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At least 1,009 records · Page 56

Device and system for selective ionization and analyte detection and method of using the same

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a system for selectively ionizing samples that may comprise a plurality of different analytes that are not normally detectable using the same ionization technique. The disclosed system comprises a unique split flow tube that can be coupled with a plurality of ionization sources to facilitate using different ionization techniques for the same sample. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of a method for determining the presence of analytes in a sample, wherein the number and type of detectable analytes that can be identified is increased and sensitivity and selectivity are not sacrificed.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗

Device and system for selective ionization and analyte detection and method of using the same

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a system for selectively ionizing samples that may comprise a plurality of different analytes that are not normally detectable using the same ionization technique. The disclosed system comprises a unique split flow tube that can be coupled with a plurality of ionization sources to facilitate using different ionization techniques for the same sample. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of a method for determining the presence of analytes in a sample, wherein the number and type of detectable analytes that can be identified is increased and sensitivity and selectivity are not sacrificed.

Denis, Elizabeth↗

Characterization of a hard X-ray self-seeding diamond crystal orientation

We present a method to accurately control the photon energies for hard X-ray Self-seeding schemes with a single crystal monochromator in transmissive geometry. The energy calibration is performed by measuring which pairs of the machine pitch and yaw angles for different crystallographic planes reflect the X-ray at the same wavelength. The free parameters of an analytical formula for the self-seeding energies are determined by fitting the observed intersections and the normalized derivative with respect to the pitch and yaw angles in the observed intersections. The method requires a hard X-ray spectrometer, but it does not rely on its absolute energy calibration. Instead, identifying the self-seeded energies above the SASE background or the monochromatic notches within the SASE bandwidth is sufficient for the calibration.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Single molecule characterization of anomalous transport in a thin, anisotropic film

Here, the diffusion of small, charged molecules incorporated in an anisotropic polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) was tracked in three dimensions by combining single-molecule fluorescence localization (to characterize lateral diffusion) with Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between diffusing molecules and the supporting surface (to measure diffusion in the surface-normal direction). Analysis of the surface-normal diffusion required model-based statistical analysis to account for the inherently noisy FRET signal. Combining these distinct single-molecule methods, which are inherently sensitive to different length scales, permitted simultaneous characterization of severely anisotropic diffusion, which was more than three orders of magnitude slower in the surface-normal direction. We hypothesize that the anomalously slow surface-normal diffusion was related to the periodic distribution of charge in the PEM, which created electrostatic barriers. The motion was strongly subdiffusive, with anomalous temporal scaling exponents in lateral and normal directions, suggesting a connection to the transient, random fractal conformation of polymer chains in the film’s matrix.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Rheology of concentrated fiber suspensions with a load-dependent friction coefficient

Here we investigate the effects of fiber aspect ratio, roughness, flexibility, and volume fraction on the rheology of concentrated suspensions in a steady shear flow using direct numerical simulations. We model the fibers as inextensible continuous flexible slender bodies with the Euler-Bernoulli beam equation governing their dynamics suspended in an incompressible Newtonian fluid. The fiber dynamics and fluid flow coupling is achieved using the immersed boundary method. In addition, the fiber surface roughness might lead to interfiber contacts, resulting in normal and tangential forces between the fibers, which follow Coulomb’s law of friction. The surface roughness is modeled as hemispherical protrusions on the fiber surfaces. Their deformation results in a normal load-dependent friction coefficient. Our simulations accurately predict the experimentally observed shear thinning in fiber suspensions. Furthermore, we find that the suspension viscosity η increases with increasing the volume fraction, roughness, fiber rigidity, and aspect ratio. The increase in η is the macroscopic manifestation of a similar increase in the microscopic contact contribution to the total stress with these parameters. In addition, we observe positive and negative first N 1 and second N 2 normal stress differences, respectively, with |N 2 | < |N 1 |, in agreement with previous experiments. Last, we propose a modified Maron-Pierce law to quantify the reduction in the jamming volume fraction by increasing the fiber aspect ratio and roughness. Our results and analysis establish the use of fiber surface tribology to tune the suspension flow behavior.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Measurement of the absorption coefficient of acoustical materials using the sound intensity method

In this study the possibility of using the two-microphone sound intensity technique to measure the normal incidence and the random incidence sound absorption coefficient was investigated. The normal incidence absorption coefficient was determined by measuring the intensity incidence on the sample and the intensity reflected by the sample placed in an anechoic chamber. The random incidence absorption coefficient was determined by measuring the intensity incident on the sample and the intensity reflected by the sample placed in a reverberation chamber. Absorption coefficient results obtained by the sound intensity technique were compared with standard techniques, namely the reverberation chamber and the standing wave tube. The major advantages of using the sound intensity technique are that it permits 'in situ' measurements and the absorption coefficient for a large range of frequencies can be obtained from a single measurement.

Atwal, Mahabir S.↗

Cross Calibration of TOMS, SBUV/2 and Sciamachy Radiances from Ground Observations

Verification of a stratospheric ozone recovery remains a high priority for environmental research and policy definition. Models predict an ozone recovery at a much lower rate than the measured depletion rate observed to date. Therefore improved precision of the satellite and ground ozone observing systems are required over the long term to verify recovery. We have shown that validation of radiances is the most effective means for correcting absolute accuracy and long term drifts of backscatter type satellite measurements. This method by-passes the algorithms used for both satellite and ground based measurements which are normally used to validate and correct the satellite data. Validation of radiances will also improve all higher level data products derived from the satellite observations. Backscatter algorithms suffer from several errors such as unrepresentative a-priori data and air mass factor corrections. Radiance comparisons employ forward models but are inherently more accurate and than inverse (retrieval) algorithms. A new method for satellite validation is planned which will compliment measurements from the existing ground-based networks. This method will employ very accurate comparisons between ground based zenith sky radiances and satellite nadir radiances. These comparisons will rely heavily on the experience derived from the Shuttle SBUV (SSBUV) program which provided a reference standard of radiance measurements for SBUV/2, TOMS, and GOME. This new measurement program, called "Skyrad", employs two well established capabilities at the Goddard Space Flight Center, 1) the SSBUV calibration facilities and 2) the radiative transfer codes used for the TOMS and SBUV/2 algorithms and their subsequent refinements. Radiative transfer calculations show that ground based zenith sky and satellite nadir backscatter ultraviolet comparisons can be made very accurately under certain viewing conditions. The Skyrad instruments (SSBUV, Brewer spectrophotometers, and possibly others) will be calibrated and maintained to a precision of a few tenths of a percent. Skyrad data will then enable long term calibration of upcoming satellite instruments such as QuickTOMS. SBUV/2s and SCIAMACHY with a high degree of precision. This technique can be further employed to monitor the performance of future instruments such as GOME-2, OMI, and OMPS. Initial ground observations taken from Goddard Space Flight Center compared with radiative transfer calculations has indicated the feasibility of this method.

Hillsenrath, Ernest↗

Generation of spiral bevel gears with zero kinematical errors and computer aided simulation of their meshing and contact

There is proposed a method for generation of Gleason's spiral bevel gears which provides the following properties of meshing and contact: (1) the contact normal keeps its original direction within the neighborhood of the main contact point; (2) the contact ellipse moves along the gear tooth surface; and (3) the kinematical errors caused by Gleason's method of cutting are almost zero. Computer programs for the simulation of meshing and bearing contact are developed.

Litvin, F. L.↗

A comparative study of theoretical methods on Goertler instability

Goertler vortices arise in boundary layers along concave surfaces due to centrifugal effects and these vortices in combination with Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) waves and crossflow vortices may play an important role in triggering early transition. There have been two distinct theoretical approaches to solve the problem. In the classical, normal-mode approach (NMA) the linear development of Goertler vortices is reduced to an eigenvalue problem. In the other method, initiated by Hall, the governing partial differential equations for the perturbations which are parabolic in the streamwise direction, are solved as an initial value problem. This method predicts multiple neutral curves depending on how and where the mean flow is perturbed, unlike the NMA where a unique but different neutral curve is predicted by each investigator. The present paper attempts to compare the two techniques and shows that mutually compatible results can be obtained when physically consistent assumptions are made.

Kalburgi, Vijay↗

An Inrush Current Limiting Method for Grid-Connected Converters Considering Grid Voltage Disturbances

To support the electric power grid, some grid-connected converters are required to ride through abnormal grid conditions, including voltage disturbances. However, at the moment, when a grid voltage disturbance happens, a large inrush current could be induced due to the large difference between the grid and converter output pulsewidth modulation (PWM) voltages. This inrush current could be more severe in the faster switching SiC-based multilevel converter, which only needs a small filter inductance to meet its normal operation requirements, such as harmonics and peak ripple currents. In this article, a PWM mask method is used to limit the inrush current. With this method, the inrush current can be effectively limited to a preset value and can help the converter ride through grid voltage disturbances. Furthermore, the method is validated through experiments conducted on a single-phase SiC-based five-level converter considering low voltage, high voltage, and phase angle disturbances.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DYNGEN: A program for calculating steady-state and transient performance of turbojet and turbofan engines

The DYNGEN, a digital computer program for analyzing the steady state and transient performance of turbojet and turbofan engines, is described. The DYNGEN is based on earlier computer codes (SMOTE, GENENG, and GENENG 2) which are capable of calculating the steady state performance of turbojet and turbofan engines at design and off-design operating conditions. The DYNGEN has the combined capabilities of GENENG and GENENG 2 for calculating steady state performance; to these the further capability for calculating transient performance was added. The DYNGEN can be used to analyze one- and two-spool turbojet engines or two- and three-spool turbofan engines without modification to the basic program. A modified Euler method is used by DYNGEN to solve the differential equations which model the dynamics of the engine. This new method frees the programmer from having to minimize the number of equations which require iterative solution. As a result, some of the approximations normally used in transient engine simulations can be eliminated. This tends to produce better agreement when answers are compared with those from purely steady state simulations. The modified Euler method also permits the user to specify large time steps (about 0.10 sec) to be used in the solution of the differential equations. This saves computer execution time when long transients are run. Examples of the use of the program are included, and program results are compared with those from an existing hybrid-computer simulation of a two-spool turbofan.

Sellers, J. F.↗

Laminar and Turbulent Gaseous Diffusion Flames

Recent measurements and predictions of the properties of homogeneous (gaseous) laminar and turbulent non-premixed (diffusion) flames are discussed, emphasizing results from both ground- and space-based studies at microgravity conditions. Initial considerations show that effects of buoyancy not only complicate the interpretation of observations of diffusion flames but at times mislead when such results are applied to the non-buoyant diffusion flame conditions of greatest practical interest. This behavior motivates consideration of experiments where effects of buoyancy are minimized; therefore, methods of controlling the intrusion of buoyancy during observations of non-premixed flames are described, considering approaches suitable for both normal laboratory conditions as well as classical microgravity techniques. Studies of laminar flames at low-gravity and microgravity conditions are emphasized in view of the computational tractability of such flames for developing methods of predicting flame structure as well as the relevance of such flames to more practical turbulent flames by exploiting laminar flamelet concepts.

Faeth, G. M.↗

Application of radial-equilibrium condition to axial-flow compressor and turbine design

Basic general equations governing the three-dimensional compressible flow of gas through a compressor or turbine are given in terms of total enthalpy, entropy, and velocity components of the gas. Two methods of solution are obtained for the simplified, steady axially symmetric flow; one involves the use of a number of successive planes normal to the axis of the machine and short distances apart, and the other involves only three stations for a stage in which an appropriate radial-flow path is used. Methods of calculation for the limiting cases of zero and infinite blade aspect ratios and an approximate method of calculation for finite blade aspect ratio are also given. In these methods, the blade loading and the shape of the annular passage wall may be arbitrarily specified.

Wu, Chung-Hua↗

Transcriptomics-based Machine Learning (ML) Analysis Predicts Space-Exposed Murine Livers

NASA has employed high-throughput molecular assays to identify sub-cellular changes impacting human physiology during spaceflight. Machine learning (ML) methods hold the promise to improve our ability to identify important signals within highly dimensional molecular data. However, the inherent limitation of study subject numbers within a spaceflight mission minimizes the utility of ML approaches. To overcome the sample power limitations, data from multiple spaceflight missions must be aggregated while appropriately addressing intra- and inter-study variabilities. Here we describe an approach to log transform, scale and normalize data from six heterogeneous, mouse liver derived transcriptomics datasets (ntotal=137) which enabled ML-methods to perform well (AUC ≥ 0.87) in classifying spaceflown vs ground control animals rather than mission-of-origin. Concordance was found between liver-specific biological processes identified from harmonized ML-based analysis and study-by-study classical omics analysis. This work demonstrates the feasibility of applying ML methods on integrated, heterogeneous datasets of small sample size.

Machine Learning↗

Three-dimensional elastic stress and displacement analysis of finite geometry solids containing cracks

The line method of analysis is applied to the Navier-Cauchy equations of elastic equilibrium to calculate the displacement fields in finite geometry bars containing central, surface, and double-edge cracks under extensionally applied uniform loading. The application of this method to these equations leads to coupled sets of simultaneous ordinary differential equations whose solutions are obtained along sets of lines in a discretized region. Normal stresses and the stress intensity factor variation along the crack periphery are calculated using the obtained displacement field. The reported results demonstrate the usefulness of this method in calculating stress intensity factors for commonly encountered crack geometries in finite solids.

Kring, J.↗

Three-dimensional elastic stress and displacement analysis of finite geometry solids containing cracks

The line method of analysis is applied to the Navier-Cauchy equations of elastic equilibrium to calculate the displacement fields in finite geometry bars containing central, surface, and double-edge cracks under extensionally applied uniform loading. The application of this method to these equations leads to coupled sets of simultaneous ordinary differential equations whose solutions are obtained along sets of lines in a discretized region. Normal stresses and the stress intensity factor variation along the crack periphery are calculated using the obtained displacement field. The reported results demonstrate the usefulness of this method in calculating stress intensity factors for commonly encountered crack geometries in finite solids.

Kring, J.↗

The aerodynamic design of the oblique flying wing supersonic transport

The aerodynamic design of a supersonic oblique flying wing is strongly influenced by the requirement that passengers must be accommodated inside the wing. It was revealed that thick oblique wings of very high sweep angle can be efficient at supersonic speeds when transonic normal Mach numbers are allowed on the upper surface of the wing. The goals were motivated by the ability to design a maximum thickness, minimum size oblique flying wing. A 2-D Navier-Stokes solver was used to design airfoils up to 16 percent thickness with specified lift, drag and pitching moment. A new method was developed to calculate the required pressure distribution on the wing based on the airfoil loading, normal Mach number distribution and theoretical knowledge of the minimum drag of oblique configurations at supersonic speeds. The wing mean surface for this pressure distribution was calculated using an inverse potential flow solver. The lift to drag ratio of this wing was significantly higher than that of a comparable delta wing for cruise speeds up to Mach 2.

Vandervelden, Alexander J. M.↗