Laser Doppler multi-beam differential vibration sensor for real-time continuous visualization of buried objects in multiple frequency bands.

Laser-acoustic detection of buried objects, such as landmines, uses elastic waves in the ground and a laser vibrometer to create a vibration image of the ground surface. A decision on the presence of a buried object is made by analyzing vibration images for multiple vibration frequencies. With traditionally used laser Doppler vibrometers, the vibration imaging data are saved to a computer memory to be analyzed, which increases the detection time.

Laser Doppler multi-beam differential vibration sensor based on a line-scan CMOS camera for real-time buried objects detection.

Laser Doppler vibrometers (LDVs) traditionally used for ground vibration sensing in laser-acoustic detection of buried objects are limited to operation from a stationary platform due to their sensitivity to the motion of the LDV itself. In order to overcome this limitation a novel Laser Multi-Beam Differential Interferometric Sensor (LAMBDIS), has been developed. The LAMBDIS allows for measurements of vibration fields with interferometric sensitivity, while having low sensitivity to the motion of the sensor itself.

Total integrated performance excellence system (TIPES): A true north direction for a clinical trial support center.

This paper presents the quality journey taken by a Federal organization over more than 20 years. These efforts have resulted in the implementation of a Total Integrated Performance Excellence System (TIPES) that combines key principles and practices of established quality systems. The Center has progressively integrated quality system frameworks including the Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) Framework and Criteria for Performance Excellence, ISO 9001, and the Organizational Project Management Maturity Model (OPM3), as well as supplemental quality systems of ISO 15378 (packaging for medicinal products) and ISO 21500 (guide to project management) to systematically improve all areas of operations.

How Efficient Is Apis cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Pollinating Cabbage, Brassica oleracea var. capitata? Pollination Behavior, Pollinator Effectiveness, Pollinator Requirement, and Impact of Pollination.

Cabbage is a cross-pollinated crop because of sporophytic self-incompatibility, and honey bees play an important role in its pollination. Though Asian honey bees, Apis cerana F., are used in pollination of cabbage, the rate of visitation, behavior, pollinator efficacy, and impact on seed-set are to be determined.

Unified direct and coherent orthogonal frequency division multiplexing optical transmission scheme.

We experimentally demonstrate a novel unified direct and coherent orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) scheme. This self-coherent OFDM scheme simplifies receiver architecture and provides interchangeability between direct and coherent receivers using the same unified transmitter. We have experimentally verified the resilience of this scheme to fiber nonlinearities and achieved receiver sensitivity improvement of up to 1.

Evaluation of pesticide toxicity at their field recommended doses to honeybees, Apis cerana and A. mellifera through laboratory, semi-field and field studies.

A series of experiments were carried out to determine the acute toxicity of pesticides in the laboratory, toxicity through spray on flowering plants of mustard (Tier II evaluation) and field on both Apis cerana and A. mellifera bees. The overall mortality of honey bees through topical (direct contact) were found significantly higher than that of indirect filter paper contamination assays.

Nonequilibrium atmospheric secondary organic aerosol formation and growth.

Airborne particles play critical roles in air quality, health effects, visibility, and climate. Secondary organic aerosols (SOA) formed from oxidation of organic gases such as α-pinene account for a significant portion of total airborne particle mass. Current atmospheric models typically incorporate the assumption that SOA mass is a liquid into which semivolatile organic compounds undergo instantaneous equilibrium partitioning to grow the particles into the size range important for light scattering and cloud condensation nuclei activity.

Surprising formation of p-cymene in the oxidation of α-pinene in air by the atmospheric oxidants OH, O3, and NO3.

Anthropogenic sources release into the troposphere a wide range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including aromatic hydrocarbons, whose major sources are believed to be combustion and the evaporation of fossil fuels. An important question is whether there are other sources of aromatics in air. We report here the formation of p-cymene [1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl) benzene, C6H4(CH3)(C3H7)] from the oxidation of α-pinene by OH, O3, and NO3 at 1 atm in air and 298 K at low (<5%) and high (70%) relative humidities (RH).

Identification of organic nitrates in the NO3 radical initiated oxidation of alpha-pinene by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

The gas-phase reactions of nitrate radicals (NO3) with biogenic organic compounds are a major sink for these organics during night-time. These reactions form secondary organic aerosols, including organic nitrates that can undergo long-range transport, releasing NOx downwind. We report here studies of the reaction of NO3 with alpha-pinene at 1 atm in dry synthetic air (relative humidity approximately 3%) and at 298 K using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) to identify gaseous and particulate products.

Toxicity of diafenthiuron to honey bees in laboratory, semi-field and field conditions.

Background: Cardamom, an important spice crop often attacked by many insect pests, is controlled mainly using synthetic insecticides. As honey bees play a vital role in pollination in cardamom, the impact of insecticides on honey bees needs to be explored to assess its safety.

Results: Risk assessment based on contact toxicity revealed diafenthiuron to be a non-selective insecticide to bees with a low selectivity ratio (the ratio between the LD(50) for beneficial and pest species).

Comparison of FTIR and particle mass spectrometry for the measurement of particulate organic nitrates.

While multifunctional organic nitrates are formed during the atmospheric oxidation of volatile organic compounds, relatively little is known about their signatures in particle mass spectrometers. High resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometry (HR-ToF-AMS) and FTIR spectroscopy on particles impacted on ZnSe windows were applied to NH(4)NO(3), NaNO(3), and isosorbide 5-mononitrate (IMN) particles, and to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from NO(3) radical reactions at 22 degrees C and 1 atm in air with alpha- and beta-pinene, 3-carene, limonene, and isoprene. For comparison, single particle laser ablation mass spectra (SPLAT II) were also obtained for IMN and SOA from the alpha-pinene reaction.

Nitrate ion photochemistry at interfaces: a new mechanism for oxidation of alpha-pinene.

The photooxidation of 0.6-0.9 ppm alpha-pinene in the presence of a deliquesced thin film of NaNO(3), and for comparison increasing concentrations of NO(2), was studied in a 100 L Teflon(R) chamber at relative humidities from 72-88% and temperatures from 296-304 K.