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The results of algorithmic testing of digital histological studies of the duration of kidney tissue damage based on polarization reconstruction of linear birefringence maps of protein fibrillar networks are presented. The relationships between the temporary change in the magnitude of the statistical moments of the 1st - 4th orders of magnitude characterizing the distribution of the degree of crystallization of histological sections of the kidney and the duration of damage are determined.

By Mueller-matrix mapping of changes in the distribution of the magnitude of matrix invariants characterizing the degree of crystallization of histological sections of the brain, liver and kidney, the forensic medical criteria were determined and the interval for determining the damage duration of 24 hours with an accuracy of 45min. - 50 min. was established. For azimuthally invariant polarization mapping of changes in the distributions of Mueller-matrix invariants characterizing the optical activity of molecular complexes of histological sections of the brain, liver, and kidney, forensic medical criteria were developed for the first time and accuracy was improved to 35 min. - 40 min. in the interval for determining the damage duration period of 72 hours. For highly accurate objective determination of the damage duration in a long time interval (1 hour - 120 hours), a polarization tomography method has been developed (reproducing the distributions of birefringence of fibrillar networks of histological sections of internal organs), which provides an accuracy of 25 minutes. (1 hour - 24 hours) to 45 minutes (24 hours - 120 hours).

The asset assessment and condition monitoring of large-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems spanning over a large geographical area has imposed urgent challenges and demands for novel and efficient inspection paradigm. In this study, an automatic UAV-based inspection system is presented and implemented for asset assessment and defect detection for large-scale PV systems. Two typical visible defects of PV modules, snail trails and dust shading, are characterised and the defect detection through image processing algorithms based on first order derivative of Gaussian function and feature matching is carried out for the aerial PV module images captured by visible light cameras. The functionality of the developed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based inspection system can be easily extended with more advanced fault detection algorithms and different forms of sensing devices (e.g. infrared thermal camera) for specialised inspection tasks. Such UAV-based imaging can carry out a variety of inspection and condition monitoring tasks in PV systems spanning over a large geographical area in an autonomous or supervised fashion with significantly promoted efficiency in comparison with conventional methods.

Solid state electrolyte systems boasting Li+conductivity of >10 mS cm−1at room temperature have opened the potential for developing a solid state battery with power and energy densities that are competitive with conventional liquid electrolyte systems. The primary focus of this review is twofold. First, differences in Li penetration resistance in solid state systems are discussed, and kinetic limitations of the solid state interface are highlighted. Second, technological challenges associated with processing such systems in relevant form factors are elucidated, and architectures needed for cell level devices in the context of product development are reviewed. Specific research vectors that provide high value to advancing solid state batteries are outlined and discussed. Keywords: dendrite; Li ion battery; Li ion conductor; Li metal anode; solid electrolyte; solid state battery, United States. Department of Energy (Award DE-EE0007810)

Applications of coherent singular optics have developed mainly due to progress in nanotechnologies that focus on the problem of manipulation of nano-objects and control of their parameters. An opaque particle falling into the center of a scalar vortex is captured due to the difference in light pressure at the center and at the periphery of the vortex. Such traps can be formed, for example, by focusing vortex beams that are reconstructed by computer-generated holograms (CGHs). The ability to convert orbital vortices into spin energy flows (and vice versa) has been reliably proved. Let us remember that orbital flow is associated with the macroscopic energy redistribution in the beam, while the local (instantaneous) circulation of the field vector with circular (or elliptical) polarization causes the spin flow. Such flows can rotate particles at the orbit about the beam axis, playing the role of so-called micro-motors.

We report on vertically stacked gate-all-around (GAA) Si nanowire (NW) MOSFETs, integrated in a CMOS dual Work Function Metal Replacement Metal Gate (RMG) flow. The integration of a lower temperature STI module and a SiN liner, designed to mitigate the oxidation-induced NW size loss and improve the width/height aspect ratio and NW controllability, is validated electrically. Additionally, Si GAA devices with reduced vertical nanowire spacing are demonstrated. The challenges in terms of Work Function Metal thickness scaling are highlighted, and a thinner nMetal process with low V TH capability and no J G /PBTI lifetime penalty is proposed. Electrically, these process innovations lead to a large improvement of I ON /I OFF performance and short channel margin. Finally, a ring oscillator circuit demonstration is shown, with a improvement of gate delay from 24ps down to 10ps at matched V DD demonstrated.

This paper addresses novel approaches at material and integration fronts for gate applications. Material wise, new n work function metal (WFM) material is explored to address the need for reducing gate resistance and maintaining proper Vt at 20A or less WFM thickness. Integration wise, next generation dipole is tested with various process sequences to address the need in lowering overall thermal budget at the gate level for advanced architectures, such as scaled FinFET and Nanosheets.

Exploitation and using of clean and renewable energy to improve the domestic energy structure is important for building smart city. Photovoltaic (PV) power generation is a good choose, and modules inspection is an important direction of PV power generation. The manual inspection is a common way but is not feasible for large-scale PV systems in practice due to low efficiency, high error rate and long assessment time. Currently inspection system based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has been proved to be a better solution in PV inspection. How to locate PV arrays in aerial image captured by UAV is one of the technical changes exist in UAV-based PV inspection. This paper proposed an improved adaptive clustering method based on k- means algorithm to orientate and acquire single PV array's edge, lots of monitoring data indicate this algorithm has a high accuracy and make the loss rate lower than 5%.

With the rapid development of solar photovoltaic power generation, inspection for PV plants based on UAV platforms has become prevalent. Despite the obvious advantages in efficiency, cost, accuracy and so forth, a new challenge should be noticed that how to match PV strings between images correctly in UAV images' processing when detecting the failures in solar panels or inspecting installed capacity of a PV farm. Conventional image matching algorithms are usually invalid under these circumstances. This paper proposed a new method to solve this problem by recognizing PV modules and structuring an appropriate feature description vector according to PV modules' different colors. Also, median filtering and morphological method are utilized in image pre-processing and recognition. By comparing feature description vectors of two PV strings in different images respectively, it can be confirmed whether they are the same one in reality. Experiments clearly demonstrated the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method, which makes a contribution to PV strings' image processing in inspection for large-scale PV farms.

This paper proposes a flexible calibration method for the defocusing structured light three-dimensional (3D) imaging system. Neither a high accuracy translation stage nor the parameters of the projector is required. Therefore the method is more flexible in many practical applications. World coordinates for calibration are obtained based on the method of coordinates from known plane. The monotonic nonlinear relationships between the absolute phase and each world coordinate have been investigated. Different from other methods, in our method, the 3D shape is directly recovered by the absolute phase to world coordinates method. Experimental results show that, when polynomial curve fitting methods are used, the root-mean-squared (RMS) error for the flat plate reconstruction is less than 0.12 mm, and the measurement error of 3D points is less than −0.34%. Furthermore, when comparing the measurement results of our method with the method of coordinates from known plane based on camera calibration, the relative error is less than −0.05%. Therefore, camera calibration is considered as the major error source.

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a means to store solar energy in the form of hydrogen. Knowledge of practical limits for this process can help researchers assess their technology and guide future directions. We develop a model to quantify loss mechanisms in PEC water splitting based on the current state of materials research and calculate maximum solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiencies along with associated optimal absorber band gaps. Various absorber configurations are modeled considering the major loss mechanisms in PEC devices. Quantitative sensitivity analyses for each loss mechanism and each absorber configuration show a profound impact of both on the resulting STH efficiencies, which can reach upwards of 25 % for the highest performance materials in a dual stacked configuration. Higher efficiencies could be reached as improved materials are developed. The results of the modeling also identify and quantify approaches that can improve system performance when working with imperfect materials.

Dithering optimization techniques can be divided into the phase-optimized technique and the intensity-optimized technique. The problem with the former is the poor sensitivity to various defocusing amounts, and the problem with the latter is that it cannot enhance phase quality directly nor efficiently. In this paper, we present a multi-objective optimization framework for three-dimensional (3D) measurement by utilizing binary defocusing technique. Moreover, a binary patch optimization technique is used to solve the time-consuming issue of genetic algorithm. It is demonstrated that the presented technique consistently obtains significant phase performance improvement under various defocusing amounts.

On the basis of the objective functions, dithering optimization techniques can be divided into the intensity-based optimization technique and the phase-based optimization technique. However, both types of techniques are spatial-domain optimization techniques, while their measurement performances are essentially determined by the harmonic components in the frequency domain. In this paper, a novel genetic optimization technique in the frequency domain is proposed for high-quality fringe generation. In addition, to handle the time-consuming difficulty of genetic algorithm (GA), we first optimize a binary patch, then join the optimal binary patches together according to periodicity and symmetry so as to generate a full-size pattern. It is verified that the proposed technique can significantly enhance the measured performance and ensure the robustness to various amounts of defocusing.

Herein, we report the development of optically transparent high surface area electrodes (HSEs) made of indium tin oxide (ITO) using a facile, template-free, scalable wet chemical synthetic approach. The transparent HSEs are electronically conductive and physically robust, with tunable electrochemically accessible roughness factors from 1 through ∼100. These transparent HSEs can serve as a broadly functionalizable scaffold ideally suited to bridge the gap between the need to minimize ionic and electronic transport lengths within a device and the need to achieve high loadings of active material per surface area (e.g. for high capacity as needed for batteries or high optical density as required for electrochromics or photovoltaics). This gap currently stands as a major hurdle for the utilization of many nanomaterials in electronic and optoelectronic devices. The synthetic approach described here for ITO is transferable to other transparent conducting oxide (TCO) materials. This is the first report of a large...

Molybdenite (MoS2) is a material that has been previously studied for its photoelectrochemical properties in bulk form and, more recently, for its electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution properties in various nanostructured forms. Herein, we aim to address the properties of bulk and nanostructured MoS2 in order to assess the future potential of harnessing nanostructured MoS2 as a more efficient photocathode for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production. Using an in-situ method to progressively create defects at the surface of bulk MoS2, we show that losses due to recombination of photogenerated charge carriers at surface states occur concurrently with an enhancement in catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution. We further explore how these surface defects affect the measured flat-band potential, and we discuss the consequences of the distinct electronic properties of bulk versus nanostructured MoS2. Our results for MoS2 show that differences in morphological length scales (bulk vs nanoscale) give rise to uniqu...

Urachal carcinoma is a rare tumor that most commonly occurs in ovaries and less often in the adnexal region and urinary system. We herein present two cases of urachal carcinoma: One case was a 32-year-old male patient who presented with painless hematuria with blood clots for 1 month, whereas the other case was a 50-year-old woman who presented with gross hematuria with mild dysuria, urgency and frequent urination for 1 year. Following surgical resection, the two patients were diagnosed with urachal adenocarcinoma (mixed type) and urachal mucinous adenocarcinoma, respectively, based on the histopathological examination. A review of previously published cases and relevant literature is also presented. The aim of the present study was to help understand this disease better, in order to reduce the rate of clinical and pathological misdiagnosis.

Brenner tumor is a rare type tumor, which mainly develops in the ovaries and rarely in the adnexal region and urinary system. To the best of our knowledge, only 5 cases of testicular Brenner tumor have been reported to date. In this report, we present the case of a 55-year-old patient who noted a swelling of the right scrotum for ~20 days. The clinical suspicion was an epididymal cyst. However, following surgical resection and subsequent pathological examination, the mass was diagnosed as a testicular Brenner tumor. A supplementary review of previously published cases and literature is also presented. The aim of this report is to help elucidate this disease and reduce the rate of clinical and pathological misdiagnosis.

We present a scalable wet chemical synthesis for a catalytically active nanostructured amorphous molybdenum sulfide material. The catalyst film is one of the most active nonprecious metal materials for electrochemical hydrogen evolution, drawing 10 mA/cm2 at ∼200 mV overpotential. To identify the active phase of the material, we perform X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy after testing under a variety of conditions. As deposited, the catalyst resembles amorphous MoS3, but domains resembling MoS2 in composition and chemical state are created under reaction conditions and may contribute to this material’s high electrochemical activity. The activity scales with electrochemically active surface area, suggesting that the rough, nanostructured catalyst morphology also contributes substantially to the film’s high activity. Electrochemical stability tests indicate that the catalyst remains highly active throughout prolonged operation. The overpotential required to attain a current density of 10 mA/cm2 increases by o...

We report a hierarchically branched TiO2 nanorod structure that serves as a model architecture for efficient photoelectrochemical devices as it simultaneously offers a large contact area with the electrolyte, excellent light-trapping characteristics, and a highly conductive pathway for charge carrier collection. Under Xenon lamp illumination (UV spectrum matched to AM 1.5G, 88 mW/cm2 total power density), the branched TiO2 nanorod array produces a photocurrent density of 0.83 mA/cm2 at 0.8 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). The incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency reaches 67% at 380 nm with an applied bias of 0.6 V versus RHE, nearly two times higher than the bare nanorods without branches. The branches improve efficiency by means of (i) improved charge separation and transport within the branches due to their small diameters, and (ii) a 4-fold increase in surface area which facilitates the hole transfer at the TiO2/electrolyte interface.

We synthesize vertically oriented core-shell nanowires with substoichiometric MoO(3) cores of ∼20-50 nm and conformal MoS(2) shells of ∼2-5 nm. The core-shell architecture, produced by low-temperature sulfidization, is designed to utilize the best properties of each component material while mitigating their deficiencies. The substoichiometric MoO(3) core provides a high aspect ratio foundation and enables facile charge transport, while the conformal MoS(2) shell provides excellent catalytic activity and protection against corrosion in strong acids.

Inexpensive and earth-abundant, manganese oxides (MnxOy) have attracted considerable attention for catalysis, but fewer efforts have focused on their semiconducting properties. In this study, crystalline Na birnessite-type MnO2 thin films were investigated for their surface and bulk chemistry in the context of hydrogen production by photoelectrochemical water splitting. Thin films were synthesized by electrodeposition onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates, imaged by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) as well as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV–vis spectroscopy. Three different electrochemical methods (illuminated open circuit potential, potential of photocurrent onset, and Mott–Schottky plots) were used to probe the flat-band potential required to construct a band diagram for the material. Photostability, conductivity, and band structure are discussed as potential causes of the low external quantum efficiency (

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting for hydrogen production is a promising technology that uses sunlight and water to produce renewable hydrogen with oxygen as a by-product. In the expanding field of PEC hydrogen production, the use of standardized screening methods and reporting has emerged as a necessity. This article is intended to provide guidance on key practices in characterization of PEC materials and proper reporting of efficiencies. Presented here are the definitions of various efficiency values that pertain to PEC, with an emphasis on the importance of solar-to-hydrogen efficiency, as well as a flow chart with standard procedures for PEC characterization techniques for planar photoelectrode materials (i.e., not suspensions of particles) with a focus on single band gap absorbers. These guidelines serve as a foundation and prelude to a much more complete and in-depth discussion of PEC techniques and procedures presented elsewhere.

Quartz crystal in oscillator is the basic element in modern electronic technology. The main specification of crystal is frequency, but the surface defect will also affect the stability and working life. At present, the defect inspection of crystal is mostly accomplished with human vision inspection. A new crystal defect inspection method with machine vision is proposed in this paper. The crystal image is acquired with special angle annular dark field illumination. The relationship between the physical feature and the vision feature are discussed. Then, defect inspect algorithm of each kind of defect are designed based those relationship. A large amount of inspection experiments are executed with this algorithm, the results indicate that this method has good practical value because of high efficiencies and high accuracy.

Quartz crystal chip discussed in this paper is a semitransparent crystal with thickness of 0.1~0.2 mm. Generally these chips are packaged into one block with 100 or 200 pieces. Mostly, the counting job is accomplished by weighing the chips, however, thickness difference of each crystal will lead to the inaccurate counting results. A new counting method with imaging and signal processing is proposed in this paper. At first, the edge images of crystal are acquired, thus edge information will be turned into edge signals, then the signal will be enhanced, the noise will be decreased. At last the accurate amount will be get from these edge signals. This method has good practical value because of contact less, high efficiencies and high accuracy.

Solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency is the most important figure of merit to gage the potential of a semiconductor material to photoelectrochemically split water (see Chapter “ Efficiency Definitions in the Field of PEC”). It is projected that STH conversion efficiencies in excess of 10 % will be needed for practical hydrogen production systems [1]. Taken in conjunction with gas detection measurements (see Chapter “ Stability Testing”), the photocurrent density (j SC) under short-circuited conditions (i.e., zero applied bias) in a 2-electrode measurement is critical in determining the STH conversion efficiency. Moreover, applied bias experiments using the 2-electrode configuration can shed important light on the water splitting capabilities and limits of a PEC material system.

It is important to determine the conductivity and flat-band potential (Efb) of a photoelectrode before carrying out any photoelectrochemical experiments. These properties help to elucidate the band structure of a semiconductor which ultimately determines its ability to drive efficient water splitting. The three different techniques that can estimate the Efb are: Illuminated OCP, Mott–Schottky and Photocurrent Onset. The Efb should be independent of the technique used to determine it. Due to the inherent shortcomings of each technique, there is often a lack of agreement of the values determined by the various analyses. Researchers should be aware of these limitations in interpreting results.