Low energy electron storage ring with tunable compaction factor

A low energy electron storage ring is designed to have many desirable properties, such as varying momentum compaction factor, damping partition numbers, favorable betatron tunes for multiturn accumulations, and excellent dynamic aperture. This storage ring can be used for debunching rf linac beams in one turn, for compression of linac pulses, and more importantly for a compact photon source based on inverse Compton scattering of laser beams.     

Unfolding core asymmetries with x-ray emission images in symmetry diagnostic experiments

A novel inversion technique is proposed to unfold core asymmetries at the source with x-ray emission images, which were obtained from imploded surrogate capsules in symmetry diagnostic experiments. The axisymmetrical core emission can be expanded as a Fourier series, with Legendre polynomials and spherical Bessel functions as bases concerned with polar angle and radius, respectively. A least-squares estimator is employed to obtain the unknown coefficients from its two-dimensional image data. The unfolded Legendre coefficients can be further used to test modeling of drive asymmetries in hohlraums. This technique is also demonstrated with a proof-of-principle experiment performed on the Shenguang II laser facility [L. Zunqi et al., Chin. J. Lasers B10, 6 (2001)].     

Ti-PS nanocomposites by plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition

We synthesize Ti-PS nanocomposites by plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (PIII&D) technique. Ti nanoparticles at size of 5-15 nm are found in PS matrix. We propose the formation of Ti nanoparticles as a result of the combined effect of ion implantation and ion condensation in PIII&D process. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements reveal that Ti atoms have three different chemical states, metal, oxide and carbide. While surface Ti atoms are oxidized, embedded Ti atoms keep their metallic states by surrounding PS matrix. We characterize optical absorbance of Ti-PS nanocomposites by UV-VIS measurements. An adsorption peak due to the excitation of localized surface plasmon is found at wavelength 337.5 nm and the fractal nature of Ti-PS nanocomposites broaden absorption wavelength from UV to infrared. In addition, we use a protein assay to measure protein immobilization. It is found that the amount of protein immobilized on Ti-PS nanocomposites is almost twice than that on pristine PS. The enhancement mechanisms are attributed to the increased surface roughness as well as covalent linkages between protein molecules and functional groups on the surface of Ti-PS nanocomposites.     

Intensification of Amylase Synthesis with Aspergillus niger by Way of Multistage Mutagenization

Conidia of amylolytically active Aspergillus niger C strain were subjected to four-stage mutagenization, using different combinations of mutagens in each stage (stage I – UV irradiation + ethyleneimine, stage II – UV irradiation + nitrosomethylurea, stage III – UV irradiation + N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, stage IV – acryflavine). In all, 378 strains were isolated after mutagenization, which were initially evaluated for the total amylolytic activity by the method of test-tube microculture. Nine most active mutants were then tested in submerged culture determining the activity of glucoamylase and α-amylase in post-culture liquid. The activity of α-amylase increased from over 7 to nearly 31%, and that of glucoamylase from 4 to over 61%.     

Manipulating the Level of Sensorimotor Stimulation during LI-rTMS Can Improve Visual Circuit Reorganisation in Adult Ephrin-A2A5-/- Mice

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that has the potential to treat a variety of neurologic and psychiatric disorders. The extent of rTMS-induced neuroplasticity may be dependent on a subject’s brain state at the time of stimulation. Chronic low intensity rTMS (LI-rTMS) has previously been shown to induce beneficial structural and functional reorganisation within the abnormal visual circuits of ephrin-A2A5^-/- mice in ambient lighting. Here, we administered chronic LI-rTMS in adult ephrin-A2A5^-/- mice either in a dark environment or concurrently with voluntary locomotion. One day after the last stimulation session, optokinetic responses were assessed and fluorescent tracers were injected to map corticotectal and geniculocortical projections. We found that LI-rTMS in either treatment condition refined the geniculocortical map. Corticotectal projections were improved in locomotion+LI-rTMS subjects, but not in dark + LI-rTMS and sham groups. Visuomotor behaviour was not improved in any condition. Our results suggest that the beneficial reorganisation of abnormal visual circuits by rTMS can be significantly influenced by simultaneous, ambient visual input and is enhanced by concomitant physical exercise. Furthermore, the observed pathway-specific effects suggest that regional molecular changes and/or the relative proximity of terminals to the induced electric fields influence the outcomes of LI-rTMS on abnormal circuitry.     

On the Degradation of Potato Starch During Acid Modification and Hypochlorite Oxidation

Potato starch (35–40% slurry) was (i) acid modified with hydrochloric acid (0.5-N , 50°C, upto 4.5 h) and (ii) oxidized using sodium hypochlorite (7.5 to 70 mg Cl₂/g starch, 38°C, 2.5 h). Starch degradation over the treatment range was followed by: the number average molecular weight (M _n), alkali fluidity number (AFN), iodine binding capacity (IBC), ash and sodium content of the resultant acid modified starch; and carboxyl content, M _n, AFN, ash and sodium content of oxidized starch.     

Interferometric measurement of instantaneous local heat transfer from a horizontally vibrating isothermal cylinder

Local instantaneous heat-transfer coefficients were measured for free convection from an isothermal cylinder vibrating sinusoidally in a horizontal plane. The results show that the heat-transfer coefficient is strongly dependent upon the ratio of amplitude of vibration to cylinder diameter, $\text{A}\text{D}$. For values of $\text{A}\text{D}$less than approximately 0·25, a critical vibration intensity was observed below which vibration caused only small increases in the heat-transfer rate; however, at $\text{A}\text{D}$ greater than 0·25, the critical vibrational intensity did not appear to exist because the heat transfer from the cylinder increased as soon as the vibrational speed increased from zero. A correlation of the data is presented which predicts the increase in average heat transfer from the cylinder to air above the free convective rate.The correlation also applies to data for much larger vibrational intensities.     

Experimental Investigation of Phase Equilibria in Zr-Ni-Pt System

Phase equilibria in Zr-Ni-Pt ternary system have been experimentally determined through diffusion triple and alloy sampling approaches. Based on the results of Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) and x-ray diffraction (XRD), isothermal sections of this system were constructed at 1073 and 1173 K. A new ternary phase denoted as Zr₄(Pt,Ni)₃ was detected with composition ranging from 2.5 to 29.7 at.% Ni and 40.7 to 12.7 at.% Pt at 1073 K while 2.2 to 25.1 at.% Ni and 40.9 to 17.5 at.% Pt at 1173 K, respectively. Three continuous solutions are formed between binary compounds ZrNi and ZrPt, Zr₇Ni₁₀ and Zr₇Pt₁₀, ZrNi₃ and ZrPt₃, and large ternary solubility of Ni in ZrPt₄, and of Pt in Zr₂Ni and ZrNi₅, were observed.     

Market Coordination Under Non-Equilibrium Dynamics

Networks and Spatial Economics - In order to study the market coordination under non-equilibrium dynamics, such as the one outlined in catallactics, we consider a multi-agent system with fixed...