SLIGA Based underwater weapon safety and arming system

 The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division (NSWCIHD) is applying microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology to underwater weapon Safety and Arming (S&A) system development. MEMS technology provides an opportunity to develop a miniaturized S&A system that is more sophisticated with improved safety and reliability at a lower cost compared to current systems. An S&A system prevents premature initiation of the weapon while reliably ensuring initiation at the appropriate time. An S&A system uses multiple sensors and devices. In comparison with other weapon S&A systems, a critical aspect of underwater weapon S&A systems is the mechanical interlock system utilizing actuators and mechanical sensors. This paper describes the design, development and fabrication of S&A SLIGA device prototypes and of a SLIGA based S&A system. NSWCIHD worked with members of the HI-MEMS Alliance during design, development and fabrication. Advancements achieved by the HI-MEMS Alliance and SLIGA S&A design issues are discussed. Received: 25 August 1997/Accepted: 10 September 1997     

Identification of Components of the Aggregation Pheromone of the Guam Strain of Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle,Oryctes rhinoceros,and Determination of Stereochemistry

The coconut rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros (Linnaeus 1758) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) (CRB), is endemic to tropical Asia where it damages both coconut and oil palm. A new invasion by CRB occurred on Guam in 2007 and eradication attempts failed using commonly applied Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV) isolates. This and subsequent invasive outbreaks were found to have been caused by a previously unrecognized haplotype, CRB-G, which appeared to be tolerant to OrNV. The male-produced aggregation pheromone of the endemic, susceptible strain of O. rhinoceros (CRB-S) was previously identified as ethyl 4-methyloctanoate. Following reports from growers that commercial lures containing this compound were not attractive to CRB-G, the aim of this work was to identify the pheromone of CRB-G. Initial collections of volatiles from virgin male and female CRB-G adults from the Solomon Islands failed to show any male- or female-specific compounds as candidate pheromone components. Only after five months were significant quantities of ethyl 4-methyloctanoate and 4-methyloctanoic acid produced by males but not by females. No other male-specific compounds could be detected, in particular methyl 4-methyloctanoate, 4-methyl-1-octanol, or 4-methyl-1-octyl acetate, compounds identified in volatiles from some other species of Oryctes. Ethyl 4-methyloctanoate elicited a strong electroantennogram response from both male and female CRB-G, but these other compounds, including 4-methyloctanoic acid, did not. The enantiomers of ethyl 4-methyloctanoate and 4-methyloctanoic acid were conveniently prepared by enzymatic resolution of the commercially-available acid, and the enantiomers of the acid, but not the ester, could be separated by gas chromatography on an enantioselective cyclodextrin phase. Using this approach, both ethyl 4-methyloctanoate and 4-methyloctanoic acid produced by male CRB-G were shown to be exclusively the (R)-enantiomers whereas previous reports had suggested male O. rhinoceros produced the (S)-enantiomers. However, re-examination of the ester and acid produced by male CRB-S from Papua New Guinea showed that these were also the (R)-enantiomers. In field trapping experiments carried out in the Solomon Islands, both racemic and ethyl (R)-4-methyloctanoate were highly attractive to both male and female CRB-G beetles. The (S)-enantiomer and the corresponding acids were only weakly attractive. The addition of racemic 4-methyloctanoic acid to ethyl 4-methyloctanoate did significantly increase attractiveness, but the addition of (R)- or (S)-4-methyloctanoic acid to the corresponding ethyl esters did not. Possible reasons for the difference in assignment of configuration of the components of the CRB pheromone are discussed along with the practical implications of these results.

     

地质钻探过程中上返岩屑的组分研究

采用全俄石油钻进研究院提出的岩屑组分研究方法,分析了乌克兰顿巴斯矿区地质钻探过程中上返岩屑的组分研究结果,可为钻探冲洗液的选择提供理论依据。     

Seeded growth of AlN crystals on nonpolar seeds via physical vapor transport

Seeded growth of AlN single crystals was demonstrated in an induction-heated, high-temperature reactor via a physical vapor transport (PVT) process. AlN seeds were prepared from a self-seeded boule containing large single-crystalline grains. Seeded growth was interrupted several times in order to refill the AlN powder source, and a dedicated process scheme was used to ensure epitaxial growth on the seed surface, after prior exposure to air. The growth temperatures were in the range of 2200–2300°C, and the reactor pressure was in the range of 500–900 torr of UHP-grade nitrogen during each growth run. Under these growth conditions, a seed (10 mm diameter) expanded at an angle of 45°, and a larger single crystal up to 18 mm in diameter was obtained. The as-grown surface had three facets, of which facet (1120) was smooth and featureless while the other two, (4150) and (2570), showed serrated morphologies. The double-crystal x-ray rocking curve and glow discharge mass spectroscopy analysis confirmed that the grown crystal was of high crystalline quality with low impurity incorporation.     

High avidity CTLs for two self-antigens demonstrate superior in vitro and in vivo antitumor efficacy

A majority of the human tumor-associated Ags characterized to date are derived from nonmutated "self"-proteins. Little is currently understood about the nature of the self-reactive lymphocytes that recognize these Ags. We recently characterized two nonmutated tumor-associated Ags for the B16 murine melanoma: tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2) and the endogenous retroviral envelope protein, p15E. We previously reported that both TRP-2 and p15E reactive CTL could be detected in the spleens of naive animals after a single in vitro stimulation using 10(-5)-10(-6) M of the appropriate Kb-binding 9-amino acid epitope. In this report we show that the CTL found in naive animals are low avidity lymphocytes, that respond only to high concentrations of peptide in vitro. We demonstrate that titration of in vitro-stimulating peptide to limiting concentrations distinguishes qualitative differences in the lymphocyte reactivity to these two Ags between vaccinated and unvaccinated animals. We further demonstrate that in vitro expansion of CTL in either high or low concentrations of stimulating peptide generated CTL cultures with different avidities for the relevant epitopes. CTL expanded in low concentrations demonstrated higher avidity for peptide-pulsed targets and better tumor recognition, when compared to CTL generated in the presence of high concentrations of Ag. More importantly, high avidity CTL demonstrated superior in vivo antitumor activity. These results demonstrate that qualitative differences in the CTL that recognize these two self-Ags are critically important to their in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor efficacy.     

Validity of the 16 PF and the MMPI in a mental hospital setting.

Administered the MMPI and 16 PF to 201 15-60 yr. old new admissions to a state mental hospital. Correlations between the 2 sets of scale scores were examined directly and by factor analysis. 3 common factors appeared to be represented to some extent in both instruments. The 16 PF appeared weak in the measurement of the more serious kinds of psychopathology, and had strongest loadings in a common factor identified with the validity scales of the MMPI. The 16 PF was found to measure 3 higher-order factors of personality not represented in the MMPI, but they do not appear highly relevant for assessment in a disturbed mental hospital population. Numerous significant relationships to psychiatrically relevant background variables were identified in analyses of profiles derived from both instruments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Muscle fiber composition and blood ammonia levels after intense exercise in humans

The relationship between fiber type composition and the increase in blood ammonia was examined following a maximal O2 consumption (VO2max) test. Muscle biopsies were taken from the middle portion of the vastus lateralis for determination of fiber type percentages. Two subject groups were selected on the basis of a high (HST) or low (LST) percentage of slow-twitch fibers and compared for blood ammonia and lactate levels after exercise at work loads of approximately 85 and 110% of VO2max. An inverse relationship was found between the percentage of slow-twitch fibers and the increase in blood ammonia. Blood ammonia increased after exercise at both 85 and 110% of VO2max. However, the increase was twofold greater for the LST group following the 110% work effort. The increases in blood ammonia and lactate were positively correlated for both groups following exercise. The results suggest that the proportion of slow-twitch fibers plays an important role in determining the magnitude of the increase in blood ammonia after intense exercise.     

Chemical Vapor Deposition of Silicon Carbide Epitaxial Films and Their Defect Characterization

A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system was designed and fabricated in our laboratory and SiC homo-epitaxial layers were grown in the CVD process using silicon tetrachloride and propane precursors with hydrogen as a carrier gas. The temperature field was generated using numerical modeling. Gas flow rates, temperature field, and the gradients are found to influence the growth rates of the epitaxial layers. Growth rates were found to increase as the temperature increased at high carrier gas flow rate, while at lower carrier gas flow rate, growth rates were observed to decrease as the temperature increased. Based on the equilibrium model, “thermodynamically controlled growth” accounts for the growth rate reduction. The grown epitaxial layers were characterized using various techniques. Reduction in the threading screw dislocation (SD) density in the epilayers was observed. Suitable models were developed for explaining the reduction in the SD density as well as the conversion of basal plane dislocations (BPDs) into threading edge dislocations (TEDs).