Sonar gain control in echolocating finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) in an open water (L)

Source levels of echolocating free-ranging Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis) were calculated using a range estimated by measuring the time delays of the signals via the surface and bottom reflection paths to the hydrophone, relative to the direct signal. Peak-to-peak source levels for finless porpoise were from 163.7 to 185.6 dB re:1 mu Pa. The source levels are highly range dependent and varied approximately as a function of the one-way transmission loss for signals traveling from the animals to the hydrophone. (c) 2006 Acoustical Society of America.

Determination of PAH, PCB, and OCP in water from the Three Gorges Reservoir accumulated by semipermeable membrane devices (SPMD)

Bioavailable water concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and organochlorine pesticides (OCP) were measured in the water column from Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) collected in May 2008 using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs). The sampling sites spanned the whole reservoir from the upstream Chongqing to the great dam covering more than 600 km long distance with water flow velocities ranging from <0.05 to 1.5 m s(-1). This is the first experience of SPMD application in the biggest reservoir in the world. The results of water sampling rates based on performance reference compounds (PRC) were tested to be significantly correlated with water flow velocities in the big river. Results of back-calculated aqueous concentrations based on PRC showed obvious regional variations of PAH, PCB and OCP levels in the reservoir. Total PAH ranged from 13.8 to 97.2 ng L-1, with the higher concentrations occurring in the region of upstream and near the dam. Phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene and chrysene were the predominant PAH compounds in TGR water. Total PCB ranged from 0.08 to 0.51 ng L-1, with the highest one occurring in the region near the dam. PCB 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180, 118 were the most abundant PCB congeners in the water. The total OCP ranged from 2.33 to 3.60 ng L-1 and the levels showed homogenous distribution in the whole reservoir. HCH, DDT and HCB, PeCB were the major compounds of OCP fingerprints. Based on water quality criteria, the TGR water could be designated as being polluted by HCB and PAH. Data on PAH, PCB and OCP concentrations found in this survey can be used as reference levels for future POP monitoring programmes in TGR. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

青杨组(Populus section Tacamahaca Spach)不同种对增强UV-B的反应差异

人类向大气中排放的大量氮氧化合物和氟氯烃类化合物(CFC’s)引起臭氧分子的分解，导致到达地球表面的紫外辐射增加，特别是UV-B辐射增强。本项目以青杨组杨树为模式植物，从形态和生理方面研究了来自不同UV-B背景下的康定杨与青杨在增强UV-B下的反应及其反应差异,并探讨了干旱、施肥对它们抗UV-B能力的影响。杨树具有分布广、适应性强、在生态环境治理和解决木材短缺方面均占有重要位置，研究成果可为生态系统的恢复与重建提供理论依据和科学指导。主要研究结果有以下： 1. 在温室中经过增强UV-B处理，杨树的外部形态及生理活动受到了一定程度的影响。增强UV-B导致康定杨、青杨的生物量、叶面积及节间长度降低，叶片增厚，SOD活性升高，膜伤害增加，而对叶片数目、R/S、叶绿素A、叶绿素B及整个叶绿素含量没有影响。两种杨树对UV-B胁迫的响应存在差异：在增强UV-B条件下，青杨的植株高度、生物量、叶面积、脯氨酸含量、长期用水效率受到的影响大于康定杨，相比而言，康定杨在比叶面积、叶片厚度、可溶性糖含量、UV-B吸收物质的含量及SOD和GPX活性方面增加的程度大于青杨。这些区别说明，来自于高海拔的康定杨比来自于低海拔的青杨对增强UV-B 具有更强的耐性。我们认为二者在叶片厚度、比叶面积、UV-B吸收物质含量及SOD、GPX活性差异是导致对增强UV-B耐性不同的原因。 2. 干旱与增强UV-B对杨树的生长和生理特性均产生了影响，而且两种胁迫共同作用时干旱表现减弱或加剧了UV-B对杨树某些形态和生理特性的影响。 据试验结果，干旱显著地降低了杨树的株高、叶片数目、叶面积，增加了叶片厚度，促进ABA的积累，提高了CAT活性。对于干旱，两种杨树之间也表现出了一定的差异性。可溶性蛋白质和脯氨酸在青杨叶片中得到显著积累，而在康定杨中没有变化。此外，CAT、长期用水效率在康定杨中受到的影响更加明显。长期用水效率的不同变化趋势说明两种杨树对水分胁迫采用了不同的用水策略，康定杨采用的是节水用水策略，提高用水效率，而青杨采用的是耗水的用水策略。根据干旱对叶面积、脯氨酸、ABA含量、CAT活性及长期用水效率等方面的影响，我们认为来自高海拔地区的康定杨比来自低海拔的青杨有更大的耐旱性，这是对生长环境长期适应的结果。在高海拔地区，因霜冻常带来土壤水分不可利用，降低了根系对水分的吸收，树木容易受到的生理性干旱。另外，高海拔的地区低的气温使植株对严寒有较强的耐性，减少了水分的需要。 生长于增强UV-B下的康定杨和青杨植株表现为高度降低，叶面积缩小，比叶面积增加；叶片栅栏组织、海绵组织均受到增强UV-B的影响，其厚度的增加导致整个叶片变厚。增强UV-B还显著提高了杨树的APX活性、UV-B吸收物质含量，而对叶片数目、ABA、可溶性蛋白质含量及CAT活性没有产生影响。试验中也观察到了两种杨树对增强UV-B响应的差异：与康定杨相比，在增强UV-B下青杨株高、叶面积降低的程度更大一些，SOD活性显著提高。另外UV-B吸收物质受到的影响不同。根据这些差别，高海拔的康定杨(3500 m)比来自低海拔的青杨(1500 m)增强UV-B有较强的耐性。 与水分充足情况下UV-B对植株的影响相比，干旱对杨树抗增强UV-B产生了一定的影响，表现为加剧或减弱UV-B对植物的影响，但这种影响与形态、生理指标有关。当干旱与增强UV-B共同作用时，杨树植株的株高、叶面积进一步降低、叶片进一步增厚。就脯氨酸的积累的而言，在没有水分胁迫时，增强UV-B促使它显著增加，而在干旱处理下这种效果变得不明显。干旱对增强UV-B的影响还与杨树的种类有一定的关系。在康定杨中，干旱减弱了增强UV-B对栅栏组织与海绵组织的影响，且在植株高度、叶面积上表现出累加效应，而在CAT上交互作用显著；但在青杨中干旱则加剧增强UV-B对栅栏组织与海绵组织的影响，在植株高度、叶面积及比叶面积上表现出显著的交互作用。据碳同素分析，在水分充足的条件下，无论是康定杨，还是青杨，增强UV-B均导致其长期用水效率的提高，然而当两种胁迫共同作用时，长期用水效率则表现出差异，在青杨中，长期用水效率得到进一步增高，而康定杨中干旱的效应被增强UV-B所减轻。 3. 田间试验表明，杨树的生长、生理特征都受到养分和增强UV-B的影响。施肥对杨树的影响表现为：提高了叶面积、生物量及SOD的活性，降低了抗坏血酸含量。对于施肥作用，两种杨树的反应也有区别：在康定杨中施肥显著增加了的叶片长度、宽度及光合色素的含量，降低了净光合速率、气孔导度及胞间CO2浓度；在青杨中，则SOD、GPX、APX活性表现增加。从试验看出，施肥对来自于高海拔地区的康定杨(3500 m)的影响较大，对来自低海拔的青杨(1500 m)影响较小，这与它们对原产地的生境适应有一定关系。在康定杨生长的高海拔地区，低温度和湿度不能为地上凋落物或土壤中的根分解提供理想的条件，造成当地土壤的低养分状况，所以当肥料施用以后，效果显著。 经过增强UV-B处理，杨树叶片中UV-B吸收物质含量、GPX的活性得到提高，而脯氨酸、丙二醛、可溶性蛋白质、叶绿素及类胡萝卜素含量没有受到影响。对于增强UV-B两种杨树受到的影响也有所不同：在青杨中增强UV-B导致叶面积缩小，生物量、净光合速率降低，APX的活性及长期用水效率的提高，而对康定杨的这些指标没有产生显著影响，相反抗氧化酶的活性明显高于青杨。这些差异性是由于两种杨树对原产地不同UV-B背景的长期适应结果。康定杨长期生长在较高UV-B环境中，对UV-B有较强的耐性。而青杨适应于较低的UV-B环境，对增强UV-B较为敏感。 试验中施肥也影响了植株对增强UV-B的反应，不过这种影响与杨树的种类及测定指标有一定的相关性。例如，在缺肥的情况下，青杨的长期用水效率和康定杨的叶绿素含量都受到增强UV-B的显著影响，而施肥以后这种影响变得不显著。在缺肥的条件下，GPX、APX在青杨中的活性、GPX在康定杨中的活性对增加UV-B反应不敏感；而施肥以后则变化显著，同样胞间CO2浓度在康定杨也有类似的变化。 For past decades, Ultraviolet radiation, especially UV-B reaching the Earth’s surface increased because of depletion of ozone layer resulted from emission of NxO and CFC’s from human activities. In this experiment, different species of Populus section Tacamahaca Spach from different UV-B background were selected as a model plant to assess the effects of enhanced UV-B radiation. Morphological and physiological traits induced by enhanced UV-B were observed and the different responses between P. kangdingensis and P. cathayana were discussed, furthermore the influences of drought and fertilizer on responses induced by enhanced UV-B were studied. Since poplars play an important role in lumber supply, and are important component of ecosystems due to their fast growth and wide adaptation, the study could provide a strong theoretical evidence and scientific direction for the afforestation, and rehabilitation of ecosystem. The results are as follows: 1. The experiment conducted in a greenhouse indicated that morphological and physiological traits of two poplars were affected by enhanced UV-B radiation. Enhanced UV-B radiation not only reduced biomass, leave area and internode length, but also increased leaf thickness and SOD activity as well as MDA concentration and electrolyte rate. However, no significant changes in leaf numbers, root shoot ratio, and total chlorophyll and chlorophyll component were observed. There were different responses to enhanced UV-B radiation between two species. Compared with P. kangdingensis, cuttings of P. cathayana, exhibited lower height increment and smaller leaf area. In addition, there were significant differences in free proline, soluble protein, and UV-B absorbing compounds, and the activity of SOD and GPX, long-term WUE between them. Differences in plant height, biomass, leaf area, free proline concentration, and long-termed WUE showed that P. cathayana were more affected by enhanced UV-B radiation than P. kangdingensis. In contrast, more increase of specific leaf mass, leaf thickness, and soluble sugar, and UV-B absorbing compounds, and activity of SOD and GPX were observed in P. kangdingensis. According to these results, we suggested that P. kangdingensis from high elevation, which adapted to higher UV-B environments, had more tolerance to enhanced UV-B than P. cathayana from low elevation, which adapted to lower UV-B environment. We believe it was the difference of leaf thickness, specific leaf mass, and UV-B absorbing compounds as well as the activity of SOD and GPX resulted in lower adaptation of P. cathayana to enhanced UV-B radiation. 2. Growth and physiological traits of two poplars were affected by both drought and enhanced UV-B radiation. Moreover, it was observed that when two stresses applied together drought could exacerbate UV-B effects or decrease sensitivity to UV-B. In the experiment, drought significantly decreased plant height, leaf numbers, leaf area, and increased leaf thickness, and ABA, and CAT activity of two poplars. There were significant interspecific differences to drought stress. Exposed to drought, soluble protein and proline concentration were increased in P. cathayana but not in P. kangdingensis. However, more changes in CAT and long-term WUE were observed in kangdingensis. Different change in long-term WUE suggests that two poplars adapted different water-use strategies. P. kangdingensis employ a conservative water-use strategy, whereas P. cathayana employ a prodigal water-use strategy. Based on the differences in leaf area, accumulation of free proline and ABA, CAT activity as well as long-term WUE, we believed that P. kangdingensis from high elevation had a greater tolerance to drought than P. cathayana from low elevation，which is the result of adaptation to local environment. In high elevation area, trees are prone to suffer from physiological drought because of un-movable water caused by frost. Besides lower temperature enable the plants had greater adaptability to frost as a results the requirement of water is reduced Enhanced UV-B radiation decreased shoots height, leaf area, and increased specific leaf mass and thickness of palisade and sponge layer as well as APX activity and UV-B absorbing compounds in both species. Whereas, leaf numbers, ABA content, soluble protein and CAT activity showed no differences to enhanced UV-B radiation. Interspecific differences were also observed. Compared with P. kangdingensis, P. cathayana showed lower shoot height and smaller leaf area, higher SOD activity. Besides, variation in UV-B absorbing compounds was found. These differences suggested that P. kangdingensis from high elevation (3500 m) was more tolerant to enhanced UV-B radiation than P. cathayana from low elevation (1500 m). Compared with morphological and physiological changes induced by enhanced UV-B radiation under well-watered conditions, drought exacerbated or decreased these changes. However, these effects vary with parameters measured. When two stresses applied together, shoot height and leaf area further decreased while leaf thickness further increased. Under well-watered conditions, enhanced UV-B radiation significantly increased proline content, but such effect was not observed under drought conditions. The effect of drought on enhanced UV-B radiation was related to species. For example, drought reduced the effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on palisade parenchyma and sponge mesophyll in P. kangdingensis, and additive effects in shoot height and leaf area and interactive effect CAT activity were observed. In contrast, for P. cathayana drought significantly exacerbated the effects of enhanced UV-B radiation on palisade parenchyma and sponge mesophyll; there were noticeable interaction in shoot height, leaf area and specific leaf mass. As far as long-term WUE is concerned, it was increased by enhanced UV-B radiation under well-watered conditions in both species. While different effect was observed between two species in combination of two stresses. Long-term water use efficiency was further increased in P. cathayana whereas the effect was less significant in P. kangdingensis. 3. The field experiment showed that growth and physiological traits of poplars were affected by nutrition and enhanced UV-B radiation. Fertilization significantly increased leaf area, biomass and SOD activity, reduced Ascorbic acid concentration. There was interspecific difference in response to fertilization. For P. kangdingensis, fertilization significantly increased leaf width, leaf length and photosynthetic pigments content while net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration were significantly decreased. However, for P. cathayana, these parameters were unaffected except the increase of SOD, GPX and APX activity. From above, it could concluded that P. kangdingensis from high elevation was more affected by fertilization than P. cathayana, This difference was due to adaptation to local environment., The low temperature and moisture where P. kangdingensis was collected can not provided optimum to decompose roots and litter fall as a result the nutrition in soil was poor. Exposed to enhanced UV-B radiation, for both species UV-B absorbing compounds and GPX activity were significantly increased while proline, MDA, soluble protein, chlorophyll, carotenoids were not affected. Different responses were also observed between the two species. Enhanced UV-B radiation caused significant decreases in leaf area, biomass, net photosynthetic rate and increase in APX activity and long-term WUE in P. cathayana but not in P. kangdingensis. In addition, activity in antioxidant enzymes was much higher in P. kangdingensis than in P. cathayana. In the experiment fertilization affected responses of cuttings to enhanced UV-B radiation, but it concern species and parameters measured. Long-term WUE in P. cathayana and chlorophyll in P. kangdingensis were significantly increased by enhanced UV-B radiation under non-fertilization treatments while the increase was not found under fertilization treatment. In contrast, under no fertilization treatment enhanced UV-B radiation did not affected GPX and APX activity in P. cathayana and GPX in P. kangdingensis while significant increase appeared after application of fertilization. Similar effect of enhanced UV-B radiation on intercellular CO2 concentration in P. kangdingensis was observed.

Relationships between precipitation, soil water and groundwater at Chongling catchment with the typical vegetation cover in the Taihang mountainous region, China

Vegetation cover plays an important role in the process of evaporation and infiltration. To explore the relationships between precipitation, soil water and groundwater in Taihang mountainous region, China, precipitation, soil water and water table were observed from 2004 to 2006, and precipitation, soil water and groundwater were sampled in 2004 and 2005 for oxygen-18 and deuterium analysis at Chongling catchment. The soil water was sampled at three sites covered by grass (Carex humilis and Carex lanceolata), acacia and arborvitae respectively. Precipitation is mainly concentrated in rainy seasons and has no significant spatial variance in study area. The stable isotopic compositions are enriched in precipitation and soil water due to the evaporation. The analysis of soil water potential and isotopic profiles shows that evaporation of soil water under arborvitae cover is weaker than under grass and acacia, while soil water evaporation under grass and acacia showed no significant difference. Both delta O-18 profiles and soil water potential dynamics reveal that the soil under acacia allows the most rapid infiltration rate, which may be related to preferential flow. In the process of infiltration after a rainstorm, antecedent water still takes up over 30% of water in the topsoil. The soil water between depths of 0-115 cm under grass has a residence time of about 20 days in the rainy season. Groundwater recharge from precipitation mainly occurs in the rainy season, especially when rainstorms or successive heavy rain events happen.

Gold Nanoparticle-based Colorimetric Sensor for pH Sensing

We present a newly designed colormetric sensor sensitive to pH value based on a gold nanocomposite composed of gold nanoparticles and pH-sensitive polymer{dodecylthioether end functionalized poly[2-(diethlamino) ethyl methacrylate], poly(DEAEMA)-DDT}. We have shown that this design can produce stable GNP precipitate under weakly basic condition(pH=7.5) and this precipitate can be dispersed in acidic solution(pH=4.0), due to the 2-(diethylamino) ethyl methacrylate protonated by H+.

海相碳酸盐－稀土元素共沉淀过程中的分异作用研究

本文主要运用稳定加液－反应系统对海水中方解石和文石形成时稀土元素的共沉淀现象进行了分析，研究了稀土元素在固-液体系中的迁移、转化和分配。进而在对其定量描述的前提下，研究了稀土元素共沉淀对各种反应条件的响应，并对共沉淀行为的机制进行了探讨。 本实验首先运用pH测试、高精度滴定分析等手段测定了实验中的一些基本参数，如[H+]、碱度和[Ca2+]，根据计算结果获得了各碳酸体系要素，并以此为基础建立了5℃、15℃和25℃及pCO2=0.003atm下海水中方解石或文石的沉淀动力学方程。实验结果表明： 1）在各条件下，方解石或文石的沉淀速率（R）和其在海水中过饱和度（Ω）存在很好的线性相关性，即海相碳酸盐的沉淀动力学方程可以通过下面的基本表达式来表示：LogR=k*Log(Ω-1)+b ； 2）过高的稀土元素浓度会对文石或方解石的沉淀产生抑制作用，进而对共沉淀过程中YREEs的分异和分馏产生一定的影响。相比方解石而言，文石的沉淀动力学过程承受稀土元素的干扰能力更强； 3）不同温度下得到的方解石或文石各自的沉淀动力学方程存在明显的差异，表明这一过程受热力学因素控制。相对于方解石而言，温度对文石的沉淀动力学的影响更为显著。 与前人研究不同的是，本实验中YREEs的浓度设定在非常低的范围内，从而避免了过高浓度YREEs对方解石或文石沉淀动力学过程的干扰。在最终的反应液中，各种实验条件非常接近自然环境。有关稀土元素的共沉淀行为主要得出以下定性或定量化结论： 1）YREEs在随方解石或文石的共沉淀过程中，均发生了强烈的分异作用。在方解石实验中，稀土元素的分异系数分布曲线呈凸状分布；而在文石实验中，稀土元素的分异系数随原子序数的增加逐渐减小，遵循镧系收缩的规律。总的来说，稀土元素，尤其轻稀土元素在文石中的分异作用要强于方解石。 2）无论是方解石还是文石，沉淀速率对YREEs的分异作用都有着明显的影响。在方解石中，YREEs的分异系数随沉淀速率的增加呈一致性递减趋势；而在文石中，其分异系数对文石沉淀速率有着截然不同的响应：轻稀土元素（La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd）的分异系数随文石沉淀速率的增加而下降，而重稀土元素（Ho, Y, Tm, Yb , Lu）的分异系数则随文石沉淀速率的增加呈上升趋势。 3）在方解石中YREEs的分异系数之间存在非常好的相互关系，表明这些元素是以成比例的方式参与共沉淀。整个谱系呈现中等强度的分馏，MREE相对于LREE和HREE要更为富集；在文石中由于沉淀速率的作用不同，只有Y、Ho、Yb、Lu等元素的分异系数之间有较好的相互关系。YREEs出现了差异性的强烈分馏，在新生成沉淀中轻稀土元素相对于重稀土元素强烈富集。 4）YREEs在溶液中和碳酸盐晶体表面的碳酸根配位形式对YREEs在共沉淀过程中的分异作用极为重要，YREEs在碳酸盐晶体表面的吸附是整个谱系发生分馏效应的关键环节。对于文石来讲，晶体中有效YREE离子和Ca离子半价大小之间的相近程度是其分馏效应的关键因素；而对于方解石来说，YREEs在方解石晶格中的安置就是其分馏效应的关键控制因子，但在晶格安置中起到关键作用的是YREEs和方解石中O原子之间离子键M-O的键长，而非离子半径。 5）综合YREEs在方解石中的分异作用和分馏效应，我们认为M2(CO3)3-CaCO3和MNa(CO3)2-CaCO3是最为可能的两种固体溶液形成模式。 最为重要的是，对比我们的实验结果与前人在灰岩、叠层石、微生物成因碳酸盐等方解石质载体中的研究成果，两者之间出现了非常好的一致性。我们认为方解石质载体将是重建古海水中稀土元素相关信息的重要工具。相比之下，文石质载体不适合作为类似的载体。

一种新型绿敏光致聚合物及全息特性研究

报道了一种新型的对绿光敏感的光致聚合物材料，对环境湿度不敏感，材料的干燥时间短。该材料以丙烯酰胺为单体，N-苯基甘氨酸作为引发剂，藻红B作为光敏剂，并加入成膜剂聚乙烯醇及增塑剂二甲亚砜。对材料中光引发剂、光敏剂及增塑剂浓度进行了优化，发现其有一个最佳值。本材料记录的全息图衍射效率可达50％以上，感光强度为60mJ／cm^2。在光聚物介质上能够记录信噪比比较高的图像，说明该材料可用于全息存储。

Characterization of TRPC2, an Essential Genetic Component of VNS Chemoreception, Provides Insights into the Evolution of Pheromonal Olfaction in Secondary-Adapted Marine Mammals

Pheromones are chemical cues released and sensed by individuals of the same species, which are of major importance in regulating reproductive and social behaviors of mammals. Generally, they are detected by the vomeronasal system (VNS). Here, we first investigated and compared an essential genetic component of vomeronasal chemoreception, that is, TRPC2 gene, of four marine mammals varying the degree of aquatic specialization and related terrestrial species in order to provide insights into the evolution of pheromonal olfaction in the mammalian transition from land to water. Our results based on sequence characterizations and evolutionary analyses, for the first time, show the evidence for the ancestral impairment of vomeronasal pheromone signal transduction pathway in fully aquatic cetaceans, supporting a reduced or absent dependence on olfaction as a result of the complete adaptation to the marine habitat, whereas the amphibious California sea lion was found to have a putatively functional TRPC2 gene, which is still under strong selective pressures, reflecting the reliance of terrestrial environment on chemical recognition among the semiadapted marine mammals. Interestingly, our study found that, unlike that of the California sea lion, TRPC2 genes of the harbor seal and the river otter, both of which are also semiaquatic, are pseudogenes. Our data suggest that other unknown selective pressures or sensory modalities might have promoted the independent absence of a functional VNS in these two species. In this respect, the evolution of pheromonal olfaction in marine mammals appears to be more complex and confusing than has been previously thought. Our study makes a useful contribution to the current understanding of the evolution of pheromone perception of mammals in response to selective pressures from an aquatic environment.

Modeling and optimization of semiconductor manufacturing process with neural networks

A neural network-based process model is proposed to optimize the semiconductor manufacturing process. Being different from some works in several research groups which developed neural network-based models to predict process quality with a set of process variables of only single manufacturing step, we applied this model to wafer fabrication parameters control and wafer lot yield optimization. The original data are collected from a wafer fabrication line, including technological parameters and wafer test results. The wafer lot yield is taken as the optimization target. Learning from historical technological records and wafer test results, the model can predict the wafer yield. To eliminate the "bad" or noisy samples from the sample set, an experimental method was used to determine the number of hidden units so that both good learning ability and prediction capability can be obtained.

First charge collection and position-precision data on the medium-resistivity silicon strip detectors before and after neutron irradiation up to 2x10(14) n/cm(2)

Test strip detectors of 125 mu m, 500 mu m, and 1 mm pitches with about 1 cm(2) areas have been made on medium-resistivity silicon wafers (1.3 and 2.7 k Ohm cm). Detectors of 500 mu m pitch have been tested for charge collection and position precision before and after neutron irradiation (up to 2 x 10(14) n/cm(2)) using 820 and 1030 nm laser lights with different beam-spot sizes. It has been found that for a bias of 250 V a strip detector made of 1.3 k Ohm cm (300 mu m thick) can be fully depleted before and after an irradiation of 2 x 10(14) n/cm(2). For a 500 mu m pitch strip detector made of 2.7 k Ohm cm tested with an 1030 nm laser light with 200 mu m spot size, the position reconstruction error is about 14 mu m before irradiation, and 17 mu m after about 1.7 x 10(13) n/cm(2) irradiation. We demonstrated in this work that medium resistivity silicon strip detectors can work just as well as the traditional high-resistivity ones, but with higher radiation tolerance. We also tested charge sharing and position reconstruction using a 1030 nm wavelength (300 mu m absorption length in Si at RT) laser, which provides a simulation of MIP particles in high-physics experiments in terms of charge collection and position reconstruction, (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

First charge collection and position-precision data on the medium-resistivity silicon strip detectors before and after neutron irradiation up to 2x10(14) n/cm(2)

Test strip detectors of 125 mu m, 500 mu m, and 1 mm pitches with about 1 cm(2) areas have been made on medium-resistivity silicon wafers (1.3 and 2.7 k Ohm cm). Detectors of 500 mu m pitch have been tested for charge collection and position precision before and after neutron irradiation (up to 2 x 10(14) n/cm(2)) using 820 and 1030 nm laser lights with different beam-spot sizes. It has been found that for a bias of 250 V a strip detector made of 1.3 k Ohm cm (300 mu m thick) can be fully depleted before and after an irradiation of 2 x 10(14) n/cm(2). For a 500 mu m pitch strip detector made of 2.7 k Ohm cm tested with an 1030 nm laser light with 200 mu m spot size, the position reconstruction error is about 14 mu m before irradiation, and 17 mu m after about 1.7 x 10(13) n/cm(2) irradiation. We demonstrated in this work that medium resistivity silicon strip detectors can work just as well as the traditional high-resistivity ones, but with higher radiation tolerance. We also tested charge sharing and position reconstruction using a 1030 nm wavelength (300 mu m absorption length in Si at RT) laser, which provides a simulation of MIP particles in high-physics experiments in terms of charge collection and position reconstruction, (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Fracture of colloidal single-crystal films fabricated by controlled vertical drying deposition

Controlled vertical drying deposition method was used to make high-quality single crystal close-packed colloidal films formed of different radii polystyrene latex spheres on glass substrates coming from a low concentration water suspension (0.1% volume fraction). Regardless of the spheres radii the film thickness was about 6.3 microns. However, cracks destroyed the crystalline film structure during the colloidal film growth. The effect of particle radius (85-215 nm range) on film cracking was systematically studied using in situ optical fracture monitoring. Primary parallel cracks run along the vertical growth direction, later followed by secondary branched cracks in-between the primary cracks due to residual water evaporation. Quantitative theoretical relationship between the cracks spacing and particles radius was derived and shows good agreement with experimental observations. Normalized cracks spacing is related to a reciprocal ratio of the dimensionless particle radius.

Design Study of a Heavily Loaded Ice Class Propeller Using an Advance Panel Method

A design and optimization procedure developed and used for a propeller installed on a twin-semitunnel-hull ship navigating in very shallow and icy water under heavy load conditions is presented. The base propeller for this vessel was first determined using classic design routines under open-water condition with existing model test data. In the optimization process, a panel method code (PROPELLA) was used to vary the pitch values and distributions and take into account the inflow wake distribution, tunnel gap, and cavitation effects. The optimized propeller was able to improve a ship speed of 0.02 knots higher than the desired speed and 0.06 knots higher than the classic B-series propeller. The analysis of the effect of inflow wake, hull tunnel, cavitation, and blade rake angle on propulsive performance is the focus of this paper.