Study of the Anisotropic Frictional and Deformation Behavior of Surfaces Textured with Silvr Nanorods

Friction is one of the most common and influential mechanical interactions of two structures on both the macroscopic scale and especially the microscopic scale. On the microscopic scale, friction becomes the prime component of mechanical forces exerted on devices. Frictional anisotropy is an interesting characteristic of certain materials and can be used to control frictional properties in various applications. In this study, we measured the anisotropic frictional behavior of two silver (Ag) thin films: a continuous film and a thin film consisting of tilted nanorods angled at an average angle of 70o to the surface normal. Scratches, eight microns in length, were performed on the films with normal loads ranging from 50 µN to 8,000 µN using a conical tip with a 100 micron tip radius. The coefficient of friction (COF) of the tilted nanorods was measured for scratches performed along, against, and perpendicular to the tilt direction. In addition, the deformation of the individual scratches was visually characterized with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The tilted nanorods demonstrated significant frictional anisotropy with the COF of scratches performed against the tilt direction being over 30 percent lower than those performed along the tilt direction. Furthermore, for normal loads up to 2000 µN, the tilted nanorod sample displayed a lower COF than the thin film for scratches performed against the tilt direction. Visual deformation analysis showed a large increase in damage as the normal load was systematically raised from 50 µN to 8000 µN. In addition, the deformations of the nanorods are shown to be dependent on the direction of the scratch

Retrogression-reaging and hot forming of AA7075

textThe retrogression-reaging (RRA) and hot forming behavior of AA7075 were studied. AA7075 is a high-strength alloy used in applications where weight is of particular importance, such as in automobiles. Like many of the high-strength aluminum alloys, AA7075 requires elevated temperature forming to achieve ductility comparable to steels at room temperature. Since AA7075 is a precipitation hardening alloy, heat treatments during forming and production need to be closely controlled to limit any loss of strength due to changes in the microstructure. Two new forming concepts are introduced to explore the feasibility of forming AA7075 in manners compatible with current automotive manufacturing processes. They are RRA forming and solution forming. These concepts seek to improve upon the room-temperature formability of AA7075-T6 and incorporate the paint-bake cycle (PBC) into the heat treatment process. The PBC is a mandatory heat treatment used to cure the paint applied to automobiles during production. Currently, the PBC is conducted at 180 °C for 30 minutes. RRA behavior was studied with molten salt bath treatments between 200 and 350 °C. The PBC was used in lieu of the standard 24 hour reaging treatment conducted at 121 °C. It was determined that retrogression treating below 250 °C was acceptable for RRA forming, with retrogressing at 200 °C producing the hardest material after reaging by the PBC. The formability of AA7075-T6 during RRA forming was evaluated by tensile testing at 200 and 225 °C. Ductility of AA7075-T6 at RRA forming temperatures was double compared to those produced at room temperature. RRA forming was demonstrated to achieve this improved ductility and a final material hardness after the PBC of only slightly less than the peak-aged condition. In addition, solution forming behavior was studied at 480 °C. Solution forming can increase ductility compared to RRA forming, but it requires aging at 121 °C prior to the PBC to produce peak-aged hardness.Mechanical Engineerin

Reconstruction of solidification history from cast microstructure in remelted nickel alloy 718

Digital image analysis techniques were developed to autonomously characterize dendritic solidification microstructures and estimate melt pool profiles and solidification rates in remelted nickel alloy 718 ingots. Automated macrophotography was used to image dendritic microstructures in etched ingot cross-sections and create large image montages. Two analysis techniques, particle identification and two-point correlation function analysis, were developed to measure primary dendrite arm orientation and secondary dendrite arm spacing from these digital image montages. Particle identification techniques identified individual primary dendrite arms from the montage images. Primary dendrite arm orientations were measured from the geometry and location of the identified particles. A peak-counting technique was then implemented to measure secondary dendrite arm spacing after primary dendrite arms were identified. Two-point correlation functions were used to measure average primary dendrite arm orientations and secondary dendrite arm spacings from controlled image areas. Fourier analysis was then used to measure the primary dendrite arm orientation from the two-point correlation function. A peak-counting technique was used to measure secondary dendrite arm spacing after primary dendrite arm orientation was measured. The results produced using both analysis techniques were used to estimate melt pool profiles and solidification rates in a remelted alloy 718 ingot. Melt pool profile and solidification rate histories were calculated from primary dendrite arm orientations and secondary dendrite arm spacings, respectively. The techniques developed in this dissertation provide new technology and data needed by industry to validate computational process models of remelting processes such as electro-slag remelting (ESR) and vacuum-arc remelting (VAR).Mechanical Engineerin

Intercomparison of snow depth retrievals over Arctic sea ice from radar data acquired by Operation IceBridge

Since 2009, the ultra-wideband snow radar on Operation IceBridge (OIB; a NASA airborne mission to survey the polar ice covers) has acquired data in annual campaigns conducted during the Arctic and Antarctic springs. Progressive improvements in radar hardware and data processing methodologies have led to improved data quality for subsequent retrieval of snow depth. Existing retrieval algorithms differ in the way the air–snow (a–s) and snow–ice (s–i) interfaces are detected and localized in the radar returns and in how the system limitations are addressed (e.g., noise, resolution). In 2014, the Snow Thickness On Sea Ice Working Group (STOSIWG) was formed and tasked with investigating how radar data quality affects snow depth retrievals and how retrievals from the various algorithms differ. The goal is to understand the limitations of the estimates and to produce a well-documented, long-term record that can be used for understanding broader changes in the Arctic climate system. Here, we assess five retrieval algorithms by comparisons with field measurements from two ground-based campaigns, including the BRomine, Ozone, and Mercury EXperiment (BROMEX) at Barrow, Alaska; a field program by Environment and Climate Change Canada at Eureka, Nunavut; and available climatology and snowfall from ERA-Interim reanalysis. The aim is to examine available algorithms and to use the assessment results to inform the development of future approaches. We present results from these assessments and highlight key considerations for the production of a long-term, calibrated geophysical record of springtime snow thickness over Arctic sea ice

Risk Factors for Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever, Democratic Republic of the Congo

We conducted two antibody surveys to assess risk factors for Marburg hemorrhagic fever in an area of confirmed Marburg virus transmission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Questionnaires were administered and serum samples tested for Marburg-specific antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Fifteen (2%) of 912 participants in a general village cross-sectional antibody survey were positive for Marburg immunoglobulin G antibody. Thirteen (87%) of these 15 were men who worked in the local gold mines. Working as a miner (odds ratio [OR] 13.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.1 to 62.1) and receiving injections (OR 7.4, 95% CI 1.6 to 33.2) were associated with a positive antibody result. All 103 participants in a targeted antibody survey of healthcare workers were antibody negative. Primary transmission of Marburg virus to humans likely occurred via exposure to a still unidentified reservoir in the local mines. Secondary transmission appears to be less common with Marburg virus than with Ebola virus, the other known filovirus

Does oculomotor inhibition of return influence fixation probability during scene search?

Oculomotor inhibition of return (IOR) is believed to facilitate scene scanning by decreasing the probability that gaze will return to a previously fixated location. This “foraging” hypothesis was tested during scene search and in response to sudden-onset probes at the immediately previous (one-back) fixation location. The latencies of saccades landing within 1º of the previous fixation location were elevated, consistent with oculomotor IOR. However, there was no decrease in the likelihood that the previous location would be fixated relative to distance-matched controls or an a priori baseline. Saccades exhibit an overall forward bias, but this is due to a general bias to move in the same direction and for the same distance as the last saccade (saccadic momentum) rather than to a spatially specific tendency to avoid previously fixated locations. We find no evidence that oculomotor IOR has a significant impact on return probability during scene search

Proceedings of the 3rd Biennial Conference of the Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC) 2015: advancing efficient methodologies through community partnerships and team science

It is well documented that the majority of adults, children and families in need of evidence-based behavioral health interventionsi do not receive them [1, 2] and that few robust empirically supported methods for implementing evidence-based practices (EBPs) exist. The Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC) represents a burgeoning effort to advance the innovation and rigor of implementation research and is uniquely focused on bringing together researchers and stakeholders committed to evaluating the implementation of complex evidence-based behavioral health interventions. Through its diverse activities and membership, SIRC aims to foster the promise of implementation research to better serve the behavioral health needs of the population by identifying rigorous, relevant, and efficient strategies that successfully transfer scientific evidence to clinical knowledge for use in real world settings [3]. SIRC began as a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded conference series in 2010 (previously titled the “Seattle Implementation Research Conference”; $150,000 USD for 3 conferences in 2011, 2013, and 2015) with the recognition that there were multiple researchers and stakeholdersi working in parallel on innovative implementation science projects in behavioral health, but that formal channels for communicating and collaborating with one another were relatively unavailable. There was a significant need for a forum within which implementation researchers and stakeholders could learn from one another, refine approaches to science and practice, and develop an implementation research agenda using common measures, methods, and research principles to improve both the frequency and quality with which behavioral health treatment implementation is evaluated. SIRC’s membership growth is a testament to this identified need with more than 1000 members from 2011 to the present.ii SIRC’s primary objectives are to: (1) foster communication and collaboration across diverse groups, including implementation researchers, intermediariesi, as well as community stakeholders (SIRC uses the term “EBP champions” for these groups) – and to do so across multiple career levels (e.g., students, early career faculty, established investigators); and (2) enhance and disseminate rigorous measures and methodologies for implementing EBPs and evaluating EBP implementation efforts. These objectives are well aligned with Glasgow and colleagues’ [4] five core tenets deemed critical for advancing implementation science: collaboration, efficiency and speed, rigor and relevance, improved capacity, and cumulative knowledge. SIRC advances these objectives and tenets through in-person conferences, which bring together multidisciplinary implementation researchers and those implementing evidence-based behavioral health interventions in the community to share their work and create professional connections and collaborations