An accurate approximation for the highly efficient sampling of polar scattering angle of electron elastic single-scattering events

In single-event Monte Carlo electron transport simulations, elastic scattering events dominate the changes in electron trajectories due to collisions. Classically, the polar scattering angle due to an elastic collision can be sampled efficiently from the screened Rutherford cross section. However, the screened Rutherford cross section fails for both high Z materials and when the incident electron energy becomes too low. Alternatively, improved simulation accuracy for electrons in all energy ranges and through all materials may be obtained by sampling directly from differential data derived from partial-wave-expansion method (PWEM) calculations based on theoretical atomic potential models. While sampling directly from wave calculations will yield simulation results to the best known physical accuracy, it comes at the cost of simulation time. This is due to a sampling process that is typically more involved when compared with using the screened Rutherford cross section. In this work we present a relationship capable of reproducing the moments of the differential cross section derived from PWEM calculations, resulting in good preservation of forward and backscattering peaks. The relationship is directly invertible and is as easily sampled as the Rutherford cross section. Most important, the data presented in this paper in combination with this relationship produce Monte Carlo simulation results which are comparable with those using the exact differential cross section from PWEM calculations for elements Z = 1 to 96 and for incident electron energies from 300,000 down to 50 eV.     

表面致密化--一种提高烧结齿轮性能的有效方法

表面致密化与传统的粉末冶金方法相结合，可以显著改善烧结齿轮的疲劳及表面磨损性能。从而提高齿轮的寿命，同时使生产高性能齿轮的总成本降低，为用粉末冶金(PM)方法生产汽车变速箱齿轮提供了更大的可能性。本文着重讲述了使用这种方法生产高性能PM齿轮的工艺过程，同时介绍了测定致密化效果及齿轮性能的几种主要方法，并根据工艺过程比较了使用传统的机加工方法及本文所述的方法生产同性能齿轮的成本差别。最后，以两个实例分别介绍了使用上述方法对Volvo 850系第五挡变速齿轮及Scania载重车变速箱中行星齿轮的研发。     

Scanning tunnelling microscopy of tobacco mosaic virus on evaporated and sputter-coated palladium/gold substrates

We present scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) images of untreated tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) deposited on thermally evaporated and on sputter-coated palladium/gold 40:60 (Pd/Au) substrates, and imaged under ordinary atmospheric conditions. The TMV imaged on both evaporated and sputter-coated substrates was consistently several times wider than the known diameter of the virus. TMV on evaporated Pd/Au became overcoated with Pd/Au material during sample preparation and appeared elevated in STM images, whereas TMV on sputter-coated Pd/Au appeared as depressions. When naked TMV were intentionally overcoated with Pd/Au, the STM images were found to be similar to those for TMV on evaporated Pd/Au.     

Detection of aircraft below the horizon for vision‐based detect and avoid in unmanned aircraft systems

Vision‐based aircraft detection technology may provide a credible sensing option for automated detect and avoid in small‐to‐medium size fixed‐wing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Reliable vision‐based aircraft detection has previously been demonstrated in sky‐region sensing environments. This paper describes a novel vision‐based system for detecting aircraft below the horizon in the presence of ground clutter. We examine the performance of our system on a data set of 63 near collision encounters we collected between a camera‐equipped manned aircraft and a below‐horizon target. In these 63 encounters, our system successfully detects all aircraft, at an average detection range of 1890 m (with a standard error of 43 m and no false alarms in 1.1 h). Furthermore, our system does not require access to inertial sensor data (which significantly reduces system cost) and operates at over 12 frames per second.     

PMMA composites of single‐walled carbon nanotubes‐graft‐PMMA

To facilitate the dispersion of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) into poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), SWCNT were functionalized with a RAFT chain transfer agent, and PMMA was grafted from the SWCNT by reversible addition–fragmentation transfer (RAFT) polymerization to give SWCNT‐g‐PMMA containing 6 wt % PMMA. SWCNT‐g‐PMMA in the form of small bundles was dispersed into PMMA matrices. The SWCNT‐g‐PMMA filler increased the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the composite when the matrix molecular weight M_n was less than the graft molecular weight, but not when the matrix M_n was equal to or greater than the graft M_n. The threshold of electrical conductivity of the composites as a function of weight percent SWCNT increased from 0.2% when matrix M_n was less than graft M_n to about 1% when matrix M_n was greater than graft M_n. Dynamic mechanical analyses of the composites having graft M_n less than or equal to matrix M_n showed broader rubbery plateaus with increased SWCNT content but no significant differences between samples with different grafted PMMAs. The results indicate that lower M_n matrix wets the SWCNT‐g‐PMMA whereas higher M_n matrix does not wet the SWCNT‐g‐PMMA. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 39884.     

Polycrystalline Silicon-Film™ Thin-film Solar Cells: Advanced Products

Thin-film polycrystalline silicon has the potential to achieve the cost reduction and performance improvement necessary for large-scale electricity markets. Reduced cost is achieved by capitalizing on the benefits of thin films grown on low-cost, large-area substrates. Improved efficiency is realized, in spite of reduced material quality, by incorporating enhanced optical absorption and back-surface passivation. The cornerstone of AstroPower's thin-film solar cell technology is the Silicon-Film™ process: a method for the manufacture of solar cell-quality, polycrystalline films of silicon on a variety of low-cost, supporting substrates. Three thin-film solar cell designs, based on this technology, are currently under development. This paper presents the key design features of these three products and briefly reviews the current status of the development of the key technologies that comprise the advanced thin-film solar cell products.     

Closed-cycle, solar, hot-air engines Part 2—A 1/3-Hp, pressurized engine

This paper discusses the latest closed-cycle engine in the development of small solar engines being carried out at the Solar Energy Laboratory of the University of Florida. It describes the design and construction of the engine, gives the performance efficiency of the engine and demonstrates how pressurization improves the power output of the engine.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the sediments of the Great Lakes. 3. Lakes Ontario and Erie

Sediment cores were taken in 2002 in Lakes Ontario and Erie at four locations. A total of 48 sediment samples were characterized, dated using 210Pb, and analyzed for 10 congeners of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) including BDE209 as well as 39 congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The surficial concentrations of nine tri- through hepta-BDE congeners (sigma9PBDE) are 4.85 and 6.33 ng g(-1), at sampling sites ON40 and ON30 in Lake Ontario, and 1.83 and 1.95 ng g(-1) at ER37 and ER09 in Lake Erie, respectively, based on dry sediment weight. The surficial BDE209 concentrations are 242 and 211 ng g(-1) at ON40 and ON30 and 50 and 55 ng g(-1) at ER37 and ER09. The sigma(9-) PBDEs fluxes to the sediment around 2002 are 147 and 195 pg cm(-2) year(-1) at ON40 and ON30 and 136 and 314 pg cm(-2) year(-1) at ER37 and ER09, respectively. The fluxes of BDE209 are 6.5 and 7.3 ng cm(-2) year(-1) at ON30 and ON40 and 3.7 and 8.9 ng cm(-2) year(-1) at ER37 and ER09, respectively. Dramatic increases in PBDE concentrations and fluxes upward toward the sediment surface and the present time are evident at both locations in Lake Ontario, while PCBs concentrations peak in the middle of sediment cores around the dated time of 1970s and 1960s. For both locations of Lake Erie, the increasing trends of both PBDEs and PCBs from the bottom to the surficial segments were distorted by sediment mixing. BDE209 is the most abundant congener among PBDEs in the sediments, constituting about 96 and 91% of the total PBDEs on mass basis in Lakes Ontario and Erie, respectively.     

Aspirin-triggered 15-epi-lipoxin A4 (ATL) generation by human leukocytes and murine peritonitis exudates: development of a specific 15-epi-LXA4 ELISA

Aspirin (ASA) triggers the formation of 15-epi-lipoxins (15-epi-LXs or ATL [ASA-triggered LX]), which are potent bioactive eicosanoids that may contribute to the therapeutic impact of ASA. To elucidate the role of these new compounds in vivo, it is essential to establish quick and sensitive detection methods. To this end, we prepared an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specific for 15-epi-LXA4 that proved to be highly sensitive (IC50 approximately 50 pg, minimum detection approximately 3.5 pg) and stereoselective. The amounts of 15-epi-LXA4 generated by human neutrophils from peripheral blood of healthy volunteers using this enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were in agreement with those values obtained by liquid chromatography. Formation of 15-epi-LXA4 was cell ratio-dependent during THP-1 (a monocytic leukemia cell line)-neutrophil interactions with ASA-treated cells, and 15-epi-LXA4 was not detected with either cell type alone. Generation of 15-epi-LXA4 was also examined in murine peritonitis with ASA administration. Exudates from ASA-treated mice showed increased production of 15-epi-LXA4 that was diminished by indomethacin, a blocker of ASA-dependent acetylation of prostaglandin G/H synthase. A cytochrome P450 inhibitor administered in the presence of ASA did not prevent 15-epi-LXA4 formation, which suggests that P450 does not significantly contribute to formation of 15-epi-LXA4 in this murine model. These results indicate that the new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is both sensitive and selective for 15-epi-LXA4 and that 15-epi-LXA4 is produced by human leukocyte-leukocyte interactions. In addition, 15-epi-LXA4 is generated by inflammatory exudates when ASA is administered during murine peritonitis and when prostaglandin G/H synthase is upregulated and acetylated. This assay should provide rapid means to investigate 15-epi-LXA4 generation in both cellular and animal models.