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At least 163 records · Page 9

Controlled wetting and spreading of metals on substrates using porous interlayers and related articles

The disclosure generally relates to a method of creating patterned metallic circuits (e.g., silver circuits) on a substrate (e.g., a ceramic substrate). A porous metal interlayer (e.g., porous nickel) is applied to the substrate to improve wetting and adhesion of the patterned metal circuit material to the substrate. The substrate is heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the patterned metal circuit material but not the porous metal interlayer. Spreading of molten metal circuit material on the substrate is controlled by the porous metal interlayer, which can itself be patterned, such as having a defined circuit pattern. Thick-film silver or other metal circuits can be custom designed in complicated shapes for high temperature/high power applications. The materials designated for the circuit design allows for a low-cost method of generating silver circuits other metal circuits on a ceramic substrate.

Nicholas, Jason Dale↗

Spread Spectrum Time-Domain Reflectometry and Frequency Domain Reflectometry to Detect Shielded and Unshielded Cable Moisture Exposure

This work evaluates the feasibility to extend spread spectrum time-domain reflectometry (SSTDR) and frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) electrical cable testing to characterize whether an electrical cable is submerged in water or not and where it may be submerged. Using PNNL’s ARENA cable and motor test bed, shielded and non-shielded electrical cables were evaluated using SSTDR and FDR methods to detect and locate electrical cable exposure to water. Both SSTDR and FDR showed the presence of water with a non-shielded cable. Moisture was only detectable with the shielded cable if the insulation was damaged.

reflectometry cable test, cable moisture detection↗

Security Analysis of a Class of Spread Spectrum Systems Presentation

A method of adding physical layer security to a class of spread spectrum systems has been recently proposed. In this paper, we look into the rate at which an eavesdropper may gain information about the system to decipher the data symbols. The Shannon mutual information is used to measure the rate of information that may be gained by an eavesdropper. The k-nearest neighbors (k-NN) method is used to obtain estimates of relevant entropy values, which will then be used to quantify the rate of information recovery as more data is transmitted. It turns out that such information recovery requires the adoption of special methods that avoid any destructive bias in the estimates. Details of these methods are also presented.

97 - MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Security Analysis of a Class of Secured Spread Spectrum Systems

Abstract—A method of adding physical layer security to a class of spread spectrum systems has been recently proposed. In this paper, we look into the rate at which an eavesdropper may gain information about the system to decipher the data symbols. The Shannon mutual information is used to measure the rate of information that may be gained by an eavesdropper. The k-nearest neighbors (k-NN) method is used to obtain the estimates of relevant entropy values which will be then used to quantify the rate of information recovery as more data are being transmitted. It turns out that such information recovery requires adoption of special methods that avoid any destructive bias in the estimates. Details of these methods are also presented.

97 - MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry (SSTDR) and Frequency Domain Reflectometry (FDR) for Detection of Cable Anomalies Using Machine Learning

Cables are initially qualified for nuclear power plant use for 40 years. As plants extend their operating license to 60 and 80 years, continued use of these cables must shift to a performance-based approach since it is cost prohibitive to completely replace cables that are likely still capable of performing their design function. A variety of cable tests are available and are commonly applied during outages when the cables can be taken out of service. Frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) is one of these test methods that is being more broadly accepted and used because it not only detects anomalies along the cable with a low-voltage signal that does not stress the cable insulation, but the technique also locates the anomalies. This supports follow-up local inspection and local repair or partial replacement of a damaged cable segment. Currently, FDR testing is only applied to cables that are taken out of service since the test instrument would be damaged by operational voltages.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Size dependent infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 via respiratory droplets spread through central ventilation systems

In this work, we evaluate the transport of respiratory droplets that carry SARS-CoV-2 through central air handling systems in multiroom buildings. Respiratory droplet size modes arise from the bronchioles representing the lungs and lower respiratory tract, the larynx representing the upper respiratory tract including vocal cords, or the oral cavity. The size distribution of each mode remains largely conserved, although the magnitude of each droplet mode changes as infected individuals breathe, speak, sing, laugh, cough, and sneeze. Here we evaluate how each type of respiratory droplet transits through central ventilation systems and the implications thereof for infectivity of COVID-19. We find that while larger oral droplets can transmit through the air handling systems, their size and concentration are greatly reduced with but few oral droplets leaving the source room. In contrast, the smaller droplets that originate from the bronchioles and larynx are much more effective in transiting through the air handling system into connected rooms. This suggests that the ratio of lower respiratory or deep lung infections may increase relative to upper respiratory infections in rooms connected by central air handling systems. Also, increasing the temperature and humidity in the range considered after the droplets have achieved an “equilibrium” size reduces the probability of infection.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Is a Prescribed Fire Sufficient to Slow the Spread of Woody Plants in an Infrequently Burned Grassland? A Case Study in Tallgrass Prairie

In many mesic grasslands, such as the central Great Plains in North America, frequent fire is a key regulator of ecological processes. Long periods of infrequent fire facilitate the conversion of herbaceous-dominated grassland to woody-dominated shrubland or woodland. At the Konza Prairie Biological Station in northeast Kansas, one infrequently burned portion of the landscape has undergone transformation from grassland to woodland after nearly 30 yr without fire. In Spring 2017, a prescribed burn was implemented to assess fire effectiveness on woody plant mortality. A postfire census of 3 000+ individual woody plants identified the distribution of species by size (height), topographic position, and slope on the landscape. Mortality and canopy fire damage were calculated for each individual. In lowland locations with near-continuous shrub cover (30.7% of the landscape), woody plants were unaffected by fire. However, in upland and slope locations, where shrubs and trees were sparser, survival probability varied by topographic position and species. In these locations 68% of all woody individuals experienced 90% or greater fire damage to the canopy, with 56% of these individuals exhibiting new canopy regrowth within 2 mo after the fire. Here, the two most abundant woody shrubs, Cornus drummondii and Rhus aromatica, showed high survival at all height classes and landscape positions. The two abundant tree species, Gleditsia triacanthos and Juniperus virginiana, showed increased survival probability with tree height that varied by landscape position. Survival of J. virginiana also varied according to proximity and size of neighboring clonal shrubs, providing a mechanism for persistence of this fire-sensitive tree species even at small height classes. The probability survival curves developed here are useful for managers assessing when to prescribe fire to maximize mortality for J. virginiana and provide insight relevant for broader ecological understanding of woody encroachment within grasslands throughout the world.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗