Applications of dense media radiative transfer theory for passivemicrowave remote sensing of foam covered ocean

The effect of the foam covered ocean surface on the passive microwave remote sensing measurements is studied based on the electromagnetic scattering theory. In formulating an electromagnetic scattering model, the authors treat the foam as densely packed sticky air bubbles coated with thin seawater coating. The layer of foam covers the ocean surface that has air bubbles. They then use dense media radiative transfer (DMRT) theory with quasi-crystalline approximation (QCA) for densely distributed sticky moderate size particles to calculate the brightness temperatures of the foam-covered ocean surface. Results are illustrated for 19 GHz and 37 GHz and for both vertical and horizontal polarizations as a function of foam microstructure properties and foam layer thickness. Comparisons are also made with experimental measurements     

Dependence of carrier lifetime on Cu-contacting temperature and ZnTe:Cu thickness in CdS/CdTe thin film solar cells

Cu diffusion from a ZnTe:Cu contact interface can increase the net acceptor concentration in the CdTe layer of a CdS/CdTe photovoltaic solar cell. This reduces the space-charge width (W_d) of the junction and enhances current collection and open-circuit voltage. Here we study the effect of Cu concentration in the CdTe layer on carrier lifetime (τ) using time-resolved photoluminescence measurements of ZnTe:Cu/Ti-contacted CdTe devices. Measurements show that if the ZnTe:Cu layer thickness remains constant and contact temperature is varied, τ increases significantly above its as-deposited value when the contacting temperature is in a range that has been shown to yield high-performance devices (~ 280° to ~ 320 °C). However, when the contacting temperature is maintained near an optimum value and the ZnTe:Cu thickness is varied, τ decreases with ZnTe:Cu thickness.     

Na incorporation in Mo and CuInSe2 from production processes

Results of characterization of thin films of Mo deposited by DC magnetron sputtering on soda-lime glass (Mo/SLG) and CuInSe₂ (CIS) on Mo/SLG are presented. The primary objective of the work was to clarify the factors determining the concentration of Na in commercial-grade CIS. Mo films were deposited by three laboratories manufacturing CIS thin film solar cells. Analysis was by secondary ion mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Changes in Mo deposition parameters in general affected the Na level but there was no obvious link to any single Mo deposition parameter. Oxygen content directly affected the Na level. The Na behavior was not obviously connected to film preferred orientation. Selenization of the Mo layers was also examined. Elemental Se vapor was found to produce significantly less selenization than H₂Se. The amount of selenization was also strongly dependent upon Mo deposition conditions, although a specific source of the change in reaction rate was not found. Na distributions in the CIS deposited on the Mo were not limited by the diffusivity of the Na. The Na concentration in the CIS was increased by annealing the Mo films both with and without intentionally added Na. The Na level in the CIS appears to be set more by the CIS deposition process than by the Na concentration in the Mo so long as the Mo contains sufficient Na to saturate the available sites in the CIS.     

Dynamic emulation of mechanical loads using a vector-controlledinduction motor-generator set

This paper addresses the problem of electronic emulation of both linear and nonlinear mechanical loads using a vector-controlled induction machine dynamometer. It is shown that a basic emulation scheme where the dynamometer torque demand is derived from the inverse dynamics of the emulated load is not generally viable, especially if the emulated load is part of a closed-loop speed control system. A new feedforward speed-tracking control scheme for the dynamometer is presented, which preserves the load dynamics and allows for emulation of a large class of nonlinear loads. An experimental rig is described using vector-controlled induction machines as the drive motor and dynamometer, and experimental results showing excellent emulation of both linear and nonlinear load dynamics are presented     

Children's goals and strategies in response to conflicts within a friendship.

Little is known about the skills required for friendship, as distinct from those required for peer acceptance. The present study examined whether children's goals and strategies in friendship conflict situations are predictive of their friendship adjustment, after accounting for level of peer acceptance. Fourth- and 5th-grade children (N?=?696) responded to 30 hypothetical situations in which they were having a conflict with a friend. Results indicated that children's goals were highly related to their strategies and that children's goals and strategies were predictive of their real-life friendship adjustment. Pursuing the goal of revenge toward a friend was the goal or strategy most strongly associated with lacking friends and having poor-quality friendships. Gender differences were also found for each goal and strategy, with girls displaying a more prosocial goal and strategy orientation than boys. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Maternal N-Acetyl-Cysteine Prevents Neonatal Hypoxia-Induced Brain Injury in a Rat Model

Perinatal hypoxia is a major cause of infant brain damage, lifelong neurological disability, and infant mortality. N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) is a powerful antioxidant that acts directly as a scavenger of free radicals. We hypothesized that maternal-antenatal and offspring-postnatal NAC can protect offspring brains from hypoxic brain damage.Sixty six newborn rats were randomized into four study groups. Group 1: Control (CON) received no hypoxic intervention. Group 2: Hypoxia (HYP)-received hypoxia protocol. Group 3: Hypoxia-NAC (HYP-NAC). received hypoxia protocol and treated with NAC following each hypoxia episode. Group 4: NAC Hypoxia (NAC-HYP) treated with NAC during pregnancy, pups subject to hypoxia protocol. Each group was evaluated for: neurological function (Righting reflex), serum proinflammatory IL-6 protein levels (ELISA), brain protein levels: NF-κB p65, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), TNF-α, and IL-6 (Western blot) and neuronal apoptosis (histology evaluation with TUNEL stain). Hypoxia significantly increased pups brain protein levels compared to controls. NAC administration to dams or offspring demonstrated lower brain NF-κB p65, nNOS, TNF-α and IL-6 protein levels compared to hypoxia alone. Hypoxia significantly increased brain apoptosis as evidenced by higher grade of brain TUNEL reaction. NAC administration to dams or offspring significantly reduce this effect. Hypoxia induced acute sensorimotor dysfunction. NAC treatment to dams significantly attenuated hypoxia-induced acute sensorimotor dysfunction. Prophylactic NAC treatment of dams during pregnancy confers long-term protection to offspring with hypoxia associated brain injury, measured by several pathways of injury and correlated markers with pathology and behavior. This implies we may consider prophylactic NAC treatment for patients at risk for hypoxia during labor.     

Electric power generation using a parallel‐plate capacitor

In this study, we propose an efficient design for a portable energy generator using a parallel‐plate capacitor. Analytical calculations show that if charge (Q) is kept constant and dielectric subsequently removed from the capacitor, then electrostatic energy increases by a factor of ε_r (permittivity). Initially, a priming charge must be loaded onto the capacitors that are subsequently disconnected from the voltage source. A significant mechanical nonlinear force is needed to remove the dielectric slab. In the proposed configuration, dielectric constitutes the rotor of generator and is located between two pairs of conducting disks, which constitute the stator. The rotor is divided into four dielectric sectors at 60° spacing whereas the stator is divided into six conducting sectors at 30° spacing. In each cycle, two dielectric slabs go inside the capacitor and two other come outside. This specific geometrical arrangement diminishes the extent of mechanical forces and helps to enhance the efficiency of generator significantly. Additionally, this work also relates to generating large amplitude of voltage that can be used as a high voltage source.     

Niobium carbide/reduced graphene oxide hybrid porous aerogel as high capacity and long‐life anode material for Li‐ion batteries

Two‐dimensional material MXenes owing to their hydrophilic nature, surface termination, and high conductivity can be used in the energy storage device as an anode material. However, poor ion transfer and less available intercalating sites due to self‐stacking of MXene sheets prevent comprehensive utilization of their electrochemical properties. To resolve this problem, a facile method is introduced in this paper to disperse MXene sheets onto reduced graphene oxide sheets to form a porous structure by enhancing electrostatic interactions between two components, which can facilitate ion movement and provide access of ions to more intercalating sites. This hybrid material delivered a capacity of 357 mAh g^?1 at 0.05 A g^?1 as anode in case of lithium‐ion batteries. Furthermore, the hybrid material showed exceptional stability even after 1000 cycles at 1 A g^?1. Current work offers an easy approach for the synthesis of high‐performance niobium carbide‐based hybrid energy storage materials.     

A novel image encryption scheme based on Arnold scrambling and Lucas series

Secure data transmission over the public channels have high impact and increasingly important due to theft and manipulation in contents. The requirement of public/ private organizations to develop an efficient scheme to provide security to their contents. We developed a digital contents encryption scheme based Arnold scrambling and Lucas series, which is very simple to implement but almost impossible to breach in this article. We perform encryption at standard images by using Lucas series at different iterations of scrambled images of Arnold transform. Numerical simulation analyses performed to analyze the efficiency and effectiveness of the projected structure.

     

Enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting using zinc selenide/graphitic carbon nitride type-II heterojunction interface

The objective of this research is to construct a type-II heterojunction interface for effective photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting for hydrogen generation. A series of ZnSe/g-C₃N₄ heterojunctions is prepared by ultrasonication procedure and tested for PEC water splitting for the first time. The successful formation of ZnSe/g-C₃N₄ is confirmed by phase, morphological and optical analysis. Linear sweep voltammetry of 0.05 ZG (0.05% ZnSe/g-C₃N₄) showed a six-fold higher photocurrent density of 500 μA than g-C₃N₄. These results are supported by the Tafel slopes and PL (photoluminescence spectroscopy) studies by showing the smallest slope and lesser electron-hole recombination for 0.05 ZG. Increased lifetime of 107 ms and a higher donor density of 3.6 × 10¹⁹ cm^?3 for 0.05 ZG is observed. The smallest semicircle for 0.05 ZG in EIS implies the least charge transfer resistance among the prepared heterojunctions. All the results comply with each other showing the successful formation of type-II heterojunction for enhanced PEC water splitting.