Fourier Transformation of the Renormalization-Invariant Coupling

We discuss integral transformations of the QCD renormalization-invariant coupling (running coupling constant). Special attention is paid to the Fourier transformation, i.e., to the transition from the space–time to the energy–momentum representation. Our first conclusion is that the condition for the possibility of such a transition provides one more argument against the real existence of unphysical singularities observed in the perturbative QCD. The second conclusion relates to a way to translate some singular long-wave asymptotic behaviors to the infrared region of transferred momenta. Such a transition must be performed with the Tauberian theorem taken into account. This comment relates to the recent ALPHA collaboration results on the asymptotic behavior of the QCD effective coupling obtained by numerical lattice simulation.     

A dielectric rod waveguide coupled with metal rectangular waveguide

Measurements have been done in the millimeter wave region on a composite waveguide which comprises a dielectric rod waveguide connecting two metal rectangular waveguides. Such a waveguide has been used by us in a Josephson harmonic mixer installed in a small metal cryostat, to prevent the thermal invasion from outside environment and to transmit both signal and LO waves with small losses. The measured transmission loss, that is caused mainly by the coupling loss between metal rectangular waveguides (TE₁₀ mode) and a dielectric rod waveguide (HE₁₁ mode), has been less than 2dB in the frequency range of 52–104 GHz.     

Spectroscopic Studies of a Less Abundant Flavone,Genkwanin

A rare flavone, Genkwanin, was isolated by column and preparative thin layer chromatography of a chloroform extract of the leaves of Vernonia fasciculata Michx. Spectral studies (NMR, IR, UV and MS) and a comparison with data for closely related compounds has been made.     

Monte Carlo studies of the square Ising model with next-nearest-neighbor interactions

We apply a new entropic scheme to study the critical behavior of the square-lattice Ising model with nearest- and next-nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic interactions. Estimates of the present scheme are compared with those of the Metropolis algorithm. We consider interactions in the range where superantiferromagnetic (SAF) order appears at low temperatures. A recent prediction of a first-order transition along a certain range (0.5–1.2) of the interaction ratio (R=J_nnn/J_nn) is examined by generating accurate data for large lattices at a particular value of the ratio (R=1). Our study does not support a first-order transition and a convincing finite-size scaling analysis of the model is presented, yielding accurate estimates for all critical exponents for R=1. The magnetic exponents are found to obey “weak universality” in accordance with a previous conjecture.     

Resolution of Internal Total ReflectionScanning Near-field Optical Microscopy

In this paper, the probe-sample interaction equation based on Mie's scattering theory is derived, and the resolution of scanning near field optical microscopy is calculated numerically. The results show that the offset of far-field component to near-field component in total field plays an important role in the resolution and the size of samples also has influence on resolution.     

Visualization of mouse spinal cord intramedullary arteries using phase‐ and attenuation‐contrast tomographic imaging

Many spinal cord circulatory disorders present the substantial involvement of small vessel lesions. The central sulcus arteries supply nutrition to a large part of the spinal cord, and, if not detected early, lesions in the spinal cord will cause irreversible damage to the function of this organ. Thus, early detection of these small vessel lesions could potentially facilitate the effective diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. However, the detection of such small vessels is beyond the capability of current imaging techniques. In this study, an imaging method is proposed and the potential of phase‐contrast imaging (PCI)‐ and attenuation‐contrast imaging (ACI)‐based synchrotron radiation for high‐resolution tomography of intramedullary arteries in mouse spinal cord is validated. The three‐dimensional vessel morphology, particularly that of the central sulcus arteries (CSA), detected with these two imaging models was quantitatively analyzed and compared. It was determined that both PCI‐ and ACI‐based synchrotron radiation can be used to visualize the physiological arrangement of the entire intramedullary artery network in the mouse spinal cord in both two dimensions and three dimensions at a high‐resolution scale. Additionally, the two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional vessel morphometric parameter measurements obtained with PCI are similar to the ACI data. Furthermore, PCI allows efficient and direct discrimination of the same branch level of the CSA without contrast agent injection and is expected to provide reliable biological information regarding the intramedullary artery. Compared with ACI, PCI might be a novel imaging method that offers a powerful imaging platform for evaluating pathological changes in small vessels and may also allow better clarification of their role in neurovascular disorders.     

New figuring model based on surface slope profile for grazing‐incidence reflective optics

Surface slope profile is widely used in the metrology of grazing‐incidence reflective optics instead of surface height profile. Nevertheless, the theoretical and experimental model currently used in deterministic optical figuring processes is based on surface height, not on surface slope. This means that the raw slope profile data from metrology need to be converted to height profile to perform the current height‐based figuring processes. The inevitable measurement noise in the raw slope data will introduce significant cumulative error in the resultant height profiles. As a consequence, this conversion will degrade the determinism of the figuring processes, and will have an impact on the ultimate surface figuring results. To overcome this problem, an innovative figuring model is proposed, which directly uses the raw slope profile data instead of the usual height data as input for the deterministic process. In this paper, first the influence of the measurement noise on the resultant height profile is analyzed, and then a new model is presented; finally a demonstration experiment is carried out using a one‐dimensional ion beam figuring process to demonstrate the validity of our approach.     

Simulations of X‐ray diffraction of shock‐compressed single‐crystal tantalum with synchrotron undulator sources

Polychromatic synchrotron undulator X‐ray sources are useful for ultrafast single‐crystal diffraction under shock compression. Here, simulations of X‐ray diffraction of shock‐compressed single‐crystal tantalum with realistic undulator sources are reported, based on large‐scale molecular dynamics simulations. Purely elastic deformation, elastic–plastic two‐wave structure, and severe plastic deformation under different impact velocities are explored, as well as an edge release case. Transmission‐mode diffraction simulations consider crystallographic orientation, loading direction, incident beam direction, X‐ray spectrum bandwidth and realistic detector size. Diffraction patterns and reciprocal space nodes are obtained from atomic configurations for different loading (elastic and plastic) and detection conditions, and interpretation of the diffraction patterns is discussed.     

Insight into 3D micro‐CT data: exploring segmentation algorithms through performance metrics

Three‐dimensional (3D) micro‐tomography (µ‐CT) has proven to be an important imaging modality in industry and scientific domains. Understanding the properties of material structure and behavior has produced many scientific advances. An important component of the 3D µ‐CT pipeline is image partitioning (or image segmentation), a step that is used to separate various phases or components in an image. Image partitioning schemes require specific rules for different scientific fields, but a common strategy consists of devising metrics to quantify performance and accuracy. The present article proposes a set of protocols to systematically analyze and compare the results of unsupervised classification methods used for segmentation of synchrotron‐based data. The proposed dataflow for Materials Segmentation and Metrics (MSM) provides 3D micro‐tomography image segmentation algorithms, such as statistical region merging (SRM), k‐means algorithm and parallel Markov random field (PMRF), while offering different metrics to evaluate segmentation quality, confidence and conformity with standards. Both experimental and synthetic data are assessed, illustrating quantitative results through the MSM dashboard, which can return sample information such as media porosity and permeability. The main contributions of this work are: (i) to deliver tools to improve material design and quality control; (ii) to provide datasets for benchmarking and reproducibility; (iii) to yield good practices in the absence of standards or ground‐truth for ceramic composite analysis.