Detection of tightly closed flaws by nondestructive testing (NDT) methods in steel and titanium

X-radiographic, liquid penetrant, ultrasonic, eddy current and magnetic particle testing techniques were optimized and applied to the evaluation of 4340 steel (180 KSI-UTS) and 6Al-4V titanium (STA) alloy specimens. Sixty steel specimens containing a total of 176 fatigue cracks and 60 titanium specimens containing a total of 135 fatigue cracks were evaluated. The cracks ranged in length from .043 cm (0.017 inch) to 1.02 cm (.400 inch) and in depth from .005 cm (.002 inch) to .239 cm (.094 inch) for steel specimens. Lengths ranged from .048 cm (0.019 inch) to 1.03 cm (.407 inch) and depths from 0.010 cm (.004 inch) to .261 cm (0.103 inch) for titanium specimens. Specimen thicknesses were nominally .152 cm (0.060 inch) and 0.635 cm (0.250 inch) and surface finishes were nominally 125 rms. Specimens were evaluated in the "as machined" surface condition, after etch surface and after proof loading in a randomized inspection sequence

A critical analysis of the hydrino model

Recently, spectroscopic and calorimetric observations of hydrogen plasmas and chemical reactions with them have been interpreted as evidence for the existence of electronic states of the hydrogen atom with a binding energy of more than 13.6 eV. The theoretical basis for such states, that have been dubbed hydrinos, is investigated. We discuss both, the novel deterministic model of the hydrogen atom, in which the existence of hydrinos was predicted, and standard quantum mechanics. Severe inconsistencies in the deterministic model are pointed out and the incompatibility of hydrino states with quantum mechanics is reviewed.Comment: 9 page

Variable binding, symmetric monoidal closed theories, and bigraphs

This paper investigates the use of symmetric monoidal closed (SMC) structure for representing syntax with variable binding, in particular for languages with linear aspects. In our setting, one first specifies an SMC theory T, which may express binding operations, in a way reminiscent from higher-order abstract syntax. This theory generates an SMC category S(T) whose morphisms are, in a sense, terms in the desired syntax. We apply our approach to Jensen and Milner's (abstract binding) bigraphs, which are linear w.r.t. processes. This leads to an alternative category of bigraphs, which we compare to the original.Comment: An introduction to two more technical previous preprints. Accepted at Concur '0

The FHI FEL Upgrade Design

Since coming on-line in November 2013, the Fritz-Haber-Institut (FHI) der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (MPG) Free-Electron Laser (FEL) has provided intense, tunable infrared radiation to FHI user groups. It has enabled experiments in diverse fields ranging from bio-molecular spectroscopy to studies of clusters and nanoparticles, nonlinear solid-state spectroscopy, and surface science, resulting in 50 peer-reviewed publications so far. The MPG has now funded a significant upgrade to the original FHI FEL. A second short Rayleigh range undulator FEL beamline is being added that will permit lasing from 160 microns. Additionally, a 500 MHz kicker cavity will permit simultaneous two-color operation of the FEL from both FEL beamlines over an optical range of 5 to 50 microns by deflecting alternate 1 GHz pulses into each of the two undulators. We will describe the upgraded FHI FEL physics and engineering design and present the plans for two-color FEL operations in November 2020

The FHI FEL Upgrade Design

Since coming on-line in November 2013, the Fritz-Haber-Institut (FHI) der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (MPG) Free-Electron Laser (FEL) has provided intense, tunable infrared radiation to FHI user groups. It has enabled experiments in diverse fields ranging from bio-molecular spectroscopy to studies of clusters and nanoparticles, nonlinear solid-state spectroscopy, and surface science, resulting in 50 peer-reviewed publications so far. A significant upgrade of the FHI FEL is now being prepared. A second short Rayleigh range undulator FEL beamline is being added that will permit lasing from 160 microns. Additionally, a 500 MHz kicker cavity will permit simultaneous two-color operation of the FEL from both FEL beamlines over an optical range of 5 to 50 microns by deflecting alternate 1 GHz pulses into each of the two undulators. We will describe the upgraded FHI FEL physics and engineering design and present the plans for two-color FEL operations in November 2020

Integration of CT urography improves diagnostic confidence of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in prostate cancer patients

Background: To prove the feasibility of integrating CT urography (CTU) into 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and to analyze the impact of CTU on assigning focal tracer accumulation in the ureteric space to either ureteric excretion or metastatic disease concerning topographic attribution and diagnostic confidence. Methods: Ten prostate cancer patients who underwent 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT including CTU because of biochemical relapse or known metastatic disease were retrospectively analyzed. CTU consisted of an excretory phase 10 min after injection of 80 mL iodinated contrast material. Ureter opacification at CTU was evaluated using the following score: 0, 0% opacification; 1, < 50%; 2, 50–99%; 3, 100%. Topographic attribution and confidence of topographic attribution of focal tracer accumulation in the ureteric space were separately assessed for 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT without and with CTU. Diagnostic confidence was evaluated using the following score: 0, < 25% confidence; 1, 26–50%; 2, 51–75%; 3, 76–100%. Results: At CTU, mean ureter opacification score was 2.6 ± 0.7. At 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT without CTU, mean confidence of topographic attribution of focal tracer accumulation was 2.5 ± 0.7 in total and 2.6 ± 0.7 for metastatic disease. At 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT with CTU, mean confidence of topographic attribution of focal areas of tracer accumulation was significantly higher with 2.9 ± 0.2 in total and 2.7 ± 0.9 for metastatic disease (p < 0.001). In 4 of 34 findings (12%) attribution to either ureteric excretion or metastatic disease was discrepant between 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT without and with CTU (n.s). Conclusions: Integration of CTU into 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT is feasible and increases diagnostic confidence of assigning focal areas of tracer accumulation in the ureteric space to either metastatic disease or ureteric excretion

A Mission to Explore the Pioneer Anomaly

The Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft yielded the most precise navigation in deep space to date. These spacecraft had exceptional acceleration sensitivity. However, analysis of their radio-metric tracking data has consistently indicated that at heliocentric distances of $\sim 20-70$ astronomical units, the orbit determinations indicated the presence of a small, anomalous, Doppler frequency drift. The drift is a blue-shift, uniformly changing with a rate of $\sim(5.99 \pm 0.01)\times 10^{-9}$ Hz/s, which can be interpreted as a constant sunward acceleration of each particular spacecraft of $a_P = (8.74 \pm 1.33)\times 10^{-10} {\rm m/s^2}$. This signal has become known as the Pioneer anomaly. The inability to explain the anomalous behavior of the Pioneers with conventional physics has contributed to growing discussion about its origin. There is now an increasing number of proposals that attempt to explain the anomaly outside conventional physics. This progress emphasizes the need for a new experiment to explore the detected signal. Furthermore, the recent extensive efforts led to the conclusion that only a dedicated experiment could ultimately determine the nature of the found signal. We discuss the Pioneer anomaly and present the next steps towards an understanding of its origin. We specifically focus on the development of a mission to explore the Pioneer Anomaly in a dedicated experiment conducted in deep space.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures; invited talk given at the 2005 ESLAB Symposium "Trends in Space Science and Cosmic Vision 2020", 19-21 April 2005, ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherland

Fundamental Physics with the Laser Astrometric Test Of Relativity

The Laser Astrometric Test Of Relativity (LATOR) is a joint European-U.S. Michelson-Morley-type experiment designed to test the pure tensor metric nature of gravitation - a fundamental postulate of Einstein's theory of general relativity. By using a combination of independent time-series of highly accurate gravitational deflection of light in the immediate proximity to the Sun, along with measurements of the Shapiro time delay on interplanetary scales (to a precision respectively better than 0.1 picoradians and 1 cm), LATOR will significantly improve our knowledge of relativistic gravity. The primary mission objective is to i) measure the key post-Newtonian Eddington parameter \gamma with accuracy of a part in 10^9. (1-\gamma) is a direct measure for presence of a new interaction in gravitational theory, and, in its search, LATOR goes a factor 30,000 beyond the present best result, Cassini's 2003 test. The mission will also provide: ii) first measurement of gravity's non-linear effects on light to ~0.01% accuracy; including both the Eddington \beta parameter and also the spatial metric's 2nd order potential contribution (never measured before); iii) direct measurement of the solar quadrupole moment J2 (currently unavailable) to accuracy of a part in 200 of its expected size; iv) direct measurement of the "frame-dragging" effect on light by the Sun's gravitomagnetic field, to 1% accuracy. LATOR's primary measurement pushes to unprecedented accuracy the search for cosmologically relevant scalar-tensor theories of gravity by looking for a remnant scalar field in today's solar system. We discuss the mission design of this proposed experiment.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures; invited talk given at the 2005 ESLAB Symposium "Trends in Space Science and Cosmic Vision 2020," 19-21 April 2005, ESTEC, Noodrwijk, The Netherland

Static and dynamic 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT for the detection of malignant transformation of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia of the pancreas.

Purpose: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) may arise from intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) with malignant transformation, but a significant portion of IPMN remains to show benign behavior. Therefore, it is important to differentiate between benign IPMN and IPMN lesions undergoing malignant transformation. However, non-operative differentiation by ultrasound, CT, MRI and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is still unsatisfactory. Here, we assessed the clinical feasibility of additional assessment of malignancy by positron emission tomography using 68Gallium-labeled Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitors (68Ga-FAPI-PET) in 25 patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - or computed tomography (CT) - proven cystic pancreatic lesions. Methods: 25 patients with cystic pancreatic lesions who were followed up in the European Pancreas Center of Heidelberg University hospital and who were led to surgical resection or fine needle aspiration (FNA) due to suspicious clinical, laboratory chemistry or radiological findings were examined by static (all patients) and dynamic (20 patients) 68Ga-FAPI-PET. Cystic pancreatic lesions were delineated and maximum and mean standardized uptake values (SUVmax / SUVmean) were determined. Time activity curves and dynamic parameters (time to peak, K1, k2, K3, k4) were extracted from dynamic PET data. Receiver operating curves (ROC) of static and dynamic PET parameters were calculated. Results: 11 of the patients suffered from menacing IPMN (high grade IPMN with (6 cases) or without (5 cases) progression into PDAC) and 11 from low grade IPMN, 3 patients from other benign entities. Menacing IMPN showed significantly elevated 68Ga-FAPI uptake compared to low grade IPMN and other benign cystic lesions. In dynamic imaging, menacing IPMN showed increasing time activity curves (TAC) followed by slow decrease afterwards, TAC of low grade IPMN showed an immediate peak followed by rapid decrease for about 10 minutes and slower decrease for the rest of the time. ROC curves showed high sensitivity and specificity (area under the curve (AUC) greater than 80%) of static and dynamic PET parameters for the differentiation of IPMN subtypes. Conclusion: 68Ga-FAPI-PET is a helpful new tool for the differentiation of menacing and low grade IPMN and shows the potential to avoid unnecessary surgery for non-malignant pancreatic IPMN