A high-field adiabatic fast passage ultracold neutron spin flipper for the UCNA experiment

The UCNA collaboration is making a precision measurement of the β asymmetry (A) in free neutron decay using polarized ultracold neutrons (UCN). A critical component of this experiment is an adiabatic fast passage neutron spin flipper capable of efficient operation in ambient magnetic fields on the order of 1 T. The requirement that it operate in a high field necessitated the construction of a free neutron spin flipper based, for the first time, on a birdcage resonator. The design, construction, and initial testing of this spin flipper prior to its use in the first measurement of A with UCN during the 2007 run cycle of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center's 800 MeV proton accelerator is detailed. These studies determined the flipping efficiency of the device, averaged over the UCN spectrum present at the location of the spin flipper, to be ε=0.9985(4).     

Characterization of microbial community structures and their activities in single anaerobic granules by beta imaging, microsensors and fluorescence in situ hybridization

The spatial distribution of microorganisms and their in situ activities in anaerobic granules were investigated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), beta imaging and microsensors. FISH results revealed a layered structure of microorganisms in the granule, where Chloroflexi was present in the outermost layer, Smithella spp. and Syntrophobacter spp. were found in a depth of ca. 100 μm, and Archaea was restricted to the inner layer (below ca. 300 μm from the surface). Substrate uptake patterns elucidated by beta imaging demonstrated that glucose uptake was highest at 50 μm depth, whereas propionate uptake had a peak at 200 μm depth. In addition, microsensor measurements revealed that acid was produced mainly at 100 μm depth and H(2) production was detected at a depth from 100 to 200 μm. H(2) consumption and corresponding CH(4) production were found below 200 μm from the surface. Direct comparison of these results implied sequential degradation of complex organic compounds in anaerobic granules; Chloroflexi contributed to fermentation of organic compounds and acid production in the outermost layer, volatile fatty acids were oxidized and H(2) was produced mainly by Smithella spp. and Syntrophobacter spp. at a depth from 100 to 200 μm, and Archaea produced CH(4) below ca. 300 μm from the surface.     

Case learning for CBR-based collision avoidance systems

With the rapid development of case-based reasoning (CBR) techniques, CBR has been widely applied to real-world applications such as collision avoidance systems. A successful CBR-based system relies on a high-quality case base, and a case creation technique for generating such a case base is highly required. In this paper, we propose an automated case learning method for CBR-based collision avoidance systems. Building on techniques from CBR and natural language processing, we developed a methodology for learning cases from maritime affair records. After giving an overview on the developed systems, we present the methodology and the experiments conducted in case creation and case evaluation. The experimental results demonstrated the usefulness and applicability of the case learning approach for generating cases from the historic maritime affair records.     

Coupled simulation of BES-CFD and performance assessment of energy recovery ventilation system for office model

Thermal comfort and indoor air quality as well as the energy efficiency have been recognized as essential parts of sustainable building assessment. This work aims to analyze the energy conservation of the heat recovery ventilator and to investigate the effect of the air supply arrangement. Three types of mixing ventilation are chosen for the analysis of coupling ANSYS/FLUENT (a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) program) with TRNSYS (a building energy simulation (BES) software). The adoption of mutual complementary boundary conditions for CFD and BES provides more accurate and complete information of indoor air distribution and thermal performance in buildings. A typical office-space situated in a middle storey is chosen for the analysis. The office-space is equipped with air-conditioners on the ceiling. A heat recovery ventilation system directly supplies fresh air to the office space. Its thermal performance and indoor air distribution predicted by the coupled method are compared under three types of ventilation system. When the supply and return openings for ventilation are arranged on the ceiling, there is no critical difference between the predictions of the coupled method and BES on the energy consumption of HVAC because PID control is adopted for the supply air temperature of the occupied zone. On the other hand, approximately 21% discrepancy for the heat recovery estimation in the maximum between the simulated results of coupled method and BES-only can be obviously found in the floor air supply ventilation case. The discrepancy emphasizes the necessity of coupling CFD with BES when vertical air temperature gradient exists. Our future target is to estimate the optimum design of heat recovery ventilation system to control CO₂ concentration by adjusting flow rate of fresh air.     

Capability and limitation of max- and sum-type construction of Lyapunov functions for networks of iISS systems

This paper addresses the problem of verifying stability of networks whose subsystems admit dissipation inequalities of integral input-to-state stability (iISS). We focus on two ways of constructing a Lyapunov function satisfying a dissipation inequality of a given network. Their difference from one another is elucidated from the viewpoint of formulation, relation, fundamental limitation and capability. One is referred to as the max-type construction resulting in a Lipschitz continuous Lyapunov function. The other is the sum-type construction resulting in a continuously differentiable Lyapunov function. This paper presents geometrical conditions under which the Lyapunov construction is possible for a network comprising $n\ge 2$ subsystems. Although the sum-type construction for general $n>2$ has not yet been reduced to a readily computable condition, we obtain a simple condition of iISS small gain in the case of $n=2$. It is demonstrated that the max-type construction fails to offer a Lyapunov function if the network contains subsystems which are not input-to-state stable (ISS).     

Colorimetric microdetermination of sulphites in foods by use of the modified rankine apparatus. IV.

Summary Detection and determination of traces of sulphites in foods was attempted by use of the modified Rankine apparatus and pararosaniline colorimetry. Replacement of alkaline titration reported previously by pararosaniline colorimetry lowered the absolute detection limit from 30 g (titration method) to 2 g. In view of clean analysis, in the color developing system, 0.1 N-sodium hydroxide was used in place of mercuric chloride solution commonly used as an absorbant of sulphites. In order to prevent oxidative decomposition of sulphites during operation, nitrogen gas was used as carrier instead of air. Dimedone and sodium azide were used for the elimination of aldehydes and nitrites, respecitvely, in the sample, which will disturb the color development of sulphites with pararosaniline-formaldehyde reagents. With this improved method, it was possible to determine the residual sulphites in frozen peeled shrimps, sugared beans and other foods with low sulphite contents accurately.

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Colorimetrische Mikrobestimmung von Sulfiten in Lebensmitteln bei Anwendung der modifizierten IV. Rankine Apparatur

Zusammenfassung Geringe Sulfitmengen in Lebensmitteln (geschälte Garnelen, gezuckerte Bohnen) können colorimetrisch bestimmt werden. Die neuentwickelte Methode beruht auf einer Kombination von colorimetrischer Bestimmung mittels p-Rosanilin und der Bestimmungsmethode nach Rankine. Auf diese Weise lassen sich Gehalte von 2 g noch genau bestimmen. Bei der Farbentwicklung wurde das giftige Quecksilbertetrachlorid durch 0.1 n-NaOH ersetzt, anstelle von Luft Stickstoff als Trägergas verwendet und somit eine Oxydation des Sulfits während der Bestimmung vermieden. Da Nitrit und Aldehyde die Farbentwicklung stören, wurde ihr Einfluß durch Dimedon und Natriumazid ausgeschaltet.

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Studies on the Analyses of Sulphites in Foods (IV)     

Electrical Inhomogeneity at the Mott Transition in the Band Width Controlled κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu[N(CN)2Br

The electronic phase separation on macroscopic scale is studied in the organic Mott system κ-(BEDT-TTF)₂Cu[N(CN)₂]Br by means of scanning microregion infrared spectroscopy using the synchrotron radiation. The phase separation appears in the vicinity of the Mott boundary in the single crystals of which the band width is controlled by partly substituting the BEDT-TTF molecule with the deuterated one. The transport properties under the phase separation are considered to be influenced by the percolation process of the domains.     

Preparation of Laminin-apatite-polymer Composites Using Metastable Calcium Phosphate Solutions

1Introduction Themostimportantrequirementofapercutaneous deviceisthepreventionofbacterialinfectionthroughtheinterfacebetweenthematerialandtheskin.Therefore,a percutaneousdevicehastoadherefirmlytoskintissueandpreventepidermaldowngrowth.Previously,Aokietalp…     

Construction of ULT-MRI cryostat for ultra low temperature physics

No Heading We have constructed an Ultra Low Temperature cryostat for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (ULT-MRI) applicable for various condensed phases of ³He at ultra low temperature, such as Nuclear Ordered Solid ³He or superfluid ³He. In contrast to conventional MRI for general use, where a pulsed-field gradient method is commonly used, we used a steady-field gradient method to avoid eddy current heating to metal parts at ultra low temperature. To avoid nonlinear response from the nuclear ordered spin system, which contradicts a principle of conventional MRI, we employed Free Induction Decay (FID) after a small tipping angle RF pulse to obtain the spectrum.PACS numbers: 07.20Mc, 67.57.Lm, 67.80.Jd, 76.60.Pc, 83.85.Fg