Wavefront distortion of the reflected and diffracted beams produced by the thermoelastic deformation of a diffraction grating heated by a Gaussian laser beam

It may be advantageous in advanced gravitational-wave detectors to replace conventional beam splitters and Fabry-Perot input mirrors with diffractive elements. In each of these applications, the wavefront distortions produced by the absorption and subsequent heating of the grating can limit the maximum useful optical power. We present data on the wavefront distortions induced in a laser probe beam for both the reflected and diffracted beams from a grating that is heated by a Gaussian laser beam and compare these results to a simple theory of the wavefront distortions induced by thermoelastic deformations.     

Technology and metrology of new electronic materials and devices

Scaling of the metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) field-effect transistor has been the basis of the semiconductor industry for nearly 30 years. Traditional materials have been pushed to their limits, which means that entirely new materials (such as high-kappa gate dielectrics and metal gate electrodes), and new device structures are required. These materials and structures will probably allow MOS devices to remain competitive for at least another ten years. Beyond this timeframe, entirely new device structures (such as nanowire or molecular devices) and computational paradigms will almost certainly be needed to improve performance. The development of new nanoscale electronic devices and materials places increasingly stringent requirements on metrology.     

Lintnerization of Two Amylose‐free Starches of A‐ and B‐Crystalline Types,Respectively

Waxy maize starch (WMS) and potato amylopectin starch (PAPS), representing amylose‐free A‐ and B‐crystalline granules, respectively, were subjected to hydrolysis in diluted hydrochloric acid (lintnerization). The solubilization rate of the granules was dependent on the temperature, but there were only small differences between the samples. The compositions of the lintners obtained at 29°C were also similar, though the sensitivity to enzymatic debranching was different. The degree of debranching increased significantly if pullulanase and isoamylase were used successively. Because some branches remained resistant to enzymatic attack, the degree of scattered branching was difficult to estimate. The amount and composition of β‐limit dextrins suggested, however, that both starches contained scattered branches. Long chains and the shortest chains in the amylopectin molecules were sensitive to lintnerization and therefore probably located outside the crystallites. The composition of the PAPS lintners was dependent on the temperature of the lintnerization, whereas that of WMS lintners was not. The composition of a lintner from normal potato starch was compared with PAPS, and it is concluded that the presence of amylose has a higher effect than the type of crystallinity on the lintnerization results.     

Prediction of Near Field Plume Characteristics Using Far Field Circulation Model

3-D numerical models are being used more commonly to predict changes in coastal water quality associated with point discharges such as sewage outfalls. Because these “far field” models use grid sizes which are orders of magnitude larger than the scale of near field entrainment processes, it is of interest to compare their predictive capability with that of initial mixing models and to identify ways in which the two model types can be coupled. Comparisons between the 3-D circulation model ECOMsi and the Environmental Protection Agency's mixing model RSB suggest that the former does a reasonable job predicting plume trap height and volumetric dilution but often overpredicts plume width. Results are sensitive to source representation and parameterization of horizontal and vertical diffusion. The success results from the fact that initial dilution is governed in part by gravitational exchange flow (a large-scale phenomenon that can be resolved in a far field model) in addition to plume entrainment (which is clearly subgrid scale), as well as the self-regulating relationship between plume trap height and initial dilution. Overprediction of plume width is attributed to numerical diffusive effects. Several procedures for improving predictions by coupling near and far field models are explored, ranging from the use of the near field model to dynamically adjust far field mixing parameters, so that the far field model simulates the correct trap height, to simply using the near field model to assign source location and dimension for the far field.     

Kinetics and reaction mechanism of catalytic oxidation of low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide in natural gas over activated carbon

The kinetics of the hydrogen sulfide oxidation process, producing mostly sulfur and water, was studied using 0.25 to 1.0 g Hydrodarco activated carbon catalyst and varying the O₂/H₂S ratio (molar basis) in the feed gas between 0.5 to 0.6 in the temperature, and pressure ranges from 125 to 200°C and 225 to 780 kPa. SO₂ was obtained as an undesirable by-product during H₂S oxidation reaction or as a product during regeneration of the catalyst. The feed gas contained 0.9 — 1.3 mol% H₂S with approximately 80 mol% CH_4. In this paper, the factors affecting the H₂S conversion and SO₂ formation are presented. The rate expressions for (a) H₂S conversion and (b) SO₂ formation were developed from the Langmuir-Hinshelwood surface control reaction model. The experimental data were well correlated by the rate equations. Also, the rate parameters were evaluated and correlated with temperature. The activation energies for H₂S oxidation and SO₂ production reactions were calculated to be 34.2 and 62.5 kJ/mol, respectively. Partial pressures of oxygen and H₂S were found to influence H₂S conversion whereas, the presence of water in the feed gas up to 10.5 mol% did not affect H₂S conversion significantly. Heats of adsorption for various species on the active sites were calculated. SO₂ production was, as expected, enhanced at higher temperature, and its rate was much smaller than the oxidation rate of H₂S under the reaction conditions used.     

Studies of the morphology of the Al-rich interfacial layer formed during the hot dip galvanizing of steel sheet

A small addition of Al in the liquid Zn bath inhibits the Fe/Zn reactions during hot dip galvanizing of steel sheets. Although it is well known that Al and Fe are tied up in an layer located at the interface between Fe and Zn, the effect of the galvanizing parameters on the formation of this Al-rich interfacial layer is not. This study has been carried out to determine the effect of the galvanizing parameters on the formation of this Al-rich layer. Five zinc baths containing 0.10, 0.12, 0.13, 0.16, and 0.18 wt pct Al were used to produce galvanized coatings of commercial ultra-low-carbon (ULC) steel substrate. Full inhibition of the Fe/Zn reactions was achieved in baths with Al content above 0.15 wt pct. The Al-rich layer is isomorphous to Fe₂Al₅ crystals and the Fe/Al ratio is close to Fe₂Al₅ with large amounts of Zn present (22 to 28 wt pct). The morphology of the Al-rich layer is strongly related to the Al content of the bath. Indeed, bath contents above 0.15 wt pct are associated with two sublayers of Fe₂Al₅ crystals, making up colonies of grains of similar crystallographic orientation and directly associated to the crystallographic orientation of the steel grains. In baths with contents below 0.15 wt pct, the Al-rich layer has only one sublayer of crystals and shows colonies of grains with similar orientation. Finally, the Fe₂Al₅ crystals have a strong crystallographic texture. X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals that the (200) planes are parallel to the surface of the substrate.     

Tests of a Two-Photon Technique for Measuring Polarization Mode Dispersion With Subfemtosecond Precision

An investigation is made of a recently introduced quantum interferometric method capable of measuring polarization mode dispersion (PMD) on sub-femtosecond scales, without the usual interferometric stability problems associated with such small time scales. The technique makes use of the extreme temporal correlation of orthogonally polarized pairs of photons produced via type-II phase-matched spontaneous parametric down-conversion. When sent into a simple polarization interferometer these photon pairs produce a sharp interference feature seen in the coincidence rate. The PMD of a given sample is determined from the shift of that interference feature as the sample is inserted into the system. The stability and resolution of this technique is shown to be below 0.2 fs. We explore how this precision is improved by reducing the length of the down-conversion crystal and increasing the spectral band pass of the system.     

Cure behavior of polyester-acrylate hybrid powder coatings

Interest in finding alternatives to TGIC-based powder coatings have driven development of alternate binders for the exterior durable powder coating market. Thermoset powder coatings utilizing carboxylic acid functional polyester resins cured with epoxide-functional acrylate polymers have been evaluated and characterized. Modification of the composition and molecular weight of either component influences the physical properties of formulated powder coating. The behavior of these coatings during the cure process has been investigated and compared with polyester/TGIC systems. 2400 Ellis Rd, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.     

Characterisation of Fractions Obtained by Isoamylolysis and Ion‐exchange Chromatography of Cationic Waxy Maize Starch

Isoamylase hydrolysates of wet‐ (WC) and dry‐cationised (DC) waxy maize starch were fractionated by ion‐exchange chromatography on CM‐Sepharose into an unbound and four bound fractions. The amount of bound dextrins was higher in the WC than in the DC sample. The fractions were characterised by gel‐permeation chromatography and proton‐NMR spectroscopy. The unbound fraction from the WC sample consisted mainly of linear chains formed from amylopectin. The dextrins in the bound fractions contained increased amounts, from 1.2—7.9, of cationic substituents per molecule and the degree of polymerisation increased with the density of substituents. Dextrins weakly bound to CM‐Sepharose had a linear structure, whereas more tightly bound fractions were mixtures of linear and branched dextrins. In the latter, the debranching was incomplete because of sterical hindrance by substituents at or close to the branch points. Most of the dextrins were partly hydrolysed by β‐amylase, but the more highly substituted fractions possessed also a population of β‐amylase resistant dextrins, suggesting substituents at the non‐reducing ends.     

The Collagen Receptor uPARAP in Malignant Mesothelioma: A Potential Diagnostic Marker and Therapeutic Target

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a highly aggressive cancer with limited therapeutic options. We have previously shown that the endocytic collagen receptor, uPARAP, is upregulated in certain cancers and can be therapeutically targeted. Public RNA expression data display uPARAP overexpression in MM. Thus, to evaluate its potential use in diagnostics and therapy, we quantified uPARAP expression by immunohistochemical H-score in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded bioptic/surgical human tissue samples and tissue microarrays. We detected pronounced upregulation of uPARAP in the three main MM subtypes compared to non-malignant reactive mesothelial proliferations, with higher expression in sarcomatoid and biphasic than in epithelioid MM. The upregulation appeared to be independent of patients’ asbestos exposure and unaffected after chemotherapy. Using immunoblotting, we demonstrated high expression of uPARAP in MM cell lines and no expression in a non-malignant mesothelial cell line. Moreover, we showed the specific internalization of an anti-uPARAP monoclonal antibody by the MM cell lines using flow cytometry-based assays and confocal microscopy. Finally, we demonstrated the sensitivity of these cells towards sub-nanomolar concentrations of an antibody-drug conjugate formed with the uPARAP-directed antibody and a potent cytotoxin that led to efficient, uPARAP-specific eradication of the MM cells. Further studies on patient cohorts and functional preclinical models will fully reveal whether uPARAP could be exploited in diagnostics and therapeutic targeting of MM.