The As-prepared surfaces of C-axis-oriented Nd1Ba2Cu3Oy thin films characterized using scanning probe microscopes

Recently, superconducting Nd₁Ba₂Cu₃O_y (Ndl23) thin films with high superconducting transition temperature (T _c) have been successfully fabricated at our institute employing the standard laser ablation method. In this paper, we report the results of surface characterization of the Nd123 thin films using an ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscope/spectroscopy (UHV-STM/STS) and an atomic force microscope (AFM) system operated in air. Clear spiral pattern is observed on the surfaces of Nd123 thin films by STM and AFM, suggesting that films are formed by two-dimensional island growth mode. Contour plots of the spirals show that the step heights of the spirals are not always the integer or half-integer number of thec-axis parameter of the structure. This implies that the surface natural termination layer of the films may not be unique. This result is supported byI-V STS measurements. The surface morphology of the Nd123 thin films is compared with that of thec-axis-oriented Y₁Ba₂Cu₃S_y thin films. Surface atomic images of the as-prepared Nd123 thin films are obtained employing both STM and AFM. STS measurements show that most of the surfaces are semiconductive. The results of STS measurements together with the fact that we are able to see the surface atomic images using scanning probe microscopes suggest that exposure to air does not cause serious degradation to the as-prepared surfaces of Nd123 thin films.     

An Investigation of Milk Powders Produced by a Laboratory-Scale Spray Dryer

A mini spray dryer has been used to investigate morphological changes that occur to milk particles during the spray drying process. We have found that the mini spray dryer is ideal for such investigations, because phenomena such as skin and vacuole formation in particles can be analyzed without the added complication of particle agglomeration, which only occurs in much larger spray dryers where particle number concentrations are higher. We have confirmed observations made by various researchers that the bulk density of spray-dried milk powder is greatly affected by the drying temperature, due to the strong influence of the latter on the porosity of the particles. In addition, we have attempted to explain observations made by various workers that fat accumulates preferentially at the surface of a particle during drying by postulating that fluid fat is transported towards the surface, via a network of cracks and pores, by the development of a vacuole overpressure which is also responsible for the inflation of the particle. Finally, we have shown that milk powders can be spray dried a second time, by reconstitution with water, with no change to the thermodynamic characteristics of the resultant powder. Thus, milk concentrates for spray drying research can be prepared from already-spray-dried milk powders rather than using the more arduous evaporation method to concentrate unprocessed milk.     

Evaporation and Evolution of Suspended Solution Droplets at Atmospheric and Reduced Pressures

Thermal history and solute precipitation behavior of suspended solution droplets of sodium chloride (NaCl), magnesium sulphate (MgSO₄), and zirconium hydroxychloride (ZrO(OH)Cl) evaporating at atmospheric and reduced pressures are studied. Experimental measurements on the variation of droplet diameter, solution concentration, and temperature during the evaporation period are presented and discussed. The results of solute precipitation behavior in solution droplets observed under an optical microscope are displayed and discussed. Results indicate that reducing the pressure (∼ 33 kPa) results in a change in the solution droplet evaporation rate, but the thermal histories of a particular solution droplet are similar at the atmospheric and reduced pressures. At atmospheric and reduced pressures used in this study, the d² law for solution droplets is valid at early stages of the evaporation and before the solute precipitation initiates. Drying of MgSO₄ and ZrO(OH)Cl solution droplets results in the formation of spherical particles, whereas drying of spherical NaCl solution droplets results in the formation of cubic particles.     

Identification of gaps in mangrove forests with airborne LIDAR

Mangrove forests change frequently due to disturbances from tropical storms, frost, lightning, and insects. It has been suggested that the death and regeneration of trees in small gaps due to lightning may play a critical role in mangrove forest turnover; however, the large-scale quantification of spatial pattern and areas of gaps is lacking for investigating this issue. Airborne light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology provides an effective way for identifying gaps by remotely obtaining direct measurements of ground and canopy elevations. A method based on an alternative sequential filter and black top-hat mathematical morphological transformation was developed to extract gap features. Comparison of identified gap polygons with raw LIDAR measurements and field surveys shows that the proposed method successfully extracted gap features in mangrove forests in Everglades National Park. There are 400–500 lightning gaps per square kilometer in mangrove forests at the study sites. The distribution of gap sizes follows an exponential form and the area of gaps with sizes larger than 100 m² account for 55–61% of the total area of gaps. The area of gaps in the mangrove forest in Everglades National Park is about 4–5% of the total forest area and the average gap formation rate is about 0.3% of the total forest area per year, indicating that lightning gaps play an important role in mangrove forest dynamics.     

油墨用聚氨酯胶粘剂的性能研究

主要研究用于印刷油墨的单组分溶剂型聚氨酯粘合剂，考查聚合物多元醇类型对树脂微观形态、机械性能以及印刷适应性和附着性等性能的影响。研究结果表明，聚酯型树脂的微相分离程度低于聚醚型，具有较好的机械性能、印刷适应性和附着性。     

锆酸铅薄膜的生长特性与表面化学态

以醋酸铅和异丙醇锆为原料，乙二醇甲醚为溶剂。通过溶胶-凝胶法和快速退火工艺在Pt(111)／Ti／SiO2／Si(100)基片成功地制备出不开裂的钙钛矿PbZrO3薄膜。用XRD和原子力显微镜测量了薄膜随退火温度变化的结构和表面形貌特征，用XPS测试了650℃退火PbZrO3薄膜的表面化学态。     

通用的自然语言词法分析机制

本文提出了一种通用的自然语言词法分析技术,其处理机构不仅可以独立于具体自然语言,而且又具有适合于未来智能计算机直接处理的规则形式和实现过程.文中还详细讨论了独立于自然语言的词法分析技术,以及我们在IMT/EC系统中实现的词法分析机制的工作原理.     

基于数学形态学的红外图像小目标检测

针对红外成像跟踪系统的低信噪比、背景和噪声干扰严重的小目标图像,以及后续的目标识别处理需要目标的灰度信息的特点,设计了一种基于数学形态学的红外灰度图像小目标检测算法,并用FPGA硬件实现。实验表明,数学形态学滤波能够大大提高目标的信噪比,去除背景和噪声干扰,保留目标的灰度信息,满足系统实时性要求,是一种有效的红外灰度图像小目标检测算法。     

咪唑封端扩链脲改性环氧树脂E-51/酸酐MTHPA体系性能研究

以端羟基聚环氧丙烷1000，甲苯二异氰酸酯（TDI），2－甲基咪唑为原料，合成了扩链脲TI，利用DSC，动态热机械分析仪DMA，冲击试验机及扫描电镜（SEM）等手段对TI改性的环氧树脂E－51／甲基四氢化邻苯二甲酸酐（MTHPA）固化体系的反应活性，动态力学行为，冲击性能，断裂面形态结构进行了系统研究，结果表明，改性后的E－51／MTHPA体系反应活性明显提高，固化反应峰顶温度较未改性体系降低160℃－200℃，固化反应的表观活化能由未改性体系的160．3kJ/mol降至63kJ/mol-87kJ/mol，同时与未改性体系相比，经过改性的环氧树脂固化体系冲击强度有较大的提高，在TI含量为5％时体系的玻璃化转变温度Ts达到最高，各改性体系冲击断面呈韧性断裂。     

定向凝固Al/C复合材料研究

本文首次进行了Al/C(SiC)复合材料定向凝固,研究了复合材料定向凝固过程以及组织形态与凝固速率的关系,获得了纤维束间胞晶和不同间距的树枝晶,发现非润湿系统复合材料定向凝固后性能降低,文中对其机制进行了探讨.