High Flux Femtosecond X-ray Emission from the Electron-Hose Instability in Laser Wakefield Accelerators

Bright and ultrashort duration X-ray pulses can be produced by through betatron oscillations of electrons during Laser Wakefield Acceleration (LWFA). Our experimental measurements using the \textsc{Hercules} laser system demonstrate a dramatic increase in X-ray flux for interaction distances beyond the depletion/dephasing lengths, where the initial electron bunch injected into the first wake bucket catches up with the laser pulse front and the laser pulse depletes. A transition from an LWFA regime to a beam-driven plasma wakefield acceleration (PWFA) regime consequently occurs. The drive electron bunch is susceptible to the electron-hose instability and rapidly develops large amplitude oscillations in its tail, which leads to greatly enhanced X-ray radiation emission. We measure the X-ray flux as a function of acceleration length using a variable length gas cell. 3D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations using a Monte Carlo synchrotron X-ray emission algorithm elucidate the time-dependent variations in the radiation emission processes.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Accel. Beam

Knee joint neuromuscular activation performance during muscle damage and superimposed fatigue

This study examined the concurrent effects of exercise-induced muscle damage and superimposed acute fatigue on the neuromuscular activation performance of the knee flexors of nine males (age: 26.7 ± 6.1yrs; height 1.81 ± 0.05m; body mass 81.2 ± 11.7kg [mean ± SD]). Measures were obtained during three experimental conditions: (i) FAT-EEVID, involving acute fatiguing exercise performed on each assessment occasion plus a single episode of eccentric exercise performed on the first occasion and after the fatigue trial; (ii) FAT, involving the fatiguing exercise only and; (iii) CON consisting of no exercise. Assessments were performed prior to (pre) and at lh, 24h, 48h, 72h, and 168h relative to the eccentric exercise. Repeated-measures ANOVAs showed that muscle damage within the FAT-EEVID condition elicited reductions of up to 38%, 24%) and 65%> in volitional peak force, electromechanical delay and rate of force development compared to baseline and controls, respectively (F[io, 80] = 2.3 to 4.6; p to 30.7%>) following acute fatigue (Fp; i6] = 4.3 to 9.1; p ; Fp, iq = 3.9; p <0.05). The safeguarding of evoked muscle activation capability despite compromised volitional performance might reveal aspects of capabilities for emergency and protective responses during episodes of fatigue and antecedent muscle damaging exercise

Rechargeable Calcium–Sulfur Batteries Enabled by an Efficient Borate-Based Electrolyte

Rechargeable metal–sulfur batteries show great promise for energy storage applications because of their potentially high energy and low cost. The multivalent‐metal based electrochemical system exhibits the particular advantage of the feasibility of dendrite‐free metal anode. Calcium (Ca) represents a promising anode material owing to the low reductive potential, high capacity, and abundant natural resources. However, calcium–sulfur (Ca–S) battery technology is in an early R&D stage, facing the fundamental challenge to develop a suitable electrolyte enabling reversible electrochemical Ca deposition, and at the same time, sulfur redox reactions in the system. Herein, a study of a room‐temperature Ca–S battery by employing a stable and efficient calcium tetrakis(hexafluoroisopropyloxy) borate Ca[B(hfip)$_{4}$]$_{2}$ electrolyte is presented. The Ca–S batteries exhibit a cell voltage of ≈2.1 V (close to its thermodynamic value) and good reversibility. The mechanistic studies hint at a redox chemistry of sulfur with polysulfide/sulfide species involved in the Ca‐based system

Safe Design Suggestions for Vegetated Roofs

Rooftop vegetation is becoming increasingly popular because of its environmental benefits and its ability to earn green-building certification credits. With the exception of one international guideline, there is little mention of worker safety and health in vegetated-roof codes and literature. Observations and field investigations of 19 vegetated roofs in the United States revealed unsafe access for workers and equipment, a lack of fall-protection measures, and other site-specific hazards. Design for safety strategies and the integration of life-cycle safety thinking with green-building credits systems are the preferred methods to reduce risk to workers on vegetated roofs. Design suggestions have been developed to add to the body of knowledge. The findings complement several National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) construction and prevention through design (PtD) goals and are congruent with NIOSH’s Safe Green Jobs initiative. Organizations that install and maintain vegetated roofs can utilize the findings to understand hazards, take precautions, and incorporate safety into their bids The published version of this article is available here: 10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000500Support from the the Virginia Tech Occupational Safety and Health Research Center through the Kevin P. Granata Pilot Program funded by the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Sciences

Disentangling the effects of plant species invasion and urban development on arthropod community composition

Urban development and species invasion are two major global threats to biodiversity. These threats often co-occur, as developed areas are more prone to species invasion. However, few empirical studies have tested if both factors affect biodiversity in similar ways. Here we study the individual and combined effects of urban development and plant invasion on the composition of arthropod communities. We assessed 36 paired invaded and non-invaded sample plots, invaded by the plant Antigonon leptopus, with half of these pairs located in natural and the other half in developed land-use types on the Caribbean island of St. Eustatius. We used several taxonomic and functional variables to describe community composition and diversity. Our results show that both urban development and A. leptopus invasion affected community composition, albeit in different ways. Development significantly increased species richness and exponential Shannon diversity, while invasion had no effect on these variables. However, invasion significantly increased arthropod abundance and caused biotic homogenization. Specifically, uninvaded arthropod communities were distinctly different in species composition between developed and natural sites, while they became undistinguishable after A. leptopus invasion. Moreover, functional variables were significantly affected by species invasion, but not by urban development. Invaded communities had higher community-weighted mean body size and the feeding guild composition of invaded arthropod communities was characterized by the exceptional numbers of nectarivores, herbivores, and detritivores. With the exception of species richness and exponential Shannon diversity, invasion influenced four out of six response variables to a greater degree than urban development did. Hence, we can conclude that species invasion is not just a passenger of urban development but also a driver of change

VOCl as a Cathode for Rechargeable Chloride Ion Batteries

A novel room temperature rechargeable battery with VOCl cathode, lithium anode, and chloride ion transporting liquid electrolyte is described. The cell is based on the reversible transfer of chloride ions between the two electrodes. The VOCl cathode delivered an initial discharge capacity of 189 mAh g−1. A reversible capacity of 113 mAh g−1 was retained even after 100 cycles when cycled at a high current density of 522 mA g−1. Such high cycling stability was achieved in chloride ion batteries for the first time, demonstrating the practicality of the system beyond a proof of concept model. The electrochemical reaction mechanism of the VOCl electrode in the chloride ion cell was investigated in detail by ex situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results confirm reversible deintercalation–intercalation of chloride ions in the VOCl electrode