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At least 1,297 records · Page 72

Infrared imaging diagnostics for intense pulsed electron beam

Infrared imaging diagnostic method for two-dimensional calorimetric diagnostics has been developed for intense pulsed electron beam (IPEB). By using a 100-μm-thick tungsten film as the infrared heat sink for IPEB, the emitting uniformity of the electron source can be analyzed to evaluate the efficiency and stability of the diode system. Two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element method heat transfer simulation, combined with Monte Carlo calculation, was performed for error estimation and optimization of the method. The test of the method was finished with IPEB generated by explosive emission electron diode with pulse duration (FWHM) of 80 ns, electron energy up to 450 keV, and a total beam current of over 1 kA. The results showed that it is possible to measure the cross-sectional energy density distribution of IPEB with energy sensitivity of 0.1 J/cm{sup 2} and spatial resolution of 1 mm. The technical details, such as irradiation protection of bremsstrahlung γ photons and the functional extensibility of the method were discussed in this work.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Mathematical solutions in internal dose assessment: A comparison of Python-based differential equation solvers in biokinetic modeling

Abstract In biokinetic modeling systems employed for radiation protection, biological retention and excretion have been modeled as a series of discretized compartments representing the organs and tissues of the human body. Fractional retention and excretion in these organ and tissue systems have been mathematically governed by a series of coupled first-order ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The coupled ODE systems comprising the biokinetic models are usually stiff due to the severe difference between rapid and slow transfers between compartments. In this study, the capabilities of solving a complex coupled system of ODEs for biokinetic modeling were evaluated by comparing different Python programming language solvers and solving methods with the motivation of establishing a framework that enables multi-level analysis. The stability of the solvers was analyzed to select the best performers for solving the biokinetic problems. A Python-based linear algebraic method was also explored to examine how the numerical methods deviated from an analytical or semi-analytical method. Results demonstrated that customized implicit methods resulted in an enhanced stable solution for the inhaled 60 Co (Type M) and 131 I (Type F) exposure scenarios for the inhalation pathway of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Publication 130 Human Respiratory Tract Model (HRTM). The customized implementation of the Python-based implicit solvers resulted in approximately consistent solutions with the Python-based matrix exponential method ( expm ). The differences generally observed between the implicit solvers and expm are attributable to numerical precision and the order of numerical approximation of the numerical solvers. This study provides the first analysis of a list of Python ODE solvers and methods by comparing their usage for solving biokinetic models using the ICRP Publication 130 HRTM and provides a framework for the selection of the most appropriate ODE solvers and methods in Python language to implement for modeling the distribution of internal radioactivity.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

Low-temperature hydroformylation of ethylene by phosphorous stabilized Rh sites in a one-pot synthesized Rh-(O)-P-MFI zeolite

Zeolites containing Rh single sites stabilized by phosphorous were prepared through a one-pot synthesis method and are shown to have superior activity and selectivity for ethylene hydroformylation at low temperature (50°C). Catalytic activity is ascribed to confined Rh 2 O 3 clusters in the zeolite which evolve under reaction conditions into single Rh 3+ sites. These Rh 3+ sites are effectively stabilized in a Rh-(O)-P structure by using tetraethylphosphonium hydroxide as a template, which generates in situ phosphate species after H 2 activation. In contrast to Rh 2 O 3 , confined Rh0 clusters appear less active in propanal production and ultimately transform into Rh(I)(CO) 2 under similar reaction conditions. As a result, we show that it is possible to reduce the temperature of ethylene hydroformylation with a solid catalyst down to 50°C, with good activity and high selectivity, by controlling the electronic and morphological properties of Rh species and the reaction conditions.

Catalysis↗

Communication: A density functional investigation of structure-property evolution in the tetrakis hexahedral C{sub 4}Al{sub 14} nanocluster

Nanoclusters are prime objects of study in modern nanotechnology and offer a variety of applications promoted by their properties tunable by size, shape, and composition. DFT calculations are employed to analyze structure, stability, and selected electronic properties of a core-shell C{sub 4}Al{sub 14} species. With insertion of the carbon core, the original low-symmetry aluminum cluster is predicted to undergo a considerable reshaping and acquire a striking D{sub 4h} tetrakis-hexahedral geometry, with proportions controlled by a near-degenerate spin state or charge. The system also becomes more stable to dissociation. Surprisingly, other properties such as ionisation energy and electron affinity do not change significantly, although still exhibit some interesting features including opposite variations for vertical and adiabatic values. The stability and property evolutions are analyzed in terms of contributions from reshaping of the shell and its further interaction with the core. The system thus has potential applications as a symmetric building unit and a molecular device for nano-electronics/spintronics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Critical values of cyber parameters in a dynamic microgrid system

An islanded microgrid can be used to serve critcal load as a resiliency source when a severe outage occurs. In an islanded mode, control of a microgrid relies on the communication system significantly. Hence, microgrids are cyberphysical systems and, therefore, the cyber system plays a crucial role in the performance of the cyber-power system. A microgrid control scheme is proposed for power dispatch and regulation based on the droop and proportional-integral (PI) feedback control. The proposed control strategy is validated for transient stability following dynamic events. To evaluate the impact of a networked control system on control performance, a cyber model is developed to represent data acquisition periods and communication delays. An analytical method is proposed to determine the critical values for the data reporting periods and communication delays. The analytical method based on a state space model of a networked control system is applicable for large-scale systems. A 2-dimensional stability region of a microgrid in the space of cyber parameters can be obtained by the proposed method, and the critical values of cyber parameters are determined based on the stability region. Simulation results validate that the design of a microgrid as a cyber-physical system needs to be guided by critical values for the data reporting period and communication delay to prevent system instability.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Stability and Effects of Subsurface Oxygen in Oxide-Derived Cu Catalyst for CO 2 Reduction

Here, oxide-derived copper (OD-Cu) catalysts are promising candidates for the electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) due to the enhanced selectivity toward ethylene over methane evolution, which has been linked to the presence of subsurface oxygen (O sb ). In this work, O sb is investigated with theoretical methods. Although O sb is unstable in slab models, it becomes stabilized within a “manually” reduced OD-Cu nanocube model which was calculated by self-consistent charge density functional tight binding (SCC-DFTB). The results obtained with SCC-DFTB for the full nanocube were confirmed with subcluster models extracted from the nanocube, calculated with both density functional theory (DFT) and SCC-DFTB. The higher stability of O sb in the nanocube is attributed to the disordered structure and greater flexibility. The adsorption strength of CO on Cu(100) is enhanced by O sb withdrawing electron density from the Cu atom, resulting in reduction of the σ-repulsion. Hence, the coverage of CO may be increased, facilitating its dimerization.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Active synchronization between two different chaotic dynamical system

In this paper we investigate on the synchronization problem between two different chaotic dynamical system based on the Lyapunov stability theorem by using nonlinear control functions. Active control schemes are used for synchronization Liu system as drive and Rossler system as response. Numerical simulation by using Maple software are used to show effectiveness of the proposed schemes.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Mechanistic insights into the dehalogenation reaction of fluoroacetate/fluoroacetic acid

Fluoroacetate is a toxic compound whose environmental accumulation may represent an important contamination problem, its elimination is therefore a challenging issue. Fluoroacetate dehalogenase catalyzes its degradation through a two step process initiated by an S{sub N}2 reaction in which the aspartate residue performs a nucleophilic attack on the carbon bonded to the fluorine; the second step is hydrolysis that releases the product as glycolate. In this paper, we present a study based on density functional theory calculations of the S{sub N}2 initiation reaction modeled through the interaction between the substrate and the propionate anion as the nucleophile. Results are analyzed within the framework of the reaction force and using the reaction electronic flux to identify and characterize the electronic activity that drives the reaction. Our results reveal that the selective protonation of the substrate catalyzes the reaction by decreasing the resistance of the structural and electronic reorganization needed to reach the transition state. Finally, the reaction energy is modulated by the degree of stabilization of the fluoride anion formed after the S{sub N}2 reaction. In this way, a site-induced partial protonation acts as a chemical switch in a key process that determines the output of the reaction.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Open-Shell Tensor Hypercontraction

The extension of least-squares tensor hypercontracted second- and third-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (LS-THC-MP2 and LS-THC-MP3) to open-shell systems is an important development due to the scaling reduction afforded by THC and the ubiquity of molecular ions, radicals, and other open-shell reactive species. The complexity of wavefunction-based quantum-chemical methods such as Møller–Plesset and coupled cluster theory is reflected in the steep scaling of the computational costs with the molecular size. The least-squares tensor hypercontraction (LS-THC) method is an efficient, single-step factorization for the two-electron integral tensor but can also be used to factorize the double excitation amplitudes, leading to significant scaling reduction. Herein we extend this promising method to open-shell variants of LS-THC-MP2 and -MP3 by using diagrammatic techniques and explicit spin summation. The accuracy of the resulting methods for open-shell species is benchmarked on standard test systems such as regular alkanes as well as realistic systems involving bond breaking, radical stabilization, and other effects. We find that open-shell LS-THC-MPn methods exhibit errors highly comparable to those produced by closed-shell LS-THC-MPn and are highly insensitive to particular chemical interactions, geometries, or even moderate spin contamination.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Investigation of Relevant Distribution System Representation With DG for Voltage Stability Margin Assessment

This paper emphasizes the importance of including unbalanced distribution systems for voltage stability studies in power systems. The paper aims to: discuss the various simulation methods for power system analysis; highlight the need for modeling unbalanced distribution system for accurate load margin assessment; demonstrate the influence of net-load unbalance (NLU) on voltage stability margin (VSM). We also share a T&D co-simulation interface with commercial power system solvers. The distribution system is evolving rapidly with high proliferation of distributed energy resources (DERs); these are not guaranteed to proliferate in a balanced manner and uncertainty resulting due to these DERs is well acknowledged. These uncertainties cannot be captured or visualized without representing the distribution system in detail along with the transmission system. We show the impact of proliferation of DERs in various 3-phase proportions on voltage stability margin through T&D co-simulation. We also study the impact of volt/VAR control on voltage stability margin. This analysis is only possible by representing the distribution system in detail through T&D co-simulation. In conclusion, higher percentage of net-load unbalance (NLU) in distribution system aggravates the voltage stability margin of the distribution system, which can further negatively influence the overall voltage stability margin of the system.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

A Model Calibration Method for Grid-Forming Inverters Using Iterative Bayesian Optimization

As inverter-based resources (IBRs) are rapidly deployed, especially at the distribution and microgrid levels, the need to include their accurate representations in power systems models increases. With well-calibrated models, IBR-interactions can be examined, preventing any stability and operational issues, especially in islanded systems. This paper proposes a method to calibrate generic inverter models using Bayesian optimization, but with a parameter-grouping approach to improve speed and accuracy. This approach is illustrated for a grid-forming inverter using synthetic data and field measurements from a simple IBRbased microgrid. Tests show that the calibration algorithm has modest computation cost and is robust to noisy measurements..

Biswas, Shuchismita↗

Measuring Level Alignment at the Metal–Molecule Interface by In Situ Electrochemical 13C NMR

A new technique to measure energy-level alignment at a metal–molecule interface between the Fermi level of the metal and the frontier orbitals of the molecule is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The method, which combines the electrochemistry of organo-ligand-stabilized Au nanoparticles with 13C NMR spectroscopy (i.e. in situ electrochemical NMR), enables measuring both occupied and unoccupied states.

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory↗

Toward efficient polynomial preconditioning for GMRES

Here, we present a polynomial preconditioner for solving large systems of linear equations. The polynomial is derived from the minimum residual polynomial (the GMRES polynomial) and is more straightforward to compute and implement than many previous polynomial preconditioners. Our current implementation of this polynomial using its roots is naturally more stable than previous methods of computing the same polynomial. We implement further stability control using added roots, and this allows for high degree polynomials. We discuss the effectiveness and challenges of root-adding and give an additional check for stability. In this article, we study the polynomial preconditioner applied to GMRES; however it could be used with any Krylov solver. This polynomial preconditioning algorithm can dramatically improve convergence for some problems, especially for difficult problems, and can reduce dot products by an even greater margin.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Preparation and properties of short oil alkyd resin/TiO{sub 2} nanocomposites based on surface modified TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles

Alkyd resin/TiO{sub 2} nanocomposites (NC) were prepared from short oil alkyd resin and TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles (NPs) surface modified with in situ formed imine ligand, based on 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde and oleylamine, or with three gallic acid esters. The short oil alkyd resin was synthesized from sunflower oil, phthalic anhydride, and trimethylolpropane. Unmodified and surface modified TiO{sub 2} NPs were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Rheological investigation revealed that prepared dispersions have higher dynamic viscosity than pure alkyd resin. Using different characterization methods it was obtained that NCs have similar thermooxidative stability as alkyd resin, lower glass transition temperature, better barrier properties, enhanced hardness, better chemical resistance, and lower adhesion to the metal, except in the case of NC prepared using TiO{sub 2} NPs surface modified with imine, which exhibited better adhesion to the metal than pure alkyd resin.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Structural, Magnetic, and Magnetoelastic Properties of High Nd-Content Laves Alloys Prepared by Solid-State Synthesis

The magnetostrictive alloys with composition Tb{sub 0.4}Nd{sub 0.6}(Fe{sub 0.8}Co{sub 0.2}){sub x} (1.50 ≤ × ≤ 1.90) are synthesized using the solid-state mechanical alloying (MA) method followed by sintering. The phase component, structure, thermal stability, and magnetoelastic properties are investigated as functions of composition, milling process, and annealing temperature. An amorphous phase companied by free alpha-iron is formed by MA in a high-energy ball mill, which crystallizes into MgCu{sub 2}-type and PuNi{sub 3}-type structures with different annealing temperatures. A single Laves phase for the high Nd-content Tb{sub 0.4}Nd{sub 0.6}(Fe{sub 0.8}Co{sub 0.2}){sub 1.60} is formed at optimal conditions for heat treating at 700 °C for 30 min. A large linear anisotropic magnetostriction λ{sub a} (=λ{sub ||}–λ{sub ⊥}) as high as 560 ppm at 12 kOe is obtained for the sintered alloy, which may make it a promising magnetostrictive material. Meanwhile, this work may help to open up a new way to search for Laves phase magnetostrictive materials containing Nd.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibody against a triple negative breast cancer cell line

Highlights: • Discovery of potential biomarkers that can predict tumor behavior is essential in breast cancer. • A panel of monoclonal antibodies was produced by hybridoma technology. • MAbs that reacted with surface antigens of immunizing cell line but not normal cells were selected. • Target was identified as NCAM1 by immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry. • The anti-NCAM1 antibody has potential application in cancer diagnosis. Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women around the world such that more than 1,400,000 new cases are being diagnosed each year. Despite immense studies over many years on diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, about 30% of treated patients will relapse and require subsequent therapy. By development of hybridoma technology, murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against several human tumor-associated antigens have been produced and characterized in many laboratories. The purpose of these studies is to generate effective monoclonal antibodies that could be useful in tumor diagnosis and therapy. In this study, splenic lymphocytes of immunized BALB/c mouse with a new established breast cancer cell line (Pari-ICR cell line, established in Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research) were fused with the mouse myeloma cell line SP2/0 in the presence of polyethylene glycol. We generated a panel of monoclonal antibodies against the newly established cell line. The hybrid cultures were screened by flow cytometry. Hybridomas that produced antibody to surface antigens of immunizing cell line but not to Human Gingival Fibroblasts, adipose stem cells, and leucocytes isolated from peripheral blood were selected and cloned by limiting dilution method. The 1E3 clone (IgG2a type) that displayed clonal stability was further analyzed for specificity by flow cytometry. MAb 1E3 showed weak to strong reactivity to other cell lines compared with Pari-ICR cell line. Antigen identification was performed by a workflow consisting of immunoaffinity purification, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and mass spectrometry analysis. The target of 1E3 mAb was identified as NCAM1. In conclusion, using the antibody-based strategy we identified NCAM1 as a potential therapeutic target and biomarker for breast cancer.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Mechanistic understanding of aging behaviors of critical-material-free Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 //LiNi 0.9 Mn 0.1 O 2 cells with fluorinated carbonate-based electrolytes for safe energy storage with ultra-long life span

Behind-the-meter storage (BTMS) systems - a viable method to minimize potential risk of blackout events and stabilize the grid - require a different type of cost-effective energy storage with excellent safety, ultra-long (>20 years) cycle life and reasonable energy density compared that of electric vehicles. To increase the energy density and reduce the cost of a long-term cyclable lithium-titanate-based cell, it is required to employ a critical-material-free high voltage cathode and an electrolyte with good electrochemical and transport properties. In this report the long-term electrochemical performance and behaviors of selected critical-material-free Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 (LTO)//LiNi 0.9 Mn 0.1 O 2 (LNMO) full cells for BTMS applications are evaluated and analyzed in the optimized voltage range of 1.4-2.7 V at 45 degrees C with different fluorinated carbonate-based electrolytes. The fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC)-based electrolyte cell shows the highest capacity retention of 57.9% and Coulombic efficiency (CE) of 99.96% after 1000 cycles, potentially attributed to a dense, homogenous and less resistive LiF-rich solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer formed on the surface of LTO that may mitigate electrolyte decomposition and maintain relatively low cell impedance during cycling. The 3,3,3-fluoroethylmethyl carbonate (F-EMC)-based electrolyte cell, however, presents the worst performance with lower capacity and a sharp decrease of CE, due to unstable and non-uniform SEI formation and continuous oxidative electrolyte decomposition. This mechanistic understanding of cell aging behaviors and failure mechanisms with detailed analysis of surface chemistry and electrode morphology can guide design of new electrode chemistries and electrolyte formulations for the development of BTMS batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗