Using LIDAR-based DEM to orthorectify Ikonos panchromatic images

Recent development in remote sensing technologies has stimulated a great interest in its application in large-scale mapping. For example, the Ikonos satellite images, available since 2000, have an improved resolution of 1 m that afford mapping of a lot of ground objects from the satellite images. However, the use of these images in high-accuracy mapping applications has been limited since the sensor model parameters are not yet released. On the other hand, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) is a fast method for sampling the earth's surface with a high density and high accuracy point cloud that is used to generate high density and high accuracy Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and DSMs. Integrating both technologies makes it possible to provide reliable and automatic solutions for large-scale mapping applications, 3-D visualization, GIS and change detection. In this research a 1-m resolution LIDAR-based DEM is used to orthorectify a single Geo-panchromatic Ikonos image. The LIDAR-based DEM is first rectified using 12 Ground Control Points (GCPs) surveyed using the Differential GPS (DGPS) technique. The LIDAR-based DEM is then used as a source for other GCPs that are used to orthorectify the Ikonos image. Different 2-D transformation models are used with different sets and distributions of GCPs. The planimetric Root Mean Square Errors (RMSE) achieved, using these models, is about 5 m. The relationship between the planimetric errors and the elevations of the checkpoints suggested using 3-D to 2-D transformation models. Three different types of these models are examined and their results are reported. The results showed that less than 2 m mapping accuracy could be achieved using the 3-D to 2-D transformation models. These results suggest that using a single panchromatic Ikonos image together with a 1-m resolution LIDAR-based DEM could achieve the required planimetric accuracy for 1:5000 topographic maps.     

Production of particulates from transducer erosion: Implications on food safety

The formation of metallic particulates from erosion was investigated by running a series of transducers at various frequencies in water. Two low frequency transducer sonotrodes were run for 7.5 h at 18 kHz and 20 kHz. Three high frequency plates operating at megasonic frequencies of 0.4 MHz, 1 MHz, and 2 MHz were run over a 7 days period. Electrical conductivity and pH of the solution were measured before and after each run. A portion of the non-sonicated and treated water was partially evaporated to achieve an 80-fold concentration of particles and then sieved through nano-filters of 0.1 μm, 0.05 μm, and 0.01 μm. An aliquot of the evaporated liquid was also completely dried on strips of carbon tape to determine the presence of finer particles post sieving. An aliquot was analyzed for detection of 11 trace elements by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICPMS). The filters and carbon tapes were analyzed by FE-SEM imaging to track the presence of metals by EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy) and measure the particle size and approximate composition of individual particles detected. Light microscopy visualization was used to calculate the area occupied by the particles present in each filter and high resolution photography was used for visualization of sonotrode surfaces. The roughness of all transducers before and after sonication was tested through profilometry. No evidence of formation of nano-particles was found at any tested frequency. High amounts of metallic micron-sized particles at 18 kHz and 20 kHz formed within a day, while after 7 day runs only a few metallic micro particles were detected above 0.4 MHz. Erosion was corroborated by an increase in roughness in the 20 kHz tip after ultrasound. The elemental analysis showed that metal leach occurred but values remained below accepted drinking water limits, even after excessively long exposure to ultrasound. With the proviso that the particles measured here were only characterized in two dimensions and could be nanoparticulate in terms of the third dimension, this research suggests that there are no serious health implications resulting from the formation of nanoparticles under the evaluation conditions. Therefore, high frequency transducer plates can be safely operated in direct contact with foods. However, due to significant production of metallic micro-particulates, redesign of lower frequency sonotrodes and reaction chambers is advised to enable operation in various food processing direct-contact applications.     

Electrostatic charging behaviour of dielectric particles in a pressurized gas–solid fluidized bed

The charging behaviour of insulating particles in pressurized fluidized beds was investigated by fluidizing five polyethylene resins in a column of 150 mm inner diameter and 2.0 m height. Seven collision ball probes at different levels and radial positions monitored the electrostatic charge generation in the bed. The influences of operating pressure and superficial gas velocity on the degree of electrification were studied. For each polyethylene resin, the electrostatic charges of the particles in the upper part of the bed gained a polarity which differed from the particles in the lower part of the bed due to bipolar charging and particle segregation. The hydrodynamics in the fluidized bed significantly influenced the particle electrification. Due to increased bubble size and rise velocity, electrostatic charge generation was enhanced as the superficial gas velocity increased. However, it was difficult to predict the influence of elevated pressure on the charging behaviour of each resin as a result of the complex impacts of pressurization on the hydrodynamics and electrification.     

Magnetite nanoparticles embedded in biodegradable porous silicon

Magnetite nanoparticles, which are coated with oleic acid in a hexane solution and exhibit an average diameter of 7.7 nm, were embedded in a porous silicon (PS) matrix by immersion under defined parameters (e.g. concentration, temperature, time). The porous silicon matrix is prepared by anodization of a highly n-doped silicon wafer in an aqueous HF-solution. Magnetic characterization of the samples has been performed by SQUID-magnetometry. The superparamagnetic behaviour of the magnetite nanoparticles is represented by temperature-dependent magnetization measurements. Zero field (ZFC)/field cooled (FC) experiments indicate magnetic interactions between the particles. For the infiltration into the PS-templates different concentrations of the magnetite nanoparticles are used and magnetization measurements are performed in respect with magnetic interactions between the particles. The achieved porous silicon/magnetite specimens are not only interesting due to their transition between superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic behaviour, and thus for magnetic applications but also because of the non-toxicity of both materials giving the opportunity to employ the system in medical applications as drug delivery or in medical diagnostics.     

Clustered and integrated fluorescence spectra from single atmospheric aerosol particles excited by a 263- and 351-nm laser at New Haven,CT, and Adelphi,MD

Fluorescence spectra from individual micron-sized atmospheric aerosol particles were measured by a Dual-wavelength-excitation Particle Fluorescence Spectrometer (DPFS). Particles were drawn into our laboratory at Adelphi, MD, an urban site in the Washington, DC, metroplex and within the Yale University campus at New Haven, CT. Two fluorescence spectra were obtained for every individual particle as it was moving through the DPFS system and excited sequentially by single laser pulses at 263 and 351 nm. There were around ten to a few hundred particles detected per second and up to a few million per day within the 1–10 μm particle size range. The majority of the particles have weak fluorescence, but 10–50% of the particles have fluorescence signals above the noise level at both sites at different time period. For the first time, these Ultra Violet laser-induced-fluorescence (UV-LIF) spectra from individual particles were integrated every 10 min, which forms a group of about a few thousand to a few tens of thousand particles, to provide the averaged background atmospheric fluorescence spectral profiles which may be helpful in the development of bioaerosol detection systems, particularly those systems based on integrated fluorescence from a group of aerosol particles, such as Light Detection And Rangeing (LIDAR) remotor biosensor and the point sensor based on collected particles on substrate. These integrated spectral profiles had small variations from time to time and were distinguishable from that of the bacterial simulant B. subtilis. Also for the first time, the individual spectra excited by a 351 nm laser were grouped using unstructured hierarchical cluster analysis, with parameters chosen so that spectra clustered into 8 main categories. They showed less spectral variations than that excited by a 263-nm laser. Over 98% of the spectra were able to be grouped into 8 clusters, and over 90% of the fluorescent particles were in clusters 3–5 with a fluorescence emission peak around 420–470 nm; these were mostly from biological and organic carbon-containing compounds. Integrated fluorescence spectral profiles and averaged spectra for each cluster show high similarity between New Haven, CT and Adelphi, MD.     

Threshold curves obtained under various gaseous conditions for free radical generation by burst ultrasound – Effects of dissolved gas,microbubbles and gas transport from the air

To understand the underlying concepts required for the determination of thresholds for free radical generation, effects of gas dissolution in and microbubble addition to sonicated solutions were investigated. Four solutions with different gaseous conditions, air-saturated and degassed solutions with and without microbubbles of 20 μm in diameter with shells, were studied in the presence of an air–liquid interface. These test solutions were exposed to 1 MHz ultrasound of 0.06 MPa_p-p at various pulse durations (PDs) from 0.1 to 5 ms and pulse repetition frequencies from 0.1 to 2 kHz. Generation of free radicals was evaluated using the electron spin resonance (ESR) spin trapping method and starch–iodine method. Thresholds of duty ratio (DR) corresponding to temporal average intensity of ultrasound for free radical generation were significantly greater in degassed solutions than in air-saturated solutions. Microbubbles had no significant effects in air-saturated solutions but caused a slight decrease in the threshold in degassed solutions. In all of these results, the DR of a threshold curve against pulse repetition period (PRP) was not constant but linearly decreased with it, suggesting that a balance between bubble growth and shrinkage during the ON and OFF times of burst ultrasound is the primary parameter for the interpretation of thresholds. The effect of an air–liquid interface of the solution was also examined, and it was revealed that gas transport from the air is a predominant factor determining the amount of free radicals.     

Growth-morphology-luminescence correlation in ZnO-containing nanostructures synthesized in different media

Zinc hydroxide particles were prepared by a two-step process employing zinc nitrate hexahydrate, urea, ethylene glycol, water and p-toluene-sulfonic acid monohydrate (p-TSA). We used different concentrations of the reactants as well as different volume ratios of the solvents. ZnO particles were obtained by thermal treatment of the reaction products at two different temperatures: 350 °C and 500 °C. The samples were characterized by scanning field emission electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, BET analysis, thermogravimetry (TG) analysis and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. It was found that after the thermal treatment particles become smaller, with the p-TSA concentration strongly affecting the morphology of the particles. Luminescence properties of the samples probed by PL at 8 K and room temperature exhibited a remarkable correlation with specimens′ nanomorphology. Luminescent features at ～2.0–2.2 eV, ～2.4–2.5 eV, ～2.65 eV, ～2.9 eV, ～3.0–3.1 eV and ～3.3 eV were observed in most specimens, although their relative intensity and temperature dependence were specific to an individual group of samples vis-à-vis their growth history and morphology.     

Cooled P-InAsSbP/n-InAs/N-InAsSbP double heterostructure photodiodes

Double heterostructure (DH) photodiodes (PDs) with InAs active layer and back-side illumination have been studied in the 100–300 K temperature range. Temperature dependence of a spectral response was standard for InAs based PDs while saturation current (or zero bias resistance) was characterized by a single value of the activation energy with domination of a diffusion current at most temperatures. As a result the simulated detectivity value was beyond the known numbers for homo- and heterojunction InAs PDs.     

Synthesis of Ag-deionized water nanofluids using multi-beam laser ablation in liquids

Multi-pulse laser ablation of silver in deionized water was studied. The laser beams were arranged in a cross-beam configuration. In our experiments, two single-mode, Q-switched Nd-Yag lasers operating at 1064 nm, pulse duration of 5.5 ns and 10 Hz rep rate were used. The laser fluence of the second beam was 0.265 J/cm² for all tests. Two levels of the laser fluences were used for the ablating beam: 0.09 and 0.265 J/cm² (11,014 and 33,042 J/cm² at the focal point, respectively). The silver target was at 50 mm from the cell window and 10 mm deep. The second beam was aligned parallelly with the silver target and focused at 2 mm in front of the focal point of the ablating beam. For all cases, the delay time between the ablating beam and the cross-beam was 40 μs. In general, the ablated particles were almost all spherical. For fluence of 0.09 J/cm ² and single-beam approach, the mean particle size was about 29 nm. The majority of the particles, however, were in 19–35 nm range and there were some big ones as large as 50–60 nm in size. For double-beam approach, the particles were smaller with the average size of about 18 nm and the majority of the particles were in 9–21 nm range with few big one as large as 40 nm. For the beam fluence of 0.265 J/cm² and single-beam configuration, the particle sizes were smaller, the mean particles size was about 18 nm and the majority of the particles were in the range of 10–22 nm with some big one as large as 40 nm. For double-beam approach, the mean particle size was larger (24.2 nm) and the majority of the particle were distributed from 14 to 35 nm with some big particles can be found with sizes as big as 70 nm. Preliminary measurements of the thermal conductivity and viscosity of the produced samples showed that the thermal conductivity increased about 3–5% and the viscosity increased 3.7% above the base fluid viscosity even with the particle volume concentration as low as 0.01%.     

Magnetostructural study of iron sucrose

Magnetic and structural analyses have been performed on an iron sucrose complex used as a haematinic agent. The system contains two-line ferrihydrite particles of about 5 nm that are superparamagnetic above approximately 50 K. The observed low-temperature magnetic dynamics of this compound is closer to simple models than in the case of other iron-containing drugs for intravenous use like iron dextran.     

Ultrasound assisted dispersal of a copper nanopowder for electroless copper activation

This paper describes the ultrasound assisted dispersal of a low wt./vol.% copper nanopowder mixture and determines the optimum conditions for de-agglomeration. A commercially available powder was added to propan-2-ol and dispersed using a magnetic stirrer, a high frequency 850 kHz ultrasonic cell, a standard 40 kHz bath and a 20 kHz ultrasonic probe. The particle size of the powder was characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS). Z-Average diameters (mean cluster size based on the intensity of scattered light) and intensity, volume and number size distributions were monitored as a function of time and energy input. Low frequency ultrasound was found to be more effective than high frequency ultrasound at de-agglomerating the powder and dispersion with a 20 kHz ultrasonic probe was found to be very effective at breaking apart large agglomerates containing weakly bound clusters of nanoparticles. In general, the breakage of nanoclusters was found to be a factor of ultrasonic intensity, the higher the intensity the greater the de-agglomeration and typically micron sized clusters were reduced to sub 100 nm particles in less than 30 min using optimum conditions. However, there came a point at which the forces generated by ultrasonic cavitation were either insufficient to overcome the cohesive bonds between smaller aggregates or at very high intensities decoupling between the tip and solution occurred. Absorption spectroscopy indicated a copper core structure with a thin oxide shell and the catalytic performance of this dispersion was demonstrated by drop coating onto substrates and subsequent electroless copper metallization. This relatively inexpensive catalytic suspension has the potential to replace precious metal based colloids used in electronics manufacturing.     

Properties of nano-ZnO/poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(ethylene oxide) composite thin films

A series of poly(vinyl alcohol)/nano-ZnO composites were prepared by dispersing nano-ZnO in aqueous solutions containing mixtures of the biodegradable polymers poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), and composite thin films were prepared by casting. The introduction of nano-ZnO into PVA/PEO mixed solutions significantly decreased the resistivity of the solutions. Ultraviolet absorption, thermal behaviour and visco-elastic properties of the thin films were determined as a function of nano-ZnO content up to 15 wt%. Optimum film properties were obtained with 1 wt% nano-ZnO, higher proportions of nano-ZnO resulting in agglomeration of ZnO particles and deterioration in film properties. The Forouhi and Bloomer model was used for the modelling of ZnO thin films.     

Fragmentation of 370 MeV/n 20Ne and 470 MeV/n 24Mg in light targets

Total charge-changing cross sections and cross sections for the production of projectile-like fragments were determined for fragmentation reactions induced by 370 MeV/n ²⁰Ne ions in water and lucite, and 490 MeV/n ²⁴Mg ions in polyethylene, carbon and aluminum targets sandwiched with CR-39 plastic nuclear track detectors. An automated microscope system and a track-to-track matching algorithm were used to count and recognize the primary and secondary particles. The measured cross sections were then compared with published cross sections and predictions of different models. Two models and the three-dimensional Monte Carlo Particle Heavy Ion Transport Code System (PHITS) were used to calculate total charge-changing cross sections. Both models agreed within a few percent for the system ²⁴Mg + CH₂, however a deviation up to 20% was observed for the systems ²⁰Ne + H₂O and C₅H₈O₂, when using one of the models. For all the studied systems, PHITS systematically underestimated the total charge-changing cross section. It was also found that the partial fragmentation cross sections for ²⁴Mg + CH₂ measured in present and earlier works deviated up to 20% for Z = 6–11. Measured cross sections for the production of fragments (Z = 4–9) for ²⁰Ne + H₂O and C₅H₈O₂ were compared with predictions of three different semi-empirical models and JQMD which is used in the PHITS code. The calculated cross sections differed from the measured data by 10–90% depending on which fragment and charge was studied, and which model was used.     

Facile preparation and characterization of hollow poly(St-co-MMA-co-BA-co-MAA) core–double shell latex nanoparticles for electrophoretic displays

Novel core–double shell particles with poly(methyl methacrylate-co-butyl acrylate) (PMMA-co-BA) as the cores, poly(methyl methacrylate-co-butyl acrylate-co-methacrylic acid) (PMMA-co-BA-co-MAA) as the inner shells, poly(styrene-co-methyl methacrylate) (PS-co-MMA) as the outer shells were prepared by soap-free emulsion polymerization. The acid–alkali osmotic swelling processes were made before the outer shells wrapped for bigger aperture. The optimal experiment conditions were summarized. The morphology and size of the hollow latex particles were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the uniform sizes of the hollow latex particles were about 230 nm. The electrophoretic mobility of them in tetrachloroethylene was 0.91 × 10⁻¹⁰ m² V⁻¹ s⁻¹, and the Zeta-potential was 5.87 mV. The results showed that the hollow polymer particles can used as background particles.     

Improved photoluminescence of BaMgAl10O17 blue phosphor prepared by spray pyrolysis

BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu²⁺ (BAM) blue phosphor particles with improved photoluminescence (PL) intensity under vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation were prepared by a spray pyrolysis process. In order to improve the PL intensity, Er³⁺ and Nd³⁺ ions were used as co-doping elements. The VUV characteristics of BAM:Eu²⁺, M⁺ (M=Er, Nd) were monitored with varying the Er³⁺ and Nd³⁺ content in order to find the optimal co-doping concentration when they were prepared by spray pyrolysis. It was found that doping Er³⁺ or Nd³⁺ enhances the PL intensity of BAM:Eu²⁺ blue phosphor particles. In particular, the M³⁺ doping effect on the PL intensity was pronounced when the prepared BAM:Eu²⁺, M³⁺ particles were excited by 172 nm VUV. The maximum intensity was obtained when the M³⁺ content was 1.0 at% with respect to Ba element. The PL intensity of BAM:Eu²⁺, M⁺ (M=Er³⁺, Nd³⁺) particles was also further improved by producing them in a spherical shape, which was successfully achieved by controlling the spray solution. The optimized BAM:Eu²⁺, M⁺ particles had about 10% higher PL intensity than that of the commercial particles, which are made by a conventional solid-state reaction.     

Flame propagation of nano/micron-sized aluminum particles and ice (ALICE) mixtures

Flame propagation of aluminum–ice (ALICE) mixtures is studied theoretically and experimentally. Both a mono distribution of nano aluminum particles and a bimodal distribution of nano- and micron-sized aluminum particles are considered over a pressure range of 1–10 MPa. A multi-zone theoretical framework is established to predict the burning rate and temperature distribution by solving the energy equation in each zone and matching the temperature and heat flux at the interfacial boundaries. The burning rates are measured experimentally by burning aluminum–ice strands in a constant-volume vessel. For stoichiometric ALICE mixtures with 80 nm particles, the burning rate shows a pressure dependence of r_b = aPⁿ, with an exponent of 0.33. If a portion of 80 nm particles is replaced with 5 and 20 μm particles, the burning rate is not significantly affected for a loading density up to 15–25% and decreases significantly beyond this value. The flame thickness of a bimodal-particle mixture is greater than its counterpart of a mono-dispersed particle mixture. The theoretical and experimental results support the hypothesis that the combustion of aluminum–ice mixtures is controlled by diffusion processes across the oxide layers of particles.     

Theoretical analysis on phase behaviour of a liquid crystalline material – effect of molecular motions

Molecular structure, and phase behaviour of 2-Cyano-N-[4-(4-n-pentyloxybenzoyloxy)-benzylidene] aniline (CPBBA) has been reported with respect to translational and orientational motions. The atomic net charge and dipole moment components at each atomic centre have been evaluated using the complete neglect differential overlap (CNDO/2) method. The modified Rayleigh–Schrodinger perturbation theory along with multicentered–multipole expansion method has been employed to evaluate the long-range intermolecular interactions, while a ‘6-exp’ potential function has been assumed for short-range interactions. The interaction energy values obtained through these computations have been used as input to calculate the configurational probability at room temperature (300 K), and nematic–isotropic transition temperature (396.5 K). On the basis of stacking, in-plane, and terminal interaction energy calculations, all possible geometrical arrangements between the molecular pairs have been considered. Molecular arrangements inside a bulk of materials have been discussed in terms of their relative order. Further, translational rigidity parameter has been estimated as a function of temperature to understand the phase behaviour of the compound. The present model is helpful to understand the effect of molecular motions on ordering, and phase behaviour of the mesogenic compounds.     

Measurements and analysis of the acoustic signals produced by partial discharges in insulation oil

This paper focuses on the frequency analysis of acoustic signals produced by partial discharges (PDs) in insulation oil and the positioning of the PD occurrence for application in the diagnosis of oil-insulated transformers. Three types of electrode systems; the needle–plane, the plane–plane, and the wire–wire structures were assembled to simulate the partial discharge in insulation oil. A low-noise amplifier and a de-coupler were designed to detect the acoustic signal with high-sensitivity. The frequency ranges of the acoustic signal were 60–270 kHz in the needle–plane electrode system, 45–250 kHz in the plane–plane electrode system, and 50–180 kHz in the wire–wire electrode system. Their peak frequencies were 145 kHz, 118 kHz and 121 kHz, respectively.The position of the PD occurrence was calculated from the time difference of arrival (TOA) using three acoustic emission (AE) sensors. The position was found within a 1% error in the experimental set-up.     

Description of a biofluorescence optical particle counter

A bioaerosol fluorescence detection system is being constructed using an ellipsoid reflector-based optical particle counter. The flux measuring device is to size submicron marine spray aerosol particles smaller than 100 nm in diameter. It will simultaneously non-destructively excite and detect fluorescence from organic matter contained in the aerosol. Chlorophyll-a is the primary fluorophor target, used as a marker for detecting phytoplankton (or derivatives thereof) in the particles. Particles have been sized to 500 nm in diameter and fluorescence detection testing is underway. The device will aid the quantification and identification of this organic material contained in marine spray aerosols, providing improved inputs into climate models and air quality assessments.     

The vibration of inclined backrests: perception and discomfort of vibration applied normal to the back in the x-axis of the body

The vibration of backrests contributes to the discomfort of drivers and passengers. A frequency weighting exists for evaluating the vibration of vertical backrests but not for reclined backrests often used during travel. This experimental study was designed to determine how backrest inclination and the frequency of vibration influence perception thresholds and vibration discomfort when the vibration is applied normal to the back (i.e. fore-and-aft vibration when seated upright and vertical vibration when fully reclined). Twelve subjects experienced the vibration of a backrest (at each of the 11 preferred one-third octave centre frequencies in the range 2.5–25 Hz) at vibration magnitudes from the threshold of perception to 24 dB above threshold. Initially, absolute thresholds for the perception of vibration were determined with four backrest inclinations: 0° (upright), 30°, 60° and 90° (recumbent). The method of magnitude estimation was then used to obtain judgements of vibration discomfort with each of the four backrest angles. Finally, the relative discomfort between the four backrest angles, and the principal locations for feeling vibration discomfort in the body, were determined. With all backrest inclinations, absolute thresholds for the perception of vibration acceleration were dependent on the frequency of vibration. As the backrest inclination became more horizontal, the thresholds increased at frequencies between 4 and 8 Hz. For all backrest inclinations, the rate of growth of discomfort with increasing magnitude of vibration was independent of the frequency of vibration, so the frequency-dependence of discomfort was similar over the range of magnitudes investigated (0.04–0.6 m s^?2 rms). With an upright backrest, the discomfort caused by vibration acceleration tended to be greatest at frequencies less than about 8 Hz. With inclined backrests (at 30°, 60°, and 90°), the equivalent comfort contours were broadly similar to each other, with greatest discomfort caused by acceleration around 10 or 12.5 Hz. At frequencies from 4 to 8 Hz, 30–40 percent greater magnitudes of vibration were required with the three inclined backrests to cause discomfort equivalent to that caused by the upright backrest. It is concluded that with an upright backrest the frequency weighting W_c used in current standards is appropriate for predicting the discomfort caused by fore-and-aft backrest vibration. With inclined and horizontal backrests, a weighting similar to frequency weighting W_b (used to predict discomfort caused by vertical seat vibration) appears more appropriate.