Patterned probes for high precision 4D-STEM bragg measurements.

Nanoscale strain mapping by four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D-STEM) relies on determining the precise locations of Bragg-scattered electrons in a sequence of diffraction patterns, a task which is complicated by dynamical scattering, inelastic scattering, and shot noise. These features hinder accurate automated computational detection and position measurement of the diffracted disks, limiting the precision of measurements of local deformation. Here, we investigate the use of patterned probes to improve the precision of strain mapping. We imprint a "bullseye" pattern onto the probe, by using a binary mask in the probe-forming aperture, to improve the robustness of the peak finding algorithm to intensity modulations inside the diffracted disks. We show that this imprinting leads to substantially improved strain-mapping precision at the expense of a slight decrease in spatial resolution. In experiments on an unstrained silicon reference sample, we observe an improvement in strain measurement precision from 2.7% of the reciprocal lattice vectors with standard probes to 0.3% using bullseye probes for a thin sample, and an improvement from 4.7% to 0.8% for a thick sample. We also use multislice simulations to explore how sample thickness and electron dose limit the attainable accuracy and precision for 4D-STEM strain measurements

Hydrothermally extracted nanohydroxyapatite from bovine bone as bioceramic and biofiller in bionanocomposite

Bones have an extraordinary capacity to restore and regenerate in case of minor injury. However, major injuries need orthopedic surgeries that required bone implant biomaterials. In this study, n-HAP powder was extracted from bovine bone by hydrothermal and calcined at different calcination temperatures (600-1100°C) without the use of solvents. The n-HAP powders produced were used to fabricate two types of biomaterials (HAP bioceramics and PLA/n-HAP bionanocomposite). The raw-HAP and calcined n-HAP powder samples were compacted into green bodies and were sintered at various temperatures (1000-1400°C) to produce HAP bioceramics. The best calcined n-HAP was mixed with PLA by melt mixing and injection moulding to fabricate PLA/n-HAP bionanocomposite. Characterizations of the n-HAP powder, n-HAP bioceramics and PLA/n-HAP bionanocomposite samples were done by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, universal testing machine (UTM) and melt flow index (MFI) analyses. TGA data revealed that n-HAP was thermally stable at 1300ºC. The extracted n-HAP powder was highly crystalline and crystallite size was in the range of 10-83 nm as confirmed by XRD. Density and hardness of the n-HAP bioceramics increased as sintering temperature increased and showing maximum values at a temperature of 1400°C. The results of PLA/n-HAP bionanocomposite revealed that the higher n-HAP loaded (at 5wt%), the lower the tensile strength of bionanocomposite due to poor interfacial adhesion. The interfacial adhesion was improved by loading of 1.0 wt% maleic anhydride (MAH) as a compatibilizer. The biocompatibility of bionanocomposite was evaluated in simulated body fluids (SBF). The results showed that apatite layers were grown on the surfaces of both biomaterials. Therefore, both biomaterials formulated shall be promising medical biomaterials for orthopedic applications

Brainatwork: Logging Cognitive Engagement and Tasks in the Workplace Using Electroencephalography

Today's workplaces are dynamic and complex. Digital data sources such as email and video conferencing aim to support workers but also add to their burden of multitasking. Psychophysiological sensors such as Electroencephalography (EEG) can provide users with cues about their cognitive state. We introduce BrainAtWork, a workplace engagement and task logger which shows users their cognitive state while working on different tasks. In a lab study with eleven participants working on their own real-world tasks, we gathered 16 hours of EEG and PC logs which were labeled into three classes: central, peripheral and meta work. We evaluated the usability of BrainAtWork via questionnaires and interviews. We investigated the correlations between measured cognitive engagement from EEG and subjective responses from experience sampling probes. Using random forests classification, we show the feasibility of automatically labeling work tasks into work classes. We discuss how BrainAtWork can support workers on the long term through encouraging reflection and helping in task scheduling

Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array (HERA)

The Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array (HERA) is a staged experiment to measure 21 cm emission from the primordial intergalactic medium (IGM) throughout cosmic reionization ($z=6-12$), and to explore earlier epochs of our Cosmic Dawn ($z\sim30$). During these epochs, early stars and black holes heated and ionized the IGM, introducing fluctuations in 21 cm emission. HERA is designed to characterize the evolution of the 21 cm power spectrum to constrain the timing and morphology of reionization, the properties of the first galaxies, the evolution of large-scale structure, and the early sources of heating. The full HERA instrument will be a 350-element interferometer in South Africa consisting of 14-m parabolic dishes observing from 50 to 250 MHz. Currently, 19 dishes have been deployed on site and the next 18 are under construction. HERA has been designated as an SKA Precursor instrument. In this paper, we summarize HERA's scientific context and provide forecasts for its key science results. After reviewing the current state of the art in foreground mitigation, we use the delay-spectrum technique to motivate high-level performance requirements for the HERA instrument. Next, we present the HERA instrument design, along with the subsystem specifications that ensure that HERA meets its performance requirements. Finally, we summarize the schedule and status of the project. We conclude by suggesting that, given the realities of foreground contamination, current-generation 21 cm instruments are approaching their sensitivity limits. HERA is designed to bring both the sensitivity and the precision to deliver its primary science on the basis of proven foreground filtering techniques, while developing new subtraction techniques to unlock new capabilities. The result will be a major step toward realizing the widely recognized scientific potential of 21 cm cosmology.Comment: 26 pages, 24 figures, 2 table

Future Developments in Low Temperature Detectors for CMB and Submm Astronomy

We summarize the wide range of current and upcoming developments in low temperature detectors for CMB and submillimeter astronomy. We discuss work in sensor development, photon coupling and filtering architectures, and polarimetry and how these tie to applications requirements

Acoustic and Large Eddy Simulation studies of azimuthal modes in annular combustion chambers

The objectives of this paper are the description of azimuthal instability modes found in annular combus- tion chambers using two numerical tools: (1) Large Eddy Simulation (LES) methods and (2) acoustic solv- ers. These strong combustion instabilities are difficult to study experimentally and the present study is based on a LES of a full aeronautical combustion chamber. The LES exhibits a self-excited oscillation at the frequency of the first azimuthal eigenmode. The mesh independence of the LES is verified before ana- lysing the nature of this mode using various indicators over more than 100 cycles: the mode is mostly a pure standing mode but it transitions from time to time to a turning mode because of turbulent fluctu- ations, confirming experimental observations and theoretical results. The correlation between pressure and heat release fluctuations (Rayleigh criterion) is not verified locally but it is satisfied when pressure and heat release are averaged over sectors. LES is also used to check modes predicted by an acoustic Helmholtz solver where the flow is frozen and flames are modelled using a Flame Transfer Function (FTF) as done in most present tools. The results in terms of mode structure compare well confirming that the mode appearing in the LES is the first azimuthal mode of the chamber. Moreover, the acoustic solver provides stability maps suggesting that a reduction of the time delay of the FTF would be enough to sta- bilise the mode. This is confirmed with LES by increasing the flame speed and verifying that this modi- fication leads to a damped mode in a few cycles

Accurate on-wafer power and harmonic measurements of mm-wave amplifiers and devices

A novel integrated test system that accurately measures on-wafer S-parameters, power levels, load-pull contours and harmonics over 1 to 50 GHz is presented. The system measures power and S-parameters with single contact measurements and integrated hardware. There are two keys to this system: first, the network analyzer samplers are used as frequency-selective power meters with large dynamic ranges; second, all measurements are vector-corrected to the device under test reference planes. The capabilities and accuracy were demonstrated by measuring the power at the fundamental frequency and four harmonic frequencies of a 50-GHz traveling wave amplifier and the load-pull contours of a MODFET at 30 GH