Invited article: the fast readout low noise camera as a versatile x-ray detector for time resolved dispersive extended x-ray absorption fine structure and diffraction studies of dynamic problems in materials science, chemistry, and catalysis

Originally conceived and developed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) as an "area" detector for rapid x-ray imaging studies, the fast readout low noise (FReLoN) detector of the ESRF [J.-C. Labiche, ESRF Newsletter 25, 41 (1996)] has been demonstrated to be a highly versatile and unique detector. Charge coupled device (CCD) cameras at present available on the public market offer either a high dynamic range or a high readout speed. A compromise between signal dynamic range and readout speed is always sought. The parameters of the commercial cameras can sometimes be tuned, in order to better fulfill the needs of specific experiments, but in general these cameras have a poor duty cycle (i.e., the signal integration time is much smaller than the readout time). In order to address scientific problems such as time resolved experiments at the ESRF, a FReLoN camera has been developed by the Instrument Support Group at ESRF. This camera is a low noise CCD camera that combines high dynamic range, high readout speed, accuracy, and improved duty cycle in a single image. In this paper, we show its application in a quasi-one-dimensional sense to dynamic problems in materials science, catalysis, and chemistry that require data acquisition on a time scale of milliseconds or a few tens of milliseconds. It is demonstrated that in this mode the FReLoN can be applied equally to the investigation of rapid changes in long range order (via diffraction) and local order (via energy dispersive extended x-ray absorption fine structure) and in situations of x-ray hardness and flux beyond the capacity of other detectors.     

Effect of watershed parameters on mercury distribution in different environmental compartments in the Mobile Alabama River Basin, USA

Total mercury (THg) and mono-methylmercury (MeHg) levels in water, sediment, and largemouth bass (LMB) (Micropterus salmoides) were investigated at 52 sites draining contrasting land use/land cover and habitat types within the Mobile Alabama River Basin (MARB). Aqueous THg was positively associated with iron-rich suspended particles and highest in catchments impacted by agriculture. Sediment THg was positively associated with sediment organic mater and iron content, with the highest levels observed in smaller catchments influenced by wetlands, followed by those impacted by agriculture or mixed forest, agriculture, and wetlands. The lowest sediment THg levels were observed in main river channels, except for reaches impacted by coal mining. Sediment MeHg levels were a positive function of sediment THg and organic matter and aqueous nutrient levels. The highest levels occurred in agricultural catchments and those impacted by elevated sulfate levels associated with coal mining. Aqueous MeHg concentrations in main river channels were as high as those in smaller catchments impacted by agriculture or wetlands, suggesting these areas were sources to rivers. Elevated Hg levels in some LMB were observed across all types of land use and land cover, but factors such as shallow water depth, larger wetland catchment surface area, low aqueous potassium levels, and higher Chl a concentrations were associated with higher Hg burdens, particularly in the Coastal Plain province. It is suggested that the observed large variability in LMB Hg burdens is linked to fish displacement by anglers, differences in food web structure, and sediment biogeochemistry, with surficial sediment iron oxides buffering the flux of MeHg from sediments to deeper water pelagic food webs.     

As(V) retention and As(III) simultaneous oxidation and removal on a MnO2-loaded polystyrene resin

Based on KMnO4 oxidative capacity, a polystyrene matrix loaded with manganese dioxide was synthesized from an anionic commercial resin in chloride form. This medium, called R-MnO2, was tested for As(V) retention and for As(III) simultaneous oxidation and removal. Equilibrium was reached in 2 h and isotherms showed that R-MnO2 maximal capacities towards As(III) and As(V) are, respectively, 0.7 and 0.3 mmol/g. Various mechanisms were involved in As(III) retention: oxidation of H3AsO3(0) by MnO2(s) leading to the formation of HAsO4(2)- and Mn2+, fixation of As(V) formed on the resin beads and precipitation of Mn3(AsO4)2 with Mn2+ released. Successive arsenic desorption and retention steps were performed and showed that the quantity desorbed was low compared to the quantity removed during the first stage of the process. A second removal step, carried out under the same conditions as the first one, proved that the matrix second-removal capacity was weak. This solid sorbent, although not reusable, can be considered in field application as arsenic retention is really strong.     

Cohesiveness and hydrodynamic properties of young drinking water biofilms

Drinking water biofilms are complex microbial systems mainly composed of clusters of different size and age. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements were performed on 4, 8 and 12 weeks old biofilms in order to quantify the mechanical detachment shear stress of the clusters, to estimate the biofilm entanglement rate ξ. This AFM approach showed that the removal of the clusters occurred generally for mechanical shear stress of about 100 kPa only for clusters volumes greater than 200 μm³. This value appears 1000 times higher than hydrodynamic shear stress technically available meaning that the cleaning of pipe surfaces by water flushing remains always incomplete. To predict hydrodynamic detachment of biofilm clusters, a theoretical model has been developed regarding the averaging of elastic and viscous stresses in the cluster and by including the entanglement rate ξ. The results highlighted a slight increase of the detachment shear stress with age and also the dependence between the posting of clusters and their volume. Indeed, the experimental values of ξ allow predicting biofilm hydrodynamic detachment with same order of magnitude than was what reported in the literature. The apparent discrepancy between the mechanical and the hydrodynamic detachment is mainly due to the fact that AFM mechanical experiments are related to the clusters local properties whereas hydrodynamic measurements reflected the global properties of the whole biofilm.     

316L不锈钢粉末注射成形件的烧结致密化行为

为了控制粉末注射成形零件的最终尺寸精度和力学性能,对316L不锈钢粉末注射成形件的烧结致密化行为进行了试验研究,分析了烧结温度和升温速率对试件致密化行为以及烧结件力学性能的影响.试验结果表明,致密化过程始于1080℃左右,主要在1200～1300℃的升温过程中快速进行,致密化速率随着升温速率的升高而升高.烧结件的抗拉强度、抗弯强度以及延伸率,不但取决于致密化程度,而且与微观结构有关.分析表明,将基于扩散控制和强度控制的烧结理论结合,可以有效地解释316L不锈钢粉末的致密化行为,需在现有的烧结模型中考虑强度影响因素,才能更真实地模拟烧结过程.     

Short-range synthetic aperture imaging at 633 nm by digital holography

We present an active optical synthetic aperture-imaging system. A phase-step digital holographic setup is used as a wavefront sensor in the far field. The overlap of the holograms enables the estimation and compensation of their relative positions and phase with a speckle cross-correlation algorithm. Experimental results on a short-range synthetic aperture setup at 633 nm are presented that are based on 128 x 128 holograms. The synthesis is executed in one direction by means of rotation of the object. Test images show a significant gain of resolution in the synthesis direction. Processing errors are estimated through experiment. Random processing errors of a synthetic pupil composed of 33 merged holograms are negligible, but biases induced by unknown optical aberrations ofthe reference wave induce defocusing and astigmatism.     

Generally weighted moving average monitoring schemes: Overview and perspectives

An overview of monitoring schemes from a class called generally weighted moving average (GWMA) is provided. A GWMA scheme is an extended version of the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) scheme with an additional adjustment parameter that introduces more flexibility in the GWMA model as it adjusts the kurtosis of the weighting function so that the GWMA scheme can be designed such that it has an advantage over the corresponding EWMA scheme in the detection of certain shift values efficiently. The parametric and distribution-free GWMA schemes to monitor various quality characteristics and its existing enhanced versions (ie, double GWMA, composite Shewhart-GWMA, mixed GWMA-CUSUM, and mixed CUSUM-GWMA) have better performance than their corresponding EWMA counterparts in many situations; hence, all such existing research works discussing GWMA-related schemes (ie, 66 publications in total) are documented and categorized in such a manner that it is easy to identify research gaps. Finally, a number of possible future research ideas are provided.     

Distribution-free composite Shewhart-GWMA Mann-Whitney charts for monitoring the process location

The Mann-Whitney (MW) statistic is one of the most recommended two-sample statistical tests when the assumption of normality fails to hold due to its robustness and fascinating properties especially when small sample sizes are involved. In order to improve the sensitivity of the generally weighted moving average (GWMA) monitoring scheme toward the detection of large shifts, in this paper, a new distribution-free phase II composite Shewhart-GWMA (CSG) scheme is proposed using the MW U statistic. The performance of the proposed scheme is investigated using the average run-length (ARL) and average extra quadratic loss (AEQL) values through extensive simulations. The performance of this newly proposed monitoring scheme is found to be superior when compared to numerous memory-type MW schemes (some existing and others introduced in this paper) in many situations. An illustrative example is given to demonstrate the implementation of the CSG MW U scheme using real-life data.     

Distribution-free double-sampling precedence monitoring scheme to detect unknown shifts in the location parameter

In most applications, parametric monitoring schemes are used to monitor the majority of industrial and nonindustrial processes in order to improve the quality of the outputs or services. However, parametric monitoring schemes are known to underperform when the normality assumption is not met or when there is not enough information about the symmetry or asymmetry nature of the process underlying distribution. Hence, in this paper, a new nonparametric Phase II Shewhart-type double-sampling (DS) monitoring scheme based on the precedence statistic is proposed in order to efficiently monitor quality processes when the underlying process distribution departs from normality. The performance is investigated using the average run length (ARL), standard deviation of the run length (SDRL), expected ARL (EARL) and expected average number of observations to signal (EANOS), and the average sample sizes (ASS) metrics. The latter metrics are computed using Monte Carlo simulation and exact formulae. In general, it is shown that the new DS precedence scheme outperforms the existing basic Shewhart precedence scheme with and without supplementary runs rules in many situations. A real-life illustrative example based on a filling process of milk bottles is provided to demonstrate the application and implementation of the new DS precedence monitoring scheme.