Fiber Bragg grating accelerometer based on a transversely rotating stick

Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) accelerometers using transverse forces with an inertial object placed at the middle of the FBG have a high sensitivity but low resonant frequency. The resonant frequency 26 Hz and sensitivity at 6 Hz 1.29 nm/g were reported based on a 50mm-long FBG accelerometer. We demonstrate that the first FBG accelerometer based on a transversely rotating stick, which can, at the same or even larger size, keep the high sensitivity and significantly increase the low resonant frequency. In our experiments, a 77.5mm-long FBG accelerometer has achieved a similar sensitivity but 65% higher resonant frequency. This novel structure not only significantly widens the potential applications of FBG accelerometers by increasing their resonant frequencies but also provides a new route to design other accelerometers, e.g. micro accelerometers.

Double diffusive Marangoni convection flow of electrically conducting fluid in a square cavity with chemical reaction

Double diffusive Marangoni convection flow of viscous incompressible electrically conducting fluid in a square cavity is studied in this paper by taking into consideration of the effect of applied magnetic field in arbitrary direction and the chemical reaction. The governing equations are solved numerically by using alternate direct implicit (ADI) method together with the successive over relaxation (SOR) technique. The flow pattern with the effect of governing parameters, namely the buoyancy ratio W, diffusocapillary ratio w, and the Hartmann number Ha, is investigated. It is revealed from the numerical simulations that the average Nusselt number decreases; whereas the average Sherwood number increases as the orientation of magnetic field is shifted from horizontal to vertical. Moreover, the effect of buoyancy due to species concentration on the flow is stronger than the one due to thermal buoyancy. The increase in diffusocapillary parameter, w caus

Performance assessment in a heat exchanger tube fitted with double counter twisted tape inserts

The present study explored the effects of the double counter twisted tapes on heat transfer and fluid friction characteristics in a heat exchanger tube. The double counter twisted tapes were used as counter-swirl flow generators in the test section. The experiments were performed with double counter twisted tapes of four different twist ratios (y = 1.95, 3.85, 5.92 and 7.75) using air as the testing fluid in a circular tube turbulent flow regime where the Reynolds number was varied from 6950 to 50,050. The experimental results demonstrated that the Nusselt number, friction factor and thermal enhancement efficiency were increased with decreasing twist ratio. The results also revealed that the heat transfer rate in the tube fitted with double counter twisted tape was significantly increased with corresponding increase in pressure drop. In the range of the present work, heat transfer rate and friction factor were obtained to be around 60 to 240% and 91 to 286% higher than those of the plain tube values, respectively. The maximum thermal enhancement efficiency of 1.34 was achieved by the use of double counter twisted tapes at constant blower power. In addition, the empirical correlations for the Nusselt number, friction factor and thermal enhancement efficiency were also developed, based on the experimental data.

Modeling of Channel Potential and Subthreshold Slope of Symmetric Double-Gate Transistor

A new physically based classical continuous potential distribution model, particularly considering the channel center, is proposed for a short-channel undoped body symmetrical double-gate transistor. It involves a novel technique for solving the 2-D nonlinear Poisson's equation in a rectangular coordinate system, which makes the model valid from weak to strong inversion regimes and from the channel center to the surface. We demonstrated, using the proposed model, that the channel potential versus gate voltage characteristics for the devices having equal channel lengths but different thicknesses pass through a single common point (termed ``crossover point''). Based on the potential model, a new compact model for the subthreshold swing is formulated. It is shown that for the devices having very high short-channel effects (SCE), the effective subthreshold slope factor is mainly dictated by the potential close to the channel center rather than the surface. SCEs and drain-induced barrier lowering are also assessed using the proposed model and validated against a professional numerical device simulator.

Anomalous thermal dynamics of Bragg gratings inscribed in germanosilicate optical fiber

An interesting, periodic appearance of a new peak has been observed in the reflected spectrum of a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) inscribed in a germanosilicate fiber during thermal treatment. The new peak occurs on the longer wavelength side of the spectrum during heating and on the shorter wavelength side during cooling, following an identical reverse dynamics. Comparison with a commercial grating with 99.9% reflectivity shows a similar decay dynamics. It is proposed that the distortion due to simultaneous erasure and thermal expansion of the index modulation profile may be responsible for the observed anomaly. The reported results help us in understanding the thermal behavior of FBGs and provide additional insights into the mechanisms responsible for the photosensitivity in germanosilicate fibers.

Enhanced sensitivity in detection of Kerr rotation by double modulation and time averaging based on Allan variance

Experiments in spintronics necessarily involve the detection of spin polarization. The sensitivity of this detection becomes an important factor to consider when extending the low temperature studies on semiconductor spintronic devices to room temperature, where the spin signal is weaker. In pump-probe experiments, which optically inject and detect spins, the sensitivity is often improved by using a photoelastic modulator (PEM) for lock-in detection. However, spurious signals can arise if diode lasers are used as optical sources in such experiments, along with a PEM. In this work, we eliminated the spurious electromagnetic coupling of the PEM onto the probe diode laser, by the double modulation technique. We also developed a test for spurious modulated interference in the pump-probe signal, due to the PEM. Besides, an order of magnitude enhancement in the sensitivity of detection of spin polarization by Kerr rotation, to 3x10(-8) rad was obtained by using the concept of Allan variance to optimally average the time series data over a period of 416 s. With these improvements, we are able to experimentally demonstrate at room temperature, photoinduced steady-state spin polarization in bulk GaAs. Thus, the advances reported here facilitate the use of diode lasers with a PEM for sensitive pump-probe experiments. They also constitute a step toward detection of spin-injection in Si at room temperature.

Dynamic initiation toughness measu~ment using double Grooved discs

Among the multitude of test specimen geometries used for dynamic fiacture toughness evaluation, the most widely uscd specimen is lhc Chavpy specimen due its simple geomclry and availability of testing machines. The standard Chatpy specimen dimensions may llOl always give plane st~ain condilions and hence, it may be necessary Io coilduct lcs/s using specimens of dillEvcnt thicknesses to establish the plane strain K~a. An axisymmct/ic specimen, on the otlaev hand would always give flow constraints l~n a nominal specimen thickness i~rcspcctive of the test matctial. The notched disk specimen pVOl)oscd by Bcrn:ud ctal. [1] for static and dynamic initiation toughness measurement although p~ovicles plain-strain conditions, the crack plopagatcs at an angle to the direction of applied load. This makes inteq~retation of the test results difficult us it ~Ccluivcs ~actial slices to be cut fiom the fractured specimen to ascertain the angle o1 crack growth and a linite element model l~)r tl);t{ pa~ticulat ctack o~icntalion.

Esophageal stricture in children: Fiber-optic endoscopy and dilatation under fluoroscopic control

We made a retrospective analysis of the efficacy and complication rate of 268 esophageal dilatation procedures performed under fluoroscopic control using the fiber-optic endoscope in 45 children with esophageal stricture. Antegrade and retrograde stricture dilatation was performed under general anesthetic, mainly as an outpatient procedure. Thirty-six children had an esophageal stricture following tracheoesophageal fistula and/or esophageal atresia repair, and nine children had severe corrosive stricture of the esophagus following lye ingestion. The procedure was well tolerated and effective. © 1992 Raven Press, Ltd., New York.

Local structure of Sr2FeMoxW1-xO6 double perovskites across the composition-driven metal to insulator transition

Sr2FeMoO6 oxides exhibit a half-metallic ferromagnetic (HM-FM) ground state and peculiar magnetic and magnetotransport properties, which are interesting for applications in the emerging field of spintronics and attractive for fundamental research in the field of heavily correlated electron systems. Sr2FeWO6 is an insulator with an antiferromagnetic (I-AFM) ground state. The solid solutions Sr2FeMoxW1-xO6 also have peculiar properties-W doping enhances chemical order which allows stabilization of the HM-FM state; as the W content exceeds a certain value a metal to insulator transition (MIT) occurs. The role of W in determining the physical properties of Sr2FeMoxW1-xO6 systems has been a matter of intense investigation. This work deals with the problem of the structural and electronic changes related to the MIT from a local perspective by means of x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). This technique allows one to probe in detail the local structure and electronic modifications around selected absorber ions (W, Mo, Fe and Sr in our case). The results of XAS analysis in the whole composition range (0 <= x <= 1), in the near edge (XANES) and extended (EXAFS) regions, demonstrate an abrupt change of the local structure around the Fe and Mo sites at the critical composition, x(c). This change represents the microstructural counterpart associated with the MIT. Conversely, the local structure and electronic configuration of W ions remain unaltered in the whole composition range, suggesting indirect participation of W in the MIT.

Novel Mass Spectrometric Analysis Methods for Anabolic Androgenic Steroids in Sports Drug Testing

The feasibility of different modern analytical techniques for the mass spectrometric detection of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) in human urine was examined in order to enhance the prevalent analytics and to find reasonable strategies for effective sports drug testing. A comparative study of the sensitivity and specificity between gas chromatography (GC) combined with low (LRMS) and high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) in screening of AAS was carried out with four metabolites of methandienone. Measurements were done in selected ion monitoring mode with HRMS using a mass resolution of 5000. With HRMS the detection limits were considerably lower than with LRMS, enabling detection of steroids at low 0.2-0.5 ng/ml levels. However, also with HRMS, the biological background hampered the detection of some steroids. The applicability of liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) was studied with metabolites of fluoxymesterone, 4-chlorodehydromethyltestosterone, stanozolol and danazol. Factors affecting the extraction process were studied and a novel LPME method with in-fiber silylation was developed and validated for GC/MS analysis of the danazol metabolite. The method allowed precise, selective and sensitive analysis of the metabolite and enabled simultaneous filtration, extraction, enrichment and derivatization of the analyte from urine without any other steps in sample preparation. Liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) methods utilizing electrospray ionization (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) were developed and applied for detection of oxandrolone and metabolites of stanozolol and 4-chlorodehydromethyltestosterone in urine. All methods exhibited high sensitivity and specificity. ESI showed, however, the best applicability, and a LC/ESI-MS/MS method for routine screening of nine 17-alkyl-substituted AAS was thus developed enabling fast and precise measurement of all analytes with detection limits below 2 ng/ml. The potential of chemometrics to resolve complex GC/MS data was demonstrated with samples prepared for AAS screening. Acquired full scan spectral data (m/z 40-700) were processed by the OSCAR algorithm (Optimization by Stepwise Constraints of Alternating Regression). The deconvolution process was able to dig out from a GC/MS run more than the double number of components as compared with the number of visible chromatographic peaks. Severely overlapping components, as well as components hidden in the chromatographic background could be isolated successfully. All studied techniques proved to be useful analytical tools to improve detection of AAS in urine. Superiority of different procedures is, however, compound-dependent and different techniques complement each other.

Base specific binding of deoxyguanylate and deoxycytidylate antibodies to double stranded DNA

Antibodies raised in rabbits against daoxyguanylate and daoxycytidylate bind to 3H-(lambda) double stranded DNA and the binding is base specific. The concentrations of antibody populations that bind to double stranded DNA are much less than those binding to denatured DNA. Due to their low concentrations, these antibodies ware not detected in earlier studies. These antibodies are expected to be useful to probe the conformational flexibilities of double stranded DNAs.

Left-handed helices for DNA: studies on poly[d(I-C)]

Earlier, we showed that, for the D form (n = 8 and h = 3.03 A, where n is number of nucleotide units per turn and h is height per nucleotide unit) of poly[d(A-T)], both right- and left-handed double helical models are stereochemically satisfactory and give good agreement with the observed fiber diffraction data. It was also noted that the conformations of the right- and left-handed D-DNA models are very similar to those of the right- and left-handed B-DNA models. This observation was consistent with the D leads to B transition in the solid phase. As a continuation of our earlier studies, we have carried out similar experiments with poly[d(I-C)]. We could obtain a crystalline D-form pattern (n = 8, h = 3.13 A) of the fiber at 75% relative humidity (r.h.); the hydrated (r.h. approximately equal to 95%) form of the same fiber gave the classical B-form pattern (n = 10, h = 3.40 A). In the present report, we show that both right- and left-handed double-helical models are consistent with the fiber diffraction data of poly[d(I-C)] in the D-form. Theoretical energy calculations also suggest that the right- and left-handed B- and D-DNA models are almost equally stable. Hence, we conclude that the right- and left-handed double-helical models of poly[d(I-C)] in a given form (B or D) are equally likely and that the fiber diffraction data do not permit discrimination.

Laser surface cladding of MRI 153M magnesium alloy with (Al+Al2O3)

Laser surface cladding was carried out on a creep-resistant MRI 153M magnesium alloy with a mixture of Al and Al2O3 powders using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser at scan speeds of 21, 42, 63 and 84 mm/s. The Al2O3 particles partially or completely melted during laser irradiation and re-solidified with irregular shapes in the size range of 5–60 µm along with a few islands as large as 500 µm, within the grain-refined Mg-rich dendritic matrix. More than an order of magnitude improvement in wear resistance after cladding was attributed to the presence of ultra-hard Al2O3 particles, increased solid solubility of Al and other alloying elements, and a very fine dendritic microstructure as a result of rapid solidification in the cladded layer. However, corrosion resistance of the laser cladded alloy was reduced by almost an order of magnitude compared to that of the as-cast alloy mainly due to the presence of cracks and pores in the cladded layer.

ESR Studies of Phase Transitions in Double Propionates: Dicalcium Barium Propionate Ca2Ba(C2H5COO)6

Single crystal [(111) and (100) planes], and powder ESR of Mn2+ (substituting for Ca2+) in Ca2Ba(C2H5COO)6 in the temperature range 220°C to -160°C shows (i) a doubling of both the physically and chemically inequivalent sites, and a change in the magnitude (150 G at -6°C to 170 G at -8°C) as well as the orientation of the D tensor across the -6°C transition and (ii) an inflection point in the D vs T plot across the -75°C transition. The oxygen octahedra around the Ca2+ sites are inferred to undergo alternate rotations, showing the participation of the carboxyl oxygens in the -6°C transition. A relation of the type D=D0(1+αT+βT2) seems to fit the D variation satisfactorily.