Article talks about how while the idea of frictionless surfaces and the associated implications of vanishing energy losses during mechanical motion have been part of science fiction culture, scientists in the real world work toward realizing this ambitious goal that was once thought to be unattainable. The overarching goal of the research topic titled “Superlubricity Across the Scales” is to provide a snapshot of the latest developments in this rapidly accelerating field of research.

Article reviews the common dysregulation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinases (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR pathway in gastric cancer (GC) and the various types of single or dual pathway inhibitors under development that might have a superior role in GC treatment.

This review aims to find effective phytoconstituents in cataract treatments in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. Scientists have focused their attention not only for anti-cataract activity in vitro, but also in ex vivo and in vivo from the review of active phytoconstituents in medicinal plants. In our present review, we identified 58 active phytoconstituents with strong anti-cataract effects at in vitro and ex vivo with lack of in vivo studies.

The carbon aerogel/carbon paper composites have physical properties similar to those of monolithic carbon aerogels but do not require supercritical extraction during fabrication. The resorcinol-formaldehyde based carbon aerogel phase is intertwined between the fibers of a commercial carbon paper. The resulting composites have variable densities (0.4-0.6 g/cc), high surface areas (300-600 m{sup 2}/g), and controllable pore sizes and pore distribution. The effects of the resorcinol-formaldehyde concentrations (50-70% w/v) and the pyrolysis temperature (600-1050 C) were studied in an attempt to tailor the aerogel microstructure and properties. The composite physical properties and structure were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and multipoint-BET analyses and related to electrochemical capacitive data in 5M KOH. These thin carbon aerogel/carbon paper composite electrodes are used in experiments with electrochemical double-layer capacitors and capacitive deionization.

An international round robin study was conducted on the absorption measurement of laser-quality coatings. Sets of optically coated samples were made by a ''reactive DC magnetron'' sputtering and an ion beam sputtering deposition process. The sample set included a high reflector at 514 nm and a high reflector for the near infrared (1030 to 1318 nm), single layers of silicon dioxide, tantalum pentoxide, and hafnium dioxide. For calibration purposes, a sample metalized with hafnium and an uncoated, superpolished fused silica substrate were also included. The set was sent to laboratory groups for absorptance measurement of these coatings. Whenever possible, each group was to measure a common, central area and another area specifically assigned to the respective group. Specific test protocols were also suggested in regards to the laser exposure time, power density, and surface preparation.

Several types of carbonaceous materials from Superior Graphite Co. were investigated for lithium ion intercalation. These commercially available cokes, graphitized cokes and graphites have a wide range of physical and chemical properties. The coke materials were investigated in propylene carbonate based electrolytes and the graphitic materials were studied in ethylene carbonate/dimethyl solutions to prevent exfoliation. The reversible capacities of disordered cokes are below 230 mAh/g and those for many highly ordered synthetic (artificial) and natural graphites approached 372 mAh/g (LiC{sub 6}). The irreversible capacity losses vary between 15 to as much as 200% of reversible capacities for various types of carbon. Heat treated cokes with the average particle size of 10 microns showed marked improvements in reversible capacity for lithium intercalation. The electrochemical characteristics are correlated with data obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and BET surface area analysis. The electrochemical performance, availability, cost and manufacturability of these commercial carbons will be discussed.

We present results from a four-port Michelson interferometer built to demonstrate imaging Fourier transform spectroscopy for astronomical applications.

A TD based on wavelength/time codes, configured to multiplex and transmit 32 asynchronous Gigabit Ethernet data flows (GbE over O-CDMA), is described. The TD is user and data rate scalable.

The microstructures of lithiated synthetic graphite and carbon black were studied by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Information about the crystal structure of carbon containing various Li compositions can provide useful insights to our understanding of the Li storage mechanism in carbonaceous materials. Samples with compositions of Li{sub 0.93}C{sub 6} or Li{sub 0.45}C{sub 6} were found to contain both stage-one and stage-two compounds. These observations are consistent with XRD data. The changes in sample microstructure as the results of lithiation and exposure to electron irradiation were observed by TEM and recorded over several minutes in the microscope environment. Selected area electron diffraction patterns indicated that the lithiated samples quickly changed composition to LiC{sub 24}, which appeared to dominate during the brief analysis period. The layer planes in the lattice image of a disordered carbon black after Li insertion are poorly defined, and changes in the microstructure of these lithiated carbons was not readily apparent. Observations on these lithium intercalation compounds as well as the limitation of the experimental procedure will be presented.

Recycling is considered a critical component of the waste disposition strategy at the Fernald Plant. It is estimated that 33 million cubic feet of waste will be generated during the Fernald cleanup. Recycling some portion of this waste will not only conserve natural resources and disposal volume but will, even more significantly, support the preservation of existing disposition options such as off-site disposal or on-site storage. Recognizing the strategic implications of recycling, this paper outlines the criteria used at Fernald to make recycle decisions and highlights several of Fernald`s current recycling initiatives.

We describe the application of scintillating optical fiber in instrumentation for high energy particle physics. The basic physics of the scintillation process in polymers is discussed first and then we outline the fundamentals of scintillating fiber technology. Fiber performance, optimization, and characterization measurements are given. Detector applications in the areas of particle tracking and particle energy determination are then described. 13 refs., 12 figs.

This paper from the 2016 Conference on Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry conference proceedings describes an attempt to observe an atomic bismuth monolayer with Rutherford backscattering to demonstrate the surface concentration of the bismuth over the alloy in the bulk.

This article investigates the efficacy of direct amplification of DNA from bloodstains, saliva stains, and touch samples using microFLOQ® Direct swabs and the GlobalFiler™ Express system (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA).

This paper from the 2016 Conference on Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry conference proceedings describes the use of a classical trajectory simulation to study the formation of an antihydrogen beam by transporting an antiproton beam through an electron-positron plasma that produces magnetobound positronium.

The authors are studying aboveground oil shale retorting and have developed the LLNL Hot-Recycled-Solid (HRS) process as a generic, second-generation, rapid pyrolysis retorting system in which recycled shale is the solid heat carrier. In 1984-87, they operated a 1 ton-per-day HRS pilot plant to study retorting chemistry in an actual recirculation loop, Cena (1986). In 1989 they upgraded their laboratory pilot plant to process 4 ton-per-day of commercially sized shale, which will allow them, for the first time, to study pyrolysis and combustion chemistry using the full particle size, to produce enough oil for detailed characterization studies, to study environmental consequences, and to begin answering the many bulk solid handling questions concerning scale-up of the HRS process. In this paper the authors report on the status of their pilot plant operations. They have operated the facility circulating raw shale at ambient temperature and dolomite at elevated temperature. They plan the first hot shale run in November 1990. 5 refs., 16 figs., 4 tabs.

We describe the application of scintillating optical fiber in instrumentation for high energy particle physics. The basic physics of the scintillation process in polymers is discussed first and then we outline the fundamentals of scintillating fiber technology. Fiber performance, optimization, and characterization measurements are given. Detector applications in the areas of particle tracking and particle energy determination are then described. 13 refs., 12 figs.

The Tandem Mirror Experiment-Upgrade (TMX-Upgrade) construction will be completed in 18 months at a total cost of $14.5 million. This paper describes the project planning and the management techniques used to complete the TMX-Upgrade within its allocated cost and schedule. In the planning stages of a project, before approval of the proposal, we define major project objectives, create a work breakdown structure (WBS), detail a technical description for each level of the WBS, and provide detailed bottoms-up cost estimates and summary schedules. In the operating phase, which continues throughout the project, we establish budget and schedule baselines. The reporting phase includes The Department of Energy (DOE) reviews of project status at monthly, quarterly, and semiannual intervals. These reports include cost, schedule, manpower, major procurement, and technical status information.

This paper describes recent experience in re-evaluating the dose to an employee. This employee was plagued with skin disorders for years, but he questioned his recorded beta dose only after a recent LLNL cancer study began collecting data. He was concerned that his radiation dose recorded during the time he worked on a fission burst reactor experiment in 1963 did not represent the actual dose he received. About six months were spent gathering information, putting the information together, making necessary calculations, and reaching a reasonable result (a reasonable result being one for which the known information fits the calculated results with a minimum of inconsistencies). This paper presents the beta and gamma whole-body and hand radiation dose calculations, and compares these calculated dose rates with the meter, film, and pocket dosimeter information recorded in the health and safety log, operation log, and dosimetry record.

Studies are currently being made to design an axisymmetric modification to the TMX-Upgrade experiment. The existing TMX-Upgrade quadrupole plug and transition magnet sets are replaced by the circular coils of an axisymmetric plug. The existing TMX-Upgrade magnet set is shown. The circular coils are sectioned to show the quadrupole magnets and the flux bundle. The two end cells of this magnet set are MHD stable minimum-B plugs. From a mechanical design viewpoint, an axisymmetric design is attractively simple. One of the axisymmetric designs under consideration is the Modified Cusp. A magnet set for this designs is shown. The coils are sectioned to show their cross-section.

Cryosorption vacuum pumps continue to be the principal type of pumping systems considered for power-producing fusion reactors. In this context, a compound-pump concept is generally employed in which the helium pump is placed behind the hydrogen pump so that hydrogen will not condense on and hence block the 4.2 K helium cryosorption surface. To obtain an optimal design for such a pump, the amount of hydrogen which can reach the helium panel has been determined. Catastrophic failure of a cryosorption pump was observed in previous work when a 95% hydrogen-5% helium mixture was tested. No such failure has occurred in our studies with 4, 10, and 20% hydrogen. However, significant changes in pumping speed have been noted when only 4% hydrogen is present. Both helium and hydrogen speeds are reduced to approximately one-half to one-third of the pure compound speed. Many of the qualitative aspects of the behavior of the pump for pure helium are also observed for the hydrogen-helium mixtures. Cyclic variation in pumping speed above a helium feed rate of approx. 6 x 10/sup -6/ torr-L/s.cm/sup 2/ is one such similarity; however, at the 4% hydrogen level, the period between instabilities is longer for the mixtures.

Inertial-fusion targets have been designed for use with heavy-ion accelerators as drivers in fusion energy power plants. We have made an initial survey of target gain versus beam energy, power, focal radius, and ion range. This provides input for understanding the trade-offs among accelerator designs.

A multicomponent dosimeter has been developed that uses an albedo detector to provide the measurement of low energy neutrons and as a screening element. It also contains track detector components, CR-39 and polycarbonate, which are only processed if the TLD indicates there has been an exposure to neutrons. Since the three components have significantly different energy responses, the dosimeter can act as a crude spectrometer. This report describes the dosimeter and briefly summarizes its use experience. 10 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.

A set of 16 tissue equivalent torso phantoms has been fabricated for use by major laboratories involved in counting transuranic nuclides in the lung. These phantoms, which have bone equivalent plastic rib cages, duplicate the performance of the DOE Realistic Phantom set. The new phantoms (and their successors) provide the user laboratories with a highly realistic calibration tool. Moreover, use of these phantoms will allow participating laboratories to intercompare calibration information, both on formal and informal bases. 3 refs., 2 figs.

Rate equations for the plasma species in a thermal barrier end plug establish an upper bound on the neutral pressure (P) external to the plasma. For the Tandem Mirror Experiment-Upgrade (TMX-U), this bound is P less than or equal to 0.5 - 1.0 x 10/sup -6/ Torr. Initially TMX-U did not satisfy this criterion, and axial end plugging of plasma losses seemed limited by the excessive pressure. Subsequently, we modified the machine to improve the vacuum conditions, decreasing P to the desired range. At the same time axial end plugging of plasma losses increased to the duration of neutral beam injection and ECRH heating. Here we summarize our experimental measurements of gas input.