Seven Sisters Get WISE

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-07-16

This image shows the famous Pleiades cluster of stars as seen through the eyes of NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer; they are what astronomers call an open cluster of stars, loosely bound to each other to eventually go their separate ways.

The Broad Effectiveness of Seventy-Four Field Instances of Abstinence-Based Programming

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Birch, Paul James; White, Joseph M.; Fellows, Kaylene

2017-01-01

Evaluations of a large federally funded sexual risk avoidance education (SRAE) efforts in the USA have not been widely reported in the wake of funding cuts. The purpose of this study is to report results from a broad set of programmes to demonstrate the breadth of field effectiveness of these programmes. Twenty-seven separate community-based SRAE…

Hubble Space Telescope Snapshot Survey for Resolved Companions of Galactic Cepheids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evans, Nancy Remage; Bond, Howard E.; Schaefer, Gail H.; Mason, Brian D.; Tingle, Evan; Karovska, Margarita; Pillitteri, Ignazio

2016-05-01

We have conducted an imaging survey with the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) of 70 Galactic Cepheids, typically within 1 kpc, with the aim of finding resolved physical companions. The WFC3 field typically covers the 0.1 pc area where companions are expected. In this paper, we identify 39 Cepheids having candidate companions, based on their positions in color-magnitude diagrams, and having separations ⩾ 5'' from the Cepheids. We use follow-up observations of 14 of these candidates with XMM-Newton, and of one of them with ROSAT, to separate X-ray-active young stars (probable physical companions) from field stars (chance alignments). Our preliminary estimate, based on the optical and X-ray observations, is that only 3% of the Cepheids in the sample have wide companions. Our survey easily detects resolved main-sequence companions as faint as spectral type K. Thus the fact that the two most probable companions (those of FF Aql and RV Sco) are earlier than type K is not simply a function of the detection limit. We find no physical companions having separations larger than 4000 au in the X-ray survey. Two Cepheids are exceptions in that they do have young companions at significantly larger separations (δ Cep and S Nor), but both belong to a cluster or a loose association, so our working model is that they are not gravitationally bound binary members, but rather cluster/association members. All of these properties provide constraints on both star formation and subsequent dynamical evolution. The low frequency of true physical companions at separations > 5'' is confirmed by examination of the subset of the nearest Cepheids and also the density of the fields. Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555.

Triboelectrostatic separation for granular plastic waste recycling: a review.

PubMed

Wu, Guiqing; Li, Jia; Xu, Zhenming

2013-03-01

The world's plastic consumption has increased incredibly in recent decades, generating more and more plastic waste, which makes it a great public concern. Recycling is the best treatment for plastic waste since it cannot only reduce the waste but also reduce the consumption of oil for producing new virgin plastic. Mechanical recycling is recommended for plastic waste to avoid the loss of its virgin value. As a mechanical separation technology, triboelectrostatic separation utilizes the difference between surface properties of different materials to get them oppositely charged, deflected in the electric field and separately collected. It has advantages such as high efficiency, low cost, no concern of water disposal or secondary pollution and a relatively wide processing range of particle size especially suitable for the granular plastic waste. The process of triboelectrostatic separation for plastic waste is reviewed in this paper. Different devices have been developed and proven to be effective for separation of plastic waste. The influence factors are also discussed. It can be concluded that the triboelectrostatic separation of plastic waste is a promising technology. However, more research is required before it can be widely applied in industry. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The X-ray corona and the photospheric magnetic field.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krieger, A. S.; Vaiana, G. S.; Van Speybroeck, L. P.

1971-01-01

Soft X-ray photographs of the solar corona have been obtained on four flights of a rocket-borne grazing incidence telescope having a resolution of a few arc sec. The configuration of the X-ray emitting structures in the corona has been compared to the magnetic field distribution measured by photospheric longitudinal magnetograms. The X-ray structures trace the three-dimensional configuration of the magnetic field through the lower corona. Active regions in the corona take the form of tubular structures connecting regions of opposite magnetic polarity within the same or adjacent chromospheric active regions. Higher, larger structures link widely separated active regions into complexes of activity covering substantial fractions of the disk. The complexes are separated by areas of low average field in the photosphere. Interconnections across the solar equator appear to originate over areas of preceding polarity.

Electromagnetic propulsion and separation by chirality of nanoparticles in liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirkinis, E.; Andreev, A. V.; Spivak, B.

2012-01-01

We introduce a new mechanism for the propulsion and separation by chirality of small ferromagnetic particles suspended in a liquid. Under the action of a uniform dc magnetic field H and an ac electric field E isomers with opposite chirality move in opposite directions. Such a mechanism could have a significant impact on a wide range of emerging technologies. The component of the chiral velocity that is odd in H is found to be proportional to the intrinsic orbital and spin angular momentum of the magnetized electrons. This effect arises because a ferromagnetic particle responds to the applied torque as a small gyroscope.

Wide size range fast integrated mobility spectrometer

DOEpatents

Wang, Jian

2013-10-29

A mobility spectrometer to measure a nanometer particle size distribution is disclosed. The mobility spectrometer includes a conduit and a detector. The conduit is configured to receive and provide fluid communication of a fluid stream having a charged nanometer particle mixture. The conduit includes a separator section configured to generate an electrical field of two dimensions transverse to a dimension associated with the flow of the charged nanometer particle mixture through the separator section to spatially separate charged nanometer particles of the charged nanometer particle mixture in said two dimensions. The detector is disposed downstream of the conduit to detect concentration and position of the spatially-separated nanometer particles.

Simultaneous multicolor imaging of wide-field epi-fluorescence microscopy with four-bucket detection

PubMed Central

Park, Kwan Seob; Kim, Dong Uk; Lee, Jooran; Kim, Geon Hee; Chang, Ki Soo

2016-01-01

We demonstrate simultaneous imaging of multiple fluorophores using wide-field epi-fluorescence microscopy with a monochrome camera. The intensities of the three lasers are modulated by a sinusoidal waveform in order to excite each fluorophore with the same modulation frequency and a different time-delay. Then, the modulated fluorescence emissions are simultaneously detected by a camera operating at four times the excitation frequency. We show that two different fluorescence beads having crosstalk can be clearly separated using digital processing based on the phase information. In addition, multiple organelles within multi-stained single cells are shown with the phase mapping method, demonstrating an improved dynamic range and contrast compared to the conventional fluorescence image. These findings suggest that wide-field epi-fluorescence microscopy with four-bucket detection could be utilized for high-contrast multicolor imaging applications such as drug delivery and fluorescence in situ hybridization. PMID:27375944

Ultrafast, efficient separations of large-sized dsDNA in a blended polymer matrix by microfluidic chip electrophoresis: A Design of Experiments approach

PubMed Central

Sun, Mingyun; Lin, Jennifer S.

2012-01-01

Double-stranded (ds) DNA fragments over a wide size range were successfully separated in blended polymer matrices by microfluidic chip electrophoresis. Novel blended polymer matrices composed of two types of polymers with three different molar masses were developed to provide improved separations of large dsDNA without negatively impacting the separation of small dsDNA. Hydroxyethyl celluloses (HECs) with average molar masses of ~27 kDa and ~1 MDa were blended with a second class of polymer, high-molar mass (~7 MDa) linear polyacrylamide (LPA). Fast and highly efficient separations of commercially available DNA ladders were achieved on a borosilicate glass microchip. A distinct separation of a 1 Kb DNA extension ladder (200 bp to 40,000 bp) was completed in 2 minutes. An orthogonal Design of Experiments (DOE) was used to optimize experimental parameters for DNA separations over a wide size range. We find that the two dominant factors are the applied electric field strength and the inclusion of a high concentration of low-molar mass polymer in the matrix solution. These two factors exerted different effects on the separations of small dsDNA fragments below 1 kbp, medium dsDNA fragments between 1 kbp and 10 kbp, and large dsDNA fragments above 10 kbp. PMID:22009451

Observations of the Ion Signatures of Double Merging and the Formation of Newly Closed Field Lines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chandler, Michael O.; Avanov, Levon A.; Craven, Paul D.

2007-01-01

Observations from the Polar spacecraft, taken during a period of northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) show magnetosheath ions within the magnetosphere with velocity distributions resulting from multiple merging sites along the same field line. The observations from the TIDE instrument show two separate ion energy-time dispersions that are attributed to two widely separated (-20Re) merging sites. Estimates of the initial merging times show that they occurred nearly simultaneously (within 5 minutes.) Along with these populations, cold, ionospheric ions were observed counterstreaming along the field lines. The presence of such ions is evidence that these field lines are connected to the ionosphere on both ends. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that double merging can produce closed field lines populated by solar wind plasma. While the merging sites cannot be unambiguously located, the observations and analyses favor one site poleward of the northern cusp and a second site at low latitudes.

Effect of applied strain on phase separation of Fe-28 at.% Cr alloy: 3D phase-field simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Lihui; Li, Yongsheng; Liu, Chengwei; Chen, Shi; Shi, Shujing; Jin, Shengshun

2018-04-01

A quantitative simulation of the separation of the α‧ phase in Fe-28 at.% Cr alloy under the effects of applied strain is performed by utilizing a three-dimensional phase-field model. The elongation of the Cr-enriched α‧ phase becomes obvious with the influence of applied uniaxial strain for the phase separation transforms from spinodal decomposition of 700 K to nucleation and growth of 773 K. The applied strain shows a significant influence on the early stage phase separation, and the influence is enlarged with the elevated temperature. The steady-state coarsening with the mechanism of spinodal decomposition is substantially affected by the applied strain for low-temperature aging, while the influence is reduced as the temperature increases and as the phase separation mechanism changes to nucleation and growth. The peak value of particle size distribution decreases, and the PSD for 773 K becomes more widely influenced by the applied strain. The simulation results of separation of the Cr-enriched α‧ phase with the applied strain provide a further understanding of the strain effect on the phase separation of Fe-Cr alloys from the metastable region to spinodal regions.

An Automatic Portable Telecine Camera.

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-08-01

five television frames to achieve synchronous operation, that is about 0.2 second. 6.3 Video recorder noise imnunity The synchronisation pulse separator...display is filmed by a modified 16 am cine camera driven by a control unit in which the camera supply voltage is derived from the field synchronisation ...pulses of the video signal. Automatic synchronisation of the camera mechanism is achieved over a wide range of television field frequencies and the

Identifying Possible Pheromones of Cerambycid Beetles by Field Testing Known Pheromone Components in Four Widely Separated Regions of the United States

Treesearch

Jocelyn G Millar; Robert F Mitchell; Judith A Mongold-Diers; Yunfan Zou; Carlos E Bográn; Melissa K Fierke; Matthew D Ginzel; Crawford W Johnson; James R Meeker; Therese M Poland; Iral Ragenovich; Lawrence M Hanks

2017-01-01

The pheromone components of many cerambycid beetles appear to be broadly shared among related species, including species native to different regions of the world. This apparent conservation of pheromone structures within the family suggests that field trials of common pheromone components could be used as a means of attracting multiple species, which then could be...

Double stars with wide separations in the AGK3 - II. The wide binaries and the multiple systems*

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halbwachs, J.-L.; Mayor, M.; Udry, S.

2017-02-01

A large observation programme was carried out to measure the radial velocities of the components of a selection of common proper motion (CPM) stars to select the physical binaries. 80 wide binaries (WBs) were detected, and 39 optical pairs were identified. By adding CPM stars with separations close enough to be almost certain that they are physical, a bias-controlled sample of 116 WBs was obtained, and used to derive the distribution of separations from 100 to 30 000 au. The distribution obtained does not match the log-constant distribution, but agrees with the log-normal distribution. The spectroscopic binaries detected among the WB components were used to derive statistical information about the multiple systems. The close binaries in WBs seem to be like those detected in other field stars. As for the WBs, they seem to obey the log-normal distribution of periods. The number of quadruple systems agrees with the no correlation hypothesis; this indicates that an environment conducive to the formation of WBs does not favour the formation of subsystems with periods shorter than 10 yr.

Mathematical Models of Continuous Flow Electrophoresis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saville, D. A.; Snyder, R. S.

1985-01-01

Development of high resolution continuous flow electrophoresis devices ultimately requires comprehensive understanding of the ways various phenomena and processes facilitate or hinder separation. A comprehensive model of the actual three dimensional flow, temperature and electric fields was developed to provide guidance in the design of electrophoresis chambers for specific tasks and means of interpreting test data on a given chamber. Part of the process of model development includes experimental and theoretical studies of hydrodynamic stability. This is necessary to understand the origin of mixing flows observed with wide gap gravitational effects. To insure that the model accurately reflects the flow field and particle motion requires extensive experimental work. Another part of the investigation is concerned with the behavior of concentrated sample suspensions with regard to sample stream stability particle-particle interactions which might affect separation in an electric field, especially at high field strengths. Mathematical models will be developed and tested to establish the roles of the various interactions.

A three-dimensional turbulent separated flow and related mesurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pierce, F. J.

1985-01-01

The applicability of and the limits on the applicability of 11 near wall similarity laws characterizing three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer flows were determined. A direct force sensing local wall shear stress meter was used in both pressure-driven and shear-driven three-dimensional turbulent boundary layers, together with extensive mean velocity field and wall pressure field data. This resulted in a relatively large number of graphical comparisons of the predictive ability of 10 of these 11 similarity models relative to measured data over a wide range of flow conditions. Documentation of a complex, separated three-dimensional turbulent flow as a standard test case for evaluating the predictive ability of numerical codes solving such flows is presented.

Continuous particle separation using pressure-driven flow-induced miniaturizing free-flow electrophoresis (PDF-induced μ-FFE).

PubMed

Jeon, Hyungkook; Kim, Youngkyu; Lim, Geunbae

2016-01-28

In this paper, we introduce pressure-driven flow-induced miniaturizing free-flow electrophoresis (PDF-induced μ-FFE), a novel continuous separation method. In our separation system, the external flow and electric field are applied to particles, such that particle movement is affected by pressure-driven flow, electroosmosis, and electrophoresis. We then analyzed the hydrodynamic drag force and electrophoretic force applied to the particles in opposite directions. Based on this analysis, micro- and nano-sized particles were separated according to their electrophoretic mobilities with high separation efficiency. Because the separation can be achieved in a simple T-shaped microchannel, without the use of internal electrodes, it offers the advantages of low-cost, simple device fabrication and bubble-free operation, compared with conventional μ-FFE methods. Therefore, we expect the proposed separation method to have a wide range of filtering/separation applications in biochemical analysis.

Continuous particle separation using pressure-driven flow-induced miniaturizing free-flow electrophoresis (PDF-induced μ-FFE)

PubMed Central

Jeon, Hyungkook; Kim, Youngkyu; Lim, Geunbae

2016-01-01

In this paper, we introduce pressure-driven flow-induced miniaturizing free-flow electrophoresis (PDF-induced μ-FFE), a novel continuous separation method. In our separation system, the external flow and electric field are applied to particles, such that particle movement is affected by pressure-driven flow, electroosmosis, and electrophoresis. We then analyzed the hydrodynamic drag force and electrophoretic force applied to the particles in opposite directions. Based on this analysis, micro- and nano-sized particles were separated according to their electrophoretic mobilities with high separation efficiency. Because the separation can be achieved in a simple T-shaped microchannel, without the use of internal electrodes, it offers the advantages of low-cost, simple device fabrication and bubble-free operation, compared with conventional μ-FFE methods. Therefore, we expect the proposed separation method to have a wide range of filtering/separation applications in biochemical analysis. PMID:26819221

Electrokinetic mixing vortices due to electrolyte depletion at microchannel junctions.

PubMed

Takhistov, Paul; Duginova, Ksenia; Chang, Hsueh-Chia

2003-07-01

Due to electric field leakage across sharp corners, the irrotational character of Ohmic electroosmotic flow is violated. Instead, we demonstrate experimentally and theoretically evidence of electrolyte depletion and vortex separation in electroosmotic flow around a junction between wide and narrow channels. When the penetration length of the electric field exceeds the width of the narrow channel and if the electric field is directed from the narrow to the wide channel, the electromigration of ions diminishes significantly at the junction end of the narrow channel due to this leakage. Concentration depletion then develops at that location to maintain current balance but it also increases the corner zeta potential and the local electroosmotic slip velocity. A back pressure gradient hence appears to maintain flow balance and, at a sufficient magnitude, generates a pair of vortices.

Very Wide Binaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olling, Robert; Shaya, E.

2011-01-01

We develop Bayesian statistical methods for discovering and assigning probabilities to physical stellar companions. The probabilities depend on similarities in "corrected" proper motion, parallax, and the phase-space density of field stars. Very wide binaries with separations over 10,000 AU have recently been predicted to form during the dissolution process of low-mass star clusters. In this case, these wide systems would still carry information about the density and size of the star cluster in which they formed. Alternatively, Galactic tides and weak interactions with passing stars peel off stars from such very wide binaries in less than 1/2 of a Hubble time. In the past, these systems have been used to rule in/out MACHOs or less compact dark (matter) objects. Ours is the first all-sky survey to locate escaped companions that are still drifting along with each other, long after their binary bond has been broken. We test stars for companionship up to an apparent separation of 8 parsec: 10 to 100 times wider than previous searches. Among Hipparcos stars within 100 pc, we find about 260 systems with separations between 0.01 and 1 pc, and another 190 with separation from 1 to 8 parsec. We find a number of previously unnoticed naked-eye companions, among which: Capella & 50 Per; Alioth, Megrez & Alcor; gamma & tau Cen; phi Eri & eta Hor; 62 & 63 Cnc; gamma & tau Per; zeta & delta Hya; beta01, beta02 & beta03 Tuc; 44 & 58 Oph and pi & rho Cep. At least 15 of our candidates are exoplanet host stars.

The NN-explore Exoplanet Stellar Speckle Imager: Instrument Description and Preliminary Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scott, Nicholas J.; Howell, Steve B.; Horch, Elliott P.; Everett, Mark E.

2018-05-01

A new speckle and wide-field imaging instrument for the WIYN telescope called NN-EXPLORE Exoplanet Stellar Speckle Imager (NESSI) is described. NESSI offers simultaneous two-color diffraction-limited imaging and wide-field traditional imaging for validation and characterization of transit and precision RV exoplanet studies. Many exoplanet targets will come from the NASA K2 and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) missions. NESSI is capable of resolving close binaries at sub-arcsecond separations down to the diffraction limit and >6 mag contrast difference in the visible band on targets as faint as 14th mag. Preliminary results from the instrument commissioning at WIYN and demonstrations of the instrument’s capabilities are presented.

Ground to on-orbit alignment study of the WFIRST wide-field channel and resulting changes in the telescope architecture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hagopian, John; Armani, Nerses; Bartusek, Lisa; Casey, Tom; Content, Dave; Conturie, Yves; Gao, Guangjun; Jurling, Alden; Marx, Cathy; Marzouk, Joe; Pasquale, Bert; Smith, J. Scott; Tang, Hong; Whipple, Arthur

2017-08-01

The Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) mission[1] is the top-ranked large space mission in the New Worlds, New Horizon (NWNH) Decadal Survey of Astronomy and Astrophysics. WFIRST will settle essential questions in both exoplanet and dark energy research and will advance topics ranging from galaxy evolution to the study of objects within the galaxy. The WFIRST mission uses a repurposed 2.4-m Forward Optical Telescope assembly (FOA), which, when completed with new aft optics will be an Integrated Optical Assembly (IOA). WFIRST is equipped with a Wide Field Instrument (WFI) and a Coronagraph Instrument (CGI). An Instrument Carrier (IC) meters these payload elements together and to the spacecraft bus (S/C). A distributed ground system receives the data, uploads commands and software updates, and processes the data. After transition from the study phase, Pre-Phase-A (a.k.a., "Cycle 6") design to NASA Phase A formulation, a significant change to the IOA was initiated; including moving the tertiary mirror from the instrument package to a unified three-mirror anastigmat (TMA) placement, that provides a wide 0.28-sq° instrumented field of view to the Wide Field Instrument (WFI). In addition, separate relays from the primary and secondary mirror feed the Wide Field Instrument (WFI) and Coronagraph Instrument (CGI). During commissioning the telescope is aligned using wavefront sensing with the WFI[2]. A parametric and Monte-Carlo analysis was performed, which determined that alignment compensation with the secondary mirror alone degraded performance in the other instruments. This led to the addition of a second compensator in the WFI optical train to alleviate this concern. This paper discusses the trades and analyses that were performed and resulting changes to the WFIRST telescope architecture.

Separation in 5 Msun Binaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evans, Nancy R.; Bond, H. E.; Schaefer, G.; Mason, B. D.; Karovska, M.; Tingle, E.

2013-01-01

Cepheids (5 Msun stars) provide an excellent sample for determining the binary properties of fairly massive stars. International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) observations of Cepheids brighter than 8th magnitude resulted in a list of ALL companions more massive than 2.0 Msun uniformly sensitive to all separations. Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) has resolved three of these binaries (Eta Aql, S Nor, and V659 Cen). Combining these separations with orbital data in the literature, we derive an unbiased distribution of binary separations for a sample of 18 Cepheids, and also a distribution of mass ratios. The distribution of orbital periods shows that the 5 Msun binaries prefer shorter periods than 1 Msun stars, reflecting differences in star formation processes.

Selected aspects of wide-field stellar interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Arcio, Luigi Arsenio

1999-11-01

In Michelson stellar interferometry, the high-resolution information about the source structure is detected by performing observations with widely separated telescopes, interconnected to form an interferometer. At optical wavelengths, this method provides a technically viable approach for achieving angular resolutions in the milliarcsecond range, comparable to those of a 100 m diameter telescope, whose realization is beyond the immediate engineering capabilities. Considerable efforts are currently devoted to the definition of dedicated interferometric instruments, which will allow to address ambitious astronomical tasks such as high-resolution imaging, astrometry at microarcsecond level, and the direct detection of exoplanets. Astrometry and related techniques employ the so-called wide field-of-view interferometric mode, where phase measurements are performed simultaneously at two (or more) sources; often, the actual observable is the instantaneous phase difference of the two object signals. The future success of wide-field interferometry critically depends on the development of techniques for the accurate control of field-dependent (anisoplanatic) phase errors. In this thesis, we address two aspects of this problem in detail. The first one is theoretical in nature. For ground-based measurements, atmospheric turbulence is the largest source of random phase fluctuations between the on- and the off-axis fringes. We developed a model of the temporal power spectrum of this disturbance, whose validity is not limited to low frequencies only, as it is the case with earlier models. This extension opens the possibility of the analysis of dynamic issues, such as the determination of the allowable coherent integration time T for the off-axis fringes. The spectrum turns out to be well approximated by a sequences of four power-law branches. In first instance, its overall form is determined by the values of the baseline length, telescope diameter, and average beam separation in the atmosphere. Due to the rapid decorrelation of the on- and off-axis phases for increasing star separation theta, the useful field for wide-field interferometry is limited to about |theta|<1', the so-called very narrow angle regime. For high-accuracy applications, this range decreases to a few arcseconds. We estimated that for the VLTI along baselines operating at lambda=2.2 mu, a turbulence-related error of less than lambda/10 rms is only available for field angles smaller than 7.3'' and 5.8'', for UT-UT and AT-AT pairs respectively. The bulk of the spectral power is confined at relatively low frequencies, typically below 1 Hz. Both smaller star separations and larger telescope sizes contribute in lowering the spectral content at hight frequencies. We found that in general, as compared to blind observations, wide-field measurements can make use of significantly longer off-axis integration times T, even at rather big star separations. For the long UT-UT baseline operating at lambda=2.2 mu, we have calculated a 5 % fringe visibility loss is reached for T=740 ms, 2.1 s and 12.7 s for star separations of 30'', 10'', and 5'', respectively. These figures are about 2, 5 and 32 times higher than for a blind observation. Finally, we point out that for large telescopes a significant fraction of the total phase error due to anisoplanatic turbulence is contributed by wavefront modes higher than piston. Therefore, we generalized the formalism used in out study to the analysis of (Zernike) wavefront modes of arbitrary order. This thesis also addresses an instrumental aspect of the problem of the control of anisoplanatic phase errors. A Michelson interferometric imager is suitable for wide-field operation only if the configuration of the pupil images forms a scaled replica of the total array aperture. This implies the factual coincidence of the magnification factors M and pupil rotations phi of all interferometric arms: for the VLTI, the matching accuracy requirements are as severe as dM< 1.9e-3, dphi < 3.8''. We addressed the problem of measuring dM, dphi, to the accuracies expressed here above. In the selected approach, this is done by measuring the difference of the star separation vectors for the two interferometer arms, as measured at the corresponding pupil images. Variations of M and phi affect this quantity in orthogonal directions, which allows the simultaneous determination of both unknowns. The measurement makes use of two two-axis tilt sensors, that determine the angular separation vectors of the on- and off-axis beams, respectively, from the two interferometric arms. A 0.0075'' single-axis accuracy is required, together with a sufficiently high sensitivity for astronomical applications. This led to the choice of implementing the sensors as pupil plane devices, using the same interferometric tilt-detection principle as applied in Fine Guidance Sensors of the Hubble Space Telescope. The main challenge was to ensure equal responses for the two sensors, to within 0.0075''. Test measurements have shown that we succeeded in controlling mismatches between the sensors (including their mutual orientations, electronic gain and phase, linearity and signal normalization) a the 0.004'' level, and in performing beam recombination without introducing errors exceeding 0.006''. Pupil rotation alignment runs confirmed a 2'' overall measurement uncertainty for dphi, about half the 3.8'' calibration requirement. Finally, in this thesis we also developed a near-filed propagation method, intended for the diffraction-based analysis of optical systems with extremely high accuracy requirements (typically 1 deg in phase and 1.e-3 in field amplitude). Examples thereof are the nulling optics for planet detection and, outside the field of stellar interferometry, systems for the determination of the shape of mirrors for extreme-UV lithographic projection systems. The method is based on the local Fresnel approximation of the propagation integral, that we have solved analytically for rectangular domains and for triangular ones with an arched hypotenuse. This allows for an accurate computation of the field diffracted at the edges of complicated aperture shapes, without having to recur to time-consuming numerical quadrature techniques. The method has shown the ability to provide complex amplitude estimates that are consistently accurate to the specifications given above, and this in reasonable times. In a series of comparative tests, our method outperformed the Hopkins algorithm by typically a factor of fifty with respect to the computational speed.

History of Hubble Space Telescope (HST)

NASA Image and Video Library

1995-12-01

This deepest-ever view of the universe unveils myriad galaxies back to the begirning of time. Several hundred, never-before-seen, galaxies are visible in this view of the universe, called Hubble Deep Field (HDF). Besides the classical spiral and elliptical shaped galaxies, there is a bewildering variety of other galaxy shapes and colors that are important clues to understanding the evolution of the universe. Some of the galaxies may have formed less than one-billion years after the Big Bang. The image was assembled from many separate exposures with the Wide Field/Planetary Camera 2 (WF/PC2), for ten consecutive days between December 18, 1995 and December 28, 1995. This true-color view was assembled from separate images taken with blue, red, and infrared light. By combining these separate images into a single color picture, astronomers will be able to infer, at least statistically, the distance, age, and composition of galaxies in the field. Blue objects contain young stars and/or are relatively close, while redder objects contain older stellar populations and/or are farther away.

New Demotic Typography: The Search for New Indices.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Butler, Frances

1995-01-01

Sees new demotic typography as the reinvention of many older punctuation devices in terms of "marginal reuse." Argues that it can represent the fluid fields of type and image that will induce reverie, often a precondition for metaphoric, nonlinear thought, thus helping to fuse widely separated information and aid lateral thinking. (SR)

Core-shell structured ceramic nonwoven separators by atomic layer deposition for safe lithium-ion batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Xiu; Li, Chao; Shi, Chuan; Yang, Chaochao; Deng, Lei; Zhang, Wei; Peng, Longqing; Dai, Jianhui; Wu, Dezhi; Zhang, Peng; Zhao, Jinbao

2018-05-01

Safety is one of the most factors for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this work, a novel kind of ceramic separator with high safety insurance is proposed. We fabricated the core-shell nanofiber separators for LIBs by atomic layer deposition (ALD) of 30 nm Al2O3 on the electrospinning nonwoven fiber of polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP). The separators show a pretty high heat resistance up to 200 °C without any shrinkage, an excellent fire-resistant property and a wide electrochemical window. Besides, with higher uptake and ionic conductivity, cells assembled with the novel separator shows better electrochemical performance. The ALD produced separators exhibit great potential in elaborate products like 3C communications and in energy field with harsh requirements for safety such as electric vehicles. The application of ALD on polymer fiber membranes brings a new strategy and opportunity for improving the safety of the advanced LIBs.

CANDELS: The Cosmic Assembly Near-Infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grogin, Norman A.; Koekemoer, anton M.; Faber, S. M.; Ferguson, Henry C.; Kocevski, Dale D.; Riess, Adam G.; Acquaviva, Viviana; Alexander, David M.; Almaini, Omar; Ashby, Matthew L. N.;

Identifying wide, cold planets within 8pc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deacon, Niall; Kraus, Adam; Crossfield, Ian

2014-12-01

Direct imaging exoplanet studies have recently unveiled a previously-unexpected population of massive planets (up to 15 M_Jup) in wide orbits (>100AU). Although most of these discoveries have been around younger stars and have been of similar temperatures to field brown dwarfs, one object (WD 0806-661B), is the coldest planet known outside our solar system. We propose a survey of all stars and brown dwarfs within 8pc to identify massive planetary companions in the 150-1500AU separation range. We will 1) Measure the fraction of wide planetary mass companions to stars in the Solar neighbourhood. 2) Identify all planets within 8 parsecs with masses above 8 Jupiter masses in our chosen projected separation range with lower mass limits for closer and younger stars. 3) Identify approximately 8 planets, four of which will have temperatures below 300K making them ideal targets to study water clouds in cold atmospheres with both JWST and the next generation of ground-based extremely large telescopes. Our survey will be the most complete survey for wide planets to-date and will provide both a measurement of the wide planet population and a legacy of cold, well constrained targets for future observatories.

Radar spectral measurements of vegetation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ulaby, F. T.; Moore, R. K.

1973-01-01

Spectral data of 4-8 GHz radar backscatter were gathered during the 1972 growing season at look angles between 0 and 70 deg and for all four possible polarization linear combinations. The data covers four crop types (corn, milo, alfalfa, and soybeans) and a wide range of soil moisture content. To insure statistical representation of the results, measurements were conducted over 128 fields corresponding to a total of about 40,000 data points. The use of spectral response signatures to separate different crop types and to separate healthy corn from blighted corn was investigated.

Separated Fringe Packet Observations with the Chara Array. 1. Methods and New Orbits for chi Draconis, HD 184467, and HD 198084

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-06-01

similar experiments using the Infrared Optical Telescope Array ( IOTA ) on the well- studied, widely separated binary ζ Hercules, in an attempt to revive...SUBJECT TERMS 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT Same as Report (SAR) 18. NUMBER OF PAGES 11 19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON...SFPs with IOTA As noted by Dyck et al. (1995), for a binary star for which both components are within the field of view of the interferometer, it is

A collection of flow visualization techniques used in the Aerodynamic Research Branch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1984-01-01

Theoretical and experimental research on unsteady aerodynamic flows is discussed. Complex flow fields that involve separations, vortex interactions, and transonic flow effects were investigated. Flow visualization techniques are used to obtain a global picture of the flow phenomena before detailed quantitative studies are undertaken. A wide variety of methods are used to visualize fluid flow and a sampling of these methods is presented. It is emphasized that the visualization technique is a thorough quantitative analysis and subsequent physical understanding of these flow fields.

Phase diagram as a function of temperature and magnetic field for magnetic semiconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

González, I.; Castro, J.; Baldomir, D.

2002-10-01

Using an extension of the Nagaev model of phase separation [E. L. Nagaev and A. I. Podel'shchikov, Sov. Phys. JETP, 71, 1108 (1990)] we calculate the phase diagram for degenerate antiferromagnetic semiconductors in the T-H plane for different current carrier densities. Both wide-band semiconductors and double-exchange materials are investigated.

Wide-Field Retroreflectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Page, Norman A.; Tubbs, Eldred F.

1994-01-01

Retroreflectors made of concentric spherical optical elements developed for use in interferometric metrological systems. Used to provide reference point on structure to be aligned precisely in two or three dimensions by use of intersecting laser beams. Acceptance angle much larger than that of cat's-eye or corner-cube retroreflector: Simultaneously reflects laser beams separated by angles as large as 180 degrees.

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

Klapperich, H.; Poettler, R.; Willocq, J.

In the last decade there has been a wide variety of major developments in shotcrete technology producing significant steps forward in the widely separated fields of materials science, design, new additives and admixtures, fibers, and shotcrete equipment. This has been achieved partly in projects such as the new high speed rail tracks in France. Significant advances have been made also in mining which was where the basic technology for the method was developed. These proceedings are divided into eight sessions, the first six covering the activities in the following regions: Central Europe; Canada and the US; the Far East, Southmore » America, and Africa; east/south Alp countries; west Alp countries; and Scandinavia and the UK. A session on shotcrete equipment and a poster presentation complete the contents. Twenty-four papers have been processed separately for inclusion on the data base.« less

NIMBUS: A Near-Infrared Multi-Band Ultraprecise Spectroimager for SOFIA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McElwain, Michael W.; Mandell, Avi; Woodgate, Bruce E.; Spiegel, David S.; Madhusudhan, Nikku; Amatucci, Edward; Blake, Cullen; Budinoff, Jason; Burgasser, Adam; Burrows, Adam;

Development of a Small, Inexpensive, and Field-deployable Gas Chromatograph for the Automated Collection, Separation, and Analysis of Gas-phase Organic Compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skog, K.; Xiong, F.; Gentner, D. R.

2017-12-01

The identification and quantification of gas-phase organic compounds, like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in the atmosphere relies on separation of complex mixtures and sensitive detection. Gas chromatography (GC) is widely applied, but relies on the need for high-purity compressed gases for separation and, often for detection. We have developed a low-cost, compact GC-based system for the collection and quantitative chemical speciation of complex mixtures of common atmospheric VOCs without the need for compressed high-purity gases or expensive detectors. We present results of lab and field testing against a commercially-available GC system. At optimized linear velocities challenging VOC pairs of similar volatility were resolved within 30 minutes, including n- and i-pentane; n-pentane and isoprene; and ethylbenzene and m/p-xylene. For 5-30 minute samples, we observe ppt-level detection limits for common VOCs such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, alpha-pinene, and limonene. We also present results of in-field use for VOC measurements. In all, this instrument is accurate, precise, small, and inexpensive (<$2500). Its lack of compressed gas cylinders make it ideal for field deployment and has been demonstrated to produce similar quality data to available GC technology.

Enantioseparation by Capillary Electrophoresis Using Ionic Liquids as Chiral Selectors.

PubMed

Greño, Maider; Marina, María Luisa; Castro-Puyana, María

2018-11-02

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is one of the most widely employed analytical techniques to achieve enantiomeric separations. In spite of the fact that there are many chiral selectors commercially available to perform enantioseparations by CE, one of the most relevant topics in this field is the search for new selectors capable of providing high enantiomeric resolutions. Chiral ionic liquids (CILs) have interesting characteristics conferring them a high potential in chiral separations although only some of them are commercially available. The aim of this article is to review all the works published on the use of CILs as chiral selectors in the development of enantioselective methodologies by CE, covering the period from 2006 (when the first research work on this topic was published) to 2017. The use of CILs as sole chiral selectors, as chiral selectors in dual systems or as chiral ligands will be considered. This review also provides detailed analytical information on the experimental conditions used to carry out enantioseparations in different fields as well as on the separation mechanism involved.

Spatial characterization of the edge barrier in wide superconducting films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sivakov, A. G.; Turutanov, O. G.; Kolinko, A. E.; Pokhila, A. S.

2018-03-01

The current-induced destruction of superconductivity is discussed in wide superconducting thin films, whose width is greater than the magnetic field penetration depth, in weak magnetic fields. Particular attention is paid to the role of the boundary potential barrier (the Bin-Livingston barrier) in critical state formation and detection of the edge responsible for this critical state with different mutual orientations of external perpendicular magnetic field and transport current. Critical and resistive states of the film were visualized using the space-resolving low-temperature laser scanning microscopy (LTLSM) method, which enables detection of critical current-determining areas on the film edges. Based on these observations, a simple technique was developed for investigation of the critical state separately at each film edge, and for the estimation of residual magnetic fields in cryostats. The proposed method only requires recording of the current-voltage characteristics of the film in a weak magnetic field, thus circumventing the need for complex LTLSM techniques. Information thus obtained is particularly important for interpretation of studies of superconducting film single-photon light emission detectors.

Field Tests of Pine Oil as a Repellent for Southern Pine Bark Beetles

Treesearch

J.C. Nod; F.L. Hastings; A.S. Jones

1990-01-01

An experimental mixture of terpene hydrocarbons derived from wood pulping, BBR-2, sprayed on the lower 6 m of widely separated southern pine trees did not protect nearby trees from southern pine beetle attacks. Whether treated trees were protected from southern pine beetle was inconclusive. The pine oil mixture did not repellpsfrom treated trees or nearby untreated...

Protein Separation by Electrophoretic-Electroosmotic Focusing on Supported Lipid Bilayers

PubMed Central

Liu, Chunming; Monson, Christopher F.; Yang, Tinglu; Pace, Hudson; Cremer, Paul S.

2011-01-01

An electrophoretic-electroosmotic focusing (EEF) method was developed and used to separate membrane-bound proteins and charged lipids based on their charge-to-size ratio from an initially homogeneous mixture. EEF uses opposing electrophoretic and electroosmotic forces to focus and separate proteins and lipids into narrow bands on supported lipid bilayers (SLBs). Membrane-associated species were focused into specific positions within the SLB in a highly repeatable fashion. The steady-state focusing positions of the proteins could be predicted and controlled by tuning experimental conditions, such as buffer pH, ionic strength, electric field and temperature. Careful tuning of the variables should enable one to separate mixtures of membrane proteins with only subtle differences. The EEF technique was found to be an effective way to separate protein mixtures with low initial concentrations, and it overcame diffusive peak broadening to allow four bands to be separated simultaneously within a 380 μm wide isolated supported membrane patch. PMID:21958061

Separation and recovery of fine particles from waste circuit boards using an inflatable tapered diameter separation bed.

PubMed

Duan, Chenlong; Sheng, Cheng; Wu, Lingling; Zhao, Yuemin; He, Jinfeng; Zhou, Enhui

2014-01-01

Recovering particle materials from discarded printed circuit boards can enhance resource recycling and reduce environmental pollution. Efficiently physically separating and recovering fine metal particles (-0.5 mm) from the circuit boards are a key recycling challenge. To do this, a new type of separator, an inflatable tapered diameter separation bed, was developed to study particle motion and separation mechanisms in the bed's fluid flow field. For 0.5-0.25 mm circuit board particles, metal recovery rates ranged from 87.56 to 94.17%, and separation efficiencies ranged from 87.71 to 94.20%. For 0.25-0.125 mm particles, metal recovery rates ranged from 84.76 to 91.97%, and separation efficiencies ranged from 84.74 to 91.86%. For superfine products (-0.125 mm), metal recovery rates ranged from 73.11 to 83.04%, and separation efficiencies ranged from 73.00 to 83.14%. This research showed that the inflatable tapered diameter separation bed achieved efficient particle separation and can be used to recover fine particles under a wide range of operational conditions. The bed offers a new mechanical technology to recycle valuable materials from discarded printed circuit boards, reducing environmental pollution.

Experimental study of flow separation control on a low- Re airfoil using leading-edge protuberance method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, M. M.; Wang, G. F.; Xu, J. Z.

2014-04-01

An experimental study of flow separation control on a low- Re c airfoil was presently investigated using a newly developed leading-edge protuberance method, motivated by the improvement in the hydrodynamics of the giant humpback whale through its pectoral flippers. Deploying this method, the control effectiveness of the airfoil aerodynamics was fully evaluated using a three-component force balance, leading to an effectively impaired stall phenomenon and great improvement in the performances within the wide post-stall angle range (22°-80°). To understand the flow physics behind, the vorticity field, velocity field and boundary layer flow field over the airfoil suction side were examined using a particle image velocimetry and an oil-flow surface visualization system. It was found that the leading-edge protuberance method, more like low-profile vortex generator, effectively modified the flow pattern of the airfoil boundary layer through the chordwise and spanwise evolutions of the interacting streamwise vortices generated by protuberances, where the separation of the turbulent boundary layer dominated within the stall region and the rather strong attachment of the laminar boundary layer still existed within the post-stall region. The characteristics to manipulate the flow separation mode of the original airfoil indicated the possibility to further optimize the control performance by reasonably designing the layout of the protuberances.

Magnetic susceptibility characterisation of superparamagnetic microspheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grob, David Tim; Wise, Naomi; Oduwole, Olayinka; Sheard, Steve

2018-04-01

The separation of magnetic materials in microsystems using magnetophoresis has increased in popularity. The wide variety and availability of magnetic beads has fuelled this drive. It is important to know the magnetic characteristics of the microspheres in order to accurately use them in separation processes integrated on a lab-on-a-chip device. To investigate the magnetic susceptibility of magnetic microspheres, the magnetic responsiveness of three types of Dynabeads microspheres were tested using two different approaches. The magnetophoretic mobility of individual microspheres is studied using a particle tracking system and the magnetization of each type of Dynabeads microsphere is measured using SQUID relaxometry. The magnetic beads' susceptibility is obtained at four different applied magnetic fields in the range of 38-70 mT for both the mobility and SQUID measurements. The susceptibility values in both approaches show a consistent magnetic field dependence.

Simulation of loss mechanisms in organic solar cells: A description of the mesoscopic Monte Carlo technique and an evaluation of the first reaction method.

PubMed

Groves, Chris; Kimber, Robin G E; Walker, Alison B

2010-10-14

In this letter we evaluate the accuracy of the first reaction method (FRM) as commonly used to reduce the computational complexity of mesoscale Monte Carlo simulations of geminate recombination and the performance of organic photovoltaic devices. A wide range of carrier mobilities, degrees of energetic disorder, and applied electric field are considered. For the ranges of energetic disorder relevant for most polyfluorene, polythiophene, and alkoxy poly(phenylene vinylene) materials used in organic photovoltaics, the geminate separation efficiency predicted by the FRM agrees with the exact model to better than 2%. We additionally comment on the effects of equilibration on low-field geminate separation efficiency, and in doing so emphasize the importance of the energy at which geminate carriers are created upon their subsequent behavior.

Synthesis of Ag{sub 9}(SiO{sub 4}){sub 2}NO{sub 3} through a reactive flux method and its visible-light photocatalytic performances

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

Zhu, Xianglin; Wang, Zeyan, E-mail: wangzeyan@sdu.edu.cn, E-mail: bbhuang@sdu.edu.cn; Huang, Baibiao, E-mail: wangzeyan@sdu.edu.cn, E-mail: bbhuang@sdu.edu.cn

2015-10-01

Ag{sub 9}(SiO{sub 4}){sub 2}NO{sub 3} was prepared by a reactive flux method. The structures, morphologies, and light absorption properties were investigated. Owing to the polar crystal structure, an internal electric field can be formed inside the material, which can facilitate the photogenerated charge separation during the photocatalytic process. Based on both the wide light absorption spectra and high charge separation efficiency originated from the polarized internal electric field, Ag{sub 9}(SiO{sub 4}){sub 2}NO{sub 3} exhibit higher efficiency over Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} during the degradation of organic dyes under visible light irradiation, which is expected to be a potential material for solarmore » energy harvest and conversion.« less

Analysis of electrophoresis performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roberts, G. O.

1984-01-01

The SAMPLE computer code models electrophoresis separation in a wide range of conditions. Results are included for steady three dimensional continuous flow electrophoresis (CFE), time dependent gel and acetate film experiments in one or two dimensions and isoelectric focusing in one dimension. The code evolves N two dimensional radical concentration distributions in time, or distance down a CFE chamber. For each time or distance increment, there are six stages, successively obtaining the pH distribution, the corresponding degrees of ionization for each radical, the conductivity, the electric field and current distribution, and the flux components in each direction for each separate radical. The final stage is to update the radical concentrations. The model formulation for ion motion in an electric field ignores activity effects, and is valid only for low concentrations; for larger concentrations the conductivity is, therefore, also invalid.

Large perturbation flow field analysis and simulation for supersonic inlets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Varner, M. O.; Martindale, W. R.; Phares, W. J.; Kneile, K. R.; Adams, J. C., Jr.

1984-01-01

An analysis technique for simulation of supersonic mixed compression inlets with large flow field perturbations is presented. The approach is based upon a quasi-one-dimensional inviscid unsteady formulation which includes engineering models of unstart/restart, bleed, bypass, and geometry effects. Numerical solution of the governing time dependent equations of motion is accomplished through a shock capturing finite difference algorithm, of which five separate approaches are evaluated. Comparison with experimental supersonic wind tunnel data is presented to verify the present approach for a wide range of transient inlet flow conditions.

Single-Shot Optical Sectioning Using Two-Color Probes in HiLo Fluorescence Microscopy

PubMed Central

Muro, Eleonora; Vermeulen, Pierre; Ioannou, Andriani; Skourides, Paris; Dubertret, Benoit; Fragola, Alexandra; Loriette, Vincent

2011-01-01

We describe a wide-field fluorescence microscope setup which combines HiLo microscopy technique with the use of a two-color fluorescent probe. It allows one-shot fluorescence optical sectioning of thick biological moving sample which is illuminated simultaneously with a flat and a structured pattern at two different wavelengths. Both homogenous and structured fluorescence images are spectrally separated at detection and combined similarly with the HiLo microscopy technique. We present optically sectioned full-field images of Xenopus laevis embryos acquired at 25 images/s frame rate. PMID:21641327

On-chip free-flow magnetophoresis: continuous flow separation of magnetic particles and agglomerates.

PubMed

Pamme, Nicole; Manz, Andreas

2004-12-15

The separation of magnetic microparticles was achieved by on-chip free-flow magnetophoresis. In continuous flow, magnetic particles were deflected from the direction of laminar flow by a perpendicular magnetic field depending on their magnetic susceptibility and size and on the flow rate. Magnetic particles could thus be separated from each other and from nonmagnetic materials. Magnetic and nonmagnetic particles were introduced into a microfluidic separation chamber, and their deflection was studied under the microscope. The magnetic particles were 2.0 and 4.5 microm in diameter with magnetic susceptibilities of 1.12 x 10(-4) and 1.6 x 10(-4) m(3) kg(-1), respectively. The 4.5-microm particles with the larger susceptibility were deflected further from the direction of laminar flow than the 2.0-microm magnetic particles. Nonmagnetic 6-microm polystyrene beads, however, were not deflected at all. Furthermore, agglomerates of magnetic particles were found to be deflected to a larger extent than single magnetic particles. The applied flow rate and the strength and gradient of the applied magnetic field were the key parameters in controlling the deflection. This separation method has a wide applicability since magnetic particles are commonly used in bioanalysis as a solid support material for antigens, antibodies, DNA, and even cells. Free-flow magnetophoretic separations could be hyphenated with other microfluidic devices for reaction and analysis steps to form a micro total analysis system.

Parameter estimation applied to Nimbus 6 wide-angle longwave radiation measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, R. N.; Smith, G. L.

1978-01-01

A parameter estimation technique was used to analyze the August 1975 Nimbus 6 Earth radiation budget data to demonstrate the concept of deconvolution. The longwave radiation field at the top of the atmosphere is defined from satellite data by a fifth degree and fifth order spherical harmonic representation. The variations of the major features of the radiation field are defined by analyzing the data separately for each two-day duty cycle. A table of coefficient values for each spherical harmonic representation is given along with global mean, gradients, degree variances, and contour plots. In addition, the entire data set is analyzed to define the monthly average radiation field.

Inter and Intra Molecular Phase Separation Environment Effects on PI-PEO Block Copolymers for Batteries and Fuel Cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Xue, Chen-Chen; Meador, Mary Ann B.; Eby, R. K.; Cheng, Stephen Z. D.; Ge, Jason J.; Cubon, Valerie A.

2002-01-01

Rod-coil molecules have been introduced as a novel type of block copolymers with unique microstructure due to their ability to self-assemble to various ordered morphologies on a nanometer length scale. These molecules, comprised two homo polymers joined together at one end, microphase separate into ordered, periodic arrays of spheres, cylinders in the bulk state and or solution. To get ordered structure in a reasonable scale, additional force field are applied, such as mechanical shearing, electric field and magnetic field. Recently, progress has made it a possible to develop a new class of polyimides (PI)-Polyethylene oxide (PEO) that are soluble in polar organic solvents. The solvent-soluble PI-PEO has a wide variety of applications in microelectronics, since these PI-PEO films exhibit a high degree of thermal and chemical stability. In this paper, we report the self-assembled ordered structure of PI-PEO molecules formed from concentrate solution.

Effect of the electric field ratio on electroosmotic flow patterns in cross-shaped microchannels by the lattice-Boltzmann Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Socias, Alvaro; Oyarzun, Diego; Guzman, Amador

2014-11-01

The electroosmotic flow (EOF) pattern characteristics in cross-shaped microchannels flow are important features when either suppressing or enhancing flow features for injection and separation or mixing of multiple species are the wanted objectives. There are situations in EOF in cross-shaped microchannels where the fluid flows toward unexpected and unwanted directions under a given external electric field that depends of both the applied electric field and lengths of the different channels. This article describes the effect of the electric field ratio, defined as the ratio between longitudinal nominal electric field ELong = (VE-VW) /(LW + LE) and the nominal electric field E a = (VS-VE) /(VS + VE) , where E, S and W define the east, south and west directions of the cross-shaped microchannel; V is the externally applied voltage and L is the length, on the EOF characteristics in a cross-shaped microchannel. We use the lattice-Boltzmann method (LBM) for solving the discretized Boltzmann Transport Equation (BTE) describing the coupled processes of hydrodynamics and electrodynamic. Our numerical simulations allow us to determine the EOF pattern for a wide range of the electric field ratio and Ea such that inverted flow features are captured and described, which are very important to determine for flow separation or mixing.

Field-Portable Pixel Super-Resolution Colour Microscope

PubMed Central

Greenbaum, Alon; Akbari, Najva; Feizi, Alborz; Luo, Wei; Ozcan, Aydogan

2013-01-01

Based on partially-coherent digital in-line holography, we report a field-portable microscope that can render lensfree colour images over a wide field-of-view of e.g., >20 mm2. This computational holographic microscope weighs less than 145 grams with dimensions smaller than 17×6×5 cm, making it especially suitable for field settings and point-of-care use. In this lensfree imaging design, we merged a colorization algorithm with a source shifting based multi-height pixel super-resolution technique to mitigate ‘rainbow’ like colour artefacts that are typical in holographic imaging. This image processing scheme is based on transforming the colour components of an RGB image into YUV colour space, which separates colour information from brightness component of an image. The resolution of our super-resolution colour microscope was characterized using a USAF test chart to confirm sub-micron spatial resolution, even for reconstructions that employ multi-height phase recovery to handle dense and connected objects. To further demonstrate the performance of this colour microscope Papanicolaou (Pap) smears were also successfully imaged. This field-portable and wide-field computational colour microscope could be useful for tele-medicine applications in resource poor settings. PMID:24086742

Field-portable pixel super-resolution colour microscope.

PubMed

Greenbaum, Alon; Akbari, Najva; Feizi, Alborz; Luo, Wei; Ozcan, Aydogan

2013-01-01

Based on partially-coherent digital in-line holography, we report a field-portable microscope that can render lensfree colour images over a wide field-of-view of e.g., >20 mm(2). This computational holographic microscope weighs less than 145 grams with dimensions smaller than 17×6×5 cm, making it especially suitable for field settings and point-of-care use. In this lensfree imaging design, we merged a colorization algorithm with a source shifting based multi-height pixel super-resolution technique to mitigate 'rainbow' like colour artefacts that are typical in holographic imaging. This image processing scheme is based on transforming the colour components of an RGB image into YUV colour space, which separates colour information from brightness component of an image. The resolution of our super-resolution colour microscope was characterized using a USAF test chart to confirm sub-micron spatial resolution, even for reconstructions that employ multi-height phase recovery to handle dense and connected objects. To further demonstrate the performance of this colour microscope Papanicolaou (Pap) smears were also successfully imaged. This field-portable and wide-field computational colour microscope could be useful for tele-medicine applications in resource poor settings.

PSYM-WIDE: A Survey for Large-separation Planetary-mass Companions to Late Spectral Type Members of Young Moving Groups

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naud, Marie-Eve; Artigau, Étienne; Doyon, René; Malo, Lison; Gagné, Jonathan; Lafrenière, David; Wolf, Christian; Magnier, Eugene A.

2017-09-01

We present the results of a direct imaging survey for very large separation (>100 au), low-mass companions around 95 nearby young K5-L5 stars and brown dwarfs. They are high-likelihood candidates or confirmed members of the young (≲150 Myr) β Pictoris and AB Doradus moving groups (ABDMG) and the TW Hya, Tucana-Horologium, Columba, Carina, and Argus associations. Images in I\\prime and z\\prime filters were obtained with the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) on Gemini South to search for companions down to an apparent magnitude of z\\prime ˜ 22-24 at separations ≳20″ from the targets and in the remainder of the wide 5.‧5 × 5.‧5 GMOS field of view. This allowed us to probe the most distant region where planetary-mass companions could be gravitationally bound to the targets. This region was left largely unstudied by past high-contrast imaging surveys, which probed much closer-in separations. This survey led to the discovery of a planetary-mass (9-13 {M}{Jup}) companion at 2000 au from the M3V star GU Psc, a highly probable member of ABDMG. No other substellar companions were identified. These results allowed us to constrain the frequency of distant planetary-mass companions (5-13 {M}{Jup}) to {0.84}-0.66+6.73% (95% confidence) at semimajor axes between 500 and 5000 au around young K5-L5 stars and brown dwarfs. This is consistent with other studies suggesting that gravitationally bound planetary-mass companions at wide separations from low-mass stars are relatively rare.

Dermoscopy-guided reflectance confocal microscopy of skin using high-NA objective lens with integrated wide-field color camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dickensheets, David L.; Kreitinger, Seth; Peterson, Gary; Heger, Michael; Rajadhyaksha, Milind

2016-02-01

Reflectance Confocal Microscopy, or RCM, is being increasingly used to guide diagnosis of skin lesions. The combination of widefield dermoscopy (WFD) with RCM is highly sensitive (~90%) and specific (~ 90%) for noninvasively detecting melanocytic and non-melanocytic skin lesions. The combined WFD and RCM approach is being implemented on patients to triage lesions into benign (with no biopsy) versus suspicious (followed by biopsy and pathology). Currently, however, WFD and RCM imaging are performed with separate instruments, while using an adhesive ring attached to the skin to sequentially image the same region and co-register the images. The latest small handheld RCM instruments offer no provision yet for a co-registered wide-field image. This paper describes an innovative solution that integrates an ultra-miniature dermoscopy camera into the RCM objective lens, providing simultaneous wide-field color images of the skin surface and RCM images of the subsurface cellular structure. The objective lens (0.9 NA) includes a hyperhemisphere lens and an ultra-miniature CMOS color camera, commanding a 4 mm wide dermoscopy view of the skin surface. The camera obscures the central portion of the aperture of the objective lens, but the resulting annular aperture provides excellent RCM optical sectioning and resolution. Preliminary testing on healthy volunteers showed the feasibility of combined WFD and RCM imaging to concurrently show the skin surface in wide-field and the underlying microscopic cellular-level detail. The paper describes this unique integrated dermoscopic WFD/RCM lens, and shows representative images. The potential for dermoscopy-guided RCM for skin cancer diagnosis is discussed.

Dermoscopy-guided reflectance confocal microscopy of skin using high-NA objective lens with integrated wide-field color camera.

PubMed

Dickensheets, David L; Kreitinger, Seth; Peterson, Gary; Heger, Michael; Rajadhyaksha, Milind

2016-02-01

Reflectance Confocal Microscopy, or RCM, is being increasingly used to guide diagnosis of skin lesions. The combination of widefield dermoscopy (WFD) with RCM is highly sensitive (~90%) and specific (~ 90%) for noninvasively detecting melanocytic and non-melanocytic skin lesions. The combined WFD and RCM approach is being implemented on patients to triage lesions into benign (with no biopsy) versus suspicious (followed by biopsy and pathology). Currently, however, WFD and RCM imaging are performed with separate instruments, while using an adhesive ring attached to the skin to sequentially image the same region and co-register the images. The latest small handheld RCM instruments offer no provision yet for a co-registered wide-field image. This paper describes an innovative solution that integrates an ultra-miniature dermoscopy camera into the RCM objective lens, providing simultaneous wide-field color images of the skin surface and RCM images of the subsurface cellular structure. The objective lens (0.9 NA) includes a hyperhemisphere lens and an ultra-miniature CMOS color camera, commanding a 4 mm wide dermoscopy view of the skin surface. The camera obscures the central portion of the aperture of the objective lens, but the resulting annular aperture provides excellent RCM optical sectioning and resolution. Preliminary testing on healthy volunteers showed the feasibility of combined WFD and RCM imaging to concurrently show the skin surface in wide-field and the underlying microscopic cellular-level detail. The paper describes this unique integrated dermoscopic WFD/RCM lens, and shows representative images. The potential for dermoscopy-guided RCM for skin cancer diagnosis is discussed.

2010 AUGUST 1-2 SYMPATHETIC ERUPTIONS. I. MAGNETIC TOPOLOGY OF THE SOURCE-SURFACE BACKGROUND FIELD

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

Titov, V. S.; Mikic, Z.; Toeroek, T.

2012-11-01

A sequence of apparently coupled eruptions was observed on 2010 August 1-2 by Solar Dynamics Observatory and STEREO. The eruptions were closely synchronized with one another, even though some of them occurred at widely separated locations. In an attempt to identify a plausible reason for such synchronization, we study the large-scale structure of the background magnetic configuration. The coronal field was computed from the photospheric magnetic field observed at the appropriate time period by using the potential field source-surface model. We investigate the resulting field structure by analyzing the so-called squashing factor calculated at the photospheric and source-surface boundaries, asmore » well as at different coronal cross-sections. Using this information as a guide, we determine the underlying structural skeleton of the configuration, including separatrix and quasi-separatrix surfaces. Our analysis reveals, in particular, several pseudo-streamers in the regions where the eruptions occurred. Of special interest to us are the magnetic null points and separators associated with the pseudo-streamers. We propose that magnetic reconnection triggered along these separators by the first eruption likely played a key role in establishing the assumed link between the sequential eruptions. The present work substantiates our recent simplified magnetohydrodynamic model of sympathetic eruptions and provides a guide for further deeper study of these phenomena. Several important implications of our results for the S-web model of the slow solar wind are also addressed.« less

Asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation in the field of nanomedicine.

PubMed

Wagner, Michael; Holzschuh, Stephan; Traeger, Anja; Fahr, Alfred; Schubert, Ulrich S

2014-06-03

Asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) is a widely used and versatile technique in the family of field-flow fractionations, indicated by a rapidly increasing number of publications. It represents a gentle separation and characterization method, where nonspecific interactions are reduced to a minimum, allows a broad separation range from several nano- up to micrometers and enables a superior characterization of homo- and heterogenic systems. In particular, coupling to multiangle light scattering provides detailed access to sample properties. Information about molar mass, polydispersity, size, shape/conformation, or density can be obtained nearly independent of the used material. In this Perspective, the application and progress of AF4 for (bio)macromolecules and colloids, relevant for "nano" medical and pharmaceutical issues, will be presented. The characterization of different nanosized drug or gene delivery systems, e.g., polymers, nanoparticles, micelles, dendrimers, liposomes, polyplexes, and virus-like-particles (VLP), as well as therapeutic relevant proteins, antibodies, and nanoparticles for diagnostic usage will be discussed. Thereby, the variety of obtained information, the advantages and pitfalls of this emerging technique will be highlighted. Additionally, the influence of different fractionation parameters in the separation process is discussed in detail. Moreover, a comprehensive overview is given, concerning the investigated samples, fractionation parameters as membrane types and buffers used as well as the chosen detectors and the corresponding references. The perspective ends up with an outlook to the future.

SU-F-T-406: Verification of Total Body Irradiation Commissioned MU Lookup Table Accuracy Using Treatment Planning System for Wide Range of Patient Sizes

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

Lewis, D; Chi, P; Tailor, R

Purpose: To verify the accuracy of total body irradiation (TBI) measurement commissioning data using the treatment planning system (TPS) for a wide range of patient separations. Methods: Our institution conducts TBI treatments with an 18MV photon beam at 380cm extended SSD using an AP/PA technique. Currently, the monitor units (MU) per field for patient treatments are determined using a lookup table generated from TMR measurements in a water phantom (75 × 41 × 30.5 cm3). The dose prescribed to an umbilicus midline point at spine level is determined based on patient separation, dose/ field and dose rate/MU. One-dimensional heterogeneous dosemore » calculations from Pinnacle TPS were validated with thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) placed in an average adult anthropomorphic phantom and also in-vivo on four patients with large separations. Subsequently, twelve patients with various separations (17–47cm) were retrospectively analyzed. Computed tomography (CT) scans were acquired in the left and right decubitus positions from vertex to knee. A treatment plan for each patient was generated. The ratio of the lookup table MU to the heterogeneous TPS MU was compared. Results: TLD Measurements in the anthropomorphic phantom and large TBI patients agreed with Pinnacle calculated dose within 2.8% and 2%, respectively. The heterogeneous calculation compared to the lookup table agreed within 8.1% (ratio range: 1.014–1.081). A trend of reduced accuracy was observed when patient separation increases. Conclusion: The TPS dose calculation accuracy was confirmed by TLD measurements, showing that Pinnacle can model the extended SSD dose without commissioning a special beam model for the extended SSD geometry. The difference between the lookup table and TPS calculation potentially comes from lack of scatter during commissioning when compared to extreme patient sizes. The observed trend suggests the need for development of a correction factor between the lookup table and TPS dose calculations.« less

Optics of wide-angle panoramic viewing system-assisted vitreous surgery.

PubMed

Chalam, Kakarla V; Shah, Vinay A

2004-01-01

The purpose of the article is to describe the optics of the contact wide-angle lens system with stereo-reinverter for vitreous surgery. A panoramic viewing system is made up of two components; an indirect ophthalmoscopy lens system for fundus image viewing, which is placed on the patient's cornea as a contact lens, and a separate removable prism system for reinversion of the image mounted on the microscope above the zooming system. The system provides a 104 degrees field of view in a phakic emmetropic eye with minification, which can be magnified by the operating microscope. It permits a binocular stereoptic view even through a small pupil (3 mm) or larger. In an air-filled phakic eye, field of view increases to approximately 130 degrees. The obtained image of the patient's fundus is reinverted to form true, erect, stereoscopic image by the reinversion system. In conclusion, this system permits wide-angle panoramic view of the surgical field. The contact lens neutralizes the optical irregularities of the corneal surface and allows improved visualization in eyes with irregular astigmatism induced by corneal scars. Excellent visualization is achieved in complex clinical situations such as miotic pupils, lenticular opacities, and in air-filled phakic eyes.

Chapter A6. Field Measurements

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wilde, Franceska D.; Radtke, Dean B.

1998-01-01

The National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data (National Field Manual) provides guidelines and standard procedures for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) personnel who collect data used to assess the quality of the Nation's surface-water and ground-water resources. Chapter A6 presents procedures and guidelines for the collection of data on air and water temperature, and on dissolved-oxygen concentrations, specific electrical conductance, pH, reduction-oxidation potential, alkalinity, and turbidity in water. Each chapter of the National Field Manual is published separately and revised periodically. Newly published and revised chapters are posted on the World Wide Web on the USGS page 'National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data.' The URL for this page is http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/twri9A (accessed August 6, 2005).

HIREGS observations of the Galactic center and Galactic plane: Separation of the diffuse Galactic hard X-ray continuum from the point source spectra

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boggs, S. E.; Lin, R. P.; Coburn, W.; Feffer, P.; Pelling, R. M.; Schroeder, P.; Slassi-Sennou, S.

1997-01-01

The balloon-borne high resolution gamma ray and X-ray germanium spectrometer (HIREGS) was used to observe the Galactic center and two positions along the Galactic plane from Antarctica in January 1995. For its flight, the collimators were configured to measure the Galactic diffuse hard X-ray continuum between 20 and 200 keV by directly measuring the point source contributions to the wide field of view flux for subtraction. The hard X-ray spectra of GX 1+4 and GRO J1655-40 were measured with the diffuse continuum subtracted off. The analysis technique for source separation is discussed and the preliminary separated spectra for these point sources and the Galactic diffuse emission are presented.

Dynamic Instability Leading to Increased Interchange Reconnection Rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edmondson, J. K.; Antiochos, S. K.; Zurbuchen, T. H.

2008-12-01

Interchange reconnection is widely believed to play an important role in coronal magnetic field dynamics. In this investigation we investigate the 3D dynamics of interchange reconnection by extending the concept of a magnetic null-point to a null-volume, the so-called "acute-cusp field" configuration. The acute-cusp field geometry is characterized by high-beta plasma confined with favorable curvature, surrounded by a low-beta environment. First, we construct an initial translationally-symmetric potential field configuration. This configuration contains the required topological characteristics of four separate flux systems in the perpendicular plane. We then drive the system by a slow, incompressible, uniform flow at the boundary. The resulting evolution is calculated by solving numerically the MHD equations in full 3D Cartesian coordinates using the Adaptively Refined MHD Solver developed at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Field shearing along the topological boundaries changes the shape of the acute-cusp field surface separating the high and low plasma beta regions. An extended, 2D current sheet is generated by the photospheric driving. We discuss the effect of 3D perturbations on the current sheet dynamics and on the rate of the resulting interchange reconnection. Finally, we discuss the implications of our simulations for coronal observations. This work has been supported, in part, by the NASA HTP and SR&T programs.

Porous polymer media

DOEpatents

Shepodd, Timothy J.

2002-01-01

Highly crosslinked monolithic porous polymer materials for chromatographic applications. By using solvent compositions that provide not only for polymerization of acrylate monomers in such a fashion that a porous polymer network is formed prior to phase separation but also for exchanging the polymerization solvent for a running buffer using electroosmotic flow, the need for high pressure purging is eliminated. The polymer materials have been shown to be an effective capillary electrochromatographic separations medium at lower field strengths than conventional polymer media. Further, because of their highly crosslinked nature these polymer materials are structurally stable in a wide range of organic and aqueous solvents and over a pH range of 2-12.

Coupling Front-End Separations, Ion Mobility Spectrometry, and Mass Spectrometry For Enhanced Multidimensional Biological and Environmental Analyses

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

Zheng, Xueyun; Wojcik, Roza; Zhang, Xing

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is a widely used analytical technique for rapid molecular separations in the gas phase. IMS alone is useful, but its coupling with mass spectrometry (MS) and front-end separations has been extremely beneficial for increasing measurement sensitivity, peak capacity of complex mixtures, and the scope of molecular information in biological and environmental sample analyses. Multiple studies in disease screening and environmental evaluations have even shown these IMS-based multidimensional separations extract information not possible with each technique individually. This review highlights 3-dimensional separations using IMS-MS in conjunction with a range of front-end techniques, such as gas chromatography (GC),more » supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), liquid chromatography (LC), solid phase extractions (SPE), capillary electrophoresis (CE), field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS), and microfluidic devices. The origination, current state, various applications, and future capabilities for these multidimensional approaches are described to provide insight into the utility and potential of each technique.« less

Magnetic separation techniques in sample preparation for biological analysis: a review.

PubMed

He, Jincan; Huang, Meiying; Wang, Dongmei; Zhang, Zhuomin; Li, Gongke

2014-12-01

Sample preparation is a fundamental and essential step in almost all the analytical procedures, especially for the analysis of complex samples like biological and environmental samples. In past decades, with advantages of superparamagnetic property, good biocompatibility and high binding capacity, functionalized magnetic materials have been widely applied in various processes of sample preparation for biological analysis. In this paper, the recent advancements of magnetic separation techniques based on magnetic materials in the field of sample preparation for biological analysis were reviewed. The strategy of magnetic separation techniques was summarized. The synthesis, stabilization and bio-functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles were reviewed in detail. Characterization of magnetic materials was also summarized. Moreover, the applications of magnetic separation techniques for the enrichment of protein, nucleic acid, cell, bioactive compound and immobilization of enzyme were described. Finally, the existed problems and possible trends of magnetic separation techniques for biological analysis in the future were proposed. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Coupling Front-End Separations, Ion Mobility Spectrometry, and Mass Spectrometry For Enhanced Multidimensional Biological and Environmental Analyses

PubMed Central

Zheng, Xueyun; Wojcik, Roza; Zhang, Xing; Ibrahim, Yehia M.; Burnum-Johnson, Kristin E.; Orton, Daniel J.; Monroe, Matthew E.; Moore, Ronald J.; Smith, Richard D.; Baker, Erin S.

2017-01-01

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is a widely used analytical technique for rapid molecular separations in the gas phase. Though IMS alone is useful, its coupling with mass spectrometry (MS) and front-end separations is extremely beneficial for increasing measurement sensitivity, peak capacity of complex mixtures, and the scope of molecular information available from biological and environmental sample analyses. In fact, multiple disease screening and environmental evaluations have illustrated that the IMS-based multidimensional separations extract information that cannot be acquired with each technique individually. This review highlights three-dimensional separations using IMS-MS in conjunction with a range of front-end techniques, such as gas chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography, liquid chromatography, solid-phase extractions, capillary electrophoresis, field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry, and microfluidic devices. The origination, current state, various applications, and future capabilities of these multidimensional approaches are described in detail to provide insight into their uses and benefits. PMID:28301728

Recovery of PET from packaging plastics mixtures by wet shaking table.

PubMed

Carvalho, M T; Agante, E; Durão, F

2007-01-01

Recycling requires the separation of materials appearing in a mass of wastes of heterogeneous composition and characteristics, into single, almost pure, component/material flows. The separation of materials (e.g., some types of plastics) with similar physical properties (e.g., specific gravity) is often accomplished by human sorting. This is the case of the separation of packaging plastics in municipal solid wastes (MSW). The low cost of virgin plastics and low value of recycled plastics necessitate the utilization of low cost techniques and processes in the recycling of packaging plastics. An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of production of a PET product, cleaned from PVC and PS, using a wet shaking table. The wet shaking table is an environmentally friendly process, widely used to separate minerals, which has low capital and operational costs. Some operational variables of the equipment, as well as different feed characteristics, were considered. The results show that the separation of these plastics is feasible although, similarly to the mineral field, in somewhat complex flow sheets.

The 2008 Passage of Jupiter's Great Red Spot and Oval BA as Observed from Hubble/WFPC2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simon-Miller, Amy A.; Chanover, N. J.; Orton, G. S.; Tsavaris, I.

2008-01-01

Hubble Space Telescope data of the passage of Jupiter's Great Red Spot (GRS) and Oval BA were acquired on May 15, June 28 (near closest approach), and July 8. Wind fields were measured from Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) data with 10-hour separations before and after closest approach, and within the GRS with 40-minute separations on all three dates. Color information was also derived using 8 narrowband WFPC2 filters from 343 to 673-nm on all three dates. We will present the results of principal components and wind analyses and discuss unique features seen in this data set. In addition, we will highlight any changes observed in the GRS, Oval BA and their surroundings as a result of the passage, including the movement of a smaller red anticyclone from west of the GRS, around its southern periphery, and to the east of the GRS.

Robust Multipoint Water-Fat Separation Using Fat Likelihood Analysis

PubMed Central

Yu, Huanzhou; Reeder, Scott B.; Shimakawa, Ann; McKenzie, Charles A.; Brittain, Jean H.

2016-01-01

Fat suppression is an essential part of routine MRI scanning. Multiecho chemical-shift based water-fat separation methods estimate and correct for Bo field inhomogeneity. However, they must contend with the intrinsic challenge of water-fat ambiguity that can result in water-fat swapping. This problem arises because the signals from two chemical species, when both are modeled as a single discrete spectral peak, may appear indistinguishable in the presence of Bo off-resonance. In conventional methods, the water-fat ambiguity is typically removed by enforcing field map smoothness using region growing based algorithms. In reality, the fat spectrum has multiple spectral peaks. Using this spectral complexity, we introduce a novel concept that identifies water and fat for multiecho acquisitions by exploiting the spectral differences between water and fat. A fat likelihood map is produced to indicate if a pixel is likely to be water-dominant or fat-dominant by comparing the fitting residuals of two different signal models. The fat likelihood analysis and field map smoothness provide complementary information, and we designed an algorithm (Fat Likelihood Analysis for Multiecho Signals) to exploit both mechanisms. It is demonstrated in a wide variety of data that the Fat Likelihood Analysis for Multiecho Signals algorithm offers highly robust water-fat separation for 6-echo acquisitions, particularly in some previously challenging applications. PMID:21842498

Removal of malaria-infected red blood cells using magnetic cell separators: A computational study

PubMed Central

Kim, Jeongho; Massoudi, Mehrdad; Antaki, James F.; Gandini, Alberto

2012-01-01

High gradient magnetic field separators have been widely used in a variety of biological applications. Recently, the use of magnetic separators to remove malaria-infected red blood cells (pRBCs) from blood circulation in patients with severe malaria has been proposed in a dialysis-like treatment. The capture efficiency of this process depends on many interrelated design variables and constraints such as magnetic pole array pitch, chamber height, and flow rate. In this paper, we model the malaria-infected RBCs (pRBCs) as paramagnetic particles suspended in a Newtonian fluid. Trajectories of the infected cells are numerically calculated inside a micro-channel exposed to a periodic magnetic field gradient. First-order stiff ordinary differential equations (ODEs) governing the trajectory of particles under periodic magnetic fields due to an array of wires are solved numerically using the 1st –5th order adaptive step Runge-Kutta solver. The numerical experiments show that in order to achieve a capture efficiency of 99% for the pRBCs it is required to have a longer length than 80 mm; this implies that in principle, using optimization techniques the length could be adjusted, i.e., shortened to achieve 99% capture efficiency of the pRBCs. PMID:22345827

Design and simulation of a microfluidic device for acoustic cell separation.

PubMed

Shamloo, Amir; Boodaghi, Miad

2018-03-01

Experimental acoustic cell separation methods have been widely used to perform separation for different types of blood cells. However, numerical simulation of acoustic cell separation has not gained enough attention and needs further investigation since by using numerical methods, it is possible to optimize different parameters involved in the design of an acoustic device and calculate particle trajectories in a simple and low cost manner before spending time and effort for fabricating these devices. In this study, we present a comprehensive finite element-based simulation of acoustic separation of platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells, using standing surface acoustic waves (SSAWs). A microfluidic channel with three inlets, including the middle inlet for sheath flow and two symmetrical tilted angle inlets for the cells were used to drive the cells through the channel. Two interdigital transducers were also considered in this device and by implementing an alternating voltage to the transducers, an acoustic field was created which can exert the acoustic radiation force to the cells. Since this force is dependent to the size of the cells, the cells are pushed towards the midline of the channel with different path lines. Particle trajectories for different cells were obtained and compared with a theoretical equation. Two types of separations were observed as a result of varying the amplitude of the acoustic field. In the first mode of separation, white blood cells were sorted out through the middle outlet and in the second mode of separation, platelets were sorted out through the side outlets. Depending on the clinical needs and by using the studied microfluidic device, each of these modes can be applied to separate the desired cells. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Simple Geotracer Compositional Correlation Analysis Reveals Oil Charge and Migration Pathways

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yunlai; Arouri, Khaled

2016-03-01

A novel approach, based on geotracer compositional correlation analysis is reported, which reveals the oil charge sequence and migration pathways for five oil fields in Saudi Arabia. The geotracers utilised are carbazoles, a family of neutral pyrrolic nitrogen compounds known to occur naturally in crude oils. The approach is based on the concept that closely related fields, with respect to filling sequence, will show a higher carbazole compositional correlation, than those fields that are less related. That is, carbazole compositional correlation coefficients can quantify the charge and filling relationships among different fields. Consequently, oil migration pathways can be defined based on the established filling relationships. The compositional correlation coefficients of isomers of C1 and C2 carbazoles, and benzo[a]carbazole for all different combination pairs of the five fields were found to vary extremely widely (0.28 to 0.94). A wide range of compositional correlation coefficients allows adequate differentiation of separate filling relationships. Based on the established filling relationships, three distinct migration pathways were inferred, with each apparently being charged from a different part of a common source kitchen. The recognition of these charge and migration pathways will greatly aid the search for new accumulations.

A Simple Geotracer Compositional Correlation Analysis Reveals Oil Charge and Migration Pathways

PubMed Central

Yang, Yunlai; Arouri, Khaled

2016-01-01

A novel approach, based on geotracer compositional correlation analysis is reported, which reveals the oil charge sequence and migration pathways for five oil fields in Saudi Arabia. The geotracers utilised are carbazoles, a family of neutral pyrrolic nitrogen compounds known to occur naturally in crude oils. The approach is based on the concept that closely related fields, with respect to filling sequence, will show a higher carbazole compositional correlation, than those fields that are less related. That is, carbazole compositional correlation coefficients can quantify the charge and filling relationships among different fields. Consequently, oil migration pathways can be defined based on the established filling relationships. The compositional correlation coefficients of isomers of C1 and C2 carbazoles, and benzo[a]carbazole for all different combination pairs of the five fields were found to vary extremely widely (0.28 to 0.94). A wide range of compositional correlation coefficients allows adequate differentiation of separate filling relationships. Based on the established filling relationships, three distinct migration pathways were inferred, with each apparently being charged from a different part of a common source kitchen. The recognition of these charge and migration pathways will greatly aid the search for new accumulations. PMID:26965479

A Simple Geotracer Compositional Correlation Analysis Reveals Oil Charge and Migration Pathways.

PubMed

Yang, Yunlai; Arouri, Khaled

2016-03-11

A novel approach, based on geotracer compositional correlation analysis is reported, which reveals the oil charge sequence and migration pathways for five oil fields in Saudi Arabia. The geotracers utilised are carbazoles, a family of neutral pyrrolic nitrogen compounds known to occur naturally in crude oils. The approach is based on the concept that closely related fields, with respect to filling sequence, will show a higher carbazole compositional correlation, than those fields that are less related. That is, carbazole compositional correlation coefficients can quantify the charge and filling relationships among different fields. Consequently, oil migration pathways can be defined based on the established filling relationships. The compositional correlation coefficients of isomers of C1 and C2 carbazoles, and benzo[a]carbazole for all different combination pairs of the five fields were found to vary extremely widely (0.28 to 0.94). A wide range of compositional correlation coefficients allows adequate differentiation of separate filling relationships. Based on the established filling relationships, three distinct migration pathways were inferred, with each apparently being charged from a different part of a common source kitchen. The recognition of these charge and migration pathways will greatly aid the search for new accumulations.

Separation and Recovery of Fine Particles from Waste Circuit Boards Using an Inflatable Tapered Diameter Separation Bed

PubMed Central

Sheng, Cheng; Wu, Lingling; Zhao, Yuemin; He, Jinfeng; Zhou, Enhui

2014-01-01

Recovering particle materials from discarded printed circuit boards can enhance resource recycling and reduce environmental pollution. Efficiently physically separating and recovering fine metal particles (−0.5 mm) from the circuit boards are a key recycling challenge. To do this, a new type of separator, an inflatable tapered diameter separation bed, was developed to study particle motion and separation mechanisms in the bed's fluid flow field. For 0.5–0.25 mm circuit board particles, metal recovery rates ranged from 87.56 to 94.17%, and separation efficiencies ranged from 87.71 to 94.20%. For 0.25–0.125 mm particles, metal recovery rates ranged from 84.76 to 91.97%, and separation efficiencies ranged from 84.74 to 91.86%. For superfine products (−0.125 mm), metal recovery rates ranged from 73.11 to 83.04%, and separation efficiencies ranged from 73.00 to 83.14%. This research showed that the inflatable tapered diameter separation bed achieved efficient particle separation and can be used to recover fine particles under a wide range of operational conditions. The bed offers a new mechanical technology to recycle valuable materials from discarded printed circuit boards, reducing environmental pollution. PMID:25379546

Detecting cold, wide orbit planets in the solar neighbourhood

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deacon, Niall; Kraus, Adam

2018-05-01

Direct imaging exoplanet studies have recently unveiled a previously unexpected population of massive planets in wide orbits (>100AU). Although most of these discoveries have been around younger stars and have been of similar temperatures to field brown dwarfs, one object (WD 0806-661B), is the coldest planet known outside our solar system. In Spitzer Cycle 11 we surveyed stars and brown dwarfs within 8pc to identify massive planetary companions in the 150-1500AU separation range. Only 56 of our 196 stars were observed with two epochs of observation. We propose second epoch observations for 80 targets with first, but little or no second epoch observations. We will 1) Measure the fraction of wide planetary mass companions to stars in the Solar neighbourhood. 2) Identify approximately 5 planets, three of which will have temperatures below 300K making them ideal targets to study water clouds in cold atmospheres with both JWST and the next generation of ground-based extremely large telescopes. 3) Identify all planets around our target stars with masses above 8 Jupiter masses in our chosen projected separation range with lower mass limits for closer and younger stars. Our survey will be the most complete survey for wide planets to-date and will provide both a measurement of the wide planet population and a legacy of cold, well-constrained targets for future observations with JWST and Extremely Large Telescopes.

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

PubMed

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

2017-01-01

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

Field effect in an n-GaAs metal-anodic oxide-film injunction

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

Tikhov, S.V.; Karpovich, I.A.; Martynov, V.V.

1986-10-01

In this paper the authors present results attained in parallel investigations of mobility ..mu../sub F/ in the field effect, capacitance C, and the active conductance component G for a wide range of frequencies and controlling voltages, as well as of the capacitor saturation photoelectron-motive force phi/sub sat/(V) in an n-GaAs metal-AO-epitaxial film structure. A new combined method is offered for the determination of separation-boundary parameters, based on an analysis of the relationships between ..mu../sub F/, C, and G and the controlling voltage and the test frequency

Foveated optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bryant, Kyle R.

2016-05-01

Foveated imaging can deliver two different resolutions on a single focal plane, which might inexpensively allow more capability for military systems. The following design study results provide starting examples, lessons learned, and helpful setup equations and pointers to aid the lens designer in any foveated lens design effort. Our goal is to put robust sensor in a small package with no moving parts, but still be able to perform some of the functions of a sensor in a moving gimbal. All of the elegant solutions are out (for various reasons). This study is an attempt to see if lens designs can solve this problem and realize some gains in performance versus cost for airborne sensors. We determined a series of design concepts to simultaneously deliver wide field of view and high foveal resolution without scanning or gimbals. Separate sensors for each field of view are easy and relatively inexpensive, but lead to bulky detectors and electronics. Folding and beam-combining of separate optical channels reduces sensor footprint, but induces image inversions and reduced transmission. Entirely common optics provide good resolution, but cannot provide a significant magnification increase in the foveal region. Offsetting the foveal region from the wide field center may not be physically realizable, but may be required for some applications. The design study revealed good general guidance for foveated optics designs with a cold stop. Key lessons learned involve managing distortion, telecentric imagers, matching image inversions and numerical apertures between channels, reimaging lenses, and creating clean resolution zone splits near internal focal planes.

Silver and gold nanoparticle separation using asymmetrical flow-field flow fractionation: Influence of run conditions and of particle and membrane charges.

PubMed

Meisterjahn, Boris; Wagner, Stephan; von der Kammer, Frank; Hennecke, Dieter; Hofmann, Thilo

2016-04-01

Flow-Field Flow Fractionation (Flow-FFF), coupled with online detection systems is one of the most promising tools available for the separation and quantification of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in complex matrices. To correctly relate the retention of nanoparticles in the Flow-FFF-channel to the particle size, ideal separation conditions must be met. This requires optimization of the parameters that influence the separation behavior. The aim of this study was therefore to systematically investigate and evaluate the influence of parameters such as the carrier liquid, the cross flow, and the membrane material, on the separation behavior of two metallic ENPs. For this purpose the retention, recovery, and separation efficiency of sterically stabilized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and electrostatically stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which represent two materials widely used in investigations on environmental fate and ecotoxicology, were investigated against a parameter matrix of three different cross-flow densities, four representative carrier solutions, and two membrane materials. The use of a complex mixture of buffers, ionic and non-ionic surfactants (FL-70 solution) together with a medium cross-flow density provided an acceptable compromise in peak quality and recovery for both types of ENPs. However, these separation conditions do not represent a perfect match for both particle types at the same time (maximized recovery at maximized retention). It could be shown that the behavior of particles within Flow-FFF channels cannot be predicted or explained purely in terms of electrostatic interactions. Particles were irreversibly lost under conditions where the measured zeta potentials suggested that there should have been sufficient electrostatic repulsion to ensure stabilization of the particles in the Flow-FFF channel resulting in good recoveries. The wide variations that we observed in ENP behavior under different conditions, together with the different behavior that has been reported in published literature for the same NPs under similar conditions, indicate a need for improvement in the membrane materials used for Flow-FFF analysis of NPs. This research has shown that careful adjustment of separation conditions can result in acceptable, but not ideal, separation conditions for two fundamentally different stabilized materials, and that it may not be possible to separate a set of different particles under ideal conditions for each particle type. This therefore needs to be taking into account in method development and when interpreting FFF results from complex samples. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Binary Cepheids: Separations and Mass Ratios in 5 Solar Mass Binaries

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-10-01

astrometry, photometry , direct imaging), each with selection biases. However, Cepheids—cool, evolved stars of∼5M—are a special case because ultraviolet...detected velocity variability. In an imaging survey with the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3, we resolved three of the companions (those...1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and

A Structured Grid Based Solution-Adaptive Technique for Complex Separated Flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thornburg, Hugh; Soni, Bharat K.; Kishore, Boyalakuntla; Yu, Robert

1996-01-01

The objective of this work was to enhance the predictive capability of widely used computational fluid dynamic (CFD) codes through the use of solution adaptive gridding. Most problems of engineering interest involve multi-block grids and widely disparate length scales. Hence, it is desirable that the adaptive grid feature detection algorithm be developed to recognize flow structures of different type as well as differing intensity, and adequately address scaling and normalization across blocks. In order to study the accuracy and efficiency improvements due to the grid adaptation, it is necessary to quantify grid size and distribution requirements as well as computational times of non-adapted solutions. Flow fields about launch vehicles of practical interest often involve supersonic freestream conditions at angle of attack exhibiting large scale separate vortical flow, vortex-vortex and vortex-surface interactions, separated shear layers and multiple shocks of different intensity. In this work, a weight function and an associated mesh redistribution procedure is presented which detects and resolves these features without user intervention. Particular emphasis has been placed upon accurate resolution of expansion regions and boundary layers. Flow past a wedge at Mach=2.0 is used to illustrate the enhanced detection capabilities of this newly developed weight function.

Metasurface Broadband Solar Absorber.

PubMed

Azad, Abul K; Kort-Kamp, Wilton J M; Sykora, Milan; Weisse-Bernstein, Nina R; Luk, Ting S; Taylor, Antoinette J; Dalvit, Diego A R; Chen, Hou-Tong

2016-02-01

We demonstrate a broadband, polarization independent, wide-angle absorber based on a metallic metasurface architecture, which accomplishes greater than 90% absorptance in the visible and near-infrared range of the solar spectrum, and exhibits low absorptivity (emissivity) at mid- and far-infrared wavelengths. The complex unit cell of the metasurface solar absorber consists of eight pairs of gold nano-resonators that are separated from a gold ground plane by a thin silicon dioxide spacer. Our experimental measurements reveal high-performance absorption over a wide range of incidence angles for both s- and p-polarizations. We also investigate numerically the frequency-dependent field and current distributions to elucidate how the absorption occurs within the metasurface structure.

On the wake flow of asymmetrically beveled trailing edges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guan, Yaoyi; Pröbsting, Stefan; Stephens, David; Gupta, Abhineet; Morris, Scott C.

2016-05-01

Trailing edge and wake flows are of interest for a wide range of applications. Small changes in the design of asymmetrically beveled or semi-rounded trailing edges can result in significant difference in flow features which are relevant for the aerodynamic performance, flow-induced structural vibration and aerodynamically generated sound. The present study describes in detail the flow field characteristics around a family of asymmetrically beveled trailing edges with an enclosed trailing-edge angle of 25° and variable radius of curvature R. The flow fields over the beveled trailing edges are described using data obtained by particle image velocimetry (PIV) experiments. The flow topology for different trailing edges was found to be strongly dependent on the radius of curvature R, with flow separation occurring further downstream as R increases. This variation in the location of flow separation influences the aerodynamic force coefficients, which were evaluated from the PIV data using a control volume approach. Two-point correlations of the in-plane velocity components are considered to assess the structure in the flow field. The analysis shows large-scale coherent motions in the far wake, which are associated with vortex shedding. The wake thickness parameter yf is confirmed as an appropriate length scale to characterize this large-scale roll-up motion in the wake. The development in the very near wake was found to be critically dependent on R. In addition, high-speed PIV measurements provide insight into the spectral characteristics of the turbulent fluctuations. Based on the time-resolved flow field data, the frequency range associated with the shedding of coherent vortex pairs in the wake is identified. By means of time-correlation of the velocity components, turbulent structures are found to convect from the attached or separated shear layers without distinct separation point into the wake.

Classical Observations of Visual Binary and Multiple Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mason, Brian D.

2007-08-01

The database of visual double star data has experienced tremendous changes, doubling in size during the last 25 years and growing at an ever increasing rate. Interferometric techniques have allowed the database to extend to much closer separation (and shorter periods), while longer timebases and higher-precision wide-field surveys have increased our knowledge of common proper motion pairs at the widest separations. These changes in the database are highlighted, describing the evolution of methods of observation (both historically and the past few years) and the effectiveness of these various methods in different regimes of separation/ period space. The various niches for wide- and narrow-field work as applied to double and multiple stars are examined and the different types of information which each can provide are also highlighted. After more than 20 years of successful work, speckle interferometry and conventional CCD astrometry have replaced filar micrometry and photography as the preferred classical techniques. Indeed, most work in filar micrometry is now being done by amateurs, although much of that community is also switching to CCDs and other electronic techniques. Despite the significant growth of the double star database, much still remains to be done, such as finding lost pairs, filling in missing parameters so that observing programs may be more efficient at observing stars appropriate to their capabilities, and providing at least approximate kinematic descriptions. Work on pairs described as neglected at the time of the last major WDS data release (2001) is given as a specific example of recent improvements, and finally the continued need to publish data using classical double star parameters is discussed.

High-resolution hydrodynamic chromatographic separation of large DNA using narrow, bare open capillaries: a rapid and economical alternative technology to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis?

PubMed

Liu, Lei; Veerappan, Vijaykumar; Pu, Qiaosheng; Cheng, Chang; Wang, Xiayan; Lu, Liping; Allen, Randy D; Guo, Guangsheng

2014-01-07

A high-resolution, rapid, and economical hydrodynamic chromatographic (HDC) method for large DNA separations in free solution was developed using narrow (5 μm diameter), bare open capillaries. Size-based separation was achieved in a chromatographic format with larger DNA molecules being eluting faster than smaller ones. Lambda DNA Mono Cut Mix was baseline-separated with the percentage resolutions generally less than 9.0% for all DNA fragments (1.5 to 48.5 kbp) tested in this work. High efficiencies were achieved for large DNA from this chromatographic technique, and the number of theoretical plates reached 3.6 × 10(5) plates for the longest (48.5 kbp) and 3.7 × 10(5) plates for the shortest (1.5 kbp) fragments. HDC parameters and performances were also discussed. The method was further applied for fractionating large DNA fragments from real-world samples (SacII digested Arabidopsis plant bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) DNA and PmeI digested Rice BAC DNA) to demonstrate its feasibility for BAC DNA finger printing. Rapid separation of PmeI digested Rice BAC DNA covering from 0.44 to 119.041 kbp was achieved in less than 26 min. All DNA fragments of these samples were baseline separated in narrow bare open capillaries, while the smallest fragment (0.44 kbp) was missing in pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) separation mode. It is demonstrated that narrow bare open capillary chromatography can realize a rapid separation for a wide size range of DNA mixtures that contain both small and large DNA fragments in a single run.

International cometary explorer encounter with giacobini-zinner: magnetic field observations.

PubMed

Smith, E J; Tsurutani, B T; Slvain, J A; Jones, D E; Siscoe, G L; Mendis, D A

1986-04-18

The vector helium magnetometer on the International Cometary Explorer observed the magnetic fields induced by the interaction of comet Giacobini-Zinner with the solar wind. A magnetic tail was penetrated approximately 7800 kilometers downstream from the comet and was found to be 10(4) kilometers wide. It consisted of two lobes, containing oppositely directed fields with strengths up to 60 nanoteslas, separated by a plasma sheet approximately 10(3)kilometers thick containing a thin current sheet. The magnetotail was enclosed in an extended ionosheath characterized by intense hydromagnetic turbulene and interplanetary fields draped around the comet. A distant bow wave, which may or may not have been a bow shock, was observed at both edges of the ionosheath. Weak turbulence was observed well upstream of the bow wave.

A study of the electric field in an open magnetospheric model

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stern, D. P.

1972-01-01

The qualitative properties of an open magnetosphere and its electric field are examined and compared to a simple model of a dipole in a constant field and to actual observations. Many of these properties are found to depend on the separatrix, a curve connecting neutral points and separating different field-line regimes. In the simple model, the electric field in the central polar cap tends to point from dawn to dusk for a wide choice of external fields. Near the boundary of the polar cap electric equipotentials curve and become crescent-shaped, which may explain the correlation of polar magnetic variations with the azimuthal component of the interplanetary magnetic field, reported by Svalgaard. Modifications expected to occur in the actual magnetosphere are also investigated: in particular, it appears that bending of equipotentials may be reduced by cross-field flow during the merging of field lines and that open field lines connected to the polar caps emerge from a long and narrow slot extending along the tail.

Investigation of domain walls in PPLN by confocal raman microscopy and PCA analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shur, Vladimir Ya.; Zelenovskiy, Pavel; Bourson, Patrice

2017-07-01

Confocal Raman microscopy (CRM) is a powerful tool for investigation of ferroelectric domains. Mechanical stresses and electric fields existed in the vicinity of neutral and charged domain walls modify frequency, intensity and width of spectral lines [1], thus allowing to visualize micro- and nanodomain structures both at the surface and in the bulk of the crystal [2,3]. Stresses and fields are naturally coupled in ferroelectrics due to inverse piezoelectric effect and hardly can be separated in Raman spectra. PCA is a powerful statistical method for analysis of large data matrix providing a set of orthogonal variables, called principal components (PCs). PCA is widely used for classification of experimental data, for example, in crystallization experiments, for detection of small amounts of components in solid mixtures etc. [4,5]. In Raman spectroscopy PCA was applied for analysis of phase transitions and provided critical pressure with good accuracy [6]. In the present work we for the first time applied Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method for analysis of Raman spectra measured in periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN). We found that principal components demonstrate different sensitivity to mechanical stresses and electric fields in the vicinity of the domain walls. This allowed us to separately visualize spatial distribution of fields and electric fields at the surface and in the bulk of PPLN.

Tunnelling magnetoresistance and 1/f noise in phase-separated manganites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sboychakov, A. O.; Rakhmanov, A. L.; Kugel, K. I.; Kagan, M. Yu; Brodsky, I. V.

2003-03-01

The magnetoresistance and the noise power of non-metallic phase-separated manganites are studied. The material is modelled by a system of small ferromagnetic metallic droplets (magnetic polarons or ferrons) in an insulating matrix. The concentration of metallic phase is assumed to be far from the percolation threshold. The electron tunnelling between ferrons causes the charge transfer in such a system. The magnetoresistance is determined both by the increase in the volume of the metallic phase and by the change in the electron hopping probability. In the framework of such a model, the low-field magnetoresistance is proportional to H2 and decreases with temperature as T-n, where n can vary from 1 to 5, depending on the parameters of the system. In the high-field limit, the tunnelling magnetoresistance grows exponentially. Different mechanisms of the voltage fluctuations in the system are analysed. The noise spectrum generated by the fluctuations of the number of droplets with extra electrons has a 1/f form over a wide frequency range. In the case of strong magnetic anisotropy, the 1/f noise can also arise due to fluctuations of the magnetic moments of ferrons. The 1/f noise power depends only slightly on the magnetic field in the low field range whereas it can increase as H6 in the high-field limit.

Stabilizing electrodeposition in elastic solid electrolytes containing immobilized anions

PubMed Central

Tikekar, Mukul D.; Archer, Lynden A.; Koch, Donald L.

2016-01-01

Ion transport–driven instabilities in electrodeposition of metals that lead to morphological instabilities and dendrites are receiving renewed attention because mitigation strategies are needed for improving rechargeability and safety of lithium batteries. The growth rate of these morphological instabilities can be slowed by immobilizing a fraction of anions within the electrolyte to reduce the electric field at the metal electrode. We analyze the role of elastic deformation of the solid electrolyte with immobilized anions and present theory combining the roles of separator elasticity and modified transport to evaluate the factors affecting the stability of planar deposition over a wide range of current densities. We find that stable electrodeposition can be easily achieved even at relatively high current densities in electrolytes/separators with moderate polymer-like mechanical moduli, provided a small fraction of anions are immobilized in the separator. PMID:27453943

Room temperature ionic liquids: new GC stationary phases with a novel selectivity for flavor and fragrance analyses.

PubMed

Cagliero, Cecilia; Bicchi, Carlo; Cordero, Chiara; Liberto, Erica; Sgorbini, Barbara; Rubiolo, Patrizia

2012-12-14

Ionic liquids (ILs) are of great interest as moderately polar to polar stationary phases for GC, because their selectivity differs markedly from that of conventionally used phases. In the flavor, fragrance and essential oil fields, analysts often deal with complex mixtures of compounds having similar structural and physical characteristics (e.g., mono- and sesquiterpenoids), therefore requiring an interactive combination between chromatographic and mass spectral data for correct identification. New GC stationary phases with different selectivity must therefore be continually tested. Performance and evolution over time of commercially available IL columns versus those commonly used in these fields are here evaluated, mainly in view of their routine use. Chromatographic and separative properties (efficiency, separation capability, inertness and/or activity) of commercially available IL columns were compared to those of columns coated with 5% phenyl-95% methylpolysiloxane, 14% cyanopropyl-86% polysiloxane, and polyethylene glycol, on different complexity samples, including standard mixtures of volatile suspected allergens and pesticides, and cornmint and vetiver essential oils. The results show that IL columns can successfully be used for a wide range of applications characteristic of these fields, mainly because of their unusual selectivity, in particular when separations based on functional groups are required. Moreover, the latest generation of IL columns (IL61 and IL60) presents chromatographic performance comparable to or only slightly lower than that of the conventional columns routinely used in these fields. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Population Study of Wide-Separation Brown Dwarf Companions to Main Sequence Stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Jeffrey J.

2005-01-01

Increased interest in infrared astronomy has opened the frontier to study cooler objects that shed significant light on the formation of planetary systems. Brown dwarf research provides a wealth of information useful for sorting through a myriad of proposed formation theories. Our study combines observational data from 2MASS with rigorous computer simulations to estimate the true population of long-range (greater than 1000 AU) brown dwarf companions in the solar neighborhood (less than 25 pc from Earth). Expanding on Gizis et al. (2001), we have found the margin of error in previous estimates to be significantly underestimated after we included orbit eccentricity, longitude of pericenter, angle of inclination, field star density, and primary and secondary luminosities as parameters influencing the companion systems in observational studies. We apply our simulation results to current L- and T-dwarf catalogs to provide updated estimates on the frequency of wide-separation brown dwarf companions to main sequence stars.

Optomechanical design concept for GMACS: a wide-field multi-object moderate resolution optical spectrograph for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smee, Stephen A.; Prochaska, Travis; Shectman, Stephen A.; Hammond, Randolph P.; Barkhouser, Robert H.; DePoy, D. L.; Marshall, J. L.

2012-09-01

We describe the conceptual optomechanical design for GMACS, a wide-field, multi-object, moderate-resolution optical spectrograph for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). GMACS is a candidate first-light instrument for the GMT and will be one of several instruments housed in the Gregorian Instrument Rotator (GIR) located at the Gregorian focus. The instrument samples a 9 arcminute x 18 arcminute field of view providing two resolution modes (i.e, low resolution, R ~ 2000, and moderate resolution, R ~ 4000) over a 3700 Å to 10200 Å wavelength range. To minimize the size of the optics, four fold mirrors at the GMT focal plane redirect the full field into four individual "arms", that each comprises a double spectrograph with a red and blue channel. Hence, each arm samples a 4.5 arcminute x 9 arcminute field of view. The optical layout naturally leads to three separate optomechanical assemblies: a focal plane assembly, and two identical optics modules. The focal plane assembly contains the last element of the telescope's wide-field corrector, slit-mask, tent-mirror assembly, and slit-mask magazine. Each of the two optics modules supports two of the four instrument arms and houses the aft-optics (i.e. collimators, dichroics, gratings, and cameras). A grating exchange mechanism, and articulated gratings and cameras facilitate multiple resolution modes. In this paper we describe the details of the GMACS optomechanical design, including the requirements and considerations leading to the design, mechanism details, optics mounts, and predicted flexure performance.

Physiological and morphological characterization of ganglion cells in the salamander retina

PubMed Central

Wang, Jing; Jacoby, Roy; Wu, Samuel M.

2016-01-01

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) integrate visual information from the retina and transmit collective signals to the brain. A systematic investigation of functional and morphological characteristics of various types of RGCs is important to comprehensively understand how the visual system encodes and transmits information via various RGC pathways. This study evaluated both physiological and morphological properties of 67 RGCs in dark-adapted flat-mounted salamander retina by examining light-evoked cation and chloride current responses via voltage-clamp recordings and visualizing morphology by Lucifer yellow fluorescence with a confocal microscope. Six groups of RGCs were described: asymmetrical ON–OFF RGCs, symmetrical ON RGCs, OFF RGCs, and narrow-, medium- and wide-field ON–OFF RGCs. Dendritic field diameters of RGCs ranged 102–490 µm: narrow field (<200 µm, 31% of RGCs), medium field (200–300 µm, 45%) and wide field (>300 µm, 24%). Dendritic ramification patterns of RGCs agree with the sub-lamina A/B rule. 34% of RGCs were monostratified, 24% bistratified and 42% diffusely stratified. 70% of ON RGCs and OFF RGCs were monostratified. Wide-field RGCs were diffusely stratified. 82% of RGCs generated light-evoked ON–OFF responses, while 11% generated ON responses and 7% OFF responses. Response sensitivity analysis suggested that some RGCs obtained separated rod/cone bipolar cell inputs whereas others obtained mixed bipolar cell inputs. 25% of neurons in the RGC layer were displaced amacrine cells. Although more types may be defined by more refined classification criteria, this report is to incorporate more physiological properties into RGC classification. PMID:26731645

Real-Time Atmospheric Phase Fluctuation Correction Using a Phased Array of Widely Separated Antennas: X-Band Results and Ka-Band Progress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geldzahler, B.; Birr, R.; Brown, R.; Grant, K.; Hoblitzell, R.; Miller, M.; Woods, G.; Argueta, A.; Ciminera, M.; Cornish, T.; D'Addario, L.; Davarian, F.; Kocz, J.; Lee, D.; Morabito, D.; Tsao, P.; Jakeman-Flores, H.; Ott, M.; Soloff, J.; Denn, G.; Church, K.; Deffenbaugh, P.

2016-09-01

NASA is pursuing a demonstration of coherent uplink arraying at 7.145-7.190 GHz (X-band) and 30-31 GHz (Kaband) using three 12m diameter COTS antennas separated by 60m at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In addition, we have used up to three 34m antennas separated by 250m at the Goldstone Deep Space Communication Complex in California at X-band 7.1 GHz incorporating real-time correction for tropospheric phase fluctuations. Such a demonstration can enable NASA to design and establish a high power, high resolution, 24/7 availability radar system for (a) tracking and characterizing observations of Near Earth Objects (NEOs), (b) tracking, characterizing and determining the statistics of small-scale (≤10cm) orbital debris, (c) incorporating the capability into its space communication and navigation tracking stations for emergency spacecraft commanding in the Ka band era which NASA is entering, and (d) fielding capabilities of interest to other US government agencies. We present herein the results of our phased array uplink combining at near 7.17 and 8.3 GHz using widely separated antennas demonstrations at both locales, the results of a study to upgrade from a communication to a radar system, and our vision for going forward in implementing a high performance, low lifecycle cost multi-element radar array.

A T8.5 BROWN DWARF MEMBER OF THE {xi} URSAE MAJORIS SYSTEM

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

Wright, Edward L.; Mace, Gregory; McLean, Ian S.

The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer has revealed a T8.5 brown dwarf (WISE J111838.70+312537.9) that exhibits common proper motion with a solar-neighborhood (8 pc) quadruple star system-{xi} Ursae Majoris. The angular separation is 8.'5, and the projected physical separation is Almost-Equal-To 4000 AU. The sub-solar metallicity and low chromospheric activity of {xi} UMa A argue that the system has an age of at least 2 Gyr. The infrared luminosity and color of the brown dwarf suggests the mass of this companion ranges between 14 and 38 M{sub J} for system ages of 2 and 8 Gyr, respectively.

Experimental evaluation of LED-based solar blind NLOS communication links.

PubMed

Chen, Gang; Abou-Galala, Feras; Xu, Zhengyuan; Sadler, Brian M

2008-09-15

Experimental results are reported demonstrating non-line of sight short-range ultraviolet communication link losses, and performance of photon counting detectors, operating in the solar blind spectrum regime. We employ light emitting diodes with divergent beams, a solar blind filter, and a wide field-of-view detector. Signal and noise statistics are characterized, and receiver performance is demonstrated. The effects of transmitter and receiver elevation angles, separation distance, and path loss are included.

A fast integrated mobility spectrometer for rapid measurement of sub-micrometer aerosol size distribution, Part I: Design and model evaluation

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

Wang, Jian; Pikridas, Michael; Spielman, Steven R.

This study discusses, a fast integrated mobility spectrometer (FIMS) was previously developed to characterize submicron aerosol size distributions at a frequency of 1 Hz and with high size resolution and counting statistics. However, the dynamic size range of the FIMS was limited to one decade in particle electrical mobility. It was proposed that the FIMS dynamic size range can be greatly increased by using a spatially varying electric field. This electric field creates regions with drastically different field strengths in the separator, such that particles of a wide diameter range can be simultaneously classified and subsequently measured. A FIMS incorporatingmore » this spatially varying electric field is developed. This paper describes the theoretical frame work and numerical simulations of the FIMS with extended dynamic size range, including the spatially varying electric field, particle trajectories, activation of separated particles in the condenser, and the transfer function, transmission efficiency, and mobility resolution. The influences of the particle Brownian motion on FIMS transfer function and mobility resolution are examined. The simulation results indicate that the FIMS incorporating the spatially varying electric field is capable of measuring aerosol size distribution from 8 to 600 nm with high time resolution. As a result, the experimental characterization of the FIMS is presented in an accompanying paper.« less

A fast integrated mobility spectrometer for rapid measurement of sub-micrometer aerosol size distribution, Part I: Design and model evaluation

DOE PAGES

Wang, Jian; Pikridas, Michael; Spielman, Steven R.; ...

2017-06-01

This study discusses, a fast integrated mobility spectrometer (FIMS) was previously developed to characterize submicron aerosol size distributions at a frequency of 1 Hz and with high size resolution and counting statistics. However, the dynamic size range of the FIMS was limited to one decade in particle electrical mobility. It was proposed that the FIMS dynamic size range can be greatly increased by using a spatially varying electric field. This electric field creates regions with drastically different field strengths in the separator, such that particles of a wide diameter range can be simultaneously classified and subsequently measured. A FIMS incorporatingmore » this spatially varying electric field is developed. This paper describes the theoretical frame work and numerical simulations of the FIMS with extended dynamic size range, including the spatially varying electric field, particle trajectories, activation of separated particles in the condenser, and the transfer function, transmission efficiency, and mobility resolution. The influences of the particle Brownian motion on FIMS transfer function and mobility resolution are examined. The simulation results indicate that the FIMS incorporating the spatially varying electric field is capable of measuring aerosol size distribution from 8 to 600 nm with high time resolution. As a result, the experimental characterization of the FIMS is presented in an accompanying paper.« less

Evaluation of the Precision of Satellite-Derived Sea Surface Temperature Fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, F.; Cornillon, P. C.; Guan, L.

2016-02-01

A great deal of attention has been focused on the temporal accuracy of satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST) fields with little attention being given to their spatial precision. Specifically, the primary measure of the quality of SST fields has been the bias and variance of selected values minus co-located (in space and time) in situ values. Contributing values, determined by the location of the in situ values and the necessity that the satellite-derived values be cloud free, are generally widely separated in space and time hence provide little information related to the pixel-to-pixel uncertainty in the retrievals. But the main contribution to the uncertainty in satellite-derived SST retrievals relates to atmospheric contamination and because the spatial scales of atmospheric features are, in general, large compared with the pixel separation of modern infra-red sensors, the pixel-to-pixel uncertainty is often smaller than the accuracy determined from in situ match-ups. This makes selection of satellite-derived datasets for the study of submesoscale processes, for which the spatial structure of the upper ocean is significant, problematic. In this presentation we present a methodology to characterize the spatial precision of satellite-derived SST fields. The method is based on an examination of the high wavenumber tail of the 2-D spectrum of SST fields in the Sargasso Sea, a low energy region of the ocean close to the track of the MV Oleander, a container ship making weekly roundtrips between New York and Bermuda, with engine intake temperatures sampled every 75 m along track. Important spectral characteristics are the point at which the satellite-derived spectra separate from the Oleander spectra and the spectral slope following separation. In this presentation a number of high resolution 375 m to 10 km SST datasets are evaluated based on this approach.

On the estimation of the current density in space plasmas: Multi- versus single-point techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perri, Silvia; Valentini, Francesco; Sorriso-Valvo, Luca; Reda, Antonio; Malara, Francesco

2017-06-01

Thanks to multi-spacecraft mission, it has recently been possible to directly estimate the current density in space plasmas, by using magnetic field time series from four satellites flying in a quasi perfect tetrahedron configuration. The technique developed, commonly called ;curlometer; permits a good estimation of the current density when the magnetic field time series vary linearly in space. This approximation is generally valid for small spacecraft separation. The recent space missions Cluster and Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) have provided high resolution measurements with inter-spacecraft separation up to 100 km and 10 km, respectively. The former scale corresponds to the proton gyroradius/ion skin depth in ;typical; solar wind conditions, while the latter to sub-proton scale. However, some works have highlighted an underestimation of the current density via the curlometer technique with respect to the current computed directly from the velocity distribution functions, measured at sub-proton scales resolution with MMS. In this paper we explore the limit of the curlometer technique studying synthetic data sets associated to a cluster of four artificial satellites allowed to fly in a static turbulent field, spanning a wide range of relative separation. This study tries to address the relative importance of measuring plasma moments at very high resolution from a single spacecraft with respect to the multi-spacecraft missions in the current density evaluation.

Infectious laryngotracheitis virus in chickens

PubMed Central

Ou, Shan-Chia; Giambrone, Joseph J

2012-01-01

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is an important respiratory disease of chickens and annually causes significant economic losses in the poultry industry world-wide. ILT virus (ILTV) belongs to alphaherpesvirinae and the Gallid herpesvirus 1 species. The transmission of ILTV is via respiratory and ocular routes. Clinical and post-mortem signs of ILT can be separated into two forms according to its virulence. The characteristic of the severe form is bloody mucus in the trachea with high mortality. The mild form causes nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, and reduced weight gain and egg production. Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nested PCR, real-time PCR, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification were developed to detect ILTV samples from natural or experimentally infected birds. The PCR combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) can separate ILTVs into several genetic groups. These groups can separate vaccine from wild type field viruses. Vaccination is a common method to prevent ILT. However, field isolates and vaccine viruses can establish latent infected carriers. According to PCR-RFLP results, virulent field ILTVs can be derived from modified-live vaccines. Therefore, modified-live vaccine reversion provides a source for ILT outbreaks on chicken farms. Two recently licensed commercial recombinant ILT vaccines are also in use. Other recombinant and gene-deficient vaccine candidates are in the developmental stages. They offer additional hope for the control of this disease. However, in ILT endemic regions, improved biosecurity and management practices are critical for improved ILT control. PMID:24175219

Optics for multimode lasers with elongated depth of field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laskin, Alexander; Laskin, Vadim; Ostrun, Aleksei

2017-02-01

Modern multimode high-power lasers are widely used in industrial applications and control of their radiation, especially by focusing, is of great importance. Because of relatively low optical quality, characterized by high values of specifications Beam Parameter Product (BPP) or M², the depth of field by focusing of multimode laser radiation is narrow. At the same time laser technologies like deep penetration welding, cutting of thick metal sheets get benefits from elongated depth of field in area of focal plane, therefore increasing of zone along optical axis with minimized spot size is important technical task. As a solution it is suggested to apply refractive optical systems splitting an initial laser beam into several beamlets, which are focused in different foci separated along optical axis with providing reliable control of energy portions in each separate focus, independently of beam size or mode structure. With the multi-focus optics, the length of zone of material processing along optical axis is defined rather by distances between separate foci, which are determined by optical design of the optics and can be chosen according to requirements of a particular laser technology. Due to stability of the distances between foci there is provided stability of a technology process. This paper describes some design features of refractive multi-focus optics, examples of real implementations and experimental results will be presented as well.

Effects of the glycerophosphate-polylactic copolymer formation on electrospun fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Wen; Zhang, Guanghua; Li, YaLi; Fan, Guodong

2018-06-01

Poly-lactic (PLA) porous fibers are widely used in tissue engineering scaffolds and many other fields. Non-solvent induced phase separation is one of the best way for preparation of porous fiber. It is difficult to obtain the PLA electrospun porous fibers by phase separation. In this paper, glycerophosphate-polylactic copolymer (GP-PLA) are synthesized with sodium glyceryl phosphate and L-lactide to produce porous fibers. Furthermore, the Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), FT-IR and 1H-NMR are applied for characterizing the obtained copolymers. Thermogravimetric (TG) measurements indicate that the thermal stability of GP-PLA is lower than that of linear PLA. Under 30% humidity, porous GP-PLA fibers are obtained by electrospinning method, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) refers that through the modification of the molecular structure, GP-PLA fibers are more porous under the same condition. The water contact angle is increased coming with the increase of GP contents. Hydrophilic porous GP-PLA fibers are obtained via solvent phase separation. The relationship between hydrophilicity and surface morphology of materials is further explained by Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). GP-PLA has a potential application in the field of scaffold for tissue engineering.

Development of magnetic separation system of magnetoliposomes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakao, R.; Matuo, Y.; Mishima, F.; Taguchi, T.; Maenosono, S.; Nishijima, S.

2009-10-01

The magnetic separation technology using sub-microsized ferromagnetic particle is indispensable in many areas of medical biosciences. For example, ferromagnetic particles (200-500 nm) are widely used for cell sorting in stem cell research with the use of cell surface-specific antigens. Nanosized ferromagnetic particles (10-20 nm) have been suggested as more suitable in drug delivery studies given their efficiency of tissue penetration, however, the magnetic separation method for them has not been established. One of the major reasons is that magnetic force acting on the object particles decreases drastically as a particle diameter becomes small. In this study, magnetic force acting on the targets was enhanced by the combination of superconducting magnet and the filter consisting of ferromagnetic particle. By doing so, we confirmed that Fe 3O 4 of 20 nm in diameter was trapped in the magnetic filter under an external magnetic field of 0.5 T. Fe 3O 4 encapsulated with phospholipid liposomes of 200 nm in diameter was also shown to be trapped as external magnetic field of 1.5 T, but not of 0.5 T. We also showed the result of particle trajectory calculation which emulated well the experimental data.

Review on Ion Mobility Spectrometry. Part 1: Current Instrumentation

PubMed Central

Cumeras, R.; Figueras, E.; Davis, C.E.; Baumbach, J.I.; Gràcia, I.

2014-01-01

Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) is a widely used and ‘well-known’ technique of ion separation in gaseous phase based on the differences of ion mobilities under an electric field. All IMS instruments operate with an electric field that provides space separation, but some IMS instruments also operate with a drift gas flow which provides also a temporal separation. In this review we will summarize the current IMS instrumentation. IMS techniques have received an increased interest as new instrumentation has become available to be coupled with mass spectrometry (MS). For each of the eight types of IMS instruments reviewed it is mentioned whether they can be hyphenated with MS and whether they are commercially available. Finally, out of the described devices, the six most-consolidated ones are compared. The current review article is followed by a companion review article which details the IMS hyphenated techniques (mainly gas chromatography and mass spectrometry) and the factors that make the data from an IMS device change as function of device parameters and sampling conditions. These reviews will provide the reader with an insightful view of the main characteristics and aspects of the IMS technique. PMID:25465076

Advancements of molecularly imprinted polymers in the food safety field.

PubMed

Wang, Peilong; Sun, Xiaohua; Su, Xiaoou; Wang, Tie

2016-06-07

Molecularly imprinted technology (MIT) has been widely employed to produce stable, robust and cheap molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) materials that possess selective binding sites for recognition of target analytes in food, such as pesticides, veterinary drugs, mycotoxins, illegal drugs and so on. Because of high selectivity and specificity, MIPs have drawn great attention in the food safety field. In this review, the recent developments of MIPs in various applications for food safety, including sample preparation, chromatographic separation, sensing, immunoassay etc., have been summarized. We particularly discuss the advancements and limitations in these applications, as well as attempts carried out for their improvement.

Single-shot optical sectioning using two-color probes in HiLo fluorescence microscopy.

PubMed

Muro, Eleonora; Vermeulen, Pierre; Ioannou, Andriani; Skourides, Paris; Dubertret, Benoit; Fragola, Alexandra; Loriette, Vincent

2011-06-08

We describe a wide-field fluorescence microscope setup which combines HiLo microscopy technique with the use of a two-color fluorescent probe. It allows one-shot fluorescence optical sectioning of thick biological moving sample which is illuminated simultaneously with a flat and a structured pattern at two different wavelengths. Both homogenous and structured fluorescence images are spectrally separated at detection and combined similarly with the HiLo microscopy technique. We present optically sectioned full-field images of Xenopus laevis embryos acquired at 25 images/s frame rate. Copyright © 2011 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cryogenically enhanced magneto-Archimedes levitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Catherall, A. T.; López-Alcaraz, P.; Benedict, K. A.; King, P. J.; Eaves, L.

2005-05-01

The application of both a strong magnetic field and magnetic field gradient to a diamagnetic body can produce a vertical force which is sufficient to counteract its weight due to gravity. By immersing the body in a paramagnetic fluid, an additional adjustable magneto-buoyancy force is generated which enhances the levitation effect. Here we show that cryogenic oxygen and oxygen-nitrogen mixtures in both gaseous and liquid form provide sufficient buoyancy to permit the levitation and flotation of a wide range of materials. These fluids may provide an alternative to synthetic ferrofluids for the separation of minerals. We also report the dynamics of corrugation instabilities on the surface of magnetized liquid oxygen.

Living Together Apart in France and the United States

PubMed Central

Martin, Claude; Cherlin, Andrew; Cross-Barnet, Caitlin

2014-01-01

Union formation involves a number of stages, as does union dissolution, and new couples often spend an initial period in a non-cohabiting intimate relationship. Yet while certain couples never share the same dwelling, “living apart together”1 has not developed widely as a long-term lifestyle option. Claude Martin in France, and Andrew Cherlin and Caitlin Cross-Barnet in the United States have studied a symmetrical phenomenon, that of couples who continue to live together while considering themselves to be separated. In this article, they draw together their analyses to describe an arrangement which, while marginal, reveals situations where residential separation is not possible, either because of the need to keep up appearances, often for the children’s sake, or because total separation is too frightening or living in separate homes is unaffordable. Beyond the differences between the two countries and the two survey fields, the authors analyse the ways in which persons who “live together apart” describe their loveless relationship that has led to explicit conjugal separation within a shared home. PMID:25170338

Optimization of Industrial Ozone Generation with Pulsed Power

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopez, Jose; Guerrero, Daniel; Freilich, Alfred; Ramoino, Luca; Seton Hall University Team; Degremont Technologies-Ozonia Team

2013-09-01

Ozone (O3) is widely used for applications ranging from various industrial chemical synthesis processes to large-scale water treatment. The consequent surge in world-wide demand has brought about the requirement for ozone generation at the rate of several hundreds grams per kilowatt hour (g/kWh). For many years, ozone has been generated by means of dielectric barrier discharges (DBD), where a high-energy electric field between two electrodes separated by a dielectric and gap containing pure oxygen or air produce various microplasmas. The resultant microplasmas provide sufficient energy to dissociate the oxygen molecules while allowing the proper energetics channels for the formation of ozone. This presentation will review the current power schemes used for large-scale ozone generation and explore the use of high-voltage nanosecond pulses with reduced electric fields. The created microplasmas in a high reduced electric field are expected to be more efficient for ozone generation. This is confirmed with the current results of this work which observed that the efficiency of ozone generation increases by over eight time when the rise time and pulse duration are shortened. Department of Physics, South Orange, NJ, USA.

Photometric redshifts for the CFHTLS T0004 deep and wide fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coupon, J.; Ilbert, O.; Kilbinger, M.; McCracken, H. J.; Mellier, Y.; Arnouts, S.; Bertin, E.; Hudelot, P.; Schultheis, M.; Le Fèvre, O.; Le Brun, V.; Guzzo, L.; Bardelli, S.; Zucca, E.; Bolzonella, M.; Garilli, B.; Zamorani, G.; Zanichelli, A.; Tresse, L.; Aussel, H.

2009-06-01

Aims: We compute photometric redshifts in the fourth public release of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey. This unique multi-colour catalogue comprises u^*, g', r', i', z' photometry in four deep fields of 1 deg2 each and 35 deg2 distributed over three wide fields. Methods: We used a template-fitting method to compute photometric redshifts calibrated with a large catalogue of 16 983 high-quality spectroscopic redshifts from the VVDS-F02, VVDS-F22, DEEP2, and the zCOSMOS surveys. The method includes correction of systematic offsets, template adaptation, and the use of priors. We also separated stars from galaxies using both size and colour information. Results: Comparing with galaxy spectroscopic redshifts, we find a photometric redshift dispersion, σΔ z/(1+z_s), of 0.028-0.30 and an outlier rate, |Δ z| ≥ 0.15× (1+z_s), of 3-4% in the deep field at i'_AB < 24. In the wide fields, we find a dispersion of 0.037-0.039 and an outlier rate of 3-4% at i'_AB < 22.5. Beyond i'_AB = 22.5 in the wide fields the number of outliers rises from 5% to 10% at i'_AB < 23 and i'_AB < 24, respectively. For the wide sample the systematic redshift bias stays below 1% to i'_AB < 22.5, whereas we find no significant bias in the deep fields. We investigated the effect of tile-to-tile photometric variations and demonstrated that the accuracy of our photometric redshifts is reduced by at most 21%. Application of our star-galaxy classifier reduced the contamination by stars in our catalogues from 60% to 8% at i'_AB < 22.5 in our field with the highest stellar density while keeping a complete galaxy sample. Our CFHTLS T0004 photometric redshifts are distributed to the community. Our release includes 592891 (i'_AB < 22.5) and 244701 (i'_AB < 24) reliable galaxy photometric redshifts in the wide and deep fields, respectively. Based on observations obtained with MegaPrime/MegaCam, a joint project of CFHT and CEA/DAPNIA, at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) which is operated by the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada, the Institut National des Sciences de l'Univers of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) of France, and the University of Hawaii. This work is based in part on data products produced at Terapix and the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre as part of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey, a collaborative project of NRC and CNRS.

Magnetocaloric effect and its modulation by electric field in La0.325Pr0.3Ca0.375MnO3 films grown on (0 1 1)-PMN-PT substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiao, K. M.; Li, J.; Liu, Y.; Kuang, H.; Wang, J.; Hu, F. X.; Sun, J. R.; Shen, B. G.

2018-06-01

In this paper, we have investigated the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) and its modulation by electric field in La0.325Pr0.3Ca0.375MnO3 (LPCMO) films grown on (0 1 1)-oriented PMN-PT substrates. As a typical perovskite manganite with phase separation, the LPCMO bulk shows a considerable MCE, but the MCE of the LPCMO films has never been investigated. We found that the LPCMO films exhibit a MCE over a wide temperature range. A modulation of magnetization by electric field has been observed in the temperature dependent (M-T) and magnetic field dependent (M-H) curves. As a result, enhanced magnetic entropy change and refrigeration capacity by about 4% under an electric field of +6 kV/cm has been demonstrated.

Chapter A9. Safety in Field Activities

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lane, Susan L.; Ray, Ronald G.

1998-01-01

The National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data (National Field Manual) describes protocols (requirements and recommendations) and provides guidelines for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) personnel who collect data used to assess the quality of the Nation's surface-water and ground-water resources. This chapter of the manual addresses topics related to personal safety to be used in the collection of water-quality data, including: policies and general regulations on field safety; transportation of people and equipment; implementation of surface-water and ground-water activities; procedures for handling chemicals; and information on potentially hazardous environmental conditions, animals, and plants. Each chapter of the National Field Manual is published separately and revised periodically. Newly published and revised chapters will be announced on the USGS Home Page on the World Wide Web under 'New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey.' The URL for this page is http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/ index.html.

Dynamics of photogenerated carriers near magnetic field driven quantum phase transition in aperiodic multiple quantum wells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tito, M. A.; Pusep, Yu A.

2018-01-01

Time-resolved magneto-photoluminescence was employed to study the magnetic field induced quantum phase transition separating two phases with different distributions of electrons over quantum wells in an aperiodic multiple quantum well, embedded in a wide AlGaAs parabolic quantum well. Intensities, broadenings and recombination times attributed to the photoluminescence lines emitted from individual quantum wells of the multiple quantum well structure were measured as a function of the magnetic field near the transition. The presented data manifest themselves to the magnetic field driven migration of the free electrons between the quantum wells of the studied multiple quantum well structure. The observed charge transfer was found to influence the screening of the multiple quantum well and disorder potentials. Evidence of the localization of the electrons in the peripheral quantum wells in strong magnetic field is presented.

Precision Pointing for the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stoneking, Eric; Hsu, Oscar; Welter, Gary

2017-01-01

The Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) mission, scheduled for a mid-2020's launch, is currently in its definition phase. The mission is designed to investigate essential questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics. WFIRST will use a 2.4-meter primary telescope (same size as the Hubble Space Telescope's primary mirror) and two instruments: the Wide Field Instrument (WFI) and the Coronagraph Instrument (CGI). In order to ad-dress the critical science requirements, the WFIRST mission will conduct large-scale surveys of the infrared sky, requiring both agility and precision pointing (11.6 milli-arcsec stability, 14 milli-arcsec jitter). This paper describes some of the challenges this mission profile presents to the GNC subsystem, and some of the design elements chosen to accommodate those challenges. The high-galactic-latitude survey is characterized by 3-minute observations separated by slews ranging from 0.025 deg to 0.8 deg. The need for observation efficiency drives the slew and settle process to be as rapid as possible. A description of the shaped slew profile chosen to minimize excitation of structural oscillation, and the handoff from star tracker-gyro control to fine guidance sensor control is detailed. Also presented is the fine guidance sensor (FGS), which is integral with the primary instrument (WFI). The FGS is capable of tracking up to 18 guide stars, enabling robust FGS acquisition and precision pointing. To avoid excitation of observatory structural jitter, reaction wheel speeds are operationally maintained within set limits. In addition, the wheel balance law is designed to maintain 1-Hz separation between the wheel speeds to avoid reinforcing jitter excitation at any particular frequency. The wheel balance law and operational implications are described. Finally, the candidate GNC hardware suite needed to meet the requirements of the mission is presented.

Precision Pointing for the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope(WFIRST)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stoneking, Eric T.; Hsu, Oscar C.; Welter, Gary

2017-01-01

The Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) mission, scheduled for a mid-2020's launch, is currently in its definition phase. The mission is designed to investigate essential questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics. WFIRST will use a 2.4-meter primary telescope (same size as the Hubble Space Telescope's primary mirror) and two instruments: the Wide Field Instrument (WFI) and the Coronagraph Instrument (CGI). In order to address the critical science requirements, the WFIRST mission will conduct large-scale surveys of the infrared sky, requiring both agility and precision pointing (11.6 milli-arcsec stability, 14 milli-arcsec jitter). This paper describes some of the challenges this mission profile presents to the Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) subsystem, and some of the design elements chosen to accommodate those challenges. The high-galactic-latitude survey is characterized by 3-minute observations separated by slews ranging from 0.025 deg to 0.8 deg. The need for observation efficiency drives the slew and settle process to be as rapid as possible. A description of the shaped slew profile chosen to minimize excitation of structural oscillation, and the handoff from star tracker-gyro control to fine guidance sensor control is detailed. Also presented is the fine guidance sensor (FGS), which is integral with the primary instrument (WFI). The FGS is capable of tracking up to 18 guide stars, enabling robust FGS acquisition and precision pointing. To avoid excitation of observatory structural jitter, reaction wheel speeds are operationally maintained within set limits. In addition, the wheel balance law is designed to maintain 1-Hz separation between the wheel speeds to avoid reinforcing jitter excitation at any particular frequency. The wheel balance law and operational implications are described. Finally, the candidate GNC hardware suite needed to meet the requirements of the mission is presented.

Metasurface Broadband Solar Absorber

DOE PAGES

Azad, Abul K.; Kort-Kamp, Wilton J. M.; Sykora, Milan; ...

2016-02-01

Here, we demonstrate a broadband, polarization independent, wide-angle absorber based on a metallic metasurface architecture, which accomplishes greater than 90% absorptance in the visible and near-infrared range of the solar spectrum, and exhibits low absorptivity (emissivity) at mid- and far-infrared wavelengths. The complex unit cell of the metasurface solar absorber consists of eight pairs of gold nano-resonators that are separated from a gold ground plane by a thin silicon dioxide spacer. Moreover, our experimental measurements reveal high-performance absorption over a wide range of incidence angles for both s- and p-polarizations. We also investigate numerically the frequency-dependent field and current distributionsmore » to elucidate how the absorption occurs within the metasurface structure.« less

Metasurface Broadband Solar Absorber

PubMed Central

Azad, Abul K.; Kort-Kamp, Wilton J. M.; Sykora, Milan; Weisse-Bernstein, Nina R.; Luk, Ting S.; Taylor, Antoinette J.; Dalvit, Diego A. R.; Chen, Hou-Tong

2016-01-01

We demonstrate a broadband, polarization independent, wide-angle absorber based on a metallic metasurface architecture, which accomplishes greater than 90% absorptance in the visible and near-infrared range of the solar spectrum, and exhibits low absorptivity (emissivity) at mid- and far-infrared wavelengths. The complex unit cell of the metasurface solar absorber consists of eight pairs of gold nano-resonators that are separated from a gold ground plane by a thin silicon dioxide spacer. Our experimental measurements reveal high-performance absorption over a wide range of incidence angles for both s- and p-polarizations. We also investigate numerically the frequency-dependent field and current distributions to elucidate how the absorption occurs within the metasurface structure. PMID:26828999

Multi-frequency inversion-charge pumping for charge separation and mobility analysis in high-k/InGaAs metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors

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

Djara, V.; Cherkaoui, K.; Negara, M. A.

2015-11-28

An alternative multi-frequency inversion-charge pumping (MFICP) technique was developed to directly separate the inversion charge density (N{sub inv}) from the trapped charge density in high-k/InGaAs metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). This approach relies on the fitting of the frequency response of border traps, obtained from inversion-charge pumping measurements performed over a wide range of frequencies at room temperature on a single MOSFET, using a modified charge trapping model. The obtained model yielded the capture time constant and density of border traps located at energy levels aligned with the InGaAs conduction band. Moreover, the combination of MFICP and pulsed I{sub d}-V{sub g}more » measurements enabled an accurate effective mobility vs N{sub inv} extraction and analysis. The data obtained using the MFICP approach are consistent with the most recent reports on high-k/InGaAs.« less

High-efficiency resonant amplification of weak magnetic fields for single spin magnetometry at room temperature.

PubMed

Trifunovic, Luka; Pedrocchi, Fabio L; Hoffman, Silas; Maletinsky, Patrick; Yacoby, Amir; Loss, Daniel

2015-06-01

Magnetic resonance techniques not only provide powerful imaging tools that have revolutionized medicine, but they have a wide spectrum of applications in other fields of science such as biology, chemistry, neuroscience and physics. However, current state-of-the-art magnetometers are unable to detect a single nuclear spin unless the tip-to-sample separation is made sufficiently small. Here, we demonstrate theoretically that by placing a ferromagnetic particle between a nitrogen-vacancy magnetometer and a target spin, the magnetometer sensitivity is improved dramatically. Using materials and techniques that are already experimentally available, our proposed set-up is sensitive enough to detect a single nuclear spin within ten milliseconds of data acquisition at room temperature. The sensitivity is practically unchanged when the ferromagnet surface to the target spin separation is smaller than the ferromagnet lateral dimensions; typically about a tenth of a micrometre. This scheme further benefits when used for nitrogen-vacancy ensemble measurements, enhancing sensitivity by an additional three orders of magnitude.

Three-dimensional numerical investigation of the separation process in a vortex tube at different operating conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rafiee, Seyed Ehsan; Sadeghiazad, M. M.

2016-06-01

Air separators provide safe, clean, and appropriate air flow to engines and are widely used in vehicles with large engines such as ships and submarines. In this operational study, the separation process inside a Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube cleaning (cooling) system is investigated to analyze the impact of the operating gas type on the vortex tube performance; the operating gases used are air, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. The computational fluid dynamic model used is equipped with a three-dimensional structure, and the steady-state condition is applied during computations. The standard k-ɛ turbulence model is employed to resolve nonlinear flow equations, and various key parameters, such as hot and cold exhaust thermal drops, and power separation rates, are described numerically. The results show that nitrogen dioxide creates the greatest separation power out of all gases tested, and the numerical results are validated by good agreement with available experimental data. In addition, a comparison is made between the use of two different boundary conditions, the pressure-far-field and the pressure-outlet, when analyzing complex turbulent flows inside the air separators. Results present a comprehensive and practical solution for use in future numerical studies.

Nanoscopy of Phase Separation in InxGa1-xN Alloys.

PubMed

Abate, Yohannes; Seidlitz, Daniel; Fali, Alireza; Gamage, Sampath; Babicheva, Viktoriia; Yakovlev, Vladislav S; Stockman, Mark I; Collazo, Ramon; Alden, Dorian; Dietz, Nikolaus

2016-09-07

Phase separations in ternary/multinary semiconductor alloys is a major challenge that limits optical and electronic internal device efficiency. We have found ubiquitous local phase separation in In1-xGaxN alloys that persists to nanoscale spatial extent by employing high-resolution nanoimaging technique. We lithographically patterned InN/sapphire substrates with nanolayers of In1-xGaxN down to few atomic layers thick that enabled us to calibrate the near-field infrared response of the semiconductor nanolayers as a function of composition and thickness. We also developed an advanced theoretical approach that considers the full geometry of the probe tip and all the sample and substrate layers. Combining experiment and theory, we identified and quantified phase separation in epitaxially grown individual nanoalloys. We found that the scale of the phase separation varies widely from particle to particle ranging from all Ga- to all In-rich regions and covering everything in between. We have found that between 20 and 25% of particles show some level of Ga-rich phase separation over the entire sample region, which is in qualitative agreement with the known phase diagram of In1-xGaxN system.

Free flow isotachophoresis in an injection moulded miniaturised separation chamber with integrated electrodes.

PubMed

Stone, Victoria N; Baldock, Sara J; Croasdell, Laura A; Dillon, Leonard A; Fielden, Peter R; Goddard, Nick J; Thomas, C L Paul; Treves Brown, Bernard J

2007-07-06

An injection moulded free flow isotachophoresis (FFITP) microdevice with integrated carbon fibre loaded electrodes with a separation chamber of 36.4mm wide, 28.7 mm long and 100 microm deep is presented. The microdevice was completely fabricated by injection moulding in carbon fibre loaded polystyrene for the electrodes and crystal polystyrene for the remainder of the chip and was bonded together using ultrasonic welding. Two injection moulded electrode designs were compared, one with the electrode surface level with the separation chamber and one with a recessed electrode. Separations of two anionic dyes, 0.2mM each of amaranth and acid green and separations of 0.2mM each of amaranth, bromophenol blue and glutamate were performed on the microdevice. Flow rates of 1.25 ml min(-1) for the leading and terminating electrolytes were used and a flow rate of 0.63 ml min(-1) for the sample. Electric fields of up to 370 V cm(-1) were applied across the separation chamber. Joule heating was not found to be significant although out-gassing was observed at drive currents greater than 3 mA.

A wide field-of-view microscope based on holographic focus grid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Jigang; Cui, Xiquan; Zheng, Guoan; Lee, Lap Man; Yang, Changhuei

2010-02-01

We have developed a novel microscope technique that can achieve wide field-of-view (FOV) imaging and yet possess resolution that is comparable to conventional microscope. The principle of wide FOV microscope system breaks the link between resolution and FOV magnitude of traditional microscopes. Furthermore, by eliminating bulky optical elements from its design and utilizing holographic optical elements, the wide FOV microscope system is more cost-effective. In our system, a hologram was made to focus incoming collimated beam into a focus grid. The sample is put in the focal plane and the transmissions of the focuses are detected by an imaging sensor. By scanning the incident angle of the incoming beam, the focus grid will scan across the sample and the time-varying transmission can be detected. We can then reconstruct the transmission image of the sample. The resolution of microscopic image is limited by the size of the focus formed by the hologram. The scanning area of each focus spot is determined by the separation of the focus spots and can be made small for fast imaging speed. We have fabricated a prototype system with a 2.4-mm FOV and 1-μm resolution. The prototype system was used to image onion skin cells for a demonstration. The preliminary experiments prove the feasibility of the wide FOV microscope technique, and the possibility of a wider FOV system with better resolution.

Targeted detection of murine colonic dysplasia in vivo with flexible multispectral scanning fiber endoscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, Sharon J.; Lee, Cameron M.; Joshi, Bishnu P.; Gaustad, Adam; Seibel, Eric J.; Wang, Thomas D.

2012-02-01

Gastrointestinal cancers are heterogeneous and can overexpress several protein targets that can be imaged simultaneously on endoscopy using multiple molecular probes. We aim to demonstrate a multispectral scanning fiber endoscope for wide-field fluorescence detection of colonic dysplasia. Excitation at 440, 532, and 635 nm is delivered into a single spiral scanning fiber, and fluorescence is collected by a ring of light-collecting optical fibers placed around the instrument periphery. Specific-binding peptides are selected with phage display technology using the CPC;Apc mouse model of spontaneous colonic dysplasia. Validation of peptide specificity is performed on flow cytometry and in vivo endoscopy. The peptides KCCFPAQ, AKPGYLS, and LTTHYKL are selected and labeled with 7-diethylaminocoumarin-3-carboxylic acid (DEAC), 5-carboxytetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA), and CF633, respectively. Separate droplets of KCCFPAQ-DEAC, AKPGYLS-TAMRA, and LTTHYKL-CF633 are distinguished at concentrations of 100 and 1 μM. Separate application of the fluorescent-labeled peptides demonstrate specific binding to colonic adenomas. The average target/background ratios are 1.71+/-0.19 and 1.67+/-0.12 for KCCFPAQ-DEAC and AKPGYLS-TAMRA, respectively. Administration of these two peptides together results in distinct binding patterns in the blue and green channels. Specific binding of two or more peptides can be distinguished in vivo using a novel multispectral endoscope to localize colonic dysplasia on real-time wide-field imaging.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION OF COMET P/SHOEMAKER-LEVY 9 and PLANET JUPITER

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

This is a composite photo, assembled from separate images of Jupiter and comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9, as imaged by the Wide Field and Planetary Camera-2 (WFPC-2), aboard NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Jupiter was imaged on May 18, 1994, when the giant planet was at a distance of 420 million miles (670 million km) from Earth. This 'true-color' picture was assembled from separate HST exposures in red, blue, and green light. Jupiter's rotation between exposures creates the blue and red fringe on either side of the disk. HST can resolve details in Jupiter's magnificent cloud belts and zones as small as 200 miles (320 km) across (wide field mode). This detailed view is only surpassed by images from spacecraft that have traveled to Jupiter. The dark spot on the disk of Jupiter is the shadow of the inner moon Io. This volcanic moon appears as an orange and yellow disk just to the upper right of the shadow. Though Io is approximately the size of Earth's Moon (but 2,000 times farther away), HST can resolve surface details. When the comet was observed on May 17, its train of 21 icy fragments stretched across 710 thousand miles (1.1 million km) of space, or 3 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. This required six WFPC exposures along the comet train to include all the nuclei. The image was taken in red light. The apparent angular size of Jupiter relative to the comet, and its angular separation from the comet when the images were taken, have been modified for illustration purposes. Credit: H.A. Weaver, T.E. Smith (Space Telescope Science Institute) and J.T. Trauger, R.W. Evans (Jet Propulsion Laboratory), and NASA

ARC-1994-AC94-0353-1

NASA Image and Video Library

1994-07-07

This is a composite photo, assembled from separate images of Jupiter and Comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 as imaged by the Wide Field & Planetary Camera-2 (WFPC-2), aboard NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Jupiter was imaged on May 18, 1994, when the giant planet was at a distance of 420 million miles (670 million KM) from Earth. This 'true-color' picture was assembled from separate HST exposures in red, blue, and green light. Jupiter's rotation between exposures creates the blue and red fringe on either side of the disk. HST can resolve details in Jpiter's magnifient cloud belts and zones as small as 200 miles (320 km) across (wide field mode). This detailed view is only surpassed by images from spacecraft that have traveled to Jupiter. The dark spot on the disk of Jupiter is the shadow of the inner moon Io. This volcanic moon appears as an orange and yellow disk just to the upper right of the shadow. Though Io is approximately the size of Earth's Moon (but 2,000 times farther away), HST can resolve surface details. When the comet was observed on May 17, its train of 21 icy fragments stretched across 710 thousand miles (1.1 million km) of space, or 3 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. This required six WFPC exposures along the comet train to include all the nuclei. The image was taken in red light. The apparent angular size of Jupiter relative to the comet, and its angular separation from the comet when the images were taken, have been modified for illustration purposes. CREDIT: H.A. Weaver, T.E. Smith (Space Telescope Science Institute (STSI)) and J.T. Tranuger, R.W. Evans (Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)) and NASA. (HST ref: STSci-PR94-26a)

Noctilucent cloud polarimetry: Twilight measurements in a wide range of scattering angles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ugolnikov, Oleg S.; Maslov, Igor A.; Kozelov, Boris V.; Dlugach, Janna M.

2016-06-01

Wide-field polarization measurements of the twilight sky background during several nights with bright and extended noctilucent clouds in central and northern Russia in 2014 and 2015 are used to build the phase dependence of the degree of polarization of sunlight scattered by cloud particles in a wide range of scattering angles (from 40° to 130°). This range covers the linear polarization maximum near 90° and large-angle slope of the curve. The polarization in this angle range is most sensitive to the particle size. The method of separation of scattering on cloud particles from the twilight background is presented. Results are compared with T-matrix simulations for different sizes and shapes of ice particles; the best-fit model radius of particles (0.06 μm) and maximum radius (about 0.1 μm) are estimated.

The promises of big data and small data for travel behavior (aka human mobility) analysis.

PubMed

Chen, Cynthia; Ma, Jingtao; Susilo, Yusak; Liu, Yu; Wang, Menglin

2016-07-01

The last decade has witnessed very active development in two broad, but separate fields, both involving understanding and modeling of how individuals move in time and space (hereafter called "travel behavior analysis" or "human mobility analysis"). One field comprises transportation researchers who have been working in the field for decades and the other involves new comers from a wide range of disciplines, but primarily computer scientists and physicists. Researchers in these two fields work with different datasets, apply different methodologies, and answer different but overlapping questions. It is our view that there is much, hidden synergy between the two fields that needs to be brought out. It is thus the purpose of this paper to introduce datasets, concepts, knowledge and methods used in these two fields, and most importantly raise cross-discipline ideas for conversations and collaborations between the two. It is our hope that this paper will stimulate many future cross-cutting studies that involve researchers from both fields.

The promises of big data and small data for travel behavior (aka human mobility) analysis

PubMed Central

Chen, Cynthia; Ma, Jingtao; Susilo, Yusak; Liu, Yu; Wang, Menglin

2016-01-01

The last decade has witnessed very active development in two broad, but separate fields, both involving understanding and modeling of how individuals move in time and space (hereafter called “travel behavior analysis” or “human mobility analysis”). One field comprises transportation researchers who have been working in the field for decades and the other involves new comers from a wide range of disciplines, but primarily computer scientists and physicists. Researchers in these two fields work with different datasets, apply different methodologies, and answer different but overlapping questions. It is our view that there is much, hidden synergy between the two fields that needs to be brought out. It is thus the purpose of this paper to introduce datasets, concepts, knowledge and methods used in these two fields, and most importantly raise cross-discipline ideas for conversations and collaborations between the two. It is our hope that this paper will stimulate many future cross-cutting studies that involve researchers from both fields. PMID:27182125

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

PubMed Central

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

2017-01-01

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

Wide Field Views of M31's dE Satellites: NGC 147 and NGC 185

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noël, N. E. D.; Ferguson, A. M. N.; Irwin, M. J.

2010-06-01

Panoramic imaging studies of the M31 halo are revealing a wealth of previously-unknown faint tidal debris [e.g. 1] suggesting that it presents a hostile environment for dwarf galaxies to live in. NGC 185(MV = -15.6) and NGC 147(MV = -15.1) are dwarf elliptical (dE) satellites of M31 which currently reside in the remote outer halo (RM31~160 kpc). Given their similarity to more distant, unresolved, dEs, NGC 147 and NGC 185 are ideal workplaces to carry out detailed studies in dEs. While NGC 147 and 185 have been studied extensively in the past, almost all previous studies have been of small field-of-view. Our ongoing wide-field analysis will allow a thorough examination of the global content and structure of these systems and enable us to assess the extent to which they have previously interacted with M31 as well as each other. We present first results from our ongoing analysis of wide-field near-IR and optical imagery of these systems which we are using to derive the first truly global views of their overall structures and stellar contents. In particular, UKIRT/WFCAM JHK data are used to identify and analyse luminous asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in NGC 147 and NGC 185 and separate out C-rich and O-rich populations while INT/WFC Vi data are used to analyse the red giant branch (RGB) populations.

Virtual-source diffusion approximation for enhanced near-field modeling of photon-migration in low-albedo medium.

PubMed

Jia, Mengyu; Chen, Xueying; Zhao, Huijuan; Cui, Shanshan; Liu, Ming; Liu, Lingling; Gao, Feng

2015-01-26

Most analytical methods for describing light propagation in turbid medium exhibit low effectiveness in the near-field of a collimated source. Motivated by the Charge Simulation Method in electromagnetic theory as well as the established discrete source based modeling, we herein report on an improved explicit model for a semi-infinite geometry, referred to as "Virtual Source" (VS) diffuse approximation (DA), to fit for low-albedo medium and short source-detector separation. In this model, the collimated light in the standard DA is analogously approximated as multiple isotropic point sources (VS) distributed along the incident direction. For performance enhancement, a fitting procedure between the calculated and realistic reflectances is adopted in the near-field to optimize the VS parameters (intensities and locations). To be practically applicable, an explicit 2VS-DA model is established based on close-form derivations of the VS parameters for the typical ranges of the optical parameters. This parameterized scheme is proved to inherit the mathematical simplicity of the DA approximation while considerably extending its validity in modeling the near-field photon migration in low-albedo medium. The superiority of the proposed VS-DA method to the established ones is demonstrated in comparison with Monte-Carlo simulations over wide ranges of the source-detector separation and the medium optical properties.

Application of ionic liquids in liquid chromatography and electrodriven separation.

PubMed

Huang, Yi; Yao, Shun; Song, Hang

2013-08-01

Ionic liquids (ILs) are salts in the liquid state at ambient temperature, which are nonvolatile, nonflammable with high thermal stability and dissolve easily for a wide range of inorganic and organic materials. As a kind of potential green solvent, they show high efficiency and selectivity in the field of separation research, especially in instrumental analysis. Thus far, ILs have been successfully applied by many related researchers in high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis as chromatographic stationary phases, mobile phase additives or electroosmotic flow modifiers. This paper provides a detailed review of these applications in the study of natural products, foods, drugs and other fine chemicals. Furthermore, the prospects of ILs in liquid chromatographic and electrodriven techniques are discussed.

Simple microfluidic stagnation point flow geometries

PubMed Central

Dockx, Greet; Verwijlen, Tom; Sempels, Wouter; Nagel, Mathias; Moldenaers, Paula; Hofkens, Johan; Vermant, Jan

2016-01-01

A geometrically simple flow cell is proposed to generate different types of stagnation flows, using a separation flow and small variations of the geometric parameters. Flows with high local deformation rates can be changed from purely rotational, over simple shear flow, to extensional flow in a region surrounding a stagnation point. Computational fluid dynamic calculations are used to analyse how variations of the geometrical parameters affect the flow field. These numerical calculations are compared to the experimentally obtained streamlines of different designs, which have been determined by high speed confocal microscopy. As the flow type is dictated predominantly by the geometrical parameters, such simple separating flow devices may alleviate the requirements for flow control, while offering good stability for a wide variety of flow types. PMID:27462382

Solar wind deceleration and MHD turbulence in the earth's foreshock region - ISEE 1 and 2 and IMP 8 observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bonifazi, C.; Moreno, G.; Russell, C. T.; Lazarus, A. J.; Sullivan, J. D.

1983-01-01

The interaction of the solar wind with ions backstreaming from the earth's bow shock is investigated using plasma and magnetic field measurements on ISEE 1 and 2 and IMP 8 at widely separated positions in the earth's foreshock. This technique separates temporal and spatial variations within the foreshock. It is found that the solar wind acceleration associated with backstreaming ions is correlated with the amplitude of the MHD turbulence, and that the largest decelerations are seen close to the bow shock. The density of the backstreaming ion beam is strongly correlated with distance from the shock, and decreases by about a factor of three in a distance of about 3R(e).

Magnetic field experiment for Voyagers 1 and 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Behannon, K. W.; Aluna, M. H.; Burlaga, L. F.; Lepping, R. P.; Ness, N. F.; Neubauer, F. M.

1977-01-01

The magnetic field experiment to be carried on the Voyager 1 and 2 missions consists of dual low field (LFM) and high field magnetometer (HFM) systems. The dual systems provide greater reliability and, in the case of the LFM's, permit the separation of spacecraft magnetic fields from the ambient fields. Additional reliability is achieved through electronics redundancy. The wide dynamic ranges of plus or minus 0.5G for the LFM's and plus or minus 20G for the HFM's, low quantization uncertainty of plus or minus 0.002 gamma in the most sensitive (plus or minus 8 gamma) LFM range, low sensor RMS noise level of 0.006 gamma, and use of data compaction schemes to optimize the experiment information rate all combine to permit the study of a broad spectrum of phenomena during the mission. Planetary fields at Jupiter, Saturn, and possibly Uranus; satellites of these planets; solar wind and satellite interactions with the planetary fields; and the large-scale structure and microscale characteristics of the interplanetary magnetic field are studied. The interstellar field may also be measured.

Testing Modified Gravity Theories via Wide Binaries and GAIA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pittordis, Charalambos; Sutherland, Will

2018-06-01

The standard ΛCDM model based on General Relativity (GR) including cold dark matter (CDM) is very successful at fitting cosmological observations, but recent non-detections of candidate dark matter (DM) particles mean that various modified-gravity theories remain of significant interest. The latter generally involve modifications to GR below a critical acceleration scale ˜10-10 m s-2. Wide-binary (WB) star systems with separations ≳ 5 kAU provide an interesting test for modified gravity, due to being in or near the low-acceleration regime and presumably containing negligible DM. Here, we explore the prospects for new observations pending from the GAIA spacecraft to provide tests of GR against MOND or TeVes-like theories in a regime only partially explored to date. In particular, we find that a histogram of (3D) binary relative velocities, relative to equilibrium circular velocity predicted from the (2D) projected separation predicts a rather sharp feature in this distribution for standard gravity, with an 80th (90th) percentile value close to 1.025 (1.14) with rather weak dependence on the eccentricity distribution. However, MOND/TeVeS theories produce a shifted distribution, with a significant increase in these upper percentiles. In MOND-like theories without an external field effect, there are large shifts of order unity. With the external field effect included, the shifts are considerably reduced to ˜0.04 - 0.08, but are still potentially detectable statistically given reasonably large samples and good control of contaminants. In principle, followup of GAIA-selected wide binaries with ground-based radial velocities accurate to ≲ 0.03 { km s^{-1}} should be able to produce an interesting new constraint on modified-gravity theories.

One-dimension modeling on the parallel-plate ion extraction process based on a non-electron-equilibrium fluid model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, He-Ping; Chen, Jian; Guo, Heng; Jiang, Dong-Jun; Zhou, Ming-Sheng; Department of Engineering Physics Team

2017-10-01

Ion extraction from a plasma under an externally applied electric field involve multi-particle and multi-field interactions, and has wide applications in the fields of materials processing, etching, chemical analysis, etc. In order to develop the high-efficiency ion extraction methods, it is indispensable to establish a feasible model to understand the non-equilibrium transportation processes of the charged particles and the evolutions of the space charge sheath during the extraction process. Most of the previous studies on the ion extraction process are mainly based on the electron-equilibrium fluid model, which assumed that the electrons are in the thermodynamic equilibrium state. However, it may lead to some confusions with neglecting the electron movement during the sheath formation process. In this study, a non-electron-equilibrium model is established to describe the transportation of the charged particles in a parallel-plate ion extraction process. The numerical results show that the formation of the Child-Langmuir sheath is mainly caused by the charge separation. And thus, the sheath shielding effect will be significantly weakened if the charge separation is suppressed during the extraction process of the charged particles.

Linear response of field-aligned currents to the interplanetary electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weimer, D. R.; Edwards, T. R.; Olsen, Nils

2017-08-01

Many studies that have shown that the ionospheric, polar cap electric potentials (PCEPs) exhibit a "saturation" behavior in response to the level of the driving by the solar wind. As the magnitudes of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and electric field (IEF) increase, the PCEP response is linear at low driving levels, followed with a rollover to a more constant level. While there are several different theoretical explanations for this behavior, so far, no direct observational evidence has existed to confirm any particular model. In most models of this saturation, the interaction of the field-aligned currents (FACs) with the solar wind/magnetosphere/ionosphere system has a role. As the FACs are more difficult to measure, their behavior in response to the level of the IEF has not been investigated as thoroughly. In order to resolve the question of whether or not the FAC also exhibit saturation, we have processed the magnetic field measurements from the Ørsted, CHAMP, and Swarm missions, spanning more than a decade. As the amount of current in each region needs to be known, a new technique is used to separate and sum the current by region, widely known as R0, R1, and R2. These totals are found separately for the dawnside and duskside. Results indicate that the total FAC has a response to the IEF that is highly linear, continuing to increase well beyond the level at which the electric potentials saturate. The currents within each region have similar behavior.

Micromagnetic Architectures for On-chip Microparticle Transport

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ouk, Minae; Beach, Geoffrey S. D.

2015-03-01

Superparamagnetic microbeads (SBs) are widely used to capture and manipulate biological entities in a fluid environment. Chip-based magnetic actuation provides a means to transport SBs in lab-on-a-chip devices. This is usually accomplished using the stray field from patterned magnetic microstructures, or domain walls in magnetic nanowires. Magnetic anti-dot arrays are particularly attractive due to the high-gradient stray fields from their partial domain wall structures. Here we use a self-assembly method to create magnetic anti-dot arrays in Co films, and describe the motion of SBs across the surface by a rotating field. We find a critical field-rotation frequency beyond which bead motion ceases and a critical threshold for both the in-plane and out-of-plane field components that must be exceeded for bead motion to occur. We show that these field thresholds are bead size dependent, and can thus be used to digitally separate magnetic beads in multi-bead populations. Hence these large-area structures can be used to combine long distance transport with novel functionalities.

Aluminum/ammonia heat pipe gas generation and long term system impact for the Space Telescope's Wide Field Planetary Camera

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, J. A.

1983-01-01

In the Space Telescope's Wide Field Planetary Camera (WFPC) project, eight heat pipes (HPs) are used to remove heat from the camera's inner electronic sensors to the spacecraft's outer, cold radiator surface. For proper device functioning and maximization of the signal-to-noise ratios, the Charge Coupled Devices (CCD's) must be maintained at -95 C or lower. Thermoelectric coolers (TEC's) cool the CCD's, and heat pipes deliver each TEC's nominal six to eight watts of heat to the space radiator, which reaches an equilibrium temperature between -15 C to -70 C. An initial problem was related to the difficulty to produce gas-free aluminum/ammonia heat pipes. An investigation was, therefore, conducted to determine the cause of the gas generation and the impact of this gas on CCD cooling. In order to study the effect of gas slugs in the WFPC system, a separate HP was made. Attention is given to fabrication, testing, and heat pipe gas generation chemistry studies.

STELLA: 10 years of robotic observations on Tenerife

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weber, Michael; Granzer, Thomas; Strassmeier, Klaus G.

2016-07-01

STELLA is a robotic observatory on Tenerife housing two 1.2m robotic telescopes. One telescope is fibre-feeding a high-resolution (R=55,000) échelle spectrograph (SES), while the other telescope is equipped with a visible wide- field (FOV=22' x 22') imaging instrument (WiFSIP). Robotic observations started mid 2006, and the primary scientific driver is monitoring of stellar-activity related phenomena. The STELLA Control System (SCS) software package was originally tailored to the STELLA roll-off style building and high-resolution spectroscopy, but was extended over the years to support the wide-field imager, an off-axis guider for the imager, separate acquisition telescopes, classical domes, and targets-of-opportunity. The SCS allows for unattended, off-line operation of the observatory, targets can be uploaded at any time and are selected based on merit-functions in real-time (dispatch scheduling). We report on the current status of the observatory and the current capabilities of the SCS.

Design tradeoffs for a Multispectral Linear Array (MLA) instrument

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mika, A. M.

1982-01-01

The heart of the multispectral linear array (MLA) design problem is to develop an instrument concept which concurrently provides a wide field-of-view with high resolution, spectral separation with precise band-to band registration, and excellent radiometric accuracy. Often, these requirements have conflicting design implications which can only be resolved by careful tradeoffs that consider performance, cost, fabrication feasibility and development risk. The key design tradeoffs for an MLA instrument are addressed, and elements of a baseline instrument concept are presented.

Free-Electron Laser (FEL) Utilization in Space Applications (Ship-Borne Pointing Accuracy, Deep-Space Communications, and Orbital Debris Tracking)

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-12-01

Network STK Satellite Tool Kit WFOV Wide-Field-of-View xv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to first and foremost thank the Lord, Jesus Christ, our...frequencies in FSK is easily visualized . Table 5.1 details the phase difference between each state as the number of represented states is increased...assist in visualizing the phase separation when adding additional phases to the system. Each of the rows from Table 5.1 is displayed in Figure 5.10

Engineered magnetic nanoparticles for biomedical applications.

PubMed

Canfarotta, Francesco; Piletsky, Sergey A

2014-02-01

In the past decades, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been used in wide range of diverse applications, ranging from separation to sensing. Here, synthesis and applications of functionalized MNPs in the biomedical field are discussed, in particular in drug delivery, imaging, and cancer therapy, highlighting also recent progresses in the development of multifunctional and stimuli-responsive MNPs. The role of their size, composition, and surface functionalization is analyzed, together with their biocompatibility issues. Copyright © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

New Worlds Observer Telescope and Instrument Optical Design Concepts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Howard, Joseph M.; Noecker, Charlie; Kendrick, Steve; Woodgate, Bruce; Kilstron, Steve; Cash, Webster

2008-01-01

Optical design concepts for the telescope and instrumentation for NASA s New Worlds Observer program are presented. A four-meter multiple channel telescope is discussed, as well as a suite of science instrument concepts. Wide field instrumentation (imager and spectrograph) would be accommodated by a three-mirror-anastigmat telescope design. Planet finding and characterization, and a UV instrument would use a separate channel that is picked off after the first two mirrors (primary and secondary). Guiding concepts are also discussed.

ENDOR-Induced EPR of Disordered Systems: Application to X-Irradiated Alanine.

PubMed

Kusakovskij, Jevgenij; Maes, Kwinten; Callens, Freddy; Vrielinck, Henk

2018-02-15

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of radiation-induced radicals in organic solids are generally composed of multiple components that largely overlap due to their similar weak g anisotropy and a large number of hyperfine (HF) interactions. Such properties make these systems difficult to study using standard cw EPR spectroscopy even in single crystals. Electron-nuclear double-resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy is a powerful and widely used complementary technique. In particular, ENDOR-induced EPR (EIE) experiments are useful for separating the overlapping contributions. In the present work, these techniques were employed to study the EPR spectrum of stable radicals in X-irradiated alanine, which is widely used in dosimetric applications. The principal values of all major proton HF interactions of the dominant radicals were determined by analyzing the magnetic field dependence of the ENDOR spectrum at 50 K, where the rotation of methyl groups is frozen. Accurate simulations of the EPR spectrum were performed after the major components were separated using an EIE analysis. As a result, new evidence in favor of the model of the second dominant radical was obtained.

Holographic elements and curved slit used to enlarge field of view in rocket detection system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Breton, Mélanie; Fortin, Jean; Lessard, Roger A.; Châteauneuf, Marc

2006-09-01

Rocket detection over a wide field of view is an important issue in the protection of light armored vehicle. Traditionally, the detection occurs in UV band, but recent studies have shown the existence of significant emission peaks in the visible and near infrared at rocket launch time. The use of the visible region is interesting in order to reduce the weight and cost of systems. Current methods to detect those specific peaks involve use of interferometric filters. However, they fail to combine wide angle with wavelength selectivity. A linear array of volume holographic elements combined with a curved exit slit is proposed for the development of a wide field of view sensor for the detection of solid propellant motor launch flash. The sensor is envisaged to trigger an active protection system. On the basis of geometric theory, a system has been designed. It consists of a collector, a linear array of holographic elements, a curved slit and a detector. The collector is an off-axis parabolic mirror. Holographic elements are recorded subdividing a hologram film in regions, each individually exposed with a different incidence angle. All regions have a common diffraction angle. The incident angle determines the instantaneous field of view of the elements. The volume hologram performs the function of separating and focusing the diffracted beam on an image plane to achieve wavelength filtering. Conical diffraction property is used to enlarge the field of view in elevation. A curved slit was designed to correspond to oblique incidence of the holographic linear array. It is situated at the image plane and filters the diffracted spectrum toward the sensor. The field of view of the design was calculated to be 34 degrees. This was validated by a prototype tested during a field trial. Results are presented and analyzed. The system succeeded in detecting the rocket launch flash at desired fields of view.

Strong vortex core pinning and Barkhausen-free magnetization response in thin Permalloy disks induced by implantation of 1 × 10{sup 4} Ga{sup +} ions

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

Fani Sani, F., E-mail: fanisani@ualberta.ca, E-mail: mark.freeman@ualberta.ca; Losby, J. E.; Diao, Z.

2014-05-07

Artificial vortex core pinning sites are induced in thin Permalloy disks by point exposure to as few as 10 000 ions from a focused Ga{sup +} beam. These pinning sites yield a first-order change in the magnetization response of the disk. A single site can keep the vortex core pinned over an applied field range comparable to the vortex annihilation field of the unaltered disk. Several widely separated sites can work together to keep the core pinned in one place, while the Barkhausen effect is eliminated from the magnetization curve over a range approaching the saturation moment of the disk.

Problems with small area surveys: lensing covariance of supernova distance measurements.

PubMed

Cooray, Asantha; Huterer, Dragan; Holz, Daniel E

2006-01-20

While luminosity distances from type Ia supernovae (SNe) are a powerful probe of cosmology, the accuracy with which these distances can be measured is limited by cosmic magnification due to gravitational lensing by the intervening large-scale structure. Spatial clustering of foreground mass leads to correlated errors in SNe distances. By including the full covariance matrix of SNe, we show that future wide-field surveys will remain largely unaffected by lensing correlations. However, "pencil beam" surveys, and those with narrow (but possibly long) fields of view, can be strongly affected. For a survey with 30 arcmin mean separation between SNe, lensing covariance leads to a approximately 45% increase in the expected errors in dark energy parameters.

Chapter A7. Biological Indicators

USGS Publications Warehouse

Myers, Donna N.; Wilde, Franceska D.

2003-01-01

The National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data (National Field Manual) provides guidelines and standard procedures for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) personnel who collect data used to assess the quality of the Nation's surface-water and ground-water resources. This chapter of the manual includes procedures for the (1) determination of biochemical oxygen demand using a 5-day bioassay test; (2) collection, identification, and enumeration of fecal indicator bacteria; (3) collection of samples and information on two laboratory methods for fecal indicator viruses (coliphages); and (4) collection of samples for protozoan pathogens. Each chapter of the National Field Manual is published separately and revised periodically. Newly published and revised chapters are posted on the World Wide Web on the USGS page 'National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data.' The URL for this page is http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/twri9A/ (accessed November 25, 2003).

Modification of the coil-stretch transition by confinement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doyle, Patick; Tang, Jing; Jones, Jeremy

2010-03-01

Large double stranded DNA are both a powerful system to study polymer dynamics at the single molecule level and also important molecules for genomic applications. While homogenous electric fields are routinely used to separate DNA in gels, DNA deformation in more complex fields has been less widely studied. We will demonstrate how micro/nanofluidic devices allow for the generation of electric fields with well-defined kinematics for trapping, stretching and then watching DNA relax back to equilibrium. The dimensions of the devices highly confine DNA and subsequently change both their conformation and dynamics. We will show how these confinements effects change the coil-stretch transition of a DNA being electrophoretically stretched in a purely elongational electrical field. We experimentally show that a two-stage coil stretch transition occurs and develop a simple dumbbell model which captures most of the relevant physics. We trace the origin of this phenomena to the modification of the effective spring law due to confinement.

Meristem micropropagation of cassava (Manihot esculenta) evokes genome-wide changes in DNA methylation.

PubMed

Kitimu, Shedrack R; Taylor, Julian; March, Timothy J; Tairo, Fred; Wilkinson, Mike J; Rodríguez López, Carlos M

2015-01-01

There is great interest in the phenotypic, genetic and epigenetic changes associated with plant in vitro culture known as somaclonal variation. In vitro propagation systems that are based on the use of microcuttings or meristem cultures are considered analogous to clonal cuttings and so widely viewed to be largely free from such somaclonal effects. In this study, we surveyed for epigenetic changes during propagation by meristem culture and by field cuttings in five cassava (Manihot esculenta) cultivars. Principal Co-ordinate Analysis of profiles generated by methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism revealed clear divergence between samples taken from field-grown cuttings and those recovered from meristem culture. There was also good separation between the tissues of field samples but this effect was less distinct among the meristem culture materials. Application of methylation-sensitive Genotype by sequencing identified 105 candidate epimarks that distinguish between field cutting and meristem culture samples. Cross referencing the sequences of these epimarks to the draft cassava genome revealed 102 sites associated with genes whose homologs have been implicated in a range of fundamental biological processes including cell differentiation, development, sugar metabolism, DNA methylation, stress response, photosynthesis, and transposon activation. We explore the relevance of these findings for the selection of micropropagation systems for use on this and other crops.

Meristem micropropagation of cassava (Manihot esculenta) evokes genome-wide changes in DNA methylation

PubMed Central

Kitimu, Shedrack R.; Taylor, Julian; March, Timothy J.; Tairo, Fred; Wilkinson, Mike J.; Rodríguez López, Carlos M.

2015-01-01

There is great interest in the phenotypic, genetic and epigenetic changes associated with plant in vitro culture known as somaclonal variation. In vitro propagation systems that are based on the use of microcuttings or meristem cultures are considered analogous to clonal cuttings and so widely viewed to be largely free from such somaclonal effects. In this study, we surveyed for epigenetic changes during propagation by meristem culture and by field cuttings in five cassava (Manihot esculenta) cultivars. Principal Co-ordinate Analysis of profiles generated by methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism revealed clear divergence between samples taken from field-grown cuttings and those recovered from meristem culture. There was also good separation between the tissues of field samples but this effect was less distinct among the meristem culture materials. Application of methylation-sensitive Genotype by sequencing identified 105 candidate epimarks that distinguish between field cutting and meristem culture samples. Cross referencing the sequences of these epimarks to the draft cassava genome revealed 102 sites associated with genes whose homologs have been implicated in a range of fundamental biological processes including cell differentiation, development, sugar metabolism, DNA methylation, stress response, photosynthesis, and transposon activation. We explore the relevance of these findings for the selection of micropropagation systems for use on this and other crops. PMID:26322052

Wide-field fluorescent microscopy on a cell-phone.

PubMed

Zhu, Hongying; Yaglidere, Oguzhan; Su, Ting-Wei; Tseng, Derek; Ozcan, Aydogan

2011-01-01

We demonstrate wide-field fluorescent imaging on a cell-phone, using compact and cost-effective optical components that are mechanically attached to the existing camera unit of the cell-phone. Battery powered light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are used to side-pump the sample of interest using butt-coupling. The pump light is guided within the sample cuvette to excite the specimen uniformly. The fluorescent emission from the sample is then imaged with an additional lens that is put in front of the existing lens of the cell-phone camera. Because the excitation occurs through guided waves that propagate perpendicular to the detection path, an inexpensive plastic color filter is sufficient to create the dark-field background needed for fluorescent imaging. The imaging performance of this light-weight platform (~28 grams) is characterized with red and green fluorescent microbeads, achieving an imaging field-of-view of ~81 mm(2) and a spatial resolution of ~10 μm, which is enhanced through digital processing of the captured cell-phone images using compressive sampling based sparse signal recovery. We demonstrate the performance of this cell-phone fluorescent microscope by imaging labeled white-blood cells separated from whole blood samples as well as water-borne pathogenic protozoan parasites such as Giardia Lamblia cysts.

InGaP Heterojunction Barrier Solar Cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Welser, Roger E. (Inventor)

2014-01-01

A new solar cell structure called a heterojunction barrier solar cell is described. As with previously reported quantum-well and quantum-dot solar cell structures, a layer of narrow band-gap material, such as GaAs or indium-rich InGaP, is inserted into the depletion region of a wide band-gap PN junction. Rather than being thin, however, the layer of narrow band-gap material is about 400-430 nm wide and forms a single, ultrawide well in the depletion region. Thin (e.g., 20-50 nm), wide band-gap InGaP barrier layers in the depletion region reduce the diode dark current. Engineering the electric field and barrier profile of the absorber layer, barrier layer, and p-type layer of the PN junction maximizes photogenerated carrier escape. This new twist on nanostructured solar cell design allows the separate optimization of current and voltage to maximize conversion efficiency.

Microchip Electrophoresis at Elevated Temperatures and High Separation Field Strengths

PubMed Central

Mitra, Indranil; Marczak, Steven P.; Jacobson, Stephen C.

2014-01-01

We report free-solution microchip electrophoresis performed at elevated temperatures and high separation field strengths. We used microfluidic devices with 11-cm long separation channels to conduct separations at temperatures between 22 (ambient) and 45 °C and field strengths from 100 to 1000 V/cm. To evaluate separation performance, N-glycans were used as a model system and labeled with 8-aminopyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid to impart charge for electrophoresis and render them fluorescent. Typically, increased diffusivity at higher temperatures leads to increased axial dispersion and poor separation performance; however, we demonstrate that sufficiently high separation field strengths can be used to offset the impact of increased diffusivity in order to maintain separation efficiency. Efficiencies for these free-solution separations are the same at temperatures of 25, 35, and 45 °C with separation field strengths ≥500 V/cm. PMID:24114979

Applications of ionic liquids in biphasic separation: Aqueous biphasic systems and liquid-liquid equilibria.

PubMed

Shukla, Shashi Kant; Pandey, Shubha; Pandey, Siddharth

2018-07-20

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been receiving much attention in many fields of analytical chemistry because of their various interesting properties which distinguish them from volatile organic compounds. They offer both directional and non-directional forces towards a solute molecule and therefore act as excellent solvents for a wide range of polar and non-polar compounds. Because of the presence of various possible interactions, ILs easily undergo biphasic separation with water and other less polar/non-polar organic solvents. Their ability to create biphasic splitting makes them a promising candidate for liquid-liquid separation processes, such as aqueous biphasic systems and liquid-liquid equilibria. Various aspects of ILs in these separation methods are discussed in view of the origin of physical forces responsible for the biphasic interactions, the effect of structural components, temperature, pressure, pH and additives. The specific advantages of using ILs in aqueous biphasic systems and liquid-liquid equilibria in binary and ternary systems are discussed with a view to defining their future role in separation processes by giving major emphasis on developing non-toxic ILs with physical and solution properties tailored to the needs of specific sample preparation techniques. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Micropower Mixed-signal VLSI Independent Component Analysis for Gradient Flow Acoustic Source Separation.

PubMed

Stanaćević, Milutin; Li, Shuo; Cauwenberghs, Gert

2016-07-01

A parallel micro-power mixed-signal VLSI implementation of independent component analysis (ICA) with reconfigurable outer-product learning rules is presented. With the gradient sensing of the acoustic field over a miniature microphone array as a pre-processing method, the proposed ICA implementation can separate and localize up to 3 sources in mild reverberant environment. The ICA processor is implemented in 0.5 µm CMOS technology and occupies 3 mm × 3 mm area. At 16 kHz sampling rate, ASIC consumes 195 µW power from a 3 V supply. The outer-product implementation of natural gradient and Herault-Jutten ICA update rules demonstrates comparable performance to benchmark FastICA algorithm in ideal conditions and more robust performance in noisy and reverberant environment. Experiments demonstrate perceptually clear separation and precise localization over wide range of separation angles of two speech sources presented through speakers positioned at 1.5 m from the array on a conference room table. The presented ASIC leads to a extreme small form factor and low power consumption microsystem for source separation and localization required in applications like intelligent hearing aids and wireless distributed acoustic sensor arrays.

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

Rosendahl, S., E-mail: rosendahl@wwu.de; Brown, E.; Fieguth, A.

The separation of krypton and xenon is of particular importance for the field of direct dark matter search with liquid xenon detectors. The intrinsic contamination of the xenon with radioactive {sup 85}Kr makes a significant background for these kinds of low count-rate experiments and has to be removed beforehand. This can be achieved by cryogenic distillation, a technique widely used in industry, using the different vapor pressures of krypton and xenon. In this paper, we present an investigation on the separation performance of a single stage distillation system using a radioactive {sup 83m}Kr-tracer method. The separation characteristics under different operationmore » conditions are determined for very low concentrations of krypton in xenon at the level of {sup 83m}Kr/Xe = 1.9 ⋅ 10{sup −15}, demonstrating, that cryogenic distillation in this regime is working. The observed separation is in agreement with the expectation from the different volatilities of krypton and xenon. This cryogenic distillation station is the first step on the way to a multi-stage cryogenic distillation column for the next generation of direct dark matter experiment XENON1T.« less

Direct visualization of phase separation between superconducting and nematic domains in Co-doped CaFe2As2 close to a first-order phase transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fente, Antón; Correa-Orellana, Alexandre; Böhmer, Anna E.; Kreyssig, Andreas; Ran, S.; Bud'ko, Sergey L.; Canfield, Paul C.; Mompean, Federico J.; García-Hernández, Mar; Munuera, Carmen; Guillamón, Isabel; Suderow, Hermann

2018-01-01

We show that biaxial strain induces alternating tetragonal superconducting and orthorhombic nematic domains in Co-substituted CaFe2As2 . We use atomic force, magnetic force, and scanning tunneling microscopy to identify the domains and characterize their properties, finding in particular that tetragonal superconducting domains are very elongated, more than several tens of micrometers long and about 30 nm wide; have the same Tc as unstrained samples; and hold vortices in a magnetic field. Thus, biaxial strain produces a phase-separated state, where each phase is equivalent to what is found on either side of the first-order phase transition between antiferromagnetic orthorhombic and superconducting tetragonal phases found in unstrained samples when changing Co concentration. Having such alternating superconducting domains separated by normal conducting domains with sizes of the order of the coherence length opens opportunities to build Josephson junction networks or vortex pinning arrays and suggests that first-order quantum phase transitions lead to nanometric-size phase separation under the influence of strain.

Electrically Guided Assembly of Colloidal Particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ristenpart, W. D.; Aksay, I. A.; Saville, D. A.

2002-11-01

In earlier work it was shown that the strength and frequency of an applied electric field alters the dynamic arrangement of particles on an electrode. Two-dimensional 'gas,' 'liquid' and 'solid' arrangements were formed, depending on the field strength and frequency. Since the particles are similarly charged, yet migrate over large distances under the influence of steady or oscillatory fields, it is clear that both hydrodynamic and electrical processes are involved. Here we report on an extensive study of electrically induced ordering in a parallel electrode cell. First, we discuss the kinetics of aggregation in a DC field as measured using video microscopy and digital image analysis. Rate constants were determined as a function of applied electric field strength and particle zeta potential. The kinetic parameters are compared to models based on electrohydrodynamic and electroosmotic fluid flow mechanisms Second, using monodisperse micron-sized particles, we examined the average interparticle spacing over a wide range of applied frequencies and field strengths. Variation of these parameters allows formation of closely-spaced arrangements and ordered arrays of widely separated particles. We find that there is a strong dependence on frequency, but there is surprisingly little influence of the electric field strength past a small threshold. Last, we present experiments with binary suspensions of similarly sized particles with negative but unequal surface potentials. A long-range lateral attraction is observed in an AC field. Depending on the frequency, this attractive interaction results in a diverse set of aggregate morphologies, including superstructured hexagonal lattices. These results are discussed in terms of induced dipole-dipole interactions and electrohydrodynamic flow. Finally, we explore the implications for practical applications.

Highly sensitive protein detection using a plasmonic field effect transistor (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shokri-Kojori, Hossein; Ji, Yiwen; Han, Xu; Paik, Younghun; Braunschweig, Adam; Kim, Sung Jin

2016-03-01

Localized surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) is a nanoscale phenomenon which presents strong resonance associated with noble metal nanostructures. This plasmon resonance based technology enables highly sensitive detection for chemical and biological applications. Recently, we have developed a plasmon field effect transistor (FET) that enables direct plasmonic-to-electric signal conversion with signal amplification. The plasmon FET consists of back-gated field effect transistor incorporated with gold nanoparticles on top of the FET channel. The gold nanostructures are physically separated from transistor electrodes and can be functionalized for a specific biological application. In this presentation, we report a successful demonstration of a model system to detect Con A proteins using Carbohydrate linkers as a capture molecule. The plasmon FET detected a very low concentration of Con A (0.006 mg/L) while it offers a wide dynamic range of 0.006-50 mg/L. In this demonstration, we used two-color light sources instead of a bulky spectrometer to achieve high sensitivity and wide dynamic range. The details of two-color based differential measurement method will be discussed. This novel protein-based sensor has several advantages such as extremely small size for point-of-care system, multiplexing capability, no need of complex optical geometry.

Searching for Low-mass Companions of Cepheids, Part II

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Remage Evans, Nancy; Tingle, E.; Bond, H. E.; Schaefer, G. H.; Mason, B.; Karovska, M.; Wolk, S.; Pillitteri, I.; DePasquale, J.; Guinan, E.; Engle, S.

2012-01-01

The formation of a binary/multiple system is an effective way to manipulate angular momentum during the star-formation process. The properties of binary systems (separations and mass ratios) are thus the ``fingerprints" of the process. Low mass companions are the most difficult to identify particularly for massive stars. We are conducting a snapshot survey of the nearest Cepheids (5 Msun stars) using the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) to discover possible resolved low mass companions. The color-magnitude combination is the first approach to identifying probable physical companions. The distributions of mass and separation for these stars will be discussed. Financial suppoet was provided by Hubble grant GO-12215.01-A and the Chandra X-ray Center NASA contract NAS8-03060.

Recent progress of task-specific ionic liquids in chiral resolution and extraction of biological samples and metal ions.

PubMed

Wu, Datong; Cai, Pengfei; Zhao, Xiaoyong; Kong, Yong; Pan, Yuanjiang

2018-01-01

Ionic liquids have been functionalized for modern applications. The functional ionic liquids are also called task-specific ionic liquids. Various task-specific ionic liquids with certain groups have been constructed and exploited widely in the field of separation. To take advantage of their properties in separation science, task-specific ionic liquids are generally used in techniques such as liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction, gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and capillary electrophoresis. This review mainly covers original research papers published in the last five years, and we will focus on task-specific ionic liquids as the chiral selectors in chiral resolution and as extractant or sensor for biological samples and metal ion purification. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Wide Binaries in TGAS: Search Method and First Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrews, Jeff J.; Chanamé, Julio; Agüeros, Marcel A.

2018-04-01

Half of all stars reside in binary systems, many of which have orbital separations in excess of 1000 AU. Such binaries are typically identified in astrometric catalogs by matching the proper motions vectors of close stellar pairs. We present a fully Bayesian method that properly takes into account positions, proper motions, parallaxes, and their correlated uncertainties to identify widely separated stellar binaries. After applying our method to the >2 × 106 stars in the Tycho-Gaia astrometric solution from Gaia DR1, we identify over 6000 candidate wide binaries. For those pairs with separations less than 40,000 AU, we determine the contamination rate to be ~5%. This sample has an orbital separation (a) distribution that is roughly flat in log space for separations less than ~5000 AU and follows a power law of a -1.6 at larger separations.

A Novel Experimental Setup to Investigate Magnetized Dusty Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romero-Talamas, C. A.; Larocque, P.; Alvarez, J.; Sardin, J.

2013-10-01

Progress on the design and construction of a novel experimental setup to investigate dusty plasmas at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is presented. The setup includes separation adjustability of discharge electrodes and their orientation with respect to gravity without breaking vacuum, and a pair of water-cooled coils to produce magnetic fields with strengths of up to several Tesla. The coils' orientation is also designed to be adjustable with respect to gravity. A pulse-forming network to power the coils with flattop times of several seconds is under design. The setup is mounted inside a large glass bell jar to provide wide optical access to the dusty plasmas, and to minimize interference of chamber walls and mounts with imposed electric or magnetic fields. Planned experiments include crystallization and wave propagation under strong magnetic fields.

Chapter A5. Processing of Water Samples

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wilde, Franceska D.; Radtke, Dean B.; Gibs, Jacob; Iwatsubo, Rick T.

1999-01-01

The National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data (National Field Manual) describes protocols and provides guidelines for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) personnel who collect data used to assess the quality of the Nation's surface-water and ground-water resources. This chapter addresses methods to be used in processing water samples to be analyzed for inorganic and organic chemical substances, including the bottling of composite, pumped, and bailed samples and subsamples; sample filtration; solid-phase extraction for pesticide analyses; sample preservation; and sample handling and shipping. Each chapter of the National Field Manual is published separately and revised periodically. Newly published and revised chapters will be announced on the USGS Home Page on the World Wide Web under 'New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey.' The URL for this page is http:/ /water.usgs.gov/lookup/get?newpubs.

Mobile terawatt laser propagation facility (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shah, Lawrence; Roumayah, Patrick; Bodnar, Nathan; Bradford, Joshua D.; Maukonen, Douglas; Richardson, Martin C.

2017-03-01

This presentation will describe the design and construction status of a new mobile high-energy femtosecond laser systems producing 500 mJ, 100 fs pulses at 10 Hz. This facility is built into a shipping container and includes a cleanroom housing the laser system, a separate section for the beam director optics with a retractable roof, and the environmental control equipment necessary to maintain stable operation. The laser system includes several innovations to improve the utility of the system for "in field" experiments. For example, this system utilizes a fiber laser oscillator and a monolithic chirped Bragg grating stretcher to improve system robustness/size and employs software to enable remote monitoring and system control. Uniquely, this facility incorporates a precision motion-controlled gimbal altitude-azimuth mount with a coudé path to enable aiming of the beam over a wide field of view. In addition to providing the ability to precisely aim at multiple targets, it is also possible to coordinate the beam with separate tracking/diagnostic sensing equipment as well as other laser systems. This mobile platform will be deployed at the Townes Institute Science and Technology Experimental Facility (TISTEF) located at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, to utilize the 1-km secured laser propagation range and the wide array of meteorological instrumentation for atmospheric and turbulence characterization. This will provide significant new data on the propagation of high peak power ultrashort laser pulses and detailed information on the atmospheric conditions in a coastal semi-tropical environment.

The influence of an interface electric field on the distribution coefficient of chromium in LiNbO 3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uda, Satoshi; Tiller, William A.

1992-06-01

The effective solute partitioning of chromium was investigated on single crystals of LiNbO 3 grown by the laser-heated pedestal growth (LHPG) technique. Electric field effects at the interface influence this solute partitioning, leading to an electric field-dependent effective solute distribution coefficient, kE. The LHPG technique made it possible to explore these field effects by controllably changing the growth velocity ( V) and the temperature gradient ( GS, GL) near the interface over a wide range. The electric field generated via the temperature gradient is associated with the thermoelectric power while an additional electric field is growth rate associated via a charge separation effect. By applying the Burton-Prim-Slichter (BPS) theory to our experimental data, we found the phase diagram solute partition coefficient to be k0 ≈ 3.65, while the field-influenced solute partition coefficient ( V = 0) was k' EO ≈ 8.17 at GL ≈ 11500°C/cm. It is theoretically shown that the same considerations can be applied to all ionic partitioning at a solid-liquid interface.

DIELECTROPHORESIS-BASED MICROFLUIDIC SEPARATION AND DETECTION SYSTEMS

PubMed Central

Yang, Jun; Vykoukal, Jody; Noshari, Jamileh; Becker, Frederick; Gascoyne, Peter; Krulevitch, Peter; Fuller, Chris; Ackler, Harold; Hamilton, Julie; Boser, Bernhard; Eldredge, Adam; Hitchens, Duncan; Andrews, Craig

2009-01-01

Diagnosis and treatment of human diseases frequently requires isolation and detection of certain cell types from a complex mixture. Compared with traditional separation and detection techniques, microfluidic approaches promise to yield easy-to-use diagnostic instruments tolerant of a wide range of operating environments and capable of accomplishing automated analyses. These approaches will enable diagnostic advances to be disseminated from sophisticated clinical laboratories to the point-of-care. Applications will include the separation and differential analysis of blood cell subpopulations for host-based detection of blood cell changes caused by disease, infection, or exposure to toxins, and the separation and analysis of surface-sensitized, custom dielectric beads for chemical, biological, and biomolecular targets. Here we report a new particle separation and analysis microsystem that uses dielectrophoretic field-flow fractionation (DEP-FFF). The system consists of a microfluidic chip with integrated sample injector, a DEP-FFF separator, and an AC impedance sensor. We show the design of a miniaturized impedance sensor integrated circuit (IC) with improved sensitivity, a new packaging approach for micro-flumes that features a slide-together compression package and novel microfluidic interconnects, and the design, control, integration and packaging of a fieldable prototype. Illustrative applications will be shown, including the separation of different sized beads and different cell types, blood cell differential analysis, and impedance sensing results for beads, spores and cells. PMID:22025905

Comoving Stars in Gaia DR1: An Abundance of Very Wide Separation Comoving Pairs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oh, Semyeong; Price-Whelan, Adrian M.; Hogg, David W.; Morton, Timothy D.; Spergel, David N.

2017-06-01

The primary sample of the Gaia Data Release 1 is the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS): ≈2 million Tycho-2 sources with improved parallaxes and proper motions relative to the initial catalog. This increased astrometric precision presents an opportunity to find new binary stars and moving groups. We search for high-confidence comoving pairs of stars in TGAS by identifying pairs of stars consistent with having the same 3D velocity using a marginalized likelihood ratio test to discriminate candidate comoving pairs from the field population. Although we perform some visualizations using (bias-corrected) inverse parallax as a point estimate of distance, the likelihood ratio is computed with a probabilistic model that includes the covariances of parallax and proper motions and marginalizes the (unknown) true distances and 3D velocities of the stars. We find 13,085 comoving star pairs among 10,606 unique stars with separations as large as 10 pc (our search limit). Some of these pairs form larger groups through mutual comoving neighbors: many of these pair networks correspond to known open clusters and OB associations, but we also report the discovery of several new comoving groups. Most surprisingly, we find a large number of very wide (> 1 pc) separation comoving star pairs, the number of which increases with increasing separation and cannot be explained purely by false-positive contamination. Our key result is a catalog of high-confidence comoving pairs of stars in TGAS. We discuss the utility of this catalog for making dynamical inferences about the Galaxy, testing stellar atmosphere models, and validating chemical abundance measurements.

Modeling analysis of pulsed magnetization process of magnetic core based on inverse Jiles-Atherton model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yi; Zhang, He; Liu, Siwei; Lin, Fuchang

2018-05-01

The J-A (Jiles-Atherton) model is widely used to describe the magnetization characteristics of magnetic cores in a low-frequency alternating field. However, this model is deficient in the quantitative analysis of the eddy current loss and residual loss in a high-frequency magnetic field. Based on the decomposition of magnetization intensity, an inverse J-A model is established which uses magnetic flux density B as an input variable. Static and dynamic core losses under high frequency excitation are separated based on the inverse J-A model. Optimized parameters of the inverse J-A model are obtained based on particle swarm optimization. The platform for the pulsed magnetization characteristic test is designed and constructed. The hysteresis curves of ferrite and Fe-based nanocrystalline cores at high magnetization rates are measured. The simulated and measured hysteresis curves are presented and compared. It is found that the inverse J-A model can be used to describe the magnetization characteristics at high magnetization rates and to separate the static loss and dynamic loss accurately.

Ionic liquid technology to recover volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

PubMed

Salar-García, M J; Ortiz-Martínez, V M; Hernández-Fernández, F J; de Los Ríos, A P; Quesada-Medina, J

2017-01-05

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) comprise a wide variety of carbon-based materials which are volatile at relatively low temperatures. Most of VOCs pose a hazard to both human health and the environment. For this reason, in the last years, big efforts have been made to develop efficient techniques for the recovery of VOCs produced from industry. The use of ionic liquids (ILs) is among the most promising separation technologies in this field. This article offers a critical overview on the use of ionic liquids for the separation of VOCs both in bulk and in immobilized form. It covers the most relevant works within this field and provides a global outlook on the limitations and future prospects of this technology. The extraction processes of VOCs by using different IL-based assemblies are described in detail and compared with conventional methods This review also underlines the advantages and limitations posed by ionic liquids according to the nature of the cation and the anions present in their structure and the stability of the membrane configurations in which ILs are used as liquid phase. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Trying to detect gas-phase ions? Understanding Ion Mobility Spectrometry

PubMed Central

Cumeras, R.; Figueras, E.; Davis, C.E.; Baumbach, J.I.; Gràcia, I.

2014-01-01

Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) is a widely used and ‘well-known’ technique of ion separation in gaseous phase based on the differences of ion mobilities under an electric field. This technique has received increased interest over the last several decades as evidenced by the pace and advances of new IMS devices available. In this review we explore the hyphenated techniques that are used with IMS, especially mass spectrometry as identification approach and multi-capillary column as pre-separation approach. Also, we will pay special attention to the key figures of merit of the ion mobility spectrum and how data is treated, and the influences of the experimental parameters in both a conventional drift time IMS (DTIMS) and a miniaturized IMS also known as high Field Asymmetric IMS (FAIMS) in the planar configuration. The current review article is preceded by a companion review article which details the current instrumentation and to the sections that configures both a conventional DTIMS and FAIMS devices. Those reviews will give the reader an insightful view of the main characteristics and aspects of the IMS technique. PMID:25465248

Proteomic analysis of exosomes from human neural stem cells by flow field-flow fractionation and nanoflow liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Kang, Dukjin; Oh, Sunok; Ahn, Sung-Min; Lee, Bong-Hee; Moon, Myeong Hee

2008-08-01

Exosomes, small membrane vesicles secreted by a multitude of cell types, are involved in a wide range of physiological roles such as intercellular communication, membrane exchange between cells, and degradation as an alternative to lysosomes. Because of the small size of exosomes (30-100 nm) and the limitations of common separation procedures including ultracentrifugation and flow cytometry, size-based fractionation of exosomes has been challenging. In this study, we used flow field-flow fractionation (FlFFF) to fractionate exosomes according to differences in hydrodynamic diameter. The exosome fractions collected from FlFFF runs were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to morphologically confirm their identification as exosomes. Exosomal lysates of each fraction were digested and analyzed using nanoflow LC-ESI-MS-MS for protein identification. FIFFF, coupled with mass spectrometry, allows nanoscale size-based fractionation of exosomes and is more applicable to primary cells and stem cells since it requires much less starting material than conventional gel-based separation, in-gel digestion and the MS-MS method.

High-Speed PLIF Imaging of Hypersonic Transition over Discrete Cylindrical Roughness

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Danehy, P. M.; Ivey, C. B.; Inman, J. A.; Bathel, B. F.; Jones, S. B.; McCrea, A. C.; Jiang, N.; Webster, M.; Lempert, W.; Miller, J.;

Control of flow separation and mixing by aerodynamic excitation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rice, Edward J.; Abbott, John M.

1990-01-01

The recent research in the control of shear flows using unsteady aerodynamic excitation conducted at the NASA Lewis Research Center is reviewed. The program is of a fundamental nature, concentrating on the physics of the unsteady aerodynamic processes. This field of research is a fairly new development with great promise in the areas of enhanced mixing and flow separation control. Enhanced mixing research includes influence of core turbulence, forced pairing of coherent structures, and saturation of mixing enhancement. Separation flow control studies included are for a two-dimensional diffuser, conical diffusers, and single airfoils. Ultimate applications include aircraft engine inlet flow control at high angle of attack, wide angle diffusers, highly loaded airfoils as in turbomachinery, and ejector/suppressor nozzles for the supersonic transport. An argument involving the Coanda Effect is made that all of the above mentioned application areas really only involve forms of shear layer mixing enhancement. The program also includes the development of practical excitation devices which might be used in aircraft applications.

On the Active and Passive Flow Separation Control Techniques over Airfoils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moghaddam, Tohid; Banazadeh Neishabouri, Nafiseh

2017-10-01

In the present work, recent advances in the field of the active and passive flow separation control, particularly blowing and suction flow control techniques, applied on the common airfoils are briefly reviewed. This broad research area has remained the point of interest for many years as it is applicable to various applications. The suction and blowing flow control methods, among other methods, are more technically feasible and market ready techniques. It is well established that the uniform and/or oscillatory blowing and suction flow control mechanisms significantly improve the lift-to-drag ratio, and further, postpone the boundary layer separation as well as the stall. The oscillatory blowing and suction flow control, however, is more efficient compared to the uniform one. A wide range of parameters is involved in controlling the behavior of a blowing and/or suction flow control, including the location, length, and angle of the jet slots. The oscillation range of the jet slot is another substantial parameter.

Optical response tuning in nanorod-on-semicontinous film systems: A computational study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mokkath, Junais Habeeb

2018-01-01

Strongly confined and intense optical fields within the plasmonic metal nanocavities show outstanding potential for a wide range of functionalities in nanophotonics. Using time dependent density functional theory calculations, we investigate the optical response evolution as a function of the gap separation distances in nanorod-on-film systems comprised of a nanorod (NR) made of Al or Na on top of an Al film. Huge optical field modulations emerged in the chemically distinct Na NR - Al film system in comparison to the Al NR - Al film system, indicating the vital role of metals involved. We further study the optical response modifications by placing a conducting molecule in the gap region, finding strong spectral modulations via through-molecule electron tunneling.

Phase control of spin waves based on a magnetic defect in a one-dimensional magnonic crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baumgaertl, Korbinian; Watanabe, Sho; Grundler, Dirk

2018-04-01

Magnonic crystals are interesting for spin-wave based data processing. We investigate one-dimensional magnonic crystals (1D MCs) consisting of bistable Co 20 Fe 60 B 20 nanostripes separated by 75 nm wide air gaps. By adjusting the magnetic history, we program a single stripe of opposed magnetization in an otherwise saturated 1D MC. Its influence on propagating spin waves is studied via broadband microwave spectroscopy. Depending on an in-plane bias magnetic field, we observe spin wave phase shifts of up to almost π and field-controlled attenuation attributed to the reversed nanostripe. Our findings are of importance for magnetologics, where the control of spin wave phases is essential.

A common evolutionary origin for the ON- and OFF-edge motion detection pathways of the Drosophila visual system

PubMed Central

Shinomiya, Kazunori; Takemura, Shin-ya; Rivlin, Patricia K.; Plaza, Stephen M.; Scheffer, Louis K.; Meinertzhagen, Ian A.

2015-01-01

Synaptic circuits for identified behaviors in the Drosophila brain have typically been considered from either a developmental or functional perspective without reference to how the circuits might have been inherited from ancestral forms. For example, two candidate pathways for ON- and OFF-edge motion detection in the visual system act via circuits that use respectively either T4 or T5, two cell types of the fourth neuropil, or lobula plate (LOP), that exhibit narrow-field direction-selective responses and provide input to wide-field tangential neurons. T4 or T5 both have four subtypes that terminate one each in the four strata of the LOP. Representatives are reported in a wide range of Diptera, and both cell types exhibit various similarities in: (1) the morphology of their dendritic arbors; (2) their four morphological and functional subtypes; (3) their cholinergic profile in Drosophila; (4) their input from the pathways of L3 cells in the first neuropil, or lamina (LA), and by one of a pair of LA cells, L1 (to the T4 pathway) and L2 (to the T5 pathway); and (5) their innervation by a single, wide-field contralateral tangential neuron from the central brain. Progenitors of both also express the gene atonal early in their proliferation from the inner anlage of the developing optic lobe, being alone among many other cell type progeny to do so. Yet T4 receives input in the second neuropil, or medulla (ME), and T5 in the third neuropil or lobula (LO). Here we suggest that these two cell types were originally one, that their ancestral cell population duplicated and split to innervate separate ME and LO neuropils, and that a fiber crossing—the internal chiasma—arose between the two neuropils. The split most plausibly occurred, we suggest, with the formation of the LO as a new neuropil that formed when it separated from its ancestral neuropil to leave the ME, suggesting additionally that ME input neurons to T4 and T5 may also have had a common origin. PMID:26217193

An Interlaboratory Evaluation of Drift Tube Ion Mobility–Mass Spectrometry Collision Cross Section Measurements

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

Stow, Sarah M.; Causon, Tim J.; Zheng, Xueyun

Collision cross section (CCS) measurements resulting from ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) experiments provide a promising orthogonal dimension of structural information in MS-based analytical separations. As with any molecular identifier, interlaboratory standardization must precede broad range integration into analytical workflows. In this study, we present a reference drift tube ion mobility mass spectrometer (DTIM-MS) where improvements on the measurement accuracy of experimental parameters influencing IM separations provide standardized drift tube, nitrogen CCS values (DTCCSN2) for over 120 unique ion species with the lowest measurement uncertainty to date. The reproducibility of these DTCCSN2 values are evaluated across three additional laboratories on amore » commercially available DTIM-MS instrument. The traditional stepped field CCS method performs with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.29% for all ion species across the three additional laboratories. The calibrated single field CCS method, which is compatible with a wide range of chromatographic inlet systems, performs with an average, absolute bias of 0.54% to the standardized stepped field DTCCSN2 values on the reference system. The low RSD and biases observed in this interlaboratory study illustrate the potential of DTIM-MS for providing a molecular identifier for a broad range of discovery based analyses.« less

The formation of high-mass binary star systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lund, Kristin; Bonnell, Ian A.

2018-06-01

We develop a semi-analytic model to investigate how accretion onto wide low-mass binary stars can result in a close high-mass binary system. The key ingredient is to allow mass accretion while limiting the gain in angular momentum. We envision this process as being regulated by an external magnetic field during infall. Molecular clouds are made to collapse spherically with material either accreting onto the stars or settling in a disk. Our aim is to determine what initial conditions are needed for the resulting binary to be both massive and close. Whether material accretes, and what happens to the binary separation as a result, depends on the relative size of its specific angular momentum, compared to the specific angular momentum of the binary. When we add a magnetic field we are introducing a torque to the system which is capable of stripping the molecular cloud of some of its angular momentum, and consequently easing the formation of high-mass binaries. Our results suggest that clouds in excess of 1000 M⊙ and radii of 0.5 pc or larger, can easily form binary systems with masses in excess of 25 M⊙ and separations of order 10 R⊙ with magnetic fields of order 100 μG (mass-to-flux ratios of order 5).

Photophoretic velocimetry for the characterization of aerosols.

PubMed

Haisch, Christoph; Kykal, Carsten; Niessner, Reinhard

2008-03-01

Aerosols are particles in a size range from some nanometers to some micrometers suspended in air or other gases. Their relevance varies as wide as their origin and composition. In the earth's atmosphere they influence the global radiation balance and human health. Artificially produced aerosols are applied, e.g., for drug administration, as paint and print pigments, or in rubber tire production. In all these fields, an exact characterization of single particles as well as of the particle ensemble is essential. Beyond characterization, continuous separation is often required. State-of-the-art separation techniques are based on electrical, thermal, or flow fields. In this work we present an approach to apply light in the form of photophoretic (PP) forces for characterization and separation of aerosol particles according to their optical properties. Such separation technique would allow, e.g., the separation of organic from inorganic particles of the same aerodynamic size. We present a system which automatically records velocities induced by PP forces and does a statistical evaluation in order to characterize the particle ensemble properties. The experimental system essentially consists of a flow cell with rectangular cross section (1 cm(2), length 7 cm), where the aerosol stream is pumped through in the vertical direction at ambient pressure. In the cell, a laser beam is directed orthogonally to the particle flow direction, which results in a lateral displacement of the particles. In an alternative configuration, the beam is directed in the opposite direction to the aerosol flow; hence, the particles are slowed down by the PP force. In any case, the photophoretically induced variations of speed and position are visualized by a second laser illumination and a camera system, feeding a mathematical particle tracking algorithm. The light source inducing the PP force is a diode laser (lambda = 806 nm, P = 0.5 W).

Improving chemical shift encoding‐based water–fat separation based on a detailed consideration of magnetic field contributions

PubMed Central

Ruschke, Stefan; Eggers, Holger; Meineke, Jakob; Rummeny, Ernst J.; Karampinos, Dimitrios C.

2018-01-01

Purpose To improve the robustness of existing chemical shift encoding‐based water–fat separation methods by incorporating a priori information of the magnetic field distortions in complex‐based water–fat separation. Methods Four major field contributions are considered: inhomogeneities of the scanner magnet, the shim field, an object‐based field map estimate, and a residual field. The former two are completely determined by spherical harmonic expansion coefficients directly available from the magnetic resonance (MR) scanner. The object‐based field map is forward simulated from air–tissue interfaces inside the field of view (FOV). The missing residual field originates from the object outside the FOV and is investigated by magnetic field simulations on a numerical whole body phantom. In vivo the spatially linear first‐order component of the residual field is estimated by measuring echo misalignments after demodulation of other field contributions resulting in a linear residual field. Gradient echo datasets of the cervical and the ankle region without and with shimming were acquired, where all four contributions were incorporated in the water–fat separation with two algorithms from the ISMRM water–fat toolbox and compared to water–fat separation with less incorporated field contributions. Results Incorporating all four field contributions as demodulation steps resulted in reduced temporal and spatial phase wraps leading to almost swap‐free water–fat separation results in all datasets. Conclusion Demodulating estimates of major field contributions reduces the phase evolution to be driven by only small differences in local tissue susceptibility, which supports the field smoothness assumption of existing water–fat separation techniques. PMID:29424458

Lab-on-fiber electrophoretic trace mixture separating and detecting an optofluidic device based on a microstructured optical fiber.

PubMed

Yang, Xinghua; Guo, Xiaohui; Li, Song; Kong, Depeng; Liu, Zhihai; Yang, Jun; Yuan, Libo

2016-04-15

We report an in-fiber integrated electrophoretic trace mixture separating and detecting an optofluidic optical fiber sensor based on a specially designed optical fiber. In this design, rapid in situ separation and simultaneous detection of mixed analytes can be realized under electro-osmotic flow in the microstructured optical fiber. To visually display the in-fiber separating and detecting process, two common fluorescent indicators are adopted as the optofluidic analytes in the optical fiber. Results show that a trace amount of the mixture (0.15 μL) can be completely separated within 3.5 min under a high voltage of 5 kV. Simultaneously, the distributed information of the separated analytes in the optical fiber can be clearly obtained by scanning along the optical fiber using a 355 nm laser. The emission from the analytes can be efficiently coupled into the inner core and guides to the remote end of the optical fiber. In addition, the thin cladding around the inner core in the optical fiber can prevent the fluorescent cross talk between the analytes in this design. Compared to previous optical fiber optofluidic devices, this device first realizes simultaneously separating treatment and the detection of the mixed samples in an optical fiber. Significantly, such an in-fiber integrated separating and detecting optofluidic device can find wide applications in various analysis fields involves mixed samples, such as biology, chemistry, and environment.

Preparation of nearly monodisperse nanoscale inorganic pigments.

PubMed

Wang, Dingsheng; Liang, Xin; Li, Yadong

2006-07-17

Many different important commercial pigments have been synthesized based on the liquid-solid-solution (LSS) phase-transfer and separation process. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurement results show that they are very small in size and have a narrow size distribution. Visible absorption spectra were taken to examine the very pure and brilliant colors of the pigments. They can be well-dispersed in cyclohexane and remain non-agglomerated, even over several months. These nearly monodisperse nanoscale inorganic pigments may have wide applications in many important fields and could bring about new developments in the pigment industry.

Fluorescence microscopy.

PubMed

Sanderson, Michael J; Smith, Ian; Parker, Ian; Bootman, Martin D

2014-10-01

Fluorescence microscopy is a major tool with which to monitor cell physiology. Although the concepts of fluorescence and its optical separation using filters remain similar, microscope design varies with the aim of increasing image contrast and spatial resolution. The basics of wide-field microscopy are outlined to emphasize the selection, advantages, and correct use of laser scanning confocal microscopy, two-photon microscopy, scanning disk confocal microscopy, total internal reflection, and super-resolution microscopy. In addition, the principles of how these microscopes form images are reviewed to appreciate their capabilities, limitations, and constraints for operation. © 2014 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

Fundamental Studies and Device Development in Beta Silicon Carbide

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-02-28

8217 and (d) 14.5- off (000 1) tovwird 111201 axis, respectively. 25p atoms are considered to exist in monoatomic form. The overall reaction fort the...IOOOA thick oxide layer was thermally grown in a dry oxygen ambient at 1200°C. The oxide layer was etched and a layer of gold , 񓟰A in thickness, was...and gold etching in a KI:12:H20 solution, 4:1:40 by weight. The diodes were separated from the field region by a 100 pm wide annular ring. The

Fluorescence Microscopy

PubMed Central

Sanderson, Michael J.; Smith, Ian; Parker, Ian; Bootman, Martin D.

2016-01-01

Fluorescence microscopy is a major tool with which to monitor cell physiology. Although the concepts of fluorescence and its optical separation using filters remain similar, microscope design varies with the aim of increasing image contrast and spatial resolution. The basics of wide-field microscopy are outlined to emphasize the selection, advantages, and correct use of laser scanning confocal microscopy, two-photon microscopy, scanning disk confocal microscopy, total internal reflection, and super-resolution microscopy. In addition, the principles of how these microscopes form images are reviewed to appreciate their capabilities, limitations, and constraints for operation. PMID:25275114

New Worlds Observer Telescope and Instrument Optical Design Concepts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Howard, Joseph; Kilston, Steve; Kendrick, Steve

2008-01-01

Optical design concepts for the telescope and instrumentation for NASA's New Worlds Observer program are presented. First order parameters are derived from the science requirements, and estimated performance metrics are shown using optical models. A four meter multiple channel telescope is discussed, as well as a suite of science instrument concepts. Wide field instrumentation (imager and spectrograph) would be accommodated by a three-mirror anastigmat telescope design. Planet finding and characterization would use a separate channel which is picked off after the first two mirrors (primary and secondary). Guiding concepts are also discussed.

Functional microporous materials of metal carboxylate: Gas-occlusion properties and catalytic activities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mori, Wasuke; Sato, Tomohiko; Ohmura, Tesushi; Nozaki Kato, Chika; Takei, Tohru

2005-08-01

Copper(II) terephthalate is the first transition metal complex found capable of adsorbing gases. This complex has opened the new field of adsorbent complex chemistry. It is recognized as the lead complex in the construction of microporous complexes. This specific system has been expanded to a systematic series of derivatives of other isomorphous transition metals, molybdenum(II), ruthenium(II, III), and rhodium(II). These complexes with open frameworks are widely recognized as very useful materials for applications to catalysis, separation at molecular level, and gas storage.

SEDS: The Spitzer Extended Deep Survey. Survey Design, Photometry, and Deep IRAC Source Counts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ashby, M. L. N.; Willner, S. P.; Fazio, G. G.; Huang, J.-S.; Arendt, A.; Barmby, P.; Barro, G; Bell, E. F.; Bouwens, R.; Cattaneo, A.;

Solution-Processed Wide-Bandgap Organic Semiconductor Nanostructures Arrays for Nonvolatile Organic Field-Effect Transistor Memory.

PubMed

Li, Wen; Guo, Fengning; Ling, Haifeng; Liu, Hui; Yi, Mingdong; Zhang, Peng; Wang, Wenjun; Xie, Linghai; Huang, Wei

2018-01-01

In this paper, the development of organic field-effect transistor (OFET) memory device based on isolated and ordered nanostructures (NSs) arrays of wide-bandgap (WBG) small-molecule organic semiconductor material [2-(9-(4-(octyloxy)phenyl)-9H-fluoren-2-yl)thiophene]3 (WG 3 ) is reported. The WG 3 NSs are prepared from phase separation by spin-coating blend solutions of WG 3 /trimethylolpropane (TMP), and then introduced as charge storage elements for nonvolatile OFET memory devices. Compared to the OFET memory device with smooth WG 3 film, the device based on WG 3 NSs arrays exhibits significant improvements in memory performance including larger memory window (≈45 V), faster switching speed (≈1 s), stable retention capability (>10 4 s), and reliable switching properties. A quantitative study of the WG 3 NSs morphology reveals that enhanced memory performance is attributed to the improved charge trapping/charge-exciton annihilation efficiency induced by increased contact area between the WG 3 NSs and pentacene layer. This versatile solution-processing approach to preparing WG 3 NSs arrays as charge trapping sites allows for fabrication of high-performance nonvolatile OFET memory devices, which could be applicable to a wide range of WBG organic semiconductor materials. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Local sensor based on nanowire field effect transistor from inhomogeneously doped silicon on insulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Presnov, Denis E.; Bozhev, Ivan V.; Miakonkikh, Andrew V.; Simakin, Sergey G.; Trifonov, Artem S.; Krupenin, Vladimir A.

2018-02-01

We present the original method for fabricating a sensitive field/charge sensor based on field effect transistor (FET) with a nanowire channel that uses CMOS-compatible processes only. A FET with a kink-like silicon nanowire channel was fabricated from the inhomogeneously doped silicon on insulator wafer very close (˜100 nm) to the extremely sharp corner of a silicon chip forming local probe. The single e-beam lithographic process with a shadow deposition technique, followed by separate two reactive ion etching processes, was used to define the narrow semiconductor nanowire channel. The sensors charge sensitivity was evaluated to be in the range of 0.1-0.2 e /√{Hz } from the analysis of their transport and noise characteristics. The proposed method provides a good opportunity for the relatively simple manufacture of a local field sensor for measuring the electrical field distribution, potential profiles, and charge dynamics for a wide range of mesoscopic objects. Diagnostic systems and devices based on such sensors can be used in various fields of physics, chemistry, material science, biology, electronics, medicine, etc.

Active-Adaptive Control of Inlet Separation Using Supersonic Microjets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alvi, Farrukh S.

2007-01-01

Flow separation in internal and external flows generally results in a significant degradation in aircraft performance. For internal flows, such as inlets and transmission ducts in aircraft propulsion systems, separation is undesirable as it reduces the overall system performance. The aim of this research has been to understand the nature of separation and more importantly, to explore techniques to actively control it. In this research, we extended our investigation of active separation control (under a previous NASA grant) where we explored the use of microjets for the control of boundary layer separation. The geometry used for the initial study was a simple diverging Stratford ramp, equipped with arrays of microjets. These early results clearly show that the activation of microjets eliminated flow separation. Furthermore, the velocity-field measurements, using PIV, also demonstrate that the gain in momentum due to the elimination of separation is at least an order of magnitude larger (two orders of magnitude larger in most cases) than the momentum injected by the microjets and is accomplished with very little mass flow through the microjets. Based on our initial promising results this research was continued under the present grant, using a more flexible model. This model allows for the magnitude and extent of separation as well as the microjet parameters to be independently varied. The results, using this model were even more encouraging and demonstrated that microjet control completely eliminated significant regions of flow separation over a wide range of conditions with almost negligible mass flow. Detailed studies of the flowfield and its response to microjets were further examined using 3-component PIV and unsteady pressure measurements, among others. As the results presented this report will show, microjets were successfully used to control the separation of a much larger extent and magnitude than demonstrated in our earlier experiments. In fact, using the appropriate combination of control parameters (microjet, location, angle and pressure) separation was completely eliminated for the largest separated flowfield we could generate with the present model. Separation control also resulted in a significant reduction in the unsteady pressures in the flow where the unsteady pressure field was found to be directly responsive to the state of the flow above the surface. Hence, our study indicates that the unsteady pressure signature is a strong candidate for a flow state sensor , which can be used to estimate the location, magnitude and other properties of the separated flowfield. Once better understood and properly utilized, this behavior can be of significant practical importance for developing and implementing online control.

Cosmic Dawn Intensity Mapper (CDIM): Instrument and Mission Design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Unwin, Stephen C.; CDIM Team

2018-01-01

CDIM is the Cosmic Dawn Intensity Mapper, one of the probe-class missions currently under study for NASA. A detailed Report from the study will be submitted to NASA and for consideration by the Decadal Survey. The flight system will comprise a wide-field cryogenic telescope with a large focal plane array providing complete coverage from optical through mid-IR. The system will be deployed to L2 or Earth-trailing orbit, to provide a stable thermal environment and allow extended observations of fields selected to be cross-correlated with deep surveys in other wavebands. Spectra with will be measured for every point in each target field, using linear variable filters (LVFs). These filters eliminate the need for a spectrometer in the focal plane. Spectra are built up through simple imaging of a series of telescope pointings separated by small angular offsets. This poster presents the initial concept for the instrument and mission design.

Optical design for CETUS: a wide-field 1.5m aperture UV payload being studied for a NASA probe class mission study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woodruff, Robert A.; Hull, Tony; Heap, Sara R.; Danchi, William; Kendrick, Stephen E.; Purves, Lloyd

2017-09-01

We are developing a NASA Headquarters selected Probe-class mission concept called the Cosmic Evolution Through UV Spectroscopy (CETUS) mission, which includes a 1.5-m aperture diameter large field-of-view (FOV) telescope optimized for UV imaging, multi-object spectroscopy, and point-source spectroscopy. The optical system includes a Three Mirror Anastigmatic (TMA) telescope that simultaneously feeds three separate scientific instruments: the near-UV (NUV) Multi-Object Spectrograph (MOS) with a next-generation Micro-Shutter Array (MSA); the two-channel camera covering the far-UV (FUV) and NUV spectrum; and the point-source spectrograph covering the FUV and NUV region with selectable R 40,000 echelle modes and R 2,000 first order modes. The optical system includes fine guidance sensors, wavefront sensing, and spectral and flat-field in-flight calibration sources. This paper will describe the current optical design of CETUS.

Optical design for CETUS: a wide-field 1.5m aperture UV payload being studied for a NASA probe class mission study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woodruff, Robert; Robert Woodruff, Goddard Space Flight Center, Kendrick Optical Consulting

2018-01-01

We are developing a NASA Headquarters selected Probe-class mission concept called the Cosmic Evolution Through UV Spectroscopy (CETUS) mission, which includes a 1.5-m aperture diameter large field-of-view (FOV) telescope optimized for UV imaging, multi-object spectroscopy, and point-source spectroscopy. The optical system includes a Three Mirror Anastigmatic (TMA) telescope that simultaneously feeds three separate scientific instruments: the near-UV (NUV) Multi-Object Spectrograph (MOS) with a next-generation Micro-Shutter Array (MSA); the two-channel camera covering the far-UV (FUV) and NUV spectrum; and the point-source spectrograph covering the FUV and NUV region with selectable R~ 40,000 echelle modes and R~ 2,000 first order modes. The optical system includes fine guidance sensors, wavefront sensing, and spectral and flat-field in-flight calibration sources. This paper will describe the current optical design of CETUS.

Hubble Team Unveils Most Colorful View of Universe Captured by Space Telescope

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-06-04

Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have assembled a comprehensive picture of the evolving universe – among the most colorful deep space images ever captured by the 24-year-old telescope. Researchers say the image, in new study called the Ultraviolet Coverage of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, provides the missing link in star formation. The Hubble Ultra Deep Field 2014 image is a composite of separate exposures taken in 2003 to 2012 with Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys and Wide Field Camera 3. Credit: NASA/ESA Read more: 1.usa.gov/1neD0se NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Find us on Instagram

A low speed two-dimensional study of flow separation on the GA(W)-1 airfoil with 30-percent chord Fowler flap

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seetharam, H. C.; Wentz, W. H., Jr.

1977-01-01

Measurements of flow fields with low speed turbulent boundary layers were made for the GA(W)-1 airfoil with a 0.30 c Fowler flap deflected 40 deg at angles of attack of 2.7 deg, 7.7 deg, and 12.8 deg, at a Reynolds number of 2.2 million, and a Mach number of 0.13. Details of velocity and pressure fields associated with the airfoil flap combination are presented for cases of narrow, optimum and wide slot gaps. Extensive flow field turbulence surveys were also conducted employing hot-film anemometry. For the optimum gap setting, the boundaries of the regions of flow reversal within the wake were determined by this technique for two angles of attack. Local skin friction distributions for the basic airfoil and the airfoil with flap (optimum gap) were obtained using the razor blade technique.

A face and palmprint recognition approach based on discriminant DCT feature extraction.

PubMed

Jing, Xiao-Yuan; Zhang, David

2004-12-01

In the field of image processing and recognition, discrete cosine transform (DCT) and linear discrimination are two widely used techniques. Based on them, we present a new face and palmprint recognition approach in this paper. It first uses a two-dimensional separability judgment to select the DCT frequency bands with favorable linear separability. Then from the selected bands, it extracts the linear discriminative features by an improved Fisherface method and performs the classification by the nearest neighbor classifier. We detailedly analyze theoretical advantages of our approach in feature extraction. The experiments on face databases and palmprint database demonstrate that compared to the state-of-the-art linear discrimination methods, our approach obtains better classification performance. It can significantly improve the recognition rates for face and palmprint data and effectively reduce the dimension of feature space.

Statistical mechanical approach to secondary processes and structural relaxation in glasses and glass formers: a leading model to describe the onset of Johari-Goldstein processes and their relationship with fully cooperative processes.

PubMed

Crisanti, A; Leuzzi, L; Paoluzzi, M

2011-09-01

The interrelation of dynamic processes active on separated time-scales in glasses and viscous liquids is investigated using a model displaying two time-scale bifurcations both between fast and secondary relaxation and between secondary and structural relaxation. The study of the dynamics allows for predictions on the system relaxation above the temperature of dynamic arrest in the mean-field approximation, that are compared with the outcomes of the equations of motion directly derived within the Mode Coupling Theory (MCT) for under-cooled viscous liquids. By varying the external thermodynamic parameters, a wide range of phenomenology can be represented, from a very clear separation of structural and secondary peak in the susceptibility loss to excess wing structures.

The metal-insulator transition in a phase-separated manganite studied by in situ STS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Snijders, P. C.; Gao, M.; Guo, H.; Ward, T. Z.; Gao, H.-J.; Shen, J.; Gai, Z.

2012-02-01

Electronic phase separation (EPS) is a key feature at the heart of the wide variety of electronic and magnetic properties in complex oxides. One consequence of EPS is that electronic transport experiments in bulk materials or 2D films mostly probe the low resistivity electronic phases due to the percolative path of the current. We study oxygen deficient La5/8-xPrxCa3/8M nO3 (LPCMO) thin films using both in situ scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) and ex situ transport experiments. The oxygen deficiency is known to decrease the metal-insulator transition (MIT) temperature or even completely suppress the MIT in conventional transport experiments. We show that in situ STS is able to detect the MIT even in systems where conventional transport experiments do not show an MIT at zero magnetic field.

KINEMATICS OF THE ORION TRAPEZIUM BASED ON DIFFRACTO-ASTROMETRY AND HISTORICAL DATA

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

Olivares, J.; Sánchez, L. J.; Ruelas-Mayorga, A.

2013-11-01

Using the novel Diffracto-Astrometry technique, we analyze 44 Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 images of the Orion Trapezium (OT) taken over a span of 12 yr (1995-2007). We measure the relative positions of the six brighter OT components (A-F) and supplement these results with measurements of the relative separations and position angles taken from the literature, thus extending our analysis time base to ∼200 yr. For every pair of components we find the relative rate of separation as well as the temporal rate of change of their position angles, which enable us to determine the relative kinematicsmore » of the system. Component E shows a velocity larger than the OT's escape velocity, thus confirming that it is escaping from the gravitational pull of this system.« less

Aeromagnetic map compilation: Procedures for merging and an example from Washington

USGS Publications Warehouse

Finn, C.

1999-01-01

Rocks in Antarctica and offshore have widely diverse magnetic properties. Consequently, aeromagnetic data collected there can improve knowledge of the geologic, tectonic and geothermal characteristics of the region. Aeromagnetic data can map concealed structures such as faults, folds and dikes, ascertain basin thickness and locate buried volcanic, as well as some intrusive and metamorphic rocks. Gridded, composite data sets allow a view of continental-scale trends that individual data sets do not provide and link widely-separated areas of outcrop and disparate geologic studies. Individual magnetic surveys must be processed so that they match adjacent surveys prior to merging. A consistent representation of the Earth's magnetic field (International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF)) must be removed from each data set. All data sets need to be analytically continued to the same flight elevation with their datums shifted to match adjacent data. I advocate minimal processing to best represent the individual surveys in the merged compilation. An example of a compilation of aeromagnetic surveys from Washington illustrates the utility of aeromagnetic maps for providing synoptic views of regional tectonic features.

A Molecular Dynamics Study of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs) Dispersed in Bile Salt Surfactants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phelan, Frederick, Jr.; Sun, Huai

2014-03-01

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNCTs) are materials with structural, electronic and optical properties that make them attractive for a myriad of advanced technology applications. A practical barrier to their use is that SWCNT synthesis techniques produce heterogeneous mixtures of varying lengths and chirality, whereas applications generally require tubes with narrow size distributions and individual type. Most separation techniques currently in use to obtain monodisperse tube fractions rely on dispersion of these materials in aqueous solution using surfactants. The dispersion process results in a mixture of colloidal structures in which individual tubes are dispersed and contained in a surfactant shell. Understanding the structure and properties of the SWCNT-surfactant complex at the molecular level, and how this is affected by chirality, is key to understanding and improving separations processes. In this study, we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the structure and properties of SWCNT-surfactant colloidal complexes. We tested a number of methods and protocols in order to build an accurate model for simulating SWCNT systems for a variety of bile salt surfactants as well as anionic co-surfactants, components that are widely used and important in experimental separation studies at NIST. The custom force field parameters used here will be stored in WebFF, a Web-hosted smart force-field repository for polymeric and organic materials being developed at NIST for the Materials Genome Initiative.

Effect of the Hartmann number on phase separation controlled by magnetic field for binary mixture system with large component ratio

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heping, Wang; Xiaoguang, Li; Duyang, Zang; Rui, Hu; Xingguo, Geng

2017-11-01

This paper presents an exploration for phase separation in a magnetic field using a coupled lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) with magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). The left vertical wall was kept at a constant magnetic field. Simulations were conducted by the strong magnetic field to enhance phase separation and increase the size of separated phases. The focus was on the effect of magnetic intensity by defining the Hartmann number (Ha) on the phase separation properties. The numerical investigation was carried out for different governing parameters, namely Ha and the component ratio of the mixed liquid. The effective morphological evolutions of phase separation in different magnetic fields were demonstrated. The patterns showed that the slant elliptical phases were created by increasing Ha, due to the formation and increase of magnetic torque and force. The dataset was rearranged for growth kinetics of magnetic phase separation in a plot by spherically averaged structure factor and the ratio of separated phases and total system. The results indicate that the increase in Ha can increase the average size of separated phases and accelerate the spinodal decomposition and domain growth stages. Specially for the larger component ratio of mixed phases, the separation degree was also significantly improved by increasing magnetic intensity. These numerical results provide guidance for setting the optimum condition for the phase separation induced by magnetic field.

Design of the 2D electron cyclotron emission imaging instrument for the J-TEXT tokamak.

PubMed

Pan, X M; Yang, Z J; Ma, X D; Zhu, Y L; Luhmann, N C; Domier, C W; Ruan, B W; Zhuang, G

2016-11-01

A new 2D Electron Cyclotron Emission Imaging (ECEI) diagnostic is being developed for the J-TEXT tokamak. It will provide the 2D electron temperature information with high spatial, temporal, and temperature resolution. The new ECEI instrument is being designed to support fundamental physics investigations on J-TEXT including MHD, disruption prediction, and energy transport. The diagnostic contains two dual dipole antenna arrays corresponding to F band (90-140 GHz) and W band (75-110 GHz), respectively, and comprises a total of 256 channels. The system can observe the same magnetic surface at both the high field side and low field side simultaneously. An advanced optical system has been designed which permits the two arrays to focus on a wide continuous region or two radially separate regions with high imaging spatial resolution. It also incorporates excellent field curvature correction with field curvature adjustment lenses. An overview of the diagnostic and the technical progress including the new remote control technique are presented.

Design of the 2D electron cyclotron emission imaging instrument for the J-TEXT tokamak

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

Pan, X. M.; Yang, Z. J., E-mail: yangzj@hust.edu.cn; Ma, X. D.

2016-11-15

A new 2D Electron Cyclotron Emission Imaging (ECEI) diagnostic is being developed for the J-TEXT tokamak. It will provide the 2D electron temperature information with high spatial, temporal, and temperature resolution. The new ECEI instrument is being designed to support fundamental physics investigations on J-TEXT including MHD, disruption prediction, and energy transport. The diagnostic contains two dual dipole antenna arrays corresponding to F band (90-140 GHz) and W band (75-110 GHz), respectively, and comprises a total of 256 channels. The system can observe the same magnetic surface at both the high field side and low field side simultaneously. An advancedmore » optical system has been designed which permits the two arrays to focus on a wide continuous region or two radially separate regions with high imaging spatial resolution. It also incorporates excellent field curvature correction with field curvature adjustment lenses. An overview of the diagnostic and the technical progress including the new remote control technique are presented.« less

Hot-Volumes as Uniform and Reproducible SERS-Detection Enhancers in Weakly-Coupled Metallic Nanohelices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caridad, José M.; Winters, Sinéad; McCloskey, David; Duesberg, Georg S.; Donegan, John F.; Krstić, Vojislav

2017-03-01

Reproducible and enhanced optical detection of molecules in low concentrations demands simultaneously intense and homogeneous electric fields acting as robust signal amplifiers. To generate such sophisticated optical near-fields, different plasmonic nanostructures were investigated in recent years. These, however, exhibit either high enhancement factor (EF) or spatial homogeneity but not both. Small interparticle gaps or sharp nanostructures show enormous EFs but no near-field homogeneity. Meanwhile, approaches using rounded and separated monomers create uniform near-fields with moderate EFs. Here, guided by numerical simulations, we show how arrays of weakly-coupled Ag nanohelices achieve both homogeneous and strong near-field enhancements, reaching even the limit forreproducible detection of individual molecules. The unique near-field distribution of a single nanohelix consists of broad hot-spots, merging with those from neighbouring nanohelices in specific array configurations and generating a wide and uniform detection zone (“hot-volume”). We experimentally assessed these nanostructures via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, obtaining a corresponding EF of ~107 and a relative standard deviation <10%. These values demonstrate arrays of nanohelices as state-of-the-art substrates for reproducible optical detection as well as compelling nanostructures for related fields such as near-field imaging.

Post-Synthetic Polymerization of UiO-66-NH2 Nanoparticles and Polyurethane Oligomer toward Stand-Alone Membranes for Dye Removal and Separation.

PubMed

Yao, Bing-Jian; Jiang, Wei-Ling; Dong, Ying; Liu, Zhi-Xian; Dong, Yu-Bin

2016-07-18

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are widely used as porous materials in the fields of adsorption and separation. However, their practical application is largely hindered by limitations to their processability. Herein, new UiO-66-Urea-based flexible membranes with MOF loadings of 50 (1), 60 (2), and 70 wt % (3) were designed and prepared by post-synthetic polymerization of UiO-66-NH2 nanoparticles and a polyurethane oligomer under mild conditions. The adsorption behavior of membrane 3 towards four hydrophilic dyes, namely, eosin Y (EY), rhodamine B (RB), malachite green (MG), and methylene blue (MB), in aqueous solution was studied in detail. It exhibits strong adsorption of EY and RB but weak adsorption of MG and MB in aqueous solution. Owing to the selective adsorption of these hydrophilic dyes, membrane 3 can remove EY and RB from aqueous solution and completely separate EY/MB, RB/MG, and RB/MB mixtures in aqueous solution. In addition, the membrane is uniformly textured, easily handled, and can be reused for dye adsorption and separation. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Wide field of view common-path lateral-shearing digital holographic interference microscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vora, Priyanka; Trivedi, Vismay; Mahajan, Swapnil; Patel, Nimit; Joglekar, Mugdha; Chhaniwal, Vani; Moradi, Ali-Reza; Javidi, Bahram; Anand, Arun

2017-12-01

Quantitative three-dimensional (3-D) imaging of living cells provides important information about the cell morphology and its time variation. Off-axis, digital holographic interference microscopy is an ideal tool for 3-D imaging, parameter extraction, and classification of living cells. Two-beam digital holographic microscopes, which are usually employed, provide high-quality 3-D images of micro-objects, albeit with lower temporal stability. Common-path digital holographic geometries, in which the reference beam is derived from the object beam, provide higher temporal stability along with high-quality 3-D images. Self-referencing geometry is the simplest of the common-path techniques, in which a portion of the object beam itself acts as the reference, leading to compact setups using fewer optical elements. However, it has reduced field of view, and the reference may contain object information. Here, we describe the development of a common-path digital holographic microscope, employing a shearing plate and converting one of the beams into a separate reference by employing a pin-hole. The setup is as compact as self-referencing geometry, while providing field of view as wide as that of a two-beam microscope. The microscope is tested by imaging and quantifying the morphology and dynamics of human erythrocytes.

Wide field of view common-path lateral-shearing digital holographic interference microscope.

PubMed

Vora, Priyanka; Trivedi, Vismay; Mahajan, Swapnil; Patel, Nimit; Joglekar, Mugdha; Chhaniwal, Vani; Moradi, Ali-Reza; Javidi, Bahram; Anand, Arun

2017-12-01

Quantitative three-dimensional (3-D) imaging of living cells provides important information about the cell morphology and its time variation. Off-axis, digital holographic interference microscopy is an ideal tool for 3-D imaging, parameter extraction, and classification of living cells. Two-beam digital holographic microscopes, which are usually employed, provide high-quality 3-D images of micro-objects, albeit with lower temporal stability. Common-path digital holographic geometries, in which the reference beam is derived from the object beam, provide higher temporal stability along with high-quality 3-D images. Self-referencing geometry is the simplest of the common-path techniques, in which a portion of the object beam itself acts as the reference, leading to compact setups using fewer optical elements. However, it has reduced field of view, and the reference may contain object information. Here, we describe the development of a common-path digital holographic microscope, employing a shearing plate and converting one of the beams into a separate reference by employing a pin-hole. The setup is as compact as self-referencing geometry, while providing field of view as wide as that of a two-beam microscope. The microscope is tested by imaging and quantifying the morphology and dynamics of human erythrocytes. (2017) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).

Influence of thermodynamic mechanism of inter- facial adsorption on purifying air-conditioning engineering under intensification of electric field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yun-Yu

2016-12-01

As a kind of mass transfer process as well as the basis of separating and purifying mixtures, interfacial adsorption has been widely applied to fields like chemical industry, medical industry and purification engineering in recent years. Influencing factors of interfacial adsorption, in addition to the traditional temperature, intensity of pressure, amount of substance and concentration, also include external fields, such as magnetic field, electric field and electromagnetic field, etc. Starting from the point of thermodynamics and taking the Gibbs adsorption as the model, the combination of energy axiom and the first law of thermodynamics was applied to boundary phase, and thus the theoretical expression for the volume of interface absorption under electric field as well as the mathematical relationship between surface tension and electric field intensity was obtained. In addition, according to the obtained theoretical expression, the volume of interface absorption of ethanol solution under different electric field intensities and concentrations was calculated. Moreover, the mechanism of interfacial adsorption was described from the perspective of thermodynamics and the influence of electric field on interfacial adsorption was explained reasonably, aiming to further discuss the influence of thermodynamic mechanism of interfacial adsorption on purifying air-conditioning engineering under intensification of electric field.

A Phased Array of Widely Separated Antennas for Space Communication and Planetary Radar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geldzahler, B.; Bershad, C.; Brown, R.; Cox, R.; Hoblitzell, R.; Kiriazes, J.; Ledford, B.; Miller, M.; Woods, G.; Cornish, T.; D'Addario, L.; Davarian, F.; Lee, D.; Morabito, D.; Tsao, P.; Soloff, J.; Church, K.; Deffenbaugh, P.; Abernethy, K.; Anderson, W.; Collier, J.; Wellen, G.

NASA has successfully demonstrated coherent uplink arraying with real time compensation for atmospheric phase fluctuations at 7.145-7.190 GHz (X-band) and is pursuing a similar demonstration 30-31 GHz (Ka-band) using three 12m diameter COTS antennas separated by 60m at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In addition, we have done the same demonstration with up to three 34m antennas separated by 250m at the Goldstone Deep Space Communication Complex in California at X-band 7.1 GHz. We have begun to infuse the capability at Goldstone into the Deep Space Network to provide a quasi-operational system. Such a demonstration can enable NASA to design and establish a high power (10 PW) high resolution (<10 cm), 24/7 availability radar system for (a) tracking and characterizing observations of Near Earth Objects (NEOs), (b) tracking, characterizing and determining the statistics of small-scale (≤10cm) orbital debris, (c) incorporating the capability into its space communication and navigation tracking stations for emergency spacecraft commanding in the Ka band era which NASA is entering, and (d) fielding capabilities of interest to other US government agencies. We present herein the results of our phased array uplink combining at near 7.17 and 8.3 GHz using widely separated antennas demonstrations, our moderately successful attempts to rescue the STEREO-B spacecraft (distance 2 astronomical units (185,000,000 miles), the first two attempts at imaging and ranging of near Earth asteroids, and progress in developing telescopes that are fully capable at radio and optical frequencies. And progress toward the implementation of our vision for going forward in implementing a high performance, low lifecycle cost multi-element radar array.

Genetic variability in biochemical characters of Brazilian field populations of the Leishmania vector, Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae).

PubMed

Mukhopadhyay, J; Ghosh, K; Rangel, E F; Munstermann, L E

1998-12-01

The phlebotomine sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis is the insect vector of visceral leishmaniasis, a protozoan disease of increasing incidence and distribution in Central and South America. Electrophoretic allele frequencies of 15 enzyme loci were compared among the L. longipalpis populations selected across its distribution range in Brazil. The mean heterozygosity of two colonized geographic strains (one each from Colombia and Brazil) were 6% and 13% respectively, with 1.6-1.9 alleles detected per locus. In contrast, among the seven widely separated field populations, the mean heterozygosity ranged from 11% to 16% with 2.1-2.9 alleles per locus. No locus was recovered that was diagnostic for any of the field populations. Allelic frequency differences among five field strains from the Amazon basin and eastern coastal Brazil were very low, with Nei's genetic distances of less than 0.01 separating them. The two inland and southerly samples from Minas Gerais (Lapinha) and Bahia (Jacobina) states were more distinctive with genetic distances of 0.024-0.038 and 0.038-0.059, respectively, when compared with the five other samples. These differences were the consequence of several high frequency alleles (glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [Gpd1.69] and phosphoglucomutase [Pgm1.69]) relatively uncommon in other strains. The low genetic distances, absence of diagnostic loci, and the distribution of genes in geographic space indicate L. longipalpis of Brazil to be a single, but genetically heterogeneous, polymorphic species.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Double stars with wide separations in the AGK3 (Halbwachs+, 2016)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halbwachs, J. L.; Mayor, M.; Udry, S.

2016-10-01

A large list of common proper motion stars selected from the third Astronomischen Gesellschaft Katalog (AGK3) was monitored with the CORAVEL (for COrrelation RAdial VELocities) spectrovelocimeter, in order to prepare a sample of physical binaries with very wide separations. In paper I,66 stars received special attention, since their radial velocities (RV) seemed to be variable. These stars were monitored over several years in order to derive the elements of their spectroscopic orbits. In addition, 10 of them received accurate RV measurements from the SOPHIE spectrograph of the T193 telescope at the Observatory of Haute-Provence. For deriving the orbital elements of double-lined spectroscopic binaries (SB2s), a new method was applied, which assumed that the RV of blended measurements are linear combinations of the RV of the components. 13 SB2 orbits were thus calculated. The orbital elements were eventually obtained for 52 spectroscopic binaries (SBs), two of them making a triple system. 40 SBs received their first orbit and the orbital elements were improved for 10 others. In addition, 11 SBs were discovered with very long periods for which the orbital parameters were not found. It appeared that HD 153252 has a close companion, which is a candidate brown dwarf with a minimum mass of 50 Jupiter masses. In paper II, 80 wide binaries (WBs) were detected, and 39 optical pairs were identified. Adding CPM stars with separations close enough to be almost certain they are physical, a "bias-controlled" sample of 116 wide binaries was obtained, and used to derive the distribution of separations from 100 to 30,000 au. The distribution obtained doesn't match the log-constant distribution, but is in agreement with the log-normal distribution. The spectroscopic binaries detected among the WB components were used to derive statistical informations about the multiple systems. The close binaries in WBs seem to be similar to those detected in other field stars. As for the WBs, they seem to obey the log-normal distribution of periods. The number of quadruple systems is in agreement with the "no correlation" hypothesis; this indicates that an environment conducive to the formation of WBs doesn't favor the formation of subsystems with periods shorter than 10 years. (9 data files).

Separation of large DNA molecules by applying pulsed electric field to size exclusion chromatography-based microchip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azuma, Naoki; Itoh, Shintaro; Fukuzawa, Kenji; Zhang, Hedong

2018-02-01

Through electrophoresis driven by a pulsed electric field, we succeeded in separating large DNA molecules with an electrophoretic microchip based on size exclusion chromatography (SEC), which was proposed in our previous study. The conditions of the pulsed electric field required to achieve the separation were determined by numerical analyses using our originally proposed separation model. From the numerical results, we succeeded in separating large DNA molecules (λ DNA and T4 DNA) within 1600 s, which was approximately half of that achieved under a direct electric field in our previous study. Our SEC-based electrophoresis microchip will be one of the effective tools to meet the growing demand of faster and more convenient separation of large DNA molecules, especially in the field of epidemiological research of infectious diseases.

Rapid filtration separation-based sample preparation method for Bacillus spores in powdery and environmental matrices.

PubMed

Isabel, Sandra; Boissinot, Maurice; Charlebois, Isabelle; Fauvel, Chantal M; Shi, Lu-E; Lévesque, Julie-Christine; Paquin, Amélie T; Bastien, Martine; Stewart, Gale; Leblanc, Eric; Sato, Sachiko; Bergeron, Michel G

2012-03-01

Authorities frequently need to analyze suspicious powders and other samples for biothreat agents in order to assess environmental safety. Numerous nucleic acid detection technologies have been developed to detect and identify biowarfare agents in a timely fashion. The extraction of microbial nucleic acids from a wide variety of powdery and environmental samples to obtain a quality level adequate for these technologies still remains a technical challenge. We aimed to develop a rapid and versatile method of separating bacteria from these samples and then extracting their microbial DNA. Bacillus atrophaeus subsp. globigii was used as a simulant of Bacillus anthracis. We studied the effects of a broad variety of powdery and environmental samples on PCR detection and the steps required to alleviate their interference. With a benchmark DNA extraction procedure, 17 of the 23 samples investigated interfered with bacterial lysis and/or PCR-based detection. Therefore, we developed the dual-filter method for applied recovery of microbial particles from environmental and powdery samples (DARE). The DARE procedure allows the separation of bacteria from contaminating matrices that interfere with PCR detection. This procedure required only 2 min, while the DNA extraction process lasted 7 min, for a total of <10 min. This sample preparation procedure allowed the recovery of cleaned bacterial spores and relieved detection interference caused by a wide variety of samples. Our procedure was easily completed in a laboratory facility and is amenable to field application and automation.

Rapid Filtration Separation-Based Sample Preparation Method for Bacillus Spores in Powdery and Environmental Matrices

PubMed Central

Isabel, Sandra; Boissinot, Maurice; Charlebois, Isabelle; Fauvel, Chantal M.; Shi, Lu-E; Lévesque, Julie-Christine; Paquin, Amélie T.; Bastien, Martine; Stewart, Gale; Leblanc, Éric; Sato, Sachiko

2012-01-01

Authorities frequently need to analyze suspicious powders and other samples for biothreat agents in order to assess environmental safety. Numerous nucleic acid detection technologies have been developed to detect and identify biowarfare agents in a timely fashion. The extraction of microbial nucleic acids from a wide variety of powdery and environmental samples to obtain a quality level adequate for these technologies still remains a technical challenge. We aimed to develop a rapid and versatile method of separating bacteria from these samples and then extracting their microbial DNA. Bacillus atrophaeus subsp. globigii was used as a simulant of Bacillus anthracis. We studied the effects of a broad variety of powdery and environmental samples on PCR detection and the steps required to alleviate their interference. With a benchmark DNA extraction procedure, 17 of the 23 samples investigated interfered with bacterial lysis and/or PCR-based detection. Therefore, we developed the dual-filter method for applied recovery of microbial particles from environmental and powdery samples (DARE). The DARE procedure allows the separation of bacteria from contaminating matrices that interfere with PCR detection. This procedure required only 2 min, while the DNA extraction process lasted 7 min, for a total of <10 min. This sample preparation procedure allowed the recovery of cleaned bacterial spores and relieved detection interference caused by a wide variety of samples. Our procedure was easily completed in a laboratory facility and is amenable to field application and automation. PMID:22210204

Separation Control Over A Wall-Mounted Hump

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenblatt, D.; Paschal, K. B.; Schaeffler, N. W.; Washburn, A. E.; Harris, J.; Yao, C. S.

2007-01-01

Separation control by means of steady suction or zero efflux oscillatory jets is known to be effective in a wide variety of flows under different flow conditions. Control is effective when applied in a nominally two-dimensional manner, for example, at the leading-edge of a wing or at the shoulder of a deflected flap. Despite intuitive understanding of the flow, at present there is no accepted theoretical model that can adequately explain or describe the observed effects of the leading parameters such as reduced suction-rate, or frequency and momentum input. This difficulty stems partly from the turbulent nature of the flows combined with superimposed coherent structures, which are usually driven by at least one instability mechanism. The ever increasing technological importance of these flows has spurned an urgent need to develop turbulence models with a predictive capability. Present attempts to develop such models are hampered in one way or another by incomplete data sets, uncertain or undocumented inflow and boundary conditions, or inadequate flow-field measurements. This paper attempts to address these issues by conducting an experimental investigation of a lowspeed separated flow over a wall-mounted hump model. The model geometry was designed by Seifert & Pack, who measured static and dynamic pressures on the model for a wide range of Reynolds and Mach numbers and control conditions. This paper describes the present experimental setup, as well as the types and range of data acquired. Sample data is presented and future work is discussed.

The rate of separation of magnetic lines of force in a random magnetic field.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jokipii, J. R.

1973-01-01

The mixing of magnetic lines of force, as represented by their rate of separation, as a function of distance along the magnetic field, is considered with emphasis on neighboring lines of force. This effect is particularly important in understanding the transport of charged particles perpendicular to the average magnetic field. The calculation is carried out in the approximation that the separation changes by an amount small compared with the correlation scale normal to the field, in a distance along the field of a few correlation scales. It is found that the rate of separation is very sensitive to the precise form of the power spectrum. Application to the interplanetary and interstellar magnetic fields is discussed, and it is shown that in some cases field lines, much closer together than the correlation scale, separate at a rate which is effectively as rapid as if they were many correlation lengths apart.

Separated at Birth: Statisticians, Social Scientists, and Causality in Health Services Research

PubMed Central

Dowd, Bryan E

2011-01-01

Objective Health services research is a field of study that brings together experts from a wide variety of academic disciplines. It also is a field that places a high priority on empirical analysis. Many of the questions posed by health services researchers involve the effects of treatments, patient and provider characteristics, and policy interventions on outcomes of interest. These are causal questions. Yet many health services researchers have been trained in disciplines that are reluctant to use the language of causality, and the approaches to causal questions are discipline specific, often with little overlap. How did this situation arise? This paper traces the roots of the division and some recent attempts to remedy the situation. Data Sources and Settings Existing literature. Study Design Review of the literature. PMID:21105867

A magnetically focused molecular beam of ortho-water.

PubMed

Kravchuk, T; Reznikov, M; Tichonov, P; Avidor, N; Meir, Y; Bekkerman, A; Alexandrowicz, G

2011-01-21

Like dihydrogen, water exists as two spin isomers, ortho and para, with the nuclear magnetic moments of the hydrogen atoms either parallel or antiparallel. The ratio of the two spin isomers and their physical properties play an important role in a wide variety of research fields, ranging from astrophysics to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Unlike ortho and para H(2), however, the two water isomers remain challenging to separate, and as a consequence, very little is currently known about their different physical properties. Here, we report the formation of a magnetically focused molecular beam of ortho-water. The beam we formed also had a particular spin projection. Thus, in the presence of holding magnetic fields, the water molecules are hyperpolarized, laying the foundation for ultrasensitive NMR experiments in the future.

Electrostatic separation of superconducting particles from non-superconducting particles and improvement in fuel atomization by electrorheology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chhabria, Deepika

This thesis has two major topics: (1) Electrostatic Separation of Superconducting Particles from a Mixture of Non-Superconducting Particles. (2) Improvement in fuel atomization by Electrorheology. (1) Based on the basic science research, the interactions between electric field and superconductors, we have developed a new technology, which can separate superconducting granular particles from their mixture with non-superconducting particles. The electric-field induced formation of superconducting balls is important aspect of the interaction between superconducting particles and electric field. When the applied electric field exceeds a critical value, the induced positive surface energy on the superconducting particles forces them to aggregate into balls or cling to the electrodes. In fabrication of superconducting materials, especially HTSC materials, it is common to come across materials with multiple phases: some grains are in superconducting state while the others are not. Our technology is proven to be very useful in separating superconducting grains from the rest non-superconducting materials. To separate superconducting particles from normal conducting particles, we apply a suitable strong electric field. The superconducting particles cling to the electrodes, while normal conducting particles bounce between the electrodes. The superconducting particles could then be collected from the electrodes. To separate superconducting particles from insulating ones, we apply a moderate electric field to force insulating particles to the electrodes to form short chains while the superconducting particles are collected from the middle of capacitor. The importance of this technology is evidenced by the unsuccessful efforts to utilize the Meissner effect to separate superconducting particles from nonsuperconducting ones. Because the Meissner effect is proportional to the particle volume, it has been found that the Meissner effect is not useful when the superconducting particles are smaller than 45mum. One always come across multiphase superconducting materials where most superconducting grains are much smaller than 45mum. On the other hand, since our technology is based on the surface effect, it gets stronger when the particles become smaller. Our technology is thus perfect for small superconducting particles and for fabrication of HTSC materials. The area of superconductivity is expected to be very important for 21 st Century energy industry. The key for this development is the HTSC materials. We, therefore, expect that our technology will have strong impact in the area. (2) Improving engine efficiency and reducing pollutant emissions are extremely important. Here we report our fuel injection technology based on new physics principle that proper application of electrorheology can reduce the viscosity of petroleum fuels. A small device is thus introduced just before the fuel injection for the engine, producing a strong electric field to reduce the fuel viscosity, resulting in much smaller fuel droplets in atomization. As combustion starts at the interface between fuel and air and most harmful emissions are coming from incomplete burning, reducing the size of fuel droplets would increase the total surface area to start burning, leading to a cleaner and more efficient engine. This concept has been widely accepted as the discussions about future engine for efficient and clean combustion are focused on ultra-dilute mixtures at extremely high pressure to produce much finer mist of fuel for combustion. The technology is expected to have broad applications, applicable to current internal combustion engines and future engines as well.

Effect of particle-particle interactions on the acoustic radiation force in an ultrasonic standing wave

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lipkens, Bart; Ilinskii, Yurii A.; Zabolotskaya, Evgenia A.

2015-10-01

Ultrasonic standing waves are widely used for separation applications. In MEMS applications, a half wavelength standing wave field is generated perpendicular to a laminar flow. The acoustic radiation force exerted on the particle drives the particle to the center of the MEMS channel, where concentrated particles are harvested. In macro-scale applications, the ultrasonic standing wave spans multiple wavelengths. Examples of such applications are oil/water emulsion splitting [1], and blood/lipid separation [2]. In macro-scale applications, particles are typically trapped in the standing wave, resulting in clumping or coalescence of particles/droplets. Subsequent gravitational settling results in separation of the secondary phase. An often used expression for the radiation force on a particle is that derived by Gorkov [3]. The assumptions are that the particle size is small relative to the wavelength, and therefore, only monopole and dipole scattering contributions are used to calculate the radiation force. This framework seems satisfactory for MEMS scale applications where each particle is treated separately by the standing wave, and concentrations are typically low. In macro-scale applications, particle concentration is high, and particle clumping or droplet coalescence results in particle sizes not necessarily small relative to the wavelength. Ilinskii et al. developed a framework for calculation of the acoustic radiation force valid for any size particle [4]. However, this model does not take into account particle to particle effects, which can become important as particle concentration increases. It is known that an acoustic radiation force on a particle or a droplet is determined by the local field. An acoustic radiation force expression is developed that includes the effect of particle to particle interaction. The case of two neighboring particles is considered. The approach is based on sound scattering by the particles. The acoustic field at the location of one particle then consists of two components, the incident sound wave and the scattered field generated by the neighboring particle. The radiation force calculation then includes the contributions of these two fields and incorporates the mutual particle influence. In this investigation the droplet/particle influence on each other has been analyzed theoretically by using the method developed by Gorkov and modified by Ilinskii et al.

Effect of particle-particle interactions on the acoustic radiation force in an ultrasonic standing wave

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

Lipkens, Bart, E-mail: blipkens@wne.edu; Ilinskii, Yurii A., E-mail: ilinskii@gmail.com; Zabolotskaya, Evgenia A., E-mail: zheniazabolotskaya@gmail.com

Ultrasonic standing waves are widely used for separation applications. In MEMS applications, a half wavelength standing wave field is generated perpendicular to a laminar flow. The acoustic radiation force exerted on the particle drives the particle to the center of the MEMS channel, where concentrated particles are harvested. In macro-scale applications, the ultrasonic standing wave spans multiple wavelengths. Examples of such applications are oil/water emulsion splitting [1], and blood/lipid separation [2]. In macro-scale applications, particles are typically trapped in the standing wave, resulting in clumping or coalescence of particles/droplets. Subsequent gravitational settling results in separation of the secondary phase. Anmore » often used expression for the radiation force on a particle is that derived by Gorkov [3]. The assumptions are that the particle size is small relative to the wavelength, and therefore, only monopole and dipole scattering contributions are used to calculate the radiation force. This framework seems satisfactory for MEMS scale applications where each particle is treated separately by the standing wave, and concentrations are typically low. In macro-scale applications, particle concentration is high, and particle clumping or droplet coalescence results in particle sizes not necessarily small relative to the wavelength. Ilinskii et al. developed a framework for calculation of the acoustic radiation force valid for any size particle [4]. However, this model does not take into account particle to particle effects, which can become important as particle concentration increases. It is known that an acoustic radiation force on a particle or a droplet is determined by the local field. An acoustic radiation force expression is developed that includes the effect of particle to particle interaction. The case of two neighboring particles is considered. The approach is based on sound scattering by the particles. The acoustic field at the location of one particle then consists of two components, the incident sound wave and the scattered field generated by the neighboring particle. The radiation force calculation then includes the contributions of these two fields and incorporates the mutual particle influence. In this investigation the droplet/particle influence on each other has been analyzed theoretically by using the method developed by Gorkov and modified by Ilinskii et al.« less

New Clues to the Mysterious Origin of Wide-Separation Planetary-Mass Companions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bryan, Marta

2018-01-01

Over the past decade, direct imaging searches for young gas giant planets have revealed a new population of young planetary-mass companions with extremely wide orbital separations (>50 AU) and masses near or at the deuterium-burning limit. These companions pose significant challenges to standard formation models, including core accretion, disk instability, and turbulent fragmentation. In my talk I will discuss new results from high-contrast imaging and high-resolution infrared spectroscopy of a sample of directly imaged wide-separation companions that can be used to directly test these three competing formation mechanisms. First, I use high-contrast imaging to strongly discount scattering as a hypothesis for the origin of wide-separation companions. Second, I measure rotation rates of a subset of these companions using their near-IR spectra, and place the first constraints on the angular momentum evolution of young planetary-mass objects. Finally, I explore the ability of high-resolution spectroscopy to constrain the atmospheric C/O ratios of these companions, providing a complementary test of competing formation scenarios.

CANDELS Visual Classifications: Scheme, Data Release, and First Results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kartaltepe, Jeyhan S.; Mozena, Mark; Kocevski, Dale; McIntosh, Daniel H.; Lotz, Jennifer; Bell, Eric F.; Faber, Sandy; Ferguson, Henry; Koo, David; Bassett, Robert;

Local free energies for the coarse-graining of adsorption phenomena: The interacting pair approximation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pazzona, Federico G.; Pireddu, Giovanni; Gabrieli, Andrea; Pintus, Alberto M.; Demontis, Pierfranco

2018-05-01

We investigate the coarse-graining of host-guest systems under the perspective of the local distribution of pore occupancies, along with the physical meaning and actual computability of the coarse-interaction terms. We show that the widely accepted approach, in which the contributions to the free energy given by the molecules located in two neighboring pores are estimated through Monte Carlo simulations where the two pores are kept separated from the rest of the system, leads to inaccurate results at high sorbate densities. In the coarse-graining strategy that we propose, which is based on the Bethe-Peierls approximation, density-independent interaction terms are instead computed according to local effective potentials that take into account the correlations between the pore pair and its surroundings by means of mean-field correction terms without the need for simulating the pore pair separately. Use of the interaction parameters obtained this way allows the coarse-grained system to reproduce more closely the equilibrium properties of the original one. Results are shown for lattice-gases where the local free energy can be computed exactly and for a system of Lennard-Jones particles under the effect of a static confining field.

Fabrication and investigation of electrochromatographic columns with a simplex configuration.

PubMed

Liu, Qing; Yang, Lijun; Wang, Qiuquan; Zhang, Bo

2014-07-04

Duplex capillary columns with a packed and an open section are widely used in electrochromatography (CEC). The duplex column configuration leads to non-uniform voltage drop, electrical field distribution and separation performance. It also adds to the complexity in understanding and optimizing electrochromatographic process. In this study, we introduced a simplex column configuration based on single particle fritting technology. The new column configuration has an essentially uniform packed bed through the entire column length, with only 1mm length left unpacked serving as the optical detection window. The study shows that a simplex column has higher separation efficiency than a duplex column, especially at the high voltage range, due to the consistent distribution of electrical field over the column length. In comparison to the duplex column, the simplex column presented a lower flow rate at the same applied voltage, suggesting that an open section may support a higher speed than a packed section. In practice, the long and short ends of the simplex column could be used as independent CEC columns respectively. This "two-in-one" bi-functional column configuration provided extra flexibilities in selecting and optimizing electrochromatographic conditions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

OmegaWINGS: OmegaCAM-VST observations of WINGS galaxy clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gullieuszik, M.; Poggianti, B.; Fasano, G.; Zaggia, S.; Paccagnella, A.; Moretti, A.; Bettoni, D.; D'Onofrio, M.; Couch, W. J.; Vulcani, B.; Fritz, J.; Omizzolo, A.; Baruffolo, A.; Schipani, P.; Capaccioli, M.; Varela, J.

2015-09-01

Context. Wide-field observations targeting galaxy clusters at low redshift are complementary to field surveys and provide the local benchmark for detailed studies of the most massive haloes in the local Universe. The Wide-field Nearby Galaxy-cluster Survey (WINGS) is a wide-field multi-wavelength survey of X-ray selected clusters at z = 0.04-0.07. The original 34' × 34' WINGS field of view has now been extended to cover a 1 deg2 field with both photometry and spectroscopy. Aims: We present the Johnson B- and V-band OmegaCAM at the VST observations of 46 WINGS clusters together with the data reduction, data quality, and Sextractor photometric catalogues. Methods: The data reduction was carried out with a modified version of the ESO-MVM (also known as ALAMBIC) reduction package, adding a cross-talk correction, the gain harmonisation, and a control procedure for problematic CCDs. The stray-light component was corrected for by employing our own observations of populated stellar fields. Results: With a median seeing of 1″ in both bands, our 25-min exposures in each band typically reach the 50% completeness level at V = 23.1 mag. The quality of the astrometric and photometric accuracy has been verified by comparison with the 2MASS and SDSS astrometry, and SDSS and previous WINGS imaging. Star-to-galaxy separation and sky-subtraction procedure were tested comparing them with previous WINGS data. Conclusions: The Sextractor photometric catalogues are publicly available at the CDS and will be included in the next release of the WINGS database on the Virtual Observatory together with the OmegaCAM reduced images. These data form the basis for a large ongoing spectroscopic campaign with AAOmega at the AAT and are being employed for a variety of studies. Based on observations made with VST at ESO Paranal Observatory under program ID 88.A-4005, 089.A-0023, 090.A-0074, 091.A-0059, and 093.A-0041.The photometric catalogue is only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/581/A41

Precise measurement of the self-diffusion coefficient for poly(ethylene glycol) in aqueous solution using uniform oligomers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimada, Kayori; Kato, Haruhisa; Saito, Takeshi; Matsuyama, Shigetomo; Kinugasa, Shinichi

2005-06-01

Uniform poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) oligomers, with a degree of polymerization n =1-40, were separated by preparative supercritical fluid chromatography from commercial monodispersed samples. Diffusion coefficients, D, for separated uniform PEG oligomers were measured in dilute solutions of deuterium oxide (D2O) at 30 ° C, using pulsed-field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance. The measured D for each molecular weight was extrapolated to infinite dilution. Diffusion coefficients obtained at infinite dilution follow the scaling behavior of Zimm-type diffusion, even in the lower molecular weight range. Molecular-dynamics simulations for PEG in H2O also showed this scaling behavior, and reproduced close hydrodynamic interactions between PEG and water. These findings suggest that diffusion of PEG in water is dominated by hydrodynamic interaction over a wide molecular weight range, including at low molecular weights around 1000.

Multispectral computational ghost imaging with multiplexed illumination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Jian; Shi, Dongfeng

2017-07-01

Computational ghost imaging has attracted wide attention from researchers in many fields over the last two decades. Multispectral imaging as one application of computational ghost imaging possesses spatial and spectral resolving abilities, and is very useful for surveying scenes and extracting detailed information. Existing multispectral imagers mostly utilize narrow band filters or dispersive optical devices to separate light of different wavelengths, and then use multiple bucket detectors or an array detector to record them separately. Here, we propose a novel multispectral ghost imaging method that uses one single bucket detector with multiplexed illumination to produce a colored image. The multiplexed illumination patterns are produced by three binary encoded matrices (corresponding to the red, green and blue colored information, respectively) and random patterns. The results of the simulation and experiment have verified that our method can be effective in recovering the colored object. Multispectral images are produced simultaneously by one single-pixel detector, which significantly reduces the amount of data acquisition.

Multiband selection with linear array detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Richard, H. L.; Barnes, W. L.

1985-01-01

Several techniques that can be used in an earth-imaging system to separate the linear image formed after the collecting optics into the desired spectral band are examined. The advantages and disadvantages of the Multispectral Linear Array (MLA) multiple optics, the MLA adjacent arrays, the imaging spectrometer, and the MLA beam splitter are discussed. The beam-splitter design approach utilizes, in addition to relatively broad spectral region separation, a movable Multiband Selection Device (MSD), placed between the exit ports of the beam splitter and a linear array detector, permitting many bands to be selected. The successful development and test of the MSD is described. The device demonstrated the capacity to provide a wide field of view, visible-to-near IR/short-wave IR and thermal IR capability, and a multiplicity of spectral bands and polarization measuring means, as well as a reasonable size and weight at minimal cost and risk compared to a spectrometer design approach.

Molecular Simulation of Adsorption in Zeolites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bai, Peng

Zeolites are a class of crystalline nanoporous materials that are widely used as catalysts, sorbents, and ion-exchangers. Zeolites have revolutionized the petroleum industry and have fueled the 20th-century automobile culture, by enabling numerous highly-efficient transformations and separations in oil refineries. They are also posed to play an important role in many processes of biomass conversion. One of the fundamental principles in the field of zeolites involves the understanding and tuning of the selectivity for different guest molecules that results from the wide variety of pore architectures. The primary goal of my dissertation research is to gain such understanding via computer simulations and eventually to reach the level of predictive modeling. The dissertation starts with a brief introduction of the applications of zeolites and computer modeling techniques useful for the study of zeolitic systems. Chapter 2 then describes an effort to improve simulation efficiency, which is essential for many challenging adsorption systems. Chapter 3 studies a model system to demonstrate the applicability and capability of the method used for the majority of this work, configurational-bias Monte Carlo simulations in the Gibbs ensemble (CBMC-GE). After these methodological developments, Chapter 4 and 5 report a systematic parametrization of a new transferable force field for all-silica zeolites, TraPPE-zeo, and a subsequent, relatively ad-hoc extension to cation-exchanged aluminosilicates. The CBMC-GE method and the TraPPE-zeo force field are then combined to investigate some complex adsorption systems, such as linear and branched C6-C 9 alkanes in a hierarchical microporous/mesoporous material (Chapter 6), the multi-component adsorption of aqueous alcohol solutions (Chapter 7) and glucose solutions (Chapter 8). Finally, Chapter 9 describes an endeavor to screen a large number of zeolites with the purpose of finding better materials for two energy-related applications, ethanol/water separation and hydrocarbon iso-dewaxing.

Dynamic acoustic field activated cell separation (DAFACS).

PubMed

Skotis, G D; Cumming, D R S; Roberts, J N; Riehle, M O; Bernassau, A L

2015-02-07

Advances in diagnostics, cell and stem cell technologies drive the development of application-specific tools for cell and particle separation. Acoustic micro-particle separation offers a promising avenue for high-throughput, label-free, high recovery, cell and particle separation and isolation in regenerative medicine. Here, we demonstrate a novel approach utilizing a dynamic acoustic field that is capable of separating an arbitrary size range of cells. We first demonstrate the method for the separation of particles with different diameters between 6 and 45 μm and secondly particles of different densities in a heterogeneous medium. The dynamic acoustic field is then used to separate dorsal root ganglion cells. The shearless, label-free and low damage characteristics make this method of manipulation particularly suited for biological applications. Advantages of using a dynamic acoustic field for the separation of cells include its inherent safety and biocompatibility, the possibility to operate over large distances (centimetres), high purity (ratio of particle population, up to 100%), and high efficiency (ratio of separated particles over total number of particles to separate, up to 100%).

Recent developments in optical detection methods for microchip separations.

PubMed

Götz, Sebastian; Karst, Uwe

2007-01-01

This paper summarizes the features and performances of optical detection systems currently applied in order to monitor separations on microchip devices. Fluorescence detection, which delivers very high sensitivity and selectivity, is still the most widely applied method of detection. Instruments utilizing laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and lamp-based fluorescence along with recent applications of light-emitting diodes (LED) as excitation sources are also covered in this paper. Since chemiluminescence detection can be achieved using extremely simple devices which no longer require light sources and optical components for focusing and collimation, interesting approaches based on this technique are presented, too. Although UV/vis absorbance is a detection method that is commonly used in standard desktop electrophoresis and liquid chromatography instruments, it has not yet reached the same level of popularity for microchip applications. Current applications of UV/vis absorbance detection to microchip separations and innovative approaches that increase sensitivity are described. This article, which contains 85 references, focuses on developments and applications published within the last three years, points out exciting new approaches, and provides future perspectives on this field.

Spatial wavefield gradient-based seismic wavefield separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Van Renterghem, C.; Schmelzbach, C.; Sollberger, D.; Robertsson, J. OA

2018-03-01

Measurements of the horizontal and vertical components of particle motion combined with estimates of the spatial gradients of the seismic wavefield enable seismic data to be acquired and processed using single dedicated multicomponent stations (e.g. rotational sensors) and/or small receiver groups instead of large receiver arrays. Here, we present seismic wavefield decomposition techniques that use spatial wavefield gradient data to separate land and ocean bottom data into their upgoing/downgoing and P/S constituents. Our method is based on the elastodynamic representation theorem with the derived filters requiring local measurements of the wavefield and its spatial gradients only. We demonstrate with synthetic data and a land seismic field data example that combining translational measurements with spatial wavefield gradient estimates allows separating seismic data recorded either at the Earth's free-surface or at the sea bottom into upgoing/downgoing and P/S wavefield constituents for typical incidence angle ranges of body waves. A key finding is that the filter application only requires knowledge of the elastic properties exactly at the recording locations and is valid for a wide elastic property range.

Development of a 3D seed morphological tool for grapevine variety identification, and its comparison with SSR analysis.

PubMed

Karasik, Avshalom; Rahimi, Oshrit; David, Michal; Weiss, Ehud; Drori, Elyashiv

2018-04-25

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is one of the classical fruits of the Old World. Among the thousands of domesticated grapevine varieties and variable wild sylvestris populations, the range of variation in pip morphology is very wide. In this study we scanned representative samples of grape pip populations, in an attempt to probe the possibility of using the 3D tool for grape variety identification. The scanning was followed by mathematical and statistical analysis using innovative algorithms from the field of computer sciences. Using selected Fourier coefficients, a very clear separation was obtained between most of the varieties, with only very few overlaps. These results show that this method enables the separation between different Vitis vinifera varieties. Interestingly, when using the 3D approach to analyze couples of varieties, considered synonyms by the standard 22 SSR analysis approach, we found that the varieties in two of the considered synonym couples were clearly separated by the morphological analysis. This work, therefore, suggests a new systematic tool for high resolution variety discrimination.

Effect of liquid crystal birefringence on the opacity and off-axis haze of PDLC films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pane, S.; Caporusso, M.

1998-02-01

PDLC systems are thin films consisting of a dispersion of liquid crystal micro-droplets in a continuous solid phase of polymer matrix. Application of an electric field on a thin layer of PDLC sandwiched between two transparent on-state. This effect make them useful for a wide variety of applications. Among them, smart windows for architectural is the most popular subject in literature. For this application, the key parameters of performance are the haze and the opacity. There are essentially two technologies used to prepare PDLC films, namely micro-encapsulation and phase separation.In the present work we will show the correlation between the opacity and the off-axis haze in PDLC films prepared with a phase separation technology. We will give the general rule in order to select the liquid crystal properties that allow the preparation of high opacity ad low haze PDLC films. Further study about the control of the parameters which influence the performances of PDLC films prepared with phase separation technology and the difference with the NCAP approach are in progress at our laboratory.

Water-separated ion pairs cause the slow dielectric mode of magnesium sulfate solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mamatkulov, Shavkat I.; Rinne, Klaus F.; Buchner, Richard; Netz, Roland R.; Bonthuis, Douwe Jan

2018-06-01

We compare the dielectric spectra of aqueous MgSO4 and Na2SO4 solutions calculated from classical molecular dynamics simulations with experimental data, using an optimized thermodynamically consistent sulfate force field. Both the concentration-dependent shift of the static dielectric constant and the spectral shape match the experimental results very well for Na2SO4 solutions. For MgSO4 solutions, the simulations qualitatively reproduce the experimental observation of a slow mode, the origin of which we trace back to the ion-pair relaxation contribution via spectral decomposition. The radial distribution functions show that Mg2+ and SO42 - ions form extensive water-separated—and thus strongly dipolar—ion pairs, the orientational relaxation of which provides a simple physical explanation for the prominent slow dielectric mode in MgSO4 solutions. Remarkably, the Mg2+-SO42 - ion-pair relaxation extends all the way into the THz range, which we rationalize by the vibrational relaxation of tightly bound water-separated ion pairs. Thus, the relaxation of divalent ion pairs can give rise to widely separated orientational and vibrational spectroscopic features.

A deterministic Lagrangian particle separation-based method for advective-diffusion problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wong, Ken T. M.; Lee, Joseph H. W.; Choi, K. W.

2008-12-01

A simple and robust Lagrangian particle scheme is proposed to solve the advective-diffusion transport problem. The scheme is based on relative diffusion concepts and simulates diffusion by regulating particle separation. This new approach generates a deterministic result and requires far less number of particles than the random walk method. For the advection process, particles are simply moved according to their velocity. The general scheme is mass conservative and is free from numerical diffusion. It can be applied to a wide variety of advective-diffusion problems, but is particularly suited for ecological and water quality modelling when definition of particle attributes (e.g., cell status for modelling algal blooms or red tides) is a necessity. The basic derivation, numerical stability and practical implementation of the NEighborhood Separation Technique (NEST) are presented. The accuracy of the method is demonstrated through a series of test cases which embrace realistic features of coastal environmental transport problems. Two field application examples on the tidal flushing of a fish farm and the dynamics of vertically migrating marine algae are also presented.

Magnetosphere imager science definition team: Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Armstrong, T. P.; Gallagher, D. L.; Johnson, C. L.

1995-01-01

For three decades, magnetospheric field and plasma measurements have been made by diverse instruments flown on spacecraft in many different orbits, widely separated in space and time, and under various solar and magnetospheric conditions. Scientists have used this information to piece together an intricate, yet incomplete view of the magnetosphere. A simultaneous global view, using various light wavelengths and energetic neutral atoms, could reveal exciting new data and help explain complex magnetospheric processes, thus providing a clear picture of this region of space. This report summarizes the scientific rationale for such a magnetospheric imaging mission and outlines a mission concept for its implementation.

Magnetosphere imager science definition team interim report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Armstrong, T. P.; Johnson, C. L.

1995-01-01

For three decades, magnetospheric field and plasma measurements have been made by diverse instruments flown on spacecraft in may different orbits, widely separated in space and time, and under various solar and magnetospheric conditions. Scientists have used this information to piece together an intricate, yet incomplete view of the magnetosphere. A simultaneous global view, using various light wavelengths and energetic neutral atoms, could reveal exciting new data nd help explain complex magnetospheric processes, thus providing a clear picture of this region of space. This report documents the scientific rational for such a magnetospheric imaging mission and provides a mission concept for its implementation.

Climate Change and Neotectonic History of Northwestern China

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Farr, Tom G.; Chadwick, Oliver; Evans, Diane; Gillespie, Alan; Peltzer, Gilles; Tapponnier, Paul

1996-01-01

The progress, results and future plans for the following objectives are presented: (1) To compare the types, rates, and magnitudes of surficial modification processes that have operated in Northwest China and the Southwestern U.S.; (2) To quantify and understand the basis of the remote sensing signatures of these processes to allow extrapolation from field sites to regional maps and to allow comparisons between widely separated arid regions; (3) To use the resulting chronologies to help define the temporal and spatial distribution of continental climate changes; and (4) Determine the ages of movements on some of the active faults in Northwestern China.

Direct current dielectrophoretic manipulation of the ionic liquid droplets in water.

PubMed

Zhao, Kai; Li, Dongqing

2018-07-13

The ionic liquids (ILs) as the environmentally benign solvents show great potentials in microemulsion carrier systems and have been widely used in the biochemical and pharmaceutical fields. In the work, the ionic liquid-in-water microemulsions were fabricated by using two kinds of hydrophobic ionic liquid, 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [Bmim][PF 6 ] and 1-Hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [Hmim][PF 6 ] with Tween 20. The ionic liquid droplets in water experience the dielectrophoretic (DEP) forces induced by applying electrical field via a nano-orifice and a micron orifice on the opposite channel walls of a microchannel. The dielectrophoretic behaviors of the ionic liquid-in-water emulsion droplets were investigated under direct current (DC) electric field. The positive and negative DEP behaviors of the ionic liquid-in-water droplets varying with the electrical conductivity of the suspending medium were investigated and two kinds of the ionic liquid droplets of similar sizes were separated by their different DEP behaviors. In addition, the separation of the ionic liquid-in-water droplets by size was conducted. This paper, for the first time to our knowledge, presents the DC-DEP manipulation of the ionic liquid-in-water emulsion droplets by size and by type. This method provides a platform to manipulate the ionic liquid droplets individually. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Towards improved characterization of northern wetlands (or other landscapes) by remote sensing - a rapid approach to collect ground truth data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gålfalk, Magnus; Karlson, Martin; Crill, Patrick; Bastviken, David

2017-04-01

The calibration and validation of remote sensing land cover products is highly dependent on accurate ground truth data, which are costly and practically challenging to collect. This study evaluates a novel and efficient alternative to field surveys and UAV imaging commonly applied for this task. The method consists of i) a light weight, water proof, remote controlled RGB-camera mounted on an extendable monopod used for acquiring wide-field images of the ground from a height of 4.5 meters, and ii) a script for semi-automatic image classification. In the post-processing, the wide-field images are corrected for optical distortion and geometrically rectified so that the spatial resolution is the same over the surface area used for classification. The script distinguishes land surface components by color, brightness and spatial variability. The method was evaluated in wetland areas located around Abisko, northern Sweden. Proportional estimates of the six main surface components in the wetlands (wet and dry Sphagnum, shrub, grass, water, rock) were derived for 200 images, equivalent to 10 × 10 m field plots. These photo plots were then used as calibration data for a regional scale satellite based classification which separates the six wetland surface components using a Sentinel-1 time series. The method presented in this study is accurate, rapid, robust and cost efficient in comparison to field surveys (time consuming) and drone mapping (which require low wind speeds and no rain, suffer from battery limited flight times, have potential GPS/compass errors far north, and in some areas are prohibited by law).

Chemical separation of Mo and W from terrestrial and extraterrestrial samples via anion exchange chromatography.

PubMed

Nagai, Yuichiro; Yokoyama, Tetsuya

2014-05-20

A new two-stage chemical separation method was established using an anion exchange resin, Eichrom 1 × 8, to separate Mo and W from four natural rock samples. First, the distribution coefficients of nine elements (Ti, Fe, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, and W) under various chemical conditions were determined using HCl, HNO3, and HF. On the basis of the obtained distribution coefficients, a new technique for the two-stage chemical separation of Mo and W, along with the group separation of Ti-Zr-Hf, was developed as follows: 0.4 M HCl-0.5 M HF (major elements), 9 M HCl-0.05 M HF (Ti-Zr-Hf), 9 M HCl-1 M HF (W), and 6 M HNO3-3 M HF (Mo). After the chemical procedure, Nb remaining in the W fraction was separated using 9 M HCl-3 M HF. On the other hand, Nb and Zn remaining in the Mo fraction were removed using 2 M HF and 6 M HCl-0.1 M HF. The performance of this technique was evaluated by separating these elements from two terrestrial and two extraterrestrial samples. The recovery yields for Mo, W, Zr, and Hf were nearly 100% for all of the examined samples. The total contents of the Zr, Hf, W, and Mo in the blanks used for the chemical separation procedure were 582, 9, 29, and 396 pg, respectively. Therefore, our new separation technique can be widely used in various fields of geochemistry, cosmochemistry, and environmental sciences and particularly for multi-isotope analysis of these elements from a single sample with significant internal isotope heterogeneities.

Disaggregation and separation dynamics of magnetic particles in a microfluidic flow under an alternating gradient magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Quanliang; Li, Zhenhao; Wang, Zhen; Qi, Fan; Han, Xiaotao

2018-05-01

How to prevent particle aggregation in the magnetic separation process is of great importance for high-purity separation, while it is a challenging issue in practice. In this work, we report a novel method to solve this problem for improving the selectivity of size-based separation by use of a gradient alternating magnetic field. The specially designed magnetic field is capable of dynamically adjusting the magnetic field direction without changing the direction of magnetic gradient force acting on the particles. Using direct numerical simulations, we show that particles within a certain center-to-center distance are inseparable under a gradient static magnetic field since they are easy aggregated and then start moving together. By contrast, it has been demonstrated that alternating repulsive and attractive interaction forces between particles can be generated to avoid the formation of aggregations when the alternating gradient magnetic field with a given alternating frequency is applied, enabling these particles to be continuously separated based on size-dependent properties. The proposed magnetic separation method and simulation results have the significance for fundamental understanding of particle dynamic behavior and improving the separation efficiency.

Separation of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with DEP-FFF

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmidt, Howard K.; Peng, Haiqing; Alvarez, Noe; Mendes, Manuel; Pasquali, Matteo

2011-01-01

A process using a modified dielectrophoresis device separates single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) according to their polarizability in electric fields. This depends on the size and dielectric constant of individual nanotubes and easily separates metallic from semiconducting nanotubes. Separation by length has also been demonstrated. Partial separation (enrichment) according to bandgap (which is linked to polarizability) has also been shown and can be improved to full separation of individual types of semiconducting SWNTs with better control over operational parameters and the length of SWNT starting material. This process and device can be scaled affordably to generate useful amounts of semiconducting SWNTs for electronic device development and production. In this study, a flow injection dielectrophoresis technique was used with a modified dielectrophoresis device. The length, width, and height of the modified chamber were 28, 2.5, and 0.025 cm, respectively. On the bottom of the chamber, there are two arrays of 50-m-wide, 2-m-thick gold electrodes, which are connected to an AC voltage generator and are alternately arranged so that every electrode is adjacent to two electrodes of the opposite polar. There is an additional plate electrode on the top of the chamber that is negatively biased. During the experiment, a syringe pump constantly pumps in the mobile phase, 1-percent sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) solution, into the chamber. The frequency and voltage are set to 1 MHz and 10 V peak-to-peak, respectively. About 150 micro-L of SWNTs in 1- percent SDBS decanted solution are injected to the mobile phase through a septum near the entrance of the chamber. The flow rate of the mobile phase is set to 0.02 cu cm/min. The injected SWNTs sample flows through the chamber before it is lead into a fluorescence flow-through cell and collected for further analysis. The flow-through cell has three windows, thus allowing the fluorometer to collect fluorescence spectrum and visible absorption spectrums simultaneously. Dielectrophoresis field-flow fractionation (DEP-FFF) generally depends on interaction of a sedimentation force and DEP force for particle separation, and SWNTs are neutrally buoyant in water. In this innovation, the third electrode was added to create a sedimentation force based on DC electrophoresis. This makes this particular device applicable to separations on any neutrally buoyant particles in solution and a more general process for a broad range of nanomaterials sorting and separations.

Analysis of high gradient magnetic field effects on distribution of nanoparticles injected into pulsatile blood stream

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reza Habibi, Mohammad; Ghassemi, Majid; Hossien Hamedi, Mohammad

2012-04-01

Magnetic nanoparticles are widely used in a wide range of applications including data storage materials, pharmaceutical industries as magnetic separation tools, anti-cancer drug carriers and micro valve applications. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the effect of a non-uniform magnetic field on bio-fluid (blood) with magnetic nanoparticles. The effect of particles as well as mass fraction on flow field and volume concentration is investigated. The governing non-linear differential equations, concentration and Navier-stokes are coupled with the magnetic field. To solve these equations, a finite volume based code is developed and utilized. A real pulsatile velocity is utilized as inlet boundary condition. This velocity is extracted from an actual experimental data. Three percent nanoparticles volume concentration, as drug carrier, is steadily injected in an unsteady, pulsatile and non-Newtonian flow. A power law model is considered for the blood viscosity. The results show that during the systole section of the heartbeat when the blood velocity increases, the magnetic nanoparticles near the magnetic source are washed away. This is due to the sudden increase of the hydrodynamic force, which overcomes the magnetic force. The probability of vein blockage increases when the blood velocity reduces during the diastole time. As nanoparticles velocity injection decreases (longer injection time) the wall shear stress (especially near the injection area) decreases and the retention time of the magnetic nanoparticles in the blood flow increases.

Electromagnetic pulse distortion in living tissue.

PubMed

Lepelaars, E S

1996-05-01

Insight into the distortion of electromagnetic (EM) signals in living tissue is important for optimising medical applications. To obtain this insight, field calculations have been carried out for a plane-stratified configuration of air, skin, fat, muscle and bone tissue. In this configuration, an EM field is generated by a prescribed pulsed current in a circular loop. Debye dispersion models have been developed for the description of the permittivity of the tissues. The field problem is solved analytically with the aid of a temporal Fourier transformation and a spatial Hankel transformation. The corresponding inverse transformations have been carried out numerically. To demonstrate the influences of stratification and dispersion separately, the EM fields in the stratified configuration, in a completely muscle-filled space and in vacuum are compared. Two different pulses have been considered; narrow and wide. It emerges that dispersion results in a retardation and an attenuation of the field. Stratification causes additional fluctuations of the time-dependent field. Furthermore, the conductivity of tissue at high frequencies is mainly determined by its water content. Tissues with high water content, like muscle and skin, exhibit higher conductivity at high frequencies than fat and bone. Muscle and skin tissue therefore behave as low-pass filters to EM signals.

Ionic Liquid-Liquid Chromatography: A New General Purpose Separation Methodology.

PubMed

Brown, Leslie; Earle, Martyn J; Gîlea, Manuela A; Plechkova, Natalia V; Seddon, Kenneth R

2017-08-10

Ionic liquids can form biphasic solvent systems with many organic solvents and water, and these solvent systems can be used in liquid-liquid separations and countercurrent chromatography. The wide range of ionic liquids that can by synthesised, with specifically tailored properties, represents a new philosophy for the separation of organic, inorganic and bio-based materials. A customised countercurrent chromatograph has been designed and constructed specifically to allow the more viscous character of ionic liquid-based solvent systems to be used in a wide variety of separations (including transition metal salts, arenes, alkenes, alkanes, bio-oils and sugars).

Microfluidic acoustophoretic force based low-concentration oil separation and detection from the environment.

PubMed

Wang, Han; Liu, Zhongzheng; Kim, Sungman; Koo, Chiwan; Cho, Younghak; Jang, Dong-Young; Kim, Yong-Joe; Han, Arum

2014-03-07

Detecting and quantifying extremely low concentrations of oil from the environment have broad applications in oil spill monitoring in ocean and coastal areas as well as in oil leakage monitoring on land. Currently available methods for low-concentration oil detection are bulky or costly with limited sensitivities. Thus they are difficult to be used as portable and field-deployable detectors in the case of oil spills or for monitoring the long-term effects of dispersed oil on marine and coastal ecosystems. Here, we present a low-concentration oil droplet trapping and detection microfluidic system based on the acoustophoresis phenomenon where oil droplets in water having a negative acoustic contrast factor move towards acoustic pressure anti-nodes. By trapping oil droplets from water samples flowing through a microfluidic channel, even very low concentrations of oil droplets can be concentrated to a detectable level for further analyses, which is a significant improvement over currently available oil detection systems. Oil droplets in water were successfully trapped and accumulated in a circular acoustophoretic trapping chamber of the microfluidic device and detected using a custom-built compact fluorescent detector based on the natural fluorescence of the trapped crude oil droplets. After the on-line detection, crude oil droplets released from the trapping chamber were successfully separated into a collection outlet by acoustophoretic force for further off-chip analyses. The developed microfluidic system provides a new way of trapping, detecting, and separating low-concentration crude oil from environmental water samples and holds promise as a low-cost field-deployable oil detector with extremely high sensitivity. The microfluidic system and operation principle are expected to be utilized in a wide range of applications where separating, concentrating, and detecting small particles having a negative acoustic contrast factor are required.

An improved independent component analysis model for 3D chromatogram separation and its solution by multi-areas genetic algorithm.

PubMed

Cui, Lizhi; Poon, Josiah; Poon, Simon K; Chen, Hao; Gao, Junbin; Kwan, Paul; Fan, Kei; Ling, Zhihao

2014-01-01

The 3D chromatogram generated by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detector (HPLC-DAD) has been researched widely in the field of herbal medicine, grape wine, agriculture, petroleum and so on. Currently, most of the methods used for separating a 3D chromatogram need to know the compounds' number in advance, which could be impossible especially when the compounds are complex or white noise exist. New method which extracts compounds from 3D chromatogram directly is needed. In this paper, a new separation model named parallel Independent Component Analysis constrained by Reference Curve (pICARC) was proposed to transform the separation problem to a multi-parameter optimization issue. It was not necessary to know the number of compounds in the optimization. In order to find all the solutions, an algorithm named multi-areas Genetic Algorithm (mGA) was proposed, where multiple areas of candidate solutions were constructed according to the fitness and distances among the chromosomes. Simulations and experiments on a real life HPLC-DAD data set were used to demonstrate our method and its effectiveness. Through simulations, it can be seen that our method can separate 3D chromatogram to chromatogram peaks and spectra successfully even when they severely overlapped. It is also shown by the experiments that our method is effective to solve real HPLC-DAD data set. Our method can separate 3D chromatogram successfully without knowing the compounds' number in advance, which is fast and effective.

Current-induced transition from particle-by-particle to concurrent intercalation in phase-separating battery electrodes.

PubMed

Li, Yiyang; El Gabaly, Farid; Ferguson, Todd R; Smith, Raymond B; Bartelt, Norman C; Sugar, Joshua D; Fenton, Kyle R; Cogswell, Daniel A; Kilcoyne, A L David; Tyliszczak, Tolek; Bazant, Martin Z; Chueh, William C

2014-12-01

Many battery electrodes contain ensembles of nanoparticles that phase-separate on (de)intercalation. In such electrodes, the fraction of actively intercalating particles directly impacts cycle life: a vanishing population concentrates the current in a small number of particles, leading to current hotspots. Reports of the active particle population in the phase-separating electrode lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4; LFP) vary widely, ranging from near 0% (particle-by-particle) to 100% (concurrent intercalation). Using synchrotron-based X-ray microscopy, we probed the individual state-of-charge for over 3,000 LFP particles. We observed that the active population depends strongly on the cycling current, exhibiting particle-by-particle-like behaviour at low rates and increasingly concurrent behaviour at high rates, consistent with our phase-field porous electrode simulations. Contrary to intuition, the current density, or current per active internal surface area, is nearly invariant with the global electrode cycling rate. Rather, the electrode accommodates higher current by increasing the active particle population. This behaviour results from thermodynamic transformation barriers in LFP, and such a phenomenon probably extends to other phase-separating battery materials. We propose that modifying the transformation barrier and exchange current density can increase the active population and thus the current homogeneity. This could introduce new paradigms to enhance the cycle life of phase-separating battery electrodes.

Additive-free size-controlled synthesis of gold square nanoplates using photochemical reaction in dynamic phase-separating media.

PubMed

Kajimoto, Shinji; Shirasawa, Daisuke; Horimoto, Noriko Nishizawa; Fukumura, Hiroshi

2013-05-14

Ultrafast phase separation of water and 2-butoxyethanol mixture was induced by nanosecond IR laser pulse irradiation. After a certain delay time, a UV laser pulse was introduced to induce photoreduction of aurate ions, which led to the formation of gold nanoparticles in dynamic phase-separating media. The structure and size of the nanoparticles varied depending on the delay time between the IR and UV pulses. For a delay time of 5 and 6 μs, gold square plates having edge lengths of 150 and 100 nm were selectively obtained, respectively. With a delay time of 3 μs, on the other hand, the size of the square plates varied widely from 100 nm to a few micrometers. The size of the gold square plates was also varied by varying the total irradiation time of the IR and UV pulses. The size distribution of the square plates obtained under different conditions suggests that the growth process of the square plates was affected by the size of the nanophases during phase separation. Electron diffraction patterns of the synthesized square plates showed that the square plates were highly crystalline with a Au(100) surface. These results showed that the nanophases formed during laser-induced phase separation can provide detergent-free reaction fields for size-controlled nanomaterial synthesis.

[Present situation and development trends of asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation].

PubMed

Liang, Qihui; Wu, Di; Qiu, Bailing; Han, Nanyin

2017-09-08

Field-flow fractionation (FFF) is a kind of mature separation technologies in the field of bioanalysis, feasible of separating analytes with the differences of certain physical and chemical properties by the combination effects of two orthogonal force fields (flow field and external force field). Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) is a vital subvariant of FFF, which applying a vertical flow field as the second dimension force field. The separation in AF4 opening channel is carried out by any composition carrier fluid, universally and effectively used in separation of bioparticles and biopolymers due to the non-invasivity feature. Herein, bio-analytes are held in bio-friendly environment and easily sterilized without using degrading carrier fluid which is conducive to maintain natural conformation. In this review, FFF and AF4 principles are briefly described, and some classical and emerging applications and developments in the bioanalytical fields are concisely introduced and tabled. Also, special focus is given to the hyphenation of AF4 with highly specific, sensitive detection technologies.

Propagation of an ultra-short, intense laser in a relativistic fluid

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

Ritchie, A.B.; Decker, C.D.

1997-12-31

A Maxwell-relativistic fluid model is developed to describe the propagation of an ultrashort, intense laser pulse through an underdense plasma. The model makes use of numerically stabilizing fast Fourier transform (FFT) computational methods for both the Maxwell and fluid equations, and it is benchmarked against particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. Strong fields generated in the wake of the laser are calculated, and the authors observe coherent wake-field radiation generated at harmonics of the plasma frequency due to nonlinearities in the laser-plasma interaction. For a plasma whose density is 10% of critical, the highest members of the plasma harmonic series begin to overlapmore » with the first laser harmonic, suggesting that widely used multiple-scales-theory, by which the laser and plasma frequencies are assumed to be separable, ceases to be a useful approximation.« less

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Supernova rates from STRESS (Botticella+, 2008)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Botticella, M. T.; Riello, M.; Cappellaro, E.; Benetti, S.; Altavilla, G.; Pastorello, A.; Turatto, M.; Greggio, L.; Patat, F.; Valenti, S.; Zampieri, L.; Harutyunyan, A.; Pignata, G.; Taubenberger, S.

2008-04-01

Observations were carried out using the Wide Field Imager (WFI) at the 2.2m MPG/ESO telescope at La Silla, Chile. WFI is a mosaic camera consisting of 2x4 CCDs, each of 2048x4096 pixels, with a pixel scale of 0.238arcsec and a field of view of 34x33arcmin2. The individual chips are separated by gaps of 23.8arcsec and 14.3arcsec along right ascension and declination respectively, for a resulting filling factor of 95.9%. We performed observations in the B,V,R,I bands using the following ESO/WFI broad-band filters: B/99, B/123, V/89, Rc/162, Ic/lwp. The observing programme was distributed over a period of 6 years, from 1999 to 2005. (3 data files).

Entanglement scrambling in 2d conformal field theory

DOE PAGES

Asplund, Curtis T.; Bernamonti, Alice; Galli, Federico; ...

2015-09-17

Here, we investigate how entanglement spreads in time-dependent states of a 1+1 dimensional conformal field theory (CFT). The results depend qualitatively on the value of the central charge. In rational CFTs, which have central charge below a critical value, entanglement entropy behaves as if correlations were carried by free quasiparticles. This leads to long-term memory effects, such as spikes in the mutual information of widely separated regions at late times. When the central charge is above the critical value, the quasiparticle picture fails. Assuming no extended symmetry algebra, any theory with c > 1 has diminished memory effects compared tomore » the rational models. In holographic CFTs, with c >> 1, these memory effects are eliminated altogether at strong coupling, but reappear after the scrambling time t ≳ β log c at weak coupling.« less

Component masses of young, wide, non-magnetic white dwarf binaries in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baxter, R. B.; Dobbie, P. D.; Parker, Q. A.; Casewell, S. L.; Lodieu, N.; Burleigh, M. R.; Lawrie, K. A.; Külebi, B.; Koester, D.; Holland, B. R.

2014-06-01

We present a spectroscopic component analysis of 18 candidate young, wide, non-magnetic, double-degenerate binaries identified from a search of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 (DR7). All but two pairings are likely to be physical systems. We show SDSS J084952.47+471247.7 + SDSS J084952.87+471249.4 to be a wide DA + DB binary, only the second identified to date. Combining our measurements for the components of 16 new binaries with results for three similar, previously known systems within the DR7, we have constructed a mass distribution for the largest sample to date (38) of white dwarfs in young, wide, non-magnetic, double-degenerate pairings. This is broadly similar in form to that of the isolated field population with a substantial peak around M ˜ 0.6 M⊙. We identify an excess of ultramassive white dwarfs and attribute this to the primordial separation distribution of their progenitor systems peaking at relatively larger values and the greater expansion of their binary orbits during the final stages of stellar evolution. We exploit this mass distribution to probe the origins of unusual types of degenerates, confirming a mild preference for the progenitor systems of high-field-magnetic white dwarfs, at least within these binaries, to be associated with early-type stars. Additionally, we consider the 19 systems in the context of the stellar initial mass-final mass relation. None appear to be strongly discordant with current understanding of this relationship.

Role of temperature on static correlational properties in a spin-polarized electron gas

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

Arora, Priya; Moudgil, R. K., E-mail: rkmoudgil@kuk.ac.in; Kumar, Krishan

We have studied the effect of temperature on the static correlational properties of a spin-polarized three-dimensional electron gas (3DEG) over a wide coupling and temperature regime. This problem has been very recently studied by Brown et al. using the restricted path-integral Monte Carlo (RPIMC) technique in the warm-dense regime. To this endeavor, we have used the finite temperature version of the dynamical mean-field theory of Singwi et al, the so-called quantum STLS (qSTLS) approach. The static density structure factor and the static pair-correlation function are calculated, and compared with the RPIMC simulation data. We find an excellent agreement with themore » simulation at high temperature over a wide coupling range. However, the agreement is seen to somewhat deteriorate with decreasing temperature. The pair-correlation function is found to become small negative for small electron separation. This may be attributed to the inadequacy of the mean-field theory in dealing with the like spin electron correlations in the strong-coupling domain. A nice agreement with RPIMC data at high temperature seems to arise due to weakening of both the exchange and coulomb correlations with rising temperature.« less

Metal-organic frameworks for analytical chemistry: from sample collection to chromatographic separation.

PubMed

Gu, Zhi-Yuan; Yang, Cheng-Xiong; Chang, Na; Yan, Xiu-Ping

2012-05-15

In modern analytical chemistry researchers pursue novel materials to meet analytical challenges such as improvements in sensitivity, selectivity, and detection limit. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are an emerging class of microporous materials, and their unusual properties such as high surface area, good thermal stability, uniform structured nanoscale cavities, and the availability of in-pore functionality and outer-surface modification are attractive for diverse analytical applications. This Account summarizes our research on the analytical applications of MOFs ranging from sampling to chromatographic separation. MOFs have been either directly used or engineered to meet the demands of various analytical applications. Bulk MOFs with microsized crystals are convenient sorbents for direct application to in-field sampling and solid-phase extraction. Quartz tubes packed with MOF-5 have shown excellent stability, adsorption efficiency, and reproducibility for in-field sampling and trapping of atmospheric formaldehyde. The 2D copper(II) isonicotinate packed microcolumn has demonstrated large enhancement factors and good shape- and size-selectivity when applied to on-line solid-phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples. We have explored the molecular sieving effect of MOFs for the efficient enrichment of peptides with simultaneous exclusion of proteins from biological fluids. These results show promise for the future of MOFs in peptidomics research. Moreover, nanosized MOFs and engineered thin films of MOFs are promising materials as novel coatings for solid-phase microextraction. We have developed an in situ hydrothermal growth approach to fabricate thin films of MOF-199 on etched stainless steel wire for solid-phase microextraction of volatile benzene homologues with large enhancement factors and wide linearity. Their high thermal stability and easy-to-engineer nanocrystals make MOFs attractive as new stationary phases to fabricate MOF-coated capillaries for high-resolution gas chromatography (GC). We have explored a dynamic coating approach to fabricate a MOF-coated capillary for the GC separation of important raw chemicals and persistent organic pollutants with high resolution and excellent selectivity. We have combined a MOF-coated fiber for solid-phase microextraction with a MOF-coated capillary for GC separation, which provides an effective MOF-based tandem molecular sieve platform for selective microextraction and high-resolution GC separation of target analytes in complex samples. Microsized MOFs with good solvent stability are attractive stationary phases for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). These materials have shown high resolution and good selectivity and reproducibility in both the normal-phase HPLC separation of fullerenes and substituted aromatics on MIL-101 packed columns and position isomers on a MIL-53(Al) packed column and the reversed-phase HPLC separation of a wide range of analytes from nonpolar to polar and acidic to basic solutes. Despite the above achievements, further exploration of MOFs in analytical chemistry is needed. Especially, analytical application-oriented engineering of MOFs is imperative for specific applications.

Recent Trends in Nanofibrous Membranes and Their Suitability for Air and Water Filtrations

PubMed Central

Balamurugan, Ramalingam; Sundarrajan, Subramanian; Ramakrishna, Seeram

2011-01-01

In recent decades, engineered membranes have become a viable separation technology for a wide range of applications in environmental, food and biomedical fields. Membranes are now competitive compared to conventional techniques such as adsorption, ion exchangers and sand filters. The main advantage of membrane technology is the fact that it works without the addition of any chemicals, with relatively high efficiency and low energy consumption with well arranged process conductions. Hence they are widely utilized in biotechnology, food and drink manufacturing, air filtration and medical uses such as dialysis for kidney failure patients. Membranes from nanofibrous materials possess high surface area to volume ratio, fine tunable pore sizes and their ease of preparation prompted both industry and academic researchers to study their use in many applications. In this paper, modern concepts and current research progress on various nanofibrous membranes, such as water and air filtration media, are presented. PMID:24957734

Classifying Degraded Modern Polymeric Museum Artefacts by Their Smell.

PubMed

Curran, Katherine; Underhill, Mark; Grau-Bové, Josep; Fearn, Tom; Gibson, Lorraine T; Strlič, Matija

2018-02-05

The use of VOC analysis to diagnose degradation in modern polymeric museum artefacts is reported. Volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis is a successful method for diagnosing medical conditions but to date has found little application in museums. Modern polymers are increasingly found in museum collections but pose serious conservation difficulties owing to unstable and widely varying formulations. Solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and linear discriminant analysis were used to classify samples according to the length of time they had been artificially degraded. Accuracies in classification of 50-83 % were obtained after validation with separate test sets. The method was applied to three artefacts from collections at Tate to detect evidence of degradation. This approach could be used for any material in heritage collections and more widely in the field of polymer degradation. © 2018 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.

CN-GELFrEE - Clear Native Gel-eluted Liquid Fraction Entrapment Electrophoresis

PubMed Central

Skinner, Owen S.; Do Vale, Luis H. F.; Catherman, Adam D.; Havugimana, Pierre C.; Valle de Sousa, Marcelo; Domont, Gilberto B.; Kelleher, Neil L.; Compton, Philip D.

2016-01-01

Protein complexes perform an array of crucial cellular functions. Elucidating their non-covalent interactions and dynamics is paramount for understanding the role of complexes in biological systems. While the direct characterization of biomolecular assemblies has become increasingly important in recent years, native fractionation techniques that are compatible with downstream analysis techniques, including mass spectrometry, are necessary to further expand these studies. Nevertheless, the field lacks a high-throughput, wide-range, high-recovery separation method for native protein assemblies. Here, we present clear native gel-eluted liquid fraction entrapment electrophoresis (CN-GELFrEE), which is a novel separation modality for non-covalent protein assemblies. CN-GELFrEE separation performance was demonstrated by fractionating complexes extracted from mouse heart. Fractions were collected over 2 hr and displayed discrete bands ranging from ~30 to 500 kDa. A consistent pattern of increasing molecular weight bandwidths was observed, each ranging ~100 kDa. Further, subsequent reanalysis of native fractions via SDS-PAGE showed molecular-weight shifts consistent with the denaturation of protein complexes. Therefore, CN-GELFrEE was proved to offer the ability to perform high-resolution and high-recovery native separations on protein complexes from a large molecular weight range, providing fractions that are compatible with downstream protein analyses. PMID:26967310

SEPARATION OF THE RIBBON FROM GLOBALLY DISTRIBUTED ENERGETIC NEUTRAL ATOM FLUX USING THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF IBEX OBSERVATIONS

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

Schwadron, N. A.; Moebius, E.; Kucharek, H.

2014-11-01

The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) observes the IBEX ribbon, which stretches across much of the sky observed in energetic neutral atoms (ENAs). The ribbon covers a narrow (∼20°-50°) region that is believed to be roughly perpendicular to the interstellar magnetic field. Superimposed on the IBEX ribbon is the globally distributed flux that is controlled by the processes and properties of the heliosheath. This is a second study that utilizes a previously developed technique to separate ENA emissions in the ribbon from the globally distributed flux. A transparency mask is applied over the ribbon and regions of high emissions. We thenmore » solve for the globally distributed flux using an interpolation scheme. Previously, ribbon separation techniques were applied to the first year of IBEX-Hi data at and above 0.71 keV. Here we extend the separation analysis down to 0.2 keV and to five years of IBEX data enabling first maps of the ribbon and the globally distributed flux across the full sky of ENA emissions. Our analysis shows the broadening of the ribbon peak at energies below 0.71 keV and demonstrates the apparent deformation of the ribbon in the nose and heliotail. We show global asymmetries of the heliosheath, including both deflection of the heliotail and differing widths of the lobes, in context of the direction, draping, and compression of the heliospheric magnetic field. We discuss implications of the ribbon maps for the wide array of concepts that attempt to explain the ribbon's origin. Thus, we present the five-year separation of the IBEX ribbon from the globally distributed flux in preparation for a formal IBEX data release of ribbon and globally distributed flux maps to the heliophysics community.« less

Importance of MS selectivity and chromatographic separation in LC-MS/MS-based methods when investigating pharmaceutical metabolites in water. Dipyrone as a case of study.

PubMed

Ibáñez, M; Gracia-Lor, E; Sancho, J V; Hernández, F

2012-08-01

Pharmaceuticals are emerging contaminants of increasing concern because of their presence in the aquatic environment and potential to reach drinking-water sources. After human and/or veterinary consumption, pharmaceuticals can be excreted in unchanged form, as the parent compound, and/or as free or conjugated metabolites. Determination of most pharmaceuticals and metabolites in the environment is commonly made by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS). LC coupled to tandem MS is the technique of choice nowadays in this field. The acquisition of two selected reaction monitoring (SRM) transitions together with the retention time is the most widely accepted criterion for a safe quantification and confirmation assay. However, scarce attention is normally paid to the selectivity of the selected transitions as well as to the chromatographic separation. In this work, the importance of full spectrum acquisition high-resolution MS data using a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight analyser and/or a suitable chromatographic separation (to reduce the possibility of co-eluting interferences) is highlighted when investigating pharmaceutical metabolites that share common fragment ions. For this purpose, the analytical challenge associated to the determination of metabolites of the widely used analgesic dipyrone (also known as metamizol) in urban wastewater is discussed. Examples are given on the possibilities of reporting false positives of dypirone metabolites by LC-MS/MS under SRM mode due to a wrong assignment of identity of the compounds detected. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Theoretical study of the photodissociation of Li(2)+ in one-color intense laser fields.

PubMed

Li, Yuanjun; Jiang, Wanyi; Khait, Yuriy G; Hoffmann, Mark R

2011-05-07

A theoretical treatment of the photodissociation of the molecular ion Li(2) (+) in one-color intense laser fields, using the time-dependent wave packet approach in a Floquet Born-Oppenheimer representation, is presented. Six electronic states 1,2 (2)Σ(g)(+), 1,2 (2)Σ(u)(+), 1 (2)Π(g), and 1 (2)Π(u) are of relevance in this simulation and have been included. The dependences of the fragmental dissociation probabilities and kinetic energy release (KER) spectra on pulse width, peak intensity, polarization angle, wavelength, and initial vibrational level are analyzed to interpret the influence of control parameters of the external field. Three main dissociation channels, 1 (2)Σ(g)(+) (m = -1), 2 (2)Σ(g)(+) (m = -2), and 2 (2)Σ(u)(+) (m = -3), are seen to dominate the dissociation processes under a wide variety of laser conditions and give rise to well separated groups of KER features. Different dissociation mechanisms for the involved Floquet channels are discussed.

Chip-based wide field-of-view nanoscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diekmann, Robin; Helle, Øystein I.; Øie, Cristina I.; McCourt, Peter; Huser, Thomas R.; Schüttpelz, Mark; Ahluwalia, Balpreet S.

2017-04-01

Present optical nanoscopy techniques use a complex microscope for imaging and a simple glass slide to hold the sample. Here, we demonstrate the inverse: the use of a complex, but mass-producible optical chip, which hosts the sample and provides a waveguide for the illumination source, and a standard low-cost microscope to acquire super-resolved images via two different approaches. Waveguides composed of a material with high refractive-index contrast provide a strong evanescent field that is used for single-molecule switching and fluorescence excitation, thus enabling chip-based single-molecule localization microscopy. Additionally, multimode interference patterns induce spatial fluorescence intensity variations that enable fluctuation-based super-resolution imaging. As chip-based nanoscopy separates the illumination and detection light paths, total-internal-reflection fluorescence excitation is possible over a large field of view, with up to 0.5 mm × 0.5 mm being demonstrated. Using multicolour chip-based nanoscopy, we visualize fenestrations in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells.

Structures of water molecules in carbon nanotubes under electric fields

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

Winarto,; Takaiwa, Daisuke; Yamamoto, Eiji

2015-03-28

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are promising for water transport through membranes and for use as nano-pumps. The development of CNT-based nanofluidic devices, however, requires a better understanding of the properties of water molecules in CNTs because they can be very different from those in the bulk. Using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the effect of axial electric fields on the structure of water molecules in CNTs having diameters ranging from (7,7) to (10,10). The water dipole moments were aligned parallel to the electric field, which increases the density of water inside the CNTs and forms ordered ice-like structures. The electricmore » field induces the transition from liquid to ice nanotubes in a wide range of CNT diameters. Moreover, we found an increase in the lifetime of hydrogen bonds for water structures in the CNTs. Fast librational motion breaks some hydrogen bonds, but the molecular pairs do not separate and the hydrogen bonds reform. Thus, hydrogen bonds maintain the water structure in the CNTs, and the water molecules move collectively, decreasing the axial diffusion coefficient and permeation rate.« less

Responses to magnetic stimuli recorded in peripheral nerves in the marine nudibranch mollusk Tritonia diomedea.

PubMed

Pavlova, Galina A; Glantz, Raymon M; Dennis Willows, A O

2011-10-01

Prior behavioral and neurophysiological studies provide evidence that the nudibranch mollusk Tritonia orients to the earth's magnetic field. Earlier studies of electrophysiological responses in certain neurons of the brain to changing ambient magnetic fields suggest that although certain identified brain cells fire impulses when the ambient field is changed, these neuron somata and their central dentritic and axonal processes are themselves not primary magnetic receptors. Here, using semi-intact animal preparations from which the brain was removed, we recorded from peripheral nerve trunks. Using techniques to count spikes in individual nerves and separately also to identify, then count individual axonal spikes in extracellular records, we found both excitatory and inhibitory axonal responses elicited by changes in the direction of ambient earth strength magnetic fields. We found responses in nerves from many locations throughout the body and in axons innervating the body wall and rhinophores. Our results indicate that primary receptors for geomagnetism in Tritonia are not focally concentrated in any particular organ, but appear to be widely dispersed in the peripheral body tissues.

Correlation of simulation/finite element analysis to the separation of intrinsically magnetic spores and red blood cells using a microfluidic magnetic deposition system.

PubMed

Sun, Jianxin; Moore, Lee; Xue, Wei; Kim, James; Zborowski, Maciej; Chalmers, Jeffrey J

2018-05-01

Magnetic separation of cells has been, and continues to be, widely used in a variety of applications, ranging from healthcare diagnostics to detection of food contamination. Typically, these technologies require cells labeled with antibody magnetic particle conjugate and a high magnetic energy gradient created in the flow containing the labeled cells (i.e., a column packed with magnetically inducible material), or dense packing of magnetic particles next to the flow cell. Such designs, while creating high magnetic energy gradients, are not amenable to easy, highly detailed, mathematic characterization. Our laboratories have been characterizing and developing analysis and separation technology that can be used on intrinsically magnetic cells or spores which are typically orders of magnitude weaker than typically immunomagnetically labeled cells. One such separation system is magnetic deposition microscopy (MDM) which not only separates cells, but deposits them in specific locations on slides for further microscopic analysis. In this study, the MDM system has been further characterized, using finite element and computational fluid mechanics software, and separation performance predicted, using a model which combines: 1) the distribution of the intrinsic magnetophoretic mobility of the cells (spores); 2) the fluid flow within the separation device; and 3) accurate maps of the values of the magnetic field (max 2.27 T), and magnetic energy gradient (max of 4.41 T 2 /mm) within the system. Guided by this model, experimental studies indicated that greater than 95% of the intrinsically magnetic Bacillus spores can be separated with the MDM system. Further, this model allows analysis of cell trajectories which can assist in the design of higher throughput systems. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Identification of inorganic ions in post-blast explosive residues using portable CE instrumentation and capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection.

PubMed

Hutchinson, Joseph P; Johns, Cameron; Breadmore, Michael C; Hilder, Emily F; Guijt, Rosanne M; Lennard, Chris; Dicinoski, Greg; Haddad, Paul R

2008-11-01

Novel CE methods have been developed on portable instrumentation adapted to accommodate a capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector for the separation and sensitive detection of inorganic anions and cations in post-blast explosive residues from homemade inorganic explosive devices. The methods presented combine sensitivity and speed of analysis for the wide range of inorganic ions used in this study. Separate methods were employed for the separation of anions and cations. The anion separation method utilised a low conductivity 70 mM Tris/70 mM CHES aqueous electrolyte (pH 8.6) with a 90 cm capillary coated with hexadimethrine bromide to reverse the EOF. Fifteen anions could be baseline separated in 7 min with detection limits in the range 27-240 microg/L. A selection of ten anions deemed most important in this application could be separated in 45 s on a shorter capillary (30.6 cm) using the same electrolyte. The cation separation method was performed on a 73 cm length of fused-silica capillary using an electrolyte system composed of 10 mM histidine and 50 mM acetic acid, at pH 4.2. The addition of the complexants, 1 mM hydroxyisobutyric acid and 0.7 mM 18-crown-6 ether, enhanced selectivity and allowed the separation of eleven inorganic cations in under 7 min with detection limits in the range 31-240 microg/L. The developed methods were successfully field tested on post-blast residues obtained from the controlled detonation of homemade explosive devices. Results were verified using ion chromatographic analyses of the same samples.

FOREWORD: Focus on Materials Analysis and Processing in Magnetic Fields Focus on Materials Analysis and Processing in Magnetic Fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakka, Yoshio; Hirota, Noriyuki; Horii, Shigeru; Ando, Tsutomu

2009-03-01

Recently, interest in the applications of feeble (diamagnetic and paramagnetic) magnetic materials has grown, whereas the popularity of ferromagnetic materials remains steady and high. This trend is due to the progress of superconducting magnet technology, particularly liquid-helium-free superconducting magnets that can generate magnetic fields of 10 T and higher. As the magnetic energy is proportional to the square of the applied magnetic field, the magnetic energy of such 10 T magnets is in excess of 10 000 times that of conventional 0.1 T permanent magnets. Consequently, many interesting phenomena have been observed over the last decade, such as the Moses effect, magnetic levitation and the alignment of feeble magnetic materials. Researchers in this area are widely spread around the world, but their number in Japan is relatively high, which might explain the success of magnetic field science and technology in Japan. Processing in magnetic fields is a rapidly expanding research area with a wide range of promising applications in materials science. The 3rd International Workshop on Materials Analysis and Processing in Magnetic Fields (MAP3), which was held on 14-16 May 2008 at the University of Tokyo, Japan, focused on various topics including magnetic field effects on chemical, physical, biological, electrochemical, thermodynamic and hydrodynamic phenomena; magnetic field effects on the crystal growth and processing of materials; diamagnetic levitation, the magneto-Archimedes effect, spin chemistry, magnetic orientation, control of structure by magnetic fields, magnetic separation and purification, magnetic-field-induced phase transitions, properties of materials in high magnetic fields, the development of NMR and MRI, medical applications of magnetic fields, novel magnetic phenomena, physical property measurement by magnetic fields, and the generation of high magnetic fields. This focus issue compiles 13 key papers selected from the proceedings of MAP3. Other papers of the proceedings are published in Journal of Physics: Conference Series. Tournier and Beaugnon review experimental texturing in metallic melts by cooling in magnetic fields, which is modeled in detail in a study by Tournier. Wang et al provide further experimental results on the solidification of Mn-90.4 wt % Sb alloy in magnetic fields. The orientations of grains and particles induced by magnetic fields is reported by Horii et al (rare-earth-doped cuprates), Tanaka et al (barium-bismuth titanate ceramics), Liu and Schwartz (Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox/AgMg wires) and Tsuda and Sakka (carbon nanotubes). Gielen et al present a model of how to quantify a molecular alignment using magnetic birefringence, and Ando et al simulate the movement of feeble particles in magnetic fields. Hirota et al report the experimental control of the lattice constant in a triangular lattice of feeble magnetic particles. The size separation of diamagnetic particles by magnetic fields is experimentally studied by Tarn et al and theoretically studied by Fukui et al. A setup measuring x-ray diffraction patterns in magnetic fields up to 5 T and temperatures above 200 oC has been developed by Mitsui et al. We hope that this focus issue will help readers to understand several aspects of materials analysis and processing in magnetic fields at the frontier of the science.

Method of electric field flow fractionation wherein the polarity of the electric field is periodically reversed

DOEpatents

Stevens, Fred J.

1992-01-01

A novel method of electric field flow fractionation for separating solute molecules from a carrier solution is disclosed. The method of the invention utilizes an electric field that is periodically reversed in polarity, in a time-dependent, wave-like manner. The parameters of the waveform, including amplitude, frequency and wave shape may be varied to optimize separation of solute species. The waveform may further include discontinuities to enhance separation.

Theoretical validation for changing magnetic fields of systems of permanent magnets of drum separators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lozovaya, S. Y.; Lozovoy, N. M.; Okunev, A. N.

2018-03-01

This article is devoted to the theoretical validation of the change in magnetic fields created by the permanent magnet systems of the drum separators. In the article, using the example of a magnetic separator for enrichment of highly magnetic ores, the method of analytical calculation of the magnetic fields of systems of permanent magnets based on the Biot-Savart-Laplace law, the equivalent solenoid method, and the superposition principle of fields is considered.

Field-induced exciton dissociation in PTB7-based organic solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gerhard, Marina; Arndt, Andreas P.; Bilal, Mühenad; Lemmer, Uli; Koch, Martin; Howard, Ian A.

2017-05-01

The physics of charge separation in organic semiconductors is a topic of ongoing research of relevance to material and device engineering. Herein, we present experimental observations of the field and temperature dependence of charge separation from singlet excitons in PTB7 and PC71BM , and from charge-transfer states created across interfaces in PTB 7 /PC71BM bulk heterojunction solar cells. We obtain this experimental data by time-resolving the near infrared emission of the states from 10 K to room temperature and electric fields from 0 to 2.5 MVcm -1 . Examining how the luminescence is quenched by field and temperature gives direct insight into the underlying physics. We observe that singlet excitons can be split by high fields, and that disorder broadens the high threshold fields needed to split the excitons. Charge-transfer (CT) states, on the other hand, can be separated by both field and temperature. Also, the data imply a strong reduction of the activation barrier for charge splitting from the CT state relative to the exciton state. The observations provided herein of the field-dependent separation of CT states as a function of temperature offer a rich data set against which theoretical models of charge separation can be rigorously tested; it should be useful for developing the more advanced theoretical models of charge separation.

Ultra-wide-field imaging in diabetic retinopathy; an overview.

PubMed

Ghasemi Falavarjani, Khalil; Wang, Kang; Khadamy, Joobin; Sadda, Srinivas R

2016-06-01

To present an overview on ultra-wide-field imaging in diabetic retinopathy. A comprehensive search of the pubmed database was performed using the search terms of "ultra-wide-field imaging", "ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography" and "diabetic retinopathy". The relevant original articles were reviewed. New advances in ultra-wide-field imaging allow for precise measurements of the peripheral retinal lesions. A consistent finding amongst these articles was that ultra-wide-field imaging improved detection of peripheral lesion. There was discordance among the studies, however, on the correlation between peripheral diabetic lesions and diabetic macular edema. Visualization of the peripheral retina using ultra-wide-field imaging improves diagnosis and classification of diabetic retinopathy. Additional studies are needed to better define the association of peripheral diabetic lesions with diabetic macular edema.

Retention and effective diffusion of model metabolites on porous graphitic carbon.

PubMed

Lunn, Daniel B; Yun, Young J; Jorgenson, James W

2017-12-29

The study of metabolites in biological samples is of high interest for a wide range of biological and pharmaceutical applications. Reversed phase liquid chromatography is a common technique used for the separation of metabolites, but it provides little retention for polar metabolites. An alternative to C18 bonded phases, porous graphitic carbon has the ability to provide significant retention for both non-polar and polar analytes. The goal of this work is to study the retention and effective diffusion properties of porous graphitic carbon, to see if it is suitable for the wide injection bands and long run times associated with long, packed capillary-scale separations. The retention of a set of standard metabolites was studied for both stationary phases over a wide range of mobile phase conditions. This data showed that porous graphitic carbon benefits from significantly increased retention (often >100 fold) under initial gradient conditions for these metabolites, suggesting much improved ability to focus a wide injection band at the column inlet. The effective diffusion properties of these columns were studied using peak-parking experiments with the standard metabolites under a wide range of retention conditions. Under the high retention conditions, which can be associated with retention after injection loading for gradient separations, D eff /D m ∼0.1 for both the C18-bonded and porous graphitic carbon columns. As C18 bonded particles are widely, and successfully utilized for long gradient separations without issue of increasing peak width from longitudinal diffusion, this suggests that porous graphitic carbon should be amenable for long runtime gradient separations as well. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparative study between fundus autofluorescence and red reflectance imaging of choroidal nevi using ultra-wide-field scanning laser ophthalmoscopy.

PubMed

Zapata, Miguel Angel; Leila, Mahmoud; Teixidor, Teresa; Garcia-Arumi, Jose

2015-06-01

To explore the utility of fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and red reflectance (RR) imaging using ultra-wide-field scanning laser ophthalmoscope in choroidal nevi. Retrospective observational case study reviewing clinical data, color, FAF, and RR images of patients with choroidal nevi and comparing the findings. The ultra-wide-field scanning laser ophthalmoscope uses green laser 532 nm and red laser 633 nm that enabled FAF and RR imaging, respectively in separate channels. Superimposition of both images yielded a composite color image. The study included 46 eyes of 45 patients. Nevi were unilateral in 44 patients (98%). Forty-one nevi (89.1%) were located temporally between the macula and the equator. All nevi (100%) were deeply pigmented. The most frequent surface changes were lipofuscin pigments, zones of retinal pigment epithelium atrophy, and retinal pigment epithelium pigment clumps in 31 (67.3%), 18 (39.1%), and 8 eyes (17.3%), respectively. Color photographs were superior to FAF in detecting nevus boundaries and surface changes. Red reflectance correlated strongly with color images, although the nevus boundaries and surface changes were better delineated in RR mode. Red reflectance was superior to FAF in delineating the boundaries and surface changes of the nevus; clear visibility (3+) for RR versus no or poor visibility (0/1+) for FAF. Nevertheless, the areas of retinal pigment epithelium atrophy were better delineated in FAF mode; clear visibility (3+) for FAF versus poor visibility (1+) for FAF. Red reflectance imaging is more sensitive than conventional photography for follow-up of choroidal nevi. Fundus autofluorescence should be considered only as a complementary tool to RR imaging.

MUSE field splitter unit: fan-shaped separator for 24 integral field units

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laurent, Florence; Renault, Edgard; Anwand, Heiko; Boudon, Didier; Caillier, Patrick; Kosmalski, Johan; Loupias, Magali; Nicklas, Harald; Seifert, Walter; Salaun, Yves; Xu, Wenli

2014-07-01

MUSE (Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer) is a second generation Very Large Telescope (VLT) integral field spectrograph developed for the European Southern Observatory (ESO). It combines a 1' x 1' field of view sampled at 0.2 arcsec for its Wide Field Mode (WFM) and a 7.5"x7.5" field of view for its Narrow Field Mode (NFM). Both modes will operate with the improved spatial resolution provided by GALACSI (Ground Atmospheric Layer Adaptive Optics for Spectroscopic Imaging), that will use the VLT deformable secondary mirror and 4 Laser Guide Stars (LGS) foreseen in 2015. MUSE operates in the visible wavelength range (0.465-0.93 μm). A consortium of seven institutes is currently commissioning MUSE in the Very Large Telescope for the Preliminary Acceptance in Chile, scheduled for September, 2014. MUSE is composed of several subsystems which are under the responsibility of each institute. The Fore Optics derotates and anamorphoses the image at the focal plane. A Splitting and Relay Optics feed the 24 identical Integral Field Units (IFU), that are mounted within a large monolithic instrument mechanical structure. Each IFU incorporates an image slicer, a fully refractive spectrograph with VPH-grating and a detector system connected to a global vacuum and cryogenic system. During 2012 and 2013, all MUSE subsystems were integrated, aligned and tested to the P.I. institute at Lyon. After successful PAE in September 2013, MUSE instrument was shipped to the Very Large Telescope in Chile where it was aligned and tested in ESO integration hall at Paranal. After, MUSE was directly transferred in monolithic way onto VLT telescope where the first light was achieved. This paper describes the MUSE main optical component: the Field Splitter Unit. It splits the VLT image into 24 subfields and provides the first separation of the beam for the 24 Integral Field Units. This talk depicts its manufacturing at Winlight Optics and its alignment into MUSE instrument. The success of the MUSE alignment is demonstrated by the excellent results obtained onto MUSE positioning, image quality and throughput onto the sky. MUSE commissioning at the VLT is planned for September, 2014.

A Comparison of Classical Force-Fields for Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Lubricants

PubMed Central

Ewen, James P.; Gattinoni, Chiara; Thakkar, Foram M.; Morgan, Neal; Spikes, Hugh A.; Dini, Daniele

2016-01-01

For the successful development and application of lubricants, a full understanding of their complex nanoscale behavior under a wide range of external conditions is required, but this is difficult to obtain experimentally. Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations can be used to yield unique insights into the atomic-scale structure and friction of lubricants and additives; however, the accuracy of the results depend on the chosen force-field. In this study, we demonstrate that the use of an accurate, all-atom force-field is critical in order to; (i) accurately predict important properties of long-chain, linear molecules; and (ii) reproduce experimental friction behavior of multi-component tribological systems. In particular, we focus on n-hexadecane, an important model lubricant with a wide range of industrial applications. Moreover, simulating conditions common in tribological systems, i.e., high temperatures and pressures (HTHP), allows the limits of the selected force-fields to be tested. In the first section, a large number of united-atom and all-atom force-fields are benchmarked in terms of their density and viscosity prediction accuracy of n-hexadecane using equilibrium molecular dynamics (EMD) simulations at ambient and HTHP conditions. Whilst united-atom force-fields accurately reproduce experimental density, the viscosity is significantly under-predicted compared to all-atom force-fields and experiments. Moreover, some all-atom force-fields yield elevated melting points, leading to significant overestimation of both the density and viscosity. In the second section, the most accurate united-atom and all-atom force-field are compared in confined NEMD simulations which probe the structure and friction of stearic acid adsorbed on iron oxide and separated by a thin layer of n-hexadecane. The united-atom force-field provides an accurate representation of the structure of the confined stearic acid film; however, friction coefficients are consistently under-predicted and the friction-coverage and friction-velocity behavior deviates from that observed using all-atom force-fields and experimentally. This has important implications regarding force-field selection for NEMD simulations of systems containing long-chain, linear molecules; specifically, it is recommended that accurate all-atom potentials, such as L-OPLS-AA, are employed. PMID:28773773

A Comparison of Classical Force-Fields for Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Lubricants.

PubMed

Ewen, James P; Gattinoni, Chiara; Thakkar, Foram M; Morgan, Neal; Spikes, Hugh A; Dini, Daniele

2016-08-02

For the successful development and application of lubricants, a full understanding of their complex nanoscale behavior under a wide range of external conditions is required, but this is difficult to obtain experimentally. Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations can be used to yield unique insights into the atomic-scale structure and friction of lubricants and additives; however, the accuracy of the results depend on the chosen force-field. In this study, we demonstrate that the use of an accurate, all-atom force-field is critical in order to; (i) accurately predict important properties of long-chain, linear molecules; and (ii) reproduce experimental friction behavior of multi-component tribological systems. In particular, we focus on n -hexadecane, an important model lubricant with a wide range of industrial applications. Moreover, simulating conditions common in tribological systems, i.e., high temperatures and pressures (HTHP), allows the limits of the selected force-fields to be tested. In the first section, a large number of united-atom and all-atom force-fields are benchmarked in terms of their density and viscosity prediction accuracy of n -hexadecane using equilibrium molecular dynamics (EMD) simulations at ambient and HTHP conditions. Whilst united-atom force-fields accurately reproduce experimental density, the viscosity is significantly under-predicted compared to all-atom force-fields and experiments. Moreover, some all-atom force-fields yield elevated melting points, leading to significant overestimation of both the density and viscosity. In the second section, the most accurate united-atom and all-atom force-field are compared in confined NEMD simulations which probe the structure and friction of stearic acid adsorbed on iron oxide and separated by a thin layer of n -hexadecane. The united-atom force-field provides an accurate representation of the structure of the confined stearic acid film; however, friction coefficients are consistently under-predicted and the friction-coverage and friction-velocity behavior deviates from that observed using all-atom force-fields and experimentally. This has important implications regarding force-field selection for NEMD simulations of systems containing long-chain, linear molecules; specifically, it is recommended that accurate all-atom potentials, such as L-OPLS-AA, are employed.

Reconstruction and separation of vibratory field using structural holography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chesnais, C.; Totaro, N.; Thomas, J.-H.; Guyader, J.-L.

2017-02-01

A method for reconstructing and separating vibratory field on a plate-like structure is presented. The method, called "Structural Holography" is derived from classical Near-field Acoustic Holography (NAH) but in the vibratory domain. In this case, the plate displacement is measured on one-dimensional lines (the holograms) and used to reconstruct the entire two-dimensional displacement field. As a consequence, remote measurements on non directly accessible zones are possible with Structural Holography. Moreover, as it is based on the decomposition of the field into forth and back waves, Structural Holography permits to separate forces in the case of multi-sources excitation. The theoretical background of the Structural Holography method is described first. Then, to illustrate the process and the possibilities of Structural Holography, the academic test case of an infinite plate excited by few point forces is presented. With the principle of vibratory field separation, the displacement fields produced by each point force separately is reconstructed. However, the displacement field is not always meaningful and some additional treatments are mandatory to localize the position of point forces for example. From the simple example of an infinite plate, a post-processing based on the reconstruction of the structural intensity field is thus proposed. Finally, Structural Holography is generalized to finite plates and applied to real experimental measurements

Separation of Electric Fields Into Potential and Inductive Parts, and Implications for Radial Diffusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, A. A.; Ilie, R.; Elkington, S. R.; Albert, J.; Huie, W.

2017-12-01

It has been traditional to separate radiation belt radial-diffusion coefficients into two contributions: an "electrostatic" diffusion coefficient, which is assumed to be due to a potential (non-inductive) electric field, and an "electromagnetic" diffusion coefficient , which is assumed to be due to the combined effect of an inductive electric field and the corresponding time-dependent magnetic field. One difficulty in implementing this separation when using magnetospheric fields obtained from measurements, or from MHD simulations, is that only the total electric field is given; the separation of the electric field into potential and inductive parts is not readily available. In this work we separate the electric field using a numerical method based on the Helmholtz decomposition of the total motional electric field calculated by the BATS-R-US MHD code. The inner boundary for the electric potential is based on the Ridley Ionospheric Model solution and we assume floating boundary conditions in the solar wind. Using different idealized solar wind drivers, including a solar wind density that is oscillating at a single frequency or with a broad spectrum of frequencies, we calculate potential and inductive electric fields, electric and magnetic power spectral densities, and corresponding radial diffusion coefficients. Simulations driven by idealized solar wind conditions show a clear separation of the potential and inductive contributions to the power spectral densities and diffusion coefficients. Simulations with more realistic solar wind drivers are underway to better assess the use of electrostatic and electromagnetic diffusion coefficients in understanding ULF wave-particle interactions in Earth's radiation belts.

Massive Vector Fields in Rotating Black-Hole Spacetimes: Separability and Quasinormal Modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frolov, Valeri P.; Krtouš, Pavel; KubizÅák, David; Santos, Jorge E.

2018-06-01

We demonstrate the separability of the massive vector (Proca) field equation in general Kerr-NUT-AdS black-hole spacetimes in any number of dimensions, filling a long-standing gap in the literature. The obtained separated equations are studied in more detail for the four-dimensional Kerr geometry and the corresponding quasinormal modes are calculated. Two of the three independent polarizations of the Proca field are shown to emerge from the separation ansatz and the results are found in an excellent agreement with those of the recent numerical study where the full coupled partial differential equations were tackled without using the separability property.

Massive Vector Fields in Rotating Black-Hole Spacetimes: Separability and Quasinormal Modes.

PubMed

Frolov, Valeri P; Krtouš, Pavel; Kubizňák, David; Santos, Jorge E

2018-06-08

We demonstrate the separability of the massive vector (Proca) field equation in general Kerr-NUT-AdS black-hole spacetimes in any number of dimensions, filling a long-standing gap in the literature. The obtained separated equations are studied in more detail for the four-dimensional Kerr geometry and the corresponding quasinormal modes are calculated. Two of the three independent polarizations of the Proca field are shown to emerge from the separation ansatz and the results are found in an excellent agreement with those of the recent numerical study where the full coupled partial differential equations were tackled without using the separability property.

The Sixth SeaWiFS/SIMBIOS Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment (SIRREX-6)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Riley, Thomas; Bailey, Sean

1998-01-01

For the sixth Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) Intercalibration Round-Robin Experiment (SIRREX-6), NASA personnel carried the same four Satlantic in-water radiometers to nine separate laboratories and calibrated them. Two of the sensors were seven-channel radiance heads and two were seven-channel irradiance heads. The calibration and data reduction procedures used at each site followed that laboratory's normal procedures. The reference lamps normally used for the calibration of these types of instruments by the various laboratories were also used for this experiment. NASA personnel processed the data to produce calibration parameters from the various laboratories

Why the world needs protists!

PubMed

Corliss, John O

2004-01-01

In this brief review, literature references are given to researches--involving diverse species of protists--that support the author's firm conviction that the biological world of today absolutely requires the presence of numerous of these generally small and unicelled organisms if it is to survive. Examples supplied come from areas within the field of protistology sensu lato as widely separated as basic phycological research on photosynthesis and protozoological/medical/biomedical investigations on malaria and other pathogens of human beings. Emphasis is primarily on the most relevant works of the past 10-15 years, although historically highly significant papers of older vintage require at least indirect--and occasionally direct--citation.

Measured airtightness of an installed skylight

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

Shaw, C.Y.; Magee, R.J.; Poirier, G.F.

2000-07-01

An art gallery building had problems with moisture. Inspections using thermographic techniques suggested that air leakage through the skylights could be the main cause of the problem. The air leakage rate of an installed metal frame skylight, 26 m long x 8.5 m wide, was measured, using the balanced fan depressurization method. Also, fan depressurization tests were performed on the glazing/upstand interface on the south side of the skylight. The air leakage rates were measured through the full interface and on the west and east halves separately. The methods used for field testing of such components and the test resultsmore » are discussed.« less

Optical designing of LiteBIRD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sugai, Hajime; Kashima, Shingo; Kimura, Kimihiro; Matsumura, Tomotake; Inoue, Masanori; Ito, Makoto; Nishibori, Toshiyuki; Sekimoto, Yutaro; Ishino, Hirokazu; Sakurai, Yuki; Imada, Hiroaki; Fujii, Takenori

2016-07-01

LiteBIRD aims to detect the footprint of the primordial gravitational wave on the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) in a form of polarization pattern called B mode. In order to separate CMB from the Galactic emission, our measurements cover 35 GHz to 450 GHz. The LiteBIRD optics consists of two telescopes: a crossed Dragone type for lower frequencies, which provides a compact configuration with a wide field of view, and a refractor type for higher frequencies. The whole optical system is cooled down to around 5 K to minimize the thermal emission. We use two kinds of approaches of designing calculations as well as the experimental confirmation particularly for the lower frequency telescope.

A Field Assessment of a Prototype Meter for Measuring the Wet-Bulb Globe-Thermometer Index

PubMed Central

Walters, J. D.

1968-01-01

A prototype electronic instrument for the direct measurement of the wet-bulb globe-thermometer index is described. An assessment is made of its accuracy, as compared with W.B.G.T. indices calculated from conventional thermometric data, and a comparison is made between W.B.G.T. values read from the meter and effective or corrected effective temperatures derived from separate thermometric and air velocity recording instruments in the same climates. The instrument proved to be reliable and accurate over a wide range of climates and is a useful self-contained device for use in habitability surveys and similar investigations. Images PMID:5663429

Review on the progress in synthesis and application of magnetic carbon nanocomposites.

PubMed

Zhu, Maiyong; Diao, Guowang

2011-07-01

This review focuses on the synthesis and application of nanostructured composites containing magnetic nanostructures and carbon-based materials. Great progress in fabrication of magnetic carbon nanocomposites has been made by developing methods including filling process, template-based synthesis, chemical vapor deposition, hydrothermal/solvothermal method, pyrolysis procedure, sol-gel process, detonation induced reaction, self-assembly method, etc. The applications of magnetic carbon nanocomposites expanded to a wide range of fields such as environmental treatment, microwave absorption, magnetic recording media, electrochemical sensor, catalysis, separation/recognization of biomolecules and drug delivery are discussed. Finally, some future trends and perspectives in this research area are outlined.

Review on the progress in synthesis and application of magnetic carbon nanocomposites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Maiyong; Diao, Guowang

2011-07-01

This review focuses on the synthesis and application of nanostructured composites containing magnetic nanostructures and carbon-based materials. Great progress in fabrication of magnetic carbon nanocomposites has been made by developing methods including filling process, template-based synthesis, chemical vapor deposition, hydrothermal/solvothermal method, pyrolysis procedure, sol-gel process, detonation induced reaction, self-assembly method, etc. The applications of magnetic carbon nanocomposites expanded to a wide range of fields such as environmental treatment, microwave absorption, magnetic recording media, electrochemical sensor, catalysis, separation/recognization of biomolecules and drug delivery are discussed. Finally, some future trends and perspectives in this research area are outlined.

Entanglement and asymmetric steering over two octaves of frequency difference

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olsen, M. K.

2017-12-01

The development of quantum technologies which use quantum states of the light field interacting with other systems creates a demand for entangled states spanning wide frequency ranges. In this work we analyze a parametric scheme of cascaded harmonic generation which promises to deliver bipartite entangled states in which the two modes are separated by two octaves in frequency. This scheme is potentially very useful for applications in quantum communication and computation networks as well as providing for quantum interfaces between a wider range of light and atomic ensembles than is presently practicable. It doubles the frequency range over which entanglement is presently available.

On the Occurrence of Wide Binaries in the Local Disk and Halo Populations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hartman, Zachary; Lepine, Sebastien

2018-01-01

We present results from our search for wide binaries in the SUPERBLINK+GAIA all-sky catalog of 2.8 million high proper motion stars (μ>40 mas/yr). Through a Bayesian analysis of common proper motion pairs, we have identified highly probable wide binary/multiple systems based on statistics of their proper motion differences and angular separations. Using a reduced proper motion diagram, we determine whether these wide are part of the young disk, old disk, or Galactic halo population. We examine the relative occurrence rate for very wide companions in these respective populations. All groups are found to contain a significant number of wide binary systems, with about 1 percent of the stars in each group having pairs with separations >1,000 AU.

Conceptual framework and rationale

PubMed Central

Robinson, Alan S; Knols, Bart GJ; Voigt, Gabriella; Hendrichs, Jorge

2009-01-01

The sterile insect technique (SIT) has been shown to be an effective and sustainable genetic approach to control populations of selected major pest insects, when part of area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) programmes. The technique introduces genetic sterility in females of the target population in the field following their mating with released sterile males. This process results in population reduction or elimination via embryo lethality caused by dominant lethal mutations induced in sperm of the released males. In the past, several field trials have been carried out for mosquitoes with varying degrees of success. New technology and experience gained with other species of insect pests has encouraged a reassessment of the use of the sterility principle as part of integrated control of malaria vectors. Significant technical and logistic hurdles will need to be overcome to develop the technology and make it effective to suppress selected vector populations, and its application will probably be limited to specific ecological situations. Using sterile males to control mosquito vector populations can only be effective as part of an AW-IPM programme. The area-wide concept entails the targeting of the total mosquito population within a defined area. It requires, therefore, a thorough understanding of the target pest population biology especially as regards mating behaviour, population dynamics, dispersal and level of reproductive isolation. The key challenges for success are: 1) devising methods to monitor vector populations and measuring competitiveness of sterile males in the field, 2) designing mass rearing, sterilization and release strategies that maintain competitiveness of the sterile male mosquitoes, 3) developing methods to separate sexes in order to release only male mosquitoes and 4) adapting suppression measures and release rates to take into account the high reproductive rate of mosquitoes. Finally, success in area-wide implementation in the field can only be achieved if close attention is paid to political, socio-economic and environmental sensitivities and an efficient management organization is established taking into account the interests of all potential stakeholders of an AW-IPM programme. PMID:19917070

Spitzer Photometry of WISE-Selected Brown Dwarf and Hyper-Lumninous Infrared Galaxy Candidates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Griffith, Roger L.; Kirkpatrick, J. Davy; Eisenhardt, Peter R. M.; Gelino, Christopher R.; Cushing, Michael C.; Benford, Dominic; Blain, Andrew; Bridge, Carrie R.; Cohen, Martin; Cutri, Roc M.;

Statistical Properties of Ribbon Evolution and Reconnection Electric Fields in Eruptive and Confined Flares

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hinterreiter, J.; Veronig, A. M.; Thalmann, J. K.; Tschernitz, J.; Pötzi, W.

2018-03-01

A statistical study of the chromospheric ribbon evolution in Hα two-ribbon flares was performed. The data set consists of 50 confined (62%) and eruptive (38%) flares that occurred from June 2000 to June 2015. The flares were selected homogeneously over the Hα and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) classes, with an emphasis on including powerful confined flares and weak eruptive flares. Hα filtergrams from the Kanzelhöhe Observatory in combination with Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) and Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) magnetograms were used to derive the ribbon separation, the ribbon-separation velocity, the magnetic-field strength, and the reconnection electric field. We find that eruptive flares reveal statistically larger ribbon separation and higher ribbon-separation velocities than confined flares. In addition, the ribbon separation of eruptive flares correlates with the GOES SXR flux, whereas no clear dependence was found for confined flares. The maximum ribbon-separation velocity is not correlated with the GOES flux, but eruptive flares reveal on average a higher ribbon-separation velocity (by ≈ 10 km s-1). The local reconnection electric field of confined (cc=0.50 ±0.02) and eruptive (cc=0.77 ±0.03) flares correlates with the GOES flux, indicating that more powerful flares involve stronger reconnection electric fields. In addition, eruptive flares with higher electric-field strengths tend to be accompanied by faster coronal mass ejections.

JIGSAW: Joint Inhomogeneity estimation via Global Segment Assembly for Water-fat separation.

PubMed

Lu, Wenmiao; Lu, Yi

2011-07-01

Water-fat separation in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is of great clinical importance, and the key to uniform water-fat separation lies in field map estimation. This work deals with three-point field map estimation, in which water and fat are modelled as two single-peak spectral lines, and field inhomogeneities shift the spectrum by an unknown amount. Due to the simplified spectrum modelling, there exists inherent ambiguity in forming field maps from multiple locally feasible field map values at each pixel. To resolve such ambiguity, spatial smoothness of field maps has been incorporated as a constraint of an optimization problem. However, there are two issues: the optimization problem is computationally intractable and even when it is solved exactly, it does not always separate water and fat images. Hence, robust field map estimation remains challenging in many clinically important imaging scenarios. This paper proposes a novel field map estimation technique called JIGSAW. It extends a loopy belief propagation (BP) algorithm to obtain an approximate solution to the optimization problem. The solution produces locally smooth segments and avoids error propagation associated with greedy methods. The locally smooth segments are then assembled into a globally consistent field map by exploiting the periodicity of the feasible field map values. In vivo results demonstrate that JIGSAW outperforms existing techniques and produces correct water-fat separation in challenging imaging scenarios.

Derivation and precision of mean field electrodynamics with mesoscale fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Hongzhe; Blackman, Eric G.

2018-06-01

Mean field electrodynamics (MFE) facilitates practical modelling of secular, large scale properties of astrophysical or laboratory systems with fluctuations. Practitioners commonly assume wide scale separation between mean and fluctuating quantities, to justify equality of ensemble and spatial or temporal averages. Often however, real systems do not exhibit such scale separation. This raises two questions: (I) What are the appropriate generalized equations of MFE in the presence of mesoscale fluctuations? (II) How precise are theoretical predictions from MFE? We address both by first deriving the equations of MFE for different types of averaging, along with mesoscale correction terms that depend on the ratio of averaging scale to variation scale of the mean. We then show that even if these terms are small, predictions of MFE can still have a significant precision error. This error has an intrinsic contribution from the dynamo input parameters and a filtering contribution from differences in the way observations and theory are projected through the measurement kernel. Minimizing the sum of these contributions can produce an optimal scale of averaging that makes the theory maximally precise. The precision error is important to quantify when comparing to observations because it quantifies the resolution of predictive power. We exemplify these principles for galactic dynamos, comment on broader implications, and identify possibilities for further work.

Experimental studies on flow visualization and velocity field of compression ramp with different incoming boundary layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Yu; Yi, Shi-He; He, Lin; Chen, Zhi; Zhu, Yang-Zhu

2014-11-01

Experimental studies which focus on flow visualization and the velocity field of a supersonic laminar/turbulent flow over a compression ramp were carried out in a Mach 3.0 wind tunnel. Fine flow structures and velocity field structures were obtained via NPLS (nanoparticle-tracer planar laser scattering) and PIV (particle image velocimetry) techniques, time-averaged flow structures were researched, and spatiotemporal evolutions of transient flow structures were analyzed. The flow visualization results indicated that when the ramp angles were 25°, a typical separation occurred in the laminar flow, some typical flow structures such as shock induced by the boundary layer, separation shock, reversed flow and reattachment shock were visible clearly. While a certain extent separation occurred in turbulent flow, the separation region was much smaller. When the ramp angles were 28°, laminar flow separated further, and the separation region expanded evidently, flow structures in the separation region were complex. While a typical separation occurred in turbulent flow, reversed flow structures were significant, flow structures in the separation region were relatively simple. The experimental results of velocity field were corresponding to flow visualization, and the velocity field structures of both compression ramp flows agreed with the flow structures well. There were three layered structures in the U component velocity, and the V component velocity appeared like an oblique “v”. Some differences between these two compression ramp flows can be observed in the velocity profiles of the shear layer and the shearing intensity.

An improved independent component analysis model for 3D chromatogram separation and its solution by multi-areas genetic algorithm

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background The 3D chromatogram generated by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detector (HPLC-DAD) has been researched widely in the field of herbal medicine, grape wine, agriculture, petroleum and so on. Currently, most of the methods used for separating a 3D chromatogram need to know the compounds' number in advance, which could be impossible especially when the compounds are complex or white noise exist. New method which extracts compounds from 3D chromatogram directly is needed. Methods In this paper, a new separation model named parallel Independent Component Analysis constrained by Reference Curve (pICARC) was proposed to transform the separation problem to a multi-parameter optimization issue. It was not necessary to know the number of compounds in the optimization. In order to find all the solutions, an algorithm named multi-areas Genetic Algorithm (mGA) was proposed, where multiple areas of candidate solutions were constructed according to the fitness and distances among the chromosomes. Results Simulations and experiments on a real life HPLC-DAD data set were used to demonstrate our method and its effectiveness. Through simulations, it can be seen that our method can separate 3D chromatogram to chromatogram peaks and spectra successfully even when they severely overlapped. It is also shown by the experiments that our method is effective to solve real HPLC-DAD data set. Conclusions Our method can separate 3D chromatogram successfully without knowing the compounds' number in advance, which is fast and effective. PMID:25474487

Chemical separation of Nd from geological samples for chronological studies using (146)Sm-(142)Nd and (147)Sm-(143)Nd systematics.

PubMed

Kagami, Saya; Yokoyama, Tetsuya

2016-09-21

Sm-Nd dating, which involves long-lived (147)Sm-(143)Nd and short-lived (146)Sm-(142)Nd systematics, has been widely used in the field of geosciences. To obtain precise and accurate ages of geological samples, the determination of highly precise Nd isotope ratios with nearly complete removal of Ce and Sm is indispensable to avoid mass spectral interference. In this study, we developed a three-step column chemistry procedure for separating Nd from geological samples that includes cation exchange chromatography for separating major elements from rare earth elements (REEs), oxidative extraction chromatography using Ln Resin coupled with HNO3 + KBrO3 for separating tetravalent Ce from the remaining REEs, and final purification of Nd using Ln Resin. This method enables high recovery of Nd (>91%) with effective separation of Nd from Ce and Sm (Ce/Nd < 1.2 × 10(-5) and Sm/Nd < 5.2 × 10(-6)). In addition, we devised a new method for determining Sm/Nd ratios with the isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method using (145)Nd- and (149)Sm-enriched spikes coupled with a group separation of REEs using TRU Resin. Applying the techniques developed in this study, we determined the Sm-Nd whole-rock isochron age of basaltic eucrites, yielding 4577 - 88(+ 55) Ma and 4558 ± 300 Ma for (146)Sm-(142)Nd and (147)Sm-(143)Nd systematics, respectively. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spiral Countercurrent Chromatography

PubMed Central

Ito, Yoichiro; Knight, Martha; Finn, Thomas M.

2013-01-01

For many years, high-speed countercurrent chromatography conducted in open tubing coils has been widely used for the separation of natural and synthetic compounds. In this method, the retention of the stationary phase is solely provided by the Archimedean screw effect by rotating the coiled column in the centrifugal force field. However, the system fails to retain enough of the stationary phase for polar solvent systems such as the aqueous–aqueous polymer phase systems. To address this problem, the geometry of the coiled channel was modified to a spiral configuration so that the system could utilize the radially acting centrifugal force. This successfully improved the retention of the stationary phase. Two different types of spiral columns were fabricated: the spiral disk assembly, made by stacking multiple plastic disks with single or four interwoven spiral channels connected in series, and the spiral tube assembly, made by inserting the tetrafluoroethylene tubing into a spiral frame (spiral tube support). The capabilities of these column assemblies were successfully demonstrated by separations of peptides and proteins with polar two-phase solvent systems whose stationary phases had not been well retained in the earlier multilayer coil separation column for high-speed countercurrent chromatography. PMID:23833207

Investigation of translaminar fracture in fibrereinforced composite laminates---applicability of linear elastic fracture mechanics and cohesive-zone model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, Fang

With the extensive application of fiber-reinforced composite laminates in industry, research on the fracture mechanisms of this type of materials have drawn more and more attentions. A variety of fracture theories and models have been developed. Among them, the linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) and cohesive-zone model (CZM) are two widely-accepted fracture models, which have already shown applicability in the fracture analysis of fiber-reinforced composite laminates. However, there remain challenges which prevent further applications of the two fracture models, such as the experimental measurement of fracture resistance. This dissertation primarily focused on the study of the applicability of LEFM and CZM for the fracture analysis of translaminar fracture in fibre-reinforced composite laminates. The research for each fracture model consisted of two sections: the analytical characterization of crack-tip fields and the experimental measurement of fracture resistance parameters. In the study of LEFM, an experimental investigation based on full-field crack-tip displacement measurements was carried out as a way to characterize the subcritical and steady-state crack advances in translaminar fracture of fiber-reinforced composite laminates. Here, the fiber-reinforced composite laminates were approximated as anisotropic solids. The experimental investigation relied on the LEFM theory with a modification with respect to the material anisotropy. Firstly, the full-field crack-tip displacement fields were measured by Digital Image Correlation (DIC). Then two methods, separately based on the stress intensity approach and the energy approach, were developed to measure the crack-tip field parameters from crack-tip displacement fields. The studied crack-tip field parameters included the stress intensity factor, energy release rate and effective crack length. Moreover, the crack-growth resistance curves (R-curves) were constructed with the measured crack-tip field parameters. In addition, an error analysis was carried out with an emphasis on the influence of out-of-plane rotation of specimen. In the study of CZM, two analytical inverse methods, namely the field projection method (FPM) and the separable nonlinear least-squares method, were developed for the extraction of cohesive fracture properties from crack-tip full-field displacements. Firstly, analytical characterizations of the elastic fields around a crack-tip cohesive zone and the cohesive variables within the cohesive zone were derived in terms of an eigenfunction expansion. Then both of the inverse methods were developed based on the analytical characterization. With the analytical inverse methods, the cohesive-zone law (CZL), cohesive-zone size and position can be inversely computed from the cohesive-crack-tip displacement fields. In the study, comprehensive numerical tests were carried out to investigate the applicability and robustness of two inverse methods. From the numerical tests, it was found that the field projection method was very sensitive to noise and thus had limited applicability in practice. On the other hand, the separable nonlinear least-squares method was found to be more noise-resistant and less ill-conditioned. Subsequently, the applicability of separable nonlinear least-squares method was validated with the same translaminar fracture experiment for the study of LEFM. Eventually, it was found that the experimental measurements of R-curves and CZL showed a great agreement, in both of the fracture energy and the predicted load carrying capability. It thus demonstrated the validity of present research for the translaminar fracture of fiber-reinforced composite laminates.

Impact of non-ideal analyte behavior on the separation of protein aggregates by asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation.

PubMed

Boll, Björn; Josse, Lena; Heubach, Anja; Hochenauer, Sophie; Finkler, Christof; Huwyler, Jörg; Koulov, Atanas V

2018-04-25

Asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation is a valuable tool for the characterization of protein aggregates in biotechnology owing to its broad size range and unique separation principle. However, in practice asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation is non-trivial to use due to the major deviations from theory and the influence on separation by various factors that are not fully understood. Here we report methods to assess the non-ideal effects that influence asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation separation and for the first time identify experimentally the main factors that impact it. Furthermore, we propose new approaches to minimize such non-ideal behavior, showing that by adjusting the mobile phase composition (pH and ionic strength) the resolution of asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation separation can be drastically improved. Additionally, we propose a best practice method for new proteins. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Flotation of Mineral and Dyes: A Laboratory Experiment for Separation Method Molecular Hitchhikers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rappon, Tim; Sylvestre, Jarrett A.; Rappon, Manit

2016-01-01

Flotation as a method of separation is widely researched and is applied in many industries. It has been used to address a wide range of environmental issues including treatment of wastewater, recovery of heavy metals for recycling, extraction of minerals in mining, and so forth. This laboratory attempts to show how such a simple method can be used…

Assessment of CFD Estimation of Aerodynamic Characteristics of Basic Reusable Rocket Configurations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujimoto, Keiichiro; Fujii, Kozo

Flow-fields around the basic SSTO-rocket configurations are numerically simulated by the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) computations. Simulations of the Apollo-like configuration is first carried out, where the results are compared with NASA experiments and the prediction ability of the RANS simulation is discussed. The angle of attack of the freestream ranges from 0° to 180° and the freestream Mach number ranges from 0.7 to 2.0. Computed aerodynamic coefficients for the Apollo-like configuration agree well with the experiments under a wide range of flow conditions. The flow simulations around the slender Apollo-type configuration are carried out next and the results are compared with the experiments. Computed aerodynamic coefficients also agree well with the experiments. Flow-fields are dominated by the three-dimensional massively separated flow, which should be captured for accurate aerodynamic prediction. Grid refinement effects on the computed aerodynamic coefficients are investigated comprehensively.

Resolved Companions of Cepheids as Seen by HST and XMM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evans, Nancy Remage; Bond, Howard E.; Schaefer, Gail; Mason, Brian D.; Tingle, Evan; Karovska, Margarita; Pillitteri, Ignazio; Wolk, Scott J.; Guinan, Edward F.; Engle, Scott G.

2016-01-01

We have conducted a survey of 70 classical Cepheids with the Hubble Wide Field Camera3 (WFC3) to identify possible resolved companions. Data cover the range of 0.3" to 20" which typically corresponds to 200 AU to 0.1 pc. At present only possible companions greater than 5" from the Cepheid are discussed, since closer companions require a sophisticated point spread correction for the light of the much brighter Cepheid. We have followed up a subset of the possible resolved companions with XMM observations to determine whether they are young (X-ray active) enough to be physical companions of the Cepheids. We estimate that 4% of the Cepheids have a physical resolved companion, with the widest having a separation of 4000 AU. The one wider young star is in the field of S Nor, but since it is a cluster member, the companion is not assumed to be gravitationally bound to the Cepheid.

Opto-thermoelectric nanotweezers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Linhan; Wang, Mingsong; Peng, Xiaolei; Lissek, Emanuel N.; Mao, Zhangming; Scarabelli, Leonardo; Adkins, Emily; Coskun, Sahin; Unalan, Husnu Emrah; Korgel, Brian A.; Liz-Marzán, Luis M.; Florin, Ernst-Ludwig; Zheng, Yuebing

2018-04-01

Optical manipulation of plasmonic nanoparticles provides opportunities for fundamental and technical innovation in nanophotonics. Optical heating arising from the photon-to-phonon conversion is considered as an intrinsic loss in metal nanoparticles, which limits their applications. We show here that this drawback can be turned into an advantage, by developing an extremely low-power optical tweezing technique, termed opto-thermoelectric nanotweezers. By optically heating a thermoplasmonic substrate, a light-directed thermoelectric field can be generated due to spatial separation of dissolved ions within the heating laser spot, which allows us to manipulate metal nanoparticles of a wide range of materials, sizes and shapes with single-particle resolution. In combination with dark-field optical imaging, nanoparticles can be selectively trapped and their spectroscopic response can be resolved in situ. With its simple optics, versatile low-power operation, applicability to diverse nanoparticles and tunable working wavelength, opto-thermoelectric nanotweezers will become a powerful tool in colloid science and nanotechnology.

Global scale equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) response to magnetospheric disturbances based on the May-June 1987 SUNDIAL-coordinated observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdu, M. A.; Walker, G. O.; Reddy, B. M.; de Paula, E. R.; Sobral, J. H. A.; Fejer, B. G.

1993-07-01

Equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) responses to magnetospheric disturbances have been investigated using ionosonde and geomagnetic data sets obtained for different longitude sectors during the 9-day (28 May-7 June) globally-coordinated SUNDIAL 87 campaign. Attention is focused on the EIA response features of the two magnetically most-disturbed days of the campaign window, 29 May and 6 June. Anomalous EIA inhibition and development were simultaneously observed at widely separated (American and Asian) longitude sectors, accompanied respectively by events of morning electrojet reversal and evening partial ring current development. A numerical model of the low-latitude ionosphere has been used to quantify the role that a disturbance electric field could play in the observed EIA response features. The implications of the results on the global low-latitude disturbance electric field pattern is discussed.

Opto-thermoelectric nanotweezers.

PubMed

Lin, Linhan; Wang, Mingsong; Peng, Xiaolei; Lissek, Emanuel N; Mao, Zhangming; Scarabelli, Leonardo; Adkins, Emily; Coskun, Sahin; Unalan, Husnu Emrah; Korgel, Brian A; Liz-Marzán, Luis M; Florin, Ernst-Ludwig; Zheng, Yuebing

2018-04-01

Optical manipulation of plasmonic nanoparticles provides opportunities for fundamental and technical innovation in nanophotonics. Optical heating arising from the photon-to-phonon conversion is considered as an intrinsic loss in metal nanoparticles, which limits their applications. We show here that this drawback can be turned into an advantage, by developing an extremely low-power optical tweezing technique, termed opto-thermoelectric nanotweezers (OTENT). Through optically heating a thermoplasmonic substrate, alight-directed thermoelectric field can be generated due to spatial separation of dissolved ions within the heating laser spot, which allows us to manipulate metal nanoparticles of a wide range of materials, sizes and shapes with single-particle resolution. In combination with dark-field optical imaging, nanoparticles can be selectively trapped and their spectroscopic response can be resolved in-situ . With its simple optics, versatile low-power operation, applicability to diverse nanoparticles, and tuneable working wavelength, OTENT will become a powerful tool in colloid science and nanotechnology.

Guided self-assembly of magnetic beads for biomedical applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gusenbauer, Markus; Nguyen, Ha; Reichel, Franz; Exl, Lukas; Bance, Simon; Fischbacher, Johann; Özelt, Harald; Kovacs, Alexander; Brandl, Martin; Schrefl, Thomas

2014-02-01

Micromagnetic beads are widely used in biomedical applications for cell separation, drug delivery, and hyperthermia cancer treatment. Here we propose to use self-organized magnetic bead structures which accumulate on fixed magnetic seeding points to isolate circulating tumor cells. The analysis of circulating tumor cells is an emerging tool for cancer biology research and clinical cancer management including the detection, diagnosis and monitoring of cancer. Microfluidic chips for isolating circulating tumor cells use either affinity, size or density capturing methods. We combine multiphysics simulation techniques to understand the microscopic behavior of magnetic beads interacting with soft magnetic accumulation points used in lab-on-chip technologies. Our proposed chip technology offers the possibility to combine affinity and size capturing with special antibody-coated bead arrangements using a magnetic gradient field created by Neodymium Iron Boron permanent magnets. The multiscale simulation environment combines magnetic field computation, fluid dynamics and discrete particle dynamics.

SAMI Automated Plug Plate Configuration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lorente, N. P. F.; Farrell, T.; Goodwin, M.

2013-10-01

The Sydney-AAO Multi-object Integral field spectrograph (SAMI) is a prototype wide-field system at the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) which uses a plug-plate to mount its 13×61-core imaging fibre bundles (hexabundles) in the optical path at the telescope's prime focus. In this paper we describe the process of determining the positions of the plug-plate holes, where plates contain three or more stacked observation configurations. The process, which up until now has involved several separate processes and has required significant manual configuration and checking, is now being automated to increase efficiency and reduce error. This is carried out by means of a thin Java controller layer which drives the configuration cycle. This layer controls the user interface and the C++ algorithm layer where the plate configuration and optimisation is carried out. Additionally, through the Aladin display package, it provides visualisation and facilitates user verification of the resulting plates.

A Variational Statistical-Field Theory for Polar Liquid Mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuang, Bilin; Wang, Zhen-Gang

Using a variational field-theoretic approach, we derive a molecularly-based theory for polar liquid mixtures. The resulting theory consists of simple algebraic expressions for the free energy of mixing and the dielectric constant as functions of mixture composition. Using only the dielectric constants and the molar volumes of the pure liquid constituents, the theory evaluates the mixture dielectric constants in good agreement with the experimental values for a wide range of liquid mixtures, without using adjustable parameters. In addition, the theory predicts that liquids with similar dielectric constants and molar volumes dissolve well in each other, while sufficient disparity in these parameters result in phase separation. The calculated miscibility map on the dielectric constant-molar volume axes agrees well with known experimental observations for a large number of liquid pairs. Thus the theory provides a quantification for the well-known empirical ``like-dissolves-like'' rule. Bz acknowledges the A-STAR fellowship for the financial support.

Explicit symplectic algorithms based on generating functions for relativistic charged particle dynamics in time-dependent electromagnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ruili; Wang, Yulei; He, Yang; Xiao, Jianyuan; Liu, Jian; Qin, Hong; Tang, Yifa

2018-02-01

Relativistic dynamics of a charged particle in time-dependent electromagnetic fields has theoretical significance and a wide range of applications. The numerical simulation of relativistic dynamics is often multi-scale and requires accurate long-term numerical simulations. Therefore, explicit symplectic algorithms are much more preferable than non-symplectic methods and implicit symplectic algorithms. In this paper, we employ the proper time and express the Hamiltonian as the sum of exactly solvable terms and product-separable terms in space-time coordinates. Then, we give the explicit symplectic algorithms based on the generating functions of orders 2 and 3 for relativistic dynamics of a charged particle. The methodology is not new, which has been applied to non-relativistic dynamics of charged particles, but the algorithm for relativistic dynamics has much significance in practical simulations, such as the secular simulation of runaway electrons in tokamaks.

Optical superimposed vortex beams generated by integrated holographic plates with blazed grating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xue-Dong; Su, Ya-Hui; Ni, Jin-Cheng; Wang, Zhong-Yu; Wang, Yu-Long; Wang, Chao-Wei; Ren, Fei-Fei; Zhang, Zhen; Fan, Hua; Zhang, Wei-Jie; Li, Guo-Qiang; Hu, Yan-Lei; Li, Jia-Wen; Wu, Dong; Chu, Jia-Ru

2017-08-01

In this paper, we demonstrate that the superposition of two vortex beams with controlled topological charges can be realized by integrating two holographic plates with blazed grating. First, the holographic plate with blazed grating was designed and fabricated by laser direct writing for generating well-separated vortex beam. Then, the relationship between the periods of blazed grating and the discrete angles of vortex beams was systemically investigated. Finally, through setting the discrete angle and different revolving direction of the holographic plates, the composite fork-shaped field was realized by the superposition of two vortex beams in a particular position. The topological charges of composite fork-shaped field (l = 1, 0, 3, and 4) depend on the topological charges of compositional vortex beams, which are well agreed with the theoretical simulation. The method opens up a wide range of opportunities and possibilities for applying in optical communication, optical manipulations, and photonic integrated circuits.

Aerodynamic and acoustic behavior of a YF-12 inlet at static conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bangert, L. H.; Feltz, E. P.; Godby, L. A.; Miller, L. D.

1981-01-01

An aeroacoustic test program to determine the cause of YF-12 inlet noise suppression was performed with a YF-12 aircraft at ground static conditions. Data obtained over a wide range of engine speeds and inlet configurations are reported. Acoustic measurements were made in the far field and aerodynamic and acoustic measurements were made inside the inlet. The J-58 test engine was removed from the aircraft and tested separately with a bellmouth inlet. The far field noise level was significantly lower for the YF-12 inlet than for the bellmouth inlet at engine speeds above 5500 rpm. There was no evidence that noise suppression was caused by flow choking. Multiple pure tones were reduced and the spectral peak near the blade passing frequency disappeared in the region of the spike support struts at engine speeds between 6000 and 6600 rpm.

A depth enhancement strategy for kinect depth image

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quan, Wei; Li, Hua; Han, Cheng; Xue, Yaohong; Zhang, Chao; Hu, Hanping; Jiang, Zhengang

2018-03-01

Kinect is a motion sensing input device which is widely used in computer vision and other related fields. However, there are many inaccurate depth data in Kinect depth images even Kinect v2. In this paper, an algorithm is proposed to enhance Kinect v2 depth images. According to the principle of its depth measuring, the foreground and the background are considered separately. As to the background, the holes are filled according to the depth data in the neighborhood. And as to the foreground, a filling algorithm, based on the color image concerning about both space and color information, is proposed. An adaptive joint bilateral filtering method is used to reduce noise. Experimental results show that the processed depth images have clean background and clear edges. The results are better than ones of traditional Strategies. It can be applied in 3D reconstruction fields to pretreat depth image in real time and obtain accurate results.

Robust transport signatures of topological superconductivity in topological insulator nanowires.

PubMed

de Juan, Fernando; Ilan, Roni; Bardarson, Jens H

2014-09-05

Finding a clear signature of topological superconductivity in transport experiments remains an outstanding challenge. In this work, we propose exploiting the unique properties of three-dimensional topological insulator nanowires to generate a normal-superconductor junction in the single-mode regime where an exactly quantized 2e2/h zero-bias conductance can be observed over a wide range of realistic system parameters. This is achieved by inducing superconductivity in half of the wire, which can be tuned at will from trivial to topological with a parallel magnetic field, while a perpendicular field is used to gap out the normal part, except for two spatially separated chiral channels. The combination of chiral mode transport and perfect Andreev reflection makes the measurement robust to moderate disorder, and the quantization of conductance survives to much higher temperatures than in tunnel junction experiments. Our proposal may be understood as a variant of a Majorana interferometer which is easily realizable in experiments.

Wide-Field Imaging Using Nitrogen Vacancies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Englund, Dirk Robert (Inventor); Trusheim, Matthew Edwin (Inventor)

2017-01-01

Nitrogen vacancies in bulk diamonds and nanodiamonds can be used to sense temperature, pressure, electromagnetic fields, and pH. Unfortunately, conventional sensing techniques use gated detection and confocal imaging, limiting the measurement sensitivity and precluding wide-field imaging. Conversely, the present sensing techniques do not require gated detection or confocal imaging and can therefore be used to image temperature, pressure, electromagnetic fields, and pH over wide fields of view. In some cases, wide-field imaging supports spatial localization of the NVs to precisions at or below the diffraction limit. Moreover, the measurement range can extend over extremely wide dynamic range at very high sensitivity.

Working principle and application of magnetic separation for biomedical diagnostic at high- and low-field gradients.

PubMed

Leong, Sim Siong; Yeap, Swee Pin; Lim, JitKang

2016-12-06

Magnetic separation is a versatile technique used in sample preparation for diagnostic purpose. For such application, an external magnetic field is applied to drive the separation of target entity (e.g. bacteria, viruses, parasites and cancer cells) from a complex raw sample in order to ease the subsequent task(s) for disease diagnosis. This separation process not only can be achieved via the utilization of high magnetic field gradient, but also, in most cases, low magnetic field gradient with magnitude less than 100 T m -1 is equally feasible. It is the aim of this review paper to summarize the usage of both high gradient magnetic separation and low gradient magnetic separation (LGMS) techniques in this area of research. It is noteworthy that effectiveness of the magnetic separation process not only determines the outcome of a diagnosis but also directly influences its accuracy as well as sensing time involved. Therefore, understanding the factors that simultaneously influence the efficiency of both magnetic separation process and target detection is necessary. Moreover, for LGMS, there are several important considerations that should be taken into account in order to ensure its successful implementation. Hence, this review paper aims to provide an overview to relate all this crucial information by linking the magnetic separation theory to biomedical diagnostic applications.

Star/Galaxy Separation in Hyper Suprime-Cam and Mapping the Milky Way with Star Counts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garmilla, Jose Antonio

We study the problem of separating stars and galaxies in the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) multi-band imaging data at high galactic latitudes. We show that the current separation technique implemented in the HSC pipeline is unable to produce samples of stars with i 24 without a significant contamination from galaxies (> 50%). We study various methods for measuring extendedness in HSC with simulated and real data and find that there are a number of available techniques that give nearly optimal results; the extendedness measure HSC is currently using is among these. We develop a star/galaxy separation method for HSC based on the Extreme Deconvolution (XD) algorithm that uses colors and extendedness simultaneously, and show that with it we can generate samples of faint stars keeping contamination from galaxies under control to i ≤ 25. We apply our star/galaxy separation method to carry out a preliminary study of the structure of the Milky Way (MW) with main sequence (MS) stars using photometric parallax relations derived for the HSC photometric system. We show that it will be possible to generate a tomography of the MW stellar halo to galactocentric radii ˜ 100 kpc with ˜ 106 MS stars in the HSC Wide layer once the survey has been completed. We report two potential detections of the Sagittarius tidal stream with MS stars in the XMM and GAMA15 fields at ≈ 20 kpc and ≈ 40 kpc respectively.

Approaches to High-Performance Preparative Chromatography of Proteins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yan; Liu, Fu-Feng; Shi, Qing-Hong

Preparative liquid chromatography is widely used for the purification of chemical and biological substances. Different from high-performance liquid chromatography for the analysis of many different components at minimized sample loading, high-performance preparative chromatography is of much larger scale and should be of high resolution and high capacity at high operation speed and low to moderate pressure drop. There are various approaches to this end. For biochemical engineers, the traditional way is to model and optimize a purification process to make it exert its maximum capability. For high-performance separations, however, we need to improve chromatographic technology itself. We herein discuss four approaches in this review, mainly based on the recent studies in our group. The first is the development of high-performance matrices, because packing material is the central component of chromatography. Progress in the fabrication of superporous materials in both beaded and monolithic forms are reviewed. The second topic is the discovery and design of affinity ligands for proteins. In most chromatographic methods, proteins are separated based on their interactions with the ligands attached to the surface of porous media. A target-specific ligand can offer selective purification of desired proteins. Third, electrochromatography is discussed. An electric field applied to a chromatographic column can induce additional separation mechanisms besides chromatography, and result in electrokinetic transport of protein molecules and/or the fluid inside pores, thus leading to high-performance separations. Finally, expanded-bed adsorption is described for process integration to reduce separation steps and process time.

Magnetic Separation Using HTS Bulk Magnet for Cs-Bearing Fe precipitates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oka, T.; Ichiju, K.; Sasaki, S.; Ogawa, J.; Fukui, S.; Sato, T.; Ooizumi, M.; Yokoyama, K.; Aoki, S.; Ohnishi, N.

2017-09-01

A peculiar magnetic separation technique has been examined in order to remove the Cs-bearing Fe precipitates formed of the waste ash from the withdrawn incinerator furnaces in Fukushima. The separation system was constructed in combination with high temperature superconducting bulk magnets which generates the intensive magnetic field over 2 T, which was activated by the pulsed field magnetization process. The separation experiment has been operated with use of the newly-built alternating channel type magnetic separating device, which followed the high-gradient magnetic separation technique. The magnetic stainless steel filters installed in the water channels are magnetized by the applied magnetic fields, and are capable of attracting the precipitates bearing the Fe compound and thin Cs contamination. The experimental results clearly exhibited the positive feasibility of HTS bulk magnets.

Methane Adsorption in Zr-Based MOFs: Comparison and Critical Evaluation of Force Fields

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The search for nanoporous materials that are highly performing for gas storage and separation is one of the contemporary challenges in material design. The computational tools to aid these experimental efforts are widely available, and adsorption isotherms are routinely computed for huge sets of (hypothetical) frameworks. Clearly the computational results depend on the interactions between the adsorbed species and the adsorbent, which are commonly described using force fields. In this paper, an extensive comparison and in-depth investigation of several force fields from literature is reported for the case of methane adsorption in the Zr-based Metal–Organic Frameworks UiO-66, UiO-67, DUT-52, NU-1000, and MOF-808. Significant quantitative differences in the computed uptake are observed when comparing different force fields, but most qualitative features are common which suggests some predictive power of the simulations when it comes to these properties. More insight into the host–guest interactions is obtained by benchmarking the force fields with an extensive number of ab initio computed single molecule interaction energies. This analysis at the molecular level reveals that especially ab initio derived force fields perform well in reproducing the ab initio interaction energies. Finally, the high sensitivity of uptake predictions on the underlying potential energy surface is explored. PMID:29170687

Grassmann phase space methods for fermions. II. Field theory

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

Dalton, B.J., E-mail: bdalton@swin.edu.au; Jeffers, J.; Barnett, S.M.

In both quantum optics and cold atom physics, the behaviour of bosonic photons and atoms is often treated using phase space methods, where mode annihilation and creation operators are represented by c-number phase space variables, with the density operator equivalent to a distribution function of these variables. The anti-commutation rules for fermion annihilation, creation operators suggests the possibility of using anti-commuting Grassmann variables to represent these operators. However, in spite of the seminal work by Cahill and Glauber and a few applications, the use of Grassmann phase space methods in quantum-atom optics to treat fermionic systems is rather rare, thoughmore » fermion coherent states using Grassmann variables are widely used in particle physics. This paper presents a phase space theory for fermion systems based on distribution functionals, which replace the density operator and involve Grassmann fields representing anti-commuting fermion field annihilation, creation operators. It is an extension of a previous phase space theory paper for fermions (Paper I) based on separate modes, in which the density operator is replaced by a distribution function depending on Grassmann phase space variables which represent the mode annihilation and creation operators. This further development of the theory is important for the situation when large numbers of fermions are involved, resulting in too many modes to treat separately. Here Grassmann fields, distribution functionals, functional Fokker–Planck equations and Ito stochastic field equations are involved. Typical applications to a trapped Fermi gas of interacting spin 1/2 fermionic atoms and to multi-component Fermi gases with non-zero range interactions are presented, showing that the Ito stochastic field equations are local in these cases. For the spin 1/2 case we also show how simple solutions can be obtained both for the untrapped case and for an optical lattice trapping potential.« less

Spiral magnetism in the single-band Hubbard model: the Hartree-Fock and slave-boson approaches.

PubMed

Igoshev, P A; Timirgazin, M A; Gilmutdinov, V F; Arzhnikov, A K; Irkhin, V Yu

2015-11-11

The ground-state magnetic phase diagram is investigated within the single-band Hubbard model for square and different cubic lattices. The results of employing the generalized non-correlated mean-field (Hartree-Fock) approximation and generalized slave-boson approach by Kotliar and Ruckenstein with correlation effects included are compared. We take into account commensurate ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, and incommensurate (spiral) magnetic phases, as well as phase separation into magnetic phases of different types, which was often lacking in previous investigations. It is found that the spiral states and especially ferromagnetism are generally strongly suppressed up to non-realistically large Hubbard U by the correlation effects if nesting is absent and van Hove singularities are well away from the paramagnetic phase Fermi level. The magnetic phase separation plays an important role in the formation of magnetic states, the corresponding phase regions being especially wide in the vicinity of half-filling. The details of non-collinear and collinear magnetic ordering for different cubic lattices are discussed.

Simulation of the hybrid Tunka Advanced International Gamma-ray and Cosmic ray Astrophysics (TAIGA)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kunnas, M.; Astapov, I.; Barbashina, N.; Beregnev, S.; Bogdanov, A.; Bogorodskii, D.; Boreyko, V.; Brückner, M.; Budnev, N.; Chiavassa, A.; Chvalaev, O.; Dyachok, A.; Epimakhov, S.; Eremin, T.; Gafarov, A.; Gorbunov, N.; Grebenyuk, V.; Gress, O.; Gress, T.; Grinyuk, A.; Grishin, O.; Horns, D.; Ivanova, A.; Karpov, N.; Kalmykov, N.; Kazarina, Y.; Kindin, V.; Kirichkov, N.; Kiryuhin, S.; Kokoulin, R.; Kompaniets, K.; Konstantinov, E.; Korobchenko, A.; Korosteleva, E.; Kozhin, V.; Kuzmichev, L.; Lenok, V.; Lubsandorzhiev, B.; Lubsandorzhiev, N.; Mirgazov, R.; Mirzoyan, R.; Monkhoev, R.; Nachtigall, R.; Pakhorukov, A.; Panasyuk, M.; Pankov, L.; Perevalov, A.; Petrukhin, A.; Platonov, V.; Poleschuk, V.; Popescu, M.; Popova, E.; Porelli, A.; Porokhovoy, S.; Prosin, V.; Ptuskin, V.; Romanov, V.; Rubtsov, G. I.; Müger; Rybov, E.; Samoliga, V.; Satunin, P.; Saunkin, A.; Savinov, V.; Semeney, Yu; Shaibonov (junior, B.; Silaev, A.; Silaev (junior, A.; Skurikhin, A.; Slunecka, M.; Spiering, C.; Sveshnikova, L.; Tabolenko, V.; Tkachenko, A.; Tkachev, L.; Tluczykont, M.; Veslopopov, A.; Veslopopova, E.; Voronov, D.; Wischnewski, R.; Yashin, I.; Yurin, K.; Zagorodnikov, A.; Zirakashvili, V.; Zurbanov, V.

2015-08-01

Up to several 10s of TeV, Imaging Air Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) have proven to be the instruments of choice for GeV/TeV gamma-ray astronomy due to their good reconstrucion quality and gamma-hadron separation power. However, sensitive observations at and above 100 TeV require very large effective areas (10 km2 and more), which is difficult and expensive to achieve. The alternative to IACTs are shower front sampling arrays (non-imaging technique or timing-arrays) with a large area and a wide field of view. Such experiments provide good core position, energy and angular resolution, but only poor gamma-hadron separation. Combining both experimental approaches, using the strengths of both techniques, could optimize the sensitivity to the highest energies. The TAIGA project plans to combine the non-imaging HiSCORE [8] array with small (∼10m2) imaging telescopes. This paper covers simulation results of this hybrid approach.

Conversion of hydrophilic SiOC nanofibrous membrane to robust hydrophobic materials by introducing palladium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Nan; Wan, Lynn Yuqin; Wang, Yingde; Ko, Frank

2017-12-01

Hydrophobic ceramic nanofibrous membranes have wide applications in the fields of high-temperature filters, oil/water separators, catalyst supports and membrane reactors, for their water repellency property, self-cleaning capability, good environmental stability and long life span. In this work, we fabricated an inherently hydrophobic ceramic nanofiber membrane without any surface modification through pyrolysis of electrospun polycarbosilane nanofibers. The hydrophobicity was introduced by the hierarchical microstructure formed on the surface of the nanofibers and the special surface composition by the addition of trace amounts of palladium. Furthermore, the flexible ceramic mats demonstrated robust chemical resistance properties with consistent hydrophobicity over the entire pH value range and effective water-in-oil emulsion separation performance. Interestingly, a highly cohesive force was found between water droplet and the ceramic membranes, suggesting their great potentials in micro-liquid transportation. This work provides a new route for adjusting the composition of ceramic surface and flexible, recyclable and multifunctional ceramic fibrous membranes for utilization in harsh environments.

CANDELS Visual Classifications: Scheme, Data Release, and First Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kartaltepe, Jeyhan S.; Mozena, Mark; Kocevski, Dale; McIntosh, Daniel H.; Lotz, Jennifer; Bell, Eric F.; Faber, Sandy; Ferguson, Harry; Koo, David; Bassett, Robert; Bernyk, Maksym; Blancato, Kirsten; Bournaud, Frederic; Cassata, Paolo; Castellano, Marco; Cheung, Edmond; Conselice, Christopher J.; Croton, Darren; Dahlen, Tomas; de Mello, Duilia F.; DeGroot, Laura; Donley, Jennifer; Guedes, Javiera; Grogin, Norman; Hathi, Nimish; Hilton, Matt; Hollon, Brett; Koekemoer, Anton; Liu, Nick; Lucas, Ray A.; Martig, Marie; McGrath, Elizabeth; McPartland, Conor; Mobasher, Bahram; Morlock, Alice; O'Leary, Erin; Peth, Mike; Pforr, Janine; Pillepich, Annalisa; Rosario, David; Soto, Emmaris; Straughn, Amber; Telford, Olivia; Sunnquist, Ben; Trump, Jonathan; Weiner, Benjamin; Wuyts, Stijn; Inami, Hanae; Kassin, Susan; Lani, Caterina; Poole, Gregory B.; Rizer, Zachary

2015-11-01

We have undertaken an ambitious program to visually classify all galaxies in the five CANDELS fields down to H < 24.5 involving the dedicated efforts of over 65 individual classifiers. Once completed, we expect to have detailed morphological classifications for over 50,000 galaxies spanning 0 < z < 4 over all the fields, with classifications from 3 to 5 independent classifiers for each galaxy. Here, we present our detailed visual classification scheme, which was designed to cover a wide range of CANDELS science goals. This scheme includes the basic Hubble sequence types, but also includes a detailed look at mergers and interactions, the clumpiness of galaxies, k-corrections, and a variety of other structural properties. In this paper, we focus on the first field to be completed—GOODS-S, which has been classified at various depths. The wide area coverage spanning the full field (wide+deep+ERS) includes 7634 galaxies that have been classified by at least three different people. In the deep area of the field, 2534 galaxies have been classified by at least five different people at three different depths. With this paper, we release to the public all of the visual classifications in GOODS-S along with the Perl/Tk GUI that we developed to classify galaxies. We present our initial results here, including an analysis of our internal consistency and comparisons among multiple classifiers as well as a comparison to the Sérsic index. We find that the level of agreement among classifiers is quite good (>70% across the full magnitude range) and depends on both the galaxy magnitude and the galaxy type, with disks showing the highest level of agreement (>50%) and irregulars the lowest (<10%). A comparison of our classifications with the Sérsic index and rest-frame colors shows a clear separation between disk and spheroid populations. Finally, we explore morphological k-corrections between the V-band and H-band observations and find that a small fraction (84 galaxies in total) are classified as being very different between these two bands. These galaxies typically have very clumpy and extended morphology or are very faint in the V-band.

Mathematical and experimental modelling of the dynamic bubble processes occurring in a two-phase cyclonic separation device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schrage, Dean Stewart

1998-11-01

This dissertation presents a combined mathematical and experimental analysis of the fluid dynamics of a gas- liquid, dispersed-phase cyclonic separation device. The global objective of this research is to develop a simulation model of separation process in order to predict the void fraction field within a cyclonic separation device. The separation process is approximated by analyzing the dynamic motion of many single-bubbles, moving under the influence of the far-field, interacting with physical boundaries and other bubbles. The dynamic motion of the bubble is described by treating the bubble as a point-mass and writing an inertial force balance, equating the force applied to the bubble-point-location to the inertial acceleration of the bubble mass (also applied to the point-location). The forces which are applied to the bubble are determined by an integration of the surface pressure over the bubble. The surface pressure is coupled to the intrinsic motion of the bubble, and is very difficult to obtain exactly. However, under moderate Reynolds number, the wake trailing a bubble is small and the near-field flow field can be approximated as an inviscid flow field. Unconventional potential flow techniques are employed to solve for the surface pressure; the hydrodyamic forces are described as a hydrodynamic mass tensor operating on the bubble acceleration vector. The inviscid flow model is augmented with adjunct forces which describe: drag forces, dynamic lift, far-field pressure forces. The dynamic equations of motion are solved both analytically and numerically for the bubble trajectory in specific flow field examples. A validation of these equations is performed by comparing to an experimentally-derived trajectory of a single- bubble, which is released into a cylindrical Couette flow field (inner cylinder rotating) at varying positions. Finally, a simulation of a cyclonic separation device is performed by extending the single-bubble dynamic model to a multi-bubble ensemble. A simplified model is developed to predict the effects of bubble-interaction. The simulation qualitatively depicts the separation physics encountered in an actual cyclonic separation device, supporting the original tenet that the separation process can be approximated by the collective motions of single- bubbles.

The potential of organic (electrospray- and atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation) mass spectrometric techniques coupled to liquid-phase separation for speciation analysis.

PubMed

Rosenberg, Erwin

2003-06-06

The use of mass spectrometry based on atmospheric pressure ionisation techniques (atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation, APCI, and electrospray ionisation, ESI) for speciation analysis is reviewed with emphasis on the literature published in and after 1999. This report accounts for the increasing interest that atmospheric pressure ionisation techniques, and in particular ESI, have found in the past years for qualitative and quantitative speciation analysis. In contrast to element-selective detectors, organic mass spectrometric techniques provide information on the intact metal species which can be used for the identification of unknown species (particularly with MS-MS detection) or the confirmation of the actual presence of species in a given sample. Due to the complexity of real samples, it is inevitable in all but the simplest cases to couple atmospheric pressure MS detection to a separation technique. Separation in the liquid phase (capillary electrophoresis or liquid chromatography in reversed phase, ion chromatographic or size-exclusion mode) is particularly suitable since the available techniques cover a very wide range of analyte polarities and molecular mass. Moreover, derivatisation can normally be avoided in liquid-phase separation. Particularly in complex environmental or biological samples, separation in one dimension is not sufficient for obtaining adequate resolution for all relevant species. In this case, multi-dimensional separation, based on orthogonal separation techniques, has proven successful. ESI-MS is also often used in parallel with inductively coupled plasma MS detection. This review is structured in two parts. In the first, the fundamentals of atmospheric pressure ionisation techniques are briefly reviewed. The second part of the review discusses recent applications including redox species, use of ESI-MS for structural elucidation of metal complexes, characterisation and quantification of small organometallic species with relevance to environment, health and food. Particular attention is given to the characterisation of biomolecules and metalloproteins (metallothioneins and phytochelatins) and to the investigation of the interaction of metals and biomolecules. Particularly in the latter field, ESI-MS is the ideal technique due to the softness of the ionisation process which allows to assume that the detected gas-phase ions are a true representation of the ions or ion-biomolecule complexes prevalent in solution. It is particularly this field, important to biochemistry, physiology and medical chemistry, where we can expect significant developments also in the future.

Evidence for the interaction of large scale magnetic structures in solar flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mandrini, C. H.; Demoulin, P.; Henoux, J. C.; Machado, M. E.

1991-01-01

By modeling the observed vertical magnetic field of an active region AR 2372 by the potential field of an ensemble of magnetic dipoles, the likely location of the separatrices, surfaces that separates cells of different field line connectivities, and of the separator which is the intersection of the separatrices, is derived. Four of the five off-band H-alpha kernels of a flare that occurred less than 20 minutes before obtaining the magnetogram are shown to have taken place near or at the separatrices. These H-alpha kernels are connected by field lines that pass near the separator. This indicates that the flare may have resulted from the interaction in the separator region of large scale magnetic structures.

Techniques for High-contrast Imaging in Multi-star Systems. II. Multi-star Wavefront Control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sirbu, D.; Thomas, S.; Belikov, R.; Bendek, E.

2017-11-01

Direct imaging of exoplanets represents a challenge for astronomical instrumentation due to the high-contrast ratio and small angular separation between the host star and the faint planet. Multi-star systems pose additional challenges for coronagraphic instruments due to the diffraction and aberration leakage caused by companion stars. Consequently, many scientifically valuable multi-star systems are excluded from direct imaging target lists for exoplanet surveys and characterization missions. Multi-star Wavefront Control (MSWC) is a technique that uses a coronagraphic instrument’s deformable mirror (DM) to create high-contrast regions in the focal plane in the presence of multiple stars. MSWC uses “non-redundant” modes on the DM to independently control speckles from each star in the dark zone. Our previous paper also introduced the Super-Nyquist wavefront control technique, which uses a diffraction grating to generate high-contrast regions beyond the Nyquist limit (nominal region correctable by the DM). These two techniques can be combined as MSWC-s to generate high-contrast regions for multi-star systems at wide (Super-Nyquist) angular separations, while MSWC-0 refers to close (Sub-Nyquist) angular separations. As a case study, a high-contrast wavefront control simulation that applies these techniques shows that the habitable region of the Alpha Centauri system can be imaged with a small aperture at 8× {10}-9 mean raw contrast in 10% broadband light in one-sided dark holes from 1.6-5.5 λ/D. Another case study using a larger 2.4 m aperture telescope such as the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope uses these techniques to image the habitable zone of Alpha Centauri at 3.2× {10}-9 mean raw contrast in monochromatic light.

Adsorption of HMF from water/DMSO solutions onto hydrophobic zeolites: experiment and simulation.

PubMed

Xiong, Ruichang; León, Marta; Nikolakis, Vladimiros; Sandler, Stanley I; Vlachos, Dionisios G

2014-01-01

The adsorption of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), DMSO, and water from binary and ternary mixtures in hydrophobic silicalite-1 and dealuminated Y (DAY) zeolites at ambient conditions was studied by experiments and molecular modeling. HMF and DMSO adsorption isotherms were measured and compared to those calculated using a combination of grand canonical Monte Carlo and expanded ensemble (GCMC-EE) simulations. A method based on GCMC-EE simulations for dilute solutions combined with the Redlich-Kister (RK) expansion (GCMC-EE-RK) is introduced to calculate the isotherms over a wide range of concentrations. The simulations, using literature force fields, are in reasonable agreement with experimental data. In HMF/water binary mixtures, large-pore hydrophobic zeolites are much more effective for HMF adsorption but less selective because large pores allow water adsorption because of H2 O-HMF attraction. In ternary HMF/DMSO/water mixtures, HMF loading decreases with increasing DMSO fraction, rendering the separation of HMF from water/DMSO mixtures by adsorption difficult. The ratio of the energetic interaction in the zeolite to the solvation free energy is a key factor in controlling separation from liquid mixtures. Overall, our findings could have an impact on the separation and catalytic conversion of HMF and the rational design of nanoporous adsorbents for liquid-phase separations in biomass processing. Copyright © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Genome Wide Association Mapping of Grain Arsenic, Copper, Molybdenum and Zinc in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Grown at Four International Field Sites

PubMed Central

Norton, Gareth J.; Douglas, Alex; Lahner, Brett; Yakubova, Elena; Guerinot, Mary Lou; Pinson, Shannon R. M.; Tarpley, Lee; Eizenga, Georgia C.; McGrath, Steve P.; Zhao, Fang-Jie; Islam, M. Rafiqul; Islam, Shofiqul; Duan, Guilan; Zhu, Yongguan; Salt, David E.; Meharg, Andrew A.; Price, Adam H.

2014-01-01

The mineral concentrations in cereals are important for human health, especially for individuals who consume a cereal subsistence diet. A number of elements, such as zinc, are required within the diet, while some elements are toxic to humans, for example arsenic. In this study we carry out genome-wide association (GWA) mapping of grain concentrations of arsenic, copper, molybdenum and zinc in brown rice using an established rice diversity panel of ∼300 accessions and 36.9 k single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The study was performed across five environments: one field site in Bangladesh, one in China and two in the US, with one of the US sites repeated over two years. GWA mapping on the whole dataset and on separate subpopulations of rice revealed a large number of loci significantly associated with variation in grain arsenic, copper, molybdenum and zinc. Seventeen of these loci were detected in data obtained from grain cultivated in more than one field location, and six co-localise with previously identified quantitative trait loci. Additionally, a number of candidate genes for the uptake or transport of these elements were located near significantly associated SNPs (within 200 kb, the estimated global linkage disequilibrium previously employed in this rice panel). This analysis highlights a number of genomic regions and candidate genes for further analysis as well as the challenges faced when mapping environmentally-variable traits in a highly genetically structured diversity panel. PMID:24586963

THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF OVERPRESSURED, MAGNETIZED, RELATIVISTIC JETS

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

Martí, J. M.; Perucho, M.; Gómez, J. L.

This work presents the first characterization of the internal structure of overpressured, steady superfast-magnetosonic relativistic jets in connection with their dominant type of energy. To this aim, relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations of different jet models threaded by a helical magnetic field have been analyzed covering a wide region in the magnetosonic Mach number–specific internal energy plane. The merit of this plane is that models dominated by different types of energy (internal energy: hot jets; rest-mass energy: kinetically dominated jets; magnetic energy: Poynting-flux-dominated jets) occupy well-separated regions. The analyzed models also cover a wide range of magnetizations. Models dominated by the internalmore » energy (i.e., hot models, or Poynting-flux-dominated jets with magnetizations larger than but close to one) have a rich internal structure characterized by a series of recollimation shocks and present the largest variations in the flow Lorentz factor (and internal energy density). Conversely, in kinetically dominated models, there is not much internal or magnetic energy to be converted into kinetic, and the jets are featureless with small variations in the flow Lorentz factor. The presence of a significant toroidal magnetic field threading the jet produces large gradients in the transversal profile of the internal energy density. Poynting-flux-dominated models with high magnetization (≈10 or larger) are prone to be unstable against magnetic pinch modes, which sets limits on the expected magnetization in parsec-scale active galactic nucleus jets or constrains their magnetic field configuration.« less

Loci associated with resistance to stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici) in a core collection of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum).

PubMed

Muleta, Kebede T; Bulli, Peter; Rynearson, Sheri; Chen, Xianming; Pumphrey, Michael

2017-01-01

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici Erikss. (Pst) remains one of the most significant diseases of wheat worldwide. We investigated stripe rust resistance by genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) in 959 spring wheat accessions from the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service National Small Grains Collection, representing major global production environments. The panel was characterized for field resistance in multi-environment field trials and seedling resistance under greenhouse conditions. A genome-wide set of 5,619 informative SNP markers were used to examine the population structure, linkage disequilibrium and marker-trait associations in the germplasm panel. Based on model-based analysis of population structure and hierarchical Ward clustering algorithm, the accessions were clustered into two major subgroups. These subgroups were largely separated according to geographic origin and improvement status of the accessions. A significant correlation was observed between the population sub-clusters and response to stripe rust infection. We identified 11 and 7 genomic regions with significant associations with stripe rust resistance at adult plant and seedling stages, respectively, based on a false discovery rate multiple correction method. The regions harboring all, except three, of the QTL identified from the field and greenhouse studies overlap with positions of previously reported QTL. Further work should aim at validating the identified QTL using proper germplasm and populations to enhance their utility in marker assisted breeding.

Loci associated with resistance to stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici) in a core collection of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum)

PubMed Central

Bulli, Peter; Rynearson, Sheri; Chen, Xianming; Pumphrey, Michael

2017-01-01

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici Erikss. (Pst) remains one of the most significant diseases of wheat worldwide. We investigated stripe rust resistance by genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) in 959 spring wheat accessions from the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service National Small Grains Collection, representing major global production environments. The panel was characterized for field resistance in multi-environment field trials and seedling resistance under greenhouse conditions. A genome-wide set of 5,619 informative SNP markers were used to examine the population structure, linkage disequilibrium and marker-trait associations in the germplasm panel. Based on model-based analysis of population structure and hierarchical Ward clustering algorithm, the accessions were clustered into two major subgroups. These subgroups were largely separated according to geographic origin and improvement status of the accessions. A significant correlation was observed between the population sub-clusters and response to stripe rust infection. We identified 11 and 7 genomic regions with significant associations with stripe rust resistance at adult plant and seedling stages, respectively, based on a false discovery rate multiple correction method. The regions harboring all, except three, of the QTL identified from the field and greenhouse studies overlap with positions of previously reported QTL. Further work should aim at validating the identified QTL using proper germplasm and populations to enhance their utility in marker assisted breeding. PMID:28591221

Working principle and application of magnetic separation for biomedical diagnostic at high- and low-field gradients

PubMed Central

Yeap, Swee Pin; Lim, JitKang

2016-01-01

Magnetic separation is a versatile technique used in sample preparation for diagnostic purpose. For such application, an external magnetic field is applied to drive the separation of target entity (e.g. bacteria, viruses, parasites and cancer cells) from a complex raw sample in order to ease the subsequent task(s) for disease diagnosis. This separation process not only can be achieved via the utilization of high magnetic field gradient, but also, in most cases, low magnetic field gradient with magnitude less than 100 T m−1 is equally feasible. It is the aim of this review paper to summarize the usage of both high gradient magnetic separation and low gradient magnetic separation (LGMS) techniques in this area of research. It is noteworthy that effectiveness of the magnetic separation process not only determines the outcome of a diagnosis but also directly influences its accuracy as well as sensing time involved. Therefore, understanding the factors that simultaneously influence the efficiency of both magnetic separation process and target detection is necessary. Moreover, for LGMS, there are several important considerations that should be taken into account in order to ensure its successful implementation. Hence, this review paper aims to provide an overview to relate all this crucial information by linking the magnetic separation theory to biomedical diagnostic applications. PMID:27920891

Spin-orbit induced electronic spin separation in semiconductor nanostructures.

PubMed

Kohda, Makoto; Nakamura, Shuji; Nishihara, Yoshitaka; Kobayashi, Kensuke; Ono, Teruo; Ohe, Jun-ichiro; Tokura, Yasuhiro; Mineno, Taiki; Nitta, Junsaku

2012-01-01

The demonstration of quantized spin splitting by Stern and Gerlach is one of the most important experiments in modern physics. Their discovery was the precursor of recent developments in spin-based technologies. Although electrical spin separation of charged particles is fundamental in spintronics, in non-uniform magnetic fields it has been difficult to separate the spin states of charged particles due to the Lorentz force, as well as to the insufficient and uncontrollable field gradients. Here we demonstrate electronic spin separation in a semiconductor nanostructure. To avoid the Lorentz force, which is inevitably induced when an external magnetic field is applied, we utilized the effective non-uniform magnetic field which originates from the Rashba spin-orbit interaction in an InGaAs-based heterostructure. Using a Stern-Gerlach-inspired mechanism, together with a quantum point contact, we obtained field gradients of 10(8) T m(-1) resulting in a highly polarized spin current.

Spin–orbit induced electronic spin separation in semiconductor nanostructures

PubMed Central

Kohda, Makoto; Nakamura, Shuji; Nishihara, Yoshitaka; Kobayashi, Kensuke; Ono, Teruo; Ohe, Jun-ichiro; Tokura, Yasuhiro; Mineno, Taiki; Nitta, Junsaku

2012-01-01

The demonstration of quantized spin splitting by Stern and Gerlach is one of the most important experiments in modern physics. Their discovery was the precursor of recent developments in spin-based technologies. Although electrical spin separation of charged particles is fundamental in spintronics, in non-uniform magnetic fields it has been difficult to separate the spin states of charged particles due to the Lorentz force, as well as to the insufficient and uncontrollable field gradients. Here we demonstrate electronic spin separation in a semiconductor nanostructure. To avoid the Lorentz force, which is inevitably induced when an external magnetic field is applied, we utilized the effective non-uniform magnetic field which originates from the Rashba spin–orbit interaction in an InGaAs-based heterostructure. Using a Stern–Gerlach-inspired mechanism, together with a quantum point contact, we obtained field gradients of 108 T m−1 resulting in a highly polarized spin current. PMID:23011136

Independent component analysis algorithm FPGA design to perform real-time blind source separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer-Baese, Uwe; Odom, Crispin; Botella, Guillermo; Meyer-Baese, Anke

2015-05-01

The conditions that arise in the Cocktail Party Problem prevail across many fields creating a need for of Blind Source Separation. The need for BSS has become prevalent in several fields of work. These fields include array processing, communications, medical signal processing, and speech processing, wireless communication, audio, acoustics and biomedical engineering. The concept of the cocktail party problem and BSS led to the development of Independent Component Analysis (ICA) algorithms. ICA proves useful for applications needing real time signal processing. The goal of this research was to perform an extensive study on ability and efficiency of Independent Component Analysis algorithms to perform blind source separation on mixed signals in software and implementation in hardware with a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The Algebraic ICA (A-ICA), Fast ICA, and Equivariant Adaptive Separation via Independence (EASI) ICA were examined and compared. The best algorithm required the least complexity and fewest resources while effectively separating mixed sources. The best algorithm was the EASI algorithm. The EASI ICA was implemented on hardware with Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) to perform and analyze its performance in real time.

Magnetic filtration of phase separating ferrofluids: From basic concepts to microfluidic device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuzhir, P.; Magnet, C.; Ezzaier, H.; Zubarev, A.; Bossis, G.

2017-06-01

In this work, we briefly review magnetic separation of ferrofluids composed of large magnetic particles (60 nm of the average size) possessing an induced dipole moment. Such ferrofluids exhibit field-induced phase separation at relatively low particle concentrations (∼0.8 vol%) and magnetic fields (∼10 kA/m). Particle aggregates appearing during the phase separation are extracted from the suspending fluid by magnetic field gradients much easier than individual nanoparticles in the absence of phase separation. Nanoparticle capture by a single magnetized microbead and by multi-collector systems (packed bed of spheres and micro-pillar array) has been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Under flow and magnetic fields, the particle capture efficiency Λ decreases with an increasing Mason number for all considered geometries. This decrease may become stronger for aggregated magnetic particles (Λ ∝Ma-1.7) than for individual ones (Λ ∝Ma-1) if the shear fields are strong enough to provoke aggregate rupture. These results can be useful for development of new magneto-microfluidic immunoassays based on magnetic nanoparticles offering a much better sensitivity as compared to presently used magnetic microbeads.

Validation of the GOES-16 magnetometer using multipoint measurements and magnetic field models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Califf, S.; Loto'aniu, P. T. M.; Redmon, R. J.; Sarris, T. E.; Brito, T.

2017-12-01

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) have been providing continuous geomagnetic field measurements for over 40 years. While the primary purpose of GOES is operational, the magnetometer data are also widely used in the scientific community. In an effort to validate the recently launched GOES-16 magnetometer, we compare the measurements to existing magnetic field models and other GOES spacecraft currently on orbit. There are four concurrent measurements from GOES-13, 14, 15 and 16 spanning 75W to 135W longitude. Also, GOES-13 is being replaced by GOES-16 in the GOES-East location, and during the transition, GOES-13 and GOES-16 will be parked nearby in order to assist with calibration of the new operational satellite. This work explores techniques to quantify the performance of the GOES-16 magnetometer by comparison to data from nearby spacecraft. We also build on previous work to assimilate in situ measurements with existing magnetic field models to assist in comparing data from different spatial locations. Finally, we use this unique dataset from four simultaneous geosynchronous magnetometer measurements and the close separation between GOES-13 and GOES-16 to study the spatial characteristics of ULF waves and other magnetospheric processes.

A hands-free region-of-interest selection interface for solo surgery with a wide-angle endoscope: preclinical proof of concept.

PubMed

Jung, Kyunghwa; Choi, Hyunseok; Hong, Hanpyo; Adikrishna, Arnold; Jeon, In-Ho; Hong, Jaesung

2017-02-01

A hands-free region-of-interest (ROI) selection interface is proposed for solo surgery using a wide-angle endoscope. A wide-angle endoscope provides images with a larger field of view than a conventional endoscope. With an appropriate selection interface for a ROI, surgeons can also obtain a detailed local view as if they moved a conventional endoscope in a specific position and direction. To manipulate the endoscope without releasing the surgical instrument in hand, a mini-camera is attached to the instrument, and the images taken by the attached camera are analyzed. When a surgeon moves the instrument, the instrument orientation is calculated by an image processing. Surgeons can select the ROI with this instrument movement after switching from 'task mode' to 'selection mode.' The accelerated KAZE algorithm is used to track the features of the camera images once the instrument is moved. Both the wide-angle and detailed local views are displayed simultaneously, and a surgeon can move the local view area by moving the mini-camera attached to the surgical instrument. Local view selection for a solo surgery was performed without releasing the instrument. The accuracy of camera pose estimation was not significantly different between camera resolutions, but it was significantly different between background camera images with different numbers of features (P < 0.01). The success rate of ROI selection diminished as the number of separated regions increased. However, separated regions up to 12 with a region size of 160 × 160 pixels were selected with no failure. Surgical tasks on a phantom model and a cadaver were attempted to verify the feasibility in a clinical environment. Hands-free endoscope manipulation without releasing the instruments in hand was achieved. The proposed method requires only a small, low-cost camera and an image processing. The technique enables surgeons to perform solo surgeries without a camera assistant.

Burkholderia, a genus rich in plant-associated nitrogen fixers with wide environmental and geographic distribution.

PubMed

Estrada-De Los Santos, P; Bustillos-Cristales, R; Caballero-Mellado, J

2001-06-01

The genus Burkholderia comprises 19 species, including Burkholderia vietnamiensis which is the only known N(2)-fixing species of this bacterial genus. The first isolates of B. vietnamiensis were recovered from the rhizosphere of rice plants grown in a phytotron, but its existence in natural environments and its geographic distribution were not reported. In the present study, most N(2)-fixing isolates recovered from the environment of field-grown maize and coffee plants cultivated in widely separated regions of Mexico were phenotypically identified as B. cepacia using the API 20NE system. Nevertheless, a number of these isolates recovered from inside of maize roots, as well as from the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of maize and coffee plants, showed similar or identical features to those of B. vietnamiensis TVV75(T). These features include nitrogenase activity with 10 different carbon sources, identical or very similar nifHDK hybridization patterns, very similar protein electrophoregrams, identical amplified 16S rDNA restriction (ARDRA) profiles, and levels of DNA-DNA reassociation higher than 70% with total DNA from strain TVV75(T). Although the ability to fix N(2) is not reported to be a common feature among the known species of the genus Burkholderia, the results obtained show that many diazotrophic Burkholderia isolates analyzed showed phenotypic and genotypic features different from those of the known N(2)-fixing species B. vietnamiensis as well as from those of B. kururiensis, a bacterium identified in the present study as a diazotrophic species. DNA-DNA reassociation assays confirmed the existence of N(2)-fixing Burkholderia species different from B. vietnamiensis. In addition, this study shows the wide geographic distribution and substantial capability of N(2)-fixing Burkholderia spp. for colonizing diverse host plants in distantly separated environments.

Burkholderia, a Genus Rich in Plant-Associated Nitrogen Fixers with Wide Environmental and Geographic Distribution

PubMed Central

Estrada-De Los Santos, Paulina; Bustillos-Cristales, Rocío; Caballero-Mellado, Jesús

2001-01-01

The genus Burkholderia comprises 19 species, including Burkholderia vietnamiensis which is the only known N2-fixing species of this bacterial genus. The first isolates of B. vietnamiensis were recovered from the rhizosphere of rice plants grown in a phytotron, but its existence in natural environments and its geographic distribution were not reported. In the present study, most N2-fixing isolates recovered from the environment of field-grown maize and coffee plants cultivated in widely separated regions of Mexico were phenotypically identified as B. cepacia using the API 20NE system. Nevertheless, a number of these isolates recovered from inside of maize roots, as well as from the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of maize and coffee plants, showed similar or identical features to those of B. vietnamiensis TVV75T. These features include nitrogenase activity with 10 different carbon sources, identical or very similar nifHDK hybridization patterns, very similar protein electrophoregrams, identical amplified 16S rDNA restriction (ARDRA) profiles, and levels of DNA-DNA reassociation higher than 70% with total DNA from strain TVV75T. Although the ability to fix N2 is not reported to be a common feature among the known species of the genus Burkholderia, the results obtained show that many diazotrophic Burkholderia isolates analyzed showed phenotypic and genotypic features different from those of the known N2-fixing species B. vietnamiensis as well as from those of B. kururiensis, a bacterium identified in the present study as a diazotrophic species. DNA-DNA reassociation assays confirmed the existence of N2-fixing Burkholderia species different from B. vietnamiensis. In addition, this study shows the wide geographic distribution and substantial capability of N2-fixing Burkholderia spp. for colonizing diverse host plants in distantly separated environments. PMID:11375196

Statistical Properties of Ribbon Evolution and Reconnection Electric Fields in Eruptive and Confined Flares.

PubMed

Hinterreiter, J; Veronig, A M; Thalmann, J K; Tschernitz, J; Pötzi, W

2018-01-01

A statistical study of the chromospheric ribbon evolution in H[Formula: see text] two-ribbon flares was performed. The data set consists of 50 confined (62%) and eruptive (38%) flares that occurred from June 2000 to June 2015. The flares were selected homogeneously over the H[Formula: see text] and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) classes, with an emphasis on including powerful confined flares and weak eruptive flares. H[Formula: see text] filtergrams from the Kanzelhöhe Observatory in combination with Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) and Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) magnetograms were used to derive the ribbon separation, the ribbon-separation velocity, the magnetic-field strength, and the reconnection electric field. We find that eruptive flares reveal statistically larger ribbon separation and higher ribbon-separation velocities than confined flares. In addition, the ribbon separation of eruptive flares correlates with the GOES SXR flux, whereas no clear dependence was found for confined flares. The maximum ribbon-separation velocity is not correlated with the GOES flux, but eruptive flares reveal on average a higher ribbon-separation velocity (by ≈ 10 km s -1 ). The local reconnection electric field of confined ([Formula: see text]) and eruptive ([Formula: see text]) flares correlates with the GOES flux, indicating that more powerful flares involve stronger reconnection electric fields. In addition, eruptive flares with higher electric-field strengths tend to be accompanied by faster coronal mass ejections. The online version of this article (10.1007/s11207-018-1253-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Mass spectrometry as a quantitative tool in plant metabolomics

PubMed Central

Jorge, Tiago F.; Mata, Ana T.

2016-01-01

Metabolomics is a research field used to acquire comprehensive information on the composition of a metabolite pool to provide a functional screen of the cellular state. Studies of the plant metabolome include the analysis of a wide range of chemical species with very diverse physico-chemical properties, and therefore powerful analytical tools are required for the separation, characterization and quantification of this vast compound diversity present in plant matrices. In this review, challenges in the use of mass spectrometry (MS) as a quantitative tool in plant metabolomics experiments are discussed, and important criteria for the development and validation of MS-based analytical methods provided. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Quantitative mass spectrometry’. PMID:27644967

Morphology dependent near-field response in atomistic plasmonic nanocavities.

PubMed

Chen, Xing; Jensen, Lasse

2018-06-21

In this work we examine how the atomistic morphologies of plasmonic dimers control the near-field response by using an atomistic electrodynamics model. At large separations, the field enhancement in the junction follows a simple inverse power law as a function of the gap separation, which agrees with classical antenna theory. However, when the separations are smaller than 0.8 nm, the so-called quantum size regime, the field enhancement is screened and thus deviates from the simple power law. Our results show that the threshold distance for the deviation depends on the specific morphology of the junction. The near field in the junction can be localized to an area of less than 1 nm2 in the presence of an atomically sharp tip, but the separation distances leading to a large confinement of near field depend strongly on the specific atomistic configuration. More importantly, the highly confined fields lead to large field gradients particularly in a tip-to-surface junction, which indicates that such a plasmonic structure favors observing strong field gradient effects in near-field spectroscopy. We find that for atomically sharp tips the field gradient becomes significant and depends strongly on the local morphology of a tip. We expect our findings to be crucial for understanding the origin of high-resolution near-field spectroscopy and for manipulating optical cavities through atomic structures in the strongly coupled plasmonic systems.

Gas storage and separation by electric field swing adsorption

DOEpatents

Currier, Robert P; Obrey, Stephen J; Devlin, David J; Sansinena, Jose Maria

2013-05-28

Gases are stored, separated, and/or concentrated. An electric field is applied across a porous dielectric adsorbent material. A gas component from a gas mixture may be selectively separated inside the energized dielectric. Gas is stored in the energized dielectric for as long as the dielectric is energized. The energized dielectric selectively separates, or concentrates, a gas component of the gas mixture. When the potential is removed, gas from inside the dielectric is released.

Harnessing mass differential confinement effects in magnetized rotating plasmas to address new separation needs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gueroult, R.; Rax, J.-M.; Zweben, S. J.; Fisch, N. J.

2018-01-01

The ability to separate large volumes of mixed species based on atomic mass appears desirable for a variety of emerging applications with high societal impact. One possibility to meet this objective consists in leveraging mass differential effects in rotating plasmas. Beyond conventional centrifugation, rotating plasmas offer in principle additional ways to separate elements based on mass. Single ion orbits show that ion radial mass separation in a uniform magnetized plasma column can be achieved by applying a tailored electric potential profile across the column, or by driving a rotating magnetic field within the column. Furthermore, magnetic pressure and centrifugal effects can be combined in a non-uniform geometry to separate ions based on mass along the field lines. Practical application of these separation schemes hinges on the ability to produce the desirable electric and magnetic field configuration within the plasma column.

Charge-based separation of particles and cells with similar sizes via the wall-induced electrical lift.

PubMed

Thomas, Cory; Lu, Xinyu; Todd, Andrew; Raval, Yash; Tzeng, Tzuen-Rong; Song, Yongxin; Wang, Junsheng; Li, Dongqing; Xuan, Xiangchun

2017-01-01

The separation of particles and cells in a uniform mixture has been extensively studied as a necessity in many chemical and biomedical engineering and research fields. This work demonstrates a continuous charge-based separation of fluorescent and plain spherical polystyrene particles with comparable sizes in a ψ-shaped microchannel via the wall-induced electrical lift. The effects of both the direct current electric field in the main-branch and the electric field ratio in between the inlet branches for sheath fluid and particle mixture are investigated on this electrokinetic particle separation. A Lagrangian tracking method based theoretical model is also developed to understand the particle transport in the microchannel and simulate the parametric effects on particle separation. Moreover, the demonstrated charge-based separation is applied to a mixture of yeast cells and polystyrene particles with similar sizes. Good separation efficiency and purity are achieved for both the cells and the particles. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

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

Solis, S. E.; Centro de Investigacion e Instrumentacion e Imagenologia Medica, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana Iztapalapa, Mexico, DF 09340; Hernandez, J. A.

Arrays of antennas have been widely accepted for magnetic resonance imaging applications due to their high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) over large volumes of interest. A new surface coil based on the magnetron tube and called slotted surface coil, has been recently introduced by our group. This coil design experimentally demonstrated a significant improvement over the circular-shaped coil when used in the receive-only mode. The slotted coils formed a two-sheet structure with a 90 deg. separation and each coil had 6 circular slots. Numerical simulations were performed using the finite element method for this coil design to study the behaviour ofmore » the array magnetic field. Then, we developed a two-coil array for brain magnetic resonance imaging to be operated at the resonant frequency of 170 MHz in the transceiver mode. Phantom images were acquired with our coil array and standard pulse sequences on a research-dedicated 4 Tesla scanner. Numerical simulations demonstrated that electromagnetic interaction between the coil elements is negligible, and that the magnetic field showed a good uniformity. In vitro images showed the feasibility of this coil array for standard pulses for high field magnetic resonance imaging.« less

Charge ordered ferromagnetic phase in La_0.5Ca_0.5MnO_3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mathur, Neil

2003-03-01

Charge order and ferromagnetism should be mutually exclusive in the manganites, because ferromagnetism in these materials is normally promoted by delocalised electrons. Surprisingly, a phase that is both strongly charge ordered and fully ferromagnetic is observed [1] at 90 K in La_0.5Ca_0.5MnO_3, using Fresnel imaging, dark-field TEM and electron holography. This new phase coexists with the two low temperature phases that were already known to coexist in La_0.5Ca_0.5MnO_3. (One of these expected phases is ferromagnetic but not charge-ordered, the other is charge-ordered but not ferromagnetic.) Strain fields could be responsible for the novel microscopic texture presented here - perhaps creating conditions in which nearest neighbour hopping is sufficient to promote ferromagnetism. Similarly, strain fields are believed to cause sub-micron phase separation in the manganites. It therefore seems that the manganites can adapt to their environments over a wide range of length scales [2]. [1] http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/cond-mat/0209436 [2] Neil Mathur and Peter Littlewood, Physics Today, early 2003.

Electrophoretic Separation of Single Particles Using Nanoscale Thermoplastic Columns.

PubMed

Weerakoon-Ratnayake, Kumuditha M; Uba, Franklin I; Oliver-Calixte, Nyoté J; Soper, Steven A

2016-04-05

Phenomena associated with microscale electrophoresis separations cannot, in many cases, be applied to the nanoscale. Thus, understanding the electrophoretic characteristics associated with the nanoscale will help formulate relevant strategies that can optimize the performance of separations carried out on columns with at least one dimension below 150 nm. Electric double layer (EDL) overlap, diffusion, and adsorption/desorption properties and/or dielectrophoretic effects giving rise to stick/slip motion are some of the processes that can play a role in determining the efficiency of nanoscale electrophoretic separations. We investigated the performance characteristics of electrophoretic separations carried out in nanoslits fabricated in poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA, devices. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were used as the model system with tracking of their transport via dark field microscopy and localized surface plasmon resonance. AgNPs capped with citrate groups and the negatively charged PMMA walls (induced by O2 plasma modification of the nanoslit walls) enabled separations that were not apparent when these particles were electrophoresed in microscale columns. The separation of AgNPs based on their size without the need for buffer additives using PMMA nanoslit devices is demonstrated herein. Operational parameters such as the electric field strength, nanoslit dimensions, and buffer composition were evaluated as to their effects on the electrophoretic performance, both in terms of efficiency (plate numbers) and resolution. Electrophoretic separations performed at high electric field strengths (>200 V/cm) resulted in higher plate numbers compared to lower fields due to the absence of stick/slip motion at the higher electric field strengths. Indeed, 60 nm AgNPs could be separated from 100 nm particles in free solution using nanoscale electrophoresis with 100 μm long columns.

Electromagnetic fields and their impacts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prša, M. A.; Kasaš-Lažetić, K. K.

2018-01-01

The main goal of this paper is to briefly recall some different electromagnetic field definitions, some macroscopic sources of electromagnetic fields, electromagnetic fields classification regarding time dependences, and the ways of field determination in concrete cases. After that, all the mechanisms of interaction between electromagnetic field and substance, on atomic level, are described in details. Interaction between substance and electric field is investigated separately from the substance and magnetic field interaction. It is demonstrated that, in all cases of the unique electromagnetic field, total interaction can be treated as a superposition of two separated interactions. Finally, the main electromagnetic fields surrounding us is cited and discussed.

Bandgaps and directional propagation of elastic waves in 2D square zigzag lattice structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yan-Feng; Wang, Yue-Sheng; Zhang, Chuanzeng

2014-12-01

In this paper we propose various types of two-dimensional (2D) square zigzag lattice structures, and we study their bandgaps and directional propagation of elastic waves. The band structures and the transmission spectra of the systems are calculated by using the finite element method. The effects of the geometry parameters of the 2D-zigzag lattices on the bandgaps are investigated and discussed. The mechanism of the bandgap generation is analyzed by studying the vibration modes at the bandgap edges. Multiple wide complete bandgaps are found in a wide porosity range owing to the separation of the degeneracy by introducing bending arms. The bandgaps are sensitive to the geometry parameters of the systems. The deformed displacement fields of the transient response of finite structures subjected to time-harmonic loads are presented to show the directional wave propagation. The research in this paper is relevant to the practical design of cellular structures with enhanced vibro-acoustics performance.

Root microbiota shift in rice correlates with resident time in the field and developmental stage.

PubMed

Zhang, Jingying; Zhang, Na; Liu, Yong-Xin; Zhang, Xiaoning; Hu, Bin; Qin, Yuan; Xu, Haoran; Wang, Hui; Guo, Xiaoxuan; Qian, Jingmei; Wang, Wei; Zhang, Pengfan; Jin, Tao; Chu, Chengcai; Bai, Yang

2018-06-01

Land plants in natural soil form intimate relationships with the diverse root bacterial microbiota. A growing body of evidence shows that these microbes are important for plant growth and health. Root microbiota composition has been widely studied in several model plants and crops; however, little is known about how root microbiota vary throughout the plant's life cycle under field conditions. We performed longitudinal dense sampling in field trials to track the time-series shift of the root microbiota from two representative rice cultivars in two separate locations in China. We found that the rice root microbiota varied dramatically during the vegetative stages and stabilized from the beginning of the reproductive stage, after which the root microbiota underwent relatively minor changes until rice ripening. Notably, both rice genotype and geographical location influenced the patterns of root microbiota shift that occurred during plant growth. The relative abundance of Deltaproteobacteria in roots significantly increased overtime throughout the entire life cycle of rice, while that of Betaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Gammaproteobacteria decreased. By a machine learning approach, we identified biomarker taxa and established a model to correlate root microbiota with rice resident time in the field (e.g., Nitrospira accumulated from 5 weeks/tillering in field-grown rice). Our work provides insights into the process of rice root microbiota establishment.

Overcoming Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria Using Bioactive Magnetic Nanoparticles and Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields

PubMed Central

Novickij, Vitalij; Stanevičienė, Ramunė; Vepštaitė-Monstavičė, Iglė; Gruškienė, Rūta; Krivorotova, Tatjana; Sereikaitė, Jolanta; Novickij, Jurij; Servienė, Elena

2018-01-01

Nisin is a known bacteriocin, which exhibits a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity, while commonly being inefficient against Gram-negative bacteria. In this work, we present a proof of concept of novel antimicrobial methodology using targeted magnetic nisin-loaded nano-carriers [iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) (11–13 nm) capped with citric, ascorbic, and gallic acids], which are activated by high pulsed electric and electromagnetic fields allowing to overcome the nisin-resistance of bacteria. As a cell model the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Gram-negative Escherichia coli were used. We have applied 10 and 30 kV cm-1 electric field pulses (100 μs × 8) separately and in combination with two pulsed magnetic field protocols: (1) high dB/dt 3.3 T × 50 and (2) 10 mT, 100 kHz, 2 min protocol to induce additional permeabilization and local magnetic hyperthermia. We have shown that the high dB/dt pulsed magnetic fields increase the antimicrobial efficiency of nisin NPs similar to electroporation or magnetic hyperthermia methods and a synergistic treatment is also possible. The results of our work are promising for the development of new methods for treatment of the drug-resistant foodborne pathogens to minimize the risks of invasive infections. PMID:29375537

Overcoming Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria Using Bioactive Magnetic Nanoparticles and Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields.

PubMed

Novickij, Vitalij; Stanevičienė, Ramunė; Vepštaitė-Monstavičė, Iglė; Gruškienė, Rūta; Krivorotova, Tatjana; Sereikaitė, Jolanta; Novickij, Jurij; Servienė, Elena

2017-01-01

Nisin is a known bacteriocin, which exhibits a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity, while commonly being inefficient against Gram-negative bacteria. In this work, we present a proof of concept of novel antimicrobial methodology using targeted magnetic nisin-loaded nano-carriers [iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) (11-13 nm) capped with citric, ascorbic, and gallic acids], which are activated by high pulsed electric and electromagnetic fields allowing to overcome the nisin-resistance of bacteria. As a cell model the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Gram-negative Escherichia coli were used. We have applied 10 and 30 kV cm -1 electric field pulses (100 μs × 8) separately and in combination with two pulsed magnetic field protocols: (1) high d B /d t 3.3 T × 50 and (2) 10 mT, 100 kHz, 2 min protocol to induce additional permeabilization and local magnetic hyperthermia. We have shown that the high d B /d t pulsed magnetic fields increase the antimicrobial efficiency of nisin NPs similar to electroporation or magnetic hyperthermia methods and a synergistic treatment is also possible. The results of our work are promising for the development of new methods for treatment of the drug-resistant foodborne pathogens to minimize the risks of invasive infections.

Electric-Field-Oriented Growth of Long Hair-Like Silica Microfibrils and Derived Functional Monolithic Solids

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

Hu, Michael Z.; DePaoli, David W.; Kuritz, Tanya

We present a “bottom-up” fabrication approach to first grow a new class of inorganic (silica) long hair-like microfibers or microwires and then to form monolithic solid pellet that contains parallel arrays of bundled microfibers with a controlled orientation. During the sol-gel solution processing, reactive precursor species are utilized as molecular “building blocks” for the field-directed assembly growth of microfibers driven by an electric field of pulsed direct current (dc) with controlled frequency. In principle, this reactive electrofibrilation process that combines an external field with a solid-phase nucleation and growth process has no limitation on reactions (such as the one heremore » that involves sol-gel reaction chemistry) and on materials compositions (such as the example silica oxide), thus will enable bulk production of long microfibers of wide variety of inorganic materials (other oxides or metals). Furthermore, we have fabricated uniquely architectured monolithic solid materials containing aligned microfibers by “wet press” of the in-situ grown microfiber structure in the electric field. The consolidated monolithic slabs (1 cm x 1 cm x 3 mm) have shown anisotropic properties and desirable retention of DNA molecule fragments, thus, could serve as a platform stationary-phase materials for future development of capillary electrochromatography for biomolecule separations.« less

Electric-Field-Oriented Growth of Long Hair-Like Silica Microfibrils and Derived Functional Monolithic Solids

DOE PAGES

Hu, Michael Z.; DePaoli, David W.; Kuritz, Tanya; ...

2017-09-11

We present a “bottom-up” fabrication approach to first grow a new class of inorganic (silica) long hair-like microfibers or microwires and then to form monolithic solid pellet that contains parallel arrays of bundled microfibers with a controlled orientation. During the sol-gel solution processing, reactive precursor species are utilized as molecular “building blocks” for the field-directed assembly growth of microfibers driven by an electric field of pulsed direct current (dc) with controlled frequency. In principle, this reactive electrofibrilation process that combines an external field with a solid-phase nucleation and growth process has no limitation on reactions (such as the one heremore » that involves sol-gel reaction chemistry) and on materials compositions (such as the example silica oxide), thus will enable bulk production of long microfibers of wide variety of inorganic materials (other oxides or metals). Furthermore, we have fabricated uniquely architectured monolithic solid materials containing aligned microfibers by “wet press” of the in-situ grown microfiber structure in the electric field. The consolidated monolithic slabs (1 cm x 1 cm x 3 mm) have shown anisotropic properties and desirable retention of DNA molecule fragments, thus, could serve as a platform stationary-phase materials for future development of capillary electrochromatography for biomolecule separations.« less

Study on the wind field and pollutant dispersion in street canyons using a stable numerical method.

PubMed

Xia, Ji-Yang; Leung, Dennis Y C

2005-01-01

A stable finite element method for the time dependent Navier-Stokes equations was used for studying the wind flow and pollutant dispersion within street canyons. A three-step fractional method was used to solve the velocity field and the pressure field separately from the governing equations. The Streamline Upwind Petrov-Galerkin (SUPG) method was used to get stable numerical results. Numerical oscillation was minimized and satisfactory results can be obtained for flows at high Reynolds numbers. Simulating the flow over a square cylinder within a wide range of Reynolds numbers validates the wind field model. The Strouhal numbers obtained from the numerical simulation had a good agreement with those obtained from experiment. The wind field model developed in the present study is applied to simulate more complex flow phenomena in street canyons with two different building configurations. The results indicated that the flow at rooftop of buildings might not be assumed parallel to the ground as some numerical modelers did. A counter-clockwise rotating vortex may be found in street canyons with an inflow from the left to right. In addition, increasing building height can increase velocity fluctuations in the street canyon under certain circumstances, which facilitate pollutant dispersion. At high Reynolds numbers, the flow regimes in street canyons do not change with inflow velocity.

Two-Point Orientation Discrimination Versus the Traditional Two-Point Test for Tactile Spatial Acuity Assessment

PubMed Central

Tong, Jonathan; Mao, Oliver; Goldreich, Daniel

2013-01-01

Two-point discrimination is widely used to measure tactile spatial acuity. The validity of the two-point threshold as a spatial acuity measure rests on the assumption that two points can be distinguished from one only when the two points are sufficiently separated to evoke spatially distinguishable foci of neural activity. However, some previous research has challenged this view, suggesting instead that two-point task performance benefits from an unintended non-spatial cue, allowing spuriously good performance at small tip separations. We compared the traditional two-point task to an equally convenient alternative task in which participants attempt to discern the orientation (vertical or horizontal) of two points of contact. We used precision digital readout calipers to administer two-interval forced-choice versions of both tasks to 24 neurologically healthy adults, on the fingertip, finger base, palm, and forearm. We used Bayesian adaptive testing to estimate the participants’ psychometric functions on the two tasks. Traditional two-point performance remained significantly above chance levels even at zero point separation. In contrast, two-point orientation discrimination approached chance as point separation approached zero, as expected for a valid measure of tactile spatial acuity. Traditional two-point performance was so inflated at small point separations that 75%-correct thresholds could be determined on all tested sites for fewer than half of participants. The 95%-correct thresholds on the two tasks were similar, and correlated with receptive field spacing. In keeping with previous critiques, we conclude that the traditional two-point task provides an unintended non-spatial cue, resulting in spuriously good performance at small spatial separations. Unlike two-point discrimination, two-point orientation discrimination rigorously measures tactile spatial acuity. We recommend the use of two-point orientation discrimination for neurological assessment. PMID:24062677

Correlating Resolving Power, Resolution, and Collision Cross Section: Unifying Cross-Platform Assessment of Separation Efficiency in Ion Mobility Spectrometry.

PubMed

Dodds, James N; May, Jody C; McLean, John A

2017-11-21

Here we examine the relationship among resolving power (R p ), resolution (R pp ), and collision cross section (CCS) for compounds analyzed in previous ion mobility (IM) experiments representing a wide variety of instrument platforms and IM techniques. Our previous work indicated these three variables effectively describe and predict separation efficiency for drift tube ion mobility spectrometry experiments. In this work, we seek to determine if our previous findings are a general reflection of IM behavior that can be applied to various instrument platforms and mobility techniques. Results suggest IM distributions are well characterized by a Gaussian model and separation efficiency can be predicted on the basis of the empirical difference in the gas-phase CCS and a CCS-based resolving power definition (CCS/ΔCCS). Notably traveling wave (TWIMS) was found to operate at resolutions substantially higher than a single-peak resolving power suggested. When a CCS-based R p definition was utilized, TWIMS was found to operate at a resolving power between 40 and 50, confirming the previous observations by Giles and co-workers. After the separation axis (and corresponding resolving power) is converted to cross section space, it is possible to effectively predict separation behavior for all mobility techniques evaluated (i.e., uniform field, trapped ion mobility, traveling wave, cyclic, and overtone instruments) using the equations described in this work. Finally, we are able to establish for the first time that the current state-of-the-art ion mobility separations benchmark at a CCS-based resolving power of >300 that is sufficient to differentiate analyte ions with CCS differences as small as 0.5%.

Experimental Investigation and Thermodynamic Assessment of Phase Equilibria in the PLLA/Dioxane/Water Ternary System for Applications in the Biomedical Field.

PubMed

Ruggiero, Flavia; Netti, Paolo Antonio; Torino, Enza

2015-12-01

Fundamental understanding of thermodynamic of phase separation plays a key role in tuning the desired features of biomedical devices. In particular, phase separation of ternary solution is of remarkable interest in processes to obtain biodegradable and biocompatible architectures applied as artificial devices to repair, replace, or support damaged tissues or organs. In these perspectives, thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) is the most widely used technique to obtained porous morphologies and, in addition, among different ternary systems, polylactic acid (PLLA)/dioxane/water has given promising results and has been largely studied. However, to increase the control of TIPS-based processes and architectures, an investigation of the basic energetic phenomena occurring during phase separation is still required. Here we propose an experimental investigation of the selected ternary system by using isothermal titration calorimetric approach at different solvent/antisolvent ratio and a thermodynamic explanation related to the polymer-solvents interactions in terms of energetic contribution to the phase separation process. Furthermore, relevant information about the phase diagrams and interaction parameters of the studied systems are furnished in terms of liquid-liquid miscibility gap. Indeed, polymer-solvents interactions are responsible for the mechanism of the phase separation process and, therefore, of the final features of the morphologies; the knowledge of such data is fundamental to control processes for the production of membranes, scaffolds and several nanostructures. The behavior of the polymer at different solvent/nonsolvent ratios is discussed in terms of solvation mechanism and a preliminary contribution to the understanding of the role of the hydrogen bonding in the interface phenomena is also reported. It is the first time that thermodynamic data of a ternary system are collected by mean of nano-isothermal titration calorimetry (nano-ITC). Supporting Information is available.

Multiplicity Among Young Brown Dwarfs and Very Low Mass Stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmic, Mirza; Jayawardhana, R.; Brandeker, A.; Scholz, A.; van Kerkwijk, M. H.; Delgado-Donate, E.; Froebrich, D.

2007-05-01

Characterizing multiplicity in the very low mass (VLM) domain is a topic of much current interest and fundamental importance. Here we report on a near-infrared adaptive optics imaging survey of 28 young brown dwarfs and VLM stars, 26 of which are in the Chamaeleon I star-forming region, using the ESO Very Large Telescope. Our findings in Cha I -- the low multiplicity frequency of 8%, the preference for equal mass pairs, and the lack of wide binaries -- are strikingly similar to what has previously been reported for VLM objects in the field and in open clusters. Thus, we argue that there is no significant evolution of multiplicity with age among brown dwarfs and VLM stars between a few Myr to several Gyr. Instead, the observations to date suggest that VLM objects are either less likely to be born in wide multiple systems than solar mass stars or such systems are disrupted very early (within the first couple of Myr). Our results also imply that systems like 2MASSW J1207334-393254 and Oph 162225-240515, with planetary mass companions at wide separations, are rare. This research was supported by an NSERC grant, University of Toronto research funds and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship.

Ultrasonic manipulation of particles and cells. Ultrasonic separation of cells.

PubMed

Coakley, W T; Whitworth, G; Grundy, M A; Gould, R K; Allman, R

1994-04-01

Cells or particles suspended in a sonic standing wave field experience forces which concentrate them at positions separated by half a wavelength. The aims of the study were: (1) To optimise conditions and test theoretical predictions for ultrasonic concentration and separation of particles or cells. (2) To investigate the scale-up of experimental systems. (3) To establish the maximum acoustic pressure to which a suspension might be exposed without inducing order-disrupting cavitation. (4) To compare the efficiencies of techniques for harvesting concentrated particles. The primary outcomes were: (1) To design of an acoustic pressure distribution within cylindrical containers which led to uniformly repeating sound pressure patterns throughout the containers in the standing wave mode, concentrated suspended eukaryotic cells or latex beads in clumps on the axis of wide containers, and provided uniform response of all particle clumps to acoustic harvesting regimes. Theory for the behaviour (e.g. movement to different preferred sites) of particles as a function of specific gravity and compressibility in containers of different lateral dimensions was extended and was confirmed experimentally. Convective streaming in the container was identified as a variable requiring control in the manipulation of particles of 1 micron or smaller size. (2) Consideration of scale-up from the model 10 ml volume led to the conclusion that flow systems in intermediate volume containers have more promise than scaled up batch systems. (3) The maximum acoustic pressures applicable to a suspension without inducing order-disrupting cavitation or excessive conductive streaming at 1 MHz and 3 MHz induce a force equivalent to a centrifugal field of about 10(3) g. (4) The most efficient technique for harvesting concentrated particles was the introduction of a frequency increment between two transducers to form a slowly sweeping pseudo-standing wave. The attractive inter-droplet ultrasonic standing wave force was employed to enhance the rate of aqueous biphasic cell separation and harvesting. The results help clarify the particle size, concentration, density and compressibility for which standing wave separation techniques can contribute either on a process engineering scale or on the scale of the manipulation of small particles for industrial and medical diagnostic procedures.

Greatly Increasing Trapped Ion Populations for Mobility Separations Using Traveling Waves in Structures for Lossless Ion Manipulations

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

Deng, Liulin; Ibrahim, Yehia M.; Garimella, Sandilya V. B.

The initial use of traveling waves (TW) for ion mobility (IM) separations using a structures for lossless ion manipulations (SLIM) employed an ion funnel trap (IFT) to accumulate ions from a continuous electrospray ionization source, and limited to injected ion populations of ~106 charges due to the onset of space charge effects in the trapping region. Additional limitations arise due to the loss of resolution for the injection of ions over longer periods (e.g. in extended pulses). In this work a new SLIM ‘flat funnel’ (FF) module has been developed and demonstrated to enable the accumulation of much larger ionmore » populations and their injection for IM separations. Ion current measurements indicate a capacity of ~3.2×108 charges for the extended trapping volume, over an order of magnitude greater than the IFT. The orthogonal ion injection into a funnel shaped separation region can greatly reduce space charge effects during the initial IM separation stage, and the gradually reduced width of the path allows the ion packet to be increasingly compressed in the lateral dimension as the separation progresses, allowing e.g. efficient transmission through conductance limits or compatibility with subsequent ion manipulations. This work examined the TW, RF, and DC confining field SLIM parameters involved in ion accumulation, injection, transmission and separation in the FF IM module using both direct ion current and MS measurements. Wide m/z range ion transmission is demonstrated, along with significant increases in signal to noise (S/N) ratios due to the larger ion populations injected. Additionally, we observed a reduction in the chemical background, which was attributed to more efficient desolvation of solvent related clusters over the extended ion accumulation periods. The TW SLIM FF IM module is anticipated to be especially effective as a front end for long path SLIM IM separation modules.« less

Is magnetic topology important for heating the solar atmosphere?

PubMed

Parnell, Clare E; Stevenson, Julie E H; Threlfall, James; Edwards, Sarah J

2015-05-28

Magnetic fields permeate the entire solar atmosphere weaving an extremely complex pattern on both local and global scales. In order to understand the nature of this tangled web of magnetic fields, its magnetic skeleton, which forms the boundaries between topologically distinct flux domains, may be determined. The magnetic skeleton consists of null points, separatrix surfaces, spines and separators. The skeleton is often used to clearly visualize key elements of the magnetic configuration, but parts of the skeleton are also locations where currents and waves may collect and dissipate. In this review, the nature of the magnetic skeleton on both global and local scales, over solar cycle time scales, is explained. The behaviour of wave pulses in the vicinity of both nulls and separators is discussed and so too is the formation of current layers and reconnection at the same features. Each of these processes leads to heating of the solar atmosphere, but collectively do they provide enough heat, spread over a wide enough area, to explain the energy losses throughout the solar atmosphere? Here, we consider this question for the three different solar regions: active regions, open-field regions and the quiet Sun. We find that the heating of active regions and open-field regions is highly unlikely to be due to reconnection or wave dissipation at topological features, but it is possible that these may play a role in the heating of the quiet Sun. In active regions, the absence of a complex topology may play an important role in allowing large energies to build up and then, subsequently, be explosively released in the form of a solar flare. Additionally, knowledge of the intricate boundaries of open-field regions (which the magnetic skeleton provides) could be very important in determining the main acceleration mechanism(s) of the solar wind. © 2015 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.

High gradient magnetic field microstructures for magnetophoretic cell separation.

PubMed

Abdel Fattah, Abdel Rahman; Ghosh, Suvojit; Puri, Ishwar K

2016-08-01

Microfluidics has advanced magnetic blood fractionation by making integrated miniature devices possible. A ferromagnetic microstructure array that is integrated with a microfluidic channel rearranges an applied magnetic field to create a high gradient magnetic field (HGMF). By leveraging the differential magnetic susceptibilities of cell types contained in a host medium, such as paramagnetic red blood cells (RBCs) and diamagnetic white blood cells (WBCs), the resulting HGMF can be used to continuously separate them without attaching additional labels, such as magnetic beads, to them. We describe the effect of these ferromagnetic microstructure geometries have on the blood separation efficacy by numerically simulating the influence of microstructure height and pitch on the HGMF characteristics and resulting RBC separation. Visualizations of RBC trajectories provide insight into how arrays can be optimized to best separate these cells from a host fluid. Periodic microstructures are shown to moderate the applied field due to magnetic interference between the adjacent teeth of an array. Since continuous microstructures do not similarly weaken the resultant HGMF, they facilitate significantly higher RBC separation. Nevertheless, periodic arrays are more appropriate for relatively deep microchannels since, unlike continuous microstructures, their separation effectiveness is independent of depth. The results are relevant to the design of microfluidic devices that leverage HGMFs to fractionate blood by separating RBCs and WBCs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Improved Differential Ion Mobility Separations Using Linked Scans of Carrier Gas Composition and Compensation Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santiago, Brandon G.; Harris, Rachel A.; Isenberg, Samantha L.; Ridgeway, Mark E.; Pilo, Alice L.; Kaplan, Desmond A.; Glish, Gary L.

2015-07-01

Differential ion mobility spectrometry (DIMS) separates ions based on differences in their mobilities in low and high electric fields. When coupled to mass spectrometric analyses, DIMS has the ability to improve signal-to-background by eliminating isobaric and isomeric compounds for analytes in complex mixtures. DIMS separation power, often measured by resolution and peak capacity, can be improved through increasing the fraction of helium in the nitrogen carrier gas. However, because the mobility of ions is higher in helium, a greater number of ions collide with the DIMS electrodes or housing, yielding losses in signal intensity. To take advantage of the benefits of helium addition on DIMS separations and reduce ion losses, linked scans were developed. In a linked scan the helium content of the carrier gas is reduced as the compensation field is increased. Linked scans were compared with conventional compensation field scans with constant helium content for the protein ubiquitin and a tryptic digest of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Linked scans yield better separation of ubiquitin charge states and enhanced peak capacities for the analysis of BSA compared with compensation field scans with constant helium carrier gas percentages. Linked scans also offer improved signal intensity retention in comparison to compensation field scans with constant helium percentages in the carrier gas.

Single cell Enrichment with High Throughput Microfluidic Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pakjesm Pourfard, Pedram

Microfluidics is a rapidly growing field of biomedical engineering with numerous applications such as diagnostic testing, therapeutics, and research preparation. Cell enrichment for automated diagnostic is often assayed through measurement of biochemical and biophysical markers. Although biochemical markers have been widely used, intrinsic biophysical markers, such as, Shear migration, Lift force, Dean force, and many other label-free techniques, are advantageous since they don't require costly labeling or sample preparation. However, current passive techniques for enrichment had limited adoption in clinical and cell biology research applications. They generally require low flow rate and low cell volume fraction for high efficiency. The Control increment filtration, T-shaped microfluidic device, and spiral-shaped microfluidic devices will be studied for single-cell separation from aggregates. Control increment filtration works like the tangential filter; however, cells are separated based off of same amount of flow rate passing through large space gaps. Main microchannel of T-Shaped is connected to two perpendicular side channels. Based off Shear-modulated inertial migration, this device will enable selective enrichment of cells. The spiral shaped microfluidic device depends on different Dean and lift forces acting on cells to separate them based off different sizes. The spiral geometry of the microchannel will enable dominant inertial forces and the Dean Rotation force to cause larger cells to migrate to the inner side of the microchannel. Because manipulation of microchannel dimensions correlates to the degree of cell separation, versatility in design exists. Cell mixture samples will contain cells of different sizes and therefore design strategies could be utilized to maximize the effectiveness of single-cell separation.

Portable, Battery Operated Capillary Electrophoresis with Optical Isomer Resolution Integrated with Ionization Source for Mass Spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moini, Mehdi; Rollman, Christopher M.

2016-03-01

We introduce a battery operated capillary electrophoresis electrospray ionization (CE/ESI) source for mass spectrometry with optical isomer separation capability. The source fits in front of low or high resolution mass spectrometers similar to a nanospray source with about the same weight and size. The source has two high voltage power supplies (±25 kV HVPS) capable of operating in forward or reverse polarity modes and powered by a 12 V rechargeable lithium ion battery with operation time of ~10 h. In ultrafast CE mode, in which short narrow capillaries (≤15 μm i.d., 15-25 cm long) and field gradients ≥1000 V/cm are used, peak widths at the base are <1 s wide. Under these conditions, the source provides high resolution separation, including optical isomer resolution in ~1 min. Using a low resolution mass spectrometer (LTQ Velos) with a scan time of 0.07 s/scan, baseline separation of amino acids and their optical isomers were achieved in ~1 min. Moreover, bovine serum albumin (BSA) was analyzed in ~1 min with 56% coverage using the data-dependent MS/MS. Using a high resolution mass spectrometer (Thermo Orbitrap Elite) with 15,000 resolution, the fastest scan time achieved was 0.15 s, which was adequate for CE-MS analysis when optical isomer separation is not required or when the optical isomers were well separated. Figures of merit including a detection limit of 2 fmol and linear dynamic range of two orders of magnitude were achieved for amino acids.

Free-solution electrophoretic separations of DNA–drag-tag conjugates on glass microchips with no polymer network and no loss of resolution at increased electric field strength

PubMed Central

Albrecht, Jennifer Coyne; Kerby, Matthew B.; Niedringhaus, Thomas P.; Lin, Jennifer S.; Wang, Xiaoxiao; Barron, Annelise E.

2012-01-01

Here, we demonstrate the potential for high-resolution electrophoretic separations of ssDNA-protein conjugates in borosilicate glass microfluidic chips, with no sieving media and excellent repeatability. Using polynucleotides of two different lengths conjugated to moderately cationic protein polymer drag-tags, we measured separation efficiency as a function of applied electric field. In excellent agreement with prior theoretical predictions of Slater et al., resolution is found to remain constant as applied field is increased up to 700 V/cm, the highest field we were able to apply. This remarkable result illustrates the fundamentally different physical limitations of Free-Solution Conjugate Electrophoresis (FSCE)-based DNA separations relative to matrix-based DNA electrophoresis. Single-stranded DNA separations in “gels” have always shown rapidly declining resolution as the field strength is increased; this is especially true for ssDNA > 400 bases in length. FSCE’s ability to decouple DNA peak resolution from applied electric field suggests the future possibility of ultra-rapid FSCE sequencing on chips. We investigated sources of peak broadening for FSCE separations on borosilicate glass microchips, using six different protein polymer drag-tags. For drag-tags with four or more positive charges, electrostatic and adsorptive interactions with pHEA-coated microchannel walls led to appreciable band-broadening, while much sharper peaks were seen for bioconjugates with nearly charge-neutral protein drag-tags. PMID:21500207

Differential electrophoretic separation of cells and its effect on cell viability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leise, E. M.; Lesane, F.

1974-01-01

An electrophoretic separation method was applied to the separation of cells. To determine the efficiency of the separation, it was necessary to apply existing methodology and develop new methods to assess the characteristics and functions of the separated subpopulations. Through appropriate application of the widely used isoelectric focusing procedure, a reproducible separation method was developed. Cells accumulated at defined pH and 70-80% remained viable. The cells were suitable for further biologic, biochemical and immunologic studies.

Electron in higher-dimensional weakly charged rotating black hole spacetimes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cariglia, Marco; Frolov, Valeri P.; Krtouš, Pavel; Kubizňák, David

2013-03-01

We demonstrate separability of the Dirac equation in weakly charged rotating black hole spacetimes in all dimensions. The electromagnetic field of the black hole is described by a test field approximation, with the vector potential proportional to the primary Killing vector field. It is shown that the demonstrated separability can be intrinsically characterized by the existence of a complete set of mutually commuting first-order symmetry operators generated from the principal Killing-Yano tensor. The presented results generalize the results on integrability of charged particle motion and separability of charged scalar field studied in V. P. Frolov and P. Krtous [Phys. Rev. D 83, 024016 (2011)].

Observations of Solar Energetic Particles from 3He-rich Events over a Wide Range of Heliographic Longitude

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiedenbeck, M. E.; Mason, G. M.; Cohen, C. M. S.; Nitta, N. V.; Gómez-Herrero, R.; Haggerty, D. K.

2013-01-01

A prevailing model for the origin of 3He-rich solar energetic particle (SEP) events attributes particle acceleration to processes associated with the reconnection between closed magnetic field lines in an active region and neighboring open field lines. The open field from the small reconnection volume then provides a path along which accelerated particles escape into a relatively narrow range of angles in the heliosphere. The narrow width (standard deviation <20°) of the distribution of X-ray flare longitudes found to be associated with 3He-rich SEP events detected at a single spacecraft at 1 AU supports this model. We report multispacecraft observations of individual 3He-rich SEP events that occurred during the solar minimum time period from 2007 January through 2011 January using instrumentation carried by the two Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory spacecraft and the Advanced Composition Explorer. We find that detections of 3He-rich events at pairs of spacecraft are not uncommon, even when their longitudinal separation is >60°. We present the observations of the 3He-rich event of 2010 February 7, which was detected at all three spacecraft when they spanned 136° in heliographic longitude. Measured fluences of 3He in this event were found to have a strong dependence on longitude which is well fit by a Gaussian with standard deviation ~48° centered at the longitude that is connected to the source region by a nominal Parker spiral magnetic field. We discuss several mechanisms for distributing flare-accelerated particles over a wide range of heliographic longitudes including interplanetary diffusion perpendicular to the magnetic field, spreading of a compact cluster of open field lines between the active region and the source surface where the field becomes radial and opens out into the heliosphere, and distortion of the interplanetary field by a preceding coronal mass ejection. Statistical studies of additional 3He-rich events detected at multiple spacecraft will be needed to establish the relative importance of the various mechanisms.

Automated Astrometric Analysis of Satellite Observations using Wide-field Imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skuljan, J.; Kay, J.

2016-09-01

An observational trial was conducted in the South Island of New Zealand from 24 to 28 February 2015, as a collaborative effort between the United Kingdom and New Zealand in the area of space situational awareness. The aim of the trial was to observe a number of satellites in low Earth orbit using wide-field imaging from two separate locations, in order to determine the space trajectory and compare the measurements with the predictions based on the standard two-line elements. This activity was an initial step in building a space situational awareness capability at the Defence Technology Agency of the New Zealand Defence Force. New Zealand has an important strategic position as the last land mass that many satellites selected for deorbiting pass before entering the Earth's atmosphere over the dedicated disposal area in the South Pacific. A preliminary analysis of the trial data has demonstrated that relatively inexpensive equipment can be used to successfully detect satellites at moderate altitudes. A total of 60 satellite passes were observed over the five nights of observation and about 2600 images were collected. A combination of cooled CCD and standard DSLR cameras were used, with a selection of lenses between 17 mm and 50 mm in focal length, covering a relatively wide field of view of 25 to 60 degrees. The CCD cameras were equipped with custom-made GPS modules to record the time of exposure with a high accuracy of one millisecond, or better. Specialised software has been developed for automated astrometric analysis of the trial data. The astrometric solution is obtained as a two-dimensional least-squares polynomial fit to the measured pixel positions of a large number of stars (typically 1000) detected across the image. The star identification is fully automated and works well for all camera-lens combinations used in the trial. A moderate polynomial degree of 3 to 5 is selected to take into account any image distortions introduced by the lens. A typical RMS error of the least-squares fit is about 0.1 pixels, which corresponds to about 4 to 10 seconds of arc in the sky, depending on the pixel scale (field of view). This gives a typical uncertainty between 10 and 25 metres in measuring the position of a satellite at a characteristic range of 500 kilometres. The results of this trial have confirmed that wide-field measurements based on standard photographic equipment and using automated astrometric analysis techniques can be used to improve the current orbital models of satellites in low Earth orbit.

Specific features of the cathodoluminescence spectra of AlInGaN QWs, caused by the influence of phase separation and internal electric fields

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

Kuznetsova, Ya. V., E-mail: yana@mail.ioffe.ru; Jmerik, V. N.; Nechaev, D. V.

2016-07-15

The specific features of the cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra in AlInGaN heterostructures, caused by the influence of phase separation and internal electric fields, observed at varied CL excitation density, are studied. It is shown that the evolution of the CL spectrum and the variation in the spectral position of emission lines of nanoscale layers with current density in the primary electron beam makes it possible to identify the occurrence of phase separation in the layer and, in the absence of this separation, to estimate the electric-field strength in the active region of the structure.

A review of output-only structural mode identification literature employing blind source separation methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sadhu, A.; Narasimhan, S.; Antoni, J.

2017-09-01

Output-only modal identification has seen significant activity in recent years, especially in large-scale structures where controlled input force generation is often difficult to achieve. This has led to the development of new system identification methods which do not require controlled input. They often work satisfactorily if they satisfy some general assumptions - not overly restrictive - regarding the stochasticity of the input. Hundreds of papers covering a wide range of applications appear every year related to the extraction of modal properties from output measurement data in more than two dozen mechanical, aerospace and civil engineering journals. In little more than a decade, concepts of blind source separation (BSS) from the field of acoustic signal processing have been adopted by several researchers and shown that they can be attractive tools to undertake output-only modal identification. Originally intended to separate distinct audio sources from a mixture of recordings, mathematical equivalence to problems in linear structural dynamics have since been firmly established. This has enabled many of the developments in the field of BSS to be modified and applied to output-only modal identification problems. This paper reviews over hundred articles related to the application of BSS and their variants to output-only modal identification. The main contribution of the paper is to present a literature review of the papers which have appeared on the subject. While a brief treatment of the basic ideas are presented where relevant, a comprehensive and critical explanation of their contents is not attempted. Specific issues related to output-only modal identification and the relative advantages and limitations of BSS methods both from theoretical and application standpoints are discussed. Gap areas requiring additional work are also summarized and the paper concludes with possible future trends in this area.

Research on single-chip microcomputer controlled rotating magnetic field mineralization model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yang; Qi, Yulin; Yang, Junxiao; Li, Na

2017-08-01

As one of the method of selecting ore, the magnetic separation method has the advantages of stable operation, simple process flow, high beneficiation efficiency and no chemical environment pollution. But the existing magnetic separator are more mechanical, the operation is not flexible, and can not change the magnetic field parameters according to the precision of the ore needed. Based on the existing magnetic separator is mechanical, the rotating magnetic field can be used for single chip microcomputer control as the research object, design and trial a rotating magnetic field processing prototype, and through the single-chip PWM pulse output to control the rotation of the magnetic field strength and rotating magnetic field speed. This method of using pure software to generate PWM pulse to control rotary magnetic field beneficiation, with higher flexibility, accuracy and lower cost, can give full play to the performance of single-chip.

Characterization of polymerized liposomes using a combination of dc and cyclical electrical field-flow fractionation.

PubMed

Sant, Himanshu J; Chakravarty, Siddharth; Merugu, Srinivas; Ferguson, Colin G; Gale, Bruce K

2012-10-02

Characterization of polymerized liposomes (PolyPIPosomes) was carried out using a combination of normal dc electrical field-flow fractionation and cyclical electrical field-flow fractionation (CyElFFF) as an analytical technique. The constant nature of the carrier fluid and channel configuration for this technique eliminates many variables associated with multidimensional analysis. CyElFFF uses an oscillating field to induce separation and is performed in the same channel as standard dc electrical field-flow fractionation separation. Theory and experimental methods to characterize nanoparticles in terms of their sizes and electrophoretic mobilities are discussed in this paper. Polystyrene nanoparticles are used for system calibration and characterization of the separation performance, whereas polymerized liposomes are used to demonstrate the applicability of the system to biomedical samples. This paper is also the first to report separation and a higher effective field when CyElFFF is operated at very low applied voltages. The technique is shown to have the ability to quantify both particle size and electrophoretic mobility distributions for colloidal polystyrene nanoparticles and PolyPIPosomes.

The reconnaissance and early-warning optical system design for dual field of space-based "solar blind ultraviolet"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Wen-cong; Jin, Dong-dong; Shao, Fei; Hu, Hui-jun; Shi, Yu-feng; Song, Juan; Zhang, Yu-tu; Yong, Liu

2016-07-01

With the development of modern technology, especially the development of information technology at high speed, the ultraviolet early warning system plays an increasingly important role. In the modern warfare, how to detect the threats earlier, prevent and reduce the attack of precision-guided missile has become a new challenge. Because the ultraviolet warning technology has high environmental adaptability, the low false alarm rate, small volume and other advantages, in the military field applications it has been developed rapidly. According to current application demands for solar blind ultraviolet detection and warning, this paper proposes a reconnaissance and early-warning optical system, which covers solar blind ultraviolet (250nm-280nm) and dual field. This structure takes advantage of a narrow field of view and long focal length optical system to achieve the target object detection, uses wide-field and short focal length optical system to achieve early warning of the target object. It makes use of an ultraviolet beam-splitter to achieve the separation of two optical systems. According to the detector and the corresponding application needs of two visual field of the optical system, the calculation and optical system design were completed. After the design, the MTF of the two optical system is more than 0.8@39lp/mm. A single pixel energy concentration is greater than 80%.

Potential role of gold nanoparticles for improved analytical methods: an introduction to characterizations and applications.

PubMed

Wu, Chung-Shu; Liu, Fu-Ken; Ko, Fu-Hsiang

2011-01-01

Nanoparticle-based material is a revolutionary scientific and engineering venture that will invariably impact the existing analytical separation and preconcentration for a variety of analytes. Nanoparticles can be regarded as a hybrid between small molecule and bulk material. A material on the nanoscale produces considerable changes on various properties, making them size- and shape-dependent. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), one of the wide variety of core materials available, coupled with tunable surface properties in the form of inorganic or inorganic-organic hybrid have been reported as an excellent platform for a broad range of analytical methods. This review aims to introduce the basic principles, examples, and descriptions of methods for the characterization of Au NPs by using chromatography, electrophoresis, and self-assembly strategies for separation science. Some of the latest important applications of using Au NPs as stationary phases toward open-tubular capillary electrochromatography, gas chromatography, and liquid chromatography as well as roles of run buffer additive to enhance separation and preconcentration in the field of chromatographic, electrophoretic and in chip-based systems are reviewed. Additionally, we review Au NPs-assisted state-of-the-art techniques involving the use of micellar electrokinetic chromatography, an online diode array detector, solid-phase extraction, and mass spectrometry for the preconcentration of some chemical compounds and biomolecules.

Quantification of the level of fat-soluble vitamins in feed based on the novel microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC) method.

PubMed

Olędzka, Ilona; Kowalski, Piotr; Bałuch, Alicja; Bączek, Tomasz; Paradziej-Łukowicz, Jolanta; Taciak, Marcin; Pastuszewska, Barbara

2014-02-01

Simultaneous quantification of liposoluble vitamins is not a new area of interest, since these compounds co-determine the nutritional quality of food and feed, a field widely explored in the human and animal diet. However, the development of appropriate methods is still a matter of concern, especially when the vitamin composition is highly complex, as is the case with feed designated for laboratory animals, representing a higher health and microbiological status. A method combining microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC) with liquid-liquid extraction was developed for the determination of four fat-soluble vitamins in animal feed. A separation medium consisting of 25 mmol L⁻¹ phosphate buffer (pH 2.5), 2-propanol, 1-butanol, sodium dodecyl sulfate and octane allowed the simultaneous determination of vitamins A, D, E and K within a reasonable time of 25 min. The polarity of the separation voltage was reversed in view of the strongly suppressed electro-osmotic flow, and the applied voltage was set at 12 kV. The fat-soluble vitamins were separated in the order of decreasing hydrophobicity. It was proved that the proposed MEEKC method was sufficiently specific and sensitive for screening fat-soluble vitamins in animal feed samples after their sterilization. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry.

Miniature Optical Wide-Angle-Lens Startracker (Mini-OWLS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, Rick; Coulter, Joe E.; Levine, Seymour

1993-01-01

This paper provides a brief overview of the design considerations and the current status of the Miniature Optical Wide-Angle Lens Startracker Program. Mini-OWLS offers a revolutionary alternative to the conventional startracker. It is a small, lightweight, low cost, high performance startracker that can be used in a variety of applications including calibration and alignment of Inertial Measurement Units (IMU's) Mini-OWLS makes use of a strap down design incorporating Holographic Optical Elements (HOES) in place of conventional optics. HOES can be multiplexed so that the same aperture can be used for multiple separate optical paths looking in several directions simultaneously without startracker rotation. Additionally, separate Schmidt corrector plates are not required to compensate for spherical aberration. The optical assembly, or what would normally be considered as the telescope, is less than 20 cc in volume, weighs less than 55 grams, and contains the equivalent of three individual telescopes. Each one has a 4 deg Field of View (FOV) with a field of regard of 48 square degrees. Mini-OWLS has a bandwidth of approximately 300 nm in or near the visible wavelength. The projected resolution of the startracker is 5 to 10 arcseconds, depending on the centroiding algorithm used. The Mini-OWLS program was initiated last year and represents a miniaturized version of a similar design for aeronautical applications. The contract is managed by Wright Laboratory, Air Force Systems Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, with funding from the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization through Eglin AFB. The initial phase of the program is to build and test a development unit. The second phase is to integrate the startracker with the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Micromechanical Inertial Guidance System (MIGS) and the Signal Processing Packaging Design (SPPD) being developed by Texas Instruments. The preliminary design review was conducted in November 1991. Three-axes prototype telescope assemblies have been built and design evaluation tests initiated.

Miniature Optical Wide-Angle-Lens Startracker (Mini-OWLS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, Rick; Coulter, Joe E.; Levine, Seymour

1993-02-01

This paper provides a brief overview of the design considerations and the current status of the Miniature Optical Wide-Angle Lens Startracker Program. Mini-OWLS offers a revolutionary alternative to the conventional startracker. It is a small, lightweight, low cost, high performance startracker that can be used in a variety of applications including calibration and alignment of Inertial Measurement Units (IMU's) Mini-OWLS makes use of a strap down design incorporating Holographic Optical Elements (HOES) in place of conventional optics. HOES can be multiplexed so that the same aperture can be used for multiple separate optical paths looking in several directions simultaneously without startracker rotation. Additionally, separate Schmidt corrector plates are not required to compensate for spherical aberration. The optical assembly, or what would normally be considered as the telescope, is less than 20 cc in volume, weighs less than 55 grams, and contains the equivalent of three individual telescopes. Each one has a 4 deg Field of View (FOV) with a field of regard of 48 square degrees. Mini-OWLS has a bandwidth of approximately 300 nm in or near the visible wavelength. The projected resolution of the startracker is 5 to 10 arcseconds, depending on the centroiding algorithm used. The Mini-OWLS program was initiated last year and represents a miniaturized version of a similar design for aeronautical applications. The contract is managed by Wright Laboratory, Air Force Systems Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, with funding from the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization through Eglin AFB. The initial phase of the program is to build and test a development unit. The second phase is to integrate the startracker with the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Micromechanical Inertial Guidance System (MIGS) and the Signal Processing Packaging Design (SPPD) being developed by Texas Instruments. The preliminary design review was conducted in November 1991. Three-axes prototype telescope assemblies have been built and design evaluation tests initiated.

Improved signal to noise ratio and sensitivity of an infrared imaging video bolometer on large helical device by using an infrared periscope

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

Pandya, Shwetang N., E-mail: pandya.shwetang@LHD.nifs.ac.jp; Sano, Ryuichi; Peterson, Byron J.

An Infrared imaging Video Bolometer (IRVB) diagnostic is currently being used in the Large Helical Device (LHD) for studying the localization of radiation structures near the magnetic island and helical divertor X-points during plasma detachment and for 3D tomography. This research demands high signal to noise ratio (SNR) and sensitivity to improve the temporal resolution for studying the evolution of radiation structures during plasma detachment and a wide IRVB field of view (FoV) for tomography. Introduction of an infrared periscope allows achievement of a higher SNR and higher sensitivity, which in turn, permits a twofold improvement in the temporal resolutionmore » of the diagnostic. Higher SNR along with wide FoV is achieved simultaneously by reducing the separation of the IRVB detector (metal foil) from the bolometer's aperture and the LHD plasma. Altering the distances to meet the aforesaid requirements results in an increased separation between the foil and the IR camera. This leads to a degradation of the diagnostic performance in terms of its sensitivity by 1.5-fold. Using an infrared periscope to image the IRVB foil results in a 7.5-fold increase in the number of IR camera pixels imaging the foil. This improves the IRVB sensitivity which depends on the square root of the number of IR camera pixels being averaged per bolometer channel. Despite the slower f-number (f/# = 1.35) and reduced transmission (τ{sub 0} = 89%, due to an increased number of lens elements) for the periscope, the diagnostic with an infrared periscope operational on LHD has improved in terms of sensitivity and SNR by a factor of 1.4 and 4.5, respectively, as compared to the original diagnostic without a periscope (i.e., IRVB foil being directly imaged by the IR camera through conventional optics). The bolometer's field of view has also increased by two times. The paper discusses these improvements in apt details.« less

Remote sensing signatures of oceanic whitecap at different wavelengths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anguelova, M. D.; Dowgiallo, D. J.; Smith, G. B.; Means, S. L.; Savelyev, I.; Frick, G. M.; Snow, C. M.; Schindall, J. A.; Bobak, J. P.

2012-12-01

Oceanic whitecaps are the most direct surface expression of breaking wind waves in the ocean. Whitecap fraction quantifies the breaking events and is thus a suitable forcing variable for parameterizing and predicting various air-sea interaction processes. To this end, we have compiled a database of whitecap fraction W from satellites-borne microwave radiometric observations. These observations provide the total W including foam generated during active breaking of wind-driven waves and residual foam left behind by these breaking waves. However, the whitecap fraction associated with the actively breaking waves WA is needed for dynamic air-sea processes in the upper ocean such as turbulent mixing, gas exchange, ocean ambient noise, and spray-mediated intensification of tropical storms. To parameterize such processes, a database of WA separate from W is needed. We pursue this separation of WA from W by combining the Phillips concept of breaking wave statistics which connects WA with the energy dissipation rate of breaking waves and parametric estimates of energy dissipation from wave spectra measured from buoys. We seek additional physical understanding of, and experimental support for, this separation with a multi-instrumental field campaign. The instrumentation deployed includes a suite of sensors recording the whitecaps and breaking waves on the surface over wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum: visible (video cameras), infrared (IR camera), and microwave (radiometers at two frequencies, 10 GHz and 37 GHz). An acoustic array with three nested-aperture array at frequencies up to 2.4 kHz and aerosol/particle counter provide data for the bubbles generated beneath and sea spray produced above the whitecaps. We also deployed a transmitter horn to collect data useful to asses Radio Frequency Interference (RFI), which affects the collection and accuracy of satellite-based data. Various auxiliary data such as wind speed, air temperature, humidity, wave field, and water temperature profile characterize the experimental conditions. The goal of this field campaign is to provide experimental data for determining WA and W independently from the Phillips concept for energy dissipation. In these measurements, we rely on the good separation between WA and W in the IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum. We use the IR data to identify a separation criterion which then can be applied to time series of microwave and acoustic data. Obtaining WA via this separation criterion and comparing the results with those from the Phillips concept, we will have additional possibility to constrain WA obtained using energy dissipation. The measurements are made in April-May, 2012, on the Floating Instrument Platform (FLIP) drifting along the coast of California from Monterey Bay south toward Point Conception. We describe the experiment, characterize the study site, and present first data collected during this campaign.

Hydrodynamic separator sediment retention testing.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-03-01

Hydrodynamic separators are widely used in urban areas for removal of suspended sediments and floatables from : stormwater due to limited land availability for the installation of above ground stormwater best management : practices (BMPs). Hydrodynam...

Magnetically Enhanced Solid-Liquid Separation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rey, C. M.; Keller, K.; Fuchs, B.

2005-07-01

DuPont is developing an entirely new method of solid-liquid filtration involving the use of magnetic fields and magnetic field gradients. The new hybrid process, entitled Magnetically Enhanced Solid-Liquid Separation (MESLS), is designed to improve the de-watering kinetics and reduce the residual moisture content of solid particulates mechanically separated from liquid slurries. Gravitation, pressure, temperature, centrifugation, and fluid dynamics have dictated traditional solid-liquid separation for the past 50 years. The introduction of an external field (i.e. the magnetic field) offers the promise to manipulate particle behavior in an entirely new manner, which leads to increased process efficiency. Traditional solid-liquid separation typically consists of two primary steps. The first is a mechanical step in which the solid particulate is separated from the liquid using e.g. gas pressure through a filter membrane, centrifugation, etc. The second step is a thermal drying process, which is required due to imperfect mechanical separation. The thermal drying process is over 100-200 times less energy efficient than the mechanical step. Since enormous volumes of materials are processed each year, more efficient mechanical solid-liquid separations can be leveraged into dramatic reductions in overall energy consumption by reducing downstream drying requirements have a tremendous impact on energy consumption. Using DuPont's MESLS process, initial test results showed four very important effects of the magnetic field on the solid-liquid filtration process: 1) reduction of the time to reach gas breakthrough, 2) less loss of solid into the filtrate, 3) reduction of the (solids) residual moisture content, and 4) acceleration of the de-watering kinetics. These test results and their potential impact on future commercial solid-liquid filtration is discussed. New applications can be found in mining, chemical and bioprocesses.

Uncertainty Quantification in Geomagnetic Field Modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chulliat, A.; Nair, M. C.; Alken, P.; Meyer, B.; Saltus, R.; Woods, A.

2017-12-01

Geomagnetic field models are mathematical descriptions of the various sources of the Earth's magnetic field, and are generally obtained by solving an inverse problem. They are widely used in research to separate and characterize field sources, but also in many practical applications such as aircraft and ship navigation, smartphone orientation, satellite attitude control, and directional drilling. In recent years, more sophisticated models have been developed, thanks to the continuous availability of high quality satellite data and to progress in modeling techniques. Uncertainty quantification has become an integral part of model development, both to assess the progress made and to address specific users' needs. Here we report on recent advances made by our group in quantifying the uncertainty of geomagnetic field models. We first focus on NOAA's World Magnetic Model (WMM) and the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF), two reference models of the main (core) magnetic field produced every five years. We describe the methods used in quantifying the model commission error as well as the omission error attributed to various un-modeled sources such as magnetized rocks in the crust and electric current systems in the atmosphere and near-Earth environment. A simple error model was derived from this analysis, to facilitate usage in practical applications. We next report on improvements brought by combining a main field model with a high resolution crustal field model and a time-varying, real-time external field model, like in NOAA's High Definition Geomagnetic Model (HDGM). The obtained uncertainties are used by the directional drilling industry to mitigate health, safety and environment risks.

Optoelectrofluidic field separation based on light-intensity gradients

PubMed Central

Lee, Sanghyun; Park, Hyun Jin; Yoon, Jin Sung; Kang, Kwan Hyoung

2010-01-01

Optoelectrofluidic field separation (OEFS) of particles under light -intensity gradient (LIG) is reported, where the LIG illumination on the photoconductive layer converts the short-ranged dielectrophoresis (DEP) force to the long-ranged one. The long-ranged DEP force can compete with the hydrodynamic force by alternating current electro-osmosis (ACEO) over the entire illumination area for realizing effective field separation of particles. In the OEFS system, the codirectional illumination and observation induce the levitation effect, compensating the attenuation of the DEP force under LIG illumination by slightly floating particles from the surface. Results of the field separation and concentration of diverse particle pairs (0.82–16 μm) are well demonstrated, and conditions determining the critical radius and effective particle manipulation are discussed. The OEFS with codirectional LIG strategy could be a promising particle manipulation method in many applications where a rapid manipulation of biological cells and particles over the entire working area are of interest. PMID:20697461

Optoelectrofluidic field separation based on light-intensity gradients.

PubMed

Lee, Sanghyun; Park, Hyun Jin; Yoon, Jin Sung; Kang, Kwan Hyoung

2010-07-14

Optoelectrofluidic field separation (OEFS) of particles under light -intensity gradient (LIG) is reported, where the LIG illumination on the photoconductive layer converts the short-ranged dielectrophoresis (DEP) force to the long-ranged one. The long-ranged DEP force can compete with the hydrodynamic force by alternating current electro-osmosis (ACEO) over the entire illumination area for realizing effective field separation of particles. In the OEFS system, the codirectional illumination and observation induce the levitation effect, compensating the attenuation of the DEP force under LIG illumination by slightly floating particles from the surface. Results of the field separation and concentration of diverse particle pairs (0.82-16 mum) are well demonstrated, and conditions determining the critical radius and effective particle manipulation are discussed. The OEFS with codirectional LIG strategy could be a promising particle manipulation method in many applications where a rapid manipulation of biological cells and particles over the entire working area are of interest.

Determining Geometric Parameters of Agricultural Trees from Laser Scanning Data Obtained with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hadas, E.; Jozkow, G.; Walicka, A.; Borkowski, A.

2018-05-01

The estimation of dendrometric parameters has become an important issue for agriculture planning and for the efficient management of orchards. Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data is widely used in forestry and many algorithms for automatic estimation of dendrometric parameters of individual forest trees were developed. Unfortunately, due to significant differences between forest and fruit trees, some contradictions exist against adopting the achievements of forestry science to agricultural studies indiscriminately. In this study we present the methodology to identify individual trees in apple orchard and estimate heights of individual trees, using high-density LiDAR data (3200 points/m2) obtained with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) equipped with Velodyne HDL32-E sensor. The processing strategy combines the alpha-shape algorithm, principal component analysis (PCA) and detection of local minima. The alpha-shape algorithm is used to separate tree rows. In order to separate trees in a single row, we detect local minima on the canopy profile and slice polygons from alpha-shape results. We successfully separated 92 % of trees in the test area. 6 % of trees in orchard were not separated from each other and 2 % were sliced into two polygons. The RMSE of tree heights determined from the point clouds compared to field measurements was equal to 0.09 m, and the correlation coefficient was equal to 0.96. The results confirm the usefulness of LiDAR data from UAV platform in orchard inventory.

Health Economics and the Economics of Education: Specialization and Division of Labor.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bishop, Dawn M.; Hunt-McCool, Janet

1998-01-01

Addresses the separation of human capital studies into distinct fields of education and health. The main difference between the fields may be the ability to measure objectively the value added of health care expenditures, in contrast to the earnings valuation of education. As a result, the two fields (and their literatures) separate theoretically…

Using Wavelet Bases to Separate Scales in Quantum Field Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michlin, Tracie L.

This thesis investigates the use of Daubechies wavelets to separate scales in local quantum field theory. Field theories have an infinite number of degrees of freedom on all distance scales. Quantum field theories are believed to describe the physics of subatomic particles. These theories have no known mathematically convergent approximation methods. Daubechies wavelet bases can be used separate degrees of freedom on different distance scales. Volume and resolution truncations lead to mathematically well-defined truncated theories that can be treated using established methods. This work demonstrates that flow equation methods can be used to block diagonalize truncated field theoretic Hamiltonians by scale. This eliminates the fine scale degrees of freedom. This may lead to approximation methods and provide an understanding of how to formulate well-defined fine resolution limits.

On the electric field model for an open magnetosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Zhi; Ashour-Abdalla, Maha; Walker, Raymond J.

1993-01-01

We have developed a new canonical separator line type magnetospheric magnetic field and electric field model for use in magnetospheric calculations, we determine the magnetic and electric field by controlling the reconnection rate at the subsolar magnetopause. The model is applicable only for purely southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). We have obtained a more realistic magnetotail configuration by applying a stretch transformation to an axially symmetric field solution. We also discuss the Stern singularity in which there is an electric field singlarity in the canonical separate line models for B(sub y) not = to 0 by using a new technique that solves for the electric field along a field line directly instead of determining it by a potential mapping. The singularity not only causes an infinite electric field on the polar cap, but also causes the boundary conditions at plus infinity and minus infinity in the solar wind to contradict each other. This means that the canonical separator line models do not represent the open magnetosphere well, except for the case of purely southward IMF.

Continuous-flow electrophoretic separator for biologicals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mccreight, L. R.; Griffin, R. N.; Locker, R. J.

1976-01-01

In the near absence of gravity, a continuous-flow type of electrophoretic separator can be operated with a much thicker separation chamber than is possible under 1 g conditions. This should permit either better resolution or shorter separation time per unit of sample. An apparatus to perform experiments on sounding rockets is under development and will be described. The electrophoresis cell is 5 mm thick by 5 cm wide with 10 cm long electrodes. It is supplied with buffer, sample, and coolant at about 4 C through the use of a passive refrigerant system. UV sample detection and provision for recovery and cold storage of up to 50 sample fractions are now being added to the basic unit. A wide range of operating conditions are electronically programmable into the unit, even up to a short time before flight, and a further range of some parameters can be achieved by exchanging power supplies and by changing gears in the motor drive units of the pump. The preliminary results of some separation studies on various biological products using a commercially available electrophoretic separator are also presented.

Current Application of Capillary Electrophoresis in Nanomaterial Characterisation and Its Potential to Characterise the Protein and Small Molecule Corona

PubMed Central

Guggenheim, Emily J.; Briffa, Sophie M.; Thorn, James A.; Lynch, Iseult; Valsami-Jones, Eugenia

2018-01-01

Due to the increasing use and production of nanomaterials (NMs), the ability to characterise their physical/chemical properties quickly and reliably has never been so important. Proper characterisation allows a thorough understanding of the material and its stability, and is critical to establishing dose-response curves to ascertain risks to human and environmental health. Traditionally, methods such as Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Field Flow Fractionation (FFF) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) have been favoured for size characterisation, due to their wide-availability and well-established protocols. Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) offers a faster and more cost-effective solution for complex dispersions including polydisperse or non-spherical NMs. CE has been used to rapidly separate NMs of varying sizes, shapes, surface modifications and compositions. This review will discuss the literature surrounding the CE separation techniques, detection and NM characteristics used for the analysis of a wide range of NMs. The potential of combining CE with mass spectrometry (CE-MS) will also be explored to further expand the characterisation of NMs, including the layer of biomolecules adsorbed to the surface of NMs in biological or environmental compartments, termed the acquired biomolecule corona. CE offers the opportunity to uncover new/poorly characterised low abundance and polar protein classes due to the high ionisation efficiency of CE-MS. Furthermore, the possibility of using CE-MS to characterise the poorly researched small molecule interactions within the NM corona is discussed. PMID:29439415

Spectral Discrimination of the Invasive Plant Spartina alterniflora at Multiple Phenological Stages in a Saltmarsh Wetland

PubMed Central

Ouyang, Zu-Tao; Gao, Yu; Xie, Xiao; Guo, Hai-Qiang; Zhang, Ting-Ting; Zhao, Bin

2013-01-01

Spartina alterniflora has widely invaded the saltmarshes of the Yangtze River Estuary and brought negative effects to the ecosystem. Remote sensing technique has recently been used to monitor its distribution, but the similar morphology and canopy structure among S. alterniflora and its neighbor species make it difficult even with high-resolution images. Nevertheless, these species have divergence on phenological stages throughout the year, which cause distinguishing spectral characteristics among them and provide opportunities for discrimination. The field spectra of the S. alterniflora community as well as its major victims, native Phragmites australis and Scirpus mariqueter, were measured in 2009 and 2010 at multi-phenological stages in the Yangtze River Estuary, aiming to find the most appropriate periods for mapping S. alterniflora. Collected spectral data were analyzed separately for every stage firstly by re-sampling reflectance curves into continued 5-nm-wide hyper-spectral bands and then by re-sampling into broad multi-spectral bands – the same as the band ranges of the TM sensor, as well as calculating commonly used vegetation indices. The results showed that differences among saltmarsh communities’ spectral characteristics were affected by their phenological stages. The germination and early vegetative growth stage and the flowering stage were probably the best timings to identify S. alterniflora. Vegetation indices like NDVI, ANVI, VNVI, and RVI are likely to enhance spectral separability and also make it possible to discriminate S. alterniflora at its withering stage. PMID:23826265

The Chandra Xbootes Survey - IV: Mid-Infrared and Submillimeter Counterparts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, Arianna; Mitchell-Wynne, Ketron; Cooray, Asantha R.; Nayyeri, Hooshang

2016-06-01

In this work, we use a Bayesian technique to identify mid-IR and submillimeter counterparts for 3,213 X-ray point sources detected in the Chandra XBoötes Survey so as to characterize the relationship between black hole activity and star formation in the XBoötes region. The Chandra XBoötes Survey is a 5-ks X-ray survey of the 9.3 square degree Boötes Field of the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey (NDWFS), a survey imaged from the optical to the near-IR. We use a likelihood ratio analysis on Spitzer-IRAC data taken from The Spitzer Deep, Wide-Field Survey (SDWFS) to determine mid-IR counterparts, and a similar method on Herschel-SPIRE sources detected at 250µm from The Herschel Multi-tiered Extragalactic Survey to determine the submillimeter counterparts. The likelihood ratio analysis (LRA) provides the probability that a(n) IRAC or SPIRE point source is the true counterpart to a Chandra source. The analysis is comprised of three parts: the normalized magnitude distributions of counterparts and background sources, and the radial probability distribution of the separation distance between the IRAC or SPIRE source and the Chandra source. Many Chandra sources have multiple prospective counterparts in each band, so additional analysis is performed to determine the identification reliability of the candidates. Identification reliability values lie between 0 and 1, and sources with identification reliability values ≥0.8 are chosen to be the true counterparts. With these results, we will consider the statistical implications of the sample's redshifts, mid-IR and submillimeter luminosities, and star formation rates.

Plasma separation from magnetic field lines in a magnetic nozzle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kaufman, D. A.; Goodwin, D. G.; Sercel, J. C.

1993-01-01

This paper discusses conditions for separation of a plasma from the magnetic field of a magnetic nozzle. The analysis assumes a collisionless, quasineutral plasma, and therefore the results represent a lower bound on the amount of detachment possible for a given set of plasma conditions. We show that collisionless separation can occur because finite electron mass inhibits the flow of azimuthal currents in the nozzle. Separation conditions are governed by a parameter G which depends on plasma and nozzle conditions. Several methods of improving plasma detachment are presented, including moving the plasma generation zone downstream from the region of strongest magnetic field and using dual magnets to focus the plasma beam. Plasma detachment can be enhanced by manipulation of the nozzle configuration.

Optical Design of the WFIRST Phase-A Wide Field Instrument

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pasquale, Bert A.; Marx, Catherine T.; Gao, Guangjun; Armani, Nerses; Casey, Thomas

2017-01-01

The WFIRST Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope TMA optical design provides 0.28-sq degrees FOV at 0.11” pixel scale to the Wide Field Instrument, operating between 0.48-2.0 micrometers, including a spectrograph mode (1.0-2.0 micrometers). An Integral Field Channel provides 2-D discrete spectroscopy at 0.15” & 0.3” sampling.

Magnetic separation: its application in mining, waste purification, medicine, biochemistry and chemistry.

PubMed

Iranmanesh, M; Hulliger, J

2017-10-02

The use of strong magnetic field gradients and high magnetic fields generated by permanent magnets or superconducting coils has found applications in many fields such as mining, solid state chemistry, biochemistry and medical research. Lab scale or industrial implementations involve separation of macro- and nanoparticles, cells, proteins, and macromolecules down to small molecules and ions. Most promising are those attempts where the object to be separated is attached to a strong magnetic nanoparticle. Here, all kinds of specific affinity interactions are used to attach magnetic carrier particles to mainly objects of biological interest. Other attempts use a strong paramagnetic suspension for the separation of purely diamagnetic objects, such as bio-macromolecules or heavy metals. The application of magnetic separation to superconducting inorganic phases is of particular interest in combination with ceramic combinatorial chemistry to generate a library of e.g. cuprate superconductors.

Separated flow over bodies of revolution using an unsteady discrete-vorticity cross wake. Part 1: Theory and application

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marshall, F. J.; Deffenbaugh, F. D.

1974-01-01

A method is developed to determine the flow field of a body of revolution in separated flow. The technique employed is the use of the computer to integrate various solutions and solution properties of the sub-flow fields which made up the entire flow field without resorting to a finite difference solution to the complete Navier-Stokes equations. The technique entails the use of the unsteady cross flow analogy and a new solution to the required two-dimensional unsteady separated flow problem based upon an unsteady, discrete-vorticity wake. Data for the forces and moments on aerodynamic bodies at low speeds and high angle of attack (outside the range of linear inviscid theories) such that the flow is substantially separated are produced which compare well with experimental data. In addition, three dimensional steady separation regions and wake vortex patterns are determined.

Separated flow over bodies of revolution using an unsteady discrete-vorticity cross wake. Part 2: Computer program description

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marshall, F. J.; Deffenbaugh, F. D.

1974-01-01

A method is developed to determine the flow field of a body of revolution in separated flow. The computer was used to integrate various solutions and solution properties of the sub-flow fields which made up the entire flow field without resorting to a finite difference solution to the complete Navier-Stokes equations. The technique entails the use of the unsteady cross flow analogy and a new solution to the two-dimensional unsteady separated flow problem based upon an unsteady, discrete-vorticity wake. Data for the forces and moments on aerodynamic bodies at low speeds and high angle of attack (outside the range of linear inviscid theories) such that the flow is substantially separated are produced which compare well with experimental data. In addition, three dimensional steady separated regions and wake vortex patterns are determined. The computer program developed to perform the numerical calculations is described.

Separating biological cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brooks, D. E.

1979-01-01

Technique utilizing electric field to promote biological cell separation from suspending medium in zero gravity increases speed, reduces sedimentation, and improves efficiency of separation in normal gravity.

Magnetic dynamic properties of electron-doped La(0.23)Ca(0.77)MnO3 nanoparticles.

PubMed

Dolgin, B; Puzniak, R; Mogilyansky, D; Wisniewski, A; Markovich, V; Jung, G

2013-02-20

Magnetic properties of basically antiferromagnetic La(0.23)Ca(0.77)MnO(3) particles with average sizes of 12 and 60 nm have been investigated in a wide range of magnetic fields and temperature. Particular attention has been paid to magnetization dynamics through measurements of the temperature dependence of ac-susceptibility at various frequencies, the temperature and field dependence of thermoremanent and isothermoremanent magnetization originating from nanoparticles shells, and the time decay of the remanent magnetization. Experimental results and their analysis reveal the major role in magnetic behaviour of investigated antiferromagnetic nanoparticles played by the glassy component, associated mainly with the formation of the collective state formed by ferromagnetic clusters in frustrated coordination at the surfaces of interacting antiferromagnetic nanoparticles. Magnetic behaviour of nanoparticles has been ascribed to a core-shell scenario. Magnetic transitions have been found to play an important role in determining the dynamic properties of the phase separated state of coexisting different magnetic phases.

Investigation of Solar Wind Correlations and Solar Wind Modifications Near Earth by Multi-Spacecraft Observations: IMP 8, WIND and INTERBALL-1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Paularena, Karolen I.; Richardson, John D.; Zastenker, Georgy N.

2002-01-01

The foundation of this Project is use of the opportunity available during the ISTP (International Solar-Terrestrial Physics) era to compare solar wind measurements obtained simultaneously by three spacecraft - IMP 8, WIND and INTERBALL-1 at wide-separated points. Using these data allows us to study three important topics: (1) the size and dynamics of near-Earth mid-scale (with dimension about 1-10 million km) and small-scale (with dimension about 10-100 thousand km) solar wind structures; (2) the reliability of the common assumption that solar wind conditions at the upstream Lagrangian (L1) point accurately predict the conditions affecting Earth's magnetosphere; (3) modification of the solar wind plasma and magnetic field in the regions near the Earth magnetosphere, the foreshock and the magnetosheath. Our Project was dedicated to these problems. Our research has made substantial contributions to the field and has lead others to undertake similar work.

Numerical and experimental investigation of transverse injection flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erdem, E.; Kontis, K.

2010-04-01

The flow field resulting from a transverse injection through a slot into supersonic flow is numerically simulated by solving Favre-averaged Navier-Stokes equations with κ - ω SST turbulence model with corrections for compressibility and transition. Numerical results are compared to experimental data in terms of surface pressure profiles, boundary layer separation location, transition location, and flow structures at the upstream and downstream of the jet. Results show good agreement with experimental data for a wide range of pressure ratios and transition locations are captured with acceptable accuracy. κ - ω SST model provides quite accurate results for such a complex flow field. Moreover, few experiments involving a sonic round jet injected on a flat plate into high-speed crossflow at Mach 5 are carried out. These experiments are three-dimensional in nature. The effect of pressure ratio on three-dimensional jet interaction dynamics is sought. Jet penetration is found to be a non-linear function of jet to free stream momentum flux ratio.

Ionic Liquid/Metal-Organic Framework Composites: From Synthesis to Applications.

PubMed

Kinik, Fatma Pelin; Uzun, Alper; Keskin, Seda

2017-07-21

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely studied for different applications owing to their fascinating properties such as large surface areas, high porosities, tunable pore sizes, and acceptable thermal and chemical stabilities. Ionic liquids (ILs) have been recently incorporated into the pores of MOFs as cavity occupants to change the physicochemical properties and gas affinities of MOFs. Several recent studies have shown that IL/MOF composites show superior performances compared with pristine MOFs in various fields, such as gas storage, adsorption and membrane-based gas separation, catalysis, and ionic conductivity. In this review, we address the recent advances in syntheses of IL/MOF composites and provide a comprehensive overview of their applications. Opportunities and challenges of using IL/MOF composites in many applications are reviewed and the requirements for the utilization of these composite materials in real industrial processes are discussed to define the future directions in this field. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Plasmonic Gold Nanorod Dispersions with Electrical and Optical Tunability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grabowski, Christopher; Mahoney, Clare; Park, Kyoungweon; Jawaid, Ali; White, Timothy; Vaia, Richard

The transmissive, absorptive, electrical, and thermal properties of plasmonic gold nanorods (NRs) have led to their employment in a broad range of applications. These electro-optical properties - governed by their size, shape, and composition - are widely and precisely tunable during synthesis. Gold NRs show promise for large scale optical elements as they have been demonstrated to align faster than liquid crystal films (μs) at low fields (1 V/ μm). Successfully dispersing a high volume fraction of gold NRs requires a strategy to control particle-particle separation and thus avoid aggregation. Herein, we discuss the role of theta temperature and the ability to swell or collapse the chains of polymer-grafted gold NRs to alter the interaction potential between particles. UV-Vis spectroscopy, scattering, and electrical susceptibility characterization methods were employed to determine nanoparticle dispersion along with the degree of gold NR alignment. The development of new agile photonic materials, controllable with both light and electric fields, will help address emerging needs in laser hardening (agile filters) and variable transmission visors.

In-flight radiometric calibration of the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Conel, James E.; Green, Robert O.; Alley, Ronald E.; Bruegge, Carol J.; Carrere, Veronique; Margolis, Jack S.; Vane, Gregg; Chrien, Thomas G.; Slater, Philip N.; Biggard, Stuart F.

1988-01-01

A reflectance-based method was used to provide an analysis of the in-flight radiometric performance of AVIRIS. Field spectral reflectance measurements of the surface and extinction measurements of the atmosphere using solar radiation were used as input to atmospheric radiative transfer calculations. Five separate codes were used in the analysis. Four include multiple scattering, and the computed radiances from these for flight conditions were in good agreement. Code-generated radiances were compared with AVIRIS-predicted radiances based on two laboratory calibrations (pre- and post-season of flight) for a uniform highly reflecting natural dry lake target. For one spectrometer (C), the pre- and post-season calibration factors were found to give identical results, and to be in agreement with the atmospheric models that include multiple scattering. This positive result validates the field and laboratory calibration technique. Results for the other spectrometers (A, B and D) were widely at variance with the models no matter which calibration factors were used. Potential causes of these discrepancies are discussed.

Influence of stability of polymer surfactant on oil displacement mechanism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Li; Li, Chengliang; Pi, Yanming; Wu, Di; He, Ying; Geng, Liang

2018-02-01

At present, most of the oilfields of China have entered the late stage of high water-cut development, and three oil recovery technique has become the leading technology for improving oil recovery. With the improvement of three oil recovery techniques, the polymer surfactant flooding technology has been widely promoted in oil fields in recent years. But in the actual field experiment, it has been found that the polymer surfactant has chromatographic separation at the extraction end, which indicates that the property of the polymer surfactant has changed during the displacement process. At present, there was few literature about how the stability of polymer surfactant affects the oil displacement mechanism. This paper used HuaDing-I polymer surfactant to conduct a micro photolithography glass flooding experiment, and then compared the oil displacement law of polymer surfactant before and after static setting. Finally, the influence law of stability of polymer surfactant on the oil displacement mechanism is obtained by comprehensive analysis.

Mathematical models of continuous flow electrophoresis: Electrophoresis technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saville, Dudley A.

1986-01-01

Two aspects of continuous flow electrophoresis were studied: (1) the structure of the flow field in continuous flow devices; and (2) the electrokinetic properties of suspended particles relevant to electrophoretic separations. Mathematical models were developed to describe flow structure and stability, with particular emphasis on effects due to buoyancy. To describe the fractionation of an arbitrary particulate sample by continuous flow electrophoresis, a general mathematical model was constructed. In this model, chamber dimensions, field strength, buffer composition, and other design variables can be altered at will to study their effects on resolution and throughput. All these mathematical models were implemented on a digital computer and the codes are available for general use. Experimental and theoretical work with particulate samples probed how particle mobility is related to buffer composition. It was found that ions on the surface of small particles are mobile, contrary to the widely accepted view. This influences particle mobility and suspension conductivity. A novel technique was used to measure the mobility of particles in concentrated suspensions.

Turbulent Heating and Wave Pressure in Solar Wind Acceleration Modeling: New Insights to Empirical Forecasting of the Solar Wind

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woolsey, L. N.; Cranmer, S. R.

2013-12-01

The study of solar wind acceleration has made several important advances recently due to improvements in modeling techniques. Existing code and simulations test the competing theories for coronal heating, which include reconnection/loop-opening (RLO) models and wave/turbulence-driven (WTD) models. In order to compare and contrast the validity of these theories, we need flexible tools that predict the emergent solar wind properties from a wide range of coronal magnetic field structures such as coronal holes, pseudostreamers, and helmet streamers. ZEPHYR (Cranmer et al. 2007) is a one-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics code that includes Alfven wave generation and reflection and the resulting turbulent heating to accelerate solar wind in open flux tubes. We present the ZEPHYR output for a wide range of magnetic field geometries to show the effect of the magnetic field profiles on wind properties. We also investigate the competing acceleration mechanisms found in ZEPHYR to determine the relative importance of increased gas pressure from turbulent heating and the separate pressure source from the Alfven waves. To do so, we developed a code that will become publicly available for solar wind prediction. This code, TEMPEST, provides an outflow solution based on only one input: the magnetic field strength as a function of height above the photosphere. It uses correlations found in ZEPHYR between the magnetic field strength at the source surface and the temperature profile of the outflow solution to compute the wind speed profile based on the increased gas pressure from turbulent heating. With this initial solution, TEMPEST then adds in the Alfven wave pressure term to the modified Parker equation and iterates to find a stable solution for the wind speed. This code, therefore, can make predictions of the wind speeds that will be observed at 1 AU based on extrapolations from magnetogram data, providing a useful tool for empirical forecasting of the sol! ar wind.

High-throughput separation of cells by dielectrophoresis enhanced with 3D gradient AC electric field.

PubMed

Tada, Shigeru; Hayashi, Masako; Eguchi, Masanori; Tsukamoto, Akira

2017-11-01

We propose a novel, high-performance dielectrophoretic (DEP) cell-separation flow chamber with a parallel-plate channel geometry. The flow chamber, consisting of a planar electrode on the top and an interdigitated-pair electrode array at the bottom, was developed to facilitate the separation of cells by creating a nonuniform AC electric field throughout the volume of the flow chamber. The operation and performance of the device were evaluated using live and dead human epithermal breast (MCF10A) cells. The separation dynamics of the cell suspension in the flow chamber was also investigated by numerically simulating the trajectories of individual cells. A theoretical model to describe the dynamic cell behavior under the action of DEP, including dipole-dipole interparticle, viscous, and gravitational forces, was developed. The results demonstrated that the live cells traveling through the flow chamber congregated into sites where the electric field gradient was minimal, in the middle of the flow stream slightly above the centerlines of the grounded electrodes at the bottom. Meanwhile, the dead cells were trapped on the edges of the high-voltage electrodes at the bottom. Cells were thus successfully separated with a remarkably high separation ratio (∼98%) at the appropriately tuned field frequency and applied voltage. The numerically predicted behavior and spatial distribution of the cells during separation also showed good agreement with those observed experimentally.

Formation of wide binaries by turbulent fragmentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Jeong-Eun; Lee, Seokho; Dunham, Michael M.; Tatematsu, Ken'ichi; Choi, Minho; Bergin, Edwin A.; Evans, Neal J.

2017-08-01

Understanding the formation of wide-binary systems of very low-mass stars (M ≤ 0.1 solar masses, M⊙) is challenging 1,2,3 . The most obvious route is through widely separated low-mass collapsing fragments produced by turbulent fragmentation of a molecular core4,5. However, close binaries or multiples from disk fragmentation can also evolve to wide binaries over a few initial crossing times of the stellar cluster through tidal evolution6. Finding an isolated low-mass wide-binary system in the earliest stage of formation, before tidal evolution could occur, would prove that turbulent fragmentation is a viable mechanism for (very) low-mass wide binaries. Here we report high-resolution ALMA observations of a known wide-separation protostellar binary, showing that each component has a circumstellar disk. The system is too young7 to have evolved from a close binary, and the disk axes are misaligned, providing strong support for the turbulent fragmentation model. Masses of both stars are derived from the Keplerian rotation of the disks; both are very low-mass stars.

Fundamentals of affinity cell separations.

PubMed

Zhang, Ye; Lyons, Veronica; Pappas, Dimitri

2018-03-01

Cell separations using affinity methods continue to be an enabling science for a wide variety of applications. In this review, we discuss the fundamental aspects of affinity separation, including the competing forces for cell capture and elution, cell-surface interactions, and models for cell adhesion. Factors affecting separation performance such as bond affinity, contact area, and temperature are presented. We also discuss and demonstrate the effects of nonspecific binding on separation performance. Metrics for evaluating cell separations are presented, along with methods of comparing separation techniques for cell isolation using affinity capture. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Stereoscopic wide field of view imaging system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prechtl, Eric F. (Inventor); Sedwick, Raymond J. (Inventor); Jonas, Eric M. (Inventor)

2011-01-01

A stereoscopic imaging system incorporates a plurality of imaging devices or cameras to generate a high resolution, wide field of view image database from which images can be combined in real time to provide wide field of view or panoramic or omni-directional still or video images.

Binary Cepheids: Separations and Mass Ratios in 5 M ⊙ Binaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evans, Nancy Evans; Bond, Howard E.; Schaefer, Gail H.; Mason, Brian D.; Karovska, Margarita; Tingle, Evan

2013-10-01

Deriving the distribution of binary parameters for a particular class of stars over the full range of orbital separations usually requires the combination of results from many different observing techniques (radial velocities, interferometry, astrometry, photometry, direct imaging), each with selection biases. However, Cepheids—cool, evolved stars of ~5 M ⊙—are a special case because ultraviolet (UV) spectra will immediately reveal any companion star hotter than early type A, regardless of the orbital separation. We have used International Ultraviolet Explorer UV spectra of a complete sample of all 76 Cepheids brighter than V = 8 to create a list of all 18 Cepheids with companions more massive than 2.0 M ⊙. Orbital periods of many of these binaries are available from radial-velocity studies, or can be estimated for longer-period systems from detected velocity variability. In an imaging survey with the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3, we resolved three of the companions (those of η Aql, S Nor, and V659 Cen), allowing us to make estimates of the periods out to the long-period end of the distribution. Combining these separations with orbital data in the literature, we derive an unbiased distribution of binary separations, orbital periods, and mass ratios. The distribution of orbital periods shows that the 5 M ⊙ binaries have systematically shorter periods than do 1 M ⊙ stars. Our data also suggest that the distribution of mass ratios depends on both binary separation and system multiplicity. The distribution of mass ratios as a function of orbital separation, however, does not depend on whether a system is a binary or a triple. Based in part on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained by the Space Telescope Science Institute. STScI is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555.

Preparation and characterization of monodisperse large-porous silica microspheres as the matrix for protein separation.

PubMed

Xia, Hongjun; Wan, Guangping; Zhao, Junlong; Liu, Jiawei; Bai, Quan

2016-11-04

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a kind of efficient separation technology and has been used widely in many fields. Micro-sized porous silica microspheres as the most popular matrix have been used for fast separation and analysis in HPLC. In this paper, the monodisperse large-porous silica microspheres with controllable size and structure were successfully synthesized with polymer microspheres as the templates and characterized. First, the poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate) microspheres (P GMA-EDMA ) were functionalized with tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) to generate amino groups which act as a catalyst in hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) to form Si-containing low molecular weight species. Then the low molecular weight species diffused into the functionalized P GMA-EDMA microspheres by induction force of the amino groups to form polymer/silica hybrid microspheres. Finally, the organic polymer templates were removed by calcination, and the large-porous silica microspheres were obtained. The compositions, morphology, size distribution, specific surface area and pore size distribution of the porous silica microspheres were characterized by infrared analyzer, scanning-electron microscopy, dynamic laser scattering, the mercury intrusion method and thermal gravimetric analysis, respectively. The results show that the agglomeration of the hybrid microspheres can be overcome when the templates were functionalized with TEPA as amination reagent, and the yield of 95.7% of the monodisperse large-porous silica microspheres can be achieved with high concentration of polymer templates. The resulting large-porous silica microspheres were modified with octadecyltrichlorosilane (ODS) and the chromatographic evaluation was performed by separating the proteins and the digest of BSA. The baseline separation of seven kinds of protein standards was achieved, and the column delivered a better performance when separating BSA digests comparing with the commercial one currently available. The high column efficiency and good reproducibility present that the large-porous silica microspheres obtained can be used as a matrix for peptide and protein separation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Spatial Expansion of a Discharge in the Generation and the Channel Structure (in German)

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

Schlumbohm, H.

1962-02-01

The spatial expansion of a discharge was investigated under homogeneous field conditions, using an anode with a small central area separated from the remainder and wide band double beam oscillographic techniques. The discharge currents were initiated by electrons released along traces of single alpha particles in the gas between the electrodes. The k particles enter the gap volume through a small hole in the middle of the separated center of the anode. The measurements have shown that a secondary photon emission from the cathode causes a spreading over the total gap volume within the first few electron generations (N 2,more » air, and CO 2 at lower pressures). If a streamer mechanism occurs (O 2 and CO 2 at higher pressures), the discharge remains localized to the trace of the alpha particle, in which the avalanches yielded by the primary electrons have produced a high density of positive ions. New details of steamer mechanism are revealed by analyzing the rapid increase of the current during streamer formation.« less

WFIRST Microlensing Exoplanet Characterization with HST Follow up

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhattacharya, Aparna; David Bennett, Jay Anderson, J.P. Beaulieu.

2018-01-01

More than 50 planets are discovered with the different ground based telescopes available for microlensing. But the analysis of ground based data fails to provide a complete solution. To fulfill that gap, space based telescopes, like Hubble space telescope and Spitzer are used. My research work focuses on extracting the planet mass, host star mass, their separation and their distance in physical units from HST Follow-up observations. I will present the challenges faced in developing this method.This is the primary method to be used for NASA's top priority project (according to 2010 decadal survey) Wide Field InfraRed Survey Telescope (WFIRST) Exoplanet microlensing space observatory, to be launched in 2025. The unique ability of microlensing is that with WFIRST it can detect sub-earth- mass planets beyond the reach of Kepler at separation 1 AU to infinity. This will provide us the necessary statistics to study the formation and evolution of planetary systems. This will also provide us with necessary initial conditions to model the formation of planets and the habitable zones around M dwarf stars.

Three-dimensional numerical study of heat transfer enhancement in separated flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Saurav; Vengadesan, S.

2017-11-01

The flow separation appears in a wide range of heat transfer applications and causes poor heat transfer performance. It motivates the study of heat transfer enhancement in laminar as well as turbulent flows over a backward facing step by means of an adiabatic fin mounted on the top wall. Recently, we have studied steady, 2-D numerical simulations in laminar flow and investigated the effect of fin length, location, and orientation. It revealed that the addition of fin causes enhancement of heat transfer and it is very effective to control the flow and thermal behavior. The fin is most effective and sensitive when it is placed exactly above the step. A slight displacement of the fin in upstream of the step causes the complete change of flow and thermal behavior. Based on the obtained 2-D results it is interesting to investigate the side wall effect in three-dimensional simulations. The comparison of two-dimensional and three-dimensional numerical simulations with the available experimental results will be presented. Special attention has to be given to capture unsteadiness in the flow and thermal field.

Photopolymer Electrolytes for Sustainable, Upscalable, Safe, and Ambient-Temperature Sodium-Ion Secondary Batteries.

PubMed

Bella, Federico; Colò, Francesca; Nair, Jijeesh R; Gerbaldi, Claudio

2015-11-01

The first example of a photopolymerized electrolyte for a sodium-ion battery is proposed herein. By means of a preparation process free of solvents, catalysts, purification steps, and separation steps, it is possible to obtain a three-dimensional polymeric network capable of efficient sodium-ion transport. The thermal properties of the resulting solid electrolyte separator, characterized by means of thermogravimetric and calorimetric techniques, are excellent for use in sustainable energy systems conceived for safe large-scale grid storage. The photopolymerized electrolyte shows a wide electrochemical stability window up to 4.8 V versus Na/Na(+) along with the highest ionic conductivity (5.1 mS cm(-1) at 20 °C) obtained in the field of Na-ion polymer batteries so far and stable long-term constant-current charge/discharge cycling. Moreover, the polymeric networks are also demonstrated for the in situ fabrication of electrode/electrolyte composites with excellent interfacial properties, which are ideal for all-solid-state, safe, and easily upscalable device assembly. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Development of an Item Bank for the Assessment of Knowledge on Biology in Argentine University Students.

PubMed

Cupani, Marcos; Zamparella, Tatiana Castro; Piumatti, Gisella; Vinculado, Grupo

The calibration of item banks provides the basis for computerized adaptive testing that ensures high diagnostic precision and minimizes participants' test burden. This study aims to develop a bank of items to measure the level of Knowledge on Biology using the Rasch model. The sample consisted of 1219 participants that studied in different faculties of the National University of Cordoba (mean age = 21.85 years, SD = 4.66; 66.9% are women). The items were organized in different forms and into separate subtests, with some common items across subtests. The students were told they had to answer 60 questions of knowledge on biology. Evaluation of Rasch model fit (Zstd >|2.0|), differential item functioning, dimensionality, local independence, item and person separation (>2.0), and reliability (>.80) resulted in a bank of 180 items with good psychometric properties. The bank provides items with a wide range of content coverage and may serve as a sound basis for computerized adaptive testing applications. The contribution of this work is significant in the field of educational assessment in Argentina.

Sequential Total Variation Denoising for the Extraction of Fetal ECG from Single-Channel Maternal Abdominal ECG

PubMed Central

Lee, Kwang Jin; Lee, Boreom

2016-01-01

Fetal heart rate (FHR) is an important determinant of fetal health. Cardiotocography (CTG) is widely used for measuring the FHR in the clinical field. However, fetal movement and blood flow through the maternal blood vessels can critically influence Doppler ultrasound signals. Moreover, CTG is not suitable for long-term monitoring. Therefore, researchers have been developing algorithms to estimate the FHR using electrocardiograms (ECGs) from the abdomen of pregnant women. However, separating the weak fetal ECG signal from the abdominal ECG signal is a challenging problem. In this paper, we propose a method for estimating the FHR using sequential total variation denoising and compare its performance with that of other single-channel fetal ECG extraction methods via simulation using the Fetal ECG Synthetic Database (FECGSYNDB). Moreover, we used real data from PhysioNet fetal ECG databases for the evaluation of the algorithm performance. The R-peak detection rate is calculated to evaluate the performance of our algorithm. Our approach could not only separate the fetal ECG signals from the abdominal ECG signals but also accurately estimate the FHR. PMID:27376296

Sequential Total Variation Denoising for the Extraction of Fetal ECG from Single-Channel Maternal Abdominal ECG.

PubMed

Lee, Kwang Jin; Lee, Boreom

2016-07-01

Fetal heart rate (FHR) is an important determinant of fetal health. Cardiotocography (CTG) is widely used for measuring the FHR in the clinical field. However, fetal movement and blood flow through the maternal blood vessels can critically influence Doppler ultrasound signals. Moreover, CTG is not suitable for long-term monitoring. Therefore, researchers have been developing algorithms to estimate the FHR using electrocardiograms (ECGs) from the abdomen of pregnant women. However, separating the weak fetal ECG signal from the abdominal ECG signal is a challenging problem. In this paper, we propose a method for estimating the FHR using sequential total variation denoising and compare its performance with that of other single-channel fetal ECG extraction methods via simulation using the Fetal ECG Synthetic Database (FECGSYNDB). Moreover, we used real data from PhysioNet fetal ECG databases for the evaluation of the algorithm performance. The R-peak detection rate is calculated to evaluate the performance of our algorithm. Our approach could not only separate the fetal ECG signals from the abdominal ECG signals but also accurately estimate the FHR.

Chitosan in Molecularly-Imprinted Polymers: Current and Future Prospects.

PubMed

Xu, Long; Huang, Yun-An; Zhu, Qiu-Jin; Ye, Chun

2015-08-07

Chitosan is widely used in molecular imprinting technology (MIT) as a functional monomer or supporting matrix because of its low cost and high contents of amino and hydroxyl functional groups. The various excellent properties of chitosan, which include nontoxicity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and attractive physical and mechanical performances, make chitosan a promising alternative to conventional functional monomers. Recently, chitosan molecularly-imprinted polymers have gained considerable attention and showed significant potential in many fields, such as curbing environmental pollution, medicine, protein separation and identification, and chiral-compound separation. These extensive applications are due to the polymers' desired selectivity, physical robustness, and thermal stability, as well as their low cost and easy preparation. Cross-linkers, which fix the functional groups of chitosan around imprinted molecules, play an important role in chitosan molecularly-imprinted polymers. This review summarizes the important cross-linkers of chitosan molecularly-imprinted polymers and illustrates the cross-linking mechanism of chitosan and cross-linkers based on the two glucosamine units. Finally, some significant attempts to further develop the application of chitosan in MIT are proposed.

Autobalanced Ramsey Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanner, Christian; Huntemann, Nils; Lange, Richard; Tamm, Christian; Peik, Ekkehard

2018-01-01

We devise a perturbation-immune version of Ramsey's method of separated oscillatory fields. Spectroscopy of an atomic clock transition without compromising the clock's accuracy is accomplished by actively balancing the spectroscopic responses from phase-congruent Ramsey probe cycles of unequal durations. Our simple and universal approach eliminates a wide variety of interrogation-induced line shifts often encountered in high precision spectroscopy, among them, in particular, light shifts, phase chirps, and transient Zeeman shifts. We experimentally demonstrate autobalanced Ramsey spectroscopy on the light shift prone Yb+ 171 electric octupole optical clock transition and show that interrogation defects are not turned into clock errors. This opens up frequency accuracy perspectives below the 10-18 level for the Yb+ system and for other types of optical clocks.

Two-dimensional periodic structures in solid state laser resonator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okulov, Alexey Y.

1991-07-01

Transverse effects in nonlinear optical devices are being widely investigated. Recently, synchronization of a laser set by means of the Talbot effect has been demonstrated experimentally. This paper considers a Talbot cavity formed by a solid-state amplifying laser separated from the output mirror by a free space interval. This approach involves the approximation of the nonlinear medium as a thin layer, within which the diffraction is negligible. The other part of a resonator is empty, and the wave field is transformed by the Fresnel-Kirchoff integral. As a result, the dynamics of the transverse (and temporal) structure is computed by a successively iterated nonlinear local map (one- or two-dimensional) and a linear nonlocal map (generally speaking, infinitely dimensional).

Three-dimensional particle tracking via tunable color-encoded multiplexing.

PubMed

Duocastella, Martí; Theriault, Christian; Arnold, Craig B

2016-03-01

We present a novel 3D tracking approach capable of locating single particles with nanometric precision over wide axial ranges. Our method uses a fast acousto-optic liquid lens implemented in a bright field microscope to multiplex light based on color into different and selectable focal planes. By separating the red, green, and blue channels from an image captured with a color camera, information from up to three focal planes can be retrieved. Multiplane information from the particle diffraction rings enables precisely locating and tracking individual objects up to an axial range about 5 times larger than conventional single-plane approaches. We apply our method to the 3D visualization of the well-known coffee-stain phenomenon in evaporating water droplets.

A spaceborne receiver for measuring electromagnetic field intensity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reich, B. W.; Van Dusen, M. R.; Habib, E. J.

1973-01-01

Description of a very accurately controlled receiver for monitoring the electromagnetic radiations in both existing and projected space communication bands. Based on analysis of the existing and projected space communication bands, 108 to 174 MHz, 240 to 478 MHz, and 1535 to 1665 MHz were covered. The receiver achieves accurate control via a digitally tuned synthesizer and a wide range of digital control including frequency band coverage and gain control selection. Digital memory was provided to store 16 separate digital command instructions which can be programmed via a command data link. The receiver provides for transmission to the ground of both a predetection signal and signals in digital format, which in turn, were provided by sampling and analog-to-digital conversions.

Beyond the Fermi liquid paradigm: Hidden Fermi liquids

PubMed Central

Jain, J. K.; Anderson, P. W.

2009-01-01

An intense investigation of possible non-Fermi liquid states of matter has been inspired by two of the most intriguing phenomena discovered in the past quarter century, namely, high-temperature superconductivity and the fractional quantum Hall effect. Despite enormous conceptual strides, these two fields have developed largely along separate paths. Two widely employed theories are the resonating valence bond theory for high-temperature superconductivity and the composite fermion theory for the fractional quantum Hall effect. The goal of this perspective article is to note that they subscribe to a common underlying paradigm: They both connect these exotic quantum liquids to certain ordinary Fermi liquids residing in unphysical Hilbert spaces. Such a relation yields numerous nontrivial experimental consequences, exposing these theories to rigorous and definitive tests. PMID:19506260

The SWIFT AGN and Cluster Survey. I. Number Counts of AGNs and Galaxy Clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dai, Xinyu; Griffin, Rhiannon D.; Kochanek, Christopher S.; Nugent, Jenna M.; Bregman, Joel N.

2015-05-01

The Swift active galactic nucleus (AGN) and Cluster Survey (SACS) uses 125 deg2 of Swift X-ray Telescope serendipitous fields with variable depths surrounding γ-ray bursts to provide a medium depth (4× {{10}-15} erg cm-2 s-1) and area survey filling the gap between deep, narrow Chandra/XMM-Newton surveys and wide, shallow ROSAT surveys. Here, we present a catalog of 22,563 point sources and 442 extended sources and examine the number counts of the AGN and galaxy cluster populations. SACS provides excellent constraints on the AGN number counts at the bright end with negligible uncertainties due to cosmic variance, and these constraints are consistent with previous measurements. We use Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer mid-infrared (MIR) colors to classify the sources. For AGNs we can roughly separate the point sources into MIR-red and MIR-blue AGNs, finding roughly equal numbers of each type in the soft X-ray band (0.5-2 keV), but fewer MIR-blue sources in the hard X-ray band (2-8 keV). The cluster number counts, with 5% uncertainties from cosmic variance, are also consistent with previous surveys but span a much larger continuous flux range. Deep optical or IR follow-up observations of this cluster sample will significantly increase the number of higher-redshift (z\\gt 0.5) X-ray-selected clusters.

Insights into autofluorescence patterns in Stargardt macular dystrophy using ultra-wide-field imaging.

PubMed

Kumar, Vinod

2017-10-01

To characterize autofluorescence (AF) patterns occurring in Stargardt macular dystrophy (STGD1) using ultra-wide-field (UWF) imaging. This paper is a cross-sectional observational study of 22 eyes of 11 patients (mean age 23.44 years) with Stargardt disease-fundus flavimaculatus who presented with decrease of vision at a tertiary eye care center. UWF short-wave AF images were obtained from all the patients using an Optos TX200 instrument. The main outcome measures were to assess patterns of AF changes seen on UWF AF imaging. All eyes showed a central area of hypoautofluorescence at the macula along with retinal flecks extending centrifugally as well as to the nasal side of the optic disc. Peripapillary sparing was seen in 100% of the eyes. Flecks were seen to be hypoautofluorescent in the center and hyperautofluorescent in the periphery in 77.8% eyes and were only hyperfluorescent in 27.2%. A background-increased fluorescence was visible in 100% of eyes, the outer boundary of which was marked by distribution of flecks in 81.9% eyes. A characteristic inferonasal vertical line was seen separating the nasal hypoautofluorescent area from the temporal hyperautofluorescent area in all the eyes. UWF AF changes in STGD1 are not limited to the posterior pole and may extend more peripherally. UWF imaging is a useful tool for the assessment of patients with Stargardt macular dystrophy.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: HST and Magellan observations of Haumea system (Hastings+, 2016)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hastings, D. M.; Ragozzine, D.; Fabrycky, D. C.; Burkhart, L. D.; Fuentes, C.; Margot, J.-L.; Brown, M. E.; Holman, M.

2017-01-01

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations of the Haumea system comprised five HST orbits' worth of 100s exposures of the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 from 2009 February 4 (Program 11971) and 10 HST orbits' worth of 44s exposures of the Wide Field Camera 3 from 2010 June 28 (Program 12243). This system was also observed on the night of UT 2009 June 2 with the Magellan Baade telescope at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. We used the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Magellan Instant Camera (MagIC). Observations were taken from the beginning of the night until it was unobservable, for a total of ~5hr. We centered the system on one of the four quadrants defined by the instrument's four amplifiers. The seeing was constant during the observations and consistently close to 0.5'', smaller than Hi'iaka's separation of 1.4''. The SITe CCD detector has a pixel scale of 0.069''/pixel. We set the exposure times at 120s to avoid saturation and optimize readout time. The filter selected was Johnson-Cousins R. Standard calibrations were taken at the beginning and end of the night. The telescope guiding system ensured that the pointing was constant to within an FWHM over the course of the observations. Table1 presents the relative normalized photometry inferred from our observations. (1 data file).

Remote sensing of cloud droplet size distributions in DC3 with the UMBC-LACO Rainbow Polarimetric Imager (RPI)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buczkowski, S.; Martins, J.; Fernandez-Borda, R.; Cieslak, D.; Hall, J.

2013-12-01

The UMBC Rainbow Polarimetric Imager is a small form factor VIS imaging polarimeter suitable for use on a number of platforms. An optical system based on a Phillips prism with three Bayer filter color detectors, each detecting a separate polarization state, allows simultaneous detection of polarization and spectral information. A Mueller matrix-like calibration scheme corrects for polarization artifacts in the optical train and allows retrieval of the polarization state of incoming light to better than 0.5%. Coupled with wide field of view optics (~90°), RPI can capture images of cloudbows over a wide range of aircraft headings and solar zenith angles for retrieval of cloud droplet size distribution (DSD) parameters. In May-June 2012, RPI was flown in a nadir port on the NASA DC-8 during the DC3 field campaign. We will show examples of cloudbow DSD parameter retrievals from the campaign to demonstrate the efficacy of such a system to terrestrial atmospheric remote sensing. RPI image from DC3 06/15/2012 flight. Left panel is raw image from the RPI 90° camera. Middle panel is Stokes 'q' parameter retrieved from full three camera dataset. Right panel is a horizontal cut in 'q' through the glory. Both middle and right panels clearly show cloudbow features which can be fit to infer cloud DSD parameters.

Ultra-wide-field angiography improves the detection and classification of diabetic retinopathy.

PubMed

Wessel, Matthew M; Aaker, Grant D; Parlitsis, George; Cho, Minhee; D'Amico, Donald J; Kiss, Szilárd

2012-04-01

To evaluate patients with diabetic retinopathy using ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography and to compare the visualized retinal pathology with that seen on an overly of conventional 7 standard field (7SF) imaging. Two hundred and eighteen eyes of 118 diabetic patients who underwent diagnostic fluorescein angiography using the Optos Optomap Panoramic 200A imaging system were included. The visualized area of the retina, retinal nonperfusion, retinal neovascularization, and panretinal photocoagulation were quantified by two independent masked graders. The respective areas identified on the ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography image were compared with an overly of a modified 7SF image as outlined in the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study. Ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiograms imaging, on average, demonstrated 3.2 times more total retinal surface area than 7SF. When compared with 7SF, ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography showed 3.9 times more nonperfusion (P < 0.001), 1.9 times more neovascularization (P = 0.036), and 3.8 times more panretinal photocoagulation (P < 0.001). In 22 eyes (10%), ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography demonstrated retinal pathology (including nonperfusion and neovascularization) not evident in an 7SF overly. Compared with conventional 7SF imaging, ultra-wide-field fluorescein angiography reveals significantly more retinal vascular pathology in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Improved retinal visualization may alter the classification of diabetic retinopathy and may therefore influence follow-up and treatment of these patients.

A field experiment with variable-suction multi-compartment samplers to measure the spatio-temporal distribution of solute leaching in an agricultural soil.

PubMed

Bloem, E; Hogervorst, F A N; de Rooij, G H

2009-04-01

Solutes spread out in time and space as they move downwards from the soil surface with infiltrating water. Solute monitoring in the field is often limited to observations of resident concentrations, while flux concentrations govern the movement of solutes in soils. A recently developed multi-compartment sampler is capable of measuring fluxes at a high spatial resolution with minimal disturbance of the local pressure head field. The objective of this paper is to use this sampler to quantify the spatial and temporal variation of solute leaching below the root zone in an agricultural field under natural rainfall in winter and spring. We placed two samplers at 31 and 25 cm depth in an agricultural field, leaving the soil above undisturbed. Each sampler contained 100 separate cells of 31x31 mm. Water fluxes were measured every 5 min for each cell. We monitored leaching of a chloride pulse under natural rainfall by frequently extracting the collected leachate while leaving the samplers buried in situ. This experiment was followed by a dye tracer experiment. This setting yielded information that widely surpassed the information that can be provided by separate anionic and dye tracer trials, and solute transport monitoring by coring or suction cups. The detailed information provided by the samplers showed that percolation at the sampling depth started much faster (approximately 3 h after the start of rainfall) in initially wet soil (pressure head above -65 cm) than in drier soil (more than 14 h at pressure heads below -80 cm). At any time, 25% of the drainage passed through 5-6% of the sampled area, reflecting the effect of heterogeneity on the flow paths. The amount of solute carried by individual cells varied over four orders of magnitude. The lateral concentration differences were limited though. This suggests a convective-dispersive regime despite the short vertical travel distance. On the other hand, the dilution index indicates a slight tendency towards stochastic-convective transport at this depth. There was no evidence in the observed drainage patterns and dye stained profiles of significant disturbance of the flow field by the samplers.

Structured illumination for wide-field Raman imaging of cell membranes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Houkai; Wang, Siqi; Zhang, Yuquan; Yang, Yong; Fang, Hui; Zhu, Siwei; Yuan, Xiaocong

2017-11-01

Although the diffraction limit still restricts their lateral resolution, conventional wide-field Raman imaging techniques offer fast imaging speeds compared with scanning schemes. To extend the lateral resolution of wide-field Raman microscopy using filters, standing-wave illumination technique is used, and an improvement of lateral resolution by a factor of more than two is achieved. Specifically, functionalized surface enhanced Raman scattering nanoparticles are employed to strengthen the desired scattering signals to label cell membranes. This wide-field Raman imaging technique affords various significant opportunities in the biological applications.

SLoWPoKES-II: 100,000 WIDE BINARIES IDENTIFIED IN SDSS WITHOUT PROPER MOTIONS

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

Dhital, Saurav; West, Andrew A.; Schluns, Kyle J.

2015-08-15

We present the Sloan Low-mass Wide Pairs of Kinematically Equivalent Stars (SLoWPoKES)-II catalog of low-mass visual binaries identified from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) by matching photometric distances. The candidate pairs are vetted by comparing the stellar information. The candidate pairs are vetted by comparing the stellar density at their respective Galactic positions to Monte Carlo realizations of a simulated Milky Way. In this way, we are able to identify large numbers of bona fide wide binaries without the need for proper motions. Here, 105,537 visual binaries with angular separations of ∼1–20″ were identified, each with a probability ofmore » chance alignment of ≤5%. This is the largest catalog of bona fide wide binaries to date, and it contains a diversity of systems—in mass, mass ratios, binary separations, metallicity, and evolutionary states—that should facilitate follow-up studies to characterize the properties of M dwarfs and white dwarfs. There is a subtle but definitive suggestion of multiple populations in the physical separation distribution, supporting earlier findings. We suggest that wide binaries are composed of multiple populations, most likely representing different formation modes. There are 141 M7 or later wide binary candidates, representing a seven-fold increase over the number currently known. These binaries are too wide to have been formed via the ejection mechanism. Finally, we found that 6% of spectroscopically confirmed M dwarfs are not included in the SDSS STAR catalog; they are misclassified as extended sources due to the presence of a nearby or partially resolved companion. The SLoWPoKES-II catalog is publicly available to the entire community on the World Wide Web via the Filtergraph data visualization portal.« less

Carter separable electromagnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lynden-Bell, D.

2000-02-01

The purely electromagnetic analogue in flat space of Kerr's metric in general relativity is only rarely considered. Here we carry out in flat space a programme similar to Carter's investigation of metrics in general relativity in which the motion of a charged particle is separable. We concentrate on the separability of the motion (be it classical, relativistic or quantum) of a charged particle in electromagnetic fields that lie in planes through an axis of symmetry. In cylindrical polar coordinates (t,R,φ,z) the four-vector potential takes the form [formmu2] is the unit toroidal vector. The forms of the functions Φ(R,z) and A(R,z) are sought that allow separable motion. This occurs for relativistic motion only when AR,Φ and A2-Φ2 are all of the separable form ζ(λ)-η(μ)]/(λ-μ), where ζ and η are arbitrary functions, and λ and μ are spheroidal coordinates or degenerations thereof. The special forms of A and Φ that allow this are deduced. They include the Kerr metric analogue, with E+iB=-∇{q[(r-ia).(r-ia)]-1/2}. Rather more general electromagnetic fields allow separation when the motion is non-relativistic. The investigation is extended to fields that lie in parallel planes. Connections to Larmor's theorem are remarked upon.

Galaxy pairs in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey - XI. A new method for measuring the influence of the closest companion out to wide separations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patton, David R.; Qamar, Farid D.; Ellison, Sara L.; Bluck, Asa F. L.; Simard, Luc; Mendel, J. Trevor; Moreno, Jorge; Torrey, Paul

2016-09-01

We describe a statistical approach for measuring the influence that a galaxy's closest companion has on the galaxy's properties out to arbitrarily wide separations. We begin by identifying the closest companion for every galaxy in a large spectroscopic sample of Sloan Digital Sky Survey galaxies. We then characterize the local environment of each galaxy by using the number of galaxies within 2 Mpc and by determining the isolation of the galaxy pair from other neighbouring galaxies. We introduce a sophisticated algorithm for creating a statistical control sample for each galaxy, matching on stellar mass, redshift, local density and isolation. Unlike traditional studies of close galaxy pairs, this approach is effective in a wide range of environments, regardless of how faraway the closest companion is (although a very distant closest companion is unlikely to have a measurable influence on the galaxy in question). We apply this methodology to measurements of galaxy asymmetry, and find that the presence of nearby companions drives a clear enhancement in galaxy asymmetries. The asymmetry excess peaks at the smallest projected separations (<10 kpc), where the mean asymmetry is enhanced by a factor of 2.0 ± 0.2. Enhancements in mean asymmetry decline as pair separation increases, but remain statistically significant (1σ-2σ) out to projected separations of at least 50 kpc.

Capillary electrophoresis in two-dimensional separation systems: Techniques and applications.

PubMed

Kohl, Felix J; Sánchez-Hernández, Laura; Neusüß, Christian

2015-01-01

The analysis of complex samples requires powerful separation techniques. Here, 2D chromatographic separation techniques (e.g. LC-LC, GC-GC) are increasingly applied in many fields. Electrophoretic separation techniques show a different selectivity in comparison to LC and GC and very high separation efficiency. Thus, 2D separation systems containing at least one CE-based separation technique are an interesting alternative featuring potentially a high degree of orthogonality. However, the generally small volumes and strong electrical fields in CE require special coupling techniques. These technical developments are reviewed in this work, discussing benefits and drawbacks of offline and online systems. Emphasis is placed on the design of the systems, their coupling, and the detector used. Moreover, the employment of strategies to improve peak capacity, resolution, or sensitivity is highlighted. Various applications of 2D separations with CE are summarized. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Turbulence-induced anomalous electron diffusion in the plume of the VASIMR VX-200

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olsen, Christopher; Ballenger, Maxwell; Squire, Jared; Longmier, Benjamin; Carter, Mark; Glover, Tim

2012-10-01

The separation of electrons from magnetic nozzles is critical to the function of the VASIMR engine and is of general importance to the field of electric propulsion. Separation of electrons by means of anomalous cross field diffusion is considered. Plume measurements using spectral analysis of custom high frequency probes characterizes the nature of oscillating electric fields in the expanding magnetic nozzle. The oscillating electric field results in frequency dependent density variations that can lead to anomalously high transport in the absence of collisions mimicking collisional transport. The spatial structure of the fluctuating fields is consistent with turbulence caused by separation of energetic (> 100 eV) non-magnetized ions and low energy magnetized electrons via the modified two-stream instability (MTSI) and generalized lower hybrid drift instability (GLHDI). Electric fields as high as 300 V/m are observed at frequencies up to an order of magnitude above the lower hybrid frequency. The electric field fluctuations dissipate with increasing axial distance consistent with changes in ion flux streamlines as plasma detachment occurs.

Magnetophoresis of iron oxide nanoparticles at low field gradient: the role of shape anisotropy.

PubMed

Lim, Jitkang; Yeap, Swee Pin; Leow, Chee Hoe; Toh, Pey Yi; Low, Siew Chun

2014-05-01

Magnetophoresis of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticle (IOMNP) under low magnetic field gradient (<100 T/m) is significantly enhanced by particle shape anisotropy. This unique feature of magnetophoresis is influenced by the particle concentration and applied magnetic field gradient. By comparing the nanosphere and nanorod magnetophoresis at different concentration, we revealed the ability for these two species of particles to achieve the same separation rate by adjusting the field gradient. Under cooperative magnetophoresis, the nanorods would first go through self- and magnetic field induced aggregation followed by the alignment of the particle clusters formed with magnetic field. Time scale associated to these two processes is investigated to understand the kinetic behavior of nanorod separation under low field gradient. Surface functionalization of nanoparticles can be employed as an effective strategy to vary the temporal evolution of these two aggregation processes which subsequently influence the magnetophoretic separation time and rate. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Bounds on quantum collapse models from matter-wave interferometry: calculational details

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toroš, Marko; Bassi, Angelo

2018-03-01

We present a simple derivation of the interference pattern in matter-wave interferometry predicted by a class of quantum master equations. We apply the obtained formulae to the following collapse models: the Ghirardi-Rimini-Weber (GRW) model, the continuous spontaneous localization (CSL) model together with its dissipative (dCSL) and non-Markovian generalizations (cCSL), the quantum mechanics with universal position localization (QMUPL), and the Diósi-Penrose (DP) model. We discuss the separability of the dynamics of the collapse models along the three spatial directions, the validity of the paraxial approximation, and the amplification mechanism. We obtain analytical expressions both in the far field and near field limits. These results agree with those already derived in the Wigner function formalism. We compare the theoretical predictions with the experimental data from two recent matter-wave experiments: the 2012 far-field experiment of Juffmann T et al (2012 Nat. Nanotechnol. 7 297-300) and the 2013 Kapitza-Dirac-Talbot-Lau (KDTL) near-field experiment of Eibenberger et al (2013 Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 15 14696-700). We show the region of the parameter space for each collapse model that is excluded by these experiments. We show that matter-wave experiments provide model-insensitive bounds that are valid for a wide family of dissipative and non-Markovian generalizations.

Magnetic field-induced modification of selection rules for Rb D 2 line monitored by selective reflection from a vapor nanocell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klinger, Emmanuel; Sargsyan, Armen; Tonoyan, Ara; Hakhumyan, Grant; Papoyan, Aram; Leroy, Claude; Sarkisyan, David

2017-08-01

Magnetic field-induced giant modification of the probabilities of five transitions of 5S1 / 2,Fg = 2 → 5P3 / 2,Fe = 4 of 85Rb and three transitions of 5S1 / 2,Fg = 1 → 5P3 / 2,Fe = 3 of 87Rb forbidden by selection rules for zero magnetic field has been observed experimentally and described theoretically for the first time. For the case of excitation with circularly-polarized (σ+) laser radiation, the probability of Fg = 2,mF = - 2 → Fe = 4,mF = - 1 transition becomes the largest among the seventeen transitions of 85Rb Fg = 2 → Fe = 1,2,3,4 group, and the probability of Fg = 1, mF = - 1 → Fe = 3,mF = 0 transition becomes the largest among the nine transitions of 87Rb Fg = 1 → Fe = 0,1,2,3 group, in a wide range of magnetic field 200-1000 G. Complete frequency separation of individual Zeeman components was obtained by implementation of derivative selective reflection technique with a 300 nm-thick nanocell filled with Rb, allowing formation of narrow optical resonances. Possible applications are addressed. The theoretical model is well consistent with the experimental results.

Multichannel microchip electrophoresis device fabricated in polycarbonate with an integrated contact conductivity sensor array.

PubMed

Shadpour, Hamed; Hupert, Mateusz L; Patterson, Donald; Liu, Changgeng; Galloway, Michelle; Stryjewski, Wieslaw; Goettert, Jost; Soper, Steven A

2007-02-01

A 16-channel microfluidic chip with an integrated contact conductivity sensor array is presented. The microfluidic network consisted of 16 separation channels that were hot-embossed into polycarbonate (PC) using a high-precision micromilled metal master. All channels were 40 microm deep and 60 microm wide with an effective separation length of 40 mm. A gold (Au) sensor array was lithographically patterned onto a PC cover plate and assembled to the fluidic chip via thermal bonding in such a way that a pair of Au microelectrodes (60 microm wide with a 5 microm spacing) was incorporated into each of the 16 channels and served as independent contact conductivity detectors. The spacing between the corresponding fluidic reservoirs for each separation channel was set to 9 mm, which allowed for loading samples and buffers to all 40 reservoirs situated on the microchip in only five pipetting steps using an 8-channel pipettor. A printed circuit board (PCB) with platinum (Pt) wires was used to distribute the electrophoresis high-voltage to all reservoirs situated on the fluidic chip. Another PCB was used for collecting the conductivity signals from the patterned Au microelectrodes. The device performance was evaluated using microchip capillary zone electrophoresis (mu-CZE) of amino acid, peptide, and protein mixtures as well as oligonucleotides that were separated via microchip capillary electrochromatography (mu-CEC). The separations were performed with an electric field (E) of 90 V/cm and were completed in less than 4 min in all cases. The conductivity detection was carried out using a bipolar pulse voltage waveform with a pulse amplitude of +/-0.6 V and a frequency of 6.0 kHz. The conductivity sensor array concentration limit of detection (SNR = 3) was determined to be 7.1 microM for alanine. The separation efficiency was found to be 6.4 x 10(4), 2.0 x 10(3), 4.8 x 10(3), and 3.4 x 10(2) plates for the mu-CEC of the oligonucleotides and mu-CZE of the amino acids, peptides, and proteins, respectively, with an average channel-to-channel migration time reproducibility of 2.8%. The average resolution obtained for mu-CEC of the oligonucleotides and mu-CZE of the amino acids, peptides, and proteins was 4.6, 1.0, 0.9, and 1.0, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to describe a multichannel microchip electrophoresis device with integrated contact conductivity sensor array.

Continuous flow electrophoretic separation of proteins and cells from mammalian tissues

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hymer, W. C.; Barlow, Grant H.; Blaisdell, Steven J.; Cleveland, Carolyn; Farrington, Mary Ann; Feldmeier, Mary; Hatfield, J. Michael; Lanham, J. Wayne; Grindeland, Richard; Snyder, Robert S.

1987-01-01

This paper describes an apparatus for continuous flow electrophoresis (CFE), designed to separate macromolecules and cells at conditions of microgravity. In this CFE, buffer flows upward in a 120-cm long flow chamber, which is 16-cm wide x 3.0-mm thick in the microgravity version (and 6-cm wide x 1.5-mm thick in the unit-gravity laboratory version). Ovalbumin and rat serum albumin were separated in space (flight STS-4) with the same resolution of the two proteins achieved at 25 percent total w/v concentration that was obtained in the laboratory at 0.2 percent w/v concentration. Rat anterior pituitary cells, cultured human embryonic kidney cells, and canine Langerhans cells were separated into subpopulations (flight STS-8) more effectively than in unit gravity, with comparable resolution having been achieved at 100 times the concentration possible on earth.

Faithful entanglement transference from qubits to continuous variable systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blanco, P.; Mundarain, D.

2011-05-01

In this work, we study the transference of entanglement between atomic qubits and the fields of two separate optical cavities. We show that it is possible to transfer all the entanglement of two maximal entangled qubits to the fields of the cavities without post-selection. Initially, the qubit system is in a maximal entangled state and the cavities are in a pure separable state with each cavity in a coherent state. For high excitation levels in the coherent fields, at some characteristic time T, the state of the qubit system becomes separable and at this time all the entanglement is deposited on the mono-modal fields of the cavities. We also consider retrieval of entanglement and an alternative protocol using post-selection.

The Solar Energetic Particle Event of 2010 August 14: Connectivity with the Solar Source Inferred from Multiple Spacecraft Observations and Modeling

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

Lario, D.; Kwon, R.-Y.; Raouafi, N. E.

We analyze one of the first solar energetic particle (SEP) events of solar cycle 24 observed at widely separated spacecraft in order to assess the reliability of models currently used to determine the connectivity between the sources of SEPs at the Sun and spacecraft in the inner heliosphere. This SEP event was observed on 2010 August 14 by near-Earth spacecraft, STEREO-A (∼80° west of Earth) and STEREO-B (∼72° east of Earth). In contrast to near-Earth spacecraft, the footpoints of the nominal magnetic field lines connecting STEREO-A and STEREO-B with the Sun were separated from the region where the parent fastmore » halo coronal mass ejection (CME) originated by ∼88° and ∼47° in longitude, respectively. We discuss the properties of the phenomena associated with this solar eruption. Extreme ultraviolet and white-light images are used to specify the extent of the associated CME-driven coronal shock. We then assess whether the SEPs observed at the three heliospheric locations were accelerated by this shock or whether transport mechanisms in the corona and/or interplanetary space provide an alternative explanation for the arrival of particles at the poorly connected spacecraft. A possible scenario consistent with the observations indicates that the observation of SEPs at STEREO-B and near Earth resulted from particle injection by the CME shock onto the field lines connecting to these spacecraft, whereas SEPs reached STEREO-A mostly via cross-field diffusive transport processes. The successes, limitations, and uncertainties of the methods used to resolve the connection between the acceleration sites of SEPs and the spacecraft are evaluated.« less

Snapshot hyperspectral fovea vision system (HyperVideo)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kriesel, Jason; Scriven, Gordon; Gat, Nahum; Nagaraj, Sheela; Willson, Paul; Swaminathan, V.

2012-06-01

The development and demonstration of a new snapshot hyperspectral sensor is described. The system is a significant extension of the four dimensional imaging spectrometer (4DIS) concept, which resolves all four dimensions of hyperspectral imaging data (2D spatial, spectral, and temporal) in real-time. The new sensor, dubbed "4×4DIS" uses a single fiber optic reformatter that feeds into four separate, miniature visible to near-infrared (VNIR) imaging spectrometers, providing significantly better spatial resolution than previous systems. Full data cubes are captured in each frame period without scanning, i.e., "HyperVideo". The current system operates up to 30 Hz (i.e., 30 cubes/s), has 300 spectral bands from 400 to 1100 nm (~2.4 nm resolution), and a spatial resolution of 44×40 pixels. An additional 1.4 Megapixel video camera provides scene context and effectively sharpens the spatial resolution of the hyperspectral data. Essentially, the 4×4DIS provides a 2D spatially resolved grid of 44×40 = 1760 separate spectral measurements every 33 ms, which is overlaid on the detailed spatial information provided by the context camera. The system can use a wide range of off-the-shelf lenses and can either be operated so that the fields of view match, or in a "spectral fovea" mode, in which the 4×4DIS system uses narrow field of view optics, and is cued by a wider field of view context camera. Unlike other hyperspectral snapshot schemes, which require intensive computations to deconvolve the data (e.g., Computed Tomographic Imaging Spectrometer), the 4×4DIS requires only a linear remapping, enabling real-time display and analysis. The system concept has a range of applications including biomedical imaging, missile defense, infrared counter measure (IRCM) threat characterization, and ground based remote sensing.

Diagnostic Ability of Wide-field Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Maps Using Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography for Detection of Preperimetric and Early Perimetric Glaucoma.

PubMed

Lee, Won June; Na, Kyeong Ik; Kim, Young Kook; Jeoung, Jin Wook; Park, Ki Ho

2017-06-01

To evaluate the diagnostic ability of wide-field retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) maps with swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) for detection of preperimetric (PPG) and early perimetric glaucoma (EG). One hundred eighty-four eyes, including 67 healthy eyes, 43 eyes with PPG, and 74 eyes with EG, were analyzed. Patients underwent a comprehensive ocular examination including red-free RNFL photography, visual field testing and wide-field SS-OCT scanning (DRI-OCT-1 Atlantis; Topcon, Tokyo, Japan). SS-OCT provides a wide-field RNFL thickness map and a SuperPixel map, which are composed of the RNFL deviation map of the peripapillary area and the deviation map of the composition of the ganglion cell layer with the inner plexiform layer and RNFL (GC-IPL+RNFL) in the macular area. The ability to discriminate PPG and EG from healthy eyes was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for all parameters and criteria provided by the wide-field SS-OCT scan. The wide-field RNFL thickness map using SS-OCT showed the highest sensitivity of PPG-diagnostic and EG-diagnostic performance compared with the other SS-OCT criteria based on the internal normative base (93.0 and 97.3%, respectively). Among the SS-OCT continuous parameters, the RFNL thickness of the 7 clock-hour, inferior and inferotemporal macular ganglion cell analyses showed the largest AUC of PPG-diagnostic and EG-diagnostic performance (AUC=0.809 to 0.865). The wide-field RNFL thickness map using SS-OCT performed well in distinguishing eyes with PPG and EG from healthy eyes. In the clinical setting, wide-field RNFL maps of SS-OCT can be useful tools for detection of early-stage glaucoma.

The concept of a plasma centrifuge with a high frequency rotating magnetic field and axial circulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borisevich, V. D.; Potanin, E. P.

2017-07-01

The possibility of using a rotating magnetic field (RMF) in a plasma centrifuge (PC), with axial circulation to multiply the radial separation effect in an axial direction, is considered. For the first time, a traveling magnetic field (TMF) is proposed to drive an axial circulation flow in a PC. The longitudinal separation effect is calculated for a notional model, using specified operational parameters and the properties of a plasma, comprising an isotopic mixture of 20Ne-22Ne and generated by a high frequency discharge. The optimal intensity of a circulation flow, in which the longitudinal separation effect reaches its maximum value, is studied. The optimal parameters of the RMF and TMF for effective separation, as well as the centrifuge performance, are calculated.

A Tri-Band Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) to Diplex Widely Separated Bands for Millimeter Wave Remote Sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poojali, Jayaprakash; Ray, Shaumik; Pesala, Bala; Chitti, Krishnamurthy V.; Arunachalam, Kavitha

2016-10-01

A substrate-backed frequency selective surface (FSS) is presented for diplexing the widely separated frequency spectrum centered at 55, 89, and 183 GHz with varying bandwidth for spatial separation in the quasi-optical feed network of the millimeter wave sounder. A unit cell composed of a crossed dipole integrated with a circular ring and loaded inside a square ring is optimized for tri-band frequency response with transmission window at 89 GHz and rejection windows at 55 and 183 GHz. The reflection and transmission losses predicted for the optimized unit cell (728 μm × 728 μm) composed of dissimilar resonant shapes is less than 0.5 dB for transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarizations and wide angle of incidence (0°-45°). The FSS is fabricated on a 175-μm-thick quartz substrate using microfabrication techniques. The transmission characteristics measured with continuous wave (CW) terahertz transmit receive system are in good agreement with the numerical simulations.

Unsteady three-dimensional flow separation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hui, W. H.

1988-01-01

A concise mathematical framework is constructed to study the topology of steady 3-D separated flows of an incompressible, or a compressible viscous fluid. Flow separation is defined by the existence of a stream surface which intersects with the body surface. The line of separation is itself a skin-friction line. Flow separation is classified as being either regular or singular, depending respectively on whether the line of separation contains only a finite number of singular points or is a singular line of the skin-friction field. The special cases of 2-D and axisymmetric flow separation are shown to be of singular type. In regular separation it is shown that a line of separation originates from a saddle point of separation of the skin-friction field and ends at nodal points of separation. Unsteady flow separation is defined relative to a coordinate system fixed to the body surface. It is shown that separation of an unsteady 3-D incompressible viscous flow at time t, when viewed from such a frame of reference, is topologically the same as that of the fictitious steady flow obtained by freezing the unsteady flow at the instant t. Examples are given showing effects of various forms of flow unsteadiness on flow separation.

Impact of human activities on the geomagnetic field of Antarctica: a high resolution aeromagnetic survey over Mario Zucchelli Station.

PubMed

Armadillo, E; Bozzo, E; Gambetta, M; Rizzello, D

2012-10-15

Environmental protection of Antarctica is a fundamental principle of the Antarctic Treaty. Impact assessment and significance evaluation are due for every human activity on the remote continent. While chemical and biological contaminations are widely studied, very little is known about the electromagnetic pollution levels. In this frame, we have evaluated the significance of the impact of Mario Zucchelli Antarctic Station (Northern Victoria Land) on the local geomagnetic field. We have flown a high resolution aeromagnetic survey in drape mode at 320m over the Station, covering an area of 2km(2). The regional and the local field have been separated by a third order polynomial fitting. After the identification of the anthropic magnetic anomaly due to the Station, we have estimated the magnetic field at the ground level by downward continuation with an original inversion scheme regularized by a minimum gradient support functional to avoid high frequency noise effects. The resulting anthropic static magnetic field at ground extends up to 650m far from the Station and reaches a maximum peak to peak value of about 2800nT. This anthropic magnetic anomaly may interact with biological systems, raising the necessity to evaluate the significance of the static magnetic impact of human installations in order to protect the electromagnetic environment and the biota of Antarctica. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Magneto-vibratory separation of glass and bronze granular mixtures immersed in a paramagnetic liquid.

PubMed

López-Alcaraz, P; Catherall, A T; Hill, R J A; Leaper, M C; Swift, Michael R; King, P J

2007-10-01

A fluid-immersed granular mixture may spontaneously separate when subjected to vertical vibration, separation occurring when the ratio of particle inertia to fluid drag is sufficiently different between the component species of the mixture. Here, we describe how fluid-driven separation is influenced by magneto-Archimedes buoyancy, the additional buoyancy force experienced by a body immersed in a paramagnetic fluid when a strong inhomogeneous magnetic field is applied. In our experiments glass and bronze mixtures immersed in paramagnetic aqueous solutions of MnCl2 have been subjected to sinusoidal vertical vibration. In the absence of a magnetic field the separation is similar to that observed when the interstitial fluid is water. However, at modest applied magnetic fields, magneto-Archimedes buoyancy may balance the inertia/fluid-drag separation mechanism, or it may dominate the separation process. We identify the vibratory and magnetic conditions for four granular configurations, each having distinctive granular convection. Abrupt transitions between these states occur at well-defined values of the magnetic and vibrational parameters. In order to gain insight into the dynamics of the separation process we use computer simulations based on solutions of the Navier-Stokes' equations. The simulations reproduce the experimental results revealing the important role of convection and gap formation in the stability of the different states.

Deficit of Wide Binaries in the η Chamaeleontis Young Cluster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brandeker, Alexis; Jayawardhana, Ray; Khavari, Parandis; Haisch, Karl E., Jr.; Mardones, Diego

2006-12-01

We have carried out a sensitive high-resolution imaging survey of stars in the young (6-8 Myr), nearby (97 pc) compact cluster around η Chamaeleontis to search for stellar and substellar companions. Our data were obtained using the NACO adaptive optics system on the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT). Given its youth and proximity, any substellar companions are expected to be luminous, especially in the near-infrared, and thus easier to detect next to their parent stars. Here, we present VLT NACO adaptive optics imaging with companion detection limits for 17 η Cha cluster members, and follow-up VLT ISAAC near-infrared spectroscopy for companion candidates. The widest binary detected is ~0.2", corresponding to the projected separation 20 AU, despite our survey being sensitive down to substellar companions outside 0.3", and planetary-mass objects outside 0.5". This implies that the stellar companion probability outside 0.3" and the brown dwarf companion probability outside 0.5" are less than 0.16 with 95% confidence. We compare the wide binary frequency of η Cha to that of the similarly aged TW Hydrae association and estimate the statistical likelihood that the wide binary probability is equal in both groups to be less than 2×10-4. Even though the η Cha cluster is relatively dense, stellar encounters in its present configuration cannot account for the relative deficit of wide binaries. We thus conclude that the difference in wide binary probability in these two groups provides strong evidence for multiplicity properties being dependent on environment. In two appendices we derive the projected separation probability distribution for binaries, used to constrain physical separations from observed projected separations, and summarize statistical tools useful for multiplicity studies.

ALE OF TWO CLUSTERS YIELDS SECRETS OF STAR BIRTH IN THE EARLY UNIVERSE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

This NASA Hubble Space Telescope (HST) image shows rich detail, previously only seen in neighboring star birth regions, in a pair of star clusters 166,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), in the southern constellation Doradus. The field of view is 130 light-years across and was taken with the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2. HST's unique capabilities -- ultraviolet sensitivity, ability to see faint stars, and high resolution -- have been utilized fully to identify three separate populations in this concentration of nearly 10,000 stars down to the 25th magnitude (more that twice as many as can be seen over the entire sky with the naked eye on a clear night on Earth). The field of view is only 130 light-years across. Previous observations with ground-based telescopes resolve less than 1,000 stars in the same region. About 60 percent of the stars belong to the dominant yellow cluster called NGC 1850, which is estimated to be 50 million years old. A scattering of white stars in the image are massive stars that are only about 4 million years old and represent about 20 percent of the stars in the image. (The remainder are field stars in the LMC.) Besides being much younger, the white stars are much more loosely distributed than the yellow cluster. The significant difference between the two cluster ages suggests these are two separate star groups that lie along the same line of sight. The younger, more open cluster probably lies 200 light-years beyond the older cluster. If it were in the foreground, then dust contained in the white cluster would obscure stars in the older yellow cluster. To observe two well-defined star populations separated by such a small gap of space is unusual. This juxtaposition suggests that supernova explosions in the older cluster might have triggered the birth of the younger cluster. This color composite image is assembled from exposures taken in ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light. Yellow stars correspond to Main Sequence stars (like our Sun) with average surface temperatures of 6000 Kelvin; red stars are cool giants and supergiants (3500 K); white stars are hot young stars (25,000 K or more) that are bright in ultraviolet. Credit: R. Gilmozzi, Space Telescope Science Institute/European Space Agency; Shawn Ewald, JPL; and NASA