Artificial star test by real-time video holography for the adjustment of high-numerical-aperture micro-objectives

The star test is a useful tool for fast visual inspection of the aberrations of micro-objectives during final adjustment. One of its most valuable properties is that it permits instantaneous observation of the effect of adjustments of lens groups, for instance, the shifting element during on-axis coma adjustment. Sometimes, however, it is difficult to perform the star test, e.g., in the ultraviolet region, which represents a field of growing interest driven by applications in semiconductor inspection and metrology. In addition, it is difficult to display the point-spread functions with video cameras because of the high dynamic range needed. We present a simple work-around with which to overcome these problems. If an interferometer is available for quantitative wave-front analysis on the production line, the point-spread function may quite easily be computed from an interferogram of the wave front in the back focal plane of a micro-objective. We describe the achievement and application of such a simulated star test in various spectral regions, together with some of its useful applications, including real-time wave-front manipulation.     

Analyzing laser plasma interferograms with a continuous wavelet transform ridge extraction technique: the method

Laser plasma interferograms are currently analyzed by extraction of the phase-shift map with fast Fourier transform (FFT) techniques [Appl. Opt. 18, 3101 (1985)]. This methodology works well when interferograms are only marginally affected by noise and reduction of fringe visibility, but it can fail to produce accurate phase-shift maps when low-quality images are dealt with. We present a novel procedure for a phase-shift map computation that makes extensive use of the ridge extraction in the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) framework. The CWT tool is flexible because of the wide adaptability of the analyzing basis, and it can be accurate because of the intrinsic noise reduction in the ridge extraction. A comparative analysis of the accuracy performances of the new tool and the FFT-based one shows that the CWT-based tool produces phase maps considerably less noisy and that it can better resolve local inhomogeneties.     

Integrated Simulation of Machine Tool and Process Interaction for Turning

The interaction between process and machine tool behaviour can lead to process instabilities in terms of self‐excited vibrations where the energy of the machine tool oscillation is generated by process excitation. The regenerative chatter effects lead to wavy surfaces on the work‐piece. This effect has been simulated for turning processes with an integrated simulation approach, which couples a time domain simulation model for the machine tool and the workpiece with an analytical turning model. In this paper a procedure is illustrated for coupling an FEA‐based 3‐dimensional turning model with the time domain model for the machine tool under consideration of the resulting workpiece surface. In comparison to an analytical approach for calculating the mechanical tool load, the 3D‐FEA‐model has the potential to determine the resulting cutting forces for even complex‐shaped tool geometries, e.g. a complicated chip breaker or a varying cutting edge radius on the main or minor cutting edge. As a matter of the huge model size the calculation time in particular for 3‐dimensional problems is comparatively long to analytical cutting force models. Therefore, in this paper an approach to reduce the calculation time by using characteristic diagrams for the calculated process forces in the FEA‐model is presented. The research has also been focused on the current major problem in the FEA‐based modelling that the thrust and feed forces are generally underestimated in the simulation.     

Orthoamide. L. Beiträge zur Chemie von Propiolaldehydaminalen – Synthesen und Umsetzungen zu Push–Pull-substituierten Buta-1,3-dienen,Cyclobutanen sowie vinylogen Amidiniumsalzen und 1,2,3-Triazolen

Orthoamides. L. Contribution to the Chemistry of Propiolaldehydaminales – Synthesis and Transformations to Push–Pull-substituted Buta-1,3-dienes, Cyclobutanes, Vinylogous Amidinium Salts and 1,2,3-Triazoles Tert-butylaminalester 5 reacts with terminal alkynes to give aminals of substituted propiolaldehydes 3c, d . The aminal 3a is accessible from N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylformamidinium chloride (7b) and sodium acetylide. The aminals 3b,c can also be prepared from bis(dimethylamino)acetonitrile 8 and terminal alkynes in the presence of sodium hydride. The nitrile 8 is also useful for the preparation of the bis-aminal of acetylenedialdehyde 6 . The aminal 3e can be transaminated by heating with secondary amines to give the aminals 3f–i . The aminals 3a–i react with strong CH₂-acidic compounds (pK_a between 9 and 14) to give the 1-dialkylamino-1,3-butadienes 10 . The isomeric 1-dialkylamino-butadienes 18 can be obtained from the condensation of the CH-acidic cinnamic acid derivatives 19 with dimethylformamidedimethylacetal. CH and NH-acidic compounds as cyanacetamide react with the aminals 3c,e exclusively with the acidic methylene group to produce the enamines 10h,t . The acylformamidine 21 can be obtained from 10t and tert-butylaminalester 5 . The pyridone 22 is accessible from the condensation product 10h by thermal cyclization. The pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine 26 is formed in the reaction of the 6-amino-uracile 23 with the aminal 3a . In an unexpected reaction the 1,2-bis(cyano-dialkylaminomethylene)-cyclobutanes 28a–d result from the action of trimethylsilylcyanide on the aminals 3e–h . The corresponding reaction with trimethylsilylisothiocyanate affords the vinylogous amidinium thiocyanates 34a, b . In the reaction of trimethylsilylazide and the aminals 3 are produced the 4-(dialkylaminomethylene)-4H-1,2,3-triazoles 38 .     

Gonadal steroids have paradoxical effects on brain oxytocin receptors

Specific brain receptors for oxytocin have been described in several mammalian species. The distribution of these receptors differs greatly across species and in the rat, receptor binding in specific brain regions appears to depend upon gonadal steroids. This study used in vitro receptor autoradiography to examine the effects of testosterone on oxytocin receptor binding in the mouse forebrain. Three groups of male mice were compared: castrates treated with blank capsules, castrates treated with testosterone filled capsules, and intact males. Irrespective of steroid treatment, the distribution of oxytocin receptors in mouse forebrain differed markedly from patterns previously described in the rat. In addition to these species differences in receptor distribution, testosterone had effects in the mouse which differed from the induction of receptors previously reported in the rat. In the mouse ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, binding in the untreated castrate males was approximately double that observed in either the intact or the testosterone-treated castrates. In other regions of the mouse brain, such as the intermediate zone of the lateral septum, binding to oxytocin receptors was increased with testosterone treatment. These results suggest that the brain oxytocin receptor varies across species not only in its distribution but also in its regional regulation by gonadal steroids. These apparently paradoxical changes in oxytocin receptor binding may result from either direct or indirect effects of gonadal steroids in mouse brain.     

Isoforms p69 and p100 of 2'',5''-oligoadenylate synthetase induced differentially by interferons in vivo and in vitro

There is no better place to test life-saving resuscitation interventions than in the prehospital setting. Patients rarely survive cardiac arrest if resuscitation techniques have failed before leaving the scene. Also, paramedics are usually very experienced in key initial resuscitative techniques, and they routinely operate under strict paramilitary protocol, resulting in better study compliance. In addition, the large study populations that are derived from emergency medical services (EMS) systems lead to faster study completion and statistically stronger data. Most important, by reinforcing standardized care, rigidly scrutinized trials improve patient care, regardless of the effect of the study intervention. The success of productive EMS research centers requires routine communication between hospital and EMS administrators and their medical directors, designation of mutually acceptable data collectors who guarantee confidentiality, reciprocal exchange of study data provided as educational seminars to the hospitals, commitments to support the budget requests of an EMS program and appropriate system modifications, inclusion of EMS personnel in study design from the very beginning, prospective education of the medical community and media before protocol implementation, an authoritative grassroots medical director, and a paramedic supervisor system.     

Design and demonstration of an experimental membrane reactor set-up for oxidative coupling of methane

In this experimental research, the performance of the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactions in a porous packed bed membrane reactor was investigated. A commercially available porous alpha-alumina membrane was modified to obtain the characteristics needed for a stable and catalytically inert OCM membrane reactor. The silica-sol impregnation–calcination method and a new silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) coating-calcination approach were applied to modify the membrane. The characteristics of the resulted membrane and its typical performance as OCM membrane reactor are reported.     

Orthoamide. LI. Push-Pull-Butadiene und Heterocyclen aus CH2-aciden Verbindungen und Orthoamiden von Alkincarbonsäuren

Orthoamides. LI. Push-Pull-Butadienes and Heterocycles from Alkyne Carboxylic Acid Orthoamides and CH₂-acidic Compounds The acetylides 4b, 4f react with N,N,N′,N′,N″,N″-hexamethylguanidiniumchloride ( 5 ) to give the orthoamides 6b, 6f , resp. From CH₂-acidic compounds and the orthoamides 6a, c, e can be obtained the push-pull-substituted butadienes 8a–8aj . The 2,3,5-trimethyl-thiadiazolium salt 9 does not condense with 6e , as other CH₂-acidic compounds do, instead the vinylogous guanidinium salt 10a is produced. On heating, the ketenaminals 8d, aa cyclize to give the pyridone-carbonitriles 11a, b , resp. From 4-amino-coumarins 12 and the orthocarboxylic acid amideacetals 13a, b and the ketenaminal 16 resp., the amidines 14a–c and the heterocyclic compounds 15a–c resp., are formed. The enamines 17a–c, 19a, b react with the orthoamides 6a–f to give the pyridine derivatives 18a–1, 20a–h and 21a, b , resp. Analogously, from 6-aminouracil 22 and 6a, b, e, f are formed the pure 7-dimethylaminopyrido[2,3-d] pyrimidines 23a, b or mixtures of compounds 23c, d and the isomeric 4-dimethylamino-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines 24a, b resp., which can be separated via their salts 25a,b/26a,b . The heterocyclic compounds 30a–d, 32a,b can be prepared from the pyrazole derivatives 28, 31 resp. and the orthoamides 6a–f .     

Information technology use and creativity: Findings from the Children and Technology Project

This research examined relationships between children’s information technology (IT) use and their creativity. Four types of information technology were considered: computer use, Internet use, videogame playing and cell phone use. A multidimensional measure of creativity was developed based on  and  test of creative thinking. Participants were 491 12-year olds; 53% were female, 34% were African American and 66% were Caucasian American. Results indicated that videogame playing predicted of all measures of creativity. Regardless of gender or race, greater videogame playing was associated with greater creativity. Type of videogame (e.g., violent, interpersonal) was unrelated to videogame effects on creativity. Gender but not race differences were obtained in the amount and type of videogame playing, but not in creativity. Implications of the findings for future research to test the causal relationship between videogame playing and creativity and to identify mediator and moderator variables are discussed.