Security Monitoring System for a Bulk Foodstuff Transport Container

A security monitoring system provides for the secure transport of a bulk foodstuff container. The system includes an electromechanical locking mechanism allowing access by only authorized persons, a positional locator for determining the geographical position of the bulk foodstuff transport container, and a controller associated with the transport container. The controller controls operation of the electromechanical locking mechanism, stores data received from the electromechanical locking mechanism and the positional locator, and communicates with a remote data processor in near real time. A handheld user interface device is configured to control operation of the controller, to process and store data received from the controller, and to communicate with the remote data processor. Unique identifiers are provided for the bulk foodstuff transport container, the transport vehicle, any storage container from which or into which a bulk foodstuff is transferred, and any authorized operator of the security monitoring system

Hybrid SnO2/TiO2 Nanocomposites for Selective Detection of Ultra-Low Hydrogen Sulfide Concentrations in Complex Backgrounds

In this paper, we present a chemiresistive metal oxide (MOX) sensor for detection of hydrogen sulfide. Compared to the previous reports, the overall sensor performance was improved in multiple characteristics, including: sensitivity, selectivity, stability, activation time, response time, recovery time, and activation temperature. The superior sensor performance was attributed to the utilization of hybrid SnO2/TiO2 oxides as interactive catalytic layers deposited using a magnetron radio frequency (RF) sputtering technique. The unique advantage of the RF sputtering for sensor fabrication is the ability to create ultra-thin films with precise control of geometry, morphology and chemical composition of the product of synthesis. Chemiresistive films down to several nanometers can be fabricated as sensing elements. The RF sputtering technique was found to be very robust for bilayer and multilayer oxide structure fabrication. The geometry, morphology, chemical composition and electronic structure of interactive layers were evaluated in relation to their gas sensing performance, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction technique (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDAX), UV visible spectroscopy, and Kelvin probe measurements. A sensor based on multilayer SnO2/TiO2 catalytic layer with 10% vol. content of TiO2 demonstrated the best gas sensing performance in all characteristics. Based on the pattern relating material’s characteristics to gas sensing performance, the optimization strategy for hydrogen sulfide sensor fabrication was suggested

Addendum: Larin, A.; Womble, P.C.; Dobrokhotov, V. Hybrid SnO2/TiO2 Nanocomposites for Selective Detection of Ultra-Low Hydrogen Sulfide Concentrations in Complex Backgrounds. Sensors 2016, 16, 1373.

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Cosmological Parameters from the CERES Project

As part of the CERES project we have examined ~7500 flat-spectrum radio sources from the CLASS survey. Our aims are three-fold: to determine lambda[SUB]0[/SUB] and Omega[SUB]0[/SUB] from `conventional' lensing statistics, to constrain models of structure formation such as `standard CDM' by comparing the observed and predicted numbers of wide-separation lenses and to determine H[SUB]0[/SUB] by measuring the time delay in individual lens systems. Our sample is very uniform and selection effects are understood. We also emphasise the necessity and explore the possibility of using lensing statistics to constrain lambda[SUB]0[/SUB] and Omega[SUB]0[/SUB] simultaneously. Preliminary results from the frequency of wide-separation lenses support the many other arguments against standard CDM as a viable model of structure formation. The time delay measurements of the system 0218+357 favour a Hubble constant of ~60, which is consistent with determinations from other lens systems and conventional determinations of H[SUB]0[/SUB]. Further convergence of the H[SUB]0[/SUB] values from different lens systems will demonstrate both the viability of this technique as well as offer possibly the best value for the Hubble constant. A full analysis of galaxy lensing in the sample should provide the best determination of the cosmological constant to date