Environmental monitoring review group feedback

The Drought Monitoring workshop of October 1996, held at the Jarvis Leyland Hotel in Preston, England, established 4 priority issues for dealing with the question: How do we monitor the environment to pick up unexpected change ? 1. Review existing data, and review related study areas throughout the country. 2. Modelling and analysis of data 3. Monitoring / new data / sentinel species' 4. Public relations / Promotion. A group was set up to review issue 1 and feedback to the main group. This report establishes this feedback to the group and refers to existing data / monitoring, other Regional and national work, external Organisations and Recommendations. Appendix 1, is a summary of work completed at the workshop.

Behavior of bulk melt-textured YBCO single domains subjected to crossed magnetic fields

We have experimentally investigated the crossed magnetic field effects on bulk melt-processed YBCO single domains. The samples were first permanently magnetized along their c-axis and then subjected to several cycles of a transverse magnetic field parallel to the ab planes. The magnetic properties along the c and ab directions were simultaneously measured using a couple of orthogonal pick-up coils as well as a Hall probe placed against the sample surface. The effects of both sweep amplitude and polarity were investigated. Field sweeps of alternate polarities are shown to affect the decay of the c-axis magnetization much more strongly than field sweeps of unique polarity do. However, the c-axis magnetization does not show any saturation even after a large number of field sweeps. Next, a micro-Hall probe scanning system was used to measure the distribution of magnetic induction over the top surface of the single domain subjected to the same combination of magnetic fields. The results are shown to be consistent with those determined with the sensing coils and bring out the role played by geometric effects.

Theoretical and experimental magnetization loss comparison between IBAD coils and RABiTS coils

This paper presents a comparative study of ac magnetization losses in two types of 2 G HTS racetrack coils. The magnetic substrate made by RABiTS is the main difference between the two types, because ferromagnetic loss caused by magnetic substrate is accounted into the total ac losses. IBAD and RABiTS tapes were successfully wound into racetrack shape with identical geometry. The measurements were carried out by using electromagnetic method with pick-up coils under a sinusoidally varying external magnetic field, with amplitudes up to 27 mT, ranging from 10 Hz to 100 Hz at a temperature of 77 K. The field was oriented perpendicularly to the surface of the tapes. Experimental measurements were validated by applying theoretical models and the results showed that the magnetization loss in the MAG RABiTS coil is always higher than that in the NON MAG coil due to the presence of the magnetic substrate, which increases the magnetic field penetration into the coil and causes higher magnetic flux density within the penetrated region. © 2002-2011 IEEE.

Anisotropic AC Behavior of Multifilamentary Bi-2223/Ag Tapes

In this communication, we report on the anisotropy of the superconducting properties of multifilamentary Bi-based tapes experimentally investigated by AC magnetic susceptibility measurements. The susceptibility $\chi= \chi' - j \chi''$ was measured using a commercial system and a couple of orthogonal pick-up coils. The $\chi''$ vs. temperature curves were shown to exhibit two peaks. The smaller of the peaks, occurring near T = 72K, was only visible for particular field directions and within a given frequency window. Such results point out the role played by the phase difference between the applied magnetic field and the internal magnetic field seen by the filaments.

Magnetic characterisation of large grain, bulk Y-Ba-Cu-O superconductor-soft ferromagnetic alloy hybrid structures

Large grain, bulk Y-Ba-Cu-O (YBCO) high temperature superconductors (HTS) have significant potential for use in a variety of practical applications that incorporate powerful quasi-permanent magnets. In the present work, we investigate how the trapped field of such magnets can be improved by combining bulk YBCO with a soft FeNi, ferromagnetic alloy. This involves machining the alloy into components of various shapes, such as cylinders and rings, which are attached subsequently to the top surface of a solid, bulk HTS cylinder. The effect of these modifications on the magnetic hysteresis curve and trapped field of the bulk superconductor at 77 K are then studied using pick-up coil and Hall probe measurements. The experimental data are compared to finite element modelling of the magnetic flux distribution using Campbell's algorithm. Initially we establish the validity of the technique involving pick-up coils wrapped around the bulk superconductor to obtain its magnetic hysteresis curve in a non-destructive way and highlight the difference between the measured signal and the true magnetization of the sample. We then consider the properties of hybrid ferromagnet/superconductor (F/S) structures. Hall probe measurements, together with the results of the model, establish that flux lines curve outwards through the ferromagnet, which acts, effectively, like a magnetic short circuit. Magnetic hysteresis curves show that the effects of the superconductor and the ferromagnet simply add when the ferromagnet is saturated fully by the applied field. The trapped field of the hybrid structure is always larger than that of the superconductor alone below this saturation level, and especially when the applied field is removed. The results of the study show further that the beneficial effects on the trapped field are enhanced when the ferromagnet covers the entire surface of the superconductor for different ferromagnetic components of various shapes and fixed volume. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Magnetic quantum oscillations for the surface states of topological insulator Bi2Se3

We study quantum oscillations of the magnetization in Bi2Se3 (111) surface system in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field. The combined spin-chiral Dirac cone and Landau quantization produce profound effects on the magnetization properties that are fundamentally different from those in the conventional semiconductor two-dimensional electron gas. In particular, we show that the oscillating center in the magnetization chooses to pick up positive or negative values depending on whether the zero-mode Landau level is occupied or empty. An intuitive analysis of these features is given and the subsequent effects on the magnetic susceptibility and Hall conductance are also discussed.

High sensitivity beam phase measurement system for isochronous cyclotron

The beam phase measurement system in the HIRFL is introduced. Based on the double-balanced mixer principle using rf-signal mixing and filtering techniques, a stable and sensitive phase measurement system has been developed. The phase history of the ion beam is detected by using a set of capacitive pick-up probes installed in the cyclotron. The phase information of the measurement is necessary for tuning to obtain a optimized isochronous magnetic field which induces to maximize the beam intensity and to optimize the beam quality. The result of the phase measurement is reliable and the accurancy reaches +/- 0.5 degrees.

Improved BCS-type pairing for the relativistic mean-field theory

A density-dependent delta interaction (DDDI) is proposed in the formalism of BCS-type pairing correlations for exotic nuclei whose Fermi surfaces are close to the threshold of the unbound state. It provides the possibility to pick up those states whose wave functions are concentrated in the nuclear region by making the pairing matrix elements state dependent. On this basis, the energy level distributions, occupations, and ground-state properties are self-consistently studied in the RMF theory with deformation. Calculations are performed for the Sr isotopic chain. A good description of the total energy per nucleon, deformations, two-neutron separation energies and isotope shift from the proton drip line to the neutron drip line is found. Especially, by comparing the single-particle structure from the DDDI pairing interaction with that from the constant pairing interaction for a very neutron-rich nucleus it is demonstrated that the DDDI pairing method improves the treatment of the pairing in the continuum.

FIRST ISOCHRONOUS MASS MEASUREMENTS AT CSRe

With the commissioning of the Cooler Storage Ring at the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou (HIRFL-CSR), a pilot experiment operating the CSRe in isochronous mode to test the power of HIRFL-CSR for measuring the mass of the short-lived nucleus was performed in December of 2007. The transition point gamma t of CSRe in isochronous mode is 1.395 which corresponds to the energy about 368 MeV/u for the ions with atomic number-to-charge ratio A/q = 2. The fragments with A/q = 2 of Ar-36 were injected into CSRe and their revolution frequencies were measured with a fast time pick-up detector with a thin foil in the circulating path of the ions. A mass resolution of better than 105 for m/Delta m was achieved.

核质量测量与Schottky探针研究

本文研究了用于九五国家大科学工程“兰州重离子加速器冷却储存环HIRFL-CSR”上的Schottky探针及利用schottky质谱仪进行核质量测量，研究了当前国际上核质量测量研究方法并结合当前的核质量测量研究现状，根据CSR能提供的实验条件，研究认为在HIRFL-CSR上利用Schttkv质谱仪方法进行核质量测量有很广阔的前景。根据HIRFL-CSR束流参数和束诊要求，设计了schottky探针电极及超高真空Schottky探针安装靶室。利用三维电磁场模拟计算程序MAFIA优化了Schottky探针的结构和形状。通过改变电极板的边缘场矫正板的长度和角度，在极板间获得了最佳的场分布。模拟结果表明对水平和垂直方向的探针矫正板长度分别为4cm、3cm并且夹角分别为30、20度时在探针极板间可得到很好的横向匀场。对Schottky样机的信号响应进行的仔细的测试，获得了较满意的结果。本文还研究了利用Schottky质谱仪进行核质量测量的Schottky信号处理方法与质量测量原理，对当前远离β稳定线的核质量测量前景做了仔细分析。对Schottky探针用于CSR的束流参数测量和核质量测量方法进行了较深入的探讨。

网络遥操作机器人的任务产生方法研究

为了解决网络遥操作中操作者误操作问题,给出了一种在非结构环境下遥操作机器人的模糊控制方法,介绍了一种网络遥操作机器人控制系统结构,对任务产生器进行了设计,并以网络遥操作机械手抓取物品为例,通过实验验证了所设计方法的合理性。

关于参数规划在自治智能移动式机器人中实际应用的探讨

机器人行走空间的复杂性决定了导航监控系统不仅为机器人提供行走路线,还要依据预先得到的先验数据与知识告诉机器人不同行走段的障碍分布、环境边界走向及约束程度,按照载体的几何形状,运动特性选择合适的速度、加速度,保证在安全的前提下最快完成行走.本文讨论了提取影响机器人当前行走的障碍、环境边界算法和不同行走速度段的划分与关键点抽取方法,讨论了各种速度段的分离、合并、高速行走段的插补和过短行走段的平滑滤除等等.

油气勘探中的弱磁异常提取与区域场分析

Petroleum and natural gas is an important strategic resources. The short of the reserves will block the development of economy and threaten the safety of nation, along with the main oil fields of our country coming to the height of power and splendor of the exploitation and exploration. Therefore, it makes a great sense to inaugurate new explorative field and increase the reserves of petroleum and natural gas. Magnetic exploration is a main method of geophysics exploration. the developing observation apparatus and the perfect processing method provide wide space for magnetic exploration in these years. The method of magnetic bright spot is an application of magnetic exploration. The vertical migration of the hydrocarbon changes physical and chemical environment above the hydrocarbon reservoir, the new environment make tervalent iron translate into bivalent iron, that produce small scale magnetic anomaly, that is magnetic bright spot. The method of magnetic bright spot explores oil and gas field by the relation between the hydrocarbon and magnetic anomaly. This paper systemically research to pick-up and identify magnetic bright spot combining an oil field item, then point out advantaged area. In order to test the result, the author use the seismic information to superpose the magnetic bright spot, that prove the magnetic bright spot is reliable. then, the author complete a software to pick and identify the magnetic bright spot. The magnetic basement is very important to research forming and evolvement of the basin, especially, it is a crucial parameter of exploring residual basin in the research on pre-Cenozoic residual. This paper put forward a new method to inverse the interface of the magnetic layer on the basis of previous work, that is the method of separation of magnetic field step by step. The theory of this method is to translate the result of magnetic layer fluctuation to the result of magnetization density change, and the magnetic layer is flat, the paper choose thickness of magnetic layer as unit thickness, and define magnetic layer as a unit-thickness layer in order to convenient calculation, at the same time, define the variational magnetization density as equivalent magnetic density. Then we translate the relation between magnetic field and layer fluctuation to the relation between magnetic field and equivalent magnetic density, then, we can obtain the layer fluctuation through calculating equivalent magnetic density. Contrast to conventional parker method, model experimentation and example checkout prove this method is effective. The merit of this method is to avoid flat result in a strongly fluctuant area because of using a uniform average depth, the result of this method is closer to the fact, and this method is to inverse equivalent magnetic density, then translate equivalent magnetic density to layer fluctuation, this lays a foundation to inverse variational magnetic density in the landscape orientation and portrait.

Aspects of the biology of the parasite Bonamia ostreae with a view to gaining a greater understanding of how to alleviate its impact on the European flat oyster, Ostrea edulis.

The parasite Bonamia ostreae has decimated Ostrea edulis stocks throughout Europe. The complete life cycle and means of transmission of the parasite remains unknown. The methods used to diagnose B. ostreae were examined to determine sensitivity and reproducibility. Two methods, with fixed protocols, should be used for the accurate detection of infection within a sample. A 13-month study of two stocks of O. edulis with varying periods of exposure to B. ostreae, was undertaken to determine if varying lengths of exposure would translate into observations of differing susceptibility. Oyster stocks can maintain themselves over extended periods of time in B. ostreae endemic areas. To identify a well performing spat stock, which could be used to repopulate beds within the region, hatchery bred spat from three stocks found in the North sea were placed on a B. ostreae infected bed and screened for growth, mortality and prevalence of infection. Local environmental factors may influence oyster performance, with local stocks better adapted to these conditions. Sediment and macroinvertebrate species were screened to investigate mechanisms by which B. ostreae may be maintaining itself on oyster beds. Mytilus edulis was positive, indicating that B. ostreae may use incidental carriers as a method of maintaining itself. The ability of oyster larvae to pick up infection from the surrounding environment was investigated by collecting larvae from brooding oysters from different areas. Larvae may acquire the pathogen from the water column during the process of filter feeding by the brooding adult, even when the parents themselves are uninfected. A study was undertaken to elucidate the activity of the parasite during the initial stage of infection, when it cannot be detected within the host. A naïve stock screened negative for infection throughout the trial, using heart imprints and PCR yet B. ostreae was detected by in-situ hybridisation.

Evaluating the process of borosilicate glass capillaries used for fabrication of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) micro-pipettes

In this paper we investigate a number of gas flames for fire polishing borosilicate glass capillaries used in the manufacturing of IVF micro-pipettes. Hydrofluoric acid (HF) was also used as an alternative to finish the pipette end. Glass micro tools in the IVF industry are drawn from hollow glass capillaries of diameter 1 mm. These capillaries are cut manually to a length of 100 mm from hollow glass rods resulting in sharp and chipped edges. These capillaries are held in a customised holder having padding of soft silicone or rubber. Sharp and uneven edges of these capillaries pick up particles of rubber or soft silicone shavings, rendering them ineffective for IVF treatments. The working range of borosilicate glass is 800-1,200 degrees C. The experiments involved analysis of fire polishing process for borosilicate glass capillaries using candle, butane, propane, 2350 butane propane, oxyacetylene gas flames, finding the optimum distance of the capillary relative to the flame, optimum time for which the capillary should be held in the flame and optimum region of the flame which gives the required temperature range. The results show that 2350 butane propane gas mix is optimum for fire polishing of borosilicate glass capillaries. The paper is concluded by comparing the results of fire polishing with the results of acid polishing, in which HF of 1.6% concentration is used to etch the ends of the borosilicate glass pipettes.