On Surface Losses in Direct Metal Laser Sintering Printed Millimeter and Submillimeter Waveguides

Different lengths of WR3 (220–330 GHz) and WR10 (75–110 GHz) waveguides are fabricated through direct metal laser sintering (DMLS). The losses in these waveguides are measured and modelled using the Huray surface roughness model. The losses in WR3 are around 0.3 dB/mm and in WR10 0.05 dB/mm. The Huray equation model is accounting relatively good for the attenuation in the WR10 waveguide but deviates more in the WR3 waveguide. The model is compared to finite element simulations of the losses assuming an approximate surface structure similar to the resulting one from the DMLS process.     

Evidence of low-symmetry phases in pressure-dependent Raman spectroscopic study of BaTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

In the earlier pressure-dependent Raman spectroscopic studies, it has been reported that BaTiO₃ undergoes a tetragonal to cubic phase transition above ~ 2 GPa, whereas pressure-dependent X-ray absorption, X-ray diffuse scattering studies and pair distribution function studies have reported the presence of a low-symmetry rhombohedral phase above ~ 2.3 GPa. In this report, we present our pressure-dependent Raman spectroscopic studies on polycrystalline BaTiO₃ which shows that it first undergoes a transition from tetragonal to orthorhombic/rhombohedral phase above ~ 2.6 GPa and then finally goes to the cubic phase above 8.4 GPa. Pressure-dependent synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD) studies have also been carried out that provided rate of change of volume as a function of pressure resulting in bulk modulus of 215 ± 9 GPa.     

Can Microsoft Academic be used for citation analysis of preprint archives? The case of the Social Science Research Network

Preprint archives play an important scholarly communication role within some fields. The impact of archives and individual preprints are difficult to analyse because online repositories are not indexed by the Web of Science or Scopus. In response, this article assesses whether the new Microsoft Academic can be used for citation analysis of preprint archives, focusing on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN). Although Microsoft Academic seems to index SSRN comprehensively, it groups a small fraction of SSRN papers into an easily retrievable set that has variations in character over time, making any field normalisation or citation comparisons untrustworthy. A brief parallel analysis of arXiv suggests that similar results would occur for other online repositories. Systematic analyses of preprint archives are nevertheless possible with Microsoft Academic when complete lists of archive publications are available from other sources because of its promising coverage and citation results.     

Chemical Ecology and Sociality in Aphids: Opportunities and Directions

Aphids have long been recognized as good phytochemists. They are small sap-feeding plant herbivores with complex life cycles that can involve cyclical parthenogenesis and seasonal host plant alternation, and most are plant specialists. Aphids have distinctive traits for identifying and exploiting their host plants, including the expression of polyphenisms, a form of discrete phenotypic plasticity characteristic of insects, but taken to extreme in aphids. In a relatively small number of species, a social polyphenism occurs, involving sub-adult “soldiers” that are behaviorally or morphologically specialized to defend their nestmates from predators. Soldiers are sterile in many species, constituting a form of eusociality and reproductive division of labor that bears striking resemblances with other social insects. Despite a wealth of knowledge about the chemical ecology of non-social aphids and their phytophagous lifestyles, the molecular and chemoecological mechanisms involved in social polyphenisms in aphids are poorly understood. We provide a brief primer on aspects of aphid life cycles and chemical ecology for the non-specialists, and an overview of the social biology of aphids, with special attention to chemoecological perspectives. We discuss some of our own efforts to characterize how host plant chemistry may shape social traits in aphids. As good phytochemists, social aphids provide a bridge between the study of insect social evolution sociality, and the chemical ecology of plant-insect interactions. Aphids provide many promising opportunities for the study of sociality in insects, and to understand both the convergent and novel traits that characterize complex sociality on plants.     

Operando Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Studies of Sodium–Oxygen Redox Reactions

Lower charge overpotential of sodium–oxygen (Na–O₂) batteries makes them a promising electrical storage technology. However, they have an undesirable discharge product, sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), which has widely been found in many previous studies. Whether and how the carbon components in the cathode are involved in the formation of Na₂CO₃ is still not well understood. Herein, an all solid-state Na–O₂ battery was constructed and its charge and discharge cycles were studied using ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The operando XPS results clearly demonstrate the formation of Na₂CO₃ on the cathode during the discharge cycle. A fraction of the carbonate formed can be cycled while charging the battery. Transformation of the carbon-based cathode to Na₂CO₃ is a potential cause of capacity fading of the Na–O₂ battery.     

Real-Time Path Planning Based on the Situation Space of UCAVs in a Dynamic Environment

This paper aims to find a reliable, collision-free path in a dynamic environment for highly maneuverable unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs). Given the real-time nature of the operational scenario, quick and adaptable reactions of UCAVs are necessary for updates in situational awareness. Therefore, we propose a three dimensional (3D) path planning approach based on the situational space to provide the tactical requirements of UCAVs for tracking targets and avoiding collisions. First, to ensure reliable nonlinear measurements, the interacting multiple model (IMM) algorithm based on a cubature Kalman filter (CKF) is chosen for the tracking and prediction algorithm. A constraint reference frame combining the kinematic model of constant acceleration (CA) is developed to solve the problem of arrival point generation. Second, by analyzing the relative motion between the UCAV and the moving objects, we define the situation space and give the corresponding calculation method. In tracking the moving target, the guidance vector contains the fusion information of displacement and velocity. At the same time, taking advantage of the one-step situation space as the judgment of the threat, we further plan the collision avoidance strategy. Third, as the safety in a practically reachable trajectory of the UCAV possesses the absolute priority, the collision avoidance acceleration accounts for this dominant factor in path planning. Simulations and experimental results prove that the proposed approach can plan a smooth and flyable path in 0.008 s under the premise of soft-landing target tracking.