Marine fisheries development in India, 2000 AD: a perspective

The status of marine fisheries research and development in India is discussed and the need for a high power national body to coordinate these activities is stressed. Priority areas for research and development have been outlined. It has been stressed that the strategy should be to achieve a production target of 3 million tonnes on the capture fisheries front (2.5 million tonnes from the inner shelf and 0.5 million tonnes from the outer shelf and slope areas) and 1 million tonne through aquaculture by 2000 AD.

大功率微波与臭氧等复合因子对大棚蔬菜根结线虫及土壤的作

虫（nematodes）是世界农业生产的一大障碍，每年给世界农业生产造成约1000亿美元的巨额损失，是世界各国一直关注的重点病害之一。线虫可以危害各种大田作物和各种温室植物，几乎所有的栽培植物都有线虫危害发生。随着人们环保意识的增强以及健康意识的觉醒，传统防治根结线虫的药物如溴甲烷等因对环境的破坏作用，或者由于高毒、使用不便、抗药性等原因而迅速退出历史舞台，研究环保高效防治线虫成为世界各国竞相发展的技术之一。本研究尝试通过物理方式防治蔬菜根结线虫，并调查了对土壤质量的影响，主要内容包括： 1. 设计制造了功率20 Kw，频率为915 MHz的大功率土壤微波处理机，并通过了田间试验; 2. 设计制造了每小时120 g臭氧产量的便携式臭氧土壤处理机，并通过了田间试验; 3. 采用4因素3水平正交法L9(34)在山东寿光蔬菜大棚进行了蔬菜根结线虫的防治试验，综合考察微波、臭氧、微波吸收剂、EM菌等不同处理水平对根结线虫和对土壤质量的影响，结果表明： 1) 大棚土壤经微波60 s照射能够显著降低甜瓜根结线虫数和根结指数（p < 0.05），盆栽试验只需处理10 s即可显著防治甜瓜根结线虫（p < 0.01）;以120 g/h臭氧浓度处理5 s也能显著降低甜瓜根结线虫的数量（p < 0.05）;田间施入5 g/m2的EM菌，能够显著降低甜瓜根结线虫的数量（p < 0.05）;盆栽试验中微波吸收剂具有降低根结线虫数量的趋势，但是不同处理水平之间差异不显著，田间试验则具有增加根结线虫的趋势，不同处理水平之间也没有显著差异。 2) 微波不同处理水平之间对甜瓜单瓜重的影响没有显著差异;以120 g/h臭氧浓度处理甜瓜能够显著增加甜瓜单瓜重（p < 0.05）;200 g/m2微波吸收剂能够显著提高甜瓜单瓜重（p < 0.05）;以5 g/m2EM菌处理土壤则显著降低甜瓜单瓜重（p < 0.05）。 3) 微波、臭氧、微波吸收剂不同处理水平对甜瓜糖度的影响没有显著差异;以3 g/m2的EM菌处理甜瓜能够显著降低甜瓜的糖度。 4) 不同因素对甜瓜硬度的影响没有显著差异。 5) 微波处理60 s能够显著提高甜瓜的果型指数（p < 0.1），臭氧、微波吸收剂、EM菌等因素不同处理水平之间对果型指数影响差异不显著。 6) EM菌5 g/m2处理浓度能够显著降低甜瓜株高（p < 0.1），微波、臭氧、微波吸收剂不同处理水平之间对株高的影响没有显著差异。 7) EM菌5 g/m2处理浓度能够显著降低甜瓜根径（p < 0.1），微波、臭氧、微波吸收剂不同处理水平之间对根径的影响没有显著差异。 8) 微波处理60 s能够显著降低表层土壤（0-5 cm）的有机质含量（p < 0.01）;以120 g/h的臭氧浓度处理，则可以显著提高10-15 cm土壤的有机质含量（p < 0.05），其它处理因素的不同水平对有机质的影响差异不显著。 9) 微波不同处理水平对土壤全氮的影响没有显著差异（p < 0.05）;120 g/h臭氧处理浓度能够显著降低表层土壤（0-5 cm）的土壤全氮量（p < 0.1）;100 g/m2微波吸收剂处理水平能够显著提高10-15 cm土壤全氮量（p < 0.05）;EM菌3 g/m2的处理水平则显著降低5-10 cm土壤全氮量（p < 0.05）。 10) 微波、微波吸收剂、EM菌不同处理水平之间对土壤全磷没有显著影响;240 g/h臭氧浓度处理5 s能够显著降低10-15 cm土层的土壤全磷含量(p < 0.05)。 11) 微波、微波吸收剂对土壤全磷没有显著影响;臭氧处理具有降低土壤有效磷的趋势，EM菌处理则有提高土壤有效磷的趋势，但是 不同处理水平之间差异不显著（p > 0.05）。 12) 微波处理对土壤EC值没有显著影响;臭氧、微波吸收剂、EM菌处理具有降低土壤EC值的趋势，但是不同处理水平之间差异不显著（p > 0.05）。 13) 微波处理30 s能够显著降低表层土壤的pH值（p < 0.05），臭氧、微波吸收剂、EM菌处理具有提高土壤pH值的趋势，但是不同处理水平之间差异不显著。

Beam propagation modelling of tapered waveguide lasers

A dynamic beam propagation model allows design optimization of high power low divergence tapered waveguide lasers. The model is extended to include spatially-resolved temperature profiles and a temperature dependent gain. Using this model, design parameters such as the optimum facet reflectivity, taper angle, and waveguide dimension can be calculated for low far-field divergence and high continuous wave power.

All-optical switching in a vertical coupler space switch employing photocarrier-induced nonlinearity

A novel compact integrated nonlinear optical switch is demonstrated. Using a high-power picosecond pulse of 5-ps pulsewidth and 250-MHz repetition rate, all-optical switching with a contrast ratio of 23 dB has been achieved using an in-fiber input power < 14 dBm (100 pJ/pulse). The switch speed depends on the carrier sweep-out time, which can be reduced to the 10 ps range by either applying a reverse bias or by introduction of carrier recombination centers in the active layer.

Challenges in the Silent Aircraft engine design

The Silent Aircraft Initiative goal is to design an aircraft that is imperceptible above background noise outside the airport boundary. The aircraft that fulfils this objective must also be economically competitive with conventional aircraft of the future and therefore fuel consumption and mechanical reliability are key considerations for the design. To meet these ambitious targets, a multi-fan embedded turbofan engine with boundary layer ingestion has been proposed. This configuration includes several new technologies including a variable area nozzle, a complex high-power transmission system, a Low Pressure turbine designed for low-noise, an axial-radial HP compressor, advanced acoustic liners and a low-speed fan optimized for both cruise and off-design operation. These technologies, in combination, enable a low-noise and fuel efficient propulsion system but they also introduce significant challenges into the design. These challenges include difficulties in predicting the noise and performance of the new components but there are also challenges in reducing the design risks and proving that the new concepts are realizable. This paper presents the details of the engine configuration that has been developed for the Silent Aircraft application. It describes the design approach used for the critical components and discusses the benefits of the new technologies. The new technologies are expected to offer significant benefits in noise reduction without compromising fuel burn. However, more detailed design and further research are required to fully control the additional risks generated by the system complexity.

Thin film shape memory alloys and microactuators

For Micro-electro-mechanical System (MEMS) applications, TiNi-based thin film Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) possess many desirable properties, such as high power density, large transformation stress and strain upon heating and cooling, superelasticity and biocompatibility. In this paper, recent development in TiNi-based thin film SMA and microactuator applications is discussed. The topics related to film deposition and characterisation is mainly focused on crystal nucleation and growth during annealing, film thickness effect, film texture, stress induced surface relief, wrinkling and trenches as well as Temperature Memory Effect (TME). The microactuator applications are mainly focused on microvalve and microcage for biological applications, micromirror for optical applications and data storage using nanoindentation method. Copyright © 2009, Inderscience Publishers.

Optical design of liquid crystal lenses: Off-axis modelling

We report on our work on producing liquid crystal switchable modal lenses and their use in a compound lens system in order to produce variable focus/zoom lenses. We describe work on producing a high power lens, and present theoretical work on off-axis phase modulation in a liquid crystal lens which is important in order to be able to carry out a complete optical design of a liquid crystal lens.

The effect of beam interruptions on the integrity of ADSR fuel pin cladding: A thermo-mechanical analysis

During its lifetime in the core, the cladding of an Accelerator Driven Subcritical Reactor (ADSR) fuel pin is expected to experience variable stresses due to frequent interruptions in the accelerator proton beam. This paper investigates the thermal fatigue damage in the cladding due to repetitive and unplanned beam interruptions under certain operational conditions. Beam trip data was obtained for four operating high power proton accelerators, among which the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) superconducting accelerator was selected for further analysis. 9Cr-1Mo-Nb-V (T91) steel was selected as the cladding material because of its proven compatibility with proposed ADSR design concepts. The neutronic, thermal and stress analyses were performed using the PTS-ADS, a code that has been specifically developed for studying the dynamic response to beam-induced transients in accelerator driven subcritical systems. The lifetime of the fuel cladding in the core was estimated for three levels of allowed pin power and specific operating conditions. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dye-sensitized solar cells based on a single layer deposition of TiO 2 from a new formulation paste and their photovoltaic performance

A new strategy for enhancing the efficiency and reducing the production cost of TiO 2 solar cells by design of a new formulated TiO 2 paste with tailored crystal structure and morphology is reported. The conventional three- or four-fold layer deposition process was eliminated and replaced by a single layer deposition of TiO 2 compound. Different TiO 2 pastes with various crystal structures, morphologies and crystallite sizes were prepared by an aqueous particulate sol-gel process. Based on simultaneous differential thermal (SDT) analysis the minimum annealing temperature to obtain organic-free TiO 2 paste was determined at 400°C, being one of the lowest crystallization temperatures of TiO 2 photoanode electrodes for solar cell application. Photovoltaic measurements showed that TiO 2 solar cell with pure anatase crystal structure had higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) than that made of pure rutile-TiO 2. However, the PCE of solar cells depends on the anatase to rutile weight ratio, reaching a maximum at a specific value due to the synergic effect between anatase and rutile TiO 2 nanoparticles. Moreover, it was found that the PCE of solar cells made of crystalline TiO 2 powders was much higher, increasing in the range 32-84% depending on anatase to rutile weight ratio, than that of prepared by amorphous powders. TiO 2 solar cell with the morphology of mixtures of nanoparticles and microparticles had higher PCE than the solar cell with the same phase composition containing TiO 2 nanoparticles due to the role of TiO 2 microparticles as light scattering particles. The presented strategy would open up new insight into fabrication and structural design of low-cost TiO 2 solar cells with high power conversion efficiency. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

In process laser beam diagnostics (403)

Laser beam diagnosis is usually carried out off-line in order to minimise the disruption to the process being carried out. This paper presents the results of a fractional sampling device for a high power beam diagnosis system capable of measuring in process beam properties such as beam diameter, intensity and beam position. The paper discusses the application of this sampling technique for monitoring beam properties during the laser materials processing operation.

In process laser beam diagnostics (403)

Laser beam diagnosis is usually carried out off-line in order to minimise the disruption to the process being carried out. This paper presents the results of a fractional sampling device for a high power beam diagnosis system capable of measuring in process beam properties such as beam diameter, intensity and beam position. The paper discusses the application of this sampling technique for monitoring beam properties during the laser materials processing operation.

2 μm solid-state laser mode-locked by single-layer graphene

We report a 2 μm ultrafast solid-state Tm: Lu2O3 laser, mode-locked by single-layer graphene, generating transform-limited ∼ 410 fs pulses, with a spectral width ∼ 11.1 nm at 2067 nm. The maximum average output power is 270 mW, at a pulse repetition frequency of 110 MHz. This is a convenient high-power transform-limited ultrafast laser at 2 μm for various applications, such as laser surgery and material processing. © 2013 American Institute of Physics.

A hybrid surface tension seal for pneumatic and hydraulic microactuators

Recent research revealed that microactuators driven by pressurized fluids are able to generate high power and force densities at microscale. One of the main technological barriers in the development of these actuators is the fabrication low friction seals. This paper presents a novel scalable seal technology, which resists the actuation pressure relying on a combination of a clearance seal and a surface tension seal. This approach allows to seal pressures of more than 800 kPa without leakage. The seal is tested on an actuator with a bore of 0.8 mm2 and a length of 13 mm, which was able to generate forces up to 0.32 N. © 2008 Springer-Verlag.

A ferrofluid seal technology for fluidic microactuators

Recent research revealed that microacruators driven by pressurized fluids are able to generate high power and force densities at microscale. Despite these promising properties, fluidic actuators are rare in microsystem technology. The main technological barrier in the development of these actuators is the fabrication of powerful seals with low leakage. This paper presents a seal technology for linear fluidic microacruators based on ferrofluids. An accurate design method for these seals has been developed and validated by measurements on miniaturized actuator prototypes. Our current actuator prototypes are able to seal pressures up to 16 bar without leakage. The actuator has an outside diameter of 2 mm, a length of 13 mm and the actuator is able to generate forces of 0.65 N and a stroke of 10 mm. Moreover, promising properties such as the restoration of the seal after a pressure overload have been observed.