Non-destructive testing of carbon reinforced plastics by means of phase retrieval

In this work, the SLM-based phase retrieval system will be used to inspect carbon reinforced plastics samples (CFRP) under applying a thermal load. For this purpose, the system is used to capture a sequence of 8 spatially separated recording planes, where the distance between subsequent planes equals 2 mm. For detecting the hidden failures two sets of intensity observations are recorded. The first set for the initial state and the second set is captured after applying the load. To recover the phase information associated with the two states, the captured intensities have been subjected to an iterative algorithm based on the method of generalized projection.Comment: Conf. Speckle 201

Aerothermal modeling program, phase 2. Element C: Fuel injector-air swirl characterization

The main objectives of the NASA-sponsored Aerothermal Modeling Program, Phase 2--Element C, are experimental evaluation of the air swirler interaction with a fuel injector in a simulated combustor chamber, assessment of the current two-phase models, and verification of the improved spray evaporation/dispersion models. This experimental and numerical program consists of five major tasks. Brief descriptions of the five tasks are given

Aerothermal modeling program, Phase 2, Element C: Fuel injector-air swirl characterization

The main objectives of the NASA sponsored Aerothermal Modeling Program, Phase 2, Element C, are to collect benchmark quality data to quantify the fuel spray interaction with the turbulent swirling flows and to validate current and advanced two phase flow models. The technical tasks involved in this effort are discussed

Alpha self-absorption evaluation in radiometric filter material for the natural range of alpha energy (5-9 MeV)

In this paper, SRIM (The Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter) software package is used to simulate the interaction of alpha particles into the material of radiometric analytical filters. The effect of alpha particle self-absorption in alpha radiometric filters measurements is estimated, especially in the range of natural alpha energy (5-9 MeV, Radon and Thoron alpha energy). Software package SRIM allows to calculate the parameters of the ions interaction with target material using a Monte Carlo simulation method based on a quantum mechanical treatment of ion-atom collisions. The effect of the radiometric analytical filter material on the transmitted efficiency of alpha energy is discussed. As the energy increases the self-absorption in analytical filter material is decreased but still has a clear effect. In this case, the filter material and the space distance between the filter and the detector window decrease the number of alpha particles which reach to the detector window. © 2019 RAD Association. All rights reserved

Drug Screening for Discovery of Broad-spectrum Agents for Soil-transmitted Nematodes

Soil-transmitted nematodes (STNs), namely hookworms, whipworms, and ascarids, are extremely common parasites, infecting 1-2 billion of the poorest people worldwide. Two benzimidazoles, albendazole and mebendazole, are currently used in STN mass drug administration, with many instances of low/reduced activity reported. New drugs against STNs are urgently needed. We tested various models for STN drug screening with the aim of identifying the most effective tactics for the discovery of potent, safe and broad-spectrum agents. We screened a 1280-compound library of approved drugs to completion against late larval/adult stages and egg/larval stages of both the human hookworm parasite Ancylostoma ceylanicum and the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which is often used as a surrogate for STNs in screens. The quality of positives was further evaluated based on cheminformatics/data mining analyses and activity against evolutionarily distant Trichuris muris whipworm adults. From these data, two pairs of positives, sulconazole/econazole and pararosaniline/cetylpyridinium, predicted to target nematode CYP-450 and HSP-90 respectively, were prioritized for in vivo evaluation against A. ceylanicum infections in hamsters. One of these positives, pararosaniline, showed a significant impact on hookworm fecundity in vivo. Taken together, our results suggest that anthelmintic screening with A. ceylanicum larval stages is superior to C. elegans based on both reduced false negative rate and superior overall quality of actives. Our results also highlight two potentially important targets for the discovery of broad-spectrum human STN drugs

Impact of Trauma-Informed Training and Mindfulness-Based Social–Emotional Learning Program on Teacher Attitudes and Burnout: A Mixed-Methods Study

A trauma-informed approach can give teachers the strategies they need to help children affected by trauma reach their full potential in the classroom. Mindfulness-based social–emotional learning (SEL) programs equip teachers with essential tools to create a trauma-informed classroom, which in turn helps alleviate stress associated with supporting trauma-impacted children. Because existing research on SEL programs has predominantly focused on student well-being, there is a paucity of research examining teacher outcomes and the integration of a trauma-informed framework. The purpose of the study was to investigate the benefits of trauma-informed training and MindUP delivery on educator attitudes and burnout. Intervention educators received trauma-informed and MindUP training and implemented MindUP in their classrooms. Comparison educators did not participate in training and taught their usual curriculum. We compared trauma-informed attitudes and burnout levels among 112 educators (n = 71 intervention, n = 41 comparison) using the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care (ARTIC) scale and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Pre- and post-intervention quantitative data were augmented by qualitative focus group data. Results showed that educators in the intervention group reported significant decreases in emotional exhaustion, and significant improvements in the reactions subscale and overall scores on the ARTIC scale. Greatest improvements in self-efficacy and personal accomplishment were observed among educators who implemented MindUP for two consecutive years. These findings were supported by focus group data. Our results show that infusing trauma-informed training with an existing mindfulness-based SEL intervention may encourage teachers to embrace trauma-sensitive attitudes and reduce burnout

Anthelminthic Screening for Parasitic Nematodes

For many parasitic diseases, high-throughput phenotypic screening is an important tool in finding new drugs. Some of the most important parasitic diseases are caused by nematodes. However, these parasitic nematodes are not typically amenable to high throughput screening. Due to the ease of its maintenance and suitability for high throughput assay, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is instead used. To address whether C. elegans is a good model for nematode drug discovery, we compared the drug susceptibility of C. elegans relative to the human hookworm nematode parasite Ancylostoma ceylanicum at several developmental stages using a library of FDA approved drugs. I will present results of these studies that point to how well C. elegans efficacy correlates with hookworm efficacy and how early larval stages (easier to get) correlated with adult stages (more representative of what stage is targeted in human therapy). In addition, we are working on moderate-high throughput system for screening adult parasites. Murine Holigmosomoides polygyrus is a good model for human parasitic nematodes. Using Union Biometrica, Copas, worm sorter we were able to sort H. polygyrus into 384 well format. Here I will discuss the capabilities of this system as well as how we are building de novo, in collaboration with the Albrecht laboratory at WPI, an imaging and image analysis platform for screening adult stages of this parasite against large drug libraries

A Review of Graphene-Based Memristive Neuromorphic Devices and Circuits

As data processing volume increases, the limitations of traditional computers and the need for more efficient computing methods become evident. Neuromorphic computing mimics the brain's low-power and high-speed computations, making it crucial in the era of big data and artificial intelligence. One significant development in this field is the memristor, a device that exhibits neuromorphic tendencies. The performance of memristive devices and circuits relies on the materials used, with graphene being a promising candidate due to its unique properties. Researchers are investigating graphene-based memristors for large-scale, sustainable fabrication. Herein, progress in the development of graphene-based memristive neuromorphic devices and circuits is highlighted. Graphene and its common fabrication methods are discussed. The fabrication and production of graphene-based memristive devices are reviewed and comparisons are provided among graphene- and nongraphene-based memristive devices. Next, a detailed synthesis of the devices utilizing graphene-based memristors is provided to implement the basic building blocks of neuromorphic architectures, that is, synapses, and neurons. This is followed by reviewing studies building graphene memristive spiking neural networks (SNNs). Finally, insights on the prospects of graphene-based neuromorphic memristive systems including their device- and network-level challenges and opportunities are given

Practical approach to predict the shear strength of fibre-reinforced clay

yesCarpet waste fibres have a higher volume to weight ratios and once discarded into landfills, these fibres occupy a larger volume than other materials of similar weight. This research evaluates the efficiency of two types of carpet waste fibre as sustainable soil reinforcing materials to improve the shear strength of clay. A series of consolidated undrained (CU) triaxial compression tests were carried out to study the shear strength of reinforced clays with 1%, to 5% carpet waste fibres. The results indicated that carpet waste fibres improve the effective shear stress ratio and deviator stress of the host soil significantly. Addition of 1%, 3% and 5% carpet fibres could improve the effective stress ratio of the unreinforced soil by 17.6%, 53.5% and 70.6%, respectively at an initial effective consolidation stress of 200 kPa. In this study, a nonlinear regression model was developed based on a modified form of the hyperbolic model to predict the relationship between effective shear stress ratio, deviator stress and axial strain of fibre-reinforced soil samples with various fibre contents when subjected to various initial effective consolidation stresses. The proposed model was validated using the published experimental data, with predictions using this model found to be in excellent agreement