Studies on Vapor Adsorption Systems

The project consisted of performing experiments on single and dual bed vapor adsorption systems, thermodynamic cycle optimization, and thermal modeling. The work was described in a technical paper that appeared in conference proceedings and a Master's thesis, which were previously submitted to NASA. The present report describes some additional thermal modeling work done subsequently, and includes listings of computer codes developed during the project. Recommendations for future work are provided

Effect of Electron Beam Irradiation on Forensic Evidence. 2. Analysis of Writing Inks on Porous Surfaces

The effect of electron beam irradiation on a series of different writing inks is described. As the anthrax-tainted letters were discovered in October 2001, the U.S. government began to experiment with the use of the electron beam irradiation process for destroying such biological agents. Plans initially considered a large-scale countrywide use of this technology. However, over time the scope of this plan as well as the radiation dosage were reduced, especially when some adverse consequences to mailed items subjected to this process were observed. Little data existed at the time to characterize what level of damage might be expected to occur with common items sent through the mail. This was especially important to museums and other institutions that routinely ship valuable and historic items through the mail. Although the Smithsonian Institution initiated some studies of the effect of electron beam irradiation on archived materials, little data existed on the effect that this process would have on forensic evidence. Approximately 97 different black, blue, red, green, and yellow writing inks were selected. Writing ink types included ballpoint, gel, plastic/felt tip, and rollerball. All noncontrol samples were subjected to standard mail irradiation conditions used by the U.S. Postal Service at the time this experiment was performed. A video spectral comparator and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis were used to evaluate both the control and the irradiated samples. Some published studies reported changes in the presence/absence of dye bands in the chromatograms of irradiated writing inks. Some of these studies report the formation of additional dye bands on the chromatogram while others report missing dye bands. However, using standard testing guidelines and procedures, none of the 97 irradiated inks tested were found to show any significant optical or chemical differences from the control samples. In addition, random testing of some of the ink samples using a second solvent system did not reveal any changes. However, one control ink did show some minor changes in optical properties and dye characteristics over time (but not TLC) while the irradiated sample remained stable. Significant changes in the ultraviolet fluorescence characteristics of the irradiated paper samples themselves (not inks) were also observed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72704/1/j.1556-4029.2007.00404.x.pd

Fingermark age determinations: Legal considerations, review of the literature and practical propositions.

The question of the age of fingermarks is often raised in investigations and trials when suspects admit that they have left their fingermarks at a crime scene but allege that the contact occurred at a different time than the crime and for legal reasons. In the first part of this review article, examples from American appellate court cases will be used to demonstrate that there is a lack of consensus among American courts regarding the admissibility and weight of testimony from expert witnesses who provide opinions about the age of fingermarks. Of course, these issues are not only encountered in America but have also been reported elsewhere, for example in Europe. The disparity in the way fingermark dating cases were managed in these examples is probably due to the fact that no methodology has been validated and accepted by the forensic science community so far. The second part of this review article summarizes the studies reported on fingermark dating in the literature and highlights the fact that most proposed methodologies still suffer from limitations preventing their use in practice. Nevertheless, several approaches based on the evolution of aging parameters detected in fingermark residue over time appear to show promise for the fingermark dating field. Based on these approaches, the definition of a formal methodological framework for fingermark dating cases is proposed in order to produce relevant temporal information. This framework identifies which type of information could and should be obtained about fingermark aging and what developments are still required to scientifically address dating issues

Measurement of gauge blocks by interferometry

The key comparison EURAMET.L-K1.2011 on gauge blocks was carried out in the framework of a EURAMET project starting in 2012 and ending in 2015. It involved the participation of 24 National Metrology Institutes from Europe and Egypt, respectively. 38 gauge blocks of steel and ceramic with nominal central lengths between 0.5 mm and 500 mm were circulated. The comparison was conducted in two loops with two sets of artifacts. A statistical technique for linking the reference values was applied. As a consequence the reference value of one loop is influenced by the measurements of the other loop although they did not even see the artifacts of the others. This influence comes solely from three "linking laboratories" which measure both sets of artifacts. In total there were 44 results were not fully consistent with the reference values. This represents 10% of the full set of 420 results which is a considerable high number. At least 12 of them are clearly outliers where the participants have been informed by the pilot as soon as possible. The comparison results help to support the calibration and measurement capabilities (CMCs) of the laboratories involved in the CIPM MRA

Similarity of Traveling-Wave Delays in the Hearing Organs of Humans and Other Tetrapods

Transduction of sound in mammalian ears is mediated by basilar-membrane waves exhibiting delays that increase systematically with distance from the cochlear base. Most contemporary accounts of such “traveling-wave” delays in humans have ignored postmortem basilar-membrane measurements in favor of indirect in vivo estimates derived from brainstem-evoked responses, compound action potentials, and otoacoustic emissions. Here, we show that those indirect delay estimates are either flawed or inadequately calibrated. In particular, we argue against assertions based on indirect estimates that basilar-membrane delays are much longer in humans than in experimental animals. We also estimate in vivo basilar-membrane delays in humans by correcting postmortem measurements in humans according to the effects of death on basilar-membrane vibrations in other mammalian species. The estimated in vivo basilar-membrane delays in humans are similar to delays in the hearing organs of other tetrapods, including those in which basilar membranes do not sustain traveling waves or that lack basilar membranes altogether

Measurement system based on multi-wavelength interferometry for long gauge block calibration

This paper shows the result of work of the Institute of Micromechanics and Photonics at Warsaw University of Technology and the Length and Angle Division of Central Office of Measures (GUM) [1] in building an automatic multiwavelength interferometric system with extended measurement range for calibration of long (up to 1 m) gauge blocks. The design of a full working setup with environmental condition control and monitoring systems, as well as image analysis software, is presented. For length deviation determination the phase fraction approach is proposed and described. To confirm that the system is capable of calibrating gauge blocks with assumed accuracy, a comparison between the results of 300 mm length gauge block measurement obtained by using other systems from the Central Office of Measures is made. Statistical analysis proved that the system can be used for high precision measurements with assumed standard uncertainty (125 nm for a length of 1 m). Finally the comparison between our results obtained for a long gauge block set (600 mm to 1000 mm long) and previous calibrations made by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) [2] is shown

Measurement System Based on Multi-Wavelength Interferometry for Long Gauge Block Calibration

This paper shows the result of work of the Institute of Micromechanics and Photonics at Warsaw University of Technology and the Length and Angle Division of Central Office of Measures (GUM) [1] in building an automatic multiwavelength interferometric system with extended measurement range for calibration of long (up to 1 m) gauge blocks. The design of a full working setup with environmental condition control and monitoring systems, as well as image analysis software, is presented. For length deviation determination the phase fraction approach is proposed and described. To confirm that the system is capable of calibrating gauge blocks with assumed accuracy, a comparison between the results of 300 mm length gauge block measurement obtained by using other systems from the Central Office of Measures is made. Statistical analysis proved that the system can be used for high precision measurements with assumed standard uncertainty (125 nm for a length of 1 m). Finally the comparison between our results obtained for a long gauge block set (600 mm to 1000 mm long) and previous calibrations made by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) [2] is shown

Transverse strain responses in electrostrictive poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) films and development of a dilatometer for the measurement

A dilatometer based on the cantilever beam concept has been developed. The dilatometer is easy to use and capable of measuring transverse strain response of soft polymer films in a broad strain range (from 10(-7) to 10(-1)) without mechanical constraining of the sample. It is capable of detecting strain over a relatively wide frequency range from mHz to above 100 Hz under different load and temperature. Using the setup, the electric field induced transverse strains of the electrostrictive poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) copolymer films were characterized which shows that a large transverse strain can be achieved in this class of polymer. In addition, the effect of mechanical tensile load on the transverse strain was also evaluated and the results show that the strain response will be affected by the load. However, depending on the load level, the strain response of the polymer film under a given electric field may increase or decrease with load. Based on the phenomenological theory, it is shown that for a ferroelectric based material, the mechanical load will shift the Curie temperature. Hence, to a large extent, the change of the strain response with load observed here can be understood by linking it to the strain change with temperature