by more complex interface constitutive laws involving velocity-strengthening effects that may stabilize short wavelength interfacial propagating modes or by considering non-ideal interfaces that introduce a new length scale in the problem that may promote selection and stabilization of the slip pulses.

Measurement of the surface charge accumulation using anodic aluminum oxide(AAO) structure in an inductively coupled plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Ji-Hwan; Oh, Seung-Ju; Lee, Hyo-Chang; Kim, Yu-Sin; Kim, Young-Cheol; Kim, June Young; Ha, Chang-Seoung; Kwon, Soon-Ho; Lee, Jung-Joong; Chung, Chin-Wook

2014-10-01

As the critical dimension of the nano-device shrinks, an undesired etch profile occurs during plasma etch process. One of the reasons is the local electric field due to the surface charge accumulation. To demonstrate the surface charge accumulation, an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane which has high aspect ratio is used. The potential difference between top electrode and bottom electrode in an anodic aluminum oxide contact structure is measured during inductively coupled plasma exposure. The voltage difference is changed with external discharge conditions, such as gas pressure, input power, and gas species and the result is analyzed with the measured plasma parameters.

Diffusion Weighted Image Denoising Using Overcomplete Local PCA

PubMed Central

Manjón, José V.; Coupé, Pierrick; Concha, Luis; Buades, Antonio; Collins, D. Louis; Robles, Montserrat

2013-01-01

Diffusion Weighted Images (DWI) normally shows a low Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) due to the presence of noise from the measurement process that complicates and biases the estimation of quantitative diffusion parameters. In this paper, a new denoising methodology is proposed that takes into consideration the multicomponent nature of multi-directional DWI datasets such as those employed in diffusion imaging. This new filter reduces random noise in multicomponent DWI by locally shrinking less significant Principal Components using an overcomplete approach. The proposed method is compared with state-of-the-art methods using synthetic and real clinical MR images, showing improved performance in terms of denoising quality and estimation of diffusion parameters. PMID:24019889

Coronal hole evolution by sudden large scale changes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nolte, J. T.; Gerassimenko, M.; Krieger, A. S.; Solodyna, C. V.

1978-01-01

Sudden shifts in coronal-hole boundaries observed by the S-054 X-ray telescope on Skylab between May and November, 1973, within 1 day of CMP of the holes, at latitudes not exceeding 40 deg, are compared with the long-term evolution of coronal-hole area. It is found that large-scale shifts in boundary locations can account for most if not all of the evolution of coronal holes. The temporal and spatial scales of these large-scale changes imply that they are the results of a physical process occurring in the corona. It is concluded that coronal holes evolve by magnetic-field lines' opening when the holes are growing, and by fields' closing as the holes shrink.

Apparatus for inspecting piping

DOEpatents

Zollingger, W.T.; Appel, D.K.; Park, L.R.

1995-03-21

An inspection rabbit is described for inspecting piping systems having severe bends therein. The rabbit consists of a flexible, modular body containing a miniaturized eddy current inspection probe, a self-contained power supply for proper operation of the rabbit, an outer surface that allows ease of movement through piping systems and means for transmitting data generated by the inspection device. The body is preferably made of flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubing or, alternatively, silicone rubber with a shrink wrapping of polytetrafluoroethylene (TEFLON{trademark}). The body is formed to contain the power supply, preferably a plurality of batteries, and a spool of communication wire that connects to a data processing computer external to the piping system. 6 figures.

Low-Level Space Optimization of an AES Implementation for a Bit-Serial Fully Pipelined Architecture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weber, Raphael; Rettberg, Achim

A previously developed AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) implementation is optimized and described in this paper. The special architecture for which this implementation is targeted comprises synchronous and systematic bit-serial processing without a central controlling instance. In order to shrink the design in terms of logic utilization we deeply analyzed the architecture and the AES implementation to identify the most costly logic elements. We propose to merge certain parts of the logic to achieve better area efficiency. The approach was integrated into an existing synthesis tool which we used to produce synthesizable VHDL code. For testing purposes, we simulated the generated VHDL code and ran tests on an FPGA board.

Method for applying a photoresist layer to a substrate having a preexisting topology

DOEpatents

Morales, Alfredo M.; Gonzales, Marcela

2004-01-20

The present invention describes a method for preventing a photoresist layer from delaminating, peeling, away from the surface of a substrate that already contains an etched three dimensional structure such as a hole or a trench. The process comprises establishing a saturated vapor phase of the solvent media used to formulate the photoresist layer, above the surface of the coated substrate as the applied photoresist is heated in order to "cure" or drive off the retained solvent constituent within the layer. By controlling the rate and manner in which solvent is removed from the photoresist layer the layer is stabilized and kept from differentially shrinking and peeling away from the substrate.

Delegation guided by school nursing values: comprehensive knowledge, trust, and empowerment.

PubMed

Gordon, Shirley C; Barry, Charlotte D

2009-10-01

As health care institutions in the United States respond to shrinking budgets and nursing shortages by increasing the use of unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), school nursing practice is changing from providing direct care to supervising activities delegated to UAP. Therefore, delegation is a critical area of concern for school nurses. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore values guiding the delegation of health care tasks to UAP in school settings from the perspective of the school nurse. An inquiry focus group was conducted with 64 Florida school nurses. Values guiding delegation were comprehensive knowledge, trust, and empowerment. These values provided a framework for guiding the delegation process.

Teaching Students to Think Critically about Fitness and Wellness Choices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Block, Betty A.; Russell, William

2012-01-01

Students in fitness and wellness classes who understand how to implement intellectual thought processes will be better prepared to make good decisions regarding their own fitness and wellness. Teachers are encouraged to teach students to recognize when they are employing intellectual thought processes or whether they are using psychological…

Statistical significance estimation of a signal within the GooFit framework on GPUs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cristella, Leonardo; Di Florio, Adriano; Pompili, Alexis

2017-03-01

In order to test the computing capabilities of GPUs with respect to traditional CPU cores a high-statistics toy Monte Carlo technique has been implemented both in ROOT/RooFit and GooFit frameworks with the purpose to estimate the statistical significance of the structure observed by CMS close to the kinematical boundary of the J/ψϕ invariant mass in the three-body decay B+ → J/ψϕK+. GooFit is a data analysis open tool under development that interfaces ROOT/RooFit to CUDA platform on nVidia GPU. The optimized GooFit application running on GPUs hosted by servers in the Bari Tier2 provides striking speed-up performances with respect to the RooFit application parallelised on multiple CPUs by means of PROOF-Lite tool. The considerable resulting speed-up, evident when comparing concurrent GooFit processes allowed by CUDA Multi Process Service and a RooFit/PROOF-Lite process with multiple CPU workers, is presented and discussed in detail. By means of GooFit it has also been possible to explore the behaviour of a likelihood ratio test statistic in different situations in which the Wilks Theorem may or may not apply because its regularity conditions are not satisfied.

The Association between Aerobic Fitness and Language Processing in Children: Implications for Academic Achievement

PubMed Central

Scudder, Mark R.; Federmeier, Kara D.; Raine, Lauren B.; Direito, Artur; Boyd, Jeremy K.; Hillman, Charles H.

2014-01-01

Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) have been instrumental for discerning the relationship between children’s aerobic fitness and aspects of cognition, yet language processing remains unexplored. ERPs linked to the processing of semantic information (the N400) and the analysis of language structure (the P600) were recorded from higher and lower aerobically fit children as they read normal sentences and those containing semantic or syntactic violations. Results revealed that higher fit children exhibited greater N400 amplitude and shorter latency across all sentence types, and a larger P600 effect for syntactic violations. Such findings suggest that higher fitness may be associated with a richer network of words and their meanings, and a greater ability to detect and/or repair syntactic errors. The current findings extend previous ERP research explicating the cognitive benefits associated with greater aerobic fitness in children and may have important implications for learning and academic performance. PMID:24747513

These terrifying three words: A qualitative, mixed methods study of students' and mentors' understandings of 'fitness to practise'.

PubMed

Haycock-Stuart, Elaine; MacLaren, Jessica; McLachlan, Alison; James, Christine

2016-08-01

There is little empirical published research pertaining to fitness to practise and pre-registration nursing students. Much of the existing fitness to practise literature focuses on medical students and there is a preponderance of literature reviews and descriptive or discursive papers. The multicentre study aimed to explore students' and mentor's understandings of fitness to practise processes in pre-registration nursing programmes. A qualitative study in the interpretive paradigm with interpretive analysis involving 6 focus groups and 4 face-to-face interviews with nursing students and mentors. Eleven Higher Education Institutions providing pre-registration nursing education in the UK. Data were collected January 2014-March 2015 following ethical approval. Purposive sampling was used to recruit mentors and nursing (but not midwifery) students from pre-registration nursing programmes at different stages of educational preparation. Qualitatively driven semi-structured focus groups (n=6) and interviews (n=4) were conducted with a total of 35 participants (17 pre-registration nursing students and 18 nursing mentors). Three themes identified from the student and mentor data are considered: Conceptualising Fitness to Practise; Good Health and Character; and Fear and Anxiety Surrounding Fitness to Practise Processes. Uncertainty about understandings of fitness to practise contributed to a pervasive fear among students and reluctance among mentors to raise concerns about a student's fitness to practise. Both students and mentors expressed considerable anxiety and engaged in catastrophic thinking about fitness to practise processes. Higher Education Institutes should reinforce to students that they are fit to practise the majority of the time and reduce the negative emotional loading of fitness to practise processes and highlight learning opportunities. Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A novel multi-responsive polyampholyte composite hydrogel with excellent mechanical strength and rapid shrinking rate.

PubMed

Xu, Kun; Tan, Ying; Chen, Qiang; An, Huiyong; Li, Wenbo; Dong, Lisong; Wang, Pixin

2010-05-15

Series of hydrophilic core-shell microgels with cross-linked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) as core and poly(vinyl amine) (PVAm) as shell are synthesized via surfactant-free emulsion polymerization. Then, the microgels are treated with a small amount of potassium persulfate (KPS) to generate free radicals on the amine nitrogens of PVAm, which subsequently initiate the graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA), acryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DAC), and acrylamide (AAm) onto microgels to prepare multi-responsive composite hydrogels. The composite hydrogels consist of cross-linked ungrafted polyampholyte chains as the first network and microgels with grafted polyampholyte chains as graft point and second network and show surprising mechanical strength and rapid response rate. The investigation shows the compress strength of composite hydrogels is up to 17-30 MPa, which is 60-100 times higher than that of the hydrogel matrix. The composite hydrogel shows reversible switch of transmittance when traveling the lowest critical temperature (LCST) of microgels. When the composite hydrogel swollen in pH 2.86 solution at ambient condition is immersed into the pH 7.00 solution at 45 °C, a rapid dynamic shrinking can be observed. And the character time (τ) of shrinking dynamic of composite hydrogel is 251.9 min, which is less than that of hydrogel matrix (τ=2273.7 min). Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Implementation of image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) for patients with uterine cervix cancer: a tumor volume kinetics approach

PubMed Central

Mendez, Lucas Castro; Stuart, Silvia Radwanski; Guimarães, Roger Guilherme Rodrigues; Ramos, Clarissa Cerchi Angotti; de Paula, Lucas Assad; de Sales, Camila Pessoa; Chen, André Tsin Chih; Blasbalg, Roberto; Baroni, Ronaldo Hueb

2016-01-01

Purpose To evaluate tumor shrinking kinetics in order to implement image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) for the treatment of patients with cervix cancer. Material and methods This study has prospectively evaluated tumor shrinking kinetics of thirteen patients with uterine cervix cancer treated with combined chemoradiation. Four high dose rate brachytherapy fractions were delivered during the course of pelvic external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams were acquired at diagnosis (D), first (B1), and third (B3) brachytherapy fractions. Target volumes (GTV and HR-CTV) were calculated by both the ellipsoid formula (VE) and MRI contouring (VC), which were defined by a consensus between at least two radiation oncologists and a pelvic expert radiologist. Results Most enrolled patients had squamous cell carcinoma and FIGO stage IIB disease, and initiated brachytherapy after the third week of pelvic external beam radiation. Gross tumor volume volume reduction from diagnostic MRI to B1 represented 61.9% and 75.2% of the initial volume, when measured by VE and VC, respectively. Only a modest volume reduction (15-20%) was observed from B1 to B3. Conclusions The most expressive tumor shrinking occurred in the first three weeks of oncological treatment and was in accordance with gynecological examination. These findings may help in IGBT implementation. PMID:27648083

The effect of heat shrink treatment and storage temperature on the time of onset of "blown pack" spoilage.

PubMed

Moschonas, Galatios; Bolton, Declan J; Sheridan, James J; McDowell, David A

2011-02-01

This study determined the effects of (a) the short "heat shrink" treatment frequently applied to vacuum packed meats within normal commercial production, and (b) chill holding storage temperature, on the subsequent time to onset (TTO) of "blown pack" spoilage (BPS). Beef or lamb steaks were inoculated with 10³ CFU/cm² of spore suspensions of five gas producing clostridia, vacuum packed (VP) and treated as follows: no heat, 50°C/15 s, 70°C/10 s or 90°C/3 s. Samples were stored at -1.5, 1 or 4°C and examined daily to determine TTO of BPS. For each strain, pack treatment and storage temperature had significant (P<0.05 and P<0.001 respectively) effects on TTO of BPS, i.e. 90°C/3 s<70°C/10 s<50°C/15 s≤"no heat", and 4°C<1°C<-1.5°C. The study suggested that the meat industry could reduce the risks of BPS by avoiding higher temperature (90°C/3 s or 70°C/10 s) heat shrinking, and by storing VP meats at lower temperatures (e.g. -1.5°C). Copyright © 2010 The American Meat Science Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Unruptured cerebral aneurysms do not shrink when they rupture: multicenter collaborative aneurysm study group.

PubMed

Rahman, Maryam; Ogilvy, Christopher S; Zipfel, Gregory J; Derdeyn, Colin P; Siddiqui, Adnan H; Bulsara, Ketan R; Kim, Louis J; Riina, Howard A; Mocco, J; Hoh, Brian L

2011-01-01

The International Study of Intracranial Aneurysms found that for patients with no previous history of subarachnoid hemorrhage, small (< 7 mm) anterior circulation and posterior circulation aneurysms had a 0% and 2.5% risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage over 5 years, respectively. To determine whether cerebral aneurysms shrink with rupture. The clinical databases of 7 sites were screened for patients with imaging of cerebral aneurysms before and after rupture. Inclusion criteria included documented subarachnoid hemorrhage by imaging or lumbar puncture and intracranial imaging before and after cerebral aneurysm rupture. The patients were evaluated for aneurysm maximal height, maximal width, neck diameter, and other measurement parameters. Only a change of ≥ 2 mm was considered a true change. Data on 13 patients who met inclusion criteria were collected. The median age was 60, and 11 of the 13 patients (84.6%) were female. Only 5 patients had posterior circulation aneurysms. None of the aneurysms had a significant decrease in size. One aneurysm decreased by 1.8 mm in maximum size after rupture (7.7%). Six aneurysms had an increase in maximum size of at least 2 mm after rupture (46.2%) with a mean increase of 3.5 mm (± 0.5 mm). Unruptured aneurysms do not shrink when they rupture. The large percentage of ruptured small aneurysms in previous studies were likely small before they ruptured.

The incredible shrinking dewlap: signal size, skin elasticity, and mechanical design in the green anole lizard (Anolis carolinensis).

PubMed

Lailvaux, Simon P; Leifer, Jack; Kircher, Bonnie K; Johnson, Michele A

2015-10-01

The expression of male secondary sexual traits can be dynamic, changing size, shape, color, or structure over the course of different seasons. However, the factors underlying such changes are poorly understood. In male Anolis carolinensis lizards, a morphological secondary sexual signal called the dewlap changes size seasonally within individuals. Here, we test the hypothesis that seasonal changes in male dewlap size are driven by increased use and extension of the dewlap in spring and summer, when males are breeding, relative to the winter and fall. We captured male green anole lizards prior to the onset of breeding and constrained the dewlap in half of them such that it could not be extended. We then measured dewlap area in the spring, summer, and winter, and dewlap skin and belly skin elasticity in summer and winter. Dewlaps in unconstrained males increase in area from spring to summer and then shrink in the winter, whereas the dewlaps of constrained males consistently shrink from spring to winter. Dewlap skin is significantly more elastic than belly skin, and skin overall is more elastic in the summer relative to winter. These results show that seasonal changes in dewlap size are a function of skin elasticity and display frequency, and suggest that the mechanical properties of signaling structures can have important implications for signal evolution and design.

Fundamental Fractal Antenna Design Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, L. P.; Kim, T. C.; Kakas, G. D.

2017-12-01

Antenna designers are always looking to come up with new ideas to push the envelope for new antennas, using a smaller volume while striving for higher bandwidth, wider bandwidth, and antenna gain. One proposed method of increasing bandwidth or shrinking antenna size is via the use of fractal geometry, which gives rise to fractal antennas. Fractals are those fun shapes that if one zooms in or zoom out, the structure is always the same. Design a new type of antenna based on fractal antenna design by utilize the Design of Experiment (DOE) will be shown in fractal antenna design process. Investigate conformal fractal antenna design for patterns, dimensions, and size, of the antenna but maintaining or improving the antenna performance. Research shows an antenna designer how to create basic requirements of the fractal antenna through a step by step process, and provides how to optimize the antenna design with the model prediction, lab measurement, and actual results from the compact range measurement on the antenna patterns.

Understanding deviations in lithographic patterns near interfaces: Characterization of bottom anti-reflective coatings (BARC) and the BARC resist interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lenhart, Joseph L.; Fischer, Daniel; Sambasivan, Sharadha; Lin, Eric K.; Wu, Wen-Li; Guerrero, Douglas J.; Wang, Yubao; Puligadda, Rama

2007-02-01

Interactions between a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) and a photoresist can critically impact lithographic patterns. For example, a lithographic pattern can shrink or spread near a BARC interface, a process called undercutting or footing respectively, due to incompatibility between the two materials. Experiments were conducted on two industrial BARC coatings in an effort to determine the impact of BARC surface chemistry on the footing and undercutting phenomena. The BARC coatings were characterized by near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), contact angle measurements, and neutron and X-ray reflectivity. Contact angle measurement using a variety of fluids showed that the fluid contact angles were independent of the type of BARC coating or the BARC processing temperature. NEXAFS measurements showed that the surface chemistry of each BARC was also independent of the processing temperature. These results suggest that acid-base interactions at the BARC-resist interface are not the cause of the footing-undercutting phenomena encountered in lithographic patterns.

Magnetic Reconnections in Mast

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turri, G.; Buttery, R. J.; Hastie, R. J.; Gimblett, C. G.; Cowley, S. C.; Lehane, I.

2004-11-01

In MAST the appearance of a spontaneous snake in the plasma core has many of the properties of a full reconnection. Analysis of SXR and TS data indicates a strongly radiating core with high impurity levels forming before the onset of the snake. Following the appearance of an x-point (island on the q=1 surface) the former core is hypothesised to move off axis and shrink, appearing as a radiative region with flux-tube-like rotating helical structure (the snake). A code has been developed to compare this with a slow full Kadomtsev type reconnection process including effects of impurities, density and temperature perturbations, current profile evolution and transport. The code reproduces many of the trends and effects seen in the data, confirming the event as consistent with full reconnection. The time-scale of the event is also consistent with estimates of hybrid growth times for such a reconnection process. Further analysis will be presented exploring the physics of this process in more detail.

Platinum and rhenium extraction from a spent refinery catalyst using Bacillus megaterium as a cyanogenic bacterium: statistical modeling and process optimization.

PubMed

Motaghed, M; Mousavi, S M; Rastegar, S O; Shojaosadati, S A

2014-11-01

The present study evaluated the potential of Bacillus megaterium as a cyanogenic bacterium to produce cyanide for solubilization of platinum and rhenium from a spent refinery catalyst. Response surface methodology was applied to study the effects and interaction between two main effective parameters including initial glycine concentration and pulp density. Maximum Pt and Re recovery was obtained 15.7% and 98%, respectively, under optimum conditions of 12.8 g/l initial glycine concentration and 4% (w/v) pulp density after 7 days. Increasing the free cyanide concentration to 3.6 mg/l, varying the pH from 6.7 to 9, and increasing the dissolved oxygen from 2 to 5mg/l demonstrated the growth characteristics of B. megaterium during bioleaching process. The modified shrinking core model was used to determine the rate limiting step of the process. It was found that diffusion through the product layer is the rate controlling step. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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.

Hemangiomas

MedlinePlus

... to 18 months, and then slowly shrink. Port wine stains and other true birthmarks are fully formed ... left alone, but as medicine has progressed the benefits to early treatment are outweighing the risks more ...

Endometriosis

MedlinePlus

... ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), and acetaminophen (Tylenol). Prescription painkillers, if needed, for more severe pain. Regular exams ... or injections -- This treatment helps shrink growths. Side effects may include weight gain and depression. Gonadotropin-agonist ...

Hybrid enabled thin film metrology using XPS and optical

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vaid, Alok; Iddawela, Givantha; Mahendrakar, Sridhar; Lenahan, Michael; Hossain, Mainul; Timoney, Padraig; Bello, Abner F.; Bozdog, Cornel; Pois, Heath; Lee, Wei Ti; Klare, Mark; Kwan, Michael; Kang, Byung Cheol; Isbester, Paul; Sendelbach, Matthew; Yellai, Naren; Dasari, Prasad; Larson, Tom

2016-03-01

Complexity of process steps integration and material systems for next-generation technology nodes is reaching unprecedented levels, the appetite for higher sampling rates is on the rise, while the process window continues to shrink. Current thickness metrology specifications reach as low as 0.1A for total error budget - breathing new life into an old paradigm with lower visibility for past few metrology nodes: accuracy. Furthermore, for advance nodes there is growing demand to measure film thickness and composition on devices/product instead of surrogate planar simpler pads. Here we extend our earlier work in Hybrid Metrology to the combination of X-Ray based reference technologies (high performance) with optical high volume manufacturing (HVM) workhorse metrology (high throughput). Our stated goal is: put more "eyes" on the wafer (higher sampling) and enable move to films on pattern structure (control what matters). Examples of 1X front-end applications are used to setup and validate the benefits.

Economic benefit evaluation for renewable energy transmitted by HVDC based on production simulation (PS) and analytic hierarchy process(AHP)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jinfang; Zheng, Kuan; Liu, Jun; Huang, Xinting

2018-02-01

In order to support North and West China’s RE (RE) development and enhance accommodation in reasonable high level, HVDC’s traditional operation curves need some change to follow the output characteristic of RE, which helps to shrink curtailment electricity and curtailment ratio of RE. In this paper, an economic benefit analysis method based on production simulation (PS) and Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) has been proposed. PS is the basic tool to analyze chosen power system operation situation, and AHP method could give a suitable comparison result among many candidate schemes. Based on four different transmission curve combinations, related economic benefit has been evaluated by PS and AHP. The results and related index have shown the efficiency of suggested method, and finally it has been validated that HVDC operation curve in following RE output mode could have benefit in decreasing RE curtailment level and improving economic operation.

A Whale of a Tale: Creating Spacecraft Telemetry Data Analysis Products for the Deep Impact Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sturdevant, Kathryn F.; Wright, Jesse J.; Lighty, Roger A.; Nakamura, Lori L.

2006-01-01

This paper describes some of the challenges and lessons learned from the Deep Impact (DI) Mission Ground Data System's (GDS) telemetry data processing and product generation tool, nicknamed 'Whale.' One of the challenges of any mission is to analyze testbed and operational telemetry data. Methods to retrieve this data to date have required spacecraft subsystem members to become experts in the use of a myriad of query and plot tools. As budgets shrink, and the GDS teams grow smaller, more of the burden to understand these tools falls on the users. The user base also varies from novice to expert, and requiring them to become GDS tool experts in addition to spacecraft domain experts is an undue burden. The "Whale" approach is to process all of the data for a given spacecraft test, and provide each subsystem with plots and data products 'automagically.'.

Next Generation UAS Based Spectral Systems for Environmental Monitoring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Campbell, P.; Townsend, P.; Mandl, D.; Kingdon, C.; Ly, V.; Sohlberg, R.; Corp, L.; Cappelaere, P.; Frye, S.; Handy, M.;

Nanoparticle-induced unusual melting and solidification behaviours of metals

PubMed Central

Ma, Chao; Chen, Lianyi; Cao, Chezheng; Li, Xiaochun

2017-01-01

Effective control of melting and solidification behaviours of materials is significant for numerous applications. It has been a long-standing challenge to increase the melted zone (MZ) depth while shrinking the heat-affected zone (HAZ) size during local melting and solidification of materials. In this paper, nanoparticle-induced unusual melting and solidification behaviours of metals are reported that effectively solve this long-time dilemma. By introduction of Al2O3 nanoparticles, the MZ depth of Ni is increased by 68%, while the corresponding HAZ size is decreased by 67% in laser melting at a pulse energy of 0.18 mJ. The addition of SiC nanoparticles shows similar results. The discovery of the unusual melting and solidification of materials that contain nanoparticles will not only have impacts on existing melting and solidification manufacturing processes, such as laser welding and additive manufacturing, but also on other applications such as pharmaceutical processing and energy storage. PMID:28098147

Novel thermal annealing methodology for permanent tuning polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings to longer wavelengths.

PubMed

Pospori, A; Marques, C A F; Sagias, G; Lamela-Rivera, H; Webb, D J

2018-01-22

The Bragg wavelength of a polymer optical fiber Bragg grating can be permanently shifted by utilizing the thermal annealing method. In all the reported fiber annealing cases, the authors were able to tune the Bragg wavelength only to shorter wavelengths, since the polymer fiber shrinks in length during the annealing process. This article demonstrates a novel thermal annealing methodology for permanently tuning polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings to any desirable spectral position, including longer wavelengths. Stretching the polymer optical fiber during the annealing process, the period of Bragg grating, which is directly related with the Bragg wavelength, can become permanently longer. The methodology presented in this article can be used to multiplex polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings at any desirable spectral position utilizing only one phase-mask for their photo-inscription, reducing thus their fabrication cost in an industrial setting.

Nanostructure and burning mode of light-duty diesel particulate with conventional diesel, biodiesel, and intermediate blends

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

Strzelec, Andrea; Vander Wal, Randy L.; Lewis, Samuel A.

The nanostructure of diesel particulates has been shown to impact its oxidation rate and burnout trajectory. Additionally, this nanostructure can evolve during the oxidation process, furthering its influence on the burnout process. For this paper, exhaust particulates were generated on a light-duty diesel engine with conventional diesel fuel, biodiesel, and intermediate blends of the two at a single load-speed point. Despite the singular engine platform and operating point, the different fuels created particulates with varied nanostructure, thereby greatly expanding the window for observing nanostructure evolution and oxidation. The physical and chemical properties of the particulates in the nascent state andmore » at partial oxidation states were measured in a laboratory reactor and by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy as a function of the degree of oxidation in O 2. X-ray photoacoustic spectroscopy analysis, thermal desorption, and solvent extraction of the nascent particulate samples reveal a significant organic content in the biodiesel-derived particulates, likely accounting for differences in the nanostructure. This study reports the nanoscale structural changes in the particulate with biofuel blend level and during O 2 oxidation as observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and quantitated by fringe analysis and Brunnauer–Emmet–Teller total surface area measurements. It was observed that initial fuel-related differences in the lamella lengths, spacing, and curvature disappear when the particulate reaches approximately 50% burnout. Specifically, the initial ordered, fullerenic, and amorphous nanostructures converge during the oxidation process and the surface areas of these particulates appear to grow through these complex changes in internal particle structure. The specific surface area, measured at several points along the burnout trajectory, did not match the shrinking core projection and in contrast suggested that internal porosity was increasing. Thus, the appropriate burnout model for these particulates is significantly different from the standard shrinking core assumption, which does not account for any internal structure. Finally, an alternative burnout model is supported by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy image analysis.« less

Nanostructure and burning mode of light-duty diesel particulate with conventional diesel, biodiesel, and intermediate blends

DOE PAGES

Strzelec, Andrea; Vander Wal, Randy L.; Lewis, Samuel A.; ...

2017-01-18

The nanostructure of diesel particulates has been shown to impact its oxidation rate and burnout trajectory. Additionally, this nanostructure can evolve during the oxidation process, furthering its influence on the burnout process. For this paper, exhaust particulates were generated on a light-duty diesel engine with conventional diesel fuel, biodiesel, and intermediate blends of the two at a single load-speed point. Despite the singular engine platform and operating point, the different fuels created particulates with varied nanostructure, thereby greatly expanding the window for observing nanostructure evolution and oxidation. The physical and chemical properties of the particulates in the nascent state andmore » at partial oxidation states were measured in a laboratory reactor and by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy as a function of the degree of oxidation in O 2. X-ray photoacoustic spectroscopy analysis, thermal desorption, and solvent extraction of the nascent particulate samples reveal a significant organic content in the biodiesel-derived particulates, likely accounting for differences in the nanostructure. This study reports the nanoscale structural changes in the particulate with biofuel blend level and during O 2 oxidation as observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and quantitated by fringe analysis and Brunnauer–Emmet–Teller total surface area measurements. It was observed that initial fuel-related differences in the lamella lengths, spacing, and curvature disappear when the particulate reaches approximately 50% burnout. Specifically, the initial ordered, fullerenic, and amorphous nanostructures converge during the oxidation process and the surface areas of these particulates appear to grow through these complex changes in internal particle structure. The specific surface area, measured at several points along the burnout trajectory, did not match the shrinking core projection and in contrast suggested that internal porosity was increasing. Thus, the appropriate burnout model for these particulates is significantly different from the standard shrinking core assumption, which does not account for any internal structure. Finally, an alternative burnout model is supported by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy image analysis.« less

21 CFR 866.5100 - Antinuclear antibody immunological test system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

...), rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome (arthritis with inflammation of the eye, eyelid, and salivary glands), and systemic sclerosis (chronic hardening and shrinking of many body tissues). (b) Classification...

21 CFR 866.5100 - Antinuclear antibody immunological test system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

...), rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome (arthritis with inflammation of the eye, eyelid, and salivary glands), and systemic sclerosis (chronic hardening and shrinking of many body tissues). (b) Classification...

Can the ionosphere regulate magnetospheric convection?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coroniti, F. V.; Kennel, C. F.

1972-01-01

Following a southward shift of the interplanetary magnetic field, which implies enhanced reconnection at the nose of the magnetosphere, the magnetopause shrinks from its Chapman-Ferraro equilibrium position. If the convective return of magnetic flux to the magnetopause equalled the reconnection rate, the magnetopause would not shrink. Consequently, there is a delay in the development of magnetospheric convection following the onset of reconnection, which is ascribed to line tying by the polar cusp ionosphere. A simple model relates the dayside magnetopause displacement to the currents feeding the polar cap ionosphere, from which the ionospheric electric field, and consequently, the flux return rate, may be estimated as a function of magnetopause displacement. Flux conservation arguments then permit an estimate of the time scale on which convection increases, which is not inconsistent with that of the substorm growth phase.

KSC-2013-2198

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-04-26

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, construction crews are removing 16,000 square feet of plastic shrink-wrap from the space shuttle Atlantis. The spacecraft was enclosed in the plastic shrink-wrap since November of last year to protect the artifact from dust and debris during construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility. Last November, the space shuttle Atlantis made its historic final journey to its new home, traveling 10 miles from the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to the spaceport's visitor complex. The new $100 million "Space Shuttle Atlantis" facility will include interactive exhibits that tell the story of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program and highlights the future of space exploration. The "Space Shuttle Atlantis" exhibit scheduled to open June 29, 2013.Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

KSC-2013-2194

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-04-26

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, construction crews are removing 16,000 square feet of plastic shrink-wrap from the space shuttle Atlantis. The spacecraft was enclosed in the plastic shrink-wrap since November of last year to protect the artifact from dust and debris during construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility. Last November, the space shuttle Atlantis made its historic final journey to its new home, traveling 10 miles from the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to the spaceport's visitor complex. The new $100 million "Space Shuttle Atlantis" facility will include interactive exhibits that tell the story of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program and highlights the future of space exploration. The "Space Shuttle Atlantis" exhibit scheduled to open June 29, 2013.Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

KSC-2013-2191

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-04-26

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, construction crews remove 16,000 square feet of plastic shrink-wrap from the space shuttle Atlantis. The spacecraft was enclosed in the plastic shrink-wrap since November of last year to protect the artifact from dust and debris during construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility. Last November, the space shuttle Atlantis made its historic final journey to its new home, traveling 10 miles from the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to the spaceport's visitor complex. The new $100 million "Space Shuttle Atlantis" facility will include interactive exhibits that tell the story of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program and highlights the future of space exploration. The "Space Shuttle Atlantis" exhibit scheduled to open June 29, 2013.Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

KSC-2013-2192

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-04-26

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, construction crews are removing 16,000 square feet of plastic shrink-wrap from the space shuttle Atlantis. The spacecraft was enclosed in the plastic shrink-wrap since November of last year to protect the artifact from dust and debris during construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility. Last November, the space shuttle Atlantis made its historic final journey to its new home, traveling 10 miles from the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to the spaceport's visitor complex. The new $100 million "Space Shuttle Atlantis" facility will include interactive exhibits that tell the story of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program and highlights the future of space exploration. The "Space Shuttle Atlantis" exhibit scheduled to open June 29, 2013.Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

Shrink-wrap Vesicles

PubMed Central

Fujikawa, Shelly M.; Chen, Irene A.; Szostak, Jack W.

2008-01-01

We describe a simple approach to the controlled removal of molecules from the membrane of large unilamellar vesicles made of fatty acids. Such vesicles shrink dramatically upon mixing with micelles composed of a mixture of fatty acid and phospholipid (POPC), as fatty acid molecules leave the vesicle membrane and accumulate within the mixed micelles. Vesicle shrinkage was confirmed by dynamic light scattering, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching of labeled vesicles, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer between lipid dyes incorporated into the vesicle membrane. Most of the encapsulated impermeable solute is retained during shrinkage, becoming concentrated by a factor of at least 50-fold in the final small vesicles. This unprecedented combination of vesicle shrinkage with retention of contents allows for the preparation of small vesicles containing high solute concentrations, and may find applications in liposomal drug delivery. PMID:16342983

KSC-2013-2201

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-04-26

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, construction crews have removed 16,000 square feet of plastic shrink-wrap from the space shuttle Atlantis. The spacecraft was enclosed in the plastic shrink-wrap since November of last year to protect the artifact from dust and debris during construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility. Last November, the space shuttle Atlantis made its historic final journey to its new home, traveling 10 miles from the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to the spaceport's visitor complex. The new $100 million "Space Shuttle Atlantis" facility will include interactive exhibits that tell the story of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program and highlights the future of space exploration. The "Space Shuttle Atlantis" exhibit scheduled to open June 29, 2013.Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

KSC-2013-2189

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-04-26

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, construction crews are removing 16,000 square feet of plastic shrink-wrap from the space shuttle Atlantis. The spacecraft was enclosed in the plastic shrink-wrap since November of last year to protect the artifact from dust and debris during construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility. Last November, the space shuttle Atlantis made its historic final journey to its new home, traveling 10 miles from the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to the spaceport's visitor complex. The new $100 million "Space Shuttle Atlantis" facility will include interactive exhibits that tell the story of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program and highlights the future of space exploration. The "Space Shuttle Atlantis" exhibit scheduled to open June 29, 2013.Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

KSC-2013-2199

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-04-26

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, construction crews are removing 16,000 square feet of plastic shrink-wrap from the space shuttle Atlantis. The spacecraft was enclosed in the plastic shrink-wrap since November of last year to protect the artifact from dust and debris during construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility. Last November, the space shuttle Atlantis made its historic final journey to its new home, traveling 10 miles from the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to the spaceport's visitor complex. The new $100 million "Space Shuttle Atlantis" facility will include interactive exhibits that tell the story of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program and highlights the future of space exploration. The "Space Shuttle Atlantis" exhibit scheduled to open June 29, 2013.Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

KSC-2013-2190

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-04-26

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, construction crews are removing 16,000 square feet of plastic shrink-wrap from the space shuttle Atlantis. The spacecraft was enclosed in the plastic shrink-wrap since November of last year to protect the artifact from dust and debris during construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility. Last November, the space shuttle Atlantis made its historic final journey to its new home, traveling 10 miles from the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to the spaceport's visitor complex. The new $100 million "Space Shuttle Atlantis" facility will include interactive exhibits that tell the story of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program and highlights the future of space exploration. The "Space Shuttle Atlantis" exhibit scheduled to open June 29, 2013.Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

KSC-2013-2197

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-04-26

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, construction crews are removing 16,000 square feet of plastic shrink-wrap from the space shuttle Atlantis. The spacecraft was enclosed in the plastic shrink-wrap since November of last year to protect the artifact from dust and debris during construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility. Last November, the space shuttle Atlantis made its historic final journey to its new home, traveling 10 miles from the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to the spaceport's visitor complex. The new $100 million "Space Shuttle Atlantis" facility will include interactive exhibits that tell the story of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program and highlights the future of space exploration. The "Space Shuttle Atlantis" exhibit scheduled to open June 29, 2013.Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

KSC-2013-2193

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-04-26

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, construction crews are removing 16,000 square feet of plastic shrink-wrap from the space shuttle Atlantis. The spacecraft was enclosed in the plastic shrink-wrap since November of last year to protect the artifact from dust and debris during construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility. Last November, the space shuttle Atlantis made its historic final journey to its new home, traveling 10 miles from the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to the spaceport's visitor complex. The new $100 million "Space Shuttle Atlantis" facility will include interactive exhibits that tell the story of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program and highlights the future of space exploration. The "Space Shuttle Atlantis" exhibit scheduled to open June 29, 2013.Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

KSC-2013-2200

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-04-26

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, construction crews have removed 16,000 square feet of plastic shrink-wrap from the space shuttle Atlantis. The spacecraft was enclosed in the plastic shrink-wrap since November of last year to protect the artifact from dust and debris during construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility. Last November, the space shuttle Atlantis made its historic final journey to its new home, traveling 10 miles from the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to the spaceport's visitor complex. The new $100 million "Space Shuttle Atlantis" facility will include interactive exhibits that tell the story of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program and highlights the future of space exploration. The "Space Shuttle Atlantis" exhibit scheduled to open June 29, 2013.Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

KSC-2013-2202

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-04-26

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, construction crews have removed 16,000 square feet of plastic shrink-wrap from the space shuttle Atlantis. The spacecraft was enclosed in the plastic shrink-wrap since November of last year to protect the artifact from dust and debris during construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility. Last November, the space shuttle Atlantis made its historic final journey to its new home, traveling 10 miles from the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to the spaceport's visitor complex. The new $100 million "Space Shuttle Atlantis" facility will include interactive exhibits that tell the story of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program and highlights the future of space exploration. The "Space Shuttle Atlantis" exhibit scheduled to open June 29, 2013.Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

KSC-2013-2195

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-04-26

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, construction crews are removing 16,000 square feet of plastic shrink-wrap from the space shuttle Atlantis. The spacecraft was enclosed in the plastic shrink-wrap since November of last year to protect the artifact from dust and debris during construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility. Last November, the space shuttle Atlantis made its historic final journey to its new home, traveling 10 miles from the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to the spaceport's visitor complex. The new $100 million "Space Shuttle Atlantis" facility will include interactive exhibits that tell the story of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program and highlights the future of space exploration. The "Space Shuttle Atlantis" exhibit scheduled to open June 29, 2013.Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

KSC-2013-2196

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-04-26

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, construction crews are removing 16,000 square feet of plastic shrink-wrap from the space shuttle Atlantis. The spacecraft was enclosed in the plastic shrink-wrap since November of last year to protect the artifact from dust and debris during construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility. Last November, the space shuttle Atlantis made its historic final journey to its new home, traveling 10 miles from the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to the spaceport's visitor complex. The new $100 million "Space Shuttle Atlantis" facility will include interactive exhibits that tell the story of the 30-year Space Shuttle Program and highlights the future of space exploration. The "Space Shuttle Atlantis" exhibit scheduled to open June 29, 2013.Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston

Neo-isolationism, balanced-budget conservatism, and the fiscal impacts of immigrants.

PubMed

Huber, G A; Espenshade, T J

1997-01-01

"A rise in neo-isolationism in the United States has given encouragement to a new fiscal politics of immigration. Growing anti-immigrant sentiment has coalesced with forces of fiscal conservatism to make immigrants an easy target of budget cuts. Limits on legal alien access to social welfare programs that are contained in the 1996 welfare and immigration reform acts seem motivated not so much by a guiding philosophy of what it means to be a member of American society as by a desire to shrink the size of the federal government and to produce a balanced budget. Even more than in the past, the consequence of a shrinking welfare state is to metamorphose legal immigrants from public charges to windfall gains for the federal treasury." excerpt

Hot air heat gun

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poston, Terry L.

1989-10-01

The invention relates generally to the art of self-contained heating devices and in particular to portable heating devices employing chemical reaction to produce heat. Currently, hand-held heat sources, capable of producing heat at a sufficiently high temperature to activate heat-shrink material, rely on either the combustion of flammable material or electrical power to provide energy for generating the required heat. An object of the present invention is to provide a portable device capable of providing sufficient heat to shrink heat-shrinkable tubing. A further object of the invention is to provide a non-flammable heat source suitable for use in the presence of explosive atmospheres. Still another object of the invention is to provide a portable hand-held device for generating heat which can be directed to a specific location on a work surface.

Phase-shift focus monitoring techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McQuillan, Matthew; Roberts, Bill

2006-03-01

Depth of focus (DOF) has become a victim of its mathematical relationship with Numerical Aperture (NA). While NA is being increased towards one to maximize scanner resolution capabilities, DOF is being minimized because of its inverse relationship with NA. Moore's law continues to drive the semiconductor industry towards smaller and smaller devices the need for high NA to resolve these shrinking devices will continue to consume the usable depth of focus (UDOF). Due to the shrinking UDOF a demand has been created for a feature or technology that will give engineers the capability to monitor scanner focus. Developing and implementation of various focus monitoring techniques have been used to prevent undetected tool focus excursions. Two overlay techniques to monitor ArF Scanner focus have been evaluated; our evaluation results will be presented here.

On the spatial coordinate measurement of two identical particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marchewka, Avi; Granot, Er'el; Schuss, Zeev

2016-04-01

Theoretically, the coordinate measurement of two identical particles at a point by two narrowly separated narrow detectors, is interpreted in the limit of shrinking width and separation, as the detection of two particles by a single narrow detector. Ordinarily, the ratio between probabilities of point measurements is independent of the width of the narrow detectors. We show here that not only this is not the case, but that in some scenarios the results depend on the way the dimensions shrink to zero. The ratio between the width and the separation determines the detection result. In particular, it is shown that the bunching parameter of bosons is not a well-defined physical property. Moreover, it may suggests that there is a difficulty in quantum measurement theory in the interpretation of coordinate measurement of two particles.

Searching for the right fit: development of applicant person-organization fit perceptions during the recruitment process.

PubMed

Swider, Brian W; Zimmerman, Ryan D; Barrick, Murray R

2015-05-01

Numerous studies link applicant fit perceptions measured at a single point in time to recruitment outcomes. Expanding upon this prior research by incorporating decision-making theory, this study examines how applicants develop these fit perceptions over the duration of the recruitment process, showing meaningful changes in fit perceptions across and within organizations overtime. To assess the development of applicant fit perceptions, eight assessments of person-organization (PO) fit with up to four different organizations across 169 applicants for 403 job choice decisions were analyzed. Results showed the presence of initial levels and changes in differentiation of applicant PO fit perceptions across organizations, which significantly predicted future job choice. In addition, changes in within-organizational PO fit perceptions across two stages of recruitment predicted applicant job choices among multiple employers. The implications of these results for accurately understanding the development of fit perceptions, relationships between fit perceptions and key recruiting outcomes, and possible limitations of past meta-analytically derived estimates of these relationships are discussed. (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved.

Variation and Defect Tolerance for Nano Crossbars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tunc, Cihan

With the extreme shrinking in CMOS technology, quantum effects and manufacturing issues are getting more crucial. Hence, additional shrinking in CMOS feature size seems becoming more challenging, difficult, and costly. On the other hand, emerging nanotechnology has attracted many researchers since additional scaling down has been demonstrated by manufacturing nanowires, Carbon nanotubes as well as molecular switches using bottom-up manufacturing techniques. In addition to the progress in manufacturing, developments in architecture show that emerging nanoelectronic devices will be promising for the future system designs. Using nano crossbars, which are composed of two sets of perpendicular nanowires with programmable intersections, it is possible to implement logic functions. In addition, nano crossbars present some important features as regularity, reprogrammability, and interchangeability. Combining these features, researchers have presented different effective architectures. Although bottom-up nanofabrication can greatly reduce manufacturing costs, due to low controllability in the manufacturing process, some critical issues occur. Bottom- up nanofabrication process results in high variation compared to conventional top- down lithography used in CMOS technology. In addition, an increased failure rate is expected. Variation and defect tolerance methods used for conventional CMOS technology seem inadequate for adapting to emerging nano technology because the variation and the defect rate for emerging nano technology is much more than current CMOS technology. Therefore, variations and defect tolerance methods for emerging nano technology are necessary for a successful transition. In this work, in order to tolerate variations for crossbars, we introduce a framework that is established based on reprogrammability and interchangeability features of nano crossbars. This framework is shown to be applicable for both FET-based and diode-based nano crossbars. We present a characterization testing method which requires minimal number of test vectors. We formulate the variation optimization problem using Simulated Annealing with different optimization goals. Furthermore, we extend the framework for defect tolerance. Experimental results and comparison of proposed framework with exhaustive methods confirm its effectiveness for both variation and defect tolerance.

Shrinking windows of opportunity for oak seedling establishment in southern California mountains

USGS Publications Warehouse

Davis, Frank W.; Sweet, Lynn C.; Serra-Diaz, Josep M.; Franklin, Janet; McCullough, Ian M.; Flint, Alan L.; Flint, Lorraine E.; Dingman, John; Regan, Helen M.; Syphard, Alexandra D.; Hannah, Lee; Redmond, Kelly; Moritz, Max A.

2016-01-01

Seedling establishment is a critical step that may ultimately govern tree species’ distribution shifts under environmental change. Annual variation in the location of seed rain and microclimates results in transient “windows of opportunity” for tree seedling establishment across the landscape. These establishment windows vary at fine spatiotemporal scales that are not considered in most assessments of climate change impacts on tree species range dynamics and habitat displacement. We integrate field seedling establishment trials conducted in the southern Sierra Nevada and western Tehachapi Mountains of southern California with spatially downscaled grids of modeled water-year climatic water deficit (CWDwy) and mean August maximum daily temperature (Tmax) to map historical and projected future microclimates suitable for establishment windows of opportunity for Quercus douglasii, a dominant tree species of warm, dry foothill woodlands, and Q. kelloggii, a dominant of cooler, more mesic montane woodlands and forests. Based on quasi-binomial regression models, Q. douglasii seedling establishment is significantly associated with modeled CWDwy and to a lesser degree with modeled Tmax. Q. kelloggii seedling establishment is most strongly associated with Tmax and best predicted by a two-factor model including CWDwy and Tmax. Establishment niche models are applied to explore recruitment window dynamics in the western Tehachapi Mountains, where these species are currently widespread canopy dominants. Establishment windows are projected to decrease by 50–95%, shrinking locally to higher elevations and north-facing slopes by the end of this century depending on the species and climate scenario. These decreases in establishment windows suggest the potential for longer-term regional population declines of the species. While many additional processes regulate seedling establishment and growth, this study highlights the need to account for topoclimatic controls and interannual climatic variation when assessing how seedling establishment and colonization processes could be affected by climate change.

Temporal Lobe Seizure

MedlinePlus

... period of confusion and difficulty speaking Inability to recall what occurred during the seizure Unawareness of having ... of the brain that's responsible for learning and memory (hippocampus) to shrink. Brain cell loss in this ...

Head and Neck Cancer Treatment

MedlinePlus

... not feasible to completely remove the cancer initially. Radiotherapy is then given first to try to shrink the tumor, and surgery will follow radiotherapy. Recent studies indicate that chemotherapy given at the ...

Significantly reducing the processing times of high-speed photometry data sets using a distributed computing model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doyle, Paul; Mtenzi, Fred; Smith, Niall; Collins, Adrian; O'Shea, Brendan

2012-09-01

The scientific community is in the midst of a data analysis crisis. The increasing capacity of scientific CCD instrumentation and their falling costs is contributing to an explosive generation of raw photometric data. This data must go through a process of cleaning and reduction before it can be used for high precision photometric analysis. Many existing data processing pipelines either assume a relatively small dataset or are batch processed by a High Performance Computing centre. A radical overhaul of these processing pipelines is required to allow reduction and cleaning rates to process terabyte sized datasets at near capture rates using an elastic processing architecture. The ability to access computing resources and to allow them to grow and shrink as demand fluctuates is essential, as is exploiting the parallel nature of the datasets. A distributed data processing pipeline is required. It should incorporate lossless data compression, allow for data segmentation and support processing of data segments in parallel. Academic institutes can collaborate and provide an elastic computing model without the requirement for large centralized high performance computing data centers. This paper demonstrates how a base 10 order of magnitude improvement in overall processing time has been achieved using the "ACN pipeline", a distributed pipeline spanning multiple academic institutes.

Advantages offered by high average power picosecond lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moorhouse, C.

2011-03-01

As electronic devices shrink in size to reduce material costs, device size and weight, thinner material thicknesses are also utilized. Feature sizes are also decreasing, which is pushing manufacturers towards single step laser direct write process as an attractive alternative to conventional, multiple step photolithography processes by eliminating process steps and the cost of chemicals. The fragile nature of these thin materials makes them difficult to machine either mechanically or with conventional nanosecond pulsewidth, Diode Pumped Solids State (DPSS) lasers. Picosecond laser pulses can cut materials with reduced damage regions and selectively remove thin films due to the reduced thermal effects of the shorter pulsewidth. Also, the high repetition rate allows high speed processing for industrial applications. Selective removal of thin films for OLED patterning, silicon solar cells and flat panel displays is discussed, as well as laser cutting of transparent materials with low melting point such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). For many of these thin film applications, where low pulse energy and high repetition rate are required, throughput can be increased by the use of a novel technique to using multiple beams from a single laser source is outlined.

Injection-salting and cold-smoking of farmed atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) at different stages of Rigor Mortis: effect on physical properties.

PubMed

Akse, L; Birkeland, S; Tobiassen, T; Joensen, S; Larsen, R

2008-10-01

Processing of fish is generally conducted postrigor, but prerigor processing is associated with some potential advantages. The aim of this study was to study how 5 processing regimes of cold-smoked cod and salmon conducted at different stages of rigor influenced yield, fillet shrinkage, and gaping. Farmed cod and salmon was filleted, salted by brine injection of 25% NaCl, and smoked for 2 h at different stages of rigor. Filleting and salting prerigor resulted in increased fillet shrinkage and less increase in weight during brine injection, which in turn was correlated to the salt content of the fillet. These effects were more pronounced in cod fillets when compared to salmon. Early processing reduced fillet gaping and fillets were evaluated as having a firmer texture. In a follow-up trial with cod, shrinkage and weight gain during injection was studied as an effect of processing time postmortem. No changes in weight gain were observed for fillets salted the first 24 h postmortem; however, by delaying the processing 12 h postmortem, the high and rapid shrinking of cod fillets during brine injection was halved.

Turbinate surgery

MedlinePlus

... with sedation, so you are asleep and pain-free during surgery. Radiofrequency or laser ablation: A thin probe is placed into the nose. Laser light or radiofrequency energy goes through this tube and shrinks the turbinate ...

Job Prospects for Civil Engineers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Basta, Nicholas

1988-01-01

Discusses civil engineering employment opportunities; indicates that the field is shrinking. Presents national placement and enrollment statistics. Identifies building and construction materials, and public works as areas of current and expanding opportunities. (CW)

21 CFR 866.5100 - Antinuclear antibody immunological test system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

...), rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome (arthritis with inflammation of the eye, eyelid, and salivary glands), and systemic sclerosis (chronic hardening and shrinking of many body tissues). (b) Classification...

21 CFR 866.5100 - Antinuclear antibody immunological test system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

...), rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome (arthritis with inflammation of the eye, eyelid, and salivary glands), and systemic sclerosis (chronic hardening and shrinking of many body tissues). (b) Classification...

Preparation and characterization of a novel pH-sensitive hydrogel obtained from UV light-induced polymerization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, R. Q.; Zhao, Y. G.; Cui, Y. Q.; Zhang, X. Y.; Zhang, J.; Liang, X. Y.; Shang, Q.

2015-05-01

The main aim of this study was to develop a novel pH-sensitive hydrogel prepared via an UV light-induced polymerization. Single-factor experiments were performed to acquire the optimum formula of final poly(MAA-co-PEGMA) hydrogel. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra were employed to confirm the successful preparation of the designed copolymers. Inner morphologies of the polymeric hydrogels were observed via an S-4800 scanning electron microscope (SEM). Swelling and reversible swelling-shrinking studies were carried out in different phosphate buffer solution (PBS) with various pH values. Drug-loading tests were performed with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model drug. The in vitro release profile was also investigated in PBS with the pH values of 1.2 and 7.4. FTIR spectra confirmed the preparation of the poly(MAA-co-PEGMA) copolymers without any residual monomers. The typical space grid structures were observed from the SEM photographs of hydrogels. The obtained hydrogel showed an excellent pH-sensibility and reversible swelling-shrinking property. The maximum drug-loading (40.9 %) was gained from the BSA concentration of 50.0 mg/mL. During the releasing process, only 5.8 ± 0.9 % of BSA was released at pH 1.2, but 82.1 ± 6.2 % was diffused at pH 7.4. These data suggested that such medicated hydrogel could deliver BSA to alkaline conditions (e.g., intestinal environments) site-specifically, which protected BSA from destroying by gastric acid or pepsase. Therefore, such hydrogel had a significant meaning in theoretical research and practical application.

Academic tenure and higher education in the United States: implications for the dental education workforce in the twenty-first century.

PubMed

Peterson, Melanie R

2007-03-01

This article reviews the literature related to the evolution and implementation of academic tenure (AT) in U.S. higher education. It is intended to highlight AT implications for the recruitment, retention, and development of the dental education workforce in the twenty-first century and the need for this workforce to implement change in dental education. The dental education workforce is shrinking, and a further decrease is projected, yet the demand for dental education is increasing. AT is becoming increasingly controversial, and the proportion of tenured to nontenured (i.e., contingent) faculty is declining within an already shrinking faculty pool. Confusion regarding the definition of scholarship and its relationship to research and publishing further confounds discussions about AT. Whether the principles of academic freedom and due process require tenure for their preservation in a democratic society is open to question. In view of competing time demands and increasing pressure to publish and apply for grants, factors including the seven-year probationary period for tenure, the decreased availability of tenured positions, and the often perceived inequities between tenured and contingent (i.e., nontenured track) faculty may pose an obstacle to faculty recruitment and retention. These factors may severely limit the diversity and skill mix of the dental education workforce, resulting in a decrease in staffing flexibility that appears to be needed in the twenty-first century. Politics, increasing dependence on grant funding by some institutions, resistance to change, and insufficient mentoring are all stimulating discussions about the future of tenure and its implications for U.S. dental education.

Effect of norepinephrine on swelling-induced potassium transport in duck red cells. Evidence against a volume-regulatory decrease under physiological conditions

PubMed Central

1985-01-01

Duck red cells exhibit specific volume-sensitive ion transport processes that are inhibited by furosemide, but not by ouabain. Swelling cells in a hypotonic synthetic medium activates a chloride- dependent, but sodium-independent, potassium transport. Shrinking cells in a hypertonic synthetic medium stimulates an electrically neutral co- transport of [Na + K + 2 Cl] with an associated 1:1 K/K (or K/Rb) exchange. These shrinkage-induced modes can also be activated in both hypo- and hypertonic solutions by beta-adrenergic catecholamines (e.g., norepinephrine). Freshly drawn cells spontaneously shrink approximately 4-5% when removed from the influence of endogenous plasma catecholamines, either by incubation in a catecholamine-free, plasma- like synthetic medium, or in plasma to which a beta-receptor blocking dose of propranolol has been added. This spontaneous shrinkage resembles the response of hypotonically swollen cells in that it is due to a net loss of KCl with no change in cell sodium. Norepinephrine abolishes the net potassium transport seen in both fresh and hypotonically swollen cells. Moreover, cells swollen in diluted plasma, at physiological pH and extracellular potassium, show no net loss of KCl and water ("volume-regulatory decrease") unless propranolol is added. Examination of the individual cation fluxes in the presence of catecholamines demonstrates that activation of [Na + K + 2Cl] co- transport with its associated K/Rb exchange prevents, or overrides, swelling-induced [K + Cl] co-transport. These results, therefore, cast doubt on whether the swelling-induced [K + Cl] system can serve a volume-regulatory function under in vivo conditions. PMID:3998706

Effect of droplet shrinking on surface acoustic wave response in microfluidic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bui, ThuHang; Nguyen, Van; Vollebregt, Sten; Morana, Bruno; van Zeijl, Henk; Chu Duc, Trinh; Sarro, Pasqualina M.

2017-12-01

The effect of the contact angle and radius of a microsize droplet on the surface acoustic wave (SAW) response for microfluidic applications is reported. It is studied through the dynamic change of the droplet shape during the evaporation process. An aluminium nitride SAW device, operating at 125.7 MHz, is utilized to investigate the deformation of the droplet shape (contact angle and contact radius) caused by shrinking. The large cavity placed on the propagation path distorts the in-band SAW response one time at the centre frequency. The fractional coefficient of the SAW insertion loss, before and after dropping the liquid on the propagation path, is continuously recorded. The change in the fractional coefficient shows that the radiated acoustic kinetic energy depends on the contact area between the sessile micro-size droplet and the SAW device more than the contact angle of the droplet. Three droplet volumes have been considered, namely 0.05, 0.1 and 0.13 μl, and the electrical results show a better agreement with the theoretical data than the optical image data. The average duration of the fractional coefficient change for these cases is 420, 573 and 760 s, respectively. The effect of the hydrophobicity versus hydrophilicity of the contact surface on the duration of the fractional coefficient change is studied by coating the SAW with a silicon oxide or hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) thin layer. For the same 0.05 μl sessile droplet on the hydrophobic surface, this duration is on average 110 s longer than that on the hydrophilic surface.

Improved bioluminescence and fluorescence reconstruction algorithms using diffuse optical tomography, normalized data, and optimized selection of the permissible source region

PubMed Central

Naser, Mohamed A.; Patterson, Michael S.

2011-01-01

Reconstruction algorithms are presented for two-step solutions of the bioluminescence tomography (BLT) and the fluorescence tomography (FT) problems. In the first step, a continuous wave (cw) diffuse optical tomography (DOT) algorithm is used to reconstruct the tissue optical properties assuming known anatomical information provided by x-ray computed tomography or other methods. Minimization problems are formed based on L1 norm objective functions, where normalized values for the light fluence rates and the corresponding Green’s functions are used. Then an iterative minimization solution shrinks the permissible regions where the sources are allowed by selecting points with higher probability to contribute to the source distribution. Throughout this process the permissible region shrinks from the entire object to just a few points. The optimum reconstructed bioluminescence and fluorescence distributions are chosen to be the results of the iteration corresponding to the permissible region where the objective function has its global minimum This provides efficient BLT and FT reconstruction algorithms without the need for a priori information about the bioluminescence sources or the fluorophore concentration. Multiple small sources and large distributed sources can be reconstructed with good accuracy for the location and the total source power for BLT and the total number of fluorophore molecules for the FT. For non-uniform distributed sources, the size and magnitude become degenerate due to the degrees of freedom available for possible solutions. However, increasing the number of data points by increasing the number of excitation sources can improve the accuracy of reconstruction for non-uniform fluorophore distributions. PMID:21326647

A NANO enhancement to Moore's law

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Jerry; Shen, Yin-Lin; Reinhardt, Kitt; Szu, Harold

2012-06-01

In the past 46 years, Intel Moore observed an exponential doubling in the number of transistors in every 18 months through the size reduction of individual transistor components since 1965. In this paper, we are exploring the nanotechnology impact upon the Law. Since we cannot break down the atomic size barrier, the fact implies a fundamental size limit at the atomic or Nanotechnology scale. This means, no more simple 18 month doubling as in Moore's Law, but other forms of transistor doubling may happen at a different slope in new directions. We are particularly interested in the Nano enhancement area. (i) 3-D: If the progress in shrinking the in-plane dimensions (2D) is to slow down, vertical integration (3D) can help increasing the areal device transistor density and keep us on the modified Moore's Law curve including the 3rd dimension. As the devices continue to shrink further into the 20 to 30 nm range, the consideration of thermal properties and transport in such nanoscale devices becomes increasingly important. (ii) Carbon Computing: Instead of traditional Transistors, the other types of transistors material are rapidly developed in Laboratories Worldwide, e.g. IBM Spintronics bandgap material and Samsung Nano-storage material, HD display Nanotechnology, which are modifying the classical Moore's Law. We shall consider the overall limitation of phonon engineering, fundamental information unit 'Qubyte' in quantum computing, Nano/Micro Electrical Mechanical System (NEMS), Carbon NanoTubes (CNTs), single layer Graphemes, single strip Nano-Ribbons, etc., and their variable degree of fabrication maturities for the computing and information processing applications.

Collisional Cascades Following Triton's Capture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cuk, Matija; Hamilton, Douglas P.; Stewart-Mukhopadhyay, Sarah T.

2017-10-01

Neptune's moon Triton is widely thought to have been captured from heliocentric orbit, most likely through binary dissociation (Agnor and Hamilton, 2006). Triton's original eccentric orbit must have been subsequently circularized by satellite tides (Goldreich et al. 1989). Cuk and Gladman (2005) found that Kozai oscillations make early tidal evolution inefficient, and have proposed that collisions between Triton and debris from pre-existing satellites was the dominant mechanism of shrinking Triton's large post-capture orbit. However, Cuk and Hamilton (DPS 2016), using numerical simulations and results of Stewart and Leinhardt (2012), have found that collisions between regular satellites are unlikely to be destructive, while collisions between prograde moons and Triton are certainly erosive if not catastrophic. An obvious outcome would be pre-existing moon material gradually grinding down Triton and making it reaccrete in the local Laplace plane, in conflict with Triton's large current inclination. We propose that the crucial ingredient for understanding the early evolution of the Neptunian system are the collisions between the moons and the prograde and retrograde debris originating from the pre-existing moons and Triton. In particular, we expect early erosive impact(s) on Triton to generate debris that will, in subsequent collisions, disrupt the regular satellites. If the retrograde material were to dominate at some planetocentric distances, the end result may be a large cloud or disk of retrograde debris that would be accreted by Triton, shrinking Triton's orbit. Some of the prograde debris could survive in a compact disk interior to Triton's pericenter, eventually forming the inner moons of Neptune. We will present results of numerical modeling of these complex dynamical processes at the meeting.

Perceived Fit with an Academic Environment: Attitudinal and Behavioral Outcomes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schmitt, Neal; Oswald, Frederick L.; Friede, Alyssa; Imus, Anna; Merritt, Stephanie

2008-01-01

Because person-organization fit relates to important outcomes, and because fit is a time-dependent process, there exists a need to model longitudinal data related to fit. In a multi-university sample (N=1174), we tested hypotheses concerning person-organization fit and various behavioral and attitudinal outcomes; correlations between changes in…

Application of resist-profile-aware source optimization in 28 nm full chip optical proximity correction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Jun; Zhang, David Wei; Kuo, Chinte; Wang, Qing; Wei, Fang; Zhang, Chenming; Chen, Han; He, Daquan; Hsu, Stephen D.

2017-07-01

As technology node shrinks, aggressive design rules for contact and other back end of line (BEOL) layers continue to drive the need for more effective full chip patterning optimization. Resist top loss is one of the major challenges for 28 nm and below technology nodes, which can lead to post-etch hotspots that are difficult to predict and eventually degrade the process window significantly. To tackle this problem, we used an advanced programmable illuminator (FlexRay) and Tachyon SMO (Source Mask Optimization) platform to make resistaware source optimization possible, and it is proved to greatly improve the imaging contrast, enhance focus and exposure latitude, and minimize resist top loss thus improving the yield.

Collapse of surface nanobubbles.

PubMed

Chan, Chon U; Chen, Longquan; Arora, Manish; Ohl, Claus-Dieter

2015-03-20

Surface attached nanobubbles populate surfaces submerged in water. These nanobubbles have a much larger contact angle and longer lifetime than predicted by classical theory. Moreover, it is difficult to distinguish them from hydrophobic droplets, e.g., polymeric contamination, using standard atomic force microscopy. Here, we report fast dynamics of a three phase contact line moving over surface nanobubbles, polymeric droplets, and hydrophobic particles. The dynamics is distinct: across polymeric droplets the contact line quickly jumps and hydrophobic particles pin the contact line, while surface nanobubbles rapidly shrink once merging with the contact line, suggesting a method to differentiate nanoscopic gaseous, liquid, and solid structures. Although the collapse process of surface nanobubbles occurs within a few milliseconds, we show that it is dominated by microscopic dynamics rather than bulk hydrodynamics.

IVUS-Based Computational Modeling and Planar Biaxial Artery Material Properties for Human Coronary Plaque Vulnerability Assessment

PubMed Central

Liu, Haofei; Cai, Mingchao; Yang, Chun; Zheng, Jie; Bach, Richard; Kural, Mehmet H.; Billiar, Kristen L.; Muccigrosso, David; Lu, Dongsi; Tang, Dalin

2012-01-01

Image-based computational modeling has been introduced for vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques to identify critical mechanical conditions which may be used for better plaque assessment and rupture predictions. In vivo patient-specific coronary plaque models are lagging due to limitations on non-invasive image resolution, flow data, and vessel material properties. A framework is proposed to combine intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging, biaxial mechanical testing and computational modeling with fluid-structure interactions and anisotropic material properties to acquire better and more complete plaque data and make more accurate plaque vulnerability assessment and predictions. Impact of pre-shrink-stretch process, vessel curvature and high blood pressure on stress, strain, flow velocity and flow maximum principal shear stress was investigated. PMID:22428362

The Neutral Islands during the Late Epoch of Reionization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Yidong; Yue, Bin; Chen, Xuelei

2018-05-01

The large-scale structure of the ionization field during the epoch of reionization (EoR) can be modeled by the excursion set theory. While the growth of ionized regions during the early stage are described by the ``bubble model'', the shrinking process of neutral regions after the percolation of the ionized region calls for an ``island model''. An excursion set based analytical model and a semi-numerical code (islandFAST) have been developed. The ionizing background and the bubbles inside the islands are also included in the treatment. With two kinds of absorbers of ionizing photons, i.e. the large-scale under-dense neutral islands and the small-scale over-dense clumps, the ionizing background are self-consistently evolved in the model.